KINGSTON,- Do you have a story about what it was like growing up in Kingston? Does the house you live in have an interesting history? Do you have an old photograph of a special event from decades ago?  Maybe you know an artisan or a businessperson with a story to tell. Perhaps you would like to share your recollections of our town with a larger audience?

“Tales of Jones River Village: Kingston’s 300 years” will celebrate and commemorate Kingston’s 300th anniversary and will be available for purchase in the fall of 2025, ahead of Kingston’s 300th anniversary in 2026. There has been strong support from the community in the way of articles and photographs, and the publishers are still actively seeking additional community contributions.
This new illustrated history will feature short narratives and fresh accounts which will add to established town histories, chronicling the town and its people through different eras. Contributors to the book have come from the community, and the publishers are seeking additional contributions from interested parties.
“We want to hear from anyone who may have a story to share about life in Kingston,” said Ken Brack, a director and the project’s Managing Editor, who added, “These could be ‘then and now’ items from a neighborhood, snapshots of family histories, postcards or other historical items.” He added, “You don’t need to be a professional writer to be a part of this book. We have an editorial team that will work with contributors.”
The publishers anticipate that the book will be approximately 250 pages in length, and approximately 9.5 by 12 inches in size. Because of the length of time required to design and print a book of this size, the publishers are asking that all material for possible inclusion in the book be submitted by the end of June.
Whether it’s an article on a family business, a family history, a story about veterans and first responders, an interesting story about a house, the publishers want to hear from you.
The publishers of this book are not affiliated with the town’s 300th committee; this is a separate venture. To learn more about the book, please visit http://www.kingston300book.com). To inquire about submitting an article or a story idea, please contact Ken Brack, managing editor, [email protected]. You could also contact directors Tom Vendetti, [email protected] , Jan Guidoboni, [email protected], or project editor Jim Farrell, [email protected].

Learn how to prevent mosquito and tick-borne diseases from Erin Morrill and Blake Dinius on Wednesday, May 8 at 6 p.m. at the Adams Center, 33 Summer Street, Kingston.
The program will discuss mosquito and tick-borne bites, life cycles, effective repellants, eliminating stagnant water, and how to reduce the insect population. The pair will also present informative tick and mosquito myth busting nuggets during their presentation. Morrill, is the Community Liaison for the Plymouth Mosquito Control Project, which educates the public about mosquito resources and services available to the community. Dinius, an Entomologist from the Plymouth Extension, will address the tick population.
To register for this event, please visit – https://kingstonpubliclibrary.org. For more information, you can contact Steven Miller, Reference Librarian at (781) 585-0517 x6272 or at [email protected].

In the public participation segment of the Silver Lake Regional School Committee meeting April 9, two parents addressed the board seeking explanations and assurances that their young children were safe at the Kingston Elementary School. George Egan from Kingston said in light of the reported assault by a student on a kindergarten student in the bathroom, he is against laying off any staff. The incident took place in 2022 but is just now coming to light.
The victim was using the bathroom when an assailant came into the stall by climbing under the door. He reportedly pushed the girl down and kissed her. Egan claimed that the incident was brushed under the rug by the school and was not made public. He also stated that the same two students were later involved in a similar assault, and a third incident took place with the first victim’s sister, also a kindergarten student. The assailant is in school, “two doors down” from the victim.
The mother of the victims was distraught, saying that she just found out that that someone else went up to her kindergarten daughter under the stall door in the restroom. Both parents said that incidents are also happening at the middle and high school levels. Egan stated that as a parent, he wants to have a reasonable expectation that we are going to be told if there’s an issue or a reasonable expectation that our kids are being supervised properly in school.
Superintendent Jill Proulx said that disciplinary actions are private and handled according to state law and the student handbook.
“Where is the line?” Egan said, pointing out that if there was a gun or knife incident at school parents are made instantly aware, but yet if there is a sexual assault it’s a privacy matter.
Proulx replied that the incidents were properly handled and reported.

The Kingston Public Library will host a poetry reading night, featuring local poets Noah Brown and Sheila Lynch-Benttinen at the Faunce School, 16 Green St., on Thursday, April 25, at 6:30 p.m.
After Brown and Lynch-Benttinen have read selections of their own poetry, the program will feature an “open mic,” where attendees have three minutes to read a favorite poem or their own poetry. Patrons may sign up the night of the program, with a minimum of 10 spots.
To register for this event, please visit – https://kingstonpubliclibrary.org. For more information, you can contact Steven Miller, Reference Librarian at (781) 585-0517 x6272 or at [email protected].

Kingston – The Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra and the Kingston Public Library will jointly present a free string quartet concert titled, “A History through Music,” on Wednesday, April 3 at 6 p.m. at the Kingston Intermediate School auditorium, 66 Second Brook St., Kingston.
“We’re excited to collaborate with the Kingston Public Library in presenting a free chamber ensemble concert for the community,” said Kim Corben, Executive Director of the Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra. “Over the years, we’ve been fortunate to utilize the Kingston Intermediate School cafeteria for some of our concert rehearsals. In appreciation, we hope students, families, and Phil fans will come out to enjoy a free evening of beautiful music.”
The 45-minute program will feature a variety of musical periods including baroque, classical, romantic, and contemporary. The string quartet will perform Loure from Third Suite for Cello by Johann Sebastian Bach, the Minuet from Quartet in D minor by Joseph Hayden, Eine Kleine Nachtmusik by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig Van Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 13, Franz Schubert’s Moment Musicaux, the String Quartet in F Major by Antonin Dvořák, and Libertango by Astor Piazzolla.
Kingston Public Library Reference Librarian Steven Miller will introduce each piece, and the concert will conclude with a brief question and answer session with the musicians. The quartet features Plymouth Philharmonic members Ana-Maria LaPointe and Aleksandra Labinska on violin, Elizabeth Christensen on viola, and Peter Zay on cello.
The concert is sponsored by the Kingston Public Library Foundation, with additional funding from the Kingston Cultural Council, a local agency supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.No admission or registration is required to attend the concert which is geared towards middle school and high school students, casual music lovers, and regular concert goers of the Plymouth Philharmonic.

About the members of the String Quartet:
Ana-Maria LaPointe has been Concertmaster of the Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra since 2008. She also performs with the Lexington Symphony and Nashua Symphony Orchestra.
Aleksandra Labinska is the principal second violin of the Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra. She is a versatile violinist performing as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral player throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia.
Elisabeth Christensen is the principal viola of the Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra. She is the managing director of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, working closely with the music director.
Peter Zay is the principal cello of the Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra. He also serves as the acting assistant principal cello of the Hartford Symphony and as a member of the New Bedford Symphony.

New England orchestras as the Portland Symphony (ME), the Boston Modern Orchestra, the Springfield Symphony (MA), he also appears regularly as the newest member of the long standing, Connecticut based New World Trio. He is a soloist with the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra’s Learning in Concert program for over 50 local elementary schools in Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and as a member of the Mosaic String Trio, he has collaborated to create and perform many varied and engaging educational programs for thousands of school children throughout Connecticut. Zay is a private cello instructor in the Boston region and on the teaching staff for the Wayland Public Schools.

About the Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra
The Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra is a premier non-profit cultural institution in Massachusetts. Dedicated to artistic excellence and community enrichment, the orchestra offers world-class performances, innovative outreach programs, and strong community partnerships. Now in its 108th season, the Phil’s mission is to inspire, engage, and entertain through the power of live music. For more information, visit plymouthphil.org or call 508.746.8008.
About the Kingston Public Library
Established in 1871, the Kingston Public Library is a community-driven organization, a center for learning, collaboration, creativity, fun and an environment for lifelong learning. The Library is dedicated to providing the residents of Kingston with cultural enrichment, recreation, learning opportunities, and supporting the community with practical help in their everyday lives. Our knowledgeable staff willingly and capably provide the assistance needed to ensure each patron’s success, in a place that is comfortable and welcoming.
For more information you can visit the Kingston Public Library at kingstonpubliclibrary.org.

The Plympton School Committee met on Monday, Feb. 26. Chair of the Plympton School Committee Jason Fraser acknowledged previous Committee Chair Jon Wilhelmsen and Food Services Director Megan Ahrenolz in the audience.
Director of Finance and Operations Sarah Hickey provided a financial report which Fraser said might inform some of the conversations that would take place later about the budget. “There are deficits in special education transportation, tuition, and contracted services,” Hickey said. “The budget for FY25 takes this into consideration. The Special Education Department is currently working on filing a Circuit Breaker Extraordinary Relief claim with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education which if approved will offset this cost, but at this time I recommend that the Committee puts in a budget freeze for the remainder of the 2023-2024 school year,” Hickey continued. Superintendent Jill Proulx said that she was also in agreement. “Since last month, that overall function line went from a positive $209,000 to a negative $15,000; what occurred in one month to change these numbers so drastically?” Fraser asked. Proulx said that it was their understanding that payments were updated to reflect “multiple areas.” Hickey said when all was said and done by the end of the year they anticipated having a $215,000 deficit. There were three additional students that fell into the out-of-district special education category. Fraser noted that this was two years in a row that they were facing this situation with a deficit of $300,000 last year and approximately $200,000 this year.
Proulx gave a budget presentation which she said was based on Version 2. Proulx told the Committee that changes for FY25 include that Pre-K and out of district special education tuitions for Pre-K and Grades 7-12 are now Silver Lake expenses per the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Shared-cost positions will now be paid according to regional agreement percentages. The extended school year will now be paid out of each school’s budget, where last year it was paid out of a revolving account.
Proulx also covered the impact of special education costs. Plympton’s portion of the programmatic budget of Pre-K, including renting the building space, is $293,833. “If these tuitions were to remain in the Plympton budget; they can’t, but let’s say that they did, it would cost Plympton $617,315,” Proulx said. She continued, “anticipated transportation for FY25 would be $167,878… something to keep in mind, Circuit Breaker in FY26 for out-of-district tuition and secondary and Pre-K will go to Silver Lake in the future, but for FY25 Plympton is able to spend the entirety of Circuit Breaker on Plympton. Circuit Breaker is the Massachusetts program that provides reimbursement to public schools to aid in special education costs.
Increases to the Plympton budget also include two new paraprofessionals at $56,000 and a shared curriculum coordinator at $15,993. Extended school year costs are estimated at around $65,507 for 31 eligible students. Decreases to the Plympton budget include $1,079,026. The money that previously would have been a Plympton expense is now a Silver Lake expense per the DESE requirements. Fraser said that he was confused how $1 million was taken away from the budget but $800,000 was added back in which amounted to a 25 percent increase over the previous year. “So the FY24 budget… the forecast was low at $625,000, just in tuitions alone,” Proulx said, referring to special education tuition. She continued, “the forecast, again, was below what we are currently spending. In FY24, currently we are at about $1 million and we only forecast for $625,000, so that’s $400,000 there.” Fraser clarified saying that the mistake in last year’s budget resulted in the issues being seen now and Proulx confirmed. Committee member Dan Cadogan asked how the forecasts were so far off and Proulx answered that they have since realized where their mistakes were in anticipating costs. She also acknowledged that changing needs of the students themselves, as well as increases in costs, have also played a part.
Hickey also went over changes from the Version 1 to the Version 2 budget. She noted that she had previously had a teacher double counted in the teacher salary line. A Circuit Breaker estimation was also added into this version with a savings of approximately $700,000.
“I need to make the Silver Lake budget and the Plympton budget work together,” Fraser said. “I can’t look at either one of them in isolation because I have to send both of them to the same voters and the same taxpayers… I basically want to see us get as deep into the negatives as possible without hurting the school that I’ve worked for 11 years get where it’s at,” Fraser continued. He noted that they were still looking at an increase to Plympton’s budget of $700,000. “Which alone, is a 5.4 percent increase to my town’s budget without a single other penny being spent on another department – Police, Fire, Highway, anything else, and we had a substantial increase last year,” he said.
Proulx said that the regular day budget reflects an 11 percent increase, special education reflects a 38 percent decrease, substitutes are level funded, utilities have been increased by 5 percent, and shared costs are included but not updated to reflect any potential changes. The total budget is a decrease of 4 percent. Fraser asked if they had realized any savings from the solar panels in the utilities. Hickey said that she wasn’t able to answer that question just yet due to some outstanding and confusing Eversource bills.
Fraser said that he would like to see the Administration come up with four tiers of cuts, each consisting of $40,000. The Committee agreed that they were hopeful that those cuts would not come to be, but all felt that it was necessary that they review them at their next meeting.
Proulx told the Committee that not included in the budget was any additional staffing or potential kindergarten enrollment increases. “English language learner needs, since the last time we met, we got feedback from our English language teacher who helped provide services to our students here. Plympton currently reimburses Kingston about $2,000 per year; the issue is that Kingston needs this person to be full-time. Both Halifax and Plympton have seen an increase in needs that Kingston can no longer provide services for because they’ve had such an increase in needs as well. … we’re recommending a 0.5, part-time English language-learner person here,” Proulx said. She said that they felt that if Halifax and Plympton went in on a teacher together, they would be better off as it would then become a full-time position. Fraser asked if a comparison could be brought to the Committee to show the difference between contracted services versus a full-time employee with benefits. “I need to show due diligence and a cost comparison to the Finance Committee to show why we’re asking for this,” Fraser said.
Hickey shared with the Committee the draft assessments for each of the towns for Silver Lake. She also shared the percent increase to each of the towns’ overall operating budgets. Fraser reiterated that the schools’ budgets in Plympton represented a 5.4 percent increase to the town’s overall operating budget and a dollar amount of $700,000. “Again, trying to figure out how we can get that number smaller and figure out how the town can afford this, is really the next step,” Fraser said. Plympton’s share of the Silver Lake assessment was shared to be roughly 11 percent.
“We will continue to look at ways to possibly refine our estimates and continue to look for areas where we may be able to save some money,” Proulx said of the budgets. Fraser said, “We have benefitted greatly over the past three fiscal cycles from additional Chapter 70 funding from the State and this year the trend continues. We were at about $750,000 back in FY22 and looking forward to FY25, we have an annual increase from the State of $164,000 net of receipts for Chapter 70 for the local budget here in Plympton… another piece of the puzzle to help the town wrap their arms around and their heads around.” He noted that it wasn’t included in the schools’ budgets as the money goes directly to the towns.
Proulx said, “We have confirmed through the Department of Education that we can continue to operate food services through the revolving account provided that the Silver Lake School Committee votes to continue that practice under the USDA which is different than the other reasons why we’re untangling financial responsibilities for the upcoming school year… if it is voted by the Silver Lake School Committee it would mean that the cafeteria workers will remain Silver Lake employees as well.”
Fraser addressed that the rules prohibiting dogs from the Dennett Elementary School fields hasn’t seemed to reduce the amount of dog waste. He said that a larger conversation would likely be necessary with the Selectmen. “It seems like we almost are punishing the good dog owners in town by not allowing them to use the fields responsibly,” Fraser said.
Hickey provided an update about getting a certified safety inspection of the playground done. She said that a quote from the vendor for a few thousand dollars was expected soon. The inspection process for the rubberized surface can only be done once the exact specifications for installation are provided or it would result in an automatic fail. She also noted that the surface needs to be above 32 degrees to do the test. Additionally, the playground must be closed for two days to complete the inspection.

KINGSTON – State Representative Kathy LaNatra announced that she will host a monthly event for constituents called “Coffee and Conversation with Rep. LaNatra.” Constituents from across the 12th Plymouth District will have the opportunity to come and speak to Representative LaNatra and her staff about issues they care about, concerns they have regarding legislation or State policy, get assistance on any issues they are experiencing, or to hear from the Representative on events from Beacon Hill.
“I take my job as a Representative of the 12th Plymouth district seriously, and that begins by listening to my constituents and providing opportunities for constituents to engage with myself, my staff, and let their voices be heard,” said State Representative Kathy LaNatra (D – Kingston). “I am excited to begin hosting this monthly event to give my constituents another opportunity to meet with me, talk with me and allow me to better understand the needs and viewpoints of the residents of the communities I serve.”
“Coffee and Conversation with Rep. LaNatra” will take place once a month at a different coffee shop or restaurant throughout the 12th Plymouth district. This month’s event will take place on:

Friday, March 22, 10:30 – 11:30 AM
at The Early Bird Restaurant, 287 Main St.. Kingston.
Representative LaNatra can be reached at (617) 722-2575, or at her email [email protected]. If you cannot make the “Coffee and Conversation” event, you can reach out to her office at the number listed above, or through her Chief of Staff at [email protected] to set up another time to meet.
Kathy LaNatra proudly serves as a State Representative for the 12th Plymouth District, which consists of the Towns of  Kingston, Plympton, Precinct 1 and 2A of Halifax, Precinct 1 and 5A of Middleborough, Precinct 3 of Pembroke, and Precinct 1, 2, 3, 5, and 13 of Plymouth.