“The City of New Bedford Police Department wishes to announce that the 106th Annual Feast of the Blessed Sacrament Parade will be held today, August 7.

The parade will form at Brooklawn Park and will step off at 2:00 pm from Brooklawn Street and Acushnet Avenue. The following streets will be closed off:

• South on Acushnet Avenue to Earle Street
• East on Earle Street to Madeira Avenue
• North on Madeira Avenue into the feast grounds

A parking ban will be in effect along the entire route, including Tinkham Street between Madeira Avenue and Hope Street, and Hope Street between Tinkham Street and Nash Road.

Please plan your travels accordingly as there will be traffic delays and the towing of vehicles if necessary that do not comply with the parking ban.

We ask for your cooperation in order to ensure a successful parade!” -City of New Bedford Police Department.

“Congratulations to the recruits of Massachusetts Firefighter Academy’s Class303, ClassS28, & ClassBW21, who graduated yesterday!

For those who couldn’t attend the ceremonies, or who want to relive them, video is being posted on our YouTube channel at http://youtube.com/dfsosfm.” -Massachusetts Department of Fire Services.

Massachusetts Department of Fire Services photo.

Massachusetts Department of Fire Services photo.

Massachusetts Department of Fire Services photo.

14 health care providers now administering the JYNNEOS vaccine statewide.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) today announced 42 additional cases of monkeypox in adult males within the past seven days, bringing the total number of monkeypox cases in the Commonwealth to 157 residents since the state’s first case was announced on May 18. DPH provides public updates on monkeypox in Massachusetts on a weekly basis each Thursday.

The 42 cases announced today had their diagnoses between July 28 and August 3. DPH is working with local health officials, the patients, and healthcare providers to identify individuals who may have been in contact with the patients while they were infectious. Individuals with monkeypox are advised to isolate and avoid contact with others until they are no longer infectious.

The number of health care providers and locations offering vaccination across the state has expanded to 14. The list of health care provider sites is updated on a rolling basis on the Commonwealth’s monkeypox vaccine website. As of August 3, 5,875 doses of JYNNEOS vaccine have been administered in the Commonwealth.

Due to extremely limited national availability of vaccine, the JYNNEOS vaccine in Massachusetts still remains limited at this time. Vaccination is available to individuals who meet the CDC’s eligibility criteria and who live or work in Massachusetts. Vaccine is prioritized for individuals at greatest risk of exposure to someone with monkeypox. If an individual believes they qualify for a monkeypox vaccine, they should contact their healthcare provider or one of the state’s designated provider locations. JYNNEOS vaccine allocation data by jurisdiction is now updated on a weekly basis each Wednesday on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) website JYNNEOS Monkeypox Vaccine Distribution by Jurisdiction (hhs.gov).

Current data from CDC indicate that there have been 6,617 cases of monkeypox virus this year in US residents as of August 3. Regularly updated case counts can be obtained on the CDC’s website: 2022 U.S. Map and Case Count. Patients generally recover fully from monkeypox in 2-4 weeks.

The World Health Organization on July 23 declared the global monkeypox outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern and today, August 4, the Biden administration declared monkeypox a public health emergency, which will raise awareness of the virus and speed up additional funding and treatment. Gay and bisexual men and other men who have sex with men continue to make up a significant proportion of the cases identified to date. However, the risk is not limited to the LGBTQ+ community, and anyone who has been in close contact with someone who has monkeypox is at risk.

While the virus does not spread easily between people, individuals can spread the infection once they develop symptoms. Transmission occurs through direct contact with body fluids and monkeypox sores, by touching items that have been contaminated with fluids or sores (clothing, bedding, etc.), or less commonly, through respiratory droplets following prolonged face-to-face contact. In many of the recent cases, the locations of the rash lesions suggest transmission during sexual contact.
Examples where monkeypox can spread and where it does not:

Monkeypox can spread through:
• Direct skin-to-skin contact with rash lesions. Sexual/intimate contact, including kissing while a person is infected.
• Living in a house and sharing a bed with someone. Sharing towels or unwashed clothing.
• Respiratory secretions through face-to-face interactions (the type that mainly happen when living with someone or caring for someone who has monkeypox)
• Monkeypox does not spread through:
• Casual conversations. Walking by someone with monkeypox in a grocery store, for instance. Touching items like doorknobs.

Clinicians are asked to be alert to the possibility of monkeypox virus infection in individuals who have rash illnesses consistent with monkeypox. Early symptoms of monkeypox can include fever, headache, sore throat, and swollen lymph nodes, but rash may be the first symptom. Rash lesions start flat, become raised, fill with clear fluid (vesicles), and then become pustules (filled with pus). A person with monkeypox can have many lesions or only a few. Learn more about how to recognize monkeypox. Providers should also test for other more common causes of rash illness as well as sexually transmitted infections (as appropriate); coinfections are not uncommon.

Actions for people to consider if they want to reduce their risk from monkeypox include:

• Avoiding large gatherings like raves and dance parties where you may have lots of close body contact with others
• Asking any partner, especially new partners whose health status and recent travel history you are not familiar with, if they have any symptoms of monkeypox
• Staying informed by reading information available on the DPH and CDC websites.

As the CDC advises, if you believe you may have monkeypox, you should contact your health care provider. If you need to leave your home, wear a mask, and cover your rash or lesions when around others. Those who live with or care for someone who may have monkeypox should wear a mask and disposable gloves if they need to have any direct contact with lesions and when handling any clothes or bedding if the person cannot do it themselves. They should also wash their hands regularly, especially after contact with the person who is infected or with their clothes, bed sheets, towels, and other items or surfaces they may have touched.

Current testing recommendations and submission guidelines are available on the website https://www.mass.gov/doc/clinical-and-laboratory-testing-guidance-for-monkeypox/download.

For more information about this virus, visit www.mass.gov/monkeypox and www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox.

The City of New Bedford has roadwork sites for the upcoming week of August 8, 2022 – August 12, 2022, and they are as follows

Eversource will be working on the street milling from gas main relays on:

• Main Relay on Phillips Rd. from Holly Tree Lane to Route 140
• Main Relay on Rockdale Ave & Allen St

Eversource will be working on the street milling from gas main relays on:

• Purchase St from County St to Cove St
• Fillmore St from Myrtle St to Summer St
• Buchanan St from Myrtle St to Mt Pleasant St
• Garfield St from Myrtle St to Mt Pleasant St
• Sawyer St from Mt Pleasant St to Purchase St
• County St from Sawyer St to Purchase St
• Summer St from Fillmore St to Sawyer St
• Phillips Ave from Riverside Ave to Oneko Ln
• Brook St from Earle St to Collette St
• Shaw St from Acushnet Ave to Conduit St
• Conduit St / Hatch St from Shaw St to Covell St
• Carroll St / Priscilla St from Gould St to Rockdale Ave
• Brownell St from Brownell St #266 to Arnold St
• Armour St from Armour #122 to Arnold St
• Davis St from End of road #389 to Riverside Rd

Other:
• Contractor (PA Landers) will begin sidewalk excavation along a portion of Phillips Rd from Holly Tree Ln to Birchwood Dr.
• Contractor (PA Landers) will be working on various curb and structure adjustments on Mt. Pleasant St from New Plainville Rd to Nash Rd.
• Contractor (Eversource Electric) will be working at the MassDOT project, Kings Highway, new traffic signal operations and sign installations.
• Contractor (PA Landers) will be working on various streets, citywide, completing minor repairs and installations.
• Contractor (PA Landers) will be working on sidewalk reconstruction on Cedar St from Maxfield St to Mill St.
• Contractor (PA Landers) will be working on sidewalk reconstruction on Union St from Sixth St to County St
• Contractor (SCR Constructors) will continue site work at the future South Coast Rail station platform locations in the city. (Church St at Carlisle St and Wamsutta St at Acushnet Ave.) If you have questions, please email the project team at SouthCoastRail@dot.state.ma.us
• Contractor (C. Naughton Corp) will continue replacing water service connections. Thew crew will work north to south starting at Taber St. There will be detours during working hours via Brigham and adjacent streets as the work progresses. Signage will be posted and police details on-site with traffic management.
• Contractor (C. Naughton Corp) will complete work replacing the water main and installing fire hydrants along Clifford St between Ashley Blvd and Acushnet Ave. Work will resume west of Arlington St and proceed westerly toward Ashley Blvd. Clifford St will be restricted to local access only during working hours. There will be construction signage and police details to assist with traffic management.

Following the Department of Revenue’s release of June 2022 collections earlier today, the Executive Office for Administration and Finance announced that the Commonwealth will end Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) with a $1.9 billion surplus, according to preliminary figures. This surplus accounts for $3 billion in automatic tax refunds required under Chapter 62F of the Massachusetts General Laws, $1.4 billion in statutory transfers, including capital gains transfers to the Stabilization Fund, and approximately $800 million in supplemental funding appropriated in FY22.

As announced by the Department of Revenue, in total, $41.105 billion was collected in FY22, representing overall revenue growth of approximately 20.5% above Fiscal Year 2021. This total is $6.7 billion above the total taxes assumed at the time the FY22 budget was enacted.

The FY22 surplus reflects significantly stronger-than-expected revenue collections throughout the fiscal year. In both January and May 2022, the Administration revised FY22 tax benchmarks upward in response to the high collections, increasing the revenue forecast by a cumulative $3.3 billion. Collections nonetheless exceeded the revised benchmarks by $3.5 billion by the end of the fiscal year.

Of FY22 tax collections, per state law, a total of $1.4 billion in excess capital gains and sales tax revenue was transferred to the MBTA, the School Building Authority, and budget reserves including the Stabilization Fund. Made up of $1.1 billion in budgeted excess capital gains tax transfers and $1.2 billion in further excess capital gains revenue, a total of $2.3 billion was deposited into the Stabilization Fund during FY22, bringing its balance to a historic $6.9 billion. Another approximately $800 million was appropriated by the Legislature in two supplemental budgets, passed in February and April.

After accounting for the above, the approximately $3 billion in tax refunds to Commonwealth taxpayers as required under c.62F, and other year-end closing activities, the Commonwealth still closes FY22 with a preliminary surplus of $1.9 billion.

This $1.9 billion surplus is in addition to approximately $2.3 billion in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Fiscal Recovery Funds that remain unallocated and available for appropriation.

On Tuesday approximately 150 homeless cats and kittens arrived in New Bedford from Florida as part of the MSPCA’s “Southern Hub” transport program. Florida has a high population of homeless cats and their shelters are overwhelmed. The program provides a lifeline for these cats by transporting them to Massachusetts where they are put up for adoption.

Florida has an overpopulation problem because its climate is conducive to year-round breeding. Because Massachusetts’ weather is not conducive to breeding all year, a deal was struck to bring the cats up north.

Planes are utilized by Greater Good Charities because transport aboard a truck would cause undue stress on cats. The 150 cats were sent to different MSPCA care and adoption centers in Boston, Centerville, Methuen, and Salem where they will undergo a 48-hour isolation, then health checkup before they can be released to potential parents. All cats will be spayed or neutered.

If you are interested in adopting one of the cats they will be available starting on Friday for those who were already spayed or neutered and on Saturday for those who had to be spayed or neutered after arrival to New Bedford. You can contact the MSPCA here.

All photos by the MSPCA:

“Leadership of Civil Rights and Human Trafficking Unit also announced.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins announced the rollout of:

• 1-83-END-H8-NOW
• (1-833-634-8669)

The “End Hate Now” hotline is dedicated for reporting hate-based incidents or potential criminal activity. Massachusetts residents and visitors are encouraged to call the hotline to report concerning or troubling incidents of hate, potential hate crimes, or concerns regarding individuals believed to be espousing the hate-filled views or actions we learn of far too often in the wake of mass shootings and/or acts of hate-based violent extremism. Callers are encouraged to leave their contact information but may remain anonymous. At this time, the hotline is available in English, Spanish, Cantonese and French.

Hate crimes are illegal acts committed based on a victim’s perceived or actual race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or disability. Beliefs are not hate crimes. Distasteful ideologies, advocacy of political or social positions, use of discriminatory rhetoric, or the general philosophic embrace of biased or hate-filled beliefs are not crimes. Under federal law, investigations may not be based solely on an individual’s beliefs or their protected First Amendment activity.

“With the uptick in horrific mass-shootings and unimaginable acts of racially motivated violent extremism we have seen across our country, people are scared. In Massachusetts, we have recently seen multiple incidents of groups espousing deeply offensive and hurtful ideologies displayed on our streets. A recent act of hateful vandalism at the future PRYDE senior housing facility in Hyde Park threatened burning and death against the LGBTQ+ community. Enough is enough. My office is offering our residents and visitors a new outlet for bringing these critical and concerning issues seeped in bigotry and hatred to the attention of law enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney Rollins. “I am asking people – when you see hate, call this number and let us know. If you have serious concerns about a loved one, a friend, or even an acquaintance, call this number and let us know. We have dedicated resources to these important issues and stand ready to act when necessary. This too is a vitally important form of community policing.”

As part of this effort, U.S. Attorney Rollins also formally announced the leadership of her newly created Civil Rights and Human Trafficking Unit in her Criminal Division, which will focus on prosecuting cases involving civil rights violations, including hate crimes, human trafficking, and police use of excessive force. U.S. Attorney Rollins announced the establishment of this dedicated Unit at her Investiture in April 2022. It is now fully staffed and operational. The Unit will be led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Riley in the role of Unit Chief. Ms. Riley recently served as the Chief of Human Trafficking and Exploitation Unit for the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, where she prosecuted and supervised cases involving human trafficking and online exploitation of youth and adults. During her more than 10 years as an Assistant District Attorney for Suffolk County, Ms. Riley prosecuted over 300 cases and secured successful convictions in over 50 jury trials. In 2015, she was awarded as the Suffolk County Outstanding Prosecutor of the Year. She is a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross and Suffolk University Law School. Ms. Riley will supervise a Unit of three federal prosecutors and exceptional support staff and will work closely with the Office’s existing five-member Civil Rights Unit in the Civil Division, led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Serafyn.

“Protecting Massachusetts residents from violence and hate is the top priority of my administration,” stated U.S. Attorney Rollins. “In Massachusetts, we have a long history of standing up to hate and intolerance. Today, we continue that honored tradition. By establishing this 1-83-END-H8-NOW hotline and a Civil Rights and Human Trafficking Unit, my office is fully equipped and dedicated to fighting hate-fueled criminal activity across our Commonwealth.”” -Massachusetts Department of Justice.

“Great news!

The Transportation Bond Bill Conference Committee which I chaired on behalf of the House of Representatives in my role as Chair of the Transportation Committee, completed our work on Saturday.

On Sunday, both the House and Senate adopted the overall bill which includes my original amendment for special safety extraction equipment necessary to be ready for the start of South Coast Rail service in 2023. The final authorization of $900,000 will allow for the purchase of new specialized safety equipment which would be deployed strategically with the fire departments in New Bedford, Fall River, Taunton and Lakeville.

As is often the case, this great idea started with a meeting request to me from New Bedford Fire Chief Kruger along with members of New Bedford Firefighters Local #841 and the PFFM Legislative Team represented by Billy Cabral. As a group, we reached out to my Bristol County colleagues in the Legislature and the regional fire chiefs in Bristol and Plymouth Counties. The public always benefits from this kind of cooperation and experience.

While every legislator from our region pitched in, key help was provided by Senator Montigny, and my House colleagues Rep. Chris Markey, Rep. Paul Schmid and Rep Chris Hendricks.

The legislation is now on Governor Baker’s desk and I urge him to support this critical part of the bill during his review and expected approval.” -Rep Bill Straus.

Mayor Jon Mitchell has nominated a Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School alumna and Hall of Famer to the high school’s district committee.

Carol Pimentel, in addition to her induction into GNB Voc-Tech’s Athletic Hall of Fame, also has been honored with the high school’s Career Achievement Award. She has had an extensive career in public service for the City and financial management for the University of Massachusetts higher education system. Her career highlights include service as City Auditor from 1986-89; director of the Mayor’s Office of Community Development from 1989-92; senior auditor for the President’s Office of the University of Massachusetts from 1992-93; and budget director and internal audit director roles for UMass-Dartmouth from 1993-2010.

“Carol is a distinguished alumna of what was then New Bedford Vocational High School, and has had an equally successful career in financial management, municipal service and higher education,” Mayor Jon Mitchell said. “Her professional experience as well as several decades of community service make her eminently qualified to serve on the District Committee.”

“Carol Pimentel is an experienced and dedicated public servant who will do an outstanding job of promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion on the GNB Voc-Tech School Committee. I’m confident that my colleagues, along with the community, will be just as impressed as I am with her passion, energy and commitment to our students and their families, the faculty and staff, and the Greater New Bedford area,” said City Councillor Shane Burgo.

Pimentel’s community service includes roles as commissioner for the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women and for the Schooner Ernestina; extensive involvement with the YWCA and YMCA; vice president of the Cape Verdean Universal Development Association; treasurer of the New Bedford Women’s Center; and membership on several UMass entities, including the African American Conference Committee and the Council on Cultural Diversity and Pluralism.

Pimentel’s appointment is subject to City Council approval.

“The Fairhaven Call Firefighters Association and Fairhaven Fire-EMS are extremely saddened to announce the passing of Lieutenant Kevin Polson.

Lt. Polson, started with the Fairhaven Fire Department in 1995, he was a proud call firefighter, Kevin earned a promotion to the rank of Lieutenant and served the Town of Fairhaven for 25+ years. Kevin was a proud Military Veteran, a proud Department of Corrections Officer, and a proud family man!

His family meant the world to him.

Kevin was the owner and operator of Southcoast EMT Training, Kevin and his training put out hundreds of EMTs and paramedics across the Commonwealth! The Southcoast region truly had top of the line Emergency Medical training because of Kevin.

He was the first person to render aid to anyone in need, from helping with education, to just sitting and talking.

Please keep his family, friends and colleagues in your thoughts. Lieutenant Kevin Polson will deeply be missed.

-Fairhaven Call Firefigthers Association
-A Few Serving Many-” -Fairhaven Fire Department.

All photos by the Fairhaven Fire Department: