On Tuesday, February 15, 2022 at approximately 10:45 a.m., detectives assigned to the Dartmouth Police Department Community Impact Unit arrested Noah GARRIS, 25, of Carroll Street, New Bedford, on a warrant associated with two (2) incidents that occurred on Monday, February 14, 2022, during which time he allegedly exposed his genitals to two (2) different woman in two (2) different retail parking lots in Dartmouth.

GARRIS was successfully identified as the suspect after patrol officers gathered statements and vehicle information, and reviewed video footage.

After an arrest warrant was secured for GARRIS, he was taken into custody without incident outside of his home.

According the Chief Brian P. LEVESQUE, “I applaud my patrol officers, detectives, and dispatchers for the quick identification and arrest of this sick individual. There is absolutely no place for this brazen and predatory behavior in our town, and I assure the citizens that I, along with every member of this department, will use every available resource to swiftly take individuals, such as GARRIS, out of circulation.”

With the recent precipitous drop in COVID-19 transmission in New Bedford, Mayor Jon Mitchell has decided to lift the policy requiring the use of masks in the public areas of municipal buildings, such as City Hall and public libraries. The mask policy will be lifted as of 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 18. Mayor Mitchell is grateful to everyone who has observed the mask requirement since its establishment by executive order in August 2021.

COVID-19 cases in New Bedford have fallen dramatically over the past five weeks. The City hit its peak of daily cases on Jan. 7, when 562 cases were reported over the previous 24-hour period. On Tuesday, Feb. 15, just 17 cases were reported in the previous 24 hours, a 97-percent drop from the peak.

The New Bedford Health Department is continuing with other pandemic response efforts, including the promotion of COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters, which have proven extremely effective at preventing severe COVID outcomes. The Health Department also is continuing to monitor transmission risk and the emergence of new variants that could require additional safeguards.

“?Crews were working at the end of Gaffney Rd to get a deer off the ice ?

The deer wassafely removed from the ice and ran off into the woods after we released her.

Remember, don’t try to get a wild animal off the ice on your own. It very well may result in YOU needing to be rescued!” -Town of Dartmouth Animal Control.

“Bald eagle numbers continue to climb in the Commonwealth giving winter birders a better chance to glimpse these impressive birds. Get ready for your winter outing with these tips for where to look and how to prepare.

Many people are surprised to find out that winter is a prime time for birding. There are opportunities for beginner and experienced birders to spot our year-round resident birds as well as the seasonal “snowbirds” that visit Massachusetts for the winter months. Some veteran birders make an annual trek to the Massachusetts coast in winter catch a glimpse of seabirds and sea ducks. Other, more casual birders are content with the sight of back-capped chickadees, downy woodpeckers, or white-breasted nuthatches as they walk or ski along. One iconic bird, the bald eagle, is becoming easier for winter birders to spot.

Where to look for eagles in MA
Bald eagles usually live in coastal areas, estuaries, and larger inland waters. They need a lot of shoreline habitat with forested areas for nesting. They prefer areas where trees project above the forest canopy for perching with an unimpeded view. The waterbody they choose typically has a good supply of moderate- to large-sized fish.

Winter is a prime time for spotting bald eagles! Follow these tips:

? Look for bald eagles in coastal areas, estuaries, and larger inland waters. They prefer areas where trees project above the forest canopy for perching with an unimpeded view.
? At this time of year, eagles are building nests so look for large nests in big trees. Massachusetts is home to over 70 nesting pairs! If you spot a nest, keep your distance and observe from afar.
? Eagles are drawn to open waters. As many lakes and ponds freeze, there are fewer areas of open waters which may make eagles easier to find. Eagles will often gather below dams, especially if water is being released.
? If you do see an eagle, watching with binoculars from inside your vehicle is a great way to observe the birds without disturbing them and you’ll stay warm.
? If you see an eagle once, visit that site again. Eagles tend to return to the same section of shoreline or even the same tree throughout the season and year after year.

What do eagles do in the winter?
Bald eagles are sexually mature at 4–6 years old, but they may be considerably older before breeding for the first time. Courtship takes place in mid- to late winter. After courtship, a mated pair builds or adds to a large nest in December–February. The nest is built with large sticks and lined with sprigs of pine, grasses, and other soft materials. Male eagles collect the nest materials and deliver them to their mates, which are responsible for most of the actual nest construction. Once a nesting site is chosen, mated pairs usually return every year and add to the existing nest. Egg laying usually takes place from early March to early April.

If you see a bald eagle carrying sticks to a nest this winter, please report your observation to MassWildlife at mass.wildlife@mass.gov. Please include the location and date of the observation and your contact information. These observations help MassWildlife identify new nest locations and monitor our eagle population. At any time of year, if you observe a bald eagle at a nest, please report it to MassWildlife using the Heritage Hub.

Bald eagle restoration is one of the best conservation success stories in Massachusetts, and our biologists continue to document expansion of the eagle population. That means there are more opportunities than ever to see an eagle this winter!” -Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife.

A Colorado woman and a Houston woman were sentenced today in federal court in Boston for their roles in a multi-million-dollar Medicare fraud scheme.

Jessica Jones, 32, of Lakewood Colo., and Elizabeth Putulin, 31, of Houston, Texas were each sentenced by U.S. District Court Senior Judge George A. O’Toole, Jr. to three years of supervised release, the first year to be served in home detention. Judge O’Toole, Jr. also ordered Jones to pay restitution in the amount of $8.6 million and ordered Putulin to pay restitution in the amount of $20.7 million. Jones and Putulin are also barred from engaging in an occupation business in the health care industry. On Jan. 20, 2021, Jones and Putulin each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud.

Jones and Putulin conspired with Juan Camilo Perez Buitrago to submit more than $107.6 million in false and fraudulent claims for durable medical equipment (DME) such as arm, back, knee and shoulder braces. Jones and Putulin helped Perez manufacture and submit false and fraudulent Medicare claims by establishing shell companies in more than a dozen different states, including Massachusetts. At Perez’s request, Jones and Putulin purchased Medicare patient data from foreign and domestic call centers that targeted elderly patients and instructed call centers to contact the Medicare beneficiaries with an offer of ankle, arm, back, knee and/or shoulder braces “at little to no cost.”

Perez then submitted Medicare claims for those patients without obtaining a prescriber’s order to ensure that the braces were medically necessary. Jones and Putulin further facilitated the fraud by answering frequent phone calls from Medicare patients who received DME that they did not request, want or need. Additionally, Jones and Putulin responded to insurance companies’ requests for prescriber’s orders and medical records, which they were unable to provide.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Johnnie Sharp Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Birmingham Field Division; Phillip M. Coyne, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, Boston Division; and Ketty Larco Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elysa Q. Wan of Rollins’ Health Care Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.

The New Bedford Local Cultural Council (NBLCC) is pleased to announce the grant awardees for 2022. New Bedford was allocated a total of $119,600 to distribute during the 2022 grant cycle.This funding is granted to individuals, groups, and agencies whose projects enhance the arts, science, and humanities in the city of New Bedford.

Each year, volunteer council members sift through dozens of applications. The Council grants to those that promote and improve the quality of life for residents of New Bedford by providing venues that enhance education, diversity, arts, humanities, and interpretive sciences. Based on a survey of New Bedford residents in the summer of 2021, projects were prioritized that feature outdoor performances and free programming, support individual artists, and include an audience of marginalized and underserved populations.

The Council strives to fund as many projects as possible. This year, 69 of the 74 applicants were chosen for awards. The NBLCC salutes the creativity of all those that applied for grants and took the time to read and apply the Council’s priorities.

For those that would like to apply for next year’s grant cycle, go to the New Bedford Local Cultural Council website: https://www.mass-culture.org/new-bedford

Note that the present application dates and council priorities have not yet been updated from last year. These dates and priorities will be changed in August and the application opens in September. Deadline for applications has been October 15 in the past, although this could change due to Covid-related variables.

The council maintains a Facebook page which shares information pertaining to grant due dates. Follow them at Facebook.com/NBCulturalCouncil.

For those who would like to know more about other grant opportunities, along with arts and programs in New Bedford, log onto– NewBedfordCreative.org. This online destination showcases the artists, artisans, attractions, events, and venues which form the cultural fabric of this seaport city on the South Coast of Massachusetts.

New Bedford Cultural Council 2022 Awardees

• 10th Annual New Bedford JazzFest
• 50th Annual Cape Verdean Recognition Parade
• Access to the Arts
• Acushnet Ave Band Club Mural
• African Drumming Enrichment Club
• Black In Business Holiday Vendor Market
• Black in Business: Vendor Market
• BodyBodyBody and Riverside Beats
• Boys and Girls Club Art Program
• Co-Creative Sessions
• Complimentary Senior Tickets
• Creature Feature
• DETOUR – Exploring the People and Places of Historic New Bedford
• Discover Buzzards Bay: New Bedford
• Duo Pianists, Composers & Educators Whipple & Morales in Concert
• Dyeing to Wear It: Creating Community through Color
• Fishboats: Art of the Commercial Fishing Industry
• Front and Centre: Music, Art & Culture
• Gallery X Unplugged
• Game Unplugged
• GLCPS Drama Club – Moana
• Happy Camp
• Henry the Juggler Performance
• Hip Hop Dance Chair Exercise for Seniors!
• Hummingbird Project
• I am Autistic I am Fantastic
• IGNITE Youth Art Showcase
• Jazz at AHA!
• Jim Robitaille Group
• Lewis Hines Photo Project
• Mindfulness/Yoga/Hand-On Art Projects/Journaling
• MOBA 101 and Living in Tough Times
• MOBY DICK: Chapter 87 – The Grand Armada
• NBHS Drama Club presents Godspell
• New Bedford Clemente Course
• New Bedford Festival Theatre Summer Academy 2022 “Beauty and the Beast and Beyond!”
• New Bedford Holiday Stroll
• New Bedford Light Cultural Calendar
• One South Coast – Unity on Our Community
• Origami Storigami
• Passport to History 2022
• Patio de Comida
• Practice Best Practice Workshops
• PRIDE AHA! Night, June 9, 2022
• Reggae On West Beach
• Scapeghost Presents: Unexpected Music
• Sea Life Balloon Animal Twisting Workshop
• Seaport Art Walk
• Shakespeare in NB 2022 – A Midsummer Night’s Dream
• Showcasing Local Musicians & Local Food
• SNAP to the MAX
• Songs and Stories – The Highwaymen
• SouthCoast Children’s Theatre presents “James and the Giant Peach”
• Southcoast Terrapin Headstart Project
• Spinner Discussion Series: Paul Cuffe
• Stove Boat Concert Series
• Swan Lake
• Teen Ambassadors
• Teen Artist Internship Program (TAIP)
• The Artists Index – Musical Artists In-Focus Podcasts
• The Artists Index – Podcast Transcription
• The Artists Index – Theater Artists In-Focus Podcasts
• The Collective’s 2022 Summer Series
• The Student Showcase
• Um Frenti Unido – Cape Verdean Cultural Showcase
• Using STEAM to Create Public Art: 3D Wall Mural
• Young People’s Concert 2022: Gravity in Space and Sound
• YTI Summer Season 2022
• YWCA Youth Services

Today, Governor Charlie Baker signed legislation filed by Senator Mark Montigny (D-New Bedford) to create new protections for K9 law enforcement officers. Montigny filed the bill in response to the tragic event on April 12, 2018, that took the life of New Bedford-native Sergeant Sean Gannon. His fearless K9 partner Nero was also severely injured, requiring significant medical attention.

Despite the multiple empty ambulances on site, Nero had to be rushed to the animal hospital in the back of a police cruiser. Fortunately, Nero was able to survive his injuries, but the inability to transport him shows callousness in our laws towards working dogs who risk their lives every day to serve our commonwealth.

S2573, An Act allowing humane transportation of K9 partners aka Nero’s law, authorizes emergency medical service personnel to provide emergency treatment and transport K9 officers. This includes basic first aid, CPR, and administering life-saving interventions such as naloxone. The Senate passed Montigny’s bill in November 2021, and the House similarly engrossed earlier this month.

“This law will ensure the wellbeing of working dogs who risk their lives every day to keep us safe,” said Senator Montigny. “I hope this provides some comfort to the Gannon family who fought tirelessly for this moment that will forever honor Sean and his fearless partner Nero. I also want thank Governor Baker for his strong support. We look forward to joining with him to celebrate this special moment.”

S2573 was originally filed by Montigny in 2019 and received favorable reports this session from the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security, Chaired by Senator Walter Timilty, and the Senate Committee on Ways and Means , Chaired by Senator Michael Rodrigues. First-term Representative Steven Xiarhos also filed Montigny’s language this session in the House. Governor Baker signed the bill earlier today. A bill signing ceremony is expected in the coming weeks.

A former member of the New Bedford Chapter of the Massachusetts Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (Latin Kings) was sentenced today on racketeering charges.

Tyson Jorge, a/k/a “King Music,” 35, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel to time served (approximately 35 days in prison). The government recommended a sentence of 21 months in prison.

On Aug. 25, 2021, Jorge pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy.

The Latin Kings are a violent criminal enterprise comprised of thousands of members across the United States. The Latin Kings adhere to a national manifesto, employ an internal judiciary and use a sophisticated system of communication to maintain the hierarchy of the organization. As alleged in court documents, the gang uses drug distribution to generate revenue, and engages in violence against witnesses and rival gangs to further its influence and to protect its turf.

Jorge was involved in the New Bedford Latin Kings’ racketeering conspiracy and in the gang’s drug distribution efforts throughout New Bedford. Jorge attended gang meetings in which violence against rival gang members was discussed. In December 2019, a federal grand jury returned an indictment alleging racketeering conspiracy, drug conspiracy and firearms charges against 62 leaders, members and associates of the Latin Kings. Jorge is the 44th defendant to be sentenced in the case in the case.

The RICO conspiracy charge provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Commissioner Carol Mici of the Massachusetts Department of Correction made the announcement. Valuable assistance was also provided by the FBI North Shore Gang Task Force and the Bristol County and Suffolk County District Attorney’s Offices. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit 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 documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

History Professor Timothy Walker will appear on a panel to discuss his research on the maritime aspects of the Underground Railroad.

Professor Timothy Walker, Ph.D. (History), will lead a panel titled, “The Maritime Underground Railroad” to be broadcasted Wednesday, Feb. 23 from 7 to 7:45 p.m. as part of a Black History Month tribute sponsored by the Library of Congress. The panel will discuss how enslaved people achieved their freedom by sea and what the waterborne journey looked like for many African Americans.

“Long distance, overland escapes from the deep south were virtually impossible, and nearly all documented successful escapes from the far coastal south were achieved by water,” said Walker. “Seaborne escapes were faster, safer, and less logistically complicated than attempting to run away from enslavement by land.”

Walker, who edited, “Sailing to Freedom: Maritime Dimensions of the Underground Railroad” (University of Massachusetts Press, 2021), will be joined by two of the book’s nine contributors: Cheryl Janifer LaRoche, a lecturer in the Department of American Studies for the University of Maryland College Park, and Cassandra Newby-Alexander, dean at the College of Liberal Arts at Norfolk State University. Sailing to Freedom documents hundreds of seaborne flights from enslavement, including Mary Millburn’s successful 1858 escape of Norfolk, Virginia, to Philadelphia aboard an express steamship.

“This book aims to change the way people think about the Underground Railroad; to shift the dominant narrative to include the profoundly important maritime side of the story,” said Walker.

This event is moderated by former Kluge Center Director John Haskell, and will premiere live on the Library of Congress’ YouTube channel, where it will also be available for viewing afterward.

Walker is also guest-curating an exhibition on the same topic at the New Bedford Whaling Museum, which will open May 19, and run through November of this year.

“On Saturday, February 12, at 2:05 a.m., Officers responded to the Last Round Bar after being flagged down by one of the bouncers who stated there was a female inside yelling and refusing to leave.

The woman, identified as LEIANDRA BUSBY, 24, of Taunton, was carried out of the establishment by another female and security and was extremely intoxicated.

BUSBY continued to scream and disturb the peace outside, and pushed an officer. She was arrested and charged with disturbing the peace, A&B on a police officer, and resisting arrest.” -New Bedford Police Department.