Buzzards Bay Swim…the race goes to the swiftest

Swimmers get ready to launch at Rodney French Boulevard! What a turnout!

Just 21 minutes and 12 seconds. That’s how long it took Alex Gallant, 17, of Lakeville to swim 1.2 miles from the beach at East Rodney French Boulevard in New Bedford to Fort Phoenix Beach, Fairhaven. Gallant swam with his teammates on the Apponequet High School swim team Nicholas McKenna and Joshua Beck in the 21st Buzzards Bay Swim across New Bedford Harbor. This was Gallant’s fourth Swim and second year in a row that he took the Fastest Swimmer trophy in the Men’s Division.

“The conditions were perfect,” said Morgan McCarthy. McCarthy, 25, came in first in the Women’s Division at 21 minutes 46 seconds. This was McCarthy’s fourth win in five years of Buzzards Bay Swims. McCarthy, a recent law school graduate, was on her college swim team at James Madison University in Harrisburg, Virginia.

Over 250 swimmers took to the water in five waves for the Buzzards Bay Coalition’s annual fundraiser. The New Bedford-based Coalition is a non-profit organization that has been working to restore and protect the Bay’s ecosystem since 1987. This year swimmers raised a total of $140,000 for the event.

Matt Shenker of Pocasset, MA, was the top fundraiser at $7,000 and also came in fourth at 21 minutes and 44 seconds. This was Shenker’s tenth Swim.

“I was given a challenge,” said Shenker. “A donor said he would contribute $5,000 if one person could raise $5,000, and $10,000 if two people could each raise $5,000.”

“All of the funds go towards our programs,” said Alicia Pimental, Coalition spokesperson. “The Coalition does educational programs in the schools, research and water quality monitoring, land conservation, and legal advocacy to protect the Bay. The major threat facing the Bay now is nitrogen pollution which causes algal blooms and loss of aquatic species.”

Pimental said that the Swim keeps people on the water, “one of the best things about living on the Bay.”

“It’s a great cause,” said Shenker.

Top Three Men’s Division Times:

  • Alex Gallant, 17, Lakeville, MA—21 minutes 12 seconds (2nd time first place)
  • Nathan Gardner, 18, Nashua, NH—21 minutes 27 seconds
  • Frank Wuest, 53, Boston, MA—21 minutes 32 seconds

Top Three Women’s Division

  • Morgan McCarthy, 25, Orleans, MA—21 minutes 46 seconds (5th time first place)
  • Kirby Aarcheim, (no age given), Boston, MA—23 minutes 35 seconds
  • Katia Sowers, 42, (no location given), 25 minutes 37 seconds

(Official Timekeeper: New England Timekeeping, Derry, New Hampshire.)


ngg_shortcode_0_placeholder





Caught in the Act…repainting the city’s electrical boxes

Local students did a superlative job!

Returning to the scene of the crime, NBAM/Artworks! students in the “Teens Reach Beyond” program were out there painting art on the electrical box at the corner of Purchase and Williams again.

Last year, the City of New Bedford Department of Public Infrastructure painted all of the electrical boxes black—including the one drawn by a previous Artworks! class.

NBAM/Artworks! education director Deb Smook and New Bedford artist Aaron Souza were on hand for the repainting of the box. Smook said that they had received permission from the mayor’s office—both times.

“The first box was painted with koi fish and had the theme “Perseverance through Adversity,” said Smook. So when it was removed, well, “That’s a life lesson, too—don’t give up. This is how you deal with it in an appropriate manner.”

Students meet after school once a week for a year in the “Teens Reach Beyond” program at NBAM/Artworks!. It culminates in a public art project.

“The teens from the last box painting will see this and go—‘Oh, good. They got something on it again.’ Things happen in life. You have to deal with it appropriately,” Smook said.

A far more vibrant electrical box!





Ride On: Fort Phoenix Bike ride a success in spite of weather

The weather didn’t hold back the highly motivated bikers!

Cyclists on today’s Bay State Bike Week Ride ignored the clouds and showed up in droves at Fort Phoenix this morning to ride. It was chilly and there was a stiff breeze off the water, but headwinds are tailwinds on the way back, said Jackie Schmidt, Southeastern Regional Planning & Economic Development District bikeway coordinator.

Bob Espindola, Fairhaven Bikeway Committee chair and South Coast Bikeway Alliance member, was busy getting riders lined up for their rides. Helmets checked and bikes ready, about 50 cyclists of all ages pedaled off into the wind.

The 8.9-mile beginner’s ride on the Fairhaven Bike Path included five kids and three adults from the Fall River Trips 4 Kids group.

The sure sign of a successful event: smiles like the one on Julie Kelly’s face!

Julie Kelly, Healthy City Fall River coordinator and one of the chaperones said that the national Trips 4 Kids organization offers five free bikes and helmets to new chapters.

“New Bedford has had a Trips 4 Kids for awhile. I’m really excited to see a chapter in Fall River as well,” Kelly said. The Fall River Boys and Girls Club sponsored Trips 4 Kids ride today.

Jack Dean of Mattapoisett bought his hybrid Trek about ten years ago, hoping to get back to riding. Now that he’s retired, he decided to take it out for a spin on the bike path, too.

“It’s good exercise,” said Dean, who also kayaks.

“I was on the Swansea path yesterday and saw the South Coast Bikeway Alliance sign for the ride,” Liz Young said. She and her husband Wayne Young of Dighton traveled to do the 20.4 mile intermediate ride down Sconticut Neck.

The 33.8-mile advanced ride took cyclists to the Mattapoisett Bike Path, up and around Sniptuit Pond and back. John Sullivan of Fairhaven planned to do a 50-mile Westport ride tomorrow with the Narragansett Wheelmen, a Rhode Island-based cycling group.

“Next year I’m riding cross-country,” Sullivan said. He plans to cycle 1,200 miles from Jacksonville, Florida to Austin Texas in 30 days without a support team. A little rain won’t slow him down there, either.


ngg_shortcode_1_placeholder





Healthy Dining New Bedford Good for You, Good for New Bedford

Many local eateries, like M&Cs Cafe Restaurant & Catering, have decided to participate in the Health Dining New Bedford program.

By Joyce Rowley

Isn’t it nice to go out to dinner with friends to a place that has something for everyone? And with spring officially here, some of us are a little more conscious about sticking to a healthy diet to shed a few.

Eateries with the Healthy Dining New Bedford (HDNB) heart logo on their doors offer menus with healthier choices, says Kim Ferreira who runs the HDNB program for New Bedford Mass in Motion.

“Our goal at Mass in Motion is to create programs and policies to effect environmental changes that reduce obesity and chronic disease,” says Ferreira.

It is a matter of options, says Ferreira. Restaurants may offer substitutions of a salad or other vegetables instead of fried veggies and half portions or children’s portions for adults. Menu offerings may include sides of fruit or veggies and no salt/sugar or reduced salt/sugar foods.

For kids, the restaurants will have one percent or skim milk or water as a default beverage for children’s meals. And the menu could include at least three baked or grilled entrees too.

Ferreira is actively recruiting more restaurants to participate in the three-year-old program.

“There are a lot of restaurants who are already doing most of what we ask them to commit to,” she said. “Pa Raffa’s just added another vegetable to its menu and it works with a local farmer to have fresh vegetables.”

To participate, a restaurant chooses seven healthy practices from a list of 22 options like taking the salt shakers off the table or offering one whole grain item on the menu. They then complete the application to Ferreira with a commitment to maintain the healthy practices they’ve chosen.

Kristen Raffa, owner of Pa Raffa’s on Acushnet Boulevard in the North End, said their experience with the program has been positive.

“We love being part of the program,” said Raffa, whose restaurant signed up last year. “It really works for us.”

Raffa said that it didn’t take away from what they were serving, but gave customers better options. And Farmer Steve comes by with fresh produce in the summer. He also takes their food compost—trimmings from prep work that would otherwise go to waste.

“It’s so good when tomatoes come in fresh for the salads,” Raffa said.

Owner Mike Melo of M&C Café on Belleville Ave in the North End said it wasn’t difficult making changes last year when they signed up. Melo said it was more about giving people choices. Patrons can now split a plate between two people to cut the serving size and also cut calories in half.

“Instead of fries or chips, they can have a vegetable or upgrade to a salad,” said Melo. Or customers can substitute baked fish for fried fish, or grilled chicken for fried chicken.

Destination Soups on Union Street, was the first restaurant to sign up when the program began.

“We were already meeting the criteria,” said owner Devin Byrnes. “For us, it’s easy. We always offered vegan and gluten-free options and we make fresh fruit available. People always eat healthy here.”

“I think the Healthy Dining New Bedford initiative reflects the fact that people want to eat a more healthy diet. There is a natural progression for the country towards healthy eating,” Byrnes said. “People are more aware of what they’re putting in their bodies.”

Waterfront Grille on Homer’s Wharf is already there, too. Manager Bridget Phelan says that the menu hasn’t changed much since they joined the program two years ago.

“So there’s always been healthy choices. For example, vegetarian dishes can be prepared vegan,” Phelan said. “For me personally, I’m very passionate about nutrition. It’s great when you can go out and still eat healthy.”

For more information on the ten restaurants that are in the program, or to join the program, visit Mass in Motion’s website at massinmotionnewbedford.org/healthy-dining-restaurants/.





7 Things You Need to Know About FOIA

FOIAby Joyce Rowley

Ever want to know what the development down the street will do to the neighborhood? How much traffic it will bring or whether the lights will keep you up all night? But you don’t want to ask at a public hearing because you might be seen as opposing it when all you want is information.

Or maybe you have questions about that new $43 million capital improvement plan that the City Council passed last December? Where was that money going to go exactly? Since you can’t talk at City Council meetings even if you went, there was no opportunity to ask questions unless you are on the agenda.

The federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is the one tool that lets people see exactly what the federal government is doing: whether spending public tax dollars, giving jobs to cronies, or planning new development. Documents that the government keeps are public records.

Each state has its own version of FOIA that applies to and is enforced by the state.

In Massachusetts, the law is called the Public Records Access law. Massachusetts General Law Chapter 4 Section 7 defines public records as everything in every form: paper, electronic files including email, photographs, tapes, and videos. And it includes documents received by anyone in any governmental or political division of the commonwealth—whether city, county, or state officers or employees.

There are 21 exemptions to the rule. Most are intended to protect personal information such as the phone numbers and home addresses of law enforcement officials and judicial personnel or employee medical information. Others protect information on children as determined by a child advocate. But some, such as broad categories on “trade secrets,” may be overused and can be challenged.

Basically, the law states that you are entitled to ask for records, to receive assistance in determining what records are available, and that the records must be produced within ten (10) days. If the cost of production or copying is more than $10.00, you are entitled to a written estimate of the costs.

But here are some pointers on how to navigate the system:

1. Just ask
Any member of the public can ask to see documents. The request does not have to be in writing. It helps, though, to put it in writing so you can verify that the agency complied fully with your request. Nor do you have to tell them why you want to see the documents or provide your identification. Remember, in reality, those are your documents—the public’s documents. Everything that government does is on our behalf.

2. Know where to go
Want to see those development plans? The planning department keeps those records, and you are entitled to see the entire file, not just a set of plans. Often there are other documents that describe environmental, traffic, or other important studies not included on the plans. And the $43 million capital improvement plan? That’s at the office of the chief financial officer.

Generally, records requests aren’t adversarial. You ask to see records, the clerk of the department can either supply them immediately, or may need time to get the entire file. They may ask you to wait or come back. But even a verbal request must be met within ten days, so jot down the date you requested the document.

3. What to ask for
How do you know what to ask for? The trickiest thing in a public records request can be the wording. And if you don’t use the correct term, you may not get what you want. If possible, meet with the record keeper and ask what is available. They are required by law to assist you.

Usually they will explain what is in a file or how the records are kept. It may make it easier to ask for what you need. But if the topic is controversial, or the agency is afraid of being sued, they may not be as helpful. If that’s the case, be prepared to make more than one request.

4. Inspection versus Copies
Copies cost—a lot. The charges can be as high as $.50 per page plus the cost of the person’s time to copy it. Unreasonable since Staples and Office Max cost less than $.10 per page? Yes. But the law allows it. You can choose to inspect the documents and ask for just the copies you need. Or bring a digital camera and take photos of documents.

Also, if the documents are in electronic format, ask to have them sent to you by email and save copying costs. Otherwise you may have to pay for them to be printed out plus the cost of the employee’s time.

5. Stonewalls
Occasionally, you’ll hit a stone wall. The record keeper is paranoid, is afraid for their job, or is simply hiding something. Don’t let it upset you. Put in your request and scrutinize everything you get. Look for what’s there, but also what isn’t there. As an example, a zoning agency did a FOIA request of the U.S. Department of Agriculture on a local mink farm’s license to determine whether it complied with a “right to farm law” (RTFL). The RTFL stated that a federally licensed farm in existence at a location without complaint for three years could not be cited by zoning.

The mink farm had just started up four years before. Many downwind neighbors of the mink farm had complained repeatedly (and bitterly) about the horrendous odors coming from it.

When the copy of the license was received, the zoning agency noticed that the corner had been blanked out by a fold. It could have happened on copying. However, that area of the document listed the location of the mink farm. So the zoning agency asked again to have a full and complete copy of the license.

When it came back, the license area hidden by the “fold” showed that the mink farm was licensed in a different town—and so was not protected by the RTFL.

6. Follow-up, follow-up, follow-up
At each step of the way, follow-up. If they tell you to come back at a certain time, be there. It may be innocuous or it may be they don’t want to produce records. If the records are incomplete, follow-up, but identify the record as having been previously requested and the date it was requested. Then you don’t have to wait an additional ten days.

If you know a record exists, but the record keeper does not provide it, ask for a letter of denial explaining the exemption and the section of law that allows the exemption.

7. Appeals
The Public Records Access process is regulated by Commonwealth of Massachusetts Regulations Title 950 Section 32 (950 CMR 32). If the agency does not comply with your request, you can complain to the Secretary of State’s office, but only if the request was in writing. In the complaint, identify the section of 950 CMR 32 that was non-compliant.

The complaint process will take time—usually a couple weeks—but may be worth it if it appears that you’re not going to get complete records.

Send your letter appealing a denial of documents within ten days, and an appeal for non-compliance of other parts of the regulation within 90 days by mail to:

Supervisor of Public Records Office of the State Secretary
One Ashburton Place, Room 1719
Boston, Massachusetts 02108

Information in this article was not intended to provide legal advice. The author strongly recommends individuals read the statutes and regulations regarding the federal Freedom of Information Act or Massachusetts Public Records Access.





One man’s art is another man’s graffiti…Or Black is the New Black

One of the finished commissioned electrical boxes

by Joyce Rowley

When the Department of Infrastructure painted all the electrical boxes black last summer, Councilor Joe Lopes couldn’t believe it.

Lopes had commissioned artists to paint two boxes, one on Rte. 18 and one in front of the Portuguese Club in the South End of New Bedford, based on a similar project downtown—and paid $250 each. The one on Rte. 18 was painted over, the other “survived” Lopes said due to the protection of club members when the DPI crew went after it.

Commissioner Ron Labelle denied it had anything to do with the “third floor” of City Hall as Lopes had claimed, though.

“I was given the task to remove graffiti,” said Labelle Wednesday at the City Council Appointments and Briefings Committee. “I take full responsibility.”

Calling graffiti a “scourge on the City,” Labelle said he went after it with a vengeance. In July he ordered his crews to paint all the City-owned electrical boxes black, a neutral color that wouldn’t stand out. “The men did a good job,” Labelle said.

Commissioner Ron Labelle’s finished product

One of the painted-over boxes was at the corner of Williams and Purchase opposite Café Arpeggio. That, however, was not graffiti but was painted by an artist-led teen program out of ArtWorks!, the local artist cooperative on Acushnet Avenue, New Bedford.

The painting had been part of a weeks-long outreach program, said Noelle Foye, New Bedford Art Museum/ ArtWorks! director. The project cost about $9,000 all told, but that included designing the project, creating a prototype, and painting the electrical box. It also included $500 for a graffiti-proof coating.

“Getting the kids involved gets them invested in it and the word gets out—don’t mess with that, it’s our art, we did that,” Foye told the Council. She said the program had been paid for with some of the City’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, and if they were available again, ArtWorks! would sponsor another outreach class painting project this summer.

Labelle apologized to the artists and the groups involved in the projects. Still, Labelle was not convinced it was a good idea.

“The arbitrary way young men and young women paint something that doesn’t belong to them is inappropriate,” Labelle said. “My concern is that by allowing this, it can send the wrong message. One person’s view of artistry may encourage vandalism. I appreciate what they’re doing. I hope it doesn’t promote something we aren’t happy with later on.”

But the Council agreed with Lopes that involving the City’s youth helped rather than caused a problem.

Councilor-at-large Linda Morad pointed to the Campbell School mural performed by students with ArtWorks! six years ago. “That mural has not been targeted once,” Morad said. Councilor-at-large Carny agreed.

“Now it’s time to get the kids involved in the community,” Carney said. “I think it’s going to beautify the City.”

The Council voted 11-0 to request that Director Pat Sullivan, Office of Housing and Community Development , seek CDBG funds for a similar ArtWorks! youth engagement project in FY2015.





Rolling out the new recycling carts

The new recycling carts have arrived!

by Joyce Rowley

Ken Blanchard, Director of Facilities and Fleet Services and Marissa Perez-Dormitzer, the City’s recycling coordinator, were on hand at the Appointments and Briefings Committee meeting to show City Council the new roll-out carts for residents. New Bedford residents received notification on the new carts in their February water bills.

55,000 new roll-out carts will be distributed starting in May, Blanchard said, for the new automated residential curbside pickup that begins June 23, 2014. Blue-lid carts will be for trash, and orange lid for recycling. Recycling will now be “single stream” all in one container—no more separating out the paper, plastic, and metals.

Carts will be put curbside in the same location that trash barrels are placed now. The new ABC Disposal trucks have arms that reach out and pick up the carts, then lift and empty them into the truck.

Homes with less than three units will receive carts at no cost; buildings with four or more units will pay a one-time fee per cart. A 65-gallon cart costs $59.18 and a 95-gallon cart costs $66.82 for the life of the cart. Extra recycling carts of either variety can be purchased if they’re needed, Blanchard said.

Carts to be put in same location as trash barrels

One- and two-family dwellings will receive one each trash and recycling 65-gallon cart. Three-family and four-family dwellings will receive two 95-gallon trash and two 95-gallon recycling carts. Five- and six-unit properties will receive three 95-gallon trash carts and two 95-gallon recycling carts.

And in case any of the carts get swiped, they’ll be traceable by a bar-code that gives the correct address for each cart. Not quite GPS track-able, said Blanchard, but close. They’ll also have a white strip for residents to write their address on their cart.

ABC Disposal has begun using roll-out carts in Fall River and Plymouth successfully. The benefits are many, said Blanchard. No bags, no sea gulls picking them apart, means cleaner streets.

But Councilor-at-large Linda Morad questioned why four-family houses had to pay, and why three-family houses did not. Blanchard said that one- through three-family houses typically were owner occupied, whereas the larger houses were more likely to be income-producing property and so could afford the carts.

Morad said she’d received a number of questions on the carts already.

“Is an elderly person going to be able to push it down a seven-foot driveway?” Morad asked. Perez-Dormitzer said that she had used the carts through her four pregnancies, and it was no problem.

Blanchard said the carts were designed for ease in movement, even on stairs, as Councilor Joseph Lopes also asked how elderly in his ward often have stairs to navigate.

Carts were designed for ease in movement

Councilor Henry Bousquet of Ward 3 also questioned how some of the commercial restaurants downtown would use the carts, particularly where there were either stairs or no alleyway to store the carts.

“People are going to have to find a way to store them,” Blanchard said. “People used to put their garbage cans in a coop and lock it.” He pointed out that people can find a way to get a Christmas tree to their house, but going the other way…

Bousquet asked that Perez-Dormitzer work on a way to make food waste composting a possibility for the City’s restaurants.

“How can we make that a reality? We could have a really valuable soil for community gardens and parks that we wouldn’t have to pay for,” Bousquet said.

Scott Alfonse, executive director of the Greater New Bedford Regional Refuse Management District, said that high-volume generators of food waste were going to have to find other disposal means. A statewide ban will taking effect in July will be implemented by October of this year.

The District is collaborating on an anaerobic digester being built at the landfill which will take food waste and convert it to methane gas. The existing 3.3 megawatt landfill-gas-to-energy plant will use the methane to generate electricity.





Historic Kalmar Nyckel to steam into New Bedford Harbor


Get out your eye patch and parrot—the Kalmar Nyckel is here!

by Joyce Rowley

This week you won’t want to miss Kalmar Nyckel tall ship as it steams into New Bedford Harbor. She stands 105-feet to the top of her mast and is fully rigged ship, a replica of the 1625 Kalmar Nyckel of Sweden.

Watch her come in late Wednesday or early Thursday—the arrival time is wind dependent. There was a 20-knot wind keeping them at the dock in Provincetown on Tuesday. Close to shore it uses both wind and engines. But offshore New England is rocky, Captain Sharon Dounce said, and they keep the engine at neutral just in case while sailing.

Deck tours will be available for $5 starting at 8 p.m. Thursday, July 25.

Six public sails are available starting Friday, beginning with a Pirate Sail into Buzzards Bay. Leave your umbrella at home—tall ship sailors are highly superstitious—and dress for an adventure.

The original Kalmar Nyckel made four ocean crossings beginning in 1638—and founded the first settlement in Wilmington, Delaware. The Kalmar Nyckel Foundation is a maritime-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that promotes education while preserving the Kalmar Nyckel’s amazing history.



Kalmar Nyckel




12 Things To Do This Weekend (June 28-30)

new-bedford-weather BOOOOOOOO! The weekend outlook, will start off as a wet one AGAIN. It will rain periodically throughout the day and evening. Saturday will be partly cloudy with only a 20% chance of rain. Sunday, though, has a 60% of rain with scattered thunderstorms. It will be in the 80s all weekend.

As we’ve mentioned in the past, we are hardy New Englanders and that is what raincoats and umbrellas are for. Sitting on the coach isn’t living! However, if you simply don’t like rain, there are plenty of indoor activities too! 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!


by Joyce Rowley

Your best bets for getting around New Bedford this weekend, you can’t beat the New Bedford Whaling National Park NB Line. Just a buck (yes, $1.00!) for a day pass. It runs seven days a week now till Labor Day. Free for kids and students with IDs. How cool is that?! You can find route maps at the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park Visitor’s Center at 33 Williams Street or visit www.nps.org/nebe.

Friday, June 28
Friday Night at the Zoo (5:30 p.m.- 8:00 p.m.)
It’s Friday night at the Zoo — an after-hours event 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Close encounters with the animals, entertainment by DJ Steve of Music and Motion, and plenty of fun kid activities. Zoo members $6/adult, $3/child; non-members $10/adult, $6/child.

Proud_To_Be_Cape_VerdeanProud to be Cape Verdean: A Look at Cape Verdeans in the Golden State (7:00 p.m.)
Proud to be Cape Verdean (PTBCV): A Look at Cape Verdeans in the Golden State, a documentary about the Cape Verdean community in California, will screen on Friday, June 28 at 7:00 pm at the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park theater, 33 William Street, downtown New Bedford, MA. The event is free and open to the public. PTBCV captures the essence of the Cape Verdean culture in California through an insightful look at individuals and organizations and their desire to maintain their cultural identity. The music of the Mendes Brothers, John and Ramiro, is featured. Actor/producer Michael Beach lends his voice talents as narrator.

Saturday, June 29
2013 Fairhaven Homecoming Fair (10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.)
Fairhaven’s 2013 Homecoming Fair starts at 10 a.m. and runs until 4 p.m. There are 175 vendors! Too many to list, but always something new! Loads of filling food, amazing amusements, arts AND crafts, and a great family fun day. What’s not to like? Just cross the bridge, hang a right, and find the crowd at 40 Center Street, Fairhaven.

new-bedford-baysoxColo Colo Gallery: “How I Eat Corn” (5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.)
Colo Colo Gallery: Artist reception 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. New exhibit “How I Eat Corn” by Shari Weschler. The gallery has moved to their new location on 101 W. French Blvd. Door #4. Perfect start for the summer.

New Bedford Bay Sox Vs. Laconia Muskrats (6:30pm)
If you haven’t been to a New Bedford Bay Sox game, you are missing out on a a great family outing. Tickets can be purchased here: http://pointstreaksites.com/view/nbbaysox/tickets-160.

Bill Black at the Celtic Coffee House (8-10pm)
Celtic by Candlelight features Bill Black performing Songs of Ireland/Songs of the Water folk music from 8-10 pm.

At the Z: An evening with Joan Baez (8:00 p.m.)
At the Z: An evening with Joan Baez, 8 p.m., tickets $49.50-$46.50. Zeiterion Performing Arts Center, 684 Purchase Street, New Bedford. Vocalist extraordinaire, always on her game, Baez still has it. Winner of seven Grammies, and with a new CD coming out “Day after Tomorrow” the premiere folk vocalist will be at the Z for just one night. Tickets are still available and can be found online at www.zeiterion.org

Sunday, June 30
Acoustic Sunrise – Morning Glory Cafe (9:30 am – 12:30 pm)
In what is perhaps the most unique breakfast next to Leggs ‘n Eggs, you can enjoy breakfast and live music every Sunday at Morning Glory Café, in the South End. Amanda Rae will serenade you from 9:30-12:30 while you enjoy the best breakfast in town!

Third Annual 5k Road Race (8:00 a.m.)
Hit the road running in the Third Annual 5k Road Race, sponsored by the Kids Kickin’ Cancer! Registration opens at 8 a.m. and the race starts at 9 a.m. $25 pre-registration, $30 the day of the race. For more info and to pre-register, visit www.kidskickincancer.net. The race takes place at Bristol Community College on 777 Elsbree Street in Fall River.

feed-fish-new-bedford-ocean-exploriumFeed The Fishes at the Ocean Explorium (10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.)
Feed the fishes — and we mean that in a good way. Ocean Explorium at 174 Union Street lets you “Feed the Fish” from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., on Sundays. $5 for sharks and rays, $3 for all other living exhibits. Your kids will love it and the fish will tank you, too.

The Quakers of Old Dartmouth (2:00 p.m.)
Learn about the founders of Dartmouth at “The Quakers of Old Dartmouth” presented by the Dartmouth Historical Society beginning at 2 p.m., Apponagansett Friends Meeting House, Russells Mills Road, Dartmouth.

Karaoke Shows (2:00 – 1:00 a.m.)
Sunday is for Karaoke: Start in Fall River at Cowboy Al’s Karaoke Show at Adagio Piano Lounge, 227 South Main Street from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., then head to Thomas E. Tuttle’s VFW post at 27 Roosevelt Street, Acushnet for karaoke at 7 p.m. then it’s on to Inner Bay at 1339 Cove Road, New Bedford where the karaoke starts at 8 p.m. and back to Fall River for karaoke with JK Music at Micky Doyle’s Sports Pub, 390 Rhode Island Ave. from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

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




Canine Fashion Show & Pet Fest, A Pawpawrazzi Favorite!


Pet Fest Pet Walk! Courtesy of Coalition for Animals

by Joyce Rowley

Looking for the latest in doggy wear? Need something snazzy for your schnauzer? Put some frocks on your dachshunds and join the fun!

Doggie fashionistas can watch the Doggie Fashion Show at the Pet Fest in Buttonwood Park on Sunday, May 19th sponsored by The Daily Dog Blog and Go Fetch!, a grooming and dog specialty shop at 982 Kempton Street, New Bedford. Just look for the red carpet and the crowds of fans.

Go Fetch! owner and certified dog groomer Michelle Conlan was scouting the local dog talent last Saturday at her shop with the dailydogbloggers Elizabeth Cincotta and Melissa Cusson. Tracy Dupois of Paw Prints Photography was on hand to provide portfolio shots for next week’s runway stars. Expect to see the latest in bride and groom outfits, as well as what the chic pooch is wearing this summer on those long walks at Buttonwood Park.


Conlan, Cusson, & Cincotta with Cooper the fashion dog

The Go Fetch! shop, which opened this past December, has wicked cute dresses and sunsuits for the discerning Yorkie, Pom or Shih-Tzu. Conlan started the business online four years ago with her homemade dog treats made from all natural ingredients at www.GoFetchtreats.com. Her mother, Patricia Conlan, and sister, Margaret Conlan-Mullen, have joined in with African-print lavender scented handmade pet beds and plush zebra striped blankets available at the new digs.

In addition to the Doggie Fashion show, Pet Fest has demonstrations by the New Bedford K-9 officers, and demos on sheepherding and dog training, too. Don’t forget to stop by the doggie kissing booth for a pooch smooch. There will be raffles, pet accessory vendors, face-painting, and a raptor show by New England Reptile & Raptor so bring your best buddy for a nice afternoon in the Park.

But the main event is the two-mile charity walk to raise funds for Coalition for Animals. Visit www.coalitionforanimals.com for a brochure and walker’s registration form. Walkers can also sign up between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. on the day of the event.

Pet Fest, sponsored by the Coalition for Animals of Greater New Bedford, is an annual dog and family oriented event attracting hundreds of visitors. Proceeds from the walk go to the Coalition for Animals, a 501(c)3 all-volunteer non-profit organization located at 834 Kempton Street, New Bedford, MA. The Coalition’s mission is to raise awareness about humane treatment of animals, to help reduce overpopulation of companion animals through spay/neuter programs and to promote adoption of homeless companion animals.

Pet Fest
Buttonwood Park
723 Rockland Ave.
New Bedford, MA
11a.m to 3 p.m., Sunday, May 19, 2013

ngg_shortcode_2_placeholder