HANSON — The Highway Building Committee is looking to educate the public on the need and cost of building a new facility and tearing down — and cleaning the site — of the current building, its chairman, Selectman Kenny Mitchell reported to the Board of Selectmen on Tuesday, July 25.

A series of public meetings is planned to accomplish that aim, Mitchell said. Town Administrator Michael McCue also attended the committee’s last meeting on July 17, along with a representative from project engineering firm Weston & Sampson.

The Committee and engineers will be working to educate the public on the need and cost for the project both for use of the existing structure at the former LiteControl site — as well as for starting from scratch. They will also be crunching numbers on the potential site cleanup costs at the current highway barn.

An environmental assessment of that existing facility is required in the first phase, which could cost about $15,000. Phase II would depend on what is identified in the assessment, Mitchell said, but could range between $10,000 and $30,000.

“One way or another, we need to know what we’re dealing with on [the current highway barn] property,” agreed Selectman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett. “People want to know, soup-tonuts, how much it is going to cost.”

Mitchell said the cost for taking down the old building and site cleanup is needed, but the two issues cannot be combined, one reason being funding sources.

“Anytime you do demos, you can’t put that in a 20-year debt exclusion,” he said.

“You’re going to want to do it in stages,” she agreed. “But at least people will be fully informed of what the plan is.”

The firm has been working on Highway/DPW projects for a couple of other towns while Hanson has been holding meetings on its project. Cost increases on those projects have moved the company to suggest finetuning the numbers before the committee goes to Town Meeting for the cost of engineering and final design phase.

The engineering costs should be known by Aug 20, Mitchell said.

“That’s going to allow us to do an actual RFP on the building next March and get an actual, physical cost that somebody’s committed to build this building, and then we’ll be able to go to Town Meeting and say … it’s going to cost X-amount,” he said. “We’ll have a number so we’re not playing that Russian-roulette game and we’re not losing that precious time we’re all concerned about.”

Hubbell’s Chief Engineer Matt O’Neill has reported to the building panel on July 17 that the company’s cleanup work at the Hawks Avenue site if 95-percent complete, but planting in the wetlands have not been finished because of the rain.

“He admitted to me that they’re a year behind,” Mitchell said. “This fall, there is no question in his mind, that they’ll be able to do that. Once the permit is closed, from the Army Corps of Engineers, at that point they can subdivide the property and convey it over to the town of Hanson.”

That would not realisticallyhappen before winter,Mitchell reported.

Appointed town boards and commissions that have not video recorded meetings in the past have already begun doing so, McCue noted. Two cameras and tripods are currently available to be distributed for use as needed.

“I have not heard back from the Finance Committee, the Planning Board, or from any of the other elected boards where, obviously, it is up to them,” he said. “We can’t tell them [to do it]. We’re encouraging them, but they need to choose whether they are going to do that or not.”

The Water Commission did film one of its last meetings, using a VHS recorder — one in almost-new condition — but a third digital camera and tripod is being provided to that board, as VHS tape cassettes are harder to come by these days.

Newer cameras record video onto a USB thumb drive, he said.

Former volunteer videographer Richard Edgehille said he could help find tapes for use with the VHS camera. He also argued the filming of meetings could help spur residents to volunteer to serve on boards and commissions.

“If you don’t advertise, you can’t make money,” he said. “If you cover those boards, you’re going to get participation.”

Selectman Don Howard argued that, if more meetings are filmed, residents would opt to stay home and watch meetings on TV.

Edgehille gestured to the nearly-empty chamber.

“Look at the room now,” he said.

“We need new people to get involved,” Selectmen Chairman James McGahan agreed.

Selectmen also discussed public access to the recordings.

“It’s great that we’re recording it, but accessibility is really about getting put out there,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said asking how soon are recordings uploaded to YouTube and how long are they archived there.

Selectman Don Howard said it takes about a week to get the recordings uploaded and McCue said he will look at how archives can be accessed online.

McCue and McGahan met with Arlene Dias of the Cable Access Board of Directors and WHCA-TV Executive Director Eric Dresser on Friday, July 28 regarding the contract with Hanson and may be reporting back to Selectmen on the status of the contract at the Aug. 15 meeting.

In other business, Mc-Cue reported he plans to negotiate for ne request for proposal services as “good business sense to go out there and see what is available.” There is a possibility the town will remain with its current provider, but he wanted to determine if there are other options out there.

McCue also reported he has met with the Library Trustees regarding potential expansion and relocation. He also said he has received a favorable quote on a new ramp for the Hanson Food Pantry and will be drawing up a contract with the bidder, which will also be submitting a quote for windows, to be compared with other price quotes.

HANOVER — Representatives from the town of Hull attended a portion of the South Shore Vo-Tech’s Thursday, July 19 meeting to ask questions about the ongoing discussions centering on the town’s possibly joining the SSVT region.

“I’m going to try to answer some of the questions I picked off when I visited them last month,” said SSVT Committee Chairman Robert Molla during the meeting broadcast by Whitman-Hanson Community Access TV. “One of them was how did the new towns we brought in in 1992 affect it and how did the populace accept joining our club?”

Hull Board of Selectmen representative Jennifer Constable updated the SSVT board on her committee’s work on the issue to date.

Hull voters, in 2016, voted favorably on a Town Meeting article forming the South Shore Vo-Tech Exploratory Committee, which has been “learning as much as we can about voke-tech,” and discussing the issue with its own school district, she said.

“We have decided on two tracks of assessment in terms of how we will get to whether or not we make the recommendation,” Constable said.

That decision is slated to come before the town’s 2018 Town Meeting.

She said one track involves the level of interest among Hull residents. The other involves the feasibility of the financial assessment for which the town would be responsible. The Hull officials invited SSVT representatives to attend an informational session in September and noted that Hull officials and interested residents could attend the SSVT open house on Saturday, Oct. 14.

Hull is also hiring a consultant to assess the financial impact on the town.

“We will take that information into consideration when we decide whether or not we do or do not recommend the feasibility for the town to join the district,” she said.

Whitman SSVT representative Daniel Salvucci talked about the process that town went through in joining the district in 1982-83. One of his sons attended SSVT, studying drafting, as did his son’s wife — who is now an engineer.

“There was really no vocational education [in Whitman] for children,” he said. “When [W-H] regionalized fully, K-12, there were children who were seeking a vocational education and we couldn’t offer it. So we had to look to the closest school system that offered vocational education, and that happened to be South Shore Vo-Tech.”

As the district was a regional one both Whitman and Hanson joined SSVT together.

“It’s been great,” he said. “We have had no bad feelings or [thoughts we were] doing the wrong thing for our children.”

While Whitman voters have, from time to time, asked why the SSVT assessment — which is based on the number of students from each town — has been so high, they have never questioned the quality of education.

“If a child wants a vocational education, who are we to say no?” Salvucci said he argued to Whitman voters at the time. He also noted there are no user fees for sports at SSVT. “It’s all there.”

Constable said she wanted to make it clear that no one in Hull was advocating saying no to any child wishing to pursue a vocational education.

“It’s just there is that sticking point — to determine if we can afford that buy-in cost,” she said.

Molla reviewed the SSVT student populations, and average per-pupil cost, per town’s local educational budget. With SSVT picking up transportation costs to SSVT, he argued Hull would pay lower per-pupil costs than the current cost of about $20,000. He added the board is open to negotiation on the buy-in cost, so it could be considerably less.

“When do you rent and when do you buy, and in order to determine that, you’ve got to figure out how deep the interest is,” said Superintendent-Director Dr. Thomas J. Hickey said. “Information is good and we stand ready to help in as many forums or opportunities as we can. … You’re here to figure out and ultimately make a recommendation. ”

Molla had also suggested that an informational program on WHCA-TV could be helpful.

“I think the third-party analysis will yield a lot of good information,” Hickey said. “Now there’s another year’s worth of data available.”

One Hull committee member asked about where SSVT graduates head after commencement, to work or higher education?

“Every one of our students has a job,” Molla said. “Most of the students — electrical is one shop — probably have their career jobs by their junior year, because we have an excellent co-op program. Automotive is another.”

Hickey said the numbers change year-to-year, but noted that every student has a career plan by graduation.

“If it’s a direct-to-work field, there is a place for them,” he said. “Where they’re headed next might include some post-secondary education [65-percent of 2017 grads planned to do so]. … There are a lot of success stories out there.”

SSVT has also begun tracking graduates up to five years after commencement for even more accurate numbers.

Five years ago, SSVT changed admission policy to accept nonresident students — when places are available — but all resident students scoring between 60-100 points are admitted before nonresident students and finally residents with scores below 50 are accepted.

In other business, Hickey said work on revisions to the regional agreement is essentially complete, but will not likely be ready for presentation to town meetings this fall.

Freshmen will be invited in for “Freshmen Fiesta” on Aug. 15 to familiarize themselves with the building and a cookout lunch.

WHITMAN — A public hearing on the status of the alcoholic beverage license issued to O’Toole’s pub, already delayed by legal negotiations, has been again rescheduled — this time, officials say, for the final time. The matter will be on the agenda for the Tuesday, Aug. 15 selectmen’s meeting.

Whitman Selectmen were scheduled to conduct a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday, July 18 about the license at the 24 Raynor Ave. business following police investigations of disturbances at the pub, but Town Administrator Frank Lynam noted that he communicated with town counsel last week to confirm the plan to move forward. On Monday afternoon, however, after an email had been forwarded to O’Toole’s lawyer to confirm that all legal hurdles were cleared, that attorney requested additional information from the town.

“We responded and are providing them with copies of a recording and other items that are being requested,” Lynam said. “That will go out [Wednesday, July 19]. The hearing will be scheduled for Aug. 15 and it will occur.”

He said it was the third postponement of the hearing.

Energy grant

Lynam also noted that — after Assistant Town Administrator Lisa Green had announced last month that the town had received a $197,000 green communities grant for boiler replacement at the Fire Department and Library as well as an energy management system for the Library — the approved grant amounts were reduced by the calculation of expected energy savings from the new boilers.

That means funds will have to be used from the Fire Department revenue account for that boiler. At the Library, a $17,050 request to make up the difference in the $80,000 worth of improvements to the Library ran into a snag. Director Andrea Rounds has told Lynam she does not want to use available trust fund money for the work.

“Frankly, we don’t have the money available to make up the difference right now,” he said. “I guess we’ll be having a discussion in August and either the additional money will be available or we’re going to have to pass on that opportunity for the boiler and energy system.”

“That’s a lot of capital to pass over,” Selectmen Chairman Dr. Carl Kowalski said.

Lynam also noted the town, via the Library, had received $300,000 in a bequest from a patron for things other than library operating expenses.

The current boiler is original to the 1988 construction of the Library building.

“So, we’ll have a boiler that’s worth about $30,000 or $40,000 that we only have to pay $17,000 for — why wouldn’t we do that?” Selectman Dan Salvucci said.

“That’s a question we’ll have to ask,” Lynam said.

Salvucci also reminded motorists using side streets as detours during a DPW paving project on School Street to drive slowly.

“If you’re detoured on a secondary street, watch your speed, there’s lots of kids playing,” he said.

In other business, the board voted 3-0 to appoint Laura L. Howe to the post of primary animal control officer — on an on-call basis from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. — and Mary A. Drake as secondary animal control officer, pending both women’s completion of mandatory hiring processes. Selectmen Randy LaMattina and Scott Lambiase were absent.

“Laura has expressed great interest in serving the community in this capacity,” Lynam said.

Nita Sault was appointed to a vacancy on the Whitman Cultural Council. Both Howe and Sault had run for seats on the board of Selectmen in the May annual Town Elections and had expressed interest in further involvement in town activities after their campaigns fell short.

Selectmen approved a resolution to authorize the signing of a lease-purchase agreement for a sidewalk plow as supported by voters at the May 1 Town Meeting.

Lynam explained that, in order to complete the lease-purchase agreement, there are documents to be signed on behalf of the board.

Selectmen also approved a Class II auto dealer’s license for Ricardo Miranda Filho for his business RT Auto Sales & Repair at 288 Essex St.

The building inspector had no concerns about the application, provided the business removes all inoperable vehicles from the premises and that cars are displayed according to the site plan.

“I will try to make the place better,” Filho said  in brief remarks to the board after their vote. “We’ll put nice signs there, better cars there, and keep it clean.”

Selectman Brian Bezanson lauded the Recreation Commission for the annual Fourth of July Family Field Day program.

“They do a great job and they’re giving up their holiday to do it,” he said. “I want to thank all the volunteers.”

If it’s true that once you build a better mousetrap, the world will beat a path to your door, then Whitman and Hanson students taking part in the summer 3-D Printer Camp at WHRSD should perhaps start preparing to greet their global partners.

Any successful product starts with a solid design.

“There’s so many things we can do with this,” W-H Business and Technology Education teacher Julie Giglia said July 10 on the first day of the second camp session. “Why are we starting with a smaller project? Before we can print anything, we’ve got to know how to design and baby steps lead to bigger steps and practice makes potential.”

The three four-day camps taught by Giglia — and assisted this summer by 2017 graduate Conor Keane of Hanson — began June 26 and conclude with a session from July 31 to Aug. 4.

Keane will attend the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester this fall, where he will study architecture. In between helping Giglia answer campers’ questions, Keane also did some work on a design for the dream house he plans to build one day.

“Practice makes potential,” is Giglia’s, teaching mantra. “Nothing’s perfect, unless your name is Perfect.”

The camp was first offered last year following the school’s being awarded a $1,600 Innovation Station grant from representatives of Otter Products on behalf of its Otter Cares Foundation in September 2015. The grant made the school’s 3-D printer purchase possible and that technology upgrade led to the idea for the camp.

“I think a lot of people are excited with new technology,” Giglia said July 10. “It’s an opportunity for kids to design and make things from scratch — from inception all the way to a prototype.”

Like any summer camp, the 3-D Printer Camp begins with an ice-breaking session so the half-dozen or so participants can get to know each other. Then they watched a video on how the computer-aided drafting software works before starting off with a practice session on drafting dog house with a design by Google SketchUp via 3DVinci.net.

The week culminates on a Thursday afternoon with an open house for the campers’ families from 2 to 3 p.m.

“Sometimes videos put us all to sleep,” Giglia said, interrupting the program to start some practical work on a simple doghouse design to familiarize the students with the software. “We’re starting easy because we build on our knowledge.We can’t just go out and print before we learn how to design. … We learn best when we see things.”

“Before you can be independent, you’ve got to learn to be non-independent,” Keane added.

This writer will admit that the campers, ages 10 to 15, left me in the dust as they mastered the basics before adding extras, such as windows, colors, roofing materials and exterior fencing, while I was struggling with the initial dimensions.

Campers learned the need to follow three axis points to arrive at a three-dimensional drawing. As Giglia offered instructions at the white board, Keane offered individual help where needed.

“This is ‘camping is fun’” Giglia said. “Some people learn at different levels. Don’t compare yourself to Conor, he’s much more advanced.”

One or two campers had made the mistake of recording their doghouse dimensions as inches instead of feet, but their errors paled in relation to their creativity. They also learned about the software’s version of the Cloud storage system — called the Warehouse —as well as how to file their work in folders, the value of the undo key and of saving their work frequently lest computer crashes cost them a lot of work. Work in the Warehouse may be downloaded for incorporation in new projects, including landscape features.

Keane also offered a couple shortcuts to ensure straight lines and angles, too.

By the end of the camp, participants would be able to create items such as rings and key chains from biodegradable plastic filament specifically manufactured for use in 3-D printers, and from which student designs can be reproduced in plastic models. The filament, which can be made from recycled plastic bottle caps, is fed into the printer in order to create prototypes.

“Anything you can use to recycle is a positive thing” she said. “I think kids come away pretty happy.”

The campers can also use virtual reality visors for fun as well as design challenges at the camp sessions.

Giglia, who has taught CAD for seven years at WHRHS, said the camp also fosters an interest in that subject.

HANOVER — The South Shore Vo-Tech School Committee on Wednesday, June 21, heard a report from its Regional Planning Subcommittee on progress made concerning revisions to the district’s regional agreement.

Superintendent-Director Dr. Thomas J. Hickey provided a PowerPoint overview of edits to the agreement recommended by consultants from the Mass. Association of Regional Schools.

“We have a little more work to do,” Hickey said. “It’s our intention to bring to you, as a full committee, a proposed revised regional agreement at our July meeting. I think we’re almost there.”

He said there remain some “small language items” that still need clarification, and that the subcommittee wants the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to weigh in on the document changes.

No vote was sought June 21, but Hickey said, the subcommittee wanted to present a draft that would help the committee feel comfortable in bringing the updated agreement to the eight member communities for town meeting votes soon. The timing was gauged to provide time over the summer for boards of selectmen, town administrators or other stakeholders to give early feedback on some of the proposed changes.

“If the feedback from our communities is neutral to favorable, then I would probably want to bring [this matter] back to you for a vote to move this as a potential warrant article for fall or special town meetings,” he said. “If we get feedback that [it] requires further study, there is no rush. There is no looming deadline hanging over our head.”

The possible admission of the town of Hull to the district is a separate topic, Hickey stressed.

“This presentation is not word-by-word, it’s really just a view at 5,000 feet,” he said, noting he would review the proposed changes to the agreement only.

Among the proposed changes are:

• Moving mention of Whitman and Hanson to the preamble — as the last time the agreement was revised was the mid-1980s when those two towns first joined the district — and removal of specific mention of them in the rest of the first section as no longer relevant to mention of the “original member” towns.

• Updating member community status to reflect the one-member-one-vote process now followed. The subcommittee and consultants spent the most time in sections IV and V to reverse them and revise the budget and assessment procedures. In the previous version assessments were addressed before how budgets are built.

• Dealing with capital on a three-year rolling average and makes clear where a year refers to a July-to-June fiscal year and where it refers to a calendar year.

• Handling debt as a fixed number.

• Referring to a specific statute, MGL Ch. 71 Sec. (d) or (n), on how communities would be asked to incur debt. It is not now referred to in the agreement.

“This law is very challenging,” Hickey said, noting that a debt service could be passed with only two-thirds of member communities voting in favor. “But, any community that votes no doesn’t have to pay their share, and any community that votes no could have their enrollment restricted from any part of the building where an addition or a renovation might take place.”

He said he does not know how the district would address that restriction should the renovation be to something like a septic system or a cafeteria.

“I certainly don’t understand how that promotes district harmony,” he said. Currently debt must be accepted by a unanimous vote of member communities.

Future amendments to the regional agreement not involving debt, however, would only need a vote of two-thirds of member communities. Admission of new member towns would be covered by that change.

For withdrawal from the district, more clarity is included on necessary notice, procedure and post-departure financial obligations.

Chairman Robert Molla said he would like to see enough time built in that process to ensure the freshmen of a departing town would be able to complete their education at SSVT.

“In a nutshell, the bulk of this work is updating to current practices, aligning with current statutes, looking to give this and future committees greater flexibility as permitted under the statute in many cases,” Hickey said.

In other business, the committee overruled Hickey’s self-evaluation rating of “proficient” in all categories and insisted he be rated “exemplary” despite Hickey’s objections.

“I think Tom was very conservative and underestimated his abilities,” Molla said. “He’s been a 24/7, 365-day superintendent.”

“His ability to sit with you and talk with you is unbelievable,” member Kenneth Thayer of Norwell said of Hickey’s willingness to discuss concerns with School Committee representatives.  “Thank you for everything you’ve done for us.”

Hickey kept shaking his head “no” during the comments.

“I appreciate the motion, I appreciate your support,” he said. “I would, however, like to go on record  and say that I do believe my self-assessment more accurately reflects the rubrics of a superintendent. I will sign the evaluation if you vote this way, but I do so under protest because I think that “proficient” is a more accurate reflection of my performance.”

They didn’t listen to him and voted for the higher ranking.

The School Committee on Wednesday, June 14, provided more detail on transitional plans as Maquan Elementary School enters its final year as an active school in Hanson this September.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ruth Gilbert-Whitner along with Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources, Safety and Security Dr. Patrick Dillon and other administrators have met with Maquan and Indian Head School faculty to discuss the transition.

Dillon is leading that transition.

“This summer, during the school break when kids aren’t in session, we’ll start to meet with school leaders who are responsible for various portions of the transition and start the detailed planning process,” Dillon said.

“I think we’ve made good progress,” Gilbert-Whitner said. “I think people feel comfortable that, if they do have questions, to bring them forward. We’re asking them to remain calm, we’ve been through this process before.”

Dillon reported the leadership team has been identified and new Special Education Director Kyle Riley will oversee the preschool and special ed transition at Maquan. Hanson Middle School Principal William Tranter will be responsible for the incorporation of fifth-graders into that school and Maquan Principal Elizabeth Wilcox, who will serve as principal of both schools next year, will also supervise the transition of the remaining grades into Indian Head.

The district had announced to parents last week that John Riley will continue as Indian Head School’s assistant principal and Director of Science Mark Stephansky, a licensed principal/assistant principal, will be based at Maquan where he will also serve as assistant principal.

Maquan Administrative Assistant Susan Andrews will remain in place next year and will move to Indian Head for the 2018-19 school year. Indian Head Administrative Assistant Joan Maloney is retiring, effective June 30, and a temporary assistant will be hired for next year. Maquan’s Early Childhood Coordinator Patricia Collins and School Psychologist Joan Joyce will continue to assist with administrative responsibilities.

A steering committee of from eight to 10 stakeholders will also help provide guidance in the process.

The committee also reviewed the district’s Emergency Management Plan, which has addressed situations this year ranging from a smell in the Hanson Middle School elevator and a gas problem at Whitman Middle School to the national concern over scary clown sightings last fall.

“As we were reflecting on that, folks were saying, ‘and that all happened this year?’ — and it did,” Gilbert-Whitner said.

For the past two years, Dillon, has been working on a comprehensive emergency plan.

“When we reflected on the events from this year, we became ever more certain as to why those things [in the plan] needed to happen,” Gilbert-Whitner said.

Dillon reported on the progress of his 13-person planning task force. That group has reviewed the plan and provided individual feedback, which will be incorporated into the plan and submitted to Gilbert-Whitner by the end of the month and the police and fire chiefs in both towns over the summer.

The 2017-18 training plan will be presented to the School Committee in August, including procedures for evacuation, relocation and reunification plan for emergencies.

“One of the goals next year will be to practice that evolution in one of the schools,” he said. “It won’t happen until the springtime, but that’s an example of what we’re training for.”

In other business, the Committee presented its evaluation of Gilbert-Whitner’s goals and performance for 2016-17.

“The committee seems to be very pleased with our superintendent,” School Committee Chairman Bob Hayes said of the rankings which were in the proficient-to-exemplary range. The reports are kept on file at the administration office.

“The role of the superintendent has really changed over the years,” said committee member Robert Trotta. “I think it’s important to know that there’s a lot that goes on at the superintendent level — just dealing with the budget alone has got to be the most frustrating thing … All in all, I think you’ve done a great job.”

“I know we’re getting beat up a lot with financial issues … but I’ve seen a lot of improvement in what’s happening,” said member Kevin Lynam, whose children attend school in Whitman. “I’ve seen science programs hit the elementary schools … my oldest did not have that program and my youngest do.”

He said his children are now always bringing home science projects and are talking about science.

“That never happened before,” he said. “Neither of their parents have a science background at all — this is all coming from the schools.”

Committee member Fred Small, cautioned that the budget situation remains a concern.

“There’s so much more that we could be doing and should be doing,” he said.

172 graduate from SSVT

COHASSET — The 172 members of the South Shore Vocational Technical High School Class of 2017 have been urged to be champions of others — they are already champions themselves.

“You have character, a strong work ethic and talent,” Superintendent-Director Dr. Thomas J. Hickey told his graduates Friday, June 9 during ceremonies at the South Shore Music Circus. “You’re a group of young adults who are ready to fix, to build, to lead, to create, to heal, to serve. I see champions everywhere I look.”

Introducing his theme with an audio highlight clip of Super Bowl LI, courtesy of 98.5 Sports Hub Radio Producer Howie Sylvester, Hickey urged the students to remember the word “champion” is also a verb.

“When we champion the causes of others, it means we are there to support and rally to others in need,” he said. “Because there will be people in your lives, at home, at work, who will be down 25 points, and they may not have a Brady or an Edelman, or a Belichick behind them. But they will have you.”

Student speakers, too, spoke of the difference the Class of 2017 has already done in their four years at SSVT.

“We were artists and actors, craftsmen and friends,” said Valedictorian and Senior Class President Benjamin Duncan. “Each one of us having a unique skill set and talent that we were ready and eager to share with the world.”

Duncan shared the last of his infamous annotated emails to his fellow seniors, offering a 13-point to-do list for life after high school. Expressing gratitude, smiling often, living simply and showing persistence were among those goals.

“Let’s throw ourselves out into the open and let’s not be afraid to make mistakes, because who knows where taking those chances will lead us in the future,” he concluded.

Salutatorian Dakota-Lyn Bagley used her volleyball team’s growth in her four years as an example of how she has also grown as a student, an athlete and a person.

“High school is difficult,” she said. “It is awkward and an emotional rollercoaster for everyone. … I was lucky to find stability at SSVT and I cannot put into words how thankful I am that I met all of you people that helped me find it.”

She said the process will start all over again with the start of college in the fall.

“But my time at SSVT has taught me that I will be OK,” she said.

Student Body President Jacob Cormier also lauded the school for providing each student the opportunity to discover their own unique talents.

“The experiences during the time at Vo-Tech have shaped every single one of us in some incredible way,” Cormier said. “If I hadn’t come to this school, I would be a completely different person.”

Assistant Principal Mark Aubrey summed up the Class of 2017 in a different way before handing out the diplomas:

“Every graduating class is a little unique,” he said. “Looking back at this class, the best way I can describe it is — young at heart. This is the class that brought a bouncy house to school last week. That’s before some mean, older guy told them they had to take it down.”

Whitman and Hanson graduates of SSVT are:

              WHITMAN

Sarah Achin, David Anderson, Olivia Baker-Buckley, Matthew Bennett, Cassidy Burt, Steven Coates, Ashley Corkery, Corissa Crowley, Alex Cullinan, Mitchell Ellis, Alexis Green, Shawn Holland, Christopher Kearns, Jared Keith, Liam Leonard, Christopher Martell, Sarah Maul, Nathan Maynard, Owen McLaughlin, Alex McPherson, Jonathan Mills, Kelly O’Sullivan, Cassie Rapoza, Alexandra Reiser, Christian Tanner.

HANSON

Brian Buchanan, Brian Burns, Alexander Cross, Tylor Fleming, Harry Gauthier, Colby Ingemi-Jolie, Dylan Key, Matthew McAndrew, Kade Milewski, Harrison Newcomb, Christopher Pellerin, Emily Sansone, Derek Stalker.

W-H lauds its CES graduates

They’ve already taken the road less traveled toward earning their high school diplomas, so Community Evening School Co-Director William  Glynn had some suggestions for the 18 students of the Class of 2017 — keep blazing different trails.

Be the first one to dance at a party. Eat weird foods — try mayonnaise on your hot dog. Read books no one has made you read and authentically share your life with others.

He also asked the students to step up to help change their world, by being themselves.

“This evening’s ceremony not only celebrates the countless hours of hard work of our graduates, but the dedication of those who have supported the students throughout their journey,” Co-Director Dianne Nicol said in her welcoming remarks Thursday, June 1. “Everyone sitting in this auditorium has contributed to each student’s success — give yourself a well-deserved round of applause.”

The keynote speaker, Glynn has been a part of the graduates’ entire high school experience. He asked the students if they felt nervous on the occasion he felt “terrified — and I’m from Whitman, so imagine how the people from Hanson feel right now,” he quipped.

He congratulated the students from the heart.

“You did this,” he said. “Of course, people helped you — family, friends, even some teachers, all looked out for you. They guided you, they goaded you, in some cases they affectionately dragged you here to this moment. But you did this.”

He said many had overcome challenges that would have stopped others in the room dead in their tracks.

“It will provide a place of strength from which you can better face the challenges, seize the opportunities and enjoy the splendors of the world that now lie before you,” Glynn said. “Get out there and experience it.”

He urged them to go places they’ve never been, to meet new people and try new things — including that bit about mayo on hot dogs. He also urged them to listen to new music and work a bunch of different jobs.

“Some things will work out beyond your wildest expectations,” he said. “Some things, to speak the truth … might feel like soul-crushing disasters.”

Both kinds are invaluable experiences that can enrich and ennoble life and neither is forever, Glynn said.

School Committee Chairman Robert Hayes noted that while CES students may not go through the “typical program of studies, but it got them here” as graduates of WHRHS.

“You have to stay committed and finish — finish everything that you do. It’s a must,” Hayes said. “As you know, this was not an easy task. … the future has great hope for all of you. Stay focused and committed.”

He also advocated that the students dream big and remain life-long learners.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ruth Gilbert-Whitner also addressed the class, in the same theme of the meaning of success as her address to the 282 students who graduated Friday, June 2.

“When success is defined as favorable or desired outcomes, each one of you is a success, having accomplished all the requirements to obtain a high school diploma,” she said.

She also urged them to savor the moment.

“Memories that will last a lifetime are being created right now,” Gilbert-Whitner said. “For those of us who graduated from high school some time ago, those memories are rekindled as we proudly watch the Class of 2017 receive their diplomas.”

Students then received their diplomas from persons each had asked to make the presentation.

CES Class of 2017

Rebecca Helen Ames presented by Bruce Gardner, Owen Robert Andrews, Jesmelia Isabel Brandao presented by Emelia Ortiz, Aaron Douglas Brown presented by Vivki Brown, Paulo Roberto De Oliviera presented by Maureen Garrett, Taylor Grace Fitzgerald presented by Paul Fitzgerald and Kim Baker, Sarah Catherine Folan presented by Shana Folan, Katrina Lucille Freeman presented by Jeffrey Andrews, Thomas Ray Hines was absent, Cameron Charles Hunsinger presented by Rachel Hunsinger, Katherine Anne Lee presented by Kerry DeSista, Ryan Patrick McCabe presented by William Glynn, Cole James McCarthy presented by William Glynn, Joseph Scott McHugh presented by his father, Bailee Frances Poirier presented by William Glynn, Mark Joseph Smith presented by Bruce Gardner, Shelton Caribe Terry presented by William Glynn and Debra Rose Williams who was absent.

WHITMAN — Selectmen, at the behest of Police Chief Scott Benton, are considering a reduction of the number of parking spaces permitted on South Avenue in front of Town Hall to improve pedestrian visibility and safety in crosswalks.

Old Colony Planning Council will be asked to conduct a study on the feasibility of such a move — as well as a reduction of the speed limit in that area to 20 miles per hour.

“We can go to 20, but there’s a petition process,” Town Administrator Frank Lynam said, noting the statutory speed limit is 25 there. Lynam and Selectman Dan Salvucci said the OCPC can work rather quickly on the issue.

“There’s going to have to be some periodic enforcement, too,” Lynam said.

Benton provided a packet of eight photos illustrating the parking spaces and street traffic in front of Town Hall, as well as a copy of the federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Devices, to illustrate his points. The photos demonstrate the lack of room for safely opening car doors and visibility problems when pedestrians emerge in the crosswalk from between cars to cross the street.

“I have people come in all the time complaining they almost got killed in this crosswalk out here,” Benton said. “Are we going to count bodies before we say, ‘Well, maybe we ought to take a look at this’?”

Selectman Brian Bezanson said 15 years of holding political signs in the Venus parking lot on election days has demonstrated to him the need to address the problem.

“You get to see a lot of things, and I can tell you that people go way too fast in front of this building,” Bezanson said. “It’s outrageous. I don’t know how many times I’ve seen one of your officers practically jump out of their shoes to get cars to slow down and stop and not hit pedestrians.”

He said the town is between a rock and a hard place, losing parking spots that are like gold to save somebody’s life. A lack of curb cuts for handicapped access to crosswalks is also a dangerous problem, Bezanson said, advocating a close look at the whole picture of safety in the area. Salvuci said the OCPC would require the curb cuts, which Lynam said should be done in any case.

“There’s a reason to do it for the traffic itself, but, certainly for the pedestrians, the biggest problem I see is visibility,” Benton said of the parking space changes. “They’re not visible.”

The federal guidelines place a minimum of 20 feet from a crosswalk to a parking space, with a recommendation of 30 feet or more. Benton said there are about three spaces in that stretch of roadway that are not 20 feet from the crosswalk. At least three parking spaces would be eliminated with the 20-foot guideline, six would be cut with a 30-foot guidelines.

“What we have here, too, a lot of the time is a lot of ‘almosts,’” Benton said. “Somebody goes to open their door without looking, and the door’s going South except for a motorist’s reaction or their person [opening the door] catches themselves.”

The situation also creates a problem of insufficient travel space for traffic in both directions when a westbound vehicle moves toward the center to provide room for opening car doors.

It presents a problem for crosswalks at Central and Davis streets as well as in front of the post office.

According to Benton, courts have held that, if a driver doesn’t have time to see an obstruction and avoid it, they are not responsible for a collision. A left turn out of Davis toward the east end of town, requires cars to make a wide turn — almost into the left lane — to get around cars parked in the corner space, he added.

Large trucks and emergency vehicles are also faced with the challenge of getting past parked cars.

Benton said that removing parking spaces and reconfiguring traffic flow past the 418 block of South Avenue near Raynor Avenue has reduced the number of accidents in that area. Selectmen Chairman Carl Kowalski, however, said the new traffic pattern there makes it difficult to see westbound traffic coming from the intersection of Pleasant and Franklin streets with South Avenue.

“It’s amazing how a line of cars, with almost no space between them, comes through that [four-way] stop sign,” Kowalski said. “Something has to be done with that.”

Benton said the problem with past accidents there was due more to visibility restrictions from traffic emerging from Raynor Avenue because of parked cars along the 418 block.

Kowalski said parking near Town Hall is also important for elders, especially as the back parking lot is often filled with employee vehicles.

Selectmen Scott Lambiase and Randy LaMattina suggested the municipal lot behind Dunkin’ Donuts is available, and perhaps signage is needed to alert people of its presence.

WHITMAN — Under a giant American flag, the Duval Elementary School’s students, faculty and some parents gathered in the school gym Friday, May 26 to kick off Memorial Day weekend with the school’s 13th annual We Remember program.

The school welcomed special guests selectmen Scott Lambiase, Randy LaMattina and Dan Salvucci, Town Administrator Frank Lynam, Fire Chief Timothy Grenno, Veterans’ Agent Thomas McCarthy, Assistant Superintendent of Schools Dr. Patrick Dillon — who is a lieutenant in the Coast Guard — and members of the Duval family at the event.

Retired Navy SEAL Lt. Cmdr. Anthony O’Brien also attended to lead a group of students, clad in his old fatigue blouses and covers, in saluting the five branches of the armed services with a loud shout of, “Thank you for your service!”

“It is so important that we have you come here to help teach all of our friends that are with us how important it is to pause this weekend and remember the men and women who have sacrificed so much for all of us,” Principal Julie McKillop said in her welcoming remarks.

But the students were the primary participants in the event, as a handful read from reports, poems and letters to veterans in honor of service to country before the student body sang “America,” and “God Bless America.”

“We would like to thank all of our special guests who took the time to be with us today to help us remember the brave men and women who have given their service and lives for their country,” said fifth-grader David Nourse in his welcome on behalf of his fellow students. “We are honored to have you join us in our celebration.”

Nourse singled out Dillon and school gym teacher Patrick Kennedy, a Marine reservist currently on a humanitarian deployment to Hondouras, thanking them for their service.

Students and Duval staff members also placed tiny American flags on a wreath for display in the lobby in honor of relatives who have served their country.

“You help protect us and keep us safe. When people are doing bad things, you protect us through it all,” student Kelsey Fitzgerald read from her letter to veterans. “You are awesome and brave. Thank you, soldiers.”

“Inside every soldier, there’s a heart, and inside every heart, there is love,” read Brailey Murphy from her essay. “In every heart there is bravery — more bravery than anyone can imagine — it all comes from the love. … It makes you strong. It makes you bold. It makes you a soldier.”

The school’s fourth-grade class also presented with donated personal care items to Jason Gray, a representative of the Brockton VA Hospital.

“I understand a lot of hard work went into this, and we thank you very much,” Gray said before pledging to leave immediately to deliver the “conference room full of stuff” to the veterans to whom it was donated. “Thank you for working so hard for us — our country and our veterans — it’s what you give back to your community.”

Salvucci noted the huge American flag dominating the gym wall behind the speakers’ podium as he honored his late father in-law, a World War II veteran who had served in the Normandy invasion and transferred to the Pacific after the war in Europe had been won. Salvucci said the Duval program is his favorite event because he gets to talk about his father in-law’s service and his devotion to the flag.

“I always carry an American flag — when you see me marching, I’m carrying this small flag,” he said as he took the flag out of his breast pocket. “This year, when I walked into this room and I saw this American flag, my heart stopped. I want to thank you.”

O’Brien, too, said he was impressed by the giant flag, adding that, for some, Memorial Day is every day.

“If you served in combat, you’ve seen too many caskets with [our] flag on it,” he said. “So, to see that flag is extra special.”

He noted that only 1 percent of the American public serves in the military, and only 6 percent of Americans are veterans, adding that teachers, town officials and public safety personnel should also be thanked for their service to their community. He asked the students to think of those who are serving in uniform now or have served in the past as they honor those who have died in service to their country over the weekend.

More students followed O’Brien, including Camryn Tarr, reading her essay on Betsey Ross and Livia Saya, who read from her paper on the bald eagle. Kathryn Ward, Nathan Smith and Brooklyn Uzzell read from their original poems and Lillie MacKinnon, Van Le and Ariana Beane read from their letters to veterans.

“Thank you for protecting us and all you’ve done for us,” Le read from his letter. “Because of you, we can be safe from harm. Keep up the good work.”

Student leaders then presented red carnations to the special guests and escorted them to the library for a breakfast reception and gave them hand-written thank you letters.

HANSON — The Hanson Board of Selectmen Tuesday May 23, expanded the scope and changed the name of its school buildings repair committee.

It was the board’s first  meeting since the May 20 election, kicking off with the swearing-in of new selectmen Jim Hickey and Laura Fitzgerald-Kemmett, who were active in discussion and ready to provide input on many of the agenda items.

Most of the meeting dealt with Indian Head and Maquan School Priority Repair Committee, the name of which is being changed to reflect the concerns about all three Hanson school buildings.

The Selectmen decided to vote on renaming the committee to the concise School Repair Committee. They also unanimously voted to add the Hanson Middle School to this committee after discussing the responsibility and role of the committee.

“Maybe we need to incorporate all of the town buildings into this committee because they’re all in disrepair and we always seem surprised when something like a roof leak comes up,” Selectman Fitzgerald-Kemmett said.

Chairman McGahan agreed.

“We have a need for a group to focus on town buildings,” he said.

Selectman Howard asked if the school department didn’t take care of schools?

Essentially, the argument is that the schools shouldn’t be incorporated with town buildings, as the responsibility is lying in different pockets. Whitman contributes money to the school department. There is also the matter of people covering the school buildings not having knowledge of the happenings of town buildings.

“I don’t know if this committee is the way to do it (determining the needs to repair town buildings),” Selectman Kenny Mitchell said.

In response to the arguments, Fitzgerald-Kemmett said, “It’s evolving to where we need two or three committees… Bring groups together so they can prioritize what they all need.”

Selectman Hickey differed.

“I don’t know if we want to make two or three new committees,” he said. “We have enough trouble getting people to join our current committees.”

“This town is committee-ing itself to death,” School Committee chairman, and member of the Indian Head and Maquan School Priority Repair Committee, Bob Hayes said. He argued that regardless of how many committees there are, the town still has to vote to listen to them.

Town Administrator Michael McCue felt that this was something that could not be accomplished during this meeting. He thought the discussion was healthy but they should attend to the matter at hand, which was the Indian Head and Maquan School Priority Repair Committee.

The former selectman member of this committee was Bruce Young. Due to his retiring, the members had to vote on his replacement. Hickey said that he would like to take on this responsibility and the members voted to approve him unanimously. This will, of course, be his first committee as a selectman.

The meeting began with their swearing in with many attended the meeting in order to see these Hanson residents officially become Selectmen and there was applause from the crowd.

The board then reorganized, voting James McGahan back as chairman and Mitchell as vice chairman.