Easter weekend is a great time to get the kids out of the house for an Easter Egg Hunt! This year there are several cities hosting Easter Egg Hunts and other events to include New Bedford, Fairhaven, Wareham and Mattapoisett. Know of an Easter weekend event that we missed? Post a comment or e-mail us at info@newbedfordguide.com and we will add it.

Easter Events on Saturday, April 7th, 2012

8 – 11 am –  The Mattapoisett Friends of the Elderly Annual Easter Pie Sale
Where: Former Seaport and Ice Cream & Coffee Shop (Mattapoisett)
Details: The Mattapoisett Friends of the Elderly are holding their Annual Easter Pie Sale. All sale goods are homemade (and yummy). An Easter Basket Drawing – a beautiful basket filled with seasonal goodies and cheer – has been added this year. It is on display at the Mattapoisett Council on Aging. The drawing will be held at the end of the pie sale at 11:00 am. You need not be present to win.

9 – 11:30 am – Pancakes & Photos with the Easter Bunny
Where: YMCA- Gleason Family (Wareham) – 33 Charge Pond RD, Wareham MA, 02571 – 508-993-3361
Details: Come and enjoy a hearty pancake breakfast and have your photo taken with the Easter Bunny. There will als be an Egg hunt and crafts. Children $8 includes photo, adults $8.

9 am – NFIA Easter Egg Hunt
Where: Livesey Park, Glenhaven Avenue, Fairhaven MA, 02719
Details: Children search for candy eggs and specially numbered wooden eggs that are redeemed for prizes. There will also be prize drawings and a visit from the Easter Bunny. Sponsored by the North Fairhaven Improvement Association. Event is free.

9 am –  Doughnuts with the Easter Bunny at the Zoo
Where: Buttonwood Park Zoo, 425 Hawthorn St., New Bedford, MA 02740
Details: $8/person; Non-Members: $11/person; Children under 1 are free. Enjoy a delicious doughnut and visit with the Easter Bunny.  Zoo admission, one ride ticket, and a small gift for each child are included in program price.

10 am – Plumb Mall Easter Egg Hunt and Celebration
Where: Plumb Corner Mall
Details: The Plumb Corner Mall will be celebrating their annual Easter egg hunt. This year they will be offering an Easter egg hunt, crafts, face painting, pictures with the Easter bunny, cookie decorating and much more!

12:30 pm – YMCA New Bedford Easter Egg Hunt
Where: YMCA New Bedford, 25 South Water St., New Bedford MA, 02739 – 508-997-0734
Details: Hundreds of Eggs… great Prizes! $5 per child.

1 pm –  Milk and Cookies with the Easter Bunny at the Zoo
Where: Buttonwood Park Zoo, 425 Hawthorn St., New Bedford, MA 02740
Details: Zoo members: $8/person; Non-Members: $11/person; Children under 1 are free. Snack on milk and cookies as you visit with the Easter Bunny. Zoo admission, one ride ticket, and a small gift for each child are included in program price. Participants must pre-register and pay in advance by calling (508) 991-4556 x 14.

1 pm –  Mattapoisett Lions Club Easter Egg Hunt
Where: At Veteran’s Park at the Lighthouse, Veteran’s Park, Mattapoisett MA, 02739
Details: At Veteran’s Park at the Lighthouse. Meet the Easter Bunny! The hunt will be done in sections for different ages groups. This is a FREE Community Event! Please bring your used eyeglasses for donation to the “Lions Eye Research Project.”

1 pm –  BBA Easter egg hunt and more
Where: Burgo Basketball Association, 101 Slocum Road, Dartmouth MA 02747
Details: Bounce house, face painting, games, snacks, prizes, DJ Suarez, hundreds of eggs and of course feel free to take a picture with the Easter Bunny!

These events and hundreds of other events are available on our events calendar.

On Wednesday, April 4^th at 5:30 p.m. at the Andrea McCoy Recreation Center, the City of New Bedford will hold a kickoff and information session for Mayor Mitchell’s Summer Jobs Initiative.  The event will give New Bedford youth and their parents the opportunity learn about the array of job and enrichment opportunities available for city youth.

This is the first year that the three major publically and privately funded summer youth employment programs will be coordinated as a single initiative sponsored by the Mayor’s Office.

The Mayor’s Summer Jobs Initiative consists of three programs:

• The City of New Bedford Seasonal Training and Employment Program (STEP) at the Office of Parks, Recreation, and Beaches
• The New Directions’ Summer Jobs Program
• The Summer Youth Enrichment Program (formerly the Stipend Program) organized by the Greater New Bedford Workforce Investment Board.

These programs are funded through a variety of sources including the City of New Bedford, federal Community Development Block Grant, Workforce Investment Act funding, the Commonwealth’s YouthWorks program, and private and corporate donations.

Each component program of the Mayor’s Summer Jobs Initiative has distinct eligibility criteria, hiring and placement procedures, and programmatic foci, but all share the goal of providing New Bedford youth with a constructive outlet for their time and energy, real work experience, and a deeper understanding of what it takes to be a successful working person. The minimum age is 14 for some programs and 16 for others.

Mayor Mitchell hopes to engage as many New Bedford youth as possible with meaningful employment and enrichment opportunities.

“Teen unemployment is at an all-time high in New Bedford,” said Mayor Mitchell. “Fully 70 percent of the city’s teens were unemployed last summer. Teens with time on their hands in the heat of the summer isn’t good for them or for the community. Not being able to find a job hinders their ability to contribute to the local economy, and constrains their future employment prospects. No one wins.”

The Mayor’s Summer Jobs Initiative will employ a multi-faceted approach to maximize opportunities for youth summer employment.  The Initiative includes a robust employer engagement effort in partnership with the Workforce Investment Board, New Directions and The New Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce; job readiness training; a mix of traditional employment, educational enrichment activities, and community service; and a thoughtful and deliberate approach to matching youth to the program slot or private or public job that best suits their skills and interests.

The April 4th kickoff event will lay out the details of the Initiative and describe the various eligibility and application requirements, program elements, and expectations.

“We know it can be confusing for teens and their parents to navigate these various programs,” said Mayor Mitchell. “We hope that by coordinating these efforts from the beginning and offering a single event and point of contact for information about the Mayor’s Summer Jobs Initiative, we can eliminate some of the confusion.”

The Ocean Explorium will be the beneficiary of Fundraising Night at Texas Roadhouse on Tuesday, April 3, from 4 until 10 pm.  Ten percent of participating food purchases, including take-out, will be donated to the Ocean Explorium.

Participating diners must present a special invitation flyer, which can be downloaded from the Ocean Explorium website (www.oceanexplorium.org) and displayed on a cell phone or other device.  This flyer is also available at the Ocean Explorium Gift Shop.

Ocean Explorium staff and volunteers will be on hand, greeting diners and offering a variety of fun raffles.  Among items to be raffled are a family membership to the Ocean Explorium, dinner for two at Texas Roadhouse, hand-made afghan, hand-crafted jewelry, gift baskets, and more.  Raffle tickets cost $1 each or $5 for six.

Marlena Martins, Marketing Manager of the Texas Roadhouse in North Dartmouth, enjoys working with non-profit groups to boost their visibility and fundraising efforts.  “Texas Roadhouse participated in the Ocean Explorium’s annual Fish Bowl bowling tournament, and we are happy to welcome them here for Fundraising Night.  Texas Roadhouse appeals to a broad range of the public, and we love to promote local organizations.  The Ocean Explorium is a fantastic resource for families in the area and we look forward to introducing our patrons to them.”

Abbey Spargo, education programs coordinator for the Ocean Explorium, considers the Fundraising Night at Texas Roadhouse a win-win.  “This is a great opportunity to go out into the public and to introduce ourselves in a fun, family-friendly atmosphere.  We hope to see lots of friends and family on Tuesday night, and to meet lots of new folks who will become friends of the Ocean Explorium.”

The Ocean Explorium is located at 174 Union Street in downtown New Bedford and is handicap accessible via the rear entrance.  Call 508.994.5400 for after-hours access.

For further information, contact Abbey Spargo at aspargo@oceanexplorium.org or 508.994.5400, or visit the Ocean Explorium website at www.oceanexplorium.org.

The 6th Annual General Aviation Fun Day at the New Bedford Regional Airport is scheduled for May 19th, 2012 from 10 am to 4 pm.

There will be performances by local dance studios, karate demonstrations, Mad Science of Southeastern Mass, formation flying, aircraft displays, skydivers, airplane rides, Buttonwood Park Zoo’s Zoo Choo, and so much more!

Confirmed Participants for this year’s event include:

• New Bedford Police Department K9 & Dive Team
• New Bedford Fire Department & Crash Truck
• Sherrif’s Department Mobile Command Center
• Gonsalves Tae Kwon Do
• Dan D’Onfro World Class Kempo
• Buttonwood Park Zoo Choo Rides
• US Coast Guard Reserve and Coastie
• Antique Fire Truck Rides
• Community Nurse
• Chiropractic USA
• Away Cafe
• Ben & Jerry’s
• Center Stage Dance Studio

Confirmed aircraft on display:

• Avenger
• Waco UPF 7
• T-6
• Stearman
• Citabria Explorer
• Russian Sukhoi
• RV-8
• SN-J
• Phenom Jet

For more information and up-to-date details check out the Fun Day website.

The Whaling City Clippers today announced that the team will be holding its first team meeting of the 2012 season. Any and all current or prospective players are invited to attend. This will be the first meeting to prepare for the 2012 Whaling City Clippers as they enter their second-consecutive year in the highly-competitive New England Football League’s AAA Conference.

“We finished the 2011 season with our first playoff win in AAA and have added to a strong core of returning players who have dedicated themselves to improving upon last year’s performance,” said Mike Arguin, General Manager. “Interest in the team has never been higher. Last year we had nearly 100 players express an interest in playing for us and we expect to surpass that number this year. Only 50-60 players will have what it takes to make the final cut,” continued Arguin. A number of players have already signed up through the team’s website.

The meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 5th at 7:30PM in the auditorium at Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School, 1121 Ashley Boulevard in New Bedford, MA.

The goals of this first team meeting will be to begin the sign-up process and to communicate the goals of the team both on and off the field. Topics will include an introduction to the 2012 coaching staff, the outlook for the NEFL’s AAA Conference, the team’s player requirements and expectations, conditioning camp and practice schedule for 2012.

There is a non-refundable $25 sign-up fee for players interested in signing-up with the team. Players may pre-register on the team website at: http://whalingcityclippers.com/contact-us/player-inquiry/.

The City of New Bedford has announced that the Annual Easter Egg Hunt will be held at Brooklawn Park at 2 pm, on Saturday, March 31^st.  The event is open to children ages 1-12 years and will include a variety of eggs filled with goodies for all participants.

The day will be comprised of an egg hunt, plenty of games including an egg toss, egg rolling competition, an egg relay, and more.  Children are invited to take a picture with the Easter Bunny as well.  The Annual Easter Egg Hunt is sponsored by the City of New Bedford Mayor’s Office, Parks, Recreation & Beaches, Community Development Block Grant Program, Child Development and Education Inc., and St. Joseph’s Early Childhood Academy Inc.

For more information and to register your child as a participant please call the Administrative Offices of Parks, Recreation and Beaches prior to the event at (508) 961-3015.

The New Bedford Symphony Orchestra is pleased to once again offer the $1,000 Lillian B. Lamoureux Music Scholarship to assist an individual in pursuing his or her musical education. The deadline for the 2012 scholarship applications is April 13. To qualify for consideration, the individual must meet the following eligibility requirements:

1. Be between 15-21 years of age as of the date of the audition.
2. Be a resident of South Coast Region of Massachusetts.
3. Be actively involved in an instrumental or vocal performance program and intending to continue such music study.
4. Must submit two (2) letters of recommendation from music teachers/instructors – these
5. should include your current vocal/instrumental director and/or your private teacher.
6. Must not have been awarded this scholarship within the last two years.
7. Must provide his/her own live or recorded accompaniment for the audition, unless the work performed is originally an unaccompanied work for solo instrument or voice

The winner will be notified prior to the NBSO’s Season Finale Concert at 8:00 pm on May 12, 2012, at the Zeiterion Theatre located in New Bedford, MA. Tickets to the performance will be provided to the winner.

On April 15, 1912, as people in New Bedford were getting ready for the Grand Opening of the Orpheum Theatre, little did they realize that the famed steamship, “RMS Titanic” had struck an iceberg and sank, taking along over 1,500 souls on that very same day. But although the Titanic was lost, the Orpheum Theatre and French Sharpshooters’ Hall opened to large crowds. It was one of the jewels of this area’s many theaters. It was cherished for its entertainment by many of this region’s local citizens for 46 years until it closed in 1958.

The organization O.R.P.H., INC. (Orpheum Rising Project Helpers) with support of the Community Building Mini-Grant Program of the United Way of Greater New Bedford, invites the public to join us in celebrating this 100 year milestone and to highlight plans to save this historic landmark.

Sunday April 15th, 2012 6-9 PM
Café Vila Franca Restaurant
601 South Second St. New Bedford, MA.
(One block West of the Orpheum Theatre)

The $25 donation includes membership to O.R.P.H., Inc.(Orpheum Rising Project Helpers). There will be complimentary appetizers and a cash bar. Also, Café Vila Franca has offered O.R.P.H., Inc. a gracious donation for signature drinks sold, which includes the “Titanic Martini”. There will also be a silent auction and raffle!

There will be entertainment along with memorabilia, photos, and documentary videos, highlighting the theater’s rich history.

ORPH, Inc. would like to thank the following… The Mini-Grant Program of the United Way of Greater New Bedford Area, Vila Franca Restaurant, W.H.A.L.E., NBEDC, Central Food Market, Atty. Maja Bozic along with countless supporters and volunteers.

For more info contact ORPH, Inc. President, Frank C. Grace at 508-971-4173 or visit www.orphinc.org.

So please come out to show your support and help us to continue our ongoing efforts to save this grand old lady and restore her to her former splendor. We hope to see you there!

On Wednesday, March 21, 2012, New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell will join New Bedford commercial fishermen in Washington D.C., for a march and rally on Capitol Hill.  Organizers anticipate thousands of fishermen hailing from ports across America will participate in the rally.  The event will draw attention to the damaging effect federal fisheries regulations are having on America’s commercial fishing industry.

Mayor Mitchell said rally attendees will urge Congress to address the lack of flexibility in the Magnuson-Stevens Act and pointed to the 10-year rebuilding requirement as an example of the Act’s inflexibility.

“Decisions need to be based on timely, accurate information.  Today, the federal government is relying on data from 2007 and the lack of fresh, reliable science is unacceptable,” the Mayor said.

“An important step in the right direction is for Congress is to pass the Kerry-Snowe Fisheries Investment and Regulatory Relief Act which will invest in fishing science that we can have confidence in,” he continued.

The Port of New Bedford is America’s #1 fishing port with landings valued at $306 million. New Bedford is New England’s seafood hub, with more than 30 processors and distributors, ranging in size from high-volume international wholesale to local retail operations.

The speaker series Girls Interested in Real Life Science (GIRLS) continues as the Ocean Explorium welcomes Sara MacSorley, project administrator for the NSF Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) in Rhode Island.  Ms. MacSorley has had many experiences in marine biology.  While participating in a study-abroad program in Bermuda conducting marine research, she learned that she did not enjoy research as much as she had predicted.  Faced with changing her perceptions of her future career, Sara turned to her mentors and through their help, found and is still finding the path that she truly enjoys.  Sara’s professional interests lie in scientific communication, marine science education in informal settings, and helping young women get started on their own paths to careers in science. Ms. MacSorley will speak to the audience on how to best use the people in your life who support you to help you challenge yourself and reach your goals.  Currently, Sara works as the project administrator for RI EPSCoR, where she helps other people do research in Marine Science. EPSCoR works to advance marine life science research and education in Rhode Island, and aims to integrate programs around the research theme of how climate variability affects marine life.

The Girls Interested in Real Life Science (GIRLS) series runs each Thursday in March and features inspiring speakers drawn from professions in which the STEM subjects play a major role. 

The series continues with:

March 22:  Sara MacSorley, NSF Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research

March 29:  Kate Clopeck, Executive Director and Co-Founder, Community Water Solutions

The Girls Interested in Real Life Science (GIRLS) speaker series is free and open to the public, thanks to the support of the Women’s Fund. Doors open at 5:00 pm each Thursday in March for refreshments and mingling in the Ocean Explorium before the talks begin at 5:30 pm. Students will receive a special memento to indicate attendance at each week’s event.  Girls and boys in grades 5 – 12 are encouraged to attend: families are always welcome!

The Ocean Explorium is grateful to the Women’s Fund for making the GIRLS speaker series possible.  We look forward to students of all ages attending the evening speaker series to be inspired by women who have found success in the STEM subjects. 

The Ocean Explorium is located at 174 Union Street in downtown New Bedford and is handicap accessible via the rear entrance.  Call 508.994.5400 for after-hours access.

For further information, contact Abbey Spargo at aspargo@oceanexplorium.org or 508.994.5400, or visit the Ocean Explorium website at www.oceanexplorium.org.