Though we’ll have pleasant temperatures that hover in the mid-60s all weekend, the mornings and evenings will be brisk and we’ll be in the mid-40s. Perfect for snuggling on the couch or with a furry friend. Maybe even throw a log on a fire. Saturday we’ll have some showers, but they won’t persist all day. Otherwise, there will be plenty of sunshine. This is the time of years when the harvest festivals stop popping up.

As always, click on the title for more or detailed information on the event. Most of the events were pulled from our event calendar where you can find hundreds of local area events each month. The event calendar is FREE, so if you are a local business, and not taking advantage of FREE publicity, shame on you! Are you a local business and want to sponsor this high traffic, weekend guide? Contact info@newbedfordguide.com for more details. Have an event to add? Add it here. Know of another event this weekend? Post a reply!

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Friday, September 29th

Pirates & Privateers Presentation (Fairhaven) (10:00am)
Hear tales of pirates, Revolutionary War era privateers, and historical Fort Phoenix, presented by Greybeard, an 18th century gunner from the privateer sloop Broome, Abigail Black, a ship’s doctor who grows herbal remedies in her village garden when she’s not at sea, and Andrew the Powder Monkey, a boy who knows how to load and fire a cannon. Learn which things really just myths based on fiction, the difference between pirates and “legal” privateers, and why grog wasn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

Lawler Branch Scrabble Scramble (1:00pm-4:00pm)
Love to play Scrabble? Join a bunch of other fans at the Scrabble Scramble. Make new friends. Francis J. Lawler Branch Library, 745 Rockdale Ave., New Bedford.

Opioid Awareness with Michael Boticelli (2:30pm-4:30pm)
Michael Botticelli, former Director of National Drug Control under President Obama will be in New Bedford to speak at the Greater New Bedford Community Health Center on September 29th at 2:30pm. The event is in partnership with Jon Mitchell and Greater New Bedford Opioid Task Force. Listen to his inspiring story and his insight into how we can turn the tide on the opioid crisis facing our community and our country. Greater New Bedford Community Health Center, 874 Purchase Street, New Bedford.

Rebecca Correia – Pub Side Acoustic at The Greasy Luck Brewpub (6:30pm-9:00pm)
Downtown New Bedford’s hottest newest destination. The brewpub and event venue is set within a former bank building featuring original vault doors and a truly historic feel. Greasy Luck features in-house brewing, an expansive menu, and The Vault Room, a function area for a local events. The Greasy Luck Brewpub, 791 Purchase St. New Bedford.

Brian Wilson Presents Pet Sounds (8:00pm)
Join GRAMMY® Award-winner Brian Wilson as he extends his critically-acclaimed Pet Sounds 50th Anniversary World Tour to celebrate the iconic album for a final time. Wilson and his band, joined by former bandmates Al Jardine and Blondie Chaplin, have performed to captivated audiences in sold-out venues all over the world, delivering Pet Sounds in its entirety, as well as hits and fan favorites that span his 54-year career with The Beach Boys and as a solo artist. Wilson brings one of the most influential albums, hailed as one of the greatest American songbooks of all time, for a once-in-a-lifetime performance you just can’t miss. Zeiterion Theater.

Batteries Not Included – Live in the Vault at The Greasy Luck Brewpub (9:30pm-1:00am)
Downtown New Bedford’s hottest newest destination. The brewpub and event venue is set within a former bank building featuring original vault doors and a truly historic feel. Greasy Luck features in-house brewing, an expansive menu, and The Vault Room, a function area for a local events. The Greasy Luck Brewpub, 791 Purchase St. New Bedford.

Saturday, September 30th

Haunting for Shriners Halloween Sale & Estate Sale! (8:00am-5:00pm)
All good things must come to an end including Haunting for Shriners. Everything must go! Hundreds of items for sale! Halloween props and decorations, home goods, decorations, electronics, and more! Reasonable offers accepted! Please share with friends, family, home haunters, Halloween enthusiasts. professional haunters, and others! For more information hauntingforshriners@gmail.com. Haunting for Shriners Hospitals for Children, 57 Fort Street, Fairhaven, MA.

Day of Free Dental Care (8:00am-3:00pm)
Free Dental Cleaning, Extraction, or Filling for adults over 18 years of age or older. Registration will begin at 7:30am. Care is provided on a first come, first serve basis. Southcoast Smiles & Perfect Smiles, 185 Highland Ave., Seekonk, MA.

Rise And Shine Yoga At Fort Phoenix (8:30am-9:30am)
Join South Coast Yoga every Saturday morning at Fort Phoenix to start your weekend with an energizing yoga practice! Class is only a $5 drop in, or you can purchase a class card. Class incorporates movement, meditation, balance and strength. This is open to all levels, newbies to advanced. Please bring a mat/towel and water. The beginning of the season can be chilly, so layers are good! Children are welcome, as long as they can sit quietly for the hour (10 and up usually). Class passes are $25 for 5 classes and can be used at Fort Taber and Fort Phoenix classes all summer.

Haskell Fall Plant Sale (9:00am-1:00pm)
Don’t miss the second annual fall plant sale! Fall is a great time of year to plant spring bulbs, get ahead on next year with perennials and shrubs, and of course, get your garlic in the ground! The selection brings back memories of Allen’s offerings and will be sold along with harden gear in the newly renovated garden shop. And don’t forget, Trustee members automatically get 10% off. The event is open to the public. Allen C Haskell Public Gardens, 787 Shawmut Ave., New Bedford.

Coalition For Animal Awareness Savers Drive (Fall River) (9:00am-3:30pm)
We’re doing it again!! Clean out those closets and bring it down to our Uhaul parked in the Frugal Franks lot during their annual yard sale!!! We will receive $$$ for every pound that we collect!! Clothes, shoes, accessories, bedding, books, tapes, CDs, electronics, household items…. usable items only please! Frugal Franks, 126 Shove St., Fall River, MA.

Chili & Chowder Festival (Bridgewater) (9:00am-3:00pm)
Come and join the fun at this annual event. Dozens of great chili and chowder to sample from entries hoping to win the grand prize. Food, drinks, music, vendors and more – must be 21 years g age to attend. Admission is $10 per person. East Bridgewater Commercial Club-EBCC, 1 Nielsen Ave., East Bridgewater.

Mushrooms of Massachusetts (10:00am-12:00pm)
Fall is mushroom hunting season in Massachusetts. Join mycophiles Garrett Stuck, Bette Low and Mark Straus on a two-hour hunt for macro fungi at Westport Land Conservation Trust’s Dunham’s Brook Conservation Area (1520 Main Road). Whether you’re a seasoned forager of chanterelles and morels or just curious to learn more about the history of mycelium, there’s more to mushroom identification than meets the eye! Keys to identification will be provided along with information on different cultivation methods, as well as guidelines for safe and environmentally responsible foraging. Westport Land Conservation Trust, 830 Drift Rd., Westport, MA.

Arts & Music Festival (10:00am-4:00pm)
An annual community event in it’s 13th year hosting music, crafts, art, street performers, cultural demonstrations, exhibits, an all day historic WWI program, food, face painting, and more. 2 Precinct St, Lakeville, MA.

43rd Annual Harvest Fair (10:00am-5:00pm)
An autumn tradition for generations of families, this beloved old-fashioned fair offers something for everyone. The “Mabel Express” Barrel Train, Monkey Bridge, Mud Pit, Midway games and Children’s crafts tent invite kids of all ages to join in the fun. Talented crafters and artisans sell their beautifully created items, enticing fair-goers to get a jump on holiday shopping. Local food and beer vendors offer an array of appetizing selections, while an impressive line-up of musicians round out the festive atmosphere. Norman Bird Sanctuary, 583 3rd Beach Rd. Middletown, RI.

Boston Street Art and Graffiti Walking Tour (2:00pm-4:30pm)
Spend a couple of hours with an expert guide checking out some of the best street art and graffiti in the city. The tour includes Northeastern University’s incredible, growing number of street art installations including Shepard Fairey, El Mac and Jef Aerosol
Several large-scale murals by Boston’s big wall crews and some visiting graffiti dignitaries. The tour runs in (almost) all weather. Heavy rain or a freak snowstorm will cancel with a full refund. Starbucks, 273 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA.

Sunday, October 1st

New Bedford Wellness Program For Adults (10:00am)
Always something healthy for body, mind and spirt. From Qigong, Tai Chi and Basketball, to Yoga, Nutrition and Hypnotism to quit smoking. Boys and Girls Club of New Bedford, 166 Jenney St, New Bedford.

Salem Food Truck Festival (11:00am-6:00pm)
The Salem Food Truck Festival is back! Bigger and Better, this year the festival will feature 40 of the area’s top food trucks! Held at the Salem Common in historic downtown Salem, Ma. We are excited to offer fellow food lovers the regions top food trucks, live music and family fun and it’s FREE! With a range from grilled cheese to whoopie pies, there is sure to be something for everyone! Save the dates and save your appetite for the area’s biggest food truck event! Salem Common Historic District.

The Z’s 35th Birthday Party! – Party like it’s 1982! (1:30pm-3:00pm)
Join us in celebrating 35 years of great entertainment, inspiration and education! Come for the games, food, and fun and stay for a free screening of the 1982 movie, E.T.! Senator Mark Montigny, an early Zeiterion board member and a steady supporter in the state legislature, will share the story of The Z’s beginning and cut the first piece of birthday cake!

E.T. The Extra Terrestrial at the Zeiterion (3:00pm)
Celebrate The Z’s 35th Birthday with a Free Showing of E.T. Relive the adventure and magic in one of the most beloved motion pictures of all-time, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, from Academy Award-winning director Steven Spielberg. Free popcorn included! Captivating audiences of all ages, E.T. is the unforgettable journey of a lost alien and the 10-year-old boy he befriends. Join Elliot (Henry Thomas), Gertie (Drew Barrymore) and Michael (Robert MacNaughton) as they come together to help E.T. find his way back home. Arrive early for the free, family-friendly birthday party!

Join us at 1:30 p.m. for an 80s-themed block party, including music, games, cake, and more! Senator Mark Montigny, an early Zeiterion board member and a steady supporter in the state legislature, will share the story of The Z’s beginning and cut the first piece of the 35 foot birthday cake! No tickets required. Read more: https://zeiterion.org/35th-birthday-party/

OktoberFesta ! 1st Annual Boars & Brews Challenge (4:00pm-11:00pm)
Join us for OktoberFesta! Our 1st Annual Boars & Brews Challenge. For the month of October we challenge you to consume 26 beers & 5 signature pork dishes. Sign up begins on October 1st. For completing the Boars & Brews Challenge you will receive: Personalized T-Shirt, 2017 Boars & Brews Mug, Cask & Pig Beer Club Card (valid for 1 year),.Your name registered to win many other prizes including: Patriots, Celtics & Bruins Tickets. Cask & Pig Kitchen and Alehouse, 780 State Rd. North Dartmouth, MA.

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Want to sponsor this weekend guide? Contact info@newbedfordguide.com for more details.

*** This job has been filled and is no longer available. ***

PAY: $14.77hr – $21.80hr

Maintains equipment being used to keep equipment operating properly such as checking and changing all fluids when necessary, checking batteries and tires, changing filters, and performing all other related maintenance. Keeps equipment clean at all times. May perform the duties of a Motor Equipment Operator. These duties and responsibilities are required on a daily basis.

Conducts preventive maintenance on vehicles operated. Maintains appearance of vehicles to include, but not limited to, washing and waxing of vehicles as often as necessary. Greases equipment, checks tires and tire pressure daily. Performs minor repairs on vehicles such as changing lights and wipers; performs circle check of vehicle equipment daily. Occasionally performs duties below job classification.

Must have a telephone. Subject to call for emergency work during any given twenty-four (24) hour work period, for any emergency the Commissioner feels would impair the safety of the general public, such as ice, snowstorms, rainstorms, hurricanes, etc. Required to notify Storm Control Superintendent when snow begins and immediately when black ice complaints come in.

Possession of a valid Massachusetts Class A CDL and Class 2A hoisting license issued by the Massachusetts Department of Public Safety for all equipment or vehicles in the department. Good driving record. Careful judgment in the mechanical operation of any assigned equipment and at least two years’ experience in the operation and maintenance of specified heavy 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.

A 49-year-old New Bedford man, who has served committed sentences at least 10 times in the past, was sentenced to serve seven to nine years in state prison after being convicted Tuesday of breaking into a New Bedford home earlier this year, District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

Robert Simmons pleaded guilty on Tuesday in Fall River Superior Court to a two-count indictment charging him with breaking and entering during the daytime to commit a felony and larceny from a building.

On March 31, 2017 at approximately 9:55 am, off duty New Bedford Police Detective Bryan Oliveira was traveling north on Church Street when he saw the defendant exit the front door of a home Church Street and heard the alarm sound. The defendant was wearing a white and black jacket, a dark hat, and gloves. The defendant left the front door open and walked off the porch, holding something in front of his jacket. An item in a plastic bag fell from the jacket and the defendant picked it up and put it inside his jacket before continuing to walk south on Church Street.

Detective Oliveira followed the defendant as he walked to Brook Street and saw him enter his residence at 161 Brook Street. A short time later, the defendant exited his residence wearing a different jacket and a grey colored sweatshirt.

Detective Oliveria followed the defendant to Colette Street and blocked him with his vehicle. As Detective Oliveria was exiting his vehicle, the defendant ran east and discarded several items from his pockets onto the sidewalk. Police tackled defendant and took him into custody.

Police then went to the area where the defendant was discarding items and found three watches on the ground. Police also found a large glass heart shaped dish with numerous pairs of earrings inside the defendant’s front right pocket. In his front left pocket, the defendant had a plastic sandwich bag with gold colored Chuck E. Cheese coins, a gray jewelry case, change, and a folding knife.

Police later returned to the home on Church Street and observed a basement window had been completely pushed in and the front door to the home was open. Inside, a bedroom was ransacked and jewelry was scattered on the floor in front of a bureau. Police notified the homeowner and met with her at the residence. The victim identified the property found in defendant’s possession and the discarded watches as hers.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Carolyn Morissette an the state prison sentence was handed down by Judge Thomas McGuire.

“This defendant has a history of breaking into homes and stealing from people. It is a sad commentary that at the age of 49 he continues to engage in this behavior,” District Attorney Quinn said. “The only alternative is to once again put him in state prison for a long time.”

This week, the FBI released the 2016 edition of its Crime in the United States (CIUS) report. The violent crime rate increased by 3.4% nationwide in 2016, the largest single-year increase in 25 years. The nationwide homicide rate increased by 7.9%, for a total increase of more than 20 percent in the nationwide homicide rate since 2014. This is not the same story for New Bedford.

New Bedford has seen a steady decline in violent crime over the past few years. For this article, I’m using FBI statistics from 2010 to 2016. For some reason, there is no available data for 2015.

Big picture, New Bedford has dropped from the third most dangerous city in Massachusetts in 2013 to the 8th most dangerous city in 2016 (per capita percentage of violent crime). Being ranked 8th is not something to be terribly proud of, but we are moving in the right direction unlike Fall River which has jumped to the second spot:

1. North Adams – 1.38%
2. Fall River – 1.09%
3. Brockton – 1.08%
4. Holyoke – 1.07%
5. Springfield – 1.03%
6. Chelsea – 0.92%
7. Worcester – 0.89%
8. New Bedford – 0.87%
9. Pittsfield – 0.79%
10. Fitchburg – 0.77%

Full list of cities can be found here.

Looking deeper into the numbers, there are things to be happy about if you live in New Bedford.

First, violent crime is down 31% from 2014 to 2016, from 1,199 to 819. It’s important to note this is violent crime, not overall crime. So drug use, prostitution and other non-violent crime is not included in these statistics, but as I wrote last week overdoses in New Bedford are down 9% so far in 2017.

Second, rapes are down significantly from 100 in 2013, to 86 in 2014 to 31 in 2016. That’s a decrease of 69% since 2013. These numbers are lower even though in 2013 the definition of rape was broadened from only counting forcible rapes to now counting “penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim. This includes the offenses of rape, sodomy, and sexual assault.” Clearly, efforts to prevent sexual assaults in New Bedford is working.

Finally, since 2014, aggravated assaults are down by 36%, property crimes down 13% and burglaries are down by 29%. The crime numbers that increased from 2014 to 2016 were motor vehicle thefts (up 12%) and arson (up 15%). The arson numbers are likely increasing in 2017 as New Bedford appears to have a serial arsonist starting fires this summer.

New Bedford has a lot to be happy about and the New Bedford police department should be proud. While violent crime has been increasing nationwide over the past few years, New Bedford has bucked the trend especially in the most important areas like homicide, rape and aggravated assaults. Naysayers will push an emotional argument void of facts that crime in New Bedford is not down and point to some cover up – either the FBI or police are participating in some cover up. This diminishes the hard work of the police and policy makers who have found success in reducing crime in New Bedford.

FBI Statistics

2016 FBI Crime Stats for Massachusetts
2015 FBI Crime Stats for Massachusetts
2014 FBI Crime Stats for Massachusetts
2013 FBI Crime Stats for Massachusetts
2012 FBI Crime Stats for Massachusetts
2011 FBI Crime Stats for Massachusetts
2010 FBI Crime Stats for Massachusetts

Mayor Jon Mitchell testified before the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans on Tuesday to advocate for changes to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The Magnuson-Stevens Act is subject to reauthorization every ten years, and Congress is currently considering its reauthorization.

As Mayor of the nation’s top commercial fishing port, Mitchell testified on changes to several aspects of the Act.

The regional fisheries management councils that determine overfishing have had severely limited flexibility since the 1996 passage of the Sustainable Fisheries Act as it sought to end overfishing immediately to quickly rebuild stocks by imposing a strict, ten-year rebuilding schedule for stocks deemed overfished. Mayor Mitchell testified that there is no biological justification for this timetable, and that commercial fishermen are often unable to catch their full scientifically-justified quota because when quotas are set too low for certain overfished species, it prevents fishermen from catching the other, healthy species that intermingle with them. These so-called “choke” species are the reason why fishermen in the North Atlantic cannot catch their full quota of healthy, abundant species such as haddock.

“The ten-year rule is arbitrary, and its establishment was at odds with the underlying premise of regional management,” Mitchell said in his remarks as prepared for testimony. “Regional councils should have the flexibility to set rebuilding timelines for stocks under their jurisdiction based on the unique biological and ecological conditions, and by giving appropriate weight to the economic wellbeing of fishing communities. Eliminating the ten-year rule should not be regarded as a compromising of the conservation imperatives of the Act. Quite to the contrary, replacing the ten-year rule with one that is based on the regeneration rate of a threatened fish stock — as some members have proposed — will lead to clearer, more predictable outcomes without causing unnecessary disruption to fishermen, and without compromising the rebuilding of fish stocks. The term ‘flexibility’ should not be understood as a euphemism for deregulation. The councils are in the business of finely calibrating decisions in light of relevant environmental and economic data, and their own experience and expertise. In the discharge of their duties, they tend not to win friends either in the fishing industry or in the conservation community, and given the goals of Magnuson-Stevens, that’s probably the way it should be.”

The Mayor also advocated for councils to have greater flexibility in setting Annual Catch Limits. NOAA’s recently-revised National Standard One Guidelines instructed regional councils to consider both scientific and management uncertainty when setting quotas, with many of the recommendations significantly improving the councils’ ability to achieve the Magnuson-Stevens Act’s stated goal of achieving optimum yield of fisheries “on a continuing basis.”

Mayor Mitchell encouraged cooperative research between government and the industry in his remarks before the congressional subcommittee.

“In New England, some of our best scientific innovations have come from collaborations between the industry, government and independent scientists,” he testified. “For example, in the 1990s, the Atlantic scallop fleet began deploying video survey technology to generate additional measurements of the scallop population. These surveys, together with additional research on gear and habitats, led to revised, more accurate estimates of scallop abundance, and are one of the primary reasons the Atlantic scallop fishery became the most successful in the world. Scientists at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth are currently developing new methods to apply the same video survey techniques to the region’s groundfish stocks. The problem is that these collective victories tend to be one-off. The Act must lead to a more systematic approach to encouraging cooperative research. Requiring NOAA to come up with a plan to implement and conduct cooperative research programs would go a long way. Gathering data from various sources will lead to greater accuracy in stock assessment and reduce the need for uncertainty buffers in the setting of annual catch limits.”

The Mayor also said that cooperation could be greatly facilitated by siting NOAA facilities in fishing communities, such as New Bedford – New England’s top port.

“In too many places across the country, geographic distance between regulators and commercial fishermen is an impediment to cooperation. The reality is that many key NOAA scientific and administrative facilities are not located in or near fishing communities, making it more difficult to achieve some level of understanding between the regulators and the regulated community,” said Mayor Mitchell. “One of the more egregious examples concerns the Port of New Bedford. Despite accounting for more than a third of the landings in New England, New Bedford is the site of fewer than ten out of over five hundred of NOAA employees in New England. If there is to be real collaboration, NOAA must give strong consideration in its siting decisions to locating facilities in places where commercial fishing is actually taking place.”

Mitchell also argued that the designation of the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine Monument under the Antiquities Act lacked the scientific rigor and industry input that typically comes with temporary ocean closures – much less permanent closures – and its process outside the Magnuson-Stevens Act was, however well-meaning, problematic and ultimately works against long-term interests of stakeholders. The Mayor advocated for a legislative solution to the inherent conflict between the Magnuson-Stevens Act and the Antiquities Act so that decisions to close areas of the ocean to commercial activity will have the full benefit of a rigorous and transparent process.

Mayor Mitchell also testified that he agrees with the proposal to revisit the term “overfishing,” which is used to describe a stock that has fallen below a minimum biomass such that “maximum sustainable yield” cannot be generated. “There can be a number of reasons for the loss of biomass of a given fish stock that have nothing to do with fishing activity, including the effects of climate change, pollution, changes in migration patterns, other offshore activity, or increased presence of natural predators,” he said. “The term also can complicate management of multi-species complexes and management measures that are necessary to address stock diminishment. Describing threatened stocks instead as ‘depleted’ would be a more neutral, and often more accurate, label.”

Mitchell advocated for enhancing funding for scientific research, as stock assessments are the most important source of information in the regulatory process – an issue which the regulators and regulated community agree.

“Our nation’s fisheries are already some of the best managed and most conservation-minded and sustainable fisheries in the world,” he said in conclusion. “By making reasonable revisions to the Magnuson-Stevens Act, Congress can ensure that our fisheries are environmentally sustainable, and that commercial fishermen can continue making vital economic contributions to their communities.”

New Bedford Guide’s live debate with New Bedford Ward 2 City Council candidates Edwin Cartagena, Carlos Pimentel Felix and Maria Giesta.

The preliminary election will be held on October 3rd and the top two vote getters move on to the November 7th final election.

The school year is still young but New Bedford High School’s Annual College and Career Readiness Fair is Thursday, September 28, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the high school gymnasium, 230 Hathaway Blvd. More than 60 institutions are registered to attend.

The fair takes place early in the fall semester and is big part of New Bedford High School’s emphasis on preparing every student for success in college and the workplace, noted Headmaster Bernadette Coelho. “The fair is just one of the ways New Bedford High School constantly seeks to assist our students in considering their many options early on for their college and career choices. We also encourage middle school students and their families to come to the fair as well. It’s never too early to think about the future,” she said.

The evening also includes a Parents Night for families of middle school students from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. to learn more about New Bedford High School and to visit the fair.

Representatives from more than 60 universities and colleges (both public and private), technical institutions, USA military academies and branches of the U.S. Armed Forces will be available to discuss courses, financials, housing and career options with students and their families.

Language support is available at the fair in Creole, Spanish and Portuguese. Guidance and GEAR UP councilors will also be available in Room B-211. For more information about the College and Career Readiness Fair, contact: Veronica Martinez, GEAR UP Community & Parent Outreach Coordinator, New Bedford High School, 508-997-4511 Ext. 25154

The following institutions will be represented:

American International College
Anna Maria College
Bay State College
Bridgewater State University
Bristol Community College
Caldwell University
Cape Cod Community College
Colby Sawyer College
Curry College
Emerson College
Emmanuel College
Fisher College
Framingham State University
Greater New Bedford Career Center
Husson University
IYRS School of Technology & Trades
Laboure College
Lasell College
Leduc Center for Civic Engagement
Lesley University
Mass College of Art &Design
Mass College of Liberal Arts
Mass Maritime Academy
Massasoit Community College-Brockton
MEFA (Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority)
Merrimack College
New England Board of Higher Education
New England Institute of Technology
Newbury College
Nichols College
North Shore Community College
Northeast Maritime Institute
Rhode Island College
Ringling College of Art and Design
Roger Williams University
Sacred Heart University
Saint Joseph’s College of Maine
School of Fashion Design
Southern Maine Community College
Stonehill College
Suffolk University
The Sage Colleges
U.S. Air Force
U.S. Air National Guard
U.S. Army
U.S. Coast Guard
U.S. Coast Guard Academy
U.S. Marines Corp.
U.S. Merchant Academy
U.S. Military Academy at West Point
U.S. Naval Academy
U.S. Navy
Unity College
Universal Technical Institute
University of Maine at Farmington
University of Maine at Orono
University of Massachusetts Amherst
University of Massachusetts Boston
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth College of Nursing
University of Massachusetts Lowell
University of Rhode Island
University of Southern Maine
University of Tampa
Westfield State University

Members of the New Bedford Police narcotics unit took more than $15,000 worth of Fentanyl off the street Tuesday as part of a continuing crackdown on the distribution of Fentanyl, a major cause of the significant numbers of drug overdoses in the city.

The arrests followed an investigation into a Fentanyl distribution service out of 70 Ruth St. Apt. 4S. Police executed a search warrant at that address and seized 166 grams of Fentanyl, 42 rounds of .45 caliber ammunition, 4.9 grams of cocaine, 12 Suboxone film strips, a digital scale, packaging materials, cutting agents and $1,007 in cash.

Jonathan Perez-Rolon, 24, of 70 Ruth St. Apt. 4S, was arrested on charges of trafficking in Fentanyl over 100 grams, conspiracy to violate drug laws, unlawful possession of ammunition, possession of Suboxone and possession of Suboxone with intent to distribute.

Luis Rodriguez, 36, of 70 Ruth St. Apt. 4S, was arrested on charges of of trafficking in Fentanyl over 100 grams, conspiracy to violate drug laws, unlawful possession of ammunition, possession of Suboxone, possession of Suboxone with intent to distribute and three outstanding warrants.
The arrests were made at 11:18 p.m.

A 35-year-old Somerset man caught by police last February having oral sex with an underage girl in a Somerset parking lot was sentenced to serve five years in state prison last week, District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

Frank Macri pleaded guilty last week to a multi-count indictment charging him with rape of a child, posing a child in the nude and disseminating child pornography.

On February 19, 2016 Somerset Police were on a routine patrol of the Park and Ride parking lot on Slade’s Ferry Avenue when officers witnessed a topless female leaning into the lap of a man inside a parked car at the lot. When officers approached the vehicle they witnessed the female rushing to put her shirt back on and the male in the driver’s seat with his pants unbuttoned.

After a brief discussion with both occupants, police learned the female was a 14-year-old-girl. The girl told police she had met the defendant online and had met with him in person on numerous occasions.

Investigating officers seized the victim’s iPad and the defendant’s cell phone. On the iPad, they found numerous videos of the girl performing oral sex on the defendant. A subsequent forensic review of the defendant’s cell phone determined that the defendant had taken all of the videos and then sent them to the victim.

In addition to the five year state prison term, Fall River Superior Court Judge Raffia Yessayan sentenced the defendant to 10 years of probation to commence upon his release from prison.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Lesly Leahy.

“This defendant engaged in deviant behavior with an underage girl and must be held accountable.,” said District Attorney Quinn.

Mayor Jon Mitchell will welcome Prime Minister Jose Ulisses Correia e Silva of Cape Verde, to the Port of New Bedford today at 4:00 p.m.

The Prime Minister will tour the Port of New Bedford, the nation’s top commercial fishing port, as part of his visit to the United States.

A brief press conference and media availability will be held at 4 p.m. when the Prime Minister arrives at the port.