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Whitman BuzzAround
September 27, 2026
| | Whitman Bids Farewell to Longtime Town Administrator Mary Beth Carter | | |
After more than two decades of service to the Town of Whitman, longtime municipal leader Mary Beth Carter has retired from her role as Town Administrator.
Carter retired in early September after a career in Whitman municipal government that included serving as Treasurer-Collector before taking on the role of Town Administrator. In a September 9 Facebook post, the Whitman Police Department recognized Carter's many years of service and thanked her for her dedication to the community.
Carter took over as Town Administrator during a particularly challenging period for the town. The Police Department noted that she "took over as Town Administrator during a very trying time," and praised the way she guided the town through those challenges.
Assistant Town Administrator Matthew Dyer described Carter as an invaluable source of institutional knowledge during her career, with a deep understanding of municipal finance and administration as well as the history behind many of the decisions the Town has made over the years. Her experience and knowledge were relied upon by Town officials, department heads, boards, and committees, particularly when working through difficult issues, explaining the numbers, and identifying a path forward.
“Perhaps what residents should remember most, though, is Mary Beth’s dedication to Whitman,” Dyer said. He noted that her commitment went beyond the responsibilities of her position and that she cared deeply about the Town, the people she worked with, and the residents it serves.
The Police Department similarly highlighted Carter's commitment to Whitman and her work ethic, writing that her "dedication to the town and her tireless work ethic are unmatched."
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After years of public service, Carter leaves a lasting impact on Whitman's municipal government and the community she served. Dyer said that although he worked with Carter for a relatively short period, he quickly came to appreciate the knowledge and experience she brought to Town Hall and was grateful for the opportunity to work alongside her during the transition.
As Carter begins her retirement, the Whitman Police Department offered a final message of appreciation: "We can't thank Mary Beth enough for her selfless service to our town." The department wished her much health, happiness, and prosperity in her well-deserved retirement and her next chapter.
Written by: Justine McConnell, SNHU, BuzzAround Intern
Source: Matthew Dyer, Assistant Town Administrator for the Town of Whitman / Whitman Police Department
| Above Photo: Mary Beth Carter accepts a resolution recognizing her career in public service from State Representative Alyson Sullivan-Almeida. | | Historical Tidbit: Whitman Library | |
In 1879, a group of determined citizens in Whitman—then called South Abington—advocated for the establishment of a free public library. At that year’s Town Meeting, voters approved $500 to fund the project and appointed five individuals to lead the initiative.
The Whitman Public Library first opened in a room within the Village Hall, housing 1,400 donated books. By 1882, the town hired its first librarian, William Vining, with a salary of $1,000. By 1886, a dedicated reading room was added, furnished with tables and chairs, and the collection expanded to include magazines, newspapers, and reference materials. In 1908, the library moved to the newly built Town Hall, where it remained for nearly 75 years.
In 1930, Miss Mary Ella Pierce left $5,000 to the library. Upon her niece's passing, an additional $32,500 was bequeathed. Miss Pierce also gifted a bookcase and over 200 volumes, helping the library thrive during the 1940s and 1950s. Her generosity enabled the creation of a Children’s Room and the Mattie Jenkins Genealogical Room, repurposing upstairs space in the Town Hall.
By 1982, it became clear the library had outgrown its Town Hall location. The Board of Library Trustees proposed a new building, and a community needs survey in 1983 showed overwhelming support for the project. By 1988, the new Whitman Public Library was completed on the site of the former Dyer School.
Source: Whitman Public Library
| |  | Whitman Resource Links can bee found on Hive Connect | |
Congratulations
Deirdre Brown
you won
a free two weeks of training and a free uniform from Unity Martial Arts, Raynham
Bee sure to play our Historical Tidbit Trivia Game at the bottom of this newsletter.
Enter for this week's prize of
a $15 gift certificate toward any service at D’s Elite Salon & Spa, East Bridgewater
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4th Annual Classics For A Cause
Sun, Oct 4
12:00p-5:00p (Raffles & Prizes @ 3:00p)
VFW Post 97, 95 Essex St.
A classic car, truck, motorcycle and whacky whip extravaganza! There will also be live music from Blind Ambition, food, a bar, raffles, and craft vendors!
The fee is $10 for spectators, $20 for entrants. Proceeds go to the Benjamin DuFour Foundation's philanthropic and educational aims.
Source: Classics for a Cause 4 FB Event
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Your friendly reminder that we offer lunch Thursday - Sunday✨
A delicious assortment of sandwiches;
like Chicken Mancini and Chicken Parm or how about a small lunch portion of your favorite dish?
The perfect size for a mid day bite to eat!
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Plymouth Street, EB-
508-456-4460
West Street, EB-
508-378-9335
Industrial Drive, Halifax- 781-300-2600
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Whitman-Hanson Athletic Hall of Fame Induction
Sun, Oct 4,
Doors Open at 4:30p
Dinner & Ceremony begin at 5:15p
Pembroke Country Club, 94 W Elm St, Pembroke
The Whitman-Hanson Regional High School Athletic Hall of Fame will welcome its 2026 class on October 4, celebrating student-athletes, coaches, a championship team, and a contributor.
This year’s inductees include student-athletes Chris Colclough ’87, Mike Cronin ’68, Michael Pakalnis ’83, Devin Petta ’09, Emily Trapp ’09, and Cortney Kelly ’01. Coaches Pat Forbes and Mike Driscoll, contributor Bob Hayes, and the 1965 football team, the first W-H football team to win a state championship, will also be honored.
Tickets are available at whathletics.com.
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Climate Can Do - Sustainable Lunch!
Looking for an easy way to make your lunch a little more sustainable? You may already have everything you need! Take a look in your refrigerator, freezer, or pantry. Last night's leftovers can become today's lunch, and a reusable container or water bottle can replace a disposable one. Get creative and give yesterday's dinner a lunchtime makeover by adding leftover vegetables to today's wrap or salad, or combining leftover chicken, rice, and vegetables to create a filling bowl. Using what you already have can help reduce food waste, save money, and make lunch a little more fun. For more ideas on preventing food waste at home, visit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Written by: Justine McConnell, BuzzAround Intern
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Solid Surface Repair
Stuart Parzyck
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- Father-Daughter team
- Custom corian countertops
- Tub and shower surround
- Repairs done on site
- 104 different colors available,
- Certified, license and insured, EST.
715 Pleasant St., Bridgewater, MA
888-349-8677 Solidsurfacerepair.net
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Puppy Socialization Classes
Canine Etiquette
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Help your dog grow to become friendlier and more confident!
For Puppies Ages 8-20 weeks
Proper socialization builds their ability to handle new situations, making them easier to manage in social environments.
canineetiquette.com
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Classes held at Halifax Congregational Church, 503 Plymouth St, Halifax
(339) 933-9301
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Banned Books Week Read-In
Tue, Oct 6
All Day
Whitman Public Library
Drop in, get comfortable, and read for your right to read freely!
Join us for an all-day Banned Books Read-In, a relaxed, come-and-go event celebrating the freedom to read and the importance of access to diverse stories, ideas, and perspectives. Bring your current read, choose something from our selection of banned and challenged books, or simply stop by to browse our displays and learn more about books that have faced challenges in libraries and communities.
There’s no schedule to follow and no need to stay for the whole day—come whenever you can, stay as long as you’d like, and make reading your act of support.
As part of the event, attendees can also download a copy of one of two free audiobooks provided by Libro.fm, giving you another way to participate wherever you are.
This event is proudly held in partnership with the Whitman Public Library Silent Book Club chapter.
Source: Whitman Public Library
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4th Annual Halloween Skate Fundraiser
Sun, Oct 11
5:00p-8:00p
Carousel Family Fun Center, 1055 Auburn St.
There will be free face painting, raffles, costume contests for adults and kids, and of course, skating!
You can bring your own skates or rent a pair for $5. Please have a $10 donation at the door. Proceeds will be split between Her Hope for Haiti and Belle & Joey of Braintree, who lost their Mom to a heart condition leaving them in the care of their grandfather.
Source: Halloween Skate Fundraiser FB Event
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Lots to choose from for your fall decorating needs!
9 & 12 inch mums * Snowball pumpkins
Mini pumpkins and gourds * Cornstalks * Sugar pumpkins * Decorative corn
Hay bales ...and sooooo much more!
Open 7 days a week, 8am–6pm
416 Plymouth Street, Halifax
(781) 293-6792
www.nessrallafarm.com
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GC Marble and Granite
Cabinet & Countertop Specialists
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Professional countertop fabrication, templating, installation, kitchen and bathroom renovations, backsplashes, vanities, and cabinet installation.
Quality materials, precise installation, and excellent customer service.
Cabinets • Quartz • Granite • Marble • Quartzite • Countertops • Backsplashes • Kitchen & Bath Remodeling
CONTACT US TODAY 781-706-2593
gcmarbleandgranite@gmail.com
gcmarbleandgranite.com
📍 Visit Our Showroom :
263 Bedford Street Whitman, MA 02382
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Nonfiction Book Discussion: Radium Girls by Kate Moore
Tue, Oct 13
6:00p-7:00p
Adult Services Area, Whitman Public Library, 100 Webster St.
Join us as we discuss, The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women, by Kate Moore. Books in regular and large print, as well as audiobook CD are available at the Circulation Desk of the library. E-books and e-audiobooks are also available in our Libby app.
For more information, please contact Assistant Director Steven Miller at smiller@whitman.ocln.org.
Source: Whitman Public Library
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NEREJ & MSCC Summit | Metro South Chamber of Commerce
Fri, Oct 16
8:00a-9:00a: Registration, Networking, & Light Breakfast
9:00a-9:30a: Keynote Speaker
9:30a-11:00a: Panel Discussion
11:00a-12:00p: Networking & Conclusion
The Shaw's Center, 1 Feinberg Way, Brockton
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Topics: Opportunity Zones, new housing and redevelopment, transportation, improving infrastructure, and building the future of the Metro South region.
Registration is required. Please register here.
| | | | Enjoy Our Folksy Video: You've Got to Vote - with Joe Jencks and Rose Conservatory Choir | |
MA INFORMATION FOR VOTERS
2026 Ballot Questions
Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Dear Voter:
On Tuesday, November 3, 2026, you will have the opportunity to make your voice heard. If you prefer to vote sooner, you can vote early or by mail. Early voting will be held October 17-30. On Election Day, all polling places will be open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m.
If you are not registered to vote, or you have moved since the last election, visit www.VoteInMA.com to register, check your registration information, and update your address. You must be registered to vote by Saturday, October 24, in order to participate in this election.
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This year, there will be nine binding statewide ballot questions, the most that Massachusetts voters have ever been asked to consider. This official 2026 Information for Voters book contains information on all nine questions, including a summary of each proposal, the full text of the proposed/existing law, statements describing the effect of a yes or no vote, and brief arguments for and against each question.
The information in this book will assist you in making a thoughtful decision before you vote. With a longer ballot than usual, you may want to take notes and bring this book with you when you go to the polls.
The choices you make in this election will shape the course of government for our state, as well as local communities. I urge you to participate in this process, because your vote matters.
Very truly yours,
William Francis Galvin
Secretary of the Commonwealth
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Whitman First Responders Welcome Students Back
Whitman students, teachers, and staff received a warm welcome from the town’s first responders as the new school year got underway.
The Whitman Fire/Rescue Department shared a back-to-school message on September 2, wishing students, teachers, and staff a great year ahead.
The Whitman Police Department also marked the first day of school, welcoming everyone back and reporting that the morning went smoothly, with plenty of smiling faces among students and parents.
Together, the messages offered a simple reminder that the community is cheering students on as they begin another school year.
Written by: Justine McConnell, BuzzAround Intern
Source & Photos: Whitman Firefighters Local 1769’s FB & Whitman Police Department FB
| | Jess Be Here Yoga Studio Opens in Whitman | | |
A new chapter in Whitman’s yoga community began September 12 with the grand opening of Jess Be Here Yoga Studio at 629 Washington St.
For owner Jess, however, the opening represents more than the launch of a new business. It marks the continuation of a community that has been growing for more than two decades.
“I often call yoga retreats ‘my love for yoga and people together’ so you can only imagine what this is. This studio is my whole soul in a building,” Jess shared following the grand opening.
That community began in 1999, when Lee-Ann Trigler started Hanson Holistic Center. In 2010, Trigler and Cara Cappellini began Whitman Wellness Center, where Jess completed her first teacher training in 2017.
Now, in 2026, Jess has taken over the yoga studio under her own brand, Jess Be Here, while Whitman Wellness continues its education and treatment services under the same roof.
Jess described the transition as “the torch gracefully passed,” expressing deep gratitude to Trigler and Cappellini for supporting her throughout the years.
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“I don’t take the responsibility lightly to hold space for folks in this container and provide space for connection,” she wrote. “Especially with such big shoes to fill!”
At the heart of Jess Be Here is a belief that people should be able to “just show up as you are.” The studio offers a variety of yoga classes designed around community, encouragement, support, and connection, including $5 and $10 classes throughout the week.
For Jess, carrying the community forward means creating a place where people can support one another through every part of their journey.
“That’s what we do. We hold each other in support of the rise and hold each other when we are going ‘down’,” she wrote.
Jess Be Here Yoga Studio is located at 629 Washington Street in Whitman.
Learn more by visiting Jess' website.
Written by: Justine McConnell, BuzzAround Intern
Source: Jess Be Here Yoga Studio
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WEEKLY TRIVIA GAME
Have fun with us and bee entered to win:
a $15 gift certificate toward any service at D’s Elite Salon & Spa, East Bridgewater
Historical Tidbit Question:
Who was Whitman's first librarian?
Email us your answer at:
Prizes@buzzaround.info
Please include your name and phone number with your answer.
Prize Box Rules
By entering, you give us permission to print your name in next week's Buzz Around.
On September 30, 2026, before 2 p.m., we will randomly pick a winner from the correct answers.
| The Buzz Around is brought to you this week by Gabriel Michael Alexander, Jen Bellody, Justine McConnell, Jacquelyn Rose, Caitlin Shea & Greg Venezia | | | |
Peace.
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”
~ Martin Luther King Jr.
“When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.”
~ Jimi Hendrix
“When I say it's you I like, I'm talking about that part of you that knows that life is far more than anything you can ever see or hear or touch. That deep part of you that allows you to stand for those things without which humankind cannot survive. Love that conquers hate, peace that rises triumphant over war, and justice that proves more powerful than greed.” ~ Fred Rogers
“Peace is more than the absence of war. Peace is accord. Harmony.” ~ Laini Taylor
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Peace, dear friends, is a worthy thing to work for. It is not lack of conflict, it is engaging in inner and outer work that will build bridges between our differences.
Join me, and work for peace. ~ Jacquie
| | | | | Your BuzzAround supports the dignity of all human beings, is actively anti-racist, and supportive of good law enforcement policies. | | |
Copyright 2026 Buzz Around Whitman. You have our permission to share and copy this issue in its entirety as much as you like. If you take it in part, please give credit. ("Buzz Around Whitman 9/27/26")
Your BuzzAround supports the dignity of all human beings, is actively anti-racist, and supportive of good law enforcement policies. At the Buzz Around, we promote community. The links provided are for informational purposes. BuzzAround is not responsible for the media content of other organizations.
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