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155 true individuals

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COHASSET — During a boisterous and joyful ceremony at South Shore Music Circus on Friday, June 7, 155 students from eight communities graduated from South Shore Technical High School as “a class of true individuals.”

“You have hidden talents that many rarely got to see,” said Principal Mark Aubrey, putting on his trademark cowboy hat to the students’ cheers. “Josia Silva [of Rockland] got the acting bug as a youngster and has been performing ever since, including as an extra on the Netflix show ‘Community’ on a number of occasions … Student body President Cody Campbell [of Rockland] has flown an airplane. … you have grown in so many ways.”

Aubrey pointed to athletic achievements such as the Mayflower League Champion girls’ volleyball team, “a couple” of Eagle Scouts and the growth of “picky eater” Tim Murphy of Whitman into a Culinary Arts graduate moving on to employment in the food industry.

“[His] mom is happy to say he will try almost anything,” Aubrey said.

Others are heading into the military, including Hanson resident Trent Quinn-Percivalle who is joining the Air Force cyber-security team.

Aubrey closed by making a request of them in return for the success SST has helped them accomplish.

“Be ambassadors for our school and the excellent education we provide our students,” he said, urging them to return to speak to shops about life in the trades or in college. “As you step out beyond our doors, please know that we do not want our relationship to end with this evening.”

Student speakers also touched on academic and personal growth during their four years at SST.

Brevity was key for Valedictorian Benjamin Doucette of Abington.

“In this class before you are some of the smartest, bravest and funniest people I have met so far in my life,” he said. “After this ceremony, some of us will stay in touch and some of us won’t. Some of us will use the trade skills we’ve learned, and some of us will go into completely different fields. … We’ve grown a lot, but we still have some growing to do.

Senior Class President Alexis Burke of Hanson also expounded on the themes of personal and academic growth.

“It will be very hard to part ways with a place that has given me so much,” she said. “It was here where I cemented friendships, it was here I got to explore my passions, it was here I learned to be a better person, it was here where I discovered myself.”

Rockland’s Cody Campbell introduced himself to students who may have been “living under a rock for the last four years: I am the student body president for the Class of 2019.”

“Yeah, you are!” a fellow graduate shouted to cheers.

Campbell related how his favorite quote by hockey great Wayne Gretzky — “You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take.”

“Speaking from experience, I can say that it is impossible to have a fulfilling life in a shell, afraid to take chances,” he said. “Try something new, make mistakes, fail epically. …I am confident that you will all do amazing things.”
Superintendent-Director Thomas J. Hickey equated the education process as a way of discovering one’s “superpower,” based on the number of popular superhero movies making huge amounts of money — and a teacher’s T-shirt he recently saw which read: “I am a teacher, what’s your superpower?”

Hickey played audio of nearly a dozen seniors discussing what they see as a superpower. Academics, perseverance, art, problem solving, humor, leadership, welding, listening, story-telling and hard work were mentioned.

“You know you have and value and you are confident that you can make an impact on the world around you,” he said. “Continue to discover those super powers, in the workforce, in service to our country, for the love of your family and friends and as a positive influence on your community. The world needs heroes. We need you now more than ever.”

Local SSVT graduates are:

Cameron N. Bagley, Jacob T. Barbato, Erin M. Bizier, Dylan R. Burgio, Alexis J. Burke, Jacqueline E. Clifford, Tucker A. Cobis, Rebecca R. Cooke, Owen M. David, Cameron J. DeStefano, Jeffrey A. Ford, Shane A. Fougere, Jonathan G. Gillan, Josie C. Head, Brendan R. Hogan, John P. Hubbard, Ryan P. Keeley, Liam R. Kernan, Mackenzie E. McGraw, Kyle J. Mishou, Christopher M. Osbourne, Trent Quinn-Percivalle, Noah S. Rodri, Alex J. Spicuzza, Nicole E. Stalker and Samuel L. Stowell of Hanson.

Peter A. Achin, Jacob J. Austin, Justin T. Bennett, Evan J. Cadorette, Kaitlin A. Chatsko, Patrick F. Dolan, Laurel L. Durfee, Maxwell G. Elfman, Casi B. Ezekiel, William F. Keating Glover, Ayla A. Hebert, John B. Jolliemore, Asten N. Knight, Jillian M. Leafer, Cyairra D. Lowe, Kimberly P. McPhee, Nykera N. Mandes, Richard M. Miller, Ashley E. Millett, Kayla E. Mills, Hayley R. Murphy, Timothy M. Murphy, Codey J. Murray, Nicholas D. Podgurski, Kristen E. Saccone, Danielle R. Smith, Aiden M. Toy, Emily L. Vega-Morley, Jade A. Watts, Patrick S. Wilson and Evan M. Young of Whitman.

Hanson confronts littered properties

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HANSON — The Board of Selectmen, on Tuesday, June 4, voted to table a decision on a General By-law violation regarding property conditions at 248 East Washington St. because the wrong address was listed on the meeting agenda.

The agenda listed the address of the property as 246 East Washington. Selectmen will vote on the issue when they next meet on Tuesday, June 18.

Building Inspector Robert Curran wrote in a letter to Gilbert Grabowski, the owner of 248 East Washington, that: “Your property is littered with debris, junk, old boats and trailers that, in my opinion, is detrimental to public safety, health and good.”

The letter was addressed to 246 East Washington, however, prompting Selectmen Chairman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett whether the owner was properly informed of the public hearing.

Curran was seeking a 10-day notice for Grabowski to remove the junk, scrap metal and other waste. He also noted the property had been brought before Superior Court in 2014 after enforcement had been initiated in 2012.

“I then tried to work with the property owner to get them to clean it up,” Curran said. “Nothing was done sufficiently … and Selectmen declared it in my opinion, is detrimental to public safety, health and good in 2014. We then went to court and the owner of the property cleaned up the property sufficiently for me to say he was OK.”

The property is in need of cleanup again, Curran said.

“This one’s been difficult,” Curran said. “I think this is more of a hoarding issue more than anything and I think we should treat it more like that, so I need your support to take it further.”

Selectman Matt Dyer suggested that the board make sure the address be properly posted on the agenda before a vote is taken. FitzGerald-Kemmett agreed.

Selectmen did vote to declare property at 81 Ocean Ave., as in violation of the General By-law.

Curran provided the board with photographs showing “debris, junk, appliances and auto parts that, in my opinion, is detrimental to public safety, health and good,” he said in a letter to property owner Kevin Smith dated May 7. “There are also two motor vehicles up on jack stands undergoing repairs, one of which is in your front yard.”

Curran told Selectmen during a public hearing on the matter that the property has been before Selectmen, beginning in 2009 with a hearing at which that Board of Selectmen determined the property was detrimental to public safety.

Cleanup had progressed, but was not completed and a follow-up letter was sent.

“We never did go to court because the property was cleaned up, but it’s [now] worse than it’s ever been,” Curran said.

He said he is asking the Board to request Town Counsel to seek and order from the court to clean it up, followed by a permanent injunction to keep the property clean.

Selectmen enforce General By-laws.

In other business, Selectmen voted to suspend the Class II Auto License of Upscale Auto, at 169A Franklin St., with the provision that, if work flagged by Curran be completed by the board’s next meeting on June 18, the vote could be reconsidered. That work includes repair of a fence on the property and ensuring that all cars on site are in saleable condition, including inflated tires.

FinCom votes on June 17 articles

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WHITMAN — Voters will resume the Whitman Town Meeting at 7:30 p.m., Monday, June 17 after a debt exclusion question on the May 18 Town Election ballot freed up funds for some capital articles. Town Meeting will be held in the Town Hall auditorium.

The debt exclusion removed remaining payments on the new police station and renovations to Town Hall and the fire station from the tax levy. Finance Committee members met Tuesday, June 11 to prioritize Articles 29 through 49 not acted on before Town Meeting adjourned on May 6.

Some articles, including school projects given lower priority on the School District’s capital matrix and some town vehicle requests, were either amended, passed over or not recommended by the Finance Committee.

Town Administrator Frank Lynam said that, as of the time the May 6 Town Meeting session ended, there was $7,491 left in the levy and $439,115 remaining in free cash and $179,227 in capital stabilization.

Selectmen have voted to increase the capital stabilization account by $150,000.

“In order to accomplish that, in our Town Meeting on June 17, our first vote will be to take that money that had been paid from free cash and transfer that to capital stabilization,” Lynam said. “We can’t put it back in free cash.”

The second vote would be to raise and appropriate the money needed to complete the payment for the debt. A portion had already been voted on May 6 and by-law forbids reconsideration at the June 17 session, according to Lynam.

There is $943,242 available for votes on articles on Monday. There are $973,948 in pending requests.

“The committee has to decide how much of the money that’s available, assuming the special Town Meeting is voted as presented, of those balances that we want to remain,” said Finance Committee Chairman Richard Anderson.

“There will be an amendment prepared for each article,” Lynam said. “Every article is going to have to be amended on the floor.”

One of the amendments to control costs is the Finance Committee’s recommendation to support the purchase of two police cruisers instead of the three — at a cost of $65,870.65 — requested by Police Chief Scott Benton.

“All things being relative, if the money was there and we didn’t have a need for it, then I would support that,” Lynam said. He also recommended the purchase of only two of the three plow vehicles requested by the DPW, with which the Finance Committee concurred.

“[They’re] putting body paste on these vehicles so they pass inspection,” Anderson said of the DPW trucks that need replacement. “They’re in that bad a shape. … We have said no to the DPW more than we have to anyone else.”

Anderson reminded the Finance Committee that Benton could further amend to go back to the three vehicles if he felt that strongly about it.

An article to appropriate $100,000 for street paving was unanimously recommended.

When regional school district articles were discussed, former Selectman Scott Lambiase, now a Finance Committee member, asked if there was any sense in recommending articles Hanson voters have passed over.

Lynam said he did not think so, except that some may be revisited at Hanson’s October Town Meeting.

The Finance Committee recommended for passage include: $14,000 for a motorized physical education curtain at Whitman Middle School; $25,000 to replace exterior doors at Whitman’s schools; $45,000 to install thumb-piece latches to all interior classroom and office doors in Whitman schools; $17,946 for Whitman’s share of resurfacing the WHRHS gym floor; $41,874 for Whitman’s share of a handicap ramp to the existing press box at the high school; $20,937 for Whitman’s share of thumb latches at doors in the high school and $14,955 for Whitman’s share of repairs to the fire lane at the high school. A $134,595 share of the cost to spray/resurface the high school’s outdoor track was also recommended.

The recommended articles were at the top of the school’s priorities list.

School articles the Finance Committee recommended be passed over are: articles 42 through 44 — encompassing $59,820 to replace rooftop units at the high school; $44,865 for Whitman’s share of installing solar-powered site lighting and $44,865 to replace two facilities vehicles.

The Finance Committee voted against recommending $125,622 for Whitman’s share of the cost to repair/replace sections of the main roadway into WHRHS. It was the district’s lowest priority of the capital matrix items on the Whitman warrant.

“They’re better than what we’re driving on,” Lynam said.

Finance Committee member Chuck Colby agreed, but expressed concern that Hanson had already approved the expense.

The Finance Committee has also recommended a reduction of interest rate accrues on property taxes deferred by eligible taxpayers for temporary financial hardship (MGL c. 59 §5 clause 18A) from 8 percent to 2 percent.

A hometown thank you

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HANSON — During an often-tearful ceremony Tuesday, June 4, the Board of Selectmen joined with the town’s state and federal legislators to bestow overdue honor to a Vietnam veteran.

“Just the idea that our service members weren’t respected during the Vietnam War is so foreign to me,” said Christopher Matthews, a legislative aide to U.S. Rep. William Keating, D-Mass. “I think it’s likely known now, with a sense of shame, that 50 years ago when our veterans returned from Vietnam, they did not receive the respect and honor that they receive today. … It’s an honor today to say on behalf of Rep. Keating, ‘Welcome home, Cpl. Mattson. Thank you for your service and congratulations on this award.’”

Matthews’ father, who served in Korea during Vietnam experienced hostility to his uniform at the time when returning home.

Marine Corps veteran Everett Mattson of Hanson wiped tears from his eyes as state Rep. Josh Cutler, D-Duxbury, spoke to “recognize and congratulate him for his tremendous patience awaiting receipt of his Combat Action Ribbon for service in Vietnam.”

As corporal in the 2nd Marine Div., Mattson served in action in Vietnam in 1966, seeing heavy combat during his service, but did not receive the citation, for which service under enemy fire is required. It was not until he launched a letter-writing campaign in 2004 for an eligibility review that he finally received the ribbon in 2018 — taped onto a letter, which “neither thanked Mr. Mattson for his service nor apologized for the time it took to send him his Combat Action Ribbon,” Cutler said. “Today, we’re here to rectify that, as a community, as a commonwealth, as a nation, to come in a small way to thank you very publicly.”

Selectmen opened their meeting with the ceremony correcting that oversight, with Selectmen Chairman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett asking Mattson to lead the Pledge of Allegiance.

Selectman Wes Blauss presented an official citation to Mattson from the town of Hanson, his voice breaking as he read: “The town of Hanson wishes to recognize you and express the community’s deepest appreciation for your service to your family, neighbors and countrymen.”

Cutler, state Sen. Mike Brady, D-Brockton, and Keating — through his aide Matthews — presented official citations in honor of Mattson. Keating, who was preparing for departure to France for 75th anniversary observations of the D-Day invasion on Thursday, June 6 was unable to attend.

“Our nation should be judged on how we treat our veterans who put their lives on the line to protect us, which means no veteran should have to wait for housing, health care [or] benefits they deserve,” Matthews said. “Certainly, no veteran should have to wait 50 years for an award that they certainly deserve.”

Brady thanked Mattson’s fellow veterans for attending the ceremony in support of him. Matthews and Hanson Veterans Agent Timothy White pledged to assist him with any services he might require in the future.

“It’s a heck of a long time, but I’m happy [the ribbon] finally came through for you, sir, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart and on behalf of the town of Hanson, I thank you for your service,” White said.

Whitman preps for special TM

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WHITMAN — The board of Selectmen on Tuesday, May 28 received an update on municipal finances ahead of the Monday, June 17 special Town Meeting.

The town has $971,546 in available free cash after the debt exclusion was approved in the May 18 Town Election, and $154,674 available in the capital stabilization fund.

The town voted to use free cash to pay the debt associated with a bond, but with the approval of the debt exclusion, $532,000 can be transferred from that appropriation because it can’t be replaced into free cash, Lynam explained.

Selectman Randy LaMattina suggested the board vote to recommend placing $150,000 from free cash back into either the stabilization account, which now holds $2.6 million, or into capital stabilization, which now holds $154,600. Lynam advocated placing another $200,000 into capital stabilization. The board voted to place the $150,000 into capital stabilization to build the fund back up, leaving about $824,000 available for appropriation.

“At that point we will be able to make a determination on what articles to act on and to amend the source be capital stabilization because they are all capital articles,” Town Administrator Frank Lynam said. “Certainly, if we spent all the money we had, we could approve all those articles, but I don’t think that would be a prudent thing to do.”

Lynam said he has spoken to WHRSD and Hanson officials to determine what has been voted by Hanson for school capital projects. He will relay that information to Whitman’s Finance Committee.

He said Whitman would be responsible for $17,946 for the W-H gym floor refinishing; $41,874 for a handicapped ramp at the football field (Hanson approved its share of that work in Oct. 2018); $20,973 for thumb-latches in all interior classrooms at the high school; $14,955 for repairs to the existing fire lane; $59,820 for repair of rooftop units over the performing arts center which have failed and a more expensive temporary system is being used for the remainder of the school year. Hanson had passed over the roof-top units at its Town Meeting. There is also a need to replace lighting, before Green Communities reimbursement, at the Conley and Duval.

An appropriation of $125,622 to repave the high school roadway and $134,595 for resurfacing the track at the high school are being sought as Whitman’s share. There are also articles pertaining to town equipment purchases pending.

“My guess is they’re going to have to be prioritized and it’s unlikely that all these articles will be voted,” Lynam said.

Capital plan

The Collins Center at UMass, Boston, which has been working with the town on both a capital plan and budget model, is working to correct “a number of errors” Lynam flagged before returning the draft document for corrections.

Forest Street resident Shawn Kain has asked to see the draft document, asking whether it is considered a public document.

“I’m not comfortable sending it out, because it’s inaccurate,” Lynam said. “My experience with handing things out while they’re under development is that they typically come back to bite you.”

He told Kain he would discuss it with the board, but preferred to hold it until it was “mostly accurate,” perhaps not before the next draft is received in a week or so.

A capital report has not been received as yet.

Kain asked if the Collins Center report was pubic information. Lynam replied that such reports are not generally considered public until official received by the Board of Selectmen. The Board has not yet received the report.

“It’s not public information yet,” Selectmen Chairman Dr. Carl Kowalski said.

Kain said he would follow up with his concern with the Collins Center, as he argued it should be public.

“This whole process is going to be interactive,” Lynam said. “When they prepare to meet with us on a capital plan, there will be a public meeting, there will be a document presented — presumably, at least to the Board of Selectmen and the Finance Committee — to begin the analysis and say, does this work, where does it work, how does it work?”

He said the report draft contained misidentified departments and organizational charts.

“I don’t want to release a report like that, because it’s defective,” Lynam said.

“Those are valid discussion points, but to have it open, I think will be helpful,” Kain said.

LaMattina, who described himself as a “transparency guy,” pointed to the numerous draft Article 2s was an example of confusion caused by releasing draft documents.

“If it’s actually wrong, that’s what I don’t want put out there,” LaMattina said. He did, however request that some type of timetable be established to ensure accountability.

John Galvin, a High Street resident, asked about when Selectman Brian Bezanson might present an economic development plan, which was one of his campaign issues, to the board.

Bezanson said he has begun working with Assistant Town Administrator Lisa Green on the “first leg” of the proposal.

“It’s going to take a while to get all the moving pieces together,” he said. “I have to speak with the assessors and the treasurer and collector … to get their opinion on how things are going to go and then speak to state officials on exactly what’s legal and what’s not legal and how we can go forward with this.”

He said he hopes it can go forward as quickly as possible because, “the town needs that kind of money policy.”

In other business, Bezanson said a bronze plaque that had been stolen from the Civil War monument, and was not discovered until the Memorial Day observances. The plaque has been recovered by DPW workers and they will work to replace it, he said.

W-H’s triple threats

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The newly graduated Whitman Hanson class of 2019 is sending hundreds of motivated, bright students into their next stages of life’s adventure. For two families, that adventure has already included being part of a set of triplets.

The Express recently sat down separately with The Davis and Trongone triplets the first double set of triplets to graduate in the same year from Whitman-Hanson.

Ryan Trongone and his sisters Gabrielle ‘Gabby’ and Madison ‘Maddie’ of Whitman along with the Davis family of Hanson —Daniel ‘Dan’ and his sisters Ashley and Kathleen (not necessarily in birth order) celebrated graduation Friday, May 31. However they posed in birth order in their graduation photos.

Each of the triplets has unique personalities and are endlessly busy like average teens, but one thing they all agreed on was sitting and posing for photos needed to be in birth order. It may have been partially so their parents didn’t mix them up but both sets laughed about whether intentional or not they all approved it was a triplet thing.

Even though they are used to coming in a set they all articulated they were raised with self-sufficiently in mind and were encouraged by their parents to succeed independently of one another.

College prep: Ryan Trongone will dorm at Worcester Polytechnic Institute where he is most interested in the engineering program with a possible minor in computer science. He will be playing football there in the fall.

“I’m so excited,” he said.

It will be a tremendous change from living with his two sisters and having a mom who works from home. The transition is filled with emotions of anticipation and change.

“I feel it will be nice at first but then I will probably miss them,” said Ryan.

Maddie  and Gabby are both attending, but rooming separately, at Salve Regina College in Newport, R.I.  It will be a huge modification as they shared a bedroom through early high school.

Maddie is double majoring in teaching and special education. Gabby will be in pre-med and plans to also major in biology as part of the Pell Program.

The girls were surprised at first as neither knew the other was interested in the same school.

Currently they have similar shared groups of friends. They see this as helpful and supportive as they jointly form new freshman friendships.

Ashley Davis will be residing at The University of Mass at Boston and will be pursuing a nursing career.

Daniel is undeclared but is aiming towards working with numbers- his strong point.  Kathleen will pursue biologic-research in a lab setting among her long-term goals. They will commute to Bridgewater State University in the fall.

How do you feel about separating for colleges?

“It will be weird at first and I expect it to be a hard adjustment. I am not sure how I will feel, “said Ashley.

The Davis girls excelled at dance with Ashley also doing cheer for many years. They attend Manomet School of Dance — their aunt owns the studio where they have danced for 15 years.  Kathleen will remain as a student teacher. Having that performing connection has also been a strong bond for them.

Ryan is anticipating a good balanced taste of independence and being close enough to Hanson when he needs some home cooking and family time.

“I will be able to drive home but far enough that my mom can’t make my lunch every day,” he laughed.

They also sympathize with their mom having an empty nest. Being one of three means always having someone to talk to and having someone to hang out with the same goes for the parents having a full house as soon as the car pulls up in the driveway.

Sharing: Although most siblings do rival one another and quickly learn that nothing is just for YOU when you are one of multiples.  They all seemed to view sharing as a gift (most of the time) They are looking forward to a joint graduation party. Like all multiples they shared a birthday but their mom always got them their own favorite, special birthday cakes inviting friends and family to celebrate. Singing Happy Birthday three times may have been only when they were younger.

A positive for both families all the bathrooms will be freed up — enough said.

“Car sharing will be easier for us.” Daniel Davis said laughing.

The Davis girls still share a room and Daniel shares a room with his younger brother.

Both sets of triplets shared a classroom through middle school when teachers and classes began to rotate preparing for high school. The upside of sharing came in handy when forming friendships as most singletons understood their families automatically came as a group… it arranged friends for all of them.

The Trongones said they still distribute themselves amongst the same groups of friends and live close enough too many; even cousins who were as close as siblings to them.

The Davis’ travel in different social circles but their friends all get along with one another.

  Comfort:  Being one of three means always having someone to talk to and having someone to hang out with.

We never have to be by ourselves or if you had a nightmare there was always someone’s bed to jump in, said Maddie.

Fast facts

  Do triplets feel one another’s pain and finish one another’s sentences?

Yes and no. Both sets of girls answered at the same time, giggled and made similar statements as they reminisced with the Express.

They again answer in unison so the  Express would say ‘yes’ they finish one another’s sentences.

But the boys in both families disagreed with a ‘no’.

Healthiest eaters? The Davis girls playfully ganged up on the Daniel. Who was most likely to have Wendy’s or fast food in his hand.

“Yes. I am happy with a hamburger and fries. Kathleen loves apples, and Ashley’s favorite food is an avocado on toast,” he said.

Both sets of triplets played several sports with the Trongone’s achieving multiple awards and accolades for numerous sports throughout their high school careers.

Who is the smartest?  Although all three made National Honor Society …   Ryan Trongone was quick to claim the title.

“I’m the smartest. They (my sisters) might be mad at these answers,” he laughed.

Maddie is the most laid back with Gabby definitely the most outgoing, which was agreed by all three.

Favorite food? They all agreed that dad’s culinary skill and home cooking will be the hardest to leave with family time around the table.

The healthiest eater? Gabby!  But sister Maddie  demures.

“I think I am the healthiest eater, said Maddie,” but Gabby is definitely most motivated to exercise on her own. That was settled.

Most likely to be late: Gabby Trongone was given this title by her siblings.  She refuted the comments stating she has the ability to get up later and still be on time to both work and school.

“I am always on time … they think I am late,” said Gabby.

She also won the title of Senior Girl: Most Likely to Break – the – Ice in the yearbook citing her outgoing personality.

Roles: The Davis’ admitted as a group they feel they can be predictable, however, only to one another and their mother who has raised them with their younger brother Jeffrey, who is now 14.

The roles are distributed evenly Kathleen is the communicator and is the most organized.

Ashley has the most fun and humorous.  She called herself “light hearted.”

Where will you be in five years? Daniel foresees himself involved in a career using math — his strong suit

As a commuter next fall his plan to stay home and help his mom and brother. His goal is to save money while majoring in something he will love.  He has been doing flooring trade work with a neighbor and also works part time.

In five years a self-proclaimed city lover Ashley hopes to be working in a pediatrics program in a hospital setting.  She gained respect for and influence from the pediatricians and specialists who helped her younger brother who has a chronic illness. She feels that is a strong contributing factor in her career goals.

Kathleen would like to go into a graduate program and hopes to get her masters. She is an AP student in science and said she would encourage girls who excel in science.

“I have always wanted to look at microbiology and genetics programs.  As we see more job opportunities involving sciences opening up for both genders- if it is something they are interested in -they shouldn’t feel held back by that blockade that was there. It has been broken,” said Kathleen.

She felt her teachers encouraged her when she was younger and science was introduced to her in a positive way allowing her to stay interested and develop her strengths.

Who gets along the best?  Ryan said he gets along better with Madison because the two are both very laid back.

Daniel felt they all got along and appreciated one another as they matured. The Davis’ felt they got along better now than at any other stage in their life.

Most cherished moments? Ashley and Kathleen called their prom the most cherished memory in their lives.

Ryan said he will always cherish their senior prom after seeing his sisters all dressed up and having fun.

Gabby cherishes her family time and will miss being close with Cousin Mike who is like their second brother.

“We will miss getting together with our friends and our best friend Sammi Smith.  We all grew up together and right across the street. It will be different they (my siblings) are my best friends” added Maddie.

Gabby felt the best family times and memories in her childhood were spent in New Hampshire with her dad’s home cooking. Maddie’s most current, cherished memories are from a recent family trip to Florida in April.

“It was a great family vacation before college,” she said.

They enthusiastically agreed they will be making more memories together and independently in their next chapters of what life brings.

They all decided on one thing for sure that no matter where they are, or where they go in their adventures one thing will not change. . .

They will always come as an extraordinary set.

McCue faces OUI charge

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NORTH ATTLEBORO — Hanson Town Administrator Michael McCue, 52, has been placed on paid administrative leave by Selectmen pending an investigation following an alleged OUI crash in North Attleboro Wednesday, May 29.

Hanson Town Administrator Michael McCue, 52,

The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday, June 4 voted to appoint the board’s Administrative Assistant Meredith Marini as interim town administrator, “until such time as she is no longer needed in that said role,” a post she has filled before. Marini was also authorized to sign off on auction papers following a scheduled property auction on Wednesday, June 12, which McCue had previously been authorized to sign.

Police and witnesses say the Mansfield resident was driving a Town of Hanson SUV May 29 when he turned left off Route 1 just before 5 p.m. onto Park Street and collided with a vehicle driven by a woman who told police she was 16-weeks pregnant.

She told police her vehicle’s airbags deployed and one struck her in the stomach. She was sitting on the ground and appeared to be upset, according to the report. She was transported to Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro for treatment.

Two officers say in their reports that McCue smelled of alcohol, was being evasive toward them, and tried to keep his distance while avoiding eye contact. At one point he put paperwork in his mouth, they say to attempt to keep from breathing in their direction. They said McCue’s eyes were bloodshot and glassy and that he was unsteady on his feet.

After denying consuming any alcohol that day to an officer twice, McCue later admitted to drinking “a few beers at lunch.” According to a source, McCue was coming from a “Tree City USA” conference in Sturbridge. He would not say to police how he came to be in North Attleboro other than to say, “I live in Mansfield.”

McCue was not able to complete roadside sobriety tests to the satisfaction of police.

When he was asked to state the alphabet from the letter B to M, he “continued in groups of letters,” and did not stop at M, reciting the letters N, O, P and Q before stopping.

He later was asked to stand on one foot and was not able to do so. He asked for a second try, could not complete the task, and the officer then “stopped the test … for safety considerations.” McCue referenced a medical condition several times as a reason for not being able to complete the tests.

After failing the roadside sobriety tests, McCue was arrested and taken into custody.

He refused a breathalyze after being taken to the North Attleboro Police Department, resulting in an immediate license suspension, according to a police report and his driving record. He was charged with OUI-liquor (second offense), negligent operation of a motor vehicle, and failure to yield at an intersection.

Other than a 2016 accident, McCue has not had even a speeding ticket in 20 years, according to his driving record, although it is his second OUI offense. His first OUI occurred in 1995 and was continued without a finding in Wrentham District Court.

McCue was arraigned in Attleboro District Court Thursday morning by Judge Edmund C. Mathers. The case has been continued to June 28 for a pre-trial hearing.

The town-owned vehicle McCue was driving was towed to Reil Auto, a secure-lot in North Attleboro, and later to the Hanson Police Department. Hanson Police Chief Michael Miksch said that the SUV is now at a body shop being repaired. The extent of the damage cannot be confirmed.

McCue has been Town Administrator since 2016, and succeeded Ron San Angello, the last contracted Town Administrator. Marini served as interim town administrator at that time.

McCue’s salary is currently $119,646 and his contract, which was extended last year, is set to expire in 2022. He can be disciplined or dismissed by the Board of Selectmen for just cause.

Hanson Selectmen became aware of the incident Wednesday night, and scheduled an emergency meeting for Thursday. At that meeting, which was attended by one member of the public, the board voted unanimously to put McCue on paid administrative leave following an investigation into “misconduct.”

The town did not respond to a request for a statement, although Hanson labor counsel Jaime Kenny said that it was a “personnel matter.”

The condition of the alleged victim and her unborn baby is unknown at this time.

McCue did not respond to repeated attempts for comment.

(Express Editor Tracy F. Seelye contributed to this report.)

Budget, online troubleshooting mulled

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HANSON — Selectmen discussed ways to organize discussions between them, Town Administrator Michael McCue, Whitman officials and the School Committee to better coordinate budget planning.

“As a board, we’re concerned and we don’t want to keep repeating that pattern,” Selectmen Chairman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett said of “not necessarily productive” talks during the fiscal 2020 budget process.

“I think that we are going to need to have a conversation with the schools very, very soon in terms of that coordination but in terms of what they foresee their future to be and what their funding needs are,” McCue said. “The numbers we gave them this year is not sustainable going forward.”

The town is also mulling a Citizen Online Reporting System, similar to one already in place in Whitman, for residents to report problems such as potholes in need of repair.

“You could just go online and put that little report in there and it gets divvied out to the right person,” said FitzGerald-Kemmett.

McCue has reached out to Whitman officials, through the town’s IT director, to ask about how the system works there and will report back how the system works, cost and level of input sought under the program.

“The Whitman application seems to be pretty broad in terms of what you can send in,” McCue said. “I’m not necessarily saying the town of Hanson doesn’t want that, but I don’t want to just make that assumption.”

McCue said he doesn’t think there is much of a price difference based on the kind of input a program is open to, but he added a better understanding of cost and parameters is needed before Selectmen should be asked to make a decision.

“If you get too deep into, maybe, a complaint process — you don’t necessarily want that sort of stuff coming in anonymously,” McCue said.

Selectman Matt Dyer, who said he has a “little bit of experience with point-click-fix” applications through his job as a state employee in Brockton, working closely with that city’s DPW and other city officials, he said residents are required to log in to make reports.

“It’s not only to keep out comments and complaints, but it also allows municipal workers to get in touch with them and say, ‘I don’t see the problem here, can you give me more guidance,’” Dyer said. “It works really well and, I know  … not everyone but a good majority of them are very happy with the service.”

FitzGerald-Kemmett said that kind of feedback is helpful for the board to hear.

“It’s in keeping with one of the goals this board has set, which is better outreach, better access to our citizens … having more of that open dialog and open line and I thought, ‘what have we got to lose by looking at it,’” she said.

Lite Control property accepted

In other business, Selectmen also voted to accept the Lite Control property, and authorized FitzGerald-Kemmett to execute relevant documents in her capacity as chairman. A cell tower on the property would not translate into additional revenue for the town because it is under a 30-year lease under a one-check deal with Lite Control that did not include residual payments.

“We shall look at that property for potential revenue opportunities,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “The irony of this [signing] is not lost on me, the one person [on the board] who dissented against it,” she laughed. “I will do the job that I have been elected to do.”

Selectmen Jim Hickey said that consideration had been behind his request to delay the board reorganization.

Marijuana meeting

Selectmen discussed the lack of notice some residents felt was given to an informational meeting held by a recreational marijuana cultivation facility at Town Hall recently, which some felt was inadequate.

Board members noted the state only requires that proponents announce the session in a legal ad in the local paper, which the applicants did. McCue is also urging that another meeting be held at the Council on Aging as a way to get the message out better, as well as organizing a cable television program on it.

“We are helping to facilitate this process, but it is not our process,” McCue said. “These meetings are incumbent on the proponent, they’re no meetings that are being promoted by the Board of Selectmen or the town of Hanson.”

Man is killed by MBTA train in Hanson

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By Tracy F. Seelye, Express editor
editor@whitmanhansonexpress.com

HANSON — MBTA Transit Police said a man was struck and killed by a commuter rail train in Hanson early Wednesday morning by an in-bound train at the Hanson station.

The name of the person had not been released at press time. According to transit police, the victim was trespassing on the right of way near Main Street when he was struck.

“A male, age unknown at this time, while trespassing on the right of way in the vicinity of 1070 Main St., was struck by an inbound commuter rail train on the Kingston/Plymouth line,” Transit Police said in a statement. to Boston elevision stations “Foul play is NOT suspected.”

The incident happened at 5:30 a.m. near the Hanson Station on Main Street. Commuters already on the train were seen departing the train after 7 a.m. to be shuttled to other stations by transit buses.

Service on the Kingston/Plymouth line was delayed with inbound passengers from the Hanson station redirected to the Whitman station.

Officials from the Transit Police, Plymouth County BCI and Hanson Police and Fire responded to the scene.

MBTA officials did not make a statement at the scene, with press inquiries directed to Transit Police Superintendent Richard Sullivan.

Hanson police shut down Route 27, which is near the tracks, from Elm to Phillips streets for the investigation. The road was closed for several hours. Regular service on the Kingston-Plymouth line did not resume until just before 9 a.m.

Local road traffic was redirected through Halifax via Elm Street for eastbound motorists out of Whitman and via Phillips Street for westbound traffic in Hanson.

Transit Police officials talk on Main Street in Hanson after a man was stuck and killed by a commuter train Wednesday morning

An MBTA commuter rail train was stopped on Main Street in Hanson for more than three hours after a man was struck and killed at the Hanson station

A Hanson Police officer escorts commuter rail passengers to waiting shuttle buses

Salute to nation’s fallen

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There have been 1.1 million U.S. military personnel killed in all American wars, including the ongoing Global War on Terror. Residents of Whitman and Hanson joined the nation in honoring those who gave that last full measure of devotion during parades and ceremonies Monday, May 27.

Whitman Girl Scouts carried posters bearing photos of that community’s war dead in the parade and, in Hanson, state Rep. Josh Cutler, D-Duxbury, honored one of Hanson’s fallen during post-parade ceremonies at Fern Hill Cemetery.

“I’m standing here in what is known as the Unreturned Lot, which commemorates the lives of the 26 or 27 — we’re not exactly sure — Hanson men who were killed during the Civil War,” Cutler said, noting the 1.1 million who have fallen in all U.S. wars, such a huge number it almost becomes a statistic. “It’s hard to fathom that kind of loss. Memorial Day is an opportunity to narrow the gap between tragedy and statistic.”

Cutler did so by focusing on the loss of Tech. Sgt. Elmer R. Hammond, killed in action at the age of 21, in a B-17 on his 40th mission in the skies over WWII Europe.

He joined the U.S. Army in 1943 after the Navy and Marine Corps had turned him away because he was not an American citizen, Cutler related. Born in Nova Scotia in 1923, Hammond moved to Hanson with his family when he was 6. The Hanson American Legion Post bears his name.

“Tech. Sgt. Hammond was the first WWII soldier casualty from Hanson [and] he was laid to rest right here in Fern Hill Cemetery,” Cutler said. At the time of Elmer Hammond’s death, his younger brothers Sam and Gilbert were 9 and 7 years old.

“Sam later recalled that, ‘Elmer was a great guy who was brave, heroic and a guy I’d like to have as my back-up,’” Cutler said. “Sgt. Hammond is just one of the many heroes our town, our Commonwealth, and our nation have lost in war time. Today, I urge you to keep the memories of these men and women alive.”

Whitman’s Memorial Day Observances kicked off with morning wreath laying ceremonies in celebration of the 151st year honoring those who have honored their country at the cost of their lives.

Selectman Dan Salvucci addressed parade goers, citing one of his favorite local events honoring Memorial Day.

“We remember:  an event at Duval School where the kids commit to memory their relatives who have passed away and have given their all to serve to keep our country safe,” he said.

He thanked all who carried flags to honor those who passed. He shared a small narrative about honoring his late father in- law, a veteran, by carrying a flag in the parade something that he keeps close to his heart.

State Rep. Alyson Sullivan, R-Abington, thanked Pack 22 whose members had placed countless flags in honor of those fallen but not forgotten around multiple locations in Whitman.

She spoke of the sacred motivations behind celebrating Memorial Day and honoring those who have given their lives and also those who have returned as veterans some who suffer in silence with PSTD.

“Each and every war from the birth of our nation to our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan has come at great cost,” Sullivan said. “As we do each year on this special day of reflection we gather, we pause we pray, we remember the heroes who served and made the ultimate sacrifice so that we can enjoy these treasured gifts. … Today it’s our duty to and the duty of our grateful nation to remember and honor those who served and sacrificed.”

Three of Pack 22 scouts wrapped up the Town Hall services with a reading of prayer, moving on to lay wreaths in the WW I Memorial Arch, Colebrook Cemetery, the Town Park flag pole, Civil War Soldiers Monument and Veterans Monument all Wars -among the early morning honors several other memorials were paid tribute. The warm weather brought crowds in droves as they lined the South Avenue in front of the Town Hall and Post office.

“I really appreciate all the community support,” Hanson Veterans Agent Timothy White said during ceremonies at Indian Head School before the town’s parade stepped off.  “It’s very much appreciated.”

School Committee Chairman Bob Hayes handed a folded American flag to Scouts who raised it on the school’s flagpole to full-staff, before lowering it to half-staff for the observance before Hanson Middle School student Noah Roberts read Gov. Charlie Baker’s Memorial Day Proclamation.

Janet Hamilton, a U.S. Sanitary Commission re-enactor with the U.S. 22nd Vols., out of Rockland, was escorted by Selectman Jim Hickey in placing a wreath at the war memorial at the school. Hamilton, of Taunton, was dressed in Civil War-era mourning dress and veil to represent all widows of war dead. She was escorted by Selectmen Kenny Mitchell and Wes Blauss for a wreath laying at the town’s Civil War monument on Town Hall Green and by Selectmen Laura FitzGerald-Kemmet and Matt Dyer at the Unreturned Memorial at Fern Hill Cemetery.

The Mass. 22nd Vols. Fired a ceremonial rifle salute at each wreath-laying ceremony and members of the Hanson Middle School band played “Taps.”

“Let peace prevail among all the nations,” the Rev. Peter Smith of Hanson Congregational Church said in his prayer opening the day’s events.

Roberts recited the Gettysburg Address at Fern Hill and the Rev. Michael Hobson of St. Joseph the Worker Church closed with a prayer for blessings on the fallen and for their families’ peace of heart and mind.