The B.O.L.D. (Building Our Lives Drug-free) Coalition presented “Good Neighbor” awards to forty-two store owners and staff for not selling tobacco to underage youth, not selling drug paraphernalia and keeping their property clean and free of litter on June 17, 2009. Also, if the store had a license to sell alcohol, records were checked to be sure they had no citations for selling alcohol to underage youth. Mayor Robert Correia also presented them a Mayoral citation recognizing their contributions. During the press conference and award presentation at Government Center, speakers highlighted the importance of following the law prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to underage youth. “In this economy, we want to applaud store owners for giving up profit in order to do what's right for our youth," noted Mayor Correia. Eleven of Fall River’s 152 convenient stores have not received a ticket for selling tobacco to underage youth during the past four years. The store owners, managers and staff were commended for consistently “carding” purchasers of tobacco to make sure they are not under 18 years of age. The non-criminal citations range from $100 to $300 fines. Click here for the Herald News article. Click here for the complete press release. Click here for pictures of last year's awards. For further information, contact BOLD Program Director Karen Fischer at 508-324-3537.
 

(Top row, left) Fall River Police Chief John M. Souza talks with BOLD Coalition Director Karen Fischer before the award ceremony in the atrium of Government Center. (Top row, right) Fall River Police Captain Jeffrey Cardoza and Lt. Paul Bernier talk with Tobacco Control Coordinator Marilyn Edge before the event. (Top row, right) Mike Farrell of the CVS Pharmacy on Mariano Bishop Boulevard examines a map of drug-related arrests in Fall River. (Middle row, center) Award recipients included Alice Costa, A & J Seabra Supermarkets; Neil Martin, Cardoza's Wine & Spirits; Michael Farrell, CVS #20; Dave Boyd and Jillian Texeira, Dave's News; John Caetano, Dukes Variety; Peter Costa, Family Meat Market; Michael Raad, J & C Mobil; Mr. & Mrs. Luiz Oliveira, Luiz Grocery & Liquor; Joseph Carreiro, Mercado Victoria; Gary Pacheco,  Pacheco's Market; Christine Mello, Walgreens #10802; David Werner & Chris Gillet, Wal-Mart #3560. (Middle row, left) BOLD Coalition's Communication Coordinator Kim Rodrigues notes that eleven of the awardees have had no violations in the four years that the program has been running and the remaining thirty-one had no violations for three years. (Middle row, right) Mayor Correia applauds the work that Ms. Edge has been doing to enforce laws restricting sales of tobacco products to minors. (Bottom row, left) BOLD Coalition vice-president Jasiel Corria II, Police Chief Souza and Mayor Correia stand behind award recipient Alice Costa of A & J Seabra Supermarkets. (Bottom row, center) Christine Mello of Walgreens #3469 receives her award. (Bottom row, right) John Caelano of Duke's Variety Store receives his award.