(WJAR) — Several federal officials arrested a Fall River man who allegedly is in the country illegally Officers with the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security assisted in an arrest of a man who faces charges of assault and battery on a family member and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon Authorities have not revealed the name of the man (WJAR) — In an effort to try to fill some of the district's open teaching positions Fall River Public Schools hosted a job fair Saturday morning Representatives from several of the district's schools spoke with potential candidates about current opportunities "They get to know each one of our schools and find themselves a best fit," Superintendent Tracy Curley said Curley said there are roughly 135 positions open across the district She said starting pay for the teaching positions is currently around $51,000 annually NBC 10 asked Curley what the district's biggest need is right now "Special education teachers as well as our paraprofessionals in our programs," Curley said she said retaining teachers has become more difficult There's also a smaller pool of candidates applying for positions nationwide She said Fall River Public Schools has implemented initiatives to help those who are interested in teaching "We do have systems in place to support new teachers NBC 10 also asked the president of the Fall River Education Association about his thoughts on the open teaching positions but we always have people coming and going," he said "The times that I really look at these numbers are the beginning of August and of course the end of August when we start school That's when I'm really concerned if those numbers are as large as we start the school year as they were the last couple years that's when we know we really have a problem." For more information about Fall River Public Schools Bristol Community College will hold its 58th Commencement Ceremony at 11 a.m The event will take place under the solar canopies at the Bristol Fall River Campus the college will award degrees in Associate in Science Certificates of achievement will also be presented Graduates from all Bristol Community College locations The college will recognize several prestigious award recipients during the ceremony has been named the Class of 2025 Valedictorian She will receive an Associate in Arts in Communication earning an Associate in Arts in Liberal Arts - Psychology Transfer Wood achieved a 4.0 GPA while attending Bristol Community College She gained experience as an intern with the college’s marketing and communications department and was a member of the Phi Theta Kappa National Honors Society She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in communication at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth aiming for a career in marketing and communications Ayers began her studies as a human services major but later switched to psychology after finding her passion She developed a technology workshop for senior citizens in partnership with the Fall River Council on Aging as part of her participation in the college’s Experiential Education Showcase Autumn is now continuing her education at Bridgewater State University where she is exploring career opportunities in clinical psychology and healthcare The Distinguished Citizen Award will be presented to Thomas M He has served as the District Attorney of Bristol County since 2015 and has over 25 years of prosecutorial experience Quinn has been reelected three times and is known for his advocacy against elder abuse and domestic violence He actively promotes mentoring for at-risk youth and is committed to investigating and prosecuting crimes against children Polito will receive an Honorary Degree of Associate in Humane Letters She served as the 72nd Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts and has a background in municipal government and real estate development she is the Vice President of Business Development at UMass Memorial Health and serves on several corporate boards Polito is involved in mentoring students and has been married for 28 years She has been selected by students for this honor Rhonda Magnuski has been named the Grand Marshal for the ceremony As a retired staff associate in Purchasing and Business Services she will lead this year’s graduates to the commencement stage Bristol Community College encourages community members to attend the ceremony and celebrate the achievements of its graduates. For more information about the 2025 Commencement Ceremony, visit www.bristolcc.edu/commencement The college looks forward to a successful event that highlights the hard work and dedication of its students and faculty (WLNE) — The Fall River Police Department is investigating an armed robbery that occurred Sunday night at the Maplewood Mini Mart at 437 Stafford Road According to the clerk on duty at the time two men with masks entered the store at approximately 9 p.m. and one brandished what the clerk believed was a gun Both suspects fled the scene before police arrived No other details have been released at this time (WJAR) — The Fall River Police Department is investigating an armed robbery at a convenience store on in the city on Sunday night Bristol Community College has received a silver designation as a military friendly school for 2025-2026 this recognition is part of the upcoming G.I which highlights institutions that support military personnel evaluates schools based on their efforts to assist military students in their educational journeys The evaluation process includes public data and responses from a proprietary survey completed by the college composed of independent leaders in higher education and military recruitment helped establish the criteria and methodology for the ratings Marshall Veterans Center serves as a central hub for veterans seeking educational benefits The center also organizes veteran-specific job fairs and recruitment activities to support students transitioning to civilian careers The Military Friendly School designation is awarded to institutions that meet specific thresholds for student retention These metrics are crucial for assessing the success of all students Bristol Community College has a long history of serving the region offering over 119 career and transfer programs The college provides flexible online courses that lead to associate degrees or transfer opportunities to four-year institutions Its Business Solutions & Partnerships division offers customized training for local businesses and community members The college also features the National Offshore Wind Institute which provides training and certifications for the growing offshore wind industry Bristol Community College emphasizes student success and lifelong learning aiming to reduce barriers to educational access let's take a look back at the week that was A Swansea man was arrested on April 30 on charges of peeping at a female teenager and capturing video of her nude while she was in the changing room at Target. This is what we know, as of this writing Fifty years ago, the U.S. withdrew from Saigon, Vietnam. The refugee crisis in its wake was the beginning of Fall River's Cambodian community The 2005 Somerset Blue Raiders boys tennis team will be inducted into the Somerset/Somerset Berkley Athletic Hall of Fame, and tickets are on sale for the induction dinner Luke Thornton, a three-sport athlete at Somerset Berkley Regional High School, balances his athletic pursuits with a passion for surfing The 2023 Oscar-winning film "The Holdovers" is being adapted into a television series. Fall River native Pamela Jayne Morgan had a role in film, and she talks about the tv adaptation, here ArtWeek SouthCoast returns soon Kids can win prizes for their superhero costume designs in a new contest from the Fall River Public Library A new tour at Heritage State Park will honor Weetamo and the Pocasset Tribe Swansea plans to clean up its former landfill to stop environmental damage: What to expect These were the most read stories of the week on HeraldNews.com: a four-decade city staple in Fall River that's been on hiatus since late December Owners of the family-run East Main Street spot have announced their reopening is on the horizon Here's what we know, as of this writing Sweet news: Lou's Bakery in Fall River ready to reopen. Here's when you can get your sweet bread fix. The Preservation Society of Fall River on April 24 released its 2025 list of the city’s “Most Endangered” properties: Here's the list, and what we know 'Most Endangered': Fall River's 5 most neglected historic properties are at risk of decay: Where they are Fall River man arrested in Georgia held in 2024 fatal shootingA Fall River man was held without bail on April 28 and charged with murder in the 2024 fatal shooting of Joshua Medeiros Kevin Barton, 33, appeared in Bristol County Superior Court and pleaded not guilty to charges of murder carrying a loaded firearm without a license possessing a large-capacity firearm and larceny near the Stop & Shop supermarket on Rodman Street This is what we know, as of this writing 'He took my son's life': Fall River man arrested in Georgia held in 2024 fatal shooting The Day of Portugal celebration in New Bedford will be taking place from June 12 to 15 and its popular three-day festival will be held in a new location this year O Jornal has the story New venue: New Bedford Day of Portugal celebration returning in June at a new location. What to know Herald News Photo Editor and Photographer Colin Furze has a lens on the community This week, enjoy the great outdoors in Greater Fall River Photos of the Week: Enjoy the great outdoors in Greater Fall River with Colin Furze Weather In The Week Ahead: 4 Things To Watch Rain showers in the morning then thundershowers in the afternoon Thunderstorms in the evening with fog developing overnight Partly cloudy skies in the morning will give way to cloudy skies during the afternoon Considerable cloudiness with occasional rain showers Partly cloudy in the evening with more clouds for later at night Intervals of clouds and sunshine in the morning with more clouds for later in the day Increasing clouds with showers arriving sometime after midnight Chance of a shower or two during the morning followed by partly cloudy skies in the afternoon A shower or two around the area in the evening Some sun in the morning with increasing clouds during the afternoon 10 Gift Ideas For Teacher Appreciation Week Best Mother’s Day Flower Delivery Services Everything You Need To Know About Portable Air Conditioners We recognize our responsibility to use data and technology for good We may use or share your data with our data vendors The Weather Channel is the world's most accurate forecaster according to ForecastWatch, Global and Regional Weather Forecast Accuracy Overview The holiday marks the Mexican army’s pivotal defeat of the French army at the Battle of Puebla Today, it’s not only a commemoration of the Mexican army’s historic victory: it has also become a day to celebrate Mexican cuisine and culture The Greater Fall River food scene offers a wide variety of cultures and cuisines including Mexican fare that will be just perfect for a Cinco de Mayo celebration so there’s sure to be something to please every palate and check out these six local spots serving up Mexican specialties for Cinco de Mayo: Tequila Lime Cantina recently revamped their menu to feature all kinds of fusion dishes like their fusion bowls: ginger-infused ahi tuna which have always been a huge crowd pleaser Guests can also take their pick of burritos Tequila Lime Cantina’s annual Cinco de Mayo bash will be held on Monday, May 5, starting at 11:30 a.m. They’ll have food and drink specials, music, giveaways, prizes, and more. Make a reservation online at https://tinyurl.com/384vf64e On Sunday, May 4, they’ll be hosting a Cinco de Mayo beats and brunch fiesta from 10:30 a.m Menu highlights include carne asada and eggs Taqueria El Habanero has everything from breakfast to dessert and you can enjoy it all while sipping on some Jarritos Their menu is expansive and the currently very trendy birria tacos Quesadilla burritos come in several options and huevos con chorizo (eggs with chorizo) Restaurant moving: Fall River restaurant newcomer Olimpio's announces departure from St. John's Club Address (Fall River): 207 Rhode Island Ave Fiesta Mexican Restaurant has five locations, two of which are in Fall River and Somerset, serving up all kinds of Mexican fare. Their menu is extensive Fall River Eats: Teacher Appreciation Week at Barrett's Alehouse, Waterfront Address: 550 Grand Army of the Republic Highway Pancheros Mexican Grill serves up fast-casual favorites Customers can craft their meals to their taste Pancheros also has a new plant-friendly protein: tofurizo which is tofu crumbled and sauteed with onions noon to 10 p.m.; Closed Monday and Tuesday Recently opened Morgan’s Cantina is serving upscale Mexican fare on the waterfront at Borden Light Marina Start your meal with a view with appetizers like chorizo tamales Tacos are served on homemade corn flour tortillas with a plant-friendly protein option of house Soyrizo sofritas The roasted half chicken is chipotle-marinated The roasted poblano smash burger is served with two smashed beef patties FALL RIVER — The Fall River Public School Committee has changed its mind about a unanimous vote to formally petition the Legislature for an increase in net school spending to cover transportation costs that are reported on the “school side” of a dual ledger between the city and its public schools At an April 29 meeting, School Committee members decided to reverse its previous vote, taken in coordination with the City Council on April 8 during a joint meeting that discussed rising transportation costs That line item has the transportation budget at $13,118,324 with additional costs pushing the total to $15,876,000 Transportation costs are reported on the “school side” of a dual ledger between the city and school budgets but the city remains responsible for most of it Expensive ride: It costs nearly $16M to transport students. Fall River schools are looking to cut costs. City councilors sought to scrub the cost of budget items not yet considered “net school spending,” and therefore not included in the minimum required amount set forth by Chapter 70 of Massachusetts General Laws each school district must spend annually The district covers transportation costs using a mix of grant and operational funding The $13 million in transportation costs represents roughly 5% of net school spending But if the city deflects those costs and lumps it under the allocated net school spending it would be a “cut,” said the school department’s Chief Operating Officer Kenneth Pacheco Superintendent Tracy Curley had struck back at the time “I question whether people really understood what they were voting for.”  Recalculating: Fall River must change how it measures school bus distance. Will this affect students? School Committee reconsiders its request to state LegislatureThe City Council and School Committee Massachusetts Speaker of the House Ronald Mariano and local delegates to lobby for transportation costs to be eligible for and included within net school spending for Gateway Cities like Fall River School Committee members expressed their concerns in how the formula for net school spending is calculated which indicated an increase in state funding could signal a cut to the public school budget Other committee members worried that the additional money — if it were provided by the state — would not be handed over from the city to the school department City Councilors Cadime and Cliff Ponte had the intention of asking for funding for net school spending over the limit “There’s no guarantee that the city wouldn’t just take that money back from us and leave us in a very terrible situation where we could face mass layoffs,” School Committee member Collin Dias said “I don’t believe we have a city administration right now that would fund over 100% net school spending.”   “We’re not going to 104%,” said Mayor Paul Coogan Coogan said he voted on the issue in the affirmative to stimulate more debate on the issue of transportation. When it comes to school transportation, Coogan said, there is a law specified in the Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 71, sections 7A and 16C that says transportation is subject to appropriation but the state does not provide funding for in-city and regular student transportation “They just don’t put any money into it,” Coogan said adding that it was “patently unfair” to have 95% of Diman students’ bus routes paid for while public school students’ transit routes are unfunded It is unknown whether the City Council drafted and mailed a letter to state delegates but the committee members vow that they did not sign it “The state should be funding all transportation spending,” said School Committee Vice-Chair Mimi Larrivee Members of the School Committee agreed that school bus routes need to be remapped shortening the length of routes and ride time for students Fall River’s once-walkable neighborhood schools have been replaced by “mega-schools,” said Pacheco Curley had said there will “definitely” be plans to redistrict schools in the 2027 school year which may include moving some of the boundaries where students are assigned to school The way grades are configured within schools may be a result of changes This week's top-selling home in Swansea is a distinguished Story Center Hall Colonial that sold for $700,000 871 Gardners Neck Road is a step back in time full of stunning antique accents The three-level home boasts leather wall and ceiling covers the home has been in the same family for over a century Here are all of the residential property transfers recorded in the Greater  Fall River area this week from Fc Real Estate LLC to C & E Re Holdings LLC from Severino James Est to Yahweh Properties LLC from Bliss Investors LLC to Ryan Rodrigues from Catherine Cordeiro to Celine Ferreira from Rene Realty LLC to M&m Div Residences LLC from Castro Kathleen B Est to 909 High St Investment T from Nelson Borges to Morgan Stanley Abs Cap I from Ptp Realty Ltd to Fall Riv Cmnty Hsng Resou from Cskc Properties LLC to Vladmir Xavier from Moss Home Solutions LLC to Oliveira Investment Inc from Sk & Jc Properties LLC to 12 Goats LLC from Rare Opportunity LLC to Gal Properties LLC from Jc Feiter Real Estate LLC to Kermina & Karol LLC from Jordan Rebello to Ac-State Street LLC from Oliveira Investment Inc to Kevin Cateon from Rivera Hector O Est to State Rd Partners LLC from Caroline Conway to 136 Cadmans Neck Rd LLC from Howland Int to Myricks 130 St Hldg LLC from Driftwood Re & Prop Mgmt to Joshua Ohara Copyrighted material previously published in Banker & Tradesman/The Commercial Record, a weekly trade newspaper. It is reprinted with permission from the publisher, The Warren Group. For a searchable database of real estate transactions and property information, visit www.thewarrengroup (This story was updated to add new information.) there sits a shrine to the Buddha before which are laid offerings of dollar bills — portraits of George Washington leaving it to the communist North Vietnamese — Operation Frequent Wind a massive operation to airlift thousands of people from the war zone The United States’ part in the Vietnam War was over It would no longer be involved in Southeast Asia 'I cannot let your people die': Jimmy Carter's compassion saved refugees like me | Opinion The situation was difficult for Americans to cope with The Vietnam War was unpopular — and costly in terms of money and human lives Soldiers may have felt as if the fight had been abandoned with more than 58,000 American troops been killed without decisive victory Saigon’s fall led to years of turmoil and death they don’t want to talk about it because every time when they talk about it they start shedding tears or cannot talk — because they get reminded of the holocaust Jim Hornsby graduated from Harvard College in 1961 involvement in Southeast Asia was starting to build He said he and his friends were offered two years of service if they were drafted or higher pay and rank of second lieutenant if they volunteered for three years “I then went to seminary and served in Puerto Rico,” Hornsby said a Fall River native who would go on to become a longtime Washington Post columnist “We strongly opposed the war,” Hornsby said Throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s the war was a source of profound anger in the culture America's involvement in Southeast Asia grew as the U.S When the United States withdrew all combat troops from Vietnam in 1973 and left Saigon altogether in 1975 it was not necessarily a celebratory time for anti-war protesters ‘You caused us to lose the war.' There was blaming I preached several sermons and talked to people about Jesus’ teaching of loving your enemies.”   Acknowledge the past: 50 years after fall of Saigon, Vietnam can't heal by erasing half its past | Opinion He said he knew of many veterans and their families who felt at least some measure of relief The power vacuum after the United States left Southeast Asia in April 1975 led to years of power struggles “We knew there was incredible danger to the people who picked the wrong side and were still there," Hornsby said both that there was a war and that we didn’t take the people with us.”    The regime is estimated to have murdered 1.2 million to 2.8 million people “I saw my sister was taken out to the field and executed — first they raped His father had been a soldier during the Cambodian Civil War allied with Americans "they were looking for people that had education or were linked to the U.S A lot of folks had to hide their identity.”  His family fled to a refugee camp in Thailand either by the Americans or the United Nations," he said Tith’s family was moved to the Philippines and eventually the United States in 1978 where they settled eventually in South Philadelphia He was among tens of thousands of refugees fleeing the terror at the time “My parents came here with not much in their hands just a couple of dollars and some jewelry that he had with him," Tith said Fall River would welcome its own Southeast Asian refugees the next year — with Hornsby of St Luke’s Episcopal Church as one of their sponsors “We were told they were going to be from Laos the letter said the people would be coming in a month .. “So I sort of put aside any materials I had about Laos and started working.”  Donald Jaikes of the Church of the Ascension sponsored two families of nine each — the families of Phou Uon Not everyone in each "family" was blood-related but considering these people were fleeing concentration camps their sponsors saw no need to quibble about details They were the thinnest people I’ve ever seen in my life," Hornsby said The priests helped set up the families at 144 Cottage St but they were able to communicate through signing and some help from Danny Tow owner of the Mark You Chinese restaurant in the Flint This would’ve been the first time they were safe since the war started.”  “The ‘70s were not very nice years," Hornsby added rather than complain all the time or stand in the streets and say 'the president's bad' or something.”  The Uon and Eng families were the seeds of Fall River's current-day which Tith said now numbers in the thousands Eng Lim and his wife found work in Fall River's Shelburne Shirt Co Their children learned English and earned college degrees now occupies a building in the Highlands where it’s soon to be celebrating Cambodian New Year though Hornsby said some Cambodian families are members of St facing ethnic slurs and harmful stereotyping in school in Philadelphia but worked two jobs and eventually was able to afford property His restaurant is in the old Wamsutta Mill also home to an Asian grocery and other businesses that cater to the community “I want to encourage other minorities” to seek city office “Part of my goal is to be in the middle and reach out to all the resources and be the network and reach out into the community.”  One of his three sons has served in the U.S has “just contracted another four years and got promoted to officer this month.”  Hornsby said bringing refugees to Fall River and giving them a chance to thrive in safety after the end of military involvement in Southeast Asia was part of the nation's responsibility but most of it was a realization of something theoretical," he said “The theory was that wars would cause a disruption among peoples “The way to stop [making] refugees is to stop war Not sure where to grab a bite to eat? With lots of options around the Fall River area and mouth-watering offerings at local eateries and markets to consider when planning your next night on the town James Irish Pub has rolled out their new burger of the month enjoy some mint juleps with Bootleg BBQ for the Kentucky Derby We've also got new menu items to check out The St. James Irish Pub, 91 Purchase St., Fall River, has dropped their latest burger of the month May’s burger is the stuffed jalapeño popper burger which is made with a half-pound of beef seasoned with jalapeño popper dry rub and served with pepper jack cheese Mint juleps on special for Kentucky Derby at Bootleg BBQBootleg BBQ, 778 Main Rd., Westport, will have mint juleps on special for the Kentucky Derby on Saturday Guests can wear their favorite hat for the occasion Troia Cafe, 278 New Boston Rd., Fall River, has announced that they will be temporarily closed In an April 28 Facebook post “We’re taking a short break to spice up our menu with new beer They hadn’t yet announced a reopening date as of this writing noting in the April 28 post that it would be “soon” and for customers to “stay tuned.” Meet the Pocasset: New tour at Heritage State Park to honor Weetamo, Pocasset Tribe: What to know You can find a few different kinds of handmade rolls at Avo’s Feast Avo’s handmade rolls are a twist on egg rolls packed with house-made fillings of chicken Scottie’s Pub, 202 Pleasant St., Fall River, has announced this week’s specials they’ve got a Portuguese steak flatbread appetizer plus entrees like jumbo butterfly shrimp served over seafood rice shrimp and scallop Mozambique over fettuccine grilled teriyaki chicken over seasoned rice Jillian’s Sports Pub & Grill, 1876 Wilbur Ave., Somerset, is dishing up chouriço chips Their chouriço chips come with crispy fries Plaza Pizza II, 544 Milford Rd., Swansea, has some new breadsticks on their menu Famous Pizza, 433 Main Rd., Tiverton, has also added a new menu item: they’re offering hand-breaded chicken tenders Do you have a special deal, menu item, or food-related event to share with local foodies? Send us an email at kfontes@heraldnews.com or news@heraldnews.com Police: Fall River officer arrested as part of human trafficking sting by Boston PD unitThe Herald NewsFALL RIVER — A Fall River police officer has been arrested as part of a human trafficking sting by the Boston Police Department’s Human Trafficking Unit According to a media release from the Fall River Police Department the officer was taken into custody as part of a sting operation related to an ongoing investigation the officer was on extended leave from the Fall River Police Department due to unrelated personnel matters the department was preparing to initiate formal proceedings under the civil service disciplinary process," the release said "His employment status is now under further review in light of these serious new developments." "The conduct alleged is reprehensible and stands in direct opposition to the values we expect from members of this department We take these matters extremely seriously and are fully cooperating with the Boston Police Department There is no place in law enforcement for anyone who violates the public’s trust." As this is an active criminal investigation no further details were being released at the time of this writing Arraignment information was unknown at the time of this writing This story will be updated when more information becomes available FALL RIVER — The house on 78 Thomas St. may be nearing a century in age, but according to Community Development Agency Executive Director Michael Dion The former single-family home, close to Lafayette Park in the Flint, has been vacant for two years. In February a flurry of activity gave the dilapidated house a new lease on life The rear entrance leading to a hallway with asbestos tiles was missing its door; broken glass littered the lawn Inspectional services had received reports regarding the condition of the home at the time The previous owners abandoned the property and left their belongings Now in place of the standalone garage out back a graded yard provides ample space and spills around to the front where a new driveway was being leveled as of April 28 Scraggly shrubbery has been removed; navy blue siding replaces shoddy shingles City ordinances: Fall River seeks ways to regulate sober homes, but decides against more zoning rules the general contractor assigned to oversee the rehabilitation of the old home said a new washer and dryer unit will be stored in the basement “This is better than some of our commercial spaces,” Dion said watching as a fresh coat of paint was applied to doorway trim in the home's upper level It's slated to become a two-bedroom rental unit A new homeowner would occupy the first floor on the ground level said Ferreira as he showed a reporter the newly floored plastered and painted nooks and crannies of the project and living space with plenty of natural light filtering in through new windows Ferreira’s team has been hard at work for the past 10 weeks Short-term rentals: Fall River's Airbnb, Vrbo listings make lots of money, but do they harm housing market? Dion said the home will be put on the market for first-time homebuyers his office will begin taking applications over the course of a month Applicants will enter a lottery system to be able to purchase the home which will cost in the ballpark of $400,000 Dion priced the rehabilitation out for $480,000 spent to overhaul the interior The applicant’s income — which should be up to 80% of the area median income or AMI — can be combined with the anticipated rental income from the second-floor unit According to the Massachusetts Housing Partnership for the Bristol County district which includes Fall River and neighboring towns in the SouthCoast a single person would need to earn up to $69,200 He envisions a buyer being able to not only own their first home but benefit from collecting the second unit’s rent — around $1,200 monthly — to help pay their mortgage The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development mandates that most two-bedroom rentals listed as "affordable housing" be priced at $1,200 a month What goes into making a sale to a first-time homebuyer?The CDA will take a percentage of the proceeds of the sale but Dion said the $40,000 price tag of developing each unit requires that the terms of the sale The house at 78 Thomas St. was purchased by the HUD-certified Community Housing Resource Board Dion said a buyer may be able to pay off CHRB’s loan and be added to a new mortgage as a second grantee with the CDA or may have the option of purchasing the home outright Looking out into the yard from the second-story floor which will soon be a brand-new rental unit in a neighborhood of triple-deckers Dion said he often gets sentimental when seeing the massive strides developers have taken to construct beautiful safe living spaces for Fall River residents in line with the exclusive work of the CDA He applauded contractors like Ferreira who can be flexible with short turnaround times while making “sure we have it right,” he said itself a historic property that the Preservation Society once helped save from the wrecking ball “Fall River is home to one of the most diverse varieties of historically significant art and architectural styles in the United States,” said Preservation Society President Alex Silva adding that the city's inventory of historic buildings has taken for granted in the past and slowly dwindled “The Most Endangered list was born out of an effort to increase the awareness of these resources to stimulate creative problem-solving and to assist in clarifying which properties should be kept at the forefront of Fall River’s preservation efforts.”  'Not worth risking anybody there': Fall River's dilapidated former Silvia School fire the Preservation Society urged the city to retake the building and put it on the market again One portion of the school complex is undergoing demolition will be spared for now as the city issues a new request for proposals to dispose of the property," Silva said the Preservation Society had been working with the city to tweak an RFP to “maximize the chances of redevelopment — we were trying to change some language to make affordable housing more enticing to developers.”  'Get that building down': Time's up for Fall River's old police station The city has spent years unsuccessfully trying to unload its decrepit contaminated police station on someone — anyone — with a viable plan to redevelop it “The Preservation Society continues to advocate for the redevelopment of this building over demolition suggesting that the city should handle remediation and stabilization efforts rather than expecting a private developer to do it,” Silva said the society “has requested that the city deconstruct and preserve historical elements of the façade Durfee Mill: Group says complex is under-usedThe massive mill complex on Pleasant Street isn’t vacant The complex, which is adjacent to the nearby Union Mills where PrimaCare has its home, was built between 1866 and 1904, and most of its original buildings survive. According to its listing in the National Register of Historic Places is “the finest granite industrial complex in Fall River “Only sections of the complex are in active use every day which makes the potential for redevelopment more enticing,” Silva said The complex on Plymouth Avenue and Rodman Street with the mansard roof was built in 1867, the oldest brick mill building in the city. It’s on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Corky Row Historic District — but is severely dilapidated and largely unused “Potential redevelopment of this mill would have an outsized impact on the city,” Silva said citing its prime location in an economically depressed neighborhood Another former school building at 450 Plymouth Ave., the Connell School was built in 1893 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places Prominent local architect Joseph Darling built the school as a twin of the Davol School in the Flint which according to the National Register application are “fine examples of the type of sturdy late 19th century brick schoolhouses which in their design and detailing rises above the level of simple functionalism.” It was closed in 2008 when the School Department closed an assortment of smaller neighborhood elementary schools and consolidated students into larger buildings and it’s decaying by demolition via neglect at this point.”  The library has launched its Superhero Costume Contest where kids can design their own dazzling costume using just crayons According to the Fall River Public Library, this contest is for children ages 3 to 12 and official entry forms can be picked up in the children's section of the library at 104 N We HeART Fall River: Celebrate arts and culture at annual festival. Here's what to expect. "A simple outline is provided on the entry form for children to dress-up with their own unique designs," the press release said "Costume designs can be inspired from anything — it can come from a child's interests or hobbies to the qualities that make themselves a 'super' kid!" Fall River library's superhero contest: Are there prizes?All entries must be returned to the children's room at the library by 7 p.m Prizes will be awarded in three categories: ages 3 to 5 And the winners will get to see their entries displayed throughout the day at the Fall River Public Library's annual Comic-Con on May 24 contact the children’s room at 508-324-2700 Lou's Bakery, a four-decade city staple that's been on hiatus since late December But good news for bakery devotees — owners of the family-run East Main Street spot have announced their reopening is on the horizon pastries and other Portuguese delicacies will be making a comeback on Thursday just in time to play a special part in the community's next holiday: Mother's Day SouthCoast sweet bread challenge: Fall River bakery took top prize "Celebrate the special Moms in your life and make this Mother's Day extra sweet!" reads a post April 29 on the Lou's Bakery Facebook page. run by siblings Louise Fournier and John Arruda announced a "brief pause" in operations for the first time ever from late December They were expected to reopen in time for Easter. However, the temporary closure was extended as one of the owners addressed medical concerns Their loyal customers were saddened to have to go without Lou's famous massa during Easter one of Portuguese bakeries' biggest sweet bread seasons But luckily it won't be long before they can get their Lou's fix once again "We’ve missed you and have been looking forward to the moment we can welcome you back!" the post reads regular hours upon their return will be Thursday Folks are encouraged to call 508-672-5795 and place orders in advance so they don't miss out FALL RIVER — Twenty-three softball players from the Fall River area have been placed on our Player of the Week ballot This poll is for performances of roundup from the week of April 28-May 4 Westport's Tess Silvia won last week's Player of the Week poll with 68.87% of the vote Voting will conclude May 10 with the winner announced here and X (formerly known as Twitter) Vote: Who is the Herald News Softball Midseason Player of the Year? 28 nominees Herald News and Taunton Daily Gazette sports editor Steven Sanchez can be reached at ssanchez@heraldnews.com. You can follow him on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @Chezsports. Two people and their dog were rescued after getting lost on a hike and ending up in a marshy area in Fall River on Thursday who are in their mid-20s and from Dartmouth were hiking in the Soldier Lake area when they became lost and called for help just after 8:45 p.m Tremblay didn’t know what time they had set out “Ground search and rescue was dispatched and used a small boat to rescue them,” he said The pair were complaining of cold and wet feet but there were no reported significant injuries They had cellphones and were located and picked up within a couple of hours of calling for help Subscribe now to access this story and more: Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page The British Virgin Islands is an explorer's dream with more than 60 isles and cays to discover Expert-backed tips and a step-by-step breakdown to ward off these pests We tried it: Filtrete Smart Tower and the Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool Formaldehyde HP09 transmission or republication strictly prohibited This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy — A vehicle pursuit that began on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and continued into Fall River County resulting in one individual being shot by an officer One person was injured with what officials described as non-life-threatening injuries though they did say that no law enforcement officers were hurt during the incident The suspect from the vehicle pursuit fled the scene and remains at large in Nebraska according to South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley Authorities say there is no known threat to the public in South Dakota “Our first priority is to apprehend the suspect without further incident and then DCI will investigate the portion of the incident that occurred in South Dakota,” added Jackley The South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) is leading the review of the shooting which took place on the South Dakota side of the border and Oglala Sioux Tribal Police are all assisting Officials said the shooting is the second officer-involved incident in South Dakota so far this year This story will be updated as NewsCenter1 receives more information As news of the death of Pope Francis spread across the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River Monday morning Catholics headed to Mass and reflected on his legacy He really welcomed everyone to the church,” said Swansea resident Carl Sawejko who was raised Catholic and played the keyboard then the organ when he could reach the pedals He hopes to see another Pope continue the legacy of inclusion that marked his papacy Sawejko said he was a Pope who advised others “not to condemn people.” He recalls hearing Pope Francis advocate for gay rights and remembers it as “a powerful moment.” Sawejko remarked that the Pope’s namesake is one that reflects his willingness to extend indiscriminate grace to all and to live a modest life with minimal possessions “He wanted to be with the people,” Sawejko said said she always wanted to meet Pope Francis "I loved how humble and caring he was and everything he stood for and especially how he always tried to include everyone." His actions inspired her to believe "We should all care for one another really believe we should all care for one another It doesn’t matter what your status in life is or where you come from The world would be a better place if we all did that I was always touched by the way he cared for immigrants" she hope he is as understanding and as inclusive as Pope Francis was Manuel and Maria Amelia Tavares had just exited the early morning Portuguese Mass at Our Lady of Carmel Church in New Bedford said in Portuguese that all the world will miss him who is 80 years old and is a retired instrument maker for Johnson and Johnson Manuel said that all the popes throughout his life have been important to him da Cunha has shared the following reflection on the passing this morning I ask all of the faithful of the Diocese of Fall River to join me in praying for the repose of Pope Francis whom God has called home to his eternal reward We remember with gratitude the extraordinary life and ministry of this faithful servant the first impression he gave to the world was of a humble servant of God and the Church At his first appearance on the balcony of the Apostolic Palace in Rome to greet the people gathered in St his actions already signaled that he was a profoundly spiritual and humble man In a gesture that remains indelibly marked in people’s mind he bowed down and asked them to pray for him headlines around the world captured that gesture and focused on the virtue of humility I had the honor of meeting Pope Francis just a few months later when he presided at World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro One of the events included his meeting and lunch with all Brazilian Bishops I was able to get a ticket to take part in that meeting and luncheon I was able to greet him personally and have a picture taken with him on that memorable occasion Another unforgettable experience I had was when the bishops of New England gathered with him at the Vatican during our Ad Limina visit in 2019 each of us addressed a question to him and he patiently answered each one giving an in-depth answer no matter what the subject was each of us had the opportunity to offer a personal greeting Pope Francis leaves a legacy that will remain with the Church and the world for generations to come His emphasis on the mercy of God and the spirit of Synodality in the Church are trademarks of his papacy and his humble personality He touched the hearts of countless people with his love let us pray for Pope Francis and commend him to the Lord who chose him to serve as his Vicar on earth let us also pray for the Church and for the next successor of St Members of the Diocese of Fall River react"Just yesterday on Easter Pope Francis said that we're not made for death and for life … it could seem to be a strange confluence of events celebrating Easter yesterday and the death of our pope today death is simply the time when we enter into eternal life through our faith in Jesus Christ but also a time for us as believers in Jesus to remember what his resurrection and Easter is all about." of Holy Name Church and School in Fall River "I'm just incredibly grateful for the ministry of Pope Francis so it's obviously sad when our father dies But grateful that he's going to the Father's house." but then during prayer I recognized that the timing was amazing because just yesterday we celebrated the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and in my heart and mind I recognize that Pope Francis has also reached his glory and he will be in heaven meeting our Father." even though you are somewhat prepared for it with an elderly person that's been very ill it still comes as a shock and it's very sad It's a time for our church to remember him for his emphasis on mercy I think that's the message that people take from his papacy And it's a time for choosing for the world and for hope." Surprise because even as recently as yesterday he was in the 'pope mobile' he was greeting crowds and my wife and I had been talking just recently about him seeming to be making a recovery." Announcement of Pope Francis deathCardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, announced the Pope's death from the Casa Santa Marta with these words, according to Vatican News: What to know about Pope FrancisBorn Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires to Italian immigrant parents, Francis rose through the ranks as a Jesuit priest in his home country of Argentina. Elected in March 2013, Francis was the 266th pope, the first pope from the Americas and the first born outside of Europe in over a millennia.  He is remembered as a humble reformer who sought to make the Catholic Church more inclusive. During his papacy, he was praised and criticized for commenting on political issues, from immigration to LGBTQ issues. Francis was admitted to the hospital on Feb. 14 after a case of bronchitis lasted longer than a week. According to updates issued by the Vatican, he had been struggling to speak and even breathe during public appearances. His hospitalization included multiple attacks of “acute respiratory insufficiency.” The pope was released from the hospital March 23 and had been back to work on a shortened schedule. home takes holiday decorating to the next level | CBC.ca LoadedFall River home takes holiday decorating to the next level 5 months agoDuration 0:39Fall River, N.S., home takes holiday decorating to the next level5 months agoNewsDuration 0:39Shawn Anderson has turned his home into an unforgettable light and sound show. More than 30,000 LED lights are automated to Christmas songs played on a special radio frequency so folks can tune in from their car and experience it all without braving the cold. Cheering on the Winnipeg Jets 39,000 feet in the air39 minutes agoVideo1:48 New PC leader apologizes for party's handling of landfill search, commits to better decorum1 hour agoVideo2:00 Video evidence, NHLer testimony raise questions in world junior sexual assault trialThe National |May 2Video11:28 Trump repeats 51st state taunt as Carney prepares for White House visitThe National |May 5Video1:19 It is a priority for CBC to create products that are accessible to all in Canada including people with visual Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem Even though some people have given them credit for it the owners of Inn on the Lake did not cut ties with Choice Hotels because the chain is American owned But Ron Nelson said Thursday nationalism did not play a role in the move “Choice has an affiliate program called Ascend We were the first ones to join that program in Canada It was a good relationship for quite a long time and we think we need a little extra flexibility to deal with our ongoing client demands and felt we couldn’t really accomplish that within the Ascend program.”  The transition from being part of a chain to being independent takes effect April 1 Saying “times have changed,” the Nelsons feel they can better serve their guests as an independent property “We were in a situation where it was time for us to move on,” said Nelson who is not planning to join another association Twitter feed ©2025 BellMedia All Rights Reserved FALL RIVER — Twenty-eight softball players from the Fall River area have been selected to the 2025 Herald News Fan's Choice mid-season Player of the Year ballot This poll is for athletes from six different high schools — Atlantis Charter, Joseph Case, Diman, Durfee, Somerset Berkley and Westport Supporters of the schools and athletes can visit heraldnews.com to vote for the athlete of their choosing with the winner announced on heraldnews.com and X (formerly known as Twitter) vote now and often for your favorite choice Vote: 18 athletes up for Herald News Softball Player of the Week for April 21-27 More: Top notch stars, here are 15 Fall River area softball players to watch in 2025 Atlantic WatchFall River residents concerned about housing developmentPeople gathered in Fall River, N.S., Monday night to voice their concerns about an affordable housing development slated for their area. Cheering on the Winnipeg Jets 39,000 feet in the air41 minutes agoVideo1:48