This weekend, families celebrated Passover and Easter in markedly different ways than in past years.

Easter egg hunts were all canceled this year, however spotted this week in the Whitman Park, in the place of eggs, were colored kindness rocks.

Social media postings on several Whitman sites showed the colorful finds and encouraged others to hide their own kindness rocks.

(The idea as a craft can also be helpful for art class during the home school day).

In an eggstra-extraordinary way a local business owner Monica Cole of Jan’s Towing and Recovery Service of Whitman put in more than just a full day of delivering Easter baskets.

Along with family and co-workers the group decorated and stuffed more than 150 Easter baskets to deliver and ready for curbside pickup in Whitman in hopping good fun.

“Easter was getting passed over,” Cole said. “We were brainstorming and came up with the baskets as a way to ease financial stress and anxiety for parents -out of the recent social isolation status and create joy and smiles for all.”

They made 100 baskets and, within three hours of posting it to the Whitman page, 90 baskets were already reserved. They increased the number to 175 baskets to make sure everyone who needed a basket could be included.

“I was excited that families in need were reaching out to us to accept the help for the free baskets,” said Cole. “During such a hard time with uncertainly families can depend on the local businesses to support them as they support us.”

Cole has been in business since 2016 in her Whitman location and in Boston prior to that. She is also a resident and raising a family here so seeing the community come together is rewarding to her and those around her on a personal level. Earlier this week she thanked the community via the Whitman Facebook page for the positive responses and expressed her full heart with the celebration of the Easter holiday.

Also shared via social media were local families who left decorated eggs at the ends of one another’s neighborhood driveways. Special sidewalk chalk messages of encouragement and Happy Easter greetings were left for morning sunrise surprises. Several prizes were left anonymously, but there were rumors that the Easter Bunny had been seen hopping down several Whitman streets.

Shopping for preparations for holiday meals is also more challenging as precautions against coronavirus are imposed.

In keeping with the Centers for Disease Control guidelines, local grocery stores, such as Shaw’s on Liberty Street, are allowing a maximum of 60 people in the store at one time. Social distancing is aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus and grocery shopping in smaller groups can ease the minds and hopefully protect others as we all avoid groups in any capacity.

The Stop & Shop at Bedford Street in Whitman has also begun limiting their shoppers.

Responding to an inquiry through social media, Stop & Shop stated “that all of their stores are limiting shoppers however each state varies in capacity.”

In their online Covid19 statement they also posted general update to shoppers.

“We know that Stop & Shop plays a critical role in our communities during situations like this, and we remain committed to doing our very best to support customers and associates.”

There are also guidelines posted in how each store is handling and creating an environment conducive to the CDC guidelines.

Personal milestones are different, too, during a pandemic.

Among recent birthday celebrations Jackson Manoli of Whitman turned 2 years old. His parents held a drive-by-and-honk birthday in which family and friends could say hi. The doorway was decorated with balloons and signs and even a Whitman police officer stopped momentarily to whirl his siren a high point for Jackson. Parents Matthew and Devon Manoli said the birthday was “unique” in the sense of guests standing separated on the lawn or staying in their cars. It was not what you would expect for a child’s birthday celebration however they were all smiles over seeing family and friends showing love for  Jackson who was thrilled to have “big boy chips” as he took his photo from a distance. The year they celebrated his Coronavirus birthday will be in their memories and photo albums. He had plenty of colorful balloons lining the fence to show all who drove by that he was indeed now a two year old.

With the stay at home orders and social distancing requirements to slow the spread of Covid-19  in a more noticeable form homeowners and families are spending  additional time in their yards, both playing  in and cleaning them up.

Dan Delprete of Dandel’s Construction in Hanson has seen an uptick of landscape projects as they began their season nearly six weeks earlier than their typical spring routine.

Samantha Murphy of Landscape Supply Yard which is also located at 1 Liberty St., Hanson said that they have seen a boost mostly on mulch and loam sales early lawn prep products.

The company supplies to landscapers so the increase in sales of these items and the movement is reassuring that yards are being spruced up daily by local landscaper businesses.

The physical activity of yard work in the fresh air and sun can be rewarding and a great project for people. They may be currently homebound but they are clearing out their yards and enjoying the exterior of those “four walls” as they practice social distancing.

“Finding the good in all the bad,” said Delprete has kept him in a positive perspective.

The weather and the days the sun is shining they are seeing more people looking at patios and taking brochures, he added.

Wyman’s Nursery in Hanson was open Easter weekend with several families buying flowers and looking for grave flower baskets.

Deb Seele of Whitman and her husband Michael who is Whitman’s town moderator were planning to clean up and decorate her dad’s grave. This year is unlike years past as she couldn’t be together with her elderly mother who is in quarantine at American Living of Hanson, she said.

Having her in the residential setting has been unsettling for now as they create a new normal like so many other families only talking through the phone. She planned to update her mom on the Easter flowers and their visit to her beloved late husband.

Heather Weydt and her daughter Jessica, 13, of Hanson purchased flowers to top off baskets they planned to construct and drop off at doorsteps for their loved ones. They planned to add a sweet Easter surprise of candies since they could not physically be with one another, she said.

Phil Wyman of Wyman’s garden center expressed his thanks and gratitude as a small business to be open in these difficult times.  He had simple gardening tips for families who aspired to create a garden or plant project. The least complicated, beginner gardener could plant Pansies which he called a more “durable” flower that quickly adds color and tolerates spring temperatures.

Preparing a garden indoors with peas, lettuce, and cabbage is an easy way to get kids involved in the planting kits and seeding process.

Reaping the rewards as the blossoms flourish the project can easily get everyone involved in most age groups.

“With a little bit of love and fertilizer you will get it all back and more,” Wyman said.

HANSON — Gov. Charlie Baker’s latest coronavirus policy, limiting stores to 40-percent capacity — including employees — at one time, was among the legislative updates provided by state Rep. Josh Cutler, D-Pembroke, in a Tuesday, April 7 Board of Selectmen’s session held remotely over the Go To Meeting conference call platform.

The store capacity guidelines went into effect April 7.

A first responder testing facility has been opened at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro and drive-through testing for the public is being conducted by CVS in Lowell. The appointment-only testing (online at cvs.com) aims to provide up to 1,000 tests per day.

“I would expect, and hope, to see more of those types of those sites coming online,” Cutler said.

Cutler also outlined the federal Paycheck Protection Program, which is designed to help small businesses, and self-employed people — or gig workers — will become eligible for state unemployment benefits this week through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

“I am seeing these requests being filled,” Cutler said.

He also noted that the state’s budget, which is expected to be affected by revenues reduced by the economic impact of COVID-19, is expected to be delayed. The legislature also passed a bill permitting both towns and school districts to operate on 1/12 budgets.

“Since this is a disaster declared by FEMA, carefully document all your expenses because we may be able to get reimbursement from the federal government,” Cutler said.

Town officials do not report out to the public the number of people testing positive for the coronavirus as the Board of Health continues to follow Mass. Department of Public Health (DPH) guidelines, according to Selectmen Chairman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett.

“That is a decision that is made by each local board of health and we honor their sovereignty and the ability to make that decision,” she said.

FitzGerald-Kemmett said Hanson health officials had begun making reports, but were met by “push-back” from the DPH to local boards due to the concern over the potential for bullying.

“We’re following the DPH guidelines,” said Health Board Chairman Arlene Dias. The DPH is currently issuing reports per county. “The concern is, if we say we have a very low number people are not as diligent as they should be, and having a low number of positives doesn’t mean there aren’t a lot of people in town with COVID.”

Dias advised residents to act as if everyone they come into contact with has the virus and to stay away and protect yourself.

“We’re going to stay the course,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said.

Town Administrator John Stanbrook said the town’s Emergency Preparedness Committee has been meeting regularly throughout the pandemic crisis.

Police Chief Michael Miksch told Selectmen the state’s Department of Public Health (DPH) is allowing health boards to update public safety personnel about positive cases in their communities, to properly prepare them for emergency calls. He coordinates that, since the 911 center is in the Police Department.

While the town has enough personal protective equipment (PPE) on hand right now, the advance information allows police and fire to be conservative with its use.

Both Miksch and Fire Chief Jerome Thompson Jr., expressed some concern about uncertainty on the “burn rate” of how quickly PPE supplies will be used.

“We’re tracking it very closely,” Thompson said. “In anticipation of shortfalls, we’re putting in orders very early to get some.”

The Fire Department has already closed its building to public access. They have brought the third, back-up ambulance back online to be used exclusively for COVID-related calls.

“We’ve moved more to a security role in policing, where we’re constantly checking the public buildings … trying to keep people from gathering,” Miksch said. The public is also discouraged from walk-in business at the station with phone and email communication preferred.

Health Agent Gil Amado said his role is to ensure compliance with state health guidelines, with which all stores and restaurants in town are complying.

“The big thing about this is social distancing,” Amado said. “Prevention is the best method here. … The citizens of Hanson are doing a good job — we’ve had nobody in non-compliance.”

Stanbrook reiterated that essential town employees are still reporting to work, with non-essential staff working from home to the extent that they can. All public meetings are being held via conference call. Public hearings that can be postponed are being rescheduled and a new act passed by the state on April 3 permits the dates and deadlines of mandatory ZBA hearings and they will be postponed without adverse effects to the town.

HANSON — The Board of Selectmen has followed its March 17 decision to delay the Town Meeting to June 15 with a unanimous vote on Tuesday, March 24 to move the town’s annual Election — from Saturday May 26 to Saturday, June 27.

The last day to obtain nomination papers from the Town Clerk would be Wednesday, May 6 and to submit them to the registrars is Friday, May 8. The deadline to file nomination papers with the Town Clerk will be Friday, May 22 and to object or withdraw is Wednesday, May 27.

Tuesday, May 26 would be the last day to register to vote in the Town Election.

Gov. Baker’s March 12 declaration of a State of Emergency, allows municipalities to postpone Town Meeting and Town Election due to public safety concerns surrounding the coronavirus pandemic. The declaration also suspends the Open Meeting Law requirement that public meetings be held in an open and accessible location, while encouraging remote meetings so long as the public is able to follow along with deliberations.

The Selectmen’s agenda, posted on the town website hanson-ma.gov, included instructions for the public to join the meeting.

The conference call meeting was broadcast on Whitman Hanson Cable Access and is available for repeat viewing on the WHCA YouTube channel.

Town Administrator John Stanbrook reported to the board that he has compiled a list of all essential and non-essential personnel in Town Hall and throughout the town.

“It doesn’t mean what people do isn’t essential — it has nothing to do with the work that they do,” Stanbrook said. “In this particular situation that we’re in right now … non-essential people do not have to come in [to work]. They’re going to be working from home as much as possible, they have remote access … to the programs that they need to do their jobs and also to answer voicemails from remote locations.”

Social distancing, hand-washing and sanitizing practices are also being followed in town buildings.

Selectmen voted to authorize Stanbrook to sign warrants for the board and provide reports to Selectmen during the emergency.

Selectmen also decided against imposing a temporary ban on reuseable bags as residents have been expressing concern about their use during the coronavirus emergency, according to Selectmen Chairman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett.

“They are concerned that the coronavirus could be transmitted, could be carried on these and the state of New Hampshire has banned reuseable bags,” she said. “Because I’m trying to be responsible to what people’s concerns are, we put it on the agenda.”

Health Agent Gil Amado said he spoke to Health Board Chairman Arlene Dias that day, who reported that most stores will now refuse to place items in reuseable bags, but will permit the customer to do so. He favored an advisory to the stores rather than a ban on the reusebale bags.

Noting that Shaw’s is likely the only store affected, it would be up to the store to make such a decision.

Selectman Matt Dyer, echoing the rest of the board’s attitude that it does not seem to be a major concern, noted that Shaw’s now has a policy against packing reuseable bags, but permitting customers to do so if they wish.

“I think this really does fall under the perview of the Board of Health,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “I’m just putting it on here to get the discussion going and give the Board of Health some idea of where the Selectmen’s heads are at.”

Amado also said the pandemic is pointing to the need to obtain the list of hair salons in town from a hand-written list in a lose-leaf notebook at the Town Clerk’s office.

“I think we have a lot of lessons learned, Mr. Amado,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “We’ll be doing forensic look at lessons learned once we get through this.”

HANSON — Town Administrator John Stanbrook and Hanson town officials would like to inform residents that the town has declared a state of emergency in an effort to prevent the spread of the novel coronvirus (COVID-19).

At this time, there are no known positive or presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 in the Town of Hanson.

The Town has declared a local state of emergency and has activated its Emergency Management Team to follow to this situation closely and provide any necessary updates.

The Town’s Emergency Management Team and the Board of Health will continue to work closely and meet regularly to discuss the latest guidance and determine the actions needed to keep the Town prepared as this situation continues to evolve.

Effective immediately, the following steps will be taken in the Town of Hanson:

•  Town buildings, including Town Hall, Council on Aging Senior Center, Town Library and schools are closed to the public until further notice.

•  All public meetings, except the next Board of Selectmen meeting on March 17, will be cancelled or postponed to a later date and likely for the foreseeable future.

•  All Town parks and fields will be closed to organized groups until further notice.

•  All functions at Camp Kiwanee or Thomas Mill will be postponed indefinitely.

• The Whitman-Hanson Regional School District has cancelled school and school activities until at least April 6, 2020. During this time, each school building will undergo deep cleaning and disinfecting. Whitman-Hanson students that need food services will be able to go to the high school, beginning today, daily from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the snack shack area which is in front of the Performing Arts center. Grab and go breakfast and lunch meals will be available. Students will need to provide their student ID number and this program will be handled as it is during a regular day. This is the only time a school building will be open to any member of the public.

• The Meals on Wheels program will continue to provide its services as needed.

• All Police and Fire services will continue as usual, however, we ask residents to call the department business lines for routine business and avoid coming into the police and fire stations to limit the spread of the virus.

•  The Board of Health will be enforcing Gov. Baker’s Order banning all on-premises consumption of food, drinks, and alcoholic beverages at the Town’s restaurants and bars effective at midnight on Tuesday, March 17. Only takeout and delivery of food will be permitted until at least 11:59 p.m. on April 5. Any establishment that violates the governor’s order will be subject to applicable license revocations by the Board of Selectmen.

• The Police Department and the Board of Health will be enforcing Gov. Baker’s order banning all gatherings of 25 people or more effective at midnight on March 17. This order is in effect until at least 11:59 p.m. on April 5. All food establishments must implement a plan for social distancing during takeout food order operations. These actions will slow the spread of the virus.

• The Transfer Station will remain open at this time.

These measures are being taken out of an abundance of caution so that the spread of the virus can be minimized and to promote social distancing. Your cooperation in this endeavor will be much appreciated.

Residents can log on to the Town’s website at www.hanson-ma.gov to get Town department phone numbers or e-mail addresses and for the latest updates as it relates to Hanson.

The Town’s public servants stand ready to answer any questions that you may have or to give out more information as it becomes available.

The state has also set up the phone number, 211, to answer questions that residents may have concerning this pandemic.

The Board of Selectmen is confident that together, working in concert with the community, Hanson will be able to help stem the spread of this virus.

WHITMAN — Town Administrator Frank Lynam, asked by Selectmen Chairman Carl Kowalski to collect and review information available on the global COVID-19 outbreak, held conference calls Tuesday, March 11 with public safety and schools on the town’s approach to the situation.

The schools, police and fire chiefs and Board of Health have all posted information on the illness on their respective web pages, but Lynam said the town will be re-posting it to make access to simple recommendations on keeping healthy easier to access.

Information sheets will also be placed at the Whitman Public Library and Council on Aging and other public locations for residents without computer acesss.

“It occurred to me that we’ve got to make it as simple as possible for our citizens to be up-to-date on both prevention and treatment protocols,” Kowalski said during the March 11 Selectmen’s meeting. “It made sense to me that the Board of Health would be the place where the citizens of the town know to go for information on the Coronavirus.”

Lynam said his research has shown that there is so much information out there that is “sort of right, but nobody agrees.” He read reports on COVID-19 on the websites of Johns Hopkins, the Center for Systems Sciences and the Centers of Disease Control.

“Presumably, the CDC would be the ultimate authority for information,” Lynam said. “Everyone has different counts, different numbers, different trends. The bottom line is people have to exercise common sense,”

Town Hall is cleaning all surfaces people come in contact with in the morning and afternoon — hand railings, doorknobs, bathrooms.

“But the best thing people can do is avoid being in crowds and wash their hands 20 seconds at a time, as frequently as necessary when they come in contact with people,” Lynam said. “That’s our only line of defense. This is a flu, like any other one. It just seems to be moving more quickly than anything we’ve seen in the past.”

Selectman Justin Evans said he was asked how would town employees’ sick days be affected if they were exposed and had to self-quarantine for two weeks.

Lynam said that, while they would likely burn through their sick time, he does not necessarily think the town would automatically cut them off if they needed if for other illness.

“I don’t think we’d leave anyone hanging out there, and that’s something we have to address as a board in subsequent meetings,” he said. “It’s really important that, if people suspect they’re coming down with a virus, flu or otherwise, they stay home, because it’s not going to help anyone else if they’re here.”

The virus is unique in that there is no runny nose, as is typical of a cold. COVID-19 is manifested by a dry, hacking cough and no runny nose.

The board voted to appoint Lynam, Evans, Finance Committee Chairman Richard Anderson and resident Christopher George, as a citizen at-large, to a WHRSD Regional Agreement Review Committee,

In other business, interviews for a new Recreation Director will be scheduled with people not yet interviewed for the position, as some voting members were not present during a meeting at which interviews for candidates were scheduled.

WHITMAN — In a joint meeting with the Board of Health regarding the fiscal 2021 budget on Tuesday, Feb. 25, the Board of Selectmen, discussed developing a five-year budget with a 2-percent increase, depending on contract negotiations.

Health Board Chairman Eric Jaubert spoke for the board, arguing for the need of a full-time health inspector who would be able to operate independently of the board. Under that scenario the Board of Health would serve in an advisory capacity so that issues can be dealt with in a more timely fashion. He said the Health Department budget represents .3 percent of the entire town budget.

“This action is not about the person, but about the position,” Jaubert said. “Whoever’s in that role, they need to be able to attend conferences. We just hit with the Coronavirus [and] there’s all kinds of meetings and stuff going on that and we want to make sure the health inspector stays current and is in the loop on those type of projects and programs.”

Board member Barbara White, who was unable to attend the meeting, sent a letter to be read into the record expressing her support for a full-time health agent even before the animal control services had been added to the department’s responsibilities.

“The Health Department has not been able to keep up with the demands placed on it by the residents, businesses and state Department of Public Health,” she wrote. “The role of the health inspector needs to be expanded so that the needs and expectations of the town can be addressed without the delay of board members being contacted or waiting for a board meeting. Issues need to be addressed in a timely manner.”

As the town has grown, the Health Department’s needs and responsibilities have also grown even as it no longer oversees animal control, which requires the support of a 24/7 staff, he said.

Norwell Visiting Nurse is no longer serving Whitman as of July 1, 2020, and the agency changes its focus from town services outside of Norwell.

“One of the telling things is that there is no other town around that doesn’t have a full-time health inspector,” Selectmen Chairman Dr. Carl Kowalski said.

It’s quite a skill set to be a health inspector,” said Jaubert, noting the part-time position made it difficult to fill. “There’s a lot to the job … regulations have increased, so you have to stay current.”

Both said the town was lucky to find such a skilled health inspector as Alexis Andrews.

Jaubert said they have not yet brought a revised budget before the Finance Committee.

Assistan Town Administrator Lisa Green presented a proposal to the board for Whitman’s participation in the Community Preservation Act.

Enacted in 2000, Whitman Town Meeting approved it in 2002 but the measure failed at the ballot box. Selectmen approved placement of the Community Preservation Act on the Town Meeting warrant for placement on the Nov. 3 ballot.

“I’m here to talk a little bit about it to get the town to reconsider this program,” Green said.

The act allows communities to earmark funds for specific programs and projects such as parks and recreation, historic preservation of municipal buildings, athletic field upgrades, restoration, open space preservation and community housing projects. So far, 176 Massachusetts communities have adopted the Community Preservation Act and participation could help Whitman raise $182,000 to $190,000. State contributions of between 13.9 percent to 23.9 percent, which could mean as annual budget of between $207,000 to $235,000 for those specific projects.

Hanson is one of the state communities that adopted the Community Preservation Act.

It does not raise taxes, but represents a 1-percent surcharge on property taxes off the assessed value. The average Whitman property value of $331,251 would mean $53 annually off the average property tax of $52.50 per $1,000. Some towns go as high as 3 percent.

Registry fees are also a source for CPA funds, including from Whitman properties which are distributed to towns that have passed the Community Preservation Act.

“Unfortunately, Whitman has lost out on this money,” Green said.

It would appear on a presidential election ballot, when turnout is higher, if Town Meeting passes it again.

Selectman Justin Evans said Hanover has used the funds for senior housing and Hanson has used the money for work at the high school fields among other projects.

“We’ve got plenty of projects in the Collin capital improvement plan that could benefit from this dedicated pool of money,” he said.

In other business, Town Administrator Frank Lynam reported work is still being done, with the Finance Committee, on a budget that reflects current circumstances and delivers services without an override this year.

“I emphasize it will take a little effort and cooperation to get to that point,” he said noting the Capital Committee will be meeting soon to finalize a list of warrant articles. He said that, so far, he has not yet seen some of the articles that were expected this year, with the filing window closing on Friday, Feb. 28.

DORCHESTER — The second annual Parkinson’s Disease Symposium for Veterans, First Responders, and Caregivers will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Friday, March 20 at Florian Hall in Dorchester, hosted by 110 Fitness in collaboration with St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center’s Department of Neurology. This event is free and open to the public — all are welcome, but seating is limited. Please RSVP by visiting semc-parkinsonsevent.eventbrite.com or by calling Keith J. Ciccone, BS, LPN, Nurse Specialist, Department of Neurology, St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center at 617 789 3320.

The symposium will focus on the connection between Parkinson’s Disease, military service, first responders, and the frequency in which we see veterans and first responders diagnosed with PD. Attendees will be provided with an abundance of information as well as resources available to help them live their best lives with Parkinson’s Disease.

The symposium will feature presentations by prominent members in the Parkinson’s healthcare community as well as noteworthy members of the military. Attendees will hear from: Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Francisco Urena, a Marine Corps veteran; Dr. Okeanis, director, Movement Disorders and DBS, Steward Medical Group/St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center; Brett Miller, Physical Therapist, Owner,  110 Fitness, a retired U.S. Army Combat Medic; Dr. Anna DePold Hohler, MD, FAAN, a movement disorder specialist, Chair, Steward Medical Group, St. Elizabeth;s Medical Center, a former major at Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, Wash.; Irene Piryatinsky, Ph.D. Clinical Neuropsychologist, St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center Affiliated Neuropsychological Assessment Clinic; Chip Maury, a retired U.S. Navy diver and parachutist.

The national anthem and a presentation of the colors by a color guard will open the program, which follows a complimentary breakfast. Participants will have a chance to visit vendor tables to learn about important resources available to them.

The second annual Parkinson’s Disease Symposium for Veterans, First Responders, and Caregivers is currently sponsored by Strongbridge Biopharma and Medtronic.

Miller understands the importance of hosting a symposium specifically addressing the needs of veterans and first responders with Parkinson’s Disease.

“We have seen the research and data that shows these populations are at an increased risk of Parkinson’s Disease,” he said. “We also see it every day at 110 Fitness as many of our members with Parkinson’s are veterans or worked as first responders for many years. We work closely with the Neurology department at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center to ensure veterans, first responders, and their caregivers are equipped with the knowledge and tools to fight back against Parkinson’s Disease.”

Dr. Hohler, chairman of the Neurology Department at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, and a former Army Neurologist, provides care to numerous veterans and first responders with Parkinson’s Disease.

“Understanding the risk that these vets and first responders face from environmental toxins and trauma is crucial in mitigating their factors,” she said. “We approach each patient in an individualized way to provide them with holistic care for their motor and non-motor symptoms.”

110 Fitness is an inclusive fitness and wellness center for all people. Easily accessible, located on Weymouth Street in Rockland off exit 14, 110 Fitness offers wellness programs for people with Parkinson’s Disease, boxing and cardio fitness programs for adults and children, adaptive boxing programs for children with disabilities, as well as yoga, tai chi, acupuncture, massage, art programs, and craft workshops, all for adults and children, including personal training and conditioning.

Patient-centered care is a primary focus at St. Elizabeth’s Neurology department. Physicians use the latest clinical examination skills, lab work, and imaging studies to diagnose neurological conditions. Once diagnosed, our patients are provided with advanced medications, surgical procedures, and holistic care to treat their neurological conditions

The neurology department also provides world class care in movement disorders, stroke, headache, neuromuscular conditions, and epilepsy.

BROCKTON — A 36-year-old Lowell man was sentenced this week after pleading guilty in a Whitman rape case stemming from October 2016.

Charles P. Lovejoy was sentenced in Brockton Superior Court by Judge Brian Davis who handed down a 15-year to 15 years and one day incarceration in state prison, according to a prepared statement from Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz’s Office.

Lovejoy pleaded guilty to two counts each of aggravated rape of a child,  and one count each of indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or over, subsequent offense and enticement of a child for sex under the age of 16.

Whitman Police were performing routine patrols in town at approximately 1:30 p.m., Oct. 17, 2016 when they arrived at the St. James Cemetery. An officer noticed a car with its headlights on leaving the cemetery and performed a traffic stop. After running Lovejoy’s license plate, the Whitman officer identified Lovejoy as a registered sex offender with a Level 3 status on active probation, according to the statement.

Whitman Police determined during their investigation that Lovejoy met his female victim online through the app, Kik.  He drove to the victim’s home in a neighboring town to pick her up. Lovejoy then drove to the Whitman cemetery where he sexually assaulted the victim.

Lovejoy did not have any weapons in his possession but he was wearing a GPS monitoring device on his ankle at the time of his arrest. Whitman Police seized two cell phones that belonged to him.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Amanda Fowle and was investigated by Whitman Police, according to the statement.