Check out the top stories of week: snow predictions, Shawmut diner, Riccardi's and more

Faith Harrington, The Standard-Times
·4 min read

As we head into this week, let's take a look at the news from this past week.

The MIAA released the latest high school power ratings for football on Tuesday, updated with scores entered into arbiterlive.com by 4 a.m. As of Tuesday, six out of SouthCoast's nine football teams are on pace to make the playoffs with four teams — Fairhaven (No. 5), Dartmouth (No. 5), Old Rochester (No. 6) and Old Colony (No. 7) — seeded in the top 10 in their respective divisions.

Candidates made their case during a Candidates' Night on Tuesday, though one prominent incumbent didn't show up. Mayor Jon Mitchell was a no-show for the event at Keith Middle School, which was hosted by the New Bedford branch of the NAACP, in collaboration with United Interfaith Action of Southeastern MA and Greater Southeastern MA Labor Council.

Keep up with high school sports with scores, game highlights, and player of the week voting at www.southcoasttoday.com/sports.

And now here are the most-read stories of the week on www.southcoasttoday.com:

Last year was mild. Here's the weather predictions for this year in the SouthCoast

Don Perry uses a snowblower to clear the snow from the sidewalk in front of his home in New Bedford.
Don Perry uses a snowblower to clear the snow from the sidewalk in front of his home in New Bedford.

After a mild winter last year which only received 12 inches of snow in Boston, Accu Weather's long-range meteorologists predict that this year the area could get as much as 44 inches.

The 2024 Old Farmer's Almanac (OFA) is forecasting the first snowfall to happen the week of Nov. 20 to Nov. 23, just in time for Thanksgiving. It predicts "winter is back" with well above the normal winter temperatures, precipitation, and snowfall.

Last year was mild: Here's the weather predictions for this year in the SouthCoast

Want to eat at the Shawmut Diner again? You may get your chance.

The iconic Shawmut Diner was disassembled by Geddes Building Movers.
The iconic Shawmut Diner was disassembled by Geddes Building Movers.

Locals who miss the Shawmut Diner may have their chance to eat there once again, although they'll have to make it a road trip.

As it turns out, the buyer who won the stainless steel diner at auction in July — with his bid of $20,200 — was New Yorker Evan Blum, owner of Demolition Depot in Harlem, and the yet-to-open Irreplaceable Artifacts over in Connecticut. And while his business is in buying and selling old items like the Shawmut Diner, his plans are part of a bigger vision "to revive" the town of Norwich, Connecticut, which he says has few dining options.

New Bedford Icon: Want to eat at the Shawmut Diner again?

At 50 years old, Riccardi's is still doing things the old southern Italian way

Mike Riccardi and his wife Jean Riccardi offer a chicken broccoli ziti dish at Riccardi's Restaurant on Hathaway Road in New Bedford.
Mike Riccardi and his wife Jean Riccardi offer a chicken broccoli ziti dish at Riccardi's Restaurant on Hathaway Road in New Bedford.

Having just celebrated 50 years in April since opening its original New Bedford location, the Riccardi's say their business has found itself part of many family traditions. For them, watching these traditions — and the families that start them — begin, grow, and be carried on by new generations has been one of the most rewarding aspects of their careers.

When Michael Riccardi opened up Riccardi's in 1973, his idea was to run a small takeout business by himself, Six years later, construction of the dining room added a sit-down component.

Over the years the business would come to include catering, a separate bakery facility solely for making pizza crusts, and a second restaurant in Fairhaven.

SouthCoast Legacy: At 50 years old, Riccardi's is still doing things the old southern Italian way

Fairhaven police chief-elect suspended for misconduct involving alcohol in 2020

Police Sgt. Daniel Dorgan, who has been selected to succeed Chief Michael Myers, was suspended in 2020 for misconduct involving alcohol, according to a state database.

Disciplinary action was held in abeyance, he said, because he entered an alcohol treatment program, specialized for first responders.

Since entering the treatment program in 2020, Dorgan said he's been committed to living a sober life.

Fairhaven: Police chief-elect suspended for misconduct involving alcohol in 2020

Jonathan Niemic has been convicted in the 2010 murder of Michael Correia for a third time.

Michael Correia, seen here with his daughter Aaliyah, was stabbed to death in October 2010 outside of an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting in New Bedford. He was 34.
Michael Correia, seen here with his daughter Aaliyah, was stabbed to death in October 2010 outside of an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting in New Bedford. He was 34.

The man first convicted in 2012 for the 2010 stabbing death of a New Bedford man was found guilty and sentenced for a third time on Monday, after successful appeals of two prior convictions.

Jonathan Keith Niemic, now 35, was convicted in Fall River Superior Court of second degree murder and sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 15 years. With time served counting toward that end, he'll be eligible for a hearing in about two years.

Homicide: Jonathan Niemic has been convicted in the 2010 murder of Michael Correia for a third time.

All of these stories can be found in their entirety at Southcoasttoday.com.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Top stories in the Standard Times this week