At 2:20 p.m. Monday Troopers from the State Police-Revere Barracks and specialized units responded to Route 1 northbound, south of the Route 60 rotary, in Revere for a serious crash involving a tractor-trailer and five other vehicles. The driver and passenger in one of the cars, a 44-year-old Peabody woman and a 49-year-old Peabody man, were transported to Massachusetts General Hospital with serious, potentially life-threatening injuries.

Preliminary investigation by Troopers suggests the tractor-trailer, a 2019 Volvo operated by a 59-year-old Kingston, N.H., man, rear-ended a 2006 Ford Five Hundred sedan occupied by the Peabody couple in the left lane of the northbound side of the highway. The impact caused subsequent chain reaction collisions between the Ford, a 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan sport utility vehicle operated by a 48-year-old Danvers man, a 2014 Subaru Outback operated by a 43-year-old Newburyport man, a 2013 Nissan Altima operated by a 39-year-old Danvers man, and a 2013 Honda Accord operated by a 32-year-old Medford man and carrying a 31-year-old Medford man as a passenger.

The occupants of the Ford Five Hundred, one of whom was entrapped and was extricated from the vehicle by Revere firefighters, sustained serious injuries. The drivers of the tractor-trailer and the Tiguan were not injured. The occupants of the Outback, Altima and Accord – four people in all – were transported to area hospitals with minor injuries.

The facts and circumstances of the crash remain under investigation by Troop A of the Massachusetts State Police, the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, the State Police Crime Scene Services Section, and the State Police Detective Unit for Suffolk County. The result of that investigation will determine if criminal charges will be sought.

The tractor-trailer is owned by Velez Brothers Trucking of Danvers. Multiple lanes on both sides of Route 1 were closed for nearly two hours to accommodate the rescue response and investigation.

The Department of Public Health (DPH) today announced that the first case of the P.1 COVID-19 variant of concern, which originated in Brazil, has been detected in Massachusetts. The individual is a woman in her 30s who resides in Barnstable County.

DPH was notified of her test results from genetic sequencing conducted through the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s national surveillance system. Currently, there is no information available on the woman’s illness or whether she has recently traveled. She tested positive for COVID-19 in late February.

As of today, there have been 213 cases of the B.1.1.7 variant, originally found in the United Kingdom, and 6 cases of the B.1.351, which originated in South Africa, reported in Massachusetts. The B.1.1.7 variant is known to spread more easily and has caused a rapid surge of cases in the UK, several other countries, and parts of the United States.
 
The best defense against variants of concern is to prevent the spread of COVID.
 
This includes wearing a mask, social distancing, avoiding groups, staying home when you are sick, getting tested if you have symptoms or are identified as a close contact of someone with COVID, and getting vaccinated when it is your turn.
 
Learn more about variants of concern at New Variants of the Virus that Causes COVID-19 | CDC and track their presence in both Massachusetts and the US at US COVID-19 Cases Caused by Variants | CDC.

A 29-year-old New Bedford man with an extensive history of illegal drug distribution convictions was sentenced last week to serve three to five years in state prison after being convicted of dealing fentanyl and cocaine, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

Nicholas Beiruti pleaded guilty in Fall River Superior Court to indictments charging him with possession with intent to distribute cocain, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and assault and battery on a police officer.

On August 31, 2019 at approximately 5:15 pm a Massachusetts State Police trooper stopped a vehicle with no inspection sticker in the area of Rivet and Juniper streets. One of the passengers, this defendant, was acting extremely nervous when police approached the vehicle. The trooper recognized him as a known drug dealer who was on probation for a recent drug distribution conviction.

While the trooper ran a warrant check, he noticed this defendant moving around the back seat in an apparent effort to conceal something. This defendant was also breathing heavily and visibly sweating.

After waiting for police backup, the trooper removed the defendant from the vehicle. During a pat frisk, police noticed a hard object in the backside of the defendant’s pants. The object was consistent with a bag of narcotics. Once the defendant felt the trooper has found the item, he began kicking the trooper and bit his finger.

Once the defendant was secured, troopers were able to remove the object from his pants. The object turned out to be a large bag containing six baggie of fentanyl and nine baggies of crack cocaine. Police also seized more than $3,000 in cash from his pocket.

The defendant has an eight-page criminal record, dating back to 2006, which included numerous arrests and convictions for drug related offenses.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Steve Butts and the three to five year state prison sentence was imposed by Judge Thomas J. Perrino.

“The defendant, whot has a history of drug dealing, continued to sell fentanyl and cocaine while already on probation for selling drugs. This is a defendant who persists in drug dealing and needs to be kept off the street.,” District Attorney Quinn said.

Please join the Bristol Community College Holocaust and Genocide Center for informative and thought-provoking virtual programming throughout the spring season. All virtual events are free and open to all.

Bristol’s Holocaust and Genocide Center sponsors speakers, workshops, conferences and maintains a library of Holocaust and genocide material for use by the college community and the public.

The Bristol Community College Holocaust and Genocide Center also provides historical information, educational experiences and multimedia resources to communicate the suffering, pain, and death of innocent millions who were impacted by the Holocaust and other genocides.

Please register for each event at the links below. Once registered, participants will receive an email invite with the link and information to join the virtual event.

A Hard Look in the Mirror: Nostra Aetate and Catholic Self Examination After the Holocaust
Monday, March 22, 2021, from 4 to 5:30 p.m.

Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-hard-look-in-the-mirror-tickets-142878584693
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Arthur Urbano, Professor of Theology, Providence College, will discuss the long and troubling history between the Catholic Church and the Jewish population and the attempt of the church to rectify it after the Holocaust.

Refuge from the Holocaust in Latin America
Monday, April 5, 2021, from 4 to 5:30 p.m.

Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/refuge-from-the-holocaust-in-latin-america-tickets-146317281929
Keynote Speaker: Christina Chavarria, Program Coordinator, Levine Institute for Holocaust Education, U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, will discuss the roles that countries in Latin America played in providing a refuge for those of the Jewish population who could escape Nazi-occupied Europe as well as in the aftermath of the Holocaust.

The Unanswered Letter: One Holocaust Family’s Plea for Help
Wednesday, April 21, 2021, from 4 to 5:30 p.m.

Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-unanswered-letter-one-holocaust-familys-desperate-plea-for-help-tickets-146329965867
Keynote Speaker: Faris Cassell, Author and Journalist, is the recipient of the 2020 Jewish Book Award and will discuss the process by which she researched and wrote “The Unanswered Letter.”

For more information about Bristol Community College’s Holocaust and Genocide Center and virtual spring programming, please visit http://www.bristolcc.edu/holocaustcenter, or email ron.weisberger@bristolcc.edu.

The Be Like Brit Foundation was established by Cherylann and Len Gengel to honor the life of their daughter, Britney Gengel who died tragically in the 2010 earthquake in Haiti along with approximately 300,000 others. Brit’s Home in Grand-Goâve, Haiti was built to honor the memory of Brit and her life and commitment to serving those less fortunate. In just two years, amidst an earthquake-ravaged country, atop a mountain overlooking the town and Gulf of Gonave, our 19,000 square foot earthquake-proof facility was built. Today, Brit’s Home houses 66 children and has welcomed more than 1,800 “Britsionarys.”

SkillsUSA Advisor and Dental Assisting Instructor Mrs. Beverly Rebelo learned about the Be Like Brit Foundation through the SkillsUSA state competition. SkillsUSA Massachusetts has been in partnership with Be Like Brit for several years. As years passed, the Be Like Brit Foundation began building houses for Haitian families in need as part of their “Bristionary” trips to Haiti after Hurricane Matthew in 2016. During these Bristionary trips – groups spend 7 days building a home for a Haitian family in the mornings and working with the children at the orphanage in the evenings.

Mrs. Rebelo had the idea to take 10 students to Haiti and build a home and bring the Artisan Imprint internationally. She presented the idea to GNBVT administration and after getting approval, Mrs. Rebelo sought out the help of Mr. Henry DeGrace, a Diesel Service Technology instructor and Military Veteran with personal knowledge of Haiti and its people.

The idea was presented to the School Committee for final approval. Then all sophomore students were provided with a flyer at the completion of their ELA MCAS testing in the spring of 2019 and an informational session was held shortly after. Over 60 students attended this meeting and 53 students applied for the opportunity to take part in this life-changing experience.

Students who were interested were asked to write an essay expressing their interest and what they’ve learned about the Haitian people and what helping the underserved means to them. Ten of the 53 students were chosen based on their essay, academic performance, attendance and discipline records, willingness to be a member of the SkillsUSA organization and teacher recommendations.

The following students, who are now in their senior year were chosen:

• Jaydian Cepeda – Diesel Service Technology
• Tyler Soares – Carpentry
• Madison Tavares – Legal and Protective Services
• Victoria Fernandes – Legal and Protective Services
• Chelsea Martinez – Medical Assisting
• Mackenzie Raposo – Business Technology
• Amber Conroy – Architectural Drafting
• Alexia Barboza – Early Childhood Education
• Heather Belanger – Welding Technology
• Amanda Albino – Information Support Services and Networking

Originally, the trip was supposed to take place during the week of March 29, 2020 – April 4, 2020. The cost to fund travel and lodging expenses totalled at $23,400.00. The money was raised through the help of many sponsors, and various fundraising events
held between April 2019 and February of 2020. Unfortunately, in March 2020, the trip was postponed due to the COVID crisis per district administration and the Be Like Brit Foundation. In lieu of attending this trip, Mrs. Rebelo, Mr. DeGrace, and the students who were to attend felt it best to postpone this trip indefinitely and donate the money raised to the foundation.
According to Ms. Gengel, the $23,400 will be used to further advance Brit’s Academy.

Although the group could not physically go to Haiti as planned, these teachers and students still leave the artisan imprint in Haiti through their hard work and dedication to Be Like Brit and the foundation’s mission.

All photos by the “Be Like Brit” Foundation:

See more photos of the work Brit and the “Be Like Brit” Foundation are doing and have done here

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story identified the person who lost his father as a female. It was, in fact, a male.

“I want to put this up on this page. My father was a Vietnam veteran and lived in New Bedford since I was born. (He’s pictured in the middle holding the black POW-MIA flag)

He had his battle with cancer. He passed Sunday afternoon 3/14/21 and it’s upsetting to me to say cancer won. I know New Bedford is a small community where everyone knows everyone it would seem. Many people knew my father and, yes, people always asked how was he doing.

If you knew him and want to message me I’d enjoy hearing how you knew my Dad. He marched in the parade many many years. I worked with my dad in the Madeira Feast.

He definitely was loved. He will be missed. He’s finally free from suffering and I just hope we all can just remember Jimmy “Popcorn” Freitas ❤️”-Harley Freitas.

Photo by Harley Freitas.

Photo by Harley Freitas.

Photo by Harley Freitas.

“New Bedford Police Department Narcotics and Gang Detectives executed a search warrant at 209 Court St. Apt. 3 on March 11, resulting in the seizure of approximately 71 grams of fentanyl, 14 grams of cocaine, a 45 caliber handgun, bullets, and $1,575.

Andre Daniels, 25, 209 Court St., Apt. 3, was arrested and charged with trafficking in Fentanyl and firearm offenses. Detective Jordan DaSilva investigated the case.”

A 37-year-old Stoughton man who robbed an Attleboro Bank in late 2019 was sentenced earlier this month to serve eight to 10 years in state prison, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

Steven Cerqueira pleaded guilty on March 2 in Fall River Superior Court to an indictment charging him with unarmed robbery.

On November 15, 2019, this defendant entered Santander Bank in Attleboro, approached the teller and passed a note to her demanding money. The note read “100, 50, 20, quickly.” The defendant then said, “give me more” as the bank teller was taking money out of her cash drawer.

The bank teller, who later told police she was in fear, gave the defendant about $200 from her drawer. The defendant then fled the scene with the money.

During the course of the investigation, it was determined this same defendant had committed a similar robbery at the Santander in Middleboro approximately one week prior. The defendant turned himself in on November 18, 2019 and admitted to both the Attleboro and Middleboro robberies.

The defendant was sentenced last July in Plymouth Superior Court for the Middleboro bank robbery to serve seven to nine years in prison. The Bristol County eight to 10-year state prison term imposed this month by Judge Raffi Yessayan will run concurrently to the Plymouth County prison sentence.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Natasha Azevedo.

The defendant has a five-page criminal record consisting of mainly theft-related/violent offenses. His first armed robbery-related conviction was in 2005. He’s continued to commit and receive convictions for both unarmed and armed robberies ever since. His most recent conviction, prior to these new offenses, was in 2014 out of Essex Superior Court, where he received a four year state prison sentence.

“The defendant is a career criminal who has a history of committing robberies. He needs to be kept off the street to protect society,” District Attorney Quinn said.

The victim operating a moped that crashed into a minivan in the Forest Hills section of Boston on Friday night has died from his injuries. The victim is identified as Joseph Pielmeier, 30, who has addresses in Virginia as well as in Boston and Somerville.

Evidence indicates that the moped operator caused the crash. No charges will be filed against the driver of the minivan.

Investigation by the Massachusetts State Police indicates that at approximately 6:45 p.m. the victim was operating a Tomos moped northbound on South Street and drove through a red light at the intersection with the Arborway. The moped then struck the side of a 2011 Toyota Sienna minivan that was traveling eastbound and had entered the intersection heading toward New Washington Street. The Sienna’s operator, a 30-year-old Milton man, had the green light.

The moped struck the passenger-side sliding door of the minivan. Pielmeier, who was not wearing a helmet, was thrown from the bike and struck the pavement. Boston Fire and EMS responded and transported the victim to Brigham & Women’s Hospital with life-threatening injuries. He was pronounced deceased yesterday.

The three-year-old daughter of the driver of the Sienna was secured in a child safety seat in the middle row of the minivan at the time of the crash. The toddler sustained a bruised shoulder when the minivan was struck and was transported to Children’s Hospital for treatment.

A shoulder bag worn by Pielmeier was found in the roadway near the downed moped. Inside the bag Troopers located two empty White Claw alcoholic beverages, three unopened alcoholic beverages, green leafy matter, a bowl, and a small container holding what appeared to be marijuana.

Multiple witnesses interviewed by Troopers stated that the moped drove through the red light and that the Sienna had the green light. Evidence suggests the moped was travelling between 30-40 mph at the time of the crash.

The crash was investigated by patrols from the State Police-Milton Barracks, detectives from State Police Troop H and the State Police Detective Unit for Suffolk County, and State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section and State Police Crime Scene Services Section.

A 31-year-old Mansfield man who violently assaulted his girlfriend in July of 2019, was sentenced to serve up to three-and-a-half years in state prison, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

Richard Duest pleaded guilty late last month in Fall River Superior Court to indictments charging him with Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon and two counts of Assault and Battery on a Family or Household Member.

The defendant and the female victim were in a relationship and had been living in Mansfield with another couple of their two small children. The female victim in this case was the live-in nanny for the children.

On July 21, 2019, police observed a video surveillance at the Qualters Middle School while school was not in session. On the video, police could see the defendant strike the victim with a closed fist and throw a cell phone at her face.

The victim, was is legally blind in one eye, was struck by the phone in her good eye, and her vision was reduced for a period of time due to the assault. During the grand jury investigation into the incident, it was also learned that the defendant was witnessed strike the victim inside the home they shared in June of 2019.

The defendant has a lengthy criminal record, which includes serving prison time for a 2013 aggravated assault in Worcester and a 2008 bank robbery.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Matthew Friedel and the two-and-a-half to three-and-a-half year state prison sentence was imposed by Judge Sharon Donatelle.

“The defendant has ahistory of committing serious crimes of violence. . This was a violent assault against the victim in apublic place. The defendant is a danger to the victim and the community and the sentence will protect society from him,” District Attorney Quinn said.