Photos and text by
Mary Schiess
Express correspondent
Nick Cotoulas wants to share his passion for history. As Kingston’s archivist/librarian, his job offers that opportunity. Nick has curated an exhibit titled “A History of Kingston Schools” that will occur at the Adams Center from August 16 to August 31, 2023. Kingston’s archives, housed at the Adams Center, are rich with materials tracing educational initiatives. The exhibit will span the period dating from the 1700’s to 1990. Publications, photographs, objects, and personal documents will reinforce Education’s importance to Kingston.
Nick’s preoccupation with history began with his family. His grandfather was a collector and dealer in antique postcards. His father, a picture framer, continued the exploration of historic art works. As a child Nick was a collector (coins, a Lincoln piggy bank) His first childhood exhibit was a display case of presidential coins. His college career included volunteering as an assistant archivist, working in the Clark University Book Conservatory Lab, and interning at the American Antiquarian Society. He earned a Master’s Degree from San Jose State. Each step advanced his learning of and love for history.
A wealth of archival materials related to the Kingston schools inspired the current presentation. A traveling schoolmaster from the 1700’s, teachers and educational activists, and timing at the end of the library summer reading program and at the rapidly approaching school year combined to add this exhibit to the calendar.
Historical stand outs included in the exhibit are Walter Faunce (1844-1924), Catherine Drew Russell, educator and school committee woman, and Hannah Thomas Brewster Adams (1796-1858). The exhibit will introduce each of these and more educational leaders.
Nick’s goal is to create exhibits and events for as wide and diverse an audience as possible. Visitors will see original school books, a report card, and photographs of students and educators. Nick hopes to inspire residents who are not aware of the archival collection. Displays can pique interest and encourage further studies. Out-of-towners may find connections to their own histories. Viewing a 200-year-old letter can create a respect for history and an inspiration to preserve family artifacts. An object, a photo, a personal writing can lead to a more in-depth look.
A comparison of dated text books with today’s computerized learning tells its own story. A desk and chair bolted to the floor relate a previous style of learning.
Nick will be lecturing on the History of Kingston Schools on Saturday, Aug. 19, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Adams Center.
Sisters in Crime: Mystery Making Panel
KINGSTON — Massachusetts writers Nicole Asselin, Louisa Clerici, Kate Flora, and Sarah Smith will visit the Faunce School, 16 Green St., on Wednesday, Aug. 23, at 6 p.m. for a Sisters in Crime: Mystery Making Panel.
In this interactive workshop, four mystery authors representing different sub-genres, including cozy/traditional and thriller/suspense, will brainstorm on their feet to create a brand-new mystery using suggestions provided by the audience. This fun, fast-paced, and fascinating improv game offers important insights into mystery writers’ minds and the conventions of the genre.
Asselin, who spent her formative high-school years in Pennsylvania, always identified with her New England roots. Her family is originally from Connecticut as her grandfather introduced her to the Boston Red Sox and her grandmother got her interested in mystery novels. These two loves are combined into her Ballpark Mystery series. Asselin presently works just outside of Boston as a Technical Writer, and lives on the South Shore with her three cats.
Clerici’s stories have been published in literary anthologies and magazines, including Carolina Woman Magazine, Istanbul Literary Review, and Best New England Crime Stories anthologies 2016, 2015, and 2012. Her latest publication is Capers, Crooks, & Kitchens, a Fest of Mystery and Magic, a collection of her stories paired with recipes, published in 2022. Clerici is a writer for The Plymouth Cookbook, a fiction editor of Pink Panther Magazine, and she works as a therapist at Clear Mind Systems in Plymouth.
Flora’s fascination with people’s criminal tendencies began in the Maine Attorney General’s office. As the author of 24-books spanning many genre’s including crime fiction, true crime, memoir, non-fiction, and many short stories. She has been a finalist for the Edgar, Agatha, Anthony, and Derringer awards while she won the Public Safety Writers Association award for non-fiction in 2015, and the Maine Literary Award for crime fiction in 2013 and 2015. Flora has taught writing for numerous organizations and institutions as she is a former international president of Sisters in Crime. She divides her time between Massachusetts and Maine.
Smith is an Agatha Award winner and Massachusetts Book Award winner for her 2010 young adult novel, The Other Side of Dark. She has studied at Harvard, where she hung out in the library reading mysteries, and film in London. As the writer of a bestselling adult mystery series set in the Edwardian period, two of those books were named New York Times Notable Books of the Year. The first of these books, The Vanished Child, is being made into a musical and her stand-alone novel, Chasing Shakespeares is being made into a play. Her most recent book is about a multicultural Titanic mystery, Crimes and Survivors, was published in 2020.
Patrons will be able to meet all four authors following the event.
Sisters in Crime is an international organization dedicated to the professional development and advancement of women crime writers. With sixty chapters worldwide, the organization welcomes anyone who loves crime fiction. Their New England chapter hosts in-person and virtual events throughout the year, from craft workshops, to author showcases, to business and marketing advice for authors at every stage of their careers.
To register for this event, please visit – https://kingstonpubliclibrary.org. For more information, you can contact Steven Miller, Reference Librarian at (781) 585-0517 x6272 or at smiller@kingstonma.gov.
Seniors enjoy Upland Club barbecue
The Plympton Council on Aging enjoyed a wonderful luncheon barbecue of grilled chicken, corn on the cob, potato salad, and ice cream sandwiches.
We thank the Upland Club for providing the lunch and the venue for Plympton seniors. Their generosity – and good cooking – is greatly appreciated! Our entertainment was Aidan Keene of Hanson. What a voice! If you missed the cookout, you missed a really good time. The next COA luncheon event will be on Oct. 4. We hope to see you there.
Open rehearsals and auditions for Pilgrim Festival Chorus
PLYMOUTH – Pilgrim Festival Chorus (PFC), a South Shore-based premiere volunteer community choral ensemble, invites singers to “Open Rehearsals and Auditions” on Mondays, Sept. 11 and 18, 6:30 p.m., at Faith Community Church, 29 Carver Rd., Plymouth. Artistic Directors William B. Richter and Elizabeth Chapman Reilly welcome newcomers of all skill levels to learn about PFC and audition for vocal placement if they wish. Rehearsals immediately follow from 7 to 9 p.m. and continue weekly throughout the fall season. “Open Rehearsals and Auditions” are welcoming, casual, and free to attend. Attendees enjoy singing with PFC for the first two weeks without commitment. Membership information is available at rehearsal, and at pilgrimfestivalchorus.org.
Pilgrim Festival Chorus’s fall rehearsals prepare the ensemble for its holiday season concert “Christmas Joy,” with performances on Friday, Dec. 1, at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 2, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 3, at 4 p.m., at St. Bonaventure Parish, 803 State Road, Plymouth. PFC continues its annual tradition of joyful music making at Christmastime, a highlight of the magical season.
In “Christmas Joy,” choral singers blend their voices with the sounds of harp, marimba, and guitar in Conrad Susa’s Spanish collection “Carols and Lullabies of the Southwest.” Enjoy “Ceremony of Carols,” a beloved work by Benjamin Britten, and delight in John Rutter’s lilting “Dancing Day,” a collection of English carols arranged for women’s voices. Tickets are now available at pilgrimfestivalchorus.org.
Since 1999, PFC has been dedicated to presenting diverse choral works that educate, enrich, and engage both its members and South Shore audiences. More than 80 vocalists of all adult ages from more than 18 South Shore communities fill out the ensemble. In addition to the winter concert, PFC presents an annual “Messiah Sing” in December, a larger choral work in spring, and summer concerts featuring lighter pops-style programming. Members also perform in smaller volunteer groups engaging in community events. PFC members are drawn from diverse skill sets and backgrounds – from amateur hobby and choir singers to music educators and professional choir directors.
For more information about membership and auditions, call William Richter at 781-789-3343 or email director@pilgrimfestivalchorus.org. For more information about this season’s rehearsal schedule and repertoire, or to purchase tickets, visit pilgrimfestivalchorus.org, email info@pilgrimfestivalchorus.org, or follow Pilgrim Festival Chorus on Facebook and Instagram.
Pilgrim Festival Chorus (PFC) is a volunteer, not-for-profit community choral ensemble dedicated to presenting diverse choral works that educate, enrich, and engage both its members and audiences in Southeastern Massachusetts. PFC is funded in part by grants from several of the region’s Cultural Councils, local agencies supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. PFC concerts are produced in cooperation with See Plymouth and Plymouth County Commissioners.
For more information, visit pilgrimfestivalchorus.org, email info@pilgrimfestivalchorus.org, or follow Pilgrim Festival Chorus on Facebook and Instagram.
New Kingston sewer commissioner Commissioner
The Kingston Board of Selectmen met on Tuesday, Aug. 1. Selectmen Chair Kimberley Emberg told those assembled that the remaining Sewer Commissioners were in attendance. She said that in July they received a letter of resignation from Tom Taylor following a 14-year run as a Sewer Commissioner. Emberg explained the process to fill the vacancy which culminates in the Sewer Commissioners and the Selectmen voting to appoint someone. There were a total of three letters of interest.
The first applicant was Brian Donahoe. Donahoe, who said he is a 36-year resident of Kingston said, “I’m interested in this because of my past experience in the town as a Sewer Commissioner at the inaugural part of this process… I’m semi-retired so I have more time to spend on something like this… I’ve had 50 years’ experience in this industry.” He also said that he has had an opportunity to talk to the active Sewer Commissioners about the current status of things. One of the Selectmen pointed out that his qualifications would even make him eligible to serve as the Superintendent of the plant. Donahoe confirmed that he is eligible to serve as Superintendent of any plant.
Director of the Kingston Business Association Mark Guidoboni came before the Boards next. He said that his intent was “to ensure that Kingston has adequate infrastructure to stay competitive to bring new businesses into Kingston as well as support the businesses we have with the expansion they need; with our business tax base less than 8 percent of our revenue every year this is an issue that I think we need to make sure that we have a good healthy sewer system and good healthy water as well as the rest of the infrastructure in Kingston.” He noted that since applying for the sewer position he was elected as a member of the Silver Lake Regional School Committee. Given the time constraints he will be under, he instead endorsed Donahoe. “I would yield to the experience Mr. Donahoe brings to the table,” he said.
Applicant Daniel Harlow spoke next saying, “I believe the duty of the Government and representative members, whether they be elected or appointed, is to facilitate the freedoms of the residents and to ensure that all residents have equal treatment, equal opportunity, and transparency of the Government actions.” He continued, “As of today there are currently seven months of meeting minutes that are still missing from the Sewer Commission that have not been posted to the Town’s website… when members of the public do tend to seek answers to questions, they are often met with what I call effective stonewalling.” He said that he believes that Government officials, including the Sewer Commissioners, should never ask questions about who someone is or where they live. He went on to name what he believed to be questionable actions by the Sewer Commission. He said that his main objective would be to “allow information to flow freely from the Government to the people.” One of the current Sewer Commissioners said that the meeting minutes are behind due to staffing issues but noted that all the meetings are recorded.
Donahoe was voted in as the newest Sewer Commissioner by a vote of 6-1.
Cow Plop
The Silver Lake Regional Class of 2025 President Hannah Selig as well as Katie Arnold, Secretary of the Class of 2025 appeared before the Selectmen. “We’re here tonight to ask for the approval of the use of the green out front during the Agricultural Fair to hold a Cow Plop,” Selig said. A cow stands on a series of squares which have been bought by attendees. Winners are declared when a cow defecates or “plops” on a square. Selig said that it was a leading fundraiser in previous years and helps pay for their prom. Selectman Sheila Vaughn asked if there were volunteer opportunities for other students in that class and was told they would just need to reach out to Selig who would find them a role. The Selectmen voted to approve the request.
Police Chief Search and Independent Evaluation
Selectman Tyler Bouchard advocated to his fellow Board members in favor of hiring a firm to conduct the search for a new Police Chief as well as to conduct an independent review of the Department. “I think having something like this in conjunction with interviewing our Command that we have… I think gives us two avenues to pull from – information,” he said. He added that it would give added justification at Town Meeting should the Department need a new patrolman or truck. Regarding the study, Town Administrator Keith Hickey said, “They can review where we stand with policies and procedures, recommendations on if there needs to be some adjustments, modifications, modernization of those polices and procedures.” He said that they would also review command structure, staffing levels, and traffic enforcement. He called the study a “roadmap for the new Police Chief.”
Bouchard also spoke about the accreditation process for the Department. The State describes the process as follows, “The Massachusetts Police Accreditation Program offers an accreditation process for police agencies across the Commonwealth. Like other accreditation programs, the process consists of two major components: (1) the establishment of a body of professional standards for police agencies to meet, and (2) a voluntary assessment process by which agencies can be publicly recognized for meeting those standards considered best practices for the profession.”
Selectman Eric Crone said that he spoke to his brother who has decades of experience as a Police Chief and said that he was wishy-washy about whether he would want an outside evaluation done of the department were he in those shoes. Regarding the hiring process, Crone said, “He had said you want a Police Chief from a similar size department locally… to sit in on your interview board.” Crone also said that he was still against the study as there are formulas to determine personnel and equipment needs and noted that using those formulas would not cost “tens of thousands of dollars.” Several other Selectmen expressed concern over the cost of the evaluation.
Hickey said that his recommendation would be to bring in the consulting firm MRI to present to the Selectmen regarding the evaluation and hiring process. The Selectmen voted to have them attend a future meeting to continue the discussion.
Grant for Ramp Project
Selectman Tyler Bouchard said that on Thursday of the previous week, the Seaport Economic Council awarded Kingston $344,000 for ramp improvements. “It was through the efforts of Tom Bombardier and the people throughout the town and the Townhouse that wrote that grant and put a ton of time into that grant; it looked like a long shot and honestly, it’s going to save, in my opinion, it’s going to save the whole thing. It’s just a huge, huge deal. We got to present the project to the Lieutenant Governor and the Seaport Economic Council, and they voted in favor of our project and said that it was a no brainer,” he explained.
Fire in Kingston Hotel
Hickey spoke regarding a fire that occurred in a Kingston hotel that has been housing migrant families since last fall. He said that the fire occurred in one of the rooms when two small children left something in a microwave. The fire suppressant system in the hotel did work and everyone was eventually allowed back into the room with the exception of the occupants of the affected room. Everyone was safe following the fire. Hickey said, “That building was not built for extended stay, and it has become that and my fear is, God forbid, were something to happen, did the town do whatever we could to prevent whatever tragedy may occur and are we now liable?” He said that he has been in communication and held several meetings with many involved including the Fire Department and hotel ownership.
Openings and Events
There are openings on the following Boards and Committees: the Finance Committee, the Capital Planning Committee, The Community Preservation Committee, The Cultural Commission, the Ichabod Washburn Fund Trustees, Rent Control Board, Housing Authority, Old Colony Elder Affairs Board of Directors, and the Council on Aging (COA) Advisory Board. The COA is also seeking a driver for the Meals on Wheels program.
Music nights at Gray’s Beach will continue on Aug. 15 and Aug. 29 at 6 p.m. “The History of Kingston Schools Exhibit will be at the Adams Center from August 16 through August 31, and you can see the library website for more information on that,” Emberg said.
Public Hearing
There was a public hearing for Eversource to install conduit underground for new electric service at 15 Kingston St. The Board voted to approve the request.
Corrigan brings Citizen Safety traffic to TRIAD
The Halifax TRIAD met on Tuesday, Aug. 1, at the Halifax Town Hall. Halifax resident Fred Corrigan was the guest speaker with an informative presentation on Halifax traffic safety. TRIAD is a partnership between local and regional groups to help inform and educate seniors. The next Halifax TRIAD meeting will take place on Tuesday, September 12 at 10:00 am in the Great Room of the Halifax Town Hall. The September meeting will feature a discussion on the oil industry and pricing for the winter.
Winnetuxet Bridge replacement
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation is hosting a Live Virtual Design Public Hearing on the replacement of the beloved Winnetuxet River Bridge in Plympton on Winnetuxet Road. Citizens have been vocal in their quest to keep the bridge as a rustic view and the DOT is listening.
The hearing will be Tuesday, Aug. 29, at 6:30 p.m. To attend, go to www.mass.gov/orgs/highway-division/events.
To ensure that its meetings are accessible, MassDOT reasonably provides: translation, interpretation, modifications, accommodations, alternative formats, and auxiliary aids and services.
To request such services, contact MassDOT’s Chief Diversity and Civil Rights Officer at 857-368-8580 or go to MasDOT.CivilRights@dot.state.ma.us. Please make requests as early as possible, to allow adequate time to process the request.
The Winnetuxet River Bridge, on Winnetuxet Road, has had structural repairs done several times in the past 40 years, the most recent four years ago when the guardrail was replaced and rotten substructure was encased in epoxy to temporarily reinforce it. The new construction will replace the bridge with a similar size and still include wooden guardrails. The deck, however, will be asphalt. MassDOT anticipates there will be a three-month detour around the work site to allow construction of the project.
Inquiries regarding the bridge project may be addressed by mail to:
Carrie A. Lavallee, P. E., Chief Engineer, MassDOT, 10 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116, Attn.: Project Management, Project File No. 609435.
Solar and conservation in Plympton
The Plympton Board of Selectmen met on Monday, July 24. The Selectmen took up a vote to issue a notice of non-exercise for 399 Main Street, Figueroa. “This was a parcel, that I believe is going solar,” Chair Christine Joy said. “We did look at that property – I spent some time with the Open Space Co-Chair and the Conservation Agent and we once had this vision of multi-use property – solar, agriculture, affordable housing and in looking more closely at it, it was clear that there is a lot of wetlands and there just wasn’t going to be room to do it.” “ I don’t think it’s a missed opportunity,” Selectman Mark Russo said.
The Selectmen voted to approve a sign at Harry Jason Park. Selectman John Traynor explained that it was being driven by the Recreation Committee. He further said that the Dennett Elementary School soccer field was in bad shape and the program wished to use the field at Harry Jason Park as the grass was in better shape. While the Selectmen approved the request, the Recreation Commission will be responsible for paying for and installing the sign. Traynor said that the sign will be installed prior to the start of the program in September.
The Selectmen voted to approve a pilot agreement for 61 Upland Road. It was previously approved at the May Town Meeting. Joy said it was vetted by all the necessary parties including Town Counsel and the Board of Assessors.
They also voted to approve a proposed agreement to allow the transfer of ownership of land owned by Crescent Moon Cranberry LLC on Upland Road to SolaREIT. Joy asked them to confirm that they were aware of all of the restrictions including conservation and was told that they did. The conservation restrictions include a permanent habitat for Eastern Box turtles and a conservation restriction the town has on the balance of the bog property. Russo touched on the endangered species restriction and noted that he is on the Board of Wildlands Trust. He also said that the Wildlands Trust Board would like to see the town hold both restrictions, rather than the Wildlands Trust being the holders of the endangered species restriction. The Selectmen agreed that they were open to holding both and that it might help to keep things “cleaner.”
The Board also discussed and approved a proposed easement between Jeff and Michelle Smith and SolaREIT to ensure that the abutting homeowners maintain the needed access to their property.
The Selectmen ended their meeting with their raves for the last few weeks. Traynor said that his rave was for the Fire Chief Search Committee. “What an excellent job they did… I think that process of having a Committee of two Fire Chiefs, a Moderator, the Town Administrator, and the Police Chief resulted in a very good decision,” he said. He also gave a shout out to Project Arts that puts on live music on Wednesday evenings at the Plymouth Waterfront. “So, I think my rave is the way things naturally, organically slow-down during the summer; I think people are on vacation and it gives us all a chance to catch our breath a little, get a bit of perspective, so that we kind of gain some momentum with direction as we head into the fall,” Russo said. Joy said her rave was for the possibility of the town taking ownership over the restriction for the Box turtles. “It’s a beautiful forest area that would be protected,” Joy said.
Opt-in to new Halifax FY24 curbside collection program
Effective September 4th, 2023, the Town of Halifax’s Trash and Recycling Program will undergo significant changes.
For trash, the Town will be transitioning away from the Pay as You Throw (PAYT) program and instead, provide 64-gallon curbside totes. If interested in enrolling in the Town’s trash and recycling program, you MUST OPT-IN either online using the web form at https://www.halifax-ma.org/recycling-solid-waste/webforms/fy-2024-curbside-collection-program and click the Opt-In to the Curbside Collection Program button at the bottom of the page or by filling-out and returning the form included with the postcard that was mailed to all Halifax residents.
The new program will include weekly curbside pickup of the 64-gallon tote for trash and the existing bi-weekly recycling collection. If enrolled in the program and a resident has trash beyond what will fit in the tote, blue bags can still be purchased and placed on top of the closed tote. The total annual cost is expected to be $400, billed twice per year at the rate of $200 for each billing period. Residents will no longer have the option of having recycling collection only but will have the ability to purchase a recycling sticker and utilize the drop-off service at the Recycling Center.
Cart delivery will occur throughout the latter part of August. In order to be sure that a tote is delivered to your home in ample time for the September 4th, 2023, start, the opt-in form must be submitted online or received by the Halifax Recycling Center by August 16th, 2023. Any forms received after this date, may result in a tote delivery after the start date, effectively leaving you without trash and recycling services.
For questions, please contact the Recycling Center by calling (781) 293-1732 or e-mailing RSWP@halifax-ma.org.
Congratulations Cheryl!
It was standing room only at the Deborah Sampson meeting room in the Plympton Town House Monday morning as fire chiefs and personnel, family and friends came to witness the swearing in of Plympton’s first female fire chief, Cheryl Davis.
Davis addressed the group, saying she grew up a third generation firefighter using the fire trucks as her jungle gym and climbing the fire pole for fun. Fire fighting was not her first choice for profession, “maybe because I never saw anyone in the station that looked like me. Or maybe because at 8-years-old, the firefighters were larger than life Super Heroes.”
Cheryl gives lots of credit to her parents who encouraged and supported her throughout this journey. Her mother, who worked in the state correctional system when many felt women had no place working in a jail, told her daughter, “if the boys say you can’t do something, do it twice and do it better than they do!” She is a Super Hero … she earned her cape.
Over her 17 years with fire service, Cheryl thanked those who mentored her along the way. She especially thanked the members of the Fall River EMS where she spent part of her career. “I wouldn’t be half the paramedic I am today if it wasn’t for all the amazing people I had the opportunity to work with there.
She continued her thanks to her current co-workers for their outpouring of support and encouragement over the past several weeks. “I love the motivation, fresh ideas … the truth is, I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for all of you. There is no Plympton Fire if you guys don’t show up. 24/7 365 you guys step up an answer the call. You make it fun to come to work.”
To all the area Chiefs who have offered advice, guidance, and assistance, thank you… Lastly, to the town administrator and selectboard, thank you for entrusting me with the opportunity and helping me ensure that every little girl who tours the fire station gets to see someone who looks like them, and maybe one day, they too will find their capes.”
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 21
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
- …
- 190
- Next Page »