This article will surely ruffle some feathers and get some people’s Irish up. So, let me pre-empt the content with a disclaimer: these are not the only eight great sandwiches. In fact, if I were to write what I believe to be the best sandwiches in greater New Bedford, the list would likely be 50 or more long. No one would read such a list. I’m simply picking eight of my current favorites…with a few honorable mentions.

This is simply one person’s opinion. Ten of one person’s fifty favorite sandwiches in no particular order. If you have a favorite that you think should be mentioned, by all means, mention it! Perhaps, it’s a sandwich I haven’t had and now can add to my Foodie Bucket List. I just want to let other foodie’s out there know about these sandwiches so they can share in my delight and I hope they would do the same. Let’s have a discussion and share our passion: mouth-watering sandwiches!

Part one can be read here

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06. Mirasol’s Chilena or Sexy Asparagus

As, some of you well know, I frequent Mirasol’s Cafe regularly–in fact, I’m here now. I probably spend more time here than anywhere else except home. This heavily trafficked spot is a favorite destination for its now famous drink, the Chippi. Proprietors Rich and Meegan have something special as evidenced by how long the lines can be.

As with many of the establishments in this article, picking one sandwich from their menus is tough. I tried and tried with Mirasol’s, but couldn’t pick just one. When Mirasol’s first opened I ate only the Heuvo Ranchero for a year. When I needed a break, I hopped to the El Capitan. I kept hopping from stand-by sandwich to stand-by sandwich. Through the years there are two sandwiches that I have always loved: the Chilena – marinated, grilled steak with smoked Gouda cheese, avocado spread, string beans, lettuce mix, and tomatoes and the Sexy Asparagus – marinated, grilled Peruvian Asparagus, Smoked Gouda topped with tomatoes, and Avocado Spread.

While I am not a vegetarian, I limit the amount of beef and pork I eat. Beef, sparingly, and pork to about 2-3 times per week. I eat as much vegetables, grains, legumes, fruits, etc. as I can. This is what my good friend, Pastor Ken calls “Plant Strong.” So I never made the Chilena my stand-by. This sandwich is a manly, mans sandwich. My mind was blown at the quality of steak and the portion size for the price, the first time I had it. I am still impressed every time I get it. Tender, juicy, the right amount of marinating. This is a sandwich where all the ingredients fit together so perfectly. If you are a beef or steak lover, you must get it.

The Sexy Asparagus sandwich is the sandwich I get when the next time I come to Mirasol’s after I’ve ordered the Chilena. It washes away the last vestiges of guilt I have for eating such a relatively (for me) large portion of steak. You won’t even realize that there’s no meat in this sandwich (though you can add Turkey Bacon) as it’s quite hearty. And enough spiciness to satisfy the chilihead in me. I’d like to tell those of you who can’t handle heat, that it’s really not bad at all, but I eat Ghost Pepper sauces on the regular so my “mild” likely isn’t mild. You have to try it for yourself.

07. Whaler’s Tavern Cubano

Can you tell that I like Cuban sandwiches? I am a huuuuuuuge fan of Latin cultures. The music, the dance, the food, the histories, the language and everything else. When a place offers a Cuban sandwich, yeah — the decision making process is over. I’m getting it.

You may or may not know that the Quahog’s Republic has opened in the old Cafe Balena spot downtown called Whaler’s Tavern. In fact, I am currently reviewing and writing a spotlight for the bar/eatery. The very first time I went there, I, of course, ordered the Quahog Republic Cubano. Get a load of how they describe it: “Slow roasted pork and honey glazed ham, chopped pickles, marinated red onion, Swiss cheese, chipotle aioli, on French bread. Bake hot; brushed with butter, whole grain mustard and grill pressed.” If that doesn’t fire up the salivary glands, you’re dead. Or undead.

I had high expectations when I ordered this sandwich and boy were they ever met. Nay, exceeded. Perhaps the largest version of any I’ve ever gotten — in this area and beyond. There are so many flavors and textures going on that it’s like a Mozart symphony. Crunchy, soft, sweet, sour, spicy, salty, warm, hot, happy. OK, I took some liberty with that last one. No ethics probe please.

08. Captain’s Place Shish-Kebab

You can’t tell by the name of the place, but Captain’s Place is one of the finest, most authentic Portuguese Restaurants on the South Coast. If you’ve been there, you know. We regulars are often puzzled when it’s not mentioned whenever Portuguese restaurants are discussed. It should be at the top of everyone’s list.

As I mentioned above, I rarely eat beef. OK, I eat beef about once or twice a month. Is that rarely? When I do have a craving for beef or steak I’ll head to Captain’s Place and get their Shish-Kebab Sandwich or espetadas. Like many restaurants you can get food from other ethnicities. For $6.99 you get a heaping pile of delectably, marinated, tender steak in a Portuguese pop. You can also get mushrooms or Portuguese peppers. It also comes with a side of some of the best French Fries around. Seriously.

Go there for lunch, have the sandwich and then return for some of the most incredible Portuguese food you can find.

09. Lebanese Pita Pocket: Chicken Shawarma

I don’t know how long the Lebanese Pita Pocket has been tucked away in the plaza on Route 6 in Dartmouth. Virtually all the other shops in that plaza have come and gone, but the Lebanese Pita Pocket has stood the test of time. If you’ve eaten there, you know why: authentic Lebanese food served by Lebanese immigrants in a shop run by the family.

While most people will rant and rave about the Falafel Sandwich (which I am also very fond of) it is the Chicken Shawarma Sandwich that has my heart. Grilled, marinated chicken strips served over lettuce with tomatoes, garlic and Tahini sauce. Tahini sauce for those who have never had it, is an oily paste made from toasted, ground, hulled sesame seeds. And like most things when made from scratch instead of pulled from a can or jar, there is a significant, noticeable difference. This Tahini is certainly made from scratch. I will admit that I have thought of asking for a small bowl of their Tahini just so I can eat spoonfuls of it.

This sandwich is one of my all-time favorite sandwiches and sadly it seems not enough people know about one of the best eateries on the South Coast. EVERYTHING at this place is amazing and their Chicken Shawarma sandwich is one of the best sandwiches anywhere.

10. Flour Girls “The Vermonter”

The last sandwich on the list comes from Flour Girls in Fairhaven, another one of my most frequented places. If I’m not at Mirasol’s I’m at Flour Girls in Fairhaven. In the very few years they have been at this location they have done so well, that a second one is opening up in Mattapoisett.

Famous for their pastries, desserts, smoothies, homemade soups, sass and signature sandwiches, the best one they have, in my opinion, is the Vermonter: smoked turkey, Vermont Cheddar cheese, bacon, red onion, green apple, and hot pressed to gooey perfection. Yes, you read the “green apple” part correctly — you’ll get it when you try it. This is madness between two buns. It’s a creative sandwich comprised of seemingly unfriendly ingredients that come together to make a sandwich that is out of this world.

Tell Jill or Corrie that Joe sent you, maybe you’ll get a free cookie. Just don’t be disappointed if you get some sass instead. (It’ll be worth a try.)

If you have never had a French Macaron (NOT macaroon) before, prepare to have your life changed.

Ah, the trials and tribulations a writer must go through. It’s a daunting task to write about mouth-watering French Macarons, designer cakes, succulent and sweet Cannoli, and other decadent pastries. As the pearl of wisdom that so many local yokels offer, “It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it.”

There are a lot of superb cafes and cakeries in the region that are churning out astounding creations that rival anything I’ve seen on television. I mean that. It’s not uncommon to hear or see incredulous comments of “That’s not their photo.” or “That has to be a photoshop.” However, the truth is that the talent right here in our backyard is comparable to anyone in the world’s.

One such place doing that exact thing is Pink Box Desserts on Faunce Corner Road in Dartmouth. The boutique style bake shop is sandwiched between Edible Arrangements and Five Guys, and has been earning rabid fans steadily by offering something that tantalizes the eyes and pleases the palate. Owner, Tammy Greenspan has been in the area for about 8 years, but in this specific location for 2 1/2 years now. Most amazing is that these creations are not from someone who has traveled to France to learn, or attended some fancy culinary school. What has driven her is a common ingredient in excellence and greatness: a burning passion.

The inspiration to strike out on her own begun when Tammy baked an apple pie for a friend who called a month later and said the pie was such a hit that he wanted to know if she could produce a batch for some clients of his. Her pie was declared by her friend as “The best pie I ever had.” and this turned on a light bulb in Tammy’s head and got some gears turning. If she could cook this well and get a response like this, maybe she should do it on a grander scale at a business level. Since she couldn’t find anything in the area to match the concept in her head, she went about making it a reality.

Now, this is not to say that what Tammy saw in the area wasn’t good — she actually mentioned numerous times how highly she thought of the cafes and cakeries in greater New Bedford — just that she had something very specific in mind. If you’ve met or know Tammy, you know detailed and attentive she can be. She has created not only a “back” room with 11 employees that are baking, icing, filling and topping desserts to her high standards, but the “front” of the business also falls under those standards. What she’s managed to do is combine the look of a classy, high-end boutique with her down-to-earth personality and this has created a very alive, not snobby at all, warm and inviting atmosphere. It’s an extension of who she is.

11 employees later, she and her team of fellow dessert lovers are working their magic. Their delectable creations include cupcakes, pastries, cake pops, party favors, cannoli, cakes for all occasions, including birthdays, weddings, and other special events. (Yes, gluten free as well!) For these special occasions you get to have something very personal, individualized and designed. You sit and detail and describe everything you want and design a masterpiece together. You get something original or even unique. What’s important to them is not only creating desserts for people who have special events, but for people who don’t need an excuse to enjoy something delicious and just want to treat themselves!

While if you have an anniversary, corporate event, birthday, or something special going, Pink Box Desserts will blow your socks off in terms of extravagance and “Wow!” factor, she is equally as happy to take care of your “I need that in my life, right now!” craving. You can literally just stop in spur of the moment. The desserts are waiting for you. Whether you want a cake pop or multi-tiered wedding cake, the passion and care is the same. Their mission is to “To provide you with the most delectable desserts, and to make sure you have a SWEET day!”

What does Pink Box do differently or offer not commonly found or seen? Understanding that special occasions often mean multiple stops at different shops to gather everything. With this in mind she offers a selection of gift items from top brands like Scout, Lilly, Pulitzer, Kate, Spade, Voluspa, and even has cards and candles. There’s no need to stop at another place to get a small gift, yet another to get a card. A one stop shop!

So let’s get down to the nitty-gritty. You didn’t click on this article to read my blathering, you came for the sweet stuff. “Give me the goods.” and “Just the facts.” So let’s talk about possibilities!

The cupcake menu at Pink Box is a seasonal one. The Spring menu includes ones you may have had like Almond Joy, Caramel Machiato, Cookie & Cream, or Smores. But you’ll also find some rather interesting flavor combinations like “Nuts for Nutella,” Twix as in the candy bar, Honey Lavender,or the Pink Box Signature of pink strawberry cake and buttercream with a glitzy top. By the way, the perennial favorite is the Strawberry Grand Marnier infused cupcake. That’s just to name a few of these always moist treats. Visit frequently, to see what’s new.

The French Macaron is a dessert that Tammy calls “…an experience.” A perfect balance of sweet and salty with an intense favor profile. It is the texture that is difficult to describe. Neither crunchy nor soft as a marshmallow, but somewhere in between. To someone like me who doesn’t bake pastries, it seems sort of magical. I don’t know how she does it and I don’t care. These are my absolute favorite things to get and they come in standard flavors like vanilla, lemon, caramel, espresso, nutella, mocha green tea and of course, chocolate. 13 flavors in total.

Rounding out the cupcakes and macarons are the seasonal stacked gourmet ice cream sandwiches, pies and tarts. Most importantly (at least to me!) are a select variety of Italian pastries like Sfogliatelle (lobster tails), Zeppole for Easter time, Tiramisu cups and I’m going to step on some toes here: the best cannoli I’ve ever eaten. You can get the small or large, and each one is filled to order with a homemade, very silky, sweet and creamy filling.

I need to catch my breath.

There’s no possible way to cover the dizzying array of decadent desserts that the folks at Pink Box offer. Words fail with this sort of thing, and impractical when there are plenty of photos that do a much better job. The only thing that would outdo the photographs is a visit. You will plan on walking in to get a cannoli or one cupcake and walk out with your hands full. There is no way that you enter Pink Box, smell the divine aroma and see the feast for the eyes and not lose your mind. A full menu can be viewed online here.

Whether you have something made just for you or you simply decide that you want to destress, relax, reward yourself or simply unwind with a special sweet treat, you’ll taste the sheer joy and love that everyone at Pink Box Desserts puts into everything from small to large. One of the things that energizes the team throughout the day is interacting with customers. It was unanimously said to be the most rewarding aspect in spite of being surrounded by dessert heaven. Every customer comes in with a smile because they know what’s coming. The deal is sealed when they open their box to check their order and crack a smile. Someone – assuming the customer isn’t hoarding – is about to be very happy. Who can’t use a little of that these days?

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Pink Box Desserts
85 Faunce Corner Mall Road
Dartmouth, MA
Mon-Thu: 10:00 am-6:00 pm
Fri: 10:00 am-8:00 pm
Sat: 10:00 am-5:00 pm
Sun: 10:00 am-1:00 pm

Phone: (774) 992-7334
Email: orders@pinkboxdesserts.com
Facebook: facebook.com/Pink-Box-Desserts-191855470859689/
Website: pinkboxdesserts.com/

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Whether you are a real estate development professional or just a blue collar “Joe” like myself, you know or heard of construction company, Farland Corp. If you haven’t utilized their services, you’ve seen the signs that signal their job sites cropping up with increasing frequency.

The reason is that the company which only started in 2012 has skyrocketed in demand for their quality of work and service.

Their growth has only increased exponentially now –they have not only gone from four employees to well over forty–the company has merged with Thompson Farland and now offers civil engineering and land surveying, making them the only company on the South Coast to do so. They have expanded their services to be able to more comprehensively take care of customers’ needs.

The company which recently outgrew its location and had to relocate to 401 County Street (from 398 County Street and 24 North Water Street) here in New Bedford, was started by New Bedford native and resident Christian Farland P.E., LEED AP — a dream he had since he was a child. Which little boy (or girl) hasn’t had a dream at one time to operate cranes, dump trucks, excavators, and other heavy machinery?

When asked what fuels him and keeps him going, he said “Like almost anything in life I do it for my family. Owning a company is a commitment like no other. Not only for me, but my wife as well, I could not do it without her.” As the maxim states “Behind every great man is a woman.” and that woman is Elizabeth R. Farland, who is the other owner.

“There have been times I second guessed my decision to start my own company, but looking back at it now I would do it all over again. I try to relate business decisions like a math equation, in this case it’s simple the pros significantly outweigh the cons.”

Christian made those dreams a reality when he began working as a laborer through high school and college — he is a graduate from The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth with a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering. Here is where he cut his proverbial teeth and was further inspired by many mentors. This hands-on experience of starting from the ground up, gives him rare and invaluable insight into every job. A more than adept and capable leader who earned his dues in the “trenches.” Literally and figuratively.

Having all these services under one roof allows Farland Corp to provide the most cost effective design and quickly solve issues that arise during construction. You get all the world class, OSHA certified, professional engineers, land surveyors, licensed soil evaluators, operators, drivers, etc. who have the same passion for what they do as Christian does.

Christian’s passion goes beyond his career choice and extends into his community. He is not only proud to contribute to the local economy with jobs, but has been actively involved with the South Coast Business Alliance (SCBA) for almost a decade and served as the President for the past 3 years. He also sits on the UMass Faculty Advisor Board and South Coast Health Presidents Council. He is celebrating his merge and move with a summer party under and all New Bedford and beyond is invited. Stay tuned for details.

A lifelong resident of New Bedford, he wouldn’t dream of living, playing, and working in any other city — one he feels is growing in a positive direction, rich in history and culture…and ripe with opportunity. “You can do or be anything you want, the opportunities are out there. You just need to make sure you are ready when the opportunity comes your way. It doesn’t happen overnight but by setting short-term goals and taking it one day at a time you will get there.”

Curious about what Farland Corp can do for you? A full list of the services offered can be found here. Their Facebook page is regularly updated and you can see many before and after shots as well as the quality of the work.

You would be hard pressed to find a better company to service your engineering, surveying, project management, and site construction needs. If seeing the Farland Corp signs all over the South Coast, don’t have you convinced that there is a reason they are so in demand, you can browse through the reviews section on their Facebook page and/or ask around.

Better yet, simply call Farland Corp today and find out first hand why they are not only so successful, but why they have grown so rapidly. You’ll find what hundreds of others have discovered: a world class company with superlative service, driven by an experienced, passionate, local, built on a foundation of equally passionate hard working staff.

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Farland Corporation
401 County Street
New Bedford, Massachusetts 02740

Phone: (508) 717-3479
Email: cfarland@farlandcorp.com
Facebook: facebook.com/FarlandCorp/
Website: farlandcorp.com/

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Marketing your business is integral to its success and bottom line. Every business is founded on a business plan and all sound business plans contain a detailed marketing section. It should be a requirement to garnering a business license –whether a business succeeds in the long term is related directly to the follow-up and execution of what was laid out.

Sadly, many business owners treat marketing as a luxury, optional or an after-thought. They “go through the motions” by laying out a marketing plan because they feel not having it will affect their chances of getting a business license. The all too common thought is “When I have the money, I’ll purchase some ad space.” However, the inverse is true “I’ll purchase some marketing, so I can make some money.”

The latter belief is a false one that harms many local businesses. New Bedford Guide works alongside the city and local businesses on a daily basis and we see the direct relationship between failure with the latter belief and success with the former.

You may have the South Coast’s best customer service; you may have the highest quality ingredients, textiles, metals, or products; you may have the planet’s best chef; none of that matters if no one knows about it or just as important, you aren’t reminding people. Letting people know about you and your services or products is the starting point. Reminding them on a regular basis fuels your profit. A great marketing company takes your small investment in them and gives you a return that is much greater. This should be a regular cycle whereby, for example, you hand them $100 and they give you back $500. Rinse and repeat.

This is a no-brainer. If your marketing company isn’t doing this for you, they are either using the wrong approach and happy with taking your money and riding off into the sunset, they are a large marketing company that prioritizes meeting projections over customer satisfaction or you are with the wrong company.

All too often a large corporation will overcharge you and provide you with “faith-based” marketing. They can’t provide you with statistics of exactly how many people saw your ad. They say that their sole method is the best and since they’ve been around forever, business owners believe it. These poor business owners buy the most expensive ads in the area, reach fewer people, and do not get a return on their investment.

That is not how marketing is supposed to work.

A business owners wants to pay the least, to reach the most, and get their money back and then some.

There are a few companies that make this formula their maxim. One of those is Local Blast Marketing owned by Bruno Pereira. Bruno is an uprising entrepreneur in New England focused on helping business get more exposure in their local market place. Bruno has done such a superlative job, that though he founded his company in 2011 he is already referred to as the “Marketing Tycoon” of New England.

He may be called this “tongue-in-cheek,” but it came about because of his smashing success with promoting local businesses and executing the aforementioned formula perfectly. Taking someone’s money with a promise to promote their business and ensure that they get their money back is something he takes seriously. “If you don’t get your money back or grow your customer base, you are not getting effective marketing.” Bruno explained. “This is an all too common business practice — one that leads to stagnating cash flow and contributes to a business owner eventually closing his or her doors.”

Being a small business owner himself, Bruno understands what the local business owner goes through in terms of concerns. He’s wearing the same “shoes” and walking in the same footsteps. Being a local, Bruno also has a genuine desire to see the community uplifted, the economy stimulated and producing more jobs. This is his community; where he lives, sleeps, works and plays. He knows the struggle all too well.

Bruno’s parents were among the thousands of employees affected by the closing of the once booming textile factories. Since then Bruno’s mission has been to build a business that can employ the upcoming generation. His vision is for Local Blast Marketing to become a strong employer and asset of New England for both the general public and businesses’.

Starting in his parent’s basement, Bruno decided to start an advertising company that would help local business such as Restaurants, get exposure to attract new customers. After a long and difficult 5 years he has not only created a name for himself but his customers can’t stop singing praises of what he has been doing for business in the city and beyond.

Bruno is having such tremendous success with this passion of his, that his company is hiring. He is looking for motivated individuals that want to build a career in a local media company. From social media marketing to website management services. Hint, hint.

So how exactly would Bruno do this for your business? He has an all-in-one solution that he applies to promote your business. He utilizes up to 26 –yes 26– methods to most efficiently brand, get the word out, and remind people to purchase your services and products. He evaluates your business and like a good doctor, gives each individual a specific diagnosis and remedy.

This contrasts the aforementioned “faith-based” method whereby a company says “Our one method is the only and best method you should consider.” Of course, they will say that: they only offer one method. Since Bruno isn’t offering one method, he is unbiased. His sole interest is in applying the best of 26 methods. His primary interest is in your business’s success. The better he applies that method, the better your return, the more you will continue to work with him. So, from the get-go he has a vested interest not only in your success with him, but your continued success with him.

What are some of these 26 methods that he may apply to get the word out? Primarily through Social Media Marketing, Email Marketing, Text Message Marketing, and Website Marketing Services. Under this purview are New HTML5 Website, HD Documentary Video on Your Business, Custom HD Photography, Social Publishing Tool, Easy to Manage Blog, Your Personal Pro Team Account Manager, Mobile Site for Every Device, Your Website on Facebook, Detailed Site Analytics, Local Directory Listings Calendar, e-Commerce Capabilities, Appointment Booking System, Easy Online Ordering Tool, Coupons and Discounts, To-Do List Creation and Reminders, Guaranteed Secure Web Hosting, Custom Domain and more.

Doesn’t that make going with “one method is best” seem absurd? A multi-pronged approach is the most effective, efficient way to turn your business into a profitable one.

There’s no better time to meet with Bruno and see what he can do for your business in terms of revenue and cash flow. In celebration of Local Blast’s 5th year anniversary Bruno is excited to announce a special contest to find and help Massachusetts and Rhode Island businesses that have yet to enter the Digital Age. They might not have a functioning mobile-ready website, managed Facebook page, Instagram Account or even an Email list.

Businesses in Massachusetts and Rhode Island are invited receive a FREE digital marketing consultation. This is great for startups, existing or struggling establishments. Don’t use the ineffective, backwards method of “profit will buy me marketing.” The truth is that marketing generates profits. If you are interested in a no obligation, no pushy salesperson, consultation to really kick-start your business call (508) 974-9977 and talk to Bruno or one of his equally passionate staff.

See what happens when passion meets marketing and someone has a genuine, vested interest in helping you succeed. It’s like having a knowledgeable best friend spending 24 hours a day telling people about how great what you’re doing is. Most people hire an employee and pay them hundreds of dollars a week. Imagine what effect it would have if you hired an employee for less pay, that would spend every day, all day and night promoting your business?

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Bruno Pereira-Local Blast Marketing
Fall River, MA 02720
Always open!

Phone: (508) 974-9977 or (774) 526-2616
Email: brunop@localblastmarketing.com
Facebook: facebook.com/localblastmarketing/
Website: localblastmarketing.com

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Discussing one of the South Coast’s favorite eateries, Jerry Remy’s Sports Bar & Grill is an effortless topic to blather about. The problem with spotlighting the popular destination is picking photos to place within the article. There is so much going on at Jerry Remy’s, so many spectacular, mouth-watering dishes, so much that can be said with photographs (which do a far superior job than a writer can do) that I feel if I leave some images out, you won’t “get” it. I’ll somehow be cheating you out of something good.

Choosing the limited blend of pictures to embed in the article was like being forced to choose five of your ten favorite children. Suffice it to say, that Jerry Remy’s is much more than these photographs. In fact, much more than my own words can convey – I’ll give it my Sunday best.

As many of you likely know, Jerry Remy’s Sports Bar & Grill was started by Red Sox second baseman come sports broadcaster. The first location opened in 2008 right in Logan Airport. It became so popular, that Remy opened a second one behind Fenway Park, on Boylston Street, two years later. In 2012, a third location opened up overlooking Battleship Cove, in his hometown of Fall River. However, this location is owned and operated by Portuguese emigré Anthony Cordeiro (of Fall River’s Anthony Cordeiro Insurance Agency) and Brazilian transplant Larry Couto of LC Mechanical. Both grew up, went to school, worked, started business and families in Fall River, so while they were born in Portugal and São Paolo respectively, they are through and through local-yokels.

Both men love Fall River and wouldn’t think of starting a new venture anywhere else. They have a lot of pride when it comes to the community and want to see the city grow and prosper. In that vein, they wanted to develop a spot that combined entertainment, sports, and great food for the blue collar locals – while providing jobs and stimulating the local economy.

Boy did they ever.

Monster Screens and Menu Offerings
In the short time frame since the eatery opened, it has skyrocketed in popularity and become a favorite spot for folks. A prime destination whether you want sports or not. Whether you want lunch, dinner or drinks with a group of pals. Whether solo, with your best friend, or the family. Whether you want a private party or have a special function. Whether you want something “down-to-earth” like a burger and fries or pizza, or prefer something slightly more sophisticated like Herb Encrusted Salmon or Apple Glazed Pork Chops.

The menu runs the entire gamut from starters, salads, wraps, burgers, steaks, dessert, vast beer menu, cocktails and wine. The layout of the dining area is one that is very roomy – high ceilings, ample table sections and spacing – even when the place is positively packed. The monster screens and cleverly placed “normal” sized hi-definition televisions make sure that no matter where you sit, you don’t miss a play. These monster screens create a video wall that is 45 feet long. As they advertise – you may have a better view than those people who are actually at the live game!

For starters, there are many classics like traditional Nachos, Calamari, quesadillas, potato skins, sliders (Beef & Cheddar or BBQ Pulled Pork) and wings. Although these are the “amped” up versions when it comes to flavor and portion. However, there is one in particular that should be on every proper foodie’s bucket list – The Green Monster: A 3-plated tower that contains a whopping 1 1/2 lbs. of buffalo wings, beef & cheddar sliders (8 in total) and a mountain of bacon cheddar cheese fries. I had to include an image of this one!

Confession and lunch special mania!
Now, I have a confession to make. One that may make me hated or looked at like I am a three-headed alien. I don’t like team sports. I don’t watch them. I prefer individual sports, like boxing, amateur wrestling, Mixed Martial Arts or many of the Olympic sports. So, I do not go Jerry Remy’s for football, baseball, basketball, or hockey. I go for their lunch. Their affordable, made to order, served piping hot with a smile, mouth-watering lunch. What drives the crowds to Jerry Remy’s is exactly these things. Healthy sized portion of food for a price that will surprise you. The “Soup or Salad & 1/2 Sandwich Lunch Special” is available every day of the week. Enjoy a cup of soup or small House or Caesar Salad plus a 1/2 sandwich for $9.90. For under $10 you get stuffed.

Soups include New England Clam Chowder, a house Chili aptly called “The Neighborhood’s Favorite Chile,” and a Soup du Jour. There’s a variety of salads to choose from: classic Caesar Salad, the Ty Cobb, House, Greek, and a Cranberry Walnut. Of course, you can add grilled chicken, Salmon, or steak tips.

For sandwich choices to compliment this soup or salad, we stick with Jerry Remy’s theme of “You could get a classic, or you could choose something slightly different.” Classics are represented with the BBQ Pulled Pork, the Reuben, Fish Tacos, Grilled Chicken & Avocado Club, Turkey Bacon Wrap or Chicken Caesar Wrap.

Because you can mix and match, you get to change things up with each visit. In a way these lunch specials are like sampler platters in the sense that you get to happily devour them and come across ones that you love so much that you’ll return and have the dinner versions!

Pizzas, Burgers, and Specials
If you are a pizza for lunch type of guy, there are six grilled pizzas to choose from – Hawaiian, BBQ Chicken, Remy’s signature Margherita (my favorite), Spinach and Artichoke, Roasted Garlic and Pepper, and the House: “Crispy bacon, sweet caramelized onions & bleu cheese, finished with a creamy parmesan peppercorn sauce.” All priced at only $10.90.

Prefer a burger? You get to choose your patty: Half Pound USDA Prime Beef, Spicy Black Bean, Kobe Beef or Fresh Ground Turkey. There is the Mushroom Swiss or Jalapeno Pepper Jack, but you’ll want to check out the fun choices like the Big Kahuna Burger (Grilled pineapple & pepper jack cheese, finished with mango-chili glaze, served on a Portuguese sweet roll), the signature Remy Burger (Sliced cheddar, caramelized onions, Applewood smoked bacon, 1000 Island dressing, served on a Portuguese sweet roll) or the Fa Reev burger (Beef Patty, local chourico, caramelized onions, American cheese & chipotle mayo, served on a potato roll.) They come with French Fries, chips or cole slaw and most are priced at $10.90. Though keep your eye out for the Burger of the Month – always something different, and worth a look.

In terms of specials, has something going on almost every day but Sunday. “Take Two Tuesdays” is “Buy 1 pizza and get 1/2 off a 2nd pizza.” Wednesday? That’s “Kid’s Night” where you get one FREE kid’s meal with each adult entree purchased. Thursdays between 4:00pm-9:00pm wings are 35 cents when you purchase a beverage. Friday an Saturdays you can get in on the Prime Rib Special an 8 oz ($17.90) or 12 oz ($23.90) portion served with mashed potato and green beans. Problem is that it’s so darn good and so darn popular that after 4:00pm it’s “While supplies last.” It’s legit.

Children’s Menu, “Serious Plates,” and Pasta Favorites
Got the little ones with you? The <a href="http://jerryremys.com/fallriver/pdf/FR_Menu_Fall_2015.pdf"Children's Menu has Mac & Cheese or Grilled Cheese w/ Fries for $4.95 or the RemDawg Junior (w/ fries and free toppings), Chicken Tenders or Sliders both served with fries for only $5.95.

Prefer something more “serious.” The entrees will be sure to please you: Grilled Sirloin Steak Tips (Tender sirloin marinated in their secret sauce, finished with herb demi-glace, served with roasted garlic mashed potatoes & seasonal vegetables.) A phenomenal 10oz. Ribeye (Grilled on an open flame, topped with BBQ sauce & onion strings, served with roasted potatoes & seasonal vegetables.) A personal favorite, the Apple Glazed Pork Chop which is a 12 oz. serving with apple bourbon glaze, roasted garlic mashed potatoes & seasonal vegetables.

I know many feel that there’s nothing like ribs during a game, so if that’s the case with you, you’ll flip over the massive portion of St. Louis BBQ Ribs – of course, served with French Fries and Coleslaw. 1/2 and full racks are offered. For the seafood lover there is traditional Fish and Chips – seasoned cod served with French Fries, Coleslaw and Tartar sauce for $14.90. Baked Scrod (Ritz crackers finished with lemon compound butter, baked to perfection, served with roasted garlic mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables.) and the popular Herb-encrusted Salmon – an 8oz. Salmon filet grilled and finished with balsamic glaze, served with roasted potatoes & seasonal vegetables.

Finally there is a “Pasta Favorites” section where you can sate your cravings for your Italian or Italian-American favorites like Smoked Gouda & White Cheddar Mac n’ Cheese, Crispy Buffalo or Grilled Chicken Kickin’ Chicken: chicken breast, chourico, yellow, red & green peppers, creamy spicy buffalo & wine sauce, served over penne pasta., or the classed Chicken Parmesan.

Going beyond heading to Jerry Remy’s for lunch, dinner, or a game, you can have a private party or special function there. You can have all these great offerings for your birthday, corporate meeting, bridal shower, anniversary or any other special occasion. If you prefer entertainment, Jerry Remy’s often has special events like superhero appearances, hanging out with Curious George or even live musical performances.

Remy Rewards and Summation
After you eat a few times and find out first hand what makes Jerry Remy’s a special place, you’ll want to reap the benefits of being a regular by earning points with every visit through the Remy’s Rewards Club. Each dollar spent earns you a point and 100 points equal $10 worth of credit towards anything at the Fall River location. There are also many ways to earn double and triple points. You will also get invitations to special events. To become a member is simple: just visit and ask your server (it’s free) or purchase a gift card and be automatically enrolled.

Stop in and check out for yourself why Jerry Remy’s blasted itself into popularity so quickly. The combination of affordability, large portions, signature plates, lunch specials, massive beer and cocktail menu and an atmosphere like no other place makes it a place that’s easy to visit regularly.

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Jerry Remy’s Sports Bar & Grill
1082 Davol Street
Fall River, MA 02720
Mon-Thu: 11:00am-12:00am
Fri-Sat: 11:00am-1:00am
Sun: 11:00am-12:00am

Phone: 508-676-REMY (7369)
Email:
fallriver@jerryremys.com
Facebook: facebook.com/JerryRemysFR/
Twitter: @RemysFallRiver
Website: www.jerryremys.com/

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Last year we showcased one of the nation’s premier maternity photographers, Abrah Zion of Miss Z Photography, in a spotlight article. Since then a lot has happened. A lot.

Abrah has entered the lives of scores of people across the South Coast. I don’t mean solely as a business entity, but also as a person who has found their life’s passion and a way to integrate relationships with it. I come across a lot of people who are passionate about what they do, but the exuberance and excitement that come from Abrah when discussing her passion are on another level.

Her entire energy changes when the topic of her photography comes up. Here is someone whose first and fondest childhood memories revolve around a camera – a gift from her father – and snapping anything and everything in sight. While sunsets, sunrises, flowers, natural scenery and their ilk were targets, there was something special about living, breathing, dynamic targets.

Fondly poring over black and white images in the family’s photo albums is responsible for many of her favorite childhood memories. The albums captivated her. These moments conveyed early on the sheer potency of images; the feel of holding the photographs in your hands and passing them along; the aroma of the aged vintage photos and paper it was attached to; the intimacy that came through sharing them with family and friends who sat alongside you. She knew then and there that life, memories, and moments would be her prized targets. She wanted to share with the world everything that was conveyed in the time spent with these albums.

In pursuit of this aim, she has rubbed shoulders with giants in the photography world and is constantly honing and developing her craft. She has learned directly from world renown newborn and maternity photographer to the stars Ana Brandt. She is a member of PPA – Professional Photographers of America, PPAM – Professional Photographers of America, Massachusetts division and NAPCP – the National Association of Professional Child Photographers.

She has also collected some pretty prestigious awards along the way. This January she won the Beauty and Lifestyle Mommy Magazine 2015 Parent’s Choice award – quite a strong declaration by the people. One of the top publications in the photography world is Photography Magazine who listed her as one of the best newborn photographers in Massachusetts for 2016. When the critics and the people alike say you are one of the best you’re doing something right and have something special.

It doesn’t stop there: she graciously volunteers her services to “Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep,” an organization of professional photographers who dedicate their time and talent to photographing still born babies for parents as part of the bereavement and healing process.

Do you get the idea that she lives, breathes, sleeps and eats photography? What is the point I am illustrating here? That you would be hard pressed to find someone who cares as much, who is dedicated to doing her best, and who is determined to providing you with the finest quality photographs on planet earth. If you are looking for a way to document those fleeting memories that happen only once a lifetime, you’d be hard pressed to find someone better!

You may be asking “What does she specifically do? Just take pictures of my baby?” Of course, my words can’t do anywhere close to the justice that her images can, but in a nutshell if it’s related to maternity, newborns, babies, or families she excels at it. It’s her niche – photography is such a deep field that the top photographers narrow that field down. Specialization is the name of the game and being able to take world-class photographs of a nature, doesn’t mean it translates to photographs of newborns or vice versa.

That means if you want these moments captured, you want a photographer that spends all her/his time in one niche. Someone who knows the ins and outs, is highly experienced and is on the cutting edge of the field.

One of the newest services Miss Z has added that has become incredibly popular is the “Birthday Smash and Splash.” You and Abrah will discuss a theme that best fits your baby and choose the cutest, funniest, or sweetest one. On the day of the shooting, a fully themed backdrop will be presented and a matching themed cake will be waiting for your baby to smash. Talk about a photo opp!

After your baby enjoys making his or her mess, and you are laughing and smiling from ear to ear, the “splash” part comes in. A small bubble bath awaits, raising the cute factor through the stratosphere. You can blow bubbles to get his or her attention and create more smiles and photo opportunities.

This is certainly not a “Bring your cute baby by and I’ll snap some photos.” session. There’s quite the bit of thought behind it. There’s a clear passion and love for the subject matter. I mean, who doesn’t love babies? The manliest man will have no problem declaring how cute newborns are! To provide an atmosphere, the bring the best out of the baby (or mom or dad), and to create the photogenic moments takes much more than someone pushing a button behind a fancy camera.

These moments will happen once and be gone forever – as a father of a 14 year old, I can vouch for the speed with which our children grow up is astoundingly fast. While I took lots of pictures as any proud father would, I took pictures with a cruddy, cheap camera (smartphones with high-resolution cameras didn’t exist yet) then stored them in boxes for later perusal. Struggling with sport-related memory issues, if I didn’t have these images those moments would be gone forever. Pulling those boxes out and browsing through those images not only brings back those forgotten memories, but they are so incredibly powerful that they actually get a 14 year old teenager to put her phone away. How many things can do that these days?!

The two of us not only take great delight in passing the photos back and forth, but there’s plenty of laughter, smiles, and the occasional sadness when we come across family we’ve lost in the 14 years she’s been on the planet. An hour can pass by easily and the intimacy and bonding moment is something I can’t put a price on.

My only regret is that I wish that I had better quality photos in terms of technique – less red eye, less blur, better centering, fewer cut-off heads, more spontaneity, and of course I wish I had better quality, more durable paper that would stand the test of time.

This illustrates the sheer power and massive value of “physical” pictures – images on paper being passed, hovering over shoulders and shoving them in each other faces “Hey look at your pants in this one! HA HA!” The feel, the energy, the atmosphere you get with physical pictures is superior to crowding around a computer screen. Having that box or photo album is far easier than trying to find where I put that blasted minuscule USB or where I left the CD that when I am lucky to find, is scratched.

You don’t want to trust this sort of thing to an amateur photographer, but someone who is world-class, acclaimed, passionate and more than capable. Someone who will provide customized, individualized service with a personal relationship. Someone who will give lots of unmentioned extras. This is what sets Abrah and Miss Z Photography from the rest.

After the photo shoot, you can set up a custom “in-person” ordering session and will spend time deciding on your prints and choose which ones to keep a la carte. You can also determine the size and number of photographs and whether they will be framed or not. The images are mounted on a matboard and are printed on high quality archival paper that is also fade resistant. They can be finished with a protective high end linen texture or on thick, highly textured fine arts paper called Hahnemuhle prints. Prefer canvas (including Lagniappe) or metal prints? You can have that. Want a high quality photo book or album? She’ll help you there as well.

Want to use a credit card? Want a payment plan? Looking for gift certificates to give a special gift to a friend or family member who is pregnant or just had a newborn? All covered by Miss Z.

If you want to read what people are saying, you can check out the testimonials on the website or Facebook. Want to see examples of her work or find out more about Abrah? Check out her blog or join the newsletter. If you sign up for the newsletter, not only will you get a 15 page e-book titled How to take more memorable photos of your children.” but you will also be among the first to know about model opportunities, specials, and fun happenings at Miss Z Photography studios.

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The photographs in this article have been formatted to be functional for viewing on phones, tablets and computers. They have been compressed and re-sized to speed up load times. They are poorer quality versions of the originals and do not accurately portray the high quality of the actual photographs nor the talent of the photographer. Please click the following links to see the actual quality.

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Miss Z Photography
227 Union St #412
New Bedford, Massachusetts 02740
Always open!
Phone: (508) 663-6544
Email: info@misszphotography.com
Facebook: facebook.com/MissZPhoto
Website: misszphotography.com/
Twitter: twitter.com/MissZPhoto

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This article will surely ruffle some feathers and get some people’s Irish up. So, let me pre-empt the content with a disclaimer: these are not the only ten great sandwiches. In fact, if I were to write what I believe to be the best sandwiches in greater New Bedford, the list would likely be 50 or more entries long. No one would read such a list. I’m simply picking ten of my current favorites…with a few honorable mentions.

This is simply one person’s opinion. Ten of one person’s fifty favorite sandwiches in no particular order. If you have a favorite that you think should be mentioned, by all means, mention it! Perhaps, it’s a sandwich I haven’t had and now can add to my Foodie Bucket List. I just want to let other foodies out there know about these sandwiches so they can share in my delight and I hope they will return the favor. Let’s have a discussion and share our passion: mouth-watering sandwiches!

01. From the Seoul’s Steak Sandwich

I’m always amazed at the response when I tell people about the Korean restaurant From the Seoul on Faunce Corner Road. Here is a place that I eat at once or twice per week – it’s not only one of the best eateries on earth, but it’s one of the most affordable eateries in the area. When you factor in the free appetizers (Ban Chan) it makes it a wonder that not everyone in greater New Bedford is aware of it.

I typically choose one of the soups – the Kimchi Jigae, Gamjatang, or Doen Jang Jigae- or the Korean standard, Bibim Bap. However, one “under the radar” dish that they offer is their steak or chicken sandwich. It’s a perfect fusion of Korean and American. It starts with a perfectly toasted hoagie bun. It has the tiniest layer of crisp and no sign of toasted char, if that makes sense. It is then jam-packed with lightly seasoned beef – you may have chicken if you prefer. If you’ve had Korean food before, you know that they typically marinate the tenderized, meat with a hint of slightly sweet and salty. It does not get in the way of the flavor of the meat – it just heightens it. Back-up singers, if you will.

Complimenting the hoagie and bed of meat are sauteed mushrooms, peppers and onions – optionally of course. It is then smothered in an appropriate – read, not “buried”- amount of blended Mozzarella and Cheddar and served with a side of some of the best French fries you can get anywhere. No joke.

If life has you down and you need a pick-me-up, head to From the Seoul. Anything you order will cheer you up, but their sandwich is guaranteed to work like a charm.

02. Mike’s Open Face Prime Rib Sandwich

I have enjoyed this Mike’s staple for as long as I can remember. Mike’s Restaurant in Fairhaven was the place to go when my brother and I behaved for a few days…ahem, hours in a row. A reward at the end of the week for fighting every temptation to wrestle, break things, or generally misbehave. “You boys have been good. Do you want to go to Mike’s?”

Mike’s is famous for this Prime Rib Sandwich: “12 oz. cooked to your liking and topped with Au Jus.” Of course, it has to be covered in Mozzarella cheese. Just typing those words kicked my salivary glands into production. There is something magical about what Mike’s does with prime rib. It’s as flawless of a steak sandwich as you’ll find anywhere on the South Coast. Buttery, tender, melt in your mouth heaping of prime rib on a white hoagie. It is topped in generous amounts of stringy, Mozzarella cheese and covered in that delectable, famous, salty Au Jus. I’m fond of saying “Madness.” when this sandwich arrives. It’s so good, that you feel like you are doing something bad.

It comes with the House Salad so you don’t feel too bad about ordering that much good at one time in one place.

03. Hangman Coffee Hut’s Fig-N-Cheesy Panini [CLOSED]

Hangman’s Hut is a hidden gem that many haven’t heard of. This little spot on Wareham Road in Marion is one of may most favorite spots on the planet. Not only do you get restaurant quality food at a cafe, but the service and atmosphere are second to none.

One of the things that makes Hangman Hut such a stand-out is the variety of sandwiches they offer. Picking one to highlight here is like picking a favorite child. I usually like one or two sandwiches on most cafe menus and stick with them, but I’m very fond of pretty much the entire sandwich menu at “Hangman’s.” It’s madness on top of madness.

One sandwich, in particular, is a recent addition and is off the charts amazing. Make your eyes water with joy type of amazing. The Fig-N-Cheesy Panini: Prosciutto, Fig Compote, Goat Cheese on your choice of bread which includes Portuguese Bolos and Pretzel Bun. I always opt for the slightly sweet Portuguese Bolos. Prosciutto, after to Sopressatta, is my favorite meat on the earth. It’s very rich and also expensive, so is a rare treat. In spite of its expense, the portion in this sandwich is very generous. It should be called the “Prosciutto Lover’s Panini.” The naturally sweet fig compote is made from scratch, of course and marries well with the saltiness of the Prosciutto.

A healthy portion of rich goat cheese rounds out the ingredients of this food menage-a-trois. Hangman’s Coffee Hut has another dozen plus sandwiches in this vein that are sure to please your palate. The Fig Deal is Fig Compote, Apple, Goat Cheese, Greens, Balsamic Vinegar. The Caprese is Basil Pesto, Mozzarella, Red Onion, Pepper, Tomato. There is even a dessert sandwich called the M&M Panini: Bacon, Nutella, Banana, Honey, Croissant.

You must try this off-the-beaten-path cafe!

04. Pour Farm Tavern’s Cubano

The Pour Farm Tavern is a local favorite watering hole. A place where hipsters, trust fund babies, bikers, artists, musicians, the elderly, the binge drinker, barfly and other denizens prefer to unwind. It is a veritable melting pot of all walks of life which is why it’s one of my favorite places to go.

While it is known for its astonishing variety of microbrews which are constantly being rotated, what it isn’t as well-known for, and should be, is the food coming out of the kitchen. I don’t know the story behind who is doing the cooking, but I do know that he sure as hell knows what he’s doing. This is restaurant quality fare being made by a genuine chef. I have mentioned in the past that I’ve had Cubanos all the way from here to Florida and the Cubano served at the Pour Farm Tavern rivals the best I’ve had.

“Smoked pulled pork, Cure 81 ham, Swiss cheese, pickle and a secret spicy sauce served on toasted torpedo roll with choice of side.” is how the Pour Farm describes their Cubano. The amount of care that went into each ingredient, and in compiling them into a quintessential Cubano is to be applauded. This isn’t a slapping together of the ingredients between two slices of bread. This is someone who has passion and pride in what they are doing and by the craftsmanship, this is someone who has had their fair share of Cubanos. I want one NOW.

05. Cravings Cakery & Cafe’s Smoked Salmon “Break-Wich”

Rounding out this first half of the countdown is Cravings Cafe on State Road in Dartmouth. This is another one of my favorite spots and another place that is known for one thing, but should be known for another. Cravings is famous for creating custom cakes that put to shame most of the creations you see on popular TV shows. Incredulity is the common response when people see the photo albums that we share.

While Cravings makes world-class cakes, cupcakes and other sweet treats they offer some phenomenal soups and sandwiches. While I am very fond of the Morning Special – 2 eggs, baby Spinach, and Vermont Cheddar cheese – when I feel like I’ve been a good boy and deserve something nice, I get the Smoked Salmon Break-Wich: a bagel of your choice with tomato, onion, capers, and homemade chive cream cheese and smoked salmon. That smoked salmon…just fresh, chilled, superior quality mouth-watering, and piled on. I could just eat it as it is and be happy. However, the freshly sliced tomato and onion, the hint of saltiness from the capers, and the made from scratch chive cream cheese, just push this into the stratosphere.

There’s no surprise here because everything that Jessica Marmelo and crew touch turns to food gold. They can’t do something mediocre if they tried. A Lox bagel is hard to find these days, and Cravings Cafe is one of the last bastions for this old classic.

Stay tuned for the second half of the “Ten of the Best Sandwiches in Greater New Bedford.” Have you had any of these sandwiches? Prefer a different sandwich at one of these places?

Since ubiquitous is a good way to describe how many insurance agencies there are, how do you choose one to trust with your property, livelihood, and possessions? No one wants to take chance with the most important things in our life. We won’t put them into just anyone’s hands.

Just like any business, there is a gamut that runs from mediocre to superlative when it comes to insurance companies. What are the earmarks and attributes of those that are at the top? We want friendly, knowledgeable, professional customer service. We want to be sold the highest quality products. We want a reasonable asking price that is appropriate to the service and product we are getting. We want to be a name, not a number.

Because of the commonality of insurance agencies, if we don’t get these requirements met, we don’t have to travel far – often walking distance – to take our business somewhere else. This “threat” is one of the positives of a capitalist economy: compete or die.

So, how do we sort through all of these insurance agencies? Do we “buy” into the marketing? Do we believe what the commercial is stating or implying about the business to be true? While I wouldn’t rule out that there are people who would “fall” for a commercial, its business mascot, or sales pitch, most of us require more convincing than that. Of all businesses, an insurance agency should be held to a higher standard – if we made a wrong choice in purchasing a policy we can’t simply return it like we can with other industries. Having found out you purchased the wrong insurance policy or bought it from the wrong people after disaster can have marked effects that can last a lifetime.

This higher standard comes down to anecdotes, word-of-mouth, and persistence. If a sister, best friend, or aunt says “I’ve been going to so-and-so for 15 years and never had a single problem.” or shares a story about the time they had to actually redeem a policy, that carries weight. You listen.

And since there are many insurance companies and people can go down the road, you won’t last long at all if you aren’t providing all the aforementioned superlatives when it comes to service and product. One place that has been going above and beyond, is trusted by thousands, and is highly respected, is Cordeiro Insurance Agency of Fall River. The proof as they say is in the proverbial pudding: they are celebrating their 30th anniversary this year. 30 years of impeccable service speaks for itself.

The agency which Anthony F. Cordeiro himself founded in 1987, has thrived off of what they feel is the best form of advertisement: word-of-mouth. Indeed, their slogan – which they take seriously – is “Stability, Integrity & Trust.” Treat people right, stand by your word, and follow through and people will talk and tell their friends, families, and neighbors.

It has worked swimmingly.

They have successfully served and continue to serve thousands of families and companies throughout Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. Mr. Cordeiro iced that “cake” by telling me that he feels this is a privilege and one he is grateful for. He’s doing something he wants to do and has a passion for. His work is his inspiration: he finds great reward in the ability to assist people in protecting their most valuable assets such as their autos, homes, businesses, and future of their families.

When asked about the success of the agency, Anthony stated “We’re a family-owned boutique agency, we are highly involved with our clients and their lives, and we listen to the needs of our clients and aim to serve them.” In that vein, Anthony and the rest of the staff, feel the first step is informing and educating the customer so they can make better decisions.

You may be baffled to find that if you shop for a policy with any of the agents at Cordeiro Insurance Agency, you may hear them recommend a cheaper option – they may even talk you out of an expensive one. Seems counter-intuitive, but they want what is best for you, not to upsell you. They are already successful and don’t need to “milk” you. When you do the right thing, word-of-mouth spreads. That is their preferred method of generating revenue.

“We genuinely help you get exactly the coverage you need to safeguard your home, family, property, or business. Not more, not less. Exactly.” declared Anthony. Besides that integrity, they offer a comprehensive line of personal and commercial insurance products – serviced by a veteran team of insurance professionals with over 125 years of combined experience in the industry.

So who would benefit most from considering Cordeiro Insurance Agency? Millennials who are now searching for policies separate from their parents, first-time homebuyers, owners of multi-family tenement homes, employers seeking commercial, worker’s liability, and/or health insurance for their businesses and employees, and individuals who are unhappy with their current agency/agent. In essence, everyone.

For many it comes down to affordability. A lot of companies offer great service, great options, and are very accessible. The sole barrier is cost. You can stop in and compare prices for yourself with no obligation and you will find them to not only be very competitive, but for the price, Cordeiro Insurance Agency will be hard to beat.

Outside of helping people make the best possible decisions when it comes to a policy, and then protecting them, Anthony F. Cordeiro Insurance Agency,is proud to play a leading role in supporting key community initiatives that are improving the quality of life for everyone here in southern New England. It makes a lot of sense: helping the community thrive translates into more customers!

If you are unhappy with your current insurance agency because of poor service, being treated like a number, rates have skyrocketed, or you would prefer to talk to the face of someone local rather than go through a website or outsourced operator, you’ll be pleasantly surprised with your experience with any of the staff at Cordeiro Insurance Agency.

Don’t fall for a silly lizard, general, or quirky, annoying actress. “Fall” for a local insurance agency whose proven success is based on friendly, professional service, decades of experience, and thousands of satisfied customers that live right next door.

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Executive Team

Anthony F. Cordeiro
President & CEO
30 years experience
Holds Series 7, Series 13, and Principal 24 Securities Licenses
Insurance licenses in Property, Casualty, Life, Accident, and Health
Certified Chartered Pension Professional
Licensed real estate broker in Massachusetts
Bachelor’s degree in Accountancy from University of Massachusetts- Amherst
MBA with a concentration in Finance from Bryant College

Helinette Souza
Operations Manager
30 years experience
Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from University of Massachusetts- Amherst

Mark Cordeiro
Account Executive
9 years experience
Series 7 General Securities registration
Series 63 State Securities registration
Insurance licenses in Property, Casualty, Life, Accident, and Health
Bachelor’s degree in Accountancy from Bryant University

Paul Rebello
Account Executive
26 years experience
Insurance licenses in Property, Casualty, Life, Accident, and Health

Andrew Cordeiro
Account Executive
5 years experience
Insurance licenses in Property, Casualty, Accident, Sickness or Health
Bachelor’s degree in Accountancy from University of Massachusetts- Dartmouth

Melanie Cordeiro
Marketing Director
2 years experience
Bachelor’s of Science degree in Business Management from Providence College

Staff

Lyn-Marie Silvia
Receptionist/Front Desk
1 year experience

Christine Pavao
Commercial Lines
15 years experience
Customer Service Representative

Laurie A. LaCroix
Personal Lines
8 years experience
Customer Service Representative

Ashley Pimentel
Personal Lines
7 years experience
Customer Service Representative

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Cordeiro Insurance Agency
171 Pleasant Street
Fall River, Massachusetts 02721
Phone: (508) 689-5885
Email: melcordeiro@cordeiroinsurance.com

Mon-Fri: 9:00am-5:00pm
Saturday: 9:00am-12:00pm

Facebook: facebook.com/AnthonyFCordeiroInsurance/
Website: cordeiroinsurance.com/

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In November, we shared some of the great things that the family owned and operated Care Free Homes is doing in the community and beyond. Donating to charitable organizations, giving away roofs in their “No Roof Left Behind” program, and honoring our veterans and those who have served with substantial rebates in their “Roof Fro Troops” program are just a few of the ways that they choose to give back.

The biggest demonstration of who they are and how big their hearts are is with their extremely generous Care Free $25,000 Home Makeover Sweepstakes. Yes, you read that right: 25,000 big ones, smackeroos, duckets, shekels, greenbacks. Some lucky person or family will get a whopping $25,000 worth of products and services towards their home. They could choose to spend that money on marketing, but they feel giving back to the community is the best marketing there is.

Well, they are at it again!

This year’s Care Free $25,000 Home Makeover Sweepstakes is underway and began on Sunday, January 31 and it will end on April 30, 2016. If you are a homeowner, you are eligible. Simple as that. You can register online or in person at any one of their shows across the South Coast, like the Greater New Bedford Home Show, the Hyannis Rotary Home & Garden Show, the Plymouth Home Show, and the Bristol County Home & Garden Show.

What will the lucky winner receive? Your home will be wrapped in vinyl siding by industry leader, Mastic Home Exteriors. Their gorgeous Carvedwood 44 premium vinyl siding is very durable in all weather and has the appearance of natural wood. Care Free Homes is of course, a Mastic Elite contractor qualified to install this award winning siding.

Your roof will be replaced with the high quality GAF Timberline Lifetime Roofing System. GAF is North America’s largest manufacturer of commercial and residential roofing and they got that way by utilizing the finest and most rugged material available. Care Free Homes is one of the elite qualified contractors: they are a GAF MasterElite contractor and excel at doing exactly this so well, that they won the GAF Consumer Protection Excellence Award.

It doesn’t stop there: the winner will also receive Harvey Classic vinyl replacement windows for their home. Care Free Homes is the only Harvey Elite Dealer in the South Coast. Harvey has been producing world class windows for almost 60 years and are the region leader in engineering leak-proof, tough windows. The elite series, like all their windows comes with their industry-leading warranty: it covers the window and parts for life and a lifetime glass breakage warranty.

Can you imagine what your house would look like with new siding, new windows and a new roof? Care Free Homes turned last year’s winners home into a new home in just a few weeks – so you can watch in amazement how efficiently and expertly the experienced construction team works as your new home gets a makeover.

To get a glimpse of the quality of products Care Free Homes utilizes and the craftsmanship and pride that goes into their work, check out last year’s winner here Their green asphalt shingles were were replaced with Mastic’s Carvedwood 44 premium vinyl siding, English Wedgewood which gives the appearance of natural painted Cedar clapboard. Since their roof was in perfect shape, Care Free replaced the roof on their 2 car garage with a GAF Lifetime Roofing System’s Pewter Gray to match the roof of the house. The windows were replaced with Harvey’s energy efficient versions in a six over one grid pattern.

If the before and after images aren’t convincing enough, the response from the winning family and their glowing review on Care Free Home’s Facebook page and on Guild Quality should push you off the proverbial fence. You can see a video of the reveal here.

The homeowners raved: “The Mastic siding is gorgeous. Our beautiful new Harvey windows add so much curb appeal. The Timberline roofing tops it all off. The Care Free staff and crew were so wonderful and easy to work with! A fantastic family run business with great employees.” The young daughter of the family perhaps said it best: “They took our house from the ugly duckling to a beautiful swan.”

Want to enter to be just like this family? register online here. No purchase is necessary, simply fill out the registration form and click “submit” and you will then have a chance to to win a $25,000 home makeover courtesy of Care Free Homes.

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Care Free Homes Spotlight
239 Huttleston Avenue
Fairhaven, MA
Phone: 508-997-1111 or Toll Free: 1-800-407-1111
Email: info@carefreehomescompany.com

Hours of Operation:
Mon-Fri: 8:00am-5:00pm

Website: carefreehomescompany.com/
Facebook: facebook.com/carefreehomes
Twitter: twitter.com/makeitcarefree
Instagram: instagram.com/carefreehomesinc/
YouTube: youtube.com/user/carefreehomesinc

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With today’s technology, we often don’t realize how much we rely on an appliance until it’s on the blink. Often, we don’t get reminded of how reliant we are unless we lose power in a storm or car accident. Within an hour we begin to look at one another cross-eyed, so pull out board games, play cards or head out for a country ride. The other reminder is when we go on long camping trips and realize how convenient a microwave or refrigerator is.

Not being able to simply reach into a refrigerator, having to hang clothes on a line because the dryer is toast, or not being able to bake something because the oven no longer functions properly are minor first world inconveniences, but disruptive ones – especially if one has plans, has hundreds of dollars worth of food in a refrigerator that could spoil, or you are expecting guests.

When something does sputter out and no longer work, we set up an appointment with a large, super store. This is in spite of the fact that often they are so busy that they are booked days or even weeks out. Why should one suffer when there is a local, small business that does these things? A smaller business means you call each other by name, can build a rapport over the years, and can trust them to not refer you to the sales department to turn a repair call into a larger profit margin.

Pelletier’s Appliance Repair is a local, family business that has decades of experience in fixing appliances all across the South Coast from New Bedford, Fairhaven, Dartmouth, and Westport to Rochester, Wareham and Lakeville and beyond. Father Dennis Pelletier started Pelletier’s Appliance Repair over 40 years ago and his son Danny (and three brothers!) were “helping” dad out as far back as he can remember. In fact, he can’t remember a time when he wasn’t tinkering or learning. He continued his education in northern New York and by attending a trade school near Cleveland, Ohio.

The two fixed most brands of washers, dryers, dishwashers, ovens, stove refrigerators and more while providing that small business friendliness everyone loves. Once they worked their magic for someone, they were always called back – being familiar with a customer’s history and where they live makes the whole repair process much smoother. Not having a stranger come to your house or having a different person on each call isn’t popular for a reason. Everyone likes that friend that can swing by and fix something and that’s what the Pelletiers aim for. They want you to have the same feeling when you reach for the phone.

When Danny came of age and cut his teeth on the trade, he struck out on his own, but so proud of his father that he did not rename the business: his business is called Pelletier’s Appliance Repair 2nd Generation. Same wealth of knowledge and experience. Same reputation for speedy response, expert repair, reliability, and affordable prices.

The next time one of your appliances breaks down give one of the Pelletiers a call. After your first repair you’ll see how friendly, professional and affordable it is. You can then rely on the fact that that all future phone calls for appliance repair will be to a “friend.” Having a familiar face show up is just something you won’t get from a large super-store or chain. The convenience of saying “Danny – the washing machine is doing the same thing again.” and having him know exactly what that means, showing up with the right parts and tools means you are back up and running in no time at all.

I’ll never call a chain store or big department store and deal with aggressive salesmen trying to upsell me, push products I’m not interested in, try to replace a part I don’t need, or tack on expensive warranties. Or even try to convince me to replace my appliance that simply needs a repair.

I love small businesses, mom & pop stores, or one man-shows. It’s not that I think super-stores are a bad thing – I enjoy the choices, the massive inventories, and low prices -but there are some products or services that I’d rather get from the local folks. The Pelletiers have rescued us countless times – they are appliance “ninja.” I like that I can go about my business at home knowing that in the next 15-30 minutes I’ll hear those magic words “All set!”

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Pelletier Appliance Repairs & Pelletier Appliance Repairs 2nd Generation
1161 Victoria St,
New Bedford, Massachusetts 02745
Phone: 518.429.0834 (Call or Text)

Facebook: facebook.com/Pelletiers-Appliance-Repairs-2nd-Generation-1701535236735868/
Website: dpappliancerepairs.com/

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