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Skating club rolls to Nationals

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WHITMAN — For the Urzuas, roller skating runs — er, rolls — in the family.

All three of Betty Urzua’s children are headed to national competition in Spokane, Wash., to compete for the All Star Skating Club at the U.S. Championships from July 17 to 30.

“My family has always roller skated,” she said. “My grandparents roller skated, my father — I competed myself. But when we moved to Massachusetts [from California], we didn’t know where there was a roller rink.”

That was, until her older son Jonathan became a rink manager at Carousel.

“He told me I could bring the kids in,” Betty said. “I wanted them to learn how to roller skate and they fell in love with it and they just continued on.”

Members of the Carousel team performed in an exhibition of their skating skills at their home rink, the Carousel Family Fun Center on Auburn Street, Sunday, June 30 as a fundraiser to help send the club’s National Roller Skating Team to Spokane to defend their titles and do their best.

“The best part [of going to Nationals] is the experience of it,” Joshua Urzua said before Sunday’s benefit show. He has done both solo and team skating.

He doesn’t see pre-competition nerves as a problem.

“I just go to do the best I could,” he said. They practice about 10 hours a week, but little sister Elsy said that goes up prior to Nationals.

Fellow skaters Laura and Christopher Miller, 10, of Brockton are also returning to Nationals.

“We’re a team,” Christopher said, noting that he likes the variety of roller skating. “I like how you can make up routines and be creative — I like the precision, how you have to work hard to make a performance. I’ve been doing it since I was a kid and I love it.”

“I like the coaches,” said Laura. “They’re strict, but they’re fun.”

For some skaters, the team combines a sport they love with an opportunity to be with their best friends.

Maddison, 6, and Kayleigh Donovan, 9, of Duxbury took a preschool class they loved and it led to lessons and joining the All-Star team. They have both competed at the 2019 regional competition, placing in the tiny tot (Maddison) and juvenile (Kayleigh) divisions.

Mia Antonelli of Pembroke is another skater who followed a friend into the sport.

“I like that I get to see my friends,” Mia said.

“I like how you can do a bunch of tricks and routines,” said Jocelyn Hartsgrove of East Bridgewater, who has been skating for just a year.

“I was roller skating one day and saw this girl named Lauren, now she’s my best friend,” said Emage Ogletree of Brockton. “She introduced me to everyone in the skate club and I asked my grandma about skating. She said yes and I signed up. I like the jumps and spins and everything.”

Club members performed their National routines Sunday, as the public was afforded an opportunity to put some skates on to join them on the floor. Raffles and a bake sale were also featured, and those who still wish to help support the team can send donations to the All Star Skating Club in care of the Carousel Family Fun Center, 1055 Auburn Street, Whitman, MA 02382.
The Urzuas skate from three to eight hours total, at least four days a week, according to mom Betty.

“It’s something they really enjoy doing,” she said. “My son and my daughter both want to go to worlds.” The World competiton is in Spain next week.

The youngest three Urzua children competing are Isaiah, 17; Joshua, 15; and Elsy, 11, and are in their fifth year of competitive skating. They have qualified for Nationals in 11 events — her daughter has qualified in figures, during which skaters must perform an accurate figure pattern on the rink; loops, solo, creative and team dance.

The figures are similar to the compulsory figures ice skaters one had to successfully perform to advance in competitions such as the Olympics. Loops involve a teardrop turn and solo performances are similar to the compulsory ice dance stage of completion where skaters must perform accurate edging and other skills. Creative is a free-style performance.

There is another brother-sister duo on the team who have won nearly every single event they have entered at National, Urzua said. Two other families also have members competing.

There are a total of seven children under age 18 competing, and six adults.

For Lisa Scarborough and Stephen Mills, who are also going to Nationals, that comes ddown to the camaraderie and competition.

“It’s like a family,” Scarborough said. “Both of us have been skating for most of our lives.”

Coaches at All-Star aim only for their young skaters to do their best through teaching the skills and letting fun take over as the skaters help each other improve.

“We brought our daughter to a Saturday lesson back in February to skate for her very first time,” the parents of a new club member said. “We wanted her to learn to skate in time for her birthday party.  … She absolutely loves all of her new friends and awesome coaches. Everyone is extremely kind, helpful, inclusive and polite week after week. We couldn’t be happier with the progress she’s made skating and also socially.”

Betty Urzua knows what that mom is talking about.

Seniors hear talk on tick prevention

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HANSON — When Plymouth County Extension Entomologist Blake Dinius asked a group of Hanson seniors on Monday, June 24, how many had already encountered a tick this year, several hands went up.

Dinius was speaking at the Hanson Multi-Service Senior Center to review the biology of ticks and the diseases they are known to spread within Plymouth County as well as protection methods. The talk was hosted by state Rep. Josh Cutler, D-Duxbury, and state Sen. Mike Brady, D- Brockton.

The program, videoed by Whitman-Hanson Community Access TV is viewable on YouTube.

Seniors asked right off what symptoms they should be looking for if they do suffer a tick bite.

“They tend to mimic the flu-like symptoms — headache, nausea, sometimes memory loss, sometimes night sweats — but they vary depending on the person and severity of the illness,” Dinius said. “But if you start feeling like you might have the flu in the summer … that would be a good indication to see your primary care provider.”

Cutler thanked Dinius for his participation as well as his employer, Plymouth County Extension Service for their support of the event. Cutler and Brady also provided a lunch, catered by the Olde Hitching Post, for those attending the discussion. Brady was unable to attend.

“Unfortunately, here in Plymouth County, we have one of the highest incidents of Lyme disease, I think, in the nation,” Cutler said as Dinius nodded. “It’s a serious concern. Tick-borne illness is a significant issue for us.”

Dinius said the spraying that goes on in early spring into the fall is a different prevention project to control mosquitos and the viruses they can transmit — West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis.

“They usually spray in different areas and have a different method of spraying and treating,” he said.

Dinius, who has studied entomology for seven years and participated in about 200 studies, said he does not offer information he has not personally verified.

He pointed to stories published last year to the effect that a study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had found that tick and mosquito-borne diseases have tripled in the U.S. since 2004. The reports misrepresented the scientific findings.

“There’s a lot of misinformation that gets spread around ticks and there’s also a lot of fear that gets spread about ticks, but if you have the right tools and you understand what’s going on, the worry and the fear regarding tick-borne diseases doesn’t have to exist,” he said. “I walk in the woods a lot … and I’ve never gotten a tick-borne disease in my entire life.”

The CDC report, in fact, included a spike in mosquito-spread Zika cases in U.S. territories such as the Virgin Islands, Dinius said. Pull out those cases and cases of other mosquito-borne diseases more likely to be found in this area have remained relatively stable.

“I bring this up because we shouldn’t be afraid to go outside,” he said, even though tick-borne illnesses outnumber those spread by mosquitoes.

The CDC has admitted, meanwhile, they may have underestimated the number of cases of Lyme each year. Those cases are concentrated in the northeast and upper Midwest.

Dinius said, however, unlike areas of the country where residents have to contend with earthquakes and tornadoes, Lyme is preventable. It is estimated that Lyme bacteria has been around for between 20,000 and 60,000 years with different species present around the world.

“This disease is ancient,” Dinius said. “It’s also dependent on the black-legged tick.”

There are nine other tick-borne illnesses around this region as well as other illnesses in other parts of the country.

He also spoke of the alpha-gal allergy that causes an allergic reaction to eating beef or beef by-products such as gelatins found in candies and marshmallows. That illness is spread by the Lone Star tick, a southern species found in the northeast.

“Why are there more ticks and more diseases?” Dinius said. “We think there are many things at play here. …Doctors may be becoming more aware of tick-borne diseases in the area. Lyme, when it was first discovered, was called juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.”

It is also possible that there are more ticks carrying more diseases, he said. Risk also tends to be higher in suburban communities near the ocean. Fragmented habitat and fewer predators, therefore, maybe more at fault than the deer population for tick-borne illness rates, according to Dinius.

Educating oneself about prevention can lower infection rates, he said.

Spring, when the ticks are then in the tiny nymph stage two to three inches from the ground and fall, when the adults which can be found two to three feet from the ground present high risk for bites. Ticks also require humid conditions to stay alive.

Keeping well-groomed lawns and using a synthetic perimeter yard spray near tree lines can help control ticks.

To protect yourself outdoors, Dinius advises tucking pants into socks to limit tick access to your skin. Permethrin, sprayed on clothing and shoes only, also repels and kills ticks.

DEET, Picaridin or IR3535 (found in Avon’s Skin So Soft with bug guard) are repellants that can be used on the skin. Protecting pets with products recommended by your vet can also keep ticks out of your house.

Checking yourself and pets for ticks after outdoor activity is also recommended.

Saving ticks you find in a dated plastic bag for review by an entomologist can determine if you are at risk for illnesses it may have carried. Dinius said he does those checks free of charge. Taking a photo of the bite to show your doctor can help them diagnose illnesses.

“With the right information and tools, all tick-borne diseases are preventale,” Dinius said.

Budget work set to begin again

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WHITMAN — Selectmen on Wednesday, June 19 voted 4-0 to approve a new contract with Town Administrator Frank Lynam. Selectman Randy LaMattina was absent.

In Lynam’s new contract, a three-year agreement running from July 1, 2019-2022, includes the 1-percent increase voted by Town Meeting. Future increases, however, will be negotiated with the Board of Selectmen.

“It should be noted that the contract that is presented tonight does not contain more benefits than the previous one, but rather has pulled back some of the benefits that are currently available to me,” Lynam said.

“It should be noted that our town administrator has taken the lead on reducing contractual burden to the town,” Selectmen Chairman Dr. Carl Kowalski said. “Hopefully, this contract becomes a model for future contracts.”

The contract has been posted on the town website.

Selectmen also discussed the budget and timeline for the anticipated fall Town Meeting. Lynam said he has discussed with the Collins Center its assistance in preparing a capital plan. He sent a list of the fiscal 2019 appropriations to the Collins Center after the books were closed Monday, June 17 so those figures could be incorporated in the outline being prepared for budgeting capital projects and needs in fiscal 2021.

“The bigger task we will have for both the Selectmen and the Finance [Committee], and the town departments is zeroing in on a defining plan for the future,” Lynam said.

A Proposition 2 ½ to increase the financial baseline for funding operations and capital needs would require more precision, he argued.

Selectmen agreed that a committee, made up of one or two Selectmen, one or two members of the Finance Committee, and representatives of the larger departments including at least one School Committee member and School District personnel, need to come together to begin a plan for how appropriations would be presented in October.

“It’s one thing to say we need to raise money, but we need to show people what that means and how it’s going to be utilized,” Lynam said. “We need to do it now.”

The makeup of the budget committee will be voted on at the next meeting of the Board of Selectmen on Tuesday, July 9.

Assistant Town Administrator Lisa Green has been asked to develop an outline of current budget numbers and the need to increase the levy in preparation for those meetings.

“It can’t be a small group of people fashioning a plan without the public having an opportunity to be informed about what they’re doing,” said Selectmen Chairman Dr. Carl Kowalski. “That’s a lot to do in the summertime, but it has to be done.”

In other business, Lynam reported that the DPW Commissioners have engaged Environmental Partners Group to assess the condition of a sewer pipe — installed in 1984 and planned to last 30 to 40 years — which is the subject of major concerns.

Over the next month or two the commissioners will be researching the permitting process for repairing or replacing the pipe.

“This is going to be an expensive project,” Lynam said. “We don’t have numbers now.”

But Lynam said, at minimum, installing a parallel PVC pipe and abandoning the old pipe could cost more than $8 million. More information is coming, but Lynam said he expects it to be a part of any capital plan.

Selectmen voted 3-1, with Selectman Dan Salvucci voting against to change real estate and personal tax bills — changing to mailing two, double remittance personal property bills instead of four separate bills and to increase the demand fee from $10 to $15 for bills on outstanding debts issued by the Treasuer/Collector in the next fiscal year.

Payment deadlines do not change. The plan is expected to save the town about $5,200 in postage costs and most mortgages are escrowed and paid automatically.

Salvucci’s concern was that seniors might misplace the second bill and return envelope in the mailings.

Hanson farm’s goat yoga program is a big hit

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HANSON — Early morning the sun shone on 25 yogis of varied skill levels that stretched on their mats Saturday, June 22.

Amid them were three very spunky, friendly goats nicknamed the ‘Golden Girls,’ after the TV comedy — Dorothy and Blanche, both miniature Nubians and Rose a Nigerian dwarf goat.

Red Horse Farm is a serene space set slightly back off 300 High St., in Hanson.

Each weekend they host Goat Yoga —just as it sounds, the yoga class is with goats. If you love getting an intense stretch and possibly a nose kiss from a curious, furry face you may have found your niche.

Nicole Riley owner and trainer of Red Horse Farm works with the goats as local yoga instructor Kristina Northrup teaches the class.

“The interest has been amazing! We thought we’d get a few people who’d want to attend, but we’re packed every weekend! And it’s not just Hanson; we’ve had people drive all the way down from Boston to attend… which blows me away,” said Riley.
The  goats are trained to participate with the group and introduce  slight, weight-bearing additions during several poses. Riley is inside the fenced area and entices the goats with food pellets. 

“Kristina Northrup, our yoga instructor, has done such a great job,” Riley said. “We needed to train the goats prior to launching the class in May and she’s just been game from the very start! She has such a great way about teaching and we’re lucky to have her.”

A mix of genders and ages attended the Goat Yoga class.

Nick Collazo of Taunton who was adept at yoga and fitness was in a full downward facing dog and held his pose as if he barely noticed the two Nigerian dwarf goats that gently danced on his back.  Eventually he lowered himself laughing with the people around him who also took a moment to snap some cell phone pictures.

Quite possibly the goats offer a balanced enlightenment to the perfection some impose on themselves during yoga.  The audible laughter and amusement blended well in the breezy, summer air.

Nicole and her husband Paul also shared their love of the outdoors and a fairytale wedding on the property when they married in 2015.  They purchased the property in 2014 and are close to completing their renovations on the homestead, which was built in the 1800’s.

Their friends who own Hobby Knoll Stables in Duxbury brought their wedding party down High Street in a horse drawn carriage with neighbors looking on in delight.

The bride called her wedding day “magical.”

The farm also hosts a hands-on program called Little Farmers Morning for children. They learn about the goats, chickens, and horses.  It is geared towards children ages 5 to 11, with hands-on learning of horsemanship skills, goat and chicken care, egg collection with an arts and craft project or storybook.

One of her favorite parts is watching the faces of the little ones light up.

“It is the best feeling,” she said.

The RHF is primarily a boarding farm but they wanted to add things that people could enjoy in the outdoor atmosphere.

“I think its fun for those not accustomed to being around horses to hear them neigh during class or see the chickens from the yoga ring’” Riley said. “The goats, ‘The Golden Girls,’ are a riot — each with their own hilarious personality. And there’s as much laughter during class as exercise!”

RHF also offers riding lessons, and farm fresh eggs.

They are located on three acres of land, which abuts conservation land with riding trails.

There’s just something about this little farm and it’s peaceful feeling …being in the fresh air with animals is good for the soul and we hope people enjoy visiting, she said.

Upcoming events and classes, which run through October along with sign ups, are located on their website.  RedhorseFarmHanson.com.

Mourning Hanson’s king of the roads

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HANSON — The town is mourning the death on Thursday, June 20 of Highway Surveyor Bob Brown following a brave battle with cancer.

After working for several years for the Hanson Highway Department in 2011, following in his father’s footsteps Brown was appointed Hanson Highway Surveyor. He served in many capacities, including countless committees, throughout his career.

Interim Town Administrator Meredith Marini, who posted an announcement of Brown’s death on the town website, extended sympathy to his family on behalf of the town.

“He was a great man who dedicated a good portion of his life to the town of Hanson and he’s going to be missed, both by the residents and by his co-workers,” said Tree Warden Dave Hanlon, for whom it is a double loss. He has worked with Brown for 18 years and considered him a friend.

“He was doing well,” Hanlon said of Brown’s recent prognosis. “It’s tough to deal with because not only was he my boss, he was my friend. He was my friend long before he was my boss.”

The Highway Surveyor’s pickup was parked in front of the Highway Department building and former police station on Liberty Street this week, the windshield draped in black crepe and Brown’s reflective safety vest draped over the brush rack on the front grille.

“He was a dedicated professional and worked tirelessly with other departments to achieve a common goal for the good of the Town, the Town which he loved,” stated Marini. “Rest in Peace, Bob. We will miss you.”

She added that it is always difficult for the town to lose an employee, but especially so of Brown.

“Bob was a great guy,” she said. “Everybody liked him.”

Fire Chief Jerome Thompson Jr. echoed that sentiment.

“He was instrumental in efforts to coordinate between the highway and fire department, along with the other departments. He will be greatly missed,” Thompson said, saying he was shocked at Brown’s passing. “He was an asset to our town and community.”

Police Chief Michael Miksch also found the news of Brown’s passing difficult to process.

“Bob was one of the first people I met when I came to Hanson,” Miksch said. “I quickly learned his gruff exterior was really hiding one of the nicest and funniest people I have had the pleasure to meet.”

Selectmen Chairman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett, said that when Brown became Highway Surveyor, she never feared driving on Hanson’s roads in the winter.

“I always knew when I was in Hanson, even if I didn’t look at the townline sign, because our roads were always eminently better than any other surrounding town and I felt safe driving on them,” she said.

But FitzGerald-Kemmett said she will also remember Brown’s dedication to helping community organizations in need of assistance on fundraising projects.

“Every single time I asked Bob if he could help in any way possible — before I became a Selectman — he would just say, ‘Yup, my guys will be there. Anything for the kids, anything for the community, whatever I can do,’ and I know there’s been a ton of people on Facebook sharing similar types of stories,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said, specifically noting the Hanson PTO for Brown’s assistance with the February Polar Plunge. “He stepped up for them … He just really loved what he did. He was very involved in the town.”

Miksch agreed.

“Anytime I called looking for assistance there was no hesitation in meeting my request,” the police chief said. “His concern for the citizens of Hanson and their safety was evident with every approaching storm. He loved his job and he loved Hanson. I miss him.”

Hanlon also said he would most remember Brown’s love for the job.

“One of the big things with Bob was that he was very high on customer service, community service — do anything we can to help the residents, if it’s within our power,” he said.

Brown was also a devoted dad to his daughter Alyssa Brown Adams, said FitzGerald-Kemmett who performed the ceremony when Alyssa married Theodore R. Adams of East Bridgewater about five years ago.

“You’ve never seen a father more devoted to a kid in your life,” she said. “He was so proud of her and she was basically the light of his life.”

Selectman Kenny Mitchell also recalled Brown’s devotion to his daughter.

“He always talked about Alyssa, because he raised her,” Mitchell said.

He was also devoted to his job.

“Bob was a great man,” Mitchell said. He served on the Parks and Fields Commission with Brown for about seven years as well as the Highway Building Committee for four years.

“He was just dedicated to the town of Hanson,” he said. “That and his roads.”

Mitchell said Brown never missed a Highway Building meeting before becoming ill, and was frequently the first to arrive.

“He told me ‘I can’t wait to get back to my job, I love it, I really miss helping people,’” said FitzGerald-Kemmett about her frequent phone calls to touch base with Brown. “I think it was in his DNA because his dad was on Highway and it was just a family thing. He loved his job and it showed.”

FitzGerald-Kemmett also sent Brown notes of encouragement throughout his illness.

“I was shocked,” Mitchell said. “He really thought he could beat this.”

Mitchell, too, kept in contact with Brown as part of the town’s requirement that employees out on extended sick leave had to be contacted every 30 days and he was the Selectmen’s contact for Brown.

“It’s going to be hard shoes to fill,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “I don’t know if we’re going to get anybody with Highway in their veins like that guy had.”

In accordance with Brown’s wishes, all services will be private.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a cancer or animal charity of one’s choice.

Looking to Kiwanee’s future

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HANSON — Selectmen welcomed new Recreation Director William Boyle, who started work June 3, and the new business plan for Camp Kiwanee on Tuesday, June 18.

“I know the topic of Camp Kiwanee to be an emotional one,” said Selectmen Chairman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett. “Before we get into this discussion, I want to let you know that we will not be discussing the enterprise account in any depth tonight.”

She said the Finance Committee has proposed eliminating the account and discussions between that board, Selectmen and the Recreation Commission to address the future of the fund will happen soon.

“It would be premature and unproductive to discuss them tonight,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “This board is supportive of the work the Recreation Commission is doing and we recognize that there have been some obstacles along the way that have hindered them from making the kind of progress they would have liked to have made.”

She said it is time to come together for the greater good and put past issues behind them, to that end she asked Boyle to meet with Selectmen to focus on the future of Camp Kiwanee.

A Pembroke native, Boyle said he has volunteered on Pembroke Recreation, Community Preservation, and was elected to the housing authority and has some background in the public sector, although this is his first time working in the public sector. His father has been a longtime selectmen in that community.

Boyle also ran his own financial services business for six years and has worked as branch manager for an Irish whiskey company.

“I’m looking forward to the future — to everything that the camp has to offer,” he said. “In order for everything to work successfully, you need to work together.”

He said he looks forward to be “just another team member.”

Boyle also spoke on behalf of the commission about Camp Kiwanee goals.

He said the five-year capital plan would be revamped and have discussed that goal with the Collins Center at UMass, Boston. That project, estimated to cost $10,000 would not be looked to for a start date until next spring.

Coupling capital priorities with grant opportunities is another goal, as is increasing recreational programming.

The Dept. of Housing and Development (HUD) is changing the way the Hanson Housing Authority is supported, from a public housing funding program to one using tenant-based vouchers.

Hanson Housing CEO Thomas G. Thibeault briefed the board of Selectmen on how the change would be made and what it means for residents.

Consultation with local government and community is part of the process, Thibeault said.

“The [former] LZ Thomas School, back in 1995 became a public housing complex consisting of six units — two two-bedrooms, two three bedrooms and two four-bedrooms — it’s federally funded through HUD,” he said. The federal housing program works on an income-based scale to determine the amount of subsidies offered.

“I believe you taught there at one time,” Thibeault teased. Selectman Wes Blauss, a retired middle school teacher, about the school-turned-apartments building.

Most federal HUD authorities over see 50 to 100 apartments, with more being better to be able to take care of the capital needs.

“So we’ve been struggling to take care of LZ Thomas and now, in recognition of that, they’ve given us the opportunity to change the funding stream,” Thibeault said. “What it would basically do is double the amount of income that the Hanson Housing Authority would get.”

The funding would increase funding by about $54,000 per year to support the complex, but nothing changes for the town’s operations. Hanson Housing authority would be the owner with a deed restriction on affordability and residents would remain.

“[HUD] asks that you authorize the town administrator to approve supporting the change,” he said. “It’s not guaranteed. It is a real estate transaction, so the transaction would take off the declaration of trust that HUD has on the property now and would give complete ownership to the Hanson Housing Authority.”

The board voted to support authorizing interim Town Administrator Meredith Marini to approve the change.

FitzGerald-Kemmett asked if Hanson residents do, and would they continue to receive housing preference for the Thomas facility.

“They are and they will be,” Thibeault said. “This was going to be part of the state public housing program back in 1995, and something went wrong.”

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy’s office stepped in and they made it a federal public housing property, he explained.

“I’m sure it solved a short-term problem, but it created a long-term problem because of the scale,” Thibeault said. “But I believe this would get us a long way to solving the problem.”

The board also voted to award bids for the Wednesday, June 12 tax possession auction. Nine parcels, most were abutting the property of residents who bought them for $500, but a parcel on Monponsett Street sold for $63,000; another on Rollercoaster Road went for $61,000; a Baker Street parcel was sold for $3,500; and another on Monponsett Street brought in $1,000.

Two parcels, on Monponsett Street and Whitman Street were not sold.

Marini said closings on sold properties are expected to be complete by the end of July.

Juvenile charged in stabbing

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WHITMAN — A 16-year-old Whitman teen is in stable condition, recovering from extensive injuries following a stabbing on Sunday evening in Whitman.

Another 16-year-old was due to face charges of assault to murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury in Brockton Juvenile Court Monday.

Police Chief Scott Benton addressed the media at Whitman Police Headquarters on Monday to confirm the two unnamed juvenile males do know one another.

“There is a victim here that suffered a significant stab wound,” said Benton. “Certainly our thoughts and prayers are with the family and the victim that he makes a full recovery,.”

The Express was on scene just after 9 p.m. Sunday night as police cordoned off the yard with crime tape following a 911 call for a stabbing at a home at the corner of Washington Street and Belcher Drive.

A knife was removed by detectives and evidence could be seen on the grass.   

A red shirt, a water bottle, and several items were lying on the lawn while detectives from Whitman police and Plymouth County sheriff’s officers investigated.  An area at the back of the house where the suspect lived was also being combed over by officers who carried a brown evidence bag to a patrol car. There were reportedly other juveniles at the Whitman home during the incident.

Detectives were due to speak with the victim at the hospital on Monday, according to Benton.

Adults who were standing on the front lawn speaking with law enforcement personnel Sunday night, declined to speak to the media. They were later seen going in to the home and closing the door.

Benton reiterated Monday that the case is ongoing and active with many details not being released due to the juveniles involved. He could not elaborate on the area in the backyard or how the disagreement began because of the ongoing investigation.

“The case involves juveniles so there is not a lot I can say,” he said.

Jared Wark, 18, of Whitman said he knows both the victim and suspect as a friend and former basketball teammate. He was not at the scene of the incident, he said.

Wark told the media outside the Whitman police station that the victim and suspect were “talking smack” and threats were made via social media.

“It is surreal. I never thought any of this would happen,” said Wark. “There were threats. No one thought he was serious and they were friends.”

He called the town of Whitman a “tight town” — a very small town.

“I love my town. We are all connected and word spread around very quickly. It is past shocking,” he said.

Benton would not confirm further details about the role of social media or the exact cause of the escalation.

“We are talking about juveniles,” Benton said. “There is nothing that I can imagine in your life, that at the age of 16, that is … (pause) could possibly cause the death of another person, “said Benton.

Plymouth County District Attorney Cruz’ office is reportedly handling the case going forward. The suspect was released to his parents and was due at Brockton Juvenile court on Monday.

The victim is expected to make a recovery but he has a long road ahead, Benton said.

Whitman finishes TM work

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WHITMAN — It was almost 8 p.m., Monday, June 17 before Whitman’s continuation of its Town Meeting — slated for 7:30 p.m. — could begin the work of completing the work started on Monday, May 6. A quorum of 150 voters was required for the tree special Town Meeting articles on the warrant.

By 8 p.m., 172 voters had signed in to complete work on the warrant.

The Town Meeting was adjourned to this week to allow residents to vote on a debt exclusion on Saturday, May 18 to remove the new police station and Town Hall/fire station renovations from the levy limit, freeing up funds for the articles voted on this week. The measure freed up free cash for other town needs.

That ballot question was narrowly approved.

Town Administrator Frank Lynam said there were $668,799 in appropriations sought.

Some residents, however, questioned the wisdom of voting on the remaining articles at all.

“I’d like people take a moment to think about the process that we’ve evolved over time and the process that the policies suggest that we follow,” said Forest Street resident Shawn Kain. “Right now, we don’t have a capital plan. The policy in place says that there should be a capital plan.”

He said the town is not currently following the policy.

“I think, for us to go forward with a number of these articles is just — it undermines the process,” Kain said. “If we sacrifice in a small way in the short term — the next couple months — and hold off on funding these articles, with the exception of safety … I really think we should hold off on funding these articles until we have a five-year capital plan in place.”

Kain argued that such a plan would enable the town to forecast it’s finances to give definitive indication of whether the town should spend or save.

Lynam countered that he had said repeatedly in meetings before the Board of Selectmen that the Collins Center at UMass, Boston had been contracted last fall to work on just such a capital plan.

“The process for doing that involved analyzing our capital spending for the last 10 years, our current requests and the capital requests that have been submitted over the last year,” he said. “They total about 70 items and, not counting the DPW, around $15 million.”

Lynam said the capital plan the town is developing won’t be available for another couple of months, when the process is expected to be completed. He said the policy to which Kain referred, allows Town Meeting to act and that all the requests before Town Meeting Monday, “have been capital requests for a number of years and we are, to some degree, clearing the board with some of them.”

He also stressed that a number of articles were also being passed over in an effort to “put them in the queue for prioritization.”

“I don’t know what failing to act on these requests would accomplish,” Lynam said.

Retired educator Mary Fox of 565 Washington St., questioned several school-related articles, including one for a motorized physical education curtain for the Whitman Middle School gym.

She said that, when she taught on Long Island, N.Y., a neighboring district was sued when a child was fatally injured by such a device.

“It would allow us to run two classes concurrently in the gymnasium so we’d be able to separate them,” said School Committee member Fred Small, noting the mechanical curtain is the type now recommended. “If it wasn’t safe, we would not do it.”

Fox pressed for information on who would control the curtain and where the switch is located.

“Everything’s safe until it’s not,” she said.

Small said a switch like the one being sought would likely be key-operated and under the control of school personnel.

“I have the utmost confidence,” he said. “No one wants to see a child get hurt. We would be sure that it was safe.”

The article was approved.

Another question raised over school-related articles centered on why the Finance Committee recommended not to pass an article to repair the access road at WHRHS, when Hanson Town Meeting approved it.

“Speaking for the majority of the Finance Committee, the discussion centered on the condition of Whitman’s roads and although, this is a project that needs to be done, the Finance Committee feels this is something that can be re-addressed at a later date,” said FinCom Chairman Richard Anderson.

Toward the conclusion of the meeting, the remote voting devices did not all function properly and a standing count was taken on an article regarding the resurfacing of the track at WHRHS. The article was approved when 142 yes votes — with a two-thirds margin needed — were counted.

McCue separation pact OK’d

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HANSON — In a meeting featuring several legal issues — and lawyers — Hanson Selectmen on Tuesday, June 18 announced a mutual agreement between the board and Town Administrator Michael McCue to dissolve his employment contract.

Selectmen also reviewed and approved licensure rules and regulations for marijuana cultivation firms as well as the board’s role in the process of permitting such facilities — and announced findings of an ethics complaint by former labor counsel Leo Peloquin against two selectmen during the process that led to the board hiring a new law firm.

Selectman Kenny Mitchell read from a prepared statement concerning McCue after an hour-long executive session opened the meeting, which began an hour early for that purpose. In that session, Selectmen also conducted contract negotiations with interim Town Administrator Meredith Marini as well as one regarding the Hanson Police Relief Association.

“The Town Administrator had a four-year employment agreement that was set to run until 2022,” said labor counsel Jamie Kenny of Clifford & Kenny in Pembroke. “Tonight, the board has approved a separation agreement, which allows those contractual obligations to fall away and the agreement now between us is a separation agreement, which will end [the] employment relationship on July 1.”

She explained that these types of agreements have a seven-day revocation agreement before it becomes completely binding and effective. It is not a public document until that time.

“My understanding is, at that time, the board will release that as a public document along with a town statement,” Kenny said.

Selectmen Chairman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett made a statement on behalf of the board.

“This board is committed to complete transparency in all matters to the extent permitted by law, that being said, in compliance with state law, it is the policy of the town  not to comment on confidential personnel matters and/or ongoing investigations into personnel matters,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “Because of these constrictions, we have not commented on any action with respect to the town administrator. Mr. McCue had an employment agreement with the town. There were three years left on the existing agreement. At this point, we have a tentative mutual agreement to separate Mr. McCue from employment, effective July 1, 2019.”

She said that once the seven-day revocation window expires, the board will release the agreement as a public document.

“The board looks forward to moving quickly to finding a new town administrator and to beginning the next chapter for the town,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said.

The board then voted to enter into an interim town administrator contract with Marini. Both votes were unanimous.

Marijuana facilities

Town Counsel Katherine Feodoroff then discussed with Selectmen the issues surrounding the board’s role in licensure of marijuana cultivation, manufacturing and testing facilities.

Questions about that role have surfaced during community meetings held by owners of a cannabis grow facility planned for the Hanson Industrial Park on Commercial Way in compliance with the process of in negotiating the host community agreement (HCA) required by the state’s Cannabis Control Commission.

“I’ve asked out counsel to attend tonight’s meeting to clarify the Selectmen’s role and responsibilities with respect to the licensing of a proposed marijuana cultivation facility in Hanson,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “This discussion is the first discussion we have had as a board regarding the proposed cultivation facility since learning about their attempt to locate here.”

FitzGerald-Kemmett cautioned those attending the Selectmen’s meeting that, after the board’s questions were addressed that, while the audience would have the opportunity to ask questions, “We will only entertain questions that relate to the topics we have proposed in our meeting agenda.”

“While I realize that people may feel strongly for and against the legalization of marijuana and recreational use of marijuana, that falls outside the scope of our discussion tonight,” she said. “It is something that has been decided at a state level. … We will have future discussions, which we will open up to the public and that will be more detailed about things you may be interested in that we are not discussing tonight.”

Feodoroff outlined the licensing structure of the town’s general by-law, which has similar licensing authority as by-laws regulating alcohol licenses, which are renewable annually.

She also presented a draft application for the process, which Selectmen voted 5-0 to adopt.

The board also has the authority to negotiate HCAs with any marijuana establishment trying to site in Hanson.

“Because there is a [town] prohibition of retailers, this just applies to your cultivators, the manufacturers — the folks that convert the marijuana flower to products — and the testing facilities,” Feodoroff said.

The regulations also define types of facilities included in and allowed by the license procedure. Police inspection, prompted by resident complaints, would be permitted.

When a facility is licensed, the regulations must be kept on-site with employees required to read, understand and abide by the posted regulations as well as attesting they have done so. Admission to the facilities would be strictly limited for members of the public and the town can establish hours of operation, including closure for inventory or other reasons — which the Selectmen must be advised about for security concerns. Without an HCA, a marijuana facility is not permitted to open.

Changes to the premises — as well as any change of ownership or license transfer — would have to be approved by the Board of Selectmen.

“Violations of local or state law, violations of other [governing] bodies’ regulations — like the Board of Health — violations of the Host Community Agreement, fraud, all these kinds of things could bring an entity that’s operating in town back before the Board of Selectmen to have a discussion,” Feodoroff said.

FitzGerald-Kemmett asked about the steps and timeline involved.

Feodoroff said an application of intent must be filed with the CCC. A provisional license can be issued following a community outreach meeting and a signed certified document stating a HCA has been reached with the town.

“They haven’t gotten there, yet,” Feodoroff said of the current applicants Ralph Greenberg and his daughter Alli of Randolph, whose company is called Impressed LLC.

FitzGerald-Kemmett also asked if language requiring most efficient use of water or restricting use of agricultural chemicals can be included in the HCA. Feodoroff said some towns include those regulations in the special permit-granting process, but she said concerns about water use could be points of negotiations in an HCA. Odor control concerns can also be raised.

“For cultivators, odor control and smell are the big issues that special permit authorities tackle,” Feodoroff said. “That requires a whole host of documents which will have engineering relative to what their HVAC system’s going to look like.”

Selectman Matt Dyer asked what responsibilities the town had for the proper posting of the community outreach meetings.

Feodoroff said that is not the Selectmen’s responsibility at all.

“You can facilitate the process, because you obviously know this is an important issue to your constituents … but it’s not your obligation,” she said. “They [the applicants] won’t get through the CCC unless they properly host in accordance with the CCC regulations.”

“We’ve gotten potentially different feedback on that, so it’s good to know,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “It’s not an approval process.”

She said the meetings were intended to offer residents an opportunity to make their concerns known. The Greenbergs will be hosting two more outreach meetings, at the Hanson Library on Thursday, June 27 and in the Selectmen’s meeting room at Town Hall Tuesday, July 2.

Two have been already held, but posting issues with the first have led the applicants to decide not to submit it to the CCC, according to Feodoroff.

A resident asked if, since retail facilities can be limited to 20 percent of the number of alcohol-sales establishments in a town, are there similar restrictions for cultivators, manufacturers or testing facilities.

Budget’s impact on jobs outlined

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Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey Szymaniak reported which personnel cuts would be made within the fiscal 2020 budget during the Wednesday, June 12 School Committee meeting.

“There’s been some questions about where we ended up in terms of staffing,” Szymaniak said. There were 19 positions cut as well $292,000 cut from budget items such as supplies, legal costs and other areas. Some others were moved to other areas.

The personnel cuts include; a central office accountant, a facilities building use coordinator, the technology director, six paraprofessionals — none involved in one-to-one individual education plans, a high school business teacher, a high school science teacher, a science teacher at Hanson Middle School, a grade teacher at Indian Head, a grade teacher at Duval, two grade teachers at Conley, and a duty aide at each elementary school. A part-time music teacher who did grade five band was also cut.

“We also eliminated foreign language at the middle schools because of equity issues,” Szymaniak said. “We recycled those positions into three elementary adjustment counselors because we had to work in our social-emotional need.”

He explained the district had been inequitable in how it offered middle school foreign language.

“Before the state came at us and said there’s an issue of equity there, we recycled that with the hopes of looking at a better budget in the future — putting together a solid foreign language program, either six through 12 or, in our vision K to 12,” Szymaniak said.

He said class size was not severely impacted, but there will be a student population bubble in the fourth grade at Indian Head and the fifth grade at Conley and Duval.

Szymaniak said he is “cautiously optimistic” about returning some classroom teachers when the state budget is finalized and the fiscal 2019 budget is closed out, but is not looking to resolve any other budget issues.

School committee member Fred Small asked if a budget meeting between the committee, town administrators, selectmen and finance boards had yet been scheduled.

That meeting was slated for 7 p.m., Monday, July 22.

“We’re going to take a look at the whole budget, going a little bit backwards for comparison and see what our increases might be,” Chairman Bob Hayes said. “Maybe get a little bit better forecast for the towns before they get into their town meetings or special town meetings.”

Small said his vision is also to determine what the committee wants to see, in the event there is an override, to restore services and to enhance services the district should be providing.

“I really think we have to address our short-comings and the only way we’re going to do it is to ask the public,” Small said.

School Committee member Christopher Howard suggested a three-year look forward so the towns understand what lies ahead. Szymaniak said union and bus contracts have two more years left, which could help with that process. School Committee member Dan Cullity advocated a five-year approach.

Where money would go from an expected operational override in the fall for Whitman remains a question, Szymaniak said, adding Hanson has said nothing about any plans for an override.

Szymaniak also reported that he has received a letter from the Whitman DPW, which stated the high school’s water and sewer meters have been misread since the school opened — and $307,000 is owed by the district.

“They apologized for the error,” he said. “My problem, outside of the letter I got yesterday, is I have no budget projection on what we use for water in this building now.”

He had not consulted legal counsel yet, but had Business Director Christine Suckow call the district’s insurance company “just because.”

School Committee member Alexandra Taylor said it is her understanding that the problem is town-wide in Whitman due to old meters. Whitman has begun the process of replacing water meters this month.

Small said the sewer portion should not be a problem because of the high school’s graywater system.

The committee heard an overview of what constitutes unfunded and underfunded state mandates from Ben Tafoya, director of the Division of Local Mandates with the State Auditor’s Office.

“The Division of Local Mandates was actually created by the voters when they passed Proposition 2 ½ in 1980,” Tafoya said. “The law also said that the state could not impose unfunded mandates on our cities and towns and created our division to help guide the state auditor in determining what was or what wasn’t an unfunded mandate.”

Several hundred requests for review of potential unfunded mandates have been received since the 1980s, but Tafoya said the number has been decreasing in recent years.

“The good news is since the founding of our office, we have been able to help municipalities claim over $350 million in funding for various activities that were found to be unfunded mandates,” he said.

Cullity asked how the school district could file a request for review of some of the unfunded mandates straining the WHRSD budgets.

Tafoya said a letter should be filed with State Auditor Suzanne Bump’s office at the statehouse, advising that a single letter from the School Committee detailing the issues — or from town administrators, boards of selectmen or the superintendent of schools.

“If it’s from the School Committee it has to be an official act that is documented in the public record,” Tafoya said.

State laws passed after Jan. 1, 1981 must have cost implications for municipalities accepted by the city or town or the commonwealth supplies funding to make compliance possible, according to Tafoya.

“These were things that weren’t optional … and they represented a significant expense,” he said.

In 2017, portions of the early voting law were determined to include an unfunded mandate, necessitating reimbursements to towns for the hours outside normal voting hours for towns. In 2012, portions of the McKinney-Vento homeless transportation requirement were determined to be an unfunded mandate, with the legislature partially reimbursing cities and towns — $9 million for fiscal 2019.

Exceptions over the years have included the imposition of “incidental administrative expense” involved in the municipalities complying with the mandate as a condition of receiving state aid, or when towns have the option of participating in a program or not.

Regional school transportation is not considered an unfunded mandate because it was a requirement imposed on regional school districts prior to 1981, Tafoya said.

“But we all understand that underfunding of that kind of requirement has a substantial impact on the regional school districts in our Commonwealth,” he said.

Small, who had arranged for Tafoya’s visit, questioned special education transportation reimbursements. That expense, Tafoya said is the largest single category of the $785 million spent on school transportation by all state school districts.

School Committee member Dawn Byer also questioned special education reimbursement, particularly whether it met the requirement under Mass. General Law to be considered an unfunded mandate.

“The difficulty with that is that it’s a requirement that pre-dates 1981,” Tafoya said. “That would be its exemption from the local mandate law.”

“Where that is supposed to be funded, I’d like to ask if there’s anything that you can do to help out this region,” said Taylor.

Tafoya said the division has been informing the legislature, regional school district and other stakeholder groups about a report issued in 2017 on the issue, “To try to remind people that these expenses are out there, they’re rising faster than school aid or taxes are coming in and the reimbursement accounts are significantly underfunded.”

He pledged that the division would continue to do that.