Sign of the times? Or something else? [HN PHOTOS]

HYANNIS – [HN NOTES] – HN saw this woman and her baby standing on the corner with a sign asking for money for her family. I parked and asked her if I could have a word with her. She told me she is Armenian and she didn’t speak English. If she is in need, HN readers have literally raised thousands of dollars in the past to help. I started explaining I was with “the news” and she looked at my camera and told me she was going to call the police on me. I said that would be fine but I really just wanted to know if both her and her child were okay. She quickly folded up her sign and walked away, disappearing from the vicinity.

I looked across the street and saw another woman with same the type of sign (above). Both women had been together earlier, sharing a pizza… as if on a lunch break. I went to speak with that woman, still very concerned about the baby and mom that had just hastily left the area. Once this woman saw me she began packing up, folded her sign and left the area. Strange.

I drove south on Rte 132 toward the next intersection at Independence Drive. There were two women also standing at that intersection. Both were holding similar signs, same cardboard, similar handwriting, different misspellings… I approached one of the women (above) and showed her my press credentials and asked if I could have a word with her… still wondering about the baby and the others, as they all appeared to be out panhandling together. Same deal. She immediately folded her sign and quickly began walking away from the area, even after I explained that I was just inquiring about how I could help…

I decided to drive toward Barnstable Police Headquarters to see if they knew about these people. While at the intersection of Rte. 132 and Phinney’s Lane, about to turn into the police station, I noticed a male holding a sign just like the others (above). I rolled my window down and asked if I could have a word. When he saw the camera he threatened to call the police. I told him that would be okay but I was just interested in whether HN could be of help. I pulled into police headquarters, looked back, and the man had already folded up his sign and was quickly walking away from the area. (He wasn’t breaking any laws as far as I could tell…) Again, strange…

I spoke with the shift commander and he had also been hearing about these people. We were not sure if these people were legitimately in need or not. (We definitely have our share of people in need in Hyannis…) I expressed concern about the baby. There are services to help hungry families. Are these people in need? Or is something else going on?

For the time being HN has decided to obscure the faces of these people as I am really not sure what is going on in this case. I just know these people seem evasive and not interested in speaking with HN… who can actually help them if they are, in fact, in need…

If anyone knows the actual story regarding these people… and whether they, in fact, need assistance… or whether something else is going on, please contact HN at rjbastille@yahoo.com .

P.S. – Today’s Hytown Vignette is a brought to you by Paul McCartney & Wings… [CLICK IT/CRANK IT!]