A 25-year-old New Bedford, MA, man previously convicted and incarcerated for possessing a loaded firearm without a permit pleaded guilty in federal court in Providence today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch and Mickey Leadingham, Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), announced the guilty plea of Angel Pizarro to one count of felon in possession of a firearm.

According to information presented to the Court, an investigation by ATF agents determined that on May 10, 2017, Pizarro visited a Tiverton, R.I., shooting range where he handled and discharged a variety of firearms. Surveillance video at the firing range depicted Pizarro handling, loading and firing three firearms.

According to Court records, Pizarro was convicted in Massachusetts state court in 2012 of possessing a loaded firearm without a permit and sentenced to 18 months of incarceration.

Pizarro is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge William E. Smith on September 21, 2018.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Zechariah Chafee.

As always, click on the title for more or detailed information on the event. 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? Add it here. Know of another event this weekend? Post a reply!

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Friday, June 1st

“Almost Sunrise,” A Documentary at the Z (7:00pm)
Almost Sunrise is a story of veteran resilience and recovery. The film follows two Iraq veterans, Tom Voss and Anthony Anderson, who struggle with depression upon returning home from service. Fearful of succumbing to the epidemic of veteran suicide, they seek a lifeline and embark on a 2,700-mile walk across America as a way to confront their inner pain.

The film captures an intimate portrait of two friends suffering from the unseen wounds of war as they discover an unlikely treatment: the restorative power of silence and meditation. Join us for a post-show panel discussion with Dr. Bob Meagher featuring Tom Voss, the documentary subject, and Michael Collins, the film’s director.

Pub6T5 w/ “The Real Deal” (8:00pm-12:00am)
We will host our most talented DJ to create a Great night to dance and have fun with friends in the best atmosphere in the SouthCoast. 736 Ashley Blvd, New Bedford, MA.

Saturday, June 2nd

Greater New Bedford Track Club’s Ray Allaire Youth Mile 2018 (FREE) (9:00am-2:00pm)
This is a free event for up to 200 area children (grades K-8). Participants will be grouped by age for a one mile race around the track at Cushman Park. All finishers will receive a medal or certificate, and the winners of each age group will receive a trophy. Every participant gets a goody bag, and healthy snacks/fun festivities after the race! First 100 registered participants will receive a Ray Allaire Youth Mile T-shirt. Full details by clicking on event title. Cushman Park, Fairhaven.

Cape Cod Harley Demo Weekend (9:00am-4:00pm)
Harley-Davidson® demo truck, food, pig roast, music, professional bike pictures, face painting for the kids and more! Demo Rides are FREE! “Thee Midnight Society” will be performing from 10:30 A.M. to 3 P.M. Professional photographer Larry Cahill will be here to take free, professional pictures of you with your bike. All demo riders operating a HDMC motorcycle must have a valid driver license and current motorcycle endorsement. For your convenience, parking for this event will be at Liquor ‘N More, 170 Clay Pond Rd., Bourne. There will a shuttle all day, both days, every 15 minutes.

Samurai Sprint Mud Run & Kids’ Race (Westport) (9:30am)
The Samurai Sprint Mud Run is a 5k ninja warrior inspired race. This race combines the outdoor elements, with the most challenging obstacles that won’t disappoint the best competitor. Complete with quad steps, devil steps, ropes, rings and carries..this race has TA written all over it! Have kids? Bring them! FREE kids Race: after the final participant heat of the race is completed a small course will be looped off and any children of the participants from the ages of 6 to 12 can try their first race. Westport Rivers Vineyard, 417 Hixbridge Rd., Westport.

SouthCoast PRIDE (9:30am-4:00pm)
Family atmosphere, live performances, kid zone, vendors, yoga, health walk, pre-PRIDE party and an after-PRIDE party. See poster for full details.

Acushnet Farmers Market at Stone Bridge Farm (10:00am-2:00pm)
The Acushnet Farmer’s Market at Stone Bridge Farm invites you to come checks an amazing assortment of vendors this season! Stop by, rain or shine to check out all the local vendors! Saturdays: 10:00am-2:00pm, June through September, Starting June 2nd! Located at: 186 Leonard St, Acushnet, Massachusetts 02743

FREE Contemplative Walk & Guided Meditation (10:00am-11:00am)
Join us for a FREE contemplative walk and guided meditation led by Tom Voss and Michael Collins of Almost Sunrise. Experience the restorative, soul-nourishing benefits of expending time in nature, concluding with a guided meditation and breath work. All ages welcome. This event is hosted by Encompass Community Program at Friends Academy (1088 Tucker Road, North Dartmouth, MA 02747).

Edaville Family Theme Park Activities (10:00am-5:00pm)
Come RIDE, ROAR, and EXPLORE at the exciting world of Edaville! With 3 PARKS IN 1, you can ride through Cran-Central, roar throughout Dino Land, and explore with Thomas & Friends through the magical Island of Sodor! Admission includes all rides & attractions. MA/RI Residents save up to $7 per date-specific ticket online only. Restrictions apply. Discount applied after applicable billing address entered. Edaville Family Theme Park, 5 Pine St. Carver.

Open Water Rowing Challenge (10:00am-6:00pm)
Join us for a 3 mile race in the Outer New Bedford Harbor. Many categories including kayaks, gigs, whaleboats and canoes. All are welcome. Lunch included! For more information go to our website at www.buzzardsbayrowing.org. Fort Rodman, 1000 S Rodney French Blvd., New Bedford.

Labia Series: A Fresh Look at the Feminine (5:00pm-8:00pm)
I started the Labia Series in 2015 after attending Haystack Mountain School of Crafts. The series has progressed over the years both in size, material, and theme. The project came about quite honestly in response to my daughter being born. I struggled to find a way to visually communicate such an intense experience, I mean really Mary Cassatt had already kind of nailed it. So I started thinking about women and the female image in art. I feel women are often portrayed as the object of sexual desire, the mother, or the tragic heroine. I saw that there were so many other more nuanced stories to tell. So I started using the vagina as a framework upon which many different stories are hung. Some funny, some twisted, some dark and mournful and certainly always pushing the narrative of the complex female experience. S&G Project Gallery, 88 Hatch Street, Rm 306a, New Bedford.

“Whiskey Affliction” at Pub6T5 (9:00pm-11:00am)
Whiskey Affliction is a talented country rock band that has earned the admiration of its critics and fans alike. Get in touch about performance rates. 736 Ashley Blvd, New Bedford, MA.

“Three Points of Madness & Murder One” at the Bar (9:30pm-1:00am)
LIVE, This Saturday night at The Bar: Three Points of Madness rocks the house and opens for Murder One: A Tribute to Motorhead. The music starts at 9:30 but come early for good seats and grab dinner. The kitchen is open late! As always NO COVER and free pool so come hang out for a great time and rock out. The Bar, 266 Dartmouth St, New Bedford.

Sunday, June 3rd

FREE New Bedford Adult Wellness Program (9:00am-1:15pm)
Free wellness programming for all levels. Open to the public. See poster for full details.

Living History: The Battle of Fall River (10:00am-3:00pm)
In 1778, Fall River saw its only action of the American Revolution – an assault by land and by sea, right here at the mouth of the Quequechan River! Join us for this weekend-long living history event to learn more about the battle, the soldiers and sailors who fought it, and life in 18th-century Fall River. We’ll have military infantry drills, open-fire cooking demonstrations, blacksmithing, sailmaking, pottery, and more! A slideshow on the Battle of Fall River will be shown at 12:00. This event is FREE and open to the public, suitable for all ages. Please dress for the weather as living history happens rain or shine. The park and Visitor Center are wheelchair accessible. Free parking available in the DCR Lot at 5 Water Street, Fall River.

Cape Cod Harley Demo Weekend (10:30am-3:00pm)
Harley-Davidson® demo truck, food, pig roast, music, professional bike pictures, face painting for the kids and more!
Free hotdogs and sausages on Sunday from 11 A.M. to 2 P.M. Demo Rides are FREE! Professional photographer Larry Cahill will be here to take free, professional pictures of you with your bike. All demo riders operating a HDMC motorcycle must have a valid driver license and current motorcycle endorsement. For your convenience, parking for this event will be at Liquor ‘N More, 170 Clay Pond Rd., Bourne. There will a shuttle all day, both days, every 15 minutes.

Edaville Family Theme Park Activities (10:00am-5:00pm)
Come RIDE, ROAR, and EXPLORE at the exciting world of Edaville! With 3 PARKS IN 1, you can ride through Cran-Central, roar throughout Dino Land, and explore with Thomas & Friends through the magical Island of Sodor! Admission includes all rides & attractions. MA/RI Residents save up to $7 per date-specific ticket online only. Restrictions apply. Discount applied after applicable billing address entered. Edaville Family Theme Park, 5 Pine St. Carver.

Sunday Night Karaoke at PUB 6T5 (5:00pm-9:00pm)
Join us for Karaoke on Sunday nights from 5-9pm. Hosted by Mario Figueirido. 736 Ashley Blvd, New Bedford, MA.

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

Meet Benny Olmeda, 37-year-old Realtor and Sales Manager at RE/MAX Vantage, as well as co-owner of Shop U7. Benny moved to the US at the age of 5 from Puerto Rico with his sister and mother, growing up in the Westlawn housing complex in the cities West End. Wanting to escape the trouble that surrounded him, he worked hard to secure himself a job working in infrastructure in Boston after graduating high school.

Benny’s longtime friend and broker, Eddie Lopez, had always suggested he get into the real estate market, seeing his entrepreneurial mindset and friendly personality. He got licensed and slowly began assisting family and friends with buying and selling their homes. Benny didn’t get heavily involved in the market until 2015 though when he saw the possibilities his talents could achieve for him. Giving himself 6 months, he told himself if he could focus 2 hours a day and weekends to real estate, he would venture into it full-time, which only took a month and a half for him to make the transition.

Since then Benny has been able to help countless local families buy and sell their homes, hoping to help families who were just like his when they moved to New Bedford. Not only has he focused on real estate but pursuing his passions, one of which is his love for the sneaker culture. He and several friends came together to open Shop U7 in 2014, a consignment shop that buys and sells sneakers not only locally, but all over the world. He loves seeing that the store has been able to bring people from across all walks of life together with one sole purpose, collecting their favorite sneakers.

“Build your own dreams or someone else will hire you to build theirs.”

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Faces of New Bedford is a project by Colton Simmons. If you are interested in booking a shoot or getting prints from the series email all inquiries to colton@coltonsimmons.com.

Read more of the Faces of New Bedford series here.

Clinical Careers at SOUTHCOAST BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.
Join our team!

We are looking for talented and caring professionals to join our team! Southcoast Behavioral Health offers competitive compensation, benefits and regular opportunities for development and advancement. You will work with an outstanding and dedicated team of professionals to help make a real difference in an individual’s life.

Registered Nurses
Our nurses provide general nursing care to patients in a hospital setting. This position provides, delegates, coordinates and evaluates patient care through the collaborative efforts of health team members and in accordance with the nursing process and standards of care and practice. You will provide a key role in the implementation of milieu management and therapeutic interaction. You will have the ability to apply psychiatric and medical nursing procedures and practices to psychiatric and personality disorders and to work with geriatric, adolescent, and adult populations as demonstrated through education accomplishment or work experience.

LPNs
You will provides general nursing care to patients in an acute hospital, coordinating patient care under the direct supervision of a Registered Nurse. You will provides a key role in the implementation of milieu management and therapeutic interaction and distribute medications to patients.

You will need the ability to apply psychiatric and medical nursing procedures and practices to psychiatric and personality disorders and to work with geriatric, adolescent, and adult populations as demonstrated through educational accomplishment or work experience. You must demonstrates a strong interest in providing therapeutic care for patients with mental illness and or behavioral disorders.

Full Time Case Manager, LCSW, LICSW, or LMHC Required

Our Case Managers are responsible for providing quality care to adolescent, adult and geriatric patients, and their families and guardians throughout the patients’ episode of care. Quality care includes, but is not limited to the following: performing psychosocial assessments, participating in multi-disciplinary rounds and treatment planning meetings, providing care coordination, organizing individual/family/systems meetings, facilitating clinical process groups, managing the discharge and continued care planning process and documenting all patient encounters.

Director of HIM and Privacy Officer

Responsible for the maintenance of facility medical records, processing of requests for release of medical information as well as the analysis of information and preparation of reports. Supervises medical records staff, coordinating schedules, work assignments chart assembly, analysis, transcription service and release of medical records. Ensures that the medical records department is maintained in the manner that meets all licensing and regulatory requirements. Responsive to customer needs including clients and co-workers. Qualifications: Ability to communicate (both verbal and written) effectively. Graduate of an accredited medical records educational program. Possess strong knowledge of ICD-9, ICD-10 and CPT coding. Must be computer literate to include knowledge of MS Word, Excel & Outlook. Advanced knowledge of HIPAA. At least three years previous experience in medical records, preferably in a hospital setting. At least two years’ experience in a supervisory position. Ability to maintain confidentiality and observe patient rights.

APPLY ON LINE:

Click HERE to see all available positions.

OR EMAIL RESUME TO KATHY COSTA, DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES
KATHY.COSTA@SOUTHCOASTBEHAVIORAL.COM

The New Bedford Wellness Initiative invites the community to attend a FREE talk on the “science of happiness” with nationally recognized Yale University Professor and New Bedford native, Laurie Santos.

The event will take place Tuesday June 12th from 6:30PM – 8:00PM at the New Bedford Whaling Museum located at 18 Johnny Cake Hill, New Bedford, MA 02840. This event is free and open to the public. No pre-registration is required.

Santos made national media headlines recently, including an appearance on The Today Show, to discuss her signature course at Yale titled “The Science of Well-Being” which has become the #1 most popular course among students. The course dives into what psychology and science tell us about happiness, and teaches strategies to form key habits to increase one’s overall happiness and well-being.

Now, Santos will return to New Bedford to discuss her research, speak about her course, and provide audience members with real takeaways and new approaches they can start to implement in their own lives.

For those interested in taking the course, the New Bedford Wellness Initiative has included the course in its Sunday wellness programming for adults. All are invited to gather on Sunday mornings at 9:00AM during the month of June. Participants may drop in for one or all classes. The course is also available for free online at www.coursera.com.

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About the Course:
“The Science of Well-Being” taught by Professor Laurie Santos overviews what psychological science says about happiness. The purpose of the course is to not only learn what psychological research says about what makes us happy but also to put those strategies into practice. The first part of the course reveals misconceptions we have about happiness and the annoying features of the mind that lead us to think the way we do. The next part of the course focuses on activities that have been proven to increase happiness along with strategies to build better habits. The last part of the course gives learners time, tips, and social support to work on the final assignment which asks learners to apply one wellness activity aka “Rewirement” into their lives for four weeks.

Laurie Santos’ Bio:
Laurie Santos is a Professor of Psychology and Head of Silliman Residential College at Yale University. Additionally, she is the director of the Comparative Cognition Laboratory and the Canine Cognition Center at Yale. She received her A.B. in Psychology and Biology from Harvard University in 1997 and her Ph.D. in Psychology from Harvard in 2003.

Senate Assistant Majority Leader Mark Montigny (D-New Bedford) has secured a multi-million dollar increase in state operating funds for New Bedford in addition to significant state bonding authorizations to complete projects benefitting veterans, cultural organizations, and public recreation.

Specifically, the FY2019 Senate budget appropriates $145,309,461 in Chapter 70 funds for New Bedford schools, a $7,384,429 increase over last fiscal year. In addition, the Senate plan will fully fund the Special Education Circuit Breaker and provide $22,980,913 in unrestricted general government aid to the city of New Bedford. Montigny also supported a $2 million increase over FY18 for the Shannon Grants program, which provides funding to reduce youth and gang violence. He also backed a $2.7 million increase to the Safe and Successful Youth Initiative, a youth violence prevention and intervention initiative to help redirect troubled youth toward healthy, successful lives.

Senator Montigny also earmarked $680,000 for initiatives providing essential programs and resources for local children. Dennison Memorial Community Center in the South End of the city will receive funding to ensure children continue to have access to essential after-school and summer programs, engaging kids and increasing literacy efforts. The Women’s Center will be allocated funding to ensure schools can host domestic violence prevention and response services. Finally, the bulk of the funding will be allocated toward his children’s access fund to provide access to arts and culture, engage youth with first responders, and expand after school and summer programs for underserved New Bedford children.

Over the course of his Senate career, Montigny has been a champion for children’s access to arts and culture. This latest initiative will foster literacy, promote arts and culture, and bolster economic and personal development in New Bedford. “I am committed to supporting young people in my district in and out of school. This funding provides significant state support to local organizations that provide children with opportunities by reducing barriers to arts and culture, building relationships with mentors, and promoting a safe and supportive community,” said Senator Montigny who has been a leader in reducing barriers and creating opportunity for young people and their families. “This funding will also further catalyze the resurging arts and culture community and our local economy, while ensuring no one is left behind.”  

In addition to funds secured through the annual fiscal year budget, Montigny also recently secured millions in state capital bond authorizations to support multiple crucial projects:

• Downtown New Bedford Court Facilities ($123,562,890)
• Veterans Transition House for veterans transitional housing in New Bedford ($1M)
• Buttonwood park pond public access projects ($600,000)
• First Baptist Church restoration and repairs ($1M)
• Strand Theatre restoration for Cape Verdean Cultural Center ($1.2M)
• UMass Dartmouth Star Store HVAC system repairs ($8M)
• Fairhaven Senior and Recreation Center repairs ($180,000)

The bonding bill also extended previous authorizations for the Zeiterion Theatre ($2M), Dennison Memorial Community Center ($300,000), and the Orpheum Theatre ($3M). The legislation will receive a final vote to send to the Governor’s desk by next week.

By Craig DeMelo

During a twelve-hour filibuster over flag desecration in the late 1980s, Texas State Senator Craig Washington famously said that he “preferred a man who will burn the flag and wrap himself in the constitution to a man who will burn the constitution and wrap himself in the flag.” His efforts failed, but his clever antimetabole lives on as a potent reminder about the sanctity of the Freedom of Expression. Unfortunately, the echoes of Washington’s words have yet to reach those who paradoxically believe that patriotism trumps the rights of the individual.

Last week, after caving to boycotts and the ramblings of President Trump, the NFL decided that kneeling during the anthem would result in a fine. Now players who are on the field must stand or remain in the locker room. This is not compromise. And it’s certainly not about the rights of a private organization to police their employees. It is an affront to the Bill of Rights, is redolent of tyranny, smacks of racial animus, and is insulting to the veterans Trump and the NFL purport to respect.

The value of patriotism lies in the fact that it is optional. Making flag and anthem reverence compulsory defeats the point. When people are standing proudly with their hands over their hearts singing the Star Spangled Banner, the moment is beautiful because they could have done otherwise. Threatening to fine those who don’t stand is patriotism via extortion. Few things are more shameful and un-American than mandatory love of country. We should stand because we choose to. The moment standing becomes required is the moment we should all stop standing.

The NFL is a private organization. And yes, the Bill of Rights has to do with the government’s ability to restrict freedoms. (Although I can easily see someone kneeling, appealing a fine, and taking this case all the way to the SCOTUS). But this is not some ordinary organization making a decision. This is one of the biggest entertainment corporations in America responding—at least in part—to public pressure from the President of the United States.

Donald Trump has encouraged owners to remove players who kneel (or more accurately to “get that son of a bitch off the field” ) and this week mused that perhaps the peaceful protesters should “not be in the country.” He stated unequivocally that “You have to stand proudly for the National Anthem or you shouldn’t be playing.” Let that last sentence wash over you for a moment. The President of the “land of the free” believes that a person’s livelihood should be tied to their willingness to demonstrate “pride” for the country. To put it another way: he expects free citizens to capitulate or lose their jobs. There is little doubt that if Trump had his druthers, standing for the anthem would be the law of the land.

It’s not hyperbole to say this is the stuff of fascism. At the risk of invoking Godwin’s Law, consider a 1933 German statute that required Germans to do the Nazi salute during the Deutschlandlied—the German National Anthem. It declared that “anyone not wishing to come under suspicion of behaving in a consciously negative fashion will, therefore, render the Hitler Greeting.” The bottom line is the President should never pressure private organizations to adhere to his beliefs, and he especially shouldn’t be in the business of extolling the virtues of compulsory jingoism.

The first amendment states that the government “shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech.” The NFL’s injunction may not be a law, but the government—in this case, President Trump—is actively lobbying for a company to restrict this sacred freedom because some view taking a knee as an insult to the country and the troops. With a little scrutiny, this notion of offensiveness is rendered absurd. First, kneeling—apart from being a silent and peaceful form of protest—is generally seen as a gesture of reverence. Kaepernick switched his protest from sitting to kneeling at the behest of Nate Boyer, a Green Beret, who believed kneeling was a compromise that allowed Colin to express his discontent in a respectful manner. Moreover, there are other ways that NFL players could stand and still be subversive should they choose to do so. They could turn their back on the flag. They could raise a mutinous fist. Then what? A new ordinance addressing any variations of protest?

As some have pointed out, there is also a racial element in this ruling which is difficult to ignore. The owners, the overwhelming majority of whom are white, voted unanimously—without consulting the players’ union—to stifle the protests done predominately by black players who are using their platform to address an issue affecting the black community. There is the inescapable air of “know your place” masquerading as patriotism. The Washington Post published polling data that puts overall disapproval of the protests at just over 50%. But the numbers change along racial lines. About 70% of African Americans see no problem with the protest, while 60% of white Americans do. This decision says plainly which side of the issue owners are on and that the NFL doesn’t care about these players’ concerns (70% of whom are African American); they appear to care only about the ratings and profits which depend upon appeasing their white viewership—and, of course, the President.

Finally, and obviously, this rule is far more disrespectful to soldiers and veterans than the act of kneeling. Consider the very first line from the oath taken by a member of the United States military:

“I, (NAME), do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of t,he United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic…”

It doesn’t mention the flag or the anthem (two words which are also conspicuously absent from the Bill of Rights). Instead it states emphatically that the most important duty of the U.S. soldier is to “support and defend the constitution.” The first amendment enshrines the freedom of expression. Therefore, to restrict this right for an American is to literally withhold THE VERY THING SOLDIERS FIGHT FOR IN THE FIRST PLACE.

What could be more insulting to a vet than a rule that negates their sacrifice? It’s especially amusing to hear people take this line: “Why don’t you show some respect to the soldiers who fought for your right to kneel?” Just repeat the question a few more times and perhaps you will absorb the irony.

This decision by the NFL is being touted as a win for President Trump. He managed to cow the owners and Roger Goodell and toss a bone to his base. But what is being portrayed as a win for respect and tradition is an undisguised assault on individual rights. They’ve not only thrown the baby out with the bathwater, they’ve turned around and set fire to the bathroom. If this is a victory, it is a Pyrrhic one.

Whether we think a person should or should not express themselves a certain way is beside the point. Expression must be allowed. We cannot cower to those who boycott or burn campuses or bully from twitter. We cannot allow ourselves to give into the jingoism and ultranationalism which feature in the despotic countries against whom those brave men and women have fought. We cannot forsake our most important values. These freedoms—to speak, to assemble, to dissent—are the very bedrock of America. Forget flags and songs, defending these freedoms is true patriotism.

Donald Trump, his supporters, and the NFL are missing this point. So perhaps I will try to encapsulate it in my own lapidary witticism:

The flag and the anthem are symbols that stand for our country.
The Constitution and the Bill of Rights are what our country stands for.

It’s time people understood the difference.

New Bedford police officer James Marinelli and civilians Alan Belong and Antonio Lima received certificates of commendation for restraining a suicidal female armed with a knife and saving her from harming herself or others.

“On that day, Officer Marinelli was driving to a paid detail when he heard reports that a woman had a knife and was threatening to harm herself.

When he arrived at the CVS parking lot, he observed Mr. Belong and Mr. Lima holding down the woman and wresting the weapon from her. He helped them safely take the weapon from her without injury to her or anyone else.”

The New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center and New Bedford Port Authority are teaming up to present a series of free seafood cooking demonstrations and classes this summer.

Funded through a grant from the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, these programs are designed to promote the New Bedford Seafood brand, educate the public about local, abundant and underutilized species, and inspire local residents to explore a wider variety of seafood choices while building a market for these species.

The first demonstration will take place at Kyler’s Seafood Market, 2 Washburn Street, on Saturday, June 9 at 2:00 p.m. Chef and author Maria Lawton, Azorean Cooking: From My Family Table to Yours, will demonstrate a recipe for Fresh Hake poached in onion, garlic, and tomato sauce(Bacalhau fresco escalfado com molho de tomatecebola, alho). The demonstration will be followed by a tasting opportunity. Signed copies of Ms. Lawton’s book will be available for sale.

Additional demonstrations featuring local cook Rhonda Fazio, will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, July 13th at DeMello’s Market (redfish) and Thursday, August 9 at the New Bedford Farmer’s Market (scup).

Cooking classes will be taught by Chef and Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School Culinary Arts Instructor Henry Bousquet. Classes will take place on three Wednesday evenings from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School (dates are below). Each class will focus on two underutilized species. Participants will prepare two dishes and enjoy their creations at the end of each class.

– June 27: The Mediterranean Diet: How the Foods You Eat Can Save Your Life featuring Pollock and Scup
– July 25: How to Cook and Serve Whole Fish Preparations featuring Red Fish and Whiting
– August 15: Crafting Sauces that Enhance and Highlight Underutilized Species featuring Red Hake and Dog Fish Classes will be presented free of charge and limited to 20 attendees.

Pre-registration is required. To register for each class, visit http://fishingheritagecenter.org/programs/classes/ for more information.

This is a critical time for New England’s commercial fishing industry as it works to simultaneously protect the ocean resource and preserve a way of life. Paul Greenberg, author of Four Fish: The Future of the Last Wild Food, suggests that the American taste for fin fish is largely limited to just four species: salmon, sea bass, cod, and tuna. Without a market for other species, there is little incentive for fishermen to harvest them.

There is a need to develop viable markets for abundant species, thereby raising consumer demand and market value and helping to sustain the overall resource. Nearly 90 percent of the seafood consumed in the United States is imported. Educating the public about the seafood industry also encourages consumers to vote with their dollars, supporting wild, domestic fisheries which are well regulated, and adhere to high food safety standards, and fair labor practices.

Naturally high in protein, low in saturated fat, and rich in a wide variety of vitamins and minerals, seafood is an ideal source of protein. High levels of Omega-3 fatty acids provide protection against heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, inflammation, and diabetes, as well as improved brain development and function. While nationally, seafood consumption is on the rise, just 10 percent of adults eat enough fish, according to the Department of Agriculture. Over the past 50 years, Americans have moved away from home cooking in general.

“The majority of Americans are afraid of cooking fresh fish. They don’t know how to select fish, which fish to use for a particular dish, or how long to cook it. Children grow up and think they don’t like seafood because they have never eaten it,” said Lynsee Fowler, Communications Manager for the National Fisheries Institute.

The Port of New Bedford is managed by the New Bedford Port Authority which aims to implement best management practices over port resources and develop economic growth strategies. To this end, it is the goal of the NBPA to keep New Bedford on top as the #1 U.S. fishing port, expand existing businesses and capitalize on new opportunities that will maximize the Port’s potential as an economic engine to create jobs and strengthen the New Bedford economy.

The New Bedford Seafood brand was launched in 2017 to increase education and awareness around locally-landed seafood and to ensure that the Port of New Bedford is recognized around the world as the most valuable commercial fishing port in the United States.

The New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center is dedicated to telling the story of the fishing industry past, present, and future through exhibits, programs, and archives. For more information, contact the Center at 508-993-8894 or programs@fishingheritagecenter.org.

Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, announced that a “Sobriety Checkpoint” will be implemented by the Massachusetts State Police on a Public Way in Bristol County between Friday, June 8, 2018 into Saturday, June 9, 2018.

The purpose is to further educate the motoring public and strengthen the public’s awareness to the need of detecting and removing those motorists who operate under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs from our roadways. It will be operated during varied hours, the selection of vehicles will not be arbitrary, safety will be assured, and any inconveniences to motorists will be minimized with advance notice to reduce fear and anxiety.