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Scarecrow takeover in Padanaram

A scary scarecrow outside of Padanaram Outfitters. Photos by Kat Sheridan

Crows will probably be avoiding Padanaram Village for the rest of October, as the businesses in the area are holding a scarecrow contest. The owner of Padanaram Outfitters, Natalie Sine…

Things to do: Week of Oct. 15

Jewelry James-Perry sells made from quahog. Photo by Brandy Muz

Friday, Oct. 9 Dartmouth Farmers Market The farmer's market features local farms, food producers, artisans, live music and community programming, and organizers are also…

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Dartmouth resident wins Miss New Bedford

Avery Barboza being crowned by Deolinda Mendes. Source: Ashley Bendiksen

Dartmouth resident and Dartmouth High School senior Avery Barboza, 18, was crowned Miss New Bedford during the Miss New Bedford Scholarship Program on Saturday, Oct. 3. “I had grown up going to all the shows, and wanting to compete was something...

Guide for early voting

People vote during the Town Elections at Town Hall. Photo by Kat Sheridan

Early voting for the November elections begins on Saturday, Oct. 17 and will run until Oct. 30. Early voting at Town Hall will happen during business hours and on weekends from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Town Hall is open from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Monday,...

Board of Public Works announces town not nearing sewer moratorium

The aeration tanks. Source: Jessica Dastous

The Board of Public Works clarified that the Wastewater Treatment Facility is not at capacity and the proposed housing developments will not push the facility over capacity. The Board conducted a study where they looked at the daily and monthly...

Students wish teacher a happy birthday

Students pose with Pauline Tavares. Photos by Kat Sheridan

The sounds of kids screaming “Cha, Cha, Cha!” echoed through the Quinn Elementary School as the students sang Happy Birthday to Pauline Tavares, a retired teacher. “I am totally and absolutely shocked,” said Tavares, “They kept it such a big...

Ninth Bristol District State Representative debate

Ed Pacheco and Chester Tam debated. Photo by Kat Sheridan

The two candidates for Ninth Bristol County State Representative, moderate Democrat Edward Pacheco and conservative Republican Chester Tam faced off for a debate on Thursday, Oct. 8. The debate was hosted by Dartmouth Community Media, the...

Pre-Town Meeting goes over what to expect for Town Meeting

Town Moderator Melissa Haskell, Town Clerk Sarah Haskell Arruda, Town Administrator Cody Haddad and Director of Budget and Finance Gary Carreiro. Photo by Kat Sheridan

The Town of Dartmouth held a pre-Town Meeting meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 7 to go over how Town Meeting works and what will be voted on during Fall Town Meeting. Town Meeting is a form of legislative body that gives town representatives a chance to...

Town to start ticketing

The Town of Dartmouth has announced they will start enforcing parking restrictions during Town Hall hours. People cannot park in the front or back lot of Town Hall unless they are visiting Town Hall. They have built a back lot with 60 spaces down...

Water safe to drink, regardless of notice sent

DPW. Stock photo

Due to a missed deadline, residents in Dartmouth may have received a notice surrounding their drinking water in early September. This was not due to any present bacteria in the water. “Dartmouth’s drinking water remains safe to drink and use as...

Select Board reviews 2026 goals

Select Board. Source: DCTV

The Select Board reviewed the goals they set for themselves in Nov. 2025, and found they have completed or worked toward many of them. The goals surrounded financial health, economic development, long range planning, internal operations,...

Errors on SMART Demand bills

An example of the incorrect SMART bill. Source: Town of Dartmouth

There was a recent printing error on the SMART Bill Demand sent to around 1,500 customers. The total amount was correct, but the balanced due was incorrect. There were three numbers on the bill; the balance due was listed at $120 instead of $140,...

Escaped animal fine proposed to be raised

Cows that escaped from an unnamed farm in 2025. Source: Christine Lechan

After two incidents involving escaped cows from a local farm this year, the town of Dartmouth is proposing an article at Fall Town Meeting to raise the escaped animals fine. Currently, each time an animal escapes the owner is charged $50. The...

Ducks, ducks, go! at the annual duck derby

Some rubber duckies float down the river. Photos by Kat Sheridan

Thousands of rubber ducks floated through the Slocum River to support the environment during the 23rd annual Duck Derby for the Massachusetts Audubon Society. “This is a unique event as it has the whimsy of the rubber ducks,” said Daniel Pedreira,...

Water flushing scheduled

The town of Dartmouth will be flushing water mains from Tuesday, Oct. 13 to Thursday, Nov. 5 between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. During this, they will be moving water at a high speed through the water mains, which helps to remove iron, manganese and...

Cyclists ride through Dartmouth to support Buzzards Bay Coalition

Cyclists cross the Padanaram Bridge on Sunday, Oct. 4. Photos by Grace Roche

Dartmouth saw a stream of bikers, many in brightly-colored kits, throughout Sunday for the Buzzards Bay Coalition Watershed Ride. Riders pedaled through town in support of the coalition’s work to protect and restore clean water in Buzzards Bay...

Kids learn more about Dartmouth emergency services

Two kids explore the fire truck. Photos by Kat Sheridan

Usually, when there are ambulances, police cars, fire trucks and more emergency service vehicles in one parking lot it's because something bad has happened. This time, it was because the town wanted to have a fun day where the community could learn...

Dartmouth to receive millions for sewer system

Senator Mark Montigny announced the state is awarding Dartmouth with $2,265,000 as a part of a $6.5 million state funding grant as a part of Massachusetts Community One Stop for Growth. This grant is for housing and economic development through...

Are you kitten me? Young cats at shelter need homes

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Some were found on a golf cart at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth campus. Others came in from crowded shelters in Florida. But all the kittens now housed at the Humane Society & Shelter SouthCoast share a specific need: Loving homes....

Zoning Board approves nine townhouses

Chris Saunders talking about the project. Photo by Kat Sheridan

The Dartmouth Zoning Board has approved nine townhouses to be built at 200 Cross Road. Each unit will have two bedrooms and a two-car garage. The development needed a number of variances for spacing from the buildings and parking from the road....

Northern Scenic Greenway onto the next step

Northern Scenic Greenway. Source: Sandra Medeiros

The Northern Scenic Greenway, a proposed shared-use path that would connect Westport and New Bedford along Old Fall River Road, now has a contract with a corporation that will survey the property. The town of Dartmouth, along with Westport and...

Fall Town Meeting warrant takes shape

The Fall Town Meeting will be held at the Dartmouth High School.

There will be 17 articles that Town Meeting members will vote on during the Fall Town Meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 20. All of these articles were approved without dissent by the Finance Committee, with the Select Board approving 16 of them without...

Dartmouth Fire District 1 to host open house, building dedication

Dartmouth Fire District 1 will host an open house from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the station at 10 Bridge St. A station dedication will take place at 11 a.m. Features will include fire truck rides, station tours, fire boat and marine unit...

Reduce food waste giveaway

The Greater New Bedford Refuse Management District is giving four Dartmouth residents and four New Bedford residents a set of three glass Pyrex storage containers with lids. This giveaway is a part of their efforts to reduce food waste, as Sept....

UMass student accused of murder, assault held without bail in Providence

Chukwunonso David Uzeoma-Eze at the Providence court. Photo by Kat Sheridan

Chukwunonso David Uzeoma-Eze, the 19-year-old accused of killing Marvins Antoine, is being held without bail in Providence, Rhode Island. Uzeoma-Eze and Antoine were both students at UMass Dartmouth. On Sept. 19, they were at a lounge restaurant...

Nor'easter hits Dartmouth

Apponegansett Beach with some flooding. Photos by Kat Sheridan

The nor'easter that hit the Southcoast late on Friday, Sept. 25 didn't hit as hard as anticipated. Only a few Dartmouth residents lost power, which was restored by Saturday, Sept. 26. Some residents reported flooding, with deep puddles in the...

ICE working in Dartmouth earlier this week

ICE agent in Dartmouth. Source: an anonymous resident

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials were spotted in Dartmouth on Tuesday, Sept. 22 around 8 a.m. During this one person was taken by ICE according to the New Bedford Light, João Ferreira. Ferreira was living in Dartmouth with a...

Transfer station and brush station closed for nor'easter

The transfer and brush stations will be closed on Saturday, Sept. 26 due to the impending storm. The brush station will reopen for its regularly scheduled hours on Monday, Sept. 28 at 7:30 a.m. The transfer station will reopen for its regularly...

Vigil held for UMass student killed

The UMass Dartmouth sign in memory of Marvins Antoine. Photos by Kat Sheridan

Hundreds showed up to remember Marvins Antoine, a freshman member of the football team at UMass Dartmouth who was murdered on Saturday, Sept. 19. “Marvin would have handled every situation that [was] thrown at him, and that’s all we’re asking of...

Weight restrictions for Paskamansett Bridge

The Town of Dartmouth have announced new weight restrictions for Russells Mills Road/Paskamansett River Bridge between Gulf Road West and Chase Road. This is due to an inspection with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. Single unit...

MCAS results announced

The science scores comparatively.

The 2026 MCAS results are in, and Dartmouth was labeled “Not needing assistance intervention” as the school is making “moderate progress toward its goals.” “This release provides one piece of data that Dartmouth Public Schools uses as part of our...

UMass student charged with murder to be tried in Providence

Mugshot of Chukuwnonwo Uzoma-eze. Source: Providence Police Department

UMass Dartmouth student Chukuwnonwo Uzoma-eze, 19, has been charged with the murder of 18-year-old Marvins Antoine, a football player on the UMass Dartmouth team. He also injured Kensley Macean, 19, also on the football team. On Saturday, Sept....

Two UMass athletes stabbed, one dead

The police station. Source: Douglas McCulloch

Two UMass Dartmouth students were stabbed in Providence early on Saturday, Sept. 19. According to WJAR, who talked to the Providence police, the alleged suspect is UMass student Chukuwnonso Uzome-Eze. The two victims were 18-year-old Marvins...

Roadway reconstruction announced

The Town of Dartmouth Public Works will be doing roadway reconstruction from Sept. 21 through Oct. 17 from 6 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The roads undergoing reconstruction are Hixville Road from Shingle Island Bridge (South of HSE#950) to Countryside...

Lloyd Center to help with STEM week activites

The Healey Driscoll Administration awarded seven nonprofit organizations $465,00 for hands-on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) and career exploration. One of the recipients was the Wade Institute for Science Education at Manomet...

Buzzards Bay Coalition offers subsidies to connect to sewer

The Buzzards Bay Coalition is offering a $5,000 subsidy to qualified homeowners to connect to the sewers through its Connect-to-Protect program. “Residential septic systems are the single largest source of nitrogen pollution impacting water...

Town closes deal on Bliss Corner

An excavator near a pile of contaminated soil at the former staging site on McCabe Street. Photo by Chris Shea

The settlement agreement for the superfund site at Bliss Corner has ended, and the Federal Government has given permission for the town to issue payment. The Finance Committee previously approved a reserve fund transfer of $50,000, of the total...

The Hathaway approved by the Zoning Board

David Calhoun thanks the Zoning Board after his project was approved. Photo by Kat Sheridan

The Hathaway, a 280-unit apartment complex, was approved three to zero by the Zoning Board of Appeals on Thursday, Sept. 17. “This is the culmination of the months that we’ve been going back and forth with the applicant and getting input,” said...

Tick talk

A tick. File photo

The rate of tick-borne illnesses has been on the rise, with Alpha-gal now infecting Dartmouth residents. Public health nurse Maura Reimer presented information on the 2025 rates of tick-borne illnesses, with confirmation that the rates are higher...

Planning and Select Board meet to discuss Ballot Question Seven

The Planning Board during the Select Board meeting. Source: DCTV

A ballot question known as Ballot Question Seven for the November election will lower the amount of land for a single family house to 5,000 square feet, which is .12 acres. It states that local Zoning Boards cannot “unreasonably restrict” housing...

Youth Advocate presents future plans

Deloris Joseph. Photo by Abby Van Selous

Deloris Joseph has been the Youth Advocate for the town of Dartmouth for around six years. She presented what she's done this past year to the Select Board during their Monday, Sept. 14, and what she hopes to accomplish in the coming year. Joseph...

Dartmouth High Schools unified sports recognized nationally

The Dartmouth High School Unified Sports teams received a national banner recognition from the Special Olympics of North America. "This is the highest level of recognition that ... a school can receive in the Unified Champion schools program and...

Dartmouth School Committee signs policy on ICE in schools

The Dartmouth School Committee during their Sept. 14 meeting.

Dartmouth High Schools approved a new policy that allows the schools to create procedures when it comes to federal law enforcement officers such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE.) On Aug. 5, Governor Maura Healey passed the Protect Act....

Dartmouth Public Schools welcome 24 new educators

A majority of the new teachers with the School Committee. Photos by Kat Sheridan

The Dartmouth Public Schools welcomed 24 new certified teachers this academic year. “This is the largest class of teachers that we have welcomed into the Dartmouth Public Schools, at least since I’ve been here,” said Superintendent June...

Grange Fair returns for its 132nd year

Produce displayed to be judged. Photos by Kat Sheridan

For 132, the Dartmouth Grange hosted games, homegrown goods and a penny sale with many visiting to explore the fun. Each year, the Grange raises around $6,000 from the fair for things such as the kitchen and events, but also for their scholarship...

Dartmouth High School secures another win in the Battle of Slocum Road

Mason Shurtleff, Rochester, and Henry Almeida go for the ball. Photos by Kat Sheridan

Every year, the two high schools of Slocum Road face off in the first high school football game of the season. For the fourth year in a row, Dartmouth High School won the Battle of Slocum Road against Bishop Stang High School on Friday, Sept. 11....

Dartmouth drought condition improves

The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs announced that drought conditions have improved across the state, with the Southeast being labeled in a Level One Mild Drought. This is down from a Level Two Significant Drought. The office...

Dartmouth Fire Department holds memorial for 9/11

Chief Erick Turcotte holds a moment of silence for the lives lost. Photos by Kat Sheridan

Every year since Sept. 11, 2001, Dartmouth Fire District Two has held a memorial for the victims, specifically the firefighters lost during the attack and since. “We do this every year to commemorate the loss of those people on that day,...

Rates of homeless people rising in Dartmouth

Town hall. Stock photo.

The number of people who are homeless in Dartmouth has increased to around 23 people according to Matthew Dansereau, who does outreach and community engagement for the Council on Aging. The federal government requires that each town get a count in...

Recount confirms Ed Pacheco's victory

The recount in Dartmouth. Photos by Kat Sheridan

After a recount on Wednesday, Sept. 9, it was proven that Edward Pacheco did win the primary election for Ninth District Bristol County State Representative. After the initial primary election on Tuesday, Sept. 1, Steven Medeiros stated that he...

Town and Buzzards Bay Coalition to potentially purchase The Residences at Hawthorne

Cody Haddad speaks on the Paskamansett Valley proposal. Photos by Kat Sheridan

Controversial plans to develop the former Hawthorne Country Club property with 138 units of affordable housing took an abrupt U-turn this week. At the Tuesday, Sept. 9, Select Board meeting, officials unveiled a proposal by the Buzzards Bay...

Dartmouth schools to offer free breakfast

The Dartmouth Schools will now be participating in the School Breakfast Program, as well as the National School Lunch Program. This means the schools will not only provide a free and healthy lunch to students, but due to the implementation of the...