“Two people were transported to area hospital yesterday following this Precinct Street crash.

Ambulance 2 and Engine 1 were dispatched to the intersection of Precinct and Pickens for a head-on crash with injuries and entrapment.

Ambulance 1, Car 1, and Car 2 also responded on to the scene.

Firefighters arrived to find the occupants of the vehicles had self extricated. Two of the occupants did have minor injuries and were transported to St Luke’s Hospital.” -Lakeville Fire Department.

Lakeville Fire Department photo.

“The MSPCA at Nevins Farm has just taken in 32 cats from a single home in Tewksbury, MA after their overwhelmed owner could no longer care for them, and 59 others were sent to Tewksbury Animal Control and other humane groups.

All of the cats but three are suffering from upper respiratory infections, and they all have painful, itchy ear mites as well as periodontal disease. The majority of the cats have also experienced severe, irreversible eye changes as a result of untreated infections.

“This is a case where one of the owners had died and the surviving spouse just could not take care of all these cats, especially as their health issues got more serious, and [he] was desperate for help,” said Meaghan O’Leary, the director of operations at the MSPCA at Nevins Farm.

We will be testing the cats for ringworm later this week, and the results of these tests, as well as how they respond to treatment for their respiratory infections, will determine the timeline of their availability for adoption.

The cats range in age from six months to about 10 years. We should have an update on their availability next week – in the meantime, the cost of care is expected to reach $10,000. We’re fortunate to be able to help in these situations, and our sole intention is to help the cats heal and then place them into loving homes.” -MSPCA-Angell.

MSPCA-Angell photo.

“Yesterday, we had our honorary swearing-in ceremony for 6-year-old JJ Montalban.

JJ is a New Bedford boy who is in desperate need of a heart transplant due to a rare heart condition. After meeting Ofc. Shane Harris and Ofc. Gene Fortes, JJ knew he wanted to become a police officer.

We are so happy to welcome JJ into our home here. We are praying for you JJ, and we love you!” -New Bedford Police Department.

New Bedford Police Department photo.

PACE is hiring for a Custodian position for their Head Start Facility

The qualified candidate will manage the daily cleaning, sanitation and maintenance responsibilities of an early childhood setting:

• Must have a minimum of one (1) year experience in janitorial and maintenance work;
• Ability to perform minor repairs;
• Must be physically able to climb ladders, bend, stoop, lift and carry items weighing up to approximately 60 lbs. and to stand and walk continuously throughout the workday;
• Must be able to pass a CORI and DCF background checks.

The candidate for this position will be responsible for assisting in the general maintenance and sanitary conditions of the Head Start facility. The assigned daily schedule and cleaning sanitation guidelines must be followed and all applicable regulations adhered to. To learn more about the program visit us at: www.paceinfo.org and click on the “Programs” tab.

Head Start and Early Head Start provides family-centered development programming for over 264 income-eligible families with children from birth to age 5 living in the Greater New Bedford area.

Excellent benefits include paid vacation time, personal time, sick time, and holidays; low-cost health insurance, dental, vision plans, and no-cost life insurance.

SALARY: $16.00/hour, 30 hours per week, 39-42 weeks per year

P.A.C.E. is an AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

E-mail a cover letter, resume and the name of the position you are applying for to: hrjobapplications@paceinfo.org no later than: Friday March 11, 2022

“The suspect in the breaking and entering into vehicles in North Fairhaven on Tuesday night got around on a scooter. They didn’t think much of surveillance cameras!

Please take a look at these photographs and let us know if you recognize this person by their clothing or in general. We will be able to provide more photographs soon.

We have 12 victims who would love to know this person has to answer to their actions after invading their privacy and taking their things.” -Fairhaven Police Department.

Fairhaven Police Department photo.

On Wednesday, Feb. 23, a joint state-local operation, conducted to reduce the demand of commercial sexual exploitation, resulted in the arrests of six men.

The operation utilized law enforcement officers posing online as escorts and a hotel in the Revere area. The six men were arrested as they arrived at the hotel after previously culminating an agreement for commercial sex with the undercover officers.

The operation was conducted by the Massachusetts State Police High Risk Victim Unit, the MSP Gang Unit, the Boston Police Human Trafficking Unit, the Revere Police Department, the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department, and the FBI Human Trafficking and Violent Crime task forces.

The Massachusetts State Police and its local and federal law enforcement partners are committed to the apprehension of perpetrators of sexual exploitation and the safe recovery of victims of sex trafficking.

The City of New Bedford has roadwork sites for the upcoming week of February 28, 2022 – March 4, 2022, and they are as follows:

Eversource will be working on the gas main relays and services at:

• No work scheduled

Other:

• Contractor (SCR Constructors) will continue site work at the future South Coast Rail station platform locations in the city. (Church St at Carlisle St and Wamsutta St at Acushnet Ave.) If you have questions, please email the project team at SouthCoastRail@dot.state.ma.us
Union St. Phase II Sewer Separation Project:
• Contractor (C. Naughton Corp.) will continue replacement of the Union St sewer main between Sixth St and County St.  During working hours, Union St will be closed between County St and Sixth St.  Union St westbound traffic will be detoured at Sixth St to School St.  Union St eastbound traffic will be detoured at County St to Spring St.
• Access to local business will be maintained, construction/detour signs will be posted, and police details will be on-site to assist with traffic management.

** Please note: Contractors will continue to follow guidelines and protocol regarding COVID-19 social distancing while conducting work in construction zone.

“There will be NO additional collection delay this week due to the snow.

Note there is a one day delay due to the Presidents Day holiday.

On Friday, 2/25/22, ABC will be collecting trash and recycling in the Thursday area and on Saturday, 2/26/22, ABC will collect from the Friday area.” -New Bedford Recycling.

MOVA’s five-member board unanimously voted to support proposals and urge legislative action.

The Massachusetts Office for Victims Assistance (MOVA), an independent state agency that supports victims of crime in the Commonwealth, has endorsed legislation filed by the Baker-Polito Administration that will create comprehensive new protections for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, assault and battery, the harmful distribution of explicit images, and other crimes. MOVA’s five-member Victim and Witness Assistance Board unanimously voted to support both bills, H.4291 An Act Relative to the Harmful Distribution of Sexually Explicit Visual Material and H.4290 An Act to protect victims of crime and the public, which were filed by Governor Baker in December 2021.

“Massachusetts has always been a leader in protecting the rights of crime victims that are based on three basic provisions: the rights to be informed, present, and heard,” said Liam Lowney, Executive Director of MOVA. “These bills, filed by the Baker-Polito Administration, provide survivors additional tools to protect their personal safety and empower well-informed decision making in the face of trauma. Through this endorsement, MOVA looks forward to furthering our shared commitment with the Administration to advance the rights of crime victims throughout the Commonwealth.”

“We deeply appreciate MOVA’s support and the endorsement from its board members who share our urgency about the need for this legislation and the protections it will provide survivors, communities and the public,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Our Administration is committed to strengthening and modernizing the laws required to ensure safety and protection from some of our Commonwealth’s most vulnerable citizens. I urge the legislature to act on these bills and demonstrate their commitment to survivor protections.”

“MOVA’s support of this legislation speaks to the important impact it will have on survivors of violent crime, the harmful distribution of explicit images, and other crimes,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “We are thankful to MOVA for their support and look forward to working with them to pass these commonsense laws that close loopholes and protect those who need it most.”

“These laws will make a difference in the lives of those we serve and enhance public safety by equipping criminal justice and law enforcement professionals with the tools needed to address the threat of dangerous individuals and non-consensual sharing of explicit content,” said Public Safety and Security Secretary Terrence Reidy. “We are grateful for MOVA’s support in our effort to advance these important proposals.”

About MOVA: MOVA is an independent state agency governed by the Victim and Witness Assistance Board. MOVA strives to advance victim rights by ensuring all victims and survivors of crime across the Commonwealth are supported and empowered through access to high-quality services that are trauma-informed, culturally-responsive, and reflective of diverse communities. MOVA achieves this through survivor-informed work, advocacy for enhanced victim rights and services, partnerships with agencies and individuals, and a commitment to providing funding and services for underserved and marginalized communities.

An Act to protect victims of crime and the public: First filed in 2018, the Administration’s proposal would expand the list of offenses that can provide grounds for a dangerousness hearing and close certain loopholes at the start and end of the criminal process that currently limit or prevent effective action to address legitimate safety concerns. It would strengthen the ability of judges to enforce the conditions of pre-trial release by empowering police to detain people who they observe violating court-ordered release conditions; current law does not allow this, and instead requires a court to first issue a warrant. Under this proposal, judges will be empowered to revoke a person’s release when the offender has violated a court-ordered condition, such as an order to stay away from a victim, or from a public playground. Current law requires an additional finding of dangerousness before release may be revoked.

An Act Relative to the Harmful Distribution of Sexually Explicit Visual Materials: First filed in 2017, the proposal modernizes the laws governing the distribution of sexually explicit images and empowers District Attorneys with additional tools to protect children. Under this proposal, the first step in an explicit images case involving minors will be to enroll in an educational diversion program rather than go through the juvenile justice process and potentially be committed to the Department of Youth Services. While District Attorneys and the Attorney General will still have the right to bypass educational diversion programs in certain instances, the focus will now be on educational diversion rather than legal punishment.

This legislation also seeks to close a loophole under current law by creating penalties for adults who distribute a sexually explicit image for purposes of revenge or embarrassment. While current law addresses non-consensual recording of an unsuspecting person, it does not address instances where someone distributes an image without consent regardless of whether the initial image may have been taken with consent. This legislation closes the gap in state law by creating a new felony offense and empowering judges in criminal proceedings to ensure an explicit image in question is permanently destroyed.

New program directs $50 million toward businesses reaching underserved markets, minority-, women-, and veteran-owned businesses, and $25 million for businesses that did not qualify for prior MGCC aid.

The Baker-Polito Administration announced the launch of a new $75 million grant program to support Massachusetts small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The new program is part of the plan to spend $4 billion in American Rescue Plan funding that was signed into law by Governor Charlie Baker in December 2021. The new program is modeled after Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation’s (MGCC) successful COVID-19 small business relief program. Under that effort, which became the biggest state-sponsored business relief program in the nation, MGCC oversaw the distribution of approximately $705 million to over 15,000 small businesses across Massachusetts. Today’s announcement was made at Luanda Restaurant and Lounge in Brockton, a family-owned business that received financial support through MGCC’s prior COVID relief grant program.

“We have been proud to support small businesses in every corner of the Commonwealth through the MGCC small business program during the pandemic, but we know that some challenges remain for many businesses,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “With the launch of this new effort, we can build on MGCC’s successful work and direct important federal funding to those businesses with the greatest need quickly and effectively.”

“Restaurants like Luanda are fundamental to the character of our neighborhoods, main streets and downtowns in every city and town in Massachusetts,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “This new initiative will ensure that businesses that need help the most will be able to take advantage of additional opportunities.”

The $75 million will be focused on small businesses that employ between two and 50 people, with $25 million directed toward businesses that did not qualify for previous MGCC grants because of a lack of revenue loss in 2020; and $50 million directed to businesses that reach underserved markets and historically underrepresented groups, or are minority-, women-, or veteran-owned businesses, or are owned by individuals with disabilities or who identify as a member of the LGBTQ+ community.

Under both categories, grants will range from $10,000 to $75,000, and will be capped at the lesser of $75,000 or three months of operating expenses. Grant funding can be used for employee and benefit costs, mortgage interest, rent, utilities, and interest on debt.

“The challenges faced by Massachusetts’ small businesses during COVID have been enormous, but in my district and across the state I have seen so many entrepreneurs and innovators respond with incredible perseverance and grace. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and they deserve our support,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka. “Today’s grants represent a choice by the Legislature to center small businesses in our effort for an equitable recovery. I am grateful to the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation for their work to distribute these funds to so many deserving businesses and I am thankful to all of the small businesses who have done so much for Massachusetts.”

“I am pleased to hear that the small business grant program, created through the Legislature’s ARPA bill, is now accepting applications, and will soon be distributing these funds to our small businesses,” said Speaker of the House Ronald J. Mariano. “Delivering on the Legislature’s intent to pass a bill truly focused on equity, a significant portion of the funds from the small business program will specifically target minority-owned, women-owned, and veteran-owned small businesses, as well as small businesses that didn’t receive previous grants during the pandemic. Small businesses are oftentimes the backbone of our communities and local economies, and I look forward to seeing these investments remain a priority for the House of Representatives moving forward.”

“When help was needed the most during the pandemic, the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation scaled up a nation-leading program to support our small businesses and the families and entrepreneurs behind them,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy. “I’m grateful to the MGCC team for once again stepping up to direct vital funding to the neighborhoods and communities that continue to face challenges created by this unprecedented public health crisis.”

“MGCC is pleased to be an instrument of recovery for the smallest of businesses throughout Massachusetts most affected by COVID-19 with these two new grants programs,” said Lawrence Andrews, CEO and President of MGCC. “The Baker-Polito Administration and the Legislature recognize that certain communities have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, and the goal of this funding will bring relief and stability to additional businesses throughout the Commonwealth.”

In addition to prioritizing applications from businesses that did not qualify for prior aid and businesses owned by individuals from historically underserved populations or operate in underserved markets, eligible businesses must currently be in operation and based in Massachusetts. Applicants must also demonstrate that business revenues for 2020 were between $40,000 and $2.5 million.

Learn more at EmpoweringSmallBusiness.org.