$1.9B stimulus sought for South Coast Rail

State officials have applied for federal stimulus funding to cover the entire cost of the South Coast Rail project: $1.9 billion.

The project to construct a rail extension from Boston to Fall River and New Bedford has many selling points that could give it an edge in the application process, said Kristina Egan, manager of the project for the state, contacted by telephone Tuesday night.

"One of the great things about South Coast... [read more]

  Renewable energy group sees a bright future for SouthCoast

Hopes for large-scale job creation in the Fall River and New Bedford areas often involve offshore clean-energy projects that would require manufacturing wind turbines and other equipment in a new green-collar industry.

On Thursday, a renewable-energy consortium based at the Advanced Technology and Manufacturing Center held a conference with more than 100 representatives from colleges as far away as Florida and companies as far away as Europe.

The New England Marine Renewable Energy... [read more]

  Owners of new airport restaurant confident they've done it up 'right'

NEW BEDFORD — About two years after the Airport Grille closed its doors, the restaurant — completely renovated and substantially expanded — is set to reopen Thursday under new ownership.

"It took longer than we thought it would, and it took more money," said William Whelan, one of the five partners behind the restaurant.

But, he said: "I have no regrets. There's nothing I wish we had done, or nothing I wish we had done... [read more]

  City hosts 5th annual Bioneers by the Bay conference

New Bedford will again host the Bioneers by the Bay: Connecting for Change conference. The 5th annual conference will be held in several venues throughout historic downtown during the weekend of October 22-25, 2009.

Bioneers by the Bay: Connecting for Change, is a program of the Marion Institute which provides an opportunity for concerned citizens to meet with environmental, scientific, and social justice innovators to address the Earth’s most pressing challenges. Plans include three days of live keynote speakers, afternoon workshops, an... [read more]

  Sea gives way to sky at Ocean Explorium's Hubble exhibit

NEW BEDFORD — There is a lot more to explore at the Ocean Explorium with today's opening of a NASA traveling exhibit on the Hubble space telescope.

"This is huge for New Bedford. It will be an eye-opening experience for everyone who sees it," said Abbey Spargo, education programs coordinator at the Explorium. "This exhibit has never been in New England before and, if anyone wants to see it over the next three months, they will have to come here."

NASA personnel arrived in the city Monday... [read more]

  History unveiled on cemetery tour

It's mid-October and time to start focusing on all things spooky. The haunted trails, hayrides, and costume parties are all still a must, but consider something new with a cemetery tour in New Bedford. This Sunday, Oct. 18(**), the 6th Annual New Bedford Historical Cemetery Tour, hosted by the New Bedford Preservation Society, offers historical portrayals in period costume and will take place at several gravesites along the tour route in Rural Cemetery. The cemetery is the final resting place for many members of prominent whaling-era families, New Bedford politicians, famous New Bedford artists, and other... [read more]