On June 27, New Bedford police detectives report seizing 184 grams of fentanyl, 23 grams of cocaine, 198 Suboxone strips, drug trafficking paraphernalia, and $9,938 at 85 Fern Street in New Bedford.

42-year old Ari Rason of 85 Fern Street was arrested and charged with trafficking in cocaine and fentanyl. According to New Bedford police, Rason was found guilty of possession with the intent to distribute in 2015. Detective Tim Soares investigated the case. 

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.

On Monday, June 29, shortly after 2:00 p.m. Wareham Police Detectives observed what appeared to be an illegal drug transaction at the Cranberry Plaza. The detectives stopped the vehicle involved on Maple Springs Road, seizing suspected heroin and placing the driver in custody. Ashley E. Lips (32), of 244 Raymond Road, Plymouth, was placed under arrest for possession of a Class “A” substance, and conspiracy to violate drug laws.

Joseph Prada-Ruiz (31) and Rebecca Rae Dixon (33), both of 3026 Cranberry Highway (#135), were placed under arrest as they were leaving the plaza on foot. Prada-Ruiz is charged with, distribution of a Class “A” drug, subsequent offense, possession with intent to distribute a Class “A” drug, and conspiracy to violate drug laws. Dixon is charged with possession with intent to distribute a Class “A” drug, and conspiracy to violate drug laws.

The detectives then proceeded to Room #135 at the Silver Lake Motel where they executed a search warrant. During a search of the suspects and their room the detectives seized over $500.00 cash, suspected heroin, a digital scale, and other items consistent with illegal drug sales.

The three were brought to Wareham Police Headquarters for processing pending arraignment with the Wareham District Court.

UMass Dartmouth announced today that the Public Policy Center (PPC) at UMass Dartmouth will close effective July 1, 2020. The announcement comes as the University prepares for the financial implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on Fiscal Year 2021, which begins on July 1, 2020.

“The COVID-19 pandemic, besides causing untold damage to the lives and livelihoods of our society, has greatly affected our University and is causing ongoing financial ramifications that we are doing our best to address so that we can protect the health of our community while offering a quality educational experience. Unfortunately, difficult decisions must be made to ensure the stability of UMass Dartmouth,” said Chancellor Robert E. Johnson. “I want to thank Professor Michael Goodman for his hard work and leadership, and David Borges for his 23 years of dedicated and distinguished service to our campus and community. I also want to thank the entire PPC team including Michael McCarthy and Jodie Beksha-Tinsley for their commitment to the Center.”

UMass Dartmouth is currently planning for a variety of budget scenarios as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the wellbeing of society and the economy while doing everything possible to minimize the impact of jobs being lost on campus and position the University for an unpredictable Fiscal Year 2021.

Celebrating its 40th consecutive year of awarding scholarships to Greater New Bedford’s college bound students, and passing the $1 million mark in scholarships awarded, the New Bedford Chapter of the Prince Henry Society of Massachusetts awarded $51,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors this year.

In 1980, Milton Ferreira and the late Anthony S. Catojo, Jr. and Gabriel Moura founded the Prince Henry Society, a brotherhood of business and professional men of Portuguese descent. The goals of the society are to promote the civic, cultural, economic, educational and social betterment of persons of Portuguese descent and to be of service to the community. In order to accomplish this, they established a three-pronged plan of charities, scholarships and service to the community.

“The members of the Prince Henry Society are proud to reach this milestone of 40 years, $1 million in scholarships awarded, and more than 1,000 recipients among the students of Greater New Bedford over the course of four decades,” said Scholarship Committee Chairman Robert Gaspar.

Since 1980, the Prince Henry has awarded educational scholarships totaling $1,001,477 to a total of 1,049 students from the Greater New Bedford area. Fifty-one scholarships were awarded:

Gabriela L. Serra, a graduate of New Bedford High received the Father Fortuna Memorial Scholarship given in memory of the late Father Fortuna, pastor of the Immaculate Conception Church.

Chloe A. Morgado, a graduate of New Bedford High, received the Attorney and Rose Ferreira Memorial Scholarship made possible by Mrs. Charles Baker and Dr. Joseph and Lisa Ferreira.

Joseph Ferro, a graduate of Upper Cape Regional, received the Gabriel Moura Memorial Scholarship.

Alexis Arruda, a graduate of Dartmouth High School, received the Manuel Moinheiro Memorial Scholarship. This award was made possible by Patricia Moinheiro in memory of her late husband.

Christina Eckenreiter, a graduate of Fairhaven High School, received the Henry Rodrigues Memorial Scholarship. This award was made possible by Dolores Rodrigues in memory of her late husband.

Asher Machado, a graduate of Greater New Bedford Voc-Tech, received the second Henry Rodrigues Memorial Scholarship also made possible by wife Dolores Rodrigues.

Nicole d’Almeida, a graduate of Bishop Stang High, received the Matt Bernardo Memorial Scholarship made possible by his sister Dolores Rodrigues.

Olimpia Andrade, a graduate of New Bedford High School, received the Armand Fernandes, Sr.

Memorial Scholarship. This award was made possible by Judge Armand Fernandes in memory of his father.

Alison Baptista, a graduate of New Bedford High School, received the James Fernandes Memorial Scholarship. This award was made possible by Judge Armand Fernandes in memory of his brother.

Cameron DaCosta a graduate of New Bedford Voc-Tech, received the Todd Christopher Pereira Memorial Scholarship made possible by a friend of the Prince Henry Society.

Ryan Picewick, a graduate of Old Colony, received the second Todd Christopher Pereira Memorial Scholarship made possible by the Pereira Family.

Logan Cabral, a graduate of Greater New Bedford Voc/Tech, received the Rockland Trust Scholarship made possible by Rockland Trust.

Katherine Ashley, graduate of Old Colony, received the Bristol County Savings Bank Scholarship, made possible by the Bristol County Savings Bank.

Orly Gonsalves, graduate of Dartmouth High School, received the Bay Coast Bank Scholarship made possible by Bay Coast Bank.

Jillian Higgins, a graduate of Old Rochester Regional High School, received the Michael Demakis Memorial Scholarship.It was made possible by Jocelyn daLuz, Lisa and David Wright, Chris Demakis and Vince Cragin, Nicole Demakis and Michelle and Thomas Barry.

Drew Kelly, a graduate of Bishop Stand High School, received the Dr. Norbert P. and Elsie Rodrigues Fraga Scholarship given in memory of Dr. Norbert P. Fraga and made possible by Mrs. Elsie Rodrigues Fraga.

Destiny Torres, a graduate of New Bedford High, received the Raymond H. and Eleanor Aragao Teachman Memorial Scholarship given by Ronald E. Teachman in memory of his parents.

Raina Grace, a graduate of New Bedford High School, received the Joseph M. and Rose F. Souza Memorial Scholarship made possible by daughters Pam and Elizabeth Souza.

Kelsey Rezendes, a graduate of New Bedford High School, received the Joseph and Lucy Bernardo Memorial Scholarship.

Brendan Rego, a graduate of Dartmouth High School, received the Anthony S. Catojo Jr. Memorial Scholarship given by the Prince Henry Society.

Samantha Silva, a graduate of Bishop Stang High School received the Manuel R. And Olivia Cabral Memorial Scholarship. This award was made possible by the Cabral children, sons Oliver and Adalino and daughters Maria Galego and Dortina Marder.

Victoria Cameron, a graduate of Dartmouth High School 2017, received the Christopher Jon Souza Memorial Scholarship, made possible by Antone and Elsie Souza in memory of their son and the Community Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts – Christopher Jon Souza Fund.

Meagan Sebastiao, a graduate of Dartmouth High School 2017, received the second Christopher Jon Souza Memorial Scholarship, made possible by Antone and Elsie Souza in memory of their son and the Community Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts –Christopher Jon Souza Fund.

Gwendolyn Baptista, a graduate of Old Colony Regional, received the DBS Dartmouth Building Supply Scholarship. This award was made possible by Joseph Delgado and family.

Tara Abreu, a graduate of Dartmouth High, received the Arnold B. Camara Memorial Scholarship, given by Michael Camara and Family of the ABC Disposal service of New Bedford.

Sabrina Pires, a graduate of Dartmouth High School, received the Salvador and Katherine Fernandes Memorial Scholarship, given by member Michael Fernandes and Family of the Northern Wind Co., Inc., in memory of Michael’s parents.

Derek Arribada, a graduate of New Bedford High School, received the Carlos Pacheco Memorial Scholarship made possible by wife Hazel, daughter Judy Young and family and friends of the late New Bedford school committee man.

Megan Lajoie, a graduate of Fairhaven High School, received the Pinto’s Garage and Auto Body Inc. Scholarship by Mr. and Mrs. Gus Pinto and Family.

Olivia Maciel, a graduate of Fairhaven High School, received the Milton Ferreira Memorial Scholarship.

Tiago P. Boia, a graduate of New Bedford High School, received the Fernando A. Gaspar Memorial Scholarship, made possible by the family of Fernando A. Gaspar.

Molly Driscoll, a graduate of New Bedford Voc/Tech, received the Youth Investment Foundation Scholarship made possible by the Youth Investment Foundation.

Katherine N. Papas, a graduate of New Bedford High School, received the Shelley A. Carvalho Memorial Scholarship made possible by the family of Shelley A. Carvalho.

Haleigh Texeira, a graduate of Dartmouth High, received the Everyday hero scholarship by member Barry Sylvia and BENCOR.

Victoria Kalisz, a graduate of Fairhaven High, received the Cameron Jeffrey Goulart Scholarship provided by Cameron’s Kids.

Abby Araujo, a graduate of Greater New Bedford Voc/Tech, received the Flavio S. Duarte Memorial Scholarship provided by Julianne and William Viveiros.

Olivia E. Bernardo, a graduate of Fairhaven High School, received the Jose (Joe) Helder Freitas Memorial Scholarship by Mrs. Alice Freitas and Family.

Morgan Correia, a graduate of New Bedford High, received the “Andre De Arede Memorial Scholarship” made possible by Mr. and Mrs. Scott Ferreira and Family.

Julianne Matthews, a graduate of Wareham High School, received the Stoico/FIRSTFED Scholarship, made possible by the Robert F. Stoico/FIRSTFEDC Charitable Foundation.

Ty Spencer, a graduate of New Bedford High School, received the Ernest Simmons Memorial Scholarship given by Peter Simmons and Family in memory of Peter’s father.

Selena Marie Arruda, a 2018 graduate of Greater New Bedford Voc-Tech, received the Taylor Leigh Alves Memorial Scholarship. It was given by by Dr.Gary Alves of the Alves Chiropractic Center and the Prince Henry Society.

Sophia Rodrigues, a graduate of Fairhaven received the “Castelo Family Scholarship” made possible by Mr. and Mrs. Jose S. Castelo and Family.

Jenna Correia, a graduate of Fairhaven High, received the “Antonio (Tony) Rodrigues Memorial Scholarship” made possible by the family and friends of Antonio Rodrigues.

Cameron Sylvia, a graduate of New Bedford High, received the second “Antonio (Tony) Rodrigues Memorial Scholarship” made possible by the family and friends of Antonio Rodrigues.

Andrew Veiga, a graduate of Dartmouth High School, received the “Manuel Pereira Memorial Scholarship” by son Armando Pereira and family and the friends of Manuel Pereira.

Rachel Perry, a graduate of Old Rochester Regional, received the Natalio Gomes Memorial Scholarship made possible by son Andy Gomes and family in memory of his father.

Sidney Tavares, graduate of Greater New Bedford Voc-Tech, received the Portuguese Continental Union/Lodge #4, New Bedford, MA Scholarship in memory of their founders.

Kelsey Rodrigues, a graduate of Global Charter, received the Prince Henry Society Scholarship.

Emily Desneves, a graduate of Fairhaven High School, received the second Prince Henry Society Scholarship.

Taeya Telfair, a graduate of Greater New Bedford Voc-Tech, received the third Prince Henry Society Scholarship (for a student in the trade department – cosmetology) given in memory of Ernest Simmons by son Peter Simmons.

Johnny Vongsouna, a graduate of Greater New Bedford Voc/Tech, received the Prince Henry Society Scholarship for a student in the trade dept. – carpentry.

Lester Maldanado, a graduate of Greater New Bedford Voc/Tech, received the Prince Henry Society Scholarship for a student in the trade dept. – electrical.

Jordan Bulhour, a graduate of Greater New Bedford Voc/Tech, received his award made possible from the “Ronald Trahan Scholarship Fund” for a worthy student in the carpentry program made possible by Wayne and Susan Trahan.

The Portuguese United for Education, Inc. Scholarship was presented by the Prince Henry Society of MA, New Bedford Chapter to the Portuguese United for Education, Inc. School (Discovery Language Academy), by the Prince Henry Society of MA, New Bedford Chapter.

The following is in response to the New Bedford City Council reviewing a petition to move the grills and tables at Hazelwood Park due to the air pollution.

“How about you use your platform to help keep Hazelwood Park for the people who live and have been paying New Bedford city taxes for generations?

We have new people who bought property near our public park and now with friends on the board for parks and recreation are trying to stop residents from carrying on with family traditions. Lots of families born and raised here have held their family cookouts in the same spot for over 40 years and that’s a fact.

These families have grown up in this city and are all like family to each other. That’s the day we hold our family cookouts where people fly in from other states to come home for that day. It’s sad that newcomers are trying to push those of us born and raised here out?

You use the New Bedford name in your title, how about you use your platform and stand up and help us out?

Too much is being taken from lifelong residents of New Bedford. I have a yard and a pool. There are so many [people] in the city who the park is all they have in the summer to cookout and swim. We go on the 4th of July for our traditional family cookout along with other families we grew up with who also do the same. Our families have been doing this faithfully every 4th of July for over 40 years. My grandfather and his brothers started when my mother was little. We have kept the tradition. People fly home for the cookouts. That’s the one time of year we see family and friends from way back.

How do new people get to harass people for the last three years and not having a way to get it all stopped?

New Bedford is going down the same path Newport did. Lifelong residents had to leave. Check the rent in Newport or prices for homes. Look how our property taxes keep jumping up. People have been losing their homes. Our beach used to be free. When they first started charging for what our taxes already pay for I questioned it the first year and was told the money was going towards the dog park. Well, I don’t have a dog, but we needed one. Now the price goes up, dog park is up, we still pay the taxes, the money is getting pocketed.

Now they want to push everyone away from our park and cookouts so they come up with lies to have a reason to do that. Come on. They need to stop pissing on our backs and telling us it’s raining.” – BJ London.

Have an opinion or essay to share? Email info@newbedfordguide.com

Last summer Design Art Technology Massachusetts (DATMA) gave us Silver Current, a spectacular tribute to wind and its role in New Bedford’s past and future. This summer their theme is Light, as in “The City that Lit the World,” and their first two installations are on view now.

PHOTO KINETIC GRID
by light sculptor Soo Sunny Park
View at the corner of Union & Purchase Streets in the windows of the CVPA building. It will be lit all summer from early morning till 1am and is especially beautiful in the evening.

VESSELS, 2020
by sound/light/performance specialists Masary Studios
Three large-scale digital projections on downtown facades, all with musical accompaniments. The first, a tribute to the fishing industry, is viewable now through July 2 on the wall of the Whaling Museum’s Paul Cuffe Park at the foot of Union St from 8pm till midnight.

LIGHT 2020 updates New Bedford’s legacy as the “City that Lit the World” with a renewable energy lens. Amid the global health crisis, the exhibits can be seen safely via car, bicycle, or on foot and via DATMA’s website and social media outlets. Take a sneak peek at the LIGHT 2020 exhibits page and learn more about the artists invited to share their artwork with the SouthCoast community this summer.

At 1:56 a.m. today Trooper Daniel Santa from the Massachusetts State Police-Tunnels Barracks conducted a motor vehicle stop for a defective headlight on Massachusetts Avenue at Newmarket Square, near the South Bay Shopping Center, and discovered that the vehicle operator did not have a license. As the Trooper prepared to tow the vehicle, two passengers sprinted from the vehicle, with one dropping a loaded handgun.

Troopers Miguel McGovern and Darius McPherson (who just completed his first week on break-in as a new Trooper) quickly ran after one passenger while Trooper Santa ran after the other. Troopers McGovern and McPherson noticed that the man they were chasing was holding something close to his right hip as he ran. After a brief chase the man fell to the ground and gave up. The two Troopers discovered yet another firearm on this suspect. Trooper Santa apprehended the other passenger after a slightly longer pursuit.

Trooper Santa seized a .38 caliber revolver and a 9MM Taurus semi-automatic pistol. Both firearms were fully loaded and had obliterated serial numbers. The driver, AMANI D. PERKINS, 21, of Mattapan, was arrested for unlicensed operation and an equipment violations. The passengers were each arrested for illegal possession of a firearm and sundry other charges related to the recovered weapons. They are identified as KAMIYA SANTOS, 24, of Boston, and MALIK ACHABE RISE, 19, of Roxbury.

The three were expected to be arraigned today through the Roxbury District Court.

At 5:33 a.m. today Troopers from the State Police-Newbury Barracks responded to a roll-over crash on Route 495 northbound near Exit 51B in Haverhill. Responding Troopers found a 2005 Ford Freestar van that had rolled over into an embankment, causing fatal injuries to the driver and non-fatal injuries to four passengers.

Preliminary investigation suggests another vehicle may have cut into the van’s lane of travel, causing the driver to swerve across all lanes and into and over the guardrail. The possible make and model of the other vehicle is not known at this time and remains part of the ongoing investigation.

The van’s driver, Alexander R. Nunez, 33, of Chelmsford was determined to be deceased at the scene. Four passengers were transported to Lawrence General Hospital: two adult women from Lawrence and an adult male from Lawrence all with serious injuries, and an adult woman from Lawrence with minor injuries.

Anyone who was on Route 495 in that time period and who may have seen the crash or the events leading up to it is urged to call State Police-Newbury at (978) 462-7478.

The investigation is being conducted by Troop A of the Massachusetts State Police with assistance from the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section and the State Police Crime Scene Services Section. Troopers were assisted at the scene by Haverhill Police and Fire and Trinity Ambulance.

The right lane and breakdown lane at the crash site were closed for approximately three hours to accommodate the investigation.

-30-

New Superflat NB Mural Installation June and July Wicked Cool Places Grant Recipient “Postcards to New Bedford” will be an homage to the city

Superflat NB is excited to announce its Postcards to New Bedford mural will be installed during June and part of July in downtown New Bedford, on the back wall of 674 Pleasant Street. The organization was the recipient of a Wicked Cool Places 2019/2020 grant to create a mural that pays homage to the city. Creative Direction is being handled by Greg Pennisten, a professional sign and mural painter who is collaborating with four other artists, Kailey Barrows, Alex Jardin, Lena McCarthy, and Eden Soares.

Describing his approach to the project, Greg commented, “I thought why not allow artists to create multiple cards giving each artist an individual voice or “postcard” to represent their relationship to the city. Postcards are of course, fundamentally, snapshots. Often of a place in time or an object of significance in a particular place, they can also be imaginative, artistic, and less literal. They often serve to preserve memories or celebrate moments, a quick note attached to an image of where one was and when. Each of the artists chosen for this project exemplifies the ability to create such a vignette in their own unique and creative language; relating a memory or thought of New Bedford that is in some way important to them.”

In addition to overseeing and creatively leading the project, Pennisten’s contribution to the mural will commemorate a former West End mural that honored Cape Verdean teenager Lester Lima whose life was tragically cut short in July of 1970. He wishes to honor not only one of the pioneers of New Bedford “street art” but also Lester Lima himself.

Barrows’ interpretation will use a menagerie of creatures that are associated with the area to represent the diverse, supportive New Bedford community. Jardin’s will be his perspective of life in New Bedford through a surreal, nautical narrative of commercial and leisure vessels as well as the notable Butler Flats Lighthouse. McCarthy is honoring a resident of New Bedford and the first in her family to receive a graduate degree, her great grandmother Lena. And, Soares’ version will leverage the retro lettering style of tourist memorabilia as well as landmarks and icons that reflect the rich history of the city. Using various snippets of other postcards, Pennisten is taking each approach and fitting them together as if the postcards had been thrown up in the air and landed haphazardly.

Further elaborating on the project, Greg noted, “Often times we look back at old postcards and realize not much has changed, structures still remain the same, people congregate in the same area and the notes written on the backs speak of similar moments in human lives across time. Postcards can also be used as tools of social archeology and should be viewed through the same lens as any other artifact. Hopefully, in the future, younger generations will be able to look at these postcards we are sending through time and see things have changed. Be it a changing landscape, style of dress, or social construct, we are attempting to record snapshots of what was and is in an effort to memorialize it for a vastly unknown future.”

This installation joins approximately ten other murals that Superflat NB has either brought directly to the city or in partnership with other local organizations so that all residents of New Bedford, can enjoy public art. “Now more than ever, we need to find ways to connect with one another even though we can’t necessarily be shoulder to shoulder. Placing art in neighborhoods and throughout the city makes that possible. What Greg and the team have put together is both visually stimulating and thought-provoking. We are excited to see this project come to life, and for all of you to enjoy it,” said Co-Founder, Jeremiah Hernandez.

Superflat NB is a creative placemaking, mural art organization dedicated to beautifying New Bedford while flattening barriers to the arts. It aims to foster pride and ownership of shared spaces through public art by giving local, national, and international artists a role in revitalizing the city of New Bedford while creating inclusive environments where anybody can experience great art. Serving young people is central to its efforts. The organization wants to inspire them and be inspired by them, creating new explorations of culture, expanding social networks, and making connections to resources and opportunities.

Wicked Cool Places (WCP) is the city of New Bedford’s grant program for creative placemaking, uniting willing property/business owners, artistic/cultural groups, design/preservation specialists, and business/development experts to help transform New Bedford’s overlooked or undervalued places. Wicked Cool Places enhance community development, arts entrepreneurship, and ongoing investment in the rich arts and culture of the city. Wicked Cool Places is funded by the city of New Bedford’s Arts, Culture + Tourism Fund, with additional funding by Bristol County Savings Bank, Mass Cultural Council, and MassDevelopment.

On Sunday, June 28, 2020 at approximately 5:51 p.m., Dartmouth Police, and other emergency responders, responded to the area of #110 Rockland Street to investigate a motorcycle crash with injuries.

Upon arrival, officers identified the operator of the 2009 Harley Davidson motorcycle as Wayne SOARES, 57, of New Bedford

As a result of his injuries, SOARES was transported to Rhode Island Hospital with serious injuries.

The crash is currently under investigation by the Dartmouth Police Department Crash Reconstruction Unit.

SOARES’s current medical status is unknown.