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BOS Approves STM Warrant

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The Plympton Board of Selectmen met virtually on Monday, Oct. 17.

Tom Millias, who serves as the Inspector of Buildings/Building Commissioner and oversees zoning determinations and zoning enforcement, attended the meeting to provide an update on the Building Department. Selectmen have been continuing the tradition begun last year of inviting various department heads to attend different meetings to get an overall sense of what is going on in the town. “We continue to be quite busy with permit applications… despite the high cost of materials,” Millias explained.

Millais turned things over to Kathy Cannizzo who acts as an Administrative Assistant as well as dealing with zoning determinations and enforcement to elaborate further on zoning issues.  “One item we continue to pursue is signs,” she explained. She said that no sign should exceed 6 sq. ft. of area without a signed permit from the Planning Board. She also said that no property should have more than three commercial vehicles without a special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals. “We’ve also been dealing with a lot of preexisting houses looking to add on,” she said. “We’ve been dealing with a lot of older lots that have suddenly and recently been put on the market,” Millias added. He said that following the chain of title to determine what needs to be presented to comply with the new bylaws has proven challenging.

“One of the items I would like to touch on… is with dog kennels. We are in the process of putting in some observations and suggestions to the Zoning Bylaw Committee,” Millias explained. He said that the zoning section of the bylaws and the municipal section of the bylaws conflict with one another that presents a problem. Selectman John Traynor asked if they could identify those conflicts and ask the Bylaw Committee to address them. “I’m in total support, Kathy your knowledge of the zoning bylaws just staggers me,” he said to Cannizzo. “Me too,” Millias said concurring with Traynor.

“We are engaged, and we are involved, and we have been dealing with quite a few things,” Millias said of the enforcement. Selectman Mark Russo asked what kind of feedback is received when they speak to residents about enforcement. “A lot has to do with how you approach people; I’ve never been a guns blazing kind of guy – that’s counterproductive,” Millias said. He continued saying that most residents are receptive and do their best to cooperate. He credited Cannizzo with having a pleasant demeanor about her that helps ease the tension.

Town Administrator Liz Dennehy went over the Warrant for the Special Town Meeting that will be held on Nov. 30. Article 1 is for the acquisition of Turkey Swamp. Article 2 is put forth by the treasurer to afford her the ability under Mass General Law to setup payment plans for landowners. Article 3 is for the unemployment line which is budgeted at only $1,000 annually. Dennehy said that the estimated amount needed is $21,000. Article 4 looks to exempt the Fire Chief from Mass General Laws that require he be under 65 years of age. She said the article is to allow him to retain the position through age 70. Article 5 is a housekeeping article for the wage and personnel bylaw. Dennehy noted that it wouldn’t affect anyone’s benefits. Article 6 is from the Assessor’s office to transfer from the overlay surplus fund to reduce the 2023 tax rate. Article 7 is from the Town Properties Committee to replace or repair the roof at the Old Townhouse. The Selectmen voted to recommend the articles. The Selectmen also voted the approval for the posting of the warrant for the Nov. 8 State election.

Also on the agenda for the evening was the approval of the Conservation Commission’s Acceptance of two different deeds for two pieces of land located off Prospect Rd. The lands were gifted by Curtis Shaw and Robert Sarofeen. Chair Christine Joy asked if they abutted Two Brooks Preserve and was told they were in that general area. Dennehy said that the acquisition of the land would help the town in their overall footprint of protected lands. One of the lands is referred to as Cob Fresh Meadow and is 1.5 acres. “The Curtis Shaw land is known as Sampson Fresh Meadow,” Dennehy said. “So, both of these lands are going to help make connections with Two Brooks Preserve,” she continued. The Selectman voted unanimously to accept the land that was gifted.

Among her Town Administrator’s updates, Dennehy said she met with the Finance Committee to discuss some potential changes to the budget process. She said they would be meeting on November 14 to vote their recommendations. She said that at the November 7 Board of Selectmen’s meeting, the Town Moderator would be in attendance to iron out the language for the motions at the Special Town Meeting. Dennehy also said that the heat pump system work that was done under the Green Communities Grant is nearly done, noting that it would be able to be closed out almost as quickly as it was opened.

Russo led off the raves with one for the foliage in October calling those lucky enough to witness it “quite blessed.”

Traynor said his rave was similar noting that his grandniece got married outside at Perkins Farm.  “Looking across the pond toward Main St. with the foliage in the background, it was something like you would see in Yankee Magazine, it was beautiful,” he said.  “

My rave is for Liz and Chief Ahl with managing the strike,” Joy began. “This has been so much time and energy around the clock, really managing a very big situation,” she continued. She said her second comment was more of a warning as a coyote went after her and her dog while walking. “You just need to be aware of your surroundings.”

Halifax mourns youth softball coach

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Beloved Halifax youth  softball coach Thomas R. “TJ” Bauer, Jr., was struck and killed early Saturday morning while walking on Route I-495 near Plainville.   

He is believed  to have been walking north when he was struck by a Volvo SUV, just north of Exit 36B.  The Volvo driver was not hurt.

Bauer’s vehicle was found parked in the highwa’s breakdown lane.  Police have not said if they know why Bauer got out of his car.    

Troopers responded to calls at 5:15 a.m. stating a pedestrian was down in the northbound roadway of Rote 495.   In a statement released by the Foxborough Barracks of the State Police, two left lanes of Route I-495 were closed from the time of the crash until approximately 7:30 a.m.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation, being conducted by the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section and the State Police Crime Scene Services Section.

Plympton BOS votes conservation restriction

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The Plympton Board of Selectmen met virtually at 1:30 pm on Monday, Oct. 3. The brief meeting was to discuss and vote on a conservation restriction. “It pertains to a portion of the property that is located off of Lake St., I believe the official address is 0 Lake St.,” Town Administrator Liz Dennehy said.  “The conservation restriction itself will encompass approximately 31.07 acres… it’s owned by Harju Brothers Cranberries Inc. and what’s before you today, I would suggest that you make a motion to approve said conservation restriction for that portion of the property,”  Dennehy explained to the selectmen.

A conservation restriction in the State of Massachusetts is a legal agreement that protects conservation ideals while allowing for limited land uses that align with those ideals. The Massachusetts Conservation Restriction Handbook describes them as follows, “The unique features of conservation restrictions are that they leave land on the tax rolls (though sometimes much reduced in value), preserve land without public ownership and allow, in many instances, for public access.”

Selectman John Traynor moved the motion and Selectman Christine Joy seconded. Traynor acknowledged that no one from the public attended the meeting but did open it up for discussion, nonetheless. Joy said, “It looked good to me; it looked like basically the Wildlands Trust had been involved in this and that they were happy with the conservation restriction… I wish it was a larger parcel but I’m happy with what they have come up with. It looks like it is a nice parcel of land with some potential for some passive recreation at some point.”  The Wildlands Trust describes their mission as being, “committed to protecting land and providing access to nature for the people of our region, regardless of income, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity.”

Selectman Mark Russo abstained from the vote saying, “As a member of the Board of Wildlands Trust, just to avoid any confusion whatsoever, I’ll abstain.” Howard Randall of Plympton is also a member of the Wildlands Trust Board. The motion passed 2-0 with both Joy and Traynor voting in favor of the conservation restriction.

Plympton seeks solar moratorium

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The Plympton Board of Selectmen met virtually on Monday, Sept. 26. Christine Joy was not in attendance.

The Board approved early voting hours for the November election. Town Administrator Liz Dennehy went over the Board of Selectmen sponsored articles for the Special Town Meeting on November 30. Two of those articles are for acquisition of the Turkey Swamp parcel. Another is for the Fire Chief age restriction cap extension. It is currently capped at age 65 and the town is looking to petition the State to extend it to age 70 for Plympton’s Chief. Another is a simple Wage and Personnel bylaw which was described by Dennehy as “minor housekeeping.”

Yet another was for a temporary solar moratorium through July 1, 2023. “For all of the existing ground mounted solar projects, all of those were grandfathered in under the old bylaw,” Town Properties Committee Chair Jon Wilhelmsen said. Dennehy said that there were no problems with existing projects, but rather the amount and frequency of the projects has led to the desire for a temporary moratorium on them. Selectman John Traynor said he would like an opportunity to evaluate the environmental impact of these projects.

Dennehy said the application she submitted for a Community Compact grant for just over $25,000 for technical assistance in developing an emergency preparedness plan was approved. She said they would not be eligible for funding of the updating of the Capital Improvement Plan. She said they may want to consider an article at town meeting in May to create a five-year Capital Improvement Plan.

The Selectmen ended with their rants and raves. “For Liz and the late in the week report she sends sort of giving background on agenda items… it really is tremendously helpful to have that information and have the weekend to think about and digest that,” Russo said. Traynor said he was approached by a CASA member who put him in touch with someone who was trying to find space for youth cheerleading. He said he reached out to Colleen Thompson and the church will now be hosting them for 8 sessions.

First book about First Haircut

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Darren Shea has been a barber at John & Son’s Barber Shop in Halifax for the last 27 years. His father, John, has been working in the town for 54 years and is celebrating 60 years since going to barber school this October. Shea’s nephew and cousin also work in the shop which Shea says his father built from the ground up.

Shea recently completed work on a children’s book about getting your first haircut and the main character is none other than his own father. The book, John’s Crew: My First Haircut, will be available next month. It will be for sale at John & Son’s as well as other online and brick and mortar locations. A website johnscrew.com, which will be live in October, will have purchasing and other information on it.

Asked if writing a children’s book was something he always wanted to do, Shea said it actually wasn’t. Shea called himself “the perfect example of ADHD” saying that it enables him to think outside the box and come up with creative outlets for his ideas.

“I thought about the idea during Covid when we weren’t working… it just kind of popped into my head,” he explained.

Shea said he loosely based the idea on the children’s show, Bob the Builder. He explained, “Why don’t we make a barber version of Bob the Builder and have his tools be the ones that talk and teach kids lessons and make them not scared of haircuts.” Shea said that the character of the barber pole is loosely based on himself. He laughed saying, “he’s always spinning, he’s always excited; he’s right in the window and he sees the people come in.”

Shea explained that while on the surface the book is about a child receiving their first haircut, it is really about generations.

Shea explained that he drew inspiration from nearly thirty years of cutting hair, especially those first ones that mark a milestone in any young child’s life. “This first book is pretty much based on real life experience. We have a horse chair in the barber shop and this book has a horse chair in it.”

He continued, “It’s pretty much based on this kid has to go in for a haircut and the father got a haircut from the same barber, so it’s all about generations; if you went there as a kid, then your kid goes there, then your kid’s kid.” Shea has big plans for future books in what he hopes will eventually become a series. He said he would like for them to follow the child in the first book as he grows and eventually has his own child who will then need his first haircut.

Shea credits his father John with creating the kind of shop that has served multiple generations. “Even the people that don’t come in anymore they still walk in to say hi; it becomes a family,” Shea explained.

Despite a close personal and working relationship with his father, Shea managed to keep the book a secret from him for two years. Over Labor Day weekend, he planned a party with family where he unveiled the book to his father.

The book is being published by Kate Conway of Bourne and it is illustrated by Dan Bigelow of Fall River. Shea said that he came up with the concepts for the drawings and Bigelow brought them to life. He sang Bigelow’s praises, saying he truly has an eye for creating illustrations that will appeal to the desired demographic.

Shea will be doing readings and book signings in local libraries and schools in the coming months. It will be $24.95 plus tax, and he will be accepting Venmo, credit card, or cash.

Lowering the flag on 9/11

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As many first responder units across the country, Plympton’s fire and police departments gathered together on Sunday, September 11, to commemorate those lost as the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City came down.

The ceremonial lowering of the flag to half-staff was at 9:30 a.m. to a small, solemn audience.

Plympton Fire Chief Stephen G. Silva spoke to the assembly, noting the pain and sacrifice that continue to this day.  These are his words:

“Blue skies, crisp air, perfect early fall day in New England, a perfect morning so quickly changed.

“In less than 2 1/2 hours more than 2,977 people were killed, 25,000 injured. 343 firefighters killed, 71 police officers perished, many whose remains have never been recovered; they simply disintegrated.  Twenty-one years later the toll continues to rise.  More then 1,400 rescue workers who spent tireless hours, weeks and months on the “pile” have died of WTC (World Trade Center) related cancer, and there will surely be more. The FBI has stated that the outliers of the related deaths will go on for years; the full impact of carnage may never be known.

“Who died? We all did to some degree. There was no separation of white collar to blue collar, there was no separation by where we came from, there was no separation of White, Black, Asian, Hispanic, they were just people who started their day as they always did, awaken, breakfast, get ready for their day, get kids off to school, kiss a love one good-bye as they left for work never knowing they would disappear.

“The days and weeks after America was gripped first in fear – maybe that is the wrong word, vigilance perhaps – we waited for the next attack. Thankfully it did not come. Our rage and fear quickly turned to patriotism. We were attacked. Our brothers and sisters died and for what? For freedom.   Freedom we take so easily for granted. Freedom to raise a family. Freedom to live. Freedom of live liberty. Freedom.

“Flags were flown; people came together, crime rates actually dropped. The terrorists underestimated the resolve of Americans. There was no looting, no riots, no shootings; there was pride, resolve, yes there was anger but that anger was channeled for good.

“God forbid something like 9/11 would happen today.  Truthfully it has; the war between good and evil continues as it always does. We see it every day. No not to the scale of 9/11 but in increments.  It is our response that has changed. Today we blame each other. There is so little discourse. It seems if your opinion is different than someone else’s you risk offending and then your own cancelation.

“James Madison, a founding father, warned us in 1788 at the Continental Congress in Virginia, “I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations.”

“What has happened? Where is the pride?  Where is the vision?  Where is America?

“Let us never forget 9/11, and equally important let us never forget what we are … we are AMERICANS.  That is not something to shy from, it is something to be thankful for.

I will leave you with this from President Harry Truman:

“America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination and on unbeatable determination to do the job at hand.”

Remember 9/11, remember those who died, remember this day, we shall never forget.”

Stephen G.  Silva, Chief

Plympton

Fire Department

Plympton’s first Flower Show blooms

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Saturday was a beautiful day for the first Plympton Flower Show held on the town Green.  About a hundred selections were entered into the adult categories of Species, Arrangement, or Produce, with children’s categories in Produce and Fairy Garden.

Gabby Falconieri and Stephanie Teran, of the Friends of the Plympton Garden Club, spearheaded the event that ran from registration from 9 to 10 a.m., then judging from 10 to 11 a.m., followed by audience appreciation from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Children were happy to see their Fairy Houses, many of which were made earlier in the week as a special project at the Plympton Library.   Fashioned out of various bits of vegetation and forest litter, the unlikely elements were transformed into cozy cottages for tiny fairies.   One little guy even added a twig ladder to his, “… because they’re very small and the ladder will help them get in,” he explained to the photographer.

Waiting for the judges, children also got to play with the bubble machine, color and coloring books, and photo-op with flower cutouts.

Floral arrangements were judged by well-known South Shore horticulturalist and designer George Stanchfield; gardener and chef of Just Right Farm fame Kimberly Russo; and Elise Freda, flower farmer extraordinaire from Crooked Barn Flowers in Kingston.

The upbeat tunes of Plympton’s Old Time Jam gave a country feel to the event as the group got together to perform on the Gazebo.  Barry Decristofano played his mandolin, while others played their mandolins, guitar, and fiddle.   Plympton Old Time Jam gets together twice a month and is open to anyone who likes to “play our kind of music.”  What’s the difference between a fiddle and a violin?  “Attitude!” was the answer.

Acting as Master of Ceremonies was Plympton’s own Mike Lemieux of “Houses with History” fame.

Awarded the prize for Best in Show was Dave Alberti whose pumpkin was a real show stopper!  The cucurbitacae, a French strain with light peach skin draped with a veil of beige netting here and there, definitely had an attitude!  The judges appreciated it and awarded Dave the grand prize.   

All the children were awarded Participation ribbons.

The often-heard sentiment throughout the crowd was “I hope they do this again next year!”

Proceeds from the event will be used for the Plympton Garden Club.

North Easton Savings Bank Once Again Named a Top Bank in Massachusetts by Forbes and Statista

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EASTON, MA – For the second consecutive year, North Easton Savings Bank has been named by Forbes as a top-ranked bank in Massachusetts on Forbes’ most recent listing of America’s Best Banks and Credit Unions in each state.

 “It’s an honor to once again appear on this prestigious list,” stated Rich Spencer, president and CEO of North Easton Savings Bank. “This distinction is a direct reflection of our staff’s hard work and dedication to the communities we serve. Our consistent presence on the Forbes list reinforces that we can deliver premium experiences equal to, if not better than, those provided by national brands, all backed and serviced by our amazing local team.”

 The Bank’s partnership approach combined with its belief in local investment reinforces its mission of improving the quality of living, working, and raising a family in the communities they serve.

 About North Easton Savings Bank

Rated as one of the top banks in Massachusetts by Forbes, with over $1.3 billion in assets, North Easton Savings Bank is uniquely situated to provide personal and commercial banking and lending solutions to southeastern Massachusetts. Founded in 1864, North Easton has a proven track record of growing the community through fair banking practices, financial advising, and local philanthropy. Looking forward,

North Easton is well-positioned as the preferred area banking partner with a powerful combination of convenient features like mobile and online banking and the personal, hometown touch of a local bank.

North Easton Savings Bank is fully insured by the FDIC and the DIF and is an Equal Housing Lender. For more information, please visit NorthEastonSavingsBank.com.

SCARLET SUNSET

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A band made up of current Silver Lake students and recent graduates, came together over the summer with a plan to showcase their talents.  Many practices, and fun times, culminated in an end-of-summer live performance for friends and family held at the Carver School of Music on Friday, Aug. 12.   Pictured are, front row: Nathan Saad, guitar.  Back row, from left, are Rosella Hoffman, piano/vocals; Patrick Bray, vocals; Laurel Fallis, vocals/guitar; Brennan Fallis, drums; Connor McKinnon, MC/vocals, and Ben Webby, bass.      Photo by Roseann Fallis