“New Bedford, MA – July 24, 2024 – Sociable, in collaboration with Cox Media YurView, the City of New
Bedford, and the Feast of the Blessed Sacrament, proudly announces a groundbreaking initiative to
broadcast the Feast of the Blessed Sacrament Parade to a national audience for the first time. Hosted by
renowned radio personality Phil Paleologos, this event will showcase the rich cultural heritage and vibrant
community spirit of one of the nation’s oldest and largest Portuguese festivals.

The Feast of the Blessed Sacrament, a cherished tradition since 1915, celebrates the culture and traditions
of Madeira, Portugal, and stands as a cornerstone of New Bedford’s cultural calendar. This four-day festival features an array of Portuguese cuisine, music, dance, and a profound sense of community, drawing visitors from across the country.

You can view this year’s 2024 Portuguese Feast Survival Guide here: https://www.newbedfordguide.com/2024-new-bedfords-portuguese-feast-survival-guide-aug-1-4/2024/07/22

This year, the parade, a highlight of the feast, will be broadcast nationally on Cox Media’s YurView channels and internationally across multiple social media platforms. The premiere broadcast is scheduled for the first week of August. Emmy Award-winning Executive Producer and Director John Methia, who has deep Madeiran roots, will bring his expertise and passion to this historic broadcast.

“I’ve been enjoying this feast for as long as I can remember, and I thought it was time to give a national
audience a taste of this amazing culture,” said Methia.

Feast President Tony Abreu remarked, “Our parade is the highlight of the Feast; it’s the finishing touch on the best weekend of the year.”

Steven Aicardi, Executive Producer at Sociable, added, “We are thrilled to partner with Cox Media YurView, the City of New Bedford, and the Feast of the Blessed Sacrament to bring this iconic event to a national stage. This collaboration not only celebrates cultural diversity but also highlights the power of community and tradition in bringing people together.”

The broadcast will offer viewers an immersive experience, capturing the colorful floats, traditional costumes, and infectious energy that define the parade. Expect live performances, interviews with community leaders, and insights into the historical significance of the feast.

In addition to Cox Media’s YurView channels, the parade will also be presented on YouTube channels:

● @trendsociably
● @feastoftheblessedsacrament1171
● https://www.yurview.com/

The event will be available across numerous social media platforms, providing a wide range of viewing
options.

For more information and updates, visit:

● Sociable: trendsociably.com
● Feast of the Blessed Sacrament: feastoftheblessedsacramentcom.ning.com
● YurView: https://www.yurview.com/

About Sociable: Sociable is a leading platform for social media broadcasting, connecting
communities and events to audiences worldwide through innovative digital experiences.

About YurView: YurView is Cox Media’s premier local and national content network, delivering
a broad range of programming including local news, lifestyle features, sports, and
entertainment. YurView offers a unique blend of community-focused and nationally recognized
programming through Cox Media’s cable channels and digital platforms.

About the Feast of the Blessed Sacrament: The Feast of the Blessed Sacrament, held
annually in New Bedford, MA, is the largest Portuguese festival in the United States.
Established in 1915, this four-day event features traditional Portuguese cuisine, music, dance,
and an extensive parade. Known for its rich cultural heritage and strong sense of community,
the Feast attracts thousands of visitors each year, showcasing the unique traditions and flavors
of Madeira while fostering a spirit of togetherness and celebration.”-Sociable.

“City of New Bedford and New Bedford Public Schools staff hit the streets of the South End Friday morning in partnership with Operation Clean Sweep to pick up trash and other litter.

The employee cleanup resulted in 44 bags of trash totaling 1,320 lbs. removed from the South End.

Thanks to the 48 City workers and others who joined us Friday morning, as well as our friends at Surfside Creamery for donating some delicious ice cream as a reward for a job well done.”-City of New Bedford.

All photos by the City of New Bedford:

“A round of applause for a successful and collaborative leatherback disentanglement!

Last week, the Aquarium’s Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life scientists and members of the Aquarium’s Animal Health team + Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation staff worked with Center for Coastal Studies‘ disentanglement team and the Barnstable Harbormaster’s office to respond to a report of a live, entangled leatherback sea turtle in Cape Cod Bay. The entangled leatherback turtle was estimated to be ~6 ft. long and 400 lb.

The turtle was successfully disentangled, examined by our Animal Health team, and given satellite and acoustic tagging devices. These tags will allow our Anderson Cabot Center scientists to assess survivorship and long-term behavior of the leatherback. The turtle was then released back into the ocean with cheering onlookers nearby!

Congratulations to all on a successful disentanglement!

Note: This response was conducted under NMFS permit # 21301-01 and funded by NOAA Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program.”-New England Aquarium.

You can learn more about the Sea Turtle Disentanglement Network here: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/new-england-mid-atlantic/marine-life-distress/sea-turtle-disentanglement-network

All photos by the New England Aquarium:

“Congrats to New Bedford Fire!! Your 2024 Minors Champions!

They knocked off Jeep in the final game by a score of 8-3. A huge performance from Andrew “Sticks” Hinchliffe led the way. Andrew was 3-3 with 4 RBI!

Congrats to all the players and coaches and hats off to Jeep for a tremendous season!”-New Bedford SEYAA Baseball.

All photos by New Bedford SEYAA Baseball:

“We are proud to present the newest members of our department who graduated yesterday from the 76th class of the MPTC Plymouth Police Academy

Please help us in congratulating:

Cassie White

Noah Brum

Orlando Franco

Matthew Costa

Jose Velez

Jonathan Andrews

Matthew Caron

They will officially be sworn in tomorrow morning “-City of New Bedford Police Department.

“NEW BEDFORD – Many have held the City’s ceremonial gold scissors at ribbon-cutting events over the years to celebrate the opening of businesses, parks, and schools.

But for the first time in the City’s long and storied history, a robot did the honor of cutting the ribbon Thursday morning to celebrate the opening of New Bedford Research & Robotics on Purchase Street.

“Mark Parsons has established a robotics innovative program in New York City and he’s now bringing it home to New Bedford,” Mayor Jon Mitchell said. “We’re thrilled that he is helping lead New Bedford’s innovation efforts.”

“NBRR is promoting social benefit and economic health through equitable access to frontier technologies, such as industrial robotics. This ribbon cutting is indicative of the trust we’ve been building with the New Bedford community and our aspirations to continue to create future-work opportunities through creativity, upskilling, and entrepreneurial endeavors,” New Bedford Research & Robotics Founder/Executive Director Mark Parsons said. “We are honored to have had so many guests here today to help inspire that future, and it’s been exciting to see this team grow.”

“New Bedford Research & Robotics stands to be a key contributor to New Bedford’s innovation economy, including by empowering the next generation of students and startups with access to cutting-edge technology,” Acting MassDevelopment President and CEO Dan O’Connell said. “The Commonwealth’s Underutilized Properties Program, which is administered by our team at MassDevelopment, proudly awarded a $900,000 grant to help the organization transform 1265 Purchase St. from a vacant, underused building into a home where this exciting work can take place.”

New Bedford Research & Robotics is a nonprofit research- and technology-based collaborative organization that focuses on marine tech, robotics, artificial intelligence/machine learning, clean energy, gaming, and data science. After 24 years in Brooklyn, where he founded the Consortium for Research and Robotics, served as director of production technologies at Pratt Institute Architecture, and was also the director of the New York State Education Department’s Science and Technology Program, Parsons returned to his hometown of New Bedford to create NBRR in 2022. He said he knew he wanted come home back in 2016 when he gave a TEDx talk in New Bedford about how creativity and technology bring people together.

The City and MassDevelopment have supported NBRR with its new home on Purchase Street. The City awarded the organization $2.25 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds, and MassDevelopment awarded it $900,000 in grant funding.

NBRR will begin the first phase of a major renovation project later this year. Located at 1265 Purchase St. in the former Glaser Glass building, the transformation will bring its robotics projects and collaboration space top the front of the facility behind upgraded bay doors to make them visible and inviting to passers-by. The renovation will also create spaces for digital prototyping, business and tech incubation, and office use.”

“EMERGENCY PLACEMENT NEEDED ASAP!

Pleas read and pass along. I need help! The ACO and some local rescues are aware and this will be cross posted. NO MICROCHIP.

Stray 12+-year-old kitty presumed to be dumped at Acushnet mobile home park 5 days ago. She is not one of our resident feral cats. The tenant who found her calls her ‘Angel’ but dubbed ‘Noodle’ by my 8-year-old.

She is in rough shape.

She is literally the SWEETEST! Everyone at Wareham Urgent Vet clinic said she was the best patient and touched everyone’s hearts. Feline Leukemia status unknown and has not had bloodwork.

What we do know:

• 12+ years-old according the Urgent Care
• Rabies vaccinated
• Feline Leukemia status unknown – single cat placement only
• Advanced Periodontal Disease (wet food/soaked dry food only)
• Mammary tumors  – typically benign
• Abdominal masses – possibly malignant (ultrasound done)
• The masses are likely causing or adding to her difficulty to breathing as her abdomen is quite distended.
• SHE IS EATING LIKE SHE HASN’T HAD FOOD IN MONTHS!!!
• She is currently on prednisone and antibiotics to make her more comfortable and help with her skin irritation from the massive flea infestation that is now under control and is having medicated baths to help soothe the skin as well.
• Without a full bloodwork up there is likely other conditions, however I was in a state and it just didn’t happen.

Here’s the thing before you judge or comment. SHE IS THE ABSOLUTE BIGGEST LOVE. The vet and ALL the staff who were wonderful said what I’m saying. If she wasn’t friendly this would be an easy choice. She loved someone and someone loved her at some point, however she has not been cared for in a LONG time.

She wants nothing more than to be brushed, have belly rubs, be pet while she eats and she deserves some love before her time comes even if it’s only for a short time.

We have 3 rescue cats, a new rescue dog, an 8-year-old, 2 very FULL time jobs and I already struggle with not enough time in the day. She is currently resting comfortably in our 1/2 bath, with as many visits from us as we can manage, but that’s not fair to her.

It’s steps above dying flea infested, in pain, and without the love she craves in the heat under a tenant’s car, but I can only manage this for a few more days before I need to find her something. If you know me you know animals find me when their in need, now I’m in need and desperately need help so I don’t need to have this beautiful cat put down before she gets the love and snuggles she loves so much. At least for a little while. Rescues are maxed out everywhere so please share! This is killing me.

SHE IS A LITERAL PURRING MACHINE!

Message me or comment with any questions or help to offer please! I’m insanely busy and will do my best to keep up. THANK YOU!!!!!”-Mallory Larkin. https://www.facebook.com/the.Garlicky.Vegan

Fairhaven and Mattapoisett Chippi lover’s have been waiting almost 2 years for Mirasol’s Fairhaven location to open. That location hit some speed bumps which delayed the opening which was originally planned for last year.

If you’ve driven down Huttleston Avenue recently you’ve notice that a lot of construction work has been done recently, perhaps due to the construction of the Starbucks Cafe just a quarter mile away. It seems the two cafes are in a race to see who can open first!

Which, of course, is great news if you are a Mirasol’s die-hard. Especially since this location, unlike the flagship in Dartmouth, will be a stand-alone cafe.

Artist renditions of the site shows it is a larger building than the New Bedford location and more along the size of the Dartmouth location. That means a return to the “old” Dartmouth version which had plenty of rooms for tables inside and on the patio.

Wednesday morning the Mirasol’s Cafe page released photos with the caption “Big things are happening here in Fairhaven “

“Please join Chief Christopher Richmond and the APD in welcoming our two newest Police Officers: Officer Colin Matton and Officer Adrian Fontes.

Today’s graduation at Memorial Hall in Plymouth was the culmination of 5 months of hard work at the Plymouth Police Academy.

CONGRATULATIONS on the accomplishment and WELCOME to the force!!!!”-Acushnet Police Department.

“BOSTON, MA – On Friday, Representative Antonio F. D. Cabral (D-New Bedford) joined his House and
Senate colleagues in unanimously passing a $58 billion budget proposal for FY2025. This budget upholds
fiscal responsibility while delivering historic levels of targeted investments in education, regional
transportation equity, workforce development and health care, among many other priorities
championed by Rep. Cabral.

The City of New Bedford will receive $28,325,395 in unrestricted general government aid for the City’s
budget. The New Bedford Public Schools will receive $236,331,190 in state funding, an increase of $12.2
million for FY24.

As a cornerstone of the Commonwealth’s economic foundation, the FY25 budget expands investments
in both education and transportation from revenue gained by the Fair Share initiative. The Fair Share
ballot initiative, passed by Massachusetts residents in November 2022, generated $1.3 billion in
revenue for the Commonwealth.

The Fair Share revenue allows for investments in education and transportation initiatives, including:

• $250 million for the Commonwealth Transportation Fund (CTF) which will increase investments
  in transportation infrastructure
• $170 million to fully fund universal meals programming for every public-school student in the
  Commonwealth
• $117.5 million for MassEducate to provide free community college across the Commonwealth
• $110 million for regional transit funding and grants to support the work of Regional Transit
  Authorities (RTAs) that serve the Commonwealth
• $30 million for free-fare programs

New Bedford:
As a direct result of his advocacy, Rep. Cabral secured $930,000 in FY25 for these local New Bedford
programs:

• $575,000 for UMass Dartmouth’s SMAST for groundfish fisheries research
• $80,000 for youth programs at the Dennison Memorial Community Center
• $75,000 for outreach and educational programming at AHA! Arts, History, &
  Architecture of New Bedford
• $50,000 for opioid abuse treatment at the Greater New Bedford Community Health
  Center
• $50,000 for programming at the Frederick Douglass House
• $50,000 for the support of productions and programming at the Zeiterion, Inc.
• $25,000 for the youth apprenticeship program at the New Bedford Festival Theatre
• $25,000 for cultural educational programming at the Cape Verdean Association of New
  Bedford

As a cosponsor, Rep. Cabral also helped secure funding for these other local organizations:

• $150,000 for workforce development training opportunities for MA Marine Traders
  Association
• $100,000 for UMass Dartmouth Cranberry Health Research Center
• $100,000 for the peer-led juvenile diversion program Youth Court of New Bedford and
  Fall River
• $75,000 for the South Coast LGBTQ+ Network to assist programming
• $75,000 for citizenship education and workforce readiness programming at the
  Immigrants’ Assistance Center
• $50,000 for New Bedford Coastal Foodshed to address food insecurity and quality in
  our neighborhoods
• $50,000 for the Girls Design Academy to continue community service efforts
• $50,000 for Groundworks Southcoast to support tree and community garden expansion

“These programs and organizations support and uplift New Bedford and its residents. From engaging our
youth, promoting our vibrant downtown, preserving our city’s multicultural history, and providing
health services to our neighborhoods, these programs represent some of the best New Bedford has to
offer. I am proud to partner with them and support the work they do in our community,” said Rep.
Cabral.

Rep. Cabral, a long-time sponsor and advocate, also secured $4,250,000 for the Parent-Child Plus
Program. This statewide program offers early education home visits to low-income families with
children between the ages of 16 months and four years, and directly benefits New Bedford families from
the Hayden McFadden Elementary School and the John A. Parker Elementary School to name a few.

Gateway Cities:
Rep. Cabral and the Gateway Cities Legislative Caucus (GCLC) focused their budget priorities on
education support programs and community development initiatives that meet the specific needs of
Gateway Cities, such as New Bedford.

The GCLC secured:

• $15.1 Million for Early College programs.
• $13.1 Million for Dual Enrollment grants, which enables high schoolers to earn college credit.
• $1 Million for the English Language Learners Gateway Cities Program
• $750,000 for neighborhood stabilization efforts within the Transformative Development Fund to support community-led revitalization efforts

In order to address the ongoing housing crisis, the legislature continued its commitment to protect
renters and homeowners through investing in the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program ($231.7
million), the Rental Assistance for Families in Transition Program ($197.4 million), HomeBASE ($57.3
million), and other homeless prevention programming.

Education:
This budget invests $6.9 billion in Chapter 70 funding, an increase of $319 million over FY24, as well as
increasing minimum Chapter 70 aid from $30 to $104 per pupil. This historic level of investment ensures
the state remains on schedule to fully implement the Student Opportunity Act (SOA) by Fiscal Year 2027.
The budget also reflects a strong to commitment to early education and care, investing $1.5 billion into
this sector, including $475 million for the Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) grants which provide
monthly grants to early education and childcare programs.

The budget includes other education initiatives:

• $493.2 million for the Special Education Circuit Breaker Program
• $65 million in rate increases for childcare providers across the Commonwealth
• $18.5 million for Head Start grants

These investments will help to stabilize providers, support the early educator workforce with rate
increases and higher education opportunities, and provide access to affordable care for children and
families.

“With the increased revenue from the Fair Share initiative, the legislature has been strategic in its effort
to balance fiscal responsibility with meaningful investment in areas of critical need. The investment in
educational aid, in transportation, in housing, and in direct help for community organizations makes
New Bedford a winner in this FY25 budget. New Bedford families deserve nothing less than our full
support for the programs and state funding that ensure their daily success. I am proud to fight for them
each budget cycle,” said Rep. Cabral.”-Representative Antonio F. D. Cabral Office.