ATOTW Archive

Dear fellow Hanoverians:

I had the opportunity to talk to a friend the other day
about some proposed changes to the Hanover Board of Health regulations
regarding the keeping of animals.  As I was poring through the Town’s
website looking for answers to his questions, I came upon the following existing
regulations: http://www.hanover-ma.gov/pdf/forms/healt h/Regulations/Hanover-Regulations-Domestic-Animals.pdf
. 

Among other pieces of information, you will note that the current
regulations state the following in reference to fences, corrals, pens and other
types of enclosures for “cows, cattle, horses, goats, sheep, swine,
poultry, birds, or reptiles”:

“Any such enclosure must
be a minimum of 25 feet from a public way, 100 feet from a well, stream or
other domestic water supply and 100 feet from any wetland as defined M.G.L. 131
sec. 40, 75 feet from an abutter’s dwelling or commercial building, and
50 feet from a property line.” 

After my inquiry this morning, the new proposed regulations have
also been posted to the Town’s website.  They can be found at: http://www.hanover-ma.gov/pdf/forms/health/draft-animal-regs-feb09 .pdf
.  You will note that at least one of the proposed changes refers to the
fence issue, and it reads as follows: 

“Corrals or any other type of enclosure meant for
animal containment shall be a minimum of three (3’) from the property
line.”  There are additional setbacks for structures, too.

There’s lots more of potential significance in the
draft regulations, but this issue is the one that caught my friend’s attention. 
This proposed change has implications for homeowners and animal lovers
alike.  I encourage those with interest regarding this subject to be heard
at the Tuesday, February 10th public meeting of the Board of Health. 
It will be held in the upstairs hearing room of Town Hall at 7:00 p.m.

For "Around Town on the Web",

Cathy H-B

"Around Town on the Web" is a community service
that has been provided to self-selected residents of the Town of Hanover since
the spring of 2004.  If someone forwarded this message to you and you
would like to receive these communications directly, please e-mail your first
and last name and e-mail address to cathyhb@atotw.com .  If you would like to be
removed from this distribution list, please e-mail your request to me at cathyhb@atotw.com
.  To search for archived "ATOTW" news, just go to https://atotw.com/archive .

Dear fellow Hanoverians:

The Town Manager Study Committee invites residents to attend
a public forum regarding the establishment of a Town Manager/Board of Selectmen
form of government, on Tuesday, February 24, 7:00 PM, in the main
hearing room at Town Hall.

At its meeting of July 21, 2008, the Board of Selectmen
voted to create a committee of five citizens to study a Town Manger/ Board of
Selectmen form of government. The committee includes two members appointed by the
Board of Selectmen, two members appointed by the Town Moderator, and one member
appointed by the Board of Public Works. The committee was charged with
producing a document in charter form to present to Town Meeting and eventually
to the State Legislature which lays out a Board of Selectmen/Town Manager form
of government for the Town of Hanover.  The Board of Selectmen would serve
as a policy setting board and the Town Manager would implement those policies
and manage the everyday activities of Town government.

To assist them in this task, the committee has met with the
majority of town departments and boards, visited communities run by a Town
Manager, reviewed pertinent data, and sponsored a community-wide public
hearing. As a result of this process the committee has drafted a proposal which
has been submitted as a warrant article to be considered by voters at the
annual Town Meeting in May.

The purpose of this forum is to offer information to the
community regarding the impact a Town Manager form of government would have on
the day to day operations of the town. Residents will be given the opportunity
to ask questions and to learn more about the process. Copies of the proposal
will be available at Town Hall, the John Curtis Free Library and posted on the
town’s website (www.hanover.ma-gov
) at least one week prior to the forum. For further information, please contact
Linda DiNardo, Chairperson, at 781-826-8019.

For "Around Town on the Web",

Cathy H-B

"Around Town on the Web" is a community service
that has been provided to self-selected residents of the Town of Hanover since
the spring of 2004.  If someone forwarded this message to you and you
would like to receive these communications directly, please e-mail your first
and last name and e-mail address to cathyhb@atotw.com .  If you would like to be
removed from this distribution list, please e-mail your request to me at cathyhb@atotw.com
.  To search for archived "ATOTW" news, just go to https://atotw.com/archive
.

Dear fellow Hanoverians:

The Walnut Hill Garden Club of
Hanover invites the public to attend a free RE-SCHEDULED lecture and slide show
regarding “Invasive Alien Plants of the South Shore” on Tuesday,
February 10th , 7:45 p.m., at the Phoenix Masonic Lodge on Broadway
in Hanover.  This lecture was scheduled to be held this past Tuesday, but
had to be postponed due to the snow (that kept coming and coming and coming!).

As you drive north on Route 3,
have you noticed trees covered and choked by messy looking vines? Are burning
bush seedlings popping up in your back lot unplanted?  During his slide
show, Peter Alden will demonstrate where alien plants come from, how they arrived
here, how they continue to spread, and why we should be concerned about
them.  Learn how to identify invasive plants and how we can limit their
spread in wild areas and our gardens here on the South Shore.

Peter Alden is a world renowned
naturalist, lecturer, ecotourism guide and author of 15 books on North American
and African wildlife, including the National Audubon Society’s Regional Field Guide Series.  A highly
entertaining and widely sought after lecturer on topics that include world
wildlife, the polar regions, invasive plants and biodiversity of the northeast,
he is considered an authority on birds and larger mammals.

Mr. Alden’s lecture is
open to the public, but seating is very limited. Members of the public who
previously made a reservation are still welcome to attend.  Those who do not
yet have a reservation are encouraged to please contact Louise Sironi at
781-826-8421 or e-mail walnuthillma@hotmail.com
.

For "Around Town on the Web",

Cathy H-B

"Around Town on the Web" is a community service that
has been provided to self-selected residents of the Town of Hanover since the
spring of 2004.  If someone forwarded this message to you and you would
like to receive these communications directly, please e-mail your first and
last name and e-mail address to cathyhb@atotw.com
.  If you would like to be removed from this distribution list, please
e-mail your request to me at cathyhb@atotw.com
.  To search for archived "ATOTW" news, just go to https://atotw.com/archive
.

Dear fellow Hanoverians:

If you have been reading “Around Town on the
Web” this week, you will have certainly noticed a great emphasis on
energy conservation measures, organizations and programs.  All good
news!  A few months back I was asked some questions about Hanover’s
transfer station, some of which I could answer, and some of which I could
not.  In keeping with this week’s “ATOTW” theme, I offer
the following information with great thanks to Victor Diniak, the
Superintendent of the Department of Public Works for the Town of Hanover.

As
you probably know, residents of the Town of Hanover are allowed access to the
town’s transfer station simply because we pay our taxes.  There are
no additional “sticker fees” or “pay as you throw” bags
for residents as there are in some other area towns.  This year’s
budgeted expenses alone (not salaries) for the transfer station are
$926,030.  At $103 per ton, that’s a lot of trash!  The DPW
budgeted for and purchased recycling bins this year for residents in an effort
to divert more recyclables out of “the pit”.  As Victor said,
“My hope is to increase our recycling numbers over time. We feel there is
quite a bit of paper, glass, and cans that are being thrown away into the main
pit. That was why we purchased the first batch of recycle bins – we were hoping
it would make it easier for people to separate their recyclables. I would like
to continue to purchase and distribute bins, but we will have to wait and see
whether the Town’s finances can support this activity.”

The
trash that ends up in the main pit is currently transported to SEMASS, where it
is converted to electricity.  There is an interesting video located at

http://www.energyanswers.com/development/Proven_Experience_-_SEMASS/
that describes this process.  The DPW is currently negotiating contracts
with disposal firms for the next fiscal year in an effort to generate some
competitive bidding.  In addition to the $103 per ton, there are
considerable transportation expenses associated with just getting it
there.  In Victor’s words, “We are also being proactive to control our
transportation costs. You have probably seen the green trailers at the station.
The town recently purchased these with the hope that by owning the trailers we
could open up the transportation contract to competitive bidding and hopefully
save on the haul costs. I am just waiting for some permits from Mass Highway
before we put these trailers into service. We will see if my gamble pays
off.”

All of
this great information has me emptying paper into my recycling bin as I write
this.  Hanover has always been known to have pretty good recycling numbers,
but they could always be better.  It is interesting to see that we can all
play a role in keeping our taxes down simply by continuing or instituting some
recycling measures in our own homes.  If we can keep the trash out of
“the pit”, we will save on those transportation and disposal
costs.  Let’s all be a part of the solution…we will all
benefit!

For "Around Town on the Web",

Cathy H-B

"Around Town on the Web" is a community service
that has been provided to self-selected residents of the Town of Hanover since
the spring of 2004.  If someone forwarded this message to you and you
would like to receive these communications directly, please e-mail your first
and last name and e-mail address to cathyhb@atotw.com .  If you would like to be
removed from this distribution list, please e-mail your request to me at cathyhb@atotw.com
.  To search for archived "ATOTW" news, just go to https://atotw.com/archive
.

Dear fellow Hanoverians:

The Hanover Woman’s Club Jrs. will be hosting the Asperger
Association of New England (AANE) at the John Curtis Free Library on Wednesday,
February 11th at 7:30 p.m.  Dania Jekel, Executive Director of the AANE,
will be the speaker for the evening.  Dania will speak for about 45 –
60 minutes.  All are welcome, especially parents of a child  with Asperger’s,
teachers, counselors and grandparents.

To find out more about this meeting, contact Judy Blodgett
at 781-826-6452.

For "Around Town on the Web",

Cathy H-B

"Around Town on the Web" is a community service
that has been provided to self-selected residents of the Town of Hanover since
the spring of 2004.  If someone forwarded this message to you and you would
like to receive these communications directly, please e-mail your first and
last name and e-mail address to cathyhb@atotw.com .  If you would like to be
removed from this distribution list, please e-mail your request to me at cathyhb@atotw.com
.  To search for archived "ATOTW" news, just go to https://atotw.com/archive .

Dear fellow Hanoverians:

Sustainable Hanover, a chapter of
the non-profit organization Sustainable South Shore, will
be running a Home Thermal Imaging Program during the
week of February 8th  to 14th.  Residents can
sign up to have their homes photographed with thermal imaging.  This
will help homeowners identify leaky and uninsulated locations in their
homes where heat is lost.  The Fluke TiR thermal imaging camera
simultaneously captures a digital photo and an infrared image and fuses them
together, making it easier to identify features and trouble spots.  The
fee is $50 for non-members and $25 for members of Sustainable Hanover. 
This program generally costs about $400, but because they are using
trained volunteers and the camera was purchased by Sustainable South Shore,
they can provide this service more affordably.  Residents can sign up
at the Home Energy Savings Seminar on February 9th,
6:30 p.m. at the John Curtis Library, by e-mailing SustainableHanover@gmail.com ,
calling Linda Kakulski at 781-982-4086 or by going to their website at www.SustainableHanover.org.

For "Around Town on the Web",

Cathy H-B

"Around Town on the Web" is a community service
that has been provided to self-selected residents of the Town of Hanover since
the spring of 2004.  If someone forwarded this message to you and you
would like to receive these communications directly, please e-mail your first
and last name and e-mail address to cathyhb@atotw.com .  If you would like to be
removed from this distribution list, please e-mail your request to me at cathyhb@atotw.com
.  To search for archived "ATOTW" news, just go to https://atotw.com/archive
.

Dear fellow Hanoverians:

The First Baptist Church of Hanover will be showing the
movie “Fireproof” this coming Sunday, February 8th at
6:30 p.m.  The showing is free, open to the public and all are welcome to
attend.  For more information about the movie, please go to http://www.fireproofthemovie.co m
. 

First Baptist Church is located at 580 Webster Street. 
For more information about the First Baptist Church or this free showing,
please contact Tina Gagne at The3SistersTINA@aol.com
.

For "Around Town on the Web",

Cathy H-B

"Around Town on the Web" is a community service
that has been provided to self-selected residents of the Town of Hanover since
the spring of 2004.  If someone forwarded this message to you and you
would like to receive these communications directly, please e-mail your first
and last name and e-mail address to cathyhb@atotw.com .  If you would like to be
removed from this distribution list, please e-mail your request to me at cathyhb@atotw.com
.  To search for archived "ATOTW" news, just go to https://atotw.com/archive
.

Dear fellow Hanoverians:

As you may or may not know, the Hanover/Rockland High School
Swim Team is a completely self-funded varsity sport.  As a result, they
need to raise upwards of $15,000 per season to cover pool rental costs, coaches
fees, officials and buses.  The following information details some of the
fun planned for their biggest fundraiser of the year…and it is this
weekend!  Check it out!

2009
Hanover/Rockland High School Swim Team Fundraiser

Saturday,
Feb 7th,  7:30 – 11:00 p.m. at the Harmon Golf Club, 168
Concord St, Rockland

$15
per person gets you a great night out…complete with a DJ, light
appetizers, raffles, silent auction and cash bar!

Tickets
are available from any team member, Coach Barb Toohey at bgtooe@comcast.net , or they can be
purchased at the door.

For "Around Town on the Web",

Cathy H-B

"Around Town on the Web" is a community service
that has been provided to self-selected residents of the Town of Hanover since
the spring of 2004.  If someone forwarded this message to you and you
would like to receive these communications directly, please e-mail your first
and last name and e-mail address to cathyhb@atotw.com .  If you would like to be
removed from this distribution list, please e-mail your request to me at cathyhb@atotw.com
.  To search for archived "ATOTW" news, just go to https://atotw.com/archive .

Dear fellow Hanoverians:

Want to reduce your home energy costs? Looking for cheap,
do-it-yourself solutions? Interested in ways to finance home alterations? 
You’ll learn about all this and more by attending a free Home Energy
Savings Seminar on Monday, February 9, 2009, at 6:30 pm at the John Curtis
Library, as hosted by a new group called Sustainable Hanover.  The
workshop will stress the importance of reducing heat usage by providing
do-it-yourself sealing techniques; tips on hiring a contractor for in-depth alterations;
resources for home audits and resources for financing alterations. 
Presenters will lead a slideshow to illustrate hands-on tips, bring samples of
energy saving materials, and provide free educational materials for everyone
attending.

To find out more about this workshop, contact Linda Kakulski
at SustainableHanover@gmail.com
, or 781-982-4086 or via her website at www.SustainableHanover.org
.  This program is provided in partnership with the Massachusetts
Municipal Association.

For "Around Town on the Web",

Cathy H-B

"Around Town on the Web" is a community service
that has been provided to self-selected residents of the Town of Hanover since
the spring of 2004.  If someone forwarded this message to you and you
would like to receive these communications directly, please e-mail your first
and last name and e-mail address to cathyhb@atotw.com .  If you would like to be
removed from this distribution list, please e-mail your request to me at cathyhb@atotw.com
.  To search for archived "ATOTW" news, just go to https://atotw.com/archive
.

Dear fellow Hanoverians:

Save
the date!  The Hanover PTA is holding its spring fundraiser “Are
you Smarter Than A Hanover Middle Schooler?” on March 26, 2009
at 6:30 p.m. in the HMS gymnasium.  Further details about this event will
follow right here on “ATOTW” as we get closer.

Volunteers
are still needed for prep tasks and the night of the event.  If you’re willing to
help, or for more information, please contact Patti Taylor at patti.taylor@gmail.com
.

For "Around Town on the Web",

Cathy H-B

"Around Town on the Web" is a community service
that has been provided to self-selected residents of the Town of Hanover since
the spring of 2004.  If someone forwarded this message to you and you would
like to receive these communications directly, please e-mail your first and
last name and e-mail address to cathyhb@atotw.com .  If you would like to be
removed from this distribution list, please e-mail your request to me at cathyhb@atotw.com
.  To search for archived "ATOTW" news, just go to https://atotw.com/archive .