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Hanson plans for bicentennial in 2020

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HANSON – In two years, the South Shore will have a lot to celebrate. 

Plymouth will be observing 400 years since the arrival of the Pilgrims in the New World. Closer to home, Hanson will also be celebrating anniversary in 2020 – the bicentennial of the town’s founding — and plans are already under way.

Joshua Singer, of Edward Jones Investments, who chairs the Hanson Business Network and is a member of the Hanson 200 Committee, recently updated the Board of Selectmen on the committee’s work and offered a glimpse of the coming celebration. He said they will keep the board, and town, updated as definitive dates and plans are set.

“We are currently very much in the planning stage,” Singer said. “We are starting our actual calendar of events for the 200th anniversary. We’re focusing on three key areas right now.” Those areas of focus are fundraising for events; promotion and planning. A logo de- sign contest will be used as a way to include Hanson student artists in the planning at both the middle school and high school.

There is currently an open position on the Hanson 200 Committee and a subcommittee will be formed for those who don’t have the time for a monthly meeting commitment, but wish to take part in planning for specific events.

Singer said the Hanson committee is looking to work together with the committee planning Plymouth’s 400th anniversary celebration, perhaps to gain mention during events there as well as to borrow ideas.

“They’re so close, we might as well piggyback out of all the notoriety they’re going to get,” he said.

Among the events being considered for development in connection with the celebration is a kickoff event on Feb. 22, 2020, which is the anniversary of the actual date of Hanson’s founding in 1820. Singer said a gathering of the town’s founding families is also being looked at close to the founding date.

“We’re looking to get that declared as Hanson Day by the state,” Singer said. That would be accomplished by proclamations by the General Court.

A gala ball, town parade, a town tailgate party, concerts by local bands and choirs – specifically those at WHRHS – a fireman’s ball, fitness events, a family photo contest, geocaching, a carnival day and 200 days of paying it forward.

“In short, clear your social calendar for 2020,” said Selectman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett, who also serves on the Hanson 200 Committee. She said the School District has also made a commitment to incorporate the bicentennial into the Hanson schools’ curricula. “Even if it’s just one day, where they talk about Hanson’s history and what kind of town it was.”

A July 4 celebration is also planned that year to mark the bicentennial.

“A carnival day would be terrific,” said Selectmen Chairman James McGahan, noting that he and Selectman Kenny Mitchell had tried to organize a carnival day more than a year ago and ran into challenges that prevented success. “That company [they tried to book] did make a contribution to school activities. So, if you guys can come through, the kids really need it.”

“You have to start now,” Mitchell said concerning booking a carnival company. “It’s all about the dates. They have dates that are already set for the next five years.” Singer said they would be aiming to schedule it as close to July 4 as possible, noting that July 4 itself may be difficult to book.

Fund-raising ideas include a themed ball, perhaps three – an 1800s themed event later this year, the 1900s in 2019 and the 2000s in 2020. A Hanson’s Got Talent competition is also being considered, to be perhaps staged at the Dr. John F. McEwan Performing Arts Center at WHRHS as well as potential Mr. Hanson and Mrs. Hanson pageants.

The Hanson 200 Committee began its work with $19,000 remaining from the 175th celebration and a recent allocation from Town Meeting. Donations are being accepted with details on that being posted on the town’s website at hanson-ma.gov.

A pop-up marketing opportunity for Hanson and 200th anniversary merchandise at the former Plymouth County Hospital site is also being considered. The committee is also working with the Final Plymouth County Hospital Reuse Committee to plan some sort of commemoration of the land as either a bicentennial park or incorporating the 200th anniversary into future plans there.

Three arrested in break-in

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HANSON — Three Braintree men are being charged in connection with the armed break-in of a Hanson house Saturday night, March 24.

A Hanson resident was able to call 911 with help from neighbors after he fled his home Saturday night on Adams Circle while two masked men smashed their way in.

Christian Paiva, 19, and Christopher Paiva, 22, were taken into custody in the immediate area of the home. Giovanni Rodrigues, 23, fled on foot and was taken into custody on State Street. All three are from Braintree, said Hanson Police Chief Michael Miksch in a press release.

The three have been charged with breaking and entering while armed, malicious destruction of property over $250, and larceny over $250.   Hanson Police later recovered property taken from the home on Sunday.

The homeowner, who was not identified by police,  was not physically harmed. Police were seen photographing the lower level entry of a ranch style home Saturday at around 8 p.m. A K9 handler and State Police were also seen combing the wooded area by the dwelling.

Hanover Police Officers and the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department BCI Unit also assisted in apprehending the three. Rodrigues was found to be carrying a knife when he was taken into custody on State Street by Hanover Police and Sheriff’s Department officials.

“Hanson Police Department would like to thank the many witnesses who called in to assist us in locating the third individual,” said Miksch. “We would also like to thank the Hanover Police and Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department for their assistance.”

Hanson Officers investigating the case were Officers Billy Frazier, Jared Meegan, Christopher Dominguez, and Ben Ford. Detective Paul O’Brien, Sgt. Gene Andrews, and Lt. Michael Casey also assisted.

The three suspects were slated to be arraigned in district court today [March 26].

According to police, the break-in is not a random incident as the victim apparently knew one of the suspects.

McAleer is making impact at Nichols

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W-H alum Mel McAleer has found smooth skating as a Nichols Colege Bison. / Courtesy photo: Jill Souza

Mel McAleer, a Hanson native, is impressing on the ice at Nichols College.

Mel McAleer is no stranger to success.

At Whitman-Hanson, as a member of Pembroke/Whitman-Hanson (2013-14) and then Whitman-Hanson/Silver Lake (2014-17), her teams boasted a 53-26-7 record and cracked the Division 2 tournament each season. During that span, McAleer registered 114 goals and 73 assists. Now, she is carrying over that success at Nichols College.

It took McAleer, a Hanson native, all but 6:55 into her first collegiate contest to find twine. At the 13:05 mark of Nichols College women’s ice hockey’s season opener against SUNY Canton on Nov. 3, Kelly Ferreira passed to Jordyn McGuire who fed the puck to McAleer and she skated a few strides and buried a shot far side for a power-play goal, pushing the Bison up 2-0.

“After realizing that we scored, it was the best feeling.” McAleer said. “My coach did let me keep the puck and I gave it to my mom and she put it in her room as display.”

The tally, which turned out to be the game-winner, came 49 seconds after McAleer dished out her first collegiate assist on a goal scored by McKenna Gernander.

Since that first tilt, McAleer has nine goals and 11 assists and had been tabbed Colonial Hockey Conference Rookie of the Week twice.

McAleer’s most recent honor came Feb. 4 after she tallied four points (two goals, two assists) in 5-2 win over Neumann the day prior. Not only was it a career day for the freshman, but it was a record-setting contest for Nichols, as it set a regular-season wins mark with nine.

“I think that was absolutely my fondest moment because we all dialed in,” McAleer said of the game. “We all worked as hard as possible and together we made [women’s ice hockey] history. This year’s team is a team of firsts and it feels good to be a part of something so successful.”

McAleer’s path to the Bison is a unique one. She was actually recruited by former head coach Wil Brown, who stepped down, and was succeeded by former University of Maine women’s ice hockey assistant Mike O’Grady.

“I touched base with Mel when I got the job and she was in and said she was coming, so we kind of just went from there,” O’Grady said.

McAleer said the biggest adjustment from the high school to college level has been the speed of the game.

“Passes are much crisper and come much faster,” she said.

Building on speed

While at Whitman-Hanson, WHSL head coach Kevin Marani always raved about McAleer’s speed, but O’Grady said he’s seen her develop in other facets of the game as well.

“I think the other part that has come along is her ability to see some lanes, [and] not only put the puck in the net, but also give the puck,” O’Grady said. “She’s gotten better with some patience and the speed of the game and just the way things happen and reading lanes and more of some of the intricacies that come into the college level, playing within a system and understanding how to play within a system and how it can continue to help her be successful in putting the puck in the net.

“She’s grown in that way in terms of her hockey IQ has grown a ton, she’s not just playing at the Mass. high school level, where she was able to be really successful but at the same time, she was so skilled that she stood out a lot more where at the college level, you have to buy into the system, which she’s done very well to be successful.”

McAleer said the key to success at the collegiate rank is simply just competing for your teammates.

“Success on the ice at the college level is playing for the girl sitting next to me,” McAleer said. “I work as hard as possible from the minute I lace up my skates.”

McAleer, whose pregame ritual consists of putting on her headphones and imagining herself making plays from a fan’s perspective, said fully intends to finish out the campaign strong.

“A personal goal I have for myself is my first collegiate hat trick, but my main goal is my team’s success at all costs,” McAleer said. “I hope to get far in playoffs because we are absolutely capable of that.”

Eli hockey standout

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Yale freshman Billy Sweezey has found smooth going on the ice as he has also worked to tackle the challenges of an Ivy League college’s classrooms. / Courtesy photo

Hanson native Billy Sweezey has been a standout for Yale’s men’s hockey team.

Commitment, confidence, grit, poise, resolve and wit. All are on full display when you watch Yale men’s hockey defenseman Billy Sweezey skate.

The Hanson native just concluded his inaugural campaign on the ice for the Bulldogs. He coined it his “most fun” season yet. The 6-foot-2, 204-pounder appeared in all 33 games for Yale, scored a goal, notched five assists and led the club with a +13.

Sweezey’s path to one of the oldest schools in the nation is an interesting one. After beginning school and high school hockey at Archbishop Williams, he transferred to Noble and Greenough, repeated his sophomore year and played three seasons there and was honored as a captain his senior campaign. After Nobles, he decided to take a year off from school and competed in the United States Hockey League for the Chicago Steel. In the midst of all that, he committed to Yale as a junior in high school.

Sweezey said one of the toughest shifts to the collegiate ranks he was tasked with was not on the ice.

“The transition into a college classroom, especially at a place like Yale, was pretty tough,” Sweezey said. “My dad always stressed doing well in school to my brother and me, so I was able to get back into the swing of things after a few weeks.”

Sweezey said everything on the ice went relatively smooth after he was able to work diligently with his coaches to get past the adjustment period.

“The biggest difference is the speed,” Sweezey said. “Guys are faster and stronger so you have that much less time to make a decision out there. The room for error is extremely small.”

One aspect Sweezey said he prides himself on is his physicality on the ice. However, it can be a detriment at times, and caused a few issues at the early stages of the season. Though, he was able to figure out how to become more disciplined, which can be seen by a season-best sixgame no penalty streak from Jan. 13 to Jan. 28.

“I think I improved in that aspect a lot this season,” Sweezey said of his discipline. “A lot of it comes down to being able to relax during the games and keep my emotions in check; never getting too high or too low.”

The rising sophomore said when he reflects back at his 2016-17 campaign, one moment that comes to mind is Yale’s 3-2 overtime win over Dartmouth in the first round of the ECAC playoffs on March 4. In the triumph – the Bulldogs’ last home tilt – Sweezey netted a third-period assist that knotted the score at 2-2.

“After the game and handshakes, we lined up and saluted our games for the final time,” Sweezey said. “It really hit me that I was going to be part of something really special for the next three years.”

Sweezey, who went through the Hanson School System up until high school, said he looks forward to the offseason for a bevy of reasons.

“I still see all my friends from home when I’m there and look forward to coming home,” Sweezey said. “I’ll probably skate two to three times a week doing skills work. Then I’m in the gym lifting four to five times a week. I also play three on three with my best friends once a week which is probably the most fun.”

Josselyn firing up Dragons

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Brandon Josselyn, a 2005 Whitman-Hanson Regional High graduate who finished his career at 20-4 with a .470 batting average, has been named the new head baseball coach at Duxbury High.

One pitch at a time.

That’s the philosophy Whitman-Hanson Regional High alum Brandon Josselyn is trying to instill in his players as he settles into his new role as the manager of the Duxbury High baseball team.

After previous skipper Gordon Cushing stepped down from the helm of the Green Dragons, Josselyn applied for the gig and was named his successor in August, and his path to the job is a unique one.

The Hanson native was one of top players ever produced on the diamond at Whitman-Hanson. The right-hander tallied a 9-0 record and pitched to the tune of a 1.10 ERA in 2005 during his senior campaign and finished his career at 20-4 with a .470 batting average.

Josselyn said one his takeaways from former W-H manager Pat Forbes was how to attack the game from both themental and physical side.

“I remember more how to compete and to get in the dayto- day stuff and take baseball very seriously from [him],”Josselyn said.

Not only did he star on the baseball field, but it was quite apparent Josselyn would have a leadership role down the road when he was tabbed a captain on the football and indoor track team his senior season.

“It was more of an honor back then,” Josselyn said. “To be recognized by my peers as someone who can be seen in that way is probably something I look back and think highly of the most. It was a nice honor.”

After graduating, Josselyn took the next step heading to Yale to compete at the collegiate level, where he ran into his first major speed bump.

“I had mono, I had my wisdom teeth out and I had strep all going into the season,” Josselyn said. “I was supposed to be the starting left fielder and I lost that job and the kid that came in and replaced me because I had mono was hitting .500 by the time I was cleared to get back in and play so that was tough.”

However, he would bounce back settling into a niche on the bump developing a slider-sinker combination en route to being named Ivy League Pitcher of the Year his senior season.

After being drafted by the Seattle Mariners as the second pick in the 25th round of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft, Josselyn spent two seasons in their organization before deciding it was time to move on.

“That following spring training, so going into my third season, that spring training you kind of see your name on the list and every day the list kind of changes,” Josselyn said. “There was one day my name was on the Single-A roster again to go back to Clinton, Iowa. I was already one of the older kids because I was drafted as a senior in college, so I just didn’t see the organization valuing me and I just thought if I was going to go back to the same level, well that’s three years at this level, I thought I had enough success to move on.”

After a brief stint in investment banking, Josselyn was ready for another change which led to him joining Duxbury as a math teacher in 2013.

“You want to teach them things that they can pick up along the way and things that they can take with them along the way, so there are definitely some parallels,” Josselyn said. “It’s certainty a different philosophy, me in the classroom and me in baseball.”

In 2014, he took over as the girls’ cross country coach at Duxbury in the fall and began managing the freshman baseball team in the spring, and now he’s ready for the next step.

“I’m a believer in just concentrate and focus on every single pitch,” Josselyn said. “If you’re an outfielder, put yourself in the right position based on the kid’s swing. If you’re a pitcher, whatever pitch the catcher is calling to execute that pitch and that kind of stuff. Let the results fall wherever they’re going to fall, but put yourself in a place to be successful from practice and from concentration in a game and results will take care of themselves.”

Josselyn will make his return to his alma mater May 1 when the Panthers host the Green Dragons at 4 p.m.