It’s no secret that New Bedford has a rich seafaring history. Countless sailors have made New Bedford their port home. Many more plied Buzzards Bay and Nantucket Sound in search of both pleasure and booty. Some never returned. Our area has some of the most hazardous conditions in the world. In fact, Nantucket Island was used in World War ll as a United States Air Force training base for pilots because of its constant foggy environment.

Today we live in a different world with regards to technology, but not weather and ocean conditions. The same fog that made Nantucket a perfect training base still causes major headaches for navigators who consider the South Coast home. Most boaters (pleasure and commercial) understand the risks of boating and take it seriously. Things can happen very quickly on the water. Without the proper safety equipment it can turn tragic even faster.

When considering your own “safety net,” boat insurance can mean real peace of mind.  Here are some guidelines to keep in mind when shopping for boat insurance:

1) Hull and machinery/ boat and boating equipment * (agreed value on total loss)
2) Boating liability $500,000 (recommended)
3) Uninsured boater $500,000 (recommended)
4) Pollution (very important)
5) Medical Payments
6) Personal property
7) Dinghy/tender
8) Commercial towing and assistance
9) Hurricane Haul-out reimbursement

*Agreed Value means the company “agrees” to pay you the face amount of the hull and machinery if the boat is deemed a total loss. No depreciation for age, or condition. If your policy doesn’t say “agreed value” then the claim will be settled based on Actual Cash Value. That’s less depreciation for age and condition. It’s about 20% more expensive for the Agreed Value. But, it’s far better coverage.

**Some boaters fish for money on their pleasure boats. You can often by a “sell the catch” endorsement which covers the “business” exposure. If you do sell the catch, this is important.

Last week New Bedford Mayor Scott W. Lang attended the 2011 Mayors’ Climate Protection Awards during the U.S. Conference of Mayors 79^th Annual Meeting in Baltimore, Maryland.  New Bedford was recognized during the national award ceremony for its leadership in climate protection efforts.

The 2011 Mayors’ Climate Protection Awards are sponsored by The U.S. Conference of Mayors and Walmart.  The annual awards program recognizes mayors for innovative practices in their cities that increase energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. An independent panel of judges selected the winners from a pool of 130 applicants. New Bedford received an honorable mention in the small cities category for its Community Retrofit Program.

“We are pleased to receive national recognition for our Community Retrofit Program, which is an initiative aimed at reducing carbon emissions, lowering energy costs, and employing local residents,” said Mayor Scott W. Lang.

“Throughout the nation and the world, it is the innovation and commitment of U.S. mayors, like the winners being announced today, who are leading the nation toward greater energy independence and lower carbon emissions,” said Conference President Burnsville Mayor Elizabeth B. Kautz.

“We are proud to honor these cities and their mayors, who remind all of us how their leadership is making a real difference in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving the quality of life in their communities,” said Maggie Sans, Walmart’s Vice President of Public Affairs and Government Relations. “At the end of the day, these local efforts reduce our energy dependence and save money, results that strengthen the U.S. economy.”

About New Bedford’s Community Retrofit Program

Mayor Scott Lang proposed the Community Retrofit Program (CRP) in 2009 with a goal of increasing the energy efficiency of 5,000 units of housing and businesses in the City of New Bedford over five years. The initiative was intended to create local career paths,  lower energy costs; and reduce carbon emissions. The CRP established partnerships, including with CBOs, local contractors, and a utility company. Through community organizing and creative marketing, the CRP utilizes the strength of community relationships to drive demand for energy efficiency. All work opportunities generated are completed by local contractors who meet equity and quality standards. Accomplishing this ambitious goal requires a whole-systems approach that benefits the economy and the environment while building a strong community.

More information is available online here.

The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are 1,210 such cities in the country today, and each city is represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the mayor. Find more about the U.S. Conference of Mayors at their website , on Facebook, and on Twitter.

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New Bedford’s first annual recreational fishing tournament, set for Father’s Day Weekend, June 17-18, out of Pope’s Island Marina, promises more than just two great days of fishing.  ‘Fishing for a Cause’, as it charity tournament is known, will include a Seaside Dinner with live music at Pope’s Island on Friday, June 17 from 6-10p.m. and a day of family fun 1-4 p.m. (free to the public) on Saturday afternoon, June 18 with a BBQ awards dinner (ticketed event) to follow at 5 p.m.

To purchase tickets to the Seaside Dinner and the Family Fun Awards Day BBQ, or to register your boat for the tournament, which includes an all access pass for each angler to all Fishing for a Cause events,  please visit at: www.schwartzcenter.org/fish-on, or email the Schwartz Center at ffac@schwartzcenter.org.

Fishing for a Cause is a tournament for catching bluefish, striped bass, and fluke.  There will be awards for the anglers bringing in the highest weight total for each species, including custom-made glass trophies and high-end fishing gear.  Prizes will be awarded to all junior anglers participating. The event is open to all size recreational fishing boats.  Lines are allowed in the water at 12:01 a.m., and the weigh stations will be open 1-4 p.m. on both days of the tournament. Participants are encouraged to register early to take advantage of the free slips that will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Fuel discounts will be offered by Sea Fuels.

The Fishing for a Cause tournament organizers deeply respect the tenants of marine conservation and the management of natural resources; every effort has been made to maximize the use and preclude the waste associated with catch. Fish brought to scale can be donated to be processed by a local fish processing plant and delivered to Catholic Social Services, which provides shelter and meals for those that are in need.

Donations are still being accepted for the silent and live auctions, and sponsors can still participate. Interested parties can contact Fishing for a Cause at ffac@schwartzcenter.org.  For more information the Schwartz Center website, or find Fishing for a Cause on Facebook. 

The Schwartz Center for Children is a 501c3 non-profit organization.  The Center is Southeastern Massachusetts’ only independent, community-based provider of diagnostic, therapeutic, educational and social services to children and young adults with complex medical and developmental needs. Founded in 1947, the Schwartz Center for Children is a recognized leader in addressing the diverse needs of families dealing with wide range of special needs including autism spectrum disorders, and other sensory and social limitations.  The Center provides individualized support tailored to meet the unique needs of each child and family. The Schwartz Center is located at One Posa Place, Dartmouth, MA 02747. Telephone: 508-996-3391.

Fishing For A Cause Schedule of Events:

Thursday, June 16
6:00PM – Captains’ Dinner at the Seaport Inn (free for registered boat captains)

Friday, June 17
12:01 a.m. – lines allowed in the water
1:00-4:00 p.m. – weigh-in station open at Pope’s Island Marina
6:00-10 p.m. – Seaside Dinner under tent at Pope’s Island, catered by Russell Morin Fine Catering, featuring: live music by Marc White & Co. and The Buzzard Blue Band; silent and live auctions. Tickets are $75/person (free for registered anglers).

Saturday, June 18
12:01 a.m. – lines allowed in the water
1-4:00 p.m. – weigh-in station open at Pope’s Island Marina
1-4:00 p.m. – free family-fun activities at Pope’s Island Park and in the harbor; rowing, face-painting, arts & crafts, field games, demonstrations, trolley rides to downtown.
5-8:00 p.m. – awards ceremony and BBQ dinner. Tickets are $25/person (free for registered anglers)

Many residents of the South Coast already know insurance costs are on the rise. You may have even received a letter from your home owners insurance telling you that your policy is being cancelled for “coastal” reasons. Why are you being “non-renewed” when the ocean is so far away?

Your Massachusetts home owners insurance policy protects your property from many perils, but not floods. If you’ve been cancelled by your insurer because you’re too close to the ocean, it has nothing to do with water or flooding potential. It has everything to do with the wind. Your home owners insurance covers WIND related claims, usually subject to a deductible.

For many of us that live within a mile or two of the ocean Flood Insurance is now being required by the banks. Flood Insurance only covers you for damage caused by rising of ground or surface water and wave action.  In my opinion, the reason for the recent shake up is related to the housing crisis that continues to plague the United States. For years and years lenders approved mortgages and failed to enforce the requirement for flood insurance. If the property was marginally located in a flood zone, then many times the banks would overlook it. However, now the maps have been re-drawn.
Today is much different. We see lenders notifying their clients that they must mandate you buy the coverage, even if you never needed it before. The laws have changed. Every mortgage issued by a lender that is federally backed will be required to buy flood insurance if it is determined to be in a flood zone.

If you feel as though the bank has it wrong, then contact a professional land surveyor. A good place to check out is Thompson Farland,located at 30 North Water Street in New Bedford. Owner Christian Farland and his team can provide you with an elevation certificate. There are surveyors in the area as well. A signed and stamped certificate is the only way to confirm the homes actual elevation. It’s the only way to argue with the bank if they have it wrong.

Flood Insurance prices vary from the lease expensive in preferred in Zones C-X to the most expensive Zones AE-VE. Premiums are based on the dwelling amount (contents too, if needed) and flood zone. Costs can vary as well, from just a few hundred dollars to several thousand. IE: If you have a $200,000 house, then you should carry $200K in flood insurance. If you’re in Zone C the premium might only be $300-$400. That same house in a Zone AE might be $3000.00.  As mentioned, you can also buy coverage for your contents at an additional price.

Before you buy that house on the water, or refinance that loan, do your homework. Find out from the realtor, or mortgage office, is the house located in a flood zone. You don’t want to find out after the offer has been accepted that the additional cost of flood insurance is a deal breaker.

“Words can’t reach it.”

My sister, Jeanne, used this phrase when she was at a loss for words to describe an experience so moving, so overwhelming, so mind blowing, that there were just no words in her vocabulary (extensive though it was) to verbalize it. “Words can’t reach it” is the only phrase that comes close to expressing the experience lived by myself, my family and over a thousand devoted fans of Crosby & Nash at their recent performance in New Bedford’s Zeiterion Performing Arts Center on Tuesday, May 24.

Backing up for a minute, many have wondered how this venerable duo and their cache of extremely talented band-mates landed onstage at New Bedford’s ‘Z.’  David explained it most eloquently, if not a bit mysteriously, when he dedicated a new song, “Slice of Time,” to “the odd connection of people who got us to this exact spot this night…Spider Robinson and Dori Legge.” I am Dori, musician/singer/songwriter and house manager at the ‘Z,’ and I, along with my brother-in-law, Spider (an award winning novelist in his own right), are the odd connection of which David speaks.

Spider and David, along with my sister Jeanne (who passed away last year from biliary cancer), met in 2005.  They shared a mutual admiration of music, writing, dance and Woodstock-era hippie culture, so they began corresponding via email and quickly became fast friends. When Spider shared some of my music with David, David and I began corresponding until one day when I bravely popped the question – Would he and Graham Nash like to play the Z?  A few weeks later it was a done deal: The date was booked, tickets went on sale and the show rapidly sold out in only six days.

Tuesday’s performance, the last date of a successful and strenuous tour schedule, was nothing less than spectacular. Joined by keyboardist (and Crosby’s son) James Raymond, Dean Parks on guitar, bassist Kevin McCormick and drummer Steve DiStanislao, the pair offered up classic favorites and new songs that had the crowd eating out of their hands from the very first note. Their hair may be a bit more on the gray side but the vocals are still strong, tight and true. Put that together with their superb guitar fingering and voicing techniques, which have only ripened with age, and Crosby and Nash proved they can still put on an amazing live show.

The personal connection between David and I extends to my songwriting partner, musician and writer Butch McCarthy. Our latest release, Tickets To The Moon, was mailed to David at his request and is now firmly ensconced in his rather extensive collection of iPod playlists. Sharing our original songs with such an iconic music legend has been a life changing experience for both Butch and myself.

Dinner with David

In the countless fantasies in my head surrounding meeting David and hosting the C&N band at the ‘Z’, I never, ever, imagined sitting next to him at my sister’s dinner table, chatting, drinking wine and piling a mountainous portion of pasta, homemade meatballs and sausage onto his plate. Here’s how it happened…

On impulse, I had emailed David Monday morning with my cell number, just in case he wanted to hook up with Spider in the afternoon (all my family had flown in for the show) or needed anything in general. I also mentioned homemade Italian meatballs and sauce. My cell rang a few hours later, as I was standing in the linen department at Target.

“Hey Dori, it’s David Crosby.”  My hands started shaking as I temporarily lost control of my shopping cart and crashed into a clearance rack of flannel sheets and down comforters. “Hi David, what’s up?” The lady coming down the aisle in my direction was looking at me strangely as my knees buckled, forcing me to sit down abruptly on a display of fluffy alternative pillows. “Well hey, were you serious about that home cooked meal invite?” My mind started racing. Oh my God!  I have to call Laurie and tell her to clean the house and damn, my car’s a disgusting pit: What if I have to pick him up? “Sure, we’d love to have you.  Where are you staying?”

A few hours later, me, David  and 12 of my family members were breaking bread together, sharing stories and jokes like we had known one another for a lifetime. David is a kind, generous, passionate, articulate, witty man;  a good soul who loved my sister Jeanne, dearly. And in turn, loved us too. It was an evening I will not soon forget.

Lost in Providence

Yes, I was a little nervous about being alone in the car with David on the ride from his hotel in Providence back to Dartmouth. Would I be able to put two intelligent words together and not sound like the star struck fan I knew I was as I conversed with this musical legend? Plus, my car was a mess. And, as usual, I had gotten lost getting there.

When I finally gave in and called David to tell him I was lost in Providence, he very calmly handed the phone to someone at the desk and they guided me in. When I arrived, he walked up to my car and opened the back door, threw in his computer bag, looked at my mess of a back seat and smiled. I shrugged and said, “Yeah, I’m a slob with a lousy sense of direction. Hop in.” After that, it was easy….we talked non-stop the rest of the way home.

When I asked him about life on the road:

“I never know where I am, where I’ve been, or where I’m going to.”

When we were talking about alternative guitar tunings and I mentioned Joni Mitchell:

“In a hundred years, people will still be listening to Joni and Bob (Dylan). They are the premiere poets of our generation. But I think Joni is better. And more musical.”

When I wondered why Dean Parks, an LA session player, had decided to go on the road with them:

“Well, he wanted to try something different. And he likes us – we don’t tell him what to play.”

Then, later on at dinner…..

When I warned him about my large, loud Italian/Portuguese family as we drove into the driveway:

“Loud Italians are some of my favorite people”

To my mother, as he took a bite out of one of her famous cinnamon nut rolls:

“Are you the person responsible for this?”

To all of us, as he queued up some of his new songs on his Mac Book to play for us:

“Here’s some new stuff – hope you like it.” (how could we NOT?)

The Concert

First of all, being invited to attend the Crosby/Nash concert as Mr. Crosby’s guest was amazing. I’ve been a huge fan since they first started singing together in the ’60s. To learn that he loves our music was amazing, but to meet the man and shake his hand was life-changing.

Before the show even began I was invited to the sound check. I was bowled over by the countless guitars that were trotted out one-by-one to be checked. Dozens of beautiful guitars with different open tunings- each one sounding better than the last.  After the sound check  I could not wait for the show.

By 7:30 P.M. the theater was jammed and buzzing. It seemed like I knew everyone there; I had so many friends in attendance, I couldn’t keep track. The lights dimmed and the iconic figures of David Crosby and Graham Nash took the stage with their amazing band and launched into a blistering version of “Eight Miles High,” a song Crosby wrote as a member of The Byrds.

The band was incredibly tight and each song was a joy. From the raucous “Almost Cut My Hair” to the beautifully melodic “Guinevere,” each song was carefully crafted.  After the intermission they delivered hit after hit, until the crowd was on its feet demanding an encore which culminated with “Teach Your Children.” Everyone in the house sang it- every word. We all knew the lyrics. We all loved it. We were all a little moist in the eyes.

Afterwards I had the privilege of hanging out in the Green Room with David, Graham and the band. I was in a daze, especially when David looked me in the eye and told me he loved our music. What more could I ask for?

Back in the Green Room with Dori…

Months of anticipation and over three hours of musical exhilaration were coming to an end as the band began to grab their things and head out the stage door onto the tour bus bound for NYC. Even though the Green Room was still filled with friends and family, everyone seemed to melt away as David, Spider and I drew close to say our goodbyes. Hard hugs, claps on the back, and heartfelt goodbyes were exchanged between all of us…and tears, yes there were a few. Just before he turned to go, David looked at me intensely, with those piercing baby blues and said:

“I don’t know when I will see you again…but we are now friends.”

We all could use a friend like David Crosby.

www.crosbynash.com

www.mccarthyandlegge.com

To meet Spider: www.spiderrobinson.com

To meet Jeanne: www.stardancemovie.com

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You see them at the grocery store.  They coach your kids’ football team.  You are friends with them on Facebook.  They are veterans of the United States military, and many of them struggle quietly from the “invisible wounds” of war. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) affect approximately 50,000 New England Veterans and chances are, you know someone personally who is suffering in silence.

On May 22^nd, the Red Sox Foundation and the Massachusetts General Hospital Home Base Program is hosting the 2^nd annual “Run to Home Base”, with funds raised going to provide brain injury diagnosis, treatment, and support to New England Veterans and their families.

A local South Coast resident, Marine Corps veteran, and PTSD survivor Nate Winkler is running to “Home Base” to advocate for other vets who desperately need help dealing with this silent killer. Please take a few moments to learn more about Traumatic Brain Injuries and PTSD through our interview with Nate, and help him reach his fundraising goals for his Run to Home Base.

NBG: Nate, how did you get involved with the Run to Home Base Program?
Nate: This is the 2rd year that the Home Base Program has partnered with the Red Sox Foundation to put on this unique event. I remembered seeing the coverage of the event last year and I thought it was a great way to raise money for something that has directly affected me.

Running across home plate at Fenway seems like a dream to so many: How does it feel to be one of only 2,500 people given the opportunity to participate?
Nate: Crossing the finish line at iconic Fenway is definitely a great aspect of the event, and I feel honored to be one of the few who is not only participating, but also raising money and awareness for the cause.

So you need to raise $1,000 just for the chance to run this event, how are you doing so far?
Nate: Well, as of right now I’ve raised $585, so I’m over halfway there. Because they only allow a small number of runners through Fenway, the $1,000 goal is a good way for participants to show that they’re serious about the event.  Of course, my goal is to exceed $1,000 because the money is being raised for a great cause. If every one of your readers donated just one dollar to http://www.runtohomebase.org/runtohomebase/NathanielWinkler, I would easily surpass my goal and even more veterans could receive care.

You suffer from PTSD.  Can you share a little bit of your personal experiences to give readers a better understanding of how this can happen to service members?
Nate: I saw limited combat during my tour in Iraq in 2003, yet I had a hard time coming to terms with the things I was exposed to during that time. My duty in the Marine Corps ended just a few weeks after I returned to the States, and I felt completely alone as a civilian, so I internalized everything. I struggled to keep my life together until I was finally ready to face my traumatic event head-on and learn how to cope in a constructive way. Organizations like the Home Base Program would have been useful to me back then, and that’s why I support what they do for troops returning from combat.

There seems to be a social stigma surrounding PTSD and TBI.  Why have you chosen to talk about your personal struggles?
Nate: Many of our troops go through far worse experiences than I did and are never really able to make peace with it. If sharing my experiences can encourage someone to seek the help that is available, then I feel like it’s my duty to do so.

New Bedford Guide thanks Nate for his service and for sharing his story with us. We hope you will take the time to support this worthy cause.