Plympton-Halifax-Kingston Express

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SCARLET SUNSET

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A band made up of current Silver Lake students and recent graduates, came together over the summer with a plan to showcase their talents.  Many practices, and fun times, culminated in an end-of-summer live performance for friends and family held at the Carver School of Music on Friday, Aug. 12.   Pictured are, front row: Nathan Saad, guitar.  Back row, from left, are Rosella Hoffman, piano/vocals; Patrick Bray, vocals; Laurel Fallis, vocals/guitar; Brennan Fallis, drums; Connor McKinnon, MC/vocals, and Ben Webby, bass.      Photo by Roseann Fallis

Dog license late fees begin Sept. 15

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Beginning Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022, a $50 late fee will be charged on all Dog License registrations. Residents can submit their dog license registration in-person, by mail or by using the drop-box located at the Town Hall parking lot entrance.

Please include cash or a check payable to the Town of Halifax, a completed Dog License Registration form, rabies vaccination certificate(s), and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Alternatively, residents may process their dog license registration online at (https://www.halifax-ma.org/pay). Online registrations are only valid if the Town Clerk’s Office has a current rabies vaccination certificate on-file.

It is highly recommended to verify that all required materials are on-file before proceeding with a dog license registration online. You can do so by calling (781) 293-7970 or e-mailing [email protected].

An owner who has not licensed their dog(s) by 4 pm on Wednesday, Sept. 14, will incur a late fee of $50 per dog plus the cost of the license(s). An owner who has not licensed their dog(s) by Nov. 1 will be issued a court citation of $25 per dog, plus the late fee of $50 per dog as well as the cost of the license(s). The cost of a dog license is $10 for neutered or spayed dogs and $15 for dogs that are not neutered or spayed. All dogs must be licensed in accordance with Massachusetts General Law.

The Town Clerk’s office hours are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Morse Bros. scales back project size

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Halifax selectmen heard from a throng of more than a hundred residents voicing their concerns regarding what they call gravel mining on the cranberry bogs off Lingan Street.

Morse Bros. Cranberry Co. had been on the agenda with their earth removal application.  Before the meeting, however, the company withdrew their application.

Select chair Ashley DiSesa read an email from Halifax Police Chief Joao A. Chaves, copied to the Town Administrator Marty Golightly and the members of the Board of Selectmen stating they were pulling their earth removal permit and would not be present at the hearing Aug. 9.

Chaves, through his email to the board, said that there would still be some trucks moving material from their site to their other bogs in Middleboro and Hanson as part of their bog maintenance and dam rebuilding at those sites, actions that are permitted under Chapter 137 “Right to Farm” laws, requiring no permits as they are just doing agricultural and farming work.

The email went on to explain that Morse Bros. had notified the police department in the event that residents called to complain about the trucks.  “They are just doing normal farming tasks,” the email continued.  Chaves told the Morse Bros. representative that he would notify the Board of Selectmen and the members of his police department of the change.

Residents present at the selectmen’s meeting wanted to be heard but select chair DiSesa  told them that since there was no issue on the table for discussion.

“We have heard all of your concerns,” DiSesa told the group.   She said that when they sent the Zoning Enforcement Officer  to investigate a claim at the site he found Morse Bros. was operating within the law.

Selectmen went on to interview the final two candidates

In other business, selectmen

• allowed the moving of a utility pole.

• appointed James Hill to the Halifax Fireworks Committee.  His wife Susan is already a member.

•  appointed Lind McCarthy as Parking Clerk

Halifax BOS makes Chief choice

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The Halifax Board of Selectmen interviewed the two candidates for Fire Chief at their meeting Tuesday night, Aug. 9, and voted to offer the position to Michael Witham, a candidate known to the Halifax Fire Department.

While selectmen agreed that Brad Cronin  had an exceptional resume, his admitted lack of grant-writing experience was a drawback.

Witham has accepted the position and pending contract negotiations will be on the job soon.

Plympton’s ‘Two Brooks Preserve’ is now open!

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Plympton’s Conservation Commission is happy to announce that the Town’s new Two Brooks Preserve is open.

A band of hearty volunteers have been working tirelessly during the fall and winter months clearing trails, building boardwalks and installing a parking lot on Prospect Road to ready the Preserve for public use.  Our thanks again to them and to all the residents who have supported creating public access to this special area.

In order to protect the Preserve’s outstanding natural resources, including its significant groundwater and wildlife species, please remember that dogs must be leashed at all times; bicycles and motorized vehicles are not permitted.

Please respect neighboring properties as you travel the paths.

The Preserve’s boundaries have been professionally surveyed and legally verified by multiple entities to ensure their accuracy. No private property has been taken or infringed upon.

The Commission and the Open Space Committee look forward to welcoming everyone to this beautiful area in the Winnetuxet River Watershed.

Ava Mirisola of Kingston earns Dean’s List honors

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BOSTON – Ava Mirisola of Kingston  has earned Dean’s List honors for the Spring 2022 semester at Emerson College.

The requirement to make Dean’s List is a grade point average of 3.7 or higher for that semester.

Mirisola is majoring in Business Creative Enterprises and is a member of the Class of 2025.

Based in Boston, Massachusetts, opposite the historic Boston Common and in the heart of the city’s Theatre District, Emerson College educates individuals who will solve problems and change the world through engaged leadership in communication and the arts, a mission informed by liberal learning.

The College has 3,780 undergraduates and 670 graduate students from across the United States and 50 countries. Supported by state-of-the-art facilities and a renowned faculty, students participate in more than 90 student organizations and performance groups.

Emerson is known for its experiential learning programs in the States and other countries in the world.

in Los Angeles, the District of Columbia, the Netherlands, London, China, and the Czech Republic as well as its new Global Portals, with the first program launching this fall in Paris. The College has an active network of 51,000+ alumni who hold leadership positions in communication and the arts. For more information, visit emerson.edu.

Halifax 18th annual Summer Smash

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This past weekend saw some gruesome heat but young softball players laced up their cleats and oiled their gloves and took the field for some challenging competition.  It was the three-day Halifax Softball Summer Smash – the largest ever for this 18th annual event.

Three divisions brought teams together from throughout the South Shore: 10U, 12U, and 14U girls demonstrated that softball is in good hands with plenty of talent making its way through the grades.  The Halifax Hurricanes took top place in the U12 Red category.

Pete Barone, founder and president of the HGSL, began the Halifax Summer Smash in 2005 so his daughter Alex, then 8-years-old, and her teammates could play in their own tournament.   She is now 26 and runs the concessions and raffles with his other daughter Maddy.

“It started as 11 teams and quickly grew each year,” Barone said.  “We use all five fields at Halifax Elementary and both fields at Vaughan, next to the police station.  All the fields are full on Friday evening and from 7:30 a.m. to  7:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. “  This year’s Summer Smash hosted 45 teams from throughout the area and it has become the largest “Town-Al-Stars” team tournament anywhere.

Barone credits the number of Halifax parents who volunteer their time each tourney to work on the fields, cover the snack shacks, set everything up and break it all down at the end with the continued success of the event.

Morse Bros. withdraws application

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Tuesday night’s Halifax selectmen’s meeting saw as much thunder inside the Town Hall as outside.

The item on the agenda that has been the talk of the town for weeks was the application from Morse Bros. Cranberries for a major earth removal project to redesign their bogs off Lingan Street.  When that application was withdrawn after the meeting and its agenda were posted, people came to Tuesday’s meeting wanting to be heard.

Selectmen were set to meet  in their first floor meeting room.  That quickly became overwhelmed and the meeting reconvened to the Great Hall upstairs.  Video recording capabilities had to be re-set for the new location and, as with the storms outside, the storms inside were also taking their toll.

Chairman Ashley DeSesa told the group that where the application was withdrawn there was no need for conversation.  But the people wanted to be heard.

What happens next?  We’ll have to wait and see.

Old Colony Elder Services hosts annual Volunteer Appreciation and Awards ceremony

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More than 150 volunteers recently attended Old Colony Elder Services (OCES) Annual Volunteer Appreciation and Awards Ceremony held at Indian Pond Country Club in Kingston. Eight volunteers received special awards.

OCES, the non-profit agency proudly serving older adults and individuals with disabilities throughout greater Plymouth County, honored their volunteers, who generously donate their time to help others, with a Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon.

Armindo Rocha, Volunteer Programs Manager and Cidalia America, Volunteer Program Assistant hosted the event and presented President’s Volunteer Service – Lifetime Achievement and Annual Gold awards along with OCES’ Make A Difference awards to the eight volunteers.

OCES is a National President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) Certifying Organization. The PVSA honors outstanding volunteers and recognizes the impact they make. The PVSA’s highest honor, the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award recognizing 4000+ volunteer hours in a lifetime, was presented to two volunteers. Joseph Tyler Jr., a resident of Halifax, MA, has impacted others with his smile and sense of humor for many years as a volunteer; and Bill Raymond, a resident of Middleboro, MA, who volunteers by transporting seniors to their medical appointments regardless of location and will volunteer 8 hours a day driving if needed.

The PVSA’s Annual Gold Award, marking 500+ volunteer hours for the year, was presented to four volunteers: Steve Sundell of Easton, MA, a SHINE Counselor for 12 years; Fred Ciliberto of Hanover, MA, a volunteer for many years at the Hanover COA; Walter Hempel of Duxbury, MA, a long-time volunteer of both the Duxbury COA as well as the Project Gurnet & Bug Lights, Inc.; and John Ruthkowski of Duxbury, MA who has been involved with AARP tax preparation for several years, devoting well over 700 hours each year to the Kingston and Duxbury COAs to prepare taxes for more than 250 clients.

The Make a Difference Award is given by OCES and the RSVP-PC to recognize exceptional volunteers for their dedication to helping others making a big impact on the community. This award was presented to: John Durnan of Duxbury who has been traveling to Brockton to deliver meals since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020; and G. Mike Pauley of Brockton who is a longtime volunteer at the Caffrey Towers and Campello High Rise buildings in Brockton and was instrumental in delivering meals during the pandemic.

“We truly appreciate all of our volunteers for their dedication to helping others, assisting those in need in our communities, and making the world a better place,” said Armindo Rocha, OCES’ Volunteer Manager.

More about the PVSA
In 2003, the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation founded the President’s Volunteer Service Award to recognize the important role of volunteers in America’s strength and national identity. This award honors individuals whose service positively impacts communities in every corner of the nation and inspires those around them to take action too. Led by AmeriCorps and managed in partnership with Points of Light, this program allows Certifying Organizations to recognize their most exceptional volunteers.

As an AmeriCorps Seniors grantee, OCES receives funds through the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) for volunteers age 55+. RSVP of Plymouth County (RSVP-PC) volunteers help OCES and other local agencies that are OCES Community Service Partners.

Volunteering for OCES
Our Volunteer Program supports OCES and other Community Service Partners. With the help of Nutrition Program volunteers, OCES serves 1,800 meals each weekday as part of its MOW Program. Money Management Program (MMP) volunteers assist older adults and individuals with disabilities with bill paying, reconciling bank statements, balancing checkbooks, and in special cases, negotiating debt with creditors. Volunteers also serve on the OCES Board of Directors, MMP and RSVP Community Advisory councils and contribute with many other important efforts.

To learn more about becoming an OCES volunteer contact Armindo Rocha at 508-584-1561 x355 or visit ocesma.org.

About OCES
Founded in 1974, OCES proudly serves greater Plymouth County and surrounding communities. OCES is a private, non-profit organization headquartered in Brockton with a second office in Plymouth. OCES is designated as one of 24 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. OCES’ mission is to support the independence and dignity of older adults and individuals with disabilities by providing essential information and services that promote healthy and safe living.