FREE screening of the documentary “Being Mortal” followed by an expert panel discussion

Renowned surgeon and author Atul Gawande explores how the medical profession can help people navigate the final chapters of their lives with confidence, direction and purpose in his critically acclaimed book Being Mortal. Gawande teams with FRONTLINE (PBS) to bring his personal journey, and the stories of his patients and their families to life.

“You don’t have to spend much time with the elderly or those with terminal illness to see, over and over and over again, how medicine fails the people it is supposed to help,” says Gawande, who practices at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.

Two years in the making, Being Mortal shows how many doctors, including Gawande, struggle to talk honestly and openly with their patients who are dying. From the Indian hometown of Gawande’s father, whose prolonged dying process catalyzed Gawande’s quest to better understand end-of-life care, to the bedsides of patients in Boston who are navigating the ends of their lives, Being Mortal is an intimate and revealing journey with relevance to us all.

After the film screening, join us for an expert panel who will discuss end-of-life issues and answer audience questions. Moderated by Dr. Michael Rocha, Cardiologist of Hawthorn Medical, the panel will include Dr. Elizabeth Blanchard Chief Medical Oncologist of Southcoast Cancer Center, Dr. Amy Molis, Intensivist of St. Luke’s Hospital and Patricia Geggatt-Midurski, RN CDP of Community Nurse Home Care.

Being Mortal screening and panel discussion 6:30 pm on Thursday, May 4, 2017 at New Bedford Whaling Museum. Open to the public. CME and CEU credit available for physicians and nurses. For more information contact Community Nurse Home Care at (508) 992-6278.

___________________________________________

About the New Bedford Wellness Initiative
The New Bedford Wellness Initiative’s mission is to raise health awareness, prevent chronic disease and promote recovery from illness through healthy living. This initiative was started by local cardiologist Michael Rocha in 2014 to unite the community’s resources around a common mission of health and wellness. New Bedford Wellness Initiative is dedicated to promoting wellness around the community, including a free program each Sunday at the Boys and Girls Club with free health and wellness programs.

About Community Nurse Home Care
Community Nurse Home Care (CNHC) is an independent, not-for-profit homecare agency trusted by the communities of southeastern Massachusetts since 1916. Our vision is to
educate, engage and empower the community to better their health. Community Nurse offers award-winning, compassionate, personalized health care through a continuum of services including Visiting Nurse, Advanced Illness Management, Hospice, Wellness and Private Care Services.

Community Nurse Home Care
62 Center Street
Fairhaven, MA 02719
(508) 992-6278
info@communitynurse.com
www.communitynurse.com




R&W Rope’s Rope Fest 2017

Did you make it out to R&W Rope’s Rope Fest in New Bedford this past weekend? Here’s a highlight reel of the event to include arborist demonstrations and a rescue demonstration …




Community meeting to discuss design plans for Abolition Row Park to be held May 4

The public is invited to a meeting to discuss design plans for a new park planned at the site of two former historic homes at the corner of Spring and Seventh streets in New Bedford, across from the Nathan and Polly Johnson House, home of the New Bedford Historical Society.

On Thursday, May 4, 2017 at 5:30 p.m. at New Bedford Friends Meeting House at 83 Spring Street, plans for Abolition Row Park will be discussed with input from the community. The park, located in a neighborhood known as Abolition Row for its connection with Nathan and Polly Johnson and New Bedford’s other leaders in the abolitionist movement, will celebrate interracial and intercultural collaboration.

The discussion will be led by COGDesign of Cambridge, a firm that has been engaged to create the Master Plan for the site. Designers will walk the attendees through the park plans and address questions from the community.

Development of the park is a collaborative effort between the City of New Bedford and the New Bedford Historical Society, along with other local partners.




2017 SouthCoast Women’s Forum Trailblazing Women on Wednesday, May 3rd

The 2017 SouthCoast Women’s Forum will be held at Rosebrook Event Center, located at 50 Rosebrook Place, Wareham, MA 02571 on Wednesday, May 3rd from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

The SouthCoast Women’s Forum is the ideal setting for leading business professionals, and aspiring women in business to connect, learn, and be inspired by other women! The dynamic panel discussion will be moderated by Ashely Bendiksen, Inspirational Speaker, Activist, Writer and Consultant.

The four inspiring women panelists are Anastassia Gonye, of Tuff Kookooshka; Lauren L. Lemieux, ACC, CPC of Coaching to Fullfill Dreams; Milagros Sanchez-Gaton of the Marion Institute/SouthCoast Energy Challenge and Sheri Weintraub MS DABR, Southcoast Centers for Cancer Care. These driven women will elaborate on their professional and personal journeys, hurdles they’ve overcome, as well as their future career goals and everything in between. Get ready to connect with these inspirational women!

Anastassia Gonye, a Russian born American artist, and fashion designer, is the creator and owner of Tuff Kookooshka, founded in 1999. ” My Grandparents were both theater artists for The Russian theater in St. Petersburg. My grandmothers’ costume design paintings hang in my studio for inspiration. My mother worked in ateliers of the leading couture houses in Moscow. She was also the Master of Embroidery for the Russian Olympic figure Skating team.”

Tuff Kookooshka has steadily grown from very humble beginnings. ” I started to design my line at my kitchen table, sewing in the basement, using discarded fabrics sold at the factory by the pound.” Now many years later, Tuff Kookooshka is sold in stores and boutiques across America, in Canada, and Japan. Tuff Kookooshka also participates in several high end juried art shows per year, and operates a Retail Shop / Design Studio in Cataumet, Massachusetts on Cape Cod. All of their clothing is MADE IN USA, using locally manufactured fabrics and notions. We use Polartec fleece produced in Lawrence Massachusetts and add other fun materials for embellishments.

Lauren L. Lemieux, ACC, CPCC, provides Whole Life Coaching through her business Coaching To Fulfill Dreams. Lauren graduated from Dartmouth High School and UMass Dartmouth with a Bachelor’s degree in Humanities and Social Science. After spending 18 years working in the family business, Lauren resigned in January, 2013, to find her true calling and soon discovered the profession of coaching. Lauren is now a certified life coach from both the Coaches Training Institute and the International Coaching Federation. Coaching To Fulfill Dreams is her coaching business, where she engages her clients to evoke their confidence and courage to embrace what is truly possible in the personal and professional lives. She also works part time at Catholic Social Services coaching clients who are or were recently homeless to support them as they transition to stability. Lauren and her family reside in Acushnet.

Lauren is very involved in the community including volunteering for the Acushnet Youth Athletic Association’s and Global Learning Charter Public School in New Bedford. She is on the Board of Directors for both the Acushnet Federal Credit Union and Community Boating Center in New Bedford. Lauren has also been a mentor for EforAll (Entrepreneurship for All) and the LifeWork Project.

Sheri Weintraub is the chief physicist and director of radiation oncology at the Southcoast Centers for Cancer Care. She has been a physicist since 1999 and has served long-standing leadership roles where she has balanced administrative duties along with clinical physics work. Effective communication is vital in any organization, but she particularly enjoys the challenges of bridging these two very important and distinct areas. Sheri has a particular passion for patient safety and currently serves on a national health care advisory committee to review medical incidents in radiation oncology. She is pursuing her PhD in Health Science at Nova Southeastern University and is looking forward to expanding her patient safety work through that academic environment. She serves on the alumni network committee for Leadership Southcoast and remains active in her hometown community of Easton, MA. In her spare time she enjoys kickboxing and other physical fitness activities. Sheri’s primary and favorite role is as a mom to nine and eleven-year old daughters, to three canine “children”, and as a wife to her high school sweetheart.

All of these inspiring and accomplished women have been trailblazers and overcome challenges with perseverance and resilience, which has allowed them to pave the way for all women professionally!

Admission for the event is $45.00 to New Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce members and $55.00 for non-members. Tables of ten are also available. For more information, please contact Deven Tillman, Events Manager, at the New Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce, 508-999-5231, ext. 26 or visit www.newbedfordchamber.com.

The 2017 SouthCoast Women’s Forum is hosted by the New Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce with supporting sponsors; Cox Media, Sylvia Group, St. Anne’s Credit Union and Taunton Federal Credit Union and Small Business Sponsors; Advance Air & Heat Company, BayCoast Bank, Care Free Homes Inc., Fisher College, Katie Brown Educational Program, Our Sisters’ School, Partners Insurance, Plimouth Investment Advisors, Spherion, Urgent Care | American Family Care, YWCA and media sponsor New Bedford Guide.

The New Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce is a private, non-profit business association based in the City of New Bedford, Massachusetts. Chartered in 1885, the Chamber serves nearly 1000 member businesses of all sizes from virtually all industries in the ten communities of New Bedford, Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Freetown, Mattapoisett, Marion, Rochester, Wareham, and Westport. The Chamber supports and promotes the local business community through leadership in public advocacy, education, networking, information, and community development.




New Bedford Area Chamber Announces Re-Brand of one of its Largest Events, The Greater New Bedford Home Show

The Greater New Bedford Home Show presented by the New Bedford Area Chamber has evolved into one of the SouthCoast’s largest and most popular trade shows. This special event has allowed businesses to interact with thousands of local residents for nearly three decades. Each year, the Chamber staff works together to find innovative ways to keep the Home Show relevant and exciting for both exhibitors and attendees. After conducting research and receiving feedback from Chamber members, past exhibitors and attendees, we are implementing changes, adding exciting new components and rebranding the Greater New Bedford Home Show.

The first Annual Greater New Bedford Home, Health and Wellness Show will combine home improvement with health and wellness, offering local residents answers to all their household and lifestyle needs at one event, under one roof, on one day. This unique event will be held in late spring, on May 20, 2017 at the Greater New Bedford Voc Tech High School and will feature a diverse ensemble of businesses, and organizations promoting both home improvements and healthy living.

Don’t miss the opportunity to place your products and services in front of thousands of potential customers at the 1st Annual Greater New Bedford Home, Health and Wellness Show. Companies specializing in or involved with household improvements, as well as businesses within the health & wellness industry are highly encouraged to exhibit at the newly revamped event. Space will also be available for local restaurants and caterers to sell and showcase their signature recipes.

The Greater New Bedford Home, Health and Wellness Show will also provide homeowners, residents, and families an exclusive chance to interact with companies face to face, and discover solutions to all their household needs while learning more about healthy lifestyles options. Admission to this event is only $3 and children under 12 are free. Updates and more information on the show will be added to the Chamber’s website at www.newbedfordchamber.com.

The event is being sponsored by Couto Construction, Easy 99.1, other radio stations and New Bedford Guide.

Several sponsorships opportunities are available and are an excellent way to maximize your companies’ exposure through the promotion of this highly marketed event! For more information regarding the Show contact Deven Tillman at, (508) 999-5231 ext 26 or visit our website at www.newbedfordchamber.com. For updates and news about the event be sure to “like” the event on Facebook at facebook.com/NewBedfordHomeShow

___________________________________________________
The New Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce is a private, non-profit business association based in the City of New Bedford, Massachusetts. Chartered in 1885, the Chamber serves nearly 1000 member businesses of all sizes from virtually all industries in the ten communities of New Bedford, Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Freetown, Mattapoisett, Marion, Rochester, Wareham, and Westport. The Chamber supports and promotes the local business community through leadership in public advocacy, education, networking, information, and community development.




Fall River man who robbed 83-year old woman in broad daylight sent to prison

A 34-year-old Fall River man who robbed an 83-year-old woman in broad daylight last July was sentenced to serve five years in state prison last week, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

Shane Cartin pleaded guilty in Fall River Superior Court last week to a single-count indictment charging him with unarmed robbery of a person over 60 years old.

On July 19, 2016 at 10:45am, Fall River Police responded to area of 730 Bedford Street for a robbery. The 83-years-old victim was walking along Bedford Street and leaned against a building to rest in the shade. The victim had her pocketbook on the sidewalk between her feet. At the same time, the defendant was riding a bicycle on the same side of the sidewalk. The defendant rode up to the victim and kicked the pocketbook out from between her feet. When police arrived, they observed the victim was visibly shaking, crying, and distraught.

Good Samaritans, who witnessed to incident, followed the defendant and ended up getting the victim’s pocketbook back, which they returned to the victim. These individuals left the scene before police arrived, and their identity is unknown. Other Good Samaritans flagged down a state trooper who was working a construction detail in the area and told them the male suspect fled north on Plain Street. The trooper located the defendant in the area and detained him as he was running into his apartment building.

During his plea hearing last week, Assistant District Attorney Carolyn Morrissette argued that based on the facts of the case and the defendant’s lengthy criminal history, he should serve eight to 10 years in state prison. The defendant, however, request a more lenient three to five year prison term. Judge Thomas McGuire ended up sentencing the defendant to serve five years to five years and one day in state prison.

“The defendant preyed on a defenseless elderly woman. It doesn’t not really matter why he did it. Our elders are vulnerable victims and need to be protected,” District Attorney Quinn said. “The defendant was on probation at the time that he committed this offense. The five year sentence was well-deserved.”




New Bedford Wellness Initiative and Henry Bousquet CEC, culinary arts instructor at GNB Voc-Tech Present “Food is Medicine: What Every Clinician Needs to Know”

On May 13th 2017 at 1:30 pm to 4:30pm at the Greater New Bedford Vocational Technical High School there will be a special event for local physicians entitled, Food is Medicine: What Every Clinician Needs to Know. The event will include a hands on cooking experience and nutrition presentation facilitated by local cardiologist Michael Rocha MD, founder of New Bedford Wellness Initiative and Henry Bousquet Certified Executive Chef and culinary arts instructor at GNB Voc Tech.

Doctors will be exploring the connection between diet and health and identify the challenges facing our community. They will learn simple recipes they can share with patients and the knowledge to better counsel on a healthy diet.

According to Dr. Rocha, “There is a lack of nutritional education in medical training, yet the impact of diet on almost all aspects of our health is significant. Physicians feel that they lack knowledge and time to properly educate patients on nutrition.This event is an opportunity to fill this important gap. Food really is medicine.”

This event is FREE to local physicians but space is limited. Interested physicians should email mjrocha@comcast.net




New Bedford man arrested after firing weapon, fleeing scene, making threats

New Bedford Police arrested a 20-year-man Sunday after he allegedly fired a weapon, fled the scene and made threats against a police officer .

Javante Antone, 20, of New Bedford was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, discharge of a firearm within 500 feet of a building, destruction of property over $250 and witness intimidation.

Police responded to reports that a man had fired a weapon in the bathroom of a room at New Bedford Inn and Suites, 500 Hathaway Road. Prior to firing the shot, he had thrown a cell phone at someone else in the room, nearly striking her.

When police arrived, they found evidence that a firearm had been fired. The suspect had fled on foot and was seen walking on Shawmut Avenue and Mt Vernon Street.

He ran from police and was located near Shawmut Avenue and Durfee Street. In the course of his apprehension, he made threats against a police officer.

The incident was reported at 4:43 a.m.

Video by Carlos Pimentel Felix.




Cameras installed at New Bedford public housing properties

The New Bedford Housing Authority and the New Bedford Police Department have joined forces to bring additional security to residents of the city’s housing properties.

Computers and monitors have been installed at the city’s three police stations give police a live look at outdoor activity at the city’s housing properties. Police can also play back the images if any concerns arise.

The goal is to give residents of the properties peace of mind, knowing that police are ensuring their safety.

“The access to real time information is priceless in ensuring the safety of the residents and our police officers while enhancing efficiency of our response,” New Bedford Police Chief Joseph Cordeiro said.

Steven Beauregard, executive director of the Housing Authority, praised the effort.
“When the idea was first proposed to Chief Joseph Cordeiro, I felt it was a win-win for the New Bedford Police Department and the Housing Authority,’’ he said. “The viewing stations will provide additional resources to the police to be more proactive as well as being able to see what they will be facing upon arrival. We understand the importance of surveillance cameras, and equipping police stations with the ability to monitor our properties is another level of safety for our residents.’’




Acushnet Fire & EMS Department set medical emergency record in April

Statement from Acushnet Fire Chief Kevin Gallagher; May 1, 2017:

“The EMS Division of the Acushnet Fire & EMS Department set a record in the month of April by responding to 105 medical emergencies in a single month. The previous monthly record was 96 calls; we had never before reached 100. Of those 105 calls, 85 patients were transported to local hospitals, also a monthly record.

What is remarkable is the fact that in April 2015 we responded to 54 calls and transported 48 patients!

Last year, the department responded to 1,005 medical emergencies. That was the first year we ever reached 1,000 calls.

We need to step back and look at those figures. Our April 2017 medical emergencies increased by 93% over the same month two years earlier. Transports to local hospitals increased by 75% over that same period.

During April we transported one person due to an opioid overdose.

I cannot begin to explain the pride I feel for the men and women of our department. Each call was addressed in a professional, caring manner by compassionate, extraordinary people. The vehicles, equipment and supplies provided to us by the town are second to none. The range of emergencies to which we responded challenges us daily.

While a restaurant would love to see their business nearly double, we are reminded that each call represents someone in need. We are reminded that the 85 people transported were sick or injured in some unique way. Some were treated and released, some were admitted, and some did not survive.

In terms of emergency services, Acushnet is no longer a sleepy little town!”