Due to the Governor’s emergency order limiting gatherings more than 25 people, the Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust (DNRT) has closed the Parsons Reserve and its daffodil field for the 2020 season as of March 24.

The entire Parsons Reserve will be closed. DNRT has blocked trails and will be monitoring the property to enforce the closure. Police will also be patrolling the area.

According to DNRT Executive Director, Dexter Mead, the daffodil field typically attracts 8,000 to 10,000 people over a 3-week period. “While we know that many people love the daffodils, we also know that limiting contact between people will save lives,” said Mead.

DNRT Development and Outreach Specialist Kendra Murray added, “The daffodils will be back next year. In the meantime, you can enjoy our other Reserves, but pleases be sure to follow appropriate guidelines for protecting yourself and others, including not coming within 6 feet of another person.”

Two females, one in her 80s from Middlesex County and one in her 60s from Berkshire County – have died from COVID-19-related illness, bringing the total number of deaths from the novel coronavirus in Massachusetts to 11. Both were hospitalized and had underlying health conditions.

As of 4 p.m. today, 13,749 Massachusetts residents have been tested for COVID-19 by the State Public Health Laboratory and commercial and clinical labs, up from 6,004 residents on Sunday. Of those 13,749 people, 1,159 have tested positive. The DPH daily online dashboard reflects testing results for all of the clinical and commercial labs performing testing in Massachusetts in addition to results from the State Public Health Laboratory.

In addition to the State Public Health Laboratory, Quest Diagnostics, and LabCorp, the online dashboard includes 10 more labs and their testing data. Expanded testing capacity in Massachusetts continues to be a focus of the work of the COVID-19 Response Command Center, and the effort to increase testing capacity across the state will continue.

The 11 people who died ranged in age from 50s to 90s. Three of the six men were from Suffolk County, the other three from Norfolk, Hampden, and Berkshire counties. The five women were from Worcester, Essex, Middlesex, and Berkshire counties.

COVID-19 activity is increasing in Massachusetts. At this time, if people are only mildly symptomatic, they should speak to their healthcare provider about whether they need to be assessed in person. If not, they should stay at home while they are sick. Asymptomatic family members should practice social distancing and immediately self-isolate if they develop symptoms.

In the United States, there have been more than 44,183 cases of COVID-19 and more than 544 deaths, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In Massachusetts and nationwide, the public is being asked to avoid crowds, stay 6 feet away from others, not shake hands or hug, and call/Facetime and online chat with friends and loved ones rather than meet face to face.

Today the Administration introduced another way to keep updated during the COVID-19 outbreak. Residents can text “COVIDMA” to 888-777 to receive COVID-19 text message alerts straight to their phone. More information about COVID-19 can be found at www.mass.gov/covid19. For general questions, a 24/7 hotline is available by calling 2-1-1.

The NBSO’s Learning in Concert program is a three-phase arts integration project that typically spans a school year and reaches thousands of elementary students across South Coast by bringing the first two phases into their schools and then presenting the culminating Young People’s Concerts at the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center. It explores a musical concept alongside other art and academic areas that authentically share the same concept. By using the unique, impactful, and accessible qualities of classical music in combination with other relevant arts and academic areas, students not only discover how seemingly unrelated concepts are connected, but they build deep and flexible understandings that span time, cultures, and contexts.

With so many students across South Coast now learning from home, the NBSO is making Learning in Concert available online with a free four-part video series hosted by Education Director Terry Wolkowicz. The online curriculum explores symmetry in shapes and symmetry in classical music, and the final video will feature the NBSO trio of musicians many students will recognize from our Learning in Concert program!

To access the online series, visit https://bit.ly/LICsymmetry

The NBSO is a professional orchestra that annually presents a concert series of classical and pops music with internationally acclaimed guest artists, as well as an outstanding chamber music series. In addition, the NBSO’s innovative and nationally recognized educational programs reach 8,000 students each year. The NBSO is dedicated to building a community of music in the South Coast. Visit www.nbsymphony.org today!

“Attention Dartmouth Senior Citizens! If you are unable to get to the store to obtain food for your pet, please call the Humane Society at 508-995-6661 and we will make arrangements to deliver it to your door!

This program is a collaboration between Town of Dartmouth Animal Control and the Humane Society. The food was graciously donated by Stop and Shop and Dartmouth Towing supplied a flatbed truck and driver to pick up the donations from the warehouse and deliver them to the shelter for distribution!

If you are a senior citizen that resides in New Bedford, please reach out to your local animal control officer as this is a collaboration between the Humane Society, NBPD Animal Control, and the Coalition for Animals.

*If you would like to donate to this program reach out to any of the above organizations and they will direct you for further information.”

The Baker-Polito Administration today announced the launch of a new text-based notification system to deliver important information about the Commonwealth’s COVID-19 response to Massachusetts residents.

“Throughout this outbreak, we have consistently reminded our residents to get their information from trusted sources. Today we’re making that easier,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “With the addition of this new communication tool, we’re making it easier for everyone to stay informed about state actions and important announcements related to COVID-19.”

The new messaging tool called “AlertsMA” will allow residents to subscribe to real-time notifications by texting the keyword COVIDMA to 888-777. After signing up, state and public health officials can send short messages and links to information directly to a resident’s cell phone or other mobile device.

“Being well-informed during this public health emergency, and following health officials’ advice, can help us to slow and eventually stop the spread of COVID-19 in our communities,” said Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders, the Commonwealth’s COVID-19 Command Center Director. “Staying connected with our residents is a central part of our response.”

The AlertsMA notifications can be used to share news, prevention information, and help connect residents to information that they are looking for through other public information channels, such as the state’s Information line, 2-1-1, and website searches on Mass.Gov.

The Commonwealth’s Executive Office of Technology Services and Security partnered with Everbridge, whose platform powers AlertsMA, to bring the notification service online during the COVID-19 response. Everbridge is a Massachusetts-based company located in Burlington. The company’s notification service is assisting the public health response around the country, including New York City, San Francisco, and Houston.

“During this public health emergency, it is increasingly important that we leverage technology to enhance our ability to communicate with the residents and businesses of the Commonwealth,” said Secretary of Technology Services and Security Curtis M. Wood. “This text message notification service is a tool that reaches people in the easiest way possible – on their mobile devices – to keep them informed on the latest updates from the Commonwealth.

“Statewide public notification systems like AlertsMA will keep people safe and businesses running when critical events occur,” said David Meredith, CEO of Burlington-based Everbridge. “With our headquarters here in Massachusetts, Everbridge proudly serves the Commonwealth as their statewide mass notification provider, keeping citizens informed during COVID-19. We would like to thank the Governor and the State for their continued prioritization on emergency readiness, response and communications.”

The Commonwealth will promote the service on Mass.gov, through digital displays and billboards at the MBTA, via MassDOT, and through social media.

On Monday, March 23, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker issued an order declaring that all businesses that do not provide essential services, must close down to workers, customers, and the public as of noon today, Tuesday March 24th and not be able to reopen until April 7 at noon.

However, many state residents are unsure about what businesses and organizations to which this specifically applies.

Here is a list of what is considered essential:

• Animal vets
• Auto supplies stores
• Auto repair shops
• Convenience stores
• Farmers markets
• Farm stands
• Grocery stores
• Hardware and home improvement stores
• Home appliance stores
• Hospitals and healthcare facilities
• Hotels
• Laundromats and laundry services
• Law enforcement, public safety agencies
• Medical marijuana facilities
• News media
• Pet stores
• Pharmacies
• Package stores
• Restaurants may offer takeout and delivery only

You can find out more detail here

On Monday afternoon, March 23, Wareham Police Detectives raided a residence at the Union Pond Apartments armed with a search warrant. The detectives obtained the search warrant for two locations after an investigation into illegal narcotic sales.

Detectives confiscated suspected cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, Suboxone, psilocybin mushrooms, and a digital scale, as well as a quantity of cash at 2798 Cranberry Highway.

Joshua P. Fernandes (33), of 331 Gatehouse Drive, East Wareham, was arrested and charged with the following;

1) Possession of a Class “B” drug with intent to distribute, subsequent offense.
2) Possession of a Class “A” drug, 2 counts.
3) Possession of a Class “B” drug.
4) Possession of a Class “C” drug.

Mr. Fernandes has been arrested multiple times in the past for narcotic violations by the Wareham Police Department.

Chief John Walcek said, “Our detectives worked quickly when they developed information about illegal narcotic sales in this apartment complex with many families and children.”

Last Friday evening the Massachusetts State Police K9 Unit helped Wareham Police search for four suspects who broke into an apartment on Swifts Beach Road.

At around 5 p.m., Wareham Police received a 911 call reporting a breaking and entering in progress. Wareham Police located the suspect vehicle and attempted to stop it. The driver refused to stop and fled down Littleton Drive. When the suspect vehicle reached the end of that street, the four suspects bailed out and fled on foot. Wareham Police apprehended one suspect immediately, and captured a second within minutes.

Two MSP K9 teams, Trooper Steven Culver and his partner, Flash, and Trooper Brandyn Henson and his partner, Mattis, arrived on-scene to assist in the search for the remaining suspects.

Flash tracked from the suspects’ vehicle to an area where there were bike trails, some small bodies of water, and power lines, but the track stopped there. Mattis was deployed from the suspects’ last known location. Mattis acquired a scent and tracked towards Rock Marsh Road. He pulled through thick brush and along dirt bike trails until he reached a dense thicket shortly before 6 p.m., where he showed a proximity alert.

Trooper Henson gave verbal commands ordering any suspect in the brush to surrender. Mattis continued to track to the other side of the dense brush, at which time a voice stated, “ok, ok, I give up.” The suspect surrendered and was taken into custody by Trooper Quentin Tavares, who responded to assist while on a patrol out of State Police-Bourne. Troopers walked the suspect out of the woods onto Rock Marsh Road, where he was transferred to Wareham Police custody.

The search for the fourth suspect continued in the area of Route 6 and Swifts Beach Road but the suspect was not located. Wareham Police continues to investigate.

“Early Saturday morning, an elderly man walked away from a nursing home in Wareham. Local police and firefighters, along with Troopers from the Massachusetts State Police-Bourne Barracks, responded and began searching for the man, who was not adequately dressed for the weather conditions.

Wareham Police requested assistance from the Massachusetts State Police Air Wing; Air 4, one of the unit’s helicopters, crewed by aircraft commander Sgt. Kevin Kaupp and Tactical Flight Officers Trooper Tim Hunt and Trooper Jeremy Lockwood, launched from the unit’s Plymouth Airbase. Utilizing the aircraft’s FLIR infrared camera system, the crew located the missing man, just before daylight, lying in a bed of mulch behind a nearby business.

MSP Air 4 directed ground units to the man’s location. The man was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was treated for exposure.”

Massachusetts State Police photos:

The New Bedford Fire Department responded to a fire at the Sid Wainer & Son building around 1:00am Tuesday morning.

Responders arrived to find seven of the specialty food distributor’s tractor-trailer trucks ablaze in the loading dock. Some trucks were completely destroyed, others partially so.

A preliminary investigation suggests that the fire originated in one of the trucks before spreading. Some of the food inventory was affected by smoke damage, but otherwise, the building itself sustained little to no damage. No injuries have been reported.

This comes at a time when the food distributor had been demonstrating solidarity with the community during the COVID-19 pandemic by hosting pop-up events so locals could purchase produce at a lower cost.

Sid Wainer and Sons has had a presence in New Bedford for over a century, having been established in 1914.