Latest news with #Raposo
Boston Globe
17-07-2025
- Boston Globe
After deadly Fall River fire, grief gives way to frustration and solidarity
The devastating fire Sunday night that also left 30 people hospitalized and dozens of others displaced has stirred feelings of disbelief and even anger in Fall River, a tightly-knit community on Massachusetts' South Coast. Some have resolved to help the victims and survivors however they can. Many are questioning whether the fire was preventable. Nina Amaral of New Bedford sorted through donations inside the chapel at Catholic Charities in Fall River on July 16. Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff Advertisement 'It's like, how does that happen,' said Rosa Vieira, a bartender at the nearby Clipper restaurant, which serves traditional Portuguese sirloin and seafood dishes . 'How do nine people die? It doesn't make sense.' At the restaurant, just a few blocks north of Gabriel House, the sense of frustration was palpable, with patrons exchanging pointed words over television news broadcasts about the fire . Sweating over a Portuguese lager Tuesday afternoon, owner Clement Raposo excoriated the facility, as well as city officials, for what he characterized as their derelict approach to safety. The building, he claimed, was known around town as being unsafe and 'filthy' inside. Raposo said a patron of the bar had lived, until Sunday, at Gabriel House, and thankfully had survived the fire. He said the patron told him Advertisement 'Now they're doing a big investigation,' Raposo said. 'What good is that? People already died.' Fall River is home to about 95,000 residents and includes a large immigrant community that has traditionally been Portuguese but in more recent years has included more It is also one of Massachusetts' poorest cities, where over 20 percent of the population falls below the poverty line. At Gabriel House, more than 75 percent of residents were on MassHealth, the state's Medicaid plan. Many in the community have expressed concern that the living home's elderly residents Members of the State Police were on the scene of the Gabriel House fire in Fall River on July 16. Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff Raposo said he'd heard that the fire department was understaffed — a claim made by the firefighters union, and 'I don't know if it would have saved lives,' said fire chief Jeffrey Bacon said Tuesday. 'That's speculation.' Raposo said it would be devastating if those claims were found to be true: 'you gotta pay them,' he said. Related : Chelsea Cote, 33, works down the street from Gabriel House as a cashier at a hot dog restaurant, greeting customers by name as they walk in the door and order onion rings or 'a dog with the works.' She also has a second job caring for senior citizens. Advertisement 'A lot of people around here need help,' she said. 'There are lots of people who are struggling, who don't have families or support or people to care for them.' This part of town, she said, is not exactly idyllic. Kennedy Park, a historic area near Gabriel House designed by Frederick Law Olmsted in the 1860s, is encircled by idling cars and open air drug use. 'There are always going to be drugs,' Cote said. 'But I don't get in trouble anymore... I was able to dig my way out.' Bryan Boyle, a longtime resident of Fall River, said the city has seen better days. 'Fall River is ugly,' he said. 'I don't mean it in a pejorative sense. I mean that it's an old, old city. There's a lot of opioid problems here. There's crime.' Boyle, a staff member at St. Anne's Catholic Shrine, said he stills finds moments of inspiration in his hometown. The day of the fire, as the Gabriel House smoldered just a few blocks away, the church's massive towers were lit up, as they are every night, shining over the neighborhood. 'We don't expect to lose nine souls, nine citizens, regardless of the reason,' said Boyle, 68. 'It's not anything to be happy about... But in the middle of that, there's hope.' The imposing Romanesque church has been mostly vacant for years, but still draws hundreds for its periodic masses and feasts, including several Gabriel House residents, Boyle said. All the worshippers at St. Anne's are believed to have survived, he added. Advertisement Boyle was born at St. Anne's Hospital, just down the road from the living home, and stayed in the building when it was a still a motel in the 1970s. He also carries the memories of another blaze in 1982 that 'I'm surprised it doesn't happen more often,' Boyle said. 'We've had so many mill fires here, so many horrendous fires ... The fact is that the old buildings here are very fragile. The owners really have to protect them.' Related : At the city's Catholic diocese Wednesday, residents in cars and pickup trucks Gino Raposa, of Fall River (center) carried in donations to the chapel at Catholic Charities in Fall River on July 16. Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff 'We have relatives handicapped at home right now being taken care by family,' said Linda Furtado, 47, of Acushnet. 'But if we didn't have family members who could take care of them, they could have very well been in a home like that.' Related : Dube, at the memorial, said that while some people hear about Fall River and think of violence, the community runs deeper. 'It's brought a lot of us together,' she said. 'I know that for a fact.' Krista Cormier, who has lived in Fall River for seven years, also stopped by Gabriel House Wednesday to honor the dead, putting a bouquet of purple and blue flowers outside. She said she heard purple was a 'healing color.' Advertisement 'It's been heavy on my heart all week,' she said. 'I came out to pay respects for the ones who have passed on, but especially family, friends, loved ones too.' Cormier, 46, said she's 'proud' of her community. 'How quickly people came together, not only just spiritually, but I've heard thousands of dollars have already been raised in no time for these folks… even just the outpouring of love and support and whatnot.' 'Fall River is an awesome community,' she added. For now, Boyle said, all the city can do is pray for the victims and help their families. Fall River is resilient, he said, noting that the city has reinvented itself 'so many times.' 'The town will do what it does,' he said. 'It'll recover. It'll be better. People will do what they need to do in order to make it better. Certainly, you mourn the loss. But you don't wear the black armband forever.' Camilo Fonseca can be reached at
Associated Press
02-07-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Artificial Intelligence Reshapes Diagnostic Imaging for Early Disease Detection
Artificial intelligence gives us the ability to see what the human eye might miss—and to act before it's too late. This is not just a technological advancement; it's a shift in how we protect lives, deliver care, and ensure no patient is left behind. Healthcare visionary Hugo Raposo unveils scalable imaging solution to flag critical conditions before symptoms appear. A quiet breakthrough is unfolding in medical imaging—and it's powered not by new machines, but by new intelligence. Canadian technology strategist Hugo Raposo has developed an artificial intelligence platform that rapidly analyzes diagnostic images to detect early signs of disease, with the potential to transform patient outcomes at scale. From routine X-rays to advanced MRI and CT scans, the platform acts as an intelligent assistant —one that never tires, forgets, or overlooks the fine details. Deployed in select clinical settings across Ontario, it has already shown promise in reducing diagnostic delays and identifying at-risk patients long before symptoms surface. Automating the Invisible: A Second Set of Eyes for Every Scan Built on machine learning and advanced pattern recognition, the platform interprets clinical images in real time, surfacing subtle abnormalities that might escape even experienced eyes under pressure. It's not just about speed—it's about catching what would otherwise be missed: 'Radiologists are under immense strain,' said one Toronto-based imaging lead familiar with the rollout. 'This kind of tool doesn't just help—it protects. It extends the quality of care without increasing the workload.' About the Architect Behind the Platform Hugo Raposo is no stranger to complex healthcare challenges. With nearly three decades of experience in enterprise architecture and digital health, he served as Chief Architect for one of Canada's largest provincial healthcare transformation programs. His work bridges clinical operations, AI innovation, and scalable infrastructure—often with an emphasis on underserved or high-risk populations. He has advised executive teams, contributed to public-sector modernization, and spoken internationally on the intersection of technology and health equity. More on Raposo: Real-World Results and Clinical Potential In early deployments, Raposo's platform has helped care teams: One pilot site saw a drop in unnecessary imaging repeat requests within weeks—thanks to clearer, AI-assisted reporting. Another clinic, serving a rural population, credited the system with improving access to rapid pre-screening where radiologist review was delayed. Beyond Hospitals: Designing for Accessibility Unlike many AI health tools that remain confined to research labs or top-tier institutions, this system was designed for broad use. It operates with or without cloud access, supports mobile deployments, and integrates into existing PACS and EHR systems. 'We didn't build this for showcase hospitals,' Raposo said in an interview. 'We built it for the real world—where a delay in reading a scan can mean the difference between early treatment and emergency surgery.' The technology adheres to privacy-by-design principles, using federated learning to prevent raw image data from leaving local environments. Model updates and quality controls are handled through a rigorous oversight framework, with bias mitigation and auditability at the core. Policy Alignment and Global Relevance With the U.S. and Canada facing rising diagnostic backlogs, Raposo's work intersects with key national goals: The system's compatibility with both urban and low-resource clinical settings positions it as a candidate for broader adoption in public health and emergency response networks. What Comes Next Raposo is advancing the platform's capabilities to analyze cardiovascular scans and identify early indicators of cognitive decline. He is also developing multi-modality correlation features that link insights across radiology, pathology, and lab data—creating a comprehensive diagnostic profile driven by artificial intelligence. 'This is just the beginning,' Raposo said. 'We're not replacing clinicians. We're giving them clarity faster, and with that, the power to intervene sooner.' Media Contact Company Name: Contatto Media Agency Contact Person: Boracini, Paula Email: Send Email Country: Canada Website: Press Release Distributed by To view the original version on ABNewswire visit: Artificial Intelligence Reshapes Diagnostic Imaging for Early Disease Detection
Hamilton Spectator
25-05-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Hamilton couple out $8,000 deposit after wedding venue closes
Thomas Coleman and Alina Raposo have been counting down the days until their wedding reception at The Grand Olympia for more than a year. The Hamilton couple paid their $8,253 deposit, had a food tasting in March and hosted Raposo's bridal shower at the Stoney Creek venue in late April. Nothing seemed amiss. 'Everything just seemed so normal,' said Coleman in an interview, adding that they chatted with the venue about plans for the reception. 'No one seemed concerned.' Until last Friday, when Coleman and Raposo saw a post on Facebook about Orchard Park Secondary School students needing to book a new venue for their prom that night, as the parent company of The Grand Olympia, along with Michelangelo Banquet Centre, had gone into receivership . Both of the banquet centres shut down late last week , after Ontario's Superior Court of Justice denied a request from its owners for an extension to repay debt. Michelangelo Banquet Centre and The Grand Olympia were shuttered indefinitely after Ontario's Superior Court of Justice denied a request from its owners for an extension to repay the debt. According to court records, the two banquet halls and their related companies are owned by a Mississauga-based family that owes more than $14 million to the Bank of Montreal, including around $8.2 million tied to Michelangelo and $6 million for Grand Olympia. Aftab Elahi, listed as the sole officer and director of Mario's Catering Service and Grand Olympia Realco, the parent companies of the banquet halls, did not respond to an email from The Spectator on Thursday requesting comment. Calls to both venues also went unanswered Thursday afternoon. The ripple effect has been considerable, with the indefinite closures affecting events booked by non-profits, industry groups, high school students and soon-to-be married couples, like Coleman and Raposo, whose reception was booked for June 21. Coleman told The Spectator he reached out to the venue on May 16, and the couple later received an email from management describing the situation as 'a period of operational transition,' adding that the venue was 'not in bankruptcy.' The email, shared with The Spectator, noted that the company was working to 'stabilize and strengthen' its services and to restore operations, with the 'goal of resuming all events at full capacity as soon as possible.' The couple also reached out to their event co-ordinator, and she repeated similar talking points. Coleman said they didn't hear from the venue again until Tuesday evening, when they got an email claiming the business was 'headed in the right direction' and 'on track to be back in operations soon.' But Coleman said that message contradicted what he'd heard from others about the situation with the venues, including when he reached out to MSI Spergel — who has been appointed as the receiver over both banquet halls. In an email, also shared with The Spectator, MSI Spergel told Coleman on Wednesday that all events at both venues 'are cancelled' — the first notification of such, not even from the venues. With their wedding reception just a month away, Coleman said the couple spent last weekend calling venues across Hamilton and as far away as Mississauga to try and rebook their event — and they weren't alone. Locks were placed on the gates of Michelangelo Banquet Hall last week after its parent company was put in receivership. 'Dates for June were booking up very quickly for people who were left scrambling,' Coleman said. 'It was a lot of pressure for people not wanting to hold out too long waiting, which could have meant potentially losing out on our date that we had.' Luckily, the couple was able to rebook their reception at Carmen's on Stone Church Road East, not far from their original venue, but still at a significant cost. Carmen's Group CEO PJ Mercanti told The Spectator their sales and operations team was working to accommodate events, including some planned for the weekend the venues shut down. Coleman explained that they will likely lose their $8,253 deposit paid for The Grand Olympia, and with some extra costs associated with Carmen's, the venue debacle will end up setting them back roughly $19,000. MSI Spergel also told Coleman in an email that 'currently there is no claims process,' noting that returns of deposits will be 'dependent on the net realizations under the Receivership and subject to evaluation of all claims, including claims of secured creditors and priorities at law.' 'That's a tough thing to swallow, especially four weeks before our wedding day,' said Coleman. But with their reception rebooked and only some administrative work to do with notifying guests and vendors, Coleman is hopeful the couple is back on the right track and can enjoy their day, despite the unexpected hurdles. 'Getting the new venue was the first kind of sigh of relief,' said Coleman. 'Obviously, there is still the financial thing, but we just have to keep pushing forward.'
Hamilton Spectator
25-05-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Hamilton couple will likely lose $8,000 deposit after wedding venue closes
Thomas Coleman and Alina Raposo have been counting down the days until their wedding reception at The Grand Olympia for more than a year. The Hamilton couple paid their $8,253 deposit, had a food tasting in March and hosted Raposo's bridal shower at the Stoney Creek venue in late April. Nothing seemed amiss. 'Everything just seemed so normal,' said Coleman in an interview, adding that they chatted with the venue about plans for the reception. 'No one seemed concerned.' Until last Friday, when Coleman and Raposo saw a post on Facebook about Orchard Park Secondary School students needing to book a new venue for their prom that night, as the parent company of The Grand Olympia, along with Michelangelo Banquet Centre, had gone into receivership . Both of the banquet centres shut down late last week , after Ontario's Superior Court of Justice denied a request from its owners for an extension to repay debt. Michelangelo Banquet Centre and The Grand Olympia were shuttered indefinitely after Ontario's Superior Court of Justice denied a request from its owners for an extension to repay the debt. According to court records, the two banquet halls and their related companies are owned by a Mississauga-based family that owes more than $14 million to the Bank of Montreal, including around $8.2 million tied to Michelangelo and $6 million for Grand Olympia. Aftab Elahi, listed as the sole officer and director of Mario's Catering Service and Grand Olympia Realco, the parent companies of the banquet halls, did not respond to an email from The Spectator on Thursday requesting comment. Calls to both venues also went unanswered Thursday afternoon. The ripple effect has been considerable, with the indefinite closures affecting events booked by non-profits, industry groups, high school students and soon-to-be married couples, like Coleman and Raposo, whose reception was booked for June 21. Coleman told The Spectator he reached out to the venue on May 16, and the couple later received an email from management describing the situation as 'a period of operational transition,' adding that the venue was 'not in bankruptcy.' The email, shared with The Spectator, noted that the company was working to 'stabilize and strengthen' its services and to restore operations, with the 'goal of resuming all events at full capacity as soon as possible.' The couple also reached out to their event co-ordinator, and she repeated similar talking points. Coleman said they didn't hear from the venue again until Tuesday evening, when they got an email claiming the business was 'headed in the right direction' and 'on track to be back in operations soon.' But Coleman said that message contradicted what he'd heard from others about the situation with the venues, including when he reached out to MSI Spergel — who has been appointed as the receiver over both banquet halls. In an email, also shared with The Spectator, MSI Spergel told Coleman on Wednesday that all events at both venues 'are cancelled' — the first notification of such, not even from the venues. With their wedding reception just a month away, Coleman said the couple spent last weekend calling venues across Hamilton and as far away as Mississauga to try and rebook their event — and they weren't alone. Locks were placed on the gates of Michelangelo Banquet Hall last week after its parent company was put in receivership. 'Dates for June were booking up very quickly for people who were left scrambling,' Coleman said. 'It was a lot of pressure for people not wanting to hold out too long waiting, which could have meant potentially losing out on our date that we had.' Luckily, the couple was able to rebook their reception at Carmen's on Stone Church Road East, not far from their original venue, but still at a significant cost. Carmen's Group CEO PJ Mercanti told The Spectator their sales and operations team was working to accommodate events, including some planned for the weekend the venues shut down. Coleman explained that they will likely lose their $8,253 deposit paid for The Grand Olympia, and with some extra costs associated with Carmen's, the venue debacle will end up setting them back roughly $19,000. MSI Spergel also told Coleman in an email that 'currently there is no claims process,' noting that returns of deposits will be 'dependent on the net realizations under the Receivership and subject to evaluation of all claims, including claims of secured creditors and priorities at law.' 'That's a tough thing to swallow, especially four weeks before our wedding day,' said Coleman. But with their reception rebooked and only some administrative work to do with notifying guests and vendors, Coleman is hopeful the couple is back on the right track and can enjoy their day, despite the unexpected hurdles. 'Getting the new venue was the first kind of sigh of relief,' said Coleman. 'Obviously, there is still the financial thing, but we just have to keep pushing forward.'
Hamilton Spectator
24-05-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Couple out thousands after wedding venues close, cancelling all events
Thomas Coleman and Alina Raposo have been counting down the days until their wedding reception at The Grand Olympia for more than a year. The Hamilton couple paid their $8,253 deposit, had a food tasting in March and hosted Raposo's bridal shower at the Stoney Creek venue in late April. Nothing seemed amiss. 'Everything just seemed so normal,' said Coleman in an interview, adding that they chatted with the venue about plans for the reception. 'No one seemed concerned.' Until last Friday, when Coleman and Raposo saw a post on Facebook about Orchard Park Secondary School students needing to book a new venue for their prom that night, as the parent company of The Grand Olympia, along with Michelangelo Banquet Centre, had gone into receivership . Both of the banquet centres shut down late last week , after Ontario's Superior Court of Justice denied a request from its owners for an extension to repay debt. Michelangelo Banquet Centre and The Grand Olympia were shuttered indefinitely after Ontario's Superior Court of Justice denied a request from its owners for an extension to repay the debt. According to court records, the two banquet halls and their related companies are owned by a Mississauga-based family that owes more than $14 million to the Bank of Montreal, including around $8.2 million tied to Michelangelo and $6 million for Grand Olympia. Aftab Elahi, listed as the sole officer and director of Mario's Catering Service and Grand Olympia Realco, the parent companies of the banquet halls, did not respond to an email from The Spectator on Thursday requesting comment. Calls to both venues also went unanswered Thursday afternoon. The ripple effect has been considerable, with the indefinite closures affecting events booked by non-profits, industry groups, high school students and soon-to-be married couples, like Coleman and Raposo, whose reception was booked for June 21. Coleman told The Spectator he reached out to the venue on May 16, and the couple later received an email from management describing the situation as 'a period of operational transition,' adding that the venue was 'not in bankruptcy.' The email, shared with The Spectator, noted that the company was working to 'stabilize and strengthen' its services and to restore operations, with the 'goal of resuming all events at full capacity as soon as possible.' The couple also reached out to their event co-ordinator, and she repeated similar talking points. Coleman said they didn't hear from the venue again until Tuesday evening, when they got an email claiming the business was 'headed in the right direction' and 'on track to be back in operations soon.' But Coleman said that message contradicted what he'd heard from others about the situation with the venues, including when he reached out to MSI Spergel — who has been appointed as the receiver over both banquet halls. In an email, also shared with The Spectator, MSI Spergel told Coleman on Wednesday that all events at both venues 'are cancelled' — the first notification of such, not even from the venues. With their wedding reception just a month away, Coleman said the couple spent last weekend calling venues across Hamilton and as far away as Mississauga to try and rebook their event — and they weren't alone. Locks were placed on the gates of Michelangelo Banquet Hall last week after its parent company was put in receivership. 'Dates for June were booking up very quickly for people who were left scrambling,' Coleman said. 'It was a lot of pressure for people not wanting to hold out too long waiting, which could have meant potentially losing out on our date that we had.' Luckily, the couple was able to rebook their reception at Carmen's on Stone Church Road East, not far from their original venue, but still at a significant cost. Carmen's Group CEO PJ Mercanti told The Spectator their sales and operations team was working to accommodate events, including some planned for the weekend the venues shut down. Coleman explained that they will likely lose their $8,253 deposit paid for The Grand Olympia, and with some extra costs associated with Carmen's, the venue debacle will end up setting them back roughly $19,000. MSI Spergel also told Coleman in an email that 'currently there is no claims process,' noting that returns of deposits will be 'dependent on the net realizations under the Receivership and subject to evaluation of all claims, including claims of secured creditors and priorities at law.' 'That's a tough thing to swallow, especially four weeks before our wedding day,' said Coleman. But with their reception rebooked and only some administrative work to do with notifying guests and vendors, Coleman is hopeful the couple is back on the right track and can enjoy their day, despite the unexpected hurdles. 'Getting the new venue was the first kind of sigh of relief,' said Coleman. 'Obviously, there is still the financial thing, but we just have to keep pushing forward.'
