The Chat: The downtown restaurant scene: challenges and rewards
What does it take to succeed running a restaurant in downtown New Bedford? These guys know. Devin Byrnes of Destination Soups and Brandon Roderick of The Baker joined The Chat host and Light columnist Jack Spillane for a fascinating hour-long discussion.
For 10 years, the Immigrants’ Assistance Center in New Bedford has been hosting citizenship ceremonies, but last week they celebrated one that was truly exceptional.
Gracinda Oliveira, a spirited 100-year-old Portuguese immigrant, just became an American citizen, fulfilling a long-awaited dream: registering to vote in a presidential election.
Oliveira arrived in New Bedford when she was a spry 50 years old — a mere midway point in her epic journey to citizenship. “She lived in Portugal under a dictatorship, so she never had the opportunity to vote,” said Helena DaSilva-Hughes, president of the Immigrants’ Assistance Center.
🗳️ 2024 Summer Intern Project 🗳️
As the 2024 presidential election approaches, the role of immigrant voters is becoming increasingly pivotal. With their growing numbers and diverse perspectives, immigrants are poised to significantly influence the outcome of this crucial election. Understanding their views and priorities is essential for grasping the broader political landscape.
Did voting privilege play a major role in their mission to obtain citizenship? What issues matter most to them as they prepare to cast their ballots? How do they think U.S. citizens should view immigration going into the future?
In communities like New Bedford, immigrant voters have clear opinions on the policies and issues that impact their lives, yet many face obstacles such as language barriers and misinformation. Despite these challenges, there is a strong resolve among immigrants to make their voices heard in the 2024 election, recognizing the power of their vote in shaping the nation’s direction.
🗳️ 2024 Summer Intern Project 🗳️
As the next generation of voters matures, the views and wishes of young people are rapidly gaining influence in each successive election, including the 2024 presidential election. This underscores the urgent need to understand exactly what these views and wishes of young people are and how they perceive themselves as citizens in a democracy.
Are young people politically engaged? What are the most important issues to them? How do they feel about the major political parties? Do young people believe their voices matter?
New Bedford’s Gen Z voters have strong opinions on the issues that they feel have defined their lives thus far. Most say they want to learn more about Kamala Harris before committing. They were concerned about losing human rights and about the divisive nature of Trump’s campaign. Young people feel sure of what they want, but there is an air of resigned uncertainty surrounding how best to achieve it.
Young voter and veteran Braedyn DeMarco believes his generation’s voice will only matter insofar as its members make themselves heard.
“I think every voice matters once people start realizing that if they don’t voice it, no one else is going to,” DeMarco said, “So, I think everyone’s voices matter when elections come around.”
🗳️ 2024 Summer Intern Project 🗳️
With Vice President Kamala Harris taking President Joe Biden’s spot as the Democratic nominee for the upcoming presidential election, women voters are in the spotlight more than ever.
Women on the South Coast said they are excited and inspired by the possibility of a woman president, acknowledging the importance of having diverse representation in the political world.
Social and civil issues regarding women’s rights are now at the forefront of voters’ minds. Does having a woman as a presidential candidate bring more attention to women’s rights? Will the change in candidates bring more women to the polls?
The Light set out to find the answers to these questions.
Having a woman candidate “doesn’t impact my decision about whether I’m voting or which party I’m voting for,” said Pam Schwart, one of the women polled, “but it’s made me a lot more enthusiastic about participation.”
Senior voters on the South Coast have plenty to say to The Light's summer 2024 interns about the upcoming presidential election. And they should. They’ve seen more and voted longer.
What is their perspective on civic obligations? What issues matter most to them? How do they feel about the presidential candidates? Lastly, should age have been such a hot topic?
The Light’s summer internship team feel the weight of the upcoming presidential election, and they wanted to take the pulse of their generation and other demographic groups in the South Coast. This is one of several videos they created as part of their project, Polling South Coast.
⭐ Meet The New Bedford Light's intrepid team of 2024 summer interns! ⭐
They're taking the pulse of their generation and other demographic groups in the South Coast. How does the older generation feel about the candidates? What are the concerns of naturalized citizens given the state of immigration? And how do women voters think November will pan out?
Over the next few days, we'll be posting videos from their reporting project, Polling South Coast. You can also check out the full series here ➡ https://newbedfordlight.org/2024-summer-intern-project/
Aerial dancers, soap bubble showers, and groovy beats. Last Thursday, AHA! celebrated its 25th anniversary in downtown New Bedford. The event enchanted residents and visitors with entertainment for children, informational stands, and lots of music.
Started in 1999, AHA! has taken place nearly every second Thursday of the month, offering a wide range of programming for New Bedford residents and collaborating with over 60 community partners, including museums, galleries, arts organizations, shops, hotels, and restaurants.
🎥 Eleonora Bianchi / The New Bedford Light
New Bedford’s North End is now home to an eye-catching mural designed to inspire communities and promote social and environmental resilience.
The mural at 1200 Acushnet Ave. is a product of the 2023 Envision Resilience Challenge, a multi-university design initiative focused on creating hopeful futures in the face of climate change.
More than 50 residents, businesses and organizations in the city’s North End chose a design by student Ethan Moyer, voting on roughly 10 proposals. The painting was assigned to David Andrews, a local Cape Verdean and Wampanoag artist.
Street Style — Danny Baptista
Safety testing of South Coast Rail is a painstaking but crucial process.
“If you find a problem at test 371, you stop,” said Ryan Coholan, the MBTA’s chief operating officer. “You start all over again.”
Coholan brought The Light’s reporters on a tour of South Coast Rail’s unopened New Bedford branch to demonstrate the complexity of the new project’s safety systems. The basic infrastructure of the project has been complete for months — tracks are laid, stations are built. But trains can’t carry passengers until an extensive series of safety tests are complete.
What are archaeologists digging up at the James Arnold mansion?
Bridgewater State students are busy digging for clues about James and Sarah Arnold and their famed gardens.
New Bedford Light reporters Anastasia E. Lennon and Eleonora Bianchi were on hand to get the story about the archaeological expedition at the intersection of County and Union streets in New Bedford.
Read the full story here ➡ https://newbedfordlight.org/what-are-archaeologists-digging-up-at-the-james-arnold-mansion/
This is the first installment of a new series, Ask The Light, that answers questions about what’s going on in New Bedford. Ask the Light your questions and our investigative reporters will look into it for you! https://newbedfordlight.org/ask-the-light/
