Halifax has lost a $61,608 Green Communities grant due to its non-compliance with the MBTA Communities Act, marking the first confirmed financial penalty the town faced for refusing to adopt required multifamily zoning, after redirecting a prior Silver Lake Regionalization Study grant to Kingston.
The Department of Energy Resources notified Interim Town Administrator Robert Fennessy that while Halifax was selected to receive the grant for energy efficiency projects in municipal and school buildings, the funds cannot be awarded due to the town’s non-compliant status under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 40A, Section 3A.
“Awards under this program are contingent upon a municipality being able to certify that it will comply with all applicable laws,” the department wrote in a letter to Fennessy. “To be eligible to receive awards under the Green Communities Competitive Grant Program, the town would need to remediate this noncompliance.”
The grant rejection comes as the state intensifies enforcement of the MBTA Communities Act. The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities sent Halifax a formal non-compliance letter stating the town failed to submit a district compliance application by the July 14 deadline.
“Halifax remains non-compliant with Section 3A,” wrote Secretary Edward Augustus Jr. in the letter, which was copied to the town’s state legislative delegation. “As the Supreme Judicial Court held in Attorney General v. Town of Milton, compliance with the law is mandatory and enforceable by the Attorney General.”
Board of Selectmen Chair Jonathan Selig acknowledged the financial consequences were expected but said the town remains committed to its position.
“The town spoke. The Board of Selectmen is clear. We got the message loud and clear,” Selig said, referring to strong community opposition expressed at previous meetings. “We did warn the community that this is a distinct reality. It wasn’t a scare tactic. We just wanted to give those folks some foresight as to what was coming.”
Selectman Thomas Pratt called the grant loss “a formality” and said it came as “no surprise.”
“We kind of knew that’s where we were. We had some choices to make to get an interim compliance and we declined to do so,” Pratt said.
The town continues pursuing legal challenges to the MBTA Communities Act. Fennessy testified before the state legislature in July supporting three bills authored by Representative Ken Sweezey that would modify or repeal the act, though the bills have not advanced from committee.
Fennessy warned that more grant rejections may follow, noting that many applications now include compliance check boxes at the top.
“Unfortunately they know our status right now,” Selig said about the state’s awareness of Halifax’s position.
The MBTA Communities Act requires certain municipalities to create zoning districts allowing multifamily housing as-of-right. Halifax was required to zone for at least 1,750 new housing units but has refused to comply, joining a small number of communities statewide in active resistance to the law.
In other business, the board approved an Eagle Scout project by Paul Beauchesne to refurbish dugouts at the town’s minor baseball fields. The project will include cleaning, repairing, and painting the concrete dugouts, which Selig described as “lovingly referred to as the prison dugouts.”
“Those dugouts are really, really snug and really, really needing some TLC,” Selig said. The $500 project is expected to take about a week to complete.
The board also received an update on a veterans memorial honoring Josh Curtis, a Halifax resident who died in 2025. Veterans of Foreign Wars representative David Walsh said the polished granite bench is expected to arrive by late August or early September, with dedication planned for Veterans Day at 11 a.m.
“On the back it will say Joshua Aaron Curtis. Straight across. 1986 to 2025. Hero in combat. Hero in life,” Walsh said.
The board delayed action on a three-year asphalt rubber surface treatment contract with All States Construction after resident Frank Johnston questioned the lack of a not-to-exceed value in the agreement. The contract establishes unit prices for road work but does not cap total spending.
“I’ve never signed an open contract with no dollar value attached,” Johnston said. “It’s called a not-to-exceed and NTE attached to that contract.”
Board members agreed to table the matter until Highway Superintendent Steve Hayward can provide clarification at the next meeting.
The town received positive financial news with $555,544 in Chapter 90 highway funds from the state, including a supplemental allocation. Halifax also received the first payment of $93,655 from a PFAS lawsuit settlement with 3M, with additional payments expected over several years.
Fennessy said the PFAS settlement money, which could total around $400,000 for Halifax, will likely support ongoing landfill monitoring and maintenance costs.
The board approved library staffing arrangements for when Director Dylan Benoit takes paternity leave in late September. Maria Bumpus will serve as acting director at her previous interim rate, while Jean Gallant will provide substitute coverage at $18.88 per hour.
Halifax continues operating with an Interim Town Administrator while conducting a search for a permanent Town Administrator. Fennessy, who completed his first month in the role, praised the town staff and said he is “very excited to work here with these people.”
Local West Nile Virus Threat in Addition to EEE
On August 13th the Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced West Nile Virus positive mosquito samples in Plymouth and several other surrounding cities and towns. West Nile Virus is most often transmitted to humans via infected mosquitoes. West Nile Virus can affect people of all ages but people over the age of 50 are at the highest risk for severe infection. This news follows the announcement of positive mosquito samples for Eastern Equine Encephalitis in Halifax. So far 168 local mosquito samples have been positive for West Nile Virus. 80% of people infected with West Nile Virus do not show any symptoms. About one in five people develop a fever with symptoms such as headache, body aches, gastrointestinal issues, joint pains, or a rash, according to the CDC. About one in 150 people who are infected will develop a severe illness affecting the central nervous system. It is strongly advised to wear mosquito repellent when outdoors containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus and to avoid outdoor activities at dawn and dusk and to eliminate standing water in your yard.
Plympton CPC grant application period is Sept. 1 through Oct. 15
PLYMPTON – The Plympton Community Preservation Committee (CPC) is currently accepting applications for fiscal year 2027 funding. The deadline for completed applications is October 15.
Recent projects include clapboard painting and window restoration and replacement at the “Old Town House”; repair and restoration of Town Green gazebo; creation of the 150-acre “Two Brooks Preserve” off Prospect Road; funding for improvements to the playground at the Dennett Elementary School; and the purchase and preservation of almost 300 acres known as Turkey Swamp.
The CPC takes very seriously its responsibility to administer Community Preservation Act funds and is thrilled to have the opportunity to serve and improve the town through acquisition and protection of open space, historical preservation, community housing and increased recreational opportunities.
New projects selected by the CPC for further consideration will be voted on for approval at the 2026 Annual Town Meeting.
Project guidelines and applications can be found on the Plympton town website at https://www.town.plympton. ma.us/community-preservationcommittee. Click on “Documents” at the left hand side of the web page to bring up the Plympton Community Preservation Plan which includes the application and criteria.
The CPC Plan and application are also available at the Town House and at the Plympton Public Library.
Questions can be addressed by contacting CPC Chair Alan Wheelock at
alan.wheelock10@gmail.com.
Rocking Horse Farm stepping high
If you happen to be driving along Palmer Road near the edge of Plympton, you may notice tucked among the quaint farm stands and antique houses, an idyllic-looking farm with a sign that easily hints at the name: Rocking Horse Farm. Always tidy and seasonally dressed with cheerful blooms in planters or pumpkins and mums tucked in every corner, Rocking Horse Farm is the epitome of countryside charm. Goats laze on wooden spool tables, two resident canines run about, toys in mouth, looking for someone to play fetch with. There are picnic tables, gardens, and white wooden fences, but what really makes this place special is what goes on inside the barn, stables, and arena: children and adults learning the beautiful sport of horseback riding.
Rocking Horse Farm was started in 1983 by Lillian Gilpin. Her parents, Paul and Dorothy Gilpin, purchased the land for their daughter immediately following high school so she could embark on her dream of running a barn. It began as a small garage and chicken coop and has grown into a 28-stall barn with a thriving teaching program. The program is now run by Katie Alemian Flannery, Gilpin’s niece. Flannery’s love for and involvement with horses began early in her life. “I began riding as soon as I could walk. My mom and dad were very involved with the horses when I was born. Once I started showing, my father took a back seat and let my mom and I continue to show.”
Flannery’s natural talent in the sport was nurtured as she spent nearly every day of her childhood on the farm where she quickly became one of the top students. She began to show at local shows such as Briggs in Hanover and at the South Shore Horsemen’s Council. Flannery then began to compete in leadline and walk trot classes at larger shows in the New England area. Gilpin was there for her niece every step of the way. “Lillian coached me throughout my junior exhibitor career, guiding me through new horses and new challenges almost always!” Flannery recounts. She then went on to compete at the Worlds Championship Horseshow in Kentucky multiple times and always came home with ribbons.
Showing and riding for fun were just the beginning for Flannery. She left Rocking Horse Farm to attend William Woods University in Missouri where she majored in Equestrian Science. Flannery worked with many top trainers during her academic years and loved it so much that she only came home for Christmas breaks. Although she enjoyed school in the South, she knew she wasn’t meant to stay there. “As much as I loved the South, I really missed New England and wanted to come home after school.” Flannery moved back and worked with Gilpin for several more years until she took over the business in 2019 -right before the Covid-19 pandemic hit. “This was so hard for me just staying on my own and many show clients moved when she (Gilpin) retired but my lesson program was what kept me going.” Flannery’s resourceful nature helped keep the barn afloat. She asked her students for continued financial support in lieu of tuition during lockdown. “Even though lessons couldn’t happen, horses still cost as much to care for,” she said. Once people were comfortable holding activities again, many found horseback riding and being outdoors cathartic and thus the barn recovered from this setback.
In keeping a barn and lesson program intact, in spite of such a huge disruption as a pandemic, Flannery has managed to take the business from surviving to flourishing. Being one of the only Saddle Seat barns on the South Shore, Rocking Horse Farm specializes in American Saddlebreds, horses known for their high stepping gait and powerful front action. “We do not jump, we do not do individual dressage patterns, but I like to say we put on a show!” Flannery explains, “Our horses perform their gaits in a ring and are judged on many specifications depending on division, to earn ribbons.” Flannery says there are sometimes as many as three judges in the center of the ring looking for techniques of the horse and rider working as a pair.
There are currently 50 lessons a week at Rocking Horse Farm and the riding program spans all ages starting at age six. The students are taught to be proficient in basic riding techniques and once they are deemed ready Flannery begins to take them to shows, beginning at local levels. As riders advance, Flannery has them show at larger horse shows throughout the Northeast. This summer Flannery is charting new territory as a teacher. “I am taking my very first student that I started from the beginning to our Worlds Championship Horse Show in Kentucky!”
Competitive horseback riding is a sport that demands stamina and the mastery of many skills, athletic and mental, of both human and horse. “Any student that wants to compete typically rides 2-3 times a week. Just like any sport the more you practice the better you get,” Flannery points out, “A lot of riding is the use of the core and the leg muscles, so the more you ride the stronger you become.”
Of course, it is not just the human athletes that put in hard work. The horses of Rocking Horse Farm are beloved, healthy, and trained to be at their peak. All of Flannery’s students who compete at higher levels own their horses and keep them at the barn. These majestic animals demand constant top of the line attention and care. “They are maintained just like athletes. They have an exercise routine that I maintain throughout the week and they are individualized for each horse,” Flannery explains. The students ride their particularly trained horses on Saturdays and use the Rocking Horse Farm lesson horses during the week. Flannery allows lesson students to take the lesson horses to shows to make sure they are enjoying the sport enough to make the commitment of purchasing a horse.
When asked what unique lessons riding horses teaches young (and grown) people Flannery replies, “Riding horses is so amazing for our youth because I feel like it teaches a responsibility that no other sport can teach. No matter how you’re feeling or how long of a day you have had, the horses still need you.” Flannery also models and teaches respect and admiration for the horses at Rocking Horse Farm. “I am thankful for the amazing group of lesson horses that I have and if you ask anyone that works for me, my expectations of their care is to always go above and beyond. They are the heart and soul of my program and I think it is important that all of my students know that.”
In addition to learning how to ride and show horses, students at Rocking Horse Farm are taught to care for them. They get their horses ready, clean their tack, and even clean their stalls. Rocking Horse Farm also runs a program called Paddock Pals where students come once a month and learn different aspects of horse care and farm maintenance, in addition to riding. Paddock Pals is open to anyone age six and above even if they are not enrolled as a student at the barn.
Rocking Horse Farm students also hold fundraisers to help purchase items the lesson horses may need such as blankets, new sheets, tack, etc. The farm also hosts two weeks of summer camp and day camps on holiday breaks.
In addition to a full schedule at the barn Flannery keeps busy with her family -including her twin sons, Joseph and Jameson, who will be two in October. Flannery’s husband, Nick, is also an intricate part of Rocking Horse Farm in spite of having no previous experience with horses or barn maintenance. Flannery remarks with gratitude, “He has put more than his blood, sweat, and tears into helping me almost completely rehab and maintain this older barn and I can’t thank him enough for it!” Flannery also makes sure to take time to work on goals for her own riding ventures. “I still show if we have new or young horses at the farm. This year I have been lucky enough to show my mom’s new horse, TickTock! He has been so much fun and now it’s time to turn the reins over to her.”
Flannery’s passion, not just for her career, but her way of life is easy to see and feel. Her positive enthusiasm sets the tone for Rocking Horse Farm and is a great benefit to the students and horses there. “Teaching is my passion,” Flannery says, “I love introducing kids to horses and watching them grow and learn with them.” Rocking Horse Farm’s success goes well beyond the collection of trophies in the viewing room and ribbons on the walls. Its success story is found in the many lives enriched by the life lessons learned and bonds forged between horse and human in the picturesque farm just off the side of Palmer Road.
Hickey resigns, new TA search begins
The Kingston Board of Selectmen is moving forward with plans to find both an interim and permanent town administrator following the resignation of Keith Hickey, who announced his departure at the Wednesday, Aug. 6 selectmen’s meeting, to take a position in Fairhaven.
Hickey’s contract includes a 90-day notice period, keeping him employed through the town until late October, though the board is considering allowing him to leave earlier if suitable replacements are found. Board members discussed the transition timeline during their Aug. 5 meeting, with several expressing preference for a two-week overlap period between Hickey and his successor.
“I would like to see us work with Keith here to see if we could get to a point where we can, in effect, release him earlier,” said Carl Pike, suggesting a target date of Oct. 1 instead of the full 90-day period. “I would think, from my point of view, that we probably absolutely going to need him for 60 days.”
The board faces the challenge of conducting two separate searches while managing the town’s tight budget situation. Members debated whether to hire a professional search firm, which typically costs $15,000 to $20,000, or conduct the search internally using a committee approach.
Chair Eric Crone expressed concerns about the financial implications given the town’s budget constraints. “We’re literally saying we’ve got $3,000 and then probably less available under the levy,” Crone said. “It’s hard to then say, oh, well, let’s spend the money when we could do it, I think.”
Pike acknowledged the financial reality while noting that finding the money should be possible within the town’s $50 million to $60 million budget. “The town should always be able to find that in a 50 million dollar budget,” Pike said. “I don’t care if you have to cut back some overtime somewhere, or you don’t buy this equipment.”
However, Pike also supported starting the search process internally, suggesting the board could reassess and hire a search firm later if needed. “I absolutely agree that any place we don’t have to spend money in the next eight or ten months, whatever’s left, I personally will be charging forward and saying, hey, do we have to spend that?”
The board plans to establish a search committee for the permanent position, likely including two selectmen and potentially department heads or other town officials. Vice Chair Kim Emberg suggested involving the Police Chief, Fire Chief, or HR Director in the process.
For the interim position, the board discussed a more streamlined approach. Town Counsel Kate Feodoroff indicated that interim appointments do not require the same formal interview process as permanent hires, allowing for more flexibility in selection and timing.
“Kate made it sound like you don’t put interims through rigorous process,” Crone said. “You’re just hiring whoever’s available, whoever’s willing to do it.”
The board expressed interest in finding an interim administrator who could potentially become a permanent candidate, though they emphasized that any interim would need to go through the full application process for the permanent positin.
Donald Alcombright raised concerns about limiting the candidate pool by focusing on interim-to-permanent transitions. “I just don’t want to be in that situation where we’re basically reaching out to three specific candidates that we’re thinking about as opposed to having 30 people apply,” he said.
Hickey offered to assist with the transition, noting his availability to help whoever takes over the position. “I’m a phone call and email or text away, so if I can help whoever’s sitting in that chair, you know, I’m always going to be willing to do that,” he said.
The outgoing Town Administrator highlighted several ongoing projects that will need attention during the transition.
“You know, I guess from my point of view, over the next few weeks, you know, we’ve got a fall town meeting in October,” Hickey said. “I’m working with Kathleen Barrette, our Finance Director. I’ve reached out to the School to try to put together a five-year financial plan.”
The board also discussed gathering input from department heads about desired qualities in the next administrator. Hickey suggested meeting with department heads as a group rather than individually to provide more constructive feedback.
“One of the things I think would be important, whether it be just two board members so there’s not a posted meeting, you know, maybe meet with the department heads as a group,” Hickey said.
Before beginning the search process, the board needs to finalize the job description used in the previous search in 2020. Pike noted that the current description needs cleanup for grammar and duplications, though the overall content remains appropriate.
The board plans to continue discussions about the search process at future meetings, with members emphasizing the need to move quickly while maintaining thoroughness in the selection process.
The Town Administrator position oversees daily municipal operations and serves as the Chief Administrative Officer under Kingston’s Open Town Meeting form of government. The role involves coordinating between various departments, managing budgets, and implementing policies set by the Board of Selectmen.
EEE virus found in Halifax mosquito sample
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has confirmed that a mosquito sample collected in the Town of Halifax tested positive for the Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus (EEE).
EEE is a rare but serious disease that can affect both humans and animals. EEE is a mosquito-borne virus that can cause severe illness including encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). EEE has a high mortality rate among those who develop symptoms. No human or animal cases have been reported in Halifax or surrounding areas at this time.
There is an elevated risk of transmission so residents are encouraged to take precaution when outdoors and to avoid outdoor activities around dawn and dusk. Use EPA approved insect repellants when outdoors and wear long sleeves and pants to reduce skin exposure.
Eliminate standing water around your home and yard. Mosquito control efforts are being evaluated and may be increased due to detection.
Visit: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/mosquito-borne-disease-prevention for more information about mosquito safety.
“What 3 Words” app helps Plympton hikers to safety
At approximately 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Aug.4, Regional Old Colony Communication Center received a call for two hikers disoriented in Cato’s Ridge Preserve. The Plympton Fire Department and Plympton Police responded. Thanks to coordination from the dispatcher and the “What 3 Words” app, a program that lets users easily share and navigate their exact location, the hikers were safely located and returned to their vehicle without incident.
Ricketts Pond 60-unit 40B project estates heard
The Plympton Zoning Board held a public hearing on July 29 for the proposed Ricketts Pond Estates 40B development. Suzanne Jafferian, ZBA Chairman, opened the hearing along with her zoning board members Ethan Stiles, David Alberti, and Lukasz Kowalski. The applicant, Peter Opachinski of SLT Construction, who is proposing a 60-unit housing development in the Ricketts Pond area, was represented in the hearing by Paul Cusson of Delphic Associates, LLC.
The meeting began with the zoning board recapping that they had selected their peer reviewing engineer, Gregory Driscoll, Principal Engineer at JDE Civil, Inc. and that they anticipated a presentation from the representative of McKenzie Engineering, the engineering group on the development team for the Ricketts Pond Estates, during the hearing per previous discussion at the last hearing. When the floor was given to begin the presentation, however, Cusson explained that there would not be a presentation. He said their understanding was a bit different from the zoning boards requests.
Cusson said they had submitted plans, including a storm water management plan, to be reviewed by the ZBA consulting engineer, Driscoll, and that they hoped to be able to respond to the review as that was the main purpose of the night’s hearing. Cusson also assured that the applicant had made the deposit for peer review by Driscoll, but there didn’t seem to be any point in a complex, detailed engineering presentation because Driscoll had not yet been given authorization to proceed on his peer review report. This meant that the applicant’s engineer from McKenzie had nothing to respond to and therefore the anticipated presentation for the evening would not take place.
Ethan Stiles responded in an attempt to address this discrepancy. Stiles said that he did, indeed, receive the deposit check from SLT for the peer review cost per Driscoll, and that he took it to the town treasurer to deposit into a 53G account, and that the ZBA would review the bills via Driscoll and pay out the deposit amount bit by bit as the bills came in, but he admitted that perhaps this was not how the deposit was supposed to be paid out. Stiles asked town council, Carolyn Murray, to clarify if this was how Driscoll was supposed to be paid for his services, amounting to $15,000.00, rather than paying out the entire sum at once. Murray confirmed that payments were, in fact, to be made from the 53G account for this project as bills came in rather than all at once.
Driscoll then responded saying that he had received and signed the contract from the town but was waiting for deposit money to be paid out to begin the peer review. Driscoll said that he would have his bookkeeper send an invoice to the town to get the process moving along. Murray confirmed that once the contract was signed by Driscoll a portion of the deposit should have been paid to Driscoll so the peer review could begin, but said that having an invoice from JDE Civil, Inc. would be preferable to the town accountant to provide a “paper trail” of the financial exchange. Town Council also clarified that the deposit would be paid out by the building administrator who pays bills on behalf of the ZBA by requesting checks to be cut by the town treasury via invoice.
After the confusion for the process of getting the peer review started by Driscoll was resolved, and a detailed explanation of the forthcoming peer review interactions between both parties was given to the ZBA by Cusson, a motion was made for the intended presentation by McKenzie to take place on Wednesday, Aug. 27 at 6:30 p.m. Once the engineer’s peer reviews are completed, both Driscoll and the McKenzie engineer will prepare responses to one another via the peer review document to work out details and discrepancies on the Ricketts Pond project.
The second order of business for the hearing related to the traffic study. Immediate concerns were brought forth by Cusson about the cost of the traffic study review. The ZBA peer review engineer, Driscoll, did not have a traffic engineer on staff so the outside services of an engineer specializing in traffic studies would be needed for this project. Cusson said that their hired traffic engineer, Jeffrey Dirk of Vanasse & Associates, Inc., for the Ricketts Pond project was asked to provide a detailed overview of what the traffic study would entail. Cusson claims their response was submitted to Driscoll on June 10. Cusson also explained that the response as to the scope of the traffic study was lengthy and detailed beyond what it would normally would be.
Cusson then went on to explain that Dirk’s quoted fee was $12,000. Cusson remarked that this quote was a bit higher than normal but within an acceptable range. The discrepancy then came to light that when the ZBA sought a quote for a peer review of the traffic study via Bowman Consulting Group Ltd. Their quote was much higher, at $21,000. Cusson wanted to know why it would cost twice as much for the review of the report as it would to prepare the actual report. Cusson also remarked that he had provided a list of other firms to get quotes from that were likely more reasonable. Kowalski assured Cusson that he had contacted all of the resources provided and that the ZBA was not going to simply go with the cheapest option to accommodate SLT Construction and that Bowman was a very reputable and large company.
Cusson interrupted and said that they would not pay $21,000 for a review of a report that should cost a fraction of that quote and Opachinski interjected that the cost of the review should be a fraction of what he is paying Dirk to do the actual groundwork and study. Kowalski pointed out that the price SLT Construction chooses to pay their traffic engineer is irrelevant to the ZBA. Cusson heatedly responded that it is not irrelevant and that the cost incurred in hiring Bowman was unjustified and unfair. Cusson then asked that the board consider the proposal to seek quotes from other companies instead of accepting the Bowman offer.
Kowalski responded that he had already contacted all the suggested companies and some were completely irrelevant to the project and not options to consider. The only other company that had provided a quote and was a reputable company relative to the traffic study review needed was from Howard Stein Hudson in Boston. Cusson pointed out that he was familiar with this company as he and his clients had hired them before and their high standing reputation was confirmed all around by both parties. The proposal via Stein Hudson was $8,000.00 -a much lower quote than that from Bowman while providing similar services and depth of review. Stiles agreed that this proposal was likely to be more acceptable to SLT and also could move things along quicker than extending the debate on costs of services, but Kowalski interjected with a proposed motion to hire Bowman on the spot for the review of the traffic study.
Stiles asked for the proposals to be shown on screen so all in the room could see them and expressed that he was not insensitive to the concerns of the applicant in terms of the cost of the Bowman review. Kowalski expressed concern that perhaps the proposal from Stein Hudson was lower because they were familiar with SLT and giving them an undisclosed discount, but Cusson pointed out that this was untrue and that in his thirty years of experience with developments they usually only pay between $4,000 – 6,000 for a peer review of a traffic study -a far cry from $21,000.
Stiles agreed that the Stein Hudson proposal seemed adequate in detail and content in comparison to the services Bowman offered and suggested it would be the more prudent approach to go with the Stein Hudson proposal for review of SLT’s traffic study. Wanting to move on from the lengthy debate Kowalski withdrew his motion to hire Bowman and made a new motion to hire Stein Hudson for the traffic study peer review. The motion was passed unanimously.
Lastly, a moment was opened at the end of the hearing for anyone to voice additional concerns and the floor was taken by Eric Donovan of 66 Winnetuxet in Plympton. He expressed concern that the hearings were taking place in the summer when most town constituents were unavailable and on vacation. Donovan stated that his cousin lives almost directly across from the proposed Ricketts Pond development and he, along with many other local residents are very concerned about the legitimate impact this development proposes in terms of population and tax increase. Donovan pointed out that the hearings would be better attended by locals if they were held in the fall once the vacation months are over. Stiles responded that they are guided by the legal response deadline of six months from the time the applicant filed their application for development. Stiles also pointed out that the hearings are being broadcast via the town website on the Area 58 channel and available at all times to the public. Donovan then addressed Opachinski and asked, “How many units do you really want?” He then explained that he is from Boston and is familiar with developments being proposed at a certain number of units but in reality, the developer intends to build many more than is disclosed in their initial proposal. The ZBA assured Donovan that they will get to the bottom of that in time. Jafferian assured Donovan that the public would have a chance to come forward and voice concerns as the hearings progressed as well. Donovan responded that he moved to Plympton because it was a “sleepy little town” and this development would change that. Following Donovan’s remarks the hearing was adjourned until the next meeting in late August.
If you would like to become involved in the proceedings for a project that will have a significant impact on Plympton’s environment -including several wetland areas, population, and taxes, please visit the town website under Town Resources: Ricketts Pond Estate Proposed 40B for the publicly available documents and either attend the next hearing on Aug. 27 at 6:30 p.m. at the Town House, 5 Palmer Rd., or watch the hearing live or afterward on the Area 58 Channel -linked on the town website and found under the search: Zoning Board. As a small town, residents should be involved and voice their opinions to preserve the things they love about their little but unique town in an age where it seems every spot of empty land is developed.
Alisha speaks her mind …
When my daughter Heidi was grown, she was the first one out of our four children to give us a grandchild. When she was five months along, one day by chance we both happened to be at the Kingston Mall at the same time. Heidi had been concerned about her baby being deaf as both she and the baby’s father are deaf. In the center aisle of the mall that day was a display of very big wind chimes suspended from a metal rack. Heidi and I spotted each other at the same time and walked towards one another. When she was under the rack of chimes, a little boy ran through them hitting the clappers, which caused both melodious and clashing sounds simultaneously. Heidi turned her hearing aid off and put her hands on her stomach to protect the baby and was staring at me wide-eyed. She grabbed my arm as we stepped out from under the wind chimes. I asked if she was okay and she told me the baby was kicking and moving and didn’t stop until the chimes stopped. I was as thrilled as she was because she realized it meant the baby could hear.
In April of 1994, Heidi presented my husband Dave and I with our first grandchild whose name is Alisha. I felt honored to be in the delivery room with Heidi and her husband Chris when Alisha was born. She was beautiful and perfect and has extra sensitive hearing. The day after her birth when I went to the Hospital to visit, Alisha was laying down on her tummy beside Heidi on the hospital bed. When Heidi went to move her, her little fist went up in the air and her bottom lip jutted out, as if to say, NO! Heidi let her stay in that position and down went her little fist and her little mouth relaxed as well. Heidi and I looked at each other smiling as that told us she was already her own person, which has held true.
The first day she was home from the hospital, our kids (her aunts and uncles) came to visit. Grandparents on both sides of the family and great-grandparents took turns coming a few days later. Alisha’s grandfather Frank, on her dad’s side and Dave, my husband, were in competition when it came to buying pajamas, bibs and other articles of clothing for the baby. Frank had graduated from Holy Cross College and Dave from Boston College. They both got her clothing from their Alma Maters and were hoping she’d attend the colleges they did; which she didn’t. Dave and I loved taking care of her and she often stayed overnight at our house.
My husband Dave and my stepdaughter, Donna (Dave’s daughter), are Alisha’s God parents. Dave felt a need to be more involved with his church which was The Lady of the Lake Church in Halifax where we live. Because he was one of Alisha’s God parents, he felt it was important and he went to talk with the Priest, Father Murphy, several times and was asked if he would be interested in working with the teenagers who attended Saturday classes. He decided to give it a try. Starting in the Fall of 1997, Dave was also a therapist and dealt with all kinds of personalities in his work. This also helped him deal with the young people in the Saturday classes at the church, keeping them focused and interested. All through the winter he led his class at church and became friends with some of the other adults who were also educating, leading and guiding the classes. Throughout the Holiday Season, all went well, and he felt he was making progress when the students asked questions about some of the teachings of the Bible, the Catholic Faith, sacraments, prayer and beliefs and faith in Jesus the Christ. The more questions the young people asked and the deeper the discussions the happier Dave was as he felt he was truly reaching and helping them.
In April of 1997, Alisha had her third birthday. With the coming of Spring, the students were restless. Dave and some of the other teachers met privately to discuss what they could do to be more effective with the teenagers to hold their interest. They came up with some good plans and even some games centering around personal choices, helping others and being a power of example. That was successful for a while. Every few weeks they met again to change things to keep the classes going. By June Dave had decided he was not going to stay teaching the classes. He was glad he did it as he would have regretted not doing it. He had an opportunity to teach college classes and wanted to take the job. He also looked forward to having his Saturday mornings to himself once again.
On his last day at the church Dave forgot a book Father Murphy had loaned him and called me to ask if I would bring it to him as he didn’t want to leave without giving it back. Alisha was spending the weekend with us, and we got in the car and drove to the church. No one was in the rectory except Dave and the priest. I brought the book in and gave it to Dave. He and the priest were talking, and he introduced us. Alisha was walking around looking at the several blackboards on wheels that were in the room. I was wearing a full skirt and a summer top. Alisha was very shy around strangers at that age. Dave was very proud of her and picked her up to introduce her to the Father. She buried her head in Dave’s neck and looked away. Dave put her down and she ran behind me for a minute before looking around again. When Dave and Father Murphy finished their conversation, they shook hands and wished each other well. Father Murphy called out to Alisha, blowing her a kiss and calling her sweetheart. Alisha ran to me, grabbed my skirt, hiding in the folds of it, sticking her head out and yelling out to the Priest in a voice I didn’t know she had, “I NOT YOUR SWEETHEART!!” She grabbed my hand, pulling me outside, the three of us adults unable to keep a straight face.
Once we got home, Dave picked Alisha up and asked her what she wanted to do and she said, swim. She was in her bathing suit and beach jacket before Dave could change into his trunks so we could go to Stetson Pond. Alisha is now full-grown and happily married with a young daughter of her own – who also speaks her mind.
Lucky driver was not injured in Brook St. pickup truck rollover
On Thursday, July 31, at approximately 1 a.m., Regional Old Colony Communications Center received a call for a motor vehicle accident in Plympton in the area of 127 Brook St.
On arrival, paramedics and Plympton Police located the operator of the vehicle walking around the scene. The vehicle struck a telephone pole and landed on it’s roof. The street was closed, and Eversource Electric responded to the scene to assess the powerlines.
The operator was not injured and released by EMS. There were no hazards on scene.
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