Stephani Teran
Express staff
If you belong to the Plympton Helping Plympton Facebook page then you have likely been treated to seeing beautiful photographs and videos of local wildlife and insects that are not only lovely to look at but fascinatingly informative. These generous offerings that seem more likely to be found in National Geographic than a local Facebook group are the work of local photographer, Donna McBrien.
McBrien, who has lived in Plympton since 2009, can often be found hauling her top of the line photography equipment while roaming and exploring local forests, rivers, wildlife sanctuaries, and “secret places” where she has found nature in its purest, undisturbed form. With a former lucrative career in finance for Fidelity, Donna has always had an underlying passion for science -labeling herself as a “science geek”. She attributes her journey into photography and life in general to an insatiable streak of curiosity that runs through her.
McBrien first dabbled in photography in high school and was gifted her first camera and lens by her sister. McBrien’s first frequent subject matter was architecture. Her career required a great deal of travel and McBrien found herself using nearly every non-working hour of her trips taking pictures of the places she was visiting -often at nights and on weekends. This later evolved into landscape photography and satisfied her urge to explore in depth and learn about wherever she happened to be.
Her quest for the perfect shot was taken her to some perilous places. She has had some very close calls from steep canyon roads where the car nearly went over the cliff edge to muddy, icy roads in the Midwest where she had to push her car up the hill by herself as no roadside assistance could reach her remote location. She recalls returning a rental car on a business trip after a photography adventure turned south. “It was entirely covered with icy mud balls and my coworkers still tease me about it.”
Landscape and architecture were McBrien’s main focus in photography until she and her sister went on a life -changing African safari in 2013 with five days in Kenya and three days in Tanzania. She describes the transcending sights of the African wildlife. “We saw things like Silverback Gorillas and I couldn’t believe how incredible it was. I wanted to photograph everything I saw.” McBrien’s enthusiasm was not yet met with full potential as she did not have the proper wildlife photography equipment at the time.
That changed when she got home. By 2014 McBrien’s main focus and passion in photography had shifted to animals, environment, and insects. This new niche was perfectly fueled by her developmental and cellular biology degree and her passion for exploring and indulging her endless curiosity. “I still turn over rocks looking for bugs and salamanders. I look at every detail in the environment around me. I notice things others don’t.” This has proven true in cases like locating an eagle via her photography that had been banded by a local wildlife agency and not seen in eight years. McBrien was subsequently invited to attend the banding of the eagles’ babies.
Labeling herself as “an explorer by nature” McBrien has a gift for wandering and wandering well. She has been able to scout out areas that have not been intruded upon by others and respectfully capture the environmental happenings of various “hidden gem” locations. In addition to being able to locate hot spots for wildlife activity, McBrien is especially keen to learn about her subject matter in great depth. “If I am going to photograph an animal I am going to learn all about that animal -what it eats, when it eats, when it sleeps, mates, moves and anything it does or doesn’t do. I don’t just take a picture of an animal, I know their habits.”
McBrien takes her research a step further by sending her images and questions about the creatures or events pictured to local wildlife and entomology experts to verify and expound upon her subject matter. She enjoys this rather academic approach to her photographs. “If I do the work, I learn. And to me the learning is as satisfying as taking the photo.”
McBrien’s approach to capturing wildlife is not just about “getting the perfect shot”, but being aware and respectful of the environment she is a guest in -something that has been highlighted as an issue with the recent surge in hobby photographers. “I don’t tell people exactly where things that I find are because if you do, before you know it, you’ll have twenty people there taking pictures and trampling plants and being disruptive.”
McBrien expresses frustration in observing frequent disregard for rules at local wildlife preserves and the exploitation of delicate sites such as nesting areas and dens. “I don’t like to be ‘that person’ but if you are say, bringing your dog to a place with signs saying dogs are not allowed, and I happen to know there is a nearby den with baby foxes wandering around, I am going to say something.” McBrien is ever aware that rules and guidelines honor how intricately everything is tied together in nature and that respect shown in your actions and how you interact with your surroundings can go a long way in preserving the inhabitants of any environment. Often finding herself braving the elements, in uncomfortable positions, or enduring long waits, McBrien says “Anything for the shot -anything but being disrespectful to the place I am.”
McBrien also prescribes to the philosophy of quality over quantity when it comes to taking photographs in the wild. “I am not there for hundreds of shots, I am there for a few really good shots.” McBrien has taken more than a few really good shots. Her work has been showcased in the community and sold at the North River Arts Festival. One glance at her website or her frequent town Facebook page posts easily prove that she has mastered the art of not just wildlife photography but all subject matter from fireworks to architecture, and lightning to air shows. McBrien has an eye for detail and placement that afford her images exquisite reality without being overly edited or made to look unrealistic. She also prefers to photograph insects and creatures in their natural state. “If I take a picture of a hummingbird, it won’t be at a feeder. It needs to be when it is perched on the branch it keeps returning to at the edge of the woods.
When asked what she would like others to know about her photography and the mission or goal behind it? “Just look around you. Notice things. Be curious. Look for evidence of life around you and you’ll see new things you didn’t see before.” Whether capturing the often unnoticed and illusive animals in her backyard with game cameras, documenting the intricate life cycle of the Monarch butterflies she raises, or taking stunning images of local fireworks over a lake with her feet submerged in mucky water to get just the right angle, McBrien certainly notices the miracles and mysteries the earth has to offer and I, for one, am all the more inspired to do the same.
Halifax appoints Fennessy interim TA
The Halifax Board of Selectmen unanimously appointed Robert Fennessy as Interim Town Administrator July 1, selecting him from two candidates interviewed for the temporary position.
Fennessy, who most recently served as town administrator in Carver, brings more than 40 years of experience in municipal government, law enforcement, and legal practice to Halifax. His appointment is subject to successful contract negotiations and background checks.
“I have a ton of background in management,” Fennessy told the board during his interview. “I have kind of a collaborative management style. I make people feel respected and appreciated for what they do.”
The board conducted interviews with Fennessy and Ari Sky, a former Lakeville Town Administrator with extensive financial management experience. Both candidates emphasized their commitment to maintaining stability during the transition period while the town searches for a permanent administrator.
Fennessy’s career spans law enforcement, municipal administration, and legal practice. He began as a police officer with the MSPCA law enforcement division, working his way up to Deputy Chief before attending law school and establishing a private practice. He later became a professor at UMass Law School, teaching municipal law, animal law, and employment law.
His municipal experience includes serving as town administrator in Boylston, Kingston, and most recently Carver, where he worked as an Interim Administrator before accepting the permanent position. He also served six terms as a Selectman in Plainville.
“I look at managing, not managing people, but bringing them on board so they feel respected,” Fennessy explained. “Whether you work for a highway or, you know, being a custodian or a department head or a committee member, a board member, or even a volunteer. I mean, you’ve got to bring them to you and bring them into the fold, or else they’re going to be bucking you all the way.”
Board Chair Jonathan Selig noted that both candidates were strong choices with different strengths. Board member Thomas Pratt highlighted Fennessy’s varied background, including his police experience, legal training, and HR knowledge.
“I thought they were both strong with different strengths,” Pratt said during the board’s deliberation. “I think Bob was quite strong in his background in the police, police background, the legal background, the HR background, a lot of different hats.”
Fennessy emphasized his approach to interim positions differs from permanent roles. He focuses on supporting existing staff and maintaining operations rather than implementing major changes.
“I look at being an interim a lot differently than I look at being a permanent,” he said. “Interim, I want to make sure they know that I’m here to support the board and support the staff and make sure that they know that, that they can count on me to take care of things that come to my attention.”
The new interim administrator plans to begin by meeting with all department heads individually and conducting group meetings to understand current operations and needs. He stressed the importance of maintaining communication and ensuring no surprises for the board.
“The first thing I would do is get a lay of the land, you know, meet the staff here,” Fennessy said. “And a short time later I’d make sure we had a department head meeting to go through what is going on as a group.”
Fennessy stressed that he has experience with Massachusetts municipal law, open meeting law, and public records requirements.
“Having a legal mind that I have, I can read something and instantly meander through it and know what we have to do,” he said. “You’re not having a Town Administrator who has to call legal counsel all the time.”
The interim administrator expressed familiarity with the Halifax area, having worked with several MSPCA officers who lived in town during his law enforcement career. He and his wife recently visited Halifax to familiarize themselves with the community.
Fennessy indicated his availability extends through the duration of the search process, with one planned vacation to the Greek Islands in September. He proposed working 28 to 38 hours per week across four days, taking advantage of the town’s Friday closure.
Current Town Administrator Cody Haddad, whose last day is July 8, praised the positive changes in town culture over the past two and a half years and offered to assist with the transition.
“If you look at where the town was two and a half years ago to where it is now, it’s not close to the same period,” Haddad said. “The culture has totally changed. All positive.”
The board plans to enter executive session to discuss contract negotiations with Fennessy. Board members expressed confidence in both candidates but ultimately felt Fennessy’s well-rounded experience and familiarity with the region made him the best fit for the interim role.
Selig noted the stark improvement in candidate quality compared to the town’s previous administrator search three years ago, calling it “a breath of fresh air” and crediting Halifax’s improved reputation for attracting quality candidates.
The appointment comes as Halifax faces various municipal challenges, including potential budget pressures and ongoing development issues. Fennessy’s experience with budget processes and municipal operations positions him to help guide the town through the transition period while maintaining stability for residents and staff.
Who let the dogs out?
The Halifax Town Green was the location of Generations annual Fur Festival held on a very hot Saturday, June 21. Well behaved vaccinated dogs in all sizes competed for titles such as cutest, best dressed, smallest, and largest. This family friendly event also featured a K9 demonstration, comfort dogs from the Plymouth County Comfort Dog Program, and students and their leaders in the 4-H Dog and Sheep program. Local vendors were set-up around the Town Green and hot dogs were served by Generations.
Plympton honors Evan Ellis with Candlelight Vigil
A candlelight vigil was held on Friday, June 27, at Dennett Elementary School to honor Plympton resident, Evan Zachary Ellis, who tragically passed away on Monday, June 23, in a motorcycle accident. Principal Peter Veneto oversaw the vigil that was organized by Avery Curran. Family, friends, classmates, and community members brought candles, photos, and flowers to celebrate Evan’s memory. Evan attended Dennett Elementary from K-6th grade, Silver Lake Regional Middle School, and graduated from Silver Lake Regional High School in 2024. Evan will be missed by many and we at the Express share our deepest condolences to his family and friends. Local grief counselors are offering their services for those in need of guidance at this time.
Plympton Residents Encouraged to Attend Public Hearings for Ricketts Pond Estates 40B Project
On July 29 at 6:30 p.m. at the Plympton Town Hall in the Deborah Sampson Room, a hearing will take place on the Ricketts Pond Estates 40B Project proposed by Peter Opachinski of SLT Construction Cooperation. SLT Construction is proposing to develop a parcel of land near Route 44 in an area zoned as General Industrial. The site is accessed through Carver via Ricketts Pond Drive -a private road that SLT built to access the small industrial park that abuts their proposed development.
SLT says it intends to develop Ricketts Pond Estates which will include 30, two family condominiums containing 2-3 bedroom units and that 25% of the units will be designated affordable housing. SLT Construction also claims they will provide private wells and septic systems for all 60 homes on their 23 acres of land under the 40B application which overrides many of Plympton’s by-laws.
This project requires multiple facets of review and consideration including a traffic study, environmental impact implications, and a myriad of other points that various public service entities have written letters of concern and inquiry about in going forward with this project and its impacts on Plympton.
Previous hearings for the Ricketts Pond Estates 40B Project have taken place on May 28th and June 26th of 2025 with very little residential attendance or awareness for a project that would increase the town population by 5-7%. The Plympton ZBA must make a decision on the project within 180 days of the first hearing per state law.
SLT Construction earlier proposed an asphalt crushing site on the same parcel of land but this use for the land was turned down by Plympton. Residents of Plympton are encouraged to visit the town website for all public data, letters, and information about the 40B Project and attend the forthcoming public hearings -all which are listed in the newspaper community calendar and the town website. www.town.plympton.ma.us
Local volunteers honored at appreciation luncheon
Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), the largest provider of in-home and community-based services for older adults and people living with disabilities in Southeastern Massachusetts, honored volunteers at a special luncheon and awards ceremony held at Indian Pond Country Club in Kingston, MA. A total of 130 attendees attended the appreciation luncheon.
“It is through the unwavering support of all of our volunteers that many OCES programs and Community Service Partner programs are better able to assist those in need,” said Armindo Rocha, OCES’ Volunteer Programs Manager. “We recognize and thank all of our generous volunteers for their tremendous dedication to helping others and our communities.”
Armindo Rocha and Cidalia America, OCES’ Volunteer Coordinator, hosted the appreciation luncheon and presented awards. OCES presented the Make a Difference Award to 12 outstanding volunteers in recognition of their dedication to helping others and making a meaningful impact in the community: Tom Adduci, Bridgewater Meals On Wheels (MOW) volunteer; Ellen Lash, Ellen Jacobs and John Durnan volunteers for OCES’ Money Management Program (MMP) in Brockton; Mike Pauley and Sandra Ivers, Brockton MOW volunteers; Beth Kelley and Bob Kelley, Duxbury MOW volunteers; Rita Pope, Easton MOW volunteer; Donna Blaschke, Middleboro MOW volunteer; John Melchin, Pembroke MOW volunteer; and Edward Sore, Plymouth MOW volunteer.
OCES had the pleasure of having Mark Grossman give a brief statement on behalf of Abbott Care, the premiere sponsor.
Volunteering for OCES:
With the help of more than 550 Nutrition Program volunteers, OCES serves 2,600 meals every weekday as part of its MOW services. MMP volunteers, assist older adults and individuals with disabilities with bill paying, reconciling bank statements, balancing checkbooks, and in special cases negotiating debt with creditors. Volunteers also serve on the OCES Board of Directors, participate in the MMP Advisory Board, and contribute to many other important efforts.
OCES’ is proud to have a Volunteer Center in Plymouth which serves as a central resource for volunteers and service partners offering volunteer opportunities in Plymouth County. Prospective volunteers can talk one-on-one with volunteer program staff who can assist them in their search for volunteering opportunities that fit their skills and interests. The Volunteer Center is equipped with computers for researching volunteer opportunities as well as brochures and other literature from organizations seeking volunteers. To learn more about volunteer opportunities, visit https://ocesma.org/get-involved/volunteer-opportunities
OCES is recognized as one of the 2023 and 2024 Best Places to Work by Cape & Plymouth Business Marketing. OCES has been certified as a woman non-profit organization (W/NPO) by the Supplier Diversity Office (SDO).
For more than 50 years, OCES has been a private, nonprofit organization with locations in Brockton and Plymouth. OCES is designated as one of 27 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) and Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and proudly serves Plymouth County and surrounding communities.
Through the talent of an experienced and diverse workforce, OCES supports the independence and dignity of older adults and individuals with disabilities by providing essential information and services that promote healthy, safe living which positively impacts our community. The agency offers several programs to serve older adults, individuals with disabilities, their families, and caregivers.
For more information call 508-584-1561 or visit ocesma.org
Silver Lake towns weigh K-12 regionalization
The Silver Lake Regionalization Study Committee voted unanimously June 18 to request a proposal from the UMass Boston Collins Center for Public Management to conduct a comprehensive study examining the feasibility of full regionalization across three school districts.
The committee, with representatives from Halifax, Kingston and Plympton, seeks to determine whether combining their elementary schools with the existing regional middle and high school structure could generate cost savings while maintaining educational quality.
“We owe it to our residents to see if there’s some efficiencies, to see if there’s a way we can run things a little bit tighter and smoother so that we might not be in a significant crunch as we may be in,” said Jonathan Selig, committee member from Halifax.
The study comes as the three communities face mounting budget pressures and questions about educational equity across the district. Currently, each town operates its own elementary schools through sixth grade, with students then attending the regional Silver Lake Regional Middle School and High School.
Committee members emphasized that no decisions have been made about regionalization. The study represents a fact-finding mission to provide concrete data for future decision-making.
“A lot of people have certain assumptions and the assumptions may or may not be correct,” said Jon Wilhelmsen, a committee member from Plympton. “So that’s really the goal. And I think the questions I think generally are around that and there’s some things that maybe branch out. So we’ll have to kind of corral that into different buckets.”
The Collins Center team, led by Director of Municipal Services Sarah Concannon and associates Anne Wilson and Bill Lupini, outlined their approach during the meeting. Wilson, a former superintendent of Sudbury Public Schools, and Lupini, who spent 25 years as a school superintendent, bring extensive experience in school district projects.
“We really need to understand your context, understand what you would like to get from this, and to really then look and analyze each of the areas,” Wilson explained. The study would examine efficiency questions, cost savings potential and educational quality impacts.
Superintendent Dr. Jill Proulx highlighted operational challenges the district currently faces with partial regionalization. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they had to present four separate plans to the state and work with four different communities to coordinate reopening strategies.
“I couldn’t in good conscience say, these students are going to be remote, but these students, it’s okay for them to come back hybrid,” Proulx said, describing the complexity of managing multiple jurisdictions during the health crisis.
The study will include extensive community engagement, with separate public forums planned for each town to capture distinct community values and concerns. Committee members recognized the three communities have different characteristics and priorities.
“Kingston is the whale, Halifax is the bass, and Plympton is the minnow,” Selig said, acknowledging size disparities among the communities. “So those ones that are the smallest are a little concerned that they get swallowed up by the whale here.”
Focus groups will include educators, central office staff, students, union representatives, and various municipal officials including selectmen and finance committee members. The committee also plans to engage taxpayers who don’t have children in the school system.
Educational equity emerged as a key concern driving the study. Halifax School Committee member Lori Costa-Cline expressed worry about ensuring equal educational opportunities across all three districts at the elementary level.
“A concern that I have and have had for a while as a Halifax school committee member is the equity in what education we provide in each of the three different school districts,” Costa-Cline said. She wants to ensure students are “equally prepared to be at the same level when they get to seventh grade.”
The Edward J. Collins Jr. Center operates as part of UMass Boston and has completed more than 1,200 projects for over 300 organizations since 2008. The organization can contract directly with public entities without requiring a competitive bidding process, which could expedite the timeline.However, the Collins Center team acknowledged they have not conducted a regionalization study exactly like what Silver Lake is requesting, though they have worked on
related projects examining cost efficiencies and organizational structures in regional school districts.
“Nothing exactly like what you all have done, which makes it fun,” Concannon said. “We can learn together.”
The study will examine multiple factors including transportation costs, administrative efficiencies, curriculum alignment, and potential impacts on state aid. Committee members want to understand both financial implications and effects on educational programming.
Bill Lupini emphasized the importance of demographic analysis and ensuring educational equity, drawing from his experience in New Hampshire where he worked with five different school districts feeding into one high school.
“How do we make sure as kids are coming to the high school that they have opportunities to take advantage of when they get there,” Lupini said, describing a key challenge in partially regionalized systems.
The committee hopes to receive preliminary findings during the upcoming budget season to inform planning discussions. A final report would ideally be completed before the next budget cycle begins in earnest.
The Collins Center will provide a draft proposal before the committee’s next meeting scheduled for July 9. Committee members stressed the importance of having factual information to guide future decisions rather than relying on assumptions about regionalization benefits or drawbacks.
“Knowledge is power,” said Costa-Cline. “We have assumptions, but we don’t have knowledge right now. So this sets a foundation of knowledge that we can then share with the community.”
Making a Memorial Day Parade
Stephani Teran
Express Newspapers
In a society that increases in rush and intensity all the time, Plympton is a haven for traditions and events that bring the community together and provide a chance for people to slow down and appreciate life. One such tradition is the town’s annual Memorial Day parade where veterans who lost their lives in service are honored and remembered. The expected scene marching down Main Street is quintessentially “Plympton” with lively children donning town team baseball caps and Scout uniforms, a line of tractors driven by grinning proprietors who are easily recognized as local farmers and friends, familiar first responders who also assist in organizing the event, elegant horses urged further down the road by expert equestrians astride, and of course the crowd favorites: the cow and bumblebee trains from Sauchuk’s loaded with some of the tiniest townspeople waving flags.
To attendees, the parade may seem like an event that comes and goes in a few hours, but a deeper examination of the efforts that go into putting this display of remembrance together reveals months of planning and collaborative efforts between various town organizations as well as the time, energy, and expertise of the parade committee, and the experience and direction of the Board of Selectmen and Selectmen’s Assistant, Briggette D. Martins.
Martins, who grew up in Plympton, remembers marching in the Memorial Day Parade as a Brownie in Girl Scouts and with the Plympton Children’s Garden Club. “The parade has been going on for over fifty-five years,” she recalls while sitting in her sunny office after an hour-long parade committee meeting.
Martins explains that one of her job duties is to organize and oversee the Memorial Day Parade each year. “The first year I did it was 2016 and it was cancelled that morning because of heavy rain and lightning,” she says laughing.
Martins said the parade route has stayed about the same aside from the Plympton Tricentennial when it came down Mayflower Road. She explains that in order to keep things running and organized it takes a substantial collective effort from many “faithful helpers” as she refers to the people who have been assisting and supporting the parade for many years without fail.
“I want the town to know that volunteering is huge,” she says while listing off the many people and organizations who work with her on this event each year.
Martins and the Parade Committee meet at Town Hall each month to collaborate and organize the Memorial Day events. Serving on the committee with Martins is Plympton Fire Chief Cheryl Duddy, Lieutenant Daniel Hoffman of the Plympton Police Department, Rob Firlotte of the Plympton Highway Department, Plympton Library Director Mike Slawson, Captain John Sjostedt of the Plympton Fire Department, and the Board of Health Administrative Assistant, Cathy Ferguson. The meetings demonstrate teamwork, sharp thinking, thorough planning, and friendly banter. When an issue or question comes up it is clear that the committee is comfortable with each other and knows the process well enough to work through things quickly. A great deal of time is spent discussing and refining the parade route and road closures. Safety is very obviously the first concern of all on the committee and detailed plans are made to ensure this for everyone. Factors like heat, walking distance, water bottles, and pacing are also taken into consideration.
Careful decisions are made as to who will be walking and riding in vehicles. The parade order is set to best serve everyone and ensure that antique cars and small children don’t overheat.
In addition to planning the parade procession a good deal of time is spent organizing the subsequent ceremony at the Town Gazebo. Each year the committee thoughtfully reviews the program line up, the chosen readings, songs to be shared, and flag displays that best pay respect to those who the day pays homage to.
“We honor the past and the present,” Martins says when stating her intention with the ceremony.
The reflective Town Gazebo ceremony is to be followed by some fun with a “Touch a Truck” event and hot dogs served at the Fire Station as well as a Build Your Own Sundae at the library. The committee is always appreciative of donations for materials and supplies for these events and they go to great lengths to ensure families can enjoy themselves with food and drink after the parade.
Following the Parade Committee meeting Martins asked that the town be made aware of a few things. First, Martins asked to include a list of people in our town she would like to thank for their help -both currently and over the years. She extends her special thanks to: her Parade Committee: Kim Adams, the Albertis, the Kupic family, the Wilhelmsens, Jennifer Macdonald, Mike Lemieux, Roxanne Whitbeck, Scott Sauchuk of Sauchuk Farm, as well as PAYS, Sysco, the Plympton Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, Dennett Elementary School, the Plympton Fire Department, the Plympton Police Department, and anyone who has offered help in any way to continue the parade’s success each year.
A few items Martins asks the public to remember this year to increase safety and provide a positive experience for all: “We are not throwing candy,” she reminds, “This is a somber parade and we are to be respectful of the meaning of it.”
She also asks that parents dress their children appropriately for the weather which is often quite warm and provide them water and sunscreen. In addition, she asks that law enforcement’s road closures are strictly adhered to in order to avoid potential safety issues and to keep the parade running on time.
Overall, the Plympton Memorial Day Parade is always a meaningful experience for those who attend and participate. Martins said her hope for future parades involves including a few floats. She encourages local businesses to step up and make a “big deal” out of the parade by creating a float featuring a theme and local talent or townspeople who would fit nicely with the purpose of the event.
When met with eager volunteers, Martins certainly knows how to orchestrate and motivate all who are willing to help to make the Plympton Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony a special and cherished tradition.
“I still get goosebumps every year,” says Martin, rather proving that the honor and reflection meant to be shown and felt through the parade are kept sacred and at the heart of all the bustle and effort.
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