SILVER LAKE/HALIFAX– On Monday, April 11, and Tuesday, April 12, students from Silver Lake Regional High School (SLRHS) STEM club (an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) travelled to Halifax Elementary School to tutor first, second, third and fourth graders in that school’s STEM/STEAM club (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) in the science of making home-made ice-cream (and, of course, understanding the principles of heat transfer and states of matter).

Halifax Elementary School kindergarten teacher Lisa Whitney joined other colleagues from the club that she advises in the collaborative project, along with a colleague from SLRHS, overseeing 56 first and second graders on Monday and 54 third and fourth graders on Tuesday as well as a group of high-schoolers as the older students taught the younger ones how to make their own ice-cream, and the scientific principles behind ice-cream production.

According to Whitney, the STEM/STEAM concept has “exploded” in the last few years, as the number of jobs in those fields have grown. Their stated goal is to encourage and show students that they can go into these fields. At HES, the ‘a’ was added to signify “arts” to the STEM club because the arts and sciences are closely related and early-childhood educators are often focused on creative activities. Whitney says that while she loves to get students excited about science, many of the club’s activities relate to the arts in one way or another, and the subjects are not mutually exclusive.

“Educators need to show all students that it’s possible for them to enter STEM fields,” she said.

When asked if the STEM/STEAM subjects are more important than other subjects, or if the clubs promote those subjects over others, Whitney responded by noting that the STEM subjects are not more important than others, stating that the “arts, languages, and social sciences are huge parts of a student’s education… I think the important thing to demonstrate is there is an explosion of STEM careers and showing more students that they can enter these fields.”

Whitney also responded to a question of whether the STEM/STEAM clubs target or recruit students that in the past have not traditionally gone into these fields, such as women, for example.

“[T]he short answer is “no”,” she said. “[I want all] students to realize and to have the confidence that they can participate in STEM activities, even if they don’t think they are good [at], say math.  But more importantly, it’s the skills that they are working at– students are learning what they can do when they are asked to imagine, create, design, experiment, problem-solve, persevere, collaborate, and have fun. These are important skills for any student to learn.”

Whitney says that she and colleague Laura Piccirilli, a Title-One reading tutor, started the STEM club in January of this year, and used kits from a company in Shrewsbury to begin working on projects with students. This ran for six weeks, and after that, due to the club’s popularity, the two added the “a” for “arts”, started creating their own kits, and have continued to run the club on their own.

Whitney’s favorite part of advising the club? “[I] love science, and… love watching students participate and get excited about hands-on science activities…[t]he students bring so much energy and enthusiasm to the club that it’s been a lot of fun!” she said.

She went on to note, “What’s great about the club is [that] we are not doing a lot of direct teaching– we teachers are giving the students a little bit of knowledge and then letting them explore and learn on their own. I love watching students figure things out, because projects may not always be easy, but they can always be rewarding in some way.”

The HES STEM/STEAM team instructors are Whitney, Piccirilli, Linda Ford, Jen Belsky, JoAnn Croce, and Elaine Fryer. The more than 100 Halifax Elementary School students who participated are too numerous to name.

The Silver Lake Regional High School students involved last week were Will Parker (President of the SLRHS STEM Club), Hope Moran (Vice President of the SLRHS STEM Club), Glen Birch, Teddi Moskowitz, Bryn Hooper, Caitlin Scully, Joshua Towne, Hayden Wechter, John McCarthy, and Patrick McCarthy. Their club advisor is Vivi Liousas.

Whitney also wished to especially thank middle-schooler Mark Piccirilli who has volunteered at all 19 sessions of the HES STEM/STEAM club to date.

PLYMPTON/HALIFAX– Despite windy weather last Thursday, snow squalls on Saturday and a one-two punch early April snowstorm on Monday and Tuesday, local officials reported that Plympton and Halifax were lucky with only a handful of motor vehicle accidents and downed trees and power lines.

Plympton Police Chief Patrick Dillon stated that Tuesday’s snowstorm, “caught us a bit by surprise,” but credited the Highway Department for keeping the roads as clear as possible. He stated Plympton saw few accidents.

Some notable incidents included a utility pole hit by a motor vehicle in front of Halifax Town Hall last Saturday, which snapped and knocked wires into the driveway, according to Halifax Fire Chief Jason Vivieros. Utility crews were quickly able to repair it.

Also in Halifax, Elm Street was closed for a period of about an hour on Tuesday after a pickup truck collided with a utility pole, knocking it into the street, according to Vivieros.

No serious injuries were reported.

“We were lucky,” he said, noting that conditions, especially Tuesday could have made for a much worse outcome.

To all Plympton Residents:

I would like to announce my candidacy for Selectman of the Town of Plympton. A resident of the town since 1970, my wife Brenda and I have deep roots in the town. All three of our children went through Dennett Elementary and then onto Silver Lake Regional High School.

A graduate of Bentley College, with a degree in Accounting and Finance, I worked in private industry for over twenty five years in the business analysis and financial field, with an emphasis on long-range planning. During my eighteen years with Digital Equipment I made the transition from finance into consulting and sales as the senior corporate account manager for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

I have previously served twelve years on the Plympton Finance Committee, eight years as a Plympton Library Trustee, and the last eight years as Town Moderator. In addition I am a member of the committee addressing the Department of Revenue recommendations for the town, as well as a member of the Committee working with the University of Massachusetts Collins Center, through a State grant, to develop financial forecasts, a capital spending plan, and financial policies for the Town.

A member of the Upland Sportsman’s Club since 1970 I have served in the past as Club President, Vice-President, Treasurer and Director. I am also a member of the Plympton Garden Club and the Plympton Historical Society.

I am running for the Selectman’s position because I believe it’s important to continue the work of developing sound financial planning for the Town and to provide the leadership necessary to balance providing services without an undue tax burden. Plympton has a unique character that we all want to preserve.  I believe my extensive experience and knowledge of the town will serve Plympton well.

I would appreciate your vote on Saturday, May 21st.

John Traynor

Crescent Street

Silver Lake Regional High School pitcher Maddy Barone is heading into the final chapter of what has been a storied career playing for the Lakers.

The 17-year-old Barone is just now entering her senior campaign, but her stats would make you think otherwise. Through three seasons, Barone has put up astronomical numbers.

It all started during Barone’s freshman season, when she started to turn heads seemingly every time on the mound. Her 16-3 record and 0.48 ERA guided the Lakers to a 20-3 record and a trip to the Division 1 South Sectional semifinals.

As her sophomore season rolled around, she was even better—bolstering a career-best 0.15 ERA, while throwing a perfect game, five no-hitters, 16 shutouts, striking out 190 batters and winning 16 games. Barone’s bat was equally effective—posting a career-high .536 average, while hitting six home runs and driving in 31.

It was during her junior year, last season, when Barone’s success started to pay dividends in the playoffs. Barone recorded an 11 strikeout, shutout win performance against Milford in the Division 1 South Sectional quarterfinals two games before her 10 strikeout, complete game win led her team to a Division 1 South Sectional finals win. Though the Lakers fell short in the Division 1 state finals against St. Peter-Marian.

Silver Lake Regional High School head coach, Tony Pina, said he’s seen Barone, a team captain last season, grow a great deal since his arrival in 2014.

“Her ability to lead and become more vocal on the field has evolved over the years,” Pina said. “Her desire to add more pitches and become more confident with them has been impressive.”

As Barone enters her last go around in a Lakers’ uniform, she said there are numerous reasons that make her eager to get back on the field.   

“I’m [extremely] excited to play with all my teammates for one last season,” Barone said. “I’m looking forward to having another great season.”

Over the offseason, Barone said she has been playing on an indoor team at the Bridgewater Sports Complex while attending pitching lessons every other week. Pina said Barone’s work ethic is second to none.

“It’s one of the best I’ve encountered in 22 years,” Pina explained.

Barone, the 2015 Patriot League MVP for Softball, said she does see an area of her game that she is striving to improve.

“I want to get better at reading batters, in terms of what pitches to throw them,” Barone said. “I’ve been working on perfecting some pitches and learning new ones.”

There is one goal, which the Lakers came away from achieving last season, Barone said she would like to accomplish before she graduates.

“I want to get back to the state finals and win,” Barone said.

While in the midst of leading her team to the playoffs last season, Barone was also in the process of making a monumental choice regarding her softball career. Her decision was to commit to attend Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) to play softball, starting in the fall of 2016. She then signed on with SNHU this past November. Pina said he has no doubt she will succeed at the collegiate ranks.

“Maddy is the complete package,” Pina said. “She has the heart for the game and the mind to think and play it the right way. She is a hard worker and is never satisfied. People at the next level need that drive and hunger to accomplish more, to be more. Maddy is a winner, as a player and as a person.”

Halifax Officer suspended 60 days, Charged with misdemeanor OUI

Tuesday, Dec. 8, Halifax Selectmen met at 2 p.m. to hold a disciplinary hearing regarding Halifax Patrol Officer Herbert Wiltshire, Jr., 45. Wiltshire is a longtime veteran of the force.

The Whitman resident was cited by the Easton Police Department for misdemeanor “OUI Liquor” and misdemeanor “Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehicle” stemming from an incident in late November.

For this reason, Selectmen suspended him without pay for 60 days, effective immediately.

Wiltshire chose to have the hearing in Executive Session, which is his legal right, so the hearing was closed to the public. The Board came back from Executive Session into Open Session to announce their decision.

Charlie Seelig, Town Administrator, explained the exact arrangements regarding Wiltshire’s insurance and benefits during this period.

Seelig also stated that the agreement was contingent on several conditions, including that Wiltshire receive counseling for alcohol for six months and that the police union does not file a grievance.

Halifax man charged in murder of 19-year old Revere woman

The Halifax Police department announced on Wednesday, Nov. 18, that Soi Ket Dang, 32, of 46A Wamsutta Ave., in Halifax, was arrested Tuesday evening by the Halifax Police Department and charged with one count of murder.

Soi Ket Dang arraigned for killing 19-year old Revere woman. Photo courtesy of Halifax Police Department.

He was arraigned Wednesday morning in Plymouth District Court according to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s office. Dang pleaded not guilty and is being held without bail.

Police allege that Dang stabbed a female victim to death, Marissa Randall, 19, of Revere. It appears that the victim was involved in prostitution, leading to her death at the hands of Dang.

Dang aroused suspicions when a missing Duxbury teenager  was located by tracking her cell-phone to an address on Wamsutta Avenue around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.  Halifax police located the missing individual and returned her to Duxbury police.  Due to the Duxbury investigation, “a witness” reported seeing blood in Dang’s house, and the possibility of a body.

Halifax police were then notified by Duxbury police of this turn of events. When Halifax police arrived at 46A Wamsutta Avenue, Dang invited them in without any objection. Police observed what they believed was blood on the floor and a female body wrapped in a blanket.

Next, State Police were contacted, and detectives determined that Dang and Randall were familiar with each other, having met on a social networking app called “Meet Me.”

This was their second meeting, and had agreed on an amount of money to be exchanged for sexual services.

A disagreement over money led to a struggle, and eventually the stabbing death of Randall, who was stabbed six times, authorities said.

Police allege that Soi Ket Dang stabbed a female victim to death at his apartment in Halifax. Photo by Abram Neal

District Attorney Timothy Cruz said in a statement that, “This was a particularly gruesome case where Mr. Dang stabbed the victim, left her and then went on to work and the rest of his day […] I want to commend State Police and Halifax Police investigators for their quick response and efforts in this case.”

Wednesday afternoon, Wamsutta Avenue was quiet. The street is tucked into a quiet neighborhood, nestled between the East Pond and West Pond of Monponsett Lake. A succession of various members of the media slowly stopped by the small, detached unit known as 46A Wamsutta Avenue, a stone’s throw from Our Lady of the Lake Church.

There was no evidence of police or forensics activity on either property. A town official who was not authorized to speak on the matter confirmed that the body was removed on Tuesday night.

A neighbor arriving home with his dog, who did not wish to be identified, stated that the property was usually quiet. When asked by a Boston Globe reporter if it was a “party house,” the neighbor said he wouldn’t characterize it that way.

“We went to bed around 12:30 last night, and there were a lot of police, but the police were all gone by the time we woke up on Wednesday morning,” he said as he walked into his house.

Police Chief Edward Broderick released a brief statement thanking his department for their work on the unusual case.  “Although a tragic event, I have to credit the two responding officers for doing an outstanding job. If not for their commitment and desire to follow thru (sic) on seemingly little information, we may have not been able to make an arrest and bring this person to justice. I’d also like to thank the rest of the department for coming into support the operation without regard for all the other things going on in their schedule.”

Selectmen Chairman Kim Roy wished to assure the townspeople that they are safe.   “Chief Broderick has assured the board that this is an isolated and rare incident,” she said. “The people of Halifax should rest assured that our public safety agencies are working together with their State and Federal counterparts 24/7 to keep Halifax the safe and serene town that it always has been.”

Roy also echoed Chief Broderick’s praise for the two initial responding officers, Rob McDonnell and Mike Schleiff. “We are lucky to have such diligent police in Halifax,” she said.

The case remains under investigation by State and Halifax police in conjunction with the State Police Crime Scene Services and the State Police Crime Lab.