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KP girls' volleyball team donates over 100 pies to local food pantries in time for Thanksgiving
King Philip High swept Melrose 3-0 in the MIAA state semifinals volleyball match at Framingham High School Wednesday, Nov. 16. KP’s Ava Kelley, right, celebrates with Shea Mellman (7) and the rest of the team in their 3-0 victory over Melrose High.
Wrentham will hold its town meeting Monday night at King Philip Regional High School.
WRENTHAM -- The King Philip Regional Girls' Volleyball Team recently donated over 100 pies to local food pantries and organizations ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.
The team sorted and delivered 110 Lyman Orchards frozen apple crumble pies on Nov. 3 to the Wrentham Food Pantry, Norfolk Food Pantry, Plainville Food Pantry and Gilly’s House, according to school officials.
It is the second year in a row the team has partnered with MCM Fundraising, a company that hosts online fundraising campaigns, to host a fundraiser with donations benefiting the local communities. Similar to last year's fundraising efforts, the team chose to host one that involved selling Lyman Orchards' pies.
As part of the fundraiser, the team set up an online fundraising page and all 42 players were given a link to share. From there, people could either purchase a pie for themselves or choose to purchase a pie to be donated. A portion of the proceeds from all pies purchased went to the team.
In total, the team sold 521 pies with 110 of them being donated to local charities, an increase from last year’s donation of 80 pies to local charities.
Foon Pantires | 2022-11-22T04:29:53Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | KP girls' volleyball team donates over 100 pies to local food pantries in time for Thanksgiving | Local News | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/kp-girls-volleyball-team-donates-over-100-pies-to-local-food-pantries-in-time-for/article_9499c5de-30c7-56bd-9063-e92c740d4666.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/kp-girls-volleyball-team-donates-over-100-pies-to-local-food-pantries-in-time-for/article_9499c5de-30c7-56bd-9063-e92c740d4666.html |
Police investigating six car break-ins in Plainville, seeking surveillance video for clues
PLAINVILLE — A half dozen cars were broken into Monday morning in the Millbrook Drive and Garrison Drive neighborhood off Route 106, prompting police to warn residents to lock their car doors.
The thief or thieves entered the cars, all of which were unlocked, that were parked at four homes, according to Police Chief Jim Floyd.
A small number of items, such as gift cards, were reported stolen, according to the chief.
The thefts are believed to have occurred between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. Monday.
No arrests have been made, but the incidents remain under investigation.
Police recommend residents lock their car doors because criminals target unlocked vehicles rather than try to smash a window to break into a car.
In nearby Franklin last week, two Connecticut men and a juvenile were arrested in connection with the rash of car break-ins in that town. Franklin police warned some break-ins may be committed by organized criminal groups who travel from town to town.
In the Plainville break-in discovered Monday, police are looking for residents who have surveillance video from security cameras, such as doorbell cameras, to help them identify any suspects.
If anyone has video contact police at 508-809-5555 or email Sgt. Scott Gallerani at sgallerani@police.plainville.ma.us | 2022-11-22T04:29:54Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Police investigating six car break-ins in Plainville, seeking surveillance video for clues | Local News | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/police-investigating-six-car-break-ins-in-plainville-seeking-surveillance-video-for-clues/article_fa15f055-072f-5ffd-8502-84d7ef825d8f.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/police-investigating-six-car-break-ins-in-plainville-seeking-surveillance-video-for-clues/article_fa15f055-072f-5ffd-8502-84d7ef825d8f.html |
H.S. FOOTBALL: Norton looks to go out on top against Bellingham this Thanksgiving
NORTON — The Norton High football team will look to cap its season on a strong note Thursday morning when the Lancers host Tri-Valley League foe Bellingham High in their 26th Thanksgiving Day clash.
The Lancers have plenty to be thankful for this season despite being plagued with injuries and youthful inexperience that left them in some tough spots, leading to their 1-7 record.
“They’re an outstanding group of kids,” Norton head coach Jim Artz said. “I wouldn’t trade them for an area team that is 9-1 or 10-0. I wouldn’t trade them for the world. They’re fantastic young men.
“I give our seniors a lot of credit. It would’ve been very easy to cash in the chips and be done with it, but they’ve kept working hard.”
Bellingham sits at 5-5-1 on the season and Artz noted that the Blackhawks are a well-coached team, led by Jeremiah and Dasha Domercant — the younger twin brothers of Stonehill football standout Chris Domercant — in skill positions that make them hard to miss.
The well-coached sibling playmakers will keep Norton busy with their tight-knit bond that makes them much of the Bellingham offense.
“They’re talented. They’ve got a good, young group over there,” Artz said. “They’ve got the Domercant twins that will play quarterback, running back and receiver. They’ve got a really good chemistry between the two. They’re well-coached. We’ll have our work cut out for us.”
The Lancers have shown progress toward becoming a better team, but Artz feels the team took a step back last week in it’s loss to Dighton-Rehoboth.
“I think right up until last week, we had been getting better,” Artz said. “We played Dedham really tough, a great game, were 14-14 late in the game against undefeated league champion Dover-Sherborn and we had a good win against Sharon. Then the wheels kind of fell off when we went up 14-0 last week. It was kind of a step backwards.”
Artz knows what his Lancers will have to do this week to get back on track and end the season on a high note.
“We can’t turn the ball over, that’s been our Achilles heel,” Artz said. “Or an ill-timed penalty or a brutal turnover that seems to let the wheels spin off. If we don’t turn the ball over and tackle well, I think we have a very good chance to win.
“If we don’t win the turnover battle, and we don’t tackle well, it can get away from us pretty quick,” Artz added.
Norton and Bellingham will kick off at 10 a.m. on Thursday at Norton High School.
NORTON vs. BELLINGHAM
Norton leads, 19-9
2021 — Norton, 27-21
2018 — Bellingham, 9-7
2015 — Norton, 44-6
2007 — Bellingham, 20-10
2003 — Bellingham, 33-0
1972-2001 — Did not play. | 2022-11-22T04:29:57Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | H.S. FOOTBALL: Norton looks to go out on top against Bellingham this Thanksgiving | Local Sports | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/sports/local_sports/h-s-football-norton-looks-to-go-out-on-top-against-bellingham-this-thanksgiving/article_a25dd69f-cb11-5e6d-acb8-64c0e2c975e5.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/sports/local_sports/h-s-football-norton-looks-to-go-out-on-top-against-bellingham-this-thanksgiving/article_a25dd69f-cb11-5e6d-acb8-64c0e2c975e5.html |
Deal closed on affordable housing project in Attleboro
The entrance to Hillcrest Acres in Attleboro.
ATTLEBORO — A deal announced in September that will guarantee an affordable housing complex on Hillside Avenue will stay affordable was finalized on Monday.
MassHousing provided a total of $18 million in financing to the nonprofit Retirement Housing Foundation and its development consultant, the Schochet Companies, for renovation of the 100-Unit Hillcrest Acres Apartments.
RHF, in partnership with the Schochet Companies, purchased Hillcrest Acres in July 2020 at a time when the property was in danger of converting to market-rate housing.
This financing transaction will ensure long-term affordability protections remain in place at the property and that significant capital needs there are met.
“This ownership team stepped up to acquire Hillcrest Acres at a time when the property was in danger of losing its affordability, and now they will ensure that the property is a source of safe, modern affordable housing for many years to come,” MassHousing Executive Director Chrystal Kornegay said. “MassHousing was very pleased to work with RHF and Schochet to preserve this affordable housing resource in Attleboro, where lower and moderate-income residents will continue to enjoy housing stability and economic opportunity.”
MassHousing provided the owners with a $7 million tax-exempt construction and permanent loan, a $7.2 million bridge loan, $2.7 million from the agency’s Workforce Housing Initiative and $1 million in additional financing from the CDFI Fund’s Capital Magnet Fund.
Other financing sources included $9.6 million from an allocation of Low Income Housing Tax Credits by the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development, $4.2 million in direct support from DHCD and a $1.4 million sponsor note.
Richard Henken, president of Schochet Co., said the project is expected to be completed sometime next year and includes the replacement of kitchens, bathrooms, roofs, siding and windows.
Everything will be brought up to code.
The project’s final cost is expected to be between $25 million and $30 million.
He said contractors are “chomping at the bit” to get going.
The goal will be to keep the apartments as affordable as possible and to inconvenience the residents as little as possible, Henken said.
He said some apartments are being kept vacant in case some residents have to move temporarily while their units are being renovated.
Some residents will face rent increases.
“A bunch of folks’ rents will be going up, but they will still be way below what market rates are,” Henken said.
And, he said, the complex will be a bit chaotic for a time.
“This will be really terrible for a while, but the end result will be worth it,” Henken said.
Hillcrest Acres
Mass Housing
Schochet | 2022-11-22T07:20:20Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Deal closed on affordable housing project in Attleboro | Local News | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/deal-closed-on-affordable-housing-project-in-attleboro/article_492a5b5f-a0ab-56a4-b46a-d4d7306a4ddd.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/deal-closed-on-affordable-housing-project-in-attleboro/article_492a5b5f-a0ab-56a4-b46a-d4d7306a4ddd.html |
With millions expected to hit the road this holiday, gas prices in Mass. dip
For the first time in a month and just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday driving week, gas prices in Massachusetts have dropped.
The price of regular, self-serve gas is averaging $3.81 a gallon, down 4 cents from last week, AAA Northeast said in its survey of gas stations Monday.
After falling for four months, costs had been on the upswing for most of October and November.
Prices had climbed 27 cents the past three weeks, including 19 cents the last week of October -- the largest weekly increase in nearly half a year.
The current price is 22 cents higher than a month ago ($3.59), and 39 cents higher than a year ago ($3.42). Massachusetts’ average gas price is 15 cents higher than the national average, which plunged 11 cents to $3.66.
“Although the national average has fallen sharply since the June peak of nearly $5.02, local prices are 30 to 40 cents higher than a year ago,” said Mary Maguire, vice president of government/public affairs for AAA Northeast. “As we fuel up for Thanksgiving road trips, we can be thankful that gas prices are moving in the right direction for now.”
Oil prices have leveled off, analysts say.
As for driving predictions for the holiday week, AAA estimates more than 54 million people are expected to travel for Thanksgiving, making it the busiest holiday travel period in November since before the coronavirus pandemic.
AAA predicts 54.6 million people will travel 50 miles or more from home, a 1.5% increase over 2021, representing 98% of pre-pandemic volumes. This year is projected to be the third busiest for Thanksgiving travel since AAA started tracking in 2000, only behind 2005 and 2019.
Nearly 49 million people are expected to travel by car. While Thanksgiving road trips have risen -- up just 0.4% from 2021 -- car travel remains 2.5% below 2019 levels. Just over 1.2 million from Massachusetts will travel by car, up slightly from last year.
Bay Staters are only prepared to travel 64 miles to visit family this Thanksgiving, due to high gas costs and inflation driving up other costs, one survey found. The national average is 82 miles.
Half admit they would prefer to stay home and use saved gas money on Black Friday deals.
The Wednesday before Thanksgiving has traditionally been the busiest travel day, but there has been a noticeable shift in recent years.
"Tuesday appears to be overtaking Wednesday as the busiest," AAA said.
Thanksgiving has the least congestion on highways.
“Families and friends are eager to spend time together this Thanksgiving, one of the busiest for travel in the past two decades,” Maguire of AAA said. "Plan ahead and pack your patience, whether you’re driving or flying.
“Regardless of the mode of transportation you have chosen, expect crowds during your trip and at your destination. If your schedule is flexible, consider off-peak travel times during the holiday rush,” Maguire said. | 2022-11-22T07:20:45Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | With millions expected to hit the road this holiday, gas prices in Mass. dip | Local News | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/with-millions-expected-to-hit-the-road-this-holiday-gas-prices-in-mass-dip/article_695ccc3f-4157-5671-859e-98f869ddaeeb.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/with-millions-expected-to-hit-the-road-this-holiday-gas-prices-in-mass-dip/article_695ccc3f-4157-5671-859e-98f869ddaeeb.html |
North school chief did the right, and safe thing
North Attleboro School Superintendent John Antonucci did the right thing for his academic community when making the decision to cancel middle school classes for the day on Nov. 1, in response to a security threat.
While inconvenient, costly, and disruptive to the learning process that day, the cost of protection in calling off school was minor when compared to the potential cost of consequence in an incident that could have implied injuries, property damage, and potentially, loss of life that day.
The evaluation of cost of protection vs. cost of consequence is a basic concept in all calculus where safety and security are concerned.
In cases where only structures or equipment are at risk, the calculus can be complex, where at times, the cost of protection might exceed the cost of consequence in property loss, whereby safety and security expenses might not be justifiable. However, when lives are at risk, where the value of human lives are inestimable, the calculus is simple, whereby every reasonable expense must always be allocated to the protection of human life.
Over a 40-year career in industrial and business security, some business partners have shrugged off my recommendations for security investment.
For these business partners, my rebuttal was always: “Do you have the money in the bank to cover the loss I am trying to help you prevent?”
Their answer was consistently “no”, whereby they always then wrote the check for security investments. John Antonucci wrote the check on Nov.1, to his credit. | 2022-11-22T07:20:58Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | North school chief did the right, and safe thing | Letters To Editor | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/north-school-chief-did-the-right-and-safe-thing/article_49a26065-2aa8-5560-89cb-365c028f388b.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/north-school-chief-did-the-right-and-safe-thing/article_49a26065-2aa8-5560-89cb-365c028f388b.html |
H.S. FOOTBALL: CCL title on the line as Bishop Feehan hosts Bishop Stang in holiday bout
Bishop Feehan High running back Nick Yanchuk will be one of the workhorses of the Shamrocks’ running game when they take on Bishop Stang High Thursday.
ATTLEBORO -- Despite an MIAA state semifinal playoff loss to King Philip Regional High last Friday night, the Bishop Feehan High football team is looking to win its ninth straight in its holiday series against Bishop Stang High on Thanksgiving morning.
The Shamrocks fell to the Warriors in a ground-and-pound battle, rushing for well past the century mark in yardage. The patented rushing game returns this week for one more time at McGrath Stadium to snatch a share of the Catholic Central League title.
"It's important for us, it would be our second straight," Bishop Feehan head coach Bryan Pinabell said. "I think our boys are excited to get back on track and finish their careers with one last home games. Playing for something important is good for us. ... It will be an emotional game for both sides. In rivalry games, anything can happen."
Pinabell noted the Spartans' tricky offense as something they've been trying to prep for this week. A "veer" offense which presents a triple option rushing game is difficult to simulate in practice, even with a deep Shamrock running back room and a talented offensive line, and is also hard to prep for on a short week.
Monday's practice didn't see anything out of the norm for the Shamrocks with weightlifting, film and a standard practice.
"Bishop Stang presents problems because of the offense they run," Pinabell said. "They run a veer option, so to get ready for that in a few days is challenging and does definitely put us at a disadvantage with a short prep time. It's a normal practice (on Monday). We didn't change anything or go longer. We just got out on the field and did the work we need to do. ... We work on technique, get to our assignments, it's all we can work on until we see it at game speed.
"It's challenging and they run it well," Pinabell said.
The Thanksgiving series between the two schools was interrupted from 1968 to 2011, but Feehan has not lost on Thanksgiving against Bishop Stang since the Cleveland Browns lost an NFL championship in 1964, with the Shamrocks holding a commanding 41-18-1 overall series advantage. Pinabell has no intention of breaking that run, and knows Bishop Stang will be coming out on Thursday morning ready to go.
A potent Feehan rushing game, spearheaded by Nick Yanchuk, will need to keep Stang off the field as much as possible and the defense will need to play fundamentally right to ensure the Shamrocks go home thankful for more than just family and a dinner on Thanksgiving.
"We just have to show up ready to play, because (Bishop Stang) is going to be ready to play," Pinabell said. "They had longer to prepare for us so they're going to be very excited for the opportunity to beat us. We just have to do what we do, control the ball on offense, and defensively we're going to have to play solid fundamental football and do a great job of tackling."
BISHOP FEEHAN vs. BISHOP STANG
Bishop Feehan leads 41-18-1
2021 — Bishop Feehan, 42-8
2019 — Bishop Feehan, 7-0
2017 — Bishop Feehan, 35-14
1964 — Bishop Stang, 27-12
2015 — Bishop Stang, 28-7
1986 — Bishop Stang, 7-0
1982-84 — Did not play. | 2022-11-22T14:35:21Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | H.S. FOOTBALL: CCL title on the line as Bishop Feehan hosts Bishop Stang in holiday bout | Local Sports | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/sports/local_sports/h-s-football-ccl-title-on-the-line-as-bishop-feehan-hosts-bishop-stang-in/article_dcbf1dc4-c47a-50b9-b7ac-2e78aeed37d4.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/sports/local_sports/h-s-football-ccl-title-on-the-line-as-bishop-feehan-hosts-bishop-stang-in/article_dcbf1dc4-c47a-50b9-b7ac-2e78aeed37d4.html |
H.S. FOOTBALL: Mansfield. Foxboro meet for Davenport Division crown
Mansfield has won the last two Thanksgiving games, with the Hornets last loss to the Warriors coming in a triple overtime thriller at Fenway Park in 2018. Mansfield has won all but five matchups since the year 2000.
Mansfield's diverse offense features a slippery but efficient passer in Conner Zukowski, along with multiple play makers on the outside in Trevor Foley and CJ Bell. Martinelli said a multiple style offense makes it a tough matchup where they can't allow the Hornets to have second chances.
"They certainly have two great receivers in Foley and Bell," Martinelli said. "They garner a lot of attention and will garner a lot of attention from us. They're very multiple otherwise on offense and do both things - running and passing - very well. We have to be able to get some pressure on a very good quarterback. We can't turn the ball over, not like you can in any game, but especially this one."
Martinelli said it's a tough turnaround, given the Final 4 loss over the weekend on top of the short time, but feels his guys with bounce back strong with what is at stake.
Is there more to be thankful for than battling for a league title? Redding said thanks go to the seniors, who will suit up one more time, including Rocco Scarpellini - who will be back from an ankle injury for the first time since Week 3.
"I'll take mt hat off to the seniors that played this year, they had great leadership with the captains," Martinelli said. "They were the glue that kept the ship afloat when we struggled at the beginning of the season. They kept everything in a positive vein along with my coaches. ... They gave us just enough time for the young kids to turn a corner. It was my captains, the seniors, they gave everything they had every day to get us to where we're at." | 2022-11-23T05:01:18Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | H.S. FOOTBALL: Mansfield. Foxboro meet for Davenport Division crown | Local Sports | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/sports/local_sports/h-s-football-mansfield-foxboro-meet-for-davenport-division-crown/article_f45a9172-dfe0-583c-bfcb-76c01f441fe1.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/sports/local_sports/h-s-football-mansfield-foxboro-meet-for-davenport-division-crown/article_f45a9172-dfe0-583c-bfcb-76c01f441fe1.html |
Norfolk Lions selling trees, collecting food, coats
Bill Hawkins of the Norfolk Lions Club tidies up the group’s Christmas tree lot on Main Street next to Dunkin’ Donuts last season.
NORFOLK -- The Norfolk Lions are holding their annual tree sale fundraiser starting Friday and are also again collecting coats and food items.
The Coats 4 Kids winter outerwear drive through the end of January is collecting gently used or unwanted coats for infants, kids, men or women.
Drop-off locations are at the Lions Christmas Tree sale located next to Dunkin’ Donuts on Main Street and at the Norfolk Grange at 23 Rockwood Road.
All coats will be cleaned by Anton’s Cleaners of Medfield. For more information, contact Cindy Ladue at 508-667-0002.
Tree selling hours are 3 to 9 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekends.
Lions members can trim the bottom of trees and secure it to vehicles, but pickup trucks are appreciated. Cash and checks payable to the Norfolk Lions but no credit cards.
Also for sale are wreaths, tree bags and tree life preservative.
All proceeds go back into the community and to Lions charities.
“Monies that the Lions generate go to seed such research as blindness prevention, diabetes prevention and numerous other causes,” Lions club president Brian Hamlin said.
The Lions are also collecting non-perishable food donations for the Norfolk Food Pantry.
Again this year, Boy Scouts will be picking up trees for recycling after the holidays for $5 for seniors and $15 for others. | 2022-11-23T19:14:43Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Norfolk Lions selling trees, collecting food, coats | Communities | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/communities/norfolk-lions-selling-trees-collecting-food-coats/article_84875cfa-7782-5609-9f39-a7c7e1b23520.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/communities/norfolk-lions-selling-trees-collecting-food-coats/article_84875cfa-7782-5609-9f39-a7c7e1b23520.html |
Foxboro High's Tony Sulham (5) runs through a hole against Grafton High in the Division 4 semifinals at Bellingham High School on Saturday.
H.S. FOOTBALL: Mansfield, Foxboro meet for Davenport Division crown
Mansfield has won the last two Thanksgiving games, with the Hornets' last loss to the Warriors coming in a triple-overtime thriller at Fenway Park in 2018. Mansfield has won all but five matchups since the year 2000.
Mansfield's diverse offense features a slippery but efficient passer in Conner Zukowski, along with multiple playmakers on the outside in Trevor Foley and CJ Bell. Martinelli said a multiple-style offense makes it a tough matchup where they can't allow the Hornets to have second chances.
"They certainly have two great receivers in Foley and Bell," Martinelli said. "They garner a lot of attention and will garner a lot of attention from us. They're very multiple otherwise on offense and do both things -- running and passing -- very well. We have to be able to get some pressure on a very good quarterback. We can't turn the ball over, not like you can in any game, but especially this one."
Martinelli said it's a tough turnaround, given the Final 4 loss over the weekend on top of the short time, but feels his guys will bounce back strong with what is at stake.
Is there more to be thankful for than battling for a league title? Redding said thanks go to the seniors, who will suit up one more time, including Rocco Scarpellini -- who will be back from an ankle injury for the first time since Week 3.
"I'll take my hat off to the seniors that played this year, they had great leadership with the captains," Martinelli said. "They were the glue that kept the ship afloat when we struggled at the beginning of the season. They kept everything in a positive vein along with my coaches. ... They gave us just enough time for the young kids to turn a corner. It was my captains, the seniors, they gave everything they had every day to get us to where we're at."
Jack Martinelli | 2022-11-23T19:14:58Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | H.S. FOOTBALL: Mansfield, Foxboro meet for Davenport Division crown | Sports | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/foxboro_reporter/sports/h-s-football-mansfield-foxboro-meet-for-davenport-division-crown/article_729efe46-e274-5aed-afeb-2c616dc4a1ac.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/foxboro_reporter/sports/h-s-football-mansfield-foxboro-meet-for-davenport-division-crown/article_729efe46-e274-5aed-afeb-2c616dc4a1ac.html |
Foxboro selectmen receive update on town finances
In a year marked by leadership transition, Town Accountant Marie Almodovar, who holds the dual title of assistant finance director, is slated to succeed Finance Director George Samia when he steps down next June.
Although the appointment is subject to approval by the board of selectmen, Samia said the pending transition was anticipated several years ago when Almodovar was named assistant finance director. Since then, he added, she has been taking courses and obtaining certifications in expectation of serving in that capacity.
“As far as the transition goes, the plan was to put Marie in as the finance director,” Samia said during a Nov. 8 briefing for selectmen. “I think that would be the best pick you could possibly make.”
At that point, he added, the town would need to initiate a search to recruit and hire a new town accountant.
“Ultimately that’s up to you as a board because the position is appointed by you,” Almodovar said.
In addition to outlining the succession plan, local officials committed to moving forward promptly with a full audit for fiscal 2022 rather than waiting until a new town manager is hired, presumably in January.
“Most people agreed this was the best time to do it before the changing of the guard,” selectmen Chairwoman Leah Gibson said.
Town Manager William Keegan, who officially retires at the end of January but will likely remain on as a “special municipal employee” to help facilitate a leadership transition, likewise supported calls for a full audit.
“At the end of an administration it’s probably a good thing to do,” Keegan said. “But we just need to be clear what the definition means.”
The town’s audit is conducted by professional auditors with input from an ad hoc citizen oversight panel, which recently suggested a working framework that included several different areas for greater scrutiny — including meals and hotel tax revenue.
Pushing back on that request, Samia said that hotel tax revenue is not paid directly to the town by hotel operators, but deposited via wire transfer from the state Department of Revenue.
“The State of Massachusetts does all those calculations,” Samia said of the quarterly payments. “They don’t share those with us.”
Samia also pushed back on requests for additional checks to review and verify signatures on purchase vouchers and related documents, saying the town already has a multi-layered process for that purpose.
“I don’t think everybody understands that a lot of this is already happening already,” he said of the audit panel’s proposed framework.
Selectman Dennis Keefe, who previously served on the advisory committee and is currently the board’s liaison to the audit panel, questioned Samia on procedures for handling emergency purchases and whether there are significant amounts of cash in the system.
“Petty cash is a headache,” Samia declared, saying that keeping small amounts of cash on hand for minor purchases was an outdated practice. “We don’t need to do that anymore.”
Attempting to smooth ruffled feathers and keep the discussion on track, Gibson suggested that members of the panel were simply advancing a means of focusing the upcoming audit.
“Forget the specific examples,” she counseled. “I think the theme is like internal controls, revenue accounts expense controls and best practices — what makes sense and where.”
In addition to laying groundwork for the audit process, Almodovar, Chief Assessor Thomas Welch and Treasurer/Collector Paula Maloney briefed selectmen on financial developments in anticipation of the town’s annual financial summit scheduled for Dec. 6.
According to Almodovar, Foxboro’s free cash account has been certified at $5.22 million for the fiscal year ending June 30 — up from $3.9 million the previous year. That increase resulted largely from $1.4 million in unspent funds combined with $1.6 million in surplus revenue from concerts at Gillette Stadium and “substantial” permit receipts from the north end zone construction project.
In addition, Almodovar said the finance department has updated strategic goals and performance measures, outlined a budget calendar for fiscal 2024 and firmed up internal policies and procedures.
According to Maloney, the town has collected 99 percent of property taxes for fiscal 2022 and 96 percent of payments for the first two quarters of fiscal 2023.
“That’s pretty good considering the money problems people are having,” she observed.
As soon as the state certifies next year’s tax rate, Maloney said second- and third-quarter property tax bills will be prepared and mailed out.
Earlier, Welch had cited several developments in the assessors’ office. These included approval of a new townwide valuation by the state Department of Revenue, installation of a new mapping program enhancing access to the property database, working with the town water department to document lot changes on select parcels and completing over 400 property inspections to validate valuation updates. | 2022-11-24T07:04:36Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Foxboro selectmen receive update on town finances | Local News | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/foxboro_reporter/news/local_news/foxboro-selectmen-receive-update-on-town-finances/article_43df7beb-39de-571f-9f57-e332f4242a2e.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/foxboro_reporter/news/local_news/foxboro-selectmen-receive-update-on-town-finances/article_43df7beb-39de-571f-9f57-e332f4242a2e.html |
Adeola Olafikun recently produced a movie filmed in her native country of Nigeria.
Poster for the movie 'Twisted Mind'
Foxboro woman produces family drama film
A Nigerian native who now calls Foxboro home recently produced her first feature-length film, which is now streaming on Youtube via RoyalArts TV.
Adeola Olafikun, who has lived in Foxboro for the past seven years but originally hails from Ekiti State in Nigeria, served as executive producer, production coordinator, screenwriter and casting director for the film, which is called “Twisted Mind.” The film, produced by Olafikun’s production company, LydiaBecca Production, is a family drama featuring broken trust, blackmail and betrayal.
The log line of the movie is “A wealthy chief once had a beautiful family life until an obsessed secret admirer intruded on the family on a mission to blackmail, steal and manipulate.”
“Initially we were looking to produce a big-budget movie on human trafficking in 2021 called ‘Red Farm’. We tried all we could to raise funds for this project but didn’t succeed. Women trying to grow and source funding for film projects in this industry are like getting meat from a lion’s mouth. We struggled a lot. We reached out to a lot of people in this regard but nothing,” Olafikun said.
Then she said the team thought about making a lower-budget film with personal funds that she had saved for the Red Farm film project.
The movie was shot in April for a total of five days in Lagos, Nigeria, and was directed by Alex Moore, who resides there. However, they were able to do 70% of pre-production in two months from the United States.
“We cast, set up crew members, equipment, sound, light, cameras, locations, etc. I must tell you, we had the best team on board,” Olafikun said.
Lilian Emefiele, a native of Nigeria who now lives in Dartmouth, was the production coordinator for the film. She then traveled to Nigeria in April this year to coordinate the production process and is also featured as the character Veno in the movie.
Olafikun said she is pleased with the response to the movie so far.
“Producing relatable yet impactful works of art is my passion. Bringing ‘Twisted Mind’ to the screen now is fulfilling I must say. I’m grateful we hit almost 200,000 views and counting in three days after its release,” Olafikun said.
Olafikun said producing the movie was a difficult, yet rewarding task.
“It requires lots of hard work, sacrifice, commitment, and determination. Now as a Nigerian woman, it is twice harder. You have to be all extra in everything to make something out of this male-dominated industry. The struggle is real,” she said.
Undaunted by the struggle, Olafikun is already at work on another movie called “Crossed Lines,” which will be released on December, and her original movie idea “Red Farm” is in production as well. Shooting for “Red Farm” started in October in Lagos and is expected to continue through 2023.
“It’s big. It’s a film on human trafficking and vices,” said Olafikun.
To support her endeavor contact Olafikun via email: lydiabeccalive@gmail.com. | 2022-11-24T07:04:42Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Foxboro woman produces family drama film | Local News | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/foxboro_reporter/news/local_news/foxboro-woman-produces-family-drama-film/article_a5e4a97e-4fda-5ecc-9e9c-e50ae13c61af.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/foxboro_reporter/news/local_news/foxboro-woman-produces-family-drama-film/article_a5e4a97e-4fda-5ecc-9e9c-e50ae13c61af.html |
Wrentham police to enforce traffic restrictions to deal with surge of shoppers on Black Friday weekend
Wrentham Village Premium Outlets
WRENTHAM -- Police will be enforcing traffic restrictions on Black Friday weekend as holiday shoppers descend on the Wrentham Village Premium Outlets.
The Route 1A mall opens at 6 a.m. Friday instead of the traditional midnight madness prior to the pandemic. The mall will open at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.
On Friday, Green Street will be a one-way street and motorists will not be able to access Green Street from West Street unless they are a local resident or a mall employee, Police Chief Bill McGrath said.
A detail officer will be at Green and West streets, he said.
Green Street will be accessible for all traffic in the opposite direction from South Street (Rt. 1A).
To increase parking at the mall, employees are being bused in from Wrentham Crossing, a vacant shopping plaza located across the street from the outlets.
“Wrentham and Plainville police will be enforcing road closures at key neighborhoods around the outlets and other areas as they have in the past,” McGrath said.
“Again, in spite of our best efforts, there’s no avoiding the fact we'll be attempting to manage extremely heavy traffic throughout the weekend,” the police chief said.
Motorists should expect congestion and backups.
“In all cases,” McGrath said, “we'll do our best to respond and resolve.”
Plainville police will also be restricting access to some streets off Route 1A in an effort to reduce the impact on local neighborhoods.
PLAINVILLE — Police will limit some side streets to local residents during the traditional Black Friday holiday shopping weekend to manage the…
Bill Mcgrath | 2022-11-24T07:05:07Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Wrentham police to enforce traffic restrictions to deal with surge of shoppers on Black Friday weekend | Local News | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/wrentham-police-to-enforce-traffic-restrictions-to-deal-with-surge-of-shoppers-on-black-friday/article_95a98a82-5812-538c-b998-cbf0ba9abcae.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/wrentham-police-to-enforce-traffic-restrictions-to-deal-with-surge-of-shoppers-on-black-friday/article_95a98a82-5812-538c-b998-cbf0ba9abcae.html |
A time exposure photo yields an image of streaking lights last December at the Festival of Lights at LaSalette Shrine in Attleboro. (Mark Stockwell/The Sun Chronicle)
Roscommon Soles
Daniel F. Castrellon
The holiday classic, “The Polar Express” will be screened Nov. 26 in Foxboro.
Roomful Of Blues will perform in Fall River Friday night. (Sonja Lemoi)
Sonja Lemoi
Jason Major
Festival of Lights returns to LaSalette
The National Shrine of Our Lady of LaSalette, 947 Park St., Attleboro, will host its annual Christmas Festival of Lights with this year’s theme “Christ: The Living Light.” The shrine’s more than 400,000 lights first illuminated Thanksgiving night and will continue nightly at 5 p.m. through Jan. 1. This season, join Father Pat for a concerts every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 3 and 7 p.m. The shrine is also offering photos with Saint Nicholas Friday through Sunday from 5 to 9 p.m. in the Welcome Center, as well as hayrides, a carousel and yummy treats from Friday through Sunday 5 to 9 p.m. lasaletteattleboroshrine.org
Celebrate through song in Cumberland
Head over the Blackstone River to see Kevin Doyle’s Roscommon Soles at the Blackstone River Theater, 549 Broad St., Cumberland, 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26. The evening’s custom-themed concert, “Health to the Ladies,” is named for a traditional jig and calls out a toast to the generations of women who keep Irish traditions alive as old ways and new customs blend around holiday hearths at home and in America. The concert will spotlight contributions in dance, music and song made by historic Rhode Island women of the performing arts. Admission $20 in advance, $24 day of the show. Riverfolk.org or 401-725-9272.
‘Ann’ on stage
The Mass Arts Center in Mansfield will present the one-woman play “Ann,” about former Texas governor Ann Richards, Nov. 25 and 26. Richards, who was the 45th and only the second female governor of Texas from 1991 to 1995, was an outspoken feminist famous for her one-liners. The feisty Democrat was defeated by future President George W. Bush. The play explores Richards’ hard-scrabble beginnings, her unlikely entry into politics, her stint as governor, and her personal life, including her failed marriage and her experience as a functional recovering alcoholic. Directed by Mass Arts Center artistic director Dori Bryan-Ployer, the play stars local actor and Mass Arts Center alum Beth Goldman. It was written by Emmy-award winner Holland Taylor. For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/mac22ann or get tickets directly at ShowTix4u: https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/66252.
Get in the holiday spirit in Foxboro
The Marilyn Rodman Performing Arts Center, 1 School St., Foxboro, will screen “The Polar Express” at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26. Tickets are free, but required for this event. To reserve, visit mrpac.booktix.com/index.php. Following the movie, a holiday celebration including a tree lighting and music, will be held on Foxboro Common.
Listen to The blues
Roomful of Blues, the Rhode Island-based, Grammy-nominated, horn-powered blues band, will perform live at the Narrows Center for the Arts, 16 Anawan St., Fall River at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 25. Tickets $33 in advance, $38 day of show. Narrowscenter.org or 508-324-1926.
‘The Nutcracker’ returns to Boston
A holiday tradition returns when Boston Ballet presents Mikko Nissinen’s “The Nutcracker,” starting Friday, Nov. 25 at 1:30 p.m. The performance features the full company, Boston Ballet II dancers and Boston Ballet School students. The 41-performance run at the Citizens Bank Opera House wraps up on Saturday, Dec. 31. Tickets start at $39. bostonballet.org/nutcracker or 617-695-6955.
‘Coppelia’ performed in Rhode Island
The State Ballet of Rhode Island presents Herci Marsden’s comedic love story “Coppelia” at 2 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 25 and 26 at the Park Theatre, 848 Park Ave., Cranston, R.I. Tickets $36. the parkri.com.
Learn about muskrat and otter that live at Audubon Caratunk Wildlife Refuce, 301 Brown Ave., Seekonk with a craft beer in hand from 5 to 7 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 27. After a presentation, participants will head out to Muskrat Pond to observe the wildlife that comes out a dusk. Participants should meet at the white barn and bring a flashlight. Fee: $20/member; $25/non-member. Ages: 21 and up. Register through the events calendar at asri.org/calendar.
Timmy Brown returns to Foxboro
Country music artist and Norton native Timmy Brown returns to the Six String Grill and Stage at Patriot Place in Foxboro. The 21 and over show starts at 9 p.m., Friday, Nov. 25 with a $7 cover charge starting at 8:30 p.m. sixtstringfoxborough.com
A tribute to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Ornament, a Southern New England-based rock orchestra, will present a musical tribute to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra at 8 p.m. Nov. 25 at the Stadium Theatre, 28 Monument Square, Woonsocket. The show includes strobes, lasers and fog. Admission ranges from $21-$36 and are available at the box office, by calling 401-762-4545 or stadiumtheatre.org. | 2022-11-24T07:05:13Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Things to do in the Attleboro area and beyond | Best Bets | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/rail/best_bets/things-to-do-in-the-attleboro-area-and-beyond/article_34338b51-a7e9-5347-a015-f264c4fca303.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/rail/best_bets/things-to-do-in-the-attleboro-area-and-beyond/article_34338b51-a7e9-5347-a015-f264c4fca303.html |
Santa parade, holiday family event at Highland Park in Attleboro set for Dec. 3
Santa Claus, cruising in a slick red convertible, waves to the many people who lined the streets in Attleboro last year for the parade.
Photos by MARK STOCKWELL / THE SUN CHRONICLE
ATTLEBORO -- The 11th annual Holiday Happening parade and family fun day will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, in Highland Park.
“After last year's great turnout and huge success we are very excited to bring back our Santa parade and family friendly events this holiday season,” said Derek Corsi, director of the city’s Park and Forestry Department, which is organizing the free event. “This year we are hoping to build on the success of last year’s Santa Parade.”
At the conclusion of the parade, there will be a family event featuring a visit from Santa, pony rides, tractor hayrides, music, holiday crafts, games, fun family photo opportunities, pizza, cookies and hot chocolate.
“Now, more than ever, we find it very important to engage the community with a fun family event that can be enjoyed by all during these difficult times,” Corsi said.
For more information about the event, call 508-223-2222, extension 1866, or email park@cityofattleboro.us.
Holiday Happening | 2022-11-24T14:37:23Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Santa parade, holiday family event at Highland Park in Attleboro set for Dec. 3 | Local News | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/santa-parade-holiday-family-event-at-highland-park-in-attleboro-set-for-dec-3/article_afe6230a-ce36-5160-a0d9-631d24e413bf.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/santa-parade-holiday-family-event-at-highland-park-in-attleboro-set-for-dec-3/article_afe6230a-ce36-5160-a0d9-631d24e413bf.html |
Sheriff Hodgson donates old vehicles for use in Attleboro High programs
From left, AHS student Janeliz Rivera uses the radio in a sheriff’s cruiser while her classmate Abby Churchill and Bristol County Deputy Sheriff Mariah Carvalho look on. The cruiser was donated to the school by Sheriff Thomas Hodgson for use in the school’s criminal justice program.
ATTLEBORO — Students at Attleboro High School got an early Christmas present from Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson.
The sheriff on Tuesday donated a 2011 Ford Crown Victoria cruiser complete with radio and emergency lights and a 2014 Ford Econoline van.
The vehicles had been decommissioned by the sheriff’s office earlier this year so Hodgson decided to donate them, a spokesman for the sheriff said.
The cruiser will be used by students in the high school’s criminal justice program taught by Tobey Reed.
Reed said students will use the cruiser to practice traffic stops in the school parking lot. The car is unregistered, so it can’t be driven on public roads, he said.
“We’ll practice pulling over cars,” Reed said, adding that the students will practice different scenarios, from minor motor vehicle infractions to high-risk stops.
Students will learn how police respond to drivers pulled over for traffic violations and serious crimes in high-risk stops, Reed said.
The cruiser will replace an aging police cruiser that has rusted through the floor and will be a big boost to the criminal justice program.
Hodgson gave the keys to the passenger van to Jeremy Guay, director of the CTE programs at AHS.
The van will be used to transport AHS students on field trips and around the community. For example, he said students in the plumbing and construction programs commonly do work in the community as part of hands-on learning, so the van can transport students to and from job sites.
The donations will also save the school department money because they will not have to pay bus fees for transportation when the van can be used instead, according to Hodgson.
In a statement to students in Reed’s class, Hodgson said, “So many people don’t understand what law enforcement officers do every day.”
“Whether you choose to ultimately get involved in public safety or some other career, take pride in knowing you walked through some of what officers do day-in and day-out,” Hodgson said.
“This was an easy decision for us to donate what resources we could to support you and your studies,” Hodgson said.
The sheriff was defeated in his bid for re-election earlier this month by Attleboro Mayor Paul Heroux. After 25 years, Hodgson will leave office in January. | 2022-11-24T21:57:11Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Sheriff Hodgson donates old vehicles for use in Attleboro High programs | Local News | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/sheriff-hodgson-donates-old-vehicles-for-use-in-attleboro-high-programs/article_2ba793e9-7eb4-54e4-90a4-30f1301ff56d.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/sheriff-hodgson-donates-old-vehicles-for-use-in-attleboro-high-programs/article_2ba793e9-7eb4-54e4-90a4-30f1301ff56d.html |
H.S. FOOTBALL: Mansfield takes Davenport title, Turkey Day shutout of Foxboro
FOXBORO -- It was the gridiron version of a turducken for the Mansfield High football team – a Hockomock League Davenport Division title, a fourth consecutive division shutout and a delicious season-ending blowout of Foxboro High, all rolled into one.
“We realized we had a shutout,” Redding said. “We didn’t really care if we scored another point, but (said) let’s play defense and let’s see. We hadn’t got a shutout in this game in a long time.”
The Hornets had already set the tone on their opening drive, needing only four plays to find the end zone as backup junior quarterback Connor Curtis came in for senior Conner Zukowski and heaved a bomb downfield. The ball slipped off the fingertips of a Foxboro defender at the Wariors’ 30 and into the hands of wide receiver Sean McCoy, who gathered it in and raced in for the 47-yard score. Travis Hennessy kicked the extra point and Mansfield quickly led, 7-0.
After a Foxboro punt, the Hornets made it 20-0 less than three minutes later when junior running back Tommy Smith took the first-down handoff up the middle, broke a couple of tackles and streaked 80 yards for the score to make it a 20-0 game following Hennessy's extra point.
The Warriors then strung together another lengthy march with Marcucella hitting his first four passes of the drive, including a fourth-down conversion, but came up empty on the 16-play possession following a missed field goal.
Zukowski and the Hornets then all but sealed the outcome as they took over at their own 20-yard line where Zukowski strung together five straight completions to go with a 3-yard run, moving the ball to the 17 where Zukowski hit Bell for a 15-yard connection to take it to the 2-yard line. Facing third and goal with 26 seconds left in the half, Zukowski scrambled to his left looking for a receiver and then ran it inside the pylon to make it 26-0 with 17 seconds left in the half.
Despite the lopsided margin at the break, Mansfield had only outgained Foxboro, 148-110 in total yardage, but Warriors coach Jack Martinelli could feel the game slipping away.
With Zukowski at the helm, Redding knew the Warriors would be wary of stopping wideout threats Bell (five catches for 90 yards) and Trevor Foley (two catches, 82 yards) so wanted to offset that with Mansfield’s running game that totaled 205 yards, with senior Drew Sacco shouldering the load and finishing with 69 yards on 10 carries.
“We wanted to run the ball,” Redding said. “I knew they were worried about Trevor and CJ so we wanted to challenge our line and our backs, and say, ‘Listen, establish the run game.’ … If you win the line of scrimmage on Thanksgiving , that’s usually the story of the game.”
Any remaining hopes for the Warriors in the second half were quickly snuffed out as Bell picked off Marcucella a second time on the second play of the third quarter at the Hornets’ 34. Zukowski then led Mansfield on one more scoring drive, going 64 yards in eight plays with Sacco bulling in from the 3-yard line for the final margin as a flag-filled second half went scoreless the rest of the way. | 2022-11-24T21:57:18Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | H.S. FOOTBALL: Mansfield takes Davenport title, Turkey Day shutout of Foxboro | Sports | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/sports/h-s-football-mansfield-takes-davenport-title-turkey-day-shutout-of-foxboro/article_e420f1e6-769a-5b1e-b1c1-a164aa06bd96.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/sports/h-s-football-mansfield-takes-davenport-title-turkey-day-shutout-of-foxboro/article_e420f1e6-769a-5b1e-b1c1-a164aa06bd96.html |
Jobless rates stay low across Attleboro area
Local jobless rates in area communities in October remained little changed from the month before, according to state figures released this week.
MARK STOCKWELL / SUN CHRONICLE FILE PHOTO
Unemployment rates in area communities in October remained little changed from the month before, according to state figures released this week.
But the last several months of good news on the labor front may be on the verge of change as jobless claims spiked in the state this week.
In all the 10 communities covered by The Sun Chronicle, October’s jobless rates fell below 3.5%, the first time that’s been true since the end of pandemic business shutdowns in March of 2021. The Federal Reserve considers an unemployment rate of 4% or below to be full employment.
Attleboro, the area’s largest community, saw its jobless rate fall a tenth of a percentage point to 3.4% compared to September. That was the highest rate in the area but still more than a full point down from October of last year.
In nearly every other town, October’s jobless rates remained unchanged from September’s numbers, ranging from 3% in Norton and North Attleboro to 2.3 in Mansfield and Wrentham, tied for the lowest rate in the area.
In most cases, the October rates were down by full percentage point or more from October of last year.
Overall the immediate Attleboro area did better than the state as a whole, keeping up a trend that’s been evident for months.
The state’s October total unemployment rate was 3.5 percent, up one-tenth of a percentage point over-the-month, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced Friday. That kept the state below the national average of 3.7%.
The state’s Bureau of Labor Statistics’ preliminary estimates showed Massachusetts gained 9,800 jobs in October. That’s sharply down from last month’s revised gain of 22,900 jobs. The largest over the month private sector job gains were in financial activities, professional and business services, and government. Employment now stands at 3,710,600. Since the employment trough in April 2020, Massachusetts gained 659,600 jobs.
There were some other troubling signs as well.
The Associated Press reported Wednesday that the number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits rose to the highest level since August, although still low by historic standards.
The Labor Department reported that 240,000 people applied for jobless aid last week, up by 17,000 from the week before. The four-week moving average of claims, which smooths out week-to-week volatility, rose by 5,500 to 226,750.
To combat inflation that hit four-decade highs earlier this year, the Federal Reserve has raised its benchmark interest rate six times since March.
The housing market has buckled under the strain of mortgage rates that have more than doubled from a year ago. And many economists expect the United States to slip into a recession next year as higher borrowing costs slow economic activity.
Area unemployment rates for October | 2022-11-25T06:13:25Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Jobless rates stay low across Attleboro area | Local News | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/jobless-rates-stay-low-across-attleboro-area/article_40779aee-9b13-5983-be22-80f09a7a1960.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/jobless-rates-stay-low-across-attleboro-area/article_40779aee-9b13-5983-be22-80f09a7a1960.html |
Bob Foley: Time for a change
Plainville residents vote on Election Day earlier this month at the town’s public safety building.
This election revealed shortcomings reasonable, concerned citizens recognize as inadequacies. Respecting the notion that only legal citizens, registered voters ought to be casting ballots in contests that are reputable beyond reproach, I thought it worthwhile to list some aspects of the voting process that would move elections in the right direction.
No mail-ins. Seems Everest high piles of mail-in votes have taken states many days to tally. If there are thousands of mail-in ballots, it is unreasonable to expect that all precincts everywhere will accurately check each and every ballot to ensure its veracity. Especially considering this process goes on for some time, verification will get less and less secure. Bad idea from the start.
Do not confuse mail-in voting with absentee ballots that would need to be requested on a one-by-one need only when a valid reason for such voting exists.
ID required. No one should be allowed to vote without showing a valid, up-to-date ID. The state would issue IDs to those who do not have a valid driver license, FID card, passport, etc.
The ridiculousness of providing undocumented immigrants driver licenses is going to be an issue when these people attempt to use such IDs to vote.
Tobacco products, alcohol, lottery tickets? But not voting? This requirement supports my proposal above: must show an ID to vote obviates the notion that you can vote by mail.
Early voting? No, no and no. The best example of this nonsense is the John Fetterman, the U.S. senator-elect for Pennsylvania.
Here is a guy with cognitive listening issues, who refused to hold a debate with his challenger until he had concessions to his disqualifying disability and collected lots of votes weeks before the 11th-hour debate.
I have not been able to find out what happens to early votes if for some reason a candidate falls out.
There seems to be no provision for that occasion. Why should people be allowed to vote if all the tales have not been told? All the skeletons uncovered? And no reasonable person would argue piles of votes waiting to be counted on Election Day are not an invitation to corrupt practices.
Certification of results. There needs to be some sort of accountability system that every precinct, every consolidation official, anyone involved in vote counting, has their report audited and re-certified by at least one other individual. There needs to be elimination of all doubt that no individual had an influence on any outcome
All vote counting must be completed by midnight of Election Day. No waiting days or weeks, no time for shenanigans. Staffing must be adequate to complete the count quickly, efficiently, accurately. Delinquently received absentee ballots not counted.
No Rank Choice or 50% winners. This nonsense only drags on the election. Whoever gets the most votes wins.
The 50% winner is ridiculously arbitrary. Is 49.9% supposed to be different from 50.0 %?
Ranked choice is a tad more rational but still makes voting confusing and will cause issues sorting through ballots. Most votes wins, end of story.
No party affiliation listed on ballots. Voters need to understand how candidates view issues. No going down the list checking all Ds or Rs.
And while we are at it, maybe figure out a way to note on the ballot what organizations gave more than a nominal contribution to each candidate. For instance, one might wonder why our U.S. Rep. Jake Auchincloss got over half a million campaign dollars from investment and security companies (he is on the House finance committee that oversees this industry) for an uncontested campaign. It’s amazing people vote in politicians supporting this nonsense. His war chest now tallies over $2 million.
Write-in only. This would be tough to do but an interesting concept.
Every voter would have to know the name of a favorite candidate and write their name on the ballot. Imagine trying to decipher the scribbles.
No day-of voting registration. For example, if you failed to complete the recent census in your town, and were removed from the voter rolls, tough luck. Maybe next time you will be more aware. If there were no day-of registration, the rules would say maybe next time.
No mail-in registration. Only way to register is with verifiable IDs and in person.
English only. Every document associated with registration, voting, or accounting is English only.
The nation cannot tolerate multiple languages when legislating. Even if properly translated (at unnecessary cost to taxpayers) different languages have expressions with varying idiomatic meanings that indicate translations do not always portray the intended meaning.
There are probably lots of other great ideas to insure integrity of elections but this is a good start.
Let the nay-sayers offer their illogical anti arguments.
Bob Foley is a Sun Chronicle columnist. His essays are published here on Fridays. | 2022-11-25T06:13:49Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Bob Foley: Time for a change | Columns | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/opinion/columns/bob-foley-time-for-a-change/article_1a2cf636-5e4f-550f-b5a2-c1c79a5c1528.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/opinion/columns/bob-foley-time-for-a-change/article_1a2cf636-5e4f-550f-b5a2-c1c79a5c1528.html |
Mansfield Emergency Management volunteers help firefighters at Easton blaze
Flames shoot out of a house at 30 Eisenhower Drive in Easton about 3 a.m. Friday. No injuries were reported.
EASTON FIRE DEPARTMENT
MANSFIELD — Volunteers with the Mansfield Emergency Management Agency responded to help firefighters at an early morning house fire in Easton Friday.
The fire was reported just before 3 a.m. at 30 Eisenhower Drive, off Route 138, and had been burning for a significant amount of time before a 911 call was received, Easton Fire Chief Justin Alexander said in a statement.
Two residents and several pets were in the home at the time of the fire and were able to get out of the house before firefighters arrived. An Easton firefighter rescued a cat from the house, according to Alexander.
No injuries were reported. The house sustained extensive damage and the residents are displaced and being helped by other family members.
Firefighters arrived to find flames fire coming from the home and were able to bring the blaze under control in about 40 minutes.
The Mansfield agency provided rehabilitation and other support for firefighters at the scene. Stoughton and West Bridgewater firefighters, Brewster Ambulance, Easton Animal Control and the Easton Community Emergency Response Team also responded.
Brockton firefighters covered the station and responded to a car crash on Depot Street while Easton firefighters were at the fire.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Easton Fire Department, though the preliminary investigation indicates it was accidental, Alexander said. | 2022-11-27T03:21:14Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Mansfield Emergency Management volunteers help firefighters at Easton blaze | Local News | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/mansfield-emergency-management-volunteers-help-firefighters-at-easton-blaze/article_04468ee0-7ee9-5afb-99e8-b43839d9b26c.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/mansfield-emergency-management-volunteers-help-firefighters-at-easton-blaze/article_04468ee0-7ee9-5afb-99e8-b43839d9b26c.html |
Santa Parade in North Attleboro survives the inclement weather
Santa waves to spectators from the cab of a firetruck Sunday during the 67th Annual Downtown Associates of North Attleboro Santa Parade.
Starline School of Dance members perform during Sunday’s Santa Parade in North Attleboro.
A pooch walks in the parade Sunday as part of the Friends of North Attleboro Dog Park float in the town’s annual Santa Parade.
Spectators brought out the umbrellas as Santa passes by in a firetruck.
photos by MARK STOCKWELL/THE SUN CHRONICLE
A band of rain moved steadily towards the 67th annual Downtown Associates of North Attleboro’s Santa Parade, but the majority of the precipitation held off until the annual holiday procession was completed.
The event, which has never been canceled due to weather conditions, still brought its usual crowd of excited spectators eager to kick off the holiday season in the town’s traditional way.
Before the parade kicked off at 3 p.m., the sounds of upbeat holiday music resounded throughout most of the downtown area, from the deejay booth at the gazebo at the town hall. But for those standing near Keyboards For Kids and The Music Wagon, the gentle acoustic guitar of instructor Dan Farwell could be heard as well.
While many children wore red Santa hats in honor of the occasion, festive holiday wear, such as reindeer antler headbands and lighted Christmas tree necklaces, could also be seen on several adults and family pets.
The Frietag family of North Attleboro, who staked out their place to watch the parade in front of Mane Street Hair & Color Studio, each had a Santa hat to wear, with 5-year-old Caroline Frietag and 4-year-old Ben Frietag in a green and red coat, respectively.
“I love the parade, I love Santa,” Caroline Frietag exclaimed as she caught candy distributed from the floats and viewed dancers from local studios, such as Starline School of Dance and Encore Dance Academy.
As for Ben Frietag, the fire trucks were his favorite part, while his mother Karen enjoyed “seeing everyone come out, and (Caroline and Ben) see all their friends.”
Nearby, Dawn Rose of North Attleboro was anticipating seeing her 12-year-old son Zac on the 6th Grade Stars football float for the second year in a row, the team having won the championship for another season. Rose’s husband, one of the team coaches, was also on the float.
“They’re so excited to be in the parade,” Rose said.
Sharing in Rose’s joy was her 16-year-old son Jake and her 19-year-old daughter Matson, home for Thanksgiving break from Lafayette University in Pennsylvania. They were there with their cockapoo Daisy.
Rose shared the paradegoers’ common enthusiasm for celebrating the start of the Christmas season.
“It has a great spirit and it brings the community together,” Rose said. “Especially post-COVID, it’s nice seeing smiling faces together.”
The smiles of the spectators hardly wavered even as a few light raindrops began to fall less than 10 minutes after the parade started. Even as the rain coated the road and the sidewalk, necessitating the use of windshield wipers for the fire trucks and vehicles from the Mass Military Vehicle Collectors, the colorful and festive floats kept their pace and the parade participants happily marched on.
On the Miller Family Farm hay wagon were the grand marshals of the parade, the Cathcart family, on behalf of former town councilor Joann Cathcart, who stepped down from service in August.
By the time Santa Claus brought up the rear of the parade in the shelter of a fire truck, the rain had become slightly steadier and those who wished to see the tree lighting at the town hall did so under umbrellas, while others heartily bore the elements.
Charlotte Fontaine, Joann Cathcart’s granddaughter, aided Santa Claus in switching on the lights, while DANA president Maureen Merigold made a video for Cathcart, who was in the hospital and unable to attend the event. | 2022-11-28T00:40:50Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Santa Parade in North Attleboro survives the inclement weather | Local News | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/santa-parade-in-north-attleboro-survives-the-inclement-weather/article_10343f96-ee95-543b-ac04-1ce3a883fd4f.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/santa-parade-in-north-attleboro-survives-the-inclement-weather/article_10343f96-ee95-543b-ac04-1ce3a883fd4f.html |
Meet Axel and Santa Clause at Millers Family Farm in North Attleboro
Axel (North Attleboro Police)
NORTH ATTLEBORO — Children can see the North Attleboro community resource dog Axel and that other celebrity, Santa Claus, from 4 to 7 p.m., Dec. 3, at Millers Family Farm at 500 Allen Ave. in North Attleboro.
The Friends of the North Attleboro Dog Park invite families for wagon rides, campfires, hot chocolate and other fun attractions. Bring your own marshmallows and roasting sticks.
Photos with Santa are $20. To register for a time slot go to adventuresofaxel.com
The event is sponsored by the North Attleboro Patrol Officers Association and the Law Office of Weiner, Jackson & Simmons. All proceeds go to the Downtown Associates of North Attleboro. | 2022-11-28T06:11:43Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Meet Axel and Santa Clause at Millers Family Farm in North Attleboro | Communities | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/communities/meet-axel-and-santa-clause-at-millers-family-farm-in-north-attleboro/article_1ace8ac6-5101-56ac-8fbd-1e4d4ae44770.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/communities/meet-axel-and-santa-clause-at-millers-family-farm-in-north-attleboro/article_1ace8ac6-5101-56ac-8fbd-1e4d4ae44770.html |
Roadwork to start on I-495 in Norton
Roadwork on I-495 in Norton
NORTON -- MassDOT is conducting overnight bridge maintenance work on the North Washington Street Bridge located over I-495 northbound and southbound.
The work was scheduled to begin Monday, and will continue for about three weeks, Sunday through Thursday, from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.
The work will require lane closures on I-495 northbound and southbound. Work is scheduled to first begin northbound. A minimum of one travel lane will be maintained at all times in each direction.
Learn about Mansfield town meeting articles
MANSFIELD -- Town Manager Kevin Dumas is hosting a virtual session at 4:30 p.m. Monday to present information about Thursday's special town meeting.
Register at www.mansfieldma.com. | 2022-11-28T06:11:49Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Roadwork to start on I-495 in Norton | Communities | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/communities/roadwork-to-start-on-i-495-in-norton/article_5d1ea929-ed9f-5509-b8b3-dea5424df93d.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/communities/roadwork-to-start-on-i-495-in-norton/article_5d1ea929-ed9f-5509-b8b3-dea5424df93d.html |
Duke decided it was time to wear his new holiday bandana, hoping he would soon have a new family/person to sit with and watch all those holiday movies with together. Approximately 5 years old, Duke is a sweet and happy guy who enjoys playing in the play yard and going for walks with the volunteers. He is also happy just “hanging out” with someone, getting lots of pats and snuggles. When the weather was hot, Duke loved the swimming pool! Duke does have some skin sensitivities for which we feed him salmon and potato. We recommend breed knowledge. A fenced yard would be ideal. Toddlers may be too active for Duke, but older children would be fine. He would prefer to be the only pet in the home. Duke is dreaming of a new home and family for the holidays and his very own stocking full of treats and toys. Duke would bring lots of love and companionship to your life and make your holidays truly happy.Please call the Taunton shelter at 508-822-1463 or e-mail deanie7243@aol.com. Our website is www.tauntonshelter.petfinder.com | 2022-11-28T06:11:55Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | DUKE | Pet Day | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/features/pet_day/duke/article_606878b6-014d-5508-b188-763549ab2423.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/features/pet_day/duke/article_606878b6-014d-5508-b188-763549ab2423.html |
Being 'vegan' is problematic
Being ‘vegan’ is problematic
Re: What does ‘Turkey Day’ mean to you? by Ingrid Newkirk, commentary, Nov. 23:
Ingrid Newkirk, the founder and president of PETA, proposes in her Thanksgiving Day commentary that all of us need to strongly consider giving up eating animal protein as a portion of our usual diet.
Considering our origins as a species, this proposal is problematic. The study of Homo sapiens and our related species indicates that a key element in our evolution was gaining control over fire, particularly with regard to cooking meat as a concentrated source of very high value nutrients essential as both a source of energy and complex nutrients.
In fetal development there are two systems that require large amounts of nutrients and energy to achieve complex development. These are the nervous system and the gastrointestinal track. Their development in a fetus is so energy intense that in general if one system is complex the other system must be relatively simple. A key component in the development of humans was the utilization of cooked animal meat (that is, already partially broken down as an adjunct to digestion) which made possible the evolution of an advanced brain. To deny that animal protein is needed in our diet expresses a lack of understanding of our biochemistry.
Our bodies are being rebuilt every day such that after one year there is only 2% of the original atoms left of all of the atoms that were present at the beginning of the year. If we depended solely on vegetable protein, the daily protein requirement to maintain health cannot be met. Those who are committed to strict vegetarian diets, particularly raw vegans, age more rapidly simply because their bodies do not have the source of chemical building blocks necessary to replace what is lost with daily wear and tear.
This discussion should in no way be interpreted to support cruel or inhumane methods of raising animals specifically as a food source. But if we examine our body biochemistry, we have to recognize what is required in order to maintain proper nutritional health.
Julian Kadish | 2022-11-28T06:12:26Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Being 'vegan' is problematic | Letters To Editor | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/being-vegan-is-problematic/article_7921c289-a188-53ee-832d-a98d93f24f23.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/being-vegan-is-problematic/article_7921c289-a188-53ee-832d-a98d93f24f23.html |
Consider these changes in how we vote
Re: “Time for a change,” by Bob Foley, column, Nov 25:
Bob Foley had some great and some terrible suggestions about voting. However, he missed several much more important changes I would like to see.
Why is it that for federal elections, there are different rules in different states?
Shouldn’t the requirements to vote for federal government be the same in every state?
For state and local offices, I can understand that each state may have different requirements. Why do we vote on a weekday, when people are working and students are in high school or college?
Why not weekend voting, including Friday, Saturday and Sunday, in order to accommodate religious days?
Or if you don’t like that, why not make it a federal holiday at least?
Why not eliminate all computer voting, and have every vote on a paper ballot? Scanners can tally the vote, but this way, all votes can be checked by hand if need be.
If I’m not mistaken, all states require some form of ID to register to vote. Send a ballot to all registered voters. We pay taxes by mail-in, (some of us even pay onlins ..horrors!). What’s wrong with voting by mail? And if you haven’t already registered for whatever reason, why not be able to same day vote in person, if you can present the required ID? Voter rolls are on a computer, so officials should be able to check if one tries to register more than once.
And I like weighted voting. It’s like having more than one ‘favorite’ sports team. In conclusion Foley, you are an old fogy, get-off-my-lawn guy.
It’s 2022 and time for you to get with the times!
Paul Miles-Matthias | 2022-11-28T06:12:32Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Consider these changes in how we vote | Letters To Editor | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/consider-these-changes-in-how-we-vote/article_26af618a-de5a-5149-8dac-39b2eb610725.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/consider-these-changes-in-how-we-vote/article_26af618a-de5a-5149-8dac-39b2eb610725.html |
Here's a way to make voting even easier
Here’s a way to make voting even easier
Re: “Time for a change,” column, by Bob Foley, Nov. 23:
Regarding Bob Foley’s proposed changes to election procedures, I think he has not gone far enough.
How about restricting voting rights to wealthy male land owners of the Caucasian persuasion.
Additionally, eliminate voting by women and raise the voting age to 35.
Frederick Walters | 2022-11-28T06:12:38Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Here's a way to make voting even easier | Letters To Editor | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/heres-a-way-to-make-voting-even-easier/article_7a3a89ee-acca-5bc1-b362-4e7960bb5038.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/heres-a-way-to-make-voting-even-easier/article_7a3a89ee-acca-5bc1-b362-4e7960bb5038.html |
It will soon be 2023, not 1823: Time to catch up
Both (Sun Chronicle columnist) Bob Foley and (letter writer) Gerald Chase expressed the opinion that voting should be done only on Election Day, only in person, period.
Absentee ballots are perhaps OK, if you have a reason that meets with their approval.
Is it OK with them that I voted by mail in the September primary since I was in the hospital on primary day?
Or that I voted by mail in the general election because I have a compromised immune system and being inside can be too risky?
Are these gentlemen aware that many states have voting by mail only?
I’m guessing not.
In just a few weeks, it will be 2023, why do these men insist we must vote as they did in 1823? (well, maybe 1923, since women, Black people and Indigenous people couldn’t vote in 1823).
I suspect Foley and Chase simply want only white people who believe as they do to vote?
Really, I need a better reason than “that’s how it’s always been” to insist on eliminating methods of voting that make it more possible for every eligible voter to cast their vote. | 2022-11-28T06:12:45Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | It will soon be 2023, not 1823: Time to catch up | Letters To Editor | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/it-will-soon-be-2023-not-1823-time-to-catch-up/article_9acbf397-40b4-590f-b654-4c8f56438594.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/it-will-soon-be-2023-not-1823-time-to-catch-up/article_9acbf397-40b4-590f-b654-4c8f56438594.html |
First turkey trot 5K in North Attleboro raises more than $10,000 for area gift drive
Members of the Encore Dance Academy of Plainville perform Sunday during the parade in North Attleboro.
By LARRY KESSLER For The Sun Chronicle
NORTH ATTLEBORO -- The inaugural Leftover Turkey Trot 5K, held Sunday in conjunction with the Santa Parade and Kringle Mart to raise money for the Christmas Is For Kids gift drive, exceeded expectations, organizers said.
Town Manager Michael Borg, speaking at the post-race awards ceremony, said more than $10,000 was raised for the gift drive as double the number of anticipated runners and walkers, more than 400, entered the event.
In addition, the participants had the gift drive organizers smiling broadly as they donated more than 200 unwrapped toys and other presents, said longtime organizer Alan Goldberg, husband of Kelly Fox, the Christmas Is For Kids chairperson.
The first three men and women to finish the race earned awards.
Winning the race was Brady King, 16, of North Attleboro in 18 minutes and 34 seconds. He was followed by William Atwood of North Attleboro, 19, in 19:12 and Tanner Silva, 14, of Attleboro, in 20:14.
Kimberley Chula-Maguire, 47, of Cumberland, led all women finishers in 20:15, just two seconds ahead of Ashley O’Connell, 30, of Windham, Conn. They also were the fourth and fifth finishers overall.
Taking third place in the women’s division was Cheryl Sullivan, 48, of North Attleboro, whose time of 21:17 was good enough for eighth overall.
No age-group prizes were awarded, but Borg promised to add those next year.
Alan Goldberg
Michael Borg | 2022-11-28T21:56:51Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | First turkey trot 5K in North Attleboro raises more than $10,000 for area gift drive | Local News | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/first-turkey-trot-5k-in-north-attleboro-raises-more-than-10-000-for-area-gift/article_94fee2fd-e8f9-5fe5-b49d-d6718323848b.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/first-turkey-trot-5k-in-north-attleboro-raises-more-than-10-000-for-area-gift/article_94fee2fd-e8f9-5fe5-b49d-d6718323848b.html |
Tree cutting to close portion of Gilbert Street in Mansfield
The Mansfield Department of Public Works building.
MANSFIELD -- Gilbert Street will be closed between Otis and Balcom streets on Tuesday and Wednesday so workers can remove trees.
The work will be done from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for the municipal electric department.
The trees to be cut are threatening public safety, according to the public works department.
The work schedule may be subject to change.
Electric Department | 2022-11-28T21:56:57Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Tree cutting to close portion of Gilbert Street in Mansfield | Communities | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/communities/tree-cutting-to-close-portion-of-gilbert-street-in-mansfield/article_12fb1c78-1761-5b50-98f9-7795793fb56d.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/communities/tree-cutting-to-close-portion-of-gilbert-street-in-mansfield/article_12fb1c78-1761-5b50-98f9-7795793fb56d.html |
Police and fire officials investigate the scene of a crash Monday afternoon at Cumberland Farms on Pleasant Street.
A car struck two gas pumps at the Cumberland Farms on Pleasant Street Monday afternoon after the driver suffered a medical emergency, police and fire officials said.
A car struck two gas pumps at the Cumberland Farms on Pleasant Street after the driver suffered a medical emergency Monday afternoon, police and fire officials said.
ATTLEBORO -- A car struck two gas pumps at the Cumberland Farms on Pleasant Street Monday afternoon after the driver suffered a serious medical emergency, officials say.
The driver, a North Attleboro man in his 80s, was taken to Rhode Island Hospital in Providence where he was last reported in critical but stable condition, Police Chief Kyle Heagney said.
The man, whose name was not released, was the only occupant in the car and no other injuries were reported, Heagney said.
The car hit one pump, forcing it from its connection to the island, and a pillar before hitting an adjacent pump and pillar, Heagney said.
The brick façade on the first pillar was heavily damaged and the second pillar was knocked ajar from the island.
The front of the car sustained heavy damage and broken bricks from the façade of the pillars littered the parking lot.
Cumberland Farms workers immediately shut off the pumps and there was no fire, according to police and fire officials.
As a precaution, police closed a portion of Pleasant Street between Starkey Avenue and Haggerty Highway for about a half-hour.
The store was closed and the parking lot was blocked by yellow plastic tape for about an hour.
The store reopened but officials said the gas pumps would be closed or partially closed until repairs could be made.
Workers were at the scene late Monday afternoon.
The crash remains under investigation, Heagney said. | 2022-11-28T21:57:28Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Car hits two pumps at Attleboro gas station after driver suffers medical issue, officials say | Local News | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/car-hits-two-pumps-at-attleboro-gas-station-after-driver-suffers-medical-issue-officials-say/article_36a6ab83-7bd3-5632-9e61-579e205b5562.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/car-hits-two-pumps-at-attleboro-gas-station-after-driver-suffers-medical-issue-officials-say/article_36a6ab83-7bd3-5632-9e61-579e205b5562.html |
Gas prices dip for second straight week in Bay State
Gas prices in Massachusetts have posted their largest one-week drop in two months.
The price of regular, self-serve gas is averaging $3.76 a gallon, down 5 cents from last week, AAA Northeast said in its survey of stations Monday.
It marked the biggest fall since the first week in October, when the price dropped 8 cents, and the first time since September the price decreased two consecutive weeks.
Last week prices fell for the first time in a month, dipping 4 cents just in time for Thanksgiving holiday driving.
The current price is 5 cents higher than a month ago ($3.71), and 34 cents higher than a year ago ($3.42). Massachusetts’ average gas price is 22 cents higher than the national average, which plunged 12 cents, averaging $3.54 a gallon.
“In addition to lower prices locally, the national average pump price for a gallon of gasoline dropped 12 cents in the past week,” Mary Maguire of AAA Northeast said. “The cost of fuel has edged lower on fears of economic slowdowns around the globe.”
Oil prices have also leveled off. | 2022-11-29T01:51:56Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Gas prices dip for second straight week in Bay State | Local News | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/gas-prices-dip-for-second-straight-week-in-bay-state/article_4e415e69-2009-563f-a2be-433d55cdd0de.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/gas-prices-dip-for-second-straight-week-in-bay-state/article_4e415e69-2009-563f-a2be-433d55cdd0de.html |
Longtime Wentworth Hills grounds superintendent, AAGA Hall of Famer Ohlson retires
Attleboro Area Golf Association co-presidents Bob Beach, left, with Bob Gay, right, stand alongside AAGA Hall of Famer and committee member Peter Ohlson. Ohlson, a Norton native, has retired after a lengthy run as the grounds superintendent at Wentworth Hills Country Club in Plainville.
PLAINVILLE — Longtime Wentworth Hills Country Club Grounds Superintendent and Attleboro Area Golf Association Hall of Famer Peter Ohlson retired this week, capping a long career on the area links.
Ohlson began his career at his hometown Norton Country Club, working with his father, Alex, who was a founding member of the AAGA along with Mal Wendell and George Fredette.
Ohlson then moved on to work with his father at Ballymeade Country Club in Falmouth after the course was sold, and ended his career at Wentworth.
He had been at Wentworth since its construction in 2000, taking the job to be closer to home. He was the sole superintendent through three changes in ownership at Wentworth during the past 22 years.
Ohlson was inducted into the AAGA Hall of Fame in 2006 and was a past member of the AAGA Committee, helping grow the game further for local golfers.
Wentworth Hills Country Club
Aaga Hall Of Famer Ohlson
Golf Association Hall Of Famer Peter Ohlson
Norton Country Club | 2022-11-29T05:17:47Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Longtime Wentworth Hills grounds superintendent, AAGA Hall of Famer Ohlson retires | Golf | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/sports/golf/longtime-wentworth-hills-grounds-superintendent-aaga-hall-of-famer-ohlson-retires/article_d71b9b06-004b-5983-9e6a-e54e008b495d.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/sports/golf/longtime-wentworth-hills-grounds-superintendent-aaga-hall-of-famer-ohlson-retires/article_d71b9b06-004b-5983-9e6a-e54e008b495d.html |
Attleboro area communities awarded state grants to purchase body cameras now have to deal with issues to implement them
A police officer wears a body camera on his chest.
NATIONAL POLICE FOUNDATION
The North Attleboro and Mansfield police departments have each been awarded thousands of dollars in state grants to purchase body-worn cameras.
The North Attleboro department got $67,950 and Mansfield $96,543, the governor’s office announced Monday.
The grants were a portion of nearly $2.5 million awarded to 32 police departments statewide to expand or implement body-worn camera programs.
But some Attleboro area police chiefs who received funds say implementing a program is not as simple as throwing on a body camera and hitting the streets.
The state grants do not include money to pay for secure cloud storage systems or maintenance necessary for the programs, which is more costly than the cameras, they say.
In addition, the grants require towns to iron out bargaining issues with the police unions regarding policies and procedures over how the cameras will be used.
North Attleboro Police Chief Richard McQuade and Mansfield Acting Police Chief Michael Ellsworth said Tuesday they are in the process of choosing a vendor for the devices.
McQuade said the town has already approved funding for cloud storage for the contents of the devices and maintenance.
In October, Town Manager Michael Borg said the program would cost $69,000 a year for a five-year contract.
Acting Mansfield Police Chief Michael Ellsworth said the town is pursuing other grant funding to help pay for cloud storage and maintenance. In addition, agreements have to be reached with police unions.
Since the mid-1990s, Mansfield has had dash cameras and interior cameras in their cruisers and officers have worn body microphones.
Last year, three other area police departments received grants for the camera programs. Foxboro was awarded $105,010; Seekonk, $44,619; and Rehoboth, $37,711.
Of those towns, however, Rehoboth is the only department ready to put officers out on the street with body cameras.
Police Chief James Trombetta said officers may be hitting the streets to train with the cameras in a couple of weeks.
Trombetta said the town approved funding to pay for the cloud storage and maintenance through the camera vendor.
Including the cost of the cameras, the agreement is for five years at $127,000 with replacement of the cameras halfway through the contract, according to the police chief.
Foxboro Police Chief Michael Grace said a camera program has not been implemented yet because the grant did not include funding for cloud storage and maintenance.
Grace said it is too costly for small municipalities to build a secure storage system and hire someone to maintain it and respond to public records requests.
In addition, Grace and other chiefs said it is better to have a camera vendor maintain the cloud storage system because the companies have the expertise and their systems are more secure from cyber hacking.
“The state should fully fund the program,” Grace said.
Seekonk Police Chief Dean Isabella said he is waiting to see if the state’s new Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission mandates the use of the cameras and creates policies and procedures before negotiating with the police unions.
State police were the first to start using cameras last December. Footage from one trooper’s camera was used to help identify suspects in an Attleboro home invasion last year.
The state wants more police departments to use body-worn cameras and several departments have said their police unions have agreed to wear them.
In 2021, the Baker-Polito administration awarded $4 million to help implement or expand local police departments’ body-worn camera programs as part of a 5-year, $20 million investment in the technology across the state.
In announcing the grants Monday, Gov. Charlie Baker called body-worn cameras “an important tool to enhance accountability, improve investigations and strengthen relationships between police and the communities they serve.”
This year’s grants will allow 27 departments to introduce new body-worn camera programs in 2023 and allow five departments to expand existing programs.
“Body-worn cameras are a transformative tool for law enforcement. This technology strengthens transparency and accountability while promoting best practices and improving police-community relations,” Pubic Safety and Security Secretary Terrence Reidy said in a statement.
Attleboro area police departments awarded grants to purchase body cameras
Three area police departments may soon be joining state police in wearing body cameras thanks to state grants.
Town manager seeks funding for North Attleboro police body cameras | 2022-11-30T04:47:39Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Attleboro area communities awarded state grants to purchase body cameras now have to deal with issues to implement them | Local News | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/attleboro-area-communities-awarded-state-grants-to-purchase-body-cameras-now-have-to-deal-with/article_ba383e74-e11f-5c84-ae03-787d53af8ec9.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/attleboro-area-communities-awarded-state-grants-to-purchase-body-cameras-now-have-to-deal-with/article_ba383e74-e11f-5c84-ae03-787d53af8ec9.html |
Mansfield voters head to town meeting Thursday
Town meeting was held Thursday night in the Mansfield High School auditorium.
MANSFIELD — Residents are being asked to vote on several matters at a special town meeting Thursday, including building and equipment items and a request for another liquor license.
The meeting is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. at Mansfield High School.
Among the 24 articles on the agenda are building and equipment items commonly known as capital items.
Among capital improvements are requests for:
$1,834,380 for the replacement of the boiler and hot water system at Mansfield High School. Just over half the project’s cost will be covered by state funds.
$370,000 for the replacement of self-contained breathing apparatus for firefighters.
$228,503 for the final design, purchase of equipment, and underground tank removal for a playground at Robinson School.
$125,000 for the design of the Qualters Middle School boiler and hot water system project, which will also be eligible for state funds.
There is also a citizen’s petition seeking an additional all-alcohol retail license at Reservoir Landing shopping center on Reservoir Street.
Also up for a vote are requests involving financial matters related to cash reserves, budgetary adjustments, pay down of the town’s debt, and needed drainage easements and takings.
For more info, visit www.mansfieldma.com. | 2022-11-30T04:48:04Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Mansfield voters head to town meeting Thursday | Local News | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/mansfield-voters-head-to-town-meeting-thursday/article_14a81f00-5573-5b93-825a-e389e61fb6aa.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/mansfield-voters-head-to-town-meeting-thursday/article_14a81f00-5573-5b93-825a-e389e61fb6aa.html |
Norton select board member resigns
Christine Deveau
NORTON — Select board member Christine Deveau has resigned.
Deveau, who had been vice chair of the board, gave no reason in submitting her resignation, Town Clerk Lucia Longhurst said.
Select board members at their meeting Wednesday night are scheduled to accept the resignation and reorganize.
They are also slated to discuss whether to call a special election to fill the vacancy or wait until the spring annual town election.
Deveau, who was elected along with board Chair Megan Artz in April 2021, didn’t respond to a request for comment.
“We are all disappointed by Christine’s resignation,” board member Michael Toole said in an email. “In the year and a half of her time on the board she was truly growing into the role. Since her election, we had a lot of changes with Jack Conway and Renee Deley leaving which can make the transitions to the board difficult.
“She was becoming a big advocate for residents and boards such as the Conservation Commission, and Parks and Recreation, and her efforts will be missed. I don’t know the exact reason for her resignation except for a social media post stating ‘Family, health, and happiness come first,’ and if being a select board member was affecting any of the areas in her life she made the correct decision to walk away.”
Deveau, a 2014 Norton High School graduate who has lived in town most of her life, has over the years volunteered in different organizations.
When she ran for the board, she pledged to bring a new perspective to town, with goals of supporting local businesses and preserving natural features while encouraging new businesses to locate in town to increase revenue. Deveau also wanted to enhance community engagement.
“The town is moving in the right direction and I want to help guide us toward its future,” Deveau wrote in an election statement to The Sun Chronicle.
Michael Toole
Megan Artz
Lucia Longhurst | 2022-11-30T04:48:10Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Norton select board member resigns | Local News | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/norton-select-board-member-resigns/article_11d43e25-4adb-5bc0-8a27-fe32ce1c67dd.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/norton-select-board-member-resigns/article_11d43e25-4adb-5bc0-8a27-fe32ce1c67dd.html |
United States’ Yunus Musah, right, Aaron Long, center, and goalkeeper Sean Johnson celebrate after defeating Iran Tuesday in their World Cup Group B match in Doha, Qatar.
Ashley Landis /the associated press
The Team USA men had plenty of pressure and opportunities in the first half of play on Tuesday afternoon. Several chances to put the ball home were turned aside in the first 25 minutes by Iran while USA played well enough at midfield and held off Iran’s best attacking chance early on to allow no shots on goal for former New England Revolution keeper Matt Turner.
An exciting first half had social media jumping, singing the praises of the attacking front. The second half saw the US allow Iran battle back with opportunities in the early minutes of the second half, and Saman Ghoddos missed on the far post from inside the box after Dest missed a sliding clear at the 64th minute.
A reviewed handball on the USA’s Shaq Moore nearly saw Iran take momentum into a potential goal scoring chance, but it went in the USA’s favor. Another header from inside the box off a free kick went wide by a few feet in extra time, and a reviewed penalty from inside the box where the ball snuck behind Turner with under two minutes left in extra time was cleared away to preserve the 1-0 win. The USA allowed a final rush from Iran but added time ran out, keeping the Americans’ World Cup run alive in hair-pulling, edge of the seat style.
The hype for this year’s World Cup has been high, and Tuesday’s tilt proved to be not just Americans’ opinion of the game of the World Cup — but likely the consensus pick for the best game of the tournament.
Admittedly, as a casual fan who has only caught the soccer bug as of late, the World Cup is an exciting draw that sees players from all over the world come together to represent their country at the highest level. Players from the MLS, Premier League, La Liga, Ligue 1, the top leagues with top names like Lionel Messi (Argentina), Christiano Ronaldo (Portugal) and Kylian Mbappe (France) are representing their countries. Instead of a respective league title, the World Cup is for world bragging rights for four years.
American TV regularly sees the Premier League, the world’s top flight soccer league, get air time on Sunday mornings. The average church goer or NFL super fan who prefers a pregame show won’t watch Brighton and Southampton play to a 1-0 final, but a young sports crazed fan will see soccer on TV and think it’s worth a shot because they watched a great game on Tuesday. In a win-or-go home game it had everything you want as a fan of the sport: the score by the young wonderkid, momentum shifting dramatically in the final minutes, near-fouls that didn’t get called and a thrilling finish. | 2022-11-30T04:48:16Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Tyler Hetu: USA-Iran proved soccer at its best is anything but boring | Local Sports | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/sports/local_sports/tyler-hetu-usa-iran-proved-soccer-at-its-best-is-anything-but-boring/article_21f3f093-a072-5bfc-af9c-9141bdb53dfc.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/sports/local_sports/tyler-hetu-usa-iran-proved-soccer-at-its-best-is-anything-but-boring/article_21f3f093-a072-5bfc-af9c-9141bdb53dfc.html |
Two dogs found abandoned in Wrentham the day before Thanksgiving
A Chihuahua that was found abandoned last week in Wrentham.
Mange is visible on this beagle-terrier mix found abandoned last week in Wrentham.
WRENTHAM -- Authorities will have to euthanize one dog and another has been adopted a week after they were found abandoned near the Wrentham Village Premium Outlets.
The dogs, an older, blind Chihuahua and a 1-year-old beagle-terrier mix, were found roaming on Route 1A near the mall entrance last Wednesday night.
“It’s almost mind blowing that someone would do that the day before Thanksgiving,” Animal Control Officer Chris Wider said Wednesday.
Considering how congested the area is, Wider and Police Chief Bill McGarth said it was amazing neither dog was struck by a car, particularly the blind one.
The female mixed-breed dog was suffering from sarcoptic mange and was bleeding all over from scratching itself, Wider said.
Both dogs were taken to Countryside Veterinary Clinic on Ellery Street. The mixed-breed dog has responded well to treatment and is recovering at the home of a veterinarian, who has adopted the animal, Wider said.
Unfortunately, Wider said, the Chihuahua will have to be euthanized because of its age and poor health.
McGrath said initially, authorities were uncertain whether the dogs were lost and published social media posts in the hope of identifying the owner or owners.
A post on the Wrentham police Facebook page was shared 130 times and almost 200 individuals responded. But as of Wednesday, McGrath and Wider said the posts garnered no tips.
Police will continue to investigate in order to try to identify the owner or owners, according to McGrath.
The Sun Chronicke | 2022-11-30T18:04:22Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Two dogs found abandoned in Wrentham the day before Thanksgiving | Local News | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/two-dogs-found-abandoned-in-wrentham-the-day-before-thanksgiving/article_f027ee75-e6d9-5187-a8a8-0f2fbe449b6a.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/two-dogs-found-abandoned-in-wrentham-the-day-before-thanksgiving/article_f027ee75-e6d9-5187-a8a8-0f2fbe449b6a.html |
The Tragedy of Donald J. Trump, Part II
Shakespeare could not have invented a more narcissistic character than Donald Trump.
Having alienated a large segment of the New York City in-crowd, losing high ratings for his TV show and having exhausted the antics to keep him in the news, Donald Trump announced his intention to run for president. Now he would have a worldwide audience to perform for. And that he did, and continues to do until today.
Intoxicated and addicted to adulation from his supporters who he constantly whips up into anger and fawning adoration, there is no scandal or illegal action that he doesn’t utilize to empty their pockets and show up at his circus rallies.
Always the victim never owing anyone an apology. Consistent in his betrayal and exploitation of his wives, friends, employees and anyone who misguidedly believed he would reward their loyalty.
The stage is littered with the betrayed, imprisoned or impoverished who rode the Trump gravy train hoping to enhance their own standing or financial position.
And will this play be a comedy or a tragedy? Will King Trump be led off to a prison cell or will there be a a sequel that will open with Trump waving, thumbs up and thanking his MAGA supporters for bestowing the presidency upon him yet again. | 2022-11-30T20:32:24Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | The Tragedy of Donald J. Trump, Part II | Letters To Editor | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/the-tragedy-of-donald-j-trump-part-ii/article_b4976e75-03d1-5b69-8560-8371909ce0f5.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/the-tragedy-of-donald-j-trump-part-ii/article_b4976e75-03d1-5b69-8560-8371909ce0f5.html |
Gas leak on Mulberry Street in Attleboro prompts evacuation of half-dozen homes, snarls traffic
ATTLEBORO -- A natural gas leak on Mulberry Street forced the evacuation of five to six homes Wednesday afternoon and shut down traffic on South Main Street between Mulberry and Maple streets.
Mulberry Street itself was shut down between South Main and Pine streets. Police also shut down South Main between Mulberry and Orange streets.
The leak occurred at about 2:30 p.m.
District Fire Chief Tom Joubert said contractors installing sidewalks on Mulberry broke a gas line.
The air smelled strongly of natural gas.
Eversource was notified to shut down the gas line and were on scene along with numerous fire apparatus and one ambulance.
Joubert said efforts were put in place to avoid sources of ignition.
He said hose lines had been laid out and were ready to go if needed.
Eversource was still on scene making repairs at 4:30 p.m. in pouring rain.
The scene sparked memories of a natural gas leak on George Street in 1998 when two water department workers were killed after a gas line that was not known to be in the ground was broken and a home blew up.
In that case “no gas” had been written on the street by a utility worker sent to check the site.
Aouh Main
Tom Joubert | 2022-11-30T22:52:10Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Gas leak on Mulberry Street in Attleboro prompts evacuation of half-dozen homes, snarls traffic | Local News | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/gas-leak-on-mulberry-street-in-attleboro-prompts-evacuation-of-half-dozen-homes-snarls-traffic/article_6e257267-07c6-583a-8691-3417ab2a8a00.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/gas-leak-on-mulberry-street-in-attleboro-prompts-evacuation-of-half-dozen-homes-snarls-traffic/article_6e257267-07c6-583a-8691-3417ab2a8a00.html |
Rain ending early. Clearing overnight. Low around 30F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..
Rain ending early. Clearing overnight. Low around 30F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Locally heavy rainfall possible.
Trader Joe’s at Patriot Place was given an award for its employment of people who the community who have disabilities. (Photo courtesy of Patriot Place)
Awards given to Foxboro Trader Joe's and local mother for contributions to those in community with disabilities
Management at Trader Joe’s Foxboro store has gone above and beyond expectations when it comes to providing opportunities for individuals with special needs, according to members of the town’s Commission on Disability.
Making a brief presentation to selectmen last week, commission Chairwoman Susan Collins said the advocacy group had revived its annual “Above and Beyond” awards — one given to a local business and another to an individual — following a pandemic-related hiatus.
Announcing this year’s business award, Collins said Trader Joe’s provides equal access for those with disabilities while seeking hard-working employees with outgoing personalities to stock food, bag groceries and assist where needed.
“They believe these employees have developed independence and also have some fun,” Collins said of the national grocery chain.
She explained that Brian Fahey, team leader at Trader Joe’s Patriot Place location, was unable to accept the award in person due to the high volume of pre-Thanksgiving business.
“This is the busiest time of the year for a grocery store,” Collins said of the Thanksgiving week crush. “He was very honored to receive the award and he knows he will continue to hire people with disabilities in the future.”
On hand to accept a separate award from the commission was Paula Bouchard, a local mother of three, one of whom has an intellectual disability.
According to Margaret Chaisson, the commission’s vice chairperson, Bouchard was recognized for her efforts last spring as director of Foxboro’s challenger baseball league, a recreational program for some 40 individuals with special needs.
“The season went off without a hitch,” Chaisson said, noting that Bouchard replaced a previous person who unexpectedly resigned. “They would have been very disappointed had Paula not stepped into take over and keep things running.”
Having already experienced the program from a parent’s perspective, Bouchard said she enjoyed getting to know all of the participants, as well as providing oversight and coordination.
“To see all the effort that’s put into running it, it was a fun year,” she told selectmen.
State Rep. Jay Barrows and state Sen. Paul Feeney presented legislative citations to Bouchard, while pledging to deliver separate citations to Trader Joe’s later in the week.
In presenting the senate citation to Bouchard, Feeney referred to commission members as “great advocates” for legislation to benefit the state’s disability community.
“This is a very welcoming community, and one that looks out for everybody,” Barrows added.
In a related matter, selectmen also appointed Lori Capone, a longtime speech therapist in Foxboro schools, to a vacancy on the commission.
“I look forward to giving back to the community and helping out these people,” Capone said.
Selectwoman Stephanie McGowan, also the mother of a disabled child, thanked commission members for their continuing work on behalf of local families.
“It takes a village, and what you guys do to help families is just incredible, McGowan said. “It is so appreciated.” | 2022-12-01T02:59:53Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Awards given to Foxboro Trader Joe's and local mother for contributions to those in community with disabilities | Local News | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/foxboro_reporter/news/local_news/awards-given-to-foxboro-trader-joes-and-local-mother-for-contributions-to-those-in-community/article_8224eb8f-9c98-5e6b-b192-d2e4e4c7622f.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/foxboro_reporter/news/local_news/awards-given-to-foxboro-trader-joes-and-local-mother-for-contributions-to-those-in-community/article_8224eb8f-9c98-5e6b-b192-d2e4e4c7622f.html |
Hundreds in Attleboro area lose power in storm
Hundreds of area residents lost electricity during Wednesday’s wind and rainstorm.
Early in the night there were 1,041 customers in the dark in Foxboro, National Grid reported. That was up from 774 late in the afternoon and later Wednesday night it dropped to 602.
Attleboro had 187 without power early Wednesday night and Plainville 11, the utility said.
National Grid had 40,297 customers out early Wednesday night across Massachusetts, about 34,000 of those in Quincy where most of that city lost electricity.
In Norfolk, 385 were out, Eversource said.
Up to an inch of rain and winds over 40 mph were forecast, and the National Weather Service in Norton had declared a wind advisory.
The weather made for a challenging commute home and there was some street flooding caused by leaves clogging drains.
Thursday was forecast to continue to be windy but the rain was expected to be over early in the day.
The warmer weather was also being swept away by a cold front moving in. | 2022-12-01T03:00:05Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Hundreds in Attleboro area lose power in storm | Local News | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/hundreds-in-attleboro-area-lose-power-in-storm/article_8852156c-23cf-573d-9959-6143182f6431.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/hundreds-in-attleboro-area-lose-power-in-storm/article_8852156c-23cf-573d-9959-6143182f6431.html |
Tyler Hetu: With AFC East no longer certain, Patriots host Bills in big division tilt
Patriots defensive back Jonathan Jones tackles the Jets’ Denzel Mims near the sideline in the fourth quarter of the teams’ Nov. 20 game at Gillette Stadium.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen pulls away form Lions defensive tackle Alim McNeill during the second half of the teams’ Thanksgiving-Day game in Detroit.
Paul Sancya / The Associated Press
Week 13 brings the Buffalo Bills (8-3) to Foxboro as the New England Patriots (6-5) look to rebound from their Thanksgiving-Day loss and continue to stay alive in the postseason hunt.
The AFC East division race is anything but clear-cut this season, with all teams finding themselves in the running for a playoff spot. The Bills sit tied for first in the division with the Miami Dolphins (8-3), while the New York Jets (7-4) and Patriots are just off the pace and not out of division-title contention.
The Bills (literally) fumbled themselves out of a win over Minnesota in Week 10, bounced back with a win over the Browns the following week, and narrowly escaped with a win over the 4-7 Detroit Lions thanks to a last-second game-winning field goal from Tyler Bass on Thanksgiving.
A team that has won five of its games by a score or less, with four coming off a touchdown in the last two minutes or a game-winning field goal, the Bills are certainly beatable. The Panthers beat them in Week 3 and the Jets beat them in Week 8, two teams that are in worse stature than the Patriots. What can the Patriots expect from one of the most talented teams in the league?
We can start with the Bills’ pass rush. The Bills will be without Von Miller, the imposing edge rusher that is a disruptor on every down. Miller avoided an ACL tear, but will still need to miss a few weeks, and this can play to the Patriots’ benefit in the passing game without the future Hall of Famer breathing down Mac Jones’ neck.
A guy that’s played almost 70 percent of of his snaps in pass-rush situations, mostly due to teams resulting in the need to pass in a deficit, Jones and a battered Patriots offensive line will have one less thing to worry about. The O-line for the Patriots has seen better days with Dave Andrews missing last week’s game and Yodny Cajuste dealing with a calf/back issue (both are questionable). Isaiah Wynn is out for Thursday, leaving the offensive line depleted. It’ll be next man up for the Patriots, but they catch a massive break without Miller on the field — even if it means that his replacement can be equally as dangerous.
Gregory Rousseau, a well-rounded edge that has a team-best 32.9% pass-rush win rate and a pass-rush grade that bests Miller (83.7 to 81.8), and AJ Epenesa, both coming off an injury, will likely be focus points for the Patriots. Rousseau missed several weeks due to an ankle injury, so if he’s back to 100 percent the Patriots will need to key in on him off the edge to not only protect Mac, but to ensure nobody gets to the running back before they hit the line of scrimmage.
On the other end, the Patriots themselves will have to shore up their pass rush to force Josh Allen into uncomfortable situations. Allen’s elbow injury has seemingly had no hitch in the Bills’ system, as shown last week when Allen hit receiver Stefon Diggs for a gain of 36 to set up the game-winning field goal. A sprained elbow or a sprained UCL takes a few weeks to get back healthy, and it’s not the first time he’s had this injury. It’s been nearly three weeks since his injury happened, so he could be back to 100 percent — or what he believes is 100 percent.
Pressure from linebacker Matthew Judon, who looks to continue his otherworldly defensive effort this season, will be paramount. Judon is on a tear this season and has a career-best sack total of 13, which is the current league-leading total. With him on on defense is safety Kyle Dugger, who is coming off a season-high nine-tackle game against the Vikings, Davon Godchaux on the D-line, Ja’Whaun Bentley at linebacker, and Lawrence Guy on the D-line. The Patriots are second in the league in sacks and pressures, and after a week where the Lions pressured Josh Allen 17 times, the Patriots will be champing at the bit to get past an offensive line that has its own fair share of injuries.
The Patriots are hopeful to get cornerback Jalen Mills for game time on Thursday night. He is questionable entering Thursday, with Myles Bryant and Jack Jones the likely fillers for him in the secondary. Despite Judon being the major playmaking force on the defense, it will be a group effort to get to Allen, and will be a collective effort among Devin McCourty, Jabril Peppers, Kahlani Tavai and Adrian Phillips, Brant and Jones to give blanket coverage to Diggs and Gabe Davis — Allen’s two deep-ball targets that have combined for 1,760 of Allen’s 3,183 passing yards. They’ve also got 14 receiving scores between the two of them, more than half of Allen’s passing scores (23).
Outside of the O-line, the Patriots will look relatively unchanged, with the biggest absence being Damien Harris (out, thigh). Rhamondre Stevenson has emerged as the RB1 in New England, a bruising RB who has had two down games in rushing standards but is a major part in the passing game. Stevenson caught nine balls for 76 yards last week and caught six for 56 yards the week before against the Jets. Without Harris, he’s set up for a large workload, as both an every-down back and a pass-catcher, so expect a lot of him in all scenarios — even with a makeshift offensive line. Jakobi Meyers and DeVante Parker are also questionable for Thursday, and with a deep but not superbly talented receiver pool, that makes Stevenson even more of a focus for the offense — a safety net for Mac, if you will.
Final verdict: I’m not a football expert; that’s pretty well-documented. This could be a 45-10 game or a 22-21 game, simply put. But if the Patriots run the ball efficiently and more effectively than how they did last week then they’ll be in good shape. The pass rush for the Bills, while battered, will still be on Mac’s case and could lead to Stevenson’s involvement in the passing game reaching season-high numbers. The Patriots might not seek the deep ball, but the short-medium routes with low pocket time to Meyers and Hunter Henry will be on the table and allow New England to create methodical drives to keep Allen and Diggs off the field. Keeping the offense off the field, no matter how good your defense is, is key because Allen and Diggs could connect for a score in one play. They’re too much for even the best of teams, as shown by their late comebacks in games where they escape with wins.
Unfortunately, I don’t think the Patriots will be able to keep up with the Bills this week. Oddsmakers have New England at a +4 underdog, and I think they’re on the money with that line. It’ll be a 24-20 Patriots loss. | 2022-12-01T04:53:15Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Tyler Hetu: With AFC East no longer certain, Patriots host Bills in big division tilt | Sports | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/sports/tyler-hetu-with-afc-east-no-longer-certain-patriots-host-bills-in-big-division-tilt/article_24da0605-4958-5c8c-a4f1-4dfa717182fb.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/sports/tyler-hetu-with-afc-east-no-longer-certain-patriots-host-bills-in-big-division-tilt/article_24da0605-4958-5c8c-a4f1-4dfa717182fb.html |
Santa and Mrs. Claus greet people on the Common during the Light Uptown event on Saturday.
photos by JURI LOVE
Liam Monahan, 9, Justine Monahan and Quinn Monahan, 5, with New England Patriots Cheerleaders and Pat Patriot.
Grace Chapel Worship Band performs at the Light Uptown event.
JURI LOVE / For The Foxboro Reporter
Nora Raphaelson, 5, makes an ornament at Boyden Library.
The Holiday Victorian Carolers sing.
S’mores on the Common from Boy Scout Troop 32
A crowd gathered for the lighting of the Town Common on Saturday, which wrapped up a day full of holiday activities.
Elite Dance Company offered a holiday dance performance.
Light Uptown draws big crowd to Foxboro Common
What a way to ignite the holiday season.
Light Uptown was held on the Foxboro Common on Saturday, bringing a packed schedule of activities to the town.
The all-day event offered activities for all ages, including a craft fair at the senior center, decoration of the bandstand with the Jaycees, holiday drop-in crafting at Boyden Library, a showing of “Polar Express” at the Marilyn Rodman Performing Arts Center and even so-called sl-hay-gh rides on Central Street.
As darkness arrived and the hour grew later, visitors had a chance to eat s’mores on the Common from Boy Scout Troop 32, listen to Christmas Carols sung by memebrs of Bethany Congregational Church, meet Santa and Mrs. Claus and watch the lighting of the tree and Town Common.
Steven and Katie Raphaelson, of Foxboro, came to the event for the first time with their three children, Nora, 5; William, 2 and Nellie, 11 months.
“They did a great job engaging with all of the kids there with songs and activities. Watching the magic in the children’s eyes when Santa and Mrs. Claus lit up the tree was the perfect way to kick off the season,” Katie Raphaelson said.
Adam Margolis, who came to the event with his son Isaac, 6, said he thought the tree lighting was exciting.
“There were a lot of activities and people were getting pumped up for the final lighting and Santa and Pat Patriot being here,” Margolis said.
Justine Monohan, who brought her children Liam, 9, and Quinn, 5, snapped a picture with Pat Patriot and New England Patriots Cheerleaders
“I love that they’ve blocked the Common off so the pedestrians can just walk around. It’s a great turnout and the weather is amazing,” she said.
She said the family has participated in tree lighting almost every year since they have lived in Foxboro.
“I love that my youngest is now five and able to enjoy all of it this year. She’s very excited for Christmas,” Monohan said.
Lisa Weatherford came to volunteer with Boy Scout Troop 32 and thought doing s’mores for the second year was really good for the community. Visitors could purchase a s’mores kit for $5 and toast their own by the fire.
“It’s just a great way to bring the winter season,” she said.
Weatherford said one of the Scout’s badges is called the Fire Chip.
“Scouts who earn this chip demonstrate fire safety and they can safely light and maintain a fire. The s’mores fundraiser is a way that the Scouts can extend their skills to serve the community and gain funds for other scouting experiences,” she said.
She said her favorite part of the event was the sense of community.
“Everyone is just so happy to be here. There’s a lot of joy in the air,” Weatherford said.
Renee Tocci, recreation division director, said this year’s event was the biggest yet
“We had a little bit of everything... so it was great. It made it a little bit bigger,” Tocci said.
Marc Craig, director of human services said the big difference for this year is that the town approved $24,000 to cover the cost of professional lighting on the Common, including the garland around the railings.
Craig who has worked to organize the event said seeing the Common almost completely filled was unbelievable.
Light Uptown at Foxboro Common | 2022-12-01T06:42:19Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Light Uptown draws big crowd to Foxboro Common | Local News | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/foxboro_reporter/news/local_news/light-uptown-draws-big-crowd-to-foxboro-common/article_6a19f772-9562-5ecd-93b7-d0c324add2f6.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/foxboro_reporter/news/local_news/light-uptown-draws-big-crowd-to-foxboro-common/article_6a19f772-9562-5ecd-93b7-d0c324add2f6.html |
Commentary: More guns lead to more shootings. Let’s challenge what gun ownership means.
By Ned Barnett The News & Observer of Raleigh, N.C.
When NBA player Taurean Prince of the Minnesota Timberwolves was pulled over in suburban Dallas for an expired registration, he informed the officer he had two handguns in the car.
Security guards at a bonfire party held at an Enfield, North Carolina, horse ranch confiscated 27 guns that people tried to smuggle in. “These weapons were found in the bottom of coolers, these weapons were found in boots, these weapons were even found in hats,” the host said.
A report on the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) noted that so far this year TSA has confiscated more than 4,600 guns, about 87 percent of them loaded. It’s on pace to pass last year’s record of 6,000 guns confiscated.
Second Amendment zealots say that people, not guns, kill people.
But when a nation has more guns than people — 393 million guns and 326 million people — the prevalence of guns is going to lead to the demise of people through intentional shootings, accidents or suicides. The toll is more than 110 people every day, including five deaths per day in North Carolina.
How to make it less this way is equally complicated. But as the U.S. endures another wave of mass shootings, there are signs that the majority of Americans who want stronger gun controls may yet be heard.
A bipartisan group called the 97 Percent — an allusion to the 97 percent of Americans who favor universal background checks for gun purchases — wants to reduce the carnage by enlisting gun owners in the effort.
Add convictions for violent misdemeanors such as assault, stalking and violent threats to convictions that bar gun ownership and possession.
Pass red flag laws that would allow courts to order the removal of guns from people considered a danger to themselves or others.
Require a permit to purchase a gun (only 11 states do) and make federal and state background checks part of the gun permitting process. | 2022-12-01T06:42:38Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Commentary: More guns lead to more shootings. Let’s challenge what gun ownership means. | Columns | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/opinion/columns/commentary-more-guns-lead-to-more-shootings-let-s-challenge-what-gun-ownership-means/article_fe0b5b37-6887-5ae8-b838-11a8593e443a.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/opinion/columns/commentary-more-guns-lead-to-more-shootings-let-s-challenge-what-gun-ownership-means/article_fe0b5b37-6887-5ae8-b838-11a8593e443a.html |
Citizens simply don't need an AR-15
Citizens simply don’t need an AR-15
I have read some history, and I find Second Amendment-type societies, where every household was encouraged to have a sword or a musket at the ready.
But never have I discovered a society where every household was allowed to have a loaded cannon in the bedroom.
I did read that soldiers returning to Russia from World War I were required to surrender their battlefield weapons to armories in and around the big cities.
The communist trickster Vladimir Lenin raided those armories and made himself master of Russia. But is assault weapon legislation voted on by elected representatives of the people the same as a midnight coup d’etat? | 2022-12-01T06:42:56Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Citizens simply don't need an AR-15 | Letters To Editor | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/citizens-simply-dont-need-an-ar-15/article_5300ec74-cf64-5d23-a10a-62f453ebfa53.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/citizens-simply-dont-need-an-ar-15/article_5300ec74-cf64-5d23-a10a-62f453ebfa53.html |
In a still photo from a video posted to Seekonk Residents Facebook, a man in a hoodie runs up to a car about 3 a.m. on Nov. 29 and runs off when an exterior light turns on.
PLAINVILLE -- Police are reminding residents to lock their cars after a dozen unlocked vehicles were entered sometime in the early morning hours of Wednesday.
One of the stolen cars was recovered in Pawtucket by Wednesday afternoon, according to police.
The crimes occurred in neighborhoods, including those off South Street between Cross Street and the Wrentham town line.
The incidents occurred a week after a half-dozen cars were discovered broken into in the Millbrook Drive and Garrison Drive neighborhood off Route 106.
Also on Wednesday, North Attleboro police say three cars were entered and two cars with the keys inside were stolen between 2:30 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. in the downtown area.
A comforter and cosmetics were stolen from one of the vehicles, North Attleboro police Capt. Jason Roy said in an email.
One of the stolen cars was recovered in Plainville and the other was recovered in Pawtucket, Roy said.
It is not clear whether any of the incidents are related, but police say there is one thing the incidents have in common: the cars were left unlocked.
“Often times these thefts are committed by criminals by simply trying door handles hoping for unlocked vehicles,” North Attleboro police said in a statement. “It is an all too common problem that can be prevented by simply locking your vehicle and taking the keys with you."
Police also recommend residents take any valuables out of vehicles or hide them in the trunk, even if the cars are left parked in driveways.
Police suggest parking in well-lit and heavily traveled areas, and if at home, to park in the garage if possible.
Earlier this week, Seekonk police said they responded to similar incidents. On Facebook, they frequently remind residents to lock their cars by making it a routine at 9 p.m. every night calling it #9PMROUTINE.
In a video from a doorbell camera posted on a Seekonk Residents Facebook page, a car is shown driving up shortly before 3 a.m. Tuesday on Coyle Drive.
A man in a hoodie runs up a driveway to attempt to open a door on an SUV, but runs back to the car when an exterior light turns on.
The video also shows another person running back to the car from another house and what sounds like a girl or a woman is heard laughing as the four-door sedan drives off.
North Attleboro police also recommend keeping important paperwork such as registration, insurance cards or user manuals locked up in a glove box or center console.
The user manuals contain sensitive information, such as key replacement codes and door lock codes, which are common targets for criminals, according to police. | 2022-12-01T17:57:11Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Plainville and North Attleboro police among departments reporting rash of car break-ins | Local News | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/plainville-and-north-attleboro-police-among-departments-reporting-rash-of-car-break-ins/article_c8a529e2-4e95-5b67-ab0c-d9dde546b592.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/plainville-and-north-attleboro-police-among-departments-reporting-rash-of-car-break-ins/article_c8a529e2-4e95-5b67-ab0c-d9dde546b592.html |
Bob Foley: A touch of clarity
Seems a bit more illumination is required on last week’s clairvoyant observations and pragmatic recommendations for voting rules.
A number of readers have offered their well intentioned but misguided concerns with what were presented as very realistic needs to insure an uncompromised voting process.
One writer suggested that states should have the same regulations for all federal elections. On the surface that makes sense, but this country is not a single entity but rather a collection of independently governed states with only the general interests concerning regulation of interstate commerce and common defense defined at the federal level.
States have the constitutionally mandated right to make their own rules for any number of issues, including how (what should be only) legal citizens of that state are allowed to vote in any election.
Some people seem to assume that individual votes elect the president. Reality is electors, selected by each state, is where the rubber meets the road concerning the only federally elected office, the president. The approval of the electors’ votes has nothing to do with the popular vote. In so much as Congress approves the electoral vote, the federal rules ought to apply only to the federal verification of the individual states’ conclusions.
Other comments mistakenly suggested some states have only mail-in voting. A number of jurisdictions have passed ludicrous laws that all registered voters are mailed an unrequested ballot and can return that by mail but none have voting regulations that mandate all mail-in voting only.
I doubt those who oversee ballot validity in states such as California where millions are mailed out, verify none are mailed to voters who have moved, are deceased, or are for, whatever other reason, not eligible to vote.
Then we come to the issue of voter registration. I don’t like to assume so I will just make the observation that those who think there ought to be loosey-goosey registration rules agree with our Commonwealth’s process. That is a problem.
If you have not yet done so, anyone with a concern about voting integrity might want to check our state’s provisions for the voter registration process. Online registration? No problem. Just put in your driver’s license number and check the “I’m OK to vote” box. Then comes the truly amazing part. Guess which state department is tasked with the verification procedure? You guessed it, the RMV. Those fun-loving, get-in-a-line-to-get-a-number-to-get-in-a-line-so-you-can-wait-a couple-of-hours-to-be-told-you-have-the-wrong-paperwork group. This aspect of registration should be interesting once those who are not living here legally are issued drivers’ licenses.
And then some writers suggest that limiting the right to vote to only older, white, male landowners would “solve the problem.” Not really. With the existing mail-in, send-everyone-a-ballot approach common in many areas now, even limiting to whom those rules would apply, does not solve the problem.
Verification, early voting when all the tales have not been told, and lots of other issues can just as well apply to the white landowner approach as well. Hyperbole does not help to explain why reasonable provisions to insure election integrity ought not to be instituted.
One has to wonder why anyone would object to reasonable, practical, legal safeguards to insure all elections are executed with integrity and assurance the results are timely and valid.
Bob Foley is a Sun Chronicle columnist whose opinions are published here each Friday. | 2022-12-02T07:23:01Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Bob Foley: A touch of clarity | Columns | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/opinion/columns/bob-foley-a-touch-of-clarity/article_575a7fd5-ed9b-5440-b885-de01d1bbd0f1.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/opinion/columns/bob-foley-a-touch-of-clarity/article_575a7fd5-ed9b-5440-b885-de01d1bbd0f1.html |
City councilor should consider retiring
Re: “City council to vote on pot shop proposal,” front page, Nov. 30:
Pretty amazing that we’re approaching the year 2023 and we still have a dinosaur on our city council. I wasn’t aware that any still roamed the earth.
It’s interesting that Peter Blais comically calls out marijuana as a “gateway drug” while failing to mention the much worse drunken driving deaths and domestic abuses caused by alcohol and the senseless deaths that happen every day by gun violence. We have bigger fish to fry.
This dinosaur needs to move on. Fossils belong in museums.
Mark C. Ambrose | 2022-12-02T07:23:13Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | City councilor should consider retiring | Letters To Editor | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/city-councilor-should-consider-retiring/article_0d9f9749-94a9-5e85-98d0-9df8786b58b0.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/city-councilor-should-consider-retiring/article_0d9f9749-94a9-5e85-98d0-9df8786b58b0.html |
Why don't liquor stores face the same restrictions as pot shops?
Why don’t liquor stores face the same restrictions as pot shops?
I disagree with Peter Blais and (former city council president) Frank Cook. Marijuana does not lead to fentanyl use nor are the businesses an “eyesore” for the city.
Councilor Laura Dolan hit the nail on the head — marijuana is not a gateway drug and does not do the damage alcohol does.
There are three dispensaries in Attleboro. They have strict regulations. No one under 21 can enter the dispensary.
Can anyone say that about the many liquor stores, restaurants, bars, and convenient stores where liquor, beer and wine are sold? Are the liquor stores not located near “family-centered eating establishments?” Why not cannabis?
For a lot of people, cannabis is used for medical reasons — anxiety, stress, insomnia, pain, etc. There are tinctures, salves, RSOs, vapes, bud/flower, seltzers, concentrates and edibles that assist people with their affliction.
I have family members who use cannabis for these reasons especially when dealing with the pain from cancer treatment (chemo). Cannabis is expanding whether you’re ready or not. Locking them out of business zones is not in the best interest of all concerned. I feel that dispensaries in a business zone will show that Attleboro is a forward-thinking city and not stuck in the stone age. It may be beneficial for eating establishments to be located by dispensaries.
Margie Basile | 2022-12-02T07:23:19Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Why don't liquor stores face the same restrictions as pot shops? | Letters To Editor | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/why-dont-liquor-stores-face-the-same-restrictions-as-pot-shops/article_30362f1d-4f90-5aa5-89a9-c2c6b419fd38.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/why-dont-liquor-stores-face-the-same-restrictions-as-pot-shops/article_30362f1d-4f90-5aa5-89a9-c2c6b419fd38.html |
Our View: Councilor's outdated views hurt business
Cheech & Chong’s “Up in Smoke” was released in 1978.
In it, the comedy duo of Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong smuggle a van made entirely of marijuana from Mexico to Los Angeles.
In one of many silly scenes, a police officer gets a whiff of the fumes from the van’s exhaust and shifts from tough cop to mellow stoner, letting the pot peddlers go on their way.
Even 44 years ago, that portrayal of marijuana use was a stereotype.
At a meeting Tuesday on a change which would allow marijuana retailers to operate in commercial zones rather than in industrial parks as current ordinances require, Blais labeled marijuana a “gateway drug” that leads people into using fentanyl, cocaine and meth.
This reflects the anti-pot bias ingrained in part of our culture, especially for those who can remember “Up in Smoke.”
Blais’ statement is simply not true.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says other factors, notably family history, mental health and peer pressure, are far more likely to determine if people will use more dangerous and addictive drugs.
“Most people who use marijuana do not go on to use other, ‘harder’ drugs,” the CDC says on its website.
Blais also appears offended because the rules he helped create are now being proposed for change, calling the switch “an absolute insult” to the city council.
“I’m a firm believer in if it’s not broke, don’t fix it,” the veteran councilor said.
As we have said before, restricting cannabis retailers to industrial parks is a flaw in the ordinance that needs to be corrected to keep Attleboro shops on an even playing field with those in surrounding communities.
After voters legalized recreational marijuana in 2016, many communities, including Attleboro, restricted the stores to industrial parks in the hopes that it would improve security and keep away neighborhood children.
But there has been no increase in criminal activity due to the legalization of marijuana, and store employees are well trained to prevent children from buying pot.
Indeed, marijuana stores have become part of the retail landscape; one pot shop is now open on Route 1 in North Attleboro less than a mile from the Attleboro line.
The only problem, at least in the case of Nova Farms in the Attleboro Industrial Park, has been traffic.
A store of any kind, with its constant flow of vehicles, is simply not meant for an industrial park. And it is not the best use of industrial land.
Pot shops need to be treated like liquor stores or other retailers, zoned for commercial areas where they best serve consumers and bring in business. Restricting them to industrial parks brands them as different or illicit.
They are not. Voters in 2016 said so when they legalized recreational marijuana.
We urge the city council to ignore Blais’ objections and approve the change allowing pot shops to do business alongside other stores. | 2022-12-02T07:23:25Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Our View: Councilor's outdated views hurt business | Opinion | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/opinion/our-view-councilors-outdated-views-hurt-business/article_fe1d614b-ca63-55ba-8502-b3fe1a79fea2.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/opinion/our-view-councilors-outdated-views-hurt-business/article_fe1d614b-ca63-55ba-8502-b3fe1a79fea2.html |
Some area Pats fans couldn't catch Thursday's game on the tube
While many were able to view the game on FOX-TV, others were unable to see the Pats battle their division-leading foe the Buffalo Bills with MVP candidate quarterback Josh Allen. The home team ended up on the losing end, 24 to 10, and remains sitting in the division basement.
Several viewers in North Attleboro, Mansfield and Norton complained on social media they were blocked from watching the game if they tried to view it on Comcast/Xfinity or Verizon. | 2022-12-02T16:57:35Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Some area Pats fans couldn't catch Thursday's game on the tube | Local News | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/some-area-pats-fans-couldnt-catch-thursdays-game-on-the-tube/article_32c257e0-d7ca-55c2-a5cd-9103ceaefc87.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/some-area-pats-fans-couldnt-catch-thursdays-game-on-the-tube/article_32c257e0-d7ca-55c2-a5cd-9103ceaefc87.html |
Rain forecasts forces cancellation of holiday event at Miller's Family Farm in North Attleboro
NORTH ATTLEBORO -- A holiday event at Miller’s Family Farm that had been scheduled for Saturday, has been cancelled because the forecast is calling for heavy rain.
The event, which was going to include photos with Santa Claus, wagon rides, a campfire and other family attractions like a meet and greet with Axel the community service dog, will be rescheduled for later this month.
Sponsored by the North Attleboro Patrol Officers Association and the Law Office of Weiner, Jackson & Simmons, all proceeds go to the Downtown Associates of North Attleboro.
Wagon Rides
Axel Facebook | 2022-12-02T19:21:19Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Rain forecasts forces cancellation of holiday event at Miller's Family Farm in North Attleboro | Local News | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/rain-forecasts-forces-cancellation-of-holiday-event-at-millers-family-farm-in-north-attleboro/article_a03dd2cc-bf3a-52fb-818c-197af616eaf5.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/rain-forecasts-forces-cancellation-of-holiday-event-at-millers-family-farm-in-north-attleboro/article_a03dd2cc-bf3a-52fb-818c-197af616eaf5.html |
From Greece to Logan to ...Central Falls? North Attleboro woman recounts travels of Finn the cat
Finn the cat had quite a journey from Greece to Logan to Central Falls.
Riley Murphy and Robin Kelly show their love for Finn.
From left, North Attleboro residents Cathy Varetimos and John Varetimos, Susan Seminara Speight, her sister-in-law Riley Murphy with Finn, Marc Speight, and Riley’s mother Robin Kelly.
NORTH ATTLEBORO — A cat from Greece with an Irish name has used up more than his fair share of luck — and probably a few of his nine lives.
Finn, a year-old black-and-white former stray from the streets of Athens, has survived a harrowing trans-Atlantic flight, weeks foraging around Logan Airport, a trip to Central Falls as an unwilling stowaway and a stint living on handouts there.
But today he’s with his “forever family” on Cape Cod, thanks to the constant efforts of a local woman and a string of officials, helpers and animal lovers from Boston to Rhode Island.
“We could not give up hope,” Cathy Varetimos of North Attleboro said Friday of what became a “feel-good Christmas miracle” story.”
That story began in early October, Varetimos said, when she brought a cat back from Greece for the 14-year-old daughter of a family friend.
She’d done it before with animals she’d rescued, including one for herself and one for a sister-in-law. Varetimos, 55, travels to Greece often to visit family but said the country doesn’t have the animal infrastructure found in the U.S. “There are no shelters or adoption agencies. They don’t do that.”
Through a friend, she found an animal — the brother of one of her own cats — she thought the teen would like, got him vaccinated with the proper paperwork and carried him on board for a 10-hour flight to Boston.
It did not go well. Not for Finn and not for Varetimos.
Finn panicked after takeoff, tearing through his carrier. Varetimos wrapped him in a blanket and, she said, “nine hours of the 10 hour flight I spent in the bathroom” trying to calm the terrified feline.
Delta Airlines employees, she said, supplied her with another carrier to get them through the terminal. When she met Robin Kelly, the mother of the teen, she let her hold the cat. But when it was time to take him to the car, Finn wouldn’t let go. An exhausted Varetimos said, “just wrap him up like a taco,” but once outside, assaulted by new sounds and sights, Finn went into flight mode.
He took off, she said, “across crosswalks and lanes of traffic into the parking lot, never to be seen for nine weeks.”
Varetimos and her husband and sister-in-law spent weeks in the East Boston neighborhood around Logan posting flyers and even contacting a Virginia pet tracker whose dog trailed Finn’s scent to a construction site. People in the neighborhood put out cameras and put the news about Finn on social media. “All of East Boston knew about Finn,” she said.
Meanwhile, MassPort officials and state and local police continued to search for the missing pet around Logan. Finn, it turned out, wasn’t the first critter to make a break for it in the bustling airport or even the first this year. In July, a cat named Rowdy escaped his carrier and spent three weeks on the run before being found, still at the airport, and reunited with his family. So officials told Varetimos there was hope for Finn, too.
“We had sightings and signs,” she said, but still no Finn. “It was starting to get a little grim but we never gave up hope.”
Then, on Tuesday, came a call from a shelter in Central Falls. They had taken a stray that had been spotted in town for a few weeks off the streets and checked for a chip. It was Finn.
At first she didn’t believe him. “‘Chips don’t lie,’ he said.” Varetimos recalled.
“I dropped to my knees and said ‘God is good.’”
Varetimos said they believe, based on the sightings, that Finn spent a month roaming Boston and somehow hitched a ride on a car, truck or trailer the roughly 60 miles south to the Square Mile City just over the Attleboro line.
“We know he didn’t walk,” Varetimos said, although cats have been known to make journeys like that on foot.
They checked his paws and they didn’t show the kind of wear and tear a trek like that would cause, she said.
In fact, Varetimos said he was in good health and had “gained some weight.”
She assumes he was being fed by kindhearted strangers. “People like to feed stray cats.”
Now Finn is with Riley, his new owner, Varetimos said, adding that while she was happy to give him a second chance at life, she’s done with the cat rescue business for a while.
“I’m never bringing another cat back home,” she said. “I couldn’t go through that again.”
Cathy Varetimos
Robin Kelly | 2022-12-03T01:40:24Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | From Greece to Logan to ...Central Falls? North Attleboro woman recounts travels of Finn the cat | Local News | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/from-greece-to-logan-to-central-falls-north-attleboro-woman-recounts-travels-of-finn-the/article_74b2776e-a9cd-5724-8c59-bd89f919ce3c.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/from-greece-to-logan-to-central-falls-north-attleboro-woman-recounts-travels-of-finn-the/article_74b2776e-a9cd-5724-8c59-bd89f919ce3c.html |
Oreste D'Arconte: Where hate was never invited to dinner
There was this house on a busy street, and the front room of it was a three-chair barbershop with a big, store-front window. Across the street and in a warren of alleys that wound down toward the river, lived people called DPs, who dressed differently and talked funny.
Around the corner from the house was the Haru-Garu Club, where the Hungarians met. The local rugby team used their basement showers after their home matches.
Past the cemetery on the corner, a half block from the house, was the Irish church. Two blocks further down was the Italian church, not far from the Italian Club. And there was an Irish pub a few doors down from that.
Around the corner from the house and down a block was the Ukrainian American Citizens Club. And down a block the other way was the Liederkranz, where the Germans hung out, and where you could polka on a Saturday night and drink beer in steins.
A block the other way the Syrian bakery was across the street from the synagogue, Middle Easterners of different faiths lived on the same street, side by side, their store signs written on their windows in their languages. The rabbi would pay a passing gentile boy a dime to turn out the lights in the synagogue, because by custom he could not.
In school it was often hard for the teacher to read roll call, because some of the kids had strange first names, like Oleh, Yaraslav, Katoota — and Oreste.
That house I mentioned earlier is the one I grew up in, in Allentown, Pa. The DPs across the street were Displaced Persons from post-war Europe. “DP” said the tags the officials pinned on them when they immigrated, and it stuck.
And everybody got along OK for the most part. And as far as I know, I never had anyone for dinner who was openly deluded, xenophobic, anti-semitic or anti-women. I was taught the real world’s not like that.
“From the forest itself comes the handle for the axe.”
— Matisyahu
Thanksgiving trivia
Tuck these away to amuse your friends and family around the table next year:
People used to dress up in costumes on Thanksgiving Day and go door-to-door asking for treats in the late 1800s, and so many children dressed up as poor people the holiday was nicknamed “Ragamuffin Day.”
The song “Jingle Bells” was written for Thanksgiving by some guy in a tavern in Malden, and they later changed a few words and made it a Christmas song.
The person most responsible for lobbying to make Thanksgiving a national holiday had another feather in her cap: Sarah Josepha Hale was the first to publish “Mary Had a Little Lamb.”
Last week I bet you couldn’t tell if one barrel has 100 red ping pong balls in it and a second barrel has 100 white ping pong balls in it, and you take 20 of the red balls and mix them thoroughly into the barrel with the white balls, then take 20 balls from the mixed barrel and put them back into the red barrel, are there more red balls in the white barrel or more white balls in the red barrel? My answer: There is the same ratio in both barrels.
Getting it right were Bill D., Bill S. (“My head hurts now from trying to figure it out. Last Saturday’s column was much easier on my aging, addled brain!”) and Karen G. (“Mathematically speaking, the number of red balls in the white barrel and the number of white balls in the red barrel are the same. In reality, it all depends on the luck of the draw.”). I think not.
There were some wrong guesses. “You sure know how to torture someone who has had trouble with math since long division in the fourth grade,” writes one reader.
Now, I bet you can’t tell me, without looking it up, what national elected official called the media “nattering nabobs of negativism.” Deadline is noon Tuesday.
Donations can be sent to The Greater Attleboro Area Council for Children, PO Box 424, North Attleboro, MA 02761.
Its website is www.councilforchildren.org. And make sure you note that your donation is for Columns for Kids.
ORESTE P. D’ARCONTE is Sun Chronicle columnist. Reach him at opd999@gmail.com. | 2022-12-03T07:07:07Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Oreste D'Arconte: Where hate was never invited to dinner | Columns | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/opinion/columns/oreste-darconte-where-hate-was-never-invited-to-dinner/article_5f43fa09-e0ac-51e6-8a81-66c2aec90c5c.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/opinion/columns/oreste-darconte-where-hate-was-never-invited-to-dinner/article_5f43fa09-e0ac-51e6-8a81-66c2aec90c5c.html |
H.S. FOOTBALL: Catholic Memorial second half push downs King Philip in Division 2 Super Bowl
King Philip High were defeated by Catholic Memorial 27-7 in the MIAA Div. 2 state football championship game Saturday night at Gillette Stadium. DETAIL: KP’s QB Tommy McLeish begins his run into the endzone for his team’s only touchdown of the game.
King Philip High were defeated by Catholic Memorial 27-7 in the MIAA Div. 2 state football championship game Saturday night at Gillette Stadium. DETAIL: KP’s Carson Meier (11) and teammate Jack Brady feel the defeat at the conclusion of the game.
King Philip High were defeated by Catholic Memorial 27-7 in the MIAA Div. 2 state football championship game Saturday night at Gillette Stadium. DETAIL: KP’s Luke Gunning feels the burn of losing the state championship.
King Philip High were defeated by Catholic Memorial 27-7 in the MIAA Div. 2 state football championship game Saturday night at Gillette Stadium. DETAIL: CM’s Matthew Rio (10) breaks up an endzone reception intended for KP’s Matt Kelley late in the fourth quarter.
FOXBORO -- At halftime, under the lights of Gillette Stadium, the King Philip Regional football team had Catholic Memorial right where they wanted them.
A score from CM with 16 seconds left (a 22-yard pass from Peter Bourque to Maxwell Tucker), and a failed 2-point conversion, sent KP into half trailing by a score at 14-7. The goal for the Warriors was to keep doing what they were doing, which was trying to run the ball effectively with the lead still within reach.
"Just keep doing what we're doing. We're hanging in there, we knew we needed to get a little bit more going," King Philip head coach Brian Lee said. "At that point, you're hanging in there and still feeling good about where we are."
Instead of coming out with an answer to open the second half the Warriors committed turnovers on its first two drives to open the second half, a fumble by Tommy McLeish and an interception on McLeish by CM's Maxwell Tucker. The latter interception spurned a scoring drive that put the game out of reach for the Warriors, with Carson Harwood catching a 22-yard pass to make it 20-7 with 1:22 left on the third quarter. The dagger came with 10:36 to go in the fourth quarter on a Jaedn Skeete 31-yard touchdown reception, making it the eventual final of 27-7 - giving Catholic Memorial its second straight Division 2 Super Bowl win over King Philip.
"It's the same thing that happened with us last year. In the second half we get tired, running guys on and off, all that. They wear you down," Lee said on Catholic Memorial's deep, skilled team. "There's some serious players over there. They just wear you down in the end. ... Just too much at the end."
To open the game, the Knights started with the ball and went 80 yards down the field for a touchdown, with Harwood punching the ball in from 5 yards out. The drive saw CM convert on a 4th and 1 and a 3rd and 17 situation,
The Warriors themselves were able to respond in kind, with McLeish scrambling his way into the end zone from 4 yards out to make it an 8-7 game with 9:49 to go in the second quarter. McLeish ended the game with 48 yards passing. Rudy Gately led the team in rushing yards with 45 on 14 attempts. Matt Kelley led in receiving with 31 yards on two catches.
At the half, King Philip was out-gained by yardage 225-60. Final yardage had CM leading 336 to 150 over King Philip. The Warriors couldn't get much going against a big, strong Catholic Memorial defensive line. Lee said it was hard to sustain drives despite hard work and good coaching.
"It's just a lot to hang with for a long time," Lee said. "Kids have such great heart and work so hard, coaches - we're gifted with great coaches, but in the end it's too much to hang with for too long. We couldn't bail out our defense enough because we couldn't run the ball and get sustained drives. It was hard."
Looking at the scope of the season, Lee is incredibly proud of how his guys battled through injuries and a tough schedule that saw them pick up notable wins over Xaverian, Milford and Bishop Feehan. The trip to the Super Bowl is King Philip's second in as many seasons and fifth since 2016.
Lee said an impressive season that came just short of the ultimate goal is nothing for the Warriors to be upset about, with Lee himself saying time will be taken to celebrate the year.
"For them to work and get back here, to have the kind of wins they had to put themselves back at this and get another chance at it, it's very impressive," Lee said. "I couldn't be more proud of what our ceiling could have been and how we smashed through it to will ourselves back here. It's a testament to the kids and their work.
"I am going to celebrate (the season) hard. These kids come out and know what they're up against, and they fought. ... Nobody wants to be average, these guys didn't want to be average or for it to be a rebuilding year. They came back to Gillette. I think that's crazy," Lee.
King Philip ends the season at 9-3. The win caps the year at 12-0 for Catholic Memorial with an active win streak of 29 games.
2017 — Division 2 Final: King Philip 10, Lincoln-Sudbury 7 | 2022-12-04T05:36:20Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | H.S. FOOTBALL: Catholic Memorial second half push downs King Philip in Division 2 Super Bowl | Local Sports | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/sports/local_sports/h-s-football-catholic-memorial-second-half-push-downs-king-philip-in-division-2-super/article_179814eb-9904-59ca-bcb0-41f9181072a7.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/sports/local_sports/h-s-football-catholic-memorial-second-half-push-downs-king-philip-in-division-2-super/article_179814eb-9904-59ca-bcb0-41f9181072a7.html |
Attleboro celebrates Holiday Happening
The Attleboro’s annual Holiday Happening, including a parade beginning at Capron Park and ending at Highland Park, featured Santa greeting kids on Sunday.
MADISON MORIN / FOR THE SUN CHRONICLE
Spectators and participants wait for the parade to get underway at Capron Park on Sunday.
MADISON MORIN/ FOR THE SUN CHRONICLE
Attleboro High School marching band performs in the annual Holiday Happening parade that left from Capron Park Sunday morning.
MADISON MORIN FOR THE SUN CHRONICLE
Attleboro Youth Soccer was represented in the annual Holiday Happening parade that left from Capron Park Sunday morning.
The Attleboro Garden Club marched in the annual Holiday Happening parade that left from Capron Park Sunday morning.
MADISON MORIN/FOR THE SUN CHRONICLE
Attleboro High School cheerleaders were represented in the annual Holiday Happening parade that left from Capron Park Sunday morning.
The Attleboro High School marching band waits to perform in the annual Holiday Happening parade that left from Capron Park Sunday morning.
The Paws of Comfort Lions march in Attleboro's Holiday Happening parade Sunday at Capron Park.
Postponed a day due to inclement weather, the city’s annual Holiday Happening was graced with clear skies on Sunday as numerous local residents gathered at Highland Park for an afternoon of fun.
The event’s parade began at Capron Park around 10 a.m. and proceeded down Dennis Street to the former Highland Park County Club. Long before the first police cruiser leading the parade could be seen rounding the corner, the sidewalks of Dennis Street were already crowded with spectators.
Among those wearing Santa hats were the Blanchard family of Attleboro. Chris Blanchard’s embroidered hat read “Bah Humbug,” while the stitching of his wife Jessica’s hat read “Naughty” on the front and “Nice” on the back. Jocelyn Blanchard, 10, had a princess crowd on her Santa hat while her 5-year-old brother Cameron wore a camouflage reindeer antler hat.
When news of the Holiday Happening’s postponement was announced Friday, the first half of the Blanchard’s weekend was as gloomy as the wind and rain that came through the area.
“We were a bit disappointed,” said Chris Blanchard. “(On Saturday), we sat around all day and did nothing.”
However, Jessica Blanchard added, “We were ready today — and it’s good weather.”
Shortly after 10:30 a.m., the parade made its way to the corner of Dennis and Mechanic Streets. Among those marching in the procession were representatives of Thompson Realty Group, Cryan Landscape, Capron Park Zoo, the Attleboro Garden Club and the Attleboro High School cheerleaders and marching band. Included with the local dignitaries for likely the last time was Mayor Paul Heroux, who is resigning on Jan. 3, as he is poised to become Bristol County’s sheriff.
The grand finish of the parade was, of course, Santa Claus, waving from a crane as the city fire trucks brought up the rear.
While in years past the Holiday Happening had either been held outdoors in the Newell Shelter at Capron Park, or indoors at the vacant country club, the sunny afternoon’s outdoor setting provided what City Council President Jay DiLisio called “an old-school holiday fair.”
With a large outdoor tent hosting arts and crafts tables, face painting and a section to visit Santa Claus, there was ample room for guests of all ages to stroll around the Highland Park grounds, either to visit the food trucks, go for a hayride or pony ride, and admire the military vehicles.
The outdoor setting also gave the children the opportunity to run around and play freely.
Theresa McCarthy of Plainville, who brought her two sons, 9-year-old Ethan Vega and 6-year-old Brody Vega, was one patron who welcomed this new aspect of the event.
“It was more confining inside (the country club), but they made do with how they needed to,” she said. “Outside, there’s more room, and the kids can run around.”
But whether indoors or out, the event’s lively spirit could be felt and known by all.
“It’s not so much the parade as the community coming together and enjoying themselves,” said Chris Blanchard. | 2022-12-05T04:06:18Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Attleboro celebrates Holiday Happening | Local News | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/attleboro-celebrates-holiday-happening/article_19ac8605-93ec-5730-a42c-c63ee467ecdf.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/attleboro-celebrates-holiday-happening/article_19ac8605-93ec-5730-a42c-c63ee467ecdf.html |
First-place P-Bruins corral Wolf Pack
PROVIDENCE -- Goalie Keith Kinkaid totaled a season-high 46 saves while blanking the Hartford Wolf Pack for all but the final three minutes of the AHL contest Sunday in leading the Providence Bruins to a 3-1 victory.
The PBs scored three goals within a six-minute span of the second period to take a three-goal advantage into the third period for Kincaid.
In addition, the Bruins killed off eight penalties.
Jack Ahcan's first goal of the season at 8:52 of the second period, a slap shot from the left boards, proved to be the game-winning goal while extending his point streak to five games. Vinni Lettieri assisted on the play to stretch his point streak to three games.
Josh Didier's slap shot from the right point with former PC Friar and Franklin native Mike Callahan assisting on the play put Providence in front at 7:33 of the second period. Jakub Lauko also scored for the Bruins with 6:59 left in the second stanza.
Providence (14-3-5) was limited to just 22 shots in the contest and was unable to convert a pair of power-play chances. | 2022-12-05T04:06:30Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | First-place P-Bruins corral Wolf Pack | Local Sports | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/sports/local_sports/first-place-p-bruins-corral-wolf-pack/article_a431b805-8225-576d-9e54-18422f39dc5c.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/sports/local_sports/first-place-p-bruins-corral-wolf-pack/article_a431b805-8225-576d-9e54-18422f39dc5c.html |
H.S. FOOTBALL: Catholic Memorial's second-half push downs KP in Division 2 Super Bowl
KP High QB Tommy McLeish begins his run towards the end zone for the Warriors’ lone touchdown of the game during Saturday night’s Div. 2 state championship game at Gillette Stadium.
At left, KP High’s Chris Seasay (74) grabs ahold of what he can to yank down CM High’s Datrell Jones (1) during Saturday night’s Div. 2 Super Bowl at Gillette Stadium. At right, KP High’s Carson Meier (11) and teammate Jack Brady lament the Warriors’ defeat to Catholic Memorial High at the conclusion of the game.
PHOTOS BY MARK STOCKWELL / THE SUN CHRONICLE
KP Highs’s Carson Meier (11) and teammate Jack Brady laments the Warriors' defeat to Catholic Memorial High at the conclusion of the Div. 2 Super Bowl at Gillette Stadium Saturday night.
King Philip Regional High School’s Luke Gunning feels the burn of losing the MIAA Div. 2 state football championship Saturday night. KP was defeated by Catholic Memorial, 27-7, at Gillette Stadium. Story, more photos, Page B1.
CM High’s Matthew Rio (10) breaks up an end-zone reception intended for KP High’s Matt Kelley late in the fourth quarter of the Div. 2 Super Bowl at Gillette Stadium Saturday night.
FOXBORO — At halftime, the King Philip Regional football team had Catholic Memorial right where it wanted them.
Down 14-7, after just stopping a 2-point conversion try at the end of the half, the Warriors had everything coming together, with the ball coming their way in a chance to come out and even the score in the third quarter.
A score from CM with 16 seconds left (a 22-yard pass from Peter Bourque to Maxwell Tucker), and a failed 2-point conversion, sent KP into halftime trailing by a score. The goal for the Warriors was to keep doing what they were doing, which was trying to run the ball effectively with the lead still within reach.
“Just keep doing what we’re doing. We’re hanging in there, we knew we needed to get a little bit more going,” King Philip head coach Brian Lee said. “At that point, you’re hanging in there and still feeling good about where we are.”
Instead of coming out with an answer to open the second half, the Warriors committed turnovers on their first two drives to open the second half, a fumble by Tommy McLeish and an interception on McLeish by CM’s Maxwell Tucker. The latter interception spurred a scoring drive that put the game out of reach for the Warriors, with Carson Harwood catching a 22-yard pass to make it 20-7 with 1:22 left on the third quarter. The dagger came with 10:36 to go in the fourth quarter on a Jaedn Skeete 31-yard touchdown reception, making it the eventual final of 27-7 — giving Catholic Memorial its second straight Division 2 Super Bowl win over King Philip.
“It’s the same thing that happened with us last year. In the second half, we get tired, running guys on and off, all that. They wear you down,” Lee said of Catholic Memorial’s deep, skilled team. “There’s some serious players over there. They just wear you down in the end. ... Just too much at the end.”
To open the game, the Knights started with the ball and went 80 yards down the field for a touchdown, with Harwood punching the ball in from 5 yards out. The drive saw CM convert on a 4th-and-1 and a 3rd-and-17 situation.
The Warriors themselves were able to respond in kind, with McLeish scrambling his way into the end zone from 4 yards out to make it an 8-7 game at the time. McLeish ended the game with 48 yards passing, Rudy Gately led the team in rushing yards with 45 on 14 attempts, and Matt Kelley led in receiving with 31 yards on two catches.
At the half, King Philip was outgained in yardage, 225-60, and the final yardage totals had CM leading 336 to 150 over KP. The Warriors couldn’t get much going against a big, strong Catholic Memorial defensive line. Lee said it was hard to sustain drives despite hard work and good coaching.
“It’s just a lot to hang with for a long time,” Lee said. “Kids have such great heart and work so hard, coaches — we’re gifted with great coaches, but in the end, it’s too much to hang with for too long. We couldn’t bail out our defense enough because we couldn’t run the ball and get sustained drives. It was hard.”
Looking at the scope of the season, Lee is incredibly proud of how his guys battled through injuries and a tough schedule that saw them pick up notable wins over Xaverian, Milford and Bishop Feehan.
The trip to the Super Bowl is King Philip’s second in as many seasons and fifth since 2016. Lee said an impressive season that came just short of the ultimate goal is nothing for the Warriors to be upset about, with Lee himself saying time will be taken to celebrate the year.
“For them to work and get back here, to have the kind of wins they had to put themselves back at this and get another chance at it, it’s very impressive,” Lee said. “I couldn’t be more proud of what our ceiling could have been and how we smashed through it to will ourselves back here. It’s a testament to the kids and their work.
“I am going to celebrate (the season) hard. These kids come out and know what they’re up against, and they fought. ... Nobody wants to be average, these guys didn’t want to be average or for it to be a rebuilding year. They came back to Gillette. I think that’s crazy,” Lee said.
King Philip ends the season at 9-3.
Carson Harwood | 2022-12-05T04:06:36Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | H.S. FOOTBALL: Catholic Memorial's second-half push downs KP in Division 2 Super Bowl | Local Sports | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/sports/local_sports/h-s-football-catholic-memorials-second-half-push-downs-kp-in-division-2-super-bowl/article_179814eb-9904-59ca-bcb0-41f9181072a7.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/sports/local_sports/h-s-football-catholic-memorials-second-half-push-downs-kp-in-division-2-super-bowl/article_179814eb-9904-59ca-bcb0-41f9181072a7.html |
Rudy is a male shepherd mix, about 3 years old. Rudy got into the holiday spirit by wearing a special holiday bandana. He is hoping it will bring him luck in finding his “Happy Ever After” home where he can celebrate the holidays with a new family. Rudy is a friendly guy who would prefer to be the only pet in the home — no other dogs or cats. We recommend no young children — older children would be fine. Rudy enjoys going for walks and playing in the play yard with the volunteers. He gets a big “smile” on his face and his tail starts wagging when he knows he is going to the yard or for a walk. Rudy would make your house a “home” and your life complete! Please call the Taunton Shelter at 508-822-1463 or email deanie7243@aol.com. Our website is www.tauntonshelter.pefinder.com. | 2022-12-05T06:56:06Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | RUDY | Pet Day | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/features/pet_day/rudy/article_4a6279ae-d284-5ae5-89d0-3c04d512315f.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/features/pet_day/rudy/article_4a6279ae-d284-5ae5-89d0-3c04d512315f.html |
We should all be try to keep The Sun Chronicle healthy
Re: Pearls Before Swine,” comic strip, Weekend Edition, Dec. 3-4.
The “Pearls Before Swine,” cartoon in Saturday’s edition is relevant to local news coverage.
Since the demise of the Mansfield News and other weekly journals local governments have been operating in a news vacuum.
The Sun Chronicle does a very good job of giving superficial coverage but with about a dozen towns in its coverage area and limited resources, a lot gets overlooked. Some folks rely on social media but rumors, innuendo and opinions are no replacement for factual reporting.
I would urge the local business community to increase their advertising in The Sun Chronicle, retail or institutional, to help sustain and increase local news coverage. It’s good for business and for the community.
Robert Saquet | 2022-12-05T06:56:55Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | We should all be try to keep The Sun Chronicle healthy | Letters To Editor | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/we-should-all-be-try-to-keep-the-sun-chronicle-healthy/article_365d43b7-7beb-5ad7-8689-55a6562aa967.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/we-should-all-be-try-to-keep-the-sun-chronicle-healthy/article_365d43b7-7beb-5ad7-8689-55a6562aa967.html |
Our View: Attleboro chief is right: End the winter parking ban.
From December through March, virtually every local community bans overnight on-street parking.
The rationale is that if there’s a snowstorm, plows need to have the streets free of cars.
But if no snow is forecast, why force drivers to move?
Parking bans today are unnecessary, an anachronism from the early days of the automobile when unexpected snowstorms would blindside New England and leave vehicles buried along the sides of road.
But in most local towns, motorists can get ticketed if they leave their cars on the street overnight. This is especially troublesome for residents of urban neighborhoods like Attleboro’s East Side, where older homes were built with small driveways for families with one car, at most.
This winter, however, Attleboro motorists face no punishment as long as their cars are off the road before a storm strikes.
Police Chief Kyle Heagney said city officers will not enforce “a dragnet winter parking ban when we know it’s not going to snow.”
“There should not be a winter parking ban until the forecast is for snow in the immediate future,” Heagney said. Advanced technology has allowed the ordinance as it stands today to be repealed, he said.
A seven-day forecast can accurately predict the weather about 80% percent of the time; it’s 90% for a five-day forecast, the National Weather Service says.
Thanks to the internet, communication is also quicker and more far-reaching.
Most people carry a device in their pockets that will alert them to any weather emergency.
And if there’s one thing television does well, it’s warn us about the weather. Viewers flock to TV to find about pending storms, and local news broadcasts capitalize by spending a lot of airtime and resources on forecasts in hopes of a ratings boost.
We understand the necessity of getting cars off the streets before a snowstorm. Public safety is at risk when plow drivers can’t do their jobs.
But banning parking for more than 120 days when a snow emergency may exist for less than 10% of that time shows a callous disregard for the needs of citizens.
We urge communities to end parking bans.
Here is what we suggest:
Bans can be imposed 24 hours before any storm of four or more inches is predicted and continue for at least 48 hours after. Bans can be extended at the discretion of the mayor, town manager or police chief.
Communities use automated calls, email alerts and their websites and social media pages to communicate the bans.
Communities should increase fines to at least $100 per violation and send police officers out in advance of storms to ticket and tow offenders.
In North Attleboro, for instance, the fine is $10 — hardly a deterrent to an occasional offender who may have to pay more to park elsewhere.
This, we believe, will assure public safety while providing relief to residents of urban neighborhoods with few parking options.
Local residents are living in the 21st century. Municipal officials must adjust the rules to fit the times. | 2022-12-05T06:57:01Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Our View: Attleboro chief is right: End the winter parking ban. | Opinion | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/opinion/our-view-attleboro-chief-is-right-end-the-winter-parking-ban/article_61a8071c-14e8-56c8-8f79-c9f5a53bd292.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/opinion/our-view-attleboro-chief-is-right-end-the-winter-parking-ban/article_61a8071c-14e8-56c8-8f79-c9f5a53bd292.html |
Gas prices in Mass. nearing what they were before war in Ukraine
Gas prices in Massachusetts have had their largest one-week drop since September and are edging close to where they were before Russia invaded Ukraine.
The price of regular, self-serve gas is averaging $3.66 a gallon, down 10 cents from last week, AAA Northeast said Monday.
It marked the biggest fall since the price dropped 11 cents the end of September and neared the $3.54 price before the war erupted.
Prices in the Bay State have decreased three straight weeks, falling 19 cents overall, and are a far cry from the $5.04 cost in mid-June. Prices remained above $4 a gallon until September.
As area consumers continue to deal with inflation for other expenses, falling gas prices are putting more money in their pockets just in time for the holidays.
The current Massachusetts price is 16 cents lower than a month ago ($3.82), and 25 cents higher than a year ago ($3.41).
The state’s average gas price is 26 cents higher than the national average, which plunged 14 cents, averaging $3.40 a gallon. The national average is 39 cents lower than a month ago ($3.79), and 5 cents higher than a year ago ($3.35).
In Rhode Island, gas is averaging $3.60, also a decrease of a dime, AAA Northeast said.
The recent plunge in gas prices may be affected by the results of Sunday’s meeting of OPEC+, a group of 23 oil-producing nations, including Saudi Arabia and Russia, AAA said.
Gas prices have dropped 26 cents nationally in the past two weeks. But OPEC+ decided to maintain output cuts of 2 million barrels per day — about 2% of world demand. The purpose of the move is to boost the global price of oil, which has fallen recently on fears of demand weakness, specifically in China which is struggling with COVID.
“Gas prices are dropping sharply and are only a nickel more per gallon nationally than a year ago,” Mary Maguire of AAA Northeast said. “But with oil being the main ingredient in gasoline, OPEC+’s move could slow this decline. However, the gas price will likely soon be lower than it was a year ago.”
GasBuddy.com recently projected the national average to plummet below $3 by Christmas but recent developments could easily erase that rosier forecast.
The cost of gas and oil has been sinking on fears of economic slowdowns around the globe due to the continued war in Ukraine, stubborn inflation and the ongoing pandemic.
Oil had peaked at well above $100 a barrel earlier this year but is now down to roughly $80. | 2022-12-06T04:55:28Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Gas prices in Mass. nearing what they were before war in Ukraine | Local News | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/gas-prices-in-mass-nearing-what-they-were-before-war-in-ukraine/article_8969e635-b59a-5656-82f6-634ab87407cc.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/gas-prices-in-mass-nearing-what-they-were-before-war-in-ukraine/article_8969e635-b59a-5656-82f6-634ab87407cc.html |
Holiday event at Miller's Farm in North Attleboro reset for Dec. 16
NORTH ATTLEBORO — A holiday event at Miller’s Family Farm canceled last Saturday because of poor weather has been rescheduled for 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16.
The event will feature wagon rides, a campfire, a meet and greet with Axel the community service dog and other family fun.
Sponsored by the North Attleboro Patrol Officers Association and the Law Office of Weiner, Jackson & Simmons, all proceeds will to the Downtown Associates of North Attleboro. | 2022-12-06T04:55:35Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Holiday event at Miller's Farm in North Attleboro reset for Dec. 16 | Local News | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/holiday-event-at-millers-farm-in-north-attleboro-reset-for-dec-16/article_da58d3f8-20e6-5f4f-ac3d-e247952b0a70.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/holiday-event-at-millers-farm-in-north-attleboro-reset-for-dec-16/article_da58d3f8-20e6-5f4f-ac3d-e247952b0a70.html |
Could the richest man in the world buy the presidency?
Once Elon Musk runs out of financial challenges and has purchased or produced billion-dollar businesses that are only wealth accreting, does he look for loftier ego enhancing goals?
The one remaining, but seemingly unattainable, aspiration may very well be the United States presidency.
Constitutionally disqualified by his South African birth and Canadian naturalization, would it be such a stretch to imagine a scenario wherein Musk has allied with, and pumped money into, a vast far-right constituency that would not look unkindly upon a constitutional revision allowing him simultaneous citizenship and qualification to be president?
The Constitution is only a detriment, or a rallying motto, for the ethically challenged legislators who will support anyone who will perpetuate their careers, or line their pockets, and democracy be damned. The concept of a Donald Trump presidency, less than a decade ago, was a laughable possibility until it became a national nightmare.
Musk’s feigned allegiance to freedom of speech is as satisfying as gun rights, and anti — abortion to the voters, who are willingly destroying historically acquired rights to perpetuate their belief that the United States has lost its greatness and can only be redeemed by electing officials who hue to their values of non inclusiveness, isolationism and retrogression.
And Trump, in his usual self-serving manner, has called for the elimination of constitutional law as the first step for his return to power which may actually pave the way for a richer, younger and equally outrageous person to bypass him and snag the nomination for president.
Another unthinkable possibility becomes the horrendous reality! | 2022-12-06T08:20:53Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Could the richest man in the world buy the presidency? | Letters To Editor | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/could-the-richest-man-in-the-world-buy-the-presidency/article_332966ec-c40e-5947-8b06-d50a6320c3db.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/could-the-richest-man-in-the-world-buy-the-presidency/article_332966ec-c40e-5947-8b06-d50a6320c3db.html |
Carolyn Cahill and Sarah Caracciolo, who run the Foxboro Working Mothers Group page on Facebook, spent a rainy day collecting gift card donations for the Foxboro Discretionary Fund recently.
Foxboro Working Mothers group collects gift cards for local families
During this holiday season, people behind the scenes are stepping up their generosity to bring extra smiles to those who are in need.
Among them are Carolyn Cahill and Sarah Caracciolo, a working Foxboro mom duo who started the "Foxboro Working Mothers Group" on Facebook, a private group that now has about 1,800 members. Recently, they collected gift cards and donated them to Foxboro Discretionary Fund.
"We are so proud of all the moms who stepped forward once again to help out other families in town. We have an amazing community,” Cahill said.
Caracciolo said she and Cahill connected with Lisa Downs, the trustee for the Foxboro Discretionary Fund to find out how to help local families in need during the holiday season.
"This year Lisa said there was a big need for gift cards for clothing stores, movie theaters, and Amazon,” Caracciolo said. “So, we dedicated a time and spot with the approval of Heather Harding and Renee Tocci from the Foxboro Recreation Department to use the Payson playground to collect the gift cards.”
Caracciolo who grew up in Foxboro said this is their 5th year working with the Foxboro Discretionary Fund.
"This is where we take pride in the power of positivity in the Foxboro working Mom’s page. The event was created there and primarily focused on the working moms, but I also shared in the Uptown Happenings page and Foxboro Discussion," Caracciolo said.
She said they had about four people each drop off $100 worth of gift cards and everything else was in increments of $25-$50.
"Every time cars drove up, Carolyn and I literally got giddy. Sometimes these things do well, sometimes they don’t and each person that showed up did so in the most unselfish way. The spirit of giving was alive and well that day," Caracciolo said.
Since it was pouring rain and they were freezing, they didn't count how many gift cards were donated but delivered everything directly to Downs following the collection.
"Lisa sent us an email of extreme gratitude that the amount collected from the Town of Foxboro residents was going to make a big difference this year," Caracciolo said.
While Caracciolo and Cahill may have been the people standing out in the rain collecting the gift cards, they said the donation would not have been possible without local residents.
"It’s important to note that it is not me and Carolyn. It is the Town of Foxboro, and mostly the working moms in Foxboro, who showed up and made this event possible. We created the event and stood in the rain but that’s not going to bring smiles to families in need, it's the people who donated that deserve the credit," Caracciolo said.
She added that they really believe in the sense of community and love this town.
"Sometimes people just need a little reminder that there are others less fortunate and we keep it on the local level for a very important reason. We seem to come together quite impressively in times of need. The world is very big, very busy, and very negative," Caracciolo said. “It was our goal to do the opposite -- slow things down, keep things positive, and be there for one another. Foxboro did just that.”
Downs said when the gift cards were dropped off at her house this weekend, she was amazed at the amount of them.
"This was completely unexpected. The amount and variety of the gift cards were incredible and will be so beneficial when filling bags for the tweens on our lists," Downs said.
Sarah Caracciolo
Carolyn Cahill
Lisa Downs
Foxboro Working Mothers Group | 2022-12-07T04:17:27Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Foxboro Working Mothers group collects gift cards for local families | Local News | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/foxboro_reporter/news/local_news/foxboro-working-mothers-group-collects-gift-cards-for-local-families/article_8c4522ff-25aa-52f3-a8b4-fa0b476c8755.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/foxboro_reporter/news/local_news/foxboro-working-mothers-group-collects-gift-cards-for-local-families/article_8c4522ff-25aa-52f3-a8b4-fa0b476c8755.html |
This initial marker has been prepared for viewing on the north end of the Common as seen from Main Street. The larger presentation has space for the service member’s branch of service and rank.
Historical commission ready to replace town square markers
The replacement of Town Square Markers, located in the neighborhoods of the 29 service members who made the Supreme Sacrifice when our nation called from World War I through subsequent conflicts, is well underway. (Those who made the sacrifice in earlier conflicts are on tablets in Memorial Hall.) So worn over time and high in maintenance, replacement of the exterior markers was approved by the Select Board and the Historical Commission is leading the effort.
This is a citizen effort, funded by donations, and early results nearly cover the ordering of mounting brackets which will be available to install during the first break in weather. As additional donations toward the $5,000 goal are received, the new Town Square markers will be ordered in groups for a constant flow of mounting.
The fund is the FHC Veterans Markers. Donations should be mailed to the Foxborough Historical Commission, 40 South St. Foxboro 02035. Donations can also be made in person during Town Hall hours or deposited in the mail drop by the front door at all hours.
This effort helps renew our pledge: We will never forget.
Foxborough Historical Commission
Mail Drop | 2022-12-07T04:17:41Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Historical commission ready to replace town square markers | Local News | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/foxboro_reporter/news/local_news/historical-commission-ready-to-replace-town-square-markers/article_2d8bacab-6d51-5190-99a7-5291881f72d0.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/foxboro_reporter/news/local_news/historical-commission-ready-to-replace-town-square-markers/article_2d8bacab-6d51-5190-99a7-5291881f72d0.html |
KP Highs’s Carson Meier (11) and teammate Jack Brady laments the Warriors’ defeat to Catholic Memorial High at the conclusion of the Div. 2 Super Bowl at Gillette Stadium Saturday night.
King Philip Regional High running back Kyle Abbott races to the goal line for the Warriors’ second touchdown of the game Nov. 18 against Bishop Feehan High.
The King Philip Regional School District logo has depicted a Native American for decades, but that is being phased out as school committee members have decided to do away with it.
“We voted to make it official that the logo is defined as the interlocking KP,” school board vice chair Bruce Cates said, referring other questions to school officials.
“The King Philip School Committee voted in September that moving forward, the district would only use the interlocked KP logo on all new district-branded items, and not the older logo with Native American imagery,” Superintendent Paul Zinni said in an email.
“The interlocked KP logo is the primary logo the district has used for the past several years,” Zinni said. “The district will not be actively removing or changing anything that has the old logo, however anything that is replaced or created in the future will include the interlocking KP as the official district logo.”
Whether the King Philip district name and the Warrior sports team name should be kept or abandoned has not been discussed by the school committee, the superintendent said.
“There is a lot of misinformation out there,” King Philip High Principal Lisa Mobley said of the logo change, also deferring to the superintendent for more details.
King Philip, also known as Metacomet, was a Wampanoag born in Massachusetts. Historians say he sought to live in harmony with the colonists at first but eventually King Philip’s War broke out, lasting from 1675 to 1678.
Many professional, college and high school sports teams nationwide have been moving away from Native American names and imagery in recent years due to concerns they are racially and culturally insensitive. | 2022-12-07T04:18:13Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | King Philip school district phasing out Native American logo | Local News | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/king-philip-school-district-phasing-out-native-american-logo/article_ae27141c-e1d3-582c-a718-04a74ceb1dab.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/king-philip-school-district-phasing-out-native-american-logo/article_ae27141c-e1d3-582c-a718-04a74ceb1dab.html |
Tyler Hetu: Bishop Feehan has holes to plug on area girls basketball court
Bishop Feehan High’s Mary Daley returns from last season’s MIAA Div. 1 tourney quarterfinalist squad to anchor the Shamrocks this season.
The deepest that any area high school girls basketball team went last season was Bishop Feehan with a Division 1 Elite Eight appearance as the No. 5 seed.
But the Shamrocks will have to take a new road back to the postseason with a couple of key missing parts as several area girls squads tip off on Thursday.
Bishop Feehan, which went 21-3 last season and reached the Division 1 state quarterfinals. will be without the 6-foot presence of Camryn Fauria, one of the best post players in the area who could shoot at all levels and out-rebound most players. The Shamrocks will also be looking to fill the void left by former Sun Chronicle All-Star Lydia Mordarski.
On the plus side, Mary Daley, Olivia Franciscus and Sam Reale return with varsity experience. Losing both Fauria and Mordarski hurts, but at the rate that Bishop Feehan churns out athletes, there should be no issue with the reload — and it will start with Daley, Franciscus and Reale.
The Bombardiers have lost two seniors from last year who were the big facilitators on offense and stoppers on defense. Meghan Gordon’s and Lindsey Perry’s absences are huge voids for Attleboro, but in steps Lily Routhier, Sarah Maher and Rylie Camacho as part of the next crop of seniors who can make a difference. Attleboro will certainly look different this season with just two current seniors seeing varsity time a year ago, but coach Bri Bracken had no issue getting her girls to buy in on short notice last season.
It could take a little bit for the Bombardiers to get going but they could again find themselves battling in the upper half of the Hockomock League’s Kelley-Rex Division.
Foxboro’s season is one that is set up for success, getting both Kailey Sullivan and Camryn Collins back for another season. The pair were co-MVP’s for the Warriors a year ago, with Sullivan scoring 15.1 per game and Collins scoring 13.4 per game. A difficult tandem that is now a sophomore-junior (respectively) duo, their ceiling is growing and they’re only getting better. They don’t have the benefit of Hannah Blake under the basket anymore, so it’ll be next girl up as a center/forward hybrid. They were both in the top-10 of the Hockomock for scoring a year ago. To think they won’t be back in that spot again would be a crime.
Similar to Foxboro, Mansfield has two big names coming back into the fray and will be instrumental to the team’s success year. Abby Wager comes back as one of the top seniors in the area and is joined by Kara Santos. Wager’s two-way ability makes her a nightmare for defenders, and allows coach Heather McPherson to use her in multiple spots. Santos is an under-the-basket type that cleans up messes, a big asset for teams that like to shoot like Mansfield. The Hornets lost three seniors last season and bring in a senior class that isn’t lacking in numbers. The Wager-Santos duo should lead again, and Bridget Hanley will also be in the mix as reliable support.
The Lancers are another team in the area that will see the benefit of two Sun Chronicle All-Stars returning in Emma Cochrane and Taryn Fierri. Cochrane led the team in scoring with 254 points and Fierri led in assists (73) and steals (83), both of which were game changers on both ends of the floor. Utilizing both of them will keep Norton going, along with Kate Andy. Norton should be in the mix for a TVL title when it comes down to the end of the season in a few months and could sneakily be one of the better teams in the area.
The Warriors bid farewell to post player Olivia LaFond last season, a double-double caliber player who could score from all levels. She had Emily Sawyer with her and Sawyer will now take over as a towering presence underneath the basket. The 6-3 center averaged a double-double as part of KP’s clean-up crew underneath last season, but the Warriors will need more than just her to pull out wins. Jackie Bonner, Leah Santoro and Olivia Ali are three other seniors returning as well. The Warriors will be fine as long as they have a serviceable guard to take the game away from the post.
The Falcons will benefit from the return of Ella Damon, a junior captain who cracked The Sun Chronicle All-Star list. The No. 2 scorer in the South Coast Conference from last year returns as a senior and will be back in the conversation as league MVP. The Falcons narrowly made the MIAA tourney last year, earning its 10th win with two games left on the schedule, but the Falcons will need more as a whole to get back there. Lucy Latour will also be in the mix as a lengthy player to take the pressure off Damon.
Summer Doherty graduated in the spring, and the former Rocketeer was a heavy part of Nikki Lima’s team when it came to doing whatever was needed. Six other seniors left the team due to graduation as well, so North will be looking to reload the team this winter. Emma Hanwell and Ava McKeon will lead the group this winter after time on the varsity roster a year ago. North will have a few athletes along with Hanwell and McKeon and will be looking to build off a year where they had just four wins.
Seekonk was led last year by Kate Leinson, a four-year varsity stalwart who paced the Warriors whenever she was on the floor. Now without her, it’s Ally Dantas and Bella Rosa who share the captaincy and leadership roles. Alexcya Barber is also an athletic option for the Warriors as they look to get back into the tourney after missing it by one win last year.
The Cougars narrowly missed the MIAA tourney to end last season, losing three straight games by 10 points or less to come up short of the postseason by two wins. Juniors Amy Freitas, Emmaline Lafleur and Noelle Kennedy come back to the program to try and elevate the team to a postseason berth. Meg O’Shaughnessy will also hit the floor again with Riley Denele.
Abby Wager
Mary Daley
Emmaline Lafleur | 2022-12-07T04:18:37Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Tyler Hetu: Bishop Feehan has holes to plug on area girls basketball court | Local Sports | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/sports/local_sports/tyler-hetu-bishop-feehan-has-holes-to-plug-on-area-girls-basketball-court/article_959109d2-74c4-5cfc-8afc-a24ffbbc5259.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/sports/local_sports/tyler-hetu-bishop-feehan-has-holes-to-plug-on-area-girls-basketball-court/article_959109d2-74c4-5cfc-8afc-a24ffbbc5259.html |
Along the Way: Norfolk police let whiskers grow
From left, Norfolk police officers Ryan Jasset, Jon King and Jay Keen and Sgt. Joe Choiniere took part in “No Shave November” to raise funds for veterans’ and first responders’ mental health.
Norfolk police let their whiskers grow
Members of the Norfolk Police Department took part last month in “No Shave November” to support veterans and first responders and their mental health. Officers were able to forgo facial hair rules by donating an amount of their choosing to Scars and Stripes 1776, a mental health-focused nonprofit supporting individuals who have served the country or their communities. The initiative was organized by Officer Neil Nicholson and Sgt. Sam Webb and had raised $1,200 as of Nov. 23. The department plans to continue its partnership with Scars and Stripes next year as well as open up the initiative to donations from the community.
Foxboro holiday lights contest | 2022-12-07T09:09:11Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Along the Way: Norfolk police let whiskers grow | Communities | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/communities/along-the-way-norfolk-police-let-whiskers-grow/article_eb188637-0cce-53ea-8bac-0948d2344ab9.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/communities/along-the-way-norfolk-police-let-whiskers-grow/article_eb188637-0cce-53ea-8bac-0948d2344ab9.html |
Attleboro area communities get state money for IT, regionalization
Several area communities are among dozens of cities and towns receiving state funds to improve technology and enhance services by collaborating with other communities.
While most area communities are getting regional grants, Foxboro and Norfolk are among those also receiving their own information technology grants.
Foxboro is earmarked for $198,960 for the implementation of a new e-permitting system, which will enhance the ability of residents and businesses to transact and interact with town departments.
Norfolk is receiving an IT grant for $20,000 to implement a cloud-based phone system.
As for regional/shared services Community Compact grants, area communities in the pipeline for those are:
Attleboro, North Attleboro, Plainville, Norton, Mansfield, Rehoboth and Seekonk and 19 other municipalities, earmarked for $78,725 for climate resiliency. That grant request was submitted by the regional planning agency Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District (SRPEDD).
Plainville is among eight communities sharing $197,585 for cybersecurity for water systems.
Foxboro, Mansfield, Wrentham and Norfolk are among 11 communities getting $85,896 for regional medical services.
Wrentham and Norfolk are among 10 communities getting $200,000 for regional fire training.
The grants are among 78 for this fiscal year announced Tuesday as part of the state’s Community Compact program.
In the latest round, $5 million in IT grants was awarded to support technology-focused initiatives across 61 municipalities, and 17 Efficiency and Regionalization grants distributing $2 million were awarded for regionalization efforts across 102 municipalities.
“This grant cycle includes a number of important technology and cybersecurity project proposals at the municipal level that will improve digital services offerings to constituents and strengthen municipal cybersecurity defenses against potential threats,” said Curt Wood, secretary of Technology Services and Security. | 2022-12-08T01:41:52Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Attleboro area communities get state money for IT, regionalization | Local News | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/attleboro-area-communities-get-state-money-for-it-regionalization/article_4efb21e9-bd6c-557c-8786-7d70d5e46311.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/attleboro-area-communities-get-state-money-for-it-regionalization/article_4efb21e9-bd6c-557c-8786-7d70d5e46311.html |
Town hall.
Foxboro selectmen seek revisions to new building fee proposal
A proposed overhaul of the town’s building fee schedule, which would significantly increase rates for a range of permits and inspectional services, has been sent back for revisions after selectmen deemed it not quite ready for prime time.
Saying he appreciated the efforts of Building Commissioner Scott Shippey in developing the new fee proposal, Selectman Seth Ferguson suggested the plan could be improved with input from the town finance department.
“They’re the experts and they may be able to help us understand what costs we’re trying to cover, how to identify the cost of a project and how to cover that cost appropriately,” Ferguson said at the board’s Nov. 22 meeting.
According to Shippey, who pledged when hired last January to review and update the town’s building fee schedules, the long-overdue adjustments would be the first permit fee hikes since 2013.
In developing the proposed rate schedule, Shippey said he evaluated what several neighboring communities were charging for building fees, then attempted to position Foxboro in the middle. Under the proposal he presented to selectmen, the greatest impacts would be felt in permitting residential projects, with commercial fees already comparable to those in surrounding towns.
“I feel like you were lacking in the residential area,” Shippey explained.
The current permit fee schedule posted on the town website — which took effect Aug. 1, 2011 — charges 55 cents per square foot to permit new construction of one- or two-family dwellings. Building renovations or additions are charged on a project-cost basis, with a flat $45 fee for projects up to $5,000 and a $8 surcharge for each additional $1,000 in cost.
In addition to these basic fees, a comprehensive schedule covers everything from roofing and window replacements to decks and swimming pools, with separate schedules for electrical and plumbing work.
Shippey justified the proposed increases, in part, by saying the existing fee structure is unnecessarily complicated in some areas, making it difficult for applicants to understand or navigate in an online permitting environment.
“Simple is better,” he said.
But selectmen Chairwoman Leah Gibson said she preferred a fee schedule that reflects the square footage of a renovation or new construction, rather than one based on a percentage of estimated project cost — a point seconded by colleague Mark Elfman.
Earlier, Ferguson had questioned the wisdom of Shippey’s proposed rates, stating they should reflect only the cost of providing inspection services rather than serving as a profit center for town government.
“I can appreciate we haven’t changed these rates in a really long time, and that’s unfortunate,” he said. “But I feel like I need a little bit more behind these new rates to be able to support this proposal.”
Fellow board member Stephanie McGowan likewise said she understood that an adjustment was overdue, but reiterated that fee revenue should not exceed the cost of providing inspectional service.
“To Seth’s point, I don’t want to see us making any money on this,” McGowan said.
Board member Dennis Keefe went further, terming the increases “enormous” and suggesting that fee hikes of this magnitude would result in substantial pushback.
“It’s a huge hit and they don’t know what’s coming,” Keefe said. “Is there another way of phasing it in so it isn’t such a big hit for people at a time they are getting hit from every angle?”
Town Manager William Keegan replied that any proposed increase in permit fees could be phased in over a period of 2 to 3 years, if selectmen preferred such an approach.
Echoing Shippey’s comments, Keegan defended the proposed permit fee hikes, suggesting they only would align Foxboro with rates long-since adopted in comparable communities.
“I’m frankly less concerned with what other towns do,” Ferguson replied. “I’m interested in covering the costs of the service.”
Ultimately, board members agreed to table the matter until Shippey could review his plans with the town’s financial experts. | 2022-12-08T06:16:06Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Foxboro selectmen seek revisions to new building fee proposal | Local News | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/foxboro_reporter/news/local_news/foxboro-selectmen-seek-revisions-to-new-building-fee-proposal/article_fdf65f41-deae-50e6-b7c8-b3e97b35e385.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/foxboro_reporter/news/local_news/foxboro-selectmen-seek-revisions-to-new-building-fee-proposal/article_fdf65f41-deae-50e6-b7c8-b3e97b35e385.html |
Card of thanks: Thank you for supporting local veterans
Thank you to our volunteers and donors who worked together to thank our Veterans with gift cards, homemade whoopie pies, squash, and hundreds of handmade cards to say “Thank you for the sacrifices you have made for us all.”
Special thanks to Taylor Elementary School’s army of card making students led by Mrs. Sykes. Cathy Bagley and her crew at the Foxborough Community Center made hundreds of Whoopie pies. Earl Ferguson donated squash for the packages. Larry Stern contributed personal swag bags for each veteran. Foxborough Jaycees, once again, coordinated while we had such a great response from our community to deliver to local veterans. We are so thankful.
Since this is a community run event, we ask each year for donations to make the effort possible. Larry Stern and his family stepped up with an extremely generous donation and made it possible for us to give each veteran a $100 Stop & Shop gift card. So many others, too many to mention, helped by donating and participating in a raffle for a handmade mahogany flag donated by The Shovel Town Flag Company of Easton that was raffled to be given to a veteran of the winner’s choice.
Thanks to Athletic Director Joe Cusack for setting up special VIP end zone stands for our veterans at the FHS Thanksgiving Game. We are appreciative of the Foxboro Reporter for help to reach out to veterans to be aware of our effort.
It is such a collaboration of efforts in the community and we are thankful for so many.
Lynda Walsh & Jim DeVellis | 2022-12-08T06:16:25Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Card of thanks: Thank you for supporting local veterans | Letters to the Editor | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/foxboro_reporter/opinion/letters/card-of-thanks-thank-you-for-supporting-local-veterans/article_a3690d86-0372-5515-bce6-b9bc361beca8.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/foxboro_reporter/opinion/letters/card-of-thanks-thank-you-for-supporting-local-veterans/article_a3690d86-0372-5515-bce6-b9bc361beca8.html |
“Scrabble Tiles” by Maria Babb of Medway will be among the works at the Attleboro Arts Museum’s Members’ Exhibition Dec. 10 to Jan. 27. (submitted)
Showcase offers holiday classics
Showcase Cinemas is offering its annual “Holiday Classics” program at many of its locations, including Patriot Place in Foxboro. You can get free admission to two holiday movies with a donation of a non-perishable food item, which will benefit local food pantries. This Saturday there’s an 11 a.m. showing of “Scrooged” starring Bill Murray. All “Holiday Classics” tickets must be reserved online or via the Showcase Cinemas app. Tickets for large groups of walk-ups will not be available. (www.showcasecinemas.com/programs/holiday-classics)
Skating show in Providence | 2022-12-08T06:16:37Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Things to do in the Foxboro area and beyond | Around Town | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/foxboro_reporter/rail/around_town/things-to-do-in-the-foxboro-area-and-beyond/article_7eea5da6-c8f7-5cd4-8e39-28255d61e0c8.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/foxboro_reporter/rail/around_town/things-to-do-in-the-foxboro-area-and-beyond/article_7eea5da6-c8f7-5cd4-8e39-28255d61e0c8.html |
Fluency in English is not 'irrelevant'
Fluency in English is not ‘irrelevant’
Re: “Fluency in English is irrelevant,” guest column by James Azevedo, Dec. 6:
I have no comment upon the writing by fine guest columnist, James Azevedo, but I do object to the ill-advised Sun Chronicle-chosen headline “Fluency in English is irrelevant” above said piece.
By its nature, this headline’s poor advice discourages cultural assimilation into the United States. It also suggests that comprehension of basic arithmetic and handwriting is also ‘irrelevant.’ This is not true, and should be philosophically rejected.
Such encouragement toward ignorance serves no one. All it does is promote dependence upon government. This is a decidedly poor, irresponsible advocacy for which this newspaper should be condemned. | 2022-12-08T06:17:08Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Fluency in English is not 'irrelevant' | Letters To Editor | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/fluency-in-english-is-not-irrelevant/article_1eac2abf-a6bc-54d5-89aa-19bcdfec1cc2.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/fluency-in-english-is-not-irrelevant/article_1eac2abf-a6bc-54d5-89aa-19bcdfec1cc2.html |
Members’ Exhibition opening at AAM
Showcase Cinemas is offering its annual “Holiday Classics” program at many of its locations, including Patriot Place in Foxboro. You can get free admission to two holiday movies with a donation of a non-perishable food item, which will benefit local food pantries. This Saturday there’s an 11 a.m. showing of “Scrooged” starring Bill Murray. All “Holliday Classics” tickets must be reserved online or via the Showcase Cinemas app. Tickets for large groups of walk-ups will not be available. (www.showcasecinemas.com/programs/holiday-classics)
Skating show in downtown Providence | 2022-12-08T06:17:21Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Things to do in the Attleboro area and beyond | Restaurant Bites | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/rail/restaurant_bites/things-to-do-in-the-attleboro-area-and-beyond/article_71e2d247-0819-5ae5-b196-3ed2b875e991.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/rail/restaurant_bites/things-to-do-in-the-attleboro-area-and-beyond/article_71e2d247-0819-5ae5-b196-3ed2b875e991.html |
Parking downtown is being revamped
Residents and visitors to town will have to keep an eye on their watches and clocks on their phones when they park in certain spaces downtown.
The town is establishing three 10-minute parking spaces around the downtown or commonly referred to “Uptown” area for curbside pickup and drop-off.
One of the spaces will be located on South Street across from the Common, another on Mechanic Street, and a third on Central Street.
Selectmen approved the changes Tuesday night, and they are now in place.
Ten-minute parking spaces may be used for pickup and drop-off of passengers, retail and restaurant pickups, and short-term loading and unloading needs, town officials say.
The parking spaces will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted by signage.
Police Lt. Ken Fitzgerald said feedback indicated a 5-minute limit was not enough time and 15 minutes as had been in effect was too much, so the 10 minutes ended up being a compromise.
“We don’t have meter maids,” Fitzgerald said. “Ten minutes is a happy medium.”
If required, police will enforce the new rules, the lieutenant added.
“Foxboro will begin right sizing the number of short-term (curbside pickup) spaces in the Uptown and return some spaces back to standard parking,” said Paige Duncan, director of Land Use and Economic Development.
Local officials are also working to ensure there are sufficient accessible parking spaces in appropriate locations, and a new such space will be located on Central Street.
It’s part of an effort under way to enhance the center of town and free up parking spaces.
“There is parking, you might just have to walk a little,” Duncan said.
There are three large parking lots available for use, in addition to street parking: Uptown Schneider Lot (104 spaces), Central Street Veteran’s Lot (39 spaces), and Town Hall Lot (65 spaces).
“With the imminent opening of 50 apartments at 29 Wall Street, and the opening of Shovel Town Brewery with four apartments above in the old fire station, we anticipate some growing pains related to parking in the coming months,” Duncan said. “There is ample parking Uptown but we want folks to know where it is.”
Duncan noted the parking situation around Union Straw restaurant has “calmed down” after some challenges.
In the coming months, the town will be looking more closely at the Central Street Veteran’s Lot.
“It’s one piece of a much larger puzzle,” selectmen Chair Leah Gibson said of the new changes. “We want to look at the whole Uptown.”
A new “Uptown Foxboro Parking Policy Map” has been developed, but town officials stressed it’s a work in progress.
“We have an awesome theater,” Duncan said. “There’s just not enough parking. We’re doing everything we can to address that.”
Gibson said her board has received some input about parking but recent letters concerned the theater parking.
“We definitely need to all work together,” Gibson said. “I think there’s opportunity for some businesses to work together.”
Representatives of the Marilyn Rodman Performing Arts Center, the former Orpheum near the Common, are enthusiastic about the changes and pending changes.
“It’s really going to go a long way,” said Catherine Miller, executive director of the theater and who has been working with town officials on parking. “We have a great plan in place.”
Foxboro's new Uptown Parking Plan
Graphic courtesy of the Town of Foxboro | 2022-12-08T17:35:27Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Parking downtown is being revamped | Local News | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/foxboro_reporter/news/local_news/parking-downtown-is-being-revamped/article_d12f45c8-8c9f-56a2-88fb-2c0bd4a2fdc4.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/foxboro_reporter/news/local_news/parking-downtown-is-being-revamped/article_d12f45c8-8c9f-56a2-88fb-2c0bd4a2fdc4.html |
Food drive scheduled for Saturday in Attleboro
State Rep. Jim Hawkins
State. Sen. Paul Feeney
ATTLEBORO — A Holiday Season Food Drive sponsored by the Attleboro Police Association will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, in the parking lot of VFW Post 115 and American Legion Post 20, 122 Park St.
Items requested include flour, sugar, cooking oil, bagged cookies, quick breads, rice, peanut butter, jelly, healthy snacks, pasta, marinara, cereal, pet food, juice boxes, feminine care products, personal care products, diapers, baby wipes, laundry detergent, all-purpose cleaners, dish soap and sponges.
All donations go to local food pantries.
Helping with the drive will be state Rep. Jim Hawkins, D-Attleboro, state Sen. Paul Feeney, D-Foxboro, city council President Jay DiLisio and Vice President Todd Kobus, Hawkins’ legislation director Tara Major, and Hebron Food Pantry Vice President Heather Porreca.
The Sun Chroniclle
Todd Kobus | 2022-12-09T00:41:55Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Food drive scheduled for Saturday in Attleboro | Communities | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/communities/food-drive-scheduled-for-saturday-in-attleboro/article_5410ddce-5d79-56fa-b081-cb4a4b577a35.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/communities/food-drive-scheduled-for-saturday-in-attleboro/article_5410ddce-5d79-56fa-b081-cb4a4b577a35.html |
Along the Way: Get your Girl Scout Cookies!
Lights are hung on the Mansfield Common in preparation for a past Christmas event. Past Mansfield Christmases will be the subject of a presentation Saturday at the Mansfield Public Library.
sun chronicle file photo/
Get your Girl Scout Cookies!
The Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts officially kicked off the 2023 Girl Scout Cookie season this week. The annual cookie sale will run through March 10. A variety of cookies will be available for purchase including Thin Mints, Caramel deLites, Peanut Butter Patties, Adventurefuls and, new this year, online-exclusive Raspberry Rally. Cookies can be purchased from a Girl Scout directly or at any number of area pop-up shops, a list of which can be found at gsema.org/buycookies. The Girl Scouts also offer direct shipping for cookies purchased online through their website. There is also the opportunity to donate cookies to local food pantries, first responders and more through the “Cookies for a Cause” program. More information on how to donate a cookie purchase can be found at gsema.org/en/cookies/donate-cookies.
‘Christmas in Mansfield’
Get into the holiday spirit at the Mansfield Historical Society’s latest presentation, set for 1 p.m. Saturday at the Mansfield Public Library, 255 Hope St. The presentation, “Christmas in Mansfield,” will look at the holiday over the years. Admission is free. For more information, go to @mansfield_historical_society on Instagram.
Swim with Santa at the Y
The Attleboro Norton YMCA will hold a “Swim with Santa and Holiday Synchro Show” at 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16 at the Downtown Branch, 63 North Main St., Attleboro. The event will kick off with an hour of swim time, to be followed by refreshments including hot chocolate and holiday treats. The Y’s own synchronized swim team, the Lyonfish Synchronettes, will perform following the swim. Event is free but space is limited and registration is required for all those planning to get in the water. Reserve a spot by calling 508-222-7422 or visit attleboroymca.org/swimwithsanta for more information. Parents are advised that all children under 7 must be accompanied by an adult in the pool. Children ages 7 to 10 must have a parent on the pool deck while they swim.
Mansfield library wants feedback
Provide feedback to the Mansfield Public Library in a new online survey. Responses to the “Mansfield Public Library Community Survey” will shape library services over the next five years, according to library social media. The survey can be found online at surveymonkey.com/r/MPLsurvey2022. It will be accepting responses through Friday, Dec. 16. | 2022-12-09T06:21:31Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Along the Way: Get your Girl Scout Cookies! | Communities | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/communities/along-the-way-get-your-girl-scout-cookies/article_6fa98cec-1cca-556b-b6da-05a52fb33911.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/communities/along-the-way-get-your-girl-scout-cookies/article_6fa98cec-1cca-556b-b6da-05a52fb33911.html |
Bob Foley: Believe It or Not
The Sun Chronicle reports that Atlantic City’s Ripley’s Believe It or Not attraction is closing.
Ripley’s displays all sorts of hardly believable exhibits. I couldn’t find a reason for the closure but I suspect every-day news is so fantastic, a special collection is unnecessary to tantalize and amaze. Perhaps the attendance waned as potential attendees simply viewed the daily news.
To fill the void, I thought I might offer a periodic collection of Bob’s Believe It or Nots — commentaries that might astonish and concern citizens who treasure democracy, freedom and preservation of liberty.
We’ll highlight the absurdity that pervades society, often proffered by our political leaders. We’ll make note of news items that might otherwise slip by or be minimized as unimportant.
Here we go, our first installment of Bob’s Believe It or Not.
As of the end of November, a couple states were reported by The Washington Post to be still counting votes. I fear the next election will come and this one still won’t be settled. Some references suggest the piles of early mail-in votes that are not allowed to be counted until Election Day are the issue. Seems a more efficient counting system is in order.
On Dec. 2, CNBC reported the Biden administration has overruled railroad unions’ right to strike. There is a dearth of detail on the specifics of issues but there seems to be a problem with paid sick time.
Here is the answer: When Texas Instruments was in Attleboro, we were introduced to a new paid time off (PTO) plan. Employees got a defined amount of PTO, depending on longevity. There was no specified time for sick, vacation, personal time; just days allowed. The company expected everyone to act in a mature manner and decide how they wanted to use their allotted time. Most thought it was a good plan but it caused distress for some who did not like having to make decisions for themselves.
So hang on union supporters, the Dems will take all the political contributions you can feed them, but when it’s time — since they apparently know better than union members — your labor negotiations will be muted. More significantly, everyone ought to be incensed that the government is interfering with private business-labor relations.
The Dec. 6 Mass Teachers Association’s newsletter has advised their members of disappointment associated with actions demonstrated by many politicians who were generous recipients of MTA campaign contributions. Only Sen. Elizabeth Warren was singled out as being against the government intervention in that labor contract dispute.
On Nov. 26, NPR reported the Biden administration was positioning Chevron to buy oil from Venezuela. Not long ago we were trying to depose strongman Nicolás Maduro and retire the dictatorship in Venezuela. Now we want to support their economy by buying Venezuelan oil, all well the Biden administration continues economy-stifling “clean energy” policies. Is there some clever, underlying theme in the best interests of the U.S. hidden in this seemingly nonsensical action?
Guns, again, still. On Dec. 1, a Sun Chronicle contributor from Utah noted that Soviet soldiers, returning from the Great Patriotic War, had to turn in their rifles. That did not turn out well for millions of citizens subjugated and oppressed by the Soviet regime.
If you don’t like private gun ownership, change the Constitution. Comparing gun ownership to drivers’ license is a false equivalency. The state says driving is a privilege. Believe it or Not, the Constitution says gun ownership is a right. Big, big, big difference.
Kudos to the Dems. You have to believe (or not) Democratic strategists had to have known that the (likely) illegal taxpayer-funded student loan bailout was never going to pass legal muster. Anyone want to challenge that proposition and insist they are just every-day, plain dumb? The plan was brilliant and perfectly timed. Just before an election tell millions of debtors the Democrats are going to have other taxpayers pay their legally incurred loans (well, not in those words.) Then, with total understanding the program won’t (likely) pass legal challenge, position your party to be able to say: “Look at those nasty conservatives, making the Supreme Court cancel our efforts to help you out. How nasty are they?” Got to give credit where due.
The sad and scary part is a lot of people truly believe that “loan forgiveness” is an accurate description of taxpayer-funded loan bailouts. On Nov. 10, CNN reported that legal challenges were mounting for the “forgiveness” program.
Not a published story, but rather an observation: Believe it or not, some people think that on-line platforms like Facebook, Twitter and so forth are actually rational, reasonable, valid forums for intelligent discussion.
These platforms are nothing more than exchanges for entertainment and self-aggrandizing to let others see how cute a cat is chasing a flashlight beam.
And thus concludes the first installment of Bob’s Believe It or Not. As events such as these pile up, I’ll illuminate them in future issues of Bob’s Believe It or Not. | 2022-12-09T06:22:02Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Bob Foley: Believe It or Not | Columns | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/opinion/columns/bob-foley-believe-it-or-not/article_fb29df2c-3ceb-5ab4-a8bd-8416a3afd604.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/opinion/columns/bob-foley-believe-it-or-not/article_fb29df2c-3ceb-5ab4-a8bd-8416a3afd604.html |
Over recent weeks, since before Thanksgiving, there has been a significant and steep rise in COVID-19-related hospitalizations for Americans 70 and older.
Nationally, that rate now exceeds the peak of the BA.5 summer wave and the delta wave in the summer of 2021 — and this surge is still in sharp ascent. This is a signal that we are in for some trouble.
The new wave is largely being missed, with scant media coverage.
The case numbers, of about 50,000 per day, represent a gross underestimate because home rapid antigen tests are not centrally reported and because some people with symptoms or exposure are not getting tested.
Nevertheless, tests of wastewater are finding levels of SARS-CoV-2 quickly rising, which tracks with the increase in hospitalizations among seniors. So does the rate of COVID test positivity, which has risen 35% in the past two weeks.
Why is this happening yet again, after 13 billion doses of vaccines have been administered and after more than 650 million confirmed infections? Shouldn’t enough people have enough immunity to stave off a wave of infections at this point?
Unfortunately no, principally because our immune system protection against the virus wanes over time, especially as it evolved to omicron and its multiple subvariants.
By four to six months after vaccination or a booster shot, there is a substantial drop-off of neutralizing antibodies and pr otection against hospitalization — though that protection is largely restored by a new booster shot.
A second factor is that mitigation measures have largely been abandoned. Few people are masking, especially with N95 or KN95 masks, and there are more indoor gatherings occurring because of colder weather and the holidays.
Testing is no longer as common to screen people who are exposed to the virus. Little to no attention is being paid to ventilation or air filtration. The pervasive attitude is that the pandemic is over.
So what can impede this growing wave? First, more people need to get the bivalent booster that is effective against omicron variants.
Only one in three seniors has had a booster over the past six months or longer; less than 15% of all Americans eligible have had the bivalent shot. In many peer countries the rate of recent boosters for seniors is 80% or higher.
We are doing a pathetic job of protecting our elders here.
Newly posted data from the CDC show an 80% reduction of hospitalizations for people of all ages who had two booster shots compared with the unvaccinated.
The bivalent booster, available since the first week in September, has shown a fivefold to tenfold increase in antibodies to BQ.1.1. This is fortunate; while we expected the booster would broaden the immune response to other variants, it was unknown whether it would help against BQ.1.1.
Beyond waning immunity and relaxed precautions, a third factor in this new wave is that we have failed to keep up with the virus.
We’ve lost the powerful monoclonal antibodies as effective treatment backstops or for helping bolster protection for more than 7 million Americans who are immunocompromised.
There are no backup pills yet to Paxlovid, which has been highly effective in reducing hospitalizations and deaths.
Unlike other countries, the United States has shown no leadership for aggressively pursuing nasal vaccines, with their promise of blocking infections and transmission, or more durable, broadly effective, variant-proof vaccines.
We don’t know how severe the new COVID wave will be.
With all the infections and vaccinations we’ve had here, there’s an immunity wall built that should reduce the severity of symptoms compared with some prior waves.
But our relatively low rate of booster shots and our waned immunity leave the U.S. particularly vulnerable. | 2022-12-09T06:22:08Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Commentary: Immunity’s down. Infection rates are up. And what happened to everyone’s masks? | Columns | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/opinion/columns/commentary-immunity-s-down-infection-rates-are-up-and-what-happened-to-everyone-s-masks/article_65a6a852-ba8c-57cf-8142-71baaa70f542.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/opinion/columns/commentary-immunity-s-down-infection-rates-are-up-and-what-happened-to-everyone-s-masks/article_65a6a852-ba8c-57cf-8142-71baaa70f542.html |
Our View: Sowing the seeds of doubt
Does Todd Kobus know something Attleboro voters don’t?
Or is he a flat-earther — you know, the people who believe everyone from the media, the CIA and FBI to your crazy uncle Jim, got together and conspired to help Joe Biden steal the 2020 election from Donald J. Trump, and probably a few in the midterms as well.
Either way, he should come clean and fess up.
As a sitting city councilor he owes the hard working, honest people at the Attleboro Election Commission, the numerous poll volunteers and every Attleboro resident who has ever voted in a city election, an explanation.
Why, exactly, did he feel the need to tell a Sun Chronicle reporter that, given what has happened nationally, he wanted to ensure that the upcoming special election for a new mayor be “squeaky clean”?
We find it highly irresponsible that a city councilor would make such a statement, thus planting a seed of doubt in the minds of voters.
Is there something amiss at the city’s election office now of which the rest of us are simply unaware?
Have there been allegations of fraud in past Attleboro elections? Veteran city election watchers could recall no time when the validity and procedure of a city election — from school committee on up — was ever in doubt.
Or was it a warning shot that if his preferred candidate doesn’t make the cut, then he will cry foul and follow huckster-in-chief Trump’s playbook by declaring the election process rigged?
Or maybe Councilor Kobus really believes there is, or has been, widespread election corruption elsewhere despite the rulings by dozens of state and federal judges — some of whom were appointed by Trump — who have dismissed more than 50 lawsuits (brought by Trump and his allies) alleging election fraud and other irregularities, as well as governors and state election officials from both parties who have found no such fraud ever existed.
No matter the reason, Councilor Kobus owes Attleboro residents an explanation. | 2022-12-09T06:22:11Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Our View: Sowing the seeds of doubt | Opinion | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/opinion/our-view-sowing-the-seeds-of-doubt/article_d3a6fb90-1113-5678-8369-762201c442c3.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/opinion/our-view-sowing-the-seeds-of-doubt/article_d3a6fb90-1113-5678-8369-762201c442c3.html |
ATTLEBORO — An alleged repeat drunken driver who police say fell asleep at a traffic light at a busy intersection was ordered held without bail Friday.
James W. Steele, 42, of Providence, pleaded innocent in Attleboro District Court to a third-offense drunken driving charge, driving without a license and driving to endanger.
He was arrested shortly after police were dispatched about 7:20 p.m. Thursday to North Main Street at Toner Boulevard, where a woman called 911 for a driver asleep behind the wheel at a green light, according to a police report and prosecutors.
The woman told police that, before they arrived, the man drove off and continued south on North Main Street in an SUV. She gave police the license plate of the vehicle.
Officer Eric Hohlfeld spotted the SUV on North Main and stopped it at North Main and Sanford streets before it continued on and was eventually stopped on Riverbank Road, according to the police report.
At the request of prosecutors, Judge Tracie Souza revoked Steele’s bail on two pending cases and ordered him held without bail.
In the pending cases from 2020, Steele pleaded innocent to violating a restraining order and reckless endangerment of a child, according to court records.
Steele is due back in court next month.
Wihtout Bail
James W. Steele
Eric Hohlfeld
Tracie Souza | 2022-12-10T04:42:18Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Alleged repeat drunken driver arrested in Attleboro after falling asleep at busy intersection, police say | Local News | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/alleged-repeat-drunken-driver-arrested-in-attleboro-after-falling-asleep-at-busy-intersection-police-say/article_1cb686f3-6c06-587b-8ab5-d659167abf04.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/alleged-repeat-drunken-driver-arrested-in-attleboro-after-falling-asleep-at-busy-intersection-police-say/article_1cb686f3-6c06-587b-8ab5-d659167abf04.html |
Dave Monti: Where are we with the global warming?
To refresh our collective memories, limiting the earth’s warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) has been the goal globally. The problem is that we have already warmed by more than 1.1 degrees Celsius (2 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial temperatures.
According to a Dec. 1 Washington Post article titled "We looked at 1,200 possibilities for the planet’s future. These are our best hopes," we will be hard-pressed to achieve our goal.
Keeping warming below this 1.5 degrees Celsius would avoid further destabilization of fish and habitat as we would be able to “preserve coral reefs, preserve the Arctic’s protective sea ice layer and avoid further destabilization of Antarctica and Greenland staving off drastic sea level rise,” said the Washington Post article written by Chris Mooney, Naema Ahmed and John Muyskens.
The trio is ringing an alarm. They examine over 1,200 different scenarios for climate change over the coming century with temperatures rising as high as 5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, only 230 paths leave our planet below 1.5 degrees Celsius before the end to the century. Of these, only 26 paths allow for "low" overshoot initially but they “rely on negative emissions technologies to reach net zero around mid-century and then go farther.”
According to The Washington Post, “At the U.N. Climate Change Conference late last month, world leaders reaffirmed the 1.5C goal. But these scenarios show that without dramatic action — action the leaders did not commit to taking — it most likely will not be possible. Or at least, not without a major overshoot first. That is where the world is currently heading.”
Leaders Day did not disappoint, spotlight on climate-ready fisheries
Rhoee Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse’s 13th Annual Energy, Environment and Oceans Leaders Day (EEO Day) last Friday was a big success.
The purpose of the workshop was to recognize Rhode Island environmental leaders and update the community on recent developments in the environment, energy, oceans and climate-change arenas.
I asked, via prewritten questions, about NOAA Fisheries funding for climate-ready fisheries initiatives and NOAA Fisheries’ inability to move fast enough to meet climate challenges so far. I pointed to the fishing industry’s disappointment that, for two years in a row, NOAA’s requested $10 million in special funds for climate-research initiatives was reduced to $1 million.
Senator Whitehouse said his new anticipated role as chairman of the Senate Budget Committee should put him in a good position to advocate for such climate-related funds.
As in the past, Sen. Whitehouse gathered top policymakers, implementers, senate and administration climate leaders to serve as panelists. The audience was comprised of leaders working in environment, oceans and to stem the tide on negative climate impacts in a variety of areas.
Two speakers I would like to highlight include Greg Gerritt, who received the senator’s EEO Leaders Day Service Award for his work as an environmental and economist activist; another EEO Day panelist was Jane Lubehenco, former top NOAA Administrator and Undersecretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere who now serves as Director for Climate and the Environment White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
Lubehenco said that “Funds for fisheries climate change impacts such as shifting fish stocks are available in the Coastal Resilience bucket in the Infrastructure Bill” passed by Congress in November 2021. Director Lubehenco said, “Climate-related funds for fishing ports and the shipping industry are also available in the new law.”
I was honored to be invited to attend EEO Day and thought it was a great success, alongside the 100 other positive comments that were made on Facebook and Twitter that day after the event. Congratulations Senator Whitehorse on another very successful EEO Day.
Striped bass: Fishing has slowed quite a bit, but there are some fish still around. Jeff Sullivan of Lucky Bait & Tackle in Warren said, “Saturday I saw a 30-pound striped bass under the dock at Ft. Adams looking for squid and there are still some fish on the surface in the bay.” “Anglers are catching bass that are chasing bait along the coastal shore and in the estuaries,” said Declan O’Donnell of Breachway Bait & Tackle in Charlestown.” Ed Lombardo, fly expert and guide, said, “I fished most days last week and caught both striped bass and hickory shad in the Narrow River near Sprague Bridge, however, the water is starting to cool so holdover fish will start to move upriver.”
Tautog: Fishing is still good when anglers are able to get out, as most have pulled their boats out of the water, and high winds and cold make fishing unpleasant some days. “Customers are hooking up with keeper tautog at the Kettle Point Dock and at the broken bridge at the mouth of the Seekonk River,” said John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle in Riverside. Joe Castaldi of Quaker Lane Bait & Tackle in North Kingstown, said, “The tautog bite is still strong but it is in water 80 feet or deeper.” Jeff Sullivan, of Lucky Bait & Tackle said, “Tautog fishing is spotty as the bite has moved deeper to as much as 100 feet of water.” Declan O’Donnell of Breachway Bait & Tackle said, “The tautog bite is still on for anglers fishing for them at this time … both from shore and boats.”
“Cod fishing off Newport and the Sakonnet has been good,” Sullivan said. “We targeted and hooked up with some nice eight-pound market-size fish off the Sakonnet River this weekend in 85 to 90 feet of water.”
Freshwater: Fishing for salmon and trout exploded this week in stocked ponds. “Simmons Mill Pond in Little Compton is producing 16-inch to 24-inch salmon, stocked by DEM along with trout,” Sullivan said. “The largemouth bass bite has slowed with cooler water so anglers have slowed down their retrieve to catch largemouth.” “Customers are catching trout at Silver Spring Lake, North Kingstown,” Castaldi said. “Watchaug Pond has been producing trout and salmon for customers,” said O’Donnell. “Customers are still catching some salmon and trout at Willett Avenue Pond,” added Littlefield. | 2022-12-10T04:42:37Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Dave Monti: Where are we with the global warming? | Local Sports | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/sports/local_sports/dave-monti-where-are-we-with-the-global-warming/article_b7129cca-0f91-5448-b1d2-05503f83024a.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/sports/local_sports/dave-monti-where-are-we-with-the-global-warming/article_b7129cca-0f91-5448-b1d2-05503f83024a.html |
H.S. GIRLS BASKETBALL: Framingham too much for Attleboro in debut
FRAMINGHAM — The Attleboro High girls basketball team opened its season with a 62-29 road loss at Framingham High Friday night.
The Bombardiers trailed 20-6 after the first quarter and 39-11 at halftime as Attleboro’s combination of inexperience and first-game jitters showed.
“It was a combination of both. (Framingham) is a really good team and they had height,” Attleboro head coach Bri Bracken said. “We tried to go over the top when we have some shorter girls, and it didn’t work out.”
Leading Attleboro was Lily Routhier with 11 points. Molly Moore had six points.
SEEKONK — Emma Cochrane had a game-high 19 points while Taryn Fierri added 18 points as the Lancers won their season opener
Seekonk was led by Ally Dantas’ 14 points.
Norton’s Gabby Johnson and Avery Tinkham scored their first varsity points in the win, finishing with three and four points, respectively. | 2022-12-10T04:42:43Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | H.S. GIRLS BASKETBALL: Framingham too much for Attleboro in debut | Local Sports | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/sports/local_sports/h-s-girls-basketball-framingham-too-much-for-attleboro-in-debut/article_e8698165-ac8c-5b38-bad0-0146e0a9386d.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/sports/local_sports/h-s-girls-basketball-framingham-too-much-for-attleboro-in-debut/article_e8698165-ac8c-5b38-bad0-0146e0a9386d.html |
H.S. INDOOR TRACK: Norton sweeps Medway at Reggie Lewis Center
BOSTON — Norton High’s boys and girls indoor track and field teams rolled to wins on Friday night over Medway High, with the Lancer boys cruising, 67-28, and the Norton girls winning, 54-41, at the Reggie Lewis Center.
The Norton boys swept the shot put and the long jump. Sean Nichols won the shot (33-06) with Ian Riviere (32-02) and Stephen Collins (31-05) following.
Matt Cropley (19-01 1/2) won the long jump followed by teammates Michael Raneri (18-08 1/2) and Lucas Habib (17-09 1/2).
Jake Bratt (high jump, 5-10), Sean Parham (mile, 4:48.05), Jacob Ollerhead (600 meters, 1:32.99), Camden Lerner (300 meters, 38.48), Andrew McConell (two-mile, 10:00.81 for a new school record) and Cropley (55 meter hurdles, 9.51) all took home first-place finishes for the Lancer boys.
Norton’s 4x400 relay team of Ollerhead, Cameron Johnson, McConnell and Lerner also took first with a tandem time of 3:49.32.
On the girls side, Norton’s Ali Murphy won the 300 meters with a New Balance Nationals qualifying time of 41.68, with Jillian Strynar (43.41) and Phoebe Gesner (49.07) second and third.
In the mile, Emma Wisnaskas was first in 5:55.10. Madie Shea (6:05.98) and Erin Podbelski (6:23.73) finished second and third. Podbelski also took first in the two mile (12:01.97).
Norton’s Shaylee Owens won the 55 meter hurdles with a time of 9.69. Strynar ran a 55 meter dash of 7.41 to qualify for the New Balance Nationals with teammate Ali Murphy, who posted a 7.46.
Norton’s 4x400 relay team of Zoe Santos, Podbelski, Carly Goodwin and Wisnaskas placed first in 4:53.21.
Ali Murphy | 2022-12-10T04:42:49Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | H.S. INDOOR TRACK: Norton sweeps Medway at Reggie Lewis Center | Local Sports | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/sports/local_sports/h-s-indoor-track-norton-sweeps-medway-at-reggie-lewis-center/article_d45c2c53-1492-504d-8b0b-9b7686f71f61.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/sports/local_sports/h-s-indoor-track-norton-sweeps-medway-at-reggie-lewis-center/article_d45c2c53-1492-504d-8b0b-9b7686f71f61.html |
Cloudy. Light snow likely this afternoon. High near 35F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 60%..
Snow this evening will transition to snow showers late. Low near 25F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 70%. 1 to 3 inches of snow expected.
Seth Cohen of Foxboro clears his driveway following a storm last January.
The Old Farmer’s Almanac’s famous long-range predictions are forecasting snow for much of the country over Christmas week. But, AccuWeather’s winter forecast says the area’s chances for a white Christmas, one where there’s at least an inch of snow on the ground, are lower than normal. However, that could change once January comes around, as snowfall will likely be boosted by nor’easters. Here, a frosty wreath adorns a Jeep following a storm early last January.
The Hoppin Hill Reservoir in North Attleboro is gradually filling up with water after last summer’s drought dried up the water bodies on either side of Route 120.
The Hoppin Hill Reservoir in North Attleboro is gradually refilling after last summer’s drought left it dry. Winter snow helps to refill local reservoirs and wells.
A jogger makes his way up Landry Avenue in North Attleboro on March 10, backdropped by snow-covered trees.
Adam Coyle of North Attleboro and his son Keagan, 3, slide down the hill at the First Methodist Church in North Attleboro on Feb. 27.
A student walks over the Wheaton College campus bridge in Norton on Feb. 14 after the area received several inches of new snow the day before.
A fresh, powdery coating of snow covers tree branches Feb. 14 after the area received several inches of new snow the day before and overnight. In the background is the Dodgeville Pond and Mill complex in Attleboro.
Melissa Hunt digs out her driveway on Mary Kennedy Drive in North Attleboro on Jan. 30, one day after a nor’easter dumped almost two feet of snow on the area.
Will this winter be a snowy one? Some local residents are ready for it, others not so much
Jumee Amorim just doesn’t want to see the snow fly this winter.
“Absolutely not,” the South Attleboro resident said. “It’s just a pain because of driving.”
She pointed out she has four children in four schools.
Besides driving her kids here and there, including on a recent rainy Wednesday night to the Attleboro Public Library, Amorim said “it’s hard for the buses to get around” on snowy roads.
Count her 13-year-old daughter as another who isn’t a fan of snow and winter. “I hate everything about winter,” said Nelly Amorim, a student at Coelho Middle School. “I hate the cold, I hate the snow.”
Nelly admits she does enjoy making snowmen, however.
There are plenty of other area residents who are looking forward to a snowy winter, though, including skiers and those who plow snow for a living.
Area landscapers didn’t make as much money as usual during the drought that stretched back to early summer as there was much less frequent lawn cutting.
Bill Motta of Motta Landscaping in Foxboro, who said he couldn’t recall such a summer in his 20 years in business, and other landscapers who also plow snow are hoping it will turn out to be another snowy winter to recover some lost revenue.
“You never know, you can’t depend on it,” Motta said of snowfall. “We are hoping to get more snow this year.”
And area water officials are crossing their fingers there will be a lot of snow this winter, especially after the serious drought that prompted outdoor water bans into September in many communities.
“We always hope for a snowy winter, as a snow melt in the spring gives us some extra water to start our high-use season with,” Attleboro Water Superintendent Kourtney Allen said.
Whether there will be another round of extremely dry weather next summer is up in the air.
“It’s hard to predict,” Allen said. “The weather services and drought task force have indicated that summers like the last one are going to become more common in the coming years.”
Pin that on climate change, authorities say.
The region didn’t begin moving out of the drought until the fall when more rain arrived.
“We are in much better shape than I thought we would be in, and that’s because we got a lot of rain in November and so far this month,” Allen said.
November saw nearly 3 inches, and this month already has brought about 2½ inches, the city water department said.
Water sources for the city’s two water treatment plants, on West Street and at Wading River, are past full, officials report.
“We are now ‘spilling’ water… a far cry from our summer drought,” Mayor Paul Heroux said in an email.
Area public works and highway departments say they are all set for the coming snow season.
“We are doing pretty well on contractors and equipment,” North Attleboro Public Works Director Mark Hollowell said. “We managed to get six more contractors than we had last year by increasing rates and adding incentives to the contract, but we could always use a few more.”
Many municipalities and states have struggled to get enough snowplow drivers in recent years because of the pandemic and worker shortage.
North Attleboro has purchased two new machines to plow more sidewalks.
“We have not had to purchase salt yet, as we had a full shed from last year,” Hollowell said, noting his department has roughly 1,600 tons on hand.
“We are working on updating our pre-treatment program of adding liquid salt brine days prior to a storm which prevents the snow from bonding with the roadway,” Hollowell said.
He added that a storage tank has been replaced and the DPW is moving to acquire another sprayer.
“Looking forward to a great season,” Hollowell said.
In Foxboro, town officials are hoping to see the snowflakes fall.
“A lot of snow, with a slow melt, is very beneficial to increasing the amount of water in the aquifer,” Water Superintendent Bob Worthley said. “This helps water suppliers who use wells to supply water, like Foxboro.”
However, a lot of rain after snow is not desired.
“It is not a help for Foxboro if there is a lot of snow, then there is torrential rain that melts the snow pack quickly,” Worthley said.
That’s because the “melted snow runs off to Boston Harbor, and does not work its way through the pores in the ground, down to the aquifer,” Worthley said.
The town’s public works department says it’s in fine shape for the upcoming season.
Public Works Director Christopher Gallagher said Foxboro has maintained a group of about 20 private contractors who continue each year to supplement town plow drivers.
Mansfield DPW officials also say they’re ready for whatever weather winter brings.
“Mansfield’s equipment, supplies and staffing, including contractors, are fully prepped and ready to tackle the upcoming winter weather,” DPW Director Joshua Reinke said.
As for the town’s water system, rain but also snow is a blessing.
“Snow does help replenish ground water levels, which in turn helps mitigate drought concerns,” Reinke said.
The drought status has steadily improved across Massachusetts and the region, and state water officials now consider the Southeast region here to be out of drought, with normal water levels.
As for snow, last winter was quite snowy besides being colder than normal many days.
While there were several unseasonably warm days, there were enough frigid days and snowstorms, including the memorable blizzard the end of January.
The area spent days digging out from that historic weekend storm that buried communities in as much as 30 inches of snow.
That was the amount received in Norton, with the Attleboro Water Department recording 24 inches in the city, breaking the record for the most snow for a January day. The two feet also tied for the second most snow in a 24-hour period.
The winter had had little snow until the blizzard — December saw no snow, and January ended up with 321/2 inches of snow — about triple its usual amount.
In addition to the snow, January was much colder than normal.
Two days after the blizzard and on the last day of the month, the thermometer plunged below zero as the water department reported a low of minus-5 degrees — easily the coldest temp for last winter.
February had normal snowfall, 12 inches — half the total of the blizzard.
During a month that was warmer than normal, February’s biggest snowstorm of 8 inches turned out to be a heavier snowstorm than forecast, delaying and closing schools and making for a challenging commute on Valentine’s Day.
A smaller storm, 4 inches the end of the month, was in some ways more troublesome as it was heavy and wet and quickly froze.
March saw just 1 inch of snow recorded by the city water department, and the month typically gets about 61/2 inches.
How did last snow season stack up against other years?
The season, which the city water department considers from December through March, brought 451/2 inches, several inches above the typical 37.
The previous winter received 311/4 inches of snow, water department records indicate.
How much snow is forecast for this winter?
The Old Farmer’s Almanac’s famous long-range predictions are forecasting snow for much of the country over Christmas week.
“In most regions, periods of snow showers or flurries are expected to occur in the days leading up to Christmas, which means that many folks will be able to enjoy a White Christmas,” the Almanac said. “In the Northeast...expect snow showers in the days leading up to Christmas with temperatures trending colder.”
A white Christmas is generally defined as having at least an inch of snow on the ground on Dec. 25.
Winter arrives Dec. 21 and The Old Farmer’s Almanac winter 2022-2023 forecast tells a tale of two winters, with some areas, such as around here, being snowier and colder than normal and getting less snow and milder than usual temps.
New England is forecast by AccuWeather to be the only area east of the Rocky Mountains where snowfall could end up being above average for the winter after a slow start.
The chances for a white Christmas will remain lower than normal for most of New England, but once the calendar flips to 2023, snowfall totals will likely be boosted by a few nor’easters, according to AccuWeather’s winter forecast.
Even though favorable conditions will develop to allow snow and intense cold weather to spread across the Northeast during the first half of December, the latter part of the month will feature moderating temperatures and lower chances for a snowstorm, AccuWeather says.
As the holiday nears, the forecasted weather pattern will support more rain and perhaps ice compared to snow, AccuWeather senior meteorologist Paul Pastelok said.
But the forecasters say the weather could turn wintry by mid-December, and AccuWeather meteorologists are keeping a close eye on storms across the country, including the Northeast.
In this area, blustery winds, sprinkles and snow showers are forecast Saturday as precipitation and colder temperatures sweep in.
Some snow could show up later Sunday into Monday morning, area meteorologists say. Less than an inch of snow is expected.
Highs in the upper 30s and lows in the mid-20s are predicted Saturday and Sunday.
Temperatures only need to dip into the mid-30s for snow to fall and to the lower 30s to the upper 20s for it to accumulate, AccuWeather meteorologists say.
Paul Pastelok | 2022-12-11T14:39:35Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Will this winter be a snowy one? Some local residents are ready for it, others not so much | Local News | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/foxboro_reporter/news/local_news/will-this-winter-be-a-snowy-one-some-local-residents-are-ready-for-it-others/article_b720e96b-6bb1-5682-a095-8e4eba179696.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/foxboro_reporter/news/local_news/will-this-winter-be-a-snowy-one-some-local-residents-are-ready-for-it-others/article_b720e96b-6bb1-5682-a095-8e4eba179696.html |
Flutie Foundation recognizes Mansfield school staff for reading program partnership
From left: Jordan/Jackson Elementary School fifth-grade teacher Peggy DeAngelis, Jamie Piro and Kim Piro.
MANSFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS
MANSFIELD -- The Jordan/Jackson Elementary School staff has been honored for its ongoing partnership with a local family who run a reading program to help students understand their peers with special needs.
The Doug Flutie Foundation and Jersey Mike's honored Jordan/Jackson’s commitment to the “inclusion of all people for the benefit of all people,” Superintendent Teresa Murphy and Principal John Nieratko said.
The Flutie Foundation recently purchased subs from Jersey Mike’s in Mansfield for the entire staff at the school as a thank you for the school’s partnership with the Piro family.
Mansfield resident Kim Piro has been a volunteer in the Mansfield Public Schools for many years, since her daughter Jamie enrolled as a kindergartner, Murphy said.
Piro runs the highly successful iCare program, or “Introducing Children to Acceptance through Reading and Education,” at Mansfield’s pre-K and elementary schools along with her daughter, Murphy said.
The program uses volunteer storytellers to teach students about the differences that exist among students, in particular those with disabilities, as well as treating others with respect and inclusion.
Volunteers read stories to children, engage in question-and-answer sessions and provide important context for the discussions.
The iCARE program began in Mansfield in 2003, and after a brief hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic, was relaunched last year. Jamie Piro has also begun volunteering in the schools and reading to students alongside her mother.
Piro researched and approved all of the reading material for the iCARE program. Topics range from general differences to more specific disabilities including autism and Down’s Syndrome.
The event was a way to recognize Jordan/Jackson for its long-standing relationship with the Piro family. Both Kim and her daughter were present to personally thank staff members for their ongoing support, as were representatives from the Flutie Foundation.
The Mansfield Public Schools thanked the Doug Flutie Foundation and Jersey Mike's for making the event possible, as well as Kim and Jamie Piro, for everything they have done for the students of Mansfield over the years, Murphy said.
“Kim Piro has been such a wonderful volunteer and advocate for our schools for so many years, and it means so much to be able to recognize both her and her daughter and the strong partnership the Piro family has had with us for so long,” Murphy said in a statement.
“Our teachers and staff embrace Kim’s lessons and values and we thank them for making the Mansfield Public Schools such a welcoming and inclusive place for all,” Murphy said.
The district also recognized the staff members who have worked with the Piros this year, including: Margaret DeAngelis, Joshua Curry, Caitlin Haapaoja, Erin Pasquale, Karen Ouwinga, Tara Kanevski, Kathy Risotti, Terri O'Connell, Andree Ulrich, Rayna Freedman, Karen Slarve, Aimee Conroy, Jennifer Norige, Vicki Logan, Lee Tighe and Mary Beth Kennedy.
Flutie Foundation | 2022-12-11T23:52:09Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Flutie Foundation recognizes Mansfield school staff for reading program partnership | Communities | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/communities/flutie-foundation-recognizes-mansfield-school-staff-for-reading-program-partnership/article_42554f8a-52b9-5f1e-96e9-c0293eb53a9e.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/communities/flutie-foundation-recognizes-mansfield-school-staff-for-reading-program-partnership/article_42554f8a-52b9-5f1e-96e9-c0293eb53a9e.html |
Holiday tree lighting event in memory of longtime Plainville resident draws a crowd
Kids line up Saturday to give Santa their wishes at the Telford Memorial Park in Plainville.
Reece Kurtz, 6, of Plainville gives Santa his wish list during the Plainville town tree lighting event, which was held Saturday at the Telford Memorial Park.
Santa greets attendees Saturday at the Telford Memorial Park in Plainville.
Plainville Fire Chief Richard Ball escorts Santa after arriving on Tower 1 Saturday at the Telford Memorial Park.
James Faille’s community spirit could be felt among the large crowd attending Plainville’s tree lighting ceremony on Saturday night, where over a half-dozen trees in Telford Park were illuminated just after 5 p.m.
Braving the cold in hats, gloves and heavy coats, several dozen residents gathered under the pavilion where there were tables for ornament-making, hot chocolate and popcorn. Attendees could also get a snack at the Mac N Cheese, Please! food truck parked nearby.
Thanks to the efforts of half a dozen local families, including Faille’s relatives, the gazebo, trees and pavilion were festively decorated and ready for the evening’s event, which was named for the lifelong Plainville resident and former park commissioner who died in January. Around the pavilion’s posts and roof were bows, garlands and a large handmade popcorn string.
Many of those in attendance, including Faille’s daughter-in-law Samantha Faille of Plainville, remembered James’ efforts of the previous year to make sure the tree lighting event took place.
“It’s a great tradition we get to carry on in his memory,” she said. “It’s something we are honored to do.”
Mike Roberge of Plainville, who volunteered his time for the event, deferred to Faille’s son Chris, who has kept the family’s electrical business going after his father died.
“This is all Chris,” Roberge said. “(The Failles) are the drivers of this. The goal is to keep it going. From last year, I know how much it meant to Chris and his dad.”
There was another Plainville resident who was also not far from people’s minds that evening.
Next to the pavilion, a tree was already decorated and lit with purple and white lights for Malia Jusczyk, who is battling neuroblastoma for the second time. The tree’s decorations included a small sign with a heart bearing Jusczyk’s initials.
Just before Plainville Parks Director John Teiner turned on the switch for the tree lights, a light, brief snow shower could be seen around the park’s fluorescent lights. As the trees became illuminated, the large crowd broke out in cheers and applause. Minutes later, Santa Claus arrived on a Plainville fire truck who was quickly followed by a crowd of children to the pavilion.
Teiner plans for the tree lighting ceremony to “get bigger and better” in the upcoming years in Faille’s honor.
“I think he would be very proud and honored to have this lighting named after him,” Teiner said.
Plainville Santa Visit
Santa greets attendees, young and old, after arriving Saturday at the Telford Memorial Park on a firetruck. | 2022-12-11T23:52:15Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Holiday tree lighting event in memory of longtime Plainville resident draws a crowd | Local News | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/holiday-tree-lighting-event-in-memory-of-longtime-plainville-resident-draws-a-crowd/article_50baeeb3-4b6d-5f59-afca-18b0df17f4b3.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/holiday-tree-lighting-event-in-memory-of-longtime-plainville-resident-draws-a-crowd/article_50baeeb3-4b6d-5f59-afca-18b0df17f4b3.html |
H.S. GIRLS HOCKEY: King Philip crushed in season opener by Norwell
KINGSTON -- The King Philip girls hockey team lost by eight scores to open the season on Saturday, losing 8-0 to Norwell at The Bog Ice Arena.
KP head coach Ken Assad pointed to sickness going around the locker room as part of the team's struggles, but said he's not making an excuse for his team not playing well.
Mallory Johnson made 32 saves in goal on 39 shots, while Hailey Bright made four saves on five shots on goal.
King Philip (0-1) plays again on Sunday, hosting Franklin at Foxboro Sports Center at 6:30 p.m.
CANTON -- Bishop Feehan was blanked to open the season, falling behind by two scores in the first period before the eventual final at Canton Sportsplex.
"It was a hard-fought game, but we couldn't get one past their goalie," Bishop Feehan head coach Mike Cripps said. "We controlled the second period but gave up a short-handed goal with under a minute left (in the second period)."
The Shamrocks (0-1) play again on Wednesday, Dec. 21, at Charles Moore Ice Arena against Nauset Regional.
Walpole 11, Hockomock Stars 1
FOXBORO -- The Hockomock Stars lost a lopsided game 11-1 over the weekend.
Emily Davignon was in goal for the Stars, playing a new position for her. Head coach Jamie Mullen said they were proud of her stepping up into an important role for the team and is proud of her progressions.
Mya Waryas was commended for her leadership on the ice, keeping team morale high to the final horn despite the deficit.
The Stars (0-1) come back on Wednesday to play Dennis-Yarmouth. | 2022-12-11T23:52:28Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | H.S. GIRLS HOCKEY: King Philip crushed in season opener by Norwell | Sports | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/sports/h-s-girls-hockey-king-philip-crushed-in-season-opener-by-norwell/article_61eaca99-6fa5-5463-9d28-0e6349ca9a58.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/sports/h-s-girls-hockey-king-philip-crushed-in-season-opener-by-norwell/article_61eaca99-6fa5-5463-9d28-0e6349ca9a58.html |
Attleboro High traffic pattern to change after busy Bushee Steet lot closes
The Bushee Street parking lot near Attleboro High School is closing.
ATTLEBORO — Up to 400 cars and school buses use Bushee Street and the parking lot for the new Attleboro High School every day.
But the busy lot will be closed when students return to school in January after the holiday break, Police Chief Kyle Heagney said.
It will remain closed for about a year while the area is reconstructed into a parking lot and athletic field.
What that means is a change in traffic patterns to get to the new high school while construction takes place, Heagney said.
Students or parents may want to plan ahead in the event of traffic delays as people take alternate routes to get to the high school on Rathbun Willard Drive.
The closing of the Bushee Street lot will mean more vehicles will be using Thacher Street, Dennis Street, Rome Boulevard and Berwick Road to get access to the high school, according to the chief. “We’ll try to alleviate the traffic as best we can,” Heagney said.
The chief said he has met with Mayor Paul Heroux, high school Principal Kate Campbell and school Superintendent David Sawyer several times and they will continue to meet regarding the issue.
The new high school opened in September and workers continue to clear the debris from the razing of the old high school.
Bushee Street | 2022-12-12T02:20:12Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Attleboro High traffic pattern to change after busy Bushee Steet lot closes | Local News | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/attleboro-high-traffic-pattern-to-change-after-busy-bushee-steet-lot-closes/article_13451376-5c72-5884-9227-c68424692eb8.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/attleboro-high-traffic-pattern-to-change-after-busy-bushee-steet-lot-closes/article_13451376-5c72-5884-9227-c68424692eb8.html |
More funding needed to improve signs in Attleboro
City officials say more funding will be needed for the design of new signs in Attleboro.
ATTLEBORO — In November 2021, the city got a grant of $25,000 from the state’s Department of Housing and Community Development to improve its signage downtown.
A company called Stantec was hired to do a study and make recommendations.
That resulted in a 75-page, highly technical report issued in September.
Economic Development Director Catherine Feerick said the Stantec study produced a good “road map” for where the signs should be and what types of signs should be located in certain spots.
But she also said the report is only the first step of the process.
Step two will be a “branding study,” Feerick said.
Branding involves sign design, size and the kind of message the city wants to send to drivers and pedestrians.
But the sign design is a long way off.
She said the mock ups in the study are just a starting point for conversation.
“Attleboro needs more help in finding its voice when it comes to designing the sign,” Feerick said.
And now she’s looking for another grant to pay for that.
The state has a program called One Stop for grants, but applying for a grant through that program could delay funding for up to a year.
Feerick would like to see the sign program begin long before that.
“I would love to start implementation before the end of the next calendar year,” she said, meaning decisions about sign design would be made in 2023.
Meanwhile, Mayor Paul Heroux said it’s possible some of the city’s $9.2 million in surplus cash could be used for the study.
“I would be open to the city using surplus money to doing a city-sponsored grant program,” he said in an email to The Sun Chronicle on Friday. “We would need to see if that is possible or if there are laws or ordinances prohibiting that. I don’t see anything wrong using city resources to assist with economic development in the city.”
Last year, Feerick indicated downtown signs were a little chaotic.
“Downtown is currently visually cluttered, with multiple signs in varying stages of disrepair pointing visitors to select assets and amenities,” Feerick said prior to the Stantec study.
And Heroux agreed.
“This is one more initiative we are doing to improve the downtown experience,” Heroux said. “By having uniform signs, it will improve the look of and improve perceptions of city center.”
Feerick | 2022-12-12T02:20:18Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | More funding needed to improve signs in Attleboro | Local News | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/more-funding-needed-to-improve-signs-in-attleboro/article_4826290e-b3e3-59d5-96a8-472aee8ea387.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/more-funding-needed-to-improve-signs-in-attleboro/article_4826290e-b3e3-59d5-96a8-472aee8ea387.html |
Attleboro area police warn about 'porch pirates'
An Amazon package sits on a porch. Police warn to bring packages inside as soon as possible this holiday season.
With more consumers expected to turn to online shopping for gifts this holiday season, police are warning the Grinch may be out to steal Christmas from your doorstep.
With less than three weeks left to Christmas, area police say they have not yet seen a rash of incidents, but add that not all thefts are reported to them.
In Attleboro, there were two dozen package thefts between January and November this year, which is actually about a 38 percent decrease from a spike in 2021, according to police department statistics.
However, one person was responsible for several of the 38 thefts in 2021, which accounted for a spike in incidents, according to Anthony Stevens, the police department’s crime analyst.
During the same period in 2020, there were 19, and only nine in 2019.
“This is a crime of opportunity,” Attleboro Police Chief Kyle Heagney said.
Packages left on front steps of homes for long periods of time provide an inviting target for thieves, also called porch pirates. Others simply follow delivery trucks and steal the packages, according to law enforcement officials.
“A lot more people are buying online this holiday season. We are going to see an uptick in thefts,” Heagney said, adding that there is also an increase in fraud-related crimes.
Police concerns about package thefts appear well founded.
Market experts say online shopping, which grew during the coronavirus pandemic, is not showing signs of slowing.
According to C+R Research, a Chicago-based marketing research company, a whopping 90% of people they surveyed receive a package delivery at least once per month, with over half receiving a package weekly.
The company said it surveyed 2,006 people about their shopping and spending habits this year, experience with delivery theft and how inflation impacts their budgets.
So far this year, the company reports, almost 1 in 7 Americans have fallen victim to the porch pirates — some more than once.
More than one-third of Americans know someone who had a package stolen this year, and almost one in five know a neighbor who had a package stolen.
The average value of stolen packages is $112, according to C + R.
“No denying it is a bigger issue now than in the past,” North Attleboro police Capt. Jason Roy said. “The proliferation of online shopping, spurred on by COVID, has created many more opportunities for this type of activity.”
Since Nov. 1, Roy said there have only been two package thefts reported to police, and both occurred in apartment house common areas.
In Plainville, Police Chief James Floyd said none have been reported so far this year, but there have been several in the past and mostly at apartment complexes.
Floyd said thieves tend to target apartment complexes or multi-family dwellings because that is where more packages are concentrated.
Wrentham Police Chief Bill McGrath said police were investigating a package theft on Thursday, over a week after posting a witty warning to residents on how to avoid becoming a victim.
“Shiver me Timbers! Porch Pirates on the horizon, stormin’ in to grab the booty delivered to your homes! Let’s batten down the hatches and ward off these Buccaneers!,” McGrath wrote before listing a series of recommendations.
To combat the problem, police say consumers can take measures to protect themselves from becoming victims, especially when packages need to be delivered before the holiday.
Police encourage people to use package tracking available from delivery companies and retrieve their items as quickly as possible after delivery.
Other protective measures include the installation of cameras or the use of secure drop boxes or containers such as those offered by Amazon and other companies.
Consider getting a P.O. box at your local post office or having packages delivered to your office
Ask your neighbors to pick up your packages for safekeeping until you return home
Park at the end of your driveway to prevent porch pirates from driving in
Request that your package be left in a less visible spot, such as a rear or side door
Sign up for the U.S. Postal Service “Informed Delivery” service, where you can get a daily email with a picture/scan of the mail you will receive that day. To sign up, go to
usps.com/manage/informed-delivery.htm
Residents who believe a package was stolen should confirm with the delivery company that the package was actually delivered. Identify which package was stolen and its contents.
Once the theft has been confirmed, people should contact police immediately and report the package as stolen. Give a copy of any security video to police.
Residents should also report the package theft to the carrier.
Police also urge residents to call 911 for suspicious activity or unfamiliar cars in a neighborhood.
If anyone witnesses a package theft, police caution against approaching the thief. Instead, get a description of the thief and their vehicle and license plate number.
Police also caution that around the holidays, companies such as Amazon and FedEx contract independent carriers to help deliver items during the peak season.
The independent carriers typically drive their own vehicles that have no affiliation markers and they are often mistaken as thieves when dropping off packages, according to police. | 2022-12-12T04:34:58Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Attleboro area police warn about 'porch pirates' | Local News | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/attleboro-area-police-warn-about-porch-pirates/article_6a095ee6-b4d8-542a-81cd-a18d0c18f595.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/attleboro-area-police-warn-about-porch-pirates/article_6a095ee6-b4d8-542a-81cd-a18d0c18f595.html |
H.S. BOYS BASKETBALL: Shamrocks roll in season opener
ATTLEBORO — The Bishop Feehan High boys basketball team recorded a season-opening win at home on Saturday, winning 69-53 over Bishop Stang.
The Shamrocks took a lead 15-12 through the first quarter and entered halftime ahead 29-26 at half.
A third-quarter surge gave the Shamrocks a 49-36 at the end of three quarters.
“The third quarter, we kind of doubled them up to break the game open a little bit,” Bishop Feehan head coach Dean O’Connor said. “I think we were OK with the ball. They played in zone (defense) and we just didn’t knock down shots. It took a while to adjust and we picked it up on the defensive end.”
Turnovers and key plays where the Shamrocks ended the possession with an easy layup led to the twin 20-point quarters in the second half. Jack Chabot led the Shamrocks in scoring with 21 points and teammate Cooper Snead added 19 points (five 3-pointers).
In a reserve role, Brett McCaffery had 11 points, all in the second half.
“He gave us a great spark off the bench,” O’Connor said of McCaffery.
The Shamrocks (1-0) play again on Friday, Dec. 23, hosting Wareham.
Brett Mccaffery
Jack Chabot | 2022-12-12T04:35:05Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | H.S. BOYS BASKETBALL: Shamrocks roll in season opener | Sports | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/sports/h-s-boys-basketball-shamrocks-roll-in-season-opener/article_d1986a06-e126-545c-ac66-ffbb5bd90861.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/sports/h-s-boys-basketball-shamrocks-roll-in-season-opener/article_d1986a06-e126-545c-ac66-ffbb5bd90861.html |
P-Bruins fall out of first place with loss
PROVIDENCE -- Vin Lettieri stretched his points streak to five games with his 100rh career assist but the Providence Bruins fell 5-2 to Bridgeport Sunday in the AHL contest at the AMP.
The Sound Tigers, the affiliate of the New York Islanders, overcame a 2-1 first-period deficit by scoring four straight goals, two on the power play.
Oskar Steen tied the game at 1-1 for Providence at 10:21 of the first period after intercepting a pass. Georgii Merkulov gave the PBs a 2-1 margin at 13:09 of the first period on an assist from Lettieri behind the Sound Tigers' net.
Aatu Raty scored twice for Bridgeport, the go-ahead goal at 5:14 of the first period and the tying tally (at 2-2) at 15:32 of the first period.
Andy Andreoff also scored twice for Bridgeport, the team's fourth (at 13:39 of the second period on a rebound) and fifth (at 11:20 of the third period).
Keith Kincaid had 27 saves in goal for Providence, which unleashed 42 shots while going 0-for-2 on the power play. | 2022-12-12T04:35:23Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | P-Bruins fall out of first place with loss | Sports | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/sports/p-bruins-fall-out-of-first-place-with-loss/article_ed34f334-be16-5c98-9d59-abb6c5a5810b.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/sports/p-bruins-fall-out-of-first-place-with-loss/article_ed34f334-be16-5c98-9d59-abb6c5a5810b.html |
Tri-County girls, boys basketball aiming for postseason return
Another year, another season of Tri-County Regional basketball.
The Tri-County girls hoops team returns to the floor this winter hopeful of another playoff bid after an 8-12 season a year ago.
With experienced guards Noelle Kennedy and Amy Freitas back in the fray, Tri-County head coach Julie Caffrey said both will be key this season after taking steps forward in their junior season.
“Noelle and Amy have been key players for us since their freshman year,” Caffrey said on the two seniors. “They lost their sophomore year, but they came back in their junior year better. I’m hoping they build on that for this senior year and lead the team to the playoffs again.”
Caffrey said departing players from a year ago were big in keeping the Cougars sound on defense, and newcomers will be important in keeping them fundamentally strong on defense.
For now, the Cougars have a lineup, bit it could change as the season progresses.
“Replacing players we lost I think will be hard defensively. We really pride ourselves on the defense we play,” Caffrey said. “It’s been, ‘We’re going to try this girl out, and we’re going to go with her for now.’ I’ve also worked with others on the defensive spot in case they get into foul trouble or it doesn’t work out.”
The Cougars this season replenish underneath the basket with freshman forward Ava Gill. Kennedy and Freitas return as a 1-2 guard combo, Gabby Dergham is set for a breakout year as a forward, and Kailynn Appelon enters as a sophomore transfer.
When it comes down to it, though, the Cougar girls need to score to put themselves in a playoff spot. The Cougars didn’t cross 30 or more points scored in nine games a year ago and scored 47 in a win for a season-high.
“I think we just need to learn how to score,” Caffrey said. “The last couple of years we get good looks, and they’re all athletes, but (basketball IQ) and knowing how to score is our biggest struggle.”
Maturity, experience bringing Tri-County boys along
The Tri-County boys boast a number of seniors on the roster this winter, with seven boys suiting up for the Cougars.
This year looks like one of promise for the Cougars after a two-win season a year ago. Definite improvement has been seen by head coach William Cannon, making for what looks to be an exciting season with Southeastern also out of the conference now — making it a wide-open run for a league title.
“We’re excited for this season. I think we’ll have a definite improvement,” Cannon said. “The juniors that were playing last year and are not seniors have gone through maturity stages. They played a lot of ball this summer and fall and we’re excited about that. You can definitely see the improvement in their game.
“If we start strong and stay strong, I think we have the ability to make a difference,” Cannon said.
Cannon said Jad Jaber and Christian Fantasia will “shoulder a lot of the load” as the primary guards on the floor. Along with them, Lorcan Bergeron will come back as a team captain and complementary piece to the unit on both ends of the floor. Zack Blenkhorn also comes back after seeing numerous minutes last year and will see an expanded role.
Underclassmen and juniors will also be called upon by Cannon to take the next step in maturity to help keep Tri-County going as well.
Above all else, though, Cannon said it’s a season of optimism with a strong group of mature leaders that have worked together over the last four years.
“It’s great on-court maturity. This group, they’ve hung together and there’s a good familiarity,” Cannon said. “We should have greater expectations because they’re demonstrating leadership on and off the court.”
Julie Caffrey
Noelle Kennedy | 2022-12-12T04:35:36Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Tri-County girls, boys basketball aiming for postseason return | | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/tri-county-girls-boys-basketball-aiming-for-postseason-return/article_75d8d483-73e0-5863-95f2-844fc43c9fd5.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/tri-county-girls-boys-basketball-aiming-for-postseason-return/article_75d8d483-73e0-5863-95f2-844fc43c9fd5.html |
My name is Quinn, and I am a male DSH. Mr. Blue Eyes! Sweet, friendly, handsome. I am 9 years old. I passed all my labwork. I need to be the only pet in your life. When I want attention, I will reach out and give you a tap to let you know I am near. If you are looking for a buddy, please ask about me. I have a special adoption fee. An approved adoption application is required to bring me home. Please email ds4paws@hotmail.com or call the shelter 508-822- 1463. Our website is www.tauntonshelter.petfinder.com | 2022-12-12T06:41:14Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | QUINN | Pet Day | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/features/pet_day/quinn/article_f7341dbf-2c2d-5eae-9ff2-e0da06a2b893.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/features/pet_day/quinn/article_f7341dbf-2c2d-5eae-9ff2-e0da06a2b893.html |
Bill Gouveia: There's too much 'me' and not enough 'we' on Norton Board
If you live in Norton and haven’t paid much attention to your select board lately, you should. Because frankly, it’s a mess.
The current board lacks experience in the office. Each member has served less than three years. It is a committee consumed by internal strife and power struggles. The board is divided, and that division affects its ability to perform.
Take just the last few weeks as an example.
Christine Deveau, the youngest member and vice chair, suddenly resigned late last month with more than a year left on her term. Deveau did not give any public reason for her resignation, other than a Facebook statement citing “family, health and happiness come first.”
However, it has been no secret infighting and tension between board members — much of it behind the scenes — has affected its operation. Members Michael Toole and Steven Hornsby have pretty much been on one side, and chairperson Meg Artz and newest member Kevin Snyder on the other with Deveau.
At a recent meeting, Toole and Hornsby complained about Artz. Hornsby stated the board is suffering from “a lack of leadership” and called for reorganization. Both cited Artz for problems in handling the agenda, not showing up for parades and meetings, and not devoting enough time to the position (while making a point to note they both have enough time).
Then came the decision on whether to hold a special election to fill Deveau’s vacant seat, or simply wait for the next scheduled town election in April. The cost of holding an extra election is estimated to be about $10,000.
The town manager pointed out that holding a special election in February would only give a newly elected member “maybe five meetings” before the April election. But board members noted those meetings could be very important, cited the need to have a full board to avoid tie votes, and unanimously went ahead with the special election.
What they didn’t talk about — but no doubt played a role — was the politics involved.
Artz was elected chair over Toole by a 3-2 vote following the last election. Hard feelings appear to be lingering over that choice today. The next elected member will most likely be the swing vote in choosing the next chair.
Special elections, especially in February and with just one contest, do not attract many voters. That can be an advantage to some potential candidates who perhaps might struggle with greater turnout. Waiting for the April ballot was the more logical and economical move. But the board simply didn’t trust each other and took the political route.
There does appear to be a lack of leadership here. But leadership is not just the job of the chairperson. Other members have a responsibility to help make both the chairperson and the board successful. Right now, leadership in general — not just the chair — is a problem. There is too much “me” and not enough “we.”
Perhaps time and more experience on the board will teach some members to work cooperatively. But right now, they need to stop the political maneuvering and concentrate on the business of the town.
But it helps if they know voters are paying attention. | 2022-12-12T06:41:16Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Bill Gouveia: There's too much 'me' and not enough 'we' on Norton Board | Columns | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/opinion/columns/bill-gouveia-theres-too-much-me-and-not-enough-we-on-norton-board/article_57bc7c7f-fa9c-560e-99c1-6565f8b76260.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/opinion/columns/bill-gouveia-theres-too-much-me-and-not-enough-we-on-norton-board/article_57bc7c7f-fa9c-560e-99c1-6565f8b76260.html |
Christmas is for Kids will brighten holiday for 800 children in Attleboro area
Christmas Is for Kids volunteer John Costello of North Attleboro searches for toys to fill the wish list of a 6-year-old boy.
Christmas Is for Kids volunteers hustle and bustle about shopping and cataloging and filling Christmas lists Saturday for families in need.
ATTLEBORO -- Christmas is for Kids pretty much wrapped up its 40th anniversary year Saturday with resounding success and will be making it a merry Christmas for about 800 area children.
Each year, about 800 to 1,000 children in Attleboro, North Attleboro, Plainville, Norton, Seekonk and Rehoboth are helped by the gift drive, which is under the Greater Attleboro Area Council for Children.
This holiday season, every child’s wish will be fulfilled.
“Although not every child was matched to a donor, we received so much in general gifts in both toys and clothing, we have been able to complete the wish lists by shopping internally or by using some of the cash that was donated to us to purchase the items we did not have in house,” said Kelly Fox, who has spearheaded Christmas is for Kids for years.
So how many gifts have piled up at Christmas is for Kids headquarters?
“I’m sure it numbers in the thousands since, on average, we give a new coat, snow boots and pajamas to every child who needs them. We also add additional clothing as requested, perhaps new shirts or pants or hoodies,” Fox said. “Then we add toys, and depending on the age or requests, we could be adding a few or several toys in each bag, plus for the teens, sometimes they ask for gift cards.”
The drive began in the fall.
“Donations have been coming in steadily. Several local companies called early to match to children and have been very generous in their donations to match up to the wish lists,” Fox said. “We’ve also had several companies do toy drives and this has allowed us to complete wishes when donors may not have been able to add toys the children may have requested.”
Fox noted that having the flexibility to add gifts in-house allowed volunteers to complete bags quickly, instead of having to send volunteers out shopping or to wait for deliveries from online orders.
“Our Amazon and An Unlikely Story Bookstore wish lists allowed donors to give us very targeted gifts based specifically on children’s wishes,” Fox added.
Drive organizers had hoped to have all donations in by Saturday, which was the deadline for those interested in donating to call.
“It looks like some items will come in next week,” Fox said.
“If that happens, we may have to make some deliveries ourselves if what we need arrives past what we hope will be our final day to have local social service agencies as well as parents pick up.”
The annual Christmas drive will achieve its mission of putting smiles on hundreds of kids faces because of countless donors and volunteers.
“We are so grateful for the help of the community once again to ensure that the program was a success through donations and by volunteers with their care and kindness shown with every bag of magic they create,” Fox said. | 2022-12-12T15:06:05Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Christmas is for Kids will brighten holiday for 800 children in Attleboro area | Local News | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/christmas-is-for-kids-will-brighten-holiday-for-800-children-in-attleboro-area/article_5d049e07-d212-547b-972d-6cd296336f1c.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/christmas-is-for-kids-will-brighten-holiday-for-800-children-in-attleboro-area/article_5d049e07-d212-547b-972d-6cd296336f1c.html |
Bryan Noel 'Dola' Dawson, 76
Bryan Noel "Dola" Dawson, 76, of Foxboro, died Dec. 4, 2022.
Born in Christchurch, New Zealand, he was the son of the late Noel and R. Joan (Gall) Dawson. He was the father of the late Annie Dawson.
Bryan was a commercial fisherman on boats in Alaska and New Bedford. Always a seafarer, he visited many foreign ports as a Merchant Marine.
Survivors include his faithful longtime companion of 11 years who remained by his side, Patricia Christy of Foxboro; his sons, Brodie Dawson of New Bedford and Darren Taylor of Australia.
Private arrangements are with the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford, MA. For full obituary guestbook, visit www.saundersdwyer.com. | 2022-12-13T00:31:49Z | www.thesunchronicle.com | Bryan Noel 'Dola' Dawson, 76 | Obituaries | thesunchronicle.com | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/foxboro_reporter/obituaries/bryan-noel-dola-dawson-76/article_47325f5e-f68a-5c3c-b22a-4f3a95260a70.html | https://www.thesunchronicle.com/foxboro_reporter/obituaries/bryan-noel-dola-dawson-76/article_47325f5e-f68a-5c3c-b22a-4f3a95260a70.html |
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