WHITMAN — Two years after his “Rock & Comedy for a Cause,” show in Brockton raised close to $15,000 for the Jett Foundation which funds Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy medical research, Whitman native Mark Chauppetta is planning an even bigger event at Plymouth Memorial Hall.

“Komedy for a Kause,” will feature a stellar lineup of Bay State comic talent with Lenny Clarke, Steve Sweeney, Jackie the Joke Man Martling, Johnny Pizzi, Jerry Thornton, Christine Hurley and Richie Minervini taking the stage at the 1,300-seat hall, 83 Court St. Plymouth on Friday, Oct. 14.

The fundraising goal this time out is $40,000 or more. Doors open at 7 p.m. General admission tickets are $39.99 with $60 VIP tickets including a before the show meet-and-greet with the comics and appetizers available. A 50/50 raffle will also be conducted and a sports paraphernalia company will be on site, operating on consignment.

“The first show was such a success — it was a sell-out — that I needed a bigger venue,” said Chauppetta, a 1987 W-H graduate whose 21-year-old twin sons have Duchenne. “This is probably the biggest show, aside from Dennis Leary’s Comedy Comes Home every November at TD Bank Garden.”

Boston legends Clarke and Sweeney, who headline the show, are known for their support of charitable causes throughout Massachusetts.

“Lenny Clarke is one of the nicest, most charitable guys you will ever meet,” Chauppetta said.

Thornton is a “local guy turned sports radio personality” at WEEI and a former Hingham court officer, Chauppetta said. Martling is featured on the Howard Stern radio show and Hurley, from Plymouth, riffs on the “bad mom” ethos.

“She is becoming, bar none, the best female comic in the industry right now,” he said of Hurley, who is a sweet-natured mother of five off stage. “All Christine Hurley does is [dump] on her husband Jimmy Hurley. She’s so funny and a little blue.”

Minervini is a friend and frequent costar of “Mall Cop” actor Kevin James. Pizzi, who was on the last show lineup returns for another outing.

“He was so impressed with the last show he asked to be on my board for the next one,” Chauppetta said, and helped book the acts, all of whom are appearing for a reduced fee.

Chauppetta said he is now working fully with the Jett Foundation, which exclusively works toward supporting research into Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

The erstwhile Jerry Lewis Telethons, in comparison, raised hundreds of millions of dollars, but the funds were divided amid work on behalf of all the neuromuscular diseases — numbering more than 20.

His sons, now 21, are still doing well and drive an adaptive vehicle.

“They live life, they love life and they don’t let life get them down,” Chauppetta said. “I instill a lot of that in them.”

He proudly notes that his sons are two of the best wheelchair soccer players in the world, playing on a team that won the national championship in Indiana this summer.

“They’re no different than any ambulatory, normal person,” he said. “Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy attacks their muscles, it doesn’t attack their cognitive ability.”

Duchenne is almost genetic-specific to boys, although there are a few rare cases of females with the disease.

Chauppetta has taken an extremely active role in fundraising for research and patient care — including mixed martial arts bouts each year.

“I’ve been raising money for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy since they were diagnosed,” he said. “I’ve done everything from cage fighting to wrestling events. I’m a hands-on fundraiser. Now that I’m 47, I figure it’s time to shift toward less violence and more laughter.”

Chauppetta said downtown Plymouth, aside from featuring a large performance hall for the event, is a revitalized town center with several excellent restaurants. With tourism season ended, parking should be easier to find.

Once again, Yale Appliance and Lighting of Dorchester has again contributed a large sum to help defray expenses for the event.

Chauppetta, who grew up on Warren Avenue in Whitman, now lives in Carver and works in Brockton but is one of the coaches for the Hanson Warriors Youth Football program in which his 10-year-old son plays. He is also a W-H youth wrestling coach.

WHITMAN — With the completion of the South Avenue paving work comes new parking restrictions and traffic lines along one stretch of that roadway.

Selectmen on Tuesday, Sept. 13 approved a Department of Public works plan making the changes from Raynor Avenue to Pleasant Street.

“This is the area, when you come down Pleasant Street where the old fire station used to be,” said Town Administrator Frank Lynam.

Traffic along that stretch of Pleasant Street has the option of turning right on South Avenue or going straight onto Franklin Street. Traffic on South Avenue can go straight, turn left onto Pleasant Street or turn right further along to Franklin Street.

The problem area has been the area where traffic merges from South Avenue to Pleasant Street and vice versa.

“That right turn [before the old fire station] is actually a two-way street,” Lynam said. “Part of the problem is that people who are planning to go on Pleasant Street, cross over at least 100 feet before they need to, basically driving in the wrong direction on South Avenue.”

Eliminating parking from the corner of Raynor to the lot where Whitman Ford used to be, and painting new lines to direct traffic flow are being used to eliminate that problem. Stripe lines will later be added to indicate areas that are “no car zone.”

Department of Transportation engineers have worked on the change.

Selectmen also approved an overnight parking ban on all streets from Dec. 1 to April 1, 2017 to ease snow removal efforts during the winter months.

The Selectmen observed a moment of silence in honor of Jenny Kirby, a longtime third-grade teacher and union official in Whitman, who died this week, and Leslie Cohen, who was chairman of Whitman’s former K-8 School Committee. Cohen died in August.

“Leslie Cohen was the reason I got into this at all,” said Selectmen Chairman Carl Kowalski, who started out on the School Committee. “She was just a chairperson par excellence.”

Kowalski noted it was ironic the two women would die in such close proximity to each other as they were often adversaries in contract negotiations.

“They were on opposite ends of the argument all the time,” he said. “But because of that — I don’t want to call it tension — but that activity, we had a school system you could be proud of in the K-8 days because of both of them.”

In other business, Selectman Dan Salvucci said he has been receiving complaints about people leaving TVs on their front lawns and sidewalks for trash pickup and reminded people the town’s hauling company will no longer pick up the TVs.

Residents have to take the TVs to the DPW for disposal for a fee of between $15 and $25 or the appliances can be dropped off at the Dollars for Scholars Electronics Recycling Day between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 17 for a similar fee.

“One way or another, discarded TVs have to come off people’s front lawns,” he said. “They’ll be nothing but a hazard. Kids are walking to school and when it comes snow time and they’re plowing the sidewalks we really don’t want them hitting TVs.”

Selectmen also approved the signing of an agreement allowing the auction of property at 35 East Ave.

WHITMAN — Going outside will no longer be reserved for recess alone at Conley Elementary School.

Thanks to $20,000 raised by the school’s Parent Advisory Council at an annual basket raffle fundraiser, a school courtyard has been transformed into an outdoor classroom.

“This we see as making science come alive for kids,” said Principal Karen Downey as she hosted a reception Monday, Aug. 29 for PAC members, school officials and representatives from businesses who worked on the project. On Tuesday, Aug. 30, the Board of Selectmen voted to officially approve the renovation project.

“Principal Downey is thrilled with the design and is looking forward to putting it in place before weather prevents the kids from using it,” Town Administrator Frank Lynam told selectmen. “They do plan to use it all year long. They will also use it in winter. It looks like a pretty interesting way to present some information to classes in kind of a fun way.”

Lynam thanked the Conley PAC parents for taking the step toward developing the space.

An easel inside the doorway to the enclosed courtyard displayed photos outlining the project’s success — and work yet to be done on it — during the reception.

“We can bring a class out [and] have quiet reading or writing. We can have snack over there,” Downey said, gesturing to picnic tables in a corner covered with shading material, as guests arrived.

Raised planters are also included along one wall for science projects, with a table in one corner for students to use in writing their observations. Another area offers space for quiet reflection in an alcove where a water feature is still to be added. It has already been recognized as a Certified Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation.

“It’s such a joy to be able to do something really special for the kids,” she said.

Carin Gosselin, a Landscape Architect from Norwell, donated her time and services to design and create a space where students can learn and explore, according to Downey.

“Carin met with me and Steve Mucci several times to hear our vision for the space and see or ideas,” Downey said. “She then drew up professional plans and enlisted the help of Curtis Farm Landscaping.”

John and Jared Curtis led their team to transform the space in three days following Carin’s plans, according to Downey. Jeff Palaza from Palaza and McDonough Tree Service donated 25 tree stumps to be used as student seating in the story circle. Marc Frisoli of Frisoli Electric donated  spools that will be used for work tables.  Mucci, and parent Matt Carew, “spent hours on a very hot, very humid Saturday afternoon building raised beds for planting and a bridge for our reflective garden path,” she said. “Steve Mucci also designed and created a teacher chair that is absolutely a piece of art for our story circle.”

She stressed that none of the work would be possible without the help of the Conley School community, led by the PAC.

“Our annual basket auction, chaired by Lynne Walton and Pam Codero, brought in $20,000 which was used to create this space for our students,” Downey said. Teachers and staff members made baskets and volunteered the night of the auction, kids and families donated items, services and baskets, and families took time to attend.

“For every raffle ticket purchased and every auction bid, families contributed to our new Outdoor Classroom,” she said. “This was truly a labor of love.”

 Sunday morning a rolling rally organized by the Gun Owners Action League (GOAL) traveled to Hanson Rod and Gun Club to raise awareness on recent attempted changes to gun laws in Massachusetts.

A member of GOAL’s Board of Directors, Jim Finnerty helped organize the rally on behalf of responsible gun owners who want to protest the changes.

“We follow the rules to the letter,” Finnerty said. “For the last 22 years (we) have been very careful — if we weren’t, we would not be here today.”

“The fact that the Attorney Maura General Healey continues to interpret the Second Amendment and most recently the definitions of copycat weapons, is why we are here today,” he added.

Finnerty said about 150 vehicles were part of the rolling rally, which began in Billerica, with each participant given a handout packet regarding participant radio communications, appropriate signage  and the general rules of being courteous on the road. Finnerty expressed that their group was strictly standing up for their rights and protesting peacefully in a correct manner on public streets — to say they oppose the attorney general’s recent practice.

“We were not trying to occupy — we don’t like it ( what is happening) but we are not going to misbehave,” he said.

Peter Boncek grew up in Halifax and now resides in Kingston. As a member of the Hanson Rod and Gun Club he supported the rally by placing signs along his South Shore roadway but did not ride in the rally.

He has carried a gun license for more than 37 years and is a lifetime member of the NRA.  He supported the event on Sunday because he said he firmly believes in the Second Amendment.

“What Maura Healey has done, or tried to do — and we are going to get it back — is totally illegal, and wrong.  She doesn’t have the right. She is there to enforce the laws not make the laws,” said Boncek. “This is why we are here. You get a lot more people when you start messing with the Second Amendment. As you see people here and at the State House just three weeks ago approximately 5,000 people were there on a two days’ notice ( to promote the rally).”

  Approximately 300 people participated in the rolling rally Sunday and Boncek said he extended his invitation to 7th Plymouth District state Rep. Geoff Diehl, R-Whitman, who did attend the event.

Diehl who has a Class A LTC said he disagrees with Healey’s recent attempted changes to the commonwealth’s gun laws.

“First of all, I am against what Maura Healey did with the ban on the guns that she has now determined illegal,” Diehl said. “There is a lawsuit involved with that. Mike Sullivan, former U.S. Attorney is counsel on that. The legislature, unfortunately, she only did the [ban] with three days to go so we were unable to do anything to reverse the decision.” Although, over 100 legislators did sign a letter asking her not to [make the change]. Diehl pointed out the local gun clubs and gun owners rare allying to get people actively involved in protecting the Second Amendment.

HANSON — The initial repair to the Maquan School roof over the gym and cafeteria has been completed — but a few more problems were discovered in the process.

Selectmen approved use of $77,208 in unused funds for the project to address the problems, with the work to be continued by the contractor Gibson Roofs Inc., of Hanover.

“In the process of making this repair, we had Gibson look at the complete roof at Maquan,” said School Committee Chairman Bob Hayes. “There are other issues on the rest of the roof.”

The School Committee was scheduled to take a vote on those repairs at its Wednesday, Aug. 24 meeting. the quick votes could allow Gibson to complete the work before school starts Wednesday, Aug. 31.

The needed repairs include a new walkway pads, fixing loose flashing, re-flashing vent pipes, re-pointing and replacing bricks and the concrete cap of a chimney, snaking a roof drain, re-caulking among other repairs.

“It’s all within the scope of the roof project, the way it was voted,” Hayes said. “Some of the savings by going with Gibson — they did a fabulous job — can be put toward this.”

The votes come under the inter-municipal agreement, which Hayes said has worked very well on the recent Hanson school repair projects.

HANSON — And then there were none.

As of 8:15 a.m., Monday, Aug. 15, the entire seven-member Hanson Recreation Commission had resigned, stating their ability to function effectively has been “severely compromised” by the prolonged investigation of Camp Kiwanee operations.

Chairman James Hickey had resigned during the Recreation Commission’s Thursday, Aug. 11 meeting.

Camp Kiwanee’s operations, including Cranberry Cove, are not affected by the resignation, officials say.

The resignation letter, signed by six of the commission members [see page 12] described a “shroud of secrecy and impending doom outside of our control” which they had been instructed not to speak about as the investigation continued.

“This brings the total number of volunteers and caretaking staff who have been hounded and harassed by the Town Administrator [former interim Town Administrator Richard LaCamera and current Town Administrator  Michael McCue] and labor counsel to 17,” according to a former staff member.

McCue and the Board of Selectmen maintain that, on the whole, the commission has been less than helpful throughout the process.

“With few exceptions, Commission members and Commission employees, including those of longstanding tenure, have been less than fully cooperative,” McCue stated. “Dealing with the lack of cooperation has delayed the conclusion of the investigation.”

He and Selectmen “regret that it has come to this but we respect their decision,” McCue said.

“Monday morning, this office and the Board of Selectmen received the resignations of the remaining members of the Recreation Commission,” McCue said. “When it was brought to the attention of the Board and this office that there were issues with the way business was being conducted at Camp Kiwanee, an investigation was compelled and began in late March.”

Selectmen voted 5-0 Tuesday, April 19 to continue an audit review begun by interim Town Administrator Richard LaCamera under the oversight of town labor counsel Leo Peloquin, rather than starting over again when McCue began work on May 9.

That investigation is not yet complete, costing the town $27,572.50 since February 2016 [see chart].

The town’s auditor — Lynch, Malloy, Marini LLP — had made some suggestions and comments concerning documentation of employee work hours, integration of the Camp Kiwanee computer system into the town’s system, adherence to the fee schedule for rental facilities, improved tracking of receipts, the need for an inventory log and a better process for issuing beach passes.

LaCamera was also taking a “closer look at some of those issues” after the December 2015 audit.

LaCamera had resigned abruptly during an April 12 Selectmen’s meeting  following a heated exchange with then-Selectmen Chairman Bruce Young over the Bluegrass on the Bogs contract negotiation that involved allegations of drinking at Camp Kiwanee. LaCamera’s scheduled departure date had been April 22.

“Mr. LaCamera started this project as a result of findings by the town auditor in the town’s annual audit,” Young said at the time. “The inquiry started by the town administrator is not complete. It must be completed with a report and recommendation provided to the Board of Selectmen.”

The investigation will continue, officials maintain.

“Notwithstanding the recent and past resignations, the inquiry will continue to its conclusion,” McCue said. “The goal of this office and the Board has been, and continues to be, to insure that business operations are conducted appropriately at Camp Kiwanee. The Board and this office intend to honor all scheduled events and programs, now and in the future, at Camp Kiwanee.”

In July eight non-union employees resigned due to the extreme scrutiny of unsubstantiated claims, according to the former staff member, adding that one commission member resigned in January due to extreme online harassment by anonymous Facebook accounts. On May 2, the Board of Selectman dismissed Recreation Commission Chairman David Blauss citing his non-cooperation in the Camp Kiwanee Investigation, they said.

HANSON — The Hanson Police Department officially welcomed two new officers, and promoted another to the rank of sergeant, during swearing-in ceremonies at the Tuesday, Aug 9 Board of Selectmen meeting.

Town Clerk Elizabeth Sloan administered the oath of service to the officers after they were introduced in turn by Police Chief Michael Miksch. Each then had his new badge pinned on by a family member followed by a reception in the Town Hall kitchen area.

“I want to welcome the two new officers and I want to thank the rest of the department — most of them have shown up tonight to show their support — and I want to thank Sgt. Calogero for taking on the responsibilities that he has,” Miksch said. “Given some of the things that have gone on in the past few years in policing, to see people want to come into this job and to forward themselves in the job, is extremely important. It’s a testament to the families who are here tonight, too.”

Sgt. Peter Calogero is a veteran of the department, having served Hanson for more than 20 years, Miksch said. His father Frank, a retired Cambridge police officer did the badge-pinning honors as Sgt. Calogero’s wife Jennifer, children Peter, Sarah and Jake and his mother Marie — along with some other members of the department and their families — looked on.

New officer Christopher Dominguez, who joins the HPD after serving as a correction officer with the Norfolk County Sheriff’s office and deputy in the patrol division with the Hillsborough County, Fla. Sheriff’s Department, where he served for three years.

“I’m not sure why he left sunny Florida,” Miksch joked. “But Chris grew up here and he’s returned home.”

He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Endicott College. His wife Jenny pinned on his badge as his father Ed, a 29-year veteran of the Boston Police Department looked on.

New officer Brent Peterson, who holds a degree in criminal justice from Western New England and had served as an officer with the Plympton Police Department since 2012, where he also served as a court prosecutor and evidence officer as well as a patrolman. He also served with the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department.

Peterson’s wife Dawn and daughter Abigail pinned on his badge. His parents John and Gwen also attended.

HANSON — It was a hug in motion for a grieving family in the community on Sunday, July 31 as more than 200 area residents shrugged off oppressive humidity and rain to honor the memory of eighth-grader Samuel Andrews and aid the suicide prevention work of the Samaritans.

“My sister [Stacey] had an idea that we had to do something, and she suggested a walk,” said organizer Meredith Wigmore, a friend of the Andrews family. “She was the mastermind and I just got volunteers.”

That idea became the Do It For Sam 5K.

She said the fundraising goal was $5,000 and was certain it would be exceeded, thanks to the generous donation of gift baskets for raffles, which included a Wahlburger’s basket complete with a signed T-shirt, fitted hat and photo of Paul Wahlberg. One of Wahlburgers’ employees in promotions lives in Hanson and delivered the prize.

Wigmore said Monday that more than $9,000 was raised at the event.

“If we could help just one kid, one family, then we’ve done our job,” Wigmore said. “The town of Hanson has totally stepped up … I had people contacting me [asking], ‘What can I do?’”

One woman alone made up three of the raffle baskets. Hanson Police provided traffic control and the Fire Department had firefighter/EMTs driving the route on an ATV in case of a medical emergency.

Flowers for Sam

Walkers — and a few runners — stepped off a bit after the planned 9 a.m. start time, making their way from Botieri Field up Indian Head Street to School and Maquan streets, and back to Liberty Street, via Andrew Lane and Gorwin Drive, and then up High Street to Fern Hill Cemetery and back to Botieri Field. While at Fern Hill they were given water to beat the heat and humidity, and multi-colored carnations by Sam’s grandparents, Eugene and Phyllis Andrews, to place on his grave. The Abington Stop & Shop donated the flowers.

Members of the Andrews family expressed gratitude, when they could find the words, for their community’s support. Sam’s mother Melissa was unable to say much in the emotion of the day. His dad Phil was also deeply affected.

“It’s wonderful,” Gene said before choking up over the community’s support. “It’s unbelievable. From Day One, it’s just been … you realize we’re still a small town and a small community.”

“The turnout has just been phenomenal,” Phil said of the walk. “I can definitely feel Sam here with everyone and … I’m at a loss for words. I’m so glad we’re supporting a great organization like Samaritans.” He lauded the group’s work and said he hoped the fundraiser could help someone else in crisis.

Before the event started, DJ John Zucco introduced Abington Samaritans 40-year volunteer and board member Tom Burke to speak, followed by a prayer by the Rev. Michael Hobson of St. Joseph the Worker Church and a performance of the national anthem by Hanson resident Mary Drake.

Burke thanked organizers for the invitation and participants for the “wonderful tribute to Sam.”

Samaritans is a nonprofit, volunteer-based organization dedicated to reducing the incidence of suicide by befriending individuals in crisis and educating the public about effective prevention strategies. It also provides support for survivors of suicide attempts.

“The family reached out and got to know us and we got to know them,” Burke said after the walk. “They invited us to come down and we were happy to help.”

The Boston Samaritans chapter offers training workshops, grief support and reach to at-risk groups such as seniors. They also provide programs for schools. Burke said they handle as many as 125,000 calls and texts per year on the organization’s 24/7 phone befriending service: 1877-870-HOPE (4673) or text to Samaritans.

“It’s sad, but it’s needed,” Burke said. “We talk to about 12,000 people a year from schools … to explain the causes, the symptoms, how to cope, how to deal with it and who your resources are.”

All Samaritans services are offered at no cost.

“We also like to talk to police and first responders for two reasons,” he said. “First because they are involved and, second, because they are at risk.”

A great kid

Selectmen Chairman James McGahan, attending the walk, said it was a great example of a small town supporting one of its families at a time of pain.

“Sam was a great kid, I knew him and his dad when I first ran for office,” McGahan said. “They came down and met me down at Sandy’s coffee shop. He was a great boy and [his death] hit hard.”

He said his daughter was good friends with Sam.

“She misses him and couldn’t be here today, so she asked me to stop by,” McGahan said. “I think a lot of people are still kind of hurting from it, but this is a way for us to remember him.”

Whitman-Hanson Community Access TV volunteer Richard Green, who was among those attending the event who lost a loved one to suicide, too. He found the event brought back deep emotion and felt a connection to the Andrews family.

“We came to know him through what you people are doing,” he said of Sam. “It’s a very emotional day. … If you can help one person, that’s all you can do in this big world we live in.”

HANSON — Town Administrator Michael McCue is planting the seeds from which a Tree City USA designation for the town will grow — at least that’s his aim in delivering the seeds.

“I have an affinity for trees,” McCue said. “In my previous positions in other communities, one of my pet projects was to get towns named a Tree City USA.”

McCue reported at the Tuesday, July 19 Board of Selectmen’s meeting that he has arranged for the town to receive seeds from among six Ginko biloba trees that survived the atomic bomb blast at Hiroshima, Japan on Aug. 6, 1945. The seeds will be delivered to Hanson Middle School for grade eight science classes to plant.

That class of students will be asked to nurture the seedlings as they grow, until they graduate Whitman-Hanson Regional High School.

McCue has reached out to Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ruth Gilbert-Whitner and School Committee Chairman Bob Hayes to help set up the program with science classes.

McCue took possession of the seeds Friday, July 15, after they were quarantined, and they’ve been in his home refrigerator since.

“They can grow these seeds and add something of significance to the community,” McCue said. The trees are meant to be a legacy gift to plant on the WHRHS grounds.

The seeds are from trees known in Japan as the Hibakujumoku — or survivor trees.

McCue came across the Ginko as a good candidate species when he worked in Avon, because the trees are extremely hardy, as evidenced by surviving Hiroshima.

He looked into the U.N.-sponsored program, Green Legacy Hiroshima, which annually collects seeds from the Hibakujumoku.

“I was able to obtain 12 saplings when I was still in Avon … and have maintained a relationship with this organization,” he said. “Unfortunately, the saplings I have control over and are still being cared for at the Arnold Arboretum in Boston — I’ve committed all of those.”

That’s where the seed program comes into play.

Six months ago, after learning the import restrictions had been tightened, he was able to obtain a shipment of the seeds.

In addition to the Ginko seeds, he will be getting seeds from the hackberry, jujube, a holly and camphor.

Besides the Ginko, species of the approximately 170 Hibakujumoku traceable to Hiroshima before the bombing by UNITAR’s database also include weeping willow, black locust, Chinaberry, fig, bamboo, azalea, hemp palm, oleander, Japanese spindle, Kurogane holly, Japanese aralia, nettle tree, camphor tree, silverthorn, Japanese persimmon, eucalypt, giant pussy willow, southern catalpa, sago palm, tree peony, Shirodamo, cherry, crape myrtle, oriental pine, Chinese parasol tree, Japanese black pine, Muku tree, Japanese hackberry, jujube, Japanese flowering apricot, Amanatsu, Tabunoki, Bohdi tree, Japanese camellia, Japanese quince, Chinese juniper and crinum lily.

UNITAR is the United Nations Institute for Training and Research.

Boston Post Cane

McCue is also working to revive the tradition of the Boston Post Cane, awarded to a community’s oldest resident. He has presided over such programs in Mansfield and Avon — where he had to work with North Easton Savings Bank, which had started a program to replace missing Boston Post canes as a public service.

“Their [Avon] cane over the course of several decades went missing,” he said.

Hanson’s cane was also missing, but the bank has replaced it and the town clerk has determined the identity of the oldest resident. Replica canes also feature the engraving from the originals. Hanson’s is now being engraved.

The cane program was founded by the defunct Boston Post newspaper in 1909 as a promotional project. Canes were made of ebony with gold grip and tip, for 700 towns in New England, including Maine, Massachusetts New Hampshire and Rhode Island.

No cities were included in the program, according to the Maynard town website, but some present day cities were still towns in 1909.

So long as that person agrees to participate in a ceremony, McCue said the board will be advised at a later date when it would take place.

“Some people aren’t interested in the attention,” he said.

McCue is looking to affiliate with the Small Town Administrators’ Group open to communities of 11,000 residents or fewer and is hoping to arrange one of the organization’s annual meetings in town.

HANSON — Selectmen on Tuesday, July 12, clarified its June 28 appointments to the Conservation Commission.

At the June 28 meeting, there were four applications for two positions up for a vote, but selectmen had received the resignation of another Conservation Commission member at the same meeting.

Selectmen voted against re-appointing Conservation Commission Chairman John Kemmett and Vice Chairman Frank Schellenger. The appointments replacing incumbent members had an effective date of June 30, 2016. Conservation Commission Clerk Brad Kirlin’s resignation left a vacant seat that expires in 2017, noted Selectmen Chairman James McGahan.

“Based on that, I believe the appointments were for [William] Woodward and [Sharon] LePorte … and that stays, however there is an open position at the Conservation Commission,” McGahan said.

Applications are being accepted toward filling the vacancy on Tuesday, July 26.

In other business, Town Administrator Michael McCue advised selectmen and the public about a recent incorrect press report, based on an erroneous decision by the state Attorney General’s office, concerning an open law violation by the Capital Improvement Committee. The decision wrongly faulted Town Clerk Elizabeth Sloan for allegedly destroying minutes from meetings in 2013.

“That was actually due to an error on the part of [the committee’s] clerk, not the town clerk,” McCue said. “I think it’s important for the townspeople to be aware of the fact that the town clerk has been fulfilling her role very dutifully.”

The author of the Attorney General’s office decision has apologized for the error. A corrected decision will be issued that will not cast any aspersions on the town clerk’s conduct.

“The AG’s office had received a number of calls stating that people could not believe, and would not believe, that our town clerk would have done something incorrect like that,” McCue said.

Selectman Bruce Young noted that minutes are intended to be a permanent record.

“I know that the town clerk, and the former town clerk, know that records of minutes filed with the town clerk are a permanent record that can’t be destroyed or discarded,” he said. “That gives credence that that part of the Attorney General’s determination was totally bogus.”

McGahan noted that, by law, the missing minutes will have to be recreated.

McCue also reported that state Rep. Josh Cutler, D-Duxbury, had reported to him about budget vetoes by Gov. Charlie Baker regarding $20,000 that had been earmarked for water quality testing of Wampatuck Pond and $30,000 for improvements at Camp Kiwanee.

McCue said the vetoes are not unusual and that Cutler had indicated that both vetoes will be considered for potential override votes in the next couple of weeks.

“I don’t mean this in an incorrect way, but basically, the governor went through and slashed everything he could do without hitting essential services,” McCue said, noting the state budget still has a shortfall of nearly $1 billion.