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Boys Hockey falls to Whitman-Hanson

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For most of the game, the Silver Lake high boys’ hockey team hung right in there.

Ultimately, however, their opponent surged late in the game and the Lakers (3-4-1) fell to the Whitman-Hanson Panthers (5-3-1) by a 3-1 score at Hobomock Ice Arena on Wednesday, January 10.

The Panthers had an early edge in the first period, spending most of their time on offense. They outshot the Lakers 6-4 in that span but were unable to score a goal as Alden Maguire played well in net. Defenseman Nick Iarossi had a great shot block with five seconds left in the period, preventing what could have been a goal.

In the second period, the Lakers would come out strong offensively. Defenseman Gregory Wolff netted the first goal of the game to put the Lakers up 1-0 less than two minutes into the period. He found the top right shelf and took his shot from around the blue line. Defenseman Liam Kelleher had the assist on the goal.

The Panthers were able to get some offensive momentum going as the game wore on. They tied the game up at one apiece with 6:17 left in the second period with a hard slapshot from inside the left faceoff circle. In the third period, they were able to put the game away.

The Lakers got outshot 10-3 in the third period and the Panthers took advantage of that. They scored goals with 5:49 remaining and 3:33 remaining to put the game away.

In the final couple minutes of the game, the Lakers were down a man because of penalties, so they faced long odds of making a comeback.

David Marani, Alexander Heffernan and Bobby Guilford comprised the Lakers first line of forwards in the game; John Evans and Nicholas Iarossi were their first defensive pairing.

The Lakers next game is this Saturday, Jan. 20 at Hobomock Ice Arena against Hanover (3:10 p.m. start time).

Rte. 44 highway mishap kills one

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State police are continuing their investigation into the accident that ultimately killed Daniel A. Newcomb, a 31-year-old East Taunton man, Friday night, Jan. 12, on Route 44 in Carver.   Newcomb is the son of Michael and Melissa Newcomb of Halifax.

A 23-year-old Monponsett man was traveling westbound in a 2001 Mitsubishi Gallant on Route 44 when he struck a 1998 Saturn SL2,  that was stationary in the breakdown lane.  Newcomb was believed to have been outside of his vehicle at the time of the crash, according to preliminary reports by State Trooper Justin Greene who is investigating the crash.

Newcomb was transported to South Shore Hospital in South Weymouth where he later died.

The crash remains under investigation with assistance from the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, Crime Scene Services Section, and troopers assigned to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office.

No charges had been filed as of press time Thursday.

State Police Nicole Morrell, when asked by the Express the identity of the other driver, said it is not the policy of the State Police to identify parties involved unless they face charges.

State Police were assisted on scene by the Carver Fire and EMS and MassDOT.

She hopes one of her customers will “win big” in the lottery …

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Meet Suzy Youssef, new owner of Plympton Gas and Convenience, 280 Main St., Rte. 58, Plympton. 

After working 16 years for IBM in distributive software, Suzy said, ”I told myself it’s time for me to own my own business – time for a new adventure.”

She took her time to find just the right situation, and after two years, found Plympton!  Suzy and her husband have two gas stations, but none with a convenience store.  The Stoneham and Medford businesses are fairly close to home, but she really likes the hour-long commute which brings her to another world – out of the city and into the country – where horses and trees are common elements, and the city sights and sounds are left behind.

Right in the heart of historic Plympton Village, Plympton Gas and Convenience serves its customers 7 days a week, from early until late enough, with competitive gas prices and the convenience of beer, wine, groceries, and of course, lottery.

“I’d love to see one of our customers hit it big,” Suzy said.  “Not for us; for the fun of seeing the lottery won here.” 

Suzy says she feels lucky to have found Plympton Gas and Convenience.  “We have a good team here.  Well organized, a really clean place.”  She credits former owner Kelly Craig for giving her the time to show her how the Craigs had run the business.  “Most people, you buy the place and that’s it.  Kelly really helped us from the beginning.”

“I hope to stay here for a long time.”

Suzy Youssef, new owner of Plympton Gas and Convenience, hopes one of her customers hits it big in the lottery.

Three honored at Tuesday’s Halifax meeting

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Halifax selectmen agreed Tuesday night that the best part of their job is to help recognize outstanding work by Halifax residents.

John and Patrick McCarthy, twin Eagle Scouts, were each awarded certificates by the selectmen for their projects in service to the town.  John helped build a shed for the Halifax Historical Society to house an antique horse-drawn carriage at the town’s blacksmith shop on South Street.  His brother Patrick refurbished trails and water crossings on the Striar Conservancy off Thompson Street.

While Halifax has one of the smallest Boy Scout groups in the country, it has one of the highest percentages of scouts who go all the way to earn the designation of Eagle Scout, selectman Kim Roy told the group.

And the accolades didn’t stop there.  David Walsh, commander of Halifax Post 6258, and David Warmsley, quartermaster, came before selectmen to present their nomination for Law Enforcement Officer of the Year, Police Chief Edward “Ted” Broderick, in a competition sponsored by the VFW.  “It’s quite something for him to be nominated,” Walsh told selectmen. “We consider him an outstanding first responder of our community.  Chief Broderick has served the town with the utmost compassion and professionalism, throughout his career.”

Broderick began his career as a police officer in Plympton, then went to Halifax to work as a police officer, and earned his way up through the ranks, eventually becoming Halifax Police Chief.

“He has been a friend of the veterans for years,” Walsh told selectmen, “and has assisted whenever needed … he was chosen on the basis of what he has done for our community,” Walsh said.   “As a first responder, he has been fantastic.  He has served our community well.”

Broderick’s nomination now proceeds to Boston where it will compete against others at the state level. If lucky enough to win there, the competition continues nationally.

In other business, selectmen signed a contract with Winslow Architects to commence work on the Pope’s Tavern Senior Center.

Selectmen received notice that 280 South St., a Chapter 61A parcel, will be put up for sale.  As part of the agreement for so-called “Chapter Land”, the town has first refusal on the sale of the property.  After a considering the parcel, selectmen agreed that they would “pass” on the offer.  They did not think that the parcel would benefit the town of Halifax.

Joseph Murray, of Gen II, asked selectmen to consider his application for a Common Victualler’s License for the new Dunkin Donuts, a restaurant in the early stages of construction on Route 106, next to the 7-11 (formerly Tedeschi’s), which will seat 20, as well as have room for the usual take-out trade.

Murray brought architect’s renderings of the proposed building, a single story construction with about 1500 square feet for the Dunkin Donuts operation, leaving room for possibly two tenants in the back.

He said he also owns franchises in Bridgewater and Middleboro, among others.

Selectman Troy Garron asked when they expected to complete construction, Murray answered “By May 1,” and invited selectmen to attend the ribbon cutting.

Selectmen considered the list of show dates for Fieldstone Farm, noting that they would advise the owner he cannot use the Gazebo built on the property as it was built without being signed off on by an architect.

Selectmen affirmed an agreement with the Lakeville Animal Shelter to house dogs for Halifax.

Town Administrator Charlie Seelig advised selectmen that the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife has asked Halifax to purchase some 10 acres of land near the back of Burgess Pond, or purchase the conservation restriction.

The third option, Seelig told selectmen, was to purchase the entire parcel for $250,000.  He advised a public forum to discuss and explain the proposal in detail to the town to get a sense of what the town wants before bringing it to Town Meeting for a vote.

Selectmen will consider the plan to construct a large solar array on the proposed marijuana grow property, which will cover 200+ acres.  Seelig suggested another informational meeting to make the public aware – perhaps sometime in February.

Dennehy named to Local Emergency Team

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On the same night that Town Administrator Elizabeth Dennehy was appointed to Plympton’s Local Emergency Team, the Plympton selectmen’s meeting’s major focus was on addressing emergency situations caused by the Jan. 4 “bombogenesis” winter storm.

Town Administrator Elizabeth Dennehy spoke of the recent cold temperatures that caused a water pipe to break at the Plympton Town House. Dennehy said. “There was a fairly extensive amount of damage.”

She said most of the damage was in the lobby, Town Clerk Tara Shaw’s office, lunch room, and small area by the the vault. Much of the tiling had to be scrapped completely.

Selectmen Clerk Mark Russo praised the town custodian for his response and how fast he was able to get the Town House in clean, workable conditions. The Fire Department was also involved in the stoppage of the leak and salvaging the town hall.

Dennehy said most of the town hall was open again by Wednesday, Jan. 3. Town Clerk Tara Shaw’s office took longer to be operational again.

Issues at the School

School Committee Representative Jon Wilhelmsen attended the selectmen’s meeting to discuss the broken backup generator at Dennett Elementary School.

The school held a test for the generator prior to the blizzard. Wilhelmsen said, “The test fired and blew a part…It’s a miracle we didn’t lose power.”

He added that on Friday evening, Fire Chief Borsari came to inspect the broken generator and noticed an electrical fire smell. The well pump failed and there ended up being a small electrical fire in the fuse panel.

According to Borsari, it took Eversource 4 hours to respond, so the fire department issued a fire watch during that time.

The school is currently being powered by a portable temporary back-up generator. However, its lease is costing the town $1,500 per week. Schools cannot have an occupancy permit without a backup power source, so a permanent solution needs to come in the immediate future.

Wilhelmsen and the Board of Selectmen explored options for a permanent solution for the school. One option explored was repairing the 15-year-old generator. Wilhelmsen estimated the cost will be in the $8,000 to $12,000 range.

Given the cost and age, the Board is seriously considering a new and larger generator.

Selectman John Traynor wants to explore if a larger generator would be more efficient from a cost and performance perspective. Wilhelmsen estimated the cost to set up a new generator to be in the $25,000 to $35,000 range.

Selectmen Chair Christine Joy said the Board of Selectmen will also explore grant options.

Old Town House Update

The Board of Selectmen discussed the renewal of the lease for the Old Town House. A large aspect of the renewal was centered around who will provide maintenance for the building.

Going forward, the town is setting up a plan to be responsible financially for the maintenance of the Old Town House. The Board of Selectmen wants the town custodian to maintain the building.

In order to accomplish this, the Board discussed increasing the town custodian’s hours from 15 per week to 20. Increasing his hours to 20 per week would make the town custodian eligible for benefits.

The Board of Selectmen fully intends to do this for the next fiscal year that starts in July. Traynor said the Finance Committee would also have to be involved because of the inclusion of benefits.

In the meantime, Dennehy suggested raising the town custodian’s hours to 19 per week for the rest of this fiscal year. All three members of the Board said they liked the idea.

Other News

The draft of Municipal Resources, Inc’s consulting report is still pending. Dennehy said the draft won’t be ready until the first week of February.

The next Plympton Board of Selectmen meeting is Monday, Jan. 22. Open session begins at 6 p.m.

Blizzard of 2018: What Happened and What to Expect Going Forward

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Thursday, Jan. 4, brought the first blizzard of 2018, a bombogenesis that hit Plymouth County especially hard.

According to data from our regional  National Weather Service headquarters in Taunton, much of the county was in the double digits for inches of snowfall. Though no data was provided for the official precipitation totals in Plympton and Halifax, several other nearby communities were provided.

East Bridgewater had the most snowfall in the entire county at 16.5 inches, while Brockton and Hanover were behind at 16.4 and 14.5 inches respectfully. Plymouth had the least amount of snow at 7.5 inches. Wind gusts also exceeded 50 miles-per-hour in several municipalities.

The storm caused sporadic power outages in both Plympton and Halifax. Halifax Fire Chief Jason Viveiros said, “It was a significant storm; we had several down wires and blown transformers.”

Viveiros described these outages as sporadic and was pleased with National Grids response. He said, “National Grid was on scene within 5-10 minutes of calling.” Viveiors said these quick responses were a large part of why Halifax didn’t have to open any emergency shelters.

Responses differed in Plympton with the Dennett Elementary School. Before the storm, Plympton Fire Chief Warren Borsari received a call from Dennett Elementary School Principal Peter Veneto about the backup generator test blowing a part.

Initially, Borsari thought the initial problem was just with the transfer switch. However, the generator failed entirely.

Borsari responded and said, “Upon entry, I smelled burning electrical oil…The well pump burned out and caused a small fire in the fuse panel.”

The Plympton Fire Department then posted a fire watch until Eversource could arrive. Borsari said it took Eversource about 4 hours to respond to the Dennett School.

The generator, however, was damaged beyond repair. Borsari said the school cannot have an occupancy permit without a backup power source. He said, “In order to get school back in session, we need a temporary repair.”

The school has a temporary backup power unit in the meantime, so school was back in session on Monday. However, the unit cost Plympton $1,500 per week.

At last Monday’s selectmen’s meeting, Dennett School Committee representative Jon Wilhelmsen estimated it would cost between $8,000 to $12,000 to repair the generator.

The school is also exploring replacing the generator, which he estimated would cost between  $25,000 to $35,000.

In addition to damage at the school, Borsari said that sporadic lines went down across town. In particular there were reported outages on Ring Road, Elm Street and the communication tower at 1 Joey Circle.

Borsari said the tower has a huge backup generator. Police and Fire Department communications were never interrupted.

Plympton Town House Pipe Burst

The snowfall and wind gusts were not the only factors causing damage. On Wednesday, Jan 3, the frigid temperatures caused a pipe to burst in the Plympton Town House

Borsari said the water pipe burst in the foyer near Town Clerk Tara Shaw’s office. According to Borsari, a police officer also went downstairs to use the bathroom and heard water running.

The pipe burst caused the town hall to close through January 2, 2018. The fire department as well as the custodian responded for the initial stoppage of the leak and the salvage/clean-up process.

There was significant damage in Town Clerk Tara Shaw’s office. (Include photos).

What to Expect Going Forward

Elanor Vallier-Talbot from the National Weather Service in Taunton, said temperatures are expected to skyrocket into the high 50s on Friday, January 12, 2018. However, the county is also expected to get about 2-3 inches of rain.

Vallier-Talbot said the temperatures rising at this rapid pace with the high amount of snow on the ground raises concern for potential flooding. She said, “When temperatures get this warm with this type of snow, it will refreeze at night.”

This causes the snow to compact and start to melt. Vallier-Talbot advised, “dig out storm drains as snows melt to prevent flooding.”

She said there’s also danger of flooding near rivers, especially with Friday’s expected rain. The recent cold temperatures caused rivers to freeze. When the temperature increases with the rain, there’s a high chance that rivers will cause some flooding.

Vallier-Talbot described this winter as “topsy-turvy.” She said to expect a cold front to come late Saturday night. Temperatures are expected to drop into the mid to high twenties by Sunday. She said that as temperatures drop, some of the expected rain could turn to snow.

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.