State Representative Kathleen LaNatra and Kingston Police Chief Brian Holmes are raising urgent concerns about the growing availability and use of kratom by minors in the region. Kratom, a substance derived from a Southeast Asian tree, is being sold openly in gas stations, smoke shops, and convenience stores – with no age restrictions – and is increasingly ending up in the hands of teenagers.
“Too many parents have never even heard of kratom, and yet their kids can walk into a local store and buy it right off the shelf,” said Representative LaNatra. “We’ve seen firsthand how this substance is being marketed as a harmless herbal supplement when in reality it can lead to addiction, psychosis, and even fatal overdoses.”
Kratom is not regulated by the FDA and poses unique risks to adolescents, whose brains are still developing. It acts on the same receptors as opioids and can have sedative or stimulant effects depending on the dose. Regular use has been linked to dependence, withdrawal symptoms, liver toxicity, and seizures. In high doses or when mixed with other substances, kratom can cause respiratory depression, coma, or death.
Chief Holmes echoed the concern: “We’ve encountered young people in our community who are using kratom, unaware of how dangerous it really is. It’s flying under the radar, and that’s a serious problem. There are no safeguards in place – no age restrictions, no proper labeling, no public awareness. Regulating this substance should be a strong consideration towards community safety through legislative priority.”
Kratom is often sold in capsules, powders, or liquid shots and marketed as a “natural” solution for energy or focus, a message that resonates with vulnerable teens. Social media influencers and online content have further fueled its popularity among youth.
“This is a community health and safety issue,” said LaNatra. “We need to act before more kids get hurt.”
For more information on kratom and how to protect young people from its dangers, visit the Mayo Clinic’s guidance on the topic or contact the Kingston Police Department for local resources.
Attorney General turns down Halifax’s watercraft restrictions to limit access to Monponsett Pond by use of a resident sticker
Massachusetts Attorney General Disapproves Proposed Watercraft Restrictions on Monponsett Pond – Monday, July 14, 2025
The Town of Halifax received official notice that the Massachusetts Attorney General has disapproved the by-law amendment proposed under Article 2 of the December 16th, 2024, Special Town Meeting. The amendment sought to prohibit the use of personal watercraft (PWCs) on East and West Monponsett Pond unless the operator held a resident permit.
The Attorney General cited that Monponsett Pond qualifies as a Massachusetts Great Pond as it exceeds 500 acres in size and therefore is considered a public resource under Massachusetts law. Local governments do not have statutory authority to restrict the public’s use or access to boating on these waters.
Additionally, during their review, the Attorney General also determined that two earlier amendments — enacted in 1997 and 1998 concerning speed limits and nighttime PWC operation on the Pond — were also in conflict with state law and would likely be unenforceable.
What This Means for Residents
Public access to Monponsett Pond remains protected under state law.
The Town cannot implement resident-only PWC permits or enforce prior restrictions without special legislative approval.
The Town will work with state agencies to explore legal alternatives to ensure safe and responsible use of the Pond.
To view the Attorney General’s full decision, please use the link below.
Download Official Notice from the Attorney General (PDF)
Plympton updates procurement policy, tackles Old Townhouse survey
The Plympton Board of Selectmen approved an updated procurement policy and authorized a property survey during their July 7 meeting, addressing several administrative and operational matters affecting the town.
The board unanimously adopted revisions to the town’s procurement policy, retroactive to June 30, 2025. Town Administrator Liz Dennehy explained the changes focus on clarifying requirements for written scope of work documentation.
“The updated policy that’s proposed clearly specifies that for construction type services between $5,000 and $10,000 that are for work on town grounds or in town buildings that we have that written scope of work in the file,” Dennehy said.
The policy update ensures detailed documentation of work to be performed for quoted prices, while maintaining compliance with Massachusetts General Laws governing municipal procurement.
Selectmen authorized Dennehy to proceed with surveying the Old Townhouse property, following an estimate of $1,300 from a local surveying company. The survey will establish visible stakes for property boundaries and provide the town with a plan showing exact property lines.
The survey addresses issues stemming from recent tree removal work that left stumps on the property. Tree Warden services removed 13 trees due to damage concerns affecting both town property and neighboring properties.
“If the board was inclined to consider putting a fence up at the property in the future, I would strongly recommend that we have the survey done,” Dennehy said.
Funding for the survey will come from existing articles for surveys and appraisals, with any remaining costs covered by the town buildings and grounds maintenance budget.
The board appointed Nathaniel Sides as their representative to the Old Colony Planning Council. Dennehy described the role as involving monthly or bi-monthly meetings, with participation varying based on topics relevant to Plympton.
“It’s not something that you would have to participate in every single month,” Dennehy explained. “Sometimes they’ll have meetings, and if it was something that was of particular interest to you, like, they have their board meetings, but then they also have, like, the joint transportation planning group.”
The council provides technical assistance to member communities, including help with green community grant applications and housing production plan updates. Dennehy noted the organization has helped Plympton secure hundreds of thousands of dollars in green community funding.
Selectmen reappointed Timothy Johnson as a part-time police officer from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. Johnson previously declined a full-time appointment, creating complications with the school resource officer program.
The town voted to fund a full-time school resource officer position, but Johnson’s preference to remain part-time requires renegotiation of the memorandum of understanding with the police union.
“The little hiccup in everything is that the union contract, it involves like it’s supposed to be a full-time officer,” Dennehy said. “So if he’s only going to remain part-time, we need to go back to the drawing board and come up with another option.”
Police Chief Matt Ahl is working with the union to develop a hybrid approach that would involve multiple officers in school coverage while maintaining patrol responsibilities.
Dennehy provided several operational updates, including work on closing fiscal year 2025 with line-to-line transfers needed to balance accounts. The town accountant continues processing final invoices through the July 15 deadline.
The auditor has signed an engagement letter and aims to begin the audit process by early September. A finance committee meeting scheduled for the evening of July 7 will recommend a candidate to fill a vacant committee seat.
Regional Old Colony Communications Center received grant funding to update fire and police radios, addressing long-standing communication issues between departments.
“Radios are very expensive. And the ROC went out of their way to apply for some additional grant funding for us,” Dennehy said.
The highway department’s generator failed and requires replacement. Town officials solicited written quotes following proper procurement protocols, with South Shore Generator selected to install a more powerful unit.
Funding will come from a combination of ARPA funds and town building maintenance accounts, depending on invoice timing.
Website improvements are underway to address ADA compliance requirements and mobile accessibility issues. The town plans to integrate the police department website with the main municipal site for cost savings and improved functionality.
“I think the biggest issue with it, it looks fine if you access it from a desktop computer, but when you’re on your phone, which I feel is, like, a lot of people access from their phone, it brings up, an abbreviated menu,” Dennehy said.The board continues expanding video coverage of municipal meetings through Area 58. Additional boards including Board of Health, Zoning Board of Appeals, Planning Board, and Town Properties Committee are being added to the recording schedule.
Board Chair Dana Smith emphasized the importance of accessibility to town government, noting that video recordings allow residents to view meetings at their convenience.
The board scheduled their next meeting for Aug. 18 at 1 p.m., moving the start time earlier to accommodate scheduling conflicts.
It’s a dog’s world at the Barker House
Dr. Amber Bartlett might not be able to exactly talk to the animals, but she certainly understands them. Bartlett, founder and owner of The Barker House in Plympton, grew up in the South with a zookeeper father who worked in Walt Disney World. He often cared for sick and injured animals in the home and passed on this compassion and respect for all creatures to Bartlett. The love of animals has been a constant throughout her life even if it wasn’t always her career.
With a corporate career in Boston and a layoff in 2007 Bartlett found herself enjoying walking her two dogs at the time (she now has five). People often asked who walked her dogs and were surprised when she replied that she walked them herself. This gave Bartlett an idea. With a “nothing to lose” attitude she decided to make and post flyers around the city advertising a dog walking service. Others joked that dog walking was not a lucrative business but her response? “Oh yes, it is! I had over one hundred clients in a year!” On an occasion where Bartlett needed to board her dogs she quickly realized there were no dog care businesses that offered the things she felt were important to her and her dogs’ well-being. Being a natural entrepreneur in addition to being a self-proclaimed “crazy dog lady” Bartlett saw an opportunity and the idea for The Barker House was born.
Later, Bartlett decided to sell her dog walking business and trade the cityscape for country roads. In 2019 her realtor found an antique home with an outbuilding and beautiful acreage in Plympton. “I had never even heard of Plympton but when I saw this place I could feel it. It was perfect for what I envisioned.”
Bartlett continued her corporate career and built The Barker House on the side. Shortly after purchasing the property Covid hit and she wondered if she would have to back out of her plans. She decided to persevere. “I just kept going,” she says, “And it filled a need for a one-stop-shop in dog care in the area so it worked.” The Barker House was a fast and great success and Bartlett outgrew her space after just one year and required expansion.
Bartlett’s success with The Barker House is not only attributed to smart business decisions, but because she offers a truly unique and wholesome mindset to the world of dog care. “I wanted it to be special -to be different. I wanted to offer comfort and things like suites and one on one playtime and a curated menu. These dogs are people’s children and I want them to feel good about leaving them with us.”
Bartlett certainly affords every pup that enters The Barker House an experience of love and attention to detail. Private suites for those that do best with them, farm fresh eggs, nightlights and calming music in the evenings, and snuggle sessions are just a few of the thoughtfully curated offerings available. The Barker House also accommodates dogs with special needs such as dog-aggressive guests who need safe solitude. These dogs are kept apart from the other dogs but given plenty of individual attention and outside time as well as lots of physical touch and snuggles so they never feel isolated.
The daycare program at The Barker House includes mostly outdoor, crate-free playtime as well as training to obey basic commands and interaction with other dogs. Bartlett makes sure each pup is allowed to choose their friends, toys, and activities. The Barker House also accepts dogs for their daycare program based on behavior, not breed. When it comes to the behaviors of dogs and her own experience in motherhood Bartlett has noticed similarities. “Doggy daycare is really similar to human daycare! Sometimes they arrive cranky and they don’t want to play with their friends, or they are wound up, or they have anxiety that day…their social structures are very similar to humans.” Bartlett also points out that dogs are particularly emotionally intelligent and intuitive creatures. “They know when their owner has pulled into the driveway to pick them up at the end of the day just by the sound of the car.”
The Barker House offers so much to furry friends and their humans, but most of all Bartlett offers respect and reverence for all dogs. “Dogs are full of unconditional love. They offer uninhibited comfort and companionship. They also feed off of our energy and emotions. If we are uptight and exhibiting anxiety, a dog will behave the same way.” Bartlett shares that even when she has dealt with tragically mistreated dogs who have been rescued there is an underlying theme to all dogs. “They all want the same thing. They want to love and be loved.”
Bartlett knows the importance of making sure your canine family members are properly loved and cared for -even when their humans are away. Her advice for anyone looking for dog care of any kind? “Make sure you see it. You should see the place before leaving your dog there. The dog care world is small. I have seen things and…you must see a place before leaving your dog there. Be very clear about your dog’s needs and personality. What kind of space do they need? Are they dog aggressive? What are their health needs? Also be glad when places require certain vaccinations. This means your dog will be kept healthy during their stay.”
Bartlett’s approach to dog care is a refreshing combination of physical and emotional, and logic is as important as love. When asked what she thinks dogs would tell humans if they could talk, she laughs, “Get over yourselves! Their biggest concern is being able to love you. Dogs would tell us to slow down and be grateful for the time we have.”
Affection and gratitude for every dog that stays at The Barker House is what focuses and drives Bartlett’s business and fuels her passion. “I have what I call my ‘OG’ group. They were with me in the beginning as puppies -some only 12 weeks old, and now they are five years old! They are family. I love spoiling your dogs. I love what I do.”
For more information on The Barker House visit the website:
thebarkerhousedogs@gmail.com or call: (508) 866-0605
An Eye for Life …
Stephani Teran
Express staff
If you belong to the Plympton Helping Plympton Facebook page then you have likely been treated to seeing beautiful photographs and videos of local wildlife and insects that are not only lovely to look at but fascinatingly informative. These generous offerings that seem more likely to be found in National Geographic than a local Facebook group are the work of local photographer, Donna McBrien.
McBrien, who has lived in Plympton since 2009, can often be found hauling her top of the line photography equipment while roaming and exploring local forests, rivers, wildlife sanctuaries, and “secret places” where she has found nature in its purest, undisturbed form. With a former lucrative career in finance for Fidelity, Donna has always had an underlying passion for science -labeling herself as a “science geek”. She attributes her journey into photography and life in general to an insatiable streak of curiosity that runs through her.
McBrien first dabbled in photography in high school and was gifted her first camera and lens by her sister. McBrien’s first frequent subject matter was architecture. Her career required a great deal of travel and McBrien found herself using nearly every non-working hour of her trips taking pictures of the places she was visiting -often at nights and on weekends. This later evolved into landscape photography and satisfied her urge to explore in depth and learn about wherever she happened to be.
Her quest for the perfect shot was taken her to some perilous places. She has had some very close calls from steep canyon roads where the car nearly went over the cliff edge to muddy, icy roads in the Midwest where she had to push her car up the hill by herself as no roadside assistance could reach her remote location. She recalls returning a rental car on a business trip after a photography adventure turned south. “It was entirely covered with icy mud balls and my coworkers still tease me about it.”
Landscape and architecture were McBrien’s main focus in photography until she and her sister went on a life -changing African safari in 2013 with five days in Kenya and three days in Tanzania. She describes the transcending sights of the African wildlife. “We saw things like Silverback Gorillas and I couldn’t believe how incredible it was. I wanted to photograph everything I saw.” McBrien’s enthusiasm was not yet met with full potential as she did not have the proper wildlife photography equipment at the time.
That changed when she got home. By 2014 McBrien’s main focus and passion in photography had shifted to animals, environment, and insects. This new niche was perfectly fueled by her developmental and cellular biology degree and her passion for exploring and indulging her endless curiosity. “I still turn over rocks looking for bugs and salamanders. I look at every detail in the environment around me. I notice things others don’t.” This has proven true in cases like locating an eagle via her photography that had been banded by a local wildlife agency and not seen in eight years. McBrien was subsequently invited to attend the banding of the eagles’ babies.
Labeling herself as “an explorer by nature” McBrien has a gift for wandering and wandering well. She has been able to scout out areas that have not been intruded upon by others and respectfully capture the environmental happenings of various “hidden gem” locations. In addition to being able to locate hot spots for wildlife activity, McBrien is especially keen to learn about her subject matter in great depth. “If I am going to photograph an animal I am going to learn all about that animal -what it eats, when it eats, when it sleeps, mates, moves and anything it does or doesn’t do. I don’t just take a picture of an animal, I know their habits.”
McBrien takes her research a step further by sending her images and questions about the creatures or events pictured to local wildlife and entomology experts to verify and expound upon her subject matter. She enjoys this rather academic approach to her photographs. “If I do the work, I learn. And to me the learning is as satisfying as taking the photo.”
McBrien’s approach to capturing wildlife is not just about “getting the perfect shot”, but being aware and respectful of the environment she is a guest in -something that has been highlighted as an issue with the recent surge in hobby photographers. “I don’t tell people exactly where things that I find are because if you do, before you know it, you’ll have twenty people there taking pictures and trampling plants and being disruptive.”
McBrien expresses frustration in observing frequent disregard for rules at local wildlife preserves and the exploitation of delicate sites such as nesting areas and dens. “I don’t like to be ‘that person’ but if you are say, bringing your dog to a place with signs saying dogs are not allowed, and I happen to know there is a nearby den with baby foxes wandering around, I am going to say something.” McBrien is ever aware that rules and guidelines honor how intricately everything is tied together in nature and that respect shown in your actions and how you interact with your surroundings can go a long way in preserving the inhabitants of any environment. Often finding herself braving the elements, in uncomfortable positions, or enduring long waits, McBrien says “Anything for the shot -anything but being disrespectful to the place I am.”
McBrien also prescribes to the philosophy of quality over quantity when it comes to taking photographs in the wild. “I am not there for hundreds of shots, I am there for a few really good shots.” McBrien has taken more than a few really good shots. Her work has been showcased in the community and sold at the North River Arts Festival. One glance at her website or her frequent town Facebook page posts easily prove that she has mastered the art of not just wildlife photography but all subject matter from fireworks to architecture, and lightning to air shows. McBrien has an eye for detail and placement that afford her images exquisite reality without being overly edited or made to look unrealistic. She also prefers to photograph insects and creatures in their natural state. “If I take a picture of a hummingbird, it won’t be at a feeder. It needs to be when it is perched on the branch it keeps returning to at the edge of the woods.
When asked what she would like others to know about her photography and the mission or goal behind it? “Just look around you. Notice things. Be curious. Look for evidence of life around you and you’ll see new things you didn’t see before.” Whether capturing the often unnoticed and illusive animals in her backyard with game cameras, documenting the intricate life cycle of the Monarch butterflies she raises, or taking stunning images of local fireworks over a lake with her feet submerged in mucky water to get just the right angle, McBrien certainly notices the miracles and mysteries the earth has to offer and I, for one, am all the more inspired to do the same.
Halifax appoints Fennessy interim TA
The Halifax Board of Selectmen unanimously appointed Robert Fennessy as Interim Town Administrator July 1, selecting him from two candidates interviewed for the temporary position.
Fennessy, who most recently served as town administrator in Carver, brings more than 40 years of experience in municipal government, law enforcement, and legal practice to Halifax. His appointment is subject to successful contract negotiations and background checks.
“I have a ton of background in management,” Fennessy told the board during his interview. “I have kind of a collaborative management style. I make people feel respected and appreciated for what they do.”
The board conducted interviews with Fennessy and Ari Sky, a former Lakeville Town Administrator with extensive financial management experience. Both candidates emphasized their commitment to maintaining stability during the transition period while the town searches for a permanent administrator.
Fennessy’s career spans law enforcement, municipal administration, and legal practice. He began as a police officer with the MSPCA law enforcement division, working his way up to Deputy Chief before attending law school and establishing a private practice. He later became a professor at UMass Law School, teaching municipal law, animal law, and employment law.
His municipal experience includes serving as town administrator in Boylston, Kingston, and most recently Carver, where he worked as an Interim Administrator before accepting the permanent position. He also served six terms as a Selectman in Plainville.
“I look at managing, not managing people, but bringing them on board so they feel respected,” Fennessy explained. “Whether you work for a highway or, you know, being a custodian or a department head or a committee member, a board member, or even a volunteer. I mean, you’ve got to bring them to you and bring them into the fold, or else they’re going to be bucking you all the way.”
Board Chair Jonathan Selig noted that both candidates were strong choices with different strengths. Board member Thomas Pratt highlighted Fennessy’s varied background, including his police experience, legal training, and HR knowledge.
“I thought they were both strong with different strengths,” Pratt said during the board’s deliberation. “I think Bob was quite strong in his background in the police, police background, the legal background, the HR background, a lot of different hats.”
Fennessy emphasized his approach to interim positions differs from permanent roles. He focuses on supporting existing staff and maintaining operations rather than implementing major changes.
“I look at being an interim a lot differently than I look at being a permanent,” he said. “Interim, I want to make sure they know that I’m here to support the board and support the staff and make sure that they know that, that they can count on me to take care of things that come to my attention.”
The new interim administrator plans to begin by meeting with all department heads individually and conducting group meetings to understand current operations and needs. He stressed the importance of maintaining communication and ensuring no surprises for the board.
“The first thing I would do is get a lay of the land, you know, meet the staff here,” Fennessy said. “And a short time later I’d make sure we had a department head meeting to go through what is going on as a group.”
Fennessy stressed that he has experience with Massachusetts municipal law, open meeting law, and public records requirements.
“Having a legal mind that I have, I can read something and instantly meander through it and know what we have to do,” he said. “You’re not having a Town Administrator who has to call legal counsel all the time.”
The interim administrator expressed familiarity with the Halifax area, having worked with several MSPCA officers who lived in town during his law enforcement career. He and his wife recently visited Halifax to familiarize themselves with the community.
Fennessy indicated his availability extends through the duration of the search process, with one planned vacation to the Greek Islands in September. He proposed working 28 to 38 hours per week across four days, taking advantage of the town’s Friday closure.
Current Town Administrator Cody Haddad, whose last day is July 8, praised the positive changes in town culture over the past two and a half years and offered to assist with the transition.
“If you look at where the town was two and a half years ago to where it is now, it’s not close to the same period,” Haddad said. “The culture has totally changed. All positive.”
The board plans to enter executive session to discuss contract negotiations with Fennessy. Board members expressed confidence in both candidates but ultimately felt Fennessy’s well-rounded experience and familiarity with the region made him the best fit for the interim role.
Selig noted the stark improvement in candidate quality compared to the town’s previous administrator search three years ago, calling it “a breath of fresh air” and crediting Halifax’s improved reputation for attracting quality candidates.
The appointment comes as Halifax faces various municipal challenges, including potential budget pressures and ongoing development issues. Fennessy’s experience with budget processes and municipal operations positions him to help guide the town through the transition period while maintaining stability for residents and staff.
Who let the dogs out?
The Halifax Town Green was the location of Generations annual Fur Festival held on a very hot Saturday, June 21. Well behaved vaccinated dogs in all sizes competed for titles such as cutest, best dressed, smallest, and largest. This family friendly event also featured a K9 demonstration, comfort dogs from the Plymouth County Comfort Dog Program, and students and their leaders in the 4-H Dog and Sheep program. Local vendors were set-up around the Town Green and hot dogs were served by Generations.
Plympton honors Evan Ellis with Candlelight Vigil
A candlelight vigil was held on Friday, June 27, at Dennett Elementary School to honor Plympton resident, Evan Zachary Ellis, who tragically passed away on Monday, June 23, in a motorcycle accident. Principal Peter Veneto oversaw the vigil that was organized by Avery Curran. Family, friends, classmates, and community members brought candles, photos, and flowers to celebrate Evan’s memory. Evan attended Dennett Elementary from K-6th grade, Silver Lake Regional Middle School, and graduated from Silver Lake Regional High School in 2024. Evan will be missed by many and we at the Express share our deepest condolences to his family and friends. Local grief counselors are offering their services for those in need of guidance at this time.
Plympton Residents Encouraged to Attend Public Hearings for Ricketts Pond Estates 40B Project
On July 29 at 6:30 p.m. at the Plympton Town Hall in the Deborah Sampson Room, a hearing will take place on the Ricketts Pond Estates 40B Project proposed by Peter Opachinski of SLT Construction Cooperation. SLT Construction is proposing to develop a parcel of land near Route 44 in an area zoned as General Industrial. The site is accessed through Carver via Ricketts Pond Drive -a private road that SLT built to access the small industrial park that abuts their proposed development.
SLT says it intends to develop Ricketts Pond Estates which will include 30, two family condominiums containing 2-3 bedroom units and that 25% of the units will be designated affordable housing. SLT Construction also claims they will provide private wells and septic systems for all 60 homes on their 23 acres of land under the 40B application which overrides many of Plympton’s by-laws.
This project requires multiple facets of review and consideration including a traffic study, environmental impact implications, and a myriad of other points that various public service entities have written letters of concern and inquiry about in going forward with this project and its impacts on Plympton.
Previous hearings for the Ricketts Pond Estates 40B Project have taken place on May 28th and June 26th of 2025 with very little residential attendance or awareness for a project that would increase the town population by 5-7%. The Plympton ZBA must make a decision on the project within 180 days of the first hearing per state law.
SLT Construction earlier proposed an asphalt crushing site on the same parcel of land but this use for the land was turned down by Plympton. Residents of Plympton are encouraged to visit the town website for all public data, letters, and information about the 40B Project and attend the forthcoming public hearings -all which are listed in the newspaper community calendar and the town website. www.town.plympton.ma.us
Local volunteers honored at appreciation luncheon
Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), the largest provider of in-home and community-based services for older adults and people living with disabilities in Southeastern Massachusetts, honored volunteers at a special luncheon and awards ceremony held at Indian Pond Country Club in Kingston, MA. A total of 130 attendees attended the appreciation luncheon.
“It is through the unwavering support of all of our volunteers that many OCES programs and Community Service Partner programs are better able to assist those in need,” said Armindo Rocha, OCES’ Volunteer Programs Manager. “We recognize and thank all of our generous volunteers for their tremendous dedication to helping others and our communities.”
Armindo Rocha and Cidalia America, OCES’ Volunteer Coordinator, hosted the appreciation luncheon and presented awards. OCES presented the Make a Difference Award to 12 outstanding volunteers in recognition of their dedication to helping others and making a meaningful impact in the community: Tom Adduci, Bridgewater Meals On Wheels (MOW) volunteer; Ellen Lash, Ellen Jacobs and John Durnan volunteers for OCES’ Money Management Program (MMP) in Brockton; Mike Pauley and Sandra Ivers, Brockton MOW volunteers; Beth Kelley and Bob Kelley, Duxbury MOW volunteers; Rita Pope, Easton MOW volunteer; Donna Blaschke, Middleboro MOW volunteer; John Melchin, Pembroke MOW volunteer; and Edward Sore, Plymouth MOW volunteer.
OCES had the pleasure of having Mark Grossman give a brief statement on behalf of Abbott Care, the premiere sponsor.
Volunteering for OCES:
With the help of more than 550 Nutrition Program volunteers, OCES serves 2,600 meals every weekday as part of its MOW services. MMP volunteers, assist older adults and individuals with disabilities with bill paying, reconciling bank statements, balancing checkbooks, and in special cases negotiating debt with creditors. Volunteers also serve on the OCES Board of Directors, participate in the MMP Advisory Board, and contribute to many other important efforts.
OCES’ is proud to have a Volunteer Center in Plymouth which serves as a central resource for volunteers and service partners offering volunteer opportunities in Plymouth County. Prospective volunteers can talk one-on-one with volunteer program staff who can assist them in their search for volunteering opportunities that fit their skills and interests. The Volunteer Center is equipped with computers for researching volunteer opportunities as well as brochures and other literature from organizations seeking volunteers. To learn more about volunteer opportunities, visit https://ocesma.org/get-involved/volunteer-opportunities
OCES is recognized as one of the 2023 and 2024 Best Places to Work by Cape & Plymouth Business Marketing. OCES has been certified as a woman non-profit organization (W/NPO) by the Supplier Diversity Office (SDO).
For more than 50 years, OCES has been a private, nonprofit organization with locations in Brockton and Plymouth. OCES is designated as one of 27 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) and Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and proudly serves Plymouth County and surrounding communities.
Through the talent of an experienced and diverse workforce, OCES supports the independence and dignity of older adults and individuals with disabilities by providing essential information and services that promote healthy, safe living which positively impacts our community. The agency offers several programs to serve older adults, individuals with disabilities, their families, and caregivers.
For more information call 508-584-1561 or visit ocesma.org
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