It is with great pleasure that Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) congratulates the following students on being named to the Summer 2023 President›s List. The summer terms run from May to August.
Full-time undergraduate students who have earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.700 and above for the reporting term are named to the President’s List. Full-time status is achieved by earning 12 credits over each 16-week term or paired 8-week terms grouped in fall, winter/spring, and summer.
Brendan Crotty and Nora Rooney, both of Kingston were named to the SNHU President’s List.
Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) is a private, nonprofit institution with a 90-year history of educating traditional-aged students and working adults.
Now serving more than 170,000 learners worldwide, SNHU offers approximately 200 accredited undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs, available online and on its 300-acre campus in Manchester, NH.
Recognized as one of the «Most Innovative» regional universities by U.S. News & World Report and one of the fastest-growing universities in the country, SNHU is committed to expanding access to high quality, affordable pathways that meet the needs of each learner. Learn more at www.snhu.edu.
Accomplished author to visit Adams Center
Critically acclaimed author Adrienne Brodeur will discuss her June release “Little Monsters,” on Wednesday, Oct..4, at 6 p.m. at the Adams Center (33 Summer Street). She will participate in a moderated conversation with Kingston Public Library Head of Adult Services, Steven Miller.
Brodeur’s novel is a riveting book about Cape Cod, complicated families, long-buried secrets, set in the summer of 2016. The book has been highlighted in the New York Times Book Review, NPR, and the Washington Post. During this past August, “Little Monsters,” was the Boston Globe Book Club pick of the month.
In 2019, Brodeur’s memoir “Wild Game: My Mother, Her Lover, and Me,” was a national bestseller as it was named a Best Book of the Year by over 20 different websites or publications including Amazon, Entertainment Weekly, People, Town and Country, and BookPage.
Brodeur has spent the last two decades in the literary world with her career beginning with the founding of the fiction magazine, Zoetrope: All-Story, with filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola as she was its editor-in-chief from 1996-2002. In 2005, she became a literary fiction and memoir editor at Harcourt (later, HMH Books).
She left publishing in 2013 to become Creative Director – and later Executive Director – of Aspen Words, a literary arts nonprofit and program of the Aspen Institute. You can learn more about Brodeur at https://adriennebrodeur.com.
Copies of her book will be on sale for purchase following the author talk.
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 [email protected].
Saving a life on Mayflower Road
The Plympton Board of Selectmen met Monday, Aug. 28, at the Plympton Town House, 5 Palmer Rd.
Chairman Christine Joy called the meeting to order at 5:45 p.m. to recognize “some lifesaving acknowledgements”. She then turned the meeting over to the Public Safety Dept., and Fire Chief Cheryl Davis spoke of the teamwork between the members of the fire and police departments that allowed the positive outcome of saving a life.
She then turned the podium over to Police Chief Matt Ahl, who in addition spoke to the support the departments receive from the town.
The specific incident began Thursday, Jan. 12, at 11:34 a.m. Sgt. John Simonds, Officer Cam Broderick, and Officer Robert Orr were dispatched to 118 Mayflower Rd. for a report of cardiac arrest with CPR in progress. The officers arrived on scene within 52 seconds of being dispatched. As Officer Orr rushed inside the residence to assess the situation, Officer Broderick removed the automated external defibrillator known as an AED from the medical kit in the police cruiser. Upon entering the residence the officer noted an unconscious male lying on the floor and not breathing. Officer Broderick was not able to obtain a pulse. Officer Orr opened the AED and placed the defibrillator pads on the patient. The AED then performed an automated check and determined that a shock was needed to regain rhythm in the heart. The shock was administered, followed by continued CPR. Officer Broderick then placed a bag bottle mask on the patient and began rescue breaths as the patient’s son continued chest compressions. Plympton fire personnel arrived on the scene and began using an automated CPR device called the Lucas Machine. A second shock with the AED was advised and administered and a pulse was restored, and the patient began breathing again. All police and fire personnel assisted to get the patient prepared for transport to Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Plymouth. As a result of a quick response, the teamwork and life-saving actions of the police officers and fire personnel involved, the life of the individual was saved and he made a full recovery. Chief Ahl congratulated the departments saying, “Officers, your actions in this incident reflect your continued dedication to this agency, the town it serves, and the people who live here. Please keep up the great work. Thank you.”
Chief Ahl then asked Lt. Dan Hoffman present the life-saving awards to his officers, Sgt. John Simon, Officer Cameron Broderick, and Officer Robert Orr. Chief Ahl then turned the podium over to Fire Capt. John Sjostedt who reflected on the day. “As the shift commander that was on duty that day, we’re gifted with skills that help us perform these duties – thankfully we don’t have to do it every day – it’s a blessing that we can do what we have to do when we’re called upon to do it but while their response time was 52 seconds, mine was 52 and a half because I recall pulling into the driveway and seeing Officer Broderick and Officer Orr flying right across in front of me with the defibrillator in hand so I already knew they were one step ahead of the game going into the house. We got there and the patient’s son was performing CPR already for us. It’s the first time in 25 years that I let a bystander continue doing CPR. He was doing an amazing job and it allowed me to work with the police officers to do what we had to do. Nothing short of perfect is the best way I can describe how this went. We had dispatchers take a call – I listened to the call afterwards – nice and calm, professional, they gave the instructions. … that’s what leads us to what I wanted to share with you today which is called “The Chain of Survival”. It’s something that we often teach. The first link, if you haven’t seen it, is calling 9-1-1. Dispatch then provides instructions to start CPR as fast as possible. We apply an AED and used an AED. Then you have response from the EMS personnel to provide the Advanced Care: medication, electricity, whatever it is that’s needed for that particular patient. We transport them to the hospital and then we’ll leave them in the hands of the hospital, and thankfully we have some of the best medical care on the South Shore… These professionals are taking what we bring to them and doing the best that they can working together. We’re in a town works so well together – I remember pulling into the driveway and seeing Cam and Rob and I’m so thankful that they were there. I was immediately relieved I had two capable people that I was working with, and then coming right behind them were firefighter Sharenka, Chief Davis, Firefighter Galombos, and all the other responders that came along with us. There was Joe Wright, another great paramedic Gary Samaro, Zach Russini and Clayton Marshall, all professionals in this community, for a small community, we’re so lucky to have who we have responding to make such a difference to this situation. So again, I bring attention to this Chain of Survival: Call 9-1-1. Our ROCC dispatcher will give the pre- arrival instructions: staying calm, walking the family through what they were dealing with, they began CPR – it was in progress when we got there. That’s truly what saves the life – early CPR is what allowed us to bring the tools that we bring to make this work. The use of the AED delivering the shocks – I think we delivered two shocks before the paramedics started their assessment and their work and then our EMS professionals, some of the best I’ve ever had the pleasure working with in 25 years – and then I transport to the hospital and in this case, thankfully a recovery. So congratulations to everybody involved. Thank you for everything you guys did and it’s a pleasure to work side-by-side with you. At this time I’d like to have Chief Davis present our crew with a citation for the uniforms.
Firefighter Paul Sarinka, Firefighter Steve Almos, then Sjostedt asked for Mike Mahoney to come up to the podium to say a few words – Sjostedt said we’d also like to give the same firefighter award to the dispatchers who are an extension of our Police and Fire Departments .
Deputy Tucker received the Firefighter’s award on behalf of Samantha Gomes, Dispatcher Matthew Miller, Dispatcher – another dispatcher, and then recognized two of the ROCC supervisors, Matt Riggins and another fellow who wasn’t named. But came up and got his award.
Sjostedt then thanked the families and members of the community who came out to support the first responders.
Chairman Joy said she speaks for the board in saying what a great team, we realize it, we appreciate the hard work you do and we are here to support you and go through the chief, you know whatever we can We’re here for you guys and appreciate everything you do for us and our residents and we couldn’t be more proud. “I feel like proud parents, so thank you everyone.
At the close of the ceremony, the gentleman who was the recipient of all this lifesaving attention spoke up to say, “and here he is – the proof in the pudding – right here”. He got a standing ovation from all in attendance.
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Ready for new school year
The Halifax School Committee met Monday, Aug. 28. Committee Chair Lauren Laws began with a reorganization of the liaisons to various sub-committees including Admin Review and Youth and Recreation. They discussed whether to continue a sub-committee called Curriculum Development. The sub-committee had been started by the School Committee’s previous Chair Summer Schmaling. Current Vice-chair Jessica Page said that the intent behind the sub-committee was to allow for a point person for parents concerned about curriculum. After some discussion, it was decided to absolve the Sub-Committee.
Superintendent Jill Proulx addressed the issue of Silver Lake’s substantially separate programs including preschool. The State pointed out to the District that the preschool currently operates under Silver Lake Regional, despite its being a Grades 7-12 district. The State gave the school a set amount of time to correct the issue. Proulx said that the hope was to have the three towns recognize the preschool as remaining part of Silver Lake Regional via a warrant article at each of the town meetings. There are a handful of other positions that fall under the purview of the region despite not serving Grades 7-12. A member of the Committee asked Proulx about the instrument teacher shared by the towns but was told that that individual was employed part -time by each town individually.
Principal Kayne Beaudry provided an update saying that enrollment was down a bit since the outgoing sixth grade class was quite large. He said, however, that the new kindergarten class was the largest in five years. Beaudry also provided a staffing update saying that there were five new positions. He said that they currently have two open paraprofessional positions as well as an open cafeteria manager position.
Proulx told the Committee that they held staff meetings over the summer that revolved around a LEGO theme and included fun team-building activities. She said that during their welcome back with staff they focused on the strategy for district improvement, what was accomplished last year, and upcoming goals for the new school year. Proulx said that they will continue to monitor student’s social and emotional well-being based on incoming data. She noted that teachers will provide necessary interventions based on that data. Proulx said that the Middle School will continue with their anti-bullying curriculum, Second Step. Proulx said that a new school website will be launched by December of this year that will help make things consistent throughout the District. She said that it would also provide for more ease of accessibility.
One of the District goals, according to Proulx, is to set high expectations for all students while providing the least restrictive environment for all students. “We continue to work on and build our capacity to be more inclusive,” Proulx told the Committee. She said that they implemented a new K-5 literacy program last year. She noted that the plan was to add resources, particularly in the area of science for the upcoming school year. She also noted that they were able to hire a Human Resources Director last year.
Assistant Superintendent Ryan Lynch said that there were nine Halifax teachers who participated in co-teaching professional development over the summer. “All of our administrators from our four elementary schools were there and really talked about how our special education staff and general education staff worked together to support our students and adopt their co-teaching models and schedules for interventions,” Lynch explained. He also expressed thanks to the custodial staff for the work they do over the summer to get ready for the upcoming school year.
There was some discussion among Committee members regarding the social and emotional learning surveys that are distributed to students. One Committee member asked why the school went with the survey from Panorama as opposed to other ones available. Lynch said that the school liked the twice per year approach as it provided an opportunity to check in with students more than once. One Committee member expressed concern with the Panorama survey using vocabulary that might be over the heads of elementary school students including the word “grit.” Proulx said that while the surveys are important, they also rely heavily on feedback from classroom teachers, support staff, and adjustment counselors.
A Committee member asked if after the implementation of a sub-separate classroom this year, the school found the adjustment counselor and behaviorist to be too taxed? She asked if the addition of a second sub-separate classroom might exhaust resources too far? Beaudry explained that they added a part- time position to help alleviate that load.
He said that were they to identify another need, they would adjust accordingly.
Artist Carol Collins’ work is on display at Kingston Public Library
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.
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