The ancient methods of Kripalu Yoga and Sacred Sound used together create a highly effective synergy that releases blocked energy and promotes a state of deep relaxation and balance, which leaves participants in touch with their body’s inner wisdom.

Dive deeper into your yoga practice by riding the current of live instrumentation, followed by Savasana relaxation blanketed in the vibration of the Healing Gong.

Fitness in Cushman Park’s yoga instructor, Jeff Costa, E-RYT 200 is a Yoga Alliance Nationally Certified Instructor and a graduate of the Kripalu School of Yoga and Health. He is the Fitness Director at Carabiner’s Climbing and Fitness Gym in New Bedford. With 25 years experience in the fitness industry and a BA in Liberal Arts from Boston University, the strength of Jeff’s teaching lies in his attention to detail and his compassionate approach to students’ needs. Jeff’s authentic voice and classical approach to alignment create a class environment, which engenders happiness, personal power, and peace of mind.

Paula Lazaroff, LMT is an energy based bodywork therapist and sacred sound healer. Sacred Sound Healing uses the inherent high vibration of instruments to invite healing into any activity. The vibrations of sound are “heard” not only through the ears but in every cell of the body, and helps put our body, mind and spirit back “in tune.” Being “in tune” strengthens Life Force energy creating more clarity, vitality and harmony.

Attendees to the class should bring a mat and water. Classes take place weather permitting — cancellations will be posted on the FaceBook page: www.facebook.com/fitnessincushmanpark .

Fitness in Cushman Park is presented free to the public thanks to the generous support of our community sponsors.

For more information about the fitness program and “A Mid Summer Morning’s Yoga Dream” or to sponsor Fitness in Cushman Park please call 508-287-2482.

Mayor Jon Mitchell announced today that the block of Purchase Street between Spring and School Streets in downtown New Bedford has been temporarily renamed “Cherry Tree Lane” in recognition of New Bedford Festival Theatre’s two-weekend production of Mary Poppins. The opening performance of the exclusive New England engagement of the classic Broadway musical is tonight at 7:00pm.

“It’s become a tradition to rename the Zeiterion block to celebrate Festival Theatre’s annual production,” said Mayor Mitchell. A couple of years ago Purchase Street became “Hollywood Boulevard” for Singin’ in the Rain. This year we will call this block of Purchase Street “Cherry Tree Lane” in honor of one of the most famous addresses in film and musical theater history—the Banks family’s home at 17 Cherry Tree Lane. The signs go up for the run of the show and then become a piece of memorabilia for Festival Theatre.”

Armand Marchand, the Executive Producer for the company, celebrating its 25th year of “bringing the best of Broadway to New Bedford,” said, “We always appreciate the Mayor and the City’s willingness to play a supporting role in our productions! Mary Poppins will be spectacular, so come take a magic umbrella ride with us this summer!”

New Bedford Festival Theatre will stage a total of eight performances of Mary Poppins over this weekend and next. For tickets or more information visit www.nbfestivaltheatre.com or call the Zeiterion box office at (508) 994-2900.

On July 22, 2015 at about 11:45 p.m., Troopers Paul Dunderdale and David Walczak, assigned to the Troop D Community Action Team, were conducting an investigation on Summer Street in the city of Taunton. At that time, they were attempting to locate a suspect who had assaulted a trooper earlier in the evening. While outside of their cruiser, the troopers observed a white Chevrolet Malibu traveling slowly past their location and believed that the operator resembled the assault suspect. When the troopers attempted to make contact with this operator, he took off at a high rate of speed.

Troopers Dunderdale and Walczak caught up with the vehicle in the Mechanics Bank parking lot on Summer Street. Upon approaching the operator, the troopers observed him to engage in dangerous movements. They subsequently determined that the operator was in possession of a quantity of a substance believed to be heroin, as well as a silver, Raven Arms .25 Caliber firearm.

The operator, who was not the suspect from the previous assault, was identified as HECTOR RODRIGUEZ, 29, of Taunton. He was placed under arrest on the following charges:
1. Use of a Firearm While Committing a Felony
2. Trafficking in Heroin
3. Operating with a Suspended/Revoked Registration – Subsequent Offense
4. Speeding
5. Marked Lanes Violation

RODRIGUEZ was booked at the State Police Barracks in Middleboro and then transported to the Bristol County Jail House where he was held on $25,000.00 bail pending his arraignment in Taunton District Court.

Online registration has already opened for the event, which is expected to have a record turnout.

“The Walk to End Alzheimer’s is enormously empowering to families who are living with the challenge of Alzheimer’s,” said James Wessler, President/CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association, MA/NH Chapter. “It’s important for people to know that they are not alone and that they can do something to fight back. Alzheimer’s takes away so much and hits families hard, financially and emotionally. And for those with Alzheimer’s, there are no effective treatments yet. The Walk to End Alzheimer’s is a day to commit to changing the trajectory of the disease.”

More than 5 million people in the U.S. have Alzheimer’s. It is the sixth leading cause of death. While age is the greatest risk factor, it can occur in those as young as 40, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Beginning at 8:30 a.m., the Southeastern Massachusetts Walk chaired by Ashley Bendiksen from New Bedford, Executive Assistant to the Bristol County District Attorney. Highlights for the Walk include free refreshments, children’s activities, the opportunity to connect with local service providers and the opportunity to learn more about the services the Alzheimer’s Association provides.

Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the nation’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. For more information or to volunteer or participate in the Walk call 800-272-3900 or visit www.alzwalkMANH.org.

About the Alzheimer’s Association:
The Alzheimer Association provides services and programs for those with Alzheimer’s, family and professional caregivers in the form of support groups, a 24/7 Helpline, care consultation, advocacy efforts, and education programs. The Alzheimer’s Association is also the world’s leading nonprofit funder of research into causes, treatments and, someday, a cure. For more information about Alzheimer programs, visit www.alz.org/MANH or call 800.272.3900.

Meet Meagan “Meaggsy” Borges, a 24-year-old marine fabricator and artist.

After 8 long years of working at multiple McDonald restaurants in the area she left to work for Steele and Rowe, where she discovered her love for fashion design while crafting boat covers. Using the skills developed while working there, she creates backpacks, hats, and many other commissioned works.

Not only is she a full time fabricator, but she also recently graduated UMass Boston with a degree in Finance, which she hopes to use, along with her artistic abilities, to open a business in downtown New Bedford.

She has also been drawing since she first picked up a pencil. Inspired by the cartoons she watched as a child, her art heavily revolves around detailed line work and many familiar faces from 90s television.

She is inspired by the local community and how everyone has always been supportive of anything she has tried to do, which is why she loves this city. She just recently showed at the Pour Farm Tavern which garnered her a lot of local attention.

“Find out what makes you you and do it. Keep growing and learning to make whoever you find yourself to be better than you were the day before.”

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Faces of New Bedford is a project by Colton Simmons. If you are interested in booking a shoot or getting prints from the series email all inquiries to colton@coltonsimmons.com

Follow Colton on Instagram: https://instagram.com/simmonscolton

What connects New Bedford, the Azores, Cape Verde, Hawaii and the Arctic? The deep-fried, sugary delight known as the malassada, is a treat from the Arctic to the Equator. Did boiling whale oil help to spread this favorite? Join Ruth and Abby, the national park’s 1850s ladies, to make crafts associated with these ports of call on Saturday, July 25, from 1:00-3:00 PM. This free event will take place in the park garden. In the event of inclement weather it will be moved indoors.

New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park was established by Congress in 1996 to help preserve and interpret America’s nineteenth century whaling industry. The park, which encompasses a 13-block National Historic Landmark District, is the only National Park Service area addressing the history of the whaling industry and its influence on the economic, social, and environmental history of the United States. The National Park visitor center is located at 33 William Street in downtown New Bedford. It is open seven days a week, from 9 AM-5 PM, and offers information, exhibits, and a free orientation movie every hour on the hour from 10 AM-4 PM.

The visitor center is wheelchair-accessible, and is free of charge. For more information, call the visitor center at 508-996-4095, go to www.nps.gov/nebe or visit the park’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/NBWNHP. Everyone finds their park in a different way. Discover yours at FindYourPark.com. www.nps.gov.

A staggering 50 percent of American adults suffer from a chronic disease such as diabetes, heart disease, obesity and arthritis — and one in four has two or more chronic health conditions. In Rx: The Quiet Revolution, you’ll travel across America to discover a quiet revolution happening in medicine. From Maine to Mississippi, Alaska to California, see physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals placing the patient at the center of their practice — transforming the way medical care is delivered while lowering costs and improving outcomes.

The screening is free at the New Bedford Whaling Museum on Tuesday, July 28th at 6:30 pm and there will be a discussion about the 100 Million Healthier Lives campaign through the IHI: Institute for Healthcare Improvement after the screening. Several administrators from the IHI will be with us.

This evening, a woman and her 4-year-old child spent nearly two hours lost on Mount Sugarloaf in Deerfield before being rescued by state and local police.

The woman called 911 at about 8:00 p.m. when she became lost was unable to navigate her way off the mountain. State and local police responded to the area where she was believed to be and began sounding their sirens in an attempt to discern her location. According to the woman, the sirens sounded faint. A Massachusetts State Police helicopter responded to the area and was able to locate the woman, who signaled the helicopter using the flashlight on her cell phone.

The helicopter crew then directed state and local police to her location. The woman and her child were escorted out of the woods just before 10:00 p.m. They were both examined by South County EMS as a precautionary measure and found to be uninjured.

This rescue was a concerted effort by troopers assigned to the Shelburne Falls barracks and the State Police Airwing, members of the Deerfield, Whately, and Montague Police Departments, members of the South Deerfield Fire Department, and Shelburne Falls dispatch.

There is no further information available. Please do not contact the barracks for media inquiries.

Massachusetts State Police are currently searching the area near Route 140 in Mansfield, near the Foxboro line, for a suspect who fired a gunshot, possibly from a muzzleloader rifle, at an MSP cruiser.

The cruiser was being operated on Route 140 around 2:20 a.m. when the trooper reported a shot fired at him. A subsequent search of the area off the highway led to the discovery of a black powder rifle. The suspect is believed to have run away from the scene after firing the shot.

The trooper was not injured. No damage has been reported.

The search is being conducted by troopers from Troop H and State Police K-9 units with assistance from local police. The State Police Air Wing also is responding.

Muzzleloader — or black powder — guns are often sold for hunting.

UPDATE

The investigation into the gunshot believed fired at a marked State Police cruiser (see previous post) is ongoing.

This morning at approximately 2:20 a.m., a marked state police cruiser was on patrol in the vicinity of Forbes Road and Route 140 in the town of Foxboro, a short distance from the Mansfield line. The Trooper heard a loud noise that came from behind the cruiser as he was approaching a traffic signal. The Trooper saw a large amount of white smoke in the vicinity of the are from where he heard this noise, just several feet from the cruiser.

The Trooper reversed direction and observed a white male wearing light colored clothing in the wood line. The person stood up and ran into the woods.

A search of the area revealed discovery of the black powder rifle and other items believed to have been dropped by this subject. An extensive search of the immediate area for the suspect was conducted by the State Police, Mansfield Police and Foxboro Police with negative results.

If anyone was in that area and may have seen this person, or if they have any information in regard to this case, they are urged to call the State Police at 508-543-8550; the Foxboro Police at or 508-543-4343; or the Mansfield Police at 508-261-7301.

‘Pictures in the Park,’ a new outdoor movie series being staged in New Bedford’s Buttonwood Park, has partnered with Southcoast Health to present ‘Goonies’ on Friday, 7/31. The movie begins at sunset (approximately 8:00); attendees are encouraged to arrive early and bring their own blankets and lawn chairs for seating. Before the movie, the Southcoast Health Van will be at the park to offer free blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose screenings to attendees.

Pictures in the Park is coordinated by a group of city residents whose efforts are made possible thanks to the generosity of individual donors, Southcoast Health, and the United Way of Greater New Bedford’s Mini-Grants program, which supports all-volunteer efforts in the region. A partnership with the Friends of Buttonwood Park ensures that all donations to Pictures in the Park are tax-deductible, and the City of New Bedford’s Department of Parks, Recreation, and Beaches has provided access to the park for this event.

That mission of Pictures in the Park is to promote New Bedford’s civic vitality and encourage the use and enjoyment of Buttonwood Park by city residents and visitors alike during the summer of 2015 and beyond. To learn more about upcoming events, visit: https://www.facebook.com/ButtonwoodMovies. To contribute to this effort, please contact Colleen Dawicki (cdawickigmail.com).