May 2021 Rehoboth Reporter

The Rehoboth

Reporter

MAY 2021 Volume 33, no. 5

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Annual Town Meeting Tuesday, May 11th

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May 2021 The Reporter

Letters to the Editor...

The letters in this section and opinion articles do not reflect the views of the staff of The Rehoboth Reporter. It is not our intent to take sides on any issues, but to present all arguments from all points of view. If your point of view is not represented on an issue, it is only because you have not voiced your opinion. Let us hear from YOU!

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Please Note:

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What Killed the Emerald Square Mall?

I write this with the bittersweet memory of my childhood as the Emerald Square Mall opened in 1989 when I was just 11 years old. My Father took us a day before the grand opening as the G FOX anchor store had opened early. I stood with my face plastered against the glass doors facing the opening gateway of the first-floor main hall as I gasped in disbelief at the long aisle of endless stores. To a child, the Taj Mahal has arrived in my backyard of North Attleboro.

Before the mall arrived, Mom would pack up the old station wagon and drive from South Attleboro down the back roads of Cumberland to THE mall which was the Lincoln Mall. To us kids, this was a visit to Disney World with a multiplex cinema, a pet store with puppies, a cafeteria style steakhouse, a piano store where you could play all the instruments, and a giant video arcade that perfectly represented the awesome 80’s. To us kids, it was a dream outside of the multiple stores of simple apparel.

The Emerald Square Mall for us, was right out of the wonderful Wizard of Oz. In the name alone, my early teenage years along with entrance into Coelho Middle School spoke volumes. We would be dropped off by our parents on a weekend afternoon with only $10 in spending money which would last us for hours upon hours as we strutted down the mall corridor and popped into multiple stores to view the endless eye candy of commerce.

The food court provided us a selection right out of the United Nations with options from Italy, China, Mexico and Burger King. A soda cost 75 cents. Aunt Annie Pretzels was not yet a thing. We had an Orange Julius and a popcorn store and a hard candy outlet which sold 1-pound bags for $1.00. Simply put, the Emerald Square Mall began the 90’s for my generation and started our teenage years.

Now, over 30 years later, the Emerald Square Mall, like most malls in the country, are ready to close their doors. The Swansea Mall and the Silver City Galleria have both died deaths that were predicted. They like most malls were doomed to fail if they stayed the course. They accepted their demise and faded away. Talks of Casinos or condo duplexes were talked about for years. In the end, the talking stopped as they are ready to demolish the buildings for future enterprise.

Now, our Emerald Square Mall, which has been a backdrop of Rt 1 and a constant financial investment by the town, is on its way out. Looking back, I question why and what could have been.

In defense of the mall, COVID 19 has kept the people home. This alone has killed many businesses nationwide. Many stores have had no choice but to close their doors before COVID ends.

Amazon has redefined how we shop for goods. Amazon has been slowly but surely killing Main Street and forcing major corporations to rethink business for over a solid decade. In that time, Amazon has put millions out of business by cutting costs and bringing the product to the home. continued on next page...

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Inside This Issue Business Directory......................68 Church News..............................28 Classifieds...............................67 Club Announcements.................50 Events..............................27 Food & Dining.............................57 Letters..................................5 Library......................................

Blanding........................61

Seekonk.......................59

Mother’s Day...............................34 Obituaries................................63 People.................................40 Rehoboth Ramblings..................66 Rehoboth Town News..................19 School News...............................44

How can we help?

Seekonk Human Services..........54

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Seekonk Town News...................30

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6 The Reporter May 2021

The Rehoboth/Seekonk

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Geographically, the Emerald Square Mall has always been in competition with the three previous malls that pre-existed before them. With the development of the Wrentham Outlets and the Providence Place Mall, Emerald Square dealt with becoming an older, obsolete mall when newer, bigger, and different product lines became available within a ten-mile radius.

As my generation X grew up and became adults, newer generations inherited the internet and the cell phone. The thought of being dropped off at a mall, away from home, is now considered a challenge and something foreign to many younger people. Many malls lost their audience due to the ongoing upgrades in home entertainment and technology.

Finally, failed management helped make the inevitable happen. The Simon Malls have focused on nothing outside of collecting rents from their stores in the last ten years. Few efforts were made to bring people into the malls in the last twenty years.

For example, the Lincoln Mall died in the late 90’s and was recently reborn. They reopened the cinema, added a bowling alley, brought in a trade school, a grocery store, and a Target as an Anchor store.

Granted, other malls did the same to become a gathering place and not just a giant room of stores to shop in. The Swansea Mall turned into a giant flea market of events and welcomed lower end stores to keep the doors opened. It eventually failed.

At times, the Emerald Square Mall brought in celebrities and musical guests such as Joey McIntyre, Jesse the Body Ventura, Selma Gomez, and sports figures like Cam Neely.

Community events like the annual haunted house were huge for us kids in the 90’s. As times went on, less and less events took place as management focused on less community events outside of renting space for an annual carnival.

By default, the Emerald Square Mall has helped the growth of other developments up and down Route 1 that has benefited the community. Several plazas have popped up around the mall which has added to the business sector, but at the same time, hurt the stability of the mall. Geographically, the Lincoln Mall was able to have a re-birth while Swansea, Taunton and North Attleboro were pacing itself to eventually fail and close its doors.

With all this said, I reflect on the past with fond memories. With what could have been, I can only imagine and post blame to defend my fondness for what the Emerald Square Mall meant to many of us.

Soon, the mall will pass away like other store fronts of our youth. Similar to the yellow brick road in the magical world of OZ, the road led the traveler to a great city. The Emerald city. A place where all your dreams would come true no matter who the traveler was. Sadly, my generation has grown up and got old and all the remains is a mall that many do not want or need. Some still see the promise of what the location can become. Others see the loss as their memories from the past fade away.

Frank Durant

ATTENTION MASS RESIDENTS

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The Letters to the Editor and opinion articles do not reflect the views of the staff of The Rehoboth Reporter. It is not our intent to take sides on any issues, but to present all points of view.

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May 2021 The Reporter

Prescribing the Watershed of the Palmer River One of the great natural resources of the Town of Rehoboth is the Palmer River, and of course, its watershed. The term, “watershed”, is intended to define that area of the land surface that collects the natural rainfall sustaining streamflow in the river. Both practically and technically speaking, a watershed is defined by its outflow point or by its contributing area to a collection point. Many a court case hinges on the strict application of this concept, and both the State of Massachusetts and local adjacent municipalities have used it to impose restrictions on lands and waters within our own town border.

Our discussion here, however, will simply discuss boundaries, not the regulatory implications therein.

To begin, the map to the left in our figure shows the outflow point of our principal watershed being at the confluence of the Warren and Barrington Rivers. However, this watershed is subdivided into smaller watersheds or catchments. The Upper Palmer watershed above Shad Factory Dam drains into the Lower Palmer River watershed, into which flows Rocky Run Creek, which drains the Rocky Run watershed. Here the story gets interesting. Where exactly are the boundaries of the Rocky Run watershed? Old maps show that Rocky Run Creek once actively drained the landscape now occupied by Anawan Reservoir (aka Bad Luck Pond) one of our town’s treasures. While the connection to what some prefer to call Anawan Pond has been lost on modern maps, Katie Eyer, a town member invested in a variety of water issues, has recently confirmed that this drainage still persists. This implies that the source region for Rocky Run Creek runs much farther north than most people might realize, and could include Squannakonk Swamp adjacent to New Street, including some of the 431 acres recently donated to the Rehoboth Land Trust by Otis Dyer. Of course, Anawan Pond drains principally to the west and north, complicating our notion of our upcountry catchments.

The bottom line is that we may not know the borders of our watersheds as well as we might think. A particular case of importance is the western portion of the principal Palmer River watershed, where its boundary wiggles in between Rehoboth, Seekonk and Rhode Island. One would hope that by going to official sources in the USGS, the EPA or MassDEP, that there would be one version of the watershed that all agree upon. The case is quite the contrary. As shown in the figure, the right, upper panel, there is significant divergence between two “official” versions of the watershed, both published under different titles by the MassDEP on its GIS website.

In fact, close inspection of the topography on which the boundaries of the watershed are based, reveal that neither one is correct. Ted Providing Orthodontic care in Ballard, our own town’s oracle on all matters related to water, was aware of, and wanted South Attleboro / / Vineyard Haven to straighten out such discrepancies, but (508) 761-5230 / (508) 336-3066 / (508) 693-3766 few seem disposed to pick up his mantle.

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8 The Reporter May 2021

EMS Week – May 16th to May 22nd 2021 46th Annual National EMS Week (NAEMT.org)

Today’s “Hi, how are you?” Can be more than a simple greeting in the time of Covid-19.

From behind their masks, folks will answer whether or not they have had their Covid-19 vaccinations. And if they have, they will perhaps have a story to tell. Keeping healthy is top priority.

What if you have a medical emergency in Rehoboth?

In Rehoboth, when 911 is called for a medical emergency, trained personnel from the Rehoboth Ambulance will respond Advanced Life Support level of care. The paramedics and EMTs have answered 1044 calls in the last year while safely meeting the challenges of Covid-19.

The Rehoboth Ambulance Inc. has been serving Rehoboth since 1954. (A 501 (c) (3) nonprofit) Take time to thank and show your appreciation to the paramedics and Emergence Medical Technicians and the entire EMS workforce especially in your community.

Deborah Craft, A member of the Board of Directors of Rehoboth Ambulance, Inc.

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SCOTT PETERS, PROPRIETOR

My name is Joshua Troiano. On Saturday March 27, at approximately noon my father and I entered Seekonk High School in which we were seeking to watch (and my dad vote) the town meeting. We followed the path into the gymnasium and the two ladies at the table greeted us in a polite manner. They asked for his name and address to confirm he was a registered voter. My father was then handed a yellow slip which would be used to vote and a packet containing general information. We began to turn around and started walking when we were told that only registered voters could enter the meeting which is something that is new as usually all residents in the town could at least view.

Typically, there is a voter’s side and a nonvoters side. All I wanted to do was view the meeting but I, a Seekonk resident who is 15-years-old and is an active participant in town events as well as a sophomore at Seekonk High School was denied entry into a PUBLIC town meeting in which I have a constitutional right to attend as a resident of Seekonk. The lady running the check-in at the town meeting went to get “Lorraine Sorel” to clarify these new rules. Later I found out she is the current Assistant Town Clerk.

She came over to us and explained that “because of Covid” I, (a resident of Seekonk) couldn’t attend a public town meeting and only registered voters could attend. My father and I were disappointed with this and we walked out when Doug Brown (at the time town selectmen candidate) was talking to a police officer right outside the high school and noticed we were walking out. Never meeting him before he joked to us, “That was the quickest town meeting ever.” He was curious to why we were forced out. I told him that I was kicked out since I am not a registered voter. He immediately shared the same frustration with me. He said, “follow me.” and my father and I followed him. He led us back into the gymnasium and he began to express his frustration with the Assistant Town Clerk and mentioned how under the constitution, it was my 1st amendment right to attend this meeting. After he said what Continued on page 10...

May 2021 The Reporter

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10 The Reporter May 2021 he had to, Mrs. Sorel said she would go get Mr. Cadime (current town administrator). Mr. Brown talked to me for a little bit and was kind and humorous. I am thankful that he stood up for me. He got nothing out of this and he knew he wouldn’t as I am not a voter and there were no cameras around. He did it because he knew it was the right thing to do. I admire him for doing it.

Lorraine Sorel never came back and instead minutes later while my dad and I were waiting in the gymnasium, two police officers approached us and explained the same thing that since Covid-19 I can’t enter the meeting and only my dad can. We said “ok.” and we left the area while being escorted out by police and then went home. Still many questions remained. Did Lorraine Sorel go get Mr. Cadime? And if she did then Mr. Cadime, did you have the police escort me (15-year-old teenager) and my father out of a public town meeting and not come to us and explain to me face to face why you are denying me my right to watch the meeting? Did Lorraine th Sorel even go get Mr. Cadime or did she go right to the two police officers and ask them to remove us from the area? These questions should be answered. Why was I tossed to the side like a peasant and kicked out of the meeting by the police? Since Covid-19 exists do I not get to exercise my right to go to this meeting? There voter check-in will begin at 6:00PM is nothing in the town by-laws that prohibits me from entering the to be held at meeting. I ask you Mr. Cadime and Mrs. Sorel to please answer Ramada Inn - Ballroom these questions. I am sure Mr. Cadime and Mrs. Sorel are good (Formerly the Johnson and Wales Inn) people, but I am worried about them holding office in town if this 213 Taunton Avenue (Route 44) is how they treat their residents and constituents. I ask for nothing Seekonk, MA 02771 but answers. Logistically, even with seats being spread out I wasn’t Per the Board of Health in Seekonk, mask coverings are mandatory at the taking anyone’s seat. There were only 78 people there and still Ramada Inn. All attendees will be seated six feet apart during the meeting. plenty of room. I would have just viewed and sat quietly listening to These procedures are also mandated by Governor Baker. the discussion. Instead, town leaders invoked Covid to trample my Thank you for your cooperation! rights. I would have understood if I was going to take a registered voters seat if I were to go in, but that was not the case. Anyone who was there can attest that there was plenty of room. Just not for me. I hope this never happens to anyone and those who have read this learn more about who their leadNEW NAME, NEW LOCATION... SAME GREAT SERVICE ers really are. This is not the end, I will be attending the next town meeting and will be asking town leader questions on this matter. I was advised by some to sue but I don’t seek money or revenge. I seek transparency and Democracy from our local leaders.

The following week on Wednesday I went to the town selectmen meeting where the five selectmen and the town administrator (Mr. Cadime) to ask why I was forced out by the police. During the “Community Speaks” section of the meeting one gentleman went up to speak and then I was planning to but when I raised my hand to go up and speak I was ignored and the meeting continued without me given the opportunity to speak. Justin Sulivan, the Chairperson of the Town Selectmen ran the meeting and never even asked if anyone else had anything to say. He carried on the meeting without giving me the opportunity to speak and have my answers, as a town resident answered. On the website it did say and I quote, “Public comments and questions may also be submitted to the Board in advance of the meeting by completing the Google Form below prior to the meeting by Tuesday, March 30, 2021 by 4:30 PM. “ As you can see there was also an option to have your question submitted online but it said you could “also” implying that you would still have the option to do the traditional going up to the podium and speaking. However, that was not given to me.

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May 2021 The Reporter

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The Reporter May 2021 I tried to give the town officials the benefit of the doubt but not only did they not allow me to watch a public meeting and escort me out like a peasant using the police, they also silenced my voice in trying to ask a question for accountability. We need answers. I didn’t want to do this publicly but since the town selectmen, town moderator, town administrator, and town clerk have no public emails on the town of Seekonk page, I figured going to local news outlets for others to hear was the next viable option. I think this is important to hear and be aware of what our local “leaders” did to me, a young boy interested in how town politics work. The lack of transparency is concerning as these officials are paid through our tax money and therefore should serve us, not treat us like peasants and throw me out of a public town meeting. To those who may believe this is not a big deal, that day it was me, but tomorrow it could be you.

Thank you, Joshua Troiano

To The Seekonk Board of Selectmen & Town Administration

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Please consider the effects of continuing to borrow money without setting a percentage of outstanding debt balances.

The articles asking for, yet another School project and the Library should NOT go before the need for a DPW Facility, first. Do we need a new Library? Yes, we do but not a 19 million dollar one.

Do we need a sports complex? No but it would be nice to have it.

It is just not a priority currently.

Second, telling citizens it will only increase your tax bill by…… per month is not the answer any longer. Per month, per year for the life of all the loans is a long-term affect and it hits our senior population worst. When forecasting projects should not the outstanding continued on page 14...

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May 2021 The Reporter

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balances (plus interest) be a consideration? The public does not even know about the interest amounts.

It is understood that the Town needs to carry some debt balances for favorable credit ratings and bond standings. What happens when all these families buying new homes cannot afford them any longer? Or what happens when families move here for employment purposes and not longevity? A 12-year education service to those families does not even last the life of one loan. Who is left to pay “everything” off? The PERMANENT resident. The Lifers, all on fixed incomes. How is this fair?

You are the Executive Board. Please start making decisions based on the need for the entire town and not just one or two segments of it. Everyone knows the Library and the School Department carry votes but the people who are permanent residents here are the most loyal because they continue to pay the bills. They are not here for any other purpose but living out their lives. Do not make them choose between possessing their homes and foreclosure.

Before you vote in favor of anything, think long term and the financial survival of the ENTIRE Town. Hold Elected Officials accountable to us, the Voters.

Doreen Taylor Seekonk, MA

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I would like to thank the Lorax in our community who are speaking for our trees and natural places. Marsha Hood’s letter on the proposed Camp Buxton solar project was incredibly informative and raised many important questions. Leslie Patterson’s column is always a welcome read, but I was particularly grateful for April’s message.

And, of course, the folks at SaveRehoboth. org deserve a shout out for their hard work.

I concur wholeheartedly that while solar energy projects may be laudable, our green space needs to take priority. I have only lived in Seekonk for 5 years but lived nearby (in Pawtucket) for many years prior. Being able to find lush green farmed fields and thickly wooded areas within biking distance of crowded Pawtucket was wonderful. It is what made Seekonk and Rehoboth different, and special. Sadly, I have watched that change as housing development after housing development has replaced farms and tracts of woodland. Eventually, our towns will be just another suburban sprawl, lacking in character and detrimental to the overall environment.

I realize people need places to live and developers have a right to develop, but we should do what we can to preserve our beautiful natural places. For ourselves, for the plants and animals that inhabit these spaces, for an eco-system we are only beginning to fully understand. If indeed there has been a conservation trust offering to preserve this land, why in the world would that not be the way to go?

By the time I write this, on Earth Day, the Camp Buxton project may be a done deal, but I hope not. I hope the town of Rehoboth finds a way to save this tract of land.

Respectfully, Rachel Bates Seekonk, MA

May 2021 The Reporter

#SUPPORTDPW

Have you ever wondered what happens to a loan amount once Town Meeting approves it? Picture sitting in the auditorium listening to the sales pitch, because basically that is what it is. “We need $250,000 to study the concept of installing turf on Connelly Field at the High School.” This of course was not a loan to borrow but instead money drawn from our Free Cash Account. Still, a resource of money gone.

The study conclusion is drawn and now we have a request coming for turf plus a rebuild of the Mooney Track, concessions, etc. All to the tune of $2,700,000.00. This will be no doubt a loan to which taxpayers will be told, “it will only cost you a few dollars per month over the course of 20 years.” Seriously? First it was presented as turf. Turf for the football field. Now it has grown into a Sports Complex. With our money! Let me know when the name is changed to Gillette South.

Does anyone recall the need for a new DPW Facility? I do.

They were listed as a priority 3+ years ago. It has taken less time to “fast track” the rebuild (not expand) Aitken Elementary School $10,000,000.00 later.

What we have seen is unfair to the Town in its entirety. When you look at the need to replace service equipment annually and the price tag of all the equipment parked at DPW it is ridiculous to think any other project could be more important.

The narrow mindedness and tunnel vision of the School and Town Leaders playing on the emotions of parents and students above the needs of the entire town is too much to bear.

The conditions within DPW should be condemned. The employees there and the services they provide to everyone are being ignored. Yet for the sake of rebuilding (not expanding) an elementary school for approximately $10,000,000.00, turf and more priced at $250,000.00 + $2,700.000.00, a library asking for $19,000,000 with only a minimal of $7,500,000 reimbursed if the funding is available, maybe seems more important than the health and wellbeing of those employed at DPW and all the service equipment there. Not to me.

How about we switch buildings? The Library can move to DPW and DPW can move to the Library. Or maybe we can juggle School Administration to DPW, and a new service area can be located on Water Lane. Add a few garages and school grounds and town services are all in one place.

You are sitting back thinking this writer has lost her mind. You are probably right but have you been inside DPW? Have you walked through what is left of that building?

Have you seen the deplorable working conditions? Would the Library be satisfied at that location? NO Would School Administration be satisfied? NO. Until DPW gets “fast tracked” to the head of the line, this voter is NOT supporting any further building, renovation, expansion, or whatever projects. No matter how it gets “fast tracked”.

When you consider the health and wellbeing of our employees and the expense of keeping all our service equipment in the condition it should be kept in, fields, libraries, and anything else they want must wait.

The Library and the Schools are functioning.

DPW is surviving. Barely.

Doreen Taylor Seekonk, Mass

15

Thank You for Your Support!!

I want to thank everyone who helped with my campaign for Rehoboth’s Town Clerk. I truly know and have met some amazing people who put their all in for me during my run. I am forever grateful. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I also want to congratulate all the candidates.

Sincerely, Kelly J. Hathaway

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The Reporter May 2021

Why Seekonk Needs a New Library: Now!

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“I am for a new library, just not now” is a comment frequently heard. It reminds me of my Mother when she didn’t want to say “no” and would say instead: “we’ll see”; but as kids, we knew what that meant. The fact is: we do need a new library, and we need one now. Here are a few reasons why.

Anyone in the building trades appreciates that building costs are not going down any time soon – do they ever? The cost of steel for example has increased over 40%. The longer we wait, the more it will cost.

Another good reason for “why now” is that the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) awarded Seekonk a construction grant of $7.3M towards the new library. This is 37% of the overall cost of $19.6M – which includes all expenses, including tearing down the existing building. It is our money to lose. And while construction costs may go up, the grant award is fixed. Building now means the state money covers a greater share of the overall cost. Plus, the state grant cycle is decades in time, not years. This is a once in a generation opportunity. If we turn this grant money down, it could be a long time before we have the opportunity for state funding again. The last time Seekonk participated in the grant cycle was in 2000.

The existing library is in need of major repairs and renovations.

Our town’s DPW team has assessed over $2M required – as a start.

The HVAC system is past end of life and is not COVID compliant.

This winter, the library closed for a time because there was no heat.

Ironically, when the library also had to close because of COVID-19, patrons thought it was just another problem with the building.

A leaky roof has caused walls to crumble. The electrical and mechanical systems are outdated. An unstable foundation has caused the outside shingles to splinter, windows and doors to shift and leak and roof-based drainage problems. We need a new library now because throwing good money after bad just doesn’t make sense.

Repairs may strap the building together for a few more years, but we need a new library now because this one no longer meets the needs of the community. The library collections are not fully accessible. The children’s room doesn’t accommodate story time or other children’s programming. There is no teen space for collections or programming, or places for quiet conversations, group study, meetings. Lack of space constrains access to and the introduction of new technology, resources for seniors, small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Our library is the heart of our community. It is one of the most widely used services in town. Every dollar of town tax invested in our library brings a return of $4.42. This is great value for just 1.75% of our total town taxes.

COVID-19 highlighted how important our library is to Seekonk.

It is one place in town welcoming to all. But the too small, deteriorating building constrains the greater good that the library could bring to taxpayers. Imagine the impact that could come from a new library designed to meet today’s programs and services and those of tomorrow.

We need a new library now because quite simply the existing one is falling apart, and the square footage no longer accommodates the library programs and services that the town demands.

There isn’t space to build out, and the structural issues don’t support going up.

Our town continues to grow. Libraries evolve. They aren’t just a warehouse of books anymore. The modern library is a resource and a community center for everyone. Libraries have always been and will continue to be a unique and essential part of the American story. We need to make sure our town has a library that meets the needs of taxpayers today and helps those growing up to meet the challenges of their future.

For the price of a cup of coffee – we can say “LibrarYES !”, instead of “we’ll see”. Plan to go to the Town Meeting on May 10th and vote yes for the new library. Let your voice be heard.

Anne Miller Taxpayer for a New Seekonk Public Library

May 2021 The Reporter

JOIN US

and the rest of Seekonk Taxpayers for a New Library and Support

The Initiative for a New Seekonk Public Library Seekonk.voteyesforourlibrary.org Come out to the Town Meeting on Monday, May 10 at 7:00 pm at the Seekonk High School!

And vote yes for the project!

Sara Alberti Adria Alfano Nelson Almeida John Alves David Amaral Gail Amaral Joy Anderson Jeannette Arrighi Jessica Attar Matthew Attar Ben Averill Heather Baldassi John Barbary Sandra Barbary Bernard Beauchemin Patricia Beauchemin Donna Berg Deborah Block Ian Boisvert Jennifer Boisvert Jessica Boisvert Brigham Brough Dianne Burns Dawn Campbell Philip Campbell Bill Cardoza Ray Chauvin Elaine Choate Leslie Clark William Clark Barbara Connors Joanne Cook Katherine Corbett Ann Corry Patricia D’Almeida Averill Patricia Dalton Bonnie DeBlois

Beth Dench Alicia DeSilva Maureen Di Pietro Debra Donahue Liz Downing Paul Dunn Deborah “Alex” Dunwoodie Kristine Durkay Ashleigh Echevarria Esther Entin Donna Euell Linda Ferreira Rachel Fischer Alison Fitzgerald Patrick Fitzgerald Maureen Fitzpatrick-Joyce David Flaxman Debbie Foisy Armand Frechette Irene Frechette Mary Ellen Fuller Robert Fuller Steven Gendreau Sabrina Gentlewarrior Carl Gibeau Ann-Marie Gillett Frederick “Bo” Gillett Paul Given Julia Gold Deborah Gorman Frances Gorman David Goudreau Lars Grant-West Jamie Greene Theodore Greene Philip Gruppuso David Halpin

Kathleen Halpin Linda Halpin William Harley Sharon Harrington James Hayes Karen “K.C.” Hess Caroline Hindle Edward Hindle Ellen Hindle Michelle Hines Kaitlin Holme Maria Holme Mark Holme Zachery Holme Lisa Hopkins John Hopkins Rachel Hurd Season James Andrew Jencks Beatrice Jette Sean Kane Linda Karewa Robert Karewa Charlotte Karikas Frank Karikas Janet Katz Kathleen Keenaghan Carol Keiser Raymond Keiser Kamran Khan Andrea Kumlin Susan Lagalle Jacklynn Lantry Sarah Jane Lapp Kathleen Leddy Richard Lescault Maura Letourneau

Patricia Libby Amanda Lopez Henry Lopez Janice Lunghi Katherine Lussier Kristin Lyons Donald MacManus Lydia MacManus Martha Manno Danielle Margarida Jackie Marovelli Sinead Marovelli John Marovelli Gerard McCabe Marie McCarron Michelle McCarthy-Mello Margaret McGowan Rose McHale Kate McClintock Millie McClintock Bridget McNamara Edward Medeiros Elisa Medeiros Maurice Messier Anne Miller Suzanne Miller Luis Mota Phyllis Mulholland Cynthia Mullen David Mullen Charlene Mullen John Mulligan Sherry Mulligan Kathleen Murray Joseph Murray David Murphy

Paid for by the Friends of the Seekonk Public Library

Tracey Murphy Sarkis Najarian Victoria Najarian LaNon Neary Robert Nicholas Joe Novinson Michael Novinson Jeanne O’Neill Paul Ott William Ott Donna Paine Elizabeth Paquette Robert Pardini Kristin Pendergast Margaret Pilato Kaleigh Pimble Mary Beth Pilon Rosanne Pinto Amanda Pitta Patricia Pomerleau Michael Pomerleau Glen Powers Maureen Powers Wendy Preston Stephen Propatier Jacqueline Proulx Jennifer Proulx Brynne Putney Kristin Putney Sandra Read Michael Rego Maureen Rego Stacie Reilly Robert Richard Brian Rickard Beverly Rogers Cheryl Rosenholm

Janet Roy Adam Ruthowski Susan Rutter George Ryder Caitlin Saharek Kara Salit David Salit Martha Sanders Ruth Santos Sonig Schiller Debbie Topol-Shein Edward Shein Paul Shield Renee Shield Lauren Sicard Lenny Silva Nancy Silva Sarah Silva Jennifer Simmons Liesse Slemon Kimberly Sluter Matthew Sluter Jack Small Kristina Small Mary Small Joanne Smith Jenna Sousa Elizabeth Spencer David Spencer Julia Spencer Patricia Sroka Paul Sroka Eva Stehle Lori Suher Steven Suher Ana Sykes Stephen Szydlowski

Jeff Taylor Sindi Terrien Kathleen Thibodeau Thomas Thibodeau Sandra Tomei Martha Torrance Carolyn Totolo Kerri Townsend Adam Trahan Mary Troy Peter Troy Dora Truong Ivy Tumlinson Hope Turenne Robert Turenne Sarah Turkus Joanne Varjabedian Cesar Vera Ellen Vermette Susan Waddington Diane Wald Nancy Walters Joan Webb Thompson Webb Carolyn Welch Carolyn Wentworth Paul Wentworth Ann Whitelaw Denise Whitelaw Mary Whittaker Catherine Wilcox Eric Williams Marjorie Woodhams Thomas Woodhams Kenneth Zirkel Virginia Zoppo

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18

The Reporter May 2021

Saying Goodbye

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It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to Francis Farm as we knew it. After leaving there in July 2014 I had always hoped the new owner could make it work. I had even hoped to go back one day and help the new owner kick start it again. That day never came.

I suppose because of the pandemic it never really stood a fair chance. It was a wonderful place to be.

The Public Clambakes always brought friends and family together.

Especially the Father’s Day Bake, as it sold out every time. I have met so many people and shared many laughs and jokes around the tables.

Mr. & Mrs. Overlock who attended each Bake and sat in the same spot each time were great people. The Bake Masters had the timing down to a science too.

The kitchen prep was overseen by a wonderful lady by the name of Kilma. Working together with her we could figure out how many pounds of potato, onions and sausage was needed, we calculated it all out and Kilma had it well under control. The Banquet Manager, Jean, was always the first on site in the early morning hours setting up tables and chairs, organizing the kitchen and staff. The Chief Cook, Bill got the chowder going and mixed the clam cake batter and Aimee, had the bar area fully stocked and ready to go.

The best part of working there were the teammates. I had the privilege of watching kids grow. They worked hard, it was messy, but they always came through. They have accomplished a great deal in becoming successful. Those “kids” made Francis Farm a success. The best part is they came from Rehoboth, Dighton and neighboring towns that understood the history and the want to regain what once was again. From 2003-2014 it was working well.

To all those “kids” Shailyn, Daria, Matt, Mike, Cassidy, Emily, Hannah, and Savita to name just a few, thank you. It was fun.

To Ken Jr., Kevin, Keith, Paula, and Linda, it was a privilege. Francis Farm will always be remembered as home. I guess that is why they are called memories. Save the good ones.

Doreen Taylor Seekonk, MA

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Shocking

Some towns are considering banning the sale of liquor “nips” - those small plastic or glass bottles containing about 50 mls of liquor.

A reason cited by the proponents is that these small bottles wind up as litter along roadsides.

As a member of Seekonk’s Recycling Committee and a regular cyclist - I decided to do a count. On Sunday 3/21/21, I did my usual 12-mile circuit in South Seekonk and adjacent Rehoboth. My bike path is along residential and farm areas. Some of the streets include Cole, Fieldwood, Miller, Bradley, Lincoln, Lake-Summer, Wheeler, Water, Reed, North Wheaton, Allen-Almeida, and Willard.

I ride with the flow of traffic so my study involved only the right side of the roadway. Well, in 12 miles I counted a shocking 134 bottles.

This number averages to more than 11 containers per mile. Of course, they were not evenly distributed. Nips tended to be tossed out along empty lots, wooded areas and farm lots.

Should we ban the sale of nips? Well, there are pros and cons, but they do appear to be a significant part of the litter problem.

Paul R. Coutu South Seekonk

May 2021 The Reporter

Rehoboth Town News From the Clerk

Hello All ~ Happy May! – The Spring flowers are here, birds are back, and the leaves have popped ~ yippee! If it is May, it must be Tax Day . . . as a reminder, quarterly taxes were due Monday, May 3rd.

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Thank you ~ thank you ~ thank you Rehoboth for allowing me to Laura Schwall serve the Town of Rehoboth for another three years. I thank you for your vote! You all know I absolutely love my job and look forward to continuing to make Town Government more accessible to the voters and residents in the years to come. I would like to thank the 1,788 of the 9,804 registered voters for coming out to vote at our April 6, 2021 Annual Town Election. We had 18% voter participation this year, which is up from 15% participation last year (2020) and 8% voter participation in 2019. Congratulations to Bill Cute-Moderator; Mike Deignan and George Solas-Selectman; Susan Taylor-Assessor; Katie Ferreira-Aubin and Victoria Silvia-School Committee; Paul Jacques for Housing Authority; Patrick Landry-Planning Board; Sandra Parris-Parks Commission; Dave Perry-Stormwater Officer, Rob Johnson-Tree Warden, and Tom Nicholson for Water Commission. If you are interested in the final official results, they can be found on the town website @ https:// www.rehobothma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif4911/f/uploads/tally-ate-4-6-2021-official-final.pdf For the April 6, 2021 Annual Town Election, we were required to change our Polling Locations in Rehoboth for a third time within a year due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and the catastrophic loss of the Senior Center/Precinct 2 last September. As a result, our new polling location was D.L. Beckwith Middle School. The comments regarding voting at the Middle School were very positive and I would like to thank the DRRSD Administration, School Committee, Beckwith Middle School Administration, Staff, Students and Custodians for your help in running a safe and secure election! Thank you also, Mike Costello and the Highway staff for paving the exit walkway of the polling location for the safety of our voters. continued on next page...

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The Reporter May 2021

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Speaking of thank you . . .

Thank You!!! ~ Election Workers, Registrars, Police, Fire, Highway, Constables, Election Equipment Staff, M&S Cleaners & Town Clerk’s Office Staff I would personally like to thank the many people who participated in our April 6, 2021 Annual Town election and for helping us make sure the election ran smoothly. From the Wardens, Clerks, Inspectors, Constables, Police, Fire, Highway Department, Registrars, Set-Up Crew and Town Clerk staff, we were able to hold our fourth Election during a pandemic without a case of COVID-19 being traced back to the Town Election. Thank you for all your hard work.

There is no way we could have an election without the wonderful help of you all ~ thank you for all you do for so many! Thank you also Sara and Billy for the delicious Vinos meals and thank you Aaron (M&S Cleaners) for sanitizing the Middle School after we left the building. On a Personal Note: I would like to thank the Election Workers and Sheila Bouchard for the beautiful flowers and lovely card they presented at the end of the Election night. The flowers were gorgeous for almost two-weeks and I will treasure the well wishes on your card forever. Thank you all for your support, time, dedication, and true passion of assuring our elections are run safely, professionally, securely, and expeditiously. The Town of Rehoboth is truly fortunate to have the entire Election staff working on their behalf. Thank you all for your generosity and kind words ~ Laura.

Annual Town Meeting

Now is the time to have your voice heard. Rehoboth voters have been notified, through delivery of the Special/Annual Town Warrant to their home on Saturday, May 1, 2021 that the date for upcoming Town Meeting will be Tuesday, May 11, 2021 at the Ramada Inn Ballroom (Formerly the Johnson and Wales, Inn) 213 Taunton Avenue (Route 44), Seekonk, MA 02771 beginning at 7:00 pm.

Per the Board of Health in Seekonk, face coverings are mandatory at the Ramada Inn. These procedures are also mandated by Governor Baker. Thank you for your cooperation.

The last day for Voter Registration, to be eligible to participate in the Special/Annual Town Meeting, was Friday, April 30, 2021.

The Town Clerk’s Office was open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on April 30th to accommodate last minute registrations. As always, if you would like to register to vote, or change your party affiliation, you may go to the Secretary of State’s Election Division any time, 24/7, by going to www.RegisterToVoteMA.com and complete the voter registration form online. However, if you were not registered

by Friday, April 30, 2021, you will not be able to vote in the May 11, 2021 Town Meeting. If you would like to check your voter status (active or inactive), you may also go to: https://www.sec.state. ma.us/VoterRegistrationSearch/MyVoterRegStatus.aspx and see if your registration is active and what precinct you vote in.

Annual Town Census

The Rehoboth Annual Town Census reflects our current population total, which as of April 10, 2021 is “officially” 12,977. That is an increase of 55 residents over last year’s “official” population figure of 12,922. After calls to households from our Registrars, we still have 571 census forms, out of 5,406 forms that were mailed in January, which have not been returned (Precinct I = 167 non respondents; Precinct II = 185 non respondents, and Precinct III = 219 non respondents). Thank you to the 4,835 residents (89.44%) who have returned their 2021 Town Census forms. For the remaining 10.56% or 571 residents, please send in your census/street listing forms as soon as possible ~ thank you. I anticipate the Street Listings being available mid-late May for those of you who like to purchase them for $15. Please call our office before heading up to town hall to see if the Street Listings have arrived so you don’t waste a trip. I would like to thank Assistant Town Clerk, Lynn Shaker, Administrative Aide, Odete Lacourse and the Registrars

May 2021 The Reporter Helene Vitale, Jenn Moitozo, and Kathy Conti for your help with processing the almost 5,000 census forms. We all had another busy and successful Census season ~ thank you!

2021 Dog Licenses

Dog licenses are due and payable on April 1st of each year.

Thank you to the 1,400+ dog owners who have already renewed their dog’s 2021 license. Any dog license not paid by May 31st will be assessed a $15.00 per dog late fee in addition to the license fee(s). Yearly we offer dog owners a 60-day grace period to pay their dog’s licenses without charging a late fee; however, we must now impose those fees effective June 1st. The Town has incurred the expense of sending out over seven hundred reminder postcards to those dog owners who have not paid their dog’s 2021 license in the hopes we would avoid having to impose late fees. You may renew your dog license online, by mail, or in person. Currently we have 855 dogs that are unlicensed; we hope to hear from their owners soon. Please renew your dog’s license as soon as possible and definitely before May 31st to avoid the late fees. Thanks so much!

Anyone having questions regarding any of the above information may call the Town Clerk’s Office at 508-252-6502, X3109, X3112 or X3110 or e-mail me at LSchwall@town.rehoboth.ma.us . In closing, I would like to wish a Happy Birthday to Assistant Town Clerk ~ Lynn Shaker, who celebrates her birthday in May. In addition, Lynn, Odete and I wish a Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms in Rehoboth. We also wish everyone a healthy and safe Memorial Day. Hopefully by Memorial Day the weather will be rain free and absolutely perfect. Most importantly, on Memorial Day, please remember to honor all those who made the ultimate sacrifice to secure our country and protect its citizens. Finally, thank you again for your continued support and the opportunity to serve another three years as Rehoboth’s Town Clerk. Please have a happy and safe month of MAY! ~ Laura ~

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Please visit our website www.rehobothblizzardofgiving.org for more information.

If you are in need of support to celebrate your child’s birthday..... please provide the following information or use the form available on the website- two weeks notice is required for assistance with birthday celebrations so please provide ample notice: • Parent/Guardian’s name, address, email, phone • Child’s name, gender, birthdate, general interests This information can be emailed to Mrs.mbrawley@gmail.com Or mailed to Maureen Brawley, 35 Reynolds Ave., Rehoboth, MA 02769. If you have any questions please call 508-252-4867.

The Rehoboth Blizzard of Giving, Inc. is committed to serving the community by providing Christmas gifts, holiday support, and special occasion needs to Rehoboth residents who are facing challenging times in their lives. Donations can be made out to “Rehoboth Blizzard of Giving, Inc.” and mailed to: Rehoboth Blizzard of Giving, Attn: Cathy Edington, 61 Reservoir Ave., Rehoboth, MA 02769 Colleen McBride, Secretary Rehoboth Blizzard of Giving, Inc.

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The Reporter May 2021

Attention Rehoboth Residents: MassDEP and UMass are Providing Free Water Testing For Rehoboth Residents

MassDEP is offering private well owners an opportunity to receive free testing for PFAS compounds in communities where 60% or more of the consumers use private wells, like Rehoboth. The link to apply for free sampling is https://dwp-pfas.madwpdep.org. For

more information about the program, see their FAQ (https://www. mass.gov/doc/freguently-asked¬guestions-about-the-massdepprivate-wells-pfas-sampling-program/download). You may also call 413.545.7327 to receive a kit.

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I would like to commend the Planning Board and the Water Commission for their diligence in working to protect Rehoboth’s groundwater. I hope the residents approve the proposed revisions to the Groundwater Protection Bylaw. However, I would like to clarify a few things that were stated in a letter last month. While the majority of wells in town are drilled into the bedrock, I don’t think they actually represent 99%. Of course, the author may just have been generalizing, not meaning that as an accurate number. Neither the Town, nor the State, has records of all the wells in Rehoboth, so no one really knows how many of each type there are.

The oldest houses in town originally had wells dug by hand and lined with field stones, or in some cases, water came from a spring. After the advent of machines, wells could be dug with a clamshell or something similar, and lined with concrete tiles. Wells drilled into the bedrock mostly came later, and there are also point wells. Point wells consist of a smaller diameter pipe, with a strainer on the end, which is driven into the sand and gravel aquifer. I know of all of these types of wells still in use in town.

I have been on the Board of Health since 2008, and I am not aware of ever having a discussion or making a determination as to a bedrock well having better purity than any other type. There is also no regulation that I know of that requires a bedrock well to be put in. There is a requirement for any new lot to have a source of potable water before a new house can be built. People opt to drill a well because it usually represents the best way to get a steady supply of water. In Rehoboth, that doesn’t mean it’s the best tasting water! Much of the water from the bedrock is loaded with iron, manganese, graphite, and other minerals that can make it look, taste, and smell bad. The dug wells, springs, and point wells are often more likely to have good tasting water.

May 2021 The Reporter Any well, dug, drilled or whatever, can become contaminated with bacteria. Residents should have their water tested periodically to ensure a safe drinking water supply, regardless of what kind of well they have.

Many of the dug and point wells have been replaced with drilled wells, especially in the last few years. The two main reasons for this are drought, and increased water usage. We have seen more drought in the past decade or two, and a substantial drop in the winter snowpack that is critical to recharging the groundwater. Many dug and point wells that had never gone dry in the past, have now done so. People also use a lot more water than they used to. Saturday night baths have been replaced with daily, or even twice daily,showers, more laundry, car washing, topping off of swimming pools etc., not to mention irrigation systems. Yards used to go dormant in the summer, and no one cared. It just meant you didn’t have to mow for a while. Many people now seem to think that yards should be lush and green all summer, regardless of how much water it wastes.

Bristol County has already been declared to be in a significant drought, and the Health Agent reports that recent perc tests show the water table well below normal for this time of year. This is not a good sign for the upcoming summer. Residents should try to pay attention to how much water they are using and conserve. Also be careful what is disposed of down the drain. Anything dumped in the sink or toilet ends up in the groundwater at some point. We all get our water from the ground in one way or another.

We all need to work to protect it.

Rachel Smith Chairman, Rehoboth Board of Health

Rehoboth Animal Shelter News

The cat of the month at the Rehoboth Animal Shelter is Leon. He is a large black and white neutered male cat with tons of energy. He loves to be petted and cuddled and sleep on a bed, and also loves to run and jump, playing with anything that he can bat around. He seems to intimidate other cats, but dogs do not faze him.

He might do well with an active family, or as an indoor/outdoor cat.

More information about Leon and other adoptable pets is at Petfinder.com. You can also call the shelter and leave a message at 508-2525421 to learn more, make an appointment, or report a lost or found pet.

Leon

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Be On the Lookout for Bagworms!

By Linda McHugh

There’s a fairly new villain in our area, and it’s coming after your trees and bushes.

Bagworms’ favorite victims are junipers, arborvitaes, cedars and spruces, but they will happily destroy maples and just about anything else.

The cocoons or “bags” in the photo were created by female bagworm moths last Fall. Into each bag a female laid up to 1,000 eggs. Then they cleverly camouflaged the bags with bits of the host plant. At only 1-2 inches long, and half as wide, they are easy to miss. In mid to late Spring the eggs will hatch into pin head sized black larvae that are very hungry. After they have defoliated their host tree, they spin silk threads to use as parachutes to reach nearby trees, where they will spin a new bag for themselves. By late Summer, they have metamorphosized into adult moths. The males mate with the wingless females, eggs are laid, and the cycle continues.

Now is the time to destroy the bags before the eggs hatch. The most effective method is to hand cut them from the host

plant, and submerge them in a bucket of hot, soapy water. If the eggs have already hatched, you can apply the bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis with a garden sprayer every 7-10 days until they are eliminated. As a last resort, Ortho Tree & Shrub insect killer is effective while they are still young.

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The Reporter May 2021

Rehoboth to Vote on Buying Francis Farm

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By Joe Siegel Voters at the May 11 annual town meeting will have to decide whether or not to approve the town’s purchase of Francis Farm for use as a senior center. The meeting will be held at 7 pm in the ballroom of the Ramada Inn at 213 Taunton Avenue in Seekonk. All attendees will be required to wear masks and remain six feet apart during the meeting.

The article reads in part: To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to purchase, acquire, or take by eminent domain, and to appropriate $2.8 million dollars to fund said purchase or taking, along with all necessary legal and engineering and renovation costs, that certain parcel of land totaling approximately 42.02 acres, as more fully shown on that plan entitled “Land Owned by Francis Farm, Inc. Rehoboth, Massachusetts.

Primary funding for the purchase and upgrades to existing facilities will come from insurance proceeds received after fire destroyed the previous Council on Aging building last September. Selectmen explained the purchase of this property and buildings will not raise real estate taxes.

A separate article calls for the establishment of a senior center stabilization fund. It reads: To see if the Town will vote to establish a special purpose stabilization fund under MGL Chapter 40 Section 5B to reserve for expenditures related to (i) acquisition of interests in land or building(s) for a senior center; (ii) acquisition of tangible assets, including equipment or furniture for a senior center (iii) or the undertaking of capital projects that have a useful life of at least 5 years for a senior center, including building renovations, expansion, construction and land acquisitions related thereto; and (iii) the payment of debt service on capital purchases and projects related to the senior center, whether the projects were approved prior to or after the effective date of this article; and further to raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds a sum of money to said stabilization fund; or to take any other action relative thereto..

Another warrant article will ask voters to authorize $995,000 to purchase the land and building located at 340 Anawan Street to Licensed & Insured serve as the Town Office Building.

The warrant explains why voters should approve the article: The intent of this purchase is to establish a new Town Hall. This building is well-suited in both its proximity to the center of town and in physical size to accommodate the needs of town government. The Board of Selectmen and Finance Committee have been working for two years to find a solution which will meet the needs for the new office space without raising taxes. We are fortunate to have identified 340 Anawan Street as the solution. The source of funds is savings accrued in the FY21 Operating Budget and reoccurring revenue from the solar and cannabis projects in town. The purchase of this property and building will not raise real estate taxes.

The complete warrant can be accessed on the town website: https://www.rehobothma.gov.

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May 2021 The Reporter

Memorial Day

Unfortunately, this year’s Parade has been CANCELLED due to the constraints of Covid-19 restrictions. You will see 68 utility poles with 3’x 5’ American Flags from the American Legion on Bay State Road, traveling through the village and ending up at the Veterans’ Memorial Gazebo at Redway Plain from early May through July. The Memorial Day Ceremony will commence at around 11:40 AM with social distancing enforced, followed by dedication for all of our Fallen Comrades who’ve given the ultimate sacrifice and for those who have fallen since last Memorial Day with a ceremony ending at noon, with the lowering and raising of the American Flag.

The Veterans Service Officer would like to thank you all who participated in the past for the Rehoboth Memorial Day Parades.

The “Rehoboth” Memorial Day Parade will now be conducted “Annually” in the town of Rehoboth. If you haven’t participated in the past, the town of Rehoboth’s Veterans Office would be thrilled to have you join in our Memorial Day Parades. Please call 508-252-4467 or e-mail Jake at veterans@ rehobothma.us Please respond to the Veterans Office if you’re interested in participating in this year’s Memorial Day Ceremony.

Thank you

America’s fiscal policy is broken in many ways. From agenda-based stimulus packages to fiscal fraud, financially irresponsible decisions by political leaders have left the hard-working American middle class to struggle between periodic unemployment and a national paradigm that favors corporatism. In this short political treatise, David DeLuca lays out a simple solution that will inspire the working American and redeem the American dream.

About the Author: David DeLuca, born on May 2nd 2000, is a current Seekonk resident who graduated from Seekonk High School. He currently volunteers in multiple political organizations as well as working full time as a computer technician.

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26

The Reporter May 2021

Restoration of the Sammis/Waterman Memorial

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After falling into disrepair, a group of volunteers teamed up to refurbish a memorial to two Rehoboth veterans. In 2011, Rehoboth Pop Warner Football and Little League designated their complex: “Sammis Field and Waterman Diamond.

The memorial, located at the baseball diamond next to Town Hall, commemorates the life and military service of Marine Capt Benjamin W. Sammis and Lt Craig Waterman.

Sammis, a pilot, was killed when his helicopter crashed in combat in 2003. Sammis was the second solider from Massachusetts to die in Iraq during the Global War on Terrorism. Waterman was a medivac helicopter pilot killed in Vietnam. He was also a United States Marine.

Armand Perreault, a Vietnam Veteran who also served in the Marines, was shocked when he saw tattered flags hanging from the poles. The harsh winter weather had also taken a toll on the memorial. “It was neglected,” Perreault said.

After reaching out to town officials, including Jake Kramer, the Veterans Service officer, Perreault worked with various individuals to obtain the materials to restore the memorial to its former glory.

Perreault acknowledged the work of Kevin Cryan, a Rehoboth resident who owns a landscaping business. “He was jogging around (the memorial) and brought it to my attention,” Perreault noted.

New poles were ordered for the memorial, which has a nautical theme. There are flags representing every branch of the armed forces. A 40 foot mast is in the center.

“I respect all veterans and this brought it closer to home,” said Perreault, who recalled the less than warm welcome he received when he returned to the States when the war was over.

Perreault has done restorations on other memorials and feels the men and women who have served in the military deserve a level of respect for their sacrifices. Looking at the Sammis/Waterman memorial gives him a sense of pride. “One thing that I always wanted to make sure of is that any of the veterans who return (from combat) not go unrecognized without help in any shape or form,” Perreault said. “I am honored to have participated in that project.”

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“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them.” -John F. Kennedy

May 2021 The Reporter

27

Events & Activities Angels’ Care Closet, Inc. to Host Community Day Event at Storefront

Angels’ Care Closet, Inc. will be hosting a community day sale May 8, 2021 at its storefront at 2 Olney Street, Unit 28b in Seekonk, MA, from 10am – 2pm. Clients are invited to come select what they need for Spring/Summer for free. All other members of the community are invited as well to come support our nonprofit and give a donation for the items they would like. All donations go to support our important programs and expenses supporting the local and surrounding area communities. If you are not able to attend the event and would like to make a donation, checks can be made out to Angels’ Care Closet, Inc. at 42 Pershing Ave, Seekonk, MA 02771 – or PayPal angelscarecloset@gmail.com If you have questions or would like to keep up with future events, please email angelscarecloset@gmail.com or find us on Facebook at Angels’ Care Closet

Dighton Historical Society Events

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Plant Sale

It’s time to enjoy our gardens by planting flowers and vegetables. The Dighton Historical Society is holding its Plant Sale on Saturday, May 22nd, from 9 AM to 2 PM rain or shine, at our Winslow-Davis Museum, 1217 Williams Street, Dighton, MA. If you have plants to donate, please call Joan at 774-501-3495.

Spring Pot Fundraiser for the Dighton Historical Society

The Dighton Historical Society, sponsored by Araujo Farms at 1522 Williams Street in Dighton is offering a Take and Make at Home Pot Kit, which will be picked up at Araujo’s on Saturday, 5/8/21 from 8 AM to 5 PM. You will receive your pot, soil and a variety of plants with instructions to make a beautiful arrangement. You have a choice of a variety of pink or purple flowers.

Pre-registration and pre-payment required. Call Araujo Farms at 508-669-6988 to place your order. Cost is $40. Will make a great Mother’s Day gift or fit the perfect spot on your porch or patio. Pot sample can be seen on Araujo’s or the Dighton Historical Society’s facebook page. Thank you for your support.

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28

The Reporter May 2021

Church News & Events The Bread Of Life Food Pantry

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The Bread of Life Food Pantry is located at Newman Congregational Church, 100 Newman Avenue, Rumford and is open twice each month, on the second and fourth Tuesdays from 5 to 7 p.m. The Pantry welcomes all those in need of food assistance.

The Pantry is a collaborative ecumenical effort of six East Providence churches: Bethany Church of the Nazarene, Church of the Epiphany, Evangelical Covenant Church of Riverside, Haven United Methodist Church, Newman Congregational Church, UCC and St. Margaret Church.

The Pantry is currently operating as a drive-through program in the parking lot of Newman Church to assure the safety of volunteers and clients during the COVID pandemic. Clients remain in their cars as Pantry volunteers record their visits and provide them with their groceries.

During the month of May, the Pantry typically receives food donations via the National Association of Letter Carriers Food Drive. However, this year the event has been postponed due to the pandemic. Please visit the National Association of Letter Carriers website to learn how you may still participate in this important annual event by making a monetary donation to a local food bank in lieu of a food donation left by your mailbox. Monetary donations to the Bread of Life Food Pantry can be made by visiting the Pantry’s website at EPBreadOfLife.org. The Pantry will greatly appreciate your support!

Rehoboth Congregational Church 300th Anniversary May News

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The Rehoboth Congregational Church 300th Anniversary Committee has begun planning the RCC 300th Celebration at Redway Plain scheduled for Saturday, September 11, 2021 from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. There will be live music, games, history, picnicking, food and much more. Thankfully Covid 19 restrictions should be less of an issue as more and more people get vaccinated and Massachusetts continues to open up.

RCC History Moment: Due to an increase in population north and east of the Palmer River Meeting House on Lake Street by 1773 there was a need to replace the aging building with a new larger meeting house in a more central location. The site chosen is now the location of the Village Cemetery on Bay State Road. The ‘Yellow Meeting House’ was 50 feet long by 40 feet ‘in wedth’. It had a high pulpit reached by a spiral staircase and the Deacons seats were nearby. There were two levels of windows and pews with pillows but no bell or steeple.

The pews were ‘auctioned’ to the highest bidder. Men were in the southwest corner and women in the southeast corner. Women brought coal or brick in small foot stoves to provide heat as stoves were not installed until the winter of 1819.

May 2021 The Reporter

Seekonk Congregational Church In Person Sunday Services

Seekonk Congregational Church UCC is open for in-person services Sundays at 9:30 AM in the Sanctuary at 600 Fall River Avenue, Seekonk, MA. Masks and safe distancing are required.

Advance registration is requested, the link is located on our Facebook page or Website www.SCC-UCC.com or you can send an email to donna.euell@gmail.com and the link will be sent to you.

Please call the church office at 508-336-9355 if you are unable to register online and the staff will be able to assist you with registering. Please come if you feel comfortable, all are welcome. We will continue to provide a weekly virtual service at Seekonk Congregational Church YouTube.

Newman Congregational Church News & Announcements Newman Congregational Church, United Church of Christ is located at 100 Newman Avenue, Rumford, RI 02916. For more information, contact Rev. Timoth Sylvia at 401-434-4742.

B90 - Reading the Bible in 90 Days

This summer, Newman Congregational Church, United Church of Christ is inviting those in the wider community to join in reading through the Bible, from cover to cover, in 90 days.

The narrative arc of Scripture is the place we, as followers of Christ, return to time and time again to ground and deepen our faith. Reading the entire Bible in a group will provide us with opportunities to grow deeper in our understanding and relationship with the God we worship.

The B90 program will begin on Sunday, May 30, and continue throughout the summer until late August. Each Sundays within the B90 program, we will focus on a portion of the readings in small group as well as in worship.

Our goal is to have as many participants as possible from within and outside of the Newman UCC faith community.

Reading Group - At the heart of the B90 program is participation in the reading group. Reading the Bible is powerful – participating in the reading group provides an additional opportunity for B90 to be truly transformative. You are strongly encouraged to make a commitment to be part of the group for the summer. Remember – this is just for 90 days (12 weeks).

The reading group will be meeting online using the Zoom platform during the Eduction Hour on Sunday mornings (9am).

For more information and to register to participate, visit the B90 page of our website. Newmanucc.org/B90

Newman UCC Racial Equity Team Launches New Community Scholarship

Historically, American institutions have contributed to the unequal and sometimes violent treatment of many of its citizens.

Recent tragic events have only highlighted the accumulative angst and dead-end policies that continue to fuel racial unrest and poverty. To ensure that our community supports racial equity and social justice with advocacy and meaningful actions, the Racial Equity Team at Newman Congregational Church, UCC is offering scholarship aid - between $3k-$4k to individuals who identify as Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) and who are pursuing education beyond high school in 2021-22.

By partnering with the wider community to support BIPOC students in pursuit of educational and life goals we hope to help further the dreams and aspirations of marginalized young people.

Scholarship applicants will include an essay describing their motivation and plans for their future.

Dates: • Accepting Applications - Current

29

• Application Deadline - June 15, 2021 • Application Award - June 30, 2021 Criteria: • Identifying as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC) • Pursuing higher education or training post high school • Has financial need To access applications, and to access more information, visit newmanucc.org.

If individuals or businesses in the community would like to partner with the Newman UCC Racial Equity Team in supporting the Community Scholarship, contributions may be made to Newman UCC at the address below or online at newmanucc.org/give.

Newman Congregational Church Announces Racial Equity Story Time Saturday, June 5, 2021 at 10am

Area children and their families are invited to bring their curiosity to a Racial Equity Story Time via Zoom.

During the first Saturday of each month we will read a collection of books on various racial equity topics. Family conversations will be woven in as well as time to explore thoughts about racial equity together.

For additional information and to receive the zoom link, please contact the church office at (401) 434-4742 X10 or email Christy Wynveen at newmanucc.ce@gmail.com.

Americana Auction ANTIQUE AUCTION Sunday, May 23rd at 11am Live Preview Thursday-Saturday 10am-4pm 380 Winthrop Street, Rte. 44 • Rehoboth, MA

Antique Estate Online Auction Antiques ~ Sterling Silver ~ Period Americana Furniture Paintings & Object d’Art ~ Gold Jewelry & Watches Jewlery ~ Large selection of 19th & 20th Century Nautical Items & Ship Paintings ~ Scrimshaw Antique Weapons ~ Civil War Memorabilia Dr. Polly Warren, Owner

Ed Tessier, Jr., Auctioneer

For more info on the web: www.americana-auction.com

For info or consignment call 508-771-1722

30

The Reporter May 2021

The Seekonk Scene • PVC • Custom Cedar • Farm Fencing • Dog Runs • Chain Link • Ornamental Aluminum • Arbors

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The Clerk’s Corner

May is a beautiful time of the year in New England. It also great time of the year to get out and explore all the many walking trails we have in Seekonk. Here is a list of a few trails to enjoy: Martin Wildlife Refuge/Burr’s Pond Dam, Fall River Avenue (across from The Old Grist Mill; Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, 301 Brown Avenue; Turner Reservoir Loop, 400 Pleasant Florice Craig St., Rumford, RI; Gammino Pond Preserve, 463 Newman Avenue. If you haven’t heard Gammino Pond Preserve recently added a new trail called The Storybook Trail. This trail was designed with families in mind as it is based on nature-themed storybooks. Each season will feature a different story to help explore the trail in a new and fun way. A big thanks to Jennifer Miller the Conservation Agent and our hard-working Department of Public Works for all you do to make the trails in Seekonk fun and safe destinations to explore with friends and families.

Annual Fall Town Meeting

The Annual Fall Town meeting took place on March 27, 2021, after months of being postponed below is list of highlights.

Article 3 - A motion was made and passed to appropriate from free cash $48,000 for purchase and installation of irrigation wells and control panels for Water Lane athletic fields.

Article 4 – A motion was made and passed to appropriate $157,000 from free cash to purchase and install guardrails, pave, landscape and do other site work at the Town Hall playground.

Article 5 – A motion was made and passed to appropriate $50,000 from free cash to make repairs and upgrades to the Public Safety Building.

Article 7 – A motion was made and passed to appropriate from free cash $500,000 to fund the construction of an ADA compliant sidewalk, new curbing, and wooden guardrail along the side of Arcade Ave. from 540 arcade Ave. (Seekonk Human Services) to the intersection of Arcade Ave and Ledge Rd. Also, to include a pedestrian light (and to look into the cost of a full traffic light) at the intersection of Arcade Ave. and Ledge road.

For the full minutes of the March 27th town meeting please go to the Town Website.

Annual Town Election

The Annual Town Election took place on April 5, 2021 below are the results.

Eligible voters: 11,334. Total votes cast: 1,236 (10.91%) Precinct 1 - 225 votes. Precinct 2 - 380 votes. Precinct 3 - 310 votes. Precinct 4 - 321 votes.

• Board of Assessors – Paul Buckley • Board of Assessors – Edward McGovern (write-in win) • Board of Selectmen - Michael Healy • Board of Selectmen – Christopher Zorra • Housing Authority – Claudette Lockwood • Library Board of Trustees – Sharon Connors • Library Board of Trustees – Cynthia Corbett • Planning Board – Sandra Escaler (write-in win) • School Committee – Noah Escaler • School committee – Kimberly Sluter • Water Commissioner- Joseph Chauvin Congratulations to everyone who won.

Annual Spring Town Meeting

The annual Spring Town Meeting will take place 7pm on Monday, May 10 at the Seekonk High School Auditorium. Please come out and participate in this very important budget meeting.

May 2021 The Reporter

Annual Town Census Update

The Town Census reflects our current population total which as of April 22, 2021 is “unofficially” 13,979. This is not an official total because we still have not received all census forms. If you have not done so please send in your census/street listing forms as soon as possible.

2021 Dog Licenses

Don’t forget to license your dog(s). There will be a $20 late fee per dog imposed on license renewals after May 31st. This office apologizes for the delay in processing the dog licenses this year.

We have a new software program and it is taking us longer than we anticipated to get it up and running. Thank you for your patience if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call us.

ties, events and trips. Meals on Wheels, food and fuel assistance Health Department 508-336-2950 - Oversees all aspects of Title 5, licenses septic installers, engineers, food service facilities, piggeries. Inspects food service facilities, pools, motels, tanning salons, health spas. Investigates tenant-landlord disputes. Investigates potential illegal dumping.

Planning Department 508– 336-2962 – Questions concerning subdivisions, re-zone requests, site plans, zoning by-law revisions, Form A plans.

Parks & Recreation 508–336-2942 – Field use permits, building use permits, seasonal and family programs.

Public Works 508–336-7407 – Questions concerning trash pickup, recycling, landfill passes. Maintains town roads and municipal facilities. Tree Warden.

Yard Sale Permits

Please be advised, if you’re thinking about having a yard sale that you need a yard sale permit. You can get them online at the www.seekonk-ma.gov under Department/Town Clerk /downloadable forms. It is $5.00 a day with a total of 4 per year. There is also a page outlining the bylaw concerning yard sale signage. It is not permitted to use telephone poles to post any type of sign. If you are going to have a yard sale please abide by the rules of the town.

Thank you.

Water Department Annual Meeting

The annual Water Department meeting will take place 6:00pm on Tuesday May 11, 2021 in the large maintenance garage, 50 Water Lane. Their warrant includes the budget for the next fiscal year. If you have town water and are interested don’t forget to go to this important annual meeting.

Memorial Day Ceremony

The annual Memorial Day Parade will not take place this year because of Covid restrictions. There will be a ceremony at 11:30AM at the Veterans Memorial Park, 410 Newman Ave. TV-9 will be there to broadcast it live.

Community Information

Once a year I print this information I hope you find it helpful.

Often times in the Town Clerk’s office we get many phones that start out with “I don’t know if this is the right department but…” and we are always happy to direct the person to the correct department.

I would like to take this time to give an alphabetical list of the departments in Town Hall and a brief description what they take care of.

Assessor’s Office 508-336-2980 – Questions regarding how a property is assessed. Real estate, personal property, vehicle, boat excise tax and farm animal tax. Assess values to commercial, industrial, residential, personal property. Process exemptions for veterans and elderly. Abatements for personal property, real estate and motor vehicles. Measurements of parcels maintained on maps.

Maintains deeds from 1966 to present.

Building Department 508-336-2990 – Questions regarding obtaining building, electrical, gas, plumbing and pool permits.

Investigates zoning by-law questions and/or violations.

Collector’s Office 508- 336 2930 – Questions regarding bills and payment of: Real estate and personal property tax bills. Motor vehicle excise tax bills, disposal/trash bills, Municipal Lien and Certificate of Good Standing issued.

Conservation Department 508 -336-2944 – Responsible for protection of Seekonk’s natural resources. Wetland and Water Resource permits. Questions regarding, development near wetlands and streams, passive recreation. Investigates wetland violations and illegal discharges into storm drains, water bodies and streams.

Accepts donations of land for preservation.

Council on Aging/Human Services 508–336-8772 – 540 Arcade Ave. Responsible for GATRA Dial-A Ride Service, senior activi-

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32

The Reporter May 2021

Selectmen/Town Administrator 508-336-2910 – Budget information and purchasing information. Alcoholic beverage licenses, amusement, antique / second-hand, entertainment, selling motor vehicles, vending machine licenses. Personnel/employment information. Town by-law information.

Town Clerk’s Office 508-336-2920 Questions concerning business certificates, dog licensing, voter registration/ election information. Yard sale permits, marriage licenses, census/new resident information. Notary service, Justice of the Peace, raffle and bazaar permits. Seekonk Cemetery, records and deeds. Vital records: marriage, death, birth, genealogical records.

Treasurer’s Office 508–336-2970 – Departmental receipts, tax titles, employee payroll and benefits. Town/School retiree health insurance.

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Veteran’s services 508–336-8772 – Compensation, pension, insurance for veterans. Discharge difficulties. Employment, educational, vocational training. Help with alcoholic/drug treatment, hospitalization and domicile care. At-risk homeless and housing.

Gold Star parents. Loan information- SBA and VA. Care of Graves.

Advocacy with other government agencies.

Water District 508–761-8170- Questions concerning drinking water usage, quality and bills.

Zoning Board of Appeals 508–336-2961 Appeal of a decision made by building inspector or town official. Special permits and variances.

Town Hall will be closed Monday May 31, 2021 in observance of Memorial Day. Memorial Day is the day that’s set aside to remember with gratitude and pride all those who served and died for our country and our freedom. Please remember to thank a Veteran.

Have a wonderful month. As always thank you for taking the time to read my monthly updates and remember the Town Clerk’s office welcomes inquiries from all citizens seeking assistance, or information in relation to services provided by the Town of Seekonk.

Seekonk Library Expansion Project Funding Sought

By Joe Siegel The Seekonk Public Library was awarded a Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners capital grant of $7.3 Million to offset the costs of a $19.6 million new library project. The grant pays for 37 percent of the total project costs and the Seekonk Library Trust has pledged to raise $1,000,000 to further offset those costs.

The new building will be built on the present site on Newman Ave. At the May 10th Annual Town Meeting, residents will be asked to approve the total $19.6 million in funding. Between the grant and fund raising, the Library expects that the average home in Seekonk will pay only $1.96 a week for the life of the bond which is less than a cup of coffee.

The statement on the library’s web site (seekonkpl.org) reads: “With a new 23,000 square foot building, we’ll be able to meet the needs of Seekonk for years to come with HVAC, air filtering and air handling that will be COVID-19 informed as well as furniture, bookshelves and meeting rooms designed for easy access and movement.”

A few reasons for why a new facility is needed are listed as follows: • The building’s HVAC system is well beyond its years of expected use and has been patched together over the years to accommodate increased need • Because of the Library’s unstable foundation, the outside shingles have splintered, windows and doors have shifted leading to leaks and roof-based drainage problems • Crowded stacks and seating that make patron access to collections difficult • Not enough space for the Library’s 82,000 item collection to be available for browsing and borrowing • One meeting room/programming space with a legal limit of 100 people for the over 320 library programs offered yearly and the more than 200 community group meetings held–we look forward to hosting these groups and programs again post-pandemic • A Children’s Room that does not accommodate story time or other children’s programming • The Library does not reflect standards for accessibility and providing the differently-abled with the library experience they deserve The new building will provide adequate space for collections, connect people to a greater variety of information, materials and technology, support local education and assist local businesses and job seekers, act as a community center for all town citizens, and provide improved services to seniors and the general public, the website noted.

May 2021 The Reporter

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In addition, there will be a drive-up material return, a second floor patio overlooking the Seekonk Meadows, a children’s room, a young adult room, a meeting room, and small group study spaces.

Stephen E. Navega, PC

Seekonk to Vote on $63 Million Budget

Administration of Estates Probate of Wills Wills and Trusts Health Care Proxies Durable Powers of Attorney

By Joe Siegel Seekonk voters will be asked to approve a $63 Million budget for the 2022 fiscal year.

The May 10 town meeting will be held at 7 pm at Seekonk High School. The 2021 budget is $60.9 million. The 2022 budget is a four percent increase over that figure. The budget for the Seekonk schools is $31.3 million, a nearly three percent increase over last year’s budget of $30.4 million. Voters will also need to decide whether to approve $19.6 million to fund the construction, renovation, and expansion of the Seekonk Public Library. The money will also pay for demolition, landscaping, paving, utility, and architectural and engineering services.

One warrant article calls for the appropriation of $1.5 million to pay for the cost of designing, planning, and construction of a new Department of Public Works facility on land owned by the town at 351 Fall River Avenue. Another request is $2.7 million to fund the construction and renovation of the Seekonk Connolly Field and Mooney Track at Seekonk High School.

There are also bylaw changes and fund transfers to be voted on. The complete warrant can be accessed on the town website: https://www.seekonk-ma.gov.

Seekonk Sued Over Asphalt Plant

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By Joe Siegel The Town of Seekonk is being sued by International Paving Corporation, which has announced plans to construct an asphalt plant near Route 6. On April 21, the Board of Health said the plant would be “noisome trade” and therefore, hazardous to public safety.

The plant, which would be located in an Industrial Zoning District just a few hundred feet from a residential neighborhood, has drawn concerns over the potential health impact from emissions. Facebook group, Stop the Seekonk Asphalt Plant, has more than 2000 members, including residents from Barrington and East Providence, Rhode Island.

The owner of the proposed plant, through his legal representatives, has claimed the site will be subject to environmental oversight by state and federal Call for regulators. The lawsuit asks the court to reserve or void the noisome trade declaration, issue a decision that the BOH’s declaration cannot be enforced against the project, and issue an injunction against the town.

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Seekonk Selectmen Express Frustration About Charter Changes

By Joe Siegel Members of the Board of Selectmen expressed their frustrations Wednesday after town meeting voters opted to delay approving changes to the Home Rule Charter. The March 27 Fall Town Meeting had been postponed several times due to fears of Covid-19.

78 voters were in attendance.

Selectman David Andrade said he was “extremely unsatisfied” by the decision. Andrade noted there had been some “discrepancies” in the documents presented but was baffled by the reluctance to make the changes.

Chairman Justin Sullivan said a list of the recommended changes as suggested by the Charter Review Committee should have been presented to the voters. “We want to be as transparent as possible for the residents,” Sullivan noted.

John Alves, a member of the Charter Review Committee, was “bitterly disappointed” by the actions of town meeting. “In my opinion, we lost our respect for a legislative body,” Alves added.

“They refused to do the work.”

Correction from “Seekonk Voters Delay Charter Changes” in the April Issue

A voter petition article calling for the lease of the former town landfill off Fall River Avenue (Route 114A) for a solar power facility was APPROVED.

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The Reporter May 2021

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Love Makes A Family: Celebrating the Moms in our Life On Mother's Day (BPT) - What makes a family? Ask people across the country and one answer stands out: Love. This single word is what it means to be a mother. From care and compassion to encouragement and support, every family grows stronger through the endless love a mother provides.

A mom can be anyone who loves without bounds. This Mother's Day, remember all the moms in your life - birth mom, adopted mom, step mom, grandma, aunt- who stepped in and stepped up. That includes the supermoms doing it all, especially this past year. Here are some ideas that are sure to touch her heart and make her smile:

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May 2021 The Reporter

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The Reporter May 2021 134 Central Ave.Seekonk, MA

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Seekonk’s Aitken Elementary School Renovation Near Completion

By Joe Siegel Work on the $10.5 million addition for the Aitken Elementary School is set to be completed soon. There will be 10 new classrooms to accommodate a growing school population. Modular units were used for Aitken and Martin schools to help deal with the overcrowding. $1.5 million was spent to install air conditioning throughout the school. There is also a new boiler and ventilation system. Voters approved a temporary tax increase in June 2019 to pay for the construction.

Jill Brilhante, the district’s school business administrator, told the school committee Monday the modular will be removed by April 21.

“As soon as we received the certificate of occupancy for the new Aitken wing, principal (John) Haidemenos moved the classes that were in the modular unit into the new wing - this needed to be done since we were bringing all of our students back in order to keep with proper distancing,” explained School Superintendent Rich Drolet.

“Once this school year ends, we will have a ceremony to celebrate and show off the new Aitken addition in June,” Drolet continued. “The Aitken Building Committee has done a commendable job working with the contractors to ensure this project has stayed on time and under budget. Yes, the Aitken modular unit should be removed next week over April vacation.”

Drolet announced after adding all sophomores and juniors in Grades 10 and 11, Monday was the first day all students were back in school five days a week. “I would like to thank everyone who has worked so hard over the past year, overcoming so many obstacles and challenges, to finally make our full return to school a reality,” Drolet added. “Knowing our Covid numbers have crept back up in the past few weeks, more students or classes may be required to quarantine and/or temporarily return to full remote learning.

Additionally, the possibility remains that a grade level or school may need to shift to full remote learning if we encounter too many close contacts. We continue to meet weekly with Seekonk’s Board of Health Agent and CTC representative in order to cross-reference any positive cases as well as confirm close contacts associated with our outside-of-school as well as in-school confirmed positive cases.

Thankfully, most of our teachers and staff are now fully vaccinated.”

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Seekonk Fire Department Upgrades

By Joe Siegel The Seekonk Fire Department has upgraded both of their Engine 1 and Engine 2 Fire Companies to the paramedic level. The paramedic level is the highest pre-hospital level of care available in Massachusetts.

“Recently, the operational needs of the department were internally analyzed and the department came to the conclusion that an upgrade to the paramedic level for the fire engines would be in the best interest of the Town and its residents,” said Timothy Goodwin, the department’s EMS Director.

Seekonk residents voted for and approved the necessary funds at two town meetings. At the 2019 Fall Town meeting, residents approved $72,000 to upgrade cardiac monitors and then at the Spring 2020 Town meeting they approved $15,000 to purchase additional required equipment to be licensed at the Paramedic level.

May 2021 The Reporter Goodwin said the fire department has 28 members licensed at the paramedic level and 4 additional members are in the process of completing their paramedic licensure process now. When the department is at full strength, 36 of its 40 members will be licensed at the paramedic level. “Our department ambulances (Rescue 1 and Rescue 2) have been at the paramedic level for many years and our engine companies have always been equipped to the EMT level,” Goodwin explained. “Due to increased call volume for medical emergencies, traveling outside the town to transport to area hospitals, and increasingly complex medical calls due to COVID, the department decided to move forward with this upgrade. Having the engines licensed at the paramedic level provides a greater chance of successful outcome. The engines usually do not leave the town, where as an EMS ambulance is out of service and out of the town for 50 minutes or more for the average EMS call and transport.”

“If you call 911 in Seekonk for a medical emergency and the fire engine shows up first, that engine is equipped with all of the same equipment that our paramedic level rescues carry. Each engine will now have a full cardiac monitor, all of the paramedic drugs required by the Commonwealth, and an advanced airway kit along with all of the other required equipment,” Goodwin added.

Seekonk Animal Shelter News

A family surrendered 2 dogs to the Seekonk Animal Shelter after their owner recently passed away. We are trying our very best to keep them together as they are siblings and a bonded pair.

Cosmo and Mabel are 5 year old Mastiff and English Bulldog mixes. They are up to date with vaccines and are already spayed and neutered. We are looking to get them adopted out ASAP because continued on next page...

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The Reporter May 2021 they are really missing their home environment. We are looking for anyone with experience with larger breed dogs. They previously have lived with other dogs and a cat. A home with no small children is recommended simply due to their size.

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Seekonk High School Lacrosse Players Score for Doorways REALTOR® DRE # 10582 The Joseph Team

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The Seekonk High School Lacrosse teams held a food drive for the Doorways food pantry on April 24th, and it came at an opportune time. The lacrosse athletes filled fifteen shopping carts to overflowing, gathering over a thousand pounds of non-perishable food items, plus generous cash donations. “The thing that really helps about a food drive” said Diane Fox of Doorways, “is not just the quantity of food, but also the variety. The products we get from the Boston Food Bank are all nourishing food, but there’s not a lot of variety or brand names.” For us at Doorways, the other wonderful thing about a food drive is the visual, tangible proof of the generosity of the Seekonk community. We wish to thank the lacrosse players and their parents, and all those who contributed to the food drive. Please note that the lacrosse teams will hold a fundraising car wash on Sunday, May 16th from 9:00 to 1:00 at the Knights of Columbus Hall on Arcade Ave (rain date May 23rd) – please stop by and support them as they have supported others.

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Girl Scouts from Troop 1021 stopped by Doorways one recent Saturday morning to donate Girl Scout cookies to the Doorways Food Pantry. There is nothing more delicious than Girl Scout cookies, and there is nothing more delightful than the smiles on the faces of the young ladies as they passed out the treats to Doorways clients.

And this was not the first time that Doorways clients Troop 1021 stopped by Doorways were treated to the yummy with cookies. confections – two weeks earlier, Doorways received a donation of Girl Scouts cookies from Junior Girl Scout Troop 975. All in all, it made for a sweet month of April for Doorways clients. We thank the Girl Scouts, their troop leaders and their families for thinking of us with their generous gifts.

May 2021 The Reporter

Seekonk Land Trust News

Land Trust Supports Hands-On Studies by Seekonk High School Students Over the past 18 years, Advanced Placement (AP) Biology students at Seekonk High School have successfully completed a unit of study in Ecology during the summer prior to the start of the school year. With the generous support of the Seekonk Land Conservation Trust (SLCT), these students have participated in an inquiry-based water quality research project at the Martin Wildlife Refuge by Burr’s Pond and along the Runnins River. Since 2008, 10th grade Biology II students and their teachers have joined this watershed study, and students travel to two sites along the Runnins River. The students collect data by scientific techniques and procedures to evaluate and assess the health of the river. This hands-on research allows them exposure to ecological concepts.

The SLCT invites two environmentally focused students from Seekonk High School every year to attend Board meetings and thus experience the work that goes into conserving land in our local community.

Despite the pandemic having put the field research projects on hold for 2020-21, the two students were able to attend virtual Land Trust Board meetings and participate in activities. They consulted with the departmental teachers in charge of the program, Mrs. Angela Cunard and Mr. Matthew Wills about the experience and interviewed them about the research their biology students have done for the past decade.

While engaged in graduate study at Bridgewater State University, Mrs. Cunard learned techniques and procedures to evaluate water quality by sampling data in both the field and in the lab. She wrote grants and applied to SLCT for her AP Biology students. One grant allowed them to focus on the watershed utilizing twenty-four hour probes that were then analyzed by the students. With another grant, they purchased disposable cameras for data collection.

The 10th grade Biology students had a more hands-on approach and took invertebrate samples from uniquely different substrates to assess the health of the river, and also measured depth, width and velocity of the river at different points during field trips. They analyzed water quality with sampling and compared their lab results with reports from local labs sent out for testing.

The students have presented their findings during ‘Arts in the Evening’ at Seekonk High School, the Watershed Access Lab Seminar at Bridgewater State College, and the Seekonk Land Conservation Trust Annual Meeting. Additionally, student posters have been displayed at the Seekonk Public and High School libraries.

Collecting and studying the data provides the students with real life experiences and experiential learning opportunities to collect their own samples and analyze the results. The 10th grade Biology II students use their results to see how they fit within the normal parameters of similar rivers and then see how results compare over time to previous years at the Runnins River locations. The river has not been studied long enough or thoroughly enough to come to definitive conclusions about different aspects, but the research indicates obvious fluctuations in water volume between years of drought and heavy rainfall. The students have collected data from upstream and downstream sites on the Runnins River and it is

39

evident that these fluctuations in water volume create enormous differences in the data. Mr. Wills states “students often don’t see the environment that they live in and are often unaware of local biodiversity. An important part of this project is understanding how rivers and watersheds function and also sharing how impactful it can be to share the results with others. Certainly, there are very real consequences to people’s actions and more study over a longer period of time will provide more accurate measurements.”

The teachers are grateful to the Seekonk Land Conservation Trust for their continued interest and support over the past twenty years. The research project would not have lasted or continued into what it is today without Land Trust support. The opportunity to have students do real science in their own backyards is a terrific experience for our local budding scientists.

For further information, please see https://www.seekonklandtrust.org or follow us on www.facebook.com/seekonkLCT

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The Reporter May 2021

People In The News Seekonk Fire Chief David Rave

By Joe Siegel David Rave has settled into his new role as the town’s Fire Chief. Rave, 52, began working for Seekonk last August. Rave had previously served as a Battalion Chief in the East Providence Fire Department. He was there for over 30 years.

Rave grew up in Johnston, Rhode Island and attended Providence College, where he obtained an Associate’s degree in Fire Science. Rave began volunteering as a firefighter when he was a teenager.

Serving the community was what drew him Chief Rave to the profession.

“When things go good, you help someone,” Rave explained.

“It’s rewarding. The camaraderie you build with the people you work with is another reward. Throughout my career, I’ve built good relationships with people and strong friendships.”

Rave was intrigued by the Seekonk Fire Department, which was still growing and expanding. “I wanted to be a part of that. I thought it would be exciting and fulfilling,” Rave noted. “There’s a lot to take in as far as knowing how the department functions and trying to learn the history of the department.”

The Fire Department recently upgraded both of their Engine 1 and Engine 2 Fire Companies to the paramedic level, which is the highest pre-hospital level of care available in Massachusetts.

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the department’s newer members. Dealing with the coronavirus pandemic has also been a huge challenge, whether it was sanitizing equipment, wearing masks, and obtaining vaccinations for the department. “We struggled a little bit with how long to quarantine for,” Rave said. “Fortunately we got through that. Then it became a focus on getting our people vaccinated first.”

Rave noted how Seekonk paramedics worked in conjunction with fire departments in Plainville and North Attleboro to vaccine all members of the department. Rave said there are typically 9 firefighters working per shift. Sometimes only 6 or 7 are on duty when a lot of activity tends to occur. He has a lot of respect for the dedication of his firefighters. “These guys do a great job with limited resources every day,” Rave added.

Seekonk Trainer Honored in Children’s Magazine

Sunflower Meadows Equestrian trainer, Lindsey Canesi, of Seekonk, has been named Coach of the Week by The Week Junior, the only newsmagazine reporting current events directly to kids aged 8-14. She was nominated by Violet (10) who said: “Lindsey Canesi is a great trainer for so many reasons. She helps me have confidence in myself and my pony no matter what we are doing.

Every lesson with Lindsey teaches me something new, and even when it’s really challenging, she makes it fun. She is always positive and patient and encourages everyone at the barn. Riding with Lindsey is the best part of my day!”

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May 2021 The Reporter

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Seekonk Resident Awarded Honorable Mention In Photo Contest

The Friends of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse (FPRL) announced the winners of their recent photo/art contest, held to celebrate The Lighthouse’s 150th anniversary this year. A total of 57 entries were received in the contest, including 48 photos and 9 visual arts works.

Pomham Lighthouse at Sunset by First Place winner in Thomas Duffy of Seekonk the photography contest was February Snow Sunrays, by Hillary Gillinder of Warwick., which caught the rays of winter sun through the clouds over The Lighthouse. Honorable mention was awarded to Thomas Duffy of Seekonk, MA for Pomham Lighthouse at Sunset, a golden sunset scene; David Zapatka of North Kingstown for Pomham Rocks Landscape, showing The Lighthouse among the stars; and Daniel LaCroix of Riverside for Through the Tower, a drone view in which he captured the setting sun through the glass panes of the lighthouse tower.

Photo entries were received from amateur and professional photographers and included views taken from every angle from the East Bay Bike Path and the Providence River, as well as drone views. There were distant views, close ups, sunny days, snowy days, sunsets and moonlit reflections on the bay. Entries in the visual arts contest used a variety of media, including pastel, watercolor, acrylic and gouache. Each entry was unique and depicted a different perception of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse.

Entries were evaluated on creativity, visual impact and technical excellence, as well as adaptability for intended use. Judging took place in April. The committee of five judges included a professional photographer, a professional illustrator, a retired public relations and marketing professional, FPRL’s Facebook page editor and FPRL’s Chair of the 150th Jubilee Committee.

First Place winners received a one-year family membership in Friends of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse. Honorable Mention winners received a boat trip and tour of The Lighthouse. Winning entries will be displayed in the Gift Shop at PRL and in a special 150th anniversary display at East Providence City Hall later this year. A selection of photos submitted will be featured on a 2022 calendar and on merchandise sold in the Pomham Rocks Lighthouse Gift Shop.

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The Reporter May 2021

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Pack 1 Rehoboth Expresses Gratitude to Vino’s Family Cafe

On March 14th, Pack 1 held a fundraiser in cooperation with Vino’s Family Cafe of Rehoboth. This event consisted of a drivethru pick up dinner where proceeds directly benefitted the Pack.

Not only was the food delicious, but the fundraiser was extremely successful. The proceeds will allow the Pack to operate for another year and to continue to provide the best experience possible for Rehoboth’s cub scouts. This would not have been achievable without Vino’s Family Cafe and for that Pack 1 extends its sincere thanks.

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Girl Scout Troop 494 News

Cadettes from Rehoboth Girl Scout Troop 494 completed some community service at the Village Cemetery. They replaced flags on the graves to honor our veterans.

If you are interested in joining Girl Scouts please go to GSSNE. org for more information.

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May 2021 The Reporter

Troop 13 Is More Active Than Ever!!

Troop 13 Rehoboth has been working hard throughout the past couple months. In the month of March, the troop participated in the Klondike Derby at Camp Cachalot in Myles Standish State Forest! The troop worked on many important scout skills and went against some very talented troops within the Narragansett Council! The scouts had loads of fun and we can’t wait to go back next year!

In April, the troop did a lot! The troop did a little bit of an early project but we replaced flags at Oak Knoll and Stevens Corner Cemeteries for our veterans buried in town. This is an annual project done by the troop every year to honor our fallen troops. Also in April, the troop camped out at Blue Hills Reservation and did a nice 5 mile hike. It was very wet and even had some April Snow during lunch. Even throughout the bad weather, the scouts worked hard and had a great weekend! Troop 13 continued with community service by participating in the annual Keep Rehoboth Beautiful clean up week.

Are you interested in joining this amazing troop? Email troop13rehoboth@gmail.com to get more information!

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The Reporter May 2021

SCHOOL NEWS Seekonk High School Announces Class of 2021 Valedictorian and Salutatorian

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Seekonk — Superintendent Rich Drolet and Seekonk High School Principal William Whalen are pleased to announce Seekonk High School’s Class of 2021 valedictorian and salutatorian.

“I would like to congratulate all members of the Class of 2021 for their hard work and perseverance throughout this unprecedented school year,” Superintendent Drolet said. “I would especially like to congratulate our valedictorian and salutatorian for their countless accomplishments and their ability to balance schoolwork and Valedictorian extracurricular activities.”

Madison Sirois Madison Sirois has been named the valedictorian of the graduating class and Nicholas Jankowski has been named the salutatorian. Class ranking is based on the soon-to-be graduates’ cumulative GPAs for the first semester of this year.

Academically, Sirois has consistently demonstrated success across curriculum in all disciplines. During her time at Seekonk High School, she has continually been recommended for the most demanding courses and, Salutatorian as such, has enrolled in a total of eight Nicholas Jankowski advanced placement (AP) courses.

Sirios received the Brown University book award for outstanding academic achievement and also was a recipient of the AP Scholar Award.

Beyond the classroom, Sirois is an executive board member of the National Honor Society, editor-in-chief of the yearbook and a four-year member of the concert and symphonic band. She has also performed countless hours of community service through Seekonk’s Key Club.

“Madison is a conscientious, diligent student who consistently works to her fullest potential,” Principal Whalen said. “Madison’s compassion, intensity and commitment to self-improvement and helping others makes her a valuable member of her community and an asset to any college program.”

Jankowski is a consistent high achiever in what is predominately an all honors, AP and advanced level program. When not in the classroom, he’s the president and founding member of the Theoretical Physics Club, captain of the Science Bowl Team and a four-year varsity tennis player. He is also a member of the Math League, Model UN, Key Club, Ping Pong Club and marching band.

Outside of school, Jankowski has worked as a part-time grill cook and has volunteered at Seekonk’s Parks & Recreation summer camp.

“Nicholas is a truly outstanding young man who displays commitment, confidence and modesty,” Principal Whalen said. “He’s an admitted “science geek” and quite the intellectual. I know he has a very bright future ahead of him and I wish him the best as he further pursues his passion for science.”

Sirois will attend Brandeis University this fall and will study social sciences. Jankowski will attend Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in the fall and will study mechanical and aerospace engineering.

Photos courtesy Seekonk Public Schools

May 2021

The Reporter

LOOK WHAT WE STARTED! ST. LUKE’S SCHOOL BARRINGTON, RHODE ISLAND

Preschool to Grade 8

High Schools Attended Barrington Barrington Christian Academy Bay View Bishop Connolly Bishop Feehan Bishop Hendricken Bishop Stang

Case Classical Cumberland Dighton-Rehoboth East Providence LaSalle Lincoln School

Met School Moses Brown Mount Hope Northfield Mount Hermon Our Lady of Fatima Phillips Academy Andover Portsmouth Abbey

Providence Country Day School One Seekonk St. Andrew’s St. Ray’s Tabor Academy Wheeler School

Colleges & Universities Arcadia Arizona State Assumption Bentley Boston College Boston University Brandeis Bridgewater State Brown Bryant Catholic University CCRI Clark Clemson Colby Colby Sawyer College of Charleston Columbia Daniel Webster Dayton Duke Duquesne

Emerson Fairfield Furman George Washington Georgetown Georgia Tech Green Mountain Harvard Hofstra Holy Cross Howard Iona James Madison Johnson and Wales Loyola-Maryland Marist Marquette Mass. College Pharmacy Mass. Maritime Merrimack New England College New England Tech

Northeastern Oberlin Ohio State Ohio Wesleyan Penn State Pepperdine Providence College Quinnipiac Rhode Island College RI School of Design Roger Williams Salve Regina St. Anselm’s St. Joseph’s St. Michael’s Stamford School of Medicine Stonehill Trinity Tulane UNC Chapel Hill Univ. Alabama Univ. Connecticut

Univ. Delaware Univ. Kentucky Univ. Mass Amherst Univ. Mass Boston Univ. Mass Dartmouth Univ. New Hampshire Univ. Louvain Univ. New England Univ. Rhode Island Univ. South Carolina Univ. Vermont US Air Force Academy US Military Academy Vanderbilt Vassar Villanova Virginia Tech Washington and Jefferson Western New England Western State WPI Xavier

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The Reporter May 2021

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Dr. Matthew Maré Named New Assistant Principal of Seekonk’s Hurley Middle School Seekonk — Superintendent Rich Drolet is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Matthew Maré as the new Assistant Principal of Seekonk’s Dr. Kevin M. Hurley Middle School.

Dr. Maré will formally begin his new role on July 1. He will replace George Kelleher-Bianchi who will assume his new role for the district as Director of Student Services on July 1 as well.

A search committee led by Principal Alexis Bouchard, inclusive of Dr. Matthew Maré middle school staff, considered approximately 20 applicants for the position of assistant principal.

Following interviews with the search committee, Dr. Maré was forwarded by Principal Bouchard to Superintendent Drolet as the search committee’s top choice.

“Dr. Maré is a collaborator with a growth mindset ready to delve into his new role at Hurley Middle School,” Superintendent Drolet said. “Although we will miss him in the classroom, we are excited to welcome Matt to our district leadership team.”

Dr. Maré is a familiar face at Hurley Middle School. He currently works as a seventh-grade social studies teacher at the school; a position he has held since September 2012. In addition to his role in the classroom, Dr. Maré serves on the district’s Educational Equity Committee and has been a curriculum writer for the National Council of History Education.

Dr. Maré holds a Doctor of Education degree in educational leadership from Northeastern University, a master’s degree in secondary social studies education and a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Photo: Dr. Matthew Maré has been named Assistant Principal of the Dr. Kevin M. Hurley Middle School. (Photo courtesy Seekonk Public Schools)

Got Stuff?

Support the Dighton-Rehoboth Marching Band with a donation to their annual yard sale.

All types of items needed (clothes, toys, tools, household items). Call Lori at 774-254-6035 or email President@DRMBboosters.org to arrange for pick up.

DRMB Boosters is a 501(c)3 organization. Donation letters available upon request.

May 2021

Seekonk High School’s New Gay-Straight Alliance Club Aims to Promote Inclusion and Acceptance within School Community

Seekonk — Superintendent Rich Drolet and Seekonk High School Principal William Whalen are pleased to announce that Seekonk High School’s Gay-Straight Alliance club is once again promoting inclusion and acceptance within the school community.

“I’m extremely pleased to see an active Gay-Straight Alliance club within our Seekonk High School community,” Principal Whalen said. “At the high school, we want to ensure that all of our students feel welcomed and accepted. This club further promotes these messages of acceptance and serves as an ally to all LGBTQ+ community members.”

The Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA), which was created decades ago, was renewed at Seekonk High School after all school clubs were re-evaluated within the past year. The new and improved SHS-GSA club officially began in September 2020 after years of being inactive.

To get the ball rolling on the GSA’s new chapter, Seekonk High School teachers Jennifer Billings and Donna Laliberte offered to become the club’s new co-advisors.

The student-run club provides a safe meeting space for students to support each other, talk about issues related to sexual orientation and gender identity/expression, and work to end homophobia and transphobia.

Currently, Seekonk High School’s GSA has approximately 20 student members who participate in virtual meetings twice a month.

To date, the majority of the GSA meetings have been discussions about how to share messages of inclusion and acceptance while creating a positive environment for all students. continued on next page...

The Reporter

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The Reporter May 2021

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The club has also participated in numerous activities while abiding by all social distancing guidelines. So far this year, members and advisors Billings and Laliberte have put up bulletin boards, held a “Share the Love” campaign in February and hosted guest speakers.

Beginning in May, the GSA also plans to host school-wide events in anticipation of Pride Month in June.

“Much of what we’ve been able to accomplish in such a short period of time is due to the support from the faculty and staff, not only at SHS but throughout the district,” Billings said. “We recently submitted a GSA shirt order for over fifty shirts with the majority being purchased by faculty and staff members at all four buildings, which definitely shows how much love and support surrounds the members of the GSA. We cannot wait to see what this group of students will be able to accomplish by next year at this time!”

To keep the Seekonk community up-to-date with the latest GSA updates, advisors Billings and Laliberte have created numerous social media accounts. Students, parents and guardians can also request access to the GSA’s Google Classroom by contacting Billings or Laliberte via email.

Once Seekonk High School returns to in-person learning the club plans on offering in-person or virtual meeting options to increase the club’s activity.

“As a district, we are always encouraging students to make their voices heard and participate in clubs that align with their beliefs,” Superintendent Drolet said. “It’s great to see the Gay-Straight Alliance active in our school community and supporting our student body. I look forward to the events they plan to host in the future.”

D-R Awarded a Digital Literacy Grant

For more information please contact Mr. Joe Pirraglia, jpirraglia@drregional.org Dighton, MA-Superintendent Dr. Anthony C. Azar announced that the Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School District has been awarded a Digital Literacy Now Grant (Part 1 - Middle Grades 6-8) and a Student Learning Devices Grant by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Supt. Azar said, “The Digital Literacy Now Grant provides professional development and training for key personnel specific to the development of a district plan to implement digital literacy standards in Computer Science and related courses”. “The implementation plan, beginning at the middle level, will create pathways for Computer Science courses and the instruction of digital literacy standards throughout the district”, Asst. Supt. Pirraglia said.

The Student Learning Devices Grant provides materials and equipment to Dighton-Rehoboth Regional elementary schools to support the instruction of digital literacy standards in elementary STEAM courses. Devices purchased will give students access to hands on, engaging digital literacy/computer science instruction.

Supt. Azar said, “DRRSD is excited to begin infusing more robust digital literacy and computer science learning experiences for students in our K-12 curriculum”. “DRRSD would like to thank district teachers and administrators for their help in securing these outstanding opportunities”, Asst. Supt. Pirraglia concluded.

Snapshots of Palmer River: Working together and Reaching Higher RECESS IS BACK!

Thank you to all of our families who contributed to the rally for recess equipment. As students need to respect social distance and outdoor protocols, having extra equipment made recess manageable; a common equipment cart could no longer be shared. Thank you to Mrs. Silva who orchestrated the large undertaking. She was fortunate to have the help of her family too. Pictured here, Calvin is helping to pack up the outdoor recess supplies for delivery to

May 2021

The Reporter

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Random Acts of Kindness Continue In this trying COVID climate, we are inspired by our staff and students who continue to make “kindness” a priority. To honor and initiative set forth by Alan Shawn Feinstein, many of our junior scholars are making a note with their good deeds and hanging them on the “kindness tree”. Pictured here, Richard S. and Isla D. show others what they can do. Also in our “Kindness Corner”, ‘Grab and Go’ breakfast items are made available each afternoon for the students to take with them to enjoy at home. This year all lunch and breakfast items are free for all of our students. Another great act of kindness!

Haven’t you Always Wanted to be an Archeologist?

Congratulations to fourth grade teacher, Cheryl Gridley, who has been selected to attend the 2021 Voices of the Ancients: Archaeology and Oral Tradition in the American West Teacher Workshop. She will be traveling to Cedar City, Utah in July for one week. While there she will investigate the ancient Fremont culture. Miss Gridley will be using the Project Archaeology: Investigating Shelter and Investigating Rock Art curricula as a foundation and the workshop will introduce her to archives, archaeology, GIS, and oral history to help her teach about ancient peoples. Through live place-based learning and meaningful interactions with tribal elders, Miss Gridley will experience and understand Native American History at an entirely new level. We look forward to her bringing her Project Archaeology experience and knowledge to her future students.

Pictured here are students Alyssa D. and Zach B. helping Miss Gridley to show where she will be traveling to.

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The Reporter May 2021

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consideration will be given to candidates with a demonstrated history of involvement in programs relating to the Blanding Library or Carpenter Museum.

An award of up to $1,000 will be given to the winner prior to the start of his or her second semester with the intention of aiding in funding ongoing education.

Applications are due by June 15th, 2021 and can be found on the RAS website: http://www.rehobothantiquarian.org/rasscholarship/. Applicants will be invited for a face-to-face or virtual interview between June 21st and July 2nd. Award winners will be announced no later than August 31st, 2021.

Rehoboth Garden Club News

The Rehoboth Garden Club is sorry to announce that our annual plant sale will not take place this year due to Covid issues and the deterioration of the Goff Hall Shed. We look forward to seeing all our loyal customers next year.

On Monday, June 7, 2021, at 6:30 PM we will welcome Adam Latham as our guest speaker on Zoom. Mr. Latham will discuss the “Who, What and How” of the Rehoboth Land Trust.

Club members will tend, weed and water the herb garden at the Carpenter Museum from now until October.

The new lower level entrance area of the Blanding Library will be enhanced by trees, shrubs and perennial flowers. Member Susan Gerbi McIlwain designed the garden, and received a small grant from the R.I. Federation of Garden Clubs toward the cost of some of the plants. The RIFGC also donated a crabapple tree.

Some of the perennials will be donations from Rehoboth Garden Club members. A Virginia Magnolia tree, donated by Tranquil Lake Nursery, will be the centerpiece of the garden.

The Reporter

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Expert Installation Personal Service

Interiors Earle Dias

• • • •

Residential & Commercial Emergency Water Removal Soil Protection Treatment Tile & Grout Cleaning



(508)252-6385

151 Winthrop St., Rehoboth MA • Tues.-Fri.10-5 • Sat.10-1

51 www.earlescarpetcleaning.com

May 2021

Genealogy Event at Carpenter Museum

What: Introduction to Genealogy with Research Manager Lende McMullen When: Wednesday May 12th, 1:00-2:00pm Where: Hosted by the Carpenter Museum, Virtual Program via Zoom In this free online program, the Research Manager of the E. Otis Dyer Research Room, Lende McMullen will lead you through first steps and give helpful hints on how to get started with your own research. This is your chance to learn from an expert in a small group setting. Participants will be sent a Zoom link before the program.

Registration for free at rehobothantiquarian.org/museum-events

Rehoboth Lions Club Brief News

The Rehoboth Lions Club had its first live Meeting in over a year on 4/28/21. Some of our club leaders attended District 33 Lions State Convention virtually on Sat. April 24th.

Our Club had a successful public drive through RIB DINNER on Sat. May 1st.

May Meetings are planned for the Board of Directors on May 12 and our regular meeting on Wed. May 26.

Look for our 49th Chet Munroe Chicken BBQ, Sunday June 6th! All Lions will have tickets.

Preakness Horse Race

“Hands Down” “Across The Board” “Dark Horse” “Front Runner” “Home Stretch”

Rehoboth Anawan Lions Fundraiser for Eye Research

Saturday, May 15th at 4:00PM Dublin Rose Irish Pub 940 Fall River Avenue, Seekonk Admission to view the Preakness Race: $20.00 per person, Family Style Menu 50-50 Rafflle and raffle baskets!

Preakness Special Drink: “Black Eyed Susan” For Tickets contact: Nadene Martin at 508-822-4146 Kathy Amaral at 508-208-9748 Janice Goulart at 508-612-7418 The fashionale colors representing the Preakness are: Black, Yellow, Red & White!

PAYING CASH FOR GOLD, SILVER & STERLING U.S. and Foreign Coins Old Comics and Sports Cards Old Watches and Collectibles Diamonds and Jewelry

508-336-9103 113 Taunton Ave Seekonk, MA Same Location for 40 Years

WEXLER'S

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The Reporter May 2021

A.M. Carpentry

Quality Workmanship

(508) 222-6573 Wood & Vinyl Siding Roofing • Decks Cement Work Additions & Restorations New Construction Remodeling Rehoboth, MA LICENSED & INSURED

American Legion Post 302 Public Events 84 Bay State Road, P.O. Box 1, Rehoboth, Ma. 02769 Email speedyjake@aol.com or call #508-252-9078

• May 1st, 2021 - Saturday - 7:00-10:00 P.M. - Live Music performed by William Foley from Ohio with 50’s - 60’s & 70’s Music - $10.00 Suggested Donation https://www.omgilts.com/ • May 7th, 2021- Friday - 6:00-9:00 P.M. – Dealing Aces Band with Easy Listening Music - $5.00 donation https://paulpasch.com/dealing-aces-band • May 8th, 2021 - Saturday - 7:00-10:00 P.M. - Live Music performed by Gary Lait Cummings & the Soulmates Presents Blues Music - $10.00 Suggested Donation https:// www.facebook.com/events/84-bay-state-rd-rehoboth-ma-02769-2316-united-states/ blues-band-with-gary-cummings-soulmates/189227832326686/ • May 9th, 2021 – Sunday - 7:30-10:30 A.M. Monthly Breakfast, Second Sunday of every month $8.00 donation - All you can Eat! https://www.facebook.com/ groups/657024961125913/ • May 15th, 2021 – Saturday - 6:00-8:00 P.M. – Fire Station #2 Prime Rib Dinner $30.00 per plate No Walk-Ins – 200 TAKE OUT ORDER ONLY Call 508-252-3122 https://wwww. rehobothfd.com/ • May 15th 2021 – Saturday 5:00 – 9:00 P.M. - – Dealing Aces Band with Easy Listening Music outside on the patio and into the expanded parking lot allowed due to covid-19 - $5.00 donation https://paulpasch.com/dealing-aces-band

MA #058544 Reg # 111902 RI# 7169

• May 16th, 2021 – Sunday - 2:00-6:00 P.M. – Pulled BBQ PORK & Rib Dinner with Live Music performed by WOLFGANG Classical & Modern Rock - $14.00 per ticket https:// www.bandmix.com/wolfgangcoverband/

No one offers a better deal!

• May 31th, 2021 – Monday - 1:00-5:00 P.M. Kim Fagundes Free Hot Dogs & Salads, Legion’s Free Hamburgers and New York Steak Strips for $10.00 per

Call 508.252.6575 to Advertise!!!

• June 6th, 2021 – Sunday - 10:30-1:00 P.M. Lions Annual Chet Munroe BBQ Chicken takeout $15.00 per plate https://e-clubhouse.org/sites/rehoboth_ma/

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Artist Materials Complete Line of Woodcarving Supplies Hours: M-F 9-5 Sat 9-12

1063 Oakhill Ave. Attleboro, MA 02703-7318 • 508-222-6255

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• June 11th , 2021 – Friday - 7:00-8:30 P.M. - Comedy Musical performance by Kalifornia Karl Classical & Modern Rock - $5.00 donation https://www.facebook. com/KaliforniaKarl/videos/ • June 13th, 2021 - Sunday -7:30-10:30 A.M. Monthly Breakfast, Second Sunday of every month $8.00 donation - All you can Eat! https://www.facebook.com/ groups/657024961125913/ • June 13th, 2021 – Sunday - 2:00-6:00 P.M. – Pulled BBQ PORK & Rib Dinner with Live Music performed by WOLFGANG Classical & Modern Rock - $14.00 per ticket https://www.bandmix.com/wolfgangcoverband/

The East Providence Lions Club

The East Providence Lions Club will be holding a clothing FunDrive to benefit the Scholarship Foundation of East Providence and other Lions Charities. Clean, gently used clothing and other textiles, securely packed in large trash bags, can be accepted. The Community Collections dates and locations are May16th, from 9am to 12pm at the Crescent Park parking lot, June 13th from 9am to 12pm at the East Providence Senior Center and June 27th, from 9am to 12pm also at the East Provience Senior Center on Waterman Ave. For more information, contact rjprimmer@aol.com or dwoodinprov@aol.com.

May 2021

East Providence/Seekonk Rotary Club Announces Project to Help Save Butterflies “Operation Pollination” provides free wildflower seed packets to community

The Reporter

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Sine Plumbing & Heating "Quality Service Since 1945"

The East Providence/Seekonk Rotary •Repairs & Installation Club announces “Operation Pollination,” a •Residential/Commercial/ new environmental-related project to help Industrial save butterflies and other important plant pollinator species.

•Pumps & Filters Call Us To Beginning May 1, 2021, free wildflower •Conditioners Sanitize Your seed packets will be available to the gen•Water Heaters & Well! eral public while supplies last. The packets

Heating Systems may be picked-up at BayCoast Bank, •Drain Cleaning 110 Taunton Avenue in Seekonk during normal business hours (Mon-Wed 9a-4p; •Fully Licensed & Insured Thurs-Fri 9a-6p; and Sat 9a-1p); and NewServing RI & Southeastern MA berry Public Relations and Marketing, 1445 RIMP #625 MAMP #12592 Wampanoag Trail Suite 103-B in Riverside Call (401)434-6436 (weekdays only from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm).

“The environment is a new area of focus for Rotary International members in clubs like ours throughout the world,” states Betty Galligan, president of the East Providence/ Seekonk Rotary Club. “Seventy-five percent of the world’s plant species are dependent on pollinators, such as the monarch butterfly, to survive. We encourage everyone to help do their part in their own backyards and garden spaces by planting these wildflower seeds to attract butterflies.”

Each winter, colonies of monarch butterflies gather annually in Mexico and fly to the southern U.S. to lay their eggs on milkweed plants. Their offspring then flies as far north as Canada to lay their own eggs. After a third generation of butterflies hatches at the end of summer, a fourth “super” generation heads back to Mexico – typically a 6,000-mile round trip journey and the longest known migration of any insect species. The overwintering monarch butterfly population has decreased 53% in 2020 as compared to 2019.

“Everywhere along their migration route, butterflies need a habitat to survive. If we can improve the pollinator habitat in our own community, we can be part of the solution,” states Galligan, whose late mother, a butterfly enthusiast, in part inspired the project.

Habitat loss for monarchs is believed to be caused by illegal logging in Mexico, modern agricultural practices in the U.S. and With this ad Canada where corn and soybeans no longer share space with milkweed plants, climate change, pesticide use, and urban sprawl.

Native plants provide nectar that nourishes the butterflies as well as other pollinators such as bumblebees, bats and moths. Without 508-824-8370 • 1-800-464-8370 pollinators, 30 percent of food in grocery stores would disappear. exclusions may apply “Operation Pollination is not only a way to make our communities prettier with colorful wildflowers, but also to help save our butterfly and bee population,” adds Galligan. “We’re encouraging everyone – including residents, businesses, school teachers, and organizations – throughout East Providence, Seekonk and beyond to participate in this project with us Rotarians. We’re hoping our project can plant the seeds of awareness about the plight of the monarch butterfly and the science of pollination, and that it will grow into an impactful project that we can repeat year after year. It’s one way that Rotary can continue to bring about positive change in the world.”

Supporting the environment is Rotary’s seventh area of focus, Interior and Exterior which are categories of service activities. It joins peacebuilding Painting - Wall covering and conflict prevention; disease prevention and treatment; water, sanitation, and hygiene; maternal and child health; basic education Powerwashing and literacy; and community economic development. For more Quality Materials, Reasonable Prices information about The Rotary Club of East Providence/Seekonk, visit: www.epseekonkrotary.org.

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The Reporter May 2021

Seekonk Human Services We will be Closed Monday, May 31 to observe Memorial Day. We Are Open!

Robert Choate Tree Surgeon

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Licensed Arborist

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508-252-9947

We are officially open for health clinics (appointments required) and outdoor activities (preregistration required)! Masks will be required for health clinics and outdoor activities. We will continue to do our Zoom activities as well. We are taking extra precautions by following CDC guidelines. Clients and participants are required to wear a mask when entering the building and informing the front desk their name and phone number for contact tracing.

There are extra hand sanitizer stations as well as Plexiglas set up with social distancing signs to keep everyone safe. We are excited to see everyone!

Social Media is No Place for COVID-19 Vaccination Cards!

Think of it this way — identity theft works like a puzzle, made up of pieces of personal information. You don’t want to give identity thieves the pieces they need to finish the picture. One of those pieces is your date of birth. For example, just by knowing you date and place of birth, scammers sometimes can guess most of the digits of your Social Security number. Once identify thieves have the pieces they need they can use the information to pen new accounts in your name, claim your tax refund for themselves, and engage in other identity theft. Please be aware!

Quality Work At Reasonable Prices

Mother’s Day Grab & Go Treat

Wed, May 12th 11:00am—11:45am

Things are still quite different this year, normally we would be hosting our annual Silver Tea but with COVID still a thing we wanted to do something for the mothers! Honoring all the Mothers of Seekonk, we would like to treat them to a Grab & Go meal with a cupcake from Buttercream Bakery, a Seekonk residential bakery! The lunch menu will be cajun chicken, rice, California blend veggies, whole wheat roll and banana. There is no cost to you! Please sign up by Quality First calling 508-336-8772. *Sponsored by Friends of Friends.

Call 401.473.4249

Residential & Commercial Licensed & Insured

Community Questions for our Police Liaison

Officer Maria Vincenzo is welcoming community questions.

Questions can be mailed, dropped off, or placed in our lock box that is attached to the entrance of the building. We will post answers in the monthly newsletter and on our Facebook page.

EAST COAST PLASTERING CO. • New Homes • Renovations • Repair Work • • New Ceilings • Drywall • Resurfaced Walls •

Email List

EST 1984 JOHN GRILO

Rehoboth, MA

Join our email list! Things are changing so quickly these days and we want to be able to get the word out to you quickly. Please give us a call and give us your email address; we want to share fun activities, links to zoon and other virtual programing you may like.

Earle's Car pet & Upholster y Cleaning 2 ROOMS $75 Max. 240 Sq.Ft.

4 ROOMS $125 Max. 480 Sq. Ft.

prices may change due to gas. $75 minimum charge

Interiors Earle Dias

6ft Sofa $75 Loveseat $45 Chair $35

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(508)252-6385

151 Winthrop St., Rehoboth MA • Tues.-Fri.10-5 • Sat.10-1

www.earlescarpetcleaning.com

ZOOM Activities

• Zoom BINGO!: Mon & Thurs at 1pm • Zoom Trivia: Tues at 1:30pm—2:00pm • Zoom Coffee Chat: Weds @ 1:30pm *Note: Zoom activities can be done on a laptop, tablet, and smart phone or by dialing in the specific number for that activity. If you are interested in participating in a zoom activity call the office to sign up. If you have a registered email address please inform us so we can send you the log in information for the class!

Outdoor Activities

• Chair Yoga: Mon & Wed at 10am • Zumba: Fridays at 9:30am • Tai Chi: Fridays @ 10:30am *Note: Registration is required for all outdoor activities, please call the center at 508-336-8772.

May 2021

Health Clinics

• Podiatry Clinic: Tues, May 11 & Wed May 12 @ 10am—2pm • Blood Pressure & Glucose Clinic: Wed, May 19 @ 9am—11am • Hearing Clinic: Tues, June 8 @ 2pm *NOTE: Preregistration is required for all health clinics, please call the center at 508-336-8772.

Scams

Scammers are using a new trick to steal your money and personal information: a bogus COVID vaccine survey. People across the country are reporting getting emails and texts out of the blue, asking them to complete a limited-time survey about the Pfizer, Moderna, or AstraZeneca vaccine (And no doubt, there may be one for Johnson & Johnson). In exchange, people are offered a free reward, but asked to pay shipping fees. If you get an email or text like this, STOP. It’s a scam.

Don’t give your bank account, credit card, or personal information to someone who contact you out of the blue.

508.222.0118 800.220.0110

Tuesdays & Wednesdays

COVID-19 Vaccine Preregistration Process

Your Health.

Your Care.

Your Choice.

There are different ways to find a vaccine appointment if you’re eligible: • Preregister at VaccineSignUp.mass.gov or by calling 211 to be notified when it’s your turn to schedule an appointment at one Home Care • of 7 mass vaccination locations: Fenway Park, Gillette Stadium, Reggie Lewis Center, DoubleTree Hotel in Danvers, Eastfield Mall in Springfield, Natick Mall and former Circuit City in Dartmouth.

• Use VaxFinder.mass.gov to search for RehobothReporter.1.6pg.2021.indd 1 appointments at pharmacies, health care providers, and other community locations Once you sign up for preregistration, you’ll receive weekly status updates. Once an appointment is available, you’ll be contacted to book the appointment and have 24 hours to accept it. *Homebound vaccination program— Central Intake Line: 1-833-983-0485. Monday—Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm

Palliative Care • Hospice Care

2/10/2021 2:51:51 PM

Swan Brook Assisted Living Affordable Assisted Living

Seekonk Veterans Services

The Seekonk Veterans Council, in conjunction with the Seekonk Department of Veterans Services, will be holding a Memorial Day weekend ceremony. It will take place at the Seekonk Veterans Memorial Park (410 Newman Avenue) on Saturday, May 29th at 11:30am.

The ceremony will be socially distanced and will be filmed, so it may be viewed on cable television or Channel 9’s website. It will also be live streamed online by Channel 9 so viewers will be able to watch the ceremony live.

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Our ceremonies always feature local veteran and politician participants. We are pleased to announce that Seekonk poet Margie Rieske will join us once again to read one of her poems.

She writes on all sorts of topics, but really specializes in poems relating to veterans and patriotism – as she comes from a long line of family members who served in the military.

We will also have a special music guest, the 215th Army Band’s Music Performance Team Liberty. We’ve had the pleasure of having their fife and drum group, Revolution, perform in past years. This will be Liberty’s first time performing in Seekonk. They will also be sending us a bugler for the sounding of Taps.

For any additional information or questions, please contact Seekonk Veterans Services at (508)336-2940 or via email jlaflame@ seekonk-ma.gov.

Nutritional Meals To Go SHS will be working with Bristol Elder Services to provide nutritional meals for lunch. Meals come completely cooked and prepackaged. All you need to do is heat it up! Meals need to be ordered the day before by 9:30am. Payment is $2.25 per meal which will be due at the time of pickup. Pick up will be between 11am— 12pm. If you are unable to pick up at that time or are experiencing financial hardship please reach out to the office to speak with the Outreach Department. May’s menu will be available on our Facebook page or by calling the office at 508-336-8772.

The Reporter

Upcoming Vacancy! Visit Us Soon!

• 24-hour Staffing • Assistance w/ Meds & Personal Care • 3 Meals per day • Laundry & Housekeeping • Activities • Much More Phone: (508) 324-9074 924 Gardners Neck Road • Swansea, MA

Call for tour Cell: (774) 644-3886

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The Reporter May 2021 est 1987

EP Wieners

We l c o m e

To O u r Is l a n d

DINE-IN/CURBSIDE/TAKEOUT Outdoor Patio Now Open Look for Specials & Family Meal Deals on Facebook Mon-Thur 11:30-9, Fri-Sat 11:30-11, Sun 11:30-7

401-431-1322

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Dine-In • Takeout Hours: Sun-Thurs 11am-9pm Fri & Sat 11am-10pm 736 N Broadway East Providence, RI (401) 434-1505

2 Wieners & Fries Soda or Coffee Milk

$9.93 + Tax

Check out Daily Specials M-F TAKE OUT 401-434-0942

122 Taunton Avenue, East Providence

Outdoor Dining Available!

THE FRESHEST SEAFOOD & BEST FRIED CLAMS AROUND! Fresh Seafood Purchased Daily!

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May 2021

The Reporter

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Dining Guide Dine on Deliciously Sweet Doughnuts raw. Remove from oil and drain in paper towel. Repeat with remaining dough.

4. While still hot, toss doughnuts with remaining sugar.

These Lemon Ricotta Doughnuts pair the bite-sized morsels with lemon curd (if that suits your style) for a sweet-tart combination. They’re made using Domino Golden Sugar, which is made from pure cane sugar and is less processed than white granulated sugar, as one you can always trust in your favorite recipes. It works cup-for-cup just like white sugar but with a golden color and distinct hint of molasses flavor.

Visit dominosugar.com to find recipes perfect for entertaining and celebrating throughout the year.

To make lemon curd: 1. In large bowl of stand mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and egg yolks, one at a time. Add lemon zest, lemon juice and salt.

2. Transfer mixture to saucepan and cook at low-medium heat until thick and creamy, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and let cool before serving with doughnuts.

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Lemon Ricotta Doughnuts

Prep time: 20 mins ~ Cook time: 7 mins Doughnuts: • Vegetable oil, for frying • 2 cups all-purpose flour • 1 3/4 cups Domino Golden Sugar, divided • 2 tablespoons baking powder • 1/4 teaspoon salt • 2 tablespoons lemon zest • 5 large eggs • 1 3/4 cups ricotta cheese • 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract Lemon Curd (optional): • 1 stick unsalted butter, softened • 1 1/2 cups Domino Golden Sugar • 2 large eggs • 2 egg yolks • 4 lemons, zest and juice only • 1/8 teaspoon salt To make doughnuts: 1. In large saucepan, preheat oil to 350 F. Prepare cookie sheet with paper towel to drain doughnuts once out of hot oil.

2. In bowl, mix flour, 3/4 cup sugar, baking powder and salt. Add lemon zest, eggs, ricotta cheese and vanilla extract; mix until well combined.

3. Use ice cream scoop to scoop small amounts dough into oil, 4-5 pieces at a time. Fry each batch until golden brown, about 7 minutes. Keep oil at or near 350 F; if oil is too hot, doughnuts will turn golden brown but centers may still be

Dine Out or Take Out! Or Try a Recipe at Home...

540 Central Ave, Rte 152 • Seekonk MA

508-761-6854

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Hours: Sun-Thurs 11am-11pm; Fri & Sat 11am-12am

The Cooks House

2 Olney St (Briarwood Plaza) • St 22, Seekonk, MA

We do the cooking for you!

Proudly providing restaurant-quality meals for you and your family.

From kids’ meals to soups, salads, & appetizers to your main course, we’ve got you covered!

Try our made to order Grilled Cheese Sandwiches!

It’s Grilling Season...

We now carry a great selection of steaks, pork chops, burgers, hot dogs, ribs, and more!!

(508) 557-0091 • www.thecookshouseseekonk.com

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The Reporter May 2021

Dining Guide Celebrate All-Star Moms with a Simple, Delicious Meal (Family Features) From big things like juggling a career and family priorities to little things like writing lunchtime love notes, there are so many ways moms lift up their families and the people they love every day. In today’s world, where multi-tasking has taken on a whole new meaning, it’s clear moms deserve to be celebrated.

One of the easiest ways to do something special for the all-star mom in your life is to make her a homemade meal and enjoy some quality time together around the dinner table. For those in need of

COUNTRY KITCHEN Serving Breakfast & Lunch

•Fresh Fruit Waffles• •Homemade Pies• •Fish-n-chips• •Daily Specials• •Catering Available•

CATERING Patio Now AVAILABLE Open!

Take out Available (508) 336-9807 469 Taunton Ave., Rt. 44, Seekonk, MA

Hours: Mon.-Fri. 6am-2pm, Sat. 7am-11am, Sun. 8am-12pm

Always open to the public

Inside & Outdoor Dining Available 7 Days a Week!

Kitchen Hours: Mon-Sat Noon to 9pm Sunday Noon to 7pm Live Music Starts in May!

Check Out Our Calendar of Events for All Live Music and Promotions 82 Hillside Ave., Rehoboth MA 508.252.9761 www.hillsidecountryclub.com Make a reservation today!

inspiration, consider a delicious option like this Tuscan Chicken Pierogy Skillet for an easy, elevated, sure-toimpress dish that comes together in 45 minutes.

The key ingredient: Mrs. T’s Pierogies, which are pasta pockets stuffed with creamy mashed potatoes, cheesy goodness and other big, bold flavors. Found in the frozen food aisle and available in 13 flavors, in full and mini size varieties, they can be boiled, baked, sauteed, fried or grilled.

They are easy to prepare, which means less time in the kitchen and more time together.

Visit mrstspierogies.com to find more recipe inspiration to celebrate mom.

Tuscan Chicken Pierogy Skillet

Prep time: 10 minutes ~ Total time: 45 minutes ~ Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 1 box Mrs. T’s Pierogies 4 Cheese Medley • 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pounded to even thickness • kosher salt, to taste • ground black pepper, to taste • 4 cloves garlic, minced • 1 bag (5 ounces) fresh baby spinach • 2 cups diced tomatoes • 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning • 1/4 cup chicken broth • 1/2 cup heavy cream • 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus additional, for garnish • 1 tablespoon cold water • 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch • fresh basil, for garnish • crushed red pepper flakes, for garnish

Dicrections: 1. Boil pierogies according to package directions. Drain then toss pierogies with 1 tablespoon olive oil to keep from sticking.

2. In 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat, heat 1 tablespoon oil. Season chicken with salt and pepper, to taste, and cook 8-10 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through.

Transfer to plate, cover and allow to rest 5-8 minutes. Slice thin.

3. While chicken rests, lower heat to medium-low and add remaining oil to same skillet. Add garlic, spinach and tomatoes; saute 1-2 minutes until garlic is fragrant. Season with Italian seasoning and salt and pepper, to taste.

4. Stir in chicken broth, heavy cream and 3/4 cup Parmesan. In small bowl, whisk cold water and cornstarch then stir into pan.

Simmer 4-5 minutes until thickened and creamy.

5. Return chicken and pierogies to skillet and toss to combine. If desired, top with additional seasonings, to taste. Garnish with fresh basil, Parmesan and red pepper flakes, if desired.

Source: Mrs. T’s Pierogies

May 2021

Seekonk Public Library Improve Your Memory with a Free, Virtual Masterclass

Smith Insurance Group AUTO • HOME • BUSINESS • LIFE Denise Smith

If you feel like keeping up with all the details of life has your head swimming, you’re not alone. Join Seekonk Public Library for the virtual program Memory Masterclass on Wednesday, May 12 at 6 PM to recoup your memory skills. Presenter Fred Berthelot will help you discover the true potential of your amazing memory.

Register in the Events Calendar at www.seekonkpl.org to receive the login information the week of the program.

Talk Directly with Overdrive Experts

Get Started with Libby | 10 AM Libby Q & A |10:35 AM Libby Deep Dive | 10:45 AM

Now is the time to learn about using FREE travel-friendly ebooks and audiobooks with the Libby app from Overdrive.

Join for these virtual, live sessions with the experts from Overdrive on Wednesday, May 19 beginning at 10 AM.

The Reporter

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Over 20 Years Experience in the Local Community EST. 1994

Commercial & Industrial Paving • Residential Driveways

Virtual Nonfiction Book Club: Maybe You Should Talk to Someone

by Lori Gottlieb Join us for a lively discussion of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed by Lori Gottlieb through Zoom on Tuesday, May 25th, 2021 at 6:00 pm. Register in the Events Calendar at www.seekonkpl.org to receive an invitation to the Zoom call approximately one hour before the start time. The title is available digitally through Overdrive, or you may pick up a print copy at the library.

Learn Technology Skills You Need Today

Join the virtual program Grow with Google: Digital Skills for Everyday Tasks on Wednesday, May 26 at 6 PM. Led by Google Trainer Bryan Caplan, you will learn how to manage work and life tasks more effectively using Google tools. Whether you want to build a budget, create a meeting agenda or organize your priorities, these best practices will boost your productivity.

In this session you’ll learn how to: • Use templates in Google Sheets to build a personalized to-do list • Use templates in Google Docs to create a meeting agenda Go to the library Events Calendar at www.seekonkpl.org for registration information.

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Contact All-Phase Asphalt Paving today at 508-336-0064 for a FREE estimate!

Email: allphaseasphalt@gmail.com

Roger Beausoleil - Owner

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The Reporter May 2021

Programs for Children and Families Register at seekonkpl.org calendar of events

Children’s Book Week, May 3 – 9

Watch storybooks being read by police officers, firefighters, town workers and many more! Videos available on YouTube Channel.

Mother’s Day Silhouettes

Saturday, May 8 at 12 noon

Make a simple silhouette to give as a Mother’s Day gift. Frames provided by Seekonk Library. Live via Zoom. Register for link

Dragons: Return of the Ice Sorceress Thursday, May 13 4 - 4:45 PM

An interactive story that uses science experiments with awesome special effects to help the story come to life. Live via Zoom.

Register for link.

“Ballpark Mysteries” Author Visit, David A Kelly Tuesday, May 25 at 6:30 PM

Finally Winter's Over, But Don't Forget...

No Frills, No Bills.

C.O.D. OIL

David A Kelly will talk about his books, how he became a writer and how kids can become writers, too! Mr Kelly will discuss techniques used in writing such as setting, character, plot, suspense.

He’ll also discuss the writing and editing process and what it takes to be a successful author. Live via Zoom. Register and receive the Zoom link and the notebook and gel pen to use after the program.

STORYTIMES

Puppet Storytime: Monday, May 17 at 10 AM

Meet Newton and friends for puppetry with a story Led by “Through You To Me Puppetry”. All ages. Live via Zoom. Register.

Babies and Books (via Zoom) Mon, May 24, 10AM

Live, spring themed storytime for children ages 2 and under.

There will be a story, finger plays, music, bubbles! Wear yellow!

Older siblings welcome! Register for the Zoom invite at seekonkpl. org calendar of events. Have a scarf or shaker type instrument nearby for your child to use during the program.

Preschool Storytime (via Zoom) Wed, May 26 1:30PM

Join Miss Sandie for a virtual storytime for children ages 2-5.

Younger siblings welcome. Register for the Zoom invite at seekonkpl.org calendar of events.

Storytime on the Go in May

Create a storytime experience at home. Each packet will include 6 books and an age appropriate early literacy activity. Look for the display in the Children’s Room. Have questions or need assistance?

Contact childrens@seekonkpl.org or call (508) 336-8230 x56140.

Virtual Programs for Tweens and Teens

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Masonry Repair & Restoration: Walkways • Patios • Pavers • Walls • Chimneys 508-649-1938

www.kennysmasonryandchimneysweeps.com

Virtual programs for grades 6-12.

*Advisory Board

Thursday, May 6, 2021 at 4:00 PM

A group of volunteers who get together each month to chat, play games and plan upcoming programs. Earn community service credit for attending. Applications available on seekonkpl.org/teens.

*Virtual STEAM: Sonic Pi

Thursday, May 20, 2021 at 3:00 PM

We will help unmask the mystery of making digital music with a Virtual Workshop on Sonic Pi Software. Sonic Pi is a programming environment that allows you to make sounds and music with coding. Please RVSP online.

*Virtual Craft: Paper Quilling

Thursday, May 27, 2021 at 3:00 PM

Pick up a supply kit and get together online to learn this colorful artform made with strips of paper and a special tool. *RSVP online to reserve a space in this program. You will receive an invitation the day of the program.

For program information, visit seekonkpl.org/teens, email teens@seekonkpl.org, or call the library at 508-336-8230 x56141.

May 2021

The Reporter

61

News And Notes From Blanding Library

by Leslie Patterson

Paperback Book & Plant Sale May 15

The Friends of the Blanding Library will hold a “Paperback Blowout” sale of gently used paperbacks at the library on Sat. May 15 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Also for sale will be heirloom vegetable plants (tomatoes and peppers). Plants will be $2 each or four plants for $7. This event will be held OUTSIDE at Goff Hall. Rain date is Sat. May 22.

Donations of used paperbacks for this sale are most welcome.

Please drop them off inside the hall door during library hours. Please do not put book sale donations in the outside book drop, which is only for returned library-owned items. Volunteers are also needed to help with the sale. If you would like to volunteer, call the library at 508-252-4236.

Looking ahead, the Friends are planning a presentation on fermentation on August 13, where you can learn how to make sauerkraut and fizzy non-alcoholic drinks such as ginger ale.

Samples will be available for tasting. More details to follow. The Friends are always looking for crafters and hobbyists. If you have a special hobby or craft you’d like to share with others, we would like to hear from you.

As of this writing, the Blanding Library is still open to visitors from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and for curbside pickup only from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday (call ahead to arrange for pick-up). Please check www.blandinglibrary.net or call 508-252-4236 for the latest information. Please continue to return library items into the outdoor book drop. Meeting space in Goff Hall is not available at present.

her to make it into a children’s book. We hope you enjoy the book, and the original song, “Safe At Home.” This video program will be available through May 22.

Summer is not that far away, and the children’s library is stocking up for summer reading fun. Did you know that children age 5 and up, with the help of a parent or guardian, are able to receive a library card? Be sure to check the library’s program and events page at www.blandinglibrary.net and the Blanding Public Library Youth Services page on Facebook for updates on library events.

David C Zaluski DDS FAGD Family - Implant - Cosmetic Dentistry

454 Winthrop Street • Rehoboth MA 508.252.4770 RehobothFamilyDental@gmail.com

Online Programs In May

A Slob Comes Clean, May 11 at 7 p.m. via Zoom. Blogger Dana K. White, author of the blog, A Slob Comes Clean, says she does not think like neat people. She calls herself a slob, so she has to tackle her house and her clutter in a way that is intuitive to the way her mind works. https://www.aslobcomesclean.com/ Edible Perennials in Gardening and Landscaping with John Root, May 24, 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. https://www.facebook.com/ events/322031195936363. John Root will give a power point presentation on the trees, shrubs, vines and herbaceous perennials that can be grown in New England for their fruits, nuts and berries.

These online programs are free and open to all. They are sponsored by a six library collaborative called the Southcoast Six that Rehoboth has joined. The others are Berkley, Dighton, Fall River, Somerset and Swansea. Blanding Library director Whitney Pape says, “We’re doing collaborative online programming during the pandemic, and hope to continue the model into in-person programming once we can do things in person.”

Programs For Children

The library continues to offer Take & Make kits for children, virtual adventures with Miss Joyce, Through Me to You puppet stories with Newton, Story Walks around the library garden, and of course lots of children’s books! The latest Story Walk is “The Tortoise and the Jackrabbit” by Susan Lowell and Jim Harris. This family activity is made possible by the Friends of the Blanding Library and will be on display until June 6.

Through Me to You Puppetry presents “And the People Stayed Home,” by Kitty O’Meara. Newton and his puppet friends read a new children’s book. This book started out as a poem, written during Covid 2020. Kitty shared it on social media and friends encouraged

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The Reporter May 2021

IN MEMORIAM Donna Marie (Braden) Kanelakos

Dawn M. Leland

Seekonk – Donna Marie (Braden) Kanelakos, 85, passed away peacefully with her daughter by her side on Friday, April 9, 2021. She was the beloved wife of the late Peter John Kanelakos. The couple had been married for sixty years.

Donna was born and raised on a farm in Traverse City, Michigan, where she developed her love of animals. She had resided in Pawtucket before moving to Seekonk over fifty years ago.

Donna will be remembered by her family and dear friends as a funny, social and brave women who feared nothing. She was a talented Donna Marie (Braden) seamstress and knitter who especialKanelakos ly enjoyed knitting afghan blankets and sewing baby blankets. It brought her great joy spending time with her grandchildren. Together they spent countless hours playing dominos, singing songs, especially Christmas carols, and traveling to many destinations throughout the east coast and west coast.

Donna enjoyed cheering on New England sport teams, baking, and watching classic movies. She was a loving and devoted, wife, mother and yia-yia (grandmother), who will be forever remembered by all the lives she touched.

Donna leaves her son, Stephen J. Kanelakos and his wife, Myra, of Reidsville, North Carolina; her daughter, Veneta A. Kanelakos and her husband, Lalit K. Shahani, of Menlo Park, CA; her granddaughter, Lyndsey Shahani; her grandson, Kai Shahani; her sister-in-law, Marie McKenney of West Warwick and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. She also leaves many close friends and dear neighbors.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend her funeral which will be held on Wednesday, April 21 at 9:30 a.m. from WILLIAM W. TRIPP Funeral Home, 1008 Newport Ave., Pawtucket, followed by Services at 11:00 a.m. in the Mihailides Center at the Church of the Annunciation, 175 Oaklawn Ave., Cranston. Interment will follow at North Burial Ground, Providence. VISITATION will be held on Tuesday from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. (Covid protocol and masks required at all Services) If desired, memorial gifts to the Church of the Annunciation would be appreciated. TRIPPFUNERALHOME.com

Rehoboth - Dawn M. Leland, 56, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 14, 2021. She was the beloved wife of Norman J. Leland. The couple would have celebrated their twenty-first wedding anniversary on April 21.

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, she was a daughter of Beverly (Cameron) Grassey of Pawtucket and Donald Grassi of Pennsylvania. Dawn had resided in Pawtucket before moving to Rehoboth seventeen years ago. She was a teacher in the Fall River School system.

You found the earth in the dead of winter And left with the first breath of spring Now In each passing season For as long as we are There you’ll be, In everything To sum up the entirety of a person’s life in several lines feels like the task of a lifetime. Who she was in life is so much more than could ever be conveyed on paper. Everything she did she did with a deep rooted passion. If you knew her you knew the way it felt to be immersed in beauty and treasures. The way she gave life to every corner of a room and every place in her garden. She was a pillar of strength, and led a life devoted to her faith and others.

The backbone of her family, an educator to underprivileged youth, a former member of the children’s symphony, an animal and plant enthusiast, and a proud member of the Rehoboth Garden Club.

She was the kind of woman who paid attention to details and always had a seat at her table, a beautiful napkin and hot cup of tea to share. She took pride in her accomplishments and in being a mother. She loved her children fiercely and had a lifelong love of learning, a true teacher at heart. She held a bachelors in psychology and a master’s in education.

She was fresh flowers, warm bread, diamonds, and antiques.

She was earthbound, and god fearing, home among the trees.

She was a mother daughter, sister and friend Teacher, Christian, aunt who would spend, Her life devoted to others in ways That would guide them in patience and hold them in strength An affinity for the beautiful and finer things in life She was a garden growing woman and a strong and loving wife To say she’ll be missed doesn’t quite carry the weight, Of the love and the loss we’ll be holding the rest of our days.

But to have known her was to have loved her and how blessed we have been, Cheers to a life lived in love - until we meet again.

Besides her husband and parents, she leaves a daughter, Bianca G. Barrera; a son, Ethan J. Leland both of Rehoboth; two brothers, Donald Grassey of FL and Christopher Grassi of PA; a niece, Sarah Joannidi; two nephews, Daniel Grassey and Robert “BJ” Grassey; several aunts, uncles, cousins, as well as everyone who knew and loved her.

A future outdoor gathering will be held that will honor Dawn with a memorial and/or tree planting. Please consider donating blood or bone marrow registration in memory of Dawn, or if preferred, a memorial gift to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284 would be appreciated. Arrangements are entrusted to WILLIAM W. TRIPP Funeral Home, Pawtucket. For online condolences please visit: TRIPPFUNERALHOME.com.

Have you reviewed your final expenses?

Will you be prepared when the time comes?

Find out how to protect your loved ones from unforeseen expenses.

Call Bob Landry 508-336-6043

May 2021 The Reporter

Lydia Mae (Jaeschke) Caron

Charles A. Greaves III

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Lydia Mae (Jaeschke) Caron, Charles A. Greaves III, 73, of 76 of Rehoboth MA, passed away Fairview Ave., Rehoboth, passed peacefully on Sunday, March 25, away at home surrounded by his 2021, with her family by her side. loving family on Friday, March She was the beloved wife of Robert 12, 2021. He was the husband of Caron for 52 years. Born in PhilaJean A. (Rebello) Greaves. delphia PA, she was the daughter Born May 26, 1947, in Pawof the late Ann (Moore) and Henry tucket, he was a son of the late Jaeschke.

Charles A. Greaves II and the late Lydia attended Mastbaum High Margaret M. (Walsh) Greaves.

School and then began a career as Educated in the Rehoboth a dietician. In 1968, Lydia married schools, he graduated from the U.S. Coast Guardsman, Robert Rhode Island Trade Shop School Caron, and they began their life while simultaneously serving with Lydia Mae (Jaeschke) Caron journey in Taunton, later building the Army Reserves. Chuck served a home and settling down to raise his toolmaker apprenticeship Charles A. Greaves III their family in Rehoboth. Lydia expanded her career to include at E.A. Adams & Son and later multiple facets of the food service industry and made many close began working for Hord Crystal friends through the years. Lydia was a loving mother to her two Corporation where he worked as a toolmaker and later became sons and her six grandchildren were the light of her life. Lydia was Tool Room Supervisor. He later retired from A & J Tool. an excellent cook and was well known for her seafood chowder and In addition to his wife of 52 years, he is survived by his son her amazing potato salad. Sunday family dinners were important Kevin Greaves and his wife Michelle of Pawtucket, and his daughter to her and there was always a meal simmering in the crock-pot.

Wendy Greaves Jordan of Rehoboth; four beloved grandchildren, She loved to play cards, board games, and was an avid reader of Ashley Szczoczarz and Brian Greaves, Kyle Greaves, and Alyssa mysteries. She enjoyed traveling to New Orleans, Ireland, and yearly Greaves, as well as their mother, Bibiana Greaves. He also leaves visits to Martha’s Vineyard with her special group of close friends. his sister, Margaret “Peggy” Santos and her husband Joseph She was an animal lover, having many pets throughout the years of Seekonk, his brother John Greaves and his wife Marie of No. and leaving behind Gizmo, her Chihuahua mix.

Providence, and his brother Thomas Greaves and his wife Linda In addition to her husband, Lydia leaves behind her sister, of Rehoboth.

Ruth Ann Sarris of Harrisburg PA and her husband Bill, her sisterA Mass of Christian Burial was held Tuesday, March 16 in Our in-law Pauline Boynton of Assonet MA, her son Dana Caron of West Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, Taunton Ave., Seekonk. Burial followed Springfield and his wife Valerie, her son Andrew Caron of Lincoln at Mt. St. Mary Cemetery, Prospect St., Pawtucket. Donations in RI and his partner Jennifer Flaxington, and grandchildren Sarah, Chuck’s memory are greatly appreciated to Hope Hospice and Christopher, Michael, Adelaide, Avaree and Ayla Caron. She leaves Palliative Care, 1085 No. Main Street, Providence, RI 02904. her nieces and nephews, Anne & Tim Parke, Bill Sarris & Deb Mallek, Mary & Mike Towns, Alexis & Dave Kierce, Julie Boynton & Michael Stewart, Shaun & Maggie Boynton, as well as all of the children to whom she was a great-aunt. Lydia was pre-deceased by her step-father and his wife, Frank and Kay Senior, her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Alfred and Cecile Caron of Taunton MA, and her brother-in-law, Charles Boynton.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic a celebration of Lydia’s life will be planned for the Fall of 2021. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts to the National Kidney Foundation, St. Jude’s Cancer Research Center, the M.S.P.C.A. or a charity of one’s choosing Competent Concern When the Need Arises would be an excellent way to honor Lydia.

Affordable Funeral & Cremation Services regardless of financial circumstance Arrangements are in the care of the Home of J.H. WILLIAMS & CO., 210 Taunton Pre-Planning Specialists Avenue, East Providence, RI. Proudly serving Rehoboth & Seekonk families since 1898 For online messages of condolence, kindly visit www.jhwilliamsfuneralhome.com Andrew J. Correia, MBIE; President/Funeral Director & Embalmer

210 Taunton Ave., ROUTE 44 • East Providence RI 02914 (401) 434-2600 • www.jhwilliamsfuneralhome.com

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The Reporter May 2021

Kathleen J. (Silva) Lemieux Kathleen J. (Silva) Lemieux, 66, of County St., Seekonk, passed away peacefully with her husband at her side, Tuesday, March 30, 2021 at the Philip Hulitar Hospice Center. She was the wife of Steven E. Lemieux.

Born April 11, 1954, in Providence, she was the daughter of the late Manuel and Irene (Amaral) Silva. Kathy worked for 20 years at Multi Wall Packaging before retiring as a customer service supervisor.

In addition to her husband of 38 years, she leaves her son, Jeffrey Lemieux; and her brother Kathleen J. (Silva) Lemieux and sister-in-law, Stephen and Lisa Silva. She was also the sister of the late Michael Silva.

Her family will gather privately for her funeral service and burial at the Seekonk Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are greatly appreciated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 2346 Post Rd. #202, Warwick, RI 02886.

Peter G. Leite

Peter G. Leite

Peter G. Leite, age 70, passed away March 23, 2021 at his home in Seekonk, MA. He is survived by his loving wife of 26 years Dori (Parmentier) Leite; mother-in-law, Carol Parmentier; 7 children, Peter, Paul, Tammy, Todd, Demi, David, and Carina; 21 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren; sister, Constance and her husband, Tom Filkins; sister, Elaine and her husband, Sean Blanar, along with numerous other family and friends.

For more information and online condolences please visit www.HamelLydon.com.

Aime J.C. Gendron

Rehoboth — Aime J.C. Gendron, 96, of Rehoboth passed away on April 29, 2021. He was the beloved husband of the late Edith (Jones) Gendron.

Born in Norton, Vermont; Aime proudly served his country during World War II with the United States Army. He later went on to work for Hercules Inc, the former Hascon Inc., in Taunton as an engineering specialist RAVASSOS & USIAK before he retired in 1987. Mr. Gendron was a communicant of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Seekonk.

Aime was a member of the Rehoboth Seniors for many years. He Aime J.C. Gendron proudly built his own home and was Broker/Owner, GRI, notary always inventing and fixing things. Mr. Gendron spoke four languages; German, Parisian French, Canadian French, and English.

Aime leaves behind his sons; Tommy Gendron and his wife An(401) drea of North Dighton, Danny Gendron of Rehoboth, David Gendron and his wife Robin of Taunton, and Jeffrey Gendron and his wife Sue www.TKREB.com Ellen of Raymond, Maine; his daughters; Helen Sauerlinder and her husband Rocky of Seekonk, his grandchildren; Ronnie, Lynn, Beth, Eric, Justin, Keith, Parker, Chase, Rebecca, and Ericka; as well as many great-grandchildren and greatgreat-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his daughter Elaine Constable, and siblings Tony Gendron, Eli Gendron, Armand Gendron, Ovila Gendron, Leo Gendron, Rose Dube, and Lillian Reault.

Calling Hours for Mr. Gendron will be held on Saturday, May 8, 2021 fro 9am10am in the Foley-Cook-Hathaway Funeral Home, 126 S. Main Street, Attleboro. A Prayer service will be held at 10am followed immediately by burial in Rehoboth Village Cemetery. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Social Distancing and Facial CovOwners and Directors, Amy Silva Rigtrup, Type 3, 80 Broadway, Taunton MA 02780 erings are required inside the funeral home Lawrence Quintal, Type 3 and 508.822.0081 at all times. To view his tribute page, go to Christine (DeLawrence) Quintal, Typre 3 www.silvafuneralhome.com www.hathawayfunerals.com.

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Real Estate Brokerage Jean M Kusiak 20 years experience

225-3700

May 2021 The Reporter

Stephen Lawrence Paradis III Stephen Lawrence Paradis III, 33, of Providence, RI, passed peacefully on April 6, 2021 at Rhode Island Hospital following a brief and unexpected cardiac illness.

Raised in Rehoboth, MA, Steve was a 2006 graduate of Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School and member of the DRRHS Marching Band.

He went on to earn a Certificate in Phlebotomy from the Community College of Stephen Lawrence Paradis III Rhode Island.

Those who knew Steve, appreciate the endless passion he poured into his many interests and pastimes. A lifelong musician, Steve played both guitar and bass guitar with a number of local bands spanning several genres of rock n’ roll. He found much joy not only making music but attending live concerts with family and friends. In between musical endeavors, Steve could be found entertaining his appetite for the outdoors on the many trails, swimming holes, and scenic vistas of New England. In his remaining free time, Steve appreciated the thrill of reading horror fiction and the nostalgia of his extensive VHS and record collection.

Steve had a positive impact on many peoples’ lives and will be remembered every day for his love, humor, and outgoing nature.

He lives on in the hearts of his parents, Stephen and Deborah Paradis, of Rehoboth, MA; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Ashley and Kevin Perry, of Coventry, RI and Elizabeth and David Ramsey, of Jeffersonville, IN; several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins; as well as many cherished friends.

A private memorial will be planned for a future date. Steve loved a good tune, so all who wish to honor his life are asked to select a song by which you might remember him and think of him anytime you hear it. Those who choose to give a gift to memorialize Steve are asked to make a contribution in his name to the American Heart Association or the Musicians On Call charity.

Mary Ann Cushing Mary Ann Cushing, 92, of Seekonk, died peacefully at home on Saturday, May 1, 2021. She was the wife of the late Herbert E. Cushing, II. Born in Providence, she was a daughter of the late R. Carleton Cameron and Mary Ann (McNally) Cameron.

Mrs. Cushing was a homemaker who enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren. She was famous for baking her apple pies, winning first place in the Lincoln School Mary Ann Cushing apple pie contest. She was a member of Newman Congregational Church for over 50 years. She enjoyed traveling and knitting.

She leaves her loving children: Anne Cushing-Brescia, MD and her husband David of Seekonk, Herbert E. Cushing, III, MD and his wife Karen of Harpswell, ME, and Cameron M. Cushing, MD and

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his wife Jill of Clifton, VA. She was the cherished grandmother of Morgan Brescia, Catherine Brescia, Grace Cushing, Henry Cushing, Vanessa Cushing, Sydney Cushing, Adam Cushing, Olivia Cushing, Wyatt Cushing, Madeline Cushing, and Matthew Cushing. She was the sister of the late Roderick C. Cameron, Jr. and Honor Botelho.

Her graveside service will be held Saturday, June 12, 2021 at 11:00 am in Carpenter Cemetery, Rumford. Calling hours are respectfully omitted.

In lieu of flowers, gifts in her memory to the Seekonk Food Pantry “Doorways”, 2 North Street, Seekonk, MA 02771 will be appreciated.

Arrangements are in the care of the Home of J.H. WILLIAMS & CO., 210 Taunton Avenue, East Providence, RI. For online messages of condolence, kindly visit www.jhwilliamsfuneralhome.com

Death Notices Rehoboth

Donna H. (Samson) Sylvia of Rehoboth, passed away peacefully on April 7, 2021 at 66 years of age.

James N.B. Sine, III, 70, of Rehoboth, passed away on Sunday, April 18, 2021, at the Miriam Hospital.

Seekonk

Barbara A. Christopher, 88, of Seekonk, died peacefully on Friday, March 26, 2021 at Hattie Ide Chaffee Home.

Lois “Lulu” E. (Viera) Chaffee, 79, passed away peacefully at home with family by her side on Sunday, March 28, 2021.

Peter George Leite, age 70, passed away on Tuesday, March 30th at his home in Seekonk, MA. Ann C. (Collins) Searles, passed away on April 9, 2021 at Hope Health Hulitar Hospice Center in Providence, RI. Donna Marie (Braden) Kanelakos, 85, passed away peacefully with her daughter by her side on Friday, April 9, 2021.

Frederick L. Uriot, JR. of Seekonk, passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 10, 2021 at 69 years of age.

Nicholas C. Titone, 70 of Seekonk, MA. passed away on April 11, 2021, with his family all by his side holding his hands and telling him what an amazing journey that the Lord was about to bestow on him.

James Patrick McEnery, 61 of Seekonk MA, formally of Rumford died peacefully on Thursday, April 22nd at HopeHealth Hospice with his beloved dog Lila by his side after a long illness.

This candle burns in loving memory of those who are forever present in our hearts.

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The Reporter May 2021

Rehoboth Ramblings

by Leslie Patterson

Enjoying Spring with More Nature Walks

774-427-9004 INDUSTRIAL • COMMERCIAL • RESIDENTIAL

A big thank-you to the Keep Rehoboth Beautiful folks for their recent town-wide cleanup campaign. Let’s take the time to appreciate our litter-free streets (if it’s not too late already), before they are trashed again by thoughtless slobs who throw their rubbish out car windows. Why it is so difficult to hang on to food wrappers, and cans and bottles (mostly beer) until you get to a trash can? The obvious answer is that some people just don’t care. Also, it’s disturbing to think of people driving around our roads while drinking. But anyway, picking up litter is something of a hobby for me. I encourage more walkers to take it up.

Exploring a number of nature trails in both Massachusetts and Rhode Island has been one of our few forms of entertainment this past year. But I’ve gotten a little bored with just winding my way up or down forest paths. I really prefer to walk where the land borders water, whether ocean or bay, river or stream, lake or pond. Good thing there’s a lot to choose from in this area.

Sachuest Point in Middletown, operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is well worth a visit, but maybe not on a pleasant Saturday or Sunday, because you won’t find a parking spot. This popular preserve has walking trails with ocean views but note that no dogs are allowed here. When we were there in late winter, it was a real pick-me-up to round a corner and see the sun sparkling on the waves. There’s just something about being near the sea even, or maybe especially, in the off season.

One unusually warm Sunday last November, we discovered Sachuest Beach (Second Beach) in Middletown on the way to the nature preserve. There was lots of off-season parking there that day.

I assume it is very different in summer (you need to buy a permit for one thing) but going for a walk on this beautiful beach on a warm autumn day was another unexpected treat. The Norman Bird Sanctuary nearby is also a good place for a nature walk, though this private nature preserve has a small entrance fee. This trail winds uphill and it too offers great sea views.

I’ve been enjoying a new column by John Kostrzewa in the Providence Journal called Walking Rhode Island. This is in keeping with the Journal’s apparent policy of regarding any place outside the Ocean State as terra incognita, since the writer features walking trails in Rhode Island only. (As I like to say, Seekonk is a heck of a lot closer in many ways to Providence than Westerly is.)

In one recent column he mentioned Osamequin Nature Preserve in Barrington, on Rt. 114 North (Wampanoag Trail) which we recently discovered. (Osamequin was the given name of Massasoit, which was a name that meant something like chief.) This picturesque but small area is easy to get to and a good place to see shore birds. You can’t actually “hike” here; the trails are too short, all leading down to the Barrington River’s Hundred Acre Cove. You can bring your dog but I wouldn’t advise it. After a short visit last fall, we found almost two dozen ticks on our dog Lucy, though none on us. We had never found so many ticks in one location on our various rambles.

When in doubt, we always head to Bristol, whether the short trail and boardwalk to the bay at the Audubon Nature Center or our favorite old standby, Colt State Park. Blithewold’s daffodils have been exceptionally brilliant and long-lasting this year. In fact, all the spring flowers seem to be so much more vivid this year. Could it be that we were all so worried and preoccupied this time last year that I didn’t even appreciate my favorite spring flowers?

But this spring, what a difference it makes having a vaccine. Even though the rollout of the vaccine appointments last winter was a bit rocky, supply is catching up to demand and it is already making a big difference in our state’s statistics, not to mention individual morale.

After a year’s worth of anxiety and frustration, it is like having that dark cloud over one’s head finally gone. Let’s hear it for all the medical and public health professionals, research scientists, and volunteers for last year’s clinical trials who made this modern miracle possible.

Thank you!

May 2021 The Reporter

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CLASSIFIEDS FREE STUFF

Free Hostas: Green and white; Riverside, call 401-433-2922.

MERCHANDISE

For Sale: Handmade Nautical wreaths for sale. Visit www.

SabinPointDesign.com.

For Sale: Moped Go, maker Chicago Scooter Co. color Blue 2.0 49cc new 2021 due to health reasons can no longer use excellent condition 310 miles $1,100 firm comes with helmet and cover contact 7749915333.

HELP WANTED

Help Wanted: Teenage boy or girl to work in my yard, $10/hr, Riverside. Call 401-433-2922.

Help Wanted: Lisco Irrigation has openings in all types of positions. Call 508-399-6600 or visit www.liscoirrigation.com for more information.

Help Wanted: Painting company looking for painter and painter’s helpers, pay based on experience. Call Brian at 774-406-0478.

Seekonk Flea Market: Buyers and Vendors wanted every Sunday 7AM-1PM March 28th thru December 5th 2021. Call Linda at 401-263-5737.

Dental Front Desk Receptionist: Very busy, cutting edge dental practice is looking for a reliable team player. The successful candidate will be energetic, competent, a quick learner and possess leadership skills with the ability to function in a high-volume, face paced environment. Multi-tasking skills, good computer and organizational skills are a must. Previous dental front office experience necessary as well as experience with EAGLESOFT are required.

PLEASE SEND RESUME TO: FCDMD1484@COMCAST.NET DENTAL RECEPTIONIST EAGLESOFT BUSY AND FAST PACED EMAIL RESUME TO: FCDMD1484@COMCAST.NET. Part-time Bank Teller: Looking for part-time bank teller. Hours: Monday 9-4, Friday 9-6 and Sat 9-12. Call 401-438-7788. Ask for Lori, Joan or Ken. Wanted: Someone to help keep my garden tidy. No heavy work.

Weeding, perhaps planting. Will assist helper who I will teach a flower from a weed. Time: perhaps 2-3 hours a week, depending on what needs done. Pay negotiable. If interested, please call: 508 336 9490 and we can meet and discuss.

HELP WANTED for Farm Work - Looking for someone to milk cows and to do barn work - Part time. Call John at (508) 336-5796.

WANTED

Paying CASH for Coins, Gold & Silver Jewelry, Flatware, Costume Jewelry, Antiques, Smalls, Old Toys, Gift Cards,Fishing Lures, Pre 1964 Coins, Oddities. Warren Exchange 175 Main Street in Warren (401)245-5001 Off Street Parking, Fair & Friendly :) RI Precious Metal License #201102 House Calls Available by Appointment.

Civil War, WW1, WW2, Anything to do with military; helmets, knives, uniforms, guns, HAVE (license), anything related to wartime, will pay cash for items, ask for Charles, call 508-2306444; call anytime thanks.

I buy Old cars, Motorcycle, Bicycles, Scooter and other wheeled vehicle and parts. One piece or a collection. Thank you Joe in Rehoboth 508-558-5129.

GENERAL SERVICES

Housecleaning: Is your home in need of a really good cleaning?

Whether you need a 1 time cleaning, or regular cleanings. Years of experience! (We include fridge and oven w/ our cleanings) Call Gil for details 508-840-6611.

BIG BLUE REMOVAL SERVICE: Attic, Cellar, Total House.

We take everything! Furniture, Brush, Appliances, Yard Waste, Construction Debris, Trash…Demolition of Fences, Sheds, Decks, Pools. Let us do the work. Free Estimates. Call Tony 508-226-1295; www.BigBlueRemoval.com.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Cell Phones for Soldiers Collection at Liberty Tax – East Providence: The Liberty Tax office in East Providence will open at 9 AM, Six Days a Week, Monday through Saturday, from January 2021 Through April 15, 2021, to Collect Cell Phones for Soldiers.

Cell Phones for Soldiers helps make contact with home a reality for troops who are stationed overseas and face expensive phone calling charges. Neighbors can drop-off their cell phones, in any condition, at 2775 Pawtucket Avenue, East Providence.

PLEASE CALL OUR OFFICE at (401) 572-3644, if you have any questions, or need driving directions to our office. For more information about the wide range of services that Cell Phones for Soldiers provides to soldiers and veterans, please visit https://www.

CellPhonesForSoldiers.com.

C ustom Paving Residential • Commercial • Industrial

• Driveways • Decorative Stone • Seal Coating

(508) 222-0133 FREE ESTIMATES Licensed & Insured

FREE ESTIMATES

HOME & GARDEN

Plants for Sale: Beautiful plants for birthdays, and every special occasion. Inside and outside; hanging plants, perennials, annuals, herbs, lilac and rose bushes, coleus, ground cover, hostas, angel trumpets, begonias, citronella plants & forsythia. Fig trees. Extra large pots available. Everything from $3 to $10. Call 401-433-2922 for an appointment to see my plants in glass containers and unique pots. Free small plant with visit.

RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL SUPERVISED BY OWNER

OFFICE (508) 223-0577

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The Reporter May 2021

Business CATEGORY Antiques/Cash for Gold Art Supplies/Framing Assisted Living Attorney Attorney Attorney Attorney Auto Body Auto Body Auto Body Auto Parts Auto Repairs Auto/Boat Restoration Automotive Building Contractor Building Contractor Camp - Sailing Camp-Basketball Carpet Cleaning Carpet Cleaning Child Care Chimney Cleaning Chimney Services Church Cleaning Service Collectibles Country Club Country Club Dentist Dentist Dentist Dentist Dentist Dog Grooming Dog Training Driveways & Masonry Electrician Electrician Electrician Farm Farm Farm Supplies Feed & Garden Store Feed & Supply Store Fence Installation Financial Advisor Firewood Flooring - All Types Flooring - Wood

COMPANY NAME PAGE Americana Auction 29 Gregory D. Dorrance, Co. 52 Swan Brook Assisted Living 55 Laurie P. Mullen, Attorney 20 Law Office of Luke P. Travis 41 Stephen E. Navega 33 Toldo Law Group 14 A-1 Custom Auto Body 47 Seekonk Auto Body 49 Tri Star Autobody 31 NorthEastern Auto Supply 30 New England Tire 3 John’s Boat Canvas 22 Yankee Auto Electric Inc 32 A.M. Carpentry 52 M.G. Salois Construction 21 Herreshoff Seamanship Program 48 One On One Basketball Camp 44 Earle’s Carpet Cleaning 54 M & S Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning 52 Twin Oaks Farm Learning Center 46 RD Chimney Sweep 32 Kenny’s Masonry & Chimney Sweep 60 Holy Cross Church 29 Debbie’s Cleaning Service 39 Wexler’s Collectibles 51 Hillside Country Club 15 Ledgemont Country Club 4 David C. Zaluski, D.D.S. 61 Dr. Wassouf D.D.S. 41 George Family Orthodontics 7 Lisa Daft DMD & Associates, PC 14 Seekonk Dental 18 Wicked Clean Dog Mobile 37 Pooch Pawsitive 5 DeJesus Driveways 28 Bleau Electric 66 Greaves Electric 31 Neal Bellavance Electric 40 Osamequin Farm 27 Souza Family Farm 12 Spring Garden Farm 24 Bay State Pet & Garden Supply 9 Munroe Feed & Supplies 13 Fence Tech 30 Oasis Financial Services 22 Seekonk Tree Service 42 Earle Dias Interiors 51 David J. Ledoux Hardwood Floors 31

CATEGORY

COMPANY NAME

PAGE

Florist Robin’s Corner Flower Shop 35 Food Service The Cooks House 57 Fuel - Oil Al’s Quality Oil Co. 47 Fuel - Oil COD OIL 60 Fuel - Oil E & V Oil Co. 72 Fuel - Propane Dupuis Oil 61 Funeral Home Hathaway Funeral Home Funeral Home J.H. Williams & Co. Funeral Home 63 Funeral Home J.H. Williams & Co. Funeral Home Funeral Home J.H. Williams & Co. Funeral Home Funeral Home Silva Funeral Home 64 Garage Doors HQI Door Company 25 Garage Doors Manny’s Garage Door 26 Garden Center Little Tree Nursery 38 Garden Center Tranquil Lake Nursery Inc. 12 Gift Shop Casa Ideal 48 Gifts & Collectibles Personal Touch 35 Glass Fabricator ABCO Glass Handyman American Eagle Enterprises, LLC 40 Health & Wellness CBD ReLeaf Center Rehoboth 35 Health Care Community VNA 55 Hospital Sturdy Memorial Hospital 11 Insurance Agency Durand Insurance Agency 62 Insurance Agency Frazao Insurance 15 Insurance Agency Smith Insurance 59 Insurance Agency The Agency Paiva 6 Irrigation Lisco Irrigation 16 Jewelers Plante Jewelers 35 Jewelers Tiverton Four Corners 35 Junk Removal AOL Enterprises 33 Kitchen/Bath Design Infinity Kitchens 8 Landscape Materials J&J Materials c/o PMC Media Group 2 Landscape Service Green Care Landscaping 72 Landscape Service Kimmell Landscaping 60 Landscape Service Superior Lawn Care 37 Landscape Service T. Moreshead Landscaping 43 Library Friends of The Seekonk Public Library 17 Liquor Store Landry Liquors 36 Local Author David DeLuca, author 25 Marble Fabricators Star Marble & Granite 40 Masonry-Construction StoneScapes - Mark Carvalho 40 Masonry-Construction Valter Rego Masonry 38 Masonry-Construction William Gallant, Jr. Masonry Services 43 Mosquito & Tick Control ohDEER 36 Orthodontics George Family Orthodontics 7 Painting Contractor Cronan Painting 49 Painting Contractor EZ Painting 68 Painting Contractor Iachetti Painting Company 53

Title 5 Inspection

$25

• Voluntary Assessments * Not affiliated & Consulting Discount with any on Title V • Septic Systems septic system installation or Inspection • Cesspools pumping co.

Professional Inspection Services - Est.1995 -

Call Steven Drew • 508-667-4025 MassDEP Approved Title 5 Inspector

No Mess!

We Hand-Dig

Commercial & Residential

Year-Round Service

May 2021 The Reporter

69

Directory CATEGORY Painting Contractor Painting Contractor Party Rentals Party Rentals Paving Contractor Paving Contractor Paving Contractor Paving Contractor Paving Contractor Pest Control Services Pest Control Services Physical Therapy Plastering Plastering & Painting Plumbing & Heating Plumbing & Heating Powerwashing Private School Private School Real Estate Real Estate Real Estate Real Estate Real Estate Real Estate Real Estate Real Estate Remodeling Rental Stores Restaurant

COMPANY NAME PAGE Lundco Painting LLC. 19 Val Arruda & Son Painting, Inc. 42 Party Rental Services 27 Wicked Pissah Portables 27 All Phase Asphalt Driveways 59 Custom Paving Company 67 Gem Paving & Seal Coating 32 Mohegan Seal Coating Co 33 Ryan Asphalt Paving 67 Bi-State Pest Control 39 Lincoln Pest & Property Solutions 10 Personal Best Physical Therapy 66 East Coast Plastering 54 David Laurino - Plastering 43 Sine Plumbing & Heating 53 Vintage Plumbing & Heating 20 East Bay Pressure Wash Co LLC 42 Seekonk Christian Academy 44 St. Luke’s School 45 Aubin Realty 23 Century 21 - David Smith 19 Home Smart Heritage Realty 38 Keller Williams Elite 26 ReMax Rivers Edge Agents 70 Robert DaRocha, Realtor 72 TK Real Estate Brokerage 64 Vicki Doran 18 Batty Construction 50 Taunton Rental 48 Boneyard Barbecue & Saloon 57

CATEGORY Restaurant Restaurant Restaurant Restaurant Restaurant Restaurant Roofing Contractor Roofing Contractor RVs and Campers Seafood Market Security Systems Septic Inspections Septic Systems Septic Systems Septic Systems Septic Systems Smoke Shop Solar Energy Stove Shop Stump Grinding Northeast LLC Trash/Junk Removal Tree Service Tree Service Tree Service Northeast LLC Tree Service Water Treatment Water Treatment Wells & Sump Pumps

COMPANY NAME PAGE Country Kitchen 58 Dicky’s Clam Shack Two 56 El Mariachi 56 EP Wieners 56 La Collina 58 Madeira Restaurant 56 B & R Fournier Construction, Inc. 39 Tabeleys Roofing 50 Camping World of Berkley 71 Digger’s Catch 34 Home & Commercial Security 50 Pro Inspection Services 68 Bay State Sewage 49 Croome Sanitation, Inc. 26 Soares Sanitation Pumping, Inc. 53 Town Sanitation 51 Wonderland Smoke Shop 69 US SolarWorks 16 Fireplace Showcase 28 Heritage Tree & Arborist Services 24 Big Blue Removal Service 20 Carlson Tree Service 22 Choate Tree Service 54 Heritage Tree & Arborist Services 24 Seekonk Tree Service 27 Olde Colony Clean Water. Inc 8 Water Filter Company, Inc. 21 Vintage Plumbing & Heating 20

ONLY Wonderland store We are OPEN for Business! The in the Rehoboth area!

• Glass Pipes • Water Pipes • Bubblers • Hookahs • Vaporizors • Daab Batteries

Premium Tobacco Bags, Premium Cigars, Regular Cigars, Cigarettes, Batteries and much more

• Kratom • CBD Products:

Gummies, Oil, Dincture, CBD Pain Reliver Cream

Smoke Shop

• Juul Products & much more

Hours: Monday thru Saturday 10am-8:30pm, Sunday 10am-8:30pm

3 Park St, Rehoboth MA | 508-455-0856 • 508-455-0890

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The Reporter May 2021

8 Dover Ave, East Providence, RI 02914

In todays Sellers Market Your Home may be worth more than you think!

We can help you sell for the MAX!

1st Quarter 2021 Real Estate Sales

Sold Listings Median List Price Median Sale Price Median Days on Market

Seekonk 32 $452,400 $458,700

20

Rehoboth 33 $449,900 $460,000

19

Consult a Trusted Local Agent

Patty Bain 401-965-4822 pattybain@remax.net

Lisa Halajko 774-991-0052 lisahalajko@gmail.com

Robin Lozito 401-486-6937 robinlozito@remax.net

Missie Rose 508-826-9966 rhodymoves@gmail.com

May 2021 The Reporter

AMERICA New

RVs starting at

98

$

PER MO.*

137 Myricks St. in BERKLEY, MA | 877.499.9710 | CampingWorldofBerkley.com *(Stk# 1823432) Camping World RV Sales payment based on 15% down at 6.74% APR for 180 months. Camping World RV Sales prices and payments not inclusive of tax, title, license, prep, freight and dealer doc fees. Payments available to qualified buyers based on lender credit qualifications. Advertised inventory available at time of production. New unit photography for illustration purposes only. May not be combined with any other offer and not applicable to prior sales. Offer(s) valid at Camping World in Berkley, MA only. See dealer for details. Void where prohibited. © 2021 FreedomRoads, LLC. The CAMPING WORLD logo is a registered trademark of CWI, Inc. and used with permission. Unauthorized use of any of CWI, Inc.’s trademarks is expressly prohibited. All rights reserved. Offers expire 5/31/2021.

BOS37597-0421

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The Reporter May 2021

The Reporter P.O. Box 170 Rehoboth, MA 02769

24 HOURS

7 D AY S A W E E K

“Ever y Day is Monday ”

Call us today. * FULL SERVICE * Premium heating oil

EFFICIENCY & VALUE Serving the East Bay for over 40 years

PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ATTLEBORO, MA PERMIT NO. PI 228

508-336-8851 / 800-515-8003

2500 GAR HIGHWAY, SWANSEA MA MASTER MA RI LICENSED

www.evoilco.com

GreenCare Landscaping,

Inc.

“Planting Today for a Better Tomorrow!”

GROUNDS CARE & LAWN CARE Commercial & Residential Properties

LANDSCAPE PLANTINGS & DESIGN HARDSCAPING (WALLS, PATIOS & WALKWAYS) IRRIGATION, HYDRO-SEEDING & MORE!

227 Plain Street, Route 118 Rehoboth, MA (5 Minitues from Swansea Mall) Email: greencarema@gmail.com Visit Our Website at www.GreenCareMa.com CALL For Our Consultation & Design Services

(508) 252-6912

POSITIONS AVAILABLE For Grounds Care crews.

We will train if you are motivated, like to work outdoors & willing to learn.

We offer Paid Holidays, Dental, Medical Insurance, Retirement Plan and more.

We are a dependable & professional landscaping company with prestigious jobs throughout SE Mass & RI area.

Call 508-252-6912 to fill out an application & schedule an interview.

Bob DaRocha, REALTOR

TRUSTWORTHY, CARING & KNOWLEDGEABLE Licensed in RI & MA bobrealtor7@gmail.com

Find Out The Current Value of your Home!

Office: 508-252-6952 Cell: 774-451-4603

www.BobRealtor.com