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Earthen dam break floods Robins Pond neighborhood

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Leah Comins
Email: leah@jgpr.net
EAST BRIDGEWATER — Chief Timothy Harhen reports that the East Bridgewater Fire Department responded last Friday to reported flooding in town following a water dam breach.
At about 9 a.m. Friday, East Bridgewater Fire and Police responded to the area of Bixby Drive after an approximately 20-foot section of an earthen dam gave out. The breach is believed to have occurred around 6 a.m. The dam is privately owned and the portion of the dam where the breach occurred is located in East Bridgewater.
Water from the Plymouth Street pond began to drain into Robins Pond in East Bridgewater as a result of the breach. Ten to 12 properties in East Bridgewater are believed to have been affected by water. No injuries were reported.
East Bridgewater Police assisted in closing a portion of Pond Street near the boat ramp at Robbins Pond. That portion of the road will be closed until water recedes and the bridge can be inspected to ensure it is not compromised.
Chief Harhen would also like to thank the Bridgewater Police Department, which provided use of their drone to give East Bridgewater officials a view of the extent of the flooding.
Personnel from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency also responded to assist.
The dam owner is working to make repairs. Further inquiries regarding the dam should be referred to the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Office of Dam Safety.

Capt. Cuozzo graduates management training program

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STOW— Captain Jeffrey Cuozzo of the Halifax Fire Department graduated last week from the 28th class of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy’s Chief Fire Officer Management Training Program.
The four-month program for new chief officers and chief officer candidates is delivered jointly by the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy and the University of Massachusetts Edward J. Collins Jr. Center for Public Management. Through classroom instruction and out-of-class assignments, the course delivers intensive training in the non-fire suppression aspects of managing a municipal fire department.
“The Chief Fire Officer program is a tremendous opportunity for new chiefs and rising officers,” said State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey, who graduated from the program in 2002. “The rigorous instruction in such a wide variety of topics will help these graduates provide the leadership that their departments and communities deserve. Completing the program is a major accomplishment and I want to congratulate them on their initiative and dedication to professional development.”
The Chief Fire Officer Management Training Program covers a spectrum of topics considered essential for effective public sector management. It includes human resource management, ethics, executive leadership, governmental and organization structures, information management, customer-focused strategic planning, legal issues, budgets and public finance, community awareness, and labor relations. The curriculum helps fire officers improve their ability to lead and manage personnel, understand employees’ needs and problems, communicate effectively to a variety of audiences, and leverage inter-agency cooperation.  The Massachusetts Firefighting Academy, a division of the Department of Fire Services, offers this program tuition-free.
The 2022-2023 graduating class was drawn from the fire departments of Acushnet, Barnstable, Belmont, Billerica, Bridgewater, Chelsea, Easthampton, Everett, Fitchburg, Framingham, Grafton, Granby, Halifax, Hanover, Holyoke, Hyannis, Ipswich, Lakeville, Maynard, Medway, Methuen, New Bedford, Newton, North Andover, North Attleboro, Oakham, Palmer, Pelham, Russell, Seekonk, Sturbridge, Tewksbury, Three Rivers, Truro, West Brookfield, Westport, and Worcester, where its members serve as chiefs, deputy chiefs, and captains.

February at the Holmes Public Library

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On February 14 the afternoon bookclub will meet to discuss “The Engineer’s Wife”  by Tracy Emerson Wood.  This novel is a fictional account of the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge and the contribution engineer Emily Roebling played in the building when her engineer husband became ill.  “Lafayette in the Somewhat United States” by Sarah Vowell  is the selection for the nonfiction bookclub meeting on February 15 at 6 p.m.  This well-researched  book chronicles General Lafayette’s time in Washington’s Army.   Second Chapters, the book club co-sponsored by the Halifax COA, will meet on Thursday, Feb. 17 at 2 p.m.  to discuss the book “Nine Lives” by Peter Swanson. This book has the feel of an Agatha Christie story.  All book clubs meet at the Holmes Public Library in the Community Room. During the month of February, the Holmes Public Library will be collecting new pajamas for the annual Boston Bruins PJ Drive for kids in need.  Donations will be going to the DCF/Wonderfund and Cradles to Crayons

 

 

Silver Lake Wrestling visits Marshfield

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Silver Lake’s wrestling team travelled to Marshfield earlier this month for a quad meet going 2-2 with wins against Marshfield and South Shore Votech and losses against Methuen and Taunton. Overall the team is 15-3 this year and in close competition for the Patriot League title.

Photo and text by Steve Gilbert

Third Thursday at the Library

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Alan Wheelock, chairman of the Plympton By-law Review Committee, spoke to residents about the function of his committee. The Third Saturday at the Library community meeting brought neighbors together for coffee, tea, and sweet treats, along with good conversation. Each meeting, First Saturday and Third Saturday, draws a dozen to three dozen people together to hear about what’s going on in town. Selectman John Traynor has been spearheading the effort, with the full support of library director Mike Slawson. If you have an idea that you would like to hear more about, contact the Library by email at mslawson@sailsinc.org. Photo by Sandi Neumeister

Silver Lake Whitman-Hanson Swimming takes on Plymouth North

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Earlier this month at the Kingsbury Club in Kingston, the combined Silver Lake and Whitman-Hanson Swim team took on Plymouth North. Led by their Senior Captains Anna Billings, Ava McTighe Tassinari, Wesley Hawley, Jake Foley, and Matt Ward and in this, the second year as a combined team with Whitman-Hanson, the Lakers are continuing to grow both renewed interest in aquatic sports as well as score consistent results in the pool. In addition to this meet against Plymouth North, the team has also faced their Patriot League rivals, Scituate and Quincy North, and are now half way through their season.

 

Photos and text by Steve Gilbert

Springfield College recognizes Dean’s List students

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SPRINGFIELD, MA Springfield College Recognizes Dean’s List Students for the 2022 Fall Semester.
~ Springfield College has named Kathryn Gilbert from Halifax to the dean’s list for academic excellence for the 2022 fall semester. Gilbert has a primary major of Psychology.
~ Springfield College has named Hayden Wechter from Halifax to the dean’s list for academic excellence for the 2022 fall semester. Wechter has a primary major of Health Sci / Pre-PA.
The criteria for selection to the Dean’s List are as follows: The student must have completed a minimum of 12 credit hours of graded coursework for the term, exclusive of “P” grades. The student must not have any incompletes or missing grades in the designated term. The student must have a minimum semester grade average of 3.500 for the term.

Springfield College is an independent, nonprofit, coeducational institution founded in 1885. Approximately 4,100 students, including 2,500 full-time undergraduate students, study at its main campus in Springfield, Mass., and at its regional campuses across the country.

Springfield College inspires students through the guiding principles of its Humanics philosophy – educating in spirit, mind, and body for leadership in service to others.

Rep. Josh Cutler champions Right Whale Awareness Day

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Massachusetts has declared April 24 as Right Whale Day in an effort to boost awareness about the endangered species. North Atlantic right whales number fewer than 350, according to federal fisheries estimates.
“The North Atlantic right whale is part of our rich maritime history and, yet, our official state marine mammal is at risk of extinction. Establishing this annual day to celebrate right whales will help promote education and protection efforts,” said Rep. Josh S. Cutler, D-Duxbury, lead sponsor of the legislation. The bill (H. 3869) was signed into law by outgoing Gov. Charles Baker, in one of his final acts before leaving office.
Cutler credited his constituent, Matt Delaney of Pembroke, for bringing the idea to him to dedicate a day for the rare whales after being inspired by a personal encounter. The bill was co-sponsored by Sen. Susan Moran, D-Falmouth.
The New England Aquarium, that has long dedicated efforts to study and protect the Right Whales, praised the passage of the bill.
“More than 40 years of scientific research from the New England Aquarium shows that human impacts, specifically entanglements in fixed fishing gear and vessel strikes, are driving North Atlantic right whales toward extinction. Massachusetts has a major role to play in the survival of this critically endangered species, given the importance right whales have played in the state’s history, culture, and natural environment. The newly created Right Whale Day will help increase awareness for this species’ plight, providing additional opportunities to educate the public about the urgent need to protect these incredible animals that spend much of the year in and around Massachusetts waters,” stated Vikki N. Spruill, President and CEO of the New England Aquarium.Plans are underway to commemorate the inaugural Right Whale Day later this year.

Lakers win second straight Cashman Tournament

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Text and photos by Steve Gilbert

Over the holiday break, Silver Lake Boys Varsity Hockey participated in the annual Cashman Tournament held at the Rockland Ice Arena. After defeating Whitman-Hanson in the first round, they advanced to the championship game against the Rockland Bulldogs.During the championship, the Lakers were strong at both ends of the rink. Goalie Strummer Beals stopped everything Rockland sent his way while the offense, led by Brandon Cavicchi’s hat trick and two more from Senior Captain Ben Cronin, gave Silver Lake a 5-0 win