The Halifax Fire Department would like to graciously thank the Halifax Walmart for their generous donation of $2000.

Every year the fire department applies for local, state and federal grants and puts the money to good use in purchasing state of the art equipment, protective gear and training.

Like anything else the purchase of advanced equipment and gear weighs heavily on department budgets and we rely on the grant process to supplement our capital and operating budgets.

This money will be used in purchasing a new SCBA mask with a built-in Thermal Imager camera.  The SCBA mask (Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus) is what we use to enter hostile and hazardous environments.  The Thermal Imaging component of it further enhances our operational capability by giving us the ability to see radiant heat signatures in a smoke filled environment.

These heat signatures are used to detect other people or firefighters who may be in danger or in need of a rescue.  This mask will be put to use right away on our front line piece of apparatus and will help give us another cutting edge that we need to effectively do our jobs.

Captain Jeffrey Cuozzo, Halifax Fire Department

Most people don’t use drones for spying.

In fact, many who fly them competitively prefer the term multirotor because of the negative connotation attached to the word “drone”. And in Halifax, the Wingbusters Rotor Racers, are establishing themselves as a go-to spot for competitive “drone racing”, as some may call it.

They are members of the MultiGP (Grand Prix) and they keep standings on a points system dependent on how many laps one finishes in any given meet. They wrapped up their regular season this past Sunday at their home field off River Street in Halifax.

Originally though, the group started out with remote control airplanes. But when the opportunity for a first-person experience came about, they could not pass it up.

“I would say the biggest appeal of what we’re doing now is it feels like you’re sitting in the aircraft flying around,” race coordinator Adam Proulx said.

“You put the goggles on your face and it seals off the outside world. Some of the drones even have microphones; you could even have the sounds of it. It’s a completely immersive experience. It’s about as close to flying an aerobatic aircraft as you can get.”

Their average event this year had around 15 to 20 competitors. But an event to qualify for regionals had 27. And the top four finishers from the event advanced.

While the racers tend to be local, not all of them hail from the South Shore.

“Pilots come from all over,” Proulx said. “We get a guy who comes from Uxbridge. Pretty much from Western Mass, up north and down to the Cape. We even get guys from Connecticut coming in.”Proulx said they have even had people join who had no experience flying remote control aircrafts.

“They see these things flying around on YouTube, on ESPN even and they want to do it,” he said. “And they can start doing it. There’s a lot of resources to help people get started.”

“It’s still in its infancy right now,” Proulx added of multirotor racing.

“But it’s growing very quickly. And I’m very excited to see where it goes. I mean, ESPN has picked this stuff up. Who knows who else will come on board.

“They’ve got some big sponsors like Mountain Dew and Red Bull,” he added. “It’s a real rush when you’re going back and forth with somebody. It’s a lot of fun.”

For more information on the Wingbusters including upcoming events, contact information and event locations, visit Wingbusters.org.

Page 1 photo credit: Steve Grenon

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Everything seemed to be clicking on Friday evening as Chris Digiacomo’s Silver Lake Lakers routed the Quincy Presidents, 40-7 to remain undefeated.

It was a game to remember for the entire Lakers squad as they picked up their most decisive victory of the season.

Alec Snell led the Lakers aerial attack, completing nine of 17 passes for 220 yards, in their Patriot League opener. 

The Lakers’ (3-0, 1-0 Patriot League Keenan Division) defense came to play from the first snap in this one—forcing a three-and-out on the Presidents’ (0-3, 0-1 Patriot League Keenan Division) first drive.

A fumble on the punt return would give the Presidents the ball back, but the stout Silver Lake defense, led by junior linebacker Liam Kelleher, would hold them to another three-and-out to regain possession.

Though on the Lakers’ first offensive play of the game, they would turn the ball over again, giving the Presidents excellent field position.

This time the turnover would be costly, leading to 35-yard touchdown strike as quarterback Colin Keaveny would connect with Shorn Hawthorne for six.

That would be all the Presidents were able to muster up all game. It was all Lakers until the final whistle.

On Silver Lake’s ensuing drive, A. Snell would hit Kelleher for a 32-yard pickup, advancing the ball to the two-yard line. The completion set up a two-yard touchdown burst by running back Phil Lashley (PAT good), to tie it at seven.

With time running down in the first quarter, C. Snell (four catches for 149 yards and two touchdowns) would haul in a 54-yard touchdown from to put his team in front, 13-7.

The Presidents’ first turnover early in the second quarter, would lead to the Lakers’ third consecutive score as Max LaFerrara (81 receiving yards) would come down with a 41-yard touchdown catch from A. Snell.

Senior running back Cy Kenku would join the scoring action with a four-yard touchdown run to make it a 28-7 game at the half.

On the Lakers’ first play of the second half, LaFerrara would use his arm to connect with C. Snell on a 46-yard score.

Kenku’s second touchdown of the game, with 5:03 reaming in the third, pushed the Lakers ahead 40-7.

In the Lakers’ three wins this year, they are outscoring their opponents 93-36. 

Silver Lake has won six out of its past seven games, dating back to last season.

The Lakers will be at home next week, as they continue conference play, against the 2-1 Hingham Harbormen. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

Dawn Corby of Canine Etiquette in Halifax presented Halifax Fire Department with two pet oxygen kits this week.

Captain Matthew Cunningham was on hand to receive the gifts Friday from Corby and place them on their engine and ambulance.

Corby who resides In Halifax wanted to let others know there are ways to easily order the masks online and donate them to a local department.

Her heart was touched this month following the fire at the Peck home on Thompson Street, which sadly took the life of an eight week old puppy named Beauford.  Unfortunately, the puppy had most likely succumbed to smoke inhalation prior to the arrival of fire personnel and was unable to be saved, but Corby hopes in other circumstances her masks will come in handy.

If worse comes to worst and the pet does need oxygen during their rescue, Halifax now has that equipment, she said.

Cunningham thanked Corby for her kindness.  He said in previous calls firefighters used adult/ child size oxygen masks with varied levels of success. The pet masks are ideal. Her generosity and thought are appreciated by the department, he said.

What do you know about ticks and what diseases they may carry? The health agent from Halifax Board of Health and the public health nurse from NVNA and Hospice address awareness needs and concerns of tick-borne diseases in a special health program scheduled later this month. Offered free to the general public in Halifax on September 20 and September 28, the program addresses personal protection measures to prevent tick bites as well as signs and symptoms of tick-borne illnesses and measures to take if you have been bitten by a tick. A question and answer period follows the presentation.

People can choose from two presentation dates: Tuesday September 20, 2016 at 1pm and Wednesday September 28, 2016 at 6:30 pm. Both are offered free at the Holmes Library in Halifax. For more information or questions, please contact the Halifax Board of Health at 781-293-6768.

PLYMPTON – The Plympton Community Preservation Committee (C.P.C.) is currently accepting applications for the FY2017 funding year. Deadline for completed applications is October 15.

Projects funded in prior years include

• a safe in the Town Clerk’s office to archive important historical records;

• new insulation for the Plympton Historical Society building at 189 Main St.;

• a comprehensive drainage system to solve a chronic wet basement in the Plympton Library;

• funds to acquire and improve the 11-acre parcel on Main Street now known as Churchill Park which offers access to the abutting 87 acre parcel known as Cato’s Ridge thereby forming a large natural preserve with walking trails;

• improvements at Harry Jason Park to make it more accessible for family and recreational use;

• the installation of a chairlift in the Plympton Historical Society Building;

• renovation of the old Winnetuxet swimming hole into a recreational area; and

• facilitating the donation of O’Neil Marsh on Ring Road which offers additional access to Cato’s Ridge.

Project guidelines and applications can be found on the Plympton town website at http://www.town.plympton.ma.us/community-preservation-committee.

Click on “Documents” at the left hand side of the web page to bring up the Plympton Community Preservation Plan which includes the application and criteria.

Applications are also available at the Town House and at the Plympton Public Library.

Questions can be addressed by contacting C.P.C. Chair Mark Russo at Mrusso2@msn.com.

   Town Clerks Tara Shaw and Barbara Gaynor are preparing for the Thursday, Sept. 8, State Primary Election.  They expect a good turnout.

    The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Plympton will vote at the Town House, 5 Palmer Rd, Rte. 58.  Halifax will vote at the Halifax Elementary School all purpose room, 470 Plymouth St., Rte. 106.

Four ballots will be offered, Democrat, Green-Rainbow, Republican, and United Independent Party,

The Democratic Party ballot will list for consideration:

• Representative in Congress, Ninth District: William Richard Keating. (Vote for One)

• Councillor, Fourth District: Christopher A. Iannella, Jr. and Stephen F. Flynn. (Vote for One)

• Senator in General Court, Second Plymouth and Bristol District Court: Michael D. Brady. (Vote for One)

• Representative in General Court, Twelfth Plymouth District: Thomas J. Calter, III (Vote for One)

• Sheriff, PlymouthCounty: Scott M. Vecchi. (Vote for One)

• County Commissioner, Plymouth County: Greg Hanley and Lincoln D. Heineman. (Vote for not more than Two)

The Republican Party ballot will list for consideration:

• Representative in Congress, Ninth District: Mark C. Alliegro and Thomas Joseph O’Malley, Jr.  (Vote for One)

• Councillor, Fourth District: (none listed)

• Senator in General Court, Second Plymouth and Bristol District Court: (none listed)

• Representative in General Court, Twelfth Plymouth District: Peter J. Boncek, Michael E. Cowett, and Ian F. Murphy.  (Vote for One)

• Sheriff, Plymouth County: Joseph D. McDonald, Jr. (Vote for One)

• County Commissioner, Plymouth County: Daniel A. Pllotta and Anthony Thomas O’Brien, Sr. (Vote for not more than Two)

There are no candidates listed on the Green-Rainbow Party ballots and United Independent Party ballots.

Absentee ballot applications are available from the town clerks’ offices for those not able to vote in person on election day due to  1.) absence from your town during normal polling hours; 2.) physical disability preventing you from going to the polling place; or 3.) religious belief.

PLYMPTON– During the regularly scheduled selectmen’s meeting on Monday, August 22, the majority of the meeting was taken up by a presentation to board and committee members, along with town employees regarding changes to the building permitting process.

At the behest of Selectman John Traynor, a workgroup was formed several months ago to address what was seen as a haphazard “loosey-goosey” system of moving building permits through the various departments, boards and committees. Builders have even been known to wander Town House trying to get various portions of a permit “signed-off” on.

The workgroup recommended having a single focal person in the Building Department, in this case Kathy Wright, to be the designated permitting coordinator, who will move permits through the new process.

Further security was another recommendation of the board, and each permit application will now be assigned a master control number as it moves through the system.

A further recommendation is that boards coordinate their schedules so that delays aren’t introduced due to posting requirements or conflicting schedules. A permit application will begin with the Building Department at step 1. The application will be reviewed in a timely fashion by the Permit Coordinator, who will determine what boards, offices and committees the project will need to pass through at step 2. Step 3 involves a check to make sure all taxes are paid on the property by the Tax Collector at which point a control number will be assigned to the application. Step 4 will have the Assessors assign a street number to a parcel if it doesn’t have one. At this point the Building Department will review the application with the input of the Fire Department and the Highway Department (steps 5, 6 and 7).

If the project needs to be reviewed by the Zoning Officer or the Planning Board, that will occur next (steps 8 and 9), finally moving to the Conservation Commission and the Board of Health in steps 10 and 11. If all requirements are met, a building permit is issued. At any step, an affirmative response moves the application along to the next step, but a negative response sends the application back to step 1.There are some notable exceptions. Some minor projects, according to Building Inspector Tom Millias, do not need extensive review outside the building department. Other projects may receive early Conservation Commission or Board of Health review if they involve locations near wetlands in the first case, or septic designs, repairs or wells in the latter case.

The proposal was agreed upon by those present, many of whom had participated in the workgroup and it will be implemented on a trial basis beginning September 6.