Core Brands Technologies Help Provide Independence for Wounded Veteran in New Donated Home

Smart homes can change lives. Just ask veteran MSG John Masson and his family, who were recently handed the keys and iPad to their new specially adapted smart home at a dedication ceremony held in Southern Pines, North Carolina.  After losing three limbs in Afghanistan in 2010, Masson was selected by Building for America’s Bravest, a partner program of the Gary Sinise Foundation’s R.I.S.E. program, to receive a smart home that aims to ease daily challenges and afford him independence. With new technologies donated from top manufacturers including Core Brands, almost all aspects of the home can be completely controlled through the family’s smartphones and tablets wherever they go.

“This is truly a blessing and it’s changed our lives,” Masson said of his family’s experience in the home. “I’m thankful every day for everyone involved, from the builders and workers on site to the companies that donated equipment and materials, to Gary Sinise himself who helped get this amazing house built in less than 10 months. The technology is fantastic and it helps me do a lot of things much easier, even something that seems simple like changing a DVD. That could be a challenge for me alone, but now through the ELAN g! iPad app and the Kaleidescape movie server I can change what I’m watching without needing to get in my chair and cross the room, saving me time and frustration. I’ll never be able to thank everyone enough, but I’ll continue to do so at every opportunity.”

Among the many accoutrements in the home are retractable cabinets and shelving, automated lighting, window shades and security systems, transfer benches, whole-home audio and video and more. Nearly $130,000 (retail value) of technology equipment was donated and installed, and the brain that ties it all together is an ELAN g! system that gives Masson and his family easy control.

The home includes two large ELAN in-wall touchscreens and an iPad to make it easy for the family to manage three climate zones, 29 motorized window shades, a full Lutron RadioRA 2 system, two doors with electronic locks, security, surveillance, and multi-room audio and video including a professional home theater, affectionately referred to as the man cave. With an Epson 6030 series projector, Vutec screen, five Sunfire CRS-3 ribbon speakers mounted on the wall, two Sunfire SubRosa subwoofers and six additional Niles speakers for surround, this man cave provides the ultimate home viewing experience for the Masson family.

“The man cave is one of my favorite things about the house,” Masson said. “Anything that makes my life easier or more convenient is a huge help for both functionality and my state of mind. It all comes back to the wonderful people who made this all possible, who’ve given me back a lot of freedom to live comfortably. It was challenging to have guests over since I came back in 2010, and that’s something a family needs. Now we can have our family and friends come to the house without worrying about complications or space and I can set up all the music, lights and anything else form my iPad.”

According to Joel Berrettini, the project’s lead technology integrator and owner of IT and Media Solutions, working on this home is the least he could do. “I would do anything for these men, and I will continue to do so as long as the opportunity is available. Providing wounded veterans these homes, to regain a sense of normalcy and independence, takes a lot of partners and a lot of cooperation. The product donations from Core Brands and our other valued sponsors make these homes possible and we cannot thank them enough.”

Using the latest technologies from ELAN Home Systems, Niles Audio, Sunfire, Lutron, QMotion and others, Berrettini designed a system that gives Masson as much control as possible to stay in charge of his home. In fact, Masson’s home will soon be one of the first in the world to use the new ELAN 6x4 HDMI matrix to deliver HD video throughout the home. Berrettini is expecting to install two of the matrices in early 2015.

From installing touchpanels at a height comfortable for John and using occupancy sensors in key areas to a one-button setup to turn on the home theater, fast access and ease of use is the key. Additionally, Berrettini gave John and his wife some peace of mind by setting the system so the kids can only access controls for the lights, media and window shades. Remote access was also a top consideration, which is simple with the ELAN g! system. The family can now use the ELAN g! mobile app on nearly any mobile device to check their cameras, security, lights and HVAC from anywhere in the world.

Berrettini installed the home’s technology with help from local integrator Sandhills Home Theater, who provided unexpected free labor to help speed up the installation.

Masson has served in the US Army in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm, in the Indiana Army National Guard, the Ohio Army National Guard and the 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne), and was deployed during  Operation Iraqi Freedom an Enduring Freedom. In 2010, while conducting Village Stability Operations in Afghanistan, Masson stepped on an improvised explosive device (IED) and lost an arm and both legs.  Thanks to his training, he was able to assist his fellow Medical Sergeant in treating his wounds – actions which saved his life.  He’s received both the Purple Heart meda

Dock To Dish to Open Florida's First Community Supported Fishery in Key West in February 2015

Nearly 90% of all the seafood consumed by Americans is imported and nearly 50% of these imports are from aquaculture sources*. 

The fight to bring fresh and healthy local seafood back to American consumers now expands from one traditionally strong commercial fishing center to another.

Dock to Dish (www.docktodish.com), Long Island’s original Community and Restaurant Supported Fishery, headquartered in Montauk, New York, today announced plans to open Florida’s first ever Community Supported Fishery in Key West in February 2015 in conjunction with Key West restaurateur Chris Holland and the Florida Keys Commercial Fishermen’s Association (www.fkcfa.org).

Dock to Dish’s Chris Holland (left) and Sean Barrett (right) celebrate the launch of Dock to Dish Key West.

The goal of the new enterprise, according to Dock to Dish founder Sean Barrett, is to bring the health benefits of locally harvested fish and seafood back to local consumers while helping to strengthen the in-state commercial fishing industry. “This is the first small step in what we hope will become a Florida-wide enterprise that brings commercial fisherman, consumers, and restaurant owners together in a cause that will improve the community’s health and businesses. And do so deliciously!" 

Barrett said that he picked Key West to be the second Dock to Dish market for one reason, “Chris Holland. We get contacted regularly about all kinds of things, but when Chris reached out we immediately knew this was a special situation. He has been working in Key West on solving the same problems we are working on in Montauk, where all too often what we see on the menus and in the grocery stores comes far from our local waters. Chris is solution-driven and speaks the language of ‘fresh’ fluently.”

According to Holland, owner of the Stoned Crab Restaurant, “Americans need to take a stand now against the large Asian and South American fish farms that are negatively impacting our commercial fishing industry and poisoning unsuspecting consumers. People think that the fish they are buying in supermarkets is safe, inspected, and healthy — when it is none of these things.  In fact, nearly 90% of all the seafood consumed by Americans is imported and much of the fish that is imported comes from sources that are barely regulated or often completely unregulated.”

Holland and Barrett understand what they are up against. “Yes, this is a case of two small Davids taking on Goliath, but let’s never forget that David in fact slew Goliath.”

Dock to Dish Key West co-founders include commercial fisherman Tony Osborn (left) and local chef Paul Menta (right), pictured here sorting a fresh haul of Florida Stone Crab and Gulf Lobster!

According to Barrett and Holland, the new Dock to Dish Key West Community Supported Fishery will be launched in support of and in conjunction with the Florida Keys Commercial Fishermen’s Association, under the leadership of executive director Bill Kelly, who today noted,  “We are proud to be a part of this historic enterprise to bring fresh seafood back to Key West and strengthen the livelihoods of our commercial fishermen and our island economy.”

“Seafood is a renewable natural resource and cooperative efforts between fishery managers and stakeholders have kept all key indicator species in the Florida Keys at sustainable levels,” Kelly said. “Every year, our fleet harvests responsible amounts of seafood, which allows for stocks to rebuild themselves. None of our commercially-important species are overfished, including shrimp, lobster, stone crab, kingfish, Spanish mackerel, gag, red and black grouper, and mangrove, yellowtail and mutton snappers. Now, through Dock to Dish, these fish can be enjoyed by Keys’ residents and visitors again.  The in-state movement to reclaim our heritage starts here in Key West.” 

Initial plans call for Dock to Dish to launch its Community Supported Fishery memberships by June 2015 at a Dock to Dish Seafood Market that will open at the IBIS Bay Beach Resort, 3101 North Roosevelt Boulevard in Key West on February 14, Valentine’s Day.

Outreach to local restaurants to support the cause and consumer memberships will begin immediately thereafter. “Key West will get to know their fishermen again. Just like it used to be. They will be able to pick up their weekly subscription of seafood at the market. It’s just 20ft away from our dock,” Holland explained.  “Our goal is to stop the industry from sending our fresh, locally harvested and sustainable seafood abroad for someone else to enjoy. We need to be eating the tastiest, safest seafood in the world, not the worst.”

Details on the Community Supported Fishery membership packages are being finalized now and will be announced shortly.  Memberships will be available in June 2015. The Dock to Dish Seafood market is open to all members of the public starting February 14, 2015. For more information, please visit docktodish.com for updates as they become available.