The Christmas goose. In olden days (we’re thinking, like, Charles Dickens “Christmas Carol” days) it was a staple of traditional holiday dinners.

But thanks to three compassionate Massachusetts State Troopers and the Animal Rescue League, there is one goose that received much more humane treatment this Christmas season and has a good life ahead of him. Video can be seen here.

One night a few weeks ago, State Police-Revere received a call reporting that a goose had been walking around on Constitution Beach in East Boston all day. The caller was concerned for the safety of the goose, which seemed to be domesticated. MSP Sgt. Edward Troy, Troopers Carlo Mastromattei and Pasquale Zollo Jr., along with Animal Rescue League Officer Dianne Begonis, responded to the beach to corral the wayward bird and get him to safety.

It took them over an hour as night fell and temperatures dropped, but they didn’t give up and finally took the goose into custody. The Animal Rescue League took the goose to its shelter in Brewster, gave him a clean bill of health, and has put him up for adoption.

They also gave him a name, Cadbury, and he lives at the shelter with two new friends, potbellied pigs named Turner and Hooch. All three are waiting for their forever homes. Anyone interested in adopting any or all of them should contact the Animal Rescue League of Boston, Brewster Branch, at 617-426-9170.

We never found out where Cadbury initially came from when we found him that night on the beach in East Boston, but we (and he) are glad he will be enjoying his holiday safe and sound, and are proud of the work done by the Troopers and ARL officer who saved him.

The latest state support of the project comes from the Massachusetts Office of Business Development.

The Massachusetts Office of Business Development, through the Regional Economic Development Organization (REDO) program has awarded the UMass Dartmouth-based SouthCoast Development Partnership with $50,000 to promote economic development in the Blue Economy throughout the southeastern region through collaborative workforce and industry development programming. The REDO program facilitates regional projects that grow businesses and the Massachusetts economy by attracting new employers and fostering existing businesses.

“UMass Dartmouth and the SouthCoast Development Partnership is grateful to the Baker-Polito Administration for their continued support of our university’s efforts to strengthen and evolve our region’s economic future,” said Chancellor Robert E. Johnson. “With the collective will of government, industry, and academia – UMass Dartmouth will become the global leader for talent, recruitment, and development in marine technology.”

The REDO grant bolsters UMass Dartmouth’s three-year blue economy initiative. The first year of the project featured the release of a UMass Dartmouth Public Policy Center study entitled, “Charting the Course: A Regional Assessment of the Marine Science and Technology Sector in Southeastern New England,” which will be used to develop a strategic plan to build the marine economy of the region.

Next, the university, the SouthCoast Development Partnership, and the region’s planning agencies will form a Corridor Alliance that will position Southern New England as an international hub for marine science and technology innovation. The Corridor Alliance will also develop a 10-year strategy for the region, including programmatic activities to brand the region, expand the workforce, and drive innovation.

“This award is another strong signal from the Baker-Polito administration of their support for the creation of a thriving blue economy in southeastern Massachusetts. The investment will allow us to organize, and become more globally competitive in this industry,” said Nicholas Christ, President and CEO of BayCoast Bank and co-chair of the SouthCoast Development Partnership.

“The region is in a good place right now, with both offshore wind projects moving forward and the innovative research taking place in marine sciences at UMass Dartmouth. This award will help brand Southeastern Massachusetts as an international cluster in this sector and UMass Dartmouth an affiliate leader in coordinating industry activities, creating alliances and partnerships, driving innovative research, catalyzing job creation, expanding the labor pool,” said David Slutz, co-chair of the SouthCoast Development Partnership.

Tis the season for holiday cheer, carols, mistletoe, and… cardboard.

Massachusetts has banned cardboard from the landfill, which means it’s up to you to place boxes in the correct cart. All residents need to do is flatten boxes and place them in the recycling cart. It’s that simple.

By recycling cardboard you do two very important things for our environment. For one, old cardboard boxes can be turned into new cardboard boxes and other paper products. This saves an important natural resource – trees. Also, recycling cardboard saves space in our landfill.

“Many do not see the landfill as an environmental pillar in the community, but it is. This is a valuable facility and we should extend its life as long as possible,” noted Marissa Perez-Dormitzer, Waste Reduction Manager.

Remember you can easily recycle cardboard from home. Flatten boxes so they fit in your recycling cart. They can be carefully cut down if needed to fit the recycling cart as well. Alternatively, cardboard, particularly large cardboard boxes, can be brought to the Shawmut Avenue Transfer Station located at 1103 Shawmut Avenue.

There is a cardboard compactor near the big building. The hours are Monday, Wednesday, Friday noon to 5 p.m. and Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Transfer Station will be closed Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Cardboard for recycling should be clean (food contamination can interfere with the recycling process). Please remove any packaging materials such as plastic and foam.

For additional tips, visit our New Bedford Recycling Facebook page or follow @NBRecycling on Twitter. If you have questions, please contact the recycling office by phone at (508) 979-1493 or by email at recycling@newbedford-ma.gov.

For Dartmouth residents:

Cardboard, particularly large cardboard boxes, can be brought to the Dartmouth Transfer Station located at 976 Russells Mills Road. The hours are Tuesday and Thursday 7:30 am to 3:15 p.m. and Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.

Cardboard for recycling should be clean (food contamination can interfere with the recycling process). Please remove any packaging materials such as plastic and foam.

For additional tips, visit our Dartmouth Recycling Facebook page.

The Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section, with assistance from the State Police-Brookfield Barracks, US Marshals Service, Worcester Police, and West Brookfield Police, this morning captured one of the MSP’s Most Wanted fugitives, JESSE OUELLET, who is charged with shooting a man during an altercation outside a store.

At about 11:15 a.m., MSP Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section (MSP VFAS) Troopers, along with Deputy Marshals, a State Police-Brookfield Trooper, and local officers, located OUELLET, 37, at a house at 25 John Gilbert Rd. in West Brookfield. Investigators believe OUELLET had begun staying at the house. OUELLET was transported to the Worcester Police Department to be booked and is expected to be brought to Worcester District Court later today.

MSP VFAS on Nov. 21 added OUELLET to its list of Most Wanted fugitives as Troopers continued to work with Worcester Police detectives to locate him. A Worcester officer recently developed information suggesting OUELLET might be hiding out in West Brookfield, and further investigation by MSP VFAS Trooper Amy Waterman confirmed the address, leading to this morning’s apprehension.

OUELLET was arrested on warrants charging him with armed assault with intent to murder (two counts), aggravated assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery with a firearm, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery, and firearm and ammunition offenses. The charges stem from evidence that OUELLET shot a man in the stomach outside the S&A Market convenience store on Ward Street in Worcester following an altercation on April 16, 2019. A bystander walking on the street was struck by a stray bullet. Both victims survived.

After the shooting OUELLET fled and Worcester Police obtained the warrants.

“On Monday, December 16, 2019, concerned hunters in Swansea reported finding a deceased deer with a cord around its neck.

The responding officer was able to locate the animal using the information relayed by the hunters. Upon location, the Officer found a deceased doe with an illegal wire cable snare cinched tightly around its lower neck. The type of snare found is intended to tighten over time, preventing the animal from escaping.

The use of cable snares for hunting or trapping is illegal in Massachusetts. Anyone with information on who may have set this snare or is aware of other areas where these types of snares are being used is urged to contact the Massachusetts Environmental Police at 1-800-632-8075. Callers can remain anonymous.”-Massachusetts Environmental Police.

“Meet Pumpkin Pie.

The very nice people at Toyota of Dartmouth gave us a call because they found a cat who was in need of some help. We trapped her and took her to Anchor Animal Hospital for treatment.

It was found that she had a rope that was embedded around her neck and under her front leg. She is doing well and is recuperating for now in foster care. She still requires laser treatments weekly.

She will be looking for her forever home when she is fully recovered.

A special thank you goes out to Donna P. for helping catch Miss Pumpkin and caring for her during her recovery.” -Town of Dartmouth Animal Control.

Old Time Fiddle Session and Southcoast Lessons will host the 3rd annual “New” Bedford take on an old Appalachian holiday at Hatch Street Studios in New Bedford on December 28th.

The event runs 12:00 to 4:30pm and shares a name and mission with a long-standing Old Time tradition of musical and social gatherings between Christmas and New Years. Dubbed “Breaking Up Christmas,” the event includes playing opportunities for musicians, children’s activities, workshops, dancing, crafting, comfort food vendors, giveaways, games, and a full schedule of performances by traditional fiddle acts, dancers, performance artists, and ukulele ensembles.

3 time Rochester fiddle champion Hank Poitras, flatfoot dance instructor and multi-instrumental Armand Aromin of Providence, and New Hampshire’s banjo picking, barn dance calling, roller-blading, hula hooping, stilt-walking Old Time Dave Talmadge serve as keepers of the tradition’s roots, while local ukulele ensemble The Mighty Uketones bring a new island flare to the performance stage.

“It’s our goal to bring people together as a community, just as this tradition has done for a very long time before us, with music, dance, and social participation as our primary connecting force,” says Old Time Fiddle Session founder Jeff Angeley. As such, interactive activities for children and adults are at the center of the day’s offerings. Some highlights of the social programming include a masquerade parade, flatfoot, barn, and contra dance instruction, instrument painting, a cookie contest, a cake walk, and a whole lot of open jamming.

Old Time Fiddle Session is committed to make the festival affordable for all who are interested. This years’ festival tickets are available at a name your own price donation rate. All donations go directly to funding of the festival and music and community programming featured therein. Online tickets are available at Eventbrite. In person tickets can be found at Southcoast Lessons and from our very generous sponsor, The Symphony Music Shop in Dartmouth.

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About Old Time Fiddle Session & Southcoast Lessons
Old Time Fiddle Session and Community Gathering was founded in January of 2017. It’s mission is to provide traditional fiddle music programming for the South Coast of Massachusetts in an interactive, community-based format.

As a 2 time recipient of New Bedford Arts and Culture’s “Wicked Cool Places” grant, they’ve been providing free participatory dance, singing, & instrumental music series in 2019 and will be expanding those events in 2020.

“Another year in the books for Savannah’s Savvy Cat Creations fundraiser!!

She almost tripled what she did last year by raising just over $1,400!! We are dropping off the toys at Hasbro Children’s Hospital tomorrow, along with a check so they can buy a particular Kindle they would like!!

So proud of her, and she’s already planning for next year!!” -Amy Quilitzsch Kobza.

Pastor Elmer Perez, 44, of 1413 Acushnet Ave. in New Bedford, was arrested Dec. 18 on charges of rape, witness intimidation, kidnapping, indecent assault/battery, and threatening to commit crime after a month-long investigation into accusations of sexual assault.

Perez serves as pastor at Iglesia De Jesucristo Church, 1411 Acushnet Ave.

This investigation is ongoing and police urge anyone who may have to information to please come forward by calling 508-991-6300 and ask for Det. Sherburne.

“We would love to introduce everyone to Nonnie.

Nonnie has spent the last year living in a shelter. We decided that we would give her a chance here at the Fairhaven Animal Shelter to be seen by our amazing followers. Someone out there has to be the perfect fit for this great gal.

She is about 8 years old but full of puppy energy. She is the sweetest girl but does love to jump up to give you kisses, so for this reason her ideal home would have no small children since Nonnie doesn’t realize her size. She also loves to sing and loves her toys, although stuffed toys don’t stand much of a chance when Nonnie wants to play with them.

Nonnie is picky with who she wants as her doggy friends. You can come by and meet Nonnie and then talk to one of our staff members about scheduling a meet and greet if you have any pups to see if it will the chosen friend for Nonnie. Please share, her home has to be out there somewhere!”

Fairhaven Animal Shelter
200 Bridge St
Fairhaven, Massachusetts
Call (508) 979-4028