Winter Weather to Impact Greater New Bedford & Fall River, Flood Warning Issued

This Afternoon we’re keeping an eye on a fast moving storm that will impact the evening commute and travel through Wednesday morning.

We expect all rain before 4pm, then rain mixing with snow. High near 41. North wind 11 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. The chance of precipitation is 100%.
Total daytime snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Tonight the rain will change over to all snow mainly before midnight. Low around 32. Northwest wind 13 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 46 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Wednesday Forecast:

A chance of snow before 10am, then a slight chance of rain between 10am and noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 42. Breezy, with a northwest wind 15 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
——-
FLOOD WARNING

National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
1232 PM EDT Tue Mar 14 2023

…The National Weather Service in Boston/Norton MA has issued a
Flood Warning for the following rivers in Massachusetts…Rhode
Island…

Taunton River Near Bridgewater affecting Plymouth and Bristol
Counties.
Wood River At Hope Valley affecting Washington County.

For the Taunton River…including Bridgewater…Minor flooding is
forecast.

For the Wood River…including Hope Valley…Minor flooding is
forecast.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

Caution is urged when walking near riverbanks.




Don’t Forget to Set Your Clocks Ahead Tonight!

Most Americans, including those of us here in Massachusetts will shifting their clocks ahead by an hour this weekend. For some losing that hour of sleep is painful but for others that extra hour of sunlight is pure heaven and a sign that spring is just around the corner and summer is on the horizon! As of March 2023, the following states and territories are not observing DST: Arizona, Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, The Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

The official time change will take place at 2 a.m. Sunday, with clocks jumping forward to 3 a.m. in states that observe daylight saving time.

Under provisions of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which amended the Uniform Time Act of 1966, daylight saving time begins every year on the second Sunday in March. That time change will remain in effect until the first Sunday in November, under the law. Legislation was passed last year in the Senate to eliminate it all together but the bill has yet to be taken up by the House of Representatives.

Since 2015, about 30 states have introduced legislation to end the twice-yearly changing of clocks, with some states proposing to do it only if neighboring states do the same.
How do you feel about the matter? Keep things the same or get rid of it?




State Police Issue Amber Alert for Missing 2 year Old Child

SUV STOLEN WITH TODDLER IN BACKSEAT; PUBLIC ASKED TO BE ALERT FOR VEHICLE

At 8:19 PM Lawrence Police advised MSP that a silver 2011 Honda Pilot was stolen from South Broadway Street, Lawrence, with a female toddler in the back seat. The license plate is Massachusetts registration 2MKK26. The Pilot reportedly has front end damage.

The female child, EMMA BUTH, is 22 months old and is of Dominican and Cambodian descent. She has black hair and brown eyes, is about 2’10” tall and weights 25lbs. She was wearing a pink coat with a silver buckle and pink pants with flowers.

Local and State Police units are actively searching the vehicle. All available State Police patrols and K-9 units in the area responding. to Lawrence area. We are currently evaluating the circumstances to determine if we will activate an AMBER Alert.

Emma’s photo is attached. A photo of the actual vehicle from behind, and a representative image of a 2011 Pilot, are attached.
ANYONE WHO SEES EMMA OR THIS VEHICLE SHOULD CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY.




Fairhaven and Acushnet Public Schools will Have a Two Hour Delay Tomorrow

Acushnet Public Schools posted the following:

Due to the intensity of the storm being projected to be during our morning drop off we have decided to have a two hour delay. If by chance things are worse than anticipated we will be in touch should a cancellation become necessary. Again- Tuesday, February 28th 2hour delay.

Fairhaven posted this:
Due to winter weather, the Fairhaven Public Schools will open after a 2 hour delay on Tuesday, February 28, 2023.




WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM MONDAY TO 7 PM TUESDAY

From the national weather service:

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM MONDAY TO 7 PM EST TUESDAY

* WHAT…Snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 2 to 5 inches. Winds gusting as high as 35 mph.
* WHERE…Portions of eastern, northeastern and southeastern Massachusetts.
* WHEN…The snow should develop between 10 pm and 2 am Tuesday morning. Snow continues on Tuesday impacting the morning commute. Snow will diminish in intensity Tuesday afternoon and may even mix with or change to rain near the coast. In addition…temps rising above freezing will likely limit the impact for the Tuesday afternoon commute.
* IMPACTS…Travel could be very difficult. The Tuesday morning commute is our biggest concern.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS:

Slow down and use caution while traveling.




Snowy, Messy and Wet Weather in Store for Greater New Bedford and Fall River Next Week

Thus far the 2022-2023 winter season has been pretty tame precipitation (snow) wise and while we did have a week of sub zero frigid temps we really cannot complain too much. Mother nature has decided that we’re going to see a bit of the white stuff before its all said and done so we’re keeping any eye on a storm front moving into area Monday night into Tuesday morning that COULD bring us 4 to 5 inches of rain. The good news is that temps will immediately rise and turn it to rain and then warm up on Wednesday which should melt most of it. However for a 24 to 36 hour period its going to messy on the roads and we’ll have wet snow to shovel.

Here is the current weekend forecast through mid-week:

Sunday, cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 42F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph

Monday, A mix of clouds and sun early, then becoming cloudy later in the day. High near 40F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.

Monday Night 02/27
Periods of snow. Low near 30F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 90%. 3 to 5 inches of snow expected.

Tuesday, Rain and snow in the morning. The rain and snow will change to rain showers in the afternoon. High around 40F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Tuesday Night 02/28. Rain showers early with mostly clear conditions later at night. Low around 30F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.




Sharing the Love: Mass Care Link Helps Fuel Families with Feeding America Partnership

Fall River Home Care Service Provider Pledges Continued Donations for Every Member Served

Moving forward Mass Care Link will be doing even more to help families in Fall River and beyond. The Bay state-based adult foster homecare service provider already helps Massachusetts residents receive the money and support they need to care for loved ones at home. Now with each additional member enrolled, Mass Care Link will donate the equivalent of 100 meals to nationwide hunger-relief organization Feeding America.

With ten years providing payment and support for adult foster care recipients and their caregivers, Mass Care Link was looking for a way to expand on their mission. “By supporting residents looking to care for their loved ones at home, Mass Care Link has always worked to keep families together,” explains Mass Care Link Chief Executive Officer, Tara Araujo. “We are partnering with Feeding America to make sure our neighbors can stay safe and healthy at home thanks to their nationwide network of foodbanks and meal delivery services.”

Mass Care Link has donated the equivalent of 1,000 meals to Feeding America so far. Their goal for the year is 10,000 meals total. As they continue to expand their mission of helping families, Mass Care Link remains dedicated to supporting home-care providers looking after their loved ones with resources, nursing services, and access to financial assistance.

“We come from the communities we care for and we have all seen the impact that food insecurity can have on the health of fellow Massachusetts residents,” continues Araujo. “We look forward to helping Feed America with the fight against hunger.”

About Feeding America

Feeding America® is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States and supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security; brings attention to the social and
systemic barriers that contribute to food insecurity in our nation; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Visit www.feedingamerica.org.

About Mass Care Link

Founded in 2013, Mass Care Link helps support MassHealth recipients who want to care for their elderly or disabled loved ones at home through nursing services, training, and access to financial compensation. Headquartered in Fall River, MA but serving the whole state of Massachusetts, Mass Care Link’s network of nurses and care managers help members, and their caregivers stay healthy at home. Find out more at https://masscarelink.org/.




Should I Get Solar Panels?: A Quick Guide To Buying Solar Panels For Your Home

As homeowners across the Southcoast continue to receive rising electricity bills every month, the search for a way to save on those bills has increased as well. A common answer for these homeowners looking to save is switching to solar power. Before making the switch, there are a lot of important questions to answer like “What are the best solar companies in MA?” and “What are the benefits of Massachusetts solar?”.

We had our friends over at Isaksen Solar outline the truth about solar panels.

Benefits of Purchasing Solar Panels

Monthly Savings On Your Electricity Bills

The biggest motivator for homeowners to switch to solar is seeing an immediate savings in their next monthly electricity bill once they are installed. Across the country electricity prices continue to rise at historic rates. This is why solar in Massachusetts has become so popular. As of February 2022, Massachusetts has the 4th highest electricity rates in the country. Rhode Island solar panels are also popular as they have the 5th highest electricity rates. Homeowners looking for ways to save money have found solar panels are an efficient solution that creates long-term savings.

Instead of paying the local electricity company for your energy supply you are supplying your own energy from your roof or ground mount solar panels. Your solar panel installation will create enough energy to cover your monthly electricity usage so you no longer need to pay your energy provider for their energy. This means the constantly increasing electricity bill you have will now be delivered with ‘No Payment Due’ and in some cases adding credits to your account for overproduction!

Lifetime Of Financial and Environmental Savings
With solar panels those monthly savings turn into lifetime savings and a meaningful contribution to helping the environment. By creating your own energy through purchasing solar panels, you avoid paying rising electricity rates that change with the price of natural gas. In most cases, you pay a locked-in rate or loan fee for the lifetime of your solar panels. In 2022, the average price of electricity rose 7.5% from 2021, which meant more expensive electricity bills. With solar in Massachusetts, every-time the price increase that is additional savings for your household since your price stays the same. Once your solar panels are paid off, your electricity is completely free.

Over the 25 year lifetime of solar panels that could equal $60,000 in savings. The additional benefit to buying solar panels is the reduction of CO2 emissions since you no longer rely on natural gas. One solar panel can offset have the same CO2 offset as planting 10 mature trees. For the average home that produces 7,000 Watts of solar power, this is the same as planting 180 trees a year. For this reason solar panels is the most significant way to decrease your carbon footprint without disrupting your current way of life.

Option To Lease Solar Panels or Purchase Solar Panels
How much money you will save on your solar panels depends on your choice to lease or buy solar panels. If you lease your solar panels then you will not have any upfront cost. Instead of paying a large sum upfront, you get panels on your roof and a locked in monthly payment. This monthly payment will be less than your current electricity bill. However, leasing solar panels can open the door for increased payments in the future if your lease agreement forces you to pay for increases in electricity rates as the price of energy increases.

When you purchase solar panels there is an upfront cost which is usually paid for with a loan or cash. However, the total cost of solar will be offset by solar incentives. There are both federal solar tax credits and Massachusetts solar incentives available. These programs will decrease the total cost of solar panels and increase your savings each month and over the lifetime of your solar panels. When leasing solar panels, homeowners do not qualify for these incentives or the ability to create credits which adds up to a lot of added money over the lifetime of your solar panel installation.

How Much Do Solar Panels Cost?
Every home solar panel installation is unique. There are a lot of factors that go into determining how much solar panels will cost you. The key factors are how much energy you use, how many panels your home can support, whether you lease vs buy solar panels and what solar incentives you qualify for. The only way to know the price you will pay to install solar panels will be to get a solar quote. At Isaksen Solar, we quote solar for your home at your consultation free of charge.
Truth About Solar Panels

We understand buying solar panels can be a major decision for homeowners. That is why the most important part of installing solar panels should be to find the best solar companies in MA and RI. A search of “solar companies near me” is a good starting point. The goal for every homeowner should be to find a solar company they trust. Whether its MA solar or RI solar panels, where to buy solar panels is an important question to answer. At Isaksen Solar, we aim to make the home solar panels process as simple as possible and answer all your questions. Get a quote from Isaksen today: https://isaksensolar.com/get-a-quote/




PACE, Inc. is Hiring for a Community Health Worker in Greater New Bedford

PACE is looking for candidates with the following qualifications and skills to educate and support families of lead poisoned children:

· High School Diploma or GED.
· Bi-lingual in Spanish required.
· Prior community advocacy and outreach experience with an interest in working and advocating for families; home visiting experience preferred.
· Must possess strong written and verbal communication skills.
· Ability to collaborate with our case management team.
· Understands and respects confidentiality of families and records.
· Valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle for home visits in a wide service area.
· Must be able to climb stairs, bend, stand and walk sporadically throughout the work day and drive for at least two (2) hours.
· Must be able to pass a background check.

The Community Health Worker will be responsible for conducting home visits to families of lead poisoned children; ability to assess needs of families to identify resources and access services. Will be working independently in homes under conditions such as noise, pets, and smoking.

To learn more about the program visit us at: www.paceinfo.org and click on the “Programs” tab.

SALARY: $20.00 per hour, 15 hours per week, 52 weeks per year

P.A.C.E. is an AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

How to Apply:
E-mail a cover letter, resume, and the name of the position you are applying for to: hrjobapplications@paceinfo.org no later than: Friday, February 17, 2023




Five Tips To Prevent Your Pipes From Freezing

With the cold weather upon us its inevitable that this situation is going to happen to one of our readers. There are several things you can do to avoid a costly and messy situation:

1. Drain outside water lines

Water lines in unheated or un-insulated areas are the most at risk for freezing. Turn off your outside faucet lines to the hose.

2. Keep the heat on

Keep the temperature in your house above 21 oC, particularly during extreme cold. Many of us turn the heat down at night to save energy, but it’s best to avoid this when very cold temperatures are in the forecast. You can save yourself a costly water damage repair and insurance claim.

3. Keep a tap dripping!

Pipes can burst when water freezes and then expands. Water won’t freeze as easily if it’s running. When the weather is bitterly cold outside, leave a cold water tap dripping—the bathtub faucet is probably best. If notice the water pressure dropping, it’s a sign your pipes are starting to freeze.

4. Keep interior doors open and garage doors closed

To make sure heat circulates freely, keep bathroom doors open. If you have water pipes in your garage, keep the garage doors closed to prevent freezing.

5. Think prevention… if you’re going away this weekend.

No one wants to come back from vacation to a flooded house, so prep your home before you leave for a long period of time:

Turn off the water main to drain the water pipes.
Starting at the top floor of the house, turn on all the taps and flush the toilets.
Drain your hot water tank—turn off the inlet valve, attach a hose to the tank drain and run the water into the basement floor drain.
Unhook your washing machine hoses and drain them.
Ask a friend to check on your house—your home insurer might require this.
Keep the heating set to a temperature only a few degrees lower than usual.
Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors, as well as closet and attic doors, so warmer air can circulate.

Extra steps you can take to prevent damage

Move exposed pipes
Be sure to Ask a professional to relocate exposed pipes to protect them from freezing, especially if you’ve had issues with frozen pipes in the past.

Insulate pipes
Insulate water pipes in unheated areas of the house, like the basement, garage and attic. Insulated pipes help reduce heat loss and keep water from freezing when temperatures drop. Doing this can also help cut your heating bill.

Thawing frozen pipes

Despite your best efforts, your pipes can freeze during an exceptionally cold spell. If you turn on your taps and only a trickle of water comes out, or the water pressure suddenly drops, you might have a frozen pipe. Here’s what to do:

Shut off the main water valve.
Warm the frozen pipes with a hair dryer, heating pad or portable space heater. Don’t use a blowtorch—it could damage plastic pipes or cause a fire.
If you can’t reach the frozen pipe, or it won’t thaw, call a licensed plumber.
Keep the nearest faucet turned on while treating a frozen pipe. As it melts, water will begin to flow through the faucet.
Check the other faucets in your home—if one pipe freezes, others might too.
Before turning on the water again, check for broken or damaged pipes—when in doubt, call a plumber. Better to spend a little money making sure everything is alright than risk more damage to your home.
If you do have water damage, call your insurance company.