The Greater New Bedford Career Center located at 618 Acushnet Avenue, New Bedford, will be hosting three job fairs this week on October 16^th, 17^th, & 18^th.

Project Independence Adult Day Health Care Center is seeking part-time positions for School Bus Monitors and School Bus Drivers on Tuesday, October 16^th from 9:00-11:00 AM. Job seekers who are interested should make the following note:

• No experience needed for Bus Monitors.
• Must be able to work split shifts and pass a background & drug test.
• Must be dependable and have reliable transportation to get to and from work.
• Must have a good work history and references.
• Must be professional
• Opportunities for advancement in office and management positions
• Candidates interested in Bus Driver positions may be eligible for free training through the Greater New Bedford Career Center.

FedEx is seeking Seasonal Drivers and will be at the Career Center on Wednesday, October 17^th at 12:00 PM looking to interview candidates. Job seekers should have commercial driving experience and great customer service skills.

Tradesmen International, who is recognized nationally as a leading source for reliable, skilled craftsmen and construction labor consultants, will be at the Career Center on Thursday, October 18^th from 11:00 AM-2:00 PM, seeking Pipefitters/Welders for long term positions for the Marine Industry in Claremont, NH. There are also other opportunities available in Southeast MA & RI. Local Trade Job Seekers are highly encouraged to attend and apply.

To learn more about the Greater New Bedford Career Center, please visit our site at www.NewBedfordCareerCenter.org or Facebook at www.Facebook.com/NBCareerCenter

For more information, please contact the Business Service Department at (508) 990-4123. The job fairs are open to the general public.

The main theme on my Facebook news feed lately has been how depressing the cold weather is in the area. I try to be more positive when it comes to fall and winter because the cold weather does bring with it holidays like Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s, and some great local events. This weekend offers up some excellent opportunities to enjoy indoor and outdoor activities. This weekend’s weather looks to be chilly, but clear for most of the weekend with a 30% chance of rain tonight. Sunday is expected to warm up with a high in the mid-60s. Most of the events were pulled from our event calendar where you can find hundreds of local area events each month: http://www.newbedfordguide.com/calendar. Know of another event this weekend? Post a reply!

Friday, October 12th

Boo at the Zoo (Oct 12-14, 6-9 p.m.) 

Each year the Button Park Zoo (425 Hawthorn Street) puts together an amazing Halloween themed adventure for the entire family. The event will run every weekend in October. Rides include a spoooooky train ride and a bewitching carousel ride.

Cost: Zoo Members: $8/adult; $5/child
Non-Members: $13/adult; $10/child

The Activist at Your Theatre (12-14 October)

The Activists takes you from the civil rights movement in the 60s to the struggle of someone coming out of the closet as a gay man in the 80s. The Activist opened Thursday night at Your Theatre (136 Rivet Street) and has showings Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. From the producers: “Back in the tumultuous ’60’s Gene was front and center as an activist and organizer in the Black Voter Registration drive in Alabama. Now it is 1982 and Gene has assumed a quieter life. But Gene’s quiet life is powerfully disrupted by Ed, an old ’60’s colleague, who brings his friend Jimmy to meet Gene. Their purpose is to get Gene back in the game, this time to become active and a leader in the Gay Rights Movement. To do so, however, Gene would finally have to openly, publicly, come out of the “closet,” something he has avoided his entire life.”

Supernatural Siege At Fort Taber (6 p.m. – 2 a.m.)

Ever want to to take part in a ghost investigation? Here’s your chance to investigate Fort Taber (1000 South Rodney French Boulevard) with some experts! The night includes dinner, lectures, and hours of ghost investigating in this historic fort, its grounds, and bunkers for $99.

Agenda:
6:00 PM – Arrive/Meet and Greet
6:30 PM – Dinner
7:30 PM – Lectures and historical overview of the site
9:30 PM to 1:30 AM – Investigations
1:30 AM to 2:00 AM – Reconvene for wrap up and evidence analysis

Full details and to purchase tickets: http://legendtrips.com/forttaber.shtml. Facebook event here: http://www.facebook.com/NewBedfordGuide#!/events/371577806249875/.

The Portuguese Kids Comedy Night (7-10 p.m.)

Finally we are starting to get a lot of comedy shows in the area. There have been shows at Gallery X and Cork Wine and Tapas, and now one at White’s of Westport (66 State Road, Westport). This event is hosted by the Kennedy-Donovan Center. Tickets are $25. Call (508) 997-5875 or e-mail mtower@kdc.org for more details.

Saturday, October 13th

New Bedford Pilots Association Toy Drive Flights (10 a.m. – 4 p.m.)

Head over to the New Bedford Airport (1460 Airport Road) and take a scenic tour of New Bedford, Dartmouth and Fairhaven. Flights are $30 for adults and $15 for children. Proceeds will be used to buy gifts for children in the New Bedford PACE Headstart program. You can call (508) 679-6010 or e-mail nbpa@earthlink.net for more information.

Harvest Fest Weekend at Running Brook Vineyard and Winery (Saturday and Sunday, 1-5 p.m.)

One of my bucket list items is to stomp grapes at a vineyard. Running Brook Vineyard and Winery (335 Old Fall River Road, North Dartmouth) is offering music, hayrides, craft vendors, harvest bingo, and some grape stomping all weekend. Full details: http://runningbrookwine.com/home/news-and-events

1st Annual Autumn Revelry at For Taber (5-9 p.m.)

Fort Taber~Fort Rodman Historical Association, Inc., (FTFRHA) will host the First Annual Autumn Revelry, a fundraiser to benefit FTFRHA and the Fort Taber-Fort Rodman Military Museum. The inaugural event will take place on Saturday, October 13, and will feature a buffet dinner catered by M&C Café. Dinner will include a fall salad, chicken with Madeira sauce, garlic mashed potatoes, a fall vegetables and rolls. The dinner will take place at the Fort Taber Park Community Center with seatings available at 5 p.m., 6 p.m., or 7 p.m. Full details: http://www.newbedfordguide.com/fort-taberfort-rodman-autumn-revelry/2012/09/18

Spooky Scarecrow Contest (9 a.m. – 2 p.m.)

Drop off your scary scarecrow at the Fairhaven Academy (141 Main Street, Fairhaven) on Saturday between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. for your chance to win some fantastic prizes. The scarecrows will remain on display until 3 November so stop by to check them out! Full details with eligibility requirements: http://hauntedfairhaven.blogspot.com/p/spooky-scarecrow-contest.html.

Sunday, October 14th

Massachusetts Wine Festival  (1-4 p.m.)

If you are a wine lover like me, the Massachusetts Wine Festival at Marshfield Fairgrounds (140 Main Street, Marshfield) is the place to be this Sunday. The Marshfield Fairgrounds are located just north of Plymouth so take a moment to see the Plymouth rock on the way up there. Tickets are $45 and includes a souvenir wine glass and wine tasting. The vendors will include artisan bakers, cheesemakers, chocolatiers and specialty food producers. Live music will be performed by jazz musician Charlie Apicella. The event will also feature a winemaking competition for professionals and amateurs. Contact masswinery@gmail.com for entry information.

List of participating wineries:

• Amherst Farm Winery – Amherst
• Coastal Vineyards – South Dartmouth
• Hardwick Vineyard & Winery – Hardwick
• Mineral Hills Winery – Florence
• Mt Warner Vineyards – Hadley
• Still River Winery – Harvard
• Travessia – New Bedford
• Truro Vineyards of Cape Cod – Truro
• Westport Rivers Vineyard & Winery – Westport
• Zoll Cellars – Shrewsbury

Harvest Moon Seafood Festival in Mattapoisett (2-5 p.m.)

The Harvest Moon Seafood Festival (Shipyard park) benefits the annual Holiday in the Park Celebration that takes place in Mattapoisett. Entrees include grilled swordfish, scallops and other seafood delights donated by local restaurants and businesses. Tickets are $6 per entree. For more information call (508) 758-4100 ext 4.

Have an event that you want to get added in future articles? Send me an e-mail at info@newbedfordguide.com. At a minimum I will get it added to our event calendar.

On Friday, October 12, 2012 at 6:00 pm, the Puerto Rican and Latin American Art and Cultural Committee of New Bedford will hold a ceremony at New Bedford City Hall (133 William Street) in recognition of the many achievements, contributions, and successes of the Latin American community. The ceremony will include a display of the flags of Latin American nations.

The theme for this Thursday’s AHA! (Art • History • Architecture for the newbies) is Naughty and Notorious. The weather is expected to be clear and in the mid-50s. There are TONS of events scheduled for today, but here are my recommended events/places to visit. The full AHA! event calendar can be found here: http://www.ahanewbedford.org/calendar.html. Also, be sure to check out the event calendar for other things to do this week: http://www.newbedfordguide.com/calendar.

Rose Alley Ale House Pumpkin Carving Contest (12-8 p.m.)

Bring your Naughty and/or Notorious pumpkin creations to Rose Alley between 12-5 p.m. and then swing by between 6-8 p.m. to vote for your favorite. I recommend partaking in a tasty beverage with each visit as Rose Alley has some of the best craft beers on tap.

Kids with Cameras – Junior Photography Series (5-9 p.m.)

Here’s a great way to support our youth. Stop by Artworks! on 384 Acushnet Avenue and check out the Postcards From New Bedford: Kids with Cameras Project. From the organizer: “The postcards project is a collective body of work by novice and professional photographers that aims to tell a visual story of the modern day whaling city from different points of view, in positive, engaging and thought-provoking ways. The project is the brainchild of Beatriz Oliveira who partnered with fellow photographer John Hodgson and the ArtWorks! organization to bring the concept to life.”

Carlin Tripp and Open Mic at Cafe Arpeggio (6 p.m.)

I always enjoy discovering new local musical talent. Carlin Tripp (http://www.reverbnation.com/carlintripp) brings his Neil Young sound to Cafe Arpeggio from 6-7 p.m. The music continues at 7 p.m. with one of the more popular open mics in the south coast. Catch some great local music, or bring your guitar and participate!

Naughty & Notorious Comedy Club at Cork (9-11 p.m.)

Grab some wine and laughs as Cork (90 Front Street) & V1 Vodka present a comedy night on their second floor lounge. On the way upstairs, be sure to check out the new art in the dining area by local artist Alison Wells.

Weld Square Live at Pizan’s Pizzeria (9:30 – 11:30 p.m.)

Self described as “Dirty Rock and Roll,” Weld Square is perfect for some late night naughty and notorious behavior with some fast paced music and tasty pizza. Watch out though, Kevin Nunes may snap a picture of you and put you on his popular new #peopleofnewbedford Facebook page!

The Greater New Bedford unemployment rate is much higher than the rest of Massachusetts, but believe it or not there really are a lot of jobs available for qualified applicants. Sometimes the barrier to a new job can be the lack of information on available job openings.  To solve this, each week New Bedford Guide will be working with the New Directions Southcoast (also known as the Greater New Bedford Career Center) to inform job seekers about the hottest jobs in the area. We will define “Hot Jobs” as those jobs that need to be filled by the employer immediately. For those looking to search some large job databases, checkout my Best Job Search Resources for New Bedford Residents article. Unless noted otherwise, those interested in these positions or want more information should go to the Greater New Bedford Career Center at 618 Acushnet Avenue. Here are the Hot Jobs as of October 10th, 2012:

1. Seasonal Bell Ringers (#1591291) -Seasonal Bell ringers needed for the Salvation Army. To apply please bring a valid Massachusetts State ID and Social Security Card to 619 Purchase St, New Bedford, MA on October 11th from 10 am -12pm.

2. Exit Poll Interviewer (#1582817). Hand out questionnaires to voters as they exit a polling place on Tuesday, November 6th for the Presidential Election. Periodically tally up and call in results. A brief training and rehearsal call must be completed before the election. Must be polite and punctual. Must have cell phone and own transportation. H.S. Diploma required.

3. CNC Lathe & Milling Machinist (#1580857) – Local Manufacturer looking for a strong CNC & Milling Machinist . Experienced working in a Medical environment preferred. Responsibilities include but not limited to:
– Set-up and operate a variety of machines to produce precision parts and instruments
– Ability to read blueprints, GD & T a plus
– Fabricate and modify parts
– Independent with ability to solve problems
– Must be a team player

4. Project Manager (#1574703) – Manager will direct all aspects of the SouthCoast Healthy Housing Initiative. This will include implementation of tobacco-free policies for multi-unit housing projects in the New Bedford, Fall River and Wareham areas. Candidates must have advanced schooling and experience in leading, directing & assigning projects. They must be experienced in coalition/partnership & community building. A background in working with chronic disease issues is a must. Bilingual Candidates Preferred (Spanish/Portuguese/Creole).

5. Wellness Education Advisor (#1574706) – Workers will work with the manager and advisers by implementing strategies, providing education & wellness programs within the muti-unit housing projects in New Bedford, Fall River and Wareham. Candidates must have a combination of schooling and experience in coordinating, and assigning work to others. They must have experience in a health service related department. Bilingual Candidates Preferred (Spanish/Portuguese/Creole).

6. CNC Lathe/Milling Programmer (#1580856) -Local Manufacturer in need of a CNC Lather/Milling Programmer. Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
– Programming of CNC Lathe/Milling Machines, 5+ years experience.
– Experience and knowledge of MasterCAM desired, Familiar with SolidWorks helpful, Ability to read blueprints, GD & T a plus, Must be a team player, Responsible for effectively managing complex CNC programs from inception through to complete debugging, implementation and documentation of a proven process. Position requires an initiative to refine and enhance existing programs/processes in order to continually improve current methodologies and meet/exceed company goals with respect to quality, productivity, safety, cost and compliance.

7. Aviation Specialist Intern (#1581330) – New Bedford Regional Airport is currently accepting applications for one Student Aviation Specialist Intern commencing November 15, 2012 through June 30, 2013. Interested persons should be in or have completed at least their second or third year in a college/university majoring in an aviation-related field prior to application, with the intent to pursue a career in airport management, operations, maintenance or planning. This internship is paid and the selected intern will be required to be available weekends, nights and holidays, and be on call at designated times. Applicants must have a valid driver’s license with an excellent driving record and the ability to pass any TSA Criminal History Records Check and airport training program modules.  The selected applicant will be required to start on November 15 (this may be flexible). New Bedford Regional Airport is a high-paced, demanding and constantly changing work environment. We expect our interns to come to work as entry-level professionals, focused, ready to learn, and willing to put in the time and effort to learn.

8. Marine Systems Tech (#1565025) – Expanded Boatyard in S.E. Mass, taking applications for career minded Marine Systems Technician Experienced in all marine systems, Installation, Diagnosis, and repair. Must be well versed in A.C. and D.C. electrical systems, wiring, and marine air conditioning systems. 5 years experience minimum. Excellent pay and benefit package. Year round employment, come join a winning team. Inquiry will only be taken via e-mail or fax (508-992-4216) NO CALLS OR WALK INS ACCEPTED!!!!

This year’s New Bedford Seaport Chowder Festival may have been interrupted by rain, but as we all know, inclement weather will never come between New Englanders and their “chowda.” For 2012’s Seventh Annual Chowder Festival the crowds packed in as usual to try samples of clam chowder, seafood chowder, kale soup and stuffed quahogs from some of the South Coast’s best local eateries.

Thanks to the massive tent covering Custom House Square, even those latecomers who were greeted by rain could stay dry as they enjoyed steaming warm samples from 25 different tables. While the portions may seem small, I can assure you that after making your round in the tent you will be plenty stuffed. However, in my mind there is no better way to spend a Sunday leading up to NFL kickoff!

Despite the showers in the afternoon, I was still able to catch the headlining band once the rain had passed though. Another Tequila Sunrise is a great Eagles cover band and they made a great musical fit to the occasion with some of my favorite classic rock hits.

As usual, there were many varied chowder recipes this year, but I’m sure that the real question on everyone’s mind is who won? So, without further ado, here are this year’s 2012 New Bedford Seaport Chowder Festival winners:

Judges’ Choices:

Best Clam Chowder:
1. Me and Ed’s
2. Cotali Mar Restaurante
3. M&C Cafe

Best Kale Soup:
1. Mike’s Restaurant
2. The Madeira Cafe
3. Cotali Mar Restaurante

Best Seafood Chowder:
1. Lafrance Hospitality
2. Vivvy’s
3. Braza Rotisserie

Best Quahogs:
1. Sail Loft, Padanaram Village
2. Whaling City Diner
3. Rivers End Cafe

People’s Choice:

Best Clam Chowder:
1. The Pasta House
2. SouthCoast Hospitals Group
3. Me & Eds

Best Kale Soup:
1. The Madeira Cafe
2. Mike’s Restaurant
3. Emeritus

Best Seafood Chowder:
1. Freestone’s City Grill
2. LaFrance Hospitality Co.
3. Braza Rotisserie

Best Quahogs:
1. Southcoast Hospitals Group
2. River’s End Cafe
3. Whaling City Diner

Best Table Presentation
1.  Inner Bay Rest.
2.  Southcoast Hospitals
3.  Vivvy’s

Overall, every winner earned their title as South Coast’s best. I especially liked SouthCoast Hosptials Group’s quahogs which were generous both in portion sizes and seafood content. Of course, who could expect anything less from a culinary group that seems to place in at least one category every year?

Also, there were some diverse and exceptional seafood chowders out there, but I have to agree with the judges in saying that LaFrance Hospitality’s crab and corn chowder really stood out in my mind as being one of a kind and incredibly tasty. Of course, I’m always a sucker for food with a kick to it!

While the winners were congratulated and were well chosen, this isn’t to say that there weren’t some incredible samples that didn’t make it into the winner’s circle. For example, Braza Rotisserie is a newcomer to the festival but presented a kale soup similar to what grandma might make in terms of its generous content and rich broth. Braza also placed third for their seafood chowder in both the judges vote and the people’s choice.

The Cedars also did not place for their clam chowder, but it was absolutely my favorite. With a smokey sort of flavoring it definitely enticed my pallet and stuck in my memory until I came to the voting booth.

In summary, hardly a bad sample could be found and yet again the South Coast has shown that this is a great place to be for culinary excellence and top-notch seafood!

The City of New Bedford has implemented a computer network upgrade that establishes new public wireless internet access and improves internal communication between municipal offices.

As part of the effort, City Hall now joins the City’s public library branches in offering public wireless internet service.  Other municipal sites, including the New Bedford Airport and the Buttonwood Park Zoo, will soon offer the same Wi-Fi access.

Mayor Jon Mitchell heralded the wireless project, “In an age of smart phones, iPads, and laptops, public Wi-Fi service is a necessity not a luxury.  It is going to make life a lot easier for both visitors and residents doing business at City Hall.  This is a great example of our efforts to bring the City’s communications systems into the 21^st Century.”

The service does not require a security key for access and will allow anyone, within range of the signal, unlimited access to the Internet with some limitations.  The public access complies with the FCC’s Children Internet Protection Act (CIPA) in order to protect children from accessing inappropriate material.  Anyone attempting to visit a website considered inappropriate by the content filter will be redirected to the City of New Bedford home page.  These same safeguards are used in the public libraries.

In order to ensure high speed connection on the network, the City has restricted the ability to stream audio or video signals between 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.

The following is the agenda for the scheduled City Council session scheduled for Thursday, October 11th, 2012.

CITATIONS

1. CITATION, Council President Martins and Councillor Alves, honoring COLLETTE MARSHALL, in Recognition of her Dedication to Community Gardening in the City of New Bedford.

2. CITATION, Council President Martins and Councillor Alves, honoring RENATE OLIVER, in Recognition of her Dedication to Community Gardening in the City of New Bedford.

3. CITATION, Council President Martins and Councillor Alves, honoring LEROY TAYLOR, in Recognition of his hard work and contribution to Community Gardening in New Bedford.

MAYOR’S PAPERS

M1. COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting a SEWER ABATEMENT REQUEST for Robert L. Beaulieu, 185 Shawmut Avenue, New Bedford, MA 02740, Account No. 024237A, in the amount of $298.80.

M2. COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting a RENEWAL of a ONE-YEAR WAIVER OF RESIDENCY for SHANNON C. SHREVE, Sandwich, MA, as a Counsel II with the Office of the City Solicitor; Mr. Shreve has been a Solicitor’s Office employee since November 2007.

M3. COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the APPOINTMENT of WAYNE E. CABRAL, New Bedford, MA as a CONSTABLE.

M4. COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the APPOINTMENT of JENNIFER A. TAVARES, New Bedford, MA as a CONSTABLE.

M5. COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the APPOINTMENT of NATHANIEL J. ALMEIDA, Acushnet, MA 02743, as a SPECIAL POLICE OFFICER.

CHARTER RULED

CR1. COMMUNICATION, Mayor Mitchell, to City Council, submitting the APPOINTMENT of WILLIAM PETER GUSHUE, New Bedford, MA, 02740, to the AIRPORT COMMISSION, replacing Hershel Alpert, who is deceased; this term will expire December 2013. (Charter Ruled – September 27, 2012.)

NEW BUSINESS

4. AN ORDINANCE, Amending Chapter 2, Section 2-8 of the City Code, Relative to Meeting Times for Boards and Commissions. (Passed to a Second Reading – September 27, 2012.)

5. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Lopes, Council President Martins, Councillors Alves, Gonsalves, Bousquet, Oliveira, Lawrence and Gomes, requesting that the New Bedford School Committee provide this City Council with a full breakdown of the population of each elementary and middle schools, capacity of each school with students that speak English as a second language, students receiving free or reduced lunches and students on IEPs.

6. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Lopes and Gonsalves, requesting, that the Special Committee on the Feasibility of Creating a Dog Park enter into a dialogue with the Town of Dartmouth regarding the possibilities of New Bedford residents using their Dog Park.

7. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Saunders, requesting, on behalf of the New Bedford High School Class of 2013/Gridiron Club, that the following street(s) be CLOSED: LT. WALTER E. FULLER MEMORIAL PARKWAY, from Rockdale Avenue to the Monument in Veteran’s Memorial Buttonwood Park, on WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2012, FROM 6:00 P.M. TO 9:00 P.M., for the purpose of the New Bedford High School Thanksgiving Rally and Bonfire; also requesting that the Traffic Commission post “No Parking” Signs because fire engines and floats will be parked on this section of Fuller Memorial Parkway. (Please Note: Parade Route from New Bedford High School to Buttonwood Park via Hathaway Boulevard, to Rockdale Avenue, to Buttonwood Park.)

8. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Lopes, requesting, on behalf of the Cove Street Neighborhood Association, that the following street(s) be CLOSED: RUTH STREET, from Salisbury Street to Ashley Street, ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012, FROM 5:00 P.M. TO 9:30 P.M., for the purpose of their Annual Christmas Tree Lighting.

9. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Alves, requesting, on behalf of Veteran’s Day participants, that the following street(s) be CLOSED: UNION STREET, from Purchase Street to Acushnet Avenue, ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2012, FROM 8:00 A.M. TO 2:00 P.M., for the purpose of The Annual Veterans Day Parade Ceremonies at the reviewing stand at Wings Court.

10. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Lopes, Alves, Council President Martins, Councillors Oliveira, Bousquet, Gonsalves and Lawrence, requesting that Verizon New England, Inc., Comcast, and NSTAR Gas and Electric send a local community relationship representative to meet with the Committee on Appointments and Briefings, to discuss issues with the disruption of services which can be experienced by local residents during hurricane season and the upcoming winter months.

11. WRITTEN MOTION, Council President Martins, requesting, that the City Council send a letter in support of the effort of the Alma del Mar Charter School, New Bedford, MA, to lease unused classroom space from the neighboring Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church for their expanding classroom needs; and further, it should be noted that the Alma del Mar Charter School is willing to make improvements to the interior of the space, including its mechanical systems, such as updating the heating and electrical systems if the school is granted a short term lease by the Diocese.

12. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Lopes, requesting that Mayor Mitchell, along with the New Bedford Economic Development Council, request funds from Mass Development to conduct a feasibility study through the City of New Bedford’s Planning Office, that would look at the possible reuses and adaptation of 30 Morton Court, taking into consideration Rt. 18, Phase II and the proposed South Terminal Staging Area. (To be Referred to Mayor Mitchell, the Planning Office, the Historical Commission and the New Bedford Economic Development Council.)

13. WRITTEN MOTION, Council President Martins and Councillor Lopes, requesting, on behalf of St. Joseph’s Early Childhood Academy, Inc., that the Mayor’s Office schedule a site visit to the George H. Dunbar Elementary School, 338 Dartmouth Street, with Mr. Mark Olson, Director of St. Joseph’s, to explore the possibility of locating St. Joseph’s at the Dunbar School; and further, that if the site is feasible, Mr. Olson would like to present a plan to initiate additional repairs to the Dunbar School and that the Mayor’s Office should look at this opportunity.

14. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Bousquet and Gonsalves, requesting, on behalf of the residents of Ward Three and the Citizens of New Bedford, that the six acre parcel of land that has been cultivated, loved and invested in by the Haskell Family on Shawmut Avenue since 1953, be looked at for a possible benefactor, or a visionary, perhaps not unlike the late Alan Haskell, someone to step in and save this property with the intent to preserve it in its entirety and either keep its current use as a prestigious nursery, or let it become a teaching tool and public space to be shared and explored and fostered for the next generation of horticulturists; and further, we believe the people of New Bedford would hate to see this oasis of lush greenery become another six house lot, or worse, a commercial development, the Haskell Nursery is a unique and world renowned green space with historic homes and buildings on its property, and deserves to be preserved as such for our future generations. (To be Referred to Mayor’s Office, City Planner, the Coalition for Buzzards Bay and the Trustees of Reservations, State Senator Mark Montigny, Senator Scott Brown and our Local State Legislative Delegation.)

15. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillor Gomes, Council President Martins, Councillors Coelho, Bousquet, Duarte and Lopes, requesting, ONCE AGAIN, due to the fact that we have not received a satisfactory response, that letters be sent on behalf of St. John the Baptist Parish, located on County Street, asking that immediate action be taken to reverse the decision to close St. John the Baptist Parish and give the parishioners of that Church, which is the oldest Portuguese-American Church in the United States the opportunity to continue the good work that they have done in raising money to keep the Church open and make necessary repairs; and further, that this request be made to Dr. Miguel Humberto Diaz, U. S. Ambassador to the Holy See, His Excellency Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, the Papal Nuncio to the United States, Bishop Coleman, Diocese of Fall River and Pope Benedict the XVI, along with the Vatican, in an effort to reverse the decision to close St. John the Baptist Parish and give the Church the opportunity to continue to support not only the Portuguese community, but the community at large, the historical value of this Church means a great deal to the City of New Bedford and to the people of the Portuguese community; and further, requesting that Representative Cabral and Senator Montigny also join our efforts in order to convince Bishop Coleman, and the Pope to reverse the decision to close this historic and valuable Church; and further, Members of the City Council are requesting to meet with Bishop Coleman at his earliest convenience to discuss a resolution to this matter.

16. WRITTEN MOTION, Council President Martins, regarding the course of action this Council took back in June, in approving One Million Dollars to the School Department, requesting, that Ms. Deborah H. Brown, Business Manager, New Bedford School Department, provide a full spreadsheet report to this Council, as we requested, explaining how the monies were used, as was the agreement that was made with this Council in the Committee of Finance; and further; that Ms. Brown be invited to the next Committee on Finance Meeting to explain and answer any questions this Council may have regarding how each dollar was spent and to ensure the monies were used as was promised and that taxpayers are made aware how it was spent.

17. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Gonsalves and Bousquet, requesting, that the Committee on Appointments and Briefings meet with Mr. Paul Bishins, owner of Wamsutta Mill Number One, Matthew Morrissey, Economic Development Council, Department of Inspectional Services Commissioner Danny Romanowicz and the owners of the Skate Factory, Phil DaSilva and Russell Anderson, regarding the ongoing and unresolved compliance issues that have prevented the Skate Factory from opening in Wamsutta Mill Number One. (To be Referred to the Committee on Appointments and Briefings.)

18. WRITTEN MOTION, Council President Martins, requesting, that the Committee on Appointments and Briefings discuss with Commissioners Labelle and Worden the snow removal plan for the upcoming winter season and that the Committee have monthly discussions relative to constituent services/calls on the aforesaid matter.

19. WRITTEN MOTION, Council President Martins, requesting, since the area of the new playground at Brooklawn Park is still semi complete, that Community Development be invited to the next Special Committee on Memorials and Dedications meeting to discuss where to place the Ricketson Memorial at Brooklawn Park; and further, that the family of Mike Walsh be invited to take part in the discussion and location of the memorial at the Park.

20. COMMUNICATION/DEMOLITION, New Bedford Historical Commission, to City Council, re: BUILDING DEMOLITION REVIEW OF 82 POTOMSKA STREET – A CIRCA 1891 THREE-STORY WOOD FRAMED STRUCTURE, advising that “the structure is not located in a National Register Historic District and the structure is of no notable historical significance, either recorded or found with the existing condition of the structure, “the NBHC has determined that the building is NOT a historically significant building or structure and not preferably preserved.

21. COMMUNICATION/ DEMOLITION, New Bedford Historical Commission, to City Council, re: BUILDING DEMOLITION REVIEW OF 84-86 POTOMSKA STREET – A CIRCA 1885 THREE-STORY WOOD FRAMED STRUCTURE, advising that “the structure is not located in a National Register Historic District and the structure is of no notable historical significance, either recorded or found with the existing condition of the structure, “the NBHC has determined that the building is NOT a historically significant building or structure and not preferably preserved.

22. COMMUNICATION, New Bedford City Council to Department of Housing and Community Development and Mass Development, regarding a letter of support for the Veterans Transition House, 20 Willis Street, New Bedford, Massachusetts.

23. COMMUNICATION, FEMA Region 1, to City Council, submitting Preliminary copies of the Flood Insurance Map and Flood Insurance Study Report for Bristol County, MA. (Copy all Councillors via email 10/09/2012.)

24. COMMUNICATION, Guillermo Gonzalez, M.D. to City Council, submitting his point of view regarding the replacement of the vacant position on the New Bedford School Committee. (Copy all Councillors 10/02/2012.)

25. COMMUNICATION, Brian Pastori, New Bedford, MA 02740, to City Council President Martins, regarding his support for Maria Mojica to replace Thomas Clark as a Member of the School Committee. (Copy all Councillors 10/05/2012.)

26. COMMUNICATION, Monsignor Antonio Neri, Under-Secretary to His Holiness, Pope Benedict, to City Clerk Arruda, responding to a letter dated July 24, 2012, concerning the closing of St. John the Baptist Church. (Copy all Councillors 10/04/2012.)

27. COMMUNICATION, Law Office Sabra & Aspden, to Council President Martins, regarding injuries sustained at an afterschool programs at Sgt. William H. Carney School. (To be Referred to the City Solicitor.)

TABLED BUSINESS

09/27/2012 RESOLUTION, Councillors Alves and Gonsalves, honoring the MISS NEW BEDFORD SCHOLARSHIP PAGEANT on the occasion of their 60TH ANNIVERSARY.

Christopher Columbus is an American icon, but how much do you really know about him? Thanks to him many of us get a day off, but it seems few actually know about his accomplishments outside of “discovering America” or know about the atrocities he is accused of committing as governor of the Indies. Here’s a list of 16 common (and not so common) facts about Christopher Columbus. For those interested in reading more about Columbus, most of my research started on the Wikipedia page dedicated to Christopher Columbus.

1. While Columbus played a major role in rooting Europe into North and Central America, he was not the first European to discover America. Leif Ericson landed on the northern tip of Newfoundland almost 500 years earlier. Columbus discovered and explored the Bahamas and other Central American areas (graphic of his trips here). His discoveries were not only five centuries later compared to Ericson, but nowhere near the United States of America that we know today.

2. Columbus’s main goal was to spread Christianity and find gold for the Spanish Empire. Spain’s main goal was to get cash for their costly wars. There really was no honorable goal of discovering a New World.

3. Columbus was actually trying to reach Japan when he landed in the Bahamas.

4. Columbus was rejected three times over seven years (1485 – 1492) before finally getting approval and funds from the Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella to make his voyage.

5. Ferdinand and Isabella promised Columbus a large chunk of the profits because they never expected for him to return. The decedents of family sued and levied disputes in court against the crown until 1790.

6. After his first voyage, Columbus was Governor of the Indies, where he did such a bad job and reportedly committed barbaric tortures, that he was arrested and spent 6 weeks in prison. He was freed from prison and took up a his fourth and final voyage to the New World.

7. Against popular belief, Columbus was not the only guy that thought the world was round. Most educated people in Europe understood that the world was not flat. Columbus simply thought the distance to Japan was shorter heading west than east and had no clue there were two continents in the way. It’s as simple as that.

8. Hispaniola’s native Taino population (modern-day Dominican Republic and Haiti) was decimated within 60 years after Columbus visited the island. Due to slavery and European diseases (mainly smallpox) after Columbus’s visit, the Island’s Taino population went from 300,000 to around 500.

9. The New World did have its revenge on Europe. Many scientists believe that syphilis was introduced to Europe when Columbus’s returned home after his first voyage. Once introduced to Europe and spread through traveling armies at war, syphilis caused as many as 5 million European deaths.

10. At the time of his death, most believed that Christopher Columbus died from Gout, but today some experts believe he died from  a progressively debilitating form of arthritis, a rare tropical disease.

11. After his death, Columbus’s remains were buried in four different locations; Spain, Dominican Republic, Cuba and back to Spain, mostly due to international politics and war.

12. The asteroid “327 Columbia” was discovered by Auguste Charlois 1892 and named in honor of Columbus.

13. There are 14 commissioned sculptures in the United States dedicated to Christopher Columbus.

14. Columbus’s armchair that he used at his chart table along with other artifacts can be seen at the Columbus family chapel in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania.

15. There are no known authentic portraits of Columbus. All portraits seen today were done posthumous.

16. There are at least 19 locations named after Christopher Columbus to include the country of Columbia, British Columbia in Canada and Washington, D.C. (District of Columbia).

The Buzzards Bay Coalition will host a free Bay Adventure at the site of the former Acushnet Saw Mills on Thursday, Oct. 11 at 10 a.m. Join Bay Coalition Ecologist Sara Quintal as she leads a two-hour tour of the property, which the Bay Coalition is restoring to its natural condition and plans to open as a public park in 2014.

Although this area is immediately adjacent to urban neighborhoods of New Bedford’s North End and downtown Acushnet, it is bustling with more turtles, fish, herons and ospreys than people. Quintal will give visitors a background of the property’s history as a busy sawmill, point out the site’s important ecological features, and explain how the area will be restored to benefit wildlife and the community. As a special bonus, the tour will learn about cranberry harvesting at a private cranberry bog adjacent to the Sawmill.

The Acushnet Sawmill Bay Adventure is part of the Bay Coalition’s series of Bay Adventures, guided excursions that connect people with nature throughout the Buzzards Bay watershed. The event is free and open to the public.

WHO: Buzzards Bay Coalition

WHAT: Bay Adventure at Acushnet Sawmill

WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

WHERE: Acushnet Sawmill, 54 Mill Road, New Bedford. (Turn north off Tarkiln Hill Road onto Mill Road, just before entering Acushnet. Drive 500 feet and park on the right by the sign.)

COST: Free

RSVP: Reservations requested.

Contact Alicia Pimental at pimental@savebuzzardsbay.org or 508.999.6363 x226.