On Saturday, April 3, 2010, at 8:00pm, CD label Whaling City Sound presents an evening of intimate vocals and relaxing jazz music performed by Ron Gill, John Stein and Gilad Barkan. Popular jazz singer Ron Gill spent more than twenty-four years as a jazz DJ on WGBH Radio in Boston. He will be accompanied by Berklee College faculty member John Stein on guitar and bass, with Gilad Barkan on piano. Proceeds from ticket and CD sales for this great evening of music directly benefit the YWCA Southeastern Massachusetts.

Southcoast Hospitals today announced its new Wound Care Center in Fall River, which will house the first hyperbaric oxygen treatment chambers in Southeastern Massachusetts and East Bay R.I., will open on March 15.

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — Some 40 employees of Southcoast Hospitals Group will be attending a week-long training in Alabama during the week of March 15 provided and fully funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security at the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Center for Domestic Preparedness.

NEW BEDFORD – More than 620 students were honored for academic excellence at Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School recently. In an awards ceremony on March 12, the students earned Renaissance program awards for the second quarter of the school year.

New Bedford, Massachusetts- The City of New Bedford’s Department of Recreation and Mayor Scott W. Lang will host their annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 27, 2010 at 10:30am at Buttonwood Park. Children ages 10 and under are welcome to participant. All participants are asked to gather in front of the warming house at least ten minutes before the start time. There will be lots of candy and prizes to find.

The rain date for this event is Sunday, March 28th.

New Bedford, MA – Five local programs in literacy and energy efficiency are now enrolling. Funded with over $450,000 in Economic Stimulus funds through The Greater New Bedford Workforce Investment Board, Inc. (WIB), these programs are expected to serve over 130 individuals by the end of this year.

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. - The Southcoast Health Van provides free education and screenings for the community addressing cardiac disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer. It also serves as an off-site blood donation center for the Southcoast Blood Bank.

Southcoast Centers for Cancer Care announces six  cancer support groups beginning in March 2010.

Bristol County District Attorney Sam Sutter will formally announce his candidacy for re-election on Monday, March 15th at 1:15 p.m. at the historic Wamsutta Club, located at 427 County Street in New Bedford.

District Attorney Sutter will be delivering a major address, which will review the work his office has done to enhance public safety in Bristol County during his first three-plus years in office and will preview a number of new initiatives he plans to unveil if elected to a second term.

The public and media are invited to attend. http://www.samsutter.com

New Bedford, MA – The New Bedford and Fall River Area Chambers of Commerce are hosting a meeting of the SouthCoast Electric Power Group (SCEPG), a collaboration of thirty-six large users of electricity in the New Bedford and Fall River area, on Thursday, April 1, 2010 at 9:00 a.m. at Rachel's Lakeside, 950 State Road, Dartmouth, MA. The meeting will recap the group's combined savings for 2009 and update members on electricity contracts and activity for 2010. Representatives of Risk Services Group and Con Edison Solutions will be available to answer questions from members.

More than twenty Massachusetts municipal leaders announced today the formation of a new coalition, Save Our Communities Coalition, which will work to advance healthcare plan design legislation. The group gathered at the invitation of Boston Mayor Thomas Menino last week to discuss how cities and towns can control rising employee health care costs without the authority to modify health plan design, as it stands under the current state law. With growing healthcare costs taking a large percentage of already tight budgets, municipal officials are working together to advocate for a more efficient use of taxpayer money.

Students from Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School earned 61 awards – including first-place finishes in ten categories and a sweep in the Video Production competition – at a Business Professionals of America (BPA) competition held in Framingham this month. The students from GNB Voc-Tech took part in the BPA State Leadership Conference on March 6-8.

New Bedford, Massachusetts- The City of New Bedford Office of Environmental Stewardship and the New Bedford Economic Development Council have formed a Brownfields Task Force of partners and stakeholders with the goal to identify Brownfield sites in the city that have the highest economic development and job creation potential for targeted EPA assessment funding.

Southcoast Centers for Cancer Care announces six cancer support groups beginning in March 2010.

New Bedford, MA - There is no trend hotter than sustainability when it comes to today’s homes. More and more people want healthier, safer and more environmentally friendly homes and lifestyles. If you are interested in “greening” your residence or have questions on current topics such as energy efficiency and sustainability, then you don’t want to miss the Greater New Bedford Home and Garden Show. The 2010 Greater New Bedford Home and Garden Show, scheduled for Saturday, March 6 and Sunday, March 7, 2010 at Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School in New Bedford, will feature three new “green” seminars.

A message from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health - Toxoplasmosis - Pregnant women should be aware of a disease called toxoplasmosis. When acquired during pregnancy, it can cause birth defects, spontaneous abortion, or stillbirth.

Our pets can at times have parasites which may infect humans. Human exposure occurs when children eat soil or put contaminated hands in their mouths. Likewise adults may be infected if they eat using unwashed hands which have been exposed to parasites.

Here are some tips to help prevent infection of you and your family.

Keeping your pet's teeth healthy is important as they use their mouths for many things: eating, playing, fetching, grooming! Nobody likes the smell of “dog breath” which is caused by the accumulation of bacteria in the mouth in the form of tartar. Establishing a dental plan for your pet is best started when they are a puppy or kitten but even older dogs and cats can be taught these “new tricks.”

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — Southcoast Hospitals Group and Northeast Ear Nose & Throat Surgeons will be offering free head and neck cancer screenings on the Southcoast Health Van on Wednesday, April 14, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at CVS/Pharmacy, 1145 Kempton St. in New Bedford.

Reservations are required for the screening. To register, call the Southcoast Wellness Line at 1-800-497-1727.

Southcoast Hospitals Group has named Patricia A. Nelson as Director of Oncology Operations for the Southcoast Centers for Cancer Care.

In her new role at Southcoast, Nelson will oversee the administrative staff and function in both medical and radiation oncology for Southcoast’s cancer centers in Fall River and North Dartmouth as well as the new flagship center being built in Fairhaven.

NEW BEDFORD – About 200 eighth-grade students from Dartmouth, Fairhaven and New Bedford will be getting some good news in their mailboxes soon. They will be receiving a letter of acceptance from Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School.

NEW BEDFORD – Students from Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School earned 70 honors, including 67 medals, at a SkillsUSA competition involving students from six high schools in the region. They won 26 gold medals, 21 silver medals, and 20 bronze medals in the competition held at GNB Voc-Tech on February 24.

Police are investigating an apparent murder-suicide, which occurred early this afternoon in Fall River and Westport.

Preliminary investigation has revealed that at around 12:30 p.m. today, Alfred Arruda Jr., 43, of 80 Edmund St., Fall River, shot his brother, David Arruda, and his aunt, Barbara Platt, outside of the home they all shared with the Arruda’s parents at 80 Edmund St. Specific ages for both victims are unavailable at this time.

New Bedford, Massachusetts- Mayor Scott W. Lang announced today the Northeast Fisheries Summit, a day-long discussion that will focus on the future and sustainability of the fishing industry in New England and near- and mid-Atlantic ports. The Summit is co-hosted by the Mayor’s Ocean and Fisheries Council, the School for Marine Science and Technology (SMAST) at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, and the Massachusetts Marine Fisheries Institute. Expected to attend is Eric Scwhaab, the newly appointed Assistant Administrator for Fisheries with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; Congressman Barney Frank; and industry leaders, scientists, elected officials, environmentalists, and government officials from across the Northeastern region.

“We all recognize the importance of achieving a sustainable fisheries management plan,” said Mayor Lang. “I look forward to an open discussion about how we can ensure a balance of sensible conservation practices with the economic vitality of the fishing industry. It is appropriate that this discussion take place in New Bedford, the nation’s top-ranked value port.”

The Summit will include panel discussions on catch shares and sectors, scallops and scallop by-catch, and amending the Magnuson-Stevens Act.

The Summit will begin at 9:00am on March 8th at the Whaling Museum, located at 18 Johnny Cake Hill in New Bedford. The public is welcome to attend.

FAIRHAVEN, Mass. — FUN 107 and the Fogaren family today announced plans to hold a memorial walk and family-friendly event to honor Sharon Fogaren, the co-host of the “J.R. & Sharon” morning radio show on FUN 107, who passed away after a brief illness this past September.

The Disability Law Center is sponsoring a free training and clinic for parents on special education transition services for children with disabilities, ages 14-22 on March 27, 2010 at the New Bedford Public Library. The training will be conducted in Portuguese and English. Language interpretation will be provided. People can register on line at www.dlc-ma.org or 800-872-9992. Spaces are still available.

The Sharing the Harvest Community Farm at the Dartmouth YMCA is a contestant in Pepsi’s Refresh Project and could win $50,000… they just need your vote! Vote once a day, every day, during the month of March and help your local community farm win $50,000.

The Bay Sox will be returning to New Bedford this summer, and are in need of host families to house players who have come from all over the country to chase their dreams of becoming major leaguers.

The New Bedford Bay Sox played their first season of baseball at Paul Walsh Field last summer. The team is a part of the New England Collegiate Baseball League and will be playing all of their homes game there again this year beginning on June 6 as they take on the Newport Gulls.

New Bedford, Massachusetts- The City of New Bedford 2010 Summer Job Applications will be available as of March 1st for the Summer Jobs Random Lottery. Applications and Income Guidelines will be available at City Hall, 133 William Street in the Personnel Department, Room 212 or at www.newbedford-ma.gov. Interested applicants are asked to submit their applications to the Personnel Department to be considered for the Summer Program random lottery. All applicants are required to be New Bedford residents and must be at least 16 years of age by July 1, 2010. The deadline for applications is May 6, 2010.

Beginning March 1st the City will accept applications for the following programs:

* Kennedy Summer Day Program
* Summer Food Service/ Parks Playground Program
* Lifeguards

For more information please visit www.newbedford-ma.gov and click Jobs Available and then Summer Employment Application or call 508-979-1444.

Join Lloyd Center Research Associate, Jamie Bogart, on Monday, March 22 on a “spring woodcock walk”. Experience a true spectacle in early spring as you observe the American Woodcock (Scolopax minor) courtship flight in Dartmouth where many fields that serve as staging areas exist. These early migrants are often visible before snow melt, and are a true sign of spring.

South Coast Artists, a non-profit organization serving the coastal communities of Dartmouth and Westport, MA and Little Compton and Tiverton, RI, is offering two Spring Workshops to educate local artists about good, solid business practices.

New Bedford, MA - The New Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce welcomes back The Old Farmer’s Almanac for their highly anticipated gardening seminar at the Greater New Bedford Home and Garden Show taking place at Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School on March 6th and 7th. Last year, the gardening seminar was a highlight of the show for attendees, and this year is sure to be even better.

New Bedford, Massachusetts - The Massachusetts Department of Transportation Highway Division will be performing repairs on the New Bedford/Fairhaven drawbridge beginning at 6:00am on Saturday, March 6, 2010 until 6:00pm on March 7, 2010. During this time bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic. A detour will be in place and there will be message boards a week in advance and during the closure to notify motorists of the bridge closure.

What better way to celebrate your day, than to treat yourself to a day of pampering? It’s International Women’s Day, so enjoy it!

Take the time to treat yourself to a relaxing massage. Restore balance to your life through the spiritual healing of Reiki or yoga. Get a psychic reading, talk to skin care professionals, get a manicure, shop and much more. Pampering services and sweet indulgences are all compliments of the YWCA and the professionals who have generously volunteered. Take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to relax and socialize with other women.

District Attorney Sam Sutter announced today that Robert Roy, 46, was convicted by a jury of his peers this afternoon of first degree murder. Mr. Roy was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Robert T. Kane to serve life in prison, with no possibility of parole.

New Bedford, MA, February 24, 2010—Baker Books, an independent bookstore, will host an illustrated talk and book signing with the authors of Voices from the Waterfront: Portrait of the New Bedford Fishing Industry on Thursday, March 4th at 7:00 PM. Photographer Mark Starr and Co-editors Kirsten Bendiksen and Laura Orleans will talk about the process of creating the book. In addition, some of the individuals profiled in the book will be on hand to answer questions about New Bedford’s fishing industry.

Join us on the March 11 All Sewn Up AHA! Night as we celebrate New Bedford's rich textile history. Downtown New Bedford will come alive in celebration of our textile artists, both past and present. We will also salute St. Patrick’s Day, and the fact that March is Women's History Month.

April 24 and April 25, 2010, 10am–5pm - Paintings or drawings of anything with fur or feathers is eligible. Please join us for the reception and awards ceremony on Sunday, April 25, 3–5pm.

Taught by Meredith Wildes Cornell - Join Meredith Cornell for three Tusedays in April to study the figure through gesture drawing and more developed painting, working from a live model. Some emphasis on the portrait will be included.

Classes will be held on Tuesday mornings April 13, 20, & 27 from 9:30 am–12:30 pm at the WAG building, 1740 Main Road in Westport. Gesture materials will be provided. Bring your own painting materials.

The fee is $75.00 for members of WAG and SAN, and $90 for non-members. It includes the model fee. Please register by April 2 to ensure a space.

Local artist and beloved teacher, Meredith Cornell, will provide instruction in working from the figure. She still lives in Little Compton RI, and is a graduate of the Swain School of Design in New Bedford, MA, and a student then and since of several masters from Sigmund Abeles and Reopel and later to Norma Anderson and Thomas Sgouros. Ms. Cornell taught for many years at the Westport Art Group in Westport MA.

To register, visit www.westportartgroup.com/classes.html , download the pdf of the registration form and mail it to WAG, PO Box 157, Westport Point, MA 02791 with a check. You can also email info@westportartgroup.com for more information.

New Bedford, Massachusetts- At a press conference this morning, Mayor Scott W. Lang announced that New Bedford will host a major commercial marine industry trade event this June. Commercial Marine Expo (CME), a 42-year-old biennial event, is relocating from Providence to the State Pier in New Bedford. The two-day event will be held June 9-10. City officials began negotiating with the show organizer in 2007, led by New Bedford Harbor Commission Executive Director Kristin Decas and New Bedford Economic Development Commission’s Matthew Morrissey.