Westport in Brief!
EverythingWestport.com
Friday, September
10, 2010
Quick Article Index . . .
Rivals for senate seat tout job creation, reject Hess
LNG.
Community Boatbuilding with the Westport Fishermen’s
Association.
State
Rep awarded the Medal of the Prince Henry the Navigator.
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Rivals for senate seat tout job
creation, reject Hess LNG. EverythingWestport.com Tuesday, September
8, 2010 Photos/EverythingWestport.com Rivals for senate seat tout job creation, reject Hess
LNG. There was a lot of jawing but little
sparring at last night’s democratic-friendly debate at BCC. Many of the moderator’s
questions were supported unanimously by the four contenders who would be
Senator, but two candidates stood very much apart, both on the platform and
on political ideology. Democrats up at
bat! Democrats running for 1st Bristol and Plymouth Senate seat debated
questions asked by the moderator, Herald News Editorial Page Editor Patrick Luce,
and for the most part the debate was civil, if not unexciting. With the
September 14 primary around the corner the debate will be the last chance
voters will have to compare firsthand candidate’s stands, or lack of them, on
the important questions facing our financially-strapped state. The four Democrats participating included Michael Coogan of Freetown,
the president of the Fall River Firefighters Union; Lorne Lawless, an
insurance agent and former selectman from Somerset; John Mitchell, a lawyer
and former Fall River mayor; and Michael Rodrigues, a state representative
whose district includes Westport and part of Fall River. The candidates opened with a brief
statement with Coogan saying he learned his hard working ethics from his
parents, and was “proud to be the only veteran on the stage.” The 21-year
firefighting veteran wanted to focus on the issues, not the rhetoric. Rodrigues said he had “invested in
countless local community projects and “was ready to hit the ground running to
create new jobs for the future.” Rodrigues introduced his South Coast Job
Creation Plan which, if elected, he will introduce into the legislative
process on his first day in office. Click her to read about Rodrigues’ South Coast Creation
Plan posted on his website. Lawless, an active opponent against
the Hess LNG project, said “you can’t put people in jeopardy in their local
neighborhoods.” His major plank was jobs, more specifically alternative
energy jobs in this area. Community Boatbuilding with the
Westport Fishermen’s Association. EverythingWestport.com Thursday,
September 09, 2010
Join their directors to help loft, steam, strip plank, fair, epoxy
glass, finish and varnish a boat from scratch. Most of the work will be done
by hand and the WFA will provide the tools and materials to build a 15 foot
Rangeley row boat. The Rangeley Boat is a distinctive American sporting boat that has
been in use on the Rangeley Lakes of Maine for something like 100 years, and
was well known to past generations of fishermen for its numerous excellent
characteristics. The finished boat will be raffled off at their annual
clambake in September, 2011. The proceeds go to clean up rivers,
scholarships, marine heritage and preservation. They anticipate that there will be about 40 sessions from November through
May. Sessions will run on Saturday and Sunday, 12 noon to 4 p.m. most weekends.
They will offer six Supporting Builders the opportunity to attend all or as
many sessions as they wish for a $500 donation. Also offered are several five
session packages for a $100 donation. First come first served. All
others are invited to stop by and watch the progress at no charge. For more information and details contact Tom Perkins (508) 636-2250 or
perkins315@charter.net State Rep awarded the Medal of the
Prince Henry the Navigator EverythingWestport.com Friday,
September 10, 2010 Photos/EverythingWestport.com View
the photo album now
19 photos | Broadband/DSL speed |
Rodrigues is one of 18 persons this year, and the sole American, to be
honored with Portugal’s equivalent to knighthood. Rodrigues, currently a candidate for the 1st Bristol and Plymouth Senate seat being vacated by Joan Menard, was clearly humbled, and said he was honored to receive the award. “To receive this award is beyond all my expectations,” he said. “It is the highest award bestowed by the Portuguese government.” “Every year, on June 10, on the occasion of the celebration of the Day of Portugal, of Camoes and the Portuguese Communities, the President of the Portuguese Republic, Grand Master of the Portuguese Orders, distinguishes by extraordinary decree, several individuals from the Portuguese Communities abroad and foreign citizens across the world for their relevant services to Portugal.” “This year, His Excellency the President of the Portuguese Republic, Professor Anibal Cavaco Silva awarded 18 individuals, including the Honorable Michael J. Rodrigues, the sole American Citizen to be bestowed with this Honorific Medal. The Honorable Michael Rodrigues was thus awarded with the Order of Prince Henry the Navigator, the Portuguese national order of knighthood that is granted for relevant services to Portugal, and for the expansion of the Portuguese culture, its history and its values.” Joao de Vallera, the ambassador of Portugal in Washington, D.C., representing the Portuguese government, bestowed the Medal of the Order of Prince Henry the Navigator to Rodrigues, assisted by Graca Araujo Fonseca, Portuguese Consul of Portugal in New Bedford. “Michael has been a staunch defender of the Portuguese language in the commonwealth,” de Vallera said. “I wish him all the best in his future political career.” Fonseca added that Rodrigues was bestowed with the “Portuguese national order of knighthood that is granted for relevant services to Portugal and for the expansion of the Portuguese culture, its history and its values.” The award recognized Rodrigues’ “most significant services on behalf of the Portuguese community,” added the Consul of Portugal in New Bedford.
Left: Rodrigues (center) with Phillip Rapoza,
Chief Justice of the
Massachusetts Appeals Court (left) and Fernando Garcia of Fall River, the Master
of Ceremonies for the evening (right). Right: The Medal of
the Prince Henry the Navigator presented to Rodrigues by the Portuguese
Ambassador to the United States and the Consul of Portugal to New Bedford for
his significant services on behalf of the Portuguese Community.
Left: Rodrigues on stage with previous recipients. Right:
Rodrigues shares a moment with the Portuguese
Ambassador to the United States, Joao de Vallera. - - - - - End - - - - - © 2010 Community Events of Westport All rights reserved. EverythingWestport.com |
