Steve Ciciotti, Pembroke Selectman

05/30/2026

Sooo... that loud boom and rumble some heard earlier was not thunderstorms, nor an earthquake... it was a meteor. And not just any meteor -- a BOLIDE.

And it exploded right off our coast 👀 👀

A bolide is an exceptionally bright, exploding meteor. Often called a "fireball," these meteors light up the sky brighter than the planet Venus and typically end in a visible, often loud explosion as the space rock violently disintegrates upon entering Earth's atmosphere.

Key Characteristics...

Extreme Brightness:
They are classified as fireballs -- meteors that burn incredibly bright. In many definitions, a bolide is a meteor that flashes as brightly as the full moon.

Explosions and Booms:
As the meteoroid plummets through the atmosphere, air compresses in front of it. The intense friction and heat cause the rock to violently flash and fragment, often triggering a loud sonic boom that can shake houses on the ground.

Meteorites:
While many bolides disintegrate completely, some are large enough that surviving fragments make it to the ground. Those surviving pieces are called meteorites.

05/30/2026

oh my... that's... quite near

👀

Reports are that it was a BOLIDE meteor, no less.

A meteor exploded off the coast of Massachusetts, causing a loud boom to be heard throughout the state Saturday afternoon, according to WBZ-TV Chief Meteorologist Eric Fisher.

05/29/2026

From the Memorial Day Ceremony this past Monday -- thank you to those who helped organize it and thank you everyone for coming.

Your 2026 Pembroke Select Board and your 6th Plymouth District State Rep,

From left to right:

Steve Ciciotti, Pembroke Selectman
Daniel Trabucco
Tracy Marino, Pembroke Selectwoman
State Representative Ken Sweezey
John Brown Pembroke Selectboard
Sean Keegan Pembroke Select Board

05/25/2026

Today is a solemn Day of Remembrance.

Here's to everyone having a MEANINGFUL Memorial Day.

Some folks have asked me for the text of my speech, earlier, from our Town's Memorial Day Commemoration --

***************************

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to our Town Memorial Committee for orchestrating this event. I also want to thank our Town Manager, Bill Chenard, Police Chief Rick Macdonald, all our first responders, and everyone who contributed to making our Memorial Day commemoration possible here in Pembroke.

Thank you also to everyone for attending and to those who wish to share in appreciating the meaning of this day. A special thank you to those brave Veterans among us who answered the Call of Duty and to our Gold Star Families for the ultimate sacrifice made.

As Ronald Reagan once said, "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same."

This fight for and protection of "freedom" Reagan speaks of transcends the American political spectrum. It is not a mere rhetorical flourish nor some meaningless philosophical concept. For us to talk of and value this idea of "freedom" so highly, for it to weigh so heavy upon those who bear protecting it, and for it to carry such high a price, it is more meaningful and real than most things we can point to. And it is most real for those brave men and women who answered the call, dedicated themselves to, and paid the ultimate price for it. They shouldered this grand burden, grounded in those American Ideals born from our Nation's Great Experiment in Freedom.

So, why are we here today? It is often said that all gave some, while some gave all, and today, we solemnly honor those who gave all. We're not here to have a "Happy Memorial Day" -- we're here to have a MEANINGFUL Memorial Day. The question then becomes -- how do we make this day meaningful? How do we extract meaning from generations of sacrifice?

We can begin by attempting to comprehend the enormity of their sacrifice. Many of us are unlikely to fully grasp it, but we must endeavor to do so. Then, we appreciate the ideals for which they sacrificed -- and we strive toward those ideals.

As we return home today to our friends and loved ones and sit down to a bountiful meal together, let us also reflect on the long legacy of bravery and sacrifice that has afforded us the freedom to enjoy these comforts.

But honoring their legacy should not be confined to one day a year. I often look to the stoics for timeless wisdom, and it was Lucius Annaeus Seneca who once said, “He who is brave is free.”

I wholeheartedly believe this. It is woven into our very culture when we call America, "The Land of the Free, Home of the Brave." Freedom, bestowed upon us by those who paid the price to protect it, will elude us unless we too, are brave. We must all exhibit bravery in the face of adversity, in the face of pressure, in the face of injustice, and so much more when it comes to our Community and our Nation. We must further perpetuate a culture of this not just for the fruit it bears us as individuals, but because one day, for this or the next generation, the Call of Duty may come around again, and we must be ready to answer for it, like those who have come before.

So let us truly honor, not just in word, but in deed, Those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. Let us uphold their legacy by honoring the great value of the gift so many have bestowed upon us throughout time. Let us do this with giving some pieces of our own bravery and sacrifice toward the whole of our Community and our Nation -- and weave those deeds into and toward that grand tapestry and legacy of bravery and freedom.

In conclusion, it is said to, "Watch your thoughts, they become your words; watch your words, they become your actions; watch your actions, they become your habits; watch your habits, they become your character; watch your character, it becomes your destiny.”

I believe this applies to a Nation and its culture, as well. So, for our Nation and culture, let our thoughts be toward bravery, and let our destiny, always, be toward the values of freedom.

Thank you again to everyone for sharing in this day, and to those here whose loved ones paid the ultimate sacrifice, we extend our deepest gratitude.

Thank you and I hope we all have a very MEANINGFUL Memorial Day.

05/21/2026

Pretty sure we've picked up all my signs, but be sure to let me know if I missed one and you need me to swing by!

And thank you again, Pembroke!

05/20/2026

From Town of Pembroke, MA Government :

The Town Memorial Committee invites everyone to join us for our Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 25, 2026, at 10:00 AM at Veterans’ Park (In front of First Church).

There will be no parade as the parade will take place on Veterans’ Day.

Parking will be limited so please use the Community Center.

Hope to see you there to Honor our Fallen.

In case of rain, the ceremony will be held inside the Community Center.

Memorial Day Proclamation.

05/18/2026

Good evening, Pembroke neighbors!

First off, thank you everyone for coming out to vote in this election and making your voice heard on the issue(s) you cared about most.

This election set a HISTORICAL turnout record for a Pembroke Town Election with 3,487 voters. That's 900 (!!!) more voters than the previous record.

Amazing.

I also think, given these results and all the numbers, the Town's voice couldn't have been made more loud and clear on so very many issues on folks' minds.

I especially want to thank those of you who supported me in all the ways you did, whether it was casting your vote, encouraging others to vote, supporting me online, hosting or holding a sign, and so much more. You also learn a lot about the true nature of your relationships and support in elections like these, and I want to deeply thank those who showed up despite perceived odds or a "dynamic" political environment.

I also wanted to congratulate Tracy Marino for Select Board, Adam Gedutis for Board of Health, my wife Stephanie Ciciotti and Kathy Benvie for Library Trustees, Andraea McCettrick for Town Clerk, and Allison Glennon and David Boyle for School Committee.

Thank you also to everyone else who threw their hat into the ring. It's not easy to put yourself out there, and I hope you consider getting involved in one capacity or another, whether to run for another elected position, be appointed to another Board or Committee (we have vacancies, including a new one on Financial Advisory 👀), or help with one of our Town's many wonderful 501c3 organizations.

On sign pickups -- I and friends have been out and about picking them up, and I expect I should have them all by tonight or tomorrow. If I miss any, please don't hesitate to let me know so I can swing by!

Thank you again for allowing me the opportunity to serve our community in this capacity. It's good to be back, there is much work to be done, and I'll end this post after this election similar to how I started my post after last year's...

"What a fascinating experience."

05/14/2026

I want to extend my thanks to everyone who has shared an endorsement or offered some words about their experience with me. I appreciate your feedback and support and the time you’ve taken to put your thoughts into writing.

I’m sharing some of those messages here. Your support means a great deal, and it keeps me focused on the work that needs to be done!

Tracy Marino, Select Board Chair, Open Space Chair

Susan Bollinger, School Committee

Allison Glennon, Vice Chair, School Committee

Stephanie Ciciotti, Library Trustee Chair, Troop 143 Founder

Christine Callahan, Veterans Agent

Sharon Macnamara, Local Business Owner, Previous Master Plan Committee and Conservation Member.

Rob Shamitz, Co-worker and friend

Kyle Harney, Unofficial Mayor of Pembroke

Cara Reading-Butman, Resident and friend

Ken Sweezey, State Representative

Patrick Chilcott, Previous School Committee, Advisory Member

Mike Cogburn, Pembroke Titans Against Drugs (PTAD) President

Chris McGrail, Zoning Board of Appeals, Local Business Owner

Michael Caramanica, Local Business Owner, Resident

05/13/2026

Thank you everyone and be sure to read Tracy's message below !

05/11/2026

Did you receive my mailer? Let me know what you think in the comments !

If you didn’t get one, please let me know -- I have extras and will personally swing by to drop one off for you.

My approach has always been to inform, respond to questions, and discuss the issues in depth whether via email, a private Facebook message, mobile text, or in the various social media groups and pages. Just as I prioritize "Needs before Wants" and public assets over waste, I also wanted to ensure folks received a meaningful ASSET in the mail -- not just another campaign flyer.

While the mailer covers my background and some of my contributions to Pembroke, I designed it to be a "one-stop shop" for Town information that residents can lean on long after this election is over.

The design (like my signs) was produced entirely by Yours Truly, with some great content suggestions from friends and supporters. A big thank you to all the Pembroke residents who have supported my campaign and continue to spread the word!

PROVEN ENDURANCE,
PROVEN EXPERIENCE, and
PROVEN PROACTIVE ENGAGEMENT

I'm ready Day 1 to hit the ground running and drive the much-needed reforms we need, and I am humbly requesting your vote for both me and Tracy Marino, Pembroke Selectwoman to help make it happen.

Early Voting continues at Town Hall through Wednesday at 2:30 PM. Election Day is this Saturday, May 16 at the Community Center.