“SOUTH WINDSOR, Conn. On Friday, March 10th, at 2:00pm, South Windsor Police arrested Adrian G. Perez, 20, of Agawam, MA on an active arrest warrant.

Perez’s charges stem frrm an April 2023 incident in which Perez stole a vehicle after he and a female rear ended another driver on purpose in the area of Chepl Road and Route 5, causing the victim to get out of her car to look at the damage.

When she did so, Pereze jumped in the driver’s seat of the victim’s vehicle and took off.

The vehicle was recovered a month later in West Hartford after it was sold on Facebook Marketplace and investigators were able to work backwards to determine Perez’s involvement.

Pereze was prcoessed and later released back to Hampden County, Massachusetts Correction Center on a $25,000 surety bond. He is scheduled to appear in Manchester Superior Court on Wednesday, May 29th at 9:00am.”-South Windsor Police Department.

“Bedford Street crash injures one.

Lakeville Fire Department was alerted to a motorcycle accident in the area of Bedford St and Rhode Island Road. At the time of crash, the on-duty crew was responding to a medical emergency.

Off-duty firefighters monitoring the radio responded from their homes to the crash.

Car 1, Car 2, Ambulance 2, and Engine 1 would eventually arrive on the scene.

An adult male was transported from the scene to St. Lukes Hospital with life-threatening injuries. Due to the patient’s condition, additional responders transported with the patient delivering advanced life support.

Additional firefighters were recalled and were able to retrieve fire department vehicles that were abandoned at the scene.”-Lakeville, MA Fire Department.

“‼️Don’t be alarmed by the helicopter flying over the area!‼️

Please be advised that the state will be dropping oral rabies vaccines to prevent the spread of rabies in our area. The helicopter is red and black, similar to the one pictured.”-Marion Police Department.

“Members of the Westport Fire Department, including the EMA and Explorer division, met at Beech Grove Cemetery to place Memorial Day Flags on the grave sites of past members who served the department and the Town.

This coming week we will be placing Memorial Day Flags at Maple Grove on Reed Road.

As we mention every year, we volunteer our time and do our best to place a flag at every site. If we missed a location, kindly let us know!

Anyone wishing to make a donation to assist in the purchasing of flags and markers can make a check payable to the Westport Fire Department Gift Account, indicating “flags” in the memo.”-Westport Fire Department.

Westport Fire Department photo.

Westport Fire Department photo.

Westport Fire Department photo.

Westport Fire Department photo.

“Rising temperatures related to climate change could increase average annual per capita municipal expenditures in Massachusetts by as much as 30% by the end of this century as compared to what they were over the past 30 years. All 50 states and nearly all 241 U.S. cities the group analyzed have warmed since 1970.

NOAA expects the temperature in Massachusetts to rise from the 2020 average of about 50 degrees to almost 54 degrees in the 2050s if global emissions grow at their current rate.

This is according to a new report by Bo Zhao, a senior economist with the New England Public Policy Center in the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston Research Department.

EPA photo of average temperatures for the 48 contiguous states.

“These large increases could have a significant impact on the fiscal health of local governments and may be difficult or impossible to accommodate without significant increases in taxes and fees,” Zhao writes in “The Effects of Weather on Massachusetts Municipal Expenditures: Implications of Climate Change for Local Governments in New England.”

Zhao finds that a 1-degree Fahrenheit increase in average temperature results in a 3.2% increase in per capita municipal general-fund expenditures in Massachusetts on average. Among other effects, he writes, hotter or stormier weather can increase the costs of snow removal, road maintenance, and the heating and cooling of schools and other public buildings.

Zhao uses the relationship between weather and local spending in Massachusetts from the last three decades, along with average-temperature projections from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, as a basis for estimating the state’s municipal expenditures for future decades.

According to the NOAA, if global emissions continue to grow at their current rate, the average temperature in Massachusetts is expected to rise from about 50 degrees Fahrenheit in 2020 to nearly 54 degrees Fahrenheit for 2050-2059 and to almost 58 degrees Fahrenheit for 2090-2099.

Based on those temperature increases and assuming the relationship between average temperatures and municipal expenditures remains the same as it was from 1990 through 2019, per capita local spending in Massachusetts could grow as much as 15% for 2050-2059 and as much as 30% for 2090-2099 relative to the level of the past three decades. In terms of dollar amounts, the per capita increases could be as great as $456 and $924 (in 2019 dollars), respectively.

In a scenario where emissions are lower in the future, the NOAA projects that the average temperature in Massachusetts would reach about 54 degrees Fahrenheit for 2090-2099. Zhao finds that even in this scenario, municipal expenditures could increase by as much as 15% by the end of this century.

Account for climate change in planning
“This report recommends that municipalities account for climate change in their long-term municipal financial planning, since early policy actions are often more cost effective than later ones,” Zhao writes. “Investing in improvements to the climate resilience of public infrastructure is important, and it is particularly urgent for New England, given how dated the region’s infrastructure systems are.”

Zhao notes that the report’s findings are applicable to the other five New England states as well, because the climate is generally the same across the region, and each state is projected to see similarly higher temperatures and more extreme storms in future decades. Also, each state has very limited county governments, if any, so municipal governments provide nearly all local public services.

Zhao does present a caveat to his findings. He notes that the regression analysis is based on historical data, and that using that information to make projections assumes that the relationship between weather and local spending will remain the same over time. His research for the report’s accompanying working paper, however, finds evidence that Massachusetts municipal spending has become less sensitive to temperature changes over the past 30 years. This could be because states and cities and towns in New England have been adapting to climate change by, for example, improving the heating and cooling systems of public buildings.

“Thus,” he writes, “the fiscal projections based on the regression results should be treated as directional guidance rather than as precise forecasts.”

The new report uses research and analysis from a Boston Fed working paper by Zhao titled “The Impact of Weather on Local Government Spending.”-Massachusetts Municipal Association.

“BOSTON – An Oklahoma man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for allegedly throwing a pipe bomb at The Satanic Temple (TST) in Salem, Mass. on April 8, 2024.

Sean Patrick Palmer, 49, of Perkins, Okla., was indicted on one count of using fire and an explosive to damage and attempt to damage a building used in interstate or foreign commerce. Palmer was initially charged by criminal complaint and arrested on April 17, 2024 in Perkins, Okla. He subsequently appeared in federal court in the Western District of Oklahoma, where the Court ordered Palmer detained and transferred to the District of Massachusetts. He will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.

TST is a non-theistic religious organization headquartered in Salem, Mass. According to the charging documents, at approximately 4:14 a.m. on April 8, 2024, surveillance cameras captured a man, subsequently identified as Palmer, walking towards TST wearing a black face covering, a tan-colored tactical vest and gloves. It is alleged that as Palmer approached TST, he ignited a pipe bomb – a type of improvised explosive device or “IED” – threw it at TST’s main entrance and ran away. Seconds later, the IED partially detonated causing minor fire and related damage to TST’s exterior.

According to the charging documents, the pipe bomb was constructed from a section of plastic pipe covered with metal nails attached to the pipe with tape. The inside of the pipe was filled with a powder-like substance, preliminarily identified as smokeless gunpowder. DNA from a Caucasian male was found on the outside of the IED.

It is alleged that a six-page handwritten note was found in a flower bed adjacent to TST, near the area where Palmer allegedly threw the IED. Among other things, the letter stated:

“DEAR SATANIST
ELOHIM SEND ME 7 MONTHS AGO TO GIVE YOU
PEACEFUL MESSAGE TO HOPE YOU REPENT. YOU SAY
NO, ELOHIM NOW SEND ME TO SMITE SATAN AND I
HAPPY TO OBEY. AND ELOHIM WANT ME TO CONTACT
YOU TO TELL YOU REPENT. TURN FROM SIN. ELOHIM
NO LIKE THIS PLACE AND PLAN TO DESTROY IT. MAYBE
SALEM TOO? ELOHIM SEND ME TO FIGHT CRYBABY
SATAN, BUT WANT ME TO MAKE HARD EFFORT SO NO
ONE DIES. I OBEY.”

The charge of using fire or an explosive to cause damage to a building used in interstate or foreign commerce provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Lucas J. Miller, Chief of the Salem Police Department made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Massachusetts State Police; Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Oklahoma City Field Office; Payne County Sherriff’s Office; Oklahoma Highway Patrol; the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Oklahoma; and Stillwater (Okla.) Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason A. Casey of the National Security Unit is prosecuting the case.

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

“Southcoast Health is pleased to announce the not-for-profit community health system welcomed seven new providers this month. They will join various specialties across the system including the Breast Care Program, Cardiology, the Hospitalist Program, Oncology, Orthopedic Surgery, Pediatrics and our Visiting Nurse Association (VNA).

Sarah Desilet, NP | Visiting Nurse Association (VNA)

Sarah Desilet earned her Master of Science degree in Nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner from Regis College in Weston, Massachusetts. She is now joining the Southcoast Health Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) in Palliative Consulting.

Julie Ditata, NP | Breast Care
235 Hanover Street, Fall River, MA

Julie Ditata earned her Master of Science degree in Nursing as an Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner from Maryville University in St. Louis, Missouri, and is certified by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). She previously worked at Southcoast Health in primary care and has now joined Southcoast Health’s Breast Center specializing in breast surgery.

Kristen Hall, PA-C | Hospitalist

Kristen Hall earned her Master of Science degree in Physician Assistant Studies from the University of New England, Westbrook College of Health Professions in Portland, Maine. She is NCCPA certified. Kristen is now starting a position as a Hospitalist caring for patients at all three Southcoast Health hospital locations.

Blair Mailloux, NP | Pediatrics
49 State Road, Dartmouth, MA

Blair Mailloux earned her Master of Science degree in Nursing as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner from Regis College in Weston, Massachusetts. She began working for Southcoast Health in 2014 and more recently worked as a registered nurse at St. Luke’s Hospital on the pediatric and Level II Nursery units. She is now joining Southcoast Health Pediatrics as a Nurse Practitioner.

Catherine Rapp, MD | Orthopedic Surgery
1565 North Main Street, Fall River, MA

Dr. Catherine Rapp earned her Doctor of Medicine degree from the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine before completing her residency in orthopedic surgery at the Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth, Virginia. Dr. Rapp proudly served in the United States Navy where she performed her duties as an orthopedic surgeon at the U.S. Naval Hospital Sigonella in Sicily, Italy, the NATO Role 3 Multinational Medical Unit (MMU) in Kandahar, Afghanistan and at the Naval Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida.

She completed a fellowship in adult shoulder and elbow reconstruction at the Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan. Dr. Rapp is now joining Southcoast Health’s Orthopedic, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery practice in Fall River.

Kelsey Soares, NP | Oncology
506 Prospect Street, Fall River, MA
206 Mill Road, Fairhaven, MA

Kelsey Soares earned her Master of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in Amherst, Massachusetts. She later received her Nursing Post-Master’s Certificate to become a Family Nurse Practitioner from the University of Massachusetts Boston in Boston, Massachusetts. She is now joining Southcoast Health Oncology.

Natasha M. Teixeira, NP | Cardiology
300 Hanover Street, Fall River, MA

Natasha M. Teixeira earned her Master of Science degree in Nursing as an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner from Rhode Island College’s Zvart Onanian School of Nursing in Providence, Rhode Island. She previously worked as a travel critical care registered nurse at Charlton Memorial Hospital and throughout the United States. She now joins Southcoast Health Cardiology as part of the Cardiac Surgery Team.

We are delighted to welcome, Sarah Desilet, Julie Ditata, Kristen Hall, Blair Mailloux, Dr. Catherine Rapp, Kelsey Soares and Natasha M. Teixeira 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.

Southcoast Health photo.

________________________________________________________________________

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.“

In the heart of the Southcoast, a group of remarkable women are rewriting the narrative of motherhood, one stride at a time. Over the span of eight transformative weeks, these mothers have embarked on a shared quest: to conquer the Women’s Fund Southcoast 14th Annual Mother’s Day 5K, defying the challenges of postpartum life and busy family schedules.

For these women, the journey was more than just physical fitness; it was a testament to the importance of prioritizing yourself in motherhood, fueled by the unwavering support of their new found sisterhood. “Joining iStroll Southcoast’s Run Club was so much more than just about crushing personal goals.” Katherine Costa, a mother of two young toddlers from Fairhaven, MA, shared. “It allowed me to join a community of mothers in the same chapter of life and do something just for me. It’s easy, as a mother, to get wrapped up in tending to everyone else’s needs.”

Amidst the rhythm of pounding footsteps and synchronized breathing, bonds were forged that would endure beyond the finish line. Elizabeth Dowd, a Marion mom navigating the joys and challenges of raising a one-year-old, shared “These women are amazing, they take turns pushing your stroller on long runs, they cheer you on, they text you when you don’t show up and they dance when you do show up. How can you not feel motivated and loved?”

Despite the typical challenge of raising a young family, these determined mothers persevered, proving that with the right support system, anything is possible. “Prior to having my daughter, I ran half marathons and attended workout classes regularly. After undergoing IVF, being pregnant and recovering after giving birth it was mentally and physically hard to start my fitness journey over.” Elizabeth continued.

As race day approaches, the iStroll Southcoast Run Club is eagerly looking forward to crossing the finish line and celebrating together amongst hundreds of other mothers and supporters. United in their shared journey, the Run Club is proud of their physical achievement, confidence they’ve gained in themselves, and the friendships they have forged.

“DARTMOUTH, MA – On Thursday, May 9, 2024, at approximately 11:25 a.m., Detectives assigned to the Special Operations Division of the Dartmouth Police Department, with the assistance of Massachusetts State Troopers assigned to the Bristol County State Police Detective Unit, executed an arrest warrant at a residence on Hillman Street in New Bedford.

This arrest was executed following a previous search warrant on April 26, 2024, for the same location. The search warrant was conducted following a month-long joint drug distribution investigation by detectives from both agencies.

During the original search, detectives located twenty-two point five (22.5) grams of suspected powder cocaine, thirty-six (36) grams of suspected crack cocaine, twenty-two point six (22.6) grams of suspected fentanyl, fourteen (14) grams of suspected methamphetamine, numerous other pills suspected to be Oxycontin, Suboxone, and Xanax, a digital scale, and other suspected drug equipment commonly used for street level sales of narcotics.

As a result of the findings associated with this investigation, Shawn PONTES, 41, of New Bedford is being charged with trafficking fentanyl, trafficking cocaine, possession Class B, possession Class B (subsequent offense), two counts of possession with intent to distribute Class B, two counts of possession with intent to distribute Class B (subsequent offense), possession of Class E, distributing Class A (subsequent offense), and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.”-Dartmouth Police Department.

“Joan K. Jacobs, wife of New Bedford native and Qualcomm founder Dr. Irwin Jacobs, passed away this week. Dr. and Mrs. Jacobs love New Bedford, and their philanthropy has benefitted cultural institutions and public education in the City for years. Mayor Jon Mitchell offered this statement on Mrs. Jacobs’ passing:

“New Bedford lost a dear friend this week with the passing of Joan Jacobs. Joan came to love her husband Irwin’s hometown. She and Irwin gave generously to numerous causes in New Bedford, especially to support public education and the city’s cultural institutions. For more than 20 years, their annual visit back to New Bedford to bestow scholarships upon high achieving high school students became a much-anticipated event, one that reflected the depth of their generosity and commitment to social mobility.

Throughout her life, Joan set a sterling example of strength, integrity, and optimism, which inspired more people than she could ever have possibly known. New Bedford is grateful for her legacy here, which will continue to pay dividends for years to come. I offer my sincere condolences to Irwin and the entire Jacobs family.-City of New Bedford.