New Bedford Mayor's Office

Final Decision to be made Based on Tide Conditions and Storm Progress

New Bedford, Massachusetts - In an effort to protect the New Bedford Harbor from storm surge, the Army Corps of Engineers anticipates the closure of the New Bedford Hurricane Dike sometime tomorrow afternoon, Friday, September 3, 2010. The final decision to close the dike is expected to be confirmed by the Army Corps of Engineers sometime tomorrow morning.

New Bedford Harbor Development Commission
Kristin Decas, Executive Director
508-991-3000

New Bedford/Fairhaven Drawbridge to Remain Open to Marine Traffic Only, Today and Tomorrow from 12pm (noon) to 6:30pm

Bridge Closed to Vehicular Traffic During this Time

New Bedford, Massachusetts- In an effort to provide appropriate accessibility for vessels to take shelter in New Bedford harbor in anticipation of Hurricane Earl’s arrival, New Bedford Port Security in conjunction with the United States Coast Guard has requested that the Massachusetts Department of Transportation Highway Division keep the New Bedford/ Fairhaven Drawbridge open to marine traffic only beginning today, Wednesday, September 01, 2010 from 12:00pm (noon) to 6:30pm and again tomorrow, Thursday, September 2, 2010 from 12:00pm (noon) to 6:30pm.

During this time the bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic. A detour will be in place and there will be message boards in place during the closure to notify motorists.

For more information please contact Adam Hurtubise at the Department of Transportation at (617) 973-8093.

New Bedford, Massachusetts - At a ribbon cutting ceremony today Mayor Scott W. Lang was joined by State Representatives Robert Koczera and John Quinn, City Councilor Steve Martins, Commissioner of Public Infrastructure for New Bedford, Ron Labelle and New Bedford Environmental Steward, Scott Alfonse and dozens of residents of the Taber Mill Apartments in celebration of the opening of a new parking lot located next to the Taber Mill Apartments in the city’s north end.

New Bedford, Massachusetts - For the past twenty years, Massachusetts volunteers have scoured beaches, river banks, marshes, and the seafloor to pick up trash and record information about the types of trash being collected. These volunteers are part of COASTSWEEP, the Commonwealth’s annual coastal cleanup program, organized by the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management and the Urban Harbors Institute of the University of Massachusetts Boston.

New Bedford, Massachusetts- The deadline to register to vote or change party enrollment, voting address or voting name for the September 14th State Primary is Wednesday, August 25th. City Hall will be open till 8:00pm on August 25th to accommodate this deadline.

New Bedford, Massachusetts - Mayor Scott W. Lang announced today the recipients of U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding totaling $3,270,911. The City, through the Office of Housing and Community Development, will provide CDBG funding to community based organizations and city departments that provide housing, economic development, public services and infrastructure improvements to assist in addressing the community based needs in New Bedford. The CDBG program is administered through the City’s Office of Housing and Community Development.

New Bedford, Massachusetts – Mayor Scott W. Lang was joined today by Congressman Barney Frank, Secretary of Public Safety and Security Mary Elizabeth Heffernan, the Governor’s Seaport Advisory Council and several other key officials in a ceremony to unveil the City’s newest Port asset, Fire Boat Marine 2.

PORT OF NEW BEDFORD, MA—The East Coast Marine Highway Initiative, a partnership between the Port of New Bedford, Massachusetts and the Port of Baltimore, Maryland and Port Canaveral, Florida has received recognition as an initiative in the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) new Marine Highways Program. The Department’s Maritime Administration chose eight projects and six initiatives from 35 applications submitted by ports and local transportation agencies.

New Bedford, Massachusetts - The following New Bedford recreational beach areas are closed today due to excessively high enterococcus counts, a public health risk to bathers.

The following sections of East Beach are closed:

O’TOOLE BEACH
TOWER 1
TOWER 4

The following New Bedford beaches will re-open today based on enterococcus counts that have dropped to acceptable levels.

The following section of the Fort Taber Beach area is re-opened:

TABER BEACH SOUTH

The following section of West Beach is re-opened.

SQUID BEACH

All New Bedford public beaches will be tested again tomorrow to assess bacterial counts and to determine if it will be safe to re-open all beaches on Saturday.

For more information of exact location of beach closures please visit the Massachusetts Department of Health’s website for maps of the area beaches at http://mass.digitalhealthdepartment.com/public_21/beaches.cfm?btown=new%20bedford

New Bedford Health Department
Marianne De Souza, Director of Public Health
508-991-6199

New Bedford, Massachusetts- All New Bedford public beaches are re- Opened to swimming after 48 Hours of careful monitoring by the New Bedford Police Department Port Security Team and the United States Coast Guard.

The United States Coast Guard recently completed an aerial sweep of the New Bedford coastline, beginning in the area of the initial shark sighting off the coast of Ft. Taber, informing the City that the water is safe for re-entry.

The New Bedford Port Security Team, the United States Coast Guard and the State Police will continue to patrol area over the weekend for protective measures.

New Bedford, Massachusetts — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has announced that tonight’s aerial spraying against mosquitoes will not take place in New Bedford. Spraying will continue tonight in higher risk communities North of New Bedford and has been scheduled to begin in the New Bedford area tomorrow evening, Saturday, August 7, 2010 (weather permitting) between the hours of 8:00pm and 3:00am.

Boston, Mass. – The Animal Rescue League of Boston is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for throwing a suitcase with an adult female pit bull terrier and several bricks inside into the waters off the Frederick Street boat ramp on July 29 in New Bedford.

A coalition of leaders from Massachusetts’ Gateway Cities is celebrating the recent passage of an economic development bill that contains provisions that create new opportunities for state and private investments in business growth and job creation, market-rate housing, and public infrastructure in the state’s older, urban areas. The bill, passed by the legislature this past weekend was signed on Thursday morning by Governor Patrick.

New Bedford, MA, August 2, 2010—Welcome aboard as New Bedford, America’s largest commercial fishing port, hosts the 7th Working Waterfront Festival. The FREE event takes place September 25th and 26th on the working piers and waterfront parks of the historic Port of New Bedford. 

More than simply a celebration, the Working Waterfront Festival is a unique opportunity for the public to get a firsthand look at the culture of fishing and for the commercial fishing community to tell its own story. The event presents all that goes into bringing seafood from the ocean to the table in a way that is hands-on, educational and fun.

New Bedford, Massachusetts — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has announced that tonight’s aerial spraying against mosquitoes will not take place in New Bedford.

Spraying will begin tonight in higher risk communities North of New Bedford and has been tentatively scheduled to begin in the New Bedford area tomorrow evening, Friday, August 6, 2010 (weather permitting) between the hours of 8:00pm and 3:00am.



All New Bedford residents are asked to remain indoors during spraying hours to reduce/eliminate exposure risk to the insecticides. As an additional precaution, all New Bedford parks and beaches will be closed at 7:30pm and all recreational activities after 7:30pm will be cancelled.

New Bedford, Massachusetts- All New Bedford public beaches are closed to swimming effective 8pm Wednesday, August 4, 2010 after a reported shark sighting about one mile off the coast of Fort Taber.

Beaches will remain closed to swimming until Port Security has confirmed the water is safe for re-entry.

New Bedford, Massachusetts — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has announced that tonight’s aerial spraying against mosquitoes has been CANCELLED due to poor weather conditions.

Aerial spraying is scheduled to take place on the evening of Thursday, August 5th (weather permitting) in selected areas of southeastern Massachusetts, including most of New Bedford between the hours of 8:00pm and 3:00am.

New Bedford, Massachusetts - The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) working in collaboration with the New Bedford Health Department Municipal Laboratory has identified a harmful algae bloom on Sassaquin Pond located in the far north end of the city.



Effective immediately, the Sassaquin Pond is closed to all recreational use including swimming, wading, boating and fishing. Engaging in any of the described activities is a public health risk.

New Bedford, Massachusetts — Governor Deval Patrick announced today that aerial spraying against mosquitoes will take place on the evening of Wednesday, August 4th (weather permitting) in selected areas of southeastern Massachusetts, including most of New Bedford. The exact time and location will be released during the day tomorrow, August 4th. Residents are encouraged to monitor their local media outlets, including the radio, cable access and newspaper websites, for up to the minute information.

New Bedford, Massachusetts – The New Bedford Division of Animal Control released a report today indicating that two skunks have tested positive for rabies. Both animals were found in the far North end of the city.

People can help to protect themselves and their loved ones by taking the following precautions:

Ø Do not pick up, touch or feed wild or stray animals of any kind.
Ø Do not leave pet food outside for your own animals or for strays.
Ø Avoid sick or strange-acting animals.
Ø Vaccinate all cats and dogs against rabies. Massachusetts state law requires that all pet cats and dogs receive a rabies vaccine.
Ø Store garbage in containers and fasten lids tightly.
Ø Notify the Division of Animal Control at (508) 991-6366 if you see an animal acting strange or disoriented.
Ø If you are bitten or scratched by any animal you should promptly scrub the wound with soap and warm water for five minutes and see a doctor immediately.
Ø If your pet is bitten or scratched by another animal, call the veterinarian and wear gloves when handling or cleaning your pet. Afterwards, wash your hands thoroughly.

New Bedford, Massachusetts - The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) announced today that the risk for eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) in people has increased in a large part of southeastern Massachusetts, including New Bedford.

New Bedford, Massachusetts – Mayor Scott W. Lang announced today the availability of positions in a summer volunteer program for New Bedford teenagers aged 16 & above. The program, which will begin on August 2nd and end on August 27th, will give young people the opportunity to volunteer several hours a day working with the city on projects to beautify our neighborhoods, parks, and beaches and ensure that they are kept litter-free. It will also offer several optional enrichment opportunities featuring guest speakers over the course of the month. Upon successfully completing this program, each participant will receive a $250 stipend and a letter of recommendation from Mayor Lang to be used in future job or educational applications.

A part of Portuguese history will be sailing into New Bedford in time for the Feast of the Blessed Sacrament when the tall ship Gazela arrives at the south side of State Pier. The 100+ year old wooden-hulled former Grand Banks fishing vessel will be docked from July 29 through August 2.

New Bedford, Massachusetts- Thanks to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and the Patrick-Murray Administration, Mayor Scott W. Lang and the New Bedford Council On Aging (COA) are pleased to announce the availability of a new mini-bus which was awarded to the City through the Mobility Assistance Program Grant and is the first mini-bus of its kind awarded to the New Bedford COA.

New Bedford, Massachusetts – The City of New Bedford Department of Public Infrastructure is conducting an informal public information meeting related to the JFK Highway Access Improvement Project - Phase II (the Project) on Wednesday, August 4, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. at the Gomes School at 286 South Second Street in New Bedford. The purpose of this meeting is to provide an informational update based on feedback received at the public information meeting held in April and to solicit additional comments regarding the Project.

The Phase II component of the JFK Highway Access Improvement Project will continue the project from the southerly limits of Phase I to Cove Street, a distance of approximately 5,000 feet. The goals of the Phase II Project include improving vehicular, bicyclist and pedestrian safety along the corridor as well as providing improved cross-connections between the South End neighborhoods and the waterfront. Conceptual plans will be presented for community input.

Information regarding the project can be found at the Department of Public Infrastructure, the Office of the Mayor, and on the City’s website at http://www.newbedford-ma.gov.

State Treasurer Tim Cahill, Chairman of the Massachusetts School Building Authority (“MSBA”), and Katherine Craven, MSBA Executive Director, were in New Bedford today to present a $7.2 million check representing the MSBA’s share of the total project cost to the City of New Bedford for the construction of the Taylor School at the Sea Lab Marine Science Education Center. The ceremony celebrates the partnership and collaborative effort between the MSBA and the city to bring the project to fruition.

The City of New Bedford has installed a snow fence around the Buttonwood Park Pond today in an effort to restrict entry into the pond by the general public and both wild and domestic animals.

Effective June 28, 2010, the Buttonwood Park Pond is closed until further notice to all recreational use including swimming, wading, boating and fishing due to recent test results indicating high bacteria counts. Engaging in any of the described activities is a public health risk and will be subject to fines.

New Bedford Health Department
Marianne De Souza, Director of Public Health
508-991-6199

All beaches within Fort Taber Park will re-open to swimming today, July 16, 2010 based on enterococcus counts that have dropped to acceptable levels.

New Bedford Health Department
Marianne De Souza, Director of Public Health
508-991-6199

New Bedford, MA -- Many gathered at Bristol Community College’s (BCC) New Bedford Green Center (200 Union Street, New Bedford) on Thursday, July 15, in support of the 12 students graduating from The Stepping Stone Program, one of the first green jobs training programs offered at BCC.

The following New Bedford recreational beach areas are closed today due to excessively high enterococcus counts, a public health risk to bathers.

FORT TABER PARK BEACH AREAS

All New Bedford public beaches will be tested again tomorrow to assess bacterial counts and to determine if it will be safe to re-open all beaches on Friday.

New Bedford Health Department
Marianne De Souza, Director of Public Health
508-991-6199