“BOSTON – The co-owner of a Mattapan plumbing and heating supply company pleaded guilty today to filing false tax returns in connection with a scheme to use millions of dollars of unreported business receipts to buy gold bars.

Claudio Poles, 78, of Dorchester, pleaded guilty to four counts of filing false tax returns. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for Aug. 9, 2024. Poles was charged on April 30, 2024.

Poles failed to accurately disclose the company’s gross business receipts to its tax preparer, who prepared the company’s tax returns using the false information Poles provided. Poles then used some of the unreported gross receipts to purchase more than $10 million of gold and silver bars for himself from bullion dealers. To conceal the nature of the purchases he made from the company’s bank accounts, Poles described the purchases, in the memo section of the checks, as being for boilers, materials, and plumbing and heating supplies.

Between 2019 and 2022, Poles falsely and fraudulently reported losses on his individual tax returns and omitted personal income that he received from the business by purchasing the gold and silver bars.

The charge of filing false tax returns provides for a sentence of up to three years in prison, up to one year of supervised release and a fine of $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 and Harry Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mackenzie A. Queenin of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.”-Massachusetts Department of Justice.

“Westport Fire and surrounding communities responded to a barn fire on Sodom Road this morning shortly after 0700.

Car 1 and Engine 3 arrived within 5 minutes of notification and found heavy smoke and fire rapidly spreading throughout the loft area of the entire structure. There were multiple exposures surrounding the barn, including the family home. Challenged by a lack of initial staffing and water supply, firefighters worked quickly to protect exposures, and thankfully, the fire was contained in the building of origin.

Mutual aid tankers and engines from Little Compton, Tiverton, and Dartmouth Fire District 3 were quickly called to the scene to assist with water supply and staffing. A fill site was secured at the Adamsville pond, and tankers shuttled water back and forth from the fill site to the fire scene.

Westport Highway Surveyor Chris Gonsalves was in the area and spotted smoke coming from the structure; after calling 911, he notified the property owners, and together, they attempted to remove the livestock in the barn. While several animals were saved by the property owners and firefighters, several, unfortunately, perished in the blaze.

During the incident, Dartmouth Fire District 2 handled a CO alarm on Caroline Way. While department members placed apparatus and equipment back in service, we handled five medical calls between 0930 and 1130.

We thank our mutual aid partners, our EMA/Rehab division, Fall River Special Services, the Westport Police, and E911 dispatchers for their assistance.

Photos courtesy of our department photographer, retired Captain Michael Silvia.”-Westport Fire Department.

Retired Captain Michael Silvia photo.

Retired Captain Michael Silvia photo.

Retired Captain Michael Silvia photo.

Retired Captain Michael Silvia photo.

Retired Captain Michael Silvia photo.

“On April 27, 2024, the City of Everett, Alliance Security, Everett Fire Department, Everett Police Department, Massachusetts State Police, State Police Association for Massachusetts, and Tufts University Department of Public Safety, hosted G.I.R.L.S. Day 2024 in Everett. G.I.R.L.S. stands for Grit, Intelligence, Resilience, Leadership and Strength.

G.I.R.L.S. Day aims to foster meaningful connections between participants and female professionals, providing valuable mentorship and guidance for aspiring young leaders. Through interactive discussions and Q&A sessions, girls will have the opportunity to ask questions, seek advice, and envision themselves as future trailblazers in their chosen fields.

G.I.R.L.S. Day endeavors to forge genuine connections and provide invaluable mentorship and insights for aspiring young leaders.”-Massachusetts State Police.

All photos by the Massachusetts State Police:

“At approximately 2:40 AM on Monday, April 29, 2024, Acton Police requested that Massachusetts State Police patrols out of the Concord Barracks to be on the lookout for a black Audi that had been stolen in their town. Subsequently, Concord Police observed the stolen Audi pull into a parking lot in their town and saw three occupants get out of that vehicle and enter a gray BMW and speed away. Concord Officers pursued the BMW for a short distance before terminating their pursuit.

Meanwhile, Trooper Markery Flerisma, who was on patrol on the midnight shift out of the State Police-Concord Barracks, observed a gray car pass his cruiser at a very high rate of speed on Route 2 east. Trooper Flerisma attempted to catch up to the BMW, which took Exit 127A onto Interstate 95 south. Trooper Flerisma caught up to the vehicle and determined that it was a gray BMW sedan bearing a Massachusetts plate. The Trooper queried that plate and learned that it belonged to a 2008 Honda Pilot SUV, not to the BMW.

Trooper Flerisma activated his lights and siren and attempted to stop the BMW. The operator of the BMW refused to stop and continued to flee at high speed. State Police Troop A Headquarters authorized pursuit of the suspect vehicle and assumed command and control. The pursuit crossed to MSP Troop A into MSP Troop H. Troop H Headquarters took command and control and multiple MSP cruisers began to converge on the area.

A Trooper ahead of the pursuit route deployed stop sticks, which the BMW struck, causing damage to its front driver-side tire. The suspects nonetheless continued to flee on I-95 south before exiting at Exit 23.

When the BMW took the exit, Trooper Flerisma terminated pursuit but moments later observed the suspect vehicle in the median strip, near Neponset Street, where it had come to a stop after striking multiple traffic signs. The three male occupants of the BMW ran from the vehicle into nearby woods.

Multiple MSP and Norwood Police patrols established a perimeter around the wood line and an adjacent residential neighborhood. MSP K9 Unit Trooper Benjamin Siok and his partner Zigo responded to the area to assist in searching for the suspects.

Trooper Siok deployed Zigo from the the off-ramp and the dog soon acquired a scent and tracked up an embankment to the tree line where the suspects had fled. Zigo’s intensity increased the farther up the hill he tracked, and then he continued to pull intensely along a deer fence. Zigo stopped suddenly at a point along the fence that bordered a backyard on Ledgeview Drive and showed intense interest in the backyard. Trooper Siok and Zigo, along with Trooper James Curtain, entered the backyard, and Zigo immediately pulled to a gazebo, which connected to a swimming pool deck, and pressed his nose against the trim along the gazebo floor.

Troopers shined a flashlight on a small crawlspace between the ground and the gazebo floor and observed two of the suspects hiding in that space. Trooper Siok issued commands to surrender or face apprehension by Zigo. Both suspects came out of their hiding space and were taken into custody without incident. They were identified as MICHAEL GONZALEZ, 33, of New Bedford, who was driving the BMW, and ANGEL RODRIGUEZ, 50, of Fall River, one of the passengers.
Zigo was not done yet.

A few moments later, Trooper Siok learned that Ring camera footage from another home in the neighborhood showed another man who tried to enter a motor vehicle parked in the driveway and, when he couldn’t get in, then ran across the street into a stretch of backyards.

Zigo was deployed again and began working those backyards. In one yard he showed a change in behavior and increased excitement as he pulled toward two air conditioning units on the ground between two large bushes. As Zigo approached, a rabbit ran out from one the bushes. Showing great discipline, Zigo paid no attention to the rabbit and remained focused on the bushes and the A/C units. He showed a proximity alert, and Trooper Siok located the third suspect almost completely concealed within one of the bushes.

With Zigo providing cover, Troopers removed that suspect from the bush and took him into custody. That suspect initially gave Troopers a fake name but was eventually identified as YOVANIELL SOSTRE, 29, of Providence. He was the second passenger in the BMW.

The BMW was towed to the State Police-Concord Barracks and inventoried. Troopers located multiple tools, a crowbar, and a black mask inside the car.

The arrestees were booked at State Police-Concord on the following charges.

MICHAEL GONZALEZ:
1. Failure to Stop for Police;
2. Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehicle;
3. Attaching Plates;
4. Operating a Motor Vehicle with a Suspended License, Subsequent Offense;
5. Resisting Arrest;
6. Speeding;
7. Leaving the Scene of a Crash that Caused Property Damage;
8. Disorderly Conduct; and
9. Possession of Burglarious Tools.

ANGEL RODRIGUEZ:
1. Resisting Arrest;
2. Disorderly Conduct; and
3. Possession of Burglarious Tools;

YOVANIELL SOSTRE:
1. Resisting Arrest;
2. Disorderly Conduct;
3. Possession of Burglarious Tools; and
4. Providing a False Name to Police.

The men were arraigned on those charges in Waltham District Court.

The investigation confirmed that the arrestees were the same men who entered the BMW in Concord after exiting and abandoning the stolen black Audi. Acton Police will seek their own charges related to the theft of the Audi and their initial pursuit of it. The registered owner of the BMW is a Rhode Island woman. It does not appear that that vehicle was stolen.
A photo of Zigo and the three suspects’ booking photos are included with this post.”-Massachusetts State Police.

Children’s underwear, diapers, condoms and silicone mold of boy’s buttocks found at residence.

“BOSTON – A Kentucky man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for advertising child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on the dark web.

Scott Allison, 59, of Glasgow, Ky., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to 15 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Allison was also ordered to pay restitution of $100,000. In September of 2023, Allison pleaded guilty to one count of advertisement of child pornography. Allison was initially charged by criminal complaint in November 2021 in the Western District of Kentucky and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston in December 2021.

“Mr. Allison deserves to be behind bars for a very long time. He is a reprehensible cog in market built around the shameful and devastating abuse of innocent children. There is nothing worse. He regularly advertised the sexual abuse and exploitation of kids thinking he wrapped in the cloak of anonymity in his online world. He also possessed literally hundreds of thousands of images exploiting children on his computer. Child pornography is not a victimless crime – it is an all too active marketplace that thrives on real abuse inflicted upon real children. Each time a sexually explicit image or video of a child is viewed, accessed, possessed, received, sent or produced, that child is being re-victimized. Today’s sentence should make that message clear. Our office and our federal, state and local partners will never cease in our efforts to relentlessly pursue those who engage in this market,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy.

“Scott Allison is a predator who used the exploitation of children as currency to further his horrific enterprise. He and others used the perceived anonymity of the dark web as a safe haven from the public and from law enforcement. As Allison and many others have and will find out, the dark web is no match against the will of law enforcement to protect our children,” said Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations in New England.

In April 2021, Allison was identified advertising and posting links to CSAM, including images of boys as young as approximately two years old, via a website on the dark web for which he served as a moderator. Allison used at least two different usernames on various websites on the dark web. On one website, Allison was responsible for moderation of the website, this included greeting and socializing with guests, reviewing messages and images and ensuring the safety and success of the website. During a search of his home in November 2021, an external hard drive plugged into a computer in his bedroom was found to contain approximately 130,000 images and videos of CSAM. Allison also had the content or text of approximately 108,000 posts to child pornography websites saved on his computer. Additionally, a box containing boy’s underwear, diapers and condoms as well as a silicone mold of a boy’s buttocks with partial genitalia were also found during the search.

Acting U.S. Attorney Levy; HSI SAC Krol; Michael A. Bennett, United States Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky; and Rana Saoud, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Nashville made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys J. Mackenzie Duane and Luke A. Goldworm of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.”-Massachusetts Department of Justice.

“BOSTON – A Salvadoran man has pleaded guilty today to unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation.

Melvin Alexander Orellana-Martinez, 54, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien before U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled by the Court.

On eight separate occasions between July 2007 and January 2020, Orellana-Martinez was removed from the United States. Between February 2008 and March 2019, Orellana-Martinez was convicted in California and Texas federal courts on five separate occasions of either illegal reentry or improper entry.

Orellana-Martinez was last deported from the United States on Jan. 14, 2020. Sometime after his January 2020 removal, Orellana-Martinez unlawfully reentered the United States. On Jan. 6, 2023, federal immigration authorities were notified that Orellana-Martinez had unlawfully reentered the United States after he was arrested on unrelated state charges.

The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The defendant will be subject to deportation proceedings upon completion of the imposed sentence. 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 and Todd M. Lyons, Boston’s Field Office Director of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations made the announcement today. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Nagelberg of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.”-Massachusetts Department of Justice.

“BOSTON – A Revenue Agent for the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury in Boston for allegedly filing false personal tax returns for three years.

Ndeye Amy Thioub, 67, of Swampscott, was indicted on three counts of filing false tax returns and three counts of filing false tax returns as an employee of the United States. Thioub was previously arrested and charged by criminal complaint in March 2024.

According to the charging documents, Thioub was hired in 2006 as an Internal Revenue Agent in the IRS Large Business and International Division. As a Revenue Agent, Thioub planned and conducted examinations of tax returns using extensive and specialized knowledge of accounting techniques, practices and investigative audit techniques to examine and resolve various tax issues of individuals and business organizations. As a result of her education, training and experience, Thioub was highly knowledgeable about tax law. In addition, Thioub received yearly training in IRS Employee Tax Compliance, which instructs that IRS employees must comply with their tax obligations, including timely filing accurate tax returns and payment of taxes due.

It is alleged that Thioub filed false personal tax returns for tax years 2017, 2018 and 2019. It is further alleged that, for each year, Thioub filed a false Schedule C claiming a business loss from a purported “import and export” business she claimed to have. As a result, the claimed net loss was carried over to her personal IRS Form 1040s and used to reduce Thioub’s adjusted gross income and ultimate tax liability.

The charge of filing a false tax return provides for a sentence of up to three years in prison, followed by one year of supervised release and a $100,000 fine. The charge of filing a false tax return by an employee of the United States provides for discharge from employment and a sentence of up to five years in prison, followed by one year of supervised release and a $10,000 fine. 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; Harry Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office; and Christopher J. Gust, Acting Special Agent in charge of the U.S. Department of Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Northeast Field Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Kristina E. Barclay of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit is prosecuting the case.

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.

“Just after 5:00 pm on Monday, Freetown Fire Department crews were alerted to a brush fire behind a solar field on Dr Braley Rd.

The fire originated inside the solar field enclosure and extended into the surrounding woods. Several acres burned before crews could fully contain the fire.

While we have had a great deal of rain this spring it only takes a short time for the surface fuels to dry out and burn easily.”-Freetown Fire Department.

Freetown Fire Department photo.

Freetown Fire Department photo.

Freetown Fire Department photo.

Freetown Fire Department photo.

Freetown Fire Department photo.

Defendant allegedly possessed videos files of child sexual abuse material; some depicting children approximately one to eight years old.

“BOSTON – A Lowell man has been arrested for child pornography offenses.

Steven Armando Estrada Ramirez, 21, was charged with receipt and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Estrada Ramirez made an initial appearance in federal court in Boston yesterday.

According to the charging documents, Estrada was identified as a participant in multiple groups on a mobile chat application, in which the primary purpose of the group, is for users share and view CSAM. It is alleged that multiple files located within those chat application groups depicted child pornography. During a search of his residence, Estrada was found to be in possession of a USB drive containing approximately 800 video files, many of which had filenames descriptive of child pornography, and the majority of which depicted child pornography. The files allegedly depicted children who appeared to be approximately one to eight years old.

The charge of receipt of child pornography provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, at least five years and 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 and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Maynard of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

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.

“BOSTON — Governor Maura Healey declared April 3, 2024, as Massachusetts Agriculture Day. As part of the celebration, Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll announced over $3 million in grants to support Massachusetts farmers through programs that improve composting efforts, food safety, cranberry bog restoration, stewardship, and business planning.

Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) Commissioner Ashley Randle also announced the formation and inaugural members of the Massachusetts Agricultural Youth Council. Comprised of high school seniors, the Ag Youth Council will cultivate and foster the next generation of leaders in the agriculture industry in Massachusetts.

Organized by the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation and MDAR, Massachusetts Agriculture Day at the State House celebrates the agricultural industry and gathers farmers, producers, and commodity groups from across the Commonwealth to showcase the richness and diversity of Massachusetts grown products, allowing legislators and officials the opportunity to sample locally produced food and crops and learn more about important issues directly from farmers.

Mass.gove photo.

“This Ag Day we’re celebrating our farmers who work tirelessly throughout the year to grow and produce a diverse, healthy food supply to feed residents across Massachusetts. Last year, I witnessed the resilience of our farmers as they worked to recover from a series of devastating severe weather events,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Our administration stands in support of the agricultural industry and will continue provide farms with resources to increase production and help reduce food insecurity.”

“Strong, flourishing farms contribute so much more than the food that they produce. They catalyze economic benefits that go beyond the agricultural sector,” said Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll. “Providing direct funding to our farmers through these programs ensures our vibrant industry continues to produce the highest quality food. These grants demonstrate our commitment to the agricultural industry and goes a long way to ensuring this sector thrives.”

“These programs showcase our commitment to supporting our farmers at all stages in their businesses,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “Whether just starting out, taking the reins from a previous owner, or working to secure their continued longevity, our MDAR grant opportunities can enhance sustainability for farms.”

Agriculture Youth Council
MDAR selected 12 high school students to serve on the council. The group will meet monthly to discuss agricultural issues, hear from guest speakers from the agricultural industry, learn about the legislative process and workforce development opportunities attend special events and tours, and enhance their professional skills.

The inaugural members of the Agricultural Youth Council are:

• Noorhan Al-Dulaimi – Shrewsbury (Shrewsbury High School)
• Tammy Anderson – Boston (Norfolk County Agricultural High School)
• Susan Barrows – Upton (Nipmuc Regional High School)
• Amanda Cooper – Ipswich (Malden Catholic High School)
• Michaela Jardine-Yeats – Lunenburg (Lunenburg Middle & High School)
• Shayn Jones – New Bedford (Bristol County Agricultural High School)
• Colleen Kielbania – Ipswich (Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical High School)
• Miru Kunst – West Boylston (Norfolk County Agricultural High School)
• Haley-Ann Lynch – Southwick (Smith Vocational & Agricultural High School)
• Brooke Macjewski – Grafton (Norfolk County Agricultural High School)
• Ana Carolina Maloon – Salem (Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical High School)
• Carolinne Rodriguez – Beverly (Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical High School)

“Being a fifth-generation dairy farmer, I was fortunate to have mentors to teach, guide, and empower me. The creation of the Ag Youth Council will go further – in bringing together future Massachusetts agricultural leaders to nurture their skills so that the next generation will have the tools to succeed in this everchanging field,” said MDAR Commissioner Randle. “Our administration is committed to supporting beginning farmers and providing them with resources they’ll need to start and grow an agricultural business. Youth engagement and workforce development is necessary to the future of our state’s agriculture industry, and I look forward to working with this first class of students.”

Grant Funding
MDAR is awarding over $3 million in funding to 74 farms through the Agricultural Composting Improvement Program (ACIP), the Agricultural Food Safety Improvement Program (AFSIP), Cranberry Bog Renovation Grant (CBRG) Program, Matching Enterprise Grants for Agriculture (MEGA) Program, and Stewardship Assistance and Restoration on APRs (SARA) Program. These programs will help to improve and strengthen their operations in the short and long term.

“On the Cape and Islands, our farmers and aquaculturists bolster our local economy and allow residents to access fresh and healthy food,” said Senator Julian Cyr (D – Cape and Islands). “I am thrilled that ten farms on Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard will receive funding through the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources. These monies will ensure food safety, help renovate cranberry bogs, and support the vitality and vibrancy of our coastal agriculture industry.”

The Agricultural Composting Improvement Program (ACIP) funds equipment and projects to improve agricultural composting practices and facilitate the use of compost as a valuable soil amendment on farms. MDAR provides technical assistance to farms conducting agricultural composting and encourages farms to utilize compost as a soil amendment or manure management tool.

The Agricultural Food Safety Improvement Program (AFSIP) allows produce and aquaculture operations to address food safety on their farms. It enables the operations to meet buyer demands, increase local food consumption, and protect public health by reducing food safety risks.

The following are the Agricultural Food Safety Improvement Program grant recipients (Round 1) on the South Coast for 2024:

• Elliot Farm, LLC, Rochester: Harvest & Storage Bins, $11,262.00

• Blue Stream Shellfish, LLC, Fairhaven: Ice Machine; Refrigeration; Shed, $23,620.00

• Round Island Shellfish, Fairhaven: Insulated Vats, $2,744.00

• Orr’s Farmstand, Westport: Washing, Packing, Storage Building w/Walk-In, $50,000.00

• Copper Beech Farm, Inc., Mattapoisett: Ice Machine; Insulated Vat, $7,417.00

The following are the Agricultural Food Safety Improvement Program grant recipients (Round 2) from the South Coast for 2024:

• The Neighborhood Farm, LLC – Westport: Well for Greenhouses, $14,000.00

The Cranberry Bog Renovation Grant Program provides reimbursement to cranberry operations that implement projects that improve both bog design and production while preventing, reducing, or eliminating negative environmental impacts that may occur from cranberry production. By funding these projects, the program enhances the cranberry industry’s overall financial and environmental sustainability.

The following are the Cranberry Bog Renovation Grant Program recipients from the South Coast for FY24:

• Eagle Holt Cranberry Co., Inc., Wareham: Bog Renovation on 11 Acres, $125,000.00

• Beaton’s, Inc., Rochester: Bog Renovation on 2.29 Acres, $57,250.00

• Rocky Maple Bogs, Wareham: Bog Renovation on 5 Acres, $125,000.00

• H.M. Riggle, Rochester: Bog Renovation on 3 Acres, $75,000.00

• Sleepy Hollow Cranberries, Rochester: Bog Renovation on 7 Acres, $99,857.00

• Wilson Cranberry, LLC, Rochester: Bog Renovation on 6 Acres, $63,920.00

The Matching Enterprise Grants for Agriculture Program assists beginning farmers who have been in business for between 1 and 10 years by providing technical assistance (including a mentorship option) and business planning assistance. Grant funds of up to $30,000 may be available on a 1:1 matching cost reimbursement basis to assist farmers whose goal is to raise agricultural products and who are developing their farms into commercially viable operations. Funds are typically used for equipment, infrastructure, or other capital improvements to implement strategies identified during the planning process that will help their business grow.

The following are the Matching Enterprise Grants for Agriculture recipients from the South Coast for 2024:

• Sibling Organic Crops, Lakeville: Tractor, $10,000.00

The Stewardship Assistance and Restoration on APRs Program helps restore active commercial farming on land that has protected through the Department’s Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) program. Funds may be used for materials, contracted labor, or equipment rental costs to clear or reclaim inactive fields that are out of production at no fault of the current owner. Grant funds of up to $35,000 are available on a cost reimbursement basis with a 15% match of total project costs required by the awardee.

The following are the Stewardship Assistance on APRs grant recipients from the South Coast for 2024:

• Slocum King Farm Inc., South Dartmouth: Clearing of field edges of invasive plants, repairing of rock walls used with electric fencing as part of grazing system for small herd of beef cattle, $20,102.50

• The Lewis Family Farm, Westport: Clearing of field edges and overgrown hedgerows to return underutilized land to fully productive pasture for beef herd, $35,000.00