Four juveniles in Raynham were charged in connection with vehicle break-ins on Monday Police said they responded to King Street at 3 a.m for a report of a car that was broken into Officers said they also determined another car on Princess Lane was broken into surveillance showed two people wearing hooded sweatshirts backpacks and face masks in the same area An officer said they then found four juveniles attempting to flee from the area in a rideshare Police said they were wearing hooded sweatshirts Officers said they also recovered stolen property The four juveniles from Brockton were detained will appear in juvenile court on several charges Julia Hogan and Norah Shevalier during the Cardinal Spellman High School prom and grand march in Brockton on Thursday A woman died Wednesday after an MBTA Commuter Rail train collided with her vehicle in Abington Brockton's Good Samaritan hospital has a new name in wake of Steward bankruptcy. What is it? Members of the East Bridgewater Fire Department received commendation awards from the Select Board for their efforts in saving an injured tree worker's life in March here are five of the top stories from the past week Brockton fatal shooting update: Brockton fatal Easter shooting update: Defense says suspect tried to save brother's life What the judges said: Conor James' playoff round performance released as 'The Voice' teaser: What the judges said Did James make it to live shows? Conor James' playoff round on 'The Voice' results: Did he make it to live shows? Conor James competes on 'The Voice': Conor James of Bridgewater, MA competes on 'The Voice' Woman dead after collision: Update: Woman dead after MBTA Commuter Rail train collides with her vehicle in Abington MBTA commuter train collides with SUV: MBTA commuter rail train collides with vehicle in Abington. What we know Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton has a new name The West Side hospital's new owners announced the change on Thursday It's been expected since the Boston-based nonprofit system took over as Steward Health Care once the nation's largest private hospital system "Today is a proud day for our hospital as we take this next integration step into BMC Health System," Matthew Hesketh Brockton's Good Sam hospital renamed: Brockton's Good Samaritan hospital has new name in wake of Steward bankruptcy. What is it? Good Sam hospital has to change name: Good Samaritan hospital in Brockton has to change its name. Why, when and what to know Interim Fire Chief Kevin Nord announced in a written statement resulted in lifesaving efforts rendered to a citizen in distress," the commendation states East Bridgewater firefighters recognized East Bridgewater firefighters recognized for 'heroic' rescue of injured tree worker Rescue team saves injured worker: Rescue team saves injured tree worker trapped 47 feet up in East Bridgewater Staff writer Kathy Bossa can be reached by email at kbossa@enterprisenews.com Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Enterprise today Hundreds of Arnone School students lined Newbury Street in Brockton waving American flags and saluting as his hearse passed by on its way to the cemetery Rooney, affectionately known as "Rambo" to his friends, "was a steadfast member of the community, whose legacy of service and dedication will be cherished by all who knew him," according to his obituary written by his friend Gregory Karas of Brockton went from Russell & Pica Funeral Home on Belmont Street in Brockton to the Calvary Cemetery Commercial Street Post Office and City Hall The procession was led by Brockton and Massachusetts State Police motorcycle units a son of the late Roger and Florence Rooney He was raised and educated in Brockton and remained a lifelong resident of the city "John was very a humble person," Karas said Good Sam has new name Brockton's Good Samaritan hospital has new name in wake of Steward bankruptcy. What is it? said he met Rooney three years ago when he was asked to assist a veteran "I then helped John obtain his veterans benefits and we became friends," Karas said "I checked in on him every couple of days," he said helped him with his shopping and made sure he paid his bills on time." Rooney worked as an orderly at the Brockton VA before entering the military 9940th Training Unit at Fort Sam Houston in Texas which described him as a "proud" Korean War veteran Real estate report 'Spacious' colonial-style house on Brian Drive in Brockton sold for $547K "His bravery and commitment to his country during a time of great uncertainty exemplified the values of courage and sacrifice," his obituary said "John carried the experiences of his service with grace and he remained a proud and humble veteran throughout his life." He retired from the United States Postal Service after 28 years as a letter carrier in Boston neighborhoods Karas said Rooney enjoyed watching many sports "He would quote the stats of players and tell you everything about their career — even where they grew up — going back to players from the 1960s," Karas said "Every Wednesday we would look at all the teams playing on Sunday and John could accurately pick each week's winners with amazing accuracy Rooney also enjoyed listening to 1970s music The two friends also enjoyed having lunch together Karas said Rooney also loved butterscotch candy "I think he had more bags than the store," Karas joked Karas asked funeral director David Russell to put a bag of the candy in Rooney's casket Rooney was predeceased by his twin brothers His funeral was held at the Russell & Pica Funeral Home on Tuesday followed by a graveside funeral service in Calvary Cemetery with full military honors and Massachusetts National Army Guard-Military Funeral Honors took part in the graveside service "John’s memory will live on in the hearts of all who had the privilege of knowing him and love will never be forgotten," his obituary said RAYNHAM (WBSM) —- Four juveniles from Brockton have been charged in connection with vehicle break-ins early this morning in Raynham According to Raynham Police Chief David LaPlante today to reports of a vehicle that had been broken into on King Street officers determined another vehicle on Princess Lane had been broken into as well LaPlante said the investigation led to surveillance video that showed “two suspects wearing hooded sweatshirts backpacks and face masks.” Police later located four juveniles attempting to leave the area in a rideshare vehicle masks and gloves consistent with the surveillance video.” He said officers also recovered stolen property from the individuals consistent with the vehicle break-ins 16 and 17 and all from Brockton – were taken to the police station and will later be summoned to appear in Taunton Juvenile Court on multiple charges Four juveniles from Brockton have been charged in connection with vehicle break-ins early this morning in Raynham.\nRead More See anyone you know?48 PHOTOSBrockton High School staff arrive for the junior prom at the Clarion Hotel in Taunton on Friday Brockton High School junior Asland Gray arrives for her prom at the Clarion Hotel in Taunton on Friday The REAL ID enforcement deadline is almost here you will need a REAL ID — or a passport — to travel by plane domestically or enter certain federal facilities here's what you need to know and how to get one in Brockton And if you think you'll be needing a REAL ID anytime soon, you're going to want to get in line as soon as possible at the Registry of Motor Vehicles because you won't get your REAL ID right away "Customers should be aware that it can take 10 to 14 business days from the day of their appointment to receive their RMV credential in the mail," the Massachusetts DOT said in a written statement Here's how many people have REAL IDs in Brockton and the Brockton area We will also take you through the process of getting a REAL ID and answer some questions you may have What is a REAL ID?A REAL ID is a driver's license or other state-issued ID that meets enhanced security standards The Transportation Security Administration will begin requiring compliant documentation for adults at U.S The rule — which also applies to certain other federal facilities and nuclear power plants — stems from the 2005 REAL ID Act REAL IDs are marked by a star-shaped mark on their top half. According to data from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation 35% of Brockton residents had REAL ID RMV (Registry of Motor Vehicles) credentials But what is the percentage for other cities and towns in the Brockton area How do you get a real ID in Brockton?Brockton residents can register for a REAL ID at the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles in Brockton Walk-ins are available Monday through Friday The RMV in Brockton is not open on Sundays The cost of upgrading to a Real ID in Massachusetts depends on whether or not the license is also being renewed, according to the RMV. Can you get a REAL ID online?No. According to a written statement from the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles However, you can go online to schedule your appointment by visiting the RMV’s Online Service Center at Mass.Gov/myRMV or if you are a AAA member at https://northeast.aaa.com/automotive/registry-services/massachusetts.html you can renew it online as long as you have not had a name change Can you still get a REAL ID after the May 7 deadline?Yes May 7 is not the deadline to obtain a REAL ID The RMV will be issuing those on an ongoing basis May 7 is just the date when you will start to need the REAL ID — or a passport — to fly domestically or enter certain federal facilities Appointments can still be scheduled after May 7 and walk-ins will be available If you have any additional questions about a REAL ID you can contact the RMV online or call the Brockton RMV at 857-368-8000 With reporting by Nathan Diller of USA Today and Melina Khan (This story was updated to accurately reflect the most current information.) The educational television show “Hero In U” will premiere its newest episode This episode marks a collaboration with Boston Bruins Foundation President and Bruins alumnus Bob Sweeney according to a written statement by Jensen Denoyes Sweeney will share how his journey in hockey began and the mindset that carried him from player to leader "This episode brings local and professional voices together to explore how self-control shapes leadership and sportsmanship," Denoyes said "Hero In U: Self Control" (Episode 19) will feature interviews with the Stoughton/Brockton High School Boys Hockey Team and Coach Dan Mark and Above All Fitness Center Owner and Personal Trainer Jay Cabusco “This collaboration with Bob Sweeney and the Boston Bruins Foundation has helped elevate this episode in a major way,” Denoyes said in the written statement “From NHL leadership to local student-athletes every voice in this episode reinforces how self-control builds champions in sports and in life.” The team behind this episode includes host and executive producer Jensen Denoyes "Hero In U" is a youth empowerment television series based on the South Shore "The series is dedicated to showcasing positive role models and stories that inspire resilience and community leadership — especially among at-risk youth seeking guidance and encouragement through media," Denoyes said The show connects real-life experiences with lessons from comic book heroes Denoyes said this episode will also feature a segment on "Self-Control" as portrayed in "The Incredible Hulk No "This comic book example is an engaging tool to discuss the episode's theme further." "Hero In U: Self Control" will air again at 7 p.m past episodes can be viewed at www.findthehero.com McNaught threw her second no-hitter for the month of April McNaught received 13,424 votes and 53.34% of the total poll East Bridgewater softball's Maddie Blette was runner up with 8,590 votes (34.13%) Here are the candidates from the last week of spring sports knocking in 2 RBIs and scoring 2 runs in the Green Wave's 7-4 win over Norwell giving up no earned runs with 3 walks and 12 strikeouts in a 6-4 win over East Bridgewater She also had 12 strikeouts in a shutout victory over Norwell Bridgewater-Raynham girls lacrosseKeefe scored 24 total goals in four games including 6 goals and an assist in an 11-9 win over Nantucket She also put up the same stat line in a 12-9 loss to Falmouth and had 8 goals in a 23-11 loss to Bishop Feehan Barnes tallied 3 hits and drove in 4 runs in a 14-3 win over Bishop Stang Schlossberg struck out 13 while also driving in 5 RBIs in a 15-2 win over Pembroke going 3-for-5 with 5 runs and 8 RBIs in a 21-4 win over Sharon She also hit a 2-run homer in a 3-2 loss to North Attleboro Hornung threw her 100th strikeout of the season in a 12-6 win over Blue Hills She also pitched 7 innings with 9 strikeouts and no earned runs in a 3-2 win over Tri-County Whitman-Hanson softballLeonard hit a triple and a double for 4 RBIs Balfe scored the game-winning goal in overtime in a 9-8 win over Quincy She also netted 5 goals in a 13-10 loss to West Springfield Send future nominations to rvermette@gannett.com Our player of the week stories are meant as a way to highlight local high school athletes in the area Making the list is an achievement in itself BROCKTON, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — The class of 2025 at Brockton High School are getting ready to walk the stage they celebrated locking into the next chapter of their life A wall of acceptance letters hung high outside the school’s administration office Principal Kevin McCaskill told WBZ NewsRadio that it doesn't matter if it’s college While decision day is all about the excitement some students said they are feeling quite sentimental “[Feeling] bittersweet at times but also really proud of my class,” one senior said “It’s like hitting really hard that like our journey is ending at high school,” another graduating student added McCaskill said that he couldn’t be more proud of this year's senior class and their accomplishments “Seeing that they’re content with them and see that there’s something else for them after high school “This senior class has been such a great example for our underclassmen.” WBZ NewsRadio's Jay Willett (@JayWillettWBZ) reports Brockton Neighborhood Health Center has laid off 65 employees, according to state records The job losses are a blow to the nonprofit health care organization It's also a setback for downtown Brockton. BNHC is the largest employer in downtown, according to the center's website and before the layoffs had more than 700 employees The center began by serving 12 patients out of a single van in 1992 the center is a major pillar of downtown with a five-story clinic at 63 Main St chief executive officer of BNHC said in a prepared statement “Our employees are the heart of our mission We are grateful for their compassion and unwavering commitment to our patients it is also necessary to ensure BNHC can continue serving the Brockton community for the long term.” Uncertainty about $6.5M in federal grantsThe center citied rising operational costs reduced health care funding and reimbursements that don't cover costs Looming over it all is uncertainty about federal funding from the Trump Administration Celli and former CEO Sue Joss said the center received about $6.5 million in federal grants That's about 7.5% of their operating budget 'A place of their own' Will Brockton's new 24-7 housing center end homelessness crisis? BNHC says it will continue to offer its full range of services. They include helping low-income Brocktonians find a doctor, get eye care, dental care, maternity care and mental health support, among other programs "Every effort is being made to minimize disruption to patient care and to support impacted employees with transition resources," the center said in a prepared statement “Our mission has not changed,” Celli said in the statement “We are here and will continue to be here to serve the BNHC community at large!” Send your news tips to reporter Chris Helms by email at CHelms@enterprisenews.com or connect on X at @HelmsNews BROCKTON — Some city of Brockton employees would get four paid personal days under a proposal from the mayor aimed to boost the city's competitiveness in hiring Mayor Robert F. Sullivan formally pitched the idea to the Brockton City Council on Monday Only full-time employees would be eligible The increase in benefits would apply to a particular set of city workers: Ones appointed by the mayor subject to city council approval It would apply to fewer than 40 job titles many of which won't be eligible as they are not full-time jobs according to a list provided by the city clerk "Mayor Sullivan aims to position the City of Brockton as an employer of choice by enhancing the paid time off policy for ordinance employees aligning it with those of comparable organizations," the mayor's office said in a prepared statement 'Honor of my lifetime' Brockton Mayor Robert Sullivan won't seek re-election. What he said Mayor says move won't cost moneySullivan said there's no financial downside to the proposal "This improvement carries no financial impact to the City as vacancies created by personal day use are generally not filled thus incurring no cost," the mayor's office statement said the days are not carried over year to year." That means employees can't "bank" these days off "Personal days granted pursuant to this ordinance are intended solely as a benefit to promote employee wellness and work-life balance," the mayor's draft law reads Eventful 5 years for Brockton mayor COVID hotspot, budget scandal, epic fire Full-time employees in this category get two weeks' vacation with pay. If approved, the mayor's idea would add four paid personal days. Workers must complete three months of employment before becoming eligible. The current local law requires a full year of service before vacation eligibility begins The draft would also give the mayor authority to grant vacation credit for employees with relevant experience in previous government or private sector jobs This power can't be used to give an employee more than the maximum vacation they'd otherwise be eligible to receive City councilors will work on the proposal in an upcoming meeting of their ordinance committee. You can read the draft proposal in full at this link according to the Hampden County District Attorney’s Office Brockton gathered at the War Memorial to honor the 18 Brocktonians who lost their lives in the Vietnam War "This is something that's long overdue for the city of Brockton," said Dennis Hursey A Whitman man won a $200 a week for life prize in the Massachusetts State Lottery’s new “$200 a Week for Life" instant ticket game 2 Brockton construction workers killed in triple fatal highway crashThree construction workers — including two from Brockton — were struck and killed Friday, March 28, while repairing damaged guardrails on I-91 North in West Springfield, according to the Hampden County District Attorney’s Office is now facing three counts of manslaughter and one count of leaving the scene of personal injury and death 'Tragic and unfair': ‘Tragic and unfair’: 2 Brockton construction workers killed in triple fatal highway crash A 20-year-old from Brockton was identified as the victim of an overnight shooting Friday, March 28 according to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s office was reportedly found suffering from a gunshot wound lying face down on a sidewalk outside 88 Lenox St Victim identified: 20-year-old victim identified in fatal Brockton shooting, funeral services announced Man shot on Lenox Street has died: UPDATE: Man shot in Brockton overnight on Lenox Street has died: What we know On Saturday, March 29, Brockton gathered at the War Memorial to honor Marine Cpl Staniszewski and 17 other Brocktonians who lost their lives in the Vietnam War "It should have been done 30 years ago." Hursey The Brockton teacher and coach went to the mayor's office with the idea for a remembrance ceremony 'Long overdue': 'Long overdue': Brockton honors its 18 'American heroes' killed in Vietnam. Who were they? A Whitman man won a $200 a week for life prize in the Massachusetts State Lottery’s new “$200 a Week for Life" instant ticket game the lottery announced in a written statement on March 31 The $2 instant ticket game went on sale on Feb Whitman man wins instant ticket game: Whitman man wins '$200 a Week for Life' instant ticket game. What he'll do with winnings An unidentified man was killed in a car fire on a roadway in Hanson shortly before 3 a.m Hanson officials found the adult male on Union Street inside a 2012 Chevrolet Impala with the engine compartment engulfed in flames who was the sole occupant in the burning vehicle The victim was transported to an area hospital where he was later pronounced dead Man killed in car fire in Hanson: Man killed in car fire on Hanson roadway in middle of night. What we know BROCKTON — Moises Rodrigues is running for mayor. "We've got to create a more harmonious relationship of the powers in this city," the six-term city councilor said Wednesday He'll make the official announcement Friday at a campaign kickoff He's managed the city's corner office before. In 2019, fellow city councilors made him acting mayor after Mayor Bill Carpenter died in office. He ran the city for seven months. To get the job for real, he'll need to win a mayoral prelinary election in September and two-person general election in November. If successful, he'd be both the 49th and 51st mayor of Brockton Rodrigues confirmed to the Enterprise on Wednesday that he's running. On March 9, he signed papers turning his city council campaign finance account into a mayoral one "I'm running because I was urged by people to run," said Rodrigues, who is executive director of the non-profit Cape Verdean Association of Brockton. No U.S. city is home to more people from Cabo Verde than Brockton, according to census data The city's top elected job will be open after Mayor Robert F. Sullivan announced recently that he would not seek a fourth term in November Rodrigues is likely to have company as other candidates come forward Candidates cannot pick up nomination papers until April worked in the administration of former Mayor Jim Harrington as director of communications He's in his twelfth year as an at-large city councilor meaning he was elected by voters across all seven wards Rodrigues made an unsuccessful bid for the Democratic nomination for state senator losing to incumbent Michael Brady in a district that spans well beyond Brockton Tensions between the city and schools over the deficit-spending crisis have marked Brockton politics since the scandal became public in August 2023 Rodrigues said residents deserve not to have resources taken from public safety and road repair he cited when the city reduced the Department of Public Works budget to shore up the schools "We owe it to the taxpayers in the community," he said "Imagine what $750,000 of road work could do for the city?" Rodrigues' campaign kickoff is 6 p.m. Friday, March 21, at Venue 727 on Warren Avenue BROCKTON —A Brockton District Court judge rejected requests Tuesday to release two people charged in connection to a fatal Brockton shooting as newly revealed evidence was revealed in court In a pre-trial hearing Tuesday, April 8, Judge Jeanmarie Carroll denied bail to Rivaldo Jean, 23, and Imani Angela Cort, 21, who were accused of robbing and killing 54-year-old Frantzy Jeanty inside a Brockton apartment in November 2024 breaking and entering and larceny over $1,200 Jean also pleaded not guilty to gun and ammunition violations firing a gun within 500 feet of a dwelling and using a gun while committing a felony What happened? State claims woman lured Brockton murder victim to open the door for his killer Prosecutors said video surveillance shows Jean and Cort enter the apartment building and approach the unit where Jeanty lived video surveillance also allegedly shows Jean enter the apartment before gunshots can be heard Jean allegedly left the apartment carrying a suitcase that investigators said contained a small safe with thousands of dollars in cash The two fled the scene in a white Audi registered to a Middleboro address connected to Cort In addition to the surveillance video and car prosecutors said a palm print that matched Jean’s was found on a window at the scene Police arrested Imani at a Middleboro address connected to the white Audi the day after the shooting Jean was arrested in Dorchester the following day Brockton real estate sales Stoughton home sold for $992K offers over 5,000 square feet of 'elegant living space' 'No resemblance': Defense argues against video evidenceJean’s defense attorney Neil Madden requested Tuesday his client be released on bail due to a lack of evidence “There is no evidence except a palm print,” Madden said in court “There’s nothing that indicates he is the man in the video There’s no resemblance whatsoever,” he said investigators claimed to have found $6,000 cash in Jean’s mother’s apartment had bank receipts proving it was not the money taken from Jeanty's apartment Cort’s defense attorney also argued she be released on bail on the grounds that she has no prior criminal record she was a student at American University in Washington D.C and had plans to attend the University of Massachusetts Amherst Both requests for bail were denied pending a probable cause hearing on May 8 Cort's mother and several members of Jean's family attended Tuesday's pre-trial hearing BROCKTON — About 70 people packed a conference room at Brockton City Hall Wednesday for a chance to scoop up houses and lots for cheap money The city put up nine city-owned properties for sale to the highest bidder Previous owners had lost the properties for reasons such as not paying taxes "It's a terrific outcome today and it shows you that that there's no question, there's investors that want to be in the city," auctioneer Paul T. Zekos said after the adrenaline-pumping session Zekos said auctions like these generate one-time revenue for the city and give the new owners a chance to put some "sweat equity" into them and get them back on the tax rolls "We've had a very transparent sale and open to the public She was in particular watching two properties in Ward 7 "There was a good crowd and I think it went really well," said Asack who said it may have been as much as eight years since the last such city auction Here's a list of the nine properties up for auction Thursday and what they sold for We've listed them from most expensive to least Bidding for this unoccupied single-family home on .17 acres provided drama As the video at the beginning of this story shows one bidder who had matched her competitors every step of the way decided to go no further than $390,000 but she stood her ground and let someone else pay $400,000 for the property 26 Debbie Road $300,000This ranch house sits on a .28 acre corner lot 1 bath property fetched $300,000 despite still being occupied This long, narrow lot is about 2.2 acres Auctioneer Zekos joked about it being perfect to put a mother-in-law apartment at the far end It's currently empty but used to have a house on it The nonprofit group hopes to place four to six "tiny homes" on the property The acronym stands for "Home Ownership Made Economically." The coalition will work with low- and moderate-income people also known around the city as "Game," said that the homes could be between 400 and 800 square feet apiece Lauture said the project would "give some good people an opportunity to build some generational wealth." This rectangular, .30 acre lot is empty It's near Fitzpatrick Circle just north of downtown Claredon Street $165,000This small empty lot sits at the dead end of Claredon Street on the East Side This oddly shaped lot has frontage not just on Warren Avenue but also on Packard Way "The unique shaped parcel presents a worthy commercial or residential investment and development opportunity that warrants further analysis." This tiny piece of Brockton is barely more than a tenth of an acre Despite warnings to bidders that the deed has a "no build" restriction This flat, vacant parcel of .17 acres sits on the South Side backing up to the West Bridgewater town line One property didn't sell on Wednesday. No one bid on the landlocked .15 acre empty parcel BROCKTON — Robert F. Sullivan, the 50th mayor of Brockton announced Friday he would not seek a fourth term The Brockton native and 1988 graduate of Brockton High broke the news to about 75 supporters politicians and city hall employees in a press conference outside his office "I have said since embarking on this journey of a lifetime that the title of 'mayor' has been the honor of my lifetime but the title of 'dad' is my most prized label," Sullivan said His decision makes the 2025 mayoral election to be wide open and incumbent-free A series of deadlines for potential successors begins April 28 when the Election Commission makes nomination papers available He said any endorsement he might make would come after candidates have come forward Became mayor right before COVID pandemicSullivan won his first two-year term in 2019 after 14 years as a city councilor. Shortly after he was sworn into office in January 2020, dealing with the COVID pandemic became job No. 1. he highlighted the $2 million of federal pandemic relief funds he disbursed to local nonprofits and other steps he took "We emerged from the pandemic stronger than before Magnificient Victorian-style home on Whitmarsh Lane in East Bridgewater sells for $960K 'Successes and challenges' during five years as mayorHe cataloged some of the "successes and challenges" of his tenure And there were times when it truly seemed like we would not get out of that and the state would take us over through collaboration and teamwork and working together In a nod to the sometimes testy relationship between the city and the schools as Brockton tries to get its fiscal house back in order Sullivan said a "new era of collaboration" is underway Sullivan said his administration is leaving "a record of accomplishments and progress that will impact our city of the next generation and beyond." He cited several big-ticket projects started or finished under his watch Others include renovations of the Mary Cruise Kennedy Senior Center using millions of dollars in federal and state pandemic relief money had no children when he first ran for city council and now their oldest child will be starting college in the fall and being a husband to Maria are my most important and cherished titles," he said BROCKTON — Three construction workers — including two from Brockton — were struck and killed Friday, March 28, while repairing damaged guardrails on I-91 North in West Springfield, according to the Hampden County District Attorney’s Office The three victims were identified by officials as Igor Costa “We are devastated by this sudden, tragic loss,” Almeida’s family wrote on a GoFundMe page set up for their family and his loss is tragic and unfair,” they wrote Almeida and Bohorquez were repairing a guardrail near the entrance of an exit ramp on I-91 in West Springfield at approximately 12:50 a.m Friday when a vehicle heading northbound plowed into them Massachusetts State Police troopers and West Springfield Police captured Griffith in West Springfield a few hours later in Springfield District Court and is being held on $1 million cash bail His next court appearance is scheduled for April 2 BROCKTON — The saying goes, "It's raining cats and dogs," but in Brockton really it's only raining cats. For years, the city has had lots of cats roaming around. Some are feral and others were pets until owners put them outside Charles River Alleycats is an organization that traps cats in the Greater Boston area While they help cats all over the Boston area the Director of Operations Jacqueline Betty said she and her team find themselves in Brockton the most out of the 64 towns or cities they travel to There's at least one main reason why there are so many feral cats in Brockton: the high cost of spaying and neutering. But the good news is there is a solution that only costs $25 Charles River Alleycats helped 1,204 cats: 8% were feral meaning they were most likely never housed and the rest were either adoptable or returned to their owners Betty said once some people find out just how much it costs to spay and neuter their cat they decide they can't take care of that cat anymore they leave the cat outside and the cat becomes a stray "Female cats can get pregnant at 4-months old One cat can triple her population in just a year," said Betty 'Such a deceptively easy little pet' Why Brockton has a guinea pig glut and what can be done How much does it cost to spay or neuter a cat?It can cost hundreds of dollars to spay or neuter a cat at a veterinary hospital "We did our research and some of the clinics are asking for $800 including other fees and vaccines needed to keep the cat safe and healthy Most people we work with can't afford that and we work with the elderly and disabled Issues can arise at home if you don't spay or neuter your cat "They spray urine and pheromones and it's smelly they get outside to mate and break through screens and cause fights with other cats in the house People then give up on the cat and put it outside," said Betty For two years, the Charles River Alleycats has been promoting the MSPCA Cape Cod Angell Clinic's $25 spay or neuter program. This program is only for Brockton residents and the fee includes transport to the Cape Cod clinic This program was created two years ago to help with the cat population growing in Brockton Betty said when she introduces the idea to cat owners who need help many people don't know about it That's why they continue to spread the program on social media and continue to hand out flyers to cat owners What both sides say Backer of Brockton's anti-camping law says it gives 'sanctuary from this invasion' there is a flyer with a barcode that will take you to the application Not only does $25 include a spay or neuter but it also pays for transportation to the MSPCA in Cape Cod "From what I understand the transports are full This does tell me there are enough people who need this service in Brockton," said Betty Not only do Charles River Alleycats think this program will help reduce the cat population in Brockton "We can't keep up with the amount of calls we get We used to get a break with kitten calls in the winter seven years ago We've rescued multiple litters so far this year Most people I speak to want to help their cats If more people knew about this they would end up keeping their cat," said Betty To volunteer contact Charles River Alleycats at https://www.charlesriveralleycats.org/volunteer . BROCKTON — The city's newest trampoline park announced it would reopen at 10 a.m. on Saturday Brockton officials closed Urban Air Adventure Park after the fatal shootings of two teens in a nearby parking lot The 52,000-square foot recreation area will operate under beefed-up security measures after the city hauled park operators into a public hearing Monday under threat of revoking their license was mortally wounded near Starbucks Coffee At Monday's hearing, Urban Air executives and city officials agreed on a plan for the park to reopen. The 435 Westgate Drive park announced on Tuesday that it would reopen on Saturday. In addition to trampolines "We want the business to be successful," Licence Commission Chairperson Jeffrey Charnel said to Urban Air executives during the video conference meeting The city will require two police officers on detail on Fridays That also applies for school vacation weeks which drive high volume to trampoline parks A fire department representative will also be assigned to monitor the business during those times The Licence Commission will look to police to determine when it might be safe to end these requirements the city will require one police officer on duty there was no police detail working at Urban Air to the knowledge of Brockton Police spokesperson Darren Duarte A new date had not been announced as of Monday for the park's grand opening said they hoped to hold it on a Saturday in May The location has lost a minimum of $180,000 from the city forcing it to close BROCKTON — Whether or not you're a fan of Mayor Robert F he's presided over an eventful and arguably historic five years that have changed Brockton forever Cities across the country took different approaches Sullivan was among the mayors who never shut down construction work After Sullivan announced on Friday he will not be seeking be seeking a fourth term in office in November we thought we'd look back at some of the highlights of his time in office Beyond the pandemicManaging the worst pandemic since 1918 might have been enough drama for any mayor Federal dollars later poured into Brockton through the American Rescue Plan Act and other sources Sullivan steered those millions to renovation and building projects They include a $7.7 million makeover of the Mary Cruise Kennedy Senior Center the renovation of the Cosgrove Pool and refurbishing City Hall to establish good air flow through the grand old pile Long-awaited public safety building to open this summerAside from those one-time federal dollars, Sullivan's time in office has seen a new public safety building rise at the top of American Legion Parkway The $146 million project is expected to open this summer It will put the Brockton Police and Fire departments under one roof Project managers underestimated the amount of bedrock they'd hit and how much it would cost to truck contaminated soil off the site and as far away as Ohio Building location, size, timeline, more Last beam raised on $146M Brockton public safety building. Sullivan's terms will also be remembered for the city's worst financial crisis since the 1990s Brockton Public Schools went millions of dollars into the red from poor budget management skyrocketing costs from the decision to bring school bus transportation in-house and other factors Sullivan has acknowledged that Brockton came to the edge of bankruptcy School and city officials have since worked to stabilize finances COVID wasn't the only unexpected crisis to manage Fire broke out at Brockton Hospital on Feb with the efforts of hundreds of hospital employees and first responders That put Brockton down to just one trauma center: Good Samaritan Medical Center. Brockton Hospital reopened 553 days later Heated, in-ground swimming pool Victorian-style home on Whitmarsh Lane in East Bridgewater sells for $960K Brockton mayors preside over the School Committee. Sullivan got himself into hot water by taking an $8,000 a year stipend that he stopped taking He asked the city's law department to rule on whether the additional payments violated city ordinances pledging to repay what he'd already been paid if so March 11 that the law department ruled that Brockton mayors are not eligible for the school committee stipend which includes all of the stipend he'd received Sullivan's mayoral election results2019 mayoral preliminary*Robert F Pereira 3,321Jean Bradley Derenoncourt 2,876Mark Lawton 1,921 2019 mayoralSullivan 9,794Pereira 6,864 2021 mayoral preliminary*Sullivan 4,251Tina Cardoso 1,338 2021 mayoralSullivan 8,093Cardoso 3,194 2023 mayoral preliminary*Sullivan 3,044Fred Fontaine 1,118 2023 mayoralSullivan 6,342Fontaine 3,197 * Showing only candidates who received 1,000 or more votes.Source: City of Brockton Elections Commission (This story was updated to add new information.) (This article has been updated with new information) BROCKTON — Local and state police are investigating a fatal shooting of a man overnight Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J Cruz announced Friday in a written statement Brockton Police received a 911 call at about 3:31 a.m stating that a male party was trying to open the car doors of motor vehicles parked along Monson Street Cruz said the caller described the male party as "wearing a dark colored jacket with fur." At about the same time Brockton Police received another 911 call from a caller stating that they heard gunshots outside their residence and saw someone lying face down on the sidewalk out front The victim was transported to Good Samaritan Hospital where he was pronounced dead of his injuries Brockton Police contacted the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office "The investigation is active and ongoing at this time this incident does not appear to be a random act of violence," the DA said BROCKTON — The city accused the new trampoline park near Westgate Mall of failing to follow through on agreed safety measures around its "soft opening" on March 22. That evening, two teens were shot and killed across Westgate Drive from Urban Air Adventure Park The company confirmed in a letter that the confrontation that led to the shootings began in the line to get in to the trampoline park "The affirmative indifference to truth, the failure to implement necessary safety measures and the misrepresentation of the event planned for March 22, 2025 is unacceptable," said a letter from Brockton City Solicitor Megan Bridges Park executives attended a Brockton License Commission video conference hearing on Monday under threat of the city revoking its license to operate "The basis of the complaint is a misunderstanding or difference of opinion of what a 'soft opening' constituted," said Jeff Hoyum an Arizona-based operations manager for Urban Air What does Urban Air say?In a written reply to the city's March 26 letter "There was and is certainly no 'indifference to truth' or a 'failure to implement safety measures' as evidenced by our quick response to a disruption in the parking lot We are sickened at the events of that evening." The letter includes the company's account of what happened was a student at Brockton's Champion High School while Alvarez Police continue to search for the suspected gunman, Davinci Leonard, 22 Authorities believe he fled Brockton following the shooting What is a 'soft opening'?"Soft openings" are common at any business that deals with the public will open for friends and family to test workflows and identify any changes needed The plan for Urban Air had been for a soft opening starting Saturday March 22 ramping up to a grand opening on Saturday there were never more than 200 to 250 people in the building The 52,000-square foot facility has a legal capacity of more than 600 The city did not expect that many people to show up at Urban Air for its first day open to the public. That's partly because Urban Air did do some promotion and marketing. The company said it spent only $1,392.68 on promotion. The Enterprise ran an article on March 20 about the opening prompted by a press release from the franchise owners Cheryl and Thomas Ng City officials had expected it to be just employees and family of employees "The soft opening was plainly misrepresented by UBA Brockton "A true soft opening is not an event advertised to the general public but rather a practice round "Soft openings are not limited to friends and family," the company wrote "If the public finds out about the soft opening organically Urban Air franchisees are expected to spend between $45,000 and $60,000 to promote grand openings said that to his knowledge no police detail was in place on the day of the shooting David Farrell spoke Monday about the city's experience with the one on the South Side He said he expects the new park to be more popular given its location Asked during the meeting about his experience with Funz Trampoline Park during school vacation weeks the lieutenant said "Traditionally we don't have trouble during the day The next vacation week for Brockton Public Schools is Monday, April 21 to Friday, April 25 said he had received reports that adolescents — not their parents or guardians — signed waivers at Urban Air Minors should not be signing their own waivers in a nod to the Ng family being based in that state Charnel said he would ask police to pull security footage if necessary to show if minors are signing their own waivers Charnel also said the teens who tend to work at Urban Air locations need training Hoyum said the company has a strong and ongoing training program He said about 80% of their workforce is under 18 "I've been in the industry 30 years," Hoyum said has the most amount of training that exists for the whole industry." BROCKTON — If you always wanted to be a professional baseball player when you were growing up The Brockton Rox are looking for new players to join their "Revival Season" — now that the team has new owners, including Red Sox Hall of Famer Jim Rice Team President Shawn Reilly and Bill and Rob Janetscheck is looking for talented members of the public as well as free agents which means players cannot be under a current contract The plan is to take new talent to spring training the following week after tryouts Brockton Rox Baseball Coach and General Manager Jerod Edmundson said 'This is a big sports market' Jim Rice leads revamped Brockton Rox ahead of revival season How can I sign up for open tryouts?To sign up for open tryouts, potential players need to sign up online and pay $103.52 plus bring their necessary equipment for game day Potential players can also show up at Campanelli Stadium on April 26 and pay in cash the owners and other management are open to anything they want to win the Frontier Championship so they are going to be "very competitive tryouts." the Rox have 24 players on the roster and several have signed up for open tryouts But Edmundson said they don't have a certain number of players they want to sign for this season which is someone who can play multiple positions on the team and we're always looking for pitchers," said Edmundson Edmundson said the first day will be a pro-style workout with batting practices and pitching practices these potential players will be front and center before the Brockton Rox staff members "We can't confirm if Jim Rice will be there," said Edmundson You have to be at least 18 years old to try out Shawn Reilly is also a co-owner of another Frontier League team, the New York Boulders. The two teams will face off at the Rox's first home game this year on Friday, May 15. Since Reilly also has connections in New York potential players who try out for the Rox could find themselves getting recommended to the Boulders if the Rox don't have a spot for them New York Boulders are doing their own thing but we are always communicating with them just like they are always communicating with us," said Edmundson A Birthday party at Campanelli Stadium? Brockton Rox ticket options, prices, parking The Enterprise reached out to Campanelli Stadium and they said they will be open those two days Staff and scouts will be the only ones who can watch open tryouts BROCKTON — Heights Crossing has become home to a Brockton High School reunion decades in the making The assisted living community has become a gathering place for many Brockton residents who grew up in the city allowing old friends to reconnect and reminisce about their high school days fondly remembers her time at Brockton High “I just loved being there and I loved my friends that were there It was just so easy to make friends,” Buckley said She recalls the proms and sports games at Eldon B said that Brockton High was a “really great school” where she forged many lasting friendships to walk a mile and a half to school in high heels “We went through a lot of nylons that week,” she joked Keohane maintained her Brockton pride throughout her career working as a clerk at Brockton City Hall for 26 years where she connected with Brocktonians from all walks of life was a popular cheerleader and made many lasting friendships at Brockton High She enjoyed attending football and basketball games with her friends and worked part-time at Edgar's department store She fondly remembers cheering on the sports teams in Boston Garden and spending time with her best friend Terese “TC” O’Connor cherishes the friendships she made in high school There was just so much to enjoy there,” she said She went on to marry her high school sweetheart and the couple has been together for 66 years she became a teacher’s assistant and librarian at Brockton High School and she and Paul raised their children in Brockton was heavily involved in the music department at Brockton High He sang in the 16-member male chorus and even remembers a few lines from the songs they sang He and his wife met as teenagers while working at Brockton Hospital and their first date was the Brockton High prom All four of their children eventually graduated from their parents' alma mater David Eldridge graduated from Brockton High School in 1960 he worked in The Enterprise shipping department and enjoyed attending football games with his friends He later became a pastor and served at the Trinity Baptist Church in Brockton for seven years Re-connecting with old friends over shared memories 'good old days'After moving to Heights Crossing these residents’ Brockton pride never left Their shared memories of growing up in the City of Champions allowed many of them to reconnect Even if decades had passed since they had seen each other they said the comfort and camaraderie they felt when they greeted one another in the hallways or sat by the fireplace reminiscing about the tight-knit Brockton community of the “good old days.” including former neighbors Sis McGillis and Paul and Terese O’Connor Their families had grown up together in Brockton and had raised their children nearby Even those not directly from his neighborhood or high school years shared similar life experiences which allowed him to feel a sense of community and Nancy Roberts immediately rekindled their friendship upon moving in recalling with joy when they first reunited years after they had drifted apart she immediately knocked on O'Connor's door it was comforting to know that she always had someone to reminisce with and ask her favorite question the shared history and pride in their hometown of Brockton strengthens these residents’ bonds in the community they now call home What is Heights Crossing?Heights Crossing at 35 Christy's Place in Brockton offers assisted living and a secure Compass Memory Support Neighborhood for seniors with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia. Learn more at www.HeightsCrossing.com BROCKTON - Brockton Public Schools Superintendent Priya Tahiliani will lead the district until at least 2027, as the School Committee voted 5-3 last week to extend her contract as well as increase her salary Members approved a $35,000 pay increase for Tahiliani The new contract will become official after it is signed by both Tahiliani and the full School Committee at their next meeting "I have been here a short time but I do hope that I have somewhat proved myself... at least proved my commitment to Brockton," said Tahiliani, who took over as interim superintendent of BPS in July 2024. "There is a lot of work to do and I look forward to staying committed to doing it and being a stabilizing force in the district." Three members of the committee did not vote in favor of extending her contract and increasing her salary which rose from $235,000 to $270,000 with no additional increases or benefits Brockton Mayor and School Committee Chair Robert F Sullivan voted "no" to her updated contract along with School Committee member Judy Sullivan from Ward Five and member Tim Sullivan from Ward Seven (the three are not related) We are not out of the woods yet financially," said Mayor Sullivan I think we have a little more time to see where we are The school board has been discussing the superintendent's potential new contract in closed-door sessions since mid-December and Tuesday's vote followed a roughly 50-minute executive session "There has to be an evaluation by the school committee first before there's any increases given," said Judy Sullivan "I don't think we've had enough time to know And the financial problems in the past need to come into consideration before any kind of increases are given." In September, the committee unanimously voted to strike the word "interim" from Tahiliani's job title and declare her the permanent superintendent of the school district her one-year contract that she first signed over the summer reflects the upgrade "Even in your short tenure here, you've already proven to me your dedication to this community, what your work ethic is, and where you heart is driven," said Tony Rodrigues, vice chair of the committee. "I know BPS is very happy today that you are going to be here for some time with us and move us forward A lot of people have voiced their appreciation for having you here and being more comfortable from where they were "I am confident you will be gaining more trust and confidence in this body moving forward," Rodrigues added I knew what you could bring to Brockton," said Ward Three School Committee member Ana Oliver and what you presented to us and your plans for the future of our school district meant so much to what we were going through at that moment." More: Priya Tahiliani named Brockton's permanent superintendent, school board has 'utmost trust' School board votes 5-3 for pay raiseThe committee voted on two measures regarding Tahiliani's contract they updated her existing contract from "interim" to permanent superintendent and increased her compensation to $270,000 which is on par with what former Superintendent Mike Thomas made at $278,000 Tahiliani will receive the new salary retroactive to Sept when the board named her the permanent hire the committee approved a longer-term deal for Tahiliani that would start on July 1 which can be extended for an additional year to 2028 pending a positive evaluation from the committee Judy Sullivan and Tim Sullivan voted against the contract extension as well as the pay increase in two 5-3 votes "I had to actually deny another department head just recently that wanted an extension of a contract I just can't do it right now," the mayor said "When the state gives me some breathing room and we are clear and feel good financially New Superintendent in lawsuits: Brockton Superintendent Priya Tahiliani suing former district over racism, sexism Ward Two's Claudio Gomes and Ward Six's Joyce Asack voted to approve the superintendent's new contract Vice-Chair Rodrigues said Tahiliani will be "that voice to move us forward and get us out of where we are." BPS has had a rocky couple of years following the 2023 budget overspending that ultimately led to Thomas' resignation who served as acting superintendent for the year that followed "The reason why I voted for this is because I know you have the potential and the ability to move us forward," said Oliver She added that she received calls from educators and parents in support of Tahiliani's extension a different heartbeat when we go through the schools," said Oliver They appreciate that we brought in someone that is taking accountability that is being transparent and brings so much sunshine to our students." "This gives you an opportunity now to move forward and plan ahead." Vice-Chair election: Brockton school board elects 2025 vice chair after divisive voting process Superintendent committed to BrocktonFollowing the 5-3 vote to extend her contact "There is a lot of work to do and I look forward to staying committed to doing it and being a stabilizing force in the district," she said "I do hope and feel confident that I will be able to prove myself in the coming evaluation cycle I just want to make sure that you all feel full confidence in me." "If there is anything I can ever do to demonstrate my commitment to Brockton to please just never hesitate to let me know where I am falling short or where I can do better because I want to do the best I can for the city," she added BROCKTON — Kim Gibbons' slide into homelessness started with not being able to fix her car the works," she told a crowd of 200 gathered Friday to cut the ribbon at a new shelter and housing center on Manley Street in Brockton The $20 million Smith Family Housing Resource Center and Yawkey Hall will replace the Father Bill's/MainSpring shelter downtown once it opens a key figure in the local fight against homelessness devoted themselves to helping unhoused people a health clinic staffed by Brockton Neighborhood Health Center and an employment office that helps people find work and job training There are also 32 studio apartments of permanent president and CEO of Father Bill's/MainSpring said the shelter facility aims to open in March with the apartments likely opening April 1 The new facility mirrors one Father Bill's/Main Spring opened in 2023 in Quincy Gibbons spoke of how easy it can be to find yourself without a home One example that might surprise Brocktonians is Troy Clarkson who belted out the national anthem to begin Friday's event told the crowd how he used to sleep in his car and the woods of Falmouth back when he was drinking Friday's ribbon-cutting came after 20 years of work the former director of the Brockton Redevelopment Authority He said the facilities in Quincy and now Brockton are a model for the state's Gateway Cities "These accomplishments are never about one person," Yazwinski said The new housing center sits on federal land next to the Veterans Administration hospital The city of Brockton had eyed the parcel as a new home for the department of public works among other ideas floated for the property area politicians played a key role in the ultimately successful bid to make it a facility for the homeless said we have to "see someone we love" in the faces and stories of people experiencing homelessness He said he'd like to see the model at work in Quincy and "This is the gold standard," Augustus said Sullivan said he looks forward to veterans being able to "cut through the back" to go to the VA for medical care "Today will go down as a historic day in the city of Brockton One speaker criticized city councils around the state that have voted in camping bans Brockton City Council recently overrode Sullivan's vetoes of anti-camping and anti-loitering laws CEO of the Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance said such efforts "are really not getting us anywhere." "So that is why it is so important and uplifting that we have a project like this that represents that better way forward: Solution After the speeches and ribbon-cutting came tours The shelter portion of the facility has room after room of bunk beds laundry facilities open even to folks who aren't currently staying there and easy access to mental and behavioral health providers The 32 studio apartments come with their own bathrooms Gibbons remembers first meeting people from Father Bill's when they came around to her camp with clothes She went from a tent to a homemade shed and then a camper with a generator When they offered a chance at a stable home but I learned to have faith once I was given the ultimate gift a homeless person can ask for: a place of their own," she said Wondering about a vacant building, construction site or other sign of change in or near Brockton? I’m veteran local reporter Chris Helms and I’ll help you find out. Email your questions and tips to CHelms@enterprisenews.com or connect on X at @HelmsNews BROCKTON — Authorities named the victims and suspect in Saturday night's double shooting at the Westgate Mall parking lot The victims, 15-year-old Tymari Albertson and 18-year-old Cevannah Alvarez, died from their injuries Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz said in a Tuesday press conference at his Brockton office Police are searching for the man they say shot them both: Davinci Leonard The DA's office had a "be on the lookout" notice for Leonard sent out to police on Sunday night Authorities describe Leonard as a 5' 9" Black man with brown eyes Cruz said the gun he allegedly used has not been found and that Leonard should be considered possibly armed and dangerous He urged residents to call in tips if they see him or have information about where he is The number to call is the State Police at 1-800-KAPTURE Albertson was a student at Brockton's Champion School Grief counselors are being made available for students and teachers "This type of crime is unacceptable in the City of Brockton "We will pursue justice and it will be achieved." Cruz said police received a call at 7:04 p.m Saturday about a shooting on the sidewalk outside the Chipotle restaurant Ambulances took both victims to Brockton's Good Samaritan Hospital Alvarez was flown to Massachusetts General Hospital Cruz said investigators have been "working around the clock." They've talked to dozens of witnesses and reviewed surveillance video from nearby businesses Investigators sought and obtained an arrest warrant for Leonard Cruz said he's believed to have fled the scene packed some clothes and hasn't been seen since Cruz said right now he is the only suspect The DA alleged that an argument involving Leonard and Albertson preceded the shooting "Two young people have lost their lives on Saturday night and our hearts go out to their families," the DA said and one death via gun violence is too many." communications director for Brockton Schools said Sunday: "We are deeply saddened by the loss of a Champion High School student following an incident of violence in our community yesterday We are working to support their family however we can and will be making resources available to students and staff grieving this loss." BROCKTON — The city rejected the latest plan to renovate troubled properties across from the Boys & Girls Club in Brockton have been empty since the health department shuttered them in 2017 At an April 1 meeting of the Planning Board a top fire official told a harrowing story about the properties Deputy Fire Chief Brendan Weeks said that just before it was shut down a woman called the Fire Department to say she was trapped on the third floor Weeks described how a tenant had subdivided their apartment and rented a room to the woman There were locking doors on either side of her bedroom "She would dispose of her personal waste into a bucket within the room and when allowed entry into the other part of the apartment she would pass through and use their restroom," Weeks said It wasn't the first time Brockton Fire officials described disturbing conditions there Fire Chief Brian Nardelli and Building Commissioner Jim Plouffe recounted getting a tip at 3 p.m before the meeting that a couple and young child were living there without heat "There were multiple vagrants in that home with propane tanks that I can't put in my living room On that day, the Zoning Board unanimously rejected a request from the owner of the properties Shut down Brockton shut down apartments near Boys & Girls Club. Will they be allowed to reopen? city officials again denied a renovation by Islam Islam sought to turn the two buildings into a total of eight apartments with seven parking spaces "I would like nothing more than to see these run-down buildings renovated into nice living spaces for people," Planning Board Chairperson Toni Goncalves said at the April 1 meeting She was one of two "yes" votes to approve the renovation project that's closer than the 5-0 rejection the project received in December 2023 from the Zoning Board of Appeals Weeks said he could potentially support a renovation but it would have to bring both buildings up to code "Not just a coat of paint," said the deputy chief Double fatal shooting near Westgate Mall Brockton claims trampoline park didn't follow safety plans Derek W. Heim, president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro South, previously urged city officials not to grant the landlord the right to reopen. In an Aug. 14, 2024 letter Heim said he'd worked with then-Mayor Bill Carpenter to get the properties vacated "due to illicit drug activities adult nudity and other unpleasant activities." "He has done nothing in the past to ensure that tenants will conform with said policies and thus creating a disturbance to our operation He has made it clear to the administration of the Boys & Girls Club that he does not take his landlord responsibilities seriously or even given the time to listen to concerns regarding this property in the past." had not returned a call asking what his client plans to do after this latest rejection BROCKTON — A project two decades and $20 million in the making will soon provide shelter health care and permanent homes for folks who otherwise might be on the streets of Brockton or camping in the woods The above video whisks you through the facility in less than a minute It's comprised of the Smith Family Housing Resource Center which has 128 shelter beds and a day center Brockton Neighborhood Health Center also has a clinic there senior director of operations for Father Bill's/MainSpring she spotlighted features like charging stations for phones and a laundry Lockers for the dorm are on the way but had not been installed yet Kroeger explained that many shelter guests work Some guests will have a bed assigned to them the shelter will have overflow space in a community room but during cold snaps they won't be turned away One goal of the new facility is to support people in danger of losing a roof over their heads It's what Father Bill's President and CEO John Yazwinski calls "getting upstream" of homelessness One small but important example is those laundry facilities People who aren't staying at the shelter will be able to wash clothes The shelter and day center aims to open in late March The permanent housing units are expected to open in April There will be the first of dozens of "key days" when formerly homeless persons move in to their own spaces new residents will get a "welcome home basket." Nothing fancy but think of all the things you'd need moving in from the streets: a cup "It's very expensive to buy all of these things," Kroeger said, gesturing to a small table. "We try to get donations and get people on their feet." The studio apartments are for people facing tough health problems noting that veterans would also be prioritized BROCKTON — D.W. Field Park — located in Brockton and Avon — has been closed out of an abundance of caution due to reports of a potential bird flu outbreak and officials are asking the public not to touch any birds that are dead or hurt Field Park is closed out of an abundance of caution due to wildlife issues," the park announced on social media on Friday "Due to recent events with birds, there may be a potential outbreak of Avian Flu,” according to a post on the D.W. Field Facebook page.Park officials said in a post they discovered dead swans and Canada Geese on Upper Porter Pond earlier this week Officials said a report was filed through Animal Control with the State and with Mass Wildlife Fish and Game who are also aware of the situation “The Parks Department under the leadership of Tim Carpenter will continue to work with local and State authorities on the situation,” the post said Big changes coming to D.W. Field? $30M makeover pitched for D.W. Field Park so officials are asking the public not to feed any geese or ducks until the situation is under control “PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH ANY INJURED OR DECEASED BIRDS,” the City of Brockton posted on its Facebook page. What to know in Massachusetts First human bird flu death of 2025 reported. What to do if you find a sick or dead birdOfficials are also asking the public to report sick and dead wild birds to mass.gov/forms/report-observations-of-dead-wild-birds and sick or dead poultry birds to mass.gov/forms/poultry-disease-reporting-form Dead birds also found in Plymouth and TauntonBrockton is not the only community where dead birds have been found Last weekend, the state announced that 60 geese, swans, and ducks were found dead in Plymouth and state health and environmental agencies suspected and were investigating the remains for bird flu Also last weekend, dead birds were found on Lake Sabbatia in Taunton that state departments were assisting Taunton Police and the Taunton Board of Health in the investigation of these dead birds on the lake There are two kinds of bird flu — low pathogenic avian influenza and highly pathogenic avian influenza, the latter being the more dangerous strain. The current H5N1 strain is a dangerous one, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But cases of H5N1 in humans have been rare "While avian flu strains can sometimes infect people, only a small number of H5N1 cases have been reported in humans since 2022 (one in the United States); there have been none in Massachusetts," DPH spokesperson Kathleen Conti said in an email back in May What are the symptoms of bird flu?The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that bird flu viruses "have caused mild to severe illness in infected humans," and is most often contracted by contact with sick birds Symptoms typically begin within two to eight days and often appear as the common flu The disease can carry a high mortality in humans according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention "Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) is expected to be effective at treating the current avian influenza strain..." according to Conti BROCKTON — Brockton Mayor Robert F. Sullivan has come out swinging after city councilors overrode his vetoes on two controversial bills about homelessness. In a press statement released Wednesday afternoon Sullivan said the ordinances against camping and loitering on city property are "inhumane "Homelessness is a complex and systemic issue," Sullivan said in the statement "The additional challenges that this ordinance brings Criminalizing those who need support in acquiring housing negatively impacts the ability to access programs and get out of the cycle of homelessness Sullivan did not attend an emotionally charged meeting at which city councilors voted to keep the new laws on the books "I strongly stand by the significant concerns that I raised when exercising my veto authority and believe the ordinance to be inhumane unenforceable and unconstitutional," the mayor said Sullivan said Ward 5 City Councilor Jeff Thompson misrepresented the role of the mayor's office while the bills were under debate newly elected as president of the city council While Thompson noted that the mayor attended two early city hall meetings about the draft laws Thompson said that he did not appear at later hearings about them in city council and the council's ordinance committee The Ward 5 councilor said the mayor "waited until the last hour of the last day to veto "My office was directly involved in this process and spent significant efforts in working with the City Council and various stakeholders to address the many issues connected with challenges of an increased "Three of my staff members (Directors of Social Services and Government Affairs/Public Policy) worked tirelessly on this matter to incorporate specific notions within the proposals Most of those suggestions were not included in what was filed with the Council I also personally participated in meeting(s) that were attended by Legal Counsel City councilors to debate dropping finesWard 2 City Councilor Maria Tavares changed her vote from "no" to "yes" and made the override possible on the camping ordinance The city council is scheduled to take up two amendments she proposed that would take the fines out The new laws impose $200 and $50 fines for camping and loitering The mayor said he'd keep working for "true solutions." "As a City and access to necessary support and services for all members of our community I remain committed to working with the City Council and our Community leaders to find true solutions that support our most vulnerable residents without penalizing them or infringing on their rights," the mayor said Editor's note: An earlier version of this story misstated what Ward 5 City Councilor Jeff Thompson said about Mayor Robert Sullivan's role in crafting the ordinances BROCKTON — City leaders have set the rules for building housing at the old Brockton Fairgrounds The developer expects to file a detailed proposal for the first phase of residential units this summer The city council signed off on a zoning package Monday night that allows up to 1,750 housing units "as of right." That's legalese for a streamlined approval process "I am thankful to the City Council for their efforts and support of the overlay district at the Fairgrounds property," Mayor Robert F Sullivan said in a Tuesday statement to the Enterprise "The proposed future development will greatly benefit our City and our Community It will provide exceptional housing opportunities and green space areas for our residents and future residents." Why Councilor Susan NiCastro voted noWard 4 Councilor Susan Nicastro was the lone holdout She argued residents deserve more time to digest the changes especially people who live in abutting neighborhoods "I got a lot of calls about this over the weekend," Nicastro said "And over and over again people kept asking me Her fellow councilors shot down her proposal to postpone the vote until the next meeting developer Andrew Flynn of Copper Mill said his company intends to ask for "site plan review" for an initial residential phase by the middle of the year "Copper Mill is very grateful to all the stakeholders who have been part of the collaborative process over the past year," said Flynn Copper Mill has a deal to develop the fairgrounds with the longtime landowners the city will hammer out a "development agreement" with the Carneys and Copper Mill The mayor's office said it is working with several departments including the city solicitor and city planner to craft the agreement It's worth noting that the zoning overlay applies to just two of the six parcels at the Fairgrounds Development rules for the other parcels are expected to be decided separately much of that area was pitched as an "innovation campus" aimed at attracting tech companies The Fairgrounds Overlay District runs 12 pages based on the most recent draft of the zoning plus changes councilors made on Monday: Seven residents and one developer who works in Brockton took advantage of the opportunity a teacher and coach who lives on North Ash Street "We've been cash-strapped since I moved here in the 80s," he said "This is probably the best use long-term to help the city financially Lisa Crowley of Howard Street praised the progress but gave several notes of caution She urged councilors to cap building heights at 50 feet with a provision for developers to petition to go higher "That's been open space for a hundred years noting the Carney family's longtime waste management and trucking businesses "I am not against the development," she said I look forward to the development but I really hope it's not a Trojan horse." you're going to remove a constraint for housing to be built," he said BROCKTON — A Fall River woman who took a bullet to the chest during a Brockton house-party-turned gunfight fired first The Commonwealth originally charged 28-year-old Brocktonian Jonathan Alves with assault with intent to murder Evidence newly released by federal investigators instead puts the gun that shot her in the hands of Romeo Miller U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Leah Foley's office released video evidence on Friday The silent, nearly 7-minute video shows the chaotic end of a summer party that had drawn up to 100 people to 31 Falconer Ave. Two-and-a-half hours before the shooting started, Brockton Police came to the block for a noise complaint, according to police logs It was one of dozens such calls cops fielded that night What does new evidence show?Authorities say verbal arguments started in the backyard Video from the home's "sophisticated" surveillance system shows multiple people gesturing for a group of women to leave the party Prosecutors say at least four partygoers fired shots In a wrinkle not mentioned at a June dangerousness hearing for Alves the Fall River woman allegedly fired first "pulled out a firearm from a waist bag she wore across her chest and fired in the air She then fired her gun a second time into the crowd in the driveway," the agent alleged The authorities say both Miller and Alves fired toward the eventual victim from the driveway hides behind a parked car and shoots the victim as she stands behind her car Prosecutors say the video shows Miller give the gun to Natalio Miranda before the two drive away in separate cars said Miranda is a member of the "Head Shot Mafia," which they call a "violent drug crew operating in Brockton and elsewhere in southeastern Massachusetts." At the end of the video Miranda is then seen at the front of the house and allegedly fires again before leaving the scene Alves had faced charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and intent to murder in Brockton District Court Held without bail Brockton man accused of shooting woman held without bail. DA reveals new details in court Four people face federal indictments in connection with the shootout: Naldo Barbosa, 26, and Alyson Correia Castro, 42, also originally faced gun charges. Brockton Police logs indicate the two lived at the house that hosted the party. Both were charged with unlawful possession of ammunition and Castro was charged with possession of a gun with a firearm identification card according to Brockton Police spokesperson Darren Duarte Barbosa and Castro are not named in the U.S We reached out to Brockton District Court and the clerk's office says Barbosa and Castro's cases were dismissed Monteiro was not charged in Brockton District Court They also say Miller's case is under warrant status and no information can be released at this time The Commonwealth dismissed the district court charges against Alves on Sept citing "lack of prosecution." State officials also decided not to prosecute Miranda on the district court charges Are the four suspects in custody?Foley's office says Alves and Monteiro were arrested on Friday Miranda was previously convicted in February 2023 of federal fentanyl distribution conspiracy charges He was arrested in November 2024 for allegedly violating his federal supervised release conditions in relation to the Brockton shootout and is in federal custody the person the government now says fired the shot that wounded the Fall River woman We reached out to the Plymouth County District Attorney's office to see if the victim has been charged and have not heard back House party turns gunfight Brockton shooting suspect identified, charged with assault to murder The charges of being a felon in possession of ammunition each provide for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 The charge of possession of a machine gun provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison The charge of being an accessory after the fact to a felon in possession provides for a sentence of up to half the maximum punishment for the underlying offense BROCKTON — A 20-year-old from Brockton was identified as the victim of an overnight shooting last Friday, March 28 Lindsay was transported to Good Samaritan Medical Center where he was pronounced dead of his injuries Brockton Police said they received a 911 call stating that a male party was trying to open car doors of motor vehicles parked along Monson Street It is unclear if or how Lindsay’s death is related to the reported vehicle break-ins What happened? Man shot in Brockton overnight on Lenox Street has died According to his obituary Lindsay was born in Brockton and leaves behind his parents aunts and uncles and many loving relatives and friends at the George Lopes Funeral Home in Brockton from 6 p.m Young Inks Deal with Brockton Rox2/21/2025 1:06:00 PM | Baseball BROCKTON — Brockton City Councilors overrode Mayor Robert F. Sullivan's vetoes of two controversial laws outlawing camping and loitering on city property. The votes came Monday night in a council chamber packed with residents who mostly opposed the bills who has struggled with homelessness off and on for 14 years It's easy to make comments when you don't live the life." Sullivan rarely uses his veto power. But he did so for the two bills, saying they wrongly criminalize homelessness. Councilors needed eight votes to overcome his vetoes. The camping ordinance veto override passed 8-3 and the one for loitering passed 10-1. who was elected city council president for 2025 said the city shouldn't be a "cleaning service for homeless encampments." saying that while he attended two meetings at city hall about the ordinances that he did not appear at later hearings about them in city council and the council's ordinance committee Sullivan on Wednesday said his staff was Thompson said the mayor "waited until the last hour of the last day to veto That is not leadership." He further argued that the veto sent the wrong signal "The mayor's veto sent a clarion call that Brockton is a sanctuary city for encampments," Thompson said Thompson played a slideshow of photos and video depicting conditions under Brockton's downtown bridges and in encampments elsewhere in the city Her proposed changes would eliminate the $200 and $50 fines for violations of the camping and loitering laws respectively The city council's ordinance committee will take up those changes at a later date Three councilors opposed overriding the camping bill veto: Councilors at-large Jean Bradley Derenoncourt and Win Farwell plus Ward 4 Councilor Susan Nicastro "Being homeless is not a crime," said Derenoncourt "You don't kick someone in the teeth when they're down." Derenoncourt quoted a Bible verse from the book of Matthew: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." Summing up his opposition to the overrides they have been knocking and what we choose tonight is to slam the door in their face." The line drew sustained applause from the crowd Farwell said Sullivan's vetoes offered councilors "a chance to do better," for instance by finding money for mental health services "This ordinance is not going to do a thing," Farwell said of the camping law He noted the practical problem of how to serve a court notice on a person with no fixed address Nicastro urged the seven towns that touch Brockton to step up saying none of them have a homeless shelter She urged other towns to do their share and called on residents to lobby state representatives for more money for housing and addiction "Fining someone who has nothing is not the way," Nicastro said Councilor throws two residents out of meetingCity council meetings are normally low-key and sparsely attended. On Monday, however, residents and groups including City Life/Vida Urbana, the L Street Mission and the Brockton Interfaith Community turned out in force Throughout the meeting there was widespread muttering and clap backs who works in the Plymouth County Sheriff's Office the homeless people under the bridge are openly using drugs again not all of them but a good percentage of them We cannot have this in the city of Brockton We have to start emphasizing the quality of life for our taxpaying residents downtown and the business owners or we won't have a city left." Brockton's Alex Hoxie and Ward 1 Councilor Tom Minichiello got into a shouting match who had previously issued warnings that he'd have disruptive people thrown out had police escort Hoxie from the council chamber Brockton's Michael Nunes was also made to leave Minichiello argued that the camping bill targets only "very bad behavior" that wouldn't be tolerated in a shelter not the fact that someone is experiencing homelessness "Do you think any other community would put up with this beneath their bridges After the vote to keep the camping ordinance Dougherty joined a circle of residents in the lobby to talk through what just happened Dougherty has struggled with depression and gambling She's staying at Brockton's shelter for now but said all she wants is a decent "The cheapest thing I could find here was $1,700 "There's always going to be homelessness," Dougherty said Because not enough people care to try and change things." Police are searching for the man they say shot them both A 20-year-old man suffered extensive traumatic injuries in a head-on collision on Pearl Street Fire crews extracted the driver who was trapped inside his vehicle in traumatic cardiac arrest with what appeared to be multiple broken bones Crews rescued an injured tree worker who was trapped more than 40 feet up in a tree in East Bridgewater on Wednesday. Here’s what happened. here are five of the top stories from the past week throughout the Brockton area Victims in shooting identified: Victims in Westgate Mall shooting identified. Police issue a 'be on the lookout' notice Update Brockton double fatal shooting: Update: Brockton double-fatal shooting — 2 teens shot outside Chipotle, Starbucks have died 2 people shot near Brockton mall 2 people shot outside Chipotle, Starbucks near Westgate Mall in Brockton. What we know Photos: 2 shot near Westgate Mall: 2 people shot outside Chipotle and Starbucks near Westgate Mall in Brockton Mineiros The Steakhouse will soon be bringing delicious traditional Brazilian food and more to West Bridgewater. "Mineiros are so excited to open our doors and offer what we have — which is the best," said co-owner Thaisa Pena. Pena, of East Bridgewater, and Cledir Ferreira, of Bridgewater, have owned Mineiros The Steakhouse at 371 Union St Mineiros The Steakhouse opening in W.B. Mineiros The Steakhouse bringing sizzling Brazilian BBQ to West Bridgewater. What to know See inside the steakhouse: What's on menu at Mineiros The Steakhouse in Rockland and coming soon to West Bridgewater? Crews rescued an injured tree worker who was trapped more than 40 feet up in a tree in East Bridgewater The East Bridgewater Fire Department received a 911 call on Wednesday reporting an injured tree worker in the backyard of the home on Northridge Drive had climbed the tree using shoe spikes and was operating a chainsaw when a falling piece of the tree kicked back and broke his arm," officials said Rescue team saves injured tree worker: Rescue team saves injured tree worker trapped 47 feet up in East Bridgewater Photos at the scene: Injured tree worker rescued in East Bridgewater A 20-year-old man suffered extensive traumatic injuries in a head-on collision in Brockton Thursday morning A four-door sedan traveling southbound on Pearl Street ended up in the northbound lane and crashed into a boom truck Fire crews extracted the 20-year-old sedan driver who was trapped inside his vehicle in traumatic cardiac arrest with what appeared to be multiple broken bones 20-year-old suffers extensive injuries: 20-year-old suffers extensive, traumatic injuries in Brockton head-on collision Thursday A Brockton woman accused of securing rental properties through fraudulent means and failing to pay rent for years was arraigned Thursday was charged with two counts of larceny by false pretenses at her arraignment in Brockton Superior Court "The victims are all Cape Verdean individuals who are not large-scale property owners but rely on their rental properties as their primary source of income," Cruz said in the statement Brockton woman charged in rental fraud: Brockton woman charged in rental fraud scheme spanning four years. What happened in court? An official website of the United States government JavaScript appears to be disabled on this computer. Please click here to see any active alerts A one-acre parcel that once hosted a gas station and auto repair shop has been cleaned and turned into a community park dedicated to one of Brockton's local heroes This park at the corner of Warren Avenue and Bartlett Street now bears the name of city icon Charles Tartaglia a restauranteur with a long history of giving back to his community the former home of the Gilbert Gas Pump filling station later became the Ralsco kitchen cabinet manufacturing facility and later hosted several auto repair shops The site's 100-year industrial history left the property contaminated with petroleum EPA's Brownfields program was instrumental in helping the city address the contamination and ultimately make a community park possible Tartaglia's close connection to the Brockton community began as a young boy delivering The Enterprise newspaper Tartaglia preserved the legacy of his childhood friend and boxing legend Rocky Marciano and served in many roles for the City of Brockton and community organizations He was a trustee for Massasoit Community College and for over 17 years the deputy boxing commissioner of Massachusetts his family restaurant donated food to city events The city took over this long-abandoned industrial site in 1999 setting the stage for environmental assessment work to begin in 2001 The city used $3,000 of EPA funding for Brownfields to evaluate the severity of the contamination EPA then awarded Brockton $100,000 in 2003 to clean the site The city used the Brownfields cleanup grant to remove 100 cubic yards of contaminated soil and backfill the area with clean soil With the former industrial structures demolished and a newly cleaned parcel available the community rallied to convert the property into a park and provide green space that would help alleviate flooding in the area partners leveraged $280,000 in state and local funding through the National Park Service/MA DEP Neighborhood Park Conservation Fund and the City's Redevelopment Authority to create the new park "Tartaglia Park is a great investment that creates a passive open space in an underserved area It also provides access to Salisbury Brook as part of our Two Rivers plan to create an asset out of a long neglected waterway." the site has been revitalized as a public park The picture was complete when Charles Tartaglia was honored at the ribbon cutting for the Charles Tartaglia Park in the spring of 2017 BROCKTON — A Somerville man has been arrested in connection with the stabbing of a 15-year-old boy in Brockton on Tuesday evening Brockton Police responded to a report of a stabbing at 93 Centre St. Brockton Fire and Brewster Ambulance personnel provided treatment to a 15-year-old male victim before transporting him to a local hospital Brockton police spokesperson Darren Duarte said The boy was subsequently transferred to a Boston facility where the "hospital reported he was in stable condition," Duarte said Duarte said investigators collected evidence at the scene and began searching for the suspect Double-fatal car crash in Brockton Two men killed after car hits tree on North Cary Street in Brockton. What we know Police located the suspect on Wednesday morning and arrested 39-year-old Clifford Flynn of Somerville Flynn was charges with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and assault to kill leap and fly at the "ultimate" indoor adventure park offering a variety of attractions The indoor adventure parks provide a place for the entire family to "jump, soar, race, climb, and play," according to the park's website “Urban Air is the ultimate indoor adventure park and a destination for family fun" and "features attractions perfect for all ages," the website says What kinds of attractions will Brockton location have?Some of the key attractions at the Brockton location include Sky Rider (indoor zipline) Warrior Course and Spin & Flip Zone Bumper Cars Other attractions at the Brockton location include Leap of Faith kids of all ages can "blitz" through all the obstacles like a Ninja Warrior in the Warrior Course; weave climb and race their way around the "high-flying" ropes course; strap into the Sky Rider and "soar through the air leap and fly" on the trampolines; and try to be the last person standing in the Wipeout competition; and more After you’ve burned off energy with all that "jumping and tumbling," you can take a break and refuel at the Urban Café with pizza “We’re excited to celebrate our long-awaited soft opening of Urban Air with the Brockton community," Owner Cheryl Ng said in the written statement fun and super exciting family entertainment center with incredible attractions for the entire family," she said Classic charm West Bridgewater home sold for $870K has primary suite with sitting area and fireplace You can be among the first to experience Urban Air Adventure Park Brockton on Saturday The first 50 people in line who purchase a day pass will receive free socks and a free ICEE frozen drink What's on café menu?Café items include pizza What to know about South Coast Rail A train from Brockton to Taunton, New Bedford and Fall River? Daily tickets include Ultimate Attractions for $35.99 and Deluxe Attractions for $29.99 Urban Air Socks cost $3.99 and are required group events and field trips and offers private park rentals "We make memories where families can disconnect from a busy outside world and cherish the joy of laughter and giggles through play," Cheryl Ng said in the statement We can’t wait to see adventurers of all ages who need a venue to celebrate every day," she said D.W. Field Park announced on social media on Jan. 24 that park was closed "out of an abundance of caution due to wildlife issues." Bird flu is now believed to be widespread in Massachusetts and is likely present even in places where there has not been a confirmed positive according to state environmental and health officials on Jan Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources and Massachusetts Department of Public Health said Jan 29 that the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) – more commonly known as bird flu – is suspected to be the cause of death in cases of both wild and domestic birds in several Massachusetts municipalities The agencies are advising the public to "refrain from handling birds or other animals that are dead or appear sick" and to report suspected cases "Out of an abundance of caution and the health and safety of our residents we are treating this extremely seriously in Brockton," Brockton Mayor Robert F The mayor said he does not know when the test results will be back and said "We are working diligently with our state partners." Brockton Executive Health Officer Eno Mondesir said the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) picked up the specimens “We are waiting to hear,” Mondesir said Friday What other Brockton public places have been closed due to bird flu?The city has also closed Flagg Pond at Brockton High School Trout Brook Pond on North Montello Street and Cross Pond on Montaulk Road Closed signs have been posted in multiple languages telling residents to stay away from them superintendent of the Parks and Recreation Department said the first case of a dead bird in Brockton was reported on Tuesday Carpenter said dead birds were observed on Upper Porter Pond and Cross Pond None have been found on Waldo Lake or Brockton Reservoir Pond Carpenter said about 13 dead birds were found in D.W He said all of the dead birds found so far in Brockton have swans or geese Sullivan stressed that he wants to make sure people know this is a serious situation "We have to make sure residents stay away from dead and sick birds," he said The mayor said there is no timetable set on when the park would reopen and that the city is waiting on confirmation from the state "We are monitoring this on a daily basis," he said "We are just asking people to vacate the park until we get proper clearance from the Board of Health," Sullivan said "We are trying to prevent any type of spread." while humans are rarely infected with bird flu people who have direct contact with animals infected with bird flu are the most at risk The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports no known incidences of person-to-person spread and continues to categorize the risk to public health as low Mondesir said bird flu can be passed from birds to humans or from birds to other animals like cats and dogs "People need to stay away from any dead carcasses or animals that looks sick The mayor said they are also concerned about people coming in contact with bird droppings "If people step on the droppings and then go into their homes They mayor said the city is monitoring all the water ways — ponds and books — and that animal control is out driving around the city daily tracking and reporting to the Board of Heath," Sullivan said What should people do if they find dead birds?Anyone in the city who finds dead or sick birds They have the equipment to dispose of the dead birds properly Say something and the city will take care of it," he said Reports can be made by calling Animal Control at 508-580-7835 or City Hall at 508-580-7123 Report observations of dead or wild birds at https://www.mass.gov/forms/report-observations-of-dead-wild-birds Sick or dead poultry birds may be reported to the state using this link: https://www.mass.gov/forms/poultry-disease-reporting-form What is bird flu?There are two kinds of bird flu — low pathogenic avian influenza and highly pathogenic avian influenza, the latter being the more dangerous strain. The current H5N1 strain is a dangerous one, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "While avian flu strains can sometimes infect people, only a small number of H5N1 cases have been reported in humans since 2022 (one in the United States); there have been none in Massachusetts," DPH spokesperson Kathleen Conti said in an email back in May The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that bird flu viruses "have caused mild to severe illness in infected humans," and is most often contracted by contact with sick birds The disease can carry a high mortality in humans "Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) is expected to be effective at treating the current avian influenza strain..." according to Conti Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Enterprise today.