Catwoman and Robin rode into the sunset after an eight-hour mission on Saturday, Oct. 23 to distribute 314 bags of candy to kids in a Halloween-themed adventure.

Melissa Clark of Hanson, a Plymouth County Deputy combined her love of cars and Halloween and used her cool Polaris Sling Shot three-wheeler ride to create a fun-filled day.

After the event blew up via Hanson’s social media Connect pages Clark decided they should organize a route so she could include as many families as possible. They also posed for photos but remained in the vehicle to keep socially distant for all involved.

They started the day at 10 a.m. in her Catwoman attire she rode with side kick Robin — whose alter-ego is her mom Michele Clark. The pair made deliveries of individual bags of candy (COVID regulations in place) to 49 different streets throughout Hanson, and Monponsett within the Halifax Twin Lakes.

They tossed the bags to children and families who were on a pre-scheduled route.

Clark, who calls herself a car enthusiast and drives a Camero,  was exuberant to involve her Cat Mobile in the Halloween plans. When she purchased the Polaris  Sling Shot in March 2019 it was  originally white. The three-wheeled, open-air ride positively turns heads. She designed her custom wrap to emulate the Catmobile, which was special ordered  from AMR Racing Las Vegas. It was installed by Anthony Crisafulli of Northeast Auto Spa in Pembroke.

Clark who grew up in Hanson, where her family still resides, and has a heart for her community. Her father Ron Clark is a long time veteran officer of the Plympton Police Department and is a fellow car enthusiast.

Following the day long adventure Clark said she felt completely “fulfilled.”

“There were no debates, arguments, stress or negativity as we have in the world right now,” she said. “It brought smiles. It was a great day.

“We even stopped at Mc Donald’s. We gave out candy there,” she said with a laugh.

There were lots of pictures posted throughout the day on local town pages. She was pleased at the positive comments she received from so many families; several messages that particularly touched her heart.

With no immediate planned upcoming events Catwoman will ride again … stay tuned.  Meow!

Life is always sweeter with cake. For Hanson native Abby Burke, owner of “Cake Art by Abby,” a thriving business as a cake decorator six months into a pandemic is not the scenario for success she would have imagined.

Guidelines on properly celebrating while still being socially distant has taken some of the pizzazz out of special occasions but Burke — who has a strong social media presence and has begun to raffle off her cakes — has reinserted some of that birthday joy.

She is discovering that families are looking for unique cakes to make their loved ones feel extra special during this unsettled time.

Burke is a 2010 graduate of Whitman Hanson, ironically her maiden name was Mixer, with a passion for confection.

She met and married her husband who is originally from Whitman. They now live in East Bridgewater with their two young children. She is also a financial planning associate. Her strong point is remaining structured and organized as a key to balance in her busy life.

She always had an artistic eye and tried different mediums but realized watching cake decorating videos gave her a strong sense of satisfaction.

After her first attempt at making her daughter a unicorn cake she gave herself a harsh critique.

“I made one…I wasn’t happy with it – it wasn’t that good,” she said. “So I began to make more, finding a flaw in each one and figured out how to perfect it for the next one.”

She began to put in the work as she continues to educating herself. Her cakes are not of a cookie cutter variety.

Nearly all her communication for orders is through social media platforms, direct messenger and her website. During the peak months of COVID lockdown, it provided a solid platform through which her clients could easily continue to reach her. Her clientele normally has a birthday theme, which they communicate to her. She then asks if they are OK with her artistic spin and her magic production begins.

She has heard from clients that they have had virtual birthdays, driveway visits and other creative ways to make memories. As new norms are formed in ways of celebrations she has noticed families want to have a unique cake adding extraordinary cheer.

She is a 2013 graduate from Bentley, which helped her launch her cake design business. Burke also credits her high school days describing herself as a girl who “had her hand in countless activity and was wildly involved” in both public speaking and the business foundation of DECA (formerly known as Distributive Education Clubs of America).   

In the start up for her confections she raffled off all of her cakes for free to people within the South Shore. The unique cakes were out there for all to see and taste and she did not waste a sweet drop of the icing.

“I didn’t want to throw it away,” she said.

Burke connected on Facebook with a local family who were down on their luck during COVID.

She was thrilled to be able to donate a cake to them, she said.

Belonging to several ‘mom groups’ with women, who help network and support one another, she always chooses to shop local and small when she can.

Burke says her social media presence and growth has allowed a wider age demographic especially with children’s birthdays. She uses TikTok and Snapchat  and her videos have over 300,000 views. Connecting with all ages from the teen bracket through retirement she was hired to make a retirement cake for a knitting group and reconnected with one of her most influential teachers, Lydia Nelson of Whitman Hanson.

One of the most unforgettable cakes she “set up” was  during the height of quarantine when her sister Becca Feldmann of Halifax was celebrating her baby’s first birthday. Feldman was caring for her new baby — who at birth had a severe gastrointestinal condition and after so many milestones the first birthday was extra special for their family.

“It was a big deal for me,” said Burke.  The next best thing she could do in celebrating her niece’s health and birthday milestone was to construct a cake kit with step by step instructions. Her sister could construct the baby’s first cake with the decorative design Burke created.

Happily her niece is doing well and still remains in strict quarantine.  They are looking forward to days ahead when they can spend time celebrating all together.

With a family and running her own business Burke calls time management the key to her growth. She recently launched a six-month, beginner’s subscription goodie box, which arrives every month. It also comes along with an instructional, virtual class with Abby who enjoys teaching others about her craft.  There are also frosting recipes with helpful hints.

To view and order cakes and for information on her products visit her website  cakeartbyabby.com

WHITMAN —With 34 years, and a career full of milestones, under his belt Whitman Fire Lt. Bob Hover spent his last official day at a four-alarm fire in Brockton on a mutual aid call for a building fire.

It was typical of Hover to stay to the end- his greatest responsibilities were to bring his crew home safe to their families after each shift.

He thanked all who attended his retirement open house on Monday afternoon, which culminated with a traditional ride home in the Whitman engine.

Hover, with great wit and intelligence, seemed to recall dates and memories with each friend, family and resident who greeted, wished him well and thanked him.

With department members all over the South Shore stopping in to “wish him a happy retirement” the afternoon was filled with smiles, tears and elbow bumps.

Hover’s family was in attendance his immediate family wife Karen, daughter Nicole and two sons Chris and Allen as well as a large extended family of great nieces and nephews.

Hover received commendations from the State of Massachusetts including:  State Rep. Alyson Sullivan, R-Abington; state Sen. Michael Brady, D-Brockton; U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass.; and various representatives for the Town of Whitman; many also knowing Hover personally for most of his three and a half  decades  in town.

His commands included countless fire calls, including a fatal house fire, hazardous materials; assisting with two baby deliveries and helping citizens throughout Whitman to name a few.

In a prepared statement through Chief Timothy Grenno of Whitman Fire- Hover’s career was highlighted: He began his career as a call firefighter on April 1, 1986. Two years later, he was appointed a full-time firefighter on Aug. 30, 1988, and then promoted to lieutenant on Jan. 24, 1999.

Chief Timothy Grenno thanked Hover at the retirement event and emphasizing his level of commitment to all those in attendance. Grenno  recounted the afternoon (Monday)  that kept him working right up until he sent a direct order that “he leave the building fire in Brockton  because it was time to retire.” Maybe a first under his command to tell someone to return to retire, which was lighthearted but purely engrained in Hover’s commitment of character.

“Lt. Hover gave 100% every day and was a dedicated and professional member of this department,” Grenno said.

“Bob made a tremendous difference to this department with his strong work ethic and knowledge that you can’t replace. He was the epitome of a good firefighter and fire officer, and we will miss him greatly.”

On the horizon Bob requested a “man-cave” from his wife Karen.  His new found time will be spent with family- the couple is looking forward to milestones with their three, young- adult children, camping and experiencing time on the open road with his motorcycle.

Bob a self proclaimed non- lover of snow will now be home to shovel and clear the driveway all winter long.

Karen said “having Bob home for snow storms and holidays will be different but a much welcomed change at their home.”

He also received various gifts, a hand carved shield from his duty crew, a flag that flew over the state house, and countless cards with well wishes.

Old Cottage Farm in Hanson is hidden away behind wooden, gray fence panels with lush, flowering vines. Commuters on the busy Route 14 through town have perhaps driven past the property un-noticed.

Ruth Sylvester and her husband Dean have raised four children and have been at the homestead for nearly 52 years. They have developed the land into a fruitful farmland with goats across the street on their second piece of property- a total of eight acres.

Undeterred by a hard day’s work   Sylvester says she allows herself to sleep in but not past six o’clock, a luxury compared to 3:30 a.m. in years past.

“Life is not a free trip; what you put in you get out of it,” said Ruth.

The couple in their mid 70’s finds the energy to keep up with the daily tasks of a farm which takes…

“All day long”, they both replied with a laugh.

“You have to keep moving”, she said.

Accompanied by the playful Casey a four-year-old English Springer Spaniel, the Sylvesters wandered their enclosed gardens as four hundred chickens at the far end of the property socialized outside their coop.

“You take a seed that is tiny…  you cannot see it and it produces this, “ said Ruth proudly gesturing her crops with open arms.

  A sweet smell of peaches ripening in the trees lingered in the air with more than 870 plants: 20 varieties of tomatoes, dozens of varieties of squash, lettuce and cucumbers to name a few.  She said there are days when she calls it work depending on the weather and heat but she is devoted to the land and has no foreseeable motivation to discontinue doing what she loves.

Specializing in honey production Dean keeps 30 bee hives strategically placed along the wood line of their property. They will produce upwards of 800 pounds by the season’s end.

Although she is modest and humbled by the flattering remarks it’s Ruth, according to Dean, who begins the entire garden every season starting with seedlings in a greenhouse, planting every last one.

Dean is the resident mechanic on property and there is no shortage of jobs to complete.  Although the couple spends plenty of time ‘together’, working side by side with their spouse has a different meaning. They each plan their daily to-do list simultaneously achieving the same goals needed for the farm, however, quite independently. They both agreed. There is plenty of space for that.

For years they have placed a wooden, French style produce cart in their front yard and using the ‘honor system‘ as payment in their metal box,  locals frequent the farm stand to purchase their produce. Farm fresh eggs along with their jars of honey are also for sale on their indoor screened porch.

Ruth just retired less than a year ago from her full time job at age 76 from Traveler’s insurance as an account manager. She attributes her green thumb to her childhood.  Her dad was Canadian and got killed in the war. Her mother brought her to see her grandparents in Six Mile Brook near Pictou County, Nova Scotia for two months a year. The 400 acre farm had no telephone, no electricity and no running water, she said.

After all is done for the day with the water well on their property and a stretched hose they are fortunate, thankful, and sometimes tired.

The farm stand is located at 744 West Washington Street in Hanson.

As Division 2 state champions the Whitman Hanson boys’ basketball team was honored on Monday night at the Dennis M. O’Brien field. Their showcase of talents at the TD Garden played out in March when they clinched the victory but fell short when the season was shortened in June due to Covid.

In June when preparations for the  final game were being made  and immediately following the cancelled game against Taconic Coach Bob Rodgers talked with The Express Sports Reporter Nate Rollins.

“One thing I told the kids is to look up at the banners in the gym on that boys’ basketball league championship banner, there’s a co-champion in there,” said Rodgers, who wrapped up his 20th year on the Panthers’ bench. “Nobody knows what year it is. It’s such a great accomplishment for the kids to win our first-ever state championship. It’s not going to say co-champions; it’s going to say state champions. That’s what they are.”

The team was honored in Monday’s short ceremony as parents and their varsity athletes viewed several clips of their season with memories highlighting the final year for seniors playing at Whitman Hanson.

Pete Smith representative of Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association MIAA also presented the team with medals on behalf of the organization.  The champs received personalized jackets and championship rings as well.

Cancellation of the June title game Rodgers addressed the loss of playing time and the many changes experienced since the spring due to the pandemic.

“For the one last moment to be together as a team and I knew that it would be tremendously disappointing but when you think of what the whole world, the kids that play in the spring and families that have lost loved ones (pause) it really pales in comparison,” said Rodgers, who has officially served his 20th season with the Panthers.

During the ceremony he recalled the contributions, and efforts of players calling their team work ‘unselfish play, with everybody contributing’ to the state championships at the Garden.

He acknowledged several families as well as players who had tough roads and challenges; applauding their countless contributions of time, selflessness and volunteer efforts through the four years in the Whitman Hanson basketball and sports programs.

Sue Moss, retired wellness teacher and sports photographer at Whitman Hanson who is lovingly known as “Boss Moss,” was given a jacket and a hearty thank you for all her time and volunteer work she devotes to the sports department and families.

(Express sports correspondent Nathan Rollins contributed to this report.)