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.

The Local Historic District Study Committee met with resistance last week as they worked on a course of action for the upcoming year. The group has just begun its work in determining if there should be a historic district in Duxbury and, if so, where the district would be. This process will take at least 18 months.

A recent vote by the Board of Selectmen to overturn the town manager's decision not to renew Police Chief Mark DeLuca's contract had 'no legal significance', Town Counsel Robert Troy stated in a memorandum released Friday.

"I conclude that the election by the Police Chief to seek the protection offered by a contract renders the Town Manager Act ratification procedures inapplicable and requires that the contract govern the terms of employment," he wrote. Troy said his analysis was based on the Town Manager Act, the police chief's contract, Massachusetts statutes and case law.

"Barring other circumstances, the consequences of this action necessarily import that the Police Chief will cease to exercise the powers of his office on the date of expiration of the contract [Nov. 20, 2009]..." he wrote.

See Wednesday's Clipper for full story and reaction. Download a copy of the memo in the DocuVault (360KB).

The Duxbury Rural and Historical Society is pleased to announce that the annual Clark’s Island Picnic, open to the public, will take place Sunday, July 26 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Cedarfield on the east side of the island.