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Hanover Fire Deputy Chief Stone concludes long career

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Hanover Fire Deputy Chief Stone concludes long career

HANOVER —  Deputy Fire Chief Barbara Stone, a Hanson native, retired last week after an astounding 33 years in the fire service. Her journey into retirement and new zest for adventures has already begun — she certainly is not sitting down.

Following her Dec. 10 official sendoff and retirement from the town of Hanover, Stone was heading to Arlington National Cemetery to volunteer for a holiday tradition Wreaths Across America in which volunteers lay holiday wreaths over the graves of those who have lost their lives in their service to our country.

A 1974 Whitman-Hanson graduate, Stone (neé MacDonald) grew up in Hanson on Monroe Street.   She described herself as a well-known jock, always busy with clubs and the school band. She intended to be a gym teacher but found that career opportunities were not thriving.

“I worked with Whitman recreation and was talking with some of the Whitman firefighters. Tim Travers (retired Whitman chief) was a friend and classmate.  The guys encouraged me to go for EMS training,” she said.

Her journey began in both her career and continuing education.

Stone was nominated for the Whitman-Hanson Wall of Fame by her parents approximately a decade later. She received a place on the Wall, where alumni who have achieved distinct and unique milestones following their education at W-H are honored.

“I was excited to be recognized for those accomplishments [in the fire service] and to join a very elite group of alumni,” said Stone.

Her natural teaching skills aided in her advancement in civil service where she became the first fire prevention officer for Hanover Fire Department, and received the Massachusetts Fire and Life Safety Educator of the Year award in 2004.

Stone was aware of the equality issue between men and women firefighters in a predominately male career but she never felt it was an obstacle.

“There may have been challenges early on but as far as acceptance, I always fit right in,” she said.

As a woman in the fire services as well as prevention officer Stone has been a strong presence in the schools. She does believe she has been a positive role model for girls.

“Work hard and be whatever you want to be,” she advises. “My daughter and her friends always knew I was a firefighter. Over the years the number has grown with females in the fire services. I am a woman and a firefighter. I do my job. There was never an issue for me whether being a firefighter was a male or female occupation.”

As a mentor and a support system her first captain, Tom O’Toole, always treated her with evenhandedness, which she also felt made an impact on the females who started when she did.

“I have been lucky to have worked with [retired Chief] Ken Blanchard and current Chief Jeff Blanchard,” Stone said. “They have supported my strength, and allowed me to grow.”

She also worked for a time under the late Chief Bud Blanchard and retired Chief Steve Tucker.

Behind the scenes Stone has organized dozens of conferences and open houses related to public safety and education.

One anecdote she shared from her early career was returning to an out-of town firehouse following a structure fire.

“Everyone took off their sooty turnout gear, and we were going to eat Chinese food for dinner,” she said. “Someone said ‘Oh my God. It’s a girl.’”

She still laughs when she tells the story.

“I would like to think because I worked just as hard as any other firefighter, not only did I fit in, but truly was welcomed,” Stone says.” When it came to the job being done- that was what the bottom line was.  Do your job. I did my job.”

Over her 33 years Stone has responded to countless calls, including a major fire on Christmas Eve in 1986 when the St. Andrew’s church burned down.

“It affected many people,” she said.

She more happily recalls the achievements of Young Heroes — a program that recognizes children who used their 911 fire prevention knowledge to make a difference some even saving the lives of family members.

“Those are the things that stand out in my mind in my career,” she said.  “I was effective in educating children who were able to perform a positive action.”

Retirement for Stone holds animated adventures.

“I am a fanatic of all things Disney. I will really be looking forward to going to Disneyworld,” she said.

Married to her husband Henry Stone for 30 years they have two adult children, a son and daughter.

With family in numerous states they are planning on visiting many. Her elderly parents reside in Florida. They need some assistance and she is also looking forward to spending time with them.

“I am into photos and scrapbooking. I enjoy it and will have time to do the things I want.  I am looking forward to not wearing a uniform.  I am a jeans, T-shirt and sneakers girl.  I will be happy to wear something other than boots,” she said smiling.

Whitman accidents injure 2 pedestrians

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Whitman accidents injure 2 pedestrians

WHITMAN — Police and fire personnel responded to two separate pedestrian accidents on Thursday, Dec. 17 in which the pedestrians involved were both transported to South Shore Hospital.

No charges have been filed against drivers in either incident, according to police.

At about 7 a.m., Dec. 17, a female high school student was transported to the South Shore Hospital for non-life threatening injuries after being struck by the side mirror of a car near 309 Washington St., while she crossed the road to get on the school bus.

During rainy conditions at about 5 p.m. that day, another accident seriously injured a pedestrian in the crosswalk in front of the post office on South Avenue.

The victim Leon Baker, 68, of School Street in Whitman was walking in the crosswalk. He was dressed in dark clothes when he was struck by a Honda Civic, according to police. Baker sustained serious injuries and was listed in fair condition Saturday at South Shore Hospital.

The 33-year-old male driver from Brockton, whose name has not been released, immediately pulled over, according to Police Chief Scott Benton.

“He stopped and went to Mr. Baker to try to help and was cooperative with Whitman police,” Benton said.

A Massachusetts State Police Reconstruction Team responded to the scene and, based on the analysis at the scene with Whitman’s investigating officers, it was recommended and then determined that the driver would not face charges.

Contributing factors to the incident were weather conditions and poor lighting.  The driver was not found to be at fault, said Benton.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Mr. Baker,” Benton said. “He and his family are well known in town. He participates in town government and he is a volunteer. At this time of year with the holidays we hope he makes a full and speedy recovery.”

Leon’s Brother Lenny Baker, also a Whitman-Hanson graduate still living locally, is a famed musician of television and the musical group Sha Na Na.

No further information was available on the condition of the teen hurt in Thursday morning’s accident.

The initial investigation by Whitman police was that the side mirror of a car struck her as an elderly woman went past the stopped school bus, according to Benton.

The bus driver, whose name has not been released, works for First Student Bus Company. She initially reported to police her red flasher lights were on for the students to safely cross the street. However, after a statement and corrected report by the bus driver to Whitman police she informed the investigating officer her yellow lights were on, not her red lights, which would have activated the cross board on the front of the bus to signal that all traffic must stop.

“The bus driver made the determination to allow two more cars to pass before activating her red lights. The student, anticipating the red lights, then stepped into traffic and was struck by the car. She was not hit by the bus,” Benton said clarifying incorrect information that was possibly started on social media.

The women driver of the grey sedan was shaken and did stop at the scene. A male who identified himself as the son of the driver said his mother “is elderly and very upset.” He did not want to speak further.

He was driving her home following the accident.

Two women who reside across from the bus stop said approximately five students wait at the bus stop daily.

Tina Burnell, whose daughter is a high school student, said her daughter was right behind the girl who was struck and that she had been upset by the incident.

Benton said Monday that no charges were filed against either driver.

Whitman man injured in pedestrian accident

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Whitman man injured in second pedestrian accident in single day

Whitman police and fire responded to a pedestrian accident in the cross walk in front of the post office on South Avenue early Thursday evening.

The victim Leon Baker, 68, of School Street in Whitman was walking in the crosswalk. He was dressed in dark clothes when he was struck by a Honda Civic. He sustained serious injuries.

The 33-year-old male driver from Brockton whose name has not been released immediately pulled over, according to Police Chief Scott Benton.

“He stopped and went to Mr. Baker to try to help and was cooperative with Whitman police,” Benton said.

Massachusetts’s State Police Reconstruction Team responded to the scene and, based on the analysis at the scene with Whitman’s investigating officers, it was recommended and then determined that the driver would not face charges.

Contributing factors to the incident were weather conditions and poor lighting. The driver was not found to be at fault, said Benton.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Mr. Baker,” Benton said. “He and his family are well known in town. He participates in town government and he is a volunteer. At this time of year with the holidays we hope he makes a full and speedy recovery.”

Leon’s Brother Lenny Baker, also a Whitman-Hanson graduate still living locally, is a famed musician of television and the musical group Sha Na Na.

 

Dance show aids Whitman food pantry

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Dance show aids Whitman food pantry

The Dance Dimension School of Dance and Theatre of Whitman held its annual winter showcase at Whitman Hanson High School on Saturday evening.

Dance show aids Whitman food pantry

HOLIDAY DREAMS: Students from Whitman’s Dance Dimension School of Dance and Theatre perform a number costumed in holiday PJs during the annual winter showcase Dec. 12. Photo by Stephanie Spyropoulos.

Collectively they raised $1,300, which was presented in a check by Owner and Director Laurie Healey to Bruce Perry for the Whitman food pantry at the start of the event and more than 100 pounds of food were donated for the pantry during the event.

There were 25 to 30 toys donated to the Whitman area toy drive through the efforts of the Whitman Hanson drama club. Along with the dance teams several vocal soloists from WH drama club, and chorus performed an array of holiday musical arrangements.

Mrs. Claus was portrayed by a local woman who volunteered her time for the event after overhearing the director talking about it.

“Our hope is to continue to grow this (event) into other performance groups and people in our community. It is such a great town we live in,” said Laurie Healey’s husband and school co-owner Mike Healey.

— Stephanie Spyropoulos

Whitman teen struck crossing street to bus

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Whitman teen struck crossing street to bus, received non life-threatening injuries

WHITMAN – A female high school student was transported to the South Shore Hospital for non-life threatening injuries after being struck by a car in Whitman near 309 Washington Street at about 7 a.m., Thursday while getting on the school bus.

The initial investigation by Whitman police was that the teen was struck by the side mirror of a car as an elderly woman went past the stopped school bus, according to Police Chief Scott Benton.

Whitman teen struck crossing street to bus

caption: The initial investigation by Whitman police stated that a teen was struck by the side mirror of a car as an elderly woman went past a stopped school bus. The teen was treated non-life threatening injuries.

The bus driver, whose name has not been released, works for First Student Bus Company. She initially reported to police her red flasher lights were on for the students to safely cross the street. However, after a statement and corrected report by the bus driver to Whitman police she informed the officer her yellow lights were on not her red lights, which would have activated the cross board on the front of the bus to signal that all traffic must stop.

“The bus driver made the determination to allow two more cars to pass before activating her red lights. The student, anticipating the red lights, then stepped into traffic and was struck by the car. She was not hit by the bus,” Benton said clarifying incorrect information that was possibly started on social media.

The women driver of the grey sedan was shaken and did stop at the scene. A male who identified himself as the son of the driver said his mother “is elderly and very upset.” He did not want to speak further.

He was driving her home following the accident.

Two women who reside across from the bus stop said approximately five students wait at the bus stop daily.

Tina Burnell, whose daughter is a high school student, said her daughter was right behind the girl who was struck and that she had been upset by the incident.

Benton said the investigation is ongoing, however he does not believe the driver of the car will face charges and there were no charges filed as of Thursday Dec. 17.

Hanson family displaced by fire

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Hanson family displaced by fire

At eight o’clock Friday night the Alexopoulos family was home decorating for the holidays. Just five hours later they were fleeing a raging fire, barefoot, screaming for one another to get outside as flames tore through their home on Stringer Lane.

The family was awakened by smoke detectors at about 1 a.m.,   Saturday, Dec. 5, and had safely evacuated the home by the time firefighters arrived, said Hanson Fire Chief Jerome Thompson in a press release.

Hanson family displaced by fire

TOTAL LOSS: Following a house fire that destroyed a Hanson house Dec. 5, the blackened interior can be seen while Christmas decorations on the front lawn remain undamaged. No one was hurt in the two-alarm blaze. Photo by Stephanie Spyropoulos

The family is being assisted by the Red Cross and there were no injuries reported.

John Alexopoulos and his wife Wendy, married for 20 years, have lived in their home at 40 Stringer Lane for the last 15 years, raising their two children Drew, 18, and Carly, 15, there.

Still shaken and distraught with the flames gone, but the smell of charred wood still permeating the air, John and his son salvaged baseball memorabilia from his son’s high school career.

The family is well known in town and league baseball, and dozens of neighbors and supporters offered comfort and a shoulder to lean on throughout the morning, as they stopped by with clothing and food to assist the family who had a long, sleepless night.

With appreciation to those who extended their sympathy and friendship the Alexopoulos family said they were all safe and that was what mattered.

Wendy recounted seeing the flames grow with in seconds of their smoke detectors sounding.

“I was screaming ‘Get out! Get out!’ but I don’t know if they even heard me, the whole thing is a blur,” she said, still stunned and weeping. “I saw about a foot of flames, near the couch. I ran and grabbed pants and ran out without shoes.  We just had to get out.”

Son Drew, who was home from school for the weekend said his room was at the back of the house and was hopeful he could salvage some items.

He heard the smoke detectors and went downstairs.

“I saw flames near the ceiling,” he said.

He described the area as the front of the house, a family room, where he saw the flames. He ran out a side door that they normally use and in relief saw his family had gotten out and were safe.

Carly, 15, a junior at Whitman-Hanson had a friend sleeping over. The girls were also were unharmed. The family dog was rescued safely, too.

Upon arriving at the call for a structure fire a crew of four Hanson firefighters encountered heavy fire conditions. After sounding a second alarm the towns of Whitman, Pembroke, Halifax and East Bridgewater assisted at the scene while Hanover Fire covered Hanson headquarters.

The flames were knocked down within an hour, however crews remained on scene for several hours due to extensive overhaul, said Chief Thompson.

The family was planning on staying with relatives.

“We just finished decorating the house for the holidays.  It was beautiful,” said  John Alexopoulos in disbelief. Staring at the outside of his home where Christmas decorations remained untouched but the inside of the home completely destroyed. Fire, smoke and water damage was extensive throughout the house, which is uninhabitable, said Thompson.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by the Hanson Fire Department and the Massachusetts State Fire Marshal’s Office but is not suspicious in nature. 

Lobsterman finds off-season notoriety with Christmas tree

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The Lobstah Tree: Lobsterman finds off-season notoriety with Christmas tree

WHITMAN — A Christmas tree is not an uncommon sight this time of year, but one constructed out of lobster traps just might make you stop for a second look.

Lobsterman Tim Walsh of Whitman points out he is not an artist, but he has created a bit of roadside folk art.

“I just wanted to bring the ocean a bit further inland,” he said.

Lobsterman finds off-season notoriety with Christmas tree

AHOY, THERE: Tim Walsh takes time out from building his tree for a photo. Photo by Stephanie Spyropoulos.

Where grass and farm land are familiar, he is set to light up his lobster tree in the backyard of his Perry Avenue home simply to evoke joy in all who travel down the busy Route 58/Plymouth Street as they go through Whitman and Hanson.

After the positive responses he received last year and the countless folks who stopped along the roadside to snap photos of his lobster tree, Walsh set out to go bigger with 300 stacked traps painted in greens and reds.

It took him about a full day and a half to stack the traps. The tree will be lit with hundreds of colorful holiday strands and the dedication to his late friend will top the unique structure.

The tallest buoy belonged to fisherman John Fleck of Hull who lost his battle with cancer.

“He was my friend, mentor and fellow fisherman,” Walsh said.

Several of the dangling buoys also belong to friends making the tree a unique vessel of heartfelt joy.

His family is also an inspiration.

Walsh’s wife Lori, who hails from Weymouth, is expecting their first child in the spring. She is a holiday lover, Walsh said.

She is also the inspiration in the naming of his lobster boat the Miss Lori, which is moored in Allerton Harbor in Hull where Walsh grew up.

A graduate of the Class of 2004 in Hull, he spent his days either in the water or on it.  His father passed on the trade of fisherman and love of the ocean, he said.

“I love it,” he said.  “I couldn’t do it if I didn’t.”

Walsh logs an average of 10 hours a day on his boat — it’s both his career and passion for living as a lobsterman.

He takes time off during the winter and heads back out in the spring.  He is looking forward to the holidays and some much needed rest with his family.

Beekeepers host candle workshop in Hanson

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Beekeepers host candle workshop in Hanson with John ‘the Bee Man’ Phillips of the Plymouth County Beekeepers Association 

HANSON — A beeswax candle-making seminar hosted at the Plymouth County Beekeepers Association and Hanson Food Pantry building on High Street Nov. 21 was both motivating and educational for more than a dozen people.

Candles are a popular gift item and, with the holidays in full swing, and what better than gifting something homemade? Many of those in attendance were mainly part of the Beekeepers Association, according to John “the Bee Man” Phillips of Hanson, whose goal is to educate others about apiculture.

Beekeepers host candle workshop in Hanson

A handmade sign welcomed visitors at a beeswax candle-making seminar hosted at the Plymouth County Beekeepers Association and Hanson Food Pantry. Click here to see more photos from the event. Photo by Stephanie Spyropoulos.

“Candle making is interesting and can be fun. Overall it was well attended,” Phillips said.   

In past years, turnout for the workshop was good — but with several local activities occurring simultaneously Phillips thought there were slightly fewer people this year. He is considering doing another candle making seminar in the months to come if there is an interest in the community.

Phillips also offers a woodworking seminar in which Beekeepers Association members can receive assistance in setting up their wooden hives. Beekeepers Association membership does cost a small yearly fee to join.

Phillips has been a bee keeper since 1971 and a club member since 1978. The club itself had been established in the late 1960s. He offers teaching on bee topics and assists in maintaining the building.

He has two hives at his home and said his honey production last year was averaged at about 40 pounds.

Most people in the club got a similar amount of honey the median around 40 pounds, which is good considering  the South Shore is close to the ocean, and spring  weather is wet and raw. There are many factors which affect the production of honey, he said.

Further inland Massachusetts bee keepers easily double the production of honey with the increased warmer, drier atmosphere.

During the candle workshop, Phillips and other club members melted approximately ten pounds of wax, which was demonstrated as one of the four to five steps in candle making.

At home his wax is melted via a sun-solar wax melter and then it is purified before making candles. The wax is boiled down and poured into rubber molds mainly to keep the shape and they easily split apart to release the candles.

To quicken the process several molds were placed in the freezer to cool the wax but he said he doesn’t often do that. Everyone left with a candle following the seminar.

The website for the Plymouth County Beekeepers Association contains information and invitations about upcoming Beekeeping School, which will be held this winter for approximately eight weeks at the Pembroke Community center. For more information, visit plymouthcountybeekeepers.org.

Open House at South Shore Voc Tech

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Middle schoolers tour shops at Open House at South Shore Voc Tech

HANOVER — When all was said and done at the weekend’s open house at South Shore Vo-Tech, an estimated  400 potential students walked through the doors to view and consider the next step of their high school education.

Director of Guidance and Admission Michael Janicki was on hand to welcome students in to the open house, where they were encouraged to sign in and fill out an application of interest.

Open House at South Shore Voc Tech

Olivia Buckley of Whitman, top, works on SSVT T-shirts in the graphic arts design studio. CLICK HERE to see more photos on the Whitman-Hanson Express Facebook Page.  (Photo by by Stephanie Spyropoulos)

“At the open house we have extended an invitation to allow students to narrow down their interests and begin the process of guidance to their future whether it is college, career, or military,” Janicki said. “Right off the bat, by participating in today’s open house, they are getting an opportunity to think of their future goals and aspirations.”

With the culmination of products and ideas many changes are occurring at the school. One of the recent projects is the carpentry canopy, which allows students and staff to learn on each new phase of construction, especially shingling and siding projects, with the true temperature of outside elements gives the students a true-to-life experience on a job site, said Carpentry Department Head Derek Mariani.

With the canopy ideas presented to, and approved by, Superintendent/Director Dr. Thomas Hickey and the school committee, support for the nearly completed project has been strong.

The space contains framed windows, joist settings, lighting and outside electrical outlets among other construction projects.

“The mock-up area contains smaller scale concrete foundations with anchor bolts and beam pockets to apply skills, girders, floor joists and decking,” Mariani said. “The waist high roof mock up develops skills with complete hip, valley, and cheeks at a safe height.”

Numerous local businesses and graduates of SSVT assisted and donated time and products to create the canopy for students. The area is large enough to build sheds for the public, lay out rafters, stairs and steel studs — allowing for completion of projects, which cannot be completed inside the shop due to scale limitations.

The Brass Lantern served culinary delights inside the fully operational commercial kitchen with a full strawberry shortcake bar right down to the homemade whipped crème. A Cuban luncheon was also prepared and served by students in the sit-down restaurant, with other students operating the bakery where fresh pastries trays were being loaded into display counters.

Culinary seniors Mariah Mazzilli and Mary Louise Jepsen were hand-piping cupcakes to fill the pastry case, which held a variety of sweets from giant chocolate chip cookies to holiday-inspired desserts.

Robotics projects demonstrations in the electronics shop was a popular spot all morning as teachers and students talked about upcoming grant money opening up additional projects for their program. The grant will also allow the department to advance its space in the workshop area and allowing them greater technology in building and competitions.

Matthew Cahill of Abington, a recent graduate, returned to visit his teachers during open house and expressed his enjoyment and success at Wentworth Institute of Technology where he has maintained a 100-percent grade average on his lab segment in electronics and robotic.

Both drafting and graphic design majors were also on hand to explain and demonstrate their projects as potential students and parents asked questions and looked on.   

Hanson resident Harry Gauthier, a graphic design student, recently completed posters with public service announcements against drinking and driving as well as upcoming event posters for Halloween and the Brass Lantern. He is aspiring to go on to a design school as his future plan.  Olivia Buckley of Whitman was screen printing T-shirts for SSVT apparel as part of the graphic design and communication program.

The hallways were filled with club representatives and students willing to share their success stories from their high school, which is preparing them for their futures as soon as they walk in the door.

For more information on South Shore Vo-Tech visit their website at ssvotech.org.

 

4H dog clubs support troops

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4H clubs send care packages to soldiers and war dogs as 4H dog clubs support troops

HANSON — Last week 10 members of local 4H dog clubs, A Round of a Paws and Pawsitive Effects, gathered at the Hanson home of co-president Jeanine Adams to pack boxes of food items to ship overseas for soldiers and their war dogs.

Nearly 500 nonperishable items were collected from donations at the local Stop & Shop in Pembroke for the soldiers and their war dogs.

4H dog clubs support troops

DOGGED SUPPORT: Amy Gentili of East Bridgewater gathered with other members of the A Round of A Paws 4-H Club at co-leader Jeanine Adams’ Hanson home last week to help pack boxes of food items for soldiers and war dogs. Photo by Stephanie Spyropoulos.

Group members and their parents assisted in filling cartons, which included: Cheerios, candies, Chips Ahoy cookies, Pringles potato chips, various dog food items, bones, and baby wipes along with numerous other brands of cereal.

A longtime 4-H member Maddie Piers, a senior at WHRHS, has been a war dog committee president for the last few years. She said receiving letters of appreciation from the soldiers makes her happy and knowing the soldiers and their dogs get basic items they need gives her warmth in her heart.

“It makes me happy knowing our group has worked to bring happiness to others,” said Piers.

Raeanne Welch, 14, of Halifax has a Puggle names Sandy.  She wrote a letter to include in the care packages and explained that her 4-H friends were passionate about the war dogs program.

She is part of a travel group, which brings their animals to public events to help raise money.  A portion of the raised $287 will help defray cost of shipping fees, boxes and packaging supplies as well as buying additional items for the soldier’s wish lists.

Many donations were raised by club members and their dogs that performed a trick for $1 as shoppers entered and exited the grocery store.

Welch, who attends Norfolk Agricultural High School, aspires to be a dog trainer and enjoys agility training.  She is looking forward to an upcoming eight week unit at school, which will involve canine care and training.

In a letter to the soldiers who will receive the care packages, co-club president Cathy Acampora who resides in Pembroke included some of the recent projects  4-H club members worked on in their weekly meetings with their canine friends.

“Members of the dog club, who range in ages from seven to 18 have learned to train their canines to do tricks, follow instructions, agility, and care for their animals. They also do pet therapy learn to do presentations, and work with various fund raisers,” said Acampora.

Amy Gentili, 10, of East Bridgewater is a newer member of the group.  She likes to wear T-shirts, socks and ribbons that have pictures of dogs on them or paw prints because she loves them so much, she said.

For further information on donating items visit uswardogs.org.