While it is unfortunate that middle school students had to witness the ICE apprehension of a man, and the inconvenience caused motorists when they left his car blocking traffic while they transported him, I believe that these incidents would be minimized if Massachusetts and local officials actively worked with ICE so that ICE could concentrate […]
Category: Your View
Your View
Town needs team approach to climate-related threats
At the Sept. 24 screening [at the library] of the PBS Frontline film “Hurricane Helene’s Deadly Warning,” I found myself reliving some anxious moments. At the time of last year’s hurricane, I had family and relatives living in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee and I was worried about their safety and wellbeing. The storm […]
Celebrate the legacy of Dick Gregory and his family
In 1973, Dick and Lillian Gregory left Chicago seeking a sanctuary where they could raise their family while continuing their commitment to civil rights. They chose Plymouth, trusting its schools and community would welcome their children. With them, they brought a bold vision of peace, social justice, and human rights. Lillian balanced her relentless activism […]
More men needed as hospice volunteers
On a recent trip to a local senior living facility as a hospice volunteer, I had an epiphany. As I was sitting and chatting with a patient, I looked around and, not for the first time, noticed that we were a collection of women. The only men I saw were a few patients among many […]
Reorganization of Select Board was ‘premature, impulsive’
The work of the Select Board is leadership. Over the next decade and beyond, Plymouth faces fiscal, safety, climate, housing, transportation, and cultural challenges, among others, The recent Select Board reorganization demonstrated many things, but leadership was not among them. I question the process and timing of the reorganization of the Select Board, but mostly […]
Rare photos captured scenes from the ‘Great Fire of 1900’
To the Plymouth Independent article on the 1900 forest fire that ravaged thousands of acres of Plymouth, I can add two photos of the fire that were taken by Edward and Charlotte Emery, owners of one of the houses that was left standing after the fire. One hundred and twenty five years later, that same […]
Vote to oust Canty shows Select Board’s true dysfunction
I believe that the Select Board made a mistake when it voted (3-to-2) on Sept. 16 to reorganize to oust Mr. [Kevin] Canty as chair. The stated basis for the majority’s vote was “dissatisfaction with how Canty was running meetings.” As Mr. Canty candidly acknowledged during the board’s discussion, “I can be too rigid on […]
‘Fascinating’ story on 1900 fire raises important questions
The Sept. 12 article by Dave Kindy on the Great Fire of 1900 in Plymouth was very interesting and informative. It is fascinating to read personal stories of acts of survival and heroism by local people over 125 years ago. The wildfires in the Western U.S. and Canada bring similar stories to our attention. The […]
ICE is making Plymouth a less welcoming place
Editor’s note: This letter was addressed to the Plymouth Select Board and sent to the Independent. I am worried about Plymouth and how what was once a welcoming destination for visitors, tourists, and families is now a place to avoid, as it is terrorized by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operatives invading our waterfront, […]
Swearing in of committee members shouldn’t concern Select Board
Mr. Thys’s recent article (“Sixty-six people appointed to town committees failed to get sworn in”) could be interpreted as blaming those 66 volunteers. Plymouth town government depends heavily on volunteers and the volunteers in question very likely had not read the town bylaws, didn’t know they needed to be sworn in, or were just confused […]
