When you’re one of the top programs around, it’s hard to get much better.

With that in mind, it would be tough for the Silver Lake High softball team to improve upon last year’s team after winning out their regular season and making a deep playoff run. After all, they did go 25-1, win a Patriot League title, and make it to the Division 1 South Sectional finals. Albeit that may be a challenge to duplicate that sort of year. However, there is no reason why they could not have yet again another successful season.

Of course, the team is without last year’s Gatorade player of the year, Maddy Barone, and they likely do not have one player who can directly fill that void. But hopes are high for pitcher Jill Richards, who will likely be a workhorse starter for the team this season. As a sophomore and a junior, Richards threw six scoreless outings which is important because starting pitchers in softball are used more frequently and for much longer outings than baseball pitchers. To put it this way, Barone went 23-1 with a 0.47 ERA and 215 strikeouts last season.

Looking up and down the lineup, the Lakers have what it takes yet again to produce some runs. They return three (senior) Patriot League All-Stars: catcher Emily Critch, shortstop Caroline Videtto and center fielder Kelly Danahy. Last year, however, Danahy played second base.

Speaking of experienced players, senior  Anna Battista is back on varsity for the fourth straight year and she will be the team’s everyday right fielder.

The Lakers have a versatile team this season. Senior Alex Ruprecht, juniors Brenna Walsh and Coyle Shropshire, plus sophomores Hannah Mitchell, Amanda Harris and Izzy Ruprecht are all capable of playing more than one position. And junior Michaela Nista and freshman Ali Sylvester will also make meaningful contributions to the team all season long.

The Lakers next game is Monday, Apr. 17 against Bridgewater-Raynham at noontime on the road.

After last year, there is really only one direction the Silver Lake boys’ lacrosse team can move.

The young squad hit a learning curve last year on their way to a 1-17 finish where the lone bright spot was a 12-4 win against a Milton in their final game of the season. Milton did not win a game last season.

Fortunately for the Lakers, however, they had a rather small senior class last year and only lost three starters to graduation. Unfortunately for them last year, two of those regulars were hurt for most of the season. On the bright side now though, it means their squad built up experience last season and is used to competing at the varsity level.

This year, the team will most likely be led by senior Drew Neal, who was the team’s leading scorer last season and their lone Patriot League All-Star.

Looking deeper at the attack, senior Nolan McDonald should be another major asset to the team, like he was last year. The same could be said for junior Owen Nally, who netted three goals in the team’s win over Milton last season.

Sophomore Preston Nichols, who emerged as the team’s goalkeeper early in the year last season is expected to resume his duties in net once again this season.

Of course, while this sort of experience will help the Lakers, it will not cure all of their problems. They still dropped 17 games in a row last year and struggled at times, but they did finish out the 2016 season strong. In addition to that win over Milton, their second to last game was a tight 9-8 loss to Abington where the Lakers were competitive throughout the contest.

Playing a tough Patriot League schedule does the Lakers no favors, but it does afford them the opportunity to compete against quality competition nearly every single game.

The Lakers won their  season opener against North Quincy/Quincy in a non-league matchup on Monday, April 3 with a score of 11 – 3.  In their first home game, Monday, April 10,  Lakers will face Oliver Ames, who went 10-10 last year.

Plympton Selectmen met Monday March 27, preparing for May’s special town meeting and elections.

Town Clerk Tara Shaw reported there are 14 open seats to be voted on at the election. Some key positions include open seats on the Board of Selectmen, Board of Health, and two open seats on the Finance Committee.

Tara Shaw said that the last day to submit nomination papers, with the required 20 certified signatures, to the Board of Registrars is Monday, April 4, 2017.

The Finance Committee will join selectmen at the Monday, April 10, meeting to review the town’s FY18 budget before town meeting, according to Selectmen Chair Colleen Thompson.

One item in the budget that may need to change is the position of Town Clerk. Town Clerk Tara Shaw told selectmen how the job description and hours needed have changed for her position since the implementation of the new public records law (Chapter 121 of the Acts of 2016, “An Act to Improve Public Records”).

Shaw wrote a new job description for the Town Clerk position that includes the responsibilities associated with staying compliant with the state mandate. Shaw told the board that while there have been many new state mandates since 2012, the new Public Records law has added most of her new responsibilities.

In order to reduce the number of public records requests, Shaw has tried to put up as much information online as possible so that the records can be available to any who want them. Right now, she is the only one managing the website. She did however add that Bridgette Martins, selectmen’s assistant, will make emergency posts and announcements to the website from time to time.

When she first became Town Clerk, 22 hours per week was the assumed work load, Shaw said. In order to stay compliant with the public records law, Shaw says she’s worked on average 32 hours per week. Shaw is asking selectmen for an additional 10 hours per week and another two hours per week for administrative help.

Town Coordinator Dale Pleau told selectmen, towns of similar size have had to hire (a new position) for the Public Records Law. Pleau and selectmen all acknowledged the amount of added work Shaw has taken on. Thompson affirmed that Shaw’s need is legitimate.

The question discussed was if all of the new public records law hours should be added as a responsibility to the town clerk. Selectman John Traynor wants Shaw, the Board, and the Finance Committee to do a workflow analysis and breakdown of the new responsibilities. He wasn’t sure if some of these responsibilities would go to the new Town Administrator position, an administrative assistant, or even other departments.

Talks on this budget question as well as others will continue on Monday April 10, 2017 when the Finance Committee meets with the Board of Selectmen.

Traynor brought his board current on the progress on the IT Grant application, and the addition of another laptop to the grant. If approved, the grant funds will also be used to cover software costs that will be used to streamline the Public Records Law compliance process.

Thompson, who is also chairman of the Public Safety Building Committee, showed selectmen the prepared brochures showing the new police station that will be voted on at May’s Annual Town Meeting. The brochures will be distributed to all residents of Plympton, and there are copies in the lobby of the Plympton Town House.

The Public Safety Building Committee will host two open houses at the current police station, Thompson said:  Saturday, April 8, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. and Wednesday, April 12, 2017 from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

The next selectmen’s meeting is Monday April 3.

Open session will start at 6 p.m.

Usually, it takes awhile before freshmen make any sort of significant contributions to a team, whether it be in high school or college athletics. This is especially the case when there are six seniors and four juniors on the team, but that has been anything but the case for one Halifax native playing college softball locally.

On the Bridgewater State softball team, Halifax’ Shannon Grindell has not wasted any time adjusting to the rigors of college athletics. The freshman, who plays shortstop and third base, is emerging as one of her team’s top players.

In the first week of her collegiate career, she played in ten games and hit .324 with two doubles and 10 RBI. She even led the team with a .471 slugging percentage.

What has made her career in the making even more impressive is that she hit a homerun in her first career at-bat for the Bears against Mount Mary on March 5.

The Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference noticed her strong start to her career and named her their Softball Rookie of the Week on Monday, Mar. 13.

To start the week, Grindell had hits in seven of her 10 games and had a combined four hits in her past two games.

Grindell also had a memorable high school career at Silver Lake, from which she graduated in 2016. Some may remember she hit a walkoff homerun in the 11th inning of the Division 1 South sectional finals her junior year against King Philip in 2015.

The Bears were 4-6 on the season to start the season and spent the first week of the season playing doubleheaders in Naples and Fort Myers, Florida before they came back up north to start league play against UMass Boston on Thursday, Mar. 23. Thursday’s doubleheader against UMass Boston was also the Bears first home games.

When teams experience success in a season, then odds are they are going to be recognized for it in some way or another. Sure, not every team is destined for the championship each and every season — and some never make it — but it does not discount the work the team puts in on a daily basis. Not to mention it does not take away from positive character traits off the court.

Every year, the Patriot League does their best to recognize a few of these sorts of student-athletes who excel at their sport, away from their sport and in life. Recently, the league announced it’s All-Star roster and list of awards for both the Keenan Division and Fisher Division in both boys’ and girls’ basketball. Here is a look at which Lakers received league wide recognition.

Senior forward Cam Keefe earned the nod for the Keenan Division boys’ basketball All-Star team in his final season with the Lakers. The captain was a key component in his team’s high-powered offense and helped lead them to a playoff appearance.

In contrast, the Lakers girls’ basketball team had one of their youngest players earn a spot on their list. For them, freshman guard/forward Holly Reeder-Morning earned the nod, an indication of heir bright future with the rebuilding squad.

The girls’ hoops team also received the Patriot League Keenan Division sportsmanship award.

As for individual sportsmanship awards, junior forward Emily Hapgood earned the award for the girls squad while Cy Kenku was recognized for the same honor on the boys side for the Lakers

Junior forward Sydney Kehoe won the girls scholar athlete award for the Lakers while senior center Jack Bettle earned the scholar athlete award for his team.

Each team in the division had at least one All-Star while every team had a one scholar athlete and a sportsmanship award winner. The Whitman-Hanson boys’ team, who won the Division 2 South Sectional playoff bracket, had the most league All-Stars (four).

Firefighters responded to 911 calls reporting smoke coming from a dumpster near the main home on Fieldstone Farms, 21 Plymouth St., Halifax, on Saturday, on March 4.

Heavy wind and freezing temperatures could have made the fire much worse, but was quickly brought under control.

A bystander at the farm moved the flame-filled dumpster a few feet away from the house, helping to minimize the damage to the exterior of the house, said Halifax Fire Chief Jason Viveiros

The homeowner, Scott Clawson was not there when the fire began.  There were no injuries to humans or animals, confirmed Viveiros.

Early estimates of damage to the home were $5,000.  The department also received mutual aid from the towns of Pembroke and Hanson during the fire as they received a reported gas leak and medical calls simultaneously.

The final meet of the season is not only important because it determines a team’s final record and measures their total season success, but also because it is a testament to what they have done all throughout the season and the overall progression of individuals in their athletic careers.

Since December, the Silver Lake girls swim team gave it their best effort and at the Division 1 State meet on Saturday, Feb. 18, four of their top swimmers showed what they were capable of in several different events.

The end result of the meet held at Boston University was definitely a positive one for the Lakers. While they did not win a State Championship, they came close. The team amassed 154 points so in the end, they came in fourth place among 37 competing programs despite only competing in 10 of the meet’s 12 events. The Lakers lacked competitors in the diving events.

While the Lakers were not team state champs, it did not stop junior Maddie Milbert from winning a state championship of her own. Her time of 56.99 seconds in the 100-yard backstroke was good for a first place finish. Milbert was also within a second of a first place 200 yard individual medley win, but her 2:07.66 was still good for second place in the event.

As a team, the Lakers also came within a second of a title in an individual event: the 200 yard medley relay (1:51.01). They also came in seventh in the 400 yard freestyle relay (3:44.57).

Senior captain Lindsay Kalinowski, sophomore Katherine Morrissey and freshman Alexa Connors also competed for the Lakers.

In her final meet with the Lakers, Kalinowski came in seventh place in the 100 yard breastroke (1:10:08). She also had a 15th place finish in the 500 yard freestyle (5:31.29).

Morrissey took ninth in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:11.17) and 12th in the 100 yard butterfly (1:00.78) while Connors finished third in the 200 yard freestyle (1:55.53) and fourth in the 500 yard freestyle (5:11.40).

With three of their top four swimmers returning, the Lakers should be in position for another successful season next school year.

Pound for pound, the Silver Lake wrestling team proved they have some of the best wrestlers in the state.

Last weekend, many of the team’s wrestlers made the trek up to Algonquin Regional High School in Northborough to compete in the Division 2 State Wrestling meet. In order to make it that far, the wrestlers needed a top-6 performance in their respective weight class at the South Sectional meet the week before.

By the end of Saturday, the Lakers had advanced two wrestlers to All-States, which will take place this upcoming weekend at Reading Memorial High School.

Though they were underdogs headed in — a No. 7 and No. 16 seed respectively, Alec Snell (145) and Grant Laws (285) were able to each place sixth in their weight classes at the state meet.

Over the two days, Snell won three of his six matches in a tough bracket. Laws finished the bracket with the same record.

In all, the Lakers sent four wrestlers to states. Zachary McCarthy (106) and Gavin Hamilton (182) were the other two members of the team to compete. The two dropped both of their matches, but will likely have another shot at it next year as McCarthy is a freshman this season and Hamilton is a junior.

Overall, the Lakers accumulated 18 points at the meet, which tied them for 31st along with Wellesley.

The week before at sectionals, the Lakers came in seventh in the south bracket and had six top-6 finishers. Snell had the top performance, coming in second while McCarthy, Hamilton and Laws each came in fourth for their weight classes. Dan Walsh (113) wrestled his way to a fifth place finish at sectionals and Pat Ganley (120) came in sixth.

What stood out at states though is that Snell was able to beat Hingham’s RJ Harrington at 145 pounds in an 8-4 decision. Snell fell to Harrington in the sectional finals, so the win served as redemption for the Lakers.

If the Lakers have a top-6 performer at All-States, then they will advance to All-New England’s the following weekend.

On Monday, February 13, 2017, the Plympton Board of Selectmen held an abbreviated meeting in order to hold a dog hearing.

Jane Schultz, a resident of Plympton walked her dog on what Schultz described as their typical route on Ring Road. Schultz says, “We walked to the transfer station and back (home).” Her chocolate lab was on a leash.

Then, a Staffordshire, not leashed, approached Schultz and her dog. Schultz said that at first, she had no concern about the dog coming over. The dog then attacked her chocolate lab, biting its neck.

At the selectmen’s meeting Jan. 30, Schultz told the board that the Staffordshire was only about 40 pounds compared to her chocolate lab’s 80 pounds, however she described the dog when attacking as “strong, vicious, and muscular.”

Schultz told the board at the hearing that it was very difficult to get the Staffordshire separated from her dog. She later found blood on her dog’s coller and called the Kingston Animal Hospital, where she spent about $200 in medical bills.

Caitlin Chapel, the owner of the Staffordshire, also attended the dog hearing and was extremely apologetic. She said that she usually has work at 5 a.m. and lets the dog out in the morning. That morning, she didn’t have to be in until 8.

Chapel says that her dog, Ruby, has social issues with other dogs, but gets along great with people. She also says Ruby sleeps with her 4 year old daughter every night.

Ruby was behind on shots and Chapel took full responsibility for that. Chapel plansto take her dog for her shots the day after the hearing.

After the incident, Animal Control Officer Frank Bush immediately  enforced a 14 day restraining order on the Staffordshire which retrains the dog to the house unless on a leash.

After hearing both sides, selectmen had to decide if they would declare Ruby a nuisance dog or a dangerous dog.

Bush explained that, “If a dog is deemed to be a dangerous dog, the dog must be muzzled on a leash when off the property.” This leash cannot exceed 3 feet in length. The dog would also need to be in a designated pen when outside on the property.

Chapel strongly contended that a muzzle would not solve the problem and had worries about her dog’s social issues getting worse if confined to a pen. She asks if an electric fence would work.

Bush explained that the law doesn’t allow for an electric fence here. He says, “There’s been cases of dogs getting through.

The Board of Selectmen though didn’t want to take these measures just yet. Selectman Chair Colleen Thompson says, “I’m more inclined to declare the dog a nuisance dog rather than dangerous.”

With a dangerous designation, a muzzle is required by law. Animal Control Officer Bush said, “With a nuisance dog, that’s at the discretion of the board.”

The Board of Selectman unanimously decided to declare Chapel’s dog Ruby a nuisance dog rather than a dangerous dog. They ordered Ruby be permanently restrained and must be on a leash at all times outside.

Chapel thanked the board for their decision. She says she plans to get Ruby training for its social issues and offered to pay Schultz’s dog’s medical bills. Schultz turned down the offer, though, and said she’d rather the money go to Ruby’s training.

Jennifer Mieth

Public information Officer

Special to the Express

On Thursday, Feb. 2, 31 fire service leaders from across Massachusetts graduated from the 23rd offering of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy’s Chief Fire Officer Management Training Program.

This fourteen-week program was developed in accordance with National Fire Protection Association Standards for chief fire officers, and is delivered jointly by the Edward J. Collins, Jr. Center for Public Management at the University of Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy. It is a comprehensive course providing training in the non-fire suppression aspects of managing fire departments.

State Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey said, “These fire service leaders are committed to continually developing their management and leadership skills in order to provide the highest level of service to the communities they protect.”

The 31 graduates serve the following fire departments: Andover, Barnstable, Burlington, Cambridge, Concord, Dartmouth District #1, Foxborough, Gloucester, Halifax, Harwich, Hingham, Leicester, Lynn, Marshfield, North Andover, Northbridge, Orleans, Oxford, Plainville, Revere, Sandwich, Tewksbury, Waltham, Westborough, Westfield, Weston and Worcester.

The curriculum covers a spectrum of topics considered essential for effective public sector management. It includes human resource management, ethics, executive leadership and legal issues, governmental and organization structures, information management, customer-focused strategic planning, budgets and public finance, community awareness and public relations, and labor relations.

The Chief Fire Officer Management Training Program expects to help fire officers improve their ability to lead and manage personnel and the department, to provide skills to understand employees’ needs and problems, to promote personal productivity, to increase the capacity to manage both human and technical resources, and to increase inter-agency cooperation.

Participants are required to write a formal applied research paper that identifies a current problem or challenge faced by their organization and proposes a viable solution. The officers must then present their proposal to a panel of municipal officials for their consideration.

The Massachusetts Firefighting Academy, a division of the Department of Fire Services, offers this program, tuition-free.