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Sam Mewis announces retirement from soccer

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Hanson’s hometown hero, Sam Mewis, has called it a career. 
The 31-year-old Mewis announced she has retired from soccer due to a repetitive knee injury.
“With both sadness and clarity, I am retiring from professional soccer,” Mewis posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Unfortunately, my knee can no longer tolerate the impact that elite soccer requires. Though this isn’t what I wanted, it’s clear that this is the only path forward for me.”
Mewis became the talk of the town during summer of 2019, when she helped lift the United States Women’s team to a World Cup title. She played in six of seven matches and had two goals. 
In 2020, Mewis was voted the U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year. 
Then in 2021, the midfielder, along with her sister, Kristie, was a member of bronze medal winning team US at the Tokyo Olympics. She netted a hat trick in a 4-0 friendly victory over Colombia. 
Mewis graduated from Whitman-Hanson Regional High in 2010. 
Mewis out,
Sentnor in
While Mewis has called it a career, Hanson’s next soccer star has arrived in the big stage. 
Her name is Ally Sentnor. 
Sentnor, who graduated from Thayer Academy in 2021 before heading off to play at the University of North Carolina, was selected first overall by the Utah Royals in the 2024 National Women’s Soccer League Draft.

— Nathan Rollins

School panel previews FY ‘25 budget

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The School Committee had an early look at the fiscal 2025 budget on Wednesday, Jan. 10.
“I feel very comfortable that what I’m presenting here today is what the district needs next year,” Szymaniak said. “We are not adding any programs to the district next year.”
“This is a first presentation, so we all need to understand [that],” said Chair Beth Stafford.
Preliminary calculations put the fiscal 2025 budget – at this point – at $63,565,154. That is an increase of $3,079,996 or 5 percent over the current budget, as voted at town meetings of $60,485,158.
A $63.5 million budget would mean increases to the operating assessments of 11.2 percent for Whitman and 9.98 percent in Hanson. He also offered calculations on budget increases of 4, 3 and 2 percent [see page 3].
“I kind of want to call this a preview, like when you go to a movie, there’s a preview and I don’t know if this is going to be an action-thriller or, as we go forward, or a comedy or all of the above, but it’s budget time in Whitman-Hanson,” said Superintendent of Schools Jeff Szymaniak.
In a more serious tone, he described it as a pre-preview of what he will officially present to the School Committee on Wednesday, Feb. 7. He also noted he was invited by the Whitman Finance Committee to meet with them at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 6, he said that, while he will meet with them at that time he will not share the whole presentation that the School Committee will hear the following night.
“I’ll give them some data backing what I’m talking about today,” he said.
He has already met with administrators of both towns in November to discuss the budget outlook.
“We talked about formulating relationships with both towns and seeing where both towns were at,” he said. “Both TAs told me they were going to earmark a 5-percent increase of the assessment for next year, and I kind of looked at them and said, ‘That’s going to be kind of difficult for me, knowing that we’re coming off of [federal] ESSER [funds] and knowing our cost of living raises and steps and lanes as we move forward.’”
The budget is being drafted “rolls in everything that is in-district today –every person, every program, everything,” Szymaniak said. “It is a mirror image of what we have today.”
That includes all staff that were included in the budget through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) fund. While the Student Opportunities Act (SOA) is supposed to provide school districts with more money, Szymaniak said he does not know and can only “low-ball guesstimate” the amount for this budget presentation.
“We don’t want to over-shoot,” he said. “Last year, we over-shot in transportation reimbursement, this year we earmarked at 70 percent. If it’s up, it’s up, if it’s down, we’re not overbudgeting for it.”
The budget also maintains the current curriculum cycle of “highly instructional materials” while keeping the same number of staff hired to do instructional interventionists to help support all students, which is not only important for post-COVID, but for students on the whole.
In explaining how the cuts to get closer to the towns’ 5 percent outlook would affect the schools, Szymaniak emphasized that he did not intend to take anything out on anyone.
A 2-percent budget increase would mean a $63.325 million or an increase of $2,839,000, leaving a shortfall of $1,630,293 to be cut from the district’s budget. Under that budget, Whitman’s assessment would be 5.51 percent and 5.41 percent in Hanson.
A 3-percent increase – at $63,325,354 – would mean Szymaniak would have to reduce the general fund by $1,025,441, which would increase Whitman’s assessment by 7.59-percent increase to Whitman’s assessment and 7.11-percent increase for Hanson.
A 4-percent budget increase – at $63,325,154 – would mean a $420,000 cut and would increase Whitman’s assessment by 9.67 percent and 8.8 percent in Hanson.
“I show you these numbers because they’re real,” Szymaniak said, noting he is still hoping for state funds, but is not holding his breath.
“I understand that the pie is going to be divided and that is why we’re going to have conversations,” he said. “We will also look at it to make sure it is as efficient as possible while making sure our students have what they need.”
He also said he would not knock the towns because they have already provided a lot of what the schools need, but added those needs continue to grow and it costs more every year.
Committee member Fred Small asked how the past use of excess and deficiency funds as well as one-time funds from the towns have made a difference in the budget bottom line.
Member Dawn Byers noted that some of the increase was due to contractual obligations, but increases in expenses have also been seen.
“When I think of what you’re going to present, there’s a way to reflect what the contractual percentage increase is as a piece, while consumables would vary line-by-line,” she said.
Szymaniak said teaching applicants are also becoming hard to find.
Member Hillary Kniffen also suggested a breakdown of the increase in English Learner population, which has grown over the last few years, and the staff required to service that population.
Stafford also noted there are only three retirements planned this year, all of which are at the high school.
In other business, Christopher Szkutak, coordinator of the WHRHS after-school program, and the new middle school after-school program at WMS, briefed the committee.
“The high school, for many years, has had a successful program for kids who want to engage in some things after school – extra help, culinary [classes], all kinds of fun stuff, but engaged here until 4 p.m.,” Szymaniak said. “Last year, Chris took it upon himself to apply for a grant from the state to engage our middle schools.”
The district began the program at Whitman Middle School.
“Hopefully, this that grant opportunity will be open that we can do this at Hanson Middle School,” he said.
Szkutak said the federal 21st Century Grant program, administered by the Mass. Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), is focused on providing enrichment opportunities for students after school and ensuring there is equitable access to after-school programs for all students. There is no cost to students and transportation via late bus is available to students who need it.
“We want to make the after-school experience as equitable as possible for all students,” he said. “At the high school, we’ve had this program for at least 10 years and we have approximately 60 students that are enrolled.”
Culinary programs, a Community Connections Club which works on improving school climate, support classes for students re-taking MCAS exams and a World Cultures Club that brings newcomer students together with other students at school to blend and learn about each other.
W-H was only allowed to apply for a grant for one middle school at a time, and applied for WMS last year under an application for 65 students – they now have 160 students taking part. They are applying for Hanson this year.
The grants are for five years.
“We have a lot more interest and a lot more students involved than we expected, which is not a bad thing,” Szkutak said. “We had to expand to two late buses just leaving from Whitman Middle.”
There are nine different clubs open to students, with most students attending two days a week. The state’s guidelines aim for each student to take 90 hours a week of activities.
Ten WMS students spoke about the clubs they are involved in. A seventh-grader, Sophia, involved in Uplift described it as a safe space for girls to talk about issues they encounter at school, such as bullying, as well as lighter topics of skin care and makeup.
Other students spoke of their involvement in a musical theater program, as well as E-Sports Club, D&D Club and a Diversity in Tutoring program. Theater is the most popular club.
Szkutak said he is always looking for other funding sources and has a couple more grants in the pipeline to help expand the program’s reach.
Esports are a program that DESE “almost requires,” he said. There are scholarships available through it, and students are able to connect with one another.
“There’s teamwork, the social-emotional learning you get from working competitively, and the gaming club we offer at the high school is also during enrichment,” he said.
Unlike some other after-school programs, the grant-funded enrichment programs are not permitted to charge a fee for participation.

Task force takes on violations

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HANSON – The town is finding many hands make more efficient – if not lighter – work when it comes to enforcing codes and running recreational outlets.
The Select Board voted on Tuesday, Jan. 9 to create an Inspectional Services Task Force for code enforcement. It is not a committee, but several town officials working together in furtherance of their day-to-day jobs, Chair Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett said.
Fire Chief Robert O’Brien, Deputy Chief Charles Barends, Building Inspector Cary Glass, Health Agent Gil Amado and Green have been meeting regularly on Monday mornings to discuss code violations in town.
FitzGerald-Kemmett said it should not be limited to those officials as Conservation Agent Frank Schellenger or other officials might be included from time to time as their boards or commissions have jurisdiction.
“[It’s] mainly focusing on commercial/industrial code violations,” Green said. “We’ve found these discussions to be very helpful, beneficial – it’s the departments working together addressing complaints that are received and following up and making sure all our businesses are following all the codes – it’s been very helpful to go out to these businesses as the inspectional task force.”
She said they talk about solutions together and with business owners to ensure compliance.
“We would like the board to officially vote to accept this new Inspectional Services Task Force so that we could come up with a mission, some goals, provide the board with some reports of our progress …it allows us all to work together,” Green said.
Amado agreed the task force works well.
“We do have a lot of code violations in the town,” he said. “I think this will work out very well … maybe stop some of these things before they start.”
FitzGerald-Kemmett said the board has expressed a number of times in executive session how impressed they have been on the amount of progress Green has been able to make on some long-standing issues in town.
“It’s been very clear that, when you guys work together and you’re sharing that information, it’s so much more powerful in terms of enforcement and in terms of getting the message … resources and in terms of each of the enforcement disciplines feeling support and not feeling as though they’re on their own trying to … fight the windmills on their own,” she said. “It’s the best of Town Hall working together and I would love to see more of that happening on other things.”
The board also approved the drafting of a warrant article and budget to create the Hanson Recreation Commission.
Vice Chair Joe Weeks had presented an outline to the board to establish some form of recreation committee and what it might be and how the committee would work, how facilities would be maintained and around overlap with other committees and commissions.
“This is just the beginning, it’s just to start the process,” he said. “I don’t know if we specifically want to name things like High Street Park oversight in this, although it might be a good idea, I just want to give a layout at first.”
He suggested a five-person committee that reviews policy, programs, procedures and recommends fee structures to the Select Board, when applicable, with committee input welcomed. He also drafted mission and vision statements to be discussed by the board.
Weeks asked if a committee should be given specific oversight over certain jurisdictions like High Street.
“I guess this is the starting point to figure out what we want to do,” he said.
FitzGerald-Kemmett agreed that the High Street Committee was formed to form the blueprint of the park location [at the former Plymouth County Hospital grounds] but, in doing so, she added, a lot of programming questions have cropped up.
“I don’t have a problem with giving them programming responsibilities at High Street,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “Where it gets weird is [whether] they would be responsible for programming at Camp Kiwanee or working with the Camp Kiwanee Commission.”
Camp Kiwanee Chair Frank Milisi said it would be a cooperative working arrangement.
“That’s one of the joys of a town department, we will work together with you for literally no cost,” he said.
FitzGerald-Kemmett pointed out that it would take a Town Meeting warrant article to create a new Recreation Committee.
“I think this is exactly what I’ve always heard people saying that we need,” she said. “We’ve just never to put pen to paper for it.”
Board member Ann Rein said she was a bit confused about the difference between a commission and a committee. The rest of the board agreed that they did not know the difference, either.
High Street Committee member Alex Stewart said he Googled the terms.
“A committee operates as an internal regulation while a commission is more external,” he said.
“So it’s really a [recreation] commission,” FitzGerald-Kemmett adding the change on paperwork could be easily made.
Milisi said a budget line item for any commission would also be needed in drafting a warrant article.
“You will need money in that account to run those programs,” he said. “That’s the one thing that we weren’t [prepared for] at Camp Kiwanee. You need money for everything. Recreation doesn’t come free.”
FitzGerald-Kemmett suggested some coordination with the Cultural Council, which is funded through the state, the Library and Senior Center.
The Board approved Treasurer-Collector Lisa Clark’s employment contract agreement, which compromises on the use of vacation time. The position comes with a total of 25 days’ vacation time, Green said.
“What we thought was a good compromise on this would be to break the vacation accrual into two separate times,” she said. “Basically, on July 1, 2024, she would receive 12.5 days and then on Jan.1, 2025, she would receive 12.5 days. This way, she’s not being front-loaded the full amount … and there is a clause in the contract that she would be allowed to carry over up to 10 days.”
The Board approved a further modification suggested by Weeks that an additional five days could be carried over, if necessary.
The Select Board had been concerned that someone might use the month of vacation time and then leave the position.
The three-year contract runs through to Dec. 31, 2026.

Hanson eyes a full-time ACO

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HANSON – Town Administrator Lisa Green told the Select Board on Tuesday, Jan 9, that they should seriously consider increasing the Animal Control budget to $72,000 for fiscal 2025 – to include a full-time animal control officer, while supplying vehicle equipment to lift heavy animals, such as deer, from the roads and reopening the town’s animal shelter as a temporary holding facility.
That would be an increase of $43,034 from $28,966 for salary and costs ($2,500 for expenses; $800 for supplies; $1,800 for vehicles, none of which have ever been used) with some expenses reduced and others increased ($2,500 for supplies, $15,000 for building repair, $5,000 for utilities, and $5,000 for expenses). Green said those expenses could be adjusted if some supplies and labor were donated.
The Select Board voted to support a warrant on the matter and to explore the placement of the ACO under the auspices of the police department.
“This is not a want, this is now a requirement,” Green said.
The reason – tremendous growth of housing stock now under construction in town and the often-accompanying problem of abandoned pets when tenants move or are evicted.
“Hanson is growing tremendously and Mass. General Laws state that each town must have an animal control officer,” Green said. “We can’t ignore it anymore.”
There are now four apartment buildings going in on Main Street. Liberty Wood will have 56 units; Station Landing will have 49 units; Dakota Partners, which has been open for a year, has 48 units; Cushing Trail will have 40 units, there are nine new houses going in on County Road – a total of 206 housing units.
She said that prior to the opening of developer Dakota Partners’ Depot Station apartment complex, abandoned animals had not been a focus of the town. When there was a need, they have used the Lakeville animal shelter for the last few years.
Hanson has been sharing animal control services with other communities, which has worked well until recently, Green said, calling it a “complex area” because of the range of calls that come in, from animals of all sizes hit by vehicles to dog bites or attacks, bear sightings or livestock in crisis.
“It’s a 24/7 job because they’re on call,” she said. “Animal Control officers generally don’t patrol because, basically, we don’t have the resources to do that.”
ACO Joe Kenney, who has been working with Hanson since 2019, has done so on a part-time, 16-hour per week basis. Hanson does not provide any type of equipment for the work or resources for where to put carcasses or shelter confiscated animals or the protective apparel he might need.
The vehicle that was being used for animal control has been used recently by the Highway Department and will be redeployed to Kenney’s use.
“With the arrival of these multi-unit facilities, we’re facing new challenges,” she said, citing the example of evicted tenants. “They leave their pets behind. … It is, under the law, the town’s responsibility to remove that animal.”
Making a problem more difficult is the fact that most area shelters do not accept cats, so Kenney has been bringing abandoned felines to his home until he can find a shelter to take it in.
“We can’t have our animal control officer bringing these animals to his house,” Green said, citing liability to the town if he was bitten. He also ends up bringing abandoned or confiscated dogs to his house if Lakeville’s shelter is full. Hanson has an animal shelter, but it has been closed since 2012. Hanson pays Lakeville a rate per day for the time a dog is kept there, and that town is discussing raising the cost to $250 per dog per day when they do have room.
“Not to mention he’s not getting paid for taking care of the animal at his home,” Chair Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett said.
Kenney said most of Hanson’s dogs are usually claimed because they are someone’s pet – at times before he has completed the 40-minute drive to Lakeville. Farm animals for which he is called cannot go to Lakeville anyway.
“I think the time has come, as the town grows, to seriously look at reopening that shelter,” Green said.
She has increased the ACO salary in the fiscal 2025 budget and allotted funds to reopen the animal shelter, working with South Shore Tech to have students fix it up, as well as funding the supplies Kenney needs.
“He is an excellent animal control officer, he knows the laws, he works very well with the people, he loves animals and I think we need to pay attention to this, increase the budgets, reopen the shelter and possibly partner with Abington,” Green said.
Abington also lacks a shelter, she noted adding that she has already reached out to the Abington town manager to perhaps begin discussing a partnership toward sharing costs.
Most South Shore towns either contract out, work with Boston Field Services or partner with other towns for animal control, but Green said those arrangements do not always work out.
“It has not historically worked for us,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “We’ve done Whitman, East Bridgewater, now Lakeville, and there’s always some issue.”
She also said that, since Kenney has been the ACO, she has heard very few, if any complaints about responsiveness or any of the problems the town has had in the past and that, compared to others in the region, he is not paid appropriately.
“And yet, here he is, doing his job and not complaining about it and doing it well,” she said.
FitzGerald-Kemmett asked for an estimate of the cost to rehabilitate the shelter building an whether ARPA money could be used. The ACO salary is currently $20,566 for the year, Green said. A full-time position would be budgeted for $41,000 for the increased hours.
Green said she will look into the ARPA question, and that Town Hall facilities staffer Charlie Baker is gathering quotes to repair leaks in the roof; it should cost about $350 to clear overgrowth at the rear of the building; she is looking into having SST remove kennel fencing and gates to restore and rustproof them; and is calculating utility costs.
“I have put a budget of $15,000 in for rehabilitation of the building,” Green said. “What’s good about animal shelters is there’s a lot of interest from volunteers … so we’re reaching out to different resources for helping get that animal shelter back up and running.”

Partial building collapse probed

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WHITMAN — Chief Timothy Clancy reports that the Whitman Fire Department responded to a partial collapse in a vacant building on South Avenue on Wednesday Jan. 10.
A 911 call reported a collapse at a one-story building at 356 South Ave. at 9:32 a.m., according to Clancy. Upon arrival, firefighters found that a portion of the front wall had fallen over. No injuries were reported. That portion of the building is vacant and unoccupied. It is attached to a two-story building, which was not damaged. 
Firefighters quickly secured the building. National Grid and the building inspector were notified. Crews cleared the scene at 10:13 a.m. Traffic was not affected. The cause of the collapse remains under investigation. 

WMS interest rate lowered

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WHITMAN – The town received some good financial news regarding potential interest rates on borrowing for construction of the new Whitman Middle School.
Initial interest rate calculations of 5.5 percent for borrowing, discussed during the November Town Meeting, now stand at 4 percent, Town Administrator Mary Beth Carter announced on Tuesday, Jan. 9 Select Board meeting.
“That’s some good news there,” Board member Shawn Kain said.
“A little good news there,” she agreed.
Carter said that she has met recently with W-H Director of Business and Finance John Stanbrook and Lynn Welch from Unibank Fiscal Advisory Services, W-H Treasurer David Leary, Town Treasurer-Collector Ken Lytel and Assistant Town Administrator Kathleen Keefe to discuss the preliminary WMS borrowing plan.
“The initial plan is for the district to go out and borrow $6 million in approximately the month of March 2024 in the form of a bond anticipation note,” Carter said. “We’re short-term borrowing.”
In Fiscal 2025, the interest of about $240,000 will be due with the estimated impact to the median house with an assessed value of $448,800 in 2024 will be $42.91 per $1,000 of assessed value.
“That’s the impact because we’ll just be paying the interest on that [bond anticipation note],” she said.
In March 2025, the district intends to permanently finance the $6 million BAN that rolls out to a bond for 29 years – because they do not want to go any longer than 30 years total – and they will borrow an additional $60 million in the form of a bond for permanent financing, she explained.
“The BAN will be rolled over for one year, we’ll have a 29-year term as a bond and then the new bond will be straight for 30 years for the $60 million,” Carter said.
In fiscal 2026, the full principal and interest will be due on the bond issuance amount of $66 million, with estimated impact to the median house would be $867.14. In fiscal 2027, the balance of the remaining district share and 5 percent of the MSBA hold-back amount [until the project’s completion] will be borrowed with a BAN of an additional $10 million, or $76 million total.
“That [$867.14 for the median house] is lower than we anticipated, because … Stanbrook, when he had to put an interest rate out there, said 5.5 percent,” Carter said. “They’re calculating these numbers right now at 4 percent. But I can’t say or stress enough that these numbers are fluid. It’s ever-changing … but right now, that’s the plan.”
The “big hit” for taxpayers would be in 2026.
The first full bond amount in 2026 is now $867.14 (based on current valuation of $448,800 for a median home). It later goes up to the highest amount of $931.36 after the final $10 million BAN is taken, and then it does decrease, dropping to $436.26 in the last year, she said stressing the numbers that far ahead are just estimates.
What’s in a name?
In other business, the board voted 4-0, with Vice Chair Dan Salvucci abstaining to forward a proposed amendment to the Bylaw Committee, replacing the words “Board of Selectmen” with “Select Board” wherever they appear.
“It seems we’re just getting rid of the old ways of doing things and all of a sudden just changing things,” he said. “I’m just curious as to why that’s happening.”
Board member Laura Howe, while agreed Salvucci’s opinion, but as the female member of the board, she also understands the change.
“I never had any problem [with ‘Board of Selectmen’], but I think they call it progress,” she said. “We’re supposed to move forward, and the next person sitting in this seat might prefer that, so why not get it out of the way now?”
“I don’t understand why things are changing in today’s world,” Salvucci said.
“Yeah, but they are,” Kowalski replied.
Board member Justin Evans explained that the change stemmed from the Mass. Selectmen’s Association renaming itself the Mass. Select Board Association in 2020.
“Other towns have really picked this up,” he said. “Hanson did it a couple of years ago. It was on our Town Meeting warrant last year, but we didn’t have the Planning Board hearing, which are required to amend the Zoning Bylaws, because we’re the licensing authority on some of the Zoning Bylaws. We had to pass over that at Town Meeting.”
The vote begins that process to get it back before Town Meeting.
Evans also pointed out that there have been nine female Select Board members – Howe being the ninth – in Whitman since 1975.
“I will abstain,” Salvucci said. “I’m old-fashioned.”

Cutler chosen for exec branch position

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HANSON – State Rep. Josh Cutler, D-Duxbury, is leaving his seat in the General Court to take a position with the Healey Administration as undersecretary for apprenticeship, work-based learning and policy in the Executive Office of Labor and Workplace Development.
The move clears the way for a race to fill the open seat this year, and area candidates are already expressing interest in, or intention to, run.
“It’s been the honor of my career to serve the residents of the 6th Plymouth District in the Mass. Legislature for the past 11 years,” Cutler wrote in a statement posted on his Facebook page and circulated to supporters last week. “This is a job that I have truly loved! So it is with mixed emotions, but a grateful heart that I write to share that I will be stepping down as a state representative.”
The 6th Plymouth District includes Duxbury, Pembroke and portions of Hanson and Halifax.
Cutler described the new position as a “great opportunity to advance the workforce issues I’ve championed in the Legislture as House chairman of the Labor Committee these past two terms.
“Rep. Culter has been a tremendous partner in advancing workforce development, and we are excited that he will continue his leadership in our administration as we work to grow important programs like registered apprenticeship,” said Gov. Maura Healey in a statement on the appointment. “I’m confident that Rep. Cutler will continue to support Massachusetts residents and businesses in this role and add great value to the team.”
As part of his responsibilities, Cutler will oversee the Division of Apprentice Standards including the expansion of Registered Apprenticeship, the growth of work-based learning career pathways in partnership with the Executive Office of Education, and the Department of Economic Research and other policy efforts for the secretariat such as future of work, caregiving in the workplace, and more.
“Josh Cutler has been and will continue to be an advocate of workforce development initiatives. He has been very supportive of South Shore Tech’s efforts to modernize our school through MSBA,” said the school’s Superintendent/Director Dr. Thomas J. Hickey. “Furthermore, Josh understands that South Shore Tech is a key player in workforce training after hours and I know he will continue to be a strong partner on the Career Technical Initiative and other programs that strengthen our local economy.”
Hanson Town Administrator Lisa Green expressed both disappointment about hearing about Cutler’s decision, as well as hope for a good relationship with a new representative.
“I am excited to join the Healey-Driscoll Administration and look forward to working with Secretary Jones as we implement policies and programs to help support our workers and enable our businesses to thrive,” said Cutler who is the Chairman of the House Labor and Workforce Development Committee. “I am grateful to the Sixth Plymouth District for giving me the honor to represent them in the House for the past decade and look forward to supporting them and communities across the state in this new role.”
“Of course, he’s going on to an important position and it’s a loss in a legislative partner for the town of Hanson,” Green said. “But we look forward to who his successor will be and establishing a great new relationship with that legislative partner when they come on board. We wish Josh Cutler all the best of luck.”
According to Hanson Select Board Chair Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett, both Ken Sweezey – the Republican who ran against Cutler in the last election – and Becky Colletta, Cutler’s friend and law partner, have individually informed her they are running for the seat.
“From the moment that Josh declared his candidacy [in his first campaign for the State House] I have supported him, and I’ve never regretted it,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “I’ve been nothing but grateful for his partnership and his support of our community all these years. He’s gotten us all kinds of grants, he understands Hanson, he advocates for us and I just hope the next person that we get does half as much as Josh – he’s been amazing. I’ve got nothing but positive things to say about him.”
Sweezey has already submitted a candidate’s announcement to the Whitman-Hanson Express [See stoy above].
“Becky Colletta is running, and I texted Ken Sweezy yesterday and he confirmed to me that he is running,” she said Monday.
“I want to thank Rep. Cutler for his years of service – but I truly believe the residents of this district are looking for a new vision and fresh leadership that more accurately reflects the values of our neighbors on the South Shore,” Sweezey stated in his announcement. “I promised a common-sense conservative approach during the campaign in 2022 and I reaffirm that commitment now. I will be a representative for everyone – which includes many of us who feel they have not been represented on Beacon Hill for far too long.”
“I’m excited about the opportunity to serve the people of Duxbury, Pembroke, Hanson, Halifax, and Marshfield,” Sweezey continued. “Let’s get started!”
Town Clerk Elizabeth Sloan, however, said she had been unaware that Cutler would not be running again and that no nomination papers had yet been pulled for the race.
Cutler’s friend and supporter Joe Pelligra said that, as he understands it, the office change will be a slow transition.
“I think it will be over the next five months,” he said. “He’s just not going to run again, which leaves the door open to a lot of competitors.”
Pelligra said Cutler felt that being offered the position in the Healey administration was something he couldn’t pass up.
“He’s been in the Ways and Means for labor and workforce development in his job duties as state Rep., so this ties right into what he’s doing.”
Cutler was under the weather last weekend and unable to return calls for comment, referring press inquiries to his statement.
“I leave with warm feelings for my colleagues on both sides of the aisle,” Cutler said. “I know that our delegation will continue to work together in a bipartisan way. It’s never been about party affiliation for me, but always about working together to help people and solve problems. … Thank you for your trust, friendship and the honor of allowing me to serve!”
President of the Massachusetts Business Roundtable J.D. Chesloff and the President of the Massachusetts Building Trades Union Frank Callahan have both supported Cutler’s appointment, as has President of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO Chrissy Lynch.
“During his time in the legislature, Chair Cutler has been a great leader, partner, and advocate for our workforce and has championed efforts to grow and expand opportunities for residents across the state,” Lynch said. “While we will miss his leadership and presence on the Labor and Workforce Development Committee, I know he will work just as ferociously for our workers in his new role within the Healey-Driscoll Administration.”
Cutler is a six-term state representative and House Chair of the Labor and Workforce Development Committee. He is a member of the Mass. STEM Advisory Council and recently served as co-chair of the Future of Work Commission and the WorkAbility Subcommittee on disability employment. He also co-chairs the Coastal Caucus.
In the House, Cutler has been a champion for workforce development, vocational education, and career center funding. He is lead sponsor of the wage transparency act, disability hiring tax credit, and apprenticeship standards and re-entry works legislation.
Cutler was a recipient of the Thomas M. Menino Public Service Award for his work on disability employment policy. He has also been recognized as Legislator of the Year by the Mass. Developmental Disabilities Council, the Association of Developmental Disabilities Providers, the Mass. Mental Health Counselors Association, and the Plymouth-Bristol Central Labor Council.
Cutler holds a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, and a juris doctor degree from Suffolk Law School. He is also an attorney and the author of two books on local history.

Holiday salutes for fallen at Arlington

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Whitman Marine Corps veteran James Murphy recently took part in what has become an annual Christmas tradition – traveling to Arlington National Cemetery to decorate the graves of the nation’s fallen and veterans interred there for the holidays as part of the Wreaths Across America program.
He takes photos of the event to share with Express readers. Most of this year’s photo were taken on Saturday, Dec. 16, but he returned Sunday, Dec. 17 to visit the burial site of an old friend, who was buried there last June. Paul Starbile was a fellow Marine veteran who was awarded two Purple Hearts, and a Bronze Star during fighting at the Battle of Khe Sanh in Vietnam.
“We were members of the Boston Crusaders Senior Drum & Bugle Corps for many years back in the day,” Murphy recalled. Starbile is buried in Section 78-headstone 794.
He also sought out Travis Manion and Brendan Looney, who have have been the subject of several books. Both became close friends at the Naval Academy. One became a Marine, the other chose the Navy. One died in Iraq and the other in Afghanistan. They are interred in Section 60.
Staff Sgt. William Joseph Callahan, USMC was a local resident, graduated from Whitman-Hanson Regional High School. (Section 60). Truman Crawford was the director of the Marine Drum & Bugle Corps at 8th & I in Washington, D.C. (Section 36).
“I just took a lot of pictures at Arlington National Cemetery,” he recalled. “It looks beautiful with the wreaths placed on the headstones. It’s a special place, words are hard to describe the range of emotions while walking the grounds of the cemetery. I really don’t think most Americans realize or they take for granted the sacrifices that were made. Just my opinion.
“I will keep doing this every December as long as I can,” he said.

Hanson’s newest Eagle Scout

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Hanson Scout Jack Rasa become an Eagle Scout, taking part in his Eagle Court of Honor along with seven other Scouts, Saturday, Jan. 6 in Hanover. To attain that rank, 14 merit badges are required, as well as a minimum of seven others, totaling 21, before the age of 18, and they must complete an Eagle project. Jack has 60 merit badges. Above, he lights candles represent the Spirit of Scouting during the ceremony. His parents Pam, left, and Rose Rasa, applaud after his Eagle rank becomes official. See more photos, page 6.
Photos by Carol Livingstone

SST unveils FY 2025 budget

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HANOVER – An early forecast for the South Shore Tech fiscal 2025 budget proposal, which increases by 5.62 percent – or $16,139,669 – was presented to the School Committee on Thursday, Dec. 20.
Breaking down the increase, said Superintendent/Director Dr. Thomas J. Hickey explained that the operating budget itself is up 3.88 percent (or $320,000), with capital expenses up 0.92 percent ($180,000) and district election costs for the MSBA project will raise the budget another 0.81 percent. Of the MSBA costs, $125,000 will come from excess and deficiency to avoid impacting local assessments.
“If this wasn’t the year to budget for this election, the overall budget increase would be about 4.8 percent of which about 3.88 percent is to operate the school house,” he said.
The ballot question for the MSBA building project is being planned for late January 2025. If it is passed, borrowing would begin in 2026. A preferred schematic plan – based on a preferred planned enrollment goal – will be presented to the MSBA later this month. The MSBA vote would come in August.
“I want to be able to lift up the hood on this,” he said. “We bring our communities one assessment number … Whatever we need, whether it’s a piece of capital or just running the schoolhouse, it all funnels down into one number.”
Hickey said he also thinks the district will be able to procure new buses using a combination of stabilization and existing funds, putting money toward a second year’s payment. The district had leased a dozen propane buses in 2017 and paid the lease off early, saving money and enabling the district, through equity in the buses to enter a successor lease. Last summer the district had some surplus revenue allowing the purchase of three buses for about $435,000.
“We have said goodbye to the last of the diesel buses that were 10-plus years old,” he said. Even with Marshfield joining the district, Hickey said they should be able to delay the need for more buses by a year.
The specifics of how that assessment breaks down by town will be available at a planned Jan. 25 School Committee meeting after the governor’s budget comes out.
The December budget presentation is traditional for the district.
“We are a little bit earlier than some communities because our regional agreement calls for us to have a certified budget 45 days before our earliest district Town Meeting, Hickey. “Historically, we have at least one town that schedules Town Meeting for early April, so that triggers a budget certification in February, preceded by a budget hearing in January.
SST uses a “zero-based” budget formula.
“While there are fixed costs, every department head and cost-center supervisor is asked to look at their budget with fresh eyes and focus on the year ahead and also on long-range capital planning, but do not simply add a few percent onto last year’s number,” Hickey said. “If we all did that, there would never be enough money for the things that pop up.”
Hickey said the district is monitoring Chapter 70 aid and the effect of changes in state regulations regarding non-resident students, while in-district student enrollment increases with the addition of Marshfield, raises the question of how a drop-off based on non-resident kids graduating in June will impact revue.
The inflation rate being used to calculate state aid is under 2 percent, raising the question does a lower rate mean the member communities may have to absorb more of the costs.
“Does the state aid match the drop in [non-resident] revenue?” he said. If it does not, there is a revenue gap that must be addressed either by adjusting the budget down or pass more costs to the communities.
“We will know what the right answer is as soon as we see the governor’s budget, the estimated state aid – and I’m prepared with a Plan B if there’s a gap,” Hickey said, indicating budget cuts would be the most likely approach.
The budget also aims to move $137,407 in personnel salaries funded by grants into the budget. New personnel eyed in the budget include $75,000 for a physical education/health teacher and $40,000 for a medical assisting teacher budgeted as an aide position. The $40,000 would be paid by a Perkins grant, should it come through.
Among the accomplishments which are always included in the budget presentation: SST now has the highest enrollment in its history with a strong program placement and student application pool, outside funding has been secured via Rethinking Grading, Skills Capital and a recent $2.1 million CTI grant. There has also been progress with the MSBA project and the district has expanded to include Marshfield as of July 1, and programming for student supports have been expanded, Hickey said.
“We are killing it on state grants,” Hickey said. “We’re doing a fantastic job of showing the world that we thrive after hours and we’re serving our day kids and our nighttime adults with great distinction.”
Enrollment trends show Whitman going up by 14 students and Hanson going down by eight from last year’s enrollment. Debt service is based on a town’s average Oct. 1 enrollment in the three years preceding a debt authorization and debt amounts are fixed.
Right now, the debt service number is zero.
Goals ahead include the NEASC accreditation in 2026, expansion of community and culture goals of expanded workforce development, creation of a Student Equity Club and strong student participation in athletics. The MSBA process is the main facilities goal and implementation of a grading initiative is another instructional goal.