DATELINE: SOUTH COAST
News, views and trends... from Mount Hope Bay to Buzzards Bay by Elizabeth Morse Read
Banish boredom! Sample the wealth of activities, foods and events on the South Coast this month! Cross a town–or state– line and check out all the farmers’ markets, yard sales, boat races, street fairs, and outdoor concerts. Call your own town’s recreation department, library or park to find out what’s on the schedule every week. Much of what’s going on will cost you nothing but time, so bring the whole family!
saudubon.org/bigbarnstudy or email allenspond@massaudubon.org.
Wear your hat and sunscreen, and don’t forget that hurricane season has begun. And be nice to all the summer folks and tourists, okay?
Tourism officials in Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts have joined together to create “So New,” a marketing program to attract more tourism to southern New England.
Regional highlights
Technical in Fall River; Greater New Bedford Voc-Tech; and Upper Cape Tech in Bourne.
The UMass system has created the James J. Karam Scholarship Fund for South Coast students planning to attend any of the UMass system’s campuses.
n The U.S. Department of Agriculture will purchase $5 million worth of cranberry products for federal nutrition assistance programs across the country, including food banks.
n Eel poaching has become big (illegal) business in Rhode Island lately, with demand for tiny American eels (“elvers”) fetching $2,000 a pound in Asia.
Starting this month, drivers may have to pay a toll to cross the Sakonnet River Bridge in East Bay RI. The issue is in the courts and will be decided soon. If the tolls go into effect, commuters can use their Newport Pell Bridge E-ZPass transponders or pay $.75 one way. Separate rates will be in place for out-of-state vehicles and trucks.
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The new pilot of President Obama’s official helicopter, Marine One, is Ryan Lynch, a 2001 graduate of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. n
n Four vocational high schools in South Coast together received almost $200,000 in state educational equipment grants: Bristol County Agricultural in Dighton; Diman Vocational-
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n Will barn swallows disappear from the South Coast? Help the Massachusetts Audubon Society by joining the Big Barn Study. Go to www.mas-
July 2013 / 2012 The South November / The Coast South Insider Coast Insider
n Good news! Bus service between New Bedford and Fall River now runs into the evening, along with many other SRTA routes. For new schedules, go to www.SRTAbus.com or call 508999-5211.
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n Support the Buzzards Bay Swim July 13. Go to www.splashseries.org, www. savebuzzardsbay.org/swim.
Southcoast Health Systems and Silverbrook Farm of Dartmouth have joined together to form a CSA (community supported agriculture) program to provide weekly deliveries of fresh local produce in Wareham, Fairhaven, New Bedford and Fall River. To sign up, call 508-961-5079 or visit www.southcoast.org/farmersmarket/csa. n
n If you’re a senior citizen, check out the trips sponsored by the New Bedford Senior Travel Program: the Kennebunkport Clambake July 17; the Charles River Boat ride and Cheesecake Factory July 31; and the Provincetown Carnival Parade August 15. Call 508-991-6171.