City of New Bedford celebrates Greek Independence Day

“We celebrated Greek Independence Day at City Hall on Monday with a spirited ceremony and flag-raising!”-City of New Bedford.


City of New Bedford photo.


City of New Bedford photo.


City of New Bedford photo.


City of New Bedford photo.




420 Music Party Scheduled At The Vault Music Hall in Downtown New Bedford

Looking for a place to celebrate 420? The Vault Music Hall at 791 Purchase Street in Downtown New Bedford will be hosting a 420 event on Saturday, April 20th. Tickets are $10 in advance ($15 at the door and can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/420-and-its-a-punky-reggae-party-tickets-847674385907?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

Join live acts “The NB Rude Boys” with special guests “Concrete Beach” & “The Riki Rocksteady All-Stars” for a warm and easy event featuring reggae, calypso, mento, ska and rocksteady beats for you to vibe out and groove to. Additionally, “DJ Lotusound” and all the way down from the South Shore “The Rins”, who will be playing the Levitate Festival this year with Sublime. Door prizes and drink specials available.

Doors open at 6 PM
Positive Vibrations at 6:30
General Admission $10 in advance
$15 at the door




Massachusetts State Police respond to tractor-trailer rollover that dumps pineapples

“On Sunday morning Massachusetts State Police Troopers responded to Rt 495NB in Westford for a 2-vehicle crash that caused a tractor-trailer to rollover off side of the road.

The driver was taken to Lowell General with minor injuries. The truck was hauling thousands of pineapples, many of which spilled onto the brush.”-Massachusetts State Police.


Massachusetts State Police photo.


Massachusetts State Police photo.


Massachusetts State Police photo.




Rochester Police ROC recruits freeze their butts off to benefit Massachusetts Special Olympics

“On Saturday, March 16, 2024, the 76th ROC academy recruits participated in a polar plunge to benefit Massachusetts Special Olympics.

Pictured is our very own Student Officer Mattos. Great work!

If you want to learn more about donating to the Massachusetts Special Olympics go here: https://www.specialolympicsma.org/ways-to-give/donate.”-Rochester Police Department.


Rochester Police Department photo.




Massachusetts Environmental Police respond to “Charles” the cat, trapped on seawall in the Little Mystic River

“Massachusetts Environmental Police were contacted by Boston Animal Control Officers and asking for Massachusetts Environmental Police assistance with a domestic cat that was trapped on a seawall in the Little Mystic River.

Massachusetts Environmental Police officer responded by boat in somewhat challenging conditions and the feline was safely gathered after several attempts and a fall into the water.

“Charles” was safely transported to shore and is with Boston AC. Charles was estimated to have been stranded for over 24 hours. Thanks to Massachusetts Environmental Police and Boston ACO’s.”-Massachusetts Environmental Police.


Massachusetts Environmental Police photo.




Massachusetts State Police, Dartmouth Police, seize cocaine, Fentanyl, crack cocaine, Suboxone, arrest one

“DARTMOUTH, MA – On Thursday, March 21, 2024, at approximately 4:00 p.m., members of the Dartmouth Police Department Investigative Services Division, with the assistance of Massachusetts State Troopers assigned to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Drug Task Force, executed a search warrant at a residence on Cove Road in Dartmouth.

During their search, detectives located approximately thirty (30) grams of suspected powder cocaine, approximately three (3) grams of suspected crack cocaine, approximately five (5) grams of suspected Fentanyl, and ten (10) Suboxone strips. In addition, $955 in U.S. currency and miscellaneous drug paraphernalia was seized.


Dartmouth Police Department photo.

As a result of the findings associated with the search, Dartmouth Police arrested Daarnez RAMOS, 27, and charged him with trafficking cocaine, possession of a Class A drug, possession to distribute cocaine (subsequent offense), and possession to distribute a Class B drug (subsequent offense). In addition, RAMOS also had an outstanding warrant.

Detective Cristina BRUM conducted this months-long investigation, with the assistance of other detectives assigned to the Dartmouth Police Community Impact Unit.

According to Dartmouth Chief of Police, Brian P. LEVESQUE, “As a result of their hard work and dedication, my detectives were not only able to remove this dangerous individual from the community, but also the dangerous and possibly life-threatening drugs that he was peddling.”-Dartmouth Police Department.




Massachusetts State Trooper exemplifies “protect and to serve” motto with simple act of kindness

“On Saturday, a resident of Adams was driving through town when they captured this image of one of our members from SP Cheshire assisting an elderly gentleman cross a busy street.

The resident who shared the image on social media posted, “There was a line of traffic both ways and the elderly gentleman looked nervous to cross…”

She went on to say our Trooper noticed, “that it was taking him a long time just to move an inch or two”. Without hesitation, our member, “got out of his vehicle and stayed/walked with this man probably for a good 3 minutes while he crossed the street and kept reassuring him it was okay.”

Ending her post she said, “I think everybody was so touched by this moment that for once Nobody cared about being late or where they were headed. Thank you sir…for being so kind in a busy crazy world.”-State Police Association of Massachusetts.




Bristol County Sheriff Heroux visits New Bedford High School

“Sheriff Heroux visited New Bedford High School to give a presentation about corrections, the BCSO, and the importance of participating in civic duties.

After the presentation, students participated in an open Q&A session where they could ask the Sheriff anything they wanted to know. It was a very interactive and fun conversation for all involved.

Thank you to New Bedford High School for inviting the Sheriff today for this presentation!”-Bristol County Sheriff’s Office.


Bristol County Sheriff’s Office photo.


Bristol County Sheriff’s Office photo.


Bristol County Sheriff’s Office photo.


Bristol County Sheriff’s Office photo.


Bristol County Sheriff’s Office photo.


Bristol County Sheriff’s Office photo.




OPINION: “Trump moving embassy to Jerusalem enraged Palestinians”

The following is an opinion sent to New Bedford Guide. It does not reflect the opinion of New Bedford Guide, nor is it an OP-ED. In fairness and objectivity, we share opinions from our readers whether we agree or disagree with their opinion.

Do you have a counter opinion to this opinion? Have an opinion about something else? Email us at info@newbedfordguide.com.

_____________________________________________________________________________

“The right wing Republican pro-Israel stance is not wavering!

For those liberal Democrats and voters of middle eastern decent, who are withholding or rejecting support of President Biden because he has not taken the final step of advocating for the cessation of military aid to Israel, it would be wise to reconsider their position.

At least there has been some equivocating by Biden as he has incrementally become more critical of Netanyahu and his right wing coalition. Biden’s full throated support for Israel’s response to Hamas, with only tepid recommendations to avoid civilian casualties, has been replaced with public criticism and veiled threats of eliminating aid to Israel. And Biden is publicly rebuking Netanyahu and clearly considering other options to end the war.

The Neo-Cons of old in alliance with the right wing caucus however are providing unequivocal support for Israel‘s response to Hamas.

Their steadfast devotion to Israel, with scant consideration of the thousands of innocent Gazans who have lost their lives, is hardly encouraging if disaffected Democrats vote Republican, third party or stay home.

It was Donald Trump who moved the American Embassy to Jerusalem during his presidency, which in no small measure encouraged Netanyahu and his right wing to feel invincible from American criticism and further enraged the Palestinians.

It may seriously conflict with alleged Democratic values by voting for Biden, but if Trump is re-elected it will be the elimination of a century of progressive legislation that benefitted a majority of Americans, and authoritarian rulers everywhere will rejoice and be emboldened.”-Betty Ussach, Dartmouth.




Springfield Member of Catalytic Converter Theft Crew Sentenced to Nearly Five Years in Prison

A Springfield man was sentenced in federal court in Boston to his role in a regional organized theft crew that stole catalytic converters from over 490 vehicles. It is alleged that the crew also stole from ATMs and jewelry stores.

Santo Feliberty, 34, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to 57 months in prison and three years of supervised release. In October 2024, Feliberty pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport stolen property in interstate commerce; two counts of interstate transportation of stolen property; conspiracy to commit bank theft; bank theft; and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

In April 2023, Feliberty was arrested and charged along with six others in connection with the theft, transportation and sale of stolen catalytic converters taken from at least 496 vehicles across Massachusetts and New Hampshire in 2022 through April 2023 alone. It is believed that a significant number of additional thefts have not been identified or were not ever reported to law enforcement.

According to court filings, there has been a precipitous decline in catalytic converter thefts reported in Massachusetts as a result of the April 2023 takedown – with only seven reported incidents of catalytic converter theft over the past 11 months following the arrests, in comparison to the hundreds of thefts reported during the nine-month period prior.

Catalytic converter theft has become a nationwide problem across a multitude of state, local, and federal jurisdictions due to the high-valued precious metals they contain – some of which are more valuable than gold, with black-market prices being more than $1,000 each in recent years. The theft of a vehicle’s catalytic converter results in damage that renders the vehicle inoperable – both mechanically and legally under EPA regulations.

The thefts in this case resulted in losses of approximately $5,000 per vehicle with certain trucks costing over $10,000 to repair. This amounts to an approximate $2 million in losses suffered by more than 300 separate victims who were forced to deal with their vehicles being disabled for potentially weeks on end. The more than 300 victims included businesses and individuals across Massachusetts and parts of New Hampshire, including a food pantry, automotive businesses, tradesmen, a bakery, single parents, a home healthcare provider and the elderly. Some businesses were repeatedly targeted on multiple nights.

Once in possession of the stolen catalytic converters, the crew would then sell them to Jose Torres, who would accumulate stolen catalytic converters from multiple theft crews and then in turn sell them to scrap dealers in the Northeast – transacting approximately $30,000 to $80,000 in stolen catalytic converters per week. Torres then sold stolen catalytic converters to scrap dealers who have since been charged federally for interstate transportation of stolen property and money laundering in the District of Connecticut, the Eastern District of California and Northern District of Oklahoma.

At sentencing, Feliberty was held accountable for his participation in thefts of catalytic converters from 52 vehicles across eight cities and towns in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. On the first night of the thefts, Feliberty was confronted by the vehicle owner, who took matters into his own hands and smashed out the rear window of the car Feliberty was driving.

In addition to the catalytic converter thefts, Feliberty also conspired to steal from ATMs of federally insured banks in Massachusetts on three separate occasions in December 2022. This conspiracy involved the use of stolen trucks to rip the ATMs from the ground and gain access to the vault.

Feliberty also committed burglaries of two New Hampshire jewelry stores on Jan. 12, 2023, and the theft of a trailer on Dec. 14, 2022. The combined total value of the jewelry stolen during the burglaries was determined to be over $137,000, with each store facing approximately $10,000 in costs to repair the resulting damage.

Additionally, a firearm and ammunition were found at Feliberty’s residence. Feliberty is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition due to prior felony convictions.

On May 17, 2023, Torres pleaded guilty to his role in the catalytic converter theft conspiracy and is scheduled to be sentenced at a later date.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; John E. Mawn Jr., Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police; and Kevin Gallagher, Director of Operations for the National Insurance Crime Bureau, Northeast Region made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was also provided by the United States Attorney’s Offices for the District of Connecticut, the Northern District of Oklahoma and the Eastern District of California; Homeland Security Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; and the New England State Police Information Network (NESPIN). Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.

Over 70 local police departments in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Connecticut contributed to this investigation through the submission of their investigations of catalytic converter thefts in their jurisdiction. The Massachusetts police departments contributing to the investigation were Abington, Acton, Andover, Auburn, Bedford, Bellingham, Beverly, Billerica, Burlington, Bridgewater, Canton, Carver, Chelmsford, Concord, Cranston, East Hampton, Easton, Fitchburg, Framingham, Franklin, Gardner, Hampton, Hanover, Haverhill, Hingham, Holliston, Holyoke, Hudson, Ipswich, Lawrence, Leominster, Lynn, Malden, Mansfield, Medford, Marlborough, Methuen, Middleton, Milford, Millbury, Needham, Newton, Northborough, Norwell, Norwood, Peabody, Pembroke, Plymouth, Randolph, Rockland, Sharon, Shrewsbury, Springfield, Sterling, Sturbridge, Sudbury, Tyngsborough, Walpole, Waltham, Watertown, West Bridgewater, Weymouth, Wilmington, Woburn and Worcester. The Bow, Concord, Derry, Hooksett, Hudson, Londonderry, Manchester, Salem and Windham New Hampshire police departments also contributed. The South Windsor and Windsor Connecticut Police Departments also contributed to the investigation.

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.