News

News

Cumberland Farms worker tests positive for Covid

Dartmouth Week - Dartmouth, MA news
The Cumberland Farms at 244 Russells Mills Road closed for a few days last week after an employee tested positive for Covid-19, according to a statement from Cumberland Farms. The location was closed on August 13 “to be cleaned and sanitized by an...

Students to start in school on staggered schedule

Older students in the Dartmouth Public School system won’t begin in-person lessons until Oct. 19 due to a staggered start for the hybrid learning plan, following a unanimous decision by the School Committee at an Aug. 18 meeting. At the meeting,...

Drop off primary ballots at Town Hall for early voting

Mail-in ballots for the upcoming primary elections on September 1 can be hand delivered to the Town Clerk's office, according to a statement from Dartmouth officials. The primaries will select party candidates for the US Senate and House races in...

Select Board chooses interim town clerk

Dartmouth Week - Dartmouth, MA news
An early version of this story mistakenly said the vote was 4–1. The error has been corrected. The next time you need to stop by Town Hall for a copy of a birth certificate or a marriage license, expect to find a new face heading up the...

Ocean State Job Lot donates PPE to police and firefighters

Personal protective equipment hasn’t been the easiest thing to come by during the pandemic, but the local Ocean State Job Lot store helped out Dartmouth’s first responders with a large donation last week. On Aug. 6, the Dartmouth police and fire...

Teen injured in motorcycle crash

Police are investigating a motorcycle crash in which a teenager sustained minor injuries after crashing the vehicle in two separate incidents in Dartmouth on August 12, according to a police press release. The first crash occurred just after 7 a.m...

‘Dramatic drop’ in meals, hotel tax revenues last quarter

The last quarter of fiscal year 2020 saw a ‘dramatic drop’ in revenues from meals and hotel excise tax — and the full effects of the pandemic may not be felt until next fiscal year, according to Director of Budget and Finance Greg Barnes. Barnes...

Unplanned departure: John Sousa resigns from Planning Board

Dartmouth Week - Dartmouth, MA news
After decades of work in town politics, longtime Planning Board member John Sousa made a surprise announcement Monday that he would resign from the office effective immediately. Just hours before the board’s August 10 meeting, Sousa sent an email to...

Simple solution for Rogers Street boat ramp

The town may put permanent concrete barriers next to the new Rogers Street boat ramp to prevent sand buildup on the recently renovated amenity. At a meeting on August 10, the board asked Town Administrator Shawn MacInnes to confirm that jersey-style...

Town to fill old Youth Advocate position

The town will be getting a Youth Advocate again after more than a year and a half, as the Select Board voted to advertise for the position within the next 30 days at a meeting on August 10. Dartmouth has gone without a Youth Advocate since Jennifer...

School year to start remotely on September 15

The verdict is in: Dartmouth Public School students will start the school year with remote learning on September 15, with the possibility of moving to a hybrid plan later in the year. At a virtual meeting on August 10, the School Committee voted 4–1...

Community members sought for Town Charter review

Dartmouth’s Select Board is seeking civic-minded residents to review the town charter and make recommendations for amendments to the Fall Town Meeting in 2021. Every 10 years, the town charter is reviewed by a committee made up of nine community...

Watch the trailer for an upcoming documentary on Dartmouth native Pete Souza

Dartmouth native and former White House photographer Pete Souza is the subject of a new documentary from award-winning filmmaker Dawn Porter set to be released this September. Born in New Bedford, Souza grew up in South Dartmouth, graduating from...

Trees downed around town as Isaias hits Northeast

Trees and branches went down all around Dartmouth on August 4 as Tropical Storm Isaias hit the Northeast after ravaging the Carolinas and other southern Atlantic states. One police officer, who withheld his name, stated that around 30 trees and...

School officials home in on hybrid reopening plan

Dartmouth school officials are focusing on fleshing out a hybrid model with alternating days for reopening public schools this fall, as the August 10 deadline for submitting a comprehensive reopening plan to the state looms near. Superintendent Dr...

Seed scam: Dartmouth resident among those getting mystery packages

Kerrie Parsons had been waiting quite some time for some strawberry seeds to arrive at her house. So when a package showed up at her front door, she didn’t think it was a big deal . But while the package did contain seeds, they were not labeled as...

New recreation center in the works for North Dartmouth

A large new community recreation center may go up at the corner of State and Reed Roads after the Select Board voted to craft a Town Meeting article selling the land to the Burgo Basketball Association at a meeting on July 27. The Association’s...

Lobster Tale: Claws for celebration as online buzz saves Big Blue

One lucky lobster got a stay of execution this week after a popular Facebook post about the blue-tinged crustacean led to owner Cape Quality Seafood promising not to sell it. Amy Nell was visiting the Dartmouth Street seafood market with her six-...

Dartmouth resident gets ready for cycling challenge

Dartmouth’s own Heather Mickool is one of five residents taking part in this year’s virtual Pan-Mass Challenge cycling fundraiser for cancer research on Saturday, August 1. They will join more than 10,000 participants cycling solo in the socially...

Town Hall opens to public

For the first time since the pandemic shutdown in March, Dartmouth Town Hall is resuming somewhat normal operations as it opened its doors to the public on Monday, July 27. According to Town Administrator Shawn MacInnes, who updated the Select Board...

New Democrat appointed to Board of Registrars

The Select Board appointed a new member to the Board of Registrars at a meeting on July 27. UMass Dartmouth professor of art education, art history, and media Kathy Meraglia was appointed to the three-person board to replace outgoing Democrat Thomas...

GNB Voc-Tech to hold socially distanced graduation August 8

GNB Voc-Tech will hold its Class of 2020 graduation ceremony on Saturday, August 8 after the event was approved by the New Bedford Board of Health, according to a statement from the school. Strict health and safety guidelines will be enforced for...

Possible trail connections for proposed solar array

A new solar array may link trails to town forests after a resident brought up the idea at a planning board meeting on July 27. At the meeting, the Planning Board offered suggestions over a proposed zoning change that would allow NextEra Energy...

New boat ramp has old issues

The newly rebuilt Rogers Street boat ramp is already causing problems due to issues with the way it was constructed, according to the Harbormaster and members of the town’s Waterways Management Commission. Last year, a grant from oil spill recovery...

Fledgling foundation aims to make youth sports more accessible

Youth sports leagues provide area kids with much-needed exercise and social interaction. But for some, the cost of equipment and fees prevents young athletes from joining the fun. This spring, one young resident decided to do something about it...

DNRT replaces annual barn bash with online fundraiser

The Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust is replacing its annual Barn Bash and auction for 2020 with a ‘Love a Trail’ virtual fundraiser. Normally held in August at the Sylvan Nursery Barn, the bash includes an evening of food and drink from a dozen...

No football this fall at UMass Dartmouth

UMass Dartmouth football players won’t be returning to the field this fall after the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference announced last week that it would be suspending competitions for the season due to the pandemic. Out of all of...

Drugs and guns seized at Dartmouth motel

Fentanyl and firearms were among piles of contraband seized in a search of room 171 at the Capri Motel in Dartmouth by New Bedford Police on July 15, according to a police press release. New Bedford Police arrested Jose Montanez, 23, of New Bedford...

Dartmouth Scouts honor veterans

While most teenagers are enjoying typical summer activities like swimming, cycling, and boating, youths in two local Scout troops took Monday afternoon off to thank a pair of veterans for their service. Kids in Dartmouth’s Scout Troop 74 came up...

Pedestrian struck by car on Route 6 dies

A pedestrian struck by a car on July 16 near the Moby Dick Motel on Route 6 has died from his injuries, according to the Bristol County District Attorney’s office. Ryan Silvia, 37, of Fall River died at Rhode Island Hospital Sunday evening after he...

Unshellfish: Lloyd Center clambake celebrates community amid covid

Last year , the Lloyd Center for the Environment held its annual clambake fundraiser despite downpours and rainbows. This year, amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Potomska Road non-profit held its clambake to go and an online silent auction — and...

Horseneck Road homicide suspect pleads not guilty, held without bail

More details have emerged in a South Dartmouth homicide as the suspect pleaded not guilty to assault with intent to murder and was ordered held without bail at New Bedford District Court on Monday afternoon. 23-year-old Franklin Antonio Amaya...

Sheriff’s office reports no new covid cases since July 10

Bristol County correctional facilities are now covid-free. The Bristol County Sheriff’s Office announced announced Friday that since July 10, no staff members, county inmates or ICE detainees have tested positive for the coronavirus, and that...

Farm to-go: Annual YMCA fundraiser done drive-up style

Dartmouth Week - Dartmouth, MA news
Every year, the Sharing the Harvest community farm in Dartmouth hosts a fundraising dinner made from food grown on the Gulf Road property — but this year’s event was a bit different. The fundraiser normally includes a farm-to-table dinner with a...

Pedestrian in critical condition after State Road car crash

Dartmouth Week - Dartmouth, MA news
A pedestrian was taken by med flight to Rhode Island Hospital and remains in critical condition after being struck by a car on State Road last night. Ryan Silvia, 37, of Fall River was found unresponsive in the road near the Moby Dick Motel at 671...

Outgoing town clerk celebrated with surprise parade

Dartmouth Week - Dartmouth, MA news
When outgoing Town Clerk Lynn Medeiros left her office on Thursday evening, she thought she was simply going to meet up with a friend to pick up a gift. Instead, she was greeted with more than 50 cars streaming through the town hall parking lot to...

Covid “almost nonexistent” in Dartmouth jail, says Sheriff’s Office

Cases of Covid-19 are now almost nonexistent in Bristol County correctional facilities. The Bristol County Sheriff’s Office announced last week that since June 19, only one staff member and one inmate have tested positive for coronavirus. The...

Horseneck Road murder victim was shot dead

A preliminary autopsy on a murder victim found at the side of Horseneck Road yesterday morning has revealed that he died from apparent gunshot wounds, according to an update from the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office. The body of 27-year-old...

Select Board looks to change Town Clerk to appointed position

With the departure of current Town Clerk Lynn Medeiros later this month, the Select Board will look at making the position appointed rather than elected going forward. At a virtual meeting on July 13, members of the Select Board voted to recommend...

Town hall reopens on appointment only basis

Dartmouth Town Hall has reopened by appointment only starting July 13. As operations resume at Town Hall, residents must call ahead to schedule an appointment to conduct business in person. Departments now accepting appointments include: the...

Man dies after he was found unresponsive in Slocum River

A missing fisherman has died after he was pulled from the Slocum River on Tuesday afternoon following a search and rescue operation by the US Coast Guard and Dartmouth Police, Fire and Harbormaster, according to a press release from the Bristol...

Man found dead on Horseneck Road in apparent homicide

The victim has since been identified by the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office as 27-year-old Jose Cortez Cornejo of New Bedford. An unidentified man found dead this morning on Horseneck Road may be the victim of a homicide that...

Town counsel to help draft solar farm article

A proposed solar farm on Cross Road is a step closer to becoming a reality after the Planning Board decided town counsel should help the project developers draft an article for Fall Town Meeting. In a virtual meeting on July 13, the Planning Board...

Part of historic horse farm to be sold for housing

Part of the historic Merrylegs Farm in Padanaram will be sold off for residential use after the Select Board voted to allow the move at a July 13 meeting. Farm owner Laurel Owen needs town approval to sell the land due to an agricultural restriction...

The itsy bitsy Black Widow: Spider found in Dartmouth

Dartmouth residents may want to take extra care outdoors after one homeowner found a Northern Black Widow spider in his yard in June. William, who prefers not to publish his surname, was watering some castor beans in the front of his yard on Old...

Magic and merriment at Enchanted Woods

Dartmouth families got a little magic back in their lives on Saturday as they walked through the woods meeting fairies, princesses, and superheroes along the way. The “Enchanted Woods” event hosted by volunteers from a parents’ Facebook group and...

Council on Aging hosts barbecue to go

Dozens of cars streamed through the Dartmouth Council on Aging parking lot to pick up burgers, watermelon slices, and some much needed time out of their homes at a socially distanced cookout on July 9. Normally, the COA holds an indoor cookout each...

Fido found: Pup Ritz returns home

Even though Independence Day is over, one Dartmouth family still has cause for celebration. The family’s two-year-old labradoodle Ritz has been found after he was scared off by loud fireworks over the holiday weekend. “People are filled with...

State rules put the kibosh on summer concerts, for now

The town’s summer concert series looks to be off the table this year as state guidelines for reopening outdoor performances have made the annual events “impossible,” according to officials. Outdoor performances are allowed starting in phase three of...

Connecticut man dies in Route 195 crash

A Connecticut man was killed in a car crash in Dartmouth after his vehicle rolled over on Route 195 early Wednesday morning, according to the Massachusetts State Police. Ruben Rivera, 23, of East Haven, Connecticut, was declared dead at the scene by...

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