It’s hasn’t been spring-like this week but Memorial Day weekend – with more seasonable weather – looms and summer isn’t far behind. (Who knew?) That also means the return of seasonal rules and restrictions at Plymouth’s Long Beach. And yes, that includes regulations aimed at protecting nesting plovers, an endangered species. More on that later. […]
Author Archives: Mark Pothier - Independent Staff
Posted inGovernment
A last-days primer on Saturday’s town election
Haven’t given much thought to the annual town election? It’s underway now, and concludes with in-person voting on Saturday, May 17. If you’re registered to vote – and you should be – there’s still time to get up to speed. Here’s a final-days primer. WHAT’S ON THE BALLOT? Voters will elect two members to the […]
Posted inGovernment
In-person voting for the town election is underway
Let the voting begin. The annual town election is on May 17, a week from Saturday, but in-person voting starts today, May 7, in the first-floor atrium at Town Hall. You can cast your ballot there between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Town Hall voting will also be offered on May 8-10, May 12, and […]
Posted inReal Estate Sales
Plymouth’s spring housing market struggles to bloom
The spring housing market isn’t what it used to be – meaning pre-pandemic days – but there was a fair amount of activity locally last month despite chronically depleted inventory, according to the latest figures from real estate tracking firm the Warren Group. There were 53 sales of single-family homes and condominiums in Plymouth during […]
Posted inBusiness Beat
A look at the ever-changing local restaurant and retail scene
Stability isn’t a word that often pops up when the subject is retail or restaurant businesses. They rise and fall on short-lived trends, customers’ whims, labor and supply chain costs, and other hard-to-control (or predict) factors. Like one person’s fixation on tariffs, for example. National chains come and go like limited TV series (so long, […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
A rainy weekend ahead, but there’s a ray of sunshine: drought conditions have improved
How about a positive spin on the rainy weather in this weekend’s forecast? All that water will further dampen the chances of a severe drought making a return appearance this summer. The precipitation expected over the next few days will likely buttress this week’s encouraging report from the Massachusetts Department of Energy and Environmental Affairs. […]
Posted inGovernment
Plymouth’s ‘Hands Off!’ rally draws huge crowd
It was hard to determine the size of the crowd at Saturday’s “Hands Off!” demonstration on Water Street – some people estimated it at more than 1,000 – but there is no doubt it was one of the town’s biggest protests in decades. The gloomy, chilly weather didn’t dampen the vigor of participants, who gathered […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
What can be done about people who trash Prestige Way?
Plymouth DPW director Bill Coyle is more of a diplomat than I could ever be. When I recently asked him about people who toss trash wherever they please – including appliances, furniture, mattresses, and tires – I figured he’d jump at the opportunity to vent. After all, part of Coyle’s job is fighting the blight […]
Posted inBusiness
How to avoid getting a parking ticket this season
Let the grumbling begin. The calendar has turned to April, and the covers have come off meters in the downtown and waterfront area. It’s time to start paying for parking again. And like chirping birds, spring also brings the harping of Park Plymouth’s critics, the private company contracted by the town to manage parking. Its […]
Posted inPolice & Fire
Firefighters, others find comfort in Rio
The stress level at Plymouth’s fire stations is likely lower these days – thanks to Rio. No, taxpayers are not funding vacations in Brazil for local firefighters. Rio is a 19-month-old black lab trained as a comfort dog. After learning the ropes of his new role – he completed training in February – Rio has […]