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Haymakers for Hope’s 13th Annual Belle of the Brawl Returns to Boston

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Boston, MA – Haymakers for Hope (H4H) the nonprofit organization that empowers everyday women to train, compete, and raise funds for cancer research, is officially accepting applications for its 13th annual ‘Belles of the Brawl’ boxing charity event, taking place Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026, at the MGM Music Hall in Fenway. Applications are now open through June 1, 2026, inviting female Boston-area residents to step into the ring, challenge themselves, and make a lasting impact in the fight against cancer.
Now entering its thirteenth year, “Belles of the Brawl” continues to empower everyday women across Greater Boston in support of Haymakers for Hope’s mission through charitable boxing events with everyday people. Participants will spend four months training with local boxing gyms and coaches, ultimately competing in sanctioned amateur bouts while raising critical funds and awareness for cancer research, survivorship, care, and support.
Since its initial event in 2011, Haymakers for Hope has raised more than $42 million for cancer research, awareness, survivorship, and care. The organization has transformed more than 1,500 ordinary participants into extraordinary amateur fighters. Last year’s Belles of the Brawl participants raised more than $231,000 in support of the organization’s mission, contributing to another record-breaking year for the Boston-based nonprofit.
Hosted once again at MGM Music Hall at Fenway, the event has become one of Boston’s most inspiring and anticipated annual charity sporting events, bringing together participants, survivors, supporters, and spectators for an unforgettable evening centered around resilience, empowerment, and community impact.
“Every year, Belles of the Brawl introduces us to an incredible group of women willing to challenge themselves physically and mentally for a cause that touches so many lives,” said Founder, Julie Anne Kelly. “The dedication, camaraderie, and passion that comes out of this process is truly remarkable, and we’re excited to welcome the next class of fighters for 2026.”
Each participant will be matched with a USA Boxing registered gym and trainer for a four-month training program that combines intensive boxing workouts with structured fundraising. Participants not only learn the sport but also join a powerful community fighting for something bigger than themselves.

Orientation/training for the boxers will start in the middle of June, with tickets being on sale beginning on August 11, 2026. To learn more information about where to register and participate please visit the website. Sponsorship opportunities are also currently available.
About Haymakers for Hope:
Haymakers for Hope is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to raising money and awareness for cancer research, care, and survivorship through organized charitable boxing events. Founded in 2010, Haymakers for Hope, has helped raise nearly $42 million to knock out cancer. For more information, visit the Website, friend us on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Finding Your Music Story with the Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra

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When you think of 120 world class musicians playing great works and pieces ranging from Beethoven to ABBA, do you think of the Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra? Well, you should. In a sunny office on the third floor of an antique home on Court St., Marketing Manager, Melissa Arp, is surrounded by the bits and pieces of behind-the-scenes paperwork, files, folders, and devices that are required to keep the Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra, known as The Phil, running smoothly and planning ahead.
In what will be The Phil’s 111th season starting July 1, led by Conductor Steven Karidoyanes, Arp is visibly excited when handing me the pamphlet showcasing the upcoming 2026 performances and explaining the theme for the year. “Our theme this year is ‘Music is the Answer’, and it really is,” says Arp, “Everything in life can be connected by and communicated through music where words fail. And everyone has a music story,” Arp explains.
The Phil is a local gem with both loyal, long-time patrons and new guests who are having their first orchestral experience. No matter what your experience or taste in music, Arp is adamant that everyone can find something for them through music. “Music has touched us all -be it popular songs on the radio right now or a classical piece of music heard live -everyone has their own music story of what it means to them and how it speaks to them. Music affects everyone in unique, individualized ways -and we at The Phil want to learn about your music stories and share them through music.”
The theme, ‘Music is the Answer’, is applicable to everyone in every situation. “Music carries us through grief, inspires us to dream, comforts us when we need it, and connects us to other people -especially when its live music,” Arp muses, “The Phil hopes to connect this season more than ever with community and find out how music is moving through our communities and how it affects them.” With nine feature programs for the 2026 season with an amalgamation of timeless classical pieces, beloved pop music, and familiar movie themes, as well as many learning, socializing, fundraising, and music exposure opportunities, The Phil is set to give everyone something to resonate with and enjoy no matter your musical preference or age.
In addition to providing the community with incredible, life-enhancing performances, The Phil offers unique opportunities for the public to learn more and get up close and personal with the music and the musicians. Arp explains, “Pre-Concert talks are free for ticket holders and provide a chance to hear Conductor Karidoyanes give a bit of background and backstory for the upcoming music being performed and insights into how the orchestra is interpreting it. It really makes the music less foreign and more relatable for the patrons if they understand who wrote and what it was intended to convey.”
The Phil does not forget its youngest community members and has amazing programs in place to enhance music education and exposure to children. “There is an annual Concert for All Ages where young kids are invited to come and not only listen to a shortened, hour-long, kid-friendly performance, but to meet musicians and have a hands-on-instrument demonstration. It is one of our most popular programs,” says Arp.
Other programs for local budding musicians include The Youth Concerto Competition. In partnership with the South Shore Conservatory, The Phil annually hosts the winner of the Conservatory’s Concerto Competition as a featured soloist in our Concert for All Ages. The Phil’s Music Immersion Program is a unique collaboration between Plymouth Public School administrators, teachers, their supporters, and the Plymouth Philharmonic. This program engages 3rd and 4th graders who hear Phil ensembles in their school over the course of the year and culminates in the spring when over 2000 area school children attend a live, daytime performance of the Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra at Memorial Hall.
“We also have a long-standing collaboration with the South Shore Conservatory Youth Orchestra,” Arp says, “Under the direction of Elijah Langille, SSC Youth Orchestra Program Director & Principal Conductor, the SSCYO is an auditioned youth program that provides the opportunity for young musicians, from 4th grade to college, a chance to perform symphonic music at a high level in an orchestral program. Composer Karidoyanes meets and rehearses with the students three times a year and then the seniors of SSCYO join The Phil in a concert. It is one of our more impactful programs for youth.”
If you are looking for a possible last-minute ticket to The Phil, they have a Rush Ticket program. Any unsold tickets will be made available for $10 each, 15 minutes before showtime. Simply line up at the venue box office. Tickets are based on availability and are cash only. Full-time high school or college students can attend a Phil subscription concert for $5. Student Rush tickets go on sale 15 minutes before each concert and are distributed, as available, on a first-come, first-served basis. Students must show a valid student ID. One ticket per student ID.
After the annual performance for the Independence Day concert on the waterfront, The Phil performance season will begin Sept. 19 with Fiddler of the Opera featuring violinist guest artist, Irina Muresanu. This integrative performance will feature four operatic masterpieces from Rossini’s epic overture, Borodin’s exotic dances, Sarasate’s famous fantasy, and Gershwin’s unfinished virtuosic violin concerto -a piece waxing nostalgic and intriguing for violinists.
In November, Conductor Karidoyanes will lead the audience and orchestra through The Question of Sound featuring the iconic and rare instrument, the theremin with theraminist Caroline Scruggs showcasing the 50’s instrument used in the sci-fi classic, The Day the Earth Stood Still. The concert will also include 18th century superstar Haydn’s final symphony and the musical conversations of the compositions of Charles Ives.
Arp assures that the much anticipated, staple, hometown performances are on the lineup as well. “In late November we have America’s Hometown Celebration: An American Soundtrack that will feature pieces about rhythm and movement like Glenn Miller, the Two-Step -of course the Turkey Trot -really fun music that will get everyone engaged and tapping their toes. This performance will also have pieces from Hamilton, The Music Man, and Wicked. Lots of people will recognize the music in the concert.”
“Of course, in December we have our most popular performance of the year, Hometown Holiday,” says Arp, “This is a really special concert and this year we have tenor Matthew Anderson and the Plymouth Community Intermediate School Chorus, under the direction of Jessica Fuller. We do a toy drive for this show and it goes perfectly with the annual piece performed in this particular show, The March of the Toys Parade.”
February brings Symphonic Sinatra with vocalist Brian Duprey. Crowd favorites such as, That’s Life and New York, New York will be taken to the moon when played by The Phil and accompanied by a vocalist that Nancy Sinatra, herself, has praised for being performer worthy of her father’s legacy. As a bonus, there will be a ticketed pre-concert cocktail party worthy of the Rat Pack scene.
Families looking for enchantment will find it in Plymouth this March. “Our Fairy Tales and Fantasies concert is perfect for families,” Arp points out, “We feature orchestral pieces from John William’s Oscar-nominated score from Hook, and A Whole New World and Friend Like Me from Disney’s Aladdin as well as pieces everyone recognizes like Night on Bald Mountain (Mussorgsky) and Stravinsky’s Firebird. We have an instrument demonstration as part of this performance as well so audience members can identify which instrument makes which sounds.”
In April, The Phil will dive deep into the music of Beethoven with Beethoven’s Legacy featuring pianist, Jonathan Bass. On the bicentennial of his passing, Beethoven’s works -some that he composed in his brother’s basement while he taking refuge from Napoleon’s war, will lead into the concert finale, Symphony No.7 -Beethoven’s personal favorite. To wrap up the 2026 season, Arp ensures something highly enjoyable, but perhaps to some, unconventional. “ABBA Fever will be our final performance of the season. We will have guests from Spot-On-Entertainment and this show will be so much fun.”
The Phil’s 111th season truly holds something for everyone. “We want to make orchestral music and live music experiences less intimidating and more relatable to the community,” Arp says,” You don’t have to know anything about music to come and enjoy The Phil. Everyone has a music story and we hope that you come to a performance and let us become part of your ongoing music story.” With this much talent, professionalism, vision, inspiration, and sincere effort to enhance the human connections and experiences right here in our community, it is easy to find the answer to anything life is giving or asking of you when you visit The Phil.

Kingston Prepares for Town Meeting With a Warning

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The Kingston Board of Selectmen spent nearly four hours meeting May 19 and reviewing the June 6 Annual Town Meeting warrant, but the most pointed moment came over the fiscal year 2027 operating budget, when newly voted Chair Kimberley Emberg told the room the town’s finances are structurally broken and warned that without new commercial growth, Kingston could be forced to consider an override.
“I’m going to say it again. I think this is not sustainable,” Emberg said as the board moved the general fund operating budget toward favorable action. “I’ve said this for the last three years. We are out of room, so we either need to figure out new growth somehow or we’re going to be talking about an override.”
Nevertheless, the board recommended the FY27 general fund budget, sending it to voters without dissent. But the surrounding discussion laid bare how thin Kingston’s margins have become. Selectman Carl Pike, a former finance committee member, estimated the town would carry a free cash balance of roughly $750,000 to $800,000 into the fall after town meeting spending. He called that an acceptable cushion and said he would not be comfortable with a balance closer to $250,000, particularly with union contracts coming due in the fall and the town already pressed against its levy limit.
Town Administrator Scott Lambiase offered a measure of cautious optimism, noting that the available revenue could rise once the state finalizes its own budget. The figure Selectmen were working from reflected the House number, he said, while the Senate version came in significantly higher; a final state budget, expected by late July, could ease the squeeze slightly. “We definitely need to have a little buffer in that free cash,” Lambiase said. “I agree 100%.”
Selectmen worked the warrant article by article through enterprise fund budgets for the water, wastewater and renewable energy departments, a slate of Community Preservation Committee projects, zoning bylaw corrections, revolving funds and a string of routine appropriations. Several articles were held for further language review with Town Counsel before the warrant is posted, including two proposed revolving funds tied to opioid settlement money and injured-employee reimbursements, and a tax-title payment agreement that Counsel advised should be structured as a bylaw rather than a standalone vote.
The Community Preservation articles drew the closest votes of the night. The board split 3-2 on a proposed conservation purchase on Maple Street. Town Planner Valerie Massard explained that the parcel is likely intended for housing redevelopment in partnership with the Affordable Housing Trust, though the warrant language framed it around wetland protection and fish passage. The board also voted 3-2 to recommend roughly $387,000 to improve public access to the Hathaway Preserve off Wapping Road, including a parking area, split-rail fence and information kiosk. Less contentious CPC items, including restoration of headstones in the Old Burying Ground and rehabilitation work at the Stephen Drew Heritage House, advanced with little debate.
Earlier in the evening the board adopted Kingston’s 2026-2031 Housing Production Plan, clearing it for submission to the state’s Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities by the June 30 deadline. Jason Desrosier, Senior Housing Planner at the Old Colony Planning Council, told the board Kingston counts 272 units on the state’s subsidized housing inventory, or about 5.2% of its roughly 5,200 year-round units, well below the 10% benchmark. He framed the plan around “missing middle” housing and the needs of a rapidly aging population, emphasizing small-scale, context-sensitive growth rather than dramatic change. Pike used the moment to press a familiar point, urging town boards to hold firm against neighborhood opposition to development. “I just hope that we as town committees can be strong in trying to support housing development in this town,” he said. “I think that’s the only way we’re ever going to get anything built.”
The board also approved the issuance of $1.9 million in general obligation bond anticipation notes, carrying a 3.75% rate and sold to Piper Sandler & Company, to finance the elementary school roof replacement authorized at the October 2025 special town meeting.
The meeting opened with the board’s annual post-election reorganization. Emberg was returned as Chair, Melissa “Missy” Bateman was elected Vice Chair, and Sheila Vaughn was elected Clerk. Vaughn and newly elected member Joseph Cunningham Jr. were welcomed to the board. Vaughn was also added as a second authorized signer of the weekly warrant, and the board voted to move its regular meetings to the second and fourth Tuesday of each month.
The night’s most heated stretch came during a public hearing on the all-alcohol licenses at Indian Pond Country Club, where the board had to decide whether an illegal transfer of the licenses had taken place following the club’s sale. The new property owner and his attorney told the board the licenses remain in the name of the prior holder, who is staying on under an interim management agreement to run the liquor operation until a formal transfer can be approved by both the board and the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission.
Resident David Fuller, of Country Club Way, delivered a blistering five-minute statement welcoming the new ownership while excoriating the prior operator over what he described as decades of conflict with the surrounding neighborhood. Fuller questioned why the license holder was absent from the hearing and demanded documentation proving the management arrangement was being honored. Ken Moalli spoke in support of the buyer, urging the board not to put hurdles in front of a sale that he said would benefit the community, and arguing that the confidentiality prior to a private deal of that size was normal business practice.
Town Counsel laid out the board’s options: revoke the licenses, suspend them for a defined or indefinite period, continue the hearing, or take no action. After closing the public hearing, the board voted to take no action on all three licenses covering the grill room, function room and members’ club, accepting assurances that the original licensee retains ownership and day-to-day control until a transfer is formally approved. Counsel cautioned that all liquor-premises obligations remain with the original license holder in the meantime, and that the new owner cannot operate the licensed business himself without board and ABCC approval.
Kingston’s annual town meeting is set for Saturday, June 6, at 9 a.m. at the Kingston Intermediate School; a copy of the warrant is available on the town website.

Summertime and the Outdoor Garden Strollin’ is Easy

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Stephani Teran
Express staff
When I first moved to Massachusetts thirteen years ago, I was told by a friend who grew up here that “In New England, summer is not just a season, it’s a way of life.” That first summer, as I became acquainted with my surroundings, I saw that her sentiment was true. After eight (at the time) moves all over the country from California to New York, I had never seen a place where people truly savored and squeezed every last drop out of summer that they could. Of course, there is good reason when winter is often long and harsh, but also when the natural beauty, proximity to the ocean, and an abundance of untouched, undeveloped nature stands to be cherished and enjoyed.
In Massachusetts, people are outside early and long past sunset. In my previous seaside neighborhood in Plymouth, lobster bakes on the front lawns were weekly and people lounged in hammocks and lawn chairs as if they had not a modern-day care. Kids rode bikes and played kickball in the little road by the secret beach that was never without locals on towels or quiet summer sojourners scouring the tidepools for this or that. Here in the Plympton countryside, summer days mean garden tending and pottering, kettle pond swimming, afternoons in the shade of ancient trees with popsicles, and evenings of fireflies and fireside s’mores while kids run about in the woods and on farmyard with flashlights playing night games.
In addition to these summer rituals playing out more substantially and beautifully in Massachusetts than anywhere I have ever lived, one other thing I noticed is that local community gardens and nature centers are go-to hubs for locals every day, until summer vacation is over. New Englander’s truly love their gardens -evocative to the level of the British and their national gardening and garden strolling tradition. Luckily, we live in a state with an abundance of gardens and nature centers to explore.
These nature-rich places offer perfect opportunities to get summer-strung children off screens and office-bound adults out into the majesty of New England summer while it is here. There are nature centers that offer education and hands-on involvement through walks and workshops, or there are tranquil, lush gardens that only require relaxation and observation. Here is a list of some local nature centers and public gardens in Massachusetts that are more than worth a day-trip to enjoy. Happy garden strolling and may your summertime livin’ be easy!
Nature Centers:
Wildlands Trust: Wildlands Trust works throughout Southeastern Massachusetts to permanently protect native habitats, farmland, and lands of high ecologic and scenic value that serve to keep our communities healthy and our residents connected to the natural world. From preserving farmland and forests to protecting coastal resources and urban parks, Wildlands carries out a wide and ever-evolving range of conservation tasks. Wildlands Trust is a community service organization working in the land conservation field. They maximize their impact by nimbly responding to the unique needs of local people and wildlife. Wildlands Trust offers daily classes, workshops, walks, service opportunities, training, summer internships, many children’s programs, and educational opportunities. They are located out of Plymouth and are one of 130 land trusts in Massachusetts -the most of any state in the country.
Info:
675 Long Pond Rd.
Plymouth, MA 02360
info@wildlandstrust.org

South Shore YMCA Nature Center: The South Shore YMCA Nature Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the education of natural and cultural environments of the South Shore. Their mission is to provide natural science experiences that educate, excite, and commit all generations to preserve the environment and encourage responsible use, stewardship, and enjoyment of our natural resources. Located on 30 acres surrounded by 200 acres of town conservation/recreation land consisting of meadows, woodland, and a pond, the South Shore YMCA Nature Center is home to Environmental Education programs, a Nature Center Preschool and summer day camp, Nature Adventures Camp. Their campus features five nature trails, the Jose Carreiro Children’s Garden, pollinator and native plant gardens, picnic areas, Coe’s Greenhouse, the EcoZone, and much more!
Info:
48 Jacobs Ln.
Norwell, MA, 02061
skugel@ssymca.org

Heritage Gardens: Heritage Gardens in Sandwich offers transcending beauty tucked away in a Cape Cod neighborhood. There are 100 acres of trees, shrubs, beautiful flowers, and sweeping lawns. This extraordinary environment offers examples of professional horticulture, garden design, outdoor discovery, the exhibition of great collections, and a year-round blaze of vibrant color. The region’s moderate temperatures and rainfall mean happy plants totaling more than 500 cultivars spread over Heritage in the Labyrinth, the Hart Family Garden Maze, Hidden Hollow, Flume Fountain, the Parade Field, the Wicked Plants Garden, and the Windmill Garden where some of the most spectacular blooms can be found including hundreds of hydrangeas in the summer. Enjoy garden-related workshops, lectures, and activities throughout the year. Three gallery buildings house special and permanent exhibitions and there is a charming gift shop with gifts for all garden lovers in an antique house near the entrance.
Info:
67 Grove St.
Sandwich, MA, 02563
info@heritagemuseums.org

Green Briar Nature Center and Thornton W. Burgess Society: This charming Cape Cod nature center, library, and gardens is a remembrance of the works of Thornton Burgess, a popular children’s author of the early 1900’s. Visitors can enjoy a wildflower garden and lots of nature activities for parents and children.
Info:
6 Discovery Hill Rd.
East Sandwich, MA, 02537
info@thorntonburgess.org

New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill: New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill is a nonprofit organization located in Boylston. It is one of America’s most famous botanical gardens. Located on 171 acres by the Worcester County Horticultural Society, it is one of the oldest of its kind in the country and is open to the public for garden viewing, trail walking, activities, private events, educational classes, weddings, exhibitions, and more. They are an AAM-accredited museum that includes an irreplaceable collection of plants. Their mission is to engage visitors in their lifelong passion for growing plants for their ornamental, economic, and ecological value.
Info:
11 French Dr.
Boylston, MA, 01505

New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill


Ashumet Holly Wildlife Sanctuary: Ashumet’s most spectacular feature is Grassy Pond, a globally rare ecosystem characterized by the species of rare wildflowers that bloom along its sandy shores during low water in late summer and early fall; the pink Plymouth gentian is particularly beautiful. As its name suggests, Ashumet Holly is well known for its 65 varieties of holly trees planted throughout the sanctuary -including the largest and oldest holly tree in North America. Self-guided trails take visitors on a quiet hike through the sanctuary.
Ashumet Rd.
East Falmouth, MA, 02536

Arnold Arboretum: This 265-acre site is part of the emerald necklace of Boston parks designed in the late 1800s by Frederick Law Olmsted (my great-great-great grandfather!). The arboretum is one of the most respected and important centers for plant research in the country, with about 14,000 woody plants representing nearly 5,000 botanical classifications. The Visitor Center has maps and self-guided tour brochures. There are rotating exhibits about the Arboretum and plants, seasonal art exhibitions, a shop featuring books and educational items for children and adults, and activities for children.
Info:
125 Arborway
Jamaica Plain, MA, 02130
https://arboretum.harvard.edu

Garden in the Woods: The New England Wild Flower Society maintains this garden, the largest landscaped collection of native plants in the northeastern United States. New England’s premier wildflower garden has more than 1,000 native plant species, with many rare specimens, as well as the unique New England Rare Plant Garden. Native plants are also available for purchase.
Info:
180 Hemenway Rd.
Framingham, MA, 01701
https://www.nativeplanttrust.org

The Garden at Elm Bank -Massachusetts Horticultural Society: The Garden at Elm Bank is located on Massachusetts Horticultural Society’s 36 acres on the Elm Bank Reservation. The site includes open fields and meadows, streams and pools, wooded areas, and formal gardens. The Charles River nearby surrounds the property. Various gardens at Elm Bank include a Children’s Garden, Vegetable Garden, The Italianate Garden, and gardens of daylilies, rhododendrons, herbs, and daffodils. If you want to see what gardens look like when planned and maintained with a mix of expertise and passion, visit Elm Bank for endless inspiration.
Info:
900 Washington St.
Wellesley, MA, 02482
(They offer a help line for gardening questions staffed by master gardeners at mhshelpline@massmastergardeners.org)
https://www.masshort.org

Long Hill: From 1916 to 1979, Long Hill was the summer home of author Ellery Sedgwick and his first wife, Mabel Cabot Sedgwick, an accomplished horticulturist and gardener. Five acres of cultivated grounds are laid out in a series of separate garden rooms and accented by garden ornaments, structures, and statuary. There is a pleasant 1.2-mile loop trail in the nearby woodlands, filled with spring pools and imposing boulders. This is truly a space to study and learn about gardening logic meeting artistic freedom.
Info:
572 Essex St.
Beverly, MA, 01915
Info@TheTrustees.org

Plympton Voters Reject Selectmen’s Bid to Move Board of Health Hiring Power

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Town meeting voters on May 13 defeated Article 19, the Board of Selectmen’s petition for special state legislation that would have stripped the Board of Health of authority to appoint and remove its own administrative assistant. The rejection followed sharp opposition from the Board of Health, the School Committee chair, and elected members of independent boards who warned the change would erode public-health independence and confidentiality. Voters separately approved a $16,179,691 fiscal 2027 budget that drew $823,340 from the general stabilization fund — a one-time fix that Selectman Nathaniel Sides said would not be available next year, when Plympton faces “a very real possibility” of needing a Proposition 2½ override.
Moderator Barry DeCristofano opened the combined Annual Town Meeting and Special Town Meeting at the Dennett Elementary School, working through 21 annual articles and two special-session transfers. Most articles moved quickly. Article 19 did not.
Sides, presenting on behalf of the Board of Selectmen, framed the petition as the latest step in a decade-long effort to professionalize personnel practices across town departments. The article would have asked the Legislature to allow the Board of Selectmen, rather than the Board of Health, to appoint and remove the board’s administrative assistant — bringing the position in line, Sides said, with support staff in other departments that already report through the town administrator.
“It’s not an attempt by the Board of Selectmen to take over the Board of Health,” Sides told voters. He said the Board of Health would still interview candidates and recommend its preferred hire to the Selectmen for ratification. “No one is losing their job, no jobs are being eliminated, no duties and responsibilities are changing, nothing is eliminated, there is no pay change involved with the passage of this act.”
Board of Health Chair Brad Cronin, speaking on his own behalf, was the first to push back. He called Article 19 “a bad solution in search of a non-existent problem” and laid out five objections: that it would undermine the intent of state public-health law, erode public trust by introducing political influence, create ambiguity over who supervises the position day-to-day, expose the town to legal and personnel risk, and set a precedent for other independently elected boards. Cronin noted that boards of health handle communicable disease investigations, housing complaints, substance abuse matters, and other confidential health information. “Public health decisions should remain independent, professional, confidential and insulated from politics,” he said. “Article 19 moves Plympton in the opposite direction.”
Board of Health member Jared Anderson told voters the board had voted 3-0 to reject the article. He said the administrative assistant also performs clerk duties for the board, including preparing minutes, and that splitting the supervisory authority would create ambiguity and possible legal costs to defend the new structure.
Art Morin, a longtime Board of Health member, invoked the board’s work during the COVID-19 pandemic and stressed HIPAA protections. He warned that a future Board of Selectmen — not the current one — could be tempted to pressure an administrative assistant for confidential information. “We need the independence for the Board of Health to protect it,” he said.
Opposition was not confined to the Board of Health. Plympton School Committee Chair Jason Fraser said he opposed Article 19 just as he had opposed an earlier move to make the town clerk an appointed position. “We as departments do have autonomy and independence, and I would like to see it stay that way unless there’s a problem,” Fraser said.
Ethan Stiles, a member of the Board of Assessors, argued that elected boards are best positioned to evaluate the staff who serve them day-to-day. Resident Brian Carr, of Buttonwood Drive, urged voters not to overturn what he described as 154 years of Massachusetts precedent giving boards of health autonomy at the local level.
One resident spoke in support, citing past instances of what they described as unprofessional conduct by town-house staff that they said had not been corrected under the existing structure.
The moderator called for a voice and hand-card vote and declared the article defeated. No precise count was announced.
Before the budget vote on Article 4, Sides delivered a prepared statement from the Selectmen, Town Administrator, Town Accountant, and Finance Committee. He told voters Plympton had built another level-service budget — no expanded programs, no new spending unless mandated — and had again taken the budget to the legal Proposition 2½ levy limit. To close the remaining gap, the town drew on its general stabilization, or “rainy day,” fund.
Town Accountant Lisa Hart read the funding breakdown: $14,849,622 from the tax levy (raise and appropriate), $823,340 from general stabilization, $300,000 from the ambulance fund applied to EMS salaries, $147,000 from capital stabilization for police station debt, and $59,729 from free cash. The $16,179,691 total passed unanimously, clearing the two-thirds threshold required because of the general stabilization draw.
Sides was direct about what comes next. “Unfortunately, that is something of a one-time fix. We simply cannot afford to do this next year,” he said. “For next year, there is a very real possibility of needing a Prop 2½ override, unless overall fiscal conditions and or state aid change for the better.”
He noted that almost half of Massachusetts cities and towns are pursuing some form of Proposition 2½ relief this year. Plympton is not among them — yet.
Voters approved a $35,000 transfer from capital stabilization under Article 20 to fund a limited building assessment of Dennett Elementary School, including review of current building systems, overall infrastructure condition, and development of a repair or replacement schedule. School Committee Chair Jason Fraser moved the article, which passed unanimously without discussion.
Other capital and infrastructure approvals included $200,000 from capital stabilization for road construction, resurfacing, and topcoating (Article 11); $63,199 in lease payments for two highway department trucks and a police vehicles and radios package (Article 9); $9,895 for a Meteor 87-inch double-auger snowblower (Article 12); a multi-year lease-purchase for a police patrol vehicle (Article 14, requiring and clearing the two-thirds threshold); and a multi-year lease-purchase for a new Ford F-150 or similar for the fire department, with $14,000 for the first-year payment (Article 16).
Under Article 6, voters approved $17,000 from the Community Preservation Fund’s undesignated balance for the Recreation Commission to add a pickleball court at the existing Parsonage Road basketball court facility. The project also funds restoration of vandalized basketball hoops, new landscaping, parking area refurbishment, a small picnic area, and motion-activated security lights, with oversight reports to the Community Preservation Committee at least every two months.
Other articles approved without significant discussion included $39,000 for the FY27 financial audit (Article 7, from free cash); $10,000 added to the town buildings emergency maintenance account (Article 8, from free cash); $28,500 for information technology upgrades, including security software and hardware (Article 10, from free cash); $10,000 for fire department grant matching funds (Article 15, from the sale of town properties fund); $2,200 for bylaw codification (Article 17); $31,400 for the FY27 real and personal property recertification (Article 18); and authorization to accept and expend Chapter 90 state roadway funds (Article 13).
The Annual Town Meeting recessed after Article 19 so voters could take up two FY26 cleanup transfers. Both passed unanimously: $10,000 from free cash to the OPEB (post-employment benefits) account, and $10,000 from free cash to the unemployment budget line.

40 Local Firefighters Graduate from State Fire Academy

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STOW—State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine announced the graduation of 40 recruits from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy’s Call/Volunteer Recruit Firefighter Training Program tonight. Video of the ceremony will be posted to the Department of Fire Services’ YouTube channel tomorrow.
The members of Call/Volunteer Recruit Class #125 graduated at Bridgewater State University. They represent the fire departments of Acushnet, Dartmouth Fire District 1, Dighton, Fairhaven, Freetown, Halifax, Marion, Mattapoisett, Norwell, Onset, Rehoboth, Swansea, Wareham, and West Barnstable.
“Massachusetts firefighters are on the frontlines protecting their communities every day, and these graduates are needed now more than ever,” said State Fire Marshal Davine. “The hundreds of hours of foundational training they’ve received on nights and weekends will provide them with the physical, mental, and technical skills to perform their jobs effectively and safely.”
“Massachusetts Firefighting Academy instructors draw on decades of experience in the fire service to train new recruits,” said MFA Recruit Program Coordinator Dean Babineau. “Through consistent classroom instruction and practical exercises, tonight’s graduates have developed the tools they’ll need to protect themselves, their communities, and each other.”
The Call/Volunteer Firefighter Recruit Training Program is unique in that it delivers a standard recruit training curriculum, meeting national standards, on nights and weekends to accommodate the schedule of firefighters in suburban and rural areas. Making the training more accessible means more firefighters can participate and allows them more time to practice training skills with instructors.
The MFA, a division of the Department of Fire Services, has offered the program since 2003. More than 3,000 call and volunteer recruits have graduated since then.
Today’s firefighters train for all types of hazards and emergencies. They are the first ones called to chemical and environmental emergencies, ranging from the suspected presence of carbon monoxide to Fentanyl overdoses or a gas leak. They may be called to rescue children who have fallen through the ice or locked themselves in a bathroom. They rescue people from stalled elevators and crashed vehicles. They must test, maintain, and utilize equipment such as self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), hydrants, hoses, power tools, and apparatus.
At the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy, they learn all these skills and more, including the latest science of fire behavior and suppression tactics, from certified fire instructors. They also receive training in public fire education, hazardous material incident mitigation, flammable liquids, stress management, and self-rescue techniques. The intensive program involves classroom instruction, physical fitness training, firefighter skills training, and live firefighting practice.
Students receive classroom training in all basic firefighter skills. They practice first under non-fire conditions and then during controlled fire conditions. To graduate, students must demonstrate proficiency in life safety, search and rescue, ladder operations, water supply, pump operation, and fire attack. Fire attack operations range from mailbox fires to multiple-floor or multiple room structural fires.
Graduates have completed 240 hours of training on nights and weekends. Upon successful completion of this program, all students have met the national standards of NFPA 1010, Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications. In addition, they may seek certification to the level of Firefighter I/II and Hazardous Materials Operational Level Responder.

The Arc of the South Shore Names Rachel Leone Secretary of Board of Directors

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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 year, is pleased to announce Rachel Leone as Secretary of its Board of Directors.
In this capacity, Leone plays an essential role on the board, with a focus on documentation and communication. Along with other members, she provides direction, governance, oversight, and fiduciary responsibility for the non-profit that has helped more than 100,000 people throughout its 75-year history.
Leone, who has served on the board for the past three years, is the founder and president of Leone Marketing Solutions, Inc. in Hingham, a promotional products and apparel firm. Prior to launching the company in 2004, she served as director of marketing and sales at RCN, a telecommunications provider.
Leone earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Suffolk University’s Sawyer School of Management and her undergraduate degree in Communications from Boston University’s College of Communication. Committed to lifelong learning, she regularly attends continuing education seminars.
Leone was raised in Norwell and has lived in Hingham for the past 20 years. She shares her home with her husband Roy, their two sons Nicholas and Thomas, and Bella, their beloved family dog.
“Rachel brings deep professional expertise and genuine commitment to our mission,” said Elizabeth Sandblom, CEO of The Arc of the South Shore. “Her insight will be invaluable as we continue expanding our programs and strengthening our impact across the South Shore.”
“The Arc’s mission resonates deeply with me, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve in this leadership role on the board and help advance the organization’s vital programs,” said Leone.

Halifax Passes Budget Contingent on $999,777 in Override Funds

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Halifax’s two-night Annual Town Meeting May 11 and 12 ended with voters authorizing $999,777 of the $1.5 million Proposition 2½ override that appeared on Saturday’s ballot, after Town Administrator Steven Solbo disclosed a $625,000 accounting discrepancy three days before the meeting. The ballot question itself cannot be amended, but town meeting’s appropriation cap means only the lower amount can be spent in fiscal 2027 without a future town meeting vote.
Halifax voters confronted the town’s worst fiscal crisis in years across two long, sometimes contentious nights, ultimately keeping the override alive for Saturday’s ballot while reshaping nearly every line of the FY27 budget through floor amendments. Selectman Jonathan Selig framed the stakes for residents: “We’re voting tonight not knowing what the outcome will be but knowing that the state doesn’t know the faces of those that go to the COA. They don’t know the faces of your children, the educators that stand to lose their jobs.”
Solbo opened Monday night with a sober briefing. On Friday, May 8, he said, the town had identified roughly $625,000 in accounting and budget compilation discrepancies that “significantly changed the financial discussion surrounding the override.” He warned against treating the discovery as a permanent fix. “Using free cash responsibly is like using your savings to repair your roof, replace your furnace, or handle an emergency car repair. Using free cash continually to support recurring operations is like using your savings account every month to pay your mortgage, groceries, and electric bill because your paycheck no longer covers your normal expenses.”
Silver Lake Regional School Committee Chair Gordon Laws moved first to lower the town’s Silver Lake assessment on Line 70 by roughly $200,000, citing a double-count in the regional district’s budget process. That amendment passed unanimously. Resident Gordon Andrews then moved $175,112 from the town’s general stabilization fund toward the Silver Lake assessment, a transfer that cleared the required two-thirds threshold.
The real fight came over Halifax Elementary School’s appropriation on Line 69. Andrews proposed raising the school’s town-funded share to $7,732,771, arguing that combined with state grants and circuit-breaker offsets, the figure would let the elementary school avoid any staffing reductions and eliminate the school’s portion of the override request. The amendment, he said, “allows no staffing reductions to take place at the elementary school. We do not need to cut the teachers and increase the class sizes to outrageous numbers.”
The Finance Committee and Board of Selectmen both declined to recommend the amendment. Finance Committee Chair Jim Walters cited “moving money out of a stabilization fund that is not meant for operational costs, which is really directly in conflict with any type of budget discipline.” Halifax Elementary School Committee Chair Lauren Laws warned that the budget figure would not satisfy the state’s net school spending requirement under Department of Elementary and Secondary Education rules. After a hand count, the amendment failed 153 to 253.
Selig immediately offered a compromise: $7,532,438 for the elementary school, returning roughly $200,000 to the override and spreading the budget pain across both municipal and school sides. “I think we’re all in this together,” Selig said. “I think to completely excuse that one side, in my opinion, is not the way to go.” The compromise passed by majority vote, with the Finance Committee backing it 5–2.
By the time Article 3B reached a vote near 11 p.m., the override allocation had been rewritten in real time. Walters initially moved a $775,042 appropriation, reflecting the new accounting picture. Andrews and Selig then noted that earlier cuts to police and fire wages had not been restored in Article 3A, meaning the override needed to cover them. After a brief recess, Walters re-stated the motion at $975,042 — restoring $150,021 to police wages, $140,000 to fire wages, $375,385 to the elementary school, and amounts for the Council on Aging, OPEB trust, and a reserve fund.
Resident Robert Mullen asked whether passage would mean no one loses their job. Solbo answered that one part-time assessor’s clerk position remained unfunded. Selig moved to amend the override motion upward by $24,735 to restore the position, bringing the final appropriation to $999,777. The motion passed by majority vote after a motion to end debate.
Selig stressed that the ballot question must still read $1.5 million by law, but that the town will only assess the appropriated amount unless a future town meeting votes to raise the rest. “You’re only going to be taxed on the [$999,777] this year,” he told resident Jean Gallant. “You’re not going to be taxed on the full $1.5.” Solbo projected that the $999,777 appropriation translates to roughly $276.73 in additional annual taxes on the average Halifax home, assessed at $532,178 — compared to an estimated $531 annual increase under the full $1.5 million figure.
The night ended in procedural chaos. After Article 3B passed, resident Peter Beals filed a motion to reconsider. Moderator Robert Gaynor ruled it out of order because the body was still in the middle of paired Articles 19 and 20 establishing a PFAS settlement stabilization fund. By the time those passed, a motion to continue the meeting carried, and Beals was promised a chance to raise his motion again Tuesday.
Day Two: Reconsideration Fails, Government Reform Splits the Town
Beals opened the second night by renewing his motion to reconsider the override. “It really seemed like we were in a beta testing type meeting that should have been hammered out well before it came to the town,” resident Matthew Beals told the floor in support. After a brief debate and a successful motion to end discussion, the reconsideration motion was defeated by majority vote, locking in the $999,777 figure contingent on the override.
The remainder of the evening turned to recommendations from the town’s Government Study Committee, a volunteer group commissioned in fall 2024 to review Halifax’s governance structure. Board of Selectmen Vice Chair Tom Pratt, who serves on the committee, framed each article as a choice for voters rather than a critique of any sitting officeholder.
The results were mixed. Article 9, which renames the Board of Selectmen as the Select Board, passed. Article 6 (Town Clerk from elected to appointed) passed 149–79 and is headed to Saturday’s ballot for final approval. Article 7 (Treasurer/Collector from elected to appointed) also passed. Article 8 (Highway Surveyor) and Article 10 (Water Commissioners) both failed after pointed opposition from elected officials and residents who said they would not surrender voting power to the Select Board.
Current Highway Surveyor Steve Hayward, who earns $84,000 plus a $12,000 cemetery superintendent stipend, argued the town would face significant salary pressure under an appointed model since he also serves as tree warden, recycle supervisor, and stormwater team member without additional pay. “Who’s gonna come here and do all this work for $84,000?” he said. Water Commissioner Chair Richard Clark, who has served the Water Department for 40 years and as a commissioner for 12, told residents commissioners have never been compensated in the position’s 75-year history.
Articles 19 and 20 established a special-purpose PFAS Settlement Stabilization Fund to receive proceeds from multi-district litigation against manufacturers including 3M, DuPont, BASF, and Tyco. After debate over oversight, the body amended Article 19 to remove a clause requiring Select Board approval for Water Commissioner expenditures, leaving spending decisions to the commissioners with town meeting appropriations.
Article 22, a citizen petition from Chris Winiewicz to adopt a soil reuse and contamination bylaw, passed unanimously despite a warning from Town Counsel Paul DeRensis that the Attorney General is likely to reject it as conflicting with Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection authority. Much of the discussion centered on Marilyn’s Landing, a capped landfill on Route 106 currently accepting contaminated soil to rebuild the cap, with eventual plans for a solar array. Interim Health Agent Robert Buker told the body the site currently operates within federal, state, and local parameters but encouraged residents to consult the town’s Board of Health website for specifics. Resident Frederick Hawley raised concerns about uncontrolled runoff toward Stoney Weir Rd., identified as a future town well site.
Other articles disposed of in the second night included a 2% cost-of-living increase for non-union staff, an anti-canvassing bylaw for commercial solicitation, expansion of the disabled veterans’ property tax exemption, acceptance of state law allowing conversion of wine and malt beverage licenses to all-alcohol licenses, and a $300,000 Reserve Fund appropriation amended to remove specific earmarks for police and fire.
At the ballot box May 16, the Override failed 714 to 867.

Halifax Rejects Override as Silver Lake Towns Decide 2026 Town Elections

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Voters in Halifax, Kingston and Plympton went to the polls Saturday for their annual town elections, with Halifax delivering the day’s most consequential verdict: a defeated Proposition 2½ override and the rejection of three measures to convert elected town offices to appointed positions.
In Halifax, where 1,587 of 6,612 registered voters turned out for a 24% participation rate, the override question failed 867 to 714. Town Meeting discussion had framed the override as a means of funding the schools, fire department and other core services at a level-service budget; with its defeat, those departments are now positioned to operate under structural deficits, and several town positions may face reductions.
Halifax voters also turned down all three appointive-conversion questions by wide margins. Proposals to make the Town Clerk, Treasurer-Collector and Highway Department Superintendent appointed rather than elected failed 1,041–513, 1,047–507 and 1,086–453, respectively. In contested races, Joseph Fava won a three-year Board of Water Commissioners seat over Richard A. Clark, 828 to 599, and Holly J. Merry took a Board of Assessors seat over Tammy A. Hillery, 838 to 482. Jonathan Selig was returned to the Board of Selectmen unopposed with 1,132 votes.
Kingston voters reshaped the top of their ballot. In a four-way race for two Board of Selectmen seats, Joseph Paul Cunningham Jr. led with 498 votes and Sheila Marie Vaughn followed with 416, defeating Paul B. Dahlen (330) and Timothy Patrick Ballinger (281). The Board of Health race produced an upset: challenger Lauren A. Hache unseated incumbent Dennis N. Randall, winning a seat with 556 votes alongside incumbent Heidi Marie Whipple’s 577. Randall finished with 255.
Plympton drew a light 14.6% turnout, with 377 of 2,582 registered voters casting ballots. Daniel Cadogan won a three-year seat on the Board of Selectmen with 234 votes, defeating Jacquelynn Norrie’s 122. Norrie also fell short in the Planning Board race, losing a five-year seat to James Cohen, 225 to 117. Arthur Bloomquist took a contested Board of Health seat over Kyle Lambert, 230 to 137.
The elections also filled seats tied to the Silver Lake Regional School District. Halifax elected Jennifer Ann Carroll to the regional school committee with 1,083 votes, and Kingston elected Peter T. Fitzgerald to its district seat with 590; Fitzgerald also won a seat on the Kingston School Committee alongside Jennifer Rose Krowchun.
All results remain unofficial until certified by each town’s clerk.

Falconer’s Garden Shop Carrying on a Plympton Garden Center Legacy

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Laura and Alex Falconer might be a bit busier than usual this year. Instead of home gardening, they have set out on a new adventure to bring the garden goods to their community. Both long-time Plympton residents, the Falconer’s have purchased the Plympton staple, Sunrise Gardens, and are taking tradition to new heights with fresh ideas and innovation.
On a hot May day, where the first of summers lashing is felt after months of persistent cold, the vibrant flowers and lush hanging baskets cluster the tables and every corner of the newly minted Falconer’s Garden Shop. Local goods, and very reasonably priced, high-quality garden tools, line wooden shelves of the recently renovated shop building. Piles of fresh mulch and small hills of stone sit ready for customers to load into trucks, and new areas of garden treasures, such as locally grown evergreens, hibiscus plants, and even apricot trees with tiny fruits on them have spread into previously unused areas of the garden center. Things here are growing -and not just the plants.
“I worked part-time here for Sunrise Gardens for five years,” says Laura, “So it is not totally new to me, but it is definitely a lot to learn.” The Falconer’s purchased the garden center over the winter after learning it was for sale. “It just made sense for us,” Alex explains, “Okay, well we have yet to see if it makes sense for us, but things are going good so far.” While maintaining the staples that customers have come to expect from Sunrise Gardens since the 70’s, the Falconer’s Garden Shop will take tried and true and mix it with new offerings -many of them based off of what customers are asking for on a consistent basis.
One of the soon-to-come-focuses? “Native plants,” Laura says, “We get so many customers asking for native plants and so we are going to build up a section of the garden center for those.” Another frequent request: Shade plants. “We have a ton of interest in people looking for shade plants and native trees,” Alex explains, “And we have plenty of room for that, so we are going to add that to the stuff everyone already loves like the hanging baskets.”
The hanging baskets, overflowing with blooms in particularly lovely color schemes, are prepared and planted on site. Standing under the showcase house with ceilings lined with them is a small visual taste of what an undertaking that is. “We start planting them in March,” Laura says, “We get plugs of flowers and then decide which color schemes we like and then we put them together and they are finished around April.”
Aside from the crowd-favorites like marigolds, geraniums, and petunias, Falconer’s is looking to carry more unique plants as well as unique products like pre-made raised beds built by Alex who is a well-known and reputable handyman who can build and fix just about anything. “I made a watering bench for a woman the other day and it gave me the idea to start building things like that to sell in the shop.” The indoor shop space has been tastefully remodeled and has plenty of room for lots of great local products. “Pretty much everything in here is under $25 -even though it’s really nice stuff,” says Alex holding up long handle garden claw. “We are going to carry local honey soon, too,” assures Laura.
With the new ownership came a new logo designed by the Falconer’s. “It is a classic black and white look but we added the Falcon because people so often confuse our name. They think it’s Falconieri, so we figured putting a Falcon in the logo would clear that up,” says Alex. Helping them along in their new barrage of responsibilities are six employees who assist at the checkout counter and caring for the plants. “We have the best helpers,” says Laura, “We could not do this without them.”
Falconer’s Garden Shop is just warming up in terms of offerings and ideas. The fall will bring the beloved pumpkins and mums and cool garden crops like decorative kales and squashes, but the Falconer’s look to take a more community-involved approach. “I am looking into having a little tractor ride for kids out back and a pumpkin patch where kids can pick their pumpkins. We have a lot of space for kid’s crafts and garden classes -you know, stuff that will involve the kids in the area more.” “We also want to have a food truck sometimes for events,” says Laura. We are in a great location so it would be easy for passing people to see there is something going on and stop by.” And rest assured, the Christmas trees will also be back under the Falconer’s ownership. “Oh yes, we wouldn’t skip the Christmas trees,” says Alex. “We will try to keep the wreaths as well but it will be hard to make them like Keelin (the former owner) did. We will do our best.”
Enthusiasm and innovation are bursting to life alongside the thousands of plants and with the Falconer’s endless streams of ideas matched with stellar work ethic and dedication, Falconer’s Garden Shop is well on its way to picking up where Sunrise Gardens left off and establishing a new reputation for local plants, goods, and community inclusion. “We just hope to keep up the amazing legacy Sunrise built and brought to the town since the 70’s,” says Laura. As I check out with a spur-of-the-moment purchase of annuals, herbs, and Osmocote in my second trip there the last few days, it is obvious that the familiar at-home feeling Sunrise had is still there but it is enriched with the amazing energy of new ideas that will surely grow Falconer’s into Plympton’s garden center staple.