Mayor Jon Mitchell has asked the City Council to confirm his appointment of Maria Pina-Rocha as the new Director of Management Information Systems for the City of New Bedford.

Ms. Pina-Rocha, a New Bedford native and long-time employee in New Bedford’s MIS Department, has held several positions within the Department since being hired in 1993, including her current role as the Department’s Assistant Director. She has extensive experience in the IT field and is familiar with many of the challenges and opportunities that the City faces in developing its computer networks and electronic communication systems.

In a letter to the City Council this week Mayor Mitchell noted that over the years Ms. Pina-Rocha had been involved in a range of initiatives that made a significant impact on the way City government operates today. Some of these initiatives include the implementation of the City’s new financial and code enforcement systems, as well as its fiber optic and virtual networks.

Mayor Mitchell said, “Ms. Pina-Rocha brings to the position a wealth of insight into the field. This is one of those happy occasions when an exceptional candidate for a senior position is found right under our noses. I have great confidence in the Department under Maria going forward.”

Ms. Pina-Rocha replaces Robert Tetreault who left the position this summer to serve as the new full-time School Department MIS Director under Superintendent Durkin.

The Miss New Bedford Scholarship Program is now seeking contestants for its annual Miss New Bedford Pageant! This year’s winner will receive a $3,000 scholarship plus an incredible prize package! Last year, the program celebrated its 60th anniversary, awarding Acushnet resident Janelle Guenette with a $6,000 scholarship. Since 1954, the pageant has awarded more than $120,000 to winners and contestants. In addition, the program is renowned for its emphasis on community service. Each year, Miss New Bedford participates in a range of 75 to 125 community engagements and charitable events throughout her year. Because the program provides a strong foundation for future success, Miss New Bedford titleholders have gone on to accomplish great things in all aspects of their lives from business to family, and community.

Now, it’s another young woman’s turn to win the opportunity of a lifetime….

The What and Why: A life-changing opportunity. Have fun, make new friends, win scholarship money, and earn the chance to stand beside elected officials, network with professionals, brush up on public speaking skills, and enhance your resume. Titleholders and past contestants alike attribute their confidence, drive, and ambition to the skills they learned from competing. Most say that the Interview phase of competition prepared them later in life to excel in professional interviews and achieve their career goals.

The Who: The pageant is open to young women, 17 to 24 years of age, living, working, or attending school in Acushnet, Assonet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Freetown, Lakeville, Mattapoisett, Marion, New Bedford, Rochester, and Westport. The current reigning Miss New Bedford is Janelle Guenette. A resident of Acushnet, she is a graduate of Bridgewater State University with a B.A. in Communications Studies. As Miss New Bedford, Janelle has devoted her year to promoting Big Brothers Big Sisters – a program uniting positive mentors with youth. Janelle received a $6,000 scholarship, plus an additional scholarship from winning the Lifestyle and Physical Fitness Preliminary Award at this year’s Miss Massachusetts pageant.

The ‘Say What’?! The perks of being Miss New Bedford are endless. Not only is there scholarship money, but an outstanding prize package. Local donors and sponsors contribute all the essentials for Miss New Bedford throughout her year including wardrobe allowances, gift certificates, massages, hair and nail care, tanning, personal training and a gym membership, personal make-up artistry, custom jewelry and more. Then, there are the appearances! Some requests are truly unbelievable from out-of-state trips to emceeing major events! Lastly, the chance to compete at the Miss Massachusetts pageant offers additional scholarship money and the incredible chance to compete for the title of Miss America!

Learn More NOW!: Anyone interested should attend the upcoming informational meeting and orientation on Sunday, Aug. 18, at 10 a.m. at the Cheryl McCormack Academy of Dance, 731 Tarkiln Hill Road, New Bedford (behind the King’s Highway Stop&Shop). Attendance creates no obligation to compete. This is simply an information session, so please attend! (The pageant will be held on Sunday, October 6th.) You must notify the facilitator of your attendance in advance. You may do this via www.missnewbedford.org by emailing info@missnewbedford.org or calling us at 508-264-2437.

The 2013 Thursdays in the Park Concert Series continues its weekly summer series with a performance of Norwegian and Irish music by NØÍR. The free concert takes place Thursday, August 8 from 6:30-7:15 in the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park garden (33 William Street). In the event of inclement weather, the performance will be moved indoors. The Thursday Evenings in the Park concerts take place each week during the summer, with the last concert taking place on August 29.

NØÍR is literally a blending of Norwegian and Irish music. NØÍR emerged from the vibrant folk scene of Southeastern MA in 2010. Centered around the admiration each musician has for regional European roots music, NØÍR sought to create a unique sound by combining the Norwegian hardanger fiddle (Hardingfele), Irish fiddle, and Irish uilleann pipes. This new voice, combined with solid rhythmic underpinnings of the bouzouki and guitar, breathes new life into the enduring melodies of their respective traditions. The members of NOIR are Mark Oien (fiddle & hardanger), Torrin Ryan (uilleann pipes, pronounced ILLIN), and Stuart Peak (guitar & bouzouki).

In September 2013, the Working Waterfront Festival will mark its’ tenth anniversary. To celebrate, we are presenting Portholes, a series of free, monthly programs designed to engage residents and members of the commercial fishing industry in conversations about critical issues facing the working waterfront. Each month’s programming centers around a theme. Programming during the month of August considers safety at sea. Partial funding for the Portholes Project is provided by Mass Humanities. The New Bedford Whaling Museum and Hercules SLR are sponsors of our August programs.

Commercial fishing is the country’s most dangerous occupation. Fishermen are 37 times more likely to die on the job than policemen. And on top of that, New England’s waters are the most dangerous in the country. The loss of the F/V Northern Edge (a New Bedford scalloper) in 2004 prompted a renewed focus on safety at sea. To date, more than 1,500 fishermen have participated in safety training programs.

Thursday, August 8 (AHA NIGHT) Life Raft Deployment and Safety Program, New Bedford Whaling Museum 6:45 PM, FREE
Join us for an evening focused on Safety at Sea. Watch safety trainers deploy a life raft on the Whaling Museum Plaza and then join us in the theater to hear stories of close calls, watch a survival suit race, and learn about efforts to keep our fishermen safe. Presented by the Working Waterfront Festival and safety trainers Rodney Avila and Ted Williams from Hercules SLR.

Friday August 16 – Film Screening: After the Storm, National Park Theater, 7:00 PM, FREE
For centuries fishermen have braved the waters of the northeast Atlantic to make their catch, some never to return home. In 2004, the scallop vessel Northern Edge sank, taking with it five of the six men on board. The loss of the Northern Edge spurred a response on every front. Fishermen, politicians, and lawmakers alike took a new look at the safety of those who brave the Atlantic waters for a living. In one of the most regulated industries in the country, however, an imbalance between conservation law and safe practice has emerged. But as loss of life continued in years since 2004, the industry is left wondering: Can conservation efforts and fishermen’s safety co-exist? After the Storm: Lessons from the Northern Edge, a film by JD Marlow and Amanda Bergeron considers this dilemma.

Due to rain, the True Bounce 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament and kick off game with Mayor Mitchell, is postponed until tomorrow, Saturday, August 10 beginning at 10 am.  Courts are set up on Pleasant Street between Union and William Streets.

TrueBounce Inc., a New Bedford-based manufacturer of the perforated basketball backstop that is improving the game of ball players across the country, will host the first ever outdoor basketball tournament in downtown New Bedford. TrueBounce Inc., The City of New Bedford, and Downtown New Bedford, Inc. have teamed up to present the first annual “Greater New Bedford 3-on-3 Summer Basketball Classic” on August 9th and 10th . The 3-on-3 competition will feature TrueBounce Basketball Backboard Technology.

“Our mission is to create a new downtown summer event that will benefit the city attractions, the downtown merchants, the community, and to showcase TrueBounce, a New Bedford-based sports equipment manufacturer,” said Eric S. Britto, co-founder and CEO of TrueBounce.

A portion of the proceeds from the tournament will be donated to assist local non-profit organizations including the New Bedford Boys & Girls Club, Southcoast YMCA and Dennison Memorial Community Center.

TrueBounce, will outfit Pleasant Street between Union and Williams Streets with their nationally recognized state-of-the art basketball backboard technology and equipment.

The tournament will include a Mini Full Court 3-on-3 competition on Friday night at 5:50 pm featuring celebrity players including Mayor Jon Mitchell. School Committee member Dr. Lawrence Finnerty will serve as the referee. The Mayor’s team will face a team of New Bedford police officers and firefighters.

Final team sign-ups will be on Friday, August 2nd and Wednesday, August 7th from 4:30pm to 7pm at the New Bedford Public Library. More information can be found at www.truebounce.com.

Event sponsors include: New Bedford Floor Covering; Christian Fellowship Center ; National Lumber Company; Larry’s Equipment; A&A Jewelry ; Colonial South Chevrolet ; J&J Driving School; Carter’s Clothing; Sherwood Building Company, Dick’s Multi-Media Forensic Investigative Service, and Sunoco-Coggeshell Street.

Friday Line-up

• 5:50 pm Celebrity Game
• 6:30 pm Youth United Game
• 7:00 pm AAU Girls Game
• 7: 40 pm AAU Boys Game
• 8: 15 pm Men ‘s & Girls Games

Unfortunately, this weekend outlook will start out wet. Don’t be discouraged, because the rain (60% chance) is limited to early Friday, and will clear up later in the day. Generally speaking it will be in the 80s and partly cloudy all weekend.

Click on the title of each event for detailed information. 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, August 2nd

Buzzards Bay Regatta: Day 1 (Dartmouth) (7:00 am)
Buzzards Bay is waiting for you with its exceptional sailing conditions and famous Southwest breeze. Our committee has been working hard over the winter to get the details in place for yet another fantastic event. Our top priority continues to be excellent race management and we have put together a great team of experienced Race Officers. Logistics are also key and we promise that parking, transportation, launching and hauling, etc will run smoothly. After sailing, the fun will continue, with bands each night and a chance to enjoy the company of your fellow sailors.

Race takes place at the New Bedford Yacht Club at 208 Elm Street, South Dartmouth.

99th Annual Portuguese Feast (Day 2)  (6:00 pm-12:00 am)
The New Bedford Feast of the Blessed Sacrament, a.k.a. the Portuguese Feast, a.k.a. Madeira Feast is the largest event the city has every year. More than that, it is the largest Portuguese feast in the world and the largest ethnic festival in New England. The feast was founded in 1915 by four Madeiran immigrants who wanted to recreate the festivities of their home island.

Read more: http://www.newbedfordguide.com/99th-portuguese-feast-survival-guide/2013/07/15

Bay Sox vs. Ocean State Waves (6:30 pm-9:30 pm)
Most people in the SouthCoast know, by now, that there is a baseball team called the New Bedford Bay Sox playing ball around here someplace. Many folks don’t know what kind of team the Bay Sox are and just how good the baseball is. Join the Bay Sox at Paul Walsh Field and cheer on your New Bedford Bay Sox as they challenge the Ocean State Waves! Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for seniors and children 16 years and younger.

Tryworks Open Mic (7-10pm) 

Poet, singer, dancer, comic; whatever you bring come join the fun and “let your little light shine”. Details: https://www.facebook.com/events/220284438124030/?ref=2

Saturday, August 3rd

99th Annual Portuguese Feast (Day 3) (10:00 am-12:00 am)
The New Bedford Feast of the Blessed Sacrament, a.k.a. the Portuguese Feast, a.k.a. Madeira Feast is the largest event the city has every year. More than that, it is the largest Portuguese feast in the world and the largest ethnic festival in New England. The feast was founded in 1915 by four Madeiran immigrants who wanted to recreate the festivities of their home island.

Read more: http://www.newbedfordguide.com/99th-portuguese-feast-survival-guide/2013/07/15

Buzzards Bay Regatta: Day 2 (Dartmouth) (7:00 am)
Buzzards Bay is waiting for you with its exceptional sailing conditions and famous Southwest breeze. Our committee has been working hard over the winter to get the details in place for yet another fantastic event. Our top priority continues to be excellent race management and we have put together a great team of experienced Race Officers. Logistics are also key and we promise that parking, transportation, launching and hauling, etc will run smoothly. After sailing, the fun will continue, with bands each night and a chance to enjoy the company of your fellow sailors.

Race takes place at the New Bedford Yacht Club at 208 Elm Street, South Dartmouth.

“Spinner Loves New Bedford” Book Signing Party at Gallery X (6:00pm-10:00pm)
Authors of Spinner Publications’ new book, A Picture History of New Bedford, Volume 1 (1602-1925), will be on hand to sign books at “Spinner Loves New Bedford” book signing party at Gallery X, 169 William Street, New Bedford, Massachusetts on Saturday, August 3 from 6 to 10 p.m. The five authors, Joseph D. Thomas, Alfred H. Saulniers, Natalie A. White, Marsha L. McCabe and Jay Avila, will available throughout the evening to sign limited edition cloth covered signed and numbered books as well as sturdy paperback books. The public is invited free.

Guests will enjoy light refreshments and entertainment at the festive “Spinner Loves New Bedford” book signing party The event coincides with Gallery X’s Swain School of Design Alumni Show. A film, “New Bedford Through the Years,” including never- before- seen vintage footage of New Bedford will also be shown. For more information, contact Spinner Publications at (508) 994-4564, visit www.spinnerpub.com or look up Spinner Publications on Facebook.

Family Movie Night (Charlotte’s Web) & Tractor Rides (Acushnet) (7:15 pm)
Silverbrook Farm wants to offer you a chance to relax with the Family! They are always looking for affordable things to do with the family, so why not take them to the movies? Bring everyone to FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT! Taking place the first Saturday of EVERY month, Silverbrook will show a farm family favorite outside under the stars! Go grab a blanket and the family and come and see us! Admission is just $5.00 per person.

There will also tractor rides at 7:15 and 8:15 pm. Not too long of a ride, not too short, just enough time to enjoy the evening and forget about the hustle for awhile. Admission is FREE with any Ice Cream purchase, and just $3.00 per person without. You can even make a night out of it and include a MOVIE NIGHT and enjoy both events for $7.00. Come relax on the Farm…and get away from it all! 934 Main Street, Acushnet. Click on title for more info.

Sunday, August 4th

Buzzards Bay Regatta: Day 3 (Dartmouth) (10:30 am)
Buzzards Bay is waiting for you with its exceptional sailing conditions and famous Southwest breeze. Our committee has been working hard over the winter to get the details in place for yet another fantastic event. Our top priority continues to be excellent race management and we have put together a great team of experienced Race Officers. Logistics are also key and we promise that parking, transportation, launching and hauling, etc will run smoothly. After sailing, the fun will continue, with bands each night and a chance to enjoy the company of your fellow sailors.

Race takes place at the New Bedford Yacht Club at 208 Elm Street, South Dartmouth.

99th Annual Portuguese Feast (Day 4)  (12:00 pm-12:00 am)
The New Bedford Feast of the Blessed Sacrament, a.k.a. the Portuguese Feast, a.k.a. Madeira Feast is the largest event the city has every year. More than that, it is the largest Portuguese feast in the world and the largest ethnic festival in New England. The feast was founded in 1915 by four Madeiran immigrants who wanted to recreate the festivities of their home island.

Read more: http://www.newbedfordguide.com/99th-portuguese-feast-survival-guide/2013/07/15

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

Summer is in full effect and with my list of fun time activities growing smaller and smaller, my son and I begin to acknowledge the bleak notion that we may, in fact, lose our minds. A mind is a terrible thing to waste, let alone two! So, in order to quell the stuck-at-home blues, I suggest to him we take a trip to the Buttonwood Park Zoo, and away we go!

A little fun fact about the BPZ, it happens to be the oldest, continually operating zoo in Massachusetts. Pretty neat, huh? Owned and operated by the City of New Bedford, and supported by the nonprofit Buttonwood Park Zoological society, its’ primary theme, From the Berkshires to the Sea, focuses on the land and water based wildlife found mainly around North America; with the exception of the Asian elephants, of course!

With nearly 200 species to care for, the BPZ staff has placed a special emphasis on creating natural habitats for the animals, comparable to those found in the wild. The charismatic River Otters, the majestic Harbor Seals, and the sleepy Black Bears are just a few of the many animals you’ll encounter on your journey. And once you cross the adorable covered bridge and head into the Buttonwood Farm, you’ll mingle with the goats, smile at the horses, and speculate what that gang of chickens is really up to. We bet it’s no good!

The Zoo’s Wildlife Education Center and Zookeeper Staff offer a full range of programs for children of all ages! Animal Encounters allows people the opportunity to chat with the zoo keepers and experience the bears, elephants, or seals in a more up-close and personal setting. Zoo Nights gives visitors a fresh and unique perspective on the animals they only ever see during the day, who, like some people, are less active in the summer heat. The animals are definitely more alert, and as a bonus, you get to roam the zoo at night! It’s super fun! I know, because my son and I have done it! For groups of 20+ people there’s Flashlight Adventures, Critter Camp-ins, and Twilight Tours; all excellent ways to experience the zoo in nontraditional ways!

If, by chance, your family should find themselves at the zoo on a Monday, my son and I would most definitely recommend catching one of the Toe Jam Puppet Band’s famous shows. Located by the elephants, weather permitting, or inside the cafeteria building, admission is just $5 additional dollars for all the singing and dancing you can muster! And be sure to say “hi” to Tom and Vinny for us before heading out to catch a ride on the zoo train, or hopping aboard the Wildlife Carousel!

When you’ve finally hit that point where your feet begin to ache and your attention starts to wane, stop into the Bear’s Den Café and take a load off. Reflect on your joyful experience and be thankful for it. You’ll be refreshed and ready to return another time; or perhaps even make one last trip around the zoo before you leave to bid the animal’s farewell.

For those of you who worry that a trip to the zoo might not be in your budget, head on over to one of New Bedford’s libraries and reserve a pass for your family. The pass includes a one day admission for up to four people, free of charge! And while you’re there, be sure to pick up a few zoological themed books (to get your little ones even more excited), and Dig Into Reading

So when boredom hits your household and you fear your children may usurp, thwart their revolution with a visit to the Buttonwood Park Zoo! It’s a wonderful way to fill the day with fun, education, and the great outdoors; all while being surrounded by beautiful animals, passionate people, and the ones you love.

For more information and updates on the zoo, be sure to give their Facebook a ‘like,’ and stay in the loop! Also, check out New Bedford Guide’s Buttonwood Park Zoo photo gallery for 100 photos of the zoo!

Summer Hours are March – September: 9:00am – 5:00pm, daily (with the last admission at 4:15pm)

New Bedford Resident Admission (Must show proof of New Bedford Residency)
Adult: $6
Senior/Student: $4.50
Child (Ages 3-12): $3
Child Under Age 3: FREE
Parking: Free

Non-Resident Admission
Adult: $8
Senior/Student: $6
Child (Ages 3-12): $4
Child Under Age 3: FREE

The Zoo accepts MasterCard and Visa at the front gate for ticket purchases and MasterCard, Visa and Discover at the Café and Gift Shop.

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FESTIVAL OVERVIEW
More than simply a celebration, the Working Waterfront Festival is a unique opportunity for the public to get a firsthand understanding of commercial fishing culture and for the fishing community to tell its’ own story. The free, family friendly event presents all that goes into bringing seafood from the ocean to the table in a way that is hands-on, educational, and fun.

THE BASICS:
Dates: September 28-29
Location: New Bedford’s Historic Waterfront (Fisherman’s Wharf, State Pier, Steamship Pier)
Hours: Saturday 11-6, Sunday 11-5 (whaleboat races Saturday 8-12)

2013 is the 10th year of the event
Festival is held rain or shine with most events under tents
Festival is presented free of charge
Parking is free of charge (Elm Street Garage)
Full details available at www.workingwaterfrontfestival.org

2013 THEME
The 2013 Festival marks the ten year anniversary of the event and provides us with an opportunity to consider how commercial fishing and coastal communities have changed over the past ten years and what lies ahead. Festival programming will offer a retrospective look at the themes explored over the past decade: Sustainability; Safety at Sea; the Future of the Industry; Women in the Industry; Preservation of Ports; Fishermen & Farmers; the Cultural Mosaic of New England’s Working Ports; Tradition & Innovation; and Narrative Tradition.

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS
In celebration of our 10th Anniversary, we invite you to join us Friday, September 27th for A Festival Sampler: Celebrating 10 years with 10 performers for $10. The concert takes place at the Whaling Museum Theater. Seating is limited. Tickets will be available at the door and through the Festival web site.

HIGHLIGHTS
Man Overboard Demo: A dockside demonstration of how fishermen on deck must act quickly to rescue a crew member who has fallen overboard.

Flume Tank: A 750 gallon flume tank will be on display at this year’s festival. The tank is used to carry out performance evaluations, gear tests, and other observations on newly developed or existing fishing gears in simulated underwater and near surface conditions.

Seafood Throwdown: Two chefs compete to create a winning dish using a surprise seafood ingredient. The event highlights underutilized seafood and local produce.

F/V Roann: Step aboard this fully restored wooden eastern rig, one of several working boats available for dockside tours.

Fishtales Story Station: Have a good fish story? We’ll be collecting real life stories from fishermen and others in the industry at the Fishtales Tent on Steamship Pier as part of our Community Documentation Project.

Fishermen’s Contests: Groundfishermen show their skills in Saturday’s net mending competition while scallopers have their turn at the Sunday shucking contest. Both events take place at noon on the Steamship Pier Contest Stage.

PERFORMERS
The Festival brings together a unique array of music, storytelling, and poetry. Performances include traditional sea chanteys and music reflecting the fishing industry’s ethnic diversity as well as songs, stories, and poetry about commercial fishing and the sea often performed by musicians who work in the industry. This year, we showcase many festival favorites from the past nine years as well as a few new faces. Anita Best, who first performed at the 2007 Festival, returns to share traditional songs and stories from Newfoundland. Calico Jack’s music and spoken word celebrate the people, places and history of the Chesapeake. Crabgrass, featuring Daisy Nell, will provide old time music for a New England contra dance as well as traditional and original songs about the seafaring and ship building heritage of Essex, Massachusetts.

The Rhode Island based Sharks Come Cruisin’ return with their unique sound which has been described as sea chantey punk. Joao Cerilo & Pilon Batuku will heat up the dance floor with traditional Cape Verdean funana and batuk music. Local legend Ana Vinagre performs Portuguese fado, a tradition which grew up in the port city of Lisbon and speaks to the Portuguese involvement in commercial fishing in the old country and the new world.

SAMspill presents traditional music from Norway, honoring the Norwegian community which dominates the sea scallop fishery. Several performers who write from personal experience working in the industry are also on tap for the weekend including festival regular Jon Campbell who leads Something Fishy, a song/poetry swap of material created and performed by fishermen. Jon Broderick & Jay Speakman, west coast fishermen integral to the start of the Astoria Fisherpoets Gathering, make their first appearance at the Working Waterfront Festival.

Also included in this group of poets are Dave Densmore, a working west coast fisherman; Charlotte Enoksen who grew up in a New Bedford fishing family and writes poetry from the home front; and Janice Marshall who will present parodies drawn from a life in the Maryland crab fishery. Festival favorites, Souls of the Sea, a Gloucester-based folk-rock trio performs on Saturday. The New Bedford Harbor Sea Chantey Chorus performs on Sunday.

FESTIVAL FOOD
The Seafood Hut will be serving fresh New Bedford fish and chips, fried scallops and clam cakes. The Newburyport Crab Company offers crab cakes, lobster rolls with drawn butter, and lobster mac n’ cheese. R. Shucks Raw Bar will have shrimp cocktail and little necks and oysters on the half shell. Destination Soups will be serving chowder, hot and cold soup and grilled cheese and tuna sandwiches. Café Arpeggio will be serving its’ own Home Made Ice Cream as well as coffee, pastries, hot dogs, and more. Flour Girls Bakery will be serving their deserts and treats. Del’s Lemonade will have two locations selling their frozen lemonade.

COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS
The Foodways Area (Pier 3) features cooking demonstrations by galley cooks, ethnic cooks, and professional chefs. Visitors are invited to learn the basics of preparing fresh seafood at home as well as ethnic approaches to seafood cooking and galley fare. On Sunday afternoon, two chefs will compete in a Seafood Throwdown in which they compete to create a winning seafood dish using a surprise local seafood ingredient which is revealed to them at the event and fresh, local produce. Chefs can bring three of their favorite ingredients and, once they discover the secret seafood, they get $25 and 15 minutes to shop the Festival Farmers’ Market for the remaining ingredients. After their shopping spree, they have one hour to cook and present their entry for the judge’s consideration. The contest will conclude with an opportunity for the audience to sample the dishes. The Seafood Throwdown is a collaboration between the Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance and the Working Waterfront Festival.

FARMERS’ MARKET
Sponsored by edible Southshore, the Farmers’ Market (State Pier) features produce and specialty items from a number of local farms as well as informational booths. In addition fresh, local fish, scallops and lobsters will be available for sale.

FILMS
The Dock-U-Mentary Film Area (Pier 3) screens historic and contemporary footage taken at sea and on shore, chronicling the history and experiences of the working waterfront and the commercial fishing industry. Several short documentary films will also be shown.

AUTHORS
A number of authors will read from and sign their books on commercial fishing, fishermen, seafood, and boats. Books will be available for purchase at our Festival Store located on Pier 3. Participating authors include: Robert Demanche and Carrie & Donald Tucker The Last of the Fairhaven Coasters: The Story of Captain Claude S. Tucker and the Schooner Coral, Clark Snow Waltzing With Lady Luck, Walter Scadden The Legend of the Black Duck, Judy Dutra Nautical Twilight, Maria Lawton Azorean Cooking: From my family’s table to yours, Karen Covey, The Coastal Table, Ladies Branch of the Port Society Recipes from Land and Sea, Brian Robbins Bearin’s The Book, Twenty Years of Bulkhead Wisdom, Quiet Smiles, Belly Laughs, and Good Ol’ Salty Tears. We are also pleased to present two children’s authors who will present their salty tales aboard the Schooner Ernestina with scheduled story times on both days of the event: Daisy Nell Captain Stan’s Foo Foo Band, The Stowaway Mouse and Rocky at the Dockside, and Meghan Lapp Fast Friends and Hello Stranger.

CONTESTS & DEMONSTRATIONS OF INDUSTRY SKILLS
Contests offer a unique opportunity to watch those who work in the commercial fishing industry show off the skills of their trade. All contests will take place on the Contest Stage (Steamship Pier). This stage will also be the site for presentations featuring the latest in safety related gear and demonstrating the “tools of the trade” associated with various types of inshore fishing and lobstering. This year’s contests include: Scallop Shucking, Fish Filleting, Net Mending, Link Squeezing, Splicing, and Survival Suit Races. In addition, visitors can watch whaleboat races and a tugboat muster from the On Water Activities Viewing Area at the head of State Pier. Learn first hand about historic and contemporary skills of the industry by visiting the industry skills demonstration booths (Steamship Pier) including: net making, knot tying, rigging, scallop dredge making, inshore fishing, wire splicing and more.

FLUME TANK
The Center for Sustainable Aquatic Resources (CSAR) at the Marine Institute at Memorial University, Newfoundland operates the world’s largest flume tank, which is 13 feet deep by 26 feet wide by 72 feet long and circulates some 450,000 gallons of water at up to six feet per second through a complex system of propellers, pumps and pipes to mimic the flowing ocean. The Institute’s smaller 750 gallon flume tank will be on display at this year’s festival through a partnership between the Marine Institute and GEARNET – Northeast Groundfish Gear Conservation Engineering & Demonstration Network. Local net designer Tor Bendiksen of Reidar’s Manufacturing has designed model nets for use in the tank. Visitors will be able to see a demonstration of scale model nets in the tank and talk with net designers, fisheries scientists and fishermen.

BIG BOATS * LITTLE BOATS
Model boat makers will display a variety of workboats in miniature. A full-sized Beetle Whaleboat, built this spring by the Beetle Boat Shop in collaboration with the New Bedford Whaling Museum and Mystic Seaport Museum, will be on display. James Beetle of New Bedford built over 1,000 whaleboats between 1834 and 1854. Many Beetle whaleboats were on the Charles W. Morgan whale ship. The Morgan is currently undergoing a major restoration at Mystic Seaport and is slated to return to New Bedford in 2014 with this whaleboat and eight others onboard.

TOURS
Vessel Tours
Don’t miss the opportunity to learn about the different types of fishing vessels first-hand by getting on board one or more of the vessels offering dockside tours and talking with the crew. Vessels offering dockside tours include: a scalloper, a steel dragger, a deep sea clammer, a Stonington dragger, and a tug boat.

In addition, a Coast Guard vessel will be available for tours as well as Schooner Ernestina, a 108’ traditional schooner, the official vessel of the Commonwealth. This year we are particularly excited to welcome the F/V ROANN a fully restored wooden Eastern Rig vessel. Built in 1947, ROANN fished out of Martha’s Vineyard and Point Judith, dragging for flounder, cod and haddock.

Harbor Tours
Whaling City Expeditions offers 55-minute harbor tours departing hourly on both Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.

ON THE WATER ACTIVITIES
Whaleboat Races – The Buzzards Bay Rowing Club presents whaleboat races from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday. Come cheer on your favorite team. Best viewing: head of State Pier.

Whaleboat Rides – Try your hand at rowing a replica whaleboat. Buzzards Bay rowers will be on hand to provide instruction at Coast Guard Park on Saturday from 2-5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.

Tugboat Muster – Watch tugboats at work as they compete for bragging rights in hawser tossing and pushing contests on Saturday from 3:30-5 p.m. Best viewing: head of State Pier.

Mini Tugs –Several mini-tugs will present a parade of sail and some on the water antics as a lead up to the Muster on Saturday at 3:00 p.m.

BLESSING OF THE FLEET
The 44th Annual Blessing of the Fleet will take place on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. A time-honored tradition, the Blessing gives the fishing community an opportunity to celebrate and reflect on the successes of the past year and to ask that the Lord’s good blessing continue in the coming year to keep each vessel and its crew safe during each voyage.

KID’S ACTIVITIES
The Kid’s Activity Tent offers a boatload of make and take art activities Saturday and Sunday from 11 to 5 including fish prints, shell decorating, paper boat making and more. This area is staffed courtesy of the Art Education Program of the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth.

EXHIBITS
A number of industry related non-profit organizations and businesses have booths at this year’s Festival. The Maritime Artisans Marketplace features unique handcrafted artwork created by 16 regional artists.

For forty years, the Wharfinger building was the site of the city’s seafood auction. Today, in addition to serving as the Waterfront Visitor Center, the building houses a mini-museum commemorating the seafood auction and the City’s role in the history of the commercial fishing industry. The exhibit was created through a joint effort of the City of New Bedford, the National Park Service and the fishing industry.

FISHTALES STORY STATION
We are pleased to partner with NOAA’s Voices from the Fisheries Project to collect short stories on a variety of topics such as storms and close calls, unusual catches, workplace pranks, and tales from the home front. Fishermen and others from the industry are invited to visit the Fish Tales Tent located near the Contest Stage on Steamship Pier to have their story recorded. Stories will be archived and shared through the Voices from the Fisheries web site and Working Waterfront Festival publications and programs.

SPONSORS
The Working Waterfront Festival is supported by a diverse coalition of individuals, businesses and educational and cultural organizations. Producing Partners of the 2013 Festival are National Endowment for the Arts, Island Foundation and Whaling City Seafood Display Auction. Major support is also provided by The City of New Bedford, New Bedford Harbor Development Commission, SouthCoast Media Group, United States Coast Guard, New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, National Council for the Traditional Arts and Massachusetts Cultural Council. The Festival is a project of the Community Economic Development Center of Southeastern Massachusetts.

The Working Waterfront Festival is a project of the Community Economic Development Center of Southeastern MA, a non-profit organization. The FREE festival, a family friendly, educational celebration of New England’s commercial fishing industry, features live maritime and ethnic music, fishermen’s contests, fresh seafood, vessel tours, author readings, cooking demonstrations, kid’s activities and more. It all takes place in New Bedford, MA, America’s #1 fishing port, on the fourth full weekend of September. Navigate to us at www.workingwaterfrontfestival.org.

The historical tall ship Kalmar Nyckel arrived at New Bedford State Pier Wednesday at 4 p.m. for its five day stay in New Bedford Harbor. But wind gusts out of the north kept her in the harbor Friday morning.

“The winds are coming down the (Acushnet) river,” said Captain Lauren Morgens, who has been sailing the Kalmar since 2004. “It makes the hurricane barrier look awfully narrow,” she said.

The Schooner Ernestina was able to take advantage of the Kalmar’s downtime and planned an impromptu adventure for about 50 children that were visiting that tall ship. They’ll be treated to a tour of the replica 17th century three-masted pinnace this morning, in addition to seeing the 19th century Ernestina.

From the green-faced gargoyle holding the ship’s bell, to the wind gods, mermaids, and other mythic symbols, the children will learn about the superstitions of sailors who sailed for years to reach unknown shores.

No whistling—you might whistle up as storm. Gargoyles scare away evil spirits and evil winds. Two carved watchdogs sit on the port and starboard rails with one eye open on the water to watch for bad weather but a blind eye to the antics of the crew.

Morgens said some figures represented the King of Sweden’s patronage, from the royal red lion on the bowsprit to the Kalmar castle aft. Kalmar Nyckel means “Key to Kalmar” in Swedish. In keeping with tradition, there are carved heads on the stern of the Governor of Delaware and members of the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation who had the vision of building a replica ship. The first captain and the shipwright are also represented.

Researchers found that the original paint pigment was bright, almost gaudy, like a gypsy caravan. The Kalmar was built to be a merchant ship. It’s thought that its colors helped display the company’s ability to create brightly colored pigments. Then as a naval ship, bright colors demonstrated power and strength.

Four cannons on deck protected it from pirates, as Sweden was at war with Spain at the time. Pirates were state-sanctioned back then, said Morgens, and the Kalmar was under orders to capture a Spanish ship if possible. The Kalmar’s companion ship purportedly took a Spanish ship but the captain was fired for failing to share the bounty with the King.

The Kalmar replica’s devotion to detail has drawn researchers from the Vasa Museum in Sweden who are recreating a 17th century warship and trying to understand how the technology works. The windlass, a human-powered winch that halls up the anchor or unfurls the foresail, may be easy to figure out. But the seven to eight miles of ropes that are connected by pulleys to sails, jib, masts and yards, take years to learn. Hence the phrase, “learning the ropes.”

Those who went learned the ropes by helping the crew pull up the anchor, haul up the sails, and set sail for an adventure on Buzzards Bay.

Oh, and the green-faced gargoyle? That’s Fred—the longest volunteer crew member, who occasionally get seasick.

The Kalmar Nyckel Foundation is a maritime-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that promotes education while preserving the Kalmar Nyckel’s role Delaware’s history.

More photos of this fantastic ship can be seen in the NBG Photo Album.