Allison Brown
Special to the Express
At the Tuesday, Oct, 3, meeting of the Kingston School Committee, the Kingston Foundation for Education presented a check for $60,000, their 9th annual check, the result of their fundraising efforts.
The Kingston Foundation for Education (KFE) is a non-profit organization run by parents who are interested in supporting the Kingston Public Schools. The foundation works with Kingston school leaders and district administration to raise funds to supplement the school budget. By doing this, they can provide the Kingston schools, and its children, the same opportunities as neighboring towns. Each year, a group of about 15 dedicated parents, and four executive board members, help KFE raise money and volunteer at events.
Since its foundation in 2014, KFE has raised nearly $1 million dollars to supplement the school budget. Over the past two years, the KFE has funded the purchase of Chromebooks, the Lu Interactive System, Lab Headphones, a Beth Ferry author visit, Moxie, and the repaving of the KES recess yard with new educational pavement stencils. The $60,000 KFE has donated this year will be used to upgrade and buy new technology and provide funding for additional STEAM programs and other educational materials needed this year.
Traditionally, KFE will raise money by planning several fun, charitable events including the Boosterthon Fun Run and the Kentucky Derby Party. Last month, it hosted its first ever Back-to-School Brews fundraiser at Mayflower Brewery, complete with an awesome band (the Rippers!) and a thrilling beer pong tournament. It was such a success that KFE will plan to do it again next year!
Its mission is simple: to help members of the Kingston community channel their positive energy into improving the already phenomenal public school system. As parents, we all love our kids, and we want to set them up for success. And we also want them to have the best opportunities and latest technology available when it comes to learning. We want to thank our Kingston community of parents and educators, and the small businesses of Kingston and the South Shore who help make our goals possible.

More than 30 friends and Ferguson family members gathered at the intersection of Route 58 and Winnetuxet Road in Plympton to re-dedicate the newly reconstructed bridge named for Hugh Ward Ferguson, missing in action since December 1, 1950 in the Korean Conflict. No one saw him fall and his body was never recovered. Standing at the newly re-dedicated bridge Tuesday morning were, from left, Sue Ferguson, Norman Ferguson, Bruce Ferguson, Jean Ferguson, Douglas Ward Ferguson, Ward ’Tony’ Ferguson, State Rep. Kathy LaNatra, Melissa Ferguson Meo, and Cathy Ferguson. More on page 7.

Saturday morning’s cold drizzle didn’t stop the smiles as members of the Plympton community came together to cut the ribbon for the grand opening of the Dennett Elementary School’s ADA compliant playground with play structures K-6 appropriate that everyone can enjoy in a safe environment. Jason Fraser, chairman of the Dennett Elementary School Committee, gave opening remarks. From left are Principal Peter Veneto, Selectman John Traynor, former chairman of the School Choice Funds committee Brian Wick, Fraser, Silver Lake District Business Manager Christine Healey, former Dennett school committee chairman Jon Wilhelmsen, CPC member Paul D’Angelo, Jr., State Rep. Kathy LaNatra, CPC member Deb Anderson, and Joanne Beckwith, Planning Board member. Continued on page 2

The weather couldn’t have been better for the recent Transportation Night at the Holmes Public Library in Halifax.
Officer Patrick Donnelly from the Halifax Police Dept., Steve Hayward, Highway Superintendent; Kim Kressler from First Student Inc. school busses, and Shamus Ricciarelli and Derek Coveney from the Halifax Fire Dept shared their time, expertise, and big shiny vehicles with more than 60 people.
Transportation Night is an annual event held every August at the Holmes Public Library and this year’s theme tied in well with the Holmes Summer Reading Program titled “Every Hero has a Story”.Children visited with local heroes from the police, fire, and highway departments, as well as the school bus company, asked them questions, and tried out the horns and sirens on all of the vehicles.

First day of school is always exciting, but doubly so with these two cousins, climbing onto Bus 26, the same number bus that their fathers rode to school a couple of decades ago.
Wednesday the kindergardeners got to ride the big bus and begin their school careers. Grades one through six started school last week.
This day, as parents and friends congregated to see their little ones off, they were treated to backup chimes and trucks preparing the road for resurfacing. The younger siblings of these two were delighted of course to see the big trucks dumping hot Macadam and a steam roller packing it all down. The school bus driver, not so much…
What could have been a sad story with late bus arrival and parents late to work was turned into a fun experience when the big trucks pulled over to let the school bus go by and gave the little ones on the bus a great view of the work being done.

The number of black bear sightings this season is like nothing we’ve seen before in Southeastern Massachusetts. Steve Wright, Southeastern District Wildlife Biologist for the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife, said there are “at least a few” black bears in our neighborhood, young male bears out looking for a new area to call home.
It looks like bears will be among us for the foreseeable future and we should equip ourselves with the knowledge of what to do and how to discourage them for setting up housekeeping near our homes.
Check out the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife at https://www.mass.gov/doc/living-with-black-bears-fact-sheet/download to get the facts and what to do and not to do with black bears nearby.
The most important item is to make sure all food is put securely away. All trash should be secured. Bird feeders should be taken in. Perhaps only feed them when bears are sleeping – December through March.
Black bears are large – males weigh in at between 130 to 600 pounds. Females from 100 to 400 pounds. They have good eyesight and hearing, and an extraordinary sense of smell to locate food and sense danger. They have good memories and can remember where was. If you have corn growing in your garden, it is a favorite of bears, too.

Photos and text by
Mary Schiess
Express correspondent
Nick Cotoulas wants to share his passion for history. As Kingston’s archivist/librarian, his job offers that opportunity. Nick has curated an exhibit titled “A History of Kingston Schools” that will occur at the Adams Center from August 16 to August 31, 2023. Kingston’s archives, housed at the Adams Center, are rich with materials tracing educational initiatives. The exhibit will span the period dating from the 1700’s to 1990. Publications, photographs, objects, and personal documents will reinforce Education’s importance to Kingston.
Nick’s preoccupation with history began with his family. His grandfather was a collector and dealer in antique postcards. His father, a picture framer, continued the exploration of historic art works. As a child Nick was a collector (coins, a Lincoln piggy bank) His first childhood exhibit was a display case of presidential coins. His college career included volunteering as an assistant archivist, working in the Clark University Book Conservatory Lab, and interning at the American Antiquarian Society. He earned a Master’s Degree from San Jose State. Each step advanced his learning of and love for history.
A wealth of archival materials related to the Kingston schools inspired the current presentation. A traveling schoolmaster from the 1700’s, teachers and educational activists, and timing at the end of the library summer reading program and at the rapidly approaching school year combined to add this exhibit to the calendar.
Historical stand outs included in the exhibit are Walter Faunce (1844-1924), Catherine Drew Russell, educator and school committee woman, and Hannah Thomas Brewster Adams (1796-1858). The exhibit will introduce each of these and more educational leaders.
Nick’s goal is to create exhibits and events for as wide and diverse an audience as possible. Visitors will see original school books, a report card, and photographs of students and educators. Nick hopes to inspire residents who are not aware of the archival collection. Displays can pique interest and encourage further studies. Out-of-towners may find connections to their own histories. Viewing a 200-year-old letter can create a respect for history and an inspiration to preserve family artifacts. An object, a photo, a personal writing can lead to a more in-depth look.
A comparison of dated text books with today’s computerized learning tells its own story. A desk and chair bolted to the floor relate a previous style of learning.
Nick will be lecturing on the History of Kingston Schools on Saturday, Aug. 19, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Adams Center.