Whitman-Hanson Express

You are here: Home / Archives for Tracy F. Seelye, Express Editor

Whitman OK’s sewer funds

By

WHITMAN — In the end, it took less time for voters at the Monday, Dec. 2 special Town Meeting to complete the work of acting on the four-article warrant than it did to achieve a quorum.

When voter number 150 entered the Town Hall Auditorium just before 8 p.m. — the session was scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. — she received a warm round of applause.

Less than 23 minutes later, voters had transferred funds to pay an engineering bill for repairs to Hobart Pond; accepted another transfer to fund accrued vacation time for former Police Chief Scott Benton; and OK’d an appropriation to pay for sewer bills to Brockton and the engineering, consulting and permitting costs involved in repairs to Whitman’s sewer force main. A fourth article calling for a transfer of $7,209 from the law account to the Animal Control account was passed over.

A $900,000 appropriation from sewer-water retained earnings to pay $121,676.23 in additional sewer bills to Brockton as well as $88,083.70 for preliminary work on a sewer repair expected total of about $8.2 million.

Lynam said the sewer bill was the result of renegotiation of a contract with Brockton begun in 2015 and tentatively agreed on within the last month.

The cost includes capital costs Whitman has not paid in the past and is now responsible for, and the remainder of the transfer will fund the planning and design for a new 16,000-foot pipe in the ground to replace a pipe that has failed twice already.   

The Hobart Pond article transferred $4,500 from the Norfolk County Agricultural H.S. in the May 1019 annual Town Meeting to pay a prior year’s bill to Collins Engineers Inc., for their work

A resident asked why the transfer was necessary and if it would be repeated in the future. The funds were intended to cover funds owed an engineering firm that helped the town repair a breach in the Hobart Pond dam.                                             

“Each year, we have to make an appropriation the first Monday in May to pay for whatever students are going to Norfolk Aggie,” Town Administrator Frank Lynam explained. “We don’t necessarily know who’s going until June.”

Lynam explained the town always has to estimate that two students will attend the school for budgeting purposes. This year there was one surplus student and the line was a “reasonable place” from which to transfer money. A 90-percent threshold was required to pass the article, and voters passed it with 97 percent voting in favor.

A second transfer — of $15,500 — from Norfolk Aggie involved in the 2019 Town Meeting vote, as well as a $22,818.57 transfer from the 2019 law account to fund the police chief salary line for the balance of fiscal 2020.

Lynam amended the article to correct a misprint in the warrant from $37,918.57 to $37,318.57, but a voter pointed out that the figure still didn’t add up until it was further amended to $38,318.57.

A voter asked, once the amendment was approved, if it was designed to pay unused sick leave time, which Lynam said was not the case. He explained the transfer would settle up accrued, unused vacation time and noted that the Board of Selectmen had recently voted to limit the carryover of unused vacation time to no more than nine days per year.

Fire officials launch safe cooking campaign

By

Cooking is the leading cause for home fires and injuries, and so State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey and Chief Dennis Condon, president of the Fire Chiefs’ Association of Massachusetts (FCAM) are urging residents to use caution while cooking in a statewide cooking fire safety public awareness campaign. This campaign has two main messages to prevent home fires: Stand by Your Pan to prevent cooking fires and Put a Lid on It to safely put grease fires out.

“Cooking is the number one cause of fires in Massachusetts, but they spike during the winter holiday season,” said Ostroskey “Leaving pots and pans unattended can be a recipe for disaster. So it is important to always stay in the kitchen when cooking.”

The Department of Fire Services has developed public services announcements (PSA’s) to educate the public on the importance of standing by your pan in the kitchen. They feature firehouse chefs from Holyoke and Methuen talking about cooking safety and sharing their favorite recipes. Lt. Maria Pelchar from Holyoke provides us with her recipe in Spanish. The PSA’s serve up two key messages on cooking safety in these television and radio spots: “Stand by Your Pan” to prevent fires and “Put a Lid on It” to put out a stovetop fire.

“Safety is the key ingredient in any recipe. The leading cause of fire injuries to everyone and especially to seniors is cooking,” said Condon, “which is why it is important to put a lid on a stovetop fire.” He suggests keeping a pot lid or cookie sheet handy when cooking.

Important cooking safety tips:

• Stand by your pan, when cooking. Never leave food, grease or oils cooking on the stovetop unattended.

• Put a lid on it. In the case of a pan fire, slide the lid on it to smother the fire, and then turn off the heat. Do not move the pan until it has cooled off.

• Water or fire extinguishers will not work. They will only spread the fire.

• Never move a burning pan. You can be badly burned or spread the fire.

• Wear short or tight-fitting sleeves when cooking, because loose fitting clothing can easily catch on fire.

• If your clothing catches fire, Stop, Drop, Cover and Roll to put out the flames.

According to the Massachusetts Fire Incident Reporting System (MFIRS), there were 9,816 residential fires in Massachusetts involving cooking in 2018, which resulted in one civilian death, 46 civilian injuries, 29 firefighter injuries and an estimated $5.4 million in property damage. Cooking is also the leading cause of injuries to older adults (people over the age of 65).

Some public housing authorities have started installing smart burners on stoves that limit the temperature burners can reach. They get hot enough to boil water but not hot enough to ignite a piece of paper. Another safety device that can be installed is an in-hood fire extinguisher. They contain an extinguishing agent in a small can installed by magnets in the hood over the stove. There are many examples of these devices putting out stove top fires in Massachusetts. The cleanup is minimal compared to a fire.

State and local fire officials are asking the public’s help in reducing the number of cooking fires this holiday season. “We’re challenging the public to reduce cooking fires this year by remembering to stay in the kitchen when frying, boiling and broiling, and checking on baking frequently,” said Ostroskey.

For more information, please visit mass.gov/cookingsafety.

On thanks and giving

By

By Stephanie Spyropoulos
and Tracy F. Seelye
Express staff

WHITMAN — Gratitude and a positive attitude is what the Conley Elementary School gathered to celebrate this week as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches in their recent assembly.

On Saturday, Nov. 23, that spirit of giving found W-H student athletes, members of the Whitman Police Department and members of the community volunteered to help serve Thanksgiving dinner to about 360 seniors from Whitman and surrounding towns at the Whitman Knights of Columbus.

Conley School also collectively gathered a donation to present to the Whitman Animal Shelter for $1,000. The highest ever in the Conley School, which by the jaw drops — students could not believe themselves — that their spare change had such grand accumulation over the last months.

Principal Karen Downey assisted by fifth-grade student Destin Rodriquez held the check and took a peek at the total before they announced their final amount.

The school has gathered their coins and cans with full meals to serve approximately 30 families in need in the Whitman area. Volunteers from the Whitman Food Pantry accepted donations and thanked the Conley students and staff.

In celebration of the season and giving to those in need the community at Conley left the cafeteria with both teachers, and students feeling blessed and thankful with a palpable feeling of excitement and positive energy.

Several students read from gratitude lists, which they created in conjunction with their classroom time and lessons. The students also assisted in presenting the baskets to the Whitman Food Pantry, which were then loaded into cars to take to the pantry in time for the holiday.

The K of C served up roast turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, winter squash, peas and onions, and a dinner roll plus dessert for the 47th year.

“The first one was in 1972,” said Whitman Council on Aging Director Barbara Garvey. “I couldn’t be here because I was graduating from Abington High School.”

Garvey noted the seniors were dining with more than 350 others as a “nice time to make new friends and visit old friends.”

“The members of the Whitman Knights of Columbus have always been very kind and generous to this community as a whole and, in particular, to our seniors,” Garvey said. “They and their volunteers give countless hours of their time, effort and resources not only today, but through the entire year to make this undertaking possible. It’s massive, as you can see.”

Garvey thanked the K of C and all the volunteers on behalf of the Whitman Council on Aging and all those attending Saturday’s dinner.

The Rev. Robert Collen led the blessing before the volunteers served it in nine minutes and 36 seconds.

Hanson backs outside school audit

By

HANSON — Selectmen Chairman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett has asked town counsel Jay Talerman to reach out to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to discuss regional school assessments with Christine Lynch of the DESE’s Office of Regional Governance.

The board also voted, on Tuesday Nov. 19, to conditionally appropriate not to exceed $30,000 for Hanson’s share of the cost for an independent audit — based on passage of an audit request in Whitman. The Whitman Board of Selectmen approved the audit request the same night. The report would be provided to both town administrators.

The request for information from DESE came before Lynch’s appearance at a School Committee meeting Nov. 5 to provide what FitzGerald-Kemmett called an excellent explanation of the Education Reform Law and how it impacts school assessments.

Lynch had strongly suggested the two towns work together to solve the issue, which led Whitman Selectman Randy LaMattina to invite some Hanson officials to do that.

FitzGerald-Kemmett reported to the board about the Nov. 12 meeting she, Selectman Matt Dyer and interim Town Administrator had with Whitman Selectmen LaMattina and Justin Evans and Town Administrator Frank Lynam concerning the regional school assessment issue.

“The purpose of our meeting was to just lay it on the line that, regardless of what the School Committee votes … there has to be a path forward,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “We’ve got an agreement in place and I think the right thing to do … would have been to have folks from Whitman come to us and say, ‘We believe that we can’t sustain the regional agreement the way that it is now.’”

She pointed to Whitman’s financial constraints in suggesting that officials there could ask to discuss a way forward.

“I’m not saying we would have agreed to do it, but we would have at least had a dialog about it,” she said, noting that, instead people have been lobbing verbal hand grenades on social media. “We’re going to end up at super town meeting anyway you look at it, regardless of what the School Committee does.”

FitzGerald-Kemmett said she thinks Hanson is at a place where they still need the School District’s figures on what it is costing each community to educate children this year and how much money each is getting from in the way of Chapter 70 state aid.

“I’m not trying to be incendiary at all because I do appreciate the spirit in which Randy and Justin reached out,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said.

The committee formed by the School Committee to look into assessments has named Chairman Bob Hayes of Hanson and Vice Chairman Christopher Scriven of Hanson to it. Whitman has officially appointed LaMattina and Selectmen Chairman Dr. Carl Kowalski to that committee. Hanson Selectmen Nov. 19 voted to appoint FitzGerald-Kemmett and Selectman Jim Hickey to sit on the assessment committee.

FitzGerald-Kemmett said she is looking for a private auditor to examine the School District finances to offer an impartial examination — a move Whitman Selectmen backed the same evening in their meeting. The cost of the audit, estimated at between $45,000 to $50,000 would be split between the two towns and could take about four to five weeks.

Selectman Kenny Mitchell said it was a step they should take.

Selectman Jim Hickey said he still wants to know why the 2007 DESE language change was never mentioned in School Committee minutes.

Hayes said the School Department is required to hire an independent auditing firm to report to both the Committee and DESE each year.

FitzGerald-Kemmett suggested the new audit’s lens would be more broad than the one required of the schools.

Another point of contention for the towns with the revised Regional Agreement centers on the de-regionalization process, both towns stress is not imminent, but a point of concern centering on the process and costs if it ever came to that.

“It’s probably not the move, we’re so attached at the hip right now, but I think the question is being asked,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “So, I feel it’s something I feel we need to have some [discussion] around. I don’t want to spend a lot of time on it. … I want people to feel we’ve looked at all the options.”

Mitchell said the assessment discussion is needed.

“We can be right, but it’s not going to get us what we want,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “What do we have to lose? If we don’t go to the bargaining table, it’s going to happen. At least if we sit down to the bargaining table, we may effectuate some change.”

Hayes addressed questions asked by a resident, who used to work for the School District business office about how the statutory assessment change came about. He noted that the state made the change through an amendment to the Education Reform Act.

“The state contributes a ton of money to school districts,” he said. “They are stating that Hanson has more ability to pay before you get to the 60-40 split [in student population].”

Personnel moves

In other business, the board voted to hire Carol Jensen as supportive day coordinator at the Hanson Multi-Service Senior Center.

After an internal posting, there were no applicants, but a general posting brought in two applications, Marini said. She and Senior Center Director Mary Collins interviewed both well-qualified candidates.

Jensen has experience in working with dementia and Alzheimer’s patients through Braintree Hospital.

“That’s what the social day care program is and we think she will be a good fit for the position,” Marini said.

The board approved a request from Police Chief Michael Miksch to appoint full-time student police officer Mario Thompson and part-time officer Bryan Rodday.

Thompson, who grew up in town is a part-time officer who has completed a program the full-time officers go through.

“He’s actually working in a cruiser once in a while on his own and has done a great job doing it,” Miksch said. Thompson currently works full time for the Duxbury Harbormaster. He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Bridgewater State University and coached youth football as well as a basketball program for the Special Olympics.

Town Meeting approved the funding for Miksch to hire two officers in January to help offset the move to a regional dispatch center. Thompson would be one of those two and the department has secured an academy slot for him beginning Jan. 6.

Rodday has been a full-time dispatcher in Scituate who applied for a Hanson dispatch job, but also applied for a position as a part-time officer for HPD. A Hanover native, he also holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Bridgewater State, and has worked as a special education teacher in Hanover schools as well as home-schooling autistic children.

Miksch called attention to the beard he has been growing — as some other police officers in his department are — for “Mowvember,” during which men are encouraged to grow a mustache and/or beard to fight men’s cancers as well as suicide and to support mental health programs. Hanson Police are participating to raise funds for Cops for Kids with Cancer.

Selectmen also voted to appoint Matthew Cahill of Duxbury as new highway director and heard an update on the Highway Department from interim Surveyor Curt MacLean.

The director’s job and new title was posted after the recent death of Highway Surveyor Bob Brown, according to Marini, who said one internal application has been received for the posting.

“Although his service to the town and experience was extensive, we just wanted to open it up to see if we could get a higher level of qualifications,” she said, noting that six applications were received.

Marini, MacLean and Blauss conducted the interviews.

“All the applicants were well-qualified, but one just stood above the rest, with being a civil engineer and he comes to us from MassDOT [with] 10 years’ experience in the maintenance division and construction division,” Marini told the board. He also has experience in snow and ice removal.

Cahill said he was excited to begin working for Hanson.

“Well, we’re excited to have you before the first snowfall,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said.

MacLean said his biggest concern when he began as interim was snow and ice, but the crews have worked to ensure sanders are ready for winter.

“If we have an event tomorrow, we’re all ready to go,” he said, and thanked Marini and the town’s department heads for being “great to work with” during his tenure as interim surveyor.

MacLean said the current Highway building if “functional” but offers extremely tight quarters and no longer state-of-the-art.

“If you ever had a fire you’d lose all your equipment int hat one building,” he said. “It beats working in a lean-to.”

He also reviewed the protocol for obtaining road signs. For the full meeting, visit the Whitman-Hanson Community Access TV YouTube channel.

Stanbrook picked for TA

By

HANSON — The Board of Selectmen, in a special meeting on Saturday, Nov. 16, extended a conditional offer of employment as town administrator to John Stanbrook of Middleborough.

The offer is contingent upon completion of a background review and investigation by consulting firm Municipal Resources Inc., and successful negotiation of terms of employment by the Board of Selectmen.

The board interviewed three finalists — Stanbrook, who is now assistant town manager/finance director in Mansfield, Lincoln Heineman of Scituate, currently the finance director in Hanover; and Richard LaFond of Bridgewater, who is now Abington’s town manager. A fourth candidate withdrew their name from consideration before the interviews with selectmen.

Mike Gallagher, acting town administrator in North Attleboro, had initially applied, telling MRI staff that he was not interested in the town manager position to which his town was transitioning. When he informed his appointing authority they made him a more tempting offer Gallagher felt he could not turn down and withdrew his name.

“He was torn by it,” said MRI consultant Bob Mercier.

The board conducted the back-to-back interviews followed by their deliberation and conditional offer during the all-day session.

“I’m thrilled to be doing this with you guys, I think it’s one of the most important things we’ll do,” Selectmen Chairman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett said to the board before the interviews began.

MRI senior management consultants Reginald “Buzz” Stapscynski and Mercier kicked off the meeting with an overview of the recruitment process they followed. They called all three finalists after the meeting to inform them of the Selectmen’s decision.

MRI met with department heads and conducted listening sessions with members of the public to help construct a profile of the traits Hanson was seeking in a town administrator, according to Stapscynski.

“We want to ensure the people we bring forth as finalists have knowledge about the community,” he said.

narrowing field

Based on their conversations with selectmen MRI searched for candidates with a bachelor’s degree in public management or relevant training and experience, a proven record of thoughtful financial management, and strategic capital planning.  Creativity and the ability to identify innovative solutions to complex municipal issues, strong public speaking and presentation skills, extensive experience in collective bargaining, and electronic media skills were also preferred.

“That’s important for us, because the cookie cutter regular town administrator — in our experience, there is some movement away from that,” Mercier said. “There are some other talented folks who didn’t come out with an MBA but they can certainly do the job.”

MRI also heard a lot of people in Hanson asked for a person who listens, communicates well, and will empower town employees.

Selectmen felt Stanbrook filled the criteria best, after asking each finalist the same core of 15 questions, with some follow-ups on specific issues for some. LaFond, for example, was asked a half-dozen questions by Selectman Matt Dyer about a police contract negotiation that took four years.

LaFond said negotiation goals were frequently changed during the process, delaying a conclusion.

Heineman’s length of time on various positions listed on his resume was also a concern voiced by Selectmen, as was his security in his position in Hanover.

“The first thing [MRI consultants advise] was fit,” said Selectman Jim Hickey. “For me personally, and the town as a whole, I just don’t think Lincoln is a good fit.”

FitzGerald-Kemmett said he was certainly qualified, but agreed.

“I thought [Stanbrook] had a real 360 perspective on things,” she said. “He’s been elected, he’s been appointed. He’s worked his way through various levels of government and would probably have gotten the town manager’s job if it wasn’t for the residency requirement.”

He said he was offered the town manager’s job in Mansfield, but that town had a residency requirement when the offer came, he and his wife had just bought their house in Middleborough.

“He understands that it’s not really his opinion that is — his judgment, we’re looking for, but we’re not really looking for his opinion politically,” she said. “He really seems to understand consensus building.”

Selectmen Kenny Mitchell said that, while LaFond’s experience stood out, Stanbrook seems humble and has had longevity at previous positions.

“He was a union member for 22 years,” said Selectman Jim Hickey, who has been a Teamsters member on his job for about 30 years. “Similar to me sitting on this side of the table, I do what I think is what’s best for the town, but I like that he has that background.”

Selectman Matt Dyer, who commutes to his own job through Mansfield said he has seen how that town has been revitalized and praised Stanbrook’s consensus-building, as well and strongly endorsed him.

“He’s not overpowering, he’s not going to come in with intimidation or anything like that,” Dyer said. “He can take that team and can start working on these projects like revitalizing downtown.”

Selectman Wes Blauss said he liked the number of endorsements LaFond provided and his answer to the succession question, which may not have been what the board wanted to hear — that there never has been such a plan in place or may be likely to.

“I did think Rick LaFond was realistic,” Blauss said.

“You don’t get the experience until you get the experience,” Hickey said. “That’s why I go back to fit. … Both candidates are strong, but I think with John, Hanson could get stronger.”

Questions centered on the regional schools assessment issue, economic development, customer service for residents, their knowledge of Hanson, how they resolve personnel problems and deal with fallout from social media, among other issues.

Stanbrook  interview

Stanbrook, whose father was the first Hanson store manager when Shaw’s was the Brockton Public Market, (BPM) and often accompanied his dad on Sundays to check on the store, which was closed on Sundays then. He started his own working life in grocery, where he was a strong union member for more than 20 years.

When he moved from Brockton to Halifax and wanted to know a bit about that town, Stanbrook attended Town Meeting and applied for appointment to the Finance Committee. He loved that work and his municipal career began there. He became the Halifax town accountant after having been elected to that town’s school committee.

“I like the smaller town, hands-on approach, I like getting my hands dirty and doing things myself,” Stanbrook said, adding he does delegate responsibilities, too. “I’m looking for a new challenge.”

Stanbrook has been in municipal government for 15 years and said Hanson’s commuter rail station and the Main Street corridor offer a lot of potential for redevelopment.

“I think you’ll agree with me that potential is always exciting and that’s why I get out of bed — the potential of what’s going to happen that day,” he said. “There’s nothing worse in life than seeing potential wasted.”

He said he believes Hanson has a lot of potential.

While he acknowledged that, in a job interview setting, he would be referring to himself a lot, but stressed he works with others as a team to accomplish goals.

On the regional schools assessment issue, Stanbrook said he wants to hear the board’s opinion, but is willing to talk to Whitman officials.

“I want to know why,” he said. “Coming from outside I want to know why the assessments are going up and why they want to shift more of a burden to this town.”

Mitchell asked each applicant what they saw as their role as town administrator and how they would go about establishing priorities and the importance of open space and conservation.

Stanbrook said his role would be to get the most accurate information to the board as quickly as possible to allow Selectmen to make decisions, as well as managing town employees.

Blauss asked about encouraging teamwork in the workplace and who applicants most admire.

“I like trying to build consensus,” Stanbrook said, adding he likes to encourage open dialog. “I want to hear what everyone has to say. Once people realize that it’s OK to say what they think … you start getting really good ideas from people.”

He also said he most admires John F. Kennedy, for whom he was named.

Dyer asked each candidate to site their greatest strengths and weaknesses as well as a nine-month stint working for Cohasset, which Stanbrook said was so short because of the declining health and death of his father.

Stanbrook said he is a strong consensus-builder and he is weakest in dealing with people for whom “the best interest of the town has no meaning for them.” He admitted he struggles with that.

Homework

Hickey sought to determine how much homework applicants had done on Hanson.

“What can you tell us about the community … and, more importantly, what can you tell us about us,” Hickey asked.

Stanbrook said that living one town over for a lot of years gave him the opportunity to observe Hanson.

“I really do feel that the town has been well-run, but needs stronger leadership at the top and someone who can implement decisions that are being made here,” he said, stressing he was not trying to slam anyone. “I think it’s been a very well-run town, … a stronger person at the top in this position would do better. … This town needs strong leadership and a good working relationship with selectmen.”

While he worked on learning who Selectmen are, Stanbrook emphasized he comes to the town with a clean slate.

FitzGerald-Kemmett focused on the economic development needs of Main Street. Stanbrook said Hanson is similar to Mansfield in the presence of the train station area, which needed a facelift.

Mansfield has seen development of four-story apartment complexes around the MBTA station.

“That’s what worked in Mansfield, I’m not sure if it would work here,” he said. “There is a segment of the population in Mansfield that doesn’t like four story buildings because that type of thing is bringing more growth. … It starts the snowball going.”

He said bringing people together to build consensus is the best approach.

She also asked Stanbrook where he saw himself in 10 years.

“Sitting right here,” he said. “I’m not interested in skipping to the next town.”

He added that, when it is time for him to retire, he planned to have someone in place who could step forward to fill the position.

“I would try to recruit someone,” he said. “I don’t want to leave the town in any worse spot. … I’d want to make sure whoever would take over my position … could just step right in tomorrow and be able to do it.”

Stanbrook said the reason for government is to serve the public and get information they request to them. That kind of transparency is something MRI consultants said is demanded by the public even more today.

MRI’s process

“The public arena in general today [is saying] you better be transparent and you better be open to the public because people are going to find out, one way or the other,” Mercier said. “We want the next administrator to be open and transparent.”

Leadership skills were also important.

“We want a leader that people will have confidence in, that you will have confidence in, that will bring this community to the next level,” Mercier said.

There were 39 initial respondents, the majority of which were from Massachusetts. Some were quickly dismissed as lacking the right skill sets, bringing the field to 14, who were asked to provide essays. Only two failed to respond. Six of the 39, and one of the 14 sent essay questions were women. Only 12 of the 14 returned essays.

The essays were scored on content and grammar and narrowed the field to nine for phone interviews.

They said they each called two people they thought might be a good applicant, but stressed they receive no financial remuneration from those they called.

“Our loyalty is to you,” Stapscynski said.

Full interviews may be streamed at youtube.com/user/WHCA9TV.

School assessment panel gets revamp

By

The School Committee on Wednesday, Nov. 13, voted 8 to 1, with member Fred Small dissenting, to appoint a member from each town — Vice Chairman Christopher Scriven from Whitman and Chair Bob Hayes from Hanson — to a smaller Regional Agreement Amendment Committee, which began meeting Tuesday, Nov. 12. School Committee member Rob O’Brien Jr., was absent.

Whitman Selectmen Randy LaMattina said he and Selectman Justin Evans met with Hanson counterparts Selectmen Chairman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett and Selectman Matt Dyer — along with town administrators Frank Lynam and Meredith Marini — met in a “very informal” manner Nov. 12 to begin discussing an effort to find a way forward.

“I would describe the dialog as quality and respectful,” LaMattina said. “I would not say we came to a conclusion, but I would say we were very cognizant of each others’ concerns. The door is open.”

“I can’t promise anything,” FitzGerald-Kemmett agreed. “We don’t know what’s going to happen … ultimately it’s the taxpayers who decide.”

LaMattina said he would like to see the School Committee involved in the process, but noted that, at the end of the day, it is the selectmen who will be going to the taxpayers for “the check that we need to have cut.”

While he said Whitman is firm on the position that the statutory method is the most fair and equitable way to ensure state aid is going where it is intended.

FitzGerald-Kemmett said the meeting Tuesday was a good one and “We understand where Whitman’s coming at.”

She said both boards of selectmen are trying to do what is in the best interests of their residents.

“In the end, I think we’re cognizant that, while we’re trying to do what’s best for the citizens in our respective towns, we don’t want to see the schools harmed in the process,” she said.

She did, however, ask the School Committee for transparency and clarity, specifically on the current operating cost numbers that Marini has asked the district to provide in an effort to determine a path forward. LaMattina said that, while Whitman is still committed to the statutory assessment formula, the town may need to make concessions if Hanson is to be eased into the scenario, which can only be achieved if the next budget year’s figures are available.

“We need a budget,” he said.

“It would be bananas for us to try to figure out any kind of an agreement if we don’t have those numbers,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said of the information Hanson wants. “It’s literally like working in the dark.”

The two towns are still at odds over the assessment formula to be used by the district.

“It’s all going to come down to timing,” Hayes said.

The statutory method takes into account a town’s minimum per pupil expenditure designated by DESE — the minimum local contribution — which fluctuates based on inflation, wage adjustment, town’s total earned income, property values and municipal revenue growth. Anything in a budget over the minimum local contribution goes to the regional agreement, based on pupil population, for any other operating expense.

There is no requirement for unanimous agreement by both communities to use the statutory method.

The agreement/alternative method uses strict per-pupil representation to assess the communities, the method currently used by the district. Both communities have to pass the assessment methodology prior to the budget distribution or at town meeting in order to use this method. If one town does not vote the budget forward and the other does, it does not constitute unanimous agreement for the method to be used.

“The agreement pretty much only needs a couple of tweaks here and there, but they’re big tweaks,” said School Committee Chairman Bob Hayes in beginning the discussion. He asked for thoughts on how the Regional Agreement Committee could move ahead with fewer people, but the discussion quickly veered back to a debate on the merits of a statutory vs. agreement/alternative method of determining assessments to the towns.

“If that’s what we’re forming a committee to do, I don’t know that it’s the School Committee’s charge … you’re getting too many people in a room and too many chefs trying to make a stew,” said School Committee member Fred Small. “That should be between the two towns.”

He advocated the statutory formula is the fair way to go, but said if selectmen want to work together in the spirit of community to see if there is some give and take on the issue, a month’s delay to see if they could come to a solution might be in order before the School Committee formed a committee.

School Committee member Christopher Howard agreed the selectmen needed to meet to figure it out, but member Dawn Byers said the School Committee should have a voice in that process.

School Committee member Dan Cullity, however, said enough time has been wasted.

“We should have been doing this two months ago,” he said. “We can’t wait around any more, we’ve got to get this done.”

FitzGerald-Kemmett said she agreed with Small’s contention that the state will end up taking over.

“We know each side has sort of picked its weapons and worked out their position,” she said.

Town positions

LaMattina said Whitman remains a strong supporter of the regional school district.

“We know Hanson has been a good partner,” he said. “We will try to work through it, but neither town is going to back into this. I think we need to see a budget.”

While Whitman is looking to what the schools future needs are, “We cannot formulate a plan with an unknown number,” LaMattina said. “I don’t know if we’re going to come to a great kumbaya agreement, I do think we can get there but I think we need to know where ultimately we need to be.”

Hanson wants to see the district’s current operating costs, FitzGerald-Kemmett said.

Small said there is a “lot of misinformation” on social media.

“There’s no such thing as a wealth-based method,” he said. “If we were two separate towns the monies that we’re talking about would be Whitman’s money just going to Whitman, because it’s part of Whitman’s Chapter 70 money.”

He said the statutory method was the only one available back in 1993, until an amendment in 1995-96 permitted an alternative method.

“When half of our money — $25 million — comes from the state, and they’re only increasing their revenue by half a percent, our town can only pay so much,” Small said.

One Hanson resident, who has worked in the school district in the past, said it sounded to her like the committee was trying to rush a decision. She said FitzGerald-Kemmett’s request for current budget numbers made sense to her.

“I understand Whitman is in a crisis, but is this the way to go?” she said, noting Hanson’s assessment could go up by $1 million.

School Committee member Christopher Howard advocated rushing into a dialog if not a decision.

“I think both towns are making very valid points,” Howard said. “My concern is, if we give some folks in one town some information, and some folks in the other town other information, I’m just very concerned about … folks selectively picking and choosing certain data points to make certain arguments,” he said. “There’s value in people coming together as a group.”

Whitman Town Administrator Frank Lynam said he understands the reason for FitzGerald-Kemmett’s request for a breakdown of costs by school building.

“We want to get deeper in the budget process,” he said. “We want to understand what the costs are individually and where they are coming from.”

He also said detailed information is needed for what is being sought for fiscal 2021.

Small and Whitman resident Chris George, meanwhile, became involved in a heated exchange with Hanson resident Bruce Young about the assessment formulas.

“Since 1993, when educational reform was passed, and since the state has been giving out Chapter 70 aid differently than they did in 1991, when our agreement was struck, aid to one town — in some years Hanson and in some years Whitman — has been reallocated from one town to another,” said George. “That’s what not following the statutory method does. Since 2015, that’s close to $4 million from the town of Whitman.”

When the region received state aid, Young countered, it is not allocated to the towns or specific students in the towns, it is allocated to every student in the district.

“This is a region, not two towns within a region,” he said.

Small said the state has different minimum contribution formulas for the two towns because they receive different Chapter 70 aid funds.

“When you get up there and say it doesn’t exist, you are telling a falsehood,” Small said. “I’m calling you out on it.”

School Committee member Steven Bois had heard enough at that point.

“You make me think I want to start a night class here,” said Bois, a longtime school volunteer and former Whitman Finance Committee member. “There has to be a point — and this is coming from a Republican — you have to have the ability to pay. I volunteered at both schools and, never said this anywhere publically, but I’ve seen differences between Whitman kids and Hanson kids and I know where the needs really are.”

He said he has listened to the debate without comment for three meetings, and had had enough.

“Mr. Young, I don’t think you’ve been on our side at all,” Bois said. “I know I got an email from your wife when I first won election, ‘Oh, a Republican got in, thank goodness.’ No, that ain’t it, it’s still all of us.”

Of biting dogs and budgets

By

WHITMAN — Selectmen ordered a Forest Street woman to muzzle and confine her dogs during a meeting Tuesday, Nov. 19 that also featured further discussion of budget and school district assessments.

A public hearing on a dangerous dog complaint by residents Leslie and Michael Leary of 58 Forest St., about the biting and aggressive behavior of what they described as Jill Barden’s Maltese — actually a Coton de Tulear, named Andy, Barden said — and a German shepherd that Barden said is actually a mixed breed with possible shepherd and Australian cattle dog bloodlines, named Scarlet.

Both animals are rescues.

“I did adopt the damaged ones,” Barden said.

Selectmen voted to require Barden to muzzle the dogs when on leash and otherwise keep them confined, as well as directing her to see that the dogs are properly licensed, as recommended by Assistant Animal Control Officer Joe Kenney.

“I am an animal advocate, but sitting in this chair, I have to be a citizen advocate to make sure that everyone feels safe in their home and community,” said Selectman Brian Bezanson. “I take this very seriously and you should, too.”

He said he had the sense that Barden was trying to push the responsibility off on others.

“You have to be in complete control of them 100-percent of the time,” said Bezanson, who also owns rescue dogs.

During the hearing, chaired by Assistant Town Administrator Lisa Green, the board heard testimony by the Learys, three of their neighbors, Barden and Kenney.

“There have been reports of some aggressive behavior,” Green said in introducing the case to Selectmen. “The dogs have been allowed to leave the home unleashed, [the smaller dog has] been reported to have bitten two children unprovoked,” Greed said. “A second dog has been referred to [as] biting another resident. All of these have happened off the dog owners properties and on other folks’ properties.”

She said the hearing was the result of a formal request by the Learys.

Neighbor Bob Wilhelm of 65 Forest St., said the dog issue has just occurred within the last year.

“The dog exhibits dangerous anti-social behavior,” Wilhelm said indicating the larger dog. “It seems to be fine with the owner, but as soon as someone that the dog doesn’t know or recognize [comes near] it tenses up and starts barking and growling and pulling very strongly on its lead. She jerks it and gets it back under control and continues on her way.”

He said it has happened several times this year.

Leslie Leary said her request for the hearing was prompted by an incident on July 3 when Barden’s Coton de Tulear got lose while being walked past her home and bit her 4-year-old son, who was out playing in his yard. The dog’s bite ripped the boy’s shorts and left a bruise with teeth marks on his thigh.

Barden had left the scene by the time Animal Control Officer Laura Howe arrived and, while they were talking with police, Leslie Leary said she saw the bigger dog pick the smaller dog up by the neck and drop it to the ground. Later in the hearing, Barden said that the larger dog has never attacked the smaller dog.

“The smaller dog has always been an issue,” Leslie Leary said. “We’ve had multiple calls to Laura Howe in regard to this dog not being on a leash.”

Leslie Leary also expressed concerns about the safety of children walking to the Conley Elementary School, which is also on Forest Street, as well as for the little dog’s safety as it dashes across the street at people.

“Up until tonight the ‘German shepherd’ is still not licensed,” she said, alleging that the smaller dog was not licensed until a month after it bit her son.

“The dogs’ behavior is a concern, and the owners’ callousness with just us, or the law in general, and responsible dog ownership is just as concerning,” she said.

Her husband Michael Leary said the calls to the town began after they tried to work things out with Barden two or three years ago concerning the smaller dog.

He said he has heard a report that Scarlet (the larger dog) has bitten someone, but could personally attest that Andy (the smaller dog) has bitten both him and his son and has seen bicyclists and joggers get attacked by it.

“There was no apology,” he said. “It was like it was our fault. … She needs to be held accountable. We can’t do it. It doesn’t seem like the ACO was able to do it, so that’s why we’re here today.”

Kenney said he was not present at any of the incidents but had been inside the house regarding a quarantine on the larger dog in 2017.

“The dog did lunge at me twice inside the house,” he said, noting he understood the dog was reacting to him as if he was an intruder. “My concern is that both dogs have been, in multiple cases, involved in issues.” He also expressed concern about the dogs’ proximity to the Conley School, and recommended “some kind of restrictions on the dogs to ensure proper containment” to keep the public safe.

“We do have documentation for three [post-bite] quarantines for the two dogs,” Green said, two for the Coton de Tulear and one for the larger dog.

She said MGL Chapter 140 Sec. 157 defines a dangerous dog as one that attacks without provocation, causing injury.

“We have that, unfortunately,” she said.

Barden maintained she has never lost control of Scarlet — the larger dog — and that the bite incident was actually a case of the dog jumping up and scratching a boy on the arm. She said she spoke to the boy’s family, who was very apologetic and embarrassed about the complaint.

Kenney had told her at the time that they have to treat a scratch like a bite.

“Yes, she’s hard to handle, but I do handle her,” Barden said, noting she has so far spent about $7,000 on fencing her backyard and for obedience training, first at Five Rings in Hanson and lately at Positive Dog in Boston after Scarlet had escaped from Five Rings and was lost in the area for about 24 hours. Described by Leslie Leary as fear aggressive, Scarlet instead ran from people who were trying to help find her because she was scared.

One of the Positive Dog trainers is a consultant for the Boston Police.

“Scarlet has done exceedingly well there,” she said. “She’s a top performer in class.”

Barden said her trainer did not recommend muzzling Scarlet, but favored a pronged collar as a more effective training tool. She uses the collar, as well as avoidance training when out on walks to correct the dog’s behavior.

Budget issues

Town Administrator Frank Lynam reviewed for Selectmen the meeting held last week with members of Hanson’s Board of Selectmen and interim Town Administrator Meredith Marini as well as the Wednesday, Nov. 13 School Committee meeting.

“It is the School Committee’s responsibility to choose which method they would use to assess,” Selectmen Chairman Dr. Carl Kowalski said.

“It can be,” Lynam said.

“It can be a two-step process through which the town also does it,” said Selectman Randy LaMattina. “As of now, there are a lot of variables to it.”

He said any concession or movement off Whitman’s position that the statutory assessment is the only acceptable option for the town, must take Hanson’s position into account.

“You don’t need to slam a door in someone’s face,” LaMattina said. “It’s always better to have it open and have some dialog and see where that goes.”

Lynam also said the town is trying to put a budget together, which is difficult without an assessment figure. The board also selected LaMattina and Kowalski to remain in the Regional Assessment Committee.

“The schools need to understand, that if we had to impose a budget today, we would probably be talking about a level-funded budget,” he said. “There’s a lot at stake here and we really need to get an understanding from W-H as to how we get to a point where the year after year budget is sustainable.”

Kowalski said he found the magnifying the need for a discussion on a simple frustrating. A complex issue, he said, is ensuring the schools get enough funding to do the job they need to do.

“Figuring out whether or not Hanson pays this share or who pays that share of a limited amount of money is not the end at all, it’s the very beginning,” he said.

Lynam urged that an external audit of the school district, similar to the one Whitman hired consultant John Madden to perform for Whitman.

“The value of that audit is opening eyes,” he said. “I think we should consider a similar process for W-H.”

LaMattina said Madden’s draft audit report was presented to the Budget Override Evaluation Committee Monday and a final draft will be sent to Lynam Thursday for distribution to the committee and posting.

“We’re experiencing minimal state aid increases over the last five years averaging about 2.9 percent,” he said. “However our assessment increases over the last five years are increasing 3.12 percent.” The town is about $1.5 million short in the operating budget. Sustainability of the town’s budget is also a concern.

The five-year average on the operating budget is 4.86 percent. Madden said the town is estimating local receipts a little too closely.

“If things are a little off, we could be in trouble,” LaMattina said, noting Madden recommended not using one-time revenue to keep everyone whole. “We knew we were doing that. It’s caught up at this point.”

Hanson honors its veterans

By

HANSON —  As the community’s veterans assembled for an annual breakfast in salute to their service Thursday, Nov. 7, one table remained unoccupied.

For the first time, The Empty Table salute to missing in action and POWs, was included in the Veterans Day Breakfast program, catered by the Old Hitching Post, at the Hanson Senior Center.

An empty chair awaiting the return of the lost or fallen at a round table, symbolizing everlasting concern survivors have for the missing, was covered in a white tablecloth for the pure intention of service to country. A single red rose, representing blood shed in war and an inverted glass for the fact that the missing and fallen who cannot partake of the meal were placed on the table.

The plate contained a slice of lemon for the bitter taste of missing loved ones and salt for the tears shed by waiting families. A bible represented faith to sustain the lost.

A special guest, Vietnam veteran William “Bill” Hooker was asked to light the candle by Veterans Agent Timothy White, who placed his Coast Guard dress cap on the table in honor of the recently repatriated remains of a Coast Guardsman who died as a prisoner of the Japanese during WWII.

“The table is reserved to honor our missing comrades and bothers in arms and shipmates … who left behind loved ones — mothers, husbands, wives, children — families who might never know how or where their loved ones made the supreme sacrifice,” White said.

Nearly 87,000 Americans from all branches of the armed services remain unaccounted for during wars over the last 100 years.

Lt. Thomas J. Crotty was repatriated for burial in Buffalo, N.Y., on Saturday, Nov. 2. The Coast Guardsman had been an explosives expert send to work in the Philippines to help set up a minefield in Manila Bay before the outbreak of WWII. When U.S. forces surrendered after the Empire of Japan attacked the Philippines and Americans ran out of ammunition. Crotty was the first Coast Guardsman to be taken prisoner of war since the War of 1812, and died of diphtheria in 1942, because there was no medicine with which to treat him. He was buried in a mass grave outside the prison camp along with nearly 3,000 other Americans.

At some point, the Americans’ remains were moved to an American cemetery in Manila.

Lt. Crotty had been awarded the Philippines Medal of Honor and about 10 years ago family members began searching for him with a DNA sample, eventually finding a match.

Those attending the Hanson breakfast observed a moment of silence for Crotty and all other still-missing servicemen.

Hooker is a member and vice president of the Jarheads Motorcycle Club, which lost seven members in a horrific crash on a New Hampshire highway June 21.

White passed the condolences of Hanson and its veterans to the Marine veteran before Hooker was asked to say a few words and light the candle on the Empty Table.

“I’m really not a public speaker,” Hooker said. “I just really wanted to let you know what we do and what we stand for.”

He said the motorcycle club is a nonprofit that raises funds to support veterans.

“We’re the good guys,” he said, noting the driver charged in the crash has been indicted on more than 23 counts. “It was a horrific day and I escaped … I happened to make it through it for some reason. I don’t know why.”

He said the club has retained lawyers from New York who are working to “make everybody whole.”

The ceremony was a departure from previous years, when certificates of service were handed out to veterans, White said, noting he opted to include veterans in the program instead.

“Many of you in this room have had incredible life experiences and are truly heroes, but quietly go about living your life,” White said. “You receive little fanfare. Events in history, which you have lived through and participated in — things that you have experienced, that your family may not even know about — in my role as Veterans Service officer … it is truly eye-opening to know so many incredible people and their personal stories.

“And they live right here in a small town, just going about living their daily life, trying to live the American experience,” White said.

American Legion Historian Larry Mills opened the program by leading the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a prayer offered by Air Force veteran the Rev. Michael Hobson of the St. Joseph the Worker Church.

Navy veteran Ernest Jutras was then asked to read Gov. Charlie Baker’s Veterans Day proclamation. Jutras also accepted a Commonwealth flag on behalf of the Senior Center from state Rep. Josh Cutler, D-Duxbury.

“Days like this are important to recognize the sacrifices that our veterans have made, but it’s also important to back up those symbols with actual programs and support,” Cutler said stressing that he, state Sen. Mike Brady, D-Brockton, and White are there to help.

White read “Old Glory,” a first-person literary “autobiography” of the American flag.

“I have been a silent witness to all of America’s finest hours, but my finest hour comes when I’m torn into strips to be used as bandages for my wounded comrades on the field of battle, when I fly half-staff to honor my soldiers and when I lie in the trembling arms of a grieving mother at the gravesite of her fallen son or daughter,” White read.

The Senior Center’s chorus, the Swinging Singers rounded out the program with a performance of patriotic songs.

Whitman calls special Town Meeting

By

WHITMAN — On Monday, Dec. 2, five days after consuming that Thanksgiving turkey and all the trimmings, Whitman voters will be asked to attend a brief special Town Meeting seen as vital to the town. The Town Meeting would start at 7:30 p.m., in Town Hall Auditorium.

Among the items on the four-article warrant is funding toward repairs to the town’s wastewater system — and a quorum of 150 registered voters is vital for that business to be addressed, according to Town Administrator Frank Lynam.

The Board of Selectmen, in an unusual afternoon meeting followed by an equally unusual Tuesday meeting of the School Committee [see related story], voted 4-0 to approve date and warrant for the Town Meeting. Selectmen Chairman Dr. Carl Kowalski was not present.

“The DPW is in need of an appropriation to begin the work to replace the sewer force main,” Lynam said. “I know it’s difficult, sometimes, to have special Town Meetings at this time of year and I’ve asked that we do this early in order to have the maximum amount of time to promote this meeting because our ability to continue to use our sanitary system, is dependent on that force main — and it is failing. We’re at a critical point, now.”

That work is being addressed under article four on the warrant — which seeks $900,000, of which $121,676.23 is to pay for a retro-assessment for sewer service in 2016. Another $88,083.70 is for fiscal 2017. Both are due to Whitman’s negotiation of a successor contract with Brockton since July 1, 2015.

“We have finally reached a point where we believe we are in agreement,” Lynam said. “We won’t know that until we see final document language.”

Whitman has not been billed for fiscal 2018 yet.

“Those items, along with the cost of designing and building a force main will be somewhere near $900,000,” Lynam said. By appropriating that amount, he said the town should have sufficient funds to do the work and any left-over funds will be returned to the sewer enterprise account.

The first article is to transfer $4,500 from Norfolk County Aggie to pay a prior year bill to Collins Engineering, who helped the town with the repair evaluation of Hobart’s Dam.

Article two would transfer $37,918 from both Norfolk County and the law account “because we would really like to pay the [police] chief we just hired for the whole year,” Lynam said.

Article three is a transfer up to $7,209 — perhaps less would be needed, but that is not clear at this point — to cover for the Animal Control Officer, who has been out on workmen’s compensation.

“Even though there are only four articles, those four articles are very important,” said Vice Chairman Dan Salvucci.

Selectman Justin Evans said he had an issue with taking funds from the law account for part of article two.

Lynam said those were the funds most likely to be available, as the town does not have additional levy space. Any resulting shortfall in the law account would have to be addressed in the May special Town Meeting, he noted.

“Frankly, I didn’t want to use free cash,” he said.

Lynam said he has been meeting with the assessor and they have determined that this year’s excess levy has “dropped dramatically.”

It is now $3,982.

He said the information would likely give the town an appropriation levy of $27,241,000 and a tax rate of $15.86, figures to be clarified at the tax classification hearing on Tuesday, Nov. 19.

Finding new roads towards healing

By

HALIFAX — Local writer and holistic healer Isabella Rose has a lot on her plate these days, as she works to help people gain connections to the region’s past as well as with healing in the midst of the opioid crisis.

The inspirational book contributor is not only continuing her education in holistic healing, she is also serving as an ambassador for the Plymouth 400 celebration next year.

“They’re such a wonderful organization,” she said of the Plymouth 400 organization. The ambassador program involves a course at Curry College to help visitors gain the best possible experience from the year-long celebration.

She has also become an advocate for overdose awareness since her partner’s death, joining the Moms and Dads of Team Sharing, a support group for parents who have lost children to overdoses, Plymouth County Outreach and East Bridgewater Hope — and she continues writing, with two new books coming out this year that feature her work.

“It’s unfortunate that his relapse cost him his life and his future,” Rose said of her loss. “But I firmly believe there’s a blessing in everything. Sometimes we have to look a little harder for it.”

She had not known her late partner during his addiction to heroin, and did not realize, at the time, how much a part of his recovery she had been before his relapse following a serious car accident.

The MDTS has supported Mass. Attorney General Maura Healy in her case against Perdue Pharma and the Sackler family.

“There is hope,” she said of the work the three groups are doing to combat opioid abuse. “I want to help everybody heal and live life to their fullest potential.”

Rose has since earned a bachelor’s degree in holistic health science and is pursuing a master’s degree in natural medicine with an eye toward pursuing a doctorate in opioid recovery.

She has contributed to another in the “365” book series — similar in format to the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” series — which includes the work of devotional writers. Her latest participation is in “365 Soulful Messages,” as well as with the upcoming “Calling Earth Angels and Healers.”

“Soulful Messages” is the fifth, and final, volume in the best-selling “365” inspirational series. A reader of that series, who had attended one of Rose’s workshops recommended her to “Earth Angels” co-author Geri Magee, Ph.D., who invited her to “write about my journey as an earth angel and healer.”

She said she was aware of her gift as a child, but as she grew older she “started to forget who I was” through life experiences.

“I’m just rediscovering who I am, and I share [in the book] about the car accident and the divine intervention,” she said.

Rose’s car accident in December 2017, which caused a collapsed aorta that was not immediately diagnosed, was one of the transformative events in her life, which have helped her follow her urge to write.

Her partner had saved her life in the crash, Rose said.

“It’s by the grace of God and the bravery of my late significant other, who physically saved me from the car that day, that I’m here,” she said. Two months later, he had died from an unrelated incident and her world “Completely came crashing down around me.”

She wrote about him in one of her essays.

“There is not a day that goes by that I don’t thank him for loving me and loving me enough to want to risk his life to get me out of that vehicle,” she says now. “He’ll always be a part of me and my story.”

Her work has been featured in three devotional books from Goodness Abounds, an independent publishing house based in Oregon publishes collaborative books focused on the soul and life-changing moments.  She also writes with the Women Unleashed program online and teaches warrior goddess training workshops geared toward women’s empowerment, although some men attend, and focuses on self-care.

Rose is holding a book signing from noon to 2 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 15 at Storybook Cove’s new location, behind Delaney’s Columbia Car Care Center on Washington Street in Hanover as the Hanover Mall closes it’s current facility. And another with two other “Soulful Moments” contributors at Tatnuck Bookseller in Westborough Dec. 8.

She also will cohost on the Angelic Realms Radio Show [mariagmaas.com/angelicrealmsradio] and the podcast series How to Connect with Angels [theglitchmovie.com/about-our-podcast].