WHITMAN – The Select Board approved Police Chief Timothy Hanlon’s request to make conditional offers to police candidates on the Civil Service list on Tuesday, June 20.
Hanlon had requested, and was granted authority to call for the list on May 23, as he anticipated the need for an additional officer to address staffing concerns.
“We do have a need for an additional two officers [to replace those] who are going to retire in the next few months,” he said about the approved call for the list.
There were 13 candidates who signed the list, indicating they would accept a position.
“We started at the top, and concentrated on the first six candidates and they are all spectacular,” Hanlon said. Civil Service rules require that to request two, which Whitman did, “We are basically bound to the top five, but if someone washes out, or has something in their background … you can pass them over for another candidate. That is not the case here.”
He gave a short outline of each candidate, but recommended the first three. Roger Kineavy has been with the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office for about four years. A Marine veteran, the Whitman resident grew up in Weymouth and has also been a corrections officer. Joshua Kelleher, a lifelong Whitman resident, graduated from WHRHS and Bridgewater State University. He presently works with the Barnstable Department of Natural Resources and a volunteer with the West Barnstable Fire Department. A little farther along in the hiring process for the Environmental Police, he has said he would accept a position there if it opened first. Alyssa Andrews, a resident of Whitman since 2002, she is a WHRHS and SNHU graduate. Her college degree is in criminal justice and she is currently employed by the TSA at Logan and volunteers at the Pine Street Inn in Boston.
He recommended conditional offers of employment to the first two candidates and Andrews be offered a conditional offer should one other candidates be unable to meet the conditions of employment or decline the offer.
The board approved the appointment of John Cannizzo as auxiliary administrator for the Whitman Police Department, for a one-year stint effective June 30. His position as an auxiliary officer himself would terminate on June 20.
The position pays for the actual hours worked, usually about 24 hours per week, at the same rate as he had before.
Kevin Shantler, president of the Whitman Police Union, however, said his union opposed the appointment of Cannizzo, as he is a nonunion part-time employee as a special police officer who has been decertified by the state’s police reform law.
“Since Cannizzo is no longer a certified police officer, the union stipulates that only a certified police officer should oversee, train and schedule other police officers, including auxiliary officers,” he said.
The union also argued the job opportunity should have been put out to the public for interested applicants and a proper interview process should be held.
Shantler said Cannizzo is currently under internal investigation centering on allegations by another auxiliary officers, and, as the union believes, he performed vehicle maintenance as well as his stated job as an auxiliary officer. Considering him for the position could send the wrong message. The union recommended continuing tabling the issue of appointing Cannizzo until the internal investigation is complete.
Hanlon said he is more than qualified, has experience and would be working under the supervision of higher-ranking officers.
“I would see no reason to hire anybody else for the position, number one, and again, he’s held the position and done the job,” Hanlon said. “We tabled this last time to hear the union’s issues and, they’ve been heard. … and they haven’t been dismissed, but at the same time, they haven’t been validated, either.”
Seniors are briefed on scams
WHITMAN – Online scams are big business in our technical world, and the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office wants residents – especially seniors – to know how to spot them and what to do about them.
At the top of the list is for seniors to understand that Social Security will never call you on the phone about any problems, they will send a letter by mail unless you have called them first and requested a callback.
Plymouth County is currently the target area for grandparent call scams.
“We’ve been telling people to have a codeword with their grandchildren, so, if anything were to happen and there’s an emergency – there’s a codeword,” said Lori Sullivan of the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department Outreach Division. “It’s happened in Hanover, Hingham … a lot of towns throughout the county.”
The most common scams being used against consumers in Massachusetts are currently identity theft (20 percent); imposter scams (13 percent); credit bureau scans (8 percent) or online shopping scams (8 percent).
Whitman seniors received pointers on avoiding scams from Sullivan and Becky Lee and during their presentation on detecting and defending against fraud at the Whitman Council on Aging. The program may be viewed on WHCA-TV or its YouTube channel.
“One of the biggest ways people try to attack your information is online through your computer,” Sullivan said, advising some important steps including checking your security software and virus protection regularly.
Imposter scams are those calls in the middle of the night from people posing as a loved one in trouble, tech support fraud or someone purporting to be from a government agency.
But there are pre-emptive steps people can also take to protect their information. Seniors were also cautioned to:
- Check reviews of websites/retailers you do not recognize before buying anything;
- Use a strong password and do not save passwords on your devices;
- Never respond to unsolicited emails;
- Do not send personal information on a public network; and
- Make sure your personal information is permanently deleted before disposing of a cell phone or computer.
In the event one clicks on a scam popup ad, Sullivan said click on “control-alt-delete” to turn your computer off immediately without clicking on any other keys.
“When you turn the computer back on, that will be gone,” she said.
When people click on such scam ads, a lot of times someone can remotely access your computer, Sullivan explained.
“If you’ve saved passwords on you computer, now they can access that, too,” she said.
Sullivan also repeated the caution against giving out one’s Social Security number, including the fact that one is not required to fill in the Social Security blank on any form – even at your doctor’s office.
“We’ll talk about five scams today, and there will be five more tomorrow,” Lee said.
People with online banking are advised to only carry the credit cars they use regularly and keep them in an RFID case; - Protect Social Security numbers;
- Review all bank and credit card statements to ensure all purchases are legitimate;
- Shred documents listing personal information;
- Review credit card reports every year or enroll in a credit monitoring program service; and
- Prevent credit reporting companies from reporting your credit file information at www.optoutprescreen.com to prevent unsolicited offers for credit cards or insurance programs.
Lee and Sullivan also went over the procedures to follow if you have been the victim of online fraud, or a company with your information has been hacked.
A federal site reportfraud.ftc.gov walks you through the steps you need to take as well as a format of a letter you might have to send to your bank.
Personal safety programs
“It’s a fabulous program that is underutilized because you all say, ‘I don’t need that yet,’” Lee said of the Safety Assurance Plan, especially those elders who live alone, as participants receive a call between 6 a.m. and noon as selected by each participant. “It takes about 20 seconds. They’ll ask you if you’re OK. If you’re not OK you’ll let them know that there’s a problem and there’s an officer sitting right there, listening to the entire conversation to make sure that you’re OK.”
If an elder says they need help or don’t feel well, the officer will get on the call to determine what type of services are required.
“Recently, a woman in the process of a stroke was on the phone [and] he could tell she just didn’t sound right,” Lee said. “As he was talking to her, he was getting in touch with emergency services and she’s alive today because of that phone call.”
An ambulance and paramedics arrived at her door while the officer was still talking to her.
Lee said “I don’t need that yet” is the number one excuse against participating, followed by seniors saying their family or a neighbor always checks in.
“What if this day, they didn’t?” she asked. “They’re going to feel terrible for the rest of their life and it’s a simple, quick phone call.”
Check-in calls are made seven days a week, making three attempts to reach a participant, or one of three other people you can list in the event you are not able to take a call. There is also a number to call for pausing check-in calls if you plan to travel.
“It has nothing to do with your age,” Lee said. “It has everything to do with the fact that you live alone and that there’s no one there to know if something happens.”
The TRIAD program, involving town committees formed by police, fire, sheriff’s department, the DA’s office and Senior Center representatives to discuss issues of importance to a community’s elder population.
“Not every Senior Center is involved yet, but we’re trying,” Lee said of the county-wide program.
One recent program presented by TRIAD demonstrated how to use a fire extinguisher, which not everyone knows how to do, even if they own one. Sullivan added that not everyone is aware that fire extinguishers expire or that there are different types of extinguishers and people should make sure they have the right kind for their home.
The Safety Net program serves people of all ages who have cognitive disorders, from autism to Alzheimer’s. There is a cost for this program, and for more information, those interested should call 508-830-6200.
Protocol meeting planned
The School Committee on Wednesday, June 7, revisited its ongoing dicusson of meeting protocol, with Chair Beth Stafford suggesting some ideas for discussion on how to make meetings more civil and productive.
Among these, was her assertion that the public comment period – 15 minutes at the start of each meeting that gives the public an opportunity to be heard on issues not on the agenda – could largely stay unchanged she said, unless it is necessary during later discussions, that would be the end of public comment.
“This is a School Committee meeting and it’s up to us to discuss our options,” she said. “Nobody will be recognized from the floor, except by the chair.
Budget time could be a period when such comments are asked for by the chair, but there would be a limit to that, as well.
“Once public comment is done, it is up to us to carry on a meeting,” she said. “We need to accomplish our work and not get done at 10 p.m., when everybody is exhausted from working all day.”
When people get tired, tempers flare up and good work doesn’t get done, Stafford said.
Keeping the number of questions from the committee for the superintendent have also been becoming unmanageable, so Stafford said unless the questions come up during a meeting, they should be funneled through the chair.
“Sometimes [Superintendent of Schools Jeff Szymaniak] gets three of the same questions from three different people, and there’s a lot of work he’s got [to do during] his day.” she said.
She will present questions to Szymaniak and then all committee members will receive the response so everyone has the same information.
Meeting minutes are another issue that has cropped up, perhaps due to a misconception of what minutes should be. The Mass. Association of School Committees (MSAC) defines minutes as a brief summary in language clear enough for a citizen reader to understand what was discussed.
“It is not expected, nor necessary that minutes will be a verbatim transcripts, reporting on every School Committee member board comment or summarize every public comment made during the public comment period,” Stafford said.
Norms must also be clarified, she said, suggesting a Wednesday night meeting in July, considering what members suggest should be meeting norms such as respect and listening to others’ opinions. She said the norms the committee comes up with would be put on a poster and displayed at meetings.
McEwan Award’
In other business, Margaret McEwan presented the Do What’s Best for Kids Award, given in memory of former Superintendent of Schools Dr. John F. McEwan “who believed a school is not just a building, but a community of support that maximized learning for all students,” to Catherine Bouzan.
McEwan said Bouzan’s supervisor said she “loves being an educator who delights in seeing her students thrive in a classroom with lessons related to real-life jobs that they have an interest in and will be equipped to continue after they leave Whitman-Hanson.”
Companies or services with which she partners, say her students are the most professional and well-prepared for the vocational tasks they are asked to perform.
“Everyone in this room should be proud of the W-H Transitional Educational program, established for the students 18-22 who are ready, willing and able to join the workforce, doing a job from which they can derive personal satisfaction,” McEwan said.
The award includes $500 Bouzan may use for her own professional development or a related program.
“She is one of the most amazing educators I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet,” Szymaniak said. “This award doesn’t even speak to what she does for our 18- to 22-year-old students in our transitional [program] … she works with each student to make education and life skills fun for them.”
Bouzan also works with the unified basketball and track programs.
Szymaniak said he got Bouzan to the meeting under the ruse that she was to make a presentation on the program to the School Committee – which she did.
“You really got me,” she said. “It, honestly, is an honor to work and do what I do every day, so I thank all of you, but I have to thank you, Jeff, for giving me the opportunity 13 years ago, and I couldn’t do what I do, if I didn’t have – of course – the support of my family, but also my team.”
She said of her paraprofessionals, who just happen to all be female: “I work with a group of women, for whom the integrity of our students, the respect they give our students, the integrity of our program – I’m just very blessed to be surrounded by so many people that care about our students’ success and enjoy them.”
Szymaniak said he hoped someone was taking her out to dinner after that.
CES graduates have a lot to celebrate
For the 17 Community Evening School students graduating on Thursday, June 1, the road to the commencement ceremony in the WHRHS Performing Arts Center may have been more challenging that for those receiving their diplomas the following evening, but it made the accomplishment sweeter.
“It gives me great joy to see these students … finishing what they started some 12 to 13 years ago,” said Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey Szymaniak as he reflected on his own rocky start as an educator teaching “students who didn’t fit the traditional school environment.”
His first job was teaching 12 freshmen in Abington, “who absolutely, positively didn’t wat to be there. They pushed me. It was hard. It was draining and, honestly, sometimes – many times – they drove me nuts.”
But by the end of that first year, he had learned his purpose as a educator was to find alternative ways for students to learn, grow and find success.
“I’ve been involved in alternative pathways for students to receive a diploma ever since,” he said. “I give you that background, because, graduates, I get it.”
The struggles CES students face can be difficult and that they have to work to be there every day, are truisms he said he understands.
“I know things didn’t go as planned and getting your diploma has not been easy,” he said, expressing pride and joy for what they had accomplished and asking them to find their people in the audience and recognize their pride, too.
“They see you,” he said. “They see your struggles and, tonight, they see your accomplishment. … You found a way to finish, and you have the right to sit on the stage tonight. For that, you have earned tremendous respect.”
The school also continued the CES tradition of handing out diplomas, as each student was afforded the opportunity to decide from whom they wish to receive it. Parents, grandparents, boyfriends, fiances, teachers and administrators have been represented in that group over the years.
CES Co-Director William Glynn offered humor and wisdom in his keynote speech of “helpful commentary on what comes next,” including five ways of living that make “the huge, crushing weight of life bearable” and can also make it exciting, interesting and valuable beyond measure: Know when to move on; embrace happiness; speak up; take risks and celebrate and congratulate other people’s successes.
“He is the person that many turn to in both happy and difficult times,” his co-director Joseph Chismar said in introducing Glynn.
“Don’t dwell on past mistakes,” Glynn advised. “Move on, get up and go. Don’t chase the loss.”
The change from moving on, whether physically or mentally and emotionally can change one’s life.
“There will be hard moments,” said of embracing happiness. “There will be hard days …This is the reality of our world. There will also be … moments of genuine happiness and positivity in your lives. Treasure and cultivate, recognize and do the real work needed to extend those times of happiness.”
When it comes to speaking up, Glynn said it can change lives.
“If you find yourself in one of those moments where you think, ‘Gosh, somebody should really say something.’ You! You are the somebody who should say something.”
Whether at work, or in the voting booth, use your voice he said.
“Those people who tell you it doesn’t matter are fools,” he warned. Democracy is hard, being engaged and active is hard, speaking up is hard, but it is worth doing. Being silent is easy, and it is a trap.”
Everything doesn’t have to stay the same, he said, advising the graduates to take risks, which is essential to living a fulfilling and exciting life.
“Sometimes it will work out, sometimes it will fail and sometimes it will be a disaster – and sometimes it will be glorious beyond your wildest expectations,” he said.
Finally, celebrating others and expressing kindness and congratulations costs nothing and makes people feel great while putting “legit goodness out into the world.”
“Say the words,” he said. “You aren’t lessening yourself when you say these words, you are literally cultivating a world of fraternity and positivity.”
Receiving diplomas were: Guinevere Ambrose, Guilherme Rodrigues Azevedo, Aidan Vincent Bernier, Kalli Marie Bonner, Julyanna Marie Colby, Rafael Costa Da Silva, James Bernard Gillan, Autumn Mary Gray, Brenn PAtrick Keefe, Dali Kelsch, Brooke Nancy Presente, Joecelly Estrela Teixeira Rodrigues, Pedro Henrique Gomes Sampaio, Jennifer Freitas Scofano, Benjamin Joseph Sheehan, Wesley Keydson Silva Marques and Kaik Ribeiro Souza.
Questions raised on raising revenue
WHITMAN – Questions have been raised about a Town Meeting vote on the amount of tax money vs. free cash used to balance the fiscal 2024 budget.
Town Administrator Mary Beth Carter reported, in response to a taxpayer’s question that a Town Meeting article to use free cash to reduce the funds raided taxation needed to balance the fiscal 2024 budget.
Dawn Byers, a School Committee member, addressing the Select Board as a private citizen asked in the public forum on Tuesday, May 23 for the clarification, aware that it would not be up for discussion at the meeting, but in hopes it could be explained at a future meeting.
“I have some follow-up questions regarding Article 42 from the May 1 Town Meeting,” Byers said. “I do hope, as you proceed with setting the tax levy over the next several months, you will perhaps be able to address this in a future public meeting.”
Article 42 asked Town Meeting to vote to appropriate a sum of money from available free cash to reduce the amount of money to be raised by taxation for fiscal 2024.
Byers asked that the board explain what is being done with Article 42, which was approved by the Town Meeting, and why the Select Board proposed the article. She noted that the Finance Committee had not voted on it because there was no dollar figure at that time it came before them, but an amendment on Town Meeting floor inserted the amount of $455,323.
“There was a lower amount and when the schools came in, we had a compromise,” Carter said. “We juggled some things around from capital and so forth, and that was the amount we needed from the remaining free cash to just close the budget.”
Carter said it had been discussed all through the budget process that the town would be using funds from free cash to close the budget.
“After that was done, there was $53,000 some-odd remaining in free cash,” she said. “That was it.”
Byers said it sounds like the town is not fully taxing to the levy, but instead chose to use free cash or is perhaps not recognizing some new growth.
The board will be returning to the issue at coming meetings, Chair Dr. Carl Kowalski indicated.
“We do often hear the term Proposition 2 ½ override, but this feels like the opposite – is this an underride and is it the board’s intention to report it to the Department of Revenue as such when the FY ’24 tax levy is set?” she said. “[It] is a significant amount of tax revenue.”
An accountant in her professional life, Byers asked what the purpose of the one-time free cash funds was, what was the benefit to the town and and who benefits by reducing the amount of money to be raised by taxation.
“I did attend Town Meeting,” Byers said, noting that it had lasted nearly three and a half hours and the article was the second to last to be voted on that night. “We were all there until 11 p.m.” she said.
“While I do agree it was approved by the voters just prior to 11 p.m., I think it’s an extremely important financial decision made by the town that deserves to be further explained,” she said.
In other business, with the Whitman Police Department down a number of officers with a couple more planning retirements in the coming months, Chief Timothy Hanlon requested that the Select Board start the process of calling for a civil service list.
The board approved the request unanimously.
“The process is going to be a little bit more lengthy than it was in the past, when we had the opportunity to reserve officers and see how they fit in on more or less a part-time basis and go through the part-time academy,” Hanlon said.
With the new police reform law, there is no more part-time police academy, however, and the department has exhausted its reserve list as two of them began the police academy May 22, but until they graduate, Hanlon said the department is going to have to fill the remaining vacancies by starting a new civil service list.
Vice Chair Dan Salvucci asked if it would affect promotions within the ranks, and Hanlon said it depends on what ranks retire, as a majority are officers and one is of rank.
The board also approved an amendment to the host community agreement with Soul Flower Inc., permitting the firm to split the company into multiple corporations – retailer Chill & Bliss LLC, product manufacturer Fusion Drop LLC, cultivator Crafted Cannibis LLC and existing licensing transporter Soul Flower Express LLC – for business purposes, according to Carter. All are Massachusetts LLCs and have been approved by town counsel.
“The HCA restricts their ability to so, so they need this amendment,” she said. “It should not change their operations as approved by the [Select Board] under the host community agreement.”
Tennis teams close out season on some high notes
The Whitman-Hanson boys’ tennis team were victorious over the Silver Lake Lakers, 3-2, on Senior Night May 23, and their final home match of the season. Seniors Drew Fountain and James Goyette won in dominant fashion at second doubles (6-0, 6-0). Senior captain Zachary Lindsay and junior Tristan Baker also looked strong in their win at first doubles (6-1, 6-1).
Junior Mateo Santalucia was able to secure the Panthers win at second singles (6-2, 6-2). Senior Matt Bergin played one of his best matches of the season at third singles but came up short of the win. The Panthers improve to 6-11 and wrap up regular season on Thursday at Plymouth North. Match time 4 p.m.
The W-H team lost to Hingham Friday, May 19 in back-to-back matches, 0-5, 0-5, falling to 4-11 on the season. The team had some great games and played well, but were just overpowered by the high-powered play of Hingham.
Sophomore Mateo Santalucia had the best overall chance at a win, losing 5-8 in the first match and 4-8 in the second.
The Panthers had team defeated the Quincy Presidents May 18, 4–1, in the completion of a rain delayed match. The team played well on all five courts. Sophomore Brady Wright played three strong sets at first singles (6-3, 4-6, 6-2). Junior Mateo Santalucia won in two sets at second singles (7-5, 6-3). Senior Captain Zach Lindsay and junior Tristan Baker won in two sets at first doubles (6-0, 6-1), while senior Drew Fountain and junior George Dykens took care of their opponents in two sets on the second doubles court, (6-3, 6-3).
The Lady Panthers tennis team defeated Brockton May 22, 5-0. In first singles Alyson Tobias won 6-2,6-0 and at secondnd singles Sam Jacobsen won 6-2, 6-3.
In third singles freshman Mari Santalucia defeated her opponent 6-1,6-2. In first doubles Delaney Hughes and Sophie Ennis won 6-2,4-6,6-0 and at second doubles Mary Lynam and Sarah Regan won 6-3, 6-2.
School panel to focus on decorum
The School Committee on May 10 addressed what Vice Chair Christopher Scriven described as issues, including a morale problem, which had ultimately led to Chair Christopher Howard’s resignation.
Scriven asked that a discussion of committee protocol be placed on the agenda.
“I appreciated all that Chris did for us and the direction he moved us in, but going forward, I think we need to have a discussion and ask some questions of ourselves about what we want to be going forward,” Scriven said.
His preference is to concentrate on the district’s mission statement supporting providing students with a high-quality education that promotes student success and responsible citizenship.
“I would like to ask the committee what do we want for individuals and what do we want, collectively for our group?” he said. “To say that we have some morale issues is an understatement.”
He wants to see a continuing discussion of reasonable protocols and procedures to which the committee should adhere. Rather than being a question of getting along with other members, Scriven explained it as a search for the goal of the committee and how members fit in to accomplish things together.
“By no means is this an effort to keep someone quiet or keep them from getting information that they want to [put out there],” Scriven said. “It’s about how do we function most effectively as a committee?”
The frequency in which members reach out to administration – for whatever reason – which has been disproportionate from some members of the committee, which keeps those officials from accomplishing other things.
Member Dawn Byers said, rhetorically, what the best avenue would be toward finding information she might need. She also said there should be a way to discover if a member has a problem with something another member said, how best should those interpersonal issues be addressed and worked out.
Approaching the end of his first year on the committee, Glen DiGravio said he has had no problems with other members.
“You guys have all treated me great,” he said. “Thanks for bearing with me and … if this needs to be improved, then to me, it’s only going to get better because I expected it to be much more negative than it’s been.”
Scriven had expressed his incredulity at, arriving to the joint meeting with the two select boards over the budget, only to find out a member had reached out to one board and come up with a deal.
“Is that how we want to operate?” he asked. “I don’t have the answers, but I have questions.”
Hillary Kniffen suggested that, in a couple of weeks there might be another committee. Michelle Bourgelas aggreed.
“I’m not disagreeing with things that you’re saying, but I think it might be a good idea to table this until we have our full committee that we will have after the tow election,” Kniffen said, suggesting that members be asked to propose a few norms they want to see and discuss at a June meeting.
Scriven said he was in complete agreement with that suggestion. Beth Stafford agreed it would be an important thing to do.
“Let’s try to remember the positive reasons we want to be here,” Bourgelas said. “A lot of good things happen at this school … there’s a lot of good people here. … There’s just been too much negative things at these meetings.”
Member David Forth said serving on the committee has been one of the greatest honors and privileges of his life, of which he is very proud as he has learned a lot from it.
Building a rapport with other members over coffee has been very helpful, he said.
“I might not always agree with your position or your vote, but I respect you and your character and your position, and I respect your vote,” he said of his fellow committee members. “We have a great group of people and I try to remember that and try to … ask what’s my role to help improve upon that.”
Tribute to ‘Man in Black’ comes to Hanson Libarary
The Hanson Public Library is pleased to announce that a Letter of Intent has been submitted for the 2023-2024 grant round of the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program. The Board of Library Trustees has appointed a Planning Committee and hired a consultant to work with the Library Director over the next few months to complete the documents necessary for the full grant application, due on May 31, 2024. For more information about the planning process and grant application, please visit hansonlibrary.org/building-project. This page will be updated with documents and information as we proceed.
We are also very excited to welcome back longtime New England musician/author Matt York to the Library on at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, May 18. He will perform the songs of Johnny Cash and tell stories about Cashs career spanning from the 1950s to his death in 2003. He’ll discuss Cash’s emergence as a groundbreaking artist in the 1950s, his marriage to June Carter and many of his career highlights.
York was recently nominated for the Boston Music Award for Best Country Artist and his album Gently Used was just named one of the Patriot Ledger’s best albums of 2022. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Hanson Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. Preregistration is required for this event, so please visit our website or contact the Library to sign up.
Here’s a few other events that we’re looking forward to this May. Please visit our website, hansonlibrary.org, to sign up and learn more about these and other upcoming programs. If you have any questions, please contact us by email at info@hansonlibrary.org or by phone at 781-293-2151.
Beginner Yoga – 10 a.m., Saturdays. Namaste! Yoga is back at the Library! All classes will be led by a certified instructor from Whitman Wellness Center, with a cost of $10.00 per class payable at the Library Circulation Desk prior to each class. Sponsored by the Hanson Public Library Foundation. Ages 16+, preregistration required.
Fun with Sugar & Shears Pop Up – 10 a.m., Wednesday, May 17. Sugar & Shears, a local bake and craft subscription company, will be at the Library for a storytime and craft! Come enjoy Wake Up It’s Spring! followed by crafts based on the book. They will also have their subscription boxes available to sell after the event. Ages 2-6, preregistration required.
Mindful Journaling & Sketching Class. 5 p.m., Thursday, May 18. Join Miss Kate (Children’s Librarian & Certified Yoga Teacher) in a quiet space at the Library and settle in. We will provide a notebook (or feel free to bring your own) as we embark on a journey of self-discovery using a 3-step format. During the class, you’ll be guided in a brief meditation, followed by writing or sketching in response to a prompt, ending with an opportunity to share and discuss (sharing is always voluntary). Studies show that a regular mindfulness practice can lower blood pressure, reduce anxiety and stress, and improve sleep. Reflective practices like journaling and sketching can help one make sense of what might emerge from mindful meditation. In this busy and often conflicting time, a chance to decompress and use mindfulness really aids in self-care. Ages 10+, preregistration is required.
Makerspace Challenge. 5 p.m., Tuesday, May 23. Get creative using supplies from our Makerspace Cart! Choose from a variety of items, including wheels, propellers, gears, spools, plastic tubing, wooden dowels, craft tubes and boxes, and foam and wooden shapes, and make a fun creation using your imagination. Made possible by donations made in memory of Ellen Gustafson to the Hanson Public Library Foundation. Grades 2-5, preregistration is required.
Book to Movie Discussion Group. 6:30 p.m., Thursday, May 25. Made a resolution to read more this year? Join our book-to-movie discussion group! This month we will be reading, watching, and discussing “Pinocchio” by Carlo Collodi. Copies of the book and movie are available at the circulation desk for anyone who would like to join. New faces are always welcome! Adults, drop in.
Kids Yoga with Miss Kate. 10 a.m., Wednesday, May 31. Join Miss Kate for a spring themed kids yoga class! We will act out our stories using yoga poses, learn breathing techniques to calm our busy minds, and finally make a springtime craft to take home. Ages 3-7, preregistration is required.
Ready for region’s next step
HANSON – The Select Board, on Tuesday, April 25, came to a consensus agreement to join with Whitman and the W-H School Committee in voting to require a two-thirds vote for all financial votes of the School Committee, rather than only financial votes, as part of a revised Regional Agreement.
“Although that doesn’t put us back to the per-pupil method, I think it does go a ways toward showing that there’s some partnership among the School Committee and the town of Whitman,” Select Board Chair Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett said, thanking Select Board member Jim Hickey for his “swan song” in persuading the other boards to agree to his proposal. “He really worked hard on it and it was very persuasive.”
Hickey was absent from the meeting.
Town Administrator Lisa Green added that a consensus document, with all the areas of the sections discussed and agreed on – dealing with transportation, building leases, the two-thirds vote and capital expenses – will be forwarded to the school district’s legal counsel for a review of language.
The Regional Agreement Committee will reconvene after town elections to discuss any questions or concerns stemming from that review.
Whitman agreed on a consensus basis to the revisions during their April 18 meeting.
“Every group brought their suggestions back,” Select Board representative Justin Evans told the Whitman board, reminding them there were not a lot of contentious issues. He reviewed the most contentious issues with his board – including the two-thirds vote.
Whitman Chair Randy LaMattina said Hickey’s argument that a two-thirds vote on the assessment method would “go a long way.”
Emergency capital expenses have been another concern of Whitman’s particularly the debate the board has had with the school district on maintenance responsibilities vs emergency repairs.
Evans reported the schools were concerned about the timeliness of doing emergency repairs.
“You’re talking about half an hour,” Vice Chair Dan Salvucci said, by the time the facilities direct can inspect a problem to advise the town administrator on whether or not it is an emergency.
“If something is an emergency, you have an obligation to act immediately to remediate it,” Former Whitman Town Administrator Frank Lynam said to help clarify the matter. If the expense involved a large sum of money the Select Board was uncomfortable approving the expenditure, one can always go to the director of accounts under Ch. 41 and seek an authorization for emergency spending. “It’s not a complicated process.”
Most emergencies are obvious, but he said he has seen some over the years that “were not that exigent.”
“It’s common sense,” he said.
Evans said the language concerning emergencies makes sense.
In other business, the Select Board also voted to appoint Laurie Cogan and Jason Green as caretakers at Camp Kiwanee. Green recused herself other than to say many caretakers are needed, because she filled out a potential conflict of interest disclosure on one of them. She said there are not enough caretakers to work weddings and other events for the upcoming season.
FitzGerald-Kemmett said she didn’t think Green needed to recuse herself, but that she didn’t think the optics looked good for Green’s son to be applying for the job since she is town administrator and, as personnel director, she would have to be involved in any performance issues that might occur.
Select Board member Ann Rein said she thought it was a “shame” that he could be precluded from doing something because his mother works for the town.
Select Board member Joe weeks said he understood the concern, but was feeling conflicted about it and Heal agreed it was a tough call.
“I don’t see a real issue, but I’m wondering,” Heal said.
Weeks asked if her son has financial ties to her or lives with her. She said there are no financial ties, but he does live at home. When Weeks questioned if it even mattered, FitzGerald-Kemmett said it could be argued that, because he lived at home, it could be argued that Green benefits financially from her son’s working for the town.
The Camp Kiwanee Commission has voted to hire both.
The Select Board voted 4-0 to hire Cogan and 3-1, with FitzGerald-Kemmett voting no and asking Green to not take it personally. Green said she did not regard it that way.
The board voted a conditional approval to the application for a Class II auto sales permit from: Limitless Auto Sales, 200 Liberty St. They are new owners of the property. The acting fire chief has to inspect the existing building to ensure it meets safety regulations before the board signs off on it.
Change state flag and seal?
HANSON – Is it time to change Massachusetts’ official state seal and flag?
Activists and historians have been displeased with the state seal and motto for decades, but it took until 2021 for the state to create a redesign commission.
Hanson voters, on Monday, May 1 will be asked, through article 37 on the annual Town Meeting warrant to adopt a resolution in support of the Special Commission’s work in redesigning the state flag and seal that may, “better reflect our aspirations for harmonious and respectful relations between all people who now call Massachusetts home.”
The article, sponsored by Marianne DiMascio, of Indian Head Street, would require the town clerk shall forward a copy of this resolution to state Senator Michael Brady, D-Brockton, and representatives David DeCoste, R-Hanover, and Josh Cutler, D-Duxbury, requesting they support the work of the commission and advocate for a new flag and seal for the Commonwealth.
“There might be some people opposed, but I think, overall, it’s a resolution that really makes sense,” she said. “We’re a spot where there’s a lot of indigenous history.”
Then-Gov. Charlie Baker signed a bill in 2021 to change the state flag and seal, but as of last year a redesign was not complete and the commission asked for an extension in July 2022, which would have expired on March 31, 2023, but the legislature has not granted an extension yet.
DiMascio said Gov. Maura Healey’s fiscal 2024 budget gave some funding to the commission and extended it’s work through November.
“The committee is supposed to come up with a recommendation after lots of input and some polling by November,” she said. “[The article] is to encourage the work of the commission and ensure that it is seen through to the end.”
Once the commission presents its findings, it must go back to the legislature to approve it.
“It’s to say, ‘finish the job,’” she said. “It’s been an issue for a long time and it’s finally got a little momentum, so don’t let it die … don’t let the work of this commission sit idly.”
The state’s flag we recognize has only been the official banner of the Commonwealth since 1908, even though Massachusetts has been represented by official flags, with limited purposes, sine 1676. Right now, the state has three official flags, the state flag, a governor’s flag and a maritime flag.
It is only one of three states, including Minnesota and Florida, that depict a Native American in its heraldry, and a survey by the North American Vexillological Association (NAVA) placing our state flag at 38th in design quality among 72 flags representing the United states, its states and territories and Canadian provinces.
Designed in 1898, the current flag, which is also the state seal, the indigenous man stands under a colonist’s sword-bearing arm. On the seal Latin words below the image read [in English]: “By the sword, we seek peace, but peace only under liberty.”
Currently imagery from the natural world, such as the state bird or flower are preferred, according to a report in the Boston Globe in Juy 2022, which quoted Executive Director Donna Curtin of the Pilgrim Hall Museum in Plymouth as saying, “The seal uses imagery that is problematic and exclusionary in so many ways. It really doesn’t reflect a vision of the Commonwealth that anybody today can connect with.”
Part of the objection, as outlined in Article 37 of Hanson’s annual Town Meeting warrant, is that the figure on the flag as what he is wearing are based on actual people.
“The proportions of the body of the Indigenous person on the Flag and Seal were taken from the skeleton of an Indigenous person unearthed in Winthrop, the bow modeled after a bow taken from an Indigenous man shot and killed by a colonist in Sudbury in 1665, and the facial features taken from a photograph of an Ojibwe chief from Great Falls, Montana, considered by the illustrator to be a “fine specimen of an Indian,” though not from Massachusetts,” reads the proclamation which the article supports.
Aside from a violent history of relations between colonists and Massachusetts tribes, it also notes that indigenous people were legally prohibited from even entering Boston from 1674 to 2004, when the colonial law was finally repealed.
DiMascio is philosophical about the potential reaction to the article at Town Meeting.
“I think some people might see the benefit,” she said. “There might be people who say we shouldn’t change it, but it’s gone through different changes in the years we’ve had it. It’s not been the same for all these years.”
While she is working to get the work on the flag’s imagery restarted, DiMascio said she is neutral on the kind of image that should replace the seal.
“I leave that up to the commission to do that,” she said. “It’s a bipartisan commission … and I think one of the very important things is that there are Native American leaders who are working with them to provide their opinion about what [the design] should be.”
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