Westport
in Brief!
EverythingWestport.com
Saturday,
April 06, 2013
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Southcoast Health System has partnered
with Silverbrook Farm to form new food cooperative.
Westport Boys Basketball honors
a hero.
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Southcoast Health System has partnered
with Silverbrook Farm to form new food cooperative. Groups of
consumers or community members can choose to purchase farm “shares” from a local
farm. EverythingWestport.com Saturday, April 06,
2013 Southcoast Health System has partnered
with Silverbrook Farm in Dartmouth to expand
community sustainability agriculture (CSA) across the South Coast region. The
new cooperative will provide fresh, locally grown produce to interested Southcoast employees and community residents for 19
consecutive weeks, lasting throughout the summer and early autumn growing
seasons. CSA cooperatives
rely on a prepayment system that guarantees revenue for farmers prior to a
growing season. Local community farmers are better able to supply a
sufficient volume of produce to their customers based on predetermined
demand. Unlike large farms that sell produce to large food distributers,
typical New England farms that are small and family owned rely on farmers’
markets and other small selling arenas to support themselves and their
families. CSAs provide a more reliable source of revenue for local farmers
and a steady supply of fresh, locally grown food for their CSA customers. CSAs consist of a
group of consumers or community members who choose to purchase a farm “share”
from a local farm. This mutually beneficial agreement supports community
based sustainable agriculture and offers a fun, resourceful way to support
local farming while reducing our carbon footprint. “We are excited
to work with Silverbrook Farm to offer farm fresh
fruits and vegetables to our 7,000 employees and neighboring communities,”
said Robert Caldas, DO, Chief Medical Officer for Southcoast
Health System. “As the region’s leading health care system, providing better
access to healthy, nutritious food is a key part of our mission for disease
prevention. We are constantly looking for new avenues to support the health
of the South Coast region — that includes physical and mental health for the
residents and economic health for the local businesses.” Depending on the
time of season, shares may include: basil, beets, broccoli, carrots, corn,
cucumbers, currants, eggplant, garlic, herbs, kale, leeks, onions, parsnips,
peas, peppers, potatoes, salad greens, spinach, squash, string beans, tomatoes,
turnips, apples, blueberries, grapes, melons, peaches, pears, raspberries,
strawberries and flowers. In addition, a variety of locally produced cheeses
as well as Silverbrook’s own free-range eggs,
preservative-free jams and a variety of mustards are occasionally included in
the weekly shares. “We partner with six local farms to bring a
wide variety of fruits and vegetables to our CSA program and to help spread
the revenue of the CSA throughout the South Coast farming community,” said
Andy Pollack, owner of Silverbrook Farm of
Dartmouth, which was established in 1690. “Buying local ensures that land
stays in agriculture and preserves the beautiful landscape that we all enjoy.
A simple purchasing decision makes a large local difference.” The 2013 CSA
season begins on Monday, June 17, and ends on Friday, October 25. Members may
opt to purchase either a full or half share box, which can be paid for
entirely upfront or in three installments. A full share costs $741 for the
entire season (which breaks down to $39 a week) and a half share costs $399
($21 a week) for the season. Shares can be conveniently picked up at one of
four weekly Southcoast Health System Farmers’
Market locations. CSA members will choose one pick up location that will
remain the same for the entire season. Locations include: Mondays, from 3
to 6 p.m. Tobey Hospital Farmers’ Market 43 High Street,
Wareham Tuesdays, from 3
to 5 p.m. South Coast Business Center Farmers’ Market 200 Mill Road,
Fairhaven Wednesdays, from
3 to 6 p.m. St. Luke’s Hospital Farmers’ Market 101 Page Street,
New Bedford Thursdays, from 3
to 6 p.m. Charlton Memorial Hospital Farmers’ Market 363 Highland
Avenue, Fall River The deadline to join
the Southcoast CSA program is June 1st.
Subscriptions are accepted on a first come, first served basis. For more
information or to join the CSA program please visit
www.southcoast.org/farmersmarket/csa.html or contact Sydney Patten at 508.961.5079. Westport
Boys Basketball honors a hero. Westport Elementary School gym to be named for Raymond
Elias. EverythingWestport.com Saturday, April 06,
2013
But it’s a good
place to start. Left: mothers (from the left) Kelly Dean, Dawn Bolger, and Tonya Vitorino made the presentation to coach Elias. Ray Elias coached
his last game Saturday afternoon, and hundreds came out to sit in the Middle
School gymnasium bleaches to silently honor Coach Elias. “There are not
enough ways to thank you for your dedication to our children,” the plaque read.
“We love you and
will miss you,” Tonya Vitorino said as she made the
presentation to a stoic Elias who quietly stood there accepting the tribute. He didn’t coach
for the glory but for his love of the children and the game of basketball. To watch Elias
put his red and blue teams through their drills, explaining to the parents, friends,
and volunteers the purpose of such had work, you’d think it was just another
day of routine practice, working with the boys to improve their skills and
attitudes.
And typical of
Elias, he spent his last day honoring the players, coaches, referees and
volunteers, giving all the credit to others, taking none for himself. His gym shoes
will be hard to fill and parent’s words hard to express as Elias walks off
the gym floor for the final time. But even after 25
years you may not have heard the last of Ray Elias. Westport Elementary School gym to be named
for Raymond Elias. The Westport
School Committee voted unanimously at their last meeting to accept departing
school committee member Eric Larrivee’s proposal to
name the Westport Elementary School gymnasium for retiring Westport Athletic
League coach Raymond Elias. Elias taught
instructional league basketball for 25 years of volunteer service in the
gymnasium that will now bear his name on a plaque that will be mounted outside
the gymnasium.
“If I have any lasting
message it's that even if you don't become an NBA player, you can still be a
great citizen.” – Coach Ray Elias
Elias shared his
feelings on the matter. Here's what he had to say: "I am beyond
honored. The children were always the most important thing; it should be
named after them. It was never about whether or not we win or lose, it was to
take the experience and learn from it,” Elias said. “I've seen many
changes take place since this all began. I just always wanted to make
basketball a better experience in Westport. The most important thing I ever
tried to instill was that school, family and church always came before
basketball. If I have any lasting message it's that even if you don't become
an NBA player, you can still be a great citizen. I'm so tremendously honored.
Nothing tops this for me," Elias said. Al Lees applauds longtime friend and
employee Ray Elias. "Well done
and well deserved! I've known Ray for over 40 years as a friend and co-worker
and there is no one who embodies the spirit of our community more than him.
Congratulations Ray - my father would be, and I am so proud of you,"
said Al Lees of Lees Market. As the plaque
says, Ray: “Your years of hard work will be remembered forever.”
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