The Mercy Meals & More’s 3rd Annual “Souper Bowl” Fundraiser is a fundraiser designed to provide food and hope to the hungry in New Bedford. Come sample and vote on your favorite soup from local restaurants. A suggested donation of $5 (you can donate more!) will go towards funding future meals for the homeless. This year’s event is on Sunday, February 3rd from 12-3 p.m at the Pilgrim United Church of Christ (Fellowship Hall) on 634 Purchase Street in New Bedford. If you can’t make it, but would like to donate, or would like to volunteer for this event or future events, you can contact Rev. Russ at 508-728-1489. 

You can read more about the Mercy Meals program and about Rev. Russ here.

Project New Bedford is having a ‘Have Mercy!!” fundraiser to help raise funds for Mercy Meals and More, Mobile Loaves and Fishes, and P.A.C.E. at Rasputin’s Tavern (122 Main Street, Fairhaven, MA) on February 16th at 7pm. Tickets are $10 prior to the event, or $15 at the door. Ticket holders will receive an appetizer and one raffle ticket for a door prize. There will also be raffles for gift cards from local businesses and a 50/50 raffle. Entertainment will be provided by Fun 107′s DJ Billy Teed.

Tickets will go on sale Monday January 14th. You can purchase tickets at 767 Clothing Exchange, and other local establishments in the downtown area.

We’re starting to feel the crisp approach of fall in the air, and soon the leaves will be turning magnificent colors and autumn will be upon us.  Of course, for beer lovers worldwide, fall time means more than apple picking, pumpkin carving and scenic drives; fall time means Oktoberfest is here again!

The New Bedford Oktoberfest will be kicking off its 7th year of drinking brews and dancing to tunes on Saturday, September 22nd.  The fest takes place at Custom House Square in historic Downtown New Bedford and goes from 3-10 p.m.  Oktoberfest is not only a great time to try out some unique beers with your friends, it is also a major fundraiser for a great cause.  This year, proceeds will go to benefiting Star Kids and The Childrens Advocacy Center of Bristol County.  A fundraiser that involves drinking beer and listening to great music can’t be a bad time!

Besides the fact that Oktoberfest is for a great cause, it is also an event that should not be missed due to its selection of seasonal brews.  Everyone who can consider themselves a beer connoisseur knows that this is the best time of year when it comes to pumpkin ales, hard ciders and fall time favorites.  This year, the New Bedford Oktoberfest will be featuring Berkley Beer Company, Cisco Brewers Nantucket, Just Beer, Woodstock Inn Brewery, Sam Adams, Smuttynose and the Mayflower Brewing Company.

In addition to the brews is the food which will be sold by Pizans, Rose Alley and No Problemo.  There will also be a winegarten.  And of course, there will be the music.  The Slow Burning Nuggets will take the stage from 3:45 to 4:30 p.m. with their eclectic mix of what their Facebook describes as “Space/Electronic/Rock/Pop”.

Afterwards, The Tree will take the stage.  They are a high-energy band that started from UMass Dartmouth/New Bedford that plays a fusion of hip-hop, rap, funk, reggae, rock and everything in between.  I have heard a lot about The Tree but have never seen them play, so this seems like a great addition to this year’s music line up.  The Boomcats will follow up that performance with some “good old blues fused rock and roll”.

At 6:45 p.m. the local favorite J. Kelley Band will perform and be followed up by Putnam Murdock and the Insatiables.  Putnam Murdock has an illustrious history a musician and a songwriter, so this performance promises to be an interesting one as well!

Crisscross Orchestra will perform as the final act of the night, closing out Oktoberfest at 10 p.m.  This 11 member ensemble features an interesting variety of instruments such as steel pans, the Irish pennywhistle, trumpet, electric guitar, flute and the accordion.  The result is African roots influenced music led by award winning West African Ghanian musician and composer Obuamah Laud Addy.

Needless to say, all in attendance at the NB Oktoberfest can expect a night of good food, great drinks and entertaining music.  Tickets can be purchased for $20 in advance by going to Rose Alley Ale House or Pizan’s Pizzeria.  Tickets are $25 dollars at the door.

The Country Club of New Bedford will host the international touring band BRASS TRANSIT, the musical legacy of Chicago, with a percentage of proceeds to benefit the Schwartz Center for Children. The concert will take place on Friday, August 17 at 8:00 p.m. on the grounds of the Country Club located at 585 Slocum Road, in North Dartmouth, MA. Tickets are $50 per person (concert only) and food and beverages will be available to purchase beginning at 6:00 p.m.  Tickets can be purchased online at www.schwartzcenter.org or by calling the Country Club directly at (508) 993-3453.

When making your reservation, mention the Schwartz Center to receive a guest pass for 18 holes of golf at the Country Club of New Bedford. With each ticket sold, a portion of the proceeds ($20.00) will go directly to programming at the Schwartz Center for Children and funds raised will be matched by an anonymous donor.

“We are so grateful that the Country Club of New Bedford is committed to supporting our children by partnering with us on an event of this quality”, said the CEO of the Schwartz Center for Children.

Speaking on behalf of the Country Club of New Bedford, Vice President Jim Thompson said, “During these difficult economic times our Board wanted to help a well-deserving local non-profit. We are ecstatic that we can produce a high end concert for our members, their guests, and invite the local greater New Bedford community, to celebrate the night, while at the same time recognizing the work of great organization like the Schwartz Center.”

The BRASS TRANSIT concert includes all the hits from Chicago’s golden ages. With a world-class horn section, a rocking rhythm section and vocals stacked sky-high, Brass Transit transports its audience back to the freewheeling day’s of the seventies. The band includes veterans of the Hall-of-Fame rock and soul acts like the Drifters, Sam an Dave, Aretha Franklin, Frankie Valli, Martha Reeves, Little Anthony & the Imperials, Del Shannon and the Mamas and the Papas. “This is not just a tribute band, it is THE Chicago experience!” Joe Donofrio, six-time Grammy award-winning record producer.  More information about the band can be found at www.brasstransit.com.

Registration is now open for the 24^th annual walk-a-thon to benefit the Schwartz Center for Children. The walk-a-thon will be held on Sunday, September 16^th at Fort Taber in New Bedford. The 3.5 mile walk starts with an 8:30 a.m. check-in and a 9:30 a.m. kickoff. The Walk-A-Thon will be held rain or shine and is open to individuals and teams of walkers.  Registrants will be provided with a Schwartz Center walk-a-thon t-shirt, plus breakfast and lunch.  New this year is live music along the walk route, along with a few other fun family-friendly surprises.

The walk-a-thon is a pledge event and you can participate individually or form teams with friends, family or coworkers.  Interested parties should register now online at: www.schwartzwalk.kintera.org.  To be guaranteed an event t-shirt on the day of the event, advance registration is highly encouraged.

The Schwartz Center for Children’s mission is helping children achieve their greatest potential. It is able to do this through strong community support, the United Way of Greater New Bedford, and fundraising events such as the annual Walk-A-Thon.

Once again, McDonald’s of New Bedford, Dartmouth, Fairhaven and Wareham is sponsoring this event. Additional walk-a-thon sponsors are being sought. Sponsors of the event will receive exposure to over 1,000 estimated attendees and thousands others via media outlets and online visibility.

The Schwartz Center is a not-for-profit organization serving children with a variety of developmental delays and disabilities from birth to age 22.  Services include a Day School, an Early Intervention Program, and Outpatient Rehabilitation Services, Regional Consultation Program, Pediatric Specialty Clinics and a variety of other programs.

You can register to participate by forming your own team, register with an existing team, or simply make a donation in support of the Schwartz Center for Children online at: www.schwartzwalk.kintera.org.  For more information, please contact the Development office at (508) 996-3391 x 427 or walk@schwartzcenter.org.

Members of CARE Southcoast Center for Animal Rescue and Education will hold a Gala Auction and Party called “Art for Animals” to help raise money for the center. The event will be held on Friday, June 29, at 6:30pm at The Wamsutta Club on 427 County St., New Bedford.

CARE, located at 596 Hathaway Rd., New Bedford, is “an all-volunteer organization dedicated to ending the needless suffering and abandonment of animals in the Massachusetts Southcoast region,” according to their flyer.

Helen Lesly, who is a volunteer at the shelter, said that they have already collected donations from a variety of artists, and all of the art will be auctioned off with all of the proceeds going to the shelter.  “We really want people to come and check it out,” she said.  “I have a lot of friends who are artists, and I reached out and they really came through.”

She said that there are a variety of items for bid, including artwork, jewelry, ceramics, hand painted silk scarves from Hawaii, and more.  Items will range anywhere from $15 to about $1,000.  Everyone who enters to be a bidder will receive a free cocktail, and it is free to bid.

CARE offers a variety of services to animals in need.  They work to provide assistance to families who can’t afford to spay or neuter their pets, as well as providing sheltering and re-homing assistance to homeless animals and animals formerly in high-kill shelters around the country.  CARE is a no-kill shelter, meaning that no animals that stay there are put down.

CARE also aims to educate people on the many factors that contribute to animal overpopulation, abuse, and neglect.  Currently, they have over 60 dogs and over 100 cats at the shelter, and they are always looking for homes or foster homes for the animals. There are also 35 kittens in foster care right now, and four new litters that they don’t have a plan for, as of now.

They also take in animals for people who are become homeless or who are temporarily displaced from their homes.  “We try to be a resource to the community,” said Lesly.  She also added that they have a Veterinarian who comes in once a week, and they also work with a variety of Veterinarians in the area.

Because they are non-profit, they are constantly in search of donations and volunteers.  “We’re growing as a shelter, and it creates a lot more work, which is why we need help,” said Lesly.  Hopefully for them, they raise a lot of money at this event.

For more information on the event, including donation information, contact cricket13@comcast.net, or call 508-728-0351.  Information on the shelter can be found at www.caresouthcoast.com, and they can be reached at info@caresouthcoast.com or 508-994-0220.

Whaling City Cross Fit, or WCCF is the first full-time CrossFit training facility in New Bedford and the SouthCoast. They CrossFit training for all fitness levels and ages.  No matter what your current fitness level or previous fitness experience, whether Grandma or student, athlete or couch potato, WCCF is endeavoring to raise your fitness.

Husband and Wife team, Erik and Tess Hedblom, opened Whaling City CrossFit in April 2012.  “Erik had been wanting to get into the fitness business for a long time,” recalls Tess, “and when we discovered CrossFit, he knew he had found what he’d been searching for.”  Not long after beginning the CrossFit program himself, Erik became a Level 1 Trainer and Tess his first student.  Now, as a trainer team, they are very passionate about helping others change their lives with CrossFit.

What is this CrossFit program that seems to be spreading across the globe?  According to CrossFit HQ’s website (crossfit.com), the CrossFit program “delivers a fitness that is, by design, broad, general, and inclusive. Our specialty is not specializing. Combat, survival, many sports, and life reward this kind of fitness and, on average, punish the specialist.

The CrossFit program is designed for universal scalability making it the perfect application for any committed individual regardless of experience. We’ve used our same routines for elderly individuals with heart disease and cage fighters one month out from televised bouts. We scale load and intensity; we don’t change programs.

The needs of Olympic athletes and our grandparents differ by degree not kind. Our terrorist hunters, skiers, mountain bike riders and housewives have found their best fitness from the same regimen.”

Currently, there are over 3,500 CrossFit affiliates operating “small box” gyms worldwide, with new ones popping up every day.  “CrossFit ‘boxes’ are completely different from traditional gyms,” Erik says.  “There are no machines where you can leisurely read the tabloids while getting your workout in.  In CrossFit, we teach functional movements; movements that, done correctly, can improve your ability to do anything, from getting out of a chair to climbing Mt. Everest.”  Types of exercises found in CrossFit includes running, rowing, biking, gymnastics, weightlifting, and kettlebells.

On Saturday, June 16th, 2012 there will be a fundraiser to support the Eric Fernandes Memorial Scholarship Fund that provide scholarships to children of New Bedford firefighters. This year the event will be hosted at Dublin’s Sport Bar and Grille on 1686 Acushnet Avenue in New Bedford. Tickets are $25 in advanced or $30 at the door. Call Elton Cabral at (508) 525-1442 to get your tickets.

Eric Fernandes was born on April 30th, 1981 and was raised in New Bedford, MA. He belonged to the Immaculate Conception Church Parish and played Little and Pony League Baseball, making the all-star team one year. He attended New Bedford High School and then went on to earn his bachelor’s degree at The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in Sociology/Criminal Justice, graduating Magna Cum Laude. Eric came from a very close knit family and always stayed very close to them over the years.

In 2006 Eric became a New Bedford firefighter and served with great passion and integrity. He would often be heard telling his friends about some of the exciting and dangerous situations he found himself in. You could tell by listening to him that he truly enjoyed his work.

Eric passed away suddenly on June 16th, 2011 at the age of 30, leaving many family and close friends behind. For those who knew him well, this was truly a situation of too young, too soon. He had just begun his career as a firefighter, and had recently purchased his first home. Eric is survived by his parents, grandmother, sister, and several cousins, aunts, and uncles.

Eric’s magnetic personality, big heart, and quick wit will never be forgotten by those who knew him. If you were a close friend of Eric’s you could always expect a call or a visit from him, especially if it had been a while since he had heard from you. One look at his Facebook wall will show you how many of those out there were positively affected by Eric and who will forever miss him dearly.

Each year The Eric Fernandes Memorial Scholarship Trust Fund will provide scholarships for selected children of New Bedford firefighters who are seeking higher education. Your support will help us accomplish this goal.

In order to give The Eric Fernandes Memorial Scholarship Trust Fund the full benefit of this event, your generosity is essential. We are looking for money donations or other donations of value for us to raffle off at the event and we also hope that you can attend our event.

The Schwartz Center for Children and McDonald’s of New Bedford, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, and Wareham, MA are proud to announce the upcoming 24^th Annual “Fore the Children” Golf Tournament on Monday, June 11^th at Allendale Country Club in Dartmouth, MA.

Friends and supporters of the Schwartz Center are participating in the tournament to raise money for agency programs; all proceeds will be used to provide education, therapy, and medical care to children with disabilities and special health care needs in Southeastern Massachusetts.

In this event, which is sponsored by McDonald’s of New Bedford, Fairhaven, Dartmouth, and Wareham, single golfers as well as teams of four will tee off at the Allendale Country Club in North Dartmouth at 1:00pm on Monday, June 11, 2012.

Prizes will be awarded to the top three teams, as well as for those individuals coming “closest to the pin” and hitting the longest drive in the fairway. A dinner will be served at Allendale Country Club immediately following the tournament. Businesses also have the opportunity to sponsor a hole on the course, complete with 18×24 inch signage. To register or to inquire about sponsorship, please contact the Schwartz Center at (508) 996-3391.

The Schwartz Center for Children is a nonprofit organization with offices at 1 Posa Place in Dartmouth, MA. It has been serving children with a variety of special medical and developmental needs from birth to age 21 in Southeastern Massachusetts since 1947. Services include a Day School, Early Intervention Program, Outpatient Rehabilitation Services, Regional Consultation Program, Pediatric Specialty Clinics, and a variety of other programs.

The committee of the American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Greater New Bedford will hold a fundraiser on Friday, May 4th from 6 pm to midnight at United Fisherman’s Club in New Bedford. The cost of admission is $30 for adults and $15 for children under the age of 12. For more information on the fundraiser, please call Linda at (508)863-2814.

Proceeds will benefit in the American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Greater New Bedford on June 22nd at the Paul Walsh Field at New Bedford High School. Funds raised through Relay For Life support the American Cancer Society’s mission to create a world with less cancer and more birthdays by helping people stay well and get well, by finding cures, and by fighting back against cancer. More than 90 Relay For Life events are planned in Massachusetts this year. For more information, or to find a Relay location near you, call your American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 or visit relayforlife.org.