767 Exchange is a brand new store in downtown New Bedford, located on 767 Purchase Street at the former Elaine’s retail store. I spoke to Andy Perrone about what to expect there.

Can you tell me about the store? How does this compare to Savers, Artificial Marketplace,or circa etc? Why a clothing store,do you have any experience in retail or fashion?

Andy: 767 Exchange is a clothing and accessory store. We have both new and used items along with some vintage. Instead of consignment we are doing something a little different, especially for the area. By exchange we mean customers may bring in their gently worn items in exchange for cash on the spot or store credit. We are always on the hunt for great pieces from estate sales and we also carry new merchandise.

We want to be more than a clothing store. Our mission is to also promote local art and music. We have contacted local artists and will be displaying their work throughout the store, as well as promoting local shows and music for area bands. We also invite musicians to perform right in the shop. It’s all about supporting the arts and local businesses in our community. We are quite different and more fashion savvy than your average thrift store. There is no scouring through thousands of racks to get that perfect “find.” Thats what we do. If your looking for something specific we are more than happy to find it for you. Just let us know. Its what we love to do.

One of our favorite local shops is Circa. We’ve been shopping there for 20 years. They have amazing merchandise. We on the other hand have some vintage, but we are not exclusively a vintage shop. This is our first venture into retail, but we think because of our experience, we will bring a whole new perspective to the industry.

Will you only have clothes or will you have instruments, CD’s, and records?

Andy: Mainly clothing, but probably some PA equiptment and instruments. We are not going to limit ourselves. If it’s cool and interesting it’ll be on the rack or shelves.

Who runs it? Will you keep day jobs for a bit until you get solvent or are you diving right in?

Andy: Charli Aubin and myself run the store. This has been a dream of hers since she was a little girl and I’ve wanted to open a business downtown for years, so I guess you could say its a labor of love. We will have to see how the store goes before making any decisions concerning our current jobs.

The facebook page says you will present events. Will you sponsor events at a bar or in the store? Is the store big enough to do a show?

Andy: We are planning on promoting events at local bars and venues, and have also set aside a corner of the shop complete with a full PA for live music from time to time. Space is going to be tight but that’s rock and roll.

Thanks Andy, and good luck with the store! Keep up with 767 Exchange news and information their Facebook Page. Hours will be Monday through Thursday from 11am-6pm; Friday and Saturday from 11am – 10pm.

Sample of items found in the 767 Exchange

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In a little city called New Bedford, in the State of Massachusetts strange things are happening. What was once a dilapidated city and looked at as literally the “armpit” of Massachusetts, there is now a spark.  It first started burning several years ago with a little bar and grille that falls under the initials of CW. Since that day, almost 10 years ago, this spark started growing with help from other new establishments RAAH, C, C, C, BOP, P37, GB, CCH, WG, SL, a Hotel, PFT, P, NP, HIB, an awesome historic theatre, the becoming of a National Park, CW, a college campus, nationally known Whaling Museum, UG, CA, FV, AW, B908, IS… just to name a few.

But this story isn’t about any of those places.  It’s about a new place that will soon be opening its doors for the first time, after having settled on the embers of a legendary establishment formally known as Elaine’s T-Shirts “The Black Whale”…. And from the ashes rises the 767 Exchange.

And what is the 767 Exchange? Taken directly from its Facebook page:

The 767 Exchange is a clothing store where items can be bought, sold and traded with our customers. Bring in your old favorites for trade or cash. Our inventory includes designer labels, vintage, jeans and current basics. You’ll also find brand new merchandise and accessories. We are all about supporting our local artists and musicians. We will be displaying work from local artists and promoting local events.

767 Exchange offers clothing and accessories for both men and women and is more contemporary than your regular thrift store. Our prices range widely depending on the label, style, condition and other factors. Many items average around $20.

Yes, it’s amazing… after growing up and graduating from the Saver’s revolution days of high school, and here it is, a designer thrift store. Savers for adults… ooo I think I just wee’d in my pants a little!

Located on Purchase Street, right between FV and Family Dollar and across the street from the PFT, there is now a place offering clothes for MEN & ladies (sorry ladies but there are plenty of women stores downtown, I’m focusing on this one for the guys).  Without a shred of clothing retail etched on their resumes, 767 is owned and operated by Andy “the dirty plumber” Peronne and Charli “too sexy” Aubin. Despite their lack of experience in retail, Andy the insists that, “hey it gives us more of a fresh feel.” The 767 Exchange was put together on a wing and a prayer (and a sprinkle of O’Toole-foolery). Although it will take more than that to make it, with the desire and passion that these two have, I think they’ll make it.

“Rather than being a chain retail store we can do what we want, set the store up however we want, and have a close connection with our customers,” stated Charli. I already know one customer they’ll have coming back. Andy and Charli, like many others, felt that “you shouldn’t have to go to Boston or Providence to check out cool alternative scene music/artist/clothing shops…hell, we are going to have a 24/7 open mic policy.  If you’re a local musician, and want to play, come by the shop any time we are open and set up.”

A touch of punk rock, with an alternative flair this little store plans to hold more than just clothing.  In fact retail will only be about ½ of what makes up 767 (if you haven’t gotten that impression yet).  As soon as you walk in you see a 1958 BSA in immaculate condition, a small stage for live bands in the corner, and local artists work hanging on the wall, this little space has got it all (sorry for rhyming). They are very adamant that this is not a consignment store. Customers buy, sell, and trade. If you want to get rid of something, and they want to buy it, they will,  but nothing is going to just sit on the rack to be sold.  All items that that people are willing to just leave (not worth any trade value) get donated to the local homeless shelters.

Just when you think this little store can’t fit any more onto its plate, once a month (most likely on AHA Nights) the 767 Exchange plans to hold a major music or art event to help support local artist and bring the local community together.

The grand opening of the 767 Exchange will be on May 10^th, 2012, the next AHA! Night. Hours will be Monday – Thursday from 11am-6pm; Friday and Saturday from 11am – 10pm, and are contemplating whether or not to be open on Sundays.

Make sure the next time you are downtown New Bedford, you take a moment to poke your head in the 767 Exchange. Who knows, you may end up trading the clothes on your back and walking out with a brand new outfit.

OOOO that spark is getting hot!

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Yesterday I caught up with tattoo shop owner Jeremy Gaudreau, a local businessman that recently opened his shop “Living Canvas” at 1881 Acushnet Avenue in New Bedford. He opened his doors four months ago and business is already booming.

Why open a shop in New Bedford?
There are about a dozen shops in Fall River, one in Acushnet, a bunch in Wareham, and other surrounding areas. New Bedford had one shop when I started the ball rolling and that one wasn’t officially open yet. There was a need for quality tattooing in New Bedford. People were leaving New Bedford and going to other places. Keep it local.

Everyone who comes in just got out of prison or is a biker, right?
Ha! No, our customers are soccer moms, grandmas, young people, old people, politicians, cops, doctors, you name it. There’s still a stigma that it’s criminals, but anyone who believes that is behind the times by about 15 years. Everyone knows someone with one.

I notice you have quite a few discounts and specials advertised. Tell us about them.
We have permanent and temporary ones. We always have a “hero” discount. Police, firemen, military, veteran…you get 25% off. Student? 15% off. If you enter your name and number in the box, once a month I randomly pull one out and that person gets a free portrait.

We have the infamous Harpoon Tattoo. Small, medium and large for $25, $50, and $75. A portion of that gets donated to charity.

I take it portraits are something you enjoy doing?
It’s my specialty. That and realistic images. There’s a bunch in the portfolio and on the Facebook page that people can see.

If I was new to get tattoos, what should I be looking for when I walk into a place? How do I know if the person is not a hack?
Well right away, when you walk in what condition is the place in? Is it a wreck? How clean is the front room? That will be an indicator. Is the artist friendly or act like you’re bothering him or her? Do they have portfolios available? Ask them where they apprenticed. Do they have artwork?

Do you mean tattoo artwork or art in general?
Yeah, regular art. The person should also be an artist….painting, drawing, sculpture, anything. You know they are practicing all the time and love doing it. The tattoo artist should be an artist first.

What kind of safety procedures do you have?
Well you have to be certified in CPR, bloodborne pathogens, skin physiology, and more. I have the autoclave and ultrasound machine and throw away EVERY needle. Single use only.

I see that you offer more than tattoos. Some clothing, jewelry….
We have a few brands of clothing made locally. Shirts, stocking hats, hoodies, etc. “Victim”, “Jubei” and “Brawlers, Inc.” Adam Wood from right down the road here hand crafts metal rings, bracelets, earrings, and necklaces. I also personally hand make my tattoo machines and we offer them too.

So how’s business? How has New Bedford been treating you?
Good, man. We just opened and I’m booked on average three weeks out and it’s growing. Of course, people cancel so depending on the size of the artwork, I do walk-ins so stop by.

What’s the best part of the job?
Besides not having a boss breathing down my neck, I love meeting all the interesting people. It’s a treat to hang out with the interesting characters and do something I love to do.

Where do you see “Living Canvas” in the next few years?
I’d like to add another artist and I’m working with the city to develop a piercing policy. As soon as the city works it out, I’ll be offering piercing. I’d like to make New Bedford known for quality tattooing. I already have people coming from Connecticut, Rhode Island, and even one girl flying in from Kansas to get a portrait in a few weeks. [Customer walks in.]

Oop. Gotta go!

Thanks for the interview Jeremy!
Anytime!

Living Canvas’ hours are from 11-10 Monday through Saturday. Gift certificates are available. Walk-ins can’t be guaranteed, so appointments are suggested. A $40 non-refundable deposit is required and 24 hour notice to re-schedule. Tattoos that take 30-60 minutes run from $50-$100, pricing for bigger art is posted. Portraits are a $350 flat rate. If you want to see satisfied customers, more artwork, and the clothing and jewelry, click like on his Facebook page: Living Canvas Tattoo

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I first met Pamela Whipple, or Bunny as she is known to her friends, having a blast last summer at AHA: Kids Rule! Not only was her booth filled with an array of brightly colored, hand-made, hula hoops, but it was also swarming with interested people of all ages, hooping the night away. Since then, I have watched her passion for hooping spread like fire and ignite into the flame that is The Hot Pink Health Coach. When the opportunity to learn more about her, and her ever-pulsating pursuit of health and hoopi-ness presented itself to me, I jumped on the chance.

Amanda: What exactly is Hot Pink Health Coach all about, aside from its obvious title?

Pam: The Hot Pink Health Coach Company is a fun, creative and comprehensive approach to nutrition and fitness for women that hate the gym. This approach means that stress, sleep, finances, relationships, creativity and community are observed to assess the best solutions for the client. Each session and program is specifically tailored for the woman I’m working with. I support them with their goals step-by-step at a pace they can handle. These sessions include fit hoop lessons, healthy shopping, cooking classes, books, a binder with handouts, e-support, supplement guidance, organic health and beauty, and more. Women who have worked with me not only lost weight, but have more energy, as well as a fitness routine that they love.

Amanda: As someone who hates the gym, I must say that sounds pretty amazing! What are some of the other services you offer?

Pam: A few FREE services I provide are Chakra Opening and a Health History Consultation. Your first session with me is free to see if we would like to work together which comes with a bonus tip. Chakra Opening is a holistic way to balance energy throughout the body and a great way to get started. I’m also planning on starting a FREE hoop group, Fit Hoop Challenge, in Buttonwood Park this spring.

Workshops on various topics, such as Sugar Cravings, Eating for Energy, Women’s Health, Weigh Less, and Live More are FREE. Group classes are offered for a fee of $10. And a Sampler Session, in which you choose three specific categories that you would like to discuss and receive information on, is $20.

A Six Months to Living Program is $95 per month, and you receive the full benefits of group support, changing your relationship with food, and creating a life they you will love. Six months is the recommended amount of time to solidify new habits into your life.

Amanda: Free workshops and fit hoop lessons? I’m sold! But I have to know, how did you fist become involved with the Hooper lifestyle? I mean most people are familiar with toy hula hoops, but I am almost certain that hooping as exercise is as foreign a concept to them, as it was to me last year.

Pam: Three years ago a dear friend of mine gave me a hula hoop as a gift after we reconciled a misunderstanding. A few months later this dear friend passed away from cancer.  This experience gave me the push to apply and attend The Institute of Integrative Nutrition. My classes were inspiring and full of information I needed, but I struggled with wanting to exercise. I don’t like to work out. I like to have fun. So I started to search for new ways to get moving. When I found Hoopnotica and Body Hoops it all came together. I couldn’t believe people were losing weight with their hula hoops! It was so fun!

I started with videos on YouTube because it was free. I also took a few classes with The Boston Hoop Troop. Within three months, I went from 140 pounds to 117.

Amanda: That’s so awesome! And now you make your own hoops! Could you tell me a little bit about some of the styles that you offer?

Pam: Our little shop offers hoops you can buy either online or in person at Ervanaria Estrela on Acushnet Ave in New Bedford. We offer fitness hoops, which are weighted to give you a great workout and they are much easier to keep up than toy hula hoops. We offer kids hoops as well! And this spring we will be releasing our first wave of LED hoops.

We decorate our hoops with special grip tape, glow tape, fabric and upcycled materials so our customers can create the hoop of their dreams. Our most popular hoops are the Purple Flash and the Tokidoki special edition.

Amanda: What are some important things to be aware of when choosing the right hoop?

Pam: When you choose a hoop, the most important part is choosing your size. Make sure that you have a hoop that will measure up to the mid chest area, especially if you are a beginner. Before you buy your hoop from someone, make sure that you message any questions you might have to the company. And most importantly, do not buy from someone that doesn’t return your emails in a timely fashion.

Amanda: I know you mentioned a free hoop group starting this spring, but would you mind briefly describing a hoop workout that is beginner friendly for the ambitious individual who can’t wait that long?

Pam: I recommend that people ready to start now pick up a hoop at a toy store and get on YouTube! If you are taller and much bigger than a child I recommend buying from us of course! Hoopnotica and Body Hoops are also great places to buy. Body Hoops has the best videos on YouTube for a beginner aerobic work out.

Good luck and Happy Hooping Everyone!

For more information on Pam’s workshops, or if you want to learn more about fitness hooping check her out at: http://hotpinkhealthcoach.com.

Location: 78 Wing Road, Acushnet, MA 02743
Phone: 508-348-4375
Payment Options: Cash, Credit/Debit, or Pay Pal accounts.
Owner’s Name: Pamela Whipple

The New Bedford Crawler Series: New Bedford as seen by the people who live and work there.

As I stepped out of my car on a fall morning in downtown New Bedford, I was drawn by the strong salty smell of the ocean and the omnipresent cry of the local seagulls.

I was looking forward to my interview with Stuart Frank. As curator of the New Bedford Whaling Museum, I thought that he might have an interesting perspective on local history. After all, isn’t whaling what New Bedford’s history is all about?

I was not to be disappointed.

Stuart’s office is in the New Bedford Whaling Museum Research Library, located at 791 Purchase Street. His day is filled mainly with research, writing and meetings. He feels that this schedule, only partly accomplished at the museum library, might be atypical for a museum curator and he enjoys the opportunity to spend so much time on writing. Curator Frank also does lectures on subjects such as scrimshaw. Part of Mr. Frank’s job is to distinguish between the artwork made by whalers and the artwork made about them. It is the former which he values most.

Due to the extensive collection of whaling records, the library is used by scholars from all over the world. Museum members (and the general public for a small fee) can use the library to research local history, whaling logs and follow up on family genealogy. “We try to shame them into it,” Frank chides, noting the value of the library records to collectors in particular.

When Americans started whaling in the 17th century, Europe, Korea and Japan had already been whaling for 5,000 years. But soon New Bedford became such a strong hub in the US whaling industry that, according to Frank, when a whaling ship arrived in New Bedford half of its crew would be made up of local residents. New Bedford also had a strong influence on other U.S. whaling ports such as those in California.

Being a writer himself, Stuart was able to easily hit on and clarify his most important points. “The museum isn’t about killing whales, it isn’t even about whales, it is about people and whales, but mostly about people,” according to Frank. “Frankly, I am not that interested in [the science of] whales, I am interested in people.”

“I have personally met half-a-dozen people who were born on whaling ships. It was normal for a person from New Bedford to have been to Africa, the South Pacific, New Zealand or the Coast of Alaska and Japan.” Frank notes the sophistication encountered in some countries such as New Zealand and similar cosmopolitan qualities found in the New Bedford population as a result of worldwide travel.

“New Bedford and Nantucket in the late 18th century and through the 19th century were the only places in the world, and the first places in human history, where there were black people in charge and white people working for them. This included actual African immigrants, not just slaves. The Portuguese population from the Cape Verde islands imparted a whole different flavor than anyplace else in the U.S. This was a place where people of color, including immigrants from foreign countries and those who spoke foreign languages, could come and get a job for the same pay as a white guy and eventually become the boss. This is something that we generally haven’t [as a country] quite fully achieved in the 21st Century.”

“I dispute the notion that New Bedford was part of the underground railroad. New Bedford was a destination of the underground railroad. If a black person got here, they could get a job. Until the Fugitive Act was upheld by the Supreme Court in 1854, New Bedford was the only place that a black person, a person of color [or someone of a different religion than the current majority at the time] had the opportunity to live the American Dream. It was whaling and the industry surrounding whaling that made all of this possible.”

Stuart went on to tell of the first African-American capitalist, Paul Cuffee, who was from Westport, Massachusetts. He started out as a sailor and boat builder, and from that he “built himself a little empire.” Before he died in 1817, he had been a correspondent with President Madison and a leader in the Back to Africa Movement.

“Twenty-one years later in 1838, by the time that Frederick Douglass got to New Bedford, he couldn’t get a job because the owners of shipyards were afraid that if they hired a black guy, the white guys wouldn’t work. By the time Frederick Douglass made his reputation as an orator and moved to Rochester, New York in 1841, there were plenty of black guys working in the shipyards.”

Stuart Frank is also a musician and music historian. “You needed 35 guys on a whale ship, because you had to hunt whales at some point, but to manage the ship you only needed 12 or 14. So they wrote poems and journals. They sang songs. My interest is in the songs.”

Mr. Frank founded the Sea Music Festival at Mystic Seaport and the Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival symposium.

The New Bedford Whaling Museum was founded in 1903 as the Old Dartmouth Historical Society. The museum library’s Kendal Collection was added ten years ago to an already extensive local inventory. According to Stuart, the combination is a “knockout.”

Stuart will be curating an exhibition that will open less than a year from now currently titled “Seven Seas and Seven Continents.” He also has books coming out including a new song book which will be named “Jolly Sailors Bold.”

So after my visit with Stuart Frank, curator, writer, historian, musician and scholar, I realized that my biggest problem was getting all of our interview down to a short story and a few related photos. As Stuart mentioned during the interview, “You can’t do it all.” The notion seemed a bit ironic, coming from someone who has come quite close to doing just that.

To be continued I am sure.

Check out Ed’s previous spotlight on Joe Jesus.

As the city of New Bedford prepares for the fast-approaching screening of local director Jay Burke’s film “Whaling City” on September 24, NewBedfordGuide.com talked with the film’s writer and director, Jay Burke.  Also, see our recent interview with the film’s star P.J. Sosko.

New Bedford Guide (NBG): Tell me about you and your connection to the area and how you got interested in film.

Jay Burke (JB): I was born in the area, in New Bedford, and grew up in Dartmouth.  I went to Dartmouth High School.  I have a big family here. I went to school out in the mid-west, to Notre Dame for my undergraduate degree, and was an economics major.  Then I started working in Chicago right after college.  I worked out there for a couple years, then I went to Sydney, Australia where I did some consulting.  I was there for almost four years.  It was just a random opportunity that presented itself, you know, I was young, not tied down by anything.  While I was there, I started taking night classes for screen writing.  That was about 1995 or 1996.  I took some still photography classes, too.  It was about that point where I thought I was really interested in film-making and the process.  After three and a half years, I came back to the states, working for the same company out of the Boston office.  During that year, I applied to film schools.  Columbia was my first choice.  You do about two years of classes, but you’re attached to the university for about five years.  It’s not intensive; you’re working on screenplays, taking night classes, and working.  I was working for an ad agency doing some web stuff.  It was while I was at Columbia that I conceived the idea for Whaling City and wrote the first draft while I was a student there.

NBG: So this is your first big film project, officially?

JB: Yes.  I worked on a bunch of student stuff while at Columbia, and one short film in Australia.  But nothing that was ever intended to be really robust or audience-ready.  So this is my first feature film and my first major film.

NBG: How did Whaling City begin?  Why this story?  Tell me about the writing and research involved

JB: At Columbia we’re required to have a thesis feature script.  A lot of people naturally had ideas for their feature scripts.  There’s a lot of diversity at Columbia.  It was really important to me not to recycle the story from somewhere else.  I couldn’t say there was one event that led me to the story, but it was at a time I was back visiting here, I think it was Thanksgiving.  I was just kind of walking the streets downtown in New Bedford, and the fog rolled in, and it just kind of hit me like, ‘Wow, this place is really cinematic.  There’s a ton of history here and there has to be a story here that’s original that I can connect to and get excited about.’  Right around that time there were some earliest publicity coming out about the struggles of commercial fishing.  I think it was about 1999.  There was a four-part series about commercial fishing in New England in the Boston Globe.  There started to be stories locally here by the Standard-Times.  I started to read that stuff and realized that there were some real contemporary stories going on right under our noses right here in New Bedford.  The impression I got at the time was that the fishermen didn’t have much of a voice or unified voice.  I wasn’t trying to be too political with it, but I thought it was a story about something real, with real conflict. So that was the seedling of the project.  Why this story?  I think it’s because it’s intrinsically connected to the area. I never really had the desire to go out to L.A. and work on big studio films or anything like that.  It’s the process of the filming that’s more interesting to me, not the industry itself.  The experiences I’ve had working small and independently have been a lot more rewarding than the limited occurrences I’ve come in contact with concerning the larger industry.

NBG: How did you get funding for the project?

JB: At that time, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, which historically has financed documentaries, like on PBS, started to put up money for small, independent narrative projects.  I submitted for a production grant, which would serve as seed money for the film.  In 2005, the Sloan administrators liked it, but I didn’t win the big production grant.  I got a $10,000 screen-writing award, which to me was kind of a way to say keep developing the script.  It has some promise.  That’s when I kicked it into gear, and instead of writing across three different screen plays, I focused on the one and really tried to get it to the point where it was ready.  It was late in 2007 when the feature film production grant came from Sloan.  That was really the beginning of the production, the fact that the production was going to be real.

NBG: Was the funding exclusively through Sloan, or did you get money from other sources?

JB: Most of the funding came through Sloan.  I used a good amount of my money that will end up going unaccounted for, for various things.  I couldn’t even begin to add up those numbers.  At one point we had a good amount of interest and some moderate [outside] investment, and that was around September of 2008.  If you look at the Dow at that time, that was basically when everything bottomed out, so the timing couldn’t have been worse for us.

NBG: Were these investors private individuals or companies?

JB: They were private.  We were working to pushing the project forward when everyone was pulling back.  The Sloan administrators were eager to see the project start and they were patient with us.  We were concerned that if we dragged the project out any longer that the Sloan people would feel we were wearing out their patience.  So we just decided to pull the trigger.  We didn’t trim the script too much, didn’t trim the characters too much, and in retrospect, probably set out to shoot too ambitious of a film for the budget that we had.  At that point the important thing was just making that decision and not turning back from it.  That’s been the guiding principal since then, is just to continue to press forward no matter what the obstacles, and there were a lot of obstacles.

NBG: What kind of obstacles?

JB: Well, I mean we were doing something fairly unconventional, in terms of shooting in the working environments of commercial fishing.  A lot of the boats didn’t know what their schedules would be, so in terms of scheduling a film, which can impact tons of things, like budget.  We only had a certain amount of flexibility with weather and things like that.  We had boats we were going to shoot on that were going to go out fishing that shuttered up and stopped fishing in short span of time we had to shoot.  Other boats’ schedules would change based on the weather and that would change our schedule.  It’s also a lot more difficult to schedule with such a large cast.  Those were just some of the big production hurdles.  A lot of this stuff is solved in larger productions with money, but money was something we didn’t really have any flexibility with and that tends to exacerbate a lot of the problems.  So you come up with creative ways how to solve those problems.  One of those was the issue of the protagonist’s boat.  It was really about six boats that we shot on.  We used different areas of different boats a la carte to construct one boat.

NBG: You feature a lot of locally and nationally famous landmarks around the city, as well as a few local businesses.  How did you get these people involved with the project?

JB: A lot of it was just one-on-one, meeting people and introducing the story to people.  We let some people read the script.  We had a few people who were lynch-pins in helping introduce us to various people, business owners and people like that.  Phil Mello is the president of the New Bedford Port Society and he helped us with several locations in terms of getting permission to shoot at the Mariner’s Home and such.  There were people with the city of New Bedford, like the mayor’s office, and the economic development council who helped introduce us to a lot of local businesses.  And a lot of it was just crew members knocking on doors and making phone calls.  There’s something to be said for the community in terms of the level of support they provided because, for the most part, almost everybody was very cooperative.  We explained we didn’t have much of a budget, and it was rare for anyone to ask for a big chunk of change and not let us shoot there otherwise.  People in tenement houses and businesses were all superb, accommodating, and generous.  We never would have had the variety of interesting locations that we were able to get without their help.

NBG: There are a lot of local people featured in the movie, did you have any local people working on the crew?

JB: Oh yeah.  The guiding principal behind most of the decisions that we made was to go local whenever we could, and we did that.  I think we held really true to that.  There are also a handful of local actors we brought in from a local casting call back in March of 2010.  We posted ads in some of the trade publications and got about five very experienced crew members from the greater New Bedford area to work on the project, as well as people from Middleboro, Rehoboth, and the Cape.  If somebody was qualified and we thought we could work well with them, we wanted to keep it local.  We used a casting company up in Boston to get some real New England actors, and we held some independent casting sessions down in New York.  Some of the music, too, is by a local guy who plays in New Bedford all the time, but I haven’t announced that yet.

NGB: From the beginning of the project up until today, can you think of any particular experience or instance that stands out to you that changed the way you thought about what you were doing?

JB: I think the real moment that was a totally new experience for me was when things start to gel and you see things connect in the wider context.  I think that’s one of the more rewarding things.  It’s never exactly how you originally envisioned it, but as far as I’m concerned, I enjoy that process of discovery.

A public screening of Whaling City will be shown at the Zeiterion Theater starting at 8 p.m., Saturday September 24th. Details can be found here and tickets can be purchased on the Zeiterion’s website. Keep up-to-date on the film by subscribing to the Whaling City Facebook page or by visiting their website.

Whaling City Trailer

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The New Bedford Crawler Series: New Bedford as seen by the people who live and work there.

When Joe Jesus walks into the Shawmut Diner, he is welcomed like a soldier returning home.  As he passes through the front doors he immediately gets a “Hi Joe!” from both of the waitresses.  Once in the diner, he is recognized by other customers and greeted by them as well.  He sits down amidst the smell of fresh French fries for our interview.

You might recognize Joe as well if you attended one of the “Joe Jesus 50’s Nights” in downtown New Bedford that he has held for the past 20 years.  If you were downtown for this year’s event he was hard to miss as he looked a lot like Elvis.  Joe tells me that he had many requests for photos.  He notes that he needed a good deal of black hair dye to play the part.

“It is a strictly family-oriented event,” chimes Joe.  “No booze, no wine at all.  We had dancers on the street.”

It’s obvious that Joe Jesus enjoys people.  He must also trust them as well.

“If you do something for yourself, you can be let down.” Says Joe. “When you do it for everyone, God is not going to let everyone down.”

Joe started his work life as a car salesman for Ashley Ford.  He dresses sharp, like you might expect a salesman to.  His white hair would make him appear to be in his sixties perhaps.  Joe is an “everyone’s friend” kind of guy.  I think that I would have bought a car from him.

When Mustangs were produced in 1965, Joe started a Mustang Club, but their was so much interest in cars that he had to change it to a sports car club.  Then came a time that would test his influence.  In the sixties, drag racing became popular and there were numbers of complaints about “hot-roders” racing on Shawmut Avenue and Route 140.  Joe talked to City Counselors at the time David Nelson, Mike Merrolla and Mayor George Rogers, and convinced them to organize racing by creating a legal venue for it at the industrial park.

“I formed a club called the New Bedford Performance Enthusiasts,” claims Joe, “and on Sunday afternoons we would all race at the industrial park.  The crowd was so big that they asked me to bring it some place else.  I said yes, so the following year we went to North Terminal down by the waterfront.  It just got too big though. Parties were coming from out of town and out-of-state so we just had to stop.  It was just too big for the area.  We did one year at the North terminal but it it was just too much with the crowds, the cars and the police with their dogs and the “Jaws of Life.”

“Reach for something within reach and you accomplish nothing,”says Joe.  “Reach for something out of reach and you’ll accomplish something.  When you stay involved with many things, it keeps you going.”

One of Joe’s most interesting story is about his peanut shop and how he became successful with it.

“I bought the Bristol Building in 1978, and I owned a peanut shop.  Everybody loved the peanut shop talked about it” says Joe.  “We turned on the roasters at 10 a.m.  The aroma was all over the street.  The high school was at the top of the hill on County Street.  The kids would come from school and they would catch the bus on Purchase Street at either Cherry’s or Merchant’s Bank.  Both were close to the peanut shop.  The “Peanut Man” would sometimes give peanuts to the kids.  At Christmas time I would buy one pound tins.  By the time all of the doctors, lawyers and businessmen had bought a tin for their secretaries, we would have sold thousands of them.  Not just in New Bedford, but all over the area.  At one time I had three shops, but it was too difficult to keep up with them all.”

All of the above might seem to explain Joe’s huge success at selling peanuts.  But Joe also said that he put the peanut roaster in the window and placed a fan under the roaster that blew air out through a vent.

“To keep the roaster cool,” I ask?

“No, to make sure the aroma went out into the street.”

Joe retired from the peanut shop eight years ago.  The building is now owned by No Problemo Taqueria, which has expanded to two rooms.

Joe also describes a restaurant he ran from 1979 to 1984 with a romantic flair.  “Jonad’s was a very elegant Victorian restaurant, “says Joe. “We had 15 waiters, most from SMU.  They were all dressed in tuxedos.  You could come in with your wife and sit in one of the love seats.  The waiters would come up and ask your favorite song and sing it to you.”

At times when he is alone, Joe Jesus looks in the mirror.  He wants to convince himself that he is heading in the right direction with his projects, such as the 50’s Night.  To his reflection, he says: “Hey, I’m going to do this.”

He wants to find out if his reflection will agree with him.  Only occasionally has his reflection disagreed.

Our conversation returns to Joe’s 50’s Night, which Joe started in 1991.  Before Joe’s 50’s Night, the United Way ran a smaller 50’s night in the Bank of America parking lot until they decided to cease organizing the event.

“I don’t ask our vendors (he means the commercial ones) for a fee, I ask them for a percentage of what they make.  I don’t say what the percentage is, because everybody deals out of their heart.  I just feel that there are more good people out there that there are bad.”

Joe’s 50’s nights happen each year on the third Thursday in July with a rain date of the third Thursday in August.  Non-profits can vend what they choose and keep what they sell.

“I like the money to stay local” says Joe.

Joe is very pleased with the 50’s Nights of the past few years.  More and more women and young girls have been showing up in poodle skirts.  Slowly, even the men have been donning 50’s garb, such as T-Shirts and Jeans.  Women can rent or buy the skirts from Eleane’s T-Shirts on Purchase Street.

Victor Ponseita brings about 40 adults to the event.  Victor and company practice their jitterbug maybe 5 to 6 weeks in preparation for the 50’s Night.  Cheryl McCormac’s Dance Studio performs “Happy Days” dancing.  The student’s ages range between 5 and 16.

“People can get on a trolley that runs up and down Union Street,” says Joe.  “They get off of the trolley, the music is playing and the dancers are dancing.  They do the Stroll and the Jitterbug – and the exciting part is, they get all of the people involved that are just standing around.”

Many others help with the event.  This year, the Firefighters Local 841 sold hot dogs for the Neediest Family Fund, The Salvation army and The Orpheum Theater.  Performers and sponsors all have their spots downtown including Johnny Angel, a DJ; Sparkle (DJ), The Voyage (band); Bob Bramwell and Cuz’s Car Club; Russ Peterson (DJ); The Klassics (band); Joe Barklay and the Corvette Car Club; Pat Mello as “The Jazzy Lady” and the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts.

Butch Remos, according to Joe, has the hardest job.  He parks the classic cars.

“They all do a tremendous job,” says Joe.  “More and more people get involved each year.  Local cables Channel 18 and videographer George Oliviera do a fantastic job at covering the event. ”

The event has benefited many organizations through the years including The United Way, Muscular Dystrophy, Make a Wish and the Veterans Transition House.

Joe has tried running the 50’s Night in previous years by committee, but he found that this method became too much of a mess.  “I’m a one-man band,” Joe says.  He is more comfortable running the event himself and allowing performer, vendor or club manager to run their own part of the event.

Joe Jesus has had to work through some major setbacks.  His daughter Valerie passed away in 1990 and this past year his wife passed away as well from lung disease.  Joe still held his yearly event, but canceled a planned repeat event on August 21st.  “It was too much,” says Joe.  He still uses the graphics designed by his daughter to promote the 50’s Night.

Along with Joe, Joe’s wife ran a Victorian Christmas Caroling and Hayride event at the Campbell School while she was alive.

During our interview, Joe gets up to take a cell phone call.  He insists that I finish my hamburger.  I easily oblige.  It is a surprisingly good hamburger for a diner. The call is from Phil Paleologos.  Phil has a daily program on local radio WBSM and owns the Shawmut Diner.  Joe and Phil do a 50’s radio show together on Wednesday mornings at 10 a.m. called “Down Memory Lane.”

Joe hands the phone to me.  Phil wants people to know about the upcoming benefit at the Council on Aging in Acushnett (59 1/2 South Main Street). He says it will be called “Lincoln Park Remembered” and will be held over the Labor Day weekend.  Phil describes what Joe will be wearing when he sits for the dunk tank at the benefit.  I think that this might be news to Joe.  Especially the speedo.

By about 2 p.m. Joe and I are the only customers left in the diner.  A lanky young man appears at the door, looking inquisitive.  He looks at me, probably assuming that I am the younger of the two.  His rare ’93 Honda Del Sol is parked outside, right next to Joe’s.  The discovery of a matching car has made his day.  We get up to take a look at the cars.  The young man has taken the convertible top off of his on this sunny day: it neatly fits in the trunk.

“You never see other people with these,” says Joe.  “They were only made in ’93 and ’94.  Every time I go out with it, some young guy wants to buy it from me.”

“Be ready when the flow comes to you,” says Joe.

The day after our interview, I listened to Joe and Phil’s radio show.  Phil posed a humorous question to Joe about Joe himself: “When Joe Jesus lands in the dunk tank, how may hairs on his head will be out of place?”

Joe laughs and replies without hesitation, “Not a single one.”

50’s Night New Bedford Image gallery

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Mattapoisett native, Devon Barley, took a chance, headed out for an audition to pursue his dream, singing. He landed a spot on the new show “The Voice”, hoping to make it all the way. The Voice, airing for the first time this year, with judges, Adam Levine, Cee Lo Green, Christina Aguilera and Blake Shelton, had to judge contestants with their back turned only to listen to the contestant sing, not seeing the them and making a judgment on their voice. Devon came on and sang “I’m yours” by Jason Mraz, although the judges did not turn right away, Devon kept on singing until finally Adam Levine and Cee Lo Green turned around. Impressed with his talent both judges wanted Devon to be on their team, but the choice was up to Devon himself. He chose to go with team Adam taking one spot of eight available. Once each judge filled the eight spots making a team the next step is to pair up two members of the same team and have a face off.

Devon made it past the first face off against team member Rebecca Loebe, a folk singing Berkley graduate traveling for the past four years playing at venue after venue. Feeling relieved at making it, he now knew that the stakes were higher and the competition was harder, for he was going to the next round facing Casey Weston, Jeff Jenkins, and Javiar Colon. In the quarter finals Devon chose “Stop and Stare” by One Republic, his coach Adam revealed that he had improved by showing confidence while the other judges loved his performance. On the next episode Adam Levine had to choose who will stay, while one of the other members is saved by voting. Javiar Colon won the most votes by America to stay on, it then came down to Devon, Casey, and Jeff. Adam rambled on about how “it wasn’t in his fiber to have to chose only one”, but he ultimately ended up choosing Casey Weston. Team Adam won the competition; Javiar Colon took the hearts of America and claimed the winning spot.

This isn’t the end of Devon Barley, I had the opportunity to interview Devon Barley on his experience on The Voice and this is what he revealed:

What were you thinking when you were trying out and the judges didn’t turn around right away? Or did you not even realize and just continued to sing focusing on your performance.
I definitely knew that the judges weren’t turning around. As a matter of fact I couldn’t even focus on singing because of how nervous I was. The funny part is that it didn’t get any better when they turned around, mostly because the realization that I was singing to Adam Levine and Cee Lo scared the daylights out of me.

If all the judges turned around, who would you have picked? Or did you have one in mind already?
If all the judges turned around, I still would have gone with Adam. He was always my number one choice so you can imagine how happy I was when he turned around for me.

How was it to compete against someone on your own team? Would you rather have come face to face against someone on another team?
The simple answer: very hard. Competing against someone on my team was so hard because you knew that you were working hard to get them eliminated. It’s also hard when you have to work so much together and you can’t help but to start getting close. I would have rather battled someone on a different team for sure.

Are you staying in touch with any of the other contestants?
I actually stay in touch with most of the top 16. When you live, breath and eat “The Voice” there is a huge bonding effect, especially when you live together in the same hotel for months.

Who inspired you to sing? Who is your mentor in the music industry?
I was actually inspired by my Dad to sing. Playing and singing was a hobby of his and he passed it on to me when he urged me to try out for a musical group called “Showstoppers” when I was a kid. I got hooked and since then have been singing for about 10 years.

Would you like to be judge someday on “The Voice” or some other type of show?
I would absolutely love to be a coach on “The Voice”. They get to interact with some extremely talented people and help them progress to the next level as fully fledged artist. I mean come on, who wouldn’t want to sit in those big red chairs?

Do you feel that you have a new perspective about life? Is your outlook different than before going on the show?
I would definitely say that my outlook on life has changed since the show. I gained a priceless amount of confidence, experience and knowledge that allowed me to realize that this dream of mine is not as far away as I thought.

Now that you are a local celebrity what about the band you were with before the show?
I really don’t call myself a celebrity at all. Once I do something for myself without the help of a show like this, then you can call me that. As for the band that I was with before the show, 22 Foot Drop, we are first and foremost best friends. We started taking a break because we all split to different colleges, but music is still alive in our hearts and I’m sure we’ll get back in the studio at some point.

Do you plan to relocate to follow your dream of being in the music industry?
My plans right now are in total flux. I really was expecting to go back to school without really missing a beat, but the show has opened some doors that make me question if I should go back. If it works out and I need to move because of it, I’m willing to go wherever it takes.

Do you have advice for someone that has a dream of being a singer?
The best advice I have to give to aspiring singers is practice hard, play hard and work hard. If you’ve given it everything you’ve got, at the end of the day you should have something pretty special.

Will you be doing any performances or appearances locally?
As far as local appearances go, all I have to say is stay tuned. I’m workings on some things right now and definitely don’t plan on just going away so follow dcbarley on twitter and I’ll keep you guys updated!

Is it hard to go in public and not be noticed?
I still think it’s funny whenever people come up to me and want my picture or autograph. What’s even funnier is when people just stare. I know why you are staring please just come up to me and say hello. I’m a nice person and it’ll be a lot less awkward for the both of us!

Is there a singer or band you would like to work with?
I would love to work with James Morrison. I love the crazy unique tone he has and to be able to work with a guy who has that much soul in his voice would be awesome!

Now that the show is over, what are your parent’s choices? Are they pushing for college?
Right now, my dream is singing. My goals however are a little mixed because of the huge pull I have to go back to school. My parents are very supportive people and I really can’t thank them enough for everything they’ve done for me. Whatever I decide to do I know I’ll be supported and that feels good!

How did you spend the 4th of July?
Well, on 4th of July I sang the Star Spangled Banner. And between you and me, I messed up! It was so embarrassing but luckily it was only a slight trip up and I got back on track on track without too many people noticing. That song is so hard to sing for some reason, just ask Christina!

Youth sports leagues:  They are taken for granted when you are younger and playing in them, but sorely missed as your get older and your waistline expands.  The South Coast area has all sorts of these leagues, like Mariner Youth Soccer, Little League, and M.Y.A.A. basketball.  Those are the leagues I am familiar with from growing up in Rochester.  Kids today are a bit luckier than I was in that they now have more choice: namely, i9 Sports.

i9 Sports is a sports provider that offers a variety of sports to kids from the ages of 4 to 14.  The leagues are open to anyone, and everyone is welcome.  There are absolutely no tryouts or drafts in i9 Sports leagues, and each child receives 50% or more of playing time every game.   With i9, every child gets the benefit of playing on a team, regardless of size, gender, or ability.  By providing an outlet where kids can have a great time, make new friends, and get some exercise in a safe environment, it will ultimately help them throughout their life.

Peter Pacheco is the Program Director for i9 Sports New Bedford/Dartmouth.  He was born and raised in the New Bedford area, and had always felt that the community could use a different type of sports league, and that’s where i9 Sports fits in. Peter and his wife Rachel are on the field every week that the leagues are running, so you can always find them and talk to them. The leagues are run in New Bedford, but children from any town are always welcome!

The first league started locally was Flag Football in October of 2009, and it had a great turnout.  Since the beginning, i9 has offered Flag Football and Soccer in the Spring and Fall at Buttonwood Park, and Basketball in the Winter.  They will be offering a variety of more sports in the coming  months, starting this July with their Summer Camp (see below), which includes sports like Kickball, Wiffle Ball, and Ultimate Frisbee!

You may have thought about registering your child to play in a sports league, but why should you choose i9?  What makes them different?

There are many things that make i9 stand out above the rest:  Mainly their focus being on fun, safety, and convenience.  i9’s primary goal is making sure that every child is having a great time when participating in their leagues, and that they are building confidence, making new friends, and learning what good sportsmanship is all about!

Of course, they haven’t forgotten about the parents and their very busy schedules!  One of i9’s main goals is to make their leagues as easy and convenient as possible!  They do this by holding practices and games all on the same day; same time, same place.  You will only have to give an hour and ½ to two hours of your time once a week!  And if for any reason you cannot make it for practice, your child will still be able to participate in the game with absolutely no penalties.

Though they appreciate help from parents that want to volunteer and participate by coaching or being a team helper, volunteering is never mandatory.  Best of all – you will never be asked to raise any money: you pay the registration fee, and will never be asked to do any fundraisers.  We all know that half the time you end up buying the entire box of chocolates yourself anyway!!!

One other benefit of being a part of the i9 experience is that every week of the entire season there is always on-site staff.  There is a canopy setup at each location where if you have a question or an issue, you can simply walk up to the desk and ask!

i9 strives to provide the best possible youth sports leagues:  Fun for the kids, and convenience for the parents – and a whole lot of memories for all!

If you haven’t already registered as a member for FREE, do so today and get up to date information on all of our upcoming leagues, and any discounts that they may be offering.

Please contact Rachel or Peter at 508-998-2868, or ppacheco@i9sports.com, with any questions or comments.

Upcoming Sports

Summer Camp: $55.00

i9’s Summer Camp will be running every Saturday from July 16^th – August 6^th from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. (2 hours for each division).  They’ll be playing sports like KICKBALL!  WIFFLE BALL!  SPUD!  and ULTIMATE FRISBEE!  For our last day of camp they will be having a fun day filled with exciting games like Sack Races, Three-Legged Races, Wheel Barrow Races, and more!

Flag Football and Soccer: $115.00 by 7/11;  $125.00 by 8/8;  $140 after 8/8
Offering Flag Football and Soccer this Fall in the West End of New Bedford at ButtonWood Park, running every Saturday from September 10th through October 29^th (Flag Football times will range from 9a.m. – 1p.m, and Soccer from 2pm – 6pm).  Your start time depends on your child’s age; the younger children start earlier, and the older children finish up the day

Basketball: $100 by 9/12;  $115.00 by 10/10;  $125.00 by 11/7;  $140.00  by 11/7

i9 will be offering Basketball this Winter in the North End of New Bedford at Normandin Junior High School, running every Saturday from December 3rd through Febuary 4th, with times ranging from 9a.m. – 1p.m.

The southern coastal region of Massachusetts offers some of the finest sailing waters on the East Coast. Whether competing in 50-foot-plus racing yachts from Newport, Rhode Island to Bermuda every other June or maneuvering single-handed Optimist dinghies around inflatable buoys, sailing on the South Coast impresses many.

Once the sport of the more privileged, learning to sail is now within the reach of children and adults thanks to a group of passionate sailors determined to bring their sport to the masses. With pride and dedication, the team at the Community Boating Center in Clarks Cove, New Bedford, understands that sailing offers more than just a fun ride. It is a sport that teaches courage, endurance, team work and mental alertness…skills critical for success in life.

The beginnings of the Community Boating Center, or “CBC” as it is affectionately known, date back to the mid- ’90s when area social worker JoAnn Clarke recognized that many area children had little to do in the summer. With her interest in sailing, the concept of using the sport to help kids was born.

The growth of the CBC and its programs has been remarkable for a primarily volunteer based organization. In 1998, the program incorporated as a 501(c) (3) public charity “dedicated to enriching the lives of area youth by exposing them to a new and challenging environment built upon a foundation of trust and respect.” The coastal setting of New Bedford made it the perfect location for area youth to expand their lives from the streets and tenements to the waters of their neighborhoods. The program’s focus on safety, fun and education transforms the daily lives of many well beyond the summer.

Simply put, the Community Boating Center uses sailing to teach life skills to local kids. Kids who may not learn about trust, respect, good judgment and teamwork in their personal lives for a myriad of reasons can acquire these skills while holding a tiller and a mainsheet.

Sailing requires attention to detail, physical strength, cooperation and respect of the marine environment. There is no room for disrespect and bad choices. In combination, kids come to CBC to learn to sail while having fun and learning some powerful lessons about life.

Sarah Hitchcock of Dartmouth previously worked with the CBC programs. Her experience and skill goes beyond the boats she so handily maneuvers with the kids.  “We are mentors to the kids and positive role models so it isn’t just about sailing” Hitchcock, a former Tabor Academy and University of Hawaii sailor explains.

The sailing programs at CBC have grown immensely over the past years, indicating just how popular and beneficial the organization is. Sailing instruction designed to meet the needs of children from age five through adulthood is offered in numerous types of boats.“We sail all types of boats to match the different programs. Sonars, a 23-foot stable and roomy boat is perfect for adults. Vanguard 420s are quick and responsive and the intermediate and advanced kids love them,” Hitchcock explains.

The fleet also includes eleven Catalina Capris, a 14 foot sloop perfect for honing the skills of introductory sailing and four Laser Picos for more advanced learning.

The ever popular Optimist sailing dinghy designed for sailors weighing between 50-120 pounds.  It has become the world standard for introductory junior trainers. In an Opti, learning the skills of sail handling and boat maneuvering serves as a foundation for sailing all other boats.

In addition to instructional programs, CBC offers Monday night racing in the Club 420s and Sonar classes. Sailors can sign up for a series for $50 or on a per race basis for $20.

Filling a huge need in the area, sailing at CBC has become an intramural sport for UMass-Dartmouth students as well as offering after school sailing for kids in the seventh through twelfth grades.

“High school sailing represents the fastest growing segment of sailing in the United States,” Hitchcock says explaining that students from Nativity Prep have been coming to CBC for quite some time.

The future of the Community Boating Center is bright. An artistic rendition of the Master Plan proudly hangs on the wall of the Clarks Cove facility. Supported through program fees, grants and the spirit of volunteerism, CBC’s annual fundraiser takes place each May to kick off the sailing season. The event, known as the “Opening of the Bay” raises scholarship money for inner city kids wanting to benefit from their many programs. The well attended and exciting event is synonymous with the unofficial start of the boating season and is embraced by many area sailors and CBC supporters.

The Community Boating Center will no doubt take numerous tacks as it continues to grow and flourish into the future but the way in which it empowers kids will always be at its core.  To learn more about the programs and to support the wonderful work being done, visit www.communityboating.org . This organization proves that together we can improve the world even if it’s one little boat at a time.