If there is one thing to expect from life, it is the faithfully omnipresent unexpected. A mere year and a half ago, I was retrieving the Plympton-Halifax-Kingston Express Newspaper from the mailbox at the edge of my Plympton farm as a reader and subscriber, only. Now, I eagerly yank open my semi-stuck mailbox door each week to see, in print, what my team and I spent the last few days creating and building. Months ago, I could not have imagined being given the immense honor, privilege, and pleasure of becoming part of the Express Newspaper, nor could I have predicted the adventures this opportunity of a lifetime has taken me on.
Of course, I am hardly alone in bringing this newspaper to all of you each week. Far from it! My incredible colleagues, Marla Webby and Katie Peloquin have years of expertise and experience in creating the Express and have been incredibly patient with me and helpful as I navigate the entirely new world of journalism and newspaper publication. We work hard but we also have many laughs, and having them to guide and advise me through this process has been an unexpected delight in life.
It has also been a true pleasure working with various contributing editors. Emery’s columns read like a chat on the porch about life events with a good and wise neighbor. Justin sweeps in with his comprehensive coverage of South Shore happenings that keep the Express up to date with all things local and relevant to our communities. Steve brings community pride with his coverage of the high school sports teams that we are all rooting for -accompanied by incredible professional photography. We have the pleasure of exploring the night skies and learning about the news in the realms beyond Earth with Barry as our expert guide. Holidays with the Express would not be the same without Linda Hurd’s heartfelt recounting of celebrations and traditions of yesteryear, and there is always a touch of brilliance when Alan graces us with an article about the local environment with sage reminders to treasure the precious land we have in our towns. Linda Redding, a retired librarian from Silver Lake, generously shares community happenings that might have slipped under the radar but are nonetheless important and deserving of coverage.
At the helm of it all, owner Mike Lemieux, has enthusiastically taken the wheel of this beautifully established local paper and trusted us with the blessing and task of keeping it afloat while also sailing to new horizons that honor and build upon the legacy of our mentor, friend, and founder, the inimitable and brilliant Deb Anderson, who spent a good portion of her life building this priceless paper from the ground up.
The Express is also more than the founders, editors, designers, and images. It is an amalgamation of the very substance of our collective community. The content and spirit of the Express is as homegrown as the many crops that are pulled from the local soil of our towns. In the scope of international news, world news, and even larger local news, it may seem that someday there might be a shortage of stories to tell and news to share in this contained area of New England, but if anything, local news is infinite because it is hyper-focused, ever changing, and permanently relevant to our families and lives in an intimate way that “big news” can never be.
As I sit in front of the Christmas tree with “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” serendipitously playing in the background, I am amazed and bewildered, in the most pleasant way, that this, dear readers, is my 32nd story with the Plympton-Halifax-Kingston Express Newspaper since May 9th, 2025. As this wild ride of a year comes to a close, I wanted to reflect on the incredible people, places, and businesses that I have had the privilege of interviewing, visiting, connecting with, and writing about as the editor of the Express. I pinch myself on the daily that I get to go out into the community each week, learn from you, and then work with the best team ever to compile and present what was learned with all of you.
The stories you have told me are beautiful, eye-opening, heartfelt, tragic, inspiring, and amusing. I can’t thank you enough for entrusting me with them to pass through the filter of my mind and writing to share with our three towns and beyond (and from what I have been told our newspaper has been shared and shipped as far as California to family and friends of those featured!). I am humbled by the gift you have all given to me this year -the gift of connecting with my community in the most soul-transforming way I could have ever imagined. Thanks to all of you, and in spite of my decades of wandering the country in search of a place to put down my roots, I finally found my home.
Here is a look back at some of the articles I was so fortunate to write this year about all of you!
1. Sauchuk Wins Bid For Carousel, 05/09. This was my maiden voyage, little feature in the Express. Deb was patiently training me and this was my first time doing a small interview. I completely botched it and ended up making it too short (hard to imagine with how I ramble on now!). I also sent it with enough mistakes to poor Deb to likely cause her quite a fright that I was going to be writing for her regularly. It was my terrible dress rehearsal, and thanks to her generous editing and others expertise, the article came out great in the end.
2. Making a Memorial Day Parade, 05/16. This was my first in-person interview with Briggette Martins where I got to learn all about the amazing and involved process of putting together the annual Plympton Memorial Day Parade. I also got to attend a parade committee meeting and was impressed with how eager everyone was to work together to pull of this daunting task.
3. A New Chapter Begins, 06/06. Covering the Silver Lake High School Graduation was my first time learning how to rather chase after information and watch something live and then report on it. I was so inspired listening to the local youth speak at the ceremony and have no doubt they are all doing wonderful things since their graduation. If anyone of them would like to share with us what they have been up to since graduation, do not hesitate to send us an email!
4. What’s Up? -Just Ask Barry, 06/20. This interview and article were a particular joy to do as Barry is a good friend and my kids and I revere him for his knowledge and kindness. Learning about his journey in becoming an astronomy expert and getting to see the amazing backyard set-up for his telescope was truly enjoyable.
5. Sweet Treats are a Recipe for Success, 06/27. Interviewing Keegan Thim Yee of Keegan’s Kreations about his journey as an immigrant arriving in America with next to nothing, and now owning and running two very successful bakeries was a memorable and inspiring experience.
6. Plympton Residents Encouraged to Attend Public Hearings for Rickett’s Pond Estates 40B Project, 07/04. This was my first experience covering a town meeting -particularly one dealing with a serious and impactful decision in Plympton. I learned a lot about this proposed project through research and I sincerely hope everyone is keeping abreast of this issue as it moves forward as it will have a long-lasting, drastic effect on the future of Plympton.
7. An Eye for Life, 07/11. Interviewing local, award-winning photographer, Donna McBrien, was an amazing look into the process of nature and wildlife photography. Being privy to her tips and some of her photography secrets has influenced my personal photography this year. More importantly, her passion for featuring, preserving, and sharing the wildlife in our community is a continual blessing we are so fortunate to have via the Plympton town Facebook Page and her website.
8. It’s a Dog’s World at the Barker House, 07/18. After having my own dog board several times at The Barker House, I knew it was going to be a pleasure to learn more about Dr. Amber Bartlett and her popular boarding house and dog-care center. Her entrepreneurial spirit is continuing to enrich the community as her play center for children opens in the heart of Plympton soon. Stay tuned!
9. Not Your Grandmother’s Library, 07/25. Chatting with the brilliant and friendly Maria Bumpus of the Holmes Public Library was like passing the afternoon surrounded by delightful books with an old friend. Her dedication to making the library a place of enrichment and fun, instead of only quiet and study, made me look at libraries in a new and more accurate way.
10. Nessralla’s Farm: An Inherited Passion, 08/01. It was a treat, indeed, to visit Nessralla’s Farm and talk with John about the farm and family origins that have become a nostalgic and important mainstay in our community. Nessralla’s dedication to quality over quantity and his intense passion for farming left me all the more fueled up to get home and show deeper love and appreciation of my own farm. Don’t forget to support their incredible farmstand throughout the year!
11. Rocking Horse Farm Stepping High, 08/15. After being with Rocking Horse Farm since my daughter was six years old, I didn’t expect to learn so many new things about Katie Alemian Flannery’s riding academy and barn. Flannery shared a beautiful story of what it means to grow up with both an inherited and inherent passion for horses, and how teaching the younger generation horsemanship is the perfect antithesis to a modern, disassociated world.
12. Exploring the Great Beyond, 08/22. What a wonderful opportunity to interview Alison Riordan of Blake Planetarium and learn about a place so many of us love! Although outside our tri-town boundaries, I could not miss the chance to learn more about such a crucial hub of scientific learning in our community. The tedious, costly, and ever-evolving nature of running a planetarium made me appreciate the blessing of having such a place twenty minutes away all the more.
13. Creativity Curated, 08/29. The incredible Maryann Gibbons of Artypants Magazine had my brain humming with insight and ideas as she took us all along on her creative process and adventure in creating one of New England’s premier art magazines right in Kingston!
14. Nurturing the Past, Harvesting the Future, 09/05. Visiting Jim Lough of Colchester Farm was a highlight this year. I showed up for an interview and left with an ear of delicious, raw corn that I ate like a candy bar. Lough’s reverence for the land and commitment to creating a community-farm experience through pick-your-own crops, an honor-system farm stand, and a community-center barn brought home a feel-good impression for all our readers.
15. There and Back Again: A Librarian’s Tale, 09/12. Getting to know Mike Slawson of the Plympton Public Library was a day I won’t forget because of his passion for books, learning, and community. Slawson is well-known for making waves in Plympton with constant innovative ideas that involve all ages and interests. Together, with his faithful dog, Maddie, they are fast-finding a home and creating a beautiful story of their own here in Plympton.
16. Home is Where Your Horse Is, 09/19. The South Shore Equine Center in Plympton gave all the Express readers a fascinating inside look into the workings of an equine hospital. Dr. Mark T. Reilly spent a great deal of time taking me to each room and building on the campus and explained the happenings there in detail to my non-horse savvy self. Many of our readers sent emails and made comments about enjoying learning about the incredible work that goes on there and how much passion it takes to provide medical care for the majestic creatures that grace our towns in great numbers.
17. Tales of New Plympton, 09/26. In this article I wanted to spend time sharing the many reasons I love Plympton and the surrounding community. Perhaps it did come at a time when a bit of turmoil was brewing locally, and perhaps I did hope to share my view as, by many people standards, an “outsider”, but mostly I wrote it as a bit of a gratitude journal entry from me to all of you for the magic you each add to our town.
18. Comfort Me with Apples, 10/03. This piece was purely written with seasonal sentiment to-boot as a fanatic for all things autumn -especially autumn in New England. Apples have historically been a staple crop in the community and it was fascinating to learn about the history of the pomme in these parts.
19. Look for the Helpers, 10/10. Interviewing South Shore Community Action Council CEO, Lisa Spencer, was one of the most impactful experiences for me with the Express. Being made aware of both the needs in the area, as well as the incredible efforts to meet those needs through the unyielding and constant efforts of the people at SSCAC, gave myself, and the readers of the Express, a renewed appreciation for charity work on the South Shore.
20. Finding the Greater Perfection, 10/17. In an interview with my dear friend and foremost gardening/horticulture mentor, George Stanchfield of South of Boston Gardeners with George Stanchfield, I did my best to package up the immense brilliance and magic that is George and share it with all of you. With is early days of horticulture training at Billingsgate Farm in Plympton, and with his handiwork and landscaping gracing many yards and public properties in the area, I could not help but share a bit more of his amazing story.
21. A Haunted Historical Inheritance, 10/24. As a Halloween enthusiast (putting it mildly) and Irish historian, writing about the History of Halloween in New England and its origins was hardly work. The only difficult task was not writing dozens of pages about the holiday and traditions that so oft haunt my mind. It was also a treat to get several emails from readers sharing their own Halloween/Samhain knowledge and asking follow up questions! I certainly never have an issue chatting about the spookiest time of year.
22. The Canvas of Community, 10/31. Plympton residents Rob and Emily Peters charmed readers with their wonderful story about opening up Children’s Art Classes in Hanover. Their enthusiasm jumped off the pages for everyone reading and the obvious passion they have for the mission behind their new and thriving business inspired us all!
23. Lost and Found, 11/07. I wrote this piece as a way to take a deeper look into the SNAP Benefit crisis and the enhancement of food insecurity in our community under the current administration. While attempting to thoroughly examine causation, I also tried to provide resources for the many in our community who are in need of support right now.
24. Letting Heaven and Nature Sing, 11/14. One of the most enjoyable stories I have had the privilege of writing was with Kimberly Campbell of The Farm at Raven Brook. With a friendly demeanor perfectly befitting the proprietor of a Christmas tree farm, and a story about taking a huge risk on nature and watching their children’s lives be enriched because of it, readers were left with the perfect, warm-fuzzy feeling to set the tone for the forthcoming holiday season.
25. Echoes Past and Present: The Sound of Survival, 11/21. In what was, for me, the most powerful interview of my time here at the Express, I did my best to share the story and sacred purpose and mission of the local, indigenous collective, Juniper + Pine -founded by the incredible Danielle Alonso-Wynne and Malissa Costa. It was an immeasurable gift to be able to speak with these two extensively-educated, indigenous women who are experts in their field and culture bearers of the highest regard, to and learn how they are an invaluable part of ensuring the survival and certain success of the indigenous people here locally and nation-wide.
26. 300 Years in the Making: The Chronicles of Kingston, 11/28. Concerning what is undoubtedly a tome all of us should have in our homes, we got an inside look into the incredible process and passion fueling the book, Tales of the Jones River Village: Kingston’s 300 Years. Jim Farrell was a fount of information as to the extensive collaborative process required to make this historically poignant book.
27. Gifts from the Heart: Shaping the Future of Our Local Economy, 12/05. My intention behind this story was to highlight the importance of shopping local and to show how imperative it is to the health of our community. I learned that I knew very little of how much shopping local matters. I was overjoyed to have several people inform me that they were inspired to shop mostly local after reading the article! This was a great experience for me to see the power of local news impacting real-time decisions in the community.
28. Changing the Story: A Happy Ending Authored by Love, 12/12. Readers were made instant fans of the rescue horse, Journey of Schoolhouse Farm, and his new owner and rescuer, Vicki Alberti. We were all taken on our own journey learning about the horrors of mass-horse slaughter and how our societal decisions have a powerful impact, for good and bad, on the lives of thousands of innocent horses.
29. A Home for Hope, 12/19. Hope Floats Healing and Wellness Center made a special place in all our hearts as the story of its founding and its incredible mission were shared with us. Providing a healing home base for the processing and management of the most intense of human emotions and experiences, love and grief, Hope Floats is a priceless place in our community that holds and houses the love and hope of thousands of locals.
I wish all of you the happiest of holidays and a healing, healthy, hopeful New Year. Thank you for giving me the great honor of collecting and sharing your stories. It is so good to be home.