New Bedford, Massachusetts - A dedication ceremony will be held on Saturday, December 8, 2007 at 2:30pm to celebrate the completion of the latest Artworks! community mural, painted on New Bedford’s newly constructed waterfront trash facility.

The Harbor Development Commission (HDC) commissioned ArtWorks! Teen Mural Project to decorate the new structure located on Leonard’s Wharf with a mural that celebrates the number one fishing port in the country.  The HDC saw this mural project as an opportunity for the artisan community and local youth to be integrated with the working waterfront.  Through the ArtWorks! Teen Mural Project, many local teens assisted artist Percy Fortini-Wright in the creation of this harbor front community mural.   One side illustrates New Bedford’s fishing fleet and the other displays the many abundant varieties of fish species found in our oceans. “The mural reflects the tremendous value and community spirit our fishing industry brings to the City.  I extend the City's appreciation to Percy Fortini-Wright for his fine work and to ArtWorks! for engaging our youth in another project that celebrates our community traditions, culture and arts,” said Mayor Scott W. Lang.

Last January, the Board of Public Health ordered the termination of trash service at the Harbor Development Commission facilities due to multiple cases of illegal dumping and oil contamination.  The Harbor Development Commission, working with the Department of Public Facilities and the Department of Public Infrastructure developed a state of the art trash facility that addresses the health and environmental issues associated with improper waste disposal and provides a much needed refuse facility for the New Bedford fishing fleet.  City employees outfitted the new harbor front trash facility with traps and other devices to prevent contamination and leakage.  Further, to discourage abuse of the facility, the waterfront trash shed will be staffed during hours of operation and the installation of security cameras is underway.  Fines of up to $500.00 will be strictly enforced for illegal dumping of any kind.
 
“The Harbor Development Commission is most pleased to reinstate trash service critical to operations of New Bedford fishermen and bring a facility on-line that protects the environment and public health of our community,” stated Kristin Decas, Executive Director of the Harbor Development Commission.

The trash facility will be open to fishermen with HDC docking permits beginning on Monday, December 10, 2007.  The hours of operation will be Monday through Saturday from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm.

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Elizabeth Treadup (Mayor's Office)

View all articles by Elizabeth Treadup (Mayor's Office)