WHITMAN — They call him Walter the Warrior, and the police escort he and his parents Amber and Ryan Merck received to welcome him back to their Harvard Street home, Friday, Sept. 17 was worthy of a hero.

State police and local police from all over the South Shore led them with motorcycle unit lights and sirens as they left Brookline following Walter’s nine months of treatment for brain cancer at Boston Children’s Hospital.

Walter’s grandmother was an administrator at the Whitman police department and their family remain longtime Whitman residents. Walter will continue to receive care with weekly appointments in Boston as all his physicians monitor his health and development.

Turning 1 year old and starting to grow peach fuzz on his head are just two of the daily milestones Walter and his family have celebrated recently. The family is now complete and readjusting to home life with all four children — ages 9, 7, 5 — all under the same roof.

Walter has been battling choroid plexus carcinoma; a very rare and extraordinarily aggressive form of cancer that infects the brain and spine.

Their family was handed the fight of a lifetime as their 10-month-old became sick around Christmas time of 2020. He was originally thought to have had a viral infection but as his health deteriorated he lost milestones such as crawling. He had changes in his temperament and was inconsolable. Amber and Ryan knew that something was wrong and his journey began at Boston Children’s Hospital with January 2021 revealing a grapefruit sized tumor taking up half of his tiny head. In the days to follow he endured an 18-hour brain surgery with embolization and tumor resection.

As the rarity of his tumor was discovered, and genetic testing was performed, the Mercks learned he has Li Fraumeni Syndrome a rare genetic disorder, which increases the chances of getting multiple kinds of cancer at a young age and throughout his life.

Walter also has retesting of his hearing in October to see if there is further damage from his treatments, said mom Amber.

The diagnosis of his brain cancer led to months of treatments including: chemotherapy, a stem cell transplant, innumerable transfusions, and countless, daily medical procedures only the tip of the iceberg.

With his siblings anxiously waiting to see their brother, Walter — or Mr. Wrinkles, as he is lovingly nicknamed by his dad —Sept. 17 they passed the time with baseball and outdoor toys in the front yard on Harvard Street. The family all wore Walter the Warrior matching gray T-shirts, along with dozens of neighbors, friends and family lining the roadside.

“Life sure is good to be able to be whole as a family again. Now we continue the road of advancing Walter’s milestone achievements,” Ryan wrote on his son’s updates and in his thank you to those who made Walter’s trip home so special.

Ryan has written a blog over the last nine months letting family know how their baby is doing and capturing photos of silly times they have shared.

Listening to all types of music Walter likes to jam. In some of the posted videos, and even with tubes attached, his precious smile and giggle are contagious.

In some ways, it’s therapeutic for the couple to document the day-to-day experiences of a family with a critically ill child, and the Mercks also found humor in their moments with Walter. As he interacted with toys, rode in a wagon to his medical treatments in the stark hallways, and was even given an “Elmo-rific” first birthday in his hospital crib they documented his life. His room decorated by his nurses who brightened their darkest days and through writing they kept other families facing a similar battle in touch with each other.

In a phone interview, Ryan credited the “outstanding” care Walter received at both Dana Farber and Boston Children’s Hospital where he had the top pediatric neurologist and oncologist, he said.

In their blog, Ryan and Amber have expressed being able to lean on each other. Amber says she gets her strength from seeing how much better their baby is doing and feels gratitude for the nurses who cared for Walter and often reminded her to take a walk or step outside on days the stress of seeing and being helpless over their baby’s health got the best of her.

Walter is crawling now and has been phasing out his G Tube feedings where he gets medications and nutrients, she said in a phone interview.

Although he is on a strict diet he is slowly learning how to chew and swallow food.

In late August the Mercks were transitioned to the Boston House for families facing medical crisis who need to be near their hospital and care centers but “escape the hospital setting” with the intentions to transition to their Whitman home as Walter’s health allowed.

As the family attempts a new normal they juggle school, work, and medical bills and around the clock care for Walter with help from Amber’s mom — who also works in the Whitman school system — they are trying to keep a schedule for their other three children all in elementary school.

When asked how the community can help lend a hand Amber said they struggle at meal times, which can be stressful under normal circumstances. Amber and Ryan have had an outpouring of care and support which they have gratefully acknowledged and offered thanks to all who have assisted in this last year through their blog on Facebook.

To contact the family or offer gift cards follow their story or reach out in a private message, visit   GoFund Me or by a  link for Walter’s medical bills at Facebook.Walter the Warrior Baby Fights Cancer page. If anyone wants to make donations they may contribute directly to Boston Children’s Hospital in Walter Merck’s honor.

A DAY AT THE FAIR: Fair-goers slid down the giant slide in the mid-day sun on the opening day of the Marshfield Fair Monday, Aug. 23, after being canceled due to COVID last year. At right, Joe Keeley, 13, of Whitman with his goat, Alice, shared some time in the shade during the Marshfield Fair on Monday afternoon. See more photos, page 6.

Photos by Stephanie Spyropoulos

HANSON — A motorcycle crash took the lives of a father and daughter with ties to Halifax and Hanson on Friday night.

Former Hanson resident James Ripley, 58, and his daughter Jenna Ripley, 19, both of Halifax died following the crash on Route 58 Monponsett Street near Hill Road around 9:30 p.m. on Friday, according to District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz’ office.

Bouquets of flowers were seen placed at the base of a telephone pole on Sunday where the pair was killed. Jenna was pronounced dead at the scene, her father later passing away from his injuries at the Brockton Hospital.

A Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by James Ripley was heading south and left the pavement, according to Hanson Police in a written statement.

John Mahoney, who has owned the old Ripley Farm on Main Street for over two decades where the family grew up, said he knows them well.

He called the fatal accident “terrible.”

Jim’s father John Ripley who resides at the far end of the Main Street property was unavailable for immediate comment.

Ripley, who was known for his height, owned a tree company that he took over from his father. He was often seen driving through town hauling logs on his rig.

Mahoney described Ripley as a friendly, good guy, a burly guy — always waving as he drove by in his truck.

The accident remains under investigation by State Troopers, Hanson officers and officers assigned to the Plymouth County CPAC Unit according to District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz’ office.

WHITMAN — While August by no means signifies the end of summer vacation it is the culmination of seven weeks of the Whitman Park and Recreation summer program.

The summer experience, which has averaged 75 kids weekly, has been a joyous celebration of returning to see friends; engaging outdoors in nature and seeing unmasked   friends reunite after a long evolving school year.

New Camp Director Kathleen Woodward has been with the program for this past year. She emphasized that although recreation is finished this week the pool along with swimming lessons are still open and available.

Families can purchase pool passes and swimming lessons as part of the Town of Whitman. Information on the pool is available on the Town of Whitman website.

Camp Director of Recreation Gabby Callahan has served as both a camper and counselor over the last six years. She is now in her senior year of nursing at Fitchburg State University. She is leaning towards pediatrics.  She loves working with kids and is passionate about the recreation program. Along with her staff in the recreation department it is rewarding to have a hand in generating a positive outdoor experience for campers, she added.

The camp has been around for decades and has hosted countless families who undoubtedly have memories of the park including stories of squirrels that have finagled a lunch or two.

Callahan reminded the campers on Monday during day one of session seven that unzipped, unsealed snacks are fair game to the little critters in the park. The group shared a snicker at the incident in a previous session in which a tricky squirrel carried a brown-bag lunch up the tree before anyone noticed.

Each morning the campers check in, find their age groups, donning bright blue T-shirts they chat with friends until morning circle.

Rotation stations include entertainment such as: crafts, gym time and free play on the playground, swim time and sports with long time camp counselor Sports Director Nick Kardoose.

Themed crafts are always a suggestion as often times creative campers will come up with different ways to use the supplies such as: folding old fashion paper airplanes. The timeless generational pastime has been as popular as the Gimp braids used to make handmade bracelets.

Tether ball during game rotation is a hit as well as board games and free block that it is worked in for a lighter period of structure.

There is disc golf, kickball, relays, dodge ball, to name a few. Swimming is daily and for anyone who decides not to swim they can enjoy board games or sidewalk chalk.

Town Hall is the rainy day shelter when it is a complete washout for outdoor activities. It can be harder on rainy days but a new projector has allowed for movies. Camp counselors will bring in items that will engage or prompt activities such as a toy they had growing up. It can spark interest and is always age appropriate.  The location is in use for town related business so it makes it a bit harder to let go and run wild like the good old outdoors.

Science walks, lava lamps, using nature to create designs have been just a few of the hands on activities over the last two months.

Olympic week kick off during session number four was a build up to the Olympics. Campers created the Olympic ring symbol using paper circle plates among others daily projects.

“We had a huge emphasis on team building and working together so we incorporated mentoring with the older kids assisting the younger kids,” she said.

The recreation program did remain closed over 2020 during the height of the Covid Pandemic.

“We were so excited we got to run this year. It was up in the air and we received the OK. We are so excited. Kids need to be outside, interact and giving them something like this (program) is incredible,” said Callahan.

Reese Cordero a 2021 graduate of Whitman Hanson is also among the counselors this year at Park and Recreation. She was playing football during game time at the basketball courts. Taking turns with runners and hikers the lively group had a lot of energy to burn despite the dampness on Monday and looming rain.

Codero is planning on majoring in criminal justice at Roger Williams University in the fall. Her goal is to become a DARE Officer and work with the youth population.

She grew up in Whitman and said what she loves about Whitman Park and Recreation is seeing the happiness on their faces (campers) having fun and just being kids.

Visit the Town of Whitman website for information on sign-ups for all ages swimming lessons and family open swims which runs through Labor Day.

Congratulatory messages to Whitman’s retiring Fire Chief Timothy Grenno were written on a giant send-off banner by fellow firefighters, including Chief Jerome Thompson Jr., of Hanson, front above. State Sen. Michael D. Brady, D-Brockton, presented Grenno with a commendation for his 37 years of service, as Whitman Selectmen Chairman Dr. Carl Kowalski and state Rep. Alyson Sullivan, R-Abington, looked on. See more photos, page 6.   Photos by Stephanie Spyropoulos

After last year’s COVID cancellation, Whitman found that waiting a day due to rain couldn’t put a damper on it’s July 4th celebration in the park Monday, July 5.  Nick Kardoose, left,  director of sports for the Whitman Recreation program cheered on Justin Fisher, 3, of East Bridgewater who had a slow start in the sack race. See more photos, page 6.

Paparazzi  parents, family and friends gathered to photograph the special night for the  eighth-graders on the Hanson Town Green before their year-end dance and dinner at Somewhere Else Tavern, in Bryantville on June 17. See more photos, page 6.

HANSON — Nearly 100 participants registered for the all- ages Fishing Derby held at Cranberry Cove in Hanson on Sunday.

In collaboration with The Rockland-Hanson Rotary Club local family Anthony Grasso and wife Lindsay owners of Anthony Grasso Electric sponsored the event.  The couple assisted in handing out trophies and decorated medals for winners in categories that included:  most fish caught during the event, which was achieved by Joey Hayden, 10, of Hanson and John DeLaney, 14, of Whitman and Noah Studley also of Whitman all the way through to the tiniest catch of the day given to Mason Weckbacher, 5, of and Sophia Maroney, 8, both of Whitman.

The well-attended event drew families as far away as Quincy and was held in ideal weather and two brand new fishing poles went to top winners.

The age groups began from the littlest anglers in pre-K through teens with fishing poles, nets and bait in hand, and lots of sunscreen. The edge of the Cove was decorated with hats, and casting rods from the beach to the shoreline just below the path to Needles Lodge.   

Ryan Maroney, 13, of Whitman reeled in a catch just under eight inches and as it was being measured the fish performed a back flip evoking laughter from volunteers Wendy Brown and husband Josh Hockenberry of Hanson.  The pair was in charge of jotting the length and then assisting in freeing the fish back to the pond as on lookers reacted to the “good size” of each scaly creature.

Goodbyes were not difficult as brother and sister Ruby, 2, and Sydney Hockenberry, 4,  of Hanson got close enough to react to the fish with a shiver quickly deciding they did not want to touch their squirmy sunfish. The event drew all ages including grandparents who waded in the water to help catch and cast — or untangle — the occasional fishing lines. Kim Anderson and Helen Mastico of the Rockland -Hanson Rotary Club attended the event during the prize presentation.