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You are here: Home / Archives for News

Downward facing… goat?

July 5, 2019 By Stephanie Spyropoulos

HANSON — Early morning the sun shone on 25 yogis of varied skill levels that stretched on their mats Saturday, June 22.

Amid them were three very spunky, friendly goats nicknamed the ‘Golden Girls,’ after the TV comedy — Dorothy and Blanche, both miniature Nubians and Rose a Nigerian dwarf goat.

Red Horse Farm is a serene space set slightly back off 300 High St., in Hanson.

Each weekend they host Goat Yoga —just as it sounds, the yoga class is with goats. If you love getting an intense stretch and possibly a nose kiss from a curious, furry face you may have found your niche.

Nicole Riley owner and trainer of Red Horse Farm works with the goats as local yoga instructor Kristina Northrup teaches the class.

“The interest has been amazing! We thought we’d get a few people who’d want to attend, but we’re packed every weekend! And it’s not just Hanson; we’ve had people drive all the way down from Boston to attend… which blows me away,” said Riley.
The  goats are trained to participate with the group and introduce  slight, weight-bearing additions during several poses. Riley is inside the fenced area and entices the goats with food pellets. 

“Kristina Northrup, our yoga instructor, has done such a great job,” Riley said. “We needed to train the goats prior to launching the class in May and she’s just been game from the very start! She has such a great way about teaching and we’re lucky to have her.”

A mix of genders and ages attended the Goat Yoga class.

Nick Collazo of Taunton who was adept at yoga and fitness was in a full downward facing dog and held his pose as if he barely noticed the two Nigerian dwarf goats that gently danced on his back.  Eventually he lowered himself laughing with the people around him who also took a moment to snap some cell phone pictures.

Quite possibly the goats offer a balanced enlightenment to the perfection some impose on themselves during yoga.  The audible laughter and amusement blended well in the breezy, summer air.

Nicole and her husband Paul also shared their love of the outdoors and a fairytale wedding on the property when they married in 2015.  They purchased the property in 2014 and are close to completing their renovations on the homestead, which was built in the 1800’s.

Their friends who own Hobby Knoll Stables in Duxbury brought their wedding party down High Street in a horse drawn carriage with neighbors looking on in delight.

The bride called her wedding day “magical.”

The farm also hosts a hands-on program called Little Farmers Morning for children. They learn about the goats, chickens, and horses.  It is geared towards children ages 5 to 11, with hands-on learning of horsemanship skills, goat and chicken care, egg collection with an arts and craft project or storybook.

One of her favorite parts is watching the faces of the little ones light up.

“It is the best feeling,” she said.

The RHF is primarily a boarding farm but they wanted to add things that people could enjoy in the outdoor atmosphere.

“I think its fun for those not accustomed to being around horses to hear them neigh during class or see the chickens from the yoga ring’” Riley said. “The goats, ‘The Golden Girls,’ are a riot — each with their own hilarious personality. And there’s as much laughter during class as exercise!”

RHF also offers riding lessons, and farm fresh eggs.

They are located on three acres of land, which abuts conservation land with riding trails.

There’s just something about this little farm and it’s peaceful feeling …being in the fresh air with animals is good for the soul and we hope people enjoy visiting, she said.

Upcoming events and classes, which run through October along with sign ups, are located on their website.  RedhorseFarmHanson.com.

Filed Under: More News Left, News

Will misses court arraignment

June 28, 2019 By Abram Neal, Express Correspondent

BROCKTON — A third attempt to arraign former roofer Matthew Will, 37, of Pembroke, who formerly owned Five Star Discount Roofing in Halifax, on 18 fraud and larceny related charges failed Monday, June 25, 2019, because he was not medically cleared for transport to Plymouth Superior Court, Brockton, by state prison officials, according to a source close to the investigation.

Will, who was in the custody of the Plymouth County Sherriff’s department, was quickly transported to a state facility, the Lemuel Shattuck Hospital in Jamaica Plain, that has a state Department of Corrections-run prison ward, following police and Sherriff’s Department serving a search warrant on Will’s Furnace Colony Drive, Pembroke, rental home.

During the course of the execution of the search warrant, Will was found to be hiding in his attic and dogs were used to extricate him from the attic. According to a source close to the investigation, he is recuperating from injuries sustained from the dogs, which the source says he wrestled with and eventually fell through a ceiling from his attic into his living room.

Will had been on a lengthy run from the law, following skipping a Falmouth District Court date, two separate high speed chases in central Massachusetts, one leading into Rhode Island, then being released on personal recognizance by a district court judge who had not been made aware of Will’s history by prosecutors — and fleeing again.

He has been in the hospital almost continuously since his arrest Thursday, May 9, except for one hearing where his court appointed attorney, Charlotte Tilden argued unsuccessfully for his release in Wareham District Court. He was returned to Shattuck Hospital, and remains there as of press time.

Will has been indicted on the charges.

A Plymouth County grand jury returned the indictments against Will charging him with one count each of larceny of property over $1,200 by single scheme, state building code violations, employer failing to have workers’ compensation, money laundering and being a common and notorious thief. Will was also indicted on seven counts of home improvement contracting violations and three counts each of forgery and uttering.

Prosecutors say Will targeted some more than 50 mostly elderly homeowners, beginning in July 2018 at Oak Point, a 55-plus community in Middleboro, when at least 15 individuals began reporting that Will had defrauded them out of funds ranging from $800 to $12,000 by starting contracting work and not completing it, or simply taking the funds and absconding.

Will has multiple cases in courts in Falmouth, Plymouth and Wareham District Courts and he has 50 or more victims across the state.

The alleged victims have lost at least an estimated $250,000 in total and have been found so far in Kingston, Duxbury, Brockton, Plympton, Wareham, North Easton, Hanson, Falmouth and Pembroke in addition to Middleboro.

Filed Under: Featured Story, News

Free July 4th concert at Plymouth Waterfront

June 28, 2019 By Deborah Anderson, Express Staff

PLYMOUTH, MA — The Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra kicks off its 104th season in grand style, performing The Esther and Alcide Ruffini Fourth of July Concert, a free-to-the-public Independence Day celebration.  Steven Karidoyanes conducts.

The Phil’s July 4th performance includes musical tributes observing two significant anniversaries.  The first is the 50th anniversary of mankind’s first steps onto the lunar surface. The orchestra performs the introductory music to Richard Strauss’ Thus Spake Zarathustra, more widely known as the main theme to Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, and an orchestral suite from the film score to Apollo 13 by James Horner.

The other musical tribute celebrates one of the most iconic fictional comic book characters in popular culture, Batman.  The Caped Crusader’s comic book debut was 80 years ago this year. For this tribute, the Phil performs music from The Dark Night Rises by Hans Zimmer, as well as music from the Batman film series of 30 years ago composed by Danny Elfman.

Additionally, performance highlights include Tchaikovsky’s exciting 1812 Overture, excerpts from the Declaration of Independence read by Town of Plymouth Select Board chairman Kenneth Tavares accompanied by a lush symphonic score, and A Salute to the Big Bands, a collection of Swing Band standards like April in Paris, Pennsylvania 6-5000, Serenade in Blue and Sing Sing Sing.

The concert takes place in historic Pilgrim Memorial State Park on the Plymouth Waterfront near the Plymouth Rock Portico, across from the natural amphitheater of Cole’s Hill.  The music starts at 7:30 PM on Thursday, July 4th (rain date: Friday, July 5th).

The Esther and Alcide Ruffini Fourth of July Concert is made possible through the generosity of The Ruffini Charitable Trust with additional support from The James Spooner Trust and the Town of Plymouth Promotions Fund. The 104th Season of the Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra is funded in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

The concert will be broadcast and streamed live on WATD, 95.9 FM and PACTV, Plymouth Area Community Access Television (Comcast channel 13 and Verizon Channel 43.)

Filed Under: More News Right, News

Halifax U16 Boys Soccer Team tops Coastal Soccer League

June 28, 2019 By Kristy Zamagni-Twomey, Express Correspondent

The Halifax-Carver under 16 boys team ended the spring season atop the Division II Coastal League standings with a record of 6-1-1. The first-place finish earned them a spot at the upcoming Massachusetts Tournament of Champions (MTOC) held this weekend at Progin Park in Lancaster, MA.

The team is made up of 19 players in the ninth and tenth grade with the majority of the team coming from Halifax. The Halifax residents on the roster include Joseph Boardman, Benjamin Coombe, Thomas Czarniak, Daniel Ford, Richard Greene, Jared Hall, Jake Lawless, Ryan McAndrews, Jake McKee, Scott McKee, Gabriel Pacheco, Simao Rebelo, Trevor Rossini, Nicholas Tereshko, Connor Willis, and Cole Wright. The three Carver players are Cameron Besegai, Ethan Best, and Brandon Weygand. The team is coached by Jim Coombe and his son, Bridgewater State College student Nate Coombe. Coombe, who has coached both of his sons, has been with some of the players on the team since they played U8. The Carver players play varsity at Carver Middle High School and several of the Halifax players play freshman and junior varsity soccer at Silver Lake.

As described on the Massachusetts Youth Soccer website, “The Massachusetts Tournament of Champions (MTOC) is a season-ending tournament that brings together age/gender group champions from participating town-based travel leagues from across the state.”

Thousands of coaches and players will attend and twelve teams will compete for top U16 boys Division II honors at MTOC. The top regular season team coming out of the Berkshire, BAYS, Coastal, Essex, MAYS, Middlesex, Nashoba, Pioneer Valley, South Coast, and South Shore leagues as well as two wild card teams will round out the competition.

The teams will be divided into three groups of four teams with the winner of each group as well as one wild card advancing to the next round. Each team is guaranteed three games. Halifax-Carver will play their first two games at 10am and 2:30pm Friday with their third game scheduled for sometime Saturday. At only 25 minutes per half, the games at MTOC are faster paced than those during the regular season.

Fellow Coastal League team Pembroke is also attending MTOC as a wild card pick. Halifax-Carver and Pembroke had a bit of a rivalry this season with Halifax-Carver’s only loss of the season occurring during the first meeting of the teams. The second face-off ended in a tie. Of the 13 goals Halifax-Carver gave up this season, more than half of those were to Pembroke. While Halifax-Carver and Pembroke will start the tournament in different groups, it is possible that they could meet again during the semi-final or final rounds.

In response to what made him the proudest of his team this year, Coach Jim Coombe said, “They play together. They’re good sportsmen; they don’t do a lot of pushing, they play aggressively but they play within the rules. They play their positions and they play them well and they work together as a team.” Coombe also highlighted the importance of their center midfielder. “The heart and soul of our team is Gabe Pacheco; he’s where the offence starts and where the defense ends,” Coombe explained. Pacheco, who rarely comes off the field for Halifax-Carver, was called up to the varsity team at Silver Lake this past fall during the state tournament.

Regarding strategy, the Halifax-Carver team plays a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-2-1-3 formation. Benjamin Coombe and Thomas Czarniak have provided solid defense from the center back positions this season.

The offense has also come through, keeping pressure on the other teams. As Coombe explains, “When we have all three guys up front who are very good players aggressively on the ball, that forces the other team to at least keep some of their better guys back so hopefully they can’t attack as much. It has worked so far.”

Time will tell if this strategy will work against the best of the best this weekend, but just being invited to attend the MTOC for the first time should give this team and the towns of Halifax and Carver plenty to smile about.

Filed Under: Breaking News, News

Halifax Fireworks Saturday, June 29

June 28, 2019 By Deborah Anderson, Express Staff

Celebrate Independence with Halifax Fireworks on Saturday night, June 29, at 9:15 p.m.  (rain date Sunday, June 30), at the Halifax Elementary School field.

Come join the party for an evening of family fun including kids’ face painting, music, food trucks and of course the annual Fireworks Display!

Bring your blanket or lawn chair-Food trucks to be announced

This event takes place thanks to the efforts of the Halifax  community.  The Fireworks Committee wants to thnk all of the local community members who have contributed their efforts to help make it happen.

The Halifax Fireworks is still in need of volunteers for the night-of the event and clean-up the following morning.

This is a perfect opportunity for students who need to fulfill their public service hours requirement for school to get those needed credits.

Please message the Halifax Fireworks Facebook Page to get involved!

Filed Under: More News Left, News

Halifax Fire Chief gets top nod from VFW

June 21, 2019 By Abram Neal, Express Correspondent

Halifax Fire Chief Jason Viveiros was awarded  the top prize for service to the community and to veterans by the Halifax Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6258, the VFW National Public Servant of the Year.

Post Commander David Walsh presented the award at a  ceremony held Tuesday morning at 10 at the Halifax Fire Station.

Viveiros was recognized for his service to veterans in the community, and for his all around service to the community.

Viveiros was also the top choice for the VFW National Firefighter Award, presented to him by Jeff Najarian, Massachusetts Veterans of Foreign Wars State Commander.

The award is a national recognition of the achievements of one firefighter each year. Viveiros won the state competition, selected from all winners in the category of firefighting. Najarian said it was an “honor” to recognize Viveiros.

All VFW posts in the United States were asked to submit their choice for the firefighter they felt best exemplified the qualities needed to be an outstanding firefighter.  From all put forth in Massachusetts, Chief Jason Vivieros was chosen for the top position.

Viveiros accepted the congratulations of area veterans, firefighters and family who were in attendance at the brief ceremony that occurred during a light mist under cloudy skies.

Filed Under: More News Left, News

Search for new Silver Lake ‘Super’

June 21, 2019 By Kristy Zamagni-Twomey, Express Correspondent

A joint meeting was held June 13 between Union 31 and the various Silver Lake school committees. The meeting began with a reorganization of the Silver Lake Regional School Committee. A unanimous vote named Jason Fraser and Eric Crone to continue to serve as chair and vice chair respectively of the Silver Lake Regional School Committee. The committee also voted to keep Paula Hatch as secretary as well as naming Michael Antoine assistant treasurer. Later in the meeting, Antoine was also named chair of Union 31.

Silver Lake Regional Middle School Principal James Dupille introduced science teacher Kathy Benash who heads up the science club and NASA project at the school as well as several of her students. Benash explained that through the NASA sponsored initiative, students were tasked with inventing something that would help society. Four groups of students presented their inventions to the committees. Among them were an epi-case, a phone case which would hold an EpiPen, as well as an astro sleeve, which would enable astronauts that cannot speak to communicate with other astronauts through an armband with built in speakers, screen, and keyboard.

Benash thanked the committee for their support and expressed how proud she was of her students.

Fraser addressed the students saying, “As a fellow science teacher, I just wanted to comment that each one of your designs and ideas are applicable today. As you were describing how they would improve lives of others,

I was already thinking of other ways they could be implemented into the workplace and into the marketplace. You guys all have marketable ideas right now standing in front of us today.” Fraser added, “I want to buy your products right now.”

Principal Dupille thanked Benash, who is retiring, saying, “It’s teachers like you, and we have some great teachers in these schools, that make all the difference, I think. The opportunities that these kids get at the middle school are a lot more than I did when I was growing up. So, thank you for everything that you’ve done and good luck with the next chapter in your life.”

Benash responded saying, “I am very happy as I retire that these kids are going to eventually take care of us. They’re amazing, amazing children.”

Superintendent search

Following the student presentations, the committees then turned their attention to the superintendent search. School committee member Laura Tilton put together a packet with data gathered thus far from the surveys that are open to Silver Lake students and faculty as well as residents of the three towns. Based on Tilton’s analysis of the data, financial management and curriculum development were of high importance to respondents.  Other items that were considered important included strong communication skills as well as understanding and recognizing good teaching.

Silver Lake has hired the Massachusetts Association of School Committees to aid in the search. Executive Director Glenn Koocher attended the meeting to go over and make edits to a mockup of the literature which would be distributed to potential candidates. The committee agreed to make changes to the mockup to better align with the issues constituents have pointed out as being of high importance to them. Committee member Leslie-Ann McGee suggested changing selection criteria to KSA’s or knowledge, skills, and abilities. The other major changes requested and agreed upon by the committees centered around the desire for a more aggressive timeline than the one suggested by Koocher.

Of concern was that a sitting superintendent might need to give anywhere from a one to three month notice at their current job. The committees were also eager to ensure that the incoming superintendent’s start date overlap with the final month of current superintendent Joy Blackwood’s tenure to allow for training. According to Koocher the only date that would be immutable would be the closing date for applications. Originally scheduled for September 22 the committee voted to move that date to September 16. Other notable dates include selecting the candidate by early November with a start date set for January 1.

Reorganization

After adjourning all but the Silver Lake Regional School Committee, the meeting continued with a reorganization of the various sub-committees. Tilton, McGee, and Gordon Andrews were named to a new sub-committee, calendar survey, that would brainstorm adjustments to the school calendar and would serve as informational only as no formal votes would take place until presented to the school committee in its entirety.

School start time discussion continues

Also discussed was the sub-committee school start times. Crone mentioned that in the last few months he has been contacted by three separate sets of parents about concerns over school start times. Crone said that based on a Facebook group focused on the issue, there appears to be just as many parents and students against the change as there are for it. While the existence of the sub-committee was deemed necessary, it is unlikely that it will even meet. Fraser explained, “This is more of a statement to acknowledge that there is research stating that our students at the middle school and the high school would benefit from a later start time though we don’t currently have the resources or the resolve to make that a reality here in the district.” Fraser continued, “This continues to be a topic of much discussion and there are several more schools this year that will be adjusting their start times so it is something that we should keep on the radar.”

Graduation

is a success

The success of the recent high school graduation was a source of laughs and good will during the meeting. Carl Pike of Kingston attended the meeting as a member of the public addressing the committee as follows, “I’d just like to take a quick minute to say that I was fortunate enough to attend both the high school awards ceremony and the high school graduation and I’d like to thank the school committee for the support and the leadership that they provide to our school systems. I thought that both of those occurrences were very well done and I think that a lot of times we hear people concerned about the funds that we spend on education; well there is two examples where we see what a great job we are doing and I for one, say thank you.”

Blackwood spoke fondly of the student tasked with introducing her at graduation. Graduating senior Joe Mirisola presented Blackwood with a diploma he designed for her to celebrate her time at Silver Lake.

Blackwood, who passed the diploma around, joked about how Mirisola had signed her diploma as he had given himself the authority.

Blackwood also told an anecdote about her decision to have herself and the teachers attending graduation sing a Jason Mraz song, Have it All, as a way of doing something special for the graduating class. Blackwood explained that she incorrectly assumed that the teachers’ microphones were turned on while, in fact, the only live microphone was the one she was singing into.

Laughing, Blackwood said, “I sang karaoke to over 1,000 people unintentionally but you have to have a sense of humor in life, right?”

Filed Under: Featured Story, News

Flag raised to honor a friend

June 21, 2019 By Abram Neal, Express Correspondent

PLYMPTON — Plympton Selectmen, firefighters, police, Boy Scouts and the community honored the memory of Diane Giordani, along with her German Shepherd, Blitz, in a ceremony Monday, June 17 in front of Town House. Giordani and her dog were killed in a violent head-on crash with a pickup truck, driven by a drunk driver on County Road, Route 106, a year ago, on May 10, 2018,

Brian F. and Elizabeth Hamlet, of Sheffield Park, donated an American flag to the town in Diane Giordani’s memory.  The Hamlets are neighbors of her widowed husband Michael Giordani and told the town they will replace the flag as necessary in perpetuity.

The last flag in front of the Town House was badly in need of replacement.

About two dozen people attended the flag-raising dedication and ceremony, including Michael Giordani, Diane’s sister Stephanie O’Leary along with her husband Brian. Other family members and friends were in the audience as well. Eagle Scout candidates landscaped around the flag pole prior to the ceremony and were seen saluting as the flag was raised.

Selectman Chairman Christine Joy opened the ceremony, and Fire Chief Stephen Silva dedicated the flag and spoke about Diane. Fire Chaplain Gary Blume offered the benediction.

“The ceremony was wonderful. It just shows you it doesn’t stop around here, the love for her, it just keeps coming. I didn’t know until hours before who had donated the flag. I’m surrounded by incredible people right now,” said Michael Giordani. “Things that used to be important are not … I try not to let things get to me. It’s all about Diane.”

“I try to do a good deed every day, [he volunteered] and it comes back tenfold, there’s an awful lot of love out there,” he added.

Michael Giordani reminisced about how Diane Giordani raised rabbits while she was young in the 4H club, and even won a national award with a breed of rabbit as an adult. For him, rabbits are a sign of his late wife.

Giordani enjoys hot rod shows and traveling to the Adirondacks to visit Lake George, where he visited with Diane, and described an experience while taking a recent trip there. “Out of the woods came a rabbit about 10 feet away from me, and it stayed and it stayed and wouldn’t move, and I lost it, so you never know where’s [the grief] is coming from.”

Justin Kilburn, 30, formerly of Links Way, Kingston, was found guilty of one count of Motor Vehicle Homicide by OUI, May 8, 2019, in Plymouth Superior Court at Plymouth nearly one year after causing the fatal collision.  He was sentenced to five to six years in prison by Judge Cornelius J. Moriarty, II.

Kilburn had a blood alcohol content level of 0.17%, more than twice the legal limit, when he caused the collision, said the district attorney’s office, and this was not his first alcohol-related driving offense according to records.

Kilburn is currently incarcerated at MCI-Cedar Junction in Walpole.

“He got five or six years, but we got a life sentence … you have to move forward, I guess,” said Michael Giordani.

Filed Under: Breaking News, News

Silver Lake boys lax players receive all-league honors

June 21, 2019 By Thomas Joyce

Each and every season, a number of Silver Lake High varsity athletes shine in their respective sports. For the boys’ lacrosse team this spring, it was no different.

The team has made it to the playoffs in three straight seasons and this time around, they finished the year at 15-5 after falling in overtime to Natick in the first round of the MIAA Division 1 South boys’ tournament. Even so, the team had a number of standout performers who received all-league honors. That said, here is a look at the boys’ lacrosse athletes who received honors within the Patriot League.

Sean Daly — This season marked the third and final time Daly received the honor of being named a Patriot League All-Star. A go-to scorer for the team over the past four seasons, Daly netted well over 200 goals during his Lakers career. Daly was the only senior to get the nod this spring. He is committed to play lacrosse in college for the Division II Franklin Pierce Ravens.

Mikey Masterpolo — This marks the second time the junior goalkeeper has earned recognition as a Patriot League All-Star; this time around, he and the Lakers stout defense surrendered just 6.85 goals per game.

Matt Dole — A repeat Patriot League All-Star, the junior faceoff man and midfielder helped the team gain possession and was a contributor on the attack.

Drew Nugent — A first time Patriot League All-Star, the attackman played a crucial role in the team averaging 13.4 goals per game this past season.

Senior captains Dave Marani, a defenseman, and Brendan Dean, who played on the attack, both received recognition as well; Marani was the team’s scholar athlete while Dean received the sportsmanship award.

With three Patriot League All-Stars set to return next season, surely the Lakers are in a position where they can enjoy success yet again in 2020.

Filed Under: More News Right, News

Dog charged in multiple assaults

June 14, 2019 By Abram Neal, Express Correspondent

HALIFAX — The Halifax Board of Selectmen met Tuesday, June 11, and held a highly unusual dog hearing, participated in a promotion ceremony for the Halifax Fire Department, and heard a proposal from a young man working to earn his Eagle Scout badge. The meeting was long, and the board was running behind schedule throughout the night, as new member Gordon Andrews learned the ropes at this, his second meeting, and Chairman Troy Garron, who is generally soft-spoken, began to assert himself as the board’s leader.

Dog will be euthanized if she returns to Halifax

Selectmen voted unanimously Tuesday night to order Gia, a German Shepherd, euthanized should she ever return to within the borders of Halifax.  Gia’s owner, Richard LeBlanc, is staying with his parents at the Twin Lakes Drive condominium complex.

The board heard from a number of witnesses including Animal Control Officer Noreen Callahan and Animal Inspector Brian King, before hearing an emotional, dramatic, long and uncomfortable plea from LeBlanc, who begged the board not to order his dog euthanized should it return to town.   LeBlanc told the board the dog is now with its original breeder in New Hampshire.

LeBlanc cited many personal problems including a sick parent and child as well as a divorce as explanations for the, at least three, dog bite incidents with his Gia. A Twin Lakes Drive neighbor says there are other, unreported incidents, as well.

Selectman Chairman Troy Garron, who let LeBlanc continue on despite warnings to stick to the point, appeared annoyed with him as did the rest of the board. LeBlanc’s attempts to convince the board not to order his dog euthanized should it return to Halifax did not apparently win him sympathy from the board.

The most recent incident with Gia occurred May 18, when Halifax Police and Fire responded to 360 Twin Lakes Drive for a report of a dog bite. The alleged victims were Beth Jenness and her dog, Clarence, a 7-year-old Austrian Kelpie.

“Jenness had a cut on her top lip, and her dog, Clarence, had visible marks on its right thigh,” according to a police report by Officer Michael Boncariewski.

A previous alleged attack by LeBlanc’s dog occurred Dec. 25, 2018. Barbara Sheehan, of Twin Lakes Drive, described walking her dog Bella on a cold and windy Christmas Day.

LeBlanc’s German Shepherd came from her left, she says, and attacked her and her dog while she was screaming for help.

Sheehan alleges that LeBlanc grabbed her arm, begging her not to report the dog, which has been banned from Twin Lakes.

She says she spent about $500 in veterinarian bills, for which LeBlanc reimbursed her.

“I was a little disappointed in how the Selectmen ran the hearing,” Sheehan said. LeBlanc spoke at length, she added, while she did not have much time to address the board.

“I am ultimately satisfied with the result,” she said.

LeBlanc, who was in tears on the way out of the hearing, vowed to appeal the decision to the courts, which is his right.

Fire promotions

Halifax Fire Chief Jason Viveiros was proud to announce the appointments, promotions and one 40-years-of-service award and pin to members of his department in front of Selectmen and family, friends and former firefighters. The Great Hall of Town Hall was filled as Viveiros spoke and Town Clerk Barbara Gaynor swore the first-responders into their new positions.

Thanking the audience, Viverios said, “Being a firefighter requires hard work, dedication and countless hours spent away from your family, training and responding to incidents. Our work requires us to leave at a moment’s notice and almost always at the most inopportune times. No firefighter would be successful in this career without the support and encouragement of their family and friends.”

He began by announcing the newest group of call firefighters to fill the ranks of the department, Jeff Arcieri, Andrew Jerome and Joseph Varraso, who were present for the ceremony and sworn-in by Gaynor, and Anthony Hardy and Quinland Murdock who were not present.

Of the three female members of the fire department, two were promoted from call firefighter to the rank of full-time firefighter, Bridget Ricciarelli and Abby Dubrawski.

“Both of these firefighters have been tremendous assets to our organization, they have earned their spot. They have worked extremely hard over the past several years completing their paramedic program while also filling shifts and always being there when we need them,” said Viveiros.

Peter Hogan, who has served the department since he was a cadet in High School, was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.

“Becoming a Lieutenant is the biggest transition any firefighter will experience in their career. You are tasked with the safety of the residents in our community, but equally important, you now become responsible for the safety of the firefighters assigned to you,” said Viveiros. “While he has only been in the position a short time, Lieutenant Hogan has clearly demonstrated his ability to lead and set an excellent example for others to follow.”

Finally, Captain Donald Crowell, who is retiring, received his 40-years-of-service award and pin from the Massachusetts Fire Service Commission.

“While I can’t imagine the changes he has seen in our department over the years, I can say for certain that he was a big part of making it the great organization it is today,” said Viveiros.

“You sure that’s me?” joked Crowell to laughter from the crowd.

The Fire Department enjoyed cake as the Selectmen returned to their regularly scheduled meeting.

Eagle Scout project

Jacob Oliveira is pursuing his Eagle Scout badge and asked Selectmen for permission to put a hand-built wooden donation chest for care packages for soldiers in Town Hall. He plans to build the chest with the help of his fellow Boy Scouts and scout masters.

The chest will have three separate compartments, one for nonperishable items, one for “cultural” items like books and CDs, and one for toiletries. Oliveira and the Boy Scouts will monitor the chest for donations and will send the contents as care packages to soldiers deployed abroad, he said to the board.

Selectman Gordon Andrews asked if Oliveira would be using social media to raise awareness of his project, and he responded that he is planning to.

The major question that the board had concerned the location of the chest, with Garron questioning having enough space and appropriate visibility, but Oliveira noted the chest was on wheels and could be moved.

It is tentatively going to be placed across from the Veterans’ Agent’s office in Town Hall. The board thanked Oliveira and Selectman Tom Millias complemented him on his presentation.

• The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Halifax Board of Selectmen will be Tuesday, June 25, at 7:30 p.m. in the Selectmen’s Meeting Room of Town Hall.

Filed Under: Featured Story, News

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Stephani Teran Express staff On Friday evening, May 30, Silver Lake Regional High School held … [Read More...]

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  • Healey- Driscoll administration declares “Growing Wild ” program for Massachusetts
  • Kingston explores creating Public Works Dept.
  • A New Chapter Begins
  • Pecoraro honored with Alden Kindred “Speak for Thyself” award
  • New leadership on Plympton’s BOS
  • Curry College welcomes Melanie Martin-Plant into the Alexander Graham Bell Honor Society
  • Holmes librarian honored on her retirement
  • SLRSD Industry Showcase on May 9
  • New Selectmen in – Plympton override out
  • Halifax Town Meeting action …

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