In July, 2017 the Swansea Police Department along with other departments had several vehicles broken into. Through investigation, officers identified Marcellino Alves, 60, of 97 Willis St, New Bedford, MA as the suspect. Alves was charged with these crimes and did not show up for court. Default warrants were issued for Alves.

Over the last few months Alves has been on an interstate crime spree breaking into vehicles. Alves was identified as the suspect in breaking into 6 vehicles in Swansea as well as multiple in Seekonk, Dartmouth, North Attleboro and Bristol, RI. Alves had 9 active warrants in Massachusetts and 6 in Rhode Island for his arrest and failure to appear.

“Be on the Lookout” (BOLOS) were distributed throughout the region to be on the lookout for Alves and the vehicle he was suspected of driving. On June 13 Dartmouth Police Off. Kevin DaCosta, while off-duty, spotted Alves on Rt. 195 and was able to notify area officers of the vehicles location. Detectives with the South Eastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Counsel (SEMLEC) from Swansea, Seekonk and Mattapoisett involved in investigating these crimes were able to identify a location in New Bedford where Alves was living.

On June 14, 2018 at 10:45 am Alves was taken into custody, outside his home at 97 Willis St. in New Bedford. During the arrest officers discovered suspected stolen property from car breaks they had been investigating. Participating in the investigation were: Swansea Detective Keith Chomka and Patrolman Jared Ulak, Seekonk Detectives David Mahoney, Nicholas Peterson, Charles Mello and Mattapoisett Detective Scott Leblanc.

Alves was booked by Swansea Police and transported to Fall River District Court for arraignment.

A 45-year-old Taunton man who attacked an American Staffordshire Terrier with a machete last year and while doing so, also injured the dog’s owner, pleaded guilty this week to animal cruelty and assault charges in Fall River Superior Court, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

Thomas Vargas pleaded guilty a two-count indictment charging him with animal cruelty and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

On September 18, 2017, the dog’s owner was walking her dog, Baby Bear, down the Church Street in Taunton when the defendant approached them with a machete and stabbed the dog twice. As the Defendant was trying to strike the dog, he hit the dog owner in the leg. Two independent civilian witnesses said the attack was unprovoked by the dog and that the defendant was the sole aggressor. They also told police the dog, who has survived the attack, was leashed prior to the attack.

After pleading guilty to the indictment, a sentencing hearing was held before Judge William F. Sullivan during which time Assistant District Attorney Patrick Driscoll argued that due to the defendant’s lengthy criminal record and the lawlessness involved in the daylight attack on an animal and its owner, the defendant should serve three-and-a-half years in state prison. The defense, however, requested a more lenient two-and-a-half year county jail sentence, with six months to serve and the balance of the sentence suspended for two years.

Judge Sullivan handed down a sentence in line with the defendant’s request, sentencing Mr. Vargas to two-and-a-half years in county jail, with only six months to serve. The balance of the sentence was suspended for two years, meaning if the defendant is charged with new crimes during that time period, he could be forced to serve the remainder of the two-and-a-half year county jail term. The judge also ordered the defendant to wear a GPS monitoring device for the next six months.

The defendant’s criminal record consists of a 2015 conviction on an assault and battery in Attleboro, a 10 year federal commitment on a drug case in 1997, a three to five year state prison sentence for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and several other crimes.

“This defendant showed no respect for the law by attacking a dog and its owner in broad daylight on a city street,” District Attorney Quinn said. “His lawlessness is not surprising based on his significant criminal history. He should have been ordered to serve more jail time, but at least there is some accountability.”

The following is the proposed recreational marijuana ordinance for licensing and zoning in New Bedford. Zoning map here.

The map and ordinance will be discussed at this evening’s New Bedford City Council session at 7pm.

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New Bedford City Councillors Joe Lopes and Ian Abreu are requesting that the Mitchell Administration adopt the maximum 3% local sale tax option upon the sale or transfer of marijuana or marijuana products by a marijuana retailer operating within the City of New Bedford.

Additionally, the committee on Licensing and Zoning for Cannabis is recommending to the City Council that the 20% limitation requested in this matter has been included in the proposed Zoning Ordinance that was referred to the City Council by the Committee.

This would limit retail marijuana stores to 20% of the liquor licenses in New Bedford. According to the mayor’s office, that would mean eight retail marijuana licenses for New Bedford.

Both motions will be addressed at the New Bedford City Council session scheduled for 7pm tonight.

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A 26-year-old New Bedford man with a substantial criminal record who committed an armed robbery at a local convenience store to apparently fuel his drug habit was sentenced last week to serve up to six-and-a-half years in state prison, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

David Norman pleaded guilty last Friday in Fall River Superior Court to a single count indictment, charging him with armed robbery. He was sentenced to serve four to six-and-a-half years in state prison by Judge Raffi Yessayan.

On January 15, 2018, the defendant entered the Rite Aid on Acushnet Avenue in New Bedford. He asked the cashier to get cash for a money order. When the cashier opened the register he pulled a knife and demanded cash. The cashier refused, at which point the defendant grabbed the cash out of the register and fled.

The cashier, who happened to be the defendant’s cousin, recognized him and was able to identify him to police.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Melissa Hendrie and Daniel Walsh. The defendant has previously served jail time in connection with an illegal firearm case and has several convictions for various other crimes during the past decade.

“It is rather discouraging that his defendant, who has a criminal record robbed his own cousin because of an apparent drug problem,” District Attorney Quinn lamented.

The New Bedford Symphony Orchestra is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2018 Lillian B. Lamoureux Scholarships.

This year’s $1,000 senior scholarship winner is baritone Orlando Montalvo Avalo, a vocal performance major at Rhode Island College who plans to use his scholarship award to defray the cost of his fall 2018 semester abroad at Accademia Europea di Firenze where he will pursue his love of opera.

This year’s $1,000 junior scholarship winner is classical guitarist Thatcher Harrison of Dartmouth who plans to use his scholarship award to offset costs of applying to college music programs, including live on-campus auditions, where he intends to major in classical guitar performance and composition.

“We are pleased to present Orlando and Thatcher with this year’s Lamoureux Scholarship awards,” said NBSO President & CEO David Prentiss. “These talented young men are deserving of our support as they continue their studies in music, and we are thrilled to help them on their way to their professional careers in music.”

The scholarship, established in 2000, continues to recognize the legacy of Lillian B. Lamoureux by supporting young musicians who intend to pursue music education. Lamoureux was a longtime president and board member of the NBSO as well as President Emerita. The scholarship competition is open to all music students ages 14-21 and may be used for private music lessons, tuition, or other expenses that further the student’s music education.

The NBSO is a professional orchestra that annually presents a concert series of classical and pops music with prize-winning guest artists from around the world, as well as a chamber music series. In addition, the NBSO’s innovative and nationally recognized educational programs reach 25,000 students each year. The NBSO is dedicated to building a community of music in the South Coast. Visit www.nbsymphony.org for more information.

Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, announced that a “Sobriety Checkpoint” will be implemented by the Massachusetts State Police on a Public Way in Bristol County between Saturday, June 23, 2018 into Sunday, June 24, 2018.

The purpose is to further educate the motoring public and strengthen the public’s awareness to the need of detecting and removing those motorists who operate under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs from our roadways. It will be operated during varied hours, the selection of vehicles will not be arbitrary, safety will be assured, and any inconveniences to motorists will be minimized with advance notice to reduce fear and anxiety.

The City of New Bedford and Jeff Costa, a personal trainer in yoga, fitness and meditation, once again invite the public to ‘Meditate in the Park,’ a program running Friday afternoons from June 15 through August 17. Last summer, Costa and the City launched the program to promote wellness for residents and employees alike.

Each Friday from June 15 through August 17, Costa will host the program at the park at Custom House Square from 4:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. In case of rain, the meditation program will move indoors to the Co-Creative Center, 137 Union Street (across Barkers Lane from Custom House Square).

The public is invited to the twenty-minute sessions of quiet and community, an opportunity to unplug at the end of the week. The City has partnered with Costa to offer the program to residents and the Department of Personnel has reached out to City employees with information on this program, which has been incorporated into the overall wellness program offered to employees.

“Studies suggest that many stress-aggravated conditions – anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, heart disease, sleep disorders, and more – may be helped by the simple practice of meditation,” said Costa. “Research also suggests the existence of a ripple effect of well-being in the surrounding environment when people meditate together as a group.”
Costa is a highly respected retreat leader, teacher trainer, group instructor and personal trainer in yoga, fitness, and meditation. He also serves on the New Bedford Human Relations Commission and is a proud resident of downtown New Bedford.

The City of New Bedford and Jeff Costa, a personal trainer in yoga, fitness and meditation, once again invite the public to ‘Meditate in the Park,’ a program running Friday afternoons from June 15 through August 17. Last summer, Costa and the City launched the program to promote wellness for residents and employees alike.

Each Friday from June 15 through August 17, Costa will host the program at the park at Custom House Square from 4:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. In case of rain, the meditation program will move indoors to the Co-Creative Center, 137 Union Street (across Barkers Lane from Custom House Square).

The public is invited to the twenty-minute sessions of quiet and community, an opportunity to unplug at the end of the week. The City has partnered with Costa to offer the program to residents and the Department of Personnel has reached out to City employees with information on this program, which has been incorporated into the overall wellness program offered to employees.

“Studies suggest that many stress-aggravated conditions – anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, heart disease, sleep disorders, and more – may be helped by the simple practice of meditation,” said Costa. “Research also suggests the existence of a ripple effect of well-being in the surrounding environment when people meditate together as a group.”

Costa is a highly respected retreat leader, teacher trainer, group instructor and personal trainer in yoga, fitness, and meditation. He also serves on the New Bedford Human Relations Commission and is a proud resident of downtown New Bedford.

On June 3, preceding the Bishop Stang High School graduation exercises, the 22nd annual Alumni Medal Ceremony took place in the school’s Chapel of the Annunciation. Thirty-nine members of the Class of 2018 received the Alumni Medal, with two graduates representing the third generation of Spartans. Since 1997, 604 sons, daughters, and grandchildren of alumni have been honored.

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Bishop Stang High School

Our mission: Bishop Stang High School is a Catholic, college-preparatory school called to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ by “making known the goodness of God.” We holistically educate a diverse student body in a respectful, nurturing and disciplined environment. Our school family inspires young people to excel in learning and life through growth in faith, integrity, knowledge and service.

To learn more about Bishop Stang High School, visit us at www.bishopstang.org , follow us on Twitter and Instagram @BishopStangHS, and find us on Facebook at Bishop Stang High School.