War Games is a five piece rock band from Southern Massachusetts that strives to demonstrate their continuous ability to uplift and inspire their listeners. These South Coast natives have been writing music for years, and are glad to see what they’ve created turn into something greater than themselves. Consisting of Kyle Therrien (Singer), Ian Provost (Guitarist), Andy Calheta (Bassist), Josh Zeolla (Drummer), and Matt Dilecce (Guitarist), these guys have been making a name for themselves in the music industry as they spread their music all over the world.

Formally known as Another Option, the band’s debut EP ‘Mountains” produced by Ace Enders of The Early November, laid the foundations for the band’s sound and established a strong fan base.

With their indie sound and their lyrical talents, their music has touched listeners in a new way. I had the chance to ask Kyle about his experiences in the band and the world tours he’s been on.

“Touring has been a huge part of my life both growing up and now at 26 years old. As soon as I got my license at age 16 we hit the road. We followed a band from New Hampshire all over the United States squeezing our half an hour worth of songs between other bands sets everywhere we could,” he said. As he was telling me about some stories about his early runs through the states, he said, “It was from our first touring experiences that we decided that traveling and playing music was what we were made for! Shortly after that we saved up money and bought our first van and trailer.

Three vans, five warped tours, two United Kingdom tours, and countless US tours later here we are, gearing up to put out our first full length album as War Games and hit the road in The United Kingdom for a third time.”

Though the members of War Games had been rigorously playing shows in U.S. and the U.K. under their former name, the band’s first official tour as War Games was during the 2012 Vans Warped Tour on the ourstage.com stage. Since then, the band has done countless runs as their new band, continuing to write music since their most recent Acoustic EP and finishing up their first full length as a band. The full length, entitled “Holding Patterns” is set to be released in early 2015, followed by a full U.K. tour in March.

“Touring the world, meeting different people, trouble shooting, the good times, the bad times, it’s shaped my character. It’s made us who we are. We all love life, and wouldn’t change anything about how we’ve spent the last decade!” He said with great enthusiasm. As an Indie rock band from the South Coast, War Games is the epitome that making it the music industry isn’t easy, but with hard work and dedication, you’re music will take you somewhere and have others come with you along the way.

Their music can be found on their Facebook page and they hope that their music will inspire you as it has inspired many before.

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?

LearnYourOptions is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating women and couples regarding their available options when facing an unplanned/unwanted pregnancy. According to Massachusetts General Law, when a woman is seeking an abortion, a physician is to provide her with a detailed form covering the following information: the developmental stages of the unborn baby, what an abortive surgery actually entails, the complications that could arise from the surgery, alternatives to abortion, and other legalities regarding the woman signing and handing the form back to the physician. This form covers a lot of information. Therefore, LearnYourOptions seeks to spend time informing and educating women who are trying to understand all of the choices available to them and all of the possible side effects of the choice they will make.

The trained counselors working in this organization are highly sensitive to the fear, confusion, or anger women often feel when learning of an unplanned pregnancy. They know that it can be incredibly difficult for women to voice these fears and concerns to even family members or close friends. The counselors strive to make all women feel safe and comfortable discussing the issues they may not be ready to discuss with any other individual at that point. They are dedicated to walking with each woman through her journey, helping her to make a fully informed decision about her child.

Often women feel that their only choice for an unplanned pregnancy and an unwanted baby is to have an abortion, even when they are not sure they want one. This is because many women are unaware of the help they would receive when choosing to keep their baby. If a woman does not have a support system, LearnYourOptions will help them find one through other organizations they partner with. One of these organizations, Safe Families Programs, helps women throughout even the first year of the baby’s life.

LearnYourOptions is not an abortion clinic and does not perform abortive procedures. All of the services they provide are completely free, which includes: pregnancy testing, obstetrical ultrasounds, and options counseling. Depending on the individual need of each woman who decides to continue her pregnancy, LearnYourOptions provides material assistance, parenting classes (while the mother is pregnant), infant classes (after the mother gives birth), housing and insurance referrals, and other means of aid in getting the mother stabilized throughout the challenge she is facing.

If a woman is positive she wants an abortion, the counselors discuss the procedure, along with the physical, emotional, and spiritual effects the surgery could have on her. LearnYourOptions also offers post abortion counseling for women who seek healing. The counselors are aware that no matter what choice a woman makes, their lives will be changed and there will be effects within that woman’s life that will always stay with her. Parenting can be difficult, adoption can be emotional, and abortion can be scarring. But LearnYourOptions offers help and hope to women facing these challenges.

For more information visit www.LearnYourOptions.org.

~ LearnYourOptions operates at three centers ~
South Coast: 25 North Main Street, Fall River, MA 02720 (508) 646-2665
Boston: 97 Broad Way, Revere, MA 02151 (781) 284-8747
Cape Cod: 48 Camp Street, Hyannis, MA 02601 (508) 790-0584

LearnYourOptions is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating women and couples regarding their available options when facing an unplanned/unwanted pregnancy. According to Massachusetts General Law, when a woman is seeking an abortion, a physician is to provide her with a detailed form covering the following information: the developmental stages of the unborn baby, what an abortive surgery actually entails, the complications that could arise from the surgery, alternatives to abortion, and other legalities regarding the woman signing and handing the form back to the physician. This form covers a lot of information. Therefore, LearnYourOptions seeks to spend time informing and educating women who are trying to understand all of the choices available to them and all of the possible side effects of the choice they will make.

The trained counselors working in this organization are highly sensitive to the fear, confusion, or anger women often feel when learning of an unplanned pregnancy. They know that it can be incredibly difficult for women to voice these fears and concerns to even family members or close friends. The counselors strive to make all women feel safe and comfortable discussing the issues they may not be ready to discuss with any other individual at that point. They are dedicated to walking with each woman through her journey, helping her to make a fully informed decision about her child.

Often women feel that their only choice for an unplanned pregnancy and an unwanted baby is to have an abortion, even when they are not sure they want one. This is because many women are unaware of the help they would receive when choosing to keep their baby. If a woman does not have a support system, LearnYourOptions will help them find one through other organizations they partner with. One of these organizations, Safe Families Programs, helps women throughout even the first year of the baby’s life.
LearnYourOptions is not an abortion clinic and does not perform abortive procedures. All of the services they provide are completely free, which includes: pregnancy testing, obstetrical ultrasounds, and options counseling. Depending on the individual need of each woman who decides to continue her pregnancy, LearnYourOptions provides material assistance, parenting classes (while the mother is pregnant), infant classes (after the mother gives birth), housing and insurance referrals, and other means of aid in getting the mother stabilized throughout the challenge she is facing.

If a woman is positive she wants an abortion, the counselors discuss the procedure, along with the physical, emotional, and spiritual effects the surgery could have on her. LearnYourOptions also offers post abortion counseling for women who seek healing. The counselors are aware that no matter what choice a woman makes, their lives will be changed and there will be effects within that woman’s life that will always stay with her. Parenting can be difficult, adoption can be emotional, and abortion can be scarring. But LearnYourOptions offers help and hope to women facing these challenges.

For more information visit www.LearnYourOptions.org.

~ LearnYourOptions operates at three centers ~
South Coast: 25 North Main Street, Fall River, MA 02720 (508) 646-2665
Boston: 97 Broad Way, Revere, MA 02151 (781) 284-8747
Cape Cod: 48 Camp Street, Hyannis, MA 02601 (508) 790-0584

This week I attended the October 17th gubernatorial debate between Martha Coakley and Charlie Baker, held in the UMass Dartmouth auditorium. Hosted by the SouthCoast Alliance, a group of various media organizations, chambers of commerce, and universities in the southeastern Massachusetts area, this debate was a final chance for the candidates to make their case before votes are to be cast. In this article I will attempt as objectively as possible to present the candidates’ viewpoints, as well as the “feel” of their debate performance in order to help you the voter make an informed decision.

But to be clear: I am not endorsing either candidate. Much like the moderator of this debate I have sworn myself to complete and unmoving neutrality.

Speaking of the moderator, Political Science Chairperson Professor Shannon Jenkins had the honor of serving in that role. As a researcher of public policy, specifically focusing on state governments and politics, and a seasoned debate moderator, Professor Jenkins was well suited for the task.

I met with Professor Jenkins just a day earlier to discuss the debate, and though she couldn’t tell me much because of her own neutrality, she did tell me this about the importance of the debate, “In elections it’s important for candidates to get their names out there so voters know who they are and what they stand for, and debates are one way of doing that. And it’s a chance for voters of the south coast to hear where the candidates stand on issues that are important down here.”

And indeed we did as the candidates battled one another over issues including transportation, energy, income inequality, healthcare reform, and who was fit to be governor.

As the debate started that day almost all the seats in the auditorium were filled, and the air was full of anticipation over what the candidates were going to say. However, if like me, you had previously researched some of the candidates’ stances, then there were no real surprises.

In the first round the candidates dueled over the SouthCoast rail project. Coakley made it clear that she supports automatic indexing of a gas tax, (meaning the tax automatically increases according to the current rate of inflation), as one way of paying for it and other much needed projects, such as repairing an aging infrastructure in severe disrepair and rated among the worst in the nation. She also attempted to make it clear a few times in the debate that in past campaigns, Charlie Baker was not as staunch a supporter of the project as he now claims he is.

“One of the reasons it has taken a while to get here, unfortunately, has been financing on the Big Dig, that my Republican opponent was engaged in,” Coakley claimed, and indeed this claim would continue throughout the debate as a part of Coakley’s argument. The Big Dig was a major construction project in Boston that sought to relieve the overly congested traffic issues and crumbling infrastructure the city had. However the project took 8 years longer than estimated and ended up costing approximately 15 billion dollars, far more than the planners had originally expected.

Meanwhile Baker, pledged support to the ballot referendum that would repeal indexing the gas tax because he believes state legislators must vote on raising the tax and thus be held accountable to the voters. Even if the indexing is repealed, he maintained that the gas tax would remain in place and still bring in a sizable amount of money to the state’s budget. Referring to Coakley’s criticism of Baker’s role with the Big Dig, Baker said, “I worked on a bipartisan basis with the Clinton administration and with the Democratic legislature to come up with a financing plan to pay for that shortfall, which added up to 1.5 billion and it worked.”

He then elaborated on that by telling the audience how his financing plan allowed Governor Patrick to go ahead with his accelerated bridge reconstruction program. “The notion that the Big Dig is the reason that we can’t pay for projects in Massachusetts is simply not true,” Baker stated.

During the debate it was easy to see Baker as very personable, who at points even had the crowd practically eating out of his hands. “I’m looking forward to seeing the New Bedford Marine Terminal move forward,” he said. “You can clap on that one,” he encouraged the crowd, and a small somewhat quiet, gentle wave of applause erupted out immediately. Of course Coakley was not to let Baker get the better of her, and so while he adopted the role of a charming salesman, Coakley donned the persona of a determined boxer, getting as many jabs in on Baker as possible whenever she had the opportunity.

When she accused Baker of using “fuzzy math” to account for how he’d fund important projects while simultaneously lowering taxes and offering tax breaks to big corporations, he brushed off the hit and said with a smile, “I sometimes wonder if the attorney general has read my economic development plan.”

All in all this debate was an even handed fight fought by two opponents desperate to get an edge over the other before November 4th. If you’d like to see it firsthand, a recording of the debate is posted on the UMass Dartmouth website here: http://www.umassd.edu/debate/.

Although, for how long this will remain active I cannot be certain, so if you are interested please check it out immediately (skip to 20:00, that’s when the debate actually starts).

Additionally you can find information for both the Baker and Coakley campaigns here: http://www.marthacoakley.com/ and here: https://www.charliebaker2014.com/. I encourage any and all readers of this article to educate themselves on the issues in order to make a better an informed choice, and of course I encourage everyone able to vote to go out and do so.

Another pleasant weekend in store in terms of temperatures. We’ll average 60 degrees throughout the weekened and won’t get to 32 degrees for a low, like we did last weekend! We will however get close with a cool 40 degrees. Have you broken out the thermals and sweaters? Or are you still wearing shorts?

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

Friday, October 24th

Edaville’s Pumpkins Aglow Festival (4:00pm-9:00pm)
Pumpkins, and Costumes, and Fun. Oh My! Pumpkin Aglow is back at Edaville Pumpkins AGLOW festival returns! Back by popular demand, come see the garden of endless jackolanterns. Dress in your Halloween costume and join the costume parades. You can trick or treat at your favorite ride, and go for a ride on our all new Haunted Train. THIS WEEKEND : $4 Off admission FOR KIDS ONLY when you bring in a carved or painted pumpkin. It’s slightly scary fun for all ages! Boo at the Zoo admission is $9/adult and $6/child for zoo members. Non-members’ admission for Boo at the Zoo is $14/adult and $11/child.

Boo at the Zoo @ Buttonwood Park Zoo (6:00-9:00pm)
There’s enough thrills and chills for everyone at Boo at the Zoo! Join us at Boo at the Zoo for an evening of Halloween fun! Rides are included in the Boo admission. Climb aboard for a spoooooky train ride or take a bewitching carousel ride!

Connecting For Change/Bioneers Conference – 10th Anniversary Event (10:00am-9:00pm)
More than just a conference, Connecting for Change is a solutions-focused gathering that takes place over two-days, attracting 3,000 people from over 20 states to downtown New Bedford. The event will feature multiple keynote speakers including Joel Salatin, Sonia Sanchez, Nipun Mehta of ServiceSpace, Janisse Ray, Babatunde Salaam of New Lens Productions, and more! There will be over 40 workshops, family and youth programming, live music including Climbing PoeTree an evening performance by Truthworker Theatre Company, and countless activities. Topics include food and farming, health and healing, environmental and social justice, women and youth empowerment, impact investing, spirituality, and sustainability.

SouthCoast Children’s Theatre presents “The Miracle Worker.” (7PM)

The touching drama about the relationship between Helen Keller and her teacher, Annie Sullivan, is directed by Joshua Boucher and Meghan Long. All cast members are children in Grades 5 through 8.

The show will be offered at 7 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. Saturday. It is being performed at the Mt. Carmel School Auditorium, 230 Bonney St., New Bedford. Tickets are $12. Call (774) 202-5269 or visit www.southcoastchildrenstheatre.com, or purchase at the door.

Full details: http://www.southcoasttoday.com/article/20141023/ENTERTAINMENTLIFE/141029791#sthash.QxVFCk5K.dpuf

Painting with a Splash: Happy Halloween & Blue Water (7:00pm)
Welcome to Painting with a Splash Where you are the artist! Painting with a Splash is the newest addition to Historic Whaling City Downtown New Bedford. Bringing you an experience of art as entertainment. Add a little wine (BYOB) that will surely tap into your creative side. With step by step instruction and a little music, you and your friends will create the evenings featured painting with a splash of your own uniqueness. NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY! Just a desire to have fun.

Saturday, October 25th

Old Colony RVTHS 5th Annual Craft/Vendor Fair (Rochester) (9:00am-4:00pm)
The fair will include more than 25 crafters and vendors who will offer such things as jewelry, baked goods, candle, decorations, sewn items and wooden crafts alongside vendors such as It Works, Mary Kay, Pampered Chef, Thirty-One, Tupperware, and more. There will also be raffles, face painting and more! Region:Registration/reservations: Please email hdarcy@oldcolony.us to reserve a table or for more information. 476 North Ave. Rochester.

Four Paws Up Bakery and Dream Land Arts & Crafts for Kids Grand Opening (9:00am)
Four Paws Up Bakery & Boutique and Dream Land Arts & Crafts for Kids are opening up near the old Bijou Theatre. Grand opening TOMORROW at 9am. Bring your dogs (leashed) and kids by and welcome Fairhaven’s newest business! Check out some of their amazing, locally produced treats here.

356 and 358 Main Street
Fairhaven, MA 02719
(774) 202-5573

Rummage sale (Dartmouth) (9:00am-12:00pm)

Good used clothing, shoes, costumes, toys, household items, furniture, linens, and books. Congregational Church 17 Middle St. South Dartmouth.

LAST CHANCE! Silverbrook ACUSHNET Harvest Festival!! (10:00am-4:00pm)
Silverbrook Farm heralds the arrival of autumn with two packed months of fall-themed family attractions included with admission. Parents and progeny crunch leaves underfoot as they hone their ability to navigate through carbs in the corn maze or head toward horse-powered transit for a hayride.

Pony rides and proximity to resident farm animals enchant kids, as does Mother Goose story time, visits with Charlie T. Chicken, and the NEW Corn Caper Barrel Ride. Pumpkin-painting and face-painting booths doll up human and gourd counterparts in matching makeup, and one takeaway sugar pumpkin per guest extends the fall festivities.

Silverbrook ACUSHNET 6th Annual Great Pumpkin Festival and Awesome Robb Magic Show! (10:00am-4:00pm)
Silverbrook Farm will also be celebrating their 6th ANNUAL GREAT PUMPKIN FESTIVAL benefiting CYSTIC FIBROSIS FOUNDATION of MASSACHUSETTS/RHODE ISLAND and will feature the AWESOME ROBB MAGIC SHOW in addition to all of the great attractions. Make a point to come see us in beautiful ACUSHNET, MASSACHUSETTS!

Connecting For Change/Bioneers Conference – 10th Anniversary Event (10:00am-11:00pm)
More than just a conference, Connecting for Change is a solutions-focused gathering that takes place over two-days, attracting 3,000 people from over 20 states to downtown New Bedford. The event will feature multiple keynote speakers including Joel Salatin, Sonia Sanchez, Nipun Mehta of ServiceSpace, Janisse Ray, Babatunde Salaam of New Lens Productions, and more! There will be over 40 workshops, family and youth programming, live music including Climbing PoeTree an evening performance by Truthworker Theatre Company, and countless activities. Topics include food and farming, health and healing, environmental and social justice, women and youth empowerment, impact investing, spirituality, and sustainability.

Boston Book Festival (10:00 am-7:00pm)
The Boston Book Festival celebrates the power of words to stimulate, agitate, unite, delight, and inspire by holding year-round events culminating in an annual, free Festival that promotes a culture of reading and ideas and enhances the vibrancy of our city. At locations in and around Copley Square. Over 50 free sessions, activities and more.

The 3rd Annual Newport Food Truck Festival (11:00a,-4:00pm)

The Newport Food Truck Festival will feature over 20 of New England’s most popular food trucks serving up a variety of fan favorites, handmade ice cream sandwiches, French cuisine, gourmet hot dogs, mouthwatering chicken wings, and so much more. The festival will also feature live music, beer and wine, and sampling! Newport Yachting Center, 4 Commercial Wharf, Newport, R.I. Tickets can be purchased at the event. Phone: 617.782.7117. Email: info@foodtruckfestivalsofne.com.

Healthy Cooking Demonstration with Mass in Motion (1:00 – 3:00pm)
Demonstrations are conducted by a chef and dietician. Meals are low-cost, healthy, and showcase that you can make a full nutritious meal at a local market. Delicious free samples will be provided.

DeMello’s Market, 1275 Cove Road New Bedford, will host their demonstration, Saturday October 25th from 1-3 pm.

House of Music’s 5th annual Halloween Carnival (3:00 – 7:00pm)
Wicked family fun (outdoors) at the Haunted Playground – 593 Kempton St.- including games and prizes, pony rides, Zombies doing the thriller dance, pumpkin decorating, face-painting, candy-apple making, lots of refreshments, costume parade and prizes, and the famous “Spooky Walk”.Please let all the families know about this fun-filled event.

Painting with a Splash: Halloween Specials for ALL AGES! (12:30pm, 3:00pm & 7:00pm)
Welcome to Painting with a Splash Where you are the artist! Painting with a Splash is the newest addition to Historic Whaling City Downtown New Bedford. Bringing you an experience of art as entertainment. Add a little wine (BYOB) that will surely tap into your creative side. With step by step instruction and a little music, you and your friends will create the evenings featured painting with a splash of your own uniqueness. NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY! Just a desire to have fun.

Edaville’s Pumpkins Aglow Festival (4:00pm-9:00pm)
Pumpkins, and Costumes, and Fun. Oh My! Pumpkin Aglow is back at Edaville Pumpkins AGLOW festival returns! Back by popular demand, come see the garden of endless jackolanterns. Dress in your Halloween costume and join the costume parades.

You can trick or treat at your favorite ride, and go for a ride on our all new Haunted Train. THIS WEEKEND : $4 Off admission FOR KIDS ONLY when you bring in a carved or painted pumpkin.

Boo at the Zoo @ Buttonwood Park Zoo (6:00-9:00pm)
There’s enough thrills and chills for everyone at Boo at the Zoo! Join us at Boo at the Zoo for an evening of Halloween fun! Rides are included in the Boo admission. Climb aboard for a spoooooky train ride or take a bewitching carousel ride! It’s slightly scary fun for all ages! Boo at the Zoo admission is $9/adult and $6/child for zoo members. Non-members’ admission for Boo at the Zoo is $14/adult and $11/child.

Sunday, October 26th

7th Annual Psychic Fair fundraiser (10:00am-4:00pm)
The Acushnet Police Association will host their 7th Annual Psychic Fair Fundraiser at the Senior Center building, 59 ½ South Main Street, Acushnet. Mediums, psychics, aura photography and card readers will be available by appointment or for walk-ins. For those looking to do a little shopping, vendors will be offering handmade jewelry, gift baskets, crystals and more. Party of Gold will also be on hand offering top dollar for your unwanted gold and silver…Phone: 508-998-0280.

LAST CHANCE! Silverbrook ACUSHNET’S Harvest Festival! (10:00am-4:00pm)
Silverbrook Farm heralds the arrival of autumn with two packed months of fall-themed family attractions included with admission. Parents and progeny crunch leaves underfoot as they hone their ability to navigate through carbs in the corn maze or head toward horse-powered transit for a hayride.

Pony rides and proximity to resident farm animals enchant kids, as does Mother Goose story time, visits with Charlie T. Chicken, and the NEW Corn Caper Barrel Ride. Pumpkin-painting and face-painting booths doll up human and gourd counterparts in matching makeup, and one takeaway sugar pumpkin per guest extends the fall festivities.

Opening Day at Allen C. Haskell Public Gardens (11:00-3:00pm)
Join The Trustees of Reservations to celebrate our public opening of the Allen C. Haskell Public Gardens on October 26, 2014 from 11AM-3PM. The late Allen C. Haskell, a lifelong New Bedford resident and famed horticulturalist, assembled six acres in the heart of the city over more than 30 years, creating a truly unique and successful nursery. Here you will discover a stunning landscape with beautifully designed gardens and one of the oldest homes in New Bedford. The Trustees acquired the property in 2013 and are eager to welcome the public to this iconic reservation. Full list of activities can be seen by clicking event title.

36th Annual Spooner 10K – Spooky 5K at Buttonwood (1:00pm-5:00pm)
The 36th Annual Spooner 10K – Spooky 5K to benefit the GNB Track Club is this Sunday, October 26th at Buttonwood Park. There is also a FREE Spooky Kids’ Run. Come out and run with 1,000 other runners in costume!

Painting with a Splash: Birch Fall Tree (7:00pm)
Welcome to Painting with a Splash Where you are the artist! Painting with a Splash is the newest addition to Historic Whaling City Downtown New Bedford. Bringing you an experience of art as entertainment. Add a little wine (BYOB) that will surely tap into your creative side. With step by step instruction and a little music, you and your friends will create the evenings featured painting with a splash of your own uniqueness. NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY! Just a desire to have fun.

Edaville’s Pumpkins Aglow Festival (4:00pm-9:00pm)
Pumpkins, and Costumes, and Fun. Oh My! Pumpkin Aglow is back at Edaville Pumpkins AGLOW festival returns! Back by popular demand, come see the garden of endless jackolanterns. Dress in your Halloween costume and join the costume parades. You can trick or treat at your favorite ride, and go for a ride on our all new Haunted Train. THIS WEEKEND : $4 Off admission FOR KIDS ONLY when you bring in a carved or painted pumpkin.

Boo at the Zoo @ Buttonwood Park Zoo (6:00-9:00pm)
There’s enough thrills and chills for everyone at Boo at the Zoo! Join us at Boo at the Zoo for an evening of Halloween fun! Rides are included in the Boo admission. Climb aboard for a spoooooky train ride or take a bewitching carousel ride! It’s slightly scary fun for all ages! Boo at the Zoo admission is $9/adult and $6/child for zoo members. Non-members’ admission for Boo at the Zoo is $14/adult and $11/child.

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

Marriage is not a “’till death do us part” contract as half end in divorce.

We live in an area where the traditional household is composed of single parents or mixed families. This shouldn’t come as a shock for you to hear that the odds are against two people who only have shared children together to live happily ever after.

It’s a sad reality that many relationships do not last and even if children are involved they do not act as a staple to keep two people together. Marriage is not a “’till death do us part” contract as half end in divorce. Around 70% end in divorce when it’s the third or fourth marriage.

When we take those numbers and weigh them against a long term committed relationship that mimics marriage we know that it’s a pretty comparable failure rate. Regardless as to how the break-up happened, children in most cases become a casualty of a broken home.

A single parent has an uphill climb in the world. Whether they share in the responsibility of custodianship or have full custody. Children add to household expenses, take away from free time and make it more difficult to move on into a new relationship. The dynamics of being a single parent is much more complicated than being a single adult – even if your child does not live with you.

There is heartache in being a loving parent who is treated as a visitor in their child’s life. This is to those who can only see their child every so often and in many cases it’s the father. Although there are cases where a mother does not have full custody, I’m speaking of the real fathers who are attentive and loving. Those who are providers and truly desire to be a part of their child’s world and influence onto how they are brought up.

We know there is an opposite male out there as there is an opposite female who are merely DNA contributors that brought their children into existence and who could never move beyond a selfish nature to devote themselves into parenthood. We could all give many cases of those people who single-handedly devastate those who love them.

To the real parents who are unable to be a constant in their child’s world, there is not only heartache but anger. To distance yourself from an anger where as someone personally hurt you. They broke your heart and now uses something that is just as much yours as it is theirs, against you. But this isn’t something, it’s a child.

If you are in this situation my heart breaks for you. We all should have love in our lives and it would be a beautiful thing if it was so simple. When a relationship ends we’d rather not witness our former love moving on. When you share a child with someone you will see this. You have to teach yourself to separate your feelings towards your child’s other parent and the feelings you have for your child. They don’t want a complicated life.

Your goal is to make it as less complicated as you can. Single parents tend to move on. Everyone wants love and the burden is too difficult for many in living alone for the rest of their lives. Both emotionally and financially.

There is a balance that can be found and has been found over and over again for single parents. Ideally children should have the love and support of their parents. Do not visit your own pain or anger onto them. As simple as it is to agree that you shouldn’t do that, every time you use that child as a tie that binds you to their other parent or a pawn in game of hate and anger… You chip away at their chance for happiness and at their essence of childhood. They shouldn’t have to grow up too soon and know that the world isn’t such a happy place. History is doomed to repeat itself. Teach your children to be happy, show them how. They are not your allies in war, your friend whose shoulder you cry on or who to share your negative thoughts with. Protect them from the drama, that if you think clearly enough about, you wouldn’t want them to deal with.

Eighteen years our children are dependent upon us. This is a blink of time in their overall life. Maybe for ten of those years you will be their world, but they’ll start spreading their wings and wanting to be more away from you then near you as they grow up. Time is precious. We have an obligation to society to bring up a caring and responsible adult. But we have the honor of parents to be a part of something absolutely wonderful, raising a child.

Our children don’t have to live with us, they don’t even have to be part of genetic material. If we’re a mom or dad, then we are accountable for who they are and what they feel as they grow up. Give your child the gift of feeling secure in your love. It is more important to be surrounded by people who love you growing up than you can ever imagine. It’s hard to give them this security if it’s clouded with so much animosity with THEIR mom or dad.

No matter how you feel, you can’t make the other loving and stable parent just disappear from their lives.

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

Back in the day, the South Coast thrived with the rise of the hardcore scene (who can forget how upset everyone was when Have Heart broke up?), but today, the post hardcore scene is making its revival.

Covering a fan base from Providence to Wareham to Boston, a group of Westport natives are creating a name for themselves in the music scene. Riverview, a four piece post hardcore band, consists of Dalton Winters (guitar), Ross Ketschke (Bass), Eric Canto (drums and vocals), and Lucas Murphy (vocals).

Originally a trio named Sally, this band went through a transition of sound and members since their start in 2011. Going from a trio, to a quarter/quintet (with yours truly on guitar, then on vocals when a quintet), and now sticking to four members, they finally found a sound that they want to stick with and continue on their new path.

As I sat down with Dalton, he had this to say, “The band started out as just a little talent show routine, and after that, Eric, Ross and I decided to try and make this joke into a reality. The name comes from the street I live on, which is funny because when promoters mail us tickets, they always have a comment about how they’re mailing them to Riverview on Riverview Drive.”

As we talked about how he likes the new sound in comparison to what it used to be, he added, “We used to just do covers, as most bands start out doing. It wasn’t until Eric and I sat down and tried to write some songs that we found ourselves in a genre.” He went into detail about their new sound as he said, “Most people used to categorize us with A Day to Remember as they were an influence on our band at one point.

We had that similar sound of clean vocals mixed with screams and the occasional breakdown to get the crowd rowdy. It wasn’t until about a year after we released our first EP that we decided we wanted to be heavier and have more of a raw sound. We released a few singles to give our audience a taste of our new direction and with the release of our last EP back in last October, our new sound suites us a lot better. It’s heavier, it’s raw, and it really shows our potential as a band.”

In December, Riverview is hoping to play out in new areas and give us New Englanders a taste of what post hardcore is these days. “We’ve written a few songs lately, and actually just finished recording one last week, and we hope to release it soon!” he said. Their music and merch can be found on their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/riverviewmusic, and they ask that you take a listen and let them know what you think!

Backseat Boys – Riverview (unreleased b-side song)

Goodbye, Blue Monday – Riverview (b-side unreleased song) [ft. former vocalist Zachery Taylor]

Most of the following information in this second part of the Frederick Douglass article is taken from his autobiography, My Bondage and My freedom.

Douglass eloquently and beautifully wrote down his hard story. His story is free of manipulative drama but full of soul. He wrote that suffering did not ultimately bring him to despair – it brought him to hope for a future when a person would not be bound under oppression because of their race. Douglass’s hope was so strong that he became part of the solution to slavery, spending most of his life in pursuit of freedom for his race. His story is one worth reading.

When Frederick and Anna left New York after they got married, they first went to Newport, RI. Here, they met two abolitionists who told them about New Bedford, which was one of the significant destinations of the Underground Railroad. Within just a few weeks of Douglass escaping slavery and getting married, he and his wife settled into New Bedford with a completely new landscape for life in front of them.

The Douglass’ were welcomed into the home of Nathan and Polly Johnson, African American abolitionists living at 21 Seventh Street in New Bedford. It was here that Frederick and Anna were encouraged to take the last name ‘Douglass.’ When Douglass arrived in New York, he changed his last name to Johnson to protect his identity, but he changed it a second time when Nathan Johnson suggested the name Douglass.

Douglass’s book My Bondage and My Freedom describes the scenes he saw on his first afternoon in New Bedford. He went down to the docks and as he watched the men at work he was surprised by what he saw. “On the wharves I saw industry without bustle, labor without noise, and heavy toil without the whip…there was no loud cursing or swearing…everything went on as smoothly as the works of a well adjusted machine” (351). He was also taken back by the wise use of animals to help with work. He took note that an ox worth eighty dollars was doing “what would have required fifteen thousand dollars worth of human bones and muscles to have performed in a southern port…everything was done here with a scrupulous regard to economy, both in regard to men and things, time and strength” (352).

Nathan Johnson assured Douglass that in New Bedford, black and white children went to school together, that a black man could hold any office in the state, and that no slaveholder could take a slave from New Bedford. This sealed Douglass’s assurance of his safety and he immediately set out to look for work. He found his first job three days after arriving in New Bedford and described his experience in these words: “It was new, hard, and dirty work, even for a calker [sic], but I went at it with a glad heart and a willing hand. I was now my own master – a tremendous fact – and the rapturous excitement with which I seized the job, may not easily be understood, except by some one [sic] with an experience something like mine…that day’s work I considered the real starting point of something like a new existence” (354).

His delight in finding New Bedford to be a place of such prosperous industries and economic wealth gave him hope of the new life he could live being his own master; he would have no one over him to take the money out of his hands that his own mind, sweat and muscle had earned. To him, this was a true manifestation of liberty. For years he had to endure watching every cent he worked for trickle out of his hands and be funneled to another person just to make their own life a little bit sweeter than it already was.

New Bedford held even more surprises for Douglass. Douglass’s sense of wealth and poverty came from his experience of life in the south. There, if a person had money, it was because they owned slaves – it was the work of slaves that brought money into the south. If white people didn’t own slaves, they were poor. Douglass described the white non-slaveholders as “the most ignorant and poverty stricken of men, and the laughing stock even of slaves themselves – called generally by them, in derision, ‘poor white trash.’”

Douglass wrote of his amazement in finding the laboring class of New Bedford living in houses “elegantly furnished – surrounded by more comfort and refinement – than a majority of the slaveholders” in Maryland. Of Nathan Johnson’s home Douglass wrote: “He lived in a nicer house…was owner of more books, the reader of more newspapers, was more conversant with the moral, social and political conditions of the country and the world, than nine-tenths of the slaveholders in Talbot County, Maryland” (350-51).

While Douglass made it perfectly clear through his writing that New Bedford was not fully free from discrimination and segregation (he found prejudice in workplaces and churches), he always ultimately remained grateful for the freedom he had found and the refuge he had in living in a state that did not allow ownership of slaves. Seeing discrimination in New Bedford did not set him back, though; he used it as a propeller to pursue total freedom for his race.

A few months after the Douglass’ arrival in New Bedford, a young man brought Douglass a copy of the Liberator, an abolitionist newspaper edited by William Lloyd Garrison. Douglass described the Liberator as “a paper after my own heart. It detested slavery…made no truce with the traffickers in the bodies and souls of men; it…demanded the complete emancipation of my race.” Through this paper, Douglass began to know the heart of the editor, Garrison. “Of all men beneath the sky, the slaves, because most neglected and despised, were nearest and dearest to his great heart” (360). From this point on, Douglass began attending all the anti-slavery meetings held in New Bedford, not yet realizing his own important future role in the fight against slavery.

In 1841, Garrison and others put together an anti-slavery convention in Nantucket. Douglass had taken no time off or vacation from his work since escaping slavery nearly three years before this. For the first time, he took a vacation to attend the convention. To his complete surprise, once he was there he was asked to speak. He described remembering very little about what he said except that he was shaking from nerves at the thought of speaking to a large group of people (1,000 were gathered).

At the end of the meeting Douglass was asked to become an agent for the Massachusetts anti-slavery society. He hesitated, feeling he was not prepared to take on such a position, but ended up accepting. He wrote that he was often introduced as having “…my diploma written on my back” (363).

This was the very beginning of Douglass’s launch into his work for the abolition of slavery. While living in New Bedford opened up for Douglass a new way of life and new opportunities, he also left his own mark in New Bedford. He, along with other slave fugitives, stamped New Bedford as being a haven for slaves during the rocky time in our country’s history when battles were raging over the different ideals people held regarding race and slavery.

Douglass went on to become a well known orator, speaking nationally (as well as in Ireland and Great Britain) against slavery, sometimes even risking his life for this. He endured insults and threats, was often tired and lonely, but he never forgot his end goal. Douglass also became an advisor, political ally and friend to six presidents. He worked with and was a friend to abolitionists, women’s suffrage leaders, such as Susan B. Anthony, and authors, such as Ralph Waldo Emerson. He was a writer, publisher, speaker, preacher and political activist; from his selfless work others after him have felt the impact of the blessings he brought to the framework of America.

The economy, education and transportation were the main highlights on Friday, as Democrat Martha Coakley and Republican Charlie Barkers had their public debate at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. The debate took place at 4 p.m. inside of the UMass Main Auditorium, which was sponsored by the South Coast Alliance of media, business, and education organizations. The debate was moderated by UMass Dartmouth Professor, Shannon Jenkins, Political Science Chairperson. Students, faculty, and the public were all welcomed to this event to get a glimpse into each candidate’s plan of action.

Chelsea Gallant, a student at UMass Dartmouth explained, “I think having the debate here on campus was beneficial not only to our campus, but our community as a whole, it is another way our campus allows others a chance to visit and get a feel for UMass Dartmouth.”

UMass Dartmouth has one of the biggest College auditoriums around locally. The main auditorium holds 800 people making a successful space for a debate.

Professor at UMass Dartmouth Caitlin O’Neil explained, “Issues that matter have an impact on the community, and it employs people locally. It gives students the opportunity to see up close.” Caitlin also added, that the debate speaks to student issues who are graduating into a tough community.

MASSPIRG is also supporting UMass Dartmouth students in hopes of trying to improve the ballot box this year. MASSPIRG facilitates voter registration while trying to get students to be more involved with voting because student’s voices can also make a difference. MASSPIRG tries motivating students to vote and become more involved with politics, and having a debate on campus gives students an up close an personal way to get informed with the issues they can potentially improve.

“Debates on College campus brings awareness to the students who maybe don’t know enough about each candidate or where the candidates stand. It’s beneficial.” Explains Eric Jones, senior at the UMass Dartmouth.

With the election coming up on November 4th, the debate was a way each candidate could discuss their difference in opinion in hopes to have a broad impact on the people of Massachusetts. Both candidates fostered an understanding, and no matter what someone’s political preference is, this debate was a good way to be informed about the candidates and where they stand.