WAREHAM – The Wareham Tigers Cheer Athletics team have received a $5,000 challenge grant from the A.D. Makepeace Company.
The grant will match dollar-for-dollar all donations for the teams’ quest to attend the Recreational Championship in Disney World through February 5, Wareham Tigers Athletic Association’s Cheer Coordinator, Damon Solomon, announced today.
Flights, passes, and accommodations for the team and coaches are expected to total $35,000.
“We are pleased to be able to support this great organization and recognize the talent of these young ladies,” said Jim Kane, president and chief executive officer of the A.D. Makepeace Company.
The Tigers’ 18U Performance Recreation Affiliated Competition Cheer Team (PRIDE) team, consisting of 16 athletes from Wareham, earned their bid to the national competition in Florida by taking first place and Grand Champion status at a local qualifying event. The 18U team and six staff members are now seeking the community’s help to raise the necessary funds to attend the prestigious competition.
“Our board has created an amazing fundraising committee that has diligently reached out to several local businesses and individuals for donations,” Solomon said. “The A.D. Makepeace Company has really stepped up to support our organization with this challenge grant and we couldn’t be more excited.”
“We are so proud of the work the athletes, their coaches, and their families have put in, we just hope we can get them to Florida in March,” Solomon added.
In addition to the challenge grant, several other fundraising events are taking place in the area. A portion of every shake purchased at Good Life Nutrition, 170 Main Street, Wareham will be donated directly to WTCA on January 15 from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Also, the team will receive proceeds of the meat raffle at Parrot Bar & Grille, 1356 MA-28A, Cataumet on February 6 starting at 3 p.m.
On February 19, Stone Path Malt, 11 Kendrick Road, Wareham will host a Cornhole Tournament and Raffle starting at 12:30 p.m. And bottle and can drives will continue on dates to be determined.
You can also find WTCA athletes and volunteers canning in front of the Wareham Fire Station on Main Street and the Wareham Walmart on January 22, February 5, February 26, and March 6 from 10 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Watch the Tiger’s Facebook page and website for more details and event updates.
Make a donation by February 5 and have it count double! Donations may be made by visiting the team’s Go Fund Me Page, or by mailing a check to WTCA, P.O. Box 538, West Wareham, MA 02576.
NACD New England Honors Boston Scientific, A.D. Makepeace, Rapid7 CEO Corey Thomas, Bennie Wiley, and Jack F. O’Brien at “Director of the Year” Gala May 4
/in Events, General, Real Estate /by Linda Burke“With a 160-year history in the cranberry business, the A.D. Makepeace Company, based in Wareham, Mass., is the largest private property owner in Eastern Massachusetts and a recognized leader in environmentally responsible real estate development and land and water stewardship,” the NACD said in announcing the award. “John Makepeace was one of the three original founders of the Ocean Spray Co-Operative, in 1930. The board embraces a culture of responsible governance, with independent directors holding 40 to 50 percent of the board seats.”
Accepting the award on behalf of Chairman Robert Karam was Vice Chairman Eric Strand, with Jim Kane, president and chief executive officer of the company. Mr. Kane described the company’s advances in cranberry production.
“The company has thrived due to vertical integration and diversification,” Mr. Kane said. “Last century, the company manufactured its own scoops and wooden boxes. Today, we continue to fabricate our own harvesting equipment. An aggressive renovation program is increasing production, in some cases quadrupling the per-acre return. Abel Makepeace would be pleased with the progress we have made.”
Mr. Strand discussed its real estate development, notably the new village known as Redbrook in Plymouth, and the Rosebrook development in Wareham.
“What these two developments have in common is that they were constructed around cranberry bogs,” Mr. Strand said. “Jim mentioned that Abel Makepeace would be pleased with the progress we have made with cranberry cultivation. I like to believe that he and the other members of the Makepeace family are equally proud of this new element of the company, and how we have worked to celebrate our founder’s legacy.”
Also honored at the event were:
The NACD New England Chapter is part of the larger National Association of Corporate Directors network, the only not-for-profit membership organization founded by and for corporate directors. NACD empowers more than 23,000 directors to lead with confidence in the boardroom. As the recognized authority on leading boardroom practices, NACD helps boards strengthen investor trust and public confidence by ensuring that today’s directors are well prepared for tomorrow’s challenges. World-class boards join NACD to elevate performance, gain foresight and instill confidence. Fostering collaboration among directors, investors, and corporate governance stakeholders, NACD has been setting the standard for responsible board leadership for 40 years.
Give Blood
/in Life on the Bog Archives /by Linda BurkeFollowing our 12 drives in 2021, our contact at the American Red Cross wrote, “I know you know how important blood is, but the effort that you always put in to ensure we are successful is truly amazing!!” Our drives collected 305 pints of blood, which made a difference to potentially 915 patients.
We’re happy to be able to continue that effort, with monthly blood drives scheduled through 2022.
Click here to learn more about the dire need for blood donations, and to schedule your appointment.
Wareham, Massachusetts
February, 2022
ADM Donates Specialized Vehicle to WFD
/in Events, General /by Linda BurkeWAREHAM –
The A.D. Makepeace Company has purchased a Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV) for the Wareham Fire Department. The vehicle will be used for transportation to and from the district’s many remote wooded areas.
The UTV, custom built by Polaris, is especially designed to transport injured patients following incidents such as hunting or off-road vehicle accidents. Special added accessories mean the vehicle can be used in all weather conditions. It is scheduled for delivery in about six months.
“The Wareham Fire Department is thankful to the A.D. Makepeace for such a vital piece of equipment, which will allow us to respond better equipped to calls to include missing person, medical emergencies as well as ATV/dirt bike accidents in the extreme remote areas of Wareham,” said incoming Chief John Kelley. “While extrication of these patients, can be very time consuming with the current vehicles, the UTV equipped with the medical transport device will aid us in our core mission of preserving life and property within the Wareham Fire District. “
“We’re extremely familiar with some of the challenges that Wareham Fire faces, in part because we’ve frequently provided them with space or facilities for some of the specialized training they do,” said James F. Kane, president and chief executive officer of the A.D. Makepeace Company. Mr. Kane noted that the Fire Department completed an ice training drill on the company’s Tihonet Pond recently, and praised the department for its extensive training protocols.
More than 10 percent of the district’s forested area is owned by ADM. In total, nearly three-quarters of the town’s 23,000 acres are designated for agriculture, recreation, open space, or other similar uses, according to figures compiled by the Wareham Land Trust and included in the 2017-2024 Open Space and Recreation Plan.
The 166-year-old A.D. Makepeace Company is North America’s largest cranberry grower, the largest private property owner in eastern Massachusetts, and a recognized leader in environmentally responsible real estate development and stewardship. Visit admakepeace.com for more information.
Cheers for Wareham Cheerleaders!
/in Life on the Bog Archives /by Linda BurkeThe Wareham Tigers Cheer Athletics team have received a $5,000 challenge grant from the A.D. Makepeace Company.
The grant will match dollar-for-dollar all donations for the teams’ quest to attend the Recreational Championship in Disney World through February 5, Wareham Tigers Athletic Association’s Cheer Coordinator, Damon Solomon, announced today.
Flights, passes, and accommodations for the team and coaches are expected to total $35,000.
“We are pleased to be able to support this great organization and recognize the talent of these young ladies,” said Jim Kane, president and chief executive officer of the A.D. Makepeace Company.
Click here to learn more, and click here to donate.
Wareham, Massachusetts
January, 2022
Wareham Tigers Receive Grant from A.D. Makepeace Company
/in General /by Linda BurkeWAREHAM – The Wareham Tigers Cheer Athletics team have received a $5,000 challenge grant from the A.D. Makepeace Company.
The grant will match dollar-for-dollar all donations for the teams’ quest to attend the Recreational Championship in Disney World through February 5, Wareham Tigers Athletic Association’s Cheer Coordinator, Damon Solomon, announced today.
Flights, passes, and accommodations for the team and coaches are expected to total $35,000.
“We are pleased to be able to support this great organization and recognize the talent of these young ladies,” said Jim Kane, president and chief executive officer of the A.D. Makepeace Company.
The Tigers’ 18U Performance Recreation Affiliated Competition Cheer Team (PRIDE) team, consisting of 16 athletes from Wareham, earned their bid to the national competition in Florida by taking first place and Grand Champion status at a local qualifying event. The 18U team and six staff members are now seeking the community’s help to raise the necessary funds to attend the prestigious competition.
“Our board has created an amazing fundraising committee that has diligently reached out to several local businesses and individuals for donations,” Solomon said. “The A.D. Makepeace Company has really stepped up to support our organization with this challenge grant and we couldn’t be more excited.”
“We are so proud of the work the athletes, their coaches, and their families have put in, we just hope we can get them to Florida in March,” Solomon added.
In addition to the challenge grant, several other fundraising events are taking place in the area. A portion of every shake purchased at Good Life Nutrition, 170 Main Street, Wareham will be donated directly to WTCA on January 15 from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Also, the team will receive proceeds of the meat raffle at Parrot Bar & Grille, 1356 MA-28A, Cataumet on February 6 starting at 3 p.m.
On February 19, Stone Path Malt, 11 Kendrick Road, Wareham will host a Cornhole Tournament and Raffle starting at 12:30 p.m. And bottle and can drives will continue on dates to be determined.
You can also find WTCA athletes and volunteers canning in front of the Wareham Fire Station on Main Street and the Wareham Walmart on January 22, February 5, February 26, and March 6 from 10 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Watch the Tiger’s Facebook page and website for more details and event updates.
Make a donation by February 5 and have it count double! Donations may be made by visiting the team’s Go Fund Me Page, or by mailing a check to WTCA, P.O. Box 538, West Wareham, MA 02576.
It’s Cranberry Harvest Season!
/in Life on the Bog Archives /by Linda BurkeInterested in learning more about this photogenic, iconic display throughout Southeastern Massachusetts? We recommend starting with our friends at the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association. Their website offers information on how cranberries grow, where to catch a bog tour, and more.
Want to include a little shopping in your visit? Stop by Makepeace Farms for souvenirs of Cranberry Country, including fresh cranberries when available. The shop also offers some of the most delicious sandwiches and fresh baked treats!
For those who prefer a do-it-yourself approach and want to explore the area on their own, the CCCGA offers a map which will help you plan a self-guided tour. Our region’s harvest typically runs from mid-September through early November, and most growers don’t mind you watching the activity if you can park safely off the road and out of the way of truck traffic.
Plymouth County, Massachusetts
September, 2021
Soil Solutions for Urban Heat Islands
/in Life on the Bog Archives /by Linda BurkeAs temperatures throughout the Northeast reached dangerously high levels already this summer, our Read Custom Soils division is delivering record amounts of Cornell University’s proprietary blend of custom soils designed specifically to protect urban trees.
RCS is a licensed supplier of this special blend of crushed stone, clay loam, and a material that promotes nutrient and water retention. The result is trees that thrive in an urban setting where soil compaction is required to support sidewalks, parking lots, or permeable pavers.
In recent days, the Boston Globe has reported extensively on the problem of urban “heat islands,” a phenomenon that disproportionately affects lower-income neighborhoods.
We encourage urban developers to consider specifying CU Structural Soil in their landscape plan to help reduce this inequity. Learn more here.
Plymouth County, Massachusetts
July, 2021
Gorczyca Receives “40 Under 40” Award
/in General, Real Estate /by Linda BurkeDaniel Gorczyca, the vice president of development at the award-winning Redbrook, has received a Cape and Plymouth Media “40 Under 40” award.
The awards spotlight the region’s top young business leaders who excel in their industry and show dynamic leadership. This program, now in its 12th year, honors distinguished businesspeople under the age of 40 who have made a mark in the region at a young age.
“With more than 150 nominations, it was extremely difficult to choose only 40 of our amazing, talented honorees, who came from such diverse backgrounds,” said Cape & Plymouth Business Media Publisher and CEO Dale Shadbegian. “Our congratulations to the winners, who not only excel professionally but who are also involved in giving back to their communities.”
In nominating Dan for the award, his colleagues at the A.D. Makepeace Company wrote, “Dan’s commitment to his job, his community, and his family is an inspiration to all who know him. He has the ability to balance numerous volunteer roles while directing the development of the highly successful and complex Redbrook village in South Plymouth and raising four young children with his wife, Erin.”
The family lives in Plymouth.
“Dan’s leadership style is to subtly exude competence and confidence,” the nomination continued. “With his self-effacing sense of humor, he has the ability to negotiate complicated permitting arrangements. He makes frequent appearances before the Plymouth Planning Board and other public forums, always giving permitting authorities reason to trust his judgment and his word. He is both cheerful and thoughtful, with strong understanding of complex development concepts and the ability to think outside the box.”
In addition to his leadership role with ADM Agawam Development LLC, Dan is vice president of the Plymouth Education Foundation, a non-profit charity raising money for education at all age levels in the town. He has been a member of the organization’s Board of Directors since 2016.
He has served as an elected Town Meeting member since 2018.
He has served on the Town of Plymouth Water Conservation Committee since being appointed in 2020.
In 2017, he volunteered and coordinated efforts to build a new playground for the Plymouth Preschool. Under his leadership, all labor was volunteered – the school only had to pay for materials.
The 166-year-old A.D. Makepeace Company is developer of the award-winning Redbrook, North America’s largest cranberry grower, the largest private property owner in eastern Massachusetts, and a recognized leader in environmentally responsible real estate development and stewardship. Visit admakepeace.com for more information, and redbrookplymouth.com for more information about Redbrook.
Blossom Season on the Bogs
/in Life on the Bog Archives /by Linda BurkeWhile many think of cranberries as a fall fruit requiring much care and attention during the cooler months, the real work begins long before the autumn air arrives.
During this time of year, the tender vines are developing buds that will turn into tiny cranberry blossoms. As the bud and blossom develop, it is crucial to protect them from frost damage, provide adequate nutrients, and establish a healthy environment for growth. This phase of care and protection leads to the next critical element of crop success: pollination.
Typically, blossom time extends from mid-June through mid-July. As the tiny buds begins to open, its outer pink petals reveal a white flower. This is a unique time of year when the thousands of tiny white flowers cover the bog’s surface, resembling a light dusting of winter snow. The sheer volume of flowers that require pollination vastly outweighs the number of native pollinators in a given bog area.
This year, the bees we acquire for agricultural purposes begin arriving during the week of June 7. It takes about a week for them to be placed around the property. Needless to say, some areas that are typically accessible will be closed off during that time, and we urge everyone to use caution throughout cranberry country.
The rule of thumb is approximately two honeybee hives per acre of cranberries or one bumble bee box per acre. While the two varieties of bees cannot be in close proximity to each other, each has its own strengths and characteristics. Although the cranberry industry has long debated the most beneficial bee, today the honeybee remains the primary bee of choice throughout the industry.
Plymouth County, Massachusetts
June, 2021
O’Connor Elected CCLA President
/in General, Real Estate /by Linda BurkeFounded over 35 years ago, the Cape Cod Landscape Association, Inc. is a non-profit trade association serving the needs of individuals and businesses working in and involved with the Green Industry on Cape Cod and in southeastern Massachusetts.
“It was with great pride and pleasure that we learned of Justin’s new leadership role at the CCLA,” said RCS General Manager Christopher Ierardi. “He has long been an advocate of the green industry and of CCLA’s mission to serve the community through resources, education, and an invaluable scholarship program.”
“Justin is a passionate, dedicated and innovative member of our Board and I am looking forward to continuing to work with him,” said Diane Johnson, Executive Director of CCLA. “As a the CCLA president he brings a willingness to help promote the Association and the Green Industry. I know advancing membership is one of his main priorities.”
O’Connor brought over 25 years of experience in the green industry to the RCS team in 2019. He is a certified arborist and landscape professional with an Associates of Science degree in Arboriculture from the Stockbridge School of Agriculture and a Bachelor of Science degree in Urban Forestry from University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
“I’m looking forward to growing our membership and enhancing collaborations within the Green Industry during my tenure,” O’Connor said. “Networking existing leaders with newcomers and innovators, while providing education and the introduction of emerging topics and trends, makes us a stronger industry.”
Justin is a life-time Cape Cod resident and is primarily responsible for expanding the company’s presence on-Cape. In addition to CCLA, Justin is a tenured member of the MA Tree Warden and Foresters Association, and the Arbor Day Foundation. Justin makes his home in West Barnstable with his wife Susie, son, and daughter, and dog.
Read Custom Soils is New England’s most experienced precision soil blender. The company operates from a New Hampshire quarry, a Westford blending facility, and a state-of-the-art blending facility in Carver. It is New England’s leading provider of lightweight planting soil for green roof installations, stabilized stonedust for nature paths and pedestrian walkways, bioretention/raingarden soils, a proprietary blend ideally suited for challenging urban tree planting, and specialized soils for athletic fields. RCS also provides materials to more than 400 golf courses throughout New England.
RCS works closely with the leading professional landscape architects throughout New England, and its proprietary soil solutions are frequently specified in proposal solicitations and bid packages.