Kathleen Dawson, Assistant Headmaster of Boston Public Schools John D. O’Bryant School of Mathematics and Science has been named as the Headmaster at New Bedford High School.

“Ms. Dawson brings an exceptionally strong combination of knowledge, experience, and passion to the needs of New Bedford High School. In addition to her work at the O’Bryant School, Ms. Dawson has served in leadership roles at Madison Park Technical Vocational as well as other Boston high schools. She has faced nearly every issue in urban education and she has overseen the work that we need to undertake here in New Bedford to build and sustain the conditions for success that will provide momentum for change and accelerated student achievement,” said Dr. Durkin.
John McDonough, Superintendent of Boston Public Schools praised Dawson for her leadership abilities, “New Bedford is very fortunate to welcome a strong educator and school leader in Kathleen Dawson. She has served Boston well, and we will miss her. I have every confidence in her ability to improve the lives of the students she serves.”

Ms. Dawson earned a masters degree in education and school leadership from Harvard University and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Wisconsin in Superior. Currently, Ms. Dawson is working to complete her doctoral degree in educational and organizational leadership at the University of Pennsylvania. She also serves as an adjunct professor at the Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston.

Two Principals Appointed to Lead Under New High School Organizational Structure

A key strategy of the New Bedford High School Turnaround Plan to address the goal of increasing time on learning and reorganizing the school structure is to take bold, ambitious steps to build an organization based on collaboration and trust which supports student learning. The Turnaround Plan includes the establishment of a new organizational structure at the high school which will consist of a lower school (grades 9-10) and an upper school (grades 11-12). The Upper and Lower Schools will each be headed by a Principal that will report directly to the Headmaster. This new structure will encourage a more cohesive school culture that will include clear expectations for all students, particularly for 9th graders who will benefit from increased focus and support as they transition from middle school to high school.

New Bedford High School Superintendent Dr. Pia Durkin announced today the appointment of Michael Lazzareschi as Principal of the Lower school and Sean McNiff as Principal of the Upper school.

Michael Lazzareschi, who will oversee Grades 9-10, has broad and deep understanding of both high school and middle school students as he led the effort to re-invent a successful new middle school in Providence, Rhode Island. He has served as a principal for eleven years in urban districts at various levels and has led the charge for results in each of those assignments. Mr. Lazzareschi holds master’s degree from Providence College and bachelor’s degree from Rhode Island College. He is enrolled in a joint program by Rhode Island College and the University of Rhode Island to obtain his doctorate.

Sean McNiff, who will oversee Grades 11-12, recently served as Principal of South Hadley High School where his leadership successfully brought together staff and students in the wake of a tragic student event. He also served at Marblehead High School and in Fitchburg Public Schools where he worked with students in an alternative education setting. Mr. McNiff is eager to return to his passion, urban education, here in New Bedford. He holds his a bachelor’s degree from Fitchburg State College, a law degree from New England School of Law, and is working on his doctorate in educational leadership from the American International College in Springfield, Massachusetts.

At approximately 4:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 8, 2014, the New Bedford Communications Center received a 911 call from a 9-year old boy who reported that his house was on fire. The New Bedford Police Department arrived first on the scene at the reported dwelling fire at 322 Dartmouth Street and the New Bedford Fire Department arrived shortly thereafter. Responding officers found a two-story wood frame, cottage-style home with smoke visible on the first and second floor.

New Bedford Police officers entered the building and discovered an unconscious female on the second floor landing. Officers carried her to safety and performed first aid.

Firefighters also entered the home and rescued a second occupant from the second floor. The second victim, a male, suffered second and third degree burns over 50% of his body.

Both victims were treated on the scene by emergency responders including New Bedford Emergency Medical Services personnel and were then transported to Rhode Island Hospital.

There are no other injuries to report. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

New Bedford Police Chief David Provencher praised the first responders for their heroism and credited the 9-year old boy who placed the 911 call with saving the lives of the other occupants.

New Bedford Fire Chief Michael Gomes also praised the rapid response and selfless actions of the first responders and the boy. Fire safety training is provided to all third graders in the New Bedford Public Schools to prepare them to take action during emergencies like this,” Chief Gomes said. He added that the functioning smoke detectors and swift actions of the 9 year-old boy were lifesaving.

Dartmouth Street 911 Call

Grace and peace to you in the name of the one who came so we could live by grace and live in peace. Here is a new way Mercy Meals and More hopes to raise some funds with the help of Michael Westerviller. I realize this event is not until June but we need deposits soon so we can reserve hotel rooms and buses. As always blessings from God are being requested for you for all you do each day as you journey by faith. May your eyes be opened to see them and your hands open to receive them in whatever form God choose to -them in response to this request.-Rev. Russ 5257
 

If you love bluegrass, you must know the music of Wayne C. Henderson. Don’t miss the chance to experience the annual festival that honors this legendary guitarist and renowned luthier.
 
You’re invited to join a “Caravan of New Englanders” for a musical journey to the Wayne C. Henderson Music Festival and Guitar Competition, one of the premier bluegrass festivals and “picking” competitions in the world. It will be held on Saturday, June 21, 2014, at Grayson Highlands State Park, Mouth of Wilson, Virginia. (www.waynehenderson.org)
 
A fleet of luxury motor coaches will leave New Bedford, MA at 5:30AM on Friday, June 20th, and return on Sunday, June 22nd. Connecting transportation will be provided for groups in New Hampshire, New York and Connecticut.
 
For a total cost of $440 per traveler, the adventure covers: round-trip transportation from New Bedford and designated New England areas in 50-passenger luxury motor coach to motel and concert; 2 nights’ lodging, including Continental Breakfast Saturday and Sunday at Best Western Wytheville Inn (double occupancy); tickets to the festival; festival “canopy” tent, table, cooler(s); and gratuity for drivers. A $100 deposit is required, with the balance due April 10, 2014.
 
To reserve space, send a money order or check for $100 payable to “Wayne Henderson Concert” to Michael Westerviller, 1959 Purchase Street Suite E205, New Bedford, MA 02740. Credit cards are not accepted. For additional information, please call Mr. Westerviller at 774.202.5339 or email mwestervil@aol.com.
 
The Wayne C. Henderson Music Festival and Guitar Competition was established in 1995 to express appreciation for its namesake. The recipient of a 1995 National Heritage Award presented by the National Endowment for the Arts, he has performed at Carnegie Hall in three national tours of Masters of Steel-String Guitar and in seven nations abroad.  
 
Wayne and many of his musical friends are the featured performers at this festival that celebrates bluegrass and old-time music. A portion of the proceeds goes to a scholarship fund to aid Virginia’s young musicians in continuing their education, with more than $96,000 already awarded to date. A partial per person donation will go to support Mercy Meals and More, a free will diner program located at 634 Purchase Street In New Bedford. Go to Mercymealsandmore.com or visit their Facebook page at Mercy Meals and more to see a wonderful program that will be supported by people going on this trip.

Gallery X is now hosting Alma del Mar’s first-ever public exhibition of student artwork. From now through Friday, March 14, the artwork of students of Alma del Mar Charter School is on display in the Frederick Douglass Gallery at Gallery X, 169 William St., New Bedford.

A closing reception will be held on Thursday, March 13 from 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM as part of AHA! Night. The reception will feature performances by Alma student musicians, a silent auction of scholar work, and light refreshments. The reception is free and open to the public.

Works on display includes fourth grade self-portraits in the style of Rembrandt van Rijn. In preparation for drawing from life, they drew from a series of still life vignettes focusing on crosshatching and value.

The show also features work by kindergarten students in the style of minimalist Agnes Martin and modern master Piet Mondrian. They completed these works as part of their exploration of the Elements of Design.

About Alma del Mar:
Alma del Mar Charter School opened its doors in August 2011. Currently, the school serves 200 students in grades K-4. The school will expand to offer grades K-8. The mission of Alma del Mar is to set New Bedford children on the course to college and to challenge them to become service-minded leaders. Alma del Mar features a longer school day, a longer school year, mandatory uniforms, high expectations for all scholars, and outstanding teachers from across the country. The school offers free transportation from anywhere in New Bedford as well as a free afterschool program for low-income families. Alma del Mar offers programs for students with special needs as well as students learning English.

Four members of the New Bedford Police Department were involved in a convoy of First Responders who brought cards and gifts to a Rhode Island boy who has cancer. Tyler Seddon, a 7-year-old Burrillville, RI boy who is fighting leukemia for the second time, rang in his birthday on Thursday with help from hundreds police officers, firefighters and first responders from across the country.

The officers from New Bedford who attended from left to right are:

Officer George Lozado
Detective Christopher Cotter
Detective Kelly Almeida
Officer David Raymond

Happy Birthday Tyler!

From,

Chief of Police David Provencher,
Deputy Chief of Police David Lizotte,
Police Officers,
Dispatchers,
and employees of the New Bedford Police Department.

In recent days, the New Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce was made aware of an unauthorized solicitation from a phone number originating in Nebraska asking our members for their personal information. They are claiming to be representatives of the New Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce. This solicitation IS NOT authorized by the New Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce, nor is the Chamber affiliated with this company.

The Chamber encourages members to ignore this solicitation if received and to always be cautious when responding to these types of requests. Members are reminded to always verify for legitimacy. By ignoring and deleting unauthorized solicitations you receive via phone and email, you discourage illegitimate spam marketers and protect your personal data from nefarious scammers.

Please contact the Chamber at 508-999-5231 or via email at info@newbedfordchamber.com with any questions or concerns.

The Community Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts is pleased to announce that 20 of its 2014 college scholarships can now be applied for online. The deadline for the online scholarship applications is April 30, 2014 unless otherwise noted below.

The online application format is available for those scholarships whose recipients are selected by the Community Foundation Scholarship Committee, including the

• Daniel P. Bergeron Scholarship
• George Earl and Katherine Hartley Church Scholarship
• College Club of New Bedford Scholarships
• Fairhaven High School Centurion Scholarship
• Freitas-Rebello Scholarship
• Frank and Eleanor Gracie Family Scholarship
• Jim Haskins Scholarship
• Charles J. Lewin Interfaith Scholarship
• Nate King Memorial Scholarship
• New Bedford High School Class of 1960 Scholarship
• New Bedford Woman’s Club Scholarship
• Matthew “Matty” Ryan Oliveira Scholarship
• Katherine Hassan Penton
• New Bedford High School Class of 1948, Scholarship
• Louis M . Rusitzky Scholarship
• Samuel and Solomon Rusitzky Entrepreneurial Educators Scholarship
• Christine Saulnier Pimental Scholarship
• Frank D. Sylvia Trust Scholarship

Other online applications include the Jacobs Family New Bedford High Schools Scholarship, with a deadline of April 16; and the Thomas S. Hathaway Scholarship, with a deadline of June 1.

A number of other scholarships are available this year but recipients will be selected by other committees. The descriptions can also be found on the website, and students should contact their school’s guidance office for applications and further details.

The scholarship program is the foundation of CFSEMA’s focus on increasing educational attainment and opportunity for our region. In 2013, CFSEMA awarded more than $275,000 from 34 scholarship funds to graduating high school seniors from 20 cities and towns, as well as current college students “With rising tuition costs, it is more and more difficult for students and their families to pay for a college education,” said Program Officer Lauren Maher Patrick, who oversees the scholarship program. “The Community Foundation’s scholarships represent our donors’ appreciable understanding of the role education plays in building a better community. The Foundation is pleased to help fulfill donors’ wishes as well as to increase the opportunities for students in Southeastern Massachusetts to pursue a higher education.”

Students can read descriptions of the various scholarships by clicking the scholarship tab in the top navigation bar. To apply, students should click on “students” under the scholarship tab, and then follow the specific instructions.

Comcast Cable Network Scam

Be aware that the New Bedford Police Department has taken reports regarding a phone scam identifying itself as Comcast Cable Network.

The victim’s were told that if they deposited $300 in form of a MoneyPak to the person who was calling that they would be entered into a Customer Loyalty Program. This “program” offers free cable and internet after the payment is made. The Customer Loyalty Program does not exist nor does Comcast accept payment by MoneyPak.

Please use caution when offered any programs over the phone, as many scams are being done over the phone. If you beleive you may have been a victim of this crime, contact your local police department.

Publishers Clearing House Scam

Be aware that the New Bedford Police Department has taken reports regarding a company identifying itself as “Publishers Clearing House”.

This has been identified as a scam. This company is sending letters out to victims stating they have won a certain amount of money. With this letter they enclose a “check” Once the victim deposits this “check” they are told to wire the money back to the “Publishers Clearing House”. At this point the victim was told by their bank that the original “check” was fraudulent and that the money that they wired to the fraudulent company was now lost.

Please use caution when opening and responding to mail and emails regarding this company.

The Senate Committee on Bonding released its transportation bond bill today. The Bill provides $2.3 Billion in funding to restore commuter rail service to the South Coast including New Bedford and Fall River. These funds may be expended for the design, permitting, engineering, acquisition of land, construction of the South Coast Rail project as well as mitigation for towns affected by the rail project. The bill now heads to the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

Senator Mark Montigny, a former chairman of the Senate Bonding Committee, has been at the forefront of the effort to obtain a South Coast commuter rail. Since 1992, Montigny has tirelessly fought to garner support and funding for the extension of commuter rail to the South Coast and has successfully secured funding and bonding for the South Coast rail in several prior bonding bills over the last twenty years.

“Inclusion of full funding for the South Coast Rail money in the Transportation Bond Bill is another important step forward in the project,” said Senator Montigny. “This project has been derailed several times in the past due to a lack of commitment and sheer deceptiveness from

previous administrations. This bill grants Governor Patrick and his successor the ability to get this project started once and for all by authorizing the release of the monies authorized by this bill. We cannot rest on our laurels yet as much work still must be done to realize our dream of South Coast commuter rail to New Bedford.”

Senator Montigny also noted “passage of the present bond bill will create several avenues for economic development. The bill, if passed, would add jobs, open up housing and educational opportunities and bring visitors and travelers to our City. It also benefits the environment be by easing traffic and pollution on commuter routes to Boston. The benefits of this project are real and the time has come for the South Coast to receive the transportation investment other parts of our state have enjoyed for years”

RECEIVE A SPINNER BOOK! If Spinner publishes your photo in A Picture History of New Bedford ~ Volume 2, 1925-2014, you will receive a complimentary signed soft-cover copy of the book. If your photo is selected for the Spinner Photograph Archives for future publication, Spinner will award you either SPINNER VOLUME V or a 2015 historical calendar—your choice. For more information please call 508-994-4564.

We are seeking images of New Bedford people, places and events. For example, there’s grandfather working behind the bar at the Central Cafe; Uncle Bill is grinding drills at Morse; Aunt Bee serving coffee at the Waldorf; Cousin Fred delivering milk; kids ice skating on a frozen pond, etc., etc.

Email your low resolution photograph to spinner@spinnerpub.com or bring your photographs or negatives to the Spinner office, 164 William St, New Bedford (photographs must be the property of the entrant).

Why share your photographs with Spinner?

• It helps preserve your family history. By publishing your photographs in our books, we honor your contribution to the city’s history and build upon your legacy. Your photos will always be cherished by us.
• Spinner builds equity through the expansion of our collection, and we value your contribution. This asset allows us to produce work that is personal, dramatic and entertaining.

Check out a small sampling (20,000 images) of the Spinner Archives flickr.com/photos/spinnerpub, which is comprised of more than one million images. Visit Spinner web site at www.spinnerpub.com.