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Bees offer sweet support for veterans

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HANSON — Finding a purpose and a brand new hobby are just two of the motivations behind an initiative that blossomed three years ago in which veterans are paired with beekeeping mentors.

The goal in producing a local honey is aimed at creating positivity for veterans suffering with Post Traumatic Stress or PTSD.

Brett Miller of Hanson a retired United States Army sergeant, who served as a medic and special operations trainer for search and rescue, has announced he is becoming involved as a mentor with the Hives for Heroes.

Hives for Heroes a national military veteran 501(c)(3) non-profit organization focusing on honey bee conservation, suicide prevention, and a healthy transition from service to civilian life has recently announced the  creation of a mentorship between Veterans and bee keepers as a way to create a new ambition, according to their website.

Miller is also a physical therapist and is owner and founder of 110 Fitness in Rockland. His programs at the 110 Fitness also involve veterans.

Miller has himself struggled with PTSD after serving for eight years in the Army, and received therapy in dealing with the triggers that vary differently for everyone. He knows the statistics on veteran’s suicides and has lost comrades to the disorder once called shell shock or battle fatigue but now is known as a serious illness.

The goal for Hives for Heroes is connecting people.

“By bettering the lives of individuals there is a positive impact on their community and ultimately the world. Through honeybee conservation, there is a common goal for NewBEEs, Mentors, and Volunteers to work toward,” according to the program.

National network

Hives for Heroes, which is linked through the national network of beekeepers and veterans, provides purpose, education, and healthy relationships fostering a lifelong hobby in beekeeping, according to the Hives for Heroes website and their mission statement.

The initiative brings one veteran and one mentor together using the first year as learning and instructional one. By the second and third year, the goal for the veteran is to gain skill to serve in a community of be keeping, eventually going on to teacher other veterans passing on their learned knowledge and becoming a mentor themselves.

Brett and fellow beekeeper Dean Sylvester, also of Hanson, met through the Plymouth County Beekeepers’ Association and have become friends.

Sylvester, a beekeeper for nearly half his life, is full of knowledge and was a presenter at the Beekeeping School in Pembroke through the Beekeepers’ Association when he met Miller.

A hobby helps

In their recent extraction of honey Miller and Sylvester were expected to clear the 11 frames from two hives that are from Miller’s property. Sylvester has 30 hives on his property in Hanson and expects to produce over 800 pounds, which is made easier by the commercial extractor he uses. It clears 20 frames at once.

Miller has been a beekeeper for four years and is still learning with Sylvester being a mentor as well as a friend.

PTSD affects the mind and body and is brought on by witnessing or being involved in a traumatic event. The disorder ranges in responses and extreme reactions both physically and mentally to events that “trigger” a reminder of the occurrence. Sleep disturbances, anxiety, hypervigilance, avoiding everyday tasks are just a small number of the symptoms  of PTSD which left untreated  can excel into additional psychological downward spiral in mental and social functioning and even result in suicide.

Veterans who suffer from PTSD are more at risk for drug and alcohol abuse and suicide, according to statistics. It can become a vicious cycle seeking help when the triggers can be so varied and produce such an over exaggerated response in the brain and body.

For more information on becoming a mentor with Hives for Heroes and their country wide program visit hivesforheroes.com.

For more information on  110 Fitness and their disabled veteran’s services as well as other physical fitness programs visit 110fitness.org.

Settling into home

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HANSON — After spending their first year in a fully functional, handicapped accessible dwelling Army veteran Paul Skarinka and his family are settling into their forever home.

This week the Jared Allen Home for Wounded Worriors foundation (JAH4WW)  caught up with the Skarinkas  via a Zoom conference video call from their State Street home in Hanson.

Paul Skarinka, who was a corporal in the Army when he was wounded serving in Iraq, is a Plympton firefighter/paramedic and both a former resident and a call firefighter for the town of Whitman.

Along with his wife Jenn, and daughter, Lilliana, son Noah did not attend the Zoom reunion, the Skarinka described the family’s “new normal.”

The session also featured a short slide presentation showing behind the scenes views of the building and details of the home coming together as well as how the family takes pleasure in their new space.

Joining in the Zoom reunion  were JAH4WW Director and Founder  Jared Allen, a retired Minnesota Vikings defensive end, Alex Karalexis Executive Director for Jared Allen Homes 4 Wounded Warriors,  a former UFC fighter and native of Hanson, and Amanda Rahtz Director of Communications and Event Planning.

In comparison to their old home, Skarinka said he freely moves around in his wheelchair to whichever room he needs, at anytime, the one level, open living space has no raised doorways and “no speed limit,” he joked.

“There may be the occasional ding in the walls,” he said.

He recalled the family’s old home where two sets of stairs were not only physically dangerous and painful for him to climb, they depleted his ability to stay involved in everyday activities with his young children.  Wife Jenn, who also has a full-time career said the days Paul was home were often spent sliding up and down the steps to collect necessities  on the lower level of the old house — such as laundry and things for the children to bring to the upper level of the split-level home.

Now, if he wants to take off his prosthetic leg, which weighs approximately 15 pounds, he is able to use his wheelchair inside; meaning less pain and more autonomy.  He described a corner of the garage is his “man-town” and wife Jenn has her four-season sitting room, showing that breathing space is bountiful at the Skarinka’s.

In photos shared by the family, the children were seen celebrating Christmas, and Lilliana enjoying the beautiful modern cooking area making a dessert in an accessible kitchen. They are adjusted and enjoying the new house as well as using the full backyard to play in.

The family applied for consideration of the custom home through the  JAH4WW organization although they despite the tragedy and struggles which Skarinka deals with daily the family remained humble about the consideration for the new house.   

In September 2004, Skarinka was seriously wounded in a grenade blast in Baghdad, which left him suffering from numerous life-altering conditions, including the amputation of his leg. He continues to receive medical treatments and has had countless surgeries.

The JAH4WW foundation was formed in October 2009 after Allen returned home from his USO trip to U.S Military Bases in the Middle East. He was moved by the commitment, dedication, and sacrifices that our soldiers make every day to protect our freedom. He wanted to say thank-you to every soldier in the only way that he knows how.

“By embracing the conflict and making a positive life-changing difference in the lives of those who need it most, our mission is to raise money to build and remodel handicap accessible homes to suit the individual needs of our injured United States military veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan,” Allen said. He and his JAH4WW will help make life for wounded vets just a little bit easier.

For further information on becoming involved or donating to the upcoming ventures see the JAH4WW website and all of their current projects (homesforwoundedwarriors.com).

Heidi’s Hollow changes hands

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HANSON — You scream, I scream…

Heidi’s Hollow is open for the season.

There is plenty to scream about including new owners and the same great ice cream.

Taking the reins this week, new owners Candace Reich, a longtime Pembroke resident and her partner Maren Rojas, are ready for a sweet summer. The couple has officially purchased the shop and longtime owners Tony and Lynda Quigley (lovingly known as Ma and Pa) are signing off after three decades of scooping. They are retiring to Myrtle Beach, S,C., where Tony sees a lot of golf in his future.

With the summer came changing temperatures and coronavirus creating new “normal” for everyone, Reich and Rojas have kept everything the same including the delicious and ever-popular Richardson’s Ice Cream. They are also welcoming a few new flavors that will soon be on the menu.

Heidi’s Hollow is offering party packs to serve four and eight to have an at- home ice cream party.

Social distancing is uncomplicated with plenty of outdoor seating in bright blue chairs and benches along the shadow area of the fence. Several picnic tables with umbrellas allow for open-air eating and plenty of breathing space.

Heidi’s Hollow started out in the Myette’s Country Store on Liberty Street within five years they outgrew the space.

Their home was built in 1820, and it made sense to add on the ice cream shop remaining in its current location ever since.

Chatting with the residents and locals- many who have become friends- is the element they will miss the most, said Tony Quigley. He was quick to say they would be returning for visits.

“You always remember your first ice cream shop that you loved,” he said with a laugh.

For Tony it was Charlie’s at Field Corner in Dorchester. Little did he know for Reich it was Heidi’s Hollow of Hanson.

Reich, who comes from a family of entrepreneurs, sat with The Express this week and recalled as a high school freshman that he drew up a business plan for successfully owning a bakery and ice cream shop. She kept that childhood plan, and the dreams, always reserving the thought that if opportunity arose she would pursue it.

Tony who always had frozen food in his life as a grocery stocker during Vietnam and before as a kid hustling popsicles —he made a dime on the beach walking the sea shore with a bag of dry ice and frozen treats. During a rafting trip he had a dream that he bought an ice cream shop and told his wife the next morning when he awoke. Lynda was a longtime nurse and also needed a change. She set out to secure a small business loan, according to Tony and the rest is history. They didn’t know the first thing about running an ice cream shop but they taught one another and three decades have proven the pair had sugar in their DNA.

“It’s sort of sad,” said Tony who reminisced about their shared memorable times but ice cream makes everything happy, he said.

Seeing families expand by generations and revisit year after year for a cold treat and chitchat … are just a few things the Quigley’s said they will miss as they retire and cherish the most.

Tony spoke highly of a former employee that began her first job with Heidi’s as a teen and grew up like a daughter with the Quigley’s. She has become a success in her career, has a family and is still in their lives.

Reich said when her family set out for ice cream as kids they would devour Heidi’s ice cream and imagine how pleasant and adventurous it would be to own Heidi’s. Little did she know her vision would evolve and three decades later would be reality.

The charm of the established shop and their countless childhood memories at the delicious ice cream shop were also deciding factors on buying the shop.

The couple who are both still working full time (Rojas a longtime established professional collegiate soccer coach is now a consultant for Sport for development and Reich is in sales) they are like a well oiled machine.  Maren calls herself the ‘executor’ keeping the books and running the business side behind the scenes they agree that Candace is the ‘visionary’.

They emphasized their appreciation for the generous time the Quigley’s  have given to make a smooth transition in the changing of hands.

The extensive local family of Reich is also at the shop and pack a cone like it’s nobody’s business. They have all been supportive and have also grown up on Heidi’s sundaes, said Reich. Green Hanson has streamlined the use of paper cups versus Styrofoam cups in July- one slight change that patrons may notice.

They accept debit and credit payments now and offer window pickup as they abide by CDC’s COVID guidelines on social distancing.

This community blossoms

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WHITMAN —  A group of community gardeners have hopes for bumper crops of vegetables, herbs and flowers this summer.

Passersby may have noticed the raised garden beds on the old Essex Street softball field in Whitman with dozens of tomato plants, peppers and even multi-colored flowers in the outfield —the new Whitman Community Garden.

On Tuesday, July 7, there were gardeners at the patch tending to their various plots all raised and wooden boxed each space is approximately 4X8, and 6X12-feet, but are personalized the vegetables and herbs to their taste.

DPW Superintendent Bruce Martin has been overseeing the garden plot availability and DPW workers have helped several people construct the raised beds. They had 30 plots in total at the start of the season in early April.

“The DPW takes the applications and maintains the area making sure the water works for the public hose,” Martin said. “We assist in helping build the boxes if needed but most have put their own together.”

The boxes have been especially convenient for those who have little space but would like their own garden or are perhaps modestly finding their green thumbs.

Owners have their own garden to water, weed and within the rules of the community garden adhere to growing their crops, he said.

There is a Facebook page (for those who request to join) where garden tips, photos and other gardening socialization is posted.

Diallo Ferguson of Whitman is a first time gardener.

“It has always been an interest and when I heard about the plot gardens it struck a chord. I knew I wanted to do it and it was a great opportunity. So far so good,” he said on his generation of produce.

He called the experience fun as he learned how to garden, proudly exclaiming that he had successfully harvested kale, zucchini, mint and cilantro. He is also seeing tomatoes on the vine that are still in stages of green but he is hopeful they are on a strong track. 

Ferguson said people are helpful in offering to help with weeding and general tips.

Girl Scout Troop 66187 parent Tarcia Davis said the girls ages 12 to14 decided they would also maintain a plot as a project. She assisted with creating the Facebook page and the girls painted the welcome sign at the front gate.

The gardening projects has been a great learning experience as the Girl Scouts’ mission is teaching skills (with guidance and pointers) as the girls  become more independent.   The four girls who are maintaining the plot have some assistance from parents but the idea is to help them become skilled through the process, said Davis.

Having started the vegetables from seeds and not plants they learned quickly that they had placed the seeds too far in the soil and had to start again. Their hope is to pass the plot on to the next younger troops so they can experience the process and benefits as well.

Davis is also developing a farm stand by August to encourage sharing and swapping produce in an organized fashion.

Lee Anne Burton of Whitman a beekeeper has up kept half a dozen hives in the outfield that are assisting with the pollination and benefits for the gardens development.

The group of growers is learning from one another as they also recently released a large quantity of ladybugs as part of a natural insecticide.   

Burton updated her fellow gardeners and The Express on the bees’ status.

“Last Thursday I checked on Queen Nova and her attendants, the hive is growing, full of new babies, lots of comb-building going on. I added a third brood box to the hive and will remove the feeder next week.

She also applauded Martin for weed whacking to keep the area neat.

She is planning the next boxes numbers 5-6 to be the honey boxes, called Honey Supers.

“Hopefully we will be able to harvest some from this hive in the late summer early fall. It looks strong, about 30,000 bees or so, and is growing nicely! Burton posted.

In April there were a dozen plots many have been filled but there are additional spaces for inquiries contact the Whitman DPW.

Play us a song, piano man

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HANSON — Mark Davis has a new following as he continues his decades-long talent as a piano man.

A Hanson resident of more than 20 years, he plays a concert “brought to you live” on Saturday nights.

Just six months ago if you told Davis he would be “streaming from his basement” you would have been speaking a foreign language.

This week he had more than 12,000 views — a first — since he began his home concerts on his music channel Mark Davis Piano Music on Facebook. The live  music starts at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday nights, the sounds brightening the evening for so many.

As is the case with many Americans, the coronavirus has affected his work.

“I wanted to help bring a smile to others… what’s going on TV (news) is all doom and gloom,” he says.

Retired from his 9-5 job at age 65, he continued to grow and pursue his music career.  His regular music gigs vanished along with a steady income.

He admits he had very little experience with technology but set out on a mission with a baby grand, a finished basement, transparent tape, and his phone — which he admits fell off the cement pillar a couple times while he tried to create a studio set and learn how to live stream.

He enlisted the aid of his adult son Scott, who also has a musical background and his girlfriend Tatiana Alverez  The pair now run the behind the scenes technology from the kitchen on Saturday night.

The Beatles, Sinatra, and his well-liked repertoire of American Song Book with 1950-1980 music sheets are his most popular requests.

Davis’ musical background began as he grew up in Quincy with a multi- generational home with his family and his grandparents under one roof.

The piano he plays now at his Hanson home was the original piano he learned on in his grandparent’s house. It was restored and refurbished more than in eight months by a local company and later gifted to him by his two brothers Glenn and Richard, who financed the project.

His brother came across the original piano sales receipt, which — Davis has now framed – the Marshall and Wendell instrument was purchased in Sept. 29, 1925 in Boston for $869.99.

The sitting room in the old Quincy dwelling was considered a proper room with oriental rugs and protected furniture, which were for guest visits making the room slightly less accessible for foot traffic on the average day.

Davis admits he loved playing and reviewed his lessons during the week with help from his grandparents making the sentimental black and white keys priceless.

He laughed as he recounted his grandfather’s operatic form of singing and although he knew he came from a strong set of musical genes on each side of his family he just couldn’t stand opera music.

Little did he realize it was not that he disliked the music rather his grandfather’s talent elicited a teary reaction to the beautiful sound. His sensitivities and discovery of his love of music developed from the age of 8, as he learned to play by ear as well as read music.

However reading music especially classical pieces were not his niche’ he wanted to play the tunes that were of the era.  A music teacher who knew he had talent taught him to read chords similar to the guitar and he evolved from there. It also aided in molding his likeability as a teen at the  talent show in junior high school where he admits he did not fit in as an athlete.

He was the last one picked for the team and stuck in the outfield with a fellow music lover.

“They would never see the ball fly right by them as they talked about favorite albums,” he said. “We didn’t care about the sports our music was much cooler.”

His wife Pat, who is a fan, recently pointed out that his talents, and musical gifts had been there all along.

Davis has seen that as a motivation that his life is going in the right direction.  As things progress into a “new normal,” he foresees returning to play live at cocktail parties, weddings and other events reconnecting with local businesses. For now he will watch for a thumbs up and fill music requests on his site. He asks the music requests be available a few days  prior to the concert so he can prepare his music roster. Visit markdavispianomusic.com.

Of birthdays, thanks and hope

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Vanessa Healey, of Whitman,  turned 8 years old this past week.  She had a birthday parade with lots of pizzazz from … across the street — social distanced Covid-19 birthday. Her family, like so many others with younger ones who may be missing their friends and social connections, helps make these celebrations meaningful.  Led by the Whitman Police and Fire, many of Vanessa’s friends and family members drove by, with honking horns, with signs and balloons for the birthday girl as they waved. Sisters from left clockwise Samantha, Mellissa, Vanessa and Tabitha Healey reacted as the cars passed by. A friend dressed like Elsa from the Disney movie Frozen waved from the back seat.See more photos, Page 6.

Hanson woman perishes in fire

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HANSON — A mother of three lost her life in a house fire Monday night May 4.

Margaret O’Toole-Driscoll, 58, known as Peggy, perished along with the family’s dog in the fatal blaze. The home located at the end of a cal-du-sac is part of a small neighborhood off West Washington Street.   

Two of her three children are currently students at Whitman-Hanson Regional High School confirmed in a press release by Superintendent Jeff Szymaniak. Driscoll was employed as an instructional support aide for East Bridgewater schools, according to media reports.

The family has resided in the neighborhood for approximately 20 years, according to neighbors.

In a press release through Plymouth County District Attorney’s Timothy J. Cruz’s office, who confirmed the name of the victim, also said the cause of the fire was under investigation by the State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey.

Hanson Fire Chief Jerome Thompson released a written statement early on Tuesday morning and later confirmed by phone that the fire at 165 Pennsylvania Ave. had been fatal.

Thompson called the conditions untenable as heavy fire and heat caused deteriorating circumstances for the four initial firefighters who responded to the call.

He commended the efforts of the firefighters who performed a secondary search of the home along with continued fire suppression before locating Driscoll.

The flames took nearly an hour to get under control.

There were three other occupants living in the single family, cape-style log cabin home at the time of the fire and they were able to safely escape, according to the press release through the D.A’s Office.

Neighbor Alyssa Aghajanian and her family, who live with her parents, share a side yard with trees separating their home from the Driscoll’s. They could see the flames through the trees, she said

Aghajanian, 29, who babysat for many of the families on the street, was consoled by her young daughter and family as she became tearful and saddened talking about times she recalled as a youngster braiding her hair with Peggy. She estimated they have known the family at least 20 years.

They originally heard noise coming from the yard that sounded of people yelling, but they soon realized the home was engulfed.

“We had the window open … we went to look, and saw the fire from the front window,” said Aghajanian.

She said they were screaming “bloody murder, ‘Is everyone out of the house?’” from their front porch.

They had later learned that wasn’t the case.

All three of the Driscoll children were W-H students with two of them current students, according to Szymaniak, who released information on counseling services during the pandemic.

“Counseling services will be made available to all students by email or using Google voice/text,” he stated. “To schedule an appointment to speak with a counselor, please call one of the phone numbers listed on the district’s website:  https://www.whrsd.org/central_administration/district_departments/student_services.

“While we are not currently able to be in school, we will all be there to support the family with whatever they need and encourage other members of the school community to do so as well,” said Szymaniak.

Thompson commended the efforts of the firefighters although the outcome was not a positive one.

He said their thoughts were with the family and that losing a member of the small, Hanson community affects everyone.

Firefighters immediately conducted a primary search on arrival at the scene. After nearly an hour and the bulk of the fire being brought under control, firefighters were able to re-enter the building to complete a secondary search, which is when they discovered the deceased victim.

A neighbor had given the family refuge at the scene and they were there early Tuesday morning, according to Aghajanian.

The family is being assisted currently by the Red Cross, said Thompson. The home is uninhabitable due to the extensive damage. The fire is not considered suspicious and the cause is still undetermined as late Tuesday, said Thompson.

Hanson was assisted at the scene by Hanson police, Hanson water department, and the towns of Whitman, Pembroke, Halifax, and the Whitman CERT team.

Hanover fire also covered the Hanson headquarters.

Winds hit Hanson hard, cause power outages, damage homes

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HANSON — With the wind howling at more than 50 miles per hour, according to reports — and some areas recorded close to 80 MPH — the South Shore was one of the hardest hit areas during Monday’s rain storm.

Hanson homeowner Jen Durant was left shaken and scared, but had luck on her side after a tree fell over her during the peak of the storm. She was unharmed.

She had run outside to check the latch on their chicken coop during the wind and rain on Monday when she heard a terrifying crack and a pine tree fell as she stood just feet from its landing.

Durant who is a nurse at Brockton Hospital is on the front lines during the Covid-19 pandemic. She has had a busy work schedule, and is balancing home life with five teens at their East Washington Street home. The family was outside Tuesday cleaning up after the aftermath of the enormous pine tree, which spared their mother’s life and sheered the metal car port completely off the house.

Durant’s brother, David Towle, and  their father, also David Towle,  were breaking apart and towing sections of the large pine to release the trapped vehicles that were left inside and  under the twisted metal.  Durant said she could hear and see other pine trees falling in the grove behind her home as she made her way to safety.

Kerry Krup was home with her two teens at around 5:15 p.m. on Bowker Avenue a small side street in Hanson.

“I was downstairs and heard a horrific noise that was very loud and shook the whole house — so sort of in a panic — I ran upstairs where my two boys were,” said Krup.

Luckily the family was unharmed but shaken as the shattered glass and tree limbs entered one of the sons’ rooms who are aged 13 and 14.

It was a scary few minutes and a relief that everyone was OK, she said.

The limbs had gone through the roof but some of the attic was pierced were she accumulates her storage and sentimental keepsakes.

Rain poured in the kitchen where the limbs had pierced the roof like daggers as the fire department and building inspector, as well as her landlord, all came to assess the damages.

Remnants of the pine were left on the front yard Tuesday and just feet away some portions of the tree were like splintered blades vertically standing in the ground proving the force of the storm.

Having to consider social distancing during the pandemic, Krup who was calm and composed, said they are relieved to able to stay at the home (deemed safe by the building inspector) another positive in the frightening circumstances.

She said she was happy that nobody was hurt and considering the craziness during this time of pandemic it was a trigger of some anxiety having to let people in the house, she said.

“We tried to isolate ourselves and having to let people in to help also caused a bit of stress,” she said.

She commended the fire department for their quick response during such a hectic afternoon.

The Hanson Fire Department responded to 30 storm-related calls with two homes being struck by trees. Both were still habitable, according to Deputy Fire Chief Rob O’Brien. On Tuesday afternoon 50 percent of power was still out in the town of Hanson.

In Whitman, the hardest hit areas with tree limbs and wires down was in the area of Indian Trail and Arrow Drive, according to Whitman Fire Chief Timothy Grenno.

They had calls for storm related issues, however no reports of injuries or trees through homes, he added.

COVID-19 changes holidays

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This weekend, families celebrated Passover and Easter in markedly different ways than in past years.

Easter egg hunts were all canceled this year, however spotted this week in the Whitman Park, in the place of eggs, were colored kindness rocks.

Social media postings on several Whitman sites showed the colorful finds and encouraged others to hide their own kindness rocks.

(The idea as a craft can also be helpful for art class during the home school day).

In an eggstra-extraordinary way a local business owner Monica Cole of Jan’s Towing and Recovery Service of Whitman put in more than just a full day of delivering Easter baskets.

Along with family and co-workers the group decorated and stuffed more than 150 Easter baskets to deliver and ready for curbside pickup in Whitman in hopping good fun.

“Easter was getting passed over,” Cole said. “We were brainstorming and came up with the baskets as a way to ease financial stress and anxiety for parents -out of the recent social isolation status and create joy and smiles for all.”

They made 100 baskets and, within three hours of posting it to the Whitman page, 90 baskets were already reserved. They increased the number to 175 baskets to make sure everyone who needed a basket could be included.

“I was excited that families in need were reaching out to us to accept the help for the free baskets,” said Cole. “During such a hard time with uncertainly families can depend on the local businesses to support them as they support us.”

Cole has been in business since 2016 in her Whitman location and in Boston prior to that. She is also a resident and raising a family here so seeing the community come together is rewarding to her and those around her on a personal level. Earlier this week she thanked the community via the Whitman Facebook page for the positive responses and expressed her full heart with the celebration of the Easter holiday.

Also shared via social media were local families who left decorated eggs at the ends of one another’s neighborhood driveways. Special sidewalk chalk messages of encouragement and Happy Easter greetings were left for morning sunrise surprises. Several prizes were left anonymously, but there were rumors that the Easter Bunny had been seen hopping down several Whitman streets.

Shopping for preparations for holiday meals is also more challenging as precautions against coronavirus are imposed.

In keeping with the Centers for Disease Control guidelines, local grocery stores, such as Shaw’s on Liberty Street, are allowing a maximum of 60 people in the store at one time. Social distancing is aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus and grocery shopping in smaller groups can ease the minds and hopefully protect others as we all avoid groups in any capacity.

The Stop & Shop at Bedford Street in Whitman has also begun limiting their shoppers.

Responding to an inquiry through social media, Stop & Shop stated “that all of their stores are limiting shoppers however each state varies in capacity.”

In their online Covid19 statement they also posted general update to shoppers.

“We know that Stop & Shop plays a critical role in our communities during situations like this, and we remain committed to doing our very best to support customers and associates.”

There are also guidelines posted in how each store is handling and creating an environment conducive to the CDC guidelines.

Personal milestones are different, too, during a pandemic.

Among recent birthday celebrations Jackson Manoli of Whitman turned 2 years old. His parents held a drive-by-and-honk birthday in which family and friends could say hi. The doorway was decorated with balloons and signs and even a Whitman police officer stopped momentarily to whirl his siren a high point for Jackson. Parents Matthew and Devon Manoli said the birthday was “unique” in the sense of guests standing separated on the lawn or staying in their cars. It was not what you would expect for a child’s birthday celebration however they were all smiles over seeing family and friends showing love for  Jackson who was thrilled to have “big boy chips” as he took his photo from a distance. The year they celebrated his Coronavirus birthday will be in their memories and photo albums. He had plenty of colorful balloons lining the fence to show all who drove by that he was indeed now a two year old.

With the stay at home orders and social distancing requirements to slow the spread of Covid-19  in a more noticeable form homeowners and families are spending  additional time in their yards, both playing  in and cleaning them up.

Dan Delprete of Dandel’s Construction in Hanson has seen an uptick of landscape projects as they began their season nearly six weeks earlier than their typical spring routine.

Samantha Murphy of Landscape Supply Yard which is also located at 1 Liberty St., Hanson said that they have seen a boost mostly on mulch and loam sales early lawn prep products.

The company supplies to landscapers so the increase in sales of these items and the movement is reassuring that yards are being spruced up daily by local landscaper businesses.

The physical activity of yard work in the fresh air and sun can be rewarding and a great project for people. They may be currently homebound but they are clearing out their yards and enjoying the exterior of those “four walls” as they practice social distancing.

“Finding the good in all the bad,” said Delprete has kept him in a positive perspective.

The weather and the days the sun is shining they are seeing more people looking at patios and taking brochures, he added.

Wyman’s Nursery in Hanson was open Easter weekend with several families buying flowers and looking for grave flower baskets.

Deb Seele of Whitman and her husband Michael who is Whitman’s town moderator were planning to clean up and decorate her dad’s grave. This year is unlike years past as she couldn’t be together with her elderly mother who is in quarantine at American Living of Hanson, she said.

Having her in the residential setting has been unsettling for now as they create a new normal like so many other families only talking through the phone. She planned to update her mom on the Easter flowers and their visit to her beloved late husband.

Heather Weydt and her daughter Jessica, 13, of Hanson purchased flowers to top off baskets they planned to construct and drop off at doorsteps for their loved ones. They planned to add a sweet Easter surprise of candies since they could not physically be with one another, she said.

Phil Wyman of Wyman’s garden center expressed his thanks and gratitude as a small business to be open in these difficult times.  He had simple gardening tips for families who aspired to create a garden or plant project. The least complicated, beginner gardener could plant Pansies which he called a more “durable” flower that quickly adds color and tolerates spring temperatures.

Preparing a garden indoors with peas, lettuce, and cabbage is an easy way to get kids involved in the planting kits and seeding process.

Reaping the rewards as the blossoms flourish the project can easily get everyone involved in most age groups.

“With a little bit of love and fertilizer you will get it all back and more,” Wyman said.

Stepping up to help others

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From residents brightening people’s day with clouds of bubbles or an offer to walk the neighbors’ dogs, to Hanson firefighters helping seniors with grocery or pharmacy errands — and a trade school putting its 3D printer to work making protective masks for area hospitals — people in the region continued to step up during the coronavirus emergency last week.

Adhering to the rules of social distancing this reporter sought fresh air and sunshine and grabbed a quick walk outside in Whitman Park this weekend.

It appears that families are starting to feel the strain of self isolation  in attempts to slow the spread of the deadly coronavirus.

Ernesto Hernandez of Whitman has tried to generate a smile for others as he and his daughter Thalia Hernandes, 5, spent their lunch time at the Whitman Park blowing bubbles this week.

During this time he hopes to make things a bit more bearable despite the CDC guidelines for the six-foot distance we are supposed to be from one another. Every day last week they walked around the town and Whitman Park at lunch time with bubbles to brighten other people’s day. Hernandez is homeschooling Thalia while his wife works remotely from home, he said. He kept her away from others as they enjoyed the fresh air.

“Having some bubbles pop on your cheek can break up the monotony,” he said. “It is great that everyone is doing what is needed, he added, “but you can’t seclude humanity.”

As the bubbles blew across the park they shared a dance in the sunlight. They were distributing a little bit of cheerful optimism in Hernandez’ day as well.

“Who doesn’t love bubbles?” laughed Hernandez.

Making masks

Alerted to the need for personal protective masks issues by Massachusetts General Hospital to all entities that own 3D printers, South Shore Tech Superintendent-Director Dr. Thomas J. Hickey, said his school is helping produce PPE. The formula for the masks had been posted online, according to Boston media outlets.

“I immediately gave it to the people smarter than me,” Hickey said. “Our engineering instructor is now networked about nine 3D printers and we’re making 30 to 50 face shields a day. I’ve got a couple of staff volunteers and we’re bringing them to South Shore Hospital [and] Brockton Hospital.”

Hickey said he is also talking with a Whitman woman who used to work at Children’s Hospital as well as Beth Israel-Plymouth, Hanover fire and EMS for whom SST is also making face shields.

“This one individual is just stepping up in a big way and, to his credit, it’s not about him and he really doesn’t want any attention,” Hickey said. “Even though the building’s closed and most people are working remotely all the time, he’s going in to keep the 3D printers firing.”

Hickey said the mask design posted online was fine, but not at a quality that was needed and the teacher suggested the face shield would be a better option.

“Everyone we’re talking to is saying thank you, thank you,” he said. “Now we’re getting requests for replacement masks.”

Running errands

In Hanson, Firefighter Tim Royer developed a program, along with Deputy Fire Chief Robert O’Brien Jr., offering to pick up prescriptions or other needs — within reason — for any Hanson seniors that are home-bound. They met with Senior Center Director Mary Collins to arrange for the project.

“They first need to go through Mary Collins, [who] will get the contact information for us,” O’Brien said. “They’ll reach out to us, let us know what they need and we’ll try to go and get it.”

Only a couple of hours after launching the program, Royer was out picking up a prescription for a senior citizen. He has already discussed the project with CVS, Shaw’s and Osco Drug as well as other surrounding pharmacies. The firefighters’ union fronts the money when they pick up an item and seniors reimburse the union account by check. For more information, call Mary Collins at 781-293-2683.

“This is just for senior citizens,” O’Brien stressed. “It can’t be for the average homeowner. … It’s a free thing and the chief’s 100-percent supportive of it. This is our way of helping out the most vulnerable.”

Paw patrol

Amanda McKee, a Whitman middle schooler said she and her brother Zach, a WHRHS student, are both out of school do to the closings in the state. A position as a dog walker can be added to their résumés now that these siblings undertook a crash course in dog-walkery.

Last week they strolled with Shadow, Vera, and Murray at the Whitman Park. The canines belong to their neighbor and they got their recent employment with help from their mom, they said.

The McKee’s are helping out another family as everyone begins to adjust to new norms of balancing working, and home life.

The dogs did not quite understand social distancing with one another but made for a laugh as the instant dog sitters got a quick lesson in doggy duty.

With smiles from afar the respite of fresh air was much needed. An adult and child could be seen on the top of the sledding hill with a blanket and basket overlooking the park.

In the recent updates from Whitman town officials the strict guidelines of social distancing and staying home for extended periods will be in place to continue to slow the progression of the coronavirus.

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