The Kingston Public Library Local History Collections is hosting an open house on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026, at 6 p.m. at the Adams Center (33 Summer St., Kingston). It will feature the exciting new exhibit, A History of Shipbuilding in Kingston Massachusetts.
This new exhibit features many historic archival materials from the Library’s Local History Collections. The exhibit primarily focuses on Kingston’s historic shipbuilding industry and tradition, and the Town’s rich maritime history. There is an emphasis on historic Kingston boatbuilders and specific vessels built in Kingston along the Jones River. Some of the prolific Kingston shipbuilders from the early period of Kingston’s boatbuilding history featured in this exhibit include: the Drew Family, Joseph Holmes, and Lysander Bartlett. Additionally, the Delano Family, who owned a vast number of Kingston-built ships, and were heavily involved in the local shipping industry are featured in the exhibit. Some of the historic Kingston-built vessels from the early period highlighted include: the bark Turbo, the schooners Leonidas and Cordova, and the massive ship Herculean. Also, this exhibit will feature the Kingston built Revolutionary War ship, brig Independence, which is on the Kingston Town Seal.
This exhibit will also feature the later period of Kingston’s shipbuilding history, which focused more on smaller ships and pleasure sailboats, like the famous catboats built by George W. Shiverick and Kingston lobster boats built by Edward Ransom and Nathan Watson. Lastly, this exhibit will highlight Kingston’s shipbuilding legacy with the Kingston Yacht Club and recent restoration projects of Kingston boats.
This new exhibit will be up and viewable Wednesday, Sept. 16 through Friday, Sept. 30 at the Adams Center. There will be a talk and presentation on the exhibit by the Archivist on Saturday, Sept. 19 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The exhibit hours are: Mondays 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Tuesdays 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Wednesdays 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Thursdays 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and by appointment.
For more information contact Nick Cotoulas at ncotoulas@kingstonma.gov or 781-585-0517 x6277.
Halifax Signs Darleen Sullivan as Interim Town Administrator, Locks In Three-Year Police Contracts
The Halifax Select Board executed three contracts in a single open session Aug. 25, closing out a summer of turnover at the top of town government. The board voted unanimously to approve a negotiated contract with Darleen Sullivan as Interim Town Administrator, running from Monday, Aug. 31, 2026, through June 30, 2027, and separately ratified three-year collective bargaining agreements with both of the town’s police unions. Sullivan, the former Norwell Town Administrator, becomes Halifax’s third administrator since Cody Haddad departed just over a year ago
The Select Board opened at 6:00 p.m. and immediately moved into executive session to discuss two MassCOP contract negotiations, the Interim Town Administrator position, and executive session minutes. The motion carried 3-0 on a roll call vote. When the board reconvened in open session, it took its agenda out of order and spent the first 20 minutes on a proposal to merge two volunteer committees before returning to the contracts.
Chair Thomas Pratt framed the administrator vote as the end of a process that had consumed the board for weeks. “Obviously we’re in search of a Town Administrator that’s been going on for the better part of several weeks,” Pratt said. “There’s been some behind-the-scenes work on our end, individually looking for possibilities.”
The board interviewed Sullivan in open session on Aug. 20 and voted that night to appoint her pending successful contract negotiations. Tuesday’s vote executed the agreement. “Darleen presented very well,” Pratt said. “At that time we agreed to enter contract negotiations with the hope of appointing her as Interim Town Administrator, and we’re lucky and fortunate to be in a position to do that.”
Jonathan Selig said the town had landed well given the circumstances. “Darleen has extensive experience, and I’m excited that she’s coming in here as an interim,” Selig said. “We’ll see how it goes, and hopefully we like her and she likes us, and who knows what happens down the road.” Vice Chair William Smith was briefer: “I think we can hit the ground running with her.”
Sullivan spent more than 13 years in Norwell, rising through the Treasurer-Collector and Finance Director roles to Assistant Town Administrator and finally Town Administrator, a post she left at the end of June. Halifax’s vacancy opened when Town Administrator Steven Solbo, who started in Jan. 2026, resigned in August; the board approved a mutual separation and transition agreement on July 30. Sullivan’s contract expires at the close of the fiscal year, leaving the board to run a permanent search during her tenure. No salary figure was stated in open session.
The board also approved memoranda of agreement with Local 239 of the Massachusetts Coalition of Police, representing patrol officers, and Local 459, representing police sergeants. Both contracts run July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029. Each passed unanimously with no discussion of financial terms in open session; the bargaining strategy had been handled in executive session earlier in the evening.
“Good job on both of those,” Smith told Selig, who had led the negotiations. “I think it’s a very fair contract, and they deserve it.”
The evening’s longest discussion was also its least formal. Selig floated merging the Halifax Fireworks Committee and the Holidays in Halifax Committee into a single body — a working name of “Halifax Celebrates” was raised — that would handle all town celebrations rather than one summer event and one December event.
“The move now in government is to streamline, is to try to get rid of redundancies,” Selig said. “We have great members on both. I figured it might make more sense to have one committee to handle our celebrations. That way we’re not limited to holidays in Halifax, we’re not limited to fireworks.”
Representatives of both committees told the board they already work together and had no objection. The practical obstacle is procedural: the Holidays in Halifax Committee was established on Town Meeting floor, which means changing its charge, name, or composition requires a Town Meeting vote. The board settled on drafting a warrant article for the fall Special Town Meeting that would amend the existing charge, cover a name change, and set the merged committee’s composition. Members will research the original charge and bring it back.
Budget mechanics were the other complication. Each committee carries its own line item, and only one was funded this fiscal year. Pratt suggested letting the current fiscal year run its course, then folding any future funding into a single joint account rather than appropriating separately for fireworks.
The board also weighed in on a proposed “Friends of” fundraising group modeled on library friends organizations. Selig said such a group would have to operate at arm’s length. “It really can’t have any town involvement,” he said. “If a group of parents or volunteers want to have a Friends thing and do it on their own, for their own reasons, knock yourself out.” Committee members could volunteer at events but should not sit on the friends group’s board, the board agreed, to avoid any appearance of impropriety. Taking donations from such a group would be permissible.
The board also declined to reopen the Fourth Avenue boat ramp early, letting the lock stand until its scheduled removal on Sept. 7. No motion was made and no vote taken because none was needed to leave the existing policy in place.
All three members agreed the underlying problem is timing. “This is all reactive,” Pratt said. “Everything we’ve done so far, including this discussion, is reactive. I’d much rather be proactive about a solution.” Selig said he would ask the Parks Commission — Chairman Michael Schleiff and members Bruce Nobles and Jeremy Gillespie — to come before the board in March 2027 to design a policy for the May-through-September season, and said he would not oppose a hybrid arrangement giving residents some form of access. Smith raised eliminating out-of-town beach stickers; Executive Assistant Pamela McSherry said sales had dropped off sharply in recent weeks. The board tabled that question for March as well.
Selig closed with a note about the start of school the following week, asking drivers to slow down. “You’re going to have kids all over the place next week,” he said. “A lot of bike riders. A lot of those e-bikes now. Give yourself some extra time. Give some space to our buses.”
Pratt thanked McSherry for absorbing added workload during the vacancy. “More and more falls on Pam,” he said.
The Phil Opens Its 111th Season September 19
PLYMOUTH, MA — The Phil is opening its 111th season with a night at the opera—but not quite as you know it.
On Saturday, September 19, 2026, at 7:30 PM, the Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra takes the stage at the Plymouth South High School Performing Arts Center for an exhilarating evening featuring four operatic masterpieces and a special world premiere. Under the direction of Conductor Steven Karidoyanes, the concert will feature internationally acclaimed violinist Irina Muresanu in a program filled with drama, danger, passion, heroics—and plenty of virtuosic fireworks.
From Rossini’s epic Overture to William Tell and Borodin’s exotic Polovtsian Dances from Prince Igor to Sarasate’s dazzling Fantasy on Bizet’s Carmen and Gershwin’s sweeping Fantasy on Porgy & Bess, arranged by Star Trek theme composer Alexander Courage, the evening offers audiences four unforgettable opportunities to lose themselves in some of the most beloved music ever written.
“This is a program overflowing with color, excitement, and extraordinary melodies,” said Karidoyanes. “Each piece brings its own sense of drama and personality, and having Irina Muresanu with us to perform these spectacular violin fantasies makes this an especially thrilling way to begin our new season.”
Both the season and the concert begin with a special premiere on the Phil stage: Elena
Roussanova’s fiery A Festival Fanfare. This music was rewritten by the composer at the request of conductor Karidoyanes, expanding its instrumentation to full symphony orchestra from its original version for just brass and percussion.
Muresanu, praised for her passionate and dynamic performances, will take center stage for Sarasate’s celebrated fantasy based on themes from Bizet’s Carmen, as well as the fantasy on Gershwin’s beloved Porgy & Bess. Together, the works provide a virtuosic showcase for one of today’s most compelling violinists.
Ticket holders are also invited to arrive early for a free pre-concert talk with Steven Karidoyanes at 6:30 PM, offering additional insight into the evening’s music and composers.
Tickets are $40 and $75 and are available through the Phil.
Concert Details
OPENING NIGHT: Fiddler of the Opera Saturday, September 19, 2026 | 7:30 PM Plymouth South High School Performing Arts Center 490 Long Pond Road, Plymouth, MA
Pre-Concert Talk with Steven Karidoyanes
6:30 PM | Free for ticket holders
About the Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra
The Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra is a premier non-profit cultural institution in Massachusetts and the Orchestra-in-Residence with the Town of Plymouth at Memorial Hall. Dedicated to artistic excellence and community enrichment, the orchestra offers world-class performances, innovative outreach programs, and strong community partnerships. Now launching its 111th season, The
Phil’s mission is to create music and educational experiences that engage people of all ages and from all walks because we believe music inspires curiosity, enables connection, and provides joy.
For more information, visit plymouthphil.org or call 508-746-8008.
Contact:
Melissa Arp, Marketing Manger 508-746-8008
m.arp@plymouthphil.org
A Local Mother’s Bravery Paves the Way for Increased Postpartum Mental Health Support
Many mothers have the scenario perfectly pictured in their minds long before they walk through the door of their home with their new baby. There is often an idealization that upon arriving home, things will fall into place, routines will eventually come from the happy chaos of this new phase, bonding with your precious little one will be blissful, and those around you will support and help you heal and navigate. Nearly every mother dreams about the same kind of natural, beautiful transition after growing, carrying, and welcoming a new life into theirs. Of course, new mothers also know there will be intense fatigue, a recovery period, struggles of all kinds, new worries, a bit of anxiety, and feeling overwhelmed at times; no new mother expects a postpartum experience without the full gamut of adjusting to new or “added to” motherhood.
That said, what happens when the postpartum experience is all-but-consumed by the struggles -fatigue or insomnia beyond comprehension, recovery that never comes or is hindered due to a lack of support, struggles and worries that haunt the mind day and night and prevent basic functioning, anxiety that alters heart health and makes getting out of bed physically impossible, and depression and hopelessness that make life more unbearable and frightening by the day, and can even prevent bonding and feeling motherly towards the new baby in your arms?
Postpartum mental health disorders are more than just “baby blues”, they are chemical alterations and imbalances set off, and enhanced by, the giant internal chemistry experiment that goes on in a mother’s body for well over the nine months of pregnancy and after birth. The usual coping mechanisms and things like, “eating healthy” and “taking a walk” are not only largely ineffective, they are asking too much of someone in crisis who needs far more than an inspirational quote and a long nap to feel better.
While the gray clouds (which can be more storms of terror than just cloudy skies) of postpartum mental illness do not come for the majority of mothers, they are common enough and on the rise for a number of reasons. Statistics show that one in five mothers will experience significant postpartum anxiety and/or depression. Patricia Wasiolek of Plympton knows, first hand, the severity of the storms new mothers sometimes face with postpartum mental illness. After recovering from her own storm, she has dedicated her time and energy to help others find safe shores and see the sun again.
“After my son was born, I experienced awful postpartum anxiety,” explains Wasiolek, “So severe that I could not get out of bed.” Wasiolek and her husband knew things had gone beyond what could be remedied on their own at home, so they headed to the emergency room. “I was assessed in the ER by a psychiatrist and, though they were just doing their job, they were impersonal and unhelpful for what I was feeling and experiencing. The whole experience was very clinical. I was sent to a partial day clinic in Norwell, but it was more of a mood disorder clinic and I was unable to relate to anyone there. It was not, at all, a fit for new mothers with postpartum anxiety, so I kept looking for something else.”
Wasiolek found the Day Hospital at Women and Infants Hospital in Rhode Island and moved her care to their program. “You can bring your baby with you, which a lot of programs don’t let you do. They have clinicians, physicians, group and individual therapy, and lots of programs to help new moms with postpartum disorders. I was there for two weeks and it really helped me.”
In addition to finding professional support and treatment, Wasiolek also found solace and support in a friend who had suffered from postpartum illness during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. “I reached out to a friend I knew had struggled with this and she gave me a lot of advice. Her care was wildly mishandled, as is the case for many women, and I was shocked at the lack of awareness and resources for these things in such a large medical hub like Boston.” One invaluable resource Wasiolek’s friend shared was Postpartum Support International, PSI -a global nonprofit that promotes awareness, prevention, and treatment of mental health issues related to childbearing created by a worldwide network of individuals and organizations and professionals.
“I was invited to PSI’s ‘The Climb’ by a college friend where I connected with Kelly Winter who had started advocating for PSI locally,” says Wasiolek, “Kelly watched her friend go through postpartum illness and wanted to do something to show support, so she put together the first ‘Climb’ in Duxbury. I asked her if I could help and we started meeting in January.”
Founded in 1987 by Jane Honikman in Santa Barbara, Calif., PSI is a unique organization in that it provides global support to families and individuals through perinatal health support, education, advocacy, and research through helplines, educational and training programs for professionals and individuals, lists of resources and the perinatal care programs and providers closest to you -no matter where in the world you live, online support groups, webinars, and educational materials. Since its inception, PSI has grown to be an international resource that provides support and connection for over 100,000 people a year.
PSI’s “The Climb” is a family-friendly, community-building walk starting at the Pilgrim Church of Duxbury on Oct. 3, from 10 a.m. -1 p.m. The event is sponsored by many local businesses and also accepts individual donations. The walk aims to raise awareness and money for perinatal disorders, and to continue to work on erasing the judgment and taboo often associated with postpartum illness. One in five mothers and one in ten fathers will experience intense anxiety and/or depression after the birth of a child. Over 800,000 people a year are affected by perinatal mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, Perinatal OCD, enhanced Bipolar 1 and 2, Psychosis, and Perinatal PTSD. Sadly, only 25% of those impacted by these disorders are able to receive treatment or follow-up monitoring. “One of the great things about PSI,” says Wasiolek, “is that they do all the homework and research for you. When you are in the depths of postpartum crisis and trying to cope, its just too much to also be expected to make lots of phone calls and search online and stay on top of seeking out something that works. PSI makes all the information easy to find and it is specified to your area.”
PSI’s “The Climb” had resounding success last year -raising $10,000. “This year,” notes Wasiolek, “We set an initial goal to raise $15,000, but we have already raised over $18,000 and we aren’t even to October.” When asked what, beyond fundraising, Wasiolek and Winter hope to accomplish with “The Climb”, Wasiolek replies, “This walk shows the power of community and why it is important. Community can not only provide support, but validation and recognition for what so many go through -sometimes silently. There is such a spectrum of what a perinatal disorder can look like -for some it’s manageable with therapy and for some professional help in a care center or hospital is needed. We need to help people find resources BEFORE they reach their breaking point. Treatment plans need to include the mother, partner or spouse, and healthcare professionals -and family if possible. It should never be left largely up to the mother -the one enduring the disorder, to manage on their own.”
In light of recent events, perinatal health is on the minds of most of us -especially in our South Shore communities. Some of the public dialogue has been encouraging to see and hear, but some of it has been deeply hurtful, judgmental, uneducated, shortsighted, and ignorant. There are clearly many who do not understand the severity and reality of perinatal disorders, or comprehend the overall failure of our mental health system as it applies to perinatal care and women’s health. There is also a looming gap between realizing that a healthy and cared for mother is a healthy and cared for baby/child.
Perinatal disorders are not a phase, they are not imagined, and they are not usually something that can be dealt with alone or by simply “cheering up”, “being grateful”, or “snapping out of it” -as were some of the “tips” I was given over the course of having perinatal disorders with all four of my children the last 20 years. These are serious conditions and terrifying for the person enduring them at a time when their greatest desire and focus is bonding with, cherishing, and caring for the new little miracle in their lives. When you can actually feel the chemistry in your body “crash”, as I described it each time, and you have no control over the wild imbalances and reactions taking place inside of you, it is one of the most terrifying and helpless feelings someone can have. It steals away many moments of joy that you had dreamed of having with your precious newborn.
Please, reach out to new moms and their partners. Ask about the mom as readily as you do the baby. Please, don’t say, “Let me know if I can do anything for you,” because they usually feel like a burden, ashamed, or an imposition and they won’t ever ask. Please, listen to women when they say they are not okay or they need help. Please hold their hands and truly listen, without judgement, to what they feel and need. Please, show the same compassion to new mothers that you would wish for yourself and your loved ones. Be the catalyst for their treatment to begin and stay on course. Allow them to grieve, be angry, and collapse, safely, so they can begin to heal -because healing IS possible and the outlook is bright for women (and their families) who have the support they need. Mothers are superheroes, but sometimes even superheroes need someone to save them. It is time we all put on our capes and set out with a message that there is, indeed blue, beyond the gray sky.
To Register for PSI’s The Climb in Duxbury on Oct.3 visit:
https://Give.postpartum.net/event//2026-climb-duxbury-2026/e763328
To Donate:
https://give.postpartum.net/fundraiser/7050672
For Information on Postpartum Support International:
https://postpartum.net
OCES Announces Upcoming LGBTQ+ Brunches for Older Adults
Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), the largest provider of in-home and community-based services for older adults and people living with disabilities throughout Plymouth County, the South Shore and surrounding area, has announced the schedule for the South Shore LGBTQ+ Brunch for Older Adults program.
The monthly Saturday brunch program, operated and supported by OCES’ Nutrition Program, is for LGBTQ+ older adults who live on the South Shore and in the greater Plymouth County area.
For nearly 20 years, the “LGBTQ+ Brunch for Older Adults on the South Shore” have been providing nutritious meals that feed the body, mind, heart and spirit. This LGBTQ+ community dining event provides a nutritious meal along with an opportunity for attendees to connect and socialize, helping those age 60+ (and their friends) minimize the effects of social isolation. This brunch, as well as other community dining programs for LGBTQ+ older adults, keep members engaged with their local and regional LGBTQ+ communities to help them stay informed and connected to the larger LGBTQ+ movements, services, relationships and world.
“I have led this program for going on 16 years and it is some of the most meaningful work that I do, gladly and joyfully,” said Michael Banville who organizes the South Shore LGBTQ+ Brunch for Older Adults. “My husband and I (both now in our early 60’s) have supported this program with the hopes of creating a vibrant South Shore community with whom we too can age. We value the relationships, being socially connected to vibrant LGBTQ+ older adults who are truly inspirational in their commitments to live out and proud lives as they age. It is a joy to lead the South Shore LGBTQ+ Brunch for Older Adults and we are so excited to partner with OCES in this important social and community work.”
Upcoming South Shore LGBTQ+ Brunch for Older Adults will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, September 26, October 31, and December 12, 2026, which will be a special holiday brunch. All South Shore LGBTQ+ Brunches for Older Adults are held in South Weymouth, MA.
To RSVP and for more info about the South Shore LGBTQ+ Brunch for Older Adults, visit the Meetup group website, https://www.meetup.com/south-shore-lgbt-seniors/
OCES Nutrition Program
In addition to the monthly South Shore LGBTQ+ Brunch for Older Adults program, OCES’ Nutrition Program encompasses Meals on Wheels for homebound older adults who rely on OCES for sustenance; Community Dining meals and socialization opportunities that combat loneliness and isolation; and nutrition education and counseling that promotes healthy eating habits. To learn more, visit ocesma.org/programs-services/nutrition
OCES’ Expanded Region
OCES serves 34 communities throughout the South Shore and in greater Plymouth County: Abington, Avon, Braintree, Bridgewater, Brockton, Carver, Cohasset, Duxbury, East Bridgewater, Easton, Halifax, Hanson, Hanover, Hingham, Holbrook, Hull, Kingston, Lakeville, Marshfield, Middleborough, Milton, Norwell, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton, Quincy, Randolph, Rockland, Scituate, Stoughton, Wareham, West Bridgewater, Weymouth, and Whitman.
Handmade and Heartfelt Local Artists and Advocates Renew and Inspire
Walking into the New Again and Refill-Able retail shop is an instant lift for the spirits. Immediately, you are greeted with the pleasant scent of handmade candles and a sun-lit expanse of carefully curated products on shelves lining every wall. Intricately knitted sweaters and scarves hang on racks and an adorable Cardigan Corgi named Pandora is happy to investigate customers while being pet. The cheery space then draws the eye back to a large, long room with work tables, more shelves and displays, and people sitting and making. This is the homey and creativity-inducing space that Gail Farrell, Executive Director and Founder of New Again and Refill-Able, and local artist, teacher, and owner of Hello Peach Arts, Jennifer Godbois, have put their hearts and minds into.
Farrell started New Again in 2012 with the people who were aging out of special education in mind. New Again is a 501c(3) nonprofit that teaches vocational skills and job training to adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities. New Again is especially fostering of those interested in becoming artists. The retail space and business model offer job opportunities for these adults while also providing shared studio space for local businesses and students participating in the offered classes.
In addition to New Again, the retail space also houses Refill-Able -a zero-waste store for household items. Businesses labeled “zero-waste” mean they eliminate single-use packaging for their products as well as carry reusable, often biodegradable items such as shampoo, conditioner, body wash, laundry soap, toothpaste, makeup, soaps, lotions, sponges, dryer balls, food storage containers, and many other personal care and household products. Refill-Able also strives to use as many local products as possible and is always looking for local businesses and partners to feature.
“We also have a refillery where we refill your empty containers with more product, or you can purchase one of the containers we have here for reuse.” If you are wondering about a specific type of product to provide refills for, all you have to do is ask. “We listen to our customers,” says Farrell, “We don’t have a set sign for what we offer in the refillery because it is such varied list and it’s always changing -largely based on customer feedback.”
At the beginning of the year, Godbois was searching for a space to build her business. She walked into New Again and found the perfect fit. “Jennifer came in just to ask how this area was for business, but we quickly realized her business would fit perfectly in here and she could be a teacher as well,” says Farrell. Now, Hello Peach Arts is integrated beautifully into the space and had room to grow.
Godbois is an artist of many talents, but fiber arts and teaching are her passions. After a long career as a Federal Auditor for the Department of Health in Boston, she was in need of a change of pace from her intense, high-demand job -one where she could use her creativity and hands to make beautiful things as well as teach others these oft-neglected skills. “I have been doing crochet since I was little. Both of my parents are fiber artists. My father crochets like a machine -he makes beautiful Afghan’s,” explains Godbois.
To further her goal of incorporating art and teaching into her life, Godbois became a certified art teacher and taught at Scituate High School last fall and Halifax Elementary in the spring. She also works in local schools as a substitute teacher. When asked what her favorite material is to work with she says, “My hyper fixations tend to go from one thing to the next, so whatever my focus is at that moment would be my answer, but if I had to choose only one thing to do, it would be sewing. You can make so many things that way, the possibilities are endless.”
In addition to crochet and sewing, Godbois embroiders, felts, and will take on basically anything to do with fiber arts. “I am holding a back-to-school embroidery class on Aug. 29. I was shopping with my kids and saw these sneakers with beautiful eyelet fabric and thought, why not decorate our own? The class will teach you how to embroider things to personalize them -from shoes to backpacks to shirts -anything you want to customize and make your own style.” Godbois also plans to hold sewing classes in the shop, as well as felting. In order to do that, however, she needs the equipment. “I am looking to see if anyone can donate some working sewing machines that I could use to teach on,” she says, “and I am always looking for, and accepting donations of, yarn, fabric, ribbon -or any art and fiber art supply. Most of this yarn was donated.”
Godbios can also be found teaching at local libraries in the community. She leads the Night Ravelers club at the Holmes Public Library and enjoys bringing Hello Peach Arts offerings in a free-library setting. “I want to get out there and help people of all ages become acquainted with fiber arts. A lot of the time, people think it sounds intimidating. But you don’t have to have any experience to come to a class. We can start from the beginning if needed and there is no rush or pressure -if you mess up, which you will, oh well! That’s part of it. Hello Peach Arts is a stress free, all-inclusive environment to learn.”
So when you are settled into your fall routine this year and need a reprise from the chaos of schedules and hurry, consider heading down to New Again, Refill-Able, and Hello Peach Arts to stock up on household wares in the most eco-friendly way you can, support local artists with special needs by purchasing their beautiful products, or take up a new skill, or feed an existing passion in fiber arts. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “In art, the hand can never execute anything higher than the heart can imagine.” Perhaps now is the perfect time to defy the machine made, and find out how much your heart can imagine.
For more information on New Again and Refill-Able visit:
http://www.newagaininc.org or call (774) 608-9960
For more information on Hello Peach Arts and classes offered visit:
https://www.hellopeacharts.com or text (603) 340-3918
Mass. Fire Departments Rank Fourth in Response Reporting
STOW—The Department of Fire Services announced that Massachusetts fire departments have achieved the fourth-highest reporting rate in the country for the National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS). 90% of Massachusetts fire departments have reported more than 1.3 million apparatus responses to more than 788,000 incidents. This achievement reflects the state’s commitment to leading the nation in public safety data collection and will help local and state officials make informed decisions about operations, policies, fire prevention messaging, grant applications and budget proposals, and updates to fire and life safety codes.
A project of the U.S. Fire Administration and UL’s Fire Safety Research Institute, NERIS provides unprecedented public access to incident response data through its newly launched public website. Unlike its 50-year-old predecessor, which required a lengthy data validation process, NERIS allows users to view near-real-time incident data from cities and towns across the country and conduct independent analysis using dozens of data fields.
“Adopting an entirely new data reporting system was a seismic shift for fire departments across the country,” said State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine. “They have done a phenomenal job of adapting to NERIS and bringing Massachusetts to the nation’s forefront. I also want to recognize our staff for helping to bring the state’s fire service onboard in a matter of months. The data that local fire departments are reporting will support funding requests, effective resource allocation, community risk reduction efforts, and much more.”
NERIS rolled out in geographic phases throughout 2025. Most Massachusetts fire departments began transitioning to the new system in October and several volunteered to serve as early adopters, including Belchertown, Beverly, Bourne, Dudley, Gill, Greenfield, Huntington, Pittsfield, Sandisfield, Springfield, and Walpole.
The new system replaces the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS), and its Massachusetts-level system, the Massachusetts Fire Incident Reporting System (MFIRS). Under the former systems, it could take months to obtain reliable incident and response statistics.
NERIS will also help local, state, and regional agencies understand the impact of large-scale events and prepare for increased emergency activity during major celebrations, disasters, and other incidents. This summer, NERIS implemented a “special incident modifier” to collect information about emergency responses related to World Cup matches, watch parties and other gatherings. During that event period, Massachusetts fire departments reported 65 related incidents across six cities and towns, including 31 medical calls, 25 service calls and two elevator rescues.
Halifax Selectmen Tap Darleen Sullivan as Interim Town Administrator
The Halifax Board of Selectmen voted unanimously last Thursday to appoint Darleen Sullivan, who stepped down as Norwell’s Town Administrator at the end of June, as Halifax’s Interim Town Administrator — filling the town’s top appointed post the same evening they interviewed her. Over roughly 70 minutes of questioning, Sullivan promised the board a five-year budget forecast within about a month of starting, pledged to work full-time hours rather than a part-time interim schedule, and, while stressing she was speaking personally rather than as a town official, urged Halifax to reconsider its rejection of the state’s MBTA Communities zoning requirement, telling Selectmen the town is “bleeding money legally” in its ongoing suit.
The appointment was the only substantive item on the agenda. Chairman Thomas Pratt opened the meeting at 7:30 p.m. in the Great Hall at 499 Plymouth Street, joined by Selectman William Smith, Selectman Jonathan Selig and Board of Selectmen Administrative Assistant Pamela McSherry. The board’s posted agenda listed a single interview, a possible vote, and an anticipated executive session to prepare for contract negotiations.
Sullivan told the board she brings more than 30 years of management experience and roughly 20 years in municipal government. She spent 16 years at Verizon in customer billing operations before moving into local government, starting in assessing, then serving as Treasurer-Collector in Hanover and Norwell. In Norwell she rose to Finance Director, Assistant Town Administrator and ultimately Town Administrator, a post she left at the end of June.
“I’m a problem solver, just by nature,” Sullivan said, describing a management approach built on communication and department-head collaboration. “I don’t walk in and exert, you know, hey, I’m the boss. I look at it like I’m coming in and I’m working with other professionals.”
She also addressed the elephant in the room directly: Halifax has cycled through administrators in recent years, and department heads have watched several transitions. “I know you guys have been through some transition,” Sullivan said. “But I promise that I will, no matter what, if I’m your person, that I will not leave you hanging.” She pointed to Norwell, where she gave more than six months’ notice, as evidence of how she exits a job.
Pratt asked how quickly Sullivan could assess the town’s financial and operational condition. Her answer centered on data. Within roughly a month, she said, she would compile four to five years of budget-versus-actual history to see where Halifax has consistently needed transfers, then build a template and a five-year forward-looking forecast.
“Let’s budget closer to reality if we can,” she said, adding that she would lean on the Finance Committee and department heads for detail and knows where to go for early estimates on state local aid.
Sullivan also walked the board through Norwell’s override, which passed at town meeting but narrowly failed at the ballot — members cited margins of roughly 80 to 134 votes. Her chief lesson, she said, was timing: she had told residents an override was coming two years in advance, but formal preparation should have started earlier in the fall. When school assessment figures and a health insurance increase she put at 14.28 percent landed in the winter, her staff built parallel “override” and “cut” budgets, split the article into a base budget and a supplemental, and held multiple public forums. After the ballot defeat, the town implemented the reductions, consolidating some positions.
She described a budget restructuring she used in Norwell that she may bring to Halifax: breaking out “shared costs” — health insurance, pension, liability and life insurance obligations that serve both town and schools — as a separate line between gross revenue and departmental appropriations. The exercise, she said, revealed that a budget that looked like a 50-50 town-school split was closer to 70-30. “At least the invisible bleed was gone in that sense,” she said.
School costs drew particular attention because Halifax carries two of them — its own elementary budget and its assessment to the Silver Lake Regional district. Pratt noted that the dual structure was new to Sullivan’s experience, and Selig said a monthly check-in with regional district administration had been established under previous town administrators to track budget conditions. Sullivan said she wants Halifax represented at that table and intends to examine the district’s detailed budget and the fairness of the assessment method. Selig also noted that the town’s municipal budget is typically finished well before school figures firm up, because districts are waiting on state numbers.
The interview’s sharpest exchange came when Pratt noted that Halifax voters “overwhelmingly” rejected the MBTA Communities zoning mandate in December 2024, that the town is now ineligible for certain state grants, and that the matter remains unresolved.
Sullivan did not hedge. Saying she was hesitant to press an opinion in the role but would give her personal view, she told the board: “I think we need to re-approach this and you really should pass it, because in all honesty, the state has the absolute authority to do this.”
She argued the town’s leverage lies in siting rather than refusal: “Why not take the only control you have, which is where do we want to put it?” She said she did not expect the town’s litigation to prevail, and pointed to infrastructure grants for bridges, culverts, and sidewalks that Halifax cannot currently access. Smith noted the town is also losing out on Transportation Improvement Program money.
Sullivan added that a district could later be repealed by town meeting vote, and said she would ask town counsel whether Halifax could adopt the zoning and still pursue its suit. She twice framed the remarks as personal: “I’m not wearing the Town Administrator hat today. If I was, I’d be a little more reserved.”
Pratt outlined the breadth of the position: Halifax’s administrator serves as human resources, procurement officer and records request officer, without a dedicated HR department. Sullivan said she carried the same portfolio in Norwell and used a low-cost consultant to help with procurement RFPs, moving all bids online through a free platform. She said she would likely ask whether the town clerk could serve as records access officer for intake and tracking, while remaining involved herself — but only after learning how Halifax operates. “I don’t want to come into Halifax and make big changes right now,” she said. “I need to get in, I need to get into the bathtub here and see how it’s going.”
Smith asked how she handles confrontational residents and whether she had dealt with First Amendment audits in Norwell. On both, Sullivan emphasized preparation and composure: listen, respond calmly, don’t escalate, and make sure staff are trained in advance. “I’m also very professional, but I do not shy away from tough conversations,” she said.
Asked about hours — Halifax Town Hall is closed Fridays — Sullivan committed to a full schedule, distinguishing herself from previous interim candidates who proposed partial weeks. “I’m going to commit as if I’m a full-time TA,” she said. “I don’t think you can get it done” otherwise.
Sullivan turned the interview around near the end, asking the board how it would define success. Pratt said the town needs items resolved rather than accumulated, citing ongoing litigation in several areas, friction between departments and a divided electorate following a close override vote. He asked for a smoother, earlier budget process, better communication with residents, and a well-organized town meeting “that the residents can be proud of.” Smith said his priorities were not being blindsided and having accurate warrant materials that are not changed at the last minute. “You shouldn’t be tweaking numbers after it’s been blessed,” Sullivan agreed.
Selig, who said he has served six years on the board, was blunt in his assessment: “Your resume is the most extensive and impressive in municipal work that I’ve seen for any candidate that’s come across our desk in my time here.”
Pratt then made the motion to appoint her. It carried unanimously. “I didn’t know that would happen this evening,” Sullivan said.
Sullivan said she is targeting a September 1 start but would begin onboarding immediately and make herself available for calls before then. She told the board her goals by June 30 are to leave Halifax with a set of financial policies — reserve, stabilization, and debt management — and a completed budget forecast, whether or not she is still in the chair. She also suggested the board revisit the arrangement in December or January to assess whether the fit should extend beyond the interim term.
First Annual Plympton-Halifax-Kingston Express Newspaper Poetry Contest Winners!
Thank you to all who entered the First Annual Plympton-Halifax-Kingston Express Newspaper Poetry Contest! Your submissions were beautiful and enjoyed by myself and our guest judge, Dr. Amy Menville. We express our gratitude to Dr. Menville for her time and expertise! Congratulations to our First-Place Poem, “From This Day Forward”, By: David Woods! David will receive a free year subscription to the Express Newspaper. The Second-Place Poem is, “The Beach”, By: Frank Beatrice. Coming in as the Third-Place Poem is: “Sea Mews”, By: Laurie A. Raad Nikopoulos. Our Honorable Mention Poem is “New England Summers”, By: Aliza Nantais. We applaud our winners and all who entered for sharing your talent, creativity, and meaningful sentiments about the season that is a way of life in New England. We look forward to next year’s contest and may the rest of your summertime livin’ be easy!
First Place Poem:
From This Day Forward
By: David Woods
The one thing better, come what may,
Than waiting for this special day
Is dreaming of all the wonderful things
That life from this day forward brings
A pilgrim of your soul I’ll be;
I long the quiet depths to see.
Each dawn I will awake to know
Our love will fresher, firmer grow
Through the inner garden of your mind,
I’ll stroll among your thoughts to find,
That each toward the sun they face
Perchance there’s one for me someplace
The blossoms dance and want to play,
Your petals stretch to greet the day
You’ll bless our home with happiness made
From thoughts whose colors never fade
Then down the lane I’ll travel along
To a beach where moonbeams sing their song
If clouds they come, they’ll soon be passed;
Warm sun and puddles of joy will last.
Then on that shore I’ll hope to see
What in the distance seems like thee.
I wait so long to fee you near,
In joy we meet, my eyes they tear.
Together now, to have and to hold
With plenty of time to grow younger old
From winter to spring and summer to fall
My love I’ll try to give you all.
(This poem was written by David Woods to Betsy Wilber a month prior to our wedding day, August 12, 1972. By this coming August 12th, we will have been happily married 54 years.)
Second Place Poem:
The Beach
(Small Wonders)
By: Frank Beatrice
I see you running through the sand
with not a care in the world;
stopping to collect a sea shell,
then two, then three, then more,
(trying to hold all in your little arms)
dropping the first, replacing it with another.
You marvel at all you find,
a crab shell, a sand dollar, a coin,
treasures of all kinds.
You stop to survey the vastness,
then turn your attention to a new adventure.
You cautiously approach,
stepping into the cold mud,
watching it squish between your tiny toes.
The frigid water breaks over your little feet.
Shrieking with youthful laughter, you run back out,
flailing your little arms up and down,
trying desperately to shake off the cold shock;
then run back in again playing tag with the waves.
After several attempts, the ocean wins out.
You take a respite and reassess.
You run to me for reassurance and validation.
I dry your wet little body gently with your favorite towel
and warm your whole, purple, shivering being with a hug,
as you display your new found treasures with excitement
and a willingness to share.
Only after you are convinced that I am not abandoning you,
and you are fully secure, you leave your treasures in my trust
and run to do it all over again.
The freedom of youth, the excitement of innocence
laid bare for all to witness
and displayed with sheer happiness and wonder
in the vast openness without trepidation or apprehension.
Where did it all go as we grew?
(A summer day at the beach with my child)
Third Place Poem:
Sea Mews
By: Laurie A. Raad Nikopoulos
Sea Mews soaring high
Nature’s choreography
Above subtle waves.
Extended wings glide
An azure backdrop highlights
Flocks expressing flight.
Imagination
Freedom between land and sky
Guided by the wind.
One must not deny
Beautiful moments abound
Minds seeking nature.
Summer’s magical moments!
Honorable Mention Poem:
New England Summers
By: Aliza Nantais
Bogs, ponds, fires and the pups
and the friends and family in between.
For me New England’s summers are filled with these
Running and investigating cranberry bogs,
Accidently taking home snapping turtles from pounds,
Making extra money mowing lawns,
That’s a New England summer for me
Embracing the warm sun, reflecting in the mild nights
The smell of fire wood burning,
The sound of laughter and echoes of stories
The site of pups zooming around -stopping short to the smell of s’mores
That’s a New England summer for me
United and free is what a New England summer is for me
Days in the sun and water,
Nights filled with friends, family and neighbors stopping in and out
Sounds of fires crackling as marshmallows begin to golden and chocolate begins to melt
Sounds of dogs sniffing and sites of them looking longingly at you
That’s a New England summer for me
Rep. LaNatra applauds Governor Healey for taking action to protect Massachusetts from Dangerous Kratom Products
Kingston – Today, Representative LaNatra applauded Governor Healey and Department of Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, MD, PhD for taking strong, decisive action to protect young people and Massachusetts residents from kratom and kratom products. Today’s order reclassified kratom and kratom products as Schedule I drugs, which the DEA defines as drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.
Throughout the 194th legislative session, Representative LaNatra has worked tirelessly to educate her colleagues in the Legislature as well town officials and residents throughout the 12th Plymouth district about the dangers and harms associated with kratom usage.
“After hearing a personal story from a constituent and a friend about her child’s usage of kratom products and his subsequent recovery, I made it a top priority of mine to help educate my colleagues and constituents about this drug and do something to keep the residents of Massachusetts safe,” said State Representative Kathy LaNatra (D – Kingston). “Kratom’s newness and easy accessibility mean that many people do not understand that this is a drug with potentially fatal side effects that is dangerously unregulated. I have been proud of the work I have done to help bring attention to this issue, leading four out of six towns that I represent to issue town-wide bans prior to today’s order. Thank you to Governor Healey and DPH Commissioner Goldstein for their decisive leadership on this issue and their commitment to the health and safety of the residents they serve.”
Kratom, often described as ‘gas station heroine’, is widely sold in smoke shops, convenience stores, and gas stations in the powders, tablets, capsules, gummies, dissolvable strips, and other forms. Kratom products have, to-date, been largely unregulated and products can vary significantly in their potency and ingredients, making it difficult for consumers to know what they are purchasing or the potential health risks. Regular kratom use can also lead to physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms similar to opioid withdrawal.
Representative LaNatra has been active on this issue for the past two years, hosting briefings for her colleagues in the State House, where legislators heard from parents, pediatricians, and public health advocates who shared their personal stories and expertise
Department of Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, MD, PhD, has issued an emergency order temporarily placing all forms of kratom into Schedule I under Massachusetts law. The order will take effect following a 14-day notice period and remain in effect for up to one year. It will give local boards of health and other municipal officials additional authority to take enforcement action against retailers selling kratom products.
As part of the statewide effort, DPH is also providing information and guidance to local boards of health, health care providers and substance use treatment programs about the new restrictions, the health risks associated with kratom and available treatment and recovery services. DPH will also hold an informational webinar for local public health officials to support implementation of the order.
Kratom is a leafy plant native to Southeast Asia containing naturally occurring substances, including mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH). Depending on the amount and potency, kratom can produce stimulant-like or opioid-like effects. Some newer products contain highly concentrated or laboratory-modified compounds that can have significantly stronger opioid-like effects.
Kratom use has been associated with a range of health effects, including seizures, hallucinations, psychosis, physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms. Kratom also carries a risk of overdose, particularly when highly potent products are used, products contain unknown substances, or it is combined with opioids, alcohol, benzodiazepines or other sedatives. While uncommon, kratom-related deaths have been reported, particularly when kratom is used with other substances or by people with underlying health conditions.
If someone who has used kratom has slowed or stopped breathing, naloxone should be administered immediately. Naloxone is available without a prescription at pharmacies and many retail locations across Massachusetts. Treatment is available for people experiencing kratom withdrawal or dependence, including medications, counseling, peer support and behavioral health services. Individuals seeking help for themselves or a loved one can call or text “HOPE” to 800-327-5050 to reach the Massachusetts Substance Use Helpline, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Representative LaNatra is serving her fourth term as State Representative of the 12th Plymouth District, which consists of Precincts 1, and 2A, of the town of Halifax, the town of Kingston, Precincts 1, and 5A, of the town of Middleborough, Precinct 3, of the town of Pembroke, Precincts 1, 2, 3, 5, and 13, all of the town of Plymouth, and the town of Plympton, all in the county of Plymouth.
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