This morning at about 1:00 a.m., State Police responded to a 2 car crash on Route 93 Southbound, north of Exit 5 in Braintree which claimed the life of a Taunton woman.

Preliminary investigation by Trooper Colin McKelligan indicates that a 2003 Buick Rendezvous was traveling on Route 93 Southbound when, for reasons still under investigation, the operator lost control of the vehicle, causing it to crash into the guardrail before coming to rest in the right travel lane. The operator exited her vehicle and was standing behind it when a 2005 Nissan Altima, which was traveling southbound, struck the Buick, pushing it into the operator.

The operator and sole occupant of the Buick, a 29-year-old Taunton woman, was pronounced deceased at the scene. The operator and sole occupant of the Nissan, a 20-year-old Brockton woman, was transported to Boston Medical Center for treatment of serious injuries.

The cause of this crash remains under investigation with assistance from the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, Crime Scene Services Section, Troop H detectives, and Troopers assigned to the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office. No charges have been filed at this time.

The identity of the deceased is being withheld pending family notification.

Members of the New Bedford narcotics unit took 43 grams of cocaine off the street and made an arrest for trafficking following an investigation into a cocaine distribution service out of 44 Stowell St. Apt. 2.

Police executed a search warrant at the address and discovered 43.5 grams of cocaine, packaging materials, a digital scale and cash.

Rodney D. Hollis Jr., 28, of 44 Stowell St. Apt. 2, New Bedford, was charged with trafficking in cocaine. He was arrested 9:38 p.m. Thursday, June 14.

Judge Thomas McGuire held Hollis on $2,000 bail. The district attorney’s office requested $10,000 bail.

His next court date is July 27.

As always, click on the title for more or detailed information on the event. Most of the events were pulled from our event calendar where you can find hundreds of local area events each month. The event calendar is FREE, so if you are a local business, and not taking advantage of FREE publicity, shame on you! Are you a local business and want to sponsor this high traffic, weekend guide?

Contact info@newbedfordguide.com for more details. Have an event to add? Add it here. Know of another event this weekend? Post a reply!

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Friday, June 15th

Playing for Paws (Middleborough) (6:30pm-8:30am)
You don’t want to miss this musical night comprised of live and local acts. Light refreshments will be served. Three Nichols Middle School students will be hosting a musical event at Central United Methodist Church. This event benefits the Middleboro Animal Shelter. Please bring a donation for the shelter. This could be dog food, cat food, pet toys, kitty litter, wood shavings or hay to name a few. The price of admission is your donation! Central United Methodist Church, 14 School St., Middleborough.

Pub6T5 presents “Batteries Not Included” (9:00pm-1:00am)
Performing songs from the hitmakers of the past 6 decades including Maroon 5, Rihanna, Katy Perry, Neon Trees, Jason Aldean, Taylor Swift, John Mayer, Bon Jovi, Jimmy Eat World, Justin Timberlake, Stevie Wonder, O.A.R., Gavin DeGraw, Michael Jackson, Semisonic, Jason Mraz, The Black Crowes, Bryan Adams, Kid Rock, One Republic, Neil Diamond, The Killers, Duran Duran, Billy Idol, Free, Billy Joel, Elton John, The Contours, and many more! 736 Ashley Blvd, New Bedford, MA.

BS Blues Review at the Bar (9:00pm-1:00am)
Come on down people for some good music some great food and great socializing! Hendrix… Stevie Ray Von…Robin Trower…. classic rock!!!! Special guests ” The Stumblers” good times ..great place!!! C’mon down, have some fun! The Bar, 266 Dartmouth St, New Bedford.

Saturday, June 16th

Acushnet Farmers Market at Stone Bridge Farm (10:00am-2:00pm)
The Acushnet Farmer’s Market at Stone Bridge Farm invites you to come checks an amazing assortment of vendors this season! Stop by, rain or shine to check out all the local vendors! Saturdays: 10:00am-2:00pm, June through September. Located at: 186 Leonard St, Acushnet, Massachusetts.

Edaville Family Theme Park Activities (10:00am-5:00pm)
Come RIDE, ROAR, and EXPLORE at the exciting world of Edaville! With 3 PARKS IN 1, you can ride through Cran-Central, roar throughout Dino Land, and explore with Thomas & Friends through the magical Island of Sodor! Admission includes all rides & attractions. MA/RI Residents save up to $7 per date-specific ticket online only. Restrictions apply. Discount applied after applicable billing address entered. Edaville Family Theme Park, 5 Pine St. Carver.

FREE: Native American Sobriety PowWow (Dighton) (10:00am-5:00pm)
Native American Sobriety PowWow- Native Drums, Intertribal Dancing, Traders, Native Food, Sobriety Staking Ceremony, and Recovery Meeting. Free admission, All Welcome. Rain or Shine. Behind Dighton Town Hall, 979 Somerset Ave, Rte. 138, Dighton, MA.

7th Annual Wine, Cheese, & Chocolate (Westport) (11:00am)
Your chance to get ALL 14 Coastal Wine Trail Wineries under 1 roof! Taste 56 different wines, while browsing through local artistans sampling a variety of cheeses, chocolates, and more!! Westport Fairgrounds, 200 Pine Hill Rd., Westport.

Liberty & Union Walking Tour (11:00am-12:00pm)
Come walk our free, one-hour guided tour of Historic Downtown Taunton. This one-mile walking tour highlights many of the important architectural, cultural, and commercial sites between Church Green and Taunton Green. A great way to learn about the city, from its earliest days through the present, these tours are the third Saturday of every month, May through October. We always start on the front steps of the OCHM. Old Colony Historical Society, 66 Church Green, Taunton.

Clam Jam BBQ & Corn Hole Tournament (Rehoboth) (4:00pm-8:00pm)
Save the Date! Greenlock is throwing a party! We will be upping our game this year for our Annual Fundraiser- We are holding a Clam Jam BBQ & Corn Hole Tournament. There will be food, live music, and all kinds of activities, including a Corn Hole Tournament for cash prizes! Food from B & M Catering. Greenlock Therapeutic Riding Center, 59 Summer Street, Rehoboth.

OFF BROADWAY presents “Into the Woods” at the Zeiterion (7:00pm)
Off Broadway School of Dance returns to the Zeiterion Theatre stage for its annual performance with “Into the Woods”. This production is a rental of The Zeiterion Performing Arts Center. If you are interested in renting the theater, lobby or Member Lounge for a performance, event, meeting or conference, please contact Justin LaCroix at jtlacroix@zeiterion.org.

Pub6T5 presents “Summer Sessions” w/ DJ Adam DeMelo (9:00pm-1:00am)
Top 40, Reggaeton, dance, disco, and more. Call for reservations: 508.995.6065. 736 Ashley Blvd, New Bedford, MA.

“Ageless” at the Bar (9:30pm-1:00am)
A classic ”Classic Rock Band” consisting of three onstage veteran musicians who have spent the last 30 plus years perfecting their talents. Performances are a collection of musically powerful selections that not only showcase the music but a visual experience as well. Using a full professional sound system, and a complete professional lighting company (T-Dog Pro Lighting), they will provide an unforgettable “Power Trio” experience that will bring down the house. The Bar, 266 Dartmouth St, New Bedford.

Sunday, June 17th

FREE New Bedford Adult Wellness Program (9:00am-1:15pm)
Free wellness programming for all levels. Open to the public. See poster for full details.

FREE: Native American Sobriety PowWow (Dighton) (10:00am-5:00pm)
Native American Sobriety PowWow- Native Drums, Intertribal Dancing, Traders, Native Food, Sobriety Staking Ceremony, and Recovery Meeting. Free admission, All Welcome. Rain or Shine. Behind Dighton Town Hall, 979 Somerset Ave, Rte. 138, Dighton, MA.

Edaville Family Theme Park Activities (10:00am-5:00pm)
Come RIDE, ROAR, and EXPLORE at the exciting world of Edaville! With 3 PARKS IN 1, you can ride through Cran-Central, roar throughout Dino Land, and explore with Thomas & Friends through the magical Island of Sodor! Admission includes all rides & attractions. MA/RI Residents save up to $7 per date-specific ticket online only. Restrictions apply. Discount applied after applicable billing address entered. Edaville Family Theme Park, 5 Pine St. Carver.

Sunday Night Karaoke at PUB 6T5 (5:00pm-9:00pm)
Join us for Karaoke on Sunday nights from 5-9pm. Hosted by Mario Figueirido. 736 Ashley Blvd, New Bedford, MA.

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Want to sponsor this weekend guide? Contact info@newbedfordguide.com for more details.

Meet Jenny A. Liscombe-Newman, 39-year-old artist and co-owner of TL6 The Gallery. Jenny grew up in Holliston, MA and didn’t realize she wanted to pursue art until a friends mother introduced her to jewelry making in high school. She took some adult education classes to start preparing a portfolio for college and before she knew it, was a freshman at UMass Dartmouth in the Jewelry/Metalsmithing program.

She fell in love with New Bedford, deciding to make it her home after completing school. It was before her senior year that her and her best friend, Arianna Swink, made a pact to open a studio if Arianna didn’t end up at the graduate school she was pursuing. Being turned off by the atmosphere of the school, Arianna stayed in New Bedford and began her journey with Jenny.

Jenny and her now business partner branded themselves under the title Tenacious Lilly, and began crafting their jewelry in a basement studio, selling their wares at home parties and consignment gift shops across the state. After outgrowing their studio, they moved into a space at The White Knight Gallery, now known as TL6 The Gallery. During the recession, the shop owners decided that they weren’t going to continue operation, so Jenny and Arianna took over the shop and re-conceived it to be the gallery it is today, focused on representing local artists while continuing to carry a few hand made retail lines.

Since opening their William Street Shop, Jenny has had the pleasure of meeting so many talented local artists, even assisting 5 students with internships in the store. Not only have they taken on interns, but have helped raise money for a former artist of theirs who was going to be getting a serious medical procedure and collected animal food for a local pet shelter.

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Faces of New Bedford is a project by Colton Simmons. If you are interested in booking a shoot or getting prints from the series email all inquiries to colton@coltonsimmons.com.

Read more of the Faces of New Bedford series here.

In July, 2017 the Swansea Police Department along with other departments had several vehicles broken into. Through investigation, officers identified Marcellino Alves, 60, of 97 Willis St, New Bedford, MA as the suspect. Alves was charged with these crimes and did not show up for court. Default warrants were issued for Alves.

Over the last few months Alves has been on an interstate crime spree breaking into vehicles. Alves was identified as the suspect in breaking into 6 vehicles in Swansea as well as multiple in Seekonk, Dartmouth, North Attleboro and Bristol, RI. Alves had 9 active warrants in Massachusetts and 6 in Rhode Island for his arrest and failure to appear.

“Be on the Lookout” (BOLOS) were distributed throughout the region to be on the lookout for Alves and the vehicle he was suspected of driving. On June 13 Dartmouth Police Off. Kevin DaCosta, while off-duty, spotted Alves on Rt. 195 and was able to notify area officers of the vehicles location. Detectives with the South Eastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Counsel (SEMLEC) from Swansea, Seekonk and Mattapoisett involved in investigating these crimes were able to identify a location in New Bedford where Alves was living.

On June 14, 2018 at 10:45 am Alves was taken into custody, outside his home at 97 Willis St. in New Bedford. During the arrest officers discovered suspected stolen property from car breaks they had been investigating. Participating in the investigation were: Swansea Detective Keith Chomka and Patrolman Jared Ulak, Seekonk Detectives David Mahoney, Nicholas Peterson, Charles Mello and Mattapoisett Detective Scott Leblanc.

Alves was booked by Swansea Police and transported to Fall River District Court for arraignment.

A 45-year-old Taunton man who attacked an American Staffordshire Terrier with a machete last year and while doing so, also injured the dog’s owner, pleaded guilty this week to animal cruelty and assault charges in Fall River Superior Court, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

Thomas Vargas pleaded guilty a two-count indictment charging him with animal cruelty and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

On September 18, 2017, the dog’s owner was walking her dog, Baby Bear, down the Church Street in Taunton when the defendant approached them with a machete and stabbed the dog twice. As the Defendant was trying to strike the dog, he hit the dog owner in the leg. Two independent civilian witnesses said the attack was unprovoked by the dog and that the defendant was the sole aggressor. They also told police the dog, who has survived the attack, was leashed prior to the attack.

After pleading guilty to the indictment, a sentencing hearing was held before Judge William F. Sullivan during which time Assistant District Attorney Patrick Driscoll argued that due to the defendant’s lengthy criminal record and the lawlessness involved in the daylight attack on an animal and its owner, the defendant should serve three-and-a-half years in state prison. The defense, however, requested a more lenient two-and-a-half year county jail sentence, with six months to serve and the balance of the sentence suspended for two years.

Judge Sullivan handed down a sentence in line with the defendant’s request, sentencing Mr. Vargas to two-and-a-half years in county jail, with only six months to serve. The balance of the sentence was suspended for two years, meaning if the defendant is charged with new crimes during that time period, he could be forced to serve the remainder of the two-and-a-half year county jail term. The judge also ordered the defendant to wear a GPS monitoring device for the next six months.

The defendant’s criminal record consists of a 2015 conviction on an assault and battery in Attleboro, a 10 year federal commitment on a drug case in 1997, a three to five year state prison sentence for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and several other crimes.

“This defendant showed no respect for the law by attacking a dog and its owner in broad daylight on a city street,” District Attorney Quinn said. “His lawlessness is not surprising based on his significant criminal history. He should have been ordered to serve more jail time, but at least there is some accountability.”

The New Bedford Symphony Orchestra is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2018 Lillian B. Lamoureux Scholarships.

This year’s $1,000 senior scholarship winner is baritone Orlando Montalvo Avalo, a vocal performance major at Rhode Island College who plans to use his scholarship award to defray the cost of his fall 2018 semester abroad at Accademia Europea di Firenze where he will pursue his love of opera.

This year’s $1,000 junior scholarship winner is classical guitarist Thatcher Harrison of Dartmouth who plans to use his scholarship award to offset costs of applying to college music programs, including live on-campus auditions, where he intends to major in classical guitar performance and composition.

“We are pleased to present Orlando and Thatcher with this year’s Lamoureux Scholarship awards,” said NBSO President & CEO David Prentiss. “These talented young men are deserving of our support as they continue their studies in music, and we are thrilled to help them on their way to their professional careers in music.”

The scholarship, established in 2000, continues to recognize the legacy of Lillian B. Lamoureux by supporting young musicians who intend to pursue music education. Lamoureux was a longtime president and board member of the NBSO as well as President Emerita. The scholarship competition is open to all music students ages 14-21 and may be used for private music lessons, tuition, or other expenses that further the student’s music education.

The NBSO is a professional orchestra that annually presents a concert series of classical and pops music with prize-winning guest artists from around the world, as well as a chamber music series. In addition, the NBSO’s innovative and nationally recognized educational programs reach 25,000 students each year. The NBSO is dedicated to building a community of music in the South Coast. Visit www.nbsymphony.org for more information.

Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, announced that a “Sobriety Checkpoint” will be implemented by the Massachusetts State Police on a Public Way in Bristol County between Saturday, June 23, 2018 into Sunday, June 24, 2018.

The purpose is to further educate the motoring public and strengthen the public’s awareness to the need of detecting and removing those motorists who operate under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs from our roadways. It will be operated during varied hours, the selection of vehicles will not be arbitrary, safety will be assured, and any inconveniences to motorists will be minimized with advance notice to reduce fear and anxiety.

The City of New Bedford and Jeff Costa, a personal trainer in yoga, fitness and meditation, once again invite the public to ‘Meditate in the Park,’ a program running Friday afternoons from June 15 through August 17. Last summer, Costa and the City launched the program to promote wellness for residents and employees alike.

Each Friday from June 15 through August 17, Costa will host the program at the park at Custom House Square from 4:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. In case of rain, the meditation program will move indoors to the Co-Creative Center, 137 Union Street (across Barkers Lane from Custom House Square).

The public is invited to the twenty-minute sessions of quiet and community, an opportunity to unplug at the end of the week. The City has partnered with Costa to offer the program to residents and the Department of Personnel has reached out to City employees with information on this program, which has been incorporated into the overall wellness program offered to employees.

“Studies suggest that many stress-aggravated conditions – anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, heart disease, sleep disorders, and more – may be helped by the simple practice of meditation,” said Costa. “Research also suggests the existence of a ripple effect of well-being in the surrounding environment when people meditate together as a group.”

Costa is a highly respected retreat leader, teacher trainer, group instructor and personal trainer in yoga, fitness, and meditation. He also serves on the New Bedford Human Relations Commission and is a proud resident of downtown New Bedford.

On June 3, preceding the Bishop Stang High School graduation exercises, the 22nd annual Alumni Medal Ceremony took place in the school’s Chapel of the Annunciation. Thirty-nine members of the Class of 2018 received the Alumni Medal, with two graduates representing the third generation of Spartans. Since 1997, 604 sons, daughters, and grandchildren of alumni have been honored.

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Bishop Stang High School

Our mission: Bishop Stang High School is a Catholic, college-preparatory school called to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ by “making known the goodness of God.” We holistically educate a diverse student body in a respectful, nurturing and disciplined environment. Our school family inspires young people to excel in learning and life through growth in faith, integrity, knowledge and service.

To learn more about Bishop Stang High School, visit us at www.bishopstang.org , follow us on Twitter and Instagram @BishopStangHS, and find us on Facebook at Bishop Stang High School.