Lifelong Kingston resident Carol Collins is preparing for her first-ever art exhibit, with 20 of her paintings, entitled “Eclectic Mix,” to be displayed at the Kingston Public Library from September 7 through the end of the month.
Much of her style includes watercolor, but she also incorporates micron pen into her work, which includes elements of both abstract art and realism. Most of her paintings are based on a picture or photograph.
With abstracts, however, she says, “Sometimes I’ll just start with a line and see where it takes me.”
Her paintings include cityscapes, architecture, and people. Art has always been a part of her life, including taking art elective courses in high school and then two years of private watercolor lessons led by renowned illustrator Polly Bolian.
Ms. Collins has run several businesses over the years. She is the former owner of Mainely Bags, an upscale handbag store which she purchased and grew into a three-location venture. She also ran a locally-based consignment store called The Brick House. These days, she leads several small prayer groups as a Bible study facilitator. She lives in Kingston with her husband Mark; they are parents to daughter Amber and grandparents to Natalie and Bridget.
She added, “I’m thrilled to have been invited to display my artwork at the library, and I hope people will enjoy the exhibit.”
The Kingston Public Library is a community-driven organization, a center for learning, collaboration, creativity, and fun, and an environment for lifelong learning. The library is dedicated to providing the residents of Kingston with cultural enrichment, recreation, and learning opportunities, and supporting the community with practical help in their everyday lives. Its knowledgeable staff willingly and capably provides the assistance needed to ensure each patron’s success, in a place that is comfortable and welcoming. The Kingston Public Library is located at 6 Green St., Kingston. For more information about the library, please call 781-585-0517 or visit https://kingstonma.gov/219/Library/
Hours are Monday, 10-5; Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 10-8; Friday and Saturday, 10-5. The library is closed on Sundays and holidays.
First Day of Kindergarden
First day of school is always exciting, but doubly so with these two cousins, climbing onto Bus 26, the same number bus that their fathers rode to school a couple of decades ago.
Wednesday the kindergardeners got to ride the big bus and begin their school careers. Grades one through six started school last week.
This day, as parents and friends congregated to see their little ones off, they were treated to backup chimes and trucks preparing the road for resurfacing. The younger siblings of these two were delighted of course to see the big trucks dumping hot Macadam and a steam roller packing it all down. The school bus driver, not so much…
What could have been a sad story with late bus arrival and parents late to work was turned into a fun experience when the big trucks pulled over to let the school bus go by and gave the little ones on the bus a great view of the work being done.
Halifax gives nod to Thorndyke
President of Thorndike Development Lloyd Geisigner and the Planning Board attended the Aug. 22 meeting of the Halifax Board of Selectmen. They were there regarding the proposal for a development known as Halifax Trails on Rt. 58. Geisinger told those assembled that the development included three, three-story buildings, two of which would be 36-unit senior housing in the form of one- and two-bedroom condominiums. The units would be for sale rather than for rent. The third building would be zoned commercial. Part of the proposal would be Thorndike Development gifting the town the land for a new senior center.
“The proposal that we have submitted to the town would also call for us to make a contribution of up to $2.6 million in addition to gifting the land,” Geisinger said. Geisinger said that Thorndike has asked that they be able to bid on both design and construction services. “If we were fortunate enough to be the winning bidder, the town would then wind up paying back to us the funds that were given in, but that’s not guaranteed. What’s guaranteed is that we would make the payments to the town so that the town has the funds to build the building,” he continued.
Town Administrator Cody Haddad said, “One thing to note to, Lloyd didn’t touch on, this takes the place of what was a proposed 40b development of affordable housing of 240 units that you had received he housing eligibility letter from Mass Housing… there is a project likely moving forward here and this is just an alternative that Lloyd has presented to kind of work with the town based on the feedback that he has received.”
Chair John Bruno asked him about a timeline. Geisinger said that following a successful vote at town meeting, they would then begin working through the process with the Planning Board and the Board of Health. We would love to be under construction, this time next year… we would love to be able to convey our first homes probably the first quarter of 2025 and that spring/summer would be in a position to… start the senior center.”
“I would love to get a vote that endorses the proposal on a preliminary basis and authorizes Cody to work with us to prepare a draft zoning bylaw,” Geisinger said. Bruno said, “Having walked that property last fall, it is, I think, a hazard, there are open pits, there’s sewers that are open, it’s really not in good shape. We know that something is going to go into that property. They bought it. We know they didn’t buy it just to hold onto it. The developer has been very gracious in terms of trying to come up with a plan that we might find acceptable.” Bruno made a motion to authorize Haddad to enter into discussions with Thorndike about moving the project forward. Council on Aging Director Darlene Regan and some members of the Planning Board spoke out in favor of the project before the Board voted unanimously in favor of Bruno’s motion.
Bruno said that they had two candidates to be appointed to the final spot on the Zoning Bylaw Review Committee. The two candidates were Planning Board member Amy Troup and Finance Committee member Frank Johnston. Bruno said, “my concern with Amy Troup is she’s already come out very strong in terms of the MBTA project and I’m concerned that she wouldn’t have an open mind about that because we do have to address that whether we agree to do it or not to do it.” All the Selectmen did express that they felt that both candidates were well-qualified. Bruno made a motion that they appoint Johnston. The Board voted unanimously to appoint him.
Angel Castro appeared before the Board requesting a live entertainment permit for 122 Monponsett St. on both Sept. 2 and Sept. 23 for an Ecuadorian festival. Castro made a request through his translator for a parade through town as well, but Bruno said they would not be entertaining that request. The Board noted that there had been issues in the past with loud noise and music coming from the residence. The Board approved the request for the permit but noted that if the music continued past 9 p.m., the Police would take action. A neighbor asked, “what assurances do we have that we are not going to be assaulted by the loud bass throughout the day?” He was referring to past incidents. Bruno asked for confirmation that there wouldn’t be amplified music. Castro said that there would be amplified music for three hours from approximately 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. After that, the music should be acoustic. Neighbors said that in the past, the music was so loud, pictures were falling off their walls. Bruno asked for confirmation that the amplified music would be kept at a reasonable volume. Castro noted that it would be his last event. Selectman Jonathan Selig said of Castro, “He thanks us for our understanding and reminds everyone our neighborhood is invited if they would like to come and experience the day and their culture.”
Bruno said that the Selectmen were asked to sign a letter of support for a proposed traffic light at an intersection near Silver Lake Regional High School. Bruno said, “the intersection right around the school when you’re coming from Halifax, and you go up Lake St. and you meet with Rt. 27 that has become a very big problem especially around pickup and drop off… so Mr. Fraser [Silver Lake Regional School Committee member Jason Fraser] researched, with the State, with DOT, and with all kinds of folks; they have come to the conclusion that a traffic light would make sense.” It was said that the traffic light would not affect Halifax’s Chapter 90 funding. The Selectmen agreed to sending the letter of support.
Plymouth Public Library Juried Arts & Crafts Festival Sept. 9 and 10
The Plymouth Public Library Foundation is pleased to announce our 4th Annual Juried Arts & Crafts Festival. The Festival will take place Saturday, Sept. 9 and Sunday, Sept. 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Plymouth Public Library.
Held on the Library’s expansive front lawn and inside the library, thousands of visitors will enjoy a full day of music, food, and the opportunity to view and purchase artwork from more than 80 regional artisans, including painters, photographers, sculptors, custom jewelry makers, woodworkers, metalworkers, and illustrators.
Festival admission is free and activities include face-painting, sand art for kids, Child’s Play Alpaca for the whole family to enjoy, plus “Craft and Chill” where families can create their own masterpiece inside the library. We will also be holding a silent auction and an artisan raffle during the festival.
New this year, sponsored by Modern Metal Design, is “Art under Creation,” an interactive exhibit that offers visitors the opportunity to witness artists bring their visions to life.
Auxiliary parking with shuttle service is available at the Center for Active Living on Nook Road (just around the block from the Library). While at the festival, Plymouth residents can register for a library card and anyone can register for the Reading Rivals contest.
Festival proceeds assist the Plymouth Public Library Foundation in providing the Library with technology and landscaping improvements, support the Library’s Literacy Program of Greater Plymouth and also fund its many cultural, artistic and educational programs.
The Festival is funded in part by the Town of Plymouth Promotions Fund and is sponsored by area businesses and organizations including: Tech Etch, Bridgewater Credit Union, Modern Metal Design,Tiny and Sons Glass, Alvin Hollis & Co. Inc, Allen & Majors Associates Inc, COBRA, Dimarzio Insurance, Members Plus Credit Union, One Stop Painting, Plymouth-Carver Primary Care, Plymouth Ears, Nose & Throat, Renewal by Andersen, and Vinny’s Vehicles.
For additional information, on all auxiliary parking sites and participating artists, please visit our website at https://pplfdn.org/4th-annual-arts-crafts-festival-2023/ which will provide all the information needed regarding the 4th Annual Arts and Crafts Festival.
Calling crafters for Mayflower Church Fair Annual Crafts Fair
KINGSTON -Mayflower Church in Kingston will host its 16th Annual Crafts Fair Saturday, Nov. 4, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Briggs Building, 207 Main Street. Tables are still available for crafters wishing to participate.
The event is being sponsored by the Mayflower Women’s Club. The Fair features a number of talented crafters, as well as several tables sponsored by the Mayflower Women’s Club. Anyone interested in having a table to display crafts is urged to contact Sue at 781-585-6350.
The public is invited to come and join in for a fun day of shopping, treasure-hunting and dining. Admission is free.
Proceeds benefit local, state and global charities. Mayflower Club supports local projects including area shelters, and a donation to Silver Lake Regional Junior High School for their field trip events. On a statewide basis, the Club supports a Christian after-school daycare program, and a two-week outdoor (overnight) summer camp that serves underprivileged children. On a global level, the Club supports an orphanage in Romania (only about ten miles from the Russian border), providing over-the-counter medications, food, and clothing.
Crafters will offer a wide variety of beautiful wares. Also there will be a bake sale. Lunch is available, including hot dogs, chili, corn chowder, chips and beverages.
Fairgoers will have the opportunity to bid on a variety of items; and, the Club is also looking for anyone with a product or gift certificate who might wish to donate it to the cause.
The public is invited to attend to see the work of crafters from throughout the region, and purchase any items of interest.
Mayflower Church is located at 207 Main Street, Kingston, MA 02364. Reverend Anton Brown serves as Pastor.
Hornstra buys Peaceful Meadows
WHITMAN – Sometimes wishes do come true.
And wishes came true Tuesday, Aug. 29 for John Hornstra, winning bidder on the Peaceful Meadows ice cream stand, barns, home offices, equipment and more than 55 acres of land. But the wishes of town officials, N.E. Wildlands Trust and loyal Peaceful Meadows customers hoping to keep the Whitman tradition going came true, too.
The town had the opportunity to right of first refusal on the sale should it have gone to a non-argricultural use, under the state’s 61A regulations on farming land. Whitman Town Administrator Mary Beth Carter was happy that it won’t be necessary.
“I’m thrilled that John Hornstra won the bids,” she said. “I think it’s going to be great for Whitman.”
Select Board member Justin Evans agreed it was a great turn of events for the town.
“It’ll be great to get cows back in the barn and really bring this place back,” he said.
“Everybody in town is … they’ll be ecstatic when the word gets out that we got it,” new owner John Hornstra said. “I honestly can say it’s a passion of mine. I’m the luckiest person in the world that I enjoy my business every day that I work, and I get to have my son work with me [who’s] 23, so it’ll be a great project.”
It’ll be known by a different name – Hornstra Farms – but Hornstra thinks people will see enough familiar about the future he has in mind for the iconic Whitman property.
“I’m glad to have it, and I hope I can continue what they did here and maybe have some cows, eventually here, and bring back a working dairy farm to Whitman,” Hornstra said of his winning bid. “Eventually, they’ll be back,” he said of the bovine bevy that had always been a popular attraction at Peaceful Meadows.
“The gentleman who built this in 1961 was a big inspirational person in my life,” Hornstra said. “I saw how successful this was, and that’s why I wanted to do it in Norwell.”
The immediate plan is to do some work on the barns, but he may try to keep the dairy store open during the holiday season in keeping with tradition before that renovation work is done and it reopens in the spring. There’s a lot of structural work to do in the barns, and one of them may come down, to be replaced by an all-automated, robotic barn where people can have their ice cream and see the cows being milked.
“We’ve got a ways to go,” he said of plans for a reopening date. “We’ve got a lot of fixing up and stuff like that – upgrading and stuff like that – but hopefully before Thanksgiving, but we’ll see.”
Soon some of the trademark red Holstien cows of the Hornstra Farms herd will also return a bucolic touch to the property, the fourth-generation farmer said after making the winning $1.75 million bid for the entirety of two property lots at 94 Bedford St.
Since Hornstra has no immediate plans to negotiate for Peaceful Meadows ice cream stand recipes (his Prospect Street, Norwell farm already makes their own old-fashioned ice cream, so we don’t know what to tell the person who reached out to auctioneer Justin Manning about the fate of Peaceful Meadows’ peanut butter sauce.
He said that, when the first information was posted about the pending auction, the JJ Manning website received more than 500,000 views, 175,000 clicks, 27,000 emotions and about 4,000 shares.
“I think that it’s a day that is going to bring conclusion to what is the final chapter for the family,” Manning said before the auction Tuesday morning. “I think they’ve gotten to the point where they’re more than ready to pass it on, to end it. They need that closure. I think that maybe it’s a little sad for them, maybe a little sad for the town, and the people who came to get ice cream, but who knows what is going to be the next chapter here at the property.”
Hornstra said his plan was to purchase the two lots in their entirety, which is why he did not enter a bid for them separately.
“We work with John Hornstra so we’re very supportive of his bid,” said Scott McFaden of the Wildlands Trust, on the non-profit land conservation trust’s presence to support Honstra. “We’d like to see it stay in permanent farming, because we’re about land preservation.”
McFaden said the Hornstras ran a big risk on the day.
“There were people here who, most likely would have tried to convert it to something else,” he said. “I’ve talked to some town officials informally and they were very supportive of seeing it preserved.”
Hornstra agreed that he had support “everywhere.”
“Part of the reason I went to $1.75 [million], was I didn’t want to disappoint everyone on the South Shore,” he said. “It was a lot of hyped media stuff and Facebook stuff, and I couldn’t bear the thought of somebody else getting it. I’m one of those people who always wants to do the right thing.”
After placing his winning bid, Hornstra first spoke to members of the family selling the property, before speaking with the press.
He said he came prepared to pay $1.5 million – having to go $225,000 over that.
“I went a little farther than I had to,” he said. “I saw my son standing next to me – I’m trying to support the next generation, so we went a little farther than we wanted to.”
Manning said on Monday it was a “coin flip” of the chances the property would remain in agricultural use, noting that real estate developers and a software company were among those interested.
As competing bidders approached Hornstra to congratulate him, one was heard to say he was “glad a farmer got it.” Hornstra, which also bottles milk for door-to-door delivery, already has Whitman customers on its client list.
He said the barns [which, like the other buildings and equipment included for sale at auction], being purchased “as-is” needed some work.
In his pre-auction instructions to prospective bidders, Manning said the first two parcels [94 Bedford St., divided between the ice cream stand, and other buildings and a second lot of the 55 acres behind it] would be auctioned separately.
All separate property lots were sold to the highest bidder, subject to the entirety, which is how both sides of the road were ultimately purchased by two separate bidders when bids were received greater than the individual bids. There would be no rebids of the individual lots.
Bidders were also cautioned that they were expected to have done their homework before the auction date.
Peaceful Meadows provided a lot of information down to the last five years of tax returns.
“With tons of information comes informed buyers,” Manning said. “If you are not an informed buyer, if you don’t know about this property and you didn’t go through all the information, and didn’t go through the properties, then don’t bid on the properties.” All properties are sold as-is.
Closing is slated to take place on or before Sept. 29, unless otherwise agreed upon by the seller in writing or if the buyer of the farm and ice cream stand went to a non-agricultural buyer, triggering the town’s right of first refusal under 61A.
As the bidding for the first two parcels as an entirety became competitive, Hornstra said he was just trying to decide where he was going. He held back from bidding on the two lots individually to get both as an entirety.
He looked at his son – who will be the fifth generation working the farm.
“He kind of rolled his eyes and I said, ‘OK, here’s $50,000 more, let’s see where it goes,’” he said.
Hornstra said he was not much interested in the other side of the road, bought as an entirety by a late-arriving group of Asian women, who said they had no specific plans for it, but wanted to preserve the land.
School Bus Routes
Nancy Crochiere to visit Adams Center
Longtime newspaper columnist Nancy Crochiere will discuss her fiction debut novel, “Graceland,” on Wednesday, Sept. 13 at 6 p.m. at the Adams Center, 33 Summer St.
Hope Robinson can’t seem to please anyone lately, especially not her mother, the flamboyant soap star Olivia Grant. Olivia loves Elvis more than Jesus and, convinced she’s dying, insists on a final visit to Graceland. Unfortunately, that’s the one place Hope can’t take her. Hope fled Memphis years ago with a shameful secret and a vow never to return. Olivia, though, doesn’t understand the word no. Instead, she wrangles Hope’s pink-haired daughter, Dylan, to drive her to Memphis by promising to reveal the mystery of her long-lost father. Hope must stop them before they expose the truth and all hell breaks loose.
As the women race from Boston to Memphis, encountering jealous soap actors, free-range ferrets, and a trio of Elvis-impersonating frat boys, everyone’s secrets begin to unravel. In order to become the family they long to be, Hope, Olivia, and Dylan must face hard truths about themselves and one another on the bumpy road to acceptance, forgiveness, and ultimately, grace.
Crochiere wrote a humor column about family life for Massachusetts newspapers for 13 years. Her collection of those columns titled, The Mother Load, was a finalist for Foreword Reviews’ Book of the Year in humor and the Independent Publishers of New England 2014 Book Award. Crochiere’s essays have appeared in The Boston Globe, Writer’s Digest, and WBUR’s Cognoscenti blog. She lives north of Boston with her husband.
You can learn more about Nancy Crochiere on her website at nancycrochiere.com.
To register for this event, please visit – https://kingstonpubliclibrary.org.
Halifax dog license late fees begin Sept. 15
Any Halifax owner who has not licensed their dog(s) by 4:30 pm on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023, will incur a late fee of $50 per dog plus the cost of the license(s). The cost of a dog license is $10 for neutered or spayed dogs and $15 for dogs that are not neutered or spayed. An owner who has not licensed their dog(s) by Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023, will be issued a court citation of $25 per dog, plus the late fee of $50 per dog as well as the cost of the license(s).
Residents can submit their dog license registration in-person, by mail or by using the drop-box located at the Town Hall parking lot entrance. Please include cash or a check payable to the Town of Halifax, a completed Dog License Registration form, rabies vaccination certificate(s), and a self-addressed stamped envelope.
Alternatively, residents may process their dog license registration online at https://www.halifax-ma.org/pay. Online registrations are only valid if the Town Clerk’s Office has a current rabies vaccination certificate on-file. It is highly recommended to verify that all required materials are on-file before proceeding with a dog license registration online. You can do so by calling (781) 293-7970 or e-mailing [email protected].
All dogs must be licensed in accordance with Massachusetts General Law.
The Town Clerk’s office hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 7 am to 4:30 pm and Tuesday from 7 am to 6:30 pm.
Download the dog license registration form PDF by going to www.halifax-ma.org.
Kingston vandal caught red-handed
Cameron Currier, 31, of Kingston, was arraigned Tuesday in Plymouth District Court, facing 20 charges including malicious damage to a motor vehicle. Police say Currier, who works as a line striper for an Avon firm, placed rocks weighing 15 to 50 pounds in the roadway of Route 27, near the intersection of Reed Street, a dozen or more times. The incidents caused damage to vehicles’ undercarriages and made for dangerous situations as drivers braked and swerved, to try to avoid the rocks. Hitting the rocks at night caused damage to wheels and rims, tires, undercarriage, and even caused airbags to deploy causing injury.
Currier, who lives near Route 27, was finally caught after a period of several months by a Kingston police officer who staked out the area in a camouflage suit and witnessed Currier in the act of putting a large boulder in the road. Currier was arrested and faced charges in court on Tuesday. A plea of “not guilty” was entered on his behalf.
He was released on $1500 bail and is scheduled to return to court in September. Kingston vandal caught red-handed
Cameron Currier, 31, of Kingston, was arraigned Tuesday in Plymouth District Court, facing 20 charges including malicious damage to a motor vehicle. Police say Currier, who works as a line striper for an Avon firm, placed rocks weighing 15 to 50 pounds in the roadway of Route 27, near the intersection of Reed Street, a dozen or more times. The incidents caused damage to vehicles’ undercarriages and made for dangerous situations as drivers braked and swerved, to try to avoid the rocks. Hitting the rocks at night caused damage to wheels and rims, tires, undercarriage, and even caused airbags to deploy causing injury.
Currier, who lives near Route 27, was finally caught after a period of several months by a Kingston police officer who staked out the area in a camouflage suit and witnessed Currier in the act of putting a large boulder in the road. Currier was arrested and faced charges in court on Tuesday. A plea of “not guilty” was entered on his behalf.
He was released on $1500 bail and is scheduled to return to court in September.
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