While the official start to winter isn’t until Saturday, December 21st, it is the time of year when the longer nights are conducive to stargazing.

In the past 2 months, we’ve been treated to a number of meteor showers, a few fireballs with the Taurids, and a stunning Blood or Hunter’s Moon. Skywatchers will be in for a few delightful treats in the month of December in the form of three shows: the Geminid meteor shower, Winter Solstice, and a solar eclipse.

Gemenid Meteor Shower: December 13th-14th

The opening act for December will be the annual visit of the Gemenids. The Gemenids were created when the Apollo asteroid (near-Earth object) called 3200 Phaethon, slammed into an unknown object in the distant. There are 19 major meteors that comprise the Geminids and countless smaller meteors and these objects create the showers. What does that mean for us? That within an hour’s time you may not only catch 20-30, and even up to as many as 150 meteors, but you will occasionally see a fireball or two. The one potential gig-harsher is that December 12th will be a full moon and the light pollution may lead to spotting fewer meteors than is typical, but 20-30 an hour is a decent show.

Head outside starting at 9:00 pm to enjoy the show which will peak somewhere around 2:00am.

Winter Solstice: December 21st at 11:19pm

Next act up is the Winter Solstice which means meaning ‘the Sun stands still.’ A solstice is when one of the Earth’s poles has its maximum tilt away from the Sun. The Winter Solstice marks the day with the shortest period of daylight and longest night of the year and is the “sibling” of the other solstice, the Summer Solstice in June.

This event marks the official first day of winter and many traditions and cultures celebrate its symbolism which represents death and rebirth or “resurrection”. Scientifically and among pagans that refers to the birth of the sun, and in religious traditions that refer to Jesus, Mithras, Phryigia’s Attis, Mesopotamia’s Dumuzid/Tammuz, Adonis and Orpheus for the Greeks, Osiris for the ancient Egyptians and myriad others.

Regardless of which meaning, one chooses to assign to it, it signifies a reversal of the gradual lengthening of nights and shortening of days in Northern Hemisphere. On the other side of the world, the Southern Hemisphere, it is the official start to summer.

Annular “Ring Of Fire,” Solar Eclipse: December 26th

The final act of the year is no less spectacular than the other three: the annular solar eclipse, a day after Christmas. A solar eclipse is when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, thereby totally or partly obscuring the Sun. This will be the last solar eclipse of 2019 and the decade, and the first eclipse this season. It is often referred to as a ‘ring of fire’ eclipse since the moon is so far away from the earth this time of year that it won’t block out the sun entirely, leaving what will appear to be a “ring.” This eclipse will be an astounding two minutes and 17 seconds long.

First the bad news: it will only be visible with the special protective eyewear, eclipse glasses or a pinhole camera in Saudi Arabia, southern India, and parts of Indonesia. Yes, you cannot see it with the naked eye without damaging your eyes, and no, sunglasses will not protect you.

The good news is that where this eclipse is viewable directly, there will be countless photojournalists capturing it and streaming it live. That means you can find online streams as it happens, or simply search about for images and videos when you wake up the next day. Since many of us don’t have special glasses or will be asleep as it happens, we’ll be checking out photos and videos anyway.

The following community events will take place in the City of New Bedford this year to celebrate the holiday season:

City of New Bedford Official Christmas Tree Lighting
Date and time: Saturday, November 30 at 4:30 p.m.
Location: Pleasant Street in Front of Main Library Downtown

Join Mayor Jon Mitchell, New Bedford City Councilors and the New Bedford community for the annual tree lighting celebration! At 4:30 p.m. Santa will lead a parade up William Street to the Main Library. The parade will feature the award-winning New Bedford High School Whaler Marching Band and the All-City Middle School Marching Band and Color Guard. The countdown celebration will feature holiday songs, greetings from local elected officials and an appearance by Santa Claus! New Bedford Community Services Department will serve complimentary hot chocolate.
Stop by the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center at 7:00 p.m. as New Bedford Festival Theatre presents a star-studded cast, consisting of performers from their 30 years of shows, returning to the Zeiterion stage! Don’t miss this uber talented line up, singing songs from La Cage Aux Folles, Les Miserables, Jekyll and Hyde and much, much more! Tickets start at $30.

Holiday Shop & Stroll
Date and time: Saturday, November 30 from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Location: Downtown New Bedford

dNB’s 2019 Holiday Stroll is happening November 30th, from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m.! Kick off the holiday season on Small Business Saturday in downtown New Bedford. With Santa at Mare Studios, Firetruck Rides, Carolers, Southcoast Brass Band–and more!

Cove Street Neighborhood Group Tree Lighting
Date and time: Friday, December 6 at 6:00 p.m.
Location: Loretta Bourque Park at corner of Ruth Street and Salisbury Street

Festival of Lights Celebration at Clasky Common Park
Date and time: Sunday, December 8 at 5:00 p.m.
Location: Clasky Common Park at County Street and Pope Street

Movie Monday: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
Date and time: Monday, December 9 at 7:00 p.m.
Location: Zeiterion Performing Arts Center, 684 Purchase Street

A screening of the 1989 classic film, where the Griswold family’s Christmas plans predictably turn into a hilarious disaster.

28th Annual Holiday House Tour:
Date and time: Saturday, December 14 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, December 15 from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Location: Wamsutta Club, 427 County Street

Capture the holiday spirit on the New Bedford Preservation Society’s 27th Annual Holiday House Tour. Visitors will be inspired by the varied architecture and interiors, all beautifully decorated for the season. The tour runs Saturday the 14th, 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Evening Tour and Sunday the 15th, 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Afternoon Tour.

Many other 2019 Holiday Happenings are available on Destination New Bedford’s website at http://destinationnewbedford.org/holidays2019/

Attention: Coaches, Teachers, Parents, Guardians, or anyone who strives to empower our youth. DEA 360 Southcoast, in collaboration with the Partnership for Drug Free Kids requests your attendance for our Train the Trainer Program.

Come join your community in learning how to facilitate the conversation with young people about making healthy lifestyle choices and the effects that the Opioid crisis has on all of our lives.

• Training One: “Heroin + Other Opioids: From Understanding to Action.”
This presentation provides an overview of the opioid crisis and outlines the
actions that can be taken to address this issue by individuals and communities.

• Training two: “How to Talk with Your Kids about Anything”
This presentation identifies challenges in caregiver and youth communications and introduces approaches that can help caregivers better prevent and respond to substance use.

DECEMBER 4TH, 2019
6:00 P. M.-8:30 P.M.
FORT TABOR COMMUNITY CENTER
1000 S. RODNEY FRENCH BLVD, NEW BEDFORD,MA 02740

Please note: Parking is available in the main parking lot.

PLEASE REGISTER HERE

TICKETS ARE FREE, SPACE IS LIMITED

It’s almost that time again in New Bedford. Time to embrace the hometown charm of an authentic seaport downtown, all decked out for the holidays!

The annual downtown New Bedford Holiday Stroll seasonal extravaganza returns to the city center on Saturday, November 30, 2019. Organized by Downtown New Bedford Inc, the Holiday Stroll­­­­ has become a beloved tradition in New Bedford with its own fun and funky twists – and falls this year on national Small Business Saturday.

Small Business Saturday is an American shopping holiday held each year right after Thanksgiving. It is designed to spotlight the creative small businesses that define revitalized urban centers – like downtown New Bedford.

Music will fill the air, with Seaglass Theater Carolers on corners and the Southcoast Brass Band bringing their hip sound to Custom House Park. Climb aboard New Bedford’s antique fire truck on Barker’s Lane for rides throughout the downtown. But, don’t forget to hop off at Mare Studio on Centre Street to have your photo taken with the big guy himself – Santa Claus. Mare will also be accepting donations and non-perishable food items on behalf of The Neediest Families Fund.

“Holiday Stroll is a celebration of family and community,” says Jessica Coelho, owner of Tia Maria’s Europoean Café on North Water Street. “It’s one of our busiest days of year!”

Naturally, you’ll find hot chocolate and treats at eateries everywhere, plus lunch, dinner, and post-Stroll cocktails for the grown-ups!

“Holiday Stroll is a fabulous way to kick off the season,” says Downtown New Bedford Inc. President Elissa Paquette. She should know; as the owner of the fashion destination Calico on Union Street, Paquette’s wardrobe often reflects the starshine and tinsel of the holidays!

“This is the perfect opportunity to bring your whole family downtown, because there’s really a little something for everyone,” says Paquette. “There’s live music, festive decorations, kids’ activities, and so much going on at our awesome restaurants and boutiques!”

As dusk arrives, the Holiday Stroll culminates with a parade up William Street at 4:30 p.m., led by the New Bedford High School Marching Band, followed by the city’s tree lighting outside the New Bedford Free Public Library on Pleasant Street at 5:00 p.m.

The 2019 Holiday Stroll takes place in downtown New Bedford from noon to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 30. You can follow updates to all the happenings and participating locations at downtownnb.org and @dnbinc on Instagram and Facebook!

Join the City of New Bedford, UMass Dartmouth College of Visual and Performing Arts New Bedford Creative, and New Bedford Economic Development Council on AHA! Night, November 14, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. in Wing’s Court to celebrate the completion of the Wing’s Court lighting enhancement project, funded in part by a Wicked Cool Places grant.

The celebration will showcase the enhanced lighting in Wing’s Court, and recognize the collaborative planning, design and implementation effort that was taken to complete the project. A musical guest, alt-pop singer-songwriter Sarah Donner, will provide live music for the celebration.

Beginning in January 2019, UMass Dartmouth Professor and Wicked Cool Places grant recipient Stephanie McGoldrick led her Interior Architecture and Design students in developing a lighting design plan for Wing’s Court. UMass Dartmouth is the only public university with an accredited Interior Architecture and Design program in New England. The IAD program focuses on the artistic, technical, and functional aspects of space design and compliance, and prepares students for professional level entrance into the design field and upon graduation to sit for the National Council for Interior Design Qualifications exam.

Professor McGoldrick’s students partnered with expert lighting mentors and presented a plan with lighting fixture options to the City in April 2019. The City’s Wing’s Court Working Group partnered with Professor McGoldrick and her students to review design plans, fixture selection and materials. The Wing’s Court Working Group is an interdepartmental group comprised of representatives from the City’s Department of City Planning, Department of Public Infrastructure, Office of Housing and Community Development, Department of Parks, Recreation & Beaches, Department of Facilities and Fleet Management, New Bedford Creative, and New Bedford Economic Development Council.

The City’s Department of Public Infrastructure installed three intricate string-light canopies and four solar bollards throughout the court, while the Department of Facilities and Fleet Management installed the solar strip light fixture on the city-owned deck.

Wing’s Court is a unique public space in the city that is being continually enhanced. The completion of the lighting enhancement project will invigorate future planning and design efforts and solidify Wing’s Court as one of New Bedford’s Wicked Cool Places.

Come join the PACE YB Youth Development Center’s “Walk Towards Peace” #WTP on Thursday, November 14th at 6:30pm on the steps of City Hall. There will be a lighting of candles honoring those who have been victims of homicide followed by a walk to support an end to this violence in our community.

The walk will end with a “Sharing Circle” at Custom House Square.

Any young people wishing to perform a spoken word, musical, or poetry piece please call 508-984-3558.

The members of New Bedford’s Veterans Advisory Board extend an invitation to area residents to attend New Bedford’s Veterans Day Parade.

The Veterans Day Parade will be held on Monday, November 11, beginning at 11:00 a.m. It is presented by the City of New Bedford Veterans Advisory Board Veterans Day Parade Committee.

City Veteran’s Agent Chris Gomes said the organizers are extending an open invitation to all area veterans to march in the New Bedford parade, whether they are a post member or not. “Our local veterans’ groups welcome all veterans to march with their organizations, and we hope they will be able to join us in the parade rather than as observers,” said Gomes.

Parade participants will gather at the intersection of Rockdale Avenue and Union Street (Buttonwood Park) at approximately 10:30 a.m. and the parade will step off at 11:00 a.m. sharp.

The parade will march east on Union Street, then turn north onto County Street, and then turn east onto William Street to the reviewing stand located in front of the New Bedford Main Library on the corner of Pleasant Street and William Street.

A Veterans Day service will be held at the reviewing stand at the conclusion of the parade and all participants and parade attendees are encouraged to attend. Seating will be reserved for elderly and disabled veterans near the reviewing stand.

Parade organizers have announced that John G. “Buddy” Andrade, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of the Vietnam War, will be the 2019 Veterans Day guest speaker.

The Wareham Police Association will be hosting its annual “Stuff-a-Cruiser” toy drive. It will be held on Saturday, December 7, at Target and Walmart from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Every year the association collects toys for underprivileged local families, and we look forward to another successful year.

We welcome everyone to stop by, say hello, and meet some of your local police officers along with members of the Department of Natural Resources.

Lesley University celebrates the art of teaching with Nov. 14 open house

During New Bedford’s AHA! night, Lesley University will advise students how they can earn bachelor’s and advanced education degrees — locally and affordably — at the DeMello International Center. Lesley University, which is one of the newest partners at the DeMello International Center, will advise prospective students how to pursue degrees in education — while staying close to home.

During the downtown’s Nov. 14 AHA! night, Lesley is hosting an open house with the theme of “Teachers and Leaders Made in New Bedford,” from 4 to 6 p.m. at the university’s New Bedford location in the DeMello International Center, 128 Union St.

The event, free and open to all, is Lesley’s way of celebrating the art of teaching, furnishing information, encouragement and support for people considering teaching as a career, as well as current educators contemplating a master’s degree or doctorate in educational leadership. Lesley’s open house will also provide information about programs for adult learners seeking to complete a bachelor’s degree right in New Bedford.

Staff will be on hand to discuss financing options, which include benefiting from the lowest cost-per-credit among four-year institutions in the area thanks to Lesley’s partnership with the DeMello International Center.

Among the event’s offerings, Lesley faculty will answer questions about the master’s degrees being offered in New Bedford, including:

• Special Education
• Specialist, Teacher of Reading
• Integrating Teaching through the Arts

Information will also be available about Lesley University’s Ph.D. program in Educational Leadership.

“Students can also hear about applying leadership skills to a Business Management degree, or about Lesley’s unique individually designed degree, which maximizes transfer credit and prior learning to create a custom program based on a student’s needs, interests and career goals,” said Jennifer Serowick, assistant vice president for adult learning.
https://lesley.edu/events/lesley-university-at-new-bedford-open-house

The Kilburn Art Expo will soon be upon us and we’d love for you to participate! We will be displaying artwork, designs, textiles, pottery, woodwork and jewelry and more created by local artisans in the Kilburn Event Center.

The show will be held on Saturday December 7th and Sunday December 8th from 11 am – 4 pm

This event is your opportunity to present your work for sale during this holiday season. All work must be handmade and original by the presenting artist, no kits allowed and work must be constructed with quality and integrity.

We will be promoting this show heavily on social media as well as posting flyers all around New Bedford, so this is a great chance to get your name out there.

• Displays are the presenting artists’ responsibility to set up and break down.
• The fee for a booth display is $100 (discount rate available for tenants).
• Each booth space is 10 feet by 10 feet.
• Tables and chairs are available on a first come first serve basis.
• Please inform us if you need electricity for your booth before November 30th.
• Wall space is limited, so if you need to hang artwork please let us know in advance.

To sign up or more information, please email us at info@kilburnmill.com. Payments for your booth can be made via credit card. https://www.facebook.com/events/509460276302736/