Gov. Healey lifting COVID health emergency, vaccine mandate
The move on May 11 will end six public health emergency orders, one of which requires Bay Staters to wear masks in some health care and congregate care settings.
New Bedford food pantries feel crunch as pandemic SNAP benefits end
“I think this is a horrible time for this to happen. It should have been stretched out until our grocery prices went down.” — Kevin Frederic, supervisor at the Solanus Casey Food Pantry for Catholic Social Services
The Light pauses COVID-19 weekly updates, historical stats remain
The Light will continue to monitor and report on COVID-19, but will pause weekly updates, including new cases in New Bedford, percentage of those vaccinated and average daily cases.
Undocumented immigrants fall through the cracks with child lead poisoning
“Recent immigrants, especially undocumented immigrants, and refugees without economic means tend to settle in the same low-income communities and therefore are more likely to be at risk of lead exposure.” — Mass. Department of Public Health statement.
Nonprofit to begin providing medication abortion services in New Bedford
“This is one more service that has been lacking in … sexual reproductive health services in southeastern Massachusetts.” — Julia Kehoe, president and CEO of Health Imperatives
All hands on deck as ‘triple-demic’ hits South Coast hard
Flu season off to an early, nasty start but RSV and Covid-19 still a concern. Southcoast Health, Community Health Center urge caution during holiday gatherings
Lead pipe replacement slowdown: Blame it on workforce shortage, funding
DPI commissioner speaks for the first time since The Light published two reports last month on the slow progress, saying his department is dozens of employees short.
Southcoast Health to begin search for new president/CEO
Kruger said the plan was for him to serve as “someone who could help the system navigate a time of great adversity,” citing the pandemic and other challenges healthcare organizations are facing, and to eventually create a “course of succession when circumstances allowed and the time was right.”
Council president Abreu urges action on New Bedford’s lead pipes, but it’s up to mayor
“If we can’t have a safe, healthy, well-functioning group of residents, then we are greatly failing our community for which we are elected to serve.” — New Bedford City Council President Ian Abreu
Dangerous lead pipes carry drinking water to thousands of city homes … Is yours one of them?
New Bedford’s efforts to remove the pipes have lagged in recent years and the cost of replacement can fall on residents.
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A VIRTUAL MEMORIAL
We remember you.
As the city emerges from the long siege of COVID-19, we pause to take stock of what – and whom – we’ve lost. The virus claimed more than 400 people in New Bedford. Here, we pay tribute to their lives. Please help build this community memorial by adding a tribute to your loved one.
June 4, 2021
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Life tributes to those who’ve died in the pandemic
ARTHUR ALCOCK, 96, NEW BEDFORD PAINTER, RED SOX FAN
Arthur Alcock, who lived most of his life in New Bedford, died from COVID-19 complications on June 4, 2020, at St. Luke’s Hospital.
MANUEL P. AMARAL, 74, VIETNAM VET, ANIMAL LOVER AND ‘COOL UNCLE’
He didn’t speak much about the war (in Vietnam), but told his nephew about how his unit had fired rounds at the enemy for 30 days straight.
PAUL A. BABINEAU, 76, FAMILY MAN AND COAST GUARD VET
Paul Babineau was hoping to meet his newborn granddaughter, but he never got that chance. He died of COVID-19 on Oct. 30, 2020, just days after being admitted to St. Luke’s Hospital.
CARLOS BARREIRA, 30, LOVED SOCCER AND FAMILY
Shortly after his sister, Ana Madeira arrived at St. Luke’s Hospital, her brother’s heart gave out. Just like that, he was gone.
ALICE BERNIER, 96, TALENTED FASHION ILLUSTRATOR WHO RAISED 7 CHILDREN
Alice Bernier was diagnosed with COVID-19 in the spring of 2020 and died at St. Luke’s Hospital on June 6. She was 96.
JAY AND MARILYN BISSONNETTE DIED JUST A FEW HOURS APART
They both died at St. Luke’s Hospital on April 2, 2020 – just three hours and 20 minutes apart. Jay was 78; Marilyn was 73.
NATALIA AND RAUL BRANQUINHO, DIED JUST WEEKS APART
‘They did everything together. … In their earlier years, they enjoyed going out on the weekends, listening to music and dancing at Cafe Portugal.’
MICHELE ‘MICKEY’ BURNS, 75, BANKER WHO LOVED THE OCEAN, ARTS AND SINGING IN CHOIRS
She contracted COVID-19 last year and died from the disease on June 12, 2020, at Care One of New Bedford.
LEONORA CAMARA, 90, LONGTIME CLIFTEX STITCHER
After retirement, she spent her days participating in activities at Melville Towers, where she had lived for many years.
POLICE SGT. MIKE CASSIDY, 52, HERO AND ‘GOOD GUY’
After graduating from Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School, Michael P. Cassidy enlisted in the Marines and fought in Operation Desert Storm. He died on April 28, 2021, after a long battle with COVID-19.
CHARLES CORREIA, 92, ARMY VETERAN, TEXTILE WORKER
He was taken to St. Luke’s Hospital, where he tested positive for the novel coronavirus. He died four days later.
KATHLEEN ‘KATHY’ COTTER, 58, NEW BEDFORD CNA, WORKED HARD TAKING CARE OF OTHERS
“She took care of her patients with that same kindness and always attended to the person, not just the disease.”
GILBERTO COUTO, 93, LOVED FISHING, COOKING AND RHYMING
After battling COVID-19 for three weeks at St. Luke’s Hospital and then back at the nursing home, Couto died on May 4, 2020.
CLARA DASILVA, 84, WORKED AS A STITCHER OF FINE MEN’S SUITS
Her son believes she contracted the novel coronavirus at her husband’s funeral in mid-March; she died of COVID-19 on April 5, 2020.
GREGORY DISCHLER, 61, DIEHARD ANGELS FAN LOVED CALIFORNIA
He worked as a forklift operator at Decas Cranberry Co. and died Oct. 30, 2020, of Covid-19 complications.
VIRGILIO DUARTE, 86, LOVED SOCCER, FARMING AND FISHING
In September of 2020, both Virgilio and his wife, Maria, contracted COVID-19 from a friend. Maria survived, but Virgilio succumbed to the virus after a week-and-a-half at St. Luke’s Hospital.
ANTONE ‘TONKA TOI’ FORTES, 73, ‘LOVED THE KIDS’ HE TRAINED IN GYMNASTICS
Fortes contracted COVID-19 at the beginning of this year. He was hospitalized on Jan. 4, and never returned home.
JANICE ANN GROSSO, 76, ‘QUEEN OF ALDEN COURT’ NURSING HOME
She was 76 and living at the Alden Court Nursing Care and Rehabilitation Center in Fairhaven when she tested positive for the novel coronavirus. She died five days later at St. Luke’s Hospital.
FRAN HADDOCKS, 80, RETIRED JAIL SUPERINTENDENT WAS LOVED BY MANY
Haddocks was the first African American superintendent of the Bristol County House of Correction and Ash Street Jail. He died from COVID-19 on May 13, 2020.
RAMONA HAMBY, 49, LOVED FORT TABER TRIPS AND DAYTIME TV
She was admitted to St. Luke’s Hospital, where she tested positive for the novel coronavirus. She died June 11, 2020, from COVID-19 complications.
MARCELLE HARRISON, 79, TRAVELED THE WORLD AND CHARMED ALL SHE MET
While hospitalized for Alzheimer’s, her whole unit contracted COVID-19. She died less than a week later on May 26, 2020.
ROBERT HARRISON, 76, LOVED HIS MOTHER, BROTHER AND BINGO
In the last few years of his life, he was in and out of nursing homes, and was admitted to the geriatric psychiatric unit at St. Anne’s Hospital.
FORMER MAYOR KALISZ, 63, WAS A FAMILY MAN FIRST
Fred Kalisz died from COVID-19 complications on Jan. 27, 2021. He was 63 years old.
KATHERINE LAPRE, 69, DEDICATED NURSE AT ST. LUKE’S
‘She was a very feisty spirit, sometimes stubborn. … A simple, yet classy lady, who always wore makeup and loved clothes and shoes — right until the very end.’
MARCELLE MARIE LAREAU, 94, ‘SAINTLY LADY’ RAISED 5 CHILDREN
She graduated from New Bedford High School and socialized with friends at Lincoln Park and the Sixth Bristol Social Club — popular spots where she met her future husband.
VALERIE J. LEGER, 79, CAME TO U.S. ON QUEEN MARY
In the 1970s, she worked with physically disabled people, bringing them to parks, the YMCA and other recreational spots.
ANTONIO AND ALDINA LOPES, MARRIED 50 YEARS, DIED 2 DAYS APART
“They always tried to help the poor. If they had 10 cans at home, they would give half to the needy.”
CHERYL ANN MASSE, 73, DILIGENT OFFICE MANAGER AND FRIEND
She had difficulty breathing and went on a ventilator. She died from COVID-19 at St. Luke’s Hospital on July 2, 2020.
‘MICKEY’ REYNOLDS, 56, GIFTED GUITARIST, GENEROUS FRIEND
He was a gifted guitarist who could adapt to any style from classic rock to Dixieland jazz, flawlessly meshing with bandmates on any song in any key.
DOROTHY E. RICE, 80, OPENED HER HOME TO THOSE IN NEED
She died on Aug. 15, 2020, from COVID-19 complications, at the CareOne nursing home in New Bedford.
TARBY RICHARDS, 72, ‘THE ONE TO BRING JOY’
Tarby was a fun-loving guy who people liked to be around. He would just go up and talk to total strangers.
BOBBY ROSE, 87, HARD-WORKING TEAMSTER AND WATERFRONT LEGEND
Robert John Rose, a New Bedford native who fought with valor in the Korean War, died of COVID-19 on July 17, 2020.
HANIFA ROSE, 87, ‘BUTTONHOLE GIRL’ AND VAN DRIVER
Mother of four, who enjoyed going to the beach, gardening and dancing, died from COVID-19 complications on May 24, 2020.
JOSEPH R. ROSE JR., 57, EASY-GOING SOUL, DESPITE HARD LIFE
He was diagnosed with COVID-19 at St. Luke’s Hospital, but his body rejected medical treatments and began to shut down. He was placed on life support on June 1, 2020, and died about two weeks later.
STEPHEN SEARS, 69, NEW BEDFORD ACCOUNTANT AND FATHER FIGURE
He was the truck-driving father figure who helped people move from house to house. He was the handyman with a magic touch for electrical work.
ISAURA SERODE, 91, ENJOYED COOKING, READING AND BINGO
She liked reading, attending senior citizen activities at Brooklawn Park and going to church bazaars and penny sales.
MARIA SILVA, 90, LOVED HER CHURCH AND SEWING WEDDING DRESSES
Maria Silva died of complications related to COVID-19 on Nov. 27, 2020. She was 90 years old.
EDWARD SIMAS, 70, CLASSIC CAR COLLECTOR COULD FIX ANYTHING
‘He knew a little bit of everything. … He was good with math and numbers, and fixing things with his hands.’
BEVERLY SOUZA, 78, BUSINESSWOMAN, SEAMSTRESS, COOK
She was the glue that held the family together, said her son.
DALE SOUZA, 73, NEW BEDFORD EMT, FOODIE AND FAMILY MAN
Souza and his wife both contracted COVID-19 in late December of 2020. Ida recovered, but Dale had to be intubated and died at St. Luke’s Hospital on Jan. 21, 2021.
EMIL SPANNER, 77, TIRELESS WORKER WITH KEEN BUSINESS ACUMEN
The one foe Emil Spanner couldn’t push through was COVID-19. He died from the disease on June 7, 2020.
JOAN M. STRATTON, 70, ADVOCATE FOR LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY
Joan Stratton had lung issues and died at St. Luke’s Hospital on Feb., 12, 2021, from complications due to COVID-19. She was 70 years old.
FRANCES SULLIVAN, 98, LOVED FASHION AND LIVED IN STYLE
She married Robert Sullivan in 1946, and the couple lived together in New Bedford for 50 years — raising five children until Robert’s death in 1996.
JOAQUIN ‘JACK’ TEIXEIRA, 85, ARMY VET WHO LOVED HIS MOPED
He was having difficulty breathing, and had to be admitted to St. Luke’s Hospital, where he tested positive for COVID-19 and died three days later on July 17, 2020.
ANTONIO VIEIRA, 85, FISHERMAN, LANDSCAPER, PAINTER
Antonio Vieira worked for AFC Cable, but he injured his back on the job and later held a variety of odd jobs. He died July 2, 2020, from COVID-19.
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