Residents of Eastern Massachusetts were jolted on a lazy Sunday morning Nov. 8 as a 3.6 magnitude earthquake, centered off Bliss Corner, near New Bedford.

Cracked walkways were reported on Twitter by Taunton residents, and houses shook in Whitman. More than one resident of the region compared the sound and feel to “an overly loud truck” on nearby roads.

“I thougt it was a very low flying plane,” a Rhode Island resident reported to the NWSBoston/Norton Skywarn Twitter feed.

Farther north in Cambridge and Hingham, people reported hearing, but not feeling the quake, which had intally been estimated as a 4.2 temblor by the U.S. Geological Survey. It was downgraded before noon to 3.6.

By Tracy F. Seelye, Express editor
editor@whitmanhansonexpress.com

WHITMAN — Dr. Carl Kowalski informed Selectmen via email on Tuesday, Oct. 27 that he was resigning as chairman of the board effective immediately.

“There are times, even in our current Zoom world when a chair must be available for in-person events and meetings, and unfortunately, I cannot do so for reasons of health,” he said in a prepared statement before the board met Wednesday, Oct. 28 with representatives of MassDEP regarding the process of site work at the former DaKor Novelties building at 602 Bedford St. “I did hold a [morning] meeting today because of its critical importance, but I can no longer do so.”

Vice Chairman Daniel Salvucci has agreed to take over as chairman for the rest of the 2020-21 term.

“I will continue to serve as Selectman, just not as chair,” Kowalski said. “I’d like to thank you all for allowing me to serve you as chair for such a long time, and I look forward to my continued service as a member.”

He asked the board to support Salvucci in his service as chairman.

Salvucci thanked Kowalski for his many years of service and that he hopes Kowalski’s health improves.

Following their discussion with state environmental officials, Selectmen decided against a fee agreement for a special counsel for environmental site work, opting instead to go with a licensed site professional who can work directly with state and federal officials.

Representing the DEP at the meeting were Kait Carvalo, who is brownfields risk assessment section lead on the 602 Bedford St. project and her team; Maryellen DeFrias of MassDevelopment; as well as attorneys Sean Murphy and Jeffrey Thompson who are looking at the property as a possible site for a Hope for Heroes project they represent.

Kowalski raised, as a point of order, that the agenda did not reflect any discussion of the Hope for Heroes project, only the fee agreement for special counsel involved in site work.

“I’m not sure this is the proper time to introduce people who are interested in making a project on that [property],” Kowalski said.

“The biggest concern that most people on this board have is that the town is not held responsible for any particular cleanup of that site,” Salvucci said “We want to be assured that, although we want that site becomes a useful site, we do not want it at any cost to the town,” once the board reviews the fee agreement.

Selectman Randy LaMattina said he completely agreed with Kowalski, noting that the meeting was the first any of the Selectmen had heard there was a project proposed for the properties, which included the Regal Property.

Selectman Brian Bezanson pointed out that Plymouth County Commissioner Sandra Wright is an acquaintance and they had discussed the Hope for Heroes project, with which she is involved, many months ago. During the discussion, they talked about possible sites and he mentioned the Bedford Street property, suggesting that Wright contact former Town Administrator Frank Lynam to discuss it further.

“I didn’t know the condition or ownership of the land, I just knew it was vacant for a long time and I thought it would be a good location,” he said.

Thanking Bezanson for his discussion with Wright, Kowalski suggested the board stick to the agenda and discuss cleanup issues with the DEP and MassDevelopment officials.

Interim Town Administrator Lisa Green said she has had discussions about the two properties with DeFrias, including the application for site assessment grants. Regal Street property would be Phase 3 and 602 Bedford would be a Phase 1 cleanup.

The town has no ownership issues as 602 Bedford is an abandoned property, but there have been discussions about risks for which a cleanup might put the town at risk.

DEP representative John Handrahan said liability issues are
pretty straightforward.” Should the town take the property for back taxes and sell it, the town would have no liability under the Brownfields Act.

“Most towns don’t take that simplest route,” Handrahan said. “Most towns … do engage environmental professionals, because what they fundamentally discover, through economics more than anything, if the town were to take the property, they often discover that if they were to do some of the cleanup work themselves, just doing the cleanup work would not make them liable.”

It would elevate the property’s value for potential buyers.

Handrahan and Carvalho stressed taking the property for back taxes was made more streamlined in that the previous owners of the property are no longer living and the former tenant never held control over the property.

Bezanson asked if the town could get access to the property —without owning it — through the courts to conduct contamination tests “to put in motion these possible conclusions” so that the town is not liable.

“That’s a question you’re going to have to have town counsel, possibly talk with the attorney general about,” Handrahan said, noting it is neither how most towns do it, nor the mechanism written into the law in 1998.

“This is going back to what I’ve been saying throughout this process,” LaMattina said. “I think we’re all in agreement that cleaning up brownfields in our town is a fantastic idea, but to make it so the taxpayers and citizens of our town don’t go on the hook for something.”

DEP representative Angela Gallagher said the targeted brownfield assessment process at the former Regal Shoe site does not require ownership or access for the EPA to do the assessment either via access or from a nearby vantage point.

“There’s no cost or fees associated with it for the town, the EPA picks that up completely,” she said. “You just have to make an application or contact the EPA for that.”

She said the Bedford Street property also comes under that program.

Handrahan also stressed that the normal municipal process of hiring environmental consultants to help with the site cleanup because “they know where the checkbooks are.”

“This is just the town of Whitman looking for pots of money — and they are out there,” he said.

WHITMAN — As part of National Crime Prevention Month, Chief Timothy Hanlon and the Whitman Police Department wish to warn the public about common types of scams.

October is National Crime Prevention Month. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reports that in 2019 consumers lost more than $1.9 billion to fraud with nearly $667 million lost to imposter scams alone.

Chief Hanlon warns that residents should NEVER give personal information, social security numbers or credit card numbers to people through social media, or to people who call their homes or cell phones unsolicited.

“It is important for residents to be able to identify the various types of scams that are out there,” Chief Hanlon said. “For example, residents should always verify the legitimacy of a caller before giving out any personal information, and should never pay for an item with a gift card.”

Common scams that target residents – specifically senior citizens – include:

• Social Security Scams: Scammers pretend to be from the U.S. Social Security Administration and try to get your Social Security Number or money.

• IRS Scams: Scammers call, pretending to be from the IRS, and say they’re filing a lawsuit against your back taxes.

• Phishing Scams: Scammers use email or text messages to trick you into giving them your personal information.

• Fake Check Scams: Scammers ask you to deposit a check for more than you are owed and send some of the money to another person.

• Utility Scams: Scammers pose as bill collectors from utility companies and threaten to shut off service if you do not pay.

• Sweepstakes: Someone calls to notify you that you have won a contest or sweepstakes and must send money to collect any winnings.

Often, the scammer will demand payment via electronic money order or pre-paid debit card. This should be an immediate red flag. No legitimate vendor will ever demand money via these means.

To prevent similar scams, the FTC recommends the following:

• Do not take calls from unknown numbers. Caller ID is not always accurate. A call from a “local” number might not be coming from a local person or organization.

• Do not share personal, identifying information like your Social Security Number, account numbers, or your mother’s maiden name.

• If a caller claims to represent an organization and you are doubtful, hang up and contact that agency to verify whether the call was truly from a representative.

• Never pay a caller with a gift card.

• Telemarketers are required by law to state that they are making a sales call. They are mandated to say the name of the seller and the product before pitching their sale. If this does not happen, hang up.

• Be wary of callers who talk quickly and pressure you to make a decision quickly.

• Do not buy a product or service because of a “free gift.”

• Get all information in writing before making a purchase.

• Verify the legitimacy of a charity before donating.

• Before making an investment that a caller or emailer is offering, check with your state securities regulator to make sure the offer is properly registered.

• Do not send cash by messenger, overnight mail, or money transfer. If you pay for a product or service with cash or a money transfer, you run the risk of losing the right to dispute fraudulent charges.

• Do not accept an offer that requires a registration or shipping fee to get a prize or gift.

• Beware of offers to “help” recover money that you already have lost. Scammers sometimes pose as law enforcement officers who will help get money back for a fee.

•   Report rude or abusive callers, even if you already sent them money, by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP or by visiting ftc.gov/complaint.

If anyone has any questions or feels that they have been victimized, they are encouraged to call the Whitman Police Department.

School Committee members rated the panel’s community engagement as weak or in need of improvement, with the School Committee at the Wednesday, Sept. 30 meeting during discussions about the issue.

“I think it’s poor,” Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey Szymaniak said of the committee’s track record. “I don’t think these meetings allow engagement of the community unless it’s a hot topic. I would like to see it better.”

Vice Chairman Christopher Scriven said he doesn’t know what more the committee does to engage the community other than posting the meeting.

Chairman Bob Hayes was unable to attend due to a prior commitment and Committee member Fred Small participated in the meeting remotely via telephone.

“I understand that there’s got to be more than just community involvement for the stakeholders,” said committee member Steven Bois.

“We have to get more information out to the people when they need it,” agreed member Dan Cullity. “We have to start educating them much better. …Sometimes it falls on deaf ears with some groups out there.”

Member Fred Small suggested structured time within meetings to answer questions that citizens submit could help get people more involved. Members Dawn Byers and Hillary Kniffen termed the effort ineffective and member Michael Jones graded it weak.

Member Christopher Howard,, who led that discussion agreed.

“We have limited participants and it was even worse pre-COVID, as we would only have a handful of people attend the meeting,” Howard said. “It’s not their problem to fix, it’s ours.”

Howard asked each committee members to list three ways the committee could improve engagement.

Committee member David Forth suggested establishing a community relations subcommittee, or use of a Zoom session through which community members could dial in and ask questions as well as liaisons to PTOs and a student advisory council.

Scriven favors a subcommittee approach, but wanted members to submit ideas for that by the next meeting at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 21.

Forth and Jones also liked the idea of pop-up meetings, and social media efforts as well as shortening meetings.

While she said a public comment opportunity “needs to happen,” Kniff said a Zoom call might not be the most effective avenue for it. She said being visible in the community might be more effective and liked Jones’ idea of appointing a point person for social media.

Szymaniak said the Zoom call for public comment could potentially be in place by the next committee meeting. Cullity said the chairman controls that aspect of the agenda in any case.

“Yes, people are going to be out on social media and they’re going to have their own opinions, but we can state the facts,” Byers said. “It’s best if you can point them right back to a district documents and then turn off those comments and notifications and just leave it there.”

Byers also suggested School Committee members could attend PTO meetings as “ears” and report back on things PTO members wish to tell them.

Szymaniak said the public comment idea gives an opportunity to speak at a specific point in a meeting, with people sometimes required to sign in as guests to do so ahead of time, which can also give the opportunity for members to research their question. He also found value in attending PTO meetings and having a public relations professional to direct a social media effort. He also suggested committee members should feel free to use the “Principally Speaking” column space allotted to the School District in the Whitman-Hanson Express as a way to communicate directly with residents.

The Mass. Association of School Committees does not permit committees to operate Facebook pages.

“I never want to engage in any argumentative or controversial [discussions] or I never speak on behalf of the committee on social media — just giving our effective information,” Byers said, noting she has had informational posts removed from community Facebook pages in the past.

Both Kniffen and Forth said they use personal Facebook pages to post factual information and meeting recaps about School Committee activity, which are permitted by the MASC, and not opinions. Small voiced concern that such recaps are more akin to non-approved draft minutes. Forth said he ran his intention to recap by MASC, but Kniffen suggested that Forth go into a bit less detail to address Small’s concerns.

Bois agreed that her posts have been effective in getting the facts before the community.

Howard said timeliness is a problem with social media. If one is not on it all the time, one could miss a timely opportunity to correct errors or misinformation.

“I’m an admitted dinosaur when it comes to social media,” Scriven said. I don’t engage in it — hardly ever. … From my perspective it presents more challenges than [benefits].”

He argued it is especially true for a school committee, which is bound by policies and restrictions.

“I think it’s important for us to speak with one voice as a committee, and not have the off shoots,” Scriven said. “I don’t know what that looks like. I just have those concerns.”

During the three-hour meeting, committee members also pointed to the length of meetings as a turn-off for residents who might otherwise attend.

WHITMAN — The Board of Selectmen has contracted with Community Paradigm Associates of Plymouth to conduct a search for the town’s new town administrator during the board’s Tuesday, Sept. 22 meeting. The vote was 4-1, with Selectman Brian Bezanson voting for Municipal Resources Inc., (MRI), of Meredith, N.H,

Current Town Administrator Frank Lynam is retiring, effective Oct. 13.

Rather than conduct official presentations, the board had both organizations simply answer questions from selectmen, based on materials presented to the board in advance. Lynam had already reached out to references from both companies.

“All of the people I have been able to contact have had very positive things to say about both organizations,” Lynam said.

Paradigm was represented by Bernard Lynch, Sharon Flaherty and John Petrin, representatives of the firm, who would be working on Whitman’s recruitment effort.

MRI had managed the search for Hanson’s new town administrator last year. Was represented by  Robert Mercier and Reginald “Buzz” Stapscynski.

Selectmen Chairman Dr. Carl Kowalski asked both firms why Whitman should select them.

“Because we’re better than everybody else,” Lynch said. “We have the most extensive experience in Massachusetts over the last several years.”

Lynch said Paradigm is the most active recruiting firm in the state with more than 50 town administrator searches to its credit. Recent area searches have included Pembroke, Plympton, East Bridgewater, Lakeville and Rockland. They are also currently working with Kingston.

“We know the region very well, we know the manager world very well,” said Lynch who has served as a town administrator for 30 years and Petrin has done so for nearly 40 years in Massachusetts. They generally get pools of 30 to 40 candidates.

“The list of towns [they serve], basically in our area, is very impressive,” said Selectman Dan Salvucci.

“What I like about this firm is that they are kind of local and they’ve got a finger on the pulse of the South Shore and how things operate here,” Bezanson agreed, before asking how long the average search process takes.

Lynch said they have brought it down from 16 to 14 weeks, but have done it in as little as 11 weeks. They take a couple of weeks to talk to Selectmen and department heads to learn about a community, before writing up a mission statement about the community and what it looks like to match with the ideal candidate.

“We want to find you the ideal candidate, so we want to know what you want,” Lynch said. Then they spend about four weeks doing active recruiting and advertising, then screening candidates to present finalists to the board.

“We’ll probably have a Supreme Court justice before you guys are finished,” Kowalski quipped.

Selectman Justin Evans asked if, having done so many searches in the same area, the firm has seen a lot of repeat candidates on their lists. Lynch said that they do, but that they also bring in new candidates.

Mercier said his firm has been in the business for more than 30 years, with a “long reach” in New England, recently finishing jobs in Vermont, Maine and Rhode Island as well as “a ton” in Massachusetts.

“We have chosen, during this COVID time, lots of communities that are just out of our reach,” he said. “We have nothing on our plate right now. You would be our committed community.”

MRI, according to Stapscynski also represents a lot of town administration experience under their belts.

“We’ve sat in the chair you are looking to fill,” Stapscynski said.

Mercier also said their firm places a lot of importance on talking to Selectmen to determine a community’s needs.

MRI’s procedure takes about three months, including written responses to questions applicants have been asked to answer.

Selectmen asked Assistant Town Administrator Lisa Green to absent herself from their deliberations before voting to select Paradigm.

“Really [the decision will come down to] preference, but I don’t know how we could go wrong either way,” Evans said.

“Both companies are outstanding,” Salvucci said, noting his preference went toward Paradigm. “The towns that they did were more like Whitman. … They’re more in tune to our type of community.”

Kowalski preferred the interstate experience of MRI.

“They were a lot more pointed in the description of our issues and our environment than I expected them to be,” he said.

Bezason leaned toward Kowalski’s view, pointing to Paradigm’s clients as akin to “the usual suspects.”

Selectman Randy LaMattina said the profile document Paradigm did on Kingston was impressive, but also harbored some concern about the depth of the talent pool. It was not a big enough concern, however, for him to vote against Paradigm.

Lynam said he is familiar with both organizations and respects both of them.

WHITMAN — The town of Whitman and the Whitman Board of Health report that the Town of Whitman has seen a rise in positive COVID-19 cases recently, and are urging the community to follow COVID-19 prevention guidance.

According to data shared by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health on Wednesday, there have been 12 confirmed positive cases of the virus in Whitman over the past two weeks.

“We urge all Whitman residents and those visiting our town to remain vigilant in their fight against COVID-19,” Fire Chief and Emergency Management Director Timothy Grenno said. “We thank everyone who has continued to take the virus seriously by practicing social distancing, wearing a face covering and not gathering in large groups. If we all do our part we can ensure that the number of positive cases stays as low as possible.”

Gov. Charlie Baker, in response to a statewide rise in positive cases, implemented several efforts and stricter guidelines, which went into effect Tuesday, Aug. 11. These included a reduction in the maximum number of people permitted at outdoor gatherings on both public and private property from 100 to 50 and a requirement that people wear face coverings whenever more than 10 people from different households gather.

Baker’s announcement reinforces an earlier order issued in May, which requires everyone, exempting children under the age of two or those with an underlying health condition, to wear a mask in public when maintaining social distancing, a minimum of six feet from others, is not feasible.

Indoor gatherings remain limited to groups of 25 or fewer people under Gov. Baker’s increased restrictions.

Restaurants have also been barred from selling alcoholic beverages for on-site consumption unless accompanied by a food order in an effort to ensure bars remain closed.

Fines or cease and desist orders may be issued by local or state public safety officials in the event hosts violate the limit on the number of people permitted at a gathering or the face covering order.

COVID-19 prevention tips from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health include:

• Remember that an infected individual can spread COVID-19 before they have symptoms, which is why social distancing, maintaining a minimum of six feet from others, is critical.

Those who must go out are urged to:

• Avoid gathering in groups

• Maintain six feet from people outside your household

• Do not shake hands or hug

• Wash your hands often

• Those who are at a high risk for COVID-19, including those over the age of 65 and with underlying health conditions, are advised to stay home and avoid non-essential tasks and errands.

• Wear a mask in indoor and outdoor spaces where social distancing from people outside your household is not possible. This does not apply to those under the age of two and with underlying health conditions.

Face coverings should:

• Cover the nose and mouth

• Fit snugly and comfortably against the side of the face

• Be secured with either ties or ear loops

• Permit breathing without difficulty

• Be able to be washed and machine

• Whitman officials encourage everyone to stay informed regarding COVID-19. The following websites are recommended for the most updated information:

• Town website: whitman-ma.gov.

• Whitman’s COVID-19 Resources and Information website: https://whitmancovid19.com/

Massachusetts Department of Public Health: www.mass.gov/covid-19

Massachusetts 2-1-1 general COVID-19 information: Click here or dial 2-1-1 (24/7)

Sign up for the Massachusetts COVID-19 Text Message Notification System to receive important updates: text “COVIDMA” to 888-777

United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: cdc.gov.

HANSON — Finding a balance between outward and inward emotions as well as the boundaries of body and buildings has been current challenges so many businesses have faced during the pandemic.

Two local women both Halifax residents are using the opportunity presented by the lockdown to reinvent space and grow their businesses in Hanson.

Local artisan and vendor Amanda Bright, of Always Bright Creations, and Naturespeaks2you’s Sara Beth Ostrander (who goes by Sara Beth) are sharing space and offering a variety of items for all age groups in an outdoor vendor-style tented area in the parking lot of their normally indoor space is at 500 Liberty St., in Hanson — across the street from the fire station.

They are extending into the community at a time it is most needed including a practice of positivity they call “raising the vibration.” The changes during the pandemic have taken a toll on the well -being of so many.

Bright’s displays contain countless inspirational handmade items they include: wire wrap and organite  jewelry, mirrors and coffee cups with both funny and positive sayings, and the ever popular  tie-dye trend. She hand dips and creates patterns on her T-shirts, bandanas and table decorations the hues are instantly uplifting. She twisted and created more than 50 shirts that were nearly sold out by Sunday afternoon.

Sara Beth who normally teaches inside her space at the naturespeaks2you has two and a half decades of self-teaching in geology. The more she learned about the  healing powers associated with rocks and crystals  she knew there were dozens of reasons she sought to teach others.

She is well-versed in the healing properties of natural rock formations using them in her everyday life as well as in mediumship practice and intuitive healing services that she offers at the naturespeaks2you. She showcases her own handmade jewelry, and gifts inspired by nature, which she hand- collected from crystals throughout New England. A portion of her own journey has been as a member of the South Eastern Massachusetts Mineral club.  She has an inherited passion for teaching the younger generations about minerals and rocks, which has carried through three generations in her family.

COVID has changed some of the classes and in-person services but her intuitive development services are offered remotely on a case basis and one on one individual class as the State restrictions allow.

On Sunday the tent sale features both full and partial dinosaur prints collected in the Connecticut River valley, according to Sara Beth.

She also has museum quality replicas of many different dinosaurs.

Numerous items seen on Sunday’s outdoor sale belonged to an avid collector of 50 years, a fellow mineral club member who has recently fallen ill. They are working together with the family to try and get his collection out for purchase with money supporting the family and his medical bills. Along with the opportunity she aims to pique the attention of younger generations educating them on crystals and the energy found in natural formations.

“It is cool to see people come over and pick the crystals up … and see the excitement of what people are drawn to- it is what serves them,” said Sara Beth.

Bright who has done great reflection and self improvement has found her passion after losing her mother in Dec. 2018 it coincided with the breakup of a toxic two-year marriage.

She had depression and complex PTSD, with financial insecurity that forced her to move back home. She thought she was at rock bottom and in her own words “felt like giving up.”

“I was a mess,” she said.

Empowering herself and realizing giving up was not in the cards she started writing on her mirrors screaming self love and self worth at herself by writing ‘you got this! … you are strong. You are beautiful.”  Each day finding strength and literally writing these affirmations on and in all of her reflective surfaces.

She began crafting, picking wild flowers and drying them teaching herself how to make smudge sticks and balls made from organic white sage and an assortment of beautiful handpicked flowers and herbs as well as Dream Catchers handcrafted and made from the grapevines right in her own back yard in Halifax.

They are planning on hosting their outside sale 12-5 on Sunday’s and a second day weather permitting.  All of their sale and contact information as well as updates on their tent sale are located on Facebook pages Always Bright Creations and Naturespeaks2you .