BATTLE ROYALE: Quite a stir outside Carmela’s Restaurant last week. It looked like a full-fledged screaming match between David Fitzgerald and Mauro Mazzilli. It got so heated we were told that a punch was thrown and some shoving took place. Now this is quite interesting in that, during another life, these two little fellows were bosom buddies. What could have inspired this rather embarrassing melee? At one point a motorist yelled out that the two should take their fight to the senior center (obviously an out-of-towner who doesn’t realize we don’t have one). The Ringside staff is offering each combatant a six week training program at the Petronelli Gym in Brockton.

UNION SUPPORT: We spoke with Firefighter Union President John Bartlett and asked how selectman candidate Paul Barry managed to get endorsed by them. “Because he asked” was the general answer. Bartlett said the Union doesn’t approach candidates but they are certainly able to approach them. Even though there are two open seats, “No one else asked” he said. We suspect such was also the case with the Police Union. Notwithstanding all this, we consider police and fire endorsements a dicey issue when it comes to local elections…could lead to some hard feelings, retribution, favor, or a combination of each.

JOHN HAMILTON will be sadly missed by the Ringside Observers. Our association with John goes back some 30 years. There were ups and downs throughout those three decades, but in the end we understood John better then most. There was a soft spot in the man that he always felt obliged to conceal, perhaps it was a defense mechanism rooted from the times in which he grew up. He was also a product of the Depression. He had those piercing eyes and that gruff voice that immediately intimidated. He always believed in getting to the point. John was self-made, he worked for all he acquired, and his work reaped benefits. John was shrewd, irascible, funny in his own right and valued loyalty. His brilliance was not born of books, reports and surveys; it was derived from instinct. You had to get close to John to know him and you had to stay close to understand him. We believe we accomplished both. Rest in peace John.

WELL DONE: We celebrate with the Kingston Reporter and the community with their choice of Kingston Kids Care as Citizen of the Year recipients. The youngsters who comprise the group have been no flash in the pans. The group has devoted years of service to various aspects of ‘making a difference.’ Congratulations.

THINK BEACH: It won’t be long when the weather breaks and we can begin to think about trips to the beach. The long awaited renovations of Gray’s Beach will be underway and the opening of the snack bar should be opening for the full season. You may recall that the Taylor Family of Kingston operates the concession. They are the owners of South Shore Seafood right here on Summer Street. They serve up anything from a dog to a burger to a full fried seafood dinner. Rave reviews last year. Bring it on.

GUTSY FRAN: Fran Hoeg’s performance as Town Moderator improves through the years. Some folks may not realize it but a very tricky issue surfaced during the last night of Annual Town Meeting. The matter related to the petitioned smoking ban article (Article 39), the last piece of business before the town. Town Counsel, in her review of the article, added language that would have eliminated private clubs from the language. Mark Beaton took his argument to the Moderator alleging that it went beyond the scope of what the petitioners had signed. He further argued that in his mind it actually increases the scope of the article by placing the full burden of the by-law on restaurants. This little conference took place prior to the article’s presentation. Later on Hoeg called a recess and we are told Hoeg essentially overruled counsel and informed petitioner Mark Guidoboni of her decision. All these little things that one would never know…except the Ringside Observer, and now our readers.

SHERIFF JOE? We continue to receive news that Joe Palombo is going to be running for Plymouth County Sheriff. We would not be telling you this but for the fact that we are hearing it from Joe himself. If it really happens there should be a sign that says “Vote For The Joe Of Your Choice” or “Vote For A Good Joe.” That’s only fair, right Sheriff McDonough?

SEWER BILL: The Sewer Commissioners are about to launch WWIII when they mail out a bill to Indian Pond Estates developer Fred Tonsberg. They have decided to charge the Country Club facility for 35 units of sewer charges which converts itself to about $13,000 annually. Sewer Commissioner Brian Donahoe said his board has attempted to get input from Fred on this issue to no avail and will authorize the mailing of the letter next meeting. We already feel the earth shaking.

DEAL CLOSED: Thank goodness the Town Hall/First Parish Church land issue is settled, for a mere $22,000 and 10 years worth of shoveling snow at the Beal House. We are awaiting a court ruling on whether or not a judge will allow the Davis land case on Pottle Street to proceed. That one is already well over $22,000… trust us.