Former police sergeant running for Governor’s Council seat

Jeffrey Gregory, a 22-year veteran of the city’s police department who achieved the rank of sergeant, said he will seek the Democratic nomination for the District 1 Governor’s Council seat being vacated by Carole Fiola.
A resident of Rock Street, Gregory said he feels it is important for the city to continue to hold representation on [...]

Continue Reading...

Swansea School Department to offer survey for parents

Parents who want an easy way to comment on their children’s education will soon be able to go online to let the school department know what’s on their minds.
Available on the school department’s Web site from March 19 to March 26, a questionnaire about school performance titled “School Assessments Parent Survey” will offer a section [...]

Continue Reading...

Westport Special Town Meeting voters show up in droves

Tuesday’s Special Town Meeting attendance was about 7 percent short of an attendance record for the town.
According to the town, 1,456 voters attended, with an overwhelming majority voting in favor of using $141,000 in reserves to fill a school budget deficit and avoid layoffs.
Only once did more people show up for a Town Meeting, according [...]

Continue Reading...

Solicitor defends Tiverton’s current accounting practices

Town Solicitor Andrew Teitz ruled earlier this week that the budget committee’s consideration of the school budget is in accordance with state law.
Teitz gave his response at Monday’s Town Council meeting. The school committee had previously questioned whether the budget committee’s approach to handling the annual appropriation, which called for dividing the figure into two [...]

Continue Reading...

Sutter will announce candidacy for re-election

Bristol County District Attorney Sam Sutter will formally announce his candidacy for re-election on Monday, March 15, at 1:15 p.m. at the Wamsutta Club, 427 County St.
Sutter will review the work his office has done to enhance public safety in Bristol County during his first three-plus years in office and will preview a number of [...]

Continue Reading...

United Way provides free 2-1-1 information service

United Way of Greater Fall River Inc. has teamed up with other United Ways in Massachusetts to provide a free service to the community. 2-1-1 is an easy-to-remember telephone number that connects callers to information about health and human services available in their communities. It serves as a resource for finding government benefits and services, [...]

Continue Reading...

I-195 traffic barriers to be removed in Fall River

Jersey barriers and other traffic restrictions along Interstate 195 will be removed by the end of next week, weather permitting, state officials said.
The installation of ceiling panels and fireproof materials under Government Center is about 95 percent complete, with only some work and cleanup left to be finished, according to Department of Transportation Spokesman Adam [...]

Continue Reading...

Ordinance to protect Copicut properties passes

The Committee on Ordinances and Legislation agreed Wednesday night to send to full City Council adopted regulatory ordinances to protect the private properties of the Copicut Reservoir area.
Several residents have complained of fishermen and others failing to use designated parking areas near the reservoir, instead parking their vehicles in front of homes and in driveways, [...]

Continue Reading...

Westport Orchard takes a bite out of electricity bill

A 110-year-old fifth-generation apple orchard is now one of the most forward-thinking family businesses around, with the addition Wednesday of three wind turbines that are expected to offset nearly all of the farm’s energy use.
“It’s Westport’s first wind farm,” said Paul Gay, the owner of Westport-based Aerostar, which designed the 140-foot turbines for Noquochoke Orchards.
Noquochoke [...]

Continue Reading...

Brazen thieves steal bronze sculpture

A 300-pound bronze sculpture was stolen from the Four Corners Arts Center earlier this week, leaving the local art community wondering who could have committed this heinous act.
Jennifer Sunderland, executive director of the Four Corners Arts Center, said she noticed that “Embrace of Life II” was missing when she drove by the grounds on Main [...]

Continue Reading...