News

Grants awarded from one local group to another

The Wareham Cultural Council has awarded $13,245 in grants to 12 different groups and organizations for their projects involving the arts, sciences and humanities. The recipients are as follows: Exploring the Cabo Verdean/American Musical Legacy: A...

Bridge project affects emergency service response time, could take years to fix

School buses, ambulances and fire trucks can no longer use a bridge on Fearing Hill Road and will have to take a detour to reach County Road and other areas on the west side of Wareham. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation recently...
Most Popular

Officials share possibility of tax credit for businesses in vacant buildings

Wareham officials have applied for a state grant that could provide tax credits to businesses that move into vacant buildings on Main Street. If the state approves Wareham’s application, new businesses that choose Main Street to set up shop could be...

Town speed limit set at 25 miles-an-hour for non-state roads

The Select Board unanimously approved setting the speed limit in Wareham to 25 miles-an-hour in “thickly settled areas,” unless otherwise posted. The state defines “thickly settled” as “an area where homes are less than 200 feet apart or areas where...

Applications for event funding are now available

The Wareham Community Events Committee is accepting applications for events for the 2025 season. All applications sent in by Thursday, April 18 will be reviewed by the committee ahead of their April meeting. The committee recommends submitting...

New play structure is on the way for Lopes playground

After over 40 years on Onset Avenue, Lopes Playground is getting a makeover as the current wooden structure is set to be taken down next week and construction of the new playground will begin in March. According to Marie Greig, a member of Wareham...

Accessory dwelling unit moratorium takes effect

At the Jan. 13 Special Town Meeting, Wareham voters passed a moratorium on a state housing law, preventing it from going into effect until Jan. 13, 2026. The moratorium is active law as of Feb. 3, despite requiring approval from the attorney general...

Missing man located

Wareham Police informed the public on Feb. 3 that William MacMillan has been located after a four day search. Prior to being found Macmillan, was last seen Jan. 28 in Randolph driving on Route 24. Police asked for assistance in locating MacMillan on...

Planning Board to revisit solar restrictions at hearing

Voters recently delayed action on a proposal to confine all future large-scale solar to a designated area. The Planning Board will revisit the plan at a public hearing on Feb. 24. At the Jan. 13 Special Town Meeting, voters determined that the...

Damien's Food Pantry looking for donations and a DJ

Damien's Food Pantry is looking for some donations to be used as prizes in fundraisers and for some musical talent. The food pantry is looking for gift cards for services, dining or entertainment and unopened bottles of wine and liquor. The gift...

A day on the ice

[This story was written by former Wareham Land Trust President Jim Munise for the Wareham Land Trust newsletter.] For the first time in years, former Wareham Land Trust President Jim Munise found ice thick enough to go...

Plans presented to tackle wetland flooding

As rising sea levels continue to cause flooding in coastal wetlands, the Buzzards Bay Coalition, Town of Wareham and the Wildlands Trust are working with engineers to figure out a plan to protect Wareham's wetlands. In a public hearing held Jan. 28...

Tobey Hospital reaches contract agreement with support staff

After months of negotiation, Southcoast Health and Tobey Hospital employees reached a wage increase agreement Jan. 17. Members of 1199 Service Employees International Union, who are primarily hospital support staff, picketed earlier this month,...

Bird flu outbreak risk to dogs, potentially fatal for cats

Wareham’s animal control officer said residents should take precautions against bird flu after the virus killed 60 birds in Plymouth last week. Animal Control Officer Devin Cloutier said that while the current strain of bird flu has caused yearly...

Planning Board to hold public hearing on accessory dwelling units

The Planning Board will hold a public hearing on Monday, Feb. 24 to present the revised version of the accessory dwelling units bylaw proposed at the Jan. 13 Special Town Meeting. An accessory dwelling unit is a second, smaller residence that can be...

Get to know Wareham’s new State Senator Kelly Dooner

Newly elected State Senator Kelley Dooner began her first term this month, representing Wareham and the rest of the 3rd Bristol and Plymouth District. Dooner, a Republican, took over from longtime Democrat Marc Pacheco, who served the district for...

Warming the South Coast one stitch at a time

Every Tuesday morning, a group of women gather at the Trinity Christian Church to knit, crochet and share coffee all in the name of a good cause. Mission Stitchin' donates their knitted and crocheted creations throughout the South Coast to...

Fire officials face employee criticism

At the Wareham Fire District's meeting on Jan. 23, elected officials faced criticism for their handling of a complaint by an employee. The employee, who only identified herself as Mikayla, addressed the Prudential Committee — the board that oversees...

Cookies for camping: Girl Scouts set up shop on Main Street

Selling several sweet snacks while bundled up in sweaters and scarves, girl scouts were out in the cold aiming to hit their cookie quota. On Saturday, Jan. 25 outside of the Riverside Cafe on Main Street, members of girl scout troop 64,968 set up...

New documents reveal little about Wareham Fire District controversy

This week an attorney for the Wareham Fire District released heavily redacted documents related to employee complaints accusing Fire Chief John Kelley of harassment and creating a hostile work environment. The documents, obtained by Wareham Week...

Public meeting to be held on Great Neck wetlands restoration

A public meeting will be held Tuesday, Jan. 28 to discuss plans to restore coastal wetlands at the Jack’s Marsh site in the Great Neck Conservation area. The meeting will take place at 6 p.m. in the Wareham Free Library community room at 59 Marion...

Uncertain future for Christmas parade, Halloween events

The Wareham Village Association has enough funds to hold its three annual events — Trick or Treat down Main Street, the scarecrow competition and the Christmas Parade — one last time in 2025, after which it will be out of money, Director Tracy...

Town program offers work-based tax break for seniors

Wareham senior residents who are accepted to a town program may receive up to $1,000 off their property tax bill in exchange for work. The Select Board made their annual approval of the annual Senior Tax Work-Off Program on Jan. 21. The program...

Historical award

On Jan. 18 the Wareham Historical Society awarded a $1,000 college scholarship to a UMass Amherst student. Kiley Sullivan is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree and plans to go into teaching. “Kiley expressed her sincere gratitude to The Wareham...

Sword swinging and lessons learned at stage combat class

As pool noodles bashed up against each other and friends became foes, professional Hollywood stunt actors put on a space sword swinging soiree. The soiree was a class on stage combat using swords at the Wareham Free Library Saturday, Jan. 18. The...

Wareham residents receive promotion from Barnstable County Sheriff's Office

The Barnstable County Sheriff's Office promoted several correctional officers, four of which are Wareham residents. In a ceremony held at Mashpee Middle-High School Jan. 10, Terry Mumper was promoted to Lieutenant. Pat Matthews, Kyle Stecchi and...

Cranberry bogs get a winter makeover

While cranberry bogs currently lack their classic red color and have a layer of ice on top, A.D. Makepeace is still busy working to ensure their bogs are ready for the growing season. In a process called ice sanding, motorized carts carry large...

Special Town Meeting voters approve $700,000 for solar experts, land purchase

Voters at the Jan. 13 Town Meeting approved using town money to hire solar experts to testify on the town's behalf and purchase two acres of land. The Planning Board is involved in multiple court cases in which solar energy developers are suing the...

Special Town Meeting voters decide proposed housing, solar changes need more study

At the Jan. 13 Special Town Meeting, voters decided that proposed zoning changes affecting future solar and housing development needed more study. Voters heard two proposals that would change zoning bylaws in Wareham. One created a designated...

Wareham Fire District dealing with complaints, controversy

The Wareham Fire District is facing multiple ongoing controversies, including union grievances and harassment complaints that appear to be directed at Chief John Kelley Members of the elected Prudential Committee that oversees the fire district — as...

Healthcare workers picket for higher wages

Tobey Hospital employees braved 20 degree temperatures to wave signs and chant while picketing for higher wages on Thursday, Jan. 9. Organized by 1199 Service Employees International Union, both union and non-union workers arrived in force near the...

Select Board recommends voters pass all Special Town Meeting articles

At the Jan. 7 meeting, the Select Board recommended voters approve all five articles for consideration at the upcoming Special Town Meeting. The first article voters will hear at the Jan. 13 special meeting, a proposal to spend $100,000 on “solar...

Voters to decide housing, solar development future at Special Town Meeting

Voters will determine the future of solar and housing development at the Monday, Jan. 13 Special Town Meeting at 7 p.m. in the Wareham High School Auditorium. The meeting will also include decisions on a municipal property purchase and the hiring of...

Update: Four alarm fire on Cranberry Highway in Onset

A fire charred most of the interior of a commercial building on Cranberry Highway Jan. 5, destroying several stores. At 11:38 a.m., the Onset Fire Department received an alarm for the building at 3086 Cranberry Highway in Onset which houses...

Never too old to change: Nonprofit elects first woman president

For 100 years only men were members of the Wareham Community Associates, now women lead the organization. On Dec. 18, the Associates elected Wareham resident and member Apryl Rossi to president of the organization which raises money to provide...

State Sen. Kelly Dooner swears in

Newly elected State Sen. Kelly Dooner, was sworn Wednesday, Jan. 1, to represent Wareham and the rest of the 3rd Bristol and Plymouth District in the State Legislature. Dooner, a Republican, is taking over from Democrat Marc Pacheco who served for...

The Wareham Land Trust steps into 2025

As 2024 became 2025, members of the Wareham Land Trust guided people through a rare, local ecosystem as the group hosted their annual First Day Hike. The hike took place at the Red Brook Trail Network Wednesday, Jan. 1 and hikers traversed a 1.8...

Three, two, one: Plunge

Cheers and loud music filled the air on Onset Beach on New Year’s Day, followed shortly by quick gasps and splashing as hundreds of people charged into the frigid water. The New Year's Polar Plunge hosted by the Buzzards Bay Coalition and the Onset...

2025 arrived early at the Wareham Free Library

As noise makers popped and music rang through a normally quiet library, over a hundred people gathered to celebrate the new year, except they did so 12 hours early. The new year celebration held Tuesday, Dec. 31 was the Wareham Free Library's Noon...

Discover the new Discover Wareham

The Discover Wareham website laid dormant for around two years before receiving a fresh new look to help anyone looking to explore the town learn more about it. At the Dec. 10 Select Board meeting, Wareham Redevelopment Authority Intern Connor Alden...

Planning Board to hold public hearing

The Planning Board will hold a public hearing on Jan. 6 at 6 p.m. at 48 Marion Road to discuss two proposed zoning law changes: the adoption of a statewide law regarding accessory dwelling units and the location restriction of future solar...

Family fun at the library links

The golf season opened up for two days at the Wareham Free Library as Warehamites put down the books and picked up a putter to make their way around the library's mini golf course. The library's mini golf course included 18 holes in various parts of...

Electronics, events and borrowed books: The library by the numbers

Despite untimely closures the Wareham Free Library circulated more items and received more patrons than last year. The library tracks patronage through the fiscal year and in October and November of 2023 closed due to repairs from a water main break...

Weweantic River conservation project on track

The Buzzards Bay Coalition expects to finalize the conservation of 215 acres in Wareham along the Weweantic River by early summer 2025 following a vote of financial support at the Fall Town Meeting. The plan, dubbed the Weweantic River Corridor Open...

Get to know John Gaskey

John Gaskey, a Republican from Carver, won the House Representative seat for the 2nd Plymouth District in the general election on Nov. 5, 2024 and will soon take office to represent Wareham, Carver and Middleboro in the Massachusetts State...

Santa makes a morning pitstop in town

Surrounded by pancakes, toys and reindeer food, Christmas came a little early to Wareham as Community Youth Empowerment celebrated the holiday season by hosting their annual Breakfast with Santa. Community Youth Empowerment is a Wareham based non-...

Holiday spirit visits Town Hall

The holiday spirit made a pitstop at town hall as municipal offices decked the halls in a holiday decoration competition. Offices were turned into Disney World, a winter wonderland but the Board of Health won the competition as they turned their...

Public review for community electricity aggregation program

Revisions to the community electricity aggregation program have been made and there is a public review period for these revisions being held until Jan. 18. Currently, over 8,000 Wareham residences and businesses are a part of the community...

Town receives $4 million for sewer upgrades and maintenance

Wareham received a check for $4,036,843.53 from the Plymouth County Commissioner as a part of the American Rescue Plan Act at the Dec. 17 Select Board meeting. The American Rescue Plan Act was introduced to provide economic support to cities and...

Planning Board to hold public hearing on accessory dwelling unit regulations

At a public hearing on Jan. 6, residents will provide input on two options for how the town should implement a new state law that allows the construction of smaller, independent secondary homes, known as accessory dwelling units, on properties in...

Pages