The Halifax Board of Selectmen has sent out the Town’s annual notice concerning the overnight parking ban in Halifax from November 1, 2016 to March 31, 2017 (see attached).

In addition, the Board has reiterated that the Halifax Highway Department is not responsible for damage to property placed on Town property or within the rights-of-way for streets plowed by the Town.

This includes but is not limited to mailboxes sprinkler systems, trees, shrubs or landscaping, fences, lightpoles, etc.

In most cases, the Town owns 10 feet beyond the asphalt surface for roads accepted by the Town. Mailboxes should be installed at least four feet from the edge of the asphalt to the front of the mailbox.

Many of the plows that are used have a wing that extends two feet or more beyond the cutting edge.

This, combined with the snow coming off the plow, is what causes most of the damage. It is impossible for the driver to see the edge of the asphalt under the snow; therefore, the plow may be off the edge of the road at times.

In heavy snow conditions, the Department tries to push the snow at least a foot off the road.

There is a parking ban during the winter from November 1, 2016 to March 31, 2017.

Plympton selectmen were treated Monday night to an introduction to the workings of the new recording equipment which will be installed in both Plympton and Halifax meeting rooms for HD broadcast either through the Area 58 web site or on local channels through Comcast subscriptions.

Area 58 general manager Richard Goulart showed the board where the main “brains” of the operation would be set up, and how one person would be able to operate three robotic cameras, for wide shots and closer for head and shoulders type shots, and also man the microphones.  The installation would take place in the main assembly room.

Goulart said other meetings which need to be held in other Town House rooms would be served just as they always have.

“This is one of the things they promised to do for the towns of Halifax and Plympton and we will be able to better control the sound as well.”

“We are really excited about it. … Installation is scheduled for Monday Nov. 21st and Nov. 22nd, with a carryover day of the 23rd,” Goulart told the board.

Area58.net or area58.tv web site was displayed, and is “very user friendly,” he said.  “We got that done at about half the cost that we budgeted.”

Goulart invited all to come to the Open House at the studio which has been constructed in the plaza right next to Cornerstone’s Pizza, 96 Main St., Rte. 58, Carver.  Area 58 Community Access Media is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Silver Lake    negotiations

The Silver Lake negotiations representative was going to be the chairman of the Kingston Finance Committee.  Now it appears, according to Chairman Colleen Thompson, that the representative will be a member of the Kingston Board of Selectmen.  Selectperson Christine Joy said that she would like to propose that the negotiations person be a member of one of the smaller towns, Halifax or Plympton, and would volunteer that her name “be put into the hat” for consideration of that position.

Legislation change

Thompson also asked Town Co-ordinator Dale Pleau to draft a letter to Rep. Thomas Calter and request that the legislature consider a change to the language of the legislation to sell the land in Kingston owned by the Silver Lake Regional School District, to amend the language to include town meeting votes by the towns as necessary to the sale approval.

Selectman John Traynor told the board that he had met with Calter at his Village Coffee Shop coffee hour last Saturday at which time Calter told him that no legislation of any contentious nature is being considered until after the first of the year.  “So we have time,” Traynor said.  Thompson said that she would like to contact Charlie Seelig, Halifax Town Administrator, to discuss the letter with him and to begin the process so that the smaller towns of Halifax and Plympton will have their voices heard.

Halifax has expressed its displeasure at seemingly being left out of the process and has said it would support such a measure.

Carver Urban      Renewal

A copy of the most recent plan for the access roads and how they might mitigate heavy truck traffic will be sent to Plympton Town Counsel Ilana Quirk of Koppelman & Paige as well as to Plympton Highway Superintendent Jim Mulcahy for their input.

Aggregation Plan

Selectmen voted to go forward with the Aggregation Plan for energy cost reduction.  Pleau will get back to the selectmen with details about how to now proceed.

License renewals

Selectmen will review license renewal applications and make site visits to confirm that the businesses are within their stated parameters and will be prepared to issue their recommendations for the January 1, 2017 date.

Chairman Thompson noted that there is one gravel removal permit which needs to be renewed by the end of October and despite several emails and mailings from the Board of Selectmen, they have had no response from the permit holder.

Planning Board

member needed

Thompson also noted the immediate need for a person to fill one position on the Planning Board that would finish out a term until election in May, 2017.

It is an ideal situation for someone to serve and see how they like it for a little more than six months.  Anyone interested should contact the Board of Selectmen’s secretary, at the Town House, 781-585-2700.

Thanks, LiteControl

Selectmen read a letter  into the minutes from Fire Chief Warren Borsari thanking LiteControl on Spring Street for their generous donation of $1500 in light fixtures and equipment and that their electrician replaced all the broken fixtures in the Fire Station.

Selectmen will draft a letter of thanks to LiteControl.

Ticket sales are brisk, but there are still some left for the Fourth Annual Ryan Benjamin Nicotri Memorial Comedy Night Fundraiser to be held at the Upland Sportsman Club, Upland Road, Plympton.

Last year’s fundraiser was a huge success and this year’s promises to be even better. Comedian Jessica Casiano will be performing to keep the night filled with laughter and good memories.

A buffet dinner is included and there will be a cash bar. The Olive Garden will provide salads and bread sticks and Grill 58/Lyonville Tavern will provide the main meal.

Tickets are by advance sales only,  as they sold out quickly last year. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased by contacting Sarah Nicotri through a Facebook private message, via email at             sarahnicotri@yahoo.com or by cell phone 339-832-0799.

Those who are unable to attend but would like to make a donation, can mail it to: Ryan Benjamin Nicotri Memorial Fund @ Santander Bank 157 Summer St., Kingston MA 02364

Donations of any kind will help us continue to move forward and grow. Businesses are encouraged to donate gift certificates for services or products.  All of the donating businesses names and logos will be displayed for attending guests to see. In addition, there will be a list of participating businesses on each guest table for all to view. We can’t do our work without your support. A follow up email or letter will be sent to all attendees and supporting businesses to give an update on the how the funds are used.

The following is a summary of last year’s event:

The 2015 Fundraiser raised approximately $9,300 after expenses, which was used as follows:

• For the Christmas holiday, we purchased 75 gift cards from Target, each worth $50.00 (total cost = $3,750). These were distributed to Plympton families in need through the Silver Lake School system, including the Elementary School, Junior High and High School. Each family receives one card for the family and one for each of their school age children. The schools work together to provide us the number of cards required as all family names are kept strictly confidential. The schools distributed the cards to these recipients so they had them before Christmas.

• In June, we presented three – $1,000 scholarships through the Silver Lake Regional High School to deserving students. The baseball scholarship is available to a varsity player from any of the three towns, and the two remaining awards are for a boy and a girl from Plympton. The baseball scholarship was awarded to Jason Johndrow from Halifax, and the other two scholarships went to Sarah Cook and Peter Lavigne from Plympton.

• The food drive allowed us to fill 8 boxes with nonperishable items that were donated to the food pantry at St Joseph’s Church in Kingston prior to Thanksgiving.

We are very happy to provide these to the local community in Ryan’s name. This fundraiser is a place to focus our positive energy. We aim to make it a success and have it grow in the coming years in an effort to help others and keep Ryan’s memory alive.

For job-seekers aged 50 and older, job fairs today can be noisy and intimidating.

“It’s scary,” said Halifax Council on Aging Director Barbara Brenton.

Brenton said she feels empathy for older job-seekers. She said she remembers seeing fright on some job-seekers’ faces during a career fair held back in June at Halifax Town Hall.

It can be hard to know how to negotiate a job fair.

“Where do you go? What do you say? How do you do this?” she said.

Fortunately, there is a proven path to success for older job applicants.

The councils on aging in Halifax and Marshfield are working together to co-host and offer a “50+ Job Seekers Networking Group” program to support and assist people ages 50 and older who are looking for a new job, career direction or encore career. The program is funded and supported by the Massachusetts Association of Councils on Aging, and is open to all Massachusetts residents aged 50 and older.

The group will meet every first and third Thursday from 9 to 11 a.m., with the first meeting to take place on Thursday, Oct. 6 at Halifax Town Hall, and the second meeting to take place on Thursday, Oct. 20 at the Marshfield Council on Aging, 230 Webster St., in Marshfield.

Meetings are run by a certified career coach and include presentations and workshops on topics relevant to career transitions and job searches, such as developing a resume, creating an elevator speech, creating a LinkedIn profile, and working a career fair.

The meetings also offer ample opportunity to network with peers and one-to-one coaching guidance.

The Halifax Council on Aging ran a similar 50+ networking group from February to June, and drew more than 175 participants to the June career fair, Brenton said.

“We get a little bit of everything, someone looking for a part-time job, or a bread-winner,” she said.

“It’s growing. There is such a huge need,” she said. “People got jobs. They were successful.”

Brenton said it can be difficult for seniors to deal with telephone calls with voice prompts and using computers and social media. Some people aged 50 and older do not own computers or have an e-mail account.

A desire to learn how to use the computer is good, and seniors can turn to their children and grandchildren for help.

Seniors can also get computer help at the library and senior center, Brenton said. 

“There’s a lot of challenges,” she said.

For more information on the 50+ Job Seekers Group, call the Council on Aging at 781-293-7313.

50+ Job Seekers Networking Group Meetings

1.) Marshfield Council on Aging, Oct. 20. Topic: Developing a resume.

2.) Halifax Town Hall, Nov. 3. Topic: Creating STARS/PARS.

3.) Marshfield Council on Aging, Nov. 17. Topic: Creating an elevator speech using STARS/PARS.

4.) Halifax Town Hall, Dec. 1. Topic: Creating a LinkedIn profile. 

5.) Marshfield Council on Aging, Dec. 15. Topic: Using LinkedIn as a networking and job search tool.

6.) Halifax Town Hall, Jan. 5, 2017. Topic: Networking 101.

7.) Marshfield Council on Aging, Jan. 19, 2017. Topic: Developing a marketing plan for job search.

8.) Halifax Town Hall, Feb. 2, 2017. Topic: Job search portfolio/tools.

9.) Marshfield Council on Aging, Feb. 16, 2017. Topic: Interview preparation and strategy.

10.) Halifax Town Hall, March 2. Topic: Boot Camp: How to work a career fair or other networking event.

We are excited to announce that all registered voters will be able to vote before Election Day for the first time ever in Massachusetts. Early voting will begin on October 24 and continue through November 4.

Prior to the enactment of this new law, the only way a registered voter was allowed to vote prior to Election Day was through absentee voting. Although absentee voting will still be available for registered voters who qualify, only those who will be absent from their city or town on Election Day, or have a disability that prevents them from going to the polls, or have a religious belief preventing the same, are legally allowed to vote by absentee ballot.

Unlike absentee voting, early voting is for every registered voter. Registered voters do not need an excuse or reason to vote early. Regardless of whether a voter wants to take advantage of early voting, vote absentee or vote on Election Day, the first step is making sure you are registered. To check to see if you are registered to vote, and to find information on how to register to vote, you may visit the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s website: www.sec.state.ma.us/ele.

If you need to register to vote, you may do it online by visiting: www.RegisterToVoteMA.com. All you need is a license or an I.D. issued by the Registry of Motor Vehicles to apply online. To be eligible to vote in the November 8th State Election, you must register to vote or make any necessary changes to your voter registration by

October 19th, 2016.

Early voting can be done in person or by mail. In Plympton, early voting can be done in person at the Plympton Town House, 5 Palmer Road, Plympton, during the following dates and times :

First week:

Monday-Oct. 24

9 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m.

Tuesday through Thursday – Oct. 25 – Oct. 27

9 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Second week:

Monday-Oct. 31

9 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m.

and

Tuesday through Thursday – Nov.1 – Nov.3

9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Also, registered voters have the option to request an early voting ballot through the mail. Simply fill out an application and mail it to Town Clerk, Town of Plympton, 5 Palmer Road, Plympton, MA 02367. You can find the application on the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s website: http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele.

In Halifax, early voting can be done in person at the Town Clerk’s Office during the following dates and times:  regular office hours (Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.) and on Friday, November 4th from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Also, registered voters have the option to request an early voting ballot through the mail.

Simply fill out an application and mail it to Town Clerk’s Office, 499 Plymouth Street, Halifax, MA  02338.  You can find the application on the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s website: http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele.

Please note, however, once a voter has cast an early voting ballot, the voter may no longer vote at the polls on Election Day.

For the first time in Massachusetts, the first choice all voters will make is which day to vote. Early voting will make the most fundamental right of our citizens more convenient than ever to exercise.

We encourage all of our citizens to exercise that right and take advantage of the opportunity to vote on their schedules.

From bawdy beginnings to serene sylvan simplicity, Silver Lake Chapel, 33 Lake St., Plympton, has been through thick and thin, serving its congregation continually for the past 125 years.

Under the leadership of Rev. Allan Palmer for the past seven years, the congregation came together with a catered barbecue dinner in celebration last week. 

It wasn’t always this lovely little chapel in the woods; it began as a dance hall, “Lane’s Hall”, on the southern shore of Silver Lake, in the 1860s known as Jones Pond.  Lane’s Hall was part of the great Silver Lake Grove, sponsored by the Old Colony Railroad, to give the good people of Boston and beyond, a reason to ride the rails on Sundays.  It’s hard to believe these days, but thousands came to the 70-acre park to relax, enjoy, and kick up their heels. 

If you rode to Silver Lake Park by rail, you didn’t have to pay admission to the Park, according to Ms. Winifred L. Avery’s account.

The park offered, in addition to dancing, baseball and croquet fields, a pavilion seating several thousand, bowling alleys, rowboats, sailboats, and the side-wheeler steamboat, the “Lady of the Lake.”

The Lady, originally called the steamer “Glide,” was brought from Newburyport to Captain’s Hill in Duxbury in 1873, from whence it was dragged by 16 pair of oxen over land to Silver Lake.

It was a bright sunny day in June of 1877, when the good “Lady of the Lake” had an accident: the boiler, which powered her side wheel, exploded and threw hot coals down on two groups of young people from Boston.  The hot coals caused horrible burns, according to Ms. Avery’s account. 

Doctors and nurses were brought from Kingston and Plymouth on a special train that was sent for them.  They didn’t have salve to put on the burns, so they used grease from the train.  Although none drowned, two adults and three children died from blood poisoning. 

By 1878, the Grove was no longer a favorite spot for weekend excursions, due to the publicity about the Lady of the Lake disaster and a train wreck the following year that killed more than 100 passengers on their way to the recreation area.

The publicity from both incidents added to the demise of the popular Sunday excursion destination.

Recreation stopped altogether in 1903 when the City of Brockton took over Silver Lake as their water supply, Ms. Avery reports.

The infamous dance hall building, Lane’s Hall, as told by Rev. Henry Belcher in the 100th anniversary celebration booklet, became the site of occasional prayer meetings in the 1880s. 

Grocery clerk Frank Reed, aspiring to become a minister, first brought the word of God to the Grove.  In the mid-1880s, Dr. J. Francis Cooper, a pastor from Bryantville, preached in Lane’s Hall Sunday afternoons.  He later became minister of Brockton Central M.E. Church. 

In 1887, Rev. V. J. Hartshorne, after retiring from the Plympton Congregational Church, became interested in sharing the preaching duties with his Methodist counterpart from Bryantville.

Rev. Hartshorne raised money to build a church in the Silver Lake community.  The Lane’s Hall dancing pavilion was purchased and work began on what was to become the Silver Lake Chapel. 

Then pastor of the Plympton Congregational Church, Rev. Horace F. Hallett, who had shared preaching duties at the Grove, was a former carpenter, and it was under his supervision that the transformation from dance hall to church took place.

Lemuel Bryant donated the land on which the Chapel now stands, but with the provision that if it ever ceased to be used for religious purposes, it would revert to his heirs.  Bryant’s wife kept those working on the building well fed.  Although she never knew how many would respond when she rang the dinner bell, there was always plenty.  This tradition is carried over through the years with many well-laid tables and ever-popular monthly suppers.

Rev. Henry Belcher, who began as pastor in 1984, served its congregation for many years, noting in the Chapel’s booklet of the 100th Anniversary,

“The hundred years and more of serving the Lord in this little corner of a former grove near a sparkling Silver Lake have not been easy.  But in each time of crisis, pastor and parishioners have kept the flame of faith alive when so many times it nearly flickered out.”

Through two World Wars, the Great Depression, and numerous recessions, Silver Lake Chapel has continued its ministry to the gratitude of those it serves.

Last week’s celebration marked another milestone in its history – may it celebrate many more.

Halifax and Plympton had better turnout at the Commonwealth’s Primary Election on Thursday, Sept. 8 than other towns in the area.  Halifax had 400 ballots taken, for 7% of their total 5453 registered voters and Plympton had 12% of their 2090 registered voters come out to vote.

The state had predicted a low voter turnout, and they were right.  Secretary of State William Galvin had predicted a 10 % overall turnout.

Both Whitman and Hanson, however, posted a disappointing 3% voter turnout.

In Halifax, results posted by Town Clerk Barbara Gaynor are as follows:

Democratic Ballot

• Representative in Congress (vote for one): William R. Keating, 108; blanks, 14; write-in, 2.

• Councilor (vote for one): C.A. Ianella, Jr., 58; Stephen F. Flynn, 57, blanks, 9; write-ins, 0.

• Senator in General Court (vote for one): Michael D. Brady, 110; blanks, 12; write-ins, 2.

• Representative in General Court (vote for one): Thomas J. Calter, III, 113; blanks, 7; miscellaneous write-ins, 4.

• Sheriff (vote for one):  Scott M. Vecchi, 103; Blanks, 19; write-ins, 2.

• County Commissioner (vote for two): Greg Hanley, 98; Lincoln D. Heineman, 52; Blanks, 98; write-ins, 0.

Republican Ballot

• Representative in Congress (vote for one): Mark C. Alliegro, 90; Thomas J. O’Malley, 162; Blanks, 20; write-ins, 2.

• Councillor (vote for one): Blanks, 249; write-ins, 25.

• Senator in General Court (vote for one): Blanks, 244; write-ins, 30.

• Representative in General Court (vote for one): Peter J. Boncek, 116; Michael E. Cowett, 110; Ian F. Murphy, 46; write-ins, 0.

• County Commissioner (vote for one): Daniel A. Pallotta, 98; Anthony T. O’Brien, Sr., 209, write-ins, 0.

There were 124 Democratic ballots cast and 274 Republican ballots cast in Halifax.  Although one ballot was pulled for the Green Rainbow Party and one for the United Independent party, no vote was cast on either ballot.

In Plympton, Town Clerk Tara Shaw reports there were 89 Democratic ballots and 143 Republican ballots cast.  There were no ballots cast for the Green-Rainbow Party or the United Independent Party.

Democratic Ballot

• Representative in Congress (vote for one): William R. Keating, 85; Blank, 4.

• Councillor (vote for one): Christopher Iannella, Jr., 41; Stephen F. Flynn, 36; Blank, 12.

• Representative in General Court (vote for one): Thomas J. Calter, III, 85; Blank 4.

• Sheriff (vote for one): Scott M. Vecchi, 75; Blank, 14.

• County Commissioner (vote for two): Greg Hanley, 73; Lincoln D. Heineman, 47; Blank, 58.

Republican Ballot

• Representative in Congress (vote for one): Mark C. Alliegro, 66; Thomas Joseph O’Malley, Jr., 72; Blank, 5.

• Councillor (vote for one): Blank, 143.

• Senator in General Court(vote for one): Blank, 142.

• Representative in General Court (vote for one): Peter J. Boncek, 58; Michael E. Cowett, 70; Ian F. Murphy, 12; Blank, 3.

• Sheriff (vote for one): Joseph D. McDonald, Jr., 116; Blank, 27.

• County Commissioner (vote for two): Daniel A. Pallotta, 74; Anthony Thomas O’Brien, Sr., 105; Blank, 107.

There were no ballots cast for the Green-Rainbow Party nor for the United Independent Party.

Now Town Clerks Gaynor and Shaw will begin to get ready for the State and Federal Election to be held Nov. 8.

The South Shore Chamber of Commerce, (www.southshorechamber.org) the region’s largest chamber, has published a report, “Infrastructure Priorities for a Stronger Regional Economy.” This report, which addresses concerns and provides recommendations for the South Shore and beyond, is part of the Chamber’s overall initiative, which is examining key issues relating to growth and development of the South Shore.

Copies of the Chamber’s report and findings are being sent to key business and community leaders and the report is also available for viewing on the Chamber’s website, www.southshorechamber.org.

Peter Forman, President and CEO of the South Shore Chamber, said, “Infrastructure concerns are not new to the region, but it is critical to have clearly-defined priorities when advocating for infrastructure projects; it is also essential to be able to connect those priorities to other important goals such as housing, economic development or to building stronger communities.” He added, “As a regional Chamber of Commerce we serve a valuable role in helping state and federal officials understand those connections, and perhaps accelerate funding for projects in our area.”

Because infrastructure spending and private economic development go hand in hand, Forman noted that the Chamber has identified infrastructure projects which will have the broadest impact on the region. He noted that, “Since the Chamber does not represent any single community or any single private interest, we believe we are in a strong position to show the best opportunities for the region.”

• Key Recommendations include;

• Improve the commute to Boston

• Encourage more transit-oriented developments

• Leverage the transit-oriented housing into broader commercial and economic activity

• Recognize the importance of regional suburban smart growth

• Recognize the strength of the region is driven by the strength of our communities

• Recognize that future growth can be stimulated by growth outside of our own region

Recommended priorities for the Boston commute include increased capacity, repair, and re-construction of Mass transit service parking garages. T Stations need upgrades and the Chamber believes relatively easy and inexpensive steps can be taken to improve the stations while state officials should provide reliability of service. The report also recommends an expansion of South Station to increase the number of tracks needed to increase trains to the South Shore.

There are also several possible highway projects that require further study. One involves widening Route 3; options include traditional state funding and a Public/Private Partnership, which might be a voluntarily tolling through a new lane. Another possibility is improving “The Split” at Braintree/Quincy to eliminate some local bottlenecks. The Chamber believes that the existing and potential Transit-Oriented Developments offer the best opportunity to promote new housing growth that will appeal to younger workers and provide some relief to the very expensive Boston housing market. In addition these developments are powerful drivers for growth and they continue to support the following:

• Opening the connections between Union Point (formerly SouthField)  and Union Street in Rockland

• Widening of Route 18

• Improvements to Reservoir Park Drive and Hingham Street in Rockland

• Possible short-distance parallel or access roads between Exits 13 and 16.

The report includes recommendation for the future or energy, water/wastewater, tourism and community development for the region.

“We believe our report sets some priorities for today,” Forman said, adding, “The South Shore Chamber has a long history of prioritizing and advocating for the infrastructure projects that have the greatest benefit for the region.

“The South Shore, by definition, is not part of Boston, but our economic life is heavily influenced by it,” states the report. “Our development strategies and transportation priorities are closely tied to Boston’s future growth.”

  About the South Shore        Chamber of Commerce

The South Shore Chamber of Commerce has long been recognized throughout the state as one of the most active and forceful advocates for the business community and numbers among the larger Chambers of Commerce nationally. The South Shore Chamber is a not-for-profit association of businesses in the communities south of Boston. It is committed to helping its members grow their businesses and to improve the business climate in the region. Members range in size from major international corporations headquartered on the South Shore to small local firms and sole proprietorships. For additional information on the Chamber, please visit www.southshorechamber.org or call 781-421-3900.

PLYMOUTH COUNTY– The South Coast rail link, a long talked about project to connect Boston to Fall River and New Bedford by Commuter Rail, is in its early stages of development, and the public is being invited to participate in hearings regarding a possible alternate route to those originally proposed that would take less time to design and construct. As of now, the route would use existing Stoughton Commuter Rail line tracks. Design for this route is currently 15% complete.

According to MassDOT, a series of meetings will be held this fall to update the public on the status of all elements of the South Coast rail project, and to discuss the next steps. MassDOT and the MBTA are inviting all members of the public with an interest in this project to participate as they are seeking public comment and to answer questions.

The South Coast Rail project is intended to restore commuter rail service between Boston and the Massachusetts South Coast. Service to the region ended in 1959, leaving Taunton, Fall River and New Bedford as the only major cities within 50 miles of Boston lacking transit access to Boston and other communities, according to MassDOT.

“South Coast Rail is intended to reconnect this region to jobs while spurring economic vitality and attracting new business and investments.”

The MBTA received second year funding in September 2015 to continue the development of environmental permitting and preliminary design, with a mission to reduce environmental impacts.

Hearings are all at 6:30, beginning in New Bedford on September 7, followed by Taunton on September 12, Fall River on September 14, Easton on September 15, Canton on September 19, and Middleborough on September 22.