15 Things To Do This Weekend (Mar 07-Mar 09)

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NO SNOW is this weekend’s theme! On Saturday we’ll reach almost 50 degrees! We’ll be above freezing temperatures during each day, with no precipitation forecasted. The nights will still be a bit chilly and dip below freezing, but nothing we New Englanders can’t handle. The entire weekend will have intermittent clouds, but otherwise a very mild weekend. Don’t forget that Massachusetts observes Daylight Savings Time, so Sunday you will wake up and need to move those clocks ahead one hour. Technically it’s at 2:00 am, Sunday morning – but no one will fault you for waiting until you wake up to do it!

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, March 07th

Marion Art Center: All Abstract show (Marion) (6:00-8:00 pm)
The Marion Art Center will host an exhibition of abstract art featuring works by Bouldin G. “Bo” Burbank, Jeffrey Rappo, and Filipe Miguel, from March 7th to April 19th. A reception honoring the artists and their guests will be hosted by the Marion Art Center on Friday, March 7th from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. While the word “abstract” could describe or define the type of art that is produced by the artists exhibiting in this show, the three artists most definitely have diverse mediums. Jeff Rappo is a digital photographer, Bo Burbank is a painter and found object sculptor, and Filipe Miguel creates works using the “encaustic” method of painting. The resulting show will break out of the normal box for exhibitions usually shown at the Marion Art Center.

Learn to paint this very image w/ Richa at Painting W/ A Splash!

SHS Lecture: Turmoil and Transition in Boston (7:00pm)
The Sippican Historical Society will hold a special lecture “Turmoil and Transition in Boston” by guest speaker Larry DiCara at the Marion Music Hall. This is FREE to the public, so if you love Boston, you’ll want to check it out!

Painting with a Splash: Red Wine Pour 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.

First Friday Open Mic (7:00-9:00 pm)
First Unitarian Church of New Bedford presents First Friday Open Mic, first Friday of each month. Free admission, refreshments available for purchase.


Saturday, March 8th

Exploring the Bioreserve (Fall River) (9:00 am-12:00 pm)
Exploring the Southeastern Massachusetts Bioreserve Walk will explore the Hog Rock of the Hog Rock Lot and will also view the old “Cold War” Nike missile site and whatever else is discovered of interest out there. Everyone is invited to meet at 9 a.m. at Trustees of Reservation’s parking area, intersection of Indian Town and Yellow Hill Roads, Fall River, MA. The walk is about four or five miles. Water and a snack is suggested. This is a free event. Phone: 5086445772. Southcoast Bioreserve Trustees of Reservations Parking area Yellow Hill and Indian Town Roads corner, Fall River.

Attic Treasures Sale (Freetown) (9:00 am-3:00 pm)
Attic Treasures Sale” will be held at St. John Neumann Parish Hall Located next to Cathedral Camp On Rt. 18 – Middleboro Road in East Freetown, Mass. On Saturday, March 8, 2014 From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. ~Free Admission~ Wheelchair accessible!!! Continental Breakfast and Hot Lunch will be served. Take Chace Road exit off of Route 140.

Grimshaw-Gudewicz Art Gallery: Joan Backes “Home Construction” and Todd Moore’s “Rock Painting: Pictures, Objects, Metaphors and Symbols” (Fall River) (1:00 pm-4:00 pm)
The gallery reopens with an exhibition of works by Joan Backes and Todd Moore. Backes’ Home Construction addresses issues of nature in contemporary society and Todd Moore’s Rock Paintings offer us images and ideas created from the landscapes of New England’s coastlines. The exhibition runs through April 5.

2 days to talk to experts about home projects to start this Spring!

Painting with a Splash: Van Gogh’s “Wheat field and Cypress” w/ 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.

Leprechaun Golden Coin Hunt (Dartmouth) (10:30 am)
Hundreds of prizes, golden coins and fun. $5 per child, dress for outdoor hunt. For information or to register, contact Dartmouth YMCA. Call (508) 993-3361 or or click on event title.

26th Annual Greater New Bedford Home Show: Day 1 (11:00-4:00 pm)
Thinking about remodeling? Updating or upgrading your home? Want some new amenities? The largest home and lifestyle show in the South Coast, the 26th Annual Greater New Bedford Home Show is set for Saturday and Sunday, March 8-9th! It will be held at the Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School on 1121 Ashley Boulevard. For full details click on event title.

New Bedford Art Museum: “Fiber in the Present Tense” (12:00 pm-6:00 pm)
Free Admission Janet Kawada, Deborah Carlson and Ellen Wieske will be joining the Surface Design Association (SDA) sponsored panel discussion, “Fiber in the Present Tense” at NBAM/ArtWorks! as part of the New Bedford “Community Threads” month long fiber art celebration in March.

Painting with a Splash: “Fun City” w/ Ann (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, March 9th

26th Annual Greater New Bedford Home Show: Day 2 (11:00-4:00 pm)
Thinking about remodeling? Updating or upgrading your home? Want some new amenities? The largest home and lifestyle show in the South Coast, the 26th Annual Greater New Bedford Home Show is set for Saturday and Sunday, March 8-9th!

Try out your luck on Sunday during this early St. Patty’s Day event!

It will be held at the Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School on 1121 Ashley Boulevard. For full details click on event title.

Painting with a Splash: Vincent Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” w/ Ann (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.

South Coast Chamber Music Society (4:00 pm)
The South Coast Chamber Music Society (SCCMS) was formed in 2001 to present high quality classical chamber music for the communities of Southeastern Massachusetts. Tonight they will feature a Piano Trio playing Mozart’s Piano Trio in B-flat Major, K. 502, Rachmaninoff’s Trio elegiaque No. 1 in G Minor, and Schubert’s Piano Trio in B-flat Major, Op. 99, D. 898 at Grace Episcopal Church in New Bedford at 133 School Street.


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





Opinion: Letter to single mothers

By Jordis Brown

This is to all the single mothers. The mothers of young children who are faced with the difficulty of not sharing the physical and emotional hardships and triumphs of being a parent. For whatever reason or whatever path that has brought you to where you are, I wish you strength.

Over the years our area has seen horrific abuse cases involving young children even infants at the hands of the boyfriends of single mothers. Although these are truly the exception to the rule, these incidents did happen. Being a mother, especially a mother to a little one is a blessing with fine print attached. Your little one will trust and love you from day one and that bond is hard to break. Sometimes, being a single mother is too much to deal with and the need to seek out someone to share your life with is overwhelming especially in the beginning years where some women face a great deal of depression. So you start to date while your baby is still a baby or still very young. Although your time is now divided, you are still the person meant to keep them safe. You may fall in love with a man and he may fill that void. You may spend time all together with your child and in your presence he may be as loving as you are. There is something important to remember…that bond you share with your child is yours and yours alone. You can’t assume that someone who loves you will love your child just as much.

You must defend your children from a known threat and the unknown threat of harm. If he loves you, he’ll understand and respect you for it. This means that you do not leave your child alone with someone that may have signs of little patience or aggression. Attributes that you may find attractive in a partner may be dangerous in a guise of a possible future step-father. Although your life has taken a serious turn, dating in the beginning should be casual and away from your little one. Start slow, and get to know one another. Set standards and don’t make exceptions. If they fall on hard times this isn’t your burden to assume. You’re already taking care of a child. If there is a rush to move in together re-evaluate how that will affect the stress of the situation. Visiting one another all the time is very different then never leaving. Have the same family oriented goals but make sure that they are actually being worked so they can be realized. It’s nice to fantasize and agree on wanting that picket fence life, a whole other story to accomplish it. Especially with the financial burden of children.

Do your research. When you start dating, put off introducing them to your child but welcome being introduced to their family and friends. Find out if he’s a hot head or has a history of short relationships with messy outcomes. Your child does not need the drama you may be okay with. It’s important for mommy to be happy, healthy and more importantly for that little one to be. With that comes sacrifice. Your child’s heart can be broken just as easily. Their safety can be compromised with a distracted parent as well.

Whether or not to date again while your children are young is your decision to make. If the father is involved and hopefully the relationship is good, then it might be worth discussing so there is no strife caused by the shock of you moving on. It’s important to do what is right for you child first and foremost and sometimes it means taking a step back and slowing down. Happily ever after is a dream that everyone has and for some reason it did not work out the first time with you. Before trying again, remember that the circumstances have changed and another persons happiness and overall well being is at stake.





Opinion: Supplementing Public Education

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By Jordis Brown

Supplementing public education is the job you unwittingly signed up for the second you sent your little one to school. Small classroom sizes, well trained teachers, and being a PTO all star isn’t a sure fire cure to your child doing well in school. It’s you! If the second your child steps off the bus school becomes a distant but haunting memory, then you are not doing your part in being their parent. That’s to help them grow into a functioning and independent adult in society. Education is a must.

Parent and teacher communication is key! You need to find out what they are doing in class and how well they understand it. Homework sometimes is a good indication but they don’t bring home everything they’re covering in school. Writing a note and asking how little Emma is doing and if there is anything she should work on at home can be very helpful. Many Elementary schools assign folders where you can slip that note into. Have an older child or afraid your penmanship will look like your child scribbled a letter. Just email them. That’s right, every teacher has a school assigned email account and if you can’t find it listed on a school’s website, just call and ask. We’re no longer children and shouldn’t be afraid to talk to teachers anymore. They welcome the open communication with parents. Believe it or not, sometimes a teacher will tell a child to work on something at home and SURPRISE they don’t. Shocking I know..

What if you don’t understand the classwork yourself? Don’t feel bad. My middle-schooler was covering Pythagorean theorem in Math and I tried to do a refresher online for myself and I still have no clue. BUT I did find some great FREE online games and YouTube videos for my daughter to go on. Teenagers using the internet for constructive use is always a good thing (supervision is always a must). What if you don’t have a home computer? Comcast offers discounted programs making computers and internet more affordable for low income families. You can find out more by going here internetessentials.com/

If that isn’t an option check your local library. There are five libraries just in New Bedford! Five! I didn’t even know that till I “Googled” it. There is one named The Casa da Saudade Library which offers English, Portuguese and Criollo collection. I’ll have to check that one out because after all I’ve never met a library I didn’t fall in love with. Most if not all have plentiful learning material at your fingertips from books, to online print-outs. Even weekend and after-school programs offered for free. I bring my youngest to story times just to start off the educational process.

I’ve been a working parent and a stay-at-home parent. The one thing in common is that I’ve always been a parent. My number one goal is to make my children happy. Struggling at school is a miserable thing that has long term affects from everything to accomplishing their dreams to little Tommy’s own self worth. No child should feel stupid. So if I can put a little time aside everyday to give my child the skills and confidence to make school a bit easier it’s worth doing. They have peer pressure, puberty and all that in-between to worry about. We can’t go through that for them but we can at least take the edge off classwork.





New Bedford Guide Seeks Sponsor(s) for Phone Application

new-bedford-guideAnyone else feel it is time for the Greater New Bedford area to have an iPhone/Android application that keeps us informed about critical news and information? New Bedford Guide is looking to develop a phone application that provides:

  • Alerts for parking bans
  • Alerts for school closings and delays and other critical information
  • A status of the New Bedford/Fairhaven bridge being closed open or closed
  • Important information from the city and town halls in the area
  • And much more!

We are looking for a sponsor or sponsors for this phone application. The sponsor(s) will receive lots of promotion and advertising in return for funding the application. If we do NOT find a sponsor soon we will look to raise funds on KickStarter. Potential sponsors should contact us at info@newbedfordguide.com.





New New Bedford Resident: Musings of a Southern Transplant

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Find out what a recent transplant thinks of our New Bedford!

by Jennifer Hollie Bowles

In January of 2013, my husband and I moved from Knoxville, TN to Taunton, MA for employment reasons. Roughly one year later, we moved into our first home on Shawmut Avenue in New Bedford. I had lived most of my life in Knoxville area, attending college, becoming an editor of a literary journal, and eventually establishing myself as a writer and poet, but I longed to experience another culture. Some things are what I expected to fall in love with about the area, and other aspects of New England living have come as a shock.


What I already love about living in New Bedford:

#1: The Environment – The coastline is so beautiful, and I’ll never tire of walking around Fort Taber park. The enormous amounts of snow are still a surprise, yet a welcome one. I lived in Kansas City, MO for about a year in my 20s, and the snow looked dirty and ugly within a few hours. Not here! The snow in New Bedford stays crisp white for days! Looking outside of my window is like looking at a snow-covered old-world fairy tale land. The houses in this area are so charming, with their amazing wooden grooves and stately presences.

#2: The People & Culture – After a week of living in our new home, my husband bought a huge flat of wood to burn in our fireplace, which was dumped right on the sidewalk, spilling into the street. Inexperienced home owners that we are, we didn’t even have a wheelbarrow. Within minutes of noticing our back-and-forth hand-carrying struggle, our kind, elderly Portuguese neighbors offered two wheelbarrows for us to use. Our other neighbors have even graciously snow-blowed our sidewalk several times when we were gone for most of the day. I love the Portuguese food and culture that is so rich and vibrant in this area, and Southern hospitality has nothing on the friendliness of the people in the New Bedford community.

What I’m learning to adjust about living in New Bedford:

#1: The Accents – Like visiting a foreign country, I listen keenly to the accents of the people who were born and raised here. The nuances of speech are fascinating, and the phrases are every bit as creative as in the South. I understand the dropping of the “r,” but that’s about it so far!

#2: The Dense Population – The sheer volume of people and traffic is a culture shock all by itself. I’m amazed every time we go anywhere by how many people there are everywhere! I’ve also never lived this close to people unless I was living in an apartment. The best thing about the dense population, however, is that it seems to connect to a wonderful vibe of “live-and-let-live.”

#3: Religion – All of my life I heard about how open-minded the North is because it’s not in the Bible-Belt, but I’m a bit perplexed. I must say that I’ve seen as many churches and proselytizing signs in one section of town as I did in all of Knoxville. This seems to be balanced by signs for Tarot & Psychic readings, but the sociologist in me is still attempting to understand the culture of religion in the area.

What I find difficult about living in New Bedford:

#1: Taxes – Before moving to MA, I had never in my life heard of an excise tax! That one is difficult to swallow, and the property taxes are about twenty times more than my mom pays in TN for her house. Even the state employment taxes are new to me! I also expected better road conditions with all of these taxes!





New Bedford Moon Astrology: March, 2014

Find out what March has in store for you!

by Jennifer Hollie Bowles

The Moon in Astrology is connected to the powerful feminine qualities of change. Unlike the Sun, which resides in a particular sign for about a month, the Moon travels quickly from one sign to the next. The Moon is intimately involved with water and the ebb and flow of ocean tides. Like the sailors of old who sang to her beauty and heeded her intuition, Moon energies are enhanced and experienced on a deeper level for New Bedford residents.

The New Moon occurred on March 1 in the ethereal sign of Pisces. New Moon energies indicate a time for seeds to be sewn and instincts to be welcomed. Pisces adds mystical elements to these new ideas, insights, and experiences, asking us to look deep within in order to connect with the tides of our emotions. On the other hand, the energy of Pisces may also bring idealism and a bit of delusion, making it very important to stay grounded and practical, especially when it comes to the way we perceive other people. This is an excellent time to get involved with activities that enhance your spirit. Consider volunteering somewhere, such as at the New Bedford Whaling Museum.

On March 8, the First Quarter Moon visits the communicative sign of Gemini. The First Quarter Moon represents a time for facing and dealing with problems in creative ways. It asks us to make decisions quickly and rise to the occasion of any circumstances that come our way. This is an exciting time that can also be filled with chaos. With these energies operating in Gemini, it’s important to pay close attention to how we communicate with others. Misunderstandings may occur, but if you choose your words wisely, they can develop teamwork and good opportunities for growth. Remember to stay active in your community, and don’t forget to attend the AHA! monthly celebration of arts and culture in New Bedford on March 13.

The Full Moon occurs in the analytical sign of Virgo on March 16. Full Moon energies are much like they sound, representing a period of completion and fullness where everything is illuminated. These aspects take on a specific, finely-tuned awareness with the energy of Virgo. Accomplishing work tasks and focusing on responsibilities is favored. Virgo also brings greater awareness of body and mind health, making this an outstanding time to nurture healthy eating and positive thought patterns. Don’t forget to take a walk on the shore to see the Full Moon reflected on the New Bedford Coast, and consider taking a Yoga or Tai Chi class.

On March 23, the Last Quarter Moon visits the goal-oriented sign of Sagittarius. The Last Quarter Moon indicates a time for readjustment. Old ways of doing things may not work at this time, and while these energies have a way of operating on a very personal, private level, Sagittarius calls us to be bold and innovative with how we use what we discover about ourselves. This is an excellent time to travel and learn something new. If you don’t know how to speak Portuguese, consider learning it now, and perhaps take a trip to Cape Cod before the crowds roll-in. The beaches are beautiful this time of year too!

During specific times of the month, the Moon becomes void of course, meaning that it isn’t aspecting (or making contact) with another planet. When the Moon is void of course, it’s considered best not to start new things or initiate important activities and events in your life. The Moon will be void of course for a good period of time during of the following days in March, 2014: Thursday the 6th, Tuesday the 25th, Thursday the 27th, and Saturday the 29th.





New Bedford Guide Guest Blogging Guidelines

new-bedford-guideDo you enjoy writing? Run a business and want to share your expertise with 10s of thousands of people locally? Participate in New Bedford Guide’s guest blogging program! Simply have a issue that is bugging you? Send us an opinion piece. Initial guest blogs and articles must be sent to info@newbedfordguide.com. Once your work is published you’ll be set up with an account on NewBedfordGuide.com and can write drafts on our site and submit them directly to the editor.

New Bedford Guide’s Guest Blogging Program Guidelines

  • Articles should NOT be about your business, but should be written as a subject matter expert in your field. For example, a yoga instructor could write about his/her favorite locations to do yoga in the morning or a martial arts instructor could write about tips for self defense.  Run a photo studio? Write about some ticks and tricks, or your favorite places to take photos. Two good examples:
  • Your business will get promoted at the bottom of the article. You can write a short paragraph detailing your business with links to your website/Facebook page with contact details if you want. Just fill out the ‘Biographical Info’ section when you register with NewBedfordGuide.com. This is the last thing readers will see!
  • There is no requirement for monthly articles, but the more constantly you write the more people will see you as a leader in your field and the more attention your business will get.
  • All articles must have at least one original image to accompany the article. You must own the photo, have permission to use it or find the photo from an open source library and provide the source to give them credit.
  • All authors should sign up for a Gravatar so their face shot is included into the article.

New Bedford Guide’s Opinion Guidelines

Have an issue that is burning you up? Want to get your voice heard in front of 10s of thousands of locals?

  • All submissions must be proof read and submitted to info@newbedfordguide.com. Submit the document in a Microsoft Word Document or just put it into the body of the image. 
  • Include you first and last name (or anonymous) and a faceshot if possible.
  • All articles must have at least one original image to accompany the article. You must own the photo, have permission to use it or find the photo from an open source library and provide the source to give them credit.
  • Submit all articles to info@newbedfordguide.com.




14 Things To Do This Weekend (Feb 28-Mar 2)

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We’re in March this weekend!! That means Spring is right around the corner. That means less and less snow, right? Right, guys? Why is there an echo?! Last weekend was nice, with mild temperatures. This weekend tanked a bit, in that department. We’ll only go above freezing on Saturday with a high of 36 degrees. In fact, Friday overnight will drop into the single digits. You’ll want to crank the heat or throw some extra logs on the fire. Sunday we may see some flurries that lead to a dusting. However, since it’s New England, by Sunday it may turn into the “Blizzard of ’14.” Either way, don’t let a little cold weather stop you from enjoying life!

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, February 28th

6th Annual FYAA Texas Hold Em Poker Tournament (Lakeville) (5:00 pm)
The 6th annual Texas Hold Em Event to benefit the FYAA. Cards will be dealt at 6 p.m. Registration begins at 5 p.m. Cash bar, food, raffles with proceeds go towards player uniforms, equipment, field maintenance, and “Little Fenway” baseball and soft-ball tournaments. $60 per seat if you pre-pay, $70 at the door. This will be a no limit format with blind levels increasing every 15 minutes. Option to re-buy available. Contact Troy Audyatis at audy187@gmail.com or Denver Audyatis 508-558-8537 or Denver.Audyatis1976@gmail.com. Fraternal Order of the Eagles Club, 217 County Street, Lakeville.

Head to the Whaling Museum Friday to watch the documentary premiere about Frederick Douglass!

Winter’s Night Open Studio (Marion) (5:00-7:00 pm)
Anthi Frangiadis Associates presents Winter’s Night Open Studio in the Drawing Room. Featuring new artisan work and music by the RedKat Duet, Bob Dunlap and Kathi Taylor. Free and open to the public.

YAP! Documentary premiere: “The North Star Journey” (6:00-7:00pm)
The free screening is part of New Bedford Celebrates Frederick Douglass: And his Journey from Slavery to the Heights of the Abolitionist Movement, a program series presented by The New Bedford Historical Society, The New Bedford Whaling Museum, New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park and The Zeiterion Performing Arts Center highlighting Douglass’ remarkable life throughout the month of February 2014. Head to the Cook Memorial Theater at the New Bedford Whaling Museum, 18 Johnny Cake Hill. Doors will open at 5:30 pm.

Painting with a Splash: Twilight 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, March 1st

Tarot Boot Camp with the Loon Witch: Day 1 (12:00 pm-6:00 pm)
If you have wanted to learn the tarot, but don’t feel that you want to commit several weeks to the process, make the commitment to this unique opportunity for the Loon Witch’s own Tarot Boot Camp. In 2 days – 12 short hours, you will receive intense training on understanding the tarot cards, the fundamentals of doing readings, and gaining confidence in your own psychic connection to the tarot.

FREE Baseball Clinic w/ from Red Sox pitcher & D.A. Sam Sutter (9:00-11:00 am)
Former Red Sox pitcher Brian Rose, the greater New Bedford Voc-Tech varsity baseball team, D.A. Sam Sutter, coaches, and the D.A.s staff are joining powers to put on a FREE baseball clinic for New Bedford Youth grades 2-8. This one day clinic will run from 9-11 am, includes boys and girls, and there will be free give-aways to all players. For more info contact Brian Rose at the D.A.s office 508.961.1972. To register click on the event title.

Want to learn to read Tarot Cards better? Head to III Suns this weekend!

Sweet Science of Maple Sugaring (10:00 am-1:00 pm)
Dartmouth YMCA’s Sweet Science of Maple Sugaring program. Part of “Family Discovery Day,” activities include tree identification, sap collection, tapping, tasting and a sugaring off. Rain or shine. For information on either event call (508) 993-3361 or click the event title.

The 8th Annual 3rd EyE Winter Jam (4:00-9:00 pm)
The family oriented Winter Jam features local talent in a “Poppin’Power Footwork & All Style Contest,: music by DJ Doniie Battle & John Got ‘Em, open mic, face painting, food, and other live perfomances. Takes place at the Andrea McCoy Rec Center at 181 Hillman Street and cost $10 for adults and $5 for youth. For more info click on the event title.

“Healing Little Hearts” Black-Tie Gala & Auction Fundraiser (6:00-11:00 pm)
Over 100 auction items including a stay in an Italian villa, Red Sox tickets, Patriot Tickets spa treatments and more. Tickets are $125 and include find food, open bar, valet parking and proceeds benefit Boston Children’s Hospital. Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance by calling (508) 789-7001 or emailing info@healinglittlehearts.com.

Frog Watch Training (1:00-3:00 pm)
Local frogs need your help! Amphibian populations are declining worldwide so it’s important for to learn as much as we can about these animals. Here’s how you can help! Join the Buttonwood Park Zoo’s FrogWatch Chapter! Learn to identify local frog and toad calls at two training sessions. Then explore local wetlands to help contribute critical data to the long-term scientific study. Ready to become a citizen scientist? Call to register 508-991-6178 x 31.


Sunday, March 2nd

FREE Capoeira Class (11:00 am-12:30 pm)
Capoeira is a Brazilian martial art that combines elements of dance, acrobatics and music, and is sometimes referred to as a game. It was developed in Brazil mainly by African descendants with native Brazilian influences, probably beginning in the 16th century. It is known by quick and complex moves, using mainly power, speed, and leverage for a wide variety of kicks, spins, and highly mobile techniques, the back-and-forth, foot-to-foot movement that serves as the starting point for such leverage. Takes place at the 3rd EyE Community Arts & Drop-In Center at 28 Union Street.

Tarot Boot Camp with the Loon Witch: Day 2 (12:00 pm-6:00 pm)
If you have wanted to learn the tarot, but don’t feel that you want to commit several weeks to the process, make the commitment to this unique opportunity for the Loon Witch’s own Tarot Boot Camp. In 2 days – 12 short hours, you will receive intense training on understanding the tarot cards, the fundamentals of doing readings, and gaining confidence in your own psychic connection to the tarot.

A ton of fun at the friendly, family oriented and positive-vibed Winter Jam!

Play: “Fire in the Sea” (Fall River) (7:30 pm)
“Fire in the Sea” is a theatrical perfomance based on the book “Saudades,” translated from Portuguese to English. It was written in the early 20th century and is a story based on the island of Faial. It covers 4 generations of a family of diplomats who modernized the island.B.C.C. Theatre Rep., Fall River, MA. Call: 508.678.2811

Westport Pack 100 Nostalgia Pinewood Derby (Westport) (2:00 pm-4:00 pm)
Pinewood derby cars are created from kits containing a pinewood block, plastic wheels and metal axles. Cub Scouts use tools to customize the cars, with the help of an Adult. Once completed, the cars are entered in races. Powered by gravity, the cars are run down a track. There will be a workshop on Saturday from 12:00 – 3:00 with tools and supplies available for racers to tweak their cars and the opportunity take a practice run on the track. Food, drinks and baked goods will be available on Race Day for purchase. All proceeds will be used by Pack 100 to cover program costs, awards, patches, fees, field trips and Scouting adventures. Contact Cubmaster: Shawn Morley at 774-627-5554/ pack100westport@gmail.com or Asst. Cubmaster: Mike Hall at 774-644-1377/gjhall71@aol.com for more information or to sign up and get your car today!


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





News to Me…

The 1st Annual Madeira Fast will surely pack ’em in!

faust-fiore
by Faust Fiore

Here’s the news you don’t get in mainstream media. Remember, you heard it here first.

In conjunction with and protest of the 100th Feast of the Blessed Sacrament, a group called Vegetables Are Food! will hold its 1st Annual Madeira Fast this coming August.

In an online, low carbon footprint press conference, organizer Solange Greenbriar stated, “We did a study that shows that if you ate Madeira Feast food every day for six months, it would be really, really gross, plus you’d probably at least have some skin problems. We feel that a healthy alternative festival is needed to show the other side of the dietary story.”

The Madeira Fast will offer baked kale chips, barbecued pulled spaghetti squash sandwiches, solar-cooked soy cakes dusted with honey flakes and vegan sausages on 23-grain bread. And organic, locally-made hot sauce. Lots of it, too. “We expect the hot sauce to be very popular,” said Greenbriar. “It’ll probably add a little, you know, flavor to the food.”

Also on tap at the Madeira Fast will be over 150 handcrafted beers, a delightful California Pinot Noir and kale-pomegranate-mango smoothies.

Entertainment includes the world/roots/rap/rock music of The Earthy Earth Band, The One Gig Jazz Ensemble (a group of extremely talented young musicians who have decided to stay in school, get jobs and eventually move to Marion) and ReikiCize!, an audience participation, holistic dance troupe.

On March 20th, The X-Treemly Underground Gallery will open its inaugural exhibit entitled, “X-Treemly New Works: Art From the Last Half Hour or So.” Curator, Chairman of the Board of Directors and chief lookout Elias Jones stated at an impromptu press conference, “We hope to have all media represented, but so far, it looks like mostly spray paint. We’ll see how it goes. I don’t really care. But there are enough shows of so-called new works – we want to exhibit art that is so new that it hasn’t even been created yet. We’re a cutting-edge collaborative. We’ve got attitude, spontaneity and, in some cases, arrest records.”

Asked the location of the new gallery, Elias said, “Right now, we’re in the basement of an old mill, but if they find us, we’ll have to move. We’re asking people to come in to the exhibit quietly, preferable at night.”

The New Bedford Wood Siding Preservation Committee has announced a walking tour called “A Walking Tour of Houses with Wood Siding,” on Sunday, April 6 at 1:00 PM. Committee spokesperson Kia Skoda stated, at a small press conference outside her home in Padanaram, “We’ve identified more than two dozen houses in New Bedford that still have wooden clapboards or shingles.

The DoT plans to raze the Fairhaven Wal-Mart to ease traffic. Problem solved!

But it won’t always be that way. We need to raise awareness, yes. We need to preserve this siding while we still have some. But we want to have fun, too. And that’s what the tour is really all about.”

Participants are encouraged to bring cameras, “even if they’re not Nikons,” Skoda said.

Firm plans are afoot to finally ease traffic concerns on the New Bedford-Fairhaven Bridge. A spokesperson for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, citing anonymity, made a brief conference call last week, claiming, “The Department has determined that most of the traffic on the bridge is New Bedford residents going to the Fairhaven Walmart. That said, or being said, or having been said, the solution is obvious – we just knock the down the Walmart. The state can take it by immanent domain, or eminent domain, or whatever it is that we do, and replace it with a new courthouse.”

“It’s a perfect location,” said the spokesperson, who identified himself only as Dave at Transportation. “There’s ample parking, good highway access and besides, it’s right across the street from The Pasta House.”

When asked if a courthouse in Fairhaven would only exacerbate the bridge traffic problem, Dave responded, “We’d have to study that. Right now, we just don’t have the data. So any decision is probably a few years off, anyway. But it remains a top priority at the state level.”

“There’s also some talk in Boston that the TV networks are getting tired of the Zakim Bridge,” he said, “and there is the possibility that it will be dismantled and brought to Pope’s Island. Fall River has expressed interest in the bridge, but only if it’s slated to come to New Bedford. So we’ll have to study that.”

That’s it for now. I’ll continue to follow these and other stories. Oh – a couple of things I’m working on – rumors of a reality show called Ruth and Emily – Love It or List It and tips on how to avoid accidentally entering Dartmouth.





One man’s art is another man’s graffiti…Or Black is the New Black

One of the finished commissioned electrical boxes

by Joyce Rowley

When the Department of Infrastructure painted all the electrical boxes black last summer, Councilor Joe Lopes couldn’t believe it.

Lopes had commissioned artists to paint two boxes, one on Rte. 18 and one in front of the Portuguese Club in the South End of New Bedford, based on a similar project downtown—and paid $250 each. The one on Rte. 18 was painted over, the other “survived” Lopes said due to the protection of club members when the DPI crew went after it.

Commissioner Ron Labelle denied it had anything to do with the “third floor” of City Hall as Lopes had claimed, though.

“I was given the task to remove graffiti,” said Labelle Wednesday at the City Council Appointments and Briefings Committee. “I take full responsibility.”

Calling graffiti a “scourge on the City,” Labelle said he went after it with a vengeance. In July he ordered his crews to paint all the City-owned electrical boxes black, a neutral color that wouldn’t stand out. “The men did a good job,” Labelle said.

Commissioner Ron Labelle’s finished product

One of the painted-over boxes was at the corner of Williams and Purchase opposite Café Arpeggio. That, however, was not graffiti but was painted by an artist-led teen program out of ArtWorks!, the local artist cooperative on Acushnet Avenue, New Bedford.

The painting had been part of a weeks-long outreach program, said Noelle Foye, New Bedford Art Museum/ ArtWorks! director. The project cost about $9,000 all told, but that included designing the project, creating a prototype, and painting the electrical box. It also included $500 for a graffiti-proof coating.

“Getting the kids involved gets them invested in it and the word gets out—don’t mess with that, it’s our art, we did that,” Foye told the Council. She said the program had been paid for with some of the City’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, and if they were available again, ArtWorks! would sponsor another outreach class painting project this summer.

Labelle apologized to the artists and the groups involved in the projects. Still, Labelle was not convinced it was a good idea.

“The arbitrary way young men and young women paint something that doesn’t belong to them is inappropriate,” Labelle said. “My concern is that by allowing this, it can send the wrong message. One person’s view of artistry may encourage vandalism. I appreciate what they’re doing. I hope it doesn’t promote something we aren’t happy with later on.”

But the Council agreed with Lopes that involving the City’s youth helped rather than caused a problem.

Councilor-at-large Linda Morad pointed to the Campbell School mural performed by students with ArtWorks! six years ago. “That mural has not been targeted once,” Morad said. Councilor-at-large Carny agreed.

“Now it’s time to get the kids involved in the community,” Carney said. “I think it’s going to beautify the City.”

The Council voted 11-0 to request that Director Pat Sullivan, Office of Housing and Community Development , seek CDBG funds for a similar ArtWorks! youth engagement project in FY2015.