Mouth-watering New England standards: 6 of our favorite seafood dishes

Each summer, we SouthCoasters look forward to some very specific dishes. Not only do we seek out these dishes, but we look forward to trying them at a few spots for comparison. We love debating friends, family and online pals about who makes the best of our favorites.

How excited do we get when we find out a new restaurant has opened its doors? That we get to immediately search their menu for our favorites? Any foodies knows that you can virtually judge an entire menu on the quality and execution of something simple like a lobster roll, a bowl of chowder, or stuffed quahog. If a cook or chef can’t produce a tasty bowl of chowder then it doesn’t bode well for the rest of the menu.

Online groups are full of debates about who makes these standards the best, what makes them the best, and why we should travel and try them out. What is not up for debate among serious foodies is our love affair with these dishes, but what is up for debate is who makes the best.

We’re not here to declare who makes the best, that’s where your voice comes in. I have my opinion, but I’m one person – you are tens of thousands, so you tell us and say it loud enough that there is little debate!

1. Clam Cakes



A proverbial favorite, the clam cake, is actually something that can cause confusion to people who are not from the area or haven’t visited. I’ve met people on my travels around the country who haven’t the faintest idea what they are. Sadly, because so many people make poor ones and skimp on actually putting clams in the clam cakes, an out-of-stater may still be confused after taking a bite.

According to some recipes in the area, one clam per clam cake is the limit. It’s more of a fried dough ball and really doesn’t deserve the right to call itself a clam cake.

However when done right – fried to a perfect, crispy, golden brown, filled with a fluffy hot dough center that has clams in every bite – the clam cake deserves respect! Often, served with malted vinegar and/or ketchup, I have come across some who prefer tartar sauce and even some rather fancy dips like a Japanese Kewpie Mayo, Sriracha, even a Shrimp Cocktail sauce. To each their own I guess. Give me malted vinegar, ketchup, and a pint cardboard box and I’m transported back to my childhood. Who makes the best clam cakes? What are they served with?


2. Lobster Roll (Chumley’s Photo)



Here’s an area that is treading dangerous ground. Mess around with someone’s choice of a lobster roll and faces turn red and it’s construed as fighting words. The only thing we take more serious than our lobster roll is who we feel makes the best.

Often this can’t even be agreed upon – is it the toasted bun? The dressing or amount of mayo placed on the meat? How much is claw meat and how much is tail meat? Does it come with sides? The other thing that can be agreed upon is price.

I’ve been to place where they charge you $19.95 for a toasted bun and lobster. I’ve been to places that charge you $12.95 for the same, more meat, and a side of fries. Either way, go on the internet or ask a dozen friends at a get-together who makes the best lobster rolls and you’ll get a dozen different answers and likely a heated debate. Who makes the most delicious lobster rolls heaped with lobster meat at a decent price?


3. Clam Chowder



Clam chowder is like a minor religion here in Massachusetts and if you dare mention Manhattan chowder, we can’t be friends. I don’t need that kind of negativity in my life.

Clam chowder when done right is made from scratch, is creamy, uses real broth, is creamy, has chunks of potatoes, onions, chock full of rich clams and some type of pork, e.g. salt pork or bacon. When done wrong it’s dumped from a can or made from scratch to taste like said brand that everyone knows that comes from a can. Don’t do that. Make it yourself or have one of the fantastic eateries across the SouthCoast make it from scratch. Who makes it the best? You at home or does a local restaurant do it best?


4. Fried Seafood



This is a broad category, I agree. However, how to we choose and exclude the rest? It would be like choosing a favorite child. Fish & chips, clam plates, fried scallops, a fisherman’s platter loaded to the ceiling with fries, a bed of fish filets, covered with shrimp, scallops, whole belly clams, and sided with cole slaw and tartar sauce.

Who doesn’t enjoy the guilty pleasure of a great plate of Fish ‘n Chips? When I was young and living near the old Kinyon-Campbell I remember the little Fish N Chips spot that used to wrap everything in newspaper and serve it. I believe it was Mitchell’s Fish N Chips.


5. Clam Boil (Photo by Scoot “Wingman” Williams)



Particularly, the Portuguese clam boil. Not cherrystones or quahogs. It has to be steamers. There has to be corn on the cob, hot dogs, sausages, linguiça, and potatoes. For me this is what I had growing up. I know there are variations, but this is what reminds me of childhood and this is what I’d prepare if I was making my own.

Of course, I’ve seen substitutes or additions of littlenecks, lobsters, fish in wax paper, even shrimp. I’m not here to dare say what is right or wrong, just what is familiar to me. I’d love to hear what is familiar to you and how different it is to mine.


6. Stuffed Quahog



You can fins stuff quahogs (and even stuff scallops in some cases) in just about anywhere that serves food on the SouthCoast. You can order them already made at the supermarkets, most bars offer them, friends are capable of cooking some amazing versions, and of course you can find them at restaurants. Like the clam cake, you may be infuriated to order one to find out it’s stuffed “bread.”

There are a surprising number of variations – hot sauce or no? Dab of butter? Mix linguiça into the stuffing? Throw shucked little necks into the stuffing? Make them all spicy? Herbs and spices or just plain bread?

There’s something special about a stuff quahog, dab of butter, some hot sauce and a plastic fork, don’t you agree?




Enjoy new seasonal wines and kick off Spring at Newport Vineyards Annual Celebration

The warm weather is finally here and Spring has sprung! Sip, savor and toast with the season’s newest wine releases at the 15th Annual Spring Celebration at Newport Vineyards. Join in the fun with wine tastings, grape stomping and potato sack races. The fun kicks off at noon and runs till 5pm on Sunday May 28th.

Live music provided by the Little Compton Band. Wine not your style? How about a whiskey tasting from Sons of Liberty while enjoying some delightful creations from the culinary team. Whether you want to just relax by the fire pits or compete in a Grape Stomping competition there is something for everyone.

Newport Vineyards prides itself on traditional techniques with modern tools to maximize the quality of their wines. A short drive from the Greater New Bedford area, why not take the trip and make a day of it at their signature Spring event. Have lunch at the Vineyard Cafe or Dinner at Brix, their award winning restaurant.

Tickets are only $25 and you can get them here: eventbrite.com/e/15th-annual-spring-celebration-tickets

_________________________________________________________

Newport Vineyards 15th Annual Spring Celebration
Phone: (401) 848-5161
Email: info@newportvineyards.com
Website: newportvineyards.com/
Facebook: facebook.com/NewportVineyards/
Facebook Event Page: facebook.com/events/672616279600194




Armsted R. Christian Scholarship Jazz Fundraiser to showcase world renown musicians for one special evening

Are you a lover of Jazz? Live music? A roster of world-class talent? Helping a wonderful, local cause? All this and more will take place during the Armsted R. Christian Scholarship Jazz Fundraiser on May 28th from 3:00pm-7:00pm at White’s of Westport, 66 State Road, Westport.

The special event which honors the legacy of Armsted Christian, who dedicated his life to the profession of music, and inspired and mentored countless musicians worldwide – will feature a veritable who’s who in the Jazz world.

The fundraiser is organized by a special committee comprised of local business owners and community leaders who want to give back to the community of New Bedford to honor Armsted’s name. Armsted brought some of the best music to the New England area for well over 40 years. Armsted was a versatile artist- arranger producer singer, writer, vocalist saxophonist, flutist, keyboards.

Judging by the reaction of supporters who keep coming back they cannot believe the level of talent that is coming together for these Jazz fundraising events. All musicians in the lineup have a direct link to Armsted Christian. They were his personal friends that he has performed or written music with over the span of his career. This annual event enables many who worked with him over the years to still feel connected with him and each other.

So what kind of talent will be featured? Hold on to your seats, because you won’t believe it!

Drums: Yoron Israel, Jackie Santos and Joaquin Santos, Horns: Bill Pierce, Stan Strickland.

Guitar: Jeff Lockhart, Keith Robinson, featured guitarist Chieli Minnucci (leader of Grammy nominated band Special EFX Emmy award winner with over 26 recorded CDS. New CD out April 2017.

Percussions: Ricardo Monzon, Bass: Lenny Stallworth, Wesley Wirth.

Keyboards: Musical Directors Steve Hunt and Morris Pleasure (Musical Director for Earth Wind & Fire, Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson’s “This Is It tour” and soon to be on the MJ 50th anniversary tour in June).

Vocalist: Gabrielle Goodman “The Voice”, Roberta Flack calls her one of the finest singers today and introducing Kudisam Kai-Downbeat Magazines Jazz Vocalist of the year plus Keith Robinson, Stan Strickland, Aria Christian, Nichelle Mungo and more.

If you are looking for a relaxing evening of world class talent assembled in one spot, then look no further. Tickets are almost sold out, so act quickly!

Tickets can be purchased at : Celia’s Boutique 111 William St. N.B (508) 994-3833, Symphony Music Shop 94 State Rd. N. Dartmouth (508) 996-3301, or by calling Mike Monteiro 508-789-7377. Donation: $50. Sound will be provided by Robbie Jarvis Sound Company. Visit the event page here.

_________________________________________________________

Armsted R. Christian Scholarship Jazz Fest
White’s of Westport
66 State Road, Westport

_________________________________________________________




The Greater New Bedford Home, Health and Wellness Show is here!

The first Annual Greater New Bedford Home, Health and Wellness Show will combine home improvement with health and wellness, offering local residents answers to all their household and lifestyle needs at one event, under one roof, on one day.

This is an ideal way for more than 2,000 area residents to learn about and connect with local home, health and wellness service and product providers. Businesses are provided with multiple opportunities to promote their business and showcase their expertise.

Exhibitors will be giving away hundreds of dollars worth of products and services at the event along with exclusive discounts! Enter for the chance to win a roof valued at $6000.00 from Couto Construction and receive free medical screenings in the Southcoast Health Van.

________________________________________________

WHEN: Saturday, May 20th
WHERE: at Greater New Bedford Voc Tech High School
TIME: 10:00am-4:00pm for
Admission is $3 at the door and children under 12 get in free!

For more information, contact Deven Tillman at (508) 999 5231. The Greater New Bedford Home, Health and Wellness show is presented in partnership with the New Bedford Area Chamber Chamber of Commerce, Couto Construction, SouthCoast Media Group, and New Bedford Guide.




New Bedford’s 10 best recreational walking paths (Part 1)

I love to take long walks and thought I’d put together my favorite walking spots in New Bedford. Here’s the first five, in no particular order. Stay tuned for part 2. 

1. New Bedford Harbor Walk – New Bedford Harbor Side

New Bedford harbor walk
Photo by Jenna Correia.

In 2012, the City of New Bedford received $352,800 in grant money to develop the harbor walk. It feels like it has always been there. The harbor walk provides a 6,200- foot long walkway with lighting at night, seating to take in some fresh air and hand railings. It’s a great place for a sunrise walk and a perfect stop on the way to Fort Taber – Fort Rodman.

2. Fort Taber- Fort Rodman

Nice aerial view of Fort Taber. Photo by Michael J Cabarles.

The park at Fort Rodman – Fort Taber provides a ton of family amenities – ice cream/lunch spot, tables to eat, a military museum, bathrooms and a historic fort. A walk around the southern most part of the fort provides a fantastic view of the New Bedford harbor – facing Fairhaven, the Atlantic Ocean and Clarks Cove – facing Dartmouth. After a walk, relax and watch all the boats go in and out of the harbor. 

Check our event calendar often because sometimes they open the fort for an amazing look around:

3. Buttonwood Park

Beautiful sunset at Buttonwood park. Photo by Maureen Muldoon.

Buttonwood Park is probably the most used part of New Bedford for recreational walkers. There is plenty of parking by the zoo, in the park or on Brownell Ave. near the pond. You can walk the outer limits of the zoo or walk around the inside of the park (or a combination of both). Either way there are a dozen monuments, a bird pond, a garden and some small trails. You’ll also likely catch a lot of activity in the baseball diamonds or in the vast open areas. 

The only issue with this walk is that it is a rectangle that runs parallel to four of the busiest streets in the city, Route 6, Brownell Ave., Rockdale Ave., and Hawthorne Street.  Know that there will be heavy vehicle traffic.

4. Downtown and the Waterfront

The downtown area is great for walking, learning some history, seeing some art and enjoying a great meal or drink. With a ton of cobblestone roads (don’t wear heels!) and historic buildings, you will appreciate the history of the city – especially since it is a National Historic Park. Stop by the visitors center on William Street to get some ideas.

William Street is the street you will appreciate the most – start at North Water Street at the JJ Banc Building then work your way past the Whaling Museum, the Custom House building and water fountain, Public Library and City Hall. Most of the historic homes have placards with the name of the original owner and the year it was built. 

5. CoveWalk – Clarks Cove

“Mural at The CoveWalk at Clark’s Cove in New Bedford.” Photo by Peggy Sue Carvalho.

The 5,500-foot CoveWalk sits atop the hurricane barrier on the Dartmouth side of the peninsula, overlooking Clark’s Cove. The CoveWalk was made possible with $5 million in state grant funding administered by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. It’s officially open today. 


Have a walk you enjoy? Share in the comment section!




Argentina’s 14-member All-Male Ensemble To Perform “Che Malambo” At The Zeiterion On March 30

By Sean McCarthy

Power. Passion. Percussion.

Che Malambo is a dance and musical spectacle – a performance that debuted in Paris in 2007 and has earned international acclaim for its precision footwork, rhythmic stomping, drumming and song.

Uniquely inspired by the traditional culture of the 17th Century Argentinian cowboy, the “gaucho,” this performance will command the stage of the Zeiterion Theatre on Thursday, March 30’th for an 8 p.m. start. Tickets are $25, $35, $45 and $60. They can be purchased online at www.zeiterion.org, and the Zeiterion box office will have tickets available at 684 Purchase St. or by calling (508) 984-2900.

The Boston Globe says that this performance sees the dancers “build into a kind of ecstasy,” while the New York Times says that the show “sent the audience into uproarious applause.”

Che Malambo, “the dance of the cowboy,” is a thrilling performance that transcends the dance world and entertains audiences of many interests. It is a celebration of the inimitable melting pot culture of Argentina that produced this art form – a mix of traditions that created this distinct form of expression.

“Audience members will notice the outstanding dexterity and precision of the dancers,” says Matthew Bledsoe, Manager of Che Malambo. “They will also be impressed by the speed and energy of the dancers as well as the rhythms of the percussive footwork and the playing of the drums.”

Malambo began as competitive duels that challenged the skills of agility, strength and dexterity amongst the gauchos. It would come to be influenced by three major contributing cultures.

Beginning with the Portuguese slave trade in 1587, West Africans were brought to South America. Many were sold to ranchers who would have them working alongside of the gauchos. Eventually the dances and rhythms that were essential to the storytelling of the Africans caught favor with the cowboys and led to a blending of customs. The gauchos took on elements such as syncopated rhythms, asymmetrical use of arms and legs, and a wide vocabulary of movements that would serve as the basis of Malambo.

“Like many percussive dance forms, such as North American styles of tap and dance, there is an important intersection with West African dance,” Bledsoe says.

Another cultural influence that contributed to Malambo was Irish step dancing. The leg kicks and stiff torsos that are hallmarks of these dancers made their way to Argentina in the early 1800’s. The Irish who were working as laborers and sheep herders also comingled with the gauchos, and eventually many of their customs were incorporated into the Argentinian cultural identity.

A third major influence on the gaucho was Flamenco, which of itself is a melting pot. Flamenco was comprised of a mesh of Indian, Jewish, and Moorish traditions, and was rooted in what is now modern day Spain. After moving to Argentina to take refuge during the Inquisition of the 1400’s and 1500’s, their techniques of twisting hips, the movements of their arms, and the fast-paced footwork known as the zapateo, contributed to the development of Malambo. Zapateo is the fast-paced footwork inspired by the rhythm of galloping horses.

Another contribution to Malambo by the West African slaves was the use of drums known as bombos. They were originally used as communication tools but they were eventually incorporated into the celebrations of the Malambo.

Another unique element to Che Malambo is the use of the “boleadoras,” primitive hunting tools originally used by the gauchos while on horseback as they pursued the capture of animals. Boleadoras were throwing devices that would wrap around the appendages of the animals, functioning as lassos with stones at the end. During a Malambo performance they are used as whirling spectacles spun at break-neck speeds, rhythmically striking the floor while being accompanied by the percussive footwork of the dancers.

The chronicling of the Argentinian gaucho began in the 1970’s when French dancer and choreographer Gilles Brinas saw a short vignette of Malambo at a Parisian cabaret. He was inspired and attracted to the rhythms of the dance with the powerful presence of the dancers. He saw the unique potential for it and so in the early 2000’s he travelled to Buenos Aires to scout the dancers. Within a few months, he had gathered a group of dancers and began creating the show that would become a world class performance.

Today the troupe is comprised of 14 male dancers, touring throughout North America and around the world.

“This is a show that appeals to all cultures,” Bledsoe says. “There’s a lot of machismo, it’s very powerful. It’s unlike any show you’ve ever seen.”

Want a sneak peek of the Che Malambo performance? You can check out video footage here.




Your Input, Our Outcome. My View. My New Bedford

Photo by “Photo Impressions By Victor”
By Nicole Nelson

There’s this thing that happens when you talk to people from the SouthCoast or New England who are not from New Bedford, Massachusetts. Usually it’s a smile and a quick compliment about the city like “Oh, I love the Whaling Museum”, or “I drove by there on my way to the Ferry”. Sometimes the comment is a little more specific: “The downtown area is really nice, I love the restaurants there.”

While the Downtown area is nice, and the restaurants there are great, and it is close to the Ferry, and the Whaling Museum is a civic treasure, there is more to New Bedford than the juxtaposition of burgeoning potential and the elephant in the room: Crime. I know this because I live here. I’ve lived here for a long time. Before I realized the whole crime thing I thought New Bedford was the best! Partly because I was very, very young, but also because it was home.

As an adult who has returned to New Bedford, I’m often conflicted. I’m still in love with the cobblestones and the food and the water and the history (don’t even get me started on the history!!). But then there’s the cynical adult part, right? The part that notices the shifty glances and the raised eyebrows when you proudly blurt out “Oh, I live in New Bedford!”

Because, let’s be honest, it’s getting better all the time but it’s not there yet. It’s sprouting, and the sprouts are starting to get stronger and a bloom is on the way but there are so many other factors that threaten this fragile growth. There’s the crime, yes. But there’s also the taxes! Oh my God, the taxes! The insurance hikes, the property values, the parking!

So what can you do?

What can you do when you’re not in public service and you don’t want to be mayor? What do you do when you don’t have the capital to start a new business to contribute to the revitalization of downtown? What do you do when you get emotional about how beautiful those Victorian homes are and you just want so badly for things to get better, but you’re just a guy? You’re just some person who is trying to make it work on an individual level and you’re fixing up your house but other than better landscaping there isn’t much else you can do to make a change others can actually see?

There’s this thing in marketing that claims “perception is reality.” It means that if something looks better most people will believe it’s better even if it’s not. It’s obviously not real, but super effective nonetheless. We see this all the time with the latest iPhone and the new packaging for organic, natural, locally-grown celery. It’s the same but it’s dressed up, it’s nicer. And we want it.

So what? We take two negatives and turn them into a positive. Because positive is always better. It’s practically science. And to just really take this article to the next level with cliches: We fake it till we make it.

What I’m proposing is that we understand what the reality is but we choose to make it better. We focus on the good bits in order to crowd out the bad ones. We become a city of glowing positivity until we aren’t pretending anymore, we are just that. Because frankly, I’m tired of having those eyebrows pop up at the mention of my home in disapproval. I want those eyebrows popping up in envy, because I live in the up-and-coming city that has it all: The food, the history, the growth, the art, the views, and the citizens who refused to let it be less than it should be.

Make it up the way you want it to be. Design your future city. Highlight what makes it spectacular and pretty soon all of it will be. Join me in changing the perception of the city by doing what you already do all the time. Take photos of your cat, but your cat in your great apartment that is in New Bedford. Your martini from your favorite bar in New Bedford. The sunset over the water at the Fort in New Bedford. Tag it, be proud of it and share it. Get your followers that you’ve never met in real life and that live in New York or LA to google “New Bedford’ because damn, that city looks amazing.

Your input, our outcome. My View, #MyNewBedford.

_________________________________________________________________

#MyNewBedford is a personal project started by Niki Nelson who is a graphic designer living in (you guessed it!) New Bedford, Massachusetts. To help Niki generate content for a new outlet that focuses on the beauty of the city following @mynewbedford on Instagram and share your photos with the hashtag #MyNewBedford and let’s see where this thing goes.

You can see more about Niki’s project here.




Neil Simon’s “Last of The Red Hot Lovers” Comes to The Zeiterion

While the sexual revolution of the 1960’s may be considered a mere piece of the past, human interactions still make for great entertainment to this day. And in the buildup to Valentine’s Day the Zeiterion Theatre is offering a performance that indulges in the passions and yearnings of the heart and the wild scenarios that can come with it.

Once dubbed as “America’s funniest playwright,” Neil Simon debuted “Last Of The Red Hot Lovers” in 1969, chronicling the zealous follies of Barney Cashman, a middle-aged married man whose efforts to take advantage of an increasingly liberal society provide for a string of uproarious mishaps and misfortunes. And in the days of Match.com, “Last of the Red Hot Lovers” is as relevant and funny as ever.

On February 10 the Zeiterion will present Simon’s classic. The show begins at 8 p.m. and tickets are $27, $32, $39, $45. They can be purchased at the Zeiterion box office at 684 Purchase St., or by phone at (508) 994-2900.

The performance is four days before Valentine’s Day and it uses a path of laughter to arrive at a heartfelt moral message as Cashman stumbles his way into the discovery of what is truly rewarding in a relationship.

The works of Neil Simon have earned him a reputation as one of Broadway’s greatest writers. He has written more than 30 plays, and some of his most famous works are “The Odd Couple,” “Biloxi Blues” and “Lost In Yonkers.” He has received more Oscar and Tony nominations than any other writer and many of his stage productions have been adapted to film.

“Last of the Red Hot Lovers” has earned significant praise. The New York Post describes the show as “delightfully hilarious and witty…filled with wisdom about human nature…a geniously brilliant play.”

The production has also been described as “transporting” audiences back to the era of the late 1960’s, as Cashman tries his luck with a varied trio of women who are also immersed in this flowering culture.

Whether you’re a child of the sixties or someone from the age of Internet dating, ‘Last of the Red Hot Lovers’ will likely have appeal.

The show is being produced by the Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia. The cast is comprised of only two actors – Fran Prisco who plays the role of Cashman, and Karen Peakes who plays the role of all three women. The production is more than two hours in length.

Founded in 1809, Walnut Street Theatre is the oldest theatre in America. The Managing Director of the Walnut Street Theatre is Mark D. Sylvester, a native of Mattapoisett. In his 23rd year with Walnut Street, his first job was at New Bedford’s “State Theatre,” a movie house that eventually became the Zeiterion Theatre. At the age of 15 he was selling tickets and popcorn at the venue but he eventually became the establishment’s Stage Manager.

“’Last of the Red Hot Lovers’ is full of funny dialog and situations that anyone can relate to,” Sylvester says. “It’s a comedy about meeting people and the truths about relationships.”




Man’s Best Friend Makes for a Dedicated Partner on the Frontline

All photographs by Josh Souza.

Everybody knows that dog is man’s best friend, but for a select number of deputies at the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office, dogs serve as partners on the frontlines of law enforcement.

It was a cold December day outside the Bristol County House of Corrections in North Dartmouth, but that didn’t deter the dedicated K-9 deputies and their partners from demonstrating the work they have been trained to do. From apprehending bad guys to finding hidden drugs, these dogs are a force to be reckoned with.

The Sheriff’s Office currently has six dogs in its K-9 unit, five patrol dogs, either German Shepherds or Belgian Malinois, and one used exclusively for finding cellphones within the jails, a black Lab. Of the five used for patrol, four are cross-trained to perform general patrol duties as well as locating narcotics.

Dogs undergo 16 weeks of training before hitting the field for a year. After the first year they return to the academy for an additional eight to ten weeks of narcotics training.

The training at Bristol County is not the same as you would find in many other departments. During the 16-week academy, the dogs are taught a balance of drive and skill.

“There’s no perfect dog,” said Colonel Robert Sylvia, head of the Sheriff’s Office’s Law Enforcement Division. “You have to train them the best you can.”

For the first few weeks, the dogs will be on a leash, or what’s referred to a lead by the deputies. What’s uncommon about this academy is the canine will spend most of their time training “off-lead,” or without a leash. This practice takes a little longer to train, but pay dividends when the dog and his handler are in the field.

By not having to restrain their dog at all times, the deputy is free to perform searches of the suspect while his canine remains on guard in case the suspect decides to flee. While the dog is pursuing the suspect, the handler has the ability to call them off with one simple command. Lieutenant Paul Douglas said this is a very valuable skill for the dogs as it allows for more control over the situation and can avoid excessive use of force.

The K-9 Unit is on-call 24/7 and serves the entire county as well as parts of Rhode Island. Lt. Douglas estimated that in 2015 alone, his unit responded to 200-300 calls.

Joining the K-9 Unit takes a special combination of passions for animals as well as law enforcement. Lt. Douglas has been serving the Sheriff’s Office for 18 years, 11 of which have been in the K-9 Unit. He said he’s always been passionate about animals and that it’s both rewarding and amazing to see what these canine can do.

“It’s amazing how they can just ‘turn it off,’” Lt. Douglas said of how the dogs can separate their jobs from the rest of their lives, just like humans in law enforcement.

Lt. Douglas added that when he brings out his partner, K-9 Rony, to a scene, it automatically commands respect of everyone around, especially the suspects.

During the demonstration, K-9 Rony quickly located a hidden stash of 4g of Percocet. Once it’s located, he scratches and barks at the location to alert Lt. Douglas. His other dog, K-9 Storm, is used to locate cellphones within cell blocks in the jails by sniffing out the phone’s battery.

Deputy Joao Santos’ partner, K-9 Bob, has only been in the academy for two weeks, though is already beginning to look like a pro. Santos has been with the Sheriff’s Office for four years and on the K-9 Unit for the past year. Santos comes from a family with deep roots in law enforcement in Cape Verde as well as dog lovers. His former dog was retired due to health complications, but Santos said there’s still a strong bond between the two.

“I always thought it was brilliant for a human to train a dog like that,” Santos said. “There’s a special bond because they really are your partner. It’s hard to explain but it’s there.”

Col. Sylvia echoed the strength of that bond, saying he’s had former dogs that he served with cremated because, “they’re coming with me.”

The relationship between dog and handler is so strong in part because both are always by each other’s side. Beginning on the first day of the academy, the dog becomes a part of the deputy’s family. Dogs typically last around 10 years in the K-9 unit until they are retired. At that point, the deputy will keep ownership of the dog while also taking on a new canine.

The Bristol County Sheriff’s Office continues to be a premier training location for local municipalities and their K-9 divisions, as Fall River is currently training two dogs that will graduate the program on December 23rd, including a bomb detecting dog. The Fall River Police will soon have the only canine with this capability on the Southcoast aside from the Massachusetts State Police, meaning a shorter response time if need be.

Slide Gallery photos by Josh Souza.




Local Craft Beer Fans Buzzing Over Ole’ Buzzard Brewing

Photo by Josh Souza

Hundreds of people flowed in and out of the Black Hat Brew Works taproom in Bridgewater this past weekend to get a taste of a special beer by Acushnet homebrewers.

The Ole’ Buzzard homebrew group got the opportunity to brew and serve their India Pale Ale at Black Hat after taking first place in the homebrew competition at the South Shore Farm Brew Fest this past September. The group brewed their beer in mid-November and finally served it up to customers to enjoy for the first time. It was such a hit that two kegs were sold out over the course of just six hours.

Homebrewers Scott Stalter and Jeremiah Katz will be donating over $300 in profits from their beer sales to the Bridgewater Fire Department.

Katz said it was exciting to see so many people coming in and out of the taproom, enjoying pours of their IPA and leaving with some to go in growlers.

Stalter was also thrilled about the crowd and is looking forward to hearing what people think.

“It’s not about the money, it’s about making beer people will love,” he said.

Many of the folks that stopped by for a taste were sure to let the guys know they liked what they were brewing. The pair were also asked a number of times when they will start brewing on a larger scale and serving up beers to the public.

Both hope to open up a brewery of their own in Acushnet or Fairhaven in the near future, but for now they plan to continue homebrew in between their full-time jobs.

Photo by Josh Souza