Every fall, The Southcoast is brought to the peak of autumn with an event that celebrates the season with a huge impact. New Bedford Oktoberfest, the South Coast Business Alliance’s Signature event boasts its position as being THE signature fall event of the Southcoast! This is more than just a beer festival. It’s more than amazing live and local music. It’s an opportunity for the community to come together and make a huge difference by being the voice for those who do not have one. This year’s event returns Saturday, October 7 from 3pm to 11:30pm.

The SCBA’s Mission has been, since inception, to provide services, funding and hope to the most vulnerable and at-risk youth of the Southcoast. The organization is comprised of a 100% volunteer board, and the passion for every member runs deep. Being able to provide opportunities and services to at-risk youth is paramount to creating a safer and stronger future for our region. The South Coast Business Alliance has generated over one million dollars through this event over the last nearly two decades.

The event runs from 3:00pm to midnight and tickets start at just $15 when purchased in advance. In addition to a variety of brews available, food trucks and food vendors are on-site ready to provide delectable choices to pair with your drink.

Part of the Oktoberfest tradition is to also provide local entertainment a platform to showcase their talents at one of the most well-attended and high-profile events in downtown New Bedford. The bands featured range from young musicians just getting their feet wet on the performance circuit, to local staples that define artistry on the Southcoast. This year’s line-up includes Off-Kilter, Craig Demelo Band, Alexa Cabral (Cathching Arrows Band), Morrissey Boulevard, and 7 Day Weekend. For stage times and additional details on performers, visit southcoastbusinessalliance.org.

Because the SCBA is all volunteer-based, 100% of proceeds are donated and circulated right back into the Southcoast through non-profit organizations whose mission and direct services align with our own. Be part of one of New Bedford’s most memorable and benevolent events by getting your tickets now at nboktoberfest.com.

On Friday Night, Bishop Stang High School opened its home Football slate versus Old Rochester Regional High School. However, a packed house and a winning home record weren’t the only goals the Spartans set for the evening.

Junior, Finley DeMarco of Wareham, reached out to Athletic Director Nate Greene with a request leading up to the home opener: to honor our country’s veterans, active military, and first responders by dedicating the game to “Folds of Honor.” Folds of Honor is an organization that provides scholarships to the spouses and children of fallen or disabled military and first responders.

Veterans, active military, and first responders received free admission into the game where they joined the teams on the field during the singing of the national anthem. The DeMarco Family set up a Folds of Honor table behind the endzone to sell t-shirts and accept donations to the foundation. Although the Spartans didn’t emerge victorious in their efforts on the field, their efforts off the field certainly paid off – raising $1,414 for Folds of Honor.

We hope to continue to honor the families of those who serve our country with Folds of Honor games for years to come. If you’d like to learn more about the foundation, visit https://foldsofhonor.org/about-us/

First-time homebuyer? You might want to attend this first-time homebuyer “house party” event at the Andrea McCoy Rec Center in New Bedford! The event will be on Wednesday, September 20th, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and the address is 181 Hillman Street.

Individuals and families are being encouraged to attend to familiarize themselves with the many resources being made available, including housing counseling, financial education, down payment assistance, and FHA-backed loans.

This event will be hosted by Mayor Jon Mitchell, other elected officials, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development New England Regional Administrator Juana Matias, the City’s Office of Housing and Community Development Director Joshua Amaral, housing counseling agencies, and state housing partners.

There is no pre registration required and the event is free!

A fall Paper Shredding Day is on Saturday, September 30, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. to noon, or until the shred truck fills up. All are welcome; there is no residency requirement. Individuals may bring up to two boxes of paper. The event is at the New Bedford High School parking lot, 230 Hathaway Boulevard, New Bedford. Enter from Parker Street.

“Identity theft is a growing concern. Everyone must be vigilant in protecting personal information. Shredding your documents is an excellent way to protect yourself and your family, NBCU is proud to sponsor these community shredding days.” said Berta Varao, President & CEO at NBCU.

The shred truck can only hold a certain amount of paper, so the limit of two boxes allows Paper Shredding Day to serve more people. The event will end when the shred truck is full; it is possible it may be before noon. Each box should weigh no more than 30 to 40 pounds. Paper clips and staples do not need to be removed, but please remove paper from folders and binders.

When each participant reaches the shred truck, staff will remove boxes from the trunk of your vehicle, empty them into a recycle bin and return boxes to participants. The recycle bin is emptied into the Shred-it truck. Shred-it is certified by the National Association for Information Destruction and adheres to their stringent security practices and procedures. For safety purposes, participants are not able to watch the destruction of their paper.

Shredding confidential documents helps to prevent identify theft, protect personal information, and prevent valuable resources from being sent to the landfill. The shredded paper will be recycled into new products such as paper towels.

The event is sponsored by NBCU and held in partnership with the City of New Bedford, the Town of Dartmouth, and the Greater New Bedford Regional Refuse Management District.

For more information, please visit gnbrrmdistrict.org, call the Greater New Bedford Regional Refuse Management District at (508) 979-1493, or email Marissa@gnbrrmdistrict.org.”

September 28 through October 1, 2023 at the Westport Fairgrounds

The South Coast Harvest Festival announces the dates for their new premier fall flower and garden show at the Westport Fairgrounds. “The event promises to celebrate the harvest season, as only the diverse landscape of the South Coast can” says Michelle Sousa Peay, event co-creator and co-owner of Metamorphosis Design with her talented husband Brian Peay. With over 25 years of experience creating award winning garden designs for the Boston & Rhode Island Spring Flower and Garden Show, the duo know how to put on a show that will be Inspirational, Educational and Fun!

The event will feature garden displays to inspire, along with garden talks and demos from the regions top gardening and landscape professionals. There will be creative scarecrow displays created by local artists and organizations to represent their interests and organizations. Bountiful fall floral and harvest baskets will be on display.

The event is family focused and will feature two live Owl programs by Eyes on Owls and interactive areas with activities to educate kids on our local agriculture. Chrissy Joy, nationally known dog trainer and her Joy Crew Dog Stunt Team, will be performing and providing motivational speaking on connecting with the four-legged members of the family better.

Professional pumpkin carver, Richard Kaiser, one of the original carvers from RWP jack-lantern spectacular will be carving a giant pumpkin and providing his best tips and tricks for making your pumpkin the envy of the neighborhood. Antique tractors and vintage boats will be on display. Guests can shop the local artisan and farmers market place featuring live music and favorite fall foods throughout.

Artist Betsey Macdonald has created a watercolor show poster continuing the well loved tradition of the Westport Harvest Festival that took place 20 years ago. The show posters will be available for purchase at the festival and will be signed and numbered. Betsy will be unveiling and signing posters at the Garden Illumination preview party to help raise funds to support this new amazing show.

The event will kick off with an exclusive Garden Illumination Party on September 28th from 6PM to 9PM. The main event will be Friday and Saturday September 29th and 30th 10AM to 8PM and Sunday October 1st 10AM to 6PM at the Westport Fairground 200 Pine Hill Rd Westport, MA 02790. Discounted Advance tickets are available Eventbrite.

Groups interested in partnering or being part of the event should contact the festival at https://southcoastharvestfestival.com/harvest-festival
The South Coast Harvest Festival is a dedicated group of local agricultural professionals dedicated to celebrating, fostering education and supporting our local farms and farmers.

For more information on the event:
https://southcoastharvestfestival.com/harvest-festival.

UPDATED ON THURSDAY AT 9:25am:

IMPORTANT ALERT!

We want to thank all our hard working volunteers that have offered to do a cleanup at Palmer Island.

However, with Hurricane Lee skirting the coast, with a Tropical Storm Watch, we must put safety first and cancel this Saturdays cleanup of Palmer Island.

Sadly, With a high chance of rain and very high winds we have no choice.

Hurricane Lee is expected to veer slightly west, which means Cape Cod and the South Coast could be in store for wind, rain, heavy surf and a storm surge.” Russ Wotton.

This cleanup has been months in the planning and is painful to cancel.

But better days are ahead and we will reschedule the Palmer Island cleanup.

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In the last 16 years, over 7800 volunteers from all segments of the community have participated in neighborhood cleanups. These dedicated volunteers performed close to 26,000 hours of community service and cleaned over 87 tons of trash from many miles of New Bedford neighborhood streets.

Based on information provided by Independent Sector, we estimate the value of volunteer service that Operation Clean Sweep has provided to New Bedford is over $985,000. Generous donors of In-Kind goods and services total many thousands of dollars as well. The United Way’s Community Building Mini-Grant Program and monetary contributions have helped us to purchase the tools and supplies necessary for education, advocacy and organized cleanups.

Operation Clean Sweep, an all volunteer, anti-litter campaign was founded in early 2006 by Lynn Coish and former New Bedford native Jerry Pinto, as a result of citizen concern for the amount of trash and litter throughout New Bedford. Rather than ask the Mayor to solve the problem, concerned citizens offered solutions. Realizing the value of citizen participation, Lynn and Jerry swiftly introduced the people who now, in part, form the committee of Operation Clean Sweep.

Our vision is for a clean and healthy environment for the community, now and for generations to come.

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Where and when: HQ located at the bottom of Gifford St. Saturday, September 16th, 1pm-4pm.
How to Volunteer: Pre-registering helps us to plan for important volunteer services. Click here to register or call 508-989-9049.
Day of Cleanup: Sign up/check in at our Operation Clean Sweep headquarters table. Remember to bring your reusable water bottle if you got one last year! Tools and bags will be provided.

“Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off Day is on Saturday, September 23, 2023, from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the Crapo Hill Landfill, 300 Samuel Barnet Boulevard, New Bedford. Proof of residency in New Bedford, Dartmouth, or Freetown is required.

Sign up to participate. Visit gnbrrmdistrict.org to select a time slot. Please arrive as close to your selected time slot as possible. If you do not have internet access, call (508) 979-1493 to sign up.

Participants must follow the requirements below.

• Place household hazardous waste in the trunk, pickup truck bed, or back of SUV.
• Stay in vehicle.

Examples of accepted waste include oil-based paints, paint thinner, pesticides, and old gasoline.

Do not bring latex paint (if you cannot give it away, dry it out and throw it away in the regular trash).

Do not bring anything that is accepted at your transfer station including: antifreeze, fluorescent light bulbs, mercury containing devices, motor oil, propane (or other) tanks or cylinders, TVs, or computer monitors.

The maximum amount of household hazardous waste you can bring is 25 gallons or 25 pounds. Collection is for households only. No businesses, schools, or contractors.

This event takes place at the Crapo Hill Landfill, 300 Samuel Barnet Boulevard, New Bedford. Please note, traffic flows in one direction at this event. The only way to enter is through the New Bedford Business Park. GPS may suggest a different route, but if you try that, you will have to turn around and enter through the New Bedford Business Park.

For more information, contact the Greater New Bedford Regional Refuse Management District by email at Marissa@gnbrrmdistrict.org or by phone at (508) 979-1493.”

New Bedford Recycling photo.

Print out your resume and dress for success, the 2023 South Coast Job Fair is ready to kick off! The event will take place on Thursday, September 14, 2023 from 9:00AM – 2:00PM at “Rachel’s Lakeside” located at 950 State Road in Dartmouth.

The South Coast Job Fair will showcase the area’s most dynamic firms and businesses, looking to hire you. Admission to the event as well as professional head-shot photos are free!

Job seekers do not have to pre register to attend, just show up between 9am -2pm, the earlier the better!

Are you a business looking for new employees? You can rent out a 6 foot table for $375. If renting more than one table, you will receive $50 off each additional table. Each employer will receive: A 6 foot table, 2 chairs, complimentary breakfast & lunch, and access to hundreds of job seekers!

Businesses can contact Katie Greene, Vice President of Marketing and Events via email at kgreene@onesouthcoast.com.

“The Board of Election Commissioners advises the public that absentee/mail-in ballots for the Preliminary Municipal Election are now available.

Any voter can request to receive a ballot by mail, can vote absentee in the Election Office during regular business hours, or can Vote Early in person. The Election Office is located in City Hall, 133 William Street Room 114. Office hours are from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. The last day to register to vote is Friday, September 22nd by 5:00 p.m.

Voters can Vote Early at the following locations prior to the Election:

Saturday, September 23rd – 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. at the Main Public Library, 613 Pleasant Street
Wednesday, September 27th – 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. at Taber Mill, 217 Deane Street (Coffin Ave. entrance)
Thursday, September 28th – 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. at Hazelwood Senior Center, 553 Brock Avenue

Parents or family members can apply for an absentee ballot on behalf of their children attending out-of-city or State Colleges and Universities. The deadline to apply for an Absentee/Mail-in ballot by mail is Tuesday, September 26th by 5:00 p.m. or in person in the Election office the day before the Election on Monday, October 2nd by 12:00 p.m. All Absentee/Mail-in ballots must be mailed out but can be mailed back, hand-delivered to the Election Office, or returned through the drop-off boxes outside of City Hall or on Elm Street outside of the bus terminal by 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 3rd to be accepted. On Election Day, polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.

In the Preliminary Municipal Election, New Bedford voters will be casting their votes for Mayor, Councilor-at-Large, and Ward 5 Councillor (Ward 5 only).

Any New Bedford resident who is uncertain about their voting status, designated polling location, has changed their address since the last election, or would like to request an absentee ballot should contact the Board of Election Commissioners at (508) 979-1420.”

“Destination New Bedford and Pope’s Island Marina welcome Nao Trinidad, a replica of the 16th-century tall ship that sailed with Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan’s fleet that circumnavigated the world. This year marks the 500th anniversary of Magellan’s historic trip.

“While at port, the ship is a floating museum and people are welcome to tour the ship, interact with the crew, and visit the exhibition on board,” said Ulises Custodio of the Spanish-based nonprofit, Nao Victoria Foundation. The ship will arrive in New Bedford on September 4th and will be open for tours at the marina from September 5th through September 10th from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. Tickets may be purchased in person at Pope’s Island Marina or online in advance. Purchasing in advance is strongly recommended.

Parking at Pope’s Island Marina is limited, especially on weekends. Visitors are advised to park in New Bedford’s historic downtown at the Elm Street Parking Garage. A short walk to New Bedford’s waterfront Pier 3 will take you to the New Bedford Launch, an affordable boat ride for the whole family that connects you with attractions, restaurants, and more for only $4.00 per person. Be sure to bring a camera — the launch will provide stunning views of the ship and New Bedford’s waterfront from the harbor, allowing passengers the chance to capture photographs before arriving at Pope’s Island Marina where the ship will be docked.

New Bedford is home to many restaurants offering fresh seafood, cultural cuisine, and waterfront dining. Restaurants accessible from the launch include The Whale’s Tail Clam Shack, The Black Whale, Mirasol’s Café, Merrill’s on the Waterfront, Fathom’s Waterfront Bar & Grill, and Acushnet Creamery. The launch also offers pick-ups and drop-offs in Fairhaven.

“The arrival of the Nao Trinidad is a great opportunity to educate visitors and residents about Magellan’s circumnavigation of the globe. The explorer’s Portuguese heritage resonates with the City of New Bedford’s Portuguese and maritime history,” said Ashley Payne, Director of Destination New Bedford.

“What better way to experience New Bedford than by enjoying any of our authentic Portuguese or seafood restaurants, learning about the City’s whaling, fishing, and Portuguese history at the New Bedford Whaling Museum and the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center, taking a stroll through the New Bedford Whaling Historical National Park, and finally, enjoying a scenic ride on The Launch to tour the tall ship at Pope’s Island Marina. When you come to New Bedford, you’ll realize you need more than one day to experience the City’s history, art, and burgeoning food scene.”

Those looking to extend their visit to New Bedford can make accommodations at the Fairfield Inn by Marriott or the New Bedford Harbor Hotel located just minutes away from New Bedford’s Pier 3.

Tickets for the tour are $15 for adults and $5 for children ages five to 12. Children under five are free. Family passes are available for $35 and include admission for two adults and three children.

For more information, contact Destination New Bedford at tourism@newbedford-ma.gov.”