New Bedford Legend Jimmy Connors Passes Away [OPINION]
Anyone who spent time in New Bedford between the 1950s and 1980s has probably heard the name Jimmy Connors. If there were such a thing as a New Bedford Hall of Fame, Jimmy Connors would be enshrined alongside so many other local legends.
Jimmy Connors, Joe Jesus, Jack Custodio, William Saltzman, Stan Lipp, Gene Daniels – all legendary figures who were as much a part of New Bedford as the Whaleman s Statue, the fort at Clark s Point, the hurricane barrier, and the Zeiterion Theatre.
James E. Jimmy Connors, Jr. passed away on April 1 at the age of 84.
No Rush to Cancel New Bedford Summer Events [OPINION]
The annual New Bedford Half Marathon has been canceled for a second straight year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. So has the beloved Joe Jesus s 50s Night celebration that draws thousands to downtown New Bedford. Both events are good for business since they attract a lot of folks from outside the city.
The race was tough to schedule because it is run on or near St. Patrick s Day, which left little time for planning. Besides, things have not fully re-opened as yet. The 50s Night celebration, while still months away, still would have also been behind the eight ball for planning.
Dawn Mahler, Joe s granddaughter, knew there were very big shoes to fill as she coordinated the beloved event, free and open to the public of all ages for the SouthCoast. She did a wonderful job of honoring Joe s memory and sending downtown New Bedford back in time in August of 2019. The community loved coming out to see the classic and antique cars on August 22. Some even got dressed up for the occasion, with poodle skirts and leather jackets. We were all happy to see Joe s legacy live on.
Sadly, the COVID-19 pandemic prevented us from letting 50s Night go on as scheduled in 2020. What would have been the perfect July night in a family-friendly atmosphere, could no longer be considered safe due to the novel coronavirus. The event draws too many people from all over and there is no way to safely practice social distancing measures downtown with that kind of crowd. Ensuring the health and safety of our community is critical during these unprecedented times. Mahler was hopeful for bri