Elizabeth Treadup (Mayor's Office)

New Bedford, Massachusetts- Today, Mayor Scott W. Lang and Lafrance Hospitality Co., announced that the proposed downtown waterfront hotel has cleared another major hurdle; Lafrance Hospitality has received approval from the Marriott Corporation to establish a Marriott Fairfield Inn and Suites in New Bedford.  The franchise approval allows the developer, Lafrance Hospitality, to progress to the next stage of the multi-million dollar waterfront project.

New Bedford, Massachusetts - Weston Associates, Inc., a Boston-based real estate firm signed an agreement to acquire the site of the former “Keystone Building” a significant piece of downtown New Bedford real estate, located on Union Street between Purchase and Pleasant Streets.  Weston Associates, Inc., signed the purchase and sale agreement earlier this week with property owner, Dennis Keohane. 

New Bedford, Massachusetts - The public is invited to attend a civic meeting regarding the status of work and sampling at New Bedford High School and the ongoing monitoring at the Keith Middle School.  The meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 30th, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. at the Keith Middle School, located at 225 Hathaway Boulevard in New Bedford. 

New Bedford, Massachusetts- After city officials learned federal monies awarded to New Bedford for the Fishermen’s Safety Training Program had been fully expended, the New Bedford Harbor Development Commission came forward with the necessary funds to support the next round of safety training to continue the critical program.  Since its establishment in 2005, the Fishermen’s Safety Training Program has taught more than 850 enrollees essential safety procedures including firefighting, emergency communications, damage control, life raft use, emergency flares, immersion suit use, and helicopter hoist procedures.

New Bedford, Massachusetts- On Thursday, April 3, 2008, Governor Deval Patrick and the Department of Housing and Community Development and the Division of Banks awarded cities and non-profit agencies across the Commonwealth a total of $2 million to support foreclosure prevention education and assistance.  The New Bedford Office of Housing & Community Development was awarded a $150,000 grant for the development of a Regional Foreclosure Education Center that would centralize foreclosure prevention efforts and offer counseling and loan programs for homeowners affected by the current mortgage crisis. 

New Bedford, Massachusetts - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded an $83,000 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) to New Bedford Emergency Medical Services.

New Bedford, Massachusetts- Mayor Scott W. Lang held a press conference today to announce that the Office of the Board of Elections has been designated an official passport acceptance facility and now accepts passport applications on behalf of the U.S. Department of State. 

New Bedford, Massachusetts- The Walt Whitman documentary that includes segments filmed on location in the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, will air on PBS (WGBH/Channel 2) as part of its American Experience series on April 14, 2008 at 9:00p.m.  Last summer, HiddenHill Productions recreated early 19th Century New York on the streets of New Bedford to help illustrate the life of one of America’s most influential poets.

New Bedford, Massachusetts- During the month of February, the Greater New Bedford Area Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee and the City of New Bedford Human Relations Commission sponsored a “Black History Month” essay contest for New Bedford Public Schools students.

New Bedford, Massachusetts - The Board of Election Commissioners reminds those Ward 3 voters in the City of New Bedford who will be unable to reach their designated polling location on the day of the Ward 3 Special Election, they can cast their absentee ballots at the Elections Office in City Hall on Saturday, April 5th from 8:00 a.m. to 12 Noon.

New Bedford, Massachusetts - On March 31, 2008, the New Bedford School Committee unanimously voted to support a motion submitted by Mayor Scott W. Lang to institute a school recycling program throughout the New Bedford Public Schools System.

New Bedford, Massachusetts - Each summer, the City of New Bedford Department of Recreation hires certified lifeguards to staff New Bedford’s East and West Municipal Beaches.  This month, the Recreation Department will offer a Lifeguard Certification Program to qualifying New Bedford residents.  Once certified as lifeguards, individuals are eligible to apply for one of the summer municipal lifeguard positions.

Gloucester, Massachusetts - On Tuesday, April 1, 2008, Mayor Scott W. Lang, as a member of the Governor’s Seaport Council announced that New Bedford has secured $5,615,000 for projects vital to both the economic development and the security of the Port of New Bedford.  

New Bedford, Massachusetts - On Thursday April 3, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. at the Buttonwood Park Educational Center, in Buttonwood Park Zoo, Mayor Scott W. Lang will recognize 157 city employees and board and commission members for their various years of service to the citizens of New Bedford.

New Bedford, Massachusetts- A ceremony to honor Dr. John Fletcher’s 50 years of service to the children of greater New Bedford will be held in the downtown library of the New Bedford Free Public Library system at 2:00 pm on Saturday, March 29, 2008, in the third floor meeting room.

New Bedford, Massachusetts-The New Bedford/Fairhaven Harbor Plan is a five-year document that has reached the end of its intended life. Thus, a Harbor Plan Renewal Committee was recently appointed and the renewal process is underway. This initiative will assess the changing character of and new opportunities for the port, identify elements of the Plan that warrant modifications, and also set the Harbor’s vision and development objectives for the next five years. An entering assumption is that the Plan will protect the traditional working port while also offering opportunities for new industry and more public access to the water’s edge and out onto the harbor. Diversification is a key element but not at the expense of existing marine industry and other desirable long-standing harbor uses.

New Bedford, Massachusetts - The New Bedford School Committee concluded its nationwide search for a new Superintendent of New Bedford Public Schools at an early morning meeting today at the Keith Middle School.  All seven members of the New Bedford School Committee unanimously voted to offer Dr. Portia Selene Bonner, the position of Superintendent of New Bedford Public Schools.  Dr. Bonner is currently serving as Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction at Hamden Public Schools in Hamden, Connecticut.

New Bedford, Massachusetts - The New Bedford H.O.P.E. Collaborative announced today it will be the local host for the upcoming Charles E. Shannon Jr. Community Safety Initiative Spring 2008 Technical Assistance Meeting, sponsored by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Northeastern University.  This meeting will consist of a series of workshops where Shannon Grant partners from across the state will discuss their best practices and most effective strategies with regard to youth violence and gang prevention.

NEW BEDFORD, MA – On Tuesday, March 25th at 10:00 a.m. New Bedford Mayor Scott W. Lang and the New Bedford Office of Housing & Community Development will host the 4th Annual Sister Rose Award Ceremony at the New Bedford Art Museum, 608 Pleasant St., New Bedford.  The award, named in honor of its first recipient, Market Ministries Executive Director Sister Rose Ellen Gallogly, is given annually to a person from within the homeless continuum of care in recognition of his or her compassion, achievement, and dedication to the principle that every person is entitled to live with dignity. 

NEW BEDFORD, MA – New Bedford Mayor Scott W. Lang today invited city residents, community agencies and local officials to officially acknowledge National Community Development Week.

New Bedford, Massachusetts- Mark your calendar, the Standard-Times Greater New Bedford Summerfest 2008 is scheduled for the first weekend in July.  The event kicks off in the Downtown New Bedford Historic District on Friday evening with a concert and the City’s fireworks display and then continues on both Saturday and Sunday with music, artisan crafters, local and ethnic cuisine and more.

New Bedford, Massachusetts- A Special Municipal Election will be held in the City of New Bedford on Tuesday, April 8, 2008 to elect an individual to serve as the Ward 3 City Councilor.  The deadline for voters to register to participate in this Special Municipal Election is Wednesday, March 19, 2008.  To allow the public more time to complete the voter registration process, the Elections Office, located in New Bedford City Hall, will remain open on Wednesday, March 19th, 2008 until 8:00 p.m.

New Bedford, Massachusetts - The City of New Bedford is seeking military war veterans and one non-veteran to serve on the Veterans’ Advisory Board. 

New Bedford, Massachusetts - The New Bedford School Committee today released the public interview schedule for the three candidates selected as finalists for the position of Superintendent of New Bedford Public Schools.  The interview schedule is as follows:

New Bedford, Massachusetts - Last evening, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley, New Bedford Mayor Scott W. Lang, and the Greater New Bedford Workforce Investment Board, hosted a successful roundtable discussion with community advocates and business leaders on the subject of youth employment opportunities in New Bedford.  In addition to a $10,000 commitment by the Attorney General, businesses and community organizations pledged to sponsor more than 50 youth jobs during the summer of 2008.  These employment opportunities will connect New Bedford youth 16 years of age and older with valuable work experience.

New Bedford, Massachusetts - State Representative Robert A. DeLeo, Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee met with Mayor Scott W. Lang, State Representative Antonio F. D. Cabral and other area leaders to discuss a variety of projects developing in the city of New Bedford.  The group toured several sites in New Bedford including state pier, and the downtown Bristol Community College campus and also met with street outreach workers funded by the Charles E. Shannon anti-gang grant. 

New Bedford, Massachusetts- After interviewing seven semifinalists, the School Committee has selected three candidates as finalists for the position of Superintendent of the New Bedford Public Schools District.  Earlier today, Scott W. Lang, Mayor and Chairman of the New Bedford School Committee announced the latest progress in that search process, “Right from the start, New Bedford attracted a strong pool of 17 applicants.   From there the School Committee narrowed the field of candidates to seven semifinalists and has culled the group even further to three final candidates who will be interviewed by the School Committee along with public representatives in an open, public process.  I want to commend each school committee member for his or her commitment to this process.  They have been dedicated and thorough in their review of the candidates.”

Boston, Massachusetts - New Bedford Mayor Scott W. Lang has been appointed as one of 32 local officials from across the state to serve as a member of the Massachusetts Local Government Advisory Commission (LGAC), which will meet regularly throughout the year with Governor Deval Patrick and Lt. Governor Timothy Murray to discuss issues facing cities and towns.

New Bedford, Massachusetts- In his annual State of the City Address, Mayor Mayor Scott W. Lang will discuss the accomplishments of his first term in office, and will speak about his plans for New Bedford in the year ahead.  The Mayor’s address will focus on public safety, education and improving the quality of life for all New Bedford families.

New Bedford, Massachusetts-What began in New Bedford as a symbol of peace and patriotism, meant to instill pride and to lift community spirit in the wake of the Vietnam War, has endured for 40 years.  On February 15, 2008 city officials, area veterans, and New Bedford residents will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the first “Light for Peace,” an initiative to illuminate and display the American flag 24 hours a day. 

Friday, February 15th, 2008 at 1:00 p.m.