Bob Renekar said, “Recorded music is heard. Live music is lived.” This is also the philosophy of Robert Hollis, President of The Spire Center for Performing Arts in downtown Plymouth. As a touring musician, Hollis spent his music career spreading the gift of music on any stage available. After a few years on the road, Hollis and his musician wife, Donna, decided they wanted to settle and realized that Plymouth was lacking an organization and a hub for local, live arts. Together, they founded the Greater Plymouth Performing Arts Center, Inc. (GPPAC) -a nonprofit organization founded in 2010 and dedicated to performing arts and educational programs which support the vibrant arts community in the greater South Shore region.
With GPPAC up and running, they began to search for a venue to further their mission and capabilities. After learning that Congregation Beth Jacob’s community center, formerly a Methodist church built in 1886, was mostly unused in downtown Plymouth, Hollis approached the Community Preservation Committee to fund the restoration and transformation into a performing arts venue with a mission of presenting a wide variety of entertainment appealing to all generations within the region as well as the thriving New England tourist community. As a cultural asset, The Spire promised to provide an economic boost to historic Plymouth’s active downtown area as the cornerstone for the arts. “We were very fortunate to have a lot of community support and enthusiasm from the start. We were encouraged to see that others wanted a home for performing arts, too,” says Hollis, “We strive to support and expose all kinds of music to all kinds of people at an affordable price.”
In October 2012 the Plymouth Town Meeting voted overwhelmingly to appropriate $650K in Community Preservation Funds to acquire and renovate the building at 25 1/2 Court Street in downtown Plymouth. The Town of Plymouth also granted GPPAC with a 100 year near-free lease of the treasured property. Renovations began with a focus on the interior. Particular attention was paid to enhancing the existing acoustics, making sure the audience had clear sightlines with no obstructions, and recrafting and restoring the architecturally beautiful interior that have become The Spire’s trademark. “We are not a club,” Hollis clarifies, “We are a listening place where the music and the act are the focus. We wanted it to be a fun place, but not like a club where people are up and talking and moving around -we wanted to focus on the performer-audience connection.” The result was a 225-seat performance hall featuring superior acoustics that are unmatched by other local venues, custom state of the art lighting and sound systems, and original period architectural details offering patrons an exceptional performing arts experience.
Once The Spire Center was ready for audiences and acts, Hollis began to build a staff and a volunteer team to assist in the mammoth efforts needed to run this promising non-profit. Staff was hired to handle the business duties, work the box office, advertise, operate the lighting and sound equipment, serve as ushers and run hospitality services, be bartenders, perform building maintenance, fundraise, and even be security detail for the guest performers. “We have about five full and part-time employees and about twenty employees total, as well as about fifty volunteers. We also have a board and all of them are musicians, so they really understand what is needed here and how to go about doing it,” says Hollis.
With a restored and staffed venue, an eager staff and volunteer team, and community support backing them, Hollis has been able to line up a healthy stream of local and national artists and groups. Vice President and Director, Lloyd Rosenburg, scouts out performance groups as well as screens and schedules groups that apply to perform at The Spire Center. The result is a lineup of roughly 150 shows a year featuring everything from jazz, classical, rock, comedy, ensembles, country, folk, and blues. “We wanted to give aspiring and local talent a place to get exposure, experience, and build a community base as well as give the community the gift of live music,” says Hollis, “There is something missing when it is a recording. When it is live, it is tangible and you connect with it in a more meaningful way. When it is live, it is also different every time -which makes it really special.”
In an effort to reach a wider audience, The Spire Center offers several unique opportunities to catch a show. The first is their Lobby Series. This series is presented by The Antonia and Vladimir Kulaev Cultural Heritage Fund and was created to support emerging and established artists across New England by offering them a professional platform to share their work with engaged audiences. Experience live music like never before—up close and personal in our unique Lobby Series.
Designed to shine a spotlight on local and regional talent, this series invites audiences to discover rising artists and seasoned performers in an intimate, 70-seat lounge-style setting right in the heart of the Spire. The house lights are dimmed and the atmosphere is warm and inviting as the lobby is transformed into an intimate listening room where music takes center stage. From folk and roots to jazz, indie, and beyond, each performance is a chance to connect in a smaller crowd with the artist, the music, and the community. Tickets are $15 to provide an affordable opportunity to experience live music.
Another style of performance offered by The Spire Center is the Sunday Serenades. Hollis explains, “These are Sunday matinees that offer the chance to attend a concert that isn’t on a weekend evening or late at night. A lot of people, especially after Covid and particularly the elderly, prefer to avoid going to shows and concerts late and night, so we have many patrons who prefer these earlier-in-the-day chances to attend a performance.”
In addition to these creative ways to attend a live show, The Spire Center is also set to provide a one-of-a-kind learning opportunity for aspiring musicians. This September, The Spire Center will launch The Spire Center Music Academy. The academy will offer teachers, directors, classes, and venue space for training musicians, ensembles, choirs, songwriters, composers, and other live performance groups or individuals. “We are passionate about not just showcasing local music, but helping to create more of it,” says Hollis.
Other upcoming events at The Spire Center for Performing Arts include The Americana Theater holding the house for a few weeks in July, and a country music festival that kicks off August 22 with CMA Vocal Duo of the Year and ten-time singles hits on the Country Music Charts, Thompson Square. Of course all of these exciting shows are set to draw plenty of crowds and that is also a necessity for the mission of The Spire Center. “The biggest challenge is always funding,” says Hollis, “We have to be able to pay the bands and performers, the staff to run the shows and maintain the venue, and invest in the forthcoming events and plans to keep it all running. We put a lot of work into finding the most affordable way to price tickets while still ensuring this all runs smoothly and we have a great lineup of performances.”
The Spire Center also gives back to the community by increasing patronage and tourists for surrounding businesses. “You know if we have a Saturday evening performance, the chances are that our patrons will go to a nearby establishment to eat or shop,” Hollis points out, “So some of the surrounding businesses have been really supportive in donations and advertising for us and we like to do the same for them. Anything that enriches one spot in the community enriches all of the community.”
With The Spire Center offering so much to Plymouth and the surrounding towns, it can’t be overlooked that perhaps the community should double the effort to give back to The Spire. The Spire Center also relies on its membership base for crucial funding and support. Memberships are available at different tiers and offer various discounts and perks throughout the year. “Right now, we have about 550 members for The Spire Center and we could not do what we do without them,” states Hollis. “Things like 10% discounts, advanced ticket sales, preferred and private seating, and other events are available to our members to thank them for their support.”
If you are looking to get involved with The Spire Center and preserving and promoting live, local music, you may want to consider volunteering as well. “We are always looking for volunteers as well as collaborative partners in the community,” says Hollis. “It takes a lot to keep it all running, but it is worth it to see how GPPAC and The Spire Center have enriched the community and helped local musicians.” If you are considering a visit to The Spire Center for a lively, Saturday evening jazz band, or relaxing string trio for a Sunday matinee, or perhaps you are part of a local band looking to perform for your home-crowd with unbeatable acoustics -rest assured, once you experience the magic The Spire Center has to offer, you will realize it is more than a venue -it is a home for the priceless, timeless energy exchange between artist and audience, and that is always worth the investment.

Walt Disney was as inspired as he was accurate when he said, “Our greatest natural resource is the minds of our children.” Dr. Amber Bartlett can attest to this first hand because her son, Asher, is the one who had the idea for her new business, Asher’s Sandbox, in Plympton. After attending the grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony, Bartlett told the Express a little bit about her new business and what it brings to the community.
Express: Please share a bit about your inspiration for Asher’s Sandbox.

Bartlett: “I had my son later in life and found myself struggling to connect with other parents in the same stage, and I worried that as an only child my poor kid was stuck with just me and no friends! One day my son saw an ad for an indoor sandbox play park and said “Mommy, you supposed to take me there!”. I filed it away in the back of my head that it was a cool idea. Then I was driving on Main St, two seconds from my house, saw a space for lease and it hit me…it would be perfect to offer a unique option for building community right in my own town!”

Express: How long has this process taken to complete and can you share some insight regarding the design and work that went into starting this business?

Bartlett: “I don’t waste time so it went relatively quickly! It started with an idea, then a business plan, then approval from the town for a permit, signing a lease, starting construction and being ready to open. All in all, from idea to opening, took around 6 months. It was so rewarding to take a blank square space and then see the vision in my head become reality.”
Express: What has been the biggest challenge with this project?

Bartlett: “Being my own project manager, along with running two other businesses, wasn’t my smartest move! And getting 80,000 pounds of sand from South Carolina to Plympton, MA took extreme coordination, along with an in-depth knowledge of sand, which I never imagined I’d be an expert in!”

Express: What do you hope Asher’s Sandbox will offer to the community?
Bartlett: “This is what I’m most excited about! I want Asher’s Sandbox to be a place where friendships are made, imaginations are encouraged, and fun memories are made. I really want a place where kids can play and explore and parents can choose to participate or to get some reading done, knowing their kids are in a contained, safe space. I also want it to be a resource of community support – we are currently having local students come in to paint murals on the wall so they can showcase their gifts, and we are planning a big clothing/toy swap event. There are so many more ideas like that in our idea vault’!”

Express: What is the structure of the business in terms of offerings? Is it available to rent out? Do you offer parties or classes or other special services?

Bartlett: “We are really aiming to make this a space for children and adults to enjoy. We offer open play sessions for children ages 1-8. Weekday mornings, open play sessions include a themed activity for younger children: Monday is Storytime, Tuesday is Social Club, Thursday is Music & Movement, and Friday is Adventure Club. We offer activities such as craft workshops, sensory box workshops, holiday events (Easter egg hunt & bunny photos!), various character meet and greets (think princess, Paw Patrol, etc.), educational sessions, and yoga classes. We’ve even had business owners host info sessions for potential clients in our event room, while the clients’ children play in the sand. No babysitter required = higher attendance! We also have a great event room for birthday parties, business meetings, corporate events, networking events, dance classes, etc. The Sandbox Library is also in there, which is a Leave a Book/Take a Book for all children to take advantage of. The ideas are endless!”

Express: What else would you like to tell the community about Asher’s Sandbox?

Bartlett: “We want Asher’s Sandbox to be a place that is known in the community for being supportive, engaging, clean, safe, and FUN! We are intentional about listening to what people want or need in this area of family, children, and community so feedback is always welcome. You can always reach out via email
at info@asherssandbox.com, www.asherssandbox.com is where all info & bookings can be found, and our socials are always full of current info!”

Henry David Thoreau mused, “A man may esteem himself happy when that which is his food is also his medicine.” Plants have been a part of the earth’s ecosystem since the Ordovician period, 470 million years ago. They evolved from the simplest forms of algae to the complex, vast, and multifaceted life forces we know today through intrinsic, unhurried evolution that resulted in genetic complexities and variations we are still not in full grasp of today.
Closer to the human scale of the earth’s history, plants were the first food, the first medicine, the first symbolic embellishment for life. Our ancestors knew the herbs and flowers and trees of their regions, what they were capable of, and how to use them. Foraging was a necessary way of life and ailments or maladies were faced independently by the individual, or a local practitioner who had the ancient knowledge and experiences needed to provide aid and comfort. Somewhere along the way to industrialization, modernization, colonialization, and isolation, we have largely lost that connection and knowledge that had been both inherited and inherent.
“On so many levels, herbalism is about human autonomy. It is a tool of the people and our birthright as participants in the earth,” says Stephanie Hardie of Gate and Garden Herbal Apothecary in Weymouth. “We are part of this world, not on top of it -one string in the web of life and learning to connect ourselves as such can bring us, not only improved health and wellness, but aliveness.”
Hardie’s journey with herbalism began as a curious pursuit for answers to her own health questions that she felt were being dismissed. She was also dissatisfied with doing socially normative things and felt drawn to find her own path in life. After embarking on in-depth research for her autoimmune struggles, and finding the support and alleviation she needed through herbs, she began to make products for her family and friends.
Hardie had also previously purchased a home with garden space and began to fill it with the herbs and flowers she felt drawn to. Ironically, her first garden plantings were purchased and planted with no agenda other than to enjoy looking at them. “I was at a home improvement store and saw lavender, rosemary, and thyme plants and felt strangely compelled to get them. I brought them home, planted them, and they became so abundant that I was drowning in them! I thought, ‘What am I going to do with all this?’, so I started looking into recipes and uses for them and I kind of fell down a rabbit hole of learning that I am still in.”
Hardie found that herbalism also provided a connection that had been missing between medical and spiritual wellness. “Health is more than being free from sickness and pain,” Hardie explains, “It is more than the practical application society defines as good-health, it is abundance, fulfillment, autonomy, and aliveness. I found, for me, that herbalism provided so many answers and connections that I had been looking for.” Once Hardie found relief in her own body and mind with the implementing and use of herbs, she began to seek further in-depth knowledge.
Hardie began with self-study through time-tested books on herbalism and then started entry-level courses with reputable experts in the field. “Because I didn’t have an in tact lineage of herbal knowledge when I began, I had to start from scratch and tackle, what was, a very foreign vocabulary to me,” Hardie recounts. “I studied as much as I could on my own, but because I thrive with structured learning, I realized self-study could only take me so far, and I began to take entry-level courses.”
Hardie trained with some of the most trusted and respected herbalists of our day with institutions such as the Herbal Academy and CommonWealth Holistic Herbalism. Hardie then branched out in her studies and certification to earn her Master of Science: Complementary & Alternative Medicine, Bachelor of Science: Mental Health Counseling with a holistic psychology focus, and became a National Board-Certified Health & Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC), a Certified Functional Nutrition Coach, a Certified MindBodyGreen Health Coach, and a Certified Homeopathy Specialist.
With her knowledge growing in abundance and her thirst for learning endless, Hardie felt that the academics were still not enough to truly learn about the amazing herbs she knew so much about. She began in earnest to plant the things she was learning about and make her own products. This required developing personal relationships with plants. “I could not just keep it to the information stage of plant knowledge, I needed to have dirt under my nails. I wanted to touch the plants, talk to them, observe them and have a relationship with them of cultivation but also respect. Each herb has its own sort of personality -likes and dislikes, combinations it works well with and things it doesn’t work well with. I had to plant them to know them.”
Hardie found the merger of her vast knowledge and qualifications, met with increasing hands-on experience, left her with such a wealth of products, solutions, and offerings that she began Gate and Garden Herbal Apothecary. She registered as an LLC with little to no expectations of success, but after surpassing her net-sales goal with five times the predicted sales she knew she was onto something transformative not just for herself, but for others.
Now, Hardie tends to her home garden and has turned in in-law suite in the garage into a certified processing kitchen, an office for shipping her many online orders, and an apothecary that is occasionally open during events to purchase products. Hardie also attends outdoor markets and vendor festivals where she is well-known and sought after by locals -both new and returning customers. Gate and Garden has reached the point where some crops are now sourced from local farms where space is more abundant for a harvest that keeps up with demand. “I responsibly forage for some plant ingredients, and I grow most in my garden, but I do source from local, sustainable farms for things like California poppy and calendula -calendula is in basically everything,” Hardie jokes about the common, multi-use flower, “The only things that are not local, but still responsibly sourced are things not native to this bioregion like cinnamon.”
Though herbalism has opened up a business opportunity for Hardie, her core philosophy always goes back to helping others through sharing knowledge and helping them explore and learn about the world around them and how they fit into it. Gate and Garden’s mission statement: Sharing health, wellness, connection, and reciprocal relationships with nature, others, and self, through informed and devotional herbal products, guidance, 1:1 support, sacred community gatherings, and education. Hardie has become a sage in the community for the spread of knowledge in a non-judgmental, all-inclusive way that makes herbalism not only intriguing, but approachable.
“Using herbs in your life is good for us on so many levels,” says Hardie, “Both in monumental ways, but also in small, day-to-day ways. If you just want to start adding some herbs to your soup because they smell and taste good or if you want to use them in a big, clinical way, they offer something for anyone who uses them. There are entire herbal protocols to support diagnosis’ but there are also herbs that can be used to scent and soften skin -all levels of use and application exist.”
Hardie offers a word of caution, however, to anyone planning to implement herbalism into their lives. “Herbalism is an unregulated field so you need to get to know the plants you are working with and you need to get to know anyone you are taking advice from. Ask tons of questions about their background and training and about why they are suggesting certain applications in your life. Find herbalists that are very transparent about their process. If you have a hard time getting straight answers that is a red flag. Also, there should be no wild claims for cures. We are not doctors and we can’t promise things. That is not how herbalism works anyway. If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.”
There is also a lot of misconception about herbalism and it takes a bit of self-guided research to find the truth. “The biggest misconception about herbalism is that it is not real. People think that because it is rooted in things so basic as every day plant material, that it is inflated in potential and purpose. Luckily, we live in a time where there are a lot of credible scientific studies being published that often support, rather than contradict or discredit, the ancient wisdom and applications of herbs. They are even becoming ingredients used in some main-stream medical treatment and medications.”
Hardie also offers a basic encouragement for anyone to start reconnecting with nature and learning about plants. “Just go outside! Listen! Begin by trying to learn about some of the plants you see around you -be it a dandelion in a city sidewalk or a St. John’s Wort on the side of the road -there is always something green outside your door. Learn its name, its region, its properties. You will be amazed at what properties every day plants hold in their DNA. Plants have a language all their own. This is how you begin to rebuild your connection and reestablish your birthright to plant knowledge.”
Though she has a business and life philosophy rooted in ancient plant wisdom, Hardie realizes that individual choice and freedom to choose and follow ones’ unique path is the best life medicine of all. “I don’t care if everyone uses herbs or not. Plants are incredible -they have quite literally changed by life, but that might not be your thing. Your doorway to connection might be panting, breathwork, singing, yoga, or something you can’t name yet. The thing itself doesn’t matter as much. What matters is that it connects you to your body, to the world, to compassion, to something ancient and alive and meaningful.”
Still, if you are carbon-based and a resident of planet Earth, herbs would likely be a better fit for you than you think. Being able to walk out the door and recognize that the flowers of the late-summer tufts of goldenrod lining the path can be dried and seeped in a tea to help your unsettled stomach, or that the unruly mint you foolishly planted outside of a container can be used for large, scented bouquets next to your bedside to calm your nerves at night, gives one such a satisfying sense of being a participant of this earth that it is well worth beginning your own curious investigation into herbalism, or paying a visit to the garden gate of Stephanie Hardie to find out more.
Here are the upcoming events of Gate and Garden Herbal Apothecary this year:
Please visit: www.gateandgardenherbals.com to find out more.
Wild Heart Herbalism Program: Gate & Garden’s flagship teaching, Wild Heart Herbalism is a unique & immersive journey into the art of intuitive & applied plant medicine magick. Learn virtually beginning in May 2026 and/or in person beginning in June 2026.
Earthwoven Seasonal Rituals: Community gatherings with the mission to nurture authentic community through spaces where witchcraft, ritual, and coven-connection intertwine, reminding us that we are each a living thread in the great web of the earth.
3/20/26
5/1/26
6/19/26
8/7/26
9/18/26
10/28/26

Living life to the fullest can mean very different things to each of us. For some of us, basic needs being met is a luxury and aspiration. For others, it may mean extraordinary opportunities and adventure. Regardless of your definition of living life to the fullest, one common component that must be met to feel and experience joy is the right to as much autonomy and free will as possible. Historically, and unfortunately currently, these freedoms are still lacking for many -especially for those in minority groups and of different abilities or conditions.
You don’t have to look too far back in the past to see that these human rights and access to dignity-enriching inclusion and care was particularly denied to those of different abilities and disabilities. A young child with say, what we now know is Autism, was incorrectly diagnosed, incorrectly treated, and often unnecessarily institutionalized and ostracized. Liz Sandblom, Chief Executive Officer of The Arc of the South Shore Chapter, explains, “Before rights for individuals with disabilities were even considered, people usually ended up putting their children in institutions where there was little to no oversight or monitoring of the conditions or welfare for the people kept there.” Without medical advancement or social programs in place to provide support and/or educate caregivers on how to care for those with disabilities, there was a reluctantly accepted and medically promoted mentality of shutting people away in these often-traumatic places and kind of forgetting about them.
Of course, many family members desperately wanted to include their children or family with disabilities in their daily lives and one such group of Weymouth parents did just that. Tired of seeing their loved ones and precious children with different abilities denied opportunities and enjoyment in life, they began the first parent advocacy group in the state in 1951 and almost immediately, The Arc of the South Shore began to change lives. Its mission: To be a family oriented, community-based, non-profit located in Hingham that offers information, referrals, and a range of community programs. The Arc strives to empower families and individuals of all ages with disabilities to reach their fullest potential by providing high-quality, individualized services and opportunities that foster independence, community inclusion, and advocacy.
In the state of Massachusetts, one must fall below a certain IQ or have underlying learning or physical disabilities to legally be considered disabled. This leaves a broad spectrum of what can be managed as a disability and for this reason The Arc has had to develop into a multi-faceted, inclusive, and accommodating organization to reach as many people as possible that are in need of support, opportunity, and education. With 17 independently operating, non-profit chapters, and care provided for over 100,000 individuals since 1951, The Arc is one of the foremost driving forces in the country for advocacy and pushing for legislation for the disabled and differently-abled community. “The biggest functional pillar of our organization is working towards legislation to protect and provide for people who need support to be included in the community, and to help these individuals live life to their fullest capacity,” Sandblom points out.
The Arc of the South Shore currently provides Adult Foster Care, an Autism Resource Center, Community-Based Day Services, Day Habilitation, First Early Intervention, and Personal Care Management as well as Residential Supports. To take a deeper look at the support and services that The Arc provides to the local disabled community and their family, caregivers, and friends, Sandblom explains that the level, intensity, and nature of support varies greatly for each person. “Some need full-time, daily, in-home care and others may only need help with transportation or finding employment. We customize care to the individual and what their support system is capable of offering as well -if they have one in place.”
In addition to offering support systems, The Arc of the South Shore also has a focus on providing caregiver support and education. “We want to make sure that anyone in the lives of the people we are working with is equipped with the knowledge and resources to ensure a healthy, safe, and loving environment and interactions,” says Sandblom. “One thing we like to do is provide enriching entertainment that is sensitive to the needs of the people we work with,” says Sandblom, “for example, we have movie nights where the sounds and sights are calming and not loud or overwhelming -they are sensory friendly events so that everyone can enjoy a normal experience that many of us would not see as problematic or difficult to endure in terms of being over-stimulated.”
One of the most substantial support systems in place with The Arc of the South Shore is the Group Home Program. The Adult Family Care (AFC) program helps individuals with medical, physical, or developmental disabilities receive the daily support they need while living at home. It is an alternative to nursing homes, assisted living placements, or residential care. Caregivers assist with everyday activities such as dressing, bathing, preparing healthy meals, and managing medications, allowing individuals to remain comfortable and supported in familiar surroundings. Being part of a loving family and connected to their community helps individuals maintain their independence, dignity, and quality of life.
“We have 10 group homes here in Hingham and 6-7 group homes in the Plymouth Chapter,” Sandblom notes, “Each home has 4-5 individuals that receive daily care ranging from full-time, daily-attending staff that provides care specific to the needs of the individuals living there.” Each home requires a great deal of funding and a focus on safety and comfort to ensure the dignity and enjoyment of the residents. One new endeavor The Arc is undertaking is adding cutting-edge technology to these group homes to provide further, increasingly comprehensive care and comfort for residents.
Sandblom explains, “We are focusing on integrative, in-house technology for things like thermostat control, door cameras so residents do not answer the door unless it’s an approved guest or caretaker, assistance with laundry services, scheduling reminders for medications and routines, starting and turning off appliances on a set schedule -things that might present a challenge or difficulty for the people in the home. We can’t have staff there all the time, but if you have, say, an Alexa who takes on the ‘nagging mom’ mode of ‘brush your teeth’ or can turn the heat up when it gets too cold, it is an assurance that they are comfortable and safe and it also increases their ability to be a bit more independent.”
Of course, providing these kinds of accommodations and services as well as employing about 200 people across all The Arc chapters requires immense funding and financial support. “We are funded in three main ways,” Sandblom says, “By the state through the Department of Developmental Services, by medical insurances such as Mass Health and the Department of Developmental Services Early Intervention Program, and lastly grants, sponsorships, and community support via donations and fundraisers.”
To celebrate The Arc of the South Shore’s 75th Anniversary, there are several upcoming public events that will help raise awareness in the community and also provide fundraising opportunities. “We have annual events like the Bunny Bash at Derby Street Shops with an Easter bunny, face painting, and other family activities,” Sandblom says, “We also have a Summer Soiree/75th Anniversary Celebration in June with raffles and donation opportunities -all of which support The Arc and our mission to provide care, opportunities, and enhanced quality of life to disabled and differently abled people.”
One of the recipients of services recently suggested a food drive and that event was carried out with great success as was an event that made wheelchair maintenance enjoyable. Sandblom explains, “We had local volunteers help us run a car-wash-style event where we washed and serviced people’s wheelchairs. It was so much fun.” Sandblom assures that volunteers are always needed and greatly appreciated. “We need volunteers for a variety of things -from helping us maintain and repair the playground, gardens, and even things like painting jobs in the buildings and helping run events -we can use support anywhere it is offered.” As for donations, The Arc is often looking for raffle items, giveaways, and partnership opportunities in the community.
In spite of the worthy, noble, and crucial mission The Arc of the South Shore works toward every day, there are still many challenges and unmet needs to operate at full capacity and potential. “We always struggle with federal and state policy and funding,” Sandblom explains, “And our biggest challenge is employment. Covid was a huge setback that we still have not recovered from. We struggle to find enough employees who can provide the level of care needed without the ability to pay a lot of money. There are so many people in need who are waiting for services because we simply can’t provide enough for everyone.”
Still, people like Sandblom are relentless in their dedication and drive to do right by some of the most vulnerable and innocent in our community -much like those parents in Weymouth who just wanted their children to experience joy and freedom in life like anyone else. “I have been doing this for 30 years,” Sandblom says, “and it is really amazing to see how far things have come in terms of what is offered and available now and it gives me hope that things will continue to fall into place and that we will be able to reach and help more people in need. We need the support and involvement of the community and it really is the most rewarding, worth-while work.”
Perhaps this year, if you feel so compelled, to look for a meaningful place or cause to spend your time, focus, and money, look no further than your local The Arc chapter and rest assured that you will be contributing to the lives of others in a beautiful way -and in doing so, you will find that YOU are also living life to the fullest.
Here are The Arc of the South Shore’s Upcoming Community Events:
-Bunny Bash at Derby Street Shops, Friday, April 3 10:00 and 11:00
-Summer Soiree/75th Anniversary Celebration, Thursday, June 18
The Arc of the South Shore, 371 River Street, Weymouth
Please Visit: https://arcofsouthshore.networkforgood.com/events/97223-2026-bunny-bash
Please Visit: https://arcsouthshore.org for information on volunteering, partnership, services, legislation, and upcoming events.

Amidst the bustle of tourists exploring the narrow, colonial-lined streets of America’s Hometown, and locals following their noses to various food establishments in the historic district of Plymouth, you will notice that Middle Street is peppered with people -young and old, carrying various instrument cases and bags filled with music books. They are heading to one of several doors of the Middle Street School of Music where music pours out into the streets as the doors open and students come and go in their weekly pursuits in music education.
Founded by Berklee School of Music graduates, Patricia Drain and Paul Kinnear, Middle Street School of Music opened its doors in 1992 when downtown Plymouth looked very different from today. “When we started here it was like a ghost town,” Kinnear notes, “Everything had moved over to the mall and shops here were boarded up.” Drain and Kinnear did not let the less-than-bustling scene deter them in their goal to provide students with the opportunity to have music education -especially as several local music schools had closed down and there were eager students without teachers who still wanted to learn. “The school I was teaching at closed down and so we were able to give some of the displaced students a place to continue their training,” Kinnear explains.
Starting with four teachers, a handful of students, and a small space in an old building on historic Middle Street, Drain and Kinnear established a stress-free, positive experience for their students that carries on to this day. Instead of a strict focus on music theory and notation and mandatorily prescribed teaching methods, Middle Street School of music allows each instructor to tailor the lesson to each, individual student based on their interests and abilities -making musical training a highly personal experience. “We want students to come here and enjoy being here, not worry or be stressed about their lesson,” says Drain, “Music should be fun -that’s the whole point, to enjoy making it.”
That said, don’t let the open-minded approach fool you into thinking there is not a great deal of hard work that takes place at Middle Street. The school currently employs twenty music teachers and all of them not only meet strict qualifications and high standards, but they have each spent decades perfecting their skill in their chosen fields and many of them actively participate in performing local bands and music groups. “We have had students that left the school and ended up forming some of the well-known, local bands that tour the New England area,” Kinnear says.
A music-and-mind-positive philosophy at Middle Street School of Music has earned loyalty from local families and students -sometimes even after relocating. “I have one student in their 30’s who moved to North Carolina, but we still meet for music lessons on Zoom,” says Drain. One of the most surprising facts about Middle Street School of Music is that a little more than half of their 350+ students are adults. “It really is never too late to start an instrument or learn a bit more about music,” says Kinnear, “Even if it’s just for fun -you don’t have to be amazing or take it seriously, it’s just good for you to do.”
In addition to students of all ages engaging in and learning about music and instruments, Drain and Kinnear are also out in the community performing. They founded Trillium, a jazz trio in the 80’s. Trillium toured all over New England and often performed at Musikfest in Pennsylvania where they shared the line-up with the Fifth Dimension, Diane Schuur, and Queen Ida.
Now as the duo, Swing Set, Drain and Kinnear continue to perform at various venues in and around the Boston/Cape Cod area and for both private events and public performances. Drain also continues to work as a sideman with Java Swing an 8-piece swing orchestra and is an expert in the musical fields of voice, piano, guitar, and ukulele. With his expertise in guitar (a four-year degree in guitar performance), ukulele, mandolin, banjo, and bass, Kinnear has been a member of many well-known local bands as “Fit 2B tied”, “Joy”, “Soul Sensation”, “Bruce Peterson Big Band”, “Shameless”, and “Shatterproof”. Kinnear is multifaceted in his range of musical experience from Broadway to Country, and from Rock and Roll to Jazz.
With such experienced and multi-talented founders, it is not surprising to see a wide range of instrumental instruction and instructors available at Middle Street School of Music. Lessons offered include piano, drums, guitar, mandolin, ukulele, vocals, woodwinds, bass, banjo, horns, reeds, music theory I and II, songwriting, music production, and ear training. Instructors offer private lessons that are built around each students needs, interests, goals, and abilities. In addition, opportunities to play in rock, country, folk, and jazz ensembles as well as group lessons for guitar and ukulele are offered.
The culmination of each year ends with a spring recital in which all students are encouraged, but never forced, to participate. Music teachers help their students select a piece or pieces of music to perform well in advance so that each student is comfortable and adequately-rehearsed for the performance. “Our teachers also use the music that students choose for their recital piece to teach about notation and theory as a learning tool so that they can focus on getting their piece ready and still be learning and expanding on their knowledge,” Kinnear explains.
With music education programs being defunded and dismantled in schools, it is more important than ever to ensure children have the opportunity for music experience and exposure. Drain and Kinnear assure that perfection and proficiency are not the main focus at Middle Street School of Music, but cultivating a positive association with musical training is. Kinnear warns about putting too much pressure on music students, “Sometimes we hear about music teachers out there taking things so seriously -stressing kids out and being unkind if the progress isn’t enough in their eyes.” “That is just not what is it about,” Drain adds, “Music should be a positive thing for all ages and not something that makes you fearful. I don’t understand why anyone would teach to make it anything but a joy.”
Middle Street School of Music may offer only music-based classes, but be assured that the skills and experiences there filter out into the daily lives of the students. “Learning music affects your entire life,” Drain points out, “Things like discipline, courage, focus, dedication, and accomplishment come along with learning an instrument or learning to read music, and those are things that help you in life overall.” “It is really great to see students come here and find real joy when they discover they can play an instrument or make music. Not everyone is going to be some prodigy -I hate to use that word, and sometimes we do get a student that you can tell is meant for the world of music,” Kinnear explains, “but we mostly just like to see our students discover their own capabilities and get confidence and have a way to express themselves.”
While comfortably filled with hundreds of students, Middle Street School of Music is always open to adding more and offering various opportunities to learn and explore music. Connected to the music school, Drain and Kinnear offer various instruments for sale at their Bumblebee Music Shop. The shop offers a range of instruments from Blueridge Guitars, Bristol Guitars, Gold Star Banjos, Rover Banjos and Mandolins, Kentucky Mandolins, Regal Resophonic Guitars, Kala Ukuleles and Guitars, and Cremona Violins and Cellos.
After over three decades of steady growth and stable patronage, it is clear that Drain and Kinnear built Middle Street on the right foundation for success -one that focuses on music positivity and confidence building rather than accolade and prestige. “I am sold on this product,” Drain says with pride, “We have found longevity in keeping musical training about making it enjoyable and accessible and that is something Paul and I are very proud of.”
As a mother of four students at Middle Street School of Music, I can easily agree that what Drain and Kinnear have established through their philosophy and dedication to focusing on a positive student experience, is a love and respect for music that carries on after the lesson is over. After all, finding your adult son playing the keyboard in the attic late at night -lost in the song and confident in his ability to not just play the music, but feel it, is a testament to teaching done in harmony with the human spirit.

Stephani Teran
Express staff
On Feb. 7, 2026, the Plympton Town Properties Committee held the first open-to-the-public meeting concerning the ongoing, but delayed, project to provide the town with a new, up to code, fire station. The meeting was opened by the Town Properties Committee Chair, Pierre Boyer and fellow board members Kaitlin Johnson and Keelin Smith. This meeting was to be the first in a four-phase initiative to present factual data on current operations, EMS response times, and facility needs while being transparent with the public and focusing on tax impacts for the residents of Plympton.
Boyer began by explaining that they had been working closely with the Fire Chief, Cheryl Duddy, on gathering data about how the fire department works within the town and surrounding areas. Boyer assured that, “We are going to use this data to help find the right solution for the town as we continue to move forward with the project.” He also reiterated that there would be no votes taken, no decisions made, and was purely to present data and engage in a feedback-based conversation with town members in attendance.
The first operational topic that was discussed concerned how the fire station responds to calls. All emergency calls go through the Regional Old Colony Communications Center in Duxbury. Plympton emergency services are then dispatched -both on calls within town boundaries as well as surrounding towns that have mutual aid agreements with our town.
The fire station staffing was reviewed by the Chair as well. Currently, there are six full-time employees at the fire station -the Fire Chief, the Administrative Fire Prevention Captain, and four firefighter paramedics. The chief and captain have a traditional five-day work week, while the paramedics work in rotating 24hr shifts. The Plympton Fire Department provides services and coverage 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Next, the daily staffing needs were discussed with weekdays having three to four personnel with two on call overnight. The impact shifts, meaning the hours likely to present the highest frequency of calls, is Monday through Thursday 3-9 p.m., and Friday 3-7 p.m. During the weekends, the fire department staffs three personnel during the daytime, and three overnight, with impact hours being Saturday’s entire 24 hours and Sunday’s from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
In addition to the full-time staff at the fire station, there are five part time employees that work up to 24 hours a week, 20 members that are certified to work EMT shifts, and seven fire fighters who are fire-response only and on call from home, as well as four probationary fire fighters who are awaiting academy training, as well as 35 on-call firefighters.
Once the shifts and personnel status of the fire station was presented, Boyer moved into presenting facts about the apparatus and what is currently available. This includes one tanker, two engines, two ambulances, two brush trucks, one command vehicle, and one support vehicle. Boyer noted, “The next apparatus we need to replace in the town is ambulance #2.” He then explained that all these vehicles would need storage in the bay.
Another area of data collected by the Town Properties Committee concerned call volume. Call volumes from 2021-2024 were analyzed and compared. The total number of emergency responses were presented as: 2021 at 750 calls, 2022 at 759 calls, 2023 at 785 calls, and 2024 at 808 calls. The number of fires responded to in 2021 came in at 11, in 2022 at 14, in 2023 at 12, and in 2024 at 12. This was presented with the much higher numbers of EMS based responses which tallied at 454 for 2021, 513 for 2022, 542 for 2023, and 541 for 2024.
The next points of data presented by the committee concerned mutual aid activity -given and received. Mutual aid is collaborative responses of our fire department to assist in surrounding towns as well as other towns assisting with responses in our town if needed. Mutual aid given in 2021 totaled 89 responses given and 14 received. In 2022, 124 responses were given and 19 received. In 2023, 138 responses were given and 6 were received. In 2024, 172 responses were given and 10 were received.
All data provided by the Town Properties Committee shows that the Plympton Fire Department is an EMS service driven entity with a steadily increasing number of calls and services rendered in ours and surrounding mutual aid towns. In addition to the numbers of responses presented, Boyer also displayed a heat map that showed the frequency of calls from inside Plympton do not have a specific, concentrated origin -meaning calls were pretty evenly dispersed throughout the town with a few exceptions. “Sysco is a high-volume call area as is Center Street and Palmer Road where there are a lot of car accidents,” Boyer pointed out.
Boyer moved in to the data behind population and expected population in the coming years. The data presented indicated a minimal decrease in population for Plympton from 2025-2050. The current population of 2928 residents was divided into the focus-age groups of 60+, 60-69 years, 70-79 years, and 80+. According to simulated runs of data, the 60+ age group had 890 residents in 2025 vs a projected 779 60+ residents in 2050. For the age group of 60-69 the 2025 population was 435 vs a projected 401 for 2050. For the age group of 70-79 the population was a drastic decrease from 303 in 2025 to a projected 170 in 2050. Lastly, the 80+ age group was presented as 152 in 2025 and expected to increase to 208 by 2050. None of this data included the pending developmental projects that will increase town population significantly such as the Ricketts Pond Estates. It was noted that population increases were possible and unpredictable and that additional demands on the fire department might include increased storm-related activity and aging infrastructures around town.
One of the biggest concerns with the project of the new Fire Station is the tax implications on residents. This was a driving reason to cause the town to vote down the previous plans that had taken years of research and work to come to fruition and be formally presented. The new Town Properties Committee is looking to present tax mitigation strategies beginning as soon as Phase One of the project. Boyer stated, “We are going to approach the fire station project with the goal of minimizing the tax impact on residents -though we can make no guarantees at this stage. The Town Properties Committee is deliberately evaluating multiple financial strategies to reduce, offset, or smooth a potential tax burden.”
Boyer stated that the Town Properties Committee was committed to a disciplined, data-driven approach that prioritizes fiscal responsibility and focuses not only on the cost to construct a new station, but on the long-term financial impact on the town over the next several decades. The currently proposed mitigation strategies include a debt roll-off and timing strategy, grants and outside funding opportunities, ambulance fund review as a source of revenue, and studying long-term cost control.
The debt roll-off strategy would include looking at the towns debt schedule to see which debts are to roll off in five years, then time any potential borrowing so that the new debt replaces the old rather than layers upon it. Boyer than explained that the grant and outside funding opportunities are being evaluated by the committee to see what the town is eligible for on a federal and state level. “We are actually in contact with a senator and other fire stations to see what opportunities they found for funding,” Boyer assured.
The ambulance fund review would look at the revenue generated by ambulance services rendered by Plympton and the committee would take a close look to see if generated funds from this service could offset any of the fire station costs. Long-term operating cost control is also a strategy the Town Properties Committee is using to keep costs down. Boyer stated, “There is tax impact often driven by construction costs and long-term operating expenses. We are looking at evaluating staffing assumptions, overtime trends, utilities and maintenance, and life cycle costs to ensure the solution is affordable long term.”
In addition to these strategies, the Town Properties Committee assured they are committed to transparency concerning the budget context. Lastly, Boyer added, “It is important to note that at this phase there are no final decisions made. Phase One is to gather data, listen to residents, ensure future recommendations are noted in fiscal responsibility, and to get community input.” Upon conclusion of the data presentation the meeting was opened to the public for comments.
With 22 residents in attendance there were many questions and concerns shared with the committee. The nature of running the project based on a more EMS-supportive model as opposed to a fire station-focused, operational model was brought up. The importance of providing mutual aid to surrounding towns was also discussed, with Chief Duddy adding, “When we go for mutual aid, we bill the patient no differently than we normally do and we collect that revenue. So, it actually generates revenue when we go out of town with the ambulance. It is important for us to keep our mutual aid agreements in place, because if we do have a large structure fire, we need to bring mutual aid in. It’s a reciprocal system. So, the ambulance does bring revenue to the town.”
Justin Shepard commented that the ambulance is a “cash cow” for the town and pointed out that with a new, large residential structure in Halifax as well as the 60-unit development via Ricketts Pond in Plympton, there would likely be an increase in demand for emergency services rather than a decrease. “We also have a lot of single-family homes right now with one or two occupants, turning over into families with two or three kids -I can’t imagine that with the aging population we have that our population will decrease.” Boyer responded that the population-decrease data was based off of the current numbers and data but did not account for pending projects and possibilities that would undoubtedly increase the town population.
One common concern was about the $978.000.00 loan taken out to conduct the usability study -half of which was already used for the project. Marilyn on Elm Street asked, “I would like to know if you have decided to totally disregard the plans that were already developed for the fire station. I also want to know if you have looked into making modifications for those plans. Debt-wide, the Dennett debt will roll off this year and that is why we had looked to get the fire station started.” In addition to this concern, another resident stated, “It cost a lot of town money to fund the previous fire station proposal, and if I am hearing correctly, we are not going to use that. So that is close to a million dollars that we have authorized and it is not cast to the wind. I don’t understand why you would start with something new unless you felt it wasn’t researched well. From what I read, I know the previous committee did a lot of hard work.”
Justin Shepard added a posed question to the committee asking if there came a point when the new research aligned with the previously done research, would the committee, in fact, go back to the original plans presented by the previous committee. Boyer replied, “Absolutely we are open to that,” he explained, “If the data leads us in the same direction, then that previous plan is what we are coming back with.” He noted that this would be in addition to presenting other options to the town, including a possible proposal to renew and remodel the current fire station.
Some of the residents in attendance wanted to know where the previous plans and studies were available for viewing, to which Jon Wilhelmsen -previous Town Properties Committee Chair, provided the previous architects contact and said that if anyone reached out to them, the first feasibility study could be obtained. Another resident asked about the line of authority in terms of final decisions being made about the project. Boyer answered that the committee would present the plans to the Board of Selectmen, town administrator, and residents via a town meeting.
Vicki Alberti expressed her view on the flaws in the current population projections depicted in the data presented. First, she thanked the committee members for stepping up to such a monumental task. She then explained that she did not agree with the projections at present. “There is a lot of pressure to develop this town from the state. And the possible 40B Complex will add 60 families to the town. So, I disagree with the state numbers you have presented. I am on the Open Space Committee and I know the town is pressured to develop anywhere it can, so I think we are cutting ourselves short looking at a decrease in population.” Boyer responded again that he would only use the current data when formulating a plan.
Kathryn Shepard invited the committee members to attend a Finance Committee Meeting. “I invite you to join a meeting to learn about some other areas in town that we are getting polls from that require funds as well as doing this project.” Boyer thanked her for the offer and noted that he had not had the time to attend any town council or committee meetings aside from the Board of Selectmen meeting days prior which was his first time attending any meeting of that nature. He also reminded the residents that the current Town Properties Committee had only been in place since November and they were still learning things and trying to manage their own time and energy with their personal lives and the fire station project.
Resident Mark Wallace asked the Chair why a meeting between the former Town Properties Committee and the new one could not take place to exchange information and reach a better understanding of what had already been done. Boyer quickly said he would take that into consideration. More concern about the debt roll-off strategy was expressed by residents as well as confusion as to why the previous costly plans were not being consulted to enhance or add to current data. There was also concern over the site location potentials for a new station and worry over the wasted money to install wells in the area previously designated for the project.
Wilhelmsen spoke up about his insight with the timing of the project and the tax mitigation strategies. “You have the debt that’s rolling off this year, that $50,000.00. Silver Lake, as you mentioned, over the next two years is $700,000.00, and then following $600,000.00, so that’s 1.3 million. Plympton is about 10% of that, so $130,000.00 -that’s a total of $180,000.00 over the next three years going off. We ended up paying for some projects that, perhaps in hindsight we should have bonded to leave some extra money to pay for things… That is unfortunately a challenge.” Wilhelmsen added that there were also a few things on the horizon such as the $50 million in repairs needed for Silver Lake Middle and High Schools and a new roof needed in the town. He also noted an increase in students coming into Dennett at about 250 new students and the need for increased space in the school. In addition, Wilhelmsen noted that Plympton’s financial struggles were not unique in the state. “Based on news articles about town meetings posted all around the South Shore, every town sounds like this. It’s an absolute crisis. The state is not giving the money that it needs to in order to offset the cost of public buildings.” Lastly, Wilhelmsen noted that when a fire station is planned, there is a minimum that must be met regardless of the number of residents served. “If you have 3,000 residents, that station is not going to be fundamentally different than 6,000 or 9,000 residents. You might add a couple of bedrooms and a bit more space, but things like decontamination and storage -all of that is a bare minimum. If the fire department went out on 12 calls or three, or a big house or structure fire -you are still coming back contaminated.” Wilhelmsen thanked the committee for the work they are doing and referred to his many years serving on the board and offered access to all previously obtained and conducted studies and data.
The committee reiterated that this was an entirely volunteer based effort and that everyone in town has specific qualifications and abilities and they invited anyone who feels so inclined to offer their expertise, insight, and support. Boyer assured that no prior experience in town boards or politics is needed to volunteer in any way and that the committee was doing their best to deal with a steep learning curve and designated as much time to the project as the feasibly could. The meeting was adjourned and the following meeting will be Phase Two of the Education and Listening Initiative.

One of the first things people learn when they take an interest in gardening, is that it is never-ending. If you aren’t actively doing it, you are thinking about it -and that is entirely necessary to have a successful garden adventure. Bloom season hardly ends with the first frosts -if anything, the most prolific blooming that occurs in a garden is done in the mind of the gardener in the winter months because that is the only time the garden is entirely successful and goes perfectly to plan.
Lofty ideas of perfect, disease-free roses that cascade with abandon over archways, and behemoth, crinkly-green cabbages straight out of a children’s storybook easily occur in the January garden because it is all in the mind (at least it is here up north where our zone calls for a long period of growth dormancy). Our optimistic zest while planting the first spring peas as soon as soil can be worked, and the surprisingly consuming anticipation of watching the first daffodil and tulips poke their green, lipstick-tube heads through the thawing earth can lead us into a spring-fever-frenzy where we begin to over-plant, over-plan, and overspend on ideas that are, perhaps lacking, a specific plan.
This lack of logic in favor of only fantasy can lead to discouraging phrases such as, “I guess I don’t have a green thumb”, and “I kill everything I plant” to follow the equinox-fueled hopes for Eden. The experts, however, know the remedy for this cycle of hopes vs mishaps, and it involves keeping expectations realistic, and starting each year with the basic foundations of gardening: Know your zone, know your light, know your soil, know yourself, know your goals.
Perhaps the most crucial thing to understand when planting or starting a garden is to know your zone. Our country is divided into thirteen zones -from 1A to 13B. Each zone is determined by the average annual minimal winter temperature, frost dates, humidity levels, and average annual rainfall that occur there throughout the year. All plants, trees, shrubs, all produce, fruits, and flowers have specific thresholds for what zones they can tolerate. When you purchase a seed packet or a plant, the information for its zone hardiness is usually provided on the packaging or tag and it can certainly be researched on the internet, via books, or from the experts at the gardening center where you are purchasing the item.
It is crucial to understand that just because a plant can survive in a specific zone, that doesn’t mean it will thrive there. For example: You can grow peonies in Florida, but they won’t be prolific or thrive there because they need a dormancy period of frost, snow, and cold to produce large and numerous flowers. Make sure that when you are purchasing seeds, seedlings, or plants that they are hardy to your zone (hint, we are 6b for the most part here in southern New England). Furthermore, you need to learn what is an annual and a perennial in your zone. Annual plants are things that are planted at the beginning of the growing season in your zone, but will die back once it gets cold enough or with the first frosts. Perennials are plants that go dormant in your zone’s cold months, but regenerate in the spring without you having to replant them. Biennials are plants that take one year to establish their leaves, and then the next year they bloom and die. These often self-seed before they die their second year so that there is a random, albeit consistent, supply of the plant at all times. Most foxgloves are an example of a biennial plant in our northern zones.
An equally important factor to consider when drawing up your vegetable or cutting garden dreams is to know your sites’ light. Just as with zones, plants and trees and all growing things have specific lighting needs and tolerances. There is a big difference between shade and full sun and even partial shade and full shade. Some plants are very forgiving when it comes to lighting needs. For instance, I continually push the shade limits in my container gardens on my front farmers porch where it is nearly full shade with a roof, but I have found which hardy plants indicate they need partial shade, but actually tolerate the near darkness I foolishly subject them to.
Then there are, say, roses. Roses are the divas of the garden and have a very specific list of demands that, even when met, are sometimes not enough to convince them to thrive. Roses absolutely need full sun or you are headed for trouble -aka mildews, black spot, funguses, and weak blooms. And if you think full-sun alone will give you a happy rose -well, you have not properly met a rose plant. Just as the zoning information can be found on your seed packets and plant purchases, so can the lighting conditions -often indicated by easy-to read graphics or sun images shaded to show how little or much a plant prefers.
Once you have established your zone and your lighting conditions in the area you want to plant in, you need to get to know your planting medium: The soil. Soil is a loaded word in the gardening world because it sets the stage for nearly everything you plant. Soil is a very complex topic that many gardeners spend their lives trying to understand, amend, and maintain, but for the sake of the length of this newspaper, I will give the most basic advice. Keep your soil alive. This means no harsh, inorganic chemicals, weed killers, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, etc.
Microbes make or break your soil -and if you kill them off, you will spend the rest of your days, money, and time trying to put back the naturally occurring life force you stripped out when you dumped toxins into it. Just as your gut needs good bacteria to promote overall health, the soil needs its intricate and complex systems of biodiversity and organic matter that not only sustain life and growth, but act as a natural preventative for disease and pests in the garden. The best way to keep your soil healthy is to make, or purchase and use, compost. Compost, compost, compost! NOT fertilizer or plant food -COMPOST. Added each spring and fall, and incorporated into your native or added soil, it will be the reason your garden is a success story.
That said, how do you know how much and what to add to keep your soil alive and active? The most effective way to get to know your soil and what it is lacking or has too much of, is to do a soil sample test. These are easy to use, inexpensive tests that you can purchase at garden centers or you can request them from your local gardening extension. The results of these soil tests will tell you the pH, nutrient levels, and heavy metals in your soil. If you order a soil test from your local extension, you are often provided with a detailed breakdown of what is found in your soil and how to amend it depending on what conditions you are hoping for. These tests are inexpensive and accurate. If you are planting in multiple sites that are spread out in your yard, it is a good idea to do a test for each are, a as soil varies a great deal -even on a relatively modest-sized property.
Once you have learned about your intended site or existing plot, you need to ask yourself: How much work do I want to/am I willing to put into, not only planting, but maintaining this garden and everything I put in it? There is no shame in whatever answer you give yourself because even toying with the idea of growing and nurturing something is a worthy cause. That said, it is crucial to learn about your style and wishes for a garden versus your allotted time to dedicate to it. If you are strapped for time and energy, certainly do not spend time and money planting an intricate English cottage garden, or a structured Italian-style garden -both of which would require a lot of daily attending.
If you are, perhaps, gifted with some extra time on your hands and an accompanying itch to be in the garden daily, perhaps skip the low maintenance perennials and succulent-based groundcovers which would grow if the garden was not visited for a decade and are actually worse for ware with interfering hands. Some plants require a great deal of effort the season long with dead-heading, pruning, and pest control, and some are demanding feeders who want compost and water frequently. Other plants grow in horrid, rocky soil with a few rainstorms a season and nothing more. It is important to research your plants before you spend money on them. Nothing in gardening is worse than spending a good deal of time and money establishing a garden that gets beyond your control and becomes a burden to keep up with instead of a therapeutic outlet. Ask me how I know…
Lastly, when you are planning a garden, it is imperative to ask yourself what you want out of your garden. Are you hoping for fresh food? Daily fresh-cut flowers? A purely visual treat to look at but not interact much with? A shade garden to fill that empty dirt patch by the porch? An engaging space to develop or cultivate a serious hobby or passion? Perhaps you want to better the environment and local ecosystems with a native plant garden. Or you may wish for a statement in landscape architecture on your property or even an herb garden in a pot on a city apartment patio. Gardens can be so many things, and when you ask yourself what you want out of the garden, you already have a much higher chance of getting it because you can make a plan. Again, there is no shame is how simple or extravagant your ideas are because gardens are really extensions of us and our lives. They are the visual result of our interaction with the earth and our relationships with nature. A mentor of mine said, “Gardens are the symphony we see when souls and soil meet.” Audrey Hepburn said it best when she said, “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.” Perhaps, especially right now, there is no better time to cultivate a little hope wherever and however we can. The trick is to meld vision with direction and once you can do that, your thumb will be green enough to prove gardening an encouraging sort of venture rather than a daunting one. Here are some resources to help you with your January gardening:

Seed Companies Worthy of Your Attention:
Seed Savers Exchange
Johnny’s Select Seeds
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds
High Mowing Organic Seeds

Gardening Catalogues and Companies to Trust:
White Flower Farm
K. Van Bourgondien
Breck’s
Gardeners Supply
Brent and Becky’s Bulbs
Bluestone Perennials
Jackson and Perkins
Prairie Moon Nursery

Gardening Books:
A Way to Garden by Margaret Roach
Monty Don The Complete Gardener by Monty Don
Floret Farm’s A Year in Flowers by Erin Benzakein
Blooms and Dreams by Misha Gilligham
The Complete Guide to Gardening with Annuals and Perennials by Richard Bird and Kathy Brown
The New Gardener by Pippa Greenwood
The Natural Garden by Ken Druse

Local Gardening Centers That Know Their Stuff:
The Gardeners’ Choice, Pembroke
Morrisons Home and Garden, Plymouth
Crystal Lake Garden Shop, Plymouth
Sunshine Gardens, Kingston
Every Bloomin’ Things Garden Center and Nursery, Scituate

Gardens to Learn From:
Garden in the Woods, Framingham
Heritage Gardens, Sandwich
New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill, Boylston
Alan C. Haskell Public Gardens, New Bedford
Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, Boston

We have all seen it before -the “bread and milk” index displayed on local news forecasts and store shelves emptied of non-perishables, while “Winter Storm Warning in Effect” flashes on electronic screens along the highway. Any seasoned New Englander knows to fill the tub and grab the generator fuel and have the snow shovels and blowers at the ready. They also often have the familiar cold-weather New England “yard-sculpture” -a perfectly curated log-pile stacked neatly somewhere near the house. Winter storms are obviously common events mastered by New Englanders for generations, but perhaps it might be worth taking a look as to what exactly cooks up these infamous storm’s we call nor’easters.
The term nor’easter is fairly common in winter weather vernacular and refers to strong areas of low pressure along the U.S. East Coast featuring winds that move in from the northeast off the Atlantic Ocean. These storms are most usually associated with winter and snowstorms as they are most common and strongest between September and April, but nor’easters are possible year-round, as long as a low-pressure system fits the criteria. Just as no two snowflakes are alike, no nor’easters are exactly alike, but they can usually be sorted into categories, named after the researcher who came up with the system in 1946, J.E. Miller. Although not every nor’easter is a Miller System storm, the majority of them can be classified as such. There are five categories of Miller System storms, Types A-B-C-D-E, but the majority of storms fall into the Miller Type-A and Type-B categories.
To over-simplify and provide a quick visual of what pressure systems do, consider that high pressure is literally that -downward gravitational pressure that suppresses storm development -a lid, if you will, keeping things contained. Storms need the ability to ascend into the atmosphere and interact, with little restraint, with moisture and air masses to become significant. High pressure keeps all of that fun in check. Low pressure, however, means the “lid” is off and the atmospheric mayhem is allowed to commence and storms develop. The placement of high-and-low pressure systems also act as buffers that create pathways to guide and set the track for storms -much like the bumper pads on a bowling lane. Now that you have a visual of pressure systems, let’s talk about the Miller Systems.
The first Miller category, Type-A, includes nor’easters that primarily develop near the Gulf Coast or East Coast along an old cold front or the boundary between marine and land air masses. These types of nor’easters are considered “classic” nor’easters. For a Miller Type-A system to develop, high pressure must be in place near the eastern Great Lakes and a stationary boundary of low pressure is usually stationed off the southeast coast. This low-pressure line allows the cold, northern air mass to travel down and mix with the warmer air mass from the coast. This causes a system to develop. This growing storm system will then ride the buffered track up the east coast. By the time it reaches New England it is usually a significant system with a lot of moisture which usually falls as heavy snow.
Miller Type-B nor’easters are a bit more flamboyant with their wintry party as they tend to gift the inland states with blizzards and ice storms that make headlines and give headaches. Low pressure develops over the plains and rushes eastward. These systems approach the Northeast from the west, often through the Ohio Valley, bringing precipitation and ice to the Midwest on their journey. As with Miller Type-A storms, there is a delineation between rain and snow, but this time it’s more of a north-south split, rather than an inland-coastal split.
One thing that is unique to Miller Type-B systems is that they get a bit jumbled when they hit the Appalachian Mountains. The change in elevation and flow of terrain causes the initial low-pressure system to weaken as the central pressure goes up to accommodate the mountains, but this sets the stage for the low to then redevelop on the eastern side of the mountain range. This process is also known as a “center-jump.” Regardless of this momentary hop over the mountains, Miller Type-B systems are undeterred in unleashing a bit of chaos as they travel.
Sometimes, a nor’easter comes in the package of an Alberta Clipper System. Alberta clippers are another common type of winter storm, but only occasionally fall into the category of a nor’easter. An Alberta Clipper is a fast-moving area of low pressure that moves southeastward out of the Canadian Province of Alberta, through the Plains and Midwest. This type of winter storm qualifies as a nor’easter *if* it follows the path of a Miller Type-B storm and eventually reaches the East Coast to cause the northeasterly winds coming off the Atlantic Ocean that are required to classify a storm as a nor’easter.
Each nor’easter system can have various types of precipitation depending on where it is on its developmental journey. Initially, all the precipitation from a nor’easter falls as snow due to the low pressure allowing high (freezing cold!) atmospheric development. It can stay snow if it does not encounter a warm air mass on its way down. If it does encounter warm air, a few things can happen. First off, if the warm air mass is dense and stretches to the surface of the earth, you will have rain. If the warm air mass over a part of land is less dense, and there is an underlying horizontal line of cold air again before the precipitation hits the ground, you can have refreezing which results in either freezing rain or sleet. For freezing rain, the cold air mass above the ground has to be thicker and a more intense temperature change, and for sleet the cold air mass above the ground has to be thinner and with less a temperature change so the freezing is less instantaneous.
Be it a Miller System or an Alberta Clipper, nor’easters have long been commonplace due to the natural weather patterns in this part of the world, but they have made headlines and become local lore since we started recording weather events and collecting data on them. Some of the most notable nor’easters (that many readers are sure to recall first-hand) are:
The Great Blizzard of 1888. This monster storm dropped up to 58 in. of snow in some areas and drifts as high as 50 ft. The blizzard lasted three days. The impacted areas were centered in New York City.
The Storm of the Century in 1950. This nor’easter slammed from New Jersey northward and caused $70 million in storm damage. Variants from 33-62 in. of snow were left behind as well as downed lines and trees from 60 mph winds.
The Ash Wednesday Storm of 1962. The Ash Wednesday Storm lasted from March 5-9 and left destruction from Florida to New England and some places, such as Ocean City, under 4 ft. of water. It also caused mayhem with 70 mph winds and 42 in. of snow.
The Northeastern United States Blizzard of 1978. This infamous, deadly blizzard left todays equivalent of $1.85 billion dollars in damage. Over 10,000 cars were left stranded after a two-day white-out buried the seaboard from Philadelphia to Boston in 27 in. of snow and reached hurricane-force winds.
Storm of the Century 1993. What started as a nor’easter in March 1993 ended as a disaster dubbed the “Storm of the Century.” This record-breaking nor’easter was the result of a rare catastrophe when three massive, and separate, weather systems unexpectedly mingled over the Gulf of Mexico. This combo from Hades affected states along the East Coast, from Florida to Maine, as well as interior states that didn’t often feel the effects of powerful nor’easters. $Six billion dollars in damage and up to 56 in. of snow in some areas.
The Nor’easter of 2016. This damaging weather event spanned two days across the mid-Atlantic and up into the Northeast and left behind 36-52 in. of snow in some areas. In addition to the heavy snow, there were 85 mph wind gusts and six tornadoes spawned as it traveled up the coast.
There are many more famous nor’easters to learn about and many more to come and experience first-hand. Given what you now know about the Miller System, perhaps you can spend your snowy days the next few weeks reading about the famous blizzards and figuring out which Miller-Type each of them was. You should also be able to identify the types of blizzards forthcoming. Don’t forget to make sure that in addition to learning about these weather systems, you are preparing adequately for them -but here in New England, where nor’easters are as much a part of life as lobster rolls and Dunkin’, you hardly need a reminder from this Utah-born and raised transplant. Stay safe and warm, readers!

The Plympton Zoning Board of Appeals met for a pubic hearing on Jan. 14 at 6:30 p.m. at the Plympton Town House. Secretary Ethan Stiles opened the hearing with ZBA Chair, Suzanne Jafferian, Alternate Member, David Alberti, and Town Council, Carloyn Murray in attendance. The applicant, Peter Opachinski of SLT Construction was joined by Brad McKenzie of McKenzie Engineering Group, Inc. and Attorney Robert Galvin of Galvin and Galvin PC.
The first matter of business was to address the Cease and Desist Order issued Nov. 10th, 2025 for SLT Construction for illegal earth removal operations at the assessor’s parcel M19-B2-L4 without a permit. This Cease and Desist Order was issued by Plympton Zoning Enforcement Officers Kathleen Cannizzo and Thomas Millias. Due to this order not being included on the night’s agenda as an oversight, the issue was postponed until the next hearing on Feb. 4, 2026. This is the second Cease and Desist Order issued by the Plympton Zoning Enforcement officers and the third violation of stormwater regulations as well as a history of wetland violations across the state by SLT Construction.
The next matter of business was the presentation of four hydrogeology peer reviewers that Gregory Driscoll, of JDE Civil, Inc. would be working with on behalf of the town of Plympton. The four proposals received were: Scott Horsley, Principal of Horsley Witten Group at $6,600-7,600.00, GEI Consultants at $12,000.00, Haley and Aldrich at $15,000.00, and RMA Geo-Environmental at $14,776. Due to the time frame compatibility of the proposal from GEI Consultants, the board selected GEI as the proposed peer reviewer of the hydrogeology report with RMA Geo-Environmental as the back-up plan should GEI be unable to keep the needed timeline.
Once the hydrogeology peer reviewer was selected, Stiles moved the hearing into a review of outstanding department head comments concerning the Ricketts Pond project. Zoning Board Alternate Dave Alberti asked to be allowed to present a compilation of questions he had for SLT Construction. “Some of these have already been covered, but these are items people have come to me with or we’ve had here on the floor during our discussions or out on the street with people…” Alberti noted, “I compiled what I had myself as well and there are about a dozen questions.” Alberti presented the questions in hard copy as well as via projection on the screen in the room.
The first question Alberti had was concerning a timeline for SLT Construction to estimate the project to be completed and how long they anticipated it to have the subdivision fully occupied. Galvin responded on behalf of SLT Construction, “Assuming we are given the permit allowing us to commence construction immediately, there is also a given period of site work, we would proceed to construct buildings as soon as possible. It’s likely to take more than a year, possibly two years, to complete construction, but we would proceed diligently to complete construction,” Galvin assured that if there were environmental or economic issues, a permit extension would be sought after. Town Council, Murray added that the permit issued would be good for three years, so it would likely already compliment to the proposed construction timeline, but extensions could be granted if needed.
The second question presented by Alberti addressed if the town was protected if construction was, for some reason, left incomplete. “I am trying to address things that could happen -though it’s unlikely it will,” Alberti pointed out. Galvin replied that in order for an occupancy certificate to be obtained, construction would have to be completed to the level that the planning board would normally say is adequate -for fire and safety access and water and septics would have to be completed…our expectation, you know, is that we will proceed expeditiously and diligently to complete the project.” Galvin added, “But the infrastructure, which is most important to you all, is going in first.”
Stiles then asked about the building permits and occupancy certificates and if they would be given individually to each duplex or bundled together. Opachinski replied, “My thoughts are to do like four duplexes at a time -so if the first two sold, then we would start another two, but a lot of that would depend on how the bank structures my construction loan.” Opachinski continued, “They are not going to loan all the money at one time to complete all 60 units -they will put a limit on it and it will be incremental over, say, a three year period, but the site will be neat and clean, the road will be done, and it’s just a matter of digging foundations and putting foundations in at that point.”
The third point of concern presented by Alberti was about oversight in monitoring the construction site and project adherence to compliance and safety. “Your engineer will monitor the construction to determine that it’s built in accordance with approved plans and code compliance, and we won’t be issued a building permit unless we can show them a plan that’s compliant with the state building code,” Galvin explained, “Your building inspector or building commissioner will determine building code compliance.” He then stated that SLT Construction would be funding the construction monitor, which was likely to be Driscoll.
Stiles then asked for clarification about what would happen if there was a compliance issue or confusion on the plans with the project or an issue raised by the construction monitor to which the reply was that SLT Construction would then approach the board and ask for a meeting to clarify and amend as needed. Galvin also assured that Driscoll’s firm would take the role of making sure that the work being done was in compliance with permits and plans. The board expressed collective relief to know that this measure of oversight was going to be in place. “That is super encouraging to me,” Jafferian commented, “To know that there are other boards and inspections and people in place to make sure -we don’t have to run down there all the time -it’s not all on us. I wasn’t sure how that was going to work -and I didn’t want ‘Oh you can just run’ with no checks and balances.”
The fourth point Alberti presented concerned the issue of needing visual and sound barriers for residents of the Ricketts Pond Estates due to its close proximity the Route 44. Opachinski responded that there are still some trees left after their removal years ago, and a chain-link fence for separation and an actual roadway to serve as a “pretty good” buffer. Stiles suggested that other parts of Route 44 do have concrete buffers along developments, to which Opachinski interjected, “It’s a great place for graffiti -no thank you.”
Next to address was addressing the maintenance of the stormwater management systems and operation and if that was the towns responsibility, or that of the HOA. McKenzie replied, “There will be a homeowners association that will be responsible for maintaining all infrastructure of the subdivision -the roadway, catch basin, and maintenance of the storm water facilities.” He continued, “Part of what we submitted to Mr. Driscoll for review of the drainage report was not only the construction phase of operation of the maintenance plan, but a long-term operation maintenance plan for the storm water system. There are reporting responsibilities and requirements from the states’ stormwater management regulations via the HOA.”
Stiles followed by asking for clarification about the proposed structure of the homeowner’s association for the Ricketts Pond subdivision. The proposed structure is a two-level management system with one level as the residents of each duplex, and the second level as the overarching level that maintains the common grounds of the subdivision. McKenzie replied, “Each lot is a sperate owner. The owner is a condo association because there are multiple units on each lot. It’s really no different than a conventional, definitive subdivision except you have multi-family units on each lot, and each lot is its own condominium association.”
McKenzie then explained the overarching HOA, “Overarching is the HOA responsible not for the maintenance of the lots, but for the maintenance of the right-of-way -which contains the stormwater management systems and common areas.” Opachinski then added that SLT Construction would be responsible for overall maintenance until enough of the subdivision was occupied to transfer that responsibility.
Stiles then inquired about the transference of ownership maintenance. “A certain amount of ownership then gets divested from the developer once a certain level of occupancy is reached.” Galvin pointed out that this transference can be flexible, “We want to maintain control for as long as possible to make sure it gets maintained… I have seen it done up to the last lot -you can do it when it reaches 75% occupancy, but it’s in the developers best interest to maintain control as long as possible.” Opachinski added, “We just did a 34 unit in Kingston and we didn’t turn it over until the last house was occupied,” which he explained took about three years.
The sixth item on Alberti’s list of questions raised the topic of the egress into Carver from the cul-de-sac. He asked if there was yet a planned roadway or escape or access. McKenzie pointed out that this area is private property and they don’t have legal authority or access to make decisions about the access point that is in Carver’s boundaries. Stiles asked about the possibility of a tunnel or overpass that would go under Route 44 to allow easier emergency access to the subdivision, but the idea was struck down due to the unlikelihood of the state granting permission for such a big project and the high cost.
Alberti asked the question then be addressed by attending Plympton Fire Prevention Captain, John Sjostedt. Sjostedt said that SLT Construction had a valuable meeting with the Plympton Fire and Police Department heads the day prior about emergency access to the subdivision. “I went down to Solar Circle and accessed the property from there, and with very minimal work we could have access for emergency vehicles.” He noted that the road existed currently to provide access to the solar project there, but it would be used for emergency vehicle access to Ricketts Pond as well.
Alberti moved to the next topic about a drawing of several units presented on plans from July 25 of 2025 that are no longer included in the current plans. They had initially indicated the units that were deemed affordable housing units. McKenzie inspected the map on the projector screen and pointed out that the document from July was prepared by Delphic Associates, LLC., and not part of SLT’s proposed plan.
The topic of renting out units was next up for discussion. The question posed was, “IS the owner of a single unit or a number of units able to rent out the dwellings as an absentee landlord?” Murray interjected that for the affordable housing units, it was required to have an eligible-income purchaser and there will be deed restrictions that require the unit be occupied by the eligible-income purchaser. Galvin said that they would not allow short-term rentals, but long-term rentals would be acceptable.
Alberti then asked about the enforcement of the regulation of keeping occupancy limit of each unit at two people per bedroom. “That is actually illegal and considered discrimination against families to enforce an occupancy limit,” Galvin explained. Stiles commented that if am issue arose with something in terms of sanitation due to overcrowding, then the Board of Health would be the ones to get involved. McKenzie clarified that the “two-persons per bedroom limit” was only drawn up by the state to regulate what constitutes the need for public water supply -which would be 25 people using one well -something far out of the planned threshold of the Ricketts Pond project.
The following topics presented covered the concern about the town of Plympton being covered in the event of a failing of the subdivision, and if the HOA’s established therein would serve the best interests of not only the subdivision, but the town. Galvin explained, “Each lot will have its own condominium association, and that will have a lot of authority to impose fees, and fines, and collect money to make sure the infrastructure is taken care of.” He went on to explain that all of the condominium associations would then form a home-owners association that would take care of street, drainage, and all facilities. Each lot would get one vote in relation to HOA policies and they will each disperse the management of their fees.
Stiles pointed out that if each lot gets one vote, that is uneven for lots that have more units on them. “That would mean that the voting of one lot with one house on it would have double the weight of a lot with two houses on it.” Galvin assured that the voting weight gets distributed because a majority of 80% vote is needed to approve or change anything. Stiles concluded that the Zoning Board has no jurisdiction over how the HOA is formed and run, but they were expected to act in the best interest of the town once formed.
Concluding the questions posed by Alberti, there was a question from a resident in attendance who asked Sjostedt if the emergency access to the subdivision would be lost if the solar farm ceased to exist. Sjostedt said that he was fairly confident access would still be possible as emergency response allowances are very liberal. “They will do whatever is necessary to get to a fire,” Galvin assured.
McKenzie brought up the discussion with the Plympton Emergency Response teams the day before. “The letters were somewhat confusing as to what was required of us in terms of the requirements for water storage capacity in the cisterns. And what we heard was that she would require two cisterns or one cistern and automatic sprinklers for each unit. We are in the process of assessing those costs.”
In addition to clarification of the letters from the Fire and Police Departments, was the issue of street parking possibly blocking emergency vehicles access. SLT presented their remedy for these issues in the form of “No Parking” signs alongside the road, and a twenty-car parking lot for visitors to the subdivision. In addition, the safety measure of placing cisterns no further than 900ft away from a unit and each cistern holding the required 30,000 gallons of water, each, pacified both parties and their questions. The meeting was adjourned shortly after and the date for the next public hearing is February 4 at 6:30 p.m. at the Plympton Town Hall. We, at the Express, continue to encourage public participation in these hearings -especially pertaining to issues determining the future of our unique town. For more information on the Ricketts Pond Estates 40B Project, please visit the town website: https://www.town.plympton.ma.