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Whitman man injured in pedestrian accident

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Whitman man injured in second pedestrian accident in single day

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Whitman teen struck crossing street to bus

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

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

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

Whitman teen struck crossing street to bus

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

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

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

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

He was driving her home following the accident.

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

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

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

Hanson family displaced by fire

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Hanson family displaced by fire

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

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

Hanson family displaced by fire

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

He heard the smoke detectors and went downstairs.

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

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

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

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

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

The family was planning on staying with relatives.

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

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

Community raises money for food pantries

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Community raises money for food pantries at the 43rd annual K of C Thanksgiving dinner

Whitman and Hanson residents, from school children to adults, have dug deep to donate food and funds — and then rolled up their sleeves to give of their time — in sharing the community’s seasonal bounty with neighbors in need.

Community raises money for food pantries

FEAST OF FELLOWSHIP: Panthers John Will and Mickey Martell help School Committee Chairman, and Knights of Columbus member, Bob Hayes serve at the 43rd annual K of C Thanksgiving dinner Saturday, Nov. 21. Auxiliary Police Officer John Cannizzo helps dish out ice cream for sundaes as officer Tara O’Hearn stands by with the chocolate syrup. CLICK HERE to view more photos from the event. Photo by Tracy Seelye.

National Honor Society President Cooper Leonard and Student Government President Erika Badger awarded $4,000 raised through donations solicited from local businesses and sponsored walkers during the annual Miles for Meals fundraising walk on Oct 24 to representatives of each food pantry.

Leo Hurley accepted the $2,000 donation on behalf of the Whitman Food Pantry and Linda Gelinas did so for the Hanson Food Pantry’s $2,000 donation during the Wednesday, Nov. 18 School Committee meeting.

“This just shows you what the excellence of a good student body can do to help people in the town they live in,” School Committee Chairman Robert Hayes said. “I couldn’t be any more proud of our students in the Whitman-Hanson Regional School District.”

He also thanked the pantry officials for doing what they do for the community. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ruth Gilbert-Whitner also thanked NHS Advisor Ellen Galambos, in her first year in that role, for her work with the students on the project.

“The students of the Whitman schools do a terrific job,” Hurley said, noting the annual Conley School Thanksgiving basket project and fundraising at Whitman Middle School. “There are a lot of things going on at the schools that I’m very happy about and I thank the students as well as the parents and faculty.”

Hanson students, particularly through the Builders Club at Hanson Middle School, also actively support their community’s food pantry. Scout troops in both towns have also actively supported the pantries — including a recent donation of nearly 4,000 pounds of food collected by the Whitman Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts during a drive to aid the Whitman Food Pantry.

This year’s Conley School Thanksgiving basket assembly was held Friday, Nov. 20 with students donating 26 baskets containing all the fixings for a Thanksgiving dinner for families in need. AEW Capital Management LP matched the basket donation of $1,500 to the Whitman Food Pantry, which adds the turkey to the student’s baskets.

Conley students also donated $480 to the animal control officer to feed animals at the pound in Whitman, accepted by Assistant Animal Control Officer Josh Kimball — a Conley School alumnus.

The next day, Saturday, Nov. 21, 14 members of the W-H Panthers football team, along with 14 auxiliary officers of the Whitman Police Department, took part in their annual tradition of serving turkey dinners to seniors at the 43rd annual Knights of Columbus Thanksgiving meal at the K of C hall on Bedford Street.

Auxiliary officer Christopher Powers said it was and opportunity to give back to the community in which the officers wanted to take part, and “back to the future” time for him, as he volunteered to serve as a teenager. He recalled that the seniors were always glad to see them and to ask about their families and future plans.

Senior Center Director Barbara Garvey thanked the K of C and its small army of volunteers on behalf of the diners.

“Every year, I continue to be amazed at how this massive undertaking comes off seemingly without a hitch,” she said. “The Knights of Columbus organization has always been very generous and a good friend to this community and, in particular, our seniors.”

Hanson Fire Department open house

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Hanson Fire Department’s open house treats kids to some hands-on adventure with the focus on ‘Safety First’

HANSON — The Hanson fire department’s open house was held on Sunday, Oct. 4 in conjunction with fire safety month.

The sun made an appearance allowing dozens of families a fall outing and plenty of time to try out the equipment, tools and turnout gear of their hometown fire house.

Firefighter Charley Barends, public education coordinator for the SAFE program organized the event, which offered children’s activities including putting out a “fire” with the real hoses that firefighters use.

Children lined up to spray the hoses and others jumped in the puddles from the runoff.

Easing fears

Hanson Fire Department Open House

ROOM TO GROW: Tiffany Pryor helps her daughter Savannah, 2, try on the jacket in the dress up area as her son Logan, 3, wears full turnout gear during the Hanson Fire Department’s annual open house Sunday. See more photos, pages 10,11. Photo by Stephanie Spyropoulos.

Barends, a father of 5-year-old twins said the SAFE program in the schools allows the younger children to familiarize themselves with their local firefighters so if they ever had to call 911 they will recognize the firefighters who are there to help.

He also is present during school fire drills and some of the topics they will be discussing are: fire safety, stop-drop-and-roll, family meeting places and exit plans in case of emergency and when to dial 911.

In the upcoming weeks posters, which decorated the walls of the fire station will be judged by Chief Jerry Thompson and the student winners will receive a gift.

With cotton candy and popcorn as well as a bouncy house and coloring table there was plenty to do both indoors and out. Free pizza was also provided by Papa Gino’s.

View pictures from the event on the Whitman-Hanson Express Facebook page.