Marketing your business is integral to its success and bottom line. Every business is founded on a business plan and all sound business plans contain a detailed marketing section. It should be a requirement to garnering a business license –whether a business succeeds in the long term is related directly to the follow-up and execution of what was laid out.

Sadly, many business owners treat marketing as a luxury, optional or an after-thought. They “go through the motions” by laying out a marketing plan because they feel not having it will affect their chances of getting a business license. The all too common thought is “When I have the money, I’ll purchase some ad space.” However, the inverse is true “I’ll purchase some marketing, so I can make some money.”

The latter belief is a false one that harms many local businesses. New Bedford Guide works alongside the city and local businesses on a daily basis and we see the direct relationship between failure with the latter belief and success with the former.

You may have the South Coast’s best customer service; you may have the highest quality ingredients, textiles, metals, or products; you may have the planet’s best chef; none of that matters if no one knows about it or just as important, you aren’t reminding people. Letting people know about you and your services or products is the starting point. Reminding them on a regular basis fuels your profit. A great marketing company takes your small investment in them and gives you a return that is much greater. This should be a regular cycle whereby, for example, you hand them $100 and they give you back $500. Rinse and repeat.

This is a no-brainer. If your marketing company isn’t doing this for you, they are either using the wrong approach and happy with taking your money and riding off into the sunset, they are a large marketing company that prioritizes meeting projections over customer satisfaction or you are with the wrong company.

All too often a large corporation will overcharge you and provide you with “faith-based” marketing. They can’t provide you with statistics of exactly how many people saw your ad. They say that their sole method is the best and since they’ve been around forever, business owners believe it. These poor business owners buy the most expensive ads in the area, reach fewer people, and do not get a return on their investment.

That is not how marketing is supposed to work.

A business owners wants to pay the least, to reach the most, and get their money back and then some.

There are a few companies that make this formula their maxim. One of those is Local Blast Marketing owned by Bruno Pereira. Bruno is an uprising entrepreneur in New England focused on helping business get more exposure in their local market place. Bruno has done such a superlative job, that though he founded his company in 2011 he is already referred to as the “Marketing Tycoon” of New England.

He may be called this “tongue-in-cheek,” but it came about because of his smashing success with promoting local businesses and executing the aforementioned formula perfectly. Taking someone’s money with a promise to promote their business and ensure that they get their money back is something he takes seriously. “If you don’t get your money back or grow your customer base, you are not getting effective marketing.” Bruno explained. “This is an all too common business practice — one that leads to stagnating cash flow and contributes to a business owner eventually closing his or her doors.”

Being a small business owner himself, Bruno understands what the local business owner goes through in terms of concerns. He’s wearing the same “shoes” and walking in the same footsteps. Being a local, Bruno also has a genuine desire to see the community uplifted, the economy stimulated and producing more jobs. This is his community; where he lives, sleeps, works and plays. He knows the struggle all too well.

Bruno’s parents were among the thousands of employees affected by the closing of the once booming textile factories. Since then Bruno’s mission has been to build a business that can employ the upcoming generation. His vision is for Local Blast Marketing to become a strong employer and asset of New England for both the general public and businesses’.

Starting in his parent’s basement, Bruno decided to start an advertising company that would help local business such as Restaurants, get exposure to attract new customers. After a long and difficult 5 years he has not only created a name for himself but his customers can’t stop singing praises of what he has been doing for business in the city and beyond.

Bruno is having such tremendous success with this passion of his, that his company is hiring. He is looking for motivated individuals that want to build a career in a local media company. From social media marketing to website management services. Hint, hint.

So how exactly would Bruno do this for your business? He has an all-in-one solution that he applies to promote your business. He utilizes up to 26 –yes 26– methods to most efficiently brand, get the word out, and remind people to purchase your services and products. He evaluates your business and like a good doctor, gives each individual a specific diagnosis and remedy.

This contrasts the aforementioned “faith-based” method whereby a company says “Our one method is the only and best method you should consider.” Of course, they will say that: they only offer one method. Since Bruno isn’t offering one method, he is unbiased. His sole interest is in applying the best of 26 methods. His primary interest is in your business’s success. The better he applies that method, the better your return, the more you will continue to work with him. So, from the get-go he has a vested interest not only in your success with him, but your continued success with him.

What are some of these 26 methods that he may apply to get the word out? Primarily through Social Media Marketing, Email Marketing, Text Message Marketing, and Website Marketing Services. Under this purview are New HTML5 Website, HD Documentary Video on Your Business, Custom HD Photography, Social Publishing Tool, Easy to Manage Blog, Your Personal Pro Team Account Manager, Mobile Site for Every Device, Your Website on Facebook, Detailed Site Analytics, Local Directory Listings Calendar, e-Commerce Capabilities, Appointment Booking System, Easy Online Ordering Tool, Coupons and Discounts, To-Do List Creation and Reminders, Guaranteed Secure Web Hosting, Custom Domain and more.

Doesn’t that make going with “one method is best” seem absurd? A multi-pronged approach is the most effective, efficient way to turn your business into a profitable one.

There’s no better time to meet with Bruno and see what he can do for your business in terms of revenue and cash flow. In celebration of Local Blast’s 5th year anniversary Bruno is excited to announce a special contest to find and help Massachusetts and Rhode Island businesses that have yet to enter the Digital Age. They might not have a functioning mobile-ready website, managed Facebook page, Instagram Account or even an Email list.

Businesses in Massachusetts and Rhode Island are invited receive a FREE digital marketing consultation. This is great for startups, existing or struggling establishments. Don’t use the ineffective, backwards method of “profit will buy me marketing.” The truth is that marketing generates profits. If you are interested in a no obligation, no pushy salesperson, consultation to really kick-start your business call (508) 974-9977 and talk to Bruno or one of his equally passionate staff.

See what happens when passion meets marketing and someone has a genuine, vested interest in helping you succeed. It’s like having a knowledgeable best friend spending 24 hours a day telling people about how great what you’re doing is. Most people hire an employee and pay them hundreds of dollars a week. Imagine what effect it would have if you hired an employee for less pay, that would spend every day, all day and night promoting your business?

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Bruno Pereira-Local Blast Marketing
Fall River, MA 02720
Always open!

Phone: (508) 974-9977 or (774) 526-2616
Email: brunop@localblastmarketing.com
Facebook: facebook.com/localblastmarketing/
Website: localblastmarketing.com

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Discussing one of the South Coast’s favorite eateries, Jerry Remy’s Sports Bar & Grill is an effortless topic to blather about. The problem with spotlighting the popular destination is picking photos to place within the article. There is so much going on at Jerry Remy’s, so many spectacular, mouth-watering dishes, so much that can be said with photographs (which do a far superior job than a writer can do) that I feel if I leave some images out, you won’t “get” it. I’ll somehow be cheating you out of something good.

Choosing the limited blend of pictures to embed in the article was like being forced to choose five of your ten favorite children. Suffice it to say, that Jerry Remy’s is much more than these photographs. In fact, much more than my own words can convey – I’ll give it my Sunday best.

As many of you likely know, Jerry Remy’s Sports Bar & Grill was started by Red Sox second baseman come sports broadcaster. The first location opened in 2008 right in Logan Airport. It became so popular, that Remy opened a second one behind Fenway Park, on Boylston Street, two years later. In 2012, a third location opened up overlooking Battleship Cove, in his hometown of Fall River. However, this location is owned and operated by Portuguese emigré Anthony Cordeiro (of Fall River’s Anthony Cordeiro Insurance Agency) and Brazilian transplant Larry Couto of LC Mechanical. Both grew up, went to school, worked, started business and families in Fall River, so while they were born in Portugal and São Paolo respectively, they are through and through local-yokels.

Both men love Fall River and wouldn’t think of starting a new venture anywhere else. They have a lot of pride when it comes to the community and want to see the city grow and prosper. In that vein, they wanted to develop a spot that combined entertainment, sports, and great food for the blue collar locals – while providing jobs and stimulating the local economy.

Boy did they ever.

Monster Screens and Menu Offerings
In the short time frame since the eatery opened, it has skyrocketed in popularity and become a favorite spot for folks. A prime destination whether you want sports or not. Whether you want lunch, dinner or drinks with a group of pals. Whether solo, with your best friend, or the family. Whether you want a private party or have a special function. Whether you want something “down-to-earth” like a burger and fries or pizza, or prefer something slightly more sophisticated like Herb Encrusted Salmon or Apple Glazed Pork Chops.

The menu runs the entire gamut from starters, salads, wraps, burgers, steaks, dessert, vast beer menu, cocktails and wine. The layout of the dining area is one that is very roomy – high ceilings, ample table sections and spacing – even when the place is positively packed. The monster screens and cleverly placed “normal” sized hi-definition televisions make sure that no matter where you sit, you don’t miss a play. These monster screens create a video wall that is 45 feet long. As they advertise – you may have a better view than those people who are actually at the live game!

For starters, there are many classics like traditional Nachos, Calamari, quesadillas, potato skins, sliders (Beef & Cheddar or BBQ Pulled Pork) and wings. Although these are the “amped” up versions when it comes to flavor and portion. However, there is one in particular that should be on every proper foodie’s bucket list – The Green Monster: A 3-plated tower that contains a whopping 1 1/2 lbs. of buffalo wings, beef & cheddar sliders (8 in total) and a mountain of bacon cheddar cheese fries. I had to include an image of this one!

Confession and lunch special mania!
Now, I have a confession to make. One that may make me hated or looked at like I am a three-headed alien. I don’t like team sports. I don’t watch them. I prefer individual sports, like boxing, amateur wrestling, Mixed Martial Arts or many of the Olympic sports. So, I do not go Jerry Remy’s for football, baseball, basketball, or hockey. I go for their lunch. Their affordable, made to order, served piping hot with a smile, mouth-watering lunch. What drives the crowds to Jerry Remy’s is exactly these things. Healthy sized portion of food for a price that will surprise you. The “Soup or Salad & 1/2 Sandwich Lunch Special” is available every day of the week. Enjoy a cup of soup or small House or Caesar Salad plus a 1/2 sandwich for $9.90. For under $10 you get stuffed.

Soups include New England Clam Chowder, a house Chili aptly called “The Neighborhood’s Favorite Chile,” and a Soup du Jour. There’s a variety of salads to choose from: classic Caesar Salad, the Ty Cobb, House, Greek, and a Cranberry Walnut. Of course, you can add grilled chicken, Salmon, or steak tips.

For sandwich choices to compliment this soup or salad, we stick with Jerry Remy’s theme of “You could get a classic, or you could choose something slightly different.” Classics are represented with the BBQ Pulled Pork, the Reuben, Fish Tacos, Grilled Chicken & Avocado Club, Turkey Bacon Wrap or Chicken Caesar Wrap.

Because you can mix and match, you get to change things up with each visit. In a way these lunch specials are like sampler platters in the sense that you get to happily devour them and come across ones that you love so much that you’ll return and have the dinner versions!

Pizzas, Burgers, and Specials
If you are a pizza for lunch type of guy, there are six grilled pizzas to choose from – Hawaiian, BBQ Chicken, Remy’s signature Margherita (my favorite), Spinach and Artichoke, Roasted Garlic and Pepper, and the House: “Crispy bacon, sweet caramelized onions & bleu cheese, finished with a creamy parmesan peppercorn sauce.” All priced at only $10.90.

Prefer a burger? You get to choose your patty: Half Pound USDA Prime Beef, Spicy Black Bean, Kobe Beef or Fresh Ground Turkey. There is the Mushroom Swiss or Jalapeno Pepper Jack, but you’ll want to check out the fun choices like the Big Kahuna Burger (Grilled pineapple & pepper jack cheese, finished with mango-chili glaze, served on a Portuguese sweet roll), the signature Remy Burger (Sliced cheddar, caramelized onions, Applewood smoked bacon, 1000 Island dressing, served on a Portuguese sweet roll) or the Fa Reev burger (Beef Patty, local chourico, caramelized onions, American cheese & chipotle mayo, served on a potato roll.) They come with French Fries, chips or cole slaw and most are priced at $10.90. Though keep your eye out for the Burger of the Month – always something different, and worth a look.

In terms of specials, has something going on almost every day but Sunday. “Take Two Tuesdays” is “Buy 1 pizza and get 1/2 off a 2nd pizza.” Wednesday? That’s “Kid’s Night” where you get one FREE kid’s meal with each adult entree purchased. Thursdays between 4:00pm-9:00pm wings are 35 cents when you purchase a beverage. Friday an Saturdays you can get in on the Prime Rib Special an 8 oz ($17.90) or 12 oz ($23.90) portion served with mashed potato and green beans. Problem is that it’s so darn good and so darn popular that after 4:00pm it’s “While supplies last.” It’s legit.

Children’s Menu, “Serious Plates,” and Pasta Favorites
Got the little ones with you? The <a href="http://jerryremys.com/fallriver/pdf/FR_Menu_Fall_2015.pdf"Children's Menu has Mac & Cheese or Grilled Cheese w/ Fries for $4.95 or the RemDawg Junior (w/ fries and free toppings), Chicken Tenders or Sliders both served with fries for only $5.95.

Prefer something more “serious.” The entrees will be sure to please you: Grilled Sirloin Steak Tips (Tender sirloin marinated in their secret sauce, finished with herb demi-glace, served with roasted garlic mashed potatoes & seasonal vegetables.) A phenomenal 10oz. Ribeye (Grilled on an open flame, topped with BBQ sauce & onion strings, served with roasted potatoes & seasonal vegetables.) A personal favorite, the Apple Glazed Pork Chop which is a 12 oz. serving with apple bourbon glaze, roasted garlic mashed potatoes & seasonal vegetables.

I know many feel that there’s nothing like ribs during a game, so if that’s the case with you, you’ll flip over the massive portion of St. Louis BBQ Ribs – of course, served with French Fries and Coleslaw. 1/2 and full racks are offered. For the seafood lover there is traditional Fish and Chips – seasoned cod served with French Fries, Coleslaw and Tartar sauce for $14.90. Baked Scrod (Ritz crackers finished with lemon compound butter, baked to perfection, served with roasted garlic mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables.) and the popular Herb-encrusted Salmon – an 8oz. Salmon filet grilled and finished with balsamic glaze, served with roasted potatoes & seasonal vegetables.

Finally there is a “Pasta Favorites” section where you can sate your cravings for your Italian or Italian-American favorites like Smoked Gouda & White Cheddar Mac n’ Cheese, Crispy Buffalo or Grilled Chicken Kickin’ Chicken: chicken breast, chourico, yellow, red & green peppers, creamy spicy buffalo & wine sauce, served over penne pasta., or the classed Chicken Parmesan.

Going beyond heading to Jerry Remy’s for lunch, dinner, or a game, you can have a private party or special function there. You can have all these great offerings for your birthday, corporate meeting, bridal shower, anniversary or any other special occasion. If you prefer entertainment, Jerry Remy’s often has special events like superhero appearances, hanging out with Curious George or even live musical performances.

Remy Rewards and Summation
After you eat a few times and find out first hand what makes Jerry Remy’s a special place, you’ll want to reap the benefits of being a regular by earning points with every visit through the Remy’s Rewards Club. Each dollar spent earns you a point and 100 points equal $10 worth of credit towards anything at the Fall River location. There are also many ways to earn double and triple points. You will also get invitations to special events. To become a member is simple: just visit and ask your server (it’s free) or purchase a gift card and be automatically enrolled.

Stop in and check out for yourself why Jerry Remy’s blasted itself into popularity so quickly. The combination of affordability, large portions, signature plates, lunch specials, massive beer and cocktail menu and an atmosphere like no other place makes it a place that’s easy to visit regularly.

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Jerry Remy’s Sports Bar & Grill
1082 Davol Street
Fall River, MA 02720
Mon-Thu: 11:00am-12:00am
Fri-Sat: 11:00am-1:00am
Sun: 11:00am-12:00am

Phone: 508-676-REMY (7369)
Email:
fallriver@jerryremys.com
Facebook: facebook.com/JerryRemysFR/
Twitter: @RemysFallRiver
Website: www.jerryremys.com/

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UPDATE: The Paul Revere sign was sold by the Waterfront Historic Area League (WHALE) for $5,000 and will be shipped to Boston – likely never to ride again over New Bedford.

Here is another installment in our Who Remembers? series. You can browse previous articles by using the search bar on the right or by clicking here. These articles are strolls down memory lane. In some cases the buildings, but new businesses have replaced them. In other instances, the buildings or even the properties have been razed. Instead of a building, it may be a TV show, personality, or commercial that no one longer exists. Either way, it can’t stop us from taking the Memory Lane stroll!

As always we would rather this be a discussion. No one knows this area better than those who grew up here! Please, leave constructive criticism, feedback, and corrections. We’d love to hear your anecdotes. Please share!

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The old cliche “You don’t know what you got ’till it’s gone.” applies when the topic of the iconic Paul Revere sign is brought up. When the sign was up, it was part of the “furniture.” One would barely notice it outside of occasionally glancing for a passing moment as you sped down I-195. It simply was a big part of our daily lives, but it was a gentle reminder of the history of the region, and even the nation.

But boy, oh boy when news spread that the sign was going to be taken down it raised quite a fuss. Folks wanted to donate money, start fundraising campaigns, and contributed many ideas – both good and bad ones – on what to do. Albeit, there were some who were happy to see it go – like those who lived near the neon sign and had to cope with the lights entering their bedrooms while sleeping.

The five colored copper sign was comprised of a thousand feet of neon in 126 sections, 200 sections of which created an illusion that the horse’s legs were moving. The 25 foot high, 44 foot wide sign was originally erected atop the roof of North Front Street’s Revere Copper and Brass building – a company founded by Paul Revere himself in 1801.

In the 1970s the sign started deteriorating and the neon legs got to the point that they simply no longer “galloped.” The sign continued to be neglected and fall into disrepair before finally being taken down in 1994.

The City of New Bedford along with the Waterfront Historic Area LEague and New Bedford Vocational Technical High School combined efforts and took up the project along many others. In 1998, using their own funds and those collected from a fundraiser, they managed to restore the sign as best as possible to its former glory for approximately $75,000. The sign was, of course, erected where most of us remember on Route 195 a full 60 feet in the air.

There it stood as a symbol of welcome to South Coasters returning home from short or long trips. “You’re back!” From 1998 through 2010 it stood as such a beacon, but the New England weather and father time were not kind to it. Its location, particularly its height, made its regular upkeep incredibly difficult. While the framework itself was solid and could continue to be used, the sign itself fell into such a state of disrepair that the city declared it a public safety hazard and were quite concerned that it would actually topple over.

The community in general crawled out of the woodwork and made it known that they didn’t want to see it go. Repair was considered, but estimates between $200,000-$500,000 priced it out of the range of feasibility. The city kept up hope that funds could be raised again to repair the sign, but because of the possibility of it toppling, they decided to store it in the interim.

In May of 2013, Councillor Brian Gomes, made a valiant effort to retain the sign. At a city council meeting he suggested that the sign be placed on the Elm Street Garage with a “Welcome to New Bedford” sign and in its original place something functional:

“…even if [it] is by renting a billboard through our Office of Marketing and Tourism, in order to capture the traffic heading east on Route 195 towards the Cape, in order to inform motorists of the attractions available in the City and of their locations, so that the thousands of cars that pass by will not do so without noticing that the City of New Bedford is here and alive.”

Since enough funds were not raised, the sign was dismantled on June 3rd, 2014 and placed on flatbed trucks. It was then hauled to an undisclosed location because of fear that it would be a target for salvage thieves.

The sign was like an old friend and seeing it taken down was a shame. Who or what is there to welcome us back when we return? Should we put some symbol of New Bedford there? A white whale for the whaling city? Instead of hearkening to the past, perhaps one that represents the future – where we’re going?

Where are we going?

Meet Paulo Duarte, 23-year-old store manager of U7 and co-brand owner at Longevity Co.

Paulo has had a deep love for sneakers since he graduated high school, where he really started to get into the streetwear culture. From there he began collecting sneakers, learning the value in reselling exclusive sneaker releases, at the time Retro Air Jordans. The urban culture and sneaker heads in New Bedford really inspired Paulo to get involved, frequenting stores such as Carters and Expressions to check out the latest gear.

Delving into this passion he started buying and selling sneakers on Facebook groups and Kixify, which is an online resource that allows users to sell sneakers, unlocking the ability to sell more sneakers at a time depending on how well your business is. In a once in a lifetime opportunity, he sold a pair to the owner of the website, who was so pleased in the way Paulo handled the transaction, gave him the ability to sell unlimited sneakers on their platform.

It was around that time that Shop U7 had opened in the south end of New Bedford, where his friends had told the owners about Paulo and his knowledge of sneakers. He stopped in during the opening week and the owners tested his knowledge of pricing and they were impressed but the young mans prowess. He quit his job of delivering pizza, where he was extremely unhappy, and was hired on and started as an assistant in the shop.

As time went on and the owner’s trust in him grew, they promoted him to store manager. During his time working there, he as also come alongside his close friends to start LongevityCo, a local streetwear clothing company, which has grown immensely in popularity over the past few years. He’s grown to learn that he needs to love what he does and he is finally in the position to do that.

Paulo is highly encouraged by the young and ambitious people around him. He sees so many people who are working on their craft and they encourage him to get better. For him to see a business open in New Bedford, he thinks about the fact that they had an idea and made it a reality, in an environment where you are guaranteed to succeed.

“If you put time and effort into something you are passionate about everyday, it will pay off. Trust your ideas & don’t let anybody tell you, you can’t do what you want.”

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Faces of New Bedford is a project by Colton Simmons. If you are interested in booking a shoot or getting prints from the series email all inquiries to colton@coltonsimmons.com

Follow Colton on Instagram: https://instagram.com/simmonscolton

Last year we showcased one of the nation’s premier maternity photographers, Abrah Zion of Miss Z Photography, in a spotlight article. Since then a lot has happened. A lot.

Abrah has entered the lives of scores of people across the South Coast. I don’t mean solely as a business entity, but also as a person who has found their life’s passion and a way to integrate relationships with it. I come across a lot of people who are passionate about what they do, but the exuberance and excitement that come from Abrah when discussing her passion are on another level.

Her entire energy changes when the topic of her photography comes up. Here is someone whose first and fondest childhood memories revolve around a camera – a gift from her father – and snapping anything and everything in sight. While sunsets, sunrises, flowers, natural scenery and their ilk were targets, there was something special about living, breathing, dynamic targets.

Fondly poring over black and white images in the family’s photo albums is responsible for many of her favorite childhood memories. The albums captivated her. These moments conveyed early on the sheer potency of images; the feel of holding the photographs in your hands and passing them along; the aroma of the aged vintage photos and paper it was attached to; the intimacy that came through sharing them with family and friends who sat alongside you. She knew then and there that life, memories, and moments would be her prized targets. She wanted to share with the world everything that was conveyed in the time spent with these albums.

In pursuit of this aim, she has rubbed shoulders with giants in the photography world and is constantly honing and developing her craft. She has learned directly from world renown newborn and maternity photographer to the stars Ana Brandt. She is a member of PPA – Professional Photographers of America, PPAM – Professional Photographers of America, Massachusetts division and NAPCP – the National Association of Professional Child Photographers.

She has also collected some pretty prestigious awards along the way. This January she won the Beauty and Lifestyle Mommy Magazine 2015 Parent’s Choice award – quite a strong declaration by the people. One of the top publications in the photography world is Photography Magazine who listed her as one of the best newborn photographers in Massachusetts for 2016. When the critics and the people alike say you are one of the best you’re doing something right and have something special.

It doesn’t stop there: she graciously volunteers her services to “Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep,” an organization of professional photographers who dedicate their time and talent to photographing still born babies for parents as part of the bereavement and healing process.

Do you get the idea that she lives, breathes, sleeps and eats photography? What is the point I am illustrating here? That you would be hard pressed to find someone who cares as much, who is dedicated to doing her best, and who is determined to providing you with the finest quality photographs on planet earth. If you are looking for a way to document those fleeting memories that happen only once a lifetime, you’d be hard pressed to find someone better!

You may be asking “What does she specifically do? Just take pictures of my baby?” Of course, my words can’t do anywhere close to the justice that her images can, but in a nutshell if it’s related to maternity, newborns, babies, or families she excels at it. It’s her niche – photography is such a deep field that the top photographers narrow that field down. Specialization is the name of the game and being able to take world-class photographs of a nature, doesn’t mean it translates to photographs of newborns or vice versa.

That means if you want these moments captured, you want a photographer that spends all her/his time in one niche. Someone who knows the ins and outs, is highly experienced and is on the cutting edge of the field.

One of the newest services Miss Z has added that has become incredibly popular is the “Birthday Smash and Splash.” You and Abrah will discuss a theme that best fits your baby and choose the cutest, funniest, or sweetest one. On the day of the shooting, a fully themed backdrop will be presented and a matching themed cake will be waiting for your baby to smash. Talk about a photo opp!

After your baby enjoys making his or her mess, and you are laughing and smiling from ear to ear, the “splash” part comes in. A small bubble bath awaits, raising the cute factor through the stratosphere. You can blow bubbles to get his or her attention and create more smiles and photo opportunities.

This is certainly not a “Bring your cute baby by and I’ll snap some photos.” session. There’s quite the bit of thought behind it. There’s a clear passion and love for the subject matter. I mean, who doesn’t love babies? The manliest man will have no problem declaring how cute newborns are! To provide an atmosphere, the bring the best out of the baby (or mom or dad), and to create the photogenic moments takes much more than someone pushing a button behind a fancy camera.

These moments will happen once and be gone forever – as a father of a 14 year old, I can vouch for the speed with which our children grow up is astoundingly fast. While I took lots of pictures as any proud father would, I took pictures with a cruddy, cheap camera (smartphones with high-resolution cameras didn’t exist yet) then stored them in boxes for later perusal. Struggling with sport-related memory issues, if I didn’t have these images those moments would be gone forever. Pulling those boxes out and browsing through those images not only brings back those forgotten memories, but they are so incredibly powerful that they actually get a 14 year old teenager to put her phone away. How many things can do that these days?!

The two of us not only take great delight in passing the photos back and forth, but there’s plenty of laughter, smiles, and the occasional sadness when we come across family we’ve lost in the 14 years she’s been on the planet. An hour can pass by easily and the intimacy and bonding moment is something I can’t put a price on.

My only regret is that I wish that I had better quality photos in terms of technique – less red eye, less blur, better centering, fewer cut-off heads, more spontaneity, and of course I wish I had better quality, more durable paper that would stand the test of time.

This illustrates the sheer power and massive value of “physical” pictures – images on paper being passed, hovering over shoulders and shoving them in each other faces “Hey look at your pants in this one! HA HA!” The feel, the energy, the atmosphere you get with physical pictures is superior to crowding around a computer screen. Having that box or photo album is far easier than trying to find where I put that blasted minuscule USB or where I left the CD that when I am lucky to find, is scratched.

You don’t want to trust this sort of thing to an amateur photographer, but someone who is world-class, acclaimed, passionate and more than capable. Someone who will provide customized, individualized service with a personal relationship. Someone who will give lots of unmentioned extras. This is what sets Abrah and Miss Z Photography from the rest.

After the photo shoot, you can set up a custom “in-person” ordering session and will spend time deciding on your prints and choose which ones to keep a la carte. You can also determine the size and number of photographs and whether they will be framed or not. The images are mounted on a matboard and are printed on high quality archival paper that is also fade resistant. They can be finished with a protective high end linen texture or on thick, highly textured fine arts paper called Hahnemuhle prints. Prefer canvas (including Lagniappe) or metal prints? You can have that. Want a high quality photo book or album? She’ll help you there as well.

Want to use a credit card? Want a payment plan? Looking for gift certificates to give a special gift to a friend or family member who is pregnant or just had a newborn? All covered by Miss Z.

If you want to read what people are saying, you can check out the testimonials on the website or Facebook. Want to see examples of her work or find out more about Abrah? Check out her blog or join the newsletter. If you sign up for the newsletter, not only will you get a 15 page e-book titled How to take more memorable photos of your children.” but you will also be among the first to know about model opportunities, specials, and fun happenings at Miss Z Photography studios.

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The photographs in this article have been formatted to be functional for viewing on phones, tablets and computers. They have been compressed and re-sized to speed up load times. They are poorer quality versions of the originals and do not accurately portray the high quality of the actual photographs nor the talent of the photographer. Please click the following links to see the actual quality.

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Miss Z Photography
227 Union St #412
New Bedford, Massachusetts 02740
Always open!
Phone: (508) 663-6544
Email: info@misszphotography.com
Facebook: facebook.com/MissZPhoto
Website: misszphotography.com/
Twitter: twitter.com/MissZPhoto

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“Union Street Railway terminal on Purchase Street in 1946. Osgood-Bradley delivered Car 403 (center) to the Union Street Railway in 1917. It proudly ran until trolley service ended in 1947.”-excerpted from Spinner Publications.

July of 2013 we reviewed Spinner Publication’s fine “A Picture History of New Bedford, Volume #1 ~ 1602-1925.” It’s been a long time coming for us history buffs, but the time has come: the area’s leader in historical publications is proud to release the second volume, “A Picture History of New Bedford, Volume Two ~ 1925-1980.”

The first book covered “ancient” history in terms of the United States. Beginning with the time of Bartholomew Gosnold’s arrival at “Smoking Rocks” in 1602, we traveled through history from when the nation could count its European presence on one hand – explorers, trappers, homesteaders and other pioneers – to just a few years shy of the Great Depression.

Spinner Publications is “famous” for their photo archives – those great black and white photos that instantly transport us back to our childhood or young adulthood or to a time period we find fascinating and perhaps for some of us, a time that we wish we could have experienced first hand.

However, the past few years Spinner Publications have shown themselves to be fine writers, editors, and producers of historical books. In fact, I’d go so far as to say they have actually outshone these popular photos – no easy task. These photos are fantastic, but the factoids, anecdotes, adding the context, and other commentary make them far more intriguing and memorable.

Why is Spinner Publications so good at this sort of thing? They possess an almost unparalleled passion for history, particularly local history. You have to love what you are doing to spend the amount of time it takes to put together world class publications like they do. Many of these photos would be “meaningless” without the hours and hours of research that went behind that one short caption. It’s so much easier just to put a bunch of photographs together in a book and add a version of summarized history that has been done a hundred times before. That would be the easy way “out.”

This book is gargantuan. Not just in size – but in quality of images, content, editing and overall production. One of the particular aspects that resonated with me the most – as a history buff – is that the book goes well beyond the obligatory and/or popular topics. A serious effort went into balancing the lesser known with the popular. I’m reading history, especially local history all the time – I’ve been doing it for decades, and I continually came across things I did not know, or had never heard.

My “specialty” is 17th-19th century and with this particular time period of 1925-1980, I’ll admit I know a lot less. By 1980, I was only 10 years old, so these things are out of my personal experience, but this is a time period that plenty of locals can actually recall and reminisce about. In fact, don’t be surprised if you come across an image of yourself or someone you know!

The 372 page book is broken into three chapters: 1925-1941 Stacks to Masts, 1942-1960 War & Peace, 1960-1980 Winds of Change. Each chapter has hundreds of gorgeously assembled pages, is positively jam-packed with crystal clear, high resolution photographs, and accompanied with balanced amounts of information. You don’t get so much that you get bored, you don’t get so little that you are left wondering.

The book is like hopping into a TARDIS and instantly visiting these years. You will see buildings, houses, neighborhoods, people and places that you grew up around. If you didn’t grow up around these things, you’ll get to see what was in the places you visit today. Since I’m downtown quite often and typically going up and down Union, Purchase and William Streets, it’s really fascinating to look at these images and say to myself “Hey, Cafe Arpeggio is there now!” Just looking at an image and wondering where it is exactly is pretty darn fun.

This book is a serious historical contribution. It’s as monumentally iconic as the 1918 Zephaniah W. Pease’s “History of New Bedford”, W.A. Greenough & Co’s editions of “New Bedford Directory: of the Inhabitants, Business Firms, Institutions, Streets, Societies,” the multi-volume “Representative Men and Old Families of Southeastern Massachusetts” by J.H. Beers and Co. and their ilk. In many ways, it combines all the best elements of these giants in historical publications in a superior way.

What separates Spinner’s publications from the others is the sheer volume of photographs adding visual to the text you are poring through. Often when reading those other books you wish there were photographs paired with the text, but unfortunately the photographs are sparsely spaced – perhaps every few pages. If something is mentioned, there’s a photograph of it. You will see the inside of textile mills, schools and businesses. You’ll see the waterfront in many of its incarnations. What Route 18 looked like before the J.F.K. Highway was built. Trolleys heading up and down Union Street. Various fashions and businesses that have come and gone.

You’ll see photographs of a time when Soccer and Boxing were the most popular sport’s activities. Soda fountains, ice cream parlors, amusement parks, and skating rinks. You’ll read about ethnic communities whose presence was once dominant, but have virtually disappeared: Russian Jews, Norwegians, Germans, Albanians (New Bedford once had the largest population of Albanians in the state), and Chinese.

There are simply too many topics and subjects to name. It’s astounding and a remarkable amount of work clearly went into this volume which will rightly take its place as the go-to historical reference for generations to come. This history may be of New Bedford, but it really is insight into America’s history. If you enjoy history of New Bedford, the South Coast, Massachusetts, the nation or even the world, you will thoroughly enjoy this masterpiece. In fact, you may want to by multiple copies – they make the perfect gift, but you will continually return to it so will want it nearby!

The 9″x11″ book is available in hard cover or soft cover. In addition, there are 1,000 signed cloth editions for sale – each is numbered, Smyth sewn (sewn through the fold), and covered with a heavy dust jacket. Want to order the book, more info or get a sneak peek inside? Head to Spinner Publication’s website.

For a glimpse at more images and info on the book, head to Spinner’s Facebook Page that they built specifically for the books. For more info on Spinner Publications, you can check out their Facebook, website or Flickr account.

On February 23rd, Spinner Publications will host a book signing event at the New Bedford Free Public Library from 6:00pm-9:00pm. You’ll meet publisher Joseph Thomas and authors Alfred Saulniers and Jay Avila who will give a presentation on the photograph and text research they did to develop this book.

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This article will surely ruffle some feathers and get some people’s Irish up. So, let me pre-empt the content with a disclaimer: these are not the only ten great sandwiches. In fact, if I were to write what I believe to be the best sandwiches in greater New Bedford, the list would likely be 50 or more entries long. No one would read such a list. I’m simply picking ten of my current favorites…with a few honorable mentions.

This is simply one person’s opinion. Ten of one person’s fifty favorite sandwiches in no particular order. If you have a favorite that you think should be mentioned, by all means, mention it! Perhaps, it’s a sandwich I haven’t had and now can add to my Foodie Bucket List. I just want to let other foodies out there know about these sandwiches so they can share in my delight and I hope they will return the favor. Let’s have a discussion and share our passion: mouth-watering sandwiches!

01. From the Seoul’s Steak Sandwich

I’m always amazed at the response when I tell people about the Korean restaurant From the Seoul on Faunce Corner Road. Here is a place that I eat at once or twice per week – it’s not only one of the best eateries on earth, but it’s one of the most affordable eateries in the area. When you factor in the free appetizers (Ban Chan) it makes it a wonder that not everyone in greater New Bedford is aware of it.

I typically choose one of the soups – the Kimchi Jigae, Gamjatang, or Doen Jang Jigae- or the Korean standard, Bibim Bap. However, one “under the radar” dish that they offer is their steak or chicken sandwich. It’s a perfect fusion of Korean and American. It starts with a perfectly toasted hoagie bun. It has the tiniest layer of crisp and no sign of toasted char, if that makes sense. It is then jam-packed with lightly seasoned beef – you may have chicken if you prefer. If you’ve had Korean food before, you know that they typically marinate the tenderized, meat with a hint of slightly sweet and salty. It does not get in the way of the flavor of the meat – it just heightens it. Back-up singers, if you will.

Complimenting the hoagie and bed of meat are sauteed mushrooms, peppers and onions – optionally of course. It is then smothered in an appropriate – read, not “buried”- amount of blended Mozzarella and Cheddar and served with a side of some of the best French fries you can get anywhere. No joke.

If life has you down and you need a pick-me-up, head to From the Seoul. Anything you order will cheer you up, but their sandwich is guaranteed to work like a charm.

02. Mike’s Open Face Prime Rib Sandwich

I have enjoyed this Mike’s staple for as long as I can remember. Mike’s Restaurant in Fairhaven was the place to go when my brother and I behaved for a few days…ahem, hours in a row. A reward at the end of the week for fighting every temptation to wrestle, break things, or generally misbehave. “You boys have been good. Do you want to go to Mike’s?”

Mike’s is famous for this Prime Rib Sandwich: “12 oz. cooked to your liking and topped with Au Jus.” Of course, it has to be covered in Mozzarella cheese. Just typing those words kicked my salivary glands into production. There is something magical about what Mike’s does with prime rib. It’s as flawless of a steak sandwich as you’ll find anywhere on the South Coast. Buttery, tender, melt in your mouth heaping of prime rib on a white hoagie. It is topped in generous amounts of stringy, Mozzarella cheese and covered in that delectable, famous, salty Au Jus. I’m fond of saying “Madness.” when this sandwich arrives. It’s so good, that you feel like you are doing something bad.

It comes with the House Salad so you don’t feel too bad about ordering that much good at one time in one place.

03. Hangman Coffee Hut’s Fig-N-Cheesy Panini [CLOSED]

Hangman’s Hut is a hidden gem that many haven’t heard of. This little spot on Wareham Road in Marion is one of may most favorite spots on the planet. Not only do you get restaurant quality food at a cafe, but the service and atmosphere are second to none.

One of the things that makes Hangman Hut such a stand-out is the variety of sandwiches they offer. Picking one to highlight here is like picking a favorite child. I usually like one or two sandwiches on most cafe menus and stick with them, but I’m very fond of pretty much the entire sandwich menu at “Hangman’s.” It’s madness on top of madness.

One sandwich, in particular, is a recent addition and is off the charts amazing. Make your eyes water with joy type of amazing. The Fig-N-Cheesy Panini: Prosciutto, Fig Compote, Goat Cheese on your choice of bread which includes Portuguese Bolos and Pretzel Bun. I always opt for the slightly sweet Portuguese Bolos. Prosciutto, after to Sopressatta, is my favorite meat on the earth. It’s very rich and also expensive, so is a rare treat. In spite of its expense, the portion in this sandwich is very generous. It should be called the “Prosciutto Lover’s Panini.” The naturally sweet fig compote is made from scratch, of course and marries well with the saltiness of the Prosciutto.

A healthy portion of rich goat cheese rounds out the ingredients of this food menage-a-trois. Hangman’s Coffee Hut has another dozen plus sandwiches in this vein that are sure to please your palate. The Fig Deal is Fig Compote, Apple, Goat Cheese, Greens, Balsamic Vinegar. The Caprese is Basil Pesto, Mozzarella, Red Onion, Pepper, Tomato. There is even a dessert sandwich called the M&M Panini: Bacon, Nutella, Banana, Honey, Croissant.

You must try this off-the-beaten-path cafe!

04. Pour Farm Tavern’s Cubano

The Pour Farm Tavern is a local favorite watering hole. A place where hipsters, trust fund babies, bikers, artists, musicians, the elderly, the binge drinker, barfly and other denizens prefer to unwind. It is a veritable melting pot of all walks of life which is why it’s one of my favorite places to go.

While it is known for its astonishing variety of microbrews which are constantly being rotated, what it isn’t as well-known for, and should be, is the food coming out of the kitchen. I don’t know the story behind who is doing the cooking, but I do know that he sure as hell knows what he’s doing. This is restaurant quality fare being made by a genuine chef. I have mentioned in the past that I’ve had Cubanos all the way from here to Florida and the Cubano served at the Pour Farm Tavern rivals the best I’ve had.

“Smoked pulled pork, Cure 81 ham, Swiss cheese, pickle and a secret spicy sauce served on toasted torpedo roll with choice of side.” is how the Pour Farm describes their Cubano. The amount of care that went into each ingredient, and in compiling them into a quintessential Cubano is to be applauded. This isn’t a slapping together of the ingredients between two slices of bread. This is someone who has passion and pride in what they are doing and by the craftsmanship, this is someone who has had their fair share of Cubanos. I want one NOW.

05. Cravings Cakery & Cafe’s Smoked Salmon “Break-Wich”

Rounding out this first half of the countdown is Cravings Cafe on State Road in Dartmouth. This is another one of my favorite spots and another place that is known for one thing, but should be known for another. Cravings is famous for creating custom cakes that put to shame most of the creations you see on popular TV shows. Incredulity is the common response when people see the photo albums that we share.

While Cravings makes world-class cakes, cupcakes and other sweet treats they offer some phenomenal soups and sandwiches. While I am very fond of the Morning Special – 2 eggs, baby Spinach, and Vermont Cheddar cheese – when I feel like I’ve been a good boy and deserve something nice, I get the Smoked Salmon Break-Wich: a bagel of your choice with tomato, onion, capers, and homemade chive cream cheese and smoked salmon. That smoked salmon…just fresh, chilled, superior quality mouth-watering, and piled on. I could just eat it as it is and be happy. However, the freshly sliced tomato and onion, the hint of saltiness from the capers, and the made from scratch chive cream cheese, just push this into the stratosphere.

There’s no surprise here because everything that Jessica Marmelo and crew touch turns to food gold. They can’t do something mediocre if they tried. A Lox bagel is hard to find these days, and Cravings Cafe is one of the last bastions for this old classic.

Stay tuned for the second half of the “Ten of the Best Sandwiches in Greater New Bedford.” Have you had any of these sandwiches? Prefer a different sandwich at one of these places?

Since ubiquitous is a good way to describe how many insurance agencies there are, how do you choose one to trust with your property, livelihood, and possessions? No one wants to take chance with the most important things in our life. We won’t put them into just anyone’s hands.

Just like any business, there is a gamut that runs from mediocre to superlative when it comes to insurance companies. What are the earmarks and attributes of those that are at the top? We want friendly, knowledgeable, professional customer service. We want to be sold the highest quality products. We want a reasonable asking price that is appropriate to the service and product we are getting. We want to be a name, not a number.

Because of the commonality of insurance agencies, if we don’t get these requirements met, we don’t have to travel far – often walking distance – to take our business somewhere else. This “threat” is one of the positives of a capitalist economy: compete or die.

So, how do we sort through all of these insurance agencies? Do we “buy” into the marketing? Do we believe what the commercial is stating or implying about the business to be true? While I wouldn’t rule out that there are people who would “fall” for a commercial, its business mascot, or sales pitch, most of us require more convincing than that. Of all businesses, an insurance agency should be held to a higher standard – if we made a wrong choice in purchasing a policy we can’t simply return it like we can with other industries. Having found out you purchased the wrong insurance policy or bought it from the wrong people after disaster can have marked effects that can last a lifetime.

This higher standard comes down to anecdotes, word-of-mouth, and persistence. If a sister, best friend, or aunt says “I’ve been going to so-and-so for 15 years and never had a single problem.” or shares a story about the time they had to actually redeem a policy, that carries weight. You listen.

And since there are many insurance companies and people can go down the road, you won’t last long at all if you aren’t providing all the aforementioned superlatives when it comes to service and product. One place that has been going above and beyond, is trusted by thousands, and is highly respected, is Cordeiro Insurance Agency of Fall River. The proof as they say is in the proverbial pudding: they are celebrating their 30th anniversary this year. 30 years of impeccable service speaks for itself.

The agency which Anthony F. Cordeiro himself founded in 1987, has thrived off of what they feel is the best form of advertisement: word-of-mouth. Indeed, their slogan – which they take seriously – is “Stability, Integrity & Trust.” Treat people right, stand by your word, and follow through and people will talk and tell their friends, families, and neighbors.

It has worked swimmingly.

They have successfully served and continue to serve thousands of families and companies throughout Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. Mr. Cordeiro iced that “cake” by telling me that he feels this is a privilege and one he is grateful for. He’s doing something he wants to do and has a passion for. His work is his inspiration: he finds great reward in the ability to assist people in protecting their most valuable assets such as their autos, homes, businesses, and future of their families.

When asked about the success of the agency, Anthony stated “We’re a family-owned boutique agency, we are highly involved with our clients and their lives, and we listen to the needs of our clients and aim to serve them.” In that vein, Anthony and the rest of the staff, feel the first step is informing and educating the customer so they can make better decisions.

You may be baffled to find that if you shop for a policy with any of the agents at Cordeiro Insurance Agency, you may hear them recommend a cheaper option – they may even talk you out of an expensive one. Seems counter-intuitive, but they want what is best for you, not to upsell you. They are already successful and don’t need to “milk” you. When you do the right thing, word-of-mouth spreads. That is their preferred method of generating revenue.

“We genuinely help you get exactly the coverage you need to safeguard your home, family, property, or business. Not more, not less. Exactly.” declared Anthony. Besides that integrity, they offer a comprehensive line of personal and commercial insurance products – serviced by a veteran team of insurance professionals with over 125 years of combined experience in the industry.

So who would benefit most from considering Cordeiro Insurance Agency? Millennials who are now searching for policies separate from their parents, first-time homebuyers, owners of multi-family tenement homes, employers seeking commercial, worker’s liability, and/or health insurance for their businesses and employees, and individuals who are unhappy with their current agency/agent. In essence, everyone.

For many it comes down to affordability. A lot of companies offer great service, great options, and are very accessible. The sole barrier is cost. You can stop in and compare prices for yourself with no obligation and you will find them to not only be very competitive, but for the price, Cordeiro Insurance Agency will be hard to beat.

Outside of helping people make the best possible decisions when it comes to a policy, and then protecting them, Anthony F. Cordeiro Insurance Agency,is proud to play a leading role in supporting key community initiatives that are improving the quality of life for everyone here in southern New England. It makes a lot of sense: helping the community thrive translates into more customers!

If you are unhappy with your current insurance agency because of poor service, being treated like a number, rates have skyrocketed, or you would prefer to talk to the face of someone local rather than go through a website or outsourced operator, you’ll be pleasantly surprised with your experience with any of the staff at Cordeiro Insurance Agency.

Don’t fall for a silly lizard, general, or quirky, annoying actress. “Fall” for a local insurance agency whose proven success is based on friendly, professional service, decades of experience, and thousands of satisfied customers that live right next door.

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Executive Team

Anthony F. Cordeiro
President & CEO
30 years experience
Holds Series 7, Series 13, and Principal 24 Securities Licenses
Insurance licenses in Property, Casualty, Life, Accident, and Health
Certified Chartered Pension Professional
Licensed real estate broker in Massachusetts
Bachelor’s degree in Accountancy from University of Massachusetts- Amherst
MBA with a concentration in Finance from Bryant College

Helinette Souza
Operations Manager
30 years experience
Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from University of Massachusetts- Amherst

Mark Cordeiro
Account Executive
9 years experience
Series 7 General Securities registration
Series 63 State Securities registration
Insurance licenses in Property, Casualty, Life, Accident, and Health
Bachelor’s degree in Accountancy from Bryant University

Paul Rebello
Account Executive
26 years experience
Insurance licenses in Property, Casualty, Life, Accident, and Health

Andrew Cordeiro
Account Executive
5 years experience
Insurance licenses in Property, Casualty, Accident, Sickness or Health
Bachelor’s degree in Accountancy from University of Massachusetts- Dartmouth

Melanie Cordeiro
Marketing Director
2 years experience
Bachelor’s of Science degree in Business Management from Providence College

Staff

Lyn-Marie Silvia
Receptionist/Front Desk
1 year experience

Christine Pavao
Commercial Lines
15 years experience
Customer Service Representative

Laurie A. LaCroix
Personal Lines
8 years experience
Customer Service Representative

Ashley Pimentel
Personal Lines
7 years experience
Customer Service Representative

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Cordeiro Insurance Agency
171 Pleasant Street
Fall River, Massachusetts 02721
Phone: (508) 689-5885
Email: melcordeiro@cordeiroinsurance.com

Mon-Fri: 9:00am-5:00pm
Saturday: 9:00am-12:00pm

Facebook: facebook.com/AnthonyFCordeiroInsurance/
Website: cordeiroinsurance.com/

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In November, we shared some of the great things that the family owned and operated Care Free Homes is doing in the community and beyond. Donating to charitable organizations, giving away roofs in their “No Roof Left Behind” program, and honoring our veterans and those who have served with substantial rebates in their “Roof Fro Troops” program are just a few of the ways that they choose to give back.

The biggest demonstration of who they are and how big their hearts are is with their extremely generous Care Free $25,000 Home Makeover Sweepstakes. Yes, you read that right: 25,000 big ones, smackeroos, duckets, shekels, greenbacks. Some lucky person or family will get a whopping $25,000 worth of products and services towards their home. They could choose to spend that money on marketing, but they feel giving back to the community is the best marketing there is.

Well, they are at it again!

This year’s Care Free $25,000 Home Makeover Sweepstakes is underway and began on Sunday, January 31 and it will end on April 30, 2016. If you are a homeowner, you are eligible. Simple as that. You can register online or in person at any one of their shows across the South Coast, like the Greater New Bedford Home Show, the Hyannis Rotary Home & Garden Show, the Plymouth Home Show, and the Bristol County Home & Garden Show.

What will the lucky winner receive? Your home will be wrapped in vinyl siding by industry leader, Mastic Home Exteriors. Their gorgeous Carvedwood 44 premium vinyl siding is very durable in all weather and has the appearance of natural wood. Care Free Homes is of course, a Mastic Elite contractor qualified to install this award winning siding.

Your roof will be replaced with the high quality GAF Timberline Lifetime Roofing System. GAF is North America’s largest manufacturer of commercial and residential roofing and they got that way by utilizing the finest and most rugged material available. Care Free Homes is one of the elite qualified contractors: they are a GAF MasterElite contractor and excel at doing exactly this so well, that they won the GAF Consumer Protection Excellence Award.

It doesn’t stop there: the winner will also receive Harvey Classic vinyl replacement windows for their home. Care Free Homes is the only Harvey Elite Dealer in the South Coast. Harvey has been producing world class windows for almost 60 years and are the region leader in engineering leak-proof, tough windows. The elite series, like all their windows comes with their industry-leading warranty: it covers the window and parts for life and a lifetime glass breakage warranty.

Can you imagine what your house would look like with new siding, new windows and a new roof? Care Free Homes turned last year’s winners home into a new home in just a few weeks – so you can watch in amazement how efficiently and expertly the experienced construction team works as your new home gets a makeover.

To get a glimpse of the quality of products Care Free Homes utilizes and the craftsmanship and pride that goes into their work, check out last year’s winner here Their green asphalt shingles were were replaced with Mastic’s Carvedwood 44 premium vinyl siding, English Wedgewood which gives the appearance of natural painted Cedar clapboard. Since their roof was in perfect shape, Care Free replaced the roof on their 2 car garage with a GAF Lifetime Roofing System’s Pewter Gray to match the roof of the house. The windows were replaced with Harvey’s energy efficient versions in a six over one grid pattern.

If the before and after images aren’t convincing enough, the response from the winning family and their glowing review on Care Free Home’s Facebook page and on Guild Quality should push you off the proverbial fence. You can see a video of the reveal here.

The homeowners raved: “The Mastic siding is gorgeous. Our beautiful new Harvey windows add so much curb appeal. The Timberline roofing tops it all off. The Care Free staff and crew were so wonderful and easy to work with! A fantastic family run business with great employees.” The young daughter of the family perhaps said it best: “They took our house from the ugly duckling to a beautiful swan.”

Want to enter to be just like this family? register online here. No purchase is necessary, simply fill out the registration form and click “submit” and you will then have a chance to to win a $25,000 home makeover courtesy of Care Free Homes.

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Care Free Homes Spotlight
239 Huttleston Avenue
Fairhaven, MA
Phone: 508-997-1111 or Toll Free: 1-800-407-1111
Email: info@carefreehomescompany.com

Hours of Operation:
Mon-Fri: 8:00am-5:00pm

Website: carefreehomescompany.com/
Facebook: facebook.com/carefreehomes
Twitter: twitter.com/makeitcarefree
Instagram: instagram.com/carefreehomesinc/
YouTube: youtube.com/user/carefreehomesinc

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The very first Building 19 location in Hingham. (Jared and Corin)

Here is another installment in our Who Remembers? series. You can browse previous articles by using the search bar on the right or by clicking here. These articles are strolls down memory lane. In some cases the buildings, but new businesses have replaced them. In other instances, the buildings or even the properties have been razed. Instead of a building, it may be a TV show, personality, or commercial that no one longer exists. Either way, it can’t stop us from taking the Memory Lane stroll!

As always we would rather this be a discussion. No one knows this area better than those who grew up here! Please, leave constructive criticism, feedback, and corrections. We’d love to hear your anecdotes. Please share!

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The Building 19 at 19 Hathaway Road is responsible for a lot of great memories. Say the words “Building 19” and it immediately conjures up memories of the comic-style murals, newspaper inserts, and amazing deals.

Their advertising style may have been joking, but their deals were no laughing matter. Serious deals. On top of that it was just plain fun to visit. When my mom said she was going heading to Building 19 and asked if I and my brother wanted to tag along, the reply would be a universal and coordinated “DUH!” For parents, it was all about fantastic deals, that frequently rotated inventory (often very oddball) which always meant surprises, and an attempt to tire the kids out with all the walking and excitement. Fat chance.

For kids, the savings meant you were more likely to get a “Yes.” to a request to get something for yourself. The energy, hustle and bustle of that store was contagious. Heading to Building 19 was like heading to the mall. It was exciting.

So, writing a “Who Remembers?” article on such a place doesn’t come without melancholy. I’d rather not be writing an article recalling Building 19. I’d rather be visiting it.

The mill building responsible for these memories was built in 1917 and encompassed 13.2 acres. The Building 19 company was founded at Hingham in 1964 by Jerry Ellis (born Gerald Elovitz) and Harry Andler. Before long ten locations across Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island would open with the slogan “Good stuff cheap!” and use adverts that would use pithy statements like “If you can’t find what you’re looking for, buy something else.” Of course, everyone fondly recalls the free coffee while shopping, which was accompanied with “Free fake cream.” He would use this sense of humor to label many of the goods, including what would be considered today to be incredibly un-PC, white tank top t-shirts called “Wife beaters.”

While Ellis himself was behind the creation of these soundbites, it was Scituate native Matt Brown who was responsible for the popular artwork. He simply answered an ad placed by Ellis in 1967. He was hired for $5 an hour and worked part-time when he wasn’t teaching Math at Scituate High School. Brown wouldn’t find out for years, that he was actually the only cartoonist to answer the ad.

Often the artwork would depict Ellis being pushed about to work harder and find better products for customers by the taskmaster, co-founder Jerry Andler.

The idea behind the name? It’s in perfect line with the slogan and brand of the store: Mr. Ellis just used the name of a sign that was already on the building – a mill at Bethlehem Hingham Shipyard. Since he didn’t feel that the store would be open long enough to matter, he didn’t feel that putting much thought behind it would be practical.

Ellis was just taking advantage of what he thought was a temporary opportunity to purchase a bunch of products that local merchants were trying to discard because of overstocking, irregularities – often unnoticeable- or because they had some defects.

A book with torn or bent page, a box on a small appliance that had been opened, an item that was outdated or discontinued – who knows what they reason was? All that mattered is that they were drastically reduced in price for very minor reasons.

If the stores were so popular, why did they close down? The reasons were because of an ever evolving consumer market, cheaper goods because of overseas wholesaling and competition from many similar close-out style stores and dollar themed shops.

In addition, the internet flattened the world, allowing people to find even cheaper prices from poorer countries. Ellis absolutely loved the stores and operating them, but after almost a decade of not generating profit, he reluctantly had to close the doors. The company would eventually file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2013 and slowly close all ten locations to the disappointment of many locals.

I would give my left arm to have some of that cheap watered coffee and fake cream.