HANSON – The town may still lean on a proposal to use a boardwalk to Burrage project to draw tourism dollars to Hanson, without ending up having taken a long walk on a short pier.
It all hinges on planning, prioritizing and voting to divide $170,000 in state budget earmarks between the Bonney House restoration, High Street part development and a boardwalk connecting Main Street access to trails in the Burrage Wildlife Management Area
The Select Board was updated on the boardwalk project eyed for Main Street about a month ago on Dec. 3, 2024.
“The reason I’m bringing this to the board is, obviously, the earmark says the construction of a boardwalk from Main Street to the Burrage, and – I’ve said to you before – when you tell an engineer, ‘You can’t do that,’ we always say, ‘Challenge accepted.’” Planner Anthony DeFrais said at the time. “But we also know where there’s a point of saying, ‘Sure, we can make this work,’ you know 10 pounds of sugar in a two-pound bag, but by the time its cost [analyzed], it’s not worth doing.”
He suggested a pivot to a secondary option.
“I wanted to show you what the options were and the real-world logistics of what would work and what wouldn’t and how we have to pivot,” DeFrias said. “There’s also a timeline for using these earmarks and getting them spent.
The town had received “a few earmarks” from the state budget in 2022, one of which totaled $170,000 going toward three projects – the Bonney House, the High Street park and a boardwalk along Main Street at the Burrage wetland.
DeFrias said the spending deadline for the earmark covering those three projects is 2027. How it is divided between the three projects is a responsibility of the Select Board as they set priorities and spend accordingly, Chair Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett said.
Weeks made a motion to divide the earmark funds among the three projects and the board unanimously approved it.
“We have had a consultant, a company named Perdantis, take a look at that concept and see if it is actually a feasible project,” DeFrais said of the boardwalk at the Dec. 3 meeting. “They’ve given us a breakdown of three different options, and created [a] map that talks about the different options.”
Once an option is chosen, it will be easier to get an idea of the cost, according to DeFrias.
Option 1 is a new boardwalk through Burrage, traversing south from the former fire house on Main Street that can either be 3,600 feet long, connecting to an existing unnamed trail, which is on privately owned property; or 4,600 feet long to connect to the Bay Circuit Trail. The shorter of the two would head toward the former Hubble property and Crooker place.
“You would need an access agreement to go through the Mass. Wildlife property and, obviously, the private property,” he said. “This particular option doesn’t comply with the Mass. Division of Fisheries and Wildlife walking trails policy … and it would require exceptions from Mass. Wildlife.”
Those policies include the requirement to use existing trailbeds unless the agency approves an exception, according to DeFrias.
“The policy also notes that Mass. Wildlife rarely grants approval for trails that are not inherently compliant,” he said. The regulations also “strongly discourage wetlands crossings,” which is a major portion of Option 1’s proposed pathway.
“It is not likely to be approved,” DeFrias said.
Option 2 falls in line with previous proposals at town meetings to purchase parts of the Hubble property to create a 1,000-foot trail along an “unconnected trail” that exists in the Crooker Place area, also connecting the Bay Circuit Trail.
“This option is minimal disturbance … however, a wetlands crossing would be required on property to be purchased by the town,” DeFrias said.
The property in question had already been purchased by the town and would minimally alter the Burrage Wildlife Area, but a wetland crossing would still be permitted. said
“One is too expensive, three doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense and two, from what I’m hearing even now, isn’t even the best option,” Weeks. “It’s just the best of the three options.”
DeFrias agreed that it is a tough project to accomplish.
“The one thing about Option 2 is that it works into what you’ve aready started,” he said.
Option 3, also near the Main Street fire station, would “provide a vista to the Burrage Wildlife Management Area, but doesn’t directly connect to the Burrage,” according to DeFrias. Also partially on private property, this option would also require access agreement from te property owner(s). A stream crossing at Meadow Brook is also involved. A stand-alone vista with no connection to Burrage (situated on town property) would require no access agreement and would not cross wetlands or streams.
Th consultant concluded that Option 3 as a stand-alone vista, with no ecological impacts but requiring no access agreement, also fails to provide direct access to Burrage.
“Which is exactly what the whole purpose is,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said.
“You’re on your own property and you can kind of see it through the trees,” DeFrias said.
Option 2 is the most likely permittable option to provide access to and through Burrage, and provides the missing connection to the Bay Circuit Trail.
“Option 1 is likely not to be approved by Mass. Wildlife, would have the greatest ecological impact to build and would have the highest construction cost, exclusive of property purchases,” he said. “Combining two and three would provide visual access to the Burrage on currently owned town property and provide direct access Bay Circuit Trail through currently owned and expanded town property.”
“Vista, schmista,” said FitzGerald-Kemmett of the approach the Economic Development Committee was taking in an attempt to bring people into town for recreation, potentially leading to economic benefits. “That wasn’t what we were trying to do. We were actually trying to get people out to the Burrage.”
She noted that while Option 1 had been the hope, she said she understood the Wildlife policy roadblocks.
“Our hopes are dashed frequently,” she said, adding that the only real problem with Option 2 is that it is further down Main Street. “We’re not trying to attract people to Crooker Place. … I’m concerned about parking and additional traffic, going through there, and on top of that, it really isn’t meeting what our original objective was.”
“The vista one to me is…” she added.
“That’s dumb,” Select Board member Ann Rein said, finishing the thought. “What I like about Option 2 is that you’re bringing together the Bay Circuit Trail. … It’s important. To have that all connected through Hanson is kind of cool.”
Select Board member Ed Heal noted that a lot of Option 2 already exists.
FitzGerald-Kemmett raised the concern that of a lack of a sidewalk along Main Street to the access area.
The sidewalk drops off opposite High Street at the new Egan buildings.
“If we could somehow get connectivity to that area via a sidewalk there … part of it is we want walkability,” she said.
FitzGerald-Kemmett suggested that, in light of the required connection between state grant funding and the MBTA Communities program Hanson rejected, perhaps a solution is more budget earmarks.
She had already spoken to state Rep.-elect Ken Sweezey about that need weeks before he was sworn in last week.
“That’s not contingent on us being an MBTA Community, so we’re going to need more earmark money, Mr. Sweezey, bring it home,” she said.

The Whitman-Hanson Regional High boys’ basketball team is rolling. 
The Panthers returned home from their annual swing through the Sunshine State with a perfect 4-0 record. 
Bob Rodgers’ bunch entered Florida with two wins and doubled it. 
On Friday, Dec. 27, senior captain Dylan Perrault poured in 22 points, while fellow senior Jah Estrela added 19 to pace the Panthers to a 60-55 victory over host Flagler Palm Coast (Florida) in the Bulldog Classic.
Then on Saturday, senior captain Jason Paretchan netted 16 points and Estrela added 10 in a 53-38 victory over Aubrey Rodgers (Florida). 
The girls’ team, meanwhile, continues to look for answers. 
Mike Costa’s crew returned back from the Amsterdam Classic in New York with a 1-3 mark. 
On Friday, junior Dylan Hurley scored a team-high 14 points but it wasn’t enough in a 48-44 loss to Shenendehowa (New York).
W-H dropped another close one on Saturday but in a different fashion, 71-67, to Webster Schroeder (New York). Sophomore Maliah Pierre scored 14 points in the loss. The Panthers look to rebound in league play against Hingham this Friday. 
Boys’ hockey beat Auburn, 3-1, on Saturday to win the Dartmouth Holiday Tournament. 
Junior assistant captain Chris Ryan opened up the scoring .40 seconds in to take a 1-0 lead. 
The Rockets would tie it midway through the second until senior captain Domenic Visocchi pushed the Panthers back in front two minutes later. 
Junior forward Jack O’Hearn tacked on another for a 3-1 final. Junior goaltender Nick Zaccaria made 31 saves in the win. 
The Whitman Hanson Varsity Girls Ice Hockey Team lost to Norwell/Scituate/Abington Dec. 21 at Rockland Arena.  Freshman Zoe Sullivan scored her first varsity goal with the assist from Cam Dematos.  Jenna Henley picked up the second goal for WHSL unassisted.
The Lady Panthers also lost a hard fought game 2-1 to West/East Bridgewater Dec. 28 at Bridgewater Arena.  Brooke Hohmann tied the game at 1 with a blast from the point assisted by Chloe Duff and Sammie Webb.  WEB was able to get the game winner with 12 seconds left in the game.  
WHSL was dropping the puck against Marshfield on Monday, Dec. 30 in the WHSL Winter Classic at Hobomock Arenas in Pembroke.  
Wrestling took part in the Marshfield Holiday Tournament on Friday and Saturday. 
Out of the 37-team field, Whitman-Hanson placed 13th with 120 points.  Captain PJ Katz led the Panthers with his second-place finish at 126 pounds with a tough 11-9 loss in the finals. 
Captain Tristan Forest took fourth place in the 138-pound division. Lawson Giove earned a respectable sixth place at 106 pounds. Captain Tim Donnelly and fellow senior Eric Sidlauskas both placed 10th at 144 and 215 pounds, respectively.
— Nate Rollins

Absentee ballots are now available at the Hanson Town Clerk’s office for the Jan. 25 Special District Election for the South Shore Regional Vocational School District. Absentee voting is done at the Town Clerk’s office and can be done up until 12 Noon on Friday, Jan. 24.
For more information call the Town Clerk’s office at 781-293-2772.

Broadlands, Va. —Oct. 31, 2024 — Hanson Middle School has received a grant from the Foundation for Impact on Literacy and Learning (FILL) and Albertsons Companies Foundation’s Nourishing Neighbors Program to help combat hunger due to food insecurity in the community. Hanson Middle School is proud to be selected as one of the grant recipients of this year’s Explore.Act.Tell Program.
The Explore.Act.Tell. Program helps students in grades 6 to 12 recognize food insecurity issues in their neighborhoods. The students learn skills needed to be responsible citizens and advocate for community service. This initiative is funded by Nourishing Neighbors, a charitable program of Albertsons Companies Foundation, which seeks to ensure at-risk children, adults, seniors and families have access to the food they need to thrive. Since 2020, FILL has been partnering with Nourishing Neighbors to recognize students’ efforts as they work to end hunger in their communities throughout the United States.
The students partnered with the Hanson Food Pantry and the Hanson Fire Department. Their efforts helped the Hanson Food Pantry provide food for those in need. 
More than 210,000 students and nearly 2,500 teachers and educators nationwide participated in this year’s program, which engages young people in service learning by practicing leadership and civic engagement. Through four interactive lessons, students define food insecurity issues facing their communities and then create and implement a hunger solution project. Finally, the students share their stories and results by developing promotional PSA videos.
 “The success of the Explore.Act.Tell. Program is a direct testament to the incredible passion with which students and educators have embraced our curriculum and message,” said Diane Barrett, Executive Director of the Foundation for Impact on Literacy and Learning. “As another school year begins, we are excited to observe how students learn to collaborate, plan actions and research hunger and food insecurity in their communities.”
 
Christy Duncan Anderson, President and Executive Director of Albertsons Companies Foundation Nourishing Neighbors said, “We are incredibly proud to partner with Hanson Middle School in our shared mission to end hunger in our neighborhoods. Together, we are committed to making a tangible difference in the lives of those in need, ensuring that no one goes to bed hungry. This partnership is a testament to our dedication to building stronger, healthier communities.”
 
This fall, Explore.Act.Tell. will be launching the fifth year of the program. Designed for students in middle and high school, Explore.Act.Tell. works in all settings and subject areas such as class, clubs, homeschoolers and youth groups. Interested teachers can visit exploreacttell.org for registration updates, additional details and information.
 
About the Foundation for Impact on Literacy and Learning
 
The Foundation for Impact on Literacy and Learning is an IRS tax-exempt 501c3 organization that has developed and executed cross curricular educational programs and resources for schools since 2003. Our resolve is to bring important resources to educators and students with the help of our generous donors. www.fill.foundation.

HANSON – The Select Board, meeting at Needles Lodge, Camp Kiwanee on Tuesday, Nov. 19, held the annual tax classification hearing, opting unanimously to continue Hanson’s tradition of adopting a single tax rate for fiscal 2015.
Assessor Denise Alexander, in introducing herself and Board of Assessors Chair Patricia O’Kane urged residents to consult the Assessors’ page on the town website – hanson-ma.gov – for more information, or to follow along with the classification hearing.
She informed the board that Hanson’s excess levy capacity for fiscal 2025 is $3,946.58.
“The purpose of the classification hearing is to determine whether the town of Hanson will continue to [use] a single tax rate for all classes of property, or split the tax rate, shifting the burden toward commercial/industrial and personal property,” Alexander said. “We are here to present the information complied by our office for allocating the percentage of levy to be borne by each property class.”
The Select Board voted on three points:
Deciding between a uniform or a split tax rate;
Whether or not to adopt the residential exemption; and
Whether or not to adopt the small commercial exemption.
Based on current information available to the Assessors’ Office calculations, the tax rate is at $13.3 per thousand, as a single rate, which coincidentally, is exactly the rate the town had last year, according to Alexander.
The primary tax class in Hanson is primarily residential, she noted – 93 percent. Commercial, light industrial and personal property make up the remaining 7 percent.
“Hanson has such a small rate of commercial property, that adopting a split rate would shift the larger burden onto commercial, industrial and personal property owners,” Alexander said. “The Hanson Select Board has always voted to maintain a single tax rate for this reason.” She also said that the Board of Assessors have voted to recommend a uniform tax rate for fiscal 2025 for this reason.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea at all,” Vice Chair Ann Rein said when Chair Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett asked if any board members wanted to entertain dividing the tax rate to exact more in taxes from commercial and industrial taxpayers.
“Historically we’ve never done that because, frankly, we want to do whatever we can to welcome businesses here,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said.
The Select Board voted unanimously to continue with the status quo.
The Board also voted against a residential exemption on the Board of Assessors’ recommendation.
Alexander said there has been a recent jump in the values of such properties. Between 2023-24 there was a 9 to 10 percent increase in those properties’ values, but there was only a 3-percent increase in the past year.
“This is something we hear all the time, ‘They keep increasing our taxes, they’re increasing our taxes,’” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “Can you address that, because the tax rate is not increasing.”
“The tax rate’s not changing,” Alexander said. “The values are increasing due to the sales in town … Because the values are going up, everybody’s values are going up.”
FitzGerald-Kemmett also said she has heard residents complain that Hanson is increasing property values more than other surrounding towns, and asked Alexander how the valuations are arrived at.
“The deeds are proof of the value,” Alexander said. “Based on the qualified sales only – we don’t use private sales and foreclosures – once we have the qualified values set, it is an algorithm that our appraisal company has. Even the value of the land is done that way.”
FitzGerald-Kemmett also noted that the residential exemption is usually used by communities with a high rate of rental properties.
The board unanimously voted in support of the Board of Assessors in declining residential exemption in Hanson.
A small commercial exemption applies to small businesses doing under $1 million in business each year, with less than 10 employees. But the tax break goes to the building not the businesses. Hanson has 23 small businesses that occupy their properties, but they don’t own them. There are only about 15 businesses in town that would benefit, according to Alexander.
Maintaining a uniform tax rate benefits all businesses, FitzGerald-Kemmett said.
The board unanimously voted against using the small commercial exemption.

Qualified high school students are offered a unique opportunity to explore the world by spending an academic year, semester or summer in Europe, Asia, North or South America, Australia or South Africa as part of the ASSE International Student Exchange Program. A non-profit, public benefit organization, ASSE is dedicated to promoting closer ties of friendship between the United States and other countries.
Students, 15 to 18 years old, qualify on the basis of academic performance, character references and a genuine desire to experience life abroad with a volunteer host family. Prior knowledge of the host country’s language is not a requirement. Scholarships are available Contact ASSE at 1-800-677-2773, visit www.asse.com or send an email to [email protected] for more information.

Families abroad are carefully screened, and students do not need to know the language of the host country prior to departure but will acquire the language skills through experiencing the day-to-day local culture and attending regular high school classes along with their new teenage friends.

ASSE also provides the experience of a lifetime to American families who are interested in hosting an international student from Spain, Italy, Germany, Ukraine, Thailand, Japan, and many other countries. These exceptional young students will attend the local American high school for an academic year or semester.

Students or families interested in learning more about becoming an ASSE exchange student or host family should contact ASSE at 1-800-677-2773, visit www.asse.com or send an email to [email protected].