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You are here: Home / Archives for News

Halifax Gold & Silver Coin Shop’s license is in jeopardy

January 30, 2015 By Mike Melanson

HALIFAX — Selectmen, who act as the town’s licensing authority, voted to allow the Halifax Gold & Silver Coin Shop to continue to do business at 272 Plymouth St. until the business’s license expires on April 30, as long as there are no more complaints or infractions.

The business must cooperate with police and use a system of getting the identifications of all people selling goods to the shop and getting color photos of all goods sold. It must also comply with zoning regulations governing the display of a sandwich sign in front of the shop.

Selectmen on Wednesday Jan. 28 voted, 2-1, to warn the Halifax Gold & Silver Coin Shop after a disciplinary hearing.

Selectmen Troy Garron and Michael Schleiff voted for the measure. Selectman Kim Roy voted against it, and said she favored terminating the business’s license.

Police Chief Edward Broderick said a couple of incidents led up to the need for a hearing.

Broderick said Officer Robert McDonnell checks with the shop every week.

Police speak with shop owner Matthew Chiaramonte, and most of the time, it’s great. However, every few weeks, there seems to be a lapse in the shop’s operations. Every couple of months, there needs to be a reminder to do something, usually different things. For instance, the last few times, the photographs have not been color photographs, Broderick said.

“It’s been a challenge, to be honest with you,” he said. “It’s little things like that that we have to keep doing on a constant basis.”

On Dec. 11, McDonnell said Police Sgt. Patrick Sterling said there was a call reporting a break-in and jewelry stolen from a house. Sterling gave McDonnell a list of the stolen items, and the names of people who might try to sell them. McDonnell spoke with a female worker at the Halifax Gold & Silver Coin Shop, who indicated she had not seen the items. Two hours later, Sterling met him at the shop, and the items were there. The woman was not there, but Chiaramonte was there, and he indicated that the shop did not log the sale of the items, which turned out to be stolen, because the person who sold them was a repeat customer.

Roy said Chiaramonte agreed to track people selling items and items sold and use a specific program to do so.

There are a lot of break-ins because of the drug problem, people who steal items and sell them for drug money, she said.

“It’s been not a great partnership between the town and you,” she said.

A police detective from Rockland developed the tracking system that selectmen require the coin shop to use, Roy said.

“It’s been an excellent program, a good program,” she said. “I value businesses that follow the rules. You’re not following the rules.”

Chiaramonte said he has run his business for three years, six days a week, and this was the first time there has been a problem and what happened was a malfunction or breakdown.

“I’ve returned numerous things to this police department numerous times,” he said. “Numerous times, citizens have gotten their stolen items back because of our shop.”

Schleiff said Chiaramonte should have come to selectmen to discuss his options if there was a problem with the program.

“You can see something is off in this case here. Something’s not right at all,” he said.

Garron said that if he was still a cop, he would have charged Chiaramonte with receiving stolen property.

“You’re belligerent. You don’t really care,” he said.

Chiaramonte said a woman came into the shop asking if a guy had brought in the items, and he returned the items.

“I have him,” he said. “The jewelry was returned to the crying lady in my shop.”

Chiaramonte said he found the way police and selectmen were portraying him to be really aggravating and that 98-percent to 99-percent of Halifax citizens would not believe the way the Halifax Gold & Silver Coin Shop is being treated.

“It makes me look like a crook,” he said. “This is terrible, terrible, the way it makes me look.”

Schleiff said there are some things Chiaramonte should expect being in the business that he is in.

“You’re in a tough business. It’s scrutinized. It’s frowned upon. It’s not an easy business,” he said. “I think the license expiring is a better way to see how this thing ends one way or the other.”

Zoning Enforcement Officer Thomas Millias said Chiaramonte keeps putting a sandwich sign in front of the shop despite telling him to put the sign away.

The commissioner has fined the shop owner, who has not paid the fines, Millias said.

“We’ve had several heated discussions over the last several years over signage,” he said.

Chiaramonte said he is busy trying to run a good business.

“It’s a depression. I’ve got four kids to feed, and you’re worried about a sign?” he said.

Filed Under: News

Plympton and Halifax brace for blizzard

January 26, 2015 By Mike Melanson

     Schools will be closed on Tuesday, and warming centers and shelters will open, as Plympton and Halifax on Monday braced for a blizzard that could dump two to three feet of snow and knock power out for days.
     Monday afternoon, Halifax Highway Surveyor Robert Badore said the town had a couple of loaders and a couple of trucks on standby. A regular corps of drivers who have been with Halifax for years were ready to go, with trucks all fixed up and waiting for the action.
     “We’re pretty well all set. We’re just waiting for it to snow now,” he said. “We’ve got plenty of money now, but with this storm, that will put a dent in it. You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do.”
     Badore said who knows, but half of the storm might blow out to sea. Nevertheless, people should expect the worst, he said.
     “Stay home and stay off the roads. It makes it easier for us to do our job,” he said.
     Halifax Council on Aging Director Barbara Brenton said the Halifax Elementary School will open as a drop-in warming center starting at 8 p.m. tonight, Monday, for people who lose power.
     Halifax, Plympton and Kingston plan to open an emergency regional shelter, if needed, starting at 8 a.m. Tuesday at Silver Lake Regional High School, she said.
     Plympton Police Chief Patrick Dillon said to expect a winter storm of long duration with heavy, wet snow and power outages.
     “We have a hardy bunch in this town, I can tell you from past storms. I’m proud of our residents,” he said. “Please be patient.”
     Stay away from and report downed wires, as they might be energized.
     Use caution when using generators or alternative heat or light sources, such as candles, he said.
     Dillon said no vehicles may be parked in the street and if they are they will be towed.
     Call 911 for assistance and police and fire will be dispatched, he said.
     The Plympton Town House will open as a warming center on Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and on Wednesday from 7 a.m. to when needed. The warming center is a place for people to get warm, charge cell phones and get a cup of coffee if they lose power, he said.
     Dillon said town departments are not taking chances the storm will fizzle but have taken the time and will be prepared.
     “I’d rather be prepared and not needed, than not prepared and needed,” he said.
     Plympton Fire Chief Warren Bosari, the town’s emergency management director, said he is staffing the fire department with an additional eight firefighter-paramedics starting at 6 p.m. today, Monday, until at least through 6 p.m. Tuesday.
     The police department will add staff and have four officers working on each shift, Bosari said.
     Both ambulances will be staffed at advanced life support levels. A rescue engine company will answer major calls such as structure fires, extrications and motor vehicle accidents. Engine 3 will respond with an ambulance on medical calls, along with a shift commander, Bosari said.
     Bosari said he will send a firefighter-EMT to help staff the regional shelter at Silver Lake High School starting at 8 a.m. Tuesday.
     The Plympton Town House is an American Red Cross shelter, and so is the Dennett Elementary School. If power is lost, the Dennett School cannot be fully heated, and the Town House is the backup shelter. If the regional shelter at Silver Lake fills, or the roads are impassable, Bosari said the Plympton Town House will be used as a shelter.
     “My residents, they’re a hardy bunch,” he said. “People are good for a couple of days. In this town, they’re used to it.”
     Bosari said there is no municipal water supply in Plympton, and he might need to go to the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency for help with water or another need. MEMA might be able to send a trailer with potable water, if they have the resources.
     People now might be filling their tubs with water or 50-gallon drums with water for their farm animals, but Bosari said he is concerned with what might happen if the water runs out.
     “There’s a serious public health risk,” he said.
     Bosari said his first priority is to keep the roads open in order to let police and fire respond to calls, and then to answer 911 calls.
     “Almost every one of my trucks has chainsaws, and men trained to use them,” he said.
     In Halifax, Halifax CERT or Community Emergency Response Team volunteers will help staff the warming center and shelter, Brenton said.
     The two Halifax Council on Aging vans will be available to transport people to the center or shelter, and police and fire will help, she said.
     Halifax Town Administrator Charlie Seelig said residents should call the Halifax Police Department business lines at 781-293-3511, 781-293-3533, or 781-293-5761 for assistance and information. Please do not call “911” unless it is an emergency, he said.
     Pets are not allowed at the Halifax Elementary School. Pets are allowed at Silver Lake High School, but owners must bring all items and supplies for their pets. Pets should be caged or heavily restrained at all times, Seelig said.
     Brenton said the private Halifax Mobile Home Park will open the community room, which can be powered by a generator.
     She said the town and townspeople are pulling together as a team.
     “We just ask people to keep a watch on their neighbors, help each other out, check on everyone and make sure they’re safe, that they have food and water,” she said.
     School Superintendent John Tuffy said the warming center at the Halifax Elementary School and regional shelter at the Silver Lake High School opened at 6 p.m. Monday.
     Tuffy said the regional school district is responsible for plowing the parking lots and removing snow from the regional high school and middle school, and the towns are responsible for the same at the Halifax, Kingston and Plympton elementary schools.
     He said school officials would need to see how much snow there is, the conditions of the roads, and what kind of power there is at the school and in the towns before deciding whether there will be school on Wednesday.
     “We’ll deal with it as it goes along,” he said Monday night. “I don’t know if it will be one for the record books, but there will certainly be no school tomorrow.”
     All of the school buildings have emergency generators if power is lost, but “we’re not really designed to be disconnected from the grid forever. We’ll have to see what happens.”
     In Halifax, Seelig said all curbside pickups of trash and recyclables scheduled for Tuesday will take place on Thursday. All curbside pickups of trash and recyclables scheduled for Wednesday will take place on Friday.
     The Recycling Center will be open tonight, Monday, from 5 to 8 p.m. It is tentative whether the center will be open on Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Seelig said.
     Halifax Town Hall will be closed on Tuesday. Tentatively, the Town Hall will be open during normal hours on Wednesday, he said.
     The Halifax Board of Selectmen’s meeting scheduled for Tuesday has been rescheduled for Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
     The Halifax Finance Committee’s meeting with the Finance Committees in Plympton and Kingston scheduled for tonight, Monday night, has been canceled.
     The Holmes Public Library will close at 6 p.m. today, Monday, and will be closed all day Tuesday. If the roads, walkways, and parking lot are clear and power has not gone out, the library plans to be open regular hours, noon to 8 p.m., on Wednesday. However, it may be advisable to call ahead at 781-293-2271 to confirm that the library is open before heading out, Seelig said.
     The Halifax Council on Aging /Pope’s Tavern will be closed on Tuesday and there will be no regular van service available on Tuesday or Wednesday.
     The volunteer luncheon for all Salvation Army ringers scheduled for Tuesday at the Council on Aging has been postponed until this Friday at noon. Please call the Council at 781-293-7313 if you can make it this Friday, Seelig said.

Filed Under: News

Plympton considers prefab police, fire station

January 15, 2015 By Mike Melanson

By Mike Melanson
Express Associate Editor

PLYMPTON – Selectman John Henry and Town Coordinator Dale Pleau said there might be a way to build a new combined police and fire station with no additional impact to taxpayers.

On Monday, Jan. 12, Henry said Plympton could cut project costs in half if the town were to order a prefabricated building to house both departments.

Henry, Pleau and Police Chief Patrick Dillon met earlier Monday to discuss the idea, and as a group plan also to meet with Fire Chief Warren Bosari.

“We owe it to the townspeople to at least bring them something,” Henry said. “Not a Cadillac, but a Chevrolet.”

Pleau said Plympton does not need to start from scratch when it comes to a new public safety building, but that there are canned products that might be options.

Henry said the town would pay half the cost by using pre-fabricated, pre-engineered buildings that would be built elsewhere and delivered. The town would not have to pay prevailing wages in that case, he said.

It would cost some $7-million to design, engineer and build a public safety building, or $549,000 in annual payments if the town finances the project over 20 years at a 2.8-percent interest rate, Pleau said.

“Cut that number in half,” he said. “It would not even hit the tax rate.”

Selectmen Chairman Mark Russo sat in the audience and spoke as a resident because he is an abutter to one of the properties being considered for a new public safety facility.

His wife, Kimberly Russo, asked about the aesthetics of a pre-fabricated public safety building and questioned whether residents would enjoy looking at it.

Henry said the buildings can be covered with clapboards, and Pleau said they can be covered with a brick facade.

“Basically, you’ll have modular buildings, so you can cut the cost in half,” Henry said. “It would be Town Meeting’s decision.”

In other action Monday, selectmen voted, 3-0, to consult with town counsel about a Town Meeting warrant article to establish an enterprise fund, drawing from Comcast and cable subscriber revenues, to join a regional community TV studio with Halifax and Carver or to start an Internet TV station for Plympton.

Russo said he wanted to check the wording of the funding article with town counsel so that she is up to speed and the other two towns should know that Plympton has the right article.

Russo said he is concerned that Plympton might not be able to join with Halifax and Carver if the towns’ share of funding is subject to annual appropriation.

“This is a good starting point, to start with (town counsel),” he said. “I just want to have this pinned down.”

Henry said he also plans to present voters at Town Meeting with an alternative to joining Halifax and Carver, although either option requires that voters approve the enterprise fund and appropriate such funds every year for cable broadcasting.

Henry said Plympton should form an Internet TV station, with no studio and coverage of selectmen and other government meetings to be broadcast online. The community of Douglas has a similar Internet TV operation, he said.

Selectman Colleen Thompson said she thinks Henry’s idea is interesting, although lots of seniors do not have the Internet.

“I think it would be good to have both options,” she said.

Henry said a lot of people do not have cable, and arrangements could be made to get DVD copies of meetings to residents who do have the Internet.

Meeting notes

* Selectmen voted, 3-0, to put a stop sign at the end of Cross Street, with a sign ahead of it warning motorists of the stop side ahead, and put two signs on West Street on either side of Cross Street that would be “advisory stop” or “curve ahead” signs. “It would improve the situation considerably,” Russo said. “Sounds good to me,” Thompson said.

Filed Under: News

Silver Lake teachers get contract

January 15, 2015 By Mike Melanson

By Mike Melanson
Express Associate Editor

KINGSTON — The Silver Lake Regional School Committee and the Silver Lake Education Association on Thursday Jan. 8 ratified a new teachers’ contract.

The three-year contract is retroactive to July and provides pay raises of 1.8-percent, 1.9-percent and 2-percent over the next three years, according to School Committee member Maureen Springer of Plympton, who praised the teachers union members.

“We thank you very much for your patience. We hope we can work together well into the future as we have in the past,” she said.

High School English teacher Kimberly Orcutt, who is president of the SLEA, thanked the community for their patience and support, and said teachers are glad to be back into their regular routines.

“I wanted to thank you all, the community, the teachers, for working with us in the negotiations,” she said. “We’re back together again. Thank you.”

Level-services budget presented

Tuffy presented a draft $23.7-million fiscal 2016 budget that would increase spending by 5.3-percent or $1.2-million over this year.

The budget is level-services because it assumes that all of this year’s programs funded this year will continue at the same level of service as next year, he said.

Tuffy said the spending plan would add a Grade 8 math teacher to address student scores and curriculum changes. It would also add funding for an assistant swim coach and freshmen volleyball coach at the high school, as both sports are popular.

The budget assumes that health insurance costs will increase by 5-percent. It also funds the new assessment the district must pay to the Plymouth County Retirement Board, and assumes an adjustment for Medicare costs. There are no adjustments for utilities and shared costs yet figured into the draft budget.

“This is the first time you are looking at it,” Tuffy told school board members. “Please take it home and look at it.”

Capital needs funding approved

The School Committee approved a $619,000 capital needs package, funding it in this year’s budget by drawing from the district’s $1.1-million in excess and deficiency or free cash funds.

“We’re using half of it. That’s conservative,” said School Committee member Mark Guidoboni of Kingston.

The plans includes funding to:

* Add indoor and outdoor cameras: $22,000.

* Set up a new campus-wide, two-way radio system: $22,000.

* Install a new middle school keyless entry system: $5,000.

* Replace the accounting system: $90,000.

* Fund the district’s OPEB liability: $100,000.

* Repair and resurface the track: $120,000.

* Repair and resurface the tennis courts: $30,000.

* Repair parking lot cracks: $11,000.

* Replace the JV baseball backstop: $19,000.

* Build one new athletic storage shed, do prep work for a second such shed: $60,000.

* Build a new middle school storage shed: $18,000.

* Buy additional high school and middle school furniture: $11,000.

* Install an additional 75 high school lockers: $17,000.

* Conduct an exterior envelope evaluation of the high school and middle school: $24,000.

* Resurface carpentry and metal fabrication floors: $40,000.

* Study the feasibility of installing solar generation facilities at the high school and middle school: $10,000.

* Make safety repairs to Sirrico field lighting poles: $20,000.

Filed Under: News

Brook St. hearing had large crowd

January 15, 2015 By Mike Melanson

By Mike Melanson
Express Associate Editor

PLYMPTON — The Zoning Board of Appeals on Tuesday, Jan. 13, met and opened a public hearing on an appeal filed by neighbors of an occupancy permit granted to a men’s retreat for addiction recovery at 55 Brook St., the Brook Retreat.

ZBA Chairman David Alberti said the meeting lasted for two-and-one-half hours and included comments from attorneys representing neighbors, Brook Retreat and the town, from a Brook Retreat resident from Kingston under treatment for addiction, and from the public.

“It was a well attended event. I’ve been on the ZBA for a number of years and didn’t see one this well attended,” Alberti said.

Tuesday’s ZBA hearing was continued to Wednesday, Jan. 21 at 7 p.m. at the Plympton Town House.

Alberti said Brook Retreat’s principals invited ZBA members to do a walk-through of 55 Brook St. on Monday, Jan. 19 at 1 p.m., in order for members to view the living conditions, see the facility and ask questions.

All three selectmen attended Tuesday’s hearing, although none spoke, and a lot of abutters also attended, he said.

Neighbor Larry Richmond is appealing a building permit granted by acting Zoning Enforcement Officer Thomas Millias that allows occupancy of as many as 10 people, plus two staff members, at 55 Brook St.

Richmond said neighbors do not question the integrity or intentions of Brook Retreat’s principals, but oppose letting them rent to more than the four people allowed under town bylaw.

He said the proponents should prove that they qualify for state exemptions to town zoning for educational programs, and neighbors should not have to prove that Brook Retreat does not.

“It’s still a jump ball, I think,” he said. “We’re doing what we feel is right. We’re fighting it.”

Joseph Carroll, co-director of Brook Retreat, declined comment.

Carroll said Brook Retreat would have a resource table at a heroin and opiate abuse forum and resource expo, hosted and moderated by state Rep. Tom Calter, D-Kingston, to be held Feb. 10 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Silver Lake Regional High School.

Filed Under: News

Halifax appoints new officers

January 15, 2015 By Mike Melanson

By Mike Melanson
Express Associate Editor

HALIFAX – The town has two new full-time police officers: Ryan Simpson and Patrick Deroo.

Selectmen on Tuesday Jan. 13 voted, 3-0, to appoint Simpson and Deroo as full-time officers, on the recommendation of Police Chief Edward Broderick.

They have been in training for four months and are appointed permanent intermittent officers, Broderick said.

“They’re ready to go, ready to go work for us,” he said.

Broderick said Halifax has gotten a waiver from Civil Service for Simpson and Deroo to start working full-time until the next full-time police officer academy, which starts in March and which both officers will attend.

“All that is in place and ready to go,” he said.

Broderick said Simpson and Deroo have rotated through every shift and been checked by sergeants and officers, and he is pleased with their commitment.

“No complaints. They’ve both worked out very well,” he said.

Broderick said the appointments will help Halifax avoid overtime costs and get the police department back to 11 officers on the road.

Selectman Kim Roy said she appreciates Broderick hiring full-timers from the town’s pool of permanent intermittent officers, from among known people, and she is impressed by them.

“We appreciate the way you’ve been managing your budget and keeping these things on target,” she said.

Meeting Notes

Town Administrator Charlie Seelig said Gov. Charlie Baker indicated he would release $100-million in Chapter 90 highway aid that had been approved by the state Legislature but withheld by former governor Deval Patrick. As a result, Chapter 90 aid to Halifax will increase from $270,938 to $406,407, Seelig said.

Selectmen accepted a state recycling grant of $6,500 to purchase a new 40-yard roll-off container for plastics and to print and mail educational materials on recycling to residents.

Selectmen voted to sign a contract with Lakeville to use that town’s animal shelter when needed.

Selectmen scheduled a hearing on the way properties are being turned over, bought and sold at Halifax Gold & Silver Coin Shop, 272 Plymouth St., on the recommendation of Broderick, who said there is an open case regarding stolen items in connection with the pawn shop. The hearing will take place on Jan.26 at 8:45 p.m.

Selectmen voted to send a letter to the owner of USA Fitness, 430 Plymouth St., about the legality under town bylaw of the business’s advertising for and buying second-hand items, sometimes in exchange for time in the gym, that is taking place in the gym storefront.

Selectmen met in executive session for collective bargaining for the firefighters’ contract with Fire Chief Jason Viveiros.

Selectmen voted to ask the public to submit a current photo from the calendar year 2014 that has something to do with Halifax for consideration to be put on the cover of the Annual Town Report.

Filed Under: News

January 15, 2015 By Kathleen Peloquin, Media Editor

By Mike Melanson
Express Associate Editor

KINGSTON — The Silver Lake Regional School Committee and the Silver Lake Education Association on Thursday Jan. 8 ratified a new teachers’ contract.

The three-year contract is retroactive to July and provides pay raises of 1.8-percent, 1.9-percent and 2-percent over the next three years, according to School Committee member Maureen Springer of Plympton, who praised the teachers union members.

“We thank you very much for your patience. We hope we can work together well into the future as we have in the past,” she said.
High School English teacher Kimberly Orcutt, who is president of the SLEA, thanked the community for their patience and support, and said teachers are glad to be back into their regular routines.

“I wanted to thank you all, the community, the teachers, for working with us in the negotiations,” she said. “We’re back together again. Thank you.”

Level-services budget presented

Tuffy presented a draft $23.7-million fiscal 2016 budget that would increase spending by 5.3-percent or $1.2-million over this year. The budget is level-services because it assumes that all of this year’s programs funded this year will continue at the same level of service as next year, he said.
Tuffy said the spending plan would add a Grade 8 math teacher to address student scores and curriculum changes. It would also add funding for an assistant swim coach and freshmen volleyball coach at the high school, as both sports are popular.
The budget assumes that health insurance costs will increase by 5-percent. It also funds the new assessment the district must pay to the Plymouth County Retirement Board, and assumes an adjustment for Medicare costs. There are no adjustments for utilities and shared costs yet figured into the draft budget.
“This is the first time you are looking at it,” Tuffy told school board members. “Please take it home and look at it.”

Capital needs funding approved

The School Committee approved a $619,000 capital needs package, funding it in this year’s budget by drawing from the district’s $1.1-million in excess and deficiency or free cash funds.
“We’re using half of it. That’s conservative,” said School Committee member Mark Guidoboni of Kingston.
The plans includes funding to:

  • Add indoor and outdoor cameras: $22,000.
  • Set up a new campus-wide, two-way radio system: $22,000.
  • Install a new middle school keyless entry system: $5,000.
  • Replace the accounting system: $90,000.
  • Fund the district’s OPEB liability: $100,000.
  • Repair and resurface the track: $120,000.
  • Repair and resurface the tennis courts: $30,000.
  • Repair parking lot cracks: $11,000.
  • Replace the JV baseball backstop: $19,000.
  • Build one new athletic storage shed, do prep work for a second such shed: $60,000.
  • Build a new middle school storage shed: $18,000.
  • Buy additional high school and middle school furniture: $11,000.
  • Install an additional 75 high school lockers: $17,000.
  • Conduct an exterior envelope evaluation of the high school and middle school: $24,000.
  • Resurface carpentry and metal fabrication floors: $40,000.
  • Study the feasibility of installing solar generation facilities at the high school and middle school: $10,000.
  • Make safety repairs to Sirrico field lighting poles: $20,000.

https://plymptonhalifaxexpress.com/230/

Filed Under: News

Obituary: Dorothy Ellen (Keach) Lundsgaard, 92 of Halifax

September 25, 2014 By Kathleen Peloquin, Media Editor

 

Dorothy Ellen (Keach) Lundsgaard, 92 of Halifax, formerly of West Roxbury, passed away on Wednesday September 17, 2014. Daughter of the late Perley A. and Mary I. (Bjork) Keach, she was born on March 23, 1922 in Boston. Dorothy enjoyed traveling, sewing, knitting, and enjoyed spending time at the Halifax Senior Center. She was a thesis typist for Boston University Medical Students, from her home, in the 1960’s-1970’s.

Dorothy was the wife of the late Niels Lundsgaard. She is survived by her daughter Donna M. (Derochers) Lovett of Halifax. Dorothy was the sister of the late John and Robert Keach and the late Arlene Pearce. She was the grandmother of Eric and Marc Derochers and the great grandmother to Ava, Samantha, and Caitlyn Derochers.

Visiting hours in the Sullivan Funeral Homes, Corner Route 14 & 58, HANSON, on Sunday from 2-4 PM followed by a service at 4PM. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Cranberry Hospice, 36 Cordage Park Cir, Plymouth, MA 02360.

 

Filed Under: News

Officials plan bog site visit

September 25, 2014 By Kathleen Peloquin, Media Editor

Hearing on gravel removal is continued
By Tracy F. Seelye, Express editor
editor@whitmanhansonexpress.com

HANSON — The Board of Selectmen, following a site visit by members Don Howard and Bill Scott, Conservation Agent Laurie Muncy and a member of the Conservation Commission, will reopen a hearing at 8 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 30 on the application of Great Cedar Cattle Feeders Inc. of Halifax for a soil removal permit.

Howard has professional experience with bogs and gravel management, and Scott is a bog owner.

Great Cedar Farm Manager Demetrius Haseotes explained at the hearing Sept. 16 that the work involves removal of 3,400 cubic yards of soil from cranberry bogs at Pierce Avenue and Robinson Street in Hanson for use at the company’s agricultural property in Halifax. The company has already removed 600 cubic yards of gravel from the site.

He aplogized for beginning the work without a permit because he did not know it was necessary. The company’s bog manager Jesus Rivera was unable to attend the hearing.

“We had no idea we were to come before you,” Haseotes said. “What we were doing, we thought, was a routine operation and maintenance of our cranberry bog. We meant no disrespect to the board or any of the neighbors.”

Abutters expressed concern about the effect of the soil removal on drainage in the area, dust and traffic as well as the legality of the gravel removal operation if the project fits that definition. Selectmen all shared concerns voiced by abutters, but expressed the need for more information before rendering a decision.

“This is serious amounts of gravel being moved,” Selectmen Chairman David Soper said. “I ask this board to consider what we have going on here.”

 “Obviously it is a gravel removal operation,” Scott said. “Whether it’s consistent with the farm plan … and may or may not be an exemption to the farm, that may be something to be decided outside this forum.”

Haseotes said the objective for the work is to create a “landing area” for trucks during picking season for safer and easier access to the property away from wetlands and wildlife. He noted that his father had a dangerous car accident on site last winter when his vehicle skidded on ice and ended up rolling over the vehicle in a bog pit.

“That day, when things got settled, we started to look at the bog and how to make things much safer,” Haseotes said. “It could have been a lot worse.”

He pledged to do the work during “normal business hours” and assured selectmen it was not a commercial operation.

Soper said that, from the fenceline, it appears excavation is close to the fence on the Robinson Street side and the operation should be required to truck out soil via Route 27 to control traffic and dust.

“It’s a big dust storm down there,” said Pierce Avenue resident Alan Spera, whose property abuts the bog area on two sides. “The actual excavation area is approximately 120 feet from my property line.”

He said work began in the busy area in August — there are town ballfields, an American Legion Post and Boss Academy of Performing Arts also located on Robinson Street, which forms an “L” intersection with Pierce Avenue.

“The town specifically does not allow gravel removal operations in any zone,” Spera added. “The only exception is if there is an accessory use … [or] related to that use.”

Haseotes argued his work fits that definition, but Spera — while he appreciated the apology — countered that removing the soil from the site is not an accesory or related use.

“I think we need a lot more information before we can support what you want to do — if we, in fact, are going to do that — and you are going to have to supply that information to us,” Spera said.

Robert White, a Robinson Street resident, spoke about the effect of dust and truck traffic.

“It’s lit up when trucks come out of the bogs,” he said of his house. “We have to keep our windows shut because of the dust coming off the roads. … It looks like the Big Dig.”

He said there are people going in out of the bogs at all hours of the night.

Where the dust is concerned, Haseotes said this has been one of the driest seasons he has seen in 25 years of farming.

Indian Trail resident Kim Wilson was chiefly concerned with the effect of the bog work on drainage.

“I’m looking at it not to stop someone from using the property they own but what effect that might have on myself, financially,” she said. “Gravel is drainage.”

Haseotes said he does not think work is close enough to the buffer area to affect drainage, but Conservation Commission Chairman John Kemmett said the company’s farm plan should contain answers to a lot of the questions being asked.

“I think it’s important that the board see that plan so they understand if you’re in compliance,” Kemmett said.

Selectman Bruce Young asked how the farm plan applied to the work being done. Hiseotes replied it would improve access for updating the bogs for increased production as well as improve access roads at other crop-producing properties.

Selectmen requested a copy of the farm plan as part of the continued hearing.

Scott said good relations with neighbors are important for farmers and said Route 27 as an access for trucks and watering down dust would help with that effort.

“If you kind of overdo you exemption rights, that sometimes creates a problem for neighbors,” Scott said. “Try hard not to do that.”

Howard, who also has bog experience, said the periodic sanding of bogs does not require removal of gravel to his knowledge. He also expressed concern about the dust problem.

Filed Under: News

Schools warned of scam

September 25, 2014 By Kathleen Peloquin, Media Editor

Silver Lake among districts receiving fake invoices

Fraudulent invoices for unordered supplies are appearing in area schools as the Better Business Bureau issued a warning to schools and districts across the country after the consumer group fielded complaints from 27 states, including Massachusetts.

One such fake invoice has already been received by the Silver Lake Regional School District, where the district’s purchase order system has prevented them from being paid, according to Superintendent John Tuffy.

“We only got one so far,” Tuffy said. “It was from Scholastic School Supply for several hundred dollars.”  Invoices coming in to Silver Lake must match up with purchase orders, which the invoice in question did not.  “We also noticed that the ‘remit to’ address differed from the one we have on file.” He does not rule out the possibility that more fake invoices may still be received, but stressed the checks and balances of the accounting system protects the district.

“If it doesn’t have a P.O. number, we question it.”

In the past few weeks, there has been a rush of complaints filed with BBB against “Scholastic School Supply,” which claim either a Nevada or New Jersey address that turn out to be mail drops.

The BBB has urged that schools not to pay the invoices but to send them to the local Postal Inspector and the Federal Trade Commission, as well as their state’s attorney general or consumer protection agency.

So far, none of the complainants have sent money; however, BBB has no way of knowing if any schools have unknowingly paid the invoice, since they would not have filed a complaint.

“Many of our customers have received invoices from a company calling itself ‘Scholastic School Supply,” read a statement issued by the global children’s publishing, education and media company. “Scholastic School Supply is not affiliated with Scholastic Inc., but rather is a company that is using Scholastic’s name and trademark without authorization. Scholastic recently became aware of this company and its actions, and has demanded that they cease and desist using Scholastic’s name and trademark, which they have agreed to do, but they seemingly have not done so as of the date of this communication.”
In addition, Scholastic stated it has been investigating this company and will continue to do so.

“If we determine that this company is allegedly violating any other laws or regulations, we will take prompt, appropriate action,” a company spokesman stated. “However, in the course of our investigation and through conversations with our customers who have brought this company to our attention, it appears that numerous schools and districts have referred “Scholastic School Supply” to various state attorneys general and the U.S. Postal Inspector in Nevada and New Jersey for further investigation.”

BBB Serving Southern Nevada received its first complaint against Scholastic School Supply on Aug. 20, 2014 and since then has received nearly 70 complaints from schools across the country. The company’s online BBB Business Review has also received more than 3,000 inquiries; there is an Alert posted there so that visitors are able to confirm the suspicious nature of the invoice. The company maintains a mail drop in Sewell, New Jersey, as well as Las Vegas, and BBB New Jersey has received more than 20 complaints so far.

The bogus invoices have been for $647.50 for the bulk purchase of “English-Language Arts Practice Books” or $388.50 for math workbooks (although the amounts and products could change at any time). Complainants have said they cannot reach the company to inquire about the products or amounts allegedly owed, and all have denied ever doing business with the company previously, according to the BBB.

To date, BBB has received complaints from schools in 27 states: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin. Due to BBB’s process for handling complaints, which gives a business up to a month to respond, the complaints received to date are still considered pending.

“Contact information available on the invoices was initially just going unanswered, but now email is bouncing and the phone number has been disconnected,” the BBB stated. “BBB has been unable to locate any corporation filings, business licensing, or documentation to substantiate a physical location in Nevada.”

Earlier this week, an agent in New Jersey filed as a Limited Liability Corporation (LLC) under the same company name, and the BBB there is investigating the connection. The UPS Store in Las Vegas is a BBB Accredited Business and is cooperating with the Postal Inspector and other agencies investigating the scheme.

To find out more about scams or to report one, check out BBB Scam Stopper.

Filed Under: News

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