“In 2023, ARTnet helped downtown New Bedford art gallery owner Alison Wells launch the “Grateful Palette Community.” It’s a monthly membership that allows you to explore and refine your skills freely through art journaling and mixed media painting techniques that you can learn more about at alisonwellsart.com.

And, it helped Candida Rose Baptista – vocalist, entertainer and educator of Golden Rose Music – release her new album “Here I Am” featuring 14 songs with themes of solidarity, hope, and faith. You can purchase and download it at candidarose.net.

Meanwhile, Art is Everywhere helped Chakira Gonsalves and Fitzcarmel LaMarre bring Reggae to West Beach, and Wicked Cool Places assisted the Community Economic Development Center (CEDC) with turning Riverside Park into Patio de Comidas and Festival Tipico de Guatemala.

In 2024, it just may be your turn to realize your artistic ambitions in the city of New Bedford by applying for either an ARTnet, Art is Everywhere, or Wicked Cool Places grant.

New Bedford Creative is excited to explore the possibilities with you as applications are now being accepted for its three grant programs aimed at fostering creativity and innovation in the city. These programs, funded through the City of New Bedford’s Arts, Culture and Tourism Fund and ARPA/American Rescue Plan Act, play a vital role in advancing New Bedford as one of the most culturally unique and creative cities in America. All they need to accomplish that mission is…you!

The grant programs, each with its own distinct focus, are designed to empower artists, entrepreneurs, community groups, and individuals to contribute to New Bedford’s creative landscape and bring opportunity to its neighborhoods. Here is an overview of the three grant programs:

ARTnet: Artist Recovery and Training Network
• ARTnet is a comprehensive initiative designed to support artists in their recovery from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• It provides financial support, business planning assistance, training workshops, and access to a network of creative entrepreneurs.

Art is Everywhere!
• Art is Everywhere! is a grant program that seeks creative solutions to expedite the recovery of New Bedford’s neighborhoods from the pandemic.
• Originally established in 2020, it prioritizes projects that directly impact residents, visitors, and businesses while promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and access (DEIA).

Wicked Cool Places
• Wicked Cool Places is a grant program aimed at creating or enhancing vibrant spaces within New Bedford’s neighborhoods.
• It focuses on projects that involve and positively impact residents, visitors, and businesses, contributing to the city’s cultural vitality.

Grant awards for these programs range from $2,500 to $20,000, accommodating projects of varying scales. Individuals, non-profits, community groups, and for-profits are all eligible to apply.

To provide further guidance and support, New Bedford Creative is offering 30-minute one-on-one sessions with Creative Specialist Hendrick Hernandez-Resto. Interested parties can schedule a session by emailing him at hhernandez@nbedc.org. It is highly recommended to review the guidelines and questions on newbedfordcreative.org before scheduling a session, as slots are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

All #NBCreative grant applications will undergo a rigorous evaluation process by a selection committee of local community leaders from New Bedford. Proposals will be scored based on criteria such as quality and creativity, community benefit, partnership, planning, and budget.

New Bedford Creative encourages all creative minds and community advocates to seize this opportunity to contribute to the city’s vibrant cultural tapestry and make a lasting impact on its neighborhoods.

For more information and to access the application portal, please visit newbedfordcreative.org.”

UPDATED ON THURSDAY AT 9:25am:

IMPORTANT ALERT!

We want to thank all our hard working volunteers that have offered to do a cleanup at Palmer Island.

However, with Hurricane Lee skirting the coast, with a Tropical Storm Watch, we must put safety first and cancel this Saturdays cleanup of Palmer Island.

Sadly, With a high chance of rain and very high winds we have no choice.

Hurricane Lee is expected to veer slightly west, which means Cape Cod and the South Coast could be in store for wind, rain, heavy surf and a storm surge.” Russ Wotton.

This cleanup has been months in the planning and is painful to cancel.

But better days are ahead and we will reschedule the Palmer Island cleanup.

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In the last 16 years, over 7800 volunteers from all segments of the community have participated in neighborhood cleanups. These dedicated volunteers performed close to 26,000 hours of community service and cleaned over 87 tons of trash from many miles of New Bedford neighborhood streets.

Based on information provided by Independent Sector, we estimate the value of volunteer service that Operation Clean Sweep has provided to New Bedford is over $985,000. Generous donors of In-Kind goods and services total many thousands of dollars as well. The United Way’s Community Building Mini-Grant Program and monetary contributions have helped us to purchase the tools and supplies necessary for education, advocacy and organized cleanups.

Operation Clean Sweep, an all volunteer, anti-litter campaign was founded in early 2006 by Lynn Coish and former New Bedford native Jerry Pinto, as a result of citizen concern for the amount of trash and litter throughout New Bedford. Rather than ask the Mayor to solve the problem, concerned citizens offered solutions. Realizing the value of citizen participation, Lynn and Jerry swiftly introduced the people who now, in part, form the committee of Operation Clean Sweep.

Our vision is for a clean and healthy environment for the community, now and for generations to come.

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Where and when: HQ located at the bottom of Gifford St. Saturday, September 16th, 1pm-4pm.
How to Volunteer: Pre-registering helps us to plan for important volunteer services. Click here to register or call 508-989-9049.
Day of Cleanup: Sign up/check in at our Operation Clean Sweep headquarters table. Remember to bring your reusable water bottle if you got one last year! Tools and bags will be provided.

“Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off Day is on Saturday, September 23, 2023, from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the Crapo Hill Landfill, 300 Samuel Barnet Boulevard, New Bedford. Proof of residency in New Bedford, Dartmouth, or Freetown is required.

Sign up to participate. Visit gnbrrmdistrict.org to select a time slot. Please arrive as close to your selected time slot as possible. If you do not have internet access, call (508) 979-1493 to sign up.

Participants must follow the requirements below.

• Place household hazardous waste in the trunk, pickup truck bed, or back of SUV.
• Stay in vehicle.

Examples of accepted waste include oil-based paints, paint thinner, pesticides, and old gasoline.

Do not bring latex paint (if you cannot give it away, dry it out and throw it away in the regular trash).

Do not bring anything that is accepted at your transfer station including: antifreeze, fluorescent light bulbs, mercury containing devices, motor oil, propane (or other) tanks or cylinders, TVs, or computer monitors.

The maximum amount of household hazardous waste you can bring is 25 gallons or 25 pounds. Collection is for households only. No businesses, schools, or contractors.

This event takes place at the Crapo Hill Landfill, 300 Samuel Barnet Boulevard, New Bedford. Please note, traffic flows in one direction at this event. The only way to enter is through the New Bedford Business Park. GPS may suggest a different route, but if you try that, you will have to turn around and enter through the New Bedford Business Park.

For more information, contact the Greater New Bedford Regional Refuse Management District by email at Marissa@gnbrrmdistrict.org or by phone at (508) 979-1493.”

New Bedford Recycling photo.

“The New Bedford Police Department regrets to announce the departure of another officer. Officer Jonathan Fagundes has moved on the from the New Bedford Police Department.

Not including a shooting which occurred at 12 a.m. today, 6 of the first 10 days of September have had incidents of shots fired.

Officer Fagundes was hired by the New Bedford Police Department in April of 2018. Officer Fagundes graduated the Massachusetts State Police Municipal Academy in New Braintree. Officer Fagundes was assigned to the Uniform Patrol Division until his departure.

New Bedford Police Union photo.

In addition to being recognized for actions performed when on duty, Officer Fagundes has been recognized for his off-duty service. The article linked below outlined how Officer Fagundes was present to provide CPR when he was present at the scene of a car accident and a party involved was unresponsive. His life saving actions were exemplary.

Officer Fagundes will continue to serve the community, as he is moving to the New Bedford Fire Department. He will have some familiar company, as Officer Fagundes will be attending the fire academy along with his eldest son.

The New Bedford Police Union wishes Officer Fagundes the best with his move to the New Bedford Fire Department.”-New Bedford Police Union.

New Bedford Police Union photo.

New Bedford Police Union photo.

“I want to give you a summary of what happened at Gómez School. My daughter is suffering from bullying by another girl since the third grade. She has ADHD, IPE, and a little bit of autism.

Now the kids are at Roosevelt School and the same bully is continuing to bully my daughter. It has now been going on for 4 years. My daughter experiences bullying every time she is at school and the bully has covinced her girlfriends to bully my daughter too. If she defends herself, they suspend her from school.

I’ve looked for help so that they can take that bully out of school and put her in another school. My daughter is tired of bullying and I, as a mother, am afraid that my daughter will take her life because of the bullying.

I want to know how you can help me make this public so that you can help me. My daughter is 13 years old now.”-Daniela Quiñones.

Facebook photo.

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“Todo empezó en la escuela Gómez en el grado 3.

Quiero darle un resumen de los que está pasando desde la Gómez school mi niña está sufriendo el bullying con otra niña ahora están en la Roosevelt school y siguen con el mismo bullying con mi hija ya son 4 años mi niña viviendo el bullying cada vez que ella se defiende me la suspenden de la escuela eh buscado ayuda para que saquen a esa niña de la escuela y la pongan en otra escuela ya mi niña está cansada del bullying y el miedo mío como madre que soy que mi niña se quite la vida por el bullying que le tienen a ella quiero saber cómo ustedes me pueden ayudar hacer esto público para que me ayuden mi hija tiene 13 años de edad ella tiene ADHD IPE y un poquito de autismo.. y ella usa a otras niñas también para que le agan el bullying a mi niña también.”

Daniela Quiñones photo.

“On the South Shore alone, we have more than 16,000 registered dogs from Weymouth to Kingston. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average dog produces approximately ¾ pound of waste per day. If you do the math, that’s more than 12,000 pounds of poop per day and 4.5 million pounds of poop per year – just on the South Shore… And that’s not even including cats!

WHY IS DOG POOP SUCH A PROBLEM?
Scooping the poop is not just about the mess – it’s about clean water and the health of our community:

• Leaving behind pet waste is unhealthy for people, other animals and the environment. It is a breeding ground for infection. It is raw sewage with twice as much bacteria as human waste.
• A 40-pound dog produces 7.8 billion fecal coliform bacteria per day.
• Pet waste left on the side of the road or in the woods releases bacteria that can end up in our water supply where humans and other animals can be exposed.
• Giardia, Salmonella, and Campylobacter are just some of the diseases that can be transferred to humans from pet waste.

The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has also confirmed that pet waste can spread parasites including salmonella, tapeworms, roundworms and hookworms…

Help us keep the South Shore clean and scoop the poop!”-North and South Rivers Watershed Association.

North and South Rivers Watershed Association photo.

“We have been looking for my father for a few months now. He is homeless and has a lot of medical issues! We’ve filed a police report.

Can you please post His name is Emilio Rivera and he is 73 years old. My name is Vanessa Murchison. If there is any info on my dad please call the New Bedford Police Department at (508) 991-6300 or text me at 508-817-7799.”

Vanessa Murchison photo.

Vanessa Murchison photo.

“My dad has gone missing after leaving a rehabilitation center in Brockton. We live in New Bedford. He doesn’t own a car, so may have gotten a ride from someone.

He is 47-years old, 5’5″ and about 120lbs.

If you see him please call or text me at 508-509-9069. Please and thank you ?!”-Pacheco Carolina.

Carolina Pacheco photo.

Can you help find this deserving love-bug a new forever home? Thank you to NEW LEAF of Fall River for sponsoring our pet of the week!
Here are some facts about the new potential addition to your family~

Kita ? 1 year old, 35 lb. female mixed breed. She is underweight at this time, so she will weigh more.

Kita is confident, social, and has never met a stranger! When you come visit her, she will want to say hello right away and will offer many kisses. Are her manners top notch? Honestly, nope ? But she’s working on it and learns quickly!

Kita knows how to sit and we’re working on down. She is very food motivated and eager to please. Kita has excellent leash manners and is ready for all of your outdoorsy adventures.

Kita likes other dogs but she is a rough player so her best playmates would be dogs similar in size to her or larger.
She has not met cats but can be tested for applicants.

Adopt: www.lighthouseanimalshelter.org/adopt
Foster: www.lighthouseanimalshelter.org/foster

Thank you once again to NEW LEAF of Fall River, located at 2629 South Main st. and OPEN LATE until 11pm every day! Follow them on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/NewLeafCanna

Visit them online: https://www.newleafcanna.com/