Don't sweat it: Heatwave drives community to the beach
Ahkilah Mendes, 3, splashes in the water at Onset Beach. Photos by Brandy Muz.
Onset beach saw countless guests building sand castles, swimming and tanning.
Jandira Sanches and 2-year-old Hazaiah soak up the sun.
Lynn Resendes eats an ice cream at Perry's Last Stand.
Left, Darren, 4-year-old Wilder and Jessica Dyk visiting from Nevada.
Left, Ashely Jones, Lisa Jones and Marie Mancini pose after a quick beach trip. 
Left, 11-year-old Brayden Ryan, Steve Ryan and Alexis Gaboury feel the nice sea breeze.
Left, 9-year-old Natalie and Erica Heitmann enjoying ice cream.
Natalie Heitmann shows off her $20 she found on the ground.
Ahkilah Mendes, 3, splashes in the water at Onset Beach. Photos by Brandy Muz.
Onset beach saw countless guests building sand castles, swimming and tanning.
Jandira Sanches and 2-year-old Hazaiah soak up the sun.
Lynn Resendes eats an ice cream at Perry's Last Stand.
Left, Darren, 4-year-old Wilder and Jessica Dyk visiting from Nevada.
Left, Ashely Jones, Lisa Jones and Marie Mancini pose after a quick beach trip.
Left, 11-year-old Brayden Ryan, Steve Ryan and Alexis Gaboury feel the nice sea breeze.
Left, 9-year-old Natalie and Erica Heitmann enjoying ice cream.
Natalie Heitmann shows off her $20 she found on the ground.
The smell of sunscreen, ice cream and the ocean caught in the breeze as the community sought out a break from the Extreme Heat Warning that effected the East Coast.
Mass.gov issued an Unhealthy Heat Alert from Sunday, June 22 to Wednesday, June 15 and Governor Maura Healey urged residents to take precautions to stay safe.
“Hot weather can sneak up on us, especially after a cool and rainy spring, but planning ahead is essential," Healey said. "We encourage people to cool off at DCR’s waterfronts, beaches and splash decks, or check out the cooling centers near where you live.”
For those around Wareham, the water offered a nice break from stuffy homes and beating sunshine. The streets of Onset saw swimsuit clad guests with hands full of dripping ice cream.
9-year-old Natalie and and her mom Erica Heitmann are from Buzzards Bay and decided to stop by Guido's Ice Cream and More in Onset to grab a sweet treat to beat the heat.
"Our house was built in the 1950s," Erica said. "Some of the rooms we can't put air conditioning in because they're crank windows. You can't lift them to put the window unit in."
The pair were traveling on Erica's motorcycle to try to cool down. Natalie said her grandpa has a boat and that she loves to ride with him when it's hot.
"I like to catch the lobster and crabs with him," she said.
For Wareham residents 11-year-old Brayden Ryan and his family, getting a break from the warm weather looks a little different. Brayden broke his leg dirtbiking two months ago and started the summer off in a blue cast.
His mother Alexis Gaboury said that they usually go to Onset or the YMCA pool when temperatures rise.
"Unfortunately we haven't been able to get into any water yet," Gaboury said. "The beach though, it's so nice and breezy down here — it's just nice on a hot day."
Brayden said he will be riding his quad and going to Water Whizz as soon as he is free from his crutches.
Others come from further away to enjoy the local spots. Jandria Sanches comes from Brockton with her two children because she said it's the nicest and closest beach to her.
"I'm from an Island so I love the water," she said. "We like swimming and ice cream."
Marie Mancini from Arizona was visiting friends in the area and found the warning humorous compared to the 103 degree heat back home.
"It's just awesome to be here," she said. "And compared to Arizona this is nothing."
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