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Margaret “Peggy” Fitzgerald, 84, Halifax public servant

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Margaret “Peggy” Fitzgerald, 84, of Halifax, passed in her home, after a long and heroic battle with cancer.

A loving wife of 60 years to Tom; devoted mother to Tom, Michael, Brian and Margaret (Dietz); Nana to Stephen, Taryn, Charlie, Olivia, William, Mimi and Grace; Mother-in-Law to Michele, Kristen and Brian; lifelong champion for the town of Halifax; and keeper of a warm, welcoming home for an endless stream of nieces, nephews, sisters, brothers, friends, colleagues and occasional strangers.

Peggy’s was a life defined by service, courage and generosity, suffused with a joy in the simplest pleasures of life. A 75-year resident of Halifax, she served on a dizzying array of boards and committees, including as Chairman of the School Committee and Board of Selectmen, Town Accountant and member of the Finance Committee. During her 50 years of service to the town and region, she helped navigate the Silver Lake School System through a complex and emotional split from Pembroke and served on the Alewife commission to repair dams and return fish to the rivers of Plymouth County.

As a public servant and active citizen, Peggy never feared to speak her mind for what she knew was right, but also never was afraid to recognize a better idea or embrace a shared viewpoint to reach a common goal.

She was an avid gardener, and her work was admired daily by the thousands of passers-by on Route 106 in Halifax, as well as by the daily mass of elementary school children boarding buses across the street every morning. She loved the physical work of the garden, toiling alongside her husband, and she and Tom dined all year on the fruits of their labor.

Peggy lived a life of learning and exploration. She could impress with her knowledge of art, history and architecture and she never passed a museum or garden she could not linger in for hours.

She pursued further education, both due to her belief she should always be able to help her children with their own studies and to satisfy her own never-ending curiosity.

A staunch believer in the power of the democratic process, Peggy followed politics at the local and national level with equal passion, devouring television news and newspapers and embracing debates with like- or opposite-minded friends and family members.

Born in Roxbury in 1931, she moved to 13th Avenue in Halifax in 1940 and lived with her parents James and Margaret, and siblings James, Mary Ann, Robert, Ellen, Ann, Larry, Kathleen, and Judy.

Her family gained local fame after World War II when her father James was identified by Yankee Magazine as the ‘Kilroy’ of ‘Kilroy Was Here’ – the well-known saying carried by American troops throughout Europe. Peggy and Tom married in 1957, and purchased their house on Plymouth Street in 1958, which she called home for the rest of her life. She spent her last days in peace with Tom and and the constant buzz of visitors, watching the leaves turn along the Monponsett lakes from her cottage on Paradise Lane. She will be missed.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Halifax Food Bank, 503 Plymouth Street, Halifax, MA 02338. Visiting hours were in the Sullivan Funeral Homes, 2 Maquan St.,  at the Junction of Rtes. 14 & 58, Hanson, Thursday, Nov. 5,  from 5 – 8 p.m.  Her funeral Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady of the Lake Church, 580 Monponsett St, Halifax, Friday, Nov. 6, at 11 a.m.  Burial will be in Halifax Central Cemetery. For directions and to sign Peggy’s online guest book, go to  SullivanFuneralHomes.com

3 Reasons To Advertise in the Express Holiday Gift Guide

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Just in case you need 3 reasons to advertise in the Express Holiday Gift guide, I will give them to you. Believe it or not, the holidays are right around the corner, and we all know how hectic that season gets. A 2008 holiday stress poll by the APA showed that more than eight out of 10 Americans anticipate stress during the holiday season.

3 Reasons To Advertise in the Express Holiday Gift Guide

The Express Holiday Gift Guide will appear in print December 3rd and 4th, and online December 5, 2015.

3 Reasons To Advertise in the Express Holiday Gift GuideIt is my job as the Express Media Editor to help you local business do what you do best – sell your wares. That’s is why we have developed a way to put you in front of local customers in a way that won’t break the bank.

3 Reasons to Advertise in the the Express Holiday Gift Guide

  1. Affordability. For only $35*, you get to showcase one of your best products. It can be an item, a craft, a gift certificate – any offer that you are proud of and want to sell. Talk about a  compelling reasons to bring customers into your store!
  2. Exposure. I almost listed this as the first reason to advertise in the gift guide, but I changed my mind. I thought you needed  to now about the affordability factor. But this is actually my favorite reason why you should advertise in the Express Holiday Gift Guide. We have almost doubled our Facebook fanbase in the last six months.  Our posts receive an average of 1,000 views. We also have a print audience of approximately 3,000 readers. Plus our websites are visited an average of 79 times per day. This brings you to your potential customers in a multi-platform approach.
  3. Value-Packed! This gift guide is beautiful. It prints in color, we feature one of your items in the center spread, the digital, online version will link to your website or email, you pick the item that you want to showcase.
3 Reasons To Advertise in the Express Holiday Gift Guide

This is an example of how the listing will appear in print and online. The online version can link to your store’s web site.

I am so proud to be able to offer you this cost-efficient, effective vehicle of bringing you sales this holiday season! It’s sure to be a feature we will repeat for years to come.

Our Express Holiday Gift Guide prints December 3rd and 4th in both the Whitman-Hanson Express and the Plympton-Halifax Express, debuts online December 5th. *Book your space today! After November 15th, the price jumps to $45.

Questions? Call Larisa at 781-293-0420 or email me at graphics@whitmanhansonexpress.com.

Read more about dealing with holiday stress here at the American Psychological Association.

Barriers to be placed at Halifax’s Route 58 boat ramp

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Sometime Thursday, October 1 or Friday, October 2, jersey barriers will be placed at the Route 58 boat ramp and the Lingan Street/4th Avenue boat ramp in order to prevent easy access to the ramps. This is being done because, despite having signage up indicating that West Monponsett Pond is unsafe to use for recreational purposes (swimming, boating, fishing), many people have continued to use the Ponds. The barriers will be removed if two consecutive weekly samples show algae counts of less than 70,000 per milliliter. The counts this year have been significantly less than last year but still above this limit so the advisory has been in place since the middle of July.

While the Town is putting up barriers at these two locations, there are other locations for which the Town does not have jurisdiction and there are a number of residents with docks or other ways of obtaining access to West Monponsett Pond. The Town will not be patrolling West Monponsett Pond, ticketing or fining anyone, but wanted to discourage residents and non-residents from using the Pond due to health concerns.

East Monponsett Pond will continue to be open for all uses.

Please contact Charlie Seelig, Halifax Town Administrator, with questions at 781-294-1316.

Special Election Primary will be held on Tuesday, October 6, 2015

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Primary-ArtPolling places in Halifax and Plympton will be open Tuesday, Oct. 6, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. for the special election primary to select candidates for election on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

The special election for State Senator for the 2nd Plymouth and Bristol District was caused by the untimely death of Senator Thomas P. Kennedy, a Democrat from Brockton, who died June 28 of this year.

In Plympton, voting will take place at the Town House, 5 Palmer Rd., Rte. 58.  In Halifax, voting takes place in the All Purpose Room of the Halifax Elementary School, 470 Plymouth St., Rte, 106.

The only candidate on the Republican ballot is Geoff Diehl, State Representative serving Whitman, Abington and East Bridgewater in the Seventh Plymouth District.

The Democratic ballot will see two candidates, Representative Michael D. Brady of the Ninth Plymouth District in Brockton, who will square off against businessman Joseph Lynch, also of Brockton.

Neither town clerk expects much of a turnout for this special primary election.

State AG approves Halifax AgCom

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cowHalifax Town Administrator Charlie Seelig announced Wednesday that the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office has approved the Town’s by-law establishing a seven-person Halifax Agricultural Commission.

Six of the members are to be from the active farming community and there will be one resident at large of Halifax.

The members shall serve as facilitators for encouraging the pursuit of agriculture in Halifax, shall promote agricultural-based economic opportunities in Town, shall act as advocates, educators, and/or negotiators on farming issues, shall work for preservation of prime agricultural lands, and shall pursue all initiatives appropriate to creating a sustainable agricultural community.

Residents interested in serving on the Agricultural Commission should download the “Talent Bank” form from the Town’s web site and return it to the Board of Selectmen’s Office or call the Office at 781-294-1316 by no later than September 29.

Total outside water ban for town of Halifax

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waterbanFIDon’t turn on the hose beginning September 1 for any outside watering as a complete ban begins.  Restoration of the Halifax water tower begins September 1 and the tank will be emptied and readied for painting, inside and out. Halifax residents may use their wells for irrigation but must prominently display their well permit numbers, or risk being charged in violation by the Halifax Water Dept.

While it is hoped that the work will be finished by November 1, it might not be completed until as late as December 1.  Keith Swanson, Halifax Water Superintendent asks for full co-operation from residents to assure there is enough water for drinking and fire protection.

O’Neil gives new access Cato’s Ridge in Plympton

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The Green Team, part of the “Youth Unplugged” project of the Wildlands Trust, helped create the new trail from Ring Road to the Cato’s Ridge Conservation Area, part of Plympton Parks. For three weeks this summer, outstanding science students from Brockton, Duxbury and Plymouth high schools learned about and participated in South Shore conservation, agriculture and science projects, among them Plympton Parks.

The Green Team, part of the “Youth Unplugged” project of the Wildlands Trust, helped create the new trail from Ring Road to the Cato’s Ridge Conservation Area, part of Plympton Parks. For three weeks this summer, outstanding science students from Brockton, Duxbury and Plymouth high schools learned about and participated in South Shore conservation, agriculture and science projects, among them Plympton Parks.

The Plympton Open Space Committee and the Friends of Plympton Parks are delighted to announce that there is a new access to Cato’s Ridge Conservation Area from Ring Road.  Thanks to owner Roger O’Neil, residents can once again enjoy the beautiful wetlands and winding paths through his large marsh and continue on to enjoy the trails through Cato’s Ridge. To find the new entrance, look for the Plympton Park sign about 50 feet east of #23. Parking is allowed off-street, outside the entrance gate to the Dennett School, just around the corner off Crescent Street.  Please do not park on Ring Road. Trails are open dawn to dusk.

The new trail from Ring Road was largely created by the Green Team, part of the  “Youth Unplugged” project of the Wildlands  Trust, which provides many kinds of partnership support to the town’s open space initiatives. For three weeks this summer, outstanding science students from Brockton, Duxbury and Plymouth High schools learned about and participated in conservation, agriculture and science projects throughout the South Shore, including this one for Plympton Parks. They did a great job and said they loved being part of Parks project. We thank them and our loyal local volunteers, especially Dave Albierti, for creating this new access .

This October, we are looking forward to opening Churchill Park, off Main Street, which will provide parking, trails and another access to Cato’s Ridge over a long boardwalk that has more than 250 special inscriptions. Watch for work days to help out and be ready to celebrate!

Silver Lake District Bus Routes, 2015-16

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It is that time of year again! Here is the list of bus routes for the Silver Lake School District. Please note, they are subject to change. If you have any questions, you can contact the Silver Lake Regional School District at (781) 585-4313. The Express would also like to remind all students to use safety precautions when walking to or from the bus stop. Have a happy and safe school year!

Bus-Routes

Dennett Elementary School

Bus 26 – Start Time – 7:25
Start on Elm St. – Right on West St. to Cross St. Turn Around. Return on West St. to Winnetuxet Rd. Right on Pope’s Farm. Return to Right onto Winnetuxet Rd. to Main St. Right on Main St. to Montello Rd. Right on Montello Rd. Right on Heather’s Path. Loop and return to Left on Main St. Continue pick up Main St. to Mayflower Rd. Right on Mayflower Rd. Left on Buttonwood (including Deborah Sampson).  Loop and return to Left on Mayflower Rd.  Continue on Mayflower to Brook.  Left on Brook St (express) to Upland Rd. Left on Upland Rd (including end of Dukes Brook).  Pick up Upland Rd. to the end, express to school.

Bus 46 – Start Time – 7:25
Start on Main St at traffic lights.  Left on Pleasant St. to the end. Left on Brook St. Left on Nel Bonney. Loop and return to Left on Brook St.  Left on Spring St to Brook St.  Left on Annasnappit, right on Brackett.  Loop and return to Left on Brook St. Continue on Brook St. to Samuel Fuller. Loop and return to Right on Brook St. Brook St to Right on Granville Baker. Loop and return to Right on Brook St. to Right on Trout Farm Rd. (as needed). Loop and return to Right on Brook St. Right on Cushman’s Landing. Loop and return to Right on Brook St. Continue straight, becomes Colchester Rd. Pick-up Colchester Rd to Mayflower Rd. Pick up at #79 & #73 Mayflower Rd. Express to school.

Bus 47 – Start Time – 7:25
Start on Grove St. at Lake St., left on Oak, left on Lake, right on West (Kingston) to Bagheera Way. Return to across Lake St. to Forest, left on Oak, continue onto Lake, left on County, pick up County, pick up Sheffield Park, right on Rebecca Way, left on County to Halifax line.  Return on County Rd to Right on Main St. to Right on Center St.  Pick up Center to Palmer.  Cross Palmer and continue pick ups on Center St to Halifax line.  Reverse and return to Left on Palmer Rd.  Pick up on Palmer Rd to Maple.  Right on Maple to Main St.  Express to school.

Bus 62 – Start Time – 7:25
Start on Cross St. – Right on West St. to Town Line. Express on East St. and Fuller St. (Halifax) to Cedar St. Left on Cedar St. to Soule St. (Middleboro). Right on Prospect Rd. to Brook St (Middleboro), if needed. Return on Prospect Rd and continue including – Loop of Tobey Lane – Right on Lemuel Cobb – Left on Thomas Blanchard – Left on Marie Elaine. Parsonage Rd. to traffic lights. Left on Main St. Pick up Main St. (including Puddle Jumpers) to Palmer Rd. Continue on Palmer and pick up to Center St. Right on Center St. – Express to Crescent St.  Pick up Crescent St to Right on Ring Rd.  Pick up Ring Rd to town line.  Return on Ring Rd.  Express to school.

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Halifax Elementary School

 

ROUTE 20:  First pick up 7:40am. Begin @ Twin Lakes Dr – Loop.  Express to Cedar Lane.  Loop through Cedar Lane, Ridge Rd, Baker St.  Express to Lydon Lane.  Loop Lydon Lane.  Express to School.

ROUTE 21:   First pick up 7:30am. Begin @ corner of Lake & Standish – return to Monponsett, corner of Trinity Rd, loop Short St to Ocean Ave, return to Monponsett, loop White Island Rd. loop Palmer Mill, reverse return to Lingan St – pick up 3rd, 6th, 7th, Richview, Cross, 10th, 13th

Aves, Pemmican Way, Indian Path.  Express to School.

ROUTE 22:   First pick up 7:45am. Begin on Oak St at Holmes St. Pick up to Pembroke Line – Reverse.  Continue on Oak St (incl Oak Place).  Loop Marilyn Way.  Right on Oak – Right on Colby Dr. – Right on Oak St. to Plympton Line – Reverse.  Return on Oak St. – Right on Brandeis Cir – Continue Left on Brandeis Cir – Right on Harvard St. – Right on McClelland Rd. – Left on Holmes St.  Pick up Holmes St. to Left on Delia Way – Loop.  Left on Holmes St to Plymouth St.  Express to School

ROUTE 23: First pick up 7:40am. Begin @ Old Plymouth – loop Christmas Tree Lane – pick up Elm St, Hudson St, Lamppost Dr, Autumn Lane, Old Farm Rd, Pasture Lane, Spencer Dr – Pond St – return to Old Plymouth.  Right on Pine St to Plymouth St.  Express to School

ROUTE 24:  First pick up 7:30am. Begin on Thompson St to Walnut, Cherry St, Kestrel Lane to Harvest Lane return to Thompson St.  Express to School

ROUTE 25:  First pick up 7:40am. Begin on South St. to Fuller St, Cedar St – Wood St – River St to Pratt St to Thompson St to Left on River St – to right on South St – left Haywood St to Franklin St – Kenzie’s  Path.  Express to School.

ROUTE 49:  First pick up 7:40am. Begin on Plymouth St – loop Bosworth Farms – loop Cranberry Farms – pick up Kids Kastle/Magical Years – Loop Circuit St, return to Plymouth St – pick up to School.

ROUTE 50:  First pick up 7:45am. Begin on Pine St @ Plymouth St.  Right on Thompson (no pick up) right on Firefly & Lily Pond – express to Highland – loop.  Express to Orchard Circle – Loop.  Express to right on Carver St to South St.  Express to Hemlock Lane.  Pick up Hemlock to Town Barn.  Express to School.

ROUTE 51:  First pick up 7:40am. Begin on Aldana Rd – express to Right on Annawon Dr. – Loop including end of Ash, Beech, Spruce, Hickory, Buttonwood, Jordan and Poplar.  Road becomes Chestnut Rd.  Continue to pick up at end of Birch, Buttonwood and Maddison.  Left on Larry Ave. – Left on Marjorie Dr. – Express to Plymouth St.  Left on Plymouth St to Plympton Line – Reverse.  Return on Plymouth St to Left on Pine Brook Dr (incl. stop at Paradise Lane).  Left on Plymouth St – Left on Country Club Dr. – Right on Fairway Dr. – Loop and return to Left on Country Club Dr. to Plymouth St.  Express to School.

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Silver Lake Regional Middle/High Routes, Halifax

Route 20: Leave lot @ 6:15 First Pick up @ 6:30
Begin Old Plymouth St @ Rte 106- follow to Elm, left on Pond, left on Spencer, left on Hudson, right on Elm, right on Pine, left on Rte 106, Express to school.

Route 21: Leave Lot @ 6:20 First Pick up @ 6:35
Begin on Rte 58 at Hanson town line, left on Standish, left on Rte 58, left on White Island, left on Rte 58, cross Rte 106, right on Palmer Mill, left on Rte 58, right on Lydon Lane. Express to school.

Route 22: Leave Lot @ 6:25 First Pick up @ 6:38
Begin on Rte 106 after Clyde O. Bosworth, left on Circuit St (2nd entrance), Right on Rte 106, right on Pine St, right on Thompson St., left on Orchard Circle, right on Thompson St pick up to Rte 106 – Plymouth St. Express to school.

Route 23: Leave Lot @ 6:25 First Pick up @ 6:35
Begin on Plymouth St. at Walmart.  Pick up Plymouth St to South St., including end of Hemlock Lane.  Left on South St., right on Carver, left on Rte 106 loop Bosworth Farms, right on Plymouth, right on Cranberry Dr. Left on Plymouth St., Right into Halifax Country Club, Right on Fairway Lane.  Loop, return to Plymouth St., Express to school.

Route 24: Leave Lot @ 6:05First Pick up @ 6:18
Begin @ Thompson St & Firefly, right on Walnut, left on Cherry, reverse and return to right on Walnut, left on Summit, right on Thompson, left on River, left on Pratt, right on Thompson, left on Highland, loop and return to left on Thompson, Express to school.

Route 25: Leave Lot @ 6:10 First pick up @ 6:25
Begin on South St to Fuller, right on Wood, right on River, right on South, left on Hayward, left on Franklin right on South.  Express to school.

Route 38:  Leave Lot @ 6:40 First pick up @ 6:45
Begin at Marjorie Dr to Chestnut to Rte 36 – right on Annawon – loop to Chestnut picking up all side roads, Left on Rte 36 right on Aldana Rd. Express to school.

Route 49: Leave Lot @ 6:30 First pick up @ 6:45
Begin on Lingan St @ Rt 58 right on Twelfth, stop @ Hillside, right on Eleventh, cross Lingan into Pemmican, right on Indian Path.  Express to school.

Route 50: Leave Lot @ 6:35 First pick up @ 6:45
Begin at Oak St at Pembroke/Halifax line.  Pick up Crystal Lake Rd, Oak Place, Marilyn Way, McClelland Rd, Oak St, Dartmouth St, Brandeis Circle, Colby Dr. Express to school.

Route 51: Leave lot @ 6:30 First pick up @ 6:40
Begin on Cedar Lane.  Loop Cedar Lane, including Baker St. and Ridge Rd.  Right on Rte 36 express to Plymouth St.  Right on Plymouth St to Paradise Lane.  Immediate left onto Pinebrook (group stop) loop and return to Plymouth St.  Right on Plymouth St into Plympton, becomes County Rd.  Pick up County Rd to Kingston, becomes Wapping Rd.  Pick up Wapping Rd to Hawthorne.  Right into Hawthorne.  Loop and return to right on Wapping Rd to West St.  Express to school.  This bus does all three towns.

Route 53: Leave lot @ 6:35 First Pick-up @ 6:45
Begin on Rte 36 at Oak St. – pick up along Rte 36 (Holmes St.) including side roads to Twin Lakes Drive.  Right onto Twin Lakes Dr.  Loop and return to Right on Holmes St.  Continue pick ups to Route 106 (Plymouth St).  Express to school.

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Silver Lake Regional Middle/High Routes, Plympton

Route 8: Leave Lot @ 6:20  First pick-up @ 6:35
Begin on Brook St. at Kingston line, Pick up Brook St. to Upland Rd., including stops at the end of Old Farm, Granville Baker, Trout Farm and Cushman’s Landing.  Right on Upland Rd. to Left on Bradford Rd., Left on Churchill to end.  Left on Brook St., Left on Upland Rd., Right on Crescent St., Right on Ring Rd.  Express to school.

Route 26: Leave Lot @ 6:00  First pick-up @ 6:20
Begin on Main St. at Winnetuxet Rd., Right on Montello Rd., Right on Heather’s Path.  Loop and return to Left on Main St.  Left on Winnetuxet Rd, Left on Prospect Rd. to town line. Reverse and pick-up Prospect Rd. to Winnetuxet Rd. including Tobey Lane, Lemuel Cobb Rd., and Marie Elaine Dr.  Right on Winnetuxet Rd., Left on Parsonage Rd. to end.  Left on Main St., Express to Palmer Rd.  Pick-up Palmer Rd. to Center St.  Express to school.

Route 46: Leave Lot @ 6:04  First pick-up @ 6:24
Begin on Main St. at Mayflower Rd.  Pick-up Main St. to Pleasant St.  Left on Pleasant St. to end.  Left on Brook St to Spring St. including Nel Bonney.  Right on Spring St.  Reverse and return on Spring St. to Right on Brook St.  Left on Mayflower Rd., Right on Colchester Rd., Right on Brook St., Right on Mayflower Rd. to Main St. including Buttonwood Dr.  Express to school.

Route 47: Leave Lot @ 6:10  First pick-up @ 6:25
Begin on Center St. at Main St.  Cross Palmer Rd onto Center St to Halifax line.  Reverse on Center St. to Right on Cross St. to West St.  Reverse on Cross St. to Right on Center St.  Left on Palmer Rd., Right on Maple St. to end.  Left on Main St. to end.  Right on County Rd. to Left on Lake St.  Left on Forest St., Left on Oak St., Left on Lake St., Left on Forest St., Right on Oak St. to end.  Right on Grove St. to Kingston line.  Express to school.

Route 62: Leave Lot @ 6:00  First pick-up @ 6:20
Begin on Elm St. at Main St.  Right on West St. to end.  Express to Cedar St.  Left on Cedar St., Left on Soule St. to end.  Express to Left on Winnetuxet Rd., Pope’s Farm, to Elm St.  Left on Main St., Pick-up Main St. to Maple St.  Express to school.

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Quick Links to Bus Routes

Dennett Elementary
Halifax Elementary
Silver Lake Regional Middle/High Routes, Halifax
Silver Lake Regional Middle/High Routes, Plymptom

Diehl enters race, Ryerson bows out of primary

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By Dave Palana
Express Contributor

GeoffreyDiehl

Rep. Geoffrey Diehl

When the Massachusetts legislature returns from its August recess, state Rep. Geoff Diehl, R-Whitman, will be adding a new goal to his agenda — a seat in a new chamber on Beacon Hill.

ViolaRyerson

Citing state Rep. Geoff Diehl’s name recognition and funding capability, fellow Republican Viola Ryerson has withdrawn from the primary for the special election to fill the late Thomas P. Kennedy’s state Senate seat.

Diehl has drawn papers to enter the race for state senate, joining state Rep. Michael Brady, D-Brockton, Republican Scott Hall and Democrat Joseph Lynch on the Oct. 6 special primary election ballot to fill the seat left open when Sen. Thomas Kennedy died in June.

Diehl was the fifth person to announce candidacy for the senate seat, but Republican Viola Ryerson announced July 23 that she is dropping out of the race and supporting Diehl.

Ryerson, a former Hanover Selectman chairman who ran for the seat against Kennedy, said on her campaign Facebook page that Diehl is the strongest Republican candidate for the seat.

“He has the necessary exposure and funding to represent the Republican Party in this effort,” Ryerson said in her message announcing her resignation.

Hall still remains on the ballot as a Republican alternative to Diehl in the Oct. 6 primary with Lynch and Brady vying to represent the Democrats.

Brady joined the house the year before Diehl, who was quick to mention that Brady did not support his bid on the house floor to introduce a ballot question to block taxpayer funding for the now-defunct Boston Olympics bid.

“I introduced a plan to provide taxpayer protection from Olympic overrun on the floor of the house and did not get any support from the other side of the aisle,” Diehl said.

A five-year veteran state representative, Diehl said trying to switch houses was a difficult decision, but said the senate will offer him a larger platform to fight for local issues.

“Before I ran for representative, I was the Whitman Finance Committee’s liaison to the School Committee and I watched the state cut local aid and education funding and I didn’t feel like the current rep was doing enough to fight it,” he said. “Since I’ve been in the house, my decisions have reflected the mentality of fighting to keep more money at the household and local level. [Running for senate] just provides me with a better opportunity to continue that type of work.”

Diehl announced his candidacy Thursday at a kickoff rally at the Shaw’s Plaza in Brockton, where fellow state representatives and 300 supporters joined him. Following his kickoff, he has spent most of his first week on the campaign trail going door to door meeting voters as he tries to mobilize supporters quickly with the primary less than two months away.

“The biggest challenge is that this is a short election, so I need to make people aware of who I am and my candidacy,” he said. “This is going to come down to how quickly we can reach as many people as possible.”

While Diehl is well known in Whitman and East Bridgewater through his work as representative, the largest population of voters in the senate district reside in Brockton, which is home to the three other candidates. However Diehl said his work for Brockton business Sign Design allowed him to make connections with Brockton’s small business owners and also said he has found that many in the city already knew him from his battle on Beacon Hill to fight the gas tax, which was repealed by a ballot question Diehl introduced in the House.

“It’s been really great,” he said. “A lot of people recognized me from [radio interviews on] WRKO and WATD. They not only knew my name but also the work I did on Question 1.”

Mark Russo, Chairman of the Plympton Board of Selectmen, said, “I have not yet explored the positions of the candidates. I do know that small towns like Plympton are  being overwhelmed by unfunded state and federal mandates and ever increasing costs and responsibilities in a totally unsustainable  way…and therefore fervently hope the candidates and eventual elected official will keep their attention riveted to the challenges faced by town government and those paying the real estate taxes which fund town government.”