January 2024 Seekonk Reporter

The Seeko Seekon nk

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JANUARY 2024 VOLUME 36, NO. 1

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ZA 2 The Reporter January 2024

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4 The Reporter January 2024

The Rehoboth/Seekonk

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Rehoboth – The Year in Review

By Joe Siegel

The year was notable for some administrative changes for the Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School District.

Dighton-Rehoboth High School Principal Gail DeCecco resigned last June. The district hired Jacqueline Ash, a veteran of the Pawtucket school system, to be the new Principal.

DeCecco had previously served as assistant principal for four years. “It is a loss for our community as she has accomplished a great deal in just one year at the helm,” Superintendent Bill Runey said of DeCecco. “She is leaving DR a better place than she found it.”

Arnold Chamanlal and Dustin Demers were hired as the new Assistant Principals at the high school. The district’s business administrator Robert Baxter resigned in July. Baxter had been working for the district since October 2021. He had previously served as Director of Finance and Operations for the Warwick, Rhode Island school district. There hasn’t been a replacement hired for that position.

Residents mourned the loss of former selectwoman Lorraine Botts, former DightonRehoboth school committee member David Katseff, former Animal Control Officer Jane Foster, and Brad Marshall, a longtime employee of the Council on Aging. Botts, who passed away in March, had also served as president of the Rehoboth Senior Center, and had been serving as an officer for Rehoboth’s Legion Post 302 Auxiliary Committee.

Katseff, who passed away in July, had spent 31 years as a member on the DightonRehoboth School Committee, in addition to being a member of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, the Rhode Island Business Group on Health, Rhode Island Health Insurance Advisory Council, plus local and national professional industry associations and Friday Group.

Foster “gave a lot to this town,” said Selectman Rob Johnson. “She will be sadly missed.”

“Many of our seniors remember his dedication in providing them with help to better understand Medicaid, Medicare, and health insurance questions by providing one on one counseling and information,” Selectman George Solas said of Marshall.

Voters once again rejected a debt exclusion, which is a temporary tax increase, to pay for the town’s share of the $305 million Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School building project. Selectman Michael Deignan said with the admission of Freetown to the Bristol Plymouth District, “the anticipated debt schedule for Rehoboth has been revised downward.

Our maximum payment is now anticipated to be under $500,000 per year.” According to the revised debt schedule provided by Deignan on November 3, the town will be paying a share of 4.21 percent. The town’s contribution will be $98,000 for fiscal year 2024. The amount being contributed to the building project will increase to a high of $473,000 for every fiscal year from 2029 until 2052.

Work began in September on the redesign of the intersection of Rt.44/118. The roadway, which has been the site of several crashes, is being converted into a traffic roundabout. The $4 million project will involve utility pole upgrades, drainage improvements, roadway lighting, pedestrian and bicycle accommodations, and traffic signal removal, according to District 5 Highway Division of MassDOT. The project will be carried out in four stages, each with its own long-term Traffic Management Plan. Drivers who are traveling through the area were advised to expect delays, reduce speed, and to use caution.

Contributing Writers Leslie Patterson Joe Siegel Special Thanks To: Lori Anderson TCI Press

PHONE 508-252-6575 Fax 252-6320 news@reportertoday.com Visit Our Website at... www.ReporterToday.com

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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January 2024 The Reporter

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Seekonk: The Year in Review

By Joe Siegel

2023 featured leadership changes for the town’s Public Safety Departments and the Seekonk Public Schools.

Last January, the Board of Selectmen voted to terminate Police Chief Dean Isabella’s employment contract, which still had nearly a year remaining. Isabella was hired in December 2020. Prior to Isabella’s termination, Town Administrator Shawn Cadime said the police department needed to undergo a “directional shift.” Isabella later filed a lawsuit against the Town of Seekonk and the Board of Selectmen for breach of contract.

David Enos, who had served as Deputy Chief for the department, was appointed on February 1 to replace Isabella. “Over the years you have faced many challenges and always found a way to set an example no matter what the circumstances,” Select Board Chair Michael Healy said at Enos’ installation ceremony.

The Police Department mourned the loss of Patrolwoman Kourtny DeForitis, who died following a motorcycle crash in September.

DeForitis, a Taunton resident, was 28 years old. Enos expressed his gratitude to the Community, Town Administration, Town Departments, and local Police Departments for “the outpouring of support towards Kourtny’s Family and this Police Department.”

Michelle Hines and Pamela Pozzi were elected to the Board of Selectmen in the April town election. Hines suggested the board be given a name which was gender-neutral.

The town’s top officials were unofficially rebranded as the Select Board.

The Fire Department gained several new firefighters but lost its top official. Chief Sandra Lowery announced her decision to retire next February. Lowery, who had previously served as Interim Chief, has been a member of the department for over 20 years.

The Seekonk Select Board voted to appoint former Falmouth Fire Chief Michael Small as the town’s Interim Fire Chief.

Healy resigned from the Board on November 13 and criticized Small’s appointment. “We hire a Fire Chief (from outside Seekonk) when we have someone internally who could be the Interim Chief,” Healy said. “(The firefighter) wasn’t even considered for anything for personal reasons. I will no longer sit here and watch public safety be destroyed in the town of Seekonk.”

The Board agreed to launch a search for a permanent Fire Chief by looking for candidates within the Fire Department as well as outside the department. The vote was 3 to 1.

Chris Zorra, Hines, and Justin Sullivan were in favor, with Pozzi in opposition.

The effort to construct a new fire station for the town’s south end failed when the Select Board voted against placing an article on the Fall Town Meeting warrant. Healy,

Pozzi, and Sullivan all voted no, while Zorra and Hines voted in favor. Voters at the May 2020 town meeting allocated $425,000 for the design of the facility at 69 School Street.

The town owns that property. The 8300 square foot building was to feature three components, including dispatch, living quarters, and fire suppression. Board members cited a possible lack of personnel to occupy the new facility based on the current shortage of firefighters. “I don’t know if I can support an $11 million building when we’re having staffing issues (in the fire department),” said Zorra. “For $11.2 million, that’s an awful lot of money to have an empty building,” Pozzi said, adding there were other building projects in the works, including a new Department of Public Works facility.

Rebecca Kidwell was appointed to replace outgoing School Superintendent Rich Drolet at the May 22 school committee meeting in a 3 to 2 vote. Chairperson Meaghan Mahoney, Vice-Chair Kim Sluter, and Emily Field were in favor, with Noah Escaler and Kyle Juckett in opposition. Kidwell had previously served as the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment & Professional Development of Rockland Public Schools.

New personnel in the central office included Ryan McGee, the district business administrator, and Trisha Leary, the director of technology and digital learning.

Members of the Select Board, School Committee, and Finance Committee gathered September 20 for a discussion about the future of Seekonk Public Schools. Colliers was hired to conducts a Conditions Assessment of all school facilities in the summer of 2022. The firm identified a need of $42.3 million including adjustments for inflation and additional projects. “Seekonk is clearly a place where people want to live,” said Derek Osterman, the Director of Project Management Services for Colliers.

“They want to go to school here, your test scores are very strong within the region and throughout the state.”

The town’s student population is expected to increase by a whopping 27 percent in the next 10 years, Osterman noted. Some committee members expressed skepticism about the projected enrollment figures.

“These numbers should probably be taken with a grain of salt,” said Juckett, noting there were fewer enrollments at the elementary level than in past years.

Michael Brady, a member of the finance committee, said it would be “foolhardy” to let the schools “deteriorate.”

“I’m not opposed to building a new (school) at a reasonable cost,” Brady continued. “I just want to make sure that when we ask (residents) for millions of dollars that

we can justify their trust in us.”

The nation’s border crisis impacted Seekonk in October, when 40 migrant families were housed at the Ramada Inn on Route 44. “Currently, the migrant families are the responsibility of the State, and the Town is providing assistance as needed,” Cadime said. “The Board of Selectmen will take action when necessary, in line with their role and responsibility as outline by MGL and the Town Charter.”

Last August, Governor Maura Healey declared a state of emergency in Massachusetts due to the influx of migrant families arriving in the Bay State. The governor has called on the federal government to act to address the issue in Massachusetts.

ON THE COVERS Rehoboth: The barn at “Stepin-Time Farm” on Bay State Rd. Photo by Earle Dias Photography.

Seekonk: Female Cardinal, photo by Dwayne Hall.

Inside This Issue Business Directory......................68 Church News..............................47 Classifieds...............................67 Club Announcements.................30 Events....................................46 Food & Dining..............................60 HEALTH & WELLNESS..............35 Letters....................................7 Library......................................

Blanding.......................44 Seekonk.......................40 Obituaries................................63 People.....................................25 Rehoboth COA..........................48 Rehoboth Ramblings.................45 Rehoboth Town News................8 School News..............................54 Scouts...................................29 Seekonk Human Services..........49 Seekonk Town News..................18 Sour Grapes................................38 State House...............................52

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Storm Knocks Out Power Out Last Month in Rehoboth & Seekonk

By Joe Siegel

Heavy rain and wind brought down trees and power lines, knocking out power for many Rehoboth and Seekonk residents on Monday, December 18th. On Tuesday morning, several streets remained closed or partially obstructed as National Grid had tree crews and line crews working to restore power.

Seekonk Police announced the closure of many roads, including Arcade Avenue and part of Taunton Avenue (Route 44). Seekonk Town Hall, Public Safety, and the Council on Aging were all without power and internet service.“DPW (Department of Public Works) does not have internet and all locations are experiencing intermittent phone usage,” read a message on the Town of Seekonk’s Facebook page. “We are able to accept incoming calls, but unable to make outbound calls or answer messages. We do not have an anticipated restoration time, but all buildings are open to the public although limited services are available. We apologize for the inconvenience and hope that all issues will be resolved soon.”

Schools in both towns were also impacted. In Rehoboth, Beckwith Middle School and Palmer River Elementary School were closed due to power outages. Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School was open, but classes were delayed one hour. Parents were informed the buses would be experiencing some delays.

Seekonk High School and Aitken Elementary School were also closed Tuesday due to power outages. Estimated restoration time from National Grid is 8 pm.

Superintendent Rebecca Kidwell said Hurley Middle School and Martin Elementary School did have power and were open. On Monday, Dighton-Rehoboth Superintendent Bill Runey explained his decision for an early dismissal, noting “things were less than optimal today with lights and internet flickering and a modified lunch menu, but our schools still had productive days.”

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January 2024 The Reporter

Letters to the Editor...

Please Note:

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!

Dear Dighton-Rehoboth and Surrounding Community

The Dighton-Rehoboth High School Basketball Boosters Club would like to wish you, your employees and families a happy holiday season. We are grateful for your generous donation to the four DR High School basketball teams. Our sponsorship banner is currently up and will be hanging in the main DR High School gymnasium for all our families/fans and traveling teams to see until the end of the basketball season. We hope you are pleased with this news and that you will consider supporting us again next year. As a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit, your donation is tax deductible. The boosters club and our 47 combined players are lucky to have such a wonderfully supportive Dighton-Rehoboth and extended community!

Thanks again and let us know if you have any questions, Kate Latour, Ellen Corvi, Missy Mello and Kristie Dietz DR Hoopsters Board drhoopsters1@gmail.com

The Hidden Gem of Rehoboth

When I returned to Rumford after years of living away, I discovered there existed a series of concerts in Rehoboth Massachusetts, sponsored by Arts in the Village. Liking a smaller venue, I explored this option and found a most wonderful series of chamber music!

For a moderate fee I could enjoy music played in a fairly small hall with excellent acoustics and even more excellent musicians.

The Chamber Music series, under the auspices of the Rehoboth Antiquarian Society, has been able to attract world-renowned musicians for 20 years. The artists that perform are very accomplished and have played in places such as Carnegie Hall, and in numerous venues in most European Countries and South America and Japan.

They have been awarded many coveted awards in their field.

At a recent concert the audience was privileged to be the first in the United State to hear an original work by pianist Andrius Žlabys.

This was a passionate and moving piece, and we were fortunate to hear its debut!

Why do such talented artists agree to play at such a small venue I wondered? The performers are enthusiastic about performing here.

A recent pianist remarked the Arts in the Village piano is “one of my favorite pianos in the world” and the “audience is so responsive” and the “acoustics are excellent.” The casual ambiance in an historic building also lends a relaxed atmosphere.

Located in Goff Hall of the Rehoboth Library Building on Bay State Road in Rehoboth Village, the site has plenty of free parking with designated handicap parking places, and a ramp to the building makes it easily handicap-accessible.

The concert series has always been supported by volunteers who provide complimentary snacks and table decorations at intermission, deliver posters and brochures throughout RI and southeastern MA, prepare the hall for concerts, and design the programs.

When I recently introduced friends to the series, one exclaimed, “Do you realize what a gem you have here”. Of course, we do and now we refer to it as the “Hidden Gem” of Rehoboth.

We hope that more people take advantage of this wonderful series.

7

• Letters to the Editor MUST be signed and contain a phone number!

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• We will withhold any letters of an accusatory nature until the accused person has a chance to respond in the same issue!

Email: news@reportertoday.com

If you are interested in learning about this program you can go to the website or contact aiv02769@gmail.com. I’m sure they would love to hear from you. https://rehobothantiquarian.org/arts-in-the-village/ Meredith Middleton Denno, Coordinator

A New Year’s Resolution

I relocated to Seekonk nearly a decade ago, uncertain about starting a family, the duration of my stay, or what lay ahead in my life. My initial involvement in local affairs was marked by attending a water board meeting, where, despite being a newcomer, I encountered a minor hiccup in establishing my voter status. However, after a brief verification process, I was able to participate and vote.

During my early years here, I observed and actively engaged in town meetings, trusting in the democratic process. Despite occasional setbacks, such as unforeseen increases in building costs for the library, it appeared that our officials were genuinely working for the town’s best interests.

Now, with a child in kindergarten and another a few years behind, my focus has shifted to school committee meetings. Delving deeper, I’ve discovered concerning issues at the core of our democracy.

The recent quad board meeting highlighted the perpetual absence of a quorum in the capital improvement committee.

Upon scrutinizing the meeting minutes of fully staffed committees like the Human Services Council and the Parks and Rec Committee, I found a disconcerting trend of frequent cancellations.

The Human Services Council achieved a quorum for only 78% of its meetings, while the Parks and Rec Committee met for just 55% of its scheduled sessions. Would this attendance record be acceptable at school or our jobs? These statistics raise questions about the effectiveness of even these fully staffed committees in providing necessary guidance and feedback.

For me, the essence of local government lies in its proximity to citizens. Unfortunately, this connection seems to be eroding, as illustrated by the December zoning board of appeals meeting, which was continued due to a lack of critical attendees, disregarding citizens’ concerns and discussions.

A flawed system will inevitably prevail over even the most dedicated individuals. With seven committees facing multiple vacancies and numerous elected board policies outdated, we need to address these shortcomings. Seekonk’s population growth has strained existing systems, emphasizing the need for an informed conversation about our priorities.

While one effective meeting won’t solve these issues, I implore Seekonk residents to make a New Year’s resolution to actively participate in our democracy. Attend meetings, learn the rules, ask questions, and consider joining a committee. By fostering open communication, we can collectively work towards a better future for Seekonk. The responsibility lies with each of us to contribute to the future of our town, as no external savior will magically emerge.

Let’s commit to being actively engaged citizens, addressing the challenges Seekonk faces. Together, we can shape a more robust and resilient local democracy.

Sincerely, Christopher Rizzo

8 The Reporter January 2024

Rehoboth Town News The Clerk’s Corner

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Hello All ~ Happy New Year ~ I wish you all a safe, HEALTHY, happy, peaceful, and prosperous New Year. By now you should have received your 2024 Annual Census form or it should arrive during the first week of January. The 2024 census mailing includes a 2024 town calendar and town services directory. This is the eleventh year the Clerk’s Office has provided a calendar in the census mailer. Over the past few years, we have Laura Schwall received many compliments on how helpful the calendar has been during the year. In fact, residents have already called our office to see if the 2024 calendar was available yet. If you would like another copy of the calendar, please let us know; we will gladly share an extra copy, while supplies last. Thank you all for your kind comments and appreciation of the yearly town calendar. We hope you find the 2024 Town calendar addition to your census mailing a beneficial and time saving tool ~ Happy New Year and thank you for sending your completed census forms back to us as soon as possible! Due date is January 31st ~ thank you!

Continuing my goal of making town government more accessible to the residents, it is my hope that the calendar provides you with key information right at your fingertips. You will note, the calendar signals residents of upcoming due dates such as real estate tax payments, census forms and dog license renewals, which are highlighted in green; upcoming election and town meeting dates, which are highlighted in blue, and town department holidays that are bolded in red (whole day) and purple (half day). On the reverse side of the calendar, you will find a directory of the Town of Rehoboth’s departments, employees, and phone numbers. Also, included on the directory side of the calendar, you will find information and websites, which residents may find useful such as transfer station hours, burning permit information, school and library phone numbers, etc.

This year’s calendar features the Veterans Memorial and Gazebo on Redway Plain. The Rehoboth Veterans Memorial serves as an area where the Town of Rehoboth honors all veterans who served our country. Dedicated on May 25, 2015, the memorial was constructed by The Town of Rehoboth Veterans Memorial Committee and funded by the sale of custom bricks, cash donations and in-kind service donations from residents and local businesses totaling approximately $150,000. Currently maintained by the Veterans Service Officer along with the Rehoboth Parks Commission, the Memorial features bricks, on its outer walkway, for each conflict dating as far back as the Revolutionary War with names of veterans who served our country while being a resident of the Town.

Its location on Redway Plain is fitting given the field was once a part of Redway Farm in Colonial times and was used as a training ground for the militia during the Revolutionary War. I don’t know about you but every time I go by the gazebo, I see people enjoying the beautiful tribute to our Veterans along with individuals who are also honored in the beautiful brick walkway leading up to the memorial. My daughter and I had fun trying to capture the gazebo in the perfect sunlight this fall. After taking hundreds of photos, we settled with the photo you see of the sun setting on the gazebo with a John Deer tractor cutting the hayfield on Redway Plain. We felt, since Rehoboth is a “Right to Farm” community, it was the perfect photo for our 2024 calendar. Thank you all for a beautiful tribute to our Veterans! For Brick applications and Gazebo reservations, please visit the town website: https://www.rehobothma.gov/parkcommission to complete the required documents.

January 2024 The Reporter

9

Annual Town Census

As mentioned in last month’s article, the Board of Registrars is required to conduct an annual street listing (Census) of residents as of the first of January each year. In addition to the name, address, date of birth, occupation, veteran status with “war era” noted, and number of dogs, the form includes a section for school information required by the school department. Results of the census are used to prove residency for a variety of reasons. The data is used for state college entrance applications, veterans’ benefits, amending and establishing birth records, locating missing persons, establishing precinct lines, predicting future school enrollment, state and federal funding to the town, police and fire protection, updating the voting list, and other legal purposes. Please remember to add your alternative phone number and e-mail to the census forms so we may contact you if needed ~ thank you!

Please review the pre-printed Census Form, make corrections, and return it no later than January 31st. You may choose to return the Census Form via the postal service or utilize Census drop off box at Town Hall – 340 Anawan Street or the drop off boxes also located at the Blanding Library, Bristol County Savings Bank, and the Senior Center located at 27 Francis Farm Road. Additionally, if you prefer, you can scan in your signed and completed census forms and email them to TownClerk@RehobothMA.gov .

This year’s census mailer has six inserts: the household census form, the 2024 Calendar, the Annual Dog Licensing form, voter information on the upcoming March 5, 2024 Presidential Primary Election with a vote by mail application, Police Department – Code Red informational flyer and Ambulance subscription information for those individuals who are interested. Please note the Annual Rehoboth-Seekonk Rabies Clinic is scheduled for Saturday, March 16th, 2023. For more information, please see the bottom of the Dog Licensing Form in the census mailer or under the Dog Licenses and Rabies Clinic sections of this article. Updated information will be shared on the Town Website at www.RehobothMA.gov Finally, new residents may receive a blank 2024 census form, which they are asked to complete and return. If you do not receive a Census Form by the second week of January, please contact the Town Clerk’s Office 508-252-6502 X-3112, 3109 or 3110. Blank Census forms are also available on the town website @ http://www.town.rehoboth.ma.us/town-clerk/pages/censusinformation Failure to return the completed census form may result in voters being placed on an inactive voting list or being removed from the voting list.

Residents are requested to please send in their census forms as quickly as possible regardless of whether or not they license their dogs at this time. Census forms are due no later than 1-31-24

Continued on next page...

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• DEADLINE TO REGISTER TO VOTE: February 24, 2024 • VOTE IN-PERSON EARLY VOTING: February 24, 2024 – March 1, 2024 - Francis Farm – Museum Building – 27 Francis Farm Road: Saturday, 2/24/2024: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM; MondayThursday 2/26- 2/29/2024: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM; Friday 3/1/2024: 8:00 AM – 12:00PM • VOTE BY MAIL & ABSENTEE VOTED BALLOT DEADLINES · February 27th at 5:00 PM – All mailed ballot requests must be received by the Town Clerk’s Office by the 5:00 PM deadline.

Voted ballots returned in the secure ballot drop box (340 Anawan St.) must be received by 8PM on Tuesday, March 5, 2024 · Ballots returned by mail must be RECEIVED by the Town Clerk by 8PM on Tuesday, March 5, 2024

party must choose a party ballot type on the application to vote by mail or in person voting (early or on election day).

• We are unable to process applications for Unenrolled (commonly known as Independent) voters who do not select a party ballot type on their application.

• Unenrolled voters who select a party ballot type do not become registered in that party - they remain Unenrolled/Independent voters.

• Voters who are registered in one of the 3 political parties (Democratic, Republican, Libertarian) MUST take that party ballot and are not given a choice of party ballot type.

DR. FRANK CASARELLA & DR. LURI LEE

SELECTION OF BALLOT TYPES (PRIMARY ELECTIONS ONLY)

• In a primary election, a voter who is NOT registered in a political

HELPFUL LINKS:

• Verify your party enrollment: https://www.sec.state.ma.us/VoterRegistrationSearch/MyVoterRegStatus.aspx • Change your party enrollment: https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ OVR/ (prior to the deadline to register to vote & before applying for a mail in ballot)

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• VOTE BY MAIL - All registered voters qualify to vote by mail. A single application is available on back of the Presidential Primary census flyer form or you can wait for the State “Vote by Mail Postcard” arriving mid-late January.

• MASSACHUSETTS 2024 POSTCARD APPLICATION: The Secretary of the Commonwealth is required to mail ALL voters who have not already applied for a vote by mail ballot, a postcard application – this is usually mailed out 45 days prior to state elections. This postcard application will allow you to apply for a vote by mail ballot for all elections this year or for individual elections this year. Postcards will be mailed January 20th.

• Applications can be returned by mail (postage is pre-paid on the post card application mailed to you) or placed in the ballot drop box outside of the Town Offices (340 Anawan Street). A signature is required to process your application.

Questions can be directed to TownClerk@RehobothMA.gov • APPLY EARLY to allow ample time for processing your application and for the postal services to deliver your ballot to you.

All mailed ballot requests must be received by the Town Clerk’s Office by the 5:00 PM deadline on February 27, 2024. Any voter who has returned a vote by mail ballot (or voted early in person) cannot vote on Election Day. • TRACK YOUR APPLICATION AND BALLOT: http://www.trackmyballotma.com Please allow at least one week before checking the status of your application and allow a minimum of ten days to receive your ballot from the date of mailing.

• RETURN OF VOTE BY MAIL BALLOTS: Place voted ballot in the sealed, signed ballot envelope in the postage paid white return envelope and return by U.S. mail or place it in the secure ballot drop box at Town Offices, 340 Anawan Street. All ballots must be received by 8:00 PM on March 5, 2024.

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January 2024 The Reporter

2024 Dog Licenses

The 2024 Dog Licenses are now available and may be purchased through the Town Clerk’s Office. Again in 2024, residents will be able to renew their dog licenses online with a Debit/Credit Card or Electronic Check (ACH/EFT). Those dog owners who registered their dogs on our new online dog licensing program “Permiteyes” in 2022 and 2023, know they were able to register their dogs online through the town’s permitting program on the Town Website @ https://www.rehobothma.gov/home/pages/onlinepermitting - please look for the Green “Dog Licensing” button and search for your dog’s record. Instructions on how to use the online permitting program can be found online at: https://www.rehobothma. gov/town-clerk/pages/dog-licenses .

Whether renewing online, via mail, in person, through the outside drop box or census drops around town, dog license applications must be accompanied by a current year rabies certificate (with a vaccination date covering the current licensing year) and proof of spay or neuter [if applying for the $10 licensing fee] unless we already have your documentation on file in the Clerk’s Office.

If you are unsure, please give our office a call and we can tell you how up-to-date our information is or you can simply search the information on the Permiteyes Dog Licensing program located on the town website: https://www.rehobothma.gov/home/pages/onlinepermitting . Dog owners should note that the license(s) will not be returned unless a stamped, self-addressed envelope is included (the current postage is 63¢ for one dog tag, 87¢ for two or three dog tags and 1.10¢ for four dog tags).

Reminder, all residents 70-years old or over do not need to pay the $10 or $20 yearly dog licensing fee. As you may remember, I submitted an article at the May 8, 2017 Annual Town Meeting (Article 15) requesting Town Meeting vote to accept MGL CHAPTER 140 SECTION 139(c), which states “No fee shall be charged Continued on next page...

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12

The Reporter January 2024

for a license issued under this section for a service animal as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act or regulations promulgated thereunder. No fee shall be charged for a license for a dog owned by a person aged 70 years or over in a city or town that accepts this provision”. Town meeting did approve the acceptance of MGL Chapter 140 Section 139 (c), which permits the Town Clerk’s Office to waive dog licensing fees for service animals and for dogs owned by any Rehoboth resident 70 years of age and older.

Proof of rabies vaccinations for each dog and proof of the dog owner’s age (70 or older) is required. As per Town Counsel, the waiving of fees does not include Kennel Fees.

The Annual Town Election

The Annual Town Election for the Town of Rehoboth will be held on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, with the polls open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. – Polling Location for all four precincts is Francis Farm Community Center (27 Francis Farm Road) – Museum building. If you would like to review the facility and layout of the polling location, please visit the Town Website at: https://www.rehobothma.gov/home/news/rehoboth-changes-its-centralized-pollinglocation-francis-farm-community-center-museum Additional details will be communicated as we get closer to the election. As always, the Town Website will have updated polling information when available.

Nomination papers are now available for any registered voter in Rehoboth wishing to run for election on the Town ballot and who chooses not to seek a nomination through their registered party’s caucus process. Nomination papers may be picked up by prospective candidates, at the Town Clerk’s office (340 Anawan Street/Route 118) beginning January 2, 2024, and must be returned, signed by a minimum of 50 registered voters. All signed and completed nomination papers are due back to the Board of Registrars at the Town Clerk’s Office by 5 p.m. on, or before, Tuesday, February 13th.

Positions to be elected on the ballot for 2024 are Moderator (one for 1 year), Board of Selectmen (two positions for 3 years), Assessor (one for 3 years), School Committee (two for 3 years), Housing Authority (one for five years), Planning Board (two – one for 5 years and one for 3 years), Park Commission (one for 5 years), Tree Warden (one for 3 years), Town Clerk (one for 3 years) and Water Commissioner (one for 3 years).

I will make available the date, time, and location of the Annual Town Election Caucuses once my office is notified by the respective Town Committees.

The final voter registration date, to be eligible to vote in the Annual Town Election, is scheduled for Saturday, March 23rd from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Prospective voters are reDr. Gian Calandrelli Dr. Lisa Daft minded that they may also register to vote online at www.RegisterToVoteMA.com , by Dr. Lisa Daft and Dr. Jared Stubbs calling the Town Clerk’s Office to request a Mail-In voter registration form, or download Are pleased to announce Dr. Chris Vanderpool a form @ http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/ has joined our family and cosmetic dental practice. elepdf/Voter-reg-mail-in.pdf

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Absentee & Mail-In Ballot Requests

Applications for absentee ballots are available as of January 2nd and may be obtained from the Town Clerk’s Office or online @ https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/ absentee/English-Absentee-Ballot-Application.pdf An absentee ballot may only be obtained by written request and with the voter’s original signature. Most voters do not qualify to receive an absentee ballot to be sent to them.

Massachusetts allows voters that QUALIFY to vote by absentee ballot if the voter is one of the following: • Will be absent from your city or town on election day.

• Has a physical disability that prevents voting at the polling place.

• Cannot vote at the polls due to religious beliefs.

If you do not qualify for an “Absentee Ballot”, you can vote by mail by completing the “No Excuse” Vote by Mail ballot application detailed below this paragraph.

January 2024 The Reporter

No Excuse Early Voting By Mail “Vote By Mail”

The 2022-Votes Act legislation approved in June of 2022, allows voters who do not qualify for an Absentee Ballot to vote by mail by completing the “Vote by Mail” application @ https://www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/elections/download/ vote-by-mail-applications/vote-by-mail-paper-application-2023.pdf Applications for both absentee and vote-by-mail must be received by the Town Clerk by 5PM on the 5th business day before an election. We recommend applying earlier than the deadline as the US Postal delivery services outside of Rehoboth are not consistent and can range from 2 to 11 days.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

From Your Trusted Local Agents

Business Certificates

Business owners whose business certificate will expire from January through June of 2024 should have received a reminder for renewal. The renewal fee is $50.00 (certificate renewal is good for four years) and checks should be made payable to: The Town of Rehoboth. If you prefer to renew online, you may use the debit/credit card/ ACH/EFT payment method on the town website. However, your signature must be notarized on the business certificate renewal form then scanned and e-mailed to the Town Clerk’s office. Free notary services are available in various offices at Town Hall. Debit/ Credit Card or Electronic Check (ACH/EFT) transactions may also be processed through the Town Clerk’s office, in addition to online.

Questions or suggestions regarding any of the above topics may be directed to the Town Clerk’s Office, Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, 508-252-6502, X3109, X3112 or X3110.

Thank You – Rehoboth Garden Club!

Thank you again, Rehoboth Garden Club for decorating our Town Hall with another beautiful wreath. We thank you all for all you do for so many! Thank you for making our holidays so special!

In closing, Kerrie, Jenn and I wish all of our town residents a happy, safe, peaceful, healthy, and prosperous New Year. Please all stay healthy and prayerfully our 2024 will be a happier and healthier year without the pandemic. Final reminders, Town Offices will be closed on Monday, January 15th in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and Real Estate Taxes are due February 1, 2024 ~ thank you. Please stay safe and I look forward to talking with you in February.

Sincerely, Laura

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The Reporter January 2024

Rehoboth Animal Shelter News

Just when we thought things were getting quieter at the Rehoboth Animal Shelter, more homeless pets have appeared. Maybe one (or two) of them would fit in your home! There are a number of kittens and adult cats available, as well as a young dog. He appears to be a Plott hound mix and he is energetic, friendly, and good with other dogs. For more information or to make an appointment, or to report a lost or found pet, please call the shelter at 508-252-5421 ext. 126 and leave a message.

If you would like to contribute to the shelter’s expenses, you can send a check to the Town Office, payable to “Town of Rehoboth Animal Welfare Fund.”

Please remember the Rehoboth Pet Pantry, located outside the Shelter at 148 Peck Street! Donations of cat and dog food and supplies may be left there at any time (please avoid leaving canned food in very cold weather); those in need of these things are invited to help themselves. Remember to close the door securely. Many thanks.

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• Homeshield Protection Program • Mice and Rodents A special ‘thank you’ to all the locations that were kind enough • Carpenter Ant Treatment • Wildlife Control to welcome our collection boxes and snowflake boards: Blanding • Termite Treatment • Mosquitos & Ticks Library, Anawan Cleaners, Chartley Store, Rehoboth Post Office, • Bed Bug Elimination • Value Plus Program Vino’s Restaurant, J&J Materials, RDL Equipment, Beckwith Middle www.Flynnpestcontrol.com 508-252-9661 School and ReMax. 800-237-2847 32 ANAWAN ST • REHOBOTH, MA And big ‘thank you’ to all our special helpers: The Rehoboth Girl Scouts & Leaders for placing the collection boxes and collecting hundreds of gifts and the Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School’s Peer Leaders for their annual toy collection. And as always, we thank the many generous donors who took a ‘snowflake tag’, donated a gift, or adopted a child or a family (or two)!

And The Blizzard of Giving is grateful for our ‘headquarters’. Thanks to Tim Johnson, THE AREA’S LARGEST SHOWROOM of Propane Plus, who provides us with a location for The Blizzard of Giving to call home.

Please know that we truly appreciate all of you! Rehoboth Blizzard of Giving could not have served our community without your support, once again our town has proven that together we can make Rehoboth a better place for all! God Bless you!

The Rehoboth Blizzard of Giving, Inc. is committed to serving the community by providing Christmas gifts, holiday support, and special occasion needs to Rehoboth UA D residents who are facing challenging times LIFIE 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

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January 2024 The Reporter

THANK YOU from Rehoboth Land Trust

What do Michigan, North Carolina, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island all have in common? People from each of these states care about protecting Rehoboth’s remaining wild and open spaces!

That’s right – we heard from so many amazing people during our year-end campaign, including some who don’t even live here anymore! Our small town’s natural beauty is just that special. THANK YOU so much to everyone who participated in our campaign, and added thanks to those local businesses around town that let us post our campaign flyers. As an all-volunteer nonprofit organization, we are profoundly inspired and honored by your trust and support. We will continue to do our best to fulfill our mission of preserving our town’s natural character and resources.

Thanks to a generous gift from Cardi’s Furniture & Mattresses, we were able to offer participants in our year-end campaign a chance to win a gift card redeemable at Cardi’s, Ashley HomeStore, or RI Design Center. The RLT Treasurer was happy to hand deliver the gift card to the lucky winner’s home on Pond Street a few days before Christmas.

Many of you were shocked by the statistics we included in our campaign letter. We were equally surprised by these numbers, THANK YOU which is why we wantedfrom toRehoboth shareLand them Trust with you. Here are some more details regarding those stats: What do Michigan, North Carolina, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island all have in common? People from each

We’ve lost nearly 15% of our town’s wild and open spaces since 2011.

of these states care about protecting Rehoboth’s remaining wild and open spaces!

That’s right – we heard from so many amazing people during our year-end campaign, including some who don’t even live here anymore! Our small town’s natural beauty is just that special. THANK YOU so much to everyone who participated in our campaign, and added thanks to those local businesses around town that let us post our campaign flyers. As an all-volunteer nonprofit organization, we are profoundly inspired and honored by your trust and support. We will continue to do our best to fulfill our mission of preserving our town’s natural character and resources.

Thanks to a generous gift from Cardi’s Furniture & Mattresses, we were able to offer participants in our yearend campaign a chance to win a gift card redeemable at Cardi’s, Ashley HomeStore, or RI Design Center. The RLT Treasurer was happy to hand deliver the gift card to the lucky winner’s home on Pond Street a few days before Christmas.

Many of you were shocked by the statistics we included in our campaign letter. We were equally surprised by these numbers, which is why we wanted to share them with you. Here are some more details regarding those stats: ● We’ve lost nearly 15% of our town’s wild and open spaces since 2011. ○ According to property assessment data from the state, in 2011 there were 1,447 parcels in Rehoboth that were undeveloped (building assessed value = $0). ○ As of April 2023, the assessment data shows only 1,260 undeveloped parcels, which is a decrease of 13.8%. ● Similarly sized towns in MA protect an average of 25% of their land. Rehoboth only has 7% protected. ○ The state also provided us with a super helpful document with lots of stats for each town in Massachusetts, including how much land is permanently protected. ○ Of the 7% in Rehoboth that is protected, more than a third of that is owned or managed by Rehoboth Land Trust.

• According to property assessment data from the state, in 2011 there were 1,447 parcels in Rehoboth that were undeveloped (building assessed value = $0).

• As of April 2023, the assessment data shows only 1,260 undeveloped parcels, which is a decrease of 13.8%.

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Similarly sized towns in MA protect an average of 25% of their land. Rehoboth only has 7% protected.

• The state also provided us with a super helpful document with lots of stats for each town in Massachusetts, including how much land is permanently protected.

• Of the 7% in Rehoboth that is protected, more than a third of that is owned or managed by Rehoboth Land Trust.

●

Town

Overall Acreage

Population (2020)

Rehoboth

30,344.96

12,502

% of Land Protected 7%

Carver

25,422.36

11,645

12% 30%

Ware

25,585.23

10,066

Charlton

28,024.84

13,315

8%

Winchendon

28,231.10

10,364

29%

Nantucket

31,303.18

14,255

49%

Westport

33,350.76

16,339

20%

Belchertown

35,376.60

15,350

22%

We’re ranked 332nd out of 353 in the state percent We’re ranked 332nd outforof 353of land in protected. the state for percent ○ We sorted that same document by percent of land protected, and unfortunately we’re way too close to of land protected. the bottom…

○ By the way, New Salem tops the list with 81% protected!

• We sorted that same document by percent of land protected, While it would be easy to be discouraged we’re by these disappointing RLT are energized and eager to and unfortunately way toonumbers, closewetoat the bottom… improve them. We are also immensely grateful to all who have come before us. The 7% of our town that is • By the way, New Salem tops the list with 81% protected!

While it would be easy to be discouraged by these disappointing numbers, we at RLT are energized and eager to improve them.

We are also immensely grateful to all who have come before us.

The 7% of our town that is permanently saved is the result of a lot of hard work and thoughtful planning by our friends and neighbors.

Thank you for doing your part to preserve our town’s natural beauty for generations to come.

If you’d like to help get Rehoboth pushed up in the state rankings, check out our website at www.rehobothlandtrust.org to learn about volunteer opportunities, donation options, and ways to protect your own land!

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The Reporter January 2024

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Arts in the Village Spring Concert Announcement

The mission of Arts in the Village is to provide high quality and affordable chamber music in a pleasant and convenient locale for residents of Southeastern Massachusetts and nearby Rhode Island. Arts in the Village provides five Saturday evening concerts per year at Goff Hall. For a moderate fee one can enjoy music performed in a comfortably sized hall with excellent acoustics and even more excellent musicians. The Chamber Music series under the auspices of the Rehoboth Antiquarian Society has attracted world-renowned musicians for over 20 years. The artists that perform are very accomplished and have performed in places such as Carnegie Hall, and in numerous venues in most European Countries and South America and Japan.

The audience is welcomed with homemade refreshments at Intermission, complements of AIV volunteers. The performers offer informative commentary on the music of the evening, providing an educational component to the concerts. The musicians seek our venue for its responsive audience, excellent acoustics, first-rate piano, and historic setting.

January 2024 The Reporter

17

Our spring 2024 concerts are as follows:

Runey Hints at Possible D-R Budget Reductions

Ticket prices are as follows: Adults: $28.00; Seniors: $25.00; Student/Child: $10 For information, call 508-431-6879; or go to the website at https:// rehoboth antiquarian.org.

Dighton-Rehoboth School Superintendent Bill Runey said “tough decisions” will need to be made in preparing the FY’25 budget.

“As you know, we are experiencing something of a fiscal cliff from the standpoint that the ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief ) funding that we have been relying on for the last few years is going away after this year,” Runey told the School Committee at their December 12 meeting.

Runey said the district has between $450,000 and $500,000 in salaries that are in ESSER and many of those are student services positions like behaviorists and adjustment counselors.

“We are committed to doing the very best we can to retain those positions,” Runey said. “It is certainly going to require us to tighten our belt in other areas. We have worked very hard over the course of the last year to procure grants for curriculum.”

Runey noted the collaboration with various unions in the past and vowed to “come up with the best budget that we possibly can.”

• February 24: Schwarz and Bournaki cello/piano Duo • March 16: Vox Cor Trio piano and brass trio • April 13: Tong and Sheppard violin/piano duo

Rehoboth Republican Caucus

A caucus of the Republican Party for the nomination of candidates to be elected at the Tuesday, April 2, 2024, Town Election will be held on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, 7:00 p.m., at the COA-Senior Center, in the Francis Hall Building of the Francis Farm Community Center, 27 Francis Farm Road. In the case of inclement weather, an alternate date of Wednesday, February 13, 2024, 7:00 p.m. has been scheduled.

By Joe Siegel

Openings on Boards for Rehoboth Town Election

KENNY’S

By Joe Siegel

A number of seats on top boards and committees will be up for grabs in the April 2024 town election. Nomination papers are now available.

There are two open three-year seats on the Rehoboth Board of Selectmen. Incumbent Selectmen George Solas and Michael Deignan’s terms are expiring. Deignan has said he does not intend to seek re-election.

There are two open three-year seats on the Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School Committee held by incumbents Katie FerreiraAubin and Victoria Silvia.

Other openings include: • One seat on the Board of Assessors – three years • One seat on the Housing Authority – five years • One seat on the Park Commission – five years • One seat on the Planning Board – five years • One seat on the Planning Board – three years • One seat on the Water Commission – three years • Moderator – one year term • Town Clerk – three year term • Tree Warden – three year term The deadline to submit nomination papers to the Town Clerk’s office will be Tuesday, February 13, 2024 at 5:00 PM.

Vadnais to Conduct Town Budget Review

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Rehoboth Selectmen Chair Skip Vadnais plans to conduct a comprehensive review of the town’s finances. The planning for the FY’25 budget cycle will begin in January.

At a December meeting, Vadnais explained the town is facing “budgetary challenges” and believes closer attention needs to be paid to anticipated expenses and anticipated receipts.

“This is a pivotal year,” Vadnais said. “Our Covid monies are ending.”

Sue Pimental, the Director of Finance and Compliance, said approximately $2.5 million is in the town’s free cash account.

Vadnais instructed Town Administrator Deborah Arruda to obtain a timeline from the town accountant.

“I need to know her timeline on budgets and I want to review it with the board’s permission,” Vadnais added.

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The Reporter January 2024

The Seekonk Scene From the Town Clerks Office

By Lorraine Sorel

The Town Clerk’s office wishes everyone a happy, healthy and safe 2024.

2024 Town Census Information

The 2024 Annual Town census has been mailed to all households in Seekonk. Please update the information provided by adding, deleting or making changes directly on the form. Please sign and return the census within 30 days. YOU CAN NOT REGISTER TO VOTE ON THIS FORM. On the census you will notice a letter next to your name. The letter indicates your political party affiliation. For instance, “R” indicates Republican party, “D” indicates Democratic party, “U” indicates Unenrolled (Independent) party.

If you don’t have a party designation next to your name you can register to vote by going on line to www.sec.state.ma.us. When responding back you can either mail it back with the provided envelope, or drop it in the Town Hall drop-box (located outside Town Hall’s front door), or you can scan it, and email it to: lsorel@ seekonk-ma.gov. Failure to return your census may result in the removal from the active voting list. (MGL ch51 sec. 4c) The data collected from the census is used to prove residency, update the town’s voter rolls, veteran’s benefits, birth records, locating missing persons, estimating the future school enrollment, establishing precinct lines, state and federal funding for the town, police and fire.

Dog License Information

Included in the town census mailing is a dog license form. This gives dog owners the opportunity to license their dogs by mail, or drop box before the March 31st due date. Mail to: Seekonk Town Hall, Town Clerk’s Office, 100 Peck St., Seekonk, MA 02771 or drop it in the Town Hall drop-box (outside Town Hall’s front door).

Please include a copy of each dog’s current rabies certificate and a self-addressed stamped business size envelope.

The license fees are $10 for spayed and neutered dogs and $20 for un-spayed or un-neutered dogs. No fee shall be charged for a license for a dog owned by a person 70 years or over. If you are 70 years an older you still must license your dog(s) you just do not have to pay the fee. Checks are to be made out to the Town of Seekonk.

Massachusetts General Law requires that all dogs be licensed annually, with proof of current rabies vaccinations. Failure to comply will result in a by-law citation fine. If you have any questions about dog licensing, please do not hesitate to call the office 508-336-2920.

The rabies clinic has been set for March 16, 2024. Hours will be 9AM-12PM. It will be held at the Seekonk Safety Building Fire Division, 500 Taunton Ave. The attending veterinarian will be Dr. Truesdale and the fee will be $15.00 cash only. All cats and ferrets in cages and dogs must be on a leash. Please bring previous rabies certificate. The Town of Rehoboth will be joining us.

Presidential Primary

Presidential Primary 2024 will be held on Tuesday March 5, 2024. Last day to register to vote for the Presidential Primary is Saturday February 24, 2024. Early voting will be held the week before the Presidential Primary

Annual Town Election

Annual Seekonk Town Election 2024 will be held Monday, April 1, 2024. Last day to register to vote for the annual town election is Friday March 22, 2024. Nomination papers for offices are available in the Town Clerk’s Office. Deadline to submit nomination papers to the Assistant Town Clerk is Monday February 12, 2024 at 5PM. You must obtain a minimum of 50 signatures from voters registered in Seekonk. A street address not at P.O. Box is required from each person signing your papers. Please make sure signatures are legible or we will not be able to certify them.

Absentee & Early Voting Ballot Applications

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Absentee & Early Voting ballot applications are available in the office, or on our web-site. If you want to be put on the permanent absentee ballot mailing list, please fill out the form and check “for all elections”. Be sure to list your party’s designation for the Presidential Primary to receive the correct ballot. There will be in person early voting for the annual town election at the Town Hall the week before the election.

Third Quarter Tax Bills

Friendly reminder the third quarter real estate tax bills will be due on February 1, 2024. First commitment of Motor Vehicle Excise tax will be going out in February.

We now offer the convenience of online payments through Unipay by Unibank. See the Town Clerk’s page on the Towns website for more information.

In Closing

Monday, January 15, 2024 Town Hall will be closed in observance of Martin Luther King Day. Have a wonderful month.

Lorraine Sorel, Assistant Town Clerk

January 2024 The Reporter

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*Sustainable Seekonk*

The Seekonk Recycling Committee would like to remind residents of all the great recycling and sustainability programs and resources we have available in town: Christmas Trees: Will be picked up curbside by DPW for composting periodically throughout the month of January-please remove all ornaments, lights, tinsel, etc.

It’s a Wrap: Holiday Lights Recycling & Gift Wrap WorkshopDid you know that string lights should never go in any curbside bin because they tangle and damage machines? As you’re cleaning up after the holiday season, come to Seekonk Public Library for the program “It’s a Wrap: Holiday Lights Recycling & Gift Wrap Workshop” on Wednesday, January 24 at 6:30 PM. The Seekonk Recycling Committee is excited to bring this after-holidays sustainability workshop. Bring your broken string lights to this collection for shipping to a specific facility that handles the many types of valuable materials they contain. We’ll also share ideas for reusable gift wrapping. Bring any fabric, tablecloths, napkins or scarves, or wrapping paper and boxes to prepare for gift giving all year! For event planning and to receive updates register in the online Events Calendar at www.seekonkpl.org/events.

Calling all restaurants! Please consider asking customers if they need utensils, before placing them in every order. Also consider compostable utensils, and perhaps adding a compost collection bin to your restaurant. Black Earth and Bootstrap Compost both service the area and make it easy to arrange weekly or bi-weekly pickup of food waste-including napkins, and certified compostable utensils, cups and plates.

Don’t Trash It! Consider donating items that are still usableSavers in North Attleboro has easy drive up drop off service, Angel’s Care Closet takes a wide variety of items or you can visit DONATIONTOWN.ORG for a list of local services that will pickup items from your home. If items are broken or no longer usable, stores like Staples, Lowes, Home Depot and Best Buy take back all kinds of electronics, bulbs, ink/toner, batteries, cell phone cases, pens and markers and more. Use the Recycle Locator at CTA.tech website to find all your nearby options for electronics. If you’re interested in a town wide CURB ALERT day-where everyone can put out items for free and you can plan to drive around to “shop” for items you want or need, please reach out to the Recycling Committee, our Recycling Coordinator at DPW, or Sustainable Seekonk on Facebook.

Seekonk Transfer Station (TARF) is open year round Mon-Fri 8am-3pm for drop off of yard waste (leaves, grass, twigs). The next Bulky Waste day is March 9 2024-buy a pass at DPW for $25 to bring items that are too big to fit in blue bags/curbside trash bins.

But please try to pass things along for reuse before trashing them!

Bulky Waste pickup continues on the 2nd & 4th Wednesday of each month for furniture and misc bulky items ($5), metal, electronic ($5) & appliance ($12.50) pickup is the 3rd Tuesday, and mattresses ($65) are the 3rd Wednesday. Buy stickers at DPW. Got new Eye glasses? Old pairs of eye glasses (no cases!) are accepted the DPW for donation to Lions Club.

The Library of Things- did you know the Seekonk Library has way more than books? With things like karaoke machines, metal detectors, stud finders, instruments, cameras, computers & more, it’s an amazing way to borrow what you need & save money!

Textile Recycling Bins- there are Bay State Textile collection bins at the DPW center & at all the schools. You can deposit used clothing, sheets, towels, pillows, stuffed animals, shoes and more at these bins-even

if they’re stained, ripped or worn out! Nothing wet or moldy, please!

Terracycle Recycling- the committee is collecting hundreds of everyday items that would normally end up in the trash because they cannot be recycled traditionally. Brands partner with Terracycle to offer these free programs to recycle items like pet food bags, toothbrushes, deodorant, air fresheners, coffee bags and more! Find the current list at Facebook.com/SustainableSeekonk or at the DPW. Batteries & Bulbs- did you know that the #1 cause of fires in trash collection programs is rechargeable batteries? The DPW has a collection bin for batteries-including cell phone batteries and other rechargeables or hazardous batteries. They also accept fluorescent light bulbs-including CFL bulbs and tubes under 4ft. These should never go in your curbside bins! Stores like Lowes, Home Depot, Best Buy and Staples also accept most of these items as well.

Single use-alkaline batteries, incandescent bulbs and LED bulbs can go in the trash.

Recycling Tip of The Month

Plastic bags should never go in your recycling bin-even the clear blue bags at the store marked “RECYCLING” Recycling should always be loose in your curbside bin-and only acceptable items: clean plastic containers (bottles, cups, jars, jugs), aluminum cans & pans, paper, and glass containers (jars, bottles, jugs)-Please remember to recycle right, and…. Reduce-Reuse-Recycle (in THAT order!)

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The Reporter January 2024

Doorways Food Pantry News Girl Scout Troop 707 Delivers Christmas Toys Again

The McGovern Family’s Annual Toy Drive Brings Joy to Many

The McGovern family has collected toys for Doorways for the past six years.

Girl Scout Troop 707

Members of Girl Scout Troop 707 collected dozens of beautiful toys for Doorways. The toys will be given to local families for Christmas.

The young women of Girl Scout Troop 707 have a new holiday tradition as, for the seventh year, the scouts conducted a toy drive for the benefit of the children of Doorways’ client families. The Scouts collected a large number of beautiful toys for boys and girls of all ages; these toys that became the Christmas delights for many local children. “This was a wonderful thing the Girl Scouts did” said Diane Fox of Doorways. “It’s not just the kids who benefit from the toys. I have seen parents walk out of the toy distribution with tears streaming down their faces. No one wants to see their kid go without at Christmas, and the joy and relief on their faces is a wonder to behold.”

On behalf of our clients, Doorways thanks the young ladies of Girl Scout Troop 707, their troop leaders, their families and all the generous people who donated to the toy drive. As Tiny Tim observed, “God bless us all, every one.”

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(L to R: Jennifer, Marley, Kaylen, Brian and Kerrin McGovern.)

Once again, to celebrate Christmas, the McGovern family conducted a massive toy drive to benefit the children of Doorways client families. The tradition started when daughter Kaylen was a seventh-grade student at Hurley Middle School and decided to organize that first toy drive for Christmas. She enlisted the help of sisters Kerrin and Marley to collect over one hundred items for needy children in Seekonk. The following year, they collected more than two hundred toys, and their toy drive has continued to grow since. Now in their sixth consecutive year, the toy drive collected hundreds of toys which were distributed to seventy-seven local children whose families are living through lean times. Kaylen’s mom, Jennifer, says the effort has added richness to the family’s celebration of Christmas, involving the entire McGovern clan, their extended family, their neighbors and friends. The gift they give goes beyond mere playthings: to be a child at Christmas without a toy is to be sad, but to be a parent at Christmas and unable to give your child a toy – that is anguish. The toys, then, are a double gift – they bring smiles to the face of parent and child alike.

The McGovern family would like to thank everyone who contributed to the toy drive. And the community at Doorways, volunteers and clients alike, would like to thank all of our supporters and benefactors in the Town of Seekonk. May God bless us all as we close out the Christmas season and look forward in hope to the New Year.

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January 2024 The Reporter

Lucky’s Pub Fights Hunger in East Providence & Seekonk

On December 9, Lucky’s Pub in East Providence held a “Guest Bartender” fundraising event to raise money to combat food uncertainty in East Providence and Seekonk. It was a football Sunday afternoon, and the bar was filled with friends of volunteer bartenders Mike Tortolani & Mike Benevides, who tended bar for eight hours while donating all tips to two local food banks. In addition, Lucky’s Pub donated 20% of all receipts for the afternoon to the fundraiser, which raised a final donation of $5,200.00 from the event. This was the second annual such event, and Billy Lewis, the proprietor of Lucky’s Pub, pronounced the fundraiser a success. We are fortunate to have such community-minded businessmen taking an active role in helping our neighbors in need. On behalf of the families you are helping to feed, we say “Thank You”.

21

provide community service and to advance goodwill and peace around the world. Rotarians help local charities to help those in need; we thank them for their generous support.

Rotary Co-Presidents Lori DiPersio and Valerie Perry, Gerry McCabe of Doorways, and Mayor Roberto DaSilva of East Providence. The Rotary Club made a donation to combat hunger in our community.

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Mike Tortolani, representing Lucky’s Pub, presents a check for $2,600 to David Francis, Emily Fasteson, Diane Fox, Suzie Miller, and Cathy Boisvert of Doorways.

East Providence/Seekonk Rotary Support Doorways Food Pantry

The volunteers and clients of the Doorways Food Pantry wish to thank the Rotary Club of East Providence and Seekonk for their continuing strong support of our mission to ensure that no home in our community has to go without food. For many years the East Providence/Seekonk Rotary Club has made large annual contributions to Doorways, and their generous gift will help to stock the cupboards of homes throughout our town during the long winter season. There are currently over seventy families relying on the Doorways food pantry, and Doorways, in turn, relies on people like our local Rotary Club.

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The Reporter January 2024

Seekonk Animal Shelter News

Douglas is a pint sized pittie mix whose favorite place is on your lap!

He is super snuggly and affectionate. He is a 3-year-old brown brindle male lovebug. Douglas would do best in a home with children 8 years and older; no cats because he will chase them, and at this time, he should be the only dog until our trainer, All in Stride, does some further testing. He has been neutered, is up to date on vaccines, and is house trained. He enjoys going for walks and would be a great companion! Interested in meeting this sweet boy? Please call to make an appointment to meet him Douglas at 508-336-6663.

George is a very sweet dog who unfortunately lost all of his family members so he’s feeling a bit anxious and is in search of a loving home. He would do best in a home where he is the only pet and his owner is at home most of the day – such as a retiree or someone who works from home.

George is a 9 year old male pit bull with a stunning gray and brown brindle coat. He is good with kids but we recommend older children due to his size. He is friendly and loves people... he enjoys going for walks and belly rubs! He has been neutered, up to date on vaccines and is house trained.

George If George sounds like the perfect companion for you or someone you know, please call us for more info and to make an appointment 508-336-6663. View more photos of George at SeekonkAnimalShelter.Petfinder.com View more photos of Douglas at www.SeekonkAnimalShelter.

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Seekonk to Vote on Tri-County Debt Exclusion

By Joe Siegel

The Select Board voted Wednesday to place a debt exclusion proposal to help pay the costs of the Tri-County building project on the April 2024 election ballot.

Last October, voters from 11 communities across three counties approved funding construction of a new $286 million Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School building in Franklin.

The regional school district is composed of Franklin, Medfield, Medway, Millis, Norfolk, North Attleboro, Plainville, Sherborn, Walpole, and Wrentham. A total of 5,365 votes were in favor, with 3229 in opposition. The project was rejected by Seekonk voters.

Town Administrator Shawn Cadime said taxpayers will have to pay $1.1 million annually over a 30 year period.

Cadime noted if the debt exclusion is not approved, $1.1 million will have to be taken from the annual town budget. That would impact all departments, including the schools.

“There could be some buyer’s remorse if (residents) vote against it as well,” said Board member Justin Sullivan. “I think without question putting (a debt exclusion) on the ballot makes the most sense.”

Partial reimbursement of the cost will be paid by the Massachusetts School Building Association. The remaining $200 million will be paid by the 11-member communities.

Seekonk Town Election

By Joe Siegel

A number of seats on town boards and committees are up for grabs for the April 2024 town election. Nomination papers are now available from the Town Clerk’s office.

There are two open three year seats on the Seekonk Select Board. Chairman Michael Healy resigned in November. Vice Chairman Chris Zorra’s term is expiring.

There are two open three year seats on the Seekonk School Committee. Kim Sluter and Noah Escaler’s terms are expiring.

Joshua Troiano, a 2023 graduate of Seekonk High School, has announced his candidacy.

Other positions include:

• One seat on the Board of Assessors – three year term • Two seats on the Library Board of Trustees – three year terms • Planning Board – one five year term and a one year term • Housing Authority – one five year term • Town Clerk – two year term • Water Commission – one three year term • The deadline to return nomination papers is February 12 at 5 pm.

Seekonk Town Clerk Retires

By Joe Siegel

Town Clerk Florice Craig has retired. Her final day was December 21.

“I enjoy the various issues and challenges that every day brings with working as the Town Clerk,” Craig told the Reporter in 2020.

“The ability to interact and help people with their many needs makes the position enjoyable and satisfying.”

Craig had previously served as an assistant town clerk before taking over the position in 2017. “I have only received positive feedback from the residents of Seekonk,” Craig added. “I have never had a complaint from any resident in my 5 years in the Town Clerks office. We strive to improve our performance continuously.”

The position of Town Clerk is on the April 2024 election ballot.

Nomination papers are now available at Town Hall.

January 2024 The Reporter

Seekonk Police and Fire Donate Toys

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On December 21, members of the Seekonk Police and Fire Departments delivered toys and holiday cheer to patients at Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Providence.

Donation boxes had been placed at the Public Safety headquarters on Taunton Avenue.

The Fire Department also held a “Stuff a Truck” toy drive event at Walmart in memory of Police Officer Kourtney Deforitis, who passed away last September following a motorcycle crash.

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The Seekonk Fire Department gained three new members on December 20.

Firefighters Zachary Brooks, Thomas Silva, and Austin Prudente were sworn in by Town Clerk Florice Craig during the Select Board meeting at Town Hall.

The Select Board voted November 29 to appoint former Falmouth Fire Chief Michael Small as the Interim Fire Chief.

Former Select Board Chair Michael Healy criticized the board for hiring Small as Interim Fire Chief. Healy, a former Seekonk Fire Chief, resigned from the board on November 13.

Chief Sandra Lowery, who has been on sick leave since midSeptember, will be retiring in February. Lowery has been serving in the position since October 2021.

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The Reporter January 2024

Seekonk TV9 Elects New Board

By Joe Siegel

Seekonk’s local access channel TV9 elected a new Board of Directors at a meeting held December 12. They include Lori Saude, Andrea Rosseter, Jeffrey Starr Mararian, Peter Hoogerzeil, Michael Dressler, Louis Sousa, and Doreen Taylor.

The designation of President and other roles will be determined at the January 15, 2024 meeting.

The state is investigating allegations of discrimination filed by two former TV9 board members. Deborah Hoch and Kristen Montgomery filed complaints with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination in Boston.

Hoch and Montgomery both allege they were discriminated against by Seekonk Cable Access, on the basis of age and gender, after a special meeting was held in July. A temporary Board of Directors was installed to create a new set of bylaws.

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Escaler, Juckett Push for Parental Notification

By Joe Siegel

Seekonk School Committee members Noah Escaler and Kyle Juckett would like parents to be given notification in a timely manner if they object to certain material being taught to their children.

The committee waived a first reading of the Health Education Parental Notification policy.

“I think we need to empower parents to be able to have control over specific pieces of education that’s coming before their kids,” Juckett said at the December 11 meeting.

“I just really want to give the transparency and the ability for those parents, any parent, with any safeguards that wants to challenge this, to have the opportunity to do it in a manner that they’re angered with time elapsing with no answers,” Escaler said. “I just want to see an expedited process to answer these questions civilly.”

Escaler and Juckett will send their revisions to the committee chair Meaghan Mahoney before the next meeting in January.

Last July, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) released a 46 page draft of a new curriculum framework for Comprehensive Health and Physical Education.

DESE solicited feedback from parents and educators about what should be taught in schools.

Superintendent Rebecca Kidwell said the administration would review policies and procedures around parent communication and the ability for parents to “opt out” if they were uncomfortable with certain subject matters being taught in school.

DESE has outlined seven practices, including decision-making and problem solving, self-management and goal-setting, social awareness, relationship and communication skills, movement skills, and self-advocacy and health promotion.

DESE notes: “The standards are presented by grade span: Pre–K-2, grades 3–5, grades 6–8, and grades 9–12. The standards are considered learning goals that are intended to be achieved by the end of each grade span, respectively. Within each grade span, the standards are grouped by practice. This reflects the importance of the practices for students across the disciplines of health education, physical education, and in developing social emotional competencies.”

DESE’s CHPE report can be accessed at: https://www.doe. mass.edu/sfs/healthframework/

January 2024 The Reporter

25

People In The News Seekonk Educator Receives Teacher of the Year Award

As workdays wind down for most teachers, educator Jackie Orcutt’s day is just getting started. A site director for the Champions after-school program at George Martin Elementary School, Orcutt is known for continuously going out of her way to lend a helping hand and making all feel welcome in her program.

This week, she was celebrated with a teacher of the year award from KinderCare Learning Companies®. Orcutt is one of only 28 KinderCare teachers around the country to earn the company’s Educational Excellence Award.

KinderCare, a leading national provider of early childhood education and child care, has more than 35,000 teachers across the country. Of those 35,000 teachers, more than 500 were nominated by their peers for this inaugural award. Orcutt was one of 28 award winners chosen for their passion and dedication to early childhood education and to their students.

Children, families, peers and leaders gathered at George Martin Elementary School to celebrate Orcutt’s dedication and commitment to inspiring young minds at Champions.

“We’re proud to celebrate Jackie for all of her accomplishments,” said Kerri Kubacki, Champions area manager. “She works every day to set children up for success and walking in to her program is like a warm hug for families — knowing their child is in a safe, quality learning environment during the time gaps between the workday and school day.”

KinderCare’s Educational Excellence Awards include individual cash prizes as well as professional development opportunities and a cash award for the winning teacher’s center, school or site.

“Whether it’s attending school plays and PTO meetings, coordinating walk-a-thons for breast cancer or calling students and families one-on-one before their first day at Champions, Jackie is always

there for the children and families in her care,” said Kubacki. ”She works hard to create an inclusive environment right from the start to help children build relationships amongst their peers and is always looking for new ways to enhance their skills and abilities at Champions.”

To learn more about Champions, visit DiscoverChampions.com.

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The Reporter January 2024

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Linn Health Resident, formerly from Rehoboth Honored by U.S. Navy Cruisers Association Ret. U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Ed August, Sr., a current resident of Linn Health & Rehabilitation in East Providence and former resident of Rehoboth, Mass., was honored by the U.S. Navy Cruisers Sailors Association (USNCSA) for his longtime contributions to the organization.

In a ceremony at Linn Health attended by his family and fellow veterans and nursing home residents, Mr. August was presented with a citation and plaque commemorating the naming of two “Cruiser Compartments” aboard the USS Salem museum ship after him.

The rooms display historic artifacts about the “cruiser” classes of U.S. Navy warships. August, who retired from the Navy in 1971 after 20 years of service, served aboard several ships, the most memorable being the Cruiser USS Worcester CL-144. His last duty station was Newport, R.I. where he finished his career as a recruiter.

After retiring in 1992, August co-founded the USNCSA that served over 4,000 members at the height of the organization. He held several offices including president, treasurer, and newsletter editor during the 31 years of the group’s existence.

“Today is Ed August’s day,” stated James Chryst who served in the Navy from 1965-69 aboard the cruiser USS Providence (CLG-6) during Vietnam, and who traveled from Lancaster, PA to lead the ceremony. “Ed’s legacy is that he has preserved the history of United States cruiser sailors for future generations with his contributions to the museum over decades of his involvement.”

Ret. U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Ed August, Sr. accepts a citation and plaque commemorating the naming of two “Cruiser Compartments” aboard the USS Salem museum ship after him. Joining him are U.S. Navy Cruiser Sailors Association President David Blomstrom (right) and Secretary James Chryst (left).

No Frills, No Bills.

C.O.D. OIL Ed August, Sr. and his family display of a colorful wall hanging sewn with international maritime signal flags.

January 2024 The Reporter Chryst, former USNCSA secretary, was joined by USNCSA former President David Blomstrom of Houston, TX to honor August.

The pair planned to visit the Cruiser USS Salem to present another plaque aboard the ship along with a check for nearly $40,000, one of three museum ships in the U.S. to share in the treasury funds of the now-defunct USNCSA. “By sharing the remaining funds from the Association with other ship museums, we will help keep the story of the cruisers going,” stated Blomstrom, who served in the Navy from 1954-57 onboard the USS Baltimore (CA-68) and USS Samuel N. Moore (DD-747).

Ed’s late wife Barbara; daughters Jan Rupert (Rehoboth resident), Kelly Downs (Rehoboth resident) and Dianne Chase (Seekonk resident); and sons Ed “Skip” August, Jr. (Middletown resident) and Christopher August (Forty Fort, PA resident) were all involved in the work of the Association, helping with newsletter mailings to thousands of members and coordinating raffle prizes. They were recognized during the ceremony by Chryst and Blomstrom for their willingness to help their dad while growing up.

Family in attendance presented August with a colorful wall hanging sewn with international maritime signal flags that correspond with every letter of the alphabet. “It was my dad’s job to make the flags, as a chief signalman in the Navy,” comments Jan. “This is visually how vessels communicated long ago and they are still used today.

We will decorate his room here at Linn with the wall hanging along with the beautiful plaque and citation. Today’s gathering meant a lot to him as well as to our entire family.”

Before enjoying a piece of red, white and blue-decorated chocolate cake, August posed for photos and reminisced with attendees about his military service and the Association annual reunions. “I never expected anything like this,” he humbly stated as he reflected about the honor bestowed upon him. “My family was always there for me, and still is. I’m a little touched.”

Abigail Tenreiro of Seekonk, MA Named to the Dean's List at Lehigh University in Fall 2023

Bethlehem, PA -- Dean's List status, which is awarded to students who earned a scholastic average of 3.6 or better while carrying at least 12 hours of regularly graded courses, has been granted to Abigail Tenreiro in the Fall 2023 semester.

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DEER, TICK & MOSQUITO CONTROL DEER TAKING A TOLL ON YOUR PLANTINGS? OUR ALL-NATURAL DEER REPELLENT HAS SAVED MANY A GARDEN! Edward August, seated, and his five children, from left, Kelly Downs, Diane Chase, Chris August, Jan Rupert, and Ed “Skip” August Jr.

University News

Quentin Khan (Seekonk) Achieves Fall 2023 Dean’s List at Belmont University

Nashville, TN -- Quentin Khan (Seekonk) qualified for Belmont University’s Fall 2023 Dean’s List. Approximately 52 percent of Belmont’s 7,338 undergraduate students qualified.

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28

The Reporter January 2024

Small Town, Big Ambition: This Massachusetts Top Producer Is at Home with RE/MAX Rehoboth, Massachusetts is a historic town east of Providence, Rhode Island. Like much of New England, it’s home to country roads, quiet neighborhoods, and a close-knit community. It’s also home to Elizabeth Ruehrwein, a lifelong Rehoboth resident and a go-to real estate expert for the area.

A Background In Building

Growing up, Ruehrwein always dreamt of owning a house one day. “My mom was a single parent who taught by example what a strong work ethic is, but we always rented where we lived,” Ruehrwein recalls. “It wasn’t until later that homeownership became an option for us.”

The door opened in part when Ruehrwein began working at Frito Lay, where she developed sales and marketing skills in her 15-year tenure. The stability of that job positioned her to pursue her first home purchase – a new home under construction. The experience changed everything. “The builder we worked with became a mentor to me. I learned a lot from him,” she says. “Eventually, I realized I could do it, too. My mother and I teamed up to build several singlefamily homes in Rehoboth – and our business blossomed. As the real estate market ebbed and flowed, we ended up doing a few renovation projects. All throughout my 20s, I had my hands in the mix of building and renovating [outside of my career].”

In 2017, Ruehrwein decided to dive deeper into the industry by earning her real estate license and joining Keystone Realty Group.

“Initially, I thought I would just sell the homes we had built, but I quickly realized how much I loved the profession. I started learning the business and volunteering to help with any open house I could.”

Since then, she perfected her craft. Ruehrwein has been the No. 1 producing real estate agent in the Rehoboth area for four of

the past six years – and she closed more than $22 million in Massachusetts volume in 2022. Through the first 10 months of 2023, she has closed nearly $12.5 million in Massachusetts and $2 million in Rhode Island. “I moved mountains to get my mom and me into a home [we owned]. The desire to help make homeownership a reality for others continues to drive me today,” she says.

A Move to RE/MAX

When Keystone Realty Group converted to another unaffiliated brand earlier this year, Ruehrwein decided to make a strategic change. A connection with Jean Grota, Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Integrity in Rehoboth, made the choice easy. “Jean and I had worked together previously, and I formed an immediate appreciation for her.

When the time came to change brands, I knew RE/MAX would be a great fit,” Ruehrwein shares. “What I love most about RE/MAX so far is the recognizable brand, the international connections, and the amazing support from Jean.”

Ruehrwein also cites compassionate leadership as a leading reason she aligned with RE/MAX Integrity, where Grota is committed to helping growth-minded agents thrive with support and resources.

“I’m only as good as the agents I surround myself with,” Grota says. “Elizabeth is a hard worker who focuses on customer care and communication – and above all else, is kind. She can only help make this brokerage better, and we’re ecstatic to have her.”

Grota continues, “As part of the network, I can reach out to so many other RE/MAX Broker/Owners who are sharing ideas and building each other up. They’re a resource that helps me support my agents and enable them to be as successful as they can be.”

A Profession Intertwined with Community

Having lived in Rehoboth her whole life, Ruehrwein knows everything there is to know about the area.

She knows the people well, too – many are her family members, friends, and neighbors.

“I travel throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island for my clients. But the majority of my business comes from right here in the Rehoboth area because I know so many people from growing up here,” she says.

“One of the strongest things about my business is my network of connections and the genuine relationships I form with everyone I work with. I’ll do anything I can to make things easier for my clients. I love my #1 REALTOR IN REHOBOTH FOR RESALE YTD | $7,366,900 TOTAL VOLUME job because every day is an opportunity to make people happy and make a difference #8 REALTOR IN BRISTOL COUNTY | $17,236,799 TOTAL VOLUME in the community.”

Ruehrwein lives on a hobby farm in town with her mother, husband – a member of the military reserves – and two daughters. They care for cats, horses, chickens, ducks, and a bearded dragon. They also have a pet goat, Tommy, who they take on Sunday morning walks to the Honey Dew Donuts drive-through. Tommy ventures to the local soccer fields to cheer on the kids during their games, too.

“Everyone knows Tommy,” Ruehrwein says. “He might be my best – and most unconventional – marketing yet.”

I love my job because every day is an opportunity to make people happy and make a difference in the community.

-Elizabeth

January 2024 The Reporter

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SCOUTING AROUND Rehoboth Girl Scout Troop 507 News

Fahey’s Painting Interior • Exterior Honest, Dependable, Craftsmanship 34 Years Experience

Use Benjamin Moore Paints Power Washing & Carpentry John 508-933-9940 Rehoboth Girl Scout Troop 507 enjoyed helping their community by collecting donations for the Rehoboth Pet Pantry!

Justin 401-338-0895

We hope you enjoy receiving The Reporter every month!

Support the Local Businesses that make this all possible!

Licensed & Insured

Tree Pruning • Removal Land/Lot Clearing Storm Work • Stump Grinding Rehoboth Girl Scout Troop 507 enjoyed their holiday party. They used different strategies and teamwork to complete assigned tasks. Our firstplace winning team was Jackie and Ivy!

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Veteran owned & operated

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The Reporter January 2024

Club News & ANNOUNCEMENTS Rehoboth Garden Club January 2024

Organized 1934: Celebrating 89 Years of Smart Gardening

Calendar of Events

January General Meeting State of the Coast, South Coast Edition

The beaches, harbors, waterfront business districts, and habitats as we know them are endangered! Climate change-driven sea level rise and storm flooding will affect miles of roads and impact ecosystems crucial to coastal resilience. The Trustees of Reservation will present their findings on the effects of climate change, not only on the coastline, but also on the plants, animals and humans that live there. The community is invited.

Date & Time: Monday, January 15, 2024 at 6:30 PM Place: Rehoboth Congregational Church Fellowship Hall 139 Bay State Road, Rehoboth, MA Hospitality: Linda McHugh

Rhode Island Federation of Garden Clubs Event DESIGN STUDY GROUP 2024 Wednesday, January 24, 2024 9:30 – Noon De Feldman

United Methodist Church, 230 Washington Road, Barrington, RI 02806 Open to all members of RIFGC. Registrants should bring clippers, paper towels, and trash bag. You will be notified if there are any other special tools or supplies needed. A bucket to hold floral material is helpful.

FEE: $50 for individual class payable two weeks prior to class if space available. Registration will be accepted on a first come basis. Registration form must include payment. Fee includes all plant material, a unit, design materials and mechanics. No refunds, but you may send a substitute or designate someone to take home your materials.

Committee Co-chairs: Kathy LaRiviere 401-316-5828 knlariv@outlook.com Mary DiBara 508-320-6511 marydibara@gmail.com

REGISTRATION FORM

NAME__________________________________________ ADDRESS ______________________________________ PHONE____________________________________ EMAIL __________________________________________ GARDEN CLUB ________________________________ SIGNATURE ___________________________________ Send completed registration form to: Kathy LaRiviere, 29 Rosedale Avenue, Barrington, RI 02806

January & February Birthdays

Lisa O’Connell-8, Helen Davis-10, Cila DaSilva-17, Susan Hannah-19, Lori Waterman-19, Dianne Burns-24, Elinor Ball-27

January Birth Flower Carnation, Dianthus Caryophyllus

Carnations have been cultivated for over 2,000 years. Pink carnations are one of the most popular flowers in the world. They symbolize perfect happiness, gratitude, remembrance, and most commonly, a mother’s undying love. A Christian legend is that the first carnation bloomed when Mary’s tears hit the earth as she wept for Jesus as he carried his cross.

Carnations are available in many colors. White carnations are easy to dye by placing a freshly cut stem into colored water. Bicolored carnations can be achieved by splitting the stem lengthwise and placing each half in different colored water.

The largest global grower of carnations is Bogata, Columbia.

Carnations are grown in France for their oils, which are used in face creams, muscle relaxants and for the treatment of hair loss.

RI Federation of Garden Clubs Holiday Brunch and Party

RGC members Marj DeAngelis, Judy Doty, Dianne Burns and Linda McHugh attended the annual event, which was held in Cranston. Members from many different clubs enjoyed the food and festivities.

Wreath Decorating Civic Buildings

January 2024 The Reporter

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In November, three members were asked to participate in a Designers’ Challenge. They were not told what materials they would be given. RGC’s Linda McHugh was one of the participants.

The challenge began after brunch. Each particpant received the same container, several kinds of fresh evergreens, eucalyptus, three large white mums and several small white flowers. The photos show Linda, Nancy and Cheryl working on their designs. Although they used exactly the same materials, each of their designs was unique.

A bag containing two glue pots and glue pods were left behind after the wreath making/holiday party. If they belong to you, please contact Linda McHugh at lindamchugh18@yahoo.com or 508-252-9768.

Recent RGC Events

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32

The Reporter January 2024

Happy New Year from the Rehoboth Lions

It’s time to say goodbye to 2023, as we enter the New Year!

Hello 2024! Hoping it is filled with Peace, Joy, and Prosperity for all our fellow Rehobothians!

For the Lions, our “Lion Year” starts in July with the swearing in of new officers, so we are just midway through our fundraising year - and what a year it has been so far! Please visit rehobothlions.org to learn more, view our upcoming events, get contact information, or donate to the Lion’s.

We started back in September with our first Clam Boil - we gifted all proceedings to aid those victims of the Maui fires!

October was a busy month, as along with our next Clam Boil, we also had hosted our annual Golf Tournament! So many people to thank, for tee signs, sponsorships, the players - and of course, our friends at the Swansea Country Club for providing the wonderful venue! Stay tuned for the 2024 event to be held on October 6th!

We also had our Peace Poster contest - this year’s theme was “Dare to Dream”. Ms. Jennifer Faletra, our Art Teacher Extraordinaire at Beckwith Middle School always inspires the budding artists, and this year was no exception. It was truly the most difficult year to vote for a local winner as ALL the entries were TOP NOTCH! Congratulations to all who took part - but this year’s winner is (now moving into the next round even as we speak!) - Amelia Trexler!

Wonderful job, Amelia - and a big Thank You to Ms. Faletra for all the enthusiasm you give your students in participating!

Next up was our November Clamboil. For those who don’t attend - they are held the first Wednesday of the month in September, October, November, March, April, May, and June. They are a great time for everyone - so don’t miss out for our next one in March!

In December, we teamed up with the Eastern Star Freemasonry and the American Legion Post 302 to host a wonderful Senior Dinner, held at Francis Hall! We also had our annual Christmas Party at the beautiful Anawan Club!

Every dollar we raise goes to charity - Local recipients include the Food Pantry, Scouting Organizations, Scholarships for DR, BP, and Bristol Aggie seniors, and so many more! “We Serve” is the Lion’s Motto - and we enjoy organizing and holding these fundraisers to give back to areas of our community that have need. We are always looking for like-minded men who wish to give back to

our community, so please reach out if you are interested in learning more.

Aside from fundraising, what many of you may not know is that we provide medical equipment - delivered and at no charge - to residents that have need for items such as wheelchairs, hospital beds, shower chairs, and others. 2023 saw a tremendous uptick in those who we assisted - over 120 families with 139 medical items delivered to Rehoboth residents who had need - up from an average of 75 from the previous few years! Our Health and Welfare team does all the “heavy lifting”, so if you need something to help you recover, please reach out! And if you have medical equipment in good working order that is no longer needed and wondering where to bring it - please let us know!

There are so many residents and businesses alike to thank for all your support, your generosity, and your enthusiasm for our events.

I look forward to recapping in June when we transition to the next Lion Year!! Stay tuned for our Clamboils, our annual Russell Latham Recognition night (TBD in May - nomination forms will be available very soon!), our Chicken BBQ in June - and other fundraising events that come up.

Yours in Lionism! Scott Lacourse rehobothlions.org; slacourse@gmail.com; 774-203-8653

Get Ready to Celebrate 250 Years of Independence

Over the course of the coming eight years, we will celebrate the events that gave us our Independence. The first official event leading to our independence were the actions at Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts on April 19th 1775.

There were, however, earlier events that led up to this historic date.

• December 16,1773 - The Boston Tea Party that took place in Boston Harbor • October 21, 1774 - Taunton residents raised the Liberty and Union Flag, the first flown in defiance of the British • March 2, 1775 – 300 pounds of tea was burned in Providence, Rhode Island in a second Tea Party • April 9, 1775 - About 1,000 Patriots from surrounding towns marched to Freetown, Massachusetts. They confiscated weapons and gunpowder and took Tory prisoners.

The original Rehoboth Militia comprised five (5) companies. In 1775 they were divided, two (2) companies would now serve as Minutemen, “Able to march at a moment’s notice”. The other three (3) companies were militia. Each company was composed of about 50 men.

In April 1775, Colonel Timothy Walker led the Militia/Minutemen Regiment of 210 men in responding to the Lexington Alarm.

From April to July 1775, they were called the 3rd Provincial Army. In July they were redesignated the 22nd Regiment of the United Colonial. It was commanded by Colonel Timothy Walker and numbered over 500 Soldiers. This regiment was formed by volunteer Soldiers from the towns of Rehoboth, Attleborough, Dighton, Berkley, Taunton, Norton, Raynham, and Easton.

In the coming months, we plan to tell stories of the Officers and Soldiers that served from each of these towns. If anyone has stories or a relative that served in this Regiment we would like to hear from you.

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January 2024 The Reporter The Rehoboth Militia/ 22nd Regiment will be very busy in the coming years. We encourage anyone who has any interest in history to join us. We will meet at Goff Hall/Blanding Library, 124 Bay State Road, Rehoboth on Tuesday, January 16th at 7:30 p.m.. Stop in for a visit and learn what we do to teach and share history and participate in historic events and reenactments.

Visit us at our website for more information: www.13thcontinentalregiment.org or contact Cathy Potter at 508-252-3682

We represent the following units:

• Rehoboth Minutemen • 22nd Regiment of the United Colonies • 13th Continental Regiment

Hornbine School Museum

During the 20th century, Rehoboth Schools transitioned from one-room school houses to four-room school houses. (Pleasant Street School, Anawan School and North Rehoboth School) These four-room schools were followed by The Palmer River and Beckwith Schools. We want pictures of these school buildings or anything related to Rehoboth’s schools during the 20th Century. If you have pictures to share, bring them to one of our Open Houses this summer. We will be open every 2nd and 4th Sunday from June to September.

Seekonk Lions Club News

Save the Date April 15, 2024, for a Patriots Day Extravaganza from the Seekonk Lions Club.

The Annual Doug Allan Memorial Fishing Derby will commence one again. A great tradition and sponsorship by the Seekonk Loins Club at the Grist Mill Pond on Fall River Ave. Contest starts at 9am.

Early birds always welcome.

The Seekonk Lions Club and Chris Gasbarro’s Liquors team up for Seekonk’s Taste of the Town at Teamworks (The old Top of the Court) 314 Fall River Ave Seekonk, MA. Getting better and better each year.

American Legion Post 302 Public Events

• Try our Fish & Chips or Sea Scallops – every Thursdays 4:00 till 7:00 P.M. & Fridays 4:00 – 8 PM.Take Outs are welcome – call in your order in early for pickup at 508-252-9079 • Sign up for our Monday-Tuesday & Wednesday Night Dart Leagues • Mass Lottery – Play “Keno”, “Megamillion”, “Powerball” • Card League of Hi-Lo Jack Monday Nights from September through November & April – June or Wednesday nights September – December and start up again in January – April. All games start at 7:00 PM @ $7.00 per game. The Cribbage League plays on Monday Nights January – March and then on Wednesday Nights from May – August – all games start at 7:00 PM. e-mail speedyjake@aol.com or call #508-252-9079

Upcoming Events

• January 12th, 2024 – Friday - 7:00 -10:00 P.M. – Live Music performed by Notorious Jones Entertainment with Classic Rock Music – No Cover Charge! – Food - Check with the bar for the specials of the week – Drinks – Entertainment, so sit back & have a GREAT TIME! Play the Electronic Dart Board or join our Dart League https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063368911454 • Pending 13th Saturday Night 2024 • January 14th,2024 – Sunday -7:30 -10:30 A.M. American Legion & Anawan Lions Monthly Breakfast, Second Sunday of every month $12.00 donation - All you can Eat! https://www.facebook. com/groups/657024961125913/

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• January 19th, 2024 – Friday - 7:00 -10:00 P.M. – Rock-A-Blues Band with Classic Rock Music – No Cover Charge! – Food - Check with the bar for the specials of the week – Drinks – Entertainment, so sit back & have a GREAT TIME! Play the Electronic Dart Board or join our Dart League https://www.rockablues.com • January 20th, 2024 - Friday - 7:00 - 10:00 P.M.,– Live Music performed by Gutzy Right Duo Entertainment with Classic Rock Music – No Cover Charge! - Food – Drinks – Dancing & having a GREAT TIME! https://www.facebook.com/GutzyRight • January 26th, 2024 – Friday - 6:00-8:00 P.M., Sons of the American Legion’s Monthly Meat Raffle followed by Karaoke 8:00-11:00 P.M. – No Cover Charge! - Food – Drinks – Singing, Dancing & having a GREAT TIME! https://www.facebook.com/ groups/657024961125913/ • January 26th, 2024 – Friday - 8:00-11:00 P.M. + – Live Karaoke performed by our own Karaoke Entertainment, Come on in and sing a song or two – No Cover Charge! – Food - Check with the bar for the specials of the week – Drinks – Dancing and sit back & having a GREAT TIME! https://www.facebook.com/ groups/657024961125913/ • Pending 27th Saturday Night 2024 • February 2nd, 2024 - Friday - 6:30 - 10:00 P.M., Jim Powers Entertainment presents Old Time Rock “N” Roll, Classic Rock & County – No Cover Charge! – Food - Check with the bar for the specials of the week – Drinks – Entertainment, so sit back & have a GREAT TIME! Play the Electronic Dart Board or join our Dart League https://www.facebook.com/groups/657024961125913/ • Pending February 10 Saturday Night 2024 • February 9th, 2024 – Friday - 7:00 -10:00 P.M. – Live Music performed by Notorious Jones Entertainment with Classic Rock Music – No Cover Charge! – Food - Check with the bar for the specials of the week – Drinks – Entertainment, so sit back & have a GREAT TIME! Play the Electronic Dart Board or join our Dart League https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063368911454

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The Reporter January 2024

Are You Interested In How Your Local Government Works?

You may be eligible to participate in Girls State/ Boys State

Book your appointment today!

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The criteria for the student to attend is: • -ill complete their junior year of high school the same year they attend in 2024 • Have an interest in government and/or current events • Have strong leadership abilities • High moral character • Above average scholastic standing • Public school, private school and home schooled students are eligible.

Any student who is interested in attending, please send your contact information and a brief essay on why you would like to attend the program to auxiliary311@yahoo.com

by March 25. You will be contacted for an interview. Additional information on the programs can be found at massgirlsstate.org and maboysstate.org.

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It’s a New Year...

Time for a New YOU!

The Seekonk American Legion Family is sponsoring a girl to attend MA Girls State and a boy to attend MA Boys State this June. The 2 programs are very similar and take place at Stonehill College in Easton, MA. The dates are 6/15 – 6/21/24. The students will remain on campus for the entire time of the program.

The programs are a study of local and state government. Citizens will establish and operate their own city/town and state government. City and town officials are elected at the beginning of the week and they will work to keep their municipality running smoothly throughout the week. The citizens will also come together as counties to elect nominees to run for office within their political parties, and each nominee will run on the state level for constitutional offices (Governor, Lt. Gov., Secretary of State, Auditor, Treasurer, Attorney General). Throughout this process, the students will engage in running their own campaign for candidacy. The citizens will elect Senators and Representatives to the state legislature and discuss bills. There is also a District Court.

Scholarships/Educational Awards available through the American Legion Family The American Legion Family have several scholarships/educational awards available to students who are descendants of a Veteran.

American Legion

1) Legacy Scholarship - The American Legion’s Legacy Scholar• Residential & Commercial ship provides college funding to children of post-9/11 veterans who • Emergency Water Removal died on active duty, or those who have a combined VA disability • Soil Protection Treatment rating of 50 percent or greater. Apply January 1 to April 1. Need to • Tile & Grout Cleaning apply online at www.legion.org/scholarships/legacy American Legion Auxiliary 1) National - Children of Warriors National Scholarship – 15 Earle Dias scholarships are given for $5,000 each – need to apply online at www.legion-aux.org/Scholarships/Children-of-Warriors by March 151 Winthrop St., Rehoboth MA • Tues.-Fri.10-5 • Sat.10-1 1st.

Candidates for this award shall be direct descendants of veterans who served in the United States Armed Forces during eligibility dates for membership in The American Legion: April 6, 1917, to November 11, 1918; and any time after December 7, 1941.

Membership in The American Legion Family is not required for this scholarship.

2) Massachusetts Educational Awards 2 Burnside Ave. • Seekonk, MA 02771 • https://www.facebook.com/tmland/ are available to students who go to school in Massachusetts. They are open to students attending public or private schools and students who are home schooled. 1 award Over 20 Years for $750 and 10 awards for $200 each. Also a $200 award is given to a student going Experience! into the medical field. Applications must be completed and sent to Donna Reed by March 1st. Contact Donna at Auxiiary311@yahoo.

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January 2024 The Reporter

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Health & Wellness 2024 5 Tips For Losing Fat & Keeping It Off This New Year It’s that time of year again, the time where the pantry gets cleared and the gyms are flooded with Resolutioners looking to drop the extra pounds accumulated over the holidays. But before you go trying the same fads and quick fixes that keep you on the hamster wheel of chronic dieting, consider a more sustainable approach.

Let’s go through some simple tips to help you lose some fat, and keep it off, this New Year.

Set A Realistic Diet Timeline

Contrary to popular belief, dieting is not a lifestyle—you can’t diet your way down to weighing zero pounds. A fat loss diet is a temporary restriction of calories to reach a certain goal at which point the restriction ends and you maintain the results. Having an endpoint prepares you mentally to work hard at your goal for a certain amount of time and then it will be over.

For most people, a 6-12 week diet is where to start. Less than 6 weeks and it’s hard to see meaningful progress, more than 12 weeks and you’re risking burning out and weight regain.

Choose A Smaller Calorie Deficit

With the renewed motivation of the New Year it’s tempting to drastically slash your calories in an attempt to lose as much weight as possible in the shortest amount of time. This may even work for a few weeks and you’ll see rapid weight loss. The downside to this approach is it almost certainly risks burnout and rebound weight gain. The slow and steady approach may take longer, but it gives you the best chance of losing weight AND keeping it off.

Aim for roughly a 250-500 calorie deficit per day. If you’re new to dieting or have struggled in the past, start at the lower end. A 250-500 calorie deficit per day would result in about a 0.5-1 pound of weight lost per week. This is a very realistic and achievable rate for most people and really starts to add up over the course of 6-12 weeks.

(about 3.5 cups) vs 100 calories of potato chips (less than 10 chips).

Although the broccoli isn’t as fun, it makes a huge difference in how full you get from the same 100 calories.

In general, the best high volume foods to focus on are: • Lean Proteins (lean cuts of meat, seafood, vegan sources, Greek yogurt, eggs, etc) • Healthy Carbs (vegetables, fruits, and whole grains) • Healthy Fats (avocado, nuts, nut butters, olive oil, seeds, etc) Just remember, there are no magic fat-blasting foods. If you hate brown rice try quinoa or sweet potatoes instead. Can’t stand broccoli, choose a different veggie that you enjoy. Try to choose foods that give you the best combination of keeping you full, enjoyment, and ease to prepare—this will give you the best chance of sticking to your diet!

Consider Training With Weights

Outside of nutrition, resistance training is the best thing you can do to improve your body composition. Resistance training can mean using resistance bands and bodyweight movements if you’re a beginner, or lifting weights if you have more experience in the gym. Resistance training will drastically improve your fat loss to muscle loss ratio on a diet. Meaning you lose more fat, but keep the muscle that makes your body look firm, tone, and have shape.

If you’re new to resistance training, as little as two days per week can make a huge impact.

Losing weight can be challenging, but dieting doesn’t have to be impossible. If you can be consistent, patient, and master some of these basic diet tips you’ll give yourself the best possible chance of losing weight and keeping it off, for good.

For a more detailed step-by-step guide to fat loss dieting visit SRAtrainingsystems.com to download my free e-book SRA MiniGuide To Fat Loss .

Eat More Protein

Most people attempting to lose weight aren’t interested in becoming a smaller version of their current self. They want to have shape, firmness, and to be toned. This requires having some muscle and your muscle is exclusively made of protein. So to keep your existing muscle, and to build more, you need to focus on eating more protein. For most people, depending on body size, this will mean around 30 grams of protein per meal. For context, this would mean roughly 3-4 oz of cooked chicken or white fish. The other added benefit of having more protein is it’s more filling, helping to manage hunger while fat loss dieting.

High Volume Foods

The number one hurdle when cutting calories is managing hunger. So the key is to pick foods that are high in volume, meaning you get a lot of physical food to eat for relatively low calories. An easy illustration of this is to compare 100 calories of broccoli

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36

The Reporter January 2024

10 Surprising Ways to Practice Self-Care

Self-care is deeply personal. The selfcare methods that work for your friends or your partner might not work for you – and sometimes, you have to look beyond popular self-care tips to find activities that truly nourish you. Courtesy of Reporter Today, here are a few potential self-care strategies you may not have tested yet!

Start a Home Business: Starting a home business can be an exciting venture, offering the flexibility of working from your own space and setting your own hours. It’s crucial to have a well-thought-out business plan, a clear vision, and the determination

to overcome any challenges that come your way to ensure the success of your entrepreneurial journey. If you’re wondering how to start your own business from home, carefully research business ideas. Businesses like consulting, dog walking, selling online, and tutoring can be ideal.

Adopt a Pet: Companionship can help alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression. That’s why so many people find that getting a pet improves their mental health!

Pets give unconditional love, so if you’re interested in adopting a furry friend, reach out to your local shelter.

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Try Gardening: Gardening is a great pastime with many benefits, from fresh produce to beautiful blooms – and the exercise it takes to cultivate them! There are also plenty of online resources to help you develop your green thumb. For example, if you’re interested in growing a Hoya surigaoensis, here are some essential tips!

Art Therapy: Integrating therapy and creativity can yield powerful results. Art therapy can be a great choice for people of all ages! Pinnacle Health Group states that through art therapy, you can channel your emotional pain into creative works and transform your struggles into something positive. This can shift your perspective on life.

Don’t Forget to Exercise: Being more physically active is an excellent way to boost your self-esteem while also improving your physical health. This could be as simple as taking daily walks, going to a gym once or twice a week, or buying a set of resistance bands for home use. You could even put on a pump-up playlist and dance around your room to lift your mood! If you really love dancing, you could also consider signing up for classes like zumba, barre, or adult ballet.

Think About a Career Change: Considering a career change can be an empowering and exciting decision, opening doors to new opportunities and experiences that align better with your aspirations and values. Utilizing a free resume creator can streamline the process, helping you create a professional and impactful resume tailored to your desired industry, highlighting your transferable skills and experiences.

Take a Pottery Class: Getting lost in an art project can clear your mind and shift your attention away from your stress. By taking a pottery class and creating handmade ceramics that you can take home, you’ll be able to leave your worries behind for a while.

Health Fitness Revolution states that working at the pottery wheel can help improve your concentration and reduce your stress by engaging your sense of touch.

Go Stargazing: Looking up at the night sky can remind you that you’re part of something larger than yourself. Suddenly, all of your worries can feel small and insignificant compared to the sheer size of the universe.

Head out to an area where the city lights don’t block the stars, and just look up - you can feel a deep spiritual connection with the universe.

Bake Something Sweet: Baking can relieve your stress and let you escape from the world for a few hours. Plus, you’ll get to indulge in delicious sweets afterwards!

Choose a new recipe to bake this weekend, or invite a friend over to enjoy your baked goods together. continued on page 38...

January 2024 The Reporter

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The Reporter January 2024

Consider Relocating: Relocating can provide significant self-care benefits by offering a fresh start, new surroundings, and the opportunity to break away from old habits or routines that may not have been beneficial.

It also gives you the chance to explore new cultures, meet diverse people, and develop resilience, all of which can contribute to your overall mental and emotional well-being. If you’re considering a move, start exploring rental listings to scout out homes and apartments in your price range.

It can take time to come up with a selfcare routine that suits your needs and lifestyle. But if you’re open to embracing new activities and rituals, you’ll find ways to relax and let go of stress. With these tips, you’ll be ready to try a home business, spruce up your resume to enhance your career prospects, go stargazing, bake some tasty treats, and much more.

6 Reasons Why You Should Take Your Mental Health Seriously

By Stan Popovich

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Many people underestimate the impact that mental illness can have on an individual or family. It can be difficult to admit that you have a mental health problem in your life.

Secondly, it can be just as difficult in getting the people you know to understand your situation without making any kinds of judgments.

As a result, here are six reasons why you should make your mental health an important priority in your life.

1. Your situation will improve if you get help: Your anxieties and fears can be challenging to manage and more than likely you will need some help. Just as you talk to your doctor about your regular health, you should not be hesitant in seeking help for your mental health. If left untreated, your anxieties and fears may not go away.

2. Drugs and alcohol are not the answer: Drugs and alcohol can make your problems more complicated. Many people have said that drugs and alcohol will only add more problems to your situation. Be smart and learn how to cope with your mental health issues by talking to a qualified professional. There are many health professionals in your area that can give you some ideas on where you can go for assistance.

3. You will save time and money:

Eventually, you will have to confront your fears and mental health issues. Save yourself the time and heartache and confront your problems now rather than later. You will save months of struggling by getting help right away. The sooner you get assistance the faster you will start getting some relief.

4. You are not alone: Everyone deals with fear, stress, and anxiety in one’s life whether your friends and others care to admit it. In addition, do not be embarrassed that you are getting help. We all learn new things from others on a daily basis and learning how to manage your anxieties is no different. In addition, your goal is to get your life back on track and not to get everyone’s approval. If people start asking you questions, just say your dealing with stress. Most people can relate to dealing with stress and anxiety!

5. Do not make the mistake of doing nothing: There are many people who struggled with anxiety and other mental health related issues, and they tried to ignore their problems. As a result, some of these people struggled on a daily basis and eventually things became more difficult. It can be scary asking for assistance, but the key is to take things one day at a time.

6. You have a variety of options: There are many mental health support groups, organizations, and counselors in your area that can help get your life back on track. Talk to your doctor to get more details on where you can go for some assistance. Help is available but you must be willing to make the choice of getting better. Remember that every problem has a solution. You just have to make the effort to find the answers.

BIOGRAPHY

Stan is the author of “A Layman’s Guide to Managing Fear” which covers a variety of techniques that can drastically improve your mental health. For more information, please visit Stan’s website at http://www. managingfear.com

January 2024 The Reporter

39

Divorce Basics

Written by Lars Lambrecht, CFP, CLU, BFA, AMPA, CDFA, CLTC

The article covers some divorce basics.

Please note I am not an attorney and strongly advise all clients to have legal counsel.

If your divorce is amiable, mediation is typically the least expensive route. One downside is that a mediator’s role is unbiased, which means they are not acting or focused on what is in your personal best Lars Lambrecht interest. Mediators often will not provide legal advice or specific direction. Because of this, it is generally recommended that each spouse also retain their own legal counsel. This can be done on a limited basis to keep costs down. For example, your attorney’s role may be limited to reviewing a draft settlement agreement.

Asset/Debt Division. You will need to decide how you will split your assets and debts. Massachusetts is an equitable law state, which means your divorce has to be equitable. Equitable is not the same thing as equal. Generally, you both walk away with roughly the same value. Determining the specifics can be overwhelming. For example, will you sell your house or will one of you keep it? If you keep it, how will the other spouse be compensated for their share of the equity? It is common for one spouse to have more money in retirement and investment accounts. There are processes to transfer retirement money from one spouse to the other in divorce. One common vehicle is a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO).

QDROs are legal documents, so there is added time and money to utilize them. One benefit of a QDRO is the receiving spouse can pull money out of the QDRO without having to pay a 10% penalty that typically applies if you access funds before the age of 59 ½.

Support Payments. One spouse is often ordered to make child support and/or alimony support payments to the other. In Massachusetts, child support is typically paid until the child graduates college.

It also can end once your child graduates high school, provided they are working full time. In contrast, alimony is paid for a period of time based on the length of your marriage. Recent legislation requires a Cavanagh calculation looking at both child support and alimony.

Parenting Plan. If you have minor children, a parenting plan will be a major part of your divorce agreement. Parent coaches that can assist. A good parenting plan which parent has primary physical custody, parent time with children, holidays, decisions on summer camps, how large expenses are split and much more.

Other areas. There are several miscellaneous areas also addressed in most divorces such health insurance and how much life insurance each spouse must maintain. One critical area is who will receive tax benefits if children are involved. ax planning is critical as it can save thousands of dollars in taxes each year. In most cases, the benefits are split. For example, if you have two children, each spouse receives tax benefits for one child. Or, if there is one child, you take turns each year receiving tax benefits.

Why work with a CDFA? A lawyer is obviously a critical party to assist with the legal implications of decisions and options. An equally important party is your Certified Divorce Financial Advisor (CDFA). Your CDFA should be comfortable with laws and rules but does not provide legal advice. His/her expertise is to help you make financial decisions, including the pros and cons of each option and tax implications. CDFAs should also have software to assist in calculating support payments, including Cavanaugh calculations.

Having a CDFA on your team generally lowers your legal fees, as your CDFA can typically produce court financial statements for you at a significantly lower cost than your attorney. Lastly, CDFAs should have special software to value pensions if you have one.

Lars Lambrecht, Rehoboth resident and Certified Financial Planner, is available to answer questions or meet for a consultation.

40

The Reporter January 2024

Seekonk Public Library Library Tech Class: Download eBooks & More

GENERAL CONTRACTOR

Tuesday, January 16 at 2 PM

• Remodeling • Additions • Siding • Silestone • Granite • Painting • Roofing

Do you want to get more out of your smartphone or tablet? Bring them to our new monthly Library Tech Class. In each session we will provide an introduction to the most useful tools available to use on your mobile device or help getting started. Join us this month for Library Tech Class: Download eBooks & More on Tuesday, January 16 from 2-3:30 PM in the library’s Large Meeting Room.

Why spend money on subscription services? Learn how you can download the Libby, Hoopla, and Kanopy apps or use their websites to get books, audiobooks, movies, music, magazines, and more all FREE with your library card. This program is open to smartphone, tablet, and laptop users. You must bring your own device, one device per person; make sure the device is fully charged. Space is limited; registration is required. Register in the Events Calendar at www.seekonkpl.org/events.

For more information or for help with registration, call Adult Services at 508-336-8230 x56130 or email library@seekonkpl.org.

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

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Did you know that string lights should never go in any curbside bin because they tangle and damage machines? As you’re cleaning up after the holiday season, come to Seekonk Public Library for the program “It’s a Wrap: Holiday Lights Recycling & Gift Wrap Workshop” Peter Batty on Wednesday, January 24 at 6:30 PM. The Seekonk Recycling Committee is excited to RI Reg. # 33335 / MA Reg. # CS51340 bring this after-holidays sustainability workshop. Bring your broken string lights to this collection for shipping to a specific facility that handles the many types of valuable materials RESIDENTIAL / COMMERCIAL they contain. We’ll also share ideas for reusable gift wrapping. Bring any fabric, tablecloths, napkins or scarves, or wrapping paper and boxes to prepare for gift giving all year! For event planning and to receive updates register 55 Winthrop St. (Rt. 44) Rehoboth in the online Events Calendar at www.seekonkpl.org/events.

For more information or help registering, call Adult Services at 508-336-8230 extension 56130 or email library@seekonkpl.org.

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Winter Movie Nights Begin Thursday, January 25 at 5:30 PM

Skip the wait to borrow the DVD by watching this popular 2023 movie; come and see this new DVD release for FREE at Seekonk Public Library: In this film starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, the perfect couple is having the time of their lives in the colorful and seemingly perfect world of Barbie Land. However, when they get a chance to go to the real world, they soon discover the joys and perils of living among humans. Rated PG-13. Running time: 1 hour and 56 minutes Mark your calendar now for more great titles coming in the Oscar Buzz Movie series beginning February 22. Licensing prevents us from printing titles; call the library at 508-336-8230 ext. 56130 or email library@seekonkpl.org for the title and other details. Register in the calendar at seekonkpl.org/events for planning purposes and to receive any program updates.

Nonfiction Book Club: Paradise Falls

by Keith O’Brien Tuesday, January 30th at 6:00 PM

Join us for a lively discussion of Paradise Falls: The True Story of an Environmental Catastrophe by Keith O’Brien at Seekonk Public Library. The title is available digitally as an ebook and audiobook through Libby, or you may place a hold and pick up a print copy at the library. New members are always welcome!

“From the New York Times best-selling journalist, the staggering, hidden story of an unlikely band of mothers who discovered the deadly secret of Love Canal, and exposed one of America’s

January 2024 The Reporter

41

www.seekonkpl.org • library@seekonkpl.org • 508.336.8230 most devastating environmental disasters. Lois Gibbs, Luella Kenny and Barbara Quimby thought they had found a slice of the American dream when they and their families moved onto the quiet streets of Love Canal, a picturesque middle-class hamlet by Niagara Falls.

In the winter of 1977, the town had record snowfalls, and in the spring, rains filled the earth with water like a sponge and the basements of the neighborhood’s homes with a pungent odor. It was the sweet, synthetic smell of chemicals. Then, one by one, the children of the more than 800 families that made Love Canal their home started getting very sick. In this propulsive work of narrative reportage, Keith O’Brien uncovers how Lois, Luella, Barbara and other local mothers uncovered the poisonous secret of Love Canal: that they were living on the site where industrial employer Hooker Chemical had been dumping toxic waste for years, and covering it up. O’Brien braids together the previously unknown stories of Hooker Chemical’s deception, the local newspapermen and scientists who tried to help, the city officials who didn’t, and the heroic women who stood up to corporate and governmental indifference, and-ultimately-triumphed. O’Brien paints a vivid picture of how their dauntless efforts would capture the American imagination at the time and form the foundation of the modern environmental movement.”-- Provided by publisher.

For more event information, visit www.seekonkpl.org or email library@seekonkpl.org.

Free Beginner Drawing Workshops

Exercise your creative muscles with two drawing workshops especially for beginners this winter at Seekonk Public Library. Space is limited; register with a SAILS library card in the online Events Calendar at www.seekonkpl.org/events.

Wednesday, January 31 at 6 PM

Creative Continuous Line Drawing with Sandy Coleman

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Come play, let go of perfection, embrace the joy of spontaneity and create expressive drawings on paper using markers and colored pencils. Artist Sandy Coleman will lead you in making art composed of one continuous line and enhanced with color. This adult class is designed to be a no-pressure experience for those who want to relax, have fun and take a unique approach to drawing. All levels are welcomed—especially those new to making art. Materials will be provided, but also feel free to bring your own drawing tools of choice to use or share.

Wednesday, February 14 at 6 PM

Give Yourself Flowers: Valentine’s Day Art Making with Sandy Coleman

We give others flowers to show love, compassion and thoughtfulness. On Valentine’s Day, give yourself flowers. Treat yourself with care by joining artist Sandy Coleman for an evening creating whimsical floral art using markers and colored pencils. Come relax and reflect on how special you are. You deserve self-care. All levels welcomed—especially those new to making art. Materials will be provided, but also feel free to bring your own drawing tools of choice to use or share.

For more information or help registering, call Adult Services at 508-336-8230 extension 56130 or email library@seekonkpl.org.

Winter Spice Club Starting in January 2024

Spice up your 2024 with Seekonk Public Library’s Winter Spice Club! Every two weeks you’ll get a sample of a spice to try, along with the history of the spice and sample recipes.

The following spices will be available: 1/8/24 – Cumin 1/22/24 – Ginger 2/5/24 – Nutmeg 2/20/24 – Dried Marjoram On Tuesday, March 5th at 6 PM we will meet on Zoom to discuss the spices and the recipes we made.

Register in advance for each week in the program online at seekonkpl.org/events.For more event information, visit www. seekonkpl.org or email library@seekonkpl.org.

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42

The Reporter January 2024

Start the Year Strong with This Free Healthy Eating Series

Learn how to incorporate better choices for your diet this winter in this series from Seekonk Public Library. Registration is required; register with a SAILS library card in the online Events Calendar at www.seekonkpl.org/events.

Wednesday, January 10 at 6 PM Delicious Diabetic Desserts

You CAN create delectable desserts using natural sweeteners, whole grains, and nutrient-rich ingredients to satisfy your sweet tooth without spiking blood sugar levels. Join us in person at the library and Therapy Gardens will provide you with new skills you need and a collection of tasty recipes perfect for anyone interested in mindful eating.

Wednesday, February 7 at 4 PM

Virtual - Supermarket Savings & Healthy Choices

How can anyone make healthy food choices while managing skyrocketing grocery prices? Registered dietitian and nutrition expert Jill Patterson will teach you strategies and recipe resources to slash your grocery bill while eating nutritiously in this fun workshop.

Presented through Zoom.

Wednesday, February 28 at 6 PM

Virtual Superfoods 101: Culinary Education Workshop

What one food could you start eating to get the most benefit for your health? Kim Larkin of Klassic Kreations will teach you about the powerful properties of popular Superfoods and how best to incorporate them into your life. This fun presentation includes tips, techniques, and recipes. A limited number of sample kits will be available before the program for those registered, while supplies last; registration with a SAILS library card is required. Presented through Zoom.

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Friends of the Seekonk Public Library

Thank you to all who have answered our request for adult hard and softcover books. We especially need soft cover adult fiction as well as prekindergarten to grade three books.

Thank you to all who have supported the Friends through 2023 by responding to our annual appeal as well as purchasing books during our daily and big quarterly sales. Your contributions allow us to support the library in providing programs for people of all ages.

Teen Services

Brand New Programs for Tweens and Teens

Starting in January—the first, second, and third Thursday of each month will be dedicated to regular Teen events. Check out the Teen page of the library’s website (seekonkpl.org/teens) for more information and to sign up for the monthly Teen newsletter.

What Do You Know?

A Monthly STEM Program

Thursday, January 11 at 3:00 PM

Why can drones fly? How are bridges, catapults, and car engines made? What is the best way to build a zipline for my stuffed Baby Yoda? If you’ve ever asked yourself these questions, then come participate in our new monthly STEM program! This program will take place on the 2nd Thursday of the month from January through May (watch out for an exception in April!). These are individual activities, so it is not necessary to attend all sessions. Materials will be provided – all you need to bring is your curiosity!

This 1-hour event is free and open to tweens and teens in grades 6 through 12. Registration is required for each month’s activity.

For more information, call Adult Services at the library at (508) 336-8230 or email teens@seekonkpl.org.

Third Thursday Club

Thursday, January 18 at 3:00 PM

Throughout the year, this club will rotate through various interests, projects, and discussions. For a few months at a time, we’ll focus on a particular topic or interest, then move on to another focus for the next set of sessions. This month, we’re focusing on Community Service. What can we do to help others? How can we improve our neighborhood or support the efforts of charitable organizations?

This 1-hour event is free and open to tweens and teens in grades 6 through 12. Registration is required for each month’s activity.

For more information, call Adult Services at the library at (508) 336-8230 or email teens@seekonkpl.org.

Children's Programs Family Yoga

Monday, January 8, 6:30 PM

We’ll practice yoga postures, learn about mindfulness with breathing exercises, and play yoga games! Suitable for families of all ages, but recommended for children ages 5+ and their families.

Adult participation is required! Wear something comfortable, and please bring a yoga mat or a large towel for each participant. Bring your water bottles! Registration required.

Intermediate Robotics Coding

Tuesdays, January 9, 16, 23, 30, 3:45-5:15 PM

Seekonk Library is offering an “Intermediate Robotics Coding” session using LEGO SPIKE Prime robots and Scratch-based Word Blocks language. The program will utilize a partial 2023 FIRST LEGO League (FLL) “SuperPowered” Robot Game set and challenge students’ coding abilities to complete actual missions and score points! For more information, please visit firstinspires. org/robotics/fll. Prerequisites: Grades 4 - 8+. Completion of the “Introduction to Robotics Coding” session or demonstrable coding experience with LEGO SPIKE Prime robots. A commitment to all 4 weeks is required. Registration required.

January 2024 The Reporter

Learn Rubik’s Cube!

43

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Wednesdays, January 10 & 31, 4-5 PM

Register for one or both sessions! Learn how to solve the first layer (and beyond!) of Rubik’s Cube! Join Collin G., a local expert on everything related to the Rubik’s Cube, for instruction on how to start solving the first layers. Collin will also display his collection of different types of cubes, share information about the cube’s history and share the details of ‘cubing communities’ and speed competitions. Parental participation is encouraged. Ages 8+. Registration required.

Minecraft Club Education Edition (virtual)

Tuesdays, January 16 & 23, 6:30-7:30 PM, Grades 3-5

Join Ms Sandie (virtually) to build in Minecraft Education! No Minecraft experience is required, but participants do need to have their own device on which to download and install Minecraft EDU (license provided by the library). All links (to download Minecraft EDU and join us via Zoom) will be sent out before the program. This will be a 2-week building session, commitment to both weeks is required. Registration required.

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Paws to Read

Wednesdays, January 17 & 24, 3-4 Pm (timeslots)

Register to reserve a 15-minute time slot to have your child read to Gizmo and Pepe, two adorable chihuahua/pomeranian mix therapy dogs. Each one-on-one private session is facilitated by Sandra Healey and her two dogs. Registration required.

Celebrate National Popcorn Day!

Friday, January 19, 3:30-4:30 PM Grades K-3

Join Ms Corey to celebrate National Popcorn Day! We’ll learn all about the history of popcorn, read a story about popcorn, and learn about where our love of popcorn all began!

We’ll use popcorn to make bird feeders because our feathered friends love popcorn too! We’ll have a popcorn-tasting station with three different flavors you can add to your popcorn! We’ll rate our favorite flavors too! Registration required.

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Monday, January 22, 6-7 PM, Grades 3-5

Join Ms Sandie for some crafting! We’ll be making the trendy rubber band bracelets! No experience is required, but if you’ve made these before, we will have some looms available to make the more advanced versions. All materials are provided. Registration required.

STORYTIMES

Baby & Toddler Storytime - Mon, Jan 8 & 22, 10AM

Join Ms Corey for a special storytime just for children ages birth - 2. There will be a story, fingerplays, music, singing, and of course, bubbles! Siblings welcome. Drop in.

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Preschool Storytime - Thursdays, January 11, 18, 25

Join Ms Sandie for a weekly storytime for the preschool crowd (ages 3-5)! Younger siblings are welcome! Ages 3-5. Drop in.

Storytime on the Go - January 8- 31

Create a storytime experience at home with Storytime On The Go packets. Each packet will include 6 books and an age ageappropriate literacy activity. The early literacy activities will support one or more of the five early literacy practices: talking, singing, reading, writing, and playing. Available for toddlers and preschoolers.

Pick up in the Children’s room, while supplies last!

Take Your Child to the Library Day Storytime with Mac of the Seekonk PD Saturday, February 3, 10-3 PM

It’s Take Your Child to the Library Day! Officer Nagle and K9 Mac of the Seekonk Police Department are coming to visit us for a special storytime! Mac is the SPD’s comfort pup, and although he’s very big, he’s very friendly and loves pets and belly rubs! Officer Nagle will talk a bit about general safety, read a story, show us his patrol car (and Mac’s special dog house inside the car), and of course, there will be lots of time to snuggle with Mac and ask questions! Drop in!

Laurie P. Mullen Attorney at Law Divorce Mediation Divorce & Family Law Uncontested Divorce Contested Divorce Child Custody Paternity Child Support Adoption

Estate Planning Wills Health Care Proxy Power Of Attorney

239 Winthrop Street, Rehoboth

(508) 252-2300 www.lauriemullen.com

44

The Reporter January 2024

News and Notes from... Blanding Library

By Leslie Patterson

Thank You to Volunteers

Binge Boxes at the Blanding

Let’s start the New Year by thanking the Blanding’s young volunteers. Twice a month the DRRHS special transition students volunteer in the children’s area. Arriving with smiles, they’re eager to get started on various tasks, such as helping with shelf reading and decorating the bulletin board for the next season. Thank you to those four dedicated students. Also, a big thank you to Caraline and Kelsey for organizing the Monday evening book club for those in grades K through 4 every week. They plan on continuing in 2024.

And thank you to Amelia, who volunteers taking on any task she’s asked to do. All of our young volunteers are greatly appreciated.

Do you need something to watch, to help with the January blahs? The Blanding has Binge Boxes you can borrow and enjoy at home. These are collections of DVDs that are grouped together under a fun theme, boxed together. Stop by the library to check them out. You can find the Blanding’s Binge Boxes on the New Books cart near the circulation desk, or in the SAILS online catalog by searching “Binge Box”. You’ll also find movie collections owned by other SAILS libraries in the catalog. Your reserved selections will be sent to the Blanding so you can pick them up and return them at the Blanding.

The only thing you absolutely have to know is the location of the library.

-Albert Einstein

• Story and Craft Times for children ages 3 years and up will continue on Thursday mornings from 10:30 to 11:15. Siblings are welcome. No registration necessary.

• Baby and Toddler Story Times for children up through age 4 and their caregivers will continue on Tuesday mornings from 10:30 to 11. Siblings are welcome too at these interactive programs of movement, books, music, and games. No registration necessary.

• Legos at the Library next meets on Sat. Jan. 13. Drop in any time from 11 to 2 and see what you can build.

TABELEY’S

ROOFING From roofs to windows Tabeley’s has your needs covered Master Elite Installer, 20 years of perfection

Our Reputation is on the Top of Thousands of Homes Bill Hopkins

Serving the community for over 75 years!

SANITATION PUMPING, INC 508-824-8370 • 1-800-464-8370

Story Times & Legos

Kids Book Club

This book club for grades K to 4 meets on Mondays from 5:30 to 6:30. Led by DR high school students, this activity offers an entertaining spin on reading, plus snacks, crafts and games. (No meeting on Jan. 15 due to holiday).

Online Resources

Did you know that you can reserve over a dozen one-day museum passes on the library’s website? While a few of these places are closed for the winter, most are open and welcome visitors. The passes are free to borrow with your SAILS library card and offer discounted admission fees to local attractions in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Find out more at www.blandinglibrary.net under Museum Passes or call the library for more information.

Learn a new language with the online resource Mango, free to use with your library card. You can also access the popular genealogy website Ancestry.com for free at the library. All you need is your SAILS library card. Stop by to find out more. You can sign up for the monthly email from the Blanding through the library’s website too. This is a good way to stay up to date with what’s happening at the library.

History Discussion Group

The History Discussion Group led by Hank Coleman meets at the library on Wednesdays from 11 to noon and is open to all with an interest in history. For more information, contact hjcoleman@ comcast.net.

The Blanding Public Library is located at 124 Bay State Rd., Rehoboth. Phone 502-252-4236, www.blandinglibrary.net. The library is open Monday through Thursday from 10 to 8, and on Friday and Saturday from 10 to 4. Closed Sundays and holidays, including Monday Jan. 15 for Martin Luther King Day.

January 2024

The Reporter

45

Rehoboth Ramblings

by Leslie Patterson

From Evil and Idiots, Deliver Us To quote Mark Twain again, nothing so needs reforming as other peoples’ habits. This past year, more than most. But rather than offering resolutions for others, I’ll just draw up a litany of things we pray to be delivered from, even though it’s not Lent yet. Here are some of those things: Drivers who recklessly weave in and out on the highway, even when the fog is so thick you can barely read the road signs. Extra points for punishment if they are driving with their lights off. Then there are the drivers who plow head-first into buildings (this seems to happen once a day somewhere). Looking at a screen rather than the road?

Decrepit highway bridges that are discovered in dire need of repair and are suddenly closed, causing chaos and gridlock on the side roads and disrupting the lives and businesses of thousands. Being stuck in gridlocked traffic is its own peculiar kind of claustrophobia.

Decrepit tall old trees with branches hanging over electrical wires, causing major power outages when they fall in a wind storm.

(Falling on houses and cars is even worse, of course.)

Internet services (thank you, Xfinity) that cut in and out unpredictably and as frequently as those blinking holiday lights. We are paying enough for their services, such as they are. Although we always seem to be the last people in our area to get our power restored, National Grid always comes through anyway.

Deliver us from evil people who steal checks from honest citizens for their own nefarious use. Even if the loss is recovered, this may cause a string of problems for the hapless victims to straighten out.

Even worse are the criminals who actually assault the poor mailman to steal his key to the blue postal boxes so they can steal the mail.

It’s best to mail letters from inside the post office itself at this point.

Ditto evil people who install credit card skimmers in cash registers. This has happened more and more recently from what I’ve read. From scammers and skimmers, deliver us, and how about a little divine retribution to the wicked?

Let’s see … if we can’t feel comfortable using checks or credit cards, do we have to go around with a wad of cash and risk getting mugged? Or how about bartering like the real old days? How much would the Xfinity bill be? I’d say it’s been worth about half a dozen eggs and a bunch of carrots this past month.

Well, it’s easy to see what prompted this outburst. First an almost-hurricane right before Christmas downed trees and caused us a three-day power outage in cold weather. Our generator gave out morning of the third day (but was mercifully repaired within a few hours). We made a fire in the fireplace, for the first time in many months. It was not only a welcome source of heat, at least if you were sitting right in front of it, but the warmth was also a reminder of how important an open fire has been in all of human history up until quite recently. Still, there’s nothing like getting the power back.

Listening to a choir singing the Hallelujah Chorus over the holidays, I thought, “I know how that feels”.

We enjoyed a nice visit to Rosecliff in Newport the day after Christmas. (In England, it’s called Boxing Day. In Ireland, it’s St. Stephen’s Day. Here, it’s just plain old December 26.) It was very foggy and we got some wonderfully atmospheric photos, as the mansions looked positively spooky in the gloom. You could barely see the waves breaking on the shore. The fog was supposed to let up but it just kept getting thicker as we headed back home at dusk, and a murky dusk it was. Driving was a bit hairy with such limited visibility but the roads were clear and dry.

Regarding the Washington Bridge, we can only hope we’ll all get by one way or another and that the other side will be repaired as soon as possible. Meanwhile, we’ve gotten more used to the new Henderson Bridge and its rotary. It’s been a reminder of just how important it is to have vital bridge links between East Bay and Providence and West Bay. Building bridges is a nice sentiment when you’re speaking metaphorically and from a literal sense, it’s certainly been on our minds every day.

VICTORIA DORAN

President RIAR 2013, Broker Associate Liscensed in MA & RI

(401) 458-2160 Cell victoriadoran.remax@gmail.com

Need a New Home in the New Year?

Best wishes for a happy 2024 from our family to yours!

AARON DORAN

Sales Associate, Liscensed in MA & RI

(401) 864-1644 Cell

Pleasant Printing Company Your local one stop print shop!

Family owned and operated for over 45 years

508.222.3366 508.222.8346

163 Pleasant Street Attleboro, MA 02703

Stop in or check out our convenient Drive-Thru!

Monday through Friday 8 am - 4:30 pm

Business Cards

Letterheads

Catalogs

Invoices

Yard Signs

Brochures

EDDM Mailings Rack Cards

Bookmarks

Magnets

Door Hangers

Postcards

Posters

Notepads

Banners

Forms

Flyers

Booklets

Envelopes

Let us Design Your next Target Mailings project !

Pocket Folders

We do variable data and mailings!

Email us for your custom quote today!

Info@PleasantPrint.com

46

The Reporter January 2024

Events & Activities Winter White Cedar Swamp Hike

Friends of the Palmer River and its head, Katy Rourke Wilson, invite you and your family to a free Saturday, January 27th hike to the White Cedar Swamp and headwaters of the East Branch of the Palmer River in the Rehoboth State Forest. The hike is planned to run from 10 am to 12 noon, come light rain, snow or shine. It will be postponed to the following Saturday if heavy rain. We will spend time winter tracking if snow. Registration with name, number of people coming, and best contact information is required at either palmerriverfriends@gmail.com or text the same information to 774-575-4767.

Trip leader will be Otter Brown.

Make Your Own Milk Jug Greenhouse to Start Native Seeds

If you’ve been wondering how to start growing native plants from seed, then attend this workshop offered by the Seekonk Land Conservation Trust, Osamequin Farm, and the Rehoboth Land Trust!

Native plant seeds normally experience a cold winter which we can simulate in the safety of a repurposed milk jug left outside. As the seasons change, the seeds will germinate on their natural schedule, you transplant them into seedling flats, then into larger pots until you’re ready to plant them in your yard!

Using the greenhouse space at Osamequin Farm in Seekonk, participants will first learn about native plants via a presentation, then create their own milk jug greenhouse planted with 2 different species of native seeds.

1:00 -3:00 pm January 20, 2024 (January 27 - snow date) Program fee: $30

Bring your own milk jug or translucent gallon container without a lid.

Register beginning December 15 at the Osamequin website: https://osamequinfarm/osamequinshop/startingnativeseeds Questions? Email info@rehobothlandtrust.org or call Carol Entin, President of RLT, at 508-415-6065.

AMERICANA AUCTION 380 Winthrop Street, Rte. 44, Rehoboth, MA

FABULOUS ANTIQUE ESTATE AUCTION Sunday, January 28th ~11am Preview Fri & Sat 10am-4pm LIVE Antique Auction LIVE Bidding ONLINE Bidding Ed Tessier, Jr., Auctioneer

For more information and preview:

11th Annual Blood Drive in Memory of Bob McKenna The 11th annual RIBC blood drive in memory of Bob McKenna will be held Saturday, January 27, 2024 from 8:00 - 3:00 at Seekonk High School. The turnout has been wonderful every year and hopefully that will continue. Blood donations are so very important and desperately needed. Please take advantage of this opportunity to donate close to home. Appointments can be made on the RI Blood Center website (ribc.org) or by contacting Karen McKenna at kmckenna10@aol.com. If you are a regular blood donor, please keep in mind that eight weeks prior to January 27 is December 2. Your last donation would have to have been prior to that date.

Bob was an active member of the Seekonk community during the 20+ years that he lived there. He was also a lifelong blood donor. His family is certain that he would be thrilled that this event is held in his honor. They look forward to seeing everyone on the 27th.

www.americana-auction.com

508-771-1722

Veterans Breakfast

Saturday, Feb. 4 8:30 -10am

J.GEILS BAND MUSIC CELEBRATION

Saturday January 13th 7:30 PM

LIVE With the Original Founding Member & “Danny Klein’s Full House”

Greenwich Odeum Theatre 59 Main St. E. Greenwich

TICKETS AT: www.turningpoint.productions

Join us for Connection….Conversation….Friendship Christ Church Parish Hall in Historic Swansea Village 57 Main Street, Swansea, MA 02777 Free Breakfast for all veterans and a friend or family member.

We adhere to COVID-19 protocols.

We meet the first Saturday of every month.

Sponsored by Christ Church, Building Bridges, Boston Vet to Vet

January 2024

The Reporter

Church News & Events Rehoboth Congregational Church News Worship With Us Every Sunday

The Rehoboth Congregational Church worships every Sunday at 10 AM. Join us for a wonderful blend of traditional worship with a modern twist. We sing, we laugh, and we enjoy the fellowship of one another’s company while strengthening our faith and serving others. If you are traveling or not quite ready for crowds, you can still worship with us! Our Sunday services are live streamed both on our website www.rehobothcongregational.org/worshiponline and on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/rehobothcongregational

Bible Study

Join us during the week for 10am Bible Study, every Thursday in our Fellowship Hall!

Seekonk Congregational Church In Person Sunday Services

We hope you will join us each Sunday at Seekonk Congregational Church UCC at one of our 2 weekly services - 9AM & 10:30 AM in the Sanctuary at 600 Fall River Avenue, Seekonk, MA for our weekly service. All are welcome, masks are optional. Communion will be served at both services. Church school will be held during the 9 AM service with licensed day care available for both services.

We invite you to join us.

We will continue to record our services and they are available the following day at Seekonk Congregational Church YouTube and on Cable 9 Seekonk at 9 AM each morning.

Earnest Workers Soup Sale

Homemade soup and bread will be sold during coffee hour in the hall on January 7, 21 and 28.

Epiphany Celebration – Baptism Sunday

Please join us on Sunday Jan 7th at 9 AM or 10:30 AM as we celebrate as a Whole Church Family and dedicate yourself to be the light of the world in the Year 2024.

No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome at Seekonk Congregational Church.

We believe Church is a place to experience God's Love Whether you are touched by the warm welcome of our greeters, inspired by our Praise & Worship or empowered by the message, we believe you will feel right at home at FCC. We are blessed with wonderful people from many nations, who come together for a greater purpose than themselves.

Creating a loving community looking not just to have church, but be the church in all areas of life.

All that’s missing is… you!

Joi� Us

Community Covenant Church News

Are you looking for help and hope? Every week at Community Covenant Church, we strive to bring that to everyone who walks through our door through the good news of the gospel of Jesus.

Through relevant preaching and modern worship that engages all ages from birth to empty nesters. For more information on our programs and current sermon series, check out www.communitycovenant.church. We hope to see you in person or online this Sunday at 10 am.

Sunday at 9:30 am Wednesday at 7:30 pm

Sunday & Wednesday �tr��m Us on our App & Website

W�t� Us

Sunday at 11 am on WPRI Channel 12

FAITHCCENTER.COM 95 SAGAMORE RD, SEEKONK

47

48

The Reporter January 2024

Rehoboth Council on Aging We will be closed on Monday, January 15th for Martin Luther King Day

Happy New Year from all of us at the Rehoboth Council on Aging • Breakfast on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays From 8:30-10 • Lunch on Mon / Wed @ Noon Come join us

Gert’s New Year Lunch

Monday January 8th @ Noon

Ticket required $5.00 Donation Limited seating

Introduction to Genealogy A presentation offered by the Rehoboth Genealogy Group

Wed, January 31, 2024 1-2 pm

Book Club

First Tues of Every Month 10:00-11:00

Join Our Walking Club Mon-Wed- Friday 10:00AM Please note new start time

• We have added a Paper Crafting Class and a Jewelry/ Resin Making. Scrapbooking, Cricut Supplies, die cuts, embossing folders, Jewelry making and resin supplies • We are in need of cotton, flannel, and fleece fabric for sewing projects. We are accepting yarn donations for hats & blankets • We can always use extra supplies.

Your donations are greatly appreciated

ACTIVITIES Mondays

8:30-10 BREAKFAST 9:00-11:00 Cribbage 10:00 Walking Club 10:00 Bocce 10:00 Cornhole Toss Noon Gert’s Café ~ Limited seating ~ $3.00 Please call to reserve a seat 508-252-3372

Tuesdays

9:00 Dancer-cise $3.00 10:00-Noon Jewelry Making Class $5.00 10:00 Combined Yoga - Chair or Mat in the Arcade 10:00 S.E.A.T - Instructor Judy Rosa 10:00 Cornhole Toss 10:00 Ladies Sewing & Quilting 1:00 Hi-Lo Jack 1:00- 3:00 Crafty Fun Classes $5

Wednesdays

8:30 - 10:00 Breakfast 10:00 Walking Club 10:00 Bocce 10:00 Cornhole Toss 10:00-2:00 Nails by Gabbi call the COA for an appointment Noon Lunch 1:00-3:00 Acrylic Painting Class $5.00 1:00- Dominoes (NEW)

Thursday

9:00 Tai Chi 10:00 Fiber Arts (Knitting & Crochet get together. Bring any project you are working on) 10:00 Drums Alive $3.00 11:00 (NEW) Stretch Class Judy Rosa 1:00-3:00 Paper Crafting Class includes

Francis Hall 27 Francis Farm Road, Rehoboth Phone 508-252-3372 Fax 508-252-4716 Monday - Thursday 8:00am to 4:00pm Fridays 8:00am to Noon Card Making, Stamping, etc. (FREE) 1:00-3:00 Watercolor Class $5.00

Friday

8:30 - 10:00 Breakfast (NEW) 10:00 Walking Club 10:00 Bocce 10:00 Cornhole Toss 10:00 Jenga

Rehoboth Public Health Nurse

Geraldine Hamel, RN MSN: Monday through Thursday 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. 508252-6502 ext. 3127 or 508-252-5947 Stephanie Reis, RN BSN: 508-252-6052 ext. 3128 Offering multiple medical services for our Rehoboth citizens: Home Visits, Vaccinations, Support groups: Bereavement, Caregiver assistance, Dementia support and more • Wellness Clinic Wednesday 11:00-Noon • Podiatry Clinic: Last Thursday of the month • Blood Pressures & Glucose Screenings:: Please contact Geri Hamel for more information.

Meals on Wheels:

Please contact Bristol Elders, Inc. at (508) 675-2101 for information on the Meals on Wheels program.

Rehoboth Senior Citizens Club News

Happy New Year, everyone!

Yes, the older we get the faster time seems to speed by us.

The Rehoboth Senior Citizens Club (RSCC) enjoyed its Annual Christmas Party at Davenports on December 20th as a culmination of a year of hard work. The Left, Right, Across Game seemed to be the highlight of the party!

Our Next Meeting Will Be on January 18, 2024, at NOON, in the Arcade Building. We will be concentrating full force on our Club’s 50th Anniversary Celebration scheduled for May, and our trip to see a play this spring.

Lunch Will Be Provided by The Club, And Members are asked to please Bring A Potluck Dessert.

So, mark the date, January 18, 2024, at Noon, on your calendar. We are looking forward to our next projects!

Beckwith students visited the COA during the holidays.

See you at the meeting!

Donna Howard, President, RSCC

January 2024

The Reporter

49

Seekonk Human Services The center is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 8:30am - 4:30pm, and Wednesday 8:30am - 5:30pm and Friday 8:30am - 12:00pm. We welcome all to come and enjoy the activities and companionship at Seekonk Human Services.

The office will be closed on Monday, January 15, 2024 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day

until April 30, 2024.

Income guidelines: Maximum income for one person is $45,392, for two people is $59,359, for three people is $73,326 and for four people is $87,294.

Returning applicants must provide proof of income (pension, interest, dividends, 401K/IRA distribution). New applications must provide income, mortgage or rent bill, real estate taxes, homeowners insurance, utility bills (electric, gas and/or oil), social security card, government photo ID, and birth certificates for those under Thanks to the most recent advances in laser dentistry, many dental procedures the age of 18. can now be completed without the need for anesthetics, vibration or the Pressure Glucose Clinic disconcertingBlood whine of the dental drill. & Dr. Alan Merchanthouse employs just Wed, Jan 17, 2024 9:00 11:00am such technology in a relaxing country setting in Rehoboth. For the highest Seekonk Human Services continues work withstaff theofSeekonk quality dental care – furnished by a highly trainedto and friendly dental Fire Department to provide monthly blood pressure & glucose professionals – call (508) 252-6121free to schedule your appointment with screenings.

Dr. Alan Merchanthouse.

Dentistry At Its MOST Advanced.

Seekonk Human Services would like to take the opportunity to Dentistry At Its MOST Comfortable. thank all those who helped out during the holiday seasons. We would Holiday Season’s Thank you!

like to thank those who donated food, gifts, and items needed for the holiday season. Without your help we couldn’t have made this a successful holiday season!

Arts & Crafts

Friday, Jan 5 & 19, 2024 @ 9:30am

New Arts & Crafts class twice a month. Classes will be held on January 5 and January 19 from 9:30am - 11:30am. Class will be taught and run by Daisy. Fee will be dependent on project. January 5th project is the art of decoupage on shells. January 19th will be Zentangle. Contact our center for more information and to sign up at 508-336-8772.

Glenn Schultz - MA Specialized Phones

Continued on next page...

Laser Dentistry ● Comprehensive Care ●

Cosmetic Dentistry ● Bonding ●

● ●

Dental Implants Emergency Treatment

Wed, Jan 17, 2024 @ 1:00pm

The Massachusetts Equipment Distribution Program (MassEDP) is a service that provides residents with a permanent disability access to the telephone network in their homes. By offering specialized telephones for free or at a reduced cost, depending on income, this program fosters independence, empowerment, and freedom of choice. You must be resident of Massachusetts and have access to residence telephone service. Preregister by calling 508-336-8772

Dr. Gabriel Wassouf Above the Post Office

Rehoboth Commons

275 Winthrop Street (Route 44), Rehoboth, MA 508 252-6121

ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS

The Renaissance

Wed, January 24, 2024 @ 1:00pm

The 15th and 16th centuries saw an intellectual and artistic flowering in Europe. Many of their greatest works of art (painting, sculpture, architecture, literature) were created during that epoch.

This talk will examine the origins of the Renaissance and explore some of the major artistic works of the period. Also, discussed will be the continuing cultural influence of the Renaissance. Preregistration is required by calling our office at 508-336-8772.

Healthy Aging Lunch & Learn

Wed, January 31, 2024 at 11:30am

“How to Read a Nutrition Facts Label” for healthy aging! The presentation will be about debunking common nutrition advice seen across television and in the media with Bristol Elder Services Registered Dietitian, Dawn DiMarco. Most nutrition advice in the media is not accurate. If you are looking for nutrition advice, always ask a Registered Dietitian. The menu is: meatball calzones, broccoli, breadsticks, lemonade, and cake. Preregistration is required by calling our office at 508-336-8772.

Income Tax Appointment

The AARP Foundation Tax Aide, will be here at Seekonk Human Services, on Thursdays. They will start preparing taxes from February 1, - April 11, 2024. Appointments will be at 9:00, 10:00 and 11:00am. Please be on time for your appointment so, the tax appointments can go smoothly. Please call our office to set up an appointment at 508-336-8772.

Fuel Assistance

If you have never had fuel assistance and would like to apply or if you need help filing out your application, please call Seekonk Human Services at 508-336-8772 to make an appointment with the Outreach Caseworker. Fuel assistance applications are accepted

All Phases of Dentistry for the Entire Family Dr. Gabriel Wassouf Dr. Alicia Tavares

Children of all ages are WelCome

COSMETIC Bonding, Porcelain Veneers, Crowns & Bridges, Invisalign - Teens & Adults PREVENTATIVE Cleaning, Gum Therapy RESTORATIVE Fillings, Dentures, Partials, Root Canals, Oral Surgery IMPLANTS

508-252-6121 366 WINTHROP STREET, RT. 44, REHOBOTH

50

The Reporter January 2024

Independent Insurance Consultants

Encore Casino

Wednesday, March 20, 2024

Independent Medicare Consultants are trained counselors who are well educated in Medicare and provide FREE and unbiased health insurance counseling to Medicare beneficiaries or those who will soon qualify for Medicare benefits. All of our counselors are well trained in Medicare and will review your options. These options include Medicare Parts A and B, Medicare Advantage (Part C), Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (Part D) and Medicare Supplemental Plans (Medigaps). We will also review eligibility for Public Assistance programs such as Prescription Advantage, Extra Help from Social Security, MassHealth and other programs to assist beneficiaries with limited resource to pay for health care costs. Independent Medicare Insurance Consultants are available to assist Seekonk residents navigate the Medicare maze to help make informed and educated decisions on their health care options.

$39.00 Per Person Location: Boston Harbor Depart 8:30am Return Approx 5:30pm Join us at Boston’s Premier Casino!!

The casino at Encore Boston Harbor brings glamour on a grand scale to the riverfront.

Enter the main floor - open and airy, colorful and vibrant! Try your luck with 2,800+ slot machines, including classic favorites, automated tables and the newest game titles.

Enjoy 166 table games, from craps and roulette to blackjack and baccarat, all at stateof-the-art tables with superior service. It all adds up to an exciting, memorable five-star experience unlike anywhere else in Boston.

Trip Includes: *Casino Time: 10:00am4:00pm (Casino Package subject to change). *Casino Package - $20 free slot play. *Deluxe Motorcoach Transportation. Gratuity.

Contact: Seekonk Human Services 508336-8772

Telephone Reassurance Program

Wed, January 3, 2024 @ 11:30am

Our office will make a telephone call to an individual’s home at approximately the same time each day Monday through Friday (during our operating business hours only).

This program is designed to connect people in need with ongoing, caring human contact and conversation. If we do not receive an answer, we will call back shortly after. If we do not receive an answer the second time, Public Safety will be called to check on the individual’s status.

The Telephone Reassurance Program provides a peace of mind for the individual and their loved ones. This program is designed for senior citizens, disabled persons and shut-ins living in Seekonk who may be at risk of loneliness, social isolation, illness or injury.

If you, or you know someone you know is interested in this program, please call Nicole at Human Services at 508-336-8772.

Women’s Lunch

Davenport’s in East Providence, RI

The Women’s lunch group meets the 1st Wednesday of the month at 11:30am.

Everything is Dutch treat. Good food and good conversation, while supporting our local restaurants, call 508-336-8772.

Let’s Learn Together!

Tues, January 30, 2024 @ 2:30pm

Do you have questions about using your smartphone, or tablet? Bring them to the Tech Help Hour. The goal of this session is to help each other learn how to use technology better. There is no set agenda, just your questions and answer, favorite tips and tools. This program is moderated by library staff. Bring your own tablet, phone, or laptop. Please make sure your device is fully charged. Contact our office to register by calling 508-336-8772.

Email List

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

45

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

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.

Beginner Sign Language Wednesdays - 10am - 12pm Starting up January 17, 2024

A new 10-week session of sign language begins Wednesday, January 17, 2024. If you are interested in this beginner class, please call Seekonk Human Services at 508-3368772 to register.

Tuesday Luncheons Tuesdays at 11:45am

Seekonk Human Services has partnered with The Cook’s House to offer weekly lunches! Lunches will cost $4 for residents and $5 for non-residents. The menu will be available at the office and on Facebook.

Sign up and payment is required one week in advance.

Medical Loan Closet

Our FREE Medical Loan Closet is available for Seekonk residents. Our inventory is dependent on donated items received, but may be limited based on need and space.

For more information, please call 508-3368772 *30 Day Rental

Nutritional Meals To Go Tues / Weds / Thurs

Bristol Elder Services provides nutritional meals for lunch on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays to go. Meals come completely cooked and prepackaged. Meals need to be ordered the day before by 9:30am.

Suggested donation of $2.25 per meal which will be due at the time of pickup. Pick up will be between 11am - 12pm. January’s menu is available on our Facebook Page and by calling our office at 508-336-8772.

Activities and Programs Mondays

Movement & Meditation 9am Movement & Meditation 10am Canasta 11:30am Strength & Cardio 1pm

Tuesdays

Drums Alive 9am Watercolors 10am Hi Lo Jack 1pm

Wednesdays

Stability and Balance 8:45am Drums Alive 9:30am Tribal Grooves 11:00am Mahjong 1pm

Thursdays

Chair Yoga 10am Oil Painting 10am Hi Lo Jack 1pm BINGO 1pm

Fridays

Dance Cardio 9:15am Tai Chi 10:30am

*All activities are subject to pre-registration

January 2024

Nutritional Meals To Go

Tuesday, Wednesdays & Thursdays Bristol Elder Services provides nutritional meals for lunch on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays to go. Meals come completely cooked and prepackaged. Meals need to be ordered the day before by 9:30am. Suggested donation of $2.25 per meal which will be collected at the time of pickup. Pick up will be between 11am - 12pm. September’s menu is available on our Facebook Page and by calling our office at 508-336-8772.

Musical Entertainment

Wed, February 14, 2024 at 11:30am

Join us for an afternoon of entertainment, fun and a lunch & dessert from the Cook’s House. Steve Burke, RI musician is a one man band that plays the keyboard, sax, smooth jazz vocals and dances. You can sit down, relax and listen to songs from Sinatra to Santana and some of his own songs too.

The menu for this activity is to be determined.

Preregistration is required by calling our office at 508-336-8772.

Healthy Aging Lunch & Learn Wed, February 28, 2024 at 11:30am

February’s Topic is to be determined for healthy aging. The presentation will be about debunking common nutrition advice seen across television and in the media with Bristol Elder Services Registered Dietitian, Dawn DiMarco. Most nutrition advice in the media is not accurate. If you are looking for nutrition advice, always ask a Registered Dietitian. The menu for this activity is to be determined. Preregistration is required by calling our office at 508-336-8772.

Veteran’s Corner

Agent Orange Exposure and VA Disability Compensation

The VA has added presumptive diseases, as well as locations and times for possible exposure based on years of research as they continue to receive disability compensation applications.

If you have a health condition caused by exposure to the herbicide Agent Orange during your service, you may be eligible for VA disability compensation. Compensation provides tax-free monthly payments and many other possible benefits.

The type of cancers that are presumptive for agent orange exposure include: • Bladder cancer, Chronic B-cell leukemia, Hodgkin’s disease, Multiple myeloma, Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Prostate cancer, Respiratory cancers (including lung cancer) and/or Some soft tissue sarcomas Other conditions that are presumptive to agent orange exposure include: • AL amyloidosis, Chloracne (or other types of acneiform disease like it), Diabetes mellitus type 2, High blood pressure (hypertension) * new PACT Act presumptive, Hypothyroidism, Ischemic heart disease,

Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) * new PACT Act presumptive, Parkinsonism, Parkinson’s disease, Peripheral neuropathy, early onset and/or Porphyria cutanea tarda Here are the locations that are required in order to make your illness a presumptive: Between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975, you must have served for any length of time in at least one of these locations: • In the Republic of Vietnam, or • Aboard a U.S. military vessel that operated in the inland waterways of Vietnam, or • On a vessel operating not more than 12 nautical miles seaward from the demarcation line of the waters of Vietnam and Cambodia Or you must have served in at least one of these locations that we’ve added based on the PACT Act: • Any U.S. or Royal Thai military base in Thailand from January 9, 1962, through June 30, 1976, or • Laos from December 1, 1965, through September 30, 1969, or • Cambodia at Mimot or Krek, Kampong Cham Province from April 16, 1969, through April 30, 1969, or • Guam or American Samoa or in the territorial waters off Guam or American Samoa from January 9, 1962, through July 31, 1980, or • Johnston Atoll or on a ship that called at Johnston Atoll from January 1, 1972, through September 30, 1977 Or at least one of these must be true for you: • You served in or near the Korean DMZ for any length of time between September 1, 1967, and August 31, 1971, or • You served on active duty in a regular Air Force unit location where a C-123 aircraft with trace of Agent Orange was assigned, and had repeated contact with this aircraft due to your flight, ground, or medical duties, or • You were involved in transporting, testing, storing, or other uses of Agent Orange during your military service, or • You were assigned as a Reservist to certain flight, ground, or medical crew duties at one of the locations listed here If you or someone you know may be eligible for compensation due to agent orange exposure, I encourage them to see me, their local VSO or a National Service Officer to assist them with the claim.

James LaFlame Veterans Services Officer Office: 508-336-2940 Email: jlaflame@seekonk-ma.gov

The center is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 8:30am - 4:30pm, Wednesday 8:30am - 5:30pm and Friday 8:30am 12:00pm. Come and enjoy the activities

The Reporter

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and companionship at your center. * NOTE: *Seekonk Human Services is primarily an informational and referral agency. We try to help you directly or by introducing you to a network of federal, state, or local support services. Seekonk Human Services offers legal, financial, recreational, medical screenings, and other activities/services by volunteers or nominally paid practitioners.

Participation in these services/activities is with the understanding that Seekonk Human Services, Town of Seekonk, or its employees do not assume any legal or other responsibility for advice of services rendered by such volunteers or nominal cost practitioners.

Happy New Year!!

Friends of Friends Community Services’ volunteer members would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their kind and generous donations throughout the years.

Through Seekonk Human Services (508336-8772) we are able to assist the Seniors and young families in the Seekonk Community with food, fuel, medication and emergency circumstances that may arise; this could not be accomplished without your support.

Thank you, Anne, Beverly, Cheryl, Gail, Josephine, Judy, Maggy, Rene, Ruth, and Terry

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The Reporter January 2024

From the State House Representative Steven S. Howitt Maintains Perfect Voting Record in 2023

Representative Steven Howitt

Boston – State Representative Steven Howitt, R-Seekonk, maintained a perfect voting record in 2023, participating in all 70 roll call votes recorded in the House of Representatives between February 1, 2023, and November 15, 2023.

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Representative Howitt compiled a 100% attendance record this year by casting votes on several major policy initiatives during the first half of the 2023-2024 legislative session, including a comprehensive tax relief package that is expected to provide taxpayers with $561 million in savings this fiscal year and an estimated $1.02 billion in savings once the changes are fully implemented in 2026.

Signed into law on October 4, 2023, as Chapter 50 of the Acts of 2023, An Act to improve the Commonwealth’s competitiveness, affordability and equity, the bill: • Doubles the Senior Circuit Breaker tax credit from $1,200 to $2,400, indexed to inflation, to assist nearly 100,000 seniors with their housing costs; • Eliminates the estate tax for all estates valued under $2 million and allows for a uniform credit of $99,600, effective January 1, 2023; • Combines the child and dependent tax credits into one while eliminating the existing cap and increasing the credit from $180 to $310 in FY23 and to $440 in FY24, which will benefit over 565,000 families; • Increases the rental deduction cap from $3,000 to $4,000, which will assist approximately 800,000 renters; • Raises the Earned Income Tax Credit from 30% to 40% of the federal credit, which will benefit approximately 400,000 taxpayers earning less than $60,000; • Allows municipalities to provide up to $2,000 in property tax reductions for older residents participating in the senior work-off program, which is currently capped at $1,500; and • Reduces the tax on short-term capital gains from 12% to 8.5%.

On November 15, Representative Howitt joined with his colleagues in the House of Representatives to pass a long-term care oversight bill that will provide enhanced protections for patients as well as expanded training provisions for the industry’s workforce to help address persistent staffing shortages at nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. He also cast a vote in support of salary transparency legislation on October 4 to help address the gender and racial wage gap by requiring most employers to disclose the salary range for open positions on job postings.

On October 18, Representative Howitt voted against a Housesponsored gun bill, saying it will do nothing to reduce crime and will instead have a negative impact on lawful gun owners in the Commonwealth. He also questioned how much the bill will cost to implement and noted that it was strongly opposed not only by the Gun Owners Action League, but also by the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, whose members voted unanimously to oppose the bill.

Representative Howitt also voted against a supplemental budget proposal on November 8 to allocate $250 million in additional funding to the state’s emergency shelter system to help pay for the recent influx of migrants seeking shelter in Massachusetts. He cited the lack of a plan by the Healey-Driscoll Administration to stem the flow of migrants, which has pushed the state’s emergency shelter assistance program to its limits and created a strain on municipal finances as cities and towns struggle to house and educate these new arrivals.

During floor debate on the bill, Representative Howitt supported an amendment to prospectively limit future emergency housing services to individuals who have been residents of the Commonwealth for at least one year and can provide documented proof of residency.

He said this is a reasonable policy change that will help ensure that long-term residents do not lose out on housing assistance

January 2024 The Reporter to individuals who are newly arrived from out of state, but the amendment failed to pass.

In 2023, Representative Howitt was also recorded in support of several supplemental spending and bond proposals, including bills that: • Provide universal free school meals for all students to help promote their health and well-being; • Allow municipalities to continue the use of remote and hybrid meetings, as well as reduced quorum requirements for town meetings, until March 31, 2025; • Authorize a one-year extension of outdoor dining options for restaurants, which will be allowed to continue serving cocktails, beer, and wine in conjunction with food takeout orders until April 1, 2024; and • Provide $175 million in additional municipal grant funding to support several transportationrelated initiatives such as the Municipal Small Bridge program and the Complete Streets program.

Representative Howitt represents the 4th Bristol District, consisting of the towns of Seekonk, Rehoboth, Precincts 1 and 2 of the town of Norton, and Precincts 4 and 5 of the town of Swansea. He currently serves as the Ranking Minority member on the Joint Committee on Transportation, and serves on the House Committee on Ethics, the House Committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling, the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure, and the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.

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Representative Steven S. Howitt Announces $100m in Transportation Infrastructure Grants

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Boston – State Representative Steven S. Howitt (R-Seekonk) is pleased to announce that the state is distributing $100 million in grant funding to assist cities and towns with their transportation infrastructure needs, which will provide Norton with $292,885, Rehoboth with $380,262, Seekonk with $316,577, and Swansea with $313,743 in funding assistance.

The latest round of funding supplements the annual Chapter 90 appropriation for municipalities, which was finalized by the House and Senate on July 27 and signed into law on August 3. That legislation provided Norton with $547,657.27, Rehoboth with $622,332.31, Seekonk with $588,178.26, and Swansea with $567,007.52 for road and bridge repairs in Fiscal Year 2024.

Representative Howitt noted that the new round of transportation 6FT SOFA $75 infrastructure funding was authorized by the Legislature through MAX. 240 SQ.FT. a line item inserted into the Fiscal Year 2024 state budget, which LOVESEAT $60 was signed into law on August 9. The funding is being distributed CHAIR $45 using a two-prong formula, with $50 million being awarded using MAX. 480 SQ. FT. the traditional Chapter 90 formula, which factors in a community’s local road mileage (58.33%), population (20.83%) and employment prices may change due to gas. $75 minimum charge (20.83%). The remaining $50 million will be distributed based on Earle Dias each community’s share of road mileage.

According to Representative Howitt, the following towns will 151 Winthrop St., Rehoboth MA • Tues.-Fri.10-5 • Sat.10-1 receive funding based on their road mileage and the traditional Chapter 90 formula respectively: • Rehoboth: $224,679 and $155,583 for a total of $380,262.

• Seekonk: $169,532 and $147,045 for a total of $316,577.

• Norton: $155,971 and $136,914 for a total of $292,885.

• Swansea: $171,991 and $141,752 for a total of $313,743.

Cities and towns can use the new grant funding to pay for a variety of construction, preservation, and improvement projects.

This includes installing sidewalks, bicycle lanes, crossing signals, and other transportation infrastructure work.

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The Reporter January 2024

SCHOOL NEWS Beckwith Middle School Winter Band Concert The yearly Beckwith Middle School Winter Band Concert took place on Monday, December 11th at the Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School. Under the direction of Mr. Francese, band students performed a variety of selections of different styles of music. Some

pieces from the concert included “Her Majesty” and “Good Old Baggy Bones” for 5th Grade, a modern arrangement of Beethoven’s most famous symphony, named “Fanfare on Ode to Joy” for 6th Grade, and an energetic, fast paced piece titled “Teleportation (The Future of Travel)” for 7th and 8th Grade Combined Band.

Congratulations to all band students on a wonderful performance!

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January 2024 The Reporter

Beckwith Middle School Term 1 High Honor Roll

Grade 5: Mason Angelini, Ethan Auricchio, Alexander Bacon, Thomas Baker, Ava Benevides, Madeleine Bentley, Ethan Botelho, Addison Bradley, Audrey Brown, John Cameron, Nora Carroll, Anthony Chianese, Charles Connery, Benjamin Cordeiro, Raymond Croteau, Matthew Cunha, Carter DeSilva, Avery Ferreira, Noah Fischman, Camden Fontaine, Milla Greene, Liam Jeffrey, Megan Kazanjian, David Kent, Ava Landry, Bailey Leduc, Connor Levinson, Michael Martins, Aubrey Medeiros, Michaela Morrison, Selene Ollivierre, Connor O’Neill, Brooke Pento, Audrey Peterson, Connor Pires, Maddix Ramos, Caizzi Read, Mackenzie Reeves, Andrew Roth, Owen Ruhle, Luca Salcone, Julian Soares, Nicholas Thibeault Grade 6: Clara Arrigo, James Comins, Hallie Coyne, Deven Dagnese, Patrick D’Aiello, Manuel Daza-Portillo, Alaina DiPalma, Macy Frissell, Wes Gill, Zoya Holowka, Madison Johnson, Mackenna Johnson, Lyla Mae Kinniburgh, Audrey Kreizinger, Amelia McWain, Jason Mendoza, Chase Moniz, Neayeika Neth, Jordan Nguyenle, Emma Oliver, Kendric Pham, Julia Pimento, Abagail Polychronis, Natalia Regan, Veda Tavares, Amelia Trexler, Amaya Turner, Cassidy Warner Grade 7: Markos Andrade, Gabrielle Assi, Addison Bairos, Isabelle Bettencourt, Abigail Blenkush, Adam Cavanaugh, Desmond Clark, Madison Crosby, Alyssa Daniels, Aaron DiPippo, Skyla DuVally, Vanessa Escobar, Tenley Ferreira, Haley Gomes, Alicia Gouveia, Cassidy Hasenfratz, Brooke Henriques, Leah Hyder, Cara Iafrate, Logan Jodat, Reece Kotch, Quinn Kotch, Keegan Lay, Leah Levesque, Violet Lyons, Samantha Medeiros, Adriana Menezes, Abbie Oldmixon, Emma Owen, Connor Ruhle, Alexander Warren Grade 8: Bonnie Arrigo, Ella Danforth, Alexis Flood, James Holt, Claire Kiselica, Jameson Murphy, Isabella Rego, Logan Slater, Lilyan Zink

Beckwith Middle School Term 1 Honor Roll

Grade 5: Soren Alegria, Niko Andrade, Aubree Bairos, Matthew Baker, Raina Benson, Julie Bergeron, Alyssa Bernardo, Brycen Boucher, Aubrey Brady, Joseph Brainsky, Bailey Caban, Nias Carpenter, Trenton Carrasquillo, Allison Carson, Nathan Cordeiro, Hope DaPonte, Gavin Dennehy-Nunes, Julianna Dixon, Jackson Edington, Liam Enes, Zayden Estes, Nathan Faria, Adriana Farias, Xavier Feliciano, Quinntin Fleming, Bruce Furtado, Levi Garcia, Nicholas Gelfuso, Lucas Guite, Nathan Hillier, Emma Hnath, Andrew Lancellotta, Lucas Lesniak, Stella Levesque, Olivia Lewandoski, Dominic Lopes, Farrah Lopes, Yariel Lopez, Darnette Louis, Lila Magee, Paisley Malaguti, Dean Menezes, Madilyn Mourao, Malia Nepini, Jacob Nixon, Alana Ollivierre, Colin Pereira, Christian Petersen, Isabella Porciello, Reyah Powers, Kaelyn Read, Hailey Resendes, Blake Rodrigues, Eleanor Santiago, John Sarrazin, Calvin Silva, Steven Talbot, Stella Teodoro, Camryn Therrien, Christina Thomas, Rylie Vickey, Mackenzie Warren, Parker Webster, Richard Wood Grade 6: Charlotte Amaral, Khloe Amaral, Charles BattistoniMarks, Noah Beauregard, Alexander Benoit, Jason Bettencourt, Benjamin Bourgoin, Dodge Caban, Crescenzo Cairone, Julia Cameron, Jocelyn Cameron, Damin Carey, Amelia Choquette, Luke DeMoura, Kellen Dietrich, Andria Duffy, Kaylee DuVally, Juliana Franco, Kamilia Garcia, Mason Gouveia, Korey Grant, Hayleigh Guthrie, Meriwether Holt, Maximus Jarvis, Richard Karvelas, Jameson Leonard, Kassin Lewis, Jade Lingard, Conor Lynch, Kyra McCollum, Dane Medeiros, Andrew Oldmixon, Cecilia Oliveira, Lila Owen, Aralee Perito, Thomas Pierce, Ellie Prevost, Alexander Quin, Mitchell Ramos, Kinley Rhines, Eve Ricci, Zachary Robbio, Maverick Robson, Nicholas Ryder, Ella Sampson, Maeve Santos, Ashton Sarrazin, Finn Scamacca, Keegan Sellers, Morgan Soares,

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Jordan Steinkamp, Robert Thompson, Raegan Walczak, Hope Wilson, Jagger Xavier, Juliana Yuastella Grade 7: Lillian Albernaz, Elsie Angel-Hayes, Jordan Arcisz, Nathan Auricchio, Zackary Bacon, Stephen Bentley, Jamie Bergeron, Hayden Bonilla, Hailey Boulay, Caitlyn Cabral, Olivia Callahan, Evan Cardoso, Nayalie Carpenter, Colin Carreiro, Carli Castro, Benjamin Chartier, Brianna Chartier, Caiden Chisholm, Hannah Courtemanche, Shane DaPonte, Carmela DaRosa Donato, Kyle DeDucca, Louis Diamond, Jax Fogel, Elyana Fonseca, Rebecca Forget, Callen Forget, Isabella Furtado, Quinn Garcia, Brynn Hoskins, Simra Ishfaq, Gyor Jean-Louis, James Johnson, Lanie Kazanjian, Liam Kelley, Lyla Lewandoski, Eric Lin, Ava Lundquist, Andrew Mandeville, Brooke Martel, Nathan Mayer, Mia Megan, Addison Mendes, Nicholas Miller, Olivia Nixon, Cole Nystrom, Mason Pattie, Cali Petracca, Chase Polson, Avery Quinones, Jada Raphino, Noah Rhines, Bradley Russell, Caleb Sawant, Jenna Sidok, Alexandra Sousa, Violet Swicker, Ryan White, James Whittle, Blake Young Grade 8: Domenic Andreozzi, Thomas Azevedo, Samuel Baker, Aiden Beagan, Hunter Benevides, Jonathan Bennett, Abram Bonin, Courtney Botelho, Bryce Bouchard, Jacob Bourgoin, Caleb Bronsdon, Brayden Cheverie, Olivia Couto, Drew Dagnese, Bailey D’Alessio, Manuel Daza-Portillo, Jillian Del Fino, Landon Ferreira, Micah Fischman, Emily Harris, Jayden Hasenfratz, Derek Howland, Moiz Ishfaq, Julian Johnson, Cole LeBlanc, Liam Leonard, Lincoln Levisee, Preston Lima, Logan Lindberg, Ismael Lopez, Reid Maloof, Robert Monteforte, Ryan Paiva, Stephen Paiva, Zahra Petrone, Taylor Pierce, Elijah Polychronis, Whitney Pooler, Jessica RaposoAguiar, Emma Rapp, Mayukha Reddy, Anne Reed, Marissa Rioux, Lucas Rodrigues, Khloe Rodriques, Aiden Shaw, Zachary Sidok, Logan Silva, Lillian Swan, Alexandria Thompson, Miles Trexler, Mariessa Ware, Aiden Ware, Annalie Zink

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56

The Reporter January 2024

Palmer River News The month of December was busy at Palmer River Elementary School. Students were busy hosting a variety of fundraisers including a craft fair to benefit a local animal shelter, a toy drive to in conjunction with Christmas Is For Kids, to benefit local Rehoboth families, and a fourth grade bucket drumming performance which raised money and canned goods for the Rehoboth Food Pantry.

Our second graders enjoyed a special reading of the Polar Express. Mrs. Grant also worked with the second graders to perform a special rendition of the song “Hot Chocolate.” At the end of the special reading, students enjoyed a cup of hot chocolate.

In January, students will be treated to a special performance by OOCH called, “The Secret of Kindness.” This performance will teach students different ways to be kind, random acts of kindness, paying it forward, and being kind when it’s difficult. A special thanks to our PTSA for sponsoring this performance for our students.

January 2024 The Reporter

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MSBA Project for Dighton Elementary School Superintendent Bill Runey, together with Dighton Board of Selectmen Chairman Peter Caron, School Committee Chairman Aaron Morse, and Town Administrator Michael Mullen, Jr., are pleased to announce that the Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School District has been invited into the Eligibility Period by the Massachusetts School Building Authority’s (MSBA) program for a possible building project at Dighton Elementary School (DES).

The MSBA voted today to invite DES into the Eligibility Period, along with eighteen (18) other districts, to partner with school, local and community stakeholders to further explore and assess opportunities to address DES school building and programmatic needs.

“Our schools are a source of great pride for residents, and they support our students, faculty, and staff in many ways,” Superintendent Bill Runey said. “While this is just the exploratory phase, we are very excited about the prospect of this multi-year process, and look forward to engaging with the Town of Dighton as we move forward.”

The invitation by the MSBA for the Dighton Elementary School to be entered into its Eligibility Period comes as a result of a Statement of Interest (SOI) submitted to the MSBA in April 2023 by Dighton school and town officials. The SOI outlined overcrowding issues, continual increases in enrollment, and obsolete building space for required education programming at DES, built in 1953 and added onto in 1999.

In August of 2018, Dighton residents approved the installation of six (6) modular units at DES to address increased building capacity needs. That project was envisioned as a five (5)-year plan. At the time, school and community leaders made a commitment to begin assessing longer term building capital needs.

The Eligibility Period is the first step in applying for building project funding assistance from the MSBA, a state agency that works with communities to support educationally appropriate, flexible, sustainable, and cost-effective public school facilities. During the 270-day Eligibility Period, the MSBA will work with the District to determine the financial and community readiness to enter the MSBA Capital Pipeline.

Prior to the invitation of Dighton into the Eligibility Period, the MSBA acknowledged that Dighton’s proposal had received the strong support of state Rep. Patricia Haddad and state Sen. Marc Pacheco.

“Today's vote by the MSBA demonstrates the productive partnership that school district and town officials have in working to thoughtfully plan for Dighton’s future in the most cost-effective manner, for our students, families, and all town residents,” said Board of Selectmen Chairman Peter Caron. “I thank Superintendent Runey for his leadership in bringing this project to the forefront. The Board of Selectmen looks forward to working with the MSBA, our school community, and town residents to kick-off the process.”

The invitation of Dighton into the Eligibility Period is expected to begin a partnership between the District, Town and MSBA to assist in the program development and funding of school construction or renovation/expansion projects. The District had applied to be a part of the program for each of the past five years before receiving the news that they had been invited to participate this week.

Dighton-Rehoboth School Committee Chairman Aaron Morse said that “the District would like to thank the Town of Dighton, the

Board of Selectmen, and the members of the School Committee for their support of the Statement of Interest submitted to the MSBA for consideration of a project.”

“The Statement of Interest submitted earlier this year called attention to significant building challenges that have been widely acknowledged at Dighton Elementary School, especially since the installation of the modular units in 2018,” added Town Administrator Michael Mullen. “We are grateful for the support of the MSBA to partner with the Dighton community to begin an Eligibility Period to further assess the school’s building, space, and programmatic needs, and we’re excited to begin moving through the process.”

For additional information, contact Bill Runey, Superintendent, bruney@drregional.org

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58

The Reporter January 2024

Tri-County Seniors Receive John and Abigail Adams Scholarship Fifty-nine members of the Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical HS Class of 2024 recently were notified that they are recipients of the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship. The prestigious award provides tuition assistance to those attending four and two-year Massachusetts colleges and universities.

Adams Scholarship eligibility is determined on MCAS performance. Nearly 27% of the Class of 2024 received the honor meaning in Grade 10 they attained “advanced” performance in at least one of the three major categories (English Language Arts, Math, STE: Biology, Chemistry, Introductory Physics or Technology/Engineering. In addition, the recipients must have attained proficient status in the remaining two assessments.

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“The entire Tri-County community is proud of these students for attaining this prestigious honor,” Superintendent Dr. Karen Maguire said. “It is a testament nor only to them and their hard work but our faculty and staff for putting them in a position to succeed.”

Class of 2024 Recipients from Seekonk are: Peyton Griffin, Samuel Marcotte, Hope Thibault, Travis Turner.

Since its founding in 1977, the mission of Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School is to provide an excellent comprehensive technical and academic education to regional high school students. State-of-theart technical skills and knowledge are enriched and complemented by a solid foundation of academic skills. Creative and cooperative partnerships between area employers and a dynamic staff at Tri-County guarantee the continued growth and development of exciting programs designed to prepare graduates for careers in the twenty-first century. The school proudly services the communities of Franklin, Medfield, Medway, Millis, Norfolk, North Attleboro, Plainville, Seekonk, Sherborn, Walpole and Wrentham. For more, visit the school online at www.tri-county.us or any of our social media platforms.

Tri-County Releases Trimester 1 Honor Roll

Some 455 students, just shy of 50% of the total student body, of Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School attained High Honor Roll or Honor Roll status.

For students to make the High Honor Roll they must have A’s in each of their academic offerings. Students qualifying for the regular Honor Roll must have A’s and B’s in all of their academic subjects.

Students from Seekonk are: Grade 9 – High Honors: Mark McKay, Jocelyn Walberg Grade 9 – Honors: Liam Commane, Kira Danley, Cazzian Fagundes, Sierra Graca, Michael Jeffrey, Oliver Marcotte, Adam Saleeba, Alexivor Van Nest Grade 10 – High Honors: Riley Bodick, Cian Shaw Grade 10 – Honors: Kylee Carr, Sarah Escola, Liam Goldsmith, Alena King, Abby MacDonald, Savannah Poisson, Melanie Quin, Alexis Rego, Adison Sobczak Grade 11 – High Honors: Grace Gordon, Jack Pardi, Seth Varhol Grade 11 – Honors: Delwin Figueroa Osorio, William Godfrey, Alexander Gries, Caitlyn Robbins Grade 12 – High Honors: Peyton Griffin Grade 12 – Honors: Will Carlson, Troy Casto, Samuel Marcotte, Travis Turner, Ian Wilson

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January 2024 The Reporter

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The Reporter January 2024

Food & Dining Guide Quick, Easy Recipes to Add to Your Dinner Rotation Simple, nutritious meals to make more time for family

(Family Features) Making time for meals together shouldn’t require spending all night in the kitchen, however. A simple-to-prepare ingredient like eggs can help you spend less time cooking and more time with family.

For example, these heart-healthy recipes from the Healthy for Good Eat Smart initiative, nationally supported by Eggland’s Best, are ready in 15 minutes or less. They include a wide variety of vegetables, fruit, whole grains and healthy protein sources, which are recommended by the American Heart Association to help prevent heart disease and stroke.

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Poached Egg Tostadas with Avocado-Tomatillo Salsa Ingredients

• Nonstick cooking spray • 4 corn tortillas (6 inches each) • 4 cups water • 1 tablespoon white vinegar • 4 large eggs

Salsa

• 1 medium avocado, diced • 1 medium Anaheim or poblano pepper, seeds and ribs discarded, diced • 1 medium tomatillo, papery husk discarded, washed and diced • 1/2 medium tomato, diced • 1/4 cup diced red onion • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice • 1 medium garlic clove, minced • 1/8 teaspoon salt Preheat oven to 400 F. Line baking sheet with aluminum foil. Lightly spray foil with nonstick cooking spray.

Arrange tortillas in single layer on foil.

Lightly spray tortillas with nonstick cooking spray. Using fork, pierce tortillas to prevent from filling with air. Bake 5-6 minutes on each side, or until golden brown. Transfer to serving plates.

In large skillet over high heat, bring water and vinegar to boil.

Once water is boiling, reduce heat and simmer. Break egg into cup then carefully slip egg into simmering water. Repeat with remaining eggs, avoiding eggs touching in water. Simmer 3-5 minutes, or until egg whites are completely set and yolks are beginning to set but aren’t hard. Using slotted spoon, drain eggs. Place each egg on tostada.

To make salsa: In medium bowl, gently stir together avocado, pepper, tomatillo, tomato, red onion, cilantro, lime juice, garlic and salt. Serve with tostadas.

Poblano Frittata Ingredients

• 4 large eggs • 1/4 cup fat-free milk • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro • 1 teaspoon olive oil • 2 medium poblano peppers, seeds and ribs discarded, chopped

• 2 cups frozen whole-kernel corn, thawed • 2 medium green onions, chopped • 1/4 cup finely shredded Cotija cheese or crumbled queso fresco • 1 medium tomato, chopped • 1/4 cup fat-free sour cream In medium bowl, whisk eggs, milk and cilantro.

In medium skillet over medium heat, heat oil, swirling to coat bottom of skillet. Cook poblano peppers 3 minutes, or until browning on edges, stirring frequently.

Stir in corn and green onion. Reduce heat to medium-low and carefully pour in egg mixture. Cook, covered, 10 minutes, or until mixture is just set on edges and still soft in center. Avoid overcooking. Remove from heat.

Sprinkle with cheese. Cut into eight wedges. Place two wedges on each plate.

Top with tomatoes and sour cream.

Sweet Potato Hash with Eggs Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons canola or corn oil • 1/2 medium onion, chopped • 4 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes • 1/2 medium red or green bell pepper, chopped • 2/3 cup fat-free, low-sodium vegetable broth • 2 teaspoons minced garlic • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika • 1 teaspoon ground cumin • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme, crumbled • 1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper • 1/8 teaspoon salt • 4 large eggs • hot pepper sauce (optional) In pressure cooker set on saute, heat oil.

Cook onion 3 minutes, or until soft, stirring frequently. Turn off pressure cooker.

Stir in potatoes, bell pepper, broth, garlic, paprika, cumin, thyme, pepper and salt. Secure lid. Cook on high pressure 3 minutes. Quickly release pressure. Turn off pressure cooker.

Remove pressure cooker lid. Crack one egg into small bowl. Using back of spoon, make small well in potatoes. Slip egg into well. Repeat with remaining eggs, making separate well for each egg. Secure lid with pressure vent open. Saute 2 minutes. Let stand on “keep warm” setting 2 minutes, or until eggs are cooked to desired consistency.

Serve hash sprinkled with dash of hot pepper sauce, if desired.

January 2024 The Reporter

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Cook at home, make a reservation, or cater your event!

Set the Menu for a Successful Year (Family Features) If your goals for 2024 include a healthier lifestyle and added nutrition, your mission is likely to start with a refreshed menu. Add a few newfound favorites to this year’s rotation like wraps, salads and smoothies to power each day and propel yourself toward wellness success. These easy-to-make, betterfor-you recipes offer simple solutions to keep your goals on track without taking flavor off the table.

Visit Culinary.net to discover more nutritious solutions in the new year.

Bake cauliflower 30-40 minutes, tossing once halfway through, until tender and lightly charred. Cool.

In bowl, toss potatoes with remaining olive oil. Sprinkle with remaining Italian seasoning and salt; mix well. Arrange in single layer on sheet pan.

Bake potatoes 20 minutes until tender and lightly browned. Cool.

Place greens from salad kit in large bowl; add roasted vegetables. Drizzle with dressing from salad kit; mix well. Top with croutons and blue cheese from salad kit.

BLT Wraps with Avocado Spread

Strawberry Oatmeal Smoothie

Ingredients

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup rolled oats • 1 banana • 14 frozen strawberries • 1 cup soy milk • 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract In blender, grind oats. Add banana, strawberries, soy milk, sugar and vanilla extract then blend until smooth. Pour into glass or to-go container and serve.

• 8 slices bacon • 1 avocado, peeled and pitted • 1/4 cup sour cream • 1 lime, juice only • 1/2 teaspoon hot sauce • 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce • 1/4 teaspoon salt • 4 flour tortillas • 4 large red leaf lettuce leaves • 2 large tomatoes, cut into 1/4-inch slices • Spanish rice (optional) • banana peppers (optional) In large skillet, cook bacon until crispy. Drain on plate lined with paper towels. Set aside.

In medium bowl, mash avocado, sour cream, lime juice, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce and salt with fork until combined and smooth.

Spread thin layer of avocado mixture over tortillas. Layer with lettuce leaves, tomatoes and bacon. Fold sides up and roll.

Serve with Spanish rice and banana peppers, if desired.

Roasted Cauliflower and Potato Spinach Salad Prep time: 15 minutes ~ Cook time: 40 minutes ~ Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 head cauliflower, cut into florets • 3 tbsp olive oil, divided • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, divided • 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided • 1 pound fingerling potatoes, quartered • 1 pkg (8 ounces) Fresh Express French Blue Cheese Salad Kit Heat oven to 425 F. In large bowl, toss cauliflower florets with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning and 1/4 teaspoon salt; mix well. Arrange in single layer on sheet pan.

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The Reporter January 2024

Give Comfort Food Classics an Authentic Mexican Twist (Family Features) If winter evenings have you stuck in a dinner rut, heat up the kitchen with family favorites everyone can look forward to. Shaking off the chill can start with a cozy blanket and comforting food that warms you from the inside out.

Soup is a wintertime staple thanks to its simplicity, and you can put a delicious spin on your next winter warmup with Mexicaninspired ingredients. Giving soup night a twist starts with Cacique Foods, one of the country’s top authentic Mexican food brands, that invites friends and family to share real moments while savoring authentic flavors.

This Smoky Chorizo and Chicken Pozole relies on the bold, hearty, spicy taste of Cacique’s Pork Chorizo combined with handcrafted Homestyle Salsa. Queso Fresco’s crumbly, creamy texture and milky, fresh flavor adds the perfect finishing touch, making this soup a perfect way to warm up weeknights with just the right amount of heat.

For a flavorful side that complements a variety of main courses while adding Mexican flair, consider Mexican Loaded Mashed Potatoes. This recipe is a familiar favorite with the unique twist of bacon and Pork Chorizo for a meat-infused recipe that will become

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a menu mainstay. Plus, for an extra creamy texture, it calls for Cacique Crema Mexicana - an everyday table cream with a neutral, fresh-tasting flavor ideal for balancing out spice - and Oaxaca, a semisoft cheese with a mellow, buttery flavor.

Find more comforting recipes at caciquefoods.com.

Smoky Chorizo and Chicken Pozole Prep: 5 minutes ~ Cook: 30 minutes ~ Servings: 6-8

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil • 1 large white or yellow onion, finely chopped • 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus additional, to taste (optional) • 1 package (9 ounces) Cacique Pork Chorizo • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika • 1 teaspoon dried Mexican oregano • 1 container (16 ounces) Cacique Medium Homestyle Salsa • 1 quart chicken stock • 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, trimmed of excess fat and diced • 1 can (25 ounces) white hominy, drained and rinsed • 1 lime, cut into wedges • 3/4 cup crumbled Cacique Ranchero Queso Fresco • 1/2 cup chopped cilantro In large, heavy pot over medium heat, heat oil. Reserve 1/4 cup onion for garnish; add remaining onion to pot and season with salt.

Saute until translucent, about 5 minutes.

Increase heat to medium-high; add pork chorizo and break it apart with spoon. Cook chorizo undisturbed until deeply browned and cooked through, 3-5 minutes. Add smoked paprika and oregano; cook 30 seconds, or until fragrant.

Pour in salsa and scrape up browned bits from bottom of pan.

Bring to simmer 1-2 minutes, allowing it to thicken slightly then add stock and bring to simmer.

Stir in diced chicken and hominy. Decrease heat to medium and cook 8-10 minutes until chicken is cooked through. Taste and season with more salt, if necessary. Remove from heat.

Serve bowls of pozole with reserved onion, lime wedges, crumbled queso fresco and chopped cilantro.

Mexican Loaded Mashed Potatoes Prep: 35 minutes ~ Cook: 40 minutes ~ Servings: 10

Ingredients

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• 3 pounds russet potatoes • 1 teaspoon salt (about 9 medium potatoes), • 1 teaspoon garlic powder peeled and cubed • 1/2 teaspoon pepper • 6 bacon strips, chopped • 1 cup Cacique Oaxaca or • 1 package Cacique Pork ChoQueso Quesadilla, shredded rizo • 1/2 cup Cacique Crema • 12 ounces Cacique Crema Mexicana Agria, for topping Mexicana (optional) • 1/2 cup butter, cubed • 3 green onions, chopped • 1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder In Dutch over, add potatoes and cover with water. Bring to boil.

Reduce heat; cook, uncovered, 10-15 minutes, or until tender.

In skillet over medium heat, cook bacon until crisp. Drain on paper towels, chop into small pieces and set aside. Remove bacon grease from skillet and cook chorizo over medium-high heat, 6-8 minutes.

Drain potatoes; add to pan. Mash potatoes, gradually adding crema Mexicana, butter, onion powder, salt, garlic powder and pepper. Transfer to greased 13-by-9-inch baking dish; sprinkle with cheese, chorizo and bacon. Refrigerate, covered, up to 1 day.

Preheat oven to 350 F. Remove potatoes from refrigerator and let stand while oven heats. Bake, covered, about 30 minutes.

Uncover; bake 10 minutes, or until heated through.

Drizzle with crema Mexicana agria and chopped green onions.

January 2024 The Reporter

IN MEMORIAM Death Notices Rehoboth

• Anthony John (AJ) Belcher, 48, son of Anthony and Loraine belcher of Rehoboth, passed away Oct. 8, 2023 at home in Daphne, AL. following a brief illness.

• Bernadette L. DeRoche, of Rehoboth, passed into eternal rest on October 22, 2023 at the Country Gardens Nursing Home, Swansea, MA. • John Francis Murphy, 92 died at Tockwotton on the Waterfront in East Providence, RI on October 27, 2023.

• Rita E. Gendreau, 95, of Rehoboth, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 29, 2023, at the Dawn Hill Home for Rehabilitation and Healthcare in Bristol.

• Blair Hamblett, 77, of Rehoboth, passed away surrounded by his close family on December 2, 2023.

• Winifred Louise (Harris) Horton, 93, passed away on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, surrounded by her loving family.

• Ronald “Ron” Evald Wennerberg passed away on December 9, 2023 at the Hulitar Hospice Center in Providence, RI at the age of 88.

Life Goes On

You’ve just walked on ahead of me.

And I’ve got to understand You must release the ones you love And let go of their hand.

I try and cope the best I can But I’m missing you so much If I could only see you And once more feel your touch.

Yes, you’ve just walked on ahead of me Don’t worry I’ll be fine But now and then I swear I feel Your hand slip into mine.

If I should die before the rest of you Break not a flower nor inscribe a stone Nor, when I’m gone, speak in a Sunday voice But be the usual selves that I have known.

Weep if you must Parting is hell.

But life goes on so sing as well.

-Joyce Grenfell

• Thurston D. Grant, 89, of Rehoboth, MA, passed away on Tuesday, December 12., 2023.

Smith Insurance Group AUTO • HOME • BUSINESS • LIFE Seekonk • Justus D Anderson 89, of Seekonk, MA, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on October 30th.

• Elizabeth “Betty” Burnley Anderson, of Seekonk, MA and Fairfield, CT the beloved wife of the late Harold Anderson, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Tuesday, October 31, 2023, just a few weeks shy of her 100th birthday.

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• Anita M. (Haberstroh) MacPherson, 77, passed away on Tuesday, October 31, 2023. She was the beloved wife of Paul A. MacPherson for fifty-two years.

• Shirley A. White, 84, formerly of Sagamore Road, Seekonk, died peacefully on November 10, 2023 at the Grace Barker Nursing Home, Warren.

• Ann M. (King) Hardy, 90, of Seekonk, MA passed away November 20th.

• Mary L. Amaral, 97, of Seekonk, passed away on Wednesday, November 22, 2023 at the Hattie Ide Chaffee Home.

• Joan & Norman Champigny - Norman R. Champigny, 85, passed away on Friday, December 1, 2023 and his beloved wife of sixtysix years, Joan M. (Baker) Champigny, 86, passed away on Thursday, November 23, 2023.

• Lillian Provazza, 100, of Seekonk, passed away on Wednesday, December 20, 2023.

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The Reporter January 2024

Ronald “Ron” Evald Wennerberg Ronald “Ron” Evald Wennerberg passed away on December 9, 2023 at the Hulitar Hospice Center in Providence, RI at the age of 88. He was born on April 14, 1935 in Worcester, MA. Ron was a devoted partner to Diana (Dalpe) Rao of Rehoboth, MA, for more than 30 years. He is survived by his loving daughters, Deborah Leenutaphong and her husband Naruekorn of Thailand, Susan Arnoff of California and her sons David and Justin Adams, and Jayne Langley of Charlton, Ron Wennerberg MA and her three children, Sarah, Cortnie and Tyler. Ron is also survived by his loving son, Ronald V. Wennerberg, his wife Kasia, and their daughter Kaya of Dudley, MA. In addition, he’s survived by great-grandchildren Sally-Marie, Bryce and James Grybowski and Marlee and Koda Choquette, and many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews as well as Diana’s children David Santos and his partner Nina Vescera, Donald Santos and his wife Sheila, and Dawn and her husband Dan Choiniere. He also leaves behind his childhood friends Dick Jolie and Ray Premo as well as long-time friend Frank Orlando and his many friends at Mark’s Country Kitchen in Seekonk, MA. Ron was preceded in death by his mother, Bertha (Dube) Wennerberg, his father, Evald V. Wennerberg, and his sister, Linda Vernon. Ron was a beloved brother to Carol Lambert of Rutland, MA. Ron attended Auburn High School where he was on the track and field team as a discus thrower and long jumper. He was an avid and very talented basketball player for Calvary Baptist Church when he was in high school. He also enjoyed weightlifting and figure skating for much of his life. He graduated from Auburn High with the Class of 1953. Following his education, Ron proudly served in the Naval Reserves.

Throughout his career, Ron worked as an electrician at Reed and Prince in Worcester, MA from 1953 to 1959. He then joined Raytheon in Waltham, MA as an electrician from 1959 to 1962.

Ron’s passion and expertise led him to the New England Power Service Company, later National Grid, where he excelled as an electrician and later as Manager specializing in costing and planning.

He dedicated 31 years of his life to the company, retiring in 1993 at the age of 58. Ron was also the Wire Inspector for the town of Oxford, MA in the 1970s and later the Fish Warden for Rehoboth, MA in the 1990s.

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In addition to his professional life, Ron had a variety of hobbies that brought him joy. Top of the list was reading. He was a voracious reader and read everything from history to science to horticulture to fiction and so much more. He had a talent for photography and enjoyed capturing beautiful moments with his family and in nature.

He loved the outdoors and all of its wonders. Ron had an amazing green thumb and found great pleasure in gardening and sharing plants from his garden with others. He was skilled in cabinet making and woodworking and created many beautiful pieces of furniture, wood crosses, and home decor such as decoupage. Ron also had a knack for drawing and drew many life-like black and white sketches of animals as well as people. He was a lifelong stamp and coin collector.

Ronald will not only be remembered for his dedication to and his love for his family but for his many talents. He will also be remembered for his great sense of humor and his vast repertoire of jokes. He was kind, generous, always ready with a smile, and made friends easily. Ron leaves behind a legacy of hard work, creativity, and a love for life. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

Public visitation was held on Saturday, December 16, 2023 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in WILLIAM W. TRIPP Funeral Home, 1008 Newport Ave., Pawtucket. Interment followed at Rehoboth Village Cemetery, 190 Bay State Rd., Rehoboth, MA. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 would be appreciated.

Betty Hamilton Pryce Smith

Betty Hamilton Pryce Smith of Rehoboth died on the first of January 2024 at the age of 95. She was born in 1928 near Worcester, Massachusetts, the daughter of Syd and Elizabeth (Robinson) Pryce, and had lived in Rehoboth since 1961.

A graduate of Barrington High School class of 1945, the Rhode Island College of Education, and the University of Rhode Island, she taught high school English for many years in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

She leaves her three children, Rebecca Hamilton Smith (Bernard Oakley) and Rachel Leathers Smith, both of Rehoboth, and David Robinson Smith (Deborah Dutton) of Unity, Maine; three grandchildren, David Oakley currently of Glasgow, Scotland, James Oakley (Amber) of Upton, Mass., and Elizabeth Oakley of Biddeford, Maine; one great-grandchild; her cousin Beverly P. Fisher of Boylston, Mass.; nephew, David Lee Pryce; sisters-in-law Audrey K. Pryce and Patricia Smith White; and brother-in-law Gerald S. Smith. She was predeceased by her parents, her step-father George Leland Barney, her brother David Robinson Pryce, nephew Jonathan Syd Pryce, and her former husband David Leathers Smith.

Flowers and calling hours are respectfully omitted, and burial will be private.

Arrangements are entrusted to William W. Tripp Funeral Home, Pawtucket, Rhode Island.

Owners and Directors, Amy Silva Rigtrup, Type 3, Lawrence Quintal, Type 3 and Christine (DeLawrence) Quintal, Type 3

January 2024 The Reporter

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Anthony John (AJ) Belcher

Frances Magan Jones

Born May 29,1975 - Died October 8, 2023

Frances Magan Jones, age 101, of Rehoboth passed away November 30, 2023 at her home.

She was the widow of the late Raymond L. Jones. Born in Swansea, she was the daughter of the late Manuel S. and Mary (Carmo) Magan.

Mrs. Jones moved to Rehoboth in December of 1922 and lived her entire life on Hornbine Road. She was a 1939 graduate of Joseph Case High School in Swansea and was the last living student of the Hornbine School in Rehoboth.

Frances Magan Jones She spent her life raising her family and growing flowers on her farm. Gladiolas, lilies, baby’s breath and tulips were grown and sold to Buffington and the former Reynold’s Florists. When not in her beloved gardens, she was a doting grandmother to her grandchildren Megan Drown Travers, Kathy and Jonathan Drown; Andrew, Elizabeth and Anna Jones and great granddaughter Christina Gariepy. Everyone knew her love for her adored Jersey cow Molly.

Mrs. Jones was so determined not to be left out of being present at the Hornbine School with her brother Clarence, she was granted permission to attend school at age 5. By the end of her first year, she had completed 1st and 2nd grades and attending the 3rd grade with Clarence. Frances attended many of the Hornbine Schools open houses and would answer questions of what it was like to attend the one room school house. She was the “unofficial historian” of the Hornbine area.

Survivors include her daughter, Mary Lou Jones Drown of Rehoboth, her son, Raymond Jones and his wife Dawn of Wakefield, MA, her son-in-law, Karl Drown of Rehoboth, six grandchildren, and one great granddaughter. She was the sister of the late Clarence Magan.

Funeral services are private. For tributes and guestbook, please visit www.waring-sullivan.com.

Anthony John Belcher (AJ) was born in Providence, RI on May 29, 1975, and passed away unexpectedly at home after a brief illness on October 8, 2023.

AJ was a 1993 graduate of Dighton-Rehoboth High School. During his school years He was active in Math Club, Drama, Band, Chorus, Cross Country, and Track.

Following high school, he was scouted at the Rehoboth AJ Belcher County Fair by a local circus and worked for them with the Shriners. During this time, he worked behind the scenes doing staging and lights and even had the opportunity to work as Ringmaster and Vocalist. It was during this time that he met his future wife and moved to Tucson, AZ where he made a home with his wife and family for many years.

AJ was a jack of all trades and a dedicated friend, always willing to lend a hand when needed. He was a self-learner and greatly enjoyed his role as a father.

He moved to Alabama where he worked in Telecom Electronics Salvage and enjoyed his life as a father. He enjoyed solving new and different problems that he encountered in his day-to-day work.

In Alabama, his love of music continued to grow, and he enjoyed the vibrant music scene. He was able to work with musicians providing sound, lights and set up. He loved live music and enjoying time with friends.

AJ leaves behind his beloved children; Coby and Skyler Belcher of Alabama, Ivey Belcher and her longtime partner jessie neal of Ann Arbor, MI, stepson Austin Ruskowitz from Tucson, AZ and Davina Belcher of Tucson, AZ, the mother of his children.

AJ is also survived by his parents, Anthony (Tony) and Loraine Belcher of Rehoboth, MA, his brothers Sean Belcher of Providence, RI and Todd Belcher, his wife Rebecca, and nieces and nephews Eleanor, Hugo, Mabel and George of Odessa, FL. He also leaves behind a large and loving extended family including aunts, uncles and cousins.

AJ held a very special place in all of our hearts and will be deeply missed.

There will be a celebration of life this Spring.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation in AJ’s memory to the Rehoboth Food Pantry at https://rehobothfoodpantryma.org/ or your local food pantry.

We shall find peace.

We shall hear angels, we shall see the sky sparkling with diamonds.

-Anyon Chekov

Competent Concern When the Need Arises Affordable Funeral & Cremation Services regardless of financial circumstance Pre-Planning Specialists Proudly serving Rehoboth & Seekonk families since 1898 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 January 2024

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January 2024 The Reporter

CLASSIFIEDS PERSONAL

67

Place Classifieds at www.ReporterToday.com

SERVICES

Seeking Companion: Nice guy looking for a woman between 50-60 who likes movies, dancing or dining out. Call Kevin at 401259-9393.

Handyman/Home Repairs/Improvements: GSS Property Solutions LLC. Registered, Bonded, Fully Insured. Servicing Mass & RI. Call or Text 401-688-9749.

WANTED

Bicycle Sales & Service: Your Bike Shops- Tune-ups on all brands. In Riverside next to CVS 401-433-4491 and in Warren next to the Police Station and the bike path. Call Art or Joe for *NEW* hours and service. S401-245-9755

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.

FOR SALE

Storm Responder Generator Great for construction job site. A nice back up for home power. Briggs and Stratton 5500W 8250W Generator You can't go wrong with this. Used as whole house generator used 6 times over the past few years. Garaged when not in use. Starts, runs perfectly. Comes with two extra cables. $350.00 OBO

HELP WANTED

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. BEST PRICES. Call Tony 508-226-1295 or 508-889-0824; www.BigBlueJunkRemovals.com.

Hair Stylist Wanted: Cole Michael Salon in East Providence on busy main road is looking for a experienced stylist to rent a station.

Very affordable weekly or monthly rent. Call 401-383-1905.

Call for an informative, honest and friendly quote.

Help Wanted: Part-time teller at Community & Teachers Federal Credit Union, 15-20 hours. For more info call 401-438-7788, ask for Joan or Ken. Help Wanted: Full time position with accounting experience, Community & Teachers Federal Credit Union. For more info call 401-438-7788, ask for Joan or Ken. Teachers needed for our Infant, Toddler, Preschool, and Kindergarten rooms. Must have a DEEC certification for Teacher or above. Full time with benefits. We have so many children waiting for placement and need teachers to expand our classrooms. We are a small school offering children "A BETTER BEGINNING" in an enriched environment. We have been a school since 1994, and continue to set standards in our industry through our curriculum and teachers. Come be part of our team of educators. Call 1-508-2525522 to set up an interview with Ana Neves the Director.

HALL RENTAL

BOOK YOUR SPECIAL OCCASION PARTY NOW! Riverside Sportsman Assoc. Mohawk Drive off Wampanoag Trail. For all occasions: Birthday, Family Reunions, Club/Organization Meetings.

Cash Bar. Monthly Steak Fries and other events. Call the club at 401-433-0209, leave a message.

VACATION RENTALS

WINTER WONDERLAND - SKI HOUSE WHITE MOUNTAINS NH/ FRANCONIA: Custom log cabin home in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, located on Pearl Lake Rd. Minutes from Cannon Mt., Loon, and Bretton Woods. Booking now for winter - snowmobiling trails right out of our driveway! Sleeps 6, fireplace, full kitchen, hiking, fishing. For info and pics call Joe at 401-439-8089.

HOME & GARDEN

House Plants & Succulents for sale: Good variety from $1-$10.

Call 401-433-2922.

508-840-3987

FIREWOOD AVAILABLE

Valter Rego Masonry Now Booking Indoor Jobs: Foundation Repairs, Cement Stucco, Basements - Waterproofing & Water Issues, French Drains, Sump Pump Installation, Fireplace Veneers, Stonework.

All Types of Cement Work

10% Off Inside Jobs expires 12/1/23 Residential and Commercial Free estimates, no job too small

Call 401-781-2262 or 774-565-0579 www.valterregomasonry.net Licensed & Insured

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Business Directory CATEGORY

COMPANY NAME

Antiques/Cash for Gold Art Supplies/Framing Attorney Attorney Attorney Auto Body Auto Body Auto Repairs Building Contractor Building Contractor Camp-Basketball Carpet Cleaning Carpet Cleaning Child Care Chimney Cleaning Chimney Services Church Cleaning Service Cleaning Service Collectibles Comic Strip Computer Services

PAGE

Americana Auction 46 Gregory D. Dorrance, Co. 50 Corso Law LLC 72 Laurie P. Mullen, Attorney 43 Law Office of Luke P. Travis 31 A-1 Custom Auto Body 6 Seekonk Auto Body 19 New England Tire 3 A.M. Carpentry 53 Nerney Construction 24 One On One Basketball Camp 58 Earle’s Carpet Cleaning 53 M & S Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning 53 Twin Oaks Farm Learning Center 57 RD Chimney Sweep 42 Kenny’s Masonry & Chimney Sweep 17 Faith Christian Center 47 Ada’s Cleaning Services 43 Debbie’s Cleaning Service 54 Wexler’s Collectibles 52 Sour Grapes 38 Kingsland & McAndrews IT Consult 24

American Eagle Enterprises,

LLC

Handyman Service Light Carpentry Painting Remodeling & more Free Estimates

508-622-5110

TITLE 5 INSPECTION Assessments $25 • &Voluntary Consulting

Discount on Title V Inspection

• Septic Systems • Cesspools

* Not affiliated with any septic system installation or 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

CATEGORY Credit Union Deer & Tick Control Dentist Dentist Dentist Dentist Dentist Dog Training Dumpsters/Waste Disp Electrician Electrician Events Excavating Fence Installation Financial Advisor Firewood Flooring - All Types Flooring - Wood Fuel - Oil Fuel - Oil Fuel - Oil Fuel - Oil Fuel - Propane Funeral Home Funeral Home Furniture/Upholstery Hair Salon Handyman Health & Fitness Home Improvements Home Improvements Hospital Hotels Insurance Insurance Agency Insurance Agency Jewelers

COMPANY NAME

PAGE

Community & Teachers Credit Union 27 ohDEER 27 David C. Zaluski, D.D.S. 26 Dr. Wassouf D.D.S. 49 George Family Orthodontics 36 Lisa Daft DMD & Associates, PC 12 Seekonk Dental 10 Pooch Pawsitive 26 Dutra Disposal & Recycling 32 Greaves Electric 52 Neal Bellavance Electric 41 Turning Point Productions 46 J. M. Turner Construction Co. 9 Fence Tech 42 Island Time Financial Services 39 Foley Excavating 40 Earle Dias Interiors 34 David J. Ledoux Hardwood Floors 19 Al’s Quality Oil Co. 70 COD OIL 26 E & V Oil Co. 72 Wood’s Heating Service 9 Propane Plus 68 J.H. Williams & Co. Funeral Home 65 Silva Funeral Home 64 Masterson Furniture 31 Crew Cuts 34 American Eagle Enterprises, LLC 68 SRA Training Systems 35 MH Home Services 4 Stateside Vinyl Siding Company 23 Sturdy Memorial Hospital 37 Hotel Tybee 69 Lori Bordieri 70 Frazao Insurance 15 Smith Insurance Group, Inc 63 Plante Jewelers 11

January 2024 The Reporter

69

Your dream

DESTINATION WEDDING

awaits on Tybee Island, GA

www.hoteltybee.com 912.712.7500 | brett@hoteltybee.com

Located just a short drive from Historic Savannah, GA, Tybee Island is often hailed as "Savannah's Beach." Directly on the Atlantic Ocean, Hotel Tybee is the ideal spot for a destination wedding Accommodates wedding receptions up to 140 208 onsite guest rooms Breathtaking, panoramic views of the beach and Atlantic Ocean Fly direct from Boston to Savannah

The only thing we overlook is the ocean.

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The Reporter January 2024

Business Directory CATEGORY Junk Removal Kitchen/Bath Design Kitchen/Bath Design Landscape Service Landscape Service Lawn Care Marble Fabricators Masonry-Construction Masonry-Construction Orthodontics Painting Contractor Painting Contractor Painting Contractor Painting Contractor Painting Contractor Paving Contractor Paving - Masonry Pest Control Services Pet Services Physical Therapy Plumbing & Heating Printing - Copies Private School

COMPANY NAME

PAGE

CATEGORY

23 16 13 15 34 25 40 24 67 36 41 68 29 63 23 8 20 14 25 38 51 45 55

Private School Private School Real Estate Real Estate Real Estate Real Estate Real Estate Real Estate Real Estate Rehoboth Republican Remodeling Restaurant Restaurant Restaurant Restaurant Restaurant Roofing Contractor Roofing Contractor Roofing Contractor RVs and Campers Seafood Market Security Systems Septic Inspections Septic Systems Septic Systems Septic Systems Stove Shop Stump Grinding Tax Preparation Trash/Junk Removal Tree Service Tree Service Tree Service Water Treatment

AOL Enterprises Infinity Kitchens Johnson Design Superior Lawn Care T. Moreshead Landscaping Lawn Doctor Star Marble & Granite StoneScapes - Mark Carvalho Valter Rego Masonry George Family Orthodontics Cronan Painting EZ Painting Fahey Painting Levine Painting Co., Inc. Lundco Painting LLC. Ryan Asphalt Paving Blue Stone Driveways & Masonry Flynn Pest Control Chibi’s Choice Personal Best Physical Therapy Sine Plumbing & Heating Pleasant Printing Company St. Cecilia’s School

E N E RG I E S

Trade name for Al's Quality Oil Co., Inc.

HEATFORCE FUEL

*AT NO ADDITIONAL COST

COMPANY NAME

PAGE

St. Luke’s School St. Margaret School Aubin Realty Elizabeth Ruehrwein Lisa Halajko - Blu Sky Real Estate Melissa Casey ReMax Rivers Edge Agents TK Real Estate Brokerage Vicki Doran Rehoboth Republican Committee Batty Construction Boneyard Barbecue & Saloon El Mariachi Mack’s Original Pizza Pub Madeira Restaurant Rehoboth House of Pizza B & R Fournier Construction, Inc. Ferreira Co. Tabeleys Roofing Camping World of Berkley Digger’s Catch Home & Commercial Security Pro Inspection Services Croome Sanitation, Inc. Soares Sanitation Pumping, Inc. Town Sanitation Fireplace Showcase Heritage Tree & Arborist Northeast New England Tax Service, Inc. Big Blue Removal Service Choate Tree Service Heritage Tree & Arborist Northeast Seekonk Tree Service Water Filter Company, Inc.

• Reduces oil consumption • Reduces sludge for fewer breakdowns • Improves fuel quality for a cleaner home & environment

• Discounted “will call” C.O.D. prices • Automatic Deliveries • Burner Service by our own experienced technicians 24/7 • Service Contracts • Budget Plans • Propane Deliveries Family owned & operated for over 40 years

508-222-3187

www.qualityenergies.com

Cell: (401) 516-7273 • Office: (401) 722-4271 lori@andrewsinsagency.com Licensed in MA & RI

58 57 43 28 56 18 13 9 45 11 40 62 60 2 60 61 31 8 44 71 62 8 68 17 44 30 14 29 52 6 41 29 67 21

January 2024 The Reporter

137 Myricks St. in BERKLEY, MA

888.578.1274 | CampingWorld.com

71

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The Reporter January 2024

24 HOURS

7 D AY S A W E E K

A locally owned & opera ted, FULL SERVICE hea ting oil company ser ving the East Bay for 40+ years.

Our customers enjoy:

• Automatic & “Will-Call”oil deliveries • Competitive Full-Service oil pricing • Flexible payment options: C.O.D. (cash/check), Monthly Budgets, 5-day credit • We accept all major Credit Cards • Our acceptance of RI & MA LIHEAP • 24/7 emergency deliveries & burner service • 24/7 phone support • Truly friendly & knowledgeable employees

HVAC services:

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

Service Plans • Service & Installs of Boilers, Furnaces, A/C & ductless Mini-Splits • & More

508-336-8851 / 800-515-8003

2500 GAR HIGHWAY, SWANSEA MA MASTER MA RI LICENSED

www.evoilco.com

www.corsolaw.com | 774-901-2677 Experienced legal counsel for when experience matters Practice Areas:

Civil Litigation Personal Injury Legal & Medical Malpractice Transactional, Planning & Business Law Consumer Protection Criminal Defense Employment & Labor Law Real Estate Disputes Dispute Resolution Whistleblower Claims Wrongful Death Appeals

492 Winthrop St., Suite 5, Rehoboth MA 02769