Mayor Lang outlines New Bedford's challenges

NEW BEDFORD — In a wide-ranging State of the City address, Mayor Scott W. Lang acknowledged the economic woes facing the city but also looked to the future, highlighting a proposal for a revamped city employment model, as well as SouthCoast rail and school building projects.

"An economic downturn ... or worse will not and cannot deter this city or its people from attaining the goal of being a place where we can safely and proudly live and raise our families," he said.

Lang delivered his fourth State of the City  [read more]

 New Bedford redevelopment “Success Story”

Channel 10 News visited New Bedford’s new Riverside Landing site to discuss a New Bedford “Success Story.”

NEW BEDFORD — If all pieces fall in place on an optimistic schedule of developers and public officials, by summer 2010 shoppers will be filling carts in a new Riverside Landing retail and mixed-use center where Fairhaven Mills used to stand.

Not long after, people will eat in restaurants and work in offices there, and motorists will wheel off and on new Interstate 195 ramps crossing an [read more]

 Freestones celebrates 30 years as a downtown destination

Freestones Restaurant and Bar is celebrating 30 years of business in downtown New Bedford’s historic district during the month of March. The celebration includes special pricing of items that were favorites in 1979.

As part of an ongoing strategy to promote business, owners Russell Kandalaft and Jack Wetherbee have instituted many changes since taking over the restaurant three years ago. “This anniversary celebration is only one strategy we’ve used,” Russell explained. “We’ve extended the menu, offered customers loyalty cards and held raffles.”

Aside from tending to the 132-year-old   [read more]

 New Bedford gets a chance to show off for world's seafood buyers

NEW BEDFORD — This city ships everything from sea scallops to skate fillets around the world, and Tuesday the world — or at least its seafood buyer representatives — came to bear witness to the origins of their imports.

As impressed as the two dozen or so buyers were with New Bedford's seafood industry, particularly the scallop processing on a huge scale, it was the 14-pound lobster that Paul Rego of Northern Wind. Inc. hoisted for the cameras that briefly stole the show.

That diversion aside, the buyers, who [read more]

 'A new beginning' for New Bedford Half Marathon

NEW BEDFORD — The 32nd New Bedford Half Marathon on Sunday marked a new beginning with the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick taking over the race, and provided financially hard-pressed downtown restaurants, pubs and retailers with a shot in the arm as runners and their families stayed around after the race to eat and drink.

The Restaurant Run, the inventive marketing plan of Downtown New Bedford Inc. that got businesses to remain open from noon to 4 p.m. on the day of the race, proved highly successful. The race started  [read more]

 National Park Service appoints new head of New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park

NEW BEDFORD - National Park Service (NPS) Northeast Regional Director Dennis Reidenbach has selected Jen Nersesian as the superintendent of New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Nersesian will manage a park that encompasses 34 acres spread over 13 city blocks, and a budget of nearly $900,000. She begins her assignment in March. Nersesian follows Celeste Bernardo, who left last year to become Deputy Superintendent at two Boston-area parks, Boston National Historical Park and Boston African American National Historic Site.   [read more]

 'Top Chef' winner visits New Bedford

NEW BEDFORD — After a feature on the Bravo channel's "Top Chef" earned Oceans Alive Scallops national acclaim, the company decided it wanted to repay the favor. They invited Hosea Rosenberg, who won the competitive cooking series with a dish made from the local scallops, to see firsthand where scallops come from — and he was more than happy to accept.

On Saturday, Rosenberg traveled from Boulder, Colo. to visit New Bedford and learn about the scallop industry. Carl Achorn III, head of sales for Oceans Alive  [read more]