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South Coast week ahead, Nov. 2 to 7: Election Day, a Fall River urban renewal plan, Marion's tax hearing and Parsons Dance

The meetings worth watching and how to watch them, the trash and town office changes, the Veterans Day RSVP deadline that falls this week and the big nights out, with links to our full stories.

By the SC360 Community Desk | Published Nov. 1, 2026 | Last verified Nov. 1, 2026, 4:28 p.m. ET

Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 3, tops the South Coast week, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and our Election Day guide laying out the hours, the deadlines and where each town posts its results. The rest of the week brings a 7:30 a.m. Taunton council meeting moved for the election, an urban renewal plan for Fall River's Pleasant Street and Flint neighborhood up for its redevelopment board's approval, Marion's tax rate hearing and Parsons Dance at the Zeiterion in New Bedford on Saturday night.

Here is what is coming Monday, Nov. 2, through Saturday, Nov. 7. Where we already have the full story, the item links to it.

Election week

If you still need to check where you vote, our where to vote guide lists polling places and drop boxes town by town, and this story covers the eight Taunton precincts and Dartmouth's Precinct 9, which vote in places they did not use in 2024. What's on your ballot walks through the races and questions in each community, and our voter guide collects all of it in one place.

The Acushnet and Mattapoisett Councils on Aging are giving seniors rides to the polls Tuesday. Acushnet offers morning rides only, to Acushnet Elementary School at 800 Middle Road, where every Acushnet precinct votes; call 508-998-0280 to schedule one. Mattapoisett's rides go to Old Hammondtown School, and riders register at 508-758-4110.

Counting does not stop Tuesday night. Under state law, ballots mailed by Election Day still count if they arrive by 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, and Fall River's count of absentee and early ballots, open to the public, starts at 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, in the Atrium at One Government Center, as our story on the late count explains. Lakeville's Town Clerk's office is closed Wednesday, Nov. 4, the day after the election.

Meetings worth watching

Taunton, Monday, 7:30 a.m. Because of Tuesday's state election, the Municipal Council and its committees meet Monday at 7:30 a.m. in the Chester R. Martin Municipal Council Chambers, 15 Summer St. An addendum posted Saturday evening adds a closed session "to discuss and finalize the terms and conditions of the Police Chief's Employment Contract." The council appointed Capt. Eric Nichols chief in September on the condition that he sign an employment contract, with Nov. 1 set as his start date, as we reported. The open agenda also lists a community update from Mayor Shaunna O'Connell and two reappointments to the Taunton Cultural Council.

Fall River, Monday, 5:30 p.m. The Conservation Commission meets in the first floor hearing room at One Government Center, with the Shaw Street terminal dredging plan before it.

Westport, Monday, 5:45 p.m. The Select Board takes up the Town Hall Annex well and Eversource's Hixbridge Road line work at Town Hall, 816 Main Road. Westport Government TV has the meeting listed as an upcoming stream on its YouTube channel.

Dartmouth, Monday, 7 p.m. The Planning Board meets on Zoom, and the public can join live with meeting ID 852 9332 0755 and passcode 397205. It holds a public hearing on a special permit application for 813 State Road and continues its discussion of Dartmouth's future zoning.

Taunton, Monday and Thursday. The Conservation Commission on Monday and the Planning Board on Thursday, Nov. 5, both take up a plan for 29 apartments, a coffee shop and an auto repair shop on Winthrop Street.

Marion, Tuesday, 6 p.m. The Select Board and the Board of Assessors hold the hearing on how the town splits its tax rate in the Town House Conference Room, 2 Spring St. The same agenda lists fiscal 2028 budget guidance, a second reading of a pavement moratorium policy, alternatives for a shared use path on Point Road and an update on delinquent water accounts. ORCTV records and televises the meeting.

Fall River, Wednesday, 5 p.m. The Fall River Redevelopment Authority meets in the first floor cafeteria at One Government Center, and its agenda lists a review of the Pleasant Street and Flint Neighborhood Urban Renewal Plan with Innes Land Strategies "for Board approval." The board also has updates on site work at Northfield Point and the mooring fields at 600 Davol St. and on the parking lot at 45 Anawan St., and a closed session on possible real estate deals for three properties: 427 Plymouth Ave., a parcel at the southern end of the Davol Street corridor and the National Grid Wharf parcel. The agenda says a recording of the open session can be viewed on Fall River Government Television.

Roads

The state's lane and ramp closures for the week, including five overnight closures of Route 140 in Taunton, are in our highway closures roundup. Interstate 195 closes in both directions overnight Nov. 6 in East Providence for a bridge demolition, as we reported. In Marion, left turn signal work at Route 6 and Route 105 starts Monday, and in Dartmouth, road work on four streets runs through Nov. 20.

Marion's Route 6 water main job is also near a winter break. The contractor is working at the entrance to Marion Pointe, near 59 Wareham Road, and will then go back to the intersection of Wareham Road and Point Road to connect the new main and put in hydrants, the town said Oct. 30. Work is scheduled to stop around mid-November and pick up again in the spring of 2027, with temporary pavement laid over the trench at the end of each work day.

Trash, taxes and town services

Mattapoisett's curbside collection for the week of Nov. 2 is a trash only week, and the town asks residents to have bins at the curb before 7 a.m. Taunton opens its City Convenience Center at 330 East Britannia St. for free yard waste drop off from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, for residents with proof of residency; other towns' leaf schedules are in our leaf and yard waste guide.

Property tax bills are due Monday in Marion and Wareham. Rochester's Assessors' Office starts the property inspections the state Department of Revenue requires on Monday, Nov. 2, and the town asks owners with questions to call the office.

Veterans Day lead-up

Veterans Day falls on Wednesday, Nov. 11, and our guide has the parades, ceremonies and closings. One deadline for it falls this week. The Marion Council on Aging's noon luncheon on Nov. 11 at the Benjamin D. Cushing Community Center, for veterans, active duty service members, spouses and guests, needs an RSVP by Friday, Nov. 6, at 508-748-3570. Fall River is still signing up marchers and asks groups that want to be in its parade to register as soon as possible.

Out and about

The Zeiterion Performing Arts Center in New Bedford has four public events this week. Colby James & The Ramblers play at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, with tickets at $35 and $47. Parsons Dance takes the stage at 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, with tickets from $35 to $69, and the company's founder, David Parsons, teaches a pay what you choose master class there at 7 p.m. Friday. The theater also runs a pay what you can guided tour at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

The New Bedford Whaling Museum's First Friday on Nov. 6 celebrates hip hop, with live performances curated with 3rd EyE Unlimited, a live DJ, dance showcases and interactive art demonstrations in the Harbor View Gallery. Doors open at 5 p.m. and the program runs from 6 to 8 p.m. It is for ages 18 and older, and tickets are $25, or $12.50 for members.

In Fall River, the Narrows Center for the Arts has Jason Robert Brown with Broadway guests on Friday, Nov. 6, and Amani Burnham on Saturday, Nov. 7. In Wareham, singer Sarah McQuaid plays a library concert at 7 p.m. Monday at the Wareham Free Library, 48 Marion Road.

In Taunton on Saturday, Girls Inc. holds its 22nd annual craft fair from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 131 Arlington St. In Dighton the same day, the Taunton River Watershed Alliance holds its annual meeting from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at Bristol County Agricultural High School. In Swansea, ALDI holds the grand opening of its new store Thursday.

Label: Reported by us, from the town's posted records.

Notes

Every listing comes from a record the city, town or venue posted: the Taunton council agenda and its addendum, the Fall River Redevelopment Authority's meeting notice, the Dartmouth Planning Board and Marion Select Board agendas, notices from Acushnet, Mattapoisett, Lakeville, Rochester and Marion, the Taunton and Wareham calendars, and the Zeiterion, Narrows Center and Whaling Museum event pages. The Westport stream listing comes from Westport Government TV's YouTube page. Election deadlines and the stories we link carry their own sources. We read them on Nov. 1. We checked each date and weekday against a calendar.

Corrections

No corrections to this story. If something here is wrong, tell us. Every correction is dated on the story and listed in our public log.

Sources (22)

  1. City of Taunton: Municipal Council Agenda, Nov. 2, 2026, with the date and time change noticeCouncil and committee meetings moved to Monday, Nov. 2, at 7:30 a.m. because of the Nov. 3 state election; Chester R. Martin Municipal Council Chambers, 15 Summer St.; mayor's community update; two Cultural Council reappointments. Posted Oct. 28, 2026, 2:49 p.m. Read Nov. 1, 2026.
  2. City of Taunton: Addendum, Municipal Council Agenda, Nov. 2, 2026Executive session to discuss and finalize the terms and conditions of the police chief's employment contract (Open Meeting Law exemption 2). Posted Oct. 31, 2026, 6:57 p.m. Read Nov. 1, 2026.
  3. Fall River Redevelopment Authority: Notice of Open Meeting, Nov. 4, 20265 p.m., cafeteria, first floor, One Government Center; Pleasant St./Flint Neighborhood Urban Renewal Plan review with Innes Land Strategies for board approval; 600 Davol Street and 45 Anawan Street items; executive session real estate items; recording on Fall River Government Television. Clerk stamp Oct. 30, 2026. Read Nov. 1, 2026.
  4. South Coast 360: Capt. Eric Nichols is set to take over as Taunton police chief Nov. 1Council appointment in September on the condition of a signed employment contract, Nov. 1 start date; Mayor Shaunna O'Connell named in the City of Taunton photo. Read Nov. 1, 2026.
  5. Town of Dartmouth: Planning Board Agenda, Nov. 2, 20267 p.m., remote by Zoom with meeting ID and passcode; public hearing on special permit PSP-25-2, 813 State Road; ongoing discussion of Dartmouth Future Zoning. Read Nov. 1, 2026.
  6. Town of Marion: Select Board and Water/Sewer Commissioners Meeting Agenda, Nov. 3, 20266 p.m., Town House Conference Room, 2 Spring St.; classification hearing with the Board of Assessors; FY2028 budget guidance; pavement moratorium policy second read; Point Road shared use path alternatives; delinquent water account update; recorded and televised by ORCTV. Clerk stamp Oct. 30, 2026. Read Nov. 1, 2026.
  7. Westport Government TV: YouTube streams pageSelect Board, Nov. 2, 2026, listed as an upcoming stream. Read Nov. 1, 2026.
  8. Town of Acushnet: Council on Aging Offers Rides to the Polls for Acushnet SeniorsMorning rides only, seniors only, 508-998-0280; all precincts vote at Acushnet Elementary School, 800 Middle Road. Posted Oct. 27, 2026. Read Nov. 1, 2026.
  9. Town of Mattapoisett: Do you need a ride to the polls?COA rides to Old Hammondtown School on Election Day; register at 508-758-4110. Posted Oct. 29, 2026. Read Nov. 1, 2026.
  10. Town of Lakeville: Town Clerk's Office Closed November 4, 2026Posted Oct. 29, 2026. Read Nov. 1, 2026.
  11. Town of Marion: Construction Update, Wareham Road (Route 6) Water Main InstallationWork at the Marion Pointe entrance near 59 Wareham Road, then the Point Road intersection connection and hydrants; winter pause around mid-November to spring 2027; temporary trench pavement daily. Posted Oct. 30, 2026. Read Nov. 1, 2026.
  12. Town of Mattapoisett: November 2nd, 2026, Trash Only WeekBins at the curb before 7 a.m. Last updated Oct. 30, 2026. Read Nov. 1, 2026.
  13. City of Taunton calendar: Free Yard Waste Drop-Off in NovemberSat. Nov. 7, 2026, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., City Convenience Center, 330 East Britannia St.; proof of residency required. Read Nov. 1, 2026.
  14. Town of Rochester: Attention Rochester Property OwnersAssessors' Office begins Department of Revenue mandated property inspections Mon. Nov. 2, 2026. Posted Oct. 30, 2026. Read Nov. 1, 2026.
  15. Town of Marion: Annual Marion Veterans Day CeremonyCouncil on Aging luncheon Nov. 11 at noon, Benjamin D. Cushing Community Center; RSVP by Nov. 6 at 508-748-3570. Posted Oct. 21, 2026. Read Nov. 1, 2026.
  16. Zeiterion Performing Arts Center: eventsGuided Tours Tue. Nov. 3, 6 p.m., pay what you can; Colby James & The Ramblers Thu. Nov. 5, 7:30 p.m., $35 and $47; Parsons Dance master class Fri. Nov. 6, 7 p.m., taught by David Parsons, pay what you choose; Parsons Dance Sat. Nov. 7, 8 p.m., $35 to $69. Read Nov. 1, 2026.
  17. New Bedford Whaling Museum: First Friday, The Art of Hip HopFri. Nov. 6, 2026, doors 5 p.m., program 6 to 8 p.m.; live performances curated with 3rd EyE Unlimited; live DJ, dance showcases, interactive art demonstrations, Harbor View Gallery; 18 and older; $25 public, $12.50 members. Read Nov. 1, 2026.
  18. Narrows Center for the Arts: upcoming eventsJason Robert Brown with Broadway Guests, Fri. Nov. 6, 2026; Amani Burnham, Sat. Nov. 7, 2026. Read Nov. 1, 2026.
  19. Town of Wareham calendar: Wareham Free Library Concert, Sarah McQuaidMon. Nov. 2, 2026, 7 to 8 p.m., Wareham Free Library, 48 Marion Road. Read Nov. 1, 2026.
  20. City of Taunton calendar: Girls Inc. 22nd Annual Craft FairSat. Nov. 7, 2026, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., 131 Arlington St. Read Nov. 1, 2026.
  21. City of Taunton calendar: Taunton River Watershed Alliance Annual MeetingSat. Nov. 7, 2026, 4 to 6:30 p.m., Bristol County Agricultural High School, 135 Center St., Dighton. Read Nov. 1, 2026.
  22. Wikimedia Commons: Zeiterion TheaterLead photo: the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center, New Bedford, 2006, by LGagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0. Read Nov. 1, 2026.

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