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Herren’s long journey back

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HANOVER — Chris Herren, who once wore a Celtics jersey, lost every dime he ever earned to his drug habits. As a former American national basketball player who also played on various teams overseas, he stood before the entire school last week at South Shore Tech to tell his story.

Herren described his longing to taste that “item” that had such an immense hold on his dad — he wondered how that little can of beer could be so powerful that it made his mother cry and was crumbling  the family life around him.

As a curious teen he tried beer behind the shed of his house where he got caught and promised his mother he would never do it again. But addiction took hold and rapidly escalated  until pills, and eventually heroin owned him.

In the clutches of the opioid epidemic Herren he was in a fight with  the devil as he tried over and over to detox and stay clean but it eventually took another downward spiral with overdoses and the continuous cycle ensued.

He was an open book for the students, sharing all the details of his recovery and sobriety, chronicling details of his lowest of lows.

He recounted the biggest moments in life when he still  purchased drugs only hours after his baby was born; his wife still in the hospital from her delivery. He returned to heroin to get high.

He described his behavior, his need to get a fix at all costs even playing in the NBA high on drugs, on which he was dependent on emotionally and physically.

Herren’s presentation began with a short film that  highlighted his career both the rise and fall with interviews from his coaches and how he over the years made his new mission to speak in his rawest form, to share his story with thousands in his 11 years in sobriety — to give hope to others that sobriety was possible.

He appeared to have so much but there was no way his confident façade could hide his inner demons, he said.

It became visible that his drug use was taking over and cost him his basketball career — he was labeled a “risk” for teams to sign. He had a few opportunities that brought him back to the game again, but he blew those chances with time, as well.

Herren spoke intentionally, confessing and evoking conversation on the same level in the room of an intensely focused audience.

Teachers and students became emotional, tears streaming down faces of those who listened to Herren. The obvious energy palpable as high schoolers fidgeted and tapped their feet lightly on the floor, nervously shifting in their seats. In expression of grief friends hugged one another in the gymnasium at the hour-long assembly.

Herren also touched on topics of self-harm and mental health, both he had experienced in hearing from teens who reached out to him in the past and understood that addiction begins somewhere else first in most situations.

After falling time and time again, he said he realized after telling his own story that many  youngsters  had stories of their own — critical for healing to both the younger generation and himself.

Herren acknowledged that a conversation such as his is a difficult one, but as he told his story he also reminded students and staff that — with no exception —they each had a hand in helping sometimes just listening was the beginning step.

Failure to address the epidemic and sweeping it under the rug was not an option. He encouraged communication and talk about the need for facilitation, services and helping one another.

In wrapping up his story Herren wondered aloud how many kids in the room knew a friend or family member who was struggling and didn’t know how to help. It was clear by the reactions that the drug and alcohol epidemic has spread far and wide in our communities.

Knowing beer is a driving force behind his father’s alcoholism he said he is aware that he will get a call someday that his dad has drank himself to his own death. He had already prepared in his mind that the day would come.

Answering a student’s question on what the one most regretful act during his drug use was Herren recalled not being able to keep his promises.

He was unable to keep his pledge of sobriety to his mother — she passed away before he gained a clean lifestyle. She never got to see him drug-free.

With question and answers at the culmination of the assembly Herren only received a few questions in front of the crowd — but the moment he turned off the microphone and stepped in to the rows of chairs he was hugged and tapped on the shoulder by dozens of students who approached him.

Murmurs and parts of conversations could be heard as he commended each student with a hug or high five just a moment of caring and he had a positive comment for each of them.

The students and staff had counselors available all day following the presentation.

Chris Herren has built a community around substance use prevention and recovery. He has shown us that even the best can falter, and even the most desperate can rise. An author, motivational speaker and wellness advocate, Herren has founded three organizations that provide programs and services with the goal of overcoming setbacks and navigating life’s challenges, according to his website. To read more about Chris Herren and his recovery, wellness programs and speaking engagements visit chrisherren.com.

Whitman reviews snow, ice budget

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WHITMAN — With winter beginning to take hold, Town Administrator Frank Lynam proposed a change to the budget process for snow and ice removal to the Board of Selectmen on Tuesday, Dec. 17.

“Obviously, we are going through some difficult mechanisms right now with the budget,” he said. “However, we start every year in the hole [for snow and ice removal] with the exception of two since 2007.”

The town appropriates $120,000 for snow and ice and the costs, when it hasn’t been able to pay for it have varied from $249,000 to $475,000. He argued that, if the starting budget was increased to $250,000 the town would have still seen nine deficit years out of the last 13; at $300,000 Whitman would have seen five deficit years.

He cautioned, however, that any increase must be looked at in view of how it might affect the current budget.

He urged the board to look at the issue toward deciding whether more money should be committed to snow and ice in order to get an even start to the year. Lynam also provided his cost analysis to the finance committee.

“I’m not looking for a vote, I’m just bringing it forward to say it’s something we need to look at as part of our overall revamp of our budget process,” he said.

Selectmen Vice Chairman Dan Salvucci said he had always been told by the DPW that, once the snow and ice budget was increased, it could never be decreased.

Lynam said that is not correct, but if a town increases the budget line and ends up with a surplus, it would be capped at what that budget is the following year.

“It’s just for the year following the reduction, you’re not permanently enjoined,” he said.

Lynam told the board that he was recently contacted by state officials about their work to update flood maps, including a change in procedures.

Once the maps are updated, the town must update them through its bylaws, according to Lynam.

Building Inspector Bob Currant will be the point person on the project.

Selectmen also heard a report on the Dec. 4 meeting of the New Regional Agreement Amendment Committee.

“What can I say? We met, we dissolved,” Lynam said.

“I will tell you the dissolution of the committee was definitely a … both towns agreed on it and just feel it’s the best way to handle things, the assessment being one of the major hurdles to get over,” said Selectman Randy LaMattina, who attended a Dec. 4 meeting of the committee with Lynam, Selectmen Chairman Dr. Carl Kowalski and their Hanson counterparts.

“We just felt that the towns really needed to happen in a smaller group and tackle that issue rather than take on a whole regional agreement at this time,” LaMattina said.

Lynam reminded the board that informal discussions had been held on the issue previously and he said he was sure that could happen again.

While he said his goal is to ultimately get to the statutory assessment method, but LaMattina said without hard numbers or a measure of voter preference in Whitman, he said Kowalski had recommended a center-lane approach that is neither statutory nor alternative/agreement method. LaMattina, however, argued that the statutory method is the most equitable. Whitman also voted to support the statutory method.

“I know it’s uphill for Hanson,” he said. “It self-corrects. You don’t get into a situation that you go 31 years under an agreement that has really shifted.”

Hanson stands by audit request

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HANSON — The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday, Dec. 17 discussed updated information and concerns surrounding the ongoing school differences with Whitman surrounding  assessment formula for W-H Regional Schools.

Selectmen Chairman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett and Selectmen Matt Dyer were slated to meet Wednesday, Dec. 18 with Whitman counterparts and town administrators to further discuss a proposed compromise assessment approach for the W-H Regional Schools.

The board’s agenda Dec. 17 included discussion on the costs of de-regionalizing and of the assessment issue with Town Counsel and possible next steps.

FitzGerald-Kemmett said the Dec. 4 meeting of the new Regional Agreement Committee concluded with a vote to temporarily disband [see related story] the panel to permit discussions on a smaller scale to facilitate negotiation. She said whatever is discussed in the smaller sessions would “absolutely be brought back” for discussion by Hanson Selectmen.

“The discussion was how we should move forward with the regional agreement and it was made abundantly clear at that meeting that Whitman was going to go statutory this year,” she said. “The way the composition of the School Committee [stands], with the 6-4 — six Whitman votes to four Hanson — the fact that we’ve had DESE weigh in and all … more than likely, regardless what the School Committee voted, ultimately we would end up with the statutory formula.

The statutory method takes into account a town’s minimum per pupil expenditure designated by DESE — the minimum local contribution — which fluctuates based on inflation, wage adjustment, town’s total earned income, property values and municipal revenue growth. Anything in a budget over the minimum local contribution goes to the regional agreement, based on pupil population, for any other operating expense.

There is no requirement for unanimous agreement by both communities to use the statutory method.

The agreement/alternative method uses strict per-pupil representation to assess the communities, the method currently used by the district. Both communities have to pass the assessment methodology prior to the budget distribution or at town meeting in order to use this method. If one town does not vote the budget forward and the other does, it does not constitute unanimous agreement for the method to be used.

FitzGerald-Kemmett reported that Whitman Selectman Randy LaMattina would be willing to enter into an agreement calling for a statutory formula for fiscal 2021, after which the towns would discuss a transition to a full statutory assessment system.

Going forward, Whitman Selectmen Chairman Dr. Carl Kowalski said he favored opening the agreement to something of a hybrid formula that would not be fully statutory nor alternative.

“I don’t know what that looks like,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “Part of that is the school audit that both towns have agreed to fund.”

She sought to clarify that the audit is to provide information the towns need.

“If we’re being asked to write a check, we need to know what that check is for, pure and simple,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “It is not a value judgment, it is not an indictment of anybody. We have a fiduciary responsibility to have transparency into the way the money is being spent.”

She pointed out that, were the schools not part of a region, that transparency — as with all other town departments — would be easier to achieve.

Dyer said the audit had no connection to any suspicions about school finances.

Every year, we choose a department to audit,” he said. “This is just regular business.”

FitzGerald-Kemmett agreed, but admitted the impetus was also a need for more information. She described the towns’ relationship as currently siloed where the schools are concerned, and that the audit could lead to help the towns get onto the same page.

“They’d be sitting at our department head meetings on a weekly basis and they’d be talking to one another,” she said. “We’re trying to level that playing field and get that level of information we’ve got from the other departments in town.”

FitzGerald-Kemmett said the board has also been receiving a lot of questions about whether de-regionalization has been considered. It will not be figured out by the May Town Meeting, she said, stressing that people want to know what the structure and cost would be and the whether or not the town would benefit from it.

“I don’t have any of those answers right now,” she said. “My sense is that de-regionalization is probably not a viable — and certainly not a short-term viable — solution right now, but it’s something everyone deserves to have us look into, so we will look into it.”

FitzGerald-Kemmett asked Finance Committee Chairman Kevin Sullivan at what point his board should be looped in.

“Ultimately, FinCom has to play the hand we’re dealt, based on what the schools provide in their budget,” he said. “It’s a little bit discouraging to me that they’ve shown such a high increase already in December.”

He pointed to the $2.5 million in recommendations are an indication that an even higher budget increase than in previous years.

“We’re throwing things like full-day kindergarten right on top,” Sullivan said. “Is this the best time to do that? If they eased into this a little bit more, I feel we could make this work. … But I feel like we’re hammering it down now.”

He argued it could motivate some residents to dig in and refuse to support any budget.

“I’ve gotten some very strong and loud feedback about the fact that, not only are we looking at the struggle of how the assessment will play out, but now we’re  tacking on pretty large increase on top of that,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “They’re doing what they think they need to do.”

In other business, the board discussed a “No Knock Policy” against door-to-door solicitations, in which a list is drawn up and disseminated.

Police Chief Michael Miksch has noted a problem with such a policy concerning maintaining the list when people move or property is sold and the First Amendment considerations of group such as religious or political canvassers. He also noted the 2020 Census will be sending people door-to-door.

Miksch recommends that those who do not want solicitors knocking on their doors should post “No Trespassing” or “No Soliciation” signs, which the police can enforce.

Financial literacy is now a graduation requirement at W – H

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W-H principal Dr. Christopher Jones received the go-ahead from School Committee members on Wednesday, Dec. 11 to use a grant from NextGen, a personal finance firm, to fund a financial literacy program of studies with an eye toward including it as a graduation requirement beginning in 2024.

“We thought it would add up, seeing that we ran a pilot this year,” Jones said. “We were already looking to make it a graduation requirement.”

The $10,000 grant would help implement the program, however the Committee’s support in a vote, reflected in a vote recorded in the minutes to require financial literacy as a graduation criteria. No additional personnel is required with the rolling of a computer application course into the financial literacy program. An $11,500 state grant will fund professional development for the program.

“I’m glad to see we’re doing something on this,” said School Committee member Dan Cullity. “I do believe our students do not — over the last four or five years — come out of here knowing how to do anything for life. [They’re] basement dwellers because they don’t know how to get a house.”

He said there is such an emphasis on college, when only a certain amount go to college while the rest “have to get out there and do the blue-collar work.”

School Committee member Alexandra Taylor, who works in a bank, agreed.

“It’s not just younger people,” she added. “It’s adults my age who have no clue how to do any of it.”

Jones said the course goes beyond that, noting how students cover APR, buying a house, credit scores, interest rates and the like. Jones also outlined a policy approach to vaping and its potential for addiction, including consequences, recently classifying  it as a “suspension event.”

“We want to put in an educational component,” Jones said, noting that suspensions alone proved initially successful, but vaping use is on the increase again. A Saturday program is being looked at, including informational videos and reports as well as discussions with counselors, administrators or the school resource officer. Whitman resident Shawn Kain, of the recovery high school in Brockton, reiterated his request that the possibility of a student’s being diagnosed with a substance abuse disorder.

“I think it’s a whole lot more important or serious than we’re discussing,” Kain said. “I think addiction is a disability and I think it should be treated as a disability.”

He has been advocating for its inclusion in the student handbook as a disability just as any emotional disability.

The School Committee also approved Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey Szymaniak’s request to form a Superintendent’s Council of students with the aim of the students to meet three or four times a year with the committee.

Szymaniak proposed leaning on student leaders for membership on the council, but School Committee member Robert O’Brien Jr., said he would prefer hearing from a  cross-section of students.

“I want to hear from others, quite honestly,” O’Brien said. “I don’t always want to hear from the student leaders … I want to hear from all walks of life.”

Pantry donations

In other business, the students of the WHRHS National Honor Society presented checks for $908 each to the Whitman and Hanson food pantries during the meeting.

NHS members raised a total of $1,817 during the annual Miles for Meals 5K fun run and one-mile walk on Sept. 28, according to adviser Kelly Tanis, a language teacher.

Christine Cameron of the Hanson Food Pantry and Bruce Perry of the Whitman Food Pantry attended the meeting to accept the donations from NHS member Chloe Wilson.

“Thank you to both food pantries for all you do for the community,” Wilson said.

“Year in-year out these kids do this — it used to be under the direction of Ms. Galambos, but now Ms. Tanis — and they do a great job,” Perry said. “The students always come through for us and we really appreciate it. I really want to commend them for that.”

Whitman gets holiday spirit

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WHITMAN — Getting down to the wire with wrapping and rushing to meet the holiday deadlines, many families took a break this weekend to slow down and share in free events offered by Whitman Recreation and to give back at the Whitman Police, through the annual Stuff-A-Cruiser event.

The Recreation party was a family friendly experience with crafts, face painting and other activities held at the Town Hall on Saturday with a visit from the big guy himself.

Photos were welcomed with Santa who read many lists from all the children.

A family movie night was also held with snacks and a showing of the movie “Polar Express” in the Town Hall Auditorium later in the day.

The week before Christmas is full of activity for Whitman Area Toy Drive as the group planned to assist local families — aiding some 500 families by season’s end.

Co-organizers Donnie Westhaver and Jane Plasse, who started Whitman Area Toy Drive to aid those in need 19 years ago said they  have seen an increase in need from years past.

Paul Colgate also a partner of the Whitman Area Toy Drive now in his fourth year came aboard with the organization after seeing the difference the collaboration was creating for people in hardship.

“I thought what they were doing is incredible and I have stayed ever since,” said Colgate who was accepting boxed toys.

With an influx of traffic through the parking lot, many families were pulling up to drop bags off and helpers were placing them in the backs of the two Whitman cruisers. At the end of the event the collection filled six cruisers to the roof.

Families who dropped in to also meet Santa were treated to light refreshments, cocoa and coffee served with a stuffed animal gift, which was given to the littlest ones in return for their kindheartedness. It was cold and breezy but thoughtfulness warmed the air.

Officers Dave Hickey and Kevin Harrington who along with other officers also had their families along to assist said during the event that it was going “awesome.”

Tillman the dog tried to assist with the toy donations with his owner Officer Hickey but he was too distracted by the crumbs from the sweets – he did, however, give plenty of kisses to everyone who greeted him as a thank you for the donations.

Julia Harrington, a senior at Whitman Hanson who is planning on majoring in forensic biology next fall, has attended the event for the last three years and volunteers with her father.

She said she is happy to see the difference the event makes and plans to return from college next year to attend.

“Giving kids the toys they may not be able to afford on Christmas… it means a lot,” she said.

In collaboration with the food pantry Westhaver said

They are planning to assist 500 families total from this event with a holiday meal and gifts.

The requests for toys this year included an increase in craft items and science-themed games and toys. Plasse posted a thank you message on social media on behalf of the Whitman Area Toy Drive.

Plasse extended her gratitude for the Sunday event, which was held at the Whitman police department parking lot.

“I would like to say thank you for everyone’s generosity … to our community,” she said. “With everyone’s help, we filled six cruisers with new unwrapped toys and gift cards for the older kids. These donations will help many families have a nice Christmas this year. I would also like to say a special Thank You to Kevin Harrington and Dave Hickey for putting on this annual event for the past four years to benefit the Whitman Area Toy Drive. Without this event many families would not be having a nice Christmas. I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Statutory assessment formula approved for FY 2021

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The School Committee — divided along community lines — voted 6-4 on Wednesday, Dec. 11 to use the statutory formula for calculating the towns’ assessments for the fiscal 2021 school budget.

The six Whitman members supported the move and the four Hanson members voted against it.

School Committee Chairman Bob Hayes outlined a Dec. 4 meeting of the new Regional Agreement Committee, including him and Vice Chairman Christopher Scriven, two members of each board of selectmen and school district and town administrators.

“It was a very lively discussion about the statutory method vs. the alternative method,” Hayes said. “It was all very valuable information with everybody sort of on the same page and working at it.”

The statutory method takes into account a town’s minimum per pupil expenditure designated by DESE — the minimum local contribution — which fluctuates based on inflation, wage adjustment, town’s total earned income, property values and municipal revenue growth. Anything in a budget over the minimum local contribution goes to the regional agreement, based on pupil population, for any other operating expense.

There is no requirement for unanimous agreement by both communities to use the statutory method.

The agreement/alternative method uses strict per-pupil representation to assess the communities, the method currently used by the district. Both communities have to pass the assessment methodology prior to the budget distribution or at town meeting in order to use this method. If one town does not vote the budget forward and the other does, it does not constitute unanimous agreement for the method to be used.

No votes were taken at what Hayes described as a largely organizational meeting until assessments were discussed. But by the end of that session the group agreed to ask the School Committee to temporarily disband the Regional Agreement Committee until the towns are ready to work on all aspects of the agreement.

The School Committee approved that motion unanimously. The Regional Agreement Committee had also asked the School Committee for its vote on the assessment method to be used in the fiscal 2021 budget. That required only a majority vote of the School Committee.

“What they didn’t want to do was violate any laws by having quorums and discussions that they could be having with each other,” Hayes said.

Scriven said he thought it was a “pretty positive dialog.”

Assistant Superintendent George Ferro characterized the request as an effort to formulate a budget this year and then come back to examine how the whole plan looks from a language, process and building perspective and look as long-term impact.

Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey Szymaniak said the assessment debates have taken up the bulk of attention over the past five months and that he was “struggling” with requests from both towns for an independent audit of their schools’ operating costs — and a town administrator’s suggestion that the school district needed to “tighten its belt.”

“I’ve been superintendent for a year and a half and I worked really hard last year to do what’s best for the kids,” Szymaniak said. “So, if you want to do an audit of what we do, bring it forth … but to question the integrity of both George and I — and this committee, who put forth a budget last year that cut $1.8 million — I’m offended by that.”

He said the cost of an audit could be better spent on Chromebooks for the high school.

School Committee member Christopher Howard of Hanson said he was concerned that none of the community representatives on the Regional Agreement Committee were present to offer their thoughts about the Dec. 4 session.

“All I can say is they specifically asked us to vote on this in and effort to kind of move forward,” Scriven said.

Whitman member Dawn Beyers expressed concern that disbanding the Regional Agreement Committee “allows them to have sub, sub, subgroups” and she would prefer to see open conversations.

Discussion of the assessment formula revealed that the two towns are still far apart on financing the school budget.

“It was implemented, really, to benefit all the children,” Byers also said of the statutory assessment formula. “As a committee, I’ll hope we’ll recognize our charge — it’s student achievement, it’s continuous student achievement, and we need to talk about how the availability of the statutory assessment does help our budget. It does help our students.”

She said that, as tighter budgets narrow what the district can offer, students will go elsewhere and it will ultimately cost W-H more.

Howard said it is the budget itself that is key, rather than the assessment method.

“The assessment is just how we’re charging the affected towns the cost,” he said.

Hayes said unfunded mandates have a huge impact, as well.

But Whitman member Dan Cullity was more blunt as discussion moved onto the next budget projections.

“To turn around and tell you to tighten the school budget belt — we’re the only department that’s cut, laid off, dropped services — I don’t think we can be tightening the belt any more than we have,” he said. “That really ticked me off, not only as a School Committee member, but as a citizen in the town of Whitman.”

He stressed that assessments to the towns do not necessarily reflect an increase in the school budget. He said either legislation to free up some of the state surplus to fund unfunded mandates, or tax increases would be needed to close the budget gap.

Cullity noted education is the only service required by the state constitution.

“I’m sorry, I’m here for the children — that’s why I was elected,” he said. “I don’t want to pay more taxes, [but] that’s the only way this is ever going to be resolved.”

Byers said W-H is not alone in dealing with unfunded mandates.

“It goes back to our towns and how they choose to support education,” she said.

Szymaniak said the preliminary fiscal 2021 budget is $57,492,938 — an increase of 9.66 percent or $5.9 million.

“That’s giving you what we need to move forward,” he told the committee. That figure includes full-day kindergarten, changing start times, reducing class size in elementary schools and other things that have been “talked about for years and years” that have been cut.

Required expenses total $2,291,200 — including salary increases. Special education transportation costs are up $275,000; special education tuition is up $110,000 and facilities costs are up.

Curriculum upgrades the district needs are also factored into the recommended budget.

“We’ve tightened our belts as much as we can,” Szymaniak said. “This committee has always supported kids and I ask them to continue to support kids. I know you are responsible to your local communities as well.”

Better Business Bureau issues warning on ‘hot toy’ scam

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Every year, there’s always a few “must-have” toys on most kids’ holiday wish lists. The toys sell out fast, becoming expensive and hard to find. This year’s hot picks are ZoGalaxy’s Star Wars toys, Funko’s Pop! figurines, Hatchimals and Magformers. Scammers are using these toys’ popularity to trick parents out of their money.

You are looking for these toys, but they are sold out at every store you visit. So you decide to look online. A quick search takes you to a page that miraculously has the toy in stock. The site may look professional and have original images of the product. It may even offer the product at discounted prices, claiming a “last-minute deal” or “flash sale.”

Unfortunately, many such offers are fake. People order the toy online, but it never arrives. When they try to follow up with the company, they find that the website lacks working contact information or has disappeared.

For example, BBB Scam Tracker has a dozen reports from consumers who ordered and paid for Funko Pop! figures, but never received them. One consumer wrote, “I was told it would ship within 48 hours of the release. I have emailed numerous times and received one correspondence that it would be received by June. The order page tells me there was an error and the website is under construction with a notice, ‘all orders are being fulfilled.’”

Tips to Avoid Toy Scams

Only buy toys from reputable stores and websites. The best way to avoid getting scammed when purchasing toys is to buy them directly from a seller you know and trust.

Don’t be fooled by extra-low prices. Unreasonably low prices are a red flag for a scam on many products. Avoid making a purchase from a retailer you aren’t familiar with just because the price sounds too good to be true – it probably is!

Research before you buy. If a company seems legitimate but you aren’t familiar with it, be extra careful with your personal information. Before offering up your name, address, and credit card information, make sure the company has a working customer service number.

BBB Serving the Heart of Texas recently wrote an investigation that included Orbitoys, a retailer of Funko Toys.

For More
Information

See BBB.org/ShoppingOnline for more online shopping tips. For more about avoiding scams this holiday season, check out BBB.org/Holiday-Tips.

If you’ve spot a scam (whether or not you’ve lost money), report it to BBB Scam Tracker. Your report can help others avoid falling victim.

If you see a questionable ad, report it to BBB AdTruth so we can investigate.

Remembering those lost at Pearl Harbor

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WHITMAN — On the 78th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the Whitman American Legion Post 22 and the Sons of the American Legion Squadron 22 gathered at the post on Legion Parkway for its annual salute to the lives lost on America’s “day of infamy.”

Evocative of the early Sunday morning (Pearl Harbor time) attack, color and honor guards saluted the flag, flown at half staff, before firing a ceremonial volley at 8 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 7.

New Post Commander Robert Schirone thanked the representatives from the Whitman VFW, Legion, Sons of the Legion, the Sons Riders and Knights of Columbus. Town Administrator Frank Lynam and Selectman Dan Salvucci also attended.

Frank Mirano, 98, who joined the service a couple months after Pearl Harbor attack had been invited, but Schirone said it appeared the cold morning was not conducive to his being able to attend.

“Again, our nation has assembled to honor its heroic dead,” Schirone said in his prepared remarks. “Under the quiet sod or beneath the murmuring waves, their bodies sleep in peace.”

Schirone said their souls march on in the destinies of veterans.

“Because of them, our lives are free,” Schirone said of those lost on Dec. 7, 1941. “Because of them, our nation lives. … They fought for us. For us, they fell now with one accord, and deepest reverence, we do them honor.”

After he spoke, the gathering observed 30 seconds of silence and a prayer was offered for the repose of those lost — as well as the honorable way survivors continued on with their lives — before the Whitman VFW honor guard fired the ceremonial salute from three rifles, after which a recording of “Taps” was played.

The brief ceremony was followed by a breakfast collation in the post.

Celebrating season of giving

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HANSON — Residents kicked off the holiday season on Saturday, Dec. 7 by breaking bread — er, pancakes, — with Santa Claus at Camp Kiwanee; thanking volunteers who aid the town’s seniors; and lighting the night sky with fireworks and the town’s Christmas tree.

Hanson Fire apparatus also represented the town and Wyman’s Nursery, which provided wreaths for the engines, in the East Bridgewater Holiday parade Saturday morning.

The volunteers who drive seniors to medical appointments, deliver Meals on Wheels, work the reception desk, and help with the supportive adult day program, sing in the senior chorus, among other projects, were invited to a luncheon at the center Saturday afternoon. A catered meal, with cake was enjoyed while Warren Phillips performed Christmas favorites. Each volunteer received a holiday card signed by the center staff and a pocket planning calendar.

“It’s so wonderful to have you all,” Senior Center Director Mary Collins said. “Take a look around, you are the most important people in this center, I want you to know that. Without you, we would never be able to make it.”

Collins thanked the volunteers for their work on behalf of the staff.

“When I think of my family, I do think of all of you and you make a difference in my life.”

The day was capped off by the town’s seventh annual Holiday Fest on the Town Hall Green.

Craft tables hosted by event co-sponsor Sullivan Funeral Homes and the Hanson PTO provided families with personalized keepsake ornaments and picture frames for the photos with Santa taken by Hanson firefighters.

“It does get a little easier,” Holiday Committee Chairman Steve Amico said of the planning. “What happens is, it all seems to fall together. We have a good corps of people.”

Fire Chief Jerome Thompson, Deputy Chief Robert O’Brien Jr., and Lt. Charles Barends, Police Chief Michael Miksch and Lt. Mike Casey, School Committee chairman Bob Hayes, Amanda Hauck of Sullivan Funeral Homes, Kevin Dykes of the Highway Department, and pastors Kris Skjerli of Calvary Baptist Church and Peter Smith of the Hanson Congregational Church have all been instrumental in planning the event, Amico said.

“Pastor Kris has been unbelievable for the past several years, putting the restaurants together,” he said.

Participating restaurants in town, included Mike’s House of Pizza, The Olde Hitching Post, Meadow Brook Restaurant, Domino’s Pizza and others. The Hanson Kiwanis Club teamed with the Rockland-Hanson Rotary to provide hot chocolate that patrons could add to at a cocoa bar. The Hanson 200 Committee sold souvenir items at a pop-up store in the Nathaniel Thomas Mill, with proceeds going to fund next year’s 200th anniversary celebration of Hanson’s founding.

“We’re going to be joining together with them for the 200th anniversary next Christmas,” Amico said.

Santa received a police and fire escort through traffic, arriving to light the town’s Christmas tree and pose for photos with kids of all ages before a fireworks display capped off the event.

Whitman gets into the holiday spirit next week with the Recreation Department’s annual Christmas party starting at 1 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 14 at Town Hall. “Polar Express” will be screened at 1 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 15 at the VFW on Essex Street.

Whitman reviews budget study

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WHITMAN — Saying “nothing here is cast in stone,” financial consultant John Madden returned to a meeting of the Whitman Budget Override Evaluation Committee Monday, Dec. 2 to review his draft analysis of the town financial conditions.

“It was what we expected,” said Town Administrator Frank Lynam. “It was what we’ve been talking about.”

The report is posted on the town website whitman-ma.gov.

“Make no mistake, you guys have done a great job,” Madden said. “You’ve gotten to where we are today, when other communities may have decided, ‘You know what? This is too much work. I think we’ll try for an override and see what happens.’”

He lauded what the committee and town government have done to balance the budget and “postpone what appears to be the inevitable.”

Committee Chairman Selectman Randy LaMattina said the panel did have some questions and sought clarification on figures in the report, specifically a 5-percent increase for the schools.

Madden said if department heads have compelling arguments for the Finance Committee, board of Selectmen or other decision-making board to consider for figures outside of his recommendations, that is the decision of that committee or board.

“Something has to give or you prepare to go to the voters with a general override,” he cautioned however, adding the recommendations come from an effort to mitigate the cost and delay the need for such an override.

He said that he recommended 5 percent for the schools, based on what he has seen in other communities.

“I’ve seen lower, I’ve seen higher,” Madden said.

Resident member of the committee Christopher George asked if the figure represented a 5-percent increase in the assessments to the towns or a 5-percent increase in the schools’ overall budget. Madden said it was the figure from the towns’ Article 2 budget.

School Committee member Dawn Byers noted that, as a regional district, more than 50-percent of the WHRSD budget is from state aid and is not giving Whitman a 5-percent increase.

If the recommendation involved a 5-percent increase from Whitman and Hanson individually, as well as from the state, it would paint a different picture, Byers said.

“I think that would be a nice opportunity to fund the schools appropriately, but with 0.45 percent Chapter 70 increase, 5 percent from the towns doesn’t equate to an overall 5-percent budget increase,” she said.

Lynam said the committee hired Madden in an effort to identify where Whitman is and where the town is headed with the regional schools posing a particular challenge because so much of that budget is fixed.

“In fairness, our concern was for you to focus the factors that affect Whitman,” he said. “You have done that.”
Madden agreed that the towns are charged with providing an education to the children of Whitman and of Hanson, as well as some school choice participants, that keep students coming into the district.

“You’ve got to fund an education that keeps people in school and not looking elsewhere,” he said.

George also asked if there was any area in which the town was spending too much money as compared with others. Madden said nothing he has looked at or recommended actually solves individual issues. He said the report identified some areas of concern such as IT, but said it was up to the town as to whether they want to tackle them sooner rather than later.

Selectman Justin Evans, noting the suggestion in Madden’s report that the motor vehicle fine account could be moved into the general fund to defray salary expenses in the operating budget, asked if the town could do that on its own, since the town had petitioned the state to create the fine account in the first place.

Lynam said the town would have to rescind its approval of home rule legislation, but he would investigate the process.

“There’s so many things that would be perceived as negative in that type of revenue process,” he said. “I believe right now the police act in a responsible way to ensure public safety — that’s their job and that’s what they should be doing — they shouldn’t be focusing on hit counts to raise money, and I wouldn’t want to see us going back to that.”

Madden said he suggested the fines go back into the general fund since they no longer cover the cost of vehicle leases.

Lynam said even if the change was not made, the town could look at the revenue coming in against the purchasing needs of the public safety departments and use what remains for general fund purposes through Town Meeting warrant articles.

“We’re not really changing anything,” George said. “It’s an accounting practice in terms of the way things work. … We’re not really talking about any significant changes or reductions for how we spend that money, this is just about best practices from an accounting standpoint.”

Madden said that was basically what he was recommending for budget flexibility and protection from anomalies.

“We have utilized our funding sources to the maximum available,” Lynam said. “That’s where we are today.”

LaMattina noted social media posts to the effect that the town spends too much money and asked Madden for his assessment of Whitman’s spending practices. Madded said that, while free cash has been used to pay debt over the past few years, he considers debt to be part of the budget, and worked hard to do that, but at some point the town will have to consider an override. Other than that, some staffing issues are the only sources of concern Madden said he found, including overtime use.

He was asked if Whitman’s average tax bill is $5,450 in fiscal 2020, up 6 percent from last year and 24 percent in five years, is common or if it seemed high.

“Not necessarily,” Madden said. “I’ve analyzed a community that went up 13 percent in one year.”

He said if the overall budget were to increase 3 percent, it would not necessarily be a bad thing.

“There are a number of things the public doesn’t see that drive a budget,” he said.

Finance Committee member Scott Lambiase said the BOEC has to digest Madden’s report and discuss it with the Finance Committee and Selectmen.

“But we have recommendations on the table, and we have to decide what we want to do with those recommendations — whether we want to adopt all of them, some of them — and then move forward with that,” he said. “Right now, we have a budget to put together and then we have to decide do we want policies to come out of this? Do we want to adopt them? We want to make sure we can stick with them.”

Assistant Town Administrator Lisa Green also advocated adopting the Community Preservation Act, which can bring in state funding for recreation, open space conservation, community housing and historic preservation projects.