News Notes

Annual Town Meeting Scheduled for May 8

The Annual Town Meeting is scheduled for May 8 at 7 p.m. at Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School. The board of selectmen opened the warrant for the town meeting on January 17 and it will close on March 1 at 12 noon. All articles for the town meeting warrant must be submitted to the selectmen’s office by this date and time.

Several Area Legislators File Bills Against Rehoboth Gas Compressor Station

Local legislators are attempting to fight a proposed natural gas compressor station in Rehoboth, part of Spectra Energy’s Access Northeast Project according to an article in the Sun Chronicle. The project includes approximately 55 miles of new pipeline and the compressor station. State Reps. Steven Howitt, Betty Poirier and Paul Heroux as well as Sen. James Timility have all filed legislation, but the final say is in the hands of federal agencies. One of Howitt’s bills would require a compressor station be located in an industrial zone. The proposed site is in a residential zone off Finnegan’s Way in Rehoboth, near the Attleboro and Seekonk lines. Another bill from Howitt, co-sponsored by Poirier, would require that natural gas pumped through Massachusetts pipelines stay in Massachusetts. Another of Howitt and Poirier’s bills would prohibit compressor stations near schools, playgrounds, daycare centers and churches. Heroux has also filed a bill preventing compressor stations near schools. Wamsutta Middle School and Hyman Fine Elemental School in Attleboro are reportedly located near the compressor site.

Another bill from Heroux would require that energy companies get town approval before construction. Because the project is part of the interstate pipeline system, it is regulated by the Federal Agency Regulatory Commission (FERC). The article mentions that any interested party will have an opportunity to file comments on the project, but no details were available.

Town Meeting Approves New Municipal Complex

Town meeting approved a $9.3 million municipal complex which will be located at the site of the current Police & Fire Headquarters on Anawan Street. The project now needs approval at the ballot on Election Day, Monday, April 3. Voters on Election Day will decide whether to approve a temporary tax increase, or override of Proposition 2 ½, to fund the project. More information on the Special Town Meeting can be found in an article elsewhere in this issue.

Town Mourns Civic Leader and Friend

Former selectman John Moriarty died on January 27 and the board of selectmen honored him at a meeting last month. Moriarty was 77. Moriarty, husband of Mary Beth, grew up in Attleboro and resided in Rehoboth for more than 30 years, according to his obituary. He served the town of Rehoboth in many capacities, as selectmen and as a member of the planning board and conservation commission. Moriarty served in the U.S. Marines and worked as a police officer in Attleboro. Besides his wife, he leaves five children: Sean Moriarty and his fiancee Malerie Metz, Coleen Bourque and her husband Glen, Kary Cappelli and her husband Ed, John Moriarty and his wife Laura, and Bonny Jean Barrows; eight grandchildren and two great-grandsons.

Beckwith Middle School Lego Teams Win Awards at State Championship

Two teams from Beckwith Middle School won awards at the First Lego League Championship held at Roger Williams University on Jan. 4. Team FUR-ocious won second place. They created a mat that helps calm nervous dogs. The mat can vibrate and play soft music or a recorded human voice. Team Magical Partridges won fourth place. Team FUR-ocious will be advancing to the Razorback Invitational in Arkansas in May. Members of Team FUR-ocious are: Ethan Cutler, Joshua Guarino, Devon Anderson, Alex Tomellini, Jacob Greenberg, Pilar Beerman. Members of the Magical Patridges are: Ryan Callahan, Noah Ferreira, Cormac Masterson, Devon Andrade, Sam DeMoura, and Ali Kabli.

Area Students Participate in Project 351 Day of Service

Two local students were among 350 youngsters chosen to participate in the Project 351 program. The students are Mackenzie Morganweck of Rehoboth and Madison Sirois of Seekonk. The group participated in an annual day of celebration and service on Jan. 14 in Boston. Project 351 is a youth service nonprofit organization that brings together 8th graders from every city and town in the Commonwealth for an inspirational year of community service, leadership development, and enrichment.
Project 351, founded by Governor Deval Patrick in 2011 and now convened by Governor Charlie Baker, helps the student ‘ambassadors’ learn communication, project management and leadership skills through various events and local projects.