'Heat islands'; pedestrian crash; mom battling cancer: Top 5 stories last week

Kathy Bossa, The Enterprise
·4 min read

BROCKTON —  Two adults and a 3-year-old were in critical condition and flown to Boston trauma centers after being hit by a vehicle in a pedestrian crash on Warren Avenue near Pleasant Street.

The Brockton Athletic Hall of Fame 2022 induction ceremony was held Joe Angelo's Cafe.

The Middleboro U12 All-Stars brought their best when it was needed most. With a 10-4 win over Wellesley, the Middleboro Little League team advanced to regionals. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help pay for the travel, hotel and food expenses for player's families.

The towns of Bridgewater, East Bridgewater and West Bridgewater have issued outdoor water bans, effective immediately, to protect the towns' water supplies.

The 28th annual Cape Verdean Day Festival was held at the Arnone School in Brockton.

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

How a lack of trees and blazing concrete created a 'heat island' across downtown Brockton

Last week’s heat wave saw temperatures in the Brockton area easily reach into the 90s, with a high of 96 degrees. But like many cities along the East Coast, the presence of "heat islands" disproportionately distributes heat among certain areas within a city.  In residential, suburban and, oftentimes, higher-income areas, lush tree canopies provide protection from the blazing sun, making the area cooler and the air quality higher compared to urban, metropolitan areas of the same city. In downtown Brockton, tree canopies are replaced by tall buildings, concrete and asphalt, all of which reflect heat, making the area noticeably hotter.

'Heat island': How a lack of trees and blazing concrete created a 'heat island' across downtown Brockton 

Dana Peltier, 75, who lives at Enso Flats in downtown Brockton, holds a temperature gauge that reads 91.9 degrees Fahrenheit during the afternoon on Thursday, July 28, 2022.
Dana Peltier, 75, who lives at Enso Flats in downtown Brockton, holds a temperature gauge that reads 91.9 degrees Fahrenheit during the afternoon on Thursday, July 28, 2022.

Young child, 2 adults flown to Boston hospitals after Brockton pedestrian crash

Two adults and a 3-year-old are in critical condition after being hit by a vehicle in a pedestrian crash Tuesday evening, police said. All three were transported to Good Samaritan Medical Center after first responders found them with serious injuries in the roadway on Warren Avenue near Pleasant Street, according to the Brockton Police Department. After being seen by critical care support at Good Samaritan, all three victims were flown to Boston trauma centers for further care and evaluation, as they are in critical condition, police said.

Three people are in critical condition, including a young child, after they were struck by a vehicle Tuesday evening, Aug. 2, 2022 on Warren Avenue near Pleasant Street in Brockton.
Three people are in critical condition, including a young child, after they were struck by a vehicle Tuesday evening, Aug. 2, 2022 on Warren Avenue near Pleasant Street in Brockton.

State champion Middleboro Little Leaguers earn spot at regionals

The Middleboro U12 baseball team has grown accustomed to its players targeting a trip to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, for the Little League World Series. The 2022 version is simply next in line. Middleboro won the District 7 championship, a sectional title and on the state tournament.

'This was for the town': State champion Middleboro Little Leaguers earn spot at regionals

GoFundMe to help pay travel expenses: Here's how you can help the Middleboro Little League team achieve its dream

Middleboro earns spot in regionals: MEET TEAM MASSACHUSETTS: Middleboro Little League earns spot in New England Regionals

Photos: Middleboro vs. Pittsfield Little League Baseball in state semifinals 

Middleboro 12U Nationals players hoist the state title trophy at Dunn Little League Complex at Hollingsworth Park in Braintree on Sunday, July 31, 2022.
Middleboro 12U Nationals players hoist the state title trophy at Dunn Little League Complex at Hollingsworth Park in Braintree on Sunday, July 31, 2022.

This Raynham mom is fighting stage 4 breast cancer. Through it all, she's helping others.

Since being diagnosed with breast cancer in April 2019, Raynham mother of three Jenna Lyons has learned well all the many things that might come up in the course of a full day of doctor’s appointments, waiting rooms and treatment sessions. Lyons says it helps to have everything in order and a few favorite comfort items within easy reach. The Little Things: Jenna’s Wish List is her way of giving a little something back after an outpouring of support from family, friends and all the many people who have offered prayers or lent a hand over the past three years.

How this Raynham mom is helping cancer patients: This Raynham mom is fighting stage 4 breast cancer. Through it all, she's helping others. 

Raynham's Jenna Lyons with her three sons, Colton, 11, Connor, 9 and Finn, 6,
Raynham's Jenna Lyons with her three sons, Colton, 11, Connor, 9 and Finn, 6,

Bridgewater, East Bridgewater, West Bridgewater issue outdoor water bans during drought

The towns of Bridgewater, East Bridgewater and West Bridgewater have issued outdoor water bans, effective immediately, to protect the towns' water supplies. With a significant-to-critical drought across much of the state, according to the state Department of Conservation and  Recreation, the towns outlawed any nonessential outdoor water use – such as watering lawns, washing cars or cleaning sidewalks and buildings – for all residents using town water.

More: Bridgewater, East Bridgewater, West Bridgewater issue outdoor water bans during drought 

The Massachusetts Drought Status map as of July 21, 2022.
The Massachusetts Drought Status map as of July 21, 2022.

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: Pedestrian crash; mom battling cancer