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Book stays in SL curriculum

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The Silver Lake Regional School Committee met in-person on Thursday, March 17. Committee Chair Paula Hatch opened the meeting to public participation and parent Janet Stanford asked to speak regarding the book, “So Far from the Bamboo Grove”. A parent had raised concerns over the content in the book which spurred the creation of a review committee who was to investigate further and make a recommendation to the School Committee. Stanford read the passages in question, which included mention of rape, during the meeting. Stanford, who identified herself as a therapist and former guidance counselor, said there was no warning from a teacher that the students may be reading something troubling. She further said she would have hoped that an alternate book would have been made available to students. Stanford said she felt that the teacher’s response did not address her concerns and only defended the merits of the book. She had similar complaints regarding her conversation with the ELA Director. She did say that her conversation with Middle School Principal Jim Dupille went better but expressed concern that no one had suggested her daughter visit with a guidance counselor. “I understand that not every student is going to be upset by the book, but some may,” Stanford explained. Stanford also said that she was denied the opportunity to be part of the review committee. She also emphasized that while she was not in favor of banning books, she felt that it should be raised to the high school level.

Assistant Superintendent Ryan Lynch led the discussion on the review of the novel. He said the review committee was comprised of 11 members including the ELA coordinator, the middle school adjustment counselor, The middle school principal, three members of the School Committee, a middle school parent, a seventh -grade ELA teacher, an eighth-grade teacher, a librarian, and an eighth-grade student. “It was a collaborative positive meeting…we valued participation and everyone’s voice being heard,” Lynch said. “The Review Committee reached a unanimous consensus that “So Far from the Bamboo Grove” is an appropriate instructional resource for the seventh-grade ELA curriculum. The Review Committee recommends that teachers continue to communicate with parents about instructional goals and content being used in class. And the Review Committee reminds families that an alternate text can be offered to a student if needed per the district policy,” Lynch explained to the larger School Committee. Committee member Gordon Laws pointed out that the text could be triggering for students who may have experienced trauma and spoke in favor of parents having the opportunity to review the content ahead of time and select an alternative text if necessary. Committee member Leslie-Ann McGee suggested parents be able to access a syllabus at the start of the school year. The School Committee voted to unanimously support the review committee’s recommendation.

Dupille provided a principal’s report. He said that the Grade 6 orientation was held earlier that week and went very well. Dupille said that 12 of the school’s chorus students were selected to participate in the Junior District Music Festival in Scituate. Dupille also told the Committee about a new tutoring program that brings high school students in to help tutor middle school students who may be struggling in a certain content area. Dupille said that March Madness will be taking place culminating on Friday, March 25 in a pep rally, student vs faculty basketball game, and a dance.

High School Principal Michaela Gill said that the third Credit for Life Fair would be back in-person after being held virtually last year. Gill said the entire junior class would be attending. “I would really like to extend a huge appreciation for our advisors,” Gill said. The Fair teaches students how to make “real life financial decisions.” Gill also said that they kicked off their unified sports at Silver Lake in partnership with Best Buddies and the Special Olympics. She said they would be starting off with a track season this year with a basketball season to be added next year. MCAS have begun for ELA. Math will be in May and science in June.  Gill said that the CTE deadline will be April 1 and she told the Committee that nearly 50 percent of the eighth-grade class has applied to be part of CTE. She called it a testament to the program.

Senior Callie MacInnis, who will be studying mechanical engineering in the fall, spoke on behalf of the Student Council. MacInnis said she thought that the inclusion week that the school held went “very well.” She said that individual winter team sports would be having their banquets soon. “The mask optional after break has been going very smoothly in my opinion… the people that do [continue to wear them] don’t get criticism for it which I know was a worry,” MacInnis said. MacInnis also spoke out in favor of the book discussed earlier in the meeting saying that she read and studied it when in seventh grade as well and found it to be appropriate. She also commended the teacher’s communication with students regarding some of the potentially troubling material in the text.

Assistant Superintendent Ryan Lynch said that they recently had a professional development day with a focus on social and emotional learning and anti-bias training. Lynch said that 85 percent of the staff responded favorably when surveyed regarding the training.

Superintendent Jill Proulx shared version two of the budget with the Committee, first outlining some of the changes included. She said a middle school leave of absence would result in a $40,000 savings. There were several other small savings. She said that two high school retirements would result in a savings of $55,000. “The budget in front of you… is a net change increase of $2,000,” Proulx said. She continued, “The total budget is an increase of 3.74 percent – an increase of $1,020,066 more than last year.”

She proposed several reductions to fund curriculum coordinators for Grades 7-12 including an arts coordinator for Grades 7-12. Proulx expressed concern for the music programs. “We need to save the music, it’s the reality; the only way we can do that is by being like other elementary schools in our State and in our area by offering instrumental lessons for K-5,” Proulx explained. She also told the Committee that the administration would like to see the assistant principal at the high school restored to a 12-month position. Proulx said that they would also like to see a behaviorist at the middle school at an additional cost of $24,000.  If no cuts were made, the additional requests would bring the total increase to 4.068 percent.

Committee member Jason Fraser said he came into the night’s meeting prepared to support the increase of 3.74 percent. He said he would ask the Committee to think about the sustainability of the budget as well as the ramifications of bringing a budget increase over 4 percent to each of the town meetings. Halifax has expressed concern over their inability to support the regional budget. If forced to support it, it would likely mean decimating the Halifax Elementary School budget as it would be the only large town department not already at minimal funding. McGee said that it pained her to pit one town against the other two towns saying it went against the spirit of regionalization. She commended Hatch for getting the tri-town meetings together earlier in the budgetary process. The Committee voted to approve the 3.74 percent increase as presented in version two of the budget with Laws being the one dissenting vote. Fraser stressed that the Committee voted the bottom-line number but said it would be up to the discretion of the Superintendent to determine how to utilize those funds.

Fraser began his legislative update by saying that the Chapter 70 funds were being eroded due to charter school tuitions. He said that just as charter schools reach out to public school students to entice them to transfer, the law also affords public schools that same ability to reach out to charter school students. He suggested that the Committee “commission our administration over the summer… to maybe put together a pamphlet/flyer that they can send out.” He suggested the flyer include mention of the wonderful programs at the various schools. “To show what we have to offer,” Fraser explained.

Troy to retire after 32 years

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Effective March 28, Troy Garron will be resigning as a Halifax Selectman after 32 years and 11 terms. Garron will also be celebrating another big milestone that day – his eightieth birthday. Garron was born in Cook County Hospital in Chicago and was raised in Argo, Illinois where he was one of 11 children. “My grandmother and mother had a great influence on me as well as my older brother,” Garron explained. The older brother mentioned is Larry Garron, a member of the AFL Hall of Fame, who played for the Patriots from 1960 through 1968. Troy, himself, played on a championship football team in high school that went 13-0. He also made the Olympic preliminaries in the 100-yard dash. Garron was in his third year at the University of Illinois when he was drafted in 1963 during the Vietnam War.  He served three years.

In 1969, he moved to Massachusetts where he lived with his brother Larry in Framingham. “Larry had a martial arts school, and I went down to work out one day in one of his classes and I met Marilyn there at that time,” Garron said of the first time meeting his wife. “Of course, it wasn’t in fashion for blacks and whites to get married at that time; over 52 years ago,” he said of their marriage.

Garron spent much of his career in law enforcement with a focus on rehabilitating troubled kids including his work as the Commissioner of Youth Welfare. “I was one of the individuals keeping kids off the street,” he said. Garron also worked as a probation officer. “I love working with kids,” he said. During his time as a probation officer in Springfield, Garron was part of a program that paired troubled kids with college students to hopefully show them another way of life.

It was his love for helping kids that ultimately led him to Halifax in 1973. Garron and his wife took their two young children and moved to Halifax so Garron could begin working for the Greater Boston YMCA. Garron worked for the YMCA Juvenile Justice Program out of Halifax where he was in charge of 58 youths who were being held for court or serving time. Garron said the goal of the program was “to try to show them a different kind of lifestyle.” He continued, “Some of those kids had never been out of Boston and had never seen grass… we had classes, we had sports for them, counseling.” The program was closed in the early 1980s. Following his tenure there, Garron began working for the Plymouth County House of Corrections.

Garron and Marilyn purchased a home in Halifax and their now four children attended Halifax Elementary School and eventually Silver Lake. Garron said of Halifax, “I liked the quaintness of it; it reminded me of the town I grew up in which was just outside of Chicago. It was a community… everybody looked out for everybody.” Garron said that he wanted his children to be involved in sports and Halifax had recently started a soccer program, so he volunteered to coach despite having little knowledge of the sport. He ended up coaching soccer for 12 years. Garron also founded Halifax’s first track and field club. “We had really good success for seven years,” Garron said of the club. They traveled all over the State including Boston where they participated in the State Police Tournaments. “It was an enjoyable thing; I loved it,” Garron explained.

Garron, who earned his master’s degree in education with a concentration in personnel management from Cambridge College, first served Halifax as a member of the Wage and Personnel Board for three years. He would also serve the town as the representative to the MBTA, the representative to the Plymouth County Advisory Board, and as the representative to the Plymouth Old Colony Planning Council. He would hold those positions for 20 to 30 years each.

Garron said that what first sparked his interest in running for selectman was a town meeting at which different department heads were stating their goals. He said the head of the Recreation Department spoke at length and made a request for $1,000 to redo the baseball field and track. Garron recalls a resident saying that they did not care if the fields were redone as they did not have school aged children. From there, Garron said he wanted to have a hand in policy making in the town and was told that running for selectman would be one way to do that. He first ran in 1989 when he was defeated by Candace Kniffen. Determined, Garron ran again in 1990 becoming the first Black selectman in Halifax serving alongside Kniffen. Over the years, Garron has become a mainstay on the Halifax Board of Selectmen, serving alongside many others.

Asked what he hopes for Halifax in the future Garron said, “I wish them all the world. I just hope they will be more conscientious of the senior citizens in town. They do well with the schools – the elementary school and the baseball programs and the playgrounds but the senior citizens, we need a senior citizen center – a new center,” Garron said. He noted that the current space for the senior citizens is antiquated and not handicap accessible. “I hope that the town prospers… we are a conservative town and hopefully they will loosen up a little bit,” he continued.

Garron said that some of the many things he particularly looked forward to as a Selectmen were the dedications of flower gardens to different people, clean-up days, and Eagle Scout ceremonies for the Boy Scouts. Garron said his motto has always been fair, firm, and consistent. “I tried to be fair to all the issues that came before the Board no matter how I felt about the individual, firm once I had enough information to make a decision, and consistent in the first two,” Garron explained. He said that he prides himself on respecting others saying, “I realize that every decision I make affects somebody’s life.”

FinCom hears Town Properties’ priorities

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The Plympton Finance Committee met virtually on Monday, March 7. Chair Nathaniel Sides said that the Fire Chief was unable to make the meeting so Chair of the Town Properties Committee Jon Wilhelmsen would be discussing proposals for both short- and long-term projects on the town campus.

Wilhelmsen said that the roof at the Dennett Elementary School should exceed the $1.1 million estimate that was received in 2018. He said they are waiting for an estimate for a refurbishment instead. “That’s not anything we are talking about this year,” he explained.

Wilhelmsen said that CARES Act funds were used to replace an HVAC unit at the Dennett. He said they are now looking at the replacement of the other units. They are hopeful that they will be replacing at least a few of the units in the next few years. “We have four classrooms where the floors are completely failing,” he said saying the cost would be around $10,000 for that work. He said the schools are also in need of a new intercom system. Wilhelmsen did note that the schools should not be putting any pressure on the town budget as there would be no net increase in the budget whereas usually there is a 2 or 3 percent increase.

Regarding the Fire Station, Wilhelmsen said they are looking at doing a feasibility study to get an actual estimate for building a new fire station. Additionally, he said the study would help define the size of a new building. Roof studies were also done at the Fire Station and the Library. The Highway Department building needs some new brackets for the building which will hopefully be funded at the Special Town Meeting. The Highway building also has damage to the siding. Wilhelmsen said they don’t yet have an estimate for that work.

The Library is in need of a new roof at a cost of approximately $324,000. Other costs for the library include $7,000 for new lighting, $2,000 for hot water issues, and $3,500 for a new children’s room carpet. The carpet is original to the building and according to Wilhelmsen “in dire need of replacement.” He said it was tested and it was verified that there was no asbestos.

Regarding the Old Townhouse, Wilhelmsen said they had a significant mold issue that had to be remediated. Wilhelmsen said they are approaching the affected room in two stages with the first addressing the exterior issues. “We did do the testing in the large reading room and there won’t be any abatement,” he said. They will need to do work on the flooring, but he said that they may be able to use town American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for that work.

Wilhelmsen said a warrant article for $41,000 was approved at Town Meeting last year for the Silver Lake tennis courts. The other towns did not approve the article. Wilhelmsen said an additional $5,000 would likely be needed this year.

Wilhelmsen said they are going out to bid to do a total replacement of sections 2 and 3 of the roof of the Townhouse. Bids will be done prior to Town Meeting so that they will have actual numbers to be able to complete the project. He did note that roof section 1 is also not in good shape. Wilhelmsen said in addition to the ramp project, they are interested in making some additional changes to the Townhouse entrance using ARPA funds. “Most of the tiles in the Townhouse are asbestos and some of them are starting to come up,” Wilhelmsen said.

“We have a number of roof projects out there and its one of those areas we really should be fixing sooner rather than later,” Wilhelmsen said. He pointed out that roof issues can cause further issues that then need to be paid for such as the mold issue at the Old Town House. “It may be advantageous to put it out as one big project, or maybe two,” he said. He explained that the bigger the project, the more competitive the bid process.

Town Administrator Liz Dennehy shared several proposed articles for Town Meeting including one for new alarm systems at several municipal buildings at a cost of roughly $9,500. She also shared an article for remaining lease payments and fiber optic for the Fire and Police Departments. A $200,000 article for road paving for the Highway Department was also included. The Highway Barn Roof project was listed for the Special Town Meeting.

The Committee and Dennehy also reviewed the overall fiscal year 2023 budget spreadsheet. One of the big increases from the previous fiscal year was animal inspection. She said, however, that when viewed alongside animal control and the joint services with Carver, it was an overall savings for the town over previous years. Regarding emergency dispatch services, Dennehy said they would be having representatives from the Regional Old Colony Communications Center (ROCC) attend a later Selectmen’s meeting. She said they may be attempting to level fund everyone which differs from what she was told previously which was that rates would be based on call volume.

Before adjourning Sides said that the Finance Committee’s next meeting would be “jam packed” noting that they would be discussing both the Fire Department and Schools’ budgets.

Lindsay Laws is 1st in State

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Over the weekend of Feb. 26 and 27, Silver Lake Regional sophomore Lindsay Laws became the State Titleholder in the 160lb weight class for girls wrestling after besting her opponents at the MIAA Wrestling Tournament.

Laws, who also plays soccer for Silver Lake, has been wrestling since seventh grade though she didn’t wrestle in her first live match until just last year. Laws’ brother Grant is a Division I State Heavyweight Champion who started his career at Silver Lake before winning his title for Xaverian Brothers High School in 2019. Laws credits her brother with sparking her interest in the sport. “He would always wrestle me in the living room; I would pretend that I hated it, but I didn’t actually hate it,” she laughed. “I’ve always just been kind of fiery,” she added.

Laws said that her parents recognized talent within her and encouraged her to pursue wrestling. Initially Laws said she was hesitant as she was worried that she would be judged for being a girl in what has traditionally been a male dominated sport. Attending the MIAA Tournament in 2019 when her brother won his title and seeing the girls wrestling competitively, helped to assuage those fears. “I thought it was so cool; wow – look at all those girls that are wrestling,” Laws explained.

In seventh grade Laws began training at Dungeon Training Center in Lakeville. Laws, who has practice or a meet for Silver Lake five days a week, also attends Dungeon twice weekly on Sunday and Tuesday. After her school practice on Tuesday, she heads to Dungeon for an additional two hours of training. Laws wrestles 12 months a year, upping her training sessions to four times per week in the off season. Of her practices at Silver Lake, she said, “The practices were run well; the coaches did a really good job, and I learned a lot this season.” She credits much of her success to the Silver Lake coaches including head coach Wayne Reissfelder and assistant coaches Alex Rollins, Jake MacDonald, and John Frieburger. Laws said that Reissfelder was a huge part of her brother Grant’s success as well. Laws’ mother Lauren said, “I am proud of Lindsay for making the goal of winning a state championship this year and being coachable, studying wrestling through film and working hard with multiple workouts per day and achieving this goal.”

Laws, who mostly wrestled boys during the regular season, went into the MIAA Tournament as the number one seed so she didn’t have any matches on Saturday. She had to best two opponents, however, during Sunday’s meet. Laws faced Olivia Agudelo from Agawam High School first. No points were earned by either opponent during the first period of the match. “We were both working; it was just a tough mutual period… nothing really finished,” she explained. Her father Gordon noted that she had to defend a strong head-and-arm attempt during that first period. Agudelo had the choice for the start of the second period and chose to be on the bottom. Laws pinned her 30 seconds into the two-minute period and secured her spot in the finals. Her father credited her skilled top game for securing her the win.

She next faced Kennedy Kampe of Shepherd Hill Regional High School in the final round. “I got the first takedown in that match, so I was on top and about 15 seconds into me being on top, she actually caught me in a roll and I was on my back and I had to fight off my back,” Laws explained. “I reversed her and got back on top and was able to pin her from that position,” she continued. Of the short but action-packed match, Laws said her parents called it “the longest minute and 39 seconds of their lives.”

Laws’ father Gordon said of his daughter’s mistake, “rather than freak out or give up, she worked herself free, executed a reverse, and then moved for a pin. The combination of perseverance through hard times and the moves to capitalize when in a better position came from a season of tough matches against quality boy opponents.”

He continued, “Not being discouraged and making small gains with each match are the things I’m proudest of; those are the things that add up to success in all fields in life.” Laws’ mother Lauren shared a similar sentiment saying, “One of my favorite things about wrestling is anything can happen in a match, it is unpredictable like life… In order to persevere and get on the podium at a state championship requires handling all of the different scenarios any wrestler can bring.”

Laws said the magnitude of the win keeps hitting her in waves. In the moments following her victory, she hugged her coaches and then sprinted into her father’s arms.

“I wanted to stay humble because the other girl put up a good fight,” she explained. Laws said she was overcome with joy and grateful that all her hard work had paid off. Laws, who described feeling both joy and relief, said she was grateful for the outcome as the match could have easily ended differently. She emphasized how grateful she is for the love and support of her parents, siblings, and foster sister. She also expressed gratitude for all her coaches. Laws’ mother said of her daughter, “Lindsay’s determination, confidence, and strength is an inspiration to me.” Just as Laws drew inspiration from the older wrestlers all those years ago, there is no doubt that she is now serving as a role model for all the young girls who watched her take home the title.

TRIAD will host “Mock Trial” at Halifax Town Hall March 8

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Tuesday, March 1, marks a special TRIAD meeting, this time at the Halifax Town Hall, Great Room, 499 Plymouth St., Route 106, Halifax, at 10 a.m.

The Plymouth County District Attorney’s office will put on the Mock Trial, a comprehensive curricula focusing on drug and alcohol prevention, bullying, violence prevention, and internet safety.

The essential elements of the legal, and criminal justice systems are explained to the audience.  The program culminates by bringing the courtroom into the public venue.  This involves members of the local law enforcement community in each town and encourages people to have more communication with their police department.   The staff of the District Attorney’s Office works collaboratively with other members of law enforcement as well as with professional educators.

District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz is an active participant in nearly all of the actual Mock Trials playing the role of prosecutor in a case that involves locals acting as defendants.   Other members of the District Attorney’s staff take on the roles of the defense counsel and judge.

The Mock Trial program is implemented in communities that wish to reinforce lessons also taught through Drug and Alcohol Resistance Education Programs and other anti-substance abuse courses.   The program also places a strong emphasis on the legal consequences people who make bad decisions will face.  These programs are designed to be informative, educational, and fun.

The first Tuesday of each month, the Halifax-based TRIAD presents programs chosen to inform local citizens about topics based primarily in safety and government, often as it pertains to senior citizens.  All are welcome to attend.

The April 5 meeting will feature John Nessralla who will speak about the history of Nessralla Farm in Halifax.

This meeting returns to TRIAD’s usual meeting place on the second floor of the Halifax Police Station at 10 a.m.

Plympton Library’s LPGA

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Mary Schiess
Express correspondent

The LPGA gathered at the Plympton Library last Friday. This was Plympton’s own LPGA, the Little Player Golf League. Library Director Michael Slawson creatively collected library equipment to transition the library into a mini golf course. The dictionary collection, wallowing in obsolescence, served as boundaries for some holes. A collection of artificial plants added green foliage. Plant holders and legos served as obstacles. Whatever the challenge, the young golfers conquered with abundant smiles and successes.

Children arrived at their personal tee time. With the wisdom of an experienced golfer, Mr. Mike anticipated the need to spread the arrival times of the golfers.

Throughout the morning, Mr. Mike offered advice and guided golfers from hole to hole. Regular comments like “Good Job,” or “I did it,” resonated through the library. More than one golfer suggested that their moms or dads should also participate. If frustration abounds among adult golfers, none existed here. Each shot was an occasion for a proud smile.

The library will sponsor another mini golf program during February vacation. The program will occur on Friday, Feb. 25. Tee times are currently available.

New bridge on the horizon?

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Winnetuxet Road, Plympton, residents have been seeing activity at the site of their beloved bridge with engineers taking test borings to determine the status of the material on which the bridge is built.  Is this the first sign of things to come?

A couple of years ago surveyors and engineers worked the area, flagging trees along both sides of Winnetuxet and Elm, as the first steps toward a bridge project.  Then residents were told the project had been put on hold.  They’re back.

Highway Surveyor Rob Firlotte told The Express on Monday that this project would use grant funds in the area of $2.2 million from TIP, Transit Improvement Projects.

Firlotte said that work on the bridge is needed because vibration from vehicle traffic is shaking its foundations and even causing the bolts holding down the planking to come loose.  He said that in 2002, the bridge stringers and decking were replaced.  A concrete water control pad was poured and the decking refastened in 2017.  The superstructure (underpinning) was repaired and the current guardrails were installed in 2019.

“It’s basically in the testing phase now,” Firlotte said of the new bridge project.  It is his understanding that the proposed bridge would have two lanes with a sidewalk along one side.  He also said that this is very preliminary and that plans haven’t yet been drawn to his knowledge.  Once the work progresses, Firlotte said that residents will have an opportunity to express their views on the project’s design.

As for the Ferguson Bridge on Route 58 near the junction of Winnetuxet Road, Firlotte said that project is slated to begin this Spring.  Grant funding of $150,000 was awarded to the town for the repair some time ago and now the project will proceed.

Holdup at North Easton Savings

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The Halifax branch of North Easton Savings Bank, located at 336 Plymouth St., was robbed Thursday night, Jan. 27, shortly before closing.

Police Chief Joao Chaves told the Express that the lone male entered the bank, approached the teller and passed her a note demanding money.  “The male was masked and his identity is currently not known,” Chaves said.

The robber left with an undetermined amount of money, heading east on Plymouth Street.

During the immediate incident assistance was supplied by officers from the Hanson PD, Plympton PD, State Police and Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office.  “We ask that any businesses having cameras in the area or people who might have witnessed anything please call Det. Rob McDonnell at 781-294-8713 ext. 158 or our Anonymous Tip Line at 781-293-5761 Press 6.  Our department is being assisted in this investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). No one was injured during the incident,” Chaves said.

Plympton Fire Dept. testing for COVID-19

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Since Monday, the Plympton Fire Dept. has been offering  COVID-19 testing at their 3 Palmer Road location.  The testing is free of charge to all Plympton residents Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The drive-up service is by appointment only.  Adults will be required to show proof of residency. Follow this link to schedule an appointment:

https://calendar.google.com/…/AcZssZ2ywMVjXvt2lBNCbau0O…

Any resident with limited mobility can schedule an at-home test by calling (781) 689-0131.

School bus safety reminder from Halifax Chief of Police Chaves

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The Halifax Police Department would like to remind drivers that it is illegal to pass a school bus while the red lights are flashing. Massachusetts law provides a fine of $250 dollars for a first offense and up to $2,000 dollars for subsequent offenses to include a license suspension.

Police Chief Joao Chaves said his department has received a number of complaints of people disregarding the red flashing lights.  This is not only against the law, it is extremely dangerous.