Politics & Government
Kennedy Campaign Makes Stop at Medfield's Blue Moon Bagel Cafe
Joseph Kennedy III, candidate for the 4th Congressional district that now includes Medfield, stopped at Blue Moon Bagel Cafe Sunday morning.
Blue Moon Bagel Café owner Daniel Freedman and Joseph P. Kennedy III both take pride in their respective family businesses.
On Sunday, Kennedy – the latest member of the political family to run for office (he is a candidate for the newly-redistricted Fourth Congressional District that now includes Medfield) – stopped at Blue Moon to meet voters and talk to Freedman, a fourth generation master baker who has a connection to the Kennedy family.
“His dad made the 44th birthday cake for [President] John F. Kennedy,” said Linda Freedman outside the café while holding a copy of a 1961 newspaper article and photo of the enormous cake made by the Green-Freedman Baking Company in South Boston. “It weighed 500 pounds and used 600 eggs.”
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Linda said Daniel’s family campaigned for Joe Kennedy’s grandfather Robert F. Kennedy when he ran for President in 1968, which is one of many reasons the 2012 Congressional candidate added the Medfield café to his campaign trail.
Paul Yorkis, of Medway, also campaigned for Robert Kennedy and is now campaigning for the younger Kennedy.
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“I feel very strongly that Joe has the intellect and the vision and the compassion that our next Congressman needs to represent the new fourth Congressional district,” said Yorkis who, along with his wife Kathleen, recently hosted a Kennedy meet-and-greet at their home. “I’ve had the opportunity to talk with him at great length about a number of issues and you need smart people in Congress but you also need people who listen and people who have a heart and understand that the needs of people in this district vary a great deal; it’s a very well-educated district and at the same time there are many people in the district who are less fortunate who need help and need someone pulling for them and Joe gets it.”
Medfield was Kennedy’s first stop on Sunday as he continued on the campaign trail.
“What a great way to start a Sunday,” he said after grabbing a coffee and chatting with patrons inside Blue Moon. “Towns like Medfield are a great place to campaign because you learn a lot about what concerns people … People are still concerned about a number of issues – the overarching economy, jobs, education, the environment, health care – and I appreciate that.”
About 100 people were at the Blue Moon event, including Medfield High School students James Ensor, Olivia Foster, and Joseph Cabman.
“I think it’s a nice opportunity to come out and meet new people, and it’s a more productive way to spend my Sunday morning than just sleeping,” said Ensor, 18, who will vote in this year’s election.
“I’m here to show my support for Joe Kennedy even though I can’t vote,” said Foster, 16. “I think he upholds what is most important to Medfield, specifically education.”
Joseph Cabman, 17, is also too young to vote but saw the event as a good way to get involved.
He said, “I love helping with the campaign; I think he’s a great guy and I want him to win.”
