The City of New Bedford has roadwork sites for the upcoming week of January 25, 2021 – January 29, 2021 and they are as follows:

Eversource:

• Nelson St from 94 Nelson St to South Second St
• Scott St from Crapo St to County St
• Union St from N. Orchard St to South Sixth St
• Sycamore St from Cedar St to Chestnut St
• Lucas St from Brock Ave to W. Rodney French Blvd

Other:

• Contractor (North Turf) will be on site at Hazelwood Park installing the gutter system for the new bowling greens. City (DPI) to install new field lighting weather permitting.
• Department of Public Infrastructure will be filling potholes city-wide on a continuous basis.
• The contractor (Baystate WinSupply) is scheduled to continue large water meter replacements at various locations throughout the city. There are no anticipated traffic controls for this work.
• Due to ongoing construction at the High Hill Reservoir residents may experience discolored water. The water is safe, and the discoloration will be temporary. We recommend allowing the water to settle for a few hours and then flushing your service line by letting the bathtub run for a few minutes until the water clears.

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

Due to the current COVID-19 situation the Department of Public Infrastructure will be closed to the public entry. Office staff is available to assist by email and telephone.

The New Bedford Chapter of the Prince Henry Society is accepting applications for this year’s scholarship program. Eligible candidates are all graduating seniors seeking an undergraduate or associate’s degree from an accredited college/university, a resident of the Greater New Bedford area, with an emphasis on students of Portuguese descent and with interest in Portuguese culture.

“We encourage local high school seniors to apply for our annual scholarship, which we are proud to offer to Greater New Bedford students,” said Robert Gaspar, Chairman of the Scholarship Committee. “For the past four decades, the Prince Henry Society has awarded more than $1 million in scholarships to more than 1,000 deserving high school graduates. We are glad to continue our strong commitment to education in our community.”

Applications are available in the guidance offices of New Bedford High School, Dartmouth High School, Wareham High School, Apponequet Regional High School, Old Rochester Regional High School, Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School, Fairhaven High School, Old Colony Vocational High School, and Bishop Stang High School.

Applications are also available online at www.princehenrysociety.org or by calling Scholarship Committee Chairman Robert Gaspar at 508-998-2012.

Deadline for return of all applications is April 1, 2021.

Buttonwood Park Zoological Society is asking the SouthCoast to “Share the Love” this winter, with a fundraiser which launched Thursday, January 14, 2021. Funds raised between then and Sunday, March 14, 2021 will help ensure that Buttonwood Park Zoo remains a bright spot for families across the SouthCoast while continuing to provide world-class education, conservation and animal care programming.

“We are asking individuals and organizations to put their hearts out there in support of BPZOO, and show they ’share the love‘ for animals, nature and our community,” said “Share the Love” Campaign Chair and BPZS Board Member, Patrice Coholan. “It has been a tough year for so many and, in addition to raising meaningful funding for the Zoo, we want to spread a message of love, hope and ‘pawsitivity’ across the SouthCoast.”

Buttonwood Park Zoo photo.

For a minimum donation of $10, BPZOO supporters can help spread “pawsitivity” and love by placing a paw print adorned heart-shaped lawn sign at their home or business. Donations can be made by texting LOVEBPZOO to 41444, or visiting bpzoo.org. Signs are available for pick up at the Zoo 9:00 am – 3:15 pm, seven days a week.

“Throughout the course of this pandemic, guests to BPZOO have consistently expressed their appreciation for having a safe and tranquil place where their families can connect with nature,” said Buttonwood Park Zoo Director Keith Lovett. “Spending time with animals has been proven to reduce stress in people and the Zoo has been able to offer an outdoor environment where people can relax in the presence of amazing wildlife.”

For more information about the “Share the Love” Campaign, or other ways to support BPZOO’s education and conservation initiatives locally and globally, visit bpzoo.org.

Buttonwood Park Zoo is located at 425 Hawthorn Street in New Bedford and is open from 9:00 am until 4:00 pm daily throughout the winter.

Buttonwood Park Zoo photo.

“HELPING OTHERS:

Many MSP Troopers give back to their communities in their private lives. One of them is Trooper Samantha Stuckey, who is assigned to Troop H, who founded an organization called Sistahs With Substance, a non-profit organization comprised of like-minded women passionate about trying to make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate than them.

The members are professional women with families of their own who strive to help others through charitable activities, fundraising, and volunteering. They seek to help people struggling with situations such as homelessness, abuse, cancer and other medical issues by offering food, clothing donations, and other assistance or resources.

Sistahs With Substance is currently conducting its first annual Sock Drive. They are collecting new, still-in-original-packaging, white crew socks for men, women and children.

Anyone wishing to donate may email the group at siswithsub@gmail.com. We are proud of Trooper Stuckey for her commitment to helping others both on and off duty!”-.

em>Massachusetts State Police photo.

“Milestone:

Please join Chief Levesque and the members of the Dartmouth Police Department, as we congratulate Officer Andrew Wheaton on his recent retirement.

Throughout his distinguished career, Officer Wheaton served in numerous capacities on the department, most notably of which was as a firearms instructor.

Enjoy the next chapter in your life Andy. You certainly deserve it!”-Dartmouth Police Department.

“Our staff met up with Mike Reardon from Ocean State Job Lot yesterday to receive a very generous donation of protective masks, hand sanitizer, and sanitizing wipes to be distributed to our first responders.

Keeping our members and community safe is our #1 priority. A special thanks to Mike and to all who made this donation possible!”

“Congratulations to Lt. Fernando Pimental on his retirement from the Sheriff’s Office after 30 years of dedicated service.

From his days behind the wall as a corrections officer to his time in our public programs team, Freddy has been a friend and mentor to countless folks in his decades at the BCSO. He led our Project Lifesaver program and took hundreds of classes and thousands of students on tours of the jail through the Project SLAM program.

Two things you can say about Freddy and his time at the BCSO: No one worked more details at Great Woods, and he always had a smile on his face and a kind word to say about his friends and colleagues.

Congrats Freddy and good luck!”-Bristol County Sheriff’s Office.

“Congratulations and best of luck to Capt. Bobby Johnson, who officially walked out the door of the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office for the last time on Thursday as he heads into retirement after 30 years on the job.

Many people around Bristol County know Capt. Johnson for his years leading our inmate Community Work Program, where he made annual visits to The Salvation Army, Feast of the Blessed Sacrament, Councils on Aging and more as he directed a team of volunteer inmates doing community service for decades.

Back at the office, Capt. Johnson was one of the nicest, most respected people on our team, and someone who always took the time to say hello or offer advice and guidance to a younger officer.

On behalf of Sheriff Hodgson, Supt. Souza and the rest of the BCSO, we wish Bobby nothing but the best. Happy Retirement Captain!”-Bristol County Sheriff’s Office.

Bristol County Sheriff’s Office photo.

The City of New Bedford has roadwork sites for the upcoming week of January 19, 2021 – January 22, 2021 and they are as follows:

Eversource: (Work to begin 1-19-2021)

• Bliss St from Dartmouth Town Line to Bolton St
• Nelson St from 94 Nelson St to South Second St
• Union St from Orchard St to South Sixth St
• Sycamore St from Cedar St to Chestnut St
• Lucas St from Brock Ave to W. Rodney French Blvd
• Hathaway St from Nauset St to North Property line x 480 Mt. Pleasant

Other:

• Contractor (North Turf) will be on site at Hazelwood Park installing the gutter system for the new bowling greens.
• Department of Public Infrastructure will be filling potholes city-wide on a continuous basis.
• The contractor (Baystate WinSupply) is scheduled to continue large water meter replacements at various locations throughout the city. There are no anticipated traffic controls for this work.
• Due to ongoing construction at the High Hill Reservoir residents may experience discolored water. The water is safe, and the discoloration will be temporary. We recommend allowing the water to settle for a few hours and then flushing your service line by letting the bathtub run for a few minutes until the water clears.

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

Due to the current COVID-19 situation the Department of Public Infrastructure will be closed to the public entry. Office staff is available to assist by email and telephone.

As distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine ramps up across the nation, Massachusetts sheriffs are preparing to inoculate the incarcerated individuals in their custody and their correctional staff.

Beginning on Jan. 18, correctional facilities will begin their part of the vaccination plan for congregate care settings, in accordance with the timeline established by the Baker-Polito Administration and the Department of Public Health in consultation with the Massachusetts Vaccine Advisory Group. Members of the incarcerated population and correctional officers fall within the Phase One Priority, (D): Congregate Care, which includes both shelters and correctional institutions. Both inmates and correctional staff will be vaccinated concurrently.

“We have been working diligently in collaboration with the Baker Administration, the Department of Public Health, the Vaccine Advisory Group and our resident infectious disease specialist Dr. Alysse Wurcel to insure that we are fully prepared for this crucial next step,” said newly-elected President of the Massachusetts Sheriff’s Association and Suffolk County Sheriff, Steven W. Tompkins. “Our mandate is for the safe custody and care of those remanded to us by the courts, but we also have a critical responsibility for the health and safety of the men and women who deliver on that mandate. These vaccinations protect both our incarcerated populations and the people who oversee their safety, which ultimately protects the health and safety of the general public.”
Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi, the new vice president of the MSA, said he is hopeful that the rollout of the vaccine to congregate care settings in Massachusetts will mark a true turning point in the pandemic.

“I think it’s important that correctional staff and the people in our care and custody are offered the COVID vaccine at the same time, not only from a medical standpoint to maximize immunity, but to build trust,” Cocchi said. “The vaccine is the subject of some skepticism, but I am encouraged by the science. And I’m hopeful that our staff and the people whose health and safety we are responsible for will continue to be accepting of it through education and seeing others around them be inoculated.”

Over the past several weeks, working closely with the Department of Public Health and in consultation with Dr. Wurcel, staff have prepared for the vaccination roll out. To date, nearly 1,000 health care professionals and COVID-facing staff have been vaccinated within the 14 Sheriffs’ Offices in accordance with Phase One (A) as outlined by the Department of Public Health, classifying these correctional health care professionals alongside their peers working in hospitals, community health centers and long-term care facilities.

“In my discussions with my patients who are incarcerated, several people are interested in the vaccine, and others are interested but have questions,” said Dr. Wurcel. “Even with all of the prevention, testing and mitigation strategies in place, people who are in jail and prison represent one of the highest risk populations. I am excited to work closely with the sheriffs to plan an equitable roll-out of the vaccine to their staff and all of the people in custody.”
 
While the FDA has issued emergency use authorizations for both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, correctional facilities have been receiving vaccines from Moderna, which is headquartered in Cambridge with a production facility in Norwood.

Once the vaccination of incarcerated individuals and correctional staff commences, it will continue with education around the benefits and risks of the vaccine, and be offered to new inmates and staff as requested.