The Somerset Sentinel (2026)

06/10/2026

SBRHS golf team falls to Diman

By GEORGE AUSTIN
It was a very windy day at Swansea Country Club today. But both golf teams from Somerset Berkley Regional High School and Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School had to play in that weather.
Diman came out on top in the match by a score of 245 strokes to 269 strokes.
For the Blue Raiders, Michael German and Gavin Silvia each had scores of a six over par 42 over the nine holes.
Connor Dorsey had a round of 43 for SBRHS. Adam Sousa had a score of 46, Lucas Geary shot a 47, Finn McDonough had a 49 and Isaac Louro scored a 50.
The top six scores count toward the team score..
For the Bengals, Van Wilson had a round of 35 and Caleb Faria shot a 39 while teammates Landon Jean had a score of 41, Jordan Viveiros a 42, Jacob Cabral a 45, Jack Bacon a 47 and Gavin Pimental a 49. Jean and Bacon are from Somerset.

06/10/2026

SBRHS students receive white coats and awards

By GEORGE AUSTIN
SOMERSET - At a ceremony held in the performing arts center at Somerset Berkley Regional High School last Thursday, students who have successfully completed the principles of biomedical science and human body system courses and have been actively enrolled in passing the medical interventions and biomedical innovation courses were presented with white coats.
The white coats are a symbolic rite of passage in the medical profession. The white coats symbolize their commitment to the values of compassion, integrity and excellence that the students are making to patient care.
The SBRHS students who received the white coats included Evelyn Adey, Addison Aguiar, Ava Berryman, Ryan Charest, Paige Danner, Sophia Duarte, Karaline Furness, Aubri Gouveia, Erin Gunn, Laylah Kelsey, Avery Lariviere, Meera Malik, Sophia Mastro, Emmary Oliveira, Sophie Paiva, Madison Rebello, Violet Silva, Sienna Silveira, Lucas Sousa, Mia Wiley and Yva Zaarour.
The students who received white coats also received a certificate and red tassels that they will wear at the SBRHS graduation ceremony next June.
During the ceremony, students also received Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) awards. HOSA is a national student organization that empowers future health professionals through competitive events, leadership development and community service. SBRHS teacher Matthew Talbot, who started the HOSA chapter at the high school, was in attendance at last Thursday's ceremony.
"Our chapter has demonstrated exceptional commitment this year, with students competing at the state and international levels, taking on leadership roles and representing our school with pride," said Lyndsey Littlefield who is the co-advisor of the SBRHS HOSA chapter with Gianna Burniston.
The Fabulous Freshman Award was presented to Sydnie Medeiros. The award is presented to someone who competed and submitted to HOSA, as a freshman and excelled. Littlefield said Medeiros had one of the best clinical submissions she has seen for a freshman.
The Distinguished Team Competitor Award was presented to the team of Ava Thornton, Devyn Sullivan and Carolyn Morgado. Gianna Burniston said their HOSA project went above and beyond their submission to the state. She said they nourished athletes with fruit, taught soccer lessons to younger kids and developed social media skills to advertise healthy eating in sports.
The Distinguished Individual Competitor Award was presented to Aya Jamhour.
The Executive Board Leadership Awards went to President Grace Tweedie and vice president Emily Lacasse and Laylah Kelsey. Littlefield said Tweedie has served as the SBRHS HOSA president with exceptional dedication, represented the SBRHS chapter of HOSA as a state voting delegate and qualified to compete in the International Leadership Conference. Littlefield said both Lacasse and Kelsey have provided outstanding leadership as vice presidents and earned qualification to the International Leadership Conference.
"I am so incredibly grateful that I found this club," Tweedie said. "Never in a million years would I have thought I would find such an amazing family in HOSA. Though I will be leaving this school come come May, I will be taking the memories with me for the rest of my life. I am so proud of all of our students who have strived to put themselves out there, letting their voices be heard and letting and letting their lights shine through HOSA."
Lacasse and Kelsey also made some remarks during the ceremony.
Kelsey said that the SBRHS HOSA chapter allows for people of all different backgrounds to put aside their differences and come together for one common interest.
"We strongly encourage members to be kind, caring and compassionate students to furthermore create this atmosphere of acceptance and kindness," Lacasse said. "Our goal as a group is not only to be a place for students to learn, grow and gain connections in the medical field, but to also grow as people by making new friends, new interests or even making a mistake."
Charette, Lillian Godet and Jacob Wilson earned International Leadership Conference Qualifier Awards.
Emotional Well Being Recognition Awards were presented to Madison Rebello and Isabelle Vincent. The awards are presented to students who scored in the 70 percentile at the 2026 HOSA International Conference.
The Health Career Photography Top Placement Award was presented to Peyton Morosco. The award is presented to a student who finishes in the top 20 in the HOSA International Conference.
The Family Career and Medicine ATC Award was presented to Meera Malik.
The Public Service Announcement Top Placement Award went to Lillian Camara and Lylah Trowbridge. They did their public service announcement project on the effects of Alzheimer's disease.
The SBRHS HOSA chapter's E-Board was announced. The members of the board include Eva Espinal, Sydnie Medeiros, Maddie Rebello, Grace Charette, Isabelle Vincent and Lillian Camara.
The Distinguished Scholar Award for Project Lead the Way Principles of Biomedical Science went to Emmary Oliveira.
The Distinguished Scholar Award for Project Lead the way Human Body Systems Science Award went to Madison Rebello and Laylah Kelsey.
The Distinguished Scholar Award for Project Lead the Way Biomedical Pathway went to Raiya Cabral. The award is given for outstanding achievement and superior effort in all of the Project Lead the Way courses. LIttlefield said Cabral has demonstrated lab skills and determination from her freshman year to her senior year.
The Biomedical Catalyst Award was presented to Violet Silva and Aubri Gouveia. Gianna Burniston, who teaches human body systems classes and is the co-advisor for the HOSA program at SBRHS, said the HOSA teachers feel Silva and Gouveia have learned about who they are in the medical world and are destined to be great future professionals.
"They both came in as shy freshmen and now are confident, active in class and leading their groups to success in labs," Burniston said.
The Project Lead the Way Biomedical Sciences program provides students with hands-on experiences through courses in principles of biomedical science, human body systems and biomedical innovation. The rigorous pathway prepares students for careers in healthcare and medical research. The students who were celebrated at last Thursday's ceremony have navigated from solving Anna Garcia's murder, helping Hazel and Dillion get their full ability back through physical therapy plans and identifying, solving and treating bacterial meningitis.
"These students are tomorrow's future medical leaders and we are beyond proud of them," Littlefield said.

05/10/2026

State rep candidates to debate

The Dighton Democratic and Republican town committees have announced that state Rep. Justin Thurber, the Republican candidate, and Jamison Souza, the Democratic candidate for Massachusetts state representative, have agreed to a debate at the Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School auditorium on Oct. 13, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Doors for the event will open at 6:30 p.m.
The event will also be broadcast on the Dighton cable channel and posted to the channel’s YouTube page. This is an opportunity for residents to ask questions of both candidates before the election on Tuesday, November 3. The committees are also inviting interested voters from Somerset, Swansea and Taunton to come and ask questions, as the winner of this race for state representative will serve constituents in all four communities.

05/10/2026

VFW to hold Poker tournament

SOMERSET - The Somerset Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8500 will hold a Poker tournament on Oct. 8 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the hall that is located at 329 Washington Ave. There will be a $30 buy-in for the tournament. Fifty percent will go to the winner and 50 percent will go to the VFW.

05/10/2026

Somerset and Fall River work together on marine rescue

At approximately 9:25 p.m. last night, the Somerset Fire Department responded to a report of a 14-foot vessel that had struck the pier at Weaver’s Cove, near the old Shell station. The vessel was sinking, with two occupants in the water.
Somerset Marine 1 responded by water, while Ladder 1 established land-based command at the Veterans Memorial Bridge. Rescue 2 staged at the base of the bridge to support the operation, shortly after they moved to Bicentennial Park.
On the Fall River side, Fall River Marine 1 responded by water, with Car 2 establishing land-based command. A medical rescue and squad staged at Bicentennial Park.
Working together, Somerset Marine 1 and Fall River Marine 1 located and removed both victims from the water and transported them to Bicentennial Park, where medical rescues were waiting.
Both patients were transported to Rhode Island Hospital (by Somerset and Fall River) with serious head and orthopedic injuries.
"This incident is a great example of two departments working seamlessly together during a difficult nighttime water rescue," a statement on the Somerset Fire Department page reads. "The coordinated efforts of Somerset and Fall River crews helped bring both victims safely out of the water and into the care of our medical rescues."
While the marine rescue was underway, off-duty Somerset firefighters responded back to the station to backfill the main station and maintain coverage for the community. Their willingness to come in and support the department is greatly appreciated.
Boaters should know your surroundings, operate at a safe speed, wear a properly fitted life jacket, and never underestimate nighttime boating conditions. A few extra precautions can make all the difference.

04/10/2026

Calligraphy course offered at church

SOMERSET - An introduction to calligraphy course will be offered at the Congregational Christian Church hall on Oct. 10, starting at 10 a.m. To sign up for the class, people can call (508)672-6623. The church hall is located at 1411 County St. in Somerset.

04/10/2026

Food, music and more at Slades Ferry Park

Foodchella 9 was held at Slades Ferry Park yesterday. The event included all kinds of food from hot potatoes with many different types of toppings, Asian dumplings, Italian, sausage sandwiches, burritos, fries with different types of toppings, desserts and more. The bands Run for Covers, Quick Hits and a group from the School of Rock played. There were also tattoo artists there, as well as a vendor selling vintage clothing. The weather was nice as people sat on tables and benches or had picnics on the ground as they watched the bands playing.

03/10/2026

Somerset Berkley SEPAC holds Resource Fair

The Somerset Berkley Special Education Parents Advisory Council held a Resource Fair in the student dining center at Somerset Berkley Regional High School today. Different organizations that offer services that could help students and parents had tables where families could get information and talk to representatives of those organizations about their services.

03/10/2026

Home Depot celebrates Public Safety Day

The Home Depot store on Route 6 in Somerset today celebrated Public Safety Day. Public safety personnel from Somerset and Swansea participated in the event, bringing their vehicles to the Home Depot parking lot for children to see. Home Depot also ran a workshop for children to make candy boxes to go along with the Halloween season.

03/10/2026

Selectmen support Sowams

By GEORGE AUSTIN
SOMERSET - The selectmen at their meeting on Thursday signed a letter in support of designating an area that covers nine towns and cities known as Sowams as a National Heritage Area.
They signed three copies of the letter to be sent to U.S. Senators Edward Markey and Elizabeth Warren and U.S. Rep. Jake Auchincloss. Congress will decide if the area gets the designation.
According to the letter, "The Sowams landscape is one of the most historically significant regions in the United States. It is the ancestral homeland of the Pokanoket Massasoit, who welcomed the Pilgrims and forged a 50-year peace treaty. It is also the defining setting for the outbreak of King Philip's War and is fundamentally tied to the roots of American religious freedom."
If the area is named a National Heritage Area, it would protect historic, cultural and environmental assets and unlock up to $500,000 in federal matching grants for the local economy and strengthen historic tourism. The cities and towns don't necessarily have to match that grant with money. Volunteer work can count towards the match.
The selectmen also approved a resolution endorsing the Sowams area as a National Heritage area. Barrington, Bristol, East Providence, Warren, and the area east of the Moshassuck River in Providence, R.I., and Rehoboth, Seekonk, Somerset and Swansea, Mass. comprise the Sowams area.
Selectmen Chair Allen Smith said his family has history in the Sowams area. He is related to Roger Mowry who went to Providence in the 1600s with Roger Williams and opened a tavern that survived the King Philip's War.
Smith said he and his daughter traced his family's history. He said it is so important to pass on history from generation to generation. Smith said he encourages people to go to the town's website where there will be a letter of support for the Sowams designation that they can print out and sign to send to federal representatives.
Selectman Todd Costa asked for some copies of the letters to be printed out and put at the Somerset Public Library where people could sign them and send them to the town's congressional delegation.
A feasibility study has been done on making Sowams a National Heritage Area. People can see it in the Somerset Public Library.
Somerset Economic Development Committee Chair Paul Cogley, who is the treasurer for the committee trying to get the National Heritage Area designation, said that federal representatives who he has talked to said there is a concern about the relationships with indigenous people in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Cogley said the indigenous people are part of the story, but there are other aspects about the history of the area that make it worthy of a National Heritage Area designation, such as the Swansea Friends Meetinghouse in Somerset, which has to do with slavery and religious freedom, and industries that have been in the area, such as the marine industry. He said the designation is about all nine towns and cities involved.
"It's about the history of the whole area, not just the indigenous peoples," Cogley said.
Somerset Historical Commission member John Larsen, who is part of the steering committee trying to get the designation, encouraged people to look at the feasibility study and get behind the effort because it will be well worth it for the communities involved. Larsen said the communities in the Sowams area are working together. He said that he and Marybeth Larsen, another member of the Somerset Historical Commission, spoke about abolitionist Patience Brayton, who was a minister at a Quaker meeting house in Somerset, at the Carpenter Museum in Rehoboth recently.

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