New Bedford City Council honors local activists, small businesses and cultural groups at special meeting

The New Bedford City Council met in a special session on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, to present a series of ceremonial citations and resolutions recognizing local activists, small‑business owners, cultural organizations and community volunteers.

Council President Shane Burgo opened the meeting at 7 p.m., read a letter excusing Ward 5 Councilor Joseph P. Lopes and presided as councilors read and adopted a package of ceremonial resolutions by voice vote.

The council front‑loaded citations for long‑running community efforts. Councilor Naomi Carney presented citations honoring Brenda Grace and Renee Ribeiro, founder and co‑founder, respectively, of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, Inc., in recognition of more than 20 years of work creating a support network for grandparents caring for grandchildren. "Their whole mission was keeping families together," Carney said as she read the resolution honoring the organization’s work in New Bedford and nearby communities. The council adopted both citations by motion and voice vote.

Councilors also recognized small businesses that the council described as civic anchors. Councilor Brian Gomes presented a citation to Diane Martin of Dee’s Hot Dogs for 40 years of service to the community; Councilor Linda Morad moved the adoption, seconded by Councilor Maria Giesta, and the motion passed by voice vote. Gomes later read a resolution honoring Keith and Deborah Viveras for opening a third Society Coffee Bar location in the city. The Viverases thanked the council and said they looked forward to continuing service and hiring locally.

The council used the session to salute cultural and civic organizers. Gomes read three grouped citations for the 2025 Cape Verdean Recognition Committee, the Cape Verdean scholarship committee and the Cape Verdean Recognition Parade committee, noting the parade’s size and long history in New Bedford. Scholarship committee co‑chair Miles Dias said he is a former scholarship recipient and commended the community’s annual fundraising; Diane Gomes, parade chair, said the committees distributed this year’s awards and continue to raise money in support of local students.

The council singled out local activists who helped stop a proposed Parallel Products/South Coast Renewables project. Councilor Gomes honored Wendy Morrill and Tracy Wallace of South Coast Neighbors United "in recognition of your commitment and dedication in your stand against Parallel Products, South Coast Renewables, in seeking environmental justice for all." Both speakers and councilors credited the grassroots organizing, public education and participation that brought the issue before municipal decision‑makers.

Derek Baptiste presented a resolution honoring the Tyler Joseph Leonard Memorial Foundation for its work promoting mental‑health awareness and suicide prevention. Foundation representatives said the foundation was formed in 2022 to turn a family tragedy into community outreach; since then they reported partnerships with local schools and agencies and said their outreach has touched thousands of students in the South Coast through speaking events and programs.

Other recognitions included a citation to Jackie Santos for throwing the ceremonial first pitch at Fenway Park on Aug. 30, 2025, a citation for author Sue Rogers for her new children’s book The Other Side of the Rainbow, and a resolution honoring John W. Bullitt Bulger on his 100th birthday, which recounted his World War II service in the U.S. Coast Guard. The council also adopted resolutions recognizing Cheryl McCormick’s 60 years running the Cheryl McCormick Dance Studio (to be presented at a later date) and honoring Ashley Clark (Miss New Bedford 2025) and Brie Marie Lefebvre (Miss New Bedford Teen 2025) for representing the city.

All listed citations and resolutions were adopted during the meeting by motion and voice vote. The council adjourned after a roll call requested for fun by President Burgo; the roll call recorded seven yes votes and one no (Councilor Ryan Pereira voted "no" on the adjournment roll call), and Burgo declared the meeting adjourned at 8:18 p.m.

The meeting was a ceremonial session focused on recognition and community acknowledgement; no ordinances, budget items or regulatory measures were considered for adoption.