While the sexual revolution of the 1960’s may be considered a mere piece of the past, human interactions still make for great entertainment to this day. And in the buildup to Valentine’s Day the Zeiterion Theatre is offering a performance that indulges in the passions and yearnings of the heart and the wild scenarios that can come with it.

Once dubbed as “America’s funniest playwright,” Neil Simon debuted “Last Of The Red Hot Lovers” in 1969, chronicling the zealous follies of Barney Cashman, a middle-aged married man whose efforts to take advantage of an increasingly liberal society provide for a string of uproarious mishaps and misfortunes. And in the days of Match.com, “Last of the Red Hot Lovers” is as relevant and funny as ever.

On February 10 the Zeiterion will present Simon’s classic. The show begins at 8 p.m. and tickets are $27, $32, $39, $45. They can be purchased at the Zeiterion box office at 684 Purchase St., or by phone at (508) 994-2900.

The performance is four days before Valentine’s Day and it uses a path of laughter to arrive at a heartfelt moral message as Cashman stumbles his way into the discovery of what is truly rewarding in a relationship.

The works of Neil Simon have earned him a reputation as one of Broadway’s greatest writers. He has written more than 30 plays, and some of his most famous works are “The Odd Couple,” “Biloxi Blues” and “Lost In Yonkers.” He has received more Oscar and Tony nominations than any other writer and many of his stage productions have been adapted to film.

“Last of the Red Hot Lovers” has earned significant praise. The New York Post describes the show as “delightfully hilarious and witty…filled with wisdom about human nature…a geniously brilliant play.”

The production has also been described as “transporting” audiences back to the era of the late 1960’s, as Cashman tries his luck with a varied trio of women who are also immersed in this flowering culture.

Whether you’re a child of the sixties or someone from the age of Internet dating, ‘Last of the Red Hot Lovers’ will likely have appeal.

The show is being produced by the Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia. The cast is comprised of only two actors – Fran Prisco who plays the role of Cashman, and Karen Peakes who plays the role of all three women. The production is more than two hours in length.

Founded in 1809, Walnut Street Theatre is the oldest theatre in America. The Managing Director of the Walnut Street Theatre is Mark D. Sylvester, a native of Mattapoisett. In his 23rd year with Walnut Street, his first job was at New Bedford’s “State Theatre,” a movie house that eventually became the Zeiterion Theatre. At the age of 15 he was selling tickets and popcorn at the venue but he eventually became the establishment’s Stage Manager.

“’Last of the Red Hot Lovers’ is full of funny dialog and situations that anyone can relate to,” Sylvester says. “It’s a comedy about meeting people and the truths about relationships.”

All photographs by Josh Souza.

Everybody knows that dog is man’s best friend, but for a select number of deputies at the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office, dogs serve as partners on the frontlines of law enforcement.

It was a cold December day outside the Bristol County House of Corrections in North Dartmouth, but that didn’t deter the dedicated K-9 deputies and their partners from demonstrating the work they have been trained to do. From apprehending bad guys to finding hidden drugs, these dogs are a force to be reckoned with.

The Sheriff’s Office currently has six dogs in its K-9 unit, five patrol dogs, either German Shepherds or Belgian Malinois, and one used exclusively for finding cellphones within the jails, a black Lab. Of the five used for patrol, four are cross-trained to perform general patrol duties as well as locating narcotics.

Dogs undergo 16 weeks of training before hitting the field for a year. After the first year they return to the academy for an additional eight to ten weeks of narcotics training.

The training at Bristol County is not the same as you would find in many other departments. During the 16-week academy, the dogs are taught a balance of drive and skill.

“There’s no perfect dog,” said Colonel Robert Sylvia, head of the Sheriff’s Office’s Law Enforcement Division. “You have to train them the best you can.”

For the first few weeks, the dogs will be on a leash, or what’s referred to a lead by the deputies. What’s uncommon about this academy is the canine will spend most of their time training “off-lead,” or without a leash. This practice takes a little longer to train, but pay dividends when the dog and his handler are in the field.

By not having to restrain their dog at all times, the deputy is free to perform searches of the suspect while his canine remains on guard in case the suspect decides to flee. While the dog is pursuing the suspect, the handler has the ability to call them off with one simple command. Lieutenant Paul Douglas said this is a very valuable skill for the dogs as it allows for more control over the situation and can avoid excessive use of force.

The K-9 Unit is on-call 24/7 and serves the entire county as well as parts of Rhode Island. Lt. Douglas estimated that in 2015 alone, his unit responded to 200-300 calls.

Joining the K-9 Unit takes a special combination of passions for animals as well as law enforcement. Lt. Douglas has been serving the Sheriff’s Office for 18 years, 11 of which have been in the K-9 Unit. He said he’s always been passionate about animals and that it’s both rewarding and amazing to see what these canine can do.

“It’s amazing how they can just ‘turn it off,’” Lt. Douglas said of how the dogs can separate their jobs from the rest of their lives, just like humans in law enforcement.

Lt. Douglas added that when he brings out his partner, K-9 Rony, to a scene, it automatically commands respect of everyone around, especially the suspects.

During the demonstration, K-9 Rony quickly located a hidden stash of 4g of Percocet. Once it’s located, he scratches and barks at the location to alert Lt. Douglas. His other dog, K-9 Storm, is used to locate cellphones within cell blocks in the jails by sniffing out the phone’s battery.

Deputy Joao Santos’ partner, K-9 Bob, has only been in the academy for two weeks, though is already beginning to look like a pro. Santos has been with the Sheriff’s Office for four years and on the K-9 Unit for the past year. Santos comes from a family with deep roots in law enforcement in Cape Verde as well as dog lovers. His former dog was retired due to health complications, but Santos said there’s still a strong bond between the two.

“I always thought it was brilliant for a human to train a dog like that,” Santos said. “There’s a special bond because they really are your partner. It’s hard to explain but it’s there.”

Col. Sylvia echoed the strength of that bond, saying he’s had former dogs that he served with cremated because, “they’re coming with me.”

The relationship between dog and handler is so strong in part because both are always by each other’s side. Beginning on the first day of the academy, the dog becomes a part of the deputy’s family. Dogs typically last around 10 years in the K-9 unit until they are retired. At that point, the deputy will keep ownership of the dog while also taking on a new canine.

The Bristol County Sheriff’s Office continues to be a premier training location for local municipalities and their K-9 divisions, as Fall River is currently training two dogs that will graduate the program on December 23rd, including a bomb detecting dog. The Fall River Police will soon have the only canine with this capability on the Southcoast aside from the Massachusetts State Police, meaning a shorter response time if need be.

Slide Gallery photos by Josh Souza.

Photo by Josh Souza

Hundreds of people flowed in and out of the Black Hat Brew Works taproom in Bridgewater this past weekend to get a taste of a special beer by Acushnet homebrewers.

The Ole’ Buzzard homebrew group got the opportunity to brew and serve their India Pale Ale at Black Hat after taking first place in the homebrew competition at the South Shore Farm Brew Fest this past September. The group brewed their beer in mid-November and finally served it up to customers to enjoy for the first time. It was such a hit that two kegs were sold out over the course of just six hours.

Homebrewers Scott Stalter and Jeremiah Katz will be donating over $300 in profits from their beer sales to the Bridgewater Fire Department.

Katz said it was exciting to see so many people coming in and out of the taproom, enjoying pours of their IPA and leaving with some to go in growlers.

Stalter was also thrilled about the crowd and is looking forward to hearing what people think.

“It’s not about the money, it’s about making beer people will love,” he said.

Many of the folks that stopped by for a taste were sure to let the guys know they liked what they were brewing. The pair were also asked a number of times when they will start brewing on a larger scale and serving up beers to the public.

Both hope to open up a brewery of their own in Acushnet or Fairhaven in the near future, but for now they plan to continue homebrew in between their full-time jobs.

Photo by Josh Souza

ONE Theater Group, Inc. is proud to announce its upcoming production of A Christmas Carol. The play will take place Thursday December 15th, Friday December 16th and Saturday December 17th at 7 :00PM, and a Sunday matinee, December 18th at 2:00PM. Performances are held at the Fairhaven Town Hall Auditorium located at 40 Center Street, Fairhaven, MA 02719.

Adhering to its mission to raise money for charity, A Christmas Carol will support Family Reach as it’s unique beneficiary. Family Reach is a Massachusetts organization that provides assistance to families who have a child battling cancer. Specifically, this show’s proceeds will go to Family Reach’s ‘Hope for the Holidays’ program. Monies raised and donated will be used exclusively to purchase gift cards to help these families during the holiday season. This allows them to more easily afford holiday gift-buying, holiday dinner, and attend seasonal events, during an emotionally and financially challenging time. Every gift card recipient will be a local family in Southeastern, MA.

ONE Theater Group, Inc.’s production of A Christmas Carol is a truly magical yet faithful rendition of the Dickens classic. As is with all of ONE Theater Group’s productions, patrons can expect bright colors, over the top décor, beautiful scenery, and a top notch cast. A Christmas Carol is family friendly, and a show that all ages can enjoy!

Ebenezer Scrooge does not embrace the holiday season like most people do… He is miserly, misanthropic, and devoted only to his work. On the night of Christmas Eve, he is visited by the ghost of his late partner Jacob Marley, as well as the spirits of Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Future. Through various visions, he becomes enlightened to his unloving ways, sees what he’s already lost, and sees the greater risk of what’s to come. Scrooge then awakens on Christmas morning renewed, and fully committed to honoring Christmas in his heart and keeping its joy and beauty all of his years.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children. Seating is general admission. Purchase tickets online at www.onetheatergroup.com or anytime during normal business hours at the Millicent Library in Fairhaven. Tickets may also be reserved in advance by emailing onetheatergroup@gmail.com. If seating is still available, tickets will be sold at the door. Doors open 30 min. before each show.

A Christmas Carol is being produced by Ashley Bendiksen and directed by Gregory Silver. The show features Nathaniel Tarantino as Scrooge; Colin Butterfield as Bob Cratchit; Sean Carney as Fred; Melissa Platt as the Collector and Party Guest; Owen Dias as the Townsboy; Patrick Long as Jacob Marley, Mr. Fezziwig, and Old Joe; Braiden Norton as Boy Scrooge and Peter Cratchit; Alissa Eskow as Fan and Martha; Sandra Cardoso as Christmas Past and Fred’s Wife; Seth Sweeney as Young Scrooge; Molly Bobola as Young Scrooge’s Girlfriend and Mrs. Dilber; Gregory Silver as Christmas Present; Brianne Allain as Mrs. Cratchit and Bag Lady; Zachary Ferreira as Tiny Tim; David Alves as Business Man #1; David Seguin as Party Guest and Business Man #2; Michael Hamel as Christmas Future; David Alves will provide musical accompaniment on the piano.

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About ONE Theater Group, Inc.: Founded in September 2014, ONE Theater Group, Inc.’s mission is to combine the performing arts with philanthropy. The organization produces two shows annually, selecting a different charity or cause as each show’s beneficiary. Shows are family-friendly, utilizing local talent, high quality sets, costumes, and entertainment to bring quality theater to the local community. In just two years, four different productions have raised $20,000 for local charities. Individuals and organizations are encouraged to apply for selection for future shows. Application information is available online at www.onetheatergroup.com.

About Family Reach: Family Reach is a financial lifeline for families fighting cancer. For over two decades, Family Reach has been helping families with cancer manage the overwhelming financial and emotional barriers of the disease. Working in close collaboration with a network of more than 145 hospitals and cancer centers nationwide, Family Reach provides immediate financial assistance, education and outreach to qualified families in need.

About Family Reach’s Hope for the Holidays Program: During the holiday season, when most families gather with loved ones to savor festive meals and exchange gifts, Family Reach families face the unthinkable. Struggling with the financial devastation of cancer, many are overwhelmed to discover they are unable to fulfill the wishes and needs of their children. To address this need, Family Reach created the Hope for the Holidays program. By donating to the Hope for the Holidays program, 100 percent of monies received go directly to the cause. Monies will be used exclusively to purchase gift cards for families to use towards presents, food and other holiday essentials. Gift cards are purchased in $500 and $1000 increments depending on the family size. ONE Theater Group, Inc. has ensured that local households in Southeastern, MA are the recipients of A Christmas Carol’s donation.
 
Press contact:
Ashley Bendiksen
Producer, ONE Theater Group, Inc.
onetheatergroup@gmail.com
www.onetheatergroup.com

Additional:
Dianne M. Lynch
Family Reach, Director of Special Events & Outreach
(cell) 978.771.6151 | (main) 857.233.2764
dlynch@familyreach.org

The Miss New Bedford’s Outstanding Teen pageant is seeking contestants from New Bedford and surrounding cities and towns.
 
The ideal candidate is a teen who wishes to be a role model throughout the Southcoast. She must value the notion of making a difference in her community, and specifically in New Bedford.
 
Anyone is eligible to enter per the following requirements. Contestants must be between the ages of 13 and 17 and must live or attend school in the Greater New Bedford area. This includes Acushnet, Assonet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Freetown, Lakeville, Mattapoisett, New Bedford, and Rochester. (17-year-olds must be a junior. If a senior, you must compete in the Miss New Bedford pageant in the fall).
 
The winner will receive a $500 scholarship, entry to the Miss Massachusetts’ Outstanding Teen pageant, plus additional gifts from community sponsors. The winner will also spend an entire year making appearances, and engaging in various community service and leadership opportunities. Runners-up and top scoring contestants will also receive scholarships and/or recognition.
 
Contestants compete in five phases of competition: Interview (before the pageant), Talent, Physical Fitness (a brief, group Zumba-style routine), On-Stage Question, and Evening Wear.  ***This is not a glitz/glam pageant, nor does it require an expensive wardrobe.
 
A full information session will be held on Sunday December 11th at 9:00 AM at the Cheryl McCormack Academy of Dance located at 731 Tarkiln Hill Road, New Bedford. Attendance does not obligate competing, however interested contestants are required to attend. If this date does not work, we encourage contestants to contact us to discuss a secondary date.
 
To register for the info session, email info@missnewbedford.org or call (508) 971-9564. You may also visit www.MissNewBedford.org or find Miss New Bedford on Facebook
  
*The pageant will be held on Saturday January 14th at 6:00 p.m. at Keith Middle School in New Bedford.

Above: Students in grade 6 from St James-St John School worked cooperatively on creating a space vehicle that will explore a planet in our solar system. Along with creating and building, they will be writing an essay describing their space vehicle and the features it explored in outer space.

Students in Kindergarten and grade 7 work together on a Thanksgiving project.

Students in Pre-K and grade 5 p​repare Thanksgiving bracelets.

Cristina Raposo
Principal
St James-St John School
180 Orchard St
New Bedford, MA 02740
(508)996-0534
www.sjsjschool.com

Looking for a great after school program for the little ones? Here’s a look at the YWkids School Age Program run by the YWCA Southeastern Massachusetts held at Lincoln Elementary in New Bedford. Call 508-525-7961 to reserve a spot for your child!

Details: http://ywcasema.org/what-we-do/youth-services/

A pair of Acushnet homebrewers spent a recent fall morning brewing their award winning India Pale Ale in a commercial brew system for the first time.

Scott Stalter and Jeremiah Katz of Ole’ Buzzard Brewing spent a chilly Wednesday morning brewing alongside Paul Mulcahy, brewer and owner of Black Hat Brew Works in Bridgewater. The group won the opportunity to brew on Black Hat’s one-barrel system after taking first place in the homebrew competition at the first annual South Shore Farmers Brew Fest this September at the brewery.

It was a change of pace for everyone involved. Ole’ Buzzard typically brews on a system half the size inside Stalter’s shed, while Mulcahy’s system has only ever been used to brew his own beers.

The longtime friends have been brewing together for over five years and Katz said the brew day experience was “definitely a motivator” to get into a brick and mortar location and begin brewing more seriously.

The homebrewers are hopeful of opening up a brewery in Acushnet or Fairhaven under the name Acushnet River Brewing within the next year or two.

Both will get a little taste of what it’s like running a taproom when their IPA “Chug of Darkness” is served up at Black Hat for the public on December 9th and 10th. The 13 ½ gallon batch brewed will yield two kegs, one for each night.

Food will be provided on Saturday the 10th by “Mom on the Go” food truck. The beer will be first come, first serve both days so get there early.

All proceeds from the beer will go toward the West Bridgewater Firefighter’s Association. Both Stalter and Katz are firefighters in Acushnet.

If you go:
Dec. 9th 4-8:30 p.m., Dec. 10th 1-7 p.m.
25 Scotland Blvd. Unit 1
Bridgewater, MA 02324

All photos by Josh Souza_________________________________________________________ngg_shortcode_0_placeholder

Halloween is one America’s favorite holidays. Whether a kid or an adult with a big kid inside, it is a celebration that families look forward to every year. What’s not to like? Dressing up as our favorite super hero or villian, cartoon character, or…ahem, disliked politician. Role playing is not only acceptable, it’s encouraged.

We run around the neighborhood playing tricks on one another, trying to find opportune moments to scare family and friends, and get to devour our favorites candies, chocolates and treats with relative abandon. Days leading up to the holiday are just as exciting as the days leading up to Christmas Morning. There’s excitement in the air!

Our yards and homes get decorated – some just with simple cardboard cutouts in the window, others with elaborate setups that cost thousands of dollars, including graveyards, actors and smoke machines. Everyone enjoys a good fright – the trick part of the “trick or treat.” This is the reason there are so many haunted houses, trails, hayrides and even ships.

However, the only thing scarier than these spooky sites is the money spent celebrating the holiday. When you look at the receipt after buying all the costumes, candy and decorations, paying the entrance fees to haunted sites, you are nearly frightened to death. It’s worse than the boogeyman under the bed, the man with a machete hiding outside your bedroom window in a hockey mask, or a clown chasing you down the street with an ax.

With that in mind, we put together a guide that will cover all budgets. This will allow you to choose one or more places, perhaps all of them without costing you an arm and a leg (chop, chop!) You won’t have to fill the gas tank and drive 50 miles, you won’t have to take out a small bank loan to pay admission, and you won’t have to have sign a contract with Mephistopheles to make it all happen.

We’ve done all the work for you so that you and your family can stay focused on what’s important: entertaining the family, having a blast, and creating memories. I’ve included a “scare factor” rating (1-10) so you can, well, factor in who is going, their age, health condition, etc. So, don’t be scared homie….read on!

01. Fall River Factory of Terror

The Fall River House of Terror is a mill building where actors are constantly jumping out of the shadows, calling out your name, and otherwise terrifying you every moment from the entrance to exit. The 30 room house is haunted by the 113 factory workers who were mysteriously butchered in what is referred to as the Bloodworth Dungeon. The lone survivor was sent to the psych ward of a State Hospital, however, he ended up dying from mental torment, repeating “Bloodworth Dungeon Massacre” until his last breath.

The house is packed with actors and state of the art effects and each room is diabolically devised to squeeze the most scare – or pee – out of you. That includes one room that that gets completely blacked out, leaving you to grope around in the dark….bumping into who knows what. A variation of that theme is special nights called “Lights Out” night where the entire factory goes dark and you only have a small finger light to guide your way.

The website actually warns those that are pregnant or faint of heart to NOT visit. You’ve been warned.

Fall River House of Terror
33 Pearl St
Fall River, Massachusetts
(508) 324-4077

Website: factoryofterror.com/fallriver/
Facebook: facebook.com/factoryofterror/
October 4th-October 31st
Tickets are as low as $19.99 and price depends on a number of deals that they offer across all three locations.

SCARE FACTOR: 8

02. New Bedford Haunted Whaleship

Now for something completely different: a haunted whaleship. There are a haunted battleship and haunted pirate ship that I am aware, but I can’t imagine there are many haunted whaleships. Where else but New Bedford would have one! This family-friendly Halloween event is geared for children 12 and under and not made to terrorize you like the other ones on this list.

The kids will dress up in their favourite costumes and meet ghosts for the Whaling City’s seafaring past throughout the tour which include walking through the mad whaling captain’s lair. Since the focus is more on fun, there will be plenty of arts & crafts as well as refreshments.

In addition to the annual Haunted Whaleship, this year (2018) there will be a “Spooky Science of the Sea” event on October 27th from 2:00pm-5:00pm, which is free with admission. Read more here.

New Bedford Haunted Whaleship
New Bedford Whaling Museum
18 Johnny Cake Hill
508-997-0046 ext. 100

Website: whalingmuseum.org
SCARE FACTOR: 2 

03. Halloween Horror at Roxanne’s Garden Center

This Haunted House is your quintessential, classic haunted house. This is the style of haunted house that started it all – a small building with creatively spooky rooms, a few actors, and lots of scares. This pop-up last about 20 minutes and the fee is voluntary – donations are accepted. So, if you are really broke this year and want a scare for the family, this is up your alley…let’s just hope that alley doesn’t have Jack the Ripper waiting.

Halloween Horror at Roxanne’s Garden Center
185 Alden Road,
Fairhaven, MA
SCARE FACTOR: 6 

04. Haunted Academy in Fairhaven

This kinder, gentler version of a haunted house is perfect if you have children with you or just prefer not to have your heart pounding out of your chest for 30 minutes. Having said that, if you like something that isn’t so tame it’s silly and do want a little bit of fright, the Haunted Academy is perfect.

The Fairhaven Office of Tourism sponsors this haunted attraction with spooky scenes and costumed characters both outside and inside the Visitors Center/Academy Building. You’ll encounter the re-incarnation of Lizzie Borden, a haunted toy shop, Mrs Lovett in her “meat” pie shop, a mad scientist and his creepy monster creation, a foggy graveyard with undead denizens, and more.

Best of all? The haunted academy is completely free thanks to the Fairhaven Office of Tourism. For a short haunted tour that is not too scary, but not too tame, this is the perfect place to visit.

Haunted Academy in Fairhaven
Fairhaven Academy Building
141 Main Street, Fairhaven
Parking in Fairhaven High School lot
Friday, Saturday and Sunday, October 26-28
6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Website: fairhaventours.com/haunted-academy/
SCARE FACTOR: 5 

05. Lizzy Borden House

We all know walking into a haunted house that it is made up of actors dressed in costume. That, of course, doesn’t make it any less scary, but we all know this fact. While plenty of people are sceptical of the existence of ghosts, many do believe in them. If you’re that person, then the idea of walking through the site of one of history’s most notorious slayings should get you shivering. Not only can you walk the same footsteps that the killer walked, but you can sit in the very spot that the bodies lied.

The Lizzie Borden House is a bucket list item for fans of horror or those interested in the paranormal. Many people have had supernatural experiences at the Lizzie Borden House and the tour – a really excellent one by very knowledgeable guides – is very spooky. If you are REALLY brave or doubt the anecdotes of supernatural experiences, you can show off by spending the night and sleeping in Lizzie Borden’s bed (scare factor 8). People have up and left in the middle night because of mysterious bumps in the night and inexplicable sights.

So, if you are in a group and there is always that one “tough” guy saying how he isn’t scared at all and nothing scares him, throw down the gauntlet and ask him to spend the night.

The whole night.

Lizzy Borden House
92 2nd Street
Fall River, Massachusetts
(508) 675-7333

Website: lizzie-borden.com/
Facebook: facebook.com/Haunted-Lizzie-Borden-Tours
Every Saturday and Sunday at 12:30pm and 2:30pm
$15.00 per person, children under 12 only $10.00

SCARE FACTOR: 4 (tour) and 8 (overnight stay)

06. Fear Town Haunted House

Fear Town is a 45-minute ride through run-down buildings and haunted woods and has all sorts of monsters, creeps, and scares along the trail. The interactive theme is that some of these creeps will try to kidnap you and make you a permanent resident of the woods.

There is also a carnival “midway” where you can have some fun, play games, grab a bite to eat and even a selfie of the tears running down your face and perhaps something else running down your leg.

This is definitely not for kids and organizers explicitly state that it is not recommended for children under the age of 12. A glance at the reviews will demonstrate the popularity of the attraction and its effect on punters.

Fear Town Haunted House
Seekonk Speedway
1710 Fall River Avenue
Seekonk, MA 02771
Phone: (508) 296-0661
Email: Info@Fear-Town.com

Website: fear-town.com/
Facebook: facebook.com/FearTownHauntedHouse
Sept. 27-Nov.9
$15.00 per person, children under 12 only $10.00

SCARE FACTOR: 4 (tour) and 8 (overnight stay)

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