Top stories: UMass student killed, MLB debut; Wainer Family Farm

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.

A first-year University of Massachusetts Dartmouth bioengineering student was struck and killed Thursday by a vehicle on campus, a message from the chancellor of the school said. The victim was identified by the school as Frank Petillo Jr. The college will hold a candlelight vigil at 8 p.m. Monday, April 10, on the quad in front of the Claire T. Carney Library.

A Marion environmental services company and its owners have been indicted on 98 counts in connection with worker safety violations and illegal asbestos work in New Bedford, Fall River, Dartmouth, North Andover, Stoughton, Bridgewater, West Bridgewater, and Brockton.

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:

A Dartmouth farm that supplied produce to Sid Wainer & Son has sold. 

Former Wainer Family Farm sells for $2.8M
Former Wainer Family Farm sells for $2.8M

Purchased in 2009 for $4,050,000, 443 Barneys Joy Road in Dartmouth has been a valuable part of Sid Wainer & Son for decades. Once known as Jansal Valley Farm, the company rebranded the farm in 2016 as the Wainer Family Farm. Now, this agriculture dream property has been sold for a substantial amount.

According to Zillow, The Wainer Family Farm was first listed for sale in July of 2022 for $4,500,000, it was then listed for rent in November of 2022 for $3,000 a month, until it was ultimately sold in March of 2023 for $2,800,000 to Buzzards Bay Coalition, according to the Registry of Deeds.

Wainer Family Farm: A Dartmouth farm that supplied produce to Sid Wainer & Son has sold.

Body found in Buttonwood Park identified

A woman points to the wooded area behind the Waldron Barracks at Buttonwood Park in New Bedford where a body was found.
A woman points to the wooded area behind the Waldron Barracks at Buttonwood Park in New Bedford where a body was found.

The body found in Buttonwood Park Wednesday morning was that of 66-year-old Janet E. Roderiques, who was last seen walking near 70 State Road, Dartmouth (Dartmouth Manor), at approximately 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 2.

A cause of death has not been released pending an autopsy report but the Bristol County District Attorney's Office says foul play is not suspected.

UPDATE: Body found in Buttonwood Park identified

Martin family to open new Fairhaven ice cream shop

Colleen Martin said they have been eyeing the little cottage at 12 Middle Street between Margaret’s and Elisabeth’s as the perfect spot to open The Ice Cream Cottage in May 2023.
Colleen Martin said they have been eyeing the little cottage at 12 Middle Street between Margaret’s and Elisabeth’s as the perfect spot to open The Ice Cream Cottage in May 2023.

In the summer of 1986, Maggie and John Sweeney opened up a homemade ice cream shop in the village of Osterville on Cape Cod. Now, 37 years later, their daughter and her husband will follow in their footsteps with an ice cream venture opening in May.

The Ice Cream Cottage is located at the former Brady’s Ice Box on 12 Middle St. between Margaret’s and Elisabeth’s. The menu will include ice cream from Acushnet Creamery, soft serve ice cream, Hawaiian shave ice made from fresh fruit puree, homemade waffle cones, cookies, and brownies.

A family tradition continues: Martin family to open new Fairhaven ice cream shop.

New Bedford's Jared Shuster will start in his first MLB game for the Atlanta Braves

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Jared Shuster throws during the third inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park, Sunday, April 2, 2023, in Washington.
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Jared Shuster throws during the third inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park, Sunday, April 2, 2023, in Washington.

Several SouthCoast baseball fans had their eyes on Sunday’s game between the Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals to see New Bedford’s Jared Shuster get his first MLB start.

“He’s a rare talent,” said New Bedford High baseball coach John Seed, who coached Shuster for one season before he transferred to Tabor Academy. “I’ve had some good players, but you could just tell with him. He was the real deal as a freshman. The one year he played with us, we made it to the (2014) South Sectional final.

Baseball: New Bedford's Jared Shuster will start in his first MLB game for the Atlanta Braves

Allegations circulating that New Bedford High administrator choked student

New Bedford attorney Maja Bizoc said Friday she's been hired by the mother of a New Bedford High School student who was allegedly involved in an incident with an assistant principal. On Thursday, reports on social media surfaced alleging Jose Edwards, assistant principal for New Bedford High's freshman clas,s had choked a student at the school.

New Bedford Public Schools spokesperson Arthur Motta neither confirmed nor denied the allegations against Edwards on Thursday.

NBHS Assistant Principal: Family hires attorney amid allegations that a New Bedford High admin choked a student

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

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Top stories include body found at park, alleged choking, student killed