There is no early release day at the high school Friday, Dec. 2. Lunch served that day will be: Cheese pizza, tossed salad, carrot sticks with dipping sauce, chilled and fresh fruit and milk.
Whitman Public Library bake sale
The Friends of the Whitman Public Library will hold a bake sale on from 4 to 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 22 and 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 23, in the Community Room of the Whitman Public Library, 100 Webster St., Whitman.
Make your Thanksgiving a little easier this year! Come by and pick up pre-made or ready-to-bake pies, cakes, breads, rolls, and more!
The Friends will also conduct a raffle for a holiday gift basket. Tickets will be available for purchase at the bake sale. The drawing of the winner will take place at the Friends’ monthly meeting at 7:30 p.m., Dec. 14, in the library’s Community Room. The public is welcome to attend. The winner will be contacted.
Three charged in drug arrest
WHITMAN — Three area men are facing drug charges after search warrants were executed on Monday, April 4 by detectives assigned to the WEB Task Force at Whitman apartments identified as being the places of suspected heroin and fentanyl sales over the past several months.
“Monday’s search warrants and this operation show that the WEB Task Force and Whitman Police Department are committed to aggressively pursuing similar ‘quality of life cases,’ in which neighborhoods are overcome with daily fentanyl and heroin transactions, as well as the drug’s use,” stated a press release issued by detective Sgt. Scott Allen of the East Bridgewater Police Department. “The WEB Task Force and Whitman Police will continue to investigate anyone suspected of selling these deadly drugs. Nearly all opioid investigations currently involve fentanyl mixed with heroin or contain solely fentanyl which is packaged and sold on the streets.”
Monday’s search warrants were the culmination of an investigation that has been ongoing since just around the start of the year, according to Allen.
“WEB Task Force investigators had received information over the past several months identifying an apartment located at 309 Old South Ave., Whitman that was suspected of being utilized as a main meeting site where suspected fentanyl/heroin sales were taking place to persons from Whitman and other nearby communities,” a press release issued by Allen on Tuesday stated. “Information had been received from concerned citizens, numerous sources of information, as well as supported by approximately 10 prior Whitman Police calls for service at 309 Old South Ave.”
Over the past several months, at least five non-fatal suspected fentanyl/heroin overdoses have occurred either directly at 309 Old South Ave., or in close proximity to the residence which involved individuals identified as being associated to the investigation, according to police. During the investigation, police said a father of one of the targets of the probe reported to Whitman Police that he had been observing the same male subject he believed was selling suspected fentanyl/heroin to his son and his friends at 309 Old South Ave.
“During the investigation, a WEB undercover officer was able to initiate undercover fentanyl purchases from the person suspected as supplying fentanyl to persons at 309 Old South Ave.,” the release stated.
After making three undercover purchases of fentanyl, on March 24, WEB Task Force investigators and Whitman Police Officers arrested the target of this undercover operation, Saquaan R, Louis, 24, a listed resident of 1968 North Main St., Fall River. Louis had been identified as a former resident of the city of Brockton with prior drug offenses. WEB Task Force detectives had identified Louis as being a distributor of fentanyl, and suspected him of distributing fentanyl to persons at 309 Old South Ave, Whitman on multiple occasions.
Louis was arrested at the Route 18 Wendy’s parking lot in Whitman on March 24, in a vehicle while in possession of three bags of fentanyl that WEB investigators believed he was selling that day. Louis was arrested and arraigned at Brockton District Court for; possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl (a Class B Controlled Substance) and three counts of distribution of fentanyl (for prior sales to an undercover WEB detective in Whitman over the prior weeks). He was held on $25,000.00 bail at Brockton District Court and was last known to still being held at the Plymouth County House of Correction.
“Even after Mr. Louis’ arrest, WEB investigators continued to observe suspected drug transactions occurring at and/or from within Apt. 1 at 309 Old South Ave, Whitman,” the release stated. “Several suspects of the Whitman end of the investigation had been identified and search warrants were sought by lead WEB and Whitman Detective Peter Aitken for 309 Old South Ave., Apt. 1 and a second location, 23 ½ South Ave, 2nd floor, also inWhitman.
On Monday evening, WEB investigators executed both search warrants.
At 309 Old South Ave., investigators located and arrested one of the main Whitman suspects, Robert Barton, 23, a resident of 309 Old South Ave., Apt. 1, according to the report.
“Mr. Barton was in possession of a small quantity of heroin when detectives executed the search warrant,” the report stated.
Detectives searched Barton’s residence and located digital scales and plastic baggies consistent with being utilized to distribute quantities of fentanyl. Also seized were multiple cellular phones police believed to be used to facilitate and arrange drug sales. A significant amount of hypodermic needles and syringes were located throughout the apartment, consistent with detective’s suspicions that the apartment was being utilized by many fentanyl/heroin users to inject and use the drugs just purchased at or near that location.
Barton was arrested and transported to Whitman Police station where he was charged with; possession with the intent to distribute a Class B substance (fentanyl) and possession of a Class B controlled substance (fentanyl).
WEB detectives executed a second search warrant Monday night at the , 23 ½ South Ave, 2nd floor, Whitman. This apartment had been identified as the residence of the other target of the probe, Ryan Hooper, 23.
“Mr. Hooper had been subject to surveillance during the investigation and was suspected of being involved in fentanyl/heroin sales at 309 Old South Ave., as well,” police stated. “On March 29, and prior to search warrants having been issued, Whitman Police responded to 23 ½ South Ave. related to a call involving Mr. Hooper. During this police response, Mr. Hooper was in possession of approximately 90 or more Clonazepam pills, also known as Klonopins or ‘K–pins,’ which is a benzodiazepine, a drug frequently and dangerously abused in conjunction with heroin or fentanyl use.”
Hooper is being summoned to Brockton District Court for possession with intent to distribute a Class C controlled Substance (Clonazepam) by Whitman Police related to the March 29 offense.
“Mr. Hooper had been the main probe of the 309 Old South Ave. investigation prior to March 29 and had previously resided with Mr. Barton and/or stayed at his Old South Avenue residence during this investigation,” police stated.
Hooper was also arrested by Whitman Police on Dec. 13, 2015 for a commercial Burglary at The Smoke Shop, 27 South Ave, Whitman — a business that sells electronic cigarettes and smoking paraphernalia. Hooper was charged and arraigned for breaking and entering of a building at nighttime for a felony, assault and battery on a police officer and an assortment of drug charges as he was arrested and found in possession of numerous drugs including suspected heroin/fentanyl.
Barton was arraigned on Tuesday, April 5 at Brockton District Court. He was held on $500 cash bail, which he had not posted as of Wednesday morning. Barton is due back in court May 5. No arraignment date has been set for Hooper’s newest charge.
Louis’ offenses are pending in the pre-trial session at court.
American legion hosting Meat raffle this weekend!!
Whitman nearing sewer settlement
WHITMAN — The town might finally be able to sort out issues regarding their shared sewage situation with the city of Brockton.
Last year, Brockton mayor Bill Carpenter hit Whitman with a termination notice for outstanding payments due dating back to 2013. But at the Whitman town selectman meeting on Tuesday, the board worked on straightening out the issues and explained the situation in detail.
Brockton wanted Whitman to be a common user of their shared sewage system and for the town to share the cost of any repair expenses. While Whitman is willing to pay a share of it, they do not want to be responsible for the neighboring city’s issues when just 160 feet of the town’s pipeline extends into Brockton, Town Administrator Frank Lynam argued.
Recently, Whitman sent Brockton a check for $300,000 to take care of an audited 2013 payment and currently, they have $900,000 set aside to make the payments for 2014 and 2015. They will need to obtain another $600,000 from the Finance Committee to catch up on those payments.
Lynam said that it was not that the town was avoiding the payments. He said that there were errors in the original bill Brockton sent and the town would be more than compliant to pay when Brockton sent a correct bill based off of flow – the method which the town agreed to pay upon originally.
In the past few years, the town has spent $8,000 in audits trying to figure out why they were charged the amount they were instead of what they believed they would be charged, Lynam noted.
Unhappy with the inconsistencies, Selectman Daniel Salvucci suggested that the neighboring town may be hurting for money – which is why the rates could be higher than expected.
The board approved new procedure for issuing liquor licenses in town. From now on, they will send their rules, regulations and enforcement policies along with the license to establishments in town so that everyone is aware of the rule. The final page of the document will require the business’ signature and it appears as though they will either send it back to the town or keep it at their establishment. That part has yet to be determined.
Liquor licenses became an issue when an establishment in town violated theirs on several occasions and the town came to a conclusion – they did not have any way to strictly penalize an establishment for violating the rules.
With space lacking at the town hall, the board agreed that the archives room needed to be expanded in order to store more files.
“It’s a short term solution,” Lynam argued. “It’ll probably work for the next five to seven years. But then we’ll probably have to go digital at some point.”
Deficit spending was approved, at Lynam’s request, in order to demolish the barn on 215 South Avenue. It was damaged during winter storms and he said it was about to fall apart. While the town might not have had the funding at the moment, he argued that they will recoup the funds and then some when they sell the property.
While spending money may have been an issue, the town did receive a sizable sum from the state — $167,000 to be exact for being what the state of Massachusetts considers a “Green Community”.
Whitman and Hanson have shared a building inspector’s vehicle in recent times and in order to keep the deal in place, the board argued that the costs should be split equally – specifically gas and depreciation.
Using $3,200 from the World War II Memorial Fund, the Whitman Recreation Commission’s request to replace a fence around the basketball and pickleball court, which is located behind the police station, was approved. Pickleball is a game similar to tennis with a racket more similar to a table tennis racket and a ball more similar to a whiffle ball.
Ridder Farm’s request for a 12 General On-Premises Wine and Malt License was approved and takes effect specifically on holes four, 12, 13, 14 and 16.
Rickard D’Ambrosio’s Auctioneer License for DBA Gallery on 605 Bedford Street was approved.
The board set their April meeting schedule and their first meeting of the month will be Tuesday, April 5.
Panthers end season on Garden Parquet!
BOSTON — It’s said all good things have to come to an end, and for the Whitman-Hanson boys’ basketball team, that was their season. The Panthers (22-3) lost a tough fought battle in the Division 2 State semifinals, held at the TD Bank Garden Tuesday, to New Mission 62-50.
“I give my kids so much credit for how hard they played,” head coach Bob Rodgers said. “They were very aware of New Mission’s athleticism and I think that prevented us from sharing the ball as well as we usually do.”
In what was a back-and-forth game all night, a three-point basket by senior guard Alonzo Cooper, which put his team up by three with under 2:30 left in regulation, would be the nail in the coffin for the Panthers’ season.
The Panthers notched the first two points in this one, not even 30 seconds in, but New Mission was relentless on the offensive glass, like they were all night, and came back to tie it at six. A putback by six-foot-one junior forward, Kevin Nunez (11 points), with under 50 seconds remaining in the quarter pushed the Titans ahead 14-13 at the end of the first.
The Panthers weren’t about to roll over just yet and captured their first lead in over three minutes at the 5:10 mark of the second quarter, after senior captain Nick Smith (14 points, two rebounds) knocked down two free-throws. Smiths’ makes would ignite a three-point barrage by senior guard Brenndan Rogers, who would hit a three to tie the game at 21. Tied at 24, Rogers would go on a 6-0 run of his own to give the Panthers their biggest lead of the night so far, 30-24. Though, a three-pointer by junior guard Alexander Delarosa put the Titans right back in this one heading into the half as they trailed, 30-27.
After hitting four three-pointers and scoring 16 points in the first half, the Titans were able to hold Rogers in check after the halftime break.
“We went cold, we couldn’t get anything off,” Rodgers said. “They started to face guard Brenndan. [He] was playing so well for us, and we still got some good looks for him, but I think that kind of changed the momentum a bit.”
Five points by senior captain Joshua Rice (13 points, three rebounds), contributed to a 10-3 Panthers run to start the third quarter as they led by their largest lead of the game at 40-31. But like the second, the Titans answered with a run of their own and a Delarosa bucket with under 20 seconds remaining cut his team’s deficit to two heading into the final eight minutes.
“We got the stops tonight, we just didn’t score the ball as well as we usually do,” Rodgers said in regard to the Titans’ third quarter run.
Tied at 45 with under 3:50 remaining, a two-point basket by junior guard Nikko Raftes would push the Titans ahead. Rice, who scored all eight of the Panthers’ fourth quarter points, notched it back up at the 2:46 mark. Following Cooper’s make, Delarosa would score four points in the final two minutes as his team held on.
The Titans hauled down 17 rebounds in their win.
“You’re not going to win many games when that happens,” Rodgers said.
Eight of the Panthers’ players, including their entire starting five, played their last game on the court for the Whitman-Hanson this season. Rdogers said that is a stat that hurts more than the loss.
“Those seniors are very special,” Rodgers said. “They’re very special to each other, they’re special to me, they’ve been special to this program. That to me, is honestly, the hardest part of the night. You knew there was going to become a time which you wouldn’t be able to coach them anymore. They’ve had an impact on this program that is bigger than I think any of them realize.”
Rodgers said he couldn’t even put into words as to what they’ve meant to this program as a whole.
“They’re character kids who do things the right way,” Rodgers explained. “They set a standard for how hard you have to work, the good decisions you have to make away from basketball and being unselfish. I told them, there are a lot of little kids from Whitman and Hanson that they’ve coached in the camps that we have, that will be back here in Boston because of them.”
National Grid growth felt in Whitman
WHITMAN — It may sound like a good thing for the town, but while a National Grid personal property report has added $72.8 million in new growth, it has raised the town’s levy limit — and it’s not expected to last.
The anomaly was discovered during an analysis of available funds, including new growth, according to Town Administrator Frank Lynam.
“Typically, we estimate new growth before Town Meeting and we plan our budget with an awareness of what our ability to raise funds is based, in part, on new growth,” he said.
The town had been notified in March that National Grid and its affiliates reported new growth of $72,784,278 in taxable personal property in Whitman in fiscal 2016. The growth was not presented until the classification hearing, which set the tax rate, Nov. 10.
Last year, the town’s total of taxable personal property was $9,745,287 — a value that had held fairly steady for years. Added to the National Grid growth, should put the total for new growth at about $81 million, which means National Grid’s report already includes a depreciation of about $8 million from the value of their personal property.
If that trend continues, the new growth funds from the National Grid property is going to run out in nine years, according to Lynam. He likened depending on the funds to balancing a budget with free cash.
Lynam will be recommending that the town uses the National Grid growth figures only for capital expenditures that are voted from year to year. He will recommend using $300,000 of it this year for the Duval school roof as well as more for other non-recurring capital projects.
“If you build the budget using personal property which doesn’t typically grow, unless you add more real property to it, your ability to raise money is going to drop each year,” Lynam said.
Real estate valuation is generally more reliable than that. Single-family homes will add $110,600 to the tax value, condos $23,400, two/three-families $15,500, multi-families $1,100, vacant land $4,400 and commercial $1,154,300.
“Real estate typically appreciates in value or, at least, kind of stays stable,” Lynam said. “Even in cases where it declines the total value of real estate is sufficient that it doesn’t impact us as a community.”
Even when property values are in decline, he noted, there is room between the levy limit and the levy ceiling to raise money for town operations. The levy ceiling is the most that can be assessed on property, including overrides.
“If we exceeded our levy limit and needed more money, we could call for an override election,” he said. “As long as the people vote it, we could then raise the tax revenue up to that levy ceiling — we can never go over that under any circumstances.”
Lynam said there is a “healthy difference between the two. This year’s levy limit is $23,142,555, with the ceiling at $35,582,215. The town has to raise $22,189,069 from real and personal property to operate. The tax rate is $15.59.
“The problem is personal property is a depreciating and depleting asset,” he said.
McAleer shines for Shriners
W-H junior named to All-Star Classic game
By Nathan Rollins
Express correspondent
McAleer shines for Shriners: Whitman-Hanson/Silver Lake girls’ hockey is sending a player to skate in this year’s Shriners All-Star Classic. Forward Melanie McAleer has been selected to compete in the event.
The Shriners All-Star Classic is a showcase of the best and most talented hockey players across Massachusetts. The game is played to help raise money for Shriners Hospitals for Children, specifically for the Aleppo Transportation Fund. Every year, the event raises thousands of dollars for the hospitals. The event illustrates the devotion Shriners Hospitals for Children has for their patients.
WHSL co-captain Mel McAleer, a junior forward, has been selected to participate in the seventh annual Shriners All-Star Hockey Classic on Saturday, March 26.
Photo by Sue Moss
McAleer said being one of a handful of girls chosen to take part in the action is a tremendous gesture.
“To play in the Shriners All-Star Classic Game is truly an honor,” the junior said. “I always knew that the players that were picked to participate are highly respected on and off the ice and it is truly a privilege to be one of them this year.”
The game, which is scheduled for Friday, March 26 at the in Loring Arena in Framingham, held an orientation on Feb. 6 at the Performing Arts Center at Reading Memorial High School. It was there, that the players took team and individual pictures had the chance to meet with their coaches. McAleer said it was an incredible feeling to be among some of the best hockey players around but that’s not the real reason the game is held.
“What inspired me most during the orientation, was the video presentation that was shown of the patients that Shriners has helped,” McAleer said. “Listening to their stories made me understand why they bring us all together. It is awesome to be considered one of the best hockey players in the state, but it feels much better to be looked to with the responsibility of raising money for such a great organization.”
The 17-year-old McAleer said the sport of hockey drew her in at a young age and she has pursued it ever since.
“My family has always been into hockey, but my love for the game was natural,” McAleer said. “I always loved skating and when I was 7-year-old, my mom finally agreed to let me start playing. Ever since then, I haven’t stopped loving it.”
Whitman-Hanson / Silver Lake girl’s hockey coach, Kevin Marani, said McAleer has an incredible amount of talent on the ice.
“[She’s] an amazing strong skater with great stickhandling and a hard shot,” Marani, who coached McAleer for one year in youth hockey, said. “What separates Mel from most of the players is her unselfishness, commitment and leadership. Those three characteristics are paramount to our team’s success.
McAleer has notched 26 goals and complied 13 assists so far this season.
Afternoon bank robbery at Mutual Bank in Hanson
At approximately 12:50 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016, the Mutual Bank branch on Liberty Street in Hanson was robbed. The scene is still active and under investigation by the Hanson police. The Express will provide more details as they become available.
Scene of the robbery midday Thursday on Liberty Street in Hanson. The Mutual Bank branch will be closed for the rest of the business day.
Photo by Stephanie Spyropoulos
Traffic forces W-H building use change
Traffic forces W-H building use change due to dangerous traffic flow problem, exacerbated by a lot of illegal parking during events held at WHRHS
On Saturday, Nov. 14, the School Committee voted 8-0-1 on Nov. 18 to amend the district’s building use policy.
Member Robert O’Brien, a lieutenant on the Hanson Fire Department, abstained and member Alexandra Taylor was absent.
The change requires that renters of the facilities for events involving more than 300 participants must pay to provide a police detail “in order to ensure the safety and security” of those participants.
Use of the facility will be denied if: there is insufficient supervision, capacity is exceeded or if public safety officials and/or district personnel deem a safety and security problem exists.
“People were parked up and down [both sides] of the driveway, should a fire truck have to get in here it would require bashing through cars,” said Committee member Fred Small, who sits on the Facilities and Capital Improvements Subcommittee. “They just wouldn’t be able to fit.”
School Committee Chairman Robert Hayes, who was on the grounds during the day Nov. 14, said the problem has cropped up before.
While it says “No Parking” on one side of the driveway pavement, people just park over it, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources/Safety and Security Patrick Dillon said. Hayes added that it is also assumed the posted traffic signs pertain only to school hours. Cars also illegally park on the fire road.
A Hanson school roof project was also a topic of concern.
The Indian Head and Maquan Priority Repair Committee is persuing the penalty clause of the Indian Head roof project over missed deadlines.
The project, originally contracted for completion at about Aug. 21 is now, after several delays, scheduled to conclude Monday, Nov. 30. The most recent missed deadline was Nov. 22, which hinged on the company working Veterans Day. A nor’easter, however, cost two days’ work that week, according to Hayes.
“It’s dragging out way too long and it’s got to be completed,” Hayes said.
School Committee member Kevin Lynam asked about the repair committee’s satisfaction with the work.
“We’ve had a lot of positive feedback from what I’ve heard for the last three months and suddenly people are angry about the time it’s taking,” Lynam noted.
Hayes said the timing is beginning to affect everything.
“Are we dissatisfied with the work? No, but we’re dissatisfied with the [time] it’s been taking,” he said.
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