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COVID places strain on food pantries

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Whitman and Hanson food pantries, may be seeing greater demand for their services due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, but residents who can have been pitching in to help all summer — and those efforts have been continuing.

Whitman’s Boy Scouts have been the latest to contribute.

Cub Scout Packs 59 and 22, and Boy Scout Troop 22, collected 8,000 pounds of food this month to help the pantry’s need to help fight food insecurity in town, according to Director Bruce Perry.

“This amount raised was the most ever in a Scout Drive and it was a result of all the hard work by the scouts and their families, and also to the generosity of the residents of Whitman,” he said noting it was done almost entirely through social media and word of mouth. “It is truly amazing how the Whitman community comes through when asked.”

Perry said the COVID-safe collection yielded twice as much as last year’s donations. People were asked to drop off donations at the Congregational Church.

“It was fantastic because our resources from St. Vincent DePaul in Stoughton has pretty much [dried up],” Perry said. “We haven’t been able to get anything out of there, because they didn’t do any of the Thanksgiving or Christmas baskets like they usually do.

Whitman’s pantry typically pays $10 per meal with a turkey and all the fruits and vegetables required for a holiday meal.

“They didn’t have the funds, for one thing, I don’t think,” he said this week. “They just said they weren’t going to be able to do it. I think it’s also because of the high demand coming out of Greater Boston Food Bank.”

Perry said that when St. Vincent DePaul couldn’t promise anything to client communities this year, they decided to ask local pantries to try to meet their needs on their own.

“One thing that helped us out was the Wahlberg Fund,” he said. “They helped us out this year with a lot of the things that St. Vincent DePaul usually helps with.”

The Wahlberg Fund supplied 100 turkeys, fruit and vegetables.

“This is the second year they’ve helped us out,” Perry said. “I think a lot of people had planned on another $1,200 [in federal stimulus money] coming to them and, unfortunately, it hasn’t so we have seen a slight increase in the number of people that need help — and not just one-time help, these are folks that have been coming back the last six or eight months since COVID started.”

The pantries in both towns were also faced with the COVID-related cancelation of annual summer fundraising events such as the McGuiggan’s Pub 5K, a Freetown triathlon where pantry volunteers worked in exchange for a donation, a K of C golf tournament and other fundraisers — which meant a loss of between $12,000 to $16,000.

Claire LaMattina’s “Whitman Strong” sign project brought in $15,500 for the pantry. A similar lawn sign project raised about $3,000 for the Hanson Pantry, according to Director Christine Cameron.

“We’re in very good shape,” she said. “Our contributions have been phnomenal, we have huge community support.”

While they are seeing some new people coming in for assistance, Cameron said the client numbers have remained fairly steady.

“Somebody up there is watching over us,” Perry said. “This was the perfect year for her to do something like this, because it made up for the lost revenue that we usually get from all those fundraisers as well as the number of people we help.”

Personal donations of all or part of stimulus checks from other residents has also helped.

The pantry will be giving out 125 holiday meal baskets and has donated close to $5,000 in gift cards to the Whitman Area Toy Drive, who also refer families in need to the pantry.

The pantry usually raises about half its donations over the last three months of the year.

At Thanksgiving, students at Whitman’s Louise A. Conley Elementary School raised $584 for the Whitman Food Pantry and $567.64 for Whitman Animal Control, according to district officials. The funds were matched by the school’s Parent Advisory Council (PAC), meaning each organization received over $1,100.

In addition, one of the school’s longtime friends, Sandy McCarthy, presented the school with yet another matching donation from her company, AEW Capital Management, to add to the gift.

The school’s typical Thanksgiving celebration needed to be cancelled this year, but in its place the school held a special fundraiser, “A Dollar for Dinner, a Penny for Paws,” to raise money for the projects.

“I am so humbled by the generosity of our community, but even more so by the commitment and feeling behind it,” Principal Downey said. “Our students made beautiful cards that were delivered to both the Food Pantry and to the Senior Center. They worked diligently to make something special, something that anyone would be honored to receive. This is what we are all about. Yes, we want our kids to work hard every day, but more importantly we want them to be good neighbors, good friends, and good citizens.”

This month students at Duval Elementary School collected 500 pounds of food to donate to the Whitman Food Pantry for Christmas baskets. Staff from the food pantry picked up the donation at the school Friday, Dec. 11. Several Student Council members assisted Whitman Food Pantry staff with Friday’s pick-up, helping sort and load the shelf-stable food onto a truck. Those members include Joshua Ahola, Jackson Barbosa, Meriem Fleury, Izobel Gilchrist, Alayna Loring, Tristan Lacandula, Isabella Mateus, Sabrina Spadorcia and Maxwell Sarhanis.

The Holiday Food Drive is an annual tradition at the school.

“Seeing as how most of these kids are only in-person two days a week, we were hoping we would still be able to donate a fair amount to the food pantry this year,” said PTO parent Kimberly Sarhanis. “But we should have known that the Duval community would not let this difficult year get in the way, and instead they pulled out an amazing, generous donation of 500 pounds of food.”

Area businesses, such as North Easton Savings Bank, have also supported the pantry.

Distribution is done through consultations over the phone with clients, who then pick up the meals at a proper social distance outside the pantry. No one is allowed inside.

Whitman and Hanson students active in the WHRHS Key Club hosting a Food Drive after Thanksgiving to support the Hanson and Whitman Food Pantries.

The Key Club is partnering with the National Honor Society, Food for Thought Club, and the nonprofit organization Project 351. Their goal is to stock the pantries before the December holidays, so people/families will have access to the food they need to enjoy these times. Food items may be dropped off until Dec. 18 to the Student Dining area, the gym and the main office. Cash or gift cards to local businesses should be put in an envelope and brought to either Mrs. Edkin’s or Mr. Szkutak’s rooms.

Whitman holds 20th annual Toy Drive

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The 20th annual Whitman Area Toy Drive is working hard to gather donations, as they are weeks away from the Christmas holiday in a year of apprehension and doubt.

“We want these kids to have something under the Christmas tree … and COVID is not going to stop Christmas in Whitman,” said a determined President of the Whitman Area Toy Drive Donnie Westhaver.

Along with Vice President and co founder Jane Plasse, Westhaver said the organization is unwavering in their mission to meet the need of families in Whitman.

Seeing the community prevail over this year’s health and financial challenges of 2020 has been heartwarming for organizers as they look toward another drive-by toy drop off  this week being hosted in Abington to benefit the Whitman Area  Toy Drive. The community is encouraged to provide a toy for those in need.

The call to lend a hand in filling Christmas wishes is being answered as members of the community have amped up donations.

On Sunday, Dec. 6, Whitman Police held their sixth Annual Stuff-A-Cruiser benefit to assist the toy drive outside at the Whitman police station — filling nine cruisers in total throughout the day. Sunday’s turnout was larger than years past.

School Resource Officer Kevin Harrington extended a thank you to everyone that brought toys to their annual Stuff-A-Cruiser. He also thanked his partners in the event Whitman Officer David Hickey, Plasse and Westhaver for what they do for the community.

“Without people like you those in need would not be able to provide a Merry Christmas for their families. A big thank you to the Whitman community for your generosity during these trying times!” Harrington expressed in a social media post.

The community support is unwavering even though the changes of this year’s drive started with “mild concern,” Westhaver said.

Toll booth fundraisers normally set up in the Town Center had been cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions placing a deficit of $3,500 that the non-profit would have had at this time in December compared to past years, according to Westhaver.

Other donors have stepped in to help close that gap.

This week, Plasse and Westhaver were presented a “sizeable” donation from North Eastern Savings Bank on Bedford Street helping to offset the loss of other fund raisers that had been successful in past years but had to be cancelled this year.

We are concerned with the safety of all staff included (due to CDC regulations) we find that this is the safest way to continue the toy drive this year for the families to do their pick up via a drive through process, he said.

They are asking that residents be patient as they are answering as many direct messages and phone calls daily.

“We are taking a wish list for the children and we are going to do the best we can. We cannot allow parents to come in to the pavilion like in years past to pick out or handle the toys,” said Westhaver.

The plan, as in almost all events is to use the drive through method of distribution.

As of right now  there will be announced times for pick up as details become  finalized, organizers are asking for those in need to privately direct messages on Facebook to their  Whitman Area Toy Drive page.

In the meantime, the toy drive is also seeing people helped in the past, stepping up to give back.

Westhaver’s heart was warmed on Sunday after receiving toys from a woman who had been down on her luck several years ago.

She had received help from the toy drive and was giving back to help others now that she is back on her feet, he said.

Having a moment such as this was exactly why they continue to do the toy drive, he added.

An easier modification that can also assist the toy drive directly is a new Venmo account; reducing contact for people who wish to donate to cash orders but are socially distancing from outside events. Cash was used online for the Black Friday sales and free delivery specials allowing for increase in momentum as the shelves are expanding each day.

Residents are reminded Marcello’s sub shop, and Duval’s Pharmacy has a toy drop box as well as the main lobby at the Whitman police station.

Westhaver also commended the continued work of the Food pantry of Whitman St. Vincent De Paul who they work closely with in providing holiday meals.   A giving tree at the Holy Ghost church in Whitman is also a direct benefit to the Toy drive.

Abington Colony Cares for the Community located at 277 Washington Street on Dec. 11 from 5-8 is hosting a toy drive-up -drop off.  

Santa’s helpers will be outdoors with boxes excepting food pantry (non perishable) donations and unwrapped toys.

Some recent trends for tweens include LED lights in new decorating fads for bedrooms.  Westhaver said there are also requests for crafts, sketch pads, art supplies and gift cards to local businesses, nails salons, and coffee shop treats.

Whitman vets salute Pearl Harbor Day

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WHITMAN — Usually, Marine Corps veteran Jim Murphy can be found each December placing holiday wreaths on the graves of fallen servicemen and women at Arlington National Cemetery.

This year, however, the response to the COVID-19 pandemic has limited access to the cemetery to military personnel to perform that honor as America marks the 79th anniversary of the Japanese attack on the United States military forces at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, leading to America’s entry into World War II.

Instead, Murphy attended a brief ceremony at the Whitman American Legion Post 22 in Whitman.

While the ceremony lasted only about five minutes, the solemn occasion was just as heart-felt for participants as if it had been a parade had taken place.

Color guards and honor guards from the Legion and Whitman VFW posts rendered salute to the fallen, while prayers were offered, “Taps” was played and a ceremonial rifle volley was fired.

Post Commander Walter Aylward offered a brief speech and participants then attended a breakfast reception inside the Post.

During the attack on Dec. 7, 1941, 2,403 service members and civilians who were killed during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. A further 1,178 people were injured in the attack, which permanently sank two U.S. Navy battleships (the USS Arizona and the USS Utah) and destroyed 188 aircraft, according to the National Park Service website.

This years Pearl Harbor Day Commemoration’s theme, “Above and Beyond the Call,” represents a milestone of its own, as the first Dec. 7 commemoration to follow the nationwide commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the end of WWII.

Hanson OKs de-regionalization bid specs

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HANSON — The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday, Dec. 8 voted to approve revised language in the solicitation of quotes for a de-regionalization feasibility study.

The board asked Town Administrator John Stanbrook to obtain three quotes for the work.

“I’m trying to get some feedback on what you think,” Stanbrook said. “Do you want me to include more [specifications], do you want me to take things out? It’s pretty much discussion time.”

Selectman Wes Blauss said the proposal looked good to him, but said he was curious about how three bids could be found.

Requirements that bidders demonstrate proof of work on prior school de-regionalization studies — including work on five in the last five years, and a list of three districts served in the Commonwealth — were also questioned by Selectman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett.

“I’m just not really sure that many people have done de-regionalization studies,” she said. “I just didn’t want to hamstring ourselves. Clearly, we want somebody to demonstrate that they’ve done this before … but I would ask maybe asking the board to maybe put a little bit of flexible language in there so we don’t hamstring ourselves and don’t end up with nobody applying.”

Selectman Matt Dyer suggested amending the wording to reflect that preference would be given to firms demonstrating such a track record, rather than requiring it of all applicants. The board agreed.

Bids would be opened with the aim of awarding a contract on Jan. 8, 2021. A preliminary report for any contracted firm would be due by May 1, which raised questions about whether that provides sufficient time for a final report by June 30.

“We don’t want to extend the date and then have someone say, ‘Great, we’ve got seven months, we can take our time with this,” Selectmen Chairman Kenny Mitchell said. “We want to create a sense of urgency with this.”

Mitchell said any need for deadline extensions could involve an application process of its own.

Selectman Jim Hickey reminded the board that voters would have to be fully informed of the results by Town Meeting.

Selectmen also approved an Eagle Scout project proposed by Troop 68 Scout T.J. Woodward to improve parking and develop a trail at Poor Brook Meadow nature trail, property the town acquired through Community Preservation fund and has not done much with, according to FitzGerald-Kemmett.

“It’s pretty much an undeveloped area,” Woodward agreed.

The land, near Hanson Grain, has a partially developed trail. Woodward proposed to square up the parking area, clean everything up, placing a trail kiosk in a designated location, and develop a one to 1.5-mile trail for the area, pinpointing nature and historic features along the loop trail.

Woodward, a carpentry student at South Shore Tech, plans to build the kiosk there.

“People really haven’t been able to enjoy the property, so this is fabulous,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said, asking about how the trail will traverse wet areas.

Woodward said it was very dry during walk-throughs, but said it is apparent there are potentially wet areas.

“We’re trying to go around most of them, but if I have to — based on where the trail is routed — we’ll put up to three land bridges to go over those areas,” he said.

Fundraising will center on bottle and can drives and monetary donations.

Hanson Police holds holiday toy drive events

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HANSON — The Hanson Police Department and the Hanson Police Relief Association hosted its first ever ‘Stuff-A-Cruiser’ toy drive to benefit Toys for Tots Dec. 6 and will continue to house a Toys for Tots donation bin until Dec. 13 for those who could not make the stuff-a-cruiser event.

Bring new, unwrapped toys to the Hanson Police Headquarters, 775 Main St.

“We are excited to be able to host this toy drive in support of the Marine Toys for Tots mission of helping each and every child have a toy for the holidays,” Chief Miksch said. “With the ongoing pandemic, it is more important than ever to help out those less fortunate and in need. We encourage anyone who is able to help to attend the event on Dec. 6 or stop by the station and drop off their present in person.”

WMS set as vaccine center

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WHITMAN — Whitman-Hanson Middle School will be set up as a COVID-19 vaccination center, according to a report on WBZ-TV Channel 4 Wednesday, Dec. 2. Volunteers are being sought to help staff the station and people will be receiving robocalls notifying them of when it is their turn to get the shot.

Fire Chief Timothy Grenno said the desigation was made during the H1N1 epidemic several years ago under a request from the Department of Public Health. About a month ago the DPH asked for modifications to the plans to make them drive-through.

“The Middle School has always been our spot,” he said. “They want us to be ready and be prepared, so that’s what we did and we sent out a press release for nurse volunters to help us staff it, and we’re getting a pretty good response.”

Access and traffic flow as well as remote learning days work well with the state’s requirements, according to Grenno.

Whitman is currently back in the red zone with 62 positives out of 1,228 tests (a 5.5 positivity rate) and Hanson has 33 positives out of 789 (a 4.18 positivity rate) for the week of Nov. 19-26.

Whitman cleared one of it’s three clusters last week, with two remaining, including one at Christo’s, which will remain closed until Dec. 11.

“We’re looking for volunteers right now who want to step up and be a big help,” Interim Town Administrator Lisa Green told the station. The centers will operate in the same manner as drive-through testing sites do now.

Gov. Charlie Baker said, in accordance with CDC guidelines, the focus will first be on high-risk individuals such as health care workers, nursing home staffs and first responders. Those shots could be available as early as next week and it could take until March to inoculate health care workers, according to the report, with the general population not able to receive it until spring.

COVID is also causing some changes to the upcoming special Town Meeting in January.

The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday, Dec. 1, voted to change the special Town Meeting quorum from the usual 150 to 25 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and hold it in the Performing Arts Center at WHRHS.

“Under the new regulations that the governor announced back in early November, there was a question of whether public settings fell under the new ‘no more than 10 indoors’ [regulation],” said Green. She said it appeared that public government meetings appeared to still cap off at 25 people.

Gov. Baker’s COVID regulations allow towns to reduce town meeting quorums to as low as 10 percent of what town bylaws otherwise require.  Green, however, expressed concern about the effect such a drastic cut would have on important business such as the sewer force main replacement, especially in view of the fact that the Selectmen, Finance Committee and DPW Commissioners would also have to attend.

She advocated placing any reduction at no lower than 25, although she noted that East Bridgewater has eliminated their quorum requirement.

Town Clerk Dawn Varley would have to submit any reduction request to the Attorney General’s office for approval within 10 days.

Town Moderator Michael Seele said he had no objection to the reduction request, but asked what the procedure would be if more than 100 showed up.

“It doesn’t seem likely that we’d get 100 people, but you never know,” Seele said.

Chairman Dan Salvucci said the gymnasium is not likely to be available due to school activities, but Green said it would be free for an early evening session on a Saturday.

Selectman Justin Evans said technical link-ups to other rooms could help if a larger turnout occurred. Right now, Wednesday evenings, Jan. 6, 13, 20 or 27 are now being considered for scheduling. The town has until Dec. 23 to schedule a specific Town Meeting date.

Selectman Randy LaMattina favored pushing it to Jan. 27 out of concern over the recent up-tick in COVID-19 cases in town.

“Sixty days seems like an eternity considering what’s going on with COVID,” he said.

Salvucci questioned whether a four-article Town Meeting warrant required the presence of town counsel, since besides the force main, there are only unpaid bills to be voted. Town counsel is only available on Wednesday evenings during the week, but can also attend a Saturday session. Both he and Evans expressed concern about giving the DPW enough time to bid out the project in the spring.

Selectmen also discussed the burgeoning problem towns and school districts are seeing in fraudulent unemployment claims related to COVID-19. The board approved Green’s request to contract with Unemployment Tax Management Corp., to help keep up with the work.

“We’ve been inundated,” Green said. “They’re coming in in droves, and I was finding that trying to keep up with the numerous requests and paperwork required … I couldn’t keep up with it.”

The state can levy fines if paperwork is processed late. Towns have three days to deal with the notices. Green reached out to East Bridgewater for advice and was told they used UTM, which is also working with Abington and the W-H School District, among other entities being similarly victimized by the fraud. The corporation handles all paperwork (online), appeals, protests, other legal activity and auditing involved in the process. The service would cost Whitman $695 per quarter, Green said.

“For everything that they’re going to provide, it’s really something I strongly recommend that we do,” she said.

Dollars For Scholars taking orders for gift cards

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Whitman & Hanson Dollars for Scholars will be processing orders for gift cards this holiday season as part of its fall fundraising drive. Interested individuals will be able to order gift cards from over 300 nationwide merchants. DFS will receive a commission for selling the cards while the recipient will receive the full face value of the gift card.

Due to COVID-19, DFS will not be holding an “in person” drop off or pickup location. If you would like to place an order, please call Mike at 781-252-9683 or visit the DFS website for an order form and a list of participating merchants. Order packets will be dropped off at interested individuals’ homes. Completed orders will also be picked up or may be dropped off in the locked box outside Whitman Town Hall.

Orders should be submitted on or before Tuesday, Dec. 8. All gift cards ordered are expected to be delivered by Dec. 12. Payments should be in the form of a check or cash.

Currently, DFS places gift card orders every other month for its board members. Members use the gift cards as gifts for family or friends or toward everyday purchases such as groceries, gas, prescriptions, and restaurants.

Proceeds from the sale will benefit graduating high school seniors in the form of scholarships at the end of the school year. For more information on the gift card ordering program, please contact Mike Ganshirt at 781-252-9683 or visit WhitmanAndHanson.DollarsforScholars.org.

Decking park for DFS

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WHITMAN — With COVID-19 taking a toll on social interaction as well as public health, traditional fundraising projects by organizations like Dollars for Scholars, which depend in large part, on in-person events, collections, have taken a hit.

“Every year we raise a lot of money for the seniors in Whitman and Hanson through fundraising and door-to-door,” DFS member Michelle LaMattina told Selectmen on Oct. 20 before their vote to support the project. “Obviously, this year it’s going to be very tough to fundraise because of COVID, so we’ve been trying to come up with some new ideas.”

LaMattina, whose daughter Claire raised about $17,000 for the Whitman Food Pantry “remotely” through a Whitman Strong yard sign effort, thought up a way to raise funds in a similar manner while celebrating the holiday season.

“We’re trying to make something exciting for the town to look forward to,” said. DFS volunteer Michelle LaMattina.

A Holiday Tree Lighting event begins from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 4 to Sunday, Dec. 6 and again from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 11 to Sunday, Dec. 13. Masks and social distancing are required and the public is asked to stay outside the gated area of the baseball field where the trees are set up except for display times.

Individuals, families, neighborhoods, clubs, organizations or companies to were able to sponsor a tree for $100. DFS provided the trees and lights, setting them up after Thanksgiving. Sign-up times were allotted to tree sponsors to come and decorate the tree to their liking, LaMattina said.

Monday’s wind-driven rain also delivered a blow to this new effort, setting the project back a bit, but the show must go on and — with organizers and volunteers working Tuesday to repair the damage.

Some, such as a Giving Tree featuring mittens and other wearables, had packaged them in zipper-close plastic bags. Others like the Fanilows of Hanson made certain their ode to Barry Manilow stayed decorated with wires. They wore red team T-shirts and Manilow face masks as they decorated their tree, situated next to a Charlie Brown Tree.

“He’s special,” said Jen Hickey or Manilow. “He’s not for everybody.”

“…And he wishes everyone a very Merry Christmas,” added Jean Dean.

Hickey said the DFS Committee gave each tree sponsor 90 minutes to do their decorating in small, distanced numbers.

“This was a great idea for fundraising,” one of the Fanilows said.

LaMattina said the response was overwhelming with 50 trees sold.

“If I had another 30, I could have sold them,” she said, noting people were calling her Saturday to ask about decorating a tree.

“Whether you want to drive around, if you want to get out of your car — but we will have DFS volunteers making sure there aren’t groups of people congregating,” LaMattina said.

We need a little Christmas

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HANSON — This year residents appear to be decorating their yards and homes earlier in the milder days of November — with colorful lights, tied pine wreaths with red bows  and oversized ornaments hanging in trees — to create an aura of hope and holiday joy.

Instead of Black Friday shopping last week, several families were lining their yards with pre-lit holiday inflatable characters, setting up oversized reindeer and even an antique carriage with holiday floral.

In Hanson, Jan Pompeo had wrapped up Thanksgiving dinner and was hanging lights by Friday morning to start celebrating Christmas with her grandchildren.

“They are my life – all the therapy I need,” she laughed as she hugged a grandson. The pair enjoyed their time as they un-knotted a small set of white lights.

Her 14-year-old grandson Sam Pompeo of Whitman was doing the climbing as he hung the strands of lights from her arbor way; a giant, pre-lit, golden, wicker deer glistened at the front doorway.

Spending time decorating with his grandmother was a way of making memories, he said.

Sam had anticipated a Thanksgiving holiday and the upcoming Christmas season as still one full of excitement and he wasn’t feeling as though he missed out on anything given the CDC requirements for smaller gatherings.

Al and his son Michael Di Carlo who live on Indian Head Street decorate each year with inflatables spread out to create a splattering of colored lights across their yard they wave as they hear honks on their busy street.

Michael, who is a sophomore at Whitman-Hanson and works at Shaw’s in Hanson, enjoys social interaction and creating a Christmas vibe. His large, extended family of several generations normally gather for both traditional turkey and authentic Italian foods but this year was a smaller gathering non-the-less with great food.

“We keep spirit strong for the holidays,” said Michael, who agreed with his father it was time to flip the power on to blow up Frosty the Snowman. They shook out the plastic characters as they bloated themselves upright. He says like his grandfather he will accept the torch to carry on the holiday decorating tradition something he is proud to do.

At the other end of town off King Street The Holiday House of Hanson on 16 Woodbrook Lane is getting prepared to  host its Second Annual Scavenger Hunt to benefit the Hanson Food Pantry.

Owners Tim and Kimberly Young moved here in 1998. Their teenagers have grown up with the decorating, assisting and adding to the collections.

Each year the ornaments and inflatables have multiplied and increased in scale.

“Just come by… it will lift your spirit,” said Tim, who has dreamed up the yard design for just that purpose. “It is creating happiness, which is much needed at this time.

“I have always loved Christmas and that is how it started,” Tim said of his passion for the cheery collectables. He has kept his original collection of over 20 years ago the pieces are nostalgic amidst the newest characters of trolls, gingerbread men, nutcrackers and lots of Disney characters to list a few.

Young has favorite a T-shirts (his holiday attire) including one from from the iconic National Lampoons Christmas Vacation with the Griswolds.

Over the years they’ve received enormous feedback from families who stop, photograph, and walk the sidewalk to get a look at the collectables many whom return each year.

A family from Hanover who lives on King Street  stopped to say thank you and hello as they walked the sidewalk.

“This is so much fun and we came last year said the Ingle family who brought their 4-year-old Kaylee Ingle who was happiest to see the Trolls in the front yard.

The Young’s have a collection box, a letter to Santa mailbox (they are good friends with the guy in the big red suit) and as of last year were able to donate $900 raised through collected donations to the Hanson Food Pantry.

They also have four tubs of food prepared so far this fall, which they began to assemble for the food pantry during their Halloween light show.

As for a total tally of holiday inflatables Young would not create a spoiler alert because that is one of the questions on the upcoming scavenger hunt Dec. 12 and 13. The event is limited due to social distancing and participants need to fill out a form through their Facebook page to make an appointed time of arrival for the event. The details are listed on their page along with recent donations given to the food pantry.

Chris Cameron Director of Hanson Food Pantry was thrilled to hear of the upcoming event to benefit their program.

“The community support in Hanson is just amazing we are blessed to have so many caring people,” she said

The Pantry averages serving 100 families monthly and in compliance with the State regulations for COVID-19 they are using a drive up distribution.

“We are so blessed with donations,” Cameron said. “We are well stocked and work with the Greater Boston Food Bank, Target of Hanover and Shaw’s in Hanson.”

The Hanson Shaw’s location is currently hosting Turkey Bucks, which is to alleviate food insecurities via the food bank. Shaw’s regional headquarters has also given grants to the Hanson Food Pantry, according to Cameron. The drive-up distribution hours are Tuesday’s from 10 a.m. to noon and from 6 to 8 p.m.

Scavenger Hunt guests are asked to donate $10 that will go to the pantry.

Information can be found on the Facebook page The Holiday House of Hanson.

Guests can listen to Christmas music on radio station 105.3 as they watch the lights outside the home.

Weather such as high winds can affect the nightly viewing and the Young’s post on their Facebook page if there are any changes to create the best viewing possible for guests.

State’s probe updated

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The School Committee heard an update on the investigation underway by the Inspector General and Attorney General’s offices at the Wednesday, Nov. 18 meeting, but questions remain.

Szymaniak said he emailed Committee member David Forth after the last meeting to request documentation he supplied the state as well as any contact information he had pertaining to the state’s investigation about the committee and towns. Forth returned the contact information he had, according to Szymaniak.

Committee member Christopher Howard asked for an update on what else Forth can supply. Forth replied he has contacted the state to determine if the Inspector General or Attorney General has any issues with his providing the information and would do so if they replied he could.

He added that any time the Inspector General’s office has called him, they have not identified themselves by any particular name.

Small said he has called the IG and Department of Revenue and had no problem receiving permission to release contact identification.

Howard asked that the school district’s legal counsel be asked to remotely attend the December meeting to discuss legal options for obtaining the information. Szymaniak said both towns have also put their respective town counsels on notice about the issue as well, reminding the committee that all those calls come with associated costs.

He also cautioned the committee that the district will be looking at some administrators where interims are now serving and business office turnover where the town’s interim business manager will be leaving at the end of the year.

“The first thing [people do] is Google the district and they see the W-H Regional School District in the Express [about a] state investigation under finances,” Szymaniak said. “It’s going to be hard for me to get a quality person if this resonates into next spring, when we’re in hiring. We have to put this to rest some way or another.”

He also expressed concern that other administrators or teachers might leave.

“People don’t want to be involved in controversy,” he said. “This district is an excellent district and I don’t want anybody to be turned off by a headline.”

Committee member Dawn Byers reminded the panel that a Whitman selectman had also advocated an investigation back in July.

“This is not one person’s doing on this committee,” she said, noting she does not want to see the headlines, either. “There was a long period of time when certain statutory laws were not followed by this district, and a long period of time when funding was at seventh from the bottom out of all the towns in Massachusetts, so I agree answers need to come, but there are a lot of questions still to be answered.”

Small asked what other questions Byers had in mind, explaining when she appeared to take it as a cross-examination, that he was curious about whether her questions pertained to issues that had not occurred to him.

She then replied her questions centered on the district’s past financial policies that did not center on the state’s statutory formula.

“It’s not the fact that an investigation is going on, it’s the fact that we’re being told there’s an investigation [and] when you try to find what the status is, who’s handling it … it needs to be done as expediently as possible without the mystery of what was sent, [and] who was spoken to, if possible,” Small said. “That’s the frustration point I know I’m feeling and, I’m sure, others are feeling because things are so wide open and up in the air.”