Live with Dr. John Podkowa, NP Hannah Raymond with guest Dr. Mello take your questions about health and wellness.
Need to ask a doctor a question about your health but don’t have an appointment? Southcoast Health’s Dr. John Podkowa takes your health questions live on Health+ Weekly each Wednesday at 7 pm. Submit questions in the comment section.
Due to the frigid temperatures expected throughout the evening the overflow will be opened again tonight. All inquiries can be forwarded to Sister Rose House and 1-800-homeless.
Join The LGBTQ Voice for their fourth episode! In this episode, we will chat with parents with LGBTQ children.
Catch The LGBTQ Voice on New Bedford Guide’s Facebook page every Tuesday at 7pm.
PACE is seeking candidates for the PACE Board of Directors. Candidates will be elected to serve as Low Income representatives through a new election process during the month of March. Candidates must be residents of the City of New Bedford, be at least 18 years old and submit a candidate profile before February 16, 2018 The election of candidates to the PACE Board will occur during the month of March as PACE clients and other low income City residents will be voting at the Main Office of PACE at 166 William Street during regular business hours. Any low income resident of New Bedford is eligible to vote in this new election process and may request a ballot any time during regular business hours during the month of March. Proof of low income status is required for low income voters who are not clients of a PACE program. Low Income Board representatives are eligible for a $25 stipend for each Board meeting attended to cover transportation and child care costs.
Candidate Profile forms can be obtained at the Main Office of PACE, at 166 William Street during regular business hours. Proof of residency of New Bedford is required. Completed Candidate Profiles must be received by the PACE Election Committee, located at 166 William Street, New Bedford by 4 PM on Wednesday, February16, 2018. All qualified candidates for election will be placed on a ballot with their Candidate Profile. Candidates receiving the highest number of votes will be elected to serve on the PACE Board.
People Acting In Community Endeavors Inc., (PACE) The Community Action Agency for the Greater New Bedford Area, is entering its thirty sixth year of service to the community. The Agency serves the towns of Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester as well as the city of New Bedford.
PACE, as it is known today, was incorporated on May 2, 1982, as a private
Not For Profit Organization. The community selected the Board of Directors, with the mission of establishing an organization that would advocate for low-income people and aggressively seek out funding to reduce the problems that the low-income population in New Bedford. The Board oversees the work of the Agency and charts its course for the future.
PACE offers FREE services to the community through its Programs including:
– Housing Search for the homeless or tenancy issues.
– Fuel Assistance for payment assistance associated with home heating bills
– Emergency Food Bank
– Head Start for income eligible families for early care educational instruction
– Child Care Works for educational development and Child Care Services
– The Family Center for parent and family support services
– Youth Build for “at risk youth” focusing on educational and community service
– Health Access Services for the uninsured
– Tax Assistance Program through VITA
– The Clemente Course in the Humanities
– Grassroots support for other community organizations
PACE Community Housing Corp., which was created for smaller housing development projects and home ownership opportunities for low-income people
PACE employs a staff of 175 in addition to over 100 volunteers, and serves more than 40,000 clients who seek PACE services yearly with an annual budget in excess of $65,000,000.00.!
According to Bruce Morell, PACE Executive Director; “The Board of Directors has developed a new process to elect representatives of the low income population to serve on our Board of Directors. Board members with direct contact to the people we serve, or who are recipients of a PACE service themselves, are valuable in providing direction and feedback about the services we provide in the community. This election process should be very exciting as we expect that there will be many low income individuals voting for their own representatives to the Board. PACE Board Members serve their community and the Agency with pride and distinction with a real commitment to the clients who put their trust in the Organization to assist them with their needs. We are very proud of our Board of Directors”.
Elections will be held month long in March 2018 at the PACE Main Office at 166 William Street, New Bedford during regular business hours.
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CALL PACE; 508-999-9920
Effective immediately, New Bedford residents can now utilize two BayCoast Bank Interactive Teller Machine (ITM) locations for certain payments. Residents who are unable to come to City Hall during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) can take advantage of this option to make payments at BayCoast’s ITM locations at 23 Elm Street in New Bedford, 714 Dartmouth Street in Dartmouth, or at any of its other ITM locations in Fall River, Seekonk, Attleboro, and Little Compton, RI. Visit www.baycoastbank.com or call 508-678-7641 or 888-806-2872 for more information.
The ITMs accept cash or checks; the ITMs combine the convenience of a traditional ATM with the personal service of banking for customers, allowing the customer to see and talk to a real person through a video monitor.
“We’re happy to help make tax payments easier for New Bedford residents, by accepting payments at our Interactive Teller Machines,” said Ann Ramos-Desrosiers, Chief Community Banking Officer at BayCoast. “Now residents can make their payments as early as 7 a.m. and as late as 7 p.m. on weekdays, and on Saturdays between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. at our Elm Street branch – or any of our ITMs throughout the Southcoast.”
“BayCoast Bank has served as an alternate payment center for the residents of the City of New Bedford for many years,” said Renee Fernandes, Treasurer-Collector for the City. “The ability to utilize the new ITM technology for City payments, especially when city offices are closed, provides our customers with greater flexibility.”
PAY: $16.45hr – $22.57hr
Inspects and troubleshoots gasoline internal combustion engine-powered equipment; performs tune-ups; repairs electrical systems; adjusts and replaces brakes, clutches and carburetors; performs front-end work as needed for repairs. Removes and replaces clutches and transmissions; removes and disassembles gasoline engines; replaces faulty or worn parts. Also performs duties on large heavy equipment such as dump trucks, garbage packers, front-end loaders and backhoes.
Subject to call for emergency work during any given twenty-four hour work period, such as any emergency that the Commissioner feels would impair the safety of the general public, i.e. ice or snowstorms.
High school graduate or GED equivalent and two years of full-time paid experience in the field of repairing heavy equipment; or any equivalent combination of education and experience.
Knowledge of job hazards, handling of equipment, special tools and test equipment. Thoroughly familiar with hand and power tool safe-working methods. Ability to write detailed reports, and prepare, comprehend and evaluate records. Ability to use sound judgment in applying knowledge and skills in all types of situations. Ability to work well with co-workers.
Possession of a valid Massachusetts driver’s license and good driving record.
Motorized vehicles for mechanical testing purposes, power and hand tools, and equipment for vehicle and mechanical system work; mechanic’s tools including jacks, hydraulic lifts, air tools and other tools required for minor repairs and routine maintenance of motorized vehicles; electrical vehicle diagnostic equipment.
For application/complete job description, please visit www.newbedford-ma.gov or contact the Personnel Dept., 133 William St., Room 212, 508-979-1444. Applications will be accepted until a suitable candidate is found. EEO
New Bedford has a residency requirement.
PAY: $17.16hr – $23.82hr
Performs skilled repairs of various types of diesel equipment, including electrical, fuel, ejector and ignition problems. Determines repair costs. Disassembles, overhauls, removes and replaces all types of engines. Assembles and disassembles transmissions. Performs other preventive maintenance work such as truck replacements and components, brake jobs and miscellaneous tasks related to the work.
Two years of full-time paid experience in the field of repairing heavy equipment. Knowledge of various hydraulic systems and clutch replacements/components. Knowledge of job hazards, handling of equipment, special tools and test equipment. Must be fully capable of writing detail reports and capable of estimating repair costs. Must have the ability to use sound judgment in applying knowledge and skills in all types of situations. Must have the proper Registry classification for road test repaired equipment and be physically fit to perform the duties of this position.
Possession of a valid Massachusetts driver’s license with good driving record. Possession of or ability to obtain Class B CDL within six months from date of hire. Subject to call for emergency work during any given twenty-four hour work period, as determined by the Commissioner.
For application/complete job description, please visit www.newbedford-ma.gov or contact the Personnel Dept., 133 William St., Room 212, 508-979-1444. Applications will be accepted until a suitable candidate is found. EEO
New Bedford has a residency requirement.
On Friday, January 26th at 10:45 AM, the Buttonwood Park Zoo will introduce Bernardo, a 16 year-old male sloth, to his new home in the Zoo’s Rainforests, Rivers & Reefs building. Zoo Director, Keith Lovett along with animal care staff have given Bernardo a clean bill of health and are now ready to introduce him to his new home in the building’s Brazil habitat. Rainforests, Rivers & Reefs sponsored by Stoico/FIRSTFED introduces guests to unique species found in the rainforests and rivers of South America through four naturalistic, multi-species habitats representing countries of South America. Bernardo is the first sloth to call the Buttonwood Park Zoo home.
Bernardo arrived at the Zoo in mid-December and has been under quarantine, a process that is implemented in zoos and aquariums worldwide to ensure the health of existing species. All new arrivals to the Zoo undergo a thirty-day quarantine or observation period which includes examinations and diagnostic tests. The quarantine process provides Zoo staff the opportunity to assess the health of the incoming animal and ensure the health and safety of those already residing at the Zoo. It also allows the animal to acclimate to their new home and for animal care staff to observe their behaviors and develop a relationship.
Bernardo joins the Buttonwood Park Zoo as part of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums Species Survival Plan (SSP). Zoo staff will work with AZA to develop a breeding program at the Zoo to ensure a healthy and genetically diverse population both in captivity and in the wild.
New Bedford City Councillor at-Large Brian Gomes filed the following motion to be presented at the New Bedford City Council session scheduled for 25 January, 2018:
Councillor Gomes, requesting, that the Committee on Public Safety and Neighborhoods, meet with a Representative from the Mayor’s Office, Police Chief Cordeiro, the Community Development Director Patrick Sullivan, the President of Neighborhoods United and Chairs from neighborhood crime watch groups from across the City, for the purposes of discussing the creation of new neighborhood crime watch signs; these new signs will be placed in all present areas that have crime watch groups and awarded to new neighborhood crime watch groups that organize and participate in making their neighborhoods safer across the City.
A former Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) clerk was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for her role in a scheme to produce false identification documents.
Annette Gracia, 37, of Boston, was sentenced to one year and one day in prison and two years of supervised release. In October 2017, Gracia and co-conspirators Evelyn Medina, 56, of Boston; Kimberly Jordan, 33, of Randolph; David Brimage, 46, of Boston; and Bivian Yohanny Brea, 41, of Boston, agreed to plead guilty to one count of producing without lawful authority an identification document or a false identification document. In December 2017, Angel Miguel Beltre Tejada, 32, a Dominican national illegally residing in Jamaica Plain, was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of aggravated identity theft. Tejada will be subject to deportation proceedings upon completion of any sentence imposed.
In October 2015, law enforcement received an anonymous letter alleging that a corrupt RMV employee was providing Massachusetts identifications and drivers’ licenses to individuals who were using false identifications. An investigation revealed that several Haymarket RMV clerks – Medina, Gracia, Jordan, and Brimage – were working with Brea and Tejada to fraudulently provide Massachusetts licenses and identification cards to illegal aliens for cash.
The scheme involved several steps. Tejada and Brea would obtain identification documents belonging to United States citizens in Puerto Rico and sell them to clients who were seeking legitimate identities in Massachusetts. These clients included illegal aliens, individuals who were previously deported, and an individual who admitted to previously facing drug charges. Tejada would receive several hundred dollars in cash each time he sold identification documents. Brea received up to $2,700 per identity for her role in the scheme, which included helping clients obtain the documents and facilitating their acquisition of Massachusetts identity documents.
Typically, Brea and the client brought the stolen identities to the Haymarket RMV, where Medina, Gracia, Jordan, and/or Brimage would accept hundreds of dollars in cash to illegally issue authentic RMV documents, including Massachusetts licenses and ID cards. The clerks also accepted bribes to use the RMV’s system to run queries, including Social Security number audits, to confirm that the identities the clients were stealing actually belonged to verifiable individuals.
On Jan. 17, 2018, Medina was sentenced to 15 months in prison and two years of supervised release.