NEW BEDFORD The New Bedford City Council voted unanimously Thursday night to begin the process of renaming one of the city s three middle schools after the late former Mayor Frederick Kalisz Jr.
Seven councilors Ian Abreu, Naomi Carney, Maria Giesta, Brian Gomes, Linda Morad, William Markey and Scott Lima filed the motion to rededicate one of the schools in his name during the council meeting.
Kalisz, who died at 63 from COVID-19 complications on Jan. 27, oversaw the construction of three new middle schools during his tenure as mayor from 1998 to 2006: Roosevelt Middle School, 2001; Normandin Middle School, 2003; and Keith Middle School, 2006.
The councilors wrote the new schools were the first to be constructed in almost 30 years as a result of Kalisz s unrelenting leadership and guidance.
New Bedford Issues Snow Parking Ban Information
UPDATED (4:45 p.m.) :
The City of New Bedford has lifted the parking ban as of 5 p.m. on Monday, February 1.
A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for New Bedford beginning Monday, February 1 with snow and wind in the forecast. The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for Southeastern Massachusetts and it is in effect from 7 a.m. on Monday, February 1 through 1 a.m. on Tuesday, February 2.
From the Office of New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell:
• An emergency parking ban is effective at 8:00 a.m. today and will extend for 48 hours unless lifted or extended.
Standard-Times
NEW BEDFORD Paula Benedetti, a retired dropout prevention specialist in the New Bedford public school system, saw a need during the holidays among her students and decided to address it head-on by enlisting the help of school colleagues and friends. She started Christmas is for Kids” with her husband more than 20 years ago.
Every year the project grows, involving more people and more schools.
“We have been able to secure a volunteer this year in seven of our schools to assist in identifying families, accepting and storing gifts, and arranging for delivery to students’ homes, Benedetti stated in a new release from Arthur P. Motta, Jr., community and public affairs manager for New Bedford schools. My dream is to see the project in every elementary school so that we can identify and respond to all children in need during the holidays.”
‘Christmas Is for Kids’ to Support Over 170 SouthCoast Children
Paula and Ron Benedetti started “Christmas Is for Kids” 25 years ago. The project assists families in need at Christmastime. They are provided with one shirt, one pair of pants, one sweatshirt, one set of pajamas, and one toy for each child in the family.
Kendra Galary started helping out with the “Christmas IS for Kids Project” back in 2009. She was a substitute at Keith Middle School at the time and she wrapped gifts for the program. She is now a health teacher at Carlos Pacheco Elementary School in New Bedford and took over the project at the school about five years ago. Last year, they took care of about 25 families with a total of 90 kids. 2020 was unlike any other season she has had.
Standard-Times
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for Southeastern Massachusetts including New Bedford in effect from 7 p.m. today through 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 17.
The National Weather Service predicts total snow accumulations of 6 to 8 inches, according to a press release from the City of New Bedford. Storm conditions and icy roads due to rapidly falling temperatures are expected to make travel difficult from Wednesday night through Thursday morning.
The city send the following information pertaining to the storm:
PARKING BAN
In preparation for the approaching snowstorm, the City of New Bedford has announced a citywide snow emergency parking ban to take effect at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Dece. 16. The parking ban will be strictly enforced and will remain in effect for 48-hours thereafter, unless lifted or further extended by City officials. The parking ban is designed to allow City workers to efficiently remove snow from New Bedford roadways to perm