The New Bedford Health Department has issued fines to six New Bedford-based restaurants and bars for failure to comply with the City’s COVID-19 regulations and protections for residents.

Hong Kong Restaurant at 2899 Acushnet Avenue, Mikey B’s Restaurant at 989 Victoria Street, Taqueria La Raza at 1408 Acushnet Avenue, Whiskey Lounge at 1669 Acushnet Avenue, The Bar at 266 Dartmouth Street, and Casa Benfica at 1484 Acushnet Avenue were fined for their failure to comply with the regulations.

Hong Kong Restaurant, Whiskey Lounge and The Bar were cited for serving alcoholic beverages without food, and for failure for employees to wear masks.

Mikey B’s and Taqueria La Raza were cited for failure of employees to wear masks.

Casa Benfica was cited for serving alcoholic beverages without food.

Fines were issued in the following amounts:

Hong Kong Restaurant: Fined $300
Mike B’s Restaurant: Fined $100
Taqueria La Raza: Fined $100
Whiskey Lounge: Fined $300
The Bar: Fined $300
Casa Benfica: Fined $100

Violation orders were issued on October 14 after inspections by the New Bedford Police Department and the New Bedford Health Department.

Earlier this year, Mayor Jon Mitchell and the Board of Health announced emergency orders to keep employees safe at their place of work, and to outline reporting requirements of COVID-19 in the workplace. The orders include strong measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in workplaces.

Businesses will be subject to fines for failure to comply with the City’s orders, including failure to protect employees and failure to notify the Health Department of an outbreaks. The orders can be found on New Bedford’s COVID-19 webpage: https://www.newbedford-ma.gov/health-department/coronavirus/.

“Massachusetts State Police Colonel Christopher Mason announced that he recently consolidated formerly separate Internal Affairs and Staff Inspection units into a single new section, the Office of Professional Integrity and Accountability (OPIA). The new merged unit increases the number of officers available to do both timely internal investigations into complaints and inspections of barracks and units to ensure adherence to Department policies and regulations.

The restructuring of those functions into a single unit created an OPIA staff of 20 MSP officers, all holding the commissioned rank of detective lieutenant, under the command of a captain, each of whom is trained to do both internal investigations and Department inspections. Previously, smaller groups of officers did either investigations or staff inspections, not both.

The restructured unit creates efficiencies by allowing the OPIA commander greater flexibility and capacity to assign officers to either function as needs arise, which will, in turn, decrease the time needed to complete investigations or inspections. Regular inspections of Department entities is crucial to ensure compliance with the Department’s operational and administrative policies and procedures.

Colonel Mason also announced that the State Police and the Attorney General’s office will regularly engage in a review of all new and open internal investigation cases to determine if any are more appropriately referred to prosecutors for potential criminal investigations.

“Each of these enhancements to our internal control framework help point the way toward a more efficient and accountable agency and support both the public we serve and the members of the Massachusetts State Police who proudly and professionally fulfill our law enforcement mission. We also urge the swift passage of Governor Baker’s pending legislation which would further increase accountability and enhance the Department’s discipline process.”

There are approximately 2,300 sworn members of the Massachusetts State Police, the vast majority of whom perform their duties with integrity and dedication to the job. Part of the Department’s strategy to ensure excellent policing services includes investigating even minor infractions of policy, which reflect the overwhelming majority of allegations made against members, both sustained and not sustained. The Department will continue to investigate and discipline violations of its code of conduct committed on or off duty, regardless of whether they rise to the level of prosecutable offenses.

The number of external complaints made to the Department has dropped each of the last five years. In 2016, the Department received 193 external complaints. That number fell to 142 in 2017, 124 in 2018, 106 in 2019, and 24 this year to date.

The Department additionally is focused on proactively identifying potential job performance issues among members at an early stage and taking corrective actions to prevent potential problematic conduct from repeating and escalating. This is being accomplished through the implementation, over the past two years, of increased training in ethics, bias-free policing, enhanced time and attendance rules, and supervisory responsibilities; regular payroll audits; installation of automated vehicle locator technology in cruisers; creation of an early intervention committee, and establishing a body/cruiser camera program expected to roll out in the coming months. The Department has also increased the number of personnel assigned to handle trial boards and other disciplinary matters to enhance efficiency and ensure expedited resolution.”

Zeiterion Performing Arts Center finds a new way to celebrate Halloween during the pandemic with “Halloweekend” on Friday, October 30, and Saturday, October 31, at The Zeiterion Drive-In located in the Seastreak Ferry “Whale’s Tooth” Parking Lot. Each night will feature a family-friendly movie, kids will receive candy upon arrival, and costumes are encouraged. Tickets are $25 per vehicle, available only in advance of the event at https://zeiterion.org/drivein/.

The “Halloweekend” movies featured at The Zeiterion Drive-In are:

Hotel Transylvania (2012)
Friday, October 30, 7:30 p.m.

Welcome to Hotel Transylvania, Dracula’s lavish five-stake resort, where monsters and their families can live it up and no humans are allowed. One special weekend, Dracula (Adam Sandler) has invited all his best friends – Frankenstein and his wife, the Mummy, the Invisible Man, the Werewolf family, and more – to celebrate his beloved daughter Mavis’s (Selena Gomez) 118th birthday. For Dracula catering to these legendary monsters is no problem – but his world could come crashing down when one ordinary guy (Andy Samberg) stumbles on the hotel and takes a shine to Mavis. Rating: PG

The Addams Family (2019)
Saturday, October 31, 7:30 p.m.

They’re creepy, they’re kooky, and they’re moving somewhere spooky – New Jersey! The Addams Family is back in their first animated comedy about the kookiest family on the block. Funny, outlandish, and completely iconic, The Addams Family redefines what it means to be a good neighbor. Featuring the voices of Oscar Isaac, Charlize Theron, Chloe Grace Moretz, Finn Wolfhard, Nick Kroll, Bette Midler, Allison Janney, Snoop Dogg and more. Rating: PG

In addition to the two “Halloweekend” films, the current Drive-In line-up of concerts and movies includes:

Adam Ezra Group
Thursday, October 15, 7:00 p.m.

Talk to any Adam Ezra Group fan around the country and they’ll tell you that each of their performances is a one-of-a-kind, community-driven experience, propelled by the spirit of the people in front of the stage. For both fans and band members alike, an AEG concert is a rally to live life with intensity and soak in the moments we share with one another. Adam Ezra Group is Adam on guitar and vocals, Corinna on fiddle, accordion, and vocals, and Poche on bass, and vocals.

Livingston Taylor
Friday, October 16, 7:00 p.m.

Livingston Taylor’s 50-year musical legacy has been described as “equal parts Mark Twain, college professor, and musical icon.” A natural performer, his Taylor-esque sound and a unique mix of music, anecdotes and ineffable warmth have fans exclaiming, “His storytelling made me anticipate every word. Taylor connects with his audience like nobody else.” A prolific songwriter with 22 albums, Livingston hasn’t stopped performing since his early coffeehouse days and has shared the stage with major artists such as Joni Mitchell, Linda Ronstadt, Fleetwood Mac, Jimmy Buffett, and Jethro Tull. Come hear this airplane-flying, motorcycle-riding, singing storyteller at this unique waterfront stage.

Coco (2017)
Saturday, October 17, 7:30 p.m.

Despite his family’s baffling generations-old ban on music, Miguel dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz. Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead following a mysterious chain of events. Along the way, he meets charming trickster Hector, and together, they set off on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel’s family history. Rating: PG

Festival Ballet Providence & New Bedford Symphony Orchestra
Sunday, October 18, 3:00 p.m.

An afternoon of dance and music presented by Festival Ballet Providence and New Bedford Symphony Orchestra! Rhode Island’s resident ballet company will perform to live music by NBSO. Join us as these two world-class organizations in the Southcoast unite to for a unique and truly moving experience.

Susan Werner
Thursday, October 22, 7:00 p.m.

Susan Werner composes skillful songs that effortlessly slide between folk, jazz, and pop, all delivered with sassy wit and classic Midwestern charm. Throughout her expansive career, boundless versatility has emerged as a hallmark of Werner’s talent, and has proven to be a quintessential ingredient of her engrossing musical persona.

The Avengers (2012)
Friday, October 23, 7:30 p.m.

Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) and Thor (Chris Hemsworth) assemble together for the first time in this epic, action-packed blockbuster alongside Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) and Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson). Director Joss Whedon creates an unprecedented masterpiece that has become a global phenomenon. Rating: PG-13

Frozen 2 (2019)
Saturday, October 24, 7:30 p.m.

Why was Elsa born with magical powers? The truths about the past await her as she ventures into the unknown—to the enchanted forests and dark seas beyond Arendelle. The answers are calling her, but they are also threatening her kingdom. Together with Anna, Kristoff, Olaf and Sven, she’ll face a dangerous but remarkable journey. In Frozen, Elsa feared her powers were too much for the world. In Frozen 2, she must hope they are enough. Rating: PG.

Grupo Sazón
Sunday, October 25, 3:00 p.m.

Grupo Sazón is a seven-piece orchestra playing Salsa, Cha Cha, Merengue and Latin Jazz lead by master percussionist, founder and musical director Jesús Andújar. Andújar was born into a family of musicians in Samaná, Dominican Republic. At a young age he developed his rhythm, timing, and ear for music while working on the farms. He now leads a group of incredibly talented musicians who play throughout the New England area, performing authentic music from the Spanish Carribbean and has an expansive repertoire of Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, Cha Cha, Calypso and Latin Jazz!

Black Panther (2018)
Thursday, October 29, 7:30 p.m.

Marvel Studios’ ‘Black Panther’ follows T’Challa who, after the death of his father, the King of Wakanda, returns home to the isolated, technologically advanced African nation to succeed to the throne and take his rightful place as king. But when a powerful old enemy reappears, T’Challa’s mettle as king—and Black Panther—is tested when he is drawn into a formidable conflict that puts the fate of Wakanda and the entire world at risk. Faced with treachery and danger, the young king must rally his allies and release the full power of Black Panther to defeat his foes and secure the safety of his people and their way of life. Starring Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, and Danai Gurira. Rating: PG-13.

The Drive-In series is the Zeiterion’s response while programming inside the theater is paused due to the pandemic. To ensure safety, it has implemented policies for all attendees, including the use of a face covering while outside the vehicle. Vehicles will be directed to every other space, so attendees may sit or stand in the empty space while maintaining social distancing. Restrooms will be available, and they will be monitored for safety, but congregating anywhere on the premises is not permitted. Pets are not allowed. The complete list of information and policies is available on https://zeiterion.org/drivein/.

The Zeiterion Drive-In is sponsored by Big Ocean Creative, The Black Whale, Bristol County Savings Bank, the City of New Bedford, Hawthorne Medical, Joe’s Original Kitchen + Bar, New Bedford Credit Union, New Bedford Port Authority, Seastreak, Southcoast Health, Vineyard Wind, and The Whale’s Tail.

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The Zeiterion Performing Arts Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to provide New Bedford and the region with performing arts programming of excellence that inspires, educates, engages and entertains. Tickets are available for purchase at www.zeiterion.org or by calling 508-994-2900. Temporary Zeiterion Box Office hours are 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday.

A 28-year-old Brockton man who, in late 2018, went on a violent rampage inside his girlfriend’s Taunton home which resulted in the stabbing of her father and her dog, was sentenced last week to serve two to three years in state prison, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

Leonardo Medina pled guilty to indictments charging him with two counts of assault and battery on a family or household member, and one count each of animal cruelty, and assault and. battery with a dangerous weapon.

On December 9, 2018 the defendant arrived at his girlfriend’s home at 3:00 in the morning, walked into the residence, and started punching her in the face for no apparent reason.

When the victim asked him what he was doing, he swore at her and told her to shut up. At that point, the victim screamed for her father, who was sleeping in a downstairs bedroom. When the father came upstairs, the defendant attacked him and punched him in the face. The defendant then began ransacking the kitchen when he was once again confronted by the female victim’s father. The defendant, now armed with a kitchen knife, stabbed the father in the side of his stomach.

During the incident, the defendant also stabbed the family dog, an older Labrador retriever, in the leg.

When police arrived on scene, they were forced to deploy their tasers in order to get the defendant to comply with commands and submit to arrest.

The female victim was noted to have swelling on her face and a bloody lip. The father was transported to Morton Hospital in Taunton, where he was treated for his stab wound. The dog did not require hospitalization and did recover from the knife wound to its leg.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Matthew Lopes and the state prison sentence was imposed by Judge Thomas Perrino.

Upon his release from prison, the defendant will be placed on supervised probation with several conditions. The conditions include the successful completion of a batteries counseling program and an anger management counseling program. The defendant must also not come within 1,000 feet of there victim’s residence and make no direct or indirect contact with either victim.

“The defendant went on a violent rampage that included assaulting the two victims and stabbing their dog. Fortunately. no one was seriously injured. The defendant was held accountable for his violent behavior. He will be on supervised release for an additional two years and has been ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation,” District Attorney Quinn said.

Students and faculty from Bristol Community College’s Education Department, including the college’s Early Childhood Education (ECE) and Elementary Education programs, have created a free, family-friendly resource for COVID-19 related information using the increasingly popular new digital platform Padlet.

As a component of the department’s curriculum, Bristol’s COVID-19 Resources Padlet provides an interactive source for families seeking credible information, videos, websites, activities, stories and books related to the current pandemic. The project was developed by Bristol’s Education Department Faculty and Staff members: Engin Atasay, Melissa Cardelli, MaryAnn Casavant and Carole Norberg, to engage students in current program-related resources while assisting the community with valuable information.

Bristol Community College Education Department COVID-19 Resources Padlet: https://padlet.com/melissa_cardelli/yhsup5ulu49038rq

With the guidance of faculty, students in the first year of the ECE program have contributed resources related to mindfulness and assisting children and adults dealing with stress at various levels, while second-year students have contributed activities and materials for children as well as helpful tips for families of children in infant/toddler programs, preschools and elementary schools.

The multiplatform collaboration tool, Padlet, was chosen for its ease of access to community members, by computer or mobile devices, as well as the ability for students to share and interact with content by uploading and creating materials in one central location. Students were also able to utilize the resources they found and share them or incorporate them into their practicum.

The Padlet tool was also already being utilized by Bristol’s ECE faculty to support students constructing their final portfolio for the program. The college’s ECE faculty hopes to further expand its use, given the ability to present work using a variety of visual and written modalities, supporting different learning styles.

The New Bedford Election Commission has announced that Early Voting for the 2020 general election will be held for two weeks at the New Bedford Main Library, 613 Pleasant Street, from Saturday, October 17 through Friday, October 30.

Any voter who wishes to cast their ballot in person prior to Election Day, November 3, may do so at the Main Library during the following hours:

• Saturday, October 17: 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
• Sunday, October 18: 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

• Monday, October 19: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, October 20: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, October 21: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Thursday, October 22: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Friday, October 23: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

• Saturday, October 24: 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
• Sunday, October 25: 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

• Monday, October 26: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, October 27: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, October 28: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Thursday, October 29: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Friday, October 30: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Voters may cast their ballot for: President; Senator in Congress; Representative in Congress; Senator in General Court; Representatives in General Court for the Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, and Thirteenth Bristol District; County Treasurer; County Commissioner; Governor’s Councillor; and Register of Probate; and on the statewide ballot questions.

As usual, on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, polls will be open in the City of New Bedford from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Additional safety requirements including the use of masks/face coverings and the observance of social distancing will be in place due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Any New Bedford resident who is uncertain about their voting status, designated polling location, or who has changed their address since the last election, or any other question should contact the Election Commission office at 508-979-1420.

In a letter to the head of the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, NAACP New Bedford Branch President Dr. LaSella L. Hall called for an outside investigation of the killing by police officers of Malcom Gracia in New Bedford in 2012. A presentation by Gracia’s family’s attorney revealed that many facts were overlooked or ignored in the Police Department’s and District Attorney’s investigation at the time of the killing. The letter reads, in part:

With compelling evidence of mishandled forensics; overly friendly interrogation of the accused police officers; an assistant DA who failed to gather critical evidence; mishandled forensics; the DA’s final report riddled with factual errors and implausible assumptions; a gag order on medical records of the police officer who claimed to have been stabbed and; New Bedford’s half-million-dollar settlement with the Gracia family, it is clear that justice was the second casualty in this case.

Citizens are still calling for the prosecution of officers Trevor Sylvia and Paul Fonseca, and discipline for filing false police reports by officers Tyson Barnes, David Brown, Paul Fonseca, Brian Safioleas, and Trevor Sylvia. Mr. Brisson’s presentations casts a disturbing light on the New Bedford Police, the District Attorney’s office, and the Mayor himself in the wake of Malcolm Gracia’s shooting. We think there’s enough substance in Brisson’s presentations to at least warrant an independent investigation. We join with others in our community calling for re-opening the case.

Dr. Hall said, “Justice has been long denied. We expect a speedy but thorough, independent investigation and will not rest until that is secured.”

The mission of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is to secure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons.

Chief 1, Engine 1 and Engine 4 cleared this motor vehicle accident on Route 195 West just over the town line into Fairhaven.

Chief 1 arrived first on scene and found a vehicle into the woods fully involved.

Chief 1 was able to confirm all occupants were out of the vehicle and Engine 1 arrived a short time later and extinguished the fire.

Mattapoisett Fire Rescue photo.

Mattapoisett Fire Rescue photo.

Mattapoisett Fire Rescue photo.

The New Bedford Police Department (NBPD) congratulates former Public Information Officer (PIO) Lt. Nathaniel Rodriquez on becoming the first Latino officer in the history of the department to achieve the rank of Captain.

Capt. Rodriguez took command of Station 2 on the south end of New Bedford on Sept. 28.

Rodriguez started his career with the NBPD in 2004 after first serving as a Bristol County Corrections Officer. Since joining the force, he has elevated through the ranks as a Sergeant and Lieutenant prior to obtaining the highest mark for the department in the State’s Civil Service Captain’s exam earlier this year. During his years at the NBPD, he has worked in Patrol, Training, and Professional Standards before becoming PIO in 2018.

“I see this as a moment for all young women and men of not just Latino heritage, but all heritages to realize that we matter to this city and to this country. Now is our time to lead with pride in who we are and where we come from,” said Rodriguez.

“With Latinos representing more than 20% of New Bedford’s population, we are focused on ensuring our department looks like our City and reflects the perspectives of all cultures and backgrounds. Imagine the positive difference that can happen when a child sees their own face in that of a police officer,” said Chief Joseph Cordeiro.

Latinos made up about 12.5 percent of police forces in 2016, up from 7.8 percent in 1997, a 60 percent increase, according to Bureau of Justice Statistics data. “We hope that number continues to grow,” said Rodriquez, “as I encourage young people of all backgrounds to consider the positive difference they can make in choosing this profession. An organization is always better off when it is diverse and can appreciate and respect that diversity.”

Colin A. Young
State House News Service

More than 1,900 new people were confirmed to have COVID-19 over the three-day weekend as single-day positivity rates remained above 3 percent, continuing a trend that began in late September.

The Department of Public Health reported 587 new cases of the coronavirus on Saturday, 570 additional cases on Sunday, and 765 fresh cases on Monday, though the agency said Monday’s total included “data from a national laboratory that had a delay in reporting.” Along with the 1,922 new cases DPH reported 39 recent COVID-19 deaths since Friday, bringing the death toll to 9,617 people. Since Feb. 1, 136,933 people in Massachusetts have become infected with the virus.

Though DPH said Monday the seven-day average of the positive test rate of all tests conducted remained at 1.1 percent, the agency also reported that 4.2 percent of people tested for the first time Friday were found to be positive for COVID-19, 3.4 percent of people first tested Saturday had the virus, and 3.2 percent of people first tested Sunday were confirmed to have COVID-19. The single-day positivity percentage has been above 3 percent since late September, according to DPH.

As of midday Monday, there were 501 people with COVID-19 hospitalized in Massachusetts. That’s down by 30 patients from midday Saturday, but DPH said the three-day average number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients is up 70 percent from the low of about 300 patients in late August. As of midday Monday, 82 people were being treated in an intensive care unit including 32 COVID-19 patients on ventilators.

Dr. David Rosman, president of the Massachusetts Medical Society, took to Twitter each evening this weekend to call attention to trend lines that he said “are still pointing up” and to encourage people to remain vigilant about social distancing and mask-wearing.

“Evening #MA. 765 new #COVID19 cases on 18.8k new tests. That’s not good. Unusually high for a Monday. 3.2% positive. That’s better than the last week which is good. Interesting that # of tests are going up. #StayHealthy #WearAMask #StayHome,” he tweeted Monday.