The New Bedford Police Department will welcome two new officers at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 29, at City Council chambers at City Hall, 133 William St.

Mark Conley and James Marinelli will be officially sworn in at that time as New Bedford Police officers. Pictured from left, Lt. Ricard Rezendes, Deputy Chief Paul Oliveira, Officer James Marinelli, Officer Mark Conley, Chief Joseph Cordeiro and Sgt. Shain Ramos.

The medical examiner’s office is investigating the apparent suicide of a 39-year-old New Bedford man who was found hanging Monday in a wooded area of Fort Taber.

The body was discovered by a passerby. Police are not identifying the victim.

Police and fire personnel responded to the scene. The incident was reported at about 5 p.m.

The 45th Annual Cape Verdean Recognition Parade will be held on Saturday, July 1, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. The parade starting point will be Rockdale Avenue and Union Street at Buttonwood Park.

Video from last year:

The parade route is as follows:

East on Union Street, then south onto County Street, turning east onto Spring Street, turning south onto Acushnet Avenue, turn west onto Grinnell Street, then turning north onto Purchase Street.

The parade will end at the reviewing stand located at the Cape Verdean American Veteran’s Memorial Hall at 561 Purchase Street.

Photos from last year:

Better cleaning measures could result in ‘significantly fewer sick days’

Keyboard & Desktop
Considering how often we use our keyboards, it’s not surprising to learn that the keys and spaces in between are a haven for bacteria and other microbes. In fact, keyboards alone can hold up to 400 times more bacteria than a public toilet. Yikes!

Break Room Appliances
The problem with a communal kitchen is that surfaces are not cleaned routinely. Counter tops might be wiped down daily, but faucets, handles and draw pulls are overlooked. The average refrigerator tests positive 83% of the time for the common cold, so whether it is the microwave or fridge, be sure they are part of a sanitation routine.

Kitchen Sink
Did you know that kitchen sink holds more germs than a bathrooms sink? As one of the most used places in any shared space, it comes as no surprise that the kitchen sink is hoarding a wide variety of germs. Be sure it’s cleaned often.

Phones
Even though it’s used often, the office can be overlooked when it comes to routine disinfecting. Be sure to add it to your cleaning crews to do list and stock up on disinfecting wipes that you can stash in your desk drawer just to be safe.

Restroom
Customers equate the cleanliness of a public restroom with the overall experience of any business. Point is — if you have a dirty bathroom, you may experience a decline in business – or- a poor YELP review.

Elevator Buttons
Love the scene in Elf when Buddy presses all the buttons? Us too – but when you think about how easily this can transfer germs, you may think differently. If your business has access to an elevator be sure to talk to your maintenance department or cleaning crew about getting it cleaned regularly.

High-touch Surfaces (light switches, door knobs, counter tops)
When it comes to cold and flu season, it means one thing — germs! With over 50 million days of work lost annually due to the cold or flu, understanding where these germs are hiding is essential. Disinfecting high-touch areas (such as light switches, door knobs, and all horizontal surfaces) can be crucial to keeping a healthy workplace.

Floors
Floors will last longer and appear cleaner through a scheduled maintenance program. Be sure to talk to your cleaning company about Floor Refinishing — it will not only make your floors shine like new, but your customers will take notice.

Carpets
Dingy carpets in a professional setting can be a sincere deal breaker. Regular carpet cleaning is a good way to extend the life of your carpets, and similar to a hard surface floor, they just look better when free of stains and debris.

Windows and Entry Glass
Fingerprints are a telltale sign of just how often a business is cleaned. Whether you have windows or glass entry areas in your space, it’s worth working them into your routine cleaning to keep them smudge and spot-free.

Clean Right Cleaning Solutions is a local commercial cleaning company from Fairhaven MA. They’re dedicated to servicing all of the Southcoast. Call for a free, no-obligation quote and get ready to enjoy a clean work environment.

When Ben Mateus was eight, he took apart his first computer. The good news was, he also put it back together.

By middle school, he was designing his own websites, fan sites, video games, and by the time he reached high school everyone knew: This is Ben’s thing.

“I’ve always been attracted to it,” Mateus said. “I guess I’ve always just understood how things work and wanted to get in there and make something from nothing.”

Now, the 26-year-old Mateus is bringing Mateus Softworks web design to SouthCoast, working with an established team of coders, designers and thinkers to take businesses to the next level.

“It’s websites, it’s mobile apps, it’s everything a business needs to survive – and thrive, more importantly – in the digital age,” he said. “We aim to fill that gap that people know they need to fill. People are missing out, and we want to solve problems.”

Mateus feels that so many local businesses don’t have online presences that reflect how special their product or service is.

“It’s really like having a second storefront,” said the New Bedford High, BCC grad. “We assess your business, and we assess your competition, and we say. “OK, here’s what other people are doing. Now let’s make sure we do it better than them.”

That intake process, with lots of one-on-one access, helps local businesses feel comfortable in what can be an uncomfortable process.

“We work with you every step of the way, one on one, from concept to design to functionality, getting the picture of what you want and making it happen,” he said. “We know this is an important thing, something that is definitely a source of stress for people, and we want to make it easier.”

“We’re doing more than just websites, there are plenty of ways to build websites – we’re building solutions for your online business. Back end, front end – we’re an online startup in a box for you. We’re the way you get from being online to really driving business online.”

His father and cohort Joe Mateus is the codemaster for Mateus Softworks, and the two have worked side by side for years with Dad’s Mateus Web Design company.

“It’s in his blood,” Joe said. “I guess him watching me build websites, seeing my love of technology, how I embraced it. He kind of fed off of it and made his own mark, which I’m proud of. He’s a smart kid.”

Dad’s reference aside, over the course of a conversation with Mateus you get a sense of what makes him tick: knowledge and passion.

“Filling the void for SouthCoast businesses, understanding this culture, and just finding answers for people, that’s what I get excited about,” Mateus said. “This is such a great area, but I think sometimes we’re a little behind, especially in the online space, and I want to help us catch up.”

Mateus Softworks is also launching its first app this year (still strictly under wraps for proprietary reasons), and app design is a specialty for the company.

“I think people think ‘Oh, an app, that’s going to cost me a hundred thousand dollars, but that’s not the case anymore,” he said. “And when it comes to folks my age, twenties, teens, they’re not going to a laptop, or a desktop, or walking around downtown just looking around, they’re doing it all with their phones. And that is a space local businesses can afford to be in – they almost can’t afford not to.

“It’s a completely different world, really a new fight that everyone has to commit to, and we want to help businesses win that fight,” Ben said – then, with a smile, added, “And hey, it’s fun!”

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Mateus SoftWorks, LLC
Phone: 508-441-4743 (9AM TO 6PM)
Website: mateussoftworks.com/
Facebook: facebook.com/MateusSoftworks/
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Mention this article for $250 off your first project.

On Saturday, June 24 at 10:16PM, the Marion Police Department and Marion Fire/EMS responded to a motorcycle crash on Route 6 in the area of Hermitage Road. The male operator was pronounced dead at the scene.

Route 6 was closed in both directions for about three hours while the crash was being investigated. Mass DOT assisted the Marion Police at the scene.

The initial investigation indicates that the motorcycle was traveling east on Route 6 and struck the sidewalk curb on the eastbound side on the road then struck a utility police. There were no other vehicles involved in the crash. The operator was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

Police are withholding the identify of the victim pending family notification.

New Bedford Police issued a total of $7,000 in fines and cited 24 vehicles early Sunday after reports of drag racing near the Aerovox building, 167 John Vertente Blvd., at New Bedford Industrial Park.

Two vehicles were racing and a number of other vehicles were in the area. Police were able to block all access points to the area and cited all vehicles involved.

The drivers were charged with civil infractions, including trespassing with a motor vehicle. The incident was reported at about 2 a.m.

New Bedford Police arrested a Westport man on kidnapping charges early Sunday after he assaulted a female and attempted to take her in his vehicle against her will.

Police received a report at 2:47 a.m. at Petro Mart, 171 Coggeshall St., that a woman was being assaulted.

When police arrived, they were told by a witness that Robert Brum, 53, of Westport, had been punching the victim, a 40-year-old New Bedford woman, and dragging her by the hair.

The victim told police the man tried to drive off with her in the vehicle. She removed the keys from the ignition and ran off.

She was bleeding from her elbows, face and knees and complained of a head injury. She was treated at the scene by medics.

Brum was subsequently charged with kidnapping, assault and battery and possession of cocaine, subsequent offense. A small amount of cocaine was found on him when he was arrested.

Here’s a look at the scheduled firework for the 3rd and 4th of July, 2017 for the south coast, Massachusetts area and Cape Cod. Know of another one? Post a reply

New Bedford Police are actively investigating what started off as a shoplifting case, but will end up in serious charges against a male.

On Friday evening a New Bedford Police officer was working the Stop and Shop (Dartmouth St.) security detail. At approximately 6:55 pm he was alerted by security staff that a male was leaving the store that had just shoplifted several items. The officer approached the male as he was entering his vehicle. As the officer went to place the male under arrest a struggle ensued. The male was able to get into his vehicle, start the ignition and get it into reverse. As the male did this, the officer who still had his arm in the vehicle was dragged approximately thirty feet. The officer broke free from the vehicle which then drove off at a high rate of speed. The officer was taken to St. Luke’s Hospital where he was treated and released. The officer sustained minor injuries and is expected to have a full recovery.

At approximately 7:28 PM, the fleeing vehicle was discovered on Idlewood Drive in Dartmouth where it had struck a utility pole. The male suspect had fled the scene prior to police arriving. A search of that area was conducted with the use of K-9’s and officers however the male was not located. The vehicle was towed and is being processed by the New Bedford Police Identification Unit and Detective Division.

This investigation remains very active.

The male suspect is facing several charges including:
1. Shoplifting
2. Resisting arrest
3. Assault and battery on a police officer
4. Assault and battery dangerous weapon (2 counts)
5. Assault to murder