There’s a better place for your banana peels, coffee grounds, meat, and moldy strawberries.

Your wasted food doesn’t have to go in the trash. Starting June 30, residents can drop off food waste at the City of New Bedford’s Recycling Center at 1103 Shawmut Avenue.

Items you can drop off include all unpackaged food e.g., fruits, vegetables, peels, meat, bones, shells, eggshells, dairy, breads, grains, baked goods, tea bags that tear – no nylon, coffee grounds, coffee filters, napkins, and paper towels.

“About 21% of what residents dispose of is food waste. This program will help residents reduce waste at home and keep food waste out of the Crapo Hill Landfill,” said Jennifer Vieira, Acting Director, City of New Bedford Department of Facilities and Fleet Management.

The less that is added to the landfill, the longer it will last. When the landfill reaches capacity, new options will need to be found for managing our waste. These options will very likely be more expensive than the current costs at our local landfill.

Photo by Marissa Perez-Dormitzer.

Starter Kits

To kick off the program, 100 free starter kits will be distributed to New Bedford residents while supplies last. Each kit includes a kitchen counter bin, roll of compostable bags, and a 5-gallon bucket for transporting the accepted waste to the Recycling Center.

Starter kits will be available starting June 30 at the Recycling Center, 1103 Shawmut Avenue. The Recycling Center is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, noon to 5 pm and Saturday 7:30 am to 3:00 p.m. The kits will also be available at the Department of Facilities and Fleet Management, 294 Liberty Street. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Here’s how to use your starter kit:

01. Find a spot for your kitchen bin. Line it with a compostable bag.
02. Fill the kitchen bin with accepted materials (see below for details).
03. When the container is almost full, tie off the compostable bag and place it into the 5-gallon bucket.
04. When the 5-gallon bucket is almost full, take it to the Recycling Center.

Don’t have a starter kit? You can put food in any container such as a bowl and line it with a paper bag. Or don’t line it all. Any bucket will work to transport the food waste to the Recycling Center.

Again, items you can drop off include all unpackaged food e.g., fruits, vegetables, peels, meat, bones, shells, eggshells, dairy, breads, grains, baked goods, tea bags that tear – no nylon, coffee grounds, coffee filters, napkins, and paper towels.

Items that are not accepted include cleaning chemicals, diapers, glass, pet waste, plastic bags, aluminum foil, plastic wrap, plates, cups, utensils, recycling, trash, and yard waste.

Recycle Works

The Recycling Center has carts designated for food waste. The carts are emptied weekly by a partnering company called Recycle Works and brought to an anaerobic digester in Rhode Island. In this process, bacteria break down the food waste into biogas that can be used for heat, electricity, or fuel, and a solid material called digestate that can be used for fertilizer or animal bedding. The Recycling Center is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, noon to 5 pm and Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

For more information, call the Greater New Bedford Regional Refuse Management District at (508) 979-1493, or email Marissa@gnbrrmdistrict.org.

WHALE is honored to receive a $1.05 million grant from City of New Bedford’s Housing Expansion Initiative, announced April 1, 2022. Five affordable housing development projects were awarded a total of 11.2 million from federal funds received by the City under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and the HOME Investment Partnerships Program administered by the City’s Office of Housing and Community Development.

WHALE is creating eight affordable housing units at the historic Hillman Firehouse on County Street. Originally constructed in 1892-93 as a neighborhood fire station and, later, the City’s Civil Defense Headquarters, the once beautiful brick and granite exterior, punctuated with terra cotta accents, was slated for demolition until WHALE and the City stepped in to rescue it.

A historic landmark, the Hillman Firehouse once contributed to the fabric of a vibrant neighborhood but had become abandoned and derelict. Restored to its original beauty, the building will provide affordable housing, bringing new life and a sense of pride to the community.

The Hillman Firehouse is $3 million dollar restoration project that is consistent with WHALE’s overarching goal to use historic restoration as a tool to:

• stabilize neighborhoods, develop affordable housing and educational space
• foster economic vitality and create workforce opportunities
• expand New Bedford’s growing arts and culture sector
• preserve New Bedford’s rich historical sites and multicultural heritage

“Quote from Teri or Diane” Include “We are truly grateful for the City’s support, and thank Mayor Mitchell and the City’s Office of Housing and Community Development, led by Patrick Sullivan, along with our federal delegation: Congressman Keating, and Senators Warren and Markey.

“Saturday, Trooper Jesse Walker III joined Falmouth Police Department at the 2nd annual Cops and Cars car show and touch-a-truck event to benefit Tommy’s Place. Tommy’s Place is a vacation home for children battling cancer.

There, children and their families stay free of charge for a Cape Cod vacation in Falmouth. The Touch-A-Truck event featured police & first responder equipment, a K-9 demonstration, the NHRA “Follow A Dream” Drag Racing Team, Food Trucks, raffles, a 50/50 drawing and more!

The Massachusetts State Police helicopter Air 5, and The MSP mounted unit were some of the highlights of the day’s events.

Trooper Walker III and the Massachusetts State Police Pink Patch Cruiser took home some hardware, winning the trophy for “Best Police Cruiser” among tough competition.

Keep an eye out for the MSP Air Wing, Mounted Unit, and the Pink Patch Cruiser across the state during the summer months as we continue to make an appearance at community events.”-Massachusetts State Police.

Massachusetts State Police photo.

Massachusetts State Police photo.

Massachusetts State Police photo.

Massachusetts State Police photo.

Massachusetts State Police photo.

“The Bristol County District Attorney’s office has contributed towards the purchase of a new vehicle for the New Bedford police department.

On June 21st, a new 2022 Kia Carnival passenger van was put on the road. This van will primarily be used by the department’s LEAD (Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion) team and outreach workers. LEAD is a program launched in May 2018 which focuses on a harm-reduction response to lower-level offenses such as simple drug possession. The intent is to reduce the number of individuals being sent to court or incarcerated and divert them to treatment instead.

LEAD is a collaborative effort between the NBPD, the District Attorney’s office, 7 Hills Behavioral and will soon include the NB Health Dept. The operational team now includes Gifford St. Wellness and Steppingstones peer-to-peer program.

To date, 119 people have gone through the program and been diverted away from their initial criminal charges which are eliminated by the District Attorney’s office upon completion. LEAD is a national program that began in Seattle, Washington, and has spread throughout the country. We are proud to boast the first LEAD program here in Massachusetts.

This van will be used by the team to head out into the community to visit individuals post-overdose, distribute Narcan, and check on various program participants.

“Prior to the acquisition of this vehicle, outreach workers had to use cruisers to conduct visits. These cruisers drew unwanted attention to the person being visited. This van enhances the effectiveness of our team and I’m very grateful to DA Quinn for recognizing the value of preventive programs like this.” said Chief Paul Oliveira.

Those who qualify for participation in the LEAD program are individuals who struggle with a substance abuse disorder, have committed a misdemeanor offense, and are receptive to the process.

PHOTO from left to right – Deputy Chief Adelino Sousa, Sgt. Samuel Ortega (program supervisor), Natasha Patricio (project coordinator), Haywood Barnes (full-time recovery coach), Ashley Cabral (part-time recovery coach), District Attorney Tom Quinn, and Chief Paul Oliveira.” -New Bedford Police Department.

New Bedford Police Department photo.

Mulch is a combustible material that can be easily ignited by improperly discarded smoking materials. Hundreds of small and large fires are started this way every year. The risk is that what starts as a small outdoor mulch fire can quickly spread to buildings.

A mulch fire can be well underway before someone notices or is alerted by smoke alarms or sprinkler systems activating.

The most notable mulch fire in Massachusetts occurred in May 2015 in a large Arlington apartment complex. One man died in the fire started by smoking materials discarded in a mulch bed, which then spread to the building. Thirty-six apartments and six cars were destroyed. The building had no sprinklers and the estimated dollar loss was $6.7 million.

In April 2012, improperly discarded smoking materials ignited mulch outside an assisted living center in Braintree. The fire forced many older adults to evacuate in the early morning hours. Several suffered smoke inhalation injuries.

In May 2008, a cigarette ignited a mulch fire at a Peabody apartment complex. It caused $6.7 million in damage to the building, displaced 750 people temporarily and 36 permanently.

“Why would anyone carelessly toss a lit cigarette into mulch?

With our dry weather and fanned by a breeze, the smoldering fire could spread. Be respectful to our neighbors! Help to prevent fires! Thankfully the fire was quickly extinguished.

Go to the link for more info: https://camb.ma/3NeTbpY.” -Cambridge MA Fire Department.

On January 16th, 2010, New Bedford native Paul DeMello lost his 13-month-old twins, Christian and Joshua, in a drowning accident. Joshua died that day and Christian died 3 days later and his parents had his organs donated. The following day, Christian’s liver was donated to a boy named Jose in Texas, and his kidney to 22-year-old Jillian Forgea of Florida – both were life-saving transplants.

“I know God is still moving and if he’s for me who can truly be against me? Jesse never got to meet little Jose from Texas, that got one of our twin angel’s livers, but we can say Jillian Forgea and her baby girl Arabella (answered prayer) and the family have given us the true meaning of the full circle of life when they received my baby boy Christian’s kidney THANK YOU GOD.”, said DeMello. “Ever since that day, I’ve wanted to help people. I was able to flip the script and help others in hopes that no one else has to go through what I went through.”

Paul DeMello photo.

Since the unfortunate and life-changing accident, Paul gained a new perspective on life and has campaigned for causes that will spread awareness about children’s drownings, participates in annual charity bike runs and walk-a-thons, as well as found the organization Just Against Children Drowning which erects life-saving pool fences to stop children from reaching the pool’s edge.

This year Paul participated in a Facebook “Dream Chopper” contest that would award a custom-built motorcycle from Paul Teutul Sr. of Orange County Choppers. The winner would be featured on an episode of the television show “American Chopper. Proceeds from the contest went to a “No Kill” animal shelter the Teutul family supports.

Among 64,000 contestants and against all odds, DeMello won the Facebook contest. He dedicated the win to his twins as well as any and all families who have suffered by losing a child to water-related accidents. The dream chopper will represent “Just Against Children Drowning” and will accompany Paul to all JACD Events including their annual bike run and walk-a-thon.

While we can’t control or stop tragedies happening to us, we can control the response to those tragedies. In the case of Paul Demello he turned a negative life experience into a positive one that has benefitted hundreds and over time will benefit thousands.

Paul DeMello photo.

Paul DeMello photo.

“Friends it is busy here and we could use your help!

We are in peak baby season and we are taking in more animals by the minute! From skunks, to raccoons, to injured turtles we are working hard to make sure they all get the care they need to make it back to the wild. We we could really use your help to purchase some critical animal care supplies to help us make it through!

Would you share this post and consider sending something? A donation from our wishlist or a contribution of any dollar amount is a huge help!

Just take this little skunk. He came in today weak, dehydrated and covered in fly eggs after he lost his mom. Our vet team worked all morning to clean him up and by this afternoon he was eating formula like a champ! This little guy alone will require over 100 hours of care before he’s ready to return to the wild. By purchasing a care item or making a donation you are helping him and thousands of other animals get a second chance this year.

Thank you so much for your support!

Link to our Amazon Wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2WW4SGSTGNGNG/ref=hz_ls_biz_ex?fbclid=IwAR0GKwDhnplvX_XNggBBDof_xqCxBEwJm4Arj-N36Aj98avVNJULqygBX70
Link to Donate: https://go.payinvoice.com/newildlife/donation/” -New England Wildlife Center.

“On Tuesday, the Center’s Marine Animal Entanglement Response team successfully freed a humpback whale calf with its mother close by in waters off Chatham.

Staff from the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy discovered the whale and called the MAER team. Once on the scene, MAER assessed the entanglement and decided to cut the rope using a long pole and a hook-shaped cutting tool.

An already tricky job was even more fraught by the presence of the calf’s mom with two whales potentially reacting to their presence. But the process went smoothly and MAER removed all the rope from the calf.

Thanks for all your help AWSC!” -Center for Coastal Studies.

“Please note that the Board of Selectmen are in active conversations with the City of New Bedford, in an effort to gain permission to go forward with the plan to improve Lake Street and remediate the weed situation in the area of the ponds.

As you may already know, the City of New Bedford owns the water rights as well as the parking lots. Chairman for the Board of Selectman, David Wojnar alongside Town Administrator, James Kelley, have personally met with City of New Bedford’s Mayor Jon Mitchell, in an effort to move this along.

Once the City of New Bedford approves the MOU (memorandum of understanding), we will move forward. Thank you for your continued patience, and please note that this remains a top priority for the Board of Selectmen.” -Town of Acushnet.

“The Lowell Police Department is asking the public for assistance as they seek to locate 3-year-old Harry who went missing on Tuesday morning.

On Tuesday, June 14, at about 9:30 a.m., Lowell Police received a report that a 3-year-old boy was missing from a residence on Freda Lane in the Pawtucketville neighborhood.

Officers responded and began an immediate search of the home and surrounding area, quickly expanding the search when the boy was not found.

Lowell Police Department photo.

The Massachusetts State Police and State Police Airwing, Dracut Police, Tyngsborough Police, UMass Lowell Police, and the Regional Response Team and mobile command unit from the Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council are assisting in the search. Multiple K-9 units are also assisting.

Lowell Police have used the reverse 911 system to notify residents of the area, and are asking the public to contact police immediately if they believe they have seen the boy or have information on his whereabouts.

Harry was last seen wearing a long-sleeve maroon shirt and gray pants with a white stripe.

Anyone with information on Harry’s whereabouts, or who believes they have seen him, is urged to 911, or to call Lowell Police at 978-937-3200.” -Lowell Police Department.