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Police: Social media ploy lured youth

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Matthew Murphy. (Photo courtesy United States Marshals Service)

WHITMAN — A Whitman man has been arrested and is facing allegations that he sexually exploited children after he created a fake social media account.

Matthew Murphy, 22, of Temple Street in Whitman, was charged in federal court on Tuesday on two counts of sexual exploitation of children.

Murphy posed as a teen girl using a Snapchat account to extort nude photographs from a Massachusetts middle school boy. The investigation of the alleged incidents was detailed in the charging documents, according to a press release from the United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent in charge.

Federal agents obtained portions of the Snapchat account Murphy had created in the fake identity and uncovered evidence of similar extortion of other minors in the area, according to the press release.

Murphy was detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.,

Agents and Whitman police executed a search warrant of Murphy’s home where he was placed under arrest.

 “It is a reminder that these predators are out there,” said Whitman Police Chief Scott Benton. “They want to prey on and take advantage of the innocence of children.”

Law enforcement is actively working to identify additional victims. Members of the public with questions or information about this matter should call 617-748-3274 or Whitman police at 781-447-1212.

“During the execution of the search warrant at his home, Murphy admitted that the fake account was his, and investigators found forensic evidence of the account on some of his electronic devices. Murphy was subsequently arrested,” according to the press release.

The charges of sexual exploitation of children each provide for a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years and no greater than 30 years in prison, a minimum of five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, made the announcement Wednesday. The Whitman Police Department provided valuable assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Paruti, Lelling’s Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and a member of his Major Crimes Unit, is prosecuting the case.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit projectsafechildhood.gov/.

Compassion on the beat

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A rainy window reflects a police officer on the job. Mental health clinician ride-alongs on Fridays now provide assistance to officers responding to health-related crises. (Photo by Stephanie Spyropoulos)

WHITMAN — The Whitman Police Department is taking advantage of a local grant, which has afforded several South Shore communities the services of a mental health clinician to ride along with a dispatched officer.

The program was launched in January 2019.

Katrina Lee, jail diversion coordinator for High Point Middleborough outpatient clinic, rides with a Whitman supervising officer on Friday nights, allowing for immediate assistance in cases of domestic violence, substance abuse and other mental health-related crises.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Mental Health funded the mission titled: a Regional Co Response Jail/Arrest Diversion Project (RJDP) with $45,000 in conjunction with High Point contracted services approved in 2018.

Whitman Police Chief Scott Benton said the proactive approach is similar to one departments have implemented in the past years to assist with opioid addiction, treating respective mental illnesses rather than waiting until the problem escalates. He said the shifting mindset is being applied and supported through the new program.

Benton referred to the awareness as a step in the right direction as officers are better equipped with the knowledge of an underlying mental illness.

“It is getting everyone in the room:  police, fire and hospitals to help these people.  If the people get help, then get out of a facility and they don’t have other services it becomes a merry-go round for them,” said Benton.    

There are times when a resident refuses intervention.

“They can decline but Lee can point them in the right direction for services,” said Benton. “We are getting into the game. We are way behind in treating mental health.”

Feedback has been positive from the officers, he said.

“It’s in the delivery,” Benton said. “We want to make sure we are implementing something and give it a chance to succeed. Invariably things come up … we have issues to address – we do it together in partnership. Department heads and supervisors of police and fire met to address concerns at the beginning of the program.

“Paperwork and other expectations needed to be communicated to properly get the program a jump start in the community as with any new program,” he said.

According to the studies and content in the grant request, some common disorders that are seen most frequently when a law enforcement officer is requested are: depression, anxiety, mood disorders; substance abuse is often an underlying issue or compounding component, self-harm and domestic violence.

A statistic used to support the grant request through the National Alliance on Mental Health NAMI”

“In a mental health crisis, people are more likely to encounter police that get medical help. As a result, two million people with mental illness are booked into jail each year,” according to a statistic used to support the grant request through the National Alliance on Mental Health- NAMI.

Lee, as the clinician who is seeing firsthand how the program is evolving has expressed her commitment.

“I am excited to be a part of this program,” said Lee.

She has worked with victims of crime alongside the DA’s Office for the majority of her career. She is able to utilize her knowledge along with her clinical skills responding first hand to help people in the six communities.

“It is the perfect blend of my experiences. I’m hopeful that my background has proven helpful to the people I‘ve spoken with to date,” Lee said. “I really feel fortunate to be working with these departments because everyone from the chiefs to the officers I work with, are incredibly compassionate and genuinely want to help the members of their communities.”

“As a group we want to see people with mental illnesses referred to appropriate agencies to receive support rather than having them brought through the criminal justice system if that can be avoided,” Lee said. “In cases where it can’t I am able to make referrals to the Mental Health Court, which can better address the mental health needs of the individual.”

The grant guidelines stated that, “The co-response diversion model provides an opportunity to apply immediate, community based clinical services when and where they are needed in partnership with police officers responding to behavioral health calls. A consistent clinical presence in a police station has shown to have an overall beneficial effect on law enforcement personnel’s attitudes towards individuals with behavioral health conditions and on vicarious skill building and knowledge. … The overall goal of our RJDP is to steer people with mental health difficulties away from the criminal justice system and into services that lead to mental health recovery as stated in the grant outline and project approval.”

The approved grant was awarded to Bridgewater Police Chief Christopher Delmonte and includes, East and West Bridgewater — including Bridgewater State University police  —and  Middleboro police.

Whitman aids fire victims

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WHITMAN — The night of the fire heavy black smoke could be seen from Route 58 in Hanson — the sounds of sirens rang from all directions — as fire apparatus from all over the South Shore helped battle a raging house fire at 316-18 Commercial St., on Wednesday, Feb. 13.

Word spread quickly that the three-story wooden structure was crumbling to the ground, siding melted down to the foundation along with it — destroying personal processions and mementos of approximately a dozen residents.

Remarkably no one was injured in the fire, reported by a resident through 911 just before 8 p.m. The blaze drew 80 firefighters and 15 departments from around the south shore.

“Upon arrival heavy flames were coming from a second-story window. The fire was spreading to the third floor and simultaneously burning the wooden deck outside of the window,” said Whitman Fire Chief Timothy J. Grenno.
Deputy Chief Joe Feeney immediately struck a second alarm — a call for more assistance to the scene — due to the building structure and size.  Chief Grenno called for additional mutual aid from other towns, striking a fifth alarm at approximately 9:25 p.m.

Hundreds of onlookers and media flooded the street filming the flames as they seem to propel from every gap of the structure. Residents lined the doorways and lawns dressed in pajamas, some wore white face masks as they shook their heads to evade the gusts of smoke, that mixed with snowflakes as the night progressed.

They Lost everything

“People have been amazing,” said resident Hannah Fabian who has spent most of the last week in a daze filling out paperwork and trying to piece her life back together. Along with several other families in the building they have seen a vast amount of support as they start to rebuild.

Fabian, who was home when the fire started, had rented in the Whitman apartment building for less than six months with her boyfriend and two sons. Her cousin, David, and his daughter who is 11 and a middle school student in Whitman, rented an apartment on the lower level. Fabian had asked him to check her apartment when the boys, who were getting ready to visit their father, smelled burning plastic – within seconds smoke billowed from her bathroom. They all ran out of the building while the smoke alarms blared and called the fire department.

“When we got out of the house it was already completely covered in smoke. It went up in what seemed liked seconds,” said Fabian. “I tried to stay calm for the kids but I couldn’t help it we all were crying.”

She left the fire scene after her sons, who are ages 8 and 11, were picked up by their father. She wore a red hoodie over her face and had a friend, who like her also has severe asthma, give Fabian an inhaler as her own medicine was left behind in the burning building.

David was trying to gather his tools outside the building as he sprayed a fire extinguisher, she said.

Fabian has received monetary help through a GoFundMe account a friend has created, but there are things that can’t ever be replaced like baby books and photo albums, she said.

Battling the blaze

Firefighters battled the blaze and successfully prevented it from spreading to nearby homes. The heaviest flames were knocked down by approximately 9:30 p.m., said Grenno.

Several neighbors who viewed the intensity of the scene from parallel driveways used cell phones to document the fire, as they trained a watchful eye on their own homes.

Residents displaced by the fire were assisted by the American Red Cross — who responded to the scene.

The building, a total loss has since been demolished. Early estimates of the loss have totaled upwards of $1 million dollars in loss, according to Grenno.

The preliminary investigation indicated that the fire started in a second floor apartment. The cause of the fire is under investigation by Whitman Fire and investigators from the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services (DFS).

They were continuing their investigation Thursday Feb. 14, but at this time it does not appear to be suspicious. Grenno said that he did not know when the last fire inspection was done at the building, but that it had previously been up to code.

“This fire spread extremely fast and I want to commend our firefighters and those from our surrounding communities who responded to help put this fire out as quickly as they did,” Grenno said. “We are thankful that no one was hurt and that all residents were quickly able to be accounted for.”

As of Tuesday Feb. 19 the cause of the fire was still under investigation. 

Crews worked to overhaul the house and extinguish hot spots until approximately 12:30 a.m. Thursday Feb. 14. The scene was cleared later in the day and an engine from Whitman remained on fire watch over night.

Firefighters from the following communities responded to assist on the call: Hanson, Abington, East Bridgewater, West Bridgewater, Bridgewater, Rockland, Brockton, Norwell, Hanover, Halifax, Hingham, Holbrook, Randolph, Marshfield, Avon and Pembroke.
In addition, the Whitman Police Department, Whitman Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), DFS Rehabilitation Unit and Boston Sparks Association A-10 also responded to the scene.

Helping others

Austin Gould, a first grader at Conley School in Whitman, heard about the fire on Wednesday and when he arrived at school on Thursday he asked if he could talk to his school Principal Karen Downey.

“He came in to see me and said ‘Well did you know there was a big fire?’ My heart melted …” said Downey.

Gould explained that he remembered Downey telling them that they can help make a difference in other kids’ lives and that was his goal. He wanted to help the kids who lost everything in the fire.

Downey has always stood by the lessons of education for her students however she also wants them to become good citizens, she said.

Her reaction upon hearing his objective to benefit the victims was one of pride

“Wow! They are hearing me,” she said. “I was so impressed with the willingness and earnestness from such a wonderful little guy. Knowing they are absorbing all the lessons that are being taught by word and example is spreading pride through the Whitman schools.”

Also students at Conley School, James and Charlotte Kleinman planned a  lemonade stand to raise funds.

Five-alarm fire destroys Whitman house

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Fire crews train their hoses on flames bursting through the roof of a multi-family house at 316-18 Commercial St., in Whitman Wednesday night. No one was injured as some 80 firefighters from 15 South Shore departments responded to the fire. (Photo by Stephanie Spyropoulos)

WHITMAN — Nearly 80 firefighters from Whitman and more than 15 South Shore communities battled a five-alarm blaze that destroyed a multi-family house at 316-18 Commercial St., Wednesday night.

No injuries were reported in the fire.

The building was a total loss, and including personal possessions, Whitman Fire Chief Timothy Grenno estimated that the damage could add up to nearly $1 million.

All of the nearly a dozen residents of the apartment building were displaced as a result of the fire. The American Red Cross responded to the scene to assist residents in finding shelter for the night.

A preliminary investigation points to the fire starting in a second floor apartment, but the exact cause of the fire is still under investigation by Whitman Fire and investigators from the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services (DFS). They were expected continue their investigation later Thursday morning, but at this time officials said it does not appear to be suspicious. Grenno said that he did not know when the last fire inspection was done at the building, but that it had previously been up to code, according to a statement. He stated that he did not know when the last fire inspection was done at the building.

“This fire spread extremely fast and I want to commend our firefighters and those from our surrounding communities who responded to help put this fire out as quickly as they did,” Chief Grenno said.

Whitman Fire Chief Timothy Grenno watches Thursday afternoon as equipment from Watson Excavating of East Bridgewater is used to raze the multi-family home at 316-18 Commercial St., Whitman that was destroyed in Wednesday night’s five-alarm blaze.

Residents told reporters on the scene that the power went out and they heard a popping sound before the flames broke out.

Whitman Fire/Rescue received a 911 call reporting a fire at an apartment building at about 7:45 p.m. Upon arrival crews found that heavy flames were coming from a second-story window. The fire was spreading to the third floor and simultaneously burning the wooden deck outside of the window.

Deputy Fire Chief Joe Feeney immediately struck a second alarm. Because of the size of the building and its wood-frame structure, the fire quickly spread through the house and Grenno called for additional mutual aid from other towns, striking a fifth alarm at approximately 9:25 p.m. Firefighters from Hanson, Abington, East Bridgewater, West Bridgewater, Bridgewater, Rockland, Brockton, Norwell, Hanover, Halifax, Hingham, Holbrook, Randolph, Marshfield, Avon and Pembroke responded to mutual aid calls. The Whitman Police Department, Whitman Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), DFS Rehabilitation Unit and Boston Sparks Association A-10 also responded to the scene.

Firefighters battle fire, weather in Hanson

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HANSON — No injuries were reported Tuesday night as Hanson firefighters and those from three other towns battled stubborn flames in cold sleet and drizzle, making for a long night.

The call for the structure fire was received just after 7:30 p.m. with firefighters encountering heavy fire throughout the structure, according to Hanson Fire Chief Jerome Thompson.

Two occupants and a dog were able to flee the fire at 45 Milford St., according to published reports.

Upon arrival all occupants had exited the house, said Thompson.

The home was listed on several real estate websites Tuesday night as foreclosed, on, but the updated property sites now report the home as off the market. Neighbors who watched the mammoth flames take over the structure at the scene said they did not believe anyone was living in the home.

The jumbled debris on the interior made the conditions for firefighters challenging.

“Excessive clutter in the house made it difficult for firefighters to continue an aggressive interior attack and contributed to a lengthy overhaul process,” said Thompson. the fire is under investigation.

Fire, smoke and water damage was extensive throughout the house, which is uninhabitable. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by the Hanson Fire Department, Hanson Police Department and the Massachusetts State Fire Marshal’s Office. The occupants are being assisted by the Red Cross.

Firefighters were assisted at the scene by Halifax, Pembroke and Whitman fire departments. Hanover Fire covered Hanson Headquarters and Pembroke Fire responded with an ambulance to a medical emergency in another part of town during the incident. Also assisting at the scene was Hanson Police, Hanson Highway and Water departments. All crews cleared the scene shortly after midnight.

Freezin’ for a reason

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HANSON — The January thaw was a blessing from Mother Nature as dozens of local residents, school officials and town employees made the plunge into the icy water at Cranberry Cove Sunday, Jan. 27 as part of the Hanon PTO Freezin’ for A Reason inaugural polar plunge fund raiser.

Event Coordinator Melissa Valachovic of the Hanson PTO was enthused by the level of support that the community brought to the event.

Calling the event outcome “amazing,” she reported the total raised by the plungers reached nearly $12,000.   

Some of the top pledgers each exceeded $1,000 to $1,500.

With combined efforts of the PTO and a subcommittee assisting with the six month planning- prior to the event — Valachovic praised the abundant dedication and enthusiasm by many hands to bring the fund raiser to fruition.

Naming and thanking the town officials and first responders who contributed with safety of the 53 registered plungers, Valachovic acknowledged the entire board of selectman that made the plunge. Chairman Kenny Mitchell, who could not attend Sunday, took his frosty dive on Thursday in the presence of several witnesses.

Collectively giving to the school was the most important factor for most who powered through the chilly water although several carried individual reasons in participating.

Pam Fager and her lifelong friend Sondra Allen, both of Hanson, checked doing a polar plunge off their bucket lists.

Sharing childhood memories of summers gone by at Cranberry Cove the pair decided to take the icy dip contributing to the school that their children have attended.

“It was awesome and I cannot wait to do it next year,” said Fager.

The water temperature was a concern for many as they saw the chunks of ice floating at the surface after Hanson firefighters and dive team members prepared the plunge area by sawing into the waterway.

“It actually felt similar to the air temperature,” said Fager after she realized she accomplished the feat.  Several plungers, in fact, said the water was not as cold as they had feared.

Enjoying the camaraderie of her small hometown, Allen said she would like to see more of those types of events.

“They really help bring the community together,” said  Allen.  Some of her fondest childhood memories were at the boat races on Memorial Day and the huge bonfire held at the town hall on July 4.

Shaun Doyle, a police officer on the South Shore and a Hanson school parent, found a little extra motivation in the morning as he dressed for the polar plunge. He chose to honor his fellow brother in blue SGT. Michael Chesna, a fallen Weymouth police officer killed in the line of duty.

“It’s nice at the end of the day — to give back — it’s all about the kids,” said Doyle.

Army Sgt. Aaron Meade a Hanson resident who graduated from W-H in 2002  said he had the memory of fellow Army soldier Black Hawk Pilot Scott Landis on his mind as he took a back flip into the chilly pond.

“I wanted to give back to the community,” said Meade who made the trip from Hanscom Airbase where he is stationed.

Meade was overjoyed to have been cleared two days prior from a medical injury in which he was wearing a walking boot.

“I may feel this later,” he said as he laughed off the cold.

Volunteers served hot cocoa and coffee to ice-cold bodies that were high on adrenaline. All participants were thanked deeply by organizers, wrapped in warming foils and given a cranberry colored commemorative towel as they exited the water.

Notably, some plungers such as Patrick Powers of the town Finance Committee and WHRHS Principal Dr. Christopher Jones, donned mismatched Hawaiian garb. Others looked pretty with headbands, Hawaiian skirts, bikini bathing suits and matching sunglasses, amusing hats and other costumes, which matched what appeared to be faces of exhilaration and relief.

Selectman Matt Dyer raised $260 of his $900 by taking up his father’s challenge to wear a pink tutu, crown, bow tie and knee socks into the water.

The typically warm summer sand, which was hardened with cold, was alive with the sounds of musical genres  — themed with winter weather lyrics, pumped up pledgers, family members and onlookers who packed the earth of the Cranberry Cove.

To see how many people participated and supported the plunge Valachovic commended onlookers many of whom contributed money on site.

“We are unbelievably grateful at the amount of support we couldn’t have done this without them,” she said.

New course blooms at SSVT

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HANOVER — Spring appeared early last week, as students in the Horticultural program at South Shore Tech were busy arranging and snipping dozens of single-stem buds as they practiced floral arranging.

Using oasis floral foam, each student worked with instructors Tom Hart and Cassi Johnson in creating a floral centerpiece.

In the upcoming months a greenhouse is being constructed by the students and staff of SSVT. The programs involved in the construction are Welding/Metal Fabrication, Carpentry, HVAC, Electrical and Horticulture.

“The greenhouse will be an area where the horticulture students will learn the science of growing and maintaining plants from seed and plug,” said Vocational Coordinator Keith Boyle.

The public can order arrangements and plants at various times throughout the school year. Most of the sales are done via pre-order online, and then picked up at the school.  The best way to find out information on upcoming sales, Boyle said, is by following the school and the horticulture program on social media.

Boyle, who has an extensive background in agriculture, was a horticulture instructor at Upper Cape Tech in Bourne before coming to Hanover.  He is also the owner and operator of a cranberry bog in Hanson through the Ocean Spray Cooperative.

The horticulture department will grow various seasonal flowers: perennials and annuals, herbs, vegetables, and tropicals in the greenhouse throughout the year. These plants will be used at the school and also sold at various plant sales during the school year. All proceeds will go back into the horticulture program to fund things such as student membership to Future Farmers of America, FFA, he said.

The horticulture program, which began in 2017, consists of both a sophomore and freshman class.

Students will gain knowledge in plant identification, soil science, botany, greenhouse management, floral design, small engine technology, irrigation technology, entrepreneurship, FFA, arboriculture, sports turf management, landscape design, landscape construction, property management, and equipment operations.

Tyler Healy of Hanson will graduate in 2021. He said he has learned a tremendous amount in the horticultural program, which he has applied to his job skill set at Lipinski Farm in Hanson.

“This program is useful,” Healy said. “I have learned a lot in this shop. It has helped me a lot in the jobs that I have had.”

He lives on Sentas Family Farm on Whitman Street in Hanson. The farmyard and barn has chickens, goats, ducks, and they sell their goods to the community. He said he can integrate his learned skills in both school and daily life and is interested in a career in agricultural. He believes in the old idiom that he may have just been born with a green thumb.

As a collective opinion the students said they were optimistically looking towards warmer weather and outside maintenance field care for football turf, soccer, and baseball, along with fertilizing and cutting the grass.

For information on upcoming fund raisers and Valentine floral that will be available for public purchases further information is on the school’s website.

Whitman twins earn Eagle Scout rank

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WHITMAN — Being identical twins often means you have to share a birthday cake.

However, on Saturday, Jan. 12, as twin brothers Kyle and Brandon O’Brien, 18,  of Whitman earned their pins as Eagle Scouts there were two giant cakes – one for each of them.

The notion was a quirky one that twin Brandon laughed at as he mingled with other fellow Eagle Scouts, friends and family, all who attended in support of their greatest achievement.

The teens, who attend Whitman-Hanson and are three-season athletes, maintain good grades and now have earned Scouting’s highest rank of Eagle Scout.

They spend a lot of time together but also are autonomous of one another. They will be sharing the stage once again as they graduate this June from Whitman-Hanson.

A picture is worth a thousand words and the memories came flooding back in a collage of photographs documenting the boys growing up during their scouting years.

“One cool thing — coming here for the court of honor — is seeing a bunch of the pictures of us over the years from (as far back) as Cub Scouts as well,” Brandon said. “It’s nice to see friends who have come back. Our friend Matt O’Brien is here. Seeing the fun stuff we did when we were younger.”

The O’Briens will be leaders in the troop continuing the tradition of giving back, they are planning on mentoring as they age out of the Scouts at age 18.

Whitman Selectman Vice Chairman Dan Salvucci was present for the pinning ceremony, offering compliments to the teens’ success in the irjourney of becoming Eagle Scouts.  He also has an adult set of twins  — one who became an Eagle Scout. He is now a firefighter paramedic in the town of Natick.

“Being an Eagle Scout will set a tone in your life where other people will look at you and they will know that you will follow through on any project that you start. It is very rewarding to be that type of person,” Salvucci said.

Scout Master Jim Dwyer was host of the occasion presenting the boys with honored certificates, reciting their pledge, and stating their attainment as Eagle Scout, which is the highest achievement or rank within Boy Scouts of America.

Kyle called it a great day in regard to the celebration and finalizing of their Eagle Scout honor.

They balance music, grades, and finishing their six-year journey of Scouting seeing the completion through to top honors.

The management of time had its challenges but the conclusion was well worth it, he added.

They have siblings: a fellow scout and younger brother Aiden, 15, Owen, 20, and youngest sister Katie, 12.

College is the next step, with Brandon looking at a career in electrical technology and Kyle looking at programs in sports medicine. Although neither teen is fully committed to a specific college yet, their future seems bright, indeed.

The final project for attainting Eagle Scout was done at the East Bridgewater Public Library. The O’Briens finished painting the youth room and also made a bench for adults.

The parents have been instrumental as these boys earned their Eagle Scout, Dwyer said.

With great pride mom Carrie O’Brien pinned her sons with their Eagle Badges and received a pin herself. Dad Sean O’Brien also received a pin from each son. They presented their mom with flowers at the culmination of the Scouts meeting.

“The boys also achieved an additional honor for earning badges above and beyond what they needed. They received a bronze palm as well on their pins,” said Dwyer.

The teens also pinned and acknowledged mentors Dave Nawrocki and Jonathan White assistant scout masters as adults who shaped and motivated their journeys as Scouts.

The event was followed by a light meal, refreshments and two cakes meant to be shared with those who have seen the young men through their passage into adulthood and achievement top honor as Eagle Scouts.

Celebrating TEAM players

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HANSON — A high-energy music and dance assembly with a touch of Hollywood red-carpet glam brought the student body together at Indian Head Elementary in Hanson just in time to kick off the December holiday break.

On the last Friday of every month, a get-together is held to congratulate and recognize students chosen that month for demonstrating positive characteristics. The upper class student council members assist in offering a high five to each student who walks the red carpet.

Principal Jill Coutreau showed off her dance moves in late December as the students got silly with their favorite songs.

Assistant Principal Jen Costa handed out certificates with the applause of staff and students, which could be heard throughout the building. Loud cheering was encouraged.

The acronym TEAM — Together   Everyone  Achieves More — is used daily in the classroom to inspire confident and thoughtful behavior.

“The goal in reinforcing these positive behaviors is trying to promote positive characteristics, said Cotreau. “It sets a good tone for the school.”

A respectful pal who works together with classmates is just a few of the behaviors encouraged.

The second use of the word TEAM is also their core values at Indian Head:  Treat everyone the way you want to be treated. Effort to do your very best.  Accountable to do the right thing even when no one is looking and M is make good choices.

The students who are selected monthly for exemplification of these traits have their names inked on a stylish certificate.  They are also awarded a lunch with Principal Cotreau. She also involves the youngest kindergarten students for their early learned behaviors and joins them for snack time as their school days are shorter.

Each month their theme changes students learned what a team player is in the early fall, said Cotreau.

Being confident and being comfortable with different emotions that we feel was the second assembly and December’s theme was believe, she said.

Following the dancing and presentations a photo collage of what’s been happening in the classroom is exhibited on the big screen.  The kids really love seeing themselves.

Gifts of love lift a family

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WHITMAN — The Feeney family is grateful this holiday season as they envision 2019 as a more tranquil year.

Their hearts are full of love for their three girls:  Shelby, 5, who has Charge Syndrome and twin girls Tamsin and Elyse who are six.

Settling in their newly renovated, handicapped accessible home Dan and Nicole are also expecting the birth of their baby boy Rhys (pronounced Reese) any day. The name is Welsh for enthusiasm.

Summing up the adventures of this past year the girls were eager to show off their new house. The playroom now an open floor plan with cozy spots for all three is accessible for toys and storage.

Charge Syndrome has significantly affected Shelby’s vision and hearing. She is diagnosed as deaf blind. She uses a gait trainer, which she can get in and out of by herself but she is developmentally delayed and walks only with assistance.

Although she will not continue to lose her current level of hearing and vision, it will not improve. Through occupational therapy they are able to maintain her present ability with hearing implants and glasses as well as strengthening her muscles.

Shelby and her family speak and use sign language to communicate. She doesn’t use Braille because of a tactilely defensive response. It has prevented her from wanting to touch things a common trait in Charge Syndrome.

She has a sensory swing that is supported by a ceiling beam for indoor play during cold weather and also for decompression. She explores her world using her other senses with a current favorite toy:  her yellow giraffe and a light up sensory board that sings.

Feeney hired a universal designer:  a company called Beige and Bleu who handled the functionality and aesthetics making the home truly accessible to Shelby’s needs. That work, along with an accessible van and travel for medical treatments have been aided by a Go Fund Me page (https://www.gofundme.com/shelbys-home-van-and-medical-trip) that has raised $44,891 of a $63,541 goal through donations by 298 people over the past 15 months.

“It’s amazing. It’s perfect,” said mom Nicole.

The days are long for Shelby who attends the Perkins School for the Blind. Her basic daily needs such as bathing; dressing and toileting will become slightly easier as they have the equipment to keep her safe.

A half bath with a full changing station allows Nicole to dress Shelby instead of laying her on the floor. With an accessible entry way there are zero thresholds throughout the house, which will allow her to use her walker freely. The insides of each doorframe are painted bright yellow for way finding.

The upstairs bath is fully accessible with a teak bench for her to be washed safely. She cannot care for herself so the burden is eased as both parents happily get accustomed to the new normal of proper equipment.

They no longer have to transport Shelby up and down the steep, winding stairs, which as she grows has become unsafe. She is buckled in a remote stair lift chair, which allows her to ride up instead of being carried.

Colors that assist with visional depth perception   were also used in blending color schemes and wood flooring.

Knobs are difficult for people with disabilities to operate so the kitchen has all pull hardware and lower level drawers for easier access.

The couple had a zoning board of appeals hearing in May after their story went public when a neighbor disputed their request to build a wheel chair ramp.  As a result there was an outpouring of support and donations of material and manpower to complete the renovations.  The family offered their thanks to local Whitman residents:  finish carpenters Bob Ells, electrician Bob Brown and Bellew Tile of Rockland who donated all the tiling for the upstairs bathroom.  There are several other anonymous donors who the Feeney’s also graciously acknowledged.