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Boston Globe
09-07-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
In Lincoln, the community rallies around a farmer facing personal loss and the end of federal funding
He also faces another crisis. Last year, as with every year since it launched, the farm's biggest buyer was the Get Winter Soup Club A six-week series featuring soup recipes and cozy vibes, plus side dishes and toppings, to get us all through the winter. Enter Email Sign Up Jennifer Hashley, director of the New Entry Sustainable Farming Project, a program of Tufts University's Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, and Mohammed Hannan view young organic greens last month. The plants were being grown in a high tunnel, one of two on the property at Hannan Healthy Foods in Lincoln. MARK STOCKWELL FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE Advertisement Established in 2005, the Food Hub aggregates and distributes vegetables grown by more than 35 beginning, immigrant, and refugee farmers in the Boston region. It is an initiative of the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, which was founded in 1998 to integrate recent immigrants and refugees with farming backgrounds into Massachusetts agriculture. New Entry director Jennifer Hashley explained that, thanks to four years of unprecedented support prior to the cuts, her organization was just beginning to 'transform how we do work and how we do agriculture and distribute food and get it to people that need it the most,' especially beginning, historically underserved and socially disadvantaged farmers. In addition to the food grant programs, in 2025, the Trump administration halted the Climate-Smart Commodities Partnership, land-purchase grants, and multiple initiatives linked to the 2018 Farm Bill. This sudden termination of multiple streams of support disrupted many long-planned efforts and, in some cases, left farmers holding the bill for purchases they had already made based on awards that were withdrawn. Farm garlic at Hannan Healthy Foods in Lincoln. MARK STOCKWELL FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE It's no coincidence that Hannan is the steward of a successful farm. He's always had close ties to agriculture. He grew up on his family's organic farm in Bangladesh, which was both a source of food and income. Hannan went on to earn a master's degree in wildlife biology, studying the country's ecologically critical coastal areas. In 2014, he gave up an opportunity to accept a Duke fellowship when his wife received a Advertisement Afsheen Hannan, the fifth-grade daughter of Mohammed Hannan, has an interest in growing and selling flowers. MARK STOCKWELL FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE He eked out a living at multiple minimum-wage jobs — Walgreens, Indian restaurants, and MIT facilities — before landing work in biotech, then as a lab manager at MIT. During the lean years, he yearned for the affordable organic food that was so accessible in Bangladesh. He wondered, 'How can I change my situation? How can I grow food here?' His aspirations grew: 'I need to get access to healthy produce. I realized that it is not only me. There are thousands of people here. They also do not have access.' This realization shaped his mission: 'Getting healthy food should be a fundamental human right. No matter whether you are poor or you are rich, everybody should have access to proper, healthy food.' Unsure about whether working a full-time job while running a farm would be feasible, Hannan spent the summer of 2017 volunteering mornings, nights, and weekends at Advertisement Volunteers sort organic greens at Hannan Healthy Foods farm stand in Lincoln. MARK STOCKWELL FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE The weeds were chest-high on the 2.5-acre barren plot, and there was no potable water for washing produce. 'When I went to see the plot with my kids and my wife, they were super scared. They were saying, Oh my God, what are you doing?! I was also not sure how to make this into a farm; there was literally nothing, [just] a pond [to] irrigate the farm — that's it, that was the only thing I had.' Hannan didn't have a car, so driving to the new plot he had leased from the town would be difficult. Yet, 'Instead of getting discouraged, I was looking at the opportunities. I came up with a plan: I'll grow veggies that do not need washing: bottle and bitter gourds, tomatoes, eggplants, peppers.' As he expanded, Hannan connected with the Lincoln community through an online forum. There, he met Tom Flint, an 11th-generation Lincoln farmer. Flint introduced him to Lincoln Land Conservation Trust trustee Jim Henderson, who let Hannan use his backyard sink and cure garlic in his barn. These were the first of many new friends who welcomed him to Lincoln. Mohammed Hannan of Hannan Healthy Foods farm stand in Lincoln inside the CSA shed where members of the program pick up presorted organic greens. MARK STOCKWELL FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE In 2021, Hannan expanded and leased a second 7.5-acre plot, using savings to buy a greenhouse, and obtained two high tunnels with funds from the Advertisement A member of the CSA program enters the shed where bags of presorted greens are packaged in reusable bags for pickup. MARK STOCKWELL FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE For Hannan, giving back is a core value. Even when he operates at a loss, he donates produce to local food banks. He launched a food donation initiative with Cambridgeport Public School, where his daughter attends, providing produce for its pay-what-you-can farm stand fund-raiser — helping fifth-graders attend the Farm School overnight camp — and donates 10 percent of his CSA proceeds and 15 percent of sauce sales to support the school — many students and parents also volunteer at the farm (his second CSA pickup is in Cambridge). CSA members Andrew Robinson and Hannah Frankel of East Boston walk out of a shed with bags of presorted organic greens. At right is stand owner Mohammed Hannan. MARK STOCKWELL FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE Most recently, Hannan's community rallied to support him when his wife died in March, putting in extra hours to lessen his load on the farm. This help, he said, has 'meant a lot to me.' Looking ahead, despite the termination of the food grant programs, the Food Hub will still buy produce from its 38 farmers, but, according to Hashley, 'it will be significantly less than [we] would have … were those funds in place.' She and her purchasing partners are urgently searching for ways to make up the difference. Organic greens are displayed at the farm stand at Hannan Healthy Foods in Lincoln. MARK STOCKWELL FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE She's frustrated by the loss of momentum — not only in direct support for small farmers, but also in building infrastructure, from production to distribution and transportation. 'Finally, the government was stepping up in the middle, saying, we're going to use our purchasing power to bridge this transition to help both farmers and people that we need to help feed. It was beautiful.' Advertisement Despite his family's grief and the precarious financial landscape, Mohammed Hannan brims with excitement when he speaks about his farm. 'If you walk in the tomato fields, you feel the smell of the tomato plants. This is wonderful.' He plans to plant fruit trees in undeveloped fields and transform the farm into a fully integrated, certified organic system with a closed-loop composting operation. Eventually, he hopes to find a successor. Presorted greens are packaged in reusable bags for pickup at Hannan Healthy Foods farm stand in Lincoln. MARK STOCKWELL FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE Hannan balances his full-time job and family responsibilities with 50 hours a week in his fields. The Trump administration's grant cancellations have disrupted his plans: 'My goal was to ramp up every season to see if I can do farming full time.' He asks, 'How can I go to the next step? How can I make a living from farming?' He's at a loss as to how to solve the problem of diminished sales. 'We can see if I can find more wholesalers. Or if we can sell more through the farm stand here.' Given his home and work responsibilities, he says, 'I have limited capacity.' Fortunately, Hannan's MIT job subsidizes his farm, and his volunteer community provides supplemental support. However, for many other small farmers affected by funding cuts, the consequences will be existential. As Hannan puts it: 'Small farmers like me … will definitely choose other options.' Visit the Hannan Healthy Food farm stand Saturdays and Sundays through October, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 270 South Great Road, Lincoln. Jocelyn Ruggiero can be reached at jocelyn@jocelynruggiero. Mohammed Hannan at the entrance to a high tunnel at Hannan Healthy Foods farm in Lincoln. MARK STOCKWELL FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE
Boston Globe
19-04-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Dighton-Rehoboth softball completes its tour of defending champions by defeating Division 3 champ Walpole
The defending Division 2 state champion Falcons (4-1) got offensive contributions up and down the lineup, with Izzy Moss, Mia Ribeiro, and Sara Marsella enjoying multi-hit afternoons and Emma Horrocks roping a two-run homer in the fifth inning. Dighton-Rehoboth's Mia Ribeiro attempts to slide in under the tag of Walpole catcher Abby Riley. MARK STOCKWELL FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE 'A lot of times, the story is Cam [Cloonan] and Haleigh [Kelley] and Emma, and those are our big power hitters,' said Holmes. 'It was nice to see that when some of our stronger hitters weren't hitting their stride, the rest of the team was able to come back and keep it moving.' Advertisement Facing Walpole (3-3), the defending D3 champs, would be daunting for most. But not for these Falcons. Related : 'Walpole was the finale of our state champ tour, right? We played [D1 champion] Taunton, then [D4 champion] Case, and now Walpole, so it was nice because we were battle-tested really early,' Holmes added. 'We were able to really fine-tune things early. Our defense and our communication was something we were able to lock in on really fast. That spoke volumes today. 'There are definitely some things we need to work on a little bit, but we really try to put these tough teams on our schedule so that as the season goes on, we've already worked on some of the things we need to work on.' Advertisement Dighton-Rehoboth's Edy Latour tracks a foul ball off her bat. MARK STOCKWELL FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE Dighton-Rehoboth's Sara Marsella smiles after advancing to third base. MARK STOCKWELL FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE Dighton-Rehoboth's Edy Latour struck out nine in a complete-game effort. MARK STOCKWELL FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE Sharlotte Stazinski started for Walpole. MARK STOCKWELL FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE Walpole's Sienna Kreuzer (6) makes the out on Dighton-Rehoboth's Sara Marsella (18) at third base. MARK STOCKWELL FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE Dighton-Rehoboth coach Katie Holmes (left), Walpole head coach Rachael Sprague, and their teams meet at home before first pitch. MARK STOCKWELL FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE
Boston Globe
15-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
WaterFire returns to R.I. for the 2025 season
Advertisement During full lightings, more than 80 braziers are lit up from Waterplace Park to the South Main Street Park. Lightings take place after sunset and the fires typically remain lit until midnight. The events also include onshore programming like performances and vendors, such as food trucks and artist tents featuring prints of their work, hand-poured candles, and handmade jewelry, among other goods. Get Globe Rhode Island Food Club A weekly newsletter about food and dining in Rhode Island, by Globe Rhode Island reporter Alexa Gagosz. Enter Email Sign Up Partial lightings can include braziers in any section of the river, and are more subdued. They do not have other onshore programming or food vendors. A Waterfire event overlooking the Waterfire basin in Providence, R.I. MARK STOCKWELL FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE/FILE The 'Starts At Sunset' series is a community gathering at the pedestrian bridge, where volunteers illuminate the bridge with the glow of five braziers. Meanwhile, the lower deck of the bridge is transformed into a dedicated performance area, which includes acoustic music, a fire spinner or flow artist, and other performances. Advertisement A basin lighting includes the circle of 22 braziers in the Waterplace Park basin and eight braziers leading up to the Providence Place Mall. Here is the full 2025 schedule. Thursday, May 15 — Starts at Sunset lighting Sunset: 7:59 p.m. Lighting ends at 10 p.m Saturday, May 31 — Full lighting Sunset: 8:14 p.m. Lighting ends at midnight Onshore programming and vendors open at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 19 — Partial lighting: RISD + Memorial Park area Sunset: 8:22 p.m. Lighting ends at 10:30 p.m. Friday, July 4 — Full Lighting: Celebrating Independence Day Sunset: 8:24 p.m. Lighting ends at midnight Onshore programming and vendors open at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 17 — Starts at Sunset lighting Sunset: 8:17 p.m. Lighting ends at 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9 — Full Lighting Sunset: 7:45 p.m. Lighting ends at midnight Onshore programming and vendors open at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 18 — Basin lighting Sunset: 7:41 p.m. Lighting ends at 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27 — Full lighting: Celebrating Rhode Island educators Sunset: 6:34 p.m. Lighting ends at midnight Onshore programming and vendors open at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4 — Full lighting in support of the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation Sunset: 6:22 p.m. Lighting ends at 11 p.m. Onshore programming and vendors open at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30 — Starts at Sunset lighting Sunset: 5:42 p.m. Lighting ends at 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1 — Full lighting: 13th Annual Salute to Veterans Sunset: 5:40 p.m. Lighting ends at 10 p.m. Onshore programming and vendors open at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31 — Starts at Sunset lighting Sunset: 4:25 p.m. Lighting ends at 9 p.m. Alexa Gagosz can be reached at
Boston Globe
12-03-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Hopedale drew up the play, and Patrick Madden delivered a layup to Division 5 boys' basketball final
Hopedale holds on for 57-56 win and is headed to Division 5 championship game! — Brendan Kurie (@BrendanKurie) Madden pump faked, drove baseline and contorted his body for a difficult layup with 3.6 seconds left. One defensive stop later, Hopedale was headed to the state championship, where it will face top-seeded Pioneer Valley (24-0) at the Tsongas Center this weekend (TBD). 'That's a play we've gone to all year with me in the corner,' said Madden, who finished with 14 points, including Hopedale's final two baskets. 'They covered me tight all game. They closed out pretty well and from there I had to make a play.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Hopedale's Patrick Madden (13) converts the winner with 3.6 seconds left in regulation at Taunton High. MARK STOCKWELL FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE Advertisement Hopedale coach Tony Cordani was sweating it out on the sideline. 'My wife has one of those Fitbit watches that monitors heart rate. I think mine would have exploded,' he said. 'Our kids just made plays.' While the Blue Raiders (22-2) led almost the entire game, they could never create any separation. Their largest lead of the game, 9 points, came late in the third quarter, but was answered by a 12-5 Westport run fueled by Boudria, who finished with a game-high 27 points. 'I felt like I was playing chess,' Cordani said. '[Westport coach Scot Boudria] would throw something out and we'd try to figure out how to go against it . . . I feel like I'm wiped out now after going back and forth.' Hopedale got an important contribution from senior Brayden Lewis, who scored 10 of his 14 points in the third quarter, mostly as the recipient of strong interior passing as he cut baseline. 'He made some great plays,' Cordani said. 'He's another senior who came up big for us. The seniors have a way of stepping up at this point in the season.' Advertisement Junior JJ Douglas hit three 3-pointers for Hopedale, including one with 5:02 left that put the Blue Devils up 53-46 with 5:02 to play, but Boudria responded with 5 straight points for the Wildcats (17-7). Cordani coached Hopedale to the state championship game five years ago, but the coronavirus arrived before the title game against Abington, which was canceled. Current assistant coach Dan Liberatore was a senior on that team and Manning was a seventh-grader following the Blue Raiders' tournament run. 'It's definitely crazy being in the stands and watching them go all the way and not even be able to play,' Manning said. 'Five years later it's great to have that opportunity and hopefully we'll make the most of it.' Westport's Owen Boudria (4) blocks a shot by Hopedale's Brayden Lewis (32) during the first half. MARK STOCKWELL FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE Hopedale's Patrick Madden (13) scores during the second half of the Division 5 semifinal. MARK STOCKWELL FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE Westport's Kingston Cordeiro (24) scores during the first half of the Division 5 semifinal in Taunton. MARK STOCKWELL FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE Brendan Kurie can be reached at
