MARY'S PAPER: We haven't heard much about this new entry into the news world. Last month Mary O'Donnell called us so we would be the first to know that she was about to become a publishing mogul. We haven't heard much more about all this of late and perhaps it was a passing case of angst. At any rate, it could be cheaper for Mary if she wrote a monthly column in the Observer. After all, we don't put muzzles on our staff. They are free to write in a completely unencumbered manner. So here's the deal, Write a guest column every month Mary. It will not cost you a dime and we won't subject you to edit. The offer is on the table and comes just in time for the family 40-B operation. Sweet. We will hold open the offer indefinitely.

WAIT AND SEE: Several public office seekers pulled papers for both seats on the same board. Cases in point: Sewer Commission. David Fitzgerald, Manny Cordeiro and Elaine Fiore pulled for both the two and three year term. Last week, on the final return date of the papers, Fiore decided on the full three-year seat and Cordeiro decided not to return for either. Fitzgerald was the only hopeful to return both sets of papers and make people wait until next week when he decides on only one (you can't hold two of three seats on the same board. All this drama Does anybody really care?

CASE FILES: We haven't heard much more about the status of the Cretinon or Caseau cases. Although we reported on-line that Richard's bail would be met at any time, it hasn't materialized. With regard to Caseau, the Prosecutor wants a speedy trial because Brian lives next door to several of the victims. It's all such ugly business.

PENNY WISE: We're still trying to figure out how you save on overtime by hiring four new cops. The principle never has worked in the past.

PARCELING OUT: You'll notice that several town-owned parcels of land are on the Town Meeting Warrant. The idea is to give the Selectmen the authority to sell them off. They claim that any sale under $25,000 doesn't have to go out to bid. Always a dangerous prospect, putting that kind of faith in the faithless. Included in the list is that piece of property at the end of Bradford Road adjacent to the L. Knife complex. No, no, a thousand times no. That parcel must be carved from the list and kept right where it is, under town control. And who do you want to bet is licking their chops waiting to snap it up, yup, you guessed it, the mavens of malt. Let's do something for the neighborhood, keep it and make it a school bus turnaround.

I'MA DISCLOSER: We got a kick out of the disclosure notice filed by developer Shawn O'Donnell. Because Shawn is filing a 40-B housing application he is required to file disclosures under the Conflict of Interest Laws because he sits on the Conservation Commission. In a February 24 letter, O'Donnell writes: "I have no disclosure obligation to the town of Kingston, MA because Old Colony Commons, LLC is not obligated due to the nature of the proposal being outside of the jurisdiction of the Conservation Commission, to file with the Conservation Commission." Well, that's just plain false. How can this be written with a straight face when the ConsCom is on the distribution list for the 40-B application? The Conservation Enforcement Officer (As a ConsCom member O'Donnell is a boss) provided testimony at the initial hearing. ConsCom is involved up to their eyeballs, Shawn knows that.

ANOTHER TOWN LOSS: We have known Neale LaPlante for as long as we have lived in Kingston. Much of that time Neale suffered from some debilitating physical disorders resulting in many surgical procedures. He never complained, looked at things from the best side and, together with his lifelong mate Marge, managed the business of the Landing Marine Boatyard until its recent sale to the good people of the Watershed Association. Our thoughts and prayers are with Marge, his children and the extended family.

MALL TALK: What's going on up at the Mall? Here are some of the things you haven't read about. Where do we start? How about Bob's Store. If you've gone by there lately you will notice a showroom full of cars. It seems the Mall management boys made an offer to Exit 8 boys that was too good to pass up, ergo, we have about 60 cars inside the former retail giant. The only problem is that nobody ever told the town. All those cars, all that gas, those batteries, I mean, there are permits that must be in place. So, after getting busted, Kingston did what we generally do with those who transgress, we give 'em permits. Batteries must be disconnected, gas tanks with only traces of gas, pads under the engine, sprinklers and alarms, secure gas caps, good only until May 31 and lastly, no sales. What did we find? Batteries were disconnected, pads under about only half the cars and a sales staff, one of whom told us that they've sold about 20 cars over the last two weeks. It was Deputy Fire Chief Bobby Heath that discovered the action and required that all the safety regs be adhered to. So remember, if it looks like a showroom, it won't much longer. Zoning Enforcement Officer Paul Armstrong has given them 'til the end of the month to cease and desist all operations and clear out the vehicles.

Next item, still on the car thing. Several months ago the Board of Selectmen leased a piece of land to Sullivan Brothers for the Mitsubishi end of the business which only held a Special Permit to sell cars. The claim was that some additional cars could be better displayed for those traveling by on the way to Lowes. Fast forward to the Planning Board who are now reviewing the parcel, which now includes the town-owned portion, for a full service dealership. And what was the price for this vital piece of Kingston Turf up in that high rent district? $500 a year.

And finally, notice things are quiet about the cinema expansion? The plan calls for the expansion from 10 to 18 screens, the inclusion of sit-down restaurants and food shops. Jo-Ann Fabric & Crafts will be gone with the theatre complex absorbing it. Although an earlier report from Mall management was that it would require Planning Board approval, we're being told that they can do all this as a matter of right. The rationale? It is not an extended use and there will be no need for additional parking. Our Building Inspector can do this on his own. With parking already at a premium, a mega-movie complex will certainly increase the need for more space, wouldn't you think? We'll have to touch more bases on this and report back next issue.

GREAT TIMING: The town is in line for an almost $9 million sewer grant. That should change some campaign speeches leading up to the election of two Sewer Commissioners. We believe that no matter what type of assistance we receive, the Commission must keep in touch with the people who will be affected by the line running by their homes. Stop & Shop and the Kingsbury Club are under consent orders from the state, the average Joe along the line is not.

REGIONAL SCHOOLS: Your Ringside Editor, finding it a shame to see that nobody took out papers to run for the second seat on the Regional School Committee, did so himself. Well that caused a stir. And yet, we wonder why? Nobody else wanted it. We availed ourselves of the opportunity to see if somebody would come forward and commit to make some degree of effort to accept write-ins for the seat. John Creed, former occupant of the seat, did step up to the plate and acknowledge that although he was intending to step down, he would support and participate in a write-in to retain his seat. That was all we needed to hear and withdrew our name from the ballot. We will be well served with James Connolly and John Creed.

BACK 2 BID: That Children's Museum idea, as good as it sounds will go back out to bid. Both Brian McWilliams and Tom Bouchard had put in bids for the use of the old town hall Green Street structure. These were competing bids, not a joint venture. The way we hear it is once you begin to re-structure the essence of a changed bid, you've got to back out. It was probably a stupid idea to have the two men come in for a public session if this is about bids.

KENNEYBUNK REPORT: Wonder why Dick Kenney goes into high C any time a matter comes up dealing with Tom Bouchard. Bouchard was among those who appealed the ZBA decision to allow Dick to build a house behind his house on Main Street about a year and a half ago. Nice to see Dick deals with issues not personalities.

SOME BOUNCE: They say follow the bouncing ball. We've been doing that with Ted Alexiades. We are well aware of his unorthodox chairmanship role on the Pottle Street Ballfield Committee. Teflon, we believe was the operative nickname. We followed his near miss over in Hingham regarding the whereabouts of some computers. He survived that crisis on a 2-1 vote. We saw him come, then go as Treasurer for Kingston baseball and the American Legion. We read about his troubles dealing with the management of his grandmother's estate down in his native New Jersey, and his under radar role in trying to get the ballfields in the hands of a private group, and now this, his quest to become Town Treasurer, without giving up his big ticket financial position in Hingham, and we say, oh boy. We knew former Treasurer Roscoe Cole, and Alexiades is no Roscoe Cole. Rocky was never considered "slick". There is no room for more "slick" at town hall. We don't generally offer comments on an individual race, but in this case we must depart, for our own peace of mind.

PAGAN PRIDE: How on earth did we ever miss Pagan Pride Day held at the Beal House last September 27. We recently happened across the review of the event on line where some of the leading witches, Wicca's and pagans assembled. We'll have to mark our calendars if they return next year. Why do we have trouble visualizing this event on the grounds of the UU Church? Go to Google and type in Pagan Pride: Kingston, MA.

NICE GUYS Finish last, or almost. Former Audit Committee member Jerry Powell has been trying to effect some changes in the duties of the Audit Committee for several years now. The powers to be simply want to thwart any attempt the poor guy makes in order to even bring the issue to Town Meeting. In the past Powell was told that Town Counsel had ruled the Article out of order and it never made it to the floor. In addition, they always stick the Article at the tail end of the meeting, at a time when people are already heading for the doors. Nothing has changed this year. It's Article 29 out of a 30 Article Warrant and once again Counsel is huffing and puffing (probably at the direction of one of the Selectmen or two) to blow down the Article once again. Powell deserves his day. No citizen should be toyed with. The operative word here is town counsel. Powell should be able to sit down with counsel and craft the wording that would allow the Article to go forward. Certainly Powell would realize that the assistance certainly does not guarantee passage, that will be determined by the audience. So, there is still time to get the item before the people, make it happen and the voters will do the rest.