Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus were the guests of honor at the Plympton Fire Dept. Saturday morning. Good little children stopped by to enjoy breakfast with the Jolly Old Elf and his bride, and to tell their secret wishes for Christmas morning. Mrs. Claus gave each child a candy cane.
More Photos by
Kristy Zamagni-Twomey on pages 8, 9, and 13.
By Thomas Joyce
Dominant is the best word to describe the Silver Lake High football team’s Thanksgiving day performance.
The Lakers hosted the Pembroke Titans on Thursday, Nov. 28 — and beat them with ease. The Lakers came up with a 54-0 victory.
At halftime, the Lakers led 21-0. Their first touchdown came on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Ben Lofstrom to Sean Waters in the first quarter. Early in the second quarter, a 16-yard rush from Matt Gabra put the team up by two touchdowns. And then senior captain Will Hesketh, a center and linebacker, punched in a one-yard touchdown run later in the quarter; Hesketh broke his leg in the first game of the season, and this was his first game back. All three extra point kicks were good; during the game, both Waters and Drew Keiran kicked for the Lakers.
Midway through the second half, Owen Thompson scored on a five-yard touchdown run following a 30-yard run to put the team in scoring territory. Dylan Landers then intercepted Pembroke and had a five-yard touchdown reception from Lofstrom.
Shortly after, the Lakers got another defense stop and Lofstrom connected with Waters for a 30-yard touchdown. Before the third quarter ended, Bobby Shields also had a 14-yard touchdown catch.
In the fourth quarter, Lofstrom connected with Waters on one last touchdown: a 22-yard pass. It put Waters at over 1,000 receiving yards on the season. As a thrower, Lofstrom exceeded 2,000 yards passing.
The Lakers defense was sharp in the contest. They finished the year strong, producing back-to-back shutouts against Nauset and Pembroke.
The Lakers finish their season at 6-5 with this win. With the loss, Pembroke finished the year at 1-10. This also means the Lakers hold a 10-4 lead in the all-time series and have won four of their last five Thanksgiving Day matchups.
It was standing room only at The Moon and Back Café in Plympton Center, as friends, neighbors, and 4-H associates, came to wish Rita LaPointe a happy 94th birthday on Saturday, and enjoy a piece of her pink heart-shaped birthday cake, made by her neighbor Christine Perkins.
Rita has been a Plympton resident for more than half a century and is well known for her expertise in raising and training dogs, as well as grooming and boarding dogs for many through the years. She has led the Cave Canem 4-H dog club since 1961, with her group taking first prizes and ribbons for training and conformation at local shows, regional shows, up to Eastern States, “The Big E”.
Rita’s “no nonsense” training approach takes a firm hand on the leash and a voice that speaks with little “wiggle room” in the commands given, followed up with loving praise for commands well followed. Training and caring for dogs gave many of her 4-H youngsters a sense of responsibility and self esteem under Rita’s direction, and she was well respected, indeed a legend, in her dog training.
In 2013 she added the esteemed “Speak for Thyself” award to her credit. This honor is given each year by the Alden Kindred of America, recognizing exceptional women who, in the spirit of Mayflower Pilgrim Priscilla Mullins Alden, make their own choices, women who, standing on their own merits, have accomplished much in their community.
Just last year Rita retired from her grooming business; at the age of 93 she felt it was getting to be too much for her. She is still involved in her 4H dog club.
Leaving Plympton last week was a difficult move for her. She left her home for All American Assisted Living in Hanson. “It’s the first time in my life I haven’t had a dog,” she said Saturday. She has a good attitude about her new location and looks forward to all of its advantages.. She wants people to know where she is and that she would love for friends to visit.
Join South Shore Ballet Theatre (SSBT) this holiday season for its annual production of The Nutcracker!
Based on E.T.A Hoffman’s “The Nutcracker and the King of Mice”, and set to Tchaikovsky’s beloved musical score, SSBT’s The Nutcracker celebrates the magic of the holidays through the joy of dance.
Come watch as Clara explores a world of magic from her family’s living room on Christmas Eve, through an enchanted forest of dancing snowflakes, and into the magical Land of The Sweets led by the Sugar Plum Fairy.
SSBT’s exciting, family-friendly production features 90 student dancers from its ballet training programs, representing communities on the south shore from Plymouth to Quincy.
SSBT provides quality dance training and inclusive performance opportunities to students of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds.
After 11 successful years of operation in Hanover, SSBT has relocated its studios to a new, state-of-the-art facility in Hingham, conveniently located adjacent to the Derby Street Shoppes. Under the direction of founder Marthavan McKeon, SSBT’s new facility in Hingham has anchored the studio’s role as the South Shore’s premier ballet studio.
All are welcome to celebrate the holidays with SSBT’s timeless production of The Nutcracker. Performances will take place at Thayer Academy in Braintree on Saturday, Dec. 14, at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. and on Sunday, Dec. 15, at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.
To purchase tickets and learn more, please visit the web site www.southshoreballettheatre.com or email them at ballet@southshoreballettheatre.com.
There are four dancersfrom Plympton and one from Halifax among those performing in the 2019 production.
Sofia Mendez, 16 years old, currently in 11th grade at Silver Lake High School, will dance Snow, Spanish, Demi Soloist and Dew Drop in Waltz of the Flowers.
Emma Christensen, 13 years old, in the 8th grade at Silver Lake Middle School, will dance Snow, Arabian, Lead Marzipan and as Demi Soloist and Dew Drop in Waltz of the Flowers.
Sofia Christensen, 10 years old, is in 5th grade at Dennett Elementary School in Plympton. Sofia will perform as Palace Fairy and Trepak.
Olivia Christensen, 9 years old, is currently in 4th grade at Dennett Elementary. She will perform as Party Child and Polichinelle
Enya Teran, 7 years old, is a student in the 2nd grade at Dennett Elementary. She will perform as Doll After the Tree Grows and Angel.
The Halifax Selectmen meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 12, covered a number of topics including the appointment of a former Halifax police chief as a special police officer.
Lifelong Halifax resident Ted Broderick began his career as a special police officer in Halifax in 1984 before moving on to Plympton in 1986 where he became a full-time officer. Broderick returned to Halifax where he rose through the ranks, being promoted first to sergeant and then chief in 2013.
“Ted’s a welcome addition to the department not only for his knowledge of law enforcement but also of the town and the residents; he’ll be a great resource for myself and other members of the department,” Halifax Police Chief Joao Chaves said. The Board agreed, passing a motion to appoint him as a special police officer.
Board Vacancies
Vacancies on both the Planning Board and the Board of Health were also discussed. The Board of Health currently has one applicant who will be interviewed by the Board of Selectmen before being voted on by the two boards. An appointment has been scheduled for Tuesday, December 10 at 7:45. There are currently three candidates for the vacancy on the Planning Board. All three candidates will be interviewed by the Planning Board for 10 minutes each on December 10 beginning at 8 p.m. A vote will commence immediately thereafter with both the Board of Selectmen and Planning Board attending.
Council on Aging Director Search
The search for a new Council on Aging (COA) director continues. The deadline for applications is this Friday, Nov. 15. All applications will be scanned and sent to the screening committee to review on Wednesday, November 20. According to Halifax Town Administrator Charlie Seelig eight applicants from the first selection process earlier in the fall have indicated that they will be reapplying. The Board of Selectmen hope to make a final decision by December 10.
Revocation Hearing Continuations
Continuation of two revocation hearings were held. Seelig informed the Board that Twin Lake Liquors is now fully paid up on back taxes and the Board moved to close the hearing. Seelig also provided an update on Davis Automotive saying that they are continuing to pay down their motor vehicle tax and are currently up-to-date on their land tax. The hearing will be continued during the next selectmen meeting at 7:45 p.m.
Update on Sale of Aldana Road Parcel
Back in July, DFG land agent from the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Joan Pierce met with the Board of Selectmen to discuss buying an area of Peterson’s Swamp from the town. Initially the Board was unhappy with the offered amount but came to an agreement contingent upon the town of Halifax also receiving back a sliver of land behind Aldana Road that is currently owned by Fisheries and Wildlife. Ownership of that land parcel is necessary in order to be able to pave that road. Seelig said that Fisheries and Wildlife have submitted a draft agreement for the sale of the parcels including what is needed from both the town and the commonwealth. Seelig forwarded the agreement to Halifax town counsel Attorney Lawrence Mayo for review.
Surplus Police Vehicle Used for Town Business
Seelig also brought before the Board the possibility to use a surplus police vehicle for town business rather than trading it in. Seelig said that Selectmen Tom Millias, who was not present at Tuesday’s meeting, has a particular interest in this topic as he was previously the building inspector and currently serves on the Board of Assessors. The Assessors are interested in using the vehicle. Seelig explained that the benefit to the employees would be reduced risk as they wouldn’t face rising insurance premiums, etc. if something were to happen while they were using their personal vehicles for town business.
Halifax Fire Rating Improves
Seelig shared some good news from the Halifax Fire Department regarding the town’s Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating. An ISO rating is a number from 1-10, 1 being best and 10 being worst, that is assigned to a community indicating its preparedness to deal with a related emergency. The latest review upgraded Halifax’s score from a 4 to a 3. Halifax Fire Chief Jason Viveiros attributed the improved score to staffing changes, the new regional dispatch network, and the well-maintained fleet of apparatus and equipment. Seelig said that according to Viveiros, only 1 in 8 communities has a rating of 1, 2, or 3, putting Halifax in good company. Selectman Gordon Andrews asked if it would affect homeowner’s insurance and Seelig responded, “Yes, it should, in a positive way.”
Monponsett Pond Update
Seelig provided an update on the Administrative Consent Order (ACO) issued to Brockton by the Department of Environmental Protections (DEP) in 2017 and updated in the spring of 2019. The ACO identified violations of Chapter 371 of the Acts of 1964 which allowed Brockton to divert water from Monponsett Pond to be used as part of their water supply. Seelig said that Brockton requested a waiver from the DEP to allow them to test different hypothesis and their effects on the pond. Brockton requested the waiver as some of the things they may be testing could be in opposition to the ACO. The DEP issued the waiver but asked that Brockton notify the DEP five days in advance. Seelig asked the Board for their permission to also ask that the towns of Hanson and Halifax be given sufficient notice as the public would likely notice changes in the ways the water in the pond is flowing. Selectman Chair Troy Garron said, “I’d like to add that we send a letter to the new mayor and let him know the efforts that we are making to try and bring some reconciliation to the pond.” The Board and Seelig agreed with sending Brockton’s newly elected mayor a letter informing him of the current situation with Monponsett Pond.
Outdoor Marijuana Growing Facility
The selectmen also had an appointment to meet with Alex Mazin, the President of Buds Goods & Provisions. Mazin’s attorney was also present. Back in early October Mazin met with the Selectmen to discuss the possibility of an adult use outdoor marijuana cultivation facility on the same lot where Four Daughters had previously planned to build an indoor facility. During the October meeting, Mazin had explained that outdoor cultivation is more sustainable for the environment and has significantly lower startup and operational costs as compared to indoor cultivation. Seelig informed the Board that town counsel had reviewed the Host Community Agreement submitted by Bud’s and viewed it very favorably.
Mazin, again, laid out several reasons why he believes his proposal is beneficial to the town. Amongst his arguments is that the property in question has septic issues due to poor percolation. Mazin pointed out that since his proposal is an outdoor growing facility with only a barn like structure for storage, a septic system would not need to be installed. Mazin said, “I really believe our proposal is utilizing a piece of land that is not going to get utilized any other way.” Mazin also stressed that no sales would take place at their facility and stressed that a significant buffer exists between where he intends to grow and abutters’ property. Mazin pointed out that they intend to initially grow on about 2 acres of land despite the lot being 47 acres.
Regarding security concerns, Mazin pointed out several factors that he believes works in their favor. Mazin suggested that theft would be difficult as the shrubs are actually quite large with some even reaching 8 ft in height. Trying to scale a tall fence with a large tree would likely deter any attempts at theft. Additionally, according to Mazin, there is only a two-week window where the flowers that are valuable grow making it easier to monitor for theft.
Andrews told Mazin that he had heard from several residents in the area and that they were not in favor of the facility. Mazin said, “All we’re looking for is an opportunity to present our case to the community.” Mazin further said that he did not want his business in a community that does not want them.
Bud’s will get that chance to present to the community in December.
The Board of Selectmen will hold a community forum/public hearing for Bud’s Goods and Provisions’ proposal on Wednesday, Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. in the Great Hall in the Halifax Town Hall.
Residents will have an opportunity at that time to voice their opinions and ask any questions that they may have.
A link to the host community agreement is available on the Halifax town website.
The Holmes Public Library, 470 Plymouth St., Halifax, hosted its annual Hallowe’en Costume Parade last week. Children from several nearby towns came dressed in their best costumes to Trick or Treat as the Holmes welcomed their new Children’s Librarian, Holly Iannucci.
Plympton Girl Scouts let their fun sides show at their Hallowe’en Party Sunday night at the Soule Homestead Education Center at the Plympton/Middleboro town line. Pictured above are the costume winners and the judges for the event. Prettiest :Anna Fraser as a Royal Princess; Scariest: Haley Petersas a scary clown; Most Original: Taylor Hempel the black angel; Funniest: Charlotte Medas the cupcake; Cutest: Carmella Boccalini the monster; Most Halloween Spirit: Avery Lorenz the witch. Judges were the Senior Girl Scouts from Troop 80210, Jilian Hart, Jenny Winslow, Sydney Adams. Other party helpers were Lilly and Ally Foye.
Ronald Aakjar, Jr., of Botany Bear Art in Plympton will finish a two-month run at the end of October at the Plympton Public Library where he has displayed his work. Stop in and see his unusually beautiful snippets from nature.
“Having grown up in a small town in Northwest Connecticut in a family of four, I’ve always had a love of nature and an enjoyment of the quiet places. As kids growing up, my brother and I didn’t have all the electronics kids have today. Our time was spent outdoors exploring the woods, lakes, and streams around our home.
“After graduating high school and spending several years in the military, I started my college journey and ended up going in a direction I hadn’t thought of going. I earned my degree in Biology with an emphasis on Plant Biology.”
Aakjar finished his Bachelor of Arts in Biology and went on to earn a Master’s degree in Botany. As a student, he learned to press plants in order to place them into an herbarium for preservation and it was through this process and seeing how artistic the plants looked after being pressed and dried that he decided to turn this inot an artful adventure.
It wasn’t until he was in my 30s that he met a local artist who was using her press in a different manner, using her press to flatten the plants but not dry them out. She was making it so she could use the leaves and other plant parts for Nature Printing. She used the various parts and printer’s ink to make beautiful relief prints. Aakjar was instantly enamored with the process.
After spending several years working as a horticulturist at a private estate in Bridgewater, CT, and working as an adjunct professor in Botany at Naugatuck Valley Community College in Waterbury, CT, he found the full time job teaching biology labs for majors at Bridgewater State University in Bridgewater, MA, going from Bridgewater, CT to Bridgewater, MA. He has been teaching at BSU for eight years now and plans to retire from there.
Colchester Farm celebrated their annual Fall Fest Celebration Oct., 5, with hay rides around the farm and pumpkins for sale.
Many festival goers purchased Tom’s Wood Fire Pizza and Harper Lane Brewery concessions while they enjoyed musician guitarist Hayley Sabella at the outdoor event.
With face painting and beanbag toss games along with visiting the goats, there were plenty of activities for all ages. Many families were delighted to pick their own flowers and put them in Mason jars – a popular choice.
The Halifax Fire Department Open House brought kids, adults, and families together on Sunday, Oct. 6.
People got to meet their firefighters, tour the station, and have a lot of fun while they tried on the real firefighter gear and checked out the trucks!
Kids had fun in the bouncy house, ate cotton candy, popcorn, pizza, and soda, and learned about fire safety with demonstrations.