Mayor Mitchell will hold neighborhood office hours for the month of May next Tuesday, May 30, 2017 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Casa da Saudade Library, 58 Crapo Street in New Bedford.

Last fall, Mayor Mitchell announced he would set aside time each month to hold office hours in city neighborhoods so that residents could meet with him outside of normal business hours and in their own neighborhood.

City residents are invited to attend the neighborhood office hours to meet with Mayor Mitchell directly and share their concerns and ideas. The sessions are open to all New Bedford residents, no advance appointments are required and meetings with the Mayor will be done on a first come, first served basis.

Rain, rain go away! After a rainy but warm Friday, the rest of the weekend will be cloudy and cool with temperatures in the low 60s. No rain is forecast for the remainder of the weekend, but we live in New England so never say “never”! This time of year more and more events pop up, so there is plenty to do!

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, May 26th

Newport Vineyard’s Spring Release Party! (6:00pm-8:00pm)
Raise your glasses and toast to this season’s new wine releases! Sip, swirl and savor the flavors of our newly released whites and Dry Rose while enjoying an extended evening wine tasting, complete with fire pits and live music from Erin McAndrew. Extended wine tasting and live music, FREE Live Music, wine Tastings/Cash Bar/Light Fare – pay night of. 909 E Main Rd., Middletown, RI.

Lakeside Family Festival (6:00pm-11:00pm)
Festival attractions will include: Amusement rides for all ages-ethnic and American food booths–midway game booths of skill and chance–our renowned GIANT Barn Sale. Also enjoy delicious freshly prepared home-baked goods. This year our entertainment “BIG TOP” will be alive with a wide assortment of acts that will entertain every one of all ages. Want to see everything being offered at the Festival? Please go to our website at http://www.sjnfreetown.org/lakeside-family-festival.

Saturday, May 27th

Fort Phoenix Spring Encampment (9:00am-3:00pm)
The Fairhaven Village Militia, the Fairhaven Office of Tourism and guests present a two-day historical encampment at Fort Phoenix. Talk to period costumed men and women about the fort’s history and life in the 1770s. See military drilling, flintlock musket and cannon firing demonstrations and camp cooking demonstrations. Children can try 18th century games and toys. Also see activities such as tin smithing, leather working, carpentry, spinning, fire starting, and more. Saturday evening at sundown (approx. 7:45 p.m.) see a demonstration “night firing” of the fort’s five cannons. Free. Handicap accessible.

Greater New Bedford Civil War Round Table at Rural Cemetery (9:00am-10:00am)
The Greater New Bedford Civil War Round Table will conduct a memorial exercise at the Union Soldier’s Burial Site at Rural Cemetery, 149 Dartmouth Street. These services typically include historical reenactment, music and a gun salute.

New Bedford Antiques Center at Wamsutta Place (11:00am-6:00pm)
Antiques, collectibles, and history all in one place! The Center is home to over 200 dealers and consigners featuring antiques and collectibles from early Americana to Mid-Century to today’s treasures. With specialty stores within the Center which include a flower shoppe boutique, an ephemera store, the cast-iron store and vintage clothing. The Center is also the largest antique consignment venues in the Southcoast Region. So if you have one piece or an estate full of treasures , the Center will preview your items and consign them. The staff has over 100 years of collective knowledge in the antique trade from buying to selling to refinishing to retailing. There are public bathrooms, the center is handicap accessible and, pet-friendly! Phone: (508) 991-8700. Wamsutta Place, 61 Wamsutta St., New Bedford.

Lakeside Family Festival (12:00pm-11:00pm)
Festival attractions will include: Amusement rides for all ages-ethnic and American food booths–midway game booths of skill and chance–our renowned GIANT Barn Sale. Also enjoy delicious freshly prepared home-baked goods. This year our entertainment “BIG TOP” will be alive with a wide assortment of acts that will entertain every one of all ages. Want to see everything being offered at the Festival? Please go to our website at http://www.sjnfreetown.org/lakeside-family-festival.

Memorial Day Concert & Picnic in the Park (1:00pm-3:00pm)
Join everyone for the Annual Memorial Day Concert in the Park with special guests Wareham’s own Paul Innis on upright bass, Cape Cod’s John Salerno on keys/vocals and Dennis Nobrega on brass/wind/vocals, playing all those hits you know from the great American Songbook and perhaps a few patriotic numbers in honor of Memorial Day. FREE AND FAMILY FRIENDLY. Bring along a picnic to enjoy during the show, or grab some lunch nearby. Pay tribute to those we’ve lost by planting a flag in someone’s honor. By donation.

Boston Pride Pageant (6:00pm-9:00pm)
The annual Boston Pride Pageant returns in 2017 with a competition to hold the following four titles:
Miss Boston Pride (Drag Queen), Mistah Boston Pride (Drag King), Ms. Boston Pride (cis/trans women and those who identify as female) and Mr. Boston Pride (cis/trans men and those who identify as male).

Full Lighting of Waterfire (8:30pm-12:30am)
A Full Lighting of WaterFire sponsored by Bank of America and Brown University. WaterFire Providence, 100 Canal Walk, Providence, RI.

Sunday, May 28th

Fort Phoenix Spring Encampment (9:00am-3:00pm)
The Fairhaven Village Militia, the Fairhaven Office of Tourism and guests present a two-day historical encampment at Fort Phoenix. Talk to period costumed men and women about the fort’s history and life in the 1770s. See military drilling, flintlock musket and cannon firing demonstrations and camp cooking demonstrations. Children can try 18th century games and toys. Also see activities such as tin smithing, leather working, carpentry, spinning, fire starting, and more. Saturday evening at sundown (approx. 7:45 p.m.) see a demonstration “night firing” of the fort’s five cannons. Free. Handicap accessible.

New Bedford Wellness Program For Adults (10:30am)
Qigong with Stephen and Marcia Rath (10:30), Aerobics: Pilates with Joan Davignon (11:00), Nutrition: Everyday Wellness with Dana LLC (Noon), Yoga: Joan Davignon (1:00), Hypnotism: Smoking Cessation with John Barboza (1:00), Mindfulness: Jonathan (2:00), and Open 3 on 3 Basketball (2:00pm). Boys and Girls Club of New Bedford, 166 Jenney St, New Bedford.

American Legion Memorial Day Exercise at Pine Grove Cemetery (10:30am-11:30pm)
New Bedford Post 1, The American Legion will conduct a Memorial Day Exercise at the Veterans’ plot in Pine Grove Cemetery, 1100 Ashley Boulevard.

Memorial Day Exercise – Vietnam Veterans’ Honor Roll (12:00pm-1:00pm)
New Bedford Post 1, The American Legion will conduct a Memorial Day Exercise at the Vietnam Veterans’ Honor Roll at New Bedford City Hall (133 William Street) on the William Street side of the building.

Wing Fest 2017 (1:00pm-5:00pm)
Join us for a fun afternoon filled with delicious food, local beer & wine, prizes, specials, music by local artist Nate Cozzolino, and a CHICKEN WING EATING CONTEST featuring our popular smoked chicken wings! How many hot wings can you eat in 5 min? If you think you got what it takes, then sign up as a contestant for just $25.00. Cash prize for winner! Enjoy our wings for just 50 cents each in any of our HOMEMADE sauces such as Buffalo, Bar-B-Que, Teriyaki, Garlic Parmesan, and Sriracha. All Friends Smokehouse.

15th Annual Spring Celebration (12:00pm-5:00pm)
Sip, savor and toast to the seasons’ newest wine releases at our 15th Annual Spring Celebration! A day full of grape stomping, wine tasting, potato sack racing goodness. Enjoy live music from the The Little Compton Band, while sipping on our new releases, or a whiskey tasting from Sons of Liberty Beer & Spirits Co. and noshing on food created by our culinary team. Feeling competitive? You could be called to compete in our Grape Stomp Competition OR our Potato Sack Race Through the Vines! Or simply relax and capture the memories with a photo of you and one of TEN31 Productions’s live wine statues. All while enjoying a glass overlooking the vines.

Armsted R. Christian Scholarship Jazz Fundraiser (3:00pm-7:00pm)
Love jazz? World class talent? Live music? You won’t want to miss out on this special event! See poster for full details and amazing lineup!

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

New Bedford Police Detectives arrested Brad Lourenco 18 of New Bedford on Thursday at around 2:20pm as result of an investigation they were conducting of two larcenies that occurred on May 18th and May 19th at My Antojos Restaurant, located at 95 Rivet Street.

On the May 18th incident Lourenco allegedly stole two bottles of Silver Patron and on the May 19th incident he stole 6 bottles of Mexican soda. Lourenco was arrested and charged with Larceny from a building (2 counts).

Police arrested Lourenco less than 24 hours earlier (5/24 @ 7:30 pm) for an un-armed robbery that occurred in the area of Rivet Street. In this case Lourenco and another male robbed a 37 year old male of his cell phone and wallet which contained a credit card and a small amount of cash. Detectives are still actively investigating that incident to identify the second male.

Lourenco was arraigned on the unarmed robbery charge Thursday at 3rd District Court. Judge McGovern released Lourenco on personal recognizance.

Did you know that New Bedford is host to a nationally ranked summer collegiate baseball team? The New Bedford Bay Sox continues a New England tradition that started 130 years ago. The Bay Sox are members of the New England Collegiate Baseball League.

The League has thirteen teams across the six New England states and is considered one of the nations elite summer leagues. It brings together top-ranked college players from around the country, who aspire to achieve their big league dreams. Two of the Bay Sox biggest rivals hail from Plymouth and Newport.

What makes the league a success is the host families that house and support our local players. Without them the Sox wouldn’t have a team!

BENEFITS:

• You get to provide an opportunity for your children to learn baseball skills and work ethic from pro prospects.
• A new relationship with a college athlete that often lasts for many years.
• A chance to join a frinedly community of host families and Bay Sox fans.
• Family passes to all league games, special gifts and event invitations.

REWARDS:

• Family Season Passes
• Bay Sox Hats & T-Shirts
• Custom Made Bat
• Concession Stand Coupons

A $500 value!

REQUIREMENTS

• A Private bedroom from June 1st until early August
• Access to a washer/dryer for the player’s clothes
• The family’s home should be within 30 miles of New Bedford, MA
• Some food in the refrigerator (the team feeds the players after all games)
• The player’s transportation will be taken care of

For more information contact Tammy Silveira (General Manager) 855-BaySox1 or tsilveira@nbbaysox.com.

New Bedford Police Detectives arrested Matthew L. Torres 22 of New Bedford in connection with a home invasion that was reported on Thursday at 1:00pm at 58 North Street.

The 29 year old victim claims that four males kicked in his door and the he was assaulted with what appeared to be a pipe or broom stick. The victim sustained a laceration to his forehead. Victim was transported to St. Luke’s Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Victim recognized one of the males as Torres.

Within a short time after the incident, Torres was located and arrested a few blocks away by detectives. Torres was charged with:

1. Home Invasion
2. A&B Dangerous Weapon

Torres has an open case in court for A&B dangerous weapon from March of this year. He was also previously convicted of Home Invasion in April of 2014 and served 2 years.

Detectives are still actively investigating the incident and are asking anyone with information to please contact them at 508-992-7463 or at tip@newbedfordpd.com.

New Bedford Police Detectives arrested Matthew L. Torres 22 of New Bedford in connection with a home invasion that was reported on Thursday at 1:00pm at 58 North Street.

The 29 year old victim claims that four males kicked in his door and the he was assaulted with what appeared to be a pipe or broom stick. The victim sustained a laceration to his forehead. Victim was transported to St. Luke’s Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Victim recognized one of the males as Torres.

Within a short time after the incident, Torres was located and arrested a few blocks away by detectives. Torres was charged with:

1. Home Invasion
2. A&B Dangerous Weapon

Torres has an open case in court for A&B dangerous weapon from March of this year. He was also previously convicted of Home Invasion in April of 2014 and served 2 years.

Detectives are still actively investigating the incident and are asking anyone with information to please contact them at 508-992-7463 or at tip@newbedfordpd.com.

Meet Andrew Thornhill, 28-year-old co-owner of Silverbrook Farms. After graduating from Greater New Bedford Voc-Tech, he decided that he wanted to pursue a career in law enforcement and started taking classes at Bristol Community College.

He began taking classes focused on a future job in agriculture. Andrew had begun working as a farm hand at Silverbook Farms after his brother-in-law, who worked there at the time got him interested in agriculture. He quickly moved up at the farm, learning the ins and outs of the industry, and started working from Boston to Cape Cod, selling the produce to markets.

After becoming the greenhouse manager at the farm and working there for some time, he could really see himself really investing himself into a farm. It was around this time that the owner got injured and decided that he didn’t want to work the farm anymore, so Andrew and his business partner, David Sanders, purchased the farm.

“Farming isn’t always the cover of a seed catalogue. People think that it is this cornucopia of goodness, but there is the harsh reality of the hard decisions you have to make.”
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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

Follow Colton on Instagram: https://instagram.com/simmonscolton

Read more of the Faces of New Bedford series here

New Bedford residents should be proud. With four workers, New Bedford Guide competes with or beats all of the Boston and Providence news outlets and magazines.

Here’s a list that is provided by Facebook insight data:

*For some reason, Facebook will not allow me to add The Boston Globe

The Boston and Providence news agencies and magazines on the list have considerable resources, large staffs, billion dollar parent companies and work in large markets. Greater Boston is almost 5 million people. New Bedford Guide has four workers (three full-time) and works in a city of 95,000 people. We also post far less often than the top 3 listed above.

The Facebook list above only tells part of our story – it doesn’t count reach and total engagement. On average, New Bedford Guide reaches 500,000 to 1.5 million people and engages 250,000 – 500,000 every week. On most days we reach well over 100,000 people and engage 25-50% of them. Here’s a screen capture of this week:

Here’s a look at our monthly numbers, as of May 24th, 2017:

These numbers are impressive considering we reduced our crime reporting by 90%.

I’m not posting this to get a pat on the back. Our numbers have competed with Boston and Providence for 5 years now. I’m posting this because New Bedford Guide is something for YOU to be proud of and continue to support and help grow. New Bedford Guide is a New Bedford-based, veteran owned small businesses that has come far, but still has a long way to go. We’d love to grow to 100 employees and provide the news and information our area deserves. You can help.

If you are a follower/reader, share our content. Invite your friends and family to the page. Consider letting them also know about out other Guides in Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Fall River and Tri-Town. Support our advertisers.

If you are a small business, consider using our marketing and video services. We are a New Bedford-based, veteran owned small businesses. Our employees are all local and almost all of our spending goes back into the local economy. No one delivers more marketing results for their client.

If you are in the content producing business, consider partnering with us. We’d rather work with so called competitors than compete against them. It’s been our philosophy for years, but it seems that corporations that own most of the media see us as the Mongolian horde.

We thank all those that have supported us in the past and look forward to your support in the future. If you are a business that would like to support us or a content provider that would like to work with us contact me at mike@newbedfordguide.com.

Several events are planned in New Bedford throughout the upcoming Memorial Day weekend to honor the courageous men and women who lost their lives serving our nation.

Saturday, May 27, 2017

9:00 AM at Rural Cemetery
The Greater New Bedford Civil War Round Table will conduct a memorial exercise at the Union Soldier’s Burial Site at Rural Cemetery, 149 Dartmouth Street. These services typically include historical reenactment, music and a gun salute.

Sunday, May 28, 2017

10:30 AM at Pine Grove Cemetery
New Bedford Post 1, The American Legion will conduct a Memorial Day Exercise at the Veterans’ plot in Pine Grove Cemetery, 1100 Ashley Boulevard.

12:00 PM at New Bedford City Hall
New Bedford Post 1, The American Legion will conduct a Memorial Day Exercise at the Vietnam Veterans’ Honor Roll at New Bedford City Hall (133 William Street) on the William Street side of the building.

Monday, May 29, 2017 (Memorial Day)

8:15 AM at Rural Cemetery
New Bedford Post 1, The American Legion will conduct a Memorial Day Exercise at the Veterans’ Plot in Rural Cemetery, 149 Dartmouth Street.

10:00 AM at Pier 3
The New Bedford Port Society’s Annual Memorial Day Fisherman’s Service, Pier 3, New Bedford Waterfront.

11:30 AM City of New Bedford Memorial Day Parade
The Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Day Committee and the New Bedford Veterans’ Advisory Board will conduct the New Bedford Annual Memorial Day Parade and Services. The Parade will form at11:00 AM at the intersection of Parker Street and Hathaway Boulevard and will step off at 11:30 AM. The Parade will travel east on Parker Street to County Street, north on County Street to Pope Street, and east on Pope Street into Clasky Park where a Memorial Day Ceremony will be held.

The New Bedford Veteran’s Advisory Board and the New Bedford Office of Veterans Services invites anyone who attends the service in Clasky Park to bring a single flower of their choice to lay at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial in remembrance of a veteran family member or friend.

Immediately following the conclusion of the Memorial Day Parade at Clasky Common Park a Memorial Day Exercise will be conducted at the Korean War Monument in Clasky Common Park.

Here are the Hot Jobs in the New Bedford area from the NewBedfordGuide.com jobs database, as of May 26, 2017. Want your job listed here? Contact leo@newbedfordguide.com.

01. Multiple Positions – Dunkin’ Donuts (New Bedford & Fairhaven)
Dunkin’ Donuts is hiring for multiple positions in New Bedford and Fairhaven. The job pays $11 an hour plus tips! Benefits for employees that meet qualification include: Paid vacation & health insurance. Want to apply? Full details and application process: HERE.

02. Driver/Delivery Technician – Enos Home Oxygen & Medical Supply, Inc. (New Bedford)
Delivery, set-up, and pick up of DME equipment. Supplemental oxygen products and supplies to home care patients within a prescribed and assigned geographical area. Loads the equipment, oxygen systems, and related supplies on to a delivery vehicle…Want to apply? Full details and application process: HERE.

03. Data Entry Clerk – City of New Bedford (New Bedford)
Monitors and controls electronic computer to process business or other data according to operating instructions. Selects and loads input and output units with materials such as tapes or printout forms for operating runs. May control computer to provide input or output service for another computer under instructions from operator of that unit…Want to apply? Full details and application process: HERE.

04. Physical Therapist – Community Nurse Home Care (New Bedford)
Supports the philosophy of the organization. Adheres to personnel policies. Performs a comprehensive physical therapy assessment including evaluation of patient’s level of function. Develops a treatment plan including goals & actions appropriate to physical therapy deficits. Provides services in accordance with the plan of treatment. Refers patients to physical therapy assistant as appropriated and supervises physical therapy assistant according to agency policy and APTA guidelines…Want to apply? Full details and application process: HERE.

05. Private Home Care Aide – Community Nurse Home Care (New Bedford)
Supports the philosophy of the agency and complies with agency policies. Accepts only assignments for which qualified. Communicates with the agency about problems in the home and concerns of client abuse or neglect. Completes required documentation accurately on a timely basis. Maintains a personal code of ethics and respects the confidentiality of the client and the family. Maintains a therapeutic relationship with client while not engaging in discussions of personal problems and opinions with client… Want to apply? Full details and application process: HERE.

06. Waterfront Visitor Center Staff – City of New Bedford (New Bedford)
Serves as City Ambassador to all visitors at the Wharfinger Visitors’ Center on Pier 3. Serves as coordinator for the Seaport Cultural District Summer Thursday Night programming. Greets each visitor on arrival and offers visitors an explanation of the historical exhibits in the Visitors’ Center, and information regarding other attractions and amenities in the City. Requests each visitor to sign the visitors’ log book and tracks daily visitation…Want to apply? Full details and application process: HERE.

07. Arborist – City of New Bedford (New Bedford)
Serves as Arborist for the Greening the Gateway Cities (GGC) Program, which is a State-funded grant that lasts through June 30, 2019; assesses, plans, manages and implements tree care for public and private trees in accordance with the grant; plants, trims and removes trees along public spaces; conducts other large-scale vegetation management projects; responds to tree emergencies including downed trees and limbs…Want to apply? Full details and application process: HERE.

08. Lead Elementary Teacher – Alma del Mar (New Bedford)
Lead teachers are the core of Alma’s crew. Our lead teachers work in teams to make sure that every scholar in their grade level achieves at high levels and develops the habits they will need to succeed. Lead teachers are auteurs, creative leaders who stop at nothing to ensure that their scholars’ learning experience is truly powerful…Want to apply? Full details and application process: HERE.

09. Asst. Water Superintendent – City of New Bedford (New Bedford)
Supervises the operation and maintenance of the water treatment plant, watershed, reservoir, and pump stations; responsible for submitting reports to State agencies and monitors inventory; performs a variety of skilled, technical, supervisory and administrative work in the planning, construction, operation, repair, maintenance and replacement of municipal water collection and treatment systems…Want to apply? Full details and application process: HERE.

10. Project Coordinator (Engineering Division) – City of New Bedford (New Bedford)
Prepares technical specifications for highway constructions, service maintenance work, water and wastewater treatment facilities, buildings and recreational facilities. Examines and/or reviews plans, designs and costs of proposed projects and requirements of environmental impact regulations. Inspects construction and/or maintenance work completed or in progress. Supervises work of contractors. Coordinates and assists in Chapter 90 State Aid Construction Projects, Federal Disaster Grants, Recycling… Want to apply? Full details and application process: HERE.

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Contact leo@newbedfordguide.com.