POLITICS ALREADY? Yes, it seems so. What with the recent resignation of Richard Cretinon, a bevy of names has been floated. It appears that Selectman George Cravenho may be quite active in courting a friendly field. Three names jump out at us: Frank Basler of FinCom and Master Plan fame, Jean Landis Naumann, also a FinCom aficionado (but with greater ties to Olly then George), and, for George, the big prize, Melanie Meeker (Yup, the former big cahuna from, you guessed it, the FinCom). What’s at stake here is the chairmanship of the board. Dick Kenney and George want Olly gone. They need a third vote to accomplish that. Other names mentioned about joining the field are Paul Barry from the Elementary School Committee, who recently got his clock cleaned by the Brockton Enterprise tying him to political patronage with Sheriff Joe McDonough, Elaine Fiore (FinCom again) from Rocky Nook, and a few more mentioned on the TKO on-line message boards. One would think that Richard’s departure would begin a renaissance in the political process, nahhh.

FRAN’S RUNNING: Oh, those ugly rumors again. Word on the streets is that Town Moderator Fran Hoeg will not be seeking her seat in April. Further rumor is that George Cravenho (that name again) will leave the Board of Selectmen and close out his political career with gavel in hand as Town Meeting czar. George is still smarting from back-to-back losses for that seat in the late 70’s and might want to make a point here, but alas, Fran denies the rumors and fully intends to run. “If somebody wants to run against me, that’s fine” said Fran. She said the rumor probably got started when the Enterprise reported she would not be a candidate.

SPECIAL ELECTION: What would happen here is that the Selectmen would call for a Special Election to fill a vacancy on their board. After meeting the various time schedules, the race would take place. The winner would serve out the remaining time of Richard Cretinon’s term, in this case, April of 2005.

ICE TIME: Our TKO Snoops hear tell that a business venture is possibly in the works that would bring a skating rink to Kingston. The location of interest is at the South end of town beyond the Goodrich Lumber facility. The package is headed up, we hear, by a trio of retired Boston Bruins. The parcel is not zoned for such use, but could you see us saying no?

NO ENTERPRISE: To our Duxbury reader…we got your message and will endeavor to find out why the Enterprise is not delivered to your town. Our caller said her subscription check was returned with the message that there is no service in Duxbury.

GOP SHERIFF: Certainly the Republicans won’t let the Sheriff’s seat go uncontested. There is talk that former County Commissioner Bob Stone will make a move for the spot. We also hear, that for whatever the reason, the search is on for a more formidable candidate. Now who could fit that bill? How about a guy that has already run for State Rep. A guy that ran a tight race for County Commissioner? A seated Selectman and the chief organizer of the Plymouth Thanksgiving Day Parade? We are speaking of Olly DeMacedo. Don’t laugh, we know these things. A Palombo/DeMacedo race… talk about a match for the ages.

RENT CONTROL supporters got their secretary. Planning Board member and Rent Control Board Chairman Ed King was up to his usual aplomb at Town Meeting arguing with great passion for the establishment of a paid secretary for the rent control board. Could be a nice job for somebody.

MISSING CLASSMATES: The Graduating Class of 1963 from Silver Lake Regional High School is planning their 40th Reunion. Of the 172 classmates fifty members are still unaccounted for. They are: Ed Backus, James Barrows, Barbara Bell, Candance Bradford, Daniel Burke, Robert Carleton, Richard Chaharyn, Robert Clark, Flora Cole, Lee Cole, Angela Collins, Paul Cuddyer, Charles Curtiss, Audrey Davidson, Kathy Davis, Wayne Ellis, Kathy Fearing, Terry Field, Cecile Frye, Nancy Gauquier, Ron Hansen, Arthur Hennessey, Robert Hird, Meredith Hirshon, Robert Hoinghaus, Richard Johnson, Ellen King nee Fitzgerald, Nancy King, Donna Lamarine, Jonathan Lindquist, Elmer Lindvahl, Janet Maloni, Edwin Matthews, Eugene Medeiros, James Miglierini, Richard Morgan, Robert Newcomb, Linda Nicholas, Wilbert Nickerson, Hans Noack, Gail Perkins, William Scanlan, Guy Silvester, Winifred Simmons nee Swanson, Diane Sousa, Diane Stanley, William Stiles, Mildred Tewksbury, William Torrey,and Robert Wills. If you are a 'missing classmate' or know the whereabouts of anyone on the above list from the Class of 1963, please contact the Silver Lake Class of '63 committee at PO Box 327, Somerset, MA  02726. Or you can call them toll free at 888-235-3429 -- or e-mail them at fprescott@comcast.net.  They would like to hear from you.

NEW CANDIDATE: Joel Michaud, married to the granddaughter of Arthur Forcier (who passed away 11 years ago this month), told the Observer that he is running for Selectman as a no nonsense, common sense candidate. Joel says he will dust off the same slogan used many years ago when Arthur ran for Selectman: “No pretty words, just straight talk.” Joel is a big, intimidating guy with a handshake that can crush bones. But like so many big guys, he is as friendly a giant as can be found.

DOG DAYS: Remember that dog that was condemned to death by the Selectmen? The last public discussion was that the Dog Officer was going to drive to Hubbardston where the owners returned the dog to the kennel. She was to bring the dog back to Kingston and have it put to sleep. Well, we learned that none of that happened. In a nice way the kennel owner told the Dog Officer to have a nice day; the dog was not within Kingston jurisdiction. Further we hear that the kennel’s position was that if the dog were re-trainable, they would do it and if not, will deal with putting it down themselves. In other words… have a nice life, stay out of my town. To date, and this may be hard for our Selectmen to grasp, they have no authority outside of Kingston.

SIGN BUSINESS: That pretty little corner Adopt-A-Space in front of Whit’s Market is constantly overrun with annoying signs that denigrate the purity of the town program. The Building Inspector must solve the problem. How? Take the signs until no more appear. It will also improve the scenery down at Grove and Route 27.