Whitman-Hanson Express

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Five-alarm fire destroys Whitman house

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Fire crews train their hoses on flames bursting through the roof of a multi-family house at 316-18 Commercial St., in Whitman Wednesday night. No one was injured as some 80 firefighters from 15 South Shore departments responded to the fire. (Photo by Stephanie Spyropoulos)

WHITMAN — Nearly 80 firefighters from Whitman and more than 15 South Shore communities battled a five-alarm blaze that destroyed a multi-family house at 316-18 Commercial St., Wednesday night.

No injuries were reported in the fire.

The building was a total loss, and including personal possessions, Whitman Fire Chief Timothy Grenno estimated that the damage could add up to nearly $1 million.

All of the nearly a dozen residents of the apartment building were displaced as a result of the fire. The American Red Cross responded to the scene to assist residents in finding shelter for the night.

A preliminary investigation points to the fire starting in a second floor apartment, but the exact cause of the fire is still under investigation by Whitman Fire and investigators from the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services (DFS). They were expected continue their investigation later Thursday morning, but at this time officials said it does not appear to be suspicious. Grenno said that he did not know when the last fire inspection was done at the building, but that it had previously been up to code, according to a statement. He stated that he did not know when the last fire inspection was done at the building.

“This fire spread extremely fast and I want to commend our firefighters and those from our surrounding communities who responded to help put this fire out as quickly as they did,” Chief Grenno said.

Whitman Fire Chief Timothy Grenno watches Thursday afternoon as equipment from Watson Excavating of East Bridgewater is used to raze the multi-family home at 316-18 Commercial St., Whitman that was destroyed in Wednesday night’s five-alarm blaze.

Residents told reporters on the scene that the power went out and they heard a popping sound before the flames broke out.

Whitman Fire/Rescue received a 911 call reporting a fire at an apartment building at about 7:45 p.m. Upon arrival crews found that heavy flames were coming from a second-story window. The fire was spreading to the third floor and simultaneously burning the wooden deck outside of the window.

Deputy Fire Chief Joe Feeney immediately struck a second alarm. Because of the size of the building and its wood-frame structure, the fire quickly spread through the house and Grenno called for additional mutual aid from other towns, striking a fifth alarm at approximately 9:25 p.m. Firefighters from Hanson, Abington, East Bridgewater, West Bridgewater, Bridgewater, Rockland, Brockton, Norwell, Hanover, Halifax, Hingham, Holbrook, Randolph, Marshfield, Avon and Pembroke responded to mutual aid calls. The Whitman Police Department, Whitman Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), DFS Rehabilitation Unit and Boston Sparks Association A-10 also responded to the scene.

Firefighters battle fire, weather in Hanson

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HANSON — No injuries were reported Tuesday night as Hanson firefighters and those from three other towns battled stubborn flames in cold sleet and drizzle, making for a long night.

The call for the structure fire was received just after 7:30 p.m. with firefighters encountering heavy fire throughout the structure, according to Hanson Fire Chief Jerome Thompson.

Two occupants and a dog were able to flee the fire at 45 Milford St., according to published reports.

Upon arrival all occupants had exited the house, said Thompson.

The home was listed on several real estate websites Tuesday night as foreclosed, on, but the updated property sites now report the home as off the market. Neighbors who watched the mammoth flames take over the structure at the scene said they did not believe anyone was living in the home.

The jumbled debris on the interior made the conditions for firefighters challenging.

“Excessive clutter in the house made it difficult for firefighters to continue an aggressive interior attack and contributed to a lengthy overhaul process,” said Thompson. the fire is under investigation.

Fire, smoke and water damage was extensive throughout the house, which is uninhabitable. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by the Hanson Fire Department, Hanson Police Department and the Massachusetts State Fire Marshal’s Office. The occupants are being assisted by the Red Cross.

Firefighters were assisted at the scene by Halifax, Pembroke and Whitman fire departments. Hanover Fire covered Hanson Headquarters and Pembroke Fire responded with an ambulance to a medical emergency in another part of town during the incident. Also assisting at the scene was Hanson Police, Hanson Highway and Water departments. All crews cleared the scene shortly after midnight.

W-H families hear mental health talk

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Kristina Rowshan is a fighter.

The psychologist, originally from Philadelphia, is a recent college graduate, a daughter, a sister, and a survivor. She did not battle cancer — she battled her own mind and even though she still contests her thoughts daily. Rowshan is New England Outreach Coordinator for Spanish-Speaking Communities with Minding Your Mind, a mental health education collaborative.

She spoke candidly about her mental health struggles to guests at Minding Your Mind, a program Whitman Hanson Regional High School on Jan. 30 hosted by school counselors and guidance department.

The Minding Your Mind was a free event for the families in surrounding communities.

“I felt that Kristina was an amazing  presenter in sharing her story and made such good connections with the families  in attendance. I would bring  her back in a heartbeat,” said Kaitlyn Robichaud, an adjustment   counselor at Whitman-Hanson within the Bridges for Reslilient Youth in Transition (BRYT) network and  student  support services.

She is also planning to have three major events for families to come and be able to learn something and gain support not just from the school but from each other.

For future information on guest speakers and family support programs upcoming calendar announcements are posted on W-H social media and the W-H school page.

Minding Your Mind offers self-empowerment to individuals who are taking control while working on their own treatment; connecting with others who need to hear and understand that there is hope. Her goal along with the organization is to encourage a reduction in the stigma around mental health and to increase the help seeking behaviors that often accompany improved coping skills.

Her recovery has been a long walk marked by small moments that have added up to great progress. While she continues to heal from her own self-destructive behavior, Rowshan proudly noted she is three years free of self-harming behavior.

Rowshan’s mind was obsessive as far back as grade school.

Paralyzed for hours about returning home, feeling completely unable to enter her house she would wait in the driveway until she felt at ease about going inside. Obsessive thoughts would set off crying spells with fears of her home or bedroom being dirty, contaminated, or imperfect followed by inability to repair or clean the area with the ruminating thoughts taking over.

She would not completely feel relief but would eventually be coaxed in the door by family members, she said.

Her attempts at receiving help appeared to backfire, as the adults in her life did not know how to provide help and silently denied her crisis until she attempted to take her own life.

Still, she said it was never her intention to die.

“I didn’t want to die, I told those around me,” she said.

She desired expressive actions that would allow others to see the kind of pain she was in. Her daily struggles against her own frame of mind — and her battle to live a normal day. She wanted to ease her pain ever though she could not always explain it.

A perfect straight-A student and a varsity sport athlete during her early teens she walked around school with ‘a cool kid smile’ concealing her mental anguish.

She received a compliment from a fellow student who gushed that she idolized her and wanted to be just like her. The complimentary comments crushed Rowshan, as she realized the personal façade was now shattered.

She attempted her first suicide that next day.

Her mask of cheer and joy soon gave way to unforgiving self-harm, cries for help that she said went unanswered for years and through several steps of her treatments.

To her surprise, as she starved herself to death, blacking out from fatigue and malnourishment she had a mental health practitioner congratulate her on her excessive weight loss rather than question the red flagged behaviors.

An eating disorder she knew was so severe yet her deprivation and weight loss were unachievable strives for perfection. She was in a vicious circle of self-harm, which she explained was a coping mechanism to gain control instead she attempted suicide again at age 20.

She was placed in a long-term clinic for eating disorders and her life slowly turned around as she had only loose connections with clinicians, patients and staff that soon gave her a realization of importance.

Sharing her ultimate achievement she recently graduated from college.  Not an easy feat for someone who changed schools multiple times and continuously battles depression, anxiety and severe obsessive compulsive disorder.

Her treatment in working with Dr. Reid Wilson, a specialist and pioneer in the treatment of OCD, has been an enormous step in the right direction, Rowshan said.

Challenging her own thoughts, talking back to her OCD can be freeing, according to Rowshan. She laughed with the audience about some of her positive coping mechanisms such as hitting her pillows with a racket and yelling out loud that although seemed slightly twisted — for her, they have proved extremely helpful.

Within her family, genetics and personal beliefs, once stopped them from reaching out for assistance but they are finally able to seek support. The family continues to see a counselor and works on recovering together as well as creating healthy boundaries, and conversations.

“Everyone has a backpack in life and it is OK to ask if you need help carrying it,” she said, sharing her mother’s words of wisdom, as well as what she had learned herself. “I was meant to be on this earth and I am worthy of being happy, my life is important.”

This self-acceptance is a new language as she speaks to individuals about her recovery and renewed attitude on life.

Minding Your Mind Programs move away from crisis based response to prevention through education, according to their website.

“The mission of  Minding Your Mind’s primary objective is to provide mental health education to adolescents, teens and young adults, their parents, teachers and school administrators. Our goal is to reduce the stigma and destructive behaviors often associated with mental health issues. Treatment is available, yet only three out of 10 individuals needing help actually seek help.

“Our educational programs provide information regarding signs and symptoms of these disorders, in addition to stressing that they are treatable and treatment is available. Mood disorders have been identified by the World Health Organization as the third leading cause of disability worldwide. Research studies have demonstrated that over 90% of people that die from suicide have one or more psychiatric disorders at the time of their death. The second leading cause of death of individuals between the ages of 14-23 is suicide. Since the age of onset of most psychiatric disorders is typically during adolescence, it is essential that the proper information be brought to the attention of secondary school educators, counselors, students and their parents.

Minding Your Mind offers several programs for students, teachers, faculty and the community at large,’ according to the website mindyourmind.org our programs aim to reduce stigma by promoting awareness about the prevalence of mental health disorders and the effectiveness of seeking help. The ultimate goal is to create a supportive environment in schools where students feel comfortable speaking up and asking for help.

Freezin’ for a reason

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HANSON — The January thaw was a blessing from Mother Nature as dozens of local residents, school officials and town employees made the plunge into the icy water at Cranberry Cove Sunday, Jan. 27 as part of the Hanon PTO Freezin’ for A Reason inaugural polar plunge fund raiser.

Event Coordinator Melissa Valachovic of the Hanson PTO was enthused by the level of support that the community brought to the event.

Calling the event outcome “amazing,” she reported the total raised by the plungers reached nearly $12,000.   

Some of the top pledgers each exceeded $1,000 to $1,500.

With combined efforts of the PTO and a subcommittee assisting with the six month planning- prior to the event — Valachovic praised the abundant dedication and enthusiasm by many hands to bring the fund raiser to fruition.

Naming and thanking the town officials and first responders who contributed with safety of the 53 registered plungers, Valachovic acknowledged the entire board of selectman that made the plunge. Chairman Kenny Mitchell, who could not attend Sunday, took his frosty dive on Thursday in the presence of several witnesses.

Collectively giving to the school was the most important factor for most who powered through the chilly water although several carried individual reasons in participating.

Pam Fager and her lifelong friend Sondra Allen, both of Hanson, checked doing a polar plunge off their bucket lists.

Sharing childhood memories of summers gone by at Cranberry Cove the pair decided to take the icy dip contributing to the school that their children have attended.

“It was awesome and I cannot wait to do it next year,” said Fager.

The water temperature was a concern for many as they saw the chunks of ice floating at the surface after Hanson firefighters and dive team members prepared the plunge area by sawing into the waterway.

“It actually felt similar to the air temperature,” said Fager after she realized she accomplished the feat.  Several plungers, in fact, said the water was not as cold as they had feared.

Enjoying the camaraderie of her small hometown, Allen said she would like to see more of those types of events.

“They really help bring the community together,” said  Allen.  Some of her fondest childhood memories were at the boat races on Memorial Day and the huge bonfire held at the town hall on July 4.

Shaun Doyle, a police officer on the South Shore and a Hanson school parent, found a little extra motivation in the morning as he dressed for the polar plunge. He chose to honor his fellow brother in blue SGT. Michael Chesna, a fallen Weymouth police officer killed in the line of duty.

“It’s nice at the end of the day — to give back — it’s all about the kids,” said Doyle.

Army Sgt. Aaron Meade a Hanson resident who graduated from W-H in 2002  said he had the memory of fellow Army soldier Black Hawk Pilot Scott Landis on his mind as he took a back flip into the chilly pond.

“I wanted to give back to the community,” said Meade who made the trip from Hanscom Airbase where he is stationed.

Meade was overjoyed to have been cleared two days prior from a medical injury in which he was wearing a walking boot.

“I may feel this later,” he said as he laughed off the cold.

Volunteers served hot cocoa and coffee to ice-cold bodies that were high on adrenaline. All participants were thanked deeply by organizers, wrapped in warming foils and given a cranberry colored commemorative towel as they exited the water.

Notably, some plungers such as Patrick Powers of the town Finance Committee and WHRHS Principal Dr. Christopher Jones, donned mismatched Hawaiian garb. Others looked pretty with headbands, Hawaiian skirts, bikini bathing suits and matching sunglasses, amusing hats and other costumes, which matched what appeared to be faces of exhilaration and relief.

Selectman Matt Dyer raised $260 of his $900 by taking up his father’s challenge to wear a pink tutu, crown, bow tie and knee socks into the water.

The typically warm summer sand, which was hardened with cold, was alive with the sounds of musical genres  — themed with winter weather lyrics, pumped up pledgers, family members and onlookers who packed the earth of the Cranberry Cove.

To see how many people participated and supported the plunge Valachovic commended onlookers many of whom contributed money on site.

“We are unbelievably grateful at the amount of support we couldn’t have done this without them,” she said.

New course blooms at SSVT

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HANOVER — Spring appeared early last week, as students in the Horticultural program at South Shore Tech were busy arranging and snipping dozens of single-stem buds as they practiced floral arranging.

Using oasis floral foam, each student worked with instructors Tom Hart and Cassi Johnson in creating a floral centerpiece.

In the upcoming months a greenhouse is being constructed by the students and staff of SSVT. The programs involved in the construction are Welding/Metal Fabrication, Carpentry, HVAC, Electrical and Horticulture.

“The greenhouse will be an area where the horticulture students will learn the science of growing and maintaining plants from seed and plug,” said Vocational Coordinator Keith Boyle.

The public can order arrangements and plants at various times throughout the school year. Most of the sales are done via pre-order online, and then picked up at the school.  The best way to find out information on upcoming sales, Boyle said, is by following the school and the horticulture program on social media.

Boyle, who has an extensive background in agriculture, was a horticulture instructor at Upper Cape Tech in Bourne before coming to Hanover.  He is also the owner and operator of a cranberry bog in Hanson through the Ocean Spray Cooperative.

The horticulture department will grow various seasonal flowers: perennials and annuals, herbs, vegetables, and tropicals in the greenhouse throughout the year. These plants will be used at the school and also sold at various plant sales during the school year. All proceeds will go back into the horticulture program to fund things such as student membership to Future Farmers of America, FFA, he said.

The horticulture program, which began in 2017, consists of both a sophomore and freshman class.

Students will gain knowledge in plant identification, soil science, botany, greenhouse management, floral design, small engine technology, irrigation technology, entrepreneurship, FFA, arboriculture, sports turf management, landscape design, landscape construction, property management, and equipment operations.

Tyler Healy of Hanson will graduate in 2021. He said he has learned a tremendous amount in the horticultural program, which he has applied to his job skill set at Lipinski Farm in Hanson.

“This program is useful,” Healy said. “I have learned a lot in this shop. It has helped me a lot in the jobs that I have had.”

He lives on Sentas Family Farm on Whitman Street in Hanson. The farmyard and barn has chickens, goats, ducks, and they sell their goods to the community. He said he can integrate his learned skills in both school and daily life and is interested in a career in agricultural. He believes in the old idiom that he may have just been born with a green thumb.

As a collective opinion the students said they were optimistically looking towards warmer weather and outside maintenance field care for football turf, soccer, and baseball, along with fertilizing and cutting the grass.

For information on upcoming fund raisers and Valentine floral that will be available for public purchases further information is on the school’s website.

Whitman twins earn Eagle Scout rank

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WHITMAN — Being identical twins often means you have to share a birthday cake.

However, on Saturday, Jan. 12, as twin brothers Kyle and Brandon O’Brien, 18,  of Whitman earned their pins as Eagle Scouts there were two giant cakes – one for each of them.

The notion was a quirky one that twin Brandon laughed at as he mingled with other fellow Eagle Scouts, friends and family, all who attended in support of their greatest achievement.

The teens, who attend Whitman-Hanson and are three-season athletes, maintain good grades and now have earned Scouting’s highest rank of Eagle Scout.

They spend a lot of time together but also are autonomous of one another. They will be sharing the stage once again as they graduate this June from Whitman-Hanson.

A picture is worth a thousand words and the memories came flooding back in a collage of photographs documenting the boys growing up during their scouting years.

“One cool thing — coming here for the court of honor — is seeing a bunch of the pictures of us over the years from (as far back) as Cub Scouts as well,” Brandon said. “It’s nice to see friends who have come back. Our friend Matt O’Brien is here. Seeing the fun stuff we did when we were younger.”

The O’Briens will be leaders in the troop continuing the tradition of giving back, they are planning on mentoring as they age out of the Scouts at age 18.

Whitman Selectman Vice Chairman Dan Salvucci was present for the pinning ceremony, offering compliments to the teens’ success in the irjourney of becoming Eagle Scouts.  He also has an adult set of twins  — one who became an Eagle Scout. He is now a firefighter paramedic in the town of Natick.

“Being an Eagle Scout will set a tone in your life where other people will look at you and they will know that you will follow through on any project that you start. It is very rewarding to be that type of person,” Salvucci said.

Scout Master Jim Dwyer was host of the occasion presenting the boys with honored certificates, reciting their pledge, and stating their attainment as Eagle Scout, which is the highest achievement or rank within Boy Scouts of America.

Kyle called it a great day in regard to the celebration and finalizing of their Eagle Scout honor.

They balance music, grades, and finishing their six-year journey of Scouting seeing the completion through to top honors.

The management of time had its challenges but the conclusion was well worth it, he added.

They have siblings: a fellow scout and younger brother Aiden, 15, Owen, 20, and youngest sister Katie, 12.

College is the next step, with Brandon looking at a career in electrical technology and Kyle looking at programs in sports medicine. Although neither teen is fully committed to a specific college yet, their future seems bright, indeed.

The final project for attainting Eagle Scout was done at the East Bridgewater Public Library. The O’Briens finished painting the youth room and also made a bench for adults.

The parents have been instrumental as these boys earned their Eagle Scout, Dwyer said.

With great pride mom Carrie O’Brien pinned her sons with their Eagle Badges and received a pin herself. Dad Sean O’Brien also received a pin from each son. They presented their mom with flowers at the culmination of the Scouts meeting.

“The boys also achieved an additional honor for earning badges above and beyond what they needed. They received a bronze palm as well on their pins,” said Dwyer.

The teens also pinned and acknowledged mentors Dave Nawrocki and Jonathan White assistant scout masters as adults who shaped and motivated their journeys as Scouts.

The event was followed by a light meal, refreshments and two cakes meant to be shared with those who have seen the young men through their passage into adulthood and achievement top honor as Eagle Scouts.

Celebrating TEAM players

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HANSON — A high-energy music and dance assembly with a touch of Hollywood red-carpet glam brought the student body together at Indian Head Elementary in Hanson just in time to kick off the December holiday break.

On the last Friday of every month, a get-together is held to congratulate and recognize students chosen that month for demonstrating positive characteristics. The upper class student council members assist in offering a high five to each student who walks the red carpet.

Principal Jill Coutreau showed off her dance moves in late December as the students got silly with their favorite songs.

Assistant Principal Jen Costa handed out certificates with the applause of staff and students, which could be heard throughout the building. Loud cheering was encouraged.

The acronym TEAM — Together   Everyone  Achieves More — is used daily in the classroom to inspire confident and thoughtful behavior.

“The goal in reinforcing these positive behaviors is trying to promote positive characteristics, said Cotreau. “It sets a good tone for the school.”

A respectful pal who works together with classmates is just a few of the behaviors encouraged.

The second use of the word TEAM is also their core values at Indian Head:  Treat everyone the way you want to be treated. Effort to do your very best.  Accountable to do the right thing even when no one is looking and M is make good choices.

The students who are selected monthly for exemplification of these traits have their names inked on a stylish certificate.  They are also awarded a lunch with Principal Cotreau. She also involves the youngest kindergarten students for their early learned behaviors and joins them for snack time as their school days are shorter.

Each month their theme changes students learned what a team player is in the early fall, said Cotreau.

Being confident and being comfortable with different emotions that we feel was the second assembly and December’s theme was believe, she said.

Following the dancing and presentations a photo collage of what’s been happening in the classroom is exhibited on the big screen.  The kids really love seeing themselves.

Gifts of love lift a family

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WHITMAN — The Feeney family is grateful this holiday season as they envision 2019 as a more tranquil year.

Their hearts are full of love for their three girls:  Shelby, 5, who has Charge Syndrome and twin girls Tamsin and Elyse who are six.

Settling in their newly renovated, handicapped accessible home Dan and Nicole are also expecting the birth of their baby boy Rhys (pronounced Reese) any day. The name is Welsh for enthusiasm.

Summing up the adventures of this past year the girls were eager to show off their new house. The playroom now an open floor plan with cozy spots for all three is accessible for toys and storage.

Charge Syndrome has significantly affected Shelby’s vision and hearing. She is diagnosed as deaf blind. She uses a gait trainer, which she can get in and out of by herself but she is developmentally delayed and walks only with assistance.

Although she will not continue to lose her current level of hearing and vision, it will not improve. Through occupational therapy they are able to maintain her present ability with hearing implants and glasses as well as strengthening her muscles.

Shelby and her family speak and use sign language to communicate. She doesn’t use Braille because of a tactilely defensive response. It has prevented her from wanting to touch things a common trait in Charge Syndrome.

She has a sensory swing that is supported by a ceiling beam for indoor play during cold weather and also for decompression. She explores her world using her other senses with a current favorite toy:  her yellow giraffe and a light up sensory board that sings.

Feeney hired a universal designer:  a company called Beige and Bleu who handled the functionality and aesthetics making the home truly accessible to Shelby’s needs. That work, along with an accessible van and travel for medical treatments have been aided by a Go Fund Me page (https://www.gofundme.com/shelbys-home-van-and-medical-trip) that has raised $44,891 of a $63,541 goal through donations by 298 people over the past 15 months.

“It’s amazing. It’s perfect,” said mom Nicole.

The days are long for Shelby who attends the Perkins School for the Blind. Her basic daily needs such as bathing; dressing and toileting will become slightly easier as they have the equipment to keep her safe.

A half bath with a full changing station allows Nicole to dress Shelby instead of laying her on the floor. With an accessible entry way there are zero thresholds throughout the house, which will allow her to use her walker freely. The insides of each doorframe are painted bright yellow for way finding.

The upstairs bath is fully accessible with a teak bench for her to be washed safely. She cannot care for herself so the burden is eased as both parents happily get accustomed to the new normal of proper equipment.

They no longer have to transport Shelby up and down the steep, winding stairs, which as she grows has become unsafe. She is buckled in a remote stair lift chair, which allows her to ride up instead of being carried.

Colors that assist with visional depth perception   were also used in blending color schemes and wood flooring.

Knobs are difficult for people with disabilities to operate so the kitchen has all pull hardware and lower level drawers for easier access.

The couple had a zoning board of appeals hearing in May after their story went public when a neighbor disputed their request to build a wheel chair ramp.  As a result there was an outpouring of support and donations of material and manpower to complete the renovations.  The family offered their thanks to local Whitman residents:  finish carpenters Bob Ells, electrician Bob Brown and Bellew Tile of Rockland who donated all the tiling for the upstairs bathroom.  There are several other anonymous donors who the Feeney’s also graciously acknowledged.

When Christmas dreams come true

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HANSON — He asked for his brother Matthew to come home for Christmas. It was his only wish for Santa.

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS: Indian Head fourth-grader Alex Ergas, hugs his brother Matthew Stanish, whose visit home on leave from Army basic training was all Alex wanted for Christmas, Stanish surprised him at a school assembly Dec. 20.

His wish was fulfilled Thursday afternoon because Alex Ergas, a fourth-grader, at Indian Head School in Hanson, was a very good boy this year.

Principal Jill Catreau received a letter from the Big Guy in the red suit and read it aloud to his classmates.

While she was reading the North pole response to Ergas, his big brother, Mathew Stanish, who arrived home in Hanson for a leave following Army basic training, snuck out on the stage in a coordinated reunion with Alex in front of friends and family.

In the crowd were Indian Head students, staff, the brothers’ mom Melissa Eras, Stanish’s girlfriend  Hannah Faghan of Whitman, and their sister Anastasia Ergas along with other family members.

Stanish will enjoy the holidays with his younger siblings before heading back to Fort Benning, Ga. for three more months.

He plans on working as a mechanic in the Army as he continues his training.

Happy tears were flowing from Alex who nodded his head yes when an Express Reporter asked him if he was happy.

Dressed in his Army fatigues, Stanish sat with Alex who tightly  clutched his brother’s arm. A granted holiday wish the Indian Head School community will not soon forget.

Firefighters save Christmas

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A holiday house fire has left several families temporarily homeless. While firefighters battled the flames at 97 Linden Street in Whitman, a Christmas tree could be seen still twinkling its lights in the front room on the second floor.

Lucas O’ Connor, a third floor resident, was first on scene as he arrived home to see flames shooting from the building.

“We were coming home from a holiday party and heard the fire alarms going off. When we got out of the car you could see flames on the second floor – we opened the door- as soon as we opened the door it was full of smoke. So I went around making sure no one was in the apartments and luckily no one was,” said O’Connor.

Fire Chief Grenno commended firefighters for making an aggressive interior attack and limiting the amount of damage to the second floor.

“Firefighters worked quickly to limit the damage and I am very proud that we were able to save a bit of Christmas for these families who have been put out of their homes tonight.“

After battling the flames firefighters were able to re-enter the home and remove the already wrapped Christmas presents from all three apartments.

Smoke and water have rendered the homes uninhabitable. For the time being, families from each unit in the triple decker are reportedly staying with relatives.

The Whitman food pantry was also on scene to offer dinners for the holiday to those who were displaced.

Chief Grenno’s estimated damages to the building is $100,000.

Firefighters from Hanson, East Bridgewater, Abington, and Rockland provided mutual aid. The origin and cause of the fire remain under investigation.