Community briefs

By Globe Staff, 11/29/2001

WAREHAM

3 officers honored for role in rescue

Three Wareham police officers received commendations for acts of heroism in a fatal car crash in Carver on Oct. 29.

Daniel J. Henderson, Douglas A. McCulloch, and John E. Gerard first responded to the crash just over the town line in Carver, on Shallow Furnace Road.

They found an overturned Chevrolet Cavalier with three victims inside, one of whom was pinned underneath the vehicle.

With the aid of two passersby, the officers lifted the car off the victim and held it up until Wareham rescue workers arrived a few minutes later and pulled the victim out.

Despite their efforts, Richard Reed, 22, of Middleborough, died from his injuries at the scene. Peter Watts, 19, of Carver, was airlifted to Boston Medical Center where he was listed on Monday in fair condition. Kristin Nichols, 17, of Fort Meyers, Fla., is believed to have recovered from her injuries, police said.

Wareham Police Chief Thomas A. Joyce said he had not known about his officers' heroic act until he was notified in a letter from Carver Fire Chief Robert McDuffy.

''Our own people never mentioned it, they just don't brag about what they do,'' Joyce said. ''They did an outstanding job.''

In addition to the written commendations, the three officers received two days off with pay as a reward.

HANSON

3 fined for selling tobacco to minor

During an Eight Town Tobacco Control compliance check a few weeks ago, three businesses were found to have sold cigarettes to an underage customer sent in by Kristen Guadagno, the program's director. All three paid a $100 fine for a first offense, according to Guadagno.

The businesses were Myettes General Store on Liberty Street, Hess Gas Station at routes 58 and 27, and Super Petroleum on Route 58.

Guadagno said it actually was the second offense for Myettes, but the $100 fine had been waived the first time by the Board of Health. The first offense was in June 1999.

Hanson's tobacco regulations have a three-year cycle for the accumulation of offenses.

A second offense within three years results in a $200 fine, and the third carries a $300 fine, plus a temporary suspension of the license to sell tobacco products.

Guadagno said the Board of Health determines the length of a suspension.

HALIFAX

Santa to collect toys for needy

Santa will ride a fire truck through town Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., collecting unwrapped toys and nonperishable food items.

It is the third year the local Firefighters Association and Girl Scouts from Halifax and Plympton have teamed up to help make Christmas better for local families in need.

Residents interested in taking part can give the toys and food to Santa when he passes by Saturday or bring the items to the fire station during the department's business hours, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

The association will give the donations to the Halifax Congregational Church, Our Lady of the Lake Church and St. David's Episcopal Church to distribute before Christmas.

REGION

AT&T raises fee for basic cable

AT&T Broadband is raising cable television rates by 8.5 percent effective Jan. 1. The increase is in the company's basic cable package, which last year was raised an average of 5 percent. AT&T Broadband serves many area towns.

Company officials said the decision to boost rates reflects the higher cost of providing services. They said the company is paying higher fees to programmers for the rights to carry their content, and in 2002, programming costs will increase by about 15 percent. At 20 percent, sports programming accounts for the largest portion of the programming cost increase, according to AT&T officials.

The highest dollar increase among area communities is in Brockton, where rates will go up $3.41 per month, and the lowest is in Norton, which will see a $2.70 jump.

DUXBURY

Grand opening set for senior center

The grand opening of Duxbury's $2 million senior center is scheduled for 11 a.m. today. The keynote speaker at the dedication and ribbon-cutting will be Emmett Schmarsow, state Department of Elder Affairs program development specialist.

The 12,500-square-foot building, on a wooded stretch of Route 3A, replaces a one-room center in a former town hall.

Master of ceremonies at the dedication will be Duxbury Council on Aging chairman Henry Milliken. Winnie D'Amelio will raise the flag. She donated the flagpole in front of the center. Town Meeting voters approved funding for the project last year.

This story ran on page 2 of the Boston Globe's South Weekly section on 11/29/2001.
© Copyright 2001 Globe Newspaper Company.