Top stories: Dangerous batteries, honey mead, and the Nao Trinidad

Faith Harrington, The Standard-Times
·4 min read

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

A familiar face has taken over the boys soccer varsity team at Bishop Stang. In his 10th year with the program, New Bedford’s Ricardo Aguiar takes over the head coaching duties from Nate Greene, who stepped down in the offseason to become the school’s athletic director.

After six years of serving New Bedford unique pizzas, fan-favorite seafood, and sandwiches, Brigham's Corner Pizza and Seafood is under new ownership. The pizzeria located at 1 Brigham St., New Bedford, debuted a new menu this week including a whole section dedicated to Mediterranean wraps or pockets.

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:

Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty meeting real estate needs of South Coast residents

Gibson Sotheby's International Realty moves be part of a changing real estate market with a new office on the South Coast.
Gibson Sotheby's International Realty moves be part of a changing real estate market with a new office on the South Coast.

When Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty decided to open a new office in Padanaram Village, it’s first on the South Coast and 26th statewide, there was already someone on board who knows what the South Coast has to offer.

CEO Colleen Barry, a 1996 University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth graduate, was already familiar with the Padanaram area as well as greater Dartmouth, Westport and other local communities.

With the increased demand for homes on the South Coast, the move to expand this growing market made sense. Barry said they are fortunate to have found the right opportunity on the South Coast.

New office: Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty meeting real estate needs of South Coast residents

These batteries are a rapidly emerging fire hazard. Here's what New Bedford is doing.

The remnants of an exploded lithium ion battery at a demonstration hosted by New Bedford Fire Department.
The remnants of an exploded lithium ion battery at a demonstration hosted by New Bedford Fire Department.

An increased demand for rechargeable lithium ion batteries has in turn led to an increase in fire incidents involving them, experts say. While the batteries — found in everything from cellphones to motorized bikes, electric cars and portable chargers — aren't anything new, professionals attending a demonstration in New Bedford on Thursday say the uptick in fires started by them has grown exponentially in recent years.

In the 2023 examples, firefighters followed standard operating procedures tailored specifically to lithium ion battery fires: The batteries involved are placed in specialized containers and "overpacked" with a suppressant called CellBlockEX, Rebello said. They're then kept in a steel box at an isolated location for at least 60 days, as the batteries are known to be reignitable for up to 32 days.

The National Fire Prevention Association advises taking lithium ion batteries to be disposed at a specialized recycling site, or contacting local disposal services for instructions.

New Bedford's response: These batteries are a rapidly emerging fire hazard.

There's a lot of buzz about a new foodie event coming to New Bedford this fall

The Bee's Mead is happening from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum.
The Bee's Mead is happening from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum.

Truth bee told, Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum’s new family-friendly event is going to be pretty sweet. Hosted by RJD’s NextGen Committee, The Bee’s Mead event will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 24 at the museum, 396 County St., New Bedford.

Modeled after a beer garden, individuals and families can head to the grounds of the historic home for an afternoon of food, festivities, and libations for both children and adults while taking part in a bounty of lawn games and enjoying the museum's beautiful gardens.

Family-friendly: There's a lot of buzz about a new foodie event coming to New Bedford this fall.

Historic tall ship replica Nao Trinidad docks in New Bedford

The Nao Trinidad, a replica of one of Ferdinand Magellan's sixteenth century tall ship which sailed around the world. This ship is now docked at Pope's Island in New Bedford.
The Nao Trinidad, a replica of one of Ferdinand Magellan's sixteenth century tall ship which sailed around the world. This ship is now docked at Pope's Island in New Bedford.

When Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan circumnavigated the globe 500 years ago, he made history.

Now in New Bedford, visitors can board a replica of the Nao Trinidad, a 16th-century tall ship that sailed as part of Magellan’s fleet.

The ship arrived in New Bedford on Monday, Sept. 4, and will be open for tours at Pope’s Island Marina from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 5 through 12.

Check it out: Historic tall ship replica Nao Trinidad docks in New Bedford.

'Crew of Three' take to the sea: Setting sail from Mattapoisett for two years

Adventurer, author and blogger Kimberly J. Ward with the Crew of Three sails past Lady Liberty.
Adventurer, author and blogger Kimberly J. Ward with the Crew of Three sails past Lady Liberty.

Always up for an adventure, but not really knowing how to sail, Kimberly Ward was ready to move onto a boat and set sail on a two-year adventure in August 2014 with her husband, Michael, and daughter, Ally.

With "Crew of Three: How Bold Dreams and Detailed Plans Launched Our Family’s Sailing Adventure," the Wards share their experiences chronicled by Kimberly while meeting interesting people from all over and seeing new places while aboard their 34-foot boat, Alley Cat.

'Crew of Three' take to the sea: Setting sail from Mattapoisett for two years

All these stories can be read in their entirety at https://www.southcoasttoday.com.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: New Bedford's top stories were Nao Trinidad, real estate, fire hazards