The towns of Plympton and Halifax are richer in many ways with the adoption of two Labrador retriever puppies to serve on their forces as “comfort dogs” to support students and residents. Roxy and Aggie, 5-month-old pups purchased with the assistance of two $5,000 grants from the Plymouth County District Attorney’s office, will be used to reduce stress and promote wellness for students, and also attend town events. The pups are receiving their official training at Professional Canine Services in Middleboro.
Plympton Police Chief Matthew Ahl said, “The Plympton Police Department is extremely excited and thankful to be able to launch the comfort dog program with the assistance of the Plymouth County DA’s Office. Our comfort dog, Aggie, and her handler, Officer Cameron Broderick, will work together to assist and benefit the community in many ways, whether being present at the school, community events or sensitive incidents. There has already been a significant positive impact of this program and we’ve only just begun. We look forward to seeing the great work that this program does and continuing to strengthen our relationship with our community and residents.”
Halifax Police Chief Joao Chaves said, “The Halifax Police Department wants to thank District Attorney Cruz and his entire staff for the generous gift that started the Halifax Police Department Comfort Dog Program. Roxy is extraordinarily popular with the entire community. The impact she and Officer Campbell have made on the community has been overwhelming, and they are just getting started. They will be a very busy pair as they meet all our residents. We are truly grateful for this partnership which will take our community engagement to new heights.”
DA Cruz developed the Plymouth County Comfort Dogs Program to provide additional services and resources to our communities. The Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office provides a mini grant to Plymouth County Police Departments to assist with costs associated with acquiring, training and caring for their comfort dog.
The pilot program has been designed to be implemented by either local School Resource Officers or the PD’s Community Outreach Officer, who in turn becomes the dog’s handler and sole caretaker. Both the handler and the comfort dog become members of the Plymouth County Comfort Dogs Program and are required to undergo all necessary training in the certification process to qualify as a comfort/therapy dog.
The network of Plymouth County Comfort Dogs is present in schools and are on hand to provide emotional support for students during the day, and available to the community at night and on weekends. Additionally, the handler and the comfort dog work with the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office staff at community events across Plymouth County and provide comfort services at its Children’s Advocacy Center and office.

Allison Brown
Special to the Express
At the Tuesday, Oct, 3, meeting of the Kingston School Committee, the Kingston Foundation for Education presented a check for $60,000, their 9th annual check, the result of their fundraising efforts.
The Kingston Foundation for Education (KFE) is a non-profit organization run by parents who are interested in supporting the Kingston Public Schools. The foundation works with Kingston school leaders and district administration to raise funds to supplement the school budget. By doing this, they can provide the Kingston schools, and its children, the same opportunities as neighboring towns. Each year, a group of about 15 dedicated parents, and four executive board members, help KFE raise money and volunteer at events.
Since its foundation in 2014, KFE has raised nearly $1 million dollars to supplement the school budget. Over the past two years, the KFE has funded the purchase of Chromebooks, the Lu Interactive System, Lab Headphones, a Beth Ferry author visit, Moxie, and the repaving of the KES recess yard with new educational pavement stencils. The $60,000 KFE has donated this year will be used to upgrade and buy new technology and provide funding for additional STEAM programs and other educational materials needed this year.
Traditionally, KFE will raise money by planning several fun, charitable events including the Boosterthon Fun Run and the Kentucky Derby Party. Last month, it hosted its first ever Back-to-School Brews fundraiser at Mayflower Brewery, complete with an awesome band (the Rippers!) and a thrilling beer pong tournament. It was such a success that KFE will plan to do it again next year!
Its mission is simple: to help members of the Kingston community channel their positive energy into improving the already phenomenal public school system. As parents, we all love our kids, and we want to set them up for success. And we also want them to have the best opportunities and latest technology available when it comes to learning. We want to thank our Kingston community of parents and educators, and the small businesses of Kingston and the South Shore who help make our goals possible.

More than 30 friends and Ferguson family members gathered at the intersection of Route 58 and Winnetuxet Road in Plympton to re-dedicate the newly reconstructed bridge named for Hugh Ward Ferguson, missing in action since December 1, 1950 in the Korean Conflict. No one saw him fall and his body was never recovered. Standing at the newly re-dedicated bridge Tuesday morning were, from left, Sue Ferguson, Norman Ferguson, Bruce Ferguson, Jean Ferguson, Douglas Ward Ferguson, Ward ’Tony’ Ferguson, State Rep. Kathy LaNatra, Melissa Ferguson Meo, and Cathy Ferguson. More on page 7.

Saturday morning’s cold drizzle didn’t stop the smiles as members of the Plympton community came together to cut the ribbon for the grand opening of the Dennett Elementary School’s ADA compliant playground with play structures K-6 appropriate that everyone can enjoy in a safe environment. Jason Fraser, chairman of the Dennett Elementary School Committee, gave opening remarks. From left are Principal Peter Veneto, Selectman John Traynor, former chairman of the School Choice Funds committee Brian Wick, Fraser, Silver Lake District Business Manager Christine Healey, former Dennett school committee chairman Jon Wilhelmsen, CPC member Paul D’Angelo, Jr., State Rep. Kathy LaNatra, CPC member Deb Anderson, and Joanne Beckwith, Planning Board member. Continued on page 2

The weather couldn’t have been better for the recent Transportation Night at the Holmes Public Library in Halifax.
Officer Patrick Donnelly from the Halifax Police Dept., Steve Hayward, Highway Superintendent; Kim Kressler from First Student Inc. school busses, and Shamus Ricciarelli and Derek Coveney from the Halifax Fire Dept shared their time, expertise, and big shiny vehicles with more than 60 people.
Transportation Night is an annual event held every August at the Holmes Public Library and this year’s theme tied in well with the Holmes Summer Reading Program titled “Every Hero has a Story”.Children visited with local heroes from the police, fire, and highway departments, as well as the school bus company, asked them questions, and tried out the horns and sirens on all of the vehicles.

First day of school is always exciting, but doubly so with these two cousins, climbing onto Bus 26, the same number bus that their fathers rode to school a couple of decades ago.
Wednesday the kindergardeners got to ride the big bus and begin their school careers. Grades one through six started school last week.
This day, as parents and friends congregated to see their little ones off, they were treated to backup chimes and trucks preparing the road for resurfacing. The younger siblings of these two were delighted of course to see the big trucks dumping hot Macadam and a steam roller packing it all down. The school bus driver, not so much…
What could have been a sad story with late bus arrival and parents late to work was turned into a fun experience when the big trucks pulled over to let the school bus go by and gave the little ones on the bus a great view of the work being done.