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Plympton Fire Dept. lines get crossed

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PLYMPTON– Although it never affected Plympton’s 911 service, handled by the Regional Old Colony Communications Center in Duxbury, last Saturday’s torrential downpours apparently knocked out the business line of the Plympton Fire Department.

It is still not working as of press time.

Captain John Sjostedt has taken to Facebook to communicate with the public. According to him, 911, which should be used for emergencies, and 781-585-0783, a direct line to the fire station which can also be used for emergencies, are both in working order.

The business line for the ROCCC in Duxbury also works.

But the business line for the PFD, 781-585-2633, rings twice and then goes to an error message stating that the number is out of service.

Capt. Sjostedt, reached via email, said, at first that this was a technical problem at the ROCCC.

The director of the ROCCC, Michael Mahoney, said that it was a problem in Plympton.

“We are more than capable of handling any emergency calls at our center,” said Mahoney. “I believe it is an internal problem [at Plympton] and they have technicians on it.”

Town Administrator Elizabeth Dennehy said Monday night that Verizon, the town’s telephone provider, is looking into the issue.

The Express contacted Verizon for comment, and Verizon stated they would look into the issue.

But after contacting Verizon, Sjostedt followed up and stated that he didn’t believe that this was a Verizon problem at all.

“It is actually not a Verizon issue,” he said. “That’s part of the hang up. There is another service involved and I’m having difficulty figuring out who the other involved company is.”

Internet searches reveal the number to come back to the PFD, but do not report which phone carrier issued the number.

Always call 911 in an emergency, officials say.

STM kills senior center redo

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HALIFAX – Article 1 of the Halifax Special Town Meeting asked residents to allow the town to borrow an additional $1.5 million for repairs, renovations, and an expansion of Pope’s Tavern, the Halifax Senior Center.

These additional costs failed to gain two-thirds of the necessary town meeting support, so the article failed. There were strong opinions on both sides.

Linda Laskey, who has lived in Halifax for 42 years said, “We have a ramp but that’s not enough. I can’t even open the door myself.”

She said most handicapped buildings have a door that will open for them. She can’t do quilting upstairs because she can’t climb stairs.

Resident Amy Troupe wanted to know why the architect didn’t make the project within the budget and why did we not tell him to stay in budget.

Roy explained that there’s a bidding process in place and that is limited by the laws of the state when it comes to public building projects.

Another concerned resident asked for an Australian ballot, a written ballot rather than a standing vote or a voice vote due to the sensitivity of the issue. This was not granted.

The entire project was originally estimated at $1.7 million. According to Selectmen Chair Kim Roy, the architect said that amount would work. He completed construction drawings and then ran estimates on the drawings.

Estimated costs increased so much that the Board was shocked.  There was an option to cut, but the project according to the Board of Selectmen was supposed to be drafted in a conservative way. According to Roy, to spend $2 million and still have a senior center with poor roofing, electrical issues, etc. doesn’t make sense.

Selectmen said they were told by the architect that the reason for the drastic price increase was the economic conditions. Selectman Thomas Millias said the materials went up in cost about 25 to 30 percent in the last five months.

He anticipates those costs going up. “Today is the least expensive this project is going to cost us,” Millias said.

Because the project involved borrowing money it required a two-thirds vote instead of a majority. The two-thirds failed on standing vote getting 103 of the 127 required votes.

Raise for Fire Chief Approved

Article 9 asked to raise Fire Chief Jason Viveiros salary from $110,000 to $119,000.  There is also a scheduled raise to $125,000 in fiscal year 2020. The article was approved by majority on a vote of 144-47.

Despite the large majority, there was a lot of heated procedural debate prior to the vote. Because seven people moved for a motion on an Australian-style secret ballot, a vote on whether or not to have a secret written ballot needed to occur before voting for the fire chief’s raise.

The Australian ballot was defeated with 65 people voting for it and 136 voting against it.

According to Roy, giving Viveiros a raise is an investment in the town. She said Viveiros improved response times by more than a minute without increasing taxes for residents. Roy added that Viveiros is an excellent grant writer and said the town has received more fire department related grants than before he was fire chief.

According to Roy, Viveiros is currently the lowest paid Fire Chief in Plymouth County. One resident said, “We can’t compare ourselves to certain towns in Plymouth County…The chief knew that when he came in.”

Speaking as a resident and university professor, Finance Committee Chair Melinda Tarsi gave her support to Viveiros. She said, “I don’t recommend my students intern with anyone, but I recommend many of my best students to him.”

Raise for Town Administrator  Passed Over

Article 10, which would have raised Town Administrator Charles Seelig’s salary from $95,434 to $110,000 was passed over with a two-thirds vote.

This raise would not raise Seelig to the average of the ten towns Halifax uses as benchmarks, but would bring him closer to the average of $125,360.

There was once again, heated debate on both sides of the issue. Roy spent a significant amount of time praising Seelig for his 22 years as town administrator.

“Charlie Seelig has become the heart of this community, but I should really say he’s the brain,” Roy said.

Roy added that Seelig needs to be an expert on a “vast” number of things. She said he has an unprecedented knowledge on town laws, grants, and countless other things. “Charlie does all of this in a humble and kind demeanor,” Roy said.

School Committee member and Former Finance Committee Member Gordon Andrews said that this vote is about more than adjusting an amount.

“It’s not about adjusting the amount, it’s about doing it mid-year when not looking at the budget…I think it’s wrong,” Andrews said.

Resident Marie Coady wanted this passed over as well because a Wage and Personnel study will be completed in the spring in time for Annual Town Meeting.

Troupe who was against the raise said, “I think that there needs to be a balance in the town.” She wanted a secret vote to protect identities because she’s afraid of people being ridiculed.

She said, “There’s budgets in every single household…We aren’t getting raises, we’re working doubles seven days a week…I haven’t had a vacation in 4 years.”

Roy said she respects people who may not be able to afford this, but said we are volunteers as well and we don’t benefit by raising taxes.

“If Charlie Seelig ever left, we’d be looking for someone qualified and we’d want to be competitive,” Roy said.

Town-wide Speed Limits Fail

Article 8 would have petitioned general courts to allow Halifax to set a 30 miles-per-hour town-wide speed limit. There would be areas with higher speed limits, but if approved, anything not marked would be 30 miles-per-hour.

“I understand some people might think this is overly restrictive,” Seelig said. However, Seelig said he sees a lot of complaints about speed on Facebook.

According to Seelig, without commissioning a study that automatically sets an area’s speed limit at the 85th fastest out of 100, the only thing allowed is a town-wide speed limit.

Article 8 failed by majority.

Regional Dispatch Center Will Continue After Appropriation

Article 3 was for the appropriation of $20,000 to go towards paying for the regional emergency dispatch service at the Regional Old Colony Communications Center in Duxbury.

Previously, that $20,000 was paid for with a grant, but the grant was a startup grant for regional services, so Halifax no longer qualifies. Roy said the Board of Selectmen didn’t find out about the grant’s expiration until after Annual Town Meeting otherwise, it would have been brought forward as a warrant article then.

Some residents wanted to know if the dispatch service could be brought back to town questioning the speed in which calls are answered. Roy and Viveiros said this was the first they’ve heard of these issues and urged those with concerns to talk about them.

Viveiros said response times have improved. He added the dispatchers are talking to people longer because R.O.C.C. has the resources to do that. “We didn’t have the resources to handle that effectively,” Viveiros said.

Article 3 passed unanimously.

Do We Have a Quorum?

Article 11 was a vote to increase fees in the schedule for the Department of Weights and Measures. Selectman Troy Garron voiced his support. He said, “it’s revenue going back to the town.

The vote passed by majority, but not without procedural interference first.  This vote occurred directly after the vote for the senior center renovations failed, so many people left. One resident questioned if the meeting still had a quorum. After a count to check, it was confirmed the meeting still had a quorum of at least 100 people.

Other Articles

• Article 6 was approved unanimously. It asked for a transfer of available funds, $202.90 from the Commonwealth Transportation Infrastructure Fund. Roy said doing so authorizes the town to collect its portion of fees from services like Uber.

•Article 12 asked for a transfer of $4,750 from Water Department revenues to repair the HVAC unit at the recycling center and the heating unit in the water department section of the town barn. The article passed by majority.

•Article 4 was passed over unanimously. It asked for the appropriation of funds to relocate the computer room in the Town Hall from the first floor to the basement.

•Article 2 passed by majority. The article appropriates an additional $27,000 to outsource ambulance billing. According to Viveiros, outsourcing will increase revenue for the fire department.

•Residents voted unanimously to pass over Article 7. The article would have raised and appropriated funds to replace the “rules sign” at Wheels Park.

•Article 5 asked for a stabilization fund transfer of $35,000 to pay for a new handicapped access ramp at the Town Hall. Selectman Thomas Millias said there was an incident where the rail failed. After speaking with the building inspector, he said this might be able to be put off until next year, but there would be a liability risk if something were to happen. Article 5 passed with the required two-thirds vote.

SL boys’ hockey represented HNIB All-Star game

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It’s fair to say the Silver Lake High boys’ hockey team has had quite a bit of talent over the past couple of seasons and late last month, there was more proof of this.

That’s because one Laker, incoming junior Nick Solari, competed in the annual Hockey Night in Boston All-Star game; he earned his spot in the competition because he performed well in their 44th annual Boys Major Summer Hockey Showcase which was held from July 25 to July 29 at the Haverhill Valley Forum in Haverhill.

Solari competed with the North All-Stars against the South All-Stars and alongside players from all around New England, the Northeast and even Canada. However, Solari was the only Patriot League player and hockey player from the South Shore to earn the nod for All-Star game.

Last winter, Solari was also certainly a valuable members of the Lakers hockey program as they earned their second straight postseason appearance in the MIAA Division 3 South Sectional bracket. Putting up 14 points (7 goals, 7 assists) as a sophomore, he was a key piece of the team’s young attack, an area which should be one of the team’s strong suits this upcoming season. After all, the team is expected to return three double-digit goal scorers from last season: David Marani (16 goals, 13 assists), Alex Heffernan (13 goals, 15 assists), and Kevin Cardarelli (16 goals, 16 assists), so offensive depth will be strong.

The Lakers went 8-12-4 last season, but earned their second straight tournament appearance thanks to the Sullivan Rule. It is also worth noting that outside of Patriot League play, they went 6-4-1, meaning they competed especially well against teams in their own division.

The Lakers hockey schedule for this upcoming winter has yet to be announced, but their regular season typically begins in the second full week of December.

Stung by honey of a hobby

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WHITMAN — By his own admission, Richard Rosen may not be the best or the smartest beekeeper, but he is becoming the face of backyard beekeeping for people tuning into their local cable access stations from coast to coast as he learns more about it.

He has already inspired the 5-year-old daughter of Whitman-Hanson Community Access TV Executive Director Eric Dresser, who was captivated by seeing a guy in a bee suit.

Rosen has been fascinated by bees, and the idea of running his own hives, for a long time — and while the real estate developer knew honey production was no money-maker, he also knew it was important to try to save them.

“It’s fascinating is what it is,” he said of the life cycle of bees and their honey production. “It was something that I had thought about for years. I thought, kind of from the fringe, that it was pretty interesting.”

He has turned that fascination into a sideline at McGuiggan’s Pub, selling jarred honey, and now working on a drinks menu on which listed beverages will include his honey as an ingredient.

Rosen has also become something of a celebrity through the syndication of his cable access series “The Buzz Around Bees,” which is now seen in programming markets in 14 states, including California and New York. It is the first show WHCA-TV has ever syndicated.

Rosen has already experienced some face-to-face feedback from fans. While attending the Aug. 8 Whitman Police Night Out Against Crime, he said a person stepped up to talk to him about the show.

“There was passion in the person who was talking to me about what they learned from what we showed them,” Rosen said. “I think that’s really cool and it’s surprising how many people do say something to me that have seen the show. … It’s rewarding when people say things to you about what they have seen on the show.”

WHCA’s Access Operations Coordinator Kevin Tocci, who shares Rosen’s interest in bees, approached him about doing the show.

“The idea of what we do here is, if you see somebody who has a unique hobby —whether it’s bees, or gardening, painting, whatever it may be — to expand upon it,” Tocci said. “We’ve been successful here at getting people to take their hobby and make it into a TV program.”

Tocci noted that Rosen had done various other programs for WHCA over the years and is comfortable in front of the camera.

“When he told me he was getting bees I thought that would be a fantastic show,” Tocci said. “And we experienced some very interesting things … we not only experience that the hive had minted a new queen, we got to experience the marking process and [to] understand that.”

Going in, Rosen thought Tocci was talking about a single program. It’s now in its second season, with Rosen shifting attention from his own hives to those of other area beekeepers.

The show’s six-episode first season was an eventful one.

Rosen and his wife Kathy demonstrated introducing bees to the hive, how a new queen had been created in one hive, and how another was “robbed” of its honey by other bees.

“It’s difficult for me to explain just how crazy it is,” he said of the life of honeybees. “But the whole life of a honeybee — how they’re born and when they’re born, how long they live and what they do — it’s pretty fascinating.”

“The Buzz Around Bees” also seems to bridge different ages, Tocci said, as Dresser noted his daughter was intrigued when Tocci posted a photo on Instagram of himself wearing a beekeepers’ outfit for videotaping.

“What’s he wearing?” Dresser said his daughter asked. “I brought up Episode 1 and I showed her ‘The Buzz Around Bees’ and I had never seen her captivated by anything that’s not cartoons until that moment.”

But long before the TV show was even a suggestion, came the development of Rosen’s hobby beginning with learning more about honeybees.

“I started researching it and I read two books and watched a two-hour-and-20-minute DVD, and I still didn’t have any idea what I was doing when I was done,” he said.

Rosen also knew a couple beekeepers, whose experiences fueled his interest. One of those friends, who lives in Duxbury, finally inspired him to buy a couple hives and give beekeeping a try.

His Danecca Drive backyard now hosts seven hives as he has added to his apiary each year.

He stressed that he is still learning about bees himself — taking the eight-week bee school program offered by the Plymouth County Beekeepers’ Association three times so far.

“I’ve said this many times on the show, they have forgotten more about bees than I’ll ever know,” he said. “The old joke is, if you ask three beekeepers the same question, you’ll get five different answers.”

That old saw did not make him hesitate to bring on, in his role as program host, three beekeepers in his first season on the air” PCBA President Anne Rein of Hanson, as well as Bill Veazie and Glen Cornell of Whitman. The sixth and final show of the first season wrapped things up with a panel discussion of issues facing bee populations between Rosen, Rein and Cornell.

This year’s shows began with the bee pickup day in Plympton — in a garage with 9 million bees in packages of 10,000 bees each —and has included the most recently produced episode about sugar shaking to determine if mites have infested a hive and the different pollinators bees seek out. Last season included a tutorial on setting up oil traps for beetles that can take over a hive.

“Last year was not a good honey year, a lot of beekeepers had a tough time … basically because of the weather,” Rosen said of that season, in which he managed a fair yield despite his challenges.

The damage done to bee populations by weather, mites, beetles and pesticides are a very real concern.

With 85 percent of plant species on earth, and about 52 percent of the food products at your grocery store, requiring bees and other pollinators to exist, a 2013 Whole Foods Markets “Share the Buzz” demonstration of the statistics proved an eye-opener for Rosen. The store showed that one of every three bites of food is produced by honeybees and other pollinators by removing all products requiring pollination from its store shelves — 237 of 453 products including almost the entire produce department.

Between learning of that demonstration and his experience as a beekeeper, everything Rosen now plants in his yard benefits bees. That includes selecting plants that have not been treated with pesticides like neonicotinoid, which kill bees.

“This year, so far, it’s been a great year and six of the seven are doing well. One is doing OK, but I think it’s because of where I have them placed. I have a couple [hives] more in the shade and I’m finding they don’t particularly like the shade.”

A daily tablespoon of local honey, produced within a 25 mile radius of where one lives, is also said to be helpful for allergy sufferers.

“There are a lot of people that live by that,” he said. “I have people who come into McGuiggan’s to buy honey that are not drinkers, they’ve just heard we have true local honey and they want to buy it.”

Stings are the last thing to worry about, he said.

“Honey bees don’t want to sting you because they’re going to die after they sting you,” Rosen said. “They won’t unless you swat them. You tend to be afraid of bumble bees, because they’re so big — bumble bees will not bother you —but yellow jackets are bad guys and will sting.”

Halifax BOS approve plan to help Rte. 106 school traffic

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The Halifax Board of Selectmen have approved a plan for deal with some of the traffic on Route 106 caused by pick up and drop off at Halifax Elementary School.

According to Selectmen Chair Kim Roy, the traffic is getting pushed down Route 106 in both directions. “It is becoming a safety issue,” Roy said.

Roy said the traffic is becoming a safety issue because oftentimes, the traffic is pushing in front of the fire station.

Selectman Troy Garron said the situation makes it difficult for ambulances to get out during emergencies at those times of day.

The approved plan involves Highway Surveyor Steven Heyward removing some dead trees. Then, he’ll take some left-over asphalt from another project to create a path that will get some of the traffic off the road.

Selectman Thomas Millias said this won’t solve the problem completely, but it will at least get some of the traffic off Route 106.

Licensing News

The Board of Selectmen approved a 10-month extension for Jan and Raymond Jacobs for a temporary trailer at 23 Annawon Drive.

The Jacobs’ house burned down, so they have been living in the trailer as a temporary home. The house is in the process of being repaired, but the demolition of the old one hasn’t yet been completed.

Jan Jacobs said they will need a 10-month permit extension for the repairs to be completed. The Board of Selectmen approved this extension unanimously.

Millias said because “insurance tends to drag these things on,” come back for another extension if necessary.

Mud Fest

Mud Fest head operator Robert Bergstrom came in and told the Board of Selectmen that, as of right now, attendance is down from previous years.

Because of the lack of attendance, Bergstrom asked if it be okay to reduce the police detail at the festival from six officers down to four. The Board of Selectmen left that decision up to Police Chief Edward Broderick.

Broderick who was in attendance for the meeting, said he was not going to commit to anything tonight. However, he said he is willing to work with Bergstrom.

As Mud Fest approaches, Bergstrom and Broderick will look at expected attendance. Broderick said he’ll then make the appropriate decision based on safety.

Mud fest is scheduled for November 11 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Other News

• Theresa Levenson has resigned from the Halifax Fireworks Committee. The Board said Levenson did most of the work on the committee for many years without a lot of volunteer support.  In Levenson’s resignation letter, she cited frustration from a lack of volunteers. The Board of Selectmen said they did’t blame her. Millias said he understands how one can get burned out when they are in a group doing the majority of the work.

Selectmen accepted Levenson’s resignation and are writing a letter to thank her for her service to the town.

• The Board of Selectmen unanimously approved appointing Judy Rakutis to the Old Colony Elder Services Board of Directors (ODEC).

Rakutis said she is excited to get involved in town. She became a Halifax resident three years ago when she moved to town the day after Thanksgiving, 2015.  Rakutis also lived in Halifax as a child. She was going to move to Florida before moving back here but chose to be closer to her daughter in East Bridgewater after her husband passed away.

“I always wanted to come back,” Rakutis said. “I am by accident.”

The next meeting of the Halifax Board of Selectmen is Tuesday, August 28 at 7 p.m.

There will be a Special Town Meeting Monday, August 20, 2018 at 7:30 p.m.

Health Agent sued for fraud

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Plympton Health Agent Robert C. Tinkham, Jr., of Carver, and two other defendants are being sued by the Carver, Marion, and Wareham Regional Refuse Disposal District for fraud, embezzlement and conspiracy, among several other complaints.

The lawsuit alleges the misconduct occurred during Tinkham’s tenure as Carver’s liaison to, and chairman of the committee that oversees the district, while working as the Carver Health Agent.

The one-time Fairhaven physical education teacher and public health professional denies the allegations.

The lawsuit, filed in Plymouth Superior Court June 22, 2018, alleges that Tinkham, along with co-defendants Ray E. Pickles, who is the elected Marion town clerk and the Town of Gosnold town administrator, and his wife, Diane Bondi-Pickles, a licensed real estate agent, conspired to defraud the CMWRRDD, established in 1973, of $838,458.22 over a five-year period (some court documents alternately refer to an eight-year period).

Tinkham is accused personally of converting $262,000 of public funds for personal use.

The misconduct is alleged to have been committed through payments made from the CMWRRDD to corporations controlled by the defendants, Moss Hollow Management Corp., a mainly one-person consultancy firm owned by Pickles and Bondi-Pickles, and 33-35 Wareham LLC, under the control of Tinkham and his wife.

The lawsuit states that the mishandling of the district’s money was discovered in 2017 after Pickles, at the time the chairman of the committee overseeing the CMWRRDD, demanded assessments be paid to the waste district from the three member towns for the first time since 2015.

When Carver and Wareham refused to pay their dues because of a lack of proper documentation and the surprise bills, Pickles sued for breach of contract. This prompted an estimated $25,000 forensic audit by the three towns in the waste district into the CMWRRDD’s finances, which is still ongoing and can be used in court as evidence. Unlike a usual audit, a forensic audit examines every transaction of the waste district.

That investigation revealed the extent of the conspiracy to include Pickles; Pickles’ wife, Bondi-Pickles; and Tinkham.

Pickles was fired Jan. 29, 2018, from the waste district.

Tinkham retired from the Town of Carver July 1, 2016, but is an hourly employee of the Town of Plympton, making $39.21 per hour per inspection, according to public records and the Treasurer/Collector’s Office.

He was hired by the Plympton Board of Health as health agent at a meeting January 9, 2018.

A health agent is generally responsible for, among other duties, Title V septic inspections, septic plan approvals, percolation tests, food inspections, housing inspections, landfill inspections and other permits.

Tinkham lists managing the yearly budget as part of his duties as health agent in Carver and at his former job at the CMWRRDD.

Tinkham is also the current Title V inspector in Plymouth, according to his resume and the Town of Plymouth. He obtained that job after retiring from Carver.

He receives a $2,124.88 monthly pension from the Plymouth County Retirement Board and had about $20,000 in checking and savings accounts at Mutual Bank according to court filings in June. An affidavit states that he has no bank accounts outside of Massachusetts. He claims his corporation owns a campground with a parcel of property worth approximately $2,000,000.

Tinkham is seeking to have the suit dismissed. He is being represented by Attorney John Fink of Brockton, according to the docket. Pickles and Bondi-Pickles are seeking to move forward with a jury trial, according to filings.

The CMWRRDD is seeking triple-damages, interest, costs and lawyers’ fees. Assets of these three defendants were originally frozen by court order pending the outcome of the lawsuit, although the defendants successfully argued for access to their bank accounts and pensions.

The Plymouth County Retirement Board, Eastern Bank and Mutual Bank were all named as “reach and apply” defendants in the lawsuit but were removed from the litigation.

The case is moving quickly through the court system, with several hearings and 35 docket entries to date in just a few weeks.

Plympton Town Administrator Elizabeth Dennehy, reached via email, directed questions to the Board of Health, noting that “the Board of Health is an elected Board, and as such, does not come under the purview of the Board of Selectmen and/or Town Administrator.”

A source who did not wish to be quoted stated that the town became aware of the allegations only after the hiring process, in late June when Wareham and Marion media began coverage of the lawsuit. Another source stated that they had personally made town officials aware of the allegations.

It’s not clear at this time who at Town House was aware of the allegations prior to Tinkham’s appointment. Tinkham does not list any references on his resume, although he lists his previous jobs with Plymouth, Carver and the CMWRRDD.

A call to the Plympton Board of Health went unanswered as did a call to Tinkham’s cellphone.

The Massachusetts Office of the Inspector General is investigating according to documents in the court file, although a spokesman for the OIG would not confirm or deny the existence of any specific investigation.

The OIG is not a prosecutorial agency but can refer investigations to the Attorney General or the federal government, among other agencies, for prosecution, according to the spokesman.

The court is awaiting Tinkham’s attorney to file a motion to dismiss in order to schedule the next hearing in the case.

Silver Lake football announces its captains

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The Silver Lake High football team has already made it clear who they expect to be among their team’s leaders this season.

Sometimes, teams may wait until the season to determine who those leaders will be, but the Lakers made the decision early. According to the Silver Lake High football Twitter account, the Lakers have already named their captains for the 2018 season. In all, they selected three players: Bobby Ohlson, Cam Danahy and Marshall Roy, all of whom are incoming seniors.

Ohlson, who is listed at 5-foot-11 and 182 pounds, will certainly help the Lakers passing game once again this season; he served as the team’s primary wide receiver last season. 

Danahy, who is listed at 6-foot-1 and 175 pounds, has shined in two sports. Not only has he played well as an outside linebacker, but he is also a key player on the Lakers basketball team.

Roy, who is listed at 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds provides the Lakers with some versatility. An experienced outside linebacker, he is also capable of playing tight end and even long snapping on special teams.

Outside of the three captains, the Lakers will likely receive leadership from the rest of their senior class. What is clear though is that this group of seniors has the opportunity to earn a third straight appearance in the postseason. After all, they made trips to the postseason in 2016 and 2017. In 2016, when this group of seniors were sophomores, the team made school history with their playoff win over Scituate; it was the Lakers first football playoff win since 1980. The Lakers also won a playoff game last season, 20-18 over Dighton-Rehoboth.

According to MaxPreps.com, the Lakers open up their upcoming regular season on Friday, Sept. 9 at home against a Patriot League opponent, North Quincy (2:00 p.m. start time).

Steampunk at Schoolhouse Farm

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It’s the most anticipated party invitation of the summer – the AHG, Alberti Hurdy Gurdy – that sees the pastoral Schoolhouse Farm transformed into a weekend-long venue for music, dancing, barbecue, and laser light shows, all leading up to the burning pinnacle of the evening!

What started out 21 years ago in East Bridgewater as a graduation party for Dave Alberti’s son has grown over the years into a gala few could imagine!

Plympton’s C.J. Quinn, with his good friends Dave and Vicki Alberti, take the better part of a year preparing for an AHG Theme Party – this year’s was “Steampunk” – with all the side events that make their party unique.   Eight bands, some of them have played on the outdoor stage since the first one, and three glass-blowers added to the atmosphere this year.   In keeping with the Steampunk theme, there was also a working display of steam-powered engines built by north shore artist Todd Cahill who Dave and Vicki saw at the annual Watch City Steampunk Festival in Waltham earlier this year.

Many of the AHG guests brought tents and sleeping bags and stayed through the night while the laser light show carried on over their heads.

This year’s centerpiece was a full-sized 1890s steam locomotive built out of rough sawn wood, plywood, and salvaged metal wheels, resting on a 60’ section of wooden train track.  The sculpture was constructed by CJ Quinn and Tom Johnson, and was built on a custom wooden foundation laid over two truckloads of river silt spread & graded by Dave Alberti & John Deere. Tom Johnson played a key role in design and construction following CJ’s lead as Chief Engineer. The two worked together for months leading up to the event.  People admired the construction all afternoon, posing with it for many photos.  As darkness descended, and the last notes were played from the main stage, the entire crowd descended around the burn structure in anticipation of the climax of the event.  “The Burn”.

 

A professional Taiko Drum troupe called “Odaiko New England” began the ceremony with 15 minutes of thunderous rhythmic perfection. Dozens of people in period costumes spilled off of the train and a vintage town scene quickly morphed into a compelling choreographed dance led by Alana Quinn and Kyra Grattan.  As the theme music hit a climax, flames consumed the train as the AHG crowd celebrated having collectively created another unforgettable experience. By morning, all that was left was ash and coals, and a few metal pieces.

Plympton Fire volunteers were on hand to take care of site safety issues. They sent an engine, brusher, two ATV’s with five fire fighters/EMTs to stand watch.  The AHG crowd is a network of friends, and there is a uniquely positive and respectful energy in the air.

AHG is a grassroots collective of people that has evolved since 1997.  Every year, a few new people find their way to the event, and every year there is a new theme to welcome them.  In 2015 the theme was “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” with a Japanese-style pagoda as the centerpiece.  Dave and Vicki Alberti were married under the pagoda with all of their Hurdy Gurdy friends and family in attendance.  And once the vows were spoken and the rings exchanged, the bridegroom kissed the bride, the torches came out and the pagoda was burned. 

Each AHG since the beginning has its own T-shirt designed by one of the many AHG artists, a theme poster, and bumper stickers.  Shirts from past events have become collectors’ items.  Many artists over the years have captured the party theme; this year’s poster design was done by well-known local artist Jessie Fries.  The t-shirt and bumper sticker design was done by Greg Myette.

Greg Crossland was the grill chef for the party with lots of help from Dave and Trish Detterman, grilling 90 pounds of chicken, two bushels of corn, and cooking 100 pounds of potatoes, making the best fries. 

Guests are asked to bring enough food to feed their families plus a little more, then Greg cooks and serves it. 

Sunday morning, Jimbo Williamson makes breakfast to send everyone on their way with a full stomach.

So what began 21 years ago as a graduation party, with a wood-fired portable hot tub, a keg of beer, and a band, has grown into finely orchestrated summer event whose guests are treated to a weekend to remember.

New hires and appointments

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Special town meeting for “Two Brooks Preserve”

PLYMPTON – On Monday, Aug. 6, Plympton Selectmen met at Town House and executed a lengthy agenda. The town clerk updated the board on ongoing projects and appointments, several appointments were made to the fire department, the board interviewed two candidates for Zoning Enforcement Officer and hired one, set up a gift fund for the Atwood property– now known as, “Two Brooks Preserve,”– and a Special Town Meeting to address the preserve was finalized after the meeting.

Town Clerk Update

Tara Shaw, the town clerk, updated the board on several ongoing projects. First, she updated the board on General Code, the company that is codifying the Plympton bylaws. They are checking for everything from spelling errors to conflicts with Massachusetts law. All deadlines are being met.

She also noted that five bylaws changed at the annual town meeting were submitted to the Attorney General’s office in the proper time frame, and that the deadline for the Attorney General’s office to get back to Plympton with approvals that the bylaws don’t conflict with Massachusetts law (or seeking further information from the town) is Sept. 3.

Adjustments to 2018 appointments to boards and committees were made on the recommendation of Shaw. The board had voted on all 48 appointments at once at a previous meeting, but according to Shaw, not everyone accepted their appointments, or their appointment terms.

Notably, Bob Karling did not accept his appointment as the Zoning Enforcement Officer and Fence Viewer, and Carol Quindley did not accept her appointment to the Historic District Commission.

Harry Weikel, originally an alternate to the Zoning Board of Appeals, only accepted full membership to that board with the term coinciding with that of his alternate term date, ending June 30, 2019.

Several Committees were dissolved, including the Fire Executive Oversight Committee, the Fire Technical Committee, the Memorial Day Committee, the DOR Advisory Board and the Plympton Housing Production Committee.

Wendy Jones was appointed Assistant Assessor.

Shaw is also looking for an intern or a volunteer to help maintain the town’s website.

“You’ve planted a seed, let’s see if it grows,” said Selectmen Chairman John Traynor, who supported the idea.

New Zoning
Enforcement Officer

Selectmen interviewed Jack O’Leary, of Plympton, and Allan Fraser, of Franklin, for the position of Zoning Enforcement Officer. The current ZEO, Tom Millias, is the building inspector and is acting on an interim basis.

O’Leary said that he sought the position, “Mainly because I’ve been involved in this in my day job and volunteering in the town for a while.”

But, O’Leary has a full-time job as an engineer, and the board, especially Traynor was concerned about the time commitment needed for the position.

Allan Fraser, of Franklin, was ultimately unanimously hired by the board.

Fraser, who says he has, “a tremendous amount of experience,” citing jobs as building inspector in Newton and councilor in Lowell as examples, has never lived in a community he has worked in, he says.

Selectman Russo stated that he wanted a balance in zoning enforcement.

Fraser said that he preferred the term “administration” to “enforcement,” and that he believed that the key to effective zoning regulation is education. He mentioned using technology for that education and to remind residents and businesses of their obligations under the zoning laws.

Fire Department new hires

The Plympton Fire Department family showed up to the meeting to celebrate the appointment of five new members to the force. All members of the PFD, including the new members, have successfully passed CORI and SORI checks, something that had not been done under the tenure of Fire Chief Warren Borsari, leading to the separation of several employees from the force.

Nathan Currier, Edward Coughlin, Carl Johnson, Richard Cosato and Jennifer Fulton were all appointed. Although only two were present, a sizable crowd of firefighters, paramedics, EMTs and their family members and friends joined the meeting for a brief photo.

The board seems to take particular delight in the “reinvigorated” fire department, under the leadership of Captains Cheryl Davis and John Sjostedt and Fire Consultant Lance Benjamino, Chief of the Middleboro Fire Department.

Town Administrator Elizabeth Dennehy announced that 17 applicants have applied to date for the position of permanent fire chief, noting that the town is still early in the hiring process.

“Two Brooks Preserve”

The Atwood property, on Prospect Road, now known as the “Two Brooks Preserve,” is rapidly in the process of being purchased by the town. The land, which was held in Chapter 61A, was changing from agricultural use to another use when it was put on the market, and the town exercised its right of first refusal to purchase the property.

The sellers wish to move the sale along, and the board acquiesced to two conditions put on the sale, the first being 24-hours’ notice for access to the property, and the second being that the seller did not want to put a 30-day extension on the execution of the purchase and sales agreement.

Selectman Mark Russo explained that the board would like to set up both a “gift-fund” for the preserve, as well as issue bonds to fund the multisource funded project. The bonds will take some time to set up.

The fund was approved by the board, and Russo said that he hoped that individuals would give generously. Donations are tax-deductible and will be returned if voters do not approve the purchase at the fall STM. If enough money is raised through alternate means, he said, less Community Preservation money could be used for the project, or fewer lots may need to be sold to raise money for the purchase.

“We’re looking for people and hoping for people to be really generous,” he said, noting that donations for land last forever.

Regarding the tight timeline for the Two Brooks Preserve, Traynor said that there was, “a very tight schedule.” and Russo said that, “One wrong step and we could mess everything up. We don’t want any wrong steps.”

Special Town Meeting

Town officials announced Wednesday that a Special Town Meeting asking voters to approve the purchase of the Two Brooks Preserve will be held on Sept. 20. The time and place will be announced soon by the Selectmen’s office.

The Plympton Board of Selectmen will next meet Aug. 20 at 6 p.m.

Police hold info session to help break-in victims

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The Halifax Police Department along with representatives of the Plymouth Country District Attorney’s office held a public forum at the Halifax Town Hall on Tuesday answering questions about a series of home and car break-ins occurring in town.

On Tuesday July 31, Halifax Police arrested Jamir Johnson in connection with the break-ins. During the booking process, it was found that Johnson had murder charges filed against him for a December 2017 murder in New London, CT.

Police Chief Edward Broderick said they held the joint meeting so victims and residents could understand what’s happening with the process and to clear any confusion that could potentially occur with charges given the impending transfer of the prisoner back to Connecticut where he will answer murder charges there.

In cases like this, the murder and fugitive charges in Connecticut are addressed first. According to Assistant District Attorney Rick Linehan, the Halifax charges will be temporarily dropped. Linehan wanted to clear up any confusion over the charges being dropped because they will be refiled after the fact.

We will get warrants issued,” said Linehan. “We will get them in the WMS Warrant Management System and the NCIC a national database so if he ever got out the Connecticut case, his warrant will be right in the computer on the time of his release.”

Both Broderick and Linehan said they wanted to emphasize how this process worked in case victims and other residents read in a news outlet that the charges on Johnson were dropped.

Broderick also reiterated that a report of Johnson having a gun was false. He said Johnson was found with a knife and burglary tools.

The public forum also gave the Halifax Police Department a chance to let victims know what they know so far and what the department is still investigating.

According to Broderick, police are still looking to tie Johnson to a residence. As of right now, police do not know if Johnson was staying in the woods, an abandoned property, or at a Halifax residence.

The department are asking for community members to come forward if they’ve seen anything or haven’t reported a break in yet.

“Search your memory a little bit,” said Broderick. “You guys are the eyes and ears.”

Currently, police are aware of four homes and sheds being broken into since May. More than 54 cars were also reportedly broken into. Similar break-ins were reported in Pembroke.

One resident asked if Johnson confessed to anything. Sergeant Theodore Benner said Johnson would not even tell police his name or who he was. There was not much interrogation after police found out about Johnson’s murder charges.

Broderick said, “We don’t want to jeopardize the Connecticut issue, so we don’t go too into depth on an interrogation on our charges.” He explained that the murder charges take priority here.

Another resident asked if there will be any retribution for the theft victims. Broderick said it could be hard to prove all the cases and the more evidence that’s provided and the more people that come forward, it helps them build a stronger case.

Representatives from the Plymouth County District Attorney’s office offered to take contact information from victims. There will be a letter sent out to victims when the charges are refiled. Any victim can call the District Attorney’s office at (508) 584-8120.