City of New Bedford places 14 trash/recycling compactors at select sites throughout the city

“What’s cooler than a new trash bin? OK, maybe your average trash and recycling containers aren’t the coolest, but we have some new compactors in New Bedford and the positive environmental impact is pretty cool.

There are 14 of these bins (one trash, one recycling) in seven well-traveled spots around the City: East Beach, West Beach, Fort Taber, Brooklawn Park, Pier-3 (pictured), Pope’s Island near Noah’s Place Playground, and Hazelwood Park.

They’re solar-powered compactors, so they squish our waste and recycling into smaller units that save space in landfills and recycling centers, and they electronically notify our crews when full so we can dispatch someone to empty them. Lately, we’ve been getting pinged about once a week to go and empty the bins, when previously we’d send someone daily to check if they need to be emptied. That’s one trip a week per site compared to seven.

The City used federal funds to purchase the compactors, and we’re looking forward to seeing the positive impact they can have in New Bedford.

We know trash cans aren’t the coolest things on social media today, but if these can help us reduce waste, keep New Bedford clean, and cut down on trips to and from several spots across the City, that’s pretty cool.”-City of New Bedford.




Mattapoisett to receive funds to defray costs incurred from EF-1 tornado

“(BOSTON, MA)- Rep. Bill Straus (D-Mattapoisett) is pleased to note that up to $100K will be distributed to the town to defray costs incurred from the August, 2023 tornado. The EF-1 tornado left homes, trees, power lines including the town’s water treatment building damaged.

“The funds going to the town will certainly help with the associated costs of the ongoing repairs and restoration”. I applaud the Healey-Driscoll Administration for the inclusion of the Governor’s year end closeout supplemental budget and recognizing Mattapoisett as a municipality that was affected by a natural disaster.”-Rep. Bill Straus.




New Bedford police deliver winter coats and other goodies for veterans

“Chief Oliveira and Assistant Deputy Chief Carola took a ride over to the Va New Bedford Clinic to drop off buckets filled with winter coats and other goodies ??

The buckets were distributed at the annual #Coats4Vets event at Gillette Stadium in collaboration with the New England Patriots Foundation, the Massachusetts Military Support Foundation Inc., Ocean State Job Lot, and The Home Depot.”-City of New Bedford Police Department.


City of New Bedford Police Department photo.


Cherie Kostant photo.


Cherie Kostant photo.

Video by Cherie Kostant:




New Bedford children to star, co-host 48th Annual Meeting Street Telethon

“New Bedford natives Amalya Romero and Zane DeSousa are getting ready for their close-ups.

On Saturday, February 3, Amalya and Zane will serve as co-hosts of the 48th Annual Meeting Street Telethon, which will be broadcast live on WPRI-12 at 7 p.m.

The youngest member of the Team Telethon squad is Zane, a first grader at The Schwartz School in Dartmouth, Massachusetts. According to Zane’s mom, Alissa, Meeting Street has been a “game changer” for Zane, who has complex medical and developmental needs. Zane is beyond happy attending The Schwartz School, where his family celebrates “inchstones,” rather than milestones. “Special needs parenting is isolating. I love the community we found here.”


Meeting Street photo.

The veteran dynamo of the 2024 Team Telethon squad is Amalya, an eighth grader who was born with spina bifida and has been receiving physical therapy at Meeting Street since her family moved from Puerto Rico more than a decade ago. “We immediately saw the positive change in Amalya once she began receiving therapy at Meeting Street,” says mom Naitsabeth.

You will see both Zane and Amalya on billboards around the region – he’s the blue card and she’s orange! – and you can learn more about their stories by tuning in to WPRI-12 on Saturday, February 3 at 7:00 p.m., or by visiting MeetingStreet.org.”




MISSING PERSON: Family seek help locating missing New Bedford 21-year-old

MISSING PERSON

Who: Flordan Bazile
Height: 6’2
Age: 21

Student at Umass Dartmouth. He’s from Orlando Florida but he attended Keith Middle School and New Bedford High School. Last seen in Fairhaven wearing Red Nike Joggers, black sweater with white/gray writing going across it, and black shoes.

Please reach out if you have information regarding Flordan’s disappearance, we are worried about him and his whereabouts.

Contacts:
New Bedford Police: (508) 991-6300
Flore (407) 558-5480
Guerdaline (508)-991-1378.”Brianna Magnant.


Brianna Magnant photo.


Brianna Magnant photo.


Brianna Magnant photo.


Brianna Magnant photo.




Freetown Fire Department responds to County Road for horse needing assistance

“Just before 4 PM on Friday, the Freetown Fire Department and Bristol County Technical Rescue Team were called to respond to County Road for a Horse needing assistance.

They were assisted by a local Contractor with an Excavator. The operation was successful and “Red” was able to walk around the yard once he was back on his feet.

The Bristol County Technical Rescue Team is a group of highly trained and equipped Firefighters from Departments across Bristol County. Large Animal rescue is just a small part of their capabilities.

Freetown has 4 Firefighters that are members of the team.”-Freetown Fire Department.


Freetown Fire Department photo.


Freetown Fire Department photo.


Freetown Fire Department photo.


Freetown Fire Department photo.


Freetown Fire Department photo.




Boston Police seek public help locating missing 14-year old teen

!!! Boston Police Department Missing Person Alert- 14 Year Old Malek Louati !!!

Malek “Angel” Louati, a 14 year old female resident of Boston, 5’2”, black hair, brown eyes was last seen on 1/11/24 at 12:00 PM leaving Weymouth High School (1 Wildcat Way, Weymouth, MA).

Anyone with information regarding her whereabouts is advised to please call 911 or contact D4 Detectives at 617-343-5619.”-Boston Police Department.


Boston Police Department photo.




FDA warns Massachusetts residents to avoid live, whole scallops harvested from prohibited area

AUDIENCE:

• Restaurants and food retailers in Illinois (IL), Massachusetts (MA), New Jersey (NJ), New York (NY), and Pennsylvania (PA) that have recently purchased certain Intershell International Corp (MA 7802 SP) whole, live scallops that were received from an unlicensed harvester, believed to be harvested from prohibited waters in MA and incorrectly labeled as harvest location FED 514, with harvest dates 12/26/23, 12/27/23 and 01/01/24.

• Consumers in IL, MA, NJ, NY, and PA who have recently purchased or consumed certain Intershell International Corp (MA 7802 SP) whole, live scallops, that were received from an unlicensed harvester, believed to be harvested from prohibited waters in MA and incorrectly labeled as harvest location FED 514, with harvest dates 12/26/23, 12/27/23 and 01/01/24.

PRODUCT:

Certain whole, live scallops that were received from an unlicensed harvester, believed to be harvested from prohibited waters in MA and incorrectly labeled as harvest location FED 514, with harvest dates 12/26/23, 12/27/23 and 01/01/24 that were distributed to IL, MA, NJ, NY, and PA. It is possible that these scallops may have been distributed to other states as well.

PURPOSE:
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is advising consumers not to eat, and restaurants and food retailers not to sell, and to dispose of certain Intershell International Corp (MA 7802 SP) whole, live scallops that were received from an unlicensed harvester, believed to be harvested from prohibited waters in MA and incorrectly labeled as harvest location FED 514, with harvest dates 12/26/23, 12/27/23 and 01/01/24 because they may be contaminated. The scallops were directly distributed to distributors and retailers in IL, MA, NJ, NY, and PA and may have been distributed further from these states.

Scallops harvested from prohibited waters may be contaminated with human pathogens, toxic elements or poisonous or deleterious substances and can cause illness if consumed. Scallops are filter feeders that remove and bioaccumulate bacteria and other pathogens from the water. It is not uncommon for shellfish to be consumed raw and whole. Contaminated scallops can cause illness if eaten raw and whole, or with viscera or roe attached, particularly in people with compromised immune systems. Scallops contaminated with pathogens may look, smell, and taste normal.

SYMPTOMS OF FOOD POISONING:

People can get sick with food poisoning after ingesting pathogens, toxic elements, or poisonous or deleterious substances. Symptoms may vary, depending on the pathogen or contaminant and can range from mild to serious. The most common symptoms of food poisoning are diarrhea, stomach pain or cramps, nausea, vomiting, and fever. Symptoms may start within a few hours or may take a few days and can last for a few hours or several days. Consumers of these products who are experiencing food poisoning symptoms such as diarrhea, stomach pain or cramps, nausea, vomiting, or fever should contact their healthcare provider, who should report their symptoms to their local Health Department.

SUMMARY OF PROBLEM AND SCOPE:
On 01/05/2024, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health informed the FDA that certain whole, live scallops from Intershell International Corp (certified dealer number, MA 7802 SP) were allegedly harvested from a prohibited area and potentially contaminated. The scallops were received from an unlicensed harvester, believed to be harvested from prohibited waters in MA, and incorrectly labeled as harvest location: FED 514, with harvest dates 12/26/23, 12/27/23 and 01/01/24. These whole, live scallops were directly distributed to distributors and retailers in IL, MA, NJ, NY, and PA and may have been distributed further from these states.

On 01/09/2024, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health provided to the FDA notice of recallExternal Link Disclaimer initiated by Intershell International Corp for certain whole, live scallops that were “received from an unlicensed harvester, allegedly harvested from a prohibited area in MA” and incorrectly labeled as harvest location: FED 514, with harvest dates 12/26/23, 12/27/23 and 01/01/24, and informed the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation ConferenceExternal Link Disclaimer who subsequently notified the other member states. The states are continuing to conduct trace forward investigations. The FDA is assisting with and coordinating interstate notification efforts as a result of the states’ investigations.

FDA ACTIONS:

The FDA is issuing this alert advising consumers not to eat, and restaurants and food retailers not to sell, certain Intershell International Corp (MA 7802 SP) whole, live scallops received from an unlicensed harvester, believed to be harvested from prohibited waters in MA and incorrectly labeled as harvest location FED 514, with harvest dates 12/26/23, 12/27/23 and 01/01/24. The FDA is awaiting further information on distribution of the scallops and will continue to monitor the investigation and provide assistance to state authorities as needed.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR RESTAURANTS AND RETAILERS:

Restaurants and retailers should not serve or sell the potentially contaminated whole, live scallops. Restaurants and retailers should dispose of any products by throwing them in the garbage or returning them to their distributor for destruction.

Restaurants and retailers should also be aware that shellfish may be a source of pathogens and should control the potential for cross-contamination of food processing equipment and the food processing environment. They should follow the steps below:

• Wash hands with warm water and soap following the cleaning and sanitation process.
• Retailers, restaurants, and other food service operators who have processed and packaged any potentially contaminated products need to be concerned about cross-contamination of cutting surfaces and utensils through contact with the potentially contaminated products.
• Retailers that have sold bulk product should clean and sanitize the containers used to hold the product.
Regular frequent cleaning and sanitizing of food contact surfaces and utensils used in food preparation may help to minimize the likelihood of cross-contamination.

RECOMMENDATIONS FO CONSUMERS:

Consumers should not eat the potentially contaminated whole, live scallops. Consumers who have symptoms should contact their health care provider to report their symptoms and receive care.”-F.D.A.




Massachusetts Officials remind residents of “silent killer” after family found dead

On Monday night, police were called to make a wellness-check on a single-family home on Cottage Street in Nahant.

Upon arrival, police discovered three deceased adults in the home, all of whom had extreme levels of carbon monoxide.

Carbon monoxide is called a “silent killer” because it is tasteless, colorless, and odorless. Carbon monoxide is released from fireplaces, furnaces, and boilers. That means making a nightly check of flues, and exhaust vents throughout the home especially after snowfall when drifts can create an obstruction.

Initial symptoms include dizziness, nausea, then a headache, vomiting, and shortness of breath before there is a loss of consciousness before death. When exposure is recognized one immediately needs to get fresh air and get medical help.

“A tragedy in Nahant. Our hearts are with the impacted family and the first responders in Nahant.

Carbon monoxide is known as the “silent killer”. Please see this resource by the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services to keep you and your family safe.”-Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts.


Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts photo.




Dartmouth Police seek info in connection with accident that killed New Bedford teen

❗️❗️❗️INFORMATION NEEDED❗️❗️❗️

As you may or may not know, we are currently investigating a fatal motor vehicle crash that occurred on Gulf Road (at the intersection of Smith Neck Road) on Friday, January 5, 2023 at approximately 10:30 p.m.

As part of this investigation, we are asking that anyone who may have witnessed the involved vehicle (a white 2022 Honda Accord) operating in or near the town landing on the west side of the Padanaram bridge prior to the crash, please contact either Officer Brian Parent or Detective Kyle Costa.

Officer Parent can be reached at 508-910-1790 and Detective Costa can be reached at 508-910-1755.

Thank you!
PLEASE SHARE.”-Dartmouth Police Department.