During the month of February, the Working Waterfront Festival’s Portholes Project is pleased to present three programs which explore the theme Then and Now: Tradition and Innovation in the Commercial Fishing Industry.  All programs are presented free of charge and open to the public.

Sunday, February 3 – Dad I Wanna Go Fishin’, National Park, 2PM

Dad I Wanna Go Fishin’ is an intimate portrait of commercial fishing on the F/V Little Infant out of Provincetown. The 90 minute film combines footage from the 1950s, 1960’s and 1970’s with expert narration by retired fisherman, Peter R. Cook. The film premiered in June 2012 at the Provincetown International Film Festival and was produced by Peter R. Cook and Paul de Ruyter. Mr. Cook will be on hand to introduce the film and answer questions following the screening.

Saturday, February 9 – Industry Antiques Road Show, Seaman’s Bethel, 2PM

Explore the history of the fishing industry while learning about its’ “antiques”.  Old machinery, tools, and gadgets will be displayed while a panel of “industry old timers” will discuss the use of these objects and how the industry has changed over time.  Bring in an artifact of your own and try to stump our panel of experts.

Friday, February 15 – Port of New Bedford Then and Now, National Park, 7PM

Phil Mello has been documentingNew Bedford’s working waterfront since 1975. He will share his photographs and observations about the port.  Mr. Mello is Plant Manager at Bergie’s Seafood and is the immediate past President of the New Bedford Port Society.   Industry veteransJim Dwyerand Paul Swain who have worked on theNew Bedfordwaterfront for over 50 years will share a collection of waterfront nicknames and some of the stories behind them.

The Working Waterfront Festival celebrates ten years with the Portholes Project is a series of free, monthly programs designed to engage residents and members of commercial fishing communities in conversations about critical issues facing the working waterfront. Partial funding for the Portholes Project is being provided by Mass Humanities.

The Working Waterfront Festival is a project of the Community Economic Development Center of Southeastern MA, a non-profit organization. The FREE festival, a family friendly, educational celebration of New England’s commercial fishing industry, features live maritime and ethnic music, fishermen’s contests, fresh seafood, vessel tours, author readings, cooking demonstrations, kid’s activities and more.  It all takes place in New Bedford, MA, America’s #1 fishing port, on the last full weekend of September.  Navigate to us at www.workingwaterfrontfestival.org.

The City of New Bedford Department of Public Infrastructure has announced the temporary closure of one block of William Street to vehicular traffic.  The block of William Street from Pleasant Street to Purchase Street will be closed beginning tomorrow at 7:00 a.m. while water service for a new sprinkler system is installed at the business located at 109 William Street, Hibernia Irish Pub.  The section of William Street will be closed to vehicular traffic 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. for up to three days to allow for the installation.  The block will be open for the evening commute and throughout the night but will close at 7:00 a.m. each morning.

The Women’s Military Memorial Committee joined by more than fifty community members including local veterans and their families as well as representatives from the New Bedford delegation — United States Congressman William Keating, State Representatives Antonio Cabral and Paul Schmid, New Bedford Mayor Jonathan Mitchell and the majority of the New Bedford City Council — unveiled the official design for the new “Women in Military Service” monument during a press conference yesterday afternoon held at the Fort Taber~Fort Rodman Military Museum. The new monument will be installed in the City of New Bedford to honor all women in military service from the Revolutionary War to the present.

The design for the new memorial was created by PJ Mitchell, graphic designer at Poyant Signs, Inc. The all of design services for the project were donated by Poyant Signs.

“The Women’s Military Memorial Committee would like to thank Richard Poyant, President of Poyant Signs, for generously donating the design services of his graphic design team to work with our committee in coming up with this masterpiece,” said Kathy Luiz, committee member. “A very special thank you to PJ Mitchell, the graphic designer at Poyant Signs, who dedicated so much of her time and talent to this project — from the five initial designs, through the many revisions, to the exceptional layout that we have shared with you today. We are truly grateful for your support of this effort and bringing to life our vision for this new memorial.”

The design incorporates an image of servicewomen in uniform representing the five branches of the United States military which was originated on the 1997 stamp issued by the United States Postal Service to honor the millions of women, past and present, who have served our country with such dedication, courage and patriotism in times of conflict and in times of peace. The military seals found at the base of the monument represent each branch of the military — reinforcing the reality that women have served and continue to serve the United States of America in all branches of the armed forces.

The inscription on the front of the monument: “Honoring the women in Military Service from the revolutionary war to the present” was selected to be inclusive of all women who have served, are serving and may serve our country in future times of need. The inscription found on the back of the monument: “She is your mother, sister, wife, daughter, friend” is a reminder of the many roles a woman in military service may hold in addition to her role as a servicewoman in the United States armed forces.

The rose colored granite found at the base of the monument was specifically selected to provide a slightly feminine touch to the overall design. Tootell Monument Works will construct the new memorial.

“Matt Albanese and his grandfather Robert Albanese have worked closely with our committee to meet our proposed specifications,” said Luiz. “They are committed to providing the highest quality materials while matching our color, finish and design requests. We are confident that Tootell will provide a final product that will justly honor all women in military service; past, present and future.”

The cost to manufacture and install the new memorial is $33, 450.

“Our committee is confident that we will receive the support from this community that we need to accomplish this goal,” said Priscilla Louro-Fonseca, past Commander of District Nine American Legion and committee member.

The Women’s Military Memorial Fund has been established at St. Anne Credit Union located at 93 Union Street in New Bedford. Donations can be mailed directly to St. Ann Credit Union or deposited directly at the bank itself. Please note that there is only one location for St. Ann Credit Union – not to be confused with St. Anne’s Credit Union.

“We hope that you will consider supporting this project and the courageous, selfless, and loving women it represents,” said Louro-Fonseca.

The proposed location for the new monument is at Fort Taber Park, in the South end of New Bedford. The committee is in the process of receiving approval on the proposed location from the City of New Bedford’s Park Board and the National Park Service. The committee hopes to have the new monument installed in time for ribbon-cutting celebration on Veterans Day 2013.

The Mercy Meals & More’s 3rd Annual “Souper Bowl” Fundraiser is a fundraiser designed to provide food and hope to the hungry in New Bedford. Come sample and vote on your favorite soup from local restaurants. A suggested donation of $5 (you can donate more!) will go towards funding future meals for the homeless. This year’s event is on Sunday, February 3rd from 12-3 p.m at the Pilgrim United Church of Christ (Fellowship Hall) on 634 Purchase Street in New Bedford. If you can’t make it, but would like to donate, or would like to volunteer for this event or future events, you can contact Rev. Russ at 508-728-1489. 

You can read more about the Mercy Meals program and about Rev. Russ here.

The New Bedford Regional Airport Commission and the City of New Bedford will host a second public conversation on the Airport Master Plan update in the Airline Terminal at New Bedford Regional Airport.  The public is invited to join the Airport Commission, Airport Solutions Group, and CDM Smith Consultants for a discussion regarding updating the New Bedford Regional Airport.

This public information conversation will be held Tuesday, February 5, 2013, 6-8pm at the Airline Terminal Building, 1569 Airport Road at New Bedford Regional Airport.

The public may also weigh in on the Airport Master Plan Update through the New Bedford Regional Airport page on the City website at www.newbedford-ma.gov or via the following link http://www.airportsolutionsgroup.com/EWB/info.htm

For more information, please contact Thomas Vick, Airport Manager, Thomas.Vick@newbedford-ma.gov.

Update: John Sylvia has been found. Details here.

This morning at approximately 10 a.m. uniformed officers were sent to 1399 Phillips Rd. (Welby Park Estates) regarding an abduction.

A female resident was leaving the apartment when she was confronted by two tall dark skinned males claiming to be the police. They wore casual clothing with the words, “POLICE” across the front and had chains around their necks with possible police type badges. They took her keys and escorted her back into her apartment. Once inside, they handcuffed her boyfriend and then escorted him out of the building. They entered a white U-HAUL van and were last seen heading onto Phillips Rd. It doesn’t appear that anyone was harmed at this time. The woman refused to go with the suspects because she had her baby with her. They then left with just her boyfriend.

The missing boyfriend has been identified at John Sylvia (5/14/1983) of 1399 Phillips Rd. The vehicle has been identified but not located. It is an overdue rental van from U-HAUL.

• 2012 Ford E250 van color white.
• Arizona tag. AE50765.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Tyrone Jones at 508-991-6300 ext. 134

When I moved to New Bedford seven years ago, I arrived with the preconceived notion that this was not the place I wanted to settle down and raise a family. Why did I think this? Because that is what I had heard about New Bedford growing up: lots of crime, violence, gangs, and an overall unsafe environment. These issues exist, but they shouldn’t define a city so rich in history and culture. The truth is, I had probably known all along about New Bedford’s great aspects, but only remembered the bad. Every community has its problems, some just larger than others.

At about the same time I moved to New Bedford, I started training in Krav Maga, an Israeli self defense system developed in the late 1940’s in which the techniques are based on a person’s natural reaction to an attack. Its simplicity is what attracts so many people to train in Krav Maga. Krav Maga’s only rule is to get home safely, by any means necessary. I had grown tired of going to the gym and lifting weights. I was now married with children and was looking for something that fit into my hectic schedule. Krav Maga provides a great aerobic and anaerobic workout, so along with learning how to keep myself safe, I was getting into the best shape of my life.

When it comes to a “self defense system” like Krav Maga, it’s not all about physical strikes. There are many mental aspects involved that come into play before having to place your hands on another person. Here are five simple suggestions to keep you safe and out of harm’s way:

1. Be alert and aware of your surroundings. It is possible to do this without “living scared.” During a conversation with a friend of mine, she was telling me that she had instructed her young daughter to avoid eye contact with anyone she perceives as being “creepy” while walking down the street. I had to disagree with her. My reasoning was this: Look people in the face, look around, and know who and what is around you. What’s one thing that a criminal doesn’t want you to know? Who they are! The simple act of looking a potential attacker in the face may cause that person to think twice about attacking you. You know what they look like, you can provide a description to law enforcement, and you’re not an easy target. Also, looking someone in the face is a sign of self confidence. Research has shown that criminals will look for “weak targets.” Don’t be a target! We live in a society where our faces are buried in our phones and potential warning sounds are muffled by ear buds blaring our favorite music; not exactly a heightened state of awareness.

2. Be prepared (and not just for the end of the world!). Some people make their fortunes by helping others “prep” for the end of the world; I am not one of them. What do I mean by being prepared? Have your keys in your hand when walking to your car. Try to walk with others at night if possible. Have some idea of how you would react if someone broke into your home. Would you run outside? Where would your family members meet? Would you stay and fight? Have an idea of what you would do before it happens.

3. Be smart. Making the right decisions can keep you out of potentially violent situations. These decisions can be anything from not running alone at night to not parking your car in an area that is secluded from others. I tell my classes, if someone tries to rob you of your wallet or purse, give it to them! I don’t have anything in my wallet that is worth more than my life. Why get shot, stabbed or physically assaulted for a few credit cards or some cash? If the assailant is trying to move you to another location, it’s now time to think about fighting back. I also tell my students to run if at all possible. Whatever it takes to return home safe, do it.

4. Be confident in your decisions. We all have that “sixth sense” that tells us when to react. We don’t know what it is, or how it works, but it does! If you feel unsafe in a situation, leave. If you feel like you’re being followed, get into an area full of people. Be confident that you are making the right decision. If you were sitting in your living room and smelled smoke, you would investigate to find the cause. You wouldn’t wait until your house was burning down around you before you decided that it was time to act. That’s the same attitude when it comes to self defense. Don’t wait until the situation has gone from bad to worse; act before and be confident in your actions.

5. Be empowered! This is a combination of all of the above, but comes down to one principle, and that is staying safe. Empowerment can come from working out, taking a self defense class, etc. Empowerment can be self confidence, an improved sense of self esteem, or just being in great shape. Whatever it is, do it!

David Eaton, Jr. is the lead Instructor at Krav Maga Boston in New Bedford. He is currently teaching a Krav Maga class at 10 a.m. on Saturdays at the New Bedford Fitness and Martial Arts Center on 665 Orchard Street in New Bedford. Full schedule here. You can contact him at Kravmaga.deaton@gmail.com. 

NewBedfordGuide.com and its Facebook page are literally run by ONE person, me. I have several part-time writers, but other than that it’s a one-man show. I don’t get funding from the City of New Bedford and lose money growing the site each year, so there is no major budget like The Standard Times or SoCo Magazine has to get or spread information. The bottom line is that I need YOU, the every day citizen, non-profit or business owner, to get me information, affiliate/partner with me, or support NewBedfordGuide.com by advertising your business with the site. Here are five ways to take advantage of, or support New Bedford Guide:

1. Send us news and information. Have a public service announcement? Some hot news? Cool photo? There are several ways to contact me. The best way is to e-mail info@newbedfordguide.com or send me a message on the New Bedford Guide Facebook page. A third option is to post a message on New Bedford Guide’s wall if you also want others to see the information.

2. Write for New Bedford Guide. While I hope to pay more in the future, I currently pay $25 per published article. I don’t pay for press releases or other self-promotions. Have a great local story? Want to write about some New Bedford history? You provide the content and I’ll provide the audience to read your article! Full details on our pay scale here. A list of past and present writers can be found here.

3. Affiliate/partner with us. I believe in the barter system! I ask that you put a New Bedford Guide banner/link on your website and make us a featured “like” on your Facebook page and in return we will publish your press releases and give priority when posting on our Facebook wall. We get TONS of requests to put out information each week, but our affiliates/partners get priority. Full details on our affiliate program here.

4. Advertise with us. New Bedford Guide reaches, on average, 50,000 people a week on our Facebook page and 30,000 readers each month on our website. If you are looking for a way to promote your product, service, event or overall business, there really is no better, inexpensive way to reach New Bedford and other south coast area residents. I offer banner ads, calendar banners, Facebook promotion, article sponsorship and other marketing opportunities. Full details here. Send me a message at info@newbedfordguide.com to set up an appointment or to discuss options through e-mail.

5. Sponsor Our Articles. A goal this year is to TRIPLE the amount of articles published on NewBedfordGuide.com compared to 2012. The only way to make this happen is to get sponsors to help pay the writers. Like to see the history behind our New Bedford Street? Restaurant reviews? Sponsoring an article ensures that our writers get paid significantly more money. It’s also a great way to get more outstanding local content on NewBedordGuide.com while promoting your business! Full details here.

6. Submit your photos to us. The photos we post on our Facebook page reach thousands of people. Photographers, both amateur and professional, have gotten work from people noticing their work. Full details on promoting your photos on New Bedford Guide’s Facebook page here.

 7. Volunteer – I have a LOT of large and small projects planned for 2013. If you love dogs, supporting the homeless, writing, a computer programmer/web developer, or simply like being a good Greater New Bedford resident, let me know! I plan on putting together a single dog portal where people can browse dogs from multiple shelters. I hope to do several charity events and voter registration drives. I hope to develop a “volunteer” database that non-profits/charities can use to find help. If you want to help run one of the guides (Fairhaven, Dartmouth, Fall River or Boston) let me know.

Every 5 years, the American Veterinary Medical Association conducts a pet ownership survey throughout the U.S. The findings, published in their U.S. Pet Ownership Demographics Sourcebook, detail which states have the largest number of pet owners and which have the least.

Based on their latest survey, Massachusetts doesn’t appear too pet-friendly.

Let’s break down some of the survey results:

Vermont was deemed the most pet-friendly state, with 70.8% of their households owning a pet. New Mexico was close behind with 67.6%, followed by South Dakota with 65.6%, Oregon with 63.6%, Maine with 62.9%, Washington with 62.7%, Arkansas with 62.4%, West Virginia with 62.1%, Idaho 62% and finally Wyoming wrapped up the list of the most pet-friendly states with 61.8% of citizens owning a pet.

Interested in the least pet-friendly states? So was I.

Neighboring Rhode Island started the list out with just 53% of households owning a pet. Minnesota was tied with Rhode Island with 53%. California continued the trend with only 52.9%, Maryland with 52.3%, Illinois with 51.8%, Nebraska with 51.3%, Utah with 51.2%, New Jersey with 50.7% and not surprisingly, New York reported just 50.6% of households own a pet.

I was shocked, however, to read that Massachusetts ranked the least pet-friendly state, with just 50.4% of our neighbors owning a pet.

I tried drawing conclusions based upon the states included in this list, but I really have no clear answers. For some states, such as New York, it seems obvious that a hectic city environment combined with a high percentage of apartment and condo renters would lead to being on the “least pet-friendly” list. But why is Massachusetts even less pet-friendly? Share your thoughts on this topic in the comment section below!

Elizabeth Cincotta is one of the co-founders of the Daily Dog Blog. Follow their Facebook page for updates. Leave her a comment here or contact her at Beth@dailydogblog.org. 

The National Weather Service in Taunton’s most recent forecast indicates that cold temperatures will remain in place across Southern England, including New Bedford, for several days.  Temperatures will fall into the single digits tonight with a low around 6 degrees and wind chill values as low as -4.

In light of the frigid temperatures, the soup kitchen at Pilgrim Church, 634 Purchase Street will be open overnight tonight from 7:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. for those residents seeking shelter from the cold.  The Pilgrim Church shelter will be equipped with staff, food, and cots.

They could desperately use male and female volunteers to welcome their guests and provide a safe and warm place for them. Doesn’t have to be all night, can be a short shift. Also they could use donations of drinks and/or snacks. Call Rev. Russ at 508-728-1489 with any questions or if your willing to come help out or donate food.

With the forecast of extremely cold temperatures and severe wind chill over the next few days, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency has presented the following cold weather safety tips:

• Continue to be aware of the timing of extreme weather conditions by monitoring Media reports.

• Make sure you always have a well-stocked Winter Home Emergency Supply Kit that includes flashlights, portable radio, extra batteries, a first aid kit, bottled water, non-perishable food, a manual can opener extra heavy blankets.

• Minimize outside activities, particularly the elderly and very young. Also, consider your pets.

• Dress in several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight clothing, rather than a single layer of heavy clothing. Outer garments should be tightly woven and water repellent. Wear a hat, mittens and sturdy waterproof boots, protecting your extremities. Cover your mouth with a scarf to protect your lungs.

• Excessive exposure can lead to frostbite, which is damaging to body tissue that is frozen. Frostbite causes a loss of feeling and a pale appearance in extremities, such as fingers, toes, ear lobes or the tip of the nose. If symptoms are detected, seek medical help immediately.

• Hypothermia can occur in extreme cases. The warning signs are uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness and apparent exhaustion. If the person’s temperature drops below 95 degrees, seek immediate medical care.

• Ensure you have sufficient heating fuel, as well as emergency heating equipment in case you lose electricity. Remember that unvented kerosene heaters are illegal in Massachusetts.

• Call Mass211 or check with your local Emergency Management Office to find the locations of any Warming Centers that may be open in your community.

• When utilizing alternate heating sources, such as your fireplace, wood stove, space heater or a generator, take the necessary safety precautions. Keep the heat sources 3-feet away from anything that can catch fire. Turn off space heaters when going to bed or leaving the house.

• Keep a fire extinguisher handy; ensuring everyone knows how to use it properly. Test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors.

• If you lose your heat, seal off unused rooms by stuffing towels in the cracks under the doors. At night, cover windows with extra blankets or sheets.

• Food provides the body with energy for producing its own heat.

• Be a good neighbor. Check with elderly or relatives and friends who may need additional assistance to ensure their safety.

• To keep pipes from freezing, wrap them in insulation or layers of newspapers, covering the newspapers with plastic to keep out moisture. Allow a trickle of warm water to run from a faucet that is farthest from your water meter or one that has frozen in the past. This will keep the water moving so that it cannot freeze. Learn how to shut off your water if a pipe bursts.

• If pipes freeze, remove insulation, completely open all faucets and pour hot water over the pipes or wrap them with towels soaked in hot water, starting where they are most exposed to the cold. A hand-held hair dryer, used with caution, also works well.

• Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. Be sure to move any harmful cleaners and household chemicals up out of the reach of children.

• Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night. By temporarily suspending the use of lower nighttime temperatures, you may incur a higher heating bill, but you can prevent a much more costly repair job if pipes freeze and burst.

• Make sure your car is properly winterized. Keep the gas tank at least half-full. Carry a Winter Emergency Car Kit in the trunk including blankets, extra clothing, flashlight with spare batteries, a can and waterproof matches (to melt snow for drinking water), non-perishable foods, windshields scraper, shovel, sand, towrope and jumper cables.