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W-H Community Evening School graduates 30

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For the 30 graduates of the W-H Community Evening School, the commencement ceremonies Thursday, June 2 were akin to a victory lap after a marathon.

A large audience of family, friends and fellow CES students filled the Dr. John F. McEwan Performing Arts Center to help celebrate that victory.

Co-Director of the program William V. Glynn, in his welcoming speech, congratulated the 27 graduates who were able to attend the ceremony for the hard work they put in to succeed. He also took the opportunity to offer some final words of advice.

“And you are forced to listen to me — one last time,” he said irreverently before concluding that the graduates are assuming an important place in society.

“I need you out there,” Glynn said. “The money-lenders, the authoritarians, the know-nothings — they’re out there and they’re in it to win it. I need you out there and the community needs you out there, the nation needs you out there and, I’m not afraid to say it, this planet needs you out there. Get out there.”

Before Co-Director Dianne Nicol announced guests graduates had asked to award their diplomas, Glynn advised the Class of 2016 to not freak out as they face the future, to have faith in themselves, to listen, abide, not to “talk smack” about others on social media and give into hate, to keep reading and continue working hard to achieve their dreams.

“Believe in yourself — you can do it,” he said. “You made it here today after any number of ridiculous or dreadfully serious roadblocks, mistakes, issues, failings, but you made it.”

He said their success shows a willingness to take responsibility for themselves.

Calm, cool responses in difficult circumstances can positively infect those around you and that  “amazingly beautiful, amazingly good, amazingly true things tend to happen when people don’t give in to losing their heads,” Glynn said.

He also advised the graduates to take chances and travel to far away lands — “and I’m not talking about the Cape or Rhode Island when I say that,” he stressed  — eat freaky foods, make friends with different kinds of people and avoid being overly impressed with wealth, power or celebrity.

“Be the same you when speaking with Barack from D.C. as you would with Chip, the pizza dude, from Tri-Town,” Glynn said.

School Committee Chairman Bob Hayes and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ruth Gilbert-Whitner noted Glynn was a hard act to follow, but offered their own advice to the graduates.

“Everything [Glynn] just said to you, I know came from his heart,” Hayes said. “The path you took to get here tonight had a few bumps in the road … but you made it, that’s the whole thing.”

Hayes urged the graduates to continue the commitment to graduate as they face the future outside of school.

“That’s the key to success as long as you never, ever give up,” he said. “Keep searching for the answers to problems.”

Gilbert-Whitner spoke about decisions, noting a recent study calculated that adults make about 35,000 decisions a day — 226.7 daily decisions about food alone.

“Some decisions seem to have little impact on us, while others may change the course of our lives,” Gilbert-Whitner said. “The decision you made to enroll in W-H Community Evening School was one of those life-changing decisions.”

She said that thoughtful and deliberate choice will serve the graduates well throughout their entire lives and urged them to keep making those good decisions.

Graduates are: Madison M. Beguerie, Robert E. Cavicchi, Kimberly J. Chalmers, Dominic A. Colarusso, Nicholas L. Consalvi, James W. Cullity, Nicholas J. Dearden, Michael W. Eaves, Jaime Escalera Torres, Robert P. Fader, Brandon A. Jenness, Jacob M. Joyce, Ryan J. Kelly, Jesse S. Knight, Allison M. Leitch, Matthew C. Linn, Kyle J. Lydon, Charlie J. McAdam, Joseph M. McDonald, Jared A. Moussalli, Nicholas D. Murphy, Joshua C. O’Brien, Brandon A. Paulo, Marita J. Roblee, Nicole D. Sanchez and Stephanie A. Scammell.

Not present, but having earned diplomas were: Edward J. George, Tadg F. Jenness and Breanna V. Trabulsie.

Opioids remain a concern: Overdose numbers are down slightly officials say

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WHITMAN — There has been a slight decrease in the number of overdoses in town so far this year, but there is still work to be done, Whitman police and fire chiefs reported to the Board of Selectmen Tuesday, June 7.

Police Chief Scott Benton and Fire Chief Timothy Grenno provided a statistical snapshot of their departments during their monthly reports to selectmen.

Benton said there have been 5,656 log calls between Jan. 1, and May 6, compared to 4,782 during the same period last year and noted there have been 14 overdoses, two fatal, as of May 31, compared to 19 overdoses with one fatality during the same period last year. As of May 31, the department has recorded 181 arrests, criminal complaints and protective custodies.

Grenno reported 199 emergency responses in May, with Mondays being the busiest day and 59.8 percent of the calls being for rescue or EMS services and 10 percent of transports being for behavioral emergencies. The department also dealt with three DOAs in May, two directly related to opioid overdoses. Of sick patients the department helps, 4 percent have been Priority 1 patients requiring three firefighters to help them.

“The opioid crisis continues to be at the forefront,” Benton said, crediting legislation and the efforts of schools and community groups to aid police in combating the problem. “People are working tirelessly, I know. … This is not something that we’re just going to fix overnight, unfortunately.”

He said it will take a while before effect of a new state  law limiting the length of new prescriptions for opioid pain killers is known.

Selectman Brian Bezanson asked Benton about the approach one Massachusetts police chief is taking — agreeing to help get addicts into rehab instead of charging them if they voluntarily surrender drugs and paraphernalia to police. Bezanson noted that district attorneys have problems with that approach.

“I’m for anything that is going to help people,” Benton said. “I think probably the concern is police departments can’t grant amnesty to people, that’s the district attorney.”

Benton said police are concerned with probable cause before charging people, but indicated he is willing to try to help people who ask for it.

“I think anything that works, that helps people with this epidemic … it’s a public health and a public safety issue,” Benton said. “We have to deal with it. I’m proud of the way this town is dealing with it.”

The issue of probable cause also cropped up regarding the death of a dog last week at a local grooming business, as Benton also replied to Selectmen Chairman Dr. Carl Kowalski’s inquiry about that case.

“A lot of negative energy has been spent on that,” Kowalski said. “I love dogs. Dogs are good. It’s a sad thing, but that explosion on social media about that event [was] way over-blown.”

Benton agreed that pets are important to people and he does not take such incidents lightly, but the department is charged with investigating criminal activity. Animal Control Officer Lisa McKay, who is an ACO in several communities and has earned a solid reputation for her work, he said.

“She wouldn’t sweep something under the rug, even if you wanted her to,” Benton said.

The chief said they reviewed the groomer’s surveillance video, which showed six other dogs on premises at the time that were not harmed. There had never been a complaint filed against the business owners and no veterinary reports indicating involvement in the dog’s demise. A necropsy was not performed because the family was advised that the dog’s fever would have negated any results, according to Benton.

“Why did the dog die? I don’t know,” Benton said. “Our sole responsibility was looking at did Canine Groomers, in any way, negligently or recklessly — through a criminal act — facilitate that dog’s injury or death? The answer is no.”

Benton said once the incident was posted on Facebook, before the investigation took place, accusations of the police covering up for a business in town began.

“Do you know how many people we lock up? We lock up Whitman residents,” Benton retorted. “We don’t care. It is what it is.”

Benton said the business owners have since received threats to kill them or burn their house down.

“There was nothing, based on the evidence, that we were able to [determine] from the information we had,” he said. “The threshold is probable cause. We don’t worry about innocence or guilt, that’s up to the jury. Probable cause is not there.”

Bezanson agreed there are no winners in a case such as this one and commended Benton for his investigation.

Grenno also reported that a 21-year-old ambulance is being replaced, but the department may be running with a single ambulance in July. A new pumping engine, approved about two years ago, will be in service in about two weeks, with all necessary equipment to respond to both fires and motor vehicle accidents.

The LUCAS devices, which supply automatic chest compressions for CPR, have helped save more lives, including one cardiac patient who was taken directly to a cardiac catheterization procedure with the LUCAS device still in place during surgery.

“The important factor is to show what we’ve spent Town Meeting funds on for equipment for the ambulances,” Grenno said. “Last year we bought two LUCAS devices … We’ve had more patients delivered to the Brockton Hospital with pulses since we put those in service than we have in the past 20 years.”

The Fire Department observed Firefighters’ Memorial Sunday on June 5, bestowing service awards to 11 department members for service milestones ranging from 20 to 30 years.

In other business, a resident, frustrated by the failure of the school budget override, asked Selectmen Tuesday night if there was an alternative to the 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday polling hours for Town Elections.

“I had no idea you had a vote on Saturday, 9 to 5,” said New York native Mary Fox of Washington Street, who has grandchildren in the W-H school system. “I think that’s a little restrictive. People have 12-hour shifts, they work. I would prefer, if at all possible that another date be selected and a bigger window … such as 12 hours to vote.”

Town Administrator Frank Lynam replied that town bylaws dictate a third Saturday in May election.

“We have actually tried to reschedule both Town Meeting and election in the past and we failed miserably in each case,” he said.

Lynam added that absentee ballots are available to those who can’t vote in person due to absence from the town during poll hours or are prevented from voting in person due to physical disability or religious belief.

“Our intent is to invite, not disenfranchise voting,” he said.

Positively awesome: Class of 2016 graduates 267 to new roads

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The Whitman-Hanson Regional High School Class of 2016 has already made its mark in the community and, with the Friday, June 3 graduation ceremony behind them, they are focusing on what Valedictorian Lea Polito calls “the power to be positive ” as they approach the future.

“As humans, we tend to absorb the attitudes that surround us and reflect these attitudes in our own behavior, which is why I think that we are in the midst of a general slump in our country today,” she said. “However, I do not think the world has to be cruel. Within each of us exists a power — the power to be positive … there is power in simply doing the right thing.”

One need only take a tour of the school for evidence of that, noted Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ruth Gilbert-Whitner in her remarks.

“Throughout the high school, I saw information about Special Olympics, Best Buddies (it takes just you to make a difference), Relay for Life, Cancer Awareness Week, and support for Children’s Hospital,” she said.  “In the library, Portraits of Kindness, the Whitman-Hanson Art in Action memory project for children living in Ethiopian orphanages, was on display.”

Students have been active in feeding neighbors and protecting the environment, too. The latter reflected in the class gift, the addition of environmentally friendly, refillable water bottle stations.

“Every graduating class has an overarching personality,” Class Treasurer Joshua Spicer said in announcing the gift. “Our class is full of leaders and innovators who are very interested in and compassionate about the world we live in. We are a class that is well aware that many small actions can lead to something bigger than ourselves.”

The Class of 2016 hopes the water stations will encourage future students and staff to consider the effect of small actions on the greater world.

“My tour of this high school served as a testimony that you, the Class of 2016, through your involvement in an array of activities, concern for the environment, and service to others have learned the skills necessary to become responsible citizens,” Gilbert-Whitner said. “You have offered your time, energy, and commitment for meaningful participation in plays, projects, presentations, and organizations by demonstrating the skills of self-discipline, positive goal setting, and team work.”

As W-H Principal Jeffrey Szymaniak spoke of some of the graduate’s accomplishments, the numbers spoke for themselves.

There were 76 John and Abigail Adams Scholarship winners, based on MCAS scores; seven seniors received college book awards; five won prestigious science or social service prizes; four won music prizes; four art students were honored for their professional endeavors; Student Council members received the Gold Council of Excellence Award for their charitable and service projects; 34 seniors earned All-Scholastic sports team honors; and 23 won sportsmanship awards.

The show choir High Frequency, the boys’ basketball team and the cheerleading team were recognized for competition championships as were other teams participating in post-season play, as well as students participating in music, drama, art, DECA, Key Club, sports programs, CSL internships and honors societies.

Thirteen members of the Class of 2016 also plan to serve their country, with five joining the U.S. Marine Corps, another joining the Air Force and seven enlisting in the Army or another branch of the service. They received a standing ovation from classmates when they were announced.

One member of the Community Evening School Class of 2016 is also joining the Marines.

West Point-bound

During the Wednesday, June 1 Dollars for Scholars/Community and School awards ceremonies, senior Samantha Coletti was awarded her certificate of appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

The West Point liaison officer for the Mass. 8th Congressional District, Lt. Col. William Ramsey presented Coletti with her appointment, representing a scholarship valued at more than $250,000.

“I would like you to meet one of your neighbors who is stepping up to the challenge of accepting a West Point appointment,” Ramsey said. “As an officer, she will be entrusted with the responsibility of leading your sons and daughters all over the world. In these trying times, it is important that we all realize the magnitude of this responsibility and Samantha has proven to-date that she has what it takes to be successful at West Point and in our Army.”

West Point’s mission is to train and educate a corps of cadets so that each graduate is a mission leader of character committed to the values of duty, honor country and prepared to serve with professionalism as an Army officer, Ramsey said.

“Tonight, we celebrate and reward hard work, dedication to school and academic achievement,” Szymaniak said before the awards were presented. The combined awards programs bestowed a total of $230,000 in scholarship awards this year.

“We would like to express thanks for the businesses and organizations, alumni and the townspeople of Whitman and Hanson whose overwhelming generosity and support for Dollars for Scholars allows us the ability to award $125,055 to the Class of 2016,” said DFS President Michael Ganshirt before he and Treasurer Jean Dean awarded the 54th annual scholarships, some of which are matched by colleges.

Recognizing the importance of student volunteers toward DFS scholarship fundraising, Ganshirt announced the $1,000 Nancy McLaughlin Volunteer Award, honoring the student who put in the most volunteer hours for DFS, was earned by Nils Wanchers, who will attend UMass, Boston in the fall.

Kayaker recovered from Silver Lake

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HALIFAX– A man who drowned while boating at Silver Lake Friday, June 3, has been recovered and identified. Shi Hu, 28, of Boston, was found in the water shortly after noon, Sunday, June 5, by State Police divers, according to Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz.

Local officials said that  at approximately 1:23 p.m., Friday, June 3, the Halifax Fire Department and the Halifax Police Department responded to a report that an individual had fallen into the water and was struggling offshore from the Brockton-owned water treatment facility located on Route 36, situated on Silver Lake straddling the Halifax/Pembroke line.

There were multiple witnesses to the incident, both from the water and shore, saying they believed the victim was fishing with a friend, according to officials. The friend was in a canoe, and the victim was in a kayak, which then overturned.

The friend attempted to reach the victim before he went underwater, but was unable to reach him in time. An investigation into how the drowning exactly occurred is ongoing. The victim was not believed to be wearing a life preserver, multiple sources say.

During the initial response, employees at the water treatment facility assisted firefighters by shuttling them on a facilities boat to the last known position of the victim. That initial search was not successful, at which time Halifax officials called for assistance from the State Police, Environmental Police and the Plymouth County Technical Response Team (Dive Unit).

More than a dozen Plymouth County communities responded, and scores of rescuers from local and state agencies were quickly on scene with specialized equipment, coordinated by Halifax Fire Chief Jason Vivieros.

Rescuers suspended the search on Friday evening, after a herculean effort to locate the missing boater with no success. By Saturday morning, the search and rescue mission had grimly turned into a recovery operation.

The State brought in a mobile command post and other assets to assist with the recovery efforts. Personnel from as far away as Rhode Island were seen and a staging area for divers was bustling with activity as firefighters, police, and others supported the efforts of divers in the lake from shore.

Advanced “side-scan” sonar was used to scour the lake bottom, along with cameras and other technologies, which had very low visibility, say sources. Sonar (sound navigation and ranging) uses sound waves to find and identify objects in the water. Side-scan sonar is a specialized system for detecting objects at the bottom of a body of water.

At around 11 a.m., Saturday, about a half-dozen family members of the victim arrived, and appeared to speak with various officials, who sources say updated them on the recovery efforts. They could be seen, visibly distraught, under a tent set up on a lawn near the mobile command post.

Local firefighters and police were seen comforting them and providing them with water and other amenities. The family members left after about two hours. Members of the press were politely asked to keep their distance, which they did, although distraught crying could be heard from hundreds of feet away.

On Sunday, the decedent was finally recovered, under gray skies and a light rain. Although State Police say they actually made the recovery, they did note that it was a “cooperative mission.” Within a couple of hours, almost everyone had left, leaving behind just a handful of law enforcement and fire officials.

Officials say they do not yet know how the man gained access to the lake (and if so, if it was via the treatment facility), although Halifax Police Chief Edward Broderick mentioned that Silver Lake is a popular fishing area, where fishing may be, “Tolerated…”, but, “not encouraged.”

Use of the lake is restricted because it is a component of the City of Brockton water supply. “No Trespassing” signs are widely visible around Silver Lake. Motor boats and swimming are strictly prohibited, but other restrictions Brockton puts on the lake were not specifically known.  Broderick could not say if the man was trespassing on the lake at the time of the incident.

The Plymouth County Tactical Response Unit, via Twitter, thanked all of the responding agencies. In a statement late Sunday evening, Chief Broderick on behalf of the Town of Halifax said, “Our sympathies go out to the family and friends of [the victim of] this tragedy.”

A new author’s homecoming

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HANSON — Jennifer-Lyn Keniston has completed a 10-year labor of love in the publication of her first novel “Afta-U,” a title inspired by her grandfather’s sailboat.

She will hold a book signing, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, June 4 at the Café Deli, 1280 Main St., Hanson. The restaurant is a favorite of her mother, and Keniston wanted to do a signing in her hometown.

“This will be a meet-and-greet, signing books,” Keniston said. “Talking to people, talking about the book.” There will also be a raffle for Café Deli gift certificates, copies of the book [210 pages, Tate Publishing, $16.99 softcover] and more.

“I hope people enjoy reading it,” she said.

In fact, the fictional town of Graytown, Mass., in her book takes inspiration from some of the locales and people Keniston remembers from her childhood.

While the Hanson native uses the boat as a touchstone in the mystery novel, it is more of a metaphor that hope floats. In fact Hope is also the name of a main character not really there — the childhood best friend of the narrator Jean Cartwright Rhodes, who is literally haunted by Hope years after her friend’s tragic death at age 11.

A dark, complex mystery, “Afta-U” is less a whodunnit that a why they did it as Jean reflects on her faith and past to reveal long-buried truths about the tragedy she had hidden away in her psyche. Much of the incident is also unknown to her husband and teenage daughter, making for some strain in he family — all witnessed by the silent spectre of Hope.

“Afta-U” has been a labor of love and the expression of a lifelong dream,” said the Plymouth State (N.H.) and Bridgewater State graduate who now works as a project manager for a Cloud software products company.

Her master’s degree in English and minor concentration in philosophy are felt in her approach to her subject matter, as is her faith.  “Afta-U” is rich in Christian messages and each chapter ends with a poem reflective of a theme touched on in the chapter.

The Express spoke with Keniston on her book and approach to writing last week.

Q: Have you always wanted to be a writer?

A: “I did. Ever since I was a little girl, my dream has been to write a book.”

Q: How did you find a publisher? That can prove difficult for new writers.

A: “It was quite an ordeal, initially. But it was an exciting time.  I submitted a bunch of query letters looking to get an agent and, in the end; Tate [Publishing] works with the author. They’re more of a hybrid publisher, as I refer to it, they’re not self-publishing … they work directly with an author and not an agent.”

Q: Your book had something of a gothic feel to it, was that the genre you aimed for?

A: “It’s not a gothic book at all. It does have the apparition, ghost, about it. It’s a darker novel but it’s got a lot more Christian themes throughout it. The main character Jean grapples with a lot of those, like ‘Let go, let God.’ It’s more of a mystery/suspense novel, I call it.”

Q: Your reasons for including Christian themes?

A: “I feel it’s things I have probably grappled with, too. Even though it’s a completely fictional story, obviously some of the characteristics and traits of Jean are drawn from myself and people that I know, along with some of the other characters. Even though the town is fictitious, it’s from my hometown, which is Hanson.”

Q:  Are you worried people might recognize themselves in the book?

A: “Maybe. [laughs] Some people do recognize themselves in the book, yes. I get more people who say Jean reminds them of me or my voice coming through, which is kind of funny. People who grew up in my neighborhood, I think they find some enjoyment [with locales].”

Q: There are a lot of literary references, especially Shakespeare, in your book. Does that reflect your interests as well?

A: “Yes. ‘The Great Gatsby,’ also referred to throughout the book, is actually my favorite story. It even has the nine chapters in Roman numerals to match ‘The Great Gatsby.’ I wanted it to be a story that people could read for the story and there’s a bunch of other stuff intertwined throughout the story.”

Q: What is your writing process?

A: “This one took me about 10 years to complete. I don’t expect the next one to do that. Basically, I write everything out of order. I’ve done that throughout college and high school working on research papers, too. I do an outline last. I really kind of write all over the place and then pull it all together.

I brought up a screen one day, typed what is now a couple pages in [the book] and titled it ‘Afta-U,’ which is my grandfather’s boat. … I had no idea who the characters were, no idea what the story was, so it’s kind of exciting to write it like that because characters just kind of talk to me and come to life throughout the pages. And I put it down for months and years at a time.”

Q: Aside from Jean, who is based a bit on yourself, is there a character you would consider a favorite?

A: “I loved writing Michael, which surprised me because it was a dark novel. I had to step away from it to get into those inherently evil characters. They’re actually a lot of fun when you allow yourself to do that, but in the beginning I was kind of taken aback at trying to make them that way. He’s a mixed bag of a character. At different points some people are angry with him, or hate him, and then perhaps that all changes as the story unfolds.”

Q: This is going to be a series?

A: “It is. I see it being a trilogy. In the second book, the characters carry over but it’s really more of a mystery unfolding where everyone’s trying to solve it, including Jean. But it really stands alone.”

Whitman weighing ‘24/7’ hours rules

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WHITMAN — Officials are working to address how the town will approach businesses seeking to locate round-the-clock operations in Whitman.

Town Administrator Frank Lynam recently received a request from 7-Eleven, which has taken over the Tedeschi’s convenience store locations, to operate the stores on a “24/7” basis in Whitman.

Right now, there is no authority to say yes or no, he told selectmen on Tuesday, May 24, so the business will be told to proceed on “the basis of operating standards.”

Whitman’s store is at the corner of Park Avenue and Washington Street.

“We have not regulated the hours of business, except by license,” he said. “In the case of Tedeschi’s, or 7-Eleven, there will be no license issued by the Board of Selectmen because they are not a common victualler.”

Lynam explained that, in the past, when businesses were opening and required site approval, and the process included an assessment of impact on residential areas, the Board of Appeals would set business hours that would have the least disturbing impact on abutters.

As the location in question in this case is within a business district, Lynam said he sought advice from town counsel, which is “lacking in a firm reason to limit the hours.”

To do so would be considered restraint of trade, Lynam reported. He said he will be receiving a written opinion on the issue, at which time he plans to consult with other communities on their licensing process and come back to the board with a recommendation on whether the town needs to establish an ordinance or by-law providing oversight to hours of operation.

“Lacking any other type of authority, we really can’t regulate those hours,” he said. “By virtue of opening, they have the right to operate a convenience store 24 hours a day.”

The Board of Appeals had “exceeded its authority” in denying another business the right to operate 24/7, Lynam said the business opted to locate in another town. While he is working to identify “when, how and where” such a business may operate to avoid future conflicts.

Selectman Dan Salvucci asked if, should the store sell alcohol, would they be required to cover those products during certain hours and lock it up. He also asked about the number of employees the store plans to have on duty each shift for safety concerns.

“They don’t have a license to sell alcohol and they would have to come to us for that, and that would give us the authority to regulate the business,” Lynam said. “I don’t think it’s our authority to tell them how many people to have working in the store.”

In other business, Selectman Brian Bezanson said that, while 20-percent turnout was very good for a town election, the fact that only one in five voters turned out for an important override vote was “troubling,” and asked if more could be done to increase turnout.

Chairman Carl Kowalski said Lynam had asked him if a town-wide emergency message should be sent out as an election day reminder, but he didn’t think it necessary at the time.

He did agree, however, that something needs to be done to unify the town and motivate people to vote.

Duval School honors those who serve nation, community

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WHITMAN — Students of Duval Elementary School offered thanks to those in military and public service — often at full volume — during the school’s annual We Remember ceremonies Friday, May 27.

The school hosted town officials, veterans and members of the Duval family for the program, which included recitation of student writing and quotes from historic documents as well as music.

Guests were invited to speak and retired Navy SEAL, Lt. Cmdr Anthony T. O’Brien led a group of students, clad in some of his old camouflage fatigue blouses, in saluting the five military branches as classmates yelled out, “Thank you for your service!”

“Serving is not just about those who serve in the military,” OBrien said, noting members of the police and fire departments also serve their community. “You know who else serves? Teachers. You’ve got a lot of really great talent among your teachers. They could be doing other things, but they’re here serving.”

He encouraged the children to thank teachers and public service officers, too.

After the program introduction by Duval Principal Julie McKillop, the program was turned over to students. It culminated in members of the faculty and student body honoring family members who have served with the placement of tiny American flags on a wreath, which was displayed in the school lobby for the rest of the day.

“This weekend is huge as far as remembering all of the military who have lost their lives by protecting our freedom and our rights,” said Thomas McCarthy of the Whitman Veterans’ Services office. “Please remember them. That’s why we’re still here and still free. … This weekend is not just about hot dogs and hamburgers.”

O’Brien echoed McCarthy’s message.

“Be by the pool, have a hot dog, enjoy — I’m gonna, too,” he said. “But for some of us, it’s a much more solemn time, too, because we lost some friends.”

Whitman Selectman Daniel Salvucci, whose father in-law served in WWII also spoke to the assembly about respecting those who serve their country.

“We are here today because of them,” Salvucci said. “If you know someone who served, just say ‘thank you,’ because they have done the most amazing thing — protecting us.”

The program was also a chance for the students to say goodbye to Assistant Principal Dr. Elizabeth Wilcox, who takes over as principal of Hanson’s Maquan Elementary School on July 1.

“Dr. Wilcox puts lots of time and energy into this program,” said McKillop. “[She] gets to go to a new school next year, so I think we should take a minute to thank her for all the work she does.”

The audience gave Wilcox a warm and sustained round of applause.

Sobering message to teens

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Mock crash illustrates consequences of OUI

The W-H Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) chapter held its biannual mock car crash May 20 — a strong, emotion-laden performance to, it is hoped, drive home a point for W-H juniors and seniors.

As this week brings the senior prom, educators said they hope to have reached students with a life lesson. With help from law enforcement from both towns as well as EMS the group responded to a crash in which students had reportedly left a party after drinking. In an assembly beforehand students watched their fellow classmates in a play depicting, drinking games, chugging beers and then discussing who was OK to drive.   

A short movie was then played of the group who chose to drive, with realistic blurring, swerving and sounds of glass as the students are involved in the car “crash.”  The student body then headed outside to view the aftermath in a realistic scene of mangled metal, blood, and glass in the W-H parking lot. The wrecked vehicles were provided by McQuarrie Auto Engineering of Hanson.

Darcie MacDonald, actress and real life mom to Brody MacDonald, 11, of Hanson, hysterically reacted to her son nearly being killed in the car as they awaited medical help. Her emotions were so real several students could be seen wiping their tears and clutching their arms together as she cried out she needed to be with her son. He lay unconscious in the car as police escorted her away and she collapsed in the officers’ arms.

She appeared helpless a victim of someone else’s poor choices, which W-H SADD volunteers later said “felt terribly real.”

Seniors Rachel Sword, Matt Evans, and Marena DeMinico were just three students playing parts, but after the mock crash while students returned inside the building they still had adrenalin coursing through their veins.

Covered in fake blood the three compared notes on how the crowd perceived the performance.

“I forgot I was acting at one point,” said Sword as she described her character trying to take and then fail sobriety tests.

No one was talking as they watched the crowd watching them Sword and Evans agreed they got their point across to the crowd of their peers.

Nick Smith who played the fatality was brought away in a hearse at the end of the crash leaving students dumbfounded. His real mother Rene’ Smith arrived at the end as she was told they “lost him.” Watching a mother get the news of losing her son although fabricated for the performance appeared to affect many who stood in stunned silence.

Matt Evans called Smith, also known as “Turbo” because of his running speed a “great kid an all-around respected three sport captain. Even though this was not real — it could have happened,” he said.

“Teens shouldn’t feel invincible,” said DeMinico.  “This is reality.  It’s hard but we are glad we did it. People think it won’t happen to them but we just watched it happen.”

Water quality woes

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HANSON — Classic rock tunes aside, there’s nothing to love about dirty water when it’s coming out of your home faucets.

“It’s random,” said Assessor Lee Gamache, who lives on Main Street. “It can be clear and then one day it’s just bad. … Sometimes it’s actual sludge coming out of the pipes.”

Homeowners are frustrated with the situation.

Besides health concerns, many say it’s unfair to expect them to pay for running water for as long as five hours to flush sediment from traps while the town is under a water ban. Gamache did say she had her water independently tested and said it was deemed safe to drink, but can irritate skin when one bathes in it.

The town is on Brockton water while the High Street water tank undergoes routine maintenance.

One couple, 38-year residents Brian and Lorraine Skorohod of 791 High St., having found no recourse with the Water Department, brought their plight to the Board of Selectmen Tuesday, May 24, seeking recourse for water bills and damage to their home.

Selectmen responded that, while there is really no financial action they could take, they authorized Town Administrator Michael McCue to look into the issue.

“This is not an issue the Board of Selectmen has purview over, however with the board’s acquiescence I can certainly take a look to see if there are any avenues [under which] something like that could be addressed,” McCue said.

Selectman Bruce Young suggested the situation could provide an opportunity for the Water Department to formulate emergency plans for the future.

“I don’t think this is something that’s happened before,” Young said. “It’s been the most expensive [maintenance] shut-down in the water tank’s history.”

He noted that the town couldn’t compensate residents, as the Water Department is a separate entity.

Lorraine Skorohod had brought in a sample of their water drawn this week, with black manganese and iron sediment at the bottom, and asked if selectmen would like to drink it.

“If our water is drinkable, then I certainly wouldn’t want to drink this — and that’s what we were told,” she said. “Would you want to drink that?”

“No, ma’am,” said Selectmen Chairman James McGahan, noting the board is equally frustrated and he appreciates the Skorohod’s efforts to speak on behalf of many residents dealing with the same problems.

Board of Health Chairman Gil Amado, who also serves on the Water Commission, said many hours have already been invested in seeking a solution.

“The water from the Pleasant Street break … was literally the color of root beer coming out of the tap,” Brian Skorohod said. “It was like that for a whole day.”

He said the water meter “is spinning the whole time” homeowners have outside spigots open to drain traps.

“I’m not the only one that has a problem on High Street,” Lorraine Skorohod said, noting that one of her neighbors has an infant that needs water.

“I can understand the dilemma that the town is in,” Brian Skorohod said. “But we shouldn’t have to continually pay somebody to come out and make repairs due to that.”

The Skorohods were upset that they have had to pay for three service calls and parts costs for work on a gas boiler that was installed in December 2014 as a result of the water main break. Their boiler had been working fine until sediment-tainted water got into the system and flooded the boiler and electrical panel — both of which had been properly installed.

“I just want to know if there’s some recourse,” Brian Skorohod said. “If we can have the town reimburse us for the money that we’re spending because of this problem.”

Selectman and former Water Commissioner Don Howard said the problems began with the Pleasant Street water main break several weeks ago. The break was observed by a resident at 3 a.m., but not reported right away.

“We’re trying to solve the problems,” Howard said.

Calls began pouring into the Police Department later on the morning of the Pleasant Street break, because of low water pressure on High Street, Route 58 and where the ground is high on Whitman Street. Police discovered the break at about 6 a.m., after patrolling the area to investigate the calls.

The main was shut off for repairs, but by that time, Howard said, it is estimated the water had been flowing since about midnight — about six hours.

“The pressure in the system dropped down to 70 pounds coming in from Brockton,” Howard said. “Having the water run like a spider web where the break is, it disturbed everything in the water mains south of West Washington Street, High Street and everything into Monponsett Street.

By the time pressure was restored all the lines were filled with manganese and iron. When the water tank is online, the water flows in the opposite direction through the mains.

Back online in June

The tank is expected to be back online by mid-June, but the water may still be affected through the end of the month. Hydrant flushing in Hanson takes place in the fall.

“Water pressure fluctuates [by 20 to 30 pounds] coming from the city of Brockton,” said Water Superintendent Richard Muncey. “That’s creating different surges throughout our system. It stems from their service flow.”

Because of that pressure fluctuation, there have been four more water main breaks in Hanson, according to Howard.

“Every week we’ve had one,” Muncey said.

“There really isn’t anything you can do with it until you’re on your own system,” Howard said.

W-H voters reject override

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School panel discusses next steps

The W-H Regional School Committee Monday, May 23 began discussion on its next steps following the defeat of the override during Saturday’s town elections.

Chairman Bob Hayes noted the committee has already consulted legal counsel on the matter, explaining that the panel faces a Sept. 15 deadline to either bring the percentages down or take other action to arrive at a budget.

“I thought it would be incumbent to speak with both of the finance committees before we made that type of decision to see financially where they are, rather than to just leap into something,” Hayes said.

The school committee will meet next at 7 p.m., Wednesday, June 8, at which time they expect more information on the status of the increase in per-pupil state funding from the current level of $20 to $55 as proposed by the region’s legislators within the state budget.

“It’s incumbent upon this committee to make some strong decisions about what we are going to do,” Hayes said as the committee began a lengthy discussion on factors that may have contributed to the override’s failure and how voters’ doubts can be addressed.

“It’s obvious that this is a fairly critical point in time … and I know emotions are running high for lots of people,” he said.

He said elected officials must lead the way to finding a solution.

“Let’s find a way,” he said. “There’s a way we can make some of this work, we’ve just got to dig in and get at it.”

Committee members expressed disappointment on the override outcome and refuting the contention by some voters that the School Department does not live within its budget.

Member Dan Cullity noted that, in Whitman, no other town department took a hit during the recession, as the schools did, and cautioned the public against armchair quarterbacking.

“We’ve got mandates that we have to follow,” he said. “They’re not fully funded, that takes more out of the budget.”

Robert Trotta stepped away from the dais to address his committee as a resident, parent and retired educator.

“Yes, it was an aggressive budget request, but one that was much needed,” Trotta said. “We cannot become a second-rate school system. We must put together a budget strategy immediately.”

Member Kevin Lynam asked what the committee can realistically do now.

“We asked for 20 percent and the towns said no,” Lynam said. “Is there an opportunity for compromise on both sides?” He suggested perhaps working to determine what can be afforded from year to year — such as 3 percent one year and 6 percent the next — comparing such a process to a farmer rotating crops.

Hayes said that was one of the reasons he wanted to set up meetings with the finance committees. Member Robert O’Brien Jr., suggested another try at forming a joint financial subcommittee between the towns and school committee members.

Improved communication with voters was also cited as a need. Among the inaccuracies and misunderstandings members of the committee and Support Our Schools group said they had encountered during discourse with voters were:

• The district does not live within its means;

• Volunteers could be used to reopen school libraries;

• Non-resident children are attending district schools;

• The budget gap can be closed by cuts in administration; and

• The schools should use the excess and deficiency funds to close the budget gap.

Not easy

State cutbacks in Chapter 70 reimbursement as a way of motivating the towns to reach target share of local contributions was cited as a major problem.

“It’s not quite as easy as running your own house,” Hayes said. “There’s no runaway train here.”

School officials stressed that, while “volunteers are great helpers,” schools require licensed librarians with a master’s degree work as librarians — as is required in town libraries.

Even pupils in lower grades, including kindergarten, are assigned research projects on which school librarians are needed to reinforce critical thinking skills and help teach students what research materials are credible and which are not.

“Our kids begin research when they begin school,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ruth Gilbert-Whitner said.

She also stressed that, when non-resident students — not participating in school choice — are discovered, they are removed.

“We just had experiences in the past two weeks where we did determine that we had students living here under what I would call false pretences,” Gilbert-Whitner said. “Those students are no longer enrolled in the W-H Regional School District.”

She stressed that any information about such cases is addressed through local law enforcement, registrars and building principals.

Gilbert-Whitner said the district is also below state average in the number of administrative staff members. The district’s cost-saving measures won the district an award from a business manager’s group that enabled the awarding of a scholarship to a graduating senior two years ago.

Residents and educators in the audience also spoke — often with emotion — about how the budget impasse can be bridged.

Painful cuts

Whitman resident Christopher George advocated sharing the pain with the larger community by assessing user fees for all extracurricular activities or exacting cuts on other town departments such as those the School Department dealt with during the recession. He also advocated earmarking revenue from new growth for the schools.

“People don’t understand the real story,” George said. “We spend less than any other town around us. We have cut program, after program, after program. … It’s time for the other departments to either make cuts or go for the override themselves.”

Hanson Finance Committee Chairman Michael Wojdag and several members of the School Committee said that was not a scenario they are advocating. Wojdag also said the idea of taking more from excess and deficiency is not sound fiscal planning.

“FinCom at a $20 million budget does not have $1.2 million to cut out of the Hanson budget,” Wojdag said. “The Hanson FinCom last year supported the new elementary school … and we were the first ones to support the $3 million [student success] budget.”

He argued the problem is a revenue, not a finance committee problem.

Hayes also suggested figuring out how to use social media better to respond to confusion and criticism posted online. Teachers in the audience also pledged to continue working on their own time and spending out of their own pocket to help their pupils succeed, urging residents now talking on social media about moving out of the school district to stay.

“We really are going to continue to provide the best education for your kids,” said Stephanie Powers, a first-grade teacher at Duval School.

WHEA representative Beth Stafford also reminded residents that teachers have given up, or limited, raises, furlough days, course reimbursements and other benefits to help the region weather the recession.

School vote key issue in election

Voters in Whitman and Hanson on Saturday, May 21 rejected a ballot question seeking an override of Proposition 2 ½ to fund the WHRSD Student Success operating budget for fiscal year 2017.

The vote was close in Whitman, where 77 votes made the difference — 1,000 voted no to 923 votes in support of an override. Hanson, however, crushed the proposal with 1,444 voting no and 770 voting yes.

“We were very disappointed with the results of the override election,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ruth Gilbert-Whitner. “It really is a loss for the children of Whitman and Hanson.”

She also expressed thanks to all those who worked trying to get the student success component of the budget passed and pledged to continue to serve the district’s school children.

“Tremendously disappointed” was the phrase Whitman School Committee member Fred Small used to sum up the override result, “especially to be so close in one town and so far in the other.”

“We have to respect the wishes of the taxpayer, and I somehow take it personally that, perhaps somehow some way, I didn’t communicate clear enough with people. I don’t know what else we could have done.”

Voting had been heavy ahead of Election Day, as Hanson Town Clerk Elizabeth Sloan reported that 264 absentee ballots had been cast in the election by the time the polls opened at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 21. In Whitman, more than 125 absentee votes had been cast. There were short lines at polls in both towns when doors opened.

Sloan was expecting a 40-percent turnout. They got 31 percent.

School Committee candidates in both towns had expressed optimism as they held signs for their campaigns or in support of the override.

Incumbents Daniel Cullity and Robert Trotta had been cautiously optimistic about the override’s chances and, after the results were in, related their disappointment.

“We got elected, but the override didn’t go through,” Cullity said of the result. “That’s part of the game. The people spoke and, obviously, it was too much of a tax burden at this point.”

He said the School Committee now has to go back to work with the selectmen and finance committees to get the towns closer to target share on school funding.

Trotta, Cullity win

Trotta was the top vote-getter with 1,151 votes, followed by Cullity with 965. Newcomer Marshall Ottina fell short with 781 votes.

“I focused on the ‘we’ not ‘me,’” Ottina said, noting that the override had been his main concern. “We learned some lessons and we’ll regroup for next year and see what we need to do to get our schools where they need to be.”

The day had started on an optimistic note in Hanson as well, with candidates and override partisans holding signs at the polls.

“I’m feeling positive,” Hanson candidate Michael Jones said about the override’s chances. He and Christopher Howard were basically running unopposed as the only two candidates running for two open seats representing Hanson on the School Committee.

Jones received 1,284 votes and Howard received 1,229.

Howard, meanwhile, said he would leave the prognostication regarding the override to others.

“I think it’s going to go great,” SOS member Lisa Ryan said Saturday morning. “I think we’re going to get this. There’s been a lot of positive response, especially in the last couple of weeks.”

Hanson override opponent Mark Vess credited both sides of the override question for running positive, informative campaigns.

“I have great admiration for the work that the school side folks did,” he said.

He was hesitant, however, to offer an early prediction on the outcome.

“I think it’s going to be close,” he said on arriving to hold a “vote no” sign. “I think both sides have worked extremely hard in getting out the message that they want to make. … This is what democracy is all about, you never know until people come out at the polls.”

There was a bit of controversy outside the polling place about a half hour into voting.

Vess said he felt compelled to call the police to the Hanson polling place because members of SOS were blocking him from holding his anti-override sign in a visible location and “had assigned a person” to shadow him. SOS sign-holders disputed the claim and, after both sides spoke with an officer, they were told to “play nice in the sandbox,” Vess said.

Police Chief Michael Miksch said Monday there were no other calls to the polling place recorded in the log, but that duty officers are routinely assigned to the polls to handle any issues that might arise.

In Hanson, the only contested race on the ballot was for tree warden, but resident Joseph Campbell of Woodbine Avenue was also outside the polling place waging a write-in campaign for Planning Board. There had been no announced candidates for Planning Board or Board of Health vacancies. Hanlon won the tree warden position 959 to 909 for Means. Running unopposed, Selectman Kenny Mitchell received 1,554 votes.

“I want to express my heart-felt thanks to the voters of Hanson for re-electing me to my first full term,” Mitchell stated. “I am honored and humbled.”

Campbell received 166 write-in votes for Planning Board.

“I wondered what’s going on in the town,” Campbell said. “The seats should never go vacant.”

After a long discussion with his wife, and consideration of the requirements and meeting schedules of the two offices, he opted to run for Planning Board.

“Everything fits where I’m able to devote some time to it,” he said. “I had to be honest about the position and decided I’d be able to give more on the Planning Board as opposed to the Board of Health.”

Business growth in town is an important issue for him.

“I think the people of Hanson don’t pat themselves on the back enough to say we are run by business,” Campbell said. “I’m not against business at all, but I think that Hanson should stay a rural community. It’s probably its best asset.”

Both tree warden candidates Michael Means and David Hanlon also held signs outside the polls Saturday morning.

“I’m confident,” Means said. “It’s not [a position that’s] really well-known.”

Hanlon agreed the job is not familiar to a lot of voters.

“I tried to get the information out there,” he said. Hanlon had appeared on Kevin Tocci’s “Crosstalk” program on Whitman-Hanson Community Access TV and said there’s has been a lot of discussion on social media about what the tree warden does.

“I think they’re pretty good,” Hanlon said of his chances. “There’s going to be a big turnout with the school question and tree warden is the only contested race.”