Oh nature. Why do you have to worry us so every 4th of July? We fret over and concern ourselves with the possibility – dare I say probability – of precipitation on an evening where we need none! We patriots just want a short respite to allow us to celebrate our nation’s birthday with fireworks! Friday is supposed to be rainy and breezy, with Saturday and Sunday filled with sunshine. We may make it by the skin of our teeth. We’ll be in the upper 70s to the low 80 throughout the weekend with the lowest beng 57 degrees on Saturday. A fantastic weekend for heading out!

As always, click on the title for more or detailed information on the event. Most of the events were pulled from our event calendar where you can find hundreds of local area events each month. The event calendar is FREE, so if you are a local business, and not taking advantage of FREE publicity, shame on you! Are you a local business and want to sponsor this high traffic, weekend guide? Contact info@newbedfordguide.com for more details. Have an event to add? Check out our tutorial. For more info, you can click on each title. Know of another event this weekend? Post a reply!

Friday, July 4th

Sunset Music Series (Westport) (5:00-7:00pm)
Westport Rivers Winery Sunset Music Series every Friday 5-7 p.m. through September. Next concert, Bluegrass Invitational Band! Admission $10 per carload and beer, wine and SoCo local food will be served for a fee. Weather permitting. 417 Hixbride Road.

4th Annual Snooky Benevides Memorial Spaghetti Supper (7:00pm-1:00am)
4th Annual Snooky Benevides Memorial Spaghetti Supper Sponsored by the G20 Chorus. Dinner, Dancing and Raffles at the Liberal Club 20 Star St. Fall River. Tickets: Adult $12 Children: pay age up to 10 yrs old Ticket info: Brad 508-822-3790 Diogo 774-644-9509. Phone: 508-822-3790. Email: carr181@yahoo.com.

New Bedford Fireworks Display (9:00pm)
Celebrate Independence Day and the Homecoming of Charles W. Morgan with a spectacular Fireworks Display over the New Bedford Harbor! Fireworks can be viewed from various points throughout Downtown New Bedford and from the west side of Fort Phoenix in Fairhaven. State Pier will not accessible for fireworks viewing. Rain Date is Saturday, July 5th at 9pm.

Saturday, July 5th

Smith Neck Friends Meeting Annual Flea Market (8:00am-1:00pm)
Annual Flea Market. Books, furniture, antiques and household items. Rent a table for $15, lunch of lobster rolls will also be available for $10. Rain date July 12. Place orders for Lobster Rolls or to rent a table by calling (508) 994-5816. 594 Smith Neck Road.

Silverbrook ACUSHNET Country Store (9:00am-8:00pm)
The Silverbrook Country Store is the home of The Pereia Bread Co. (a tasty little division of Silverbrook Farm) where they make their Famous Pies and Breads, as well as jams, sauces and other great food products. It is also the home of their Farm Stand that is open to the public every Saturday and Sunday. Silverbrook Country Store also has a wonderful and unique line of crafts including their popular candle/potpourri items and a great selection of handmade Amish items that truly make great gifts for any occasion.

Monthly Wellness Walk (10:00am)
Hawthorn Cardiologist Dr. Michael Rocha will lead participants on a two-mile walk around Buttonwood Park on the first Saturday of each month. Do the whole two miles or whatever you can at a pace that’s comfortable for you! The Walks are part of the New Bedford Wellness Initiative, formed to raise health awareness and encourage physical activity.

Blessing of the Fleet and Boat Parade (10:00-4:00pm)
Wareham Summer of Celebration presents Blessing of the Fleet and Boat Parade. Boat must be registered ahead of event, contact warehambotf@yahoo.com. Taking place at Onset Pier, Onset Ave.

Red, White and Blue Days at Edaville Railroad (10:00am & 5:00pm)
Make a full weekend out of the July 4th at Edaville USA, where traditional American fun can always be had! One of the funnest spots on the South Coast!

New Bedford Folk Festival: Day One! (11:00am & 9:30pm)
The New Bedford Folk Festival is one of the city’s biggest family oriented celebrations. Jam packed with mouth watering food, world class acts, and a ton of fun! Read our Survival Guide to get all the information to have a blast!

42nd Annual Cape Verdean Recognition Parade (11am)
The parade starts at Buttonwood Park, travels down Union Street, WaterStreet, School Street to Acushnet Ave. Turns right to Grinnell Street to Purchase Street. Live music and street party after!

FREE Concert & Classic Car Show (4:00pm-7:00pm)
Have a blast at the Concert and Classic Car Show featuring WBSM’s Taylor Cormier singing the songs of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Tony Benntt and more! Apponagansett Park, South Dartmouth.

Sunday, July 6th

Silverbrook ACUSHNET Country Store (9:00am-4:00pm)
The Silverbrook Country Store is the home of The Pereia Bread Co. (a tasty little division of Silverbrook Farm) where they make their Famous Pies and Breads, as well as jams, sauces and other great food products. It is also the home of their Farm Stand that is open to the public every Saturday and Sunday. Silverbrook Country Store also has a wonderful and unique line of crafts including their popular candle/potpourri items and a great selection of handmade Amish items that truly make great gifts for any occasion.

Red, White and Blue Days at Edaville Railroad (10:00am & 5:00pm)
Make a full weekend out of the July 4th at Edaville USA, where traditional American fun can always be had! One of the funnest spots on the South Coast!

New Bedford Folk Festival: Day Two! (11:00am & 9:30pm)
The New Bedford Folk Festival is one of the city’s biggest family oriented celebrations. Jam packed with mouth watering food, world class acts, and a ton of fun! Read our Survival Guide to get all the information to have a blast!

Cape Verdean Recognition Carnival (12:00pm-8:00pm)
A family event, with Vendors and Cape Verdean Food at the Morse Cutting Tool Parking Lot. Rides, games, prizes and more. Proceeds help to support the programs of the Cape Verdean Recognition Committee. Pleasant and Wing Sts.

Painting with a Splash: Birdhouse with Ann (3:00pm)
Welcome to Painting with a Splash Where you are the artist! Painting with a Splash is the newest addition to Historic Whaling City Downtown New Bedford. Bringing you an experience of art as entertainment. Add a little wine (BYOB) that will surely tap into your creative side. With step by step instruction and a little music, you and your friends will create the evenings featured painting with a splash of your own uniqueness. NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY! Just a desire to have fun.

Want to sponsor this weekend guide? Contact info@newbedfordguide.com for more details.

General Description:

The Community Relations Manager is responsible for strategic oversight and management of internal/external communication and external affairs for the New Bedford Public Schools (NBPS), supporting the Superintendent to inform and engage families, staff, partners and the public in district priorities, policies, practices, challenges, and opportunities.   The Community Relations Manager will serve as a key member of the Family Welcome Center.

Reports to:  Dr. Pia Durkin, Superintendent, New Bedford Public Schools

Responsibilities:

1. Develop and implement a comprehensive communications plan that includes short- and long-term strategies for building stakeholder awareness about and support for New Bedford Public Schools’ work to ensure academic excellence among all students.
2. Serve as the district’s lead contact and spokesperson with all print and broadcast media outlets, including researching, coordinating and responding to media inquiries regarding school-based and district matters.
3. Involve the Superintendent, School Committee, and other school and district leaders in relevant media inquiries, and keep all parties updated on upcoming and ongoing news stories.
4. Identify and pitch news story ideas through a range of proactive media strategies.
5. Plan and coordinate media events and activities, including news conferences, press briefings, interviews, and other opportunities to inform reporters and editors about school and district issues.
6. Assess and respond to the information needs of internal and external stakeholders of the NBPS, including work with legal staff to comply with public records laws and the Freedom of Information Act.
7. Support the Superintendent in leading communication during crisis situations and unanticipated incidents, including timely dissemination of information to the media, families, staff and the community.
8. Coordinate writing, editing, design, production and distribution of clear, concise, “family-friendly” print and digital materials (e.g., letters, brochures, articles, videos, fact sheets, fliers) to communicate the district’s goals and priorities to various NBPS stakeholders, including school-based and central staff, parents, students, partner organizations, community leaders and residents.
9. Work with English Language Learners staff to ensure translation of external documents into major languages, and implement strategies to communicate effectively with all language communities.
10. Collaborate with technology staff to write and update content on the district’s external website, social media tools and other on-line resources to ensure accuracy and consistency of information.
11. Provide training and technical support to schools and NBPS central staff about communicating with media, families, and school communities, including crisis communications during emergency situations.
12. Serve as NBPS liaison/advocate to government, business, and other community partners, providing information and resources to promote community engagement in NBPS.
13. Serve as a member of the Superintendent’s leadership team.
14. Perform other related duties as requested by the Superintendent.

Qualifications:

Required:

1. Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communications, Marketing or a related field
2. 5 years experience in the public relations/communications/marketing field at varied levels and with increasing responsibility; or 5 years experience in print and/or electronic journalism
3. Excellent writing, editing and verbal communication skills, especially in communicating complex policies and practices to diverse audiences
4. Demonstrated skill in working with the media
5. Working knowledge of digital communication tools, including website content management, e-marketing and social media
6. Demonstrated ability to advise and support individuals at all levels of the organization
7. Ability to prioritize competing demands

Preferred:

1. Master’s degree in Journalism, Communications, Marketing or a related field
2. Understanding of K-12 public education, particularly in an urban setting
3. Familiarity with the City of New Bedford and the South Coast region of Massachusetts
4. Experience producing publications, such as fliers, newsletters, reports, etc.
5. Skills in graphic design

Terms and Compensation:

Full-time, non-union position.

Salary commensurate with experience, plus full benefits.

Application Process:

To apply, submit a cover letter, resume and three (3) letters of reference to:

Heather Emsley
Executive Director of Human Capital Services
New Bedford Public Schools
455 County Street, Room 120
New Bedford, MA 02740

Or via email to: hemsley@newbedfordschools.org

Application Deadline: Wednesday, July 9

Download this job description (PDF)

New Bedford Parks, Recreation & Beaches has announced that the final opportunity for youth to sign-up and try-out for the Youth United summer basketball league will be on Monday, July 7, 2014 at Hazelwood Park basketball courts.

For access to the parking lot closest to the basketball courts, attendees are advised to use Park entrance on Brock Avenue.

The Youth United basketball league is run through New Bedford Parks, Recreation & Beaches. Created and developed by Peter Britto, this league has for many years brought the community together and allowed children to participate in a team sport at a minimal cost.

The league operates two nights during the week and games are played in New Bedford’s public parks after work hours. The cost for a child to participate in the league is $25 for the league duration.

For more information regarding Youth United or any summer programming, contact Alex Bettencourt at alex.bettencourt@newbedford-ma.gov or call (508) 961-3015.

Fairhaven and Dartmouth Police Detectives, working with the Bristol County Sheriffs Department South Coast Anti Crime Team, arrested two suspects just after 7:00 Tuesday morning for assorted narcotics offenses. Investigators were in the area at that time, planning to execute a search warrant for the second floor apartment located at 30 Spring Street. While they were preparing to enter the premises, they observed the resident of the apartment complete a hand-to-hand drug transaction inside the house.

Detectives moved in on both suspects, who attempted to flee from the area. Suspects, identified as 23 John Reynolds of 199 Main Street, Fairhaven and 46 year old William Roldan of 30 Spring Street, Fairhaven, were apprehended as they exited the house.

Reynolds was found to be in possession of heroin, which he had just obtained from Roldan. He was charged with possession of a class a controlled substance and conspiracy to violate drug laws. Roldan was charged with numerous offenses including distribution of a class a controlled substance subsequent offense, possession with intent to distribute a class a controlled substance subsequent offense, conspiracy to violate drug laws, possession of a class b controlled substance, three counts of possession of a class e controlled substance, possession of a stun gun and school zone violations. Both suspects were arraigned Tuesday afternoon in Third District Court.

Mahatma Gandhi, the once great leader of India, once said, “Be the change you wish to see in the World.” It’s straight forward advice. In a world of social media activism, there are still amazing citizens that act to make a positive change in their community.

On June 29th, Mike Herren, a former basketball star at Durfee High School and Jarrod Levesque, assembled a basketball hoop on Summer and Durfee streets in the central part of New Bedford. They had noticed a picture that surfaced on Facebook of a milk crate and piece of plywood set up as a hoop. They acted and set up a new hoop for the kids in the area. Jarrod used the hoop that was sitting in his basement for the last 22 years. Mike Herren, Jarrod Levesque and Nick Corriea quickly put up the brand new hoop and the neighborhood kids were ecstatic. Pictures below tell the story …

The Greater New Bedford unemployment rate is much higher than the rest of Massachusetts, but believe it or not there really are a lot of jobs available for qualified applicants. Sometimes the barrier to a new job can be the lack of information on available job openings.

To solve this, each week New Bedford Guide will be working with the New Directions Southcoast (also known as the Greater New Bedford Career Center) and pulling jobs from our jobs database to inform job seekers about the hottest jobs in the area.

We will define “Hot Jobs” as those jobs that need to be filled by the employer immediately. For those looking to search some large job databases, checkout my Best Job Search Resources for New Bedford Residents article. Unless noted otherwise, those interested in these positions or want more information should go to the Greater New Bedford Career Center at 618 Acushnet Avenue.

Here are the Hot Jobs from the Greater New Bedford Career Center as of July 2nd, 2014:

1. Accounting/Bookkeeping #4288409
Knowledge of Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable, Microsoft Office, Quickbooks & Excel. Ability to understand General Accounting Principles. At least 2 years’ experience needed.

2. Custom Support Representative #4273619
Motivated to perform repetitive actions with a strong work ethic, follow up and relationship building skills. The Custom Production Associate Perform assignments involving all areas of JA Custom (made-to-measure) production support and provide assistance in the overall success of the company by accomplishing tasks accurately and in a timely manner, as well as abiding by all company policies and regulations.

3. Engineering (Timestudy) Technician $4273618
The Technician performs assignments encompassing all areas of engineering support in a manner which reflects the professionalism of the department and assists in the overall success of the company by maintaining a professional work ethic, accomplishing tasks accurately, and abiding by company policies and regulations.

4. Carpenter #4294297
Looking for an experienced carpenter with transportation to work in the area working on high end restoration projects. No smoking during work hours, drug-free company with a dress code. Due to high end projects, must be neat in appearance, communicate well with customers and have good work ethics. Must have own hand tools.

5. Carpenter’s Helper #4294303
Looking for a carpenter’s helper with transportation to work in the area working on high end restoration projects. No smoking during work hours, drug-free company and dress code required. Due to high end projects, must have a neat appearance, communicate well with customers and have good work ethics. Must have own basic hand tools. Willing to train.

6. Quality Assurance Assistant #4283162
Candidate will work with our engineering teams to create and review incoming raw material requirements for our products. Duties include, incoming material inspection, material testing and data entry. Must have good communication skills, heavy lifting up to (70 lbs. is required). High School Diploma or Equivalent required.

7. Health Manager #4273614
RN with minimum of one (1) year pediatric experience. Community health experience helpful. Good organizational and communication skills required. Driver’s license required. Occasional travel for meetings and conferences. Plan and coordinate health services for comprehensive Head Start Program serving children 3 – 5 years old and their families.

8. Accounts Manager #4273612
Full-time opportunity to work in the finance office of NorthStar Learning Centers, a New Bedford, MA-based nonprofit organization. Ideal candidate must be energetic, creative and have experience in dealing with finance operations. Some coursework in bookkeeping and a minimum of one year of experience with accounts receivables and accounts payables. Non-profit experience strongly preferred.

9. Accounts Clerk #4273609
Full-time opportunity to work in the finance office of NorthStar Learning Centers, a New Bedford, MA-based nonprofit organization. Ideal candidate must be energetic, creative and have experience in dealing with finance operations. Some coursework in bookkeeping and a minimum of one year of experience with accounts receivables and accounts payables. Non-profit experience strongly preferred.

10. Certified Nurses Aide#4309145
Will train the right candidate with some background. You must be available to work every other weekend. This is a part-time position.

Here are the Hot Jobs in the New Bedford area from the NewBedfordGuide.com jobs database, as of July 2nd, 2014:

1. Accounts Payable Clerk – Fernandes Masonry, Inc.
Full details and application process here.

2. Assistant Manager – 836 Ashley Blvd. Domino’s
Full details and application process here.

3. Customer Account Representative – Rent-A-Center
Full details and application process here.

4. Fitness Sales Advisor – Healthtrax Fitness & Wellness (Dartmouth)
Full details and application process here.

5. Shift Supervisor – Rite Aid (Dartmouth)
Full details and application process here.

Be sure to also check out our Job Portal to find jobs by location on a map: newbedfordguide.com/map-page#pm_jobs_tab. Want to get e-mail notifications for new jobs? Checkout our e-mail subscription service.

The New Bedford Board of Health announced today that the Bristol County Mosquito Control Project will conduct targeted ground spraying early on the morning of Thursday, July 3, 2014 in areas of New Bedford including downtown and the historic district, and the spraying will take place between 2:00 am and sunrise on Thursday morning. Residents in the vicinity of the targeted areas may wish to close their windows on Wednesday night prior to the spraying.

The Bristol County Mosquito Control Project has begun their surveillance efforts this season  to track the potential for EEE and WNV carrying mosquitoes.  Mosquito traps are in place to collect additional pools of mosquitoes and monitoring of mosquito populations will be on-going to assess the effectiveness of the spraying effort.

Residents may request a ground spray by calling the Bristol County Mosquito Control project at (508) 823-5253, between 8:00am – 2:00pm (June – September), or contacting them by E-mail at RequestBristolMCP@comcast.net. 

The following precautions are advised:

 Avoid Mosquito Bites

Be Aware of Peak Mosquito Hours – While mosquitoes are out at all hours of the day, their peak biting times are from dusk to dawn. Consider rescheduling outdoor activities that occur during evening or early morning. Otherwise, take extra care to use repellent and protective clothing, especially if you work or spend a lot of time outdoors.

Clothing Can Help Reduce Mosquito Bites. Although it may be difficult to do when it’s hot, wearing long-sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors will help keep mosquitoes away from your skin.

Apply Insect Repellent when you go outdoors. Use a repellent with DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide), permethrin, picaridin (KBR 3023), IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus [p-methane 3, 8-diol (PMD)] according to the instructions on the product label.  DEET products should not be used on infants under two months of age and should be used in concentrations of 30% or less on older children.  Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under three years of age.  Permethrin products are intended for use on items such as clothing, shoes, bed nets and camping gear and should not be applied to skin.

Mosquito-Proof Your Home

Drain Standing Water – Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Limit the number of places around your home for mosquitoes to breed by either draining or getting rid of items that hold water. Check rain gutters and drains. Empty any unused flowerpots and wading pools, and change water in birdbaths frequently.

Install or Repair Screens – Some mosquitoes like to come indoors. Keep them outside by having tightly-fitting screens on all of your windows and doors.

Joseph Abboud is looking to hire for the following positions:

• JA Custom Production Support Representative-Associate
• Engineering (Timestudy) Technician
• HR Administrator

We offer excellent wages and benefits after 90 days including medical, dental, vision, holiday pay, bereavement pay, vacation pay, life insurance, short term disability and 401K. They are presently have training classes to teach people “How to Sew”. Great way to get experience and potentially a job there!

Please apply at 689 Belleville Avenue, New Bedford, MA. 02745 from 8am to 3pm.

• Website: http://www.josephabboud.com/joa/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JosephAbboudCollection

On Tuesday, July 1, 2014 Mayor Jon Mitchell will speak on the topic of fisheries management at special listening session in Gloucester, Massachusetts hosted by Congressman John Tierney and Congressman Peter DeFazio, the Ranking Member on the House Committee on Natural Resources.

The House Committee on Natural Resources has jurisdiction over the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the primary law governing marine fisheries management in federal waters.

At the session, Mayor Mitchell will present the recently released “Groundfish Port Recovery and Revitalization Plan for the Port of New Bedford and Fairhaven,” which includes recommendations for the Northeast’s struggling groundfish fishery.

Among the Plan’s recommendations are; adoption of new camera technology to improve the accuracy of stock surveys; maximizing yield within the constraints set by regulations; setting conservation goals based on the best available scientific information and derived from collaborative research between the government, fishermen, and marine scientists; minimizing bycatch; considering fisheries’ respectively unique distinctions when setting management goals; minimizing costs; and considering efficiency when allocating resources, including non-economic considerations.

The listening session will be held on Tuesday, July 1, 2014 10:30-11:30AM at Gloucester City Hall, 9 Dale Avenue, Gloucester, Massachusetts.

Princesses of New Bedford is a small side business run by New Bedford High School student, Kenzi Farland. She is a 15 year old sophomore and member of the New Bedford High School Drama Club who recently starred with the leading role of Belle in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast! Kenzi was inspired by the young audience members attending the production and discovered her love for working with children.

After playing the role of a princess and seeing the children’s reactions to her as the character, she had an idea to start her own children’s entertainment business! Kenzi now books private parties where she dresses up as different characters, arranges an organized activity such as face painting or story time, takes pictures with the kids, and performs musical numbers for the kids to sing along and enjoy! She also does charity and public events free of charge!

Like her business’s Facebook page: facebook.com/PrincessesofNewBedford or email for any extra information… princessesofnewbedford@gmail.com!