Sometimes, it seems, one makes the best decisions when there’s not much time to think about it.
That was certainly true for Matt Wood, who found himself losing an automotive job about seven years ago – one that he held for 16 years.
“My wife’s like, ‘do something else,’” he recalls, “I said, OK, I want to open a coffee shop, so I just started that.”
It’s a people-centered business, whose founder used to love working behind the counter and hearing customers greet him by name.
That is reflected in the people he hires – happy people – because those are the people skills he feels can’t be taught and is just as welcoming to people who like to work or hold meetings in his shops. So far, the business is making fixtures of some of his regulars.
“We have a lot of people who come in every single day,” Wood said. “We have a guy who’s writing a book who comes in every day and just sits at the counter and does his research and writing. That’s what [the shop] is here for.”
It’s a can-do attitude that is in synch with how this small business chain was born and was among those few businesses that enjoyed expansion during the COVID pandemic.
“We opened two shops during the pandemic, in Whitman and Bridgewater,” he said. Some of that was luck of location as the Better Bean in Bridgewater center had closed, during COVID and never reopened. Since Wood had already rented space for his photography studio from the same landlord, on the third floor of the same building, he called as soon as he heard the Bean was not reopening.
“I told him we need to take the space,” Wood said. The place needed a lot of work, but he got it done and finds the shop is something of a magnet for the Bridgewater State University community, especially.
He opened his first Restoration Coffee business as a corner counter in the Bostonian Barbershop in Whitman in 2017 and recently opened his latest shop in a new mixed-use apartments and commercial property at 999 Main St., in Hanson. He left the Bostonian during COVID when occupancy regulations would not allow the coffee counter to stay and Hanson embodies the most recent growth.
“I’ve been waiting for a while for this, but I’m glad it’s all done,” he said of the property investment. “Once we got the OK to start putting stuff in here, we were open about two weeks later.” He had already been accumulating the equipment he needed. “My whole basement was full of everything,” he said.
The Steve Egan development replaced the burned-out remains of a former dress shop torched during a string of South Shore arson cases about a decade ago, an abandoned, building where a construction firm used to be and the vacant house where “The Whole Scoop” ice cream parlor had also been located at 965 Main St.
The coffee shop business is not Wood’s first career change. He had also been a wedding photographer for six years at one point.
“I was always meeting with customers in coffee shops,” he said. “I always liked that whole vibe. It’s kind of like that ‘Cheers’ thing with ‘everybody knows your name,’ and they come in every day.”
Wood still has locations in East Bridgewater, the Bridgewater common area and Whitman center.
It took a little while to get the Whitman location, he said.
“The owner of that, who also owns this, would come into the East Bridgewater shop during COVID, telling me ‘I’ve got a spot for you, I’ve got a spot for you.’” Wood recalled. But at the time, he wasn’t ready for that leap and he had been trying to get a spot in Hanson in the plaza where Shaw’s is located. A non-competition clause in the plaza owner’s agreement with Shaw’s, which also sells baked goods, ended that quest.
“I called Steve and said, ‘Let’s just do it,’” he said.
It was the first location he’s moved into that didn’t require work on an older building, such as straightening walls, and the apartments on the upper floors were already rented out. Egan is building another similar business at 965 Main St.
“I’m glad that Steve built this,” Wood said. “The place looks beautiful and he did such a good job.”
Wood said there were Hanson residents who were upset about losing the house where The Whole Scoop had been, but noted there were no takers even after Egan offered the house free of cost to anyone who wanted to move it.
“The people that owned the house were going to do something like this,” he added. “They were going to knock it down.”
Egan has built a similar project in Whitman center, where Supreme Pizza, Whitman Wellness Center and John Russell Studio have moved.
When Wood started his business, it was just coffee, and finding a name was the first order of business.
“It’s wild, trying to figure out business names,” he said. “Every single name’s been taken. He hit on Restoration Coffee because it’s a beverage that restores you.
“Coffee brings you back to life, but also both the Whitman and Bridgewater shops both needed full rehabs before you could do anything – like a full restoration.”
When they added a menu, they started out easy with toasts and simple fare, and chicken salad sandwiches adding what they’ve wanted to the menu as they go along.
Much of that took place during the pandemic when business was slow.
“We were all very tight and [at times] were just hanging around for hours, waiting for people to come in,” Wood said. “It was so slow, so that was when we ended up kind of experimenting with things, going with cravings and stuff like that.”
One of those sandwiches, the Marley, leads some customers to wonder if there’s “something different” in it, he said with a laugh.
“It’s got [tomato] jam,” he said. “We have a food team now, that makes all the sauces, the tomato jam and things like that.” Most of that, as well as the bean roasting is done out of the Whitman shop at the corner of Washington and Temple streets and distributed to the other locations. The muffins are baked on-premises in each shop.
They buy green coffee beans from Colombia, Ethiopia and Guatemala through a supplier in Rhode Island who, in turn, deals directly with the farmers. Then Restoration roasts their own beans.
At the very beginning he used another roasting company, but before long Wood started roasting his own coffee.“I watched every YouTube video [on coffee roasting] I could possibly find and read every book I could on roasting,” he said.
The décor is practically identical in each shop, bowing only to differences in the lay of the floor plan. The tables and chairs are something of a logo and he builds all the main counter tops and even paints the sign affixed to the front counter in each shop.
“I’d like to have 10, but that makes it that much more of a headache,” he said of his ultimate goal for the business, he said, adding it is “just a number at this point.
Stay tuned.
Another lean budget for Plympton schools
The Plympton School Committee met on Monday, Sept. 23. Chair Jason Fraser said that they would be discussing budget restoration priorities. “If you were involved in our budget discussion at the end of last school year, there were some cuts that we needed to make. There were some consumables that we took off the table, some computer programs we took off the table; we also currently don’t have a math interventionist in the building… and in addition to that we’ve acknowledged that there’s some areas of need within the district. One would be looking to hiring an ELL teacher here at the Dennett.” Dennett Elementary Principal Peter Veneto said that they currently have a good number of ELL students at eight. Fraser also said that for the past two years, they have identified a need for two more staff members in the Business Office which would be a shared cost.
Committee member Jon Wilhelmsen said, “We can’t just look at Dennett, so we’re going to have to be cognizant of what’s going on at a Silver Lake perspective, especially with the recognition of the budget.” He continued, “There isn’t really going to be any extra money here. We have to look at total costs of the town because there isn’t really any extra money at the town level either because we used that up last year… the last couple of years we have utilized that to help pay for budget shortfall.”
A member of the audience asked, “is there an actual deficit to the need to the budget right now currently as we stand?” Fraser replied that as of right now the budget is “whole.” He clarified that prior to Town Meeting last year the school was asked to trim $100,000 from the budget. “So we just want to make sure as we lean into next year’s budget, we can restore as much as possible but I just want to make sure that we’re prioritizing what we’re putting as the number one thing to restore, then the number two,” Fraser explained.
Wilhelmsen said that he, Superintendent Jill Proulx, and Director of Finance and Operations Sarah Hickey met with Town Administrators from the three towns to gather a sort of state of the state. “As we approach budget season, how things are looking – what do they have for levy limit, what do they have for free cash, what other challenges are they seeing walking into the budget season,” he explained. He said that a meeting to review all these items will take place in December at the Kingston Town Hall. He encouraged everyone to attend.
Veneto provided a playground update. He said that the initial quote they got to make necessary repairs was $5,200, but it had since increased to $5,800. He said that they were able to find a reputable company that would do the work for a third of the cost. He also noted that parts have been ordered. Fraser asked if the playground was still accessible and safe. Veneto said that one small section had been roped off, but the rest was in use and safe.
Regarding capital projects, Wilhelmsen said that they did get an earmark from Senator Moran’s office for $35,000 to replace one of the rooftop units. He said that unfortunately those units are now costing upwards of $75,000 to $80,000. “In order for us to take the… money from the State, we’re going to need to be able to come up with other funds to be able to purchase one of those units and those are six units that need to be replaced over time,” he explained. He also said that they would need to prioritize that unit to take advantage of the earmark this fiscal year.
Veneto provided a principal’s report saying that CASA had their Harvest Fair the previous Saturday. He said that they had a busy month filling vacant roles including the nurse position as the Head Nurse is out on maternity leave. He named a few other leaves and retirements as well. Veneto said that he was able to fill the Title I position. He said the school was holding a “gold boot” fundraiser for kids with cancer. Veneto also said that the school received a $10,000 donation from a donor that wished to remain anonymous.
Jill Proulx introduced Dr. Tricia Clifford as the new Assistant Superintendent for Silver Lake. Proulx said that they had three leadership institutes over the summer where they reviewed the strategy for district improvement. She also said in August they held trainings with legal counsel for Title IX. She shared a reduced version of the presentation that was shared with staff regarding what was accomplished last year and what still needs to be done.
Proulx said that new staff was introduced. She said that in addition to Clifford, they welcomed Athletic Director Rick Swanson, Elementary Curriculum Coordinator Brian DeSantes, HR Director Liz Grindle, Integrated Preschool Principal Sarah Chick, Math Coordinator at the Middle and High School Dan Correia, and Special Education Coordinator for K-12 Elizabeth MacKay.
Proulx told the Committee that they plan to expand Second Step, the anti-bullying curriculum into the high school as well as pro social skills. She also said that the principals will be working on ways to improve parent and community involvement
Halifax BOS appoints committee to review operations
The Halifax Board of Selectmen began their Tuesday, Sept. 28, meeting by interviewing candidates for the Town Government Study Committee. “This is a committee that the Board of Selectmen is setting up as kind of an advisory committee to consider basically all of our town operations… I don’t think it’s ever been looked at since 1734 frankly,” John Bruno, chairman of the Board of Selectmen said.
Josh Curtis was up first. He said, “We moved here five years ago from Hawaii after I retired from the service. I was Airborne Infantry; served in Iraq and Afghanistan – received the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star of Valor. After separating from the military, we purchased a beautiful home in Halifax… and we just fell in love with the town. It has such a great community… and I just want to find a way to help based on my history.” He was asked several questions including how he worked with people who have different viewpoints than himself. “I actually worked with a Three-Star General… and we helped foreign armies actually improve their operations,” Curtis replied.
They also interviewed Kerri Sellers, who said she has been a resident of Halifax for five years. Sellers said she works in Cambridge for a Biotech company. “Over the course of my career, I’m actually the assistant to the CEO, so I’m pretty good at getting a consensus… I think that communication is something that would be an asset on this particular committee – being able to speak competently and also listen,” Sellers said.
The Board voted to appoint all of the candidates. They appointed Joshua Curtis, Mary Gravinese, Sandy Nolan, Kerri Sellers, and Jim Walters to the Town Government Study Committee, all to open terms. “I want to thank all of you folks for all of this,” Bruno said. Selectman Tom Pratt was named as the Chair.
The Selectmen also voted to appoint Walter Petersen as a Special Police Officer. Police Chief Joao Chaves also addressed the Board regarding littering and trespassing offenses in town. He said he hopes by next year to have people in place to make the laws regarding littering and trespassing more enforceable. Bruno said that another option is to ask the Parks Department to post signs asking people to clean up their trash, etc.
CPA presentation
Candice Kniffen appeared before the Board to give a presentation on the Community Preservation Act (CPA). Kniffen said that it was voted that the CPA appear on the ballot. She said that most people are unaware of what the CPA actually is and described it as “an assessment that the townspeople pay but also there’s matching funds that the State provides.” She continued, “but for 24 years we have felt that Halifax has left this money on the table.” She also said that 196 towns have adopted it, but in this area only Halifax, East Bridgewater, Avon, and Brockton have yet to adopt the CPA. She mentioned revitalizing the Blacksmith Shop in town. She said that CPA funding could allow for that as well as adding playground equipment amongst other things.
Kniffen said that the affordable housing portion of the Act was being confused with the MBTA Zoning requirements that the State has set forth. She said that some of the towns that have adopted the CPA have established renting assistance programs as well as repurposing buildings in town. Kniffen said that all nine members of the Committee are longtime residents who raised their children in Halifax and have volunteered in various capacities within the community for years.
Bruno spoke up saying that he believed that voting in favor of the CPA would benefit the town in the long run. Selectman Jonathan Selig said, “One of the battle cries from a lot of folks in Halifax is we want to preserve Halifax; we want to keep Halifax the special place that it is. In my opinion, one of the best tools we can have, is the CPA.” He called it a “no brainer” and said it was set up for exactly what most of the town wants.
Selectman Tom Pratt still had questions, however. He said he was unsure if they could cap the housing bucket yet. “If money was not an object, the CPA is a no brainer… one of the big concerns I’m hearing though… is the housing thing; I think if we could get an answer as to whether you could cap that ten percent bucket and make it mandatory spending, that would be helpful… in other words, if you’re collecting $100,000 a year and $10,000 has to go to the housing bucket, can we cap that at $20-$30 thousand to spend it on veterans, to spend it on rental assistance rather than put aside to buy multiple pieces of property.” He stressed that, in his opinion, the CPA was a no brainer minus the 10 percent housing. Selig said he “kicked the tires with the State” and doesn’t believe that it is possible.
Kniffen said, “The CPA gives us a lot of control in how we choose to do it, so I’m not sure that capping it is a solution.” I think people need to remember this was established to encourage towns to take care of things that they can’t do in their regular budget and to give them a way to do it without… having to go for an override because you’re in an emergency situation.” She said that the estimate for the average homeowner in Halifax were the CPA to pass would be an increase of $88 per year. “I’d rather do that then have my taxes continue to go up,” she said referring to an override. The Selectmen agreed to table the conversation until a later meeting.
Dog woes revisited
In the Aug. 30 edition of the Plympton-Halifax-Kingston Express, reported a story about a dog owned by Tabor McSherry that was cited as a nuisance dog due to run-ins with neighbors and a neighbor’s dog. McSherry appeared before the Board again on Sept. 24. Asked what he planned to do as a result of the meeting in August, McSherry said he has plans to get the dog further training in November. “In the meantime, I’ve taken over muzzle training with the dog.So far that has worked out really well… when we’re off the property, he’s always wearing the muzzle… The backyard is surrounded by a 6 ft. fence,” McSherry said.
Private roads will not be plowed
Alan Ingram
Express correspondent
Residents of Kingston’s private roads expressed frustration at a Board of Selectmen meeting Tuesday, Sept. 24, over a new policy that may halt snow plowing on some streets this winter. The board agreed to revisit the issue and hold a public hearing Tuesday, Oct. 8, to address concerns about safety and communication.
The policy, approved by the board in August 2023, would stop town plowing on private roads that don’t meet minimum standards, including a 10-foot-wide roadway with 2-foot shoulders on each side. Residents whose roads do not meet these standards were told they would need to make improvements or lose plowing services. Those residents say they were blindsided by letters sent out in early September informing them of the changes.
Several residents voiced worries about emergency vehicle access and the financial burden of maintaining their own roads. “I just cannot believe that I’m even here because I was never even notified,” said Victor Hult of Stagecoach Drive, who has lived on his road for 48 years.
Paul Brokmeier of Stagecoach Drive said he received estimates as high as $28,500 to bring his street up to the town’s standards. “I don’t really wanna hear that they’re not gonna plow my street when I won’t be able to get an ambulance into my home,” Brokmeier said.
Scott Bishop of Main Street, not an affected road, asked, “Why are you stopping services to citizens who pay taxes? What are you doing to ensure that emergency services are going to be available to these people? What are you doing to maintain upkeep of town property on these roads?”
Violet Berry of Meadowbrook Road recounted how town officials promised to plow her street when she moved there in 1960. “Now, when I was growing up, my father was, had his own business.… He never in his life signed a paper or had anybody sign the paper. He would quote a price, they’d shake on it and that was the legal document, so my feeling is, I’d like that honored.”
Berry added “I’d like to be able to continue living on Meadowbrook Road. It would be a hardship for me if I had to start putting out thousands of dollars or whatever to keep the road going.”
Highway Superintendent Paul Basler explained the policy aims to protect town plowing equipment and address a shortage of plow drivers. He said the town maintains about 80 miles of accepted roads and 35 miles of unaccepted private roads.
“We are having a big problem getting these plow trucks in anymore because A, insurance rates are high, the price of trucks is 70 or 80 grand, and nobody wants to put a plow on a truck, or an 80 grand plow truck, and have the transmission blow, or have the truck break down because it hit something on the side of a road,” Basler said.
“We’re trying to save the private plows and trucks from damage,” He added. “We need to keep our old trucks running to serve everyone in town who pays taxes.”
The new rules require private roads to meet minimum width and clearance standards. According to Basler, most issues involve overgrown trees and brush that need trimming.
Board members acknowledged the policy rollout could have been handled better. Selectman Kim Emberg apologized for the late notification.
“I apologize for it not going out until now. We voted it August of 2023. My understanding was that notifications would go out then. They didn’t, so I am apologizing to everyone for that, and we are trying to remedy that in a future meeting,” Emberg said.
The board voted to hold a public hearing on Oct. 8 to further discuss the policy and potential modifications. They also requested updated information on which streets don’t meet requirements and what specific repairs are needed.
“We’re not trying to postpone it and not have it done being closer to November. We’re trying to solve it,” said Chairman Eric Crone. “I mean, I’m telling you, we’re all residents of the same town.”
Emberg suggested the board could consider delaying implementation for a year or making tweaks to address concerns while still protecting town equipment.
“We could keep the policy as it is, not change anything, which I don’t think is fair at this point, given that people didn’t have the notification that was intended,” she said.
“So that leaves us a middle ground, which is either delaying the policy until next year, or figuring out maybe some tweaks for this season to address the concerns about the trucks, but also try to get to as many private roads as possible.”
The public hearing on the private road plowing policy is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 8 at 6 p.m. in the Kingston Town House.
Recycling Roads in Halifax
Fred Corrigan
Special to the Express
Route 106 in Halifax was treated to a facelift last week when a process “Hot-In-Place” asphalt recycling was used. Hot In-Place is an eco-friendly asphalt paving method.
The surface recycling is done by “ovens” heating the existing road surface up to 350 degrees, then scarifying teeth dig into the existing road to a specific depth. The asphalt is then combined with a rejuvenating polymer oil applied to the asphalt with recycling agents, heated and the hot mess is recompacted. Next a paving screed makes the roadway flat again and a new finish layer is applied and a roller compacts the asphalt. The new surface is left to cure for about a week .then the final surface layer can be applied.
This Hot In-Place process eliminates the need to scarify and haul away the asphalt to be recycled in another area and saves on the use of oil. The use of reclaimed asphalt pavement began in the 1970s in response to the oil embargo.
The pictures are of a section of route 106 east of route 36 and is complete to the Kingston line.
Kingston Public Library to host Gravestone Girls “Past the Cemetery Gate” talk Thursday, Oct. 10
Join us for a talk on interpreting and researching historic cemeteries and gravestones, presented by Brenda Sullivan of the Gravestone Girls at the Adams Center, 33 Summer St., Kingston, Oct. 10 at 6 p.m.
“Past the Cemetery Gate” is a 90-minute presentation where attendees will learn to ‘read’ the cemetery for clues and information. Using both direct observation and deductive reasoning from objects such as the writing, art, geology and the cemetery landscape, much new insight can be revealed that can answer questions, create new inquiries and open doors for further detective work. For more information visit their website here: https://www.gravestonegirls.com/#/
Three graduate Firefighting Academy
BRIDGEWATER— State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine announced last Friday the graduation of 13 firefighters from the 50-day Career Recruit Firefighting Training Program, three of whom were from the Kingston Fire Dept.: Firefighters Mark Leary, Caroline Reed, and Daniel Shannon.
“Massachusetts firefighters are on the frontlines protecting their communities every day, and today’s graduates are needed now more than ever,” said State Fire Marshal Davine. “The hundreds of hours of foundational training they’ve received will provide them with the physical, mental, and technical skills to perform their jobs effectively and safely.”
“Massachusetts Firefighting Academy instructors draw on decades of experience in the fire service to train new recruits,” said Deputy State Fire Marshal Maribel Fournier. “Through consistent classroom instruction and practical exercises, today’s graduates have developed the tools they’ll need to work seamlessly with veteran firefighters in their home departments and in neighboring communities as mutual aid.”
The graduating firefighters of Class #BW31 represent the fire departments of Canton, Franklin, Hull, Kingston, Mansfield, Norton, Norwell, Seekonk, West Bridgewater, and Wrentham.
Students receive classroom training in all basic firefighter skills. They practice first under non-fire conditions and then during controlled fire conditions. To graduate, students must demonstrate proficiency in life safety, search and rescue, ladder operations, water supply, pump operation, and fire attack.
SLRSD votes to fund facilities study
The Silver Lake Regional School Committee met onThursday, Sept. 5, for the first time since the school year began. Mark Guidoboni provided a SAFER update. He told the Committee that a Facilities Director notified the subcommittee that there were several HVAC failures throughout the buildings that could result in a loss of heat. “Come budget time next year, we’re going to have to make some decisions on these units and facilities going forward,” he explained. He explained that there may be some available funding sources.
He turned things over to Director of Finance and Operations Sarah Hickey to elaborate. She said, “As you know, there were changes in personnel and Mike Lawless, Director of Facilities, and I pretty much got up and running in January and so the money that was voted for the FY24 capital projects, we weren’t really getting going on spending in the spring and summer and so what I put together for you is a spreadsheet that has the fiscal year of when something was voted, what the project was, what the budget was, what has been expended, and then any balance or shortfall.” She continued, “Mike and I brought an idea to SAFER about having a comprehensive facilities study done and Mark mentioned HVAC repairs… we’re required by law to provide heat.” Hickey said that they were hoping to use the $100,000 for FY25 and the excess for FY24 unspent projects to fund a comprehensive study to guide the discussions of the Capital Committee in the future. She said that any money not spent on the study would go toward HVAC repairs. She added, “One of my big concerns since I got here is priorities of projects and I have to be honest with you, I sort of hit the roof when I found out that we spent a half a million dollars on tennis courts and we have portions of the building where the heat doesn’t work.”
Guidoboni explained, “I would like to vote to use the excess funding from the projects at $42,442.00 and the other revenue… so a total of $142,442.00… for an HVAC and comprehensive study.” Committee Chair Gordon Laws questioned whether it should be voted on as it wasn’t explicitly stated in the agenda. Committee member Jason Fraser said that since it was part of a subcommittee report the Committee could vote to accept the report with the recommended movement of capital included. Committee member Paula Hatch made a motion to reallocate the dollars in the capital plan for a comprehensive facility plan with the remainder of the funds being used for HVAC fixes. The Committee voted in favor of the motion.
Guidoboni also discussed the possibility of moving the administration building. The first of the three options is an $8 million, 8,000 square ft. building. The second option is renting or purchasing an off-site facility in one of the towns for around $1.8 million. The third option is to build a 4,000 square ft. annex adjacent to the existing building.
Guidoboni told the Committee that Kingston recently discussed establishing a school zone as a result of a safety audit that was done. He explained, “we didn’t have authority to have a school zone in the past. High schools did not qualify and our middle school was set too far back from the street to qualify… we went through this when we built the schools almost twenty years ago… the State changed the rules and allows high schools now to have school zones,” he explained. He said that Kingston voted in favor of putting a school zone together in front of the schools complete with a flashing sign. He said that they are looking for different funding sources to pay for the sign, etc. Guidoboni said that the Kingston Town Administrator said he has found all but $10k to $20k of that money. Guidoboni asked the Committee to vote to support a school zone along Pembroke St. in the mornings and afternoons. The Committee voted unanimously in favor of it.
Proposal for EV Charging Stations
The Committee listened to a presentation on a proposal for EV charging stations to be installed on the Silver Lake campus. A representative from Innovus Power told the Committee that they have installed about 1,000 ports in 15 different states. “There is a limited window that is closing on fast-charging rebates,” he explained. He further said that if they just did a station at the high school, they would offer a 20 percent profit share, but if they did one at the Kingston Elementary school as well, it would be 30 percent.
Asked where the stations would be located, they said there were two options. One would be on the corner of 27 and the senior/upper parking lot. The other option would be the first six spots next to the admin building. There was some concern discussed regarding safety issues with random people wandering around the school grounds while school is in session. The representative said that anecdotally people tend to sit in their car on their devices while charging. Asked about cost, it was said that the only potential cost would come with needing to ensure the spaces are free and clear of snow.
The representative said that the application submittal is not obligatory. “We can get you in line, but you don’t have to move forward even if you get an approval… the downside is if we miss the window, we miss the window,” he explained. The Committee voted in favor of submitting the application since it doesn’t bind them to a decision either way. Laws said, “I can tell you from my own personal standpoint… I am extremely interested in fighting even for nickels and dimes in terms of pulling in revenue and free cash flow given what could be… the challenges of our finances at the end of the year.” The Committee voted unanimously to submit an application “pursuant to further diligence, discussion, and final approval of the Committee.”
Potential Cell Phone Ban
Laws told the Committee that a concerned parent wrote to them expressing their desire for a schoolwide cell phone ban as has been adopted in other schools. Middle School Principal Becky Couet said that the policy in their school is that the phones need to remain in the students’ lockers. She said that a new teacher commented to her that he has never been in a school where he has never seen a phone until this one. Couet said that she doesn’t feel the need to have a stricter policy. High School Principal Michaela Gill said that they have a slightly laxer policy that prohibits phone usage during instructional time. Questions were asked regarding Apple watch usage, specifically regarding cheating. Gill answered that the teachers were savvy but noted that if a student really wants to cheat, they will find a way.
Principals’ Reports
Couet listed off some new teachers as well as a retirement. She said that she wanted to call attention to the front of the school and said that Amnesty ambassadors came in August to help organize the opening ceremonies for the school. She also said that she wanted to recognize the custodial efforts over the summer to get the school ready for the year.
Gill also provided a report. She recognized all of the student support and volunteerism that enabled them to do the Freshmen Orientation. She also asked the Committee for approval for an out-of-state spring trip to Carnegie Hall for chorus and band members. The Committee voted to allow the trip. Gill did note that any student who was accepted to perform wouldn’t be denied due to finances.
Gill told the Committee the Silver Lake Hall of Fame Committee reached out about fundraising for and creating a memorial on campus for Buddy Teevens. Teevens, who attended Silver Lake (Class of ’74), was the winningest coach in Dartmouth football history. He passed away last year. Laws said, “If you don’t know American football very well, Buddy Teevans was not just a great coach at Dartmouth, he actually changed the game across America. His practices of how he managed his team to reduce injuries and head injuries and things like that have generally speaking been adopted everywhere.”
Gill also said that an issue of MIAA eligibility came up for students who are now attending a state-sponsored virtual high school. She said that after investigating it they found out that permission could be granted for such instances. A Committee member asked if the same was true for charter and home school students. Gill said that home-schooled children were absolutely eligible to participate in district sports though she wasn’t sure about the charter school issue.
Gill said that the School Resource Officer Richard Allen has made many connections with students who might otherwise struggle to make meaningful connections. She said that he is heavily involved with boxing and several students have expressed interest and even attended the gym where he boxes. As a result of growing interest, the Police Department is looking to establish the Kingston Police Boxing Club which would be open only to Silver Lake students. The Committee voted to approve the request to share the flyer.
Student Representative Carissa Smith addressed the Committee. She told them that the first football game would be the following day. Spirit Week as well as an in-school Student Council retreat and NHS induction are both coming up soon. The main thing she spoke about was Silver Lake hosting the SEMASC (Southeastern Massachusetts Association of Student Councils).
Assistant Superintendent Report
Assistant Superintendent Tricia Clifford addressed the Committee. She said that she has been working on ESSER title grants to fund various things throughout the District. She also said that she worked on new teacher orientation on August 21 where they spent time discussing the strategy for district improvement.
Superintendent Jill Proulx spoke next. She said that in August they had a training with legal on new Title IX requirements. She introduced some of the new staff including Clifford, new Athletic Director Richard Swanson, and new Integrated Preschool Principal Sarah Chick.
SLEA Update
New Silver Lake Education Association (SLEA) President Jessica Drew addressed the Committee. She called their roles as educators more than a job saying it was a “passion and identity.”
Legislative Update
Committee member Jason Fraser said that over the summer he spent considerable time working with the Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators (MAVA). He said there is a bill on the table that would create a blind lottery for CTE admissions. He said that MAVA is staunchly against the bill. “The ultimate goal is to increase funding for CTE programming so every single student in the Commonwealth will have access to a seat in a CTE program if they so desire,” Fraser said.
KFE presents $60,000 to schools
The Kingston Foundation for Education (KFE), a parent-run, non-profit organization committed to enhancing the educational experience for Kingston students, presented their 10th annual check in the amount of $60,000 at the Sept. 16 school committee meeting. Since 2014, the KFE has raised nearly $1 million to directly support Kingston schools.
Over the last year, KFE has funded the repaving of the Kingston Elementary School recess yard and the new KES outdoor classroom project that just broke ground in August 2024. This outdoor classroom is a space designed for educational activities that takes place outside of a traditional indoor classroom. It can be used for a variety of purposes such as nature-based learning, physical education, art and creativity, team-building, science experiments, mindfulness, and exploring local history and cultures.
At Kingston Intermediate School, KFE funded the purchase of new camera and AV technology, as well as five TouchView Interactive displays. Having these new displays on carts gives teachers flexibility on how they structure their room layout vs the fixed projector. The adjustable height stand gives even the youngest students the ability to interact with the board. The built-in PC with wireless keyboard/mouse means all a teacher will need to do is plug the unit into power and have it all hooked up and ready to go!
Traditionally, KFE will raise money by planning several fun, charitable events including the Booster Fun Run and Parents’ Night Out fundraiser event called Back-to-School Brews at Mayflower Brewery. Back-to-School Brews took place this year on Friday, Sept. 20, with the. SLHS alumni band, The Rippers, back again with their musical talent, amazing raffle prizes donated by many of our Kingston business community members, and a thrilling pong tournament. It was such a success last year, that we plan on doing it year after year!
Our mission is simple: to help members of the Kingston community channel their positive energy into improving the already phenomenal public school system. As parents, we all love our kids, and we want to set them up for success. And we also want them to have the best opportunities and latest technology available when it comes
Plympton residents to decide on name change
The Plympton Board of Selectmen met on Tuesday, Sept. 9. Selectmen Chair John Traynor brought up a suggestion for a name change as he has done many times over the last few years. Traynor recommended using Select Board as opposed to Board of Selectmen. Traynor said that of 292 towns, not cities, in Massachusetts over half of them have changed from Board of Selectmen to Select Board. “Everything going forward is labeled Select Board… the towns that abut us, Pembroke, Middleborough, and Carver have all moved to Select Board as a title. Only Halifax, Kingston, and ourselves do not use that name. Plymouth has moved to Select Board as has Duxbury,” Traynor said. He said he isn’t motivated by being politically correct but rather by all the women they have serving in government from the local all the way to the federal level.
Selectman Mark Russo said, “I am dead set against the change… I particularly enjoy being connected to a tradition that goes back to 1707.” Russo said that he felt that the mere fact that there are so many women in leadership positions shows that the title itself doesn’t prohibit it.
Selectman Dana Smith said he felt it should be up to the town. “We were voted in by the town, I think it should be something the town should decide… I would think that there might be some costs associated,” Smith said. Town Administrator Liz Dennehy said that the path of least resistance would be to put it at Town Meeting as a warrant article. Dennehy also said, “the only thing that I would mention in conjunction with what Mr. Smith was saying is that there are certain cost implications. All of our bylaws are codified and we have to pay… for every single bylaw change that we make. Now I don’t know exactly how much that would be, but anywhere in our bylaws that states Board of Selectmen would have to be changed.” Traynor said, “I would be very surprised if there was any cost of any consequence.” Traynor made a motion that they put an article on the annual Town Meeting to change the name. Smith seconded. The motion passed with Smith and Traynor voting in favor of it and Russo voting against it.
Town Accountant Lisa Hart provided an end of year closeout update. Hart said she was looking to have everything submitted to the State by the end of September. She also said that she was hoping they could have free cash certified by the middle of October as well as have the tax rate set before Thanksgiving.
“I’d say I’m probably a week to ten days behind where I would like to have been due to the fact that I was waiting for the schools for some information… Silver Lake… it gets a little confusing because they pay their teachers, all the money that they pay through the summer is actually from their FY24 budget so they have to approve that into FY25 in order to pay them,” Hart said. She added, “they’re working hard over there but they were left with quite a mess over there to clean up… they’re struggling over there. They’re underemployed. They don’t have enough people.”
Traynor said that they had several one-day liquor license requests for Stellwagen Beer Company at Sauchuk Farm. The dates include 9/21, 9/22, 9/28, 9/29, 10/5, 10/6, 10/12, 10/13, 10/14, 10/19, 10/20, 10/26, 10/27, 11/2, and 11/3. The Selectmen noted that there would be a police detail present for each of the dates. The Selectmen voted to approve the requests.
Dennehy said that they have applied for and been awarded a Green Communities grant for work to the heating system at the library in the amount of just over $135,000. “That brings my individual total for grants that I’ve brought in over the last few years to well over $1 million.” She noted that she wouldn’t have been able to do so without the help of Ross MacPherson and the Old Colony Planning Council.
The Selectmen ended the meeting with raves. Russo said, “my raves are for questions that are useful and constructive. Despite personal opinion, preference, philosophy, or ego, despite past grievances, questions like what’s best for the town, most importantly, how do we be fair, how do we keep things moving… again, my rave is for those kinds of questions that are able to surmount obstacles and keep things moving.”
Traynor recalled his rave at the prior meeting for the life and legacy of Plympton resident Jacqueline Freitas who recently passed. He noted that well over 100 people attended her services. He spoke about her passion for various causes and the affection that was shown by the turnout at her services.
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