This weekend will be very similar as last weekend in terms of temperature and clouds. While there will be no rain, there will be humidity. We’ll reach a low of 55 degrees – which is great for sleeping – but temperatures will hover around 80 degrees throughout the weekend. So, get out there and enjoy the many goings-on in the South Coast and beyond!

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, July 18th

The North Atlantic Shark Tournament (4:00pm – 8:00pm)
Looking for something to do this Friday and Saturday? The North Atlantic Shark Tournament weigh-in at Fisherman’s Wharf Pier 3 in New Bedford is open to the public. There will be free face painting for the kids, Shark trivia, vendor booths, boater safety demonstrations, and even the possibility of seeing a big shark. The weather looks great so come and check it out! Friday July 18th 4p-8p and Saturday July 19th 3p-6p. Please park at the Elm Street Parking Lot as the Pier will be closed to parking.

Music & Fish Fry at Harbor Days (5:30pm-7:00pm)
Join us for an old-fashioned fish fry as the sun sets over Mattapoisett Harbor. The meal will be prepared by The Hollywood Scoop the newest place in town to eat. The meal consists of 6 ounce fresh fish prepared on site, complete with french fries coleslaw and tartar sauce. The net proceeds of this event supports Lion’s charities and community needs. After dinner, enjoy the music of The Dave Charnley Band, a local high-energy country/blues group. Phone: 5084505475. Email: bamberger.donald@gmail.com. Shipyard Park Mattapoisett, Mass.

Sunset Music Series: Red Eye Flight Band (Westport) (6:00pm-8:00pm)
It’s a picnic style event, and attendees may bring their own food or enjoy a variety of delicacies from Compton Clambakes & Catering and once again a raw bar will be provided by Cuttyhunk Shellfish Farms. Don’t forget a blanket, chairs, bug spray, glasses and a cork screw. Admission is $10 per carload (Buses are $30) and beer, wine and local food will be served for a fee. The event is weather permitting and NO ALCOHOL MAY BE BROUGHT TO THE EVENT.

Summer Sounds Series – New Bedford Waterfront (6:00-8:00pm)
Tonight! Summer Sound Series features Johnny’s Basement: rock cover band playing on the City Pier 6-8pm. The Summer Sound Series are brought to you by the City of New Bedford, Destination New Bedford, The Port of New Bedford, and our generous sponsors Freitas Package Store, Miller Lite, Colonial Wholesale Beverage. There will be no parking on City Pier tonight (except for handicap parking)Parking in the downtown area and Elm St. Garage is recommended.

Marion Concert Band (7:00-8:00pm)
Marion concert Band to present “A Cavalcade of American Popular Music.” The concert will be held at the Robert Broomhead Bandstand. Island Wharf, Front St.

Painting with a Splash: Sailboat w/ Richa (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, July 19th

Silverbrook ACUSHNET Country Store (9:00am-8:00pm)
The Silverbrook Country Store is the home of The Pereia Bread Co. (a tasty little division of Silverbrook Farm) where they make their Famous Pies and Breads, as well as jams, sauces and other great food products. It is also the home of their Farm Stand that is open to the public every Saturday and Sunday. Silverbrook Country Store also has a wonderful and unique line of crafts including their popular candle/potpourri items and a great selection of handmade Amish items that truly make great gifts for any occasion.

Dartmouth YMCA Family campout (9:00am)
Bring a tent, sleeping back and camp essentials. There will be a BBQ dinner, rock climbing, and a camp style breakfast in the morning. Families must pre-register and $40 donation benefits the YMCA. For information or to register call (508) 993-3361, ext. 12 or visit www.ymcasouthcoast.org. 276 Gulf Road.

Friends of Mattapoisett Library’s Annual Book Sale (10:00am-4:00pm)
The Friends of the Mattapoisett Library Book Sale is being in the library reading room. Stop by the library’s circulation desk to join the Friends or renew your membership, or join to get a first look at the hundreds of like-new selections for adults and children.

Garden Tour with Gene Bertrand (10:00-12:00pm)
Take a walk with gardener Gene Bertrand. Having spent more than three decades working at the Haskell Nursery, Gene will discuss some of his favorite plants and horticultural techniques in this landscape. There will be a question and answer period at the end of the walk, so bring your curiosity! To register or for more information call (774) 992-7796, ext. 103 or visit www.thetrustees.org. 787 Shawmut Ave.

Superheroes and Princesses Weekend at Edaville (10:00am-5:00pm)
Meet & Greet with Edaville’s Princesses & Prince Charming! Admission Ticket: Meet & Greet with Princesses, Meet & Greet with Prince Charming, Snack Time with the Princesses, Snack includes a cookie, lemonade or water, Arts & Crafts: Make your own Tiara with the Princesses, Face Gem, Nails Painted by a Princess, and a balloon to take home. Each Additional child is $2 off. There is an observation area for parents who pay the $20 general admission to sit for the hour. Stop by the office to book your VIP meet & greet today! All reservations must be booked through our office (508)866-8190. $20 Ages 2-59. $17 Ages 60+. Under 2 are Free. All park rides and attractions included.

The North Atlantic Shark Tournament (3:00pm – 6:00pm)
Looking for something to do this Friday and Saturday? The North Atlantic Shark Tournament weigh-in at Fisherman’s Wharf Pier 3 in New Bedford is open to the public. There will be free face painting for the kids, Shark trivia, vendor booths, boater safety demonstrations, and even the possibility of seeing a big shark. The weather looks great so come and check it out! Friday July 18th 4p-8p and Saturday July 19th 3p-6p. Please park at the Elm Street Parking Lot as the Pier will be closed to parking.

Twilight Hayrides at Silverbrook ACUSHNET! (6-8pm)

We are always looking for affordable things to do with the family, so why not take them to Silverbrook Farm ACUSHNET?! All summer long they have festivals, family movie nights, and many other events! Tonight take the family out on a twilight hayride!!!

Painting with a Splash: Martini Date w/ Blaine (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.

Sunday, July 20th

Silverbrook ACUSHNET Country Store (9:00am-4:00pm)
The Silverbrook Country Store is the home of The Pereia Bread Co. (a tasty little division of Silverbrook Farm) where they make their Famous Pies and Breads, as well as jams, sauces and other great food products.

It is also the home of their Farm Stand that is open to the public every Saturday and Sunday. Silverbrook Country Store also has a wonderful and unique line of crafts including their popular candle/potpourri items and a great selection of handmade Amish items that truly make great gifts for any occasion.

Superheroes and Princesses Weekend at Edaville (10:00am-5:00pm)
Meet & Greet with Edaville’s Princesses & Prince Charming! Admission Ticket: Meet & Greet with Princesses, Meet & Greet with Prince Charming, Snack Time with the Princesses, Snack includes a cookie, lemonade or water, Arts & Crafts: Make your own Tiara with the Princesses, Face Gem, Nails Painted by a Princess, and a balloon to take home. Each Additional child is $2 off. There is an observation area for parents who pay the $20 general admission to sit for the hour. Stop by the office to book your VIP meet & greet today! All reservations must be booked through our office (508)866-8190. $20 Ages 2-59. $17 Ages 60+. Under 2 are Free. All park rides and attractions included.

Painting with a Splash: Fundraiser for the Lebanese Kitchen (6:00pm)
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.

Little theatre Firebarn: “A Salute to Sinatra” (Fall River) (7:30pm)
Firebarn Season continues with “A Salute to Sinatra,” July 17-27. Revue includes many of the standard Sinatra tunes we’ve come to know and love. Tickets $16 with discounts for students and seniors. For tickets contact (508) 675-1852 or visit www.littletheatre.net. 340 Prospect St. Fall River.

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

With the town of Dartmouth celebrating its 350th anniversary, there is a renewed interest in the town’s origin, history, and personages. There is a sense of awe attached to pondering how long three and half centuries is. While many parts of the world, particularly Europe and Asia, would consider 350 years to be a relatively short period of time – in the context of a nation that is officially 238 years old, it is a indeed a long time.

Unofficially speaking, there were a number of European – mostly Spanish – settlements that could be said to be firsts. San Juan, Puerto Rico in 1521. A little known place called San Miguel de Gualdape in Georgia which lasted for a whopping 3 months in 1527; a few decades after Christopher Columbus made his landing. Childersburg, Alabama is noted as the “Oldest City in the Continental U.S.,” since it was inhabited by Spain’s larger-than-life conquistador Hernando de Soto in 1540…for a month.

Most people who are history buffs, will leap at the chance to share the factoid that San Agustín or as we know it today: St. Agustine, Florida, is the oldest continuously occupied European-established settlement in the continental United States. She was founded for Spain by Pedro Menéndez de Avilés in 1565, an astonishing 449 years ago.

However, all of these “firsts” were really firsts for Spain, and in a sense failures for that nation’s colonial expansion – for they would eventually become British territories. These satellite settlements initially were intended to establish trade connections or a foothold to spread religion and the Spanish had modest success in these ventures. The British had a primarily financial motivation for the colonization of the Americas.

Of course, this does not include the Brownist English Dissenters who are considered the first “British” to settle in the New World. The Leiden group’s motivation was to find a place where they were free to practice their particular brand of religion and perhaps generate enough industry to survive.

The same could generally be said about the Puritans and Quakers who followed. All three of these groups had one thing in common: “Chop wood, carry water.” They were all industrious, hard working individuals who saw the practical benefits of maintaining a trade connection with the nation they abandoned. They knew they could not survive without some sort of established economy.

While one cannot say that America today is a British nation, it is upon British colonial expansion that the America that exists today was built. In that context the first English settlement was established in 1585; the infamous Roanoke Colony of Virginia, which was in what is today North Carolina. Croatoa, Mothman, vanished, yada, yada, yada.

Once Jamestown, Virginia was settled in 1607, this oldest colony of the original 13 colonies was a sort of death knell for Spanish expansion in North America. A combination of failed settlements, competition from other European nations, and the allure of gold contributed to Spain’s decision to focus their interests on the Central America, South America and North America’s Southwest.

With Spain’s focus elsewhere, Britain seized the opportunity to further its interests in North America and began to pour vast resources into expansion. With a smaller Spanish presence, there was one less danger to worry about – although there was of course still the French to deal with.

The vacuum left by Spain was another factor in drawing the Leiden group congregants to the New World where Plymouth Colony was established in 1620. The same folks led by William Bradford – many of whom were aboard the Mayflower, Elizabeth or Anne – were involved in the famed purchase in 1650 of a tract of land that would become Olde Dartmouth. Surely Wampanoag chiefs Massasoit and Wamsutta, had no idea what this tract of land would become when they sold it.

Named after the town of Dartmouth, Devon, England, this tract of land would soon enough be sold to the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). At this time it encompassed Acushnet, Fairhaven, New Bedford, and Westport. The various and somewhat confusing annexations to follow are readily available and common knowledge. Suffice it to say that it was incorporated in 1664, and was primarily an agriculturally based town.

Once New Bedford’s wealthy whaling, textile and glass moguls discovered the natural beauty of the town, they began to build their stately homes and visit seaside resorts. Population has steadily increased since the 1920s drawing people for the same reasons!

Old Dartmouth at one point – before all its annexations – had twenty villages with no central government or town center. In essence, churches/chapels, the Meeting Houses and their Elders would serve in this capacity. Anyhow, without further ado…

Bakerville

The village of Bakerville got its name from the Baker family who emigrated from Cape Cod. The first Baker to arrive in the New World was Francis Baker from Hertfordshire who came over in 1635. The family nestled in at Yarmouth, Dennis and Harwich and remained there for five generations.

In 1806, six brothers born of Shubal Baker and Lydia Stuart moved to Dartmouth and settled on a massive tract of land. No surprise since they had eleven children (that survived). Surely, things got a little claustrophobic. Seven of these eleven were sons: Archelus, Shubal, Ezra, Michael, Ensign, Sylvanus, and Halsey. I’m unsure who the seventh son that decided not to relocate to Dartmouth was.

These 6 Baker farms were the origins of the name “Bakerville.” After they paved the way, so to speak, they were followed by the Brownells, Slocums, Shermans, Smiths, Briggs and Davis’.

Bay View

What little I could find on this village is that it was at the North end of Smith’s Neck. James Akin’s homestead included this village in its entirety and Thomas Getchell’s homestead was sandwiched between “Bay View village and Nonquitt.” While there is sadly little mentioned historically about this village, not much imagination is needed to figure out the origin of its name.

Bliss Corner

Bliss Corner is a 2 square mile water-less tract of land…if you don’t include coastline. I’d love to tell you some fantastic story about how an early settler saw the gorgeous flora and fauna and fell into a blissful swoon – hence its name. However, its origin is more modest in nature. Bliss is a surname of a family that contributed much to Dartmouth’s growth early on.

The Bliss family were Seventh Day Baptists from Rhode Island whose arrival in the region the mid-1700s was signaled by Reverend William Bliss. One of his sons, Arnold who was from Middleton, Rhode Island followed his father’s footsteps to Dartmouth and in his career choice: he was also a Seventh Day Baptist preacher. Like many they owned portions of land, did some farming and ran a saw mill; most notable was another of William’s sons John Bliss, who was not only a preacher, this time for the Freewill Baptist Church, but also served in the Revolutionary War under Col. Archibald Crary. With the birth of Arnold’s son William (grandson of the original William) the family would begin to leave the clergy and focus on milling and farming.

Regardless, they contributed in a multitude of ways to Dartmouth’s industry, community and society and rightfully earned the right to have a very special part of Olde Dartmouth named after them. On a side note, the Bliss family’s religious contribution and presence still exists in Rhode Island today and there is a Bliss Four Corners and Bliss Four Corners Congregational Church in Tiverton.

Hixville

Founded in 1785, Hixville, or Hicksville has similar origins in that a surname contributed to its moniker. The surname is one of the country’s oldest and arrived with Samuel Hicks, Sr. who came aboard the Anne in 1623. Samuel Hicks Sr. was one of the town’s original founders or proprietors and settled in to put Dartmouth on the map when he moved here in 1666. In all likelihood a Quaker, Samuel produced quite the number of progeny.

In this case, the Hicks family had more business-minded leanings as opposed to the religious oriented Blisses. Most of the Hicks had business ventures in booming nearby New Bedford, including Kirby & Hicks Stable on the corner of Elm and Pleasant Streets, Herbert E. Hicks Antiques, at 38 North Water Street (a shop which curiously used the stern board of the whaling bark “Atlantic” in its storefront), and the whaling vessel “Andrew Hicks.”

There are few families who left a more indelible mark on Dartmouth and beyond, than the Hicks family. Indeed, their presence was so powerful that there is still a Hick’s Street in downtown New Bedford today, sandwiched between Logan and Washburn Streets, east of Route 18.

Nonquitt

Nonquitt is a corruption of the Amerindian word Namquid or Nomquid, and actually has no meaning. In the 17th century this area was settled by Nathaniel Howland and was called Nomquid Neck. Originally this referred to the east side of Smith’s Neck. By 1872, it referred to a much larger area that became a seaside community the we know today. These terms were applied differently and refer to different stretched of land depending on what time period you are discussing.

Padanaram

Padanaram Village rose from the remains at the foot of Lucy Street, of a settlement burnt to the ground during King Philip’s War (1675-1678). Padanaram was a village before it was dubbed so. It was a shipbuilding mecca called Ponagansett (and later South Dartmouth Village) leading up to the Revolutionary War when a few local Tories that were banished, returned with a small band of Redcoats. These rogues and knaves made an attempt to raze the village as best they could, but were interrupted by a spirited unknown lady who not only doused the burning homes, but made sure to spare a generous amount for the Tories and Redcoats themselves! They managed to burn down two homes, but her spitfire – pardon the pun – salvaged a third building: St. Peter’s Episcopal Church on Elm Street. Girl power!

After the war, Ponagansett became a supporting village for the Whaling Boom in New Bedford. Many industries benefited by supporting whaling, even those altogether unrelated. One of these, the salt industry, made a fizzle. Many businessmen made an honest go of it, but for naught. Why mention the salt works? Because one of those businessmen, was Laban Thatcher, who was a sort of early Panagakos. He invested in a number of properties and built, owned and ran windmills, a magnesia factory, shipyard, wharf and more.

In spite of his successes, his salt work was dubbed “Laban’s Folly” by the community, since it utterly fell flat.

Regardless, it would be Mr. Thatcher that would dub the village Padanaram. Contrary to what many believe or what is the common method of place naming in New England, Padanaram is not an Amerindian word, but Aramaic, meaning “the fields of Aram.” Of religious bent, Thatcher felt there were uncanny similarities between his life and the Genesis’ Laban, who lived in the plains of Padan-aram.

Russells Mills

The oldest of all Dartmouth’s villages had its beginnings in the early 17th century. The first place settlers look for when they arrive is water. It’s not only necessary to sustain life, but needed for washing, power or energy, milling, smithing and diverse other tasks. The Slocum or Paskamansett supplied this amply. Like the first two villages we mentioned, Russells Mills was also named after a family: the Russells, of which a vast amount of literature has been written by people far more capable and talented. I refer you to them.

Of interest is where the “mills” part of Russells Mills is derived. Many historians have pontificated, guessed, and theorized which type of mills these may have been. Unfortunately, since they were built prior to King Philip’s War and important parts of the infrastructure, when Metacomet and crew came rolling around they were prime targets. Historical records that may have told us what the first mills were, surely went up in flames with the rest of the area. What historians are sure of is that it was not an iron mill.

Residents returned and rebuilt at the advent of the war, and thankfully it remains relatively unchanged – retaining the early character of the village.

Smiths Mills

Originally called Newtown, the very first act of the town of Dartmouth after its incorporation was to offer 1/34th of the total land of the town to anyone that would immediately erect a mill here.

On June 30, 1664, Henry Tucker and George Babcock took up the task. History does not record the specific sort of mill that was erected and as aforementioned King Philip did a bang-up job destroying the town and historical documents. The first mention of a mill in Smiths Mills is George Babcock’s mortgage of a grist mill and a fulling mill in 1702.

In 1706 an Elishib Smith acquired the land, farm and mills and even erected a saw mill of his own.

The name “Smiths Mills” is missing an apostrophe denoting ownership, i.e. “Smith’s Mills,” or “Smiths’ Mills.” Were the mills named after an early family or individual that settled there, e.g. Samuel Smith, town surveyor or Judah Smith the very first settler there? Or was it named so because there were a number of various smithies there? I couldn’t find anything suggesting either, however I find it likely that the latter is the case.

Smith’s Neck

Smith’s Neck was originally called Namquid Neck which means “The Fishing Rock Place.” The particular Smith that Smith’s Neck is named after is a one John Smith, a boundboy (a young indentured servant) of the Mayflower’s Edward Doty. With Doty’s leave he took to the sea and eventually was commissioned aboard a barque that served as one of the earliest versions of a Navy.

In spite of the fact that John Smith had very humble beginnings he earned himself enough to purchase a home in “Plimoth Colonie” which he exchanged for land in Ponagansett. After removing to Dartmouth, he built himself another home and began to rise in prominence as an local arbiter and town surveyor. He earned the title of “Lieftenant” and was nicknamed “The Lad of the Mayflower” by locals.

John would marry twice – once into the Howland family (Deborah) and a second time to a Ruhamah Kirby. He would have thirteen children and many of them would marry into the prominent Russell and Howland families.

While not true villages, or even hamlets there were tiny areas that were in essence neighborhoods consisting of homesteads. Places like Allen’s Neck, Colvin’s or Durfee’s Neck, Gidleytown, Mischaum Point, Perry’s Grove, Round Hill, Salt-House or Salter’s Point, Slocum’s Neck, etc. weren’t true villages, but worth mention.

Dartmouth should be rather proud of its history, for it really is America’s history and Dartmouth’s 350th anniversary is just as much an anniversary for America!

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No. New Bedford’s unemployment rates are not accurate. It’s not even debatable. What is debatable is how much lower it actually is.

After the crash of 2008, unemployment numbers skyrocketed reaching a nationwide high of 8.7% in November of 2009 and steadily declining since then. As of April 2014 the nationwide average was at 6.3%. New Bedford’s unemployment rate currently sits at 10.4% when the state average is exactly 6.0%.

This paints a picture that New Bedford is filled with almost double the amount of the state’s average in terms of jobless. New Bedford is Massachusetts “Detroit.” What a pile of hogwash.

New Bedford has always had a dark history. A city that was once considered the world’s richest city in 1853, has always attracted the criminal element. Where there’s abundance, there will always be someone trying to get a slice of the pie through dishonest means.

New Bedford has a sizable underground or “black” economy – a large community of people who make money “under the table” or through illegal, illicit methods. Drug dealers, pill dealers, gang members, fences, thieves, prostitutes, and their pimps all generate income. Many do this while simultaneously collecting unemployment.

Take a ride through the “ghetto” or poorer sections of the city. You’ll see Lexus’, BMWs, Escalades, all with expensive rims, and sound systems that are worth more than your car. You’ll see folks walking around with $250 pairs of sneakers, high end watches, top of the line “gear” – pants, shirts and jackets worth hundreds – gold necklaces, etc.

This is a lifestyle that is kept up with the dual income of unemployment/welfare and illegal activities. While working “under the table” seems lesser of the two evils, it is still illegal – and to stay on topic: it skews the unemployment numbers.

How many drug dealers, thieves, prostitutes, etc. do you think there are in the city? Read any daily headlines to see rims being stolen, cars and homes being broken into, thieves brazenly taking people’s smartphones and laptops from them in broad daylight, convenience stores being robbed, or worse. Drive down Ashley Boulevard near Route 18 any time after 8:00pm and you’ll see a half dozen prostitutes with their pimps, and a number of drug dealers standing on corners.

How do I know these people are prostitutes and drug dealers? Because they advertise it verbally. I’ve had prostitutes walk right up to my car window and ask “Do you want to &%(* me in the *#&?” A drug dealer once was a town crier of sorts and said to me “Cocaine? Cocaine? Cocaine?” They aren’t even afraid of the police or getting caught. By the way, I replied with “No. No. No.”

Then there is the Grey Market. “How many friends do you know do something “under the table”? Mow someone’s lawn, fix their car, repair a leaky pipe, or stop reporting their wages at 40 hours to buck child support services? Sell “pot” on the side? How many people do you think smoke marijuana?

I’m not passing judgement on these folks – in this article anyway. My sole point is that the illegal workforce and economy is a vibrant and robust one. There are thousands of “employed” people making millions of dollars.

So, is our 10.4% a little lower or a lot lower? Conservatively, one could say it’s about 8%. Is it more like the state average? Or is the black economy so large that New Bedford may even have a lower than state average unemployment rate? It is my opinion, that we are at least in line with the state’s average…perhaps even lower.

Guess what folks? A weekend with some weather cooperation, is in store for us! We’ll be 80 degrees all weekend and the only spot of rain is a possible evening thunderstorm on Sunday. A low of 57 degrees should mean nights that are comfortable to sleep in. So let’s head out and enjoy the many things the South Coast has to do!

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, July 11th

Summer Sound Series on the Waterfront (6:00pm-8:00pm)
Residents and visitors are invited to dance to live music, enjoy beverages available for purchase, and relax along New Bedford’s beautiful waterfront and historic downtown. Concertgoers are encouraged to continue to enjoy summer evenings in New Bedford at one of the many fine restaurants that will offer concert night specials.

Apponagansett Summer Concert Series: “Headcase” (6:30pm-8:30pm)
Apponagansett Park, Gulf Road. Near the Padanaram Bridge; Adjacent to the Town Landing. Gate opens at 5:30 p.m. Tickets: $5.00 per person at gate, $4.00 per person in advance. Children under 12 free. Season passes are available for $30.00 per person. All advance ticket sales and season passes must be paid by check and are available for purchase at the Parks & Recreation Office.

Cranberry Coast Concerts: “Mr. Showmanship: A Sparkling Grand Tribute to Lee Liberace” (7:00pm)
Join Walter Whipple in his spectacular tribute to Mr. Showmanship, Lee Liberace! At Eastern Bank, Wareham. For tickets and information visit www.cranberrycoastconcerts.com or call (508) 491-8888.

Painting with a Splash: Relax Flip Flops & Private Gate (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, July 12th

Klean Out For Kids! (Westport) (8:00am-1:00pm)
Gymnasium-full of yard-sale items (clothing, furniture, household items, much more) to benefit the Westport Education Foundation, which enhances the curriculum of the Westport Community Schools. Westport High School. 19 Main Road. Free admission.

Westport Point United Methodist Church Rummage Sale (8:30am-1:30pm)
Annual Rummage and Bake Sale will include baked goods as well as clothing, books, jewelry, furniture, household items, toys, etc. This is a fundraiser to help support children’s programming and it is held at the church at 1912 Main Road, Westport. The event will be held rain or shine.

Silverbrook ACUSHNET Country Store (9:00am-8:00pm)
The Silverbrook Country Store is the home of The Pereia Bread Co. (a tasty little division of Silverbrook Farm) where they make their Famous Pies and Breads, as well as jams, sauces and other great food products. It is also the home of their Farm Stand that is open to the public every Saturday and Sunday. Silverbrook Country Store also has a wonderful and unique line of crafts including their popular candle/potpourri items and a great selection of handmade Amish items that truly make great gifts for any occasion.

Wesley United Methodist Church Annual Arts and Crafts and Flea Market Summer Faire (9:00am-3:00pm)
Presents its Annual Arts and Crafts and Flea Market Summer Faire. Rummage sale, white elephant, baked goods sale and more with a luncheon of lobster rolls, homemade clam chowder and BBQ items available. 462 Main St. Wareham.

Garden Insects – the Good, the Bad and the Ugly (Dartmouth) (9:00am)
Helfand Farm Community Gardens, a volunteer run non-profit, offers garden rental plots on 4 acres of the historic Helfand Farm. For more information, or to receive updates about our free gardening workshops, contact HelfandFarmCommunityGardens@yahoo.com. 318 Chase Road, two miles south of Route 6. Helfand Farm Community Gardens 318 Chase Road Dartmouth.

Pirate Weekend at Edaville USA: Day 1 (10:00am & 5:00pm)
Argh Matey! It may be a Train, but it’s been taken over by Pirates. No matter where you look there is a scurvy pirate around every corner. Come dressed in costume and enjoy the fun. Dinoland is included in this admission.

Painting with a Splash: Owl Kid’s Painting & Sunset Beach (11:30am & 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.

Twilight Hayrides and Family Movie Night: Field of Dream! (6-8pm & 8:30pm)
We are always looking for affordable things to do with the family, so why not take them to the movies. Continuing in the Summer of 2014, Silverbrook Farm will again be offering its FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT Series. Silverbrook will show a farm family favorite outside under the stars! Go grab a blanket and the family and come and see us! Admission is just $5.00 per person!

Sunday, July 13th

Silverbrook ACUSHNET Country Store (9:00am-4:00pm)
The Silverbrook Country Store is the home of The Pereia Bread Co. (a tasty little division of Silverbrook Farm) where they make their Famous Pies and Breads, as well as jams, sauces and other great food products.

It is also the home of their Farm Stand that is open to the public every Saturday and Sunday. Silverbrook Country Store also has a wonderful and unique line of crafts including their popular candle/potpourri items and a great selection of handmade Amish items that truly make great gifts for any occasion.

Car Cruise to benefit the Progeria Foundation (9:30am-1:30pm)
Meet at the JC Penny at Wareham Crossing (2421 Cranberry Highway) at 9:30 a.m. and depart at 10 a.m. The cruise will travel through South Eastern Massachusetts ending at the Airport Grille in New Bedford for lunch, a raffle and a silent auction. Come join us for a fun ride and a good cause. For more information, go to the Event tab at the CCBCC website or Email lillyrocha12@yahoo.com.

Pirate Weekend at Edaville USA: Day 2 (10:00am & 5:00pm)
Argh Matey! It may be a Train, but it’s been taken over by Pirates. No matter where you look there is a scurvy pirate around every corner. Come dressed in costume and enjoy the fun. Dinoland is included in this admission.

Painting with a Splash: Beach Cottages (2:00pm)
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.

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

After more than ten glorious days in her home port of New Bedford, Massachusetts, the whaling ship Charles W. Morgan made her departure from this historic port. Built in the city in 1841, she is the world’s oldest surviving merchant vessel and the only surviving wooden whaling ship from the 19th century American fleet. This was her first visit in 73 years. During her 80 years of service, she made 37 voyages ranging from nine months to five years. She appeared in three movies. Nearly destroyed by fire in 1924, she was ultimately rescued by Colonel Green (son of Hetty Green known as the Witch of Wall Street) and brought to Round Hill, Dartmouth, Massachusetts. After Green’s death, her future was uncertain. After surviving the 1938 hurricane, she was ultimately saved by the Marine Historical Association (later renamed Mystic Seaport, Connecticut). In 2010, Mystic Seaport undertook a multi-million project to restore her to seaworthiness. On June 28, 2014, she made her 38th voyage from Mystic to New Bedford. What a life she’s had!

As I waited with anticipation for the Charles W. Morgan to depart New Bedford harbor, I couldn’t help but wonder how she feels today. Is she remembering the many times in years long gone when she traveled this very course, knowing that she would not return for one, two, three or more years? Would she tell us of all the adventures as well as fears she had on these long, arduous voyages? Was she ever afraid that she would not return? Or was she more hopeful of bringing back a hold full of whale blubber and oil. And when she was successful in bringing back this liquid treasure, would she take pride in knowing that her contributions helped New Bedford earn the title of The City That Lit The World? Would she have dared to imagine that she would ultimately, one day, carry the distinction of being the last whaling ship of her era in the world?

If she could speak, there are so many questions I would ask her. Did she have any concerns about her voyage from Mystic to New Bedford after all these years? Did she wonder if, after 73 years away from her port of berth, that anyone would care – that anyone would show up? 40,000 visitors later — there should be no doubt in her mind. We love her! We miss her! We wish she were back here permanently in her homeport. However – we are thankful to Mystic Seaport for bringing her back to life and back to her home, even for this short stay.

Godspeed Charles W. Morgan – until we meet again.

Digging through historical documents and images as part of research for historical articles, I come across an inordinate amount of stories. Some are short, others need a novel to tell them. Some of these are “well-known” and others I have never seen or read elsewhere. When it comes to any information base on any topic -especially history- there are people who have varying amounts of knowledge. What may be well-known to one may not be to another – no matter how incredulous it may seem to he/she that is already in the know.

I mention this because I ask for a bit of liberty from that demographic that is already in the know on the topics I share. This is especially the case with Russell Warren’s historic New Bedford Institution for Savings, whose history we first mentioned in the The Grand Designs of Russell Warren; New Bedford Architecture article.

The New Bedford Institution for Savings is a building that has been around a long time and changed hands too many times to count. Because of this there are a lot of photographs of the building. Over the years the folks at Spinner Publications have been generous enough to allow us to share these and similar photographs. Without their thoughtfulness, these articles would simply not exist – exposing my writing for what it is. I need those photographs! Please consider patronizing this fantastic organization.

As mentioned above the New Bedford Institution for Savings was built by Russell Warren in 1853 in a Greek Revival style building, albeit without the columns that Warren seemed so fond of.

Let’s set the context of the time: Franklin Pierce became the 14th President of the United States, inheriting the position from Millard Fillmore. America was just near the end of its famed Gold Rush out West which helped drive one of its massive immigration rushes.

With the intent to construct a transcontinental railroad to expand trade opportunities, America would purchase a large part of southern New Mexico and southern Arizona under the Gadsden Purchase. In Massachusetts Abba Alcott would lead the charge to petition the Constitutional Convention to urge suffrage for women and voters along with 420 male delegates would reject all eight proposals from the state’s Constitutional Convention to alter the Massachusetts Constitution.

Only a year earlier in 1852, Herman Melville would meet Essex captain George Pollard in Nantucket for the first time. The Essex was of course the inspiration for his iconic Moby Dick novel, written just a year earlier.

Warren’s brick, granite and sandstone building was built in a time where the economy was burgeoning along with New Bedford’s population – which was 18,000 strong at that point. Whaling actually reached its economic peak in 1853, so New Bedford was at its height in terms of revenue generated from the whaling industry. In fact, it was considered the “Richest City in the Country.” This would be the year that the city would get gas light for the first time, and its first public library on Union Street. Parker Street Grammar school would open.

It was a safe time to operate a bank and the intention for this structure was as we all know to be the New Bedford Institution for Savings. Not to be confused with the New Bedford Institution for Savings which was headed by William A. Crapo and incorporated in 1825, on the corner of Union and Fourth Streets.

As mentioned before 1853, was the peak of the whaling industry and it began a decline. New Bedford has always had a knack for industries and has never been stubborn about evolving and jumping ship to the next one. While whaling declined, other industries grew. New Bedford latched onto the textile industry to maintain its economic environment.

The New Bedford Institution for Savings would decide it needed a larger building, so would relocate to 174 Union Street – today’s Oceanarium – in 1896.

When it was vacated the Bristol County Court System moved in and the structure became the Old Third District Courthouse as its pediment still silently declares today. The richest city in the world surely sounded good to any criminal element and it goes without saying that where there is money, there are crooks. This Old Third District Courthouse was simply too small to handle the criminal activities and had to relocate to larger facilities – which it did circa 1914.

After life as a courthouse, the NBIS building would become a variety of local businesses, including an antiques store and Johnson’s Auto Parts. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. It would become a bank again in the 1990s as Fleet Bank. Fleet Bank teamed with WHALE, New Bedford’s Waterfront Historic Preservation LEague, and renovated the now almost 150 year old building. WHALE then bought the building from Fleet, who surely – once again – felt the building was too small.

WHALE then turned the building over to the National Park Service in 1995 and the building became the Visitor’s Center, which is a function it still serves today!

Oh nature. Why do you have to worry us so every 4th of July? We fret over and concern ourselves with the possibility – dare I say probability – of precipitation on an evening where we need none! We patriots just want a short respite to allow us to celebrate our nation’s birthday with fireworks! Friday is supposed to be rainy and breezy, with Saturday and Sunday filled with sunshine. We may make it by the skin of our teeth. We’ll be in the upper 70s to the low 80 throughout the weekend with the lowest beng 57 degrees on Saturday. A fantastic weekend for heading out!

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, July 4th

Sunset Music Series (Westport) (5:00-7:00pm)
Westport Rivers Winery Sunset Music Series every Friday 5-7 p.m. through September. Next concert, Bluegrass Invitational Band! Admission $10 per carload and beer, wine and SoCo local food will be served for a fee. Weather permitting. 417 Hixbride Road.

4th Annual Snooky Benevides Memorial Spaghetti Supper (7:00pm-1:00am)
4th Annual Snooky Benevides Memorial Spaghetti Supper Sponsored by the G20 Chorus. Dinner, Dancing and Raffles at the Liberal Club 20 Star St. Fall River. Tickets: Adult $12 Children: pay age up to 10 yrs old Ticket info: Brad 508-822-3790 Diogo 774-644-9509. Phone: 508-822-3790. Email: carr181@yahoo.com.

New Bedford Fireworks Display (9:00pm)
Celebrate Independence Day and the Homecoming of Charles W. Morgan with a spectacular Fireworks Display over the New Bedford Harbor! Fireworks can be viewed from various points throughout Downtown New Bedford and from the west side of Fort Phoenix in Fairhaven. State Pier will not accessible for fireworks viewing. Rain Date is Saturday, July 5th at 9pm.

Saturday, July 5th

Smith Neck Friends Meeting Annual Flea Market (8:00am-1:00pm)
Annual Flea Market. Books, furniture, antiques and household items. Rent a table for $15, lunch of lobster rolls will also be available for $10. Rain date July 12. Place orders for Lobster Rolls or to rent a table by calling (508) 994-5816. 594 Smith Neck Road.

Silverbrook ACUSHNET Country Store (9:00am-8:00pm)
The Silverbrook Country Store is the home of The Pereia Bread Co. (a tasty little division of Silverbrook Farm) where they make their Famous Pies and Breads, as well as jams, sauces and other great food products. It is also the home of their Farm Stand that is open to the public every Saturday and Sunday. Silverbrook Country Store also has a wonderful and unique line of crafts including their popular candle/potpourri items and a great selection of handmade Amish items that truly make great gifts for any occasion.

Monthly Wellness Walk (10:00am)
Hawthorn Cardiologist Dr. Michael Rocha will lead participants on a two-mile walk around Buttonwood Park on the first Saturday of each month. Do the whole two miles or whatever you can at a pace that’s comfortable for you! The Walks are part of the New Bedford Wellness Initiative, formed to raise health awareness and encourage physical activity.

Blessing of the Fleet and Boat Parade (10:00-4:00pm)
Wareham Summer of Celebration presents Blessing of the Fleet and Boat Parade. Boat must be registered ahead of event, contact warehambotf@yahoo.com. Taking place at Onset Pier, Onset Ave.

Red, White and Blue Days at Edaville Railroad (10:00am & 5:00pm)
Make a full weekend out of the July 4th at Edaville USA, where traditional American fun can always be had! One of the funnest spots on the South Coast!

New Bedford Folk Festival: Day One! (11:00am & 9:30pm)
The New Bedford Folk Festival is one of the city’s biggest family oriented celebrations. Jam packed with mouth watering food, world class acts, and a ton of fun! Read our Survival Guide to get all the information to have a blast!

42nd Annual Cape Verdean Recognition Parade (11am)
The parade starts at Buttonwood Park, travels down Union Street, WaterStreet, School Street to Acushnet Ave. Turns right to Grinnell Street to Purchase Street. Live music and street party after!

FREE Concert & Classic Car Show (4:00pm-7:00pm)
Have a blast at the Concert and Classic Car Show featuring WBSM’s Taylor Cormier singing the songs of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Tony Benntt and more! Apponagansett Park, South Dartmouth.

Sunday, July 6th

Silverbrook ACUSHNET Country Store (9:00am-4:00pm)
The Silverbrook Country Store is the home of The Pereia Bread Co. (a tasty little division of Silverbrook Farm) where they make their Famous Pies and Breads, as well as jams, sauces and other great food products. It is also the home of their Farm Stand that is open to the public every Saturday and Sunday. Silverbrook Country Store also has a wonderful and unique line of crafts including their popular candle/potpourri items and a great selection of handmade Amish items that truly make great gifts for any occasion.

Red, White and Blue Days at Edaville Railroad (10:00am & 5:00pm)
Make a full weekend out of the July 4th at Edaville USA, where traditional American fun can always be had! One of the funnest spots on the South Coast!

New Bedford Folk Festival: Day Two! (11:00am & 9:30pm)
The New Bedford Folk Festival is one of the city’s biggest family oriented celebrations. Jam packed with mouth watering food, world class acts, and a ton of fun! Read our Survival Guide to get all the information to have a blast!

Cape Verdean Recognition Carnival (12:00pm-8:00pm)
A family event, with Vendors and Cape Verdean Food at the Morse Cutting Tool Parking Lot. Rides, games, prizes and more. Proceeds help to support the programs of the Cape Verdean Recognition Committee. Pleasant and Wing Sts.

Painting with a Splash: Birdhouse with Ann (3:00pm)
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.

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

Wooden porches and decks are playgrounds for unhealthy molds, mildews, bacteria, and other microorganisms. Molds live everywhere, producing microscopic spores that constantly reproduce. When you open the door, molds can waft right into your home, and as soon as a mold spore touches any amount of moisture in your home, it starts growing. Mold quickly and easily grows on carpet, foods, and paper once inside of your home.

Molds are essential for the environment because they breakdown dead plant matter, but they can also adversely impact indoor air quality and pose a variety of human health risks, such as headaches, eye irritation, respiratory problems, allergic skin reactions, and even liver cancer. So don’t let that black or green stuff build-up on your porch!

You may have heard that it’s a good idea to clean your porch with bleach or oxalic acid, but these substances aren’t good for your health or the local environment. Oxalic acid is a toxin that is corrosive to skin and eyes and damaging to the respiratory system. Bleach leaches unhealthy phosphates into the soil, everything living in your soil, and your water system, which can harm plants and cause serious health problems. Plus, while bleach does kill surface mold, it doesn’t kill mold below the surface or in the pores of wood.

To regularly clean your porch, use a more environmentally friendly solution of vinegar and water, which kills 82% of molds and bacterias. For even better mold-killing action, add a few drops of essential tea-tree oil to the vinegar and water solution. Tea-tree oil has natural inhibitory effects on a wide-spectrum of molds, bacteria, and microorganisms.

What about your roof? Ever wonder what’s lurking up there—and periodically seeping into your house? Just as it does on cars, pollen piles up on your roof, which increases mold growths and negative health reactions. All sorts of other bacterias will wind-up on your roof, and if you leave them there too long, they can also cause a host of unfriendly growths inside of your home.

When pollution reacts with the atmosphere and forms compounds, acid rain falls to the earth—and onto your roof! Roofs become vulnerable to these acidic compounds over time, and they can deteriorate the composition of roofing materials and the aesthetic appearance of your roof.

Bird droppings may pose additional problems for your roof. While these tiny pellets may seem harmless, they are in fact extremely acidic. They eat away at your roof and can eventually cause leaks. Bird droppings can even lead to home invasions of parasites that bite you!

It’s very important to get these molds, acidic compounds, pollens, and poo off your roof and porch! To ensure that you, your indoor air quality, and your house stays in great shape for years to come, thoroughly clean your roof and porch at least twice per year. Pressure-washing works great but can be difficult to do yourself, especially on your roof! Consider hiring local New Bedford professionals like New England Roof Cleaners, an award-winning roof cleaning company that offers a $25 senior discount and uses Eco-friendly products!

Sholom is a Hebrew word that many understand to mean “peace.” However, this base definition fails to truly convey the living concept behind the term. It’s one we see in movies or perhaps see two Jewish people utter to one another as a blessing or greeting.

These are dead experiences.

It’s one thing to see the word used from an outside context, but it’s an altogether other experience to be on the receiving end of it. To be accurately summed up there has to be elements of harmony, contentment, and wholeness attached to it. There has to be a feeling associated with it. It is an experience that has to be felt.

This was exactly my experience when I spent a few hours with the congregation at Tifereth Israel one afternoon. I had an appointment with Congregation President Dorothy Aghai and looked forward to learning something new. I walked into a room full of old friends – I just had never met them before. I was eagerly and warmly received by Board of Director member Abra Salk Zion, Cantor Nathaniel Schudrich, President Dorothy Aghai, executive director Milton Goodman and Rabbi Raphael Kanter. I had expected a casual, informal meeting with one of the officials of Tifereth Israel, but the entire staff showed up. Quite the welcome committee!

It conveyed to me the sole importance the congregation placed upon their synagogue and its role in the community. If they placed this much weight upon a meeting with a “little person” like myself, then how did they treat the larger matters and issues?

The meeting was a vibrant, cerebral, jovial one interspersed with moments of levity and spirit. To say that it ran the gamut, would be an understatement. It was a colorful bouquet of experiences that reflected the spirit of the congregation. Here was a non-elitist group of leaders who thoroughly relished rubbing elbows with the bourgeoisie!

The primary reason for the meeting was that the congregation wanted the community to know that not only was there something going on in this building, but boy was there something going on!!

Tifereth Israel may use the same building as a platform for its community outreach, but the method or protocol has taken a complete 180 from the direction it had previously being going. Tifereth Israel today has a conservative approach to its practice. The objective of strengthening the bond with the local Jewish community remains the same, but with renewed vigor.

Torah

When it comes to Torah, the congregation feels that exploration of the Jewish text promotes a “…sense of the sacred in our relationship with God…” Study not only sharpens the mind which strengthens the community at large, but communicates what God wants of each individual.

With that in mind, robust education programs are in place for adults and children alike. A number of classes in a variety of topics are offered on a regular basis to help further one’s understanding. Bible liturgy, Bar/Bat Mitzvah, a Shabbot morning pulpit, Jewish thought, and Hebrew to name a few.

The congregation feels that their highest education priority are the children as it is more prudent to begin the process of cultivating a positive Jewish identity early on. They offer classes through the Ziskind School of Judaism, for children from Kindergarten through 12th grade. Classes are three days a week up to 7th grade and for grades 8-12, Hebrew High School which meets once per month is offered. Of course, individual instruction for Bar/Bat Mitzvah is available as well.

The congregants stressed the importance that these education programs are accessible, current and executed with the highest, stringent levels of pedagogical excellence. A true Torah for the 21st century!

Avodah

In the broadest of terms, Avodah refers to service, work or prayer. “Study, like prayer, brings us into a conversation with God. Prayer expresses what we wish to say, and Jewish study hopefully communicates what God wants of each individual.” This second pillar is an integral aspect of Tifereth Israel’s congregation. Prayer is the opportunity to not only be expressive in your communication with God, but a chance to be open, awake and connected. Unlike the rest of the day, it’s the moment where one puts the world aside and one’s thoughts in park.

Avodah at Tifereth Israel is centered -pardon the pun- on a spiritual enrichment that has a lasting effect. Through regular prayer one reaps a multitude of real world benefits and the congregant’s leaders strive to maintain a balance of tradition and conservatism to best fit the community.

G’meelut Chasadim

Study and prayer are prerequisite to G’meelut Chasadim and must never be relegated to parchment. The practice of chesed, must be exactly that: practice. It’s tzedakah. This was exactly my experience from the moment I walked into the synagogue and further confirmed when they shared anecdotes about 2 Catholic Priests and other Christians who attended services. There is nothing artificial and everything genuine about their practice. I deign to even call it practice, because it’s a natural process of spiritual living. Nothing is forced. It’s clear that they treat a gentile like myself the same as they would a congregant. They receive the stranger, the poor, and the infirm with equanimity. It’s who they are – exemplars of chesed.

Community, Music, & Extras

In addition to the three pillars of Judaic living there are a number of community services at Tifereth Israel: a Minhyan Breakfast Club, which is a service followed by a full breakfast, an evening Minyan, Shabbat, and Mincha/Maariv, Havdalah.

The United Synagogue Youth (USY) is a fantastic children’s social for grade 5 through high school. There are a host of local and regional activities, dances, Lounges, and the annual Purim Cranival. In additon, there is a Sisterhood community that honors “…our grandmothers, mothers, and friends, [and] demonstrates that Judaism holds an important place in your heart. Your participation offers you a way to connect, learn, and grow with other Jewish women while keeping TI vibrant.” The general Sisterhood has been recently complimented with a Sisterhood Book Discussion Group and a Sisterhood Arts & Crafts Group.

Lastly, Tifereth Israel is part of the congregation-based community organizing initiative United Interfaith Action. This is a way to be connected to other congregations like the Catholic “Our Lady of the Assumption,” in an attempt to “… intervene with middle school students at risk of dropping out, and working with the teachers’ union and school management to establish an innovative Parent Teacher Home Visit program in elementary schools.”

Cantor Nathaniel Schudrich, a member of the Cantors’ Assembly, is the congregation’s chazzan and leads the music aspect of the many events and services like Chanukah, Purim, Shabbat, Passover or other.

The website is a fantastic resource of information and is regularly updated. Donations and dues can be paid online, there are flyers to print, a calendar, directions, photos and many links.

Shalom is the living, breathing concept that is the life force behind, in front of and within Tifereth Israel. For there is no synagogue without the spirit of its congregants. Indeed, the synagogue is not the building – it’s the warm, friendly individuals of the Tifereth Israel congregation led by Rabbi Raphael Kanter, his staff and board members. It’s a beautiful building filled with equally beautiful people. I’m just a rube when it comes to conveying the true sense of Judaic spirit that comprises the Tifereth Israel Synagogue and its congregation. So, you would do yourself a great service – pardon another pun – to stop in and find out for yourself.

The three pillars of Jewish living, Torah, Avodah, and G’meelut Chasadim, are superlatively represented at Tifereth Israel along with a strong sense of community. You would be hard pressed to find a finer, more committed living example of these aspects anywhere from here to Israel. Sholom!

Would you like to be a member of Tifereth Israel? You can get more information online, reach out via e-mail or phone. In addition, you can keep alerted to special events on their regularly updated calendar page or join their newsletter.

Tifereth Israel

145 Brownell Avenue
New Bedford, MA 02740-1654

Phone: 508.997.3171
Fax: 508.997.3173
E-mail: ti@tinewbedford.org

Website: tinewbedford.org/
Facebook: facebook.com/pages/Tifereth-Israel-Congregation

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New Bedford Parks, Recreation & Beaches is offering Summer Beach Vollyball, Youth United Basketball and Youth Instructional Lacrosse.  All activities start 7 July, 2014. Fill out the form below and one winner will win a Summer Package (free entry into all three activities) and two winners will get to pick one FREE package. 

Questions? Contact: alex.Bettencourt@newbedford-ma.gov