“From May 27-June 2, our Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section arrested 41 wanted suspects who were on the run in Massachusetts communities.

They face such charges as murder, armed assault with intent to murder, rape, rape of a child, home invasion, carjacking, aggravated assault, indecent assault and battery, and fentanyl trafficking.

#fugitiverecovery
#fugitiveunit
#ArrestWarrant” -Massachusetts State Police.

“-

“It’s graduation season, but this one was extra special for us!!!

The New Bedford, Fall River & Lakeville Fire Departments conducted a merged fire academy (hosted by Fall River). ? ? Recruit Class 31 graduated today and will begin their careers as Firefighters. ?‍?

Welcome to the New Bedford Fire Department:

Nicholas Charest
Kacey Cunha
Lucas DeAraujo
Michael DeSouza
Christopher Faria
Eric Houtman
Joshua Messier
Korinna Tsonis
Corey Viera
Reid Williams

Be proud! Be brave! Be strong!
But most of all, BE PREPARED!!!” -New Bedford Fire Department.

All photos by the New Bedford Fire Department:

“Our annual ‘Fire Fighter Memorial Sunday’ is taking place on June 12th. Each year, the New Bedford Fire Department holds this ceremony to honor our members who have passed.

Please join us at 8:30 AM at the Firefighter’s Memorial located on the corner of Rockdale Avenue and Lake Street, New Bedford.”-New Bedford Fire Department.

The Fairhaven-New Bedford Bridge will be closed from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Saturday June 4th. While locals are used to infrequent bridge closures for repair or maintenance, this time it will be for the filming the movie “Finestkind” starring Academy Award winner Tommy Lee Jones as well as Ben Foster, Toby Wallace & Jenna Ortega.

The crime thriller from Oscar-winner Brian Helgeland, born in Providence and raised in New Bedford, takes place in New Bedford and follows two brothers (Foster and Wallace) who are separated at an early age. The brother’s time apart had them growing up with different lifestyles on opposite sides of the tracks but they reunite after they are forced to make a deal with a Boston Crime Syndicate.

The story focuses on the trials and tribulations of the brothers, testing their fraternal bond, as well as that of their father played by Jones.

The detour will be as follows:

Traffic from the New Bedford side intending to cross the bridge will be detoured to Route 18 northbound, to I-195 eastbound, to Route 240 southbound, and then to Route 6.

The filming means that Route 6 on both sides of the bridge will be heavily trafficked as will Route 18, parts of Route 195 as well as Coggeshall Street.

“Bristol County Savings Bank’s Bristol County Savings Charitable Foundation (BCSCF) marked its 25th Anniversary celebration with the awarding of grants totaling $149,300 to 17 non-profits in the SouthCoast Massachusetts area.

All total, the Bank presented $365,800 in grants to 41 organizations in the New Bedford-Dartmouth/Fall River region, as well as the Taunton/Attleboro and Northern Southcoast regions.

The organizations in the Southcoast that received grants from the Bristol County Savings Charitable Foundation are as follows:

• Alma Del Mar Foundation ($9,500)
• Atlantis Education Foundation, Inc. ($10,000)
• Dennison Memorial Community Center ($10,000)
• E for All ($5,000); Fall River Deaconess Home ($5,000)
• Healthfirst Family Care Center ($25,000)
• Lloyd Center for the Environment ($5,000)
• Lynch Leadership Academy ($15,000)
• Mastery School of Independent Learning ($2,800)
• New Bedford Art Museum ($5,000)
• New Bedford Star Kids Scholarship Program ($10,000)
• Steppingstone, Inc. ($5,000)
• The Salvation Army-Fall River Corps ($5,000)
• The Salvation Army-New Bedford Corps ($5,000)
• The S.E.A.L. Foundation ($12,000)
• Thomas Chew Memorial Boys Club, Inc. ($10,000)
• YWCA of Southeastern Massachusetts ($10,000)

“We couldn’t think of a better want to celebrate the Foundation’s 25th anniversary year than to present grants to non-profits who are making a difference in the SouthCoast and the other communities we serve,” said Patrick Murray, President and CEO of Bristol County Savings Bank and President of the Foundation. Murray added that since the Foundation was formed, more than $26 million has been committed to hundreds of different non-profit organizations. In 2021, the Foundation awarded $2.3 million to various 501(c)(3) organizations.

Bristol County Savings Bank is an active supporter in the communities in which it serves. The Foundation’s purpose is to fund needs that contribute to the economic and the social well-being of the people and institutions located in the greater Taunton/Attleboro region, the greater New Bedford/Dartmouth region, the Greater Fall River region, and the Southcoast region, with particular emphasis in the areas of education and literacy, economic development and housing for the low- to moderate-income population. In 2020, the Foundation added an additional area of focus supporting organizations that are on the frontlines of the pandemic or experiencing hardship as a result.”

“School Resource officer LeeAnne Fisher took some time yesterday with the great 4th grade kids and staff at Alma del Mar to discuss safety, bullying, and being kind.

Great to see you all!” -City of New Bedford Police Department.

City of New Bedford Police Department photo.

City of New Bedford Police Department photo.

City of New Bedford Police Department photo.

The City of New Bedford has roadwork sites for the upcoming week of June 6, 2022 – June 10, 2022, and they are as follows:

Eversource will be working on the gas main relays:

• Main Relay on Phillips Rd from Holly Tree Ln to Route 140
• Main Relay on Nauset St from Mt. Pleasant to Hathaway Rd.

Other:

• City (DPI) will be performing work at the intersection of Rockdale Ave and Allen Street for water main assembly. Detours will be in place during working hours. Water main shutdown to take place, all impacted services will receive 24-hour notice with specific date, time & estimate duration of the shutdown.
• Contractor (PA Landers) will be working on the Union Street-Phase II road reconstruction project (Sixth Street to County Street). Paving of roadway and excavation of sidewalks to take place. Detours and block closures may be required, signage and police details will be in place.
• Contractor (PA Landers) will be working at the following roadways in preparation for top course repaving: Orchard Street (Union St to Arnold St), Weld Street (Summer St to Myrtle St), Gifford St (Morton Ct to terminus), and Valentine Street (intersection of Brock Ave and intersection of W. Rodney French Blvd).
• Contractor (PA Landers) will be working at the MassDOT project, Kings Highway, for road and sidewalk reconstruction along portions of Kings Highway and Tarkiln Hill Rd.
• Contractor (JH Lynch) will continue work at MassDOT project, intersection improvements at Rockdale Ave and Allen Street. Detours may be in place at times. Signage and police details posted for detours.
• Contractor (PA Landers) will be working on sidewalk reconstruction along a portion of Cove Road from Padanaram Avenue to Orchard Street.
• Contractor (PA Landers) will be working on various streets, citywide, completing minor repairs and installations.
• Contractor (INDUS) will be crack sealing various roadways city-wide.
• 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.

** Please note: Contractors will continue to follow guidelines and protocol regarding COVID-19 social distancing while conducting work in construction zone.

Annual count showed lowest number of people experiencing homelessness since 2017.

City officials have released the data from this year’s Point-in-Time Count, an annual citywide outreach effort that was held in February and found the lowest number of people experiencing homelessness since 2017.

The Point-in-Time Count is required by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) and, usually, is conducted across the nation during the last 10 days of January. This year’s count was delayed a month due to January’s COVID-19 surge and instead held on Feb. 23, a date consistent with municipalities and care networks across Massachusetts.

This year’s count identified a total of 370 adults or children in New Bedford experiencing homelessness, just below the 2021 total of 372 and substantially below the 2020 total (398), the 2019 total (433), and the 2018 total (398). The 2017 count identified 352 people experiencing homelessness.

A closer look at the 2022 count shows 61 people were unsheltered, 219 were in emergency shelters and 90 were in transitional housing programs. The fact that no cold weather overflow shelter was open on the night of the Point-in-Time Count due to mild weather conditions, may have shifted individuals from sheltered to unsheltered status when the count was conducted.

The Point-in-Time Count is conducted in New Bedford through the efforts of the New Bedford homeless continuum of care, known as the Homeless Service Providers Network (HSPN). The HSPN is convened and staffed by the City’s Office of Housing and Community Development.

The New Bedford PIT Count helps identify vulnerable groups by conducting surveys that provide demographic characteristics, homeless history, homeless experiences and other vital information. The census counts both sheltered and unsheltered individuals and families experiencing homelessness on a given night. The information collected through the count helps measure New Bedford’s progress toward ending homelessness and helps refine and strategically focus future planning efforts.

“The City’s Point-in-Time Count ensures that individuals and families experiencing homelessness are counted in a respectful and compassionate manner each year. The important data collected in the count informs our efforts to provide vital services for those who need them most,” Mayor Jon Mitchell said.

Jennifer Clarke, deputy director of community development, said: “The Point-in-Time Count provides an important one-day snapshot of those experiencing homelessness in New Bedford in a way that provides clarity about both general demographics and specific characteristics of those being counted. In so doing, New Bedford strengthens its ability to articulate proactive strategies to effectively prevent and end homelessness in our city.”

For more information about the count, please contact Jennifer Clarke at (508) 979-1500 or at Jennifer.Clarke@newbedford-ma.gov; for more information about the approach being taken by the city’s HSPN in addressing homelessness, visit www.nbhspn.com.

“On May 31, The Massachusetts State Police was honored to accept an invitation from the Boston Red Sox to participate in the pregame ceremonies at historic Fenway Park.

On a beautiful spring evening, the Massachusetts State Police Honor Guard joined the Bucci family for Law Enforcement Appreciation Night at the most beloved ballpark in America. The ceremonial first pitch was thrown by Trooper Bucci’s nephew, Landon Holmes.

Landon delivered a frozen rope of a tailing fastball that would have brought down the league’s best hitters swinging. The pitch garnered cheers from the thousands in attendance as Trooper Bucci’s family looked on from behind the mound.

After the first pitch, The MSP Honor Guard carried the colors of our Commonwealth, the nation, and the Massachusetts State Police display during the Star-Spangled Banner. A special thank you to the Boston Red Sox for including the MSP family in such a special event kicking off a wonderful evening of baseball.” -Massachusetts State Police.

All photos by Massachusetts State Police:

“This sweet fawn was found waiting for her mother – who sadly never returned for her. She is just one day old.

While based on the circumstances surrounding this particular fawn, she was truly orphaned, however, this case serves as a good opportunity to remind folks that more often than not, young wildlife should remain where it is found. Wildlife officials say, “If you care, leave it there”.

Well-meaning people often unknowingly separate babies from their mothers, and/or put a young animal’s health in danger when intervening in a wild animal’s natural process of being reared and growing up.

Dedham Police Department photo.

For these reasons, wildlife officials are adamant that humans should stay clear of young wildlife (actually all wildlife in general).

Of course, in cases of true abandonment or orphaned situations such as it was for this little fawn, calls to Animal Control is the recommended course of action, so that he/she may make the appropriate decision, in the best interest of the animal.

Wildlife officials also stress the importance of never feeding wildlife, as it can lead to irreversible harm. Young wildlife cared for by humans often end up attached to those humans with little fear. This can lead to animals wandering into populated areas, an increased risk of encounters with domestic pets, and being hit by cars. Feeding animals may also make them less conscientious of predators which can cost them their lives.

This little orphaned fawn is now in the hands of the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife, after Animal Control personally handed her off to one of the organization’s top Deer Biologists.

The Biologist states that the fawn will head straight into a rehabilitation center this afternoon, and that while she may not ultimately make her way back here to Dedham to live, her chances of a healthy and natural life, are ‘excellent’!” -Dedham Police Department.