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You are here: Home / Archives for Kathleen Peloquin, Media Editor

“Triple Tragedy” in Halifax, 1874

March 17, 2016 By Kathleen Peloquin, Media Editor

The Halifax Historical Society will host local author John F. Gallagher at its April 11 meeting at 7 p.m. at the Albert E. Kiernan Schoolhouse, South St., Halifax.

After 30 years with the Boston Police Department, rising to the rank of superintendent and chief of detectives, John F. Gallagher retired and turned to writing stories about true local crimes.

His latest venture brought him to Halifax to investigate the Sturtevant Murders. Brothers Thomas Sturtevant and Simeon Sturtevant along with their housekeeper, Mary Buckley were brutally murdered in the Old Sturtevant homestead February 15, 1874.

All are welcome to join us as we listen to John tell of his research into this heinous crime perpetrated “just down the street,” Thompson Street, that is.

Gallagher’s interest in history and genealogy, paired with his background in criminal investigation, motivated him to write about century-old murders on the South Shore.

His first book, Murder on Broadway: A History of Homicide in Hanover, was followed by his second volume, Arsenic in Assinippi, about retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Joseph Giles Eaton’s suspicious death in Norwell in 1913.

He will bring copies of his books, Murder on Broadway: A History of Homicide in Hanover, and Arsenic in Assinippi: and The Trial of Jennie May Eaton for the Murder of Her Husband, Rear Admiral Joseph Eaton, for anyone interested in those stories as well.John and his wife, Jeanne, live in Hanover All are welcome to attend.

Filed Under: More News Right, News

Plymouth Police Academy graduates

March 17, 2016 By Kathleen Peloquin, Media Editor

Plympton Police Department graduates

The Plympton Police Department is proud to announce the recent graduation of three Plympton Police Department sponsored recruits from the 61st Plymouth Police Academy.

Michael Gagnon, Jr., Alexander Nevarez and John Simon received their Academy Diplomas on Friday, March 11, at a ceremony held at Memorial Hall in Plymouth, which was attended by Plympton Police Chief Patrick Dillon and other members of the department.  Those in attendance included other area Police Chiefs, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz and Plymouth County Sheriff Joseph McDonald.     

The academy, which graduated 40 recruits, began on September 22, 2015 and ended on March 11, 2016.  Recruits were trained in all phases of police work, including, but not limited to, Criminal Law, Motor Vehicle Law, Constitutional Law, CPR and First Responder and Applied Patrol Procedures.

Gagnon, a lifelong Plympton resident, Simon, a Lieutenant in the United States Army National Guard and Nevarez, a Brockton resident, have all applied to the Plympton Police Department for a position as a Police Officer and are being considered for various positions.

Filed Under: News

A Silver Lake Softball Superstar prepares for her final Season

March 10, 2016 By Kathleen Peloquin, Media Editor

Silver Lake Regional High School pitcher Maddy Barone is heading into the final chapter of what has been a storied career playing for the Lakers.

The 17-year-old Barone is just now entering her senior campaign, but her stats would make you think otherwise. Through three seasons, Barone has put up astronomical numbers.

It all started during Barone’s freshman season, when she started to turn heads seemingly every time on the mound. Her 16-3 record and 0.48 ERA guided the Lakers to a 20-3 record and a trip to the Division 1 South Sectional semifinals.

As her sophomore season rolled around, she was even better—bolstering a career-best 0.15 ERA, while throwing a perfect game, five no-hitters, 16 shutouts, striking out 190 batters and winning 16 games. Barone’s bat was equally effective—posting a career-high .536 average, while hitting six home runs and driving in 31.

It was during her junior year, last season, when Barone’s success started to pay dividends in the playoffs. Barone recorded an 11 strikeout, shutout win performance against Milford in the Division 1 South Sectional quarterfinals two games before her 10 strikeout, complete game win led her team to a Division 1 South Sectional finals win. Though the Lakers fell short in the Division 1 state finals against St. Peter-Marian.

Silver Lake Regional High School head coach, Tony Pina, said he’s seen Barone, a team captain last season, grow a great deal since his arrival in 2014.

“Her ability to lead and become more vocal on the field has evolved over the years,” Pina said. “Her desire to add more pitches and become more confident with them has been impressive.”

As Barone enters her last go around in a Lakers’ uniform, she said there are numerous reasons that make her eager to get back on the field.   

“I’m [extremely] excited to play with all my teammates for one last season,” Barone said. “I’m looking forward to having another great season.”

Over the offseason, Barone said she has been playing on an indoor team at the Bridgewater Sports Complex while attending pitching lessons every other week. Pina said Barone’s work ethic is second to none.

“It’s one of the best I’ve encountered in 22 years,” Pina explained.

Barone, the 2015 Patriot League MVP for Softball, said she does see an area of her game that she is striving to improve.

“I want to get better at reading batters, in terms of what pitches to throw them,” Barone said. “I’ve been working on perfecting some pitches and learning new ones.”

There is one goal, which the Lakers came away from achieving last season, Barone said she would like to accomplish before she graduates.

“I want to get back to the state finals and win,” Barone said.

While in the midst of leading her team to the playoffs last season, Barone was also in the process of making a monumental choice regarding her softball career. Her decision was to commit to attend Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) to play softball, starting in the fall of 2016. She then signed on with SNHU this past November. Pina said he has no doubt she will succeed at the collegiate ranks.

“Maddy is the complete package,” Pina said. “She has the heart for the game and the mind to think and play it the right way. She is a hard worker and is never satisfied. People at the next level need that drive and hunger to accomplish more, to be more. Maddy is a winner, as a player and as a person.”

Filed Under: More News Right, News

School Lunch Menus for Feb. 28 to Mar. 5

January 28, 2016 By Kathleen Peloquin, Media Editor

Dennett Elementary School

 

Monday – Baked macaroni and cheese, dinner, Romaine side salad, fresh fruit.

Breakfast – Mini pancakes with syrup, bacon.

 

Tuesday – French toast sticks with syrup, sausage, carrot sticks, warm applesauce.

Breakfast – Cheese omelet, sausage.

 

Wednesday – Popcorn chicken, whipped potato, corn. Tomato and cheese salad, chilled fruit.

Breakfast – McDennett Sandwich. Yogurt.

 

Thursday – Twin mini cheeseburgers, Romaine salad with dressing, Gold Fish crackers, fresh fruit.

Breakfast – Mini waffles with syrup, bacon.

 

Friday – Cheese pizza, Caesar salad with dressing, baked potato chips, hummus, fresh fruit.

Breakfast – “Chef’s Choice.”

 

Halifax Elementary School

 

Monday – Hamburger or cheeseburger on a bun, lettuce, tomato, pickles with baked beans and vegetable sticks.

 

Tuesday – STICKER DAY! Chicken Fajita with Salsa, Rice, Mexicala corn and vegetable sticks with dip.

 

Wednesday – Pizza sticks with sauce, green beans and and vegetable sticks with dip.

 

Thursday – Pancakes with syrup, ham, roasted carrots and potato puffs.

 

Friday – Macaroni and cheese, with broccoli and and vegetable sticks with dip.

 

 

Silver Lake Middle School

 

Monday – Chicken and Cheese Quesadilla, rice pilaf, Mexican corn, chilled fruit.

 

Tuesday – “Pasta Bar”, bread stick, green beans, fruit cup.

 

Wednesday – Breaded chicken nuggets with dipping sauce, gravy. Mashed potato, broccoli, chilled fruit.

 

 

Thursday – Nachos with seasoned beef, lettuce, tomato and cheese, sweet potato fries, fruit cup.

Friday – Big Daddy’s cheese or pepperoni pizza, fresh garden salad with dressing, fresh fruit, hummus.

 

 

 

Silver Lake High School

 

Monday – Chicken and Cheese Quesadilla. Rice pilaf, Mexicorn cornk, chilled fruit.

 

Tuesday – “Pasta Bar”, bread stick, green beans, fruit cup.

 

Wednesday – Breaded chicken nuggets with dipping sauce, gravy, mashed potato, broccoli, chilled fruit.

 

Thursday – Nachos with seasoned beef, lettuce, tomato and cheese, sweet potato fries, fruit cup.

 

Friday – Big Daddy’s cheese or pepperoni pizza, fresh garden salad with dressing, fresh fruit, hummus.

 

Filed Under: Featured Story, News

Halifax Chief has staffing plans model

December 3, 2015 By Kathleen Peloquin, Media Editor

Halifax Chief has staffing plans model; No new stop sign

On Tuesday, November 24th the Halifax Board of Selectmen met and held a stop sign hearing, heard from Fire Chief Jason Vivieros about staffing changes, preliminarily approved two Eagle Scout projects and met with the FinCom and department heads to discuss the upcoming budget season.

Sign stopped

The board discussed a resident request for a “Stop” sign at the intersection of 12th Avenue and Lingan Street.

The matter originally was referred to the Traffic Study Committee, a committee that advises the Board of Selectmen concerning traffic safety issues such as speed limits, signage, crosswalks and commercial traffic.

The Traffic Study Committee meets monthly, but the Express was unable to obtain minutes from the meeting where this specific request was discussed as of press time.

Police Chief Edward Broderick, a member of the Committee, stated to the Board that the Committee had determined any “Stop” sign would be unenforceable at that intersection, but that they were open to a yellow, triangular warning sign such as “Slow” or “Children Ahead.”

Generally, according to Town Administrator Charlie Seelig, a variety of factors are taken into account when determining signage, including the amount of traffic in an area.

Federal and State laws must be followed as well as Halifax’s own traffic by-laws.

The “Stop” sign was denied, but Selectman Troy Garron asked that a letter of explanation be sent to the residents in the area.

Several other citizen requests for signage have come in, and are now with the Traffic Study Committee, which meets at the Police Station on the second Wednesday of the month at 11 a.m., according to the Town’s website.

Staffing changes at the Fire Department

Fire Chief Jason Vivieros came before the board to present staffing changes that he plans to implement in the coming years.

These changes are being made in consultation with the Fire Study Committee. His stated goal is to fill gaps in fire and EMS coverage, address safety issues, enhance the ability of the department to address administrative functions and to engage and create incentives for call firefighters.

His proposal, according to his projections, will actually reduce taxes while increasing staffing, by increasing ambulance fees and shifting the timing of when full-time firefighters are staffing the station to the busiest times of day.

Currently, Halifax has eight full-time firefighter/paramedics, two of which need to be on duty 24/7 to man an Advanced Life Support ambulance. There are 20 call firefighters, 13 of which are EMTs. Paramedics have more extensive medical training than EMTs.

This current situation does not meet the recommendations of several National fire-fighting associations. The station is unmanned several times a day when staff are out on calls, therefore call personnel are needed. On average, this adds five minutes to a response time.

If no or not enough call personnel “sign-on” to a call, Halifax must rely on mutual aid agreements with neighboring towns. In 2014 alone, no call personnel signed-on to a call 11 times.

Vivieros stated that Halifax “relies heavily” on mutual aid.

Call volume has gone up, as well, as the median age has increased in town. Vivieros projects 1,535 calls for 2015, up from 1,121 in 2006.

The Chief will therefore add two full-time day positions, and shift some night coverage to part-time personnel, increasing staffing during the busiest times of the day.

Any savings found will go back to the general fund or reduce the general tax levy.

FinCom, department heads, and level service

The Finance Committee met concurrently with the Selectmen along with department heads to hash out some numbers for the FY’17 budget.

The focus of the discussion was the unpredictability of the Silver Lake Regional School District budget, and the need to essentially guess certain unpredictable areas of the budget, such as the special education budget.

The idea of telling SLRSD an amount of money that Halifax can live with and insist that Silver Lake work with it was floated.

Department heads were instructed to provide “level-service,” that is, the same amount, or level, of service as last year so that taxes do not have to be raised (or only raised the least amount possible.)

Eagle Scout proposals ‘wow’ the Board

Jakob Burgess, a freshman, and Michael Connors, a sophomore at Silver Lake Regional High School, came before the Board to ask for permission to move forward with their community service projects in order to obtain the Boy Scout rank of “Eagle Scout.”

Burgess is seeking to spruce up the Margaret Meyer Outdoor Amphitheater by repairing the stage, railing and eight benches, all in need of restoration. Connors is seeking to put up new, clearer signs along with some landscaping at the ball fields at the Vaughn Athletic Complex adjacent to the Police Station.

Although the Selectmen expressed their initial approval and enthusiasm for the projects, they also began educating the young men on the subject of municipal bureaucracy.

Both gentlemen will have to seek the same approval as anybody else from various boards, committees and officials in town. Connors was especially cautioned that because his project falls within a historic district, he will have to conform to the requirements of the Historic District Commission.

 

Filed Under: More News Left

Margaret “Peggy” Fitzgerald, 84, Halifax public servant

November 6, 2015 By Kathleen Peloquin, Media Editor

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

Filed Under: Featured Story

3 Reasons To Advertise in the Express Holiday Gift Guide

October 29, 2015 By Kathleen Peloquin, Media Editor

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.

Filed Under: Featured Story, News

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

October 2, 2015 By Kathleen Peloquin, Media Editor

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.

Filed Under: Featured Story

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

October 2, 2015 By Kathleen Peloquin, Media Editor

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.

Filed Under: Featured Story

Video of Lt Governor’s visit to Halifax

September 18, 2015 By Kathleen Peloquin, Media Editor

An Express staff member was present to record Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito’s visit with the Halifax Selectmen. Below is a video of the meeting.

Filed Under: Featured Story

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