Community Corner

🌱 How could new parking rules reshape housing across New Bedford?

You won't want to miss Annual Christmas Dinner and Concert on the New Bedford Patch calendar

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Tuesday December 16th Patch AM
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Good morning New Bedford! We're back in your inbox this morning to keep you in the loop with what's happening in and around town. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • How could new parking rules reshape housing across New Bedford?
  • What earned St. Luke’s and Southcoast top marks for maternity care?
  • How a new $250K grant could boost New Bedford seafood

Also on today's calendar: Annual Christmas Dinner and Concert.

Find out what's happening in New Bedfordfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around New Bedford? Post it to New Bedford photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️

Today's riddle: Can February March? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Find out what's happening in New Bedfordfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Weather forecast:

  • Tuesday: Clouds and sun; not as cold, with a high of 36 and low of 31 degrees.
  • Wednesday: Windy and not as cold, temps: high: 49, low: 27.
  • Thursday: Times of clouds and sun, with a high of 49 and low of 44 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. New Bedford City Council Considers Parking Reforms (streetsblog.org) — New Bedford officials are weighing a major change to parking requirements that could shape how and where thousands of new homes get built in the city. The mayor’s proposal would cut most multifamily mandates to one space per apartment, aiming to lower development costs and ease the housing shortage while keeping higher requirements for larger units and single-family homes.
   

2. Southcoast Hospitals Group wins national obstetric care recognition (pbn.com) — New Bedford families delivering at St. Luke’s Hospital are part of a Southcoast Hospitals Group team just honored by U.S. News & World Report for excellence in obstetric care. The system, serving Fall River, New Bedford, and the wider South Coast, was the only provider in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts to earn these 2025 maternity care access and high-performing designations.
   

3. $1.2M awarded to boost Massachusetts commercial fisheries (nationalfisherman.com) — New Bedford’s port is receiving $250,000 to promote and strengthen the city’s fisheries and seafood brand as part of a $1.2 million statewide fisheries innovation package. The grants back new fishing gear, safety research, and marketing to help commercial fleets safely operate around offshore wind farms while boosting demand for Massachusetts-caught seafood.
   

4. Vineyard Wind awaiting approval from Army Corps to finish turbine shipments (newbedfordlight.org) — New Bedford’s hurricane barrier is at the center of a high‑stakes delay, as the Army Corps still hasn’t decided whether Vineyard Wind can keep sending massive turbine components through the port after Dec. 31. Without an extension, remaining blades might be rerouted through Rhode Island or even Canada, potentially disrupting jobs, port activity, and the city’s growing offshore wind role.
   

5. Boston court upholds defunding law targeting Planned Parenthood; overturns constitutional challenge to Trump administration (newbedfordguide.com) — Residents in the greater New Bedford area could see tighter access to affordable reproductive health care after a Boston appeals court allowed a federal law cutting Medicaid funds to abortion providers to take effect. Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts, which serves South Coast communities, may face financial strain despite some state backfill funding, potentially affecting cancer screenings, STI testing, and contraception for low-income patients.
   

📸 Around New Bedford

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🗓 Upcoming Events in New Bedford

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Other local events
    Wednesday December 17
  • 3D Movies: Big Blue Pictures
    Cook Memorial Theater
    10:30 am

📣 New Bedford Shout Outs!

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Builders FirstSource posted a job opening for Load Builder I Yard/Warehouse in New Bedford. Apply here.
  • CSW Industrials posted a job opening for Shipping Lead (On-site) in New Bedford. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near New Bedford here.

Ok New Bedford! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don't know, but April May!
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