Graduates stand for the Pledge of Allegiance lead by Ashley Arroyo, Historian of the Class of 2016. The graduation was held outside on the stadium field. Luck was with them as they had a gorgeous day. The lawn was lined with family and friends watching and cheering for the graduates. Many had umbrellas to shield themselves from the sun.
Silver Lake HS Standout named Gatorade’s Massachusetts Baseball Player of the Year
In its 31st year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with USA TODAY High School Sports, announced Anthony Videtto of Silver Lake Regional High School as its 2015-16 Gatorade Massachusetts Baseball Player of the Year.
Videtto is the first Gatorade Massachusetts Baseball Player of the Year to be chosen from Silver Lake Regional High School.
The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field, distinguishes Videtto as Massachusetts’s best high school baseball player, and now is a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year,
Videtto joins an elite alumni association of past state award-winners in 12 sports, including Derek Jeter (1991-92, Kalamazoo HS, Mich.), Roy Halladay (1994-95, Arvada West HS, Colo.), David Price (2003-04, Blackman HS, Tenn.), Chipper Jones (1989-90, Bolles School, Fla.), Derek Lee (1992-93, El Camino HS, Calif.) and Jon Lester (2001-02).
The 6-foot-2, 195-pound senior infielder, outfielder and right-handed pitcher had led Silver Lake Regional High to a 14-2 record at the time of his selection. Videtto produced a .458 average with four home runs and 14 RBI with the bat through 16 games.
The 2016 Patriot League MVP, he also posted a 2-1 record with a 1.35 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 26.
Videtto has maintained a 4.21 weighted GPA in the classroom. A member of the National Honor Society, he has volunteered locally on behalf of the Yawkey Family Inn and as a youth baseball coach.
”We have played against Silver Lake Regional High for the past two years and Anthony Videtto is the best player we have faced,” said Leo Duggan, Oliver Ames High head coach. “He played the infield against us and was awesome, taking away a couple of hits. At the plate, he had four hits and we had a hard time figuring out how to pitch to him.”
Videtto has signed a National Letter of Intent to play baseball on scholarship at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by the Gatorade high school sports leadership team in partnership with USA TODAY High School Sports, which work with top sport-specific experts and a media advisory board of accomplished, veteran prep sports journalists to determine the state winners in each sport.
Videtto joins recent Gatorade Massachusetts Baseball Players of the Year Joe Walsh (2014-15, Plymouth North High School), Joe Freiday (2013-14, Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School), Ben Bowden (2012-13, Lynn English High School), Rhett Wiseman (2011-12, Buckingham Browne & Nichols School), John Gorman (2010ñ11, Catholic Memorial School), Kevin Ziomek (2009-10, Amherst Regional High School), Kyle McKenzie (2008ñ09, Thayer Academy), Scott Weismann (2007-08, Acton-Boxborough High School), and Jack McGeary (2006-07, Roxbury Latin).
To keep up to date on the latest happenings, become a fan of Gatorade Player of the Year on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. For more on the Gatorade Player of the Year program, including nomination information, a complete list of past winners and the announcement of the Gatorade National Player of the Year, visit www.gatorade.com/poy.
Community coalition fighting substance abuse announces new name and mission
A recently-formed coalition of community members concerned about trends in substance abuse and the current opioid epidemic has formalized its group name and mission statement. Now known as Tri-Town FACTS, the group serves Kingston, Halifax and Plympton with a mission to support and strengthen the regional community in a collaborative effort to promote holistic wellness through prevention, education, enforcement, and advocacy, and to empower healthy lifestyle choices. “FACTS” stands for Families, Adolescents, and Communities Together against Substances. It is a brand established by the South Shore Hospital’s Youth Health Connection and used by several coalitions in the surrounding area.
The growing group has brought together 25 – 30 people at initial monthly meetings held in March, April and May, representing parents, teachers, school administrators, students, law enforcement, public safety, behavioral health professionals, faith leaders, grandparents, elected officials and those affected by addiction. The group is seeking new members from all three towns, including volunteers interested in leadership roles who can help advance the mission through initiatives and programs to be developed. Currently chaired by Kingston parent, Amy Belmore, the next meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 7, from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. at the Silver Lake High School Library and is open to all.
A grant provided by the Solstice Foundation has funded the services of an experienced facilitator, Julie Nussbaum, who has assisted in the launch of similar coalitions in the region. Nussbaum, who will work with Tri-Town FACTS until March 2017, said “According to the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, (CADCA), communities that have anti-drug coalitions have lower youth drug and alcohol rates. Furthermore, research has shown that addressing the issue of underage drinking reduces the risk that youth will go on to use opioids and other substances (Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 2012). I will be taking the coalition through a process that guides the selection, implementation, and evaluation of evidence-based, culturally appropriate, sustainable interventions addressing substance misuse and abuse.”
Steering Committee member, David Kennedy, who also serves on the Kingston Board of Health, recently carried the Coalition’s suggestion to pass a regulation preventing the sale of synthetic marijuana and synthetic drugs in Kingston stores to fellow Board of Health members. Following a public hearing held on May 2 to address the health impacts of Spice, K2, bath salts, and others not meant for human consumption, the Board of Health immediately put the new regulation in place. Said Kennedy “the Synthetic Drug Regulation was discussed back in 2014 within the Board of Health and I am grateful the board wanted to discuss and approve such regulation on May 2. It’s important in the early stages of the Tri-Town Coalition to achieve short-term goals, and clearly this was one. Synthetic drugs are very dangerous and side effects are fatal. Even though the Regulation is important, we need to educate our youth on these drugs and help them make healthy choices.”
The Coalition is currently focused on assessment and data collection, and will be implementing surveys, focus group discussions with students and parents, and interviews with key stakeholders to help guide their next steps. Anyone from Kingston, Halifax and Plympton who wants to learn more or get involved is encouraged to attend the next meeting, or contact [email protected]. The group also has a Facebook page and is on Twitter @tritownFACTS.
Randall tells BOS: Grant my ‘grow-op’ or I make a 40(b) development!
PLYMPTON– On Monday, May 9, Plympton selectmen met briefly.
Jeff Randall of Ring Road appeared before the board with his attorney, Stephen McLaughlin, this time stating he will turn his bogs into a Chapter 40(b) low-income development if the board does not approve his stalled request for a municipal letter of non-opposition or approval for a medical marijuana grow facility, which he says he wants to locate on his farm.
Randall said, “I don’t want to do this,” but then he and his lawyer went on to describe his intentions to build low-income housing on the site of his current cranberry bogs, which he claims are gravel bogs and therefore buildable if filled in, not wetlands. Randall’s attorney claims that Plympton is short of its state-mandated affordable housing units, and therefore, “there is nothing the town can do to stop this [project].”
Chapter 40(b) waives most town local zoning requirements and permitting processes for affordable housing, including, as Randall’s attorney noted, density. He stated there would likely be both duplexes and single-family units, should the project move ahead.
Attorney McLaughlin went on to say, “This can be devastating to towns with a small tax base.”
Randall stated that other towns are competing for his grow-facility and that he is pursuing other options.
“The first town gets it,” he said.
Sharon Housley, of Ring Road, complained that she was seeing four to five trucks an hour of dirt being moved on to Randall’s property. While Randall stated that it was for composting, Housley apparently believed it was for a different purpose.
“The landscape has already changed!” she exclaimed.
This prompted a verbal spat between Housley and Randall’s wife, Lisa Randall, who asked how Housley would be able to see any changes to the landscape if she wasn’t trespassing, even mentioning that they’ve had to report her to the police.
Mark Russo, Selectmen Chairman, quickly brought the meeting back under control, but not before Dawn Hastings of Ring Road stated that she wanted to be on the record supporting a 40(b) development. “It’s better than the alternative,” she said. “Maybe we’ll get some diversity in town.”
Upcoming dates:
• The Plympton Board of Selectmen will not meet on Monday, May 16, but will meet on Monday, May 23.
• The Plympton Annual Town Meeting and a Special Town Meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 18, at 7 p.m. at the Dennet Elementary School, 80 Crescent Street.
• The annual Town Election will be held on Saturday, May 21, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Town House, 5 Palmer Road.
Parks Opening brings 100+
By Alan Wheelock
Special to The Express
Despite some damp weather, more than100 people turned out on Saturday afternoon, April 23, for the official opening and celebration of Plympton’s new parks. Visitors wandered throughout the network of trails and marveled again at the 600 foot long boardwalk that carried them comfortably across the wetlands surrounding Jones River Brook.. Since the trails, boardwalk and park benches were completed late last fall, the Parks have received steady use and drawn consistent praise from the townspeople who visit and see the beauty of Churchill Park, the impressive contours of Cato’s Ridge, and the expansive, picturesque views in the O’Neil Marsh.
The event started at noon. Residents gathered in what is known as the old gravel pit area, where a flatbed truck served as a stage for the The Keepers, a local acoustic bluegrass brand who provided entertainment. Children in attendance were excited to go off on a scavenger hunt (designed by Alison McSweeney and town librarian Deb Batson) that helped them learn about many of the natural features to be found throughout the park.
At 1 PM, Open Space Committee Co-chairs Vicki Alberti and Linda Leddy asked about 25 people who have been especially important to the Parks’ creation to join them up on the truck bed. Alberti kicked off the ceremony with an enthusiastic welcome to all the attendees, thanking everyone for their support these last 4 years, and reminding them that these 105 acres were acquired by the town for $20,000, thanks to Community Preservation Funds.
She then introduced Leddy, who began with a tribute to the late Gail Briggs, a Plympton Open Space Committee member whose forward-looking vision was the inspiration for the Parks creation. Leddy then introduced several individuals who made key contributions to the Parks’ creation. The first of these was Beverly Messinger, who worked with the town to ensure their family lands on Main Street would become a park. The Messingers are descended from one of Plympton’s founding families, the Churchills.
Leddy then reiterated Plympton’s gratitude to Congressman Keating for his crucial help early in the project, when he facilitated solving an unforeseen issue with the IRS. The Congressman noted that the Parks were an outstanding accomplishment, especially for a town as small as Plympton, and that he was very proud of what a dedicated group of citizens had accomplished. He also spoke about the importance of conserving land, giving families a place to enjoy the outdoors and leaving a healthy environment for future generations. Hearing children in the distance playing and laughing on the scavenger hunt, he remarked “That’s what it’s all about!”
The Wildlands Trust and the Compact of Cape Cod Land Trusts both received warm thanks for their ongoing technical services to help the town acquire and manage the Parks. Mark Robinson, Director of the Compact, commented “I am very jealous of Plympton. You managed to create a 105-acre park for $20,000, and I cannot believe you have done it all with volunteer labor. I work on the Cape where we recently spent two and half years raising $1.8 million to preserve 19 acres!”
Plympton Selectmen set warrant
PLYMPTON– Plympton Selectmen met on Thursday, April 21 and Monday, April 25 and despite discussing a proposed medical marijuana grow-facility at both meetings, also discussed other town business.
Town Meeting Warrant
The Selectmen have closed both the Annual Town Meeting and the Special Town Meeting warrant for 2016 on April 25. The ATM includes, in addition to its 41 articles, ten citizens’ petitions as well. The STM contains nine articles. The meeting will be held at the Dennett Elementary School, Wednesday, May 18 at 7 p.m.
Randall Gravel Permit
Jeffrey Randall, of Ring Road, has been operating a gravel excavation business without a town permit since October 2015, something that neighbors opposing his proposed medical marijuana grow facility brought to light. He has had gravel removal permits from the town before, and never allowed them to expire, officials say. Randall asserted that it was something that had just slipped through the cracks.
The BOS voted to approve his permit renewal application pending a satisfactory site-visit by Selectperson Christine Joy. Joy conducted the visit between the two meetings and reported at the second that she found no issues with Randall’s gravel removal operations.
Town Clerk Seeks Website Assistance
Town Clerk Tara Wick reported to Selectmen that she has been volunteering a lot of her time maintaining the town’s website. Noting that all department heads and many committee members have passwords and user-privileges to modify and update sections of the website that pertain to their department or committee.
Wick stated that she hoped that more department heads and committees would take on this task themselves, saying that she would post instructions or help anyone that felt uncomfortable making changes. She also said that many had already taken a class from the company that provides the website service to the town.
Next Meetings
The Plympton BOS will meet next on 4/25, 5/2, 5/3, 5/9, 5/16 and 5/23 at 6 p.m., with the exception of 5/2 when they will begin at 5:30 p.m. The meeting on 5/3 is to meet with town counsel in preparation for the Annual Town Meeting and Special Town Meeting.
Parks Opening party Saturday in Plympton
The Plympton Open Space Committee reminds residents and friends that we are celebrating the official opening of Plympton Parks on Saturday, April 23, from noon until 3 pm. This event will feature several special activities, including a “scavenger hunt” for children that focuses on the natural features of the Parks, guided tours of the trails and ongoing acoustic music for all to enjoy.
At 1p.m., there will be a short ceremony to thank the organizations and individuals who have given their time and talents to make the Parks a reality. Invited guests include the descendants of the Churchill Family, Representative William Keating, the Wildlands Trust, and the Compact of Cape Cod Conservation Trusts. The old “gravel pit” is the location for the ceremony and the start of all other events.
Attendees are asked to park at the Dennett School and use the Ring Road entrance to the Parks. Plympton police will be on hand to facilitate safe crossing of Ring Road for attendees and their families. If you require transportation to reach the gravel pit area, volunteers will provide you with a ride from the school area. Please call Jane Schulze at 781 585 4771 to request this assistance.
Rain date is Sunday, April 24. The Open Space Committee thanks everyone who has supported this project and hopes you will be there to help celebrate!
Opening Celebration for Plympton Parks
The Plympton Open Space Committee invites residents and friends to join in celebrating the official opening of Plympton Parks on Saturday, April 23, from noon until 3 p.m. The festivities feature several special events, including a “scavenger hunt” for children, guided tours of the trails and ongoing acoustic music for all to enjoy.
At 1 p.m. there will be a short ceremony to thank the organizations and individuals who have given their time and talents to make the Parks a reality. Invited guests include the descendants of the Churchill Family, Representative William Keating, the Wildlands Trust and the Compact of Cape Cod Conservation Trusts. The old “gravel pit” is the location for the ceremony and the start of all other events.
Attendees are asked to park at the Dennett School and use the Ring Road entrance to the Parks. Plympton police will help facilitate safe crossing of Ring Road for attendees and their families. If you require transportation to reach the gravel pit area, volunteers will provide you with a ride from the school area. Please call Jane at 781 585 4771 to request this assistance.
Rain date is Sunday, April 24. The Open Space Committee thanks everyone who has supported this project and hopes you will be there to help celebrate!
U Drive. U Text. U Pay.
HALIFAX– Early last week, Halifax Police Chief Edward Broderick announced that his department was one of 202 local law-enforcement agencies to receive a grant from the federal National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) administered by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s Highway Safety Division (EOPSS/HSD) to combat texting while driving and distracted driving.
Local police along with State Police and other law-enforcement agencies from across the Commonwealth and the country will use the grant money to fund “traditional and innovative” enforcement activities during a “crack-down” period on distracted driving from April 8 through April 29. Broderick stated that he would make any specifics of the campaign public.
Although the Plympton Police department was not eligible for the grant due to changes in highway-safety grant funding formulas implemented during the Patrick Administration, the Plympton Police force is “hyper-vigilant” for all forms of driving infractions, including texting while driving, distracted driving, seatbelt violations and inspection sticker violations, according to Chief Patrick Dillon.
Distracted driving can include anything from fiddling with the car radio to talking on your cell phone, which although not explicitly forbidden, can get you a ticket if it is affecting your driving.
Texting while driving was outlawed in Massachusetts in 2010, according to EOPSS. Drivers who write, send or read texts can be hit with a $100 fine. Teen drivers under 18 years of age are prohibited from using cell phones or other electronic devices at all while driving, including to make phone calls. The fine for a juvenile first offense is $100, a 60-day license suspension and required completion of a driver re-training course.
In 2014, across the United States, 3,179 people were killed and an additional 431,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers, according to the state.
Plympton Chief Dillon suggests that if you absolutely must use your phone during the course of a trip, to pull over to a safe spot, out of the way of traffic so as not to create a hazard, such as a parking lot, and conduct your business there and not while on the road.
He also suggested simply putting the cellphone away and not using it until you’ve reached your destination, the safest option according to him.
Cranberry Equestrian Team compete at IEA Nationals
In the 2010-11 season, the Cranberry Equestrian Middle School Team, “CET” for short, an Interscholastic Equestrian Team, was champion of Zone 1, made up of the six New England states, qualifying them for the IEA National Finals in Maryland. Last weekend, five years later, the Cranberry Equestrian Middle School Team once again finished in the top three of 18 teams at the Zone 1 Finals, qualifying them for the IEA National Finals once again, this year to be held in Lexington, KY at the Alltech Arena at Kentucky Horse Park.
The Cranberry Equestrian Middle School Team is based at Reunion Farm, Plympton Village, and is coached by Macaela Burnet, Geraldine Burnet, and Betsy Kupic.
The middle school team will travel to Lexington, KY to compete against 18 delegate teams from across the country April 20 through 24.
What does it take to bring a team of riders and a group of horses a thousand miles? “It takes a lot,” said Geraldine Burnet, owner of Reunion Farm. “A lot of effort and a lot of money.” Burnet continued, “We are all proud of the effort our team put forth for a chance to compete at the national level, and hope we will be able to get them there.”
As you can imagine, there are large costs involved with the endeavor. Each team member has to pay for airfare, hotel, coaching, local transportation, and meals.
To that end, the Cranberry Equestrian Team will hold a fundraiser this Saturday morning, April 2, at Reunion Farm, from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Bring the kids and treat them to pony rides, a petting zoo, and a bake sale. Saturday night, April 2, the indoor riding arena will become home to games and two big screen family friendly movies from 6-9:30, bring the family! The cost is $20 per child, with a $35 family cap. The price includes popcorn, pizza, and soda.
This team will work hard to raise what they need to get where they need to go. They hope the community will pitch in and give them a hand.
Throughout the school year, the Cranberry Middle School Team held practice sessions once or twice each week and competed in a maximum of five events per student so that the playing field is level for each rider. Once a student has accumulated enough points, 18 this year, they qualify for post-season regional finals, which were held Feb 27 and 28 at Stoneleigh Burnham School in Greenfield, moving forward three riders per event onto the Zone 1 finals, held this year at Mt. Holyoke College, March 26, and 27.
The Interscholastic Equestrian Association is made up of 350 teams from across the country, in grades 6-12, who enter competitions on completely equipped horses that are provided at each venue to the students.
Since the horse is new to the rider, the scores are based upon horsemanship and equitation, and the skills the rider exhibits in controlling and bringing out the best attributes of the horse.
All disciplines offer a variety of ability levels from beginner through advanced. The IEA has set guidelines for the placement of new riders entering the IEA to allow for the unique program format of riding an unfamiliar horse.
For student equestrians in grades 6-12, the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) was established in the spring of 2002 and held its first annual national finals event the following year in Willoughby, Ohio. A non-profit organization, the IEA has grown both geometrically and geographically each year.