GOOD NEWS: We may have lost the use of one beach in town, but we gained the use of a new one. We are, of course, referring to the large pond situated in the driveway of the new Town Hall. We had thought the problem was solved, but the accompanying photo shows such is not the case If the problem is not corrected soon, it will be treated as a vernal pool by the ConsCom and a wetlands notification may be required. The Ringside photographic team, putting life and limb at risk, shot this rare photo on Sunday, August 17, providing positive evidence that sea life has indeed laid claim to this new water resource. Kidding aside, this engineering marvel must certainly be corrected prior to opening day lest we become the laughing stock of the South Shore.

PLYMOUTH SHERIFF Joe McDonough continues to have his PR problems. His budget woes are becoming legendary and sources now tell us that he received a 91% no confidence vote from the union, who we also are told voted an increase in dues in order to fight the various grievances that have been filed. We wonder if Joe D. will run again what with all this going on? That will really be determined by who runs in the primary.

JOE PALOMBO, who must surely be keeping a close eye on the Sheriff, held a meeting in Kingston on August 13 to begin a strategy of seeking the office McDonough now holds. Interesting arrays of backers were present according to a source in attendance. The next session will be held in September. Joe must be taken seriously. He has campaign experience and the motivation.

BE PREPARED: Before each meeting, Selectmen are supposed to read through their manual in order to be prepared for the evening’s events. Not all do. Last week, during a discussion of the Town Administrator’s Report, Dick Kenney was fumbling and mumbling over the material when George Cravenho leaned over and uttered to him, “You’re supposed to read the book before the meeting”. It was just loud enough to be heard in the audience.

MARS VISION: The weather gurus tell us that Mars will be visible to the naked eye on August 27. What about Venus?

INTERSECTION WORK: Mass Highway has plans to begin work in the center of town, at and around the railroad crossing. They will be widening the roadway, reinstalling sidewalks and eliminating the existing parking. Work will begin just down from the Observer Offices on Summer Street at the antique stores and the roofing company. It will continue a brief distance up Evergreen Street, several hundred feet up Pottle Street and end just beyond the tanning salon. The work will surely stifle an already troublesome parking situation and make life difficult for the downtown merchants. When will all this begin? They say in six months to four years. This could pose real problems for business and will require cooperation and creativity in order to save the Center.

GRAY’S BEACH will not open at all this season. This comes as no surprise to us, we had that pegged months ago even before the Recreation could admit that fact to themselves. What bothers us about the whole mess is that they were never up front about the matter. We started with all the hype associated with the announced July 4 gala re-opening (keep in mind, the beach was closed most of last summer too), next we were told of delays that would hold up the opening for a week, then two weeks. Now we are told that safety issues during the construction led to the decision. What hogwash. We are dealing with ineptitude here folks. There is no leadership person taking responsibility for the project. Honesty we could deal with, platitudes no. We should have gotten more for our $450,000 commitment. Even as we pen these thoughts, beachgoers are ignoring the no trespassing postings and using the beach during construction. Drive down there on any hot, sunny day and check out the farce for yourself. Will it look good when it’s finally done? It better. We can’t help but wonder what the Commission will be looking for in funding at the next town meeting, and who will make the motion.

DAVE GRIFFITHS will be retiring from the Police Department on September 26 after 30 years on the job. Boy, how time flies. We have known Dave on a personal level since we went into the newspaper business during the blizzard of ’78. The station occupied the lower level of the old town hall back in those days. The core of officers was the salt of the earth, many of them still serving. Some of the old timers who served with Dave way back when are names like Wayne Cristani (who had hair then), Denny O’Brien, Richard Pina, Gordon Fogg, and Richard Arruda. Guys retired or who passed we remember well were Jack Morgan, Bobby Randall, John Cram, Chief Kenny Cram, Chief Jimmy Goonan, Rich Bocash (who had the biggest arms on a human being), Eddie “Sully” Sullivan, Dennis Fucchini, and others. Certainly nothing ever remains the same, but we will miss Dave. Throughout his 30 years he has been a model policeman and a true gentleman. Dave rarely raised his voice and exuded a calm and confidence that would have made him a success in any field he chose. Fortunately for Kingston, he served us for 30 years. We wish you well in your retirement Dave.

HOME DEPOT recently held a neighborhood open house at their Plymouth location. In all the years they have been open, we never felt any expression of neighborliness before. Now they want us to “meet the people behind the apron.” Do you think the corporate giant was motivated by the recent opening of Lowes here in Kingston? Nahhh, they’re just being good neighbors…right?

CHUCK McCOY still has issues with the town. You remember Chuck, our former tax collector who is still looking for reimbursement from the town for legal expenses he incurred over an excise tax issue while in office. In addition, Chuck claims he was never paid fees due him while in office. We also understand that monies put aside by McCoy that were submitted to the Treasurer’s Office by McCoy to pay his predecessor, Keith Peavey, were never paid out. Chuck is furious and hurt over what he considers bad treatment. This should result in a news story next month when the specifics can be released.

FREE CONSULTANT: Where else but in Kingston would you find the Selectmen turning down $10,000 worth of consulting grant funding for a 40-B expert to assist us in our “affordable housing plan”? Mark Beaton proposed it and the Selectmen, led by George Cravenho nixed it, claiming it could be re-visited when we are ready to put our plan in motion. Cravenho says we have the brainpower to develop our own plan and don’t need the money at this stage. Ya, sure. The development stage is the critical stage. What happens at the outset can come back and haunt us for years to come. Besides, if we’re all so smart, how come we haven’t solved the access problems up at the Mall/industrial complex ourselves?

ROLE MODEL: We read with interest how the Plympton Conservation Commission halted work being done on a subdivision by Springer Construction which is owned by Plympton Selectman Richard Springer. It seems Springer never applied for any of the filings necessary to work in the wetlands. At least in this case, ConsCom chair Donald Nagle is outraged and promises quick action. We are glad to see that at least in Plympton, Selectmen are held accountable for their actions. There is a lesson to be learned here by our tiny neighbors to the East.

ALTERED STATE? Selectmen (those who read the plans), were dismayed last week after looking through the plans by the Conant Group who will be developing property on Maple Street. If you recall, Town Meeting action rezoned the old C. Drew complex to accommodate plans for over 55 residences along the old millpond. They also promised to build a new senior center as part of the deal, which, to a large extent, won them support for the rezoning. Well, it seems none of the plans call for the center which both Mark Beaton and George Cravenho find disturbing (the others will be sufficiently disturbed once they actually read the plans). We certainly hope we were not duped by the Boston firm who promised us the moon in order to curry our vote. More on this later.

WHERE’S JIMMY? Officially retired. From the Post Office that is. Remember that loveable Jimmy LaGrande, the poneytailed Harley fan who thrilled all the kiddies with his wacky rubber stamps on the hand and those weird eyeglasses? Someone new has officially taken his place. The place will never be quite the same. By the way…we hear the Post Office Department has not given up on a new post office. Now that Maple Street is out of the question the options are narrowing. Hmmmm.

HOW SAFE: According to Boston Magazine, Kingston ranks 91 among the overall safest towns and best places to live in the Commonwealth. Comprising the list involved a 13 point criteria including pollution, fires, suicide, general death rate, traffic accidents, per-pupil spending, open space, and health care. Not really that bad on the whole. Neighboring Duxbury rated 13.

NEW VILLAGE: Word is that the Master Plan Implementation Committee is attempting to craft the town’s affordable housing plan to essentially recreate the New Village District in the South Industrial Park. That plan was killed by two different town meetings even though every relevant board favored it as did a majority of those voting. The zoning change requires a 2/3 vote. We’re not sure if we like the back door approach here, although we understand the logic. If we want a third bite of the New Village apple then let’s go back to town meeting a third time. The notion of wrapping the concept in a 40-B dress is disingenuous. The public hearing on a 40-B plan resumes on the 9th of September, 7:30, Faunce School.

40-B THOUGHT: The Ringside insiders believe that the Beacon Companies, advocates of the 780 units on the O’Donnell property will still prevail up there, but with fewer numbers. Now that Kingstonian Peter Opachinski has submitted a 40-B proposal at the Southeastern pit on Elm Street, the Selectmen have welcomed him with open arms. Peter is one of those home grown types that gets star billing irrespective of what he does, notwithstanding the fact that he’s actually just another sand and gravel hauler but with a more boyish smile and a trio of supporters on the Board of Selectmen. Cretinon and Kenney will trip all over themselves for the lad because…well, just because, for now. DeMacedo must recuse himself from the issue because they essentially work for the same business interests. Olly will have to gush his support from the audience on this one because even he can’t properly justify the obvious conflict that certainly exists. But we digress. With 160 units being sought by Opachinski, Beacon will simply have to forfeit at least that many for the accommodation. You may also remember that DeMacedo, Opachinski and Cretinon all serve together on the Pottle Street ballfield committee. We also welcome Billy Lyons as the newest tenant at the Southeastern site now providing mulch, loam and…sand and gravel (free plug). Notice that all these guys stick together, business to business, volunteers, and all-purpose good guys. Try to cull through the layers of these relationships. Actually, we thought Southeastern operated under a pre-existing non-conforming use. We also thought once that use ceased to be, it had to end. Didn’t think another sand and gravel venture could pick up where another left off…or any other business for that matter.

WHITE HOUSE mold? Why is it we immediately wonder if this is political bashing aimed at the Republican Party? Surely these Silver Lake cubicles could have been more creatively named.