Sometimes a flower can be more than just a pretty thing in someone’s garden. Sometimes a flower can give people hope.

 Every year, the Duxbury Rural and Historical Society leads a group of interested residents to Clark's Island in Duxbury Bay for a picnic. Clark's Island contains "Pulpit Rock," considered by some to be the "real" Plymouth Rock, since a group of settlers landed there and held a Sunday service under the shelter of a great boulder well before the Mayflower denizens set foot in what is now Plymouth. Click here for more photos.

Duxbury beach at the Bath House is closed Friday due to high bacteria counts. Runoff from rain is the main cause for the high levels. Runoff carries pollutants from roads and paved surfaces directly to the surface water of beaches.

Masschusetts state law requires testing at all public beaches once a week. Beaches must be closed if bacteria counts are above a certain level.  A re-sample of the bathing water will be conducted as soon as possible and the beach will be re-opened when test results show bacteria levels fewer than 104 colonies per 100ml.

For questions about water quality call the Duxbury Board of Health at 781-934-1100.

When the Dragons go for their seventh straight boys lacrosse championship next spring, head coach Chris Sweet may not be pacing the sidelines. School Committee members George Cipolletti and John Heinstadt confirmed Monday that school Superintendent Sue Skeiber informed the board that Sweet’s contract would not be renewed for next year.

Residents and visitors alike will not be able to visit the Myles Standish Monument this summer, as it will be closed due to a lack of state funding, according to a representative from the Pilgrim Memorial State Park.

Although farming in Duxbury is less common than it used to be, we do still have a number of small farms in town.  We also have many horse owners and riders who travel our roadways.  I would like to take this opportunity to inform motorists about the laws governing the passing of horses and draft animals on roadways.  Many people are unaware that Massachusetts law requires motor vehicle operators to stop their vehicles when approaching horses or draft animals on a roadway, if the animal appears frightened or if the person(s) in control of the animal signals you to do so. 

The eighth annual golf tournament to benefit The Alden House Historic Site is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 28 at the Duxbury Yacht Club Golf Course. Tee off for the scramble format tournament will commence with a shotgun start at 1 p.m., with registration beginning at 12 p.m. Greens fee, cart, lunch, beverages, snacks, mulligans, an awards banquet and tournament gifts are included in the registration fee of $150.

The Duxbury Rural and Historical Society’s annual Clark's Island Picnic will take place Sunday, July 26 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Cedarfield on the east side of the island. The sermon at Pulpit Rock will be given this year by the Reverend Todd Vetter, Senior Pastor of Pilgrim Church.

Wednesday, July 22

Friends of Tarkiln Meeting. Wednesday, July 22, 7 pm in the Setter Room at Duxbury Free Library. Public is welcome to attend and become a Friend of Tarkiln Community Center.

 Thursday July 23

King Caesar Morning Lectures.  Skip Bennett will speak about the Island Creek Oyster Company at 10 a.m. at the King Caesar Barn on 120 King Caesar Rd., Duxbury.  Tickets are $6 person and may be purchased at the door.  For information about the lecture series, visit duxburyhistory.org or phone 781-934-6106.