Separate arrests over the Fourth of July holiday weekend led to firearms and drug trafficking charges.

On July 3, detectives seized 54 grams of cocaine and $614 at 75 Crapo St. Apt. #1N. As a result, Jorge Duarte, 26, 75 Crapo St., Apt. #1N was charged with drug trafficking. He is currently on pre-trial probation for firearms offenses. Detective Kevin Barbosa investigated the case. 

On July 4, New Bedford police detectives charged Jayante Arthur Antone, 23, 7 Bannister St. Apt. #1, in the area of 815 S. First St. for illegally carrying a firearm. This is a subsequent offense.

If you have any information on criminal activity in your community, 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.

The following was released by the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP):

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.

The horrific death of George Floyd and, more recently, the deliberate shooting of Rayshard Brooks in Atlanta along with Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and other Black citizens too numerous to name, has increased the number of lives lost to state-sanctioned violence and white supremacy.

These incidents are becoming all too common. Enough is enough! The National NAACP alarm, “We are done dying” is the rallying call of a people who for more than 450 years have been treated as outcasts in a country their ancestors built. Every Black person in this country has a right to live, a right to breathe, and a right to be a part of their community, without fear of violence and senseless attacks simply for the color of their skin.

But history seems to repeat itself. Once again Black people are forced to suffer the fatal burden of a system unchecked. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is outraged by the recent killings of Black people. Yet, at the same time, we salute and encourage the young people who are the force behind the current movement. This movement is a call to every American institution to review and correct its policies, practices, and culture to ascertain how they are adversely affecting communities of color.

Therefore, we as the NAACP New Bedford Branch, make the following demands of New Bedford City Mayor John Mitchell, Police Chief Joseph Cordeiro, and District Attorney Thomas Quinn III:

• Establish Community Review Boards (CRB) with subpoena power to oversee and review police incidents and maintain checks and balances among the police department.

• Prohibit the use of choke holds and knee holds by New Bedford police officers.

• Implement mandatory and continual training of all parties in the police department regarding: de-escalation tactics/procedures, implicit and racial bias, mental health, and domestic violence.

• Require that information requests under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the State Open Records Act, and others result in police officer incident records being made available and accessible to the public, and that they include: police officer names, badge numbers, body cam footage, police record history etc.and department disciplinary and accountability policies, history of department responses to use of fatal and excessive force, etc.

• Institute a credential renewal process for police officers and the department periodically and upon incidents or complaints, especially those related to fatal or excessive force.

• Provide periodic progress reports on reforms/processes.

• Review the police budget to consider reallocation of funds to agencies/the police department which may be better suited to handle certain areas of responsibility.

• Review use of force policies to abolish unlawful practices and policies in order to eliminate police brutality and the murdering of innocent individuals e.g., George Floyd and Malcolm Gracia.

• Release all available evidence of the Malcolm Gracia case to the public.

• Mandate the use of body cameras for the New Bedford Police Department.

• Address and remove the disproportionate use of surveillance in target areas of communities of color.

• Examine overtime wages for police officers.

• Rescind the High Energy Patrol Initiative New Bedford Police Directive 06-71.

We as the NAACP New Bedford Branch demand that New Bedford City Mayor John Mitchell, Police Chief Joseph Cordeiro, and District Attorney Thomas Quinn III stop the unjust homicides of the residents of our New Bedford community.

The citizens of New Bedford alongside the NAACP are watching and waiting to see how the Mayor John Mitchell and his office will rectify the wrongful death of Malcolm Gracia. We demand those who commit an unjust murder will be prosecuted and brought to justice. Moreso, we demand this policy is enforced to ensure that no wrongful death of our citizens will ever occur in our city of New Bedford again.

Eileen M. Danahey, President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of St. Anne’s Credit Union, along with its Board of Directors, are pleased to announce that Jeffrey Miller has been hired as Vice President, Consumer Loan Manager. Jeffrey will be responsible for the overall direction, administration and performance of the Credit Union’s consumer lending activities, ensuring a positive outcome for both St. Anne’s and its members as the Credit Union continues to assist borrowers in realizing their financial goals and dreams.

Jeffrey earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Western Michigan University and brings with him over 35 years of lending and credit experience. Prior to joining St. Anne’s, Jeffrey was the co-owner and Manager of Credit and Operations for CUB Lending Partners, LLC. Beginning his career as a Credit Manager at Citibank, he also held leadership roles at Santander Bank where he managed the underwriting teams and Spillane Consulting Associates, utilizing his loan operations knowledge as a consultant.

“We are pleased to hire Jeffrey with his proven track record of delivering results through his broad range of credit and lending experience. Having the right people in place to keep up with our increasing growth and further enable us to offer quick turnaround times combined with competitive rates and flexible terms based on our local lending advantage is of utmost importance. Jeffrey possesses exceptional expertise in his field and will work tirelessly to provide solutions for every
individual’s financing need,” said Carlos DaCunha, Senior Vice President and Chief Lending Officer of St. Anne’s Credit Union. “He is committed to providing valuable support and service to our members while contributing to the Credit Union’s reputation as an upstanding financial partner and we look forward to his contributions in our next phase of growth.”

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About St. Anne’s Credit Union:
Headquartered in Fall River, MA, boasting $1 billion in assets and more than 55,000 members, St. Anne’s Credit Union has
been providing financial products and banking services since 1936. St. Anne’s has over 150 employees servicing eight
branches including Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Fall River, New Bedford, Somerset and Swansea. St. Anne’s was selected for the
third year in a row #1 Credit Union by the people of the SouthCoast (Best of the Best-SouthCoast Media Group) and #1 Credit
Union in Massachusetts by Banker and Tradesman, as well as one of the leading lenders in Bristol County. For more
information, please visit stannes.com, stop by your local branch or call 1-877-STANNES.

Since March 1, 2020 the Wareham Police Department has responded to 38 overdose calls with seven of them being fatal. The following is a list of officers who administered Narcan at overdose calls during this time period. Narcan is a nasal spray carried by Wareham Police officers used for the treatment of an opioid emergency or overdose.

• Officer Jennifer Braley
• Officer Joseph Cardoza (twice, on two separate incidents)
• Officer Blaise Lalli
• Officer James White
• Juvenile Detective Karl Baptiste
• Officer Stephen Harrison
• Officer Scott Cowan (twice, on two separate incidents)
• Officer Charles Pillsbury
• Officer Michael Phinney (twice, on two separate incidents)
• Officer Nate Aronson
• Sergeant Kevin Reilly

The following officers performed Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and or provided rescue breathing for people suspected of overdosing, since March 1.

• Officer Eric Machado
• Officer Charles Pillsbury
• Officer Ryan Gomes
• Officer James White
• Officer Nate Aronson
• Sergeant Daniel Flaherty
• Officer Blaise Lalli
• Officer Calib Larue
• Officer Jon Verhaegen
• Officer Jennifer Braley

Before any police or EMS units arrive on a scene, the dedicated and professional Communications officers of the Wareham Police Department performed Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD), to begin lifesaving procedures. This is accomplished by these officers giving step by step first-aid instructions over the telephone to anxious callers.

The following Communications officers performed EMD on several of the overdose calls;

• Communications Supervisor Edward Johnson (multiple times on different incidents)
• Communications Officer Judith Holleran (multiple times on different incidents)
• Communications Officer Scott McDaniel (multiple times on different incidents)
• Communications Officer Taylor Nelson (multiple times on different incidents)
• Communications Officer Nicolle Amaral (multiple times on different incidents)
• Communications Officer Christian Tobia
• Communications Officer Elizabeth Rich

Chief of Police John Walcek said, “As the result of these officers’ actions, combined with our communications team, it is highly likely lives were saved.” He added, “Our department acknowledges that the opioid crisis is still a major problem, and we will continue to do our part to lessen its intensity.”

Charlie Amaral, 93, of Fremont, CA, formerly of New Bedford, Massachusetts died on July 1 in Fremont after a brief illness. He was the loving husband of Irene (Soares) Amaral. They were married for 71 years.

He was born in New Bedford and was the son of Jose and Deolinda Amaral. He was the brother of deceased Virginia Chmielewski, Joseph, Francis, Ernest and Antone Amaral.

Mr. Amaral was a retired firefighter serving 30 years with the New Bedford Fire Dept. and relocated to California after retiring in 1987.

He was a World War II veteran and served as a musician in the Army Air Force Jazz Band.

A huge fan of big band music, especially Maynard Ferguson, he attended many concerts during his life. He was a member of the Panthers Athletic and Social Club for about 65 years. He enjoyed traveling to Hawaii and going on cruises with his family.

In addition to his widow, he is survived by two sons, Michael (Kathleen) Amaral of Newark, CA and Stephen Amaral (Harris Ichida) of Honolulu, HI.

No services will be held.

This afternoon, at approximately 3:10 p.m., troopers assigned to State Police – Westfield responded to calls of a multiple motor vehicle crash on Route 90 Westbound near the 39.6 mile marker in Westfield.

Preliminary investigation indicates that three vehicles were involved in a crash in the left lane of Route 90 Westbound while in heavy traffic. This crash involved a 2019 Toyota Rav4 operated by a 36-year-old female, a 2017 Ford Super duty pick-up operated by a 57-year-old male and a 2005 Nissan Altima.

Subsequent to that crash a 2003 Peterbilt heavy-duty tow truck also traveling in the left lane struck the rear vehicle of the first crash, the 2005 Nissan Altima. The male operator of the Nissan, a 21-year-old male from Plymouth, was determined to be deceased at the scene.

The victim’s name will be released once appropriate next-of-kin notifications are made.

The operator of the Peterbilt, a 24 year-old male, suffered minor injuries and was transported by Westfield EMS to Bay State Medical Center. The operator of the Toyota also suffered minor injuries and was transported by Westfield EMS to Bay State Medical Center. The operator of the Ford was not injured.

The westbound side of Route 90 were closed approximately four hours.

The crash remains under investigation by Troopers assigned to State Police Westfield, State Police Collision Analysis Reconstruction Section, Crime Scene Services Section and Hampden County Detectives. Members of the Westfield Fire & EMS, the Medical Examiner’s Office and MassDOT assisted at the scene.

No further information is available at this time.

Residents urged to start using bug spray to avoid getting bitten.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) today announced that eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus has been detected in mosquitoes in Massachusetts for the second time this year. The presence of EEE was confirmed today by the Massachusetts State Public Health Laboratory in a mosquito sample collected on July 5 in the community of Wendell in Franklin County.  Today’s finding increases the risk level of EEE to moderate in the communities of Wendell and New Salem. On Friday, the state’s first detection of EEE in mosquitoes was also found in Franklin County, which increased the EEE risk level to moderate in the communities of Orange and Athol. No human or animal case of EEE has been detected so far this year. 

“We are seeing EEE activity in mosquitoes very early in the season,” said Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel, MD, MPH. “We will continue to conduct additional surveillance, including trapping and testing mosquitoes in the region over the next several weeks to better inform our guidance to local communities.”

EEE is a rare but serious and potentially fatal disease that can affect people of all ages. EEE is generally spread to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. There were 12 human cases of EEE in Massachusetts in 2019 with six deaths. There were also nine cases in domestic animals.

“This second early finding reinforces our concern about EEE activity this season,” said State Epidemiologist, Dr. Catherine Brown. “We urge all Massachusetts residents to be aware of the risks associated with mosquito bites and to take precautions against being bitten.”

Information about current mosquito activity is updated daily and can be found here.

Avoid Mosquito Bites
Apply Insect Repellent when Outdoors. Use a repellent with an EPA-registered ingredient (DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide), permethrin, picaridin (KBR 3023), oil of lemon eucalyptus [p-methane 3, 8-diol (PMD)] or IR3535) according to the instructions on the product label. DEET products should not be used on infants under two months of age and should be used in concentrations of 30% or less on older children. Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under three years of age.

Be Aware of Peak Mosquito Hours. The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for many mosquitoes. Consider rescheduling outdoor activities that occur during evening or early morning in areas of high risk.

Clothing Can Help Reduce Mosquito Bites. Wearing long-sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors will help keep mosquitoes away from your skin.

Mosquito-Proof Your Home
Drain Standing Water. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Limit the number of places around your home for mosquitoes to breed by either draining or discarding items that hold water. Check rain gutters and drains. Empty any unused flowerpots and wading pools, and change the water in birdbaths frequently.

Install or Repair Screens. Keep mosquitoes outside by having tightly-fitting screens on all of your windows and doors.

Protect Your Animals
Animal owners should reduce potential mosquito breeding sites on their property by eliminating standing water from containers such as buckets, tires, and wading pools – especially after heavy rains. Water troughs provide excellent mosquito breeding habitats and should be flushed out at least once a week during the summer months to reduce mosquitoes near paddock areas. Horse owners should keep horses in indoor stalls at night to reduce their risk of exposure to mosquitoes. Owners should also speak with their veterinarian about mosquito repellents approved for use in animals and vaccinations to prevent West Nile virus (WNV) and EEE. If an animal is suspected of having WNV or EEE, owners are required to report to the Department of Agricultural Resources (DAR), Division of Animal Health by calling 617-626-1795 and to the Department of Public Health (DPH) by calling 617-983-6800.

More information, including all WNV and EEE positive results, can be found on the Arbovirus Surveillance Information webpage at www.mass.gov/mosquitoesandticks or by calling the DPH Division of Epidemiology at 617-983-6800. A short video with State Epidemiologist Dr. Catherine Brown about EEE and what residents can do to protect themselves can be found here.
  

Chris Lisinski
State House News Service

A dramatic expansion of mail-in and early voting in Massachusetts is now law, and Secretary of State William Galvin is now preparing to quickly mail applications to all 4.5 million of the state’s registered voters by a deadline next week.

Galvin announced late Monday afternoon that Gov. Charlie Baker signed into law the reforms drafted during the pandemic and aimed at ensuring maximum participation while allowing people to choose voting options and minimize their COVID-19 risks. This election season, for the first time in the state’s history, all voters who wish to do so will be able to cast a ballot via mail without needing to qualify for an absentee ballot. By July 15, Galvin’s office must send applications for mail-in primary election ballots to all voters. His staff will then need to send another round of applications in September for the general election.

The new law also creates the state’s first-ever early voting period before a primary election, from Aug. 22 to Aug. 28, and expands general election early voting to run from Oct. 17 to Oct. 30. A six-member legislative conference committee reached a deal last week after both branches passed their own reform bills. The House passed the compromise legislation 157-1, with only Dracut Democratic Rep. Colleen Garry voting against it, while the Senate approved the measure unanimously.

Baker had until Sunday to decide whether to sign, veto or return the bill with an amendment. By signing it Monday, he gave Galvin more than a week to meet the July 15 application-mailing deadline rather than only a few days. Baker had offered few hints about his thinking on the topic. In late May, he questioned the urgency of the issue, arguing that “the elections are a long way away.”

The Community Foundation today announced that in June they have awarded over $1.5 Million to 41 nonprofits providing significant emergency support for essential front-line workers and vulnerable populations, including the homeless, immigrant families, people with disabilities and those facing food insecurity.

These grants contribute to the more than $2.68 Million that the Community Foundation has allocated over the past three months through its SouthCoast Emergency Response Fund. The Fund supports nonprofits that are on the frontlines serving those in our region most severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Of the grants made in June, $820,000 was distributed to organizations alleviating hunger and homelessness throughout the region. From Round the Bend Farm of South Dartmouth for their Manifest Love project to the Wareham Area Committee for the Homeless who is providing rental and utility assistance, and support for parents through their Baby Point program, these grants were wide-ranging and awarded to organizations that are making a big impact in the communities they serve.

Another significant portion of these grants was made to organizations providing direct supports to immigrant families in need. $410,000 was distribution to organizations including the Cambodian American Rescue Organization (CARO) and Centro Comunitario De Trabajadores (CCT) which will use grant funds to purchase gift cards, culturally specific food and sanitary supplies (PPE) for immigrant families. The Community Economic Development Center of Southeastern Massachusetts (CEDC) will utilize grant funds to support undocumented and mixed status immigrant taxpayer households who have fallen behind on rent, medical, utility and other bills, due to loss of employment as a result of the pandemic.

Other grants made through these two rounds will provide supports for essential/frontline workers, disabled individuals, and organizations providing mental health services.

These grants are made possible through the Community Foundation’s partnership with the Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund. The Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund supports those across the state most impacted by the COVID-19 health crisis, focusing on essential frontline workers and vulnerable populations including the homeless, immigrant populations, people with disabilities and those facing food insecurity. The Fund works in concert with regional community foundations and non-profit leaders who partner with local leaders to understand the response and relief landscape, strategically filling in where gaps are pronounced. For more information, visit MACovid19ReliefFund.org.

“The pandemic has reminded us of how fragile our lives are but also how truly resilient, innovative, and caring our community is”, said John Vasconcellos, President of the Community Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts.

To date, the Fund has raised more than $4.2 Million from a wide range of corporate donors, foundations, and individuals, in response to the Community Foundation’s call to come together on behalf of our community.

Details of each grantee’s work can be found listed below. Grants ranging from $5,000 to $100,000 were distributed to the following organizations:

Grantees:

Early June:

• Attleboro Interfaith Area Collaborative
• Cambodian American Rescue Organization
• Catholic Social Services Diocese of Fall River, Inc.
• Citizens for Citizens, Inc.
• Coastal Foodshed, Inc.
• Community Economic Development Center of Southeastern Massachusetts
• Habitat for Humanity of Greater Plymouth, Inc.
• Hockomock Area YMCA, Inc.
• Northstar Learning Centers, Inc.
• People Acting In Community Endeavors (PACE) Community Housing Corporation
• Round the Bend Farm, Inc.
• Schwartz Center for Children
• United Interfaith Action of Southeastern Massachusetts
• United Way of Greater Fall River, Inc.
• Wareham Area Committee for the Homeless

Late June:

• Balanced Learning Center, Inc. 
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro South
• Bristol Community College Foundation, Inc. 
• Centro Comunitario De Trabajadores
• Citizens for Citizens, Inc.
• Greater New Bedford Community Health Center, Inc.
• HealthFirst Family Care Center, Inc.
• Hockomock Area YMCA, Inc. 
• Immigrants’ Assistance Center 
• Inter-Church Council of Greater New Bedford
• Kennedy-Donovan Center, Inc.
• M.O.L.I.F.E., Inc.
• My Brother’s Keeper, Inc.
• Our Daily Bread Soup Kitchen Foundation -Taunton 
• Our Daily Bread- Mansfield’s Food Pantry 
• Plymouth Task Force to End Homelessness
• Seven Hills Behavioral Health, Inc.
• The Greater Fall River Community Food Pantry, Inc. 
• The Literacy Center, Inc. 
• The Salvation Army 
• UMASS Dartmouth Foundation
• United Way of Fall River, Inc. 
• United Way of Greater New Bedford, Inc. 
• West Side Benevolent Circle, Inc.
• YMCA Southcoast, Inc.
• YWCA Southeastern Massachusetts

How to give
You can help those most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic by supporting our region’s nonprofits on the front lines. Donations to the SouthCoast Emergency Response Fund may be made online at https://cfsema.securepayments.cardpointe.com/pay.
For general questions and inquiries about the Fund, please direct your inquiry to emergencyfund@cfsema.org. For any questions regarding making a donation, please contact the Community Foundation’s Development Manager, Tricia Grime at pgrime@cfsema.org. Lastly, for media inquiries and interview requests, please contact Jasmyn Baird at jbaird@cfsema.org.

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About the Community Foundation 
Our Community.  Your Foundation.  Since 1995, area residents have been turning to the Community Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts to make their philanthropic giving as effective as possible. The Community Foundation is a public charity serving thousands of people who share a common concern – improving the quality of life in Southeastern Massachusetts.  To date, the Community Foundation has distributed over $25 million from over 175 funds to humanitarian, educational and cultural organizations in the region. More information about the Foundation can be found at www.cfsema.org. 

The Bristol County Mosquito Control Project will be doing more ground spraying concerning mosquitoes.

The following cities and towns are expected to be treated on Monday, July 6th, 2020 between 2:00 a.m. and sunrise.

Dartmouth, Easton, Mansfield, Somerset, Taunton, and Westport

These spray applications will be limited to the general areas listed below, subject to weather and spray operator’s discretion. For more information, residents may call the BCMCP office during business hours from 8 AM until 2 PM at 508-823-5253.

Scroll through the list to see if your street is on it.

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