For a decade and a half Tracy Seelye has been at the wheel of the Whitman-Hanson Express, as it meandered through the backyards and town halls of Whitman and Hanson. She has done a great job, and we have received many, many fan letters penned on the return slip to renew your subscriptions, or in a greeting card thoughtfully sent to wish us well in trying circumstances. It has been a pleasure to work with Tracy, and she has taught me so much that I truly don’t know where to begin.
Tracy’s passion for Mayor Pete’s politics is well-known and many weekends she went north to New Hampshire to knock on doors for Pete, to stalk coffee diners and breakfast places, to let people know that Pete Buttigieg was one of the good guys and a politician who could be trusted. Monday mornings after a weekend on the road could be a little rough…
Before Parkinson’s began to make its effects known, this was somethiing Tracy might not have done, but she didn’t want to waste her chance to be a part of that political scene and let her passion for Mayor Pete’s politics rule.
Never, in our wildest dreams, did we think we would be publishing a newspaper during a worldwide pandemic! That morning when I heard the prediction that the virus was just flexing its muscles and was winding up to pack a wicked punch, it certainly scared me to death. I emailed everyone to stop what they were doing and pack up their computers and anything else they needed to do their jobs and go home – where it was safe. I foolishly thought that if we all just stayed home for two or three weeks, it would be over. Five years later, it still isn’t over. But, like the virus, we’ve learned to adapt.
I don’t think I’ll ever adapt to the Express without Tracy calling me to let me know about something. Her breadth of knowledge never ceases to amaze me. And I hope she won’t mind if I use that privilege of calling on her from time to time to answer questions as they arise.
The one thing that makes it almost bearable is that she has promised to contribute stories to the Express from time to time so we won’t miss her too much.
Tracy’s wit is renowned. Her grasp of situations is uncanny, and she writes about it so we all can understand what’s happening. Those are very big shoes to fill. She does have big feet, but the shoes are enormous. We’ll do our best, and hope that you won’t judge us too harshly.
If you’ve enjoyed your Whitman-Hanson Express subscription, please drop a note to Tracy and let her know. We all like to feel like somebody out there likes us! She has been a special person to many of our readers and has certainly been a special person to me. Tracy Seelye, Express Newspapers, PO Box 60, Hanson, MA 02341.
Thank you, Tracy Seelye! It’s been a wild and wonderful ride with you at the wheel!

— Deb Anderson, Publisher

HANSON – The library building project’s design selection procedures were approved, 4-1 at the Select Board’s meeting on Tuesday, June 24. Select Board member Joe Weeks was absent.
“The library is moving into the second phase of their grant,” Town Administrator Lisa Green said in recommending adoption of the procedures, which are also used by the state in guiding building project design procurement, she noted..
“[The Library Building Committee] had secured and hired a project manager and they’re now moving into the design selection process.”
The model design procedures for municipalities outlines that schedule and how that needs to be followed for designer services. As the approving body, the Select Board may delegate any person qualified to conduct a request for qualifications to do that, according to Green.
“It outlines the advertising requirement,” she said. It outlines basically what the rating would be for each bid submission. It outlines that, if the fee is going to be set, that fee has to be noted in the advertisement and the documents for the RFQ. If it’s going to be negotiated, then it needs to state that … or that the fee cannot exceed a certain amount, it outlines that information.”
The procedure also allows a designer to conduct a feasibility study to assign projects.
“It expands on the scope of work of the designer,” Green said. “If they feel a feasibility study is needed, it allows them to do that.”
Select Board Chair Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett asked if Greed had reviewed the provisions of the process and if she was comfortable with it.
“I am comfortable with it, yes,” Green said.
“May I ask you another question,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “It seems to me that this has been broadly constructed, so that it would apply to more than just the library, because it does not specify that it only applies to the library.”
“No, it does not apply to only a library,” Green replied. “There is a form – a standard designer application form – for municipalities and public agencies. This can basically be used by any municipality or public agency for a building type of project.”
FitzGerald-Kemmett asked if it could be used, “for instance, it we were to pursue the highway building…”
“We would follow the same procedure, yes,” Green said.
“A lot of this seems very common-sense to me,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “It’s making sure there’s no conflicts, making sure you’ve got three finalists.”
Select Board member Ed Heal asked if Green’s recommendation followed state procedures verbatim and Green said that was exactly the case.
FitzGerald-Kemmett said the town may have followed it in the past, but it was never adopted as a formal policy.
“You know how I feel about following what the state wants us to do,” said Vice Chair Ann Rein.
“I know, you love it,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said with a laugh. “You love it and you cherish it.”
The board’s vote to adopt the procedure was unanimous.

BOSTON — Registration is open for the 2025 Jimmy Fund Walk presented by Hyundai. Scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 5, funds raised from the Jimmy Fund Walk support all forms of adult and pediatric care and research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The Jimmy Fund Walk will aim to raise $9.5 million this year in the effort to prevent, treat, and defy cancer.
Whether participating for themselves, family, neighbors, or friends, each walker shares a common purpose: to support breakthroughs that benefit cancer patients around the world.
The Jimmy Fund Walk is the only organized walk permitted to use the famed Boston Marathon® course, and participants have the flexibility to choose from four distance options: 

• 5K walk: Starting at Dana-Farber’s Longwood Medical Campus
• 10K walk: Starting in Newton
• Half Marathon walk: Starting in Wellesley
• Marathon walk: Starting in Hopkinton
  All along the route, walkers will be motivated by poster-sized photographs of patients—Jimmy Fund Walk Heroes—that are the heart of the event and appear along the course as inspiration. Walkers will also be treated to refueling stations with refreshments throughout the course.
  The event will conclude at the Jimmy Fund Walk Finish Line at Boston Common, by the corner of Charles and Beacon Streets. Finish line activities will include a celebration with food, entertainment, and more. Walkers who prefer to participate virtually can complete their chosen distance from any location
  Register as an individual walker, team member, or start a team. Take advantage of this unique opportunity and bring a group of your family, friends, or colleagues together against cancer.  To register for the Walk (#JimmyFundWalk) or to support a walker, visit www.JimmyFundWalk.org or call 866-531-9255. Registrants can enter the promo code NEWS for $5 off the registration fee. All registered walkers will receive a bib, medal, and a Jimmy Fund Walk T-shirt. You can also sign up to volunteer on Walk Day.
   
  About the Jimmy Fund
  The Jimmy Fund, established in Boston in 1948, is comprised of community-based fundraising events and other programs that, solely and directly, benefit Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s lifesaving mission to provide compassionate patient care and groundbreaking cancer research for children and adults. The Jimmy Fund is an official charity of the Boston Red Sox, the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, the Pan-Mass Challenge, and the Variety Children’s Charity of New England. Since 1948, the generosity of millions of people has helped Dana-Farber save countless lives and reduce the burden of cancer for patients and families worldwide. Follow the Jimmy Fund on Facebook, X, and Instagram: @TheJimmyFund.
  About Dana-Farber Cancer Institute 
  Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is one of the world’s leading centers of cancer research and treatment. Dana-Farber’s mission is to reduce the burden of cancer through scientific inquiry, clinical care, education, community engagement, and advocacy. Dana-Farber is a federally designated Comprehensive Cancer Center and a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School.  
  Dana-Farber provides the latest treatments in cancer for adults through Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center and for children through Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center. Dana-Farber is the only hospital nationwide with a top 5 U.S. News & World Report Best Cancer Hospital ranking in both adult and pediatric care. 

By Rosemary Hill
Special to the Express
WHITMAN — A lifelong resident of Whitman, Susan Pimental is more than an artist — she’s a storyteller, a neighbor, and a keeper of the
town’s shared memory.
Her roots in Whitman run deep. Her Uncle Tom Harding’s old factory
still stands on Pond Street, and her father Tom Pimental’s popcorn
cart lives on in the joyful memories of baseball games and summer
gatherings.
But Susan’s love for her hometown isn’t rooted in nostalgia. It’s
grounded in compassion and an honest embrace of community complexity. She understands that a true community is made up of many kinds of people — from different backgrounds, with different abilities and means. Listening to her speak about her friends, neighbors, and family reveals someone who uplifts others without ignoring life’s challenges. She doesn’t wear rose-colored glasses — she sees clearly, but chooses kindness.
Her art reflects that spirit. Susan creates what’s known as “ready made” art — a style pioneered by artists like Marcel Duchamp, Pablo Picasso, Robert Rauschenberg, Joseph Kosuth, and others. To that list, Susan humbly adds her own name. Her work is a blend of joy, struggle, history, and deep human connection.
When asked about her birthday, she laughs and says she’s turning “80-ish.” Like many women of her generation, Susan didn’t have many formal opportunities to express her creativity — but she found ways. She recalls arranging flowers at a local greenhouse, inspired by an aunt who once worked at the famed Toll House Restaurant. She also made toys and gifts for loved ones, turning everyday materials into acts of imagination and care.
One story she shares is especially moving. As a child, she made toys with her uncle, a kind and creative man who was also a veteran living with PTSD. Tragically, he died from its effects — a familiar sorrow for many families. But Susan remembers their connection with warmth: “He was a good man. We made toys together just that very day.” Like much of her art, this memory holds space for both truth and tenderness. Susan’s artwork is intricate and distinctive. She assembles carefully chosen objects — buttons, shells, figurines, scraps of pottery — that, at first glance, seem unrelated. But when brought together, they become something new. One sculpture features a piece of Wedgwood pottery. When asked why, she simply says, “Of course.” There’s no question of whether it belongs — it does, because everything belongs in its own way.
In another piece, she highlights a chipped Hummel figurine. “It’s still a Hummel,” she says with a smile. Her uncle’s memory lingers there, too: a soldier, a good man — not defined by damage, but by who he was.
Like many families in Whitman, Susan’s parents made do with what they had. Her mother worked at the Regal Shoe Factory as a stitcher, often bringing work home. Susan remembers watching her mother use heavy leather stamps to cut out pieces for the next day’s sewing. Even as a child, Susan saw the parts behind the whole — a sensibility that now informs her art.
Her father’s popcorn cart — once just boards and wheels and a vision of more — lives on in spirit, much like Susan’s work.
Many residents have seen Susan’s larger pieces over the years — colorful birdbaths and whimsical lawn sculptures adorning local yards. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, Susan turned to crafting smaller, more intimate works from found materials: shells, plastic flowers, buttons, bits of ribbon. What began as a personal outlet is now something she wants to share with others, especially children and families.
One of these sculptures — gifted to this reporter’s family — features a painted conch shell, googly eyes, and bits of gold. Affectionately named “Shelly,” she now lives on our bookshelf as a symbol of joy and creativity. Susan teaches us that art doesn’t require perfection or wealth — just care, imagination, and a willingness to see what’s possible.While her larger sculptures remain available by commission, Susan hopes to share her smaller pieces more broadly with the community. Each one is a lesson in resilience, creativity, and joy.
Fittingly, Susan celebrated her “80-ish” birthday on June 14, the same day as Whitman Day, which also marked the beginning of the town’s 150th anniversary celebration. She joined in Whitman Day festivities in the Park, where she and her family had a table despite the rain as she gave away her whimsical sculptures as gifts to the children of Whitman. Through her art, her stories, and her generosity, Susan Pimental reminds us that community isn’t just a place — it’s something we build, together, with love, creativity, and care.

HANSON – The Select Board on Tuesday, June 24 approved renewal of the contract with Whitman-Hanson Cable Access, while taking the opportunity to express a couple points of general dissatisfaction with its cable provider corporation Comcast.

“Let’s be real,” said Chair Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett on the subject of the paltry discount offered to the community’s elder residents.

“You’ve got to practically cut of your left arm, give a pint of blood and show all kinds of documentation to get two bucks a month off of your cable bill?” she said.

“This is less than worthless,” said Select Board member Ed Heal, “If I knew Xfinity was my only option when I moved to Hanson, I wouldn’t have moved to Hanson.”

He said he has cable outages almost daily and he works from home.

“There are meetings that I’m supposed to be attending from home that I’m disconnected from because Xfinity is my only option.”

He does not have Xfinity cable because it is to big an expense, so he has just the basic cable, which is supposed to be the best Comcast can do – spending hundreds of hours on the phone with Comcast for my cable service, and it continues to go out.

While he completely supports WHCA, he has no use for Comcast.

Heal’s experience is not isolated, other Board members attested, so Solomon offered to have Comcast Government Affairs Representative Kathy Maloney reach out about the possibility of meeting with the board on other issues.

“A lot of companies don’t give a senior discount,” said Attorney William Solomon, special cable counsel working with the town on its third licensing agreement over the past 20 years, reviewed the new contact and answered questions ahead of the board’s vote. “It’s totally voluntary. We can’t require them. They provide a discount.”

He ticked off the names of some cable companies that do not, which includes Verizon, and Charter.

“It doesn’t mean much,” Solomon said of the Comcast senior discount.

“No, it doesn’t,” said Vice Chair Ann Rein. “It’s $2. It’s rather insulting. It’s one reason why a lot of us cut that cord. Mine’s cut and it’s been cut for three years.”

But Solomon did say that if the Board voted to have Town Administrator Lisa Green, with town counsel, draft a letter to Comcast asking for a “really meaningful” payment break for seniors.

He said the way he views it, a senior discount is voluntary, and they do give something, albeit not much, “but the rest of the contract is so valuable to the town,” but the company may just be in a mental rut, and they don’t want to open a Pandora’s box.

Select Board member David George asked if Comcast offered a veterans’ discount, saying that Verizon does offer one. Comcast does a range of discounts for the military, including mobile service plans, NOW TV and Diamond member status, the highest tier available.

“That’s why I don’t have Comcast,” he said, referring to the veterans’ benefits issue.

FitzGerald-Kemmett said, all criticism aside, Solomon represented Hanson and what they are or might be getting in the contract process.

In the letter, Solomon said, he would, in a fair way, thank them for what they did do – something they don’t normally say or do – approach them on the negotiated point that, in six years, they do those things elsewhere, they’ll come to Hanson, and it can be discussed.

“Without that letter, they might just do more channels,” he said.

Other than that, Solomon said he would not defend Comcast on that point, but to be fair to the company, the new license has tremendous value that was negotiated fairly with the town of Hanson.

Solomon said the real value of the contract that is financially worth millions, is that it is good for the local economy and helps people work together.

“I always say, ‘Show me a town that doesn’t have any community television, and I’ll show you a town, where people just don’t work together.”

Rein agreed that community television is very valuable.

“That’s what we’re fighting for,” she said, “But he senior discount? That’s a virtue signal that just doesn’t signal.”

He said the new 10-year license is to Hanson’s benefit as it is the maximum length for a cable license allowed in Massachusetts, likening the benefit to a “good, long-term mortgage, you sign up for it.”

It provides the town with some certainty over 10-year period, according to Solomon.

“We have good news of completion of the Comcast cable license,” he said. “Let me just say, it’s an outstanding license. The key issues in these licenses now are PE&G and capital dollars. You’re in 4.75 percent of the company’s gross revenues – just short of the 5 percent, which actually has some benefits.”

Hanson has been at that level of revenue for the last eight years, according to Solomon, who added that’s where most of the funding comes.

Revenue is not just cable fees, its advertising, sales on Home Shopping Network, whatever comes into them, with rare exception, under the license, is revenue, of which the town gets 4.75 percent for its portion of the WHCA operating costs.

“That makes if simpler,” Solomon said. “It also prevents gamesmanship at Comcast. … Capital support, as I said, is really outstanding, and it reflects the work of Maloney. She’s known the towns, and Hanson, and working with Lisa has made a big difference at the negotiating table. We were able to get an excellent dollar number.
That is a fixed number, while he said Comcast has been taking the position elsewhere for the past five months that it doesn’t want to pay a fixed capital amount, and would rather pay on a per-subscriber basis that would lead to uncertainty and risk.

“We were able to convince Ms. Maloney and – more importantly – she’s been able to convince the folks she works with, that Hanson’s license should mirror the Whitman license,” he said.

That capital payment is $212,800 over 10 years – $21,280 per year – a credit to WHCA Executive Director Eric Dresser and his ability to sell his 10-year creative vision of making sure they have the proper equipment.

“And what’s great about WHCA-TV, is that it’s not only the equipment, it’s the output,” Solomon said. “It’s the programming on all of PG&E and the programming and the product.”

“Hanson, like Whitman, has done a tremendous job with respect to community television,” Solomon said. “As you know, PE&G – public, educational and government – access has never been more important, since COVID with remote meetings, they say democracy would have ended [without it].” That tremendous job has continued in Hanson with respect to the Select Board and other committees being able to get their message out and remain visible to residents, he noted

Much of that is credited to two excellent directors at WHCA – current Executive Director Eric Dresser – “No one’s better in the state.” Solomon said – and the late Steve Roy before him.

“As we know, cable revenues are challenged, nowadays, with some people cutting the cord and going to streaming and we don’t currently share that revenue, “Solomon said, adding that, “Cable still has a great program and, frankly, there’s not a better cable company than Comcast. I know that from working with all the companies, even though they’re on the other side of the table from me.”

WHCA currently has three standard access channels and, going forward, will have those three channels upgraded to SDI – or serial digital interface – that is a better-quality picture and better audio and, in addition, Comcast is providing a high-definition channel within 24 months. After providing that channel, Comcast has 18 months before having the right, if the corporation wants to, to reclaim one of the standard definition models.

“There again, that’s not being agreed to anywhere else by Comcast,” he said. “The reason they want the channel back is to use it for internet bandwidth, and the reason we want it back, is we want everyone to be able to see the PE&G [coverage] on the standard channels, lower channels, and not have to go higher.”

He also noted there are still people who watch television on a non-HD-ready set.

“Credit to Comcast, who understood how strongly Hanson felt, and Lisa and, obviously, Eric played a crucial role in that provision that they would wait on their right to reclaim it, so it doesn’t happen right away,” Solomon said.

Hanson’s contract also has no population density requirement. They have to serve everyone in the town, he pointed out.

(Editor’s note: This version corrects information on Comcast ownership and clarifies information on available military discounts.)

HANSON – The Select Board on Tuesday, June 10, voted to hold a special Town Meeting on the new W-H school budget numbers on June 25 at 6:30 p.m. at WHRHS. Like, Whitman, a Wednesday evening was chosen – in Hanson’s case it was to get ahead of the prime vacation time of the first two weeks in July, when even Town Moderator Sean Kealy would not be available.
“Sometimes we have to be a little bit versatile,” Chair Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett said.
Still, June 25 is not a date that Select Board member Joe Weeks can attend, although he was not opposed to the date.
“If we don’t meet [in Town Meeting] before that 45 days is up, effectively, we will have a dissonance between the fact that we’ve been given the assessment, but we have not voted on any way to fund that.”
Town Administrator Lisa Green gave the Board a brief synopsis of the Wednesday, June 4 School Committee meeting, in which Whitman’s assessment cut scenario was approved over Hanson’s [see related story].
Superintendent of Schools Jeff Szymaniak recommended the option, to lower the assessment by $1,664,730.35 for Whitman to an assessment of $19,917,568.65 – or the 4.086 percentage – and lowering Hanson’s amount by $677,333.92 to $15,775,031.08 – or 5.344. The district budget will now be $64,564,205.55 – or a 2.596 percent increase over last year, and we will need to reduce by $1,742,070.64.
What was voted at Hanson’s May 5 Town Meeting in Article 5 was $15,512,363 leaving a gap of $262,669 that Hanson must appropriate by the beginning of the new fiscal year on July 1 for the school district to avoid falling under a state-guided 1/12 budget.
“I want to acknowledge that … similar to the work we do to prepare our budget, the W-H Regional School District, School Committee and the district itself, put in quite a bit of work into their budget,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “It was much debated at their last meeting whether they would, in fact, reduce the assessment to the two towns.”
While the cuts the district will be making are not largely “boots on the ground,” as teachers, there will be significant cuts in supporting roles, which does impact teachers and the quality of education, she said.
“I think there was recognition that Whitman and Hanson were both cutting, Mary Beth Carter [Whitman’s Town Administrator] got up and spoke about the fact that that they recently hired a building commissioner and a veteran’s’ agent in Whitman and she had to call both of them and tell them they were both going to be part time, as well as various other cuts,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “I’ve heard a lot of bantering back and forth – various comments. I’ve had a lot of people reaching out to me, saying, ‘Well. We should not give the district the additional money,’ or, ‘We should wait until after July 1 to hod the meeting and then the slchool district would have to go into a 1/12 budget…”
She noted that going into a 1/12 budget would mean a cut of roughly $3.3 million which would be 50-some-odd people that would be pink-slipped.
“There are costs that go with that, with unemployment, not to mention insecurity with staff and losing good people,” she said.
Hanson has 45 days to hold a special Town Meeting, which has to be posted 14 days in advance.
“When we look at the calendar we are looking at high vacation time during the first two weeks of July,” FitzGerald-Kemmett noted. “I question whether we’re even going to get a quorum, but if we are, it certainly won’t be after July 1.”
Town Accountant Eric Kinsherf, meanwhile, has advised the Select Boar that waiting until after July 1 to hold a special Town Meeting would mean the town cannot touch free cash, because to be certified after July 1, and would be inaccessible until the certification is completed.
Select Board member Ed Heal said he would be attending the Town Meeting, but asked about an article that only includes the school budget.
“Thank you for pointing that out,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “We’ve passed a budget. All of our departments are on notice about what will be cut based on the budget that passed at the Town Meeting. It was carefully calibrated – and I can’t emphasize this enough – that the Finance Committee, Ms. Green and the Department heads spent hours and hours and hours combing through the budget, figuring out, ‘If you do this, I’ll do that, I’ll do this next year, maybe I can cut here, etc.”
FitzGerald-Kemmett acknowledged that for those attending Town Meeting, the cuts might seem arbitrary.
“I assure you that it is not,” she said. Since the schools have “come down significantly” on Hanson’s assessment and are making an over-all $1.7 million reduction in the school budget for fiscal 2025, which is not insignificant, the thought was, “Let’s be clean about it, and expeditious about it and take it from free cash – once and done, end of discussion.”
The only thing unknown is, will Town Meeting pass the article?
Finance Chair Kevin Sullivan, who was attending the meeting, confirmed his committee is on board with the proposal.
“Laura and I have had several discussions over this and this is the most expeditious way of getting this done,” he said. “Close the book on this.”
Weeks had two concerns remaining: What happens if the special Town Meeting fails to achieve a quorum or if the article is voted down?
“We’re going to really have to crank on making sure we have a quorum, otherwise, the vote is the least of our worries,” Weeks said. “You need to have enough days between now and then posted to get this figured out.”
FitzGerald-Kemmett agreed.
Green added that the moderator is not available on June 26, in the event a quorum fails on the first day.
“We have it all figured out on our end,” Green said, noting that 100 people are needed to constitute a quorum. “We have the warrant ready to be posted tomorrow [June 11] and we will get it all over our social media – all the platforms possible – we’ll make sure we get it out to the Senior Center, the Library, so that people will know.”
“The only other day he’s available is the 30th, which is literally Fourth of July week,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said.