Bear in Brockton; day in the life of a firefighter; edgy clothing: 5 top stories last week

BROCKTON —  A black bear was caught on video wandering through a Brockton yard near north Pearl Street and Healey Terrace.

On Thursday, traffic on Route 495 in Middleboro was halted after an injured black bear was reported in the median of the highway.  The Large Animal Response Team ultimately euthanized the bear.

Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a Brockton firefighter? Enterprise reporter Namu Sampath spent a day with Squad A to give you a behind-the-scenes look at what it's like to be a firefighter in Brockton.

The sixth annual Tutu Run and SparkleFest in honor of Sydney Craven was held at the East Bridgewater Commercial Club. Sydney unexpectedly stopped breathing in her sleep nine days shy of her second birthday in 2015.

A 3-alarm blaze ravaged a Brockton home on Taber Avenue, leaving the residents reeling.

In case you missed it, here are five stories from the past week throughout the Brockton area that resonated with our readers.

Bear caught on video wandering through Brockton yard, city alerts public to be on lookout

It was about 6 a.m. Friday morning as Kyle Boucher was working at his desk at home when he heard his mother screaming from another room. "She's like, 'You got to see what the camera just picked up a couple hours ago,'" Boucher said. They have cameras set up around the exterior of their house. At first, as Boucher watched what the cameras had recorded, he thought he saw a panther walk across his backyard. Then he realized it was an approximately 200-pound black bear.

Black bear in Brockton yard: Bear caught on video wandering through Brockton yard, city alerts public to be on lookout

Video of bear in Brockton yard: Brockton resident catches black bear on camera wandering through backyard 

Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a Brockton firefighter?

0700, that's firefighter speak for 7 a.m., and the time the eight Squad A firefighters who work the day shift at station one on Pleasant Street in downtown Brockton come in to work. The morning starts busy, after roll call and a quick run through the day by their captain and lieutenant, Shawn Kerr and Chris O'Reilly, respectively, the firefighters get moving on their tasks: making sure their equipment is sound, getting their gear ready and cleaning the station. Before 9:30 a.m., the firefighters have already responded to two calls from Brockton residents asking for help.

What it's like to be a firefighter: Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a Brockton firefighter? 

Tutu Run and Sparklefest honors East Bridgewater's Sydney Craven

The sixth annual Tutu Run and SparkleFest in honor of Sydney Craven was held at the East Bridgewater Commercial Club. Sydney unexpectedly stopped breathing in her sleep nine days shy of her second birthday in 2015.

Tutu Run photos: The sixth annual Tutu Run and Sparklefest honors East Bridgewater's Sydney Craven

Sparkle Box library: Sparkle Box library dedicated to East Bridgewater toddler at Central Elementary School

First Tutu Run: East Bridgewater toddler's memory will sparkle at Saturday event 

Brockton man starts edgy clothing biz as outer expression of his inner struggles

A Brockton man needed an outlet to battle his depression. He found art was the best way, which led him to design an edgy clothing brand, Local Lost Boyz. Devin Ryan, 28, felt a void in his life in 2017 when he created this brand. To the young designer, it was an extension of his mental state and a way to express how he felt inside. “We’re all a little lost, even if it’s mentally, physically, or emotionally lost,” Ryan said.

Edgy clothing business: Brockton man starts edgy clothing biz as outer expression of his inner struggles

Clothing photos: Brockton man finds himself with Local Lost Boyz clothing brand

Injured black bear euthanized on Route 495 in Middleboro

Traffic on Route 495 in Middleboro was halted Thursday morning after an injured black bear was reported in the median of the highway. At 11:10 a.m., Massachusetts State Police reported that a car struck a black bear on the highway. Staff from the Massachusetts Environmental Police and MassWildlife arrived at the scene and tranquilized the bear, according to MassWildlife's Communications Coordinator Emily Stolarski. Wildlife experts examined the bear and determined the animal "sustained significant injuries" and could not be relocated away from the highway. The Large Animal Response Team ultimately euthanized the bear.

Injured bear euthanized: Injured black bear euthanized on Route 495 in Middleboro 

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.

This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Brockton-area top 5 stories: Bear in Brockton, life of a firefighter