As we head into a new week, let’s take a look at the news from this past week.
The Acushnet School Committee heard presentations from area high schools vying to either remain or become receiving schools for Acushnet students, as Acushnet’s contracts with New Bedford and Fairhaven high schools are set to expire at the end of the 2025-2026 school year. Aside from New Bedford and Fairhaven, representatives from Old Rochester Regional High School and Apponequet Regional High School also presented, expressing interest in forming new partnerships with Acushnet, which does not have its own high school.
New Bedford Community Health received a $1.5 million grant from The Manton Foundation to support the expansion into the adjacent, long-vacant Rite Aid building into the state-of-the-art primary care facility. The facility will accommodate thousands of new appointments annually, relieving pressure on existing services. Construction is slated to begin in early 2026.
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Make sure to keep up with high school sports with scores, game highlights, and Player of the Week voting at https://www.southcoasttoday.com/sports.
And here are the most-read stories of the week on https://www.southcoasttoday.com:
Travis Rebello, State Fire Marshal Joint Hazards Incident Response Team and State Police bomb technician Jerry Harris are seen through what’s left of the window of the home on 20 Sagamore Drive in Dartmouth. One resident was taken to the hospital after fireworks exploded during the night.
State and local fire officials are still investigating an early morning explosion and fire in a Dartmouth home that happened on Sept. 2. It destroyed the garage and left the home a total loss. The cause’s investigation is ongoing.
A woman and two children escaped unharmed, but a man was burned and taken to St. Luke’s Hospital, said Fire Chief Timothy Lancaster. At least one of the family’s three pet dogs was killed.
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Photos: Garage explodes in Dartmouth, resident hospitalized. State Police bomb squad at scene
Starting Monday, Sept. 8, motorists will have to find a way around two well-used ramps for Interstate 195 westbound in New Bedford, as the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) starts work on a rehabilitation project.
In a Sept. 4 announcement, MassDOT said the closures of the ramp from Route 18 northbound to I-195 westbound, and the ramp from I-195 westbound to Route 18 southbound (exit 26) will be closed “long-term.”
Detours ahead: These two New Bedford Rte. 18, I-195 ramps will be closed ‘long-term’ starting Sept. 8
Coach Steve Gaspar speaks during the court dedication ceremony held in the Dartmouth High School gymnasium. The basketball court was named in his name.
Steve Gaspar, 74, a legendary basketball coach, accomplished player and esteemed teacher at Dartmouth High, died unexpectedly on Sept. 3, the school department confirmed.
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A longtime health and physical education teacher, Gaspar was inducted into Dartmouth High’s Hall of Fame as both a player (1993) and a coach (2018), and recently had the school’s basketball court named in his honor.
“Coach Gaspar embodied the spirit and values of Dartmouth High School,” read a statement released by the school.
‘He gave his whole life to Dartmouth’: Community remembers the late Steve Gaspar
The owner of the former Chamberlain Manufacturing munitions factory on King Street, seen here off Nash Road, was held in contempt of Southeast Housing Court after allegedly failing to comply with a court-ordered fire watch of the property.
Two owners of New Bedford industrial properties have been found in contempt by a judge after allegedly failing to comply with orders related to fire safety, Mayor Jonathan Mitchell’s office announced in a press release on Wednesday, Sept. 3.
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One of the property owners was jailed, according to the release.
The property owners are Edward McPherson, owner of the former Chamberlain Manufacturing munitions factory buildings that run along King Street, and Carlton Neves, owner of the former Star Plating metal finishing facility at 12 and 19 Coffin Ave.
Property owners: Two New Bedford landlords in court over unsafe properties. One of them went to jail.
A proposed four-story building with 15 condominiums is proposed on the north side of Kempton Street next to the United House of Prayer For All People at 419 Kempton St.
Plans for a four-story, 15-unit condominium complex on the north side of Kempton Street have raised concerns in the community. The local pastor from the neighboring church, a New Bedford NAACP leader, a city councilman and nearby residents have all voiced their concerns.
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Pastor Elder Harold Taylor with The United House of Prayer For All People in New Bedford at 419 Kempton St. said he is concerned about the impact the apartments will have on their organization as a staple in the community that provides an outlet for worship and for young people to develop their spiritual skills.
Community voices concern: condo plan near historic New Bedford church
Read these stories in their entirety at https://www.southcoasttoday.com.
This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Explosion, Coach Gaspar, ramp closures: Standard Times top stories
