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DNB Newsletter - November 2009
This Month's Newsletter Sponsor
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> DNB Annual Meeting
> Bioneers by the Bay and downtown New Bedford
> DNB Loan Program: Back to basics
> Notes from the Weekly Weeder
> Greater New Bedford Community Health Center Continues Expansion
> Mark Your Calendar!
> Downtown Beats / New Members
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Ten top reasons to shop downtown for the holidays!
1. It’s easy
2. It’s convenient
3. It’s friendly
4. It’s comfortable
5. Helpful merchants
6. Specialties you can’t find elsewhere
7. Price ranges you can afford
8. Lot’s of places for a break or lunch
9. Talk directly to an artists and artisans
10. Great destination stores and galleries |
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Downtown New Bedford, Inc. Celebrates 20th Anniversary
Downtown New Bedford, Inc. celebrated its 20th anniversary and held its annual meeting and election of officers at the Wamsutta Club on Wednesday October 28.
Organization President Kevin Pelland welcomed everyone and thanked them for coming.
City Counselor Linda Morad presented DNB, Inc. with a Resolution to honor its 20th anniversary. Gig Lang, sitting in for husband Mayor Scott Lang, had some words of praise for the organization and recalled being named as Person of the Year last year for her extensive volunteer efforts. It’s a position she doesn’t plan on relinquishing any time soon.
Executive Director Diane Nichols gave a recap of the last year, her first on the job. “It has been an interesting year,” she said. “I can say that I love my job just about every single day. I am honored to be here.”
“I couldn’t do it without Marianne Conley Hodgson,” she said. She went on to praise the work of Kevin Pelland, the hardworking board, the committees, the merchants and the downtown professionals who have all been involved in what was probably the most energetic year in DNB, Inc.’s twenty year history. She also thanked mediumstudio for countless hours of volunteer work.
She pointed to the new initiatives such as the Restaurant Run on the day of the New Bedford Half Marathon, the Holiday Stroll scheduled this year for December 5th and 6th.
In closing, Diane said she is looking forward to an even more productive year again.
Click here for her full talk (PDF)
It is a tradition of DNB, Inc. honor departing board members and to give special awards of recognition to members of the downtown community.
President A. Jack Silva III, Vice President of Commercial Lending,
Bristol County Savings Bank
Kevin Pelland said retiring board member and former DNB, Inc. President Jack Silva had raised the bar for the organization. “His passion and unparalleled efforts have had a direct impact on the success of DNB, Inc.,” he said. In turn Jack praised his successor Kevin Pelland and said Diane is a fabulous administrator. He is proud of what is now happening in downtown New Bedford. |
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Jeff Pontiff, President of E.J. Pontiff Real Estate and
Whaling City Expeditions, Inc.
Board member Richard Poyant introduced Jeff Pontiff and talked about Jeff’s service to DNB, Inc. which is extensive and sometimes offered at the drop of a hat when a hand is needed.
Jeff thanked the organization for recognition and said he would be brief because he wanted to get out on time. “I am appreciative of being recognized by my peers,” he said.
Jeff has been in New Bedford for about eleven years, and the initial reaction of his friends when he moved here was not positive, “What are you moving to New Bedford for?” was the FAQ. Keep in mind that eleven years ago the Star Store Campus of UMass hadn’t been completed, nor had a whole raft of other now completed projects been started.
Very soon after moving here Jeff met a lady who would later become his wife. Now, eleven years after Jeff moved here, he has two successful businesses. He has become a very valued volunteer. Besides that downtown New Bedford has become a cool place to live and work. |
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Sally Spooner, Downtown Beat writer and photographer
Orren B. Robbins, retired publisher of the Standard-Times and retired Executive Director of Downtown New Bedford, Inc., presented retiring Downtown Beat writer and photographer Sally Spooner with flowers and a clock to make sure she can still stay on deadline even without a newsletter to write.
Sally noted that in fifteen years of writing about downtown New Bedford there is always good news. In fact, the abundance of good news has been a factor in her retirement because following downtown’s good news has become very time consuming and interferes with future travel plans with her husband, Bruce.
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Francis X. Mahady, Founder and Principal, FXM Associates
Frank Mahady is a longtime student of downtown New Bedford and resident of the area. This was his second appearance as the main speaker at the DNB, Inc. annual meeting. His company, FXM Associates, has just finished a two year update of a downtown study begun in 2000 and updated in 2007.
He calls New Bedford the biggest small city in America.
He believes that the establishment of least thirty new businesses in downtown New Bedford in the past year is a great achievement. The new hotel currently being built is one of only a half dozen currently under construction in the state.
He proposed a national fisheries museum for the city, either in one location or in several throughout the city in the style of the National Park.
His positive observations don’t mean that all is perfect.
From a management point of view, he would like to see us do a better job of parking administration so that more customers can park conveniently near their destination shops or restaurants.
More globally, he is concerned about the educational attainment of our young people. Potential employers moving into the area want to be able to hire from a labor pool with good skills in reading and math, and that is not always possible in a community with low educational attainment.
Click here for his full talk (PDF)
Click here for the full 2009 Downtown Revitalization Study
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Kevin closed the meeting with renewed thanks to the membership, the hardworking board, the sponsors and the volunteers and noted that the DNB, Inc. membership had increased by 15% in the prior year.
The officers and board are as follows:
President
Pelland, Kevin T. - Citizens-Union Savings Bank
Vice Presidents
Bennett, Arthur - Downtown Resident
Gilfeather, Catherine E. - Outlook EAP, Inc.
Poyant, Richard V. - Poyant Signs, Inc.
Treasurer
Bryant, Zee M. - Zee Associates
Clerk
Murray, Robert F. - Law Offices of Robert F. Murray
Directors through 2010
Bennett, Arthur - Downtown Resident
Bryant, Zee M. - Zee Associates
Isherwood, Elizabeth - Mayor's Office
Levesque, Modesta - Standard-Times/Southcoast Media
Muse, James A. - Buyer's Professional Real Estate
Pelland, Kevin T. - Citizens-Union Savings Bank
Pontiff, E. Jeffrey - E. J. Pontiff Real Estate and Whaling City Expeditions
Directors through 2011
Bergson, Lisa - WHALE
Galvam, Dennis D.- NSTAR
Gilfeather, Catherine E. - Outlook EAP, Inc.
Medeiros, David O. - Sovereign Bank
Murray, Robert F. - Law Offices of Robert F. Murray
Poyant, Richard - Poyant Signs, Inc.
Romanovitch, Theresa - Bristol Community College
Directors through 2012
Berry, Daniel J. - YMCA SouthCoast
Cox, Keri A. - mediumstudio
DeWalt, Peter M. - Reynolds DeWalt Printing
Lonergan, Eugene - Purchase Street Ventures and Merrill Lynch
McLaughlin, Larissa - Blush Beauty Bar
Weeks, Randall T.,Jr. - Partridge, Snow & Hahn
Board Members Emeritus
Lima, Elaine - Board Member Emeritus
Robbins, Orren B. - Board Member Emeritus
Administrative Staff
Arsenault Nichols, Diane - Executive Director
Conley Hodgson, Marianne - Administrative Assistant
Spooner, Sally - DNB, Inc. Reporter and Photographer
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Bioneers by the Bay and downtown New Bedford a perfect match
Bioneers by the Bay, presented by the Marion Institute and held in downtown New Bedford for the second consecutive year from October 23 – October 25, was the perfect conference in the perfect setting.
This well organized conference was filled with thought provoking seminars and workshops, interesting exhibitions and great activities for young people. Particularly impressive were the seminars with action steps young people could take back to their communities, even simple steps like getting their schools to improve their recycling programs.
A Bioneer is a "biological pioneer." (See http://www.bioneers.org/ for more on the definition and source of the word.) The title of the New Bedford conference was Bioneers by the Bay, subtitle “connecting for change”. Change requires action. There were calls to action from many sides: political action, environmental action, education action, farming action, nutrition action, financial action and personal responsibility action among other topics.
As lunch times people discussing the seminars found them to be top notch, leading edge and generally excellent.
Outside the seminars in the tents in front of the Zeiterion a wide variety of exhibitors displayed their programs or their wares. The Worm Ladies were particularly popular and busy, and the composting toilets generated a lot of interest.
In Wing’s Court, the farmer’s market was busy. Wing’s Court was also home to the Youth Initiative where young people from all over the Northeast got to hang out, paint a mural, interact and use their talents of artistic design.
The City itself could not be a better campus for the Bioneers. It’s easy to get to. The downtown is compact. It’s walkable. It’s friendly. It’s helpful. There is something interesting to do or see on almost every block, not to mention many places to stop for a bite to eat. It has many nooks and crannies available for workshops. The Zeiterion Performing Arts Center was the home base for the conference. Simultaneous activities and workshops ran at the Whaling Museum, the Corson Building Maritime Learning Center, the UMass Star Store campus, UMass classrooms in the Cherry Building, the Ocean Explorium, the YMCA, Bristol Community College, the Buzzard’s Bay Center (the still incomplete home of the Coalition for Buzzard’s Bay), Wings Court and Artworks! That is a very colorful palette of places. Custom House Square held the food tent, and the adjacent 54th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Plaza was a popular spot for sitting, reading, talking and enjoying downtown New Bedford.
Many expressed appreciation to the City for hosting the event. They liked their reception. They liked the cobblestones. They liked the feeling of history. One participant couldn’t believe the City would close down a street (in front of the Zeiterion) for them. Bioneers by definition care about their environment, and they bonded quickly to downtown New Bedford. They were curious about what the city is like to live in and how it was faring in this economy. Even with several guided tours of New Bedford available, the Bioneers were energetically exploring the city on their own.
Retailers reported increased customers but not necessarily big sales. The Bioneers, on Sunday at least, were not visiting the museums in high numbers, possibly because they had so much information available at the conference.
Over 1,000 people were here each day for four days who would not have been here otherwise. They will return to their homes with positive impressions about New Bedford. These impressions will be passed on to family and friends.
Best of all, some will come back, either on their own or for next year’s Bioneers by the Bay.
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Back to Basics
Second in a series of articles about the downtown loan program and the loan application process.
By John Sousa, BankFive
Before you begin a loan application process, you may find it helpful to understand your role in it. This article is designed to demystify the loan process and to show you the areas a lender will focus on when reviewing your request. Each request must address the five key areas, capacity, capital, collateral,conditions and character. Submit your application with these in mind. Know the areas in which you fall short, and be ready to mitigate them. The "Five C's" of credit are the basic components of any credit analysis done by a lender.
When submitting your loan proposal, don’t assume the lender is familiar with your industry or business. Always include industry specific details so the lender can understand your particular business.
The Five C’s, Capacity, Capital, Collateral, Conditions and Character are defined as follows:
Capacity to repay is the most critical of the five factors. It is the primary source of repayment - cash. The prospective lender will want to know exactly how you intend to repay the loan. The lender will consider the cash flow from the business, the timing of the repayment, and the probability of successful repayment of the loan. Payment history on existing credit relationships - personal or commercial- is considered an indicator of future payment performance.
Capital is the money you personally have invested in the business and is an indication of how much you have at risk should the business fail. Interested lenders will expect you to have contributed from your own assets and to have undertaken personal financial risk to establish the business before asking them to commit any funding.
Collateral and guarantees are additional forms of security you can provide the lender. Giving a lender collateral means that you pledge an asset you own, such as your home, to the lender with the agreement that it will be the repayment source in case you can't repay the loan.
A guarantee, on the other hand, is just that - someone else signs a guarantee document promising to repay the loan if you can't. Some lenders may require such a guarantee in addition to collateral as security for a loan.
Conditions describe the intended purpose of the loan. Will the money be used for working capital, additional equipment or inventory? The lender will also consider local economic conditions and the overall climate, both within your industry and in other industries that could affect your business.
Character is the general impression you make on the prospective lender. The lender will form a subjective opinion as to whether or not you are sufficiently trustworthy to repay the loan or generate a return on funds invested in your company. Your educational background and experience in business and in your industry will be considered. The quality of your references and the background and experience levels of your key employees will also be reviewed.
We have all heard of a successful small business owner who under reports his/her income and then is surprised when he or she fails to meet the lender’s payment capacity analysis. Trying to mitigate, he or she will fill the lender in on their little secret, only to fail the character test. Oops.
Providing a carefully prepared, accurate and complete loan application with up-to-date financial information is critical. You want to make the best possible presentation in your initial loan submission, since you may not get a second opportunity. The credit analysis process is rather simple. There are no secrets, magic tricks or wiji boards.
Keeping your business bankable is your sole responsibility, but you are not alone. We at DNB, Inc. can help. Use the resources of Downtown New Bedford, Inc.’s volunteers for assistance with writing formal business plans, cash flow management, setting up a bookkeeping system, marketing and much more.
For more information about the Downtown Business Loan Program call us at 508-990-2777 or e-mail us at dnb@downtownnb.org. |
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Notes from the Weekly Weeder
By Sally Spooner
Did you notice?
Once again blowing trash has played a roll on screen, this time on the new TV show The Good Wife. Blowing trash in the movie Julia and Julie indicated a run down neighborhood. This time, in The Good Wife, a blowing plastic bag appearing at exactly the same time on two successive days’ surveillance tapes proved that one day’s tape was missing, providing a clue that solved a case and corrected an injustice.
We don’t have too much blowing trash these days due to the efforts of the twenty some downtown participants in Adopt a Spot who are keeping downtown clean. It has never looked better.
What we do have is cigarette butts. No matter how much sweeping and picking up we do, they remain. They love to nestle between the cobblestones. And they become more visible as other kinds of trash are reduced. We can’t sweep them all away. The task is far too daunting because they get redeposited with every coffee break. According to the Standard-Times, New Bedford has a high percentage of smokers, “27.6 percent of the city population who smokes, compared to 16.4 percent of Massachusetts residents statewide.” (JENNIFER LADE-jlade@s-t.com-March 07, 2009 12:00 AM)
If we can’t keep up with the cigarette drop rate, we have to educate them away.
Here is the ugly truth: the one and only purpose of cigarette filters is to trap poisons and keep them from reaching human lungs. They are made of plastic, and the plastic takes years to decompose. When the butts are tossed, the poisons leach out of the filters, and the filters themselves take a long time to biodegrade. If cigarettes are tossed outside into a container with no drainage, every rain storm brews an ugly poison soup. If the container does have drainage, the poisons leach into the ground. If the butt is tossed into the gutter, it can make its way into the harbor.
By number, cigarettes are the most common form of litter on our downtown streets and in many other places.
A single smoker tossing a single cigarette butt doesn’t mean to cause environmental damage that can last for years and doesn’t mean to toss something that can find its way to New Bedford Harbor, but that’s what can happen.
When I started weeding, I was pleased that the weed free gutters would allow small pieces of trash and cigarette butts to flow more smoothly into the storm drains, therefore leaving the streets cleaner. I didn’t think about where they were going and what kind of damage they could do when they got there.
It was only gradually that I got the sinking feeling that I might be doing more harm than good. There are clichés to cover this kind of discovery. “No good deed goes unpunished” is one of them. It is also covered by the law of unintended consequences.
Here is what Bernadette Taber the Buzzards Bay NEP Stormwater Specialist for Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program http://www.buzzardsbay.org/identmis.htm has to say about weeding:
“The question of whether pulling up weeds is a good or a bad thing, that depends - if it is in a grassy area and weeds are competing with the grass, then pulling the weeds is a good thing. Weeds for the most part tend to grow in ‘clumps’ and doesn't provide a good filter. If the weeds are in an area that only weeds are growing - it is better to leave them, some filtering is better than none. Unless of course they are in an area of very few weeds and then it won't make any difference. I know this can be confusing and I am not making it any better!
In New Bedford's case, most of the stormwater flows into the stormdrain system or in Combined Sewer Overflows (which the City is making an effort to eliminate). I believe all the CSO's flow into the Harbor. The stormdrain systems flow into the Harbor or various other water bodies, streams, and wetlands in town - most of which goes to the Harbor, Clarks Cove, or Buttonwood Brook which then flow to Apponegansett Bay in Dartmouth.
In addition to fixing the CSO problem, the City is also working towards addressing some of their stormwater issues. As you know some of the stormdrain system in NB is very old, the City is trying to gather all the data they have on their drainage system and mapping it out. They are also working on a "Green" Harbor initiative - most of these projects the BBNEP are working in conjunction with the City.”
When we have a heavy rain storm like we had on Saturday, October 3, cigarette butts flow into the overburdened storm drains. (There is some recently posted good news about stormwater treatment http://www.buzzardsbay.org/new-bedford-engineering-procurement.htm.)
That doesn’t mean we should leave weeds in the gutters to trap the cigarettes and save the harbor. If we can’t keep up with the number of cigarettes dropped, we have to motivate people not to drop them. Just the thoughts of the cigarette butt remaining in the environment for years or reaching New Bedford Harbor should be enough, but they probably are not very persuasive on a blustery and cold winter day.
There are a lot of education programs across the country, and they claim success in reducing cigarette butt litter. Here are a couple of resource documents: http://www.surfrider.org/a-z/cig_but.php
http://bos.ocgov.com/legacy5/newsletters/pdf/09_06_25_Cigarette_Litter_Sekich.pdf
We would be interested in hearing good ideas from you so we can write them up in the next issue and implement them as a part of the Adopt a Spot program.
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Greater New Bedford Community Health Center Continues Expansion
The Greater New Bedford Community Health Center started in 1981 with 300 patients and occupied 1,500 square feet. Today it is the largest employer in downtown New Bedford and serves twenty five thousand people in a full service medical campus that occupies 60,000 square feet and is once again expanding. As many as 1,500 people visit the Center in one day.
You may have noticed the new sign and the new construction on the Purchase Street side of the Health Center. The new façade will unite all of the Health Center buildings and blend with the look of other downtown buildings. On Purchase Street, the Health Center, including the pharmacy, the dental clinic and the eye clinic runs from the corner of Elm Street to the Bamboo Garden Restaurant.
There is work on the Acushnet Avenue side of the Health Center too.
The Health Center has recently purchased the building at 384 Acushnet Avenue directly across from ArtWorks! By next July that building will house the Health Center’s administrative offices. The present administrative offices will be renovated as a clinic for those over 65. The clinic will have very convenient building access and parking. This clinic will add to the Health Center’s ability to provide holistic care to all ages.
The renovations are being funded with federal stimulus money. The Rockland Trust Company is the bank.
Even though the Health Center occupies much of the block from Purchase Street to Acushnet Avenue, it is difficult to picture all that goes on inside without a tour. Far from a walk-in clinic, the Center currently has a full service lab, X-ray services, mammography, women’s health, the George Karousos Pediatric Center, WIC, urgent care, primary care, behavioral health, dental care, eye care, the Walgreen’s pharmacy and more. Although the Health Center treats everyone, regardless of insurance status, seventy percent of the patients have insurance.
The guiding principle of the health center is that each individual should be treated as a whole person. They have a wellness center, nutrition services, diabetes services and are coordinating with the YMCA Southcoast on weight loss and smoking cessation. Success in tackling these habit and life-style choices will improve the health of the community as a whole.
Peter Georgeopoulos is the CEO. He has also served GNBCHC as Executive Vice President and CFO since 1990. His understanding of the intricate steps of moving an idea from the thought stage to financial fruition helps the Health Center succeed. He will gladly exchange excellent patient treatment for fancy administrative offices.
Rose A. Yates has been Chair of the Board of Directors at the Greater New Bedford Community Health Center since 1987. She is the recipient of the prestigious Joseph Smith Award from the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers for her work as a consumer Board member at the Greater New Bedford Community Health Center.
If you would like to contribute financially to the Health Center or volunteer, visit their web site http://www.gnbchc.org/contribute.htm.
Here’s an example of the Center’s commitment to the community health:
GNBCHC WELLNESS CONNECTION: "COOKING HEALTHY-EATING HEATHY SEMINAR"
11/12/2009
Chef George Karousos will demonstrate how to cook healthy meals concentrating on clients with diabetes, heart problems and weight loss. Clients will be able to sample the recipes and take them home to try out with their families. Today's topic: Healthy Latin Cuisine.
Location : 874 Purchase Street New Bedford, MA 02740
Admission : Free
Wheelchair Accessible
Contact : Martha E. Gonzalez
Contact Number : 508-992-6553 x419
Email Address : mgonzalez@gnbchc.org
Web Address : www.gnbchc.org |
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Mark your calendar
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The Downtown Forum
Tuesday, November 17
5:15-6:30pm
Ginger Grill (778 Purchase Street)
What’s Happening in DNB?
Come find out what DNB, inc. & other DNB partners are up to. Have an idea to help make DNB a better place to live, work & play? We want to hear it!
Appetizers and soft drinks will be provided. Wine will be available at Travessia Urban Winery. |
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Laurel Day
December 1 - 8:00 am
Call laurel lady Marianne Conley Hodgson to sign up and help decorate the historic district lamp posts with laurel and bows. In an hour or so the historic district is transformed for the holidays.
Location: Custom House Square.
Dress warmly. Ladders always helpful. |
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Holiday Stroll
December 5th from 12 noon to 7 pm. Sunday December 6th from 12 noon until 4 pm.
Location: Downtown New Bedford. Tell your friends and neighbors. The Holiday Stroll is filled with entertainment, shopping, children’s activities, the lighting of the city tree and much, much more.
Read More |
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Welcome New Member:
Sound Xplosion
761 Purchase St
New Bedford, MA 02740
(774) 473-8368
Chris Saraiva - Owner/Disk Jockey
Chris is a disk jockey with over ten years experience has just opened located on Purchase Street. He has performed at hundreds of events, in many venues, for all types of crowds. Call him next time you are planning a party.
This is not a retail store, and hours are variable. He is open by appointment and AHA! Nights and other special occasions.
For further information go to: www.soundxplosion.com |
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Welcome New Member:
Lumina Images
761 Purchase St
New Bedford, MA 02740
(774) 473-8368
Nelly Soares of Lumina Images is also at the same location. She specializes in wedding, children and lifestyle photography but has an eclectic portfolio. For a look at her work go to: http://www.luminaimagesblog.com |
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Welcome New Member:
Thompson Farland, Inc.
Christian Farland
Principal Engineer and President
30 North Water St.
508-717-3479
Thompson Farland, Inc. is a leading regional engineering and surveying firm that has been downtown since December 2008 and had its grand opening in June. They are thoroughly enjoying their downtown location.
Call them for any projects you may have in mind. www.thompsonfarland.com |
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Pier Fish is 100 in 2010
Pier Fish Company, the major sponsor of the Taste of Southcoast, festival is passing an important landmark next year. They are turning 100. They are also celebrating another landmark this year. The fourth generation of their family has joined the business. It is unusual when a family business lasts for four generation. Ninety seven percent of them do not make it to the fourth generation.*
Jessica Barry has joined Pier Fish Company as Vice President of Research and Development. Pier Fish started at 130 Atlantic Avenue in Boston with two or three people. Currently they employ seventy to 100 in their state of the art main plant at 68 Conway Street. They also have sales offices in Boston; Buffalo, NY; Columbus, Ohio and Parrish, Florida.
Watch for more news about Pier Fish in the coming year. They will be awarding a $1,000 scholarship on January 14 to the son or daughter of a local person working in the seafood industry.
They will be holding a cocktail party for their employees for employees coordinated with the Taste of Southcoast Festival. They are also assembling a history of the business complete with family photos.
* Research shows that only 30 percent of all family firms successfully complete the succession from the first generation to the second, only 12 percent of family businesses survive to the third generation, and only 3 percent continue into the fourth generation and beyond (Ibrahim, Soufani, & Lam, 2001: Lansberg, 1988; Shanker & Astrachan, 1996). |
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How about trying something new?
Give Salsa Lessons a try!
Union City Bar & Grill
250 Union Street
Thursdays!
6-7:00pm- Level 1- Beginner Salsa
7:30-8:30pm- Level 1/Level 2 Salsa
8:30-9:00pm- Introductory Bachata Class, All Levels
9:00pm-1:00am- Latin Night
Go to www.NLSCSalsa.com for more information |
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