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You are here: Home / Archives for News

Sizzlin’ time at South Shore DARE camp

August 6, 2015 By Stephanie Spyropoulos, Express Correspondent

at right DARE Camp  host officer William Frazier of Hanson police stands under the rain from Hanson fire department ladder truck on the field at WH.

CHILLIN’ OUT: At right above, DARE Camp host officer William Frazier, Hanson Police DARE and school resource officer, stands with campers under the rain from hose of the Hanson Fire Department ladder truck at WHRHS during the 21st annual Plymouth County DARE Camp. Below, Hanson Firefighter Tim Royer dumps nontoxic foam over campers on the field at WHRSD during DARE Camp on Thursday, July 30. Photo by Stephanie Spyropoulos.

HANSON — More than 350 burgers and hot dogs were served hot off the grill on a day campers felt equally sizzled on the field as the Drug Awareness Resistance Education (DARE) Camp was held for youths from 19 towns on the South Shore at WHRSD last week.

Host Resource Officer William Frazier, of the Hanson Police Department, was praised by District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz at the graduation services held Friday, July 31.

Cruz congratulated Frazier on his first and very successful DARE camp week. The DA had attended several events and said he was pleased at the success of the camp over the last two decades.

“We have had more participants than any other year.  The campers are learning about safety, respect, drug awareness and anti-bullying,” said Cruz.

Chief Patrick Dillon of Plympton, Deputy Chief Hanlon of Whitman, Chief Michael Miksch of Hanson and many other officers, lieutenants and volunteers were on hand for the chock-full week.

“These campers are going to sleep good tonight and so are we,” the officers agreed.

With Mother Nature on their side, sunny days allowed for lots of water play, games, cold snacks, an ice cream party and positive peer interaction.

Officer Dana Smith of Plympton has also been involved with the camp as a resource officer for four years, he said.

“It is not just the officers who interact with the kids but the peer leaders who kids are looking up to. I think DARE Camp has been a great thing for kids,” he said.

The campers were surprised by Kristen Merlin’s appearance during graduation. The hometown finalist of  NBC’s reality competition show, “The Voice,” sang the national anthem and congratulated campers on their accomplishments.

She told campers she had also attended camp, “back in the day.”

Campers played field games such as four way tug-o-war, water balloon fights, enjoyed special guest performances, and lots of food.

Olympic events, 50-yard dash races, egg toss, obstacle courses and a visit from the State Police helicopter, which landed in the upper field, also highlighted the week.

The pilots spoke with campers during a question and answer session and a visual tour inside of the aircraft was offered before the chopper left to the enthusiastic applause of campers and staff.

Amp 103 Radio station DJs  made a visit providing music for all the field events on Tuesday.

As each day wrapped up leaders and officers sent home hundreds of worn out kids — many covered in popsicle syrup and mud — hoping they learned countless lessons about positive choices to take along in their journeys of life.

 

View photos from the event on the Whitman-Hanson Express Facebook page.

Filed Under: News

Hanson by-law aims to limit selectmen conflicts

August 6, 2015 By Tracy F. Seelye, Express Editor

HANSON — Selectmen have unanimously approved the drafting of a by-law proposal for consideration at the October special Town Meeting which would restrict selectmen from also working as paid town employees answerable to the board.

Interim Town Administrator Richard LaCamera was also officially hired, effective Monday, Aug. 10 as selectmen approved his contract at the Tuesday, Aug. 4 meeting.

Selectman James McGahan, who raised the issue and volunteered to draft the by-law for town counsel’s review, said that a resident had raised the concern about potential conflicts several months ago.

“I was asked for my opinion and what I intended to do about it,” he said.

He stressed that it was not directed at a specific individual.

Under the proposed by-law, town employees would be allowed to run for selectman, but would have to give up their job during their tenure in office and for a period of time afterward.

“That’s unfortunate, but that’s how it goes,” McGahan said, inviting arguments to the contrary.

Building Department Administrative Assistant Ann-Marie Bouzan, who ran for selectman this year, said she had consulted the state Ethics Commission before entering that race.

She was advised that the only potential conflicts for her, should she be faced with town administrator contract review and negotiation, would arise if there are pending matters in which she had financial interest that the town administrator has direct, immediate power to decide. Otherwise, she was informed, she would not be required to abstain.

As a union steward, she would have been allowed to participate in contract negotiations, but could not vote on the contract had she been elected selectman.

“I’m trying to be as transparent as possible,” Bouzan said. “I just think it’s prohibiting a lot of people from running. The town is only so big — I just want to have that opportunity.”

Selectman Don Howard and Health Board Chairman Gil Amado, who both also sit on the Board of Water Commissioners, would not be affected by the by-law, as the two boards are not connected.

“The incompatibility occurs when the person holding both positions can’t discharge the duties of each,” McGahan said. “It is evident that the selectmen would have the power over the employee in the areas of hiring, firing and determining compensation, which is why I find the two offices incompatible.”

The towns of Carver, Westborough, Concord and Tewksbury have similar by-laws on the books.

In researching the issue, McGahan said he had definite concerns.

“I felt much of the information, although there is no formal state ruling on the matter — suggests that the practice can cause future problems down the road — [and] places an additional workload on officials and, most importantly, provides a disadvantage to the town by not having such a by-law in place,” he argued.

McGahan cited section 23 of the state Ethics Law prohibiting officials from taking additional official actions which “could present the appearance of an impropriety” or cause an impartial observer to suspect bias. Section F forbids actions by officials that could lead an impartial observer to suspect an action had been illegally influenced.

“I felt these two particular points would be difficult to maintain as both a selectman and town employee,” he said, adding that a by-law would get rid of the “good old boy network type of thing.”

Section 20 allows elected officials to hold as many uncompensated or paid elected positions as they wish.

Chairman Bruce Young noted the town administrator, who reports to the Board of Selectmen, is also responsible for evaluating town employees.

“In that particular case you could have a problem,” Young said. “And if you are a union employee, the town administrator acts as the head negotiator for union contracts.”

Bouzan said the conflicts could be resolved by the selectman involved recusing himself or herself from any discussion or vote.

“There’s different issues for every selectman that there’s going to be a chance that somebody’s going to have to recuse themselves,” she said.

Some residents argued a town employee elected, as selectman was most likely to err on the side of caution.

“It’s an interesting issue, but I think we have checks and balances and laws that are currently in place,” said Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett. “If there were a problem then you could report that to the Ethics Commission. You can also express concern to the employee.”

Residents Thomas Dahlberg and Richard Edgehille voiced support for the proposed by-law.

“I don’t have the same faith in humans as the previous speaker,” Dahlberg said. Abstentions could lead to a lot of tie votes with four selectmen left to make decisions, he argued.

“It’s not anything that has happened, but why let it happen,” he said.

Residents on both sides of the issue agreed the matter was one to be decided by Town Meeting.

In other business, the interim town administrator contract, agreed to during an executive session and reported in public meeting, calls for LaCamera work from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. three days a week until he is advised in writing that his services are no longer needed.

On days when he is required to attend Board of Selectmen’s meetings, his hours would be adjusted so that he does not exceed 18 work hours per week.

LaCamera will be earning $65 an hour, but as a part-time employee, will not receive other benefits or compensation other than mileage reimbursement for job-related travel out of town and a town-provided cell phone or $50 reimbursement for using his personal cell phone for town business.

If LaCamera wishes to end his obligations under the contract he must provide written notice of at least 30 calendar days.

Filed Under: News

Whitman pool lifeguards seek raises

August 6, 2015 By Tracy F. Seelye, Express Editor

WHITMAN — Lifeguards at the town pool have earned a raise, and can expect some increase — depending on the end-of season balance from revenues after maintenance expenses are paid.

Much of the problem surrounding the lifeguard pay issue, according to Recreation Commissioners,  is rooted in turnover at the director’s position over the last two years, affecting the marketing of pool passes as well as the hiring, scheduling and salary budgeting for lifeguards.

“We apologize that this is happening,” said Recreation Commission member Oliver B. Amado III.

The commission wanted to go on record as recognizing and appreciating what the lifeguards do, often under a broiling sun.

“We’re going to try to do what we can for you,” said Chairman Todd DeCouto. “A mistake was made, unfortunately, but we’re going to do everything in our power to help you.”

The pool account is currently at $5,960.53 with two more weeks of payroll left to be paid out, as well as another $400 to $500 worth of bills, interim Director Dan Mason reported to the Recreation Commission Monday, Aug. 3. Two weeks’ worth of revenue will also be added, but he said he does not expect that amount to be a lot of money.

The last lifeguard payroll was $2,657 for the week.

Four lifeguards, three veterans including supervising guard Judith Gill and one recent hire, attended the Aug. 3 meeting to argue for a raise. Recreation Commission members and Mason agreed the lifeguards deserved a raise. Gill is the only full-time lifeguard.

“They should get paid more,” Mason said of the lifeguards. “They should get paid a lot more.”

But paperwork turned into the town when former Director Emily Richardson left, set the salaries for the year unless the commission decides to distribute any funds left at the Aug. 16 end of the season.

“The problem is getting you your money — and please know we want to do that,” DeCouto said. “We’ve got to find a way to do that.”

“We have to fix what’s broken,” Vice Chairman June O’Leary said.

Many other area facilities pay $13 an hour.

Whitman Pool lifeguard Rachel Baker makes $11 an hour. She also works at Camp Kiwanee in Hanson, doing so last week while putting in 35 hours at Whitman, where guard scheduling has been another issue of concern.

“We’ve all been going overtime this summer because we had about seven people to start the summer off,” Baker said. “In the first few weeks, everybody worked every day.”

She has been a lifeguard in Whitman for five years, has water safety instructor certification and acts in a supervisory capacity, but does not carry the title. She is seeking a $1.50 per hour raise and retroactive payment for the summer to reach parity with another senior lifeguard. Luke Laubacher, working part-time at the pool as a fill-in lifeguard as well as working at South Shore Hospital, is labled as a supervisor on the schedule and makes $12.50 an hour.

“We should be paid the same because we are doing the same exact job, he is a sub this year, I’m even more of an evening supervisor than he is,” Baker said.

Laubacher is also a veteran lifeguard with WSI certification. An EMT, Laubacher plans to study nursing. John Gorman, another senior guard, makes $10.25 per hour and is seeking a raise of 75 cents per hour.

Several other lifeguards are also seeking raises.

Gill is, in fact, the only pool supervisor and is paid $15.25 per hour. She is not seeking a raise, but attended to support her staff.

“What we have done in the past is a 25-cent raise every time you return [for another year] in addition to any raise you would get for qualifications,” Gill said. “That’s the problem a lot of the guards are having.”

The commission will meet again at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 19 to continue discussing the issue when final pool receipts and expenses are expected to be finalized.

“The park just got over the edge today,” said Mason, noting the summer park program has $611 with no bills left to pay. “It will probably have a comma in it at the end.”

Park Program Director Jeannie Angelos has indicated she plans to end her tenure at the end of the year to start a family, Mason said. But Amado added that she has indicated a willingness to return if a new recreation director resumes responsibility for scheduling bus trips as part of the summer program.

In other business, resident Shawn Kain requested information on how to “start the conversation” toward establishing a free-admission public skateboard park in town.

Kain, a special education teacher in Brockton, is a skateboard enthusiast and co-founder with his wife Shannon of The Practice, an indoor after-school program that includes skateboarding. They are in the process of obtaining nonprofit status for that facility.

An account does exist for funds raised toward establishing a public skate park with from $12,000 to $13,000 still in it, commission members said.

Kain said he would not mind coordinating additional fund-raising efforts. Commission members referred him to selectmen Brian Bezanson and Dan Salvucci “who did all the groundwork” on the park project in the past, as well as Assistant Town Administrator Gregory Enos.

“For some reason, it just died,” DeCouto said of the previous effort. “They got the money together and it just stopped.”

Filed Under: News

Diehl enters primary race, Ryerson bows out

August 6, 2015 By Kathleen Peloquin, Media Editor

By Dave Palana
Express Contributor

GeoffreyDiehl

Rep. Geoffrey Diehl

When the Massachusetts legislature returns from its August recess, state Rep. Geoff Diehl, R-Whitman, will be adding a new goal to his agenda — a seat in a new chamber on Beacon Hill.

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Citing state Rep. Geoff Diehl’s name recognition and funding capability, fellow Republican Viola Ryerson has withdrawn from the primary for the special election to fill the late Thomas P. Kennedy’s state Senate seat, throwing her support behind Diehl as the ‘strongest Republican candidate for the seat.’

Diehl has drawn papers to enter the race for state senate, joining state Rep. Michael Brady, D-Brockton, Republican Scott Hall and Democrat Joseph Lynch on the Oct. 6 special primary election ballot to fill the seat left open when Sen. Thomas Kennedy died in June.

Diehl was the fifth person to announce candidacy for the senate seat, but Republican Viola Ryerson announced July 23 that she is dropping out of the race and supporting Diehl.

Ryerson, a former Hanover Selectman chairman who ran for the seat against Kennedy, said on her campaign Facebook page that Diehl is the strongest Republican candidate for the seat.

“He has the necessary exposure and funding to represent the Republican Party in this effort,” Ryerson said in her message announcing her resignation.

Hall still remains on the ballot as a Republican alternative to Diehl in the Oct. 6 primary with Lynch and Brady vying to represent the Democrats.

Brady joined the house the year before Diehl, who was quick to mention that Brady did not support his bid on the house floor to introduce a ballot question to block taxpayer funding for the now-defunct Boston Olympics bid.

“I introduced a plan to provide taxpayer protection from Olympic overrun on the floor of the house and did not get any support from the other side of the aisle,” Diehl said.

A five-year veteran state representative, Diehl said trying to switch houses was a difficult decision, but said the senate will offer him a larger platform to fight for local issues.

“Before I ran for representative, I was the Whitman Finance Committee’s liaison to the School Committee and I watched the state cut local aid and education funding and I didn’t feel like the current rep was doing enough to fight it,” he said. “Since I’ve been in the house, my decisions have reflected the mentality of fighting to keep more money at the household and local level. [Running for senate] just provides me with a better opportunity to continue that type of work.”

Diehl announced his candidacy Thursday at a kickoff rally at the Shaw’s Plaza in Brockton, where fellow state representatives and 300 supporters joined him. Following his kickoff, he has spent most of his first week on the campaign trail going door to door meeting voters as he tries to mobilize supporters quickly with the primary less than two months away.

“The biggest challenge is that this is a short election, so I need to make people aware of who I am and my candidacy,” he said. “This is going to come down to how quickly we can reach as many people as possible.”

While Diehl is well known in Whitman and East Bridgewater through his work as representative, the largest population of voters in the senate district reside in Brockton, which is home to the three other candidates. However Diehl said his work for Brockton business Sign Design allowed him to make connections with Brockton’s small business owners and also said he has found that many in the city already knew him from his battle on Beacon Hill to fight the gas tax, which was repealed by a ballot question Diehl introduced in the House.

“It’s been really great,” he said. “A lot of people recognized me from [radio interviews on] WRKO and WATD. They not only knew my name but also the work I did on Question 1.”

Whitman Selectmen Chairman Dr. Carl Kowalski worried that Diehl will have a hard time cracking Brockton against three residents of the city, but praised the former Whitman Finance Committee member’s work as the town’s state representative and wished him well in his senate run.

“I think Geoff has been a good rep — keeps the board informed, willing to go to bat for things that he sees as important to the town,” Kowalski, a Democrat, said of Diehl. “I don’t know how easy it’s going to be for him coming from outside of Brockton … but I wish him luck.”

Filed Under: News

Brady, Ryerson seek Kennedy seat

July 22, 2015 By Deborah Anderson

The race is on

Two candidates as of press time have taken out nomination papers for the Senate vacancy caused by the death of Sen. Thomas Kennedy, D-Brockton, earlier this month.

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State Rep. Michael Brady

State Rep. Michael Brady, a Brockton Democrat, will run to fill that vacancy, he told the State House News.  Also drawing papers is Republican Viola Ryerson, who opposed Kennedy in the last election.

Nomination papers are available at the Halifax Town Clerk’s office, 499 Plymouth St., Rte. 106, Halifax; the Elections Division, Room 1705, McCormack State Office Building, One Ashburton Place, Boston; and at Brockton City Hall.

Secretary of the Commonwealth William F. Galvin Monday issued the calendar for the special election on Tuesday, Nov. 3 in the 2nd Plymouth & Bristol State Senate District. The Senate has adopted the order for the Nov. 3 election. The primary will be held Oct. 6.
The deadline for submitting nomination papers to the local registrars of voters is Tuesday, Aug. 25, and the last day to file certified nomination papers with the Secretary of the Commonwealth is Tuesday, Sept. 1.

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Viola Ryerson

Nominations for the Senate require a minimum of 300 certified signatures.
The 2nd Plymouth & Bristol District consists of Brockton; precincts 1, 2, 3 in East Bridgwater; and the towns of Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Plympton, and Whitman in Plymouth County; and precincts 1, 2 in the town of Easton in Bristol County.

Filed Under: News

Whitman painter shares craft with children

July 22, 2015 By Stephanie Spyropoulos, Express Correspondent

Art is a labor of love

Gina Palaza at right teachers her students how to work with canvas and acrylic paints. clockwise :Victoria, 9, Megan, 8, Kiley, 9, and Maddie, 10

Gina Palaza (at right) teaches her students how to work with canvas and acrylic paints.
clockwise: Victoria, 9, Megan, 8, Kiley, 9, and Maddie, 10

WHITMAN —In a bright home studio in Whitman a cool breeze blew through the open windows as birds chirped in unison nearby. Inside four students painted as if lost in their own creativity and color palettes.

Their instructor is Gina Palaza of Whitman, a local artist, wife and teacher. She is also a hardworking mother of four girls, Lila and Ginger, 9, Isabella, 11, and, Angelina, 13.

Gina Palaza of Whitman and her students work on a cupcake canvas piece, that students will take home at the end of class.

Gina Palaza of Whitman and her students work on a cupcake canvas piece that students will take home at the end of class.

During last week’s studio class at her home Palaza instructed four girls, several of whom draw and paint regularly. Her students were four girls of a similar age range to her own children: Maddie, 10, of Pembroke and Whitman residents Kiley, 9, Megan, 8, and Victoria, 9, all  focused on their canvases depicting oversized, whimsical cupcakes on a tablecloth.   

Palaza allows her students to choose their own color palettes as she mentors their projects.

“I would rather they pick the colors because they make their pieces unique – and have the color theme to hang in their own bedrooms,” said Palaza. “Greens and aqua is a strong color trend and the girls really seem to like it.”

The girls love art as much as their teacher, and their painting evokes that sheer enjoyment, as they mixed paint to change the tonal effects and learned what size brushes are best to use.

Students start with paint and lighten the shade to their own taste with a swirl of white.

Students start with paint and lighten the shade to their own taste with a swirl of white.

Victoria has made several paintings and her flip-flop canvas signifying summer is one of her favorite pieces.

“I can design whatever I want,” said Megan.

Olaf the snowman from the Disney’s “Frozen” was her first painting.

Maddie, who aspires to be an artist someday, said she loves painting because it becomes whatever she wants.

“Even if you mess up, everything is art,” she said.  “It doesn’t have to be perfect and I like what I make. Painting is a lot of fun. You get to express your feelings.”

Palaza balances her family schedules with her Sharpie pen but you will often find her in studio — brush in hand — or on her porch painting pet portraits.

She has always painted and had lessons as a child. She said she was not into sports as a kid and art was always her passion. In fact, she graduated from Massachusetts School of Art in Boston in 2003 with a degree in painting.

Palaza’s pet portraits are commissioned, with several recent clients connecting through the retailer Setting the Space and her clientele range from gift givers to those wanting a memorial pet portrait for a special pet that has died.

Palaza says teaching is a dream come true, being able to do what she loves and pass on, the love of art to others. She has recently added summer classes for her students as well as securing a display of her own works at Setting the Space, in their four retail spaces located on the South shore.

Palaza likes to host a small art show in culmination of each class with snacks and champagne glasses of sparkling juice for student artists.

“They get to show off their work to siblings and family and it is a boost of their confidence,” she said.

Private lessons usually run a month long and children’s classes are the most popular. She has met many of her clients through word-of-mouth.

The students work with canvas and acrylic water based, fast drying paint. Private art lessons involve all different mediums but group classes usually involve the popular acrylics.

As Palaza teaches the students how to mix paints they learn to use white to tweak their shades.

The canvas soon transforms into a cupcake with flair, inviting and bright.  Their hands swirl their brushes and soon the girls are deep in their composition.

Palaza guides them in technique as they turn their canvas on its side and paint each edge.

Palaza says she is rewarded by seeing her students design freely. She has discovered that children don’t overthink their art, they let their minds wander unfettered and they use that freedom to create.

For more information visit ginapalaza.com

Filed Under: News

Grenno briefs selectmen on CivicReady

July 22, 2015 By Kaila Braley, Express Correspondent

Alert system is OK’d

WHITMAN —  The Board of Selectmen approved an emergency notification policy and authorized Fire Chief Timothy Grenno to sign the Sachem Rock Regional Emergency Planning Zone By-laws at its Tuesday, July 21 meeting.

Grenno explained that the new notification policy, which is used to alert townspeople about emergency and nonemergency events, makes it clear which town departments are authorized to notify the public about which events, and ensures the notification will be reviewed by at least two people before being sent out.

These notifications might include where to park cars during extreme weather, alerts about accidents or reminders about town events.

Whitman Emergency Officials partnered with CivicReady to create the new emergency preparedness and mass notification services for citizens, whitman-ma.gov/ready, which was launched at the start of the new fiscal year on July 1.

Selectman Daniel Salvucci worried that residents may stop paying attention to notifications if they receive too many.

“We need them to listen,” he said.

Grenno agreed, saying the system is designed so that residents can choose which types of notifications they want to receive, so some can cut down on clutter if they only want to receive emergency notifications.

People can choose the way in which they are notified, as well, including by telephone, email or traditional mail. Town Administrator Frank Lynam drafted the system with Grenno and said it is “quite robust.”

He added that the messages are limited to one minute each, which should encourage people to take the time to listen to them.

The CivicReady system allows public safety officials to communicate with citizens quickly and efficiently before, during and after an emergency. Citizens can sign up to receive alerts via email, SMS (Text Messaging), voice calls and all messages broadcasted will be available on the Town of Whitman social media sites. FEMA-sourced emergency preparedness content is easily accessible to citizens to keep our community informed in the event of an emergency.

The Fire Chief and Police Chief’s monthly reports were postponed until the August Selectmen’s Meeting.

Filed Under: News

Interim hand at Hanson helm

July 22, 2015 By Tracy F. Seelye, Express Editor

Retired Rochester TA tabbed to steer town through transition

HANSON — The Board of Selectmen Tuesday, July 21 appointed an interim town administrator and resident members of a search committee.

Retired Rochester Town Administrator Richard LaCamera was the only interim candidate interviewed as Suzanne Kennedy, who had also been on the list, was no longer available.

In accordance with regulations governing the part-time employment of retirees, LaCamera said he expects to work about two or three days a week and is “absolutely not” interested in applying for consideration as a full-time town administrator.

“I could start next week if I had to,” he said. “I’m certainly not going to work five days a week, so I want you to know that. … It’s something to get you through the transition and keep things functioning on a day-to-day basis.”

LaCamera has 32 years of municipal experience in Lakeville, where he served as a selectman and member of the finance committee, and Rochester where he was town administrator for eight and a half years.

Selectmen will have to negotiate and approve a contract with LaCamera. They questioned him on his knowledge of funding regional school projects and his opinion of selectmen public safety liaisons and their attending department head meetings.

LaCamera said he is comfortable with the liaison concept as Rochester has a Public Safety Committee that meets once a month and is part of a regional school district. While he agreed with Town Administrator Ron San Angelo’s view that department heads might not be comfortable with selectmen sitting in on meetings, he had no firm objections.

“I don’t mind [it] sometimes,” he said. “I like the department head meetings to kind of be outside of that, if possible, because department heads tend to say things when selectmen aren’t there, but I’m OK with it if that’s what you want to do.”

Joining Selectman Chairman Bruce Young and a member of the Planning Board on the search committee, selectmen voted to appoint small businessman Michael McLeod, retired Verizon executive Joseph Amaral Jr., retired educator Constance Constantine, former Board of Health member Richard Edgehille and Kenneth McCormick who is a Hanson resident and member of the Pembroke Fire Department.

Young thanked all those who applied for the search committee.

“It was especially good to see new people coming forward who have never been on a committee before,” he said.

Not selected from the pool of 10 applicants were Community Preservation Commission Chairman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett, South Shore Vo-Tech Superintendent-Director Dr. Thomas Hickey, Library Director Nancy Cappellini, former Selectman James Egan and Plymouth County Mosquito Control Commissioner Kimberley King.

McLeod received a vote from all five selectmen and McCormick received four on a paper ballot circulated among selectmen. Receiving three votes each were Amaral, Constantine, Edgehille and Hickey. Selectmen voted publicly during the meeting to break the four-way tie. At the end of the first round, Edgehille and Hickey were still tied with three votes each.

“I don’t think we should go to eight [members],” said Selectman James McGahan. “It’s too big and it’s an even number.”

In the end, Edgehille received votes from McGahan, Kenny Mitchell and Bill Scott. Selectmen Don Howard and Young voted for Hickey.

In other business, selectmen voted to place an article on $79,841.03 of the $179,841.03 cleanup of Hanson Middle School following a sewage backup in April caused by improperly disposed sanitary napkins.

The W-H insurance carrier pays out a maximum of $100,000 for sewer backups.

The school district had the damage repaired and cleaned twice, but later swab tests required by the Category 3 sewerage backup revealed bacterial contamination in “areas the we ordinarily wouldn’t get into” under cabinets, for example, according to Facilities Director Ernest Sandland. Once walls were opened during repair work this summer, more damage and contamination was found.

“Those were items that were not covered in the original investigation because we didn’t know what was there,” he said. “They went to work last week and that’s when this whole thing started to unfold — the additional work that needs to be done.”

Selectmen’s approval was required to get the work done before school opens.

Both Sandland and School District Business Manager Christine Suckow said Principal William Tranter had immediately contacted the school nurse after the incident about conducting preventive talks with students on how to properly dispose of feminine hygiene products.

“He followed it up appropriately,” Sandland said.

Selectmen also voted to place a $12,100 article on the October warrant for Hanson’s share of a failing hot water heater that serves the lavatories at Whitman-Hanson Regional High School.

Filed Under: News

Dog Days Of Summer call for submissions

July 20, 2015 By Kathleen Peloquin, Media Editor

annie'sHow Do You Keep Cool in Summer?

Sponsored by www.anniescleancritters.com.

We know summer is hot…
but what we don’t know is how you, our readers, beat the heat!

Share some of your summer fun!
Simply download the activity forms below, fill them out and return it to us. Your response might be featured in our newspaper and online! Submissions from all ages & all adjacent towns accepted!

Three Activities to Choose From!

ACTIVITY 1: Coloring Page Theme: What do you do to keep cool?
ACTIVITY 2: Beat-the Heat poem. Theme: Summer fun (Word limit: 45)
ACTIVITY 3: Pet Photos! Theme: How do your pet keep cool? Send in a summer picture of your pet!
Download forms here.

DDog-Days-webeadline is Aug. 10th!

All entries will appear either online or in our newspapers August 13th and 14th!
Send your submissions to: graphics@whitmanhansonexpress.com

or mail to:
1000 Main Street • P.O. Box 60
Hanson, MA 02341

Things you should know:
Only a limited number of submissions will appear in print (due to space limitations), but all entries will appear on our websites.  The Express Newspapers reserves the right not to publish any submissions it deems inappropriate. Limit of four entries per household. All submissions become the property of the Express Newspapers and WILL NOT  BE RETURNED. IF YOU WANT TO KEEP THE ORIGINAL FOR YOUR PERSONAL USE, PLEASE SEND US A COPY!

Filed Under: Featured Story, News

Ticks putting the bite on summer

July 16, 2015 By Kathleen Peloquin, Media Editor

07-10-15-colorful-tickDeer population, harsh winter causing surge of suckers?

By Abram Neal
Express Staff

Some health officials across Massachusetts are bracing for a particularly bad season for tick-borne disease this summer due to increasing deer populations and the effects of recent severe winter weather.

There are more than 95,000 deer statewide, according to the Mass. Department of Energy and Environmental Affairs. Densities range from about 10-15 deer per square mile in northwestern Massachusetts to more than 80 deer per square mile in areas of eastern Massachusetts closed to hunting.

Last winter added to the problem.

“The deep snow likely served as an insulator, much to everyone’s chagrin,” Thomas N. Mather, director of the University of Rhode Island’s Center for Vector-Borne Disease and its TickEncounter Resource Center (tickencounter.org) said in published reports last month.

Other experts see a supposition being voiced base on the biology of the tick, but urge people to take precautions just the same.

“I don’t care what people are saying about tick numbers, it’s absolutely critical that people be vigilant,” said State Public Health Veterinarian Dr. Catherine Brown. “There are infected ticks, and lots of them, every single year.”

While the state Department of Public Health (DPH) does not keep count of tick populations, reported cases of Lyme disease number at least 4,000 per year in Massachusetts, according to Brown, who added that represents “a big under-reporting.”

“We don’t actually know that there was a tick explosion because we don’t do any tick surveillance data,” Brown said Tuesday. “In Massachusetts we know that we have large populations of ticks every year and that a certain percentage of them are going to be infected with Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis or Babesiosis.”

Mosquitoes often get the most attention this time of year because of the higher incidences of arboviruses such as West Nile and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) carried by the vectors. As of Wednesday, however, there have been no positive test samples for either EEE or West Nile across the state.

“The information on the populations of mosquitoes are that most of them are running average, so there’s nothing that’s really standing out one way or the other,” Brown said. “We had a dry fall and also a dry spring.”

But with recent heavy rainfall, Brown cautioned, we are not out of the woods yet, where mosquitoes are concerned.

“Mosquitoes like moisture, obviously,” she said. “I think we’re just at the time where we’re going to start to see development of more significant mosquito population. We’re right at the beginning of mosquito season.”

Mosquitoes are also more easily managed than ticks, but tick-borne diseases are equally damaging to human health.

Deer ticks, which carry Lyme disease — as well as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Babesiosis, and Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis (HGA) — are prevalent during this time of year.

The highest incidence of Lyme is seen in June, July, and August with the most affected age groups are youngsters ages 5 to 9, and older adults between 65 and 75. Data from the Mass. DPH and the Centers from Disease Control and Prevention, shows Bristol and Plymouth Counties, along with Cape Cod and the Islands have the highest incidence rates in the State.

At dawn and dusk, ticks of all varieties sit on the end of branches or blades of grass and extend their front legs to latch onto hosts, medical entymologist Wayne Andrews told those attending a public information forum on tick and mosquito-borne diseases held at Hanson Middle School in 2013. June is the highest-risk time as both nymph and adult ticks are questing for a host at that period in their two-year life cycle.

“I don’t care where I go now, I will get a deer tick on me,” he said. “The morning is the most dangerous time … it’s nice and humid, nice and wet and they will get on you.”

Ticks thrive in brush, wooded, or grassy places and they are after blood, on which they feast after biting an animal or human — that, too, is how they spread disease.

Knowing the wildlife attractive to ticks, and how to keep them out of your yard can also help.

“Ticks are brought to your yard by deer and become infected mainly by feeding on mice,” according to tickencounter.org. “Keep deer out by planting undesirable plants, installing deer fencing or applying deer repellents.

“Mice like to live in stonewalls, around sheds, woodpiles or any enclosed area they can get into. Clean up brush, keep stonewalls clear of leaves, move woodpiles away from daily activity,” the site suggests. “Birdfeeders also attract deer and rodents that may drop ticks off right where you are standing.”

Cathleen Drinan, health agent for both Plympton and Halifax, emphasizes personal protection and education to combat tick-borne diseases. In our region, 58 cases of Lyme disease and two of HGA were discovered in Halifax alone last year.

The culprits aren’t always deer ticks, either, according to Drinan; dog ticks and wood ticks can also cause disease.

The Commonwealth, after a special report was commissioned in 2013 by the General Court, is taking both short and long-term approaches to this public health menace, hoping to return tick-bite rates back to those of 30-50 years ago in the next 25 years.

Vaccination, environmental modes of intervention, deer management, and education on personal protection, are some of the goals set forward in the report.

Ticks usually need to be attached to their host for 24-hours for Lyme disease to develop. Symptoms in humans typically include a round rash for up to a month after the bite, characterized by a clear area in the center, yet this rash does not always develop. Vague flu-like symptoms are also present in the early stages of the disease. Even if symptoms lessen without treatment, the disease may not have cleared completely, so early treatment with antibiotics is necessary to prevent more serious problems from developing months or even years later. These include serious joint, nervous system, and heart problems that can be permanent. Meningitis, an often deadly swelling of the membrane covering the brain, can even develop.

Patients with a “classic” donut-shaped rash are easy to diagnose, but otherwise most of the infected will need a blood test to confirm the Lyme Disease diagnosis.

The best ways to protect yourself from tick bites are to avoid areas where ticks live. If this is not possible, wearing long sleeves and tucking pants into socks are essential. Spraying shoes and legs with insect repellents (make sure they are effective against ticks by reading labels carefully), checking for ticks frequently, and removing ticks quickly with tweezers without squeezing or twisting are all good prevention measures, according to the DPH.

“It is very important for people to educate themselves on the seriousness of this and to use all the personal protection measures they can,” according to Drinan. For more  information, visit mass.gov/eohhs. Contact a doctor or nurse if you think you are ill sooner rather than later. All local boards of health have information on ticks, tick-borne diseases, and disease prevention methods.

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

Filed Under: News

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