The Manomet Current

COPY AND SAVE: Your new Town Meeting Representatives

Precinct 5
Three-year term
JOAN H. BARTLETT
226 Warren Avenue
EVELYN D. STRAWN
147 College Pond Road
MICHAEL LITTLE WITHINGTON
76 Forge Drive

Plymouth South Middle School students volunteer at fundraiser

Photo courtesy Plymouth Public Schools

Jonathan Hall's civics students at Plymouth South Middle School took time out of their weekend to showcase their civic responsibility by volunteering for the Arthritis Foundation Walk at Stephens Field. It was a huge success and with the students' help the foundation raised over $40,000.

Deanna Nealey honored at Statehouse

Photo courtesy office of Sen. Therese Murray

State Representative Tom Calter, State Senator Therese Murray, Deanna Nealey and State Representative Vinnie deMacedo at the State House.

Deanna Nealey was recognized as an Unsung Heroine of 2012 by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women, Senate President Therese Murray announced.

“Deanna meets the true definition of an unsung heroine,” Murray said. “Her passion and dedication to education and charity are a testament to her strong character, and I want to thank her for her hard work and extensive service to the Plymouth community.”

Nealey is a central figure in many of the educational and charitable groups in the Town of Plymouth. As an active member of the Plymouth League of Women Voters, Deanna works to educate young women about past generations’ work for women’s rights and the importance of political participation. In addition, her volunteer efforts range from fundraising for the Plymouth Center for the Arts to collecting holiday gifts for needy children through the Plymouth Area Coalition for the Homeless’ Children’s Holiday Fund.

"Our Unsung Heroines are women who don’t make the news, but make the difference," said Jill Ashton, MCSW Director. "They are women who selflessly offer their time and talents to their communities and in doing so make their cities or towns better places to live and work."

BOSTON HERALD: Pilgrim nuke plant allows workers to return, extends contract

Pilgrim nuke plant allows workers to return, extends contract - BostonHerald.com

Pilgrim power plant opponents join labor fight

A coalition of groups which has been fighting to shut down Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station has found a new weapon.

Pilgrim Watch, along with the Jones River Watershed Association, Freeze Pilgrim, and the Pilgrim Coalition have filed a petition asking the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to close the plant while the dispute between power plant owner Entergy and the union representing most Pilgrim workers continues.

Members of UWUA Local 369 were not allowed into the facility Wednesday morning, in what the union says is a lockout, while a plant spokesman said it was a paid day off.

“Petitioners believe that  the lock-out, an actual strike, and Entergy’s unwillingness to

honor the requests of the workers  present an unacceptable risk to the  public and  environment ,” the groups claim. The petition argues that replacement workers cannot safely operate the plant or be sufficiently trained. Pilgrim Station’s age, they argue, makes it a unique place to work. They also argue that changes proposed to worker’s health care plan will have a “substantial negative effect on worker’s present and future morale.”
Pilgrim Watch and its allies also argue that supervisors who would take over operations at the plant are actually less experienced in operating it than the reactor operators they would replace. The petition claims two of those supervisors don’t have active operator licenses.

    In related news, Freeze Pilgrim issued a statement urging support for the union, asking members to contact legislators on their behalf.

Read the petition to the NRC

Download 05. 16.12 STRIKE 2.206

 

New owners turning Sweet Lemons into Marshland 3A

Changes are being made to the former Sweet Lemons in anticpation of its reopening under new ownership and a new name.

Someone passing by the restaurant at the corner of State Road and Brine Avenue doesn’t look quite so lemony any more.

That’s because last month, Sweet Lemons was sold to the owners of Marshland Restaurant in Sandwich, becoming their third restaurant.

Ann Wolf wins teaching award

Photo courtesy Plymouth Public Schools

Plymouth South High chemistry teacher Ann Wolf was awarded the T.W. Richards Award for Excellence in Teaching by the Northeastern Section of the American Chemical Society.  

She was honored at their Annual Education Award Night on May 10 at Tufts University.  One nominator called her a  "knowledgeable teacher with expectations of excellence” While another noted her dedication and enthusiasm.

Plymouth police log and arrests for May 14 and May 15

May 14
6:46 a.m. Domestic assault and battery on Cape Cod Avenue
Scott Christian, 34, of Cape Cod Avenue charged with malicious destruction of property, and domestic assault and battery.
1:24 p.m. Suspicious activity on Lopresti Road
2:06 p.m. Suspicious activity on State Road
2:19 p.m. Simple assault on Shallow Pond Lane
5:38 p.m. Traffic complaint on State Road
6:23 p.m. Attempted breaking and entering on Hiawatha Road

Workers at Pilgrim Station denied entry

The signs say lockout, but the company called it a paid day off.

Is it a lockout or isn't it? Workers at Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station showed up for work this morning, but while some were allowed into the facility, others were told to go home.

    According to Pilgrim spokesman Carol Wightman, they are not locked out. Rather, some employees were given a paid day off while the company "works through some issues." Not surprisingly,  Union President Dan Hurley sees it differently. "Essential" workers were allowed inside, while others were denied entry, he said. "It's a nuclear power plant, how can you say some people are non-essential?" he asked.

Contract talks broke down between Entergy and Utility Workers Union of America Local 369, which represents workers at Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station.

According to a press release from  Wightman, negotiations lasted until early morning of May 16, but were unsuccessful. The union, according to the press release, has told Entergy  it would take the company’s latest proposal to membership for a vote, but did not specify when.

Health insurance costs are the main area of dispute between the two sides. According to Hurley, Entergy wants to shift more of the cost to workers, who currently pay 25 percent of their premiums. The company, he said wants to increase that amount by “hundreds of dollars” for each worker.

The union has 380 members currently working at the power plant,  according to a press release from the union.

 

 

Wait till next week for selectmen action on Pilgrim Station vote

Ted Bosen talks with Bobbi Clarke about the town vote on Pilgrim station

Selectmen will wait until next week to take action on the just passed ballot question calling for the relicensing of Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station to be suspended.

The question, which passed with about 60 percent of the vote, asks the Board of Selectmen to request the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to hold off on renewing the power plant’s license until safety improvements developed after the disaster at the Fukushima-Daichi power plant in Japan are put in place.

The vote, however, was non-binding, meaning the board is not obligated to take action.

Town Manager Melissa Arrighi told the board she would draft something for them to vote on next week.