Critical thinking about history is often challenging to the mainstream, long-comfortable narrative. It takes the misunderstood, previously marginalized, demonized, and overlooked and requires preconceived notions -often centuries in the making, to be unraveled, untangled, and seen through an unobstructed filter that favors no agenda. It is a common understanding among a growing number of historians that, often times, if history makes you comfortable it isn’t accurate or complete.
In short-changing our inherited, passed on rhetoric with ideological absolutes, we are making it continually and ever-easy for those who have done much of the telling and “preserving” of history, but usually doing a great injustice to those who are given a backseat in the story. “Comfortable history” assures the defenders of the status quo that they came by their standing and privilege in society honorably, heroically, righteously -but the insistence to guard complexly inherited privilege does the peace, humanity, and happiness of a society no long-term favors.
The remedy? Growing up enough as a nation to understand that a better, raw understanding of the past is critical to healthfully reforming the present. Learning without an agenda can, of course, leave us with more villains and tragedy in the human story, but also more heroic figures and triumphs than we could have imagined. Two such heroic figures in modern times are Danielle Alonso-Wynne and Malissa Costa of Juniper + Pine Indigenous Collective. Alonso and Costa are two local, Indigenous women who have dedicated their lives to honoring, preserving, and teaching about their cultures.
Alonso-Wynne is a third-generation Mexican American and descendant of the indigenous P’urhépecha diaspora in the northwestern region of Michoacán, Mexico. Raised in Chicago, Alonso-Wynne grew up with a passion for her culture and heritage. She visited her P’urhépecha grandparents in Mexico once a year and these visits fostered an already inherent love for her Indigenous heritage. Drawn to the majesty and sacred nature of the forests her family came from, Alonso-Wynne often felt a bit out of place when she returned home to Chicago and she sought out ways to feel more connected to her family and ancestors.
One such endeavor took her to the American Indian Center. There, she found camaraderie with the Indigenous people working in the museum. “They greeted me as ‘cuz’ -which is a term of endearment short for ‘cousin’ among Indigenous people. I learned that they didn’t see borders. Borders are man-made. Knowledge systems and spirituality are passed throughout Turtle Island by all Native people sharing the first seeds,” Alonso-Wynne explains. Turtle Island refers to the continent of North America in various Indigenous oral histories. The story tells of a great turtle that holds the world on its back. For some Indigenous peoples, the turtle is considered an icon of life, longevity, and perseverance. It also provides the belief that we are all connected inextricably to the land and one another. This was a comforting message to Alonso-Wynne and she was further moved to pursue higher education and a career immersed in Indigenous studies.
Alonso-Wynne went on to obtain a degree in Associate of Arts in Anthropology from City Colleges of Chicago-Herold Washington College, and later a Bachelor of Arts with a Concentration in Native American Studies from the University of Chicago in 2015. She followed her education as an anthropology collections intern with The Field Museum and as a student researcher with Plymouth Colony Archeological Field School. Alonso-Wynne can now be found sharing her expertise and wisdom in the role as Curator of Indigenous Material Culture and Research at Plimoth Patuxet Museums. Working alongside Alonso-Wynne is Malissa Costa.
Costa is Afro-Indigenous and from the Mashpee Wampanoag and Cape Verdean communities here in Massachusetts. Raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota as well as Cape Cod, Costa grew up surrounded by the vibrant traditions, arts, and beliefs of her cultures. Costa’s upbringing in one of the largest Mashpee Wampanoag families instilled a deeply rooted and personally connected knowledge of Indigenous arts, crafts, herbalism, history, and language. After attending Cape Cod Community College and becoming a mother, Costa became a certified herbalist and Doula. She has a passion for horticulture and served as the horticultural specialist at Plimoth Patuxet where she specialized in the cultivation of the Wampanoag homesite gardens and Indigenous growing methods. She is now the Associate Director of Indigenous Outreach and Guest Experience where she develops programs that elevate Native perspectives.
A true knowledge keeper of Indigenous arts and crafts, Costa is always making, doing, and creating. “I always have a project I am working on,” Costa says as she holds up the beautiful beadwork she is currently adding to, “I am constantly multi-tasking and doing research and making sure to pass it on. I love making sure that the kids are included in the things I am doing.” Some of Costa’s many Indigenous artisanal skills include quillwork, beadwork, weaving, and harvesting and preparing Indigenous food. Costa and Alonso-Wynne began working together at Plimoth Patuxet Museums, and Alonso-Wynne also married Costa’s cousin, Phillip Wynn, a Mashpee Wampanoag.
Both women, being passionate about their Indigenous heritage and committed to advancing Indigenous sovereignty in their communities, found it a natural fit to form an initiative-driven collective where they could use their expertise, knowledge, wisdom, perspectives, and passion to elevate and share the beautiful voices, culture, and businesses of Indigenous people in the community. Costa and Alonso-Wynne decided name their collective after two sacred trees -the Juniper and the White Pine. “The Juniper tree is a sacred medicinal herb for many reasons to Indigenous communities in addition to being used for protection. It is also used to manage labor pains,” says Alonso-Wynne -which is something both women understand and respect as mothers. Costa further explains, “The White Pine is particularly sacred as Wampanoag stories say the Creator made the Wampanoag people from White Pine.” As a P’urhépecha, Alonso-Wynne is an ancestral guardian of the Pine-rich forests of Michoacán, Mexico. Combining the two trees and their shared passions and heritage, Juniper + Pine Indigenous Collective was born.
The mission statement of Juniper + Pine Indigenous Collective is to honor the land, culture, and traditions of Native people with meaningful action. Alonso-Wynne and Costa’s work center on cultural advocacy, creativity, and storytelling as essential ways to preserve and celebrate Native ways of life. Their storefront for Juniper + Pine is an extension of these values: A Space to uplift Indigenous voices and share authentic designs inspired by the land and the natural world. Each design is a reflection of deep connection to place, tradition, and community. Their shop says, “These are not just shirts -they are wearable stories, symbols of resilience, and pathways to deeper understanding.”
Juniper + Pine Indigenous Collective offers a wide variety of services and goods. Expert consultations, education, public speaking, collaboration, education in the art, music, and dance of Indigenous people, trades and crafts, merchandise, and advocacy are all under the proverbial umbrella of what the collective covers and reaches into. “We want to make sure that the culture of our communities is not reduced to mere research. It needs to be kept alive and passed on. Our goal is to make sure it passes on to the next seven generations. Colonization tried to hide our traditions, but we are resilient and we want to solidify these arts and crafts and traditions as permanent parts of our community,” says Alonso-Wynne.
Even in its first year, Juniper + Pine is making cultural waves throughout Massachusetts. They were asked to be guests at the New Britain Museum of American Art and recently spoke at the NEARA Fall 2025 Conference about Ancient Places, Living Histories, Stones, Stories, and Settlement. Costa and Alonso-Wynne delivered a brilliant educational presentation on The Wampanoag’s Relationship with the Natural World. “They came up to us after and said it was the best lecture they had ever had at this conference. We really connected with them,” says Costa. Local museums, historical societies, schools, libraires, and any group or organization can connect with Juniper + Pine for educational experiences and opportunities to learn about and cultivate Indigenous culture.
With a recent article featured in Edible Southeastern Massachusetts, collaborations with House of the Seven Gables about Native knowledge systems, an invitation to the Mohegan Wigwam Festival at the Tantaquidgeon Museum, participating in the Herring Run Festival, and many more appearances and collaborations, Juniper + Pine is well on its way to becoming a powerful force in the community. “It is our priority that we stand in solidarity with all different people who have been shaped by genocide and survival,” says Alonso-Wynne, “We have been shape by our blood memory and have found a way to pass on sacred lessons and knowledge in modern times. We made survival an art.”
When asked what challenges their collective faces in establishment and progress, Costa and Alonso-Wynne say that it is a struggle to be able to meet the many demands coming in for connection and collaboration that require travel. “We have lots of people and places that reach out and want us to come speak or do a consultation, but we are like, ‘Okay, but how will we get to you?’,” Costa explains. In addition to the cost of travel, both women are busy young mothers with careers and are learning to manage their time with family, work, and the collective. As opportunities continue to come about for Juniper + Pine, financial burdens and obligations will be able to match the immeasurable potential they offer, but it will take steady community engagement and support.
With their growing collective, Costa and Alonso-Wynne have a long-term goal of being able to purchase land and use it as a homestead to promote, teach, and preserve Indigenous land practices, growing methods, cultivate heirloom and heritage crops, and foster a strong arts and crafts center. “We need to reclaim our place in the land in terms of ownership and stewardship,” Alonso-Wynne explains, “These lands are ancestral hunting grounds, waterways, and homesites where we know how to honor and coexist with the environments and the living things there. We hunt and gather with symbiotic respect and understand that we are distinct, but we are also all woven together.” The disparity between the Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities with property ownership and division is due to centuries of development and demographics being shaped and controlled by colonial mindsets. These ownership opportunities have been disproportionately denied to and kept from Indigenous communities as their lands were stolen and their people displaced by locals, laws, and government for centuries. These injustices carry on even in modern times.
With so much on the shoulders of Juniper + Pine -its mission, its potential, its heart and soul, and the ancestral energy at the foundation, it is a fortunate thing that its capable creators are Costa and Alonso-Wynne. These two Indigenous women are the new generation of powerhouse figures in the community. Their kindness is matched by their intelligence and talent. The gift of a simple conversation with them is guaranteed to inspire and set one at ease while also proving to be, to put it mildly, eye-opening.
Though young, they exude wisdom and clarity that is palpably ancient and rare in these oft out-of-touch modern times. Yet, in spite of their permeating connection to the past, they are ever so present and keenly aware of how their heritage should be received, respected, and given room and relevance to thrive in current day society. They are the tangible echoes of their ancestors and if you hear them, you will hear the story of survival. Here in New England, the Indigenous community deserves reform and attention in the long-accepted, highly-flawed narrative. Their story is often told inaccurately, incompletely, and through the accounts of people who were colonizers with agendas to uphold and points of view that differed greatly in perspective and understanding. The best way to learn about the local Indigenous community, no matter where you live, is to ask them. They are still here, and they have so much to say.
Thanksgiving in Vermont
In the Fall of 1963, our Mom received a call from her Father and stepmother, Nellie, inviting us all to their home in Vermont for Thanksgiving. Mom was overjoyed as she hadn’t seen them in over a year and had been especially missing her dad. My sister Penny was thirteen that year and I was sixteen. Neither one of us were too happy about having to go to Vermont. Penny had always wanted a horse and now that she had one she didn’t want to leave him. I had a boyfriend and I wanted to spend time with him. Our brother Dave was ten and he didn’t care one way or another about going anywhere. Our little sister Barb was seven and she was all excited about going; she loved traveling from a very early age. Grampa Spud, who lived next door to us, assured Penny he would take good care of her horse while she was gone and would put him in his barn with the cows and Mike the sheep. Several days before Thanksgiving we headed to Underhill, Vermont.
When we arrived, Grandpa had dad park in the garage in case it snowed. As the four of us kids tumbled out of the car, Grandpa’s arms were open wide and there was a big smile on his face. When he saw mom, his face lit up as he folded her into his arms. Penny and I stole a glance at one another, both of us now very aware of how much this meant to both Mom and Grandpa. Nellie came out to greet us as well and between all of us we were able to get our luggage into the house. Nellie had an upstairs room for Penny and I with a bathroom nearby, a downstairs room off the living room for Mom and Dad and a small room near them for David and Barb. The house wasn’t too big or small, just cozy with picturesque views from each lovely window.
The mood was jovial as we sat around the supper table listening to the adults. All four of us were quiet, taking in the conversation while eating some of the tenderest chicken we ever had. Mom was telling us that when she was growing up, Grandpa was a clock maker and when she and her sister, our Aunt Phyllis, went to bed at night, the sound of the clocks lulled them to sleep. I could tell from the looks my siblings gave me they didn’t want clocks lulling them to sleep.
When I woke the next morning, I wanted to be the first one in the shower near the room Penny and I were sleeping in. At our house there was only one bathroom and shower and it seemed I was always last and sometimes didn’t get a shower at all. So, before Penny or brother Dave could occupy the room, I grabbed my clothes and locked myself in the bathroom. The next thing I heard was a whole lot of yelling coming from downstairs. Then it sounded like dad yelling up the stairs. I ignored it all so I could get into the shower before anyone else. The yelling didn’t stop but neither did I. I jumped in the shower, lathered my hair with shampoo and turned on the water. I screamed! It was freezing; there was no hot water! The next thing I heard was laughing. I started laughing at myself. What else could I do but step into that freezing cold water to get the shampoo out of my hair and that’s what I did. It’s not like they didn’t try to warn me; the next time I hear yelling, I’ll pay attention.
Everyone was in the kitchen when I came downstairs. I was well-teased about the shower while I helped myself to some breakfast. At seven years old, Barb was already bored and asked if we were going to do something fun. Grandpa smiled and asked her what she’d like to do. Barb asked him if he had a mountain in his town. He smiled and said he did and he’d take whoever wanted to see it when he went to the store for Gramma Nellie. Mom spoke up, suggesting we all help clean up the kitchen and we’ll all go. We made short work of it and piled into their station wagon.
There was enough room in the car for Barb and Dave to sit in the front seat with Grandpa and Dad while Mom, Nellie, Penny and I sat in the back seat. Vermont is a beautiful State and in 1963, Underhill was a sparsely populated rural community. When we got to a place where there was an excellent view of Mt. Mansfield, Barb was so excited she wanted to get out of the car; we all followed. We were in awe of it where our grandparents and parents had seen it many times before we were born; mom, dad and grandpa being avid skiers when they were younger. Barb pointed to it saying, “Look, it goes all the way up to heaven!” We all chuckled a bit at that but from where we were standing, it did look like that. Grandpa told us it was the highest summit within the State, the peak elevation being four thousand, three hundred and ninety-three feet. We piled back into the car and went to the market to get the food we’d need for the next few days and for Thanksgiving.
That afternoon after lunch, Mom, Nellie and us girls helped with baking pies, breads and other desserts. Nellie put a big tray of chocolate chip cookies on the table to keep us away from the other desserts, especially the men who kept coming back into the kitchen. Nellie and mom made a beef stew and set it on the stove to simmer for supper. Grandpa, Dad, and Dave came back into the kitchen and asked if anyone would like to go for a walk with them before sunset. We all headed for the coat rack. We followed our parents and grandparents through the Vermont woods that I thought were as beautiful as our woods back home. The sun shone through the trees and I enjoyed listening to the four adults talking and having a good time. When the sun got low in the sky it lit up the woods in the most beautiful colors. As we turned around to go back to the house, I heard mom and grandpa talking about his new hobby. I got curious enough to ask him if he still made clocks. He smiled and said when he had made enough money he didn’t have to make anymore clocks, he was able to retire and enjoy hobbies like oil painting. I asked him what his new hobby was and he said he would show me when we got back to the house.
When supper was over and dishes were done, Grandpa announced he made a promise, as he smiled at me, and asked if everyone would follow him. At the very back of the house he opened a door and turned on the lights that revealed a good-sized room with a big picture window that looked out onto the spacious backyard. In front of us was an oversized wooden desk with deep drawers on either side, a long workbench that was built into the desk and a big long shelf across the top of the desk that contained beautifully sculptured birds of all kinds including herons and cranes. He announced that this was his new hobby. Nellie stood behind him, smiling. We were all in awe and so impressed with his flawless and beautiful work, words of praise came out of us all. Nellie also told us that a woman who is the editor of a local paper asked if she could come to interview him and she brought a photographer with her who took pictures of Grandpa and the birds, all in color, that were in the paper. We were all so proud and very happy for Grandpa.
The next morning Mom and Nellie were up early to get the turkey stuffed and in the oven. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with them and Mom and Grandpa stayed in touch more often and we got together with them yearly, sometimes in summer instead of fall.
Both Harold (Grandpa) and Nellie Austin were creative people. Nellie made doll furniture out of Quaker Oats containers, couches and chairs for our dolls when we were growing up and covered them in pretty material. When we were grown with kids of our own, she made us Santa and Mrs. Claus standing figurines using dish soap containers as the Ivory liquid bottles back in the 50’s had a better shape. She filled them with something that gave them weight and made Santa and Mrs. Santa outfits for them. If I learned nothing else, I learned more about both sets of grandparents by spending time with them and getting to know them better; a precious gift I’m totally thankful for.
Silver Lake Students Take a Hike
In what is becoming a yearly fall tradition, 85 students, members of Silver Lake Regional Middle School’s 8-2 Panthers, took a trip to the Great Blue Hill for a day of field learning. Before heading out, students did a clean up around the middle school and then took their buses to Canton. Upon arriving, students on the trip observed rescue animals at the trailside animal sanctuary, which included a particularly playful fox, a cute river otter sunning itself on the rocks and a collection of birds including an impressive bald eagle. Students then hiked up the hill under a canopy of peak foliage with vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows intermixed with beautiful evergreens. At the summit, students viewed Boston and the greater South Shore from the recently renovated and historic Eliot Tower while having a picnic.
After their picnic at the stone tower, students took a quick walk over to the Blue Hill Observatory where they were taught about the varied equipment and tools used at the Observatory by the friendly and informative staff. Panther Avery Hall remarked, “I enjoyed learning about the weather at the tower with my friend Ava Sliver.” Students then climbed up through the roof hatch to the lookout on top of the observatory where they had a clear 360 panorama where they could see as far as Mount Wachusett 70 miles away! Then after a mostly careful hike back down to the bottom of the hill, students played pickup games of football and soccer before heading back home to SLRMS. Student Jackson Akeke, said of the trip, “I enjoyed spending time with my friends and getting the great view of Boston. I also enjoyed playing football with my friends on the hill.” Students overwhelmingly recommended the trip for future 8th graders and had a big thank you to the staff at the Blue Hill Observatory for their great presentations and learning experiences.
Silver Lake Girls Soccer Playoff Games
A hat trick from Caitlin Snow powered the No. 31 Silver Lake girls’ soccer team to a 3–1 preliminary-round win over No. 34 Bishop Stang at Sirrico Field, earning the Lakers a 125-mile trip west for a Round of 32 match-up with second-seeded Longmeadow Lancers. The Lancers, who entered that game with only two losses, ended Silver Lake’s run with a 3–1 decision. As the Lakers graduate 10 seniors, the program turns its focus to next fall, supported by a solid core of returning talent, including freshman standout Avery Ross and junior midfielder Kyleigh Walsh.
Silver Lake Hosts Scituate for Senior Night
The Silver Lake Boys varsity soccer team celebrated its 11 seniors on Senior Night with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Scituate under the lights at Sirrico Field. Honored were goalkeeper Josh Peck; Captains Ryan McAuliffe, Kyle Ross, and Jack Lynch; along with Conor Burns, Max Stewart, Cam Lydon, Tyler Ruisi, Josh Howell, Jack Kelly, and Jose Fernandes. The Lakers closed out their season with a 7-8-3 record, highlighted by competitive wins over Patriot League rivals Quincy, Marshfield, Whitman-Hanson, Plymouth South, and North Quincy. The tie against Scituate capped off a season marked by grit, teamwork, and steady play across the pitch.
Letting Heaven and Nature Sing
The inimitable Ebenezer Scrooge said, “I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” It is a worthy effort for anyone, but few are able to keep this resolution as steadfastly and earnestly as Matt and Kimberly Campbell of The Farm at Raven Brook in Halifax. Though long-time residents of Halifax (Matt, a lifetime resident) the Campbell’s are relatively new to the world of farming, but you would never know it when visiting their picturesque 30 acres of Christmas tree heaven.
Matt and Kimberly’s journey started when they met in junior high at Silver Lake Regional Middle School and blossomed when they began dating in college. Matt attended Massachusetts Maritime Academy and became a Marine Engineer. Often having to spend months apart while Matt was at sea, the Campbell’s endeavored to make the most of family time and provide their boys, Evan and Nathan, with the quintessential farm-kid life. “We wanted a new adventure,” Kimberly Campbell says, “The boys were young, we love Christmas, and we wanted to be outdoors as a family all the time.” When the historic 1800’s tree farm became available, the Campbell’s jumped, without hesitation, at the chance of a lifetime.
Though idyllic, the property hardly came perfectly packaged and the Campbell’s realized their farm was going to require a group effort to restore and revitalize. “It was not a one-man job,” Kimberly recalls, “We have had many friends and family volunteer their time to help us bring the farm to where it is now. My mom and dad live with us now, too, and are jokingly referred to as our ‘full time volunteers’.” The real gift, however, has not been in seeing the fruits of their labor now that the farm is looking and working better than ever, but it was found in the process of being able to raise their boys at Raven Brook. “The boys have been able to connect to nature, to ride tractors, raise animals, work hard, and work with their family and community. It has been everything we wanted for them,” Kimberly reflects.
Coming up on their seventh year as the proprietors of The Farm at Raven Brook, the Campbell’s, though lacking any prior farming experience, have already acquired extensive knowledge about cultivating and harvesting evergreen trees. Not an easy or quick turn-around crop, evergreen tree farming requires as much wisdom as it does patience. Luckily, the Campbell’s found a fast and friendly community with the Massachusetts Christmas Tree Association. With an annual meeting and various seminars, the Campbell’s have been able to connect with and learn from experienced evergreen tree farmers in the area.
About 1,000 evergreen trees are planted each year at Raven Brook. Consisting mainly of Canaan Fir, Concolor Fir, Fraser Fir and Scotch Pine, the evergreen trees at Raven Brook range from 6ft to 25ft. Each tree grows approximately 12in a year and takes about 7-8 years to reach an appropriate size to harvest. Though the average desired tree size at other farms is around 6ft, it is the big trees that Raven Brook is best known for. “The size we sell the most of are the 12ft trees,” Kimberly explains, “so much larger than I can even fit inside my house!” After the tree harvest, the leftover stumps are removed from the field to make mowing easier in the summer. Each new tree is planted as a sapling in the spring and then plantings are done again in the fall to supplement any lost to disease or damage.
With a crop that takes so long to reach harvest stage, it takes a combination of logic and instinct to keep the field from being picked bare. “We have to keep an eye on the field in terms of what is being cut down,” Kimberly explains, “I am at a point where I can go out and survey the trees and if I start to feel a bit of panic about a certain size or type of tree looking picked over, I know it’s time to stop that harvest and I’ll call it. With a crop that takes seven years to replenish whatever is taken, you have to be careful not to over-harvest.”
Of course it is hardly just the adults learning the land. Evan and Nathan Campbell are growing right alongside the evergreens. The boys not only help with the holiday harvest-season, they raise various farm animals, maintain farm equipment, and collect tractors. “They raise chickens, goats, and pigs. Nathan helped deliver two litters of piglets. He was out there drying them off and making sure they were all alive and well -it’s an amazing experience,” says Kimberly. Before leaving to train as a merchant marine like his father, Evan was the resident beekeeper and sold the honey from their hives at the Shoppe on the farm. Nathan also has a passion for tractors -both the restoration and maintenance of them as well as using them on the farm.
The lessons of the farm are not confined to animals and equipment. Daily life enriching experiences are aplenty while working to keep the farm thriving. Kimberly particularly loves that the lessons her boys learn are not the kind available at school. “They learn to see things like the cost of running the farm -the cost of a 1,000 trees each year and the process of planting them. They learn marketing and management of the property, and about customer service. They also learn to innovate and come up with great ideas like events and offerings on the farm. This is all stuff you don’t learn in a classroom.” The boy’s good fortune is passed on to their friends as well. Kimberly explains, “The boy’s friends are always here coming up with ideas and giving their input. This was where all the kids wanted to be and hang out and I love it.”
Come Christmas tree season, the farm requires everyone on the farm to be involved. While the boys and their friends help with the baling station and hauling trees from the field, Kimberly’s mother runs and stocks the cozy Shoppe on the farm. Full of beautiful wreaths, arrangements, greenery, and pieces from local artists, the Shoppe offers seasonal, bespoke treasures that go hand-in-hand with Christmas magic.
One thing is certain, when The Farm at Raven Brook comes to life after Thanksgiving, it is a merry gathering of locals and visitors from afar. Collaborations with local businesses also enrich the experience at Raven Brook. “We have a lot going on at the farm during the Christmas season,” says Kimberly, “We have a snack trailer with treats, hot chocolate, and cider. Sarcastic Swine, Brewery 44, and Little Cookie Shed are on site. The Silver Lake High School Select Choir Carolers will be joining us at The Farm during Christmas Tree Season as well.”
In addition to drink, food, song, and tree cutting, the Farm at Raven Brook is also a haven for local photographers and photography opportunities. While photography opportunities are available year-round at Raven Brook, September to December is the busiest time of year with over 70 local photographers using the farm for their backdrop and setting. Photographers are also on site for visitors to get their pictures taken with nostalgic holiday props like the classic red pick up truck and rows of bushy evergreens in the background. If you are looking to get crafty this holiday season Raven Brook offers wreath making workshops and plenty of natural materials to cozy-up home and hearth.
Christmas is not the only season celebration can be found at The Farm at Raven Brook. Fall on the Farm offers boundless autumn beauty, food, entertainment, music, local businesses, and events that bring the community together on the weekends. Events featuring countryside delights such as antique tractors and local bands await visitors during the autumn. One particularly enchanting feature at Raven Brook to be used in any season is The Hollow. Once a clump of evergreen trees that were not harvested before reaching too large a size, The Hollow is now an outdoor room with live evergreen walls. Tucked inside is a long, high-top table, cable spool tables, stage, and a bar. At night The Hollow is illuminated like a fairy land with warm, white lights and overlooks The Pond and thousands of Christmas Trees.
The Farm at Raven Brook has grown to be a place of gathering and celebration for the community. With so may activities and natural beauty to be immersed in, it is not a surprise that many visitors become familiar faces. “Some weekends we see our neighbors every day at the farm enjoying the season. People drive from all over and many are returning and have made our farm part of their traditions,” says Kimbery, “Agrotourism can be tricky for sure, but it is a great way to teach people about the land and to appreciate the work that goes into a farm.”
Though the tremendous undertaking to provide hundreds of perfect Christmas trees and seasonal fun through fall and winter may sound daunting, the Campbell’s would not have it any other way. “One of my favorite moments lately was taking a little breather on a fall weekend and sitting at a picnic table and just watching people enjoy the farm. To know that our hard work and love for this place provides people with the quintessential New England experience for fall and Christmas is everything. This is our slice of heaven. We are so fortunate to be here.” In true Christmas spirit, the Campbell’s surely have found the perfect place where heaven and nature sing in unison and it’s a song that enriches anyone who stops to listen.
MacPherson Appointed to Plympton School Committee
Ross MacPherson, a 14-year Plympton resident with two children at Dennett School, was unanimously appointed to the Plympton School Committee on Nov. 5, filling a vacancy that arose when a member joined the Finance Committee. MacPherson will serve until the May 2026 town election.
The appointment followed a two-step process across two town boards. On Oct. 27, the School Committee unanimously voted to recommend MacPherson to the Board of Selectmen, which formally approved the appointment nine days later.
School Committee Chair Jason Fraser explained that the vacancy arose when a member joined the Finance Committee. According to Fraser state law prohibits anyone from serving simultaneously on the Finance Committee and another committee subject to its budgetary oversight.
“The Board of Selectmen had asked me to strongly consider appointing someone for the remainder of the term, which would end in May,” Fraser said. “If said candidate wants to continue after that point, they would have to pull papers and run as a normal election.”
After the committee advertised the opening, MacPherson was the only resident to step forward. He brings extensive community service experience, including nine and a half years on the Public Safety Building Committee and a recent stint on the Town Properties Committee. He has run Plympton’s Cub Scout program for four years and now oversees both Cub Scouts and the Boy Scout troop.
“Service is a big part of my kind of core ethos, and my wife has said I get two things, and since I left Town Properties, I have an opening for one more thing,” MacPherson told the committee. “So, I’m happy to fill this as long as needed.”
Fraser praised the family support behind MacPherson’s candidacy, noting the importance of balancing volunteer service with work and family commitments.
The appointment comes as the district faces significant budget pressures. During the same Oct. 27 meeting, Fraser delivered a stark warning about insufficient federal and state funding forcing difficult local decisions.
“There’s not a single house in Plympton that has not seen cost go up year over year at two and a half percent, and I’m sorry to say it to the voters of Plympton, two and a half percent is not going to be able to provide enough dollars for the school to maintain the level services,” he said. “So we’re going to have a very local decision to make in May.”
Fraser criticized federal officials for allowing nutritional assistance to potentially expire, calling it “absolutely unacceptable” that vulnerable residents might struggle to put food on the table. He noted uncertainty around Title funding and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act funding, which he said remains historically underfunded at 14% despite a statutory requirement of 40%.
He expressed frustration with state-level progress on the Chapter 70 school funding formula, noting that more than 220 Massachusetts communities received only minimal aid last year—up to $150 per student—insufficient to meet inflationary pressures.
“This is going to be a locally controlled situation where we will present options to the voters of Plympton, and Plympton is going to have to decide where its values lie,” Fraser said. “Do the values lie in funding [and] providing a high quality education experience to our students, or are we going to have to face what cuts may have to be made here?”
In other business, the School Committee approved a memorandum of understanding with the Plympton Police Department for the school resource officer program and discussed a $12,000 capital request for phone system replacement needed by Jan. 2027. Superintendent Jill Proulx reported the regionalization study with Collins Center is underway, with a final report expected in 18 months.
At the Nov. 5 Board of Selectmen meeting, Town Administrator Liz Dennehy reported progress exploring Office 365 and Microsoft Copilot as a potential alternative to expensive permitting software.
The solution, suggested by a Town Properties Committee member, could eliminate the need for permitting software estimated at $60,000. Rehoboth pays $25 per user per month—$300 annually—for Office 365 with Copilot. With fewer than 200 potential users, Plympton’s annual cost would be substantially less than the permitting software option.
Dennehy is investigating whether board and committee members with town email addresses would count as users, which would affect total costs. She’s also checking for municipal discounts and exploring whether the town’s Community Compact grant could be repurposed for the solution.
Carver declined to implement the system due to cost, Dennehy said. She’s also seeking quotes from smaller-scale permitting software companies for comparison.
Dennehy also reported expanded community support for residents facing food insecurity following SNAP benefit cuts.
The Council on Aging expanded food pantry hours at the townhouse to Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., with evening hours planned. Library Director Mike Slawson created a miniature food pantry at the library with pantry staples and will assist with fundraising and donations.
The Congregational Church announced a free spaghetti supper for the entire community on Friday, Nov. 8 at 5 p.m., initiated in response to SNAP benefit cuts affecting 182 Plympton residents.
“The original reason we started the whole process was because of the SNAP benefits being cut short,” Arthur Bloomquist said. “Unfortunately, there’s no way for us to find out who those recipients are… So what we did instead is to have it available to the whole town.”
The church is seeking volunteers and will evaluate whether to make the dinner recurring based on turnout.
26 Local Firefighters Graduate from State Fire Academy
BRIDGEWATER—State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine tonight announced the graduation of 26 recruits from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy’s Call/Volunteer Recruit Firefighter Training Program.
The members of Call/Volunteer Recruit Class #122 graduated at the Department of Fire Services’ Bridgewater campus. They represent the fire departments of Acushnet, Dartmouth Fire District 1, Dartmouth Fire District 2, Dartmouth Fire District 3, Dighton, Lakeville, Marion, Plympton, Rehoboth, Swansea, West Bridgewater, and Westport.
“Massachusetts firefighters are on the frontlines protecting their communities every day, and today’s graduates are needed now more than ever,” said State Fire Marshal Davine. “The hundreds of hours of foundational training they’ve received on nights and weekends will provide them with the physical, mental, and technical skills to perform their jobs effectively and safely.”
“Massachusetts Firefighting Academy instructors draw on decades of experience in the fire service to train new recruits,” said Academy Director JP Seivane. “Through consistent classroom instruction and practical exercises, tonight’s graduates have developed the tools they’ll need to protect themselves, their communities, and each other.”
The Martin H. McNamara Outstanding Student Award was presented to Firefighter Nicholas Sheehan of the Marion Fire Department. The award is named for Martin “Marty” McNamara V, a call firefighter with the Lancaster Fire Department who lost his life in the line of duty in 2003 while battling a fire in a multifamily home. It is presented to one recruit in each graduating call/volunteer training class and recognizes their academic and practical skills, testing, and evaluations over the course of the program.
Video of the ceremony will be posted tomorrow at the Department of Fire Services’ YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/dfsosfm.
The Call/Volunteer Firefighter Recruit Training Program is unique in that it delivers a standard recruit training curriculum, meeting national standards, on nights and weekends to accommodate the schedule of firefighters who work or go to school full-time. Making the training more accessible means more firefighters can participate and allows them more time to practice training skills with instructors.
The MFA, a division of the Department of Fire Services, has offered the program since 2003. More than 3,000 call and volunteer recruits have graduated since then.
Today’s Firefighters Do Far More than Fight Fires
Today’s firefighters are all-hazards emergency responders. They are the first ones called to chemical and environmental emergencies, ranging from the suspected presence of carbon monoxide to fentanyl overdoses to gas leaks. They may be called to rescue children who have fallen through the ice or locked themselves in a bathroom. They rescue people from stalled elevators and crashed vehicles. They must properly test, maintain, and utilize equipment such as self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), hydrants, hoses, power tools, and apparatus.
At the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy, they learn all these skills and more, including the latest science of fire behavior and suppression tactics, from certified fire instructors. They also receive training in public fire safety education, hazardous material incident mitigation, flammable liquids, stress management, and self-rescue techniques. The intensive program involves classroom instruction, physical fitness training, firefighter skills training, and live firefighting practice.
Students receive classroom training in all basic firefighter skills. They practice first under non-fire conditions and then during controlled fire conditions. To graduate, students must demonstrate proficiency in life safety, search and rescue, ladder operations, water supply, pump operation, and fire attack. Fire attack operations range from mailbox fires to multiple-floor or multiple room structural fires.
Graduates have completed 240 hours of training on nights and weekends. Upon successful completion of this program, all students have met the national standards of NFPA 1010, Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications. In addition, they may seek certification to the level of Firefighter I/II and Hazardous Materials Operational Level Responder.
Fatal Fire in Halifax Under Investigation
HALIFAX—A late night house fire on Holmes St. has claimed one person’s life, said Halifax Fire Chief Michael Witham, Halifax Police Chief Joao A. Chaves, State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine, and Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz.
The Halifax Fire Department, Halifax Police Department, and mutual aid firefighters responded to 138 Holmes Street after a neighbor called 9-1-1 shortly before 12:30 a.m. On arrival, firefighters observed smoke and flames coming from the rear of the single-family home.
Firefighters made entry to locate any occupants and found one man, the sole resident, unresponsive inside. They removed him from the building and immediately began lifesaving efforts before a Plympton ambulance transported him to an area hospital.
The man passed away later this morning. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine the cause and manner of his death.
“On behalf of the Halifax Fire Department, I want to express our heartfelt condolences to the man’s family and loved ones,” said Chief Witham. “I also want to remind all our residents that working smoke alarms are vital home safety tools. Please take a few minutes today to be sure you have them on every level of your home.”
The fire spread quickly throughout the structure and went to a second alarm. Firefighters were able to knock it down in about half an hour. Two dogs were also located deceased inside.
The origin and cause of the fire remain under investigation by the Halifax Fire Department, Halifax Police Department, State Police Fire investigators assigned to the State Fire Marshal’s office, and State Police Detectives assigned to the Plymouth County DA’s office. They are assisted by the Department of Fire Services’ Code Compliance & Enforcement Unit. Investigators found no smoke alarms at the scene.
The fire departments of Hanson, Pembroke, Duxbury, Kingston, Plympton, and Bridgewater provided mutual aid.
Lost and Found
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”- Mahatma Gandhi
Among the numerous concerning headline subjects at the moment, one that is particularly relevant to many Americans addresses the recent cut to SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits. As of Nov. 1st, the USDA announced that they could not issue SNAP benefits due to the ongoing government shutdown, resulting in insufficient funding. This decision has left approximately 42 million Americans to face insecurity and uncertainty about where and how they are going to purchase food.
SNAP, also known as food stamps, is a federal initiative that provides monthly benefits to low-income people to help them afford groceries. SNAP is the nation’s most important and effective anti-hunger program. It plays a critical role in reducing the hardships of poverty, improving health and economic outcomes for the most vulnerable in our community, supporting people who are paid low wages or between jobs, providing assistance for those who are unable to work due to disability and illness, and serving as the first line of defense against hunger during economic hardships.
As the government shutdown reached the four-week mark, SNAP benefits became a point of contention. While a newly added note on the USDA website points a finger at Senate Democrats for prolonging the government shutdown, the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA), which distributes these federal funds, blames the current administration. The government shut down in the early hours of Oct. 1, and since then, more than 700,000 federal workers have been furloughed, and almost 700,000 are working without pay. Several government services have had to close or downsize. During past government shutdowns, SNAP benefits were still provided to Americans in need. This was previously done by the government tapping into a reserve of contingency funds.
SNAP benefits are distributed among various groups of people with roughly 20% of recipients being elderly, approximately 10% disabled, and an increasing 39% of SNAP benefits go to children. According to USDA and U.S. Census Bureau data about 1,076,187 out of the 7,029,917 people who live in Massachusetts are SNAP participants. Governor Maura Healey said that 32% of Massachusetts SNAP recipients are children, 26% are older adults, and 31% are people with disabilities. In May 2025, the most recent month with available data, these recipients were given more than $232 million in food assistance. In fiscal year 2025, the average monthly benefit per person in the SNAP program was $190.59, per USDA data. For households, the national average monthly benefit was $356.41. In Massachusetts households SNAP benefits average $323 per month. So far in 2025, SNAP benefits have gone to an average of 1.1 million people in Massachusetts each month, including 665,000 families, 342,000 children and 261,500 elderly people, according to Attorney General Andrea Campbell. Healey said Campbell is in court Thursday trying to force the federal release of SNAP benefits.
The DTA called the SNAP lapse an “unprecedented challenge.” Gov. Maura Healey announced that a $4 million advance from the state would be given to local food pantries to brace for the influx of state wide food insecurity, but she said that state funding cannot match what the federal government usually provides for SNAP recipients. “As a state we’re going to advance $4 million to our food banks, which support over 800 community organizations around the state. This is from our existing program, which is the Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program that already provides $4 million to our community partners every month. So given the expected spike in demand, we are going to be doubling that,” Healey said during a State House press conference. She directed those anticipating need or currently in need to local charities.
Marty Martinez with United Way also announced Thursday that the relief fund Healey set up with United Way last week seeking and accepting private donations has topped $1 million. The United Way, a social services organization, will assist in providing resources to those struggling in each of the 351 Massachusetts communities. Massachusetts receives $240 million monthly for SNAP benefits. Healey and top lawmakers have consistently said over the past week that the state cannot backfill that amount usually provided by the federal government.
Other New England states are tapping reserve funds to cover the lack of federal funding. Vermont is fully covering SNAP benefits for the first 15 days of November for all 65,000 recipients in their state with $6.3 million in state emergency funds. Connecticut advancing $3 million to stretch across the first two weeks of the month. Rhode Island Gov. Daniel McKee declared a state of emergency and is using $6 million in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families dollars to help offset SNAP costs. In Maine, Gov. Janet Mills announced Tuesday that she would draw $1.2 million from the state’s contingency account. Anti-hunger advocacy organizations have called for Healey and lawmakers to draw from the state’s $8 billion rainy day fund.
Healey pointed out that drawing from the states own contingency fund should not be required in the first place. “As we are here this morning, right now, the USDA is sitting on $23 billion in a contingency fund that could be used to pay these benefits out across the country. In fact, that’s what other presidents have done during a shutdown, but this President has made a decision to not provide those funds,” Healey said in a press conference last week. The Trump administration has said tapping into that contingency fund would be illegal and has blamed Democrats for the shutdown.
Meanwhile, as government official’s squabble and scramble to undo and fix things at a frustratingly equal rate, there are many members in our local communities who are wondering how they are going to secure food for themselves and their family members -now and in the future. What to do? Rather than despair and think only on a national level, a more constructive focus is always a local focus. In the coming months the strength and empathy of our communities will be put to the test to see how steeped in fellowship and humanity we really are. State officials have already been clear that where government responsibility falls short, it will be up to private citizens and charities to bolster our communities against hunger.
For those not facing things like the anxiety of stretching the last few cups of milk between two kids for a week, or wondering how long it will be before there is something for dinner other than applesauce, it is imperative to help in any way possible. If this means adding a few extra non-perishable food items to your shopping trip next week to drop off at the local food bank, purchasing grocery store gift cards and leaving them anonymously on the doorstep of a family or person you know is struggling, or volunteering at a local food bank to relieve the massive increased efforts there, then now is the time to do it.
In a recent Express story, readers were urged to “look for the helpers”. Now is the time to be the helpers. There are many people already moving and planning and preparing for the increased need on a local level. To demonstrate how dire that local level or need is, here are the numbers according to Mass.gov/SNAPfreeze. 1 in 6 people in Massachusetts are at immediate risk of hunger. 182 Plympton residents, 716 Halifax residents, and 1,066 Kingston residents rely on SNAP benefits for food security.
These percentages and numbers are our friends, family, and neighbors. They include the elderly, veterans, children, people between jobs, single parents, and people from all walks of life. In a self-proclaimed “developed” nation, food should never be used as a “life lesson” or a marker of deservedness or worthiness. It is unethical and inhumane to have an opinion on who should experience hunger or have access to food, or to form judgments (which are usually inaccurate) about why someone is not in a position to independently afford groceries. Often times those struggling have had to do so their whole lives, or they are newly managing anxieties and hardships and the last thing these people need right now is tough love -especially from their community.
It is impossible to know when our government will start working again for the people, but until then we can work for ourselves the best we can. We can dig just a little a little deeper into our own reserves -be they monetary or time and energy, and look beyond our own fridges and pantries. We can consider the battles we don’t know are being fought by those around us. We can lose ourselves a little in the cause of others and draw on that age-old, natural law and guarantee that in doing so we will find ourselves increasingly satiated in life and our only hunger will be to serve more.
Here is a list of resources for those facing food insecurity:
For more information, you can contact the Massachusetts DTA, which oversees SNAP benefits in the state, at 877-382-2363. You can also call the USDA Northeast Regional Office at 617-565-6370. https://www.mass.gov/orgs/department-of-transitional-assistance
Massachusetts residents facing immediate hunger due to the lapse in SNAP benefits can call or text Project Bread’s FoodSource Hotline at 1-800-645-8333 to learn about local food resources or speak with a counselor. The FoodSource Hotline is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Calling the helpline is free and confidential, according to Project Bread.
You can also visit the Massachusetts state website to find a list of local food banks. https://www.mass.gov/how-to/find-a-local-food-bank
Feeding America. https://www.feedingamerica.org/our-work/hunger-relief-program
The Women, Infants & Children Nutrition Program (WIC) in Massachusetts is not impacted by the federal government shutdown, as of Oct. 29. https://mass.gov/orgs/women-infants-children-nutrition-program.
Food Pantry – Plymouth Area Coalition, https://plymouthareacoalition.org 149 Bishops Hwy., Kingston.
Plympton Town Hall COA Food Pantry, 5 Palmer Rd., Plympton. Open T/TH from 10 a.m. -2 p.m.
Halifax Helping Hands Pantry, 503 Plymouth St., Halifax. Phone: (781) 293-6393.
South Shore Community Action Council, https://www.sscac.org/food-resources
Meals on Wheels is a program that offers well-balanced meals to adults through home delivery or congregated dining sites. Meals on Wheels is run by senior nutrition agencies located throughout Massachusetts. To find the closest agency to you, visit https://mealsonwheels.org
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