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SL Boys Basketball Falls to Sandwich

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The Silver Lake High basketball team got off to a great start to their first bout over break. Unfortunately for them, their opponent found life as the contest went on.

Although the Lakers (2-3) were able to control the first few minutes of their bout against the Sandwich Blue Knights on Wednesday, Dec. 27 at home, they fell out of place after four quarters and lost, 55-50.

The Lakers played exceptionally well at the start of the contest, going on a 10-2 run. From there, Josh Gilbert and Matthew Bettle had steals on each of the Blue Knights next possessions, giving the Lakers the ball back.

After that, the Blue Knights clawed back. They dropped two baskets, but Dan Coffey drained a 3-pointer with about 55 seconds left in the first quarter to put the Lakers up 13-6. Before the quarter ended, Sandwich got two more baskets. 

Early in the second quarter, Sandwich cut the Lakers lead to two points, 15-13, so Tyler Duggan hit a 3-pointer and shortly after, Diamani Williams got a steal to prevent the Blue Knights from tying the game at 18. At halftime, the Lakers led, 24-20.

Shortly into the second half, Duggan had another 3-pointer to put the Lakers up 29-22. Overall, the quarter was a high-scoring affair, and for awhile, the Blue Knights dominated. They outscored the Lakers, 17-8 for about half the quarter and took a 39-37 lead. Coffey gave the Lakers a 40-39 lead headed into the fourth quarter by sinking a trey.

The game was back-and-forth in the third quarter and with 3:30 remaining, the game was tied at 47 apiece. From there, however, Sandwich played tough defense for the rest of the contest and took a 51-47 lead with 2:21 left in the game. Although the Lakers would find the basket again, they were unable to match the Blue Knights who outscored them 8-3 in the second half of the fourth quarter.

The Lakers next game is this Friday, Jan. 5, 6:30 p.m., at home against Quincy.

Halifax’ Shaughnessy steering ship for Mitchell College soccer

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Since she was a star athlete in New England, it makes sense that Halifax native Chelsea Shaughnessy would be working in sports now that her playing days are over.

This is the case with Shaughnessy, a Halifax native who graduated from Silver Lake in 2008. This past fall, she wrapped up her third season as the women’s soccer coach at Mitchell College, a Division 3 program in New London, CT. 

The Mitchell College Mariners went 2-10-1 this past fall in what was more of a rebuilding season. The team only had three seniors on its roster, an indication that they are working their way back up. After all, Shaughnessy has already enjoyed some success in her tenure coaching the team.

In her first season as the Mariners head coach, Shaughnessy helped the team to a New England Collegiate Conference Championship appearance. A season later, her Mariners also made an appearance in the conference tournament.

After graduating college in 2012 with a degree in sports management, Shaughnessy gained coaching experience as an assistant at Johnson and Wales University for three seasons.

During her own athletics career, Shaughnessy was a standout. Not only did she excel as a multi-sport athlete at Silver Lake, playing soccer, basketball and softball, but she also achieved that ultra-rare feat at the next level during her tenure at Nichols College. The big difference in college, however, is that she picked up lacrosse as her spring sport.

During her Lakers career, Shaughnessy was recognized as an All-Scholastic athlete by the Brockton Enterprise and was named a Patriot League All-Star in multiple sports. In college, she was a three-time all-conference player in soccer. In lacrosse, she scored 55 goals in three seasons and in basketball she Nichols’ single-season record for steals (115) during the 2011-2012 season.

Since she was a standout athlete on multiple playing surfaces during her playing career, it should come as no surprise that she also serves as an assistant coach for Mitchell College’s women’s lacrosse team. Plus, she also coached basketball and lacrosse during her tenure at JWU. That said, Shaughnessy has used her success as an athlete to help others to also be the best player they are capable of being.

Meet Elizabeth Dennehy at Library coffee hour

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Plympton Library Director Debbie Batson invites townspeople to visit the library on Saturday morning, Jan. 6, from 10:30 to noon, to greet Plympton’s first Town Administrator, Elizabeth Dennehy at First Saturday Coffee Time.

Stop in, enjoy a cup of hot coffee and a goodie, meet your friends, and say hello to Ms. Dennehy who began her position in Plympton in early December.

Ms. Dennehy has more than 10 years of experience in municipal government, including serving as the Community Development Director in Walpole and as Planning Director and Environmental Affairs Officer in Fall River.

“We are excited to welcome Elizabeth Dennehy as Plympton’s first Town Administrator,” said Christine Joy, Chairman of the Plympton Board of Selectmen. “Her skills, experience, and local knowledge will prove beneficial to the Plympton municipal team and will help us to achieve continued success for the community.”

Ms. Dennehy, of Raynham, was one of two finalists for the position.

“We were highly impressed with the qualifications of both finalists,” Chairman Joy said.  “It was a difficult decision for the board.”

There were a total of 38 applicants for the position. The Board of Selectmen were supported in the search by a seven-member Town Administrator Screening Committee and by Community Paradigm Associates.

In Walpole, Ms. Dennehy was responsible for all aspects of the town’s Community and Economic Development Department, including preparation of the annual budget, attracting and negotiating with new businesses, hiring and supervising personnel, providing technical assistance to various boards and commissions, and updating zoning bylaws. Her work in Fall River involved managing all aspects of the city’s Planning Department.

Ms. Dennehy holds both a Master of Public Administration degree and a Bachelor of Science degree in Earth/Environmental Science from Bridgewater State University. She is a Notary Public, and served on the Freetown Cultural Council from 2008 to 2014 and the Freetown Emergency Management Agency from 2005 to 2013.

But is it safe?: Officials urge caution on ponds, prep for new snow

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After several days of frigid weather, people have been venturing out on ice-covered ponds and bogs to play hockey, figure skate, fish or run all-terrain vehicles. While ATVs are generally not permitted on public land in any weather, local fire chiefs warn that outdoor ice is never “100-percent safe.”

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) agrees that “the only ‘safe’ ice is at a skating arena” because frozen bodies of water can be dangerous.

“With the cold weather we’ve had, a lot of people want to get out on the ice,” Hanson Fire Chief Jerome Thompson said Tuesday morning. “We get a lot of phone calls [but] we can never say that the ice is 100-percent safe because there’s several factors like currents, waterfowl being on it or fish  or stumps … all kinds of different things can affect it.”

“There’s always a concern for ice thickness,” said Whitman Fire Chief Timothy Grenno. “There’s many areas that have open water.” Like Hanson, Grenno’s department does not make general statements concerning the safety of ice on ponds in town.

“We just tell people to use their best judgment and, if there’s open water, then the pond should be deemed unsafe.”

Thompson referred to MEMA’s ice-thickness guidelines that suggest four inches of ice for fishing, five inches can hold a snowmobile and eight to 12 inches a vehicle and 12-15 inches for a pickup truck. His department does not check ice thickness on area waterways.

“You need to keep in mind that, just because it’s eight inches in this spot, it might not be eight inches in that spot,” Thompson said. “We recommend if you do go out, you don’t go it alone. You should always have somebody with you and you should pay attention to your surroundings.”

Generally, ice that forms on moving water (rivers, streams, and brooks) is never safe, according to MEMA. Ice freezes and thaws at different rates and the thickness of ice on ponds and lakes can vary depending on water currents, springs, depth, and natural objects such as tree stumps or rocks. It can be a foot thick in one area and just inches thick a few feet away. Daily changes in temperature also affect its strength. Because of these factors, no one can declare the ice to be absolutely safe.

Fire Chief Jason Viveiros doesn’t believe there is any safe ice on Monponsett ponds.  Because those ponds are fed by springs, the water temperature varies and ice thickness is affected by underwater currents.  Areas of open water were still evident on Tuesday, despite the record low temperatures.

MEMA offers the following tips to follow before venturing out and what to do if you or someone you are with falls through the ice.

Before going
on the ice

• Look for slush, which can indicate that the ice is no longer freezing so you face a greater risk of falling through.

• Beware of snow-covered ice. Snow can hide weak and open ice or cracks.

• Test the ice strength. Use an ice chisel to chip a hole through the ice to determine its thickness and condition. If it is two inches thick or less, stay off.

• Never go on ice alone. Another person may be able to rescue you or go for help if you fall through.

• Keep pets on a leash when walking them near bodies of water so that they don’t run onto the ice.

If someone falls through the ice

• Do not go out onto the ice to try to rescue a person or pet.

• Reach-Throw-Go: Try to reach the victim from shore. Extend your reach with a branch, oar, pole, or ladder to try to pull the victim to safety. If unable to reach the victim, throw them something to hold onto (such as a rope, jumper cables, tree branch, or life preserver). Go for help or call 911 immediately.

• If you fall in, use cold water safety practices: Try not to panic. Turn toward the direction you came from and place your hands and arms on the unbroken surface, moving forward by kicking your feet. Once back onto unbroken ice, remain lying down and roll away from the hole. Crawl back toward land, keeping your weight evenly distributed.

• If you can’t get back on the ice, use the Heat Escape Lessening Position (HELP): Bring your knees up toward your chest. Cross your arms and hold them close to your body. Keep your legs together. Try to keep your head out of the water. Do not try to swim unless a boat, floating object, or shore is close by. Swimming in cold water cools your body and reduces survival time.

Helping a victim when out of
the water

• Get medical help or call 911 immediately. The victim needs help quickly to prevent hypothermia.

• Get the victim to a warm location.

• Remove the victim’s wet clothing.

• Warm the center of the victim’s body first by wrapping them in blankets or putting on dry clothing.

• Give the victim warm, non-alcoholic, non-caffeinated fluids to drink.

• Place the victim in a warm shower or bath with their arms and legs out of the water to warm the core of the body.

Thompson said his department has not had to yet deal with burst pipes or other frigid weather problems, even as they responded to a Mutual Aid fire call in Pembroke on New Year’s Day.

Heavy turnout gear keeps firefighters warm on cold-weather calls, but there is also a rehab truck available through the Department of Fire Services to provide a heated area in which firefighters can warm up. The Highway Department can also be called in to sand and salt, helping to reduce the likelihood of falls on the ice.

Towns are also keeping an eye on weather forecasts to determine how they should approach a severe winter storm forecast for Jan. 4.

Preparations for Thursday’s storm were well underway on Wednesday, when Viveiros told the Express he had been in several meetings to be sure the town is ready to help its citizens.  If there is a widespread power outage, the Halifax Elementary School will be opened as a warming center where people can go if they are without heat.  Should the power stay out for several days, Halifax and Plympton will go to Silver Lake Regional High School. 

“I think we’re as ready as we can be,” Viveiros said.

“Right now, they still don’t know what it’s going to do,” Thompson agreed. “I’m sure that MEMA will be giving us some updates as we get closer. We check our equipment daily, so we’re all set.

Fire departments also work closely with senior centers to obtain lists of elderly residents who may need assistance in weather emergencies.

Silver Lake wrestling team in good position to compete

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With a young team and full lineup, the Silver Lake wrestling team is in a good position to compete in the Patriot League this season.

Last year was a bit of a rebuilding year for the Lakers, who won nine matchups. As a team who is building experience, the Lakers will likely improve as time goes on as well.

The Lakers lost a pair of their top wrestlers from last season: Alec Snell (145) and Grant Laws (285), both of whom competed at states last season. Snell graduated and Laws transferred to Xaverian. Regardless, the Lakers still have plenty of talent in their program and are in the fortunate position of not having to forfeit any weight classes.

One of the Lakers’ top wrestlers this season is their 120-pounder, Daniel Walsh, who is only a junior. Last season, he came in fifth at sectionals in the 113-pound bracket. Walsh got off to an 8-0 start in the team’s first five meets. Plus, senior Gavin Hamilton had more than 20 wins last season.  He placed fourth at sectionals and is the team’s 182-pound wrestler. In the team’s quad meet against Brockton, Bristol-Plymouth/Coyle and Cassidy and Dighton Rehoboth, Hamilton was the only Laker to win all three of his matches.

In terms of underclassmen, the Lakers have many valuable contributors. Sophomores Pat Ganley (126) and Will Barkowski (152) and freshmen Scott Snell (106) and Kyle Sipullo (195) have emerged as staples in the varsity lineup. Plus, sophomore Kyler Baur (106) placed fourth at the Devin Ness Memorial Tournament, the first tournament of the season. Geoffrey Cook also got his first varsity win in the team’s last quad meet.

Through eight matches, the Lakers are 2-6 this season.
The Lakers next head-to-head meet is this Wednesday, Jan. 10 against and at Plymouth North High School on the road, 7 p.m. start time.

Gymnastics co-op shows its ability

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Two words that come to mind when describing the Silver Lake/Pembroke High gymnastics co-op are young and talented.

The co-op is coming off a 6-2 season in which they captured a Patriot League title and despite that success, the team also had plenty of talent coming back and more incoming talent, adding to what was already a successful program.

On Tuesday, Dec. 19, the co-op was not even at full strength but showed what it is capable of achieving. They competed in a quad meet against Whitman-Hanson, Marshfield and Hingham at the Massachusetts Gymnastics center in Pembroke. Scoring 123.3, the co-op finished second among the four teams and finished the day at 2-1 despite not fielding their entire lineup.

“I think we did really well overall for our second meet,” Silver Lake/Pembroke head coach Cristy Schimmel said. “It was much-improved from our first meet even though we had a few girls out.”

The co-op’s top performances came in the vault and floor exercises. Tori Newton (8.8 vault), Calliste Brookshire (8.6 vault), Ciara Dalrymple (8.1 vault), Sara d’Entremont (8.0 floor) and Maize Condon (8.1 floor) were among the team’s top performers.

One of the team’s top athletes, junior Morgan Hackett, was out with a thumb injury while one of the team’s talented underclassmen, Katie Kemp, got off to a late start to the season, so she was not eligible to compete just yet.

Another major asset the team has this season is a great deal of depth.

“We have some level eights, nines and tens which is great, Schimmel said. “A lot of them practice year-round here in Pembroke too which helps a lot.”

The co-op’s next meet is next Friday, Jan. 5, against Cohasset at the Mass Gymnastics C.

Bell ringers in Halifax bring $6,557

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Photos by

Chris Thompkins

Chris Thompkins has just completed her 7th year as Salvation Army Kettle Coordinator for the Town of Halifax and is delighted to announce that they have raised $6,557.33 for the 2017 holiday season!

She sends out thanks to all of her volunteers, those who donated, to Twin Lakes Liquors and the Rockland Trust for their patience, and a special thank you to Stop & Shop for graciously allowing their bell ringers and kettles to be inside, out of the cold, this year!

The Halifax Council on Aging will host a volunteer luncheon on Tuesday, Jan. 16, at 1 p.m. at the Pope’s Tavern Senior Center to say Thank You to the volunteers who made the contributions such a success.  Please call the Senior Center at 781-293-7313 to let them know how many are coming.

In no particular order, Thompkins would like to thank the following: Lynne Towne, Dot and Tom Pease, Pat Farrah, Sharlene Capaccioli and Dylan Capaccioli, Pauline Hughes, Carol Keegan, Carl Faith, Sally Fontaine-Burke, Suzie Fontaine Hopps, Dot Matthews, Cheryl and Jason McCullough, Tanya Little, Diedre Yelverton, Colleen Fiumara, Ashley Seggelin, Jackie Joubert, Susan MacDonald, Sherri Conte, and Jen Olivera.

Also:  Deb Scioscia, Ketti Martin, Gerry Durban, Martin Tuohey,  Tommy Schindler, Kevin Rogers,  Marianne Leighton Moore, Phyl Silenzi, Sue Wilson, Jessica Whalen, Dot Martel, Jo Schofield, Avis Arsenault,  Mary Ann Davis, Jonathan Selig, Stacey Rancourt,  Brenda Pettingill, Ken Vinton, Kerstin Santos, Alicia Salvation, Harley Ann Naphen, Adrienne McDougall, Susan Laidlaw, Kim King, Ashley Bearce and Cheryl Bearce, Brief Margiotta,  Amanda Ransom, Cheryl Balerna and girls and  Gerri Lambert!

Chris says this is a 100% volunteer operation, in conjunction with the Halifax Council on Aging, and helps seniors get out of the house and be involved in the community.

She is now ready for a well-deserved nap!

 

Jonathan Selig of Halifax, well-known to fund-raising, leant his hand to ring a bell to help bring in donations for the Savation Army’s Good Neighbor drive.

 

One of Santa’s hardest-working elves, Chris Thompkins, chairman of the Halifax Kettle Drive for the seventh year, got into the holiday spirit with St. Nick himself!

 

Sue Wilson & Phyl Silenzi team up to collect donations for the Salvation Army.

Miniature Halifax model train village has new constructor

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Over the past two decades, a magical snowy village has grown, changed, and morphed into the beautiful community in a train layout on display in the Great Room on the second floor of the Halifax Town Hall.

Town Administrator Charlie Seelig remembers when he first began his job in Halifax in 1997, he thought of a train setup as something for little kids to enjoy  – and geared the guage to be eye-level with a 3 or 4 year-old.  The train is  “G” gauge, or garden gauge, bigger than the usual livingroom sets.  “It began with a single loop of railroad track and a single building so the train would have someplace to go,” Seelig recalls.  “Every year, to a large extent, we’ve kept adding to it… To see the look on that 3 or 4 year old’s face as they see the magic of it, makes all the effort worth it.”

Over the years Seelig has had a lot of help with the project, which is set up each December as a focal point in the Halifax Holidays in Lights celebration.  “I’ve been very lucky,” he said.

John Nolan, son of the town’s accountant, with Guy Bosworth, both friends and classmates at Silver Lake, took over setting up the village, and helped out for many years, through high school, college, and beyond. 

Last year Nolan “retired” from the position, giving it over to another helpful model train enthusiast Griffin Kelly, 13, a student at Silver Lake Middle School.  Griffin, with help from his dad Bill, has set up the village and its train last year and this year, and hopefully for many years to come. 

SL Girls Basketball wins league opener

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It would be hard to imagine a more rewarding first Patriot League game of the season for the Silver Lake High girls’ basketball team.

In their first Patriot League matchup on Tuesday, Dec. 11, they managed to beat the Pembroke Titans, 51-49, on the road. With the win, the Lakers improved to 2-0.

Pembroke struggled to hit their shots at times, giving the Lakers a good opportunity to take the game from them. In the last two minutes of it, they did just that.

Senior guard Annabelle Boudreau hit a 3-pointer with 1:35 remaining in the contest to give the Lakers a 50-49 lead. From there, the Lakers were able to play stout defense, preventing the Titans from going ahead before Allie Crawford extended the lead. She hit a free-throw with about 30 seconds left in the game, putting her team up by a full basket.

After that, Pembroke had a couple chances to tie the game or take the lead, but none of them were successful. Their final shot–from 2-point range–bounced off the glass as time expired.

Albeit the Lakers did fall behind in the fourth quarter, they were in the lead for much of the contest. They were up by six, 13-7, at the end of the first quarter. They also went into halftime up by four points, 25-21. At their peak, they were up 41-34 at the end of the fourth quarter, but Pembroke surged for the first six minutes of the final quarter. They took a 49-47 lead on a pair of free throws with 2:40 remaining.

Sydney Kehoe scored a team-high 16 points for the Lakers while Allie Crawford (11 points) and Holly Reeder-Morning (10 points) also shot well for the team in the win.

The Lakers next game is next Thursday, Dec. 28 against the Brookline Warriors at home (12:30 p.m. start time).

SL Boys’ Basketball falls to WH

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The Silver Lake High boys’ basketball team played a highly competitive bout against one of the top teams on the South Shore, but the first few minutes of the contest made all of the difference.

The Lakers fell to Whitman-Hanson on the road last Friday night, 70-58, after falling behind by double digits in the first five minutes of the game.

In the first quarter, the Lakers fell behind as the Panthers were sharp from field goal range. The Panthers scored 14 of the game’s first 15 points. The Lakers only score in that span was a free throw from junior Josh Gilbert. After that, however, the Lakers offense woke up and was highly competitive for the rest of the first half. Still, at the end of it, they trailed 39-22.

The Lakers got off to a strong start in the second half. Tyler Duggan sank a 3-pointer and Cam Danahy turned on a pair of free throws, putting the Lakers on a 5-0 run. After that, both sides were even in the third quarter, so the Lakers trailed 57-42 at the end of it.

Whitman-Hanson hit the first point of the fourth quarter and because they led by 17 with about seven and a half minutes left in the game, the Lakers did not have time to make a comeback.

Duggan scored a team-high 14 points for the Lakers while Josh Harvey finished second with ten points.

The Lakers showed that depth is one of their assets this season with nine different players scoring points in the contest.

With the loss, the Lakers fell to 0-2 on the season. Their next game is Wednesday, Dec. 27 against the Sandwich Blue Knights at home (7 p.m. start time). It will be the Lakers first non-Patriot League game of the season since Sandwich competes in the Atlantic Coast League.