Top stories: Housing crisis, AMC filming, and history made in Wareham
As we head into the weekend, let's take a look at the news from this past week.
The Veterans Transition House (VTH) in New Bedford, the non-profit founded in 1990 to help veterans get back on their feet is now bigger than ever before. The VTH underwent numerous projects including a 20-bed transitional housing unit, 30 newly constructed units of permanent housing with a commercial kitchen to serve meals, as well as a community outreach center, and new programming to go along with it. Not only is the outreach center at 1297 Purchase St. now up and running, but thanks to some unexpected additional funding, VTH staff say they were able to hire new outreach team members, broadening the scope of the organization's capabilities beyond its initial vision of growth.
It appears the SouthCoast is not immune when it comes to the uptick in respiratory illnesses such as respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, being reported nationwide, according to Southcoast Health Chair of Pediatrics Dr. Brian Sard, who points to the general public's past two years of masking — then unmasking — as a catalyst for what health systems are seeing. To help prevent a strain of resources, Sard says one of the best things the general public can do is not to panic — remembering the commonality and typically mild, self-resolving nature of respiratory viruses like RSV.
Keep up with high school sports with scores, game highlights, and player of the week voting at https://www.southcoasttoday.com/sports.
Then there are the most read stories of the week on https://www.southcoasttoday.com:
Elm Street tenants scramble for housing
TI Partners became the official owners of 189-193 Elm Street after they purchased the property for $2.4 million. Since then 13 of the 20 tenants at the building were given notices to vacate by November 1, leaving tenants scrambling to find housing.
Though historically cheaper compared to the rest of Massachusetts due to the area's income profile, median home values in New Bedford increased by 55% since 2018, to $350,500, according to a recent study released by the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University.
This has led to surging rents and left 23% of households in New Bedford spending over 50% of their income on housing, significantly higher than the statewide average of 14%, according to United Interfaith Action.
This has led some to say that though it is a housing crisis, for city residents, it is more a crisis of low wages.
Housing'Significant changes:' Elm Street tenants scramble for housing as eviction looms
Elm StreetThese New Bedford tenants have until Nov. 1 to find a new place. Here's why.
New Bedford house is the 'star' of 'Invitation to a Bonfire' TV series
When Laura Parrish and Thomas Lavin first purchased the Whalehouse in 2015, they always wondered what it would’ve been like to experience their home in the early 1900s. Now, their wish has come true with AMC filming “Invitation to a Bonfire” on their street.
In May 2022, they officially signed their residence to be used as the story’s main house for the series, working with AMC to repaint and update the exteriors. The three-story Victorian home, now an Airbnb, once belonged to author Herman Melville’s sister. It was constructed in 1855 by whaling merchant Henry Taber as a wedding gift to his daughter Abby Taber Hunt and later served as a prestigious art school and then a bed and breakfast.
Although filming is taking place in front of the house, the interior of the house will be shot on a 60,000-square-foot sound stage in Randolph.
AMCNew Bedford returns to the 1930s — what to know about 'Invitation to a Bonfire' filming
WhalehouseThis New Bedford house is the 'star' of 'Invitation to a Bonfire' TV series.
Experts predict rise in New Bedford evictions
Low-interest rates and high prices in the Boston Metropolitan area have made prices in the SouthCoast more appealing. But the largest factor may be the coming South Coast Rail.
"The growing appeal of the community puts pressure on a limited supply of housing and those investors need to cover the costs of renovation and financing," Michael Goodman, senior advisor to the Chancellor for economic development and strategic initiatives at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, "Of course, it creates an increasingly difficult situation for those households that need to find new housing."
According to Zumper, the average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in New Bedford is just under $1,500 a month, a 45% increase from this time last year.
Housing crisis'This problem is going to continue': Experts predict rise in New Bedford evictions
Wareham girls volleyball beats Pioneer Valley in Div. 5 playoffs
The Vikings made the most of their first playoff appearance in at least two decades on Wednesday night as No. 32 Wareham made history by beating 33rd-seeded Pioneer Charter Christian Academy 3-1 for what is believed to be the Vikings’ first-ever playoff victory.
“As far as anyone has told me this is it,” said Wareham first-year head coach Allyson Collette, who was an assistant coach on Old Rochester's 2021 Div. 3 state championship team. “If there was one, it was a long time ago.”
Despite playing in a highly-competitive South Coast Conference, the Vikings finished the regular season with six wins and earned a playoff spot based on their power rankings.
VolleyballSticking with it, Wareham senior 'grateful' to be a part of making history
2022 MIAA playoffs for SouthCoast's five football teams
Five SouthCoast football teams — Apponequet, Bishop Stang, Fairhaven, Old Colony and Old Rochester — have qualified for the 2022 MIAA playoffs.
The playoff match ups all happening on Friday are: No. 12 Fairhaven at No. 5 Old Rochester; No. 12 Ware at No. 5 Old Colony; No. 10 Triton at No. 7 Apponequet; No. 14 Bishop Stang at No. 3 Maynard.
SportsBreaking down the 2022 MIAA playoffs for SouthCoast's five football teams
All of these stories can be found in their entirety at SouthCoastToday.com.
This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Top stories: New Bedford housing, AMC TV series, girls volleyball
