PLYMPTON – On Monday evening, Selectmen could hardly contain their excitement that the 113-acre Two Brooks Preserve (formerly known as the Atwood Property) had finally been officially purchased. The process has been arduous.

Selectman Mark Russo offered everyone chocolate cigars, popped a bottle of non-alcohol Champagne and offered plastic glasses to the other board members and to everyone in the room.

“My wife would kill me for using plastic,” he joked.

On a serious note, he acknowledged all of the hard work that had gone into the purchase.

On Thursday, Sept. 20, 2018, Plympton voters turned out in large numbers to support a Special Town Meeting article that authorized the selectmen to finalize the purchase of 113 acres of land, including a pond, streams, marsh, bogs and high land on Prospect Road for $800,000.  The town will keep the property as conservation land and it will be known as Two Brooks Preserve.

The article was the only one on the warrant and it passed with near-unanimity.

The property, which had been enrolled in the Chapter 61A tax relief program, came before the Plympton Selectmen when it was going to be sold. Under Chapter 61A, the town has a right-of-first-refusal on the sale, which the selectmen voted unanimously to exercise last July.

Funding for the project came from Community Preservation Funds, short-term municipal bonds, private fundraising and the sale of up to three buildable lots with frontage on Prospect Road.

There is currently no public access to the site, said Russo, and fundraising continues to make improvements on the site.

• The Board discussed with the Treasurer, Colleen Morin, about disposing of approximately 24 unwanted, land-of-low-value lots owned by the town. The process is complicated because of previous miscommunications between departments and a lack of documentation proving ownership of these properties.

• The Animal Control Officer will bring forward his findings and investigation regarding a dog that attacked another dog on private property several weeks ago. A dog hearing has been scheduled for the next meeting.

• The Board sent a letter to the FCC, opposing changes in the funding system for local cable access. Russo noted that the changes “would devastate the system as it is.”

• The Board allowed the Building Department to raise its fees to bring them into line with other towns in the area for certain building permits. “We’re striving to get our fees in line with other communities,” said Selectman Christine Joy.

• The town continues to have problems with its alarm and phone service, especially during rain. Town officials are working with Verizon but exploring other options if they cannot fix the issues.

• Plympton COA will host a Veteran’s Day breakfast beginning at 10 a.m. at Town House Monday, Nov. 12, followed by a flag ceremony.

• The Board will next meet Monday, Nov. 19, at 6 p.m. in the large meeting room at Town House.

When voters go to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 6, they will face a lengthy ballot with 14 races and three ballot questions.  Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.  Early voting was offered throughout the state from Oct. 22 through Nov. 2, in an effort to accommodate as many voters as possible.

First on the ballot in both Halifax and Plympton is the race for Senator in Congress, with local Republican, Geoff Diehl from Whitman, opposing incumbent Democrat Elizabeth A. Warren from Cambridge.  The two have been sparring in several televised debates.  Shiva Ayyadurai, a former Republican, is running as an Independent.  Ayyadurai has been outspoken regarding GMO foods, and says he will take a “science and engineering perspective on problem solving.”  He holds several advanced degrees from MIT and is married to actress/comedienne Fran Dresher.

Choices for Representative in Congress are Bill Keating, Democrat from Bourne, candidate for re-election, and Peter D. Tedeschi, Republican, from Marshfield.  Keating says he has been busy working on behalf of the region’s voters and has proven himself to be one of the most effective legislators serving in Congress today, ranking fourth out of 435 House members in getting amendments passed.” 

Tedeschi, a lifelong South Shore resident, a Republican, wants to give back to the area that has been so supportive of his family for generations.  “Public service must be for the benefit of the people, not for the person elected to represent them.”   Tedeschi is a SVP of Putnam Investments, CEO of Tedeschi Food Shops, and proud member of the Executive Board of Directors for Friendship Home.

The Governor’s race sees Charlie Baker and Karyn Polito, Republican incumbents, challenged by Jay Gonzalez and Quentin Palfrey, Democrats.  Baker and Polito have been working since their election in 2015 to grow the Massachusetts economy, for MBTA reforms, and to set education standards K-12, among other items.  Gonzalez served as Secretary of Administration and Finance of Massachusetts under Gov. Deval Patrick, and claims Baker has not shown sufficient leadership, citing poor progress in the MBTA.

Maura Healey, Democrat from Boston, is a candidate for re-election as Massachusetts Attorney General.  She is challenged by James R. McMahon, III, a Republican from Bourne.  Healey has been an activist Attorney General according to her endorsement by The Standard-Times, going after the Trump administration as it has tried to dismantle government health, education, and environmental programs that have been the great hallmarks of American and Massachusetts society over the last half century.”  McMahon is an attorney and a lifelong resident of Cape Cod. Married with five children, he lost his eldest son to opiate addiction.

William Francis Galvin, of Boston. seeks re-election to Secretary of State, an office he has held since 1995.  He is the Chief Information Officer, spotlighting issues that affect the average citizen: fraud in the finance industry, credit card pressures on students, and HMO costs.   As the Commonwealth’s chief elections officer he has worked to bring more people into voting, through his “Motor Voter Law” and early voting, so people can vote at their convenience the two weeks prior to election day. 

His Republican opponent, Anthony M. Amore of Swampscott, promises through his website a fresh perspective to the office.   He currently works in the non-profit sector as the Director of Security and Chief Investigator at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston.  He is also serving as an officer with the US Immigration Service and as a Special Agent with the Federal Aviation Administration’s Security Division.  He was appointed Assistant Federal Security Director with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security where his mission included rebuilding security at Logan Airport after the attacks of 9/11.

Rainbow/Green Party candidate is Juan G. Sanchez, Jr. whose website states his goal is to “Ensure that underprivileged and underrepresented groups have a voice on Beacon Hill,” and to  “Champion progressive electoral and campaign finance reform. “  He would also improve voter education by delivering information in multiple languages.

The office of Treasurer sees Brookline Democratic candidate for re-election Deborah Goldberg challenged by Lakeville Republican Keiko M. Orrall.   Goldberg states hers is the first office focused on economic empowerment for everyone.

Orrall, is the first Asian-American woman to seek a constitutional office in Massachusetts.  She has served four terms in the House of Representatives, building bi-partisan bridges, focusing on policy over politics.  She is a middle child of five children, learning the art of compromise early on. 

Jamie M. Guerin, the Green/Rainbow Party candidate from Montgomery, says on her website one of her goals is to establish a state bank to end Wall Street influence in local politics.  Also, she would ensure that the nascent cannabis business benefits local communities rather than national conglomerates.

State Auditor Suzanne M. Bump of Easton, Democratic candidate for re-election, states on her website, “I have dedicated the majority of my professional life to public service, first as a State Representative, then serving in the administration of Governor Deval Patrick, and now as State Auditor.  “I believe in government and its responsibility to advance societal and economic progress,” she says.

Bump has three challengers. Republican Helen Brady of Concord says, “I am stunned by the State Auditor’s inability to play an active and aggressive role in rooting out waste, fraud and abuse.  The Auditor’s refusal to stand up and fight for taxpayers was made all the more shameful when she accepted a massive increase to her taxpayer-funded salary.”

Daniel Fishman, Libertarian from Beverly, says, “When you select an auditor you need someone who can be impartial … who will actively search for malfeasance.  We must elect an auditor who comes to the office without any debt to a political party …”

Edward J. Stamos, resident of Northampton, representing the Green/Rainbow Party says, “As auditor, I will be an independent watchdog, ensuring that the Democrats and Republicans are not playing political games with taxpayer money.”

Councillor Christopher A. Iannella, Jr., of Brockton, Democratic candidate for re-election, is running unopposed.

Senator in General Court Michael D. Brady of Brockton, a Democrat, is being challenged by Scott Hall of Brockton, a Republican.  See accompanying story on that race.

Representative in General Court for the 12th Plymouth District, Democrat Kathleen LaNatra of Kingston is being challenged by Republican Joseph M. Truschelli of Plymouth.  See accompanying story.

District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz, Republican  candidate for re-election from Marshfield, is challenged by John E. Bradley, Jr., a republican from Plymouth.  Cruz states on his website, “I am committed to the protection of our children, our seniors, and our communities.”

Challenger John E. Bradley Jr., takes aim at Cruz as the Democratic candidate for District Attorney of Plymouth County.  According to an article by Maria Cramer of the Boston Globe, Bradley was a 21-year veteran prosecutor when his boss, Plymouth District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz abruptly fired him.  Bradley sued for wrongful dismissal and eventually received a $248,000 settlement.

Plymouth County Clerk of Courts Robert S. Creedon, Jr., Democratic candidate for re-election, is unopposed.

Plymouth County Register of Deeds John R. Buckley, Jr. of Brockton,  Democratic candidate for re-election, is unopposed.

Sandra M. Wright, Republican, of Bridgewater, is running unopposed as a  Republican candidate for re-election to the office of County Commissioner.

HALIFAX – The embodiment of a true American dream story, Joao A. Chaves, an 11-year New Bedford police lieutenant with 31 years of policing experience in that city, was chosen by Selectmen unanimously from a pool of four highly qualified applicants to be Halifax’s next police chief, to replace retiring Chief Ted Broderick. He is expected to begin Nov. 13. As of press time, he has accepted the position, and the Town and he are negotiating his final contract details.

Born in Portugal, Chaves emigrated to France with his family as a child, where he attended elementary school. From there, his family again emigrated, this time to New Bedford, Mass. Chaves’s resumé indicates he’s bilingual (English/Portuguese) with a working knowledge of Spanish. At his public interview, last week, he indicated that his French was rusty.

Along with his considerable language skills, and fascinating personal story, Chaves has a lengthy educational background. He holds a master’s degree in law enforcement and administration as well as a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, both from Western New England University in Springfield.

In addition to these credentials, he has many professional-development training courses and certificates in everything from SWAT to hostage negotiation to hate crimes investigation.

Chaves said in his resumé he “has a passion for protecting the community in which [he] serve[s].”

In New Bedford, where he joined the force in 1987 as a police officer and worked his way up to lieutenant, he has been involved in the professional standards unit, the central records bureau, the community policing unit, the gang and traffic unit, the detective bureau, the tactical patrol force and the special reaction team.

Chaves described his management style as “open” and “progressive.” Although his experience with grant writing is limited, he has written grants, something the board values.

He spoke of firsthand experience with the opioid epidemic and also about how he has dealt with fellow officers who have addiction issues, as their supervisor. His approach has been to remove the problem employee from any danger to the public and work with him to get him help.

Selectmen Chairman Kim Roy asked him about his best quality and what he’d like to work on. Chaves replied that he is a good listener and that he genuinely cares, but that he’d like to work on his public speaking.

As a former public information officer, he is accustomed to speaking with the media, and was the only candidate who introduced himself to this Express reporter.

Selectman Tom Millias, who picked up a question often asked in interviews by Plympton Selectman Mark Russo, asked, “What frustrates you?”

Chaves said, “I love this job, still. But, the hoops we have to go through…the red tape…to get things accomplished [is frustrating.]”

As for legalized marijuana, Chaves seemed frustrated with the current laws (as did the board). “They’re making it difficult for us to do our job,” he said.

He ended by noting that his experience sets him apart from the other candidates.

No internal candidates applied for the position, which required at least a bachelor’s degree and five year’s experience. A contractor narrowed down all applicants, through a rigorous interview, practical exam/simulation and a background-checking process for the final candidates.

Selectmen asked all four finalists– the others were Wayland Police Detective Jamie T. Berger, Wrentham Police Sergeant Barry McGrath and MBTA Police Lieutenant David F. Albanese– roughly the same 17 questions, in order to be fair, according to Town Administrator Charlie Seelig.

One candidate, a fifth finalist, Lakeville Police Lieutenant Sean Joyce  withdrew his application.

The running themes of the Selectmen’s questions indicated that the board was interested in community policing, the opioid epidemic as well as alcohol and marijuana issues, and speeding on Halifax streets. The board asked how the next chief would fit in with the department, how he would keep the department well trained and what his vision for the Halifax Police Department was, which they repeatedly noted was working well.

While all the police chief candidates were extremely qualified, and according to Seelig, could all have been chosen as chief, their personalities were quite different, and it all came down to the right “fit,” as Millias said.

The first candidate, Berger, had much experience in community policing, and many ideas to bring community policing programs he was using in Wayland as a detective sergeant to Halifax. “I’m going to be a leader by example,” he said.

But, he had never personally written a grant. This appeared to trouble the board.

Wrentham Police Sergeant McGrath spoke easily during his public interview. “I’m a small-town police officer,” he said. “I love the community. I’d love to be chief.” He identified the three keys to being a police chief as leadership, trust and transparency.

The final candidate was the most loquacious of the four. MBTA Lieutenant Albanese, a retired colonel with the Army National Guard had an impressive resumé, but simply did not answer the questions he was being asked.

He largely directed his own interview, giving Selectmen little time to interject. “This is the pinnacle of my chosen profession,” he said, when asked why he wanted the position.

On paper, though, he had the most wide-ranging resumé.

The board ultimately selected Chaves Tuesday at their regularly scheduled meeting and they were visibly excited about the unanimous selection, which seemed to surprise them all.

A source confirmed that several Halifax police officers, some of whom had keenly attended the interviews, had expressed excitement with the choice. Roy said, “I’m thrilled we have selected Lieutenant Chaves as our next police chief and look forward to negotiating with him on behalf of the board.”

PLYMPTON – Scott Ridley, Plympton Highway Surveyor, was back before the Board of Selectmen Monday, Oct. 15, explaining new speed limits on several stretches of town roads and asking the board to reaffirm some rules at the transfer station.

As part of a grant from MassDOT, the state’s department of transportation, signage across Plympton is being updated at no cost to the town. But, the state is raising some speed limits as part of that process, upsetting some residents.

Ripley has been caught in the middle ever since explaining MassDOT policies.

He has previously stated that MassDOT (the state) sets speed limits, not the town. If a town wishes to change that speed limit, they have to do a speed study at their own expense, he says. The speed limit is set at a certain percentile of the speed that drivers are actually driving.

Ridley told selectmen that the Old Colony Planning Council, a regional planning agency, did such a speed study in July and August, at the far ends of Main Street. Ripley said he would find out if OCPC could do a study for all of Main Street.

Former Selectman Howard Randall was in attendance, and spoke at length about dealing with MassDOT, which he referred to under its old title “MassHighway.”

“MassHighway does what MassHighway does,” Randall said. “Where is the planning, where is the public input in all this? There is none.”

He also asked, “Where are the police? We’re not coordinating with them?”

This prompted Selectman Christine Joy to say that the board could talk to the police about stepping up enforcement of the posted speed limits. Later, the board directed Town Administrator Elizabeth Dennehy to speak with the police chief about the matter.

Selectman Mark Russo suggested that setting a “fundamental” speed limit, where the speed limit would be defined at 30 mph unless otherwise posted.

But even this default speed limit combined with increased enforcement and the speed study did not assuage Randall’s concerns.

“MassHighway could give a damn about Plympton’s rural character,” he said with frustration in his voice.

“This is not going to be a quick process,” said Ripley.

Ripley also was present to explain some rules that need to be better enforced at the transfer station, which he deferred to Art Morin, of the Board of Health, to explain.

“We need a few things reinforced,” Morin said.

He said that they wanted to make sure that each “dwelling unit,” as defined by the building code, be required to have a separate transfer station sticker, for the few apartments or two-family homes in the town.

He also noted that stickers must be permanently affixed to the rear window of the vehicle.

“Every now and then a vehicle from Halifax gets through,” he said, stating that some people tape them to their cars.

“Try getting into Duxbury with the sticker in the wrong spot,” he joked. “Not even a chance.”

The board affirmed Morin’s and Ripley’s requests.

In other news:

• Selectmen executed the contract of the selected fire chief, Stephen Silva. It is awaiting his signature.

• The board renewed the contract of Sgt. Stephen Teri. It is also awaiting his signature.

• The Plympton Fire Department’s surplus mini-pumper has been sold for $60,000.

Selectmen will next meet Monday, Oct. 29, at 6 p.m. i

The Police Chiefs of Plymouth County are pleased to announce that Plymouth County Outreach (PCO) has been awarded a federal grant that will significantly improve the services provided by the group in the coming years.

PCO will receive the $496,650 grant as part of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) Program through the U.S. Department of Justice.

The award is among the first major federal funding grants to go toward substance use disorder treatment and recovery legislation, with the aim of addressing the ongoing opioid epidemic.

“We are incredibly fortunate to have been selected by the DOJ for the CARA grant and these funds will hopefully go a long way toward helping our Plymouth County residents who have been impacted by the opioid crisis and their families,” East Bridgewater Police Chief Scott Allen said.

The funds, which will be disbursed over the next two years, will allow PCO to hire two full-time staff members – a Project Coordinator and an Operations Supervisor. Those positions will allow PCO to offer better resources to individuals who are in need of treatment in a more streamlined and effective fashion.

“We will be looking to hire two full-time staff members who are dedicated to working with Plymouth County residents each and every day and can represent Plymouth County Outreach in all of our communities,” Middleborough Police Chief Joseph Perkins said.

In addition, the money will allow PCO to improve their Critical Incident Management System database, which tracks the number of overdoses in the region and allows for research and detailed analysis of the data collected to be studied by PCO’s treatment and healthcare partners.

“In receiving this grant from the federal government this shows, I believe, that our program and approach is on the forefront of combining the efforts of law enforcement, healthcare providers and treatment professionals in providing care to those opioid users in our communities who are in need,” Plymouth Police Chief Michael Botieri said.

In addition to Plymouth County Outreach, 11 other Massachusetts programs will receive a total of $8.4 million in grant funding:
Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office awarded $541,300,
Middlesex District Attorney’s Office awarded one grant of $360,000 and one of $500,000,
Boston Police Department awarded $305,362,
City of Holyoke Police Department awarded $448,025,
Massachusetts Administrative Office of the Trial Court awarded $1.5 million,
Advocates for Human Potential awarded $1.55 million,
City of Worcesterawarded $744,668, Franklin, County Sheriff’s Office awarded $1 million, LUK Crisis Center awarded $500,000.

“In 2017, over 2,000 Massachusetts residents died from drug overdoses,” said United States Attorney Andrew E. Lellling.

“The opioid crisis is an unprecedented public health crisis in the United States, but we are committed to the President’s plan to end the epidemic through prevention, treatment and enforcement.

“With over $8 million in federal grant funding, programs in Massachusetts can expand to serve larger populations, increase services, and support those who are most impacted by this deadly epidemic. I applaud the grant recipients for their commitment to serve their communities in this way.”

Plymouth County Outreach is an opioid prevention and recovery coalition made up of 27 municipal police departments in Plymouth County, along with the Bridgewater State University Police. The chiefs have partnered with the offices of District Attorney Timothy Cruz and Sheriff Joseph McDonald to take a multi-jurisdictional approach to dealing with the opioid epidemic.

Thursday, several member chiefs met to discuss the announcement of the grant.

“The work being done by our partners in law enforcement and the treatment and healthcare industries is vital to combating this deadly epidemic. In Plymouth County and everywhere else, one overdose death is one too many,” Hanover Police Chief Walter Sweeney said.

Next week, PCO will be honored by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and will be receiving the Leadership in Community Policing Award on Oct. 9 in Orlando, Florida.

About Plymouth County Outreach: Plymouth County Outreach is a collaborative of police departments throughout Plymouth County led by the following chiefs: Abington Chief David Majenski, Bridgewater Chief Christopher Delmonte, Bridgewater State University Chief David Tillinghast, Brockton Chief John Crowley, Brockton Police Lt. Richard Linehan, Carver Chief Marc Duphily, Duxbury Chief Matthew Clancy,

East Bridgewater Chief Scott Allen, Halifax Chief Ted Broderick, Hanover Chief Walter Sweeney, Hanson Chief Michael Miksch, Hingham Chief Glenn Olsson, Hull Chief John Dunn, Kingston Chief Maurice Splaine, Lakeville Chief Frank Alvihiera, Marion Chief John Garcia, Marshfield Chief Phillip Tavares, Mattapoisett Chief Mary Lyons,

Middleboro Chief Joseph Perkins, Norwell Chief Ted Ross, Pembroke Chief Richard Wall, Plymouth Chief Michael Botieri, Plympton Chief Patrick Dillon, Rochester Chief Robert Small, Rockland Chief John Llewellyn, Scituate Chief Michael Stewart, Wareham Chief John Walcek, West Bridgewater Chief Victor Flaherty and Whitman Chief Scott D. Benton.

PLYMPTON – Plympton and Halifax are cranberry country. With Plympton having the sixth largest amount of active bogs by town in the state and Halifax recently moving up to seven, the industry dominates agriculture in both towns, the region and the state.

Massachusetts is the oldest cranberry-growing region in the country, and growers point out that the vine-grown berries are not only important economically to the Commonwealth, but to our heritage as well. The cranberry is the official state berry and color, and cranberry juice cocktail is the official state drink. We even call a vodka and cranberry juice cocktail a “Cape Codder.”

The Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association, which represents growers in the state, say that the 2016 crop was valued at $68.9 million. Massachusetts is home to approximately 1/3 of all cranberry acreage and is home to the two largest cranberry handling companies in the world, Ocean Spray and Decas Cranberries.

They say the industry provides more than 6,900 jobs to the state and a total economic benefit of over $1.4 billion.

But, the growers’ association says, “Today the cranberry industry is challenged by one of the most significant economic crises it has faced in its 200-plus year history, threatening the immediate viability for many growers in Massachusetts and the long-term horizon for the industry.”

This is a multi-faceted problem, says Brian Wick, executive director of the CCCGA. But there are bright spots.

Massachusetts’ 13,000 acres of commercial bogs, representing 20 percent of the world’s cranberries, are competing with other U.S. states, primarily New Jersey, Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin. Internationally, Canada, especially the province of Québec, and Chile have become strong competitors as well.

As the market has shifted primarily from juice to more cranberry products, such as sweetened, dried cranberries, the demand for large size fruit has increased. The varieties that originally grew here, native to the region, do not always produce the large, uniform, better-looking on berries that the market seeks, and therefore growers have spent millions of dollars “renovating” their bogs, which are expensive, long-term projects.

Growers will often convert a portion of their bogs, over long periods of time, to compete with newer and modern varieties found in other, often colder, regions such as Canada or Wisconsin.

Loans and grants for these projects can be hard to come by, because it can take more than a decade to see a return on these sometimes low-yield investments.

But, the investments have a positive local impact, says Jeff LaFleur, a grower from Plympton.

According to the CCCGA, the renovation of bogs requires skilled labor, investments in irrigation equipment and the purchase of raw materials such as sand and vines. The investment, they say, has had a $61.5 million impact on the economy since 2007.

LaFleur, who sits on the board of Ocean Spray, has 23.5-acres of bogs operating as Mayflower Cranberries, supported by 112-acres of uplands and wetlands. He says it’s a “small farm,” but that it’s average for a Massachusetts grower. His bogs are the oldest continuously commercially farmed bogs in Plympton, he says.

LaFleur has been renovating some of his bogs. Bog renovation has environmental benefits, say growers, as newer bogs use less water for harvest or winter protection. Growers use 375-million gallons less water a year, across the state.

He says that using science to farm smarter, not harder, is the key. “I have to minimize inputs and maximize outputs, just like any business,” he said.

In terms of pollution, growers say they help maintain uplands, wetlands and habitat for many species. Science is also reducing reliance on phosphorous-based fertilizers, says Wick. While debate over pesticides and fertilizers in the cranberry industry is rampant, Wick says basic business sense will drive, and has been driving, growers to rely on less or better-targeted fertilizers and pesticides.

LaFleur pointed out the close proximity of the bogs to his home and family. “I wouldn’t put anything [on the cranberries] that would hurt my family.”

Bogs and the land that support them also contribute to open-space that stays on the tax-rolls, says LaFleur, despite tax-relief programs such as Chapter 61A. He points out that once land comes off the tax-rolls completely, such as in the case of the Two Brooks Preserve, it never comes back on.

He argues that bogs maintain that same open space, albeit in a slightly different way.

Cranberry companies are also pouring money into research and development, say Wick and LaFleur, developing all sorts of new cranberry products. One new Ocean Spray product on area shelves, pink cranberry juice, in part supports breast-cancer research.

Many people have heard that drinking cranberry juice can clear up urinary tract infections. But, other health benefits of cranberries are being explored, and it is now being marketed as a “super-fruit.” Cranberries and their juice are excellent sources of vitamins A, C, K and E, they are cholesterol free, low in sodium and free of saturated fat. Wick suggested cranberries might just be the next penicillin.

Another challenge, government, can be both a hinderance and a help to the industry. Growers are in a highly-regulated industry, from the local-level on up, and although Governor Charlie Baker has visited the region recently in support of cranberry growers, at the federal level, Trump-administration tariffs have restricted access to the Chinese and European markets, both of which have new-found tastes for cranberries and cranberry products.

The CCCGA would like to see these tariffs reduced or lifted. Both the CCCGA and LaFleur noted that relationships between growers and their neighbors are key. People often misunderstand why sand or water are being used during the farming cycle, and Wick and LaFleur says that most disputes between growers and their neighbors can be resolved through mutual understanding. Part of that understanding is coming from ag-tourism.

Ag-tourism, or agricultural tourism, is another bright spot in the industry. LaFleur and other growers in the region are bringing in tourists from all over the world to learn about cranberries, harvest them and even dine on the bogs during growing season.

LaFleur maintains a shop of artisanal cranberry products, some made with his own berries, which along with fresh cranberries, he sells from a barn on his property.

While he says ag-tourism is only about 10 percent of his business at this point, “it’s an important and growing part of my business.” He says that it can be time-consuming but that it is very satisfying. He maintains a website and social media sites to attract customers.

“People come from all over the U.S. and the world. Most are out of state, but about a quarter are local people, mostly from the city,” he says. “It’s hard to point to a single demographic, it’s all types of people and all ages.”

The industry, while at a crossroads, is clearly adapting to changing times, even though that is a struggle for growers. On the other hand, the public has never been more fascinated with the tart, round berries that we so proudly call our own. The future of the industry is still not in the clear, but with all the excitement around cranberries, they don’t seem to be disappearing anytime soon.

PLYMPTON– Wednesday evening, after selectmen grilled two finalists, Stephen G. Silva, of Pope’s Farm, was chosen the next Plympton Fire Chief, subject to successful contract negotiations.

Silva bested Wareham Assistant Fire Chief John G. Kelley, of Wareham, for the appointment.

Silva has more than 40 years experience in fire and EMS services. He is currently a Lieutenant Firefighter/Paramedic “shift-commander” at the Middleboro Fire Department, where he has worked since 2002.

His resumé is, in his own words, unusual, and it is extensive. He has business experience as well as firefighting and paramedic experience. His varied past includes founding the second largest ambulance service in the City of Brockton, Exodus Medical Transportation, and working as a flight paramedic.

Silva is an adjunct faculty member at Massasoit Community College, and works on tactical rescue teams as well.

He comes highly recommended by the fire chiefs of Whitman (who is the president of the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts), Duxbury, the retired chief of Middleboro, the retired chief of Kingston, and the deputy chief of Hanson, among other fire officials.

Silva spoke easily as he answered questions from the board.  He would not address the history of the troubled department, which he said had been discussed, “ad nauseum.”

He spoke of the sense of community in Plympton, and said, “I want to be a part of that and I want to lead that.”

Selectmen Chairman John Traynor asked him, “Should we continue to rely on call firefighters?”

Silva responded, “The setup is now working…I think we’re in really good shape.”

He also had a strong opinion on whether or not all call firefighters should be EMTs. “Not everyone wants to do medical,” and retaining employees, especially call firefighters, is a challenge.

He said he did not have much experience with municipal budgets, an admitted weakness, but said, “I have experience with budgets,” citing his private-sector experience.

Selectman Mark Russo asked, “What frustrates you?”

“Complaints without solutions frustrate me, but they can be a useable tool,” said Silva.

Selectman Christine Joy wanted to know how Silva would rebuild other towns’ confidence in mutual-aid from Plympton.

“That’s a very challenging job,” he said. But he mentioned that he had the support of the local chiefs around him. He also pointed out that they would help him with grant-opportunities, which he does not have much experience in.

The interview process was weeks long and exhaustive. More than a dozen candidates were narrowed down to these two. There were practical and exam portions of the interview.

Kelley also had a well-rounded background, in both the public and private sector. The board did not give a reason for their selection when they came out of their executive session to make the announcement.

The Plympton Fire Department has been under scrutiny for several years.

A document prepared by an outside analyst, the MRI report, described “a department in crisis.” The last fire chief of any significant tenure, Warren Borsari, did not have his contract renewed and was put on administrative leave last March.

Last May, acting chief Philip Curran was, “separated from employment with the town.”  There has been an unusual amount of turnover in the department.

Captain Cheryl Davis and Captain John Sjostedt lead the Fire Department on a day-to-day basis under the leadership of Chief Lance Benjamino of the Middleboro Fire Department, who says he will remain in place until Silva is sworn-in.

Elizabeth Dennehy, Town Administrator, said the negotiation phase of the hiring should take a few weeks.

“If I am chief this will be a well-run department…a fun and professional place to work,” Silva said. Should all go well with contract negotiations, it looks like he’ll be chief. “This is the culmination of a career,” he said.

PLYMOUTH– First, the defense attorney representing Justin Kilburn, 29, of Kingston, was on trial in Salem. Next, he was scheduled to be out of the country, and now, said a court worker, attorney Jack Atwood was stuck in traffic and did not appear for the third time for a scheduled pre-trial hearing in a motor vehicle homicide case.

Kilburn stands accused of motor vehicle homicide, manslaughter by motor vehicle and OUI second offense. Kilburn killed Diane Giordani, of Plympton, and her dog Blitz, in a head-on collision on Route 106 in Plympton May 10, 2018, said Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz.

Kilburn pled not guilty to the charges.

He remains free on $50,000 bail.

Kilburn is now scheduled to appear Oct. 19, 2018 in Plymouth Superior Court at 2 p.m. before Judge Jeffrey Locke

The Halifax Board of Selectmen had a full house on Tuesday as residents came in to discuss the possibility of adding stop signs to the intersection at Laurel Street and Circuit Street.

Given the expert advice of Highway Surveyor Steven Hayward and Old Colony Planning Council Senior Transportation Planner Ray Guarino, Halifax would not legally be allowed to put a four-way stop at the intersection because there isn’t enough traffic to warrant it.  Selectmen voted to make a two-way stop sign instead.

A few residents in attendance said that the speed drivers travel on the roads is a problem. Some residents wanted the stop signs to curb the speed while others want a speed limit sign set at 25 miles-per-hour.

According to Hayward, guidelines set by the state and the Old Colony Planning Council require a certain amount of traffic before a four-way stop is allowed. “You are not supposed to use stop signs for speed control,” said Hayward.

Guarino said the Old Colony Planning Council would do a traffic count at no charge to verify the vehicle count for traffic on the two streets, but any action  for a four-way stop would require an engineering study. According to Guarino, that would cost at least a couple thousand dollars.

Most residents were okay with a compromise of having a two-way stop except for one resident who maintained that a four-way stop is necessary.

“There’s no definite right of way there. It’s a free for all,” Galvin said.

Galvin also questioned why the stop signs at the end of the streets that intersect with Route 106 were needed before this. He said that anyone who lives at Laurel Street and Circuit Street knows to stop before getting on to Route 106. Resident Sharon Smith also asked about the signs at 106.

Selectmen Chair Kim Roy said those signs were a priority because they intersect with a major road.

Hayward also brought up potentially having yield signs rather than stop signs. He said that if the town put up a stop sign on a road its not necessarily warranted, everyone is going to be asking for one.

Selectman Troy Garron said it’s the Board of Selectmen’s job to be proactive with this. Although Guarino looked up accident records and could only recall one accident which was single-car, the Board and some residents said they are lucky a major accident hasn’t happened at the intersection.”

“I think the suggestion to put up stop signs is  good,” Garron said. He later added, “it’s worth it if it saves one life.”

Elementary School
Doors Don’t Fit

The rear-facing doors ordered for Halifax Elementary School are the wrong dimensions. In total, fifteen doors were ordered, but are too small.

According to Selectmen, the contractor failed to account for hinges in the initial measurements.

A sample door is being ordered to test the fit, then the contractor will replace the rest of the incorrect doors.

Dog Hearing soon

A dog hearing is scheduled for the September 25 Board of Selectmen meeting. The Board said a dog killed another dog.

Other News

• The Board of Selectmen approved the boy scouts using the town green for a food drive on November 10.

• The tax classification hearing resulted in no open space tax discount or residential exemption for a second home. Principal Assessor Holly Merry said there are not enough people who own second homes in Halifax to justify it.

The next meeting of the Board of Selectmen is September 25. Open session begins at 7:30 p.m.

By Tracy F. Seelye
and James Bentley
Express staff

Proclaiming it “our moment” and staking out the theme that U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren “has let us down,” state Rep. Geoffrey Diehl greeted supporters at the Whitman VFW Tuesday night to bask in his Republican primary win.

His margin of victory was 54.8 percent of the vote compared to 27 percent for John Kingston and 18.1 percent for Beth Lindstrom.

“While Warren has spent the last six years building a national political profile for herself, I’ve been fighting for you, and most importantly, listening to you,” Diehl said after greeting supporters with hugs as the song “This is My House,” by Flo Rida.

He is casting Warren as an out-of-touch person using Massachusetts as a stepping-stone while ignoring the benefit of the GOP tax cut, the need for immigration control and support for law enforcement, and failing her constituents on the opioid crisis.

“I will make the fight against opioid addiction a priority,” Diehl said. “We’re losing about 2,000 people to opioid-related overdoses here in Massachusetts each year. What has Senator Warren done about it? Nothing.”

He also took the opportunity to again underscore that the ballot initiative he backed to repeal automatic gas tax hikes a few years ago has saved Massachusetts residents $2 billion. In Whitman, his hometown, voters gave Diehl 1,361, according to unofficial tallies at the close of polls with Kingston receiving 76 and Lindstrom 65 of the 25.3 percent of 10,684 registered voters casting ballots. In Hanson, with 21 percent of the town’s voters casting ballots, Diehl had 789 votes to 107 for Kingston and 57 for Lindstrom.