When the Plymouth Independent site went live on Nov. 21 of last year, the first batch of stories included one by Fred Thys about the status of the MBTA commuter rail station at Cordage Park. The headline read: “You still can’t get there from here.” More than a year later – and three and a […]
Author Archives: Mark Pothier - Independent Staff
Posted inGovernment
For months, no one applied to fill a vacancy on the Planning Board. Now it’s a crowded field.
Two weeks ago, not a single person had applied to fill two seats on the Planning Board that had been empty for months. Now it’s become a crowded field, with 11 candidates vying to serve in the volunteer position. Normally, the Planning Board has five full members and one associate (otherwise known as an alternate). […]
Posted inReal Estate Sales
Want to know what your neighbor’s home sold for?
This story is repetitive, but it nonetheless holds true – Plymouth’s housing market is tight. Sales typically start to slow with the arrival of winter, but there are other factors at play here. Would-be sellers carrying mortgages are reluctant to trade a rock-bottom fixed rate for a higher one. Uncertainty over what the incoming administration […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
New kiosk provides a safe way to dispose of needles and medical waste
If you’re out and about regularly, you’ve likely come across a used needle on a sidewalk, the beach, or in a park. It’s a symptom of a problem that plagues every community – the improper disposal of syringes used to inject drugs. That’s one of the reasons why Plymouth’s Public Health Division, working with Fire […]
Posted inGovernment
Traffic alert: Clark Road widening project gets underway
Consider it a sign of how the Pinehills has grown into a town within the town: Clark Road, a once relatively quiet stretch off Route 3 connecting Long Pond and Beaver Dam roads, is getting a major makeover to better accommodate traffic going in and out of the massive residential community. The town this week […]
Posted inBusiness
Free parking makes its annual return
It’s that most wonderful time of year for Plymouth residents. No, not the holidays – the return of free parking downtown and along the waterfront. As of Dec. 1, you no longer must pay to park in metered spots or in lots with pay stations. The gratis-parking season extends all the way down the road […]
Posted inGovernment
If you want to get involved in town government, here are two committees seeking members
Are you ready to get off the sidelines and become involved in how the town is run? If you’ve got the time and inclination, here are a couple of options, depending on your personal interests. Open School Committee seat With School Committee member Michelle Badger’s recent election as a state representative, her seat will be […]
Posted inCulture
Are you ready for Saturday’s Thanksgiving parade?
Plymouth’s annual Thanksgiving parade – set for Saturday, Nov. 23, rain or otherwise – is the town’s biggest event of the year, with tens of thousands of people expected to line the route. Planning how you’ll get to a prime viewing spot now will make the experience a much better one. While everyone loves a […]
Posted inCommentary
‘Speed and greed’: Readers react to column on rampant red-light running
My recent column about the rampant disregard of red lights – along with other basic rules of the road – generated a lot of in-box traffic. As I wrote, it’s not strictly a Plymouth problem, but since this is where we live, it’s where we drive the most, and why we care more. Of the […]
Posted inPolice & Fire
Plymouth fire chief warns of ‘extremely high’ brush and wildfire fire risk
You’ve probably noticed something missing this fall – significant rainfall. That’s led to a dramatic increase in brush fires throughout Massachusetts, scarring landscapes and causing hazy skies. As of earlier this week, more than 450 fires had burned over 1,500 acres since the beginning of October because of drought conditions. So far, Plymouth hasn’t faced […]