Aggie Weekly

Good Afternoon Students, Parents, and Community Members:

With less than two weeks left for seniors, we want to make sure they finish the school year strong. On Thursday, students and families were sent home letters via email if their child was in danger of failing and not graduating. Please make sure you contact your child’s teacher if you have any questions.

Today, Student Council put on another successful Field Day! Even though we did not have much sun, we were happy that we did not have the rain like last year. Always a pleasure to see our students working together and cheering on their classmates. See photos below #BAPride

Click the link to view 2018-2019 School Calendar

Attleboro resident wins top honors at Bristol Aggie

L to R- Bristol Aggie Valedictorian, Olivia Larrivee of Attleboro and Salutatorian Hannah Medeiros of Lakeville. By George W. Rhodes grhodes@thesunchronicle.com Photo byTOM MAGUIRE Click here for the article in the Sun Chronicle.

DIGHTON -- Olivia Larrivee, 17, of Attleboro is the 2018 valedictorian for Bristol County Agricultural High School.

Hannah Medeiros, 19, of Lakeville is the salutatorian.

Larrivee is the daughter of Kim Larrivee and Jack Coleman.

She majored in large animal science at Bristol Aggie and achieved a 4.3 grade point average.

Larrivee will be attending UMass—Amherst in the fall.

She plans to major in animal science and eventually work in the field of sustainable agriculture.

“I’m interested in working on livestock sustainability and getting away from industrialized farming,” she said.

Larrivee was active in Future Farmers of America at BCAHS.

Medeiros, who also attained a 4.3 grade point average, is the daughter of Janel Medeiros.

She plans to attend Springfield College in the fall where she will study to become a paramedic with the eventual goal of working in an emergency room.

Medeiros studied natural resources at Bristol Aggie and enjoyed it because it "dipped into a little bit of everything.”

Like Larrivee, she was active in Future Farmers of America.

Medeiros acquired an interest in the medical field at a vocational high school in Florida from which she transferred to Bristol Aggie.

Graduation ceremonies will be held outside Town Hall on May 31 at 6:30 p.m.

Dr. DiGioia giving a high five to this week’s Aggie’s High Five Club Winner, Savannah Nadeau! Congratulations! Well deserved!

Ocean Bowl Field Trip:

On Saturday, Ocean Bowl adventured to the New England Aquarium in Boston. We had lots of fun and learned a lot!

Cuttlefish	Cnidarian
Anemones	Sea turtle
Eel	More cnidarians!
Stonefish	Hope is a seal!

Field Day:

Drill Team:

Attention Dighton Residents:

ESTABLISH AN AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION

ARTICLE ___. To see if the town will vote to direct the Board of Selectmen to establish and charge an Agricultural Commission to represent the Town of Dighton's agricultural community and interests, and to act fully thereon. By request of the Board of Selectmen.

The Selectmen and said Commission, once appointed, shall develop a work plan to guide its activities. Such activities shall include, but not be limited to the following: serve as facilitators for encouraging the pursuit of agriculture in Dighton; promote agricultural-based economic opportunities in the town; act as mediators, advocates, educators, and/or negotiators; act in an advisory capacity on farming issues for established town committees and departments; pursue all initiatives appropriate to creating a sustainable agricultural community; and encourage the pursuit of agriculture as a career opportunity and lifestyle.

For the purposes of this article, agriculture is defined as farming in all of its branches.

The Commission membership shall consist of five (5) residents, who shall be actively engaged in farming, appointed by the Board of Selectmen. The terms shall stagger on three year intervals with the initial terms being two members for three years, two members for two years, and one member for one year, and three years thereafter. Up to three (3) non-voting associate members may also be appointed by the Board of Selectmen. Associate members shall be actively engaged in farming or have knowledge and experience in the practice of agriculture, or related agricultural business, or have an interest in farming. Each shall serve for a one-year term, and/or take any other action relative thereto.

The Board of Selectmen shall fill a vacancy based on the unexpired term of the vacancy in order to maintain the cycle of appointments, based on the recommendations of the Commission.

RIGHT TO FARM BYLAW Section 1 Legislative Purpose and Intent

The purpose and intent of this Bylaw is to state with emphasis the Right to Farm accorded to all citizens of the Commonwealth under Article 97, of the Constitution, and all state statutes and regulations thereunder including, but not limited to, Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40A, Section 3, Paragraph 1; Chapter 90, Section 9; Chapter 111, Section 125A; Chapter 128, Section IA; 330 CMR 31.00, and; 310 CMR 10.04. We the citizens of Dighton restate and republish these rights pursuant to the Town's authority conferred by Article 89 of the Articles of Amendment of the Massachusetts Constitution, ("Home Rule Amendment").

This General Bylaw encourages the pursuit of agriculture, promotes agriculture-based economic opportunities, and protects farmland within the Town of Dighton by allowing agricultural uses and related activities to function with minimal conflict with abutters and Town agencies. This Bylaw shall apply to

all jurisdictional areas within Town.

Section 2 Definitions

The word "farm" shall include any parcel or contiguous parcels of land, or water bodies used for the primary purpose of commercial agricultural, or accessory thereto.

The words "farming" or "agriculture" or their derivatives shall include, but not be limited to the following:

• farming in all its branches and the cultivation and tillage of the soil;

• dairying;

• production, cultivation, growing, and harvesting of any agricultural, aquacultural, floricultural, viticultural, or horticultural commodities;

• growing and harvesting of forest products upon forest land, and any other forest or lumbering operations;

• raising of livestock including horses;

• keeping of horses as a commercial enterprise; and keeping and raising of poultry, swine, cattle, ratties (such as emus, ostriches and rheas) and camelids (such as llamas and camels), and other domesticated animals for food and other agricultural purposes, including bees and fur-bearing animals.

"Farming" shall encompass activities including, but not limited to, the following:

• operation and transportation of slow-moving farm equipment over roads within the Town;

• control of pests, including, but not limited to, insects, weeds, predators and disease organisms of plants and animals;

• application of manure, fertilizers and pesticides;

• conducting agriculture-related educational and farm-based recreational activities, including agri-tourism provided that the activities are related to marketing the agricultural output or services of the farm;

• processing and packaging of the agricultural output of the farm and the operation of a farmer's market or farm stand including signage thereto;

• maintenance, repair, or storage of seasonal equipment, or apparatus owned or leased by the farm owner or manager used expressly for the purpose of propagation, processing, management, or sale of the agricultural products; and

• on-farm relocation of earth and the clearing of ground for farming operations.

Section 3 Right To Farm Declaration

The Right to Farm is hereby recognized to exist within the Town of Dighton. The above- described agricultural activities may occur on holidays, weekdays, and weekends by night or day and shall include the attendant incidental noise, odors, dust, and fumes associated with normally accepted agricultural practices. It is hereby determined that whatever impact may be caused to others through the normal practice of agriculture is more than offset by the benefits of farming to the neighborhood, community, and society in general. The benefits and protections of this Bylaw are intended to apply exclusively to those commercial agricultural and farming operations and activities conducted in accordance with generally accepted agricultural practices. Moreover, nothing in this Right To Farm By-law shall be deemed as acquiring any interest in land, or as imposing any land use regulation, which is properly the subject of

state statute, regulation, or local zoning law.

Section 4 Disclosure Notification

Within 30 days after this Bylaw becomes effective, the Board of Selectmen shall prominently post in the Town Hall and make available for distribution the following disclosure:

"It is the policy of this community to conserve, protect and encourage the maintenance and improvement of agricultural land for the production of food, and other agricultural products, and also for its natural and ecological value. This disclosure notification is to inform buyers and occupants that the property they are about to acquire or occupy lies within a town where farming activities occur. Such farming activities may include, but are not limited to, activities that cause noise, dust and odors. Buyers and occupants are also informed that the location of property within the Town may be impacted by commercial agricultural operations including the ability to access water services for such property under certain circumstances."

In addition to the above, copies of this disclosure notification shall be available in a public area at the

Town Hall.

Section 5 Resolution of Disputes

Any person who seeks to complain about the operation of a farm may, notwithstanding pursuing any other available remedy, file a grievance with the Select Board, the Zoning Enforcement Officer, or the Board of Health, depending upon the nature of the grievance. The filing of the grievance does not suspend the time within which to pursue any other available remedies that the aggrieved may have. The Zoning Enforcement Officer or Select Board shall forward a copy of the grievance to the Agricultural

Commission or its agent, which shall review and facilitate the resolution of the grievance, and report its recommendations to the referring Town authority within an agreed upon time frame.

The Board of Health, except in cases of imminent danger or public health risk, shall forward a copy of the grievance to the Agricultural Commission or its agent, which shall review and facilitate the resolution of the grievance, and report its recommendations to the Board of Health within an agreed upon time frame.

Section 6 Severability Clause

If any part of this Bylaw is for any reason held to be unconstitutional or invalid, such decision shall not affect the remainder of this Bylaw. The Town of Dighton hereby declares the provisions of this Bylaw to be severable.

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