Nomination papers for Whitman's May 19 annual Town Election became available as of Monday, Jan. 30, according to Assistant Town Clerk Dawn Varley. Nomination papers must be returned with 50 valid signatures of voters by 5 p.m. on Monday, April 2.

The Whitman-Hanson Regional School Committee agreed to take the question of universal all-day kindergarten to the voters at the annual town meetings — and to budget accordingly.

In 1912, New Mexico and Arizona became the 47th and 48th states, the Titanic sank off Newfoundland, Fenway Park opened and Massachusetts passed the nation’s first minimum wage law. On Feb. 20, 1912 Ellen Stillman was born to Lituanian immigrants in Brookline. At age 7, she would walk with her family from the Hanson train station to their new home at 482 Elm St. in 1919 — where she has lived ever since.

Business and Technology Education teacher Lydia Nelson knows what coaches go through when the seniors on their teams graduate.  She has seen members of her AARP/Tax Aide program graduate before,  but this year, she will lose three out of four volunteers who have mastered the annual 60-hour training course and passed a certification exam to qualify as tax preparation assistants with the national program which helps low-income and elderly clients. But for now, the program is back in full swing.

Stepping out on the floor to begin her twirling routine is the most invigorating component of competition for Whitman Hanson majorette Shannon Winslow of Hanson, current Miss Majorette Royalty of Massachusetts.

Hanson’s Wage and Personnel Board – comprised of the Board of Selectmen – approved a recommendation from the Collins Center of Government Management at UMass, Boston to reorganize the Town Planner and Conservation Agent to a single position for now, and agreed to an additional floating holiday for department heads and non-union employees.

While the state’s education reform law has changed school committees’ role in personnel investigations and actions, there are some cases where the line blurs and school commmittees seek more information. They no longer have an automatic right to it and in most cases, it becomes a don’t ask, don’t tell scenario.

Whitman Selectmen Tuesday night joined the effort to block plans by the Patrick Administration to close Taunton State Hospital.

Members of the School Committee on Wednesday, Feb. 15 were scheduled to be briefed by legal counsel James Toomey on the panel’s role involving district personnel issues. They will also conduct a detailed discussion on the fiscal 2013 budget.