“19-year-old Lanajah Rivera of New Bedford is a black Hispanic female that has been missing for for approximately 2 months with no leads or information.

If seen or located contact proper authorities as she has been entered into the missing person’s database nationwide. You can call the New Bedford Police Department at 508-991-6350 or police department in your town or city.”-Chakira Gonsalves.

Chakira Gonsalves photo.

“We are excited to announce that we collected 5 full bins of toys to donate to local charities through the Boys and Girls Clubs throughout Massachusetts.

Our staff worked hard putting together this event to bring holiday cheer to those in our surrounding communities. Thank you to all who helped make this possible. Thank you for all the proceeds from Quarters for Christmas.

We delivered all of the toys to the New Bedford Boys and Girls Club this morning.

Happy Holidays from the UMass Dartmouth Police Department. ??”-UMass Dartmouth Police Department.

UMass Dartmouth Police Department photo.

UMass Dartmouth Police Department photo.

UMass Dartmouth Police Department photo.

“During the holiday season, around 25% more waste is produced than usual. Some holiday traditions create waste, but by reusing, recycling, and choosing experiences over things we can reduce waste.

“Residents may have questions about which items can be recycled curbside or at the Recycling Center as well as what to do with their Christmas trees after the holiday. We are sharing this information now to help our residents prepare,” said Jennifer Vieira, Director of Facilities & Fleet Management.

Here are a few tips to help ensure holiday waste ends up in the right place:

• Cardboard: Empty & flatten boxes (cut if necessary); place in recycling cart. Take boxes that are too large for recycling carts to the Recycling Center, 1103 Shawmut Avenue. Recycle boxes from online shopping, gift boxes, and empty pizza boxes! Grease is okay, food is not.

• Empty bottles, cans, jugs, jars, paper, catalogs: Place in recycling cart. Place plain paper greeting cards in the recycling cart. No photo paper, metallic inks, foil, batteries, or glitter.

• Wrapping paper is not recyclable. If you want to be able to recycle your gift wrap, use newspaper, grocery store flyers, paper bags, or packing paper. Give gifts in reusable bags, jars, or tins. Bows and ribbons cannot be recycled, reuse when possible.

• Styrofoam blocks and string lights: Drop off at the Recycling Center. These items do not belong in the curbside recycling carts.

• Sustainable gifts: Consider environmentally friendly gifts such as experiences, digital gift cards, products made of recyclable material, reusable items, or handmade presents. Perhaps you have a cool hobby or vintage item to share or can find a unique gift at a thrift store. Or give the gift of online music lessons (contact the library to borrow a keyboard or ukulele)!

Collection delay: No trash or recycling collection on 12/25/2023 or 1/1/2024. Collection is delayed by one day on those weeks.

After your real Christmas tree has been undecorated, below are options for disposal. Real Christmas trees are chipped and used as beneficial cover at the local Crapo Hill Landfill.

• Christmas tree collection: Capitol Waste Services will pick up real Christmas trees from January 8 to January 12. During this week only, residents may place trees at the curb by 7 a.m. the weekday after trash and recycling collection. Please note, if your trash is usually collected on Friday, Christmas trees will only be collected along your route on Monday, January 8th. If your trash is usually collected on Mondays, Christmas trees will only be collected along your route on Tuesday, January 9th and so on. This is the only week for curbside pickup of real Christmas trees. Please remove all ornaments, stands, lights, and tinsel. Do not place trees in plastic bags. Property owners may be issued a violation notice if trees are placed at the curb any other time or without decorations removed.

• Christmas tree drop-off: Starting on Dec. 26, Christmas trees can be brought to the following locations.

o E Rodney French Blvd., beach parking lot, between Hudson Street & Seymour Street, ends January 12th.

o Brooklawn Park, near Pony League Field, enter at Irvington Street, ends January 12th.

o Recycling Center, 1103 Shawmut Avenue, open Monday, Wednesday, Friday, noon to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Holiday hours:

12/22/23 & 12/29/23: open noon to 5:00 p.m.
12/23/23 & 12/25/23: closed.
12/30/23 & 1/1/24: closed.

For additional tips, visit New Bedford Recycling on Facebook, Instagram, and Nextdoor, or follow @NBRecycling on X. If you have questions, please call the Department of Facilities and Fleet Management at (508) 961-3008 or email trashandrecycling@newbedford-ma.gov.”-Greater New Bedford Regional Refuse Management.

“During the holiday season, around 25% more waste is produced than usual. Some holiday traditions create waste, but by reusing, recycling, and choosing experiences over things we can reduce waste.

“When sharing gifts this holiday season, please make room for new items by donating, selling, or recycling items you no longer need. The reuse or recycling of items will save valuable landfill space, and as an important reminder, please only place the correct materials in recycling carts to keep the recycling program running efficiently. Have a safe and happy holiday season,” said Tim Barber, Director of Public Works.

Here are a few tips to help ensure holiday waste ends up in the right place:

• Cardboard: Empty & flatten boxes (cut if necessary); place in black lid recycling cart. Large boxes can be taken to the Dartmouth Transfer Station. Permit required. Recycle boxes from online shopping, gift boxes, and empty pizza boxes! Grease is okay, food is not.

• Styrofoam blocks and string lights: Clean Styrofoam blocks and string lights can be recycled at the Dartmouth Transfer Station. Permit required. These items do not belong in the curbside recycling carts.

• Dartmouth Transfer Station, 976 Russells Mills Road. Hours: Tuesday & Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.

• Wrapping paper is not recyclable. If you want to be able to recycle your gift wrap, use newspaper, grocery store flyers, paper bags, or packing paper. Give gifts in reusable bags, jars, or tins. Bows, ribbons, and string cannot be recycled, reuse when possible. Place plain paper greeting cards in the black lid recycling cart. No photo paper, metallic inks, foil, batteries, or glitter. Place empty bottles, cans, jugs, and jars in the gray lid cart.

• Sustainable gifts: Consider environmentally friendly gifts such as experiences (online music or dance lessons), digital gift cards or subscriptions, products made of recyclable material, reusable items, or handmade presents. Perhaps you have a cool hobby or vintage item to share or can find a unique gift at a thrift store.

Collection delay: No solid waste or recycling collection on 12/25/2023 or 1/1/2024. Collection is delayed by one day on those weeks.

After your real Christmas tree has been undecorated, below are options for disposal. Real Christmas trees are chipped and used as beneficial cover at the local Crapo Hill Landfill.

• Christmas tree collection: SMART Program participants – real Christmas trees are scheduled to be picked up on the same day as your solid waste (separate truck) the weeks of January 8th & January 22nd. Collection begins at 7 a.m. Please remove all ornaments, stands, lights, and tinsel. Do not place trees in plastic bags. This schedule is subject to change with unforeseen weather conditions.

• Christmas tree drop-off: Dartmouth residents may drop off real Christmas trees at the brush area located at the Department of Public Works/Water Pollution Control Facility, 759 Russells Mills Road, Dartmouth. The hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 3:15 p.m. and Saturday 7:30 a.m. – 2:45 p.m. Permit required. The brush drop off area will be
closing at 10:45 a.m. on 12/22/23 & 12/29/23. It will be closed 12/23/23, 12/25/23, 12/30/23 & 1/1/24.

For additional tips, visit the Dartmouth Recycling Facebook page. If you have questions, please visit town.dartmouth.ma.us/solid-waste-recycling-division or call the Dartmouth DPW at (508) 999-0740.”-Greater New Bedford Regional Refuse Management District.

UPDATE: “Thank you! We found him, he’s safe. Thank you for all the help and support! ?? Thank you for your help!”-Christopher Prien.

_________________________________________________________________________

There is little that can compare to the anguish and suffering of having a missing child, parent, spouse, or pet. The pain of someone missing for just a day will try the best of us, so imagine a week, a month, or many months? The guessing, wondering, hoping, the sadness, the questions about if they are alive, and if they are, do they have food? A roof over their head?

That’s exactly what has happened to a New Bedford man, Christopher Prien, whose father has been missing since October 30th. He has exhausted every avenue. Called all the places a missing persn could possibly be at – hospitals, shelters. jail, etc.

“Hey, I need some help. My father has been missing since October 30th. He fell real hard into drugs 6-7 years ago.

Christopher Prien photo.

His phone has been off since November 1st and I have no way of contacting him. I’ve called every jail, every hospital, had a wellness check done on his last known address and police said the house was condemned when they showed up.

Police have been notified. He was living in New Bedford for 6-7 years and maybe 8 months ago moved to Wareham but I dont know if he was evicted or kicked out (hard to get the truth from a drug addict) but the word is that he moved back to New Bedford November 1st.

I’m desperate to find him. It’s cold outside, he’s 72 years old and too prideful to ask anyone for help. He’s only bounced between Wareham and New Bedford to my knowledge.

If a post could potentially help find him that would be helpful. We are desperate to find him in hopes that he’s OK. He’s 72 years old, his name is George Prien. Thanks for your time.”

Christopher Prien photo.

Christopher Prien photo.

“A traveling memorial honoring American servicemen and women lost in the Global War on Terror will be on display at the New Bedford Regional Airport Sunday through Tuesday.

Remembering Our Fallen is an emotional exhibit featuring 34 tribute towers with military and personal photos of more than 5,000 fallen soldiers lost since 9/11. It includes those killed in training accidents, combat, as well as suicides stemming from post-traumatic stress disorder.

One of those pictures is of LCpl. Matthew Rodriguez, a Marine from Fairhaven who was killed in action in the Helmand Province, Afghanistan, on Dec. 11, 2013. The foundation created to remember LCpl. Rodriguez worked with the City to organize the memorial’s arrival.

“LCpl. Rodriguez made the ultimate sacrifice,” Mayor Jon Mitchell said. “He was a local kid who served his country with courage and distinction, and his example of selflessness will long endure.”

“I’m really proud this memorial is coming to New Bedford,” said Mike Knabbe of the LCpl. Matthew Rodriguez Memorial Foundation. “It travels the country over the course of the year, and we thought there would be no better place to showcase these heroes and their sacrifice than here in New Bedford.”

Mayor Mitchell and others will speak at a memorial ceremony for LCpl. Rodriguez and other fallen soldiers at the exhibit on Monday, Dec. 11, at 3 p.m., which is the 10th anniversary of LCpl. Rodriguez’ death. The exhibit and ceremony will be located inside the hangar at 1447 Airport Road. It is free to attend during the three-day stop in New Bedford.

The City is moving forward with plans to build a permanent monument in the South End to Greater New Bedford residents who served in the Global War on Terror. Mayor Mitchell recently announced the city has selected Martha Schwartz Partners to design and construct the monument. MSP is a world-renowned architecture and design firm with offices in New York, London and Shanghai that has won numerous awards for projects in Europe, Asia and the U.S.

Remembering Our Fallen Exhibit Comes to New Bedford

WHEN: Sunday, Dec. 10 (12-6 p.m.), Monday, Dec. 11 (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and Tuesday, Dec. 12 (9 a.m. to noon)
MEMORIAL CEREMONY: Monday, Dec. 11 at 3 p.m.
WHERE: Hangar at 1447 Airport Road in New Bedford on the grounds of the New Bedford Regional Airport.”

“This past Saturday, members of the New Bedford Police, Massachusetts State Police, Westport PD, and Dartmouth PD, participated in this year’s “Presents with Police” event. The officers were all paired up with some younger citizens and shopped for fun items to help make this year’s holiday season a special one. As usual, a great time was had by all!

Thank you so much to all of the agencies that participated!!

A very special thanks to all of our great sponsors: The New Bedford Police Union, Tremblay’s Bus, Imtra Corporation, Ma Raffa’s, New Bedford Public Schools, and Dunkin Donuts (19 Rockdale Ave.).”-City of New Bedford Police Department.

All photos by the City of New Bedford Police Department:

“The City has been recognized by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) as one of the 119 cities across the globe that is taking bold leadership on environmental action and transparency by receiving an “A” score on the 2023 CDP Cities A-List.

Founded in 2000, CDP is a non-profit organization that runs the global disclosure system for investors, companies, cities, states, and regions to manage their environmental impacts and drive urgent action needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, safeguard water resources, and protect forests. CDP’s Cities A-List is based on environmental data and is designed to support and encourage cities to ramp up climate action and ambition. More than 900 cities received a rating for their climate action from CDP in 2023, and slightly more than one in 10 received an A.

According to the CDP, to score an A, a city must disclose publicly through CDP, have a city-wide emissions inventory, and have published a climate action plan, among other categories. It must also complete a risk-and-vulnerability assessment and have a climate adaptation goal to demonstrate how it will tackle climate hazards. By reporting climate data through CDP each year, New Bedford is transparent about its climate action, tracking progress, monitoring risks, and benchmarking against other cities facing similar challenges.

“New Bedford is committed to addressing proactively the risks posed by climate change,” Mayor Jon Mitchell said. “Our climate action plan continues to guide our work on renewable energy, energy conservation, and coastal resilience.”

“I am thrilled and gratified that New Bedford’s cutting-edge work and leadership in this emerging area has been recognized on a global level by the CDP,” said Michele Paul, director of the City’s Department of Resilience and Environmental Stewardship. “Our office continues to pursue state and federal funding resources to implement climate mitigation and carbon reduction strategies to capitalize on opportunities to benefit all of the City’s residents.”-City of New Bedford.

“A federal investigation has found that an East Freetown concrete contractor could have prevented an employee maintaining a soil screener from suffering fatal injuries on Sept. 6, 2023, by following required safety regulations.

An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration found John Oliveira & Sons Stamp Concrete Inc. instructed the employee, 24-year-old Josué Deodoro Tiquiram Sam a Guatemalan migrant, to remove a soil screen on a conveyor, after which the employee was crushed between the conveyor and its frame because the company failed to ensure the conveyor’s power source was disabled to prevent its unintended startup as the employee performed maintenance.

“John Oliveira & Sons Stamp Concrete Inc.’s failure to employ well-known safeguards needlessly cost a worker’s life,” said OSHA Area Director James Mulligan in Braintree, Massachusetts. “Employers must develop and rigorously maintain equipment and each element of their energy control plans to identify and minimize hazards and protect workers’ safety and health.”

OSHA investigators found that the company did not do the following:

• Have an energy control program to isolate the conveyor’s power source and prevent an unintended startup.
• Provide locks, tags or other hardware to isolate, secure or block machines and equipment from their energy sources to prevent sudden starts or moves.
• Adequately maintain the soil screener, which had numerous defects and missing parts.
• Forbid employees from riding in a front-end loader’s bucket, exposing them to crush and fall hazards.
• Record each work-related fatality, injury or illness case on the OSHA Form 300 or equivalent.

OSHA cited the company for six violations, including three willful and two serious violations and one other-than-serious violation. The agency assessed $200,905 in proposed penalties. View the citations here.

John Oliveira & Sons Stamp Concrete Inc. has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.”-U.S. Department of Labor.

A Fundraiser started by Centro Comunitario de Trabajadores in his named states that, “Sam was a young Maya K’iche’ migrant from Guatemala who came to the U.S. in 2022. He came from a poor family of subsistence farmers who raised corn on rented land. His goal was to buy a piece of land and build a house for his parents and siblings.

His body was flown back to Guatemala and he was buried there on September 25. CCT is raising money to help his parents defray the costs of sending the body back to Guatemala and the funeral expenses.”

“In honor of Lung Cancer Awareness Month in November, the Southcoast Health Cancer Center hosted a preventative lung cancer screening event for eligible patients and community members.

“Statistically around 237,000 people will be diagnosed with lung cancer this year,” said Dr. Tammy Gleeson, a Thoracic Surgeon at Southcoast Health. “Early detection is crucial for effectively treating lung cancer in its early stages and events like this play an important role encouraging patients be proactive when it comes to their health.”

Of the 50 event attendees screened, 28 qualified for further screening and were scheduled for a CT scan.

Southcoast Health established a comprehensive open Lung Cancer Screening Program in 2019. This year the program is on track to double the amount of screenings performed in 2019 providing this service to more than 2,600 high-risk individuals in 2023.

According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States. This disease does not always present symptoms in the early stages and the national average survival rate is just 25 percent. Early detection is vital to the fight against lung cancer, with research showing that the early-stage survival rate is much higher at 61 percent.

Preventative screenings are recommended for individuals who meet the following criteria:

• Age 50-80
• Smoking history of equal to or greater than 20 pack-years
• Is an ex-smoker and quit within the last 15 years
• No chest CT exam within the past year

Identifying lung cancer earlier can help expand treatment options including surgery with advanced technology such as the Ion Endoluminal System at Southcoast Health, which can help diagnose and treat lung cancer during the same procedure.

“With cancer center locations in Fall River and Fairhaven, it is our privilege to be able to provide our community with this opportunity to learn about and take proactive measures with their lung health,” said Kathy Moraes, Director of Medical Oncology at Southcoast Health. “Events like this help us save lives in our community. I am so proud of our team for putting this event together and we had an amazing turnout.”

To request more information about our Screening Program, please call (508) 973-7579, email CTLungScreening@southcoast.org or speak with your primary care provider.

To learn more about lung cancer prevention and treatment please visitsouthcoast.org/services/cancer-care/lung-cancer/.”