As we approach the celebration of our Nation’s beginnings 244 years ago, we must consider where we are now. The statement below, shared by Laura Pires-Hester, past Chairwoman of the Ernestina Commission and Julius Britto, President of Schooner Ernestina-Morrissey Association, reflects on Ernestina-Morrissey’s place in history, and her place in the present and in the future.

An Open Moment
Most Americans today would agree that this is a momentous period for us—as individuals, as a country, and as a people. We have seen too many senseless deaths of African Americans, especially African-American males, at the hands of police officers.

While several of these names are now well-known, we have also been reminded of the names of those less well-known or totally forgotten. We have seen how this moment has brought to the forefront our country’s centuries-old “Black/White” challenges, and how the phrase and movement Black Lives Matter has crystallized those challenges. Corporations, community organizations, educational institutions, sports associations, faith leaders and faith-based institutions and others have acknowledged the painful reality of this moment and the need for change, including within their own walls. Some have also declared their own specific action commitments. Different sectors of our society are not only demanding “what must be done” but also resolving “what we will do.”

What does Ernestina-Morrissey have to do with the age of Black Lives Matter? What can this 1894 Gloucester Schooner now being reconstructed to resume active sailing tell us?

Ernestina-Morrissey returned to the state of her birthplace as the extraordinary gift from newly-independent Cabo Verde in 1982, in explicit acknowledgement of the centuries-old ties between the African country and the “people of the United States”. Her return crew, composed of a diverse crew, citizens of Cabo Verde and of the U.S., men and one woman, and led by Cabo Verde’s Captain Marcus Nascimento Lopes, demonstrated and honored the diversity of her history and future.

Over the decades between her birth and repatriation, hundreds of people and organizations played significant roles in her history. Schooner Ernestina-Morrissey is alive today because Black People and White People listened to and learned about each other’s histories, hurts, and aspirations; challenged each other; acknowledged their similarities and differences; and collaborated with each other.

We believe that at this critical moment many are seeking opportunities for bridge-building, boundary-crossing, and more authentic listening to each other, especially toward the goal of building a more just society for all. We believe that Ernestina-Morrissey’s return to sailing can help provide such opportunities, especially for young people of all ethnicities but also for people of all ages.

This conviction comes not from wishful thinking but from actual experience of utilizing Ernestina-Morrissey as educational platform, cultural ambassador, intercultural and interracial relations educator, youth developer, etc. In the fast-changing environment of 2020 and beyond—with issues of social justice and local and global survival concerns at peak level—Ernestina-Morrissey’s powerful potentials are limitless.

This is a powerful “open moment” in our nation when people from all perspectives and histories are listening to, and hearing, other people and experiences perhaps for the first time. There is much to be done and no one person or entity can do it alone. But everyone and every entity can do a part. We are excited about Ernestina-Morrissey’s sailing again, educating again, bringing people together again, telling her distinguished story again, and playing her part to help unite people of all colors around the world.

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This Project to rehabilitate Schooner Ernestina-Morrissey, the official vessel of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is being supported by a public/private partnership with funds from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, The Lenfest Foundation, the Hildreth Stewart Charitable Foundation, The Manton Foundation, the Community Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts – Mary Morley Crapo Hyde Eccles Fund, the City of New Bedford’s Community Preservation Act Program, the Carney Family Foundation, the Island Foundation, other grants and many individual contributions.

A suburban Boston man was arrested Wednesday and charged with receipt and possession of child pornography. The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the FBI, and the Bourne, Massachusetts, Police Department.

Bryan C. Mileikis, 33, of Bourne, Massachusetts, was charged in a criminal complaint with one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. Mileikis made an initial appearance via videoconference in federal court July 1.

According to the charging documents, on June 11, 2019, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Mileikis’ home and seized an iPhone belonging to Mileikis. A forensic examination of the phone revealed images and videos depicting child pornography.

The charge of receipt of child pornography provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in prison, a mandatory minimum of five years and up to life of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a mandatory minimum of five years and up to life of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Michael Shea, acting special agent in charge of HSI Boston; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, special agent in charge of the FBI Boston Field Division; and Bourne Chief of Police Dennis Woodside made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

This investigation was conducted under HSI’s Operation Predator, an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators. Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 25,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child exploitation material, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children. In fiscal year 2019, more than 3,500 child predators were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative and more than 1,000 victims identified or rescued.

HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196.

Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.

For additional information about wanted suspected child predators, download HSI’s Operation Predator smartphone app or visit the online suspect alerts page. HSI is a founding member of the Virtual Global Taskforce, an international alliance of law enforcement agencies and private industry sector partners working together to prevent and deter online child sexual abuse.

At 1:56 a.m. today Trooper Daniel Santa from the Massachusetts State Police-Tunnels Barracks conducted a motor vehicle stop for a defective headlight on Massachusetts Avenue at Newmarket Square, near the South Bay Shopping Center, and discovered that the vehicle operator did not have a license. As the Trooper prepared to tow the vehicle, two passengers sprinted from the vehicle, with one dropping a loaded handgun.

Troopers Miguel McGovern and Darius McPherson (who just completed his first week on break-in as a new Trooper) quickly ran after one passenger while Trooper Santa ran after the other. Troopers McGovern and McPherson noticed that the man they were chasing was holding something close to his right hip as he ran. After a brief chase the man fell to the ground and gave up. The two Troopers discovered yet another firearm on this suspect. Trooper Santa apprehended the other passenger after a slightly longer pursuit.

Trooper Santa seized a .38 caliber revolver and a 9MM Taurus semi-automatic pistol. Both firearms were fully loaded and had obliterated serial numbers. The driver, AMANI D. PERKINS, 21, of Mattapan, was arrested for unlicensed operation and an equipment violations. The passengers were each arrested for illegal possession of a firearm and sundry other charges related to the recovered weapons. They are identified as KAMIYA SANTOS, 24, of Boston, and MALIK ACHABE RISE, 19, of Roxbury.

The three were expected to be arraigned today through the Roxbury District Court.

Today, at about 11:35 a.m., Troopers from State Police-Milton responded to a crash involving a motorcycle on the ramp from Route 93 Northbound to Route 24 Southbound in Randolph that resulted in the death of the 48-year-old male operator from Walpole.

Preliminary investigation indicates the man operating a 2016 Harley Davidson Electra Glide motorcycle and a 2012 Acura MDX were merging onto Route 24 Southbound. For reasons still under investigation the two vehicles came together and the operator of the Harley Davidson was thrown from the motorcycle. The motorcycle operator was determined to be deceased on scene, as a result of injuries sustained in the crash. The operator of the Acura was uninjured.

The name of the victim will not be released at this time.

Two lanes on the southbound side of Route 24 were closed for approximately four hours.

The crash remains under investigation by Troop H of the Massachusetts State Police along with the Collision Analysis Reconstruction Section, and Crime Scene Services Section, and Norfolk County State Police Detective Unit. Troopers were assisted on scene by MassDOT, Randolph Fire and EMS.

The Traffic Commission reminds motorists using metered parking spaces that enforcement of parking meters resumes Monday, June 29.

Metered parking enforcement was suspended when restaurants and retail stores closed in-person dining and shopping due to the COVID-19 pandemic, until the reopening of indoor dining in New Bedford.

Governor Charlie Baker announced the resumption of indoor dining effective Monday, June 22, and following that announcement metered parking will be enforced beginning next Monday, June 29.

Bishop Stang High School is proud of the accomplishments of our students, and recognizes those students earning Honor Roll distinction. Students on the President’s List have an average 95 or above, and a 90 or above in all courses. Students receiving First Honors have an average 90 or above, and an 85 or above in all courses. Those with Second Honors have an average 85 or above, and an 80 or above in all courses.

The following students from our area are being recognized for their academic achievement at Bishop Stang High School for their performance in the fourth quarter:

Acushnet

President’s List
Mikayla Brightman ’23
Cameron Pereira ’22
Aaron Sylvia ’22

First Honors
Connor Araujo ’21
Ellen Hamel ’21
Kerry Lenihan ’20
Kaitlynn Peirce ’20

Second Honors
Veronica Bernier ’22
Kate Carreau ’23
Matthew Murray ’23
Caden Plante ’23
Jacob Seiders ’22
Kirsten Sumner ’21

Assonet

President’s List
Alexander DiGiammo ’22
Maya Joncas ’20

First Honors
Andrew DiGiammo ’20
Abigail Fernandes ’21
Lindsay Honeycutt ’20
Christopher Marchand ’20
Caitlyn Moore ’20

Second Honors
Madeline Azar ’23

Berkley

Second Honors
Daniel Paquette ’20
Isabelle Paquette ’22
Joseph Paulo ’20

Bristol

President’s List
Samuel Miller ’23

First Honors
Gemma Laroche ’21
Isabella Merritt ’22

Second Honors
Emily Merritt ’20

Dartmouth

President’s List
Aimee Cabral ’22
Isabella Caldwell ’23
Sophie Caldwell ’23
Katia da Silva ’22
Alexander Fernandes ’23
Neda Habboosh ’22
Tyler Hunt ’22
Madeleine Kippe ’22
Jake Landers ’23
Bridget Markey ’23
Iliana Marshall ’23
Ryan Martins ’22
Zachary Moses ’21
Marcus Mourato ’23
Taylor Oliveira ’23
Katherine Patys ’22
Olivia Perriera ’21
Dominic Ridolfi ’20
Julia Rosenberg ’21
Patrick Vescio ’21
Patrick White ’20

First Honors
Judith Bonneau ’22
Olivia Brousseau ’23
John Brum ’23
Aiden Cardoza ’23
Cody Clark ’22
Harrison Costa ’23
Landen Costa ’23
Sierra Da Rosa ’22
Jiniah Dumas ’21
Nicholas Ferreira ’23
Andrew Fortin ’23
Michelle Franco ’23
Ava Gardiner ’23
Harrison Gardner ’23
Steven Gaughan ’23
Emma Gomes ’23
Nicolas Hirschmann ’22
Kassidy Howarth ’20
Caleb Hughes ’20
Joshua Kulpinski ’22
Andrew Magalhaes ’21
Charles Menard ’23
Shawn Mills ’20
Aidan O’Malley ’21
Ava Pacheco ’23
Ella Pacheco ’23
Logan Pianfetti ’21
Benjamin Rocha ’22
Noah Souza ’21
Liam Whelan ’21
Yangyang Zhai ’20

Second Honors
Christian Alves ’21
Liam Baker ’20
Sophia Canastra ’22
Cali Correia ’22
Samuel Costa ’21
Miah Couto ’22
Mason DeAlmeida ’23
Hannah Fortin ’23
Justin Gouveia ’22
Nashwan Habboosh ’21
Drew Kelly ’20
Callista Levy ’23
Gretchen Linhares ’20
Isabella Loranger ’20
Breckenridge Marshall III ’23
Ava Meehan ’23
Aiden Roderick ’22
Makayla Silva ’22
Holly Tetreault ’21
Jackson Tingley Prince ’23
Randall Weeks ’21
Colin White ’21

East Freetown

First Honors
Ismael Ramirez ’21
Second Honors
Kaitlyn Beard ’20
Emma Chausse ’20

Fairhaven

President’s List
Hannah Arede ’20
Julia Clough ’20
Cameron Garde ’20
Aiden Guay ’22

First Honors
Christian Arede ’23
Noah Carreiro ’22
Collin Johnson ’22
Emma Liarikos ’21
Andrew Martin ’23
John-Paul Martin ’21
Luke Massari ’20
Allison Pereira ’22
Trevor Squire ’23
Second Honors
Jennifer Dias ’21
Justin Hankins ’20
Ryan Jones ’23
Khloe Miguel ’23
Francesca Saber ’21

Fall River

President’s List
Alisha Nagpal ’23
Matalin Silvia ’22
Catherine Tetreault ’22

First Honors
Mackenzie Bell ’23
Giovanna Ferrara ’23
Veronica Medeiros ’23
Brendan Resende ’23
Second Honors
Evan Brady ’20
Priamos Koumas ’21
Hailey Nasiff ’20
Sean Reis ’22
Paul Saucier ’20
Molly Timberlake ’21

Lakeville

President’s List
Jillian Sferrazza ’22
Noelle Vincze ’21
First Honors
Naomi Cooper ’22
Aili Ramsden ’21
Tayden Shaw-Nelson ’23
Lily Shields ’22

Second Honors
Alyssa Clarke ’22
Carter Dennis ’23
Julia Govoni ’20
Aislinn Leary ’23
Abigail LeFever ’23
August Pauliks ’20
Lily Wynn ’22

Marion

President’s List
Raquel da Costa ’21
Maeve Egger ’22

First Honors
Fiona Lonergan ’20
Sophie Lynch ’21
Redmond Podkowa ’23
Luke Tougas ’23
Laurenne Wilkinson ’20

Second Honors
Bridget Clavell ’21
Morgan Miedema ’22
Matthew Quinlan ’23
Catherine Russo ’20
Aaron Wilkinson ’20
Nellie Zygiel ’22

Mattapoisett

President’s List
Julia Downey ’23
Kathleen Downey ’20
Liam Downey ’21
Ella Meninno ’21
Hannah Ramalho ’23
Eleanor Senna ’23

First Honors
Chloe Lanagan ’20
Claire Surprenant ’22
Second Honors
Cole Dube ’21
Christopher Gauvin ’21
Lauren Lapointe ’20
Cameron Letourneau ’23

Middleboro

President’s List
Erin Robinson ’22
First Honors
Hayley Devine ’20

New Bedford

President’s List
Rebecca Antonio ’23
Julia Bala ’22
Sarah Barboza ’22
Ryan Barros ’22
Katie Carlisle ’23
Alex Chan ’20
Sydney Demers ’22
Jasmine Duncan ’23
Mackenzie Fillion ’20
Samantha Gonsalves ’22
Thomas Marcotte ’20
Morgan Murphy ’22
Izabel Paiva ’22
Skylar Samanica ’20
Kevin Santiago ’23
Savannah Shea ’23

First Honors
Aryana Abu-Raya ’23
Mikayla Amado ’21
Sophia Babineau ’22
Ashley Benavides ’22
Phoenix Carreiro ’20
Jeremy Carvalho ’21
Kelsey Correia ’23
Elayna Fernandes ’20
Samuel Figueroa ’21
Myles Forgue ’20
Alexia Freitas ’23
Tiana Frias ’20
Michael Golden ’23
Rachel Golden ’21
Francisco Hernandez-Manon ’21
Savannah Kofton ’21
Solange Lima-Soares ’21
Katherin Marcotte ’21
Xavier Markey ’20
Seamus Marshall ’22
Samuel Martin ’23
Zoelle Morrissey ’20
Lilly Oliveira ’21
Sara Pereira ’21
Yoselin Rivas ’21
Ellen Scarano ’21
Luis Vega ’22
Jonathan Wang ’21

Second Honors
Kiera Ackah ’21
Giuliana Amaral ’20
Alee Braga ’22
Cassandra Carola ’20
Angiolina Chessa ’20
Sofia Coholan ’22
Jonathan Dee ’22
Jacob Figueiredo ’21
Carmen Gomes ’20
Xiaoxi Guo ’20
Sariah Hyacinth ’20
Yutong Jin ’20
Aaron Mimoso ’20
Nathan Monteiro ’22
Henri Morrissey ’23
Ashley Rivas ’21
Madeline Rivera Carranza ’22
Myles Rosa ’21
Jacob Wicherski ’23
Myra Wong ’20
Xincong Yu ’20

Rochester

First Honors
Dylan Aguiar ’21
Maxwell Brulport ’21
Briana Pothier ’22

Second Honors
Isaac Ouellette ’21

Somerset

First Honors
David Habboosh ’20
Ashley Reynolds ’22

Swansea

First Honors
Benjamin LeBoeuf ’21

Taunton

Second Honors
Sophia Thomas ’22

Wareham

President’s List
Lavina Burman ’22
Olivia Gowell ’21
Natalie Morrison ’23
Taylor Voner ’21

First Honors
Sarah Baldwin ’20
Liam Cogliano ’21
Zachary DeMarco ’22
Alyssa Farias ’21
Heather Gauvin ’20
Jacqueline Morrison ’21
Grace Motto ’23
Tyler Sylvester ’23

Second Honors
William Byrd ’21
Lily Cogliano ’23
Kyle Farias ’23
Benjamin Gowell ’21
Casey Petronelli ’20

Westport

President’s List
Deirdra Aguiar ’20
Nicole d’Almeida ’20
Holland Erickson ’23
Camille Gendron ’22
Avery Macomber ’20
Christopher Pacheco ’23
Megan Perry ’21
Victoria Raposo ’21
Zoey Reis ’22
Chantel Salem ’23
Katelyn Silva ’23
Samantha Silva ’20
Ellie Sullivan ’22
Quinn Sullivan ’20
Matthew Walsh ’20
William Walsh ’20

First Honors
Yihan Bao ’20
Grace Botelho ’20
Ava Cambra ’23
Luke Cambra ’22
John Campbell ’22
Alexis Cole ’22
Emily DeFreitas ’22
Cristina DeSousa ’23
Taylor DiNardo ’20
Maeve Donaldson ’23
Griffin Ferreira ’21
Gabriel Hall ’20
Hannah Lafrance ’22
Julia Lavoie ’21
Lindsey Leonard ’20
Tongtong Li ’20
Philip Manchester ’21
Caleb Martin ’20
Abigail Morley ’23
Gina Resendes ’20

Second Honors
Andrew Caldera ’23
Emily Costa ’20
Jenna Domagala ’22
Angelina El Khoury ’23
Meghan Ferrarini ’21
Owen Friedrichsen ’23
Clayton Harrison ’22
Sean Hurteau ’23
Emily Kiely ’21
Sophia Lima ’21
John Messier ’20
Aidan Morley ’21
Gabrielle Oliveira ’22
Tyler Resendes ’21
Collin Walsh ’20

Congratulations to these outstanding Students!

The City of New Bedford has roadwork sites for the upcoming week of June 29, 2020 –July 03, 2020 and they are as follows:

Eversource:

Eversource will replace the gas mains at the following locations:

• Kings Hwy – Tarkiln Hill Rd. to Mt Pleasant St.
• Summer St. from Durfee Ct. to Locust St.
• Hill St. from Hillman St. – Mill St.
• Hillman St. from County St. – Pleasant St.
• Cottage St from Parker St – Campbell St

Eversource will be doing final street and sidewalk restoration at various locations city-wide

Other:

• Contractor (PA Landers) to continue drainage work at MassDOT Project #606709, New Bedford- Roadway Reconstruction and Related Work (including signals) along a section of Kings Highway and Tarkiln Hill Road, Construction to take place during regular working hours (Monday – Friday), police details and traffic controls will be in place.
• Department of Public Infrastructure will be filling potholes on a continuous basis throughout the city.
• Contractor (P Gioioso and Son) is scheduled to begin the replacement of the Nelson St. water main between Crapo St. and County St. During working hours Nelson St. may be closed to thru traffic with access by local traffic only. Traffic will be directed to either Jouvette St. or Scott St. Detour signage, police details and traffic controls will be in place.
• Department of Public Infrastructure conducting its annual street sweeping program city-wide.
• The contractor (WES Construction) is scheduled to continue construction of the new pumping station and installation of the site utilities at the Front St./ Elm St. site. Elm St, between JFK Memorial Highway (RTE 18) and Macarthur Dr. will be closed to westbound traffic. Westbound traffic will be detoured via MacArthur Drive. There will be detour signage and traffic controls in place.
• Due to ongoing construction at the High Hill Reservoir residents may experience discolored water. The water is safe, and the discoloration will be temporary. We recommend allowing the water to settle for a few hours and then flushing your service line by letting the bathtub run for a few minutes until the water clears.

** Please note: Contractors will continue to follow guidelines and protocol regarding COVID-19 social distancing while conducting work in construction zone.

Due to the current COVID-19 situation the Department of Public Infrastructure will be closed to the public entry. Office staff is available to assist by email and telephone.

At approximately 8:30 p.m. yesterday Troopers assigned to State Police-South Boston responded to reports of a pedestrian that had been struck by a vehicle on Route 93 northbound in the area of Exit 9 in Milton.

Upon their arrival they located a pedestrian, identified as Tat Segundo, 49, of Mattapan, in the roadway suffering from serious injuries. Emergency aid was rendered prior to him being transported to Boston Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries.

Preliminary information reveals two vehicles were involved in the crash. The first vehicle, a 2014 Honda CRV operated by a 25-year-old female, struck the pedestrian with the passenger side mirror. The second vehicle, a 2007 Dodge Caliber operated by a 30-year-old male, struck the pedestrian with the front bumper of his vehicle.

The exact cause and circumstances of the crash remain under investigation by Troop H of the Massachusetts State Police, Collision Analysis Reconstruction Section, Crime Scene Services, and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Troopers were assisted on scene by MassDOT, Milton Fire and EMS.

Last night around 9:00 pm, a New Bedford police officer was struck on E. Rodney French Blvd. while directing traffic during a traffic stop of another car.

The unnamed male officer was struck by a dark sedan and knocked unconscious. The driver, also a male, stayed on scene until police and emergency personnel arrived.

The officer was transported to Rhode Island hospital. His condition at this time is currently unknown.

Eyewitnesses report that the impact was powerful enough to shatter the windshield.

At this time, the driver is not suspected to have been under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The Boston Police Seek the Public’s Help to Identify Person of Interest in Connection to Death Investigation in the area of 17 Jewish War Veterans Drive in Franklin Park

The Boston Police Department seeks the public’s help to identify the individual pictured below in connection to an ongoing death investigation. Anyone with information relative to this investigation is urged to contact Boston Police Homicide Detectives at (617) 343-4470. Community members wishing to assist this investigation anonymously can do so by calling the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1 (800) 494-TIPS or by texting the word ‘TIP’ to CRIME (27463). The Boston Police Department will stringently guard and protect the identities of all those who wish to assist this investigation in an anonymous manner.

The original facts and circumstances of the incident are as follows: At about 2:47 PM on Sunday, June 14, 2020, officers assigned to District B-2 (Roxbury) responded to a radio call for a found body in the area of 17 Jewish War Veterans Drive in Dorchester.

Upon arrival, officers were directed to a wooded area near the public golf course where they observed the body of a 53-year-old woman who was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause and manner of the victim’s death is still pending per the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.