The first thing that comes to mind for many people when Libad’s Seaside Tavern is mentioned is their showcase on the Bar Rescue television show. You would do yourself a serious disservice if you let any television show that is less than an hour long depict any person, place or business accurately. You do yourself an even greater disservice if you let the show represent what is an absolutely fantastic local destination. In fact, just dump whatever you think you know about Libad’s right out of the window.

Since the show, Libad’s has undergone a revitalization solely on word-of-mouth. Sure they have built a new kitchen, vastly improved the decor, staff and service – but the food. That food.

When people voluntarily tell you how great of an atmosphere Libad’s has, how delicious the pizza is, how perfectly priced the drink and food menu or how accommodating and friendly the staff is – you know that it has to be true. Folks aren’t getting paid. They get nothing out of it. It’s an honest unprompted opinion. That’s the best kind of advertising there is.

Libad’s Seaside Tavern is all of those things and more. My first visit to Libad’s was many years ago – perhaps 7-8 years have passed. I went sporadically, because nothing special really stood out. It was a bar, like many other bars spotted throughout the city. Same beer, same staff and same greasy spoon menu. Nothing compelled me to return.

Then slowly I would hear rumblings about Libad’s. I would notice many of my friends were “heading to Libad’s.” Then I would hear it again. And again. And again. Then when the show kicked off, it was the talk of the town…er, city.

Then the chatter really began to pick up. I heard “…pizza, beer and burgers for $7, Mozambique pizza, deals, fun, HAND-TOSSED pizza.” Something was going on. Being the foodie that I am, I had to see what the hoopla was about. I launched a food investigation. An APB was put out. Joe was on the case and it was about “Just the facts.”

Libad’s is right across the street from Hazelwood Park, which the city and community has done an absolutely fantastic job with. Very scenic and a photographer’s delight. The frontage was distractedly clean – if something as relatively unimportant as the front was taken care of, you’d expect a lot of extra attention to detail going on with the interior, service, and fare.

Yep.

Clean, friendly, warm, and inviting. I love that when you walk into Libad’s, you feel like you are inside a 19th century whaler – the floor, rafters and walls are all wooden. This is New Bedford after all – whaling capital of the world for decades.

Manager Joshua Roderiques – an intimidating figure by stature alone, was very friendly and talkative. When I told him it had been years since I’d been to Libad’s and I wasn’t sure what to get, his eyes widened and a smile cracked his face “Pizza – anything Mozambique. Right now you can get a personal pizza and a draft starting at $6.”

What?

You can’t even get a combo meal at a hamburger joint with sides and a drink for $6. Criminy, most decent beers are at least $4.

There was chicken, scallop and shrimp Mozambique to choose from, and I chose the shrimp version. Because they cook the pizza at high temperature, that means the pizza comes out FAST. I can’t imagine more than 5-6 minutes went by before the pizza landed. It arrived on a rustic wooden board – which I really like.

The aroma was just wonderful – lend me liberty and hear me out. If you’ve read spotlights on restaurants before, you know how I will NOT budge when it comes to fresh, non-processed food. Having worked in the seafood industry most of my life, I can not only recognize instantly if you are insulting me with processed seafood, but I can actually smell processed seafood. I can smell fresh seafood.

Lo and behold, the shrimp were not processed. Honestly, I was shocked. Here was a detail, that could lower expenses and very few people would even notice. Especially ones who have had a few beers already. Details outside, details inside. Well done Libad’s.

The presentation on this pizza was beautiful: rustic perfectly cooked thick/thin pizza dough which had the right amount of crunch on the outside and softness on the inside – surely a product of hand-tossing the dough. The proper and I mean proper amount of sauce. Want to get on my bad side? Throw all the time and effort into making a great pie with perfectly cooked dough, into a tomato soup with soppy bread by drowning the pizza in sauce. Tangy, right amount of salt and sweet. Not trying to steal the show, but working with the parts.

There were no less than a half dozen succulent shrimp layered atop – again the theme here – the proper amount of cheese and Mozambique sauce. Do you really like Mozambique sauce? Don’t fret. It comes with a small tub of sauce for dipping. Salivating yet?

I am a veteran of Federal Hill and was raised in a Sicilian household – this pizza is as good as anything I have ever had. The pizza at Libad’s doesn’t just translate into mouth-watering deliciousness – the speed with which the pizza is cooked means even if you have a Scrooge for a boss and you have at best 30 minutes for lunch, it’s not a problem. Libad’s brilliance here is this: a South End eatery that understands its community. A fast, affordable lunch speaks blue-collar. Shrimp speaks New Bedford’s waterfront. Mozambique speaks Portuguese Community.

A lot of thought has gone into making this pizza and it is representative everything that goes on here.

Why so much effort and care? If you’re a cynic, you would wonder “Why would a place that serves such good fare waste their time in the South End? Why New Bedford?” I’m no cynic, and neither are the proprietors and siblings Jessica and David deMelo. They have roots.

Libad’s Seaside Tavern a family inspired idea, one especially dear to the patriarch, Portugal-born Liberio. The name Libad is Liberio’s nickname given to him by his football coach as a child. The family’s dream was to own a bar/restaurant and since Liberio got his new start in this country, right here in New Bedford’s South End, it was a no-brainer that the bar/restaurant be right here in New Bedford’s South End. To the deMelo family it represented opportunity and potential which the family still sees – in spite of the cynicism that seems to be a part of the character here. They feel that the South End is a hard working community that deserves to get recognized, not just for it’s work ethic, for its beauty as well.

They dream came to fruition in 2005 – a family owned and run bar/restaurant, which it still is today. They are vocal about being each other’s role models and how the closeness allows them to be brutally honest with one another. An important trait to successfully running any business. They are also very vocal about conveying and translating this filial attitude towards their extended family – the customers. In fact, I guarantee that the first time you go to Libad’s you will immediately feel like a regular. Look for Jessica, David or Josh and find out for yourself. Let me know if I’m wrong.

The love for New Bedford and the community at large not only extends to the customers in day-to-day business but their events throughout the year like the hugely popular annual Halloween Bash – a must-go event. Libad’s sources their produce and meats locally. In fact, their insanely delicious steaks and burgers (Bacon, Portuguese & Black Angus) come directly from Giammalvos Market, and the quahogs are from the Whaler’s Market. Everything else, like the hand battered Chicken Tenders (with 6 different sauces), Chicken Wings, Mozzarella Sticks, and Onion Rings are sourced right here in greater New Bedford.

You will find local artists are all represented on the wall’s at Libad’s. Take a look at their weekly entertainment offerings and you’ll find something interesting is going on.

Thinking about checking Libad’s out? Take a look at Libad’s Menu in the photo gallery below to see more of the prices and fare. Enjoy a game of pool? Monday is Pool League night and Thursdays mean FREE pool. Tuesdays are Tequila Tuesdays, Wednesday is Karaoke, Friday DJ Danny spins music and videos. Saturday there is also music with DJ Old School.

Want to watch the football game without having to spend time cooking? Enjoy all the great grub and beer offered at Libad’s on Sundays during the season. All week long you can check their Facebook to see what special is going on.

Libad’s is New Bedford and if you are a resident of greater New Bedford, you must swing by Libad’s and see what all the talk is about. If you see Jessica, David, Josh or me or Mike, be sure to say hi!

Libad’s Seaside Tavern
578 Brock Avenue
New Bedford, MA 02744.
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 11:00am-2:00am
Phone: (508) 992-8474
Email: libadsseasidetavern@gmail.com

Facebook: facebook.com/libads.seaside
Website: libadstavern.com/main/
Yelp!: yelp.com/biz/libads-new-bedford
Food Menu: libadstavern.com/main/menu/

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How would it feel to have mouth watering, moist and delicious gourmet cupcakes brought right to your door for a special occasion? You can have a major event like a birthday, anniversary or corporate meeting, even a wedding…or that “major” event can simply be “I want cupcakes, before I hurt someone.”

Cupcakes are all the rage these days. Gone are the times when you had 3-4 flavors to choose from. Today there are literally hundreds to choose from and when you throw in the option of toppings and fillings, the variety is almost endless.

New Bedford based Sugar Bear Sweet Shop is a delivery based business that brings a variety of cupcakes to your doorstep. In addition to offering the classics like chocolate and yellow cake, there is Oreo, Pumpkin, Red Velvet, Orange Creamsicle, lemon raspberry, Heath Bar, Mochaccino and more. There are special flavors just for the holidays. There are even cookies: classic chocolate chip and Nutella chocolate chip. Mmmmmmmm nutella.

Owner and baker Jessica Charon’s passion for making these tasty creations started when she began baking with her mom at a young age for fun. Cupcake mania didn’t manifest itself until early 2012 when her vision for a local sweet shop came to her. She started baking, found she had a knack for it, and has been hooked ever since. She decided to make her love a part of her livelihood and opened a her own business zoned, residential kitchen.

Now her focus is to constantly improve, come up with new, interesting, unique flavor combinations, and top them off with simple, classic, and of course delicious garnishes. She’ll be baking cupcakes for the rest of her life and thankfully she is sharing with the community!

While she has her standard menu of cupcakes, she is constantly coming up with new varieties and original creations – all with the highest quality and freshest ingredients. In fact, if you are the creative type and think you have some original ideas, you can field them to her and see your idea(s) come to life!

How Sugar Bear Sweet Shop works is simple. Take a look at her menu and make your selections – there is a minimum order of $20. Place your order at least two days before you want them to arrive. Then sit back, relax….with the extra time you now have, you can twiddle your thumbs if you want.

You not only save a boatload of time, so you can focus on preparing other elements for your special occasion, but you can have confidence that you will have a household (or yard-full) of happy, happy guests. I can personally attest to destroying some of Sugar Bear’s Mochaccino and Red Velvet cupcakes in my day. Well, maybe more than some. OK, OK, a lot of them, geez.

My biggest pet peeve is a cupcake that is in essence a sponge topped with a sugar icing where flavor seems to be an afterthought. The sponge sucks every drop of moisture from your mouth and the sugary icing spikes my blood sugar into the stratosphere. The sugar hides either a poor quality cake or low level baking. Same with cupcakes that are trying to get a “Wow!” factor with its sheer, massive size.

With Sugar Bear it is quality. About freshness. About flavor profiles. Every cupcake I have eaten has been moist and rich. The icing clearly has the flavor profile in mind and the proper amount of sweetness from the sugar. The proverbial icing (and pun) on the cake is that they are gorgeously decorated. All these combine into Sugar Bear’s version of the “Wow!” factor. The sight, aroma and flavor and not the size and amount of sugar. These are the Rolls Royce of cupcakes!

Jessica chose New Bedford to base her business in spite of the fact that she has lived as far away as Los Angeles. She has returned to her roots, because she feels that the city she loves has a lot of potential and is striving to reach it. She is steeped deeply in the local community and helps out a number of local causes. From now to the end of the year she is running a promotion with local charities: 10% of Sugar Bear sales will be donated to New Bedford charities and people will be able to make additional donations through the Sugar Bear website.

What we have with Sugar Bear Sweet shop is a local whose passion for baking cupcakes and cookies translates into a benefit for foodies and those with a sweet tooth. The delivery option is a genuine convenience that is a practical element when planning major events that have many spinning parts. A relief actually! Take a load off and consider Jessica and Sugar Bear Sweet Shop.

For more reviews and testimonials, you can check out Sugar Bear’s perfect 5 stars out of 5 stars review on Facebook. However, there is no better way than to sample Jessica’s delicacies for yourself!

Sugar Bear Sweet Shop
Email: info@sugarbearsweetshop.com
Phone: (508) 322-1441
Delivery is available to New Bedford, Dartmouth, Acushnet, Fairhaven, Mattapoisett, Marion, and Rochester.

Facebook: facebook.com/sugarbearsweetshop
Website: sugarbearsweetshop.com/
Instagram: instagram.com/sugarbearsweetshop

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Being a fanatic foodie, I have a top ten list of restaurants that I feel I must eat at once a week or minimum, a few times a month or life feels like it’s missing something. There’s a hole in my food soul.

Hey, we all have our vices. One of mine is the total dining experience – being around the best people in my circle, at a local eatery with a warm, professional staff, and succumbing to heavenly aromas, gorgeous presentations, and mouth watering fare. Hopefully, there’s some wine in the mix somewhere.

It’s rather difficult these days – uncommon at least – to find a place that is a perfect “storm” of these elements. When I have a superlative dining experiences, I have the intention to visit these places as often as possible, like visiting a loyal, old friend. I enjoy the banter that comes with being a frequent, regular customer and I particularly enjoy feeling like I’m valued for it.

Recently opened Ming Sushi on 774 Purchase Street in downtown New Bedford is exactly one of these places. An eatery where you will have a total dining experience – with all the sights, sounds, aromas that you would expect from one of the best. The owners are husband and wife Kexi and Mei Chen, Mei’s sister-in-law Miya Lin and brother-in-law Jia Lin making Ming Sushi a family-owned business. To say I was excited when I heard a sushi place was opening up downtown is an understatement. Actually, my excitement was accompanied with suspicion.

You see, some people take politics or religion quite seriously. Others place tattoo collecting, activities with adrenaline rushes, or their wine on a high pedestal. Me? I take sushi very seriously. The art and science of making sushi is itself a serious endeavor. It takes 10 years or more to even get to the point where you can serve sushi and in fact, one’s first 3 years as an apprentice is spent making rice. Just rice.

So each plate isn’t just about how stunning the display is. Each mouthful isn’t just about the delicious factor. Each bite is about an experience. You are tasting a piece of sushi that at a minimum took a decade to reach your mouth.

I say this with complete and total zeal: Ming Sushi is one of the finest sushi establishments on planet earth. Don’t be fooled by the fact that they have an “All You Can Eat” offering? The sushi that you receive is as good as anywhere I have ever been – and I’ve tried it all over the world. Any hardcore sushi-head can tell you from the first bite how fresh the seafood is, how perfectly cooked and moist the rice is – and at the end of the day, how darn delicious it is.

This is New Bedford, one of the top seafood ports on the planet – there should have been a sushi eatery in the heart of downtown a long time ago. On top of that, the seafood should ALWAYS be served fresh. There is no excuse for serving processed seafood – like many places do. Ming Sushi serves the freshest and that makes a huge difference is taste.

Moreover, I’d like to add that this goes far beyond sushi. In spite of the name, Ming Sushi has a full menu of “non-raw” items:

• Tempura – vegetables or seafood battered and deep fried, served with various sauces.
• Hibachi – grilled meats served with mixed vegetables, fried or white rice with Miso soup and salad.
• Teriyaki – meats or vegetables covered in a sweet, salty sauce and served with Miso Soup, and fried or white rice.
• Katsu – breaded, deep fried chicken cutlet served with a tangy, sweet, flavorful sauce.
• Udon noodle – thick wheat noodles served pan fried or hot pot style, served with Miso soup or salad.
• Bento Box – A full lunch “box” of katsu, teriyaki, or hibachi meat (chicken, beef, shrimp, salmon) or vegetables served with soup, salad, California Roll, Spring Roll, fried or white rice.

In addition they have Miso soup, fried rice, jalapeno poppers tempura, and more. Gyoza (dumplings), spring rolls, and eight types of salad round out the menu. So that means if you are a sushi junkie, like me, yet have some friends who are more reserved in their dining habits, you don’t have to leave them in the dust and eat without them.

There is a wide variety of appetizers, and of course you can order your sushi a la carte. These options are available for lunch or dinner or just any old time. The popular “All You Can Eat” lunch is $14.95 (7-12 years old – $7.99, 3-6 years – $3.99) and the dinner service is $19.95 (7-12 years old – $10.99, 3-6 years – $4.99)

Ming Sushi is a place that takes your dining experience seriously. Here is a restaurant that in less than a year’s time has made my top ten list. If online testimonials (45 – 5 star reviews out of 50) won’t convince you, take a walk by Ming Sushi and see how packed the place is!

I love that Ming Sushi is a family owned business and it certainly has that “vibe.” When I asked Mei what attracted her to New Bedford she stated, “New Bedford was our first pick – we love the downtown area because it is full of historic architecture and we think New Bedford has a lot of potential. We wanted to add something new, something fantastic and thought Japanese food would add more variety to this city!”

Ming Sushi just does Japanese perfectly. I look forward to seeing the sister’s smiling faces on a regular basis. Mmmmmm….I’m getting hungry. Time for some Teriyaki steak. I’ll see you there!

Ming Sushi
774 Purchase St
New Bedford, Massachusetts 02740
Phone: (508) 999-1113
Email: mingsushima@gmail.com
*Reservations are appreciated and necessary if the party is over 6

Monday – Thursday: 11am-9:30pm
Friday -Saturday: 11am- 10:30 pm
Sunday: Closed
Holidays: 11am- 9:30pm (dinner served all day)

Facebook: facebook.com/pages/MING-SUSHI
Website: mingsushima.com

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In this day and age, a vast number of the population utilizes and relies heavily upon technology. We are more “connected” than ever and the demand does not seem to be slowing down one…megabyte…er, iota.

Our smart-phones, tablets and computers keep us instantly connected with friends and family – and maintain our businesses. We find out the latest news about our neighborhood, country or beyond. We get updates on the most recent scientific discoveries as they happen and access to our databases, inventory and general ledgers. Our devices are store-houses of photo albums of our fondest memories. We record the important people in our lives, momentous events, places we’ve been to and eaten at, selfies, etc.

So it goes without saying, having those devices “down,” inoperable, or not functioning at their best, puts a real damper on things. Getting a BSOD (Blue Screen of Death), malware, virus, or having a device that is unresponsive or moves at a snail’s pace is a real bummer. Life stalls, and we want to get back on track as soon as possible.

Because of the importance of these devices and the role they play in everyday life, wouldn’t it be nice to have a go-to guy that knows exactly what the problem is when they arise and then repairs it quickly? Imagine someone who can finish your sentence as you are describing your issue. Someone that not only does that, but tells you right then and there that they not only know what the problem is, but know how to fix it and when you can come back and get your device.

We use a lot of technology in this day and age. Even an hour without one of our devices is a serious hit. It’s one we can’t afford. We need someone that we can trust our data with, that will get us back up and running as fast as possible, and without breaking the bank.

Evo Systems is the area’s premier computer repair and maintenance facility. Josh, Joe, Matt, and Marcus are the guys to trust to get the freight train back on track. They consistently handle the worst that you can throw at them and it’s obvious they have something personal with technological breakdowns. They see each one of our problems as a personal attack! They often joke about having something that can give them a genuine challenge, perhaps something they haven’t heard about yet.

While often they know straight away what the problem likely is, to be on the safe side, they run a full diagnostics overnight- which is ALWAYS free. Then they give you a call back telling you everything that they found, ask what it is that you want to do, and let you know how much it will be. You can then ask any questions you might have, give them consent to do the work, or say “No.” that you don’t want the work done. You don’t pay until you pick it up.

Josh, Joe, Matt, and Marcus are not just the employees, but they are the owners. We all know that it’s difficult to find really good staff – people who will be as passionate about the business as the owner is. What you get at Evo is that same passion and eagerness. They thoroughly understand how important each and every customer that walks through the door is.

They have such confidence in what they do that all of their services are guaranteed and their parts are warrantied. Combined they have over a half century of experience, and everyone is at a minimum is A+ certified, some have even more accreditation.

One of the points that they emphasized over and again is that it is best to be preventative about our technology. Don’t wait until the device completely stops working to bring it in. Regular maintenance – at least one a year – often turns out to be a wise decision, and one that ultimately costs you less. Get regular system tune-ups to catch a virus before it does real damage, close up security gaps that could lead to identity theft or data corruption/loss.

Ironically, this piece of advice is a proverbial “shooting oneself in the foot.” The guys at Evo Systems stand to make more money by repairing your defunct devices as opposed to cleaning and maintaining it at a cheaper rate.

In addition to offering state of the art computer diagnostics, virus and malware removal, system tune-ups, Evo Systems have new and refurbished notebook computers and desktops, and plenty of accessories. So you can not only get your computers repaired, but you can purchase some extras.

They are quite adept at upgrading hardware, doing full custom computer builds, do full security review and protection, networking design, maintenance and installation, and much, much more. Want to know more about what Evo Systems does? Go here for a full list of their services.

Evo Systems are also proud to give back to their community and are supporters of Youth Build and the Schwartz Center For Children.

If you have a computer that just seems to hate you and refuses to co-operate, need IT solutions for your business, feel you have a computer virus, or just genuinely stumped – give Evo Systems a call, so you can say goodbye to those computer blues!

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Evo Systems, LLC
1 Chace Rd. Unit 9
East Freetown, Massachusetts, 02717
Phone: (774) 202-2869
Email: support@thinkevo.com
Mon – Fri: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sat: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Facebook: facebook.com/EvoSystems
Website: thinkevo.com/

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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 are still there, 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!

How fun it is to wax nostalgic about things gone past. To pore over images that evoke vivid memories and often powerful emotions. I’ve often not thought even passively about something, yet the mere mention of it or a glimpse of a photo brings back a flood of memories – taking me right back to the very timeline when they were commonplace. It’s as close to time traveling as we have, isn’t it?

I have so many things I would positively love to share, but sadly we lack the images. Scores of articles would have passed if I had pictures to accompany them. Alas, recalling days of old is much harder to do without images to serve as a mnemonic device – there isn’t a more powerful and effective method of recall. Hint, hint! If you have pictures of greater New Bedford’s past, please consider sharing them with us, so we can offer many more of these strolls down memory lane.

In the past – pardon the pun – we have discussed landmarks, images and occupations that have been (almost) forgotten. This time around I’d like to share some services that have been almost forgotten. Of course, being 44 years old, there are services that have I never even heard of, or simply weren’t a part of growing up. That doesn’t mean you can’t share yours. By all means, do so!

Milk Delivery

Before chocolate milk, strawberry milk, and banana milk, there was….milk! Extracted from a 4 legged beast called cow, this strange liquid would be bottled in glass, sealed with a tin foil cap and dropped off at your doorstep or …gasp the milk chute, by sunrise. You simply had to open your front door or milk chute and there it was.

Before my time, you could leave out your own bottles or containers and the milkman would charge you according to the volume.

Wanted some cream, cheese or butter? No problem. Just leave a memo. When you were done, you rinsed, then placed the empty bottles back in the crate for the next day. Easy as pie. If you were up at the hour that the milkman made deliveries, it wouldn’t be uncommon to ask him to drop something off at a friend’s house down the road.

The occupation is mostly remembered today for being an abundant source of infidelity jokes. I’m willing to bet there are kids today who have cracked a milkman joke or two in their time – yet don’t actually know what a milkman is or did. Well, unless you share this article with them, that is.

Doctor’s House Calls

Here is a service that has almost come full circle. Yes, there was a time where you and your doctor had a semi-formal, in some cases, casual relationship. You could call him “Doctor” or even by his first name.

In the 1960s nearly half of visits with a doctor were done right at the patient’s home. There was a time when this was absolutely normal. Sadly, nowadays it sounds a bit odd. In an era, where a hospital itself can be a breeding ground for bacteria, and even a dangerous place in light of overworked, fatigued doctors, it seems that this idea could use some revisiting.

Of course, there are certain injuries or ailments that require modern technology and a large staff. However, there are some illnesses that would benefit all if the house call was brought back. In fact, it seems strange if you think about a very ill person, hopping into a car and driving themselves to a hospital where they sit in a waiting room spreading germs. Almost counter-intuitive.

A service that has almost come full circle? Perhaps, not quite. Maybe a partial circle. There has been a slight comeback in this service as some doctors are reconsidering and even practicing the concept – for reasons beyond the scope of this article.

Cobbling

No, this is not the software or the culinary art of producing fruit-filled pastries. A cobbler was the fellow who would actually handcraft shoes. Before mass production and Asian sweatshops, there was the lonely cobbler.

This man would repair your shoes, extending their longevity and it wouldn’t be uncommon to have the same pair of shoes for many years. Look sharp too!

This is perhaps the REAL “world’s oldest profession.” From the time that mankind needed to walk about and hunt, he needed something to protect his feet to allow him to chase prey or escape predators. This makes the loss of this profession and service a loss for humanity. If you know who to ask and where to look, you can still find a cobbler.

These days, the cobbler has been made mostly irrelevant and people prefer simply casting the shoes away and buying a new pair. Another science, craft or art-form lost to time.

Shoe Shining

Shoe shining or boot polishing are both still found in places like New York City, however it is a service that is an endangered species. At least in America. In many parts of the world, like India or Afghanistan, it is the sole source of income for women.

In the day of shoelaces, sneakers, and tennis shoes there is very little need for a shoe shine. Today’s fashion is primarily an informal one that seldom requires a pair of “dress-up” shoes. Even if a person owns a pair of shoes that could use a proper shoe shine, they are worn so little that, a little self-buff every 5 years does the job.

Paperboy

When I was growing up the newspaper delivery was the realm of one person: the teenager. Chosen delivery vehicle? The trusty BMX. Every teenage boy earned spending money to fund his comic book addiction or stamp collection. It was one of the last rites of passage for boys.

These days, because of inflation, cost of living and dwindling social security, many adults have a paper delivery route to make ends meet. With the retirement age being extended, people are undertaking a paper route as a non-labor intensive way to make extra cash.

Elevator Operator

I actually experienced this last week. The first time in decades. Many people in this new generation would think “Why would I need a person to push a button for me? How lazy!” Whippersnappers!

However, that really was not the primary job of an elevator operator in spite of the occupation’s name. There was an era when elevators would not automatically stop and would require manual timing. However, they were also part-greeter, part-tour guide. Superlative founts of information and a living directory – especially useful in tall buildings and in department stores.

Nowadays we have dissected the elevator operator and require many occupations and devices to do what they did. We have separate tour guides, greeters, information desks, directory placards, and customer service booths.

There is also the seemingly preferred method of exiting an elevator and looking about with a puzzled look, before popping back in and trying again.

Soda Jerker

A soda jerk would serve libation at a soda fountain at an apothecary or drugstore. Say what?

Once upon a time, the drugstore was the place to pick up your mail, some groceries and your medicine. Of course, if you were a kid, you looked forward to mom running these errands, because every drugstore had a soda fountain. One could pick amongst a number of flavors for your soda or ice cream float.

The soda jerk, was often a teenager or young man who would pull or “jerk” the lever or spigot to mix the soda (carbonation) and water which were on two separate taps – after putting in the flavored syrup of your choice. Some soda jerks attracted clientele by their showmanship or flair that they would exhibit while preparing the soda.

The last place I recall being served by a soda jerk at a soda fountain was at Woolworth’s Five & Dime.

Honorary mention should be made of the milliner or hatter, haberdasher, telephone operator, and street sweepers. What era did you grow up and what services to recall and miss?

The Zeiterion Performing Arts Center, known colloquially as “the “Z,” is well established for attracting world-class performers and performances to their venue and orchestrating fascinating, interesting and compelling content. Anything associated with the “Z,” is by default, guaranteed to be superlative in nature. It’s what they do. Who they are.

So, it should come as no surprise that the Zeiterion’s “Arts In Education” program carries equal weight. With an eye on community and the objective of making an impressive 2/3 of the Zeiterion’s programming educational or community based, the “Z” hopes to inspire local youth and enrich their lives through the arts. The Arts In Education’s curriculum-based “School Time Performance” programs provide a fantastic opportunity to do just that!

These theatrical, dance or musical offerings are of the same high quality that you have come to expect with the adult programs. The performances are carefully picked to be so compelling that captivating the minds of the spectators is done effortlessly.

Reaching 36,000 school children and teachers annually, the “Z” offers more than two dozen performances which will tantalize and engage children from kindergarten to 12th grade. The appropriately dubbed “School Time Performances” take place during regular school hours and take place either at the Zeiterion or by bringing the performances directly to your school via mini-performances, workshops/residencies and/or theatre-prep visits.

The in-school workshops/residencies are effective ways to deepen the student’s understanding of the arts in general and the subject matter specifically – all the while enhancing the theatrical experience. A crucial and integral aspect of the program is to fire up these young minds by engaging the kids – not piling them into seats in a passive capacity, then riding off into the proverbial sunset.

Indeed, many of the performances have pre and post-performance discussions – an informal interaction whereby the students explore themes and gain special insight into various aspects of performing arts. The interaction and greater intimacy lend themselves to a deep rapport between the students, performers, and their companies.

In addition, there are professional development workshops for the teachers who desire integrating arts into the classroom core curriculum. Furthermore, the Z offers on-line curriculum guides for teachers who wish to make these performances as meaningful as possible. Using a variety of topics, discussion points, resource materials and classroom activities, the curriculum guides, allow the interested students to really dig into the performances and topics in detail and depth. One does not have to put a stop to the topic after a performance ends.

Cementing the Z’s dedication to fulfilling the aforementioned objectives, they provide a number of resources to help in funding tickets, transportation, and costs for these programs. There is a genuine desire to bring the benefits and opportunities that performance arts provide to the South Coast’s school children.

Two performances in particular that I would like to showcase are Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs and Nazi Hunter: Simon Wiesenthal – The Conscience of the Holocaust performed by Tom Dugan.

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl is a slave narrative by Harriet Jacobs. Jacob’s powerful and often shocking autobiography details her life born into slavery in 19th century America. Born in North Carolina in 1813, Jacob’s life is a testament to endurance and perseverance in the face of darkness and tribulation. The 50 minute performance sheds light on the seven years she spent hiding in a crawl space in her grandmother’s attic.

There are no props, no set, no gimmicks – just a moving performance. Done verbatim, the solo piece is one that will certainly have a powerful, lasting sympathetic effect on all those who observe it. In addition, the pre and post-show discussion will deepen the student’s understanding of the dark period of America’s history and more importantly will explore themes of resilience, survival and human spirit.

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl takes place at the New Bedford Whaling Museum Theater on March 11 & 12 and is suggested for grades 7th-12th.

Nazi Hunter: Simon Wiesenthal – The Conscience of the Holocaust is another solo performance about perseverance in the face of a dark period in history: The Holocaust. Jewish-Austrian Simon Wiesenthal, was studying at university in Poland at the outbreak of World War II where he was placed in a Jewish ghetto – a neighborhood where people were often enclosed, movement was monitored, and basic rights were stripped.

Within months Wiesenthal was sent to forced labor in a number of Nazi concentration camps from 1941-1945 until his liberation by Americans on May 5th 1945 – weighing a shocking 90lbs. Wiesenthal then spent the remainder of his life hunting Nazis and war criminals, bringing an estimated 1,100 of them to justice.

Actor Tom Dugan captures the personality – particularly the wit and humor – of Wiesenthal and threads it throughout his performance which will enthrall everyone.

Nazi Hunter: Simon Wiesenthal – The Conscience of the Holocaust takes places at the Zeiterion on April 16th.

These two special installments in the Z’s “School Time Performances” are just a small example of the many fascinating topics covered. You can get much more than a glimpse, by visiting the Zeiterion’s dedicated page which not only incudes more information about the Performances, In-School Workshops & Residencies, but has the 2014–2015 School Time Brochure (can also be downloaded), a FAQ, directions, resources on grant opportunities, and all of the curriculum guides.

Zeiterion Performing Arts Center
684 Purchase Street
New Bedford, MA 02740
Phone: (508) 994-2900
E-mail: info@zeiterion.org
Facebook: facebook.com/zeiteriontheatre

Owner Kelli Tomlinson’s sheer passion for animals, led her to open Diamond in the RUFF Grooming Spa & Daycare at 111 Middle Rd, Acushnet, Massachusetts 02743. Open Mon – Sat: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm.

We all have our days when the world has beaten us down and we could use a little boost. A slice of happiness, a dose of pampering, or some kind and gentle encouragement. OK, perhaps a heaping, mountain sized amount of them! We all understand the benefits of getting “the treatment” – some good old fashioned loving, that lifts the spirit and keeps us walking on cloud nine for days.

Our best friends – nay our family – in the form of our dogs are no different! Our sidekicks, partners in crime, or left-hand pals are susceptible to stress and can be adversely affected by it, just as we are. Whether an introduction of a new pet to the household, a relocation, perhaps an accident that led to injury any something else. There are a whole host of reasons and an animal can be stressed and need a little tender loving care.

And just like us – we simply don’t need a reason for some pampering!

Regardless whether you have a reason or not, when we want to take care of our furry friends we won’t trust them with just anyone. After all, our pets are family and we wouldn’t leave a family member in the hands of someone we felt uneasy about. Enter Diamond in the RUFF, a full service dog grooming, spa and doggy daycare in Acushnet, MA and its owner Kelli Tomlinson.

Though born in New Bedford, Tomlinson grew up in Acushnet. Greater New Bedford is where her heart is. She has a bonafide love for animals and was determined to find a way to be around them as much as possible. What better way than to make a career out of it and start your own business?!

Originally begun out of her garage, it grew into a labor of love and a full blown career. A direction she couldn’t be happier with. “A defining moment for me was when I realized while playing with a daycare group and having a good time, I thought to myself ‘WOW! I am really doing what I love. PUPPIES!!!'” began Tomlinson enthusiastically. “I enjoy getting up every day and going to work. They say choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life. Well that about sums up my life!”

Both Tomlinson and sister, pet stylist and trainer, Kaitlyn Correia have dreamt about this since they were little gals. From the moment you walk into the salon they are committed to giving you and your dog personalized attention and affection. Spot, Fido or Rover (do these names even exist for dogs any more?) will receive a thorough pampering. Rex will really feel like a king and Prince will really feel like a prince! This is the sort of passion that translates into something special and something special is exactly what Diamond In the Ruff has going on.

When Diamond In The RUFF says they are a full-service salon, they mean it. What types of services are offered? (Each title is a link to more info!)

• Doggy Daycare: Indoor agility course, living room themed lounge area for relaxation and socialization, exercise walks outdoors, one on one attention, and play activities. New features and activities are added and changed all the time, to keep your best friend mentally stimulated.
• Spa Services: Nail trim, soft claws application, plaque removal, teeth brushing, a shampoo and condition, dry skin/full oatmeal treatment, de-shedding shampoo & condition, Blueberry or Oatmeal facial, de-matting, trim to face, feet or fanny, and paw treatment.
• Salon: Diamond in the Ruff utilizes the HydroSurge® bathing system. If you are unfamiliar with it, it is a specialized pet bathing systems that professional groomers and veterinarians use. Originally invented to be forceful enough to get medicated shampoos deep into a dog’s fur, or to the skin. What was discovered was that the dog’s felt like they were getting a massage and absolutely loved it!

In addition to these world-class services there is a salon boutique stocked with high quality leads, leashes, collars, harnesses, vitamins, fragrances, natural flea and tick treatments, Advantix (single doses), hot spot and skin disorder treatments.

As you can tell, just about everything that your dog could possibly need or want outside of surgery is covered. Most importantly, at an affordable – not outrageous – price. If you are a pet owner like myself, and have shopped around I’m pretty sure that you will be shocked at how affordable.

Diamond in the Ruff is conveniently located, has plenty of street parking and a parking lot and open Monday through Saturday from 9:00am-6:00pm. Every time I’ve gone, I’ve been warmly greeted within seconds. If you are looking for a professional, safe, secure place for doggy daycare or grooming you would be pleasantly surprised that there is a superlative facility right in your own backyard! If you’re still not convinced you can check out their reviews which is currently a perfect 5 stars, or their puptorials which are pictures of happy customers.

To celebrate their grand opening there will be a huge celebration on Sunday, October 12th, from 11:00am-4:00pm. There will be a visit from Minnie and Mickey Mouse, face painting, a dog Halloween costume contest, Wicked Kickin’ Savory Cheesecakes, bouncy house, raffles and more!

Diamond in the RUFF Grooming, Spa & Daycare

111 Middle Rd
Acushnet, Massachusetts 02743
Phone: (508)763.5351
Mon – Sat: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm

Email: Diamondintheruffgroomingandspa@gmail.com
Facebook: facebook.com/Diamondintheruffspa
Website: diamondintheruffspa.com/

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The old adage “Time flies!” becomes increasingly louder as we get older. What seems like a tired cliche begins to gain momentum and demands attention. Seems like last year I was changing my daughter’s diapers and all of a sudden I am having conversation about world affairs, geography, and DNA with my 13 year old daughter.

How did that happen?!

It’s a great reminder that often we go through our day on a sort of auto-pilot. Days merge into days, weeks become a blur and years pass in fast forward. Recalling nostalgia is a fantastic way to take a bit back from the speeding progress of time. A rewind or pause.

There is something odd about the entire process. These things we recall are often not even things we were fond of when they were prevalent. In fact, we may even dislike or despise them – yet, conjuring them evokes a smile or chuckle.

Here are five “technologies” or gadgets that we’ve likely forgotten. However, at their mere mention we declare “OH YEAH!!” Thus they are “(almost)” forgotten. Let’s have a little fun!

The Payphone

One day while driving my daughter asked me about what things were like when I was a kid. During the discussion I told her about the phone booth and payphones. I mentioned that if your car broke down, you would have to walk about and find a payphone, then pay 10 cents or make a “collect call.” She genuinely thought I was pulling her leg. “Why would you do that instead of use your cell phone?” she asked. Every once in a while, I will come across a payphone stall (not a full fledged booth with the collapsing door) and will point it out so she can see that it’s not a practical joke. Even funnier is when I brought out an old phone from the attic, complete with spiral cord all tangled up. “Why would you need a chord on a phone?”

I remember a local call costing 10 cents, then eventually going up to a quarter before becoming obsolete. Does anyone remember it costing less than a dime?

School Nostalgia

In the day of hollow plastic pencils with replaceable lead, it’s becoming less common to come across the genuine article. A yellow, No. 2 pencil (NOT wax) with a red rubber butt. When the pencil became dull, you would raise your hand (remember that?!) and ask to use the pencil sharpener.

The pencil sharpener would be a sturdy metal contraption that was bolted down onto the most solid object in the classroom. You would select the right size opening for your pencil, stick it in, and turn the crank with old-fashioned elbow grease.

There was the heavy and dangerous paper-cutter with it’s chopping blade. Nowadays, you would need 10 permits, a license, 3 inspections and a government agency bribe to have one in a classroom. Of course, only in New Bedford.

There giant rubber erasers and the brown paper bags to make as book covers, that were scribbled on and decorated with stickers. Also the small plastic chairs, that every boy learned early on – do NOT attempt a cheek sneak with one of these cheers. Instead of “silent and deadly,” you’ll get “louder and not so prouder.”

Wired remote control

In a day and age when everything is wireless, it’s easy to forget when everything was physically connected and wireless wasn’t so commonplace. The wire for the television remote resembled the telephone wire. Tripping over the wire while someone was fumbling with the remote became a seeming past-time for many of us. The great thing about it? It never disappeared into the black hole that remotes (and guitar picks and socks) seem to disappear into. You never had to turn the couch upside down, tossing cushions willy-nilly in an attempt to find it. You just needed to follow the yellow-brick cord.

8-Tracks, Walkman & Albums

Today we have digital music that streams. Rewind, fast forward and skip to a favorite track in a second flat. Hop from artist to artist at the click of a button. Hundreds and thousands of songs at an instant reach. However, for many of us it was a matter of bulky media or guesswork. 8-tracks were just phasing out for me, so it was the album and the cassette tape. Wanted to skip to a favorite song? Put in the right side of the cassette, then fast forward or rewind then play and hope you were close. Rinse and repeat. Maybe after 45 seconds you’d be ready to enjoy your song.

Albums were easier because you could site the tracks. Just do a count and drop the needle. However, albums could be ruined with a scratch and often played with a bit of background static or white noise. I know some actually enjoy that aspect of albums.

Pager or Beeper

Nowadays, teenagers – perhaps even younger – have the latest and greatest iPhone for $400 and up. However, “back in the day” if you were cool you had a pager clipped to your belt. Pull out your phone, text your kids or grand-kids and tell them “14” and “17_31707_1” or “123.” Tell them how you would tell your girlfriend or boyfriend “45” and “607.” Sure, they will probably tell you how uncool and unhip you are, but at least you’ll have a laugh.

Floppy Disks

While these days Terabyte and Petrabyte are tossed around, kilobyte was “it” at one time. The media of the day were Floppy Disks, which could hold a whopping 175kb of data when they first arrived for the public in 1972. Storing a large image would have been laughable, let alone vast libraries. Music files didn’t even exist, so we won’t even go there. You could store some simple text files, or small programs using the BASIC language. Apparently the computing community still thinks fondly of these as even today the floppy disk icon is used to download files.

Mattel Handheld Games

Perhaps my favorite item on this list. Mattel handheld games were the original “Gameboys,” albeit you could only play one game as these were not run by cartridges. These games were perfect for boring waits at the doctor’s or dentist’s offices, vacations on the toilet, and for when you were grounded and banished to your bedroom for hours. All the major sports were represented: basketball, baseball, soccer, football and hockey. However, there Battlestar Galactica, Formula Racer, Bowling and Armor Battle were popular favorites – which you could always try by swapping a game with a good friend for a week or two. In all there were sixty handheld games to choose from.

Drive-In Theater

I think there is a statute of limitations and that it has expired. You can confess now without penalty. If you hid in the back seat under a blanket, in the trunk or back of a van to “gip” the entrance fee to get into the drive-in, raise your hand. I have fond memories of running around the lot freely, utilizing the playground, and sitting on the hood of the car. There was a genuine intermission. Anyone remember intermissions?! The movie would stop, everyone would race to the concession stand and resupply. You would typically have 10 minutes if I recall correctly.

The Fairhaven drive-in was the one I went to the most. I wish they would bring it back, I would certainly go! I’m sure I’m not alone. However, I won’t hold my breath. If you would like to take a stroll down memory lane, there still exist drive-in theaters within driving distance. There are theaters in Leicester, Mendon, Wellfleet, and North Smithfield, Rhode Island.

What were your memories like from this list? What gadgets or technologies do you miss the most?

Are you a witch? There are still laws on the books that will get you banned! (Joseph E. Baker, 1892)

Blue Laws have reached an almost urban legend level status – sometimes making it difficult to separate fact from fiction. It’s not uncommon to hear a few mentioned during a social. In fact, they make great ice breakers and spur on conversation. Those laws that the early settlers passed will cause our friends and family chuckle, but there was a time when they were no laughing matter. The vast majority of these laws were created by puritans who wanted to enforce a religious standard – an enforced morality if you will.

Many, if not most, revolved around Sunday – the Sabbath day. As most Americans know, theist or otherwise, Sunday is the day of rest. No activities were to be undertaken on Sunday. The early Europeans settlers took this day quite seriously, and it wasn’t uncommon for a nosy neighbor to report another neighbor for pulling a mule out of the mud. A penalty would follow, often as minor as a fine, but perhaps as severe as a flogging or some pillory time.

Not very neighborly.

Generally, most were more “legitimate” violations such as not showing up for church, gambling, or swearing. Public drunkenness was severely frowned upon. Filling up on some grog and passing out under a tree’s shade could easily lead to missing Sunday service. It could of course, also lead to a row or two. Since being drunk would have a marked effect on attendance, one of the first Blue Laws to be enacted was the prohibition of alcohol sales on Sunday period.

As some of you may recall, this archaic law persisted until 2004 – one could not purchase alcohol off-premises. You could go to a bar, but you weren’t grabbing a six-pack and burgers to watch the game. To this day you cannot purchase alcohol on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and Memorial Day. A leftover of the puritanical legislation.

So why do we still have these laws? Why haven’t they been struck from the “books”? If it is technically breaking the law to violate one of these, will a “bad” cop actually cite or arrest me? Where did the term come from?

The term Blue Law was first mentioned in 1781, some decades after they existed. Reverend Samuel Peters’ used the term in his book “General History of Connecticut,” but we don’t actually know if he coined the term or used an existent one. In this book he describes these as “Blue Laws; i.e. bloody Laws; for they were all sanctified with whipping, cutting off the ears, burning the tongue, and death.” Serious stuff, indeed.

The urban legend, an incorrect one, is that these laws were published on blue paper, hence the moniker. There is no evidence or historical mention of this anywhere. It’s simply untrue. No one actually knows with certainty, but what we do know is that “Blue” is a term used to often to symbolize something lofty, aristocratic, or puritanical. So “blue” in this sense, would refer to the “high” morality of the laws.

For example, Merriam-Webster defines a “bluenose” as “a person who advocates a rigorous moral code.” Google defines it as “a priggish or puritanical person.” Of course, we are all familiar with the term “blueblood” and its reference to nobility. The word abluent means “Washing away; carrying off impurities” according to thefreedictionary.com and “true blue” means “extremely loyal or orthodox.”

I think you get the point. Dull etymology lesson over.

Now, that we’ve cleared the dull, let’s have some fun discussing some of these laws.

Does your husband snore? If he does it with the windows open, he’s busted. Pillory for him. Have a friend in the hospital that you were going to bring a nip to? According to Chapter 270: Section 5. that will get you “…a fine of not more than fifty dollars or by imprisonment for not more than two months.” He/she is going to have to tough it out and hope the $40 per Ibuprofen does the job.

Thinking of adding some Gran Marnier to some chocolate for a dinner party? You’re going to do some time, you crook. Massachusetts forbids chocolate to contain any more than 1% alcohol. Wasn’t it Patrick Henry that said “Give me spiked chocolate or give me death!”?

Remember that whole Salem Witch Trial blight on Massachusett’s history? We learned our lesson after twenty people, most “witches” were murdered, right? Nope. If you are a “witch” or even a Quaker for that matter, you will be promptly banned. I guess, that’s a heck of a lot better than being burned at the stake, crushed with stones, or drowned. What a moral way to punish someone for their immorality!

There are some interesting laws about kids. Did you know that kids get some special privileges under Blue Law legislation? If you are at a baseball or football game and an official or player really gets your goat, you will be cited or flogged for swearing at him. No, seriously. Just tell your son or daughter (must be under the age of 16) the swears and have them yell it. It’s totally legal. Also, a child can walk up to a police officer puffing a cigarette and there’s not a darn thing he can do about it. However, when the kid runs out of cigarettes, the cop can bust him buying a new pack. The kid can smoke, just can’t buy. Go figure.

These days it’s pretty common to have a goatee, especially if you shave your head. I see a lot of goatees and I’m pretty sure none of the …er…goatee-ees, have the special license fee that is mandatory. Imagine getting pulled over – “Driver’s License, registration, proof of insurance….and special license for that goatee, please.”

Are you a church-goer? If you don’t carry your rifle to church, you’re in it deep, pal. But, if you leave church and use that rifle to go hunting, you’re in it even deeper. We’re talking stockades for you, because hunting is illegal on Sundays in Massachusetts. When I hit the road on Sundays this hunting season, I plan on making a lot of citizen’s arrests to help generate some revenue for the Commonwealth. We need some extra funding to fix these potholes.

Let’s discuss some of the more risque prohibitions. Early Puritans were quite concerned about what other people did in the privacy of their bedrooms. Are you a woman who prefers to be on top? A day in the county jail should straighten you out, you vixen. If you cheat on your spouse, you get “…state prison for not more than three years or in jail for not more than two years or by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars.” Of course, no one commits adultery in the entire state of Massachusetts since their is no record of a single adulterer in our prison system.

Divorced, yet still living in the same house for the sake of the kids perhaps? If you slip up and have any extra-curricular activity it’s considered adultery by the state. Off to the state prison for you two. Poor kids.

Until 1974, fellatio was illegal. Surely, this was a law that everyone abided by until November 1, 1974. That’s when everyone went bananas and enjoyed fellatio for the first time ever.

Aren’t married? You’re not having sexual intercourse, of course. We wouldn’t do that Joe, because we don’t want to be “punished by imprisonment for not more than three months or by a fine of not more than thirty dollars.” Such pious kids you are.

Puritans were not only very concerned about your bedroom activities, but they would bring the proverbial hammer down for kissing in public. You lot are in deep trouble. You rascals.

A certain Captain Kimble was so ecstatic at seeing his wife after returning from a three year whaling voyage, that he lost all control and semblance of decorum and kissed his wife. How rude. The two hours that he spent in the stocks for his “lewd and unseemly behavior.” Hopefully that insured that he didn’t lose control again.

Did you say “Oh my god!” today? Yeah, you’re going to “…jail for not more than one year or by a fine of not more than three hundred dollars.” Don’t worry, you’ll have a good time since you’ll be surrounded by all your friends and family.

Not that I’ve ever had much of an appetite at a wake, but if you aren’t like me, be careful you don’t eat more than three sandwiches or you will be pilloried. If you were thinking of bringing your gorilla with you, make sure he’s in the front seat. Because, having in the backseat would be illegal.

So will you be cited or arrested by a “bad” cop for violating a blue law? Very unlikely. Even if you did – this brings us to why they are not struck – they are a violation of the Separation Clause (in spite of the McGowan vs. Maryland ruling) and therefore unconstitutional. The government cannot be used to enforce religious tenets, let alone enforce the centuries old morals of a group of puritans.

Having said that, I’d imagine that these aren’t struck, because like everything that involves the government it’s a long, drawn out process and an expensive one to get them to empty an ashtray in a conference room let alone get anything productive done in terms of legislature. The fact, that they aren’t an issue – no one is enforcing them – makes them seem irrelevant. Let’s hope no police force or officer decides to go rogue!

If a miracle happens and the state decides to clean up these Blue Laws and strike them from the books, I’d like them to consider leaving one very important and serious Blue Law on the books. In fact, I’d like to see some stiffer penalties involved, even perhaps bringing back the pillory, stockade or even guillotine:

“Tomatoes cannot be used in clam chowder.”

Witchcraft, in my opinion.

*****************************************UPDATE!!!***************************************

The South Coast Panther’s Learn to Skate and Learn to Play programs had a successful first session! Over 50 new, local kids joined the two programs. Now that the fall sports’ season has ended, it is time to head to the ice rink. Boys and girls are welcome!

Even if you may have missed the first session of Learn to Skate and Learn to Play, it is not too late to join or get caught up with the basics of skating. Session 2 and session 3 will continue to focus on the basics that were taught in session 1. Everyone is encouraged to join regardless of skill level!

The South Coast Panthers Youth Hockey Association is an effective regional hockey program offered to both boys and girls. For many years, the program was known as the Hetland Panthers. Over the last four years, the league has experienced tremendous growth while attracting kids from as far west at Tiverton RI, as far east as the Bourne Bridge and as far north as Taunton.

For this upcoming season, they have over 200 boys and girls playing hockey on 17 different teams that compose teams from the Mites (6-8 yrs olds) to the Midgets (high school kids)! The teams compete in the South Shore Conference and in the Southern New England Hockey Conference in Rhode Island.

Talking with the organizers and coaches, they were clear that their mission is to offer a quality hockey environment that allows boys and girls of all ages to be properly developed, to learn the game of hockey and to compete at the highest level.

In order for the South Coast Panthers to achieve its mission, it must offer a solid foundation that develops the younger kids into well rounded and competitive hockey players. To achieve this, they offer a Learn to Skate (LTS) Program and a Learn to Play (LTP) Program.

Does your child have an interest in learning hockey but has never played hockey? The Learn To Skate program is perfect! The fundamentals of skating are taught and repeated through various drills. This program is held on Sunday mornings for a total of 50 minutes.

If your child loves hockey and has already participated in the Learn To Skate program and is ready to take the next step to learning the game of hockey, the Learn To Play program is the next step. This program’s curriculum is designed to build on the basics that were learned in the Learn To Skate program and to incorporate the game of hockey. Kids will participate in small skill stations and will play small area hockey games toward the end of the program. This program is held on Sunday mornings for 80 minutes.

Both the Learn To Skate and Learn To Play programs are instructed by USA Hockey certified coaches who are very experienced in hockey and have had a successful career playing hockey. These coaches believe in high energy and high tempo practices that will make it fun for the kids – one of the top priorities.

Each session is eight weeks in length taking place on each Sunday. There are breaks for holidays like Veteran’s Day and Columbus Day. Below is an information card with the specific dates and other pertinent information. In addition, the photo gallery below has the information in both Spanish and Portuguese.

REGISTER HERE

South Coast Panthers

Facebook: facebook.com/southcoastpanthers
Website: southcoastpanthers.com/
Contact Us Page: leagueathletics.com/Support/BF6.asp?org=southcoastpanthers.com

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