“Each year, Local 841 member Bryce Fortes awards two graduating high school students a scholarship in honor of his cousin Kristian Rose, who tragically passed away in an auto accident in 2011.

This year, the Local matched Bryce’s contribution, allowing for a $500 award to each student.

Pictured are this year’s recipients, Alexia Thompson from New Bedford High School and Dania Alvarado Argueta from Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School.

Congratulations and best wishes!”-IAFF Local 841 New Bedford Firefighters.

IAFF Local 841 New Bedford Firefighters photo.

IAFF Local 841 New Bedford Firefighters photo.

“This past Sunday, June 9, was the 8th Annual Manheim New England Touch-a-Truck event.

Proceeds from raffles held at the event went towards Jaxon’s Journey with a Rare Brain Tumor and Butterflies Raising Hope Fundraisers.

Jaxon is a 6-year-old who has been battling Hypothalamic Hamartoma since he was 9 months old. Children braved the rainy conditions to look at and play on vehicles of all types. The event hosted construction trucks, military equpiment, police, fire and EMS vehicles.”-Massachusetts State Police.

All photos by the Massachusetts State Police:

“We held the City’s annual Longevity Service Award Ceremony on Friday at Buttonwood Park Zoo.

City employees were presented with pins for reaching various years of service, and employees who went above and beyond were honored with New Bedford Way awards.

Here are a couple of pictures from the event today, Check back next week for more from the ceremony, including the New Bedford Way award winners.”-City of New Bedford.

All photos by the City of New Bedford:

“NEW BEDFORD – Tom Barao grew up on Borden Street, and on most days, headed to Ashley Park to play basketball.

All those days dribbling, shooting, and playing pick-up games paid off as Barao went on to become one of the best basketball players in New Bedford High School history.

The basketball court at Ashley Park was dedicated to Barao on Friday morning as Mayor Jon Mitchell joined family and friends to officially name it the Thomas W. Barao Memorial Basketball Court.

“Tom Barao was a basketball legend in Greater New Bedford, and universally admired on and off the court,” Mayor Mitchell said. “He spent countless hours honing his craft at Ashley Park. That same court fittingly will forever honor his name.”

City of New Bedford photo.

Barao, a 6-foot-3 lefty, scored a then-record 1,544 points in his three varsity seasons from 1965-1968, leading New Bedford High School to back-to-back Greater Boston League Championships in his junior and senior years while being named league MVP both seasons. He went on to play basketball at the University of Wisconsin and the University of Rhode Island before embarking in a career with executive searching firms, including starting his own firm in the 1990s.

After years of coaching his children’s basketball, baseball, and soccer teams, Barao passed away on March 30, 2017.

“Many people in the City and beyond have reached out to me to explain the importance of recognizing Tom Barao at the Ashley Park basketball courts,” City Director of Parks, Recreation and Beaches Mary Rapoza said. “We were pleased to work with Tom’s friends, family, and many admirers to put this memorial in place.”

Plans are being discussed to resurface the court over the next few years, the latest in a line of recent investments in the Goulart Square neighborhood. Earlier this week, Mayor Mitchell cut the ribbon to officially mark the completion of the year-long, $1.7 million renovation of the park with new green space, pathways, lighting, and benches. NorthStar Learning Center is opening a new early education facility nearby with construction visible from Rivet Street, and a new elementary school will be built in the next few years to replace the Congdon and DeValles schools.”-City of New Bedford.

“The City of New Bedford has roadwork sites for the upcoming week of June 17, 2024 – June 21, 2024, and they are as follows:

City offices will be closed on Wednesday, June 19th in observation of Juneteenth.

Eversource will be working on gas main relays and services on:

• Services on Acushnet Ave. from Bowles St. to 3082 Acushnet Ave.
• Main relay on Church St. from Belleville Rd. to Park Ave.
• Main relay on Hudson St. from W. Rodney French to Brock Ave.
• Main Tie-in and Service on Princeton St. from Church St. to Ashley Blvd.
• Services on Central Ave. from Brook St. to Conduit St.

Eversource will be working on test pits and related work for future electric upgrades at the following locations:

• Pine St from MacArthur Dr to terminus
• MacArthur Dr from Pine St to Walnut St
• Walnut St from MacArthur Dr to S. Second St
• S. Second St from Walnut St to School St
• School St from S. Second St to County St
• County St from School St to Locust St

For more infoabout this project, please call the project info hotline at 33-836-0302 or email ProjectInfoMA@eversource.com to join the email list for regular construction and community updates.

Other:

• Contractor (Indus) will be crack sealing varies locations throughout the City.
• Contractor (JH Lynch) will be working on the MassDOT road reconstruction project at the intersection of Rockdale Avenue at Allen Street to complete final landscaping, signage, and pavement markings. Detours and/or lane shifts may be in place during hours of operation.
• Contractor (PA Landers) will be working at the intersection of Hathaway Street and Belleville Ave.
• Contractor (K5) will be removing pavement markings on Page Street from Allen Street to Taber Street.
• Eversource Gas restoration will have a concrete repair crew on Rockdale Ave from Bluefield St to Allen St next week.
• MassDOT will be staging installation and beam end cleaning and concrete encasements at I-195 East and West bound lanes over Purchase Street, County Street and State Street. Work will take place Sunday – Thursday with overnight operations only.
• Contractor (SCR Constructors) will continue site work at the future South Coast Rail station platform locations in the city. (Church Street at Carlisle Street and Wamsutta Street at Acushnet Avenue.) and continue site work at the future pedestrian bridge across Rte. 18 impacting parking along Purchase Street between Willis Street and Pearl Street and at the Division of Career Services on Acushnet Avenue. If you have questions, please email the project team at SouthCoastRail@dot.state.ma.us
• MassDOT to continue pavement preservation and related work on Route 140 both northbound and southbound from mile marker 0.0 to mile marker 5.2. Work to be conducted during overnight hours. Police details and ramp closures with detours to be expected.
• Contractor (SCR) will be erecting the steel arch for the pedestrian bridge starting the week of June 23rd which will require nightly closures of Rt 18.
 
Project: Lead Service Line Replacement Program Phase II   General Contractor: C. Naughton Corp. (Monday-Friday) 7:00 am to 5:00 pm
 
The contractor will be replacing the Oaklawn Street Water Main between Rodney French Boulevard and Brock Avenue. The Contractor will be replacing lead water services at the following locations:

• Monday: Carroll Street between Rockdale Avenue and Whittier Street.
                John Street at Ryan Street
                                     
• Tuesday: Rockdale Ave between Bedford and Ryan Streets.
                 Kirby Street at Ryan Street.
 
• Wednesday: No Work
                                    
• Thursday: Bedford Street between Rockdale Ave and John Street.
                  Rockdale Ave between Ryan and Bedford Streets.
           
• Friday: Plymouth Street between Reed and Palmer Streets.
            Allen Street at Reed Street
          
At times during working hours, these road sections may be closed to thru traffic with signs posted to detour traffic around work areas.  Police details will be on-site allowing access to residents only and assisting with traffic management.

Project: Shawmut Avenue and Howland Street Pumping Station Improvements Project General Contractor: WES Construction Corp. (Monday-Friday)7:00 am to 4:00 PM

Contractor will continue installation of granite curb and concrete sidewalk placement along Nash Rd between Shawmut Ave and Mt. Pleasant St. Lane restrictions may be in place during working hours, with one lane of alternating traffic open. Police officers will be on-site to assist with traffic management.

On Thursday, The contractor will begin installation of a wastewater access manhole at the South Second St and Howland St intersection. There will be a detouring effect via Grinnell St to Purchase St and returning to Howland St. Signage will be posted and police details will be on-site to assist with traffic management.”

“BOSTON (June 12, 2024) – Opioid-related overdose deaths in Massachusetts decreased by 10 percent in 2023 – the largest single-year decline since 2009-2010 – according to preliminary data released by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH).

There were 2,125 confirmed and estimated opioid-related overdose deaths in 2023, which is 232 fewer than in 2022, when Massachusetts had a record 2,357 fatal opioid-related overdoses. Last year’s opioid-related overdose death rate also decreased by 10 percent to 30.2 per 100,000 people compared to 33.5 in 2022.

“While we are encouraged by the overall decrease in overdose deaths, this report also is a reminder of the work that we still need to do to bring deaths down for all people and all areas of the state,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Our administration remains committed to prioritizing prevention, treatment and recovery efforts to address the overdose crisis that continues to claim too many lives and devastate too many families in Massachusetts.”

“Our administration continues to invest in community-level supports rooted in destigmatizing substance use disorder by meeting people where they are and understanding the ways in which factors such as housing and economic insecurity intersect with health,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “We are hopeful that the numbers released in today’s public health report signal a downward trend for fatal overdoses statewide.”

Preliminary data from the first three months of 2024 indicate a continued decline in opioid-related overdose deaths in Massachusetts, showing 507 confirmed and estimated deaths, a 9 percent drop compared to estimates from the same time last year.

The decline in opioid-related overdose deaths last year was significant among white non-Hispanic men, whose overdose death rate declined 16 percent between 2022 and 2023, from 48.2 to 40.4 per 100,000 people. The data also show Black non-Hispanic residents continue to be disproportionately impacted by fatal opioid overdoses. Among Black non-Hispanic men, the rate of opioid-related overdose deaths increased from 80 per 100,000 in 2022 to 84.6 in 2023. American Indian non-Hispanics, along with Black non-Hispanic men and women, had the highest opioid-related overdose death rates last year among all racial/ethnic groups.

Looking at geographic diversity, the state’s most rural areas continue to record the highest opioid-related overdose death rate at 35.6 per 100,000 residents compared to urban, suburban, and less rural areas.

The Healey-Driscoll Administration continues to build on its robust opioid overdose prevention efforts and investments to support communities with a wide range of resources. This includes initiatives to address the disproportionate impacts of fatal opioid overdoses on communities of color and in the most rural areas of the state. These investments include increasing access to peer-led spaces to support those in recovery, funding for low-threshold housing and services, expanding access to medications for opioid-use disorder, expanding the Black and Latino Men’s Re-entry program, and developing a women’s re-entry component. The administration’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget proposes investments of more than $700 million for programs focused on substance addiction prevention, treatment, and harm reduction.

Drug overdose deaths in Massachusetts trended lower than nationwide figures last year, according to preliminary data released last month by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Nationwide, overall drug overdose deaths in 2023 were estimated to have dropped 3 percent compared to 2022, and 11 percent in Massachusetts. Deaths from opioid overdoses nationwide fell an estimated 4 percent in 2023, according to CDC.

The decline in opioid-related overdose deaths in Massachusetts in 2023 occurred despite a drug supply that continues to be heavily contaminated with fentanyl. Fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, was present in 90 percent of fatal opioid-related overdoses where toxicology was available, preliminary data show. The US Drug Enforcement Administration has called fentanyl the greatest and most urgent drug threat in the nation. Fentanyl is increasingly being mixed with the veterinary sedative xylazine (“tranq”), which continues to be detected in the state’s street drug supply and was present in 9 percent of opioid-related overdose deaths in 2023, up from 5 percent in 2022.

“Every overdose death is tragic, preventable and unacceptable,” said Secretary of Health and Human Services Kate Walsh. “While we are proud and encouraged that fewer Massachusetts residents were lost to overdose last year, we know that inequities persist, and our work is not done. Our understanding of where gaps in treatment and services occur, and the people who we are not yet reaching, drives our work and helps focus our efforts. That said, we are heartened by these results and will continue to build on our evidence-based approach as we build a network of community-based, low-threshold harm reduction treatment and recovery programs across our state. I want this decrease to offer hope not only to the people struggling with these diseases and their families and loved ones, but also to the committed and expert workforce across our state who do this important work every day.”

“It is heartening to see this significant decrease in fatal overdoses – a direct result of the ongoing hard work in our communities to reach those struggling with substance use disorder,” said Department of Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, MD, PhD. “To sustain these hard-won gains, we must focus even more deeply on the populations that have not yet seen such dramatic improvements. This means doubling outreach efforts in communities of color, particularly for Black residents, and people living in our most rural communities, who, as the data show, are most disproportionately impacted by overdose deaths.”

Massachusetts continues to invest in evidence-based harm reduction interventions to reduce fatal overdoses, increase awareness around the tainted street drug supply, and increase access to low-threshold services. This includes expanding access to naloxone, fentanyl test strips, and sterile consumption supplies. In 2022, DPH launched the Community Naloxone Purchasing Program to increase distribution of free naloxone through organizations, and directed funding to expand the state’s overdose prevention helpline, SafeSpot (1-800-972-0590, www.safe-spot.me).

As part of DPH’s ongoing commitment to transparency and data-sharing, the Opioid-related Overdose Deaths reports will be transitioned from their current format and incorporated into public-facing online dashboards. This update will bring the data together in an interactive way and enable a more comprehensive, in-depth view of overdose risk and substance use services at the community level to inform decision-making on policy and interventions. More information about the dashboards will be available at a later time.

Learn more about the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s opioid overdose strategy.

Key Points and Interventions:

• Since 2023, DPH has distributed more than 196,500 naloxone kits (two doses per kit) via nearly 100,000 encounters with members of the community and conducted by more than 200 community-level naloxone distribution programs. This has resulted in at least 10,206 overdose reversals.

• Since 2023, DPH has distributed more than 504,000 fentanyl test strip kits at no cost to providers and community organizations. Single-use fentanyl test strips help reduce the chances of overdose by allowing people who use drugs to test their supply prior to consumption to determine if it is tainted with fentanyl.

• DPH’s ongoing investments in temporary and permanent low-threshold housing for homeless or housing unstable individuals struggling with substance use disorder have led to the placement of about 600 people since 2021.

• $2.9 million in grants were awarded this year to 20 organizations led by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) to address substance use in BIPOC communities.

• DPH funded five mobile Opioid Treatment Programs (OTPs) serving rural, urban, and suburban areas.

Among other findings of the report:

• Cocaine was present in 54 percent of opioid-related overdose deaths where a toxicology screen was available, alcohol in 26 percent, benzodiazepines in 25 percent, amphetamines in 11 percent, prescription opioids in 7 percent, and heroin in 5 percent.

• 48 percent of all opioid-related overdose deaths were between 25 and 44 years old; 43 percent were between 45 and 64 years old.

• Males comprised 72 percent of all opioid-related overdose deaths in 2023.

• In 2023, men aged 35-44 accounted for the greatest number of suspected opioid-related incidents with a known age and sex treated by Emergency Medical Services (EMS) at 20.4 percent.

• 58.7 percent of all opioid-related incidents treated by EMS in 2023 were acute opioid overdoses and 1.7 percent were dead on arrival of an opioid overdose.

• More detailed information on opioid-related incidents reported by EMS is available in the interactive EMS Regional Opioid Related Incident Dashboard.

• The largest opioid-related overdose death decreases in 2023 were seen in Essex County (-21.7 percent), Middlesex County (-20.8 percent), Plymouth County (-18.9 percent), and Worcester County (-16 percent).

• Cities and towns that experienced a notable decrease in opioid-related overdose deaths in 2023 compared with 2022 were: Brockton, Cambridge, Falmouth, Lawrence, Leominster, Lynn, Pittsfield, Randolph, Waltham, and Wareham.

• Cities and towns that experienced a notable increase in opioid-related overdose deaths in 2023 compared with 2022 were: Holyoke and Taunton.”-Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

There’s a better place for your banana peels, coffee grounds, meat, and moldy strawberries.

“Description automatically generated with low confidenceDartmouth, Massachusetts – Beginning June 18, 2024, Dartmouth residents can drop off food waste at the Dartmouth Transfer Station! This pilot program will help participants reduce waste and purchase fewer orange SMART program trash bags since your food waste will be composted separately.

Items you can drop off include all unpackaged food, bones, and coffee grounds. Examples: fruits, vegetables, peels, meat, chicken bones, seafood shells, eggshells, dairy, breads, grains, and baked goods. The food can be in any condition or past its expiration date. The unpackaged food can be loose, or in BPI certified compostable bags. Visit bpiworld.org for more information on BPI.

“About 20% of what residents dispose of is food waste. This program will help residents reduce waste at home, save money by using fewer orange SMART program trash bags, and keep food waste out of the Crapo Hill Landfill,” said Timothy Barber, Director of the Town of Dartmouth’s Department of Public Works.

Greater New Bedford Regional Refuse Management District photo.

The less that is added to the landfill, the longer it will last. When the landfill reaches capacity, new options will need to be found for managing our waste. These options will very likely be more expensive than the current costs at our local landfill.

Description automatically generatedThe Dartmouth Transfer Station is at 976 Russells Mills Road. The hours are Tuesday and Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., and Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. A transfer station permit is required to use the facility.

Starter Kits
To kick off the program, 100 free starter kits are being distributed to SMART Program participants, while supplies last. Each kit includes a kitchen counter bin, roll of compostable bags, and a 5-gallon bucket for transporting the accepted waste to the Dartmouth Transfer Station.

Beginning June 17, 2024, starter kits are available at the Dartmouth Department of Public Works, 759 Russells Mills Road, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Proof of residency is required. On advertised Saturdays that the DPW office opens for residents to obtain program year 2024-2025 transfer station permits, starter kits will also be available, while supplies last.

Here’s how to use your starter kit:

1. Find a spot for your kitchen bin. Line it with a BPI certified compostable bag.
2. Fill the kitchen bin with accepted materials (see below for details).
3. When the container is almost full, tie off the compostable bag and place it into the 5-gallon bucket.
4. When the 5-gallon bucket is almost full, take it to the Dartmouth Transfer Station.

Don’t have a starter kit? You can put food in any container such as a bowl and line it with a BPI certified compostable bag. Or don’t line it all. Any bucket will work to transport the food waste to the Dartmouth Transfer Station. Extra rolls of compostable bags are available at the DPW, while supplies last.

Again, items you can drop off include all unpackaged food, bones, and coffee grounds. Examples: fruits, vegetables, peels, meat, chicken bones, seafood shells, eggshells, dairy, breads, grains, and baked goods. This can be loose, or in BPI certified compostable bags.

Materials not accepted include packaged foods, plastic bags, produce stickers, cleaning chemicals, diapers, glass, pet waste, aluminum foil, plastic wrap, plates, cups, utensils, recycling, trash, and yard waste.

Black Earth Compost

The carts designated for food waste are emptied weekly by a partnering company called Black Earth Compost. The food waste becomes nutrient-rich soil amendment, which can be used for improving soil health, gardening, and growing more food!

For more information, call the Greater New Bedford Regional Refuse Management District at (508) 979-1493, or email Marissa@gnbrrmdistrict.org.”

The New Bedford community really comes together when it comes to missing pets. Neither we as a Facebook page nor anyone who shares these pets makes any money for these posts but the payment comes in the form of the happiness that comes from uniting pet and human.

We all know that sometimes these stories do not have happy endings and sometimes the pets are seriously injured or found deceased. Time is of the essence and there’s no quicker way to get our furry friends back home that social media.

Here is a story about a cat named ‘Lia that was reunited after being missing for two weeks! That was a time span where some really nasty, rainy weather hit the area demonstrating the resilience of cats! ‘Lia’ was not an outdoor cat which makes it even more impressive.

It all began with a simple enough message: “Hi, can you please help me find my cat? Her name is ‘Lia’ and she ran out on Friday night. Around Cottage St. and Smith St. New Bedford. She is not an outdoor cat.”

No clues, hints, or sighting of ‘Lia’ came about. Then, almost 2 weeks later a surprise message!

UPDATE on Wednesday:

“Hi, I just want to let you guys know that I found my cat Lia🥹 thank you so so much for posting her and thank you to everyone who shared and commented on the post.

And a big thank you to BRANDON from New Bedford Police Animal Control for rescuing her and bringing her home safely. And also a big thank you to HAYDEN who found her and contacted animal control. Thank you so much for all you guys💗🙏🏼”

Steward Health Care’s request for additional financing underscores the severity of its financial situation and the urgent need to secure funds to continue operations. With only approximately $20 million in cash on hand, the company faces imminent challenges in meeting payroll, paying vendors, and ensuring the continuity of patient care across its network of hospitals.

The proposed debtor-in-possession financing of up to $225 million would provide crucial liquidity to Steward, enabling it to cover immediate expenses and sustain operations through the summer. This financing is essential for maintaining the stability of the organization as it navigates bankruptcy proceedings and pursues the sale of its hospitals.

By seeking approval from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for this financing arrangement, Steward aims to ensure the continued operation of its hospitals while simultaneously evaluating offers for their sale. The company emphasizes the importance of securing the best terms and ensuring a stable path forward for its hospitals, employees, healthcare workers, and patients.

The upcoming hearing scheduled for Thursday will be crucial in determining whether Steward will be granted access to the requested financing, which is vital for its short-term viability and the ongoing provision of healthcare services.

“A carnival will be held Thursday, June 13th through Sunday, June 16th at 730 Belleville Ave, New Bedford, MA 02745.

Visitors can expect a fun-filled experience with thrilling rides, classic carnival games, and delicious food. The carnival will offer a wide range of attractions for people of all ages, making it a perfect destination for families and groups of friends looking for a fun day out. With its lively atmosphere and exciting entertainment, the Fiesta Shows carnival promises to be a highlight of the spring season in the area.

Ride unlimited rides during our discount ride promotion days, enjoy the sights and sounds of the midway with our more than 15 rides and make memories with your whole family! More information and to purchase discounted tickets visit www.fiestashows.com.

The carnival will open Thursday and Friday at 6pm and Saturday and Sunday at 1pm. The carnival closes typically between 10pm-11pm nightly, with Sunday being slightly earlier. Partial proceeds will benefit Day of Portugal.”-Fiesta Shows.

Fiesta Shows photo.

Fiesta Shows photo.

Fiesta Shows photo.

Fiesta Shows photo.

Fiesta Shows photo.

Fiesta Shows photo.