Sprays between 2 a.m. and sunrise will target City’s parks, event spaces.

“NEW BEDFORD – The New Bedford Health Department is partnering with the Bristol County Mosquito Project and the Mass. Department of Public Health on the annual mosquito monitoring program, which includes weekly ground spraying starting June 6.

The weekly ground spraying by the Bristol County Mosquito Project will target parks and other locations that host large public events. Starting June 6 and continuing every Thursday through September between 2 a.m. and sunrise, ground sprayings will take place around Buttonwood Park, Brooklawn Park, Fort Taber, Hazelwood Park, Riverside Park, Clasky Common Park, Ashley Park, Wing’s Court, Custom House Square, and other areas Downtown.

Residents near targeted areas may want to close their windows in the evenings prior to spraying. In the event of inclement weather, the spraying will be moved to early Friday morning.

The annual monitoring program sees crews place traps and collect specimens to monitor the mosquito population through the summer months. It also helps track whether any mosquitoes are carrying Eastern equine encephalitis or West Nile virus.”

“The Wareham Police Department has taken a proactive approach regarding training and tactics around active shooter and mass casualty events.

Over the past several months, a team of Wareham Police officers along with firefighters from the Wareham and Onset Fire Departments have hosted a multi-agency active shooter training program. The training program is A.L.E.R.R.T (Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training), an Active Attack Integrated Response Training Program (AAIR) www.alerrt.org. The Municipal Police Training Committee of Massachusetts (MPTC) has now adopted this training curriculum and it will be implemented in upcoming recruit academy classes across the Commonwealth.

Wareham Police Department photo.

Police, Fire, and EMS agencies including major cities and universities from across Massachusetts have attended this training hosted by the Town of Wareham. There are currently two (2) training sessions remaining in June. The training has included civilian role players from Wareham District Court and Water Wizz Water Park, all of whom will attend our CRASE (Civilian Response Active Shooter Event) course.

The Wareham Police Department would like to cordially invite the media to one of our scenario days either on June 6, 2024, from 4p-12a, or June 14, 2024, from 8a-4p. Attendees will be able to participate as role player(s) and be able to get a first-hand experience of this training. You will be able to video and photograph portions of the “live” scenarios.

If anyone is interested in attending or would like more information regarding this training please contact the lead instructor, Officer Calib LaRue: calib_larue@warehampolice.com or Sergeant Bryan Whalen: bmw@warehampolice.com.”-Wareham Police Department.

Wareham Police Department photo.

“The NBFD is pleased to announce the SAFE Program and the Senior SAFE Program have been awarded $13,300 grant from the Department of Fire Services and Goverrnor Maura Healy.

The SAFE Program provides essential fire and life safety to our elementary schools where they gain the knowledge to understand the dangers of fire, how to escape a fire in their home, and what do if an emergency occurs in their home.

The Senior SAFE Program reaches out to our senior citizens and offers education on fire safety including cooking safety, safe use of home oxygen devices, and fall prevention.

The Department is proud of the hard work done by our SAFE Program and Senior SAFE Program.

Public Education Officer Anthony Poente and our SAFE Program members provide all types of fire safety education, fire extinguisher training, CPR and first aid training, and car seat installations.

Fire and safety education is one of the fire service’s core missions and the addition of a full time educator last year along with this grant funding insures we’ll continue providing this valuable training to the residents of the City of New Bedford.”-New Bedford Fire Department.

New Bedford Fire Department photo.

New Bedford Fire Department photo.

New Bedford Fire Department photo.

New Bedford Fire Department photo.

“FAIRHAVEN, FALL RIVER, DARTMOUTH, LAKEVILLE, SEEKONK and WAREHAM, Mass. – Southcoast Health is pleased to announce it has welcomed five new urgent care providers.

Southcoast Health Urgent Care offers patients, including those without a Southcoast Health primary care provider, convenient, non-emergency care with no appointments necessary. Patients may walk-in or utilize the timesaving Save My Spot feature to make a same-day appointment from the comfort of their home.

All six locations are equipped with X-ray and laboratory services, and backed by the specialty services and resources of Southcoast Health. Many patients are even able to book a follow-up appointment with select specialists before leaving their visit.

Southcoast Health photo.

The following new providers will care for patients across all six Southcoast Health Urgent Care locations.

Sandra Araujo, NP | Urgent Care
Sandra Araujo earned her Master of Science degree in Nursing from Regis College in Weston, Massachusetts. She is a certified Family Nurse Practitioner by The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). She is also fluent in Portuguese.

Kailey DeMoura, NP | Urgent Care
Kailey DeMoura earned her Master of Science degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Boston, Massachusetts.

Jennifer Gudmundsson, FNP | Urgent Care
Jennifer Gudmundsson earned her Master of Science in Nursing degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner from Chamberlain University in Chicago, Illinois. She has now accepted a new role in our Urgent Care transferring from her previous role as a registered nurse in the Charlton Memorial Hospital Emergency Department.

Gregory Hunt, MD | Urgent Care
Dr. Gregory Hunt earned his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Vermont in Burlington, Vermont. He completed his residency in Emergency Medicine at the University of Rochester, Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, New York. Dr. Hunt has previously worked in the Southcoast Health Emergency Departments at all three hospital locations.

Alysa Lopes, NP | Urgent Care
Alysa Lopes earned her Master of Science degree in Nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner from Simmons University in Boston, Massachusetts.

We are delighted to welcome, Sandra Araujo, Kailey DeMoura, Jennifer Gudmundsson, Dr. Gregory Hunt and Alysa Lopes to Southcoast Health. Their addition to our team is a testament to our commitment of providing exceptional care and service across the South Coast region.

To learn more about our Southcoast Health providers please visit www.southcoast.org/doctors/ or call 1-844-744-5544.

_______________________________________________________

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.“-Southcoast health.

“FAIRHAVEN MA- Fitness in Cushman Park is celebrating LUCKY THIRTEEN!

Fitness in the Park is scheduled FREE TO THE PUBLIC this summer for 10 weeks of Yoga and Exercise classes in Cushman Park, Green Street Fairhaven MA. The classes are taking place Tuesdays and Thursdays 8:30am from June 18 to August 22, 2024. Summer 2024 marks the 13th consecutive year of Free Yoga and Fitness classes on the south coast of Massachusetts – that’s a total of over 250 opportunities to stretch your spirit and join in caring community!

TUESDAYS: Yoga in the Park begins June 18 with certified yoga instructors from Sangha New Bedford. Yoga in the Park is a yoga series for all levels, designed to introduce newcomers to the basics of stretching and mindfulness and challenge yoga enthusiasts with a focus on compassion for the body.

Jeff Costa and Susan Grace. Fitness in the Park photo.

THURSDAYS: Summer Bootcamp, begins June 20 with certified personal trainer (A.F.P.A.), Wayne Goulart. The Bootcamp class consists of various exercises that build functional strength and core stability with circuits utilizing light dumbbells and body weight training.

YOGA IN CUSHMAN PARK will be guided by Certified and Experienced teachers out of Sangha New Bedford, a yoga studio, school and healing arts space in downtown New Bedford (sanghanewbedford.com) founded by Jeff Costa, a recognized leader in the wellness industry and co-coordinator of Fitness in Cushman Park. Lead Teacher for the 2024 Yoga in Cushman Park season is David Trauterman. David’s teaching style is calm, devotional and joyful.

He draws from Ananda and Hatha Yoga which infuse the use of affirmations, longer posture holds, meditation, breath work and chanting to create a dynamic and spiritually uplifting yoga experience for all levels.

Wayne Goulart. Fitness in the Park photo.

SUMMER BOOTCAMP instructor Wayne Goulart has a career in health and wellness that began as a hobby when he started lifting weights with his brother in the basement of his family home. That hobby grew into a lifestyle and eventually a passion. Wayne is a certified personal trainer (A.F.P.A.) and teaches classes and offers personal training in his studio, Body by Wayne in New Bedford MA.

A certified group exercise instructor, Wayne’s specialty is functional training and his clients are from all walks of life, every age and fitness level.

Attendees to the classes should bring a mat for Yoga and a mat plus set of light weights for Bootcamp. Classes take place weather permitting — cancellations will be posted on the Fitness in Cushman Park Facebook page: www.facebook.com/fitnessincushmanpark

Fitness in Cushman Park is presented free to the public thanks to the generous support of our community sponsorship team. This summer’s 10 weeks of free fitness classes, are presented by Sangha New Bedford and EncorENTERTAINMENT and are sponsored in part by Charter Fitness Sponsors:

David Trauterman photo. Fitness in the Park photo.

BASK, Howe Allen Realty and Euro At Phoenix, Elite Fitness sponsors The Baker-NB and Olivia’s; and Community Sponsors: Humphrey, Covill & Colman Insurance, Fieldstone Farm Market, Joe’s Original Kitchen + Bar, New Bedford Wellness Initiative, Destination Soups, Salt the Spa on Elm, Spicy Lime Thai Cuisine, Oxford Creamery, Sylvia and Hurd CPA, Tax Accountant, Jessica Noblet LMT, 508Tees, Ultimate Touch Beauty Care, The Book Witch, Art Loft, Artistic Auto, BesTeas Bubble Tea Shop, Coastal Provisions, Tracey & Company and South Coast Entertainment, with special thanks to the Town of
Fairhaven.

Fitness in Cushman Park is coordinated by Jeff Costa/SANGHA New Bedford and Susan Grace/EncorENTERTAINMENT.

For more information about Fitness in Cushman Park call 508-287-2482 or email sgrace@encorent.com or jeff@sanghanewbedford.com. Please like and follow Fitness in Cushman Park’s Facebook page to stay involved: www.facebook.com/fitnessincushmanpark.”

“Recently, a raccoon has tested positive for rabies in the Town of Dartmouth, therefore; we are asking the public to keep a lookout for oddly behaving wildlife and to refrain from interacting with wild animals.

If you or your pet has come in contact with wildlife, please call the Board of Health or Animal Control as soon as possible. After hours, please call the Dartmouth Police Department as listed below.

Rabies is common in Massachusetts with over 5,000 animals testing positive since 1992. Most cases involve wild animals such as but not limited to raccoons, skunks, bats, woodchucks, and foxes, but every year some pets, especially cats and farm animals also contract the rabies virus.

The rabies virus is a serious disease that affects the central nervous system in mammals: bats, cats, coyotes, dogs, foxes, skunks, and woodchucks are a few examples of common mammals to this area. The rabies virus is usually a disease found in animals but it can transmit to humans from an infected animal.

Rabies is spread when an infected animal bites another animal or person. The saliva of the infected animal contains the rabies virus. Rabies infection can also occur when the saliva from an infected animal gets into a scratch or wound, the eyes, nose, or mouth of a person or animal.

While contracting the rabies virus is almost always fatal, it is 100% preventable. A few simple steps can safeguard from this deadly virus.

• Contact your physician immediately if you have been in contact with wildlife;
• Notify Dartmouth Animal Control of wildlife that exhibit strange behavior;
• Keep vaccinations up to date for cats and dogs;
• Assure children and adults do not approach wildlife;
• DO NOT handle any wildlife including babies and young;
• Leave the handling of wildlife to professionals. only licensed wildlife rehabilitators and problem animal control agents can handle wildlife that is not sick;
• Do not feed your pets outside. Even an empty bowl will attract wildlife;
• Keep pets leashed or within a fenced yard and do not allow them to roam freely;
• Keep garbage containers in barrels with tight-fitting covers;
• Exclude wildlife from entering your home with a chimney cap and repair any holes that allow wildlife to enter your home, especially around the edge sof the roof and vents.

Residents are urged to report any human or pet contact with wildlife to Dartmouth Animal Control by calling 508-910-1840 or to contact the Dartmouth Police Department at 508-910-1735.

“~ 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 ~

As we near the end of the month, let us remember that May is Mental Health Awareness Month and offer some resources:

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress, 24/7. Call or text 9-8–8, or visit 988lifeline.org/chat to speak with a counselor.

You can also visit the CFS Community Behavioral Health Center at 965 Church Street. Knowing #WhereToStart is the 1st step in your or someone else’s mental health journey.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health emergency, call the crisis line (available 24/7) at (508) 996-3154.”-City of New Bedford Police Department.

City of New Bedford Police Department photo.

No license is needed to fish in fresh water the first weekend in June!

“Mark your calendars for this year’s Free Freshwater Fishing Weekend on June 1 and 2! No license is required to fish any public lake, pond, reservoir, stream, or river in Massachusetts from 12 a.m. Saturday, June 1 until 11:59 p.m. Sunday, June 2.

• Other than Free Fishing Weekend, you need a license to fish in fresh water if you are 15 or older. If you’re 15–17 or 70 and older, your license is free. Funds from fishing license sales support MassWildlife’s fisheries research, fish stocking programs, and angler education programs. Buy your fishing license here.
• All other regulations, including catch limits, apply during Free Fishing Weekend. Before heading out on the water, make sure you know the rules.
• For saltwater anglers, 2024 Free Saltwater Fishing Days are May 12 and June 16.

Where to fish:
Use the Go Fish MA! fishing map to find places to fish near you! You can also explore trout stocked waters or handicapped accessible fishing sites.”-Massachusetts Wildlife and Fisheries.

“BOSTON – A Jamaican man was sentenced today for his role in the laundering of hundreds of thousands of dollars in drug trafficking proceeds from Colombian cartels through banking systems around the world.

Seivright Donald Afflick, 56, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to 37 months in prison. The defendant will be subject to deportation proceedings upon completion of the imposed sentence. In February 2024, Afflick pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy and conducting substantive money laundering transactions.

Beginning in 2016 and continuing until 2022, an investigation into a sophisticated money laundering organization based primarily in Barranquilla, Colombia was conducted. During an extensive five-year investigation, the organization allegedly laundered over $6 million in drug proceeds through intermediary banks in the United States, including banks in Massachusetts, as well as additional proceeds through banks in the Caribbean and Europe by use of the Colombian Black Market Peso Exchange (BMPE) – a common method of trade-based money laundering used to repatriate the proceeds of drug trafficking to Colombia. An undercover agent infiltrated the organization by portraying himself as an international money launderer able to pick up bulk cash throughout the world, launder the proceeds through his United States-based accounts and send the money to Colombia through the BMPE.

Throughout the course of the investigation, members of the money laundering organization would contact the undercover and arrange meetings for the undercover and the undercover’s purported associates to collect bulk cash throughout the world. Individuals, such as Afflick, performed the role of money courier. Afflick delivered bulk cash on two occasions in Jamaica. That cash was then deposited into the undercover bank account in Massachusetts, and then subsequently wired to accounts and repatriated back to drug traffickers in Colombia. Over the course of the conspiracy, Afflick was responsible for the laundering of approximately $670,000 in drug proceeds.

Afflick was charged in a 50-count indictment along with 19 other individuals in March 2022. Afflick is the sixth defendant to be sentenced in the case. Three other defendants have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. The remaining defendants have pleaded not guilty and are awaiting trial.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua R. Levy and Stephen Belleau, Acting Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jared C. Dolan and Alathea E. Porter prosecuted the case.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.”-Massachusetts Department of Justice.

“Bristol Community College’s Joseph A. Marshall Veterans Center has partnered with the Department of Labor’s Off-Base Transition Training (OBTT) program to host the upcoming workshops “Your Next Move” and “Marketing Yourself” to better assist veterans, National Guard members and military spouses with the transition to civilian careers.

The free workshops will take place on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., in the Commonwealth College Center (G building), on the Bristol Fall River Campus, 777 Elsbree Street. Representatives from Bristol’s Career Services department and the MassHire Fall River Career Center will also be present.

Please register for the June 12 workshops, here: www.signupgenius.com/go/boston-multi-signup

Bristol Community College is the second community college in Massachusetts to host the OBTT workshops.

The college’s Joseph A. Marshall Veterans Center serves as a single point of contact for all Bristol and Veterans Affairs materials, educational benefit certification, academic counseling, essential resources, opportunities for peer connections and assistance with job preparation and placement services, including veteran-specific job fairs and recruitment activities.”