Top stories: BCSO standoff, fire codes, cannabis appeal

Faith Harrington, Standard-Times
·4 min read

As we head into the week, let's take a look at the news from this past week.

Dorothy, Scarecrow and the entire cast got ready to take on the classic Broadway musical "The Wiz" this week on the Zeiterion stage as part of New Bedford Festival Theatre. Audience members will be taken on a magical journey through the beloved musical, which features a modern twist on the classic tale of “The Wizard of Oz.” You can get your tickets at https://nbfestivaltheatre.com.

In the days following the deadly March 28 fire at the Royal Crown Lodge rooming house at 1301-1307 Acushnet Ave., New Bedford Fire Chief Scott Kruger had told news outlets there were no open fire code violations on record for the site at the time of the blaze. It's a statement that has been called into question since details, such as past complaints about the property, have come to light. But are implications that the city shirked its duty on fire code enforcement there valid? City records and an opinion from the Mass. Department of Fire Services would suggest they are not.

Keep up with high school sports with scores, game highlights, and player of the week voting at https://www.southcoasttoday.com/sports.

Here are the most-read stories of the week on https://www.southcoasttoday.com:

Standoff at Bristol County House of Corrections was 'seconds away' from hostage situation

The damage is being assessed, video will be reviewed, and interviews will be made before the evidence is turned over to the Bristol County District Attorney's Office for charges.
The damage is being assessed, video will be reviewed, and interviews will be made before the evidence is turned over to the Bristol County District Attorney's Office for charges.

The hours-long inmate standoff at the Bristol County House of Corrections Friday was "seconds away" from becoming a hostage situation. Bristol County Sheriff Paul Heroux said quick-acting correction officers hit a red kill button that deactivated the unit's control panel, shutting down access control.

Had they not, he said, the 75 protesting inmates in the first of two units that had to be locked down, could have taken the four correction officers on duty hostage.

Standoff: Bristol County House of Corrections was 'seconds away' from hostage situation

Saba-Maguire is Dartmouth's new superintendent of schools

Brockton Public Schools Assistant Superintendent Dr. June Saba-Maguire, soon to be Dartmouth's next superintendent, is seen with Dartmouth School Committee Chair Kathleen Amaral Thursday morning after finalizing an agreement with the district.
Brockton Public Schools Assistant Superintendent Dr. June Saba-Maguire, soon to be Dartmouth's next superintendent, is seen with Dartmouth School Committee Chair Kathleen Amaral Thursday morning after finalizing an agreement with the district.

It's official: Dartmouth Public Schools has a new permanent superintendent. On Thursday, school officials announced they came to an agreement with current Brockton Public Schools Assistant Superintendent Dr. June Saba-Maguire, who accepted the job offer from Dartmouth in late March.

Dr. Bonny Gifford retired as superintendent of Dartmouth Public Schools at the start of March after 8 years leading the district.

NEW LEADER: Saba-Maguire is Dartmouth's new superintendent of schools

New Bedford's second marijuana retailer OK'd - then appealed in Superior Court

A rendering of the finished Church Street shop.
A rendering of the finished Church Street shop.

Metro Harvest Inc.'s five-year pursuit of a recreational marijuana retail shop in New Bedford seemed to close successfully with two unanimous Planning Board approvals in March.

However, an appeal on the special permit was filed in Bristol County Superior Court on April 18 that would annul the board's decision.

Metro Harvest's host community agreement with the city includes a provision that 3% of gross retail sales of all marijuana and marijuana-infused products go to the city on a quarterly basis.

Cannabis: New Bedford's second marijuana retailer OK'd - then appealed in Superior Court

'I feel like I'm an EGOT:' New Bedford Festival Theatre founders to receive honorary degree

New Bedford Festival Theater Executive Producer, Armand Marchand, right, and Artistic Director George Charboneau, in front of the doors to the Zeiterion Theater in New Bedford.
New Bedford Festival Theater Executive Producer, Armand Marchand, right, and Artistic Director George Charboneau, in front of the doors to the Zeiterion Theater in New Bedford.

Armand Marchand and George Charbonneau, both retired teachers and former directors of the New Bedford High School Drama Club, have entertained SouthCoast audiences and filled the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center with their New Bedford Festival Theatre summer program for decades.

Now they will be recipients of Bridgewater State University’s honorary degree. According to a letter from BSU President Frederic W. Clark Jr, Marchand and Charbonneau have raised the standard of what was considered possible in high school and local theater productions, and have brought joy to thousands of theater goers.

'I feel like I'm an EGOT:' New Bedford Festival Theatre founders to receive honorary degree

Are New Bedford rooming house fire victims on a countdown to homelessness?

New Bedford firefighters fight Acushnet Avenue apartment building fire.
New Bedford firefighters fight Acushnet Avenue apartment building fire.

Residential fires are a regular occurrence, but not every one results in as many as 27 residents — possibly more by some accounts — being put out of a home with nowhere to go, and unable to afford other living arrangements.

Such has been the case after the deadly March 28 fire that destroyed the Royal Crown rooming house at 1301-1307 Acushnet Ave. The city agreed late last week to dip into federal funds to keep a roof over those residents' heads through Friday, but the clock counting down to unsheltered homelessness may be ticking.

To donate to the victims of the March 28 fire, visit riseupforhomes.com/donate, or mail/drop off a check, written out to "fire victims, to the Inter Church Council of Greater New Bedford, 128 Union St., New Bedford, MA, 02740.

Unique challenges: Are New Bedford rooming house fire victims on a countdown to homelessness?

All of these stories can be found in their entirety at SouthCoastToday.com.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Top stories this week include new superintendent, BSU honors, fire code