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Eminent Domain one vote closer: Carver’s “Urban Redevelopment” plans could take some Plympton back yards

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PLYMPTON– On Monday, June 13, Selectmen held an at times emotional meeting where many residents expressed further concerns regarding Carver’s “Urban Redevelopment” plans.

“Urban Redevelopment” appears to move ahead

At a meeting held in Carver the week before, without public comment, according to a video record of the meeting, the Carver Redevelopment Authority voted to move another step forward with its “urban redevelopment” plans, sparking renewed outrage from the public.

The project, affecting North Carver and Plympton abutters along the Plympton/Carver line in the area of Montello Street and Heather’s Path, near Route 44, would see a mixed-use development and even has plans for a hotel in the industrially zoned area.

To date, the plans appear to be preliminary at best, where the hotel is shown on a river that doesn’t exist, or there is no hotel at all on various iterations of the plans. Several residents from Carver or who are landowners in Carver but have Plympton addresses have had their properties threatened to be taken by eminent domain for the commercial development.

This had Plympton residents back before the Board Monday, begging them to do something. Despite the apparent unanimity of the Selectmen against the project, the Board has little authority to do anything but attempt to negotiate with Carver to mitigate the impact of the development on Plympton residents, which they vow to do.

“They said they are going to ‘move’ my well. Where to? My front yard is septic,” said Melissa Singletary, whose property may be one of the most affected if the project were to move forward. “They are going to take my whole back yard…I’m going to have to walk away from that house.”

The Board has said that they are going to meet with Carver selectmen to discuss the project, and as well look into asking Carver to mitigate the project so that it doesn’t become a cost to Plympton tax-payers– through traffic calming measures, or signage, or whatever they can come up with.

When asked if traffic mitigation would really solve the problem, Selectman Christine Joy said she didn’t know, but that they are going to try to work something out with Carver to help the affected Plympton residents.

(Lack of) Town House Security

Officials have given out too many keys to Town House, and the time to change the locks is here, say Selectmen.

The practice of giving out keys to whole committees or casually copying keys is now a relic of the past as security concerns over Town House are prompting the re-issuing of keys. No specific incident was mentioned, just a generally “loose” policy on who has keys.

In the future, only those who work in the building or chair a committee will be given keys that will be expected to be turned in at the end of a chair’s tenure on a committee or an employee’s work with the town.

The idea of a more modern card reader, such as one found at hotels, or an RFID card reader that one might find in a workplace, was floated. Dale Pleau, Town Coordinator, will look into the expense of such a system.

The advantage of such a system would be that keys could easily be deactivated without an employee or chairperson having to physically turn in the key, and that access can be logged on a computer.

The Board of Selectmen will next meet on Monday, June 20, at 6 p.m., Town House.

Silver Lake Class 0f 2016

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Graduates stand for the Pledge of Allegiance lead by Ashley Arroyo, Historian of the Class of  2016. The graduation was held outside on the stadium field.  Luck was with them as they had a gorgeous day.  The lawn was lined with family and friends watching and cheering for the graduates.  Many had umbrellas to shield themselves from the sun. 

Halifax regional dispatch proposed

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Last week, June 1, Halifax Selectmen held an energetic hearing on remote dispatching for the Police and Fire Departments from the dispatch center in Duxbury, which handles Police and Fire emergency calls for both Duxbury and Plympton, and wishes to expand.

According to Selectman Kim Roy, contracting out dispatching to Duxbury would represent significant savings, in the realm of $175,000, if the talks proceed for the 5-year contract. She also noted that the state is encouraging towns to regionalize with grants and that the end “product” would be the same or even better.

Plympton had a very smooth transition to regional dispatch, according to Selectman Tom Millias, who works as the Building Inspector in Plympton. “It has been outstandingly run well,” he said according to the Police and Fire Chiefs in that town.

Some residents were concerned about the police station “going dark” because the dispatcher is at times the only person at the station in the evening when officers are patrolling, although there are very few walk-in emergencies a year, according to Police Chief Edward Broderick, and even then a dispatcher “following the rules” cannot let someone into the station past the lobby until an officer arrives.

There are plans to build a “safe-room” at the station, where someone could lock themselves inside, communicate with a remote dispatcher, and take shelter in an emergency until an officer arrives, said Chief Broderick, in the rare event someone needs refuge.

Broderick noted that might be safer than the current situation, where the lobby door is unlocked.

Another concern expressed is that dispatchers at a regional center might not be familiar with roads or landmarks in Halifax. Yet, already two Halifax dispatchers have been hired by Duxbury and if Halifax joins, there is a possibility that they might hire others. Roy also noted that when Halifax hires a new dispatcher, they have to learn the streets, too.

“If there’s a place for obscure streets, it’s Plympton,” said Millias to much laughter, referencing the smooth transition Plympton had to dispatching from Duxbury’s center. “I have trouble finding streets in Plympton.”

Both Roy and Selectmen Chairman Troy Garron stated that the board was obligated to look at this proposal because taxpayers are demanding efficiencies, and selectmen serve at the will of the townspeople.

The high-tech facility located on Tremont Street, in South Duxbury, is able to not only take 911 calls and dispatch the appropriate personnel and assets, but monitor their status in real-time. Video feeds from the schools and other town surveillance cameras allow them to give very specific details about an emergency to first-responders. Cameras from Plympton will be coming online shortly, and Halifax is demanding them upfront in their negotiations, according to Duxbury officials.

Selectmen have made it clear many times that they have not made up their minds yet on the issue, and that this is not a “done-deal”. They say they are working with the departments, not “looking down on them” and imposing a change.

“There is no good reason to do this if it is not something that the Police Department and the Fire Department are comfortable with,” said Roy. “There is no way we would give you a service that would harm you or your family.”

Kayaker’s body recovered Sunday

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HALIFAX– A man who drowned while boating at Silver Lake Friday, June 3, has been recovered and identified. Shi Hu, 28, of Boston, was found in the water shortly after noon, Sunday, June 5, by State Police divers, according to Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz.

Local officials said that  at approximately 1:23 p.m., Friday, June 3, the Halifax Fire Department and the Halifax Police Department responded to a report that an individual had fallen into the water and was struggling offshore from the Brockton-owned water treatment facility located on Route 36, situated on Silver Lake straddling the Halifax/Pembroke line.

There were multiple witnesses to the incident, both from the water and shore, saying they believed the victim was fishing with a friend, according to officials. The friend was in a canoe, and the victim was in a kayak, which then overturned.

The friend attempted to reach the victim before he went underwater, but was unable to reach him in time. An investigation into how the drowning exactly occurred is ongoing. The victim was not believed to be wearing a life preserver, multiple sources say.

During the initial response, employees at the water treatment facility assisted firefighters by shuttling them on a facilities boat to the last known position of the victim. That initial search was not successful, at which time Halifax officials called for assistance from the State Police, Environmental Police and the Plymouth County Technical Response Team (Dive Unit).

More than a dozen Plymouth County communities responded, and scores of rescuers from local and state agencies were quickly on scene with specialized equipment, coordinated by Halifax Fire Chief Jason Vivieros.

Rescuers suspended the search on Friday evening, after a herculean effort to locate the missing boater with no success. By Saturday morning, the search and rescue mission had grimly turned into a recovery operation.

The State brought in a mobile command post and other assets to assist with the recovery efforts. Personnel from as far away as Rhode Island were seen and a staging area for divers was bustling with activity as firefighters, police, and others supported the efforts of divers in the lake from shore.

Advanced “side-scan” sonar was used to scour the lake bottom, along with cameras and other technologies, which had very low visibility, say sources. Sonar (sound navigation and ranging) uses sound waves to find and identify objects in the water. Side-scan sonar is a specialized system for detecting objects at the bottom of a body of water.

At around 11 a.m., Saturday, about a half-dozen family members of the victim arrived, and appeared to speak with various officials, who sources say updated them on the recovery efforts. They could be seen, visibly distraught, under a tent set up on a lawn near the mobile command post.

Local firefighters and police were seen comforting them and providing them with water and other amenities. The family members left after about two hours. Members of the press were politely asked to keep their distance, which they did, although distraught crying could be heard from hundreds of feet away.

On Sunday, the decedent was finally recovered, under gray skies and a light rain. Although State Police say they actually made the recovery, they did note that it was a “cooperative mission.” Within a couple of hours, almost everyone had left, leaving behind just a handful of law enforcement and fire officials.

Officials say they do not yet know how the man gained access to the lake (and if so, if it was via the treatment facility), although Halifax Police Chief Edward Broderick mentioned that Silver Lake is a popular fishing area, where fishing may be, “Tolerated…”, but, “not encouraged.”

Use of the lake is restricted because it is a component of the City of Brockton water supply. “No Trespassing” signs are widely visible around Silver Lake. Motor boats and swimming are strictly prohibited, but other restrictions Brockton puts on the lake were not specifically known.  Broderick could not say if the man was trespassing on the lake at the time of the incident.

The Plymouth County Tactical Response Unit, thanked all of the responding agencies. In a statement late Sunday evening, Chief Broderick on behalf of the Town of Halifax said, “Our sympathies go out to the family and friends of [the victim of] this tragedy.”

‘Traffic calming’considered: Plympton BOS bracing for Carver “redevelopment”; Memorial Day is not forgotten

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PLYMPTON– On Monday, June 6, the Plympton Board of Selectmen met and discussed just a few issues. Town Counsel Ilana Quirk was present to answer questions that the board had about a proposed “redevelopment” plan on the Plympton/Carver line that has concerned some Plympton residents who may abut the proposed industrial park. The board also approved a modified Memorial Day ceremony to be held on June 14, Flag Day.

Carver

“Redevelopment”

concerns heard

The board asked Town Counsel Ilana Quirk to come and speak with them about ideas she has for residents who are concerned about a proposed industrial park in Carver that if built, may negatively affect some Plympton residents and their property.

Although Carver’s plans are in the preliminary stages, they have mentioned taking land by eminent domain, and several Plympton residents near the proposed development have Plympton addresses but portions of their property lie in Carver.

Although eminent domain seems to be the topic that has upset Plympton residents the most, residents of Montello Street and Heather’s Path are also concerned about increased traffic that any development might cause in their area, and this was the focus of Town Counsel’s advice.

Quirk offered a variety of ideas. She focused on “traffic calming” measures that Plympton could unilaterally impose on streets under their jurisdiction, and possibly ask for Carver’s cooperation. This might be a speed bump, or simply in the way an intersection is designed, maybe a narrowing of the road, in order to send a message to drivers to slow down.

Physical barriers are illegal, according to Quirk– at least in the sense of blocking off traffic from one community to the other.

Signage could be used, she said in response to a question posed by Selectman John Traynor. Signs like “No Trucks” might be used to discourage traffic through Plympton, although Quirk noted that it then becomes an issue of enforcement.

Quirk also suggested that the state Department of Transportation, who has jurisdiction over Route 58, could be asked to consider putting in a light at the intersection of Montello Street and Route 58, although this is in Carver.

The board agreed that it was time to bring Highway Surveyor Jim Mulcahy before them to ask his advice on exactly who has jurisdiction over the roads in the area and any other ideas he may have.

Modified

Memorial Day

Due to safety concerns, Memorial Day ceremonies in Plympton were cancelled. That hasn’t stopped the Memorial Day committee from quickly coming up with a new plan to honor veterans and service members.

Selectmen approved that plan to hold a ceremony on Tuesday, June 14, Flag Day, at 6:30 p.m. on the Town Green. Although there will be no parade, a variety of activities have been scheduled, according to the committee.

There will be a reading of the names of Plympton’s fallen soldiers and veterans, pinning of Vietnam Veterans, essay readings of “What Memorial Day Means to Me” by Dennet School students, as well as recitations of “Flanders Fields” and “The Gettysburg Address”.

Participants are

still welcome

To participate, contact the Selectmen’s Assistant, Briggette Martins at Town House by phone at 781-585-2700 or by email at selectman.assistant@town.plympton.ma.us

Silver Lake HS Standout named Gatorade’s Massachusetts Baseball Player of the Year

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In its 31st year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with USA TODAY High School Sports,  announced Anthony Videtto of Silver Lake Regional High School as its 2015-16 Gatorade Massachusetts Baseball Player of the Year.

Videtto is the first Gatorade Massachusetts Baseball Player of the Year to be chosen from Silver Lake Regional High School.

The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field, distinguishes Videtto as Massachusetts’s best high school baseball player, and now is a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year,

Videtto joins an elite alumni association of past state award-winners in 12 sports, including Derek Jeter (1991-92, Kalamazoo HS, Mich.), Roy Halladay (1994-95, Arvada West HS, Colo.), David Price (2003-04, Blackman HS, Tenn.), Chipper Jones (1989-90, Bolles School, Fla.), Derek Lee (1992-93, El Camino HS, Calif.) and Jon Lester (2001-02).

The 6-foot-2, 195-pound senior infielder, outfielder and right-handed pitcher had led Silver Lake Regional High to a  14-2 record at the time of his selection. Videtto produced a .458 average with four home runs and 14 RBI with the bat through 16 games.

The 2016 Patriot League MVP, he also posted a 2-1 record with a 1.35 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 26.

Videtto has maintained a 4.21 weighted GPA in the classroom. A member of the National Honor Society, he has volunteered locally on behalf of the Yawkey Family Inn and as a youth baseball coach.

”We have played against Silver Lake Regional High for the past two years and Anthony Videtto is the best player we have faced,” said Leo Duggan, Oliver Ames High head coach. “He played the infield against us and was awesome, taking away a couple of hits. At the plate, he had four hits and we had a hard time figuring out how to pitch to him.”

Videtto has signed a National Letter of Intent to play baseball on scholarship at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by the Gatorade high school sports leadership team in partnership with USA TODAY High School Sports, which work with top sport-specific experts and a media advisory board of accomplished, veteran prep sports journalists to determine the state winners in each sport.

Videtto joins recent Gatorade Massachusetts Baseball Players of the Year Joe Walsh (2014-15, Plymouth North High School), Joe Freiday (2013-14, Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School), Ben Bowden (2012-13, Lynn English High School), Rhett Wiseman (2011-12, Buckingham Browne & Nichols School), John Gorman (2010ñ11, Catholic Memorial School), Kevin Ziomek (2009-10, Amherst Regional High School), Kyle McKenzie (2008ñ09, Thayer Academy), Scott Weismann (2007-08, Acton-Boxborough High School), and Jack McGeary (2006-07, Roxbury Latin).

To keep up to date on the latest happenings, become a fan of Gatorade Player of the Year on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. For more on the Gatorade Player of the Year program, including nomination information, a complete list of past winners and the announcement of the Gatorade National Player of the Year, visit www.gatorade.com/poy.

Zika virus – what you need to know

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Express Correspondent

HALIFAX/PLYMPTON– State and local officials are warning Massachusetts residents about the Zika virus. The virus, making headlines nationally, is making its way north from South and Central America into US territories such as Puerto Rico and onto the US mainland in states such as New Jersey, Texas and Florida.

Zika is usually spread by certain types of mosquitoes. It is extremely unlikely that anyone could become infected with Zika from a mosquito bite in Massachusetts because the kinds of mosquitoes that are known to carry Zika are not found here, say officials. But travelers to zika-ridden parts of the world are warned.

At this time, only people traveling to places with ongoing Zika virus outbreaks or engaging in sexual activity with someone who has traveled to these places are at risk for getting the infection. If you or your partner is planning to travel, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health recommends you check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices for information about where the Zika virus is occurring.

Most people– nearly 80%– who are exposed to Zika will not get sick. Those who do get sick may experience symptoms several days after infection that may include fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). Occasional immune system issues have occurred, rarely.

Although Zika virus is usually spread by mosquito, the virus can also be spread from a man to his partner during unprotected sexual contact and from a pregnant woman to her baby during pregnancy or around the time of birth.

Until more is known, pregnant women and couples trying to become pregnant should postpone travel to areas where Zika virus transmission is ongoing, according to the federal and state officials. Pregnant women should talk to their healthcare provider first and take great care to avoid mosquito bites during the trip. Further travel advice for pregnant women is available at this CDC website: http://www.cdc.gov/zika/pdfs/zika-pregnancytravel.pdf.

If you are trying to become pregnant and have potentially been exposed to Zika through travel or sexual activity, the CDC has provided suggested time periods to wait before trying to become pregnant, generally 8 or more weeks after exposure.  You should consult with your healthcare provider for more information.

Recently, there is also concern that Zika could be transmitted through blood transfusions from an infected donor, as well as breast milk, urine and saliva but transmission potential from these sources is still being investigated.

Although Zika virus has been known to cause infection in people in Africa and Asia since the 1950’s, outbreaks of Zika infection have occurred in areas of Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands only more recently. During 2015, Zika virus was found in South America for the first time. Since then, it has spread to many countries in Central and South America, the Caribbean and some of the Pacific Islands, resulting in a very large outbreak of public health concern.

Plympton Police, Fire Depts. call numbers for 2015

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PLYMPTON– The recently released annual town report from Plympton shows some interesting figures, which indicate that both Police and Fire Departments were busy in calendar year 2015.

The Plympton Police Department, led by Chief Patrick Dillon, reported an overall total of 1,145 violations, 51 motor vehicle accidents (leading to three fatalities), 172 records requests filled, and 35 firearm licenses issued.

Of the 1,145 violations, 30 people were arrested, while 107 received criminal citations ordering them to appear in court. 133 criminal cases were successfully closed and prosecuted, the document indicates.

171 citations for civil infractions were issued, as well.

The rest of the violations resulted in either verbal (370) or written (471) warnings.

Police report that they handled a wide variety of crimes, from personal to property incidents although the most serious crimes occurred in very small numbers– generally one or two for the year. But there are large numbers of motor vehicle infractions– which is consistent with Chief Dillon’s statements over time that the Plympton Police focus heavily on motor vehicle infractions.

Dillon also has a word to the wise: wear your seatbelt; it can save your life. Despite the fact that not wearing your seatbelt is not a primary violation– an officer cannot initiate a stop because you don’t have your seatbelt on, but you can be cited if you’re stopped for something else– the Plympton Police are cracking down this year on those who don’t buckle-up.

In 2015, they reported only seven citations for seatbelt violations. As of this week, they’ve already issued 22, more than tripling the total number from last year in the first five months of this year.

“It’s a point of pride for certain officers.  People will hopefully remember that ticket, and wear their seatbelt next time they get into their cars,” said Dillon.

Chief Dillon pointed out that the health or well-being of a police force or community couldn’t necessarily be measured objectively by the number of arrests, or crimes committed. Many factors are at play, he says.

Dillon also wanted the public to be aware that the department isn’t necessarily there to crack down on accidental forgetfulness. For example, at the discretion of an officer, an unregistered motor vehicle can be renewed roadside during a traffic stop if you happen to be carrying a mobile-phone and a credit card.

Because this information is updated to police databases immediately, you might drive away with a warning. Although this isn’t an invitation to stop taking care of your responsibilities as a car-owner, it is a huge break for anyone pulled over who accidently forgot to renew their registration.

The Fire Department, under the leadership of Chief Warren Borsari, reports that his department responded to 496 calls in 2015, representing 371 EMS calls and 125 fire service calls.

He reports, as does the Plympton Police Department, a steady increase in call volume over the last several years.

Memorial Day in Halifax

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HALIFAX– With inclement weather predicted, followed by torrential downpours on Memorial Day morning, traditional parades and outdoor ceremonies were canceled by town officials, a decision that was very hard to make, according to Selectman Kim Roy.

“The veterans we’re honoring often suffered through war. We can get a little wet,” she said the night before the event, but ultimately safety concerns won out. Officials were able to save parts of the ceremony by moving it indoors, to the Great Hall inside Town Hall. The observance was small, abbreviated and over in less than 45 minutes.

Town Moderator John Bruno served as Master of Ceremonies, and opened and closed the event with a brief speech.

An invocation, and later a benediction was given by Father Kwan Lee, of Our Lady of the Lake Church.

Girl Scouts sang the national anthem, followed by essay readings by elementary school students from first grade through sixth grade on what Memorial Day means to them.

They had each won a contest for their grade among their classmates. The students were Wiley Makepeace, from first grade; Madison O’Connor, second grade; Madison Hogan, third grade; Joseph Noonan fourth grade; James Keegan, fifth grade; and Katherine Ng, sixth grade.

Each of the students was introduced by a member of the Board of Selectmen– Chairman Troy Garron, Selectman Kim Roy or Selectman Thomas Millias.

Later in the ceremony, Assistant Veteran’s Agent Steven Littlefield gave a poignant speech, the text of which is printed here, which touched on what Memorial Day means to him – certainly not, as he points out, a weekend for shopping.

Although the Memorial Day parade is an exciting event for the community, and many expressed their disappointment with the unfortunate weather, the purpose of Memorial Day was not forgotten in Halifax on Monday, and perhaps was even more vivid with the backdrop of falling rain.

Memorial Day thoughts by Assistant Veteran’s Agent Steven Littlefield:

“I want to begin by touching upon the significance of what we talk about when we talk about Memorial Day. Over 25,000 service members were killed during the Revolutionary War, over half a million during the Civil War, 116,000 during WWI, 400,000 during WWII, 54,000 during the Korean War, 58,000 during Vietnam, and to date, over 6,500 between Iraq and Afghanistan. This is not even an all-inclusive list of the conflicts the United States has been part of, and it adds up to well over one million men and women who have died in defense of our freedom.

Today is the one day every year we set aside to remember this. The American flag is at half-mast in the morning to pay tribute, and at noon, the flag is raised to full height by the living, lifting the memories of those gone but not forgotten in our promise to continue the fight for liberty and justice for all.

For some, today has morphed into something much different than what it was originally intended to be. After the Civil War, this day was originally called Decoration Day. As the name implies, it was a day for the nation to decorate the graves of the brave members of our armed services who paid the ultimate sacrifice for something bigger than themselves. However, as we fast-forward almost 150 years, we sometimes need to remind ourselves what today is really about. Everywhere we look, we’re flooded with new car ads, mattress sales, and even grocery store deals all marketing Memorial Day weekend as a time when you can come out and save some money; not really what Memorial Day was intended for.

As a Veteran’s agent for the town, one of the requirements is to be a Veteran. I have a lot of friends who are currently in the military and ones that I have deployed with in the past. I also have some friends that really don’t know much about the military or the history about our heroes. On one hand, there are people who have never been taught the true meaning of today and everything it stands for. For them, it’s a long weekend and trips to the beach with no real significance behind it. On the other hand, there are people who will focus all of their energy in doing everything they can to honor those who died; to make sure that they are remembered and taken care of. They won’t even contemplate having a good time themselves. These are often people that have been very personally affected by the loss of a service member. Many have long lasting feelings of guilt because they are here with us, and their comrades are not. They take this holiday to heart at the very core of what it means.

While everyone celebrates in their own way, none of them necessarily being “right” or “wrong,” perhaps somewhere in the middle of these two groups of people is a good place to start. First and foremost, it is imperative that we take the time to at least have some personal reflection on what today is about; to think about the over one million service members who had to make that sacrifice, and equally as important, for each and every one of their Gold Star families who received that letter in the mail, call on the phone, or knock at the door informing them that their loved ones were gone and that they would have to carry on without them.

Friday, I was lucky enough to go to the dedication of the Massachusetts Fallen Heroes Memorial in Boston. There were 218 names on that wall of men and women from Massachusetts who have died defending this country since September 11th. It was a very moving and powerful ceremony. Through all the speeches, one of the consistencies was that no one wants their loved ones to be forgotten. There is certainly no shortage of small gestures we can do to honor our heroes and to keep their memories alive, and the sum of these small gestures can end up equaling something big. We can come out to this very cemetery and help place flags at the graves of our fallen as was the original intent of this day, or we can visit the loved one of someone who was lost in Vietnam, Iraq or Afghanistan to give comfort. Perhaps we can decorate our homes in tribute, maybe we march in a parade commemorating these fallen heroes, or simply watch from the streets or sit in the audience realizing that we are lucky to live in such a great country where men and women would sacrifice themselves for the greater good.

But what is the greater good? What is it that these heroes sacrificed their own lives for?

They sacrificed their lives in the moment for their buddies that they were on the battlefield with, the men and women on their left and right.

They made that sacrifice for this great country and little hometowns like this one. They sacrificed for its people and everything that it stands for– life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Taking all of this into consideration, we should absolutely enjoy ourselves this weekend. We should enjoy living the life that we are able to live because of their sacrifices.

We should have cookouts, relax with friends and family, play horseshoes and have a cocktail, but we should do all this while remembering why it is that we are able to do it. So let’s enjoy today while reflecting on what it took to allow us to enjoy it.

Let’s teach our kids about Memorial Day, what it means, and the heroes that have gone before us.This way, when they’re our age, the legends will live on, the parades will still march, and the stories will remain told, because all it takes is one generation to forego these traditions and they will dwindle away into a distant memory. Today, lets honor our heroes, enjoy ourselves, and remember that freedom is not free.”

The Halifax Congregational Church will have its Annual Plant Sale and Luncheon Saturday, June 4 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m,.rain or shine.  The church is located at 503 Plymouth St., in Halifax on Rte. 106.

There will be a variety of annuals and perennials to choose from to give color and beauty to your garden or planting beds.  We will also sell various gardening items from our garden shop and raffle tickets for a chance to win a Tiffany style dragonfly lamp.

Our luncheon starts at 11 a.m. and will include Portuguese Kale soup, a big crowd pleasure which sells out fast!  Please be sure to bring your hearty appetite.

We look forward to seeing you at the sale and assisting you with your plant selections.

Burn victim MedFlighted to Boston

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A young man in his thirties was burned over approximately 40% of his upper body after a gas grill explosion.  Crews responded for a call late Sunday afternoon to a reported propane tank explosion at 131 Lake Street in Plympton. “He was taken to a burn center in Boston. The victim did not breathe in the propane, which would have compromised his airway. This was a good indicator for the man’s recovery,” he said. The victim’s name has not been released due to medical privacy.      Following the investigation it appears that the man had started his grill and it went out.  As he went to re-ignite the grill, propane had pooled causing the explosion.

“Propane is used all the time but if used incorrectly it can be dangerous,” said Chief Warren Borsari.

Boston Med flight was requested to airlift the victim to Boston. The landing zone was at Billingsgate Farm, said Fire Chief Warren Borsari.