GOOD NEIGHBOR: Each day Hannaford Supermarket delivers various food items to the Kingston Council on Aging. More then the customary breads and rolls, Hannaford’s bounty includes cakes, pies, rollups, sandwiches, chicken tenders, rice & beans, and we even saw gourmet pierogies. One might think these are all the ‘day old’ items that would be subject to big price reductions…but no, they all bear the same date as they are delivered. While other supermarkets may offer in-store day old products that are tossed if not quickly sold, Hannaford is truly helping Kingston’s seniors with a great blessing. With out-of-control gas and heating oil prices, many seniors are feeling the pinch; such offerings make a monetary difference. We thought it appropriate, especially at this time of year, to say thank you.

BEING PO’d: We can’t tell you how many calls we got complaining about the condition of the sidewalk in front of the Kingston Post Office. One caller said he assisted a woman who took a hard fall. Adding to the problem of the thick, yet uneven ice surface, is the fact that Monday, December 17 was considered the busiest day of the year. Certainly the PO will be experiencing lines right up to Monday the 24th. So who is responsible for the clearing of the sidewalk? We asked that question of Post Office personnel, who do maintain the walk from the sidewalk to the entrance door. They said it is the responsibility of the Town. A PO spokesman said he had spoken with the secretary at the Highway Department who said they are doing the best they can but the schools must come first. If accurate, that would imply the Town is remiss…but we’re not sure we buy that. The Post Offices leases the property from Shawn Casey…could it be his responsibility? We still have a few days before we go to press…we’ll learn more in the days to come.

BIRD STORY: While we’re on the subject of good deeds, here’s another really nice story with a happy ending. For reasons unknown to us, somebody had to give up their 10 year old African Parrot. These are pretty amazing birds and can live well beyond the life expectancy of their human owners. So anyway, the bird was temporarily quartered at Kingston Pet located in Cranberry Plaza with the goal of selling it to someone who understood that this was a lifetime commitment. A young man per chanced to frequent the shop and took an interest in the noisy creature. Manny Alexander, the shop owner, knowing that the bird was not happy with his orphaned status, warned the fellow that the bird would bite. Unheeding the warning, the man offered his hand and the parrot jumped aboard. The two became fast friends but the price tag put the bird, you might say, out of reach. It should be known that the bird and its primo cage could be offered for well over $1,000. Manny, seeing that man and bird should really be together, struck a deal for about a third that amount and the deal would be consummated four days later on payday. The purchaser told Manny that if anyone came to the shop prior to that day offering more money, he would understand that ‘business was business.’ Sure enough, the day came and man and bird were united for what could be life. But, what makes the story so nice is the fact that Manny was offered more money by someone else. Believing that he made a good match, and convinced that the parrot had found a good and permanent home, Manny Alexander declined the higher offer and did a really good thing. The parrot is now named Howard and his new home is in Plymouth. The young man is named David and he is my son. You are a good human being Manny…merry Christmas.

SEWER KISSOFF: Like others, the Kingston Sewer Commission is not happy with the efforts, or lack thereof of Town Counsel Koppelman & Paige. Sewer Chair Elaine Fiore appeared before the crew in the big seats earlier this month to request Special Counsel in dealing with a litigious matter concerning a sewer user. The Sewer folks had a different lawyer in mind and hoped the Selectmen would see fit to support them. Not so. Only Joe Kelleher voted to grant the request. You know, there was a time when the Selectmen felt the same way…but you’re never get the five amigos to replace K & P at this stage of the game…not as long as they continue to carry the 40-R agenda and sleep in with developer Lloyd Geisinger. The SewerCom got caught in a political backlash. One thing more in this regard. While everybody is taking care not to mention any names…because of possible litigation, all parties were revealed in our press packet. The lawyer being sought was Lee Alfieri of Plymouth and the party evoking the wrath of the Sewer folks is Fred Tonsberg. That being the case, why did Selectman Jean Landis-Naumann participate? Up until then, and since talking with the Ethics Commission, she has been recusing herself from any discussion that affects her participation as she is also a member of the Indian Pond Neighborhood Association. She clearly knew the matter dealt with her own Indian Pond neighborhood, yet she voted. Weeks earlier when the Selectmen met with the Planning Board in Executive Session to discuss Tonsberg, Naumann recused. When Lloyd Geisinger comes before the Board, she leaves the table. When is Jean going to get it right? For a supposedly bright woman, her voltage is down to about 30 watts. At any rate, the Sewer Commission is ripped by the refusal. UPDATE: Naumann actually participated when Lloyd came before the Selectmen on Tuesday (December 18). This adds even more confusion to the mix, having recused, then participating…which way we going Jean? The fact that Jean’s actions are already addressed in a lawsuit shows she is pushing the envelope…no good could come of this arrogance.

DEAL STRUCK: Lloyd Geisinger is looking to separate his project into two pieces, the Route 3 ramp and other roadway work, and the construction of the mega-complex. He is on an all out push to get the Phase One waiver. Two weeks ago he told the Sewer Commissioners he wanted a letter supporting the waiver because they were the most important board to weigh in on the matter. Two weeks later we attended a Conservation Commission hearing in which he told them that they were the most important board to weigh in. How deceptive can you get? He also told the Selectmen that it was MEPA themselves that suggested to him that he request the waiver. Let’s get this straight…MEPA tells you to file a waiver, Geisinger files with MEPA, then MEPA conducts a scoping session to deliberate the request that they suggested. Either Lloyd is making things up, or MEPA has just compromised their position. We might add that MEPA’s head honcho, Ian Bowles, was the keynote speaker out in Worcester to glad-hand the 2021 Project and present Kingston with an award for moving forward on Kingston’s last will and testament. Bowles, along with other State agencies who will evaluate the 1021 permitting process, were involved in the award committee…wonder how they’ll maintain neutrality in that process.

IDLE TALK: You gotta love the latest caper coming out of the "Green Committee." Mark Beaton gave a report at a Selectmen’s meeting several weeks ago that would seek to reduce vehicle idling. The gambit was to have citizens of the town enforce the minimum idle policy by issuing "Green Tickets" that would request a voluntary fine be paid to promote more such Green Initiatives. It was so bizarre that Joe Kelleher likened the auction to that reminiscent of a "Police State". If it were up to Mark that is exactly what he would do. Mark must run the Green Police Committee with an absolute rule. When the Selectmen thanked his for his innovation they asked that all the references to fines be struck. Mark, not finding any need to check back with his committee, agreed on the spot, and then voted to…I don’t know, placate the group…or something nice. If Mark is going to save the planet, and we think that’s a nice thing, be he must realize that it may take more then a few weeks.

KEVIN REVIN’ up his engine to split from the world of Kingston politics? We see that Kevin Donovan made it to the short list of finalists for the $120,000+ position as Town Administrator for Marshfield. Our guess is that the choice will come down to Donovan and former Duxbury Town Manager Rocco Longo who currently serves as Manager fr the town of Billerica. Donovan is no slouch, having served as a Selectman in Abington, Town Administrator in Rockland and Kingston, and was a County Com-missioners for a number of terms. We almost Kevin does not get the job… on many occasions he is the only voice of reason in trying to manage a group of Selectmen whose actions can border on the bizarre.

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