Fairhaven and Mattapoisett Chippi lover’s have been waiting almost 2 years for Mirasol’s Fairhaven location to open. That location hit some speed bumps which delayed the opening which was originally planned for last year.

If you’ve driven down Huttleston Avenue recently you’ve notice that a lot of construction work has been done recently, perhaps due to the construction of the Starbucks Cafe just a quarter mile away. It seems the two cafes are in a race to see who can open first!

Which, of course, is great news if you are a Mirasol’s die-hard. Especially since this location, unlike the flagship in Dartmouth, will be a stand-alone cafe.

Artist renditions of the site shows it is a larger building than the New Bedford location and more along the size of the Dartmouth location. That means a return to the “old” Dartmouth version which had plenty of rooms for tables inside and on the patio.

Wednesday morning the Mirasol’s Cafe page released photos with the caption “Big things are happening here in Fairhaven “

Malasadas, carne de espeto and Madeira wine, oh my!

The New Bedford Feast of the Blessed Sacrament, a.k.a. the Portuguese Feast, a.k.a. Madeira Feast is the largest event New Bedford has every year. More than that, it is the largest Portuguese feast in the world and the largest ethnic festival in New England. The feast was founded in 1915 by four Madeiran immigrants who wanted to recreate the festivities of their home island.

Here is an overview of the 108th Feast of the Blessed Sacrament which has become a major attraction for visitors from all over who come to celebrate the Portuguese culture through food, drink, and entertainment.

1. Location & Schedule of Events

The “feast” is a four-day event, officially kicking off at 6:00 PM on Thursday, August 1st with the assembly of the Festeiros (Feast Committee Members) at the intersection of Earle Street and Acushnet Avenue.

Led by the Feast President, the Festeiros march in a special procession down Earle Street to Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church which is located at the corner of Earle Street and Madeira Avenue. At the church, Father Daniel O. Reis celebrates a special Benediction to the Blessed Sacrament.

Each evening the feast grounds will close at 11:45pm. On Friday, the grounds will open up at Friday – 5:00pm, but on Saturday and Sunday they will open up at 12:00pm.

The Carnival will open all four days of the Feast. Cushing Amusements is a family owned and operated traveling carnival. You can visit their Facebook Page to see past events and a glimpse at some of their entertainment and rides.

Feast of the Blessed Sacrament photo.Walgreen’s Family Fun Day is from 12-4:00pm on Saturday. Children under 12 eat for “free”; a free burger, hot dog, French fries and a soda. A perfect weekend day for families to bring along the little ones and not worry about having to pay high prices. A ton of fun events and activities are planned including face painting, a traveling science museum, music by the Toe Jam Puppet Band, carnival rides, a free book, flash mob and routine by Dance Xtreme, and more. This year there are some new rides!

In addition, from 12-4:00 PM, the Main Pavilion welcomes all seniors to enjoy a choice-of-menu dinner at a 50% discount! Menu choices include roast beef, chicken, fish, cacoila, and the somewhat more exotic roast goat or rabbit, traditional Portuguese favorites. The buffet is arranged in a way that visitors are allowed to sample more than one entree with their ‘Caldo Verde’ (Portuguese green soup) and a “pop” (small) handmade bread. A coffee or soft drink is also included. Malassadas (sugared fried dough) dessert is extra and there may be a line, but the cost is low.

The last day of the feast is Sunday and will feature a parade at 2:00pm with over forty different organizations marching the one mile route from Brooklawn Park to the Feast grounds at Madeira Field.

This year organizers are pulling out all the stops and there will be Color Guards, Marching Bands, Folkloric Groups, Jugglers, Giant Puppets, Gigantic Clydesdale Horses,Steel Drum Band, Bagpipers, Veterans Groups, Community & Cultural Heritage Organizations and much more!

Parade Route:
The parade begins at Brooklawn Park and proceeds south on Acushnet Avenue to Earle Street, turns east onto Earle Street and continues to the Immaculate Conception Church.
It then turns north onto Madeira Avenue and proceeds to Madeira Field 
where it enters the Feast grounds and past the reviewing stand at Stage 1.

2. Costs

There is no charge for admission and the entertainment is free thanks to the hard work of the committee members who comprise the 2024 Feast of the Blessed Sacrament Committee which in an historic move welcomed women. You can read about the decision here

Feast members come from all over the country to plan the feast each year, some as far away as California and Florida. Some of the members will be traveling from across the U.S., Canada, Europe, and South Africa to attend the feast, but in the meantime, they have had family members representing them at the committee meetings.

While admission is free to walk around and watch the entertainment or visit the Museum of Madeiran Heritage there are also many vendors on the grounds selling everything from handmade Madeiran souvenirs to cigars. Of course, food, carnival rides, and beverages are also an additional cost.

Prices of food are kept reasonable, and there is a great deal of variety to choose from. Tickets cost a dollar each and can be purchased at many machines located throughout the grounds by placing a five, ten or twenty dollar bill inside. Tickets are non-refundable. There are also stands with employees who sell the tickets.

To give you a general idea of the prices of items at the feast, a full meal is 12 tickets, most sandwiches are around four tickets, and a soda or water goes for one ticket. If you’re over 21, an impressive selection of alcoholic beverages is available to choose from.

3. Food

One of the greatest features of the feast is the delicious Portuguese fare. There are many food stands located throughout Madeira Field that serve your favorites from the simple delights of linguica and cacoila sandwiches to full-on Portuguese cuisine plates of chicken, beef, goat or tuna with potatoes, rice, and vegetables.

Another major culinary draw is the Carne de Espeto, a massive, 40-foot barbecue pit where beef sirloin cubes can be cooked over an open flame on massive skewers. This is hard to miss since the aroma is absolutely mouthwatering. Visitors are able to buy the meat for eight tickets a pound and a delicious aromatic salt is provided to cook with.

Feast of the Blessed Sacrament photo.Visitors are then able to roast their own dinner over the gas-fired lava rock grill. Mr. Camara, (who has been a part of the organization since 1982) advised me that if someone tells you to pour Madeira wine on the meat it is not advisable (it does not help the flavor and causes the meat to burn faster!)

Other items that will be featured at the feast include Milho Frito, fried cornmeal, garlic and finely shredded kale make this the perfect treat to go with Carne de Espeto, pasteis de Bacalau (codfish cakes), atum, cabra, favas, coelho, carne de vinho e alhos, malassadas, tremocos and other Portuguese classics. There will also be ice-cold fresh fruit cups, the perfect way to cool down for health-conscious attendees.

In case you are not accustomed to the flavorful cooking style of Portuguese cuisine, go to the Food & Drink page of the Portuguese Feast website for definitions of some of the food you might expect to see.

4. Drink

One of the draws of the feast is the consumption of Madeira wine, which is a central part of the festivities as it is part of a long tradition. Madeira wine is a sweet, fortified red wine. Genuine Madeira wine is made on the island of Madeira, and exportation of actual barrels are restricted due to regulations. However, thanks to a special agreement made between feast officials and the President of Madeira, casks are able to be delivered to New Bedford and served for the weekend, making this a very rare treat for those who attend.

For those who don’t find that the taste of Madeira wine suits their pallet, there are a great variety of additional options including a full liquor bar for mix drinks and frozen drinks. Alcohol stands also serve sangria and white wine and Budweiser beer is on tap.

If you wish to partake in the consumption of alcoholic beverages, you will need to have your ID scanned when you enter the feast grounds in order to receive a wristband that proves you are legally old enough to be served.

There will be additional ID stations at this year’s feast due to the anticipated increase in numbers of attendees.

5. Entertainment

There is a great deal of quality free entertainment at the feast each year from Portuguese and American cultures. There are four separate stages of entertainment on the main grounds and a “Fado” stage at the Museum of Madeiran Heritage Courtyard Venue – these performances will be featuring a Portuguese genre of music that can be traced back to the 1820s but is believed to be even older than that.

One of the cultural acts that you may see take the stage at Madeira field is Groupo Folclorico Clube Madeirense S.S. Sacramento. This group of dancers presents traditional dancing performances to authentic Madeiran music and in traditional clothing. These performances are always very spirited and interesting to see.

There will be many bands on the smaller stages during the feast, but the largest stage is reserved for a special performance at 10:00 each night by a headliner band. The 2024 Feast Headliner will be…..Badfish!

Feast of the Blessed Sacrament photo.The phenomenon known as Sublime, arguably the most energetic, original and uniquely eclectic band to emerge from any scene, anywhere, ended with the untimely death of lead singer, guitarist and songwriter Brad Nowell in May of 1996.

But encompassing the sense of place and purpose long associated with Sublime’s music, Badfish continues to channel the spirit of Sublime with a fury not felt for some time. What separates Badfish from other bands is that they have replicated Sublime’s essence, developing a scene and dedicated following most commonly reserved for label-driven, mainstream acts.

Badfish make their mark on the audience by playing with the spirit of Sublime. They perform not as Sublime would have, or did, but as Badfish does!”-Feast of the Blessed Sacrament.

BADFISH will be headling Thursday Night from 10:00pm-11:30pm on Stage 1.

Headlining Friday Night will be the FOOZ FIGHTERS from 10:00pm-11:30pm on Stage 1. The Award Winning Foo Fighters tribute band featuring dynamic frontman Nicky Rich, FOOZ FIGHTERS have blazed a trail to become the most sought-after Foo Fighters tribute band in the Nation.

Headlining Saturday Night will be NELIA from 10:00pm-11:30pm on Stage 1. Nelia is a local singer determined to break down long-standing barriers in the Luso-American community. On stage, she manages to capture mature audiences with her ethnic-flavored music while captivating younger crowds with her amazing stage presence.

Headlining Sunday Night will be BAND FAITH from 10:00pm-11:30pm on Stage 1). With almost 3 decades of music under their belt, New Bedford, Ma based BandFaith has been performing their mix of Portuguese/Latin fused music for fans all over the world.

For more information on when and where events will be taking place, go to the Portuguese Feast Entertainment Schedule.

Feast of the Blessed Sacrament photo.
Feast of the Blessed Sacrament photo.

6. Families

Since the Madeira feast involves alcohol consumption, some readers may be wondering if it is a family-appropriate event. You will be glad to know that family values are integral to the foundation of the feast. While it is probably not advisable to bring young children later in the night due to large crowds and loud music, it should be mentioned that there are many features of the feast that children will love. Also, the feast takes great measures to prohibit underage drinking. All who wish to consume alcoholic beverages are required to undergo a license verification process in order to receive a specially printed wristband.

Additional security precautions are always taken due to its size and significance. Few people realize this, but the Feast grounds are wired with such advanced cameras that all feast goers are on at least two cameras at any given time.

Feast of the Blessed Sacrament photo.

7. History

The Feast of the Blessed Sacrament gains its roots from the island of Madeira which is located 390 miles off the coast of Morocco. Traditionally, each Roman Catholic parish in Madeira would observe a festival to celebrate their patron saint. A committee of four men called festeiros would be responsible for preparing the village for the celebration by decorating the streets, contracting entertainment (often in the form of a brass band and fireworks) and holding a ceremonial meal after mass on Sunday.

There are many versions of the tale of why the Feast of the Blessed Sacrament was first begun in New Bedford over 100 years ago. What is certain, however, is that the feast was initiated as a means of preserving basic values of the Madeiran culture. Of course, since it was first begun the feast has changed in many ways to accommodate thousands of eager participants and modern elements of the celebration.

While there have been many changes in the feast, many aspects still remain central to the celebration. The tradition of Madeira wine is a very old one, dating back to the 15th Century when the Malvasia vine was planted on the island of Madeira to see it would yield an alternative supply of wine for England. When growth was successful Madeira wine quickly took to the market, but did not become a major export until many years later. It wasn’t until the 16th Century that the flavor we know of today was created when they discovered that the flavor of the wine was actually improved by being repeatedly heated up. Follow the link for more information on the history of Madeira wine.

Feast of the Blessed Sacrament photo.The religious aspect of the feast also remains a part of proceedings. As it did in 1915, the feast still takes place near Our Lady of Immaculate Conception, which is located on the corner of Earle and Madeira Street in New Bedford. The Portuguese feast pays homage to its religious traditions by beginning the weekend festivities with a procession to the church where Father Daniel O. Reis gives a Benediction to the Blessed Sacrament.

The last day of the feast starts with Sunday Mass at Our Lady of Immaculate Conception and “the Festeiros, Club Madeirense S. S. Sacramento, Inc. members, and all of the many volunteers receive the blessings of the church for their many hours of work devoted to achieving a successful Feast and for being respectful of its religious origins”. Throughout the weekend the church also hosts a wonderful musical series of organ music and vocalists. The details of this schedule are still being finalized.

8. Madeira Field

Most of the events take place at Madeira Field, which is a permanent location in New Bedford’s north end, which comes to life one weekend a year for the festivities. The address of Madeira Field is 50 Madeira Avenue, New Bedford, MA (88 Tinkham Street on your GPS). Parking can be a bit tricky, you may have to plan to search a bit to find a spot and walk a few blocks, or pay to park in a nearby private lot.

The grounds on which the Feast of the Blessed Sacrament takes place are quite expansive and easy to lose people in. Be sure you have a plan for finding lost party members whether it be by cell phone or a designated area to meet up at.

When entering the feast you will need to get in line for a wristband if you wish to purchase alcoholic beverages. One of the most prominent features you will notice upon entering the festival grounds is the Santana House. The house is designed after the colorful architectural styles of the homes in the village Santana, Madeira and is where the Madeira wine is served from.

Across from the Santana House is Stage One, which is massive and where the main attractions will be hosted throughout the weekend. There are also two other smaller stages, one that is inside the gates and the other which is outside and amongst the souvenir vendors. You will also see many food and drink stands throughout the grounds, and towards the back, you will find the barbecue pits for Carne de Espeto (or just follow your nose).

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Feast of the Blessed Sacrament

50 Madeira Avenue
New Bedford, MA

Phone: (508) 992-6911
Email: clubesss@comcast.net

Website: feastoftheblessedsacrament.com
Facebook: facebook.com/FeastOfTheBlessedSacrament/

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Dash Laundromat is excited to announce their much-anticipated event of the year: the 2nd Annual Free Laundry Day! On July 28th, from 7 AM to 9 PM, we invite the community to join us at our location on One State Rd., North Dartmouth, for a day of complimentary laundry services.

To participate, simply download the Speed Queen mobile app and enter location code DASH01 to claim your free wash and dry cycles. As a special treat, every visitor will receive a refreshing free Del’s Lemonade, perfect for beating the summer heat while your laundry gets done.

The festivities don’t stop there! Engage in the excitement with chances to win special prizes throughout the day. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a regular customer, everyone is welcome to enjoy this day of community, cleanliness, and celebration. DASH is also doing a clothing drive with Walt’s Mobile Closet!  Bring new, unopened socks and underwear to donate to a worthy cause.

Remember, the last wash cycle starts at 8 PM, so be sure to plan your visit accordingly. Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to experience Dash Laundromat’s top-notch facilities and hospitality, all completely free of charge.

Join them on July 28th for Free Laundry Day at Dash Laundromat – where clean clothes and community spirit come together!

For more information, visit https://dashlaundromat.com/

PACE is holding a community event on July 19th from 12:00pm – 3:00pm at the PACE Community Food Center Park located at 477 Park Street, New Bedford, MA.

Brooke L’Etoile, Health & Food Access Director at PACE, shared, “Join us for our 1st Annual Community Fair at the PACE Community Food Center, located at 477 Park St, New Bedford, on Friday, July 19th from 12pm to 3pm. This is a FREE family event featuring activities, music, and various community resources. Come explore what PACE and other organizations in our community have to offer!”

Programs attending include:

PACE Head Start provides part-time and full-day center-based services from birth age to 5 years old to families in the Greater New Bedford area. Services include early education that builds upon a child’s strength, care that addresses diverse family needs, parent involvement, and collaboration with community agencies.

PACE Fuel Assistance is partnered with the Massachusetts Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help eligible households pay a portion of winter heating bills for ALL sources of heat.

Diapers N’ Things is a PACE program entirely supported by community donations working to improve children’s health. Pick-up for supplies is available every Tuesday alternating between PACE and The Center for Economic Development Center (CEDC).

PACE Housing Opportunity Center offers programs and resources to help people in financial hardships keep their apartments or houses. They provide limited rental assistance and guide families in the right direction regarding local and state programs.

Other community organizations who will be at the event include:

Parents as Teachers support families by enhancing parental knowledge of child development, detecting developmental delays, and improving family health. They use an Evidence-Based Home Visiting Model to assess family needs and goals, aiming to prevent child abuse, increase school readiness, and strengthen community ties. For more information, visit Parents as Teachers.

Boys Town New England offers life-changing care through its Family Home Program, which supports children aged 12-17 with trained caregivers teaching life skills. Their Foster Family Services train and support future foster parents, while In-Home Family Services help parents learn new skills while children remain at home.

M.O.L.I.F.E enhances the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disorders through career development, housing, and community inclusion. They offer residential services, a Community-Based Day Support Service, and individual support to help individuals live with their families or independently.

New Bedford Public Schools consists of 25 schools across the Greater New Bedford area and are dedicated to fostering academic excellence and opportunities for all students. They offer early childhood education as well as career and technical education.

MassHire connects jobseekers and businesses for employment opportunities. Their New Bedford branch assists employers in hiring and training, provides youth programs for employers and schools, career counseling for ages 14-24, and prioritized services for veterans. For more information, visit MassHire.

Join PACE for a fun-filled afternoon of community engagement and valuable resources!

Free School Readiness Program for Ages 3-5!

PACE Head Start is accepting applications now for the 2024-2025 school year which will begin in September 2024. Head Start provides a free family-centered school readiness program for children ages 3-5 for income-eligible families who live in New Bedford, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, and Acushnet.

Part and full-day preschool options are available at Head Start. In addition, there are reserved opportunities for children with special needs.

PACE Head Start offers a safe, healthy, and fun learning environment for children. The Head Start early education curriculum supports children’s development and prepares them for kindergarten. The program’s comprehensive approach to learning includes a creative education curriculum, comprehensive health services, parent education, meaningful family engagement, and support services. Children are free to explore, experiment, socialize, problem solve, master new skills, and gain self-confidence while guided by qualified early childhood professionals in a classroom environment.

All children enrolled at PACE Head Start receive nutritious meals and snacks. In addition, free bussing services are available to and from school. A small fee based on family income is charged to parents whose children are enrolled in the full-day option. Childcare Vouchers are accepted for full-day services only.

For more information and an application, call Family Services today at 508 999-1286 or 508 984-3557 or learn more at https://paceinfo.org/programs/head-start/.

About People Acting in Community Endeavors (PACE)

PACE was incorporated as an anti-poverty Community Action Agency in 1982 to mobilize and utilize both public and private resources to improve the economic and social quality of life for low-income residents of the Greater New Bedford area.

It is the mission of PACE to deliver innovative and effective services and programs to members of the Greater New Bedford Community in their pursuit of brighter futures.

PACE programs include Head Start, Child Care Works, YouthBuild New Bedford, Workforce Development Center, Lead Prevention Program, Housing Opportunities Center, Fuel Assistance, Clemente Course, Free Tax Preparation, Community Food Center, and Health Access. 

Struggling to pay rent or mortgage due to financial hardships? The PACE Housing Opportunity Center is here to help. 🤝

Their dedicated team provides one-on-one guidance to match programs to individual needs. The PACE team is committed to helping families and individuals keep their homes and maintain stability during challenging times.

Their programs and services include:
🏡 Limited rental assistance
📝 Mediation when negotiating with a landlord about back rent or payment plans
📚 Resources and information on tenant’s and landlord’s rights in Massachusetts
🔄 Referrals to other local resources to meet family and individual needs
📈 Guidance to apply for local and state financial assistance to prevent losing a home or being evicted from an apartment

They also offer lists of available rental units in the city, both subsidized and unsubsidized.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call them at 📞 508-993-0033 (ext.103) or email at 📧 cmejil@paceinfo.org.

Check out available rentals at: https://paceinfo.org/apartment-041423/

Remember, you’re not alone. Let’s navigate these challenges together.

Buying a home can bring a sense of joy, satisfaction, and accomplishment. But with rising prices in the local housing market combined with today’s uncertain economy, not everyone will have the opportunity to experience the excitement that comes with homeownership. This can be especially true when considering wealth differences in our South Coast community.

That’s why BayCoast Mortgage www.baycoastmortgage.com), a leading lender in Southern New England, is proud to announce it is participating in an exciting new program that aims to increase homeownership opportunities throughout our community, with the goal of promoting a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive home-buying environment.

That new program is called Lift Up Homeownership.

Initiated by FHLBank Boston, the Lift Up program provides funding to member financial institutions, including BayCoast Mortgage, to award down payment and closing cost assistance grants of up to $50,000 to people of color including Black/African American, American Indian, Alaska Native, Asian (Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander), Hispanic, or Latino borrowers earning up to 120% of the area median income (AMI) and are first-time homebuyers.

Lift Up was put in place to address barriers that many people of color face when purchasing a home, including limited savings for a down payment and the racial financial gap that exists in many area cities and towns.

“As part of the BayCoast family, it is our mission to provide exceptional service and financial solutions for our community,” said Nicholas L. Christ, President and CEO of BayCoast Mortgage. “Our partnership with FHLBank Boston will help expand affordable housing opportunities in the South Coast communities we serve by offering critical down payment and closing cost assistance. We’re proud to assist our neighbors as they pursue homeownership and the American Dream.”

A total of $500,000 is available through Lift Up Homeownership, which is a purchase-only program for one-to-four unit properties located in New England. Grants will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

For further details about the program and to learn if you may qualify, please call BayCoast Mortgage at 877-466-2678 or visit our website at baycoastmortgage.com.

About BayCoast Mortgage

BayCoast Mortgage Company, LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of BayCoast Bank, serving MA, RI, CT, NH, PA, NJ, MD, VA, SC, NC, and FL, offering a wide variety of home mortgage products, including FHA, VA, Land, Construction, Conforming and Jumbo Loans. Visit www.baycoastmortgage.com or call 877-466-2678.

On Friday, The Play in the Park and Summer Eats Program is hosting their kickoff event at Hazelwood park from 11am to 2pm! This program promotes health, wellness, nutrition, and outdoor activity during the summer months for youth ages 0-18. At multiple outdoor sites throughout the city youth can participate in activities with Play in the Park staff and access a free lunch or dinner between the hours of 11am-2pm (Mon-Fri) or 4pm-7pm (Tue & Thu). The goal is to get youth to be active, get outside, have fun and eat healthy during the summer months! On June 24th the dinner program launches from 4pm to 7pm at Riverside park. Bring the kids, get a good lunch, play some games and have some FUN!

The Play in the Park and Summer Food Program has traditionally operated in the City of New Bedford for well over 10 years and on average serves almost 90,000 meals per summer to low-income youth in the city, in parks, playgrounds and other organized arenas that provide engaging summer programming for youth. The Play in the Park and Summer Food Program is a vital piece of City youth’s summer experience and, again, for many youth, it serves as the only nutritious meal they will have all week. The City of New Bedford Parks Recreation & Beaches facilitates and operates over 65 food sites in targeted areas throughout the city. Sites are classified as either OPEN sites which youth can walk-in to everyday or indoor sites where our department partners with a local youth organization to serve food to a summer time program. These sites are strategically located in neighborhoods across the city to maximize access for youth and/or are operated in collaboration with community partners who serve youth across the city. Annual partners in the Play in the Park and Summer Food Program are the Mayor’s Office, the New Bedford Public Schools Department, the Boys and Girls Club, the YWCA, Community Boating Center, Trips for Kids, and many other community-based agencies.

Here is the complete summer schedule

“This year we will celebrate the 26st year of the Day of Portugal, Camões and the Portuguese Communities on June 6, 7, 8 and 9th .

Thursday, June 6 will be the raising of the flag in front of City Hall at 6:30 P.M. The program includes students from the Discovery Language Academy and the Children’s Folkloric group who will perform in front of City Hall and the Whaling Museum.

With some special guests, Dr. José Cesário, Secretary of State for the Portuguese Communities, along with Dr. Pedro Nascimento Cabral, Mayor of Ponta Delgada and Dr. Tiago Cabrita de Sousa, our Portuguese Consul in New Bedford.

At 5:00 PM there will be a concert by Sofia Almeida Quartet, well known for her musical talent that crosses the culture of Jazz, Portuguese and Brazilian. This event will be held at the New Bedford Free Public Library, 613 Pleasant Street. New Bedford. Public is invited to attend.

This will follow with traditional Portuguese “Comes e Bebes” or light refreshments at the Sala de Camoes, at the Portuguese Consulate, across the street from City Hall and Library, 628 Pleasant Street, New Bedford.

Friday, June 7, opening ceremonies on Acushnet Ave. starting with a blessing from the Immaculate Conception Street on Earle Street at 6:30 PM. The group will them march to the Feast Grounds at 81 Tinkham Street.

Feast closes at 12:00 AM on Friday. Local and Azorean artisans will be present their works.

Saturday and Sunday June 8 and 9th the feast continues with, local musical artists, and folkloric groups starting at 1:00 PM.”

See photos pf past year feasts here.

All photos by the “Day of Portugal”:

Position Description: Industrial Electrician 1st shift.

This role will require you to install, maintain, test, troubleshoot and repair industrial electrical equipment and associated electrical and electronic controls, while ensuring that work is in accordance with relevant codes. Click HERE to apply!

Primary roles and responsibilities of the position are outlined below:

· Read and interpret drawings, blueprints, schematics, and electrical code specifications to determine the layout of industrial electrical equipment installations.
· Install, troubleshoot, clean, inspect, calibrate, and maintain electrical equipment throughout the facility.
· Performs electrical work safely and professionally with minimal supervision in accordance with Federal and State Regulations and Company Policies.
· Perform regular preventive maintenance on Conveyor systems, barcode sensors, thermal barcode printers, and plant facilities equipment including air compressors.
· Execute Preventive and Corrective Maintenance work orders as assigned.
· Using CMMS program properly document activities as to actual work performed, and parts used.
· Assist in improving PM procedures by participating in procedure audits and reviews, recommending PM changes based on personnel observations, etc.
· Ensure all electrical and mechanical work meets established codes and NORPEL/Intelligrated standards.
· Responsible for assembling, installing, examining, replacing, or repairing electrical wiring, receptacles, switch boxes, conduits, feeders, lighting fixtures and other electrical components.
· Repair and troubleshoot AC/DC variable speed drives, other motor controls, PLC’s, process controls and building systems.
· Prioritize work, schedule plans, and follow up on directed assignments.
· Other duties as assigned (shop clean up, general mechanical maintenance, general facilities support, etc.).

Qualifications:

· Knowledge of the tools, equipment, and materials common to the electrical trade.
· Knowledge of applicable electrical codes, standards, and regulations.
· Knowledge of electrical application for high and low voltage electric system.
· Skill in the installation, repair, and maintenance of all types of electrical system equipment and components.
· Skill in both verbal and written communication.
· Knowledge of complete range of system controls including power / motor circuitry, relay logic
· Experience in developing, specifying, and installing new/upgraded PLC/Process controls and AC drives.

Education, Experience and Certificates:

· Current Massachusetts Electrician License in good standing
· Experience as a licensed electrician in a manufacturing/industrial environment.
· Perform upgrades to refrigerated warehouse space with the Maintenance/Engineer team as required.
· Maintain existing warehousing & production facilities.
· Inspect and repair machinery as well as facility systems like electrical.

NORPEL’s main objective is to ensure all employees and their families lead fulfilling and healthy lives. We offer essential resources and support to build and sustain physical, financial, and emotional strength to achieve this. Our focus is on overall well-being so you can concentrate on the things that matter most. Our benefits plan comprises medical, dental, vision, flexible spending and health savings accounts, life insurance, disability, 401k, paid vacation/time off, and other benefits. Any compensation range provided for a role is an estimate determined by available market data. The actual amount may be higher or lower than the range provided, considering each candidate’s knowledge, skills, and geographic location.

At NORPEL, we are experiencing rapid growth and need someone who can handle multiple tasks and projects simultaneously. This role requires excellent communication skills as you will work closely with team leaders across various company departments. Grow your career with us! Apply here: https://www.norpel.com/careers

NORPEL is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

NORPEL,also known as the Northern Pelagic Group, LLC, is a prominent producer of pet food ingredients. We originated as a small fish processor in New Bedford Harbor back in 2002, but now operate plants in New Bedford, MA, and Hazle Township, PA, where we process seafood and meat products. With the industry’s increasing demand for superior-quality, sustainable, and fully traceable raw materials, NORPEL is committed to exceeding customer expectations. Our clients consist of most major pet food companies, and we invite you to join us in our efforts to champion sustainability, advance research, and discover innovative solutions to eliminate food waste.