By Colin A. Young
State House News Service

Massachusetts gaming regulators and its licensees agreed to a two-week shutdown of the state’s slots parlor and two resorts casinos Saturday and are working to finalize the plan as state government takes serious steps to try to staunch the spread of the coronavirus that’s infected 123 people in the state.

Gaming operations are expected to cease by late Saturday night and other operations at the casinos — hotels, restaurants, clubs and retail shops — would have to shut down by Sunday under the plan the commission authorized its staff to put into writing for final approval. Another meeting is expected to finalize the plan.

The casino operators said they would need some time to ensure the closures are orderly and safe, and to rebook overnight guests at other hotels.

The Mass. Gaming Commission held an emergency meeting via conference call at 10 a.m. Saturday morning to discuss the “operational status of gaming licensees in light of the coronavirus.” Representatives from Plainridge Park Casino in Plainville, MGM Springfield and Encore Boston Harbor in Everett participated in the call and each business said it was fully on board with the commission’s action.

Commission staffers said discussions around the plan were collaborative with the casino companies and evolved over the last few weeks. Interim Executive Director Karen Wells said the licensees agreed to “an orderly closure from the commission.”

Brian Gullbrants, president of Encore Boston Harbor, said he thinks it is “prudent at this time to pause our operations.” A representative of MGM Springfield said the company is “fully supportive of whatever your decision may be.”

The change will have economic impacts on the state’s coffers, and the pocketbooks of the thousands of people who have found jobs in the relatively young Massachusetts gaming world. All three companies pledged during Saturday’s meeting to pay its full-time employees during the two-week shutdown.

The commission is due to publish February revenue figures on Monday, but the state can typically rely on about $21 million in monthly revenue from its three gambling halls.

Commissioner Eileen O’Brien called the decision “the only prudent thing to do” given the public health emergency.

“I agree that we need to be better safe than sorry,” commissioner Enrique Zuniga said.

The commission said its operations staff will coordinate with the casinos to figure out the fine details of the “orderly closure” and expects to hold another meeting this weekend to discuss those details.

All three facilities said they expect to maintain a small team of staff — management and security, mostly — during the closures.

Around the country, other states have shut down or limited casino operations as American society adjusts to social distancing in a public health emergency.
Illinois on Friday suspended riverboat casino operations and Ohio ordered its gaming facilities to either close or keep the number of customers and workers present below 100.

On Friday, Gov. Charlie Baker banned most gatherings of 250 people or more, the Catholic Church in Boston suspended Masses until further notice and many local school systems have canceled classes for at least a week. In Boston’s case, schools will likely be closed until late April.

Sporting events, concerts, theater performances and conferences have been called off. A massive chunk of the state’s workforce is adjusting to working remotely and state agencies like the Gaming Commission are operating in uncharted waters.

Saturday morning’s unusual virtual emergency meeting was made possible by the fact that Baker this week suspended parts of the Open Meeting Law in an attempt to allow government to function without putting people in physical proximity of one another.

The commission posted a public notice of the meeting — including the dial-in information for any member of the public who wanted to “attend” the meeting — around 11 p.m. Friday.

The following is a press release from Will Gardner, Executive Director Alma del Mar Charter School in New Bedford:

“Out of an abundance of caution, Alma del Mar will be closed Monday, March 16 and Tuesday, March 17. Alma staff will spend these days further assessing the rapidly changing situation surrounding the Coronavirus, and whether we need to close school for an extended period of time. Any updates will be communicated to families through mass text, social media, and www.almadelmar.org

As of this writing, there are no confirmed or suspected cases of coronavirus in our schools, or in the city of New Bedford. We are making this difficult decision in order to prioritize the health and safety of our community.

Today, March 13, scholars have been sent home with homework packets in the case of an extended closure. Our goal for this at-home work is that it will be independent and not require the use of the internet, a computer, or a phone. Should we need to close school for a more extended period, we will be in touch with additional work for scholars and resources for at-home learning.

We recognize that many of our scholars, families, and staff are increasingly concerned about the COVID-19 situation. Our Leadership Team and Operations Teams are working diligently to ensure we have a thoughtful response. At the same time, we realize what a strain our schools’ closure for any period puts on families and working parents. We do not make this decision lightly. We want to do our part to ensure we are protecting the public and mitigating community spread of infectious disease.

We recommend that all scholars, families, and staff follow all public health guidelines from the Massachusetts Department of Health and the CDC. Medical questions and concerns should be brought to a school nurse, your own doctor, or the Massachusetts Department of Public Health at 617-983-6800.

Thank you for your help to keep our community healthy and safe. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact any school leader.”

New Bedford Public Schools will be closed until March 23. Details here.

Effective immediately, as a preventative action New Bedford Public Schools will close through at least Friday, March 20, 2020, Superintendent Thomas Anderson announced late today. “Out of an abundance of caution and to support the effort to stem the potential spread of coronavirus in our region, New Bedford Public Schools will be closed Monday, March 16 through Friday, March 20, 2020. Schools are currently scheduled to reopen on Monday, March, 23, 2020. This action is being taken after close consultation with all other school districts in our region and across Massachusetts, the Mayor’s office and City officials.”

Due to rolling cancellations across Massachusetts and Rhode Island, the likelihood of mass absenteeism has increased significantly since the City of New Bedford’s announcement earlier this morning. New Bedford Public Schools will ensure that students’ learning remains a priority during the city’s state of emergency.

While schools are closed, students and their families will receive updates and information regarding academic opportunities and services such as school-provided meals. New Bedford Public Schools will continue to keep families informed via social media and announcements.

All central office and school administrators as well as all 12-month personnel, including facilities and maintenance staff, will report to work as scheduled. All other staff do not need to report during this time.

NBPS encourages students to make every effort to continue their learning by reading as much as possible. This adjusts the last day of school to Wednesday, June 24, 2020.

While Monday, March 23, is the designated reopening date, Superintendent Anderson advised students, staff and families to continue to closely monitor the NBPS website, district social media, and local media outlets for any updates to closure status during this rapidly evolving situation. The closings are effective Monday, March 16; SATs scheduled for this weekend will remain available for students who have signed up and plan to complete the tests.

Based on intelligence obtained regarding the location of fugitive ENRIQUE GONZALEZ, 42, members of the Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section (VFAS) and elements of the MSP Special Tactical Operations Team (STOP) — including STOP Troopers and one of the STOP Team’s canines — this morning established surveillance at the Express Inn on Riverdale Street in West Springfield.

The purpose of their operation was to arrest GONZALEZ, a Framingham man who is the subject of two warrants: 1.) a warrant obtained from Worcester District Court charging him with photographing a child in a sexual manner, and 2.) a warrant obtained from Worcester Superior Court charging him with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, subsequent offense.

MSP VFAS Troopers had developed further information indicating that GONZALEZ was likely armed.

Shortly before noon, Troopers observed GONZALEZ exit the motel room directly into the parking lot and attempt to enter a parked car. As he did so, STOP Team Troopers converged and ordered him to surrender. GONZALEZ instead began to run along the sidewalk toward the rear of the motel.

The investigation indicates that during GONZALEZ’s attempt to flee he fired a handgun at the Troopers. The Troopers returned fire, striking the suspect.

After GONZALEZ fell to the ground and was secured, two tactical medics from UMass Medical Center in Worcester — who are attached to the STOP Team to provide emergency medical support — provided emergency medical treatment to the suspect. GONZALEZ, who was conscious and alert after being shot, was stabilized and then transported to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield.

GONZALEZ will remain under police guard at the hospital until he is released into MSP custody.

No Troopers were injured in the incident.

Troopers from the State Police Crime Scene Services Section and the MSP ballistics unit responded to process the scene for physical evidence. A firearm was recovered at the scene.

Troopers from the State Police Detective Unit for Hampden County also responded to the scene and will lead the police investigation into the incident. As with any police-involved shooting in Hampden County, District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni will oversee the investigation and review the propriety of the use of force. Any media inquiries about that investigation or the timing of the suspect’s arraignment should be directed to the district attorney’s office.

“Dear New Bedford Public Schools Community,

As referenced in several previous communications, the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to evolve. We are following all recommended measures and remain in close collaboration with local agencies including Southcoast Health (St. Luke’s Hospital), the City of New Bedford Health Department and City agencies. We are following guidance from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Boston Public Health Commission. I encourage you to visit their websites in addition to the CDC’s website, for more information.

As this situation continues to develop, in consultation with the office of Mayor Jon Mitchell, the School Committee, and the City Health Department, New Bedford Public Schools will implement the following directives, effective Friday, March 13, 2020.

Athletics:
• We will use guidance from the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA), the governing body for high school sports, regarding athletic contests

Events – Large Gatherings:
• We are presently monitoring all future school events with large crowd gatherings and will decide on future postponements and/or cancellations on a case by case basis
• We will monitor all events and continue to work with key agencies on all decisions to cancel and/or postpone events based on updated information through April 30, 2020

Out-of-State travel/field trips:

• We are canceling all planned out-of-state travel through April 30, 2020. This includes:
• Student field trips
• Staff professional development / conferences
• We will revisit ALL previously approved out-of-state travel scheduled to occur after April 30, 2020, to make informed decisions for the remainder of the school year

In-State field trips/travel:

• We will limit in-state field trips to the Greater New Bedford area
• As always parents should use their discretion to allow their child to participate

Health Reminders:

• Wash your hands regularly with soap and water
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash
• Avoid touching your eyes, mouth, and nose
• Stay home from work or school if you feel sick

We have added links on our District homepage to provide everyone with access to health-related communications and other helpful information concerning coronavirus.

Facilities teams throughout our schools are following a comprehensive deep cleaning protocol focused on performing a targeted environmental cleaning regimen, which is documented by checklist and signed by custodians doing the work. All schools are being cleaned 100% and this work continues on weekends. The deep cleaning protocol includes use of electrostatic handheld sprayers to disinfect large areas. Special attention is being paid to all common surfaces including cafeteria tables/chairs, all classroom furniture, coat hooks, copy machines, desks, chairs, door hardware, door surfaces (interior/exterior), computers (keyboard/mouse/peripherals), light switches, lockers, serving stations, sinks/faucets, stair railings, telephones, and water fountains.

I would like to remind you that the most effective precautions against the spread of germs are thorough and frequent handwashing, covering coughs/sneezes, and avoiding touching your face. If children or family members have a fever and symptoms of a respiratory illness, please keep them home and contact your doctor. This applies to staff as well.

Please monitor these websites:

www.newbedfordschools.org/coronavirus

http://www.doe.mass.edu/sfs/emergencyplan/covid19.html

https://www.mass.gov/resource/information-on-the-outbreak-of-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19

Please be assured that the health and well-being of our students and staff are our top priority. I remain particularly grateful for the strength and togetherness of this community.

Sincerely,
Thomas Anderson”

Mayor Jon Mitchell joined City officials on Friday to update the public on the City’s response to COVID-19. In accordance his legal authority, Mayor Mitchell has declared that a state of emergency now exists in New Bedford. This allows for the suspension of certain rules to expedite the procurement of goods and services, as well as allowing the Mayor to take reasonable steps to ensure public safety.

The Mayor and City officials offered the following guidelines on Friday, March 13:

Events

Public events: All non-essential public community events greater than 100 people will be postponed or cancelled.

In particular, the Mayor’s state of the city address, which is the second-largest of its kind in the state, will be postponed.

Special event permits: All special permits will be reviewed. Effective this Monday, the City will revoke all permits for indoor activities greater than 100 people, and all other special event will be subject to review of the Health Department to assess the risk of transmission.

School events: Superintendent Thomas Anderson has announced a similar curtailment of school events.

Other events: With respect to events that do not require some form of public approval or permit, Mayor Mitchell strongly discouraged the holding of non-essential indoor events of greater than 100 people.

City Facilities and Board/Commission Meetings

City facilities:

In addition to curtailing events at public places, certain facilities will be closed.

Effective Monday morning: All senior centers in the city will be closed until further notice. Likewise, the City is closing the adult day facility in Brooklawn Park, but will provide the families of the facility’s patrons a reasonable opportunity to find alternate care during the day.

Buttonwood Park Zoo: All indoor events at the Buttonwood Park Zoo will be postponed or cancelled.

Board and Commission meetings:

Last night, the Governor issued an executive order that liberalizes the requirements of the state’s opening meeting law. The City’s attorneys are reviewing the order now, but in any case, the City will take every step consistent with the law to minimize the attendance at board and commission meetings, including the deferring of items for which board action is not urgent.

City employees

The City is working hard to ensure the safety our employees. For starters, the City’s custodial staff is strenuously cleaning buildings, and is emphasizing of course proper hygiene.

All out-of-state employee travel through the end of April will be postponed or cancelled, as well as any non-essential employee travel of greater than twenty miles. The Superintendent has announced a similar curtailment of school field trips.

The City is advising department heads that employees whose duties and responsibilities allow them to work at home, should make arrangements to do so.

The City strongly encourages all employers to employ similar protections and accommodations for their employees.

Paying bills online or by mail

To decrease person-to-person contact in public buildings, and help protect the health of employees and residents, the City is encouraging residents to pay bills remotely, either online or by mail. Payments can be made online at the City’s website, www.newbedford-ma.gov, and selecting ‘Pay Bills’ directly on the home page. To mail payments, residents can use the mailing address printed on their bills or mail their bills directly to the City Treasurer at the following address:

City Hall – Treasurer’s Office
133 William Street, Room 103

New Bedford, MA 02740

Mayor Mitchell made the following statement at Friday’s update:

“Good morning. There’s a great deal of anxiety in our city, across our country and indeed around the world about the effects of the coronavirus outbreak. Nothing quite like this has happened in our lifetimes, so it is understandable that people are on edge. I am here today to provide an update on the city’s latest efforts and to help you stay informed, prepare yourself and your family, and take actions to stem the spread of the virus.

“I want to begin by saying that the virus is coming, if it’s not already here. While there has yet to be a confirmed case in Greater New Bedford, we should not be fooled. As has been well chronicled, the limited number of test kits in the United States has inhibited the ability of the medical community to determine with confidence who has been infected. And we know, based on the recent outbreaks in China, Italy and other places, the virus has the potential to spread faster than our healthcare system can address.

“Our work has been focused on three goals: to slow the transmission of the virus in our city and region, make preparations to continue essential city services, and ensure the heath and safety of city employees and our residents. The strategy is to “flatten the curve” of viral spread, that is, to slow the transmission of the disease so that our health care system can keep up with the flow of patients until the virus eventually peters out. Getting out ahead of the virus through appropriate social distancing and encouraging proper hygiene is essential. That is why, even though residents in our region may not be infected yet, we have been taking proactive steps, including the cancelling of this weekend’s half marathon.

“Our decisions are informed by the advice of health care experts, and are consistent with guidance from federal and state agencies. Every morning I am briefed by our health director and our public safety agencies on the latest developments, so that as the situation evolves, we can make informed decisions in the public interest. Under the authority vested in me under law, I have declared that a state of emergency now exists in New Bedford. The authority allows the mayor to suspend certain rules concerning procurement of good and services, and generally affords the mayor the ability to take reasonable steps to ensure public safety.

“This is one of the challenges our city and our country faces in which the actions of private individuals is indispensable to success. More than anything else, proper hygiene is a must. Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently, with soap and hot water. Make sure your loves ones do the same.

“Be especially conscience of what you touch. Avoid as much as possible highly touched surfaces, such as railings, door knobs, and elevator buttons. Don’t touch your face. Stop shaking hands.

“And again, if you feel sick, go home and call your doctor.

“All of these measures and more, along with links to relevant state and federal guidance, can be found on the City’s website. We’ll continue to push out more updates so that you and your family remained informed, and I ask you to share with others.

“Our work here is about serious preparation, not panic. Each of us has a role to play to ensure the health and safety of our fellow New Bedfordites. I thank you in advance for your understanding, but more importantly, for the role you play in this collective effort.”

The City of New Bedford has roadwork sites for the upcoming week of March 16 ,2020 – March 20, 2020 and they are as follows:

Eversource:

Eversource will replace the gas mains at the following locations: There will be no services tied into the new mains until after April 1, 2020 as a precaution of the winter season.
• Summer St. from Studley St to Locust St
• Palmer St from Arnold St to 201-203 Palmer St
• Commonwealth Ave. between Kempton St. – Claredon St
• Peckham St from Mt. Pleasant St to County St.
• Bolton St from Fair St. to Kane St.
• Hatch St from Acushnet Ave. to Belleville Ave.

Other:

• Contractor working at Hazelwood Park for new power supply and upgrades to parking lot lighting.
• Contractor will continue water and sewer replacement along Cottage Street, between Parker and Maxfield Streets. During working hours, Cottage St. may be closed to thru traffic with access for local traffic only. Southbound traffic will be detoured via Pope, Parker or Willis Street. North bound traffic will be detoured via Smith, Sycamore or Maxfield Streets. Detour signage, police details and traffic controls will be in place.
• Contractor is scheduled to continue construction of the new pumping station and installation of the site utilities at the Front St./ Elm St. site. Elm St. between JFK Memorial Highway (Route 18) and Macarthur Drive will be closed to westbound traffic. Westbound traffic will be detoured via MacArthur Drive. There will be detour signage and traffic controls in place.
• Contractor will continue scheduling appointments and will have technicians visiting various locations throughout the city to replace meters and meter interface units (meter readers). There will be no traffic controls for this work.
• Due to ongoing construction at the High Hill Reservoir, residents may experience discolored water. The water is safe, and the discoloration is temporary. We recommend allowing the water to settle for a few hours and then flushing your service line by letting the bathtub run for a few minutes until the water clears.
• Department of Public Infrastructure will be filling potholes on a continuous basis throughout the city.
• Please see the City of New Bedford website for additional street closings due to Special Events.
• Department of Public Infrastructure conducting its annual street sweeping program city-wide.
• The Contractor will continue work to relocate the existing water transmission main at the Tarkiln Hill Rd/Kings Highway rail crossing. There will be temporary lane closures at times during construction. Police details will assist with traffic management and signage will be posted.

No, not a fear-mongering article but a “stargazers delight” article. The mountain-sized Asteroid 1998 OR2 has been described by professional astronomers – those who know more about these objects than you or I – as “potentially hazardous,” so I’ll defer to their description.

The rare L-type asteroid is reddish but otherwise featureless and classified as a minor planet, which means it is neither a planet nor exclusively classified as a comet.

1998 OR2 is considered one of the brightest and largest potentially hazardous asteroids known to exist and astronomers keep a close eye on it each time it approaches.

Virtualtelescope.eu photo.

Having said that, the odds that the 2.5-mile wide asteroid will strike us are extremely low, but each time it approaches the dice are rolled again. While it will make a close pass by Earth on April 29 at about a distance of a very safe 4 million miles away, astronomers do work with probabilities so that means they can’t do more than declare what is likely to happen.

What makes this particular asteroid newsworthy (and the purpose of this article) is that we amateur astronomers will be able to watch it streak by with our amateur telescopes. What characterizes this asteroid and makes it special, is that it is slow and extremely bright in nature with a visual magnitude of around 10 to 11, thus easy to spot. You can find some great tips on finding it, then tracking it here.

Don’t have so much as a children’s telescope? Don’t fret. This show and any other future shows by an asteroid can always be enjoyed live and in high definition on the Virtual Telescope Project.

Mark those calendars because if you miss the show, you will have to wait until its next fly-by in 2079!

If you are an amateur or professional astronomer that has a telescope with photographic capabilities you can send the photos to us so we can share with New Bedford by emailing info@newbedfordguide.com.

Scott Cunningham, an Executive-Level Instructor for Fair and Impartial Policing, earlier this week conducted a two-day seminar for 30 Massachusetts State Police command-level officers. Cunningham, a retired chief of three police agencies in North Carolina, presented a curriculum on implicit biases that police officers, like any human begins, may hold.

MSP Colonel Christopher Mason arranged for the course as part of his emphasis on increased training in areas of empathy and public interaction. The MSP plans to expand the training opportunity beyond the initial commanders who received it to the other members of the Department.

According to Fair and Impartial Policing, “Social psychologists have shown that implicit bias can impact what people perceive and do. Implicit bias works outside of conscious awareness and manifests even in people who consciously hold non-prejudiced attitudes … Research has examined implicit biases linked to ethnicity and race, gender, social class, sexual orientation, religion, body shape, age, and so forth. It has examined the manifestations of bias among members of various professional groups, such as doctors, other health professionals, medical students, educators, prosecutors, and law enforcement.”

Chief Cunningham noted that understanding, controlling and rejecting implicit biases is both morally right and also enhances officer safety and effectiveness. In addition to his tenures as a chief, he spent much of his 37-year policing career with the Tampa Police Department, where he retired as Assistant Chief over the Patrol and Special Operations Divisions. We are grateful for the valuable insight and instruction he provided — which, Colonel Mason noted, dovetails perfectly with the changes MSP has already implemented in recruit and in-service training.

The training was held in a conference room at the Grafton Police Station, and we thank them as well for hosting us.

Meet 58-year-old lawyer and musician from New Bedford, Rick Bennett.

Rick was born in Dorchester, MA, and furthered his education at North Eastern University, followed by Suffolk University Law School. While a lawyer by day, his passion for music has persisted throughout his entire life.

His story in New Bedford began about 30 years ago after he left Boston, taking a job with the city when John Bullard was Mayor while finishing up law school. A year later Rick took a job working for Lang, Straus, Xifaras & Bullard. He now works out of his downtown office independently, specializing in civil litigation representing local small businesses, especially in the construction industry.

When starting his career in law, playing music had cast aside. He found himself missing music, so he got involved again after he was more established in his career. His primary instrument being the bass guitar, but he also plays the banjo, mandolin, and rhythm guitar.

Rick was recently reminiscing his long musical career, and he’s played in some bands here that did reasonably well. Some of his most successful groups were The X-ToNeS, Urban Burn, The O’Tooles, as well as the current bands The NB Rude Boys and his probably best-known band, The Pourmen where most know him by his alter ego “Richie O’Toole.”

Surrounded by the deep history of New Bedford, Rick remains inspired and passionate thanks to the many cultures, art, and music this city has to offer. A family man first, he plans to continue staying busy with his two active bands making music and representing the city he adopted as his home.

“As a solo practitioner lawyer, I’ve had the flexibility to be there for my family, maintain my lifestyle, and my happiness. So I made a decision a long time ago that I would rather pursue the things that I enjoy, even if I make less money, it’s irrelevant. Money isn’t everything life is about enjoying your friends, family, and doing something you have a passion for.”

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Faces of New Bedford is a New Bedford Guide project being undertaken by Josh Souza. If you’d like to nominate someone or ask a question you can inquire with him through email at josh@newbedfordguide.com.

Faces of New Bedford began as a project by Colton Simmons. You can find Colton on Instagram: https://instagram.com/simmonscolton.