“Please join us in congratulating our students’ successes and recognition at the 2024 SkillsUSA State Leadership and Skills Conference! In addition to numerous medals, the SkillsUSA GNB Voc-Tech Chapter also earned the Gold Chapter of Distinction Award, a recognition of the achievement of the school as it relates to the integration of the SkillsUSA Framework in the chapter’s Program of Work activities. The GNB Voc-Tech Chapter was also recognized as 1 of only 24 nationwide chapters that earned the Models of Excellence Award and 2 GNB Voc-Tech students will represent Team Massachusetts at the National Leadership Conference.

Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School’s results are following:

Gold Medalists:
• Michael Silva (Dartmouth) – Cabinetmaking – Advisor: Joseph Arruda
• Keira-Lyn Dextraze (New Bedford) – Early Childhood Education -Advisors: Deborah Brightman and Yasmin Flefleh-Vincent
• Ava Silva (New Bedford) – Extemporaneous Speech – Advisor: Ronald Quintin
• Jacob Reimels (Dartmouth) – Marine Service Technology – Advisor: Michael McConnell

Silver Medalists:
• Samantha Barboza (New Bedford) – Community Service – Advisor: Stacey Martin
• Christopher Cecil (New Bedford) – Community Service – Advisor: Stacey Martin
• Nia Rodrigues (New Bedford) – Community Service – Advisor: Stacey Martin
• Ella DeMelo (New Bedford) – Costello Family Service Award – Advisor: Stacey Martin
• Ryan Fernandes (New Bedford) – Costello Family Service Award – Advisor: Stacey Martin
• Denisse Reyes Garcia (New Bedford) – Costello Family Service Award – Advisor: Stacey Martin
• Cameron Stapleton (Fairhaven) – Cabinetmaking – Advisor: Joseph Arruda
• Braden Duarte (Dartmouth) – Marine Service Technology – Advisor: Michael McConnell
• Sophia DeAlmeida (New Bedford) – Outstanding Chapter – Advisor: Lori Russell – Pelsue & Lauren Aubertine
• Jaelynn Sustache (New Bedford) – Outstanding Chapter – Advisor: Lori Russell – Pelsue & Lauren Aubertine
• Kylie Gagne (Dartmouth) – Outstanding Chapter – Advisor: Lori Russell – Pelsue & Lauren Aubertine
• Matthew Prezner (New Bedford) – Power Equipment Technology – Advisor: Paul Estrella
• Austin Hooda (New Bedford) – Robotics and Automation Technology – Advisor: Anthony Cabral
• Kylie Lourenco (New Bedford) – Robotics and Automation Technology – Advisor: Anthony Cabral

Bronze Medalists:
• Jesse Petitpas (New Bedford) – Automotive Service Technology – Advisor: Matt Talbot
• Evelyn Cardoza-Coj (New Bedford) – Career Choice Commentary – Advisor: Ron Quintin
• Sarah Barbosa (New Bedford) – Career Pathways Showcase – Advisor: Yasmin Flefleh-Vincent
• Angele Semedo (New Bedford) – Career Pathways Showcase – Advisor: Yasmin Flefleh-Vincent
• Kaelyn Medeiros (Dartmouth) – Career Pathways Showcase – Advisor: Yasmin Flefleh-Vincent
• Luis Pinto (New Bedford) – Cybersecurity – Advisor: Charles Glover
• Noah Cabral (New Bedford) – Cybersecurity – Advisor: Charles Glover
• Cody Amaral (New Bedford)l – Engineering Technology – Advisor: Robert Southerland
• Jacob Duclos (New Bedford) – Engineering Technology – Advisor: Robert Southerland
• Jackson Simmons (Dartmouth) – Engineering Technology – Advisor: Robert Southerland
• Lileigh Sharples (New Bedford) – Related Technical Math – Advisor: Micaela Shea
• Elizabeth Santos (Dartmouth) – Diesel Equipment Technology – Advisor: Neil Sinclair
• Ayva Gouveia-Furtado (Dartmouth) – Sticker Design – Advisor: Ron Quintin

Recognition:
• Jada Sanchez (Fairhaven) – State Officer Elect – Advisor: Meghan Lacasse
• Sophia DeAlmeida (New Bedford) – Janine Baker Scholarship Winner

Presidential Service Award Winners:
• Jordan Melo (New Bedford) – Bronze.”-Greater New Bedford Voc-Tech High School.

“Awesome work FF Heather Lopes! She completed the Fight for Air Climb this morning in full gear.

Fight for air climb took her up 23 floors and 348 stairs at 5:33.9, a respectable time of under 6 minutes! She completed this event with partner Navy Veteran Peter Kendrick. This raised money for American Lung Association.

Great work!”-Fairhaven Call Firefighters Association.

Fairhaven Call Firefighters Association photo.

Fairhaven Call Firefighters Association photo.

“The Westport Police Department is excited to announce Barry the Dog has joined the rank and file as our Comfort Dog. Officer Kyle Fernandes (Barry’s Hooman) will be his handler.

We would like to thank Eric Letendre’s Dog Training School for working with Officer Fernandes and Barry the Dog in preparing them to take and pass the American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen Test. Eric was gracious enough to provide all the training free of charge!!!

Barry the Dog will be out and about at community events, the Council on Aging, and visiting the Westport Community Schools. If you see them out and about, be sure to stop by and say hello. Barry LOVES belly rubs!”-Westport Police Department.

UPDATED at 6:00pm Wednesday, May 1: “He has been found and he is safe! Thank you to everyone who has helped us in any way to get him home safe ❤️”

_________________________________________________________

Original Story:

“Good Morning family, friends we need your help!! My dad is MISSING and a police report has been filed!

His last whereabouts were in New Bedford and he may be trying to make his way to Wareham.

If you see him please contact the New Bedford Police Department. His memory has declined over the years.

His name is William Monteiro. For those that know him he goes by ‘Billy.’ He is deaf and elderly! He has been missing over 24 hours now.”-Starlene Gonsalves.

Starlene Gonsalves photo.

Starlene Gonsalves photo.

“The City of New Bedford would like to remind residents of its Adopt-a-Tree program. The program, which kicked off in 2014 under Mayor Mitchell’s administration, invites residents to make a $150 contribution to the City of New Bedford which enables the Department of Public Infrastructure (DPI) to plant a tree on their street. Residents may select the species of their choice from a pre-approved list of tree types which DPI then plants per the resident’s direction.

Any resident interested in the Adopt-a-Tree Program may contact DPI at (508) 979-1550. The list can be found here: https://www.newbedford-ma.gov/special-announcements/adopt-a-tree-program/. If residents are interested in picking out a street tree, the City purchases shade trees through Sylvan Nursery, Inc. Any selection is subject to approval by DPI.”-City of New Bedford.

City of New Bedford photo.

City of New Bedford photo.

“Southcoast Health is hosting three open house hiring events for Registered Nurses, CNAs, ED Technicians and Nursing Students on April 30, May 2 and May 3, 2024.

There will be one event at each hospital location next week. Prospective candidates are invited to participate in on-the-spot interviews, hospital tours, and engage in conversation with managers and staff.

Register at www.southcoast.org/be-more/ to attend the events below, or reach out to recruit@southcoast.org to learn more.

Tobey Hospital
Tuesday, April 30
8-11am and 2-5pm
124 Main Street
Wareham, MA

St. Luke’s Hospital
Thursday, May 2
8-11am and 2-5pm
101 Page Street
New Bedford, MA

Charlton Memorial Hospital
Friday, May 3
8-11am and 2-5pm
363 Highland Ave
Fall River, MA

Careers at Southcoast Health offer professional growth opportunities and a highly supportive and respectful culture. Sign-on bonuses of up to $15,000 are available for some positions along with benefits, tuition assistance and federal loan forgiveness programs.

To learn more about all open positions at Southcoast Health, visit www.southcoast.org/careers/.

________________________________________________________________

About Southcoast Health

Founded in 1996, Southcoast Health serves communities across southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island as the largest provider of primary and specialty care in the region. The not-for-profit, charitable system includes three acute care hospitals – Charlton Memorial in Fall River, St. Luke’s in New Bedford (a Level II Trauma Center), and Tobey in Wareham, Massachusetts with a physician network of more than 675 providers.

With upward of 7,500 employees, Southcoast Health is the largest employer in southeastern Massachusetts, and one of the largest employers in the Commonwealth, according to the Boston Business Journal. More information is available online at www.southcoast.org.

“Massachusetts Environmental Police Boat on scene assisting IFAW and Marblehead Harbormaster with a deceased 42′ Humpback Whale off Prescott Beach Marblehead.

The whale will be brought ashore for the IFAW team to perform a necropsy to determine the cause of death.”-Massachusetts Environmental Police.

Massachusetts Environmental Police photo.

“On Thursday, Hazmat Technicians from the New Bedford Fire Department took part in an Ammonia Emergency Response Training & Live-Release Drill in North Kingstown, Rhode Island.

The training program consisted of classroom instruction and practical evolutions where the Hazmat Technicians practiced leak mitigation techniques with actual anhydrous ammonia. Anhydrous ammonia is used extensively within the City of New Bedford by the seafood industry for cold storage of seafood.

The NBFD extends its thanks to Transcaer, Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, and the North Kingstown Fire Department for this excellent training opportunity.

The NBFD currently employs over twenty firefighters who are trained and certified to the Hazardous Materials Technician level.”-New Bedford Fire Department.

New Bedford Fire Department photo.

New Bedford Fire Department photo.

New Bedford Fire Department photo.

New Bedford Fire Department photo.

New Bedford Fire Department photo.

New Bedford Fire Department photo.

New Bedford Fire Department photo.

Massachusetts has its first reported and confirmed case of the potentially deadly Powassan virus in Sharon. State officials are warning warns residents to take precautions against the tick-borne disease.

Mass.gov explains the virus,”Powassan virus causes a rare, but often serious disease, and is spread by the bite of tiny, infected black-legged (deer) ticks. There are two types of Powassan virus in the United States. One type is found in ticks that normally feed on woodchucks (groundhogs); the second type is carried by black-legged ticks, the same ticks that can also carry the germs that cause Lyme disease, babesiosis and anaplasmosis.”

Powassan virus is spread by the bite of an infected tick and can spread from the tick into a person after only a short time of attachment, so it’s crucial to check yourself frequently when walking, on hikes, gardening, etc. You may not notice symptoms since they take minimum of a week to manifest and in some cases, up to a month.

Symptoms/signs include confusion, fever, headache, loss of coordination, seizures, speech difficulties, vomiting, and weakness. In severe cases, one may experience encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain, or meningitis, an inflammation of the covering of the brain and spinal cord. 10% of those who contract the severe form of the disease will die and survivors may have long-term health problems.

Unfortunately, there is no treatment once infected and one can only drink lots of fluids to prevent dehydration and get plenty of rest.

The CDC tracks cases and provides data and maps. You can visit their page and see current data here.