The following is New Bedford’s proposed ordinance on use of marijuana in public submitted to the New Bedford City Council for a second reading on 14 December, 2017:

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By Julie Lavoie

First, let me congratulate those members who have sought and won re-election. As you all know, it was a very energizing election and in some races, it was closer than some of those running would have liked.

Second, I’d like to bring up the elephant in the room. We are facing a very difficult battle ahead in the search for the right candidate to lead our schools as superintendent. If you are not aware, the reputation for this district is not favorable among those looking to fill similar positions. This leads us to a smaller pool of candidates and even smaller of those who be the right fit for the job. This is deeply concerning.

Currently we have a situation which directly hampers any ability we have in finding the right match for our district. We have an outgoing superintendent that has taken out a no trespass order against an incoming committee member. Without presuming guilt or innocence on either side, if anyone felt there was sufficient fear for their personal safety, a no trespass order is not at all appropriate or even effective. Under a no trespass order any school official can summon Mr. Oliveira at any time to any place. According to FERPA, even a parent volunteer is considered a school official. Instead, the allegations should be presented to a judge with due process involved and the appropriate order put in place if the case has any merit. To be blunt, without due process and the presentation of that merit, this no trespass order gives the direct appearance of retaliation. And since perception is truth, that’s not something we want associated in any way with our district.

Regardless, this pivotal time for our district. This trespass order and the chaos surrounding it only serve as a major distraction from the serious work we have before us and furthers the already poor reputation we have as a district. The longer this plays out, the less effective we become at filing the position with a qualified candidate and the less qualified people are attracted to the position. In the end, I fear that this circus will only lead to yet another poor candidate in place and our children’s education will be no better for it.

At this time, I’m asking you to vote to remove the trespass order initiated by the superintendent against Mr. Oliveira. If there is sufficient rationale for her allegations she should pursue it in court like everyone else as any form of protection order. I’m asking you as a highly educated parent, as a resident who is invested in this city and as someone who wants the same thing everyone else does. Vacate the order so that we can all stop talking about it and get back to work on more important issues.

New Bedford mayor Jon Mitchell has submitted three ordinances regarding outdoor café permits to be reviewed by the City Council during their December 14, 2017, meeting.

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Fire officials urge people to make fire safety an important part of planning for their holiday celebrations because more home fires happen on December 25 than any other single day in Massachusetts except Thanksgiving. “Firefighters are not the kind of guests you want during the winter holidays, so please make fire safety part of your celebrations,” said State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey. “Start by making sure you have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms on every level of your home,” he said.

Cooking Leading Cause
Ostroskey said, “Cooking is the leading cause of fires in the home and the holiday season is no exception. It is important to remember two key things: Stand by Your Pan to prevent cooking fires and to Put a Lid on It if one does occur.” “Leaving cooking unattended, even for a minute, is the leading cause of fires,” said Ostroskey. When baking, use a timer, and stay nearby.

· On December 21, 2016, at 5:29 p.m., the Framingham Fire Department was called to a cooking fire in an apartment building. The fire was started when cooking oil on top of the stove ignited and extended to the cabinets. Smoke alarms were present and alerted the occupants and no one was injured at this fire. A single sprinkler head activated and extinguished the fire. The total estimated dollar loss was $8,000.

· On Christmas Day 2016, at 8:00 a.m., the Brockton Fire Department was called to a cooking fire in a two-family home. The cause was arcing from the electric stove. The home had no smoke alarms or sprinklers but fortunately no one was injured. The estimated dollar loss was $20,000.

Heating Second Leading Cause of Holiday Season Fires
Heating is the second leading cause of home fires during the holiday season. “Keep warm and keep safe by having the furnace and chimney checked by professionals, and when heating with wood, dispose of the ashes in a lidded metal ashcan outside the home,” reminded Ostroskey. A single ember can stay hot and undetected for days. Use the three foot rule and keep combustibles, like holiday decorations, three feet away from heat sources.

· On December 16, 2016, at 6:22 a.m., the Holliston Fire Department was called to a heating fire in a single-family home. The homeowners were using a woodstove and the fire is believed to have started in the chimney. Working smoke alarms alerted the occupants and no one was injured at this fire. The building was not sprinklered and the total estimated dollar loss from this fire was $325,000.

Heating Leading Source of CO in the Home
Heating is also the leading cause of carbon monoxide poisoning in the home and sadly we lost a father and son in Acushnet on December 7, 2016. They were overcome by the invisible fumes from a leaky furnace and had no carbon monoxide alarms in the home to warn them. Both smoke and CO alarms are required in Massachusetts homes.

Burn Candles inside a 1-Foot Circle of Safety
State Fire Marshal Ostroskey said, “Many of the holidays celebrated at this time of year use candles. Sadly, the increased candle use at this time of year also causes a boost in candle fires.” Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve are among the December days when the most candle fires occur. Consider using battery-operated candles instead, especially if you have children or pets.

· On Christmas Eve, December 24, 2016, at 12:54 p.m., the Needham Fire Department was called to a candle fire in a mudroom in a single-family home. The candle ignited a nearby jacket. No one was injured at this fire. Alarms were present but it was undetermined if they operated. The building was not sprinklered and damages were estimated to be $5,000.

· On Christmas Day, December 25, 2016, at 10:09 p.m., the Southampton Fire Department was called to a candle fire in the kitchen of a single-family home. The candle ignited a nearby decoration. Alarms were present and operated and no one was injured at this fire. The building was not sprinklered and damages were estimated to be $100,000.

Christmas Tree Safety Tips
Although Christmas tree fires are rare these days, they are very serious when they do occur. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, one-third of home Christmas tree fires are caused by electrical problems and one-quarter start when the tree is placed too close to a heat source such as a fireplace, woodstove, radiator or space heater. Ostroskey said, “Always keep your Christmas trees watered, place it well away from a heat source, and dispose of them promptly after the holidays.”

For more information on fire safety, contact your local fire department or the Department of Fire Services at 1-877-9-NO FIRE or on-line at http://www.mass.gov/dfs and search on Winter Holiday Safety.

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Throughout the entire 2017 NFL season, we’ve been told that Colin Kaepernick should be playing on a NFL team. Anytime a starting quarterback goes down to injury, ESPN and people who rarely watch the NFL push Colin Kaepernick as the savior. Kaepernick fans are already pushing for Philadelphia Eagles to sign Kaepernick due to Carson Wentz’s injury. Any true NFL fan not blinded by politics knows better.

Colin Kaepernick went 1-10 last year, but his fans blame it on the terrible 49ers team. Really? Does anyone remember the last time a great, or even a very good quarterback in their prime, went 1-10? If so, please enlighten me.

In the past two weeks, Jimmy Garoppolo put the debate to rest by going 2-0 with ironically a 49ers team that was 1-10 in the season. This is a quarterback that was traded by the New England Patriots to the 49ers and had just a few weeks to learn a playbook that Colin Kaepernick had years to perfect. Today’s 49ers are much worse of a team today than they were in 2016. Can you name a starting wide receiver on the 49ers? I’ll help you out. Their top receivers are Aldrick Robinson and Marquise Goodwin, far from household names. Robinson is listed on their depth charts as their #1 receiver with 14 total receptions this year and Goodwin has 35. The tallest of the two is 5’10.

Jimmy Garoppolo is the kind of quarterback NFL teams covet – someone who wins games and puts his team first. You won’t see him taking politics or stands on the field or on the sidelines. Colin Kaepernick went 1-10 last year and put his politics first and why he’s without a team, a nightmare for team owners and coaches. No owner or coach will hire a back-up quarterback with a 1-10 record that will be a major distraction to a team.

Everyone should be thankful to Jimmy G for putting the Colin Kaepernick debate to rest. I wish Colin Kaepernick all the best in his political career.

The Student Council at Bishop Stang sponsored the annual Thanksgiving Drive to provide dinner for families in the community. Homeroom representatives collected non-perishable food item; Student Council members carved the turkeys, peeled potatoes and delivered the meals; and parents and faculty helped cook the turkeys. Donations were received from the Melissa Duarte Foundation and Club Madeirense S.S. Sacramento, Inc.

This year, Student Council was able to assemble 20 Thanksgiving dinner baskets for St. Vincent’s Home in Fall River and feed over 300 people with donations of food to Catholic Social Services. We are blessed to be able to continue the tradition every year because of the generosity of our donors and volunteers.

A New Bedford man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston for aiding and abetting the distribution of methamphetamine.

Alexander Gomes, 27, pleaded guilty today to one count of aiding and abetting the distribution of methamphetamine. U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for March 14, 2018.

On Dec. 12, 2016, Gomes accompanied co-defendant Peter Lobo to a meeting with an undercover agent posing as a Maine methamphetamine dealer. At that meeting, Lobo distributed a half pound sample of methamphetamine to the agent. Lobo introduced Gomes to the undercover agent so that Gomes could conduct drug business when Lobo was out of town. Two days later, Gomes and Lobo meet the agent again, and the agent paid Lobo $4,000 for the half pound, and Lobo gave an additional four pounds of methamphetamine to the agent. Lobo and Gomes were arrested shortly after they began to drive away. At the time of their arrest, Lobo had $3,000 in his pocket and Gomes had $1,000 hidden in his sock. Subsequent drug analysis determined that the substance consisted of approximately 1,777 grams of 99% pure d-methamphetamine hydrochloride, also known as “Ice.”

Lobo pleaded guilty to distributing methamphetamine, and on Nov. 29, 2017, he was sentenced to five years in prison.

Gomes faces a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, a minimum of three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb and Michael J. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Office, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Theodore B. Heinrich of Weinreb’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.

A 27-year-old Fall River man who allegedly threw a punch during a bar fight in Fall River last Friday that led to the death of a 37-year-old Assonet man, has turned himself in to authorities and will be arraigned on a charge of Manslaughter in Fall River District Court later this afternoon.

On Friday, December 8 at around 2 am, Fall River Police responded to the Belmont Club for a report of a fight at the bar. Upon arrival, police located the victim as he was regaining consciousness. The victim was identified as Bryce Sabol, 37, of Assonet. (The victim previously resided in Leominster)

Mr. Sabol was transported to Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River before being transferred to Rhode Island Hospital. While at Rhode Island Hospital, the victim again lost consciousness and, although still on a ventilator awaiting organ harvesting for donation, was declared deceased on December 9.

The investigation revealed the victim and another man got into a verbal argument inside the bar and took the fight outside. While the victim and the other man were engaged in a fight, witnesses reported seeing the defendant, Pholla Mao, 27, of Fall River, approach Mr. Sabol from the side and punch him once in the head. The victim was knocked off his feet and was unconscious for a matter of minutes prior to the arrival of police on scene.

The defendant turned himself in at the Fall River District Court this afternoon. He will be arraigned sometime after 2 pm today on a charge of Manslaughter.

The arraignment will be handled by Assistant District Attorney Jason Mohan.

The ongoing investigation is being conducted by detectives from the Fall River Police Department’s Major Crimes Division and State Police Troopers assigned to District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn’s office.

The Massachusetts State Police Homeland Security Division, including our Fusion Center, is receiving updates from law enforcement authorities in New York regarding this morning’s bomb detonation. We will continue to monitor developments and take appropriate action if required. Troopers across the state, per standard operating procedure, remain vigilant for any signs of suspicious behavior. Members of the public are reminded to call police immediately if they see anyone or anything suspicious or apparently out of place for their surroundings.