14 Things To Do This Weekend (Mar. 31 – Apr. 02)

A mild weekend in terms of temperatures is ahead. We’ll reach as high as 50 degrees at one point on Sunday. Overnights will be rather brisk and go below freezing or near it. Great for cuddling up with the special someone. Days will warm up make letting you hit the outdoors. Saturday will have some precipitation and be rather windy, so you’ll have to break out the hoodies.

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, March 31st

“Shirely Valentine” at 2nd Story Theater (7:30pm-9:30pm)
Willy Russel’s one-woman tour de force, an unfulfilled housewife fixes dinner while ruminating on her husband, her children, her life and, most importantly, her unannounced Greek holiday — a trip that leads to a life-changing romantic tryst and a mid-life fork in the road. With every tentative step, the audience is taken along for the ride as Shirley journeys toward self-confidence, self-discovery and, finally, liberation. 2nd Story Theatre, 28 Market Street, Warren, RI.

Multiple live events all weekend at the Greasy Luck!

Live Music: “Red-Handed” at the Greasy Luck (9:30pm-12:30am)
Bringing you hits from all generations, from Michael Jackson- James Brown- Whitney Houston-Journey-Madonna and Aerosmith, to Jessie J-Bruno Mars- Maroon 5 and Ariana Grande to name a few, there isn’t much they wont do! Come see for yourself and let Red Handed be your new go to band for a night full of dancing and memories to last a lifetime! At New Bedford’s hottest new spot: The Greasy Luck Brewery at 791 Purchase St. New Bedford, MA.

Saturday, April 1st

South Coast Game Fest Features Two Days Of Gaming For All Ages (8:00am-5:00pm)
Experience the SouthCoast’s first gamer fest, a two-day celebration of play that’s slated for April 1 and 2 at Mastermind Adventures. The South Coast Game Fest is a chance for gamers of all ages, to turn off their phones and interact face-to-face for two days of fun! Takes place at 262 Swansea Mall Drive #639, Swansea, Massachusetts (Swansea Mall).

Book Sale for Charity (8:30am-2:00pm)
All proceeds go to the American Heart Association. Thousands of fiction and nonfiction books, movies and CDs. Bring your friends. Bishop Stang High School, 500 Slocum Road, Dartmouth, MA.

Oxford Book Haven & Cafe Book Sale (Fairhaven) (9:00am-1:00pm)
We have a large selection of books–most are 50 cents. We currently have a special section for our DOLLAR- A-BAG-BOOK SALE. Coffee, tea, soda and home-made coffee breads are available. We welcome anyone to join us in working on our puzzle. Computers and WiFi is available to the public. 357 Main Street, Fairhaven.

Who know what you’ll find at the 25th Annual Penny Sale, Saturday at the Holy Name of the Sacred Heart Center!

25th Annual Penny Sale (5:00pm-9:00pm)
An evening of fun and prizes to benefit HFHN! Continuous raffles throughout the event. Also include…MEGA RAFFLE, Gift Baskets, Quality Prizes, Craft Table, Children’s Table, Kitchen (D&D Catering), Gift Certificates, Children’s Play Room. FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY! Holy Name of the Sacred Heart Center, 121 Mt. Pleasant Street, New Bedford.

Stand Up For Women (7:00pm-10:00pm)
Stand Up For Women is a fun and laughter filled fundraiser offering entertainment by nationally recognized comedians Kerri Louise and Carolyn Plummer. Kerri, a finalist on Last Comic Standing and the star of her own reality show on the Women’s Entertainment Network, can entertain any audience with her warmth and razor-edge wit. While Carolyn, putting a nail through the hearts of whiners, self loathers and the self sorry of the world, makes the average seem hilarious and larger than life. Join hundreds of the attendees for an evening of delicious food and drinks, exciting silent auction, raffle, and roaring laughs. Seaport Inn & Marina, 110 Middle St., Fairhaven.

April Fool’s “Barrel Of Laughs” (8:00pm-10:00pm)
An evening of wine and a barrel of laughs as host and comedian Jeremy Furtado welcomes comedians from around the region and headliner Greg Stone. Regarded by his peers as one of the funniest storytellers in New York, Greg is a fixture at many of Manhattan’s top comedy clubs and independent shows, where he shares true stories of the highs and lows caused by his lack of inhibition. Newport Vineyards, 909 E Main Rd., Middletown, RI.

DJ Saucy Lady & U- Key at the Greasy Luck (9:30pm-12:30am)
Originally from Japan with a bi-cultural background, this Boston-based singer, song-writer, and DJ is known to her peers as the “Beantown Disco Queen”. Saucy Lady, a character with an attitude of confidence and sensuality, she represents in her music what we’ve all admired about the disco era. Disco, Jazz, Hip Hop, Funk, Bossa Nova, Latin, Afrobeat, Dance, House. New Bedford’s hottest new spot: The Greasy Luck Brewery at 791 Purchase St. New Bedford, MA.

Sunday, April 2nd

South Coast Game Fest Features Two Days Of Gaming For All Ages (8:00am-5:00pm)
Experience the SouthCoast’s first gamer fest, a two-day celebration of play that’s slated for April 1 and 2 at Mastermind Adventures. The South Coast Game Fest is a chance for gamers of all ages, to turn off their phones and interact face-to-face for two days of fun! Takes place at 262 Swansea Mall Drive #639, Swansea, Massachusetts (Swansea Mall).

Get healthy, stay healthy!

Jazz Brunch w/ Christine Fawson at the Greasy Luck (10:30am-2:30pm)
Enjoy some relaxing live jazz and a buffet style lunch at one of New Bedford’s hottest spots: The Greasy Luck Brewery at 791 Purchase St. New Bedford, MA.

New Bedford Wellness Program For Adults (11:00am-3:00pm)
Special NB Well Sunday: “Sense of Peace” with Qigong, massage, nutrition, yoga, and sound healing. Peace in ourselves, peace in our world.

Easter Mini Sessions with Miss Z Photography (12:00pm-6:00pm)
Easter Mini Sessions are Here! 20 minute session, 3 high resolution digital images with print release, and special rate for additional purchase. Slots available from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Click here to reserve your time slot: http://misszphotography.com/easter-mini-session/. Miss Z Photography, 227 Union St. Suite 412, New Bedford.

Ben-Hur: Silent Movie at St. Anthony of Padua Church (4:30pm-6:30pm)
A special event Dinner and a Movie, with Organist Peter Krasinski, silent film specialist, will accompany the classic film, BEN HUR. A late afternoon church dinner will be served prior to the movie screening. Dinner is optional and will be served at 3pm for $10. The movie starts at 4:30 with tickets at $15. Both tickets can be ordered by mail, or by PayPal on our website www.musicatsaintanthonys.org, or by calling Gisele at 508-264-8010. St. Anthony of Padua Church, 1359 Acushnet Ave., New Bedford.

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




New Bedford woman arrested with narcotics and $3,415 in cash

Members of the New Bedford Police Narcotics Unit executed a search warrant at an Adams Street apartment in New Bedford at 5:30PM on Thursday. The target of the investigation was 26-year old Amanda Lee Rogers.

Detectives executed the search warrant Thursday evening at approximately . As result of the search, Detectives located 95 Percocet pills, 18 ounces of marijuana, 1 gram of MDMA (ecstasy), 16 trazadone, 1 oxycodone pill, digital scales, packaging materials, and $3,415.00 in cash. Arrested and charged was:

Amanda Lee Rogers
1.Possession with intent to distribute class B (percocets)
2.Possession with intent to distribute class D marijuana
3.Possession class B (MDMA)
4.Possession class E (trazadone)
5.Possession class B (oxycodone)




Faces Of New Bedford #96: Ryan Caton

Meet Ryan Caton, 26-year-old surveyor and owner of Got Chew.

Ryan graduated from New Bedford High School in hopes of becoming a pharmacist. He added the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and while living in Boston, frequently used a delivery service that would deliver for restaurants that didn’t offer that sort of service.

Upon graduating and entering the field, he realized that he didn’t want to spend the rest of his life working in medicine. Bouncing around from job to job, he finally settled in at Vivint, working as a site surveyor. Living with his girlfriend and working opposite schedules, he would find himself at home for dinner, with the inability to cook, missing the delivery service he used so often during school. It was then that the idea of Got Chew was birthed and shortly thereafter became a reality.

Teaming up with lifelong friends Will and Justin, Ryan’s idea become much more than they. They pitched their idea at Southcoast E4All’s Pitch Contest and won first place, along with crowd favorite. With this momentum they continued full speed ahead, locking in local restaurants like Two Sisters and dNB Burger, all while developing the app, mobile and desktop site. With Got Chew, you can log in, view menus for the restaurants they service, place your order and pay all in one location.

Ryan’s love for the city he was born and raised in pushed him to bring this to our city streets. His hope is that his team can positively impact the community and local business by allowing another avenue for growth to occur because of their service.

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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




Is it time to turn Custom House Square back into a parking lot?

In February of 2013, the City of New Bedford announced that the Custom House Parking lot at the heart of downtown New Bedford would be turned into a park. Mayor Jon Mitchell was at the start of his second year in office and he wanted to add green space in downtown. New Bedford would lose its only long-term parking spot outside of the parking garage. With all the new businesses that have popped up in downtown New Bedford since, is it time for Mayor Mitchell to reverse course and give back the 60 parking spots? Let me present my case for this happening.

As you can see from this overview image, the downtown area lost about 60 parking spots when Custom House was converted to a park. 

About 10 months later, the City announced the lower Union Street improvement to add patio areas for the businesses, but yet another 16 parking spots in the downtown business district would be removed. Within one year, the downtown area would lose about 80 parking spots. This was all before the restaurant/bar boom that would happen over the next 4 years.

Let’s forget about all the existing restaurants that were already downtown in 2013 like Freestone’s, No Problemo, Bar 908, The Grden, The Pour FarmTavern, Cork and Rose Alley. Since 2013 there has been a boom of new restaurants/bars that were not downtown when these improvements were finalized. 

On Purchase Street you now have Greasy Luck, a major nightlife venue that can hold hundreds of people. It was a rarely used Whaling Museum research library before that. On lower Union Street you now have the Moby Dick Brewery that serves large crowds too. Before that it was a rarely used campaign headquarters for politicians and hopeful casino operators. These two locations alone now bring hundreds of people downtown daily.

On North Water Street you now have Tia Maria’s and Whaler’s Tavern. These spots were low trafficked businesses before, but now see heavy traffic daily. You also now have the recently expanded DNB Burgers that was a clothing store and The Baker near the downtown Police Station opposite of not so old Portobello. Cultivator Shoals now serves drinks near the New Bedford Tattoo Company on Union Street. Carmine’s moved into the old Candleworks building, but at least they have their own parking. 

What’s coming downtown? The empty National Club was recently purchased and will become a restaurant this year. It’s a place with no natural parking. A noodle shop may end up in the original Destination Soups spot opposite of the old Slices location. A new artist co-working space is opening on that block soon and what happens when someone moves into the empty Pier 37 (formerly Fins)? Or if Club 908 opens back up as a sports bar?

Yes, there is plenty of parking in the Elm Street and Zeiterion parking garages, but many people don’t feel safe late at night or early mornings. The City is spending $5 million to upgrade the Elm Street parking garage, but it will take a lot to convince people it is a safe place to travel at night. Women simply don’t feel comfortable having a few drinks and walking to their car in parking garages at 2am. 

To the mayor’s credit, he has led a major economic boom in downtown New Bedford, but now it is time to either consider converting Custom House Square back to a 60-space parking lot, or lead a major push to make the two, less-convenient downtown parking garages safe. Making them safe won’t be enough, you’ll have to convince the residents that they are safe and worth the extra walk. 

 




New Bedford High School to Host College Planning Night on April 12

New Bedford High School’s guidance staff in collaboration with Educational Talent Search and GEAR UP will host its annual College Planning Night on Wednesday, April 12, 2017, at 6:30 in the Little Theatre at New Bedford High School, 230 Hathaway Boulevard.

NBHS students and families seeking assistance with applying for colleges as well as the financial aid (FAFSA) process are encouraged to join us. The workshop will include Spanish and Portuguese language support. Guests should enter through the auditorium doors located on Hathaway Boulevard.

Topics will include the Common Application, Merit Aid, FAFSA, and scholarships.

Representatives from the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority, Educational Talent Search and guidance counselors will be available to answer families’ and students’ questions.

“College Planning Night at NBHS is a significant resource for families planning ahead for college admissions, financial aid and other aspects of the application process, “said Headmaster Bernadette Coelho.

Director of Educational Talent Search Elizabeth Connelly-Sylvia said, “This evening event is an excellent opportunity for students and their families to learn more about the college planning, admissions, and financial aid process. Additionally, families who attend will be offered free ongoing assistance throughout the full college application process.”

Those interested in more information may contact Tara Montembault, NBHS Administrator of Registration and Pathways, by phone at 508-997-4511 ext. 20207 or by email at tmontembault@newbedfordschools.org.




King’s Inn stripper who fled country after stabbing co-worker sentenced to prison

A 43-year-old former Providence woman, who viciously stabbed and slashed a co-worker at the King’s Inn in Dartmouth in 2007 before fleeing the country on the eve of her 2009 trial, was sentenced to serve four to six years in state prison earlier this week.

Katherine Pimental pleaded guilty in Fall River Superior Court to a multi-count indictment charging her with mayhem, armed assault with intent to murder and failure to appear.

On July 27, 2007, the defendant attacked another employee in a bathroom stall at the King’s Inn. The defendant burst into the closed stall as the victim had her pants down and was squatting above the toilet. She then struck the victim with an empty beer bottle, causing the bottle to break upon impact with the victim. The defendant then slashed the victim with the shattered beer bottle as the victim tried to protect herself in the small space between the toilet and the stall wall. The defendant tried to stab the victim in the neck with the jagged edge of the bottle, which the victim avoided by raising her arm and taking the thrust into her left triceps.

A bouncer at the club eventually ran into the bathroom after hearing the victim’s screams and stopped the defendant from continuing the brutal attack. The victim suffered multiple lacerations and permanent scarring on her face.

After the attack, the defendant fled the scene of the crime. Dartmouth Police, after obtaining a warrant for the defendant, arrested her on August 6, 2007. She eventually posted $5,000 bail, which was set in Superior Court after she was indicted on the charges related to the attack.

After two changes of counsel, the case was scheduled for trial on December 3, 2009. But On the eve of trial, the defendant fled the country to the Dominican Republic.

After years of multi-jurisdictional efforts to locate the defendant, she was located by the FBI in the Dominican Republic. The FBI, along with the Department of Justice assisted in dealing with the international extradition of the defendant.

The defendant was returned to the United States in late May of 2016 and has been held in jail without bail ever since.

During a sentencing hearing Tuesday before Judge Raffi Yessayan, Co-First Assistant District Attorney Patrick Bomberg argued for a state prison sentence of seven to nine years, which is consistent with the sentencing guidelines for mayhem and assault with intent to murder. Assistant District Attorney Bomberg also argued that the defendant’s flight from the country to avoid prosecution should also be taken into account during sentencing.

The defendant, however, requested a two-and-a-half year house of corrections sentence.

“I am very pleased that the defendant was held accountable for this unprovoked and brutal assault. It is particularly satisfying because in 2009 the defendant skipped her trial date and fled to the Dominican Republic,” District Attorney Quinn said. “With the help of the FBI and Department of Justice, the defendant was located and extradited back to Massachusetts. I would like to thank Co-First Assistant Patrick Bomberg for his perseverance, and the victim for her patience in this case.”




New Bedford Launches Mobile Payment App for Parking at Metered Spaces in Downtown

The City of New Bedford has launched a new, convenient mobile payment app for motorists to use when parking at metered spaces in the downtown business district. As of Saturday, April 1st, residents and visitors to the downtown can park and pay more quickly and easily using the free MobileNOW! App.
Using the free MobileNOW! app, customers can now manage their parking sessions remotely. Users will even receive an automatic reminder before their parking time expires and will have the option to remotely add time to their meter. (The 2-hour maximum on most meters still applies.)
“We always recommend parking at the public garages if you are visiting our downtown for the day. But if you’re stopping by a downtown restaurant, gallery or museum and your visit will be under 2 hours, parking at a metered space is even more convenient now with the mobile app,” said City Tourism and Marketing Director Dagny Ashley.

“Using MobileNOW! means faster parking, secure payment and total convenience,” said John Ogelsby, MobileNOW! President and CEO. “It’s a great way for customers to easily avoid a parking citation when a parking session is about to expire—one simple click is all it takes to extend your session.”

The meters will continue to accept quarters but the MobileNow! app technology will replace the meters’ existing credit card feature. The new program also allows users to dial and pay by phone if they do not have a smartphone or prefer not to use one. MobileNOW! provides real time integration with New Bedford’s enforcement system. Payment and transaction data is available in real time to New Bedford enforcement officers using Complus provided handheld devices and parking enforcement application.

Construction on Phase I of a project to renovate the Elm Street Parking Garage is also expected to begin in the next month. The renovation project will include structural repairs, enhancement of the façade as well as upgrade interior lighting and improved security.




Police arrest two with stolen vehicle and crack cocaine on North Front Street

Members of the New Bedford Police Department gang unit recovered a stolen vehicle and took 4.3 grams of crack cocaine off the streets at 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday following the arrest of two individuals.

Police located the stolen 2006 black Mercedes-Benz S430 at North Front and Tallman streets. After further investigation, they located a total of 4.3 grams of crack cocaine, cash and packaging consistent with street-level narcotics sales on the two individuals.

Brandon Frank, 19, and Kessy C. Torres, 29, both New Bedford, were charged with receiving a stolen motor vehicle and possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute.

Both suspects have open cases in Third District Court in New Bedford for receiving a stolen motor vehicle regarding an incident on Dec. 14, 2016.




Hathaway Elementary School Receives Grant to Support Student Literacy from New Bedford Education Foundation

Ellen R. Hathaway Elementary School has received a $14,951 grant from the New Bedford Education Foundation to support student literacy through project-based learning.

Each grade K-5 will be assigned a chapter that will create a book focused on the cultural diversity of the student body at Hathaway, as well as including key curriculum topics from across school subjects. Teachers will support this project as they work with students to build their writing skills and introduce them to the full writing curriculum. Students in grades 3-5 will create a monthly school newspaper on student-friendly topics that will be posted on Hathaway’s website.

Through this grant, a set of 30 Chromebook tablets will be split among classrooms in order to provide students with access to technology at a 5 to 1 ratio in the classrooms. Students will also be teamed with students from different grade levels so that older students can support younger students’ writing skills, with teachers from different grades collaborating on curriculum.

As part of Hathaway School’s mission for all students to be proficient readers and writers, students’ progress will be measured through their writing prompts as well as performance in English Language Arts (ELA) units. In addition, at Hathaway, 60% of students are English Learners, and research indicates that increased access to nonfiction materials and visuals improve vocabulary and background for students’ in ELA.

“We are grateful for the support of the New Bedford Education Foundation to the students of Hathaway School,” said Superintendent Pia Durkin. “This focused, literacy-based program will increase time that students and teachers spend on literacy, tying in their other core subjects, which research has shown can improve their proficiency in English Language Arts.”

“In keeping with our mission to enrich education beyond what can be funded within the local school budget, we are pleased to be able to provide funding that will target one school and to help make student academic experiences exceptional and transforming. We look forward to seeing this project come to life,” said Neal Weiss, Board Co-Chair of the New Bedford Education Foundation.




Two men rob Dollar General on Church Street with guns

Police are investigating the robbery of Dollar General at 893 Church St. Wednesday night by two men with firearms.

A witness told police the two men entered the store wearing masks and demanded money. Both men were armed.

The men took cash and fled the store on foot, heading north toward 915 Church St. One of the suspects was described as a white male, about 5’7’’ to 5’9,’’ with a slim build, wearing a dark hooded jacket, dark pants and grey shoes.

The second suspect was described as a white male, 5’8’’ to 5’10,’’ with a medium build, wearing a white mask, gray/black hooded zippered sweatshirt, grey sweatpants, dark shoes and white gloves.
Police are investigating whether this robbery is connected to similar incidents in the area.
No one was injured in the incident, which was reported at 9:48 p.m.

New Bedford police are investigating. Anyone with information is asked to call the police department at 508-991-6350 or the anonymous tip line at 508-992-7463 or e-mail tip@newbedfordpd.com.

Family Dollar Store on Hathaway Road robbed by suspect with handgun