News Notes

Town Meeting Approves Several Articles
Voters at town meeting on Nov. 6 decided to postpone an article requesting $3.1 million for a new roof at D-R Regional High School. According to an article in the Sun Chronicle, there was a concern about the percentage that each town would pay for the project. The current school roof is 27 years old and is leaking.

Town meeting also approved several articles including:
-$107,000 to install fiber optic cable to D-R High School, Beckwith Middle School, Palmer River Elementary School and Town Hall, bringing 10 GB of internet service to these buildings. The funds represent 20 percent of the total cost. The project received an E-rate state rebate of 60 percent of the cost and the town also received two additional 10 percent state grants.
-$50,000 for “seed money” to fund initial costs of Rehoboth’s 375th anniversary events. Any donations or profits derived from fundraising events will be deposited back into the account.
-a zoning bylaw that requires a special permit from the Planning Board to build a natural gas compressor station in town. The purpose is to ensure that there is adequate protection for residents and the environment from noise, pollutants, emissions, leaks and other risks or hazards associated with these stations.

Selectmen Reject Natural Gas Line Expansion
The Board of Selectmen voted against a Roadway Utility Installation license for Liberty Utilities of Fall River, according to an article in the Sun Chronicle. The company had applied for a license to provide gas service to the residential development known as The Reserve at Spring Hill on Spring Street. The first phase of the project would have involved the installation of about two miles of natural gas main in order to serve 26 housing units, with additional lines installed at a later date to serve more housing units.

Study of Public Safety Building Conducted
A representative of the Mass. Dept. of Public Health Bureau of Environmental Health’s Indoor Air Quality Program conducted a physical assessment of the public safety building last month and the report is expected in a few weeks, according to a Sun Chronicle article. The official made a visual inspection of the physical condition of the building and roof and took air samples in the offices and common areas of the police and fire departments. A similar study was conducted at town hall in July.

Rehoboth Congregational Church Joins Other Area Churches for Homelessness Awareness Weekend
About 70 young people from Rehoboth Congregational Church participated with five other area churches in the 11th Annual Homelessness Awareness Weekend on Nov. 10-12. The event was again held at Mason Field in Attleboro and children slept in cardboard houses to give them an understanding of what it’s like to be homeless. However, the cold temperatures on Friday night forced them to sleep inside. During the weekend the teens were involved in fundraising, volunteering at food kitchens and collecting food for local food pantries.

Seekonk Wins Annual Seekonk-Dighton-Rehoboth Thanksgiving Football Game
Seekonk won the annual Seekonk vs. Dighton-Rehoboth Thanksgiving Day high school football game for the second year in a row with a 34 to 6 final score. D-R’s Dennis Monteiro ran a 48-yard touchdown, according to a Sun Chronicle article. Seekonk has not won the holiday game two years in a row for nearly 10 years.