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Remembering lost friends

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WHITMAN — A vigil was held on the soccer fields at Whitman Middle School on Friday, Feb. 21 in honor of four members of the Smith family who perished in a car crash while on vacation in Orlando, Fla., last week.

Organizers included Whitman Youth Soccer President Helen Iannone, Vice President Stephanie Blackman, Boys’ Director Jamie Sousa as well as several other community sports leaders and volunteers. The memorial included impactful statements and memories from Jamie Sousa who coached Jaxon. She was connected to the family and shared love of the sport with him.  She offered heartfelt memories of her time cut short with the young athlete.

Jaxon Smith was only 11, a middle school student in Hanson. He was killed in the crash as well as his younger sister, preschooler Scarlett, 5, his mom Julie, and grandmother Josephine Fay of Weymouth.

Will Litchfield, a soccer teammate of Jaxon’s was given a new pair of footwear by the family. The package had arrived for him when they arrived home from Disney after the tragedy.

He clutched the package that was given to him by Erin Condon, Jaxon’s cousin.

“I feel proud,” said Litchfield as he walked off with his friends, candles in hand.

A statement was released by the family, thanking the town as well as numerous others in their support after the fatal accident.

‘’The Fay/Smith families greatly appreciate the outpouring of support and prayers as we process the events of this horrific tragedy,” it read. “We are truly heartbroken. Among the many individuals, groups and organizations that have assisted during this difficult time we wanted to highlight the efforts of the first responders in Orlando, the medical staff at the Orlando Regional Medical Center and the Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital Disney, Jetblue, TSA and The Massachusetts State Police. We also want to thank the Hartman family who assisted in Orlando. We continue to grieve for the loss of our loved ones.  Thank you for your outpouring of kindness.”

On Friday night, the soccer field was packed with sports teams, including several boys soccer teams in which he played over the years along with fellow students, teachers, neighbors and friends of the family; as well as those offering support to the grieving community at the Whitman Middle School soccer field.

Eric Frank a resident of Whitman for 40 years, a father of three, and a soccer league volunteer and coach for 10 years said it was devastating to learn of the tragedy. His son played with Jaxon on fall of 2018.

Parents were seen embracing and consoling their children and their friends who held lights in memory of the Smiths.

Corinna Mac Donald a 3rd grader and her little sister Layla  a first-grader were visibly saddened at the event. They knew the family and her friend through cheerleading and she wanted to tell her friend Shalie that she hopes “she isn’t sad.”  She tried to write a message of hope on the memorial boards that the family would receive from the organizers in the days following the event. They were pinned to the soccer board so everyone could sign them.

The Smiths were remembered by other moms as a small town family who were hands-on, raising polite, respectful kids.

In statements earlier in the week released by the Whitman Hanson Regional School District Superintendent Jeff Szymaniak  schools would have counseling services for students and staff in the weeks to come.

Hanson expects big TM crowd

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HANSON — Selectmen Chairman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett is anticipating a record turnout at the annual Town Meeting due to the school assessment issue, and has asked Town Administrator John Stanbrook to discuss overflow accommodations with Town Moderator Sean Kealy.

She suggested the Hanson Middle School gym, located next to the auditorium, where town meetings are held, could be the best location for an overflow room.

“We’ll be having conversations with FinCom,” she said. “They’re already percolating — talking about what projects may or may not be able to go forward, and suggesting measures of austerity that we probably need to implement.”

The possibility of an override may also need to be assessed, but FitzGerald-Kemmett said she did not want to put together an override committee just yet. She is waiting for a “little more sharpening of the pencils” before that decision is made.

“I know people are very anxious about this and all I can really say is we’re telling everybody what we can tell them, at the time that we can tell them, about what we’re doing,” she said. “Just because we’re not talking a lot about what is being done doesn’t mean we aren’t doing anything.”

She stressed that the entire board is actively working with people in Whitman and Hanson finance officials and town counsel to look at a “multifaceted approach” to cover all the town’s bases.

FitzGerald-Kemmett said she is planning a presentation to feature Town Counsel Jay Talerman, members of the Select Board, School and Finance committees and Town Accountant Todd Hassett to answer residents’ questions about the school budget.

“I think it’s premature to have that now, because … we don’t have even a nearly final number,” she said. “It’s going to take a lot more whittling down before its anything we can respond to.”

She is thinking it may be late in March before that session can be scheduled, most likely at Hanson Middle School.

cell tower

FitzGerald-Kemmett also questioned an amended cell tower agreement at Hanson Middle School, presented to the board as ready to be signed.

Stressing she did not wish to overstate the issue, FitzGerald-Kemmett said she was hearing from a few parents with “potential health concerns” about the tower’s location near the school.

Stanbrook, who said he had not attended a recent ZBA meeting at which a hearing was held, suggested there was likely a 21-day comment period for residents to express concerns.

“I do not want to stand in the way of a cell phone tower, but I want to make sure that we’re being responsive,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “How, as a board, do we know how those things have been addressed so, in full faith and confidence, we can sign on this thing and say that we know that our appointed board has done what they are supposed to do and has been responsive to people expressing concerns?”

Stanbrook agreed to research the question and bring the contract back for a vote at the Tuesday, Feb. 25 meeting. Selectman Jim Hickey suggested asking the ZBA to at least send a representative to that meeting to answer the questions.

“This has been going on for two or three years,” Selectman Kenny Mitchell said. “Cell phone coverage is a public safety issue.”

He agreed that the ZBA should come in, but noted that a lease agreement has been signed and the tower has already been moved to address other concerns.

“For us to hold it back, based on one or two opinions …” he said.

surplus auctions

In other business, a 1986 fire engine declared surplus by the board, gave rise to a discussion on how the town disposes of surplus equipment.

“There were a couple of companies that specialized in taking things that towns would declare surplus, and shopping it around,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said of information she and Selectman Matt Dyer learned at a January conference of the Massachusetts Municipal Association. “I was very impressed with this process and I thought we need to get on board with this, or at least think about getting on board with it,” she said.

Munici-Bid is one such company.

Both Stanbrook and Administrative Assistant Greer Getzen, who have both worked with Munici-Bid before, said such services are sensible.

“It costs us nothing, and they do all the work,” Getzen said. “They take the photos, they post it, they do everything.”

“They do a great job,” Stanbrook concurred, referring to his tenure in Mansfield, which used the company. “We moved all the surplus inventory like that.”

FitzGerald-Kemmett said she talked to a couple people representing such firms, reporting that all costs are passed on to the buyers.

Stanbrook said that equipment is declared surplus and available for disposition, the town would contact the company, and information would be posted online and set up the online auction. Bidders must sign in and demonstrate that the money to pay for the item is available.

A bidding window is established and the high bidder gets the item.

The board declared the fire engine surplus and Stanbrook said he would take the necessary steps to get it sold on Munici-Bid.

Dyer advocated keeping a photographic record for the town as well to keep track of what is being sold.

Filling Buckets of Love

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The students throughout the Whitman-Hanson school district are showing kindness and spreading love to one another and the community this Valentine’s Day.

Kelly Tanis advisor for the National Honor Society at Whitman Hanson will be hosting an intimate gathering with a French twist with students from the French club. Another program the NHS has been involved with is “Buckets of Love.”

For the last several years they have carried a tradition of bringing Valentine’s and smiles to a local nursing home. In past years they have chosem a facility with a connection to a student in the group.

This year they will head to Weymouth to play French trivia, puzzles, and snacks to spread love.

In “Buckets of Love,” students were responsible individually or in a group to fill a bucket with items (from a list of age appropriate toys and necessities) that will be donated to a South Shore homeless shelter.

The project involved approximately 22 students and the group was preparing the packages Feb. 11 to be delivered for Valentine’s Day.

“What makes me happiest is seeing how interested the students have been in giving back. I am proud and they are proud to be part of it. The feeling is amazing,” said Tanis.

The students are not being individually recognized for the project it is modest within the NHS, she said.

Teacher Ellen Galambos also posted photos on Twitter following a project with her calligraphy club at W-H. The handmade hand-written Valentine Cards were created finished and dropped off to the South Shore Hospital in Weymouth to brighten the days of others.

The Happiness Crusaders at the Conley School will be planting seeds of affirmation and love inside the elementary school as they greet the morning busses with a tunnel of love.

Fourth-grade teacher Kerri Doherty, who oversees the Crusaders Club said the purpose of the group is to spread love, joy and kindness in school and in the community.

Studies have shown the quickest way to feel better is to do for others and Valentine’s Day will be full of good cheer as she and approximately 12 Crusaders will hold pompons and affirmation cards that read: “You are special,” “You are unique,” and “You are loved,” to name a few of the encouraging statements.

Staff at the Duval School will be on the lookout for students showing kindness to a friend. They are giving out pink hearts to recognize students.

“We are hoping this will encourage empathy by helping others in need,” Assistant Principal Mary Beth Teebagy said.

The Boosterthon Team will also be delivering positive messages and kindness cards from the Duval students to children at Boston Children’s Hospital.

‘The envelope, please…’

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HANSON — Who will come away with the Oscars at Sunday’s 92nd Academy Awards ceremony? Have you seen any of the top nominated films — or know that one is in Korean or that another billed as a dark comedy satire features Adolf Hitler as a boy’s “idiotic imaginary friend?”

Another, from director Quentin Tarantino posits the question of what might have been had the Charles Manson “family” gone to the wrong house in 1969.

There is also a more traditional WWI epic, “1917,” a biopic of Judy Garland’s final days “Judy;” another remake of “Little Women;” a film about the development of a race car, “Ford vs Ferrari;” a film about Jimmy Hoffa, “The Irishman;” a portrait of a crumbling marriage, “Marriage Story” and an origin story of the comic book “Joker” character.

To prep residents for the Oscars, the Hanson Public Library hosted high school English teacher and film historian Frank Mandosa Friday, Jan. 31 for his talk, “The Academy Awards, the Good the Bad and the Outrageous.”

The evening came complete with a red “carpet” — really red plastic sheeting taped to the floor of the Hanson Senior Center — and popcorn to munch on during Mandosa’s talk.

If you haven’t seen all nine nominated films Mandosa hasn’t, either — he still hasn’t seen “Ford vs Ferrari” or “JoJo Rabbit” — he also discussed the origin of the nickname Oscar for the Award and its history.

Trivia questions unearthed information like Bob Hope’s record-holding 18 hosting gigs, the disastrous opening number in 1989 in which Rob Lowe danced with Snow White, John Travolta’s mangling of “good friend” Idina Menzel, 1974’s streaker, and that time Sally Field over-emoted that her second Oscar was proof that people liked her.

Mandosa said if either “1917” or “Parasite” wins the Best Picture Oscar it would be only the 11th time a film took home that prize without any nominations in the acting categories. Among the current 10 are “An American in Paris,” “Slumdog Millionaire” and “Braveheart.”

Celebrating the best in the cinematic arts, however, was never the reason for the Academy Awards. It was created by MGM mogul Louis B. Mayer in the 1920s as a way to stem the unionization of Hollywood. Content of movies was also inspiring calls for censorship, and the advent of sound in film was also creating challenges.

“He owned Hollywood, and when I say he owned Hollywood, I mean he owned Hollywood,” Mandosa said. “He controlled the personal lives, as well as the professional lives of his stable of actors. He ran the show.”

The Studio Basic Agreement was a contract offering a temporary answer to the union issue in January 1927 before the idea of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences was discussed at a dinner between Mayer and representatives of three crafts and trades at the studio. A banquet that spring signed up 230 out of 300 people invited to be members of the Academy.

As for the name Oscar?

“There are 50 million different stories that are out there, and we’ll never know which one is true,” Mandosa said.

It took all of five minutes to hand out all the awards at the first ceremony honoring all the silent films, only, of the years 1928-29. Supporting actors were not honored in the first years of the Oscars and when they were, only plaques here handed out until 1943, and child actors were only awarded miniature Oscars until 1960.

What will be remembered this year?

On Sunday, Feb. 2, Britain’s EE BAFTA ceremony honored “1917” as best picture and director, the Korean film “Parasite” took home best original screenplay and film not in the English language, “JoJo Rabbit” and his weird friend Adolf won for best adapted screenplay. Best actor honors went to Brad Pitt — supporting role for the Tarantino film “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” and — Joaquin Pheonix for “The Joker.” Laura Dern won the supporting actress BAFTA for “Marriage Story” and Renée Zelweger for lead actress in “Judy.”

The Screen Actors’ Guild honored the same people in acting roles, but gave “Parasite” the top award for cast in a motion picture.

The Golden Globes also agreed with the BAFTA acting awards and gave “1917” Best Drama and “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” best musical or comedy motion picture.

We sense a trend forming. The Oscars are televised on ABC at 8 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 9.

SSVT holds budget hearing

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HANOVER — The South Shore Tech School Committee held its annual budget hearing on Wednesday, Jan. 22.

The hearing followed the release earlier in the day of Gov. Charlie Baker’s fiscal 2021 budget, as well as the Chapter 70 and minimum local contribution numbers for the budget cycle by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).

The budget will be up for certification at its February meeting.

“To this point, we’ve had an initial proposal on fiscal 2021 and now we can look at some other numbers,” said Superintendent-Director Dr. Thomas J. Hickey, noting that the information was being sent to member towns on Thursday, Jan. 23 and will be posted on the school website.

The overall budget proposal represented a 4.09-percent increase, and — thanks to non-resident tuition revenue, regional transportation and a modest increase in Chapter 70 state aid — funds sought from member towns would therefore be slightly lower than the current budget of $13,816,873. Hanson’s assessment increases by $132,507 and Whitman’s by $18,468.

Assessments vary based on the funding formula (75 percent) and the number of students in the school (25 percent).

“In general, the towns that saw assessment increases, usually it’s because there’s an increase in students,” Hickey said. “It’s not always guaranteed and the intensity might be different.”

Hanson’s minimum local contribution — the amount the state says towns should be spending to educate students — is $1,135,420 and Whitman’s is $1,623,676. Non-resident tuition, divided proportionally among the SST member towns gives $14,193 to Hanson and $12,027 to Whitman. The towns’ assessments would be even higher without the increased revenue,  Hickey said Monday, Jan. 27, noting that the non-resident tuition is traditionally used to offset the next year’s tuition. He also said he is very confident that regional transportation reimbursement, anticipated to be at 70 percent, will be 80 percent this go-round. As labor costs and the fuel and maintenance costs brought with the transition to propane-powered buses, are being pointed to as reasons next year’s transportation costs are calculated as “largely flat,” Hickey said the additional 10 percent of transportation reimbursement could be passed along to the towns.

Capital expenses are up slightly due to the capital improvement plan, while transportation costs are largely flat and the district has eliminated most of its debt, according to Hickey.

Hickey said on Monday, Jan. 27 that DESE is expected to issue guidance to better explain what they are looking for in terms of student opportunity grant paperwork, seeking explanations from each district about how additional Chapter 70 funds are going to be used — from closing achievement gaps to improvements to social-emotional learning and other priorities.

The report, due April 1 and must be completed by all districts in the state, expects districts to reach out to community stakeholders and figure out how it’s going to be spent.

“A lot of districts are not getting a lot of money,” Hickey said. “Our Chapter 70 increase is $30 a student — I think we saw a bump of, it might be $18,000.”

There is a long-form and a short-form document to complete, Hickey said, adding that SST’s “modest amount of money” would likely translate into a short-form document for the district. He said he would be interested in reading the actual paperwork within the next couple of weeks.

In other business, Assistant Principal Sandra Baldner announced the school has achieved its goal of reducing absenteeism by 20 percent.

“It required a lot of work by a lot of people,” she said, describing weekly attendance meetings with guidance counselors, an administrative aide assisting with data management, the school nurse and other administrators. “We’re attacking this with a student-centered approach to target each student intervention based on the student’s reasons for absences. We’re very involved with the families, as well.”

While not meant to be punitive, freshmen absent four times in a row without a valid excuse, receive a detention in a supportive environment with the assistance of a teaching aide. After a fifth unexcused absence a letter is sent home to their family, and in the case of 10 absences, the family is asked in for a 10-day appeal meeting.

“Those meetings are starting to happen now,” Baldner said.

Initial response from families have been generally positive.

A Saturday School initiative for struggling students meets once a month from 8 to 11 a.m. In November, the session had 26 students and last Saturday, there were 27 students working during the session.

“The goal is that we have fewer failures during the school year,” she said. Class failures are also being targeted for a 27-percent reduction this year.

Principal Mark Aubrey reviewed the pilot data program on the breakfast programs, reporting a plateau after an initial improvement. The numbers are still improved even with the plateau considered.

March 4 to 8 is National Breakfast week, when new menu items will be offered free of charge to gauge interest.

Vigil honors Lyric’s light

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WHITMAN — Through emotion and tears, a crowd gathered at dusk on Sunday in Whitman with white candles that shone brightly in memory of a child who had her life taken away.

Lyric Farrell, 2, of Whitman was remembered Sunday, Jan. 19 — those who gathered celebrated the life of a little girl whose life was cut short leaving all to wonder how? and why? — as the golden sunlight set over photos of a smiling face,

Oversized pink ribbons adorned the doorway of  Miss Kay’s dance studio as owner Kay Duffy  offered her parking lot to host the vigil after learning of Lyric’s affection for music and dance.

She was also remembered for the hugs she gave all her daycare friends, and as a light who shared her radiance with everyone.

“She left her mark on us,” said Jackie Freestone, Lyric’s former day care director.

“We were blessed to know her. Her memory shines on,” said Michelle Carter also her teacher at the same center for the last six months.

Miriam Theodore, a pastor at the First Congregational Church of Whitman offered remarks at the memorial, and event co-organizer Jenn Marley handed out pink pins and helped to light candles during the vigil with friend Heather Clough, both mothers and both of Whitman. Clough spoke at the vigil.

Gently reminding those in attendance to use the vigil to remember the light Lyric brought to those around her.

“As members of the community kids are so important here- there is so much for them to do and there are so many ways for them to express themselves,” Coughlin said to the crowd. “It is a sad occasion and we can only imagine what Lyric could’ve grown up to do and she deserved more.”

Encouraging the use of their voices to make changes Clough encouraged the group to seek out organizations that can assist children alluding to the open court case.

“If you believe things need to change there are organizations to join … to turn the ‘could have- should have’ to ‘I will, I can.’” added Clough.

Teachers from Lyric’s daycare among the crowd were visibly upset as they talked about Lyric’s struggles in the weeks she had been returned to her mother.

Freestone said she raised red flags about the changes in Lyric’s behavior after slowly transitioning out of her grandmother’s care.

“I used to bring Lyric to the worker for DCF,” Freestone said. “I hated to send her but we had to.”

Lyric reportedly died of a non-accidental head injury, which left her on life support. She passed away on Dec. 31.

The open case is currently being processed in Brockton District Court with Shaniqua Leonard of Whitman Lyric’s biological mother being charged with reckless endangerment of a child. She is facing additional charges as the case evolves, according to statements through the Plymouth Country DA Timothy Cruz.

Reveling in a January thaw

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WHITMAN — Whitman Park was teeming with activity as families emerged for a peek at the sun during a spring-like day on Sunday, Jan. 12.

With temperatures reaching over 70 degrees, forecasters and the National Weather Service proclaimed the centuries old record was beat by Sunday’s short heat wave.

Max Capelotti, 6, and his sister Valerie, 4, of Rockland spent time running and jumping around the playground with their mom and dad nearby.  Miles, 8,  and Charlotte Davidson, 10, of Whitman  had races back and  forth on the field  with a  “no jackets” rule catching on quickly as children came down the slide. Another pair of soccer players squared off in shorts one even going shirtless in the sun.

There were no boots or cross-country skis to be seen along the dirt paths. However Jessica Smith walked with her two children Collin, 4, and Annabelle, 6, as they rode their bikes diagonally on the dry fields toward the park.

The Barry-Gill family of Whitman could be heard laughing as they raced down the hill — rolling from the top to the bottom — the flag pole directly behind the Civil War Monument is normally  frozen at this time of year; with parents keeping watch as their children sled down and race back with their snow tubes. The hill was bare Sunday.

The Whitman family normally sleds on the hill, but said they were thrilled to be outside on such a beautiful day.

Mom Sherri Barry-Gill took photos from the bottom of the mound as her daughters and husband Mike Gill rolled as fast as they could towards her.

Amari Romera, 4, of Whitman took a walk with his parents and proudly showed off his Popsicle it appeared that it too was not going to stay cold as he sipped the liquid from the plastic.

Others could be seen walking their dogs, teens on bikes pedaled by and families threw pebbles in the frog pond. Two couples sat on the benches overlooking the pond resting their heads back a bit as if to sun their faces.

An unlit holiday tree somehow appeared out of season on its stand in the middle of the pond. The gift of a cold weather reprieve however short was gladly accepted by so many smiling faces on Sunday.

Two rescued from icy pond in Hanson

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HANSON – Just two hours before a time of celebration New Year’s Eve, two local men were rescued from the icy waters of Maquan Pond — both found semi conscious and clinging to an overturned canoe.

Hanson Fire Chief Jerome Thomspon said the two men who were still in the hospital as of Wednesday were barely able to communicate when first responders reached them Tuesday night.

Between the time of the 911 calls at 10:35 p.m. for reported “yells  for help” coming from the pond, and the time the firefighters made contact with the men, they had already been in the  ice-covered pond for a half hour.

Firefighters in survival suits deployed an ice rescue sled as they made their way over the ice in darkness however, their boat could not break through the tricky, deceptive thickness of the ice, which made the rescue challenging.

Broken chunks of ice were visible and an overturned canoe that floated inland on Wednesday could be seen wedged off shore behind the Needles Lodge.

The men, who are 50 and 33, are reportedly residents in Hanson but have not been identified by authorities. There has been no clarification on why the men were out in the small craft in the late, frosty night.

Thompson, who praised the efforts of all the responders on Thursday, had emphasized Hanson Fire Department members drill annually in ice rescue and, despite the preparation, each circumstance can be different.

“Any type of rescue is labor intensive,” he said. “It was a coordinated effort – with a positive outcome.”

Both men were transported to South Shore Hospital in Pembroke ambulances suffering from exposure. A Whitman ambulance was called to stand by, and evaluated the firefighters that performed the rescue. Fire personnel were assisted at the scene by Hanson Police.

A galaxy of fun

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HANSON — A Star Wars Symposium was held at the Hanson Public library on Dec. 28 with several local families and Star Wars aficionados gathering for a visit over winter vacation.

Peter Struzziero, a “Star Wars” buff since childhood, brought his collection of toys dating back to the first trilogy, which began in 1977. He joked that the toys were out of the boxes, which may have disturbed a fanatical fan. The group was gifted with time and touch for each of the visitors. Exploring and handling the collection of toys in a form of a movable museum was all things “Star Wars.” Struzziero shared his knowledge with ages ranging from five to 55.

He presented memes and humorous videos in a short introduction poking fun at both himself and other enthusiasts that have every toy and collectors dream cabinet full with Star Wars-related memorabilia … but they never free any of it from its original packaging.

During the movie clips, the toys from Struzziero’s collection appeared to take on different shapes and colors as the lights were lowered. The children laughed hysterically over YouTube Lego  and cat related Star Wars humor.

Struzziero fired trivia at some of the teens, who could recite nearly entire portions of the epic space opera.

Their vast knowledge was impressive and they provided explanations that solved or at least debated the trivia answers.

Will Clements, 11, of Hanson donning an X Wing Star Fighter helmet and later was seen in a harmless lightsaber duel.  He attended with his father and they talked with other enthusiasts about which movies they saw and will be seeing in re-runs and new on demand releases.

Danny, 4, and Ryan, 6,  Delue of Hanson along with their three sisters all attended the symposium with their mom.

They were in costumes and played with each of the loose figurines along with the Skowyra brothers of Whitman.

Matthew, 5, was Darth Vador and his brother Zack, 7, was a storm trooper and with help from his mom tried on the matching helmet from Struzziero’s collection.

Matt Lawson, 12, of Hanson wore a Chewbacca mask as he watched the movie with John Goodrow, 15, also of Hanson.   The pair laughed at similar parts of the memes.  Richard Goodrow father of John said he didn’t really get in to the “Star Wars” phenomena until the movie Rogue one from 2016.

The pair now shares a common interest however John could easily play mind tricks on his father with his intense, endless facts on “Star Wars” characters, creatures, and galactic battles.

When this reporter confessed that she did not know anything about the “Star Wars” sagas there was a gasp and then silence fell over the room.

It was the perfect time to learn …and until next time “May the Force be with you!”

Herren’s long journey back

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HANOVER — Chris Herren, who once wore a Celtics jersey, lost every dime he ever earned to his drug habits. As a former American national basketball player who also played on various teams overseas, he stood before the entire school last week at South Shore Tech to tell his story.

Herren described his longing to taste that “item” that had such an immense hold on his dad — he wondered how that little can of beer could be so powerful that it made his mother cry and was crumbling  the family life around him.

As a curious teen he tried beer behind the shed of his house where he got caught and promised his mother he would never do it again. But addiction took hold and rapidly escalated  until pills, and eventually heroin owned him.

In the clutches of the opioid epidemic Herren he was in a fight with  the devil as he tried over and over to detox and stay clean but it eventually took another downward spiral with overdoses and the continuous cycle ensued.

He was an open book for the students, sharing all the details of his recovery and sobriety, chronicling details of his lowest of lows.

He recounted the biggest moments in life when he still  purchased drugs only hours after his baby was born; his wife still in the hospital from her delivery. He returned to heroin to get high.

He described his behavior, his need to get a fix at all costs even playing in the NBA high on drugs, on which he was dependent on emotionally and physically.

Herren’s presentation began with a short film that  highlighted his career both the rise and fall with interviews from his coaches and how he over the years made his new mission to speak in his rawest form, to share his story with thousands in his 11 years in sobriety — to give hope to others that sobriety was possible.

He appeared to have so much but there was no way his confident façade could hide his inner demons, he said.

It became visible that his drug use was taking over and cost him his basketball career — he was labeled a “risk” for teams to sign. He had a few opportunities that brought him back to the game again, but he blew those chances with time, as well.

Herren spoke intentionally, confessing and evoking conversation on the same level in the room of an intensely focused audience.

Teachers and students became emotional, tears streaming down faces of those who listened to Herren. The obvious energy palpable as high schoolers fidgeted and tapped their feet lightly on the floor, nervously shifting in their seats. In expression of grief friends hugged one another in the gymnasium at the hour-long assembly.

Herren also touched on topics of self-harm and mental health, both he had experienced in hearing from teens who reached out to him in the past and understood that addiction begins somewhere else first in most situations.

After falling time and time again, he said he realized after telling his own story that many  youngsters  had stories of their own — critical for healing to both the younger generation and himself.

Herren acknowledged that a conversation such as his is a difficult one, but as he told his story he also reminded students and staff that — with no exception —they each had a hand in helping sometimes just listening was the beginning step.

Failure to address the epidemic and sweeping it under the rug was not an option. He encouraged communication and talk about the need for facilitation, services and helping one another.

In wrapping up his story Herren wondered aloud how many kids in the room knew a friend or family member who was struggling and didn’t know how to help. It was clear by the reactions that the drug and alcohol epidemic has spread far and wide in our communities.

Knowing beer is a driving force behind his father’s alcoholism he said he is aware that he will get a call someday that his dad has drank himself to his own death. He had already prepared in his mind that the day would come.

Answering a student’s question on what the one most regretful act during his drug use was Herren recalled not being able to keep his promises.

He was unable to keep his pledge of sobriety to his mother — she passed away before he gained a clean lifestyle. She never got to see him drug-free.

With question and answers at the culmination of the assembly Herren only received a few questions in front of the crowd — but the moment he turned off the microphone and stepped in to the rows of chairs he was hugged and tapped on the shoulder by dozens of students who approached him.

Murmurs and parts of conversations could be heard as he commended each student with a hug or high five just a moment of caring and he had a positive comment for each of them.

The students and staff had counselors available all day following the presentation.

Chris Herren has built a community around substance use prevention and recovery. He has shown us that even the best can falter, and even the most desperate can rise. An author, motivational speaker and wellness advocate, Herren has founded three organizations that provide programs and services with the goal of overcoming setbacks and navigating life’s challenges, according to his website. To read more about Chris Herren and his recovery, wellness programs and speaking engagements visit chrisherren.com.