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BROCKTON, Mass. —

An exhibit to help college students deal with the stresses and challenges of academic life arrived in Brockton on Monday.

"In 2022, I went through a somewhat similar struggle with, like depression, and just not being in a good place mentally," Massasoit Community College student Mekhai Barbosa said.

Barbosa is not alone. In fact, an exhibit called "Send Silence Packing" on the Brockton campus where he's volunteering travels to college campuses across the country, raising awareness of a widespread issue and hope for those struggling.

"The idea is to bring mental health to the forefront, get rid of the silence and address a serious issue that we face here on campus, but also in society," Massasoit Community College President Bill Mitchell said.

"We want you to feel hopeful. We have a 'hope wall,' we have resources, we have mental health professionals on-site, so as you kind of navigate those feelings — both in life and through the exhibit — we want you to come talk and just realize that, you know, you'll get through it. There's hope, and then there's happiness at the end of the road," Eric Rockwood said.

The exhibit was created by the nonprofit Active Minds. Their statistics show that 39% of students in college experience a significant mental health issue, and 67% of people 18-24 with anxiety or depression do not seek treatment.

"Reading a couple actually got to my heart. I didn't think it would, but it did," Massasoit Community College student Franchise Molin said.

"I'm optimistic because I think — especially with this interview — people are going to be more aware of suicide prevention, there's going to be a better way to cope with suicidal thoughts and urges," Barbosa said.

If you need someone to talk to about suicide, contact the nationwide hotline at 988. The lifeline provides free and confidential emotional support 24 hours a day.

BROCKTON — Two Brockton firefighters suffered burns Thursday when the floor of a Pleasant Street home gave way, threatening to send Lt. Andrew Wisocky into the basement, where heavy fire raged, Brockton Fire Chief Brian Nardelli said.

Nardelli praised the courage and training of Wisocky, the firefighters who pulled him to safety, and the rest of the crew who kept fighting the fire."I would like to recognize and congratulate Capt. Daniel Foye, Firefighters Mark Gedgaudas, Sean McSheffrey, Bryan Feeney and Anthony Hardy on a job well done," Nardelli said in a Friday social media post detailing the incident.

"These members have displayed incredible professionalism under severe circumstances," Nardelli said.

'Excessive hoarding conditions' in home

Crews responded just before 6 a.m. Thursday to 1236 Pleasant St., a two-story bungalow-style home that was built in 1930, according to city property records. While no one lived at the home, inside it had "excessive hoarding conditions," Nardelli wrote. The clutter, high heat from the fire and lack of visibility made it a challenging situation, he wrote.

What happened on day of fire

Firefighters from Ladder Company 4 and Squad A were making their way inside.

"[Wisocky] felt the floor fall away in front of him and found himself falling into the basement," Nardelli wrote. Foye called a May Day, then helped Gedgaudas and McSheffrey reach into the hole to pull the lieutenant out. Rescues got their hands on Wisocky's air tanks and gear to pull him to safety. Meanwhile, Feeney and Hardy held their ground and kept putting out the fire to protect the rescue mission, the chief wrote.

2 firefighters suffer burns

Nardelli said firefighters kept their wits. "Lt. Wisocky suffered some burns to his face and neck and Capt. Foye suffered burns to his lower leg," the chief wrote, "but without the calm and direct involvement of all involved, this could have ended much differently."

Nardelli's statement did not address the cause of the blaze. For more details, read Chief Nardelli's full account of the fire.

Send your news tips to reporter Chris Helms by email at [email protected] or connect on X at @HelmsNews.

BROCKTON — Robert F. Sullivan, the 50th mayor of Brockton, announced Friday he would not seek a fourth term.

The Brockton native and 1988 graduate of Brockton High broke the news to about 75 supporters, politicians and city hall employees in a press conference outside his office.

"I have said since embarking on this journey of a lifetime that the title of 'mayor' has been the honor of my lifetime, but the title of 'dad' is my most prized label," Sullivan said.

Sullivan said he would finish his term.

His decision makes the 2025 mayoral election to be wide open and incumbent-free. A series of deadlines for potential successors begins April 28 when the Election Commission makes nomination papers available. He said any endorsement he might make would come after candidates have come forward.

Became mayor right before COVID pandemic

Sullivan won his first two-year term in 2019 after 14 years as a city councilor. Shortly after he was sworn into office in January 2020, dealing with the COVID pandemic became job No. 1.

In Friday's address, he highlighted the $2 million of federal pandemic relief funds he disbursed to local nonprofits and other steps he took.

"We emerged from the pandemic stronger than before, and closer together than before," he said.

'Successes and challenges' during five years as mayor

He cataloged some of the "successes and challenges" of his tenure, including a school spending crisis.

"There were difficult nights. There were sleepless nights. There was conflict. And there were times when it truly seemed like we would not get out of that and the state would take us over. However, through collaboration and teamwork and working together, we succeeded," Sullivan said.

In a nod to the sometimes testy relationship between the city and the schools as Brockton tries to get its fiscal house back in order, Sullivan said a "new era of collaboration" is underway.

Sullivan said his administration is leaving "a record of accomplishments and progress that will impact our city of the next generation and beyond." He cited several big-ticket projects started or finished under his watch, including the new public safety building, set to open this summer. Others include renovations of the Mary Cruise Kennedy Senior Center, the War Memorial, Cosgrove Pool and City Hall, using millions of dollars in federal and state pandemic relief money.

Sullivan noted that he and his wife, Maria, had no children when he first ran for city council and now their oldest child will be starting college in the fall.

"Being a dad to Tommy, Grace and Will, and being a husband to Maria are my most important and cherished titles," he said.

Send your news tips to reporter Chris Helms by email at [email protected] or connect on X at @HelmsNews.

BROCKTON — Do you live in the Brockton area and take the train to work? It's time to plan for changes. If you don't already take the train, new routes and increased service might make it worth a look.

Starting Monday, March 24, South Coast Rail brings train travel back to areas of Southeastern Massachusetts for the first time in 65 years. You'll be able to reach Taunton, Freetown, Fall River and New Bedford.

If you take the commuter rail now, be aware of schedule changes. Many of them are matters of minutes. But minutes count, as anyone who has missed their morning train or had to wait 90 minutes for the next train home knows.

For instance, the first weekday train leaves Brockton Station at 5:22 a.m. and arrives at South Station in 39 minutes. The same trip on the old schedule was a 5:11 a.m. departure and arrival at South Station in 42 minutes. You'll want to take a close look at the new schedule and adjust your routine.

The new schedule means more trains serve Brockton's three commuter rail stops each weekday, boosting the total weekday trips to 16. On the weekend, there will be 13 trains, up from the current 10.

There are a few name changes that come with the restoration. The line now known as Middleboro/Lakeville will be renamed the Fall River/New Bedford Line, for instance. Also, the Middleboro/Lakeville station will be called simply Lakeville now that there's a separate Middleboro station.

Free rides on spring weekends

If you're curious about the commuter rail, you'll be able to ride for free on spring weekends if you board at one of the six South Coast Rail stations or end your ride there: Fall River Depot, Freetown, East Taunton, Middleboro (on the Fall River Line) plus New Bedford and Church Street (on the New Bedford Line.) The promotion runs on weekends March 29 through April 27. The MBTA will also let you ride to and from those stations for free on Patriots' Day. Just tell the conductor which station you came from and where you're going. The T is making parking free too on those weekends, but expect spaces to fill quickly.

A long time coming

Restoring passenger rail to the area has been in the works since 1991.

“We deeply appreciate the public’s patience, the collaboration of local officials, and the dedication of our employees and contractors, all of whom made this milestone possible," Transportation Secretary and Massachusetts Department of Transportation CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt said in an announcement of the new schedule.

"With service beginning on March 24, thousands of cars will come off the roads, and thousands of people will experience the convenience and benefits of public transportation firsthand.”

Send your news tips to reporter Chris Helms by email at [email protected] or connect on X at @HelmsNews.

BROCKTON — The 2024-25 school year will be coming to a close in a few months and kids and parents will be counting down the days to summer vacation.

The last day of school for Brockton Public Schools was originally planned for June 18, but the date has changed due to school closures due to inclement weather, BPS announced on its website.

But students shouldn't fret about the date change. They still have a few days off to look forward to before summer vacation arrives.

When is the last day of school?

The Brockton School Committee voted to set Friday, June 20, as the last day of school for the 24-25 school year. June 20 will be an early release day for all students.

Wednesday, June 18, will now be a regular school day for all schools in the district. All schools will be closed on Thursday, June 19, for the Juneteenth holiday.

Remaining days off in 2024-2025 school calendar

April 21-25: School recess

May 26: Memorial Day

June 19: Juneteenth

2025-2026 school calendar

The School Committee also voted to set the key dates for the 2025-26 school year. School will begin for students in grades 1-12 on Wednesday, Sept. 3. First day for pre-K and kindergarten will be Wednesday, Sept. 10.

The last day of school for the 25-26 year is tentatively set for June 18, 2026. All schools will be closed on Sept. 16 for preliminary election day.

Staff writer Kathy Bossa can be reached by email at [email protected]. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Enterprise today.