New Bedford highlighted by state media again

NEW BEDFORD - Two days after the dawn of the new year in 1841, the whaler Acushnet tiptoed into frigid New Bedford Harbor, the first small steps on a lengthy voyage to the hunting grounds of the South Pacific. As the crew hoisted the newly christened vessel’s sails into the chill winter wind, they probably dreamed not only of warmer climes, but also of the great wealth that surrounded them in New Bedford, the whaling capital of the world. The city was among the richest in America, a commercial behemoth as massive as the leviathans its mariners harvested from the sea.

Among the names inscribed on the Acushnet’s... [read more]

  Fairhaven Mills site begins transformation

NEW BEDFORD — Just two months after the city was awarded $2.6 million in state money to reconstruct the roads surrounding Fairhaven Mills, a substantial portion of the work is already done, and workers are busy — even on rainy, windy days — finishing the rest.

"We want to see that the money gets put to work right away," said state Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Gregory Bialecki during a visit to the site Monday.

"You see people literally working on the... [read more]

  City boasts unique connection to the sea

NEW BEDFORD — Despite the toughest of economic times, the dream of a place to celebrate New Bedford's unique connection to the oceans is coming true. On Saturday, July 4, the Ocean Explorium will open its doors to the public seven days a week, complete with several new living aquarium exhibits and an innovative children's activity center.

The new exhibits include a large living coral reef, which will highlight the issue of coral bleaching and global warming, scallops, New England fishes, jellyfish, anemone fishes and seahorses. The new children's activity... [read more]

  Folk music festival draws art, crafts, and crowds

NEW BEDFORD— With a cruise ship in port, the Cape Verdean parade marching down Union Street on Sunday morning and Summerfest taking over the historic district, downtown was the place to be this weekend. And the crowds responded.
The downtown streets were thronged with people on Sunday with many cars parking on the grass strip next to Route 18 beneath the Route 6 overpass.

"It's been a perfect weekend," said Ann Marie Lopes, city tourism director. "The parade was fun, and with the food, all the music and crafts at Summerfest and the... [read more]

  New Bedford port hopes to become 'a player' in short sea shipping

NEW BEDFORD — After traveling 280 nautical miles, a barge carrying more than 300,000 pounds of equipment destined for a power generation plant in Dartmouth docked at State Pier Thursday.

The barge's arrival is an indicator of the port's potential future as a shipping hub, city officials said.

"It's just demonstrating that we are a player in this domestic market," said Kristin Decas, the city's port director.

"We want to be part of this emerging... [read more]

  New Bedford starts Web site for 'Master Plan'

NEW BEDFORD — A new Web site dedicated to providing the public with access to information about "New Bedford 2020: A Citywide Master Plan" has been launched.
The site can be accessed by clicking on the Master Plan logo located on the city's homepage, www.newbedford-ma.gov, said Mayor Scott W. Lang and the City's Office of Planning in formally announcing the launch.

Informational updates regarding New Bedford 2020 can also now be found on Twitter and Facebook. Follow Master Plan-related tweets... [read more]

  Traditional celebration brings city neighborhoods together

NEW BEDFORD — It was the kind of day, to quote City Councilor Brian Gomes, when everyone in this seacoast community would claim to have some Cape Verdean roots.

And who can blame them, after Sunday's spirited 37th annual Cape Verdean Recognition Day Parade reminded everyone of the city's rich cultural history.

Several thousand people lined the parade route from Buttonwood Park in the city's West End to the former Morse Twist Drill site in the city's South Central... [read more]