Massachusetts
Farmers from North Easton, Raynham, Ipswich, and Sharon win Massachusetts Tomato Contest – The Boston Globe
Four farms placed first Tuesday in the Massachusetts Tomato Contest, which aims to encourage people to buy locally-grown produce during the peak harvest season.
Langwater Farm in North Easton, Freedom Food Farm in Raynham, Russell Orchards in Ipswich, and Ward’s Berry Farm in Sharon took home the top prizes for cherry bomb, speckled roman, oxheart tomatoes, and other juicy varieties, according to the statement.
The Boston Public Market Association hosted the 39th annual contest, sponsored by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources and the New England Vegetable and Berry Growers Association.
State agricultural commissioner Ashley Randle urged people to show support for farmers and “take advantage” of the fresh tomatoes.
“Late summer is the peak harvest season in Massachusetts which includes tomatoes that our growers have spent a lot of time and effort to produce one of the most delicious local crops available to consumers,” Randle said in a statement.
A panel of food writers, produce experts, and state officials, judged entries on flavor, firmness and slicing quality, exterior color, and shape , the statement said.
The tastiest and best-looking tomatoes were presented by 108 entries from 24 farms located across Massachusetts, the statement said. Approximately 5.9 million pounds of tomatoes are produced every year on 739 farms and 520 acres of land at a value of nearly $10 million dollars in the state, according to the statement.
Trevor Hardy, president of the New England Vegetable and Grower’s Association, said long winters in New England can be challenging for farmers.
“The best compliment is when a customer says, ‘These taste like the tomatoes from my grandmother’s garden when I was a kid,’” he said. “Our tomatoes don’t have to travel very far to get to our customers so we can grow unique heirloom varieties meant for shipping, and for customers, it can be a real summer treat.”
Cheryl Cronin, chief executive officer of the Boston Public Market, said it was an honor to host the competition and showcase the hard work of farmers.
“In New England, we count down to tomato season all summer long and we’re thrilled to celebrate and honor our local farmers,” she said.
Kiera McDonald can be reached at kiera.mcdonald@globe.com.
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Massachusetts
Massachusetts officials shut down boy's charity ice cream stand: 'Disappointed'
![Massachusetts officials shut down boy's charity ice cream stand: 'Disappointed' Massachusetts officials shut down boy's charity ice cream stand: 'Disappointed'](https://static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/08/ice-cream.png)
A boy from Norwood, Massachusetts, has gotten creative after town officials shut down his ice cream stand, citing a food code violation.
Danny Doherty, 12, and his mother, Nancy Doherty, began a small stand in their neighborhood with some profits going to a charity that hits close to home for them.
After only one week, they had to stop the sales of their homemade ice cream.
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“I think the most disappointing part of that was that someone, one of our neighbors, somebody driving by, decided to take time to complain about a kid’s stand,” Nancy Doherty told Fox News Digital.
“I was really not mad. I’d say more disappointed that [it] happened,” she added.
Danny Doherty, right, started an ice cream stand and was donating half the funds to his brother’s special hockey team in Massachusetts. (Nancy Doherty)
When her son became bored during summer vacation, Nancy Doherty gave him the idea to start an ice cream stand and donate half the proceeds to charity.
“I suggested to him, ‘Instead of a lemonade stand, if you really want to generate some interest, why don’t you make ice cream?’” the mom said, noting that her family makes their own ice cream at home.
“A good amount of people came down.”
Danny Doherty loved the idea and worked with his mom to come up with various flavors for his “Tree Street Treats” stand.
The two made vanilla and shaved chocolate, plus cannoli and a New England fluffernutter.
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Danny Doherty made his own business logo. He also created an Instagram account to advertise the sweets sale to family and friends.
“[My friends] thought it was fun. A good amount of people came down,” Danny Doherty told Fox News Digital.
Half of all proceeds were donated to the Boston Bears Club, a special education hockey team for kids.
“It’s my brother’s hockey team, it’s like a special hockey team … It’s where he goes and plays hockey,” Danny Doherty said.
![patrick doherty brother of Massachusetts boy who launched ice cream stand](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/08/1200/675/IMG_2341-1-scaled.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Patrick Doherty, 15, has been on the Boston Bears Club hockey team for 10 years. (Nancy Doherty)
His 15-year-old brother, Patrick, who is autistic with moderate support needs, has been on the Boston Bear Club hockey team for 10 years, joining when he was 5 years old, Nancy Doherty said.
John Quill started the team 25 years ago for his own son who is autistic.
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“Tree Street Treats” raised $124 in its first week, donating $62 to the Boston Bears Club.
‘Please desist in these activities’
It was a few days later when the Dohertys received an official letter from the Town of Norwood Board of Health.
“The Norwood Health Department has received a complaint that you are making and selling scooped ice cream and cookies at your residential property,” said the letter, which was shown to Fox News Digital.
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“The Massachusetts Food Code (105CMR. 590) does not allow for the sale of ice cream made in the home. Please desist in these activities,” the letter added.
Nancy Doherty decided, instead of throwing away all the ice cream or trying to eat it all, that they would just give it away to friends and family while accepting donations to the Bears Club.
![A scoop of chocolate ice cream next to a scoop of vanilla ice cream.](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/07/1200/675/vanilla-v-chocolate-split.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
The mom and son came up with a few flavors of homemade ice cream to sell at the stand, namely vanilla and shaved chocolate (not pictured), plus cannoli and a New England fluffernutter. (iStock)
“We had so many people show up to support us, and we ran out of our ice cream in 10 minutes, but we raised about $1,000,” she said.
“I talked to the head coach, and I think they were up to $6,000 or something already. So that’s, you know, heartwarming… We took a disappointing and discouraging situation. We made a decision to do something positive with it — and look at all of the positivity that came out of it.”
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Quill confirmed that Danny Doherty’s ice cream stand has received more than 200 donations totaling $7,500.
“Three local ice cream shops have reached out to do fundraisers and it has raised awareness of our team,” Quill said. “I’ve had a number of parents reach out as they did not know that special hockey even existed.”
“We had so many people show up to support us.”
When asked if she fought back against the decision by the town’s board of health, Nancy Doherty said she didn’t have the bandwidth.
“I am a solo parent. My husband passed away, and I have a full-time job … I don’t have the energy or time to do that,” she said.
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Nancy Doherty said the Town of Norwood Board of Health has not reached out to her since sending the letter.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Town of Norwood Board of Health for comment.
Massachusetts
Duxbury, Massachusetts home destroyed by fire and more top stories
![Duxbury, Massachusetts home destroyed by fire and more top stories Duxbury, Massachusetts home destroyed by fire and more top stories](https://assets1.cbsnewsstatic.com/hub/i/r/2024/08/20/ba1e595c-eab6-4cfd-b231-398cd3e9b201/thumbnail/1200x630/8a89e378e3c8bcd09ed17e5571716cc0/484c055e15f3be7c8fcbaa83050ff1fd.jpg?v=fd6e213336f58b575c9e836e95546d26)
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Massachusetts
Sudbury Voters: Who's On Your Ballot?
![Sudbury Voters: Who's On Your Ballot? Sudbury Voters: Who's On Your Ballot?](https://patch.com/img/cdn20/users/26728787/20240820/080217/styles/patch_image/public/202108-ped-dearborn-detroit-primary-mi-will-01___20080129056.jpg)
The following was submitted by the League of Women Voters of Sudbury
SUDBURY, MA — The Sept. 3 election is a state primary election in which political parties select their candidates for the Nov. 5 general election. For that reason, voters vote using a specific party’s ballot in that election. Voters who are enrolled in a party must take that party’s ballot. Unenrolled voters can choose which ballot they want; selecting a ballot does not change a voter’s unenrolled status.
In Sudbury, there is one contested race on the Democratic party ballot. For the third district Governor’s Council seat, the candidates are Marilyn M. Petitto Devaney, the incumbent, and Mara Dolan.
On the Republican ballot in Sudbury, there is also one contested race. Robert J. Antonellis, Ian Cain and John Deaton are running to be the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in November, to oppose Elizabeth Warren.
There are no candidates on the Libertarian ballot in Sudbury.
The last day to register to vote in the Sept. 3 election is Saturday, Aug. 24. Check your voter registration status or register online at www.VoteInMA.com.
Request a mail ballot now to receive it in time to vote by mail. Check here for information on voting by mail.
In-person early voting will be Aug. 24-30 at Town Hall for all precincts; check hours here. Voting on Election Day, Tuesday, Sept. 3, will be at the Fairbank Community Center for all precincts; polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
You can find answers to frequently asked questions about voting here.
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