The Somerset Sentinel (2025)

10/07/2025

County Fare Hot Dogs selected as best hole-in-the-wall restaurant in state

By GEORGE AUSTIN
SOMERSET - County Fare Hot Dogs has been selected as the "Best Hole-in-the-Wall Restaurant" in all of Massachusetts by Daily Meal.
The selection was made based on Google reviews found on the Internet, Reddit recommendations, food publication mentions and culinary awards. Daily Meal chose the best hole-in-the-wall restaurant in every state.
"Though County Fare's service is simple, they do it exceptionally well," according to an article in Daily Meal. "Choose from a variety of creative toppings for your Coney Island-style hot dogs, tots, and fries, all at an exceedingly rare price of under $10 for a hearty lunch, and personable service to boot."
Daily Meal is a website devoted to food, recipes, kitchens and culture. County Fare Hot Dogs owner Ruth Vieira said she found out that her restaurant was selected as the best hole in the wall restaurant in the state by a customer who showed her the article in Daily Meal.
"It was shocking," Vieira said. "It's awesome. I'm just grateful for everybody."
County Fare Hot Dogs serves hot dogs with a variety of different toppings, including Coney sauce, barbecue sauce, pineapple, bacon and barbecue sauce, chourico and cheese, sauerkraut and others. The restaurant has had some special toppings for holidays.
The restaurant also serves hamburgers, French fries, potato tots, chourico rolls, onion rings, mozzarella sticks and barbecue beans. A lot of people order get their food to go, but there is a booth and six seats at a counter for people to eat at. Vieira also brings her food to sell at a lot of different events around Somerset.
Vieira has become well known in the community, not only for her food, but her philanthropic efforts for animals and others. Pictures of her customers' dogs cover one of the walls in the restaurant located at 937 County St. in Somerset. Vieira has received the Somerset Lions Club's Humanitarian of the Year Award. She has owned the business for about eight years.

10/07/2025

Dancing on the beach

09/07/2025

Using her knitting and crocheting skills to help others

By GEORGE AUSTIN
SOMERSET - Linda Martin wants to see a glimmer in the eyes of people who are going through a tough time. She uses her knitting and crocheting skills to try to make that happen.
Martin, who is a Somerset resident, makes mostly stuffies and dolls that she donates to different organizations that help children.
"I call them emotional support and comfort items for kids," Martin said.
Martin makes bears for a bereavement camp for kids who have lost loved ones. The kids pick out a bear and then select an outfit for the bear to wear.
"It's a way for the grief counselors there to get the kids to open up and talk, because that's hard to do," Martin said.
Martin started making the stuffies and dolls for others in memory of her friend who passed away after being cared for by Hope Hospice. She was so impressed by what Hope Hospice did for her friend, that after he passed away, she asked what she could do to help the organization. Hope Hospice suggested she could do something to help Camp Braveheart, the bereavement camp for children. That is when Martin started making the stuffies and dolls for children.
This year, Martin made 120 bears and 120 outfits for the children at the camp to choose from. This is the second year she has made the bears for the camp.
But the camp is not the only place that Martin makes stuffies and dolls for. She makes 10 trauma Teddy Bears a month to give to children at the Deaconess Home in Fall River.
Martin said making the stuffies and dolls helps her to remember loved ones who have passed away. Martin had a close friend who recently passed away whose husband volunteers for My Brother's Keeper, an organization that provides essential services to local families, delivering healthy groceries, household furniture and Christmas gifts to those in need. Martin said the children that organization services do not have much. She makes Clifford the Big Red Dog dolls or dolls that look like the animals in that book for the children that organization services and puts them with books, a hat and a blower in birthday bags for them. She makes five of those a month for the organization.
Martin said a school psychologist at the Chace Street School had a big impact on her. When that school psychologist passed away, she crocheted some fidgets to give to children who were having emotional problems. She said a lot of children had emotional problems because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Martin said the fidgets bring smiles to the children she gives them to. She said there is a glimmer in their eyes.
"They represent glimmers," Martin said of the stuffies and dolls she makes. "Glimmers are those little things in life that make you smile."
Martin remembers when a nurse gave her a glimmer when she was in the hospital with diabetes. She said the nurse showed her a photograph of Red Sox player Tony Conigliaro while he was in the hospital with a head trauma. Martin, who was a fan of Conigliaro, said the nurse said they were both going to make it. Martin now also makes a lot of dolls that come with poems that can be given to children in the hospital who are having a tough time. Those dolls are named "Trinket" which is the name of one of her dogs.
Martin also makes dolls called Frazzles which are superheroes that make the worries of children disappear. She said she started making those dolls because of Alex Rogers, a Somerset youth with Down Syndrome who became known as Superhero Alex as he battled leukemia.
Martin also makes dolls for children who are lonely. She names those dolls "Munchkin" after her other dog.
Martin said it does not take long for her to make the dolls. She said the work is worth it to her if it puts a smile on a child's face.
Martin is a retired assistant preschool teacher. She volunteers her time at Chace Street School.
Martin's mother taught her to knit. Her mother made sweaters for u***d teenagers who were pregnant. Martin learned crochet from Karen Kalib at K&G Crafts in Fall River.
"She teaches a lot of classes at her store in Fall River," Martin said. "She's awesome."
Martin is also in a knitting group at the Somerset Public Library where they make items to donate to different organizations. She said she would like to see more people doing that.
Linda said she does a lot of her knitting and crocheting when her husband, Michael Martin, is at work or while she is watching television. She said knitting and crocheting keeps her grounded and busy. Linda retired during the COVID-19 pandemic. She said she went from a classroom filled with preschool children to a quiet home. But she said knitting and crocheting stuffies and dolls to help children has given her a purpose. In the future, she said she would like to set up a place for random acts of kindness where people could place items they knit into a box for others to use, similar to the little free libraries.
"There are probably people with artistic ability who could add to it," Linda said. "It might be a nice thing for the community."
Martin pays for most of the materials for the stuffies and dolls she makes herself. In the past, some people have donated yarn and books to help her. Martin said she may do a craft show at the end of the year to raise some money to help pay for the stuffies and dolls.

09/07/2025

Family Fun Day planned at church

SOMERSET - Our Lady of Peace Parish is planning a Family Fun Day for Aug. 17 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Thomas More Church, located at 386 Luther Ave. in Somerset.
The event will include a car cruise with the Bristol County Car Club. There will be free dash plaques for the first 50 cars in the cruise.
Music will be provided by Johnny Angel.
There will be games, a 50/50 raffle and a workshop run by Home Depot.
Food vendors will include County Fare Hot Dogs, Big Daddy King's BBQ and an ice cream truck. Malassadas will also be sold.
Special guests will include professional wrestlers John Cena, Sr. and Natureboy Gary Gold.
For more information, call 508-415-8356.

09/07/2025

Christmas in July flea market to be held at church

SOMERSET - The Somerset United Methodist Church, located at 841 Read St., will be holding its Christmas in July Flea Market this Saturday, July 12, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Featured at the market will be Christmas items that include vintage nativity figures, Christmas greens and decorations that were once on display at a historical society, snowmen,
Annalee dolls, Christmas carolers, Christmas village houses and many other Christmas items.
Vintage items, including a Cheryl Ladd doll in its original box, items by Coca-Cola, porcelain dolls, antique wicker bassinette/carriage, brand named jewelry, handbags and scarves, Reed & Barton Dinnerware (12-place setting), Noritake Savannah China (eight-place setting), FiestaWare, craft items, jigsaw puzzles, Asian decor, calligraphy sets, journals, cookbooks, novels, historical books, toys and stuffed animals will be for sale.
Also included at the sale will be small appliances, glassware, candles, trivets and magnets, beauty supplies and much more.
All proceeds support will the church's mission projects.

08/07/2025

SBRHS grad wants your vote to be the Next Top Hitmaker

By GEORGE AUSTIN
Based on the voting in a contest she is in, a lot of people like the music of Emily Nawrocki.
Out of thousands of participants, the Somerset Berkley Regional High School graduate has advanced to the quarter-final round of the America's Next Top Hitmaker contest held by Global Citizen and Rolling Stone magazine.
Singers/musicians advance in the competition based on the votes of the public. People can vote for free. They can also vote more times if they make a donation to Global Citizen. The deadline to vote to get Nawrocki to the semi-finals of the contest is July 17 at 7 p.m. To vote for Nawrocki, people can go to the link https://tophitmaker.org/2025/emily-nawrocki.
The winner of the contest will perform at the Global Citizen Festival, appear in the Rolling Stone magazine and take home $50,000.
To enter the contest, Nawrocki had to submit some recordings of original music and an application in which she talked about herself as a musician. One of the songs that Nawrocki sent them was "Blue Eyed Baby" which was nominated for Best Pop Song and a People's Choice Award at the International Portuguese Music Awards. She said it is a happy, feel good song. When people go on the website to vote, they can listen to a recording of that song and others from Nawrocki. Also on the website where people can vote, they can see who Nawrocki's musical inspirations are, how she thinks performing in the festival would impact her career and what she would do with the $50,000 in prize money. She names Carole King and Aretha Franklin as her biggest musical inspirations. "You can feel their emotions in every note and lyric- they don’t just perform, they connect deeply with listeners," she wrote in the answer to that question. "Carole’s songwriting captures heartfelt truths, while Aretha’s voice carries raw power and grace. Their authenticity and passion continue to move and inspire me as an artist."
At the top of Nawrocki's page on the website for the contest is a quote from her which reads, "Because I don’t chase songs- I catch the ones that were already chasing me. The melody finds me, and I give it a voice."
Nawrocki said she has gone through five rounds before making it to the quarter-finals of the contest.
Nawrocki said winning the contest would be a big break for her music career. She said she did not think she would advance this far in the contest.
Nawrocki, a 2019 graduate of Somerset Berkley Regional High School, has an album called "Evolving." She was the Musictown Festival queen when she was at the high school. Nawrocki is a graduate of the Berklee College of Music. Nawrocki plays out about five nights a week in the summer. She said she is working on new music. Nawrocki said if she wins the contest, she would use the money to make another album.
Global Citizen is an action platform dedicated to eradicating extreme poverty.
"It's a great cause," Nawrocki said.

08/07/2025

Rainbow over the river

SOMERSET SENTINEL PHOTO BY GEORGE AUSTIN
A rainbow is pictured over the Taunton River as viewed from Somerset Village Waterfront Park at just after 6:30 p.m. tonight.

08/07/2025

SBRHS PTO to have fundraiser at Panera Bread

SOMERSET - This Friday, July 11, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., the Somerset Berkley Regional High School Parent Teacher Organization will be hosting a fundraiser at Panera Bread in Seekonk. People can enjoy a meal, refreshing drinks, sweets and more while supporting the SBRHS PTO.
Those that use the code FUND4U at panerabread.com, in the Panera App or at the kiosk in-cafe will have a portion of their sales credited towards the SBRHS PTO. Online orders placed all day at the PTO's event cafe will count towards the total sales for the fundraiser.
Customers can bring this flyer or show a digital copy to the cashier when ordering at the cafe to ensure that the SBRHS PTO gets a portion of the sale.
Panera Bread is located at 211 Highland Ave. in Seekonk.

08/07/2025

Bowling fundraiser to benefit pediatric brain cancer

By GEORGE AUSTIN
SOMERSET - Registration is open for a bowling fundraiser that is being held to raise money for research into pediatric brain cancer in memory of a Somerset girl.
The fundraiser, that will be held at AMF Lanes in Somerset, is being held in memory of Selina Oehmen, a 10 year old Somerset girl who passed away in 2018 at the age of 10 after a courageous battle with DIPG, an inoperable, terminal childhood brain cancer. The annual bowling fundraiser has been held by Selina's parents, Michelle and Ken Oehmen, to raise money for The Cure Starts Now which is trying to find a cure for DIPG and other cancers.
The fundraiser will be held on Sept. 21 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at AMF Lanes, which is located at 231 Riverside Ave. in Somerset. Registration fee is $25 per bowler which includes three strings of bowling and shoes. Raffle tickets are $25, if purchased in advance. They will be $30 at the event. Those who would like to register online can go to the link csnevents.org/BowlingSomerset.
Selina was a sweet, sassy girl who loved softball, Girl Scouts, arts and crafts, musical theater, marching band, playing her cello and helping out at her church as an altar server and in the faith formation program. Selina made friends easily and was in the fifth grade at North Elementary School. Her smile and laughter could brighten any room. Selina had dreamed of being a scientist or art teacher someday. Her strength and grace in the face of her illness was truly an inspiration. She is greatly missed by all who were blessed to know her.
The Cure Starts Now represents a grassroots effort dedicated to, not just fighting one cancer, but the elimination of all cancers. The organization believes, as the experts do; that in order to truly cure cancer, there has to be a focus on those cancers that are immune to treatment, those cancers that also affect children and those cancers that are the biggest bullies with the highest death rate.
The Cure Starts Now calls it the Homerun Cure, but the idea isn’t new. The Homerun strategy dates back to the early 1900’s when bold advances in cancer research were made, leading to the invention of surgical efforts, radiation and finally chemotherapy. But the advancements stopped, leaving many patients behind without hope of survival. Resources were prioritized for those cancers that affected the most people rather than those who researchers could learn the most from, and the focus shifted from cures to treatments. The Cure Starts Now is dedicated to pursuing cancer research on those fronts that offer the most promise rather than simply fighting “cancer by the numbers” as has been done for the past 70 years.
The Oehmens have also given scholarships to Somerset Berkley Regional High School students in the name of their daughter.

08/07/2025

Running to help the Education Foundation

By GEORGE AUSTIN
SOMERSET - Five local runners will be running the second most well known road race in Massachusetts this summer to raise money for the Somerset Berkley Education Foundation.
Keith Ostapow, Peter Miss, Darryl Wright, Jason Wright and Isabella Rocha will be running in the Falmouth Road Race on Aug. 17 to raise money for the Education Foundation.
Other than the Boston Marathon, the seven-mile race in the Cape Cod town is the most prestigious race in Massachusetts, drawing thousands of runners, including some of the most elite in the sport. The Education Foundation provides official numbers for the race to five runners who commit to raising at least $1,000 each for the Education Foundation. Those who would like to donate to the Education Foundation in honor of either of those runners can go to the link https://givebutter.com/a14hCV where all of their names are listed.
"It's really about trying to raise funds to help the teachers and the kids have experiences they ordinarily wouldn't have, especially with budget cuts," Mis said.
Mis has run the New Bedford Half Marathon and in a lot of other five-kilometer races. He has finished in first place in the 60 to 69 year old age division in the Education Foundation's race that it holds every year around Halloween. He ran in the Run to Home Base at Fenway Park to raise money for veterans. Mis has never run in the Falmouth Road Race.
"I'm not fast, but I can get through seven miles," Mis said.
Mis, who is the vice president of the Somerset Berkley Education Foundation, said he is committed to giving teachers the right tools to further inspire their students. Mis has three daughters who have graduated from Somerset Berkley Regional High School. He said that his daughters' experiences either in classes or outside of classes in extracurricular activities at the high school helped to develop their self confidence and self esteem. He said teachers have done whatever they can to make more inclusive and hands-on experiences that resonate with students, rather than just going by textbooks. He talked about the science projects, the three-dimensional printers and the literacy projects that the Education Foundation has funded over the years. He said that when he was a student in school, there was not a foundation to provide such support to the schools.
"This is going for a great cause to support the teachers in the school," Mis said. "It's important to step up the best you can."
Rocha graduated from Somerset Berkley Regional High School in 2021. Rocha said the Somerset Berkley educational system did an incredible job preparing her for college. She said it is where she first learned how to think critically about the world and explore educational interests. She said she was also lucky enough to be supported by some amazing teachers and faculty members throughout her time. Rocha said she still keeps in touch with them. She recently received a bachelor of science degree in political science and economics from the University of Rochester. Rocha said she took a break from running and then got back into it a few years ago.
Rocha said the Education Foundation brings "really cool programs" to the schools in Somerset and Berkley, so she wanted to help out with that. She has run a half marathon.
"I really like running," Rocha said. "I did it in high school in cross country and spring track."
Rocha said she has already gone over the $1,000 that the Education Foundation wanted her to raise. She said her father helped her to raise the money and Sharon Sullivan-Puccini, who is on the board of directors of the Education Foundation, helped to promote her run.
"I'm really excited," Rocha said. "I'm a little worried it might be hot and a little intimidating because there are elite runners that are very fast, but I'm really looking forward to it."
Through fundraising events and donations from individuals and businesses, the Foundation seeks to provide grants that further creativity, innovation, and excellence in Somerset and Berkley schools. The Foundation aims to enhance and enrich the education experience for all students by empowering and supporting teachers and staff and their projects and programs. Since 2019, the Foundation has raised over $100,000 to help schools in Somerset and Berkley. Some of the projects the Foundation has funded for the school have included a hydroponics garden, field trips, I-Pads, a cooking and life skills program, playground communication boards to enhance the ability for minimally verbal students, a program for students to create computer games and many others.
Darryl Wright's three sons went to Somerset Berkley Regional High School and he says they enjoyed their time there as well as the education they received. By running the Falmouth Road Race, he said he can give back to the Education Foundation while doing something he loves.
Jason Wright grew up attending school within the Somerset Berkley school system along with his two brothers and has very fond memories of his time there. He enjoys running and has participated in many different races. He has run the Falmouth Road Race three times before and this time he is looking forward to running it for a great cause.
Ostapow has run a lot of road races but has never run the Falmouth Road Race. He said his training is going very well.
"It's kind of exciting," Ostapow said.
Ostapow, who has a daughter who attends Somerset Berkley Regional High School, has been raising money for the Education Foundation through social media.
"They put the money where it needs to go," Ostapow said of the Education Foundation.

08/07/2025

Self defense, martial arts classes offered

By GEORGE AUSTIN
SOMERSET - Nick Taber is offering self defense and martial arts classes at the flex studio located at 140 Slades Ferry Ave. in Somerset.
In his self defense classes, Taber said he will be teaching students how to be comfortable when an attacker is close by, how to help yourself breath and get out of the situation, but most importantly, how to feel in control.
Taber said he teaches how to deescalate a situation before there is a fight, how to have confidence and how to face tough situations when they come up against you, such as with bullying situations.
For if they do get attacked, Taber said his students are taught how to block, grappling, how to get out of a choke hold and how to take someone down.
Taber said they also have a lot of fun in the classes.
Taber has been teaching for over 30 years. His business is called Taber Fitness Academy.
The classes will be held in the studio on Saturdays, starting at 10 a.m. Taber said people can come there to sign up for the classes or can call him at 508-493-8544.

07/07/2025

OBITUARY
Linda Oliveira
Somerset Garden Club member

Linda J. (Cunha) Oliveira, age 82, of New Bedford, of Somerset, passed away peacefully on Friday, June 27, 2025, at Hathaway Manor Extended Care. She was the beloved wife of the late John Oliveira.
Born in Fall River, Linda was the daughter of the late Casimiro and Gilda (Lima) Cunha. A proud graduate of B.M.C. Durfee High School, she dedicated much of her life to serving others. Linda served as the executive director of the ARC in Fall River for 15 years and later as the secretary at the First Baptist Church in Fall River for a decade.
Linda was an active member of the Somerset Gardening Club and found great joy in painting, spending time on the water with her late husband, and cherishing moments with her family and friends.
She is survived by her loving son, John J. Oliveira, and his girlfriend Danielle Ashley of Somerset; her cherished granddaughters, Audrey and Amy Oliveira; her sister, Elizabeth Albernaz and her husband Louie of Fall River; and many dear nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was the sister of the late John Cunha.
A committal service will be held Friday, July 18, 2025, at 1 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Cemetery on County Street in Somerset. Relatives and friends are invited. Arrangements are in the care of the Waring-Sullivan Home at Rose E. Sullivan, located at 866 County St. in Somerset.

The Somerset Sentinel

10/07/2025

10/07/2025

09/07/2025

09/07/2025

09/07/2025

08/07/2025

08/07/2025

08/07/2025

08/07/2025

08/07/2025

08/07/2025

07/07/2025

Address

Website

Alerts

Shortcuts

Share