MEAT ADVISORY: We noted that the Brockton Enterprise gave a “thumbs up” to the Board of Health’s Dennis Randall in their weekly editorial section. Randall asked the Selectmen to conduct an investigation into the alleged theft of meat from a catering truck over a year ago. (The matter just recently became news) Randall asked that the police get involved. Olly DeMacedo said the matter would be taken under advisement. Translation: ‘Thank you Mr. Randall, we’ll check this out in another life.’ Makes you wonder why an allegation of grand larceny goes uninvestigated? By the way, the insurance settlement in this matter was wrapped up for $4,000. How do you spell “bogus.”

BIG 90: Congratulations to one of our coffee shop comrades, Albion Holmes who turned 90 last week. Albion is a very quiet but witty guy. Next time we meet Mr. Holmes, coffee’s on…you.

THREE’S A CROWD: We sent a Ringside Observer down to the Hilltop function room a few weeks ago for an informational meeting held by the Beacon Group, who by now you must know is attempting to put in 40-B Housing next to the rail station. Only three members of the public were in attendance, Harley and Marjorie Cadenhead from Wapping Road, along with Barbara Triffletti from Howland’s Lane. You might ask why so few. In truth, the meeting was finalized and a fax was sent to the town hall giving about 36 hours notice. Although Beacon says they are contacting abutters, Helen Gavin, a direct abutter, says she has received nothing and has no fax machine. We know of no other such “meetings” with the public. The big magilla will be this Tuesday, July 29, at 7:30, Faunce School.

ANN WHITE of 20 Summer Street has an unusual problem. Many years ago Ann’s property consisted of the house she currently resides in, along with an adjacent barn. Many years ago the land was subdivided into two lots and the barn became a very nice home. Ann has been distressed because she believes she is losing a portion of her driveway right-of-way to an aggressive owner of the second parcel. Ann showed us a deed that gives her “a right-of-way 12’ in width to be used in common with the owners of Lot B.” At age 83, Ann says she really doesn’t need the anxiety. When she went up to pay a recent tax bill, she learned that the ownership of the two lots are referenced the exact opposite of reality. She is listed as the owner of her neighbor’s property and visa versa. Oh boy, kinda puts the whole problem in a whole new realm. Keep us informed Ann.

DOUBLE STANDARD: Once again we see indisputable evidence that Selectman Richard Cretinon enjoys the political favor of his position. Let’s begin with the Engine 2 Fire Memorial plot at “the point” of Route 3-A and Main Street. As you can see by a sign, the plot, under the auspices of the Kingston Garden Club Adopt-a-Space Program, is cared for by Cretinon’s sign company (free publicity of sorts). The truth is, Cretinon has never cared for the spot at all. He was assigned the spot last year and the care was provided by a host of volunteers which includes members of the Garden Club, a neighbor across the street, a few firemen and selectman from yesteryear. This year, the plot is cared for by the same people along with a couple of volunteers from the Kingston Engine 2 Unit. We hear that some members of the Garden Club are afraid of negative publicity if Cretinon were confronted with being fired. Not a good message to all those who faithfully tend their assigned spots.
The other issue is the condition of his Pembroke Street abode. Now surely a man’s home is his castle, but the front yard looks like a lot for surplus Iraqi war vehicles. From commercial trucks to vans and other manner of mobilization, the place must surely be lowering the value of neighborhood property. We don’t want you to think we’re picking on our little homegrown political cherub, but there are regulations on the number of unregistered vehicles allowed to be sitting on or sold from a residential address. This, of course is to be enforced by our Building Inspector… who serves at the pleasure of… right again, the Selectmen. Now, you and I both know we would be visited in a New York minute by the appropriate representatives if we did the same. Ahh, the perks of public servitude.

LEFT BEHYNES: Best of luck to Kevin Hynes who recently sold his popular Paisano’s Restaurant. Kevin and his wife Beth, of Kingston, will be expecting a new arrival in several months. Kevin told Selectmen during the liquor license transfer hearing recently, that it was time to reduce his frenetic schedule. He does remain involved in Plymouth’s Isaac’s, and Dillinger’s along with other restaurant interests. Kevin was always a gentleman, a good neighbor and ran a smooth operation. We wish all the best to new owner James Tsekeris who has decades of experience as a restaurateur and assures residents that no major changes will occur. “Paisano’s is an Italian Restaurant and will remain so. I will offer Cipino, a personal favorite of mine, which is an Italian Bouillabaisse. Maybe a lamb dish, but nothing major. The current formula works.”

WATER FALLS: The recent fire at the Charlie Horse Restaurant, thankfully, was minor. But a basic problem was revealed as a result. When firefighters tried to couple their hose to the nearest hydrant across the street, it fell over. Hose was stretched a considerable distance away to the next one. The same day a similar situation occurred during a house fire on South Street. The Ringside Observers were told that both Deputy Chief Bobby Heath and former chief Jon Alberghini, who were involved in these events, were livid. The problem is that you could run out of hose in such situations or lose pressure. It involves those odd looking hydrants that are raised above ground level. We’ll have to contact the water department to see what’s up with that.

Speaking about water departments. The recent situation in Plymouth must have all the towns keeping a close eye. Four veteran water department personnel were suspended without pay pending an investigation. It is claimed that when their inspection tours were completed they went home. Plymouth hired a private investigator to follow these guys. After making a report, the four were suspended. Plymouth will suffer a black eye here. The men indicated that upon completion of their inspections, they were free to go home as long as they remained on beeper to return if needed. The water superintendent approved this. Problems here is the four should have simply referred the matter to their union rather then implicate their boss. Chain of command is king in a municipal setting. But hiring a private investigator. That’s a bit over the top. Imagine if we did that here in Kingston, the Assessor’s office would be wiped out.

SHERIFF WOES continue for our Plymouth County counterpart Joe McDonough. After the first payless payday in memory (purchasing agent guru George Cravenho must have winced), we now learn that a special auditing committee will be examining Joe’s fiscal management skills. Certainly not good press coming out of Plymouth. Fortunately, Senator Murray got involved and brokered a deal to find the necessary funds to achieve a bailout until the end of the fiscal year. There are always two sides to every story…we’ll see what the audit reveals.

ARBOR HILLS, you know, the new “condominium development for active adults over 55” according to a mass mailing that recently went out, is nearing completion. The project, on Wapping Road (Route 106), boasts 2,100+ square feet of living space, 2.5 baths, seven rooms and a 2 car attached garage. Why does all this not sound like an empty nester development?

GO BRADFORD HOUSE: The Plymouth County Convention & Visitor’s Bureau recently put their name to a slick four color piece called Back Roads of the South Shore. The major sponsors are The Radisson Hotel in Plymouth and The Patriot Ledger newspaper. The point of the mention is that our own Bradford House is prominently featured among the historically significant sites along the visitor’s tour route. We should be grateful to the Jones River Village Historical Society who have been so successful in its management and seeing it surface as an important part of the area’s history. We’re sure if you call 781-585-6300 you could get a copy. It’s a great souvenir. By the way, the Sunday Breakfasts are a great take.

“IT’S RAGTIME” was the response from Town Treasurer Rocky Cole in response to the recent melee involving the Sewer Commission. “They’ve been misrepresenting things for a long time, now they have decided to point the finger at me.” Cole was referring to a claim by the Commission that Cole has arbitrarily passed on fees at an interest rate not consistent with the instructions of the Sewer Boys. Commission Chairman Brian Donahoe has recently accused Cole of “doing what he’s doing because that is what he is doing.” Donahoe said this is essentially what Cole put in a letter to the Commission. Cole said “You can’t abate interest.” His letter shows that Cole sought responses to questions going back a year ago with no response. Cole suggests that he would welcome any dialogue and provides attachments to support the legality and rationale of his actions. “I do what the law dictates” concluded Cole. Next.

FOREIGN PRESS: With all these dailies and weeklies claiming to be Kingston’s paper, do you think one of them could do an “advance” of the 40-B public hearing this Tuesday (29th) that could change our town forever? You can’t be content with covering the aftermath, which only tells people what they missed. And by the way, it’s about time we stopped reading Gray’s Beach renovation puff pieces when it has been clear to anybody living in town that the place was in shambles. Duhhh!
DAY OLD: We received a few calls from senior citizens indicating that the rack of day old produce items at Stop & Shop was no longer available. They indicated that seniors, living on fixed incomes, look forward to and even rely on the bargain prices. There was some indication, according to them, that the program had been suspended. Not so, according to Stop & Shop, Kingston management. They told us that for several days there was no inventory for the racks. They characterized this as unusual. The day old produce racks are still up and running, along with the bakery rack of similar bargains. Management assures us that the long-standing tradition will continue.

DUNKIN’ DUNKED: We attended the public hearing on the application for the fourth Dunkin’ Donuts here in town. That would have been one for each precinct, and all owned by the same guy. We commented that Kingston had been very good to owner John Cadete in supporting his three other Kingston locations. We urged him to now “be good to Kingston” by withdrawing his petition. Not unexpected, he did not. One interesting point occurred prior to the commencement of discussion when Planning Board member Ed King indicated that the payments of the various hearing application fees had yet to be paid. The proceedings came to a halt allowing Mr. Cadete the time to retrieve his checkbook from his car and write out a check for we believe $2,750. One hour later the petition was denied along with Cadete’s bank balance. Actually, we think he is able to retrieve a significant portion since no engineer was actually utilized to review the plans.

DATING GAME: We noticed that one side of the Route 3-A bridge currently under perennial construction, has a date etched in the concrete, 2003. The North side of the abutment has none. One can only assume that when the bridge is complete, the year of that happy event will be so inscribed. Any guesses as to what that year will be?

POND VIEW: A few weeks ago, after a torrential rain, we drove past the new town hall. The standing water at the Evergreen side was a few feet deep. What was even more bizarre was that the sprinklers remain running. The problem must have been corrected (we hope), because the water was greatly reduced after this last storm. Hope we’ve seen the last of the water.