A New Bedford patrol officer was injured on Sunday night by a man illegally operating a 4-wheeler on city streets.

On Sunday, August 21st, during the late afternoon, patrol officers were monitoring a group ride of motorcycles, dirt bikes, and ATVs traveling en masse throughout the city. Many of the bikes were being illegally operated and endangering public safety by weaving in and out of traffic, performing tricks, disregarding traffic controls, and operating on the wrong side of the road.

The riders began to scatter as officers attempted to stop their activity. At this time, riders were observed entering the industrial park. While on Duchaine Blvd., one ATV rider attempted to swerve around police cruisers. The ATV then struck an officer who was out of his vehicle and on foot, causing both the officer and rider to land on the ground.

New Bedford Police Department photo.

As a result of the collision, Ofc. M. Couture sustained multiple injuries to his extremities. He is expected to fully recover. The operator of the ATV was placed under arrest and identified as KAMRYN SILVA, 26, of 153 Lafayette St. SILVA was charged with negligent operation of an unregistered and uninsured vehicle, failing to stop for police, and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

The New Bedford police continue to seek the public’s assistance in identifying the owners and operators of bikes being operated illegally. Yesterday’s incident is a stark reminder of the danger these unlawful riders pose to the safety of the public as they continue to be a chaotic nuisance on our city streets.

If you have any information on criminal activity in your neighborhood, the New Bedford Police Dept. wants to hear from you. You can leave an anonymous tip on our voicemail at (508) 991-6300 Ext. 1. You can also leave a tip at our website, www.newbedfordpd.com

MATTAPOISETT—The fire that destroyed buildings, cars, and boats at the Mattapoisett Boatyard on Friday was most likely caused by the ignition of gasoline vapors during the replacement of a boat’s gas tank, said Mattapoisett Fire Chief Andrew Murray and State Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey.

“Our hearts go out to the worker who was badly injured during last week’s fire and the family business that’s been a part of our community for 60 years,” said Chief Murray. “On behalf of the Town of Mattapoisett, I also want to recognize the efforts of our firefighters and our brother and sister firefighters and chiefs from across the region who rushed in to help. They defied the danger of a massive, wind-driven fire to prevent it from spreading further into the community and putting more people at risk.”

The origin and cause of the fire were jointly investigated by the Mattapoisett Fire Department, Mattapoisett Police Department, and State Police Fire & Explosion Investigation Unit assigned to the State Fire Marshal’s office. That investigation determined that the fire began inside a building at 32 Ned’s Point Road, where a worker had been replacing a boat’s gas tank. Investigators believe that a spark ignited gasoline vapors during this process, causing an explosion and fire that seriously injured the worker, an adult male.

The fire was fed by winds of up to 25 miles per hour coming in off the water and spread to nearby buildings, vehicles, and boats. In addition to the worker who was injured, three firefighters suffered injuries related to smoke inhalation and heat exhaustion. All four were transported from the scene for medical care; the worker remains hospitalized and is expected to survive, and the firefighters have been released.

“We’re extremely fortunate that Friday’s fire didn’t cause more injuries or worse,” said State Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey. “Nearly 900 fires have started with gasoline in Massachusetts over the past 10 years, causing nine deaths and almost $20 million in damages. Many of us use gasoline in our daily lives, but we can’t lose sight of the fire and explosion hazard associated with it. Gasoline vapors can travel a great distance to an ignition point, especially indoors.”

After receiving multiple 9-1-1 calls reporting explosions at about 1:20 pm, the Mattapoisett Fire Department responded to the scene to find heavy fire that spread to 6 buildings, 47 vehicles and 14 boats. The fire reached six alarms, drawing mutual aid from across southeastern Massachusetts and additional task forces through the Statewide Fire Mobilization Plan. In total, more than 100 firefighters battled the fire with 19 engines, 12 tankers, 3 fireboats, and 2 ladder trucks before knocking it down around 6:00 pm.

“This highly coordinated and collaborative effort allowed us to contain the fire to the boatyard property and save all of the surrounding homes and structures,” said Chief Murray.

The Department of Fire Services deployed an Incident Support Unit to assist incident commanders, a Rehab Unit to support firefighters at the scene, a Drone Unit to gather aerial imagery, a Hazmat team to monitor air quality at the fireground, and State Police fire investigators to work with local officials. The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, Department of Environmental Protection, several area harbormasters, and the Coast Guard also responded to the scene.

University of Massachusetts receives grant to launch new statewide Early College program with online classes.

The Baker-Polito Administration today awarded more than $2 million to high schools and colleges, including the University of Massachusetts, that are developing new early college pilot programs aimed at significantly increasing the number of underrepresented students taking college courses while still in high school.

“Early College programs provide students with an invaluable learning experience that supports their successful future in and out of the classroom,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “We are pleased that UMass will now be among the higher education institution partners, and we are grateful for their commitment to expanding access to college courses for high school students across the Commonwealth.”

“Students from every community in the Commonwealth will now have even more opportunities to build a bridge to college through these innovative new models,” Lt. Governor Karyn Polito said. “Congratulations to each of the grant recipients for proposing ways in which we can make Early College opportunities more widely available.”

“We’re proud to make these grants available to programs who are thinking critically about how to expand access to college courses for more high school students,” said Education Secretary James Peyser. “All students, and particularly those who have been historically underrepresented in higher education, deserve the opportunity to prepare for postsecondary education. These early college models will help more students have this opportunity.”

“These grants will accelerate innovation, build capacity, and strengthen quality in early college programs across Massachusetts,” said UMass President Marty Meehan. “UMass is grateful for the confidence that the Baker-Polito Administration is showing in our initiatives on the South Coast and in the Merrimack Valley. With our colleagues at UMass Dartmouth and UMass Lowell, we look forward to working with our partner high schools to open new higher education pathways for their students.”

The University of Massachusetts (UMass) received $940,000 to launch its first early college program and support seven partnerships with high schools surrounding its Dartmouth and Lowell campuses. Known as Commonwealth Collegiate Academy, UMass will offer live course instruction delivered remotely by its faculty to students in multiple high schools during the school day. High school instructors will partner with their UMass colleagues to provide face-to-face support for labs, discussion sections and team-based projects. UMass anticipates receiving official designation status from the state in the future, and these startup early college programs will be able to request additional state funding next year to work toward their designations.

Since its launch in 2017, the Baker-Polito Administration has undertaken a statewide effort to expand Early College to substantially increase the number of high school students who take college courses and earn credits at no cost before they graduate high school. The Fiscal Year 2023 budget signed by the Governor included a significant increase to Early College funding to bring the total annual investment to more than $19 million.

Currently, there are approximately 5,400 students enrolled in Early College courses at 50 high schools across the Commonwealth. The Executive Office of Education anticipates that approximately 8,700 students will be enrolled in Early College programs by the 2024-2025 school year. About half of the Commonwealth’s Gateway Cities have Early College programs at their high schools, and nearly 60 percent of students enrolled in Early College come from low-income backgrounds.

Students who participate in Early College programs enroll in college at significantly higher rates than their high school peers, and it boosts college completion rates for low-income, minority and first-generation college students. In 2019, approximately 76 percent of Early College students enrolled in college after graduation compared to 55 percent of their peers who did not participate in Early College.

The following applicants received grants:

• Boston Public Schools partnered with Roxbury Community College – $120,000
• Brockton Public Schools partnered with Massasoit Community College and UMass Dartmouth – $200,000 – Brockton High School is partnering with Massasoit Community College and UMass Dartmouth to launch a district-wide Early College program that enrolls several hundred students. The program will begin recruiting middle school students and provide college coursework and support to high school students in the district.
• Digital Ready partnering with Revere Public Schools and Boston Public Schools – $120,000
• Franklin County Public Schools partnered with Greenfield Community College – $200,000- Franklin County Public Schools and Greenfield Community College are partnering to develop a rural delivery model pilot of Early College. The college will launch a pilot this fall with Mohawk Trail Regional High School.
• South Shore Consortium partnered with King Philip Public School District – $100,000
• Lynn Public Schools partnered with North Shore Community College – $200,000 – Lynn Public Schools is working with North Shore Community College to open an on-campus Early College high school this fall starting with a 9th grade class.
• Merrimack College – $120,000
• University of Massachusetts President’s Office with Billerica, Brockton, Dracut, Fall River, Methuen, New Bedford, and Taunton public schools- $940,000

With most New Bedford Public Schools opening for their first day of classes on September 1, technicians and specialists of NBPS Technology Services Department have been busy throughout the summer carrying out their department’s annual IT Refresh Program for the coming 2022-2023 School Year. The comprehensive districtwide upgrade represents an investment of more than $3.8 million in technology to support students at an optimal level, states Robert P. Tetreault, Chief Technology Officer in charge of Technology Services.

“We are committed to investing in the tools students need to thrive in modern educational settings,” Mayor Jon Mitchell said. “These mobile devices were essential during the pandemic, and they have become a permanent fixture of the student experience.”

Superintendent Thomas Anderson stated, “Technology’s critical role in teaching and learning is indisputable as the pandemic has shown. Students need the most effective tools available to increase achievement in all areas. These latest upgrades continue our ongoing work to provide access in education for every student – all students get what they need to grow academically and to thrive socially and emotionally.”

Tetreault notes, “Over 3,000 new Chromebooks are being issued to all Keith, Normandin and Roosevelt Middle School students. We leveraged the funding through the Emergency Connectivity Fund, a federal program. These Chromebooks represent an investment of $1,183,000.”

In their bunker-like tech lab in the basement of the Paul Rodrigues Administration Building, technicians have been readying thousands of new student devices for delivery throughout the district. In addition to the Chromebooks, the upgrade includes:

• 900 new student laptops; 100 units going to Whaling City Junior/Senior High School with the balance allocated to New Bedford High School to cover the incoming freshman class. Any surplus units will replace ageing devices. For the laptop purchase, the federal government contributed $360,000, or $400 per unit (the program cap per device). The district paid the balance of $234,000 for a total investment cost $594,000. All incoming Grade 9 students receive new laptops.

• 2,000 new Chromebooks are going to various elementary schools to replace devices that are aging out, as Tetreault notes, “It is critical that we keep our technology up to date.” This allocation follows the 1,200 new Chromebooks issued to elementary schools last year.

• $2 million upgrade of the district’s Wi-Fi infrastructure. Over 1,400 new wireless access points are being installed in every school building to replace existing older Wi-Fi equipment. Tetreault notes, “This upgrade will provide every classroom with its own wireless access point to ensure that we have strong wireless connectivity for every instructional space in the district. This includes new switching systems to connect to central administrative platforms and mainframes.”

• Additional Educational Interactive Touch Screens for instructional spaces based on school need. This is in addition to more than seven hundred 65-inch touch screens in operation installed last year.

• Additional security and surveillance systems at selected schools.

• Upgrades to the overall system’s redundancy processes to strengthen contingency response to unanticipated down time.

• Additional hot spots: Technology Services continues to provide at no charge for NBPS families in need “hot spots” for home internet access for educational purposes. If a student is in need, they should reach out to their school and IT will provide access. Qualifying families should reach out to their respective schools to begin the process of receiving a hot spot.

“Shortly before 6:00pm yesterday evening, 911 calls were received reporting a fire at 47 Garrison Rd.

Engine 5 reported a large volume of fire extending through the roof in the rear of this one-story ranch residence. The presence of solar panels on Side A of the roof played a role in fire behavior as well as suppression. Engine 5 deployed a 2.5” hose line and extinguished a large volume of fire from the exterior. Engine 9 conducted an interior attack once the structural stability of the roof was confirmed.

The one occupant of this residence and a dog exited the dwelling prior to arrival and is being assisted by the American Red Cross. The home owner was evaluated by New Bedford EMS but did not require transport to a hospital.

No firefighters were injured.

The cause of the fire was investigated by the New Bedford Fire Department Fire Investigation Unit and is accidental. City of New Bedford Police Department (Official) and Emergency Management provided assistance on scene.” -New Bedford Fire Department.

All photos by the New Bedford Fire Department:

“With great sadness, we announce the passing of active-duty Massachusetts State Police Sergeant Kenneth J. Carroll Jr. after a courageous battle with his illness.

Sergeant Carroll was a graduate of the 75th Recruit Training and was assigned to Troop F, which protects Logan Airport and other Port properties.

We offer our deepest condolences to his family and friends. He served the citizens of this state honorably and will be dearly missed. May he rest in eternal peace.

#NeverToBeForgotten.” -Massachusetts State Police.

Massachusetts State Police photo.

“In late summer and autumn, Monarch butterflies migrate south from Massachusetts all the way to Michoacán in Mexico!

They most likely navigate using a combination of the magnetic pull of the Earth, the position of the Sun, and more. As caterpillars, they eat only milkweed.

We partner with MassDOT and others to increase habitat for pollinators by seeding areas with a mix of native plants (including milkweed). We also manage habitat by controlling non-native, invasive plants, which helps native plants reproduce and spread naturally.

Learn more about these fascinating insects here.”-Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife.