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Following the Jones River

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Last fall, I took my friends Tina Palmer and Dorothy Greene for a walk at Bay Farm. After the walk, I proposed the idea of hiking the southern loop of the Bay Circuit Trail. The full Bay Circuit trail is a 242+ mile walking trail stretching from Kingston and Duxbury around Boston up to Plum Island in Newburyport. The southern portion of the BCT has a 26+ mile loop that travels through Duxbury, Kingston, and Pembroke. With conflicting schedules and unforeseen circumstances, we only were able to complete the Kingston portion of the Bay Circuit Trail over 7 short walks before winter struck.
The BCT in Kingston is a treasure trove of natural beauty and historical landmarks. The notable feature that weaves through this whole section of BCT is the Jones River. The southern terminus of the trail is in Kingston at Bay Farm along Kingston Bay which is to where the Jones River flows. Walking slightly further along the trail will take you down to the Town Landing on River St. near the mouth of the river where Kingston residents can launch boats.
Continuing to the other end of River St. brings you to beautiful Mulliken’s Landing which was named after Robert Mulliken who was a long time Kingston resident active on both the Conservation Committee and Open Space Committee. Carry-top boats are able to launch from a dock after walking a few hundred feet along a boardwalk through a marsh.
Turning left onto Landing Rd., a short way, the BCT continues on a bridge over Stoney Brook, a tributary of the Jones River. A feasibility study was completed in 2025 to explore the possibility of removing a dam here so that American eel could utilize the brook, reduce flood risk, and potentially reduce mosquitoes in upstream swamp areas.
Shortly after crossing the bridge on the left is the Jones River Landing, home base for the Jones River Watershed Association. If you stop in here as you walk by, you might meet Pine DuBois who has been a tenacious environmental advocate for the river and its history for decades. At the Jones River Landing Boatshop, a group of volunteers are building a Kingston Lobster Boat, a boat first built about 150 years ago.
The next mile or so of the BCT goes by many historical sites in Kingston, The Major John Bradford Homestead, the Reed Community Building, the Faunce School, Evergreen Cemetery, and The First Parish Church before again reaching the Jones River at Elm St. where the Queen Anne style waterworks building built in 1888 is located.
A dam, located here for nearly a century, was removed in 2019. Immediately over the bridge to the left is the Jones River Trading Post which is currently an event venue but at one time held the E.P. Hurd Tack Factory. Not too long ago, Coughlin and Coughlin inhabited this building, where customers could wander through and purchase exotic items like ostrich eggs and beautiful ceramic stoves or they could pop a nickel in a player piano.
The BCT continues directly across the street through narrow root-laden trails at the Sampson Park and Faunce Memorial Forest. In the fall, the trails were dry. This time of year, they can be hard to navigate if water levels are high. At one point along these trails, we crossed an extremely rickety crooked wooden bridge that spans Furnace Brook, a tributary of the Jones River. The end of this section takes you out beside the northern side of a Kingston Water Department building located along South St.
The next mile or so of the BCT is along both South St. and then heading west along Route 106 -both of these streets are very busy. The beautiful part of hiking this section in the fall was witnessing the fall harvest of cranberries. The Jones River flows along the northern side of the bogs on the north side of Route 106.
After walking just past the cranberry bogs, the trail enters Hathaway Preserve. The BCT trail crosses Jones River in the Preserve. Other trails in this conservation area offer further exploration of the Jones River because more than a mile of the river flows through it.
The exit for the BCT trail from Hathaway Preserve north of the Jones River can be found along a section of power lines at Foxworth Ln. which then leads to Grove St. Here the hike continues east along Grove St. After a short way, the road goes over Pine Brook and then the MBTA track. The trail continues on Grove St. about another mile before entering the Cranberry Watershed Preserve on your right. Walking a couple hundred feet further along Grove St. instead of going immediately into this preserve, a large old culvert can be found on the left with the Jones River flowing through it. Last fall was the dry season so little water was flowing through it.
The Cranberry Watershed Preserve is 307 acres. The BCT has almost a mile of trail through it but the preserve has several more miles of other trails. A glimpse of the Jones River can be found at the edge of one of the old bogs. The trail in this area also goes through the woods by the playing fields at Silver Lake Regional High School. The culmination of the section is a long boardwalk in need of some repairs and a metal bridge over the Jones River. Exiting the preserve leads to a parking area on Lake St.
Crossing Lake St. here will take you to where the Jones River begins at the Forge Pond Dam. Walking up the hill towards Silver Lake Regional High School, the BCT takes a left onto Route 27 and then after ⅓ mile take a left onto Sheridan Dr. Walking a little further, look closely for BCT signage to cut between two houses on the right to enter Silver Lake Sanctuary.
Silver Lake Sanctuary contains 104 acres with trails that lead down to Silver Lake. The waters of Silver Lake naturally flow through to Forge Pond if not diverted to Brockton. The BCT continues through this beautiful property and then onto Bearses Lane, a dirt road leading back out to Route 27.
Just a few feet west on Route 27 is the Kingston/Pembroke town line which concludes the Kingston portion of the BCT. This whole Kingston section of the BCT, if going straight through is less than 10 miles, but it is great to wander in some of the preserves on additional trails to see the full beauty of these natural wonderlands, and with more time it would have been nice to linger in some of the historical buildings to learn more about the history of Kingston.

In April and May, the Jones River Watershed Association is looking for fish counters at the Forge Pond Dam. If interested, go to their website jonesriver.org. Kingston is celebrating its 300th anniversary. Check out the kingston300.com for more details and/or try to get a copy of “Tales of Jones River Village: Kingston’s 300 Years.”
Lastly, if interested in hiking the BCT, go to baycircuit.org and find both maps and map guides. The map guide is essential and even with the guide finding the trail, can at times, seem like a scavenger hunt when looking for the next trail marker.
I am hoping that Tina, Dorothy and I can complete the southern loop in 2026.

Vocational Savings Restore Paraprofessional in Kingston

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Kingston School Committee members learned April 6 that $42,867 in unspent vocational tuition will allow the district to restore a paraprofessional position, along with some technology and curriculum spending, in next year’s budget — a modest rebound as officials urged residents to turn out for the May 2 town meeting to support the school spending plan. The committee also voted unanimously to opt out of the school choice program for another year, citing class sizes and staffing constraints.
Stefani Hatton, the district’s new Director of Finance and Operations, presented the updated numbers in her first in-person appearance before the committee. She reported that $175,000 had been budgeted for vocational tuition for approximately five Kingston students attending vocational schools next year, but actual costs came in at $132,132.16 — leaving $42,867.84 available to return to the budget.
Superintendent Dr. Jill Proulx told members the leadership team had identified how to deploy the savings. “After discussing it with the team, we thought that we would be able to bring back a paraprofessional position and some things, such as technology and curriculum,” Proulx said. She cautioned, however, that the figure was not large enough to save any additional positions, noting, “There’s not enough money to cover another position.”
The savings only partially offset previously announced staffing reductions. Committee members confirmed that one classroom teacher position and one English Language Learner teacher position — the latter an unfilled role — remain on the chopping block. Member Sheila Vaughn pressed the administration to keep looking. “Keep searching. Keep searching,” she said. “If any more money turns up,” added Chair Megan Cannon.
The budget news landed against the backdrop of a recent Finance Committee meeting, where members said the school budget received an unusually smooth reception. “We went to the FinCom meeting and they did approve our budget, which I thought was really great,” said Vaughn. “I’ve never seen everybody approve our budget all at once and with minimal questions, which I thought was really great.” Cannon added that the committee appreciated the Finance Committee’s support and repeatedly urged residents to attend the May 2 town meeting at 9 a.m. at Kingston Intermediate School. “Please go and vote. We need your support for our budget… It’s very important.”
The regular session was preceded by the annual school choice hearing required of every Massachusetts district. Vaughn moved immediately to withdraw from the program, citing capacity concerns. “Based on the classrooms and that we just don’t have the staffing for that,” she said. Member Jennifer Krowchun agreed, noting the district needs to “meet existing need” first. Cannon reminded the committee that accepting a school choice student is a long-term commitment: “Once they come, we own them until graduation or they leave.” Proulx confirmed Kingston has not participated in school choice for as long as she has been superintendent. The roll-call vote to decline participation was unanimous.
Following an earlier executive session discussion, the committee voted unanimously in open session to approve the contract for the Kingston Intermediate School principal, Dr. Kerri Whipple. Meanwhile, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Tricia Clifford reported that the Kingston Elementary School principal search committee interviewed candidates during the final week of March and narrowed the field to two finalists, with the next round of interviews taking place this week. Clifford thanked the search committee members for their work.
KES Interim Principal Jake Galewski introduced new Interim Assistant Principal Amy Koskowski, who he said has had a “very successful transition.” Galewski reported on PAC Assorted Fruits and Vegetables week — during which some students tried dragon fruit for the first time — the PTO-sponsored Harlem Wizards game, and the conclusion of the CKLA pilot on April 3. Teachers have now begun piloting the Wonders ELA curriculum from McGraw Hill. Galewski announced an upcoming Social Emotional Learning night on April 29 that will include a new sensory-friendly window at the start of the event for students with sensory sensitivities. Kindergarten enrollment currently sits at 143 students, which Galewski said is lower than previous years at this point.
KIS Principal Whipple reported that MCAS testing is underway and credited the assistant principal, team chair and IT staff for a seamless rollout. Updates included a new grab-and-go breakfast program, revisions to the school’s positive behavior system with added recognition via a bulletin board outside the office, and a student-led advocacy effort from last year’s school council — now sixth graders — who delivered a research-based presentation successfully arguing for snacks in fifth and sixth grade classrooms. The principal also reported on a World Down Syndrome Day celebration, Battle of the Books results (Peter Brown’s The Wild Robot was the student favorite), and an honorable mention for student Ellie Hill in the MSLA Bookmark Design Contest.
Clifford reported that the PRISM grant field test has shifted from CKLA to Wonders, with Curriculum Council members set to finalize their program ratings on April 27. The final round of math coaching will take place in late April and May. Clifford also highlighted a March 16 professional development session at Halifax Afterschool, where 25 elementary teachers from across the three-district Silver Lake region gathered for training on “Teaching Students to Write in Response to Reading,” led by Halifax teachers Meg Parker and Katie Berna.
On regionalization, Proulx confirmed that the regionalization study committee has begun interviewing stakeholders about their experiences with the partially regionalized system. She also reported that all member school committees have now approved the proposed calendar for the 2026-27 school year, making it official. Her own evaluation will begin following the April 16 Joint School Committee meeting.
The meeting closed with committee members recognizing Jeanne Coleman, who is stepping down after nine years of service. “The amount of time and effort that you put in, it’s a full-time job, really,” Vaughn said. “It doesn’t go unnoticed. And stepping up is not always easy. Big shoes to fill, Jeannie. Big shoes.” Cannon thanked Coleman for her service before the committee adjourned to executive session.

Preview Screening of “Raising Us” Attended by Documentary’s Five Featured Mothers

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HINGHAM, MA, The Arc of the South Shore, a family-oriented, community-based non-profit providing information, referrals, and community programs for individuals with disabilities now celebrating its 75th anniversary, in partnership with The South Shore Chamber of Commerce, recently hosted a preview screening of “Raising Us,” and were delighted to welcome the five South Shore women featured in the documentary that chronicles the five-decade journey raising and advocating for their children with Down syndrome and autism.
“Raising Us” blends archival footage, present-day interviews with members of the South Shore Mothers Group, and accounts of the early years advocating for their children and ultimately for all children with autism, Down syndrome and IDD. Six years in the making, the powerful documentary is produced by Jen Plante Johnson, the daughter of Maria Plante, one of the founding members of the South Shore Mothers Group.
“We were honored to welcome the five women at the heart of the film and hear them share their experiences firsthand,” said Elizabeth Sandblom, CEO of The Arc of the South Shore. “It was an unforgettable afternoon filled with inspiration, reflection, and meaningful connection.”

Art Auction Fundraiser for The Dennett

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The Dennett Elementary 6th grade class is excited to host a special Art Auction Fundraiser featuring local art by Plympton parent and resident, Shawn Trice to help support the students during their final year of elementary school.  Proceeds from the auction will go directly towards the funding of field trips, class events, transportation, graduation celebrations and much more to make this year memorable for the children.
The funds raised will help ensure that every student can participate in these special moments throughout the year and as they celebrate their 6th grade graduation from Dennett Elementary.  We are so grateful for the support of our wonderful community. Thank you for helping make this a meaningful and fun year for our 6th graders!
The silent auction will take place at the Plympton Public Library from March 14 to April 4.  Stop by the library on April 4 at 10:30 a.m. on the last day to bid and to meet the artist and learn more about the fundraising program for Dennett 6th graders.

Setting the Stage for Local Music: The Spire Center Gives Live Music a Home in Plymouth

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Bob Renekar said, “Recorded music is heard. Live music is lived.” This is also the philosophy of Robert Hollis, President of The Spire Center for Performing Arts in downtown Plymouth. As a touring musician, Hollis spent his music career spreading the gift of music on any stage available. After a few years on the road, Hollis and his musician wife, Donna, decided they wanted to settle and realized that Plymouth was lacking an organization and a hub for local, live arts. Together, they founded the Greater Plymouth Performing Arts Center, Inc. (GPPAC) -a nonprofit organization founded in 2010 and dedicated to performing arts and educational programs which support the vibrant arts community in the greater South Shore region.
With GPPAC up and running, they began to search for a venue to further their mission and capabilities. After learning that Congregation Beth Jacob’s community center, formerly a Methodist church built in 1886, was mostly unused in downtown Plymouth, Hollis approached the Community Preservation Committee to fund the restoration and transformation into a performing arts venue with a mission of presenting a wide variety of entertainment appealing to all generations within the region as well as the thriving New England tourist community. As a cultural asset, The Spire promised to provide an economic boost to historic Plymouth’s active downtown area as the cornerstone for the arts. “We were very fortunate to have a lot of community support and enthusiasm from the start. We were encouraged to see that others wanted a home for performing arts, too,” says Hollis, “We strive to support and expose all kinds of music to all kinds of people at an affordable price.”
In October 2012 the Plymouth Town Meeting voted overwhelmingly to appropriate $650K in Community Preservation Funds to acquire and renovate the building at 25 1/2 Court Street in downtown Plymouth. The Town of Plymouth also granted GPPAC with a 100 year near-free lease of the treasured property. Renovations began with a focus on the interior. Particular attention was paid to enhancing the existing acoustics, making sure the audience had clear sightlines with no obstructions, and recrafting and restoring the architecturally beautiful interior that have become The Spire’s trademark. “We are not a club,” Hollis clarifies, “We are a listening place where the music and the act are the focus. We wanted it to be a fun place, but not like a club where people are up and talking and moving around -we wanted to focus on the performer-audience connection.” The result was a 225-seat performance hall featuring superior acoustics that are unmatched by other local venues, custom state of the art lighting and sound systems, and original period architectural details offering patrons an exceptional performing arts experience.
Once The Spire Center was ready for audiences and acts, Hollis began to build a staff and a volunteer team to assist in the mammoth efforts needed to run this promising non-profit. Staff was hired to handle the business duties, work the box office, advertise, operate the lighting and sound equipment, serve as ushers and run hospitality services, be bartenders, perform building maintenance, fundraise, and even be security detail for the guest performers. “We have about five full and part-time employees and about twenty employees total, as well as about fifty volunteers. We also have a board and all of them are musicians, so they really understand what is needed here and how to go about doing it,” says Hollis.
With a restored and staffed venue, an eager staff and volunteer team, and community support backing them, Hollis has been able to line up a healthy stream of local and national artists and groups. Vice President and Director, Lloyd Rosenburg, scouts out performance groups as well as screens and schedules groups that apply to perform at The Spire Center. The result is a lineup of roughly 150 shows a year featuring everything from jazz, classical, rock, comedy, ensembles, country, folk, and blues. “We wanted to give aspiring and local talent a place to get exposure, experience, and build a community base as well as give the community the gift of live music,” says Hollis, “There is something missing when it is a recording. When it is live, it is tangible and you connect with it in a more meaningful way. When it is live, it is also different every time -which makes it really special.”
In an effort to reach a wider audience, The Spire Center offers several unique opportunities to catch a show. The first is their Lobby Series. This series is presented by The Antonia and Vladimir Kulaev Cultural Heritage Fund and was created to support emerging and established artists across New England by offering them a professional platform to share their work with engaged audiences. Experience live music like never before—up close and personal in our unique Lobby Series.
Designed to shine a spotlight on local and regional talent, this series invites audiences to discover rising artists and seasoned performers in an intimate, 70-seat lounge-style setting right in the heart of the Spire. The house lights are dimmed and the atmosphere is warm and inviting as the lobby is transformed into an intimate listening room where music takes center stage. From folk and roots to jazz, indie, and beyond, each performance is a chance to connect in a smaller crowd with the artist, the music, and the community. Tickets are $15 to provide an affordable opportunity to experience live music.
Another style of performance offered by The Spire Center is the Sunday Serenades. Hollis explains, “These are Sunday matinees that offer the chance to attend a concert that isn’t on a weekend evening or late at night. A lot of people, especially after Covid and particularly the elderly, prefer to avoid going to shows and concerts late and night, so we have many patrons who prefer these earlier-in-the-day chances to attend a performance.”
In addition to these creative ways to attend a live show, The Spire Center is also set to provide a one-of-a-kind learning opportunity for aspiring musicians. This September, The Spire Center will launch The Spire Center Music Academy. The academy will offer teachers, directors, classes, and venue space for training musicians, ensembles, choirs, songwriters, composers, and other live performance groups or individuals. “We are passionate about not just showcasing local music, but helping to create more of it,” says Hollis.
Other upcoming events at The Spire Center for Performing Arts include The Americana Theater holding the house for a few weeks in July, and a country music festival that kicks off August 22 with CMA Vocal Duo of the Year and ten-time singles hits on the Country Music Charts, Thompson Square. Of course all of these exciting shows are set to draw plenty of crowds and that is also a necessity for the mission of The Spire Center. “The biggest challenge is always funding,” says Hollis, “We have to be able to pay the bands and performers, the staff to run the shows and maintain the venue, and invest in the forthcoming events and plans to keep it all running. We put a lot of work into finding the most affordable way to price tickets while still ensuring this all runs smoothly and we have a great lineup of performances.”
The Spire Center also gives back to the community by increasing patronage and tourists for surrounding businesses. “You know if we have a Saturday evening performance, the chances are that our patrons will go to a nearby establishment to eat or shop,” Hollis points out, “So some of the surrounding businesses have been really supportive in donations and advertising for us and we like to do the same for them. Anything that enriches one spot in the community enriches all of the community.”
With The Spire Center offering so much to Plymouth and the surrounding towns, it can’t be overlooked that perhaps the community should double the effort to give back to The Spire. The Spire Center also relies on its membership base for crucial funding and support. Memberships are available at different tiers and offer various discounts and perks throughout the year. “Right now, we have about 550 members for The Spire Center and we could not do what we do without them,” states Hollis. “Things like 10% discounts, advanced ticket sales, preferred and private seating, and other events are available to our members to thank them for their support.”
If you are looking to get involved with The Spire Center and preserving and promoting live, local music, you may want to consider volunteering as well. “We are always looking for volunteers as well as collaborative partners in the community,” says Hollis. “It takes a lot to keep it all running, but it is worth it to see how GPPAC and The Spire Center have enriched the community and helped local musicians.” If you are considering a visit to The Spire Center for a lively, Saturday evening jazz band, or relaxing string trio for a Sunday matinee, or perhaps you are part of a local band looking to perform for your home-crowd with unbeatable acoustics -rest assured, once you experience the magic The Spire Center has to offer, you will realize it is more than a venue -it is a home for the priceless, timeless energy exchange between artist and audience, and that is always worth the investment.

Kingston Approves Transfer Station Fee Hikes

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Kingston residents will pay more to use the town’s transfer station starting in the 2026-2027 season after the Board of Selectmen unanimously approved a slate of fee increases designed to narrow the gap between sticker revenue and operating costs. Regular sticker prices will rise $20 to $280, senior age categories will be simplified, and disposal fees for items like mattresses and appliances will increase — changes projected to generate an additional $116,000 in annual revenue as part of a three-year plan to make the facility self-sustaining.
Highway and Tree Superintendent Shawn Turner presented the fee proposal to the board, framing it as the first step of a three-year plan to move the transfer station toward self-sufficiency. The facility’s total operating budget is approximately $815,000, and even with the proposed increases, an estimated $200,000 gap between sticker revenue and expenses would remain.
“We need to talk about going up on the fees,” Turner told the board. “You have to have the users paying for what’s being used.” He noted that the department had already cut Monday overtime and reduced its chipping program. “It’s either we raise these fees or what’s the next thing we do? We have to start cutting either days, close another day, or cutting some of the services.”
A key change under the new structure is the elimination of the tiered senior categories. The previous system divided seniors into those aged 62 to 65 and those 66 and older, each at different price points. Under the new plan, a single “Over 65 and Veterans” category would be set at $140. Second-pass stickers rise from $40 to $60, and recycling-only passes increase from $60 to $80. Disposal fees for bulky items also increase, including mattresses and box springs from $40 to $60, AC units and fridges from $10 to $20 each due to rising refrigerant disposal costs, and large furniture from $20 to $30. A new $5 fee for propane tank disposal was also added.
Vice Chair Kim Emberg noted the transfer station would still fall short of fully covering its costs even after the increases. Town Administrator Scott Lambiase confirmed that a deficit of roughly $200,000 would remain, and that the plan is to bridge the overall shortfall gradually over a three-year period rather than imposing a single large increase. Selectman Carl Pike called the increases “very reasonable” and said he would like to see the facility become self-supporting over time.
Turner and Lambiase also noted that the town is continuing discussions about a potential future pay-as-you-throw program as another avenue for funding, though Turner said that would not come this year and that educational sessions for residents would come first. The board voted unanimously to approve the new fee schedule.
Police Clinicians Formally Introduced; Family Services Program Goes Live
The meeting also marked the formal introduction of the Kingston Police Department’s two newly hired co-response clinicians, Gabby Cohen and Kate Eldridge, whose contracts were approved at a special meeting on March 3. Lt. Skowyra introduced the clinicians, describing their backgrounds in mental health counseling, crisis intervention, and forensic counseling. Cohen holds a master of social work from Simmons University and previously served as a co-response clinician in a multi-town assignment. Eldridge has more than two decades of experience and holds dual master’s degrees from Suffolk University in mental health counseling and criminal justice.
Police Chief Brian Holmes said the program would be fully operational the following Monday. The clinicians spent their first days in orientation, meeting with town fire department leadership, the Marshfield clinician program, Plymouth County Outreach, and Silver Lake school guidance staff. Intermunicipal agreements to share the clinicians’ services with Halifax, Hanson, Plympton, and Carver are in various stages of final legal review, with Halifax’s agreement already signed.
Chairman Eric Crone praised the department for the model. “I hope the public realizes that as well. We’re able to do this with grant money and partnering up with other towns so that Kingston was not bearing the brunt of this,” Crone said.
Blizzard After-Action Report Details Massive Storm Response
Fire Chief Mark Douglass delivered a detailed after-action report on the Feb. 22-23 blizzard, which the National Weather Service named Hernando. Douglass described snowfall rates approaching four inches per hour during the height of the storm, which began Sunday evening, Feb. 22, and continued with high winds through Tuesday.
The town’s Streets, Trees, and Parks Department began storm operations at approximately 10 p.m. on Sunday and continued at some level through Monday, March 2 — more than a full week. The operation deployed 11 dump trucks, 8 town pickups, 3 large loaders, 7 skid steers, a new trackless snowblower, and 32 private contractor vehicles. The state, through MEMA, also dispatched three dump trucks and three front-end loaders from the Vermont Transportation Authority, which assisted with intersection clearing from Wednesday through Saturday.
Public safety dispatchers handled approximately 300 calls during the storm, with 105 on Monday alone. The police and fire departments increased staffing beginning Sunday evening. Both departments assisted in relocating residents of the Town and Country mobile home community who lost power for an extended period. National Guard personnel — two trucks and four soldiers — also assisted with that relocation effort.
Notable incidents included two generator failures at Town Hall and the Council on Aging due to snow blowing into air intakes, a plow driver struck by a large tree limb that came through his windshield near 59 Grove St., and the collapse of the Sacred Heart gymnasium roof, which Douglass attributed primarily to snow load. The storm also produced a medical emergency in which a bystander’s CPR on an elderly resident who went into cardiac arrest while snow-blowing was credited with saving the man’s life.
The town’s snow and ice deficit has grown to approximately $700,000 following the blizzard, and options for covering that shortfall — including potential draws from free cash or the town’s stabilization fund, which exceeds $3 million — will be presented at a future meeting. Pike said he believed this was a year to consider tapping the stabilization fund, given the severity of the winter. “When I have a storm of, I’m calling it the 50-year storm, then I think it’s reasonable to consider using that,” he said.
Douglass praised the town-wide radio network funded through the CARES Act, which he said performed “flawlessly.” He recommended improvements in public communication, including more frequent Smart911 updates during major storms and designating a single person to manage official social media postings. He also extended thanks to State Representative Kathy LaNatra for helping expedite resource requests through MEMA.
The town submitted an initial damage assessment to the state for $440,000 in storm-related costs.

Town House Front Entrance Renovation Moves Forward

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On Monday, March 9 the Plympton Board of Selectmen voted to issue a notice of intent to award the Town House Front Entrance Community Preservation Committee renovation project to DDC Construction Incorporated, the low bidder among four submitted bids. DDC’s bid came in at $35,500 — well below the high bid of $63,427, a difference the Town Properties Committee confirmed at its March 11 meeting. The project’s architect reviewed and approved DDC’s qualifications and references before recommending the low bid, which Selectman Nathaniel Sides described as “pleasantly surprisingly low.” The award is contingent on Town Counsel review of the contract documents.
The board also unanimously approved an $8,500 expenditure from Plympton’s opioid settlement funds to support drug prevention efforts at Dennett Elementary School. The funds will cover materials for the LEAD (Law Enforcement Against Drugs) educational program being delivered through the police department, a radio communications upgrade for the school resource officer and Dennett staff, and cruiser decals. Chair Dana Smith explained that the police department had applied for a grant to cover the project but was not successful, making the opioid fund an appropriate alternative given the direct connection to drug prevention.
Town Administrator Liz Dennehy noted that Dennett School Secretary Judy Hanson had independently contacted the board Friday about potential grant funding for the same project. If the school secures separate grant money for any portion of the work, Sides confirmed, those opioid settlement funds would remain available for other town uses within the approved scope.
TPC Authorized to Pursue Fire Station Grants
The board approved a blanket authorization for the Town Properties Committee to pursue grant funding and federal earmarks for the proposed new fire station. Dennehy, participating remotely, recommended the broad authorization so the committee would not need to return to the board for each new opportunity, while noting that any award requiring a local match would come back before the Selectmen.
Sides used the item to remind all town board and committee members — flagging correspondence from the TPC that had arrived via personal email accounts — to use their official town-issued addresses for official business. “If there’s a Freedom of Information request that comes in periodically, we need to be able to reproduce those easily,” he said. “If they’re using a personal email address, that could get cumbersome.”
The fire station issue loomed large at the Town Properties Committee’s March 11th meeting two days later. TPC Chair Pierre Boyer reported ongoing code violations at the existing station: an exposed electrical panel at risk of water spray from adjacent pipes, water actively seeping through floor vents, unresolved floor drain issues, and a leaking roof that worsened significantly during the recent blizzard. Boyer said the committee is still awaiting a joint meeting with Town Counsel and the Selectmen to chart a path forward on both the fire station and a separate water infrastructure project.
Boyer laid out the committee’s planning approach: rather than sizing a new building around current apparatus, the TPC intends to first analyze call volume trends by category, staffing models, mutual aid usage, and population projections over a 25-to-30-year horizon before any design work proceeds. He noted that Plympton’s population has declined slightly — from approximately 2,900 to 2,813 as of the 2024 annual report — while total call volume has risen and mutual aid calls now account for 24% of all responses. “The data will tell you the factual story,” Boyer said. He added that a preliminary service-model analysis is expected to be presented to residents in the coming months.
Appointments and Community Recognition
The board unanimously appointed Gabriela Falconeri to the Community Preservation Committee to fill a member-at-large vacancy. The appointment runs from March 9, 2026, through June 30, 2029. The board also approved an Eagle Scout project for interior renovations to the Holt Field Snack Shack, which had received prior Recreation Commission approval and is overseen by Ross MacPherson.
Smith closed open session by praising the highway department’s response to the recent blizzard — which he compared in scale to the Blizzard of 1978 — and by recognizing the passing of Donald Vautrinot, a longtime Plympton resident, Vietnam veteran, former deputy fire chief, and former police officer in Plympton and Carver. “It’s definitely a part of our town that is missed,” Smith said.
Plympton TA Appointed in Easton
The Plympton Board of Selectmen closed their March 9 meeting by voting unanimously to enter executive session to discuss the Town Administrator’s employment contract — several hours before the Easton Select Board returned from its own closed session to formally vote to hire Plympton Town Administrator Liz Dennehy. The dual proceedings underscore what is now a near-certain leadership transition in Plympton.
The Easton appointment did not happen overnight. A week earlier, on March 2, the Easton Select Board had interviewed all three finalists — Dennehy; Jonathan Beder, the current Town Administrator in Avon; and William Chenard, the current Town Manager of Pembroke — before voting 4-1 to select Dennehy pending successful contract negotiations. Avid readers of the Express have seen this situation play out in Halifax and Kingston, who have each hired new Town Administrators in recent months.

The Arc of the South Shore to Hold April 3 Bunny Bash at Derby Street Shops in Hingham

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WEYMOUTH, HINGHAM, MA, – Register now for Friday, April 3, when The Arc of the South Shore, a family-oriented, community-based non-profit providing information, referrals, and community programs for individuals with disabilities and now celebrating its 75th anniversary, will host its fourth annual Easter Bunny Bash in partnership with the Derby Street Shops.
The event will feature an egg hunt, face painting, temporary tattoos, and photos with the Easter Bunny. Two sessions will be offered, with the first starting promptly at 10 a.m. and the second at 11 a.m. Both sessions will be held on the Derby Street Green between the stores REI and Kohl’s. The event is BYOB – Bring Your Own Basket!
The Bunny Bash is supported in part by a grant from the Hingham Cultural Council, a local agency of the Mass Cultural Council.
In case of inclement weather, the Bunny Bash will be rescheduled to April 6 with sessions at 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. All registrants will be notified on April 2 if the event is postponed.
Tickets are limited and advance registration is required; tickets are $10 per child. To register, please visit www.arcsouthshore.org.
Special thanks in advance to Bunny Bash sponsors Mass Cultural Council, Hull Cultural Council, Scituate Cultural Council, Quincy Arts Council, Quirk, George Washington Toma TV and Appliance, Infranet Solutions, and Titus Group.  Additional event sponsorships are available.
For more information about tickets or event sponsorships, please contact hklingseisen@arcsouthshore.org.
“This lively springtime event brings our community together for sunshine, smiles, and shared family fun,” said Elizabeth Sandblom, CEO of The Arc of the South Shore. “It’s a perfect way to welcome the season and create magical memories.”

Acella Construction Corporation Completes New Emergency Assistance Shelter Program for Plymouth Area Coalition for the Homeless

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ROCKLAND, PLYMOUTH, MA, – Acella Construction Corporation, a leader in construction management throughout greater Boston, is proud to have served as general contractor for the new Emergency Assistance Shelter Program for the Plymouth Area Coalition for the Homeless. The 26-family shelter is located at 54 Industrial Park Road in Plymouth.
The $7 million, 11,230-square-foot new shelter includes 26 bedrooms, a kitchen, dining spaces, laundry facilities, meeting rooms, and reception areas.
The project involved renovation of a vacant industrial park office building; as such Acella’s scope of work encompassed selective demolition, site improvements, new concrete foundations, masonry, structural steel, and complete rough and finish carpentry.
The building envelope was constructed with new insulation, siding, roofing, windows, doors, storefront, and glazing. This was followed by a complete interior buildout, including drywall, flooring, painting, millwork, specialties, and furnishings. New plumbing, HVAC, electrical, fire protection, fire alarm, and generator system were installed, along with a KONE passenger elevator, resulting in a fully code-compliant and operational facility delivered in accordance with the approved plans and specifications.
The Acella team completed the project within a 46-week construction schedule. Architectural design was performed by R2 Architects of Plymouth, Massachusetts.
Open as of February 12, the 26-family shelter provides safe, temporary housing for families along with professional case management and support services, including school enrollment, coordinated services, child care, and children’s programming.
“We could not have been more happy partnering with the team at Acella,” said Suzanne R. Giovanetti, CEO of Plymouth Area Coalition for the Homeless.  “Their professionalism, flexibility, and continued communication, combined with their quality construction practices, helped to make this dream of ours become a reality that will help so many.”
“Being part of a project that directly supports families in need was deeply meaningful to our team,” said Ryan LaVangie, vice president of sales and marketing at Acella Construction Corporation. “The Plymouth Area Coalition for the Homeless does extraordinary work and we’re proud to deliver a safe, welcoming facility that meets the highest standards of quality and care.”

Sandcastles in Plympton: Asher’s Sandbox is Open for Play

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Walt Disney was as inspired as he was accurate when he said, “Our greatest natural resource is the minds of our children.” Dr. Amber Bartlett can attest to this first hand because her son, Asher, is the one who had the idea for her new business, Asher’s Sandbox, in Plympton. After attending the grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony, Bartlett told the Express a little bit about her new business and what it brings to the community.
Express: Please share a bit about your inspiration for Asher’s Sandbox.

Bartlett: “I had my son later in life and found myself struggling to connect with other parents in the same stage, and I worried that as an only child my poor kid was stuck with just me and no friends! One day my son saw an ad for an indoor sandbox play park and said “Mommy, you supposed to take me there!”. I filed it away in the back of my head that it was a cool idea. Then I was driving on Main St, two seconds from my house, saw a space for lease and it hit me…it would be perfect to offer a unique option for building community right in my own town!”

Express: How long has this process taken to complete and can you share some insight regarding the design and work that went into starting this business?

Bartlett: “I don’t waste time so it went relatively quickly! It started with an idea, then a business plan, then approval from the town for a permit, signing a lease, starting construction and being ready to open. All in all, from idea to opening, took around 6 months. It was so rewarding to take a blank square space and then see the vision in my head become reality.”
Express: What has been the biggest challenge with this project?

Bartlett: “Being my own project manager, along with running two other businesses, wasn’t my smartest move! And getting 80,000 pounds of sand from South Carolina to Plympton, MA took extreme coordination, along with an in-depth knowledge of sand, which I never imagined I’d be an expert in!”

Express: What do you hope Asher’s Sandbox will offer to the community?
Bartlett: “This is what I’m most excited about! I want Asher’s Sandbox to be a place where friendships are made, imaginations are encouraged, and fun memories are made. I really want a place where kids can play and explore and parents can choose to participate or to get some reading done, knowing their kids are in a contained, safe space. I also want it to be a resource of community support – we are currently having local students come in to paint murals on the wall so they can showcase their gifts, and we are planning a big clothing/toy swap event. There are so many more ideas like that in our idea vault’!”

Express: What is the structure of the business in terms of offerings? Is it available to rent out? Do you offer parties or classes or other special services?

Bartlett: “We are really aiming to make this a space for children and adults to enjoy. We offer open play sessions for children ages 1-8. Weekday mornings, open play sessions include a themed activity for younger children: Monday is Storytime, Tuesday is Social Club, Thursday is Music & Movement, and Friday is Adventure Club. We offer activities such as craft workshops, sensory box workshops, holiday events (Easter egg hunt & bunny photos!), various character meet and greets (think princess, Paw Patrol, etc.), educational sessions, and yoga classes. We’ve even had business owners host info sessions for potential clients in our event room, while the clients’ children play in the sand. No babysitter required = higher attendance! We also have a great event room for birthday parties, business meetings, corporate events, networking events, dance classes, etc. The Sandbox Library is also in there, which is a Leave a Book/Take a Book for all children to take advantage of. The ideas are endless!”

Express: What else would you like to tell the community about Asher’s Sandbox?

Bartlett: “We want Asher’s Sandbox to be a place that is known in the community for being supportive, engaging, clean, safe, and FUN! We are intentional about listening to what people want or need in this area of family, children, and community so feedback is always welcome. You can always reach out via email
at info@asherssandbox.com, www.asherssandbox.com is where all info & bookings can be found, and our socials are always full of current info!”