Week in Review: Voters Reject Chocolate Factory Apartments, Mansfield Kids Appear in Boston Tribute Music Video, and More

Voters at Town Meeting Reject Chocolate Factory Zoning Changes

At least for now, the chocolate factory will remain empty. 

Despite being favored by a majority of voters at Mansfield’s annual town meeting, the article that would have allowed the old chocolate factory to be rezoned from industrial to residential was rejected as it was unable to obtain the two-thirds super-majority needed for zoning articles. 

There were 130 voters at the meeting who supported the article while 110 were against it.

While article 40 would not have approved a specific plan for apartments, it would have amended zoning bylaws to allow for the renovation and reuse of older buildings such as the chocolate factory. 

Developer Joseph Mulkern was responsible for the citizen’s petition article to get the zoning changes. Mulkern’s plans for the building included over 100 mostly single bedroom apartment unit marketed towards young professionals.

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Retiring School Committee Members Lisa Losiewicz and Jean Miller Commended for Service to Mansfield

When the Mansfield School Committee holds their next meeting on May 21, two familiar faces will be missing.

Choosing not to run for reelection, both Lisa Losiewicz and Jean Miller, will leave the school committee once two new members are elected in the May 14 town election.

Prior to the annual town meeting, the two school committee members were commended for their dedication to the Mansfield school district and the town.

Losiewicz leaves the committee after serving for six years while Miller retires after 18 years of service.

On hand to deliver proclamations from the Massachusetts State House were State Senator James Timilty, State Rep. Jay Barrows, and State Rep. Elizabeth Poirier who all had kind words for Miller and Losiewicz.

"I know it hasn't been easy, but you'll be remembered fondly," Barrows said.

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Future Uncertain for Old Colony Dodge

Old Colony Dodge's days could be numbered if the land and buildings occupied by the dealership are sold.

With the owner of the land selling the property, the car dealership would be forced to move all their operations into one building if one of the proprities are sold according to co-owner Ted Bancroft.

"If he (the landlord) sells one of our buildings, we'll just move operations into the other one," Bancroft said.

Despite the uncertainty of a sale, Brancroft says there are no plans to close. The co-owner did say however, they would have to make a counter offer if both buildings are sold.

While Bancroft denies plans for shutting down, co-owner Manny Braga told the Sun Chronicle the dealership would likely close on May 17 due to declining business.

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New Mansfield Library Director Settling in Nicely

Catherine Coyne has been in the librarian profession for more than 20 years, and now she’s glad to call Mansfield her home.

“It’s really nice to be able to work in your own town,” Coyne said.

Coyne, who recently became the library director for the Mansfield Public Library, started working for the Boston Public Library system while she was obrtaining her masters degree in library science.

“I always grew up as a big reader,” she said. “My dad worked for the Boston Public Library, I was always around librarians. I think I read every book in the Rosindale branch.”

Coyne, who holds a bachelors degree in English literature and a masters in library science, moved to Mansfield about six years ago. She said she wanted to work at the Mansfield Public Library, but the opportunity was not there at the time, but her chance came recently.

“I had been the assistant director at the Ames Free Library for six years, and I just happened to see the posting that Janet was retiring,” she said. “I decided to take my chance because I would have loved to work here when I first moved into town.”

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Mansfield Kids Help With Music Video Tribute to Boston

A group of Mansfield fourth and fifth graders recently showed how Boston strong they are by helping out in a music video dedicated to Boston.

The music video by New Bedford native Kenzie and co-written by Mike Caputo of South Boston, features Bostonians showing their Boston pride and singing along to the song which uses a sample from We Built This City by Starship.

According to the Boston Herald, Caputo wanted to do a tribute to Boston and found inspiration in a simple tweet that said "We built this city on heart and soul." The line was later used for the chorus that uses the Starship sample.

To find the Mansfield natives Hailey Francis, Emily Francis, and Gabby Devlin, look for three girls in Red Sox shirts near the 35 second mark. Hailey Francis and Develin make a second appearance toward the end of the video.

Click here to see the video.