03-08-2025
New SouthCoast restaurants, trash woes, church bell drive: New Bedford top stories
As we head into a new week, let's take a look at the news from this past week.
The 109th Feast of the Blessed Sacrament took place at Madeira Field in New Bedford, showcasing the vibrant culture of Madeira for all to enjoy. The fields at 50 Madeira Ave. came alive with a time-honored tradition, live entertainment, authentic cuisine, and community celebration.
The Fairhaven dining scene just got a big shot of new culinary energy, with the transformation of the former Ice House on Alden Road into SoCo Tavern Restaurant & Bar. With a delicious set of entrees such as the braised short ribs to the haddock and fries, the must-try choices on the menu are the pizzas and smash burgers.
Make sure to keep up with high school sports with scores, game highlights, and Player of the Week voting at
And here are the most-read stories of the week on
New Bedford teen among two people killed in I-195 car crash
Two teenagers, including one from New Bedford, were killed in a single-car crash on Interstate 195 in Dartmouth on Saturday, July 26.
State Police responded to multiple 911 calls for a crash on I-195 west near the Reed Road exit around 1:35 p.m. The Bristol County District Attorney's Office said that Kevin Dos Santos Lopes, 19, of New Bedford, and Amilton De Pina Semedo, 18, of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, died in the crash.
DA's office: New Bedford teen among two people killed in I-195 car crash
Magic Kitchen's 'Chef Papi' putting a Cape Verdean twist on classic American breakfast
For nearly two decades, Hippolyte 'Chef Papi' Tavares dreamed of opening a restaurant to showcase the flavors he's cultivated around the globe. After 20 years serving as a medical laboratory technician in the military, and nearly another decade traveling the world honing his craft, Tavares is making that dream a reality.
On Aug. 1, he and his wife, Kisa Ramos-Tavares, opened the doors to Magic Kitchen at 130 Nauset St., inviting New Bedford to enjoy a menu alive with world fusion and Cape Verdean inspiration.
Magic Kitchen: 'Chef Papi' putting a Cape Verdean twist on classic American breakfast
A 24/7 trash processing plant proposal going before New Bedford Health Board
Hearings on a proposed trash processing facility that will operate seven days a week, 24 hours a day and take deliveries six days a week will begin before the Board of Health on Aug. 5.
The South Coast Renewables plant would be located at 100 Duchaine Blvd. in the New Bedford Business Park, and has drawn opposition from residents, community groups and the environmental advocacy group Conservation Law Foundation.
What to know: A 24/7 trash processing plant proposal going before New Bedford Health Board.
New Bedford drug testing lab pleads guilty to $4.7M in MassHealth insurance fraud
A New Bedford-based clinical laboratory and its owner — once named the city's Small Business of the Year — have pleaded guilty to scamming MassHealth out of $4.7 million in false insurance claims.
Optimum Labs Inc. and owner William Owens of New Bedford appeared in Suffolk County Superior Court on Monday, July 28, where they pleaded guilty and admitted to sufficient facts on charges related to two MassHealth fraud and kickback schemes.
Insurance fraud: New Bedford drug testing lab pleads guilty to $4.7M
Taking (back) its toll: Parishioner continues drive to return St. Lawrence bells to New Bedford
For well over a century, the 14 bronze bells of St. Lawrence Martyr Church provided a background score to life in New Bedford emanating from County Street.
Currently, they are being stored in Cincinnati, Ohio, awaiting a return to New Bedford. That's been the focus of steadfast if not spectacular fundraising efforts by lifelong parishioner Suzanne Sullivan.
Taking (back) its toll: Parishioner continues drive to return St. Lawrence bells to New Bedford
Read these stories in their entirety at
This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Standard Times top stories: Fatal crash, New Bedford area restaurants open
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