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Downtown New Bedford, Inc.’s 19th Annual Gala Celebrates it's Arts Community

Downtown New Bedford, Inc. will be holding its 19th Annual Downtown Gala in the lobby of Webster Bank at 545 Pleasant Street from 5-7 pm. on Wednesday, April 28, 2010.  In addition to top-shelf libations by Cardoza’s and delicious hors d'oeuvre s by Cork.  The Gala offers an opportunity to view the wide variety of Art that has become an integral part of the resurgence of our wonderful seaport city. Providing the music at this year’s gala are Musicians from the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra.
 
For the 11th year in a row, more than a dozen artists and artisans will be on hand displaying samples of their work, giving party-goers a virtual “art-show” all under one roof”. Exhibitors who have agreed to show their work to date are:
Artworks!, Crowell's Fine Art; Colo Colo Gallery; Dyer Maker Studio;  Judith Klein Art Gallery; Kristin H. Furtado;  Michelle Carr Photography; New Bedford Fine Arts Painter; Ray’s Gallery; Sasse’; Studio Glass; TL6 The Gallery; Umass College of Visual & Performing Arts; and Photos by Sally Spooner.

In addition to mixing, mingling and art, Downtown New Bedford, Inc. will be awarding– Businesses of the Year to both Craig Paiva for  No Problemo Mexican restaurant and Jay “Ben Borden” Vasconcellos for Solstice Skateboarding. The President’s Recognition Award goes to Kenneth F. Blanchard, Superintendent of Parks and Public Places for the City of New Bedford's Department of Public Facilities: The Community Investment Award to Citizens-Union Savings Bank and this year’s Cultural Arts Recognition Award, will be presented to Lee Heald representng AHA!
 
DNB, Inc.'s Executive Director, Diane Arsenault Nichols stated, “this is a popular annual event that is always well attended and offers great art, food,  beverage, music, and the opportunity to extend our thanks to our award recipients for all they do for our community”.
 
Downtown New Bedford, Inc. is a non-profit (501)(C)3 community organization dedicated to making the downtown community a more vibrant place to live in, work in and visit. 

Tickets for the gala are $50 each, $35 of which is tax deductible, and proceeds go toward Downtown New Bedford, Inc. programs and projects.  Tickets may be purchased from the DNB office at 105 William Street, 2nd Fl. – 508-990-2777, DNB, Inc., from Board Members and at the door. Email: dnb@downtownnb.org

2010 New Bedford ½ Marathon & Restaurant Run Huge Success!

Announcer  Dr. Larry Finnerty of the New Bedford School Committee, an original founder of the New Bedford Half Marathon and long time voice of the race on WBSM
	Getting ready for the Restaurant Run
A well earned rest

In two years the Restaurant Run on Half Marathon day has become an institution. What was an innovative idea last year was taken for granted by runners and spectators this year. Last year it was innovative. This year it was expected and nearly perfect.
 
The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, an all volunteer group, manage the race and DNB, Inc. coordinates the Restaurant Run.
Here is what the Half Marathon race chairman Dan McCarthy had to say, "I never could have imagined that Diane Nichols and her team could have pulled together all of the great vendors, restaurants and bars in such a short time back in 2009.
 
It was truly amazing how well local businesses embraced her enthusiasm and that of her team.
 
I never could have dreamed DNB Inc. could outdo their 2009 Restaurant Run, and boy was I wrong!!
 
There was magic in the air downtown this past Sunday.
 
What a great success in only its second year. I am excited for the future of the Restaurant Run and I am sure the merchants, restaurants and bars are as well!"
 
Once again we see what can happen when everyone works together. The volunteer spirit is very strong here, and there was great cross promotion between the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick and DNB, Inc. DNB, Inc. volunteer Jeff Pontiff is also a volunteer for the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick. Family members of DNB, Inc. members and staff ran in the race. The Half Marathon Runners helped promote the Restaurant Run after the race.
 
An event like this requires that leaders, volunteers (hundreds of them including race volunteers), merchants, food vendors, city government, the National Park and museums all participate. They did. Their participation showcased a friendly and welcoming downtown. John Braun, the race announcer, kept the spectators at the race informed and interested. He also promoted the Restaurant Run. “Downtown is open,” he kept saying. Even the weatherman, who may have felt remorseful about the rainy day for the Holiday Stroll, sent us a perfect spring day.
 
Merchants and restaurants report a successful day. At the Bedford Merchant customers were overheard planning return trips to the city.
 
While Mayor Scott Lang was quoted in the Standard Times saying he was listening for crowd noise in the restaurants and shops, we were looking for lines. Lines mean people. A city without occasional lines is not a busy city. Lines in downtown New Bedford on a Sunday afternoon are to be celebrated. There were lines in the morning to get off Route 18. Lines to get into the Elm Street Parking Garage which, fully lighted and cleaned up, was far more welcoming than last year. There were lines for bathrooms everywhere and lines out the door at restaurants. TL6 the Gallery stamped 150 Restaurant Run brochures for people looking for prizes. As the afternoon ended there were lines of traffic going down Union Street to leave the city.
 
How crowded was it? Crowded enough that people who were looking for each other had a hard time locating each other because of the crowds.
 
At any event, there is always room for improvement, but this event seemed to be about as good as it gets.

March Brings New Members, Renovations at Downtown New Bedford Inc.!
By LAUREN DALEY

They say March comes in like a lion, and this month, we have some roaring good news: New members have joined Downtown New Bedford Inc., along with renovations for standing members.
 
We’re pleased to welcome the Seaport Inn and Marina in Fairhaven, the
Cummings Building Artist Studio & Gallery, Cobblestone Restaurant, and to see renovations to a bigger and better-than-ever Celia’s Boutique.
 
“Our marina was rebuilt—that came out awesome—and we’re finishing a
conference room out over the water, that should be stunning,’” said Chris
Corkery, operational manager at Seaport Inn and Marina in Fairhaven.
“At the marina, we have a new seawall in along the water; we’re going to
put in a public walkway, part of it will go out over the water,” Corkery  said.
 
“Besides that, we’ve added some detail in the rooms, crown moldings. We’ve repainted, put up new wallpaper, had all the TVs converted to flat screen. The function room, the Commodore Room came out beautiful; it now has a bar in it, and our new ball room holds about 600 people.”
 
You can learn more at www.seaportinnandmarina.com
 
DNB Inc. also welcomes the artists at the Cummings Building Artist Studio and Gallery. The eclectic mix of textile artists, painters, musicians and poets are located in 11 studios on the second floor of the 96 William St.
 
“A lot of people don’t know we’re there; we’re like a hidden gem up there,” said Rhonda Fazio, a textile artist and representative of the Cummings Building Artist Studio & Gallery.
 
“It’s a really cool scene up on the second floor,” Fazio said. “We have an artist from Martha’s Vineyard, Adrian Johnson, who makes fridge couches—he combines old refrigerators and car seats to make couches.
 
“We call ourselves the artists on top of the stairs, because people are reluctant to make that trek up,” she laughed. “But people can come up here and look around anytime.”
 
But it’s worth the trek upstairs just to take a look at the building and stairway: “It’s a beautiful old building with a beautiful marble staircase and fossils imbedded in the walls. Gorgeous,” she said.
 
For more information e-mail artisandyes@comcast.net.
 
Celia Britto of Celia's Boutique has moved her shop to a new location on corner of Pleasant and William streets. Britto will celebrate the move at April’s AHA! night with a fashion show and hors d'oeuvres.
 
“The move was great,” Britto said. “My space is larger; the visibility is better; I’m on a corner, and it’s three times the size of what I had. It’s awesome, awesome spot.”
 
For more information on her Grand Opening and ribbon cutting, TBA, call (508) 994-3833 or e-mail celiasboutique@verizon.net.
 
Boston Common Investment & Right Whale recently bought the building at 139 Union St., where Berk's Military store was, and they have plans for renovation.
 
“We’re trying to lease the space. We hope to have a restaurant in there in the near future, open to having artists’ studios in the top two floors,” said manager Bart Bussink.
 
Night owls, rejoice: New DNB member Cobblestone Restaurant, at 7 South Sixth St., is now offering late-night breakfast from 11:30 p.m. to 4 a.m. The local favorite is also hosting group tours for breakfast or lunch, and offering food delivery for orders over $25 in downtown New Bedford.
 
For more information, call (508) 999-5486 or e-mail am911401@verizon.net.

WEBSTER BANK SUPPORTS DOWNTOWN NEW BEDFORD

Kelly Cooper, Branch Manager

Webster Bank is a New England bank with a strong commitment to the community and a strong commitment to the concept that banks should look for ways to say "yes". Webster Bank has said "Yes" to DNB, Inc. every year since their arrival in  2004 when we requested use of the bank lobby for the Annual Downtown Gala.  
 
Webster Bank, founded in 1935 is the  largest bank headquartered in New England.  The current CEO, Jim Smith, is the son of the founder, Harold Webster Smith.  This may explain the feeling of family amongst the employees. Webster may feel like a small local bank but can boast 181 branches in MA, RI and CT.  They are committed to lending and to New England. Webster Bank has said "Yes" to the tune of $400,000,000 in small business loans in 2009, an amount that is expected to double in 2010.
 
Kelly Cooper, Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager of the downtown bank wants her customers to know she has a heart and will try to come up with solutions rather than saying "No" without looking for a solution first.
Cooper says that they can do everything a big bank can do, but with a personal touch.  She points out that their phone numbers are listed and you call and talk directly to any branch. She says  “we know our customers and they know us.  Decisions are made on a local level and you can feel the difference”. The “Team” that supports the downtown branch includes: Donna West – Assistant Manager; Geri Giusti – Teller Supervisor; Liz Machado – Customer Service Rep; Liz Mello – Teller; Shary Pena – Teller; Tom  Papadopoulos – Teller; and Kim Buelterman – Teller.    We would be remiss is we didn't mention Ritchie DeSouza, Senior Maintenance Technician. Ritchie has worked in the building for 40 years and makes sure the details are taken care of for the set up our  Annual Downtown Gala.
 
Other community causes supported by Webster Bank include sponsorship most recently of the “State of the City Address”; the GNB Summerfest; Global Learning Charter School; hosting summer job rediness programs, and Umass grad students arts show.  Bank employees have also organized Relay for Life Teams and support the local Diaper Drive by setting up collection sites in the area branches.
 
Webster Bank is located at 545 Pleasant Street in Downtown New Bedford.  
Lobby 9-3, M-W 9-4Thurs. 9-5F – Drive up: 8-4 M-W 8-5 Thurs. 8-5 F.  ATM located at drive up and at Walgreen's throughout New England.