“On Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at approximately 1:45 a.m., Officer Matthew DESROSIERS conducted a motor vehicle stop on a Lexus RX350 on State Road.

Subsequent to approaching the Lexus RX350, Officer DESROSIERS identified the operator as Fredrick James SMITH, Jr. Based on several factors associated with operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, SMITH, Jr. was placed under arrest.

Upon conducting an inventory search of the Lexus, Officer DESROSIERS located a loaded 38 caliber Smith & Wesson revolver beneath SMITH, Jr.’s seat.

Based on the collective facts associated with this incident, SMITH, Jr. was charged with operating under the influence of liquor, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, failure to stop for police, speeding, carrying a loaded firearm without a license (second offense), possession of ammunition without a firearms identification card, carrying a firearm without a license (second offense), improper storage a firearm,

According to Chief Brian P. LEVESQUE, “Though the level of danger associated with this job continues to grow, the commitment to preserving the safety of this community by the members of the Dartmouth Police Department is unwavering.”-Dartmouth Police Department.

“Recently, Westport Police and Fire responded to two separate motor vehicle crashes on Route 6, both of which occurred simultaneously.

The crashes, which were unrelated to each other, involved injuries and a large fuel leak.

The on duty crew was assisted by off duty members who responded to the station to grab an additional ambulance and respond to one of the scenes. Fall River EMS also responded to the crash to assist.

We thank our on and off duty members for stepping up and proving once again that your Westport Firefighter/Paramedics are always there when you need them.”-Westport Fire Department.

“The Board of Election Commissioners advises the public that absentee/mail-in ballots for the Municipal Election are now available. Any voter can request to receive a ballot by mail, can vote absentee in the Election office during regular business hours, or can Vote Early in person. The Election Office is located in City Hall, 133 William Street Room 114. Office hours are from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. The last day to register to vote is Friday, October 27th.

Voters can Vote Early at the following locations prior to the election:

• Saturday, October 28 – 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Main Public Library, 613 Pleasant Street
• Wednesday, November 1 – 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Taber Mill, 217 Deane Street. (Coffin Ave. entrance)
• Thursday, November 2 – 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Hazelwood Senior Center, 553 Brock Avenue

Parents or Family members can apply for an absentee ballot on behalf of their children attending out-of-city or State Colleges and Universities. The deadline to apply for an Absentee/Mail-in ballot by mail is Tuesday, October 31 by 5:00 p.m. or in-person in the Election Office the day before the Election on Monday, November 6 by 12 p.m. All Absentee/Mail-in ballots must be mailed out but can be hand-delivered to the office or returned via the drop-off boxes outside City Hall or on Elm Street outside of the SRTA bus terminal. All Absentee/Mail-in ballots must be returned to the Election Office by 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 7th to be accepted. On Election Day, polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

In the Municipal Election, New Bedford voters will be casting their votes for Mayor, Councillor-at-Large, Ward Councillor, School Committee, and Assessor-at-Large.

Any New Bedford resident who is uncertain about their voting status, designated polling location, has changed their address since the last election, or would like to request an absentee ballot should contact the Board of Election Commissioners at (508) 979-1420.”

“Volunteers needed for an all important cleanup of Historic Palmer Island in New Bedford.

Operation clean Sweep is scheduling (for the 3rd time) an environmental cleanup at Palmer Island in New Bedford. Volunteers are needed on Saturday October 28th from 12-4 with our headquarters located at the bottom of Gifford street.

We hope you can help make a positive difference on Palmer Island!

• FREE Pizza provided by Domino’s!
• FREE Coffee and Donuts provided by BASK.
• FREE TEE SHIRTS while supplies last

Operation Clean Sweep photo.

“The City of New Bedford is offering new programs to help businesses reduce their waste. In one program, businesses will be recognized for recycling properly. In another program, restaurants can take further steps to reduce waste by moving from disposable food service ware to reusable options.

“These new programs will encourage businesses to do their part to reduce waste and help the City move toward the waste reduction goals in NB Resilient, the City’s climate action and resiliency plan,” said Jennifer Vieira, Director of Facilities & Fleet Management.

ReThink Disposable

The City is partnering with Clean Water Fund’s ReThink Disposable program to encourage restaurants to reduce their use of single use food service ware for onsite dining such as utensils, plates, cups, and sauce cups. ReThink Disposable is offering a stipend to restaurants that switch to reusable items. Their staff will visit restaurants in New Bedford in the coming months.

The one-time stipend that is offered to restaurants is $300. For any restaurant with a minority, LGBTQ+, or woman owner, the stipend increases to $600. According to ReThink Disposable, restaurants that make the switch see annual savings usually between $3,000-$20,000.

“It is important for us all to do our part in waste reduction for future generations and this program can help local businesses take this step. Reusables are safe to use as long as restaurants follow standard health and safety guidelines,” said Stephanie Sloan, Director of the Health Department.

Our Business Recycles

Does your business recycle everything it can? Earn an “Our Business Recycles!” window cling to show customers you are doing your part to reduce waste.

To earn the window cling, each business must meet the following requirements:

• Be a business located in New Bedford.
• Have recycling containers with fewer than 3 contaminants. Contaminants include all items other than bottles, cans, jugs, jars, paper, and cardboard, as listed on this flyer: https://s3.amazonaws.com/newbedford-ma/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/20200810091738/TrilingualFlyer_2020-Final-Final.pdf
• Have waste baskets with fewer than 3 recyclable items.
• Have a way to recycle cardboard. This could be by participating in the City’s business cardboard collection program, having a properly used cardboard dumpster, or by being able to fit the cardboard in your recycling cart(s).

In October and November, staff from the City of New Bedford and the Greater New Bedford Regional Refuse Management District will partner with students from UMass Dartmouth to visit businesses, starting with downtown. Though, you don’t need to wait for our visit. If you think your business deserves recognition, contact us and we will visit to verify the requirements are met. You may be featured on New Bedford Recycling’s social media pages with your window cling.

Elissa Paquette, President, dNB Inc. said, “dNB Inc. is excited about the recycling incentives that the Greater New Bedford Regional Refuse Management District and the City are offering businesses, as we look forward to keeping downtown environmentally conscious!”

If your business is not currently eligible, you can:

• Increase recycling – Arrange private collection through your hauler or participate in the City’s program to recycle bottles, cans, jugs, jars, paper, and cardboard.
• Ensure cardboard gets recycled – Arrange private collection through your hauler or participate in the City’s program. Small to medium size New Bedford businesses can join the City’s cardboard recycling program for free.

If you have questions, please email Marissa@gnbrrmdistrict.org or call (508) 979-1493. For additional information, visit New Bedford Recycling on Facebook, Instagram, and Nextdoor, or follow @NBRecycling on Twitter.”

“Members of Group 1 are currently providing mutual aid as part of a tanker shuttle task force to the Town of Tiverton for a fire involving hundreds of cars at an auto recycling center.

Westport remains on scene and has been there since 0300.”-Westport Fire Department.

Westport Fire Department photo.

Westport Fire Department photo.

“Early this morning Tiverton RI requested a Tanker Task Force from Bristol County.

For a 3rd alarm fire in an Auto salvage yard on King Rd. Freetown Tanker 2 and Car 1 responded as part of that mutual aid request. This operation is still very active at this time.”-Freetown Fire Department.

All photos by the Freetown Fire Department:

“Sad to hear of the passing of one of our own. Retired BPD K-9, Dexter, an 8-year veteran of the department who worked tirelessly to protect and serve our city, recently passed.

Our thoughts and prayers remain with his former partner and handler.

A dual purpose K-9 who excelled in both patrol and narcotics, Dexter, who was 10-years-old at the time of his passing, will be missed.”-Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association.

Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association photo.

“A Wakefield, Mass. man was indicted today for knowingly concealing the source of material support or resources that he intended to go to a foreign terrorist organization, namely the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS).

Mateo Ventura, 18, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston on one count of knowingly concealing the source of material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization. Ventura will appear in federal court at a later date. Ventura was previously arrested and charged by criminal complaint in June 2023.

According to the charging documents, Ventura provided multiple gift cards to an individual he believed was an ISIS supporter, with the intention that the gift cards be sold on the dark web for a little less than face value and resulting profits be used to support ISIS. Ventura allegedly stated that he wanted the proceeds to go to ISIS “for war on kuffar,” (disbelievers). In total, it is alleged that between January and May 2023, Ventura donated $705 intended to support ISIS.

The charge of knowingly concealing the source of material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to a lifetime 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; Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen for the Justice Department’s National Security Division; and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy H. Kistner and Laura J. Kaplan of the National Security Unit are prosecuting the case. Valuable assistance was provided by Trial Attorneys Charles Kovats and Andrea Broach of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.

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.

“Do you have a phone that you’re not using? Did you know that those who are struggling with domestic violence often have phones that are being controlled by their abuser?

The phone you donate might be the lifeline that someone needs to place a much-needed call for help.This month, the NBPD is partnering up with the “Women’s Center” to get emergency phones into the hands of people who need them.

If you have one that you can donate, please bring it by police headquarters on Rockdale Ave. Thank you!!”-City of New Bedford Police Department.

“Shortly before 7: 00 a.m. on October 16, 2023, a dog was struck and injured on City Depot Road. The vehicle that struck the dog did not stop and has not been identified yet. If anyone who was in the area of City Depot Road this morning, has any information regarding this incident they are asked to contact the Charlton Police Department at 508-248-2250 or the Charlton Animal Control Officer at 508-248-2398. So that we can follow up on the incident.

MOTORISTS are reminded that Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 272, Section 80 H requires the operator of a motor vehicle that strikes and injures or kills a dog or cat shall forthwith report such an accident to the owner or custodian of said dog or cat or to a police officer in the town wherein such accident has occurred.

A violation of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than $100 for a first offense or not more 10 days in a house of corrections and a fine of $500 and the cost of medical expenses, not to exceed $2,500, imprisonment in a house of correction for not more than 6 months or both such fine and cost and imprisonment for a second and subsequent offense. Nothing in this section shall preclude a civil cause of action including, but not limited to medical expenses, by the aggrieved party.

DOG OWNERS are reminded that Charlton has a 24-hour leash law that requires a dog to be on a leash or a substantial chain and under the control of a person competent to restrain it so that it shall not be a threat to public safety. Any dog which is permitted to wander on private property of others or on public ways without proper restraint is considered an “at large dog” that is not in compliance with this by-law.”-Charlton Police Department.