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[   Locals Want More People at Town Meeting ]A group of local Pembroke MA residents has emerged this weekend at local su...
10/08/2022

[ Locals Want More People at Town Meeting ]

A group of local Pembroke MA residents has emerged this weekend at local supermarkets in an effort to boost citizen participation at Town Meeting -- arguably the oldest kind of governing body in the US.

"We're just trying to get more people to come to Town Meeting. That's the only reason we're doing this, " said one local manning a table of information.

Equipped with voter information on the articles to be decided, they did indeed highlight the upcoming vote on whether the new proposed Community Center would proceed or not (a matter of considerable debate in Pembroke, for years now). But, the organizers were decidedly focused on simply getting word out that Town Meeting was coming up – and soon.

The idea of Town Meeting pre-dates the United States and has been a facet of communities throughout Colonial America since Europeans landed on its shores. Not much has changed since then either. Monies spent, community by-laws debated, political factions formed, these are all regular facets of any Town Meeting. Oh, and gossip.

Will this grassroots effort work to boost Town Meeting participation?
Stay tuned, and we’ll see you October 18th, 7pm @ Pembroke High School!

[ HEATING OIL: Expect Price Spikes ]The heating oil supply in our region is critically low -- about 50-60% short.  While...
08/29/2022
Low fuel inventories cause special concern in US Northeast

[ HEATING OIL: Expect Price Spikes ]

The heating oil supply in our region is critically low -- about 50-60% short. While we're unlikely to see the 80% price increases predicted for the UK, we are very likely to see our own costs jump in the coming months. A lot.

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Diesel and heating oil supplies in the Northeast are more than 50% below the recent average, raising concerns that an extreme weather eve

[ ELECTION INTEGRITY ? ]How accurately are votes counted ? Extremely accurate. In fact, if given a letter grade, it woul...
08/28/2022
Massachusetts post-election audit found few tabulation errors

[ ELECTION INTEGRITY ? ]

How accurately are votes counted ? Extremely accurate. In fact, if given a letter grade, it would receive an A+. A student with just such a record be the unequivocal valedictorian of their class and entire school system -- and likely well beyond.

In this excellent piece in the Fall River Reporter, written by Chris Van Buskirk, out of 100k+ votes cast only 73 remained uncounted:

"The secretary’s elections division reported 100,349 ballots were counted in those precincts on Election Night and the audit resulted in 73 additional ballots being counted — a number that represents 0.07 percent of audited ballots."

That's a 99.93% grade for accuracy.

By Chris Van Buskirk State House News Service STATE HOUSE, MARCH 11, 2021.....A post-election audit of randomly selected precincts in Massachusetts found minimal errors in ballot counting during the 2020 presidential election, offering more evidence to contrast with allegations of widespread fra

State Senator Susan Moran continues to impress with her tenacity -- something that is vital when it comes to Pilgrim Nuc...
08/12/2022
Fate Of Plymouth Power Station Wastewater Still Up In The Air

State Senator Susan Moran continues to impress with her tenacity -- something that is vital when it comes to Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station's decommissioning. At current issue is the fate of radioactive cooling water.

Read her post here (click link for the Senator's actual post):

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02CZDaZq2bYVSXqtKkeBVSB8LbzcGEDGCaxW3o9y5kX3PMbtWj4AwGb8zcWjpvtHail&id=100063907159431

It is still unclear how Holtec International plans to dispose of up to 1 million gallons of radioactive wastewater from the decommissioning of Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station.

  steps back from Emergency Water Restrictions.  BUT, do you really think it's wise ???(Free access)
08/11/2022
Emergency Water Ban rescinded in Pembroke

steps back from Emergency Water Restrictions. BUT, do you really think it's wise ???

(Free access)

The town is reverting to required Mandatory Water Use Restrictions.

 's water supply has a problem: Elevated Manganese.Free bottled water is now available.  While not an immediate health t...
08/11/2022
Massachusetts town issues warning to residents about drinking water

's water supply has a problem: Elevated Manganese.

Free bottled water is now available. While not an immediate health threat, children under 1 year of age should be drinking bottled water only.

Read more here (Free):

Officials say infants less than a year old should be drinking bottled water and that infant formula should be prepared with bottled water. Here's why.

07/26/2022

[ PEMBROKE WATER CRISIS ]
Last weekend many residents in Pembroke begun to experience water-pressure issues; This is a huge warning sign -- Pembroke has a water crisis.

This topic got top-billing at today's Central Plymouth County Water District Commission. This is an old, and once dormant County body -- newly funded and activated with the help of State Rep. Josh Cutler -- which is monitoring the situation. Watch their discussion about "Pembroke's Water Crisis" here...

Are you DRAMATICALLY conserving water yet ?!?!(( You should be ))--What follows is a public post from State Rep. Josh Cu...
07/26/2022
Central Plymouth County Water District Commission

Are you DRAMATICALLY conserving water yet ?!?!
(( You should be ))
--
What follows is a public post from State Rep. Josh Cutler detailing efforts to deal with the current water-crisis (yes, that's what it is) facing a number of communities in SE Mass. [[We had FB Tech issues sharing this public post directly, thus the copy.]]
--
Josh S. Cutler...
As most folks know we are currently experiencing a Level 2 severe drought in our region. This has led to some significant water restrictions and acute water supply issues in some communities.

In my district that includes the town of Pembroke which is experiencing a severe strain on local water supply and also discolored water. I have reached out to Mass DEP to ensure they are aware and in communication with the town. Our office also reached out to Pembroke Fire Department and they tell us they have contingency plans in place should the need arise in an emergency response scenario. I am grateful to them as well as our DPW and Water Departments for their efforts to manage a difficult issue.

There is a lengthy and complicated relationship of water management in our region. I’ve gotten several emails asking about this, so I wanted to share some brief background (Warning: it’s not really that brief!)

Thankfully we have a revived Central Plymouth County Water District Commission which helps to monitor water quality and facilitate water management among the eight member towns in our region (Towns of Pembroke, Hanson, Whitman, Plympton, Brockton, Halifax, East Bridgewater and Kingston.)

This commission had been inactive for many years. Starting back in 2014 our legislative delegation was successful in reviving the Commission and securing a modest level of state funding to support its activities (FY’15 budget). Much of the credit for that is owed to former Rep. Tom Calter. Since his retirement, the CPCDWD has continued to receive state funding, most recently thanks to an amendment from Sen Mike Brady. Our legislative delegation works together in a bipartisan way each year to support this. (I have secured some additional funding for Pembroke and Hanson ponds during that time as well.)

We are grateful to the County for assisting in this and to the volunteer members who serve on the Commission and also on the Advisory Committee. The Central Plymouth County Water District Commission continues to hold regular meetings and in fact has a meeting scheduled tomorrow. https://www.centralplymouthcountywater.org/

The other big development was in 2017, when the Mass. Department of Environmental Protection entered into a Consent Order with the city of Brockton relative to Monponsett Pond and their water diversion practices. This had been a bone of contention for a long period of time. The consent decree stated the following:

“The Order requires the preparation of a Resource Management Plan that will include recommended metrics and procedures for Silver Lake diversions and Stump Brook Dam operations that are intended to improve West Monponsett Pond's water quality and ecosystem while maintaining Brockton's drinking water supply system reliability.”

Clearly we all need to work together in this. There is no one solution to water supply and water quality issues. All of these pieces play a role. And there are now new concerns such as PFAS that we are now facing. Thankfully there are resources to help. One of these is the County ARPA program which includes federal funding for water and sewer infrastructure. https://www.plymouthcountyarpa.com/.../infrastructure.../

This is just a brief recap. The origins of all this date back to 1899, with some more “recent” changes in 1965. The town of Halifax has a very detailed 75-page history for those who would like even more info, and the CPWDC website also has lots of good information. I hope this post provides some helpful context.

In any case, we will continue to monitor this carefully and work with our relevant state and local officials to address our water supply issues. If folks have questions or need assistance please reach out to me or my team anytime. We are here to help! My email is [email protected] or also [email protected]. Our State House office is also fully staffed; the phone number is 617-722-2013.

Central Plymouth County Water District Commission

07/05/2022

"We should be unfaithful to ourselves if we should ever lose sight of the danger to our Liberties if anything partial or extraneous should infect the purity of our free, fair, virtuous, and independent elections. If an election is to be determined by a majority of a single vote, and that can be procured by a party through artifice or corruption, the Government may be the choice of a party for its own ends, not of the nation for the national good."

- , Inaugural Address, 1797

We're at Pembroke's first   event !  5pm-7pm today (Tuesday)
06/28/2022

We're at Pembroke's first event ! 5pm-7pm today (Tuesday)

We hope to see you at Plymouth Pride's "Pride in The Park" today (Sunday) 11am-6pm !!!
06/26/2022

We hope to see you at Plymouth Pride's "Pride in The Park" today (Sunday) 11am-6pm !!!

Over 90% of Americans support abortion in cases of R**e or In**st.Over 60% support Roe v. Wade as a Constitutional Right...
06/24/2022

Over 90% of Americans support abortion in cases of R**e or In**st.
Over 60% support Roe v. Wade as a Constitutional Right.
--
Jewish Law demands Abortion if the life of the mother is at risk. While little mentioned by many Fundamentalist & Envangelical Christians, it reflects a core ethos of Judaism -- existing life always takes precendent.

Support American Democracy = VOTE

Yes, we will be there !
06/23/2022

Yes, we will be there !

One week from today!! 🥳

Grab your favorite blanket and pack your favorite basket and head on over to the Town Green at 5pm next Tuesday for a Pride in the Park community celebration! 🏳️‍⚧️🤎🖤🏳️‍🌈

We will be sharing some Pride history, there will be a DJ, lots of rainbow activities, and our very own coming out that you won't want to miss! We can't wait to see you there! 🤩🌈🎉

This is simply GOOD works happening...
06/22/2022

This is simply GOOD works happening...

We'll be there !
06/22/2022

We'll be there !

5 days until Plymouth Pride Festival!!
11-6! Nelson Park!

Dancing, music, amazing speakers!
Children's stories at 12:30.
Pet contest at 1.
Performers all day.
Justin Arena last set until 6.
Food trucks. Beer garden.
Tons of resources, crafters, and amazing, creative people!
Beach, playground, and splash pad.
A full day of fun and Pride for everyone!

Pembroke Waterbodies:SO FAR, SO GOOD...Pembroke's Health Agent, Lisa Cullity, has been regularly testing Pembroke's pond...
06/21/2022

Pembroke Waterbodies:
SO FAR, SO GOOD...

Pembroke's Health Agent, Lisa Cullity, has been regularly testing Pembroke's ponds and lakes to ensure clean water -- and safe use. Thus far "...the ponds all tested within limits the last two weeks."

Today she obtained new samples from the Town's waterbodies. These tests, while likely within safety limits, may show slightly elevated counts given recent rainfall and the resulting runoff from adjacent roadways.

05/25/2022

American Freedom VS Our Children.. only in the USA

05/14/2022

"Who is Pembroke Rising? And why you should care..."

05/13/2022

We received the following statement from Becky Westerlund Coletta regarding the current (social media induced) matter of her husband attending Town Meeting (for approximately 15 minutes), double-masked, and asymptomatic after testing positive for COVID-19.

To be clear...
He was entirely compliant with State & Federal guidelines.
--

This is an absurd political attack by a extremist local group called Pembroke Rising that supports a candidate who has opposed all public health restrictions or masking requirements throughout the pandemic. It is a group that mocked me when I wore a mask to a public Select Board meeting and said that I was wearing the mask to limit the risk of spreading COVID to my mother in law who was dying. When I visit relatives who have health issues, I wear an N-95 mask, as I realize that we are frequently in settings where people can be carrying COVID. I have heard members of this radical group say no one should test if they have a cold.

My family takes COVID more seriously than most in town. We follow CDC guidance and usually go beyond that. My husband had cold symptoms for days and took a home test. He isolated and he had no fever. He was free to go to town meeting according to guidance but we chose to keep him home as we practiced 10 days isolation when my son had COVID. That is not the guidance. My husband is vaccinated and boosted. When he went to town meeting, he only stayed 15 minutes wearing an N95 mask and a surgical mask, as he would never want to spread COVID. I wore a KN94 mask the entire time.

Public health data pretty much guarantees that there were others who were there with COVID (either asymptomatic or with symptoms) and there without any mask. The better question is why we are having public meetings that must be attended to exercise a fundamental right to vote without any requirements that attendees be vaccinated, tested or masked. This is the same issue that now exists for domestic air travel where someone with symptoms cannot be required to test or mask to fly on a plane.

The real story is the political movement against diversity, equity and inclusion this town and what craziness we have endured for the last two years. This is only the latest segment.

- Becky Westerlund Coletta
--

05/11/2022

WHO IS "Pembroke Rising"; And Why You Should Care...
[[ Tomorrow at 7pm ]]
[[ Thursday 12 May ]]

01/05/2022
PEMBROKE DEI Update with Carly Levy

PEMBROKE DEI UPDATE with Carly Levy.. DEI Committee just had it's first meeting.. We spoke brielfy with the NEW Chair about their plans

חנוכה סמח!
11/29/2021

חנוכה סמח!

Municipal Meetings & Public Comments:We're NEARING completion of production for a new video exploring the use of Public ...
11/22/2021

Municipal Meetings & Public Comments:
We're NEARING completion of production for a new video exploring the use of Public Comments at local government meetings.

Many local govt meetings now have "Public Comments" which allow members of the community to address the board (and, as a result, often the entire Town/City).
.. Is this agenda item Good or Bad ?
- and what makes it so?

Got any feedback ?
Leave a comment below or via Messenger!

10/30/2021
eohhs.ehs.state.ma.us

Do you use SNAP benefits to purchase food -- and lost perishable items due to loss of power?
--> Upload this completed form via your app AND you can receive reimbursement for lost food purchased with Benefits (not to exceed your monthly benefit $):

Here is the most up to date Power Outage Map available; click on your town to see current outage  #'s & %'s
10/29/2021
mema.mapsonline.net

Here is the most up to date Power Outage Map available; click on your town to see current outage #'s & %'s

10/21/2021

20Oct21 PEMBROKE UPDATE: "DEI Committee Report".. Select Board seats SOME of applicants.. TWO citizens removed from consideration.. Deliberations about Don Bryant's Petition & Vote.. and more!

PEMBROKE UPDATE: DEI Committee.. Video from 20Oct Meeting Releases SHORTLY !...Select Board moves ahead on DEI
10/21/2021

PEMBROKE UPDATE: DEI Committee.. Video from 20Oct Meeting Releases SHORTLY !...Select Board moves ahead on DEI

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Pembroke, MA
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