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District goals are reviewed: Fiscal 2018 budget rolls out Feb. 1

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The School Committee heard updates Wednesday, Jan. 11 on the three pillars of the district’s strategic plan adopted in September  — Healthy Bodies/Healthy Minds, Curriculum Instruction and Safe and Secure Schools — as the budget process begins.

“We felt we were in quite a good place in terms of meeting our goals,” said Superintendent of School Dr. Ruth-Gilbert-Whitner. “We have also looked at what are the financial implications of achieving these plans, and as we’ve developed the budget for FY ’18, we’ve prioritized, over time, what are the key items that we believe the district needs to have funded to be able to meet the goals of our strategic plan.”

Based on a level-service budget, which adds no new programs, the fiscal 2018 budget is expected to increase by $1.58 million based on the higher price on fixed costs such as salaries, health insurance, transportation and custodial services.

“It’s the same forecast we have every year — expenses exceed revenue and we’ve got to figure out how to make it work.”

No-cost full-day kindergarten, now estimated to cost about $400,000, is not included in the budget increase at this point.

Department officials gave presentations on the progress toward goals within their pillars.

Administrator of Special Education and Pupil Personnel Services Dr. John Quealy and Food Services Director Maureen MacKenzie talked about the Healthy Bodies/Healthy Minds goals.

“In a nutshell, the goal of Pillar I is to develop a learning environment that fosters social, emotional and academic growth for all of our students,” Quealy said, guided by a Wellness committee of representatives from each school and district officials.

One of the programs being planned is a spring Wellness Fair to include representatives from North River Collaborative, Whitman-Hanson Will and outside organizations in an effort to highlight services available to families. He is also working to expand mental health support services, such as are offered at the high school for students transitioning from hospitalization back to the classroom, to the middle schools.

MacKenzie reported the district is holding steady at 29 percent of students on free or reduced-price lunch programs. A pre-paid purchase system also protects privacy. She has also begun offering sound nutrition and exercise guidance through age-appropriate newsletters and menus students want.

“If our students are not mentally healthy, they are not going to be available to learning,” Gilbert-Whitner said.

Mathematics Curriculum Coordinator Brian Selig; History, Social Science Curriculum Coordinator Robert Davidson; Science Curriculum Coordinator Mark Stephansky and Language Arts Curriculum Coordinator Amy Hill spoke of progress being made under the Curriculum Instruction pillar.

Selig said the main goal is to provide equal access to a high-quality curriculum and the resources to support it, “regardless of what room, what building or which town they’re in” to ensure every student is career and college-ready.

In elementary grades, Davidson said that means to expand from the initial two grade levels from which the math and science programs began and creating new curricula in social studies and English language arts. Professional development for teachers is also vital.

“It’s easy to forget that elementary school teachers teach four academic subjects, and the content is no joke,” he said.

“I think you’re going to see that this is a game-changer in W-H,” Gilbert-Whitner said. “It creates a cohesive learning system — it also keeps a focus on what needs to be done.”

At the middle school level, Stephansky said developing a coherent and cohesive curriculum across the two towns is an important goal. That makes an easier transition to the high school where, Hill said, a whole new set of challenges comes before graduation, including state testing, SATs, PSATs, AP exams and courses.

The 16 new late-start days during the school calendar year have proven invaluable for teacher research, training and collaboration, she said.

security

Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Dr. Patrick Dillon and Facilities Director Ernest Sandland addressed Safe and Secure Schools goals. A Dec. 27 active shooter drill at the high school for school officials and first responders was an important part of safeguarding schools.

“We have great passion in this area,” Dillon said, noting a district-wide Safety and Security Committee has been formed to work on developing safe practices. “There is an amazing partnership with our first responders.”

Dillon and Sandland are also touring the schools to solidify facilities and maintenance plans and will be modifying the entrances to both middle schools over the coming summer.

Schools earn high marks on audit

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The Whitman-Hanson Regional School District scored well on this year’s audits — by receiving a finding of an “unmodified opinion,” which is the best opinion possible, according to audit firm representative Dan Sullivan on Wednesday, Jan. 11. Another report, filed with federal accounting officials found no “significant deficiencies or material weaknesses over financial reporting or of compliance.”

“Having ‘no findings’ is a major accomplishment,” Superintendent of School Dr. Ruth-Gilbert-Whitner said in congratulating Director of Business Services Christine Suckow on the audit results. “This is something to be greatly respected.”

Clifton Larsen Allen, which has performed the district audit for the last three years, began preliminary fieldwork for the latest audit in April 2016, according to Sullivan. Primary work is begun in November when the books on the fiscal year are closed.

“Management and staff, consistent with prior years, were responsive to all our questions and available to us throughout the whole audit,” Sullivan said. “The end result was actually a smooth audit process.”

He added there were no disagreements with district management during the audit and district officials knew what the firm needed and were prepared.

“The school district is audited by an accredited auditing firm yearly,” School Committee Chairman Bob Hayes said. “It is also audited by DESE (the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education), because we receive federal money and state money. … There’s always been questions as to what’s going on with different finances. Every single year we are audited by a private company.”

The audit reports were part of a School Committee meeting devoted to preliminary budget discussions ahead of the Wednesday, Feb. 1 rollout of the fiscal 2018 W-H school budget.

The Clifton Larsen Allen audit was broken up into two groups — the Government Y statement of debt position and activities as well as the fund-based financial statement, which deals with current funding sources.

Long-term financial liabilities of pensions and other post-employment benefits (OPEB) are included in the Government Y report. The fund-based report centers on revenue coming in and payments going out.

The district’s net position is about $30 million, including net investment and capital assets — about $59.2 million — and includes building, equipment of about $66 million less the current outstanding debt of $7 million. Restricted net position is $1.9 million, of which $600,000 is related to Circuit-Breaker funds and $1.3 million consists of other special revenue funds.

An unfunded pension liability and unfunded OPEB liability create a combined $30.8 million deficit. Annual OPEB costs were almost $5.1 million, up from $4.8 million the year before — the total unfunded OPEB liability is about $55 million, with the whole liability to be brought in during fiscal 2018.

“It’s put out over the years,” Hayes said. “It’s not a liability that’s got to be paid. Most towns, most school districts have these liabilities because of other post-employment benefits.”

“There’s no requirement to fund this at the moment,” Sullivan agreed.

Long-term debt has decreased from $14.8 million to $6.6 million because the district entered into a debt refinancing in fiscal 2015, which crossed over fiscal years.

Fund financial statements show the general fund, the most important as it relates to operation of the district, shows a balance of $2.7 million, which is $169,000 higher than the previous year.

“You are very conservative with your revenues, so you probably collected about $150,000 more in revenue than you planned and you turned back about $583,000 in expenditures that you didn’t use,” Sullivan said, adding that the year before there was about $150,000 from unused encumbrances. “Since we’ve been doing the audit, that’s been pretty much how it’s been working … it’s a position of strength.”

The committed fund balance, or excess and deficiency line item, is at $950,000, up from $750,000 from the previous year. The signed fund balance reserved for encumbrances in fiscal 2016 budget, but still in processing at year-end.

The unassigned, or free-and clear, fund balance stands at almost  $1.4 million. That figure, Sullivan said, represents 3 percent of revenues.

“The reason why we look at that is that your revenues could fluctuate 3 percent and you have enough unassigned fund balance to cover anything if it happened,” he said. “The chances of your revenues fluctuating are pretty non-existent because 90 percent are made up of assessments and Chapter 70 monies, which are very constant.”

District Treasurer David Leary also advised that the committee vote to assume two bond authorizations at the auditors’ request — one to rescind $283 left from the bond on the high school building, the other to rescind an outstanding $281,300 from the Maquan feasibility study. The board unanimously approved both requests.

“We’ve got a very strong debt position in this district,” he said, echoing Sullivan’s report. “It’s pretty unusual to find a place where the only thing that you owe is the money on this building, which is a little over $6 million and a short-term note for technology.”

The district maintains a solid AA bond rating from Standard & Poor’s with a stable outlook.

He also suggested the committee authorize him to invest some $400,000 worth of scholarships in the treasurer’s custodial care in an effort to “do a little better” in increasing their yield.

“Right now they are sitting in small savings accounts,” he said.

“As you can see in hearing from our treasurer and our auditors, WHRSD appears to be in good financial and business management condition right at this particular time,” Hayes said.

A look at New England’s famous feuds: Author Ted Reinstein discusses latest book on the ‘Wicked Pissed’

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HANSON — Quick, who successfully flew the first airplane?

If you are not from Connecticut, you are forgiven for answering. “Orville and Wilbur Wright.”

Constitution State lawmakers, however, unanimously passed a bill in June 2015, recognizing German immigrant Gustave Whitehead (né Weisskopf) as the first in flight and declaring Aug. 14 as Powered Flight Day in recognition of his Aug. 14, 1901 flight. He flew a plane 50 feet off the ground, covering about a half-mile in under 30 minutes, two years before the Dec. 7, 1903 Kittyhawk flight of 15 seconds for about 120 feet and from six to eight feet off the ground, Whitehead’s supporters note.

Connecticut’s declaration came two years after the “industry Bible” Jane’s All the World’s Aircraft published an editorial in 2013 declaring Whitehead First in Flight — and after a century of Whitehead supporters’ tireless work to win him the credit they felt he deserved.

“Does it change history?” asked author and “Chronicle” correspondent for WCVB-TV Channel 5 Ted Reinstein during a visit to the Hanson Public Library Thursday, Jan. 5. “My answer is — and you may think I was leading to a different conclusion — no, it doesn’t. It can’t.”

But, he argues, it places an asterisk on the Wright Brothers’ claim, as there is an “extraordinary possibility” that Whitehead flew first.

Among those not convinced are the states of Ohio and North Carolina and the Smithsonian Institution, where the Wright Brothers’ plane is the centerpiece of the Air and Space Museum.

So, why should we care?

They certainly care in Connecticut.

“It’s a community where they have grown up knowing about someone from their community who did something incredible,” Reinstein said. “In Bridgeport, Conn., they’ve simply taken it as a fact, the way you do about something you grew up with.”

Taking sides in a good feud is quintessentially American — and very much a pastime in New England.

Reinstein appeared at the Hanson Library to discuss his latest book, “Wicked Pissed: New England’s most Famous Fueds” [Globe Pequot Press, 2016, 208 pages, trade paperback, $18.95]

“Think of this as a dinner,” he said. “I’m going to start off with kind of an appetizer round of some tasty little finger-feuds to give you an idea of what’s in the book. Then we’re going to work our way to the main feud — kind of like a main course.”

The talk, sponsored by the Hanson Library Foundation, and the book focus on the Whitehead-Wright Brothers argument as well as some more regional spats.

“I don’t have a horse in this race, so I’m not pushing the Whitehead story,” Reinstein cautioned his audience. “I’m sharing it with you as a journalist who has researched it, because I think it’s fascinating.”

He also writes of arguments between Lexington and Concord over where the Revolution really started, the Bunker Hill vs. Breed’s Hill feud over battle nomenclature and where in New Haven, Conn., can one find the best pizza — as well as fried clam feuds and that baseball rivalry.

But the first in flight saga, touching on a large-scale race to be first, Whitehead’s uncertain immigration status and a language barrier are among the issues that make a good feud story.

“People are fascinated by feuds, but there’s one major exception,” Reinstein said. “Unless it’s your feud.”

Whitehead, nicknamed “The Bird” in his native Bavaria because of his obsession with flight, emigrated to America in 1900. Settling first in Milton, Mass., before moving to Bridgeport, Conn., where he continued work on motorized aircraft prototypes powered by acetylene.

His machine No. 21 made his successful flight in 1901 “when he felt he had a technical edge,” the engine he settled on, according to Reinstein.

“History, with very few exceptions, and as time goes on only records the winners,” he said.

Bridgeport newspapers, however, had recorded Whitehead’s progress and promise that he had created a craft that would fly, as well as eye-witness Bridgeport residents’ accounts after the flight.

But Whitehead flew, for reasons one can only guess, at 5 a.m. in the dark with no photographers present. That omission, Reinstein suggested, may have cost him is claim to fame. Whitehead, who for reasons that are unclear, never flew again and died in Bridgeport in 1927 penniless and unknown.

“The Wright Flyer got into the air using gravity,” he said of the steel ramp, which the plane used to attain lift. “[Whitehead] will taxi to attain critical speed and lift off just like a 747 does today.”

Historians, flight engineers and pilot — and film actor — Cliff Robertson, combined over the years to depose almost 30 witnesses to Whitehead’s flight and later created a duplicate of No. 21, which Robertson successfully flew in 1985 for almost an hour at 50 feet of the ground to prove its air-worthiness.

What was missing was a proper forensic investigation, which only the Smithsonian was capable of doing, but for decades refused to conduct, Reinstein reported. An allegedly “secret contract” through which the Wright family bequeathed the Wright Flyer to the museum, fueled years of conspiracy theories as it limited the Smithsonian from acknowledging any other pilot as conducting the first flight. To do so would cost the Smithsonian possession of the Wright Flyer, Reinstein explained.

In 2000 historian John Brown, hired by the Smithsonian to produce a documentary about the history of flight, discovered Whitehead and his work led to the Jane’s All the World’s Aircraft editorial crediting Whitehead with being First in Flight.

A New England feud was refueled.

New Rec panel is approved

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HANSON — The town has a new Recreation Commission — as soon as the seven members approved by Selectmen on Tuesday, Jan. 10 are sworn in.

Selectmen voted by paper ballot for the seven out of a field of 13 applicants and distributed the staggered terms of office according to the number of votes received. Eventually all commission members will serve staggered three-year terms, but to start two of the posts come up for reappointment on June 30, 2017.

“I want to say thank you to these folks who stepped up and volunteered,” McGahan said to a warm round of applause from the audience after the vote. “There’s been a lot of controversy, a lot of news on this issue and, frankly, I thought it was going to drive more people away, but we’ve brought in a good group and we’re looking forward to moving on this year.”

The appointments were made by a 4-1 vote with Selectman Bruce Young voting against the move.

Serving on the new commission will be: Brian Fruzetti (five votes, term through June 30, 2019); Rachel Gross (four votes, term through June 30, 2019); Brian Smith (four votes, term through June 30, 2019); John Zucco (four votes, term through June 30, 2018); Sondra Allen (four votes, term through June 30, 2018); Annmarie Bouzan (three votes, term through June 30, 2017) and Diane Cohen (three votes, term through June 30, 2017).

After the commission members are sworn in, Town Administrator Michael McCue said he would contact them to arrange a first meeting date and plans to attend that session.

Also applying were: Kevin Cameron of 205 Partridge Way, Theresa Cocio of 1211 Whitman St., Wilbur Danner of 445 State St., Audrey Flanagan of 43 Baker St., John Mahoney of 96 Main St., and Donna Tramontana of 591 High St.

“I heard a lot from people coming up to me … many people out there want more community events up there,” McGahan said. “We obviously want to see some income generated as well. It actually brings the community together.”

The ballots

Selectmen voted in the following manner: Don Howard voted for — Allen, Bouzan, Cameron, Cocio, Flanagan, Fruzetti and Mahoney; McGahan voted for — Allen, Bouzan, Cohen, Fruzetti, Gross, Smith and Zucco; Kenny Mitchell voted for — Allen, Bouzan, Cohen, Fruzetti, Gross, Smith and Zucco; Bill Scott voted for — Allen, Cohen, Danner, Fruzetti, Gross, Smith and Zucco; and Young  voted for— Cameron, Danner, Fruzetti, Gross, Mahoney, Smith and Zucco.

Young also read the commission’s responsibilities into the record.

“They’ve certainly got their work cut out for them,” McGahan said, noting the first order of business will be helping to interview candidates for recreation director so Selectmen could vote on hiring one of their recommendations.

The vote on commission members was preceded by a heated exchange between resident Richard Edgehille and Young on where the hiring power for hiring that position falls under the Town Administrator Act and Edgehille’s asking for an opinion from town counsel. Edgehille maintained that the town administrator does the hiring.

“He doesn’t hire anybody,” Young retorted. “Who told you that?”

“I’m not looking for an argument, I’d just like it investigated,” Edgehille said.

“I’m not arguing, I can tell you right off the top of my head,” Young said. “The town administrator posts any positions that are open in the town of Hanson and then he takes applications and he interviews the candidates for those positions. But the relevant body is responsible for the hiring and the firing of the individuals that work under them under the Town Administrator Act.”

“I would like to hear that from town counsel,” Edgehille said.

“This is insanity,” Young said of that request, as McGahan gaveled for order. “I know people enjoy hearing from me, but this is not the way it works. … There is no debate about it.”

McGahan told Edgehille he would look into his question and get back to him.

Once the process got back to the applicants, McGahan asked each present to rise and introduce their qualifications.

making their case

Allen of 188 Elm St., a lifelong resident active at the camp, was not present due to work commitments.

Bouzan of 95 Woodbrook Lane noted her experience at Kiwanee, which she described as an excellent place for residents of all ages to get together.

“I started my career off at Kiwanee for the town of Hanson,” she said. “I wrote grants for the camp, I put together Halloween parties for the camp, I organized fundraisers for the camp and I just saw potential for the camp and I just want to give back a little for what it gave to me.”

Cohen of 767 Pleasant St., is a new resident of Hanson, having moved to town 18 months ago.

“My son has taken swimming lessons there for about five years and I fell in love with the place because it is uniquely Hanson,” Cohen said. “I was hoping to bring a little collaboration and cooperation into the Recreation Commission.” She is a special needs teacher in Weymouth and serves on that town’s public safety committee.

Fruzetti of 370 Elm St., is an advertising consultant who has completed a Plymouth County online training program in the conflict of interest law and filed a disclosure form indicating he has an immediate family member with a financial interest — his son Christopher who has worked at Kiwanee as a caretaker.

“I didn’t take swimming lessons at the camp, but that doesn’t mean I don’t care,” he said. “I’d like to see us come together and help the camp move forward.”

Gross of 35 Katy-Did Lane, owns an event marketing company, which works both on weddings and with communities over the past 15 years.

“I find that background is helpful in where the camp’s finding itself right now,” Gross said. “There’s a lot of re-branding that needs to be done as well as restructuring … I think that would be an exciting project to be part of.”

Smith of 38 Sandy Terrace is a facilities supervisor for Eversource. He stressed the need for bringing best practices for long-term planning to Kiwanee to preserve the facility for future generations.

Zucco of 101 Glenwood Place is also an entertainment specialist, specializing in corporate and social events.

“My specialties would be more on the artistic end, generating more money for weddings … elevating the quality of the weddings, or any corporate events that come in, but also making sure that Hanson residents have special privileges in the camp for doing things that outside residents wouldn’t have,” he said.

not chosen

Health Agent Tramontana and Board of Health Administrative Assistant Cocio could not attend because the Board of Health was also meeting Tuesday night.

Cameron, a previous Recreation Commission member who resigned a couple of years ago due to work commitments, has been involved in the hospitality industry for 25 years and said he wanted to help balance recreation and revenue needs at Kiwanee.

Danner stressed his past work at Kiwanee and service on Hanson Little League, town and regional school committees, Board of Assessors and a past Plymouth County Hospital Committee. The owner of the Meadow Brook and other area restaurants said he is “in a retirement mode” and has the time and financial experience to help make Kiwanee “an income property to the town and not a liability.”

In her third request to re-join the commission, Audrey Flanagan said her knowledge of the history and operations of Camp Kiwanee will be valuable at this time. She was unable to attend the meeting.

Mahoney has been an active member of Hanson Recreation Drama since 2006 and has volunteered many times to help build, rebuild and clean Camp Kiwanee, which he called a tremendous resource for the town.

Grow facility gets nod: Board OKs letter of support for medical marijuana

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Tyler W. Stearns
Express correspondent

WHITMAN — The Board of Selectmen Tuesday, Jan. 10 unanimously decided to allow Mission Massachusetts to open a medical marijuana grow facility in Whitman.

The vote provides the company with a letter of support, the next step it must complete toward obtaining a Department of Public Health license.

Selectmen first discussed the issue in a Nov. 15 meeting continued to Dec. 13 in an effort to provide residents a chance to comment. The number of residents who attended the Dec. 13 meeting prompted Selectmen Vice Chairman Dan Salvucci, who chaired that meeting, to schedule Tuesday’s session for the Town Hall Auditorium to permit a larger crowd to attend.

Town Administrator Frank Lynam had also said he needed to research some of the questions that were raised Dec. 13.

Since the Dec. 13 meeting, Mission Massachusetts has held a public informational seminar to discuss project details and the professionalism of their company at the Whitman Public Library on Jan. 5. Multiple members of the company’s team went to each meeting, but the Jan. 5 session on was their opportunity to educate the public about their intentions, representatives said.

“We want to professionalize the industry,” various members of Mission Massachusetts have said throughout this process, including its CFO Ben Smith.

The Jan. 5 meeting did not appear to quell anxieties, as some opponents again spoke out against it Tuesday night.

Town Administrator Frank Lynam had expressed concern that opponents were mistakenly describing the facility proposed for 233 Bedford St., behind Sweezey Fence.

Not a dispensary

“We’re recognizing this is a product no different than a drug company manufacturing oxycodone here,” Lynam said. He, and the board, continued to reiterate that they are “not interested in a dispensary.”

Because Mission Massachusetts is already in the licensing process, company officials said in November that they qualify for the pool of applicants for a recreational marijuana license, but are now solely focused on the medical-use growing facility they hope to locate in Whitman.

Town officials have remained adamant that they would permit no recreational use dispensary in the town.

“We’re not confused, we’re concerned,” one Whitman resident said Tuesday night.

“Just because something is legal does not make it right” said another, to applause from some in the crowd.

Contrary to previous meetings, several residents spoke in support of the facility Tuesday night. One asked, “Would you have a different opinion if we were talking about a distillery?”

A young resident argued that this would be a positive change for the town, and that younger professionals would be inclined to move to town  with it in place. They argued that most of the younger generations do not have a negative attitude toward marijuana.

“I didn’t come to the realization that I would vote for this until I saw the Brockton Facility,” Chairman Carl Kowalski said. He also noted that oipiod abuse is a greater concern as there are “four opioid deaths a day in Massachusetts.”

Voices heard

Many residents also voiced their anxieties about Whitman’s reputation.

“Why Whitman?” was a question asked by some attendees.

Mission’s Jan. 5 presentation listed towns such as Georgetown, Plymouth, Franklin and Brockton as municipalities with cultivation sites. Only Brockton stood out to one resident, who asked, “Why do we want to be like Brockton?”

Police Chief Scott Benton has toured the Brockton facility and said, “Not only is it run well and secure, it’s a business. Whether we like it or don’t, the voters (62 percent in Whitman in 2012) have spoken and this has been legalized.”

Benton has opposed dispensaries locating in Whitman.

Some opponents were concerned that their voices were being ignored by the board, but Selectman Brian Bezanson countered that, “We are bound to act on behalf of everyone, not 50 or 60 … We are here to make the best decision for everyone.”

“It is hypocritical to want medical marijuana in state but not in our town,” said Vice Chairman Daniel Salvucci, referencing the 62 percent of Whitman voters who favored the medical marijuana bill in 2012.

“There is a need for medical marijuana,” said Board member Scott Lambiase before the votes were cast.

Hearing the Board of Selectmen speak in favor of the facility and of medical marijuana, half of the crowd had already left before the vote.

Tuesday night’s meeting lasted nearly two hours, with the vote occurring at 8:47 p.m.

Mission Massachusetts has also discussed their commitment to working with local communities and their desire to hire locally. They estimate 15-20 jobs, but also commented that this is a low estimate to make initial expectations reasonable.

confusion

The legal distinctions between medical marijuana and recreational marijuana has been a topic of confusion over the course of these meetings. This was complicated when state Rep. Geoff Diehl spoke at the Jan. 5 meeting with information that only pertained to recreational laws, according to Lynam.

Lynam said Friday, Jan. 6 that Diehl provided misinformation to the group, including that there are three ways to prevent the grow-site from happening.

“Unfortunately the information he provided applied to recreational marijuana, not medicinal marijuana,” Lynam said, noting that he had tried to correct Diehl during the meeting, but Diehl had disagreed at that time.

He called Lynam at home after the Jan. 5 meeting to admit his mistake. He also contacted Mission Massachusetts.

“He contacted me later to acknowledge that, in fact, his comments did not apply to medicinal marijuana,” Lynam said. “I don’t know what difference it would have made to the members present, but there appeared to be a small vocal group of opposition.”

Some of those opponents “demonstrated an unwillingness to listen and an intolerance for any position other than their own,” according to Lynam.

(Express editor Tracy F. Seelye contributed to this report.)

A true public servant: Whitman mourns former state Sen. Ned Kirby

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WHITMAN — Town officials and others who  knew former state Sen. Edward “Ned” Kirby well are mourning one of the last of those government officials who respected and worked well with those on the other side of the political fence.

“He’s got quite a history of helping the citizens of Whitman and Plymouth County and he’ll be greatly missed,” said Selectman Brian Bezanson, the chairman of the Whitman Republican Town Committee. “Back in the day, you could disagree on policy and still be cordial and respectful of each other and that seems to be a lost art now.”

“He was a terrific public servant to the town of Whitman — he loved Whitman and we loved him in return,” Selectmen Chairman Dr. Carl Kowalski, a member of the town’s Democratic Town Committee. “He leaves a big hole. Legislatively, his shoes have been filled for a while, but he was a presence in town and I liked  him a lot — in fact, ‘liked’ is probably too mild a word — and I will miss him.”

A staunch Republican, Kirby was a state representative for three terms — the youngest on Beacon Hill when he was first elected in 1961 from the old 5th Plymouth District — a Plymouth County Commissioner for eight years and a six-term state senator. In the state senate he served on Ways & Means, Transportation and Judiciary committees and held the post of assistant Minority Leader. He was also appointed Administrative Law Judge during the Weld administration and was an Appeals Judge in Workers Compensation. [See inset, page 2]

“He was a true statesmen,” Bezanson said. “He wasn’t just a politician. He was a true gentleman, he was an inspiration.”

“The last of the gentlemen,” agreed Town Administrator Frank Lynam. “Ned had a robust history with the town of Whitman … and has applied his sense of commitment to community into pretty much everything he did.”

Kirby was also a faithful member of the Holy Ghost Church, where he met many current town leaders as they first moved to Whitman.

Lynam was one of them, as was Kowalski.

“When I first moved into town I went to church at Holy Ghost and met him there — he introduced himself and welcomed me,” Lynam said. “He was an all-around good guy.”

“He was one of the first people I met when I moved to Whitman 45 years ago,” Kowalski said. “I came out of church and I met this guy and we started talking. He was just very welcoming.”

Before he knew it, Kowalski was serving as a lector at the parish, and later served on a Jewish War Veterans’ scholarship committee with Kirby. Lynam noted that Kirby served on the Holy Ghost Parish Council and the Parish Finance Council, on which Lynam also served. Kirby also supported community groups including the Whitman Food Pantry and the senior center.

“It’s so sad,” said James Davidson of the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry. “He was such a nice guy.”

Davidson said Kirby was a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society for about nine years and was always willing to help do “whatever he could to help those less fortunate in town.”

“He was a very sincere, very generous guy,” he said. “They don’t make them like that anymore.”

“Ned was a true gentleman and a scholar — a class act all the way,” Kowalski said. “He and his wife Mary Alice were always very kind to my family.”

A Whitman resident since 1960, Bezanson recalled being a member of the Jaycees in the 1980s and, after a period of inactivity in civic affairs, he said Kirby encouraged him in his interest in joining the Republican Town Committee in 2002.

“He took me under his wing and mentored me. What I thought was community service and what I had done, really was just the tip of the iceberg,” Bezanson said. “He taught me how to stand by your beliefs, to serve the community and treat people with respect. Forever I’ll be thankful for his making me a better person and a better selectman.”

State Rep. Geoff Diehl, R-Whitman, tells a similar story of reaching out to Kirby and receiving support and political counsel.

“Before I made the final decision to run for State Representative, KathyJo and I went to Ned and Mary Alice’s house to ask for their support,” Diehl recalled last week. “Ned showed me around his home office and explained to me some of the goals he set and achieved. Mary Alice, who was also a big part of his political life, filled us in on much of what we needed to know for campaigning.”

Diehl said it was such an honor to have their support and that he highly doubts he would have been able to get elected without all the help the Kirbys provided over those early years.

“In his final years, Ned was not only having a hard time hearing people but also remembering names and conversations,” Diehl recalled. “But that never stopped him from proudly wearing his Army uniform to attend Veterans functions and town events. He remained, to the end, very proud of being able to serve his country, the state of Massachusetts and his home town of Whitman.”

Lynam said Kirby also had strong political opinions as a conservative Republican, noting that his position on gay marriage might have ultimately cost him his state Senate seat, as Therese Murray defeated him after redistricting.

Times are changing at COA: New schedule, passport services at Whitman center

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WHITMAN — Heavy rain may have prevented some residents from attending, but the Whitman Council on Aging held an open house from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 5 to highlight the center’s new hours and the programs it offers.

The COA will now be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and  from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Fridays, “regular” hours of from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. will still be in force on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. The senior center will also be the town’s new location for processing passport applications.

Town Administrator Frank Lynam, who stopped by with Assistant Town Administrator Lisa Green for the event, lauded the change in hours.

“I think it’s wonderful that Barbara is reaching out to the community and offering our services for people seeking passports,” Lynam said. “Obviously, the intent is to serve the public, but also to give an opportunity to showcase our lovely facility and invite people who are young seniors to become familiar with the building.”

The open house, and a growing list of Tuesday evening programs are intended to demonstrate the benefit a senior center can provide — and there is some thought being given to change the name of the Whitman Council on Aging.

The Toll House Center has been suggested, but is not popular with some town officials. Barbara Garvey, Whitman’s Council on Aging Director Garvey and Green jointly suggested Tuesday that the Town Park Center might be an option.

In the meantime, upcoming Tuesday evening events will feature meet and greets with Police Chief Scott Benton and Fire Chief Timothy Grenno on Jan. 10 and a program on real estate tax exemptions with Assessor Kathy Keefe on Jan. 31. In February, a chowder supper is among the programs planned.

Both Garvey and Hanson Multi-Service Senior Center Director Mary Collins have noted the difference in the way Boomers approach aging — and, according to statistics, 10,000 of them have been turning 65 every day since 2011.

“It’s a huge problem,” Garvey said recently. “We’re trying to capture the Baby Boomers, the young seniors. They’re working, they’re caring for their grandchildren, they’re playing golf. It’s a different lifestyle than their parents led.”

She said it appears that Boomers view senior centers as a place “for very old people, and that’s not them.”

First time

One of those seniors with a younger, independent outlook stopped by the Jan. 5 open house for a tour and review of services offered — and made an appointment to discuss legal concerns during attorney Ronald Whitney’s monthly legal advice sessions at the COA.

“I just didn’t think it was time yet to come to the senior center,” a 76-year-old Whitman resident said as she enjoyed refreshments from Trio Café. “I thought I should see what’s going on, see if there’s some programs that I’m interested in.”

She had looked it up on her iPad to see what was offered in case she might someday need the services and decided to attend the open house. The weather almost dissuaded her, but she kept to her plan.

“I think this is a great idea,” she said of the open house. “Uusually I don’t even bother to go out on a rainy night, but I said to myself, ‘Get out, go. You said you were going to go over there.’ So I made myself come.”

According to the National Council on Aging (NCOA), 70 percent of senior center participants are women, half of those live alone. They also have higher levels of health, social interaction and life satisfaction, but have lower levels of income. Their average age is 75 and they visit their center one to three times per week for and average of 3.3 hours per visit.

Retiree Edward Dinardo is one such frequent visitor to the COA. He stopped by the open house to see what it was all about, and gave the idea high marks.

“It’s a good idea for people who have to work and can’t make it here during the day,” Dinardo said of the new Tuesday evening hours.

He said he likes the monthly “brown bag” food program, which supplies a bag of groceries to seniors, helping them stretch their food budget, and has enjoyed playing bingo and cribbage tournaments there in the past.

“We’re trying to change our programming so that it will interest younger people,” Garvey said, noting that a recent evening program on Medicare aimed at people approaching retirement was very well attended, including  those who had not been at the center before.

“We haven’t been open in the evening, but I’m thinking about maybe rearranging hours so that folks that aren’t available during the day would be able to participate and benefit,” Garvey said.

Services

Aside from a social outlet, senior centers connect older adults to services that can help them stay healthy and independent, and according to the NCOA, more than 60 percent of centers are focal points for services through the Older Americans Act. Those services include health, fitness and wellness programs; public benefits counseling; information and nutrition programs among others.

Garvey said events such as paint nights and the possible development of a bocce court are being considered at her center, and Whitman is one of the first towns in the area to offer pickleball, which lost some of its participants when the Abington Senior Center built three new pickleball courts. An Eagle Scout candidate, however, conducted a project to improve the Whitman pickleball courts adjacent to the Police Station last summer.

I see bingo attendance declining,” she said, but new games being offered have begun to draw interest. “Craft classes are well attended, I’m just trying to hone in on what’s successful and what’s not.”

A questionnaire about programs people would like to see is in the works. Every resident 60 and over also receives the Whitman Council on Aging newsletter.

Hanson teen’s message: Look beyond labels

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Avivacious teen with endless dreams, local Hanson resident, dancer, model, and Massasoit college student Maddie Phillips celebrates life and sees no road blocks ahead.

Phillips, who was born with Down syndrome recently recorded a public service announcement (PSA) for television, which she debuted last week.

The message: educating others about how she wishes people would see her and not interpret her only as someone with a disability.

Mingle with Maddie, a reception hosted by Maria Wood owner of Fashion Focus in Pembroke where Phillips is developing her career in modeling and acting, was also a gathering of friends and family as Maddie spoke of future endeavors.

Wood has coached her in poise, confidence, public speaking and modeling for several years and is now helping her break-in to the modeling industry.

“My words come from my heart. Your encouragement makes me feel stronger,” Maddie said as she thanked everyone for coming and sharing in her excitement.

Her parents Lisa and Scott Phillips were at the event with a debut of their own, the first copies of “Angel,” a book written by mom Lisa about Madison Rose Phillips’ journey through life with Down syndrome.

Through her life, Maddie’s various talents include 15 years of dancing, horseback riding and volunteer at Sunshine Farm in Bridgewater. Sunshine Farm uses healing and uplifting experiences for children who have experienced trauma in their lives. She also plays guitar, and for many years jogged with her mom.

Liam Talbot of Hanson was in the front row to cheer her on after presenting her with yellow roses at the event — head also been her prom date last spring before both graduated with the Class of 2016 from Whitman-Hanson Regional High School.

Talbot has had a life long struggle with arsenic poisoning, an illness he was born with, but he has also overcome the stigma of his condition — and has an unstoppable outlook on life.

She thanked him and said he is her friend that she thinks about him each night before bed. With a gracious heart and full of spunk she went on to thank each person who attended reminding them of a reason they were important to her.

When describing her life she stated simply, “I am happy.  Sometimes people think or tell me I can’t be normal.  I am Down syndrome. I get upset and say ‘what should I be?’ I am not invisible and I want to fit in. I take a breath, calm and I thank my insides. I can be a better person and find inspirations then I go after it. I am not just Down syndrome I am like her,” she said pointing to all the girls in the room. “I am very funny, nice, confident, energetic, and very determined.

Her advice to others with a disability? “Down syndrome can’t stop you. You can’t give up,” she said.

In her PSA Maddie educates others and asks, “Do you see me or do you see disability?” She tells the audience, “I have Down syndrome but it doesn’t define who I am.”

To see Maddie’s recent event and learn more about her endeavors visit facebook.com/mariawoodfashionfocus.

SSVT rolls out FY ‘18 budget

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HANOVER — The South Shore Regional Vocational-Technical School District is seeking a 3.73-percent increase in its fiscal 2018 budget proposal.

The $12.9 million proposed budget, rolled out at the Wednesday, Dec. 21 SSVT School Committee meeting, incudes an increase of about $464,860. That increase reflects a half-dozen capital projects totaling about $367,000 — including $80,000 for equipment needed for a new horticulture program, $96,239 for three new staff members, guidance outreach hours and a one-time expense to cover a transitional hire to over a retirement in the payroll office; and covers an 11-percent increase in health insurance costs for active employees.

Enrollment among all eight towns is relatively stable. Hanson’s, for example is unchanged as of Oct. 1, while Whitman is up by one student.

Some of the impact on member towns may be offset by an increase of $140,000 in nonresident tuition to lower assessments.

Superintendent-Director Dr. Thomas J. Hickey stressed that the zero-based budget helps the district control costs, requiring detailed funding requests that are reviewed in November and December.

Hickey said he does not expect an increase in Chapter 70 funds.

“I think, going into this year with a stable enrollment — barring some inflationary increase — we shouldn’t bank, we should never bank, on that Chapter 70 money being higher,” he said. “We’re going to assume level.”

A public hearing on the budget proposal is slated for 7 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 25 in the Brass Lantern restaurant at SSVT.

“We build a budget from zero,” Hickey said. “I think this budget accomplishes several things.”

In addition to curriculum and technology resources, the need for expanded instruction and transportation are addressed in the proposed budget, Hickey said. While capital plans for security, facilities and vocational-technical programs are planned, investment in a stabilization fund for building renovation is also continuing.

“We continue to chip away at things we consider a priority,” Hickey said. “We’re not sitting and waiting, blaming anyone else for what needs we might have.”

Future plans

An MSBA statement of interest submitted in April 2015 seeks support for building renovation to address the school’s heating system, lack of classroom space and small science labs, an aging modular unit, need for vocational program expansion and inadequate weight room and locker facilities. If SSVT is accepted into the program, the school will need to obtain towns’ approval and feasibility funds within 270 days.

That’s where the stabilization fund comes into play.

The fund now has a balance of $325,000 with an additional $50,000 sought in the FY ’18 budget. Hickey’s long-range goal of $500,000 in stabilization would avoid a spike in assessments or a draining of the excess and deficiency account.

“We focus on long-range planning and keeping the surprises to a minimum,” he said. “We’re very aggressive in applying for grants … our industry connections provide us with vocational equipment donations.”

Unlike other school budgets, SSVT must also provide some costs that towns would otherwise fund — health insurance, retirement contribution, payroll taxes, debt service, unemployment and snow removal, for example — total $2,138,573. That is 16.6 percent of SSVT’s total fiscal 2018 budget.

“This is true of all regional school districts,” Hickey said.

Goals for the next fiscal year include ongoing efforts to narrow the proficiency gap in math and science; growth in English language arts scores; career planning, cooperative education and work-based learning as well as increasing educational space and programs to assist traumatized students.

One of this year’s new programs is an online math enrichment course for all freshmen and sophomores, which is included in the math and science proficiency goal. The addition of a horticulture and landscape construction program and the inclusion of plumbing in the HVAC program are also planned next year.

Hickey also included an overview of the school’s accomplishments over the past year including a North River Collaborative project with the collision repair technology shop, completion of the boiler project, continued improvement of employer connections and curriculum improvement, development of post-secondary partnerships, security improvements and returning a soccer program to the athletics department.

Curriculum changes have involved a required civics course in the social studies department and development of a Design and Visual Communications — providing two possible career pathways on graduation — and Engineering Technology shops under Chapter 74 approval.

Top student

In other business, senior automotive student Jack Perkins of Hanover, was recognized as the student of the month for December. A student-athlete who plays ice hockey and lacrosse, he is “known to be a tremendous worker and a hard-nosed player” at work and in sports, Assistant Principal Sandra Baldner said.

“His teachers tell us he is a perfect representation of what SSVT is all about,” she said. He plans to attend Massachusetts Maritime Academy next year.

Teacher honored

Computer technology teacher Stanley Zavatsky was honored as staff member of the month. Students nominate faculty and staff members for the award, which Assistant Principal Mark Aubrey presented Dec. 21.

“Mr. Zavatsky is not only a leader during the school day, but his dedication to our students extends beyond the school bell,” Aubrey said, noting Zavatsky is an advisor to the school’s Business Professionals of America Chapter which is active in community projects, and teaches two dual-enrollment classes at SSVT.

…But is it safe?: Officials urge caution on ponds, prep for new snow

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After several days of frigid weather, people have been venturing out on ice-covered ponds and bogs to play hockey, figure skate, fish or run all-terrain vehicles. While ATVs are generally not permitted on public land in any weather, local fire chiefs warn that outdoor ice is never “100-percent safe.”

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) agrees that “the only ‘safe’ ice is at a skating arena” because frozen bodies of water can be dangerous.

“With the cold weather we’ve had, a lot of people want to get out on the ice,” Hanson Fire Chief Jerome Thompson said Tuesday morning. “We get a lot of phone calls [but] we can never say that the ice is 100-percent safe because there’s several factors like currents, waterfowl being on it or fish  or stumps … all kinds of different things can affect it.”

“There’s always a concern for ice thickness,” said Whitman Fire Chief Timothy Grenno. “There’s many areas that have open water.” Like Hanson, Grenno’s department does not make general statements concerning the safety of ice on ponds in town.

“We just tell people to use their best judgment and, if there’s open water, then the pond should be deemed unsafe.”

Thompson referred to MEMA’s ice-thickness guidelines that suggest four inches of ice for fishing, five inches can hold a snowmobile and eight to 12 inches a vehicle and 12-15 inches for a pickup truck. His department does not check ice thickness on area waterways.

“You need to keep in mind that, just because it’s eight inches in this spot, it might not be eight inches in that spot,” Thompson said. “We recommend if you do go out, you don’t go it alone. You should always have somebody with you and you should pay attention to your surroundings.”

Generally, ice that forms on moving water (rivers, streams, and brooks) is never safe, according to MEMA. Ice freezes and thaws at different rates and the thickness of ice on ponds and lakes can vary depending on water currents, springs, depth, and natural objects such as tree stumps or rocks. It can be a foot thick in one area and just inches thick a few feet away. Daily changes in temperature also affect its strength. Because of these factors, no one can declare the ice to be absolutely safe.

MEMA offers the following tips to follow before venturing out and what to do if you or someone you are with falls through the ice.

Before going
on the ice

• Look for slush, which can indicate that the ice is no longer freezing so you face a greater risk of falling through.

• Beware of snow-covered ice. Snow can hide weak and open ice or cracks.

• Test the ice strength. Use an ice chisel to chip a hole through the ice to determine its thickness and condition. If it is two inches thick or less, stay off.

• Never go on ice alone. Another person may be able to rescue you or go for help if you fall through.

• Keep pets on a leash when walking them near bodies of water so that they don’t run onto the ice.

If someone falls through the ice

• Do not go out onto the ice to try to rescue a person or pet.

• Reach-Throw-Go: Try to reach the victim from shore. Extend your reach with a branch, oar, pole, or ladder to try to pull the victim to safety. If unable to reach the victim, throw them something to hold onto (such as a rope, jumper cables, tree branch, or life preserver). Go for help or call 911 immediately.

• If you fall in, use cold water safety practices: Try not to panic. Turn toward the direction you came from and place your hands and arms on the unbroken surface, moving forward by kicking your feet. Once back onto unbroken ice, remain lying down and roll away from the hole. Crawl back toward land, keeping your weight evenly distributed.

• If you can’t get back on the ice, use the Heat Escape Lessening Position (HELP): Bring your knees up toward your chest. Cross your arms and hold them close to your body. Keep your legs together. Try to keep your head out of the water. Do not try to swim unless a boat, floating object, or shore is close by. Swimming in cold water cools your body and reduces survival time.

Helping a victim when out of
the water

• Get medical help or call 911 immediately. The victim needs help quickly to prevent hypothermia.

• Get the victim to a warm location.

• Remove the victim’s wet clothing.

• Warm the center of the victim’s body first by wrapping them in blankets or putting on dry clothing.

• Give the victim warm, non-alcoholic, non-caffeinated fluids to drink.

• Place the victim in a warm shower or bath with their arms and legs out of the water to warm the core of the body.

Thompson said his department has not had to yet deal with burst pipes or other frigid weather problems, even as they responded to a Mutual Aid fire call in Pembroke on New Year’s Day.

Heavy turnout gear keeps firefighters warm on cold-weather calls, but there is also a rehab truck available through the Department of Fire Services to provide a heated area in which firefighters can warm up. The Highway Department can also be called in to sand and salt, helping to reduce the likelihood of falls on the ice.

Towns are also keeping an eye on weather forecasts to determine how they should approach a severe winter storm forecast for Jan. 4.

“We’re just keeping an eye on it because the weather people don’t know what it’s doing yet,” Grenno said Tuesday. “If it’s going to hit us with wet snow and high winds then we’ll ramp up here and be ready to take on whatever it deals us.”

“Right now, they still don’t know what it’s going to do,” Thompson agreed. “I’m sure that MEMA will be giving us some updates as we get closer. We check our equipment daily, so we’re all set.

“It there’s the possibility that it will be a significant event, myself, the police chief, the other department heads, the Town Administrator, will meet to discuss it — we always have the schools involved in that — and based on the forecast, we may put on additional personnel,” he said.

Fire departments also work closely with senior centers to obtain lists of elderly residents who may need assistance in weather emergencies.