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Town Clerk takes Boston job

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Plympton Town Clerk Tara Shaw. (Courtesy Photo)

“I have enjoyed working with everyone,” Plympton Town Clerk Tara Shaw said as she announced this week that she will be leaving the position as of April 1, “ from the people who come into my office, to the good friends I have made through work at the Town House.

“This is such a wonderful town,” she continued.  “I remember the day when my children were home alone for the first time while I went to work at the Town House.  I asked the patrolman on duty if he would drive past the house to reassure them.”

“Everyone in this town takes care of everybody.  And that’s how I thought about my job as Town Clerk.  It was always worthwhile.”

The two years remaining for her term will be on the ballot for the annual town election May 18.  Assistant Town Clerk Patricia “Tricia” Detterman has taken out nomination papers for the position.

There will be 14 open seats on the ballot:

 • 1 Selectman, 3 years

• 1 Board of Assessor, 3 years

• 1 Board of Health Member, 3 years

• 2 Board of Library Trustees, 2 years

• 1 Board of Library Trustee, 3 years

• 2 Finance Committee Members, 3 years

• 1 Moderator, 3 years

• 1 Planning Board Member, 5 years

• 1 Planning Board Member, 3 years

• 1 Plympton School Committee, 3 years

• 1 Silver Lake Regional School Committee, 2 years

•1 Town Clerk, 2 years

Nomination papers are available in the Town Clerk’s Office at the Plympton Town House during regular business hours, Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Monday evenings, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The last day to submit nomination papers with at least 22 signatures is Friday, March 29, 2019 at 5:00 p.m.

The last day to object or withdraw nomination papers is Wednesday, April 17, 2019.
https://www.town.plympton.ma.us/town-clerk/elections

  Papers that have been pulled as of Tuesday, March 5, 2019:

• 1 SL Regional School Committee, 2 years, Michael Antoine

• 1 Planning Board, 3 years, John Schmid

• 1 Board of Library Trustees, 3 years, incumbent Christine Winslow

• 1 Finance Committee, 3 years, incumbent Steven Lewis

• 1 Town Clerk, 2 years, Patricia Detterman

There are only three weeks to take out nomination papers and return them to the Town Clerk to be included/printed on the ballot.

Please consider serving the town in one of these positions.

H’way super says snow funds used up

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Plympton selectmen Monday night were surprised by the request of Highway Superintendent Scott Ripley to declare a snow and ice emergency. (Courtesy photo)

Plympton selectmen Monday night were surprised by the request of Highway Superintendent Scott Ripley to declare a snow and ice emergency as he has used up his snow removal funds for the season.

Having been a winter with the least snow in recent memory, according to Boston weather people, selectmen said they would either call him in to explain, or perhaps just have a member of the board meet with him and discuss how the funds were spent.

In all fairness, Ripley began his position of Highway Superintendent in August, 2018,  after the budgets were set by Town Meeting vote ion May of 2018.

Town Administrator Elizabeth Dennehy presented the marijuana by-law produced by Ann Sobolewski with the Planning Board for selectmen’s approval.  The approved by-law will be returned to the Planning Board so a hearing may be scheduled in preparation for the Annual Town Meeting in May.

Selectman Christine Joy told the board that Plympton needs to do a much better job in its recycling, as does the rest of the country, and the effects are being felt throughout our economy.

China no longer buys our mixed paper for recycling because of the contaminants we allow, an average of 25%, forcing the United States to look elsewhere to sell its mixed paper.  What in 2017 brought $90 per ton in trade with China, in 2019 brings only $4 a ton from other markets like India.  “I don’t know that the country will ever get China back,” Joy said.   

What items are the worst offenders?  Think long, stringy things that tangle up the processor: garden hoses, plastic one-use grocery bags, plastic wrap. Don’t put recyclables in plastic bags.  The attendant won’t open the bag; it just goes into the trash.  Clothing can’t be processed with recyclables; in Plympton, it goes in the charity bins near the bottle and can redemption trailer.

The presentation she attended also cited help Massachusetts is giving in the way of grants for educating residents about what is recyclable and what is trash, and also grants for building recycling facilities, to help communities get serious about recycling.

Selectmen unanimously approved the application of Upinto2, Inc., the corporate name of the motorcycle riding school on County Road.  Upinto2, Inc. was granted a Class II motor vehicle sales license to sell motorcycles, primarily to their students.   Selectmen stipulated that no motorcycles were to be displayed outdoors for sale and no more than 40 motorcycles, 10 of which would be for sale, the rest for students to ride in classes, would be on the premises at a time.

In other business selectmen

• reviewed the open election seats for boards and committees

• executed a contract for Air Vacuum Corporation to deal with the exhaust fumes of vehicles at the Fire Station.

• voted to open the warrants for the Special Town Meeting and the Annual Town Meeting, both to be held May 15.

• reviewed the process of compiling the Annual Town Report, making sure that boards and committees follow the instructions to submit their reports to the town before the March 21 deadline.

The next meeting will take place March 11, at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

Museum program tells tales at Library

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Shannon Murphy, from the Blue Hills Trailside Museum, pictured with the museum’s Broad-winged Hawk. 

Shannon Murphy, from the Blue Hills Trailside Museum, kept her audience in rapt attention as she told the tales of various tails at the Plympton Public Library on Saturday.  Shannon brought the program Nature Tales: Habitatsto her listeners, young and older.

Shannon is pictured with the Museum’s Broad-winged Hawk.  Miranda Bloom of the Trailside Museum in Milton explained that they don’t name their resident wildlife to remind people that these are wild animals, and not pets.  “This is particularly applicable to the Broad-winged’s story, because that is part of how he came to us,” she told The Express. 

“All of the animals that reside at the Blue Hills Trailside Museum are not able to be released into the wild for one reason or another, whether it be because of injury or imprinting.  In this hawk’s case it was due to imprinting.  He was found by a family as a baby and kept as a pet until they learned it is illegal to keep wild animals in captivity.  The family tried to release the hawk back into the wild but it didn’t know how to catch its own food by that point. “

“He kept returning to their deck,” Bloom continued, “allowing other birds to peck his head, injuring him, while he waited to be fed.  After being rehabilitated he was brought to the Museum and now helps with our education programs.”

The Blue Hills Trailside Museum is operated in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.  It is the interpretive center for the state-owned Blue Hills Reservation and features a natural history museum and outdoor exhibits of native wildlife.  The animals on display – including Snowy Owls and a River Otter – have been rescued and would not survive in the wild.

It is located at 1904 Canton Ave., Milton and is open Thursday through Sunday, and Monday holidays, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  Outdoor exhibits are open daily from dawn to dusk.

To learn more about the Blue Hills Trailside Museum and its programs, go to https://www.massaudubon.org/get-outdoors/wildlife-sanctuaries/blue-hills-trailside-museum .

Silver Lake Middle School VEX Robotics team wins tournament

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Team 2364B of the Silver Lake Middle School VEX Robotics after school club, won the qualifying tournament last Saturday, Feb. 2, in North Scituate, RI, for the New England VEX Qualifying competition. They will go on to compete in the New England Regional Championship Feb. 23 in Framingham. From left are JD Keegan, Max Colombo, Wes Hawley and Sami Areski, with their certificates and trophy. Not pictured are Gavin McKenna and Dylan Whittemore. (Photo by Julie Walker)

By Julie Walker
Special to The Express

Silver Lake Middle School VEX Robotics Club is accepting congratulations on their recent victory at the New England VEX Qualifying Competition, Turning Point, held Saturday, Feb. 2 in North Scituate, Rhode Island.

Team B from Silver Lake, after a grueling day of matches, won the tournament!  This is the first time a team from Silver Lake has accomplished that feat.  In addition, they also won the design award.

Robotics is big at Silver Lake.  There are two after school robotics clubs: VEX Robotics and LEGO Robotics.  The VEX Club builds robots using VEX parts, and VEX sponsors the competition. 

The Silver Lake VEX Robotics Club has four teams of students who competed in the Turning Point qualifying competition.  Of the four, Team 2364B will advance to the New England Regional Championship Feb. 23, at the Walsh Middle School in Framingham.

Team B members are JD Keegan, Max Colombo, Wes Hawley, Sami Areski, Gavin McKenna, and Dylan Whittemore.

The “Turning Point” competition began with nine ranking qualifying matches for each team.  Once the teams were ranked by how many points they scored, the top teams chose their alliance partner team to compete with in the elimination rounds.

The Turning Point game has very specific ways to score points.  In this game their robot had to flip caps to their color, turn flags to their color, raise caps with their color on top to the top of posts, and park on their color in order to score. 

Each match consists of red and blue alliance partners competing against each other. In the ranking qualifying matches, alliance partners are randomly selected for each team. Each team then plays in a set number of ranking qualifying matches. Once the ranking matches are complete, the top ranking teams have the privilege of choosing their alliance partner for the final elimination matches. 

Each match lasts only two minutes. The first 15 seconds is an autonomous portion of the game, where student-written computer programs are run to score as many points as possible. The alliance with the highest score during “autonomous” are granted the autonomous points.  Then there are 1 minute and 45 seconds of driver-controlled competition. This portion is both offensive and defensive with the ultimate goal of scoring the highest number of points in your alliance color. The alliance team with the highest points wins the match.

On Saturday, Silver Lake Team 2364B was ranked 4th and they were chosen by the 3rd ranked team from North Andover to be their alliance partner. 

Students from Silver Lake designed their robot to flip the caps, turn the flags, place caps on the posts and park on the platforms.

Each Silver Lake Team has students who worked primarily on the robot design, others who worked primarily on the programming, and some who were involved in both. 

This year, VEX introduced a new Robot platform, V5, with a smart brain and smart controller that required the use of a new programming language C++.

“Silver Lake didn’t receive their new V5 kit until January 3.  Students on Team 2364B  built a new V5 robot and learned the new programming language in less than a month,” said a proud Julie Walker, club advisor.

Congratulations, teams, for an outstanding performance!

Silver Lake Middle School offers Automation and Robotics (AR) to 7th graders as an elective. AR is a Project Lead The Way (PLTW) course that utilizes VEX robotics for mechanical builds and automation through programming using RobotC.

Halifax Special Town Meeting set for Feb. 25

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The Town of Halifax will hold a Special Town Meeting on Monday, Feb. 25, at the Halifax Elementary School multipurpose room, 464 Plymouth St., Route 106, Halifax.

For those who are not already registered to vote, the last day to register to vote at the Special Town meeting is Feb. 14.  Barbara Gaynor, Halifax Town Clerk, will keep the office open until 8 p.m. to accommodate those wishing to register, or they can register to vote online. The warrant showing all articles to be acted on must be posted by Feb. 11. 

The Spring Annual Town Meeting will be held Monday, May 13 at 7:30 p.m. in the multi-purpose room at the Halifax Elementary School, 464 Plymouth St., Route 106, Halifax.

The last day to register to vote at the Annual Town Meeting is Tuesday, April 24.  The Town Clerk’s office will remain open until 8 p.m. on that date, or residents may register to vote online.  The warrant listing articles to be acted upon must be posted by Monday, May 6.

Election enters the final stretch

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When voters go to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 6, they will face a lengthy ballot with 14 races and three ballot questions.  Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.  Early voting was offered throughout the state from Oct. 22 through Nov. 2, in an effort to accommodate as many voters as possible.

First on the ballot in both Halifax and Plympton is the race for Senator in Congress, with local Republican, Geoff Diehl from Whitman, opposing incumbent Democrat Elizabeth A. Warren from Cambridge.  The two have been sparring in several televised debates.  Shiva Ayyadurai, a former Republican, is running as an Independent.  Ayyadurai has been outspoken regarding GMO foods, and says he will take a “science and engineering perspective on problem solving.”  He holds several advanced degrees from MIT and is married to actress/comedienne Fran Dresher.

Choices for Representative in Congress are Bill Keating, Democrat from Bourne, candidate for re-election, and Peter D. Tedeschi, Republican, from Marshfield.  Keating says he has been busy working on behalf of the region’s voters and has proven himself to be one of the most effective legislators serving in Congress today, ranking fourth out of 435 House members in getting amendments passed.” 

Tedeschi, a lifelong South Shore resident, a Republican, wants to give back to the area that has been so supportive of his family for generations.  “Public service must be for the benefit of the people, not for the person elected to represent them.”   Tedeschi is a SVP of Putnam Investments, CEO of Tedeschi Food Shops, and proud member of the Executive Board of Directors for Friendship Home.

The Governor’s race sees Charlie Baker and Karyn Polito, Republican incumbents, challenged by Jay Gonzalez and Quentin Palfrey, Democrats.  Baker and Polito have been working since their election in 2015 to grow the Massachusetts economy, for MBTA reforms, and to set education standards K-12, among other items.  Gonzalez served as Secretary of Administration and Finance of Massachusetts under Gov. Deval Patrick, and claims Baker has not shown sufficient leadership, citing poor progress in the MBTA.

Maura Healey, Democrat from Boston, is a candidate for re-election as Massachusetts Attorney General.  She is challenged by James R. McMahon, III, a Republican from Bourne.  Healey has been an activist Attorney General according to her endorsement by The Standard-Times, going after the Trump administration as it has tried to dismantle government health, education, and environmental programs that have been the great hallmarks of American and Massachusetts society over the last half century.”  McMahon is an attorney and a lifelong resident of Cape Cod. Married with five children, he lost his eldest son to opiate addiction.

William Francis Galvin, of Boston. seeks re-election to Secretary of State, an office he has held since 1995.  He is the Chief Information Officer, spotlighting issues that affect the average citizen: fraud in the finance industry, credit card pressures on students, and HMO costs.   As the Commonwealth’s chief elections officer he has worked to bring more people into voting, through his “Motor Voter Law” and early voting, so people can vote at their convenience the two weeks prior to election day. 

His Republican opponent, Anthony M. Amore of Swampscott, promises through his website a fresh perspective to the office.   He currently works in the non-profit sector as the Director of Security and Chief Investigator at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston.  He is also serving as an officer with the US Immigration Service and as a Special Agent with the Federal Aviation Administration’s Security Division.  He was appointed Assistant Federal Security Director with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security where his mission included rebuilding security at Logan Airport after the attacks of 9/11.

Rainbow/Green Party candidate is Juan G. Sanchez, Jr. whose website states his goal is to “Ensure that underprivileged and underrepresented groups have a voice on Beacon Hill,” and to  “Champion progressive electoral and campaign finance reform. “  He would also improve voter education by delivering information in multiple languages.

The office of Treasurer sees Brookline Democratic candidate for re-election Deborah Goldberg challenged by Lakeville Republican Keiko M. Orrall.   Goldberg states hers is the first office focused on economic empowerment for everyone.

Orrall, is the first Asian-American woman to seek a constitutional office in Massachusetts.  She has served four terms in the House of Representatives, building bi-partisan bridges, focusing on policy over politics.  She is a middle child of five children, learning the art of compromise early on. 

Jamie M. Guerin, the Green/Rainbow Party candidate from Montgomery, says on her website one of her goals is to establish a state bank to end Wall Street influence in local politics.  Also, she would ensure that the nascent cannabis business benefits local communities rather than national conglomerates.

State Auditor Suzanne M. Bump of Easton, Democratic candidate for re-election, states on her website, “I have dedicated the majority of my professional life to public service, first as a State Representative, then serving in the administration of Governor Deval Patrick, and now as State Auditor.  “I believe in government and its responsibility to advance societal and economic progress,” she says.

Bump has three challengers. Republican Helen Brady of Concord says, “I am stunned by the State Auditor’s inability to play an active and aggressive role in rooting out waste, fraud and abuse.  The Auditor’s refusal to stand up and fight for taxpayers was made all the more shameful when she accepted a massive increase to her taxpayer-funded salary.”

Daniel Fishman, Libertarian from Beverly, says, “When you select an auditor you need someone who can be impartial … who will actively search for malfeasance.  We must elect an auditor who comes to the office without any debt to a political party …”

Edward J. Stamos, resident of Northampton, representing the Green/Rainbow Party says, “As auditor, I will be an independent watchdog, ensuring that the Democrats and Republicans are not playing political games with taxpayer money.”

Councillor Christopher A. Iannella, Jr., of Brockton, Democratic candidate for re-election, is running unopposed.

Senator in General Court Michael D. Brady of Brockton, a Democrat, is being challenged by Scott Hall of Brockton, a Republican.  See accompanying story on that race.

Representative in General Court for the 12th Plymouth District, Democrat Kathleen LaNatra of Kingston is being challenged by Republican Joseph M. Truschelli of Plymouth.  See accompanying story.

District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz, Republican  candidate for re-election from Marshfield, is challenged by John E. Bradley, Jr., a republican from Plymouth.  Cruz states on his website, “I am committed to the protection of our children, our seniors, and our communities.”

Challenger John E. Bradley Jr., takes aim at Cruz as the Democratic candidate for District Attorney of Plymouth County.  According to an article by Maria Cramer of the Boston Globe, Bradley was a 21-year veteran prosecutor when his boss, Plymouth District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz abruptly fired him.  Bradley sued for wrongful dismissal and eventually received a $248,000 settlement.

Plymouth County Clerk of Courts Robert S. Creedon, Jr., Democratic candidate for re-election, is unopposed.

Plymouth County Register of Deeds John R. Buckley, Jr. of Brockton,  Democratic candidate for re-election, is unopposed.

Sandra M. Wright, Republican, of Bridgewater, is running unopposed as a  Republican candidate for re-election to the office of County Commissioner.

Obituary for: Anne L. Springer

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Anne L. Springer, age 101, a woman of deep faith, was called home on September 17, 2018. Anne, a resident of Jefferson, Maine, where she lived with her daughter and son-in-law for the past 15 years, enjoyed a fulfilling and well lived life. She was the oldest of 10 children and took over a mothering role for her siblings when their mother died at the age of 50. She was deeply loved by all her brothers and sisters.

 

Anne attended Punchard High School in Andover, MA and graduated in the Class of 1935. She married Leslie G. Springer in 1940 and they made their home in Leslie’s hometown of Plympton, MA. Shortly after their marriage, Leslie was called to serve in the Army overseas during World War II. Upon his return, they started their family of 5 children and in 1959 established a general store in Plympton that included the best tasting homemade ice cream on the Massachusetts south shore, aptly called Anne’s Homemade Ice Cream.

 

Leslie and Anne retired to their farm in Jefferson, Maine in 1976 where they spent countless hours renovating the homestead and grooming the fields for their large gardens. They also built a winter home in Vero Beach, Florida that provided many happy years gathering with friends and family. Both Leslie and Anne were hard workers and always had projects to tackle. Anne expressed her creativity in many ways. She took up oil painting in her 50’s and continued to paint until her death. She enjoyed acrylic and water color painting also, many of which she gifted to her family and friends. She also enjoyed creative cooking and rug hooking and was an avid reader.

 

Anne remained active in the St. Denis Seniors Group, enjoying the many friendships formed with her faith community. Anne’s steadfast faith was the ballast that supported her throughout her life. A lifelong dream became a reality when she visited Rome in 2004 at the age of 88 and also traveled to the Grand Canyon, Oregon and many visits to Florida. She lived her life with grace, acceptance and generosity.

 

Anne is predeceased by her husband, Leslie and her son William. Her loving family includes her son David and his wife Gale of Clermont, FL, son Richard and wife Maureen of Plympton, MA, son Earl T. and wife Lois of W. Barnstable, MA, daughter Marian and husband Bill of Jefferson, ME, and daughter-in-law Ana of Vero Beach, FL. Anne was also the proud grandmother of 11 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

 

A memorial mass will be held on Saturday, September 29, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at the St. Denis Catholic Church, 298 Grand Army Road, in Whitefield, followed by a reception at the church hall.

 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Anne’s name to St. Michael’s Parish, Re: St. Denis Church, 24 Washington Street, Augusta, ME 04330, Transfiguration Hermitage, 205 Windsor Neck Road, Windsor, ME 04363, or Maine General Hospice, P.O. Box 828, Waterville, ME 04363.

 

Arrangements are entrusted to Hall Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 949 Main Street, Waldoboro.

 

Condolences may be shared at www.hallfuneralhomes.com

Steampunk at Schoolhouse Farm

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It’s the most anticipated party invitation of the summer – the AHG, Alberti Hurdy Gurdy – that sees the pastoral Schoolhouse Farm transformed into a weekend-long venue for music, dancing, barbecue, and laser light shows, all leading up to the burning pinnacle of the evening!

What started out 21 years ago in East Bridgewater as a graduation party for Dave Alberti’s son has grown over the years into a gala few could imagine!

Plympton’s C.J. Quinn, with his good friends Dave and Vicki Alberti, take the better part of a year preparing for an AHG Theme Party – this year’s was “Steampunk” – with all the side events that make their party unique.   Eight bands, some of them have played on the outdoor stage since the first one, and three glass-blowers added to the atmosphere this year.   In keeping with the Steampunk theme, there was also a working display of steam-powered engines built by north shore artist Todd Cahill who Dave and Vicki saw at the annual Watch City Steampunk Festival in Waltham earlier this year.

Many of the AHG guests brought tents and sleeping bags and stayed through the night while the laser light show carried on over their heads.

This year’s centerpiece was a full-sized 1890s steam locomotive built out of rough sawn wood, plywood, and salvaged metal wheels, resting on a 60’ section of wooden train track.  The sculpture was constructed by CJ Quinn and Tom Johnson, and was built on a custom wooden foundation laid over two truckloads of river silt spread & graded by Dave Alberti & John Deere. Tom Johnson played a key role in design and construction following CJ’s lead as Chief Engineer. The two worked together for months leading up to the event.  People admired the construction all afternoon, posing with it for many photos.  As darkness descended, and the last notes were played from the main stage, the entire crowd descended around the burn structure in anticipation of the climax of the event.  “The Burn”.

 

A professional Taiko Drum troupe called “Odaiko New England” began the ceremony with 15 minutes of thunderous rhythmic perfection. Dozens of people in period costumes spilled off of the train and a vintage town scene quickly morphed into a compelling choreographed dance led by Alana Quinn and Kyra Grattan.  As the theme music hit a climax, flames consumed the train as the AHG crowd celebrated having collectively created another unforgettable experience. By morning, all that was left was ash and coals, and a few metal pieces.

Plympton Fire volunteers were on hand to take care of site safety issues. They sent an engine, brusher, two ATV’s with five fire fighters/EMTs to stand watch.  The AHG crowd is a network of friends, and there is a uniquely positive and respectful energy in the air.

AHG is a grassroots collective of people that has evolved since 1997.  Every year, a few new people find their way to the event, and every year there is a new theme to welcome them.  In 2015 the theme was “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” with a Japanese-style pagoda as the centerpiece.  Dave and Vicki Alberti were married under the pagoda with all of their Hurdy Gurdy friends and family in attendance.  And once the vows were spoken and the rings exchanged, the bridegroom kissed the bride, the torches came out and the pagoda was burned. 

Each AHG since the beginning has its own T-shirt designed by one of the many AHG artists, a theme poster, and bumper stickers.  Shirts from past events have become collectors’ items.  Many artists over the years have captured the party theme; this year’s poster design was done by well-known local artist Jessie Fries.  The t-shirt and bumper sticker design was done by Greg Myette.

Greg Crossland was the grill chef for the party with lots of help from Dave and Trish Detterman, grilling 90 pounds of chicken, two bushels of corn, and cooking 100 pounds of potatoes, making the best fries. 

Guests are asked to bring enough food to feed their families plus a little more, then Greg cooks and serves it. 

Sunday morning, Jimbo Williamson makes breakfast to send everyone on their way with a full stomach.

So what began 21 years ago as a graduation party, with a wood-fired portable hot tub, a keg of beer, and a band, has grown into finely orchestrated summer event whose guests are treated to a weekend to remember.

Little fish on bicycle is quite a catch!

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Wanted in Connecticut for murder charges issued last December

Through many hours of surveillance and investigation, Halifax Police Chief Ted Broderick and Sgt. Tom Benner, arrested Jamir Johnson at approximately 3:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 31.  Jake Burns of the Pembroke Police Dept. also assisted in the arrest.

Once Johnson was brought back to the police station and processed for booking, police learned that the little fish caught while riding a bicycle through the Brandeis Circle neighborhood was in fact quite a catch, as he was wanted on a murder charge in New London, CT.

It is alleged that last Dec. 9.  Johnson shot the victim, Quvant Gray, who was pronounced dead of gunshot wounds in a basement apartment at 4 Orchard St.  Johnson was charged in Connecticut with murder, possession of a pistol without a permit and unlawful discharge of a firearm .A bench warrant was issued for his apprehension tagged with a $1,500,000 bail according to New London, CT Police Captain Brian Wright.

Halifax Police Chief Ted Broderick charged Johnson with 54 break-ins to automobiles, and several house breaks in the Brandeis Circle area of town over the past several weeks.  

Johnson was arraigned in Plymouth District Court, charged with breaking and entering, possession of burglarious tools, failure to identify, resisting arrest, receiving stolen property and fugitive from justice.

He will be held until Connecticut authorities come get him, according to Sgt. Patrick Sterling, communications officer of the Halifax Police Department, where he will answer to the Connecticut charges.

Chief Broderick said that early Tuesday morning Johnson was seen riding a bicycle through the Brandeis Circle neighborhood wearing clothing similar to that seen in a surveillance video at one of this victim’s homes, including rubber gloves.  He was eventually stopped by the officers, and after a brief foot chase, was placed in police custody.

In making his announcement, Chief Broderick apologized to Halifax residents who were anxious to hear the latest in the ongoing investigations of the many robberies.  “I hope the people understand our silence when trying to apprehend these criminals, but mostly I want everyone to know the diligence and work ethic of your police officers.  If it wasn’t for their commitment to the town and its citizens, this alleged murderer would still be roaming our streets while we sleep.  It was a job well done by all.”

MEPA site visit to be Wednesday

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Alex Strysky of  MEPA, the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act office, has alerted residents of Plympton to a MEPA site visit to the proposed Rickets Pond Business Park site at the Carver/Plympton line on Wednesday, July 25, at 10 a.m., meeting at the entrance to the site off Spring St.

The EEA project number is 15883.  Project Description: An Environmental Notification Form (ENF) has been filed with the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs by RPBP, LLC to construct mixed-use office/storage buildings and self-storage buildings totaling 114,318 square feet on 4 lots on a 43.7-acre site.

The project includes construction of a road, utilities, a stormwater management system and 144 parking spaces.

The project will generate 608 average daily trips, according to a release from MEPA.

The project meets the ENF threshold at 301 CMR 11.03(1)(b)(2), creation of five or more acres of impervious area. The project requires an Access Permit and a Land Transfer from MassDOT.

The public is welcome to attend.