The Friday evening, June 3 graduation celebration of Silver Lake Regional High School saw a class full of determination and resilience stride across the stage to accept their diplomas.

The resounding theme of speeches by Class President and Salutatorian Hailey E. Beatrice, Valedictorian Delaney R. Arendt, Vice-president Will P. Canniff, Class Secretary Colleen M. Gabriel, Treasurer Caroline S. Dean, and Historian Stephanie K. Murphy was the obstacles they had overcome and come through stronger and more capable than they ever would have thought.

Class President Beatrice chose resilience, constantly interrupted, and unpredictable, as the words to mark her high school career.  Being able to get through a gas leak, school shutting down, a remote year – these  made her class stronger.  Having met those obstacles, she proclaimed her classmates are “ready for great things.”

Anthony Weber, history teacher and invited faculty member, said through it all the class of 2022 “demonstrated a maturity far beyond your years … setting an example for those who follow.”

Class Valedictorian Delaney R. Arendt, whose brother Lt. Logan Arendt attended graduation through Facetime from his military posting, said, “we have a wealth of high school knowledge to build on… Time, failure, and experience…   I learn nothing from an A; failure keeps us humble, motivates you to try harder.  And with all the lessons learned at Silver Lake, “I think we’ll be all right.”

Michaela Gill, principal of Silver Lake Regional High School told the class, “Had you asked four years ago I never could have imagined a global pandemic, a worldwide shutdown, an unprecedented national school closing…there is no greater honor than to know that your students are leaving your school as thinkers, entrepreneurs, and leaders.”

Dr. Jill Proulx, Superintendent of Schools, told about her heroes, and being a part of something much bigger than yourselves.  She told the class of 2022 to dream big dreams.  You can make mistakes and get up.  Rejoice in the possibility of a better tomorrow.  “In the end we are all stories… make it a good one.”

Plympton Police Blotter

MONDAY, MAY 30

1:48 a.m.  Burglar alarm investigated at the Dennett on Crescent Street.

8:19 a.m.  Outside fire extinguished on Brook Street.

7:06 p.m.  Hospital transport of Plympton ambulance to Fuller Street in Middleboro.

7:50 p.m.  Outside fire extinguished on Brook Street.

8:24 p.m.  Medical services rendered on Sheffield Park.

9:37 p.m.  Transport/escort services completed on Upland Road.

TUESDAY, MAY 31

11:54 a.m.  Services rendered at suspicious activity at PD on Palmer Road.

4:33 p.m.  Services rendered at inside investigation on Grove Street.

5:36 p.m.  Erratic motor vehicle investigated on Montello Street.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1

6:30 a.m.  Animal control services rendered on Brook Street.

7:56 a.m.  Services rendered at detector issue on Ring Road.

3:51 p.m.  Hospital transport of Plympton ambulance to Wapping Road in Kingston.

THURSDAY, JUNE 2

9:06 p.m.  Report taken of threats at PD on Palmer Road.

FRIDAY, JUNE 3

11:27 a.m.  Investigation at follow-up on Spring Street.

3:13 p.m.  Services rendered to assist other agency on Thomas Blanchard Drive.

5:19 p.m.  Services rendered at lost/recovered property on Pleasant Street.

SATURDAY, JUNE 4

1:34 a.m.  Citation issued at motor vehicle stop on Palmer Road.

8:56 a.m.  Burglar alarm investigated on Upland Road.

3:12 p.m.  Report taken of disturbance on County Road.

4:38 p.m.  Hospital transport of suspicious activity on County Road.

Halifax Police Blotter

MONDAY, MAY 30

12:43 a.m.  Suspicious activity investigated on Beechwood Road.

12:11 p.m.  Services rendered at lost/recovered property on Plymouth Street.

4:09 p.m.  911 call confirmed on Ferndale Drive.

5:10 p.m.  Services rendered at suspicious activity on Third Avenue.

6:11 p.m.  Citation issued at parking complaint at beach on Fourth Avenue.

7:06 p.m.  Hospital transport of medical emergency on Parsons Lane.

TUESDAY, MAY 31

6:31 a.m.  911 call investigated on Thompson Street.

12:29 p.m.  Hospital transport of medical alarm on Oak Street.

1:47 p.m.  Services rendered at suspicious activity at HES on Plymouth Street.

4:20 p.m.  Report taken at medical emergency on Monponsett Street.

5:10 p.m.  Report taken of fraud on Oak Street.

10:06 p.m.  Services rendered at inside investigation on Plymouth Street.

11:24 p.m.  Services rendered at 911 call on Twin Lakes Drive.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1

6:37 a.m.  Services rendered at animal control on Beechwood Road.

11:18 a.m.  Written warning issued at motor vehicle stop on Walnut Street.

1:58 p.m.  Report taken at investigation on Hickory Road.

2:20 p.m.  Investigation by animal control on Bow Street.

7:03 p.m.  Report taken at suspicious activity on Plymouth Street.

9:21 p.m.  Services rendered at motor vehicle lockout on Holmes Street.

10:36 p.m.  Services rendered at well-being check on Monponsett Street.

THURSDAY, JUNE 2

12:51 p.m.  Hazmat spill investigated on Plymouth Street.

7:29 p.m.  Hospital transport of 911 call on Palmer Mill Road.

FRIDAY, JUNE 3

11:44 a.m.  Services rendered at motor vehicle lockout on Plymouth Street.

2:12 p.m.  Report taken of erratic motor vehicle at HES on Plymouth Street.

2:46 p.m.  Services rendered at investigation at PD on Plymouth Street.

6:19 p.m.  Hospital transport of medical emergency on Chestnut Road.

SATURDAY, JUNE 4

8:43 a.m.  Arrest at suspicious activity on Marjorie Drive.

10:24 a.m.  Services rendered at noise complaint on Annawon Drive.

10:50 a.m.  911 call investigated on Walnut Street.

11:17 a.m.  Report taken of larceny on Plymouth Street.

3:12 p.m.  Report taken of disturbance on County Road in Plympton.

6:24 p.m.  Services rendered at motor vehicle crash/other at library on Plymouth Street.

SUNDAY, JUNE 5

2:25 p.m.  Report taken of threats on Beechwood Road.

2:27 p.m.  Services rendered at threats on Hayward Street.

5:06 p.m.  Hospital transport of suspicious activity on Plymouth Street.

7:51 p.m.  Vandalism investigated on Plymouth Street.

10:57 p.m.  Hospital transport at fire alarm on Palmer Mill Road.

Kingston Police Blotter

SUNDAY, MAY 22

8:55 a.m.  Served in hand at assist of FD on Foster Lane.

10:12 a.m.  Services rendered at medical emergency on Chipman Way.

10:41 a.m.  Hospital transport of medical emergency on Chipman Way.

11:28 a.m.  Services rendered at police officer request on Summer Street.

12:46 p.m.  Services rendered at medical emergency on Chipman Way.

1:47 p.m.  Legal document served in hand on Summer Street.

5:45 p.m.  Services rendered to assist FD on Kingston Collection Way.

6:09 p.m.  Party spoken to at police officer request on Tremont Street & Dillingham Way.

7:36 p.m.  Services rendered at medical emergency on Main Street.

MONDAY, MAY 23

7:57 a.m.  Hospital transport at police officer request on Brook Street.

9:46 a.m.  Services rendered at medical emergency on Crimson Harvest Drive.

10:57 a.m.  Hospital transport of well-being check on Oldfield Drive.

12:26 p.m.  Report taken at serving of legal document at PD on Main Street.

12:43 p.m.  Report taken at motor vehicle crash at Summer Street & Duxbury Road.

1:02 p.m.  Services rendered at follow-up investigation at PD on Main Street.

1:08 p.m.  Services rendered at suspicious activity on Pembroke Street.

1:42 p.m.  Report taken at police officer request at SLRHS on Pembroke Street.

2:22 p.m.  Services rendered at motor vehicle query on Main Street.

3:26 p.m.  Report taken of identity theft on Wapping Road.

4:04 p.m.  Report taken at motor vehicle crash at Duxbury Road & Bay Path.

4:41 p.m.  Hospital transport of medical emergency on Rocky Nook Avenue.

4:53 p.m.  Services rendered at police officer request on Pilgrim Street.

5:21 p.m.  Party spoken to at police officer request on Grove Street.

5:39 p.m.  Services rendered at unwanted guest on Grove Street.

5:50 p.m.  Report taken at follow-up investigation on Lake Street.

5:53 p.m.  Report taken at motor vehicle crash on Wapping Road.

8:21 p.m.  Report taken at follow-up investigation on Ring Road.

TUESDAY, MAY 24

6:04 a.m.  Hospital transport of medical emergency on Green Street.

8:49 a.m.  Services rendered at medical emergency on Main Street.

9:08 a.m.  Services rendered to assist FD on Elm Street.

10:36 a.m.  Report taken of missing/lost property on Smiths Lane.

12:05 p.m.  Services rendered to assist FD on Pottle Street.

12:49 p.m.  Report taken at found/seized property on Gallen Road.

1:21 p.m.  Hospital transport of medical emergency on Riverside Drive.

4:57 p.m.  Services rendered at road hazard on Pottle Street.

5:01 p.m.  Hospital transport of medical emergency on Chipman Way.

5:12 p.m.  Arrest made of 43 y.o. Kingston male at warrant service on Main Street.

5:29 p.m.  Services rendered at police officer request on Main Street.

6:05 p.m.  Services rendered to assist FD on Main Street.

7:12 p.m.  Services rendered at medical emergency at PD on Main Street.

9:53 p.m.  Services rendered to assist other agency on Indian Pond Road.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 25

6:18 a.m.  Hospital transport of medical emergency on Riverside Drive.

7:02 a.m.  Services rendered at building/property check at SLRHS on Pembroke Street.

8:02 a.m.  Services rendered to assist FD on Summer Street.

8:49 a.m.  Services rendered at road hazard on Pembroke Street.

10:18 a.m.  Report taken of motor vehicle complaint at Brookdale & Winter streets.

10:22 a.m.  Services rendered at found/seized property on Captain Jones Way.

10:36 a.m.  Services rendered at police officer request on Summer Street.

11:49 a.m.  Services rendered at medical emergency on Chipman Way.

1:03 p.m.  Services rendered at police officer request at Pilgrims Hope on Bishops Highway.

1:12 p.m.  Report taken at police officer request at SLRHS on Pembroke Street.

1:49 p.m.  Services rendered at building/property check at SLRHS on Pembroke Street.

2:04 p.m.  Report taken at police officer request at SLRHS on Pembroke Street.

3:45 p.m.  Report taken at motor vehicle crash at Duxbury Road & Route 3 SB.

4:35 p.m.  Hospital transport of medical emergency on Main Street.

4:39 p.m.  Services rendered at police officer request on Summer Street.

4:43 p.m.  Animal services rendered on Landing Road.

5:06 p.m.  Report taken at motor vehicle crash at Main Street & Center Hill Road.

5:44 p.m.  Hospital transport of medical emergency on Chipman Way.

6:25 p.m.  Report taken at motor vehicle crash on Main Street.

8:32 p.m.  Services rendered at road hazard on Wapping Road.

8:47 p.m.  Services rendered at well-being check on Brook Street.

THURSDAY, MAY 26

7:58 a.m.  Arrest made of 27 y.o. Kingston male at warrant service on Silver Lake Drive.

8:00 a.m.  Report taken at police officer request at SLRHS on Pembroke Street.

8:05 a.m.  Report taken of damage/vandalism on Prospect Street.

9:30 a.m.  Report taken at police officer request at SLRMS on Pembroke Street.

11:01 a.m.  Services rendered at well-being check on Grandview Avenue.

12:39 p.m.  Services rendered at medical emergency on South Street.

1:33 p.m.  Services rendered to assist FD on Kingston Collection Way.

5:15 p.m.  Legal document served in hand on Elm Street.

6:42 p.m.  Report taken of larceny on Brook Street.

7:58 p.m.  Services rendered at found/seized property at Summer & Green streets.

9:09 p.m.  Report taken at police officer request on Round Hill Road.

11:06 p.m.  Party spoken to at suspicious activity on Millgate Road.

FRIDAY, MAY 27

1:55 a.m.  Services rendered at motor vehicle query on Main Street.

6:47 a.m.  Services rendered at medical emergency on Chipman Way.

11:20 a.m.  Services rendered at suspicious activity on Wolf Pond Road.

12:39 p.m.  Hospital transport of medical emergency on Chipman Way.

1:06 p.m.  Hospital transport of medical emergency on Chipman Way.

1:24 p.m.  Services rendered at medical emergency on Evergreen Street.

2:14 p.m.  Hospital transport of medical emergency on Pembroke Street.

2:33 p.m.  Hospital transport of medical emergency on Kingston Collection Way.

2:51 p.m.  Services rendered to assist other agency at Smiths Lane & Crescent Street.

3:20 p.m.  Services rendered at police officer request on West Street.

3:34 p.m.  Services rendered at medical emergency on Main Street.

4:01 p.m.  Vehicle towed at motor vehicle crash on Pembroke Street.

7:16 p.m.  Hospital transport of medical emergency on Arbor Hills Drive.

7:45 p.m.  Services rendered at 911 hang-up call on Silver Lake Drive.

8:55 p.m.  Services rendered at police officer request on Kingston Collection Way.

SATURDAY, MAY 28

12:20 a.m.  Party spoken to at noise complaint on Wharf Lane.

1:04 a.m.  Services rendered at police officer request on Brentwood Road.

2:03 a.m.  Party spoken to at suspicious activity at beach on Grays Beach Road.

9:30 a.m.  Hospital transport of medical emergency on Summer Street.

11:05 a.m.  Animal services rendered on Kingston Collection Way.

11:57 a.m.  Written warning issued at motor vehicle stop on Winter Street.

12:15 p.m.  Services rendered at 911 hang-up call on East Avenue.

12:59 p.m.  Party spoken to at police officer request on Chipman Way.

1:56 p.m.  Services rendered at police officer request on Orchard Avenue.

3:14 p.m.  Report taken at police officer request on Oldfield Drive.

3:57 p.m.  Services rendered at police officer request on Summer Street.

4:11 p.m.  Hospital transport of medical emergency on Kingston Collection Way.

4:48 p.m.  Services rendered to assist FD on Summer Street.

5:50 p.m.  Services rendered at larceny on Kingston Collection Way.

  6:19 p.m.  Report taken of larceny on Kingston Collection Way.

7:51 p.m.  Services rendered at police officer request on Pembroke Street.

10:13 p.m.  Services rendered at police officer request on Blair Drive.

10:37 p.m.  Vehicle towed at motor vehicle crash on Seaver Avenue.

After two years inside it was obviously time to get out and celebrate.  Families lined the parade routes, veterans, kids, and adults marched, and solemn words were spoken to honor the fallen and those who served.

When the parade concluded and all the words were said, in Plympton, people went on to a cookout and a Touch A Truck display, both put on by the Plympton Fire Department.

Kingston rolled out the welcome mat and invited all to come celebrate at their post-parade cookout with some of Kingston’s best chefs preparing the food, alongside some well-known Town Hall persons..

Everyone was ready – and the weather couldn’t have been better.

Getting the Plympton Town Green ready for Memorial Day was a job made much easier by the volunteered hours of Plympton’s Boy Scout Troop 53 and Kingston’s Troop 4480, under the leadership of Scout Master Mike Domey.

The Scouts cleaned and raked and mulched around the Plympton Public Library as well, putting down mulch and placing flags on veterans’ graves on Friday.  Vicki Alberti and Briggette Martins planted the flowers.

The Memorial Day Parade forms at the Old Town House at the intersection of Main and Center streets and steps off at 10 a.m. Monday morning, Memorial Day, The parade  will march to the Town Green where the benediction will be said, and the poems recited, and “What Memorial Day means to me,” read by a Dennett Elementary School student..

When her brother woke the household early Tuesday morning with the cry that there was a fire in the barn, Ruth Ahola looked out and saw the building all in flames.  “The four of us came running out the front door.  The barn was just totally engulfed.   You couldn’t even get close to it,” she said.  “My pony was inside and we knew he was gone.”   The West St., Plympton barn was reduced to charcoal and ash.

The rest of the more than a dozen horses had spent the night outside and were safe but the flames and noise of it all terrified them and it was all Ruth and her family could do to keep them from running back to the barn, a place usually safe.    “I needed halters,” she said.

All the halters and lead lines were ashes in the barn.  They were able to collect the horses and ended up tying them to trees with ropes.  “I’ve heard of barn fires that happened to other people, and you feel for them.  You do.  But when you experience it, you know what a deep loss it is.”   She recalled the horses from years past that are gone, but their halters with the names engraved on brass plates were keepsakes in the barn – all gone now.

“It could have been so much worse,” Ruth said.  “I have to look that it could have been 14 or 15 died … I want to say that we were lucky that we only lost one.  I have to look at it like that.  That’s the only way to make sense out of it.”

Out of desperation, Ruth put a plea on the Facebook website “Plympton Helping Plympton” asking for halters and lead lines.  “Lost everything…”

“I can’t relay how much the people of Plympton have given – the people who came – neighbors – just people – asking what they can do to help.  What do you need?   Horse people are great people.  Plympton people are great people,” she said.  Tractor Supply gave them whatever they needed to help now.   Someone came with a whole stack of new feed and water buckets.  There is a large mound of donations from many people, all of whom just want to help.

Ruth has lived in Plympton since they built their house in 1988, built the barn in 1989.  “It’s a long time,” she said.  It’s such a nice town.”

Her best friend set up a “GoFundMe” page for them and if you want to help you can go to gofundme.com/barn-fire-in-massachusettsfamily-lost-everything?

Plympton Fire Captain John Sjostedt says that the fire remains under investigation.

Saturday morning, April 9, brought quite a thrill to youngsters taking part in the 21^st Annual Egg Hunt Spectacular from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Halifax Elementary School.  Youth and Recreation Director Dick Steele welcomed all.

The cool, bright morning leant itself to outdoor festivities for this rain or shine event.  Indoors in the Halifax Elementary School gymnasium, there was face painting, the ever-popular balloon man, Moonwalk, Jelly Beans Guess Jar, and Meet the Halifax Holiday Bunny!

Hot dogs, pizza, Gatorade, and water were served with coffee and hot chocolate supplied by Dunkin’ Donuts.

To give everyone an even chance, egg hunt times were listed according to grade with preschoolers beginning at noon, and grades progressing every 15 minutes through grades four and five.  Helpful volunteers set up the egg hunting grounds between each group.

North Easton Savings Bank sponsored the event.

“This is the best country in the world,” Kozhaya “John” Nessralla told the TRIAD group assembled April 5, the first Tuesday of the month.  He told them that when he came to the United States in 1958 when he was 15, there was a lot to comprehend, coming from farm life in Lebanon.   He had never seen television in Lebanon and there wasn’t any running water.  Turning on a faucet and having water come out was magic.  Electric lighting at his Lebanon farm was one light bulb in the middle of the room.  When he began school at Brockton High he couldn’t speak or read any English.

Farming is hard work, but for him is a passion.  He loves it.  He learned the craft as a little boy following his father around the farm in Lebanon where his family grew apples, flowers, and vegetables.  Farming teaches you how to respect nature because “you are at its mercy,” Nessralla said.  If it rains for three days, you wait a week to work the fields again.  “I like the greenhouses.  There you have some control,” he said.  His six greenhouses right now are full to bursting with spring flowers, vegetable and herb seedlings, all getting ready for the season ahead.  All the pots of flowers, the pansy bowls, the flowering bulbs for Easter will come from his greenhouses on Hemlock Lane.  “The only flowers we sell but don’t grow are Easter Lilies.”   

Ken Vinton, president of TRIAD, was pleased that Nessralla could take time from his busy spring work to speak to TRIAD.  “You make the time for the community,” Nessralla answered. Vinton also thanked Nessralla for all of the donations over the decades that Nessralla has given to the town.

When his Uncle Abdu came to Halifax in 1947, they built their greenhouses on the site of the old Sturtevant Farms at the intersection of Routes 58 and 106.  “From there, we grew a little at a time,” Nessralla said.  His father and uncle began the Nessralla’s in Marshfield, and they took over Penniman Hill Farms in Hingham, and other members of the family have similar businesses in Wareham and Avon.

“Farming is hard work,” he said.  Today, he and his brother farm 150 acres in Halifax.  It takes a strong work ethic to work the land, he said.  He has loved living and working in Halifax and feels privileged to be a part of the community.