Falmouth Living by the Sea | Fall 2023 Issue

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The first-ever Harvest House Tour highlighted the horticultural creativity of Falmouth Garden Club members.

A historic property starts a new chapter with expertise from The Valle Group.

Models sport the latest fall and winter fashions from local boutiques. 80

At Brick Kiln Farm, it’s all about cultivating kindness.

A Shingle Style gem overlooking Buzzards Bay fulfills a homeowner’s lifelong yearning to live by the water.

Friends of Nobska Light achieves its dual mission to preserve the aging structure and also make it accessible to the public.

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The culmination of Falmouth’s Holidays by the Sea Weekend, the town’s Christmas parade turns

Playing the nation’s fastest growing sport in Falmouth.

For a small town like Falmouth, the number of excellent bakeries defies the odds.

by Betty Wiley

VENETIAN

Delight in the Here and Now!

As we head into the last few months of the year, I pause and reflect on how the year unfolded, and I feel so blessed. This year we met many fascinating people who graciously welcomed us into their homes and businesses; several of them are featured in this Fall/Winter issue. It’s truly an honor and a joy to connect with people who are passionate about their craft and their community. I’m fortunate to have the opportunity to do what I love and share the stories of the wonderful, warm and compassionate people within the Falmouth community. The creation of Falmouth Living involves the work of many people, bringing the saying “It takes a village” to life. This issue is the result of a yearlong effort, where every piece of the puzzle had to fit perfectly.

I am delighted to receive your feedback on the magazine, whether it’s hearing that you received the magazine, enjoyed reading it or were thrilled to be featured. Please continue reaching out to share your thoughts or suggest potential features. I’m eager to hear from you if you know of a compelling local topic or person who you think we should profile.

I am incredibly grateful to everyone who has contributed to the success of Falmouth Living—our devoted advertisers, talented writers and photographers, engaged readers, the wonderful Falmouth community and our followers on social media. From the bottom of my heart, thank you!

The holidays delight us with joyful gatherings of family and friends, combining comforting traditions with the beginning of new ones. As we reflect on traditions old and new, may we open our hearts to what matters most—the spirit of the season. May the spirit of the holiday season be with you all year.

Remember, the possibilities are endless, and the adventures are timeless, so come join us in exploring Falmouth.

Wishing everyone a delightful holiday!

Suzanne Ryan Publisher Falmouth Living suzanne@falmouthlivingmag.com

Photo by Derrick Zellmann

Makeup by Lacey Strong

Cream faux leather top by Drew, styled by Lisa Sue, Story.

Making a Magazine

One of the last things I do for every issue of Falmouth Living is to look over the Table of Contents. Making sure that the pages listed correspond accurately with their respective articles gives me a chance to reflect on the issue as a whole. This is a small part of assembling the magazine, but it illustrates an important goal we strive for in every issue: to authentically represent and celebrate the Falmouth community and the people who live, work and play here.

In this issue, the stories range from pickleball mania to saving Nobska Light, from fall fashion trends to the early 1900s real estate developer behind Queen’s Buyway (curiously named Forris Norris). Always, people are our focus. There’s Tim O’Connell, who just opened a second Tommy’s Place for kids with cancer; Teri Navickas, the owner of Brick Kiln Farm, who initiated a pay-it-forward system; the myriad people behind the Falmouth Parade, an event eagerly anticipated every December for the past 60 years. Let’s not forget the innovators and the artists: Jeannie and Hadley Dombrowski, who not only run the clothing store Green Eyed Daisy but now also have their own gluten-free baking operation; the Falmouth Garden Club, tireless green-thumbed individuals who spruce up the town; and a host of entrepreneurial bakers and pastry makers who never let us down when we’re craving something sweet and homemade.

Much like a patchwork quilt, where different squares of fabric are sewn together to form a bed covering, each story in Falmouth Living has a unique focus but once they fall into place in the magazine, common threads among them are easy to spot—ingenuity, selflessness, talent and chutzpah, to name a few.

As another year comes to a close, we at the magazine thank you for your interest in and support of Falmouth Living

Best wishes for a happy and healthy holiday season!

Janice

Janice Randall Rohlf Editor Falmouth Living

contributors

CHRIS KAZARIAN is a freelance writer who enjoys telling stories about people who are making an impact nationally, regionally and here on Cape Cod. His writing has appeared in Hemispheres magazine, the Boston Herald, and the Providence Journal among others.

DERRICK ZELLMANN is a commercial and editorial photographer based between Boston and Cape Cod. His passion for portraiture has brought him diverse opportunities to photograph a wide range of subjects including celebrities, artists, professional athletes, heroic firefighters, Academy and Emmy Award winners, and models.

SARAH E. MURPHY Sarah’s love of writing dates back to her Falmouth Heights childhood. Her first story was published when she was a sixth-grader at Morse Pond School. She spent twelve years as a reporter/photographer for Wicked Local, working as an independent journalist since then. Her byline has appeared in newspapers

and magazines across Cape Cod. She is also a social justice activist and essayist. Helping people tell their stories is one of Sarah’s professional and personal passions. She and her husband, Chris Bennett, live in Falmouth with their rescue cat, Stallone.

MEG COSTELLO is the research manager at the Falmouth Historical Society’s Museums on the Green. She edits the Museums’ monthly blog, “Untold Tales of Falmouth.”

BETTY WILEY is a well-known freelance photographer and instructor on Cape Cod who specializes in landscape and nature photography. Her work has appeared in numerous local magazines and guidebooks.

LISA CAVANAUGH lives in Yarmouth with her husband and writes about the lifestyles, occupations and interests of Cape Codders. She grew up in New England and spent summers on the Cape. After college, she worked as a Hollywood story editor, producer and writer.

is an

who has covered everything from World Series, Super Bowls, Stanley Cups and NBA championships to the Masters golf tournament, Boston Marathons, America’s Cup yacht races and World Cup soccer matches. Beyond fun and games, Bill’s most memorable and proudest moments have been with his family.

DAN CUTRONA’s photography has appeared in South Shore Home, Life & Style, Gulfshore Life, House Beautiful and Better Homes & Gardens. Cutrona divides his time between Miami and Cotuit with his wife and three young children.

JEANNE PETRIZZO is a copywriter based in Sagamore Beach. When she isn’t researching or writing ads and articles, she enjoys long walks on the beach, especially in Falmouth.

PETER JULIAN has had apprenticeships with renowned photojournalists Constantine Manos of Magnum Photos and Lisa Kessler. His commercial work is inspired by national architectural photographer Dan Cutrona. Previously, he was on staff at Boston College.

BILL HIGGINS

award-winning former newspaper sports editor and writer

PUBLISHER

Suzanne Ryan suzanne@falmouthlivingmag.com

EDITOR

Janice Randall Rohlf janice@falmouthlivingmag.com

ART DIRECTOR

Alison Caron

Alison Caron Design alison@falmouthlivingmag.com

COPY EDITOR

Nan Fornal

ADVERTISING

Suzanne Ryan

WRITERS

Lisa Cavanaugh, Meg Costello, Bill Higgins, Chris Kazarian, Sarah Murphy, Jeanne Petrizzo

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Dan Cutrona, Deb Foley, Peter Julian, Betty Wiley, Derrick Zellman

Buzzards Bay Overlook, Falmouth | Builder: McPhee Associates of Cape Cod | Architect: John Dvorsack, AIA

OUR TOWN

CUTTING THE CLUTTER

A professional organizer helps create order out of chaos.

BY LISA CAVANAUGH

Many years working in television and as a textile designer gave Nicole Gabai a solid foundation for what would become her next career. “I learned a lot of organizational skills and techniques from being in corporate environments as well as in a live-action production,” says the Falmouth resident and owner of B. Organized! “Little did I know that I was establishing all these systems that would eventually lead to my own business.”

While in the entertainment industry in New York, Gabai juggled jobs as a production manager, producer, prop buyer,

set decorator, actor and model. Needing another side gig led her to providing organization services. “This was in 1999, so nobody really knew what “professional organizing” was, and my first clients were a little embarrassed about hiring me,” says Gabai. “Little by little, I created a great client base in New York so that I could support myself while I studied acting and went on auditions.”

In 2005, a kitchen fire in the New York City apartment above hers became the impetus for relocation to the Cape. “The water from all the fire trucks came into my apartment and made it

Builder: Anastos Enterprises Interior Designer: Interior Design Concepts, Inc. Photography: BluWater Photography

uninhabitable for about a month,” says Gabai. “I had a wonderful client in New York who had a summer home in Falmouth. She said, ‘Why don’t you go stay at my house on the Cape?’ She handed me her keys, I rented a car and came here—I never left!”

Gabai immediately loved the community and quickly connected with the Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club, as well as with local artists and shop owners. “I realized that Falmouth had everything necessary for me to open my business here,” she says. “I also felt there were enough potential clients who would probably be interested in my services.”

Now, nearly 20 years later, Gabai is a published author and seminar leader, runs an active virtual organizing service, and attends to the organizational needs of a varied clientele in the Falmouth area. “Many of my clients are year-round residents, but I also help people who are seasonal,” she says. “There are definitely systems that work well for preparing, opening and closing down summer houses.”

With colorful illustrations, success stories and useful tips, Gabai’s book, The Art of Organizing, outlines ways to manage the mess in every area of your home.

Through her Custom Closet Solutions services, Gabai offers help setting up and designing a personalized closet to accommodate each client’s needs.

Gabai strives to create intuitive systems for people that make sense for their lifestyles and help them prioritize their belongings. She will assist with nearly every room in a house, from kitchen cabinets to bedroom closets; her specialty is homes and offices. “I have found that no matter how much people move over to digital records, there is still a lot of paper we have to deal with.”

Her virtual services are particularly useful for homeowners planning a move. “Together on Zoom, we can create milestone dates, and they show me everything that needs to be packed and transported to the new location.”

Overall, Gabai’s approach is a holistic one. Her book is called The Art of Organizing, an Artful Guide to an Organized Life , and that title encapsulates her outlook. “At heart, I am an artist, and I feel that every room is connected to the next room and there is a connection between the space you live in and how you manage and organize your time,” she says.

Vintage pieces are transformed into unique and distinctive furnishings.

Reclaimed and Re-loved

A vintage-furniture restorer connects the past with the present and future.

BY LISA CAVANAUGH

MICHELE LACAMERA HAS ALWAYS LOVED OLD THINGS. “I imagine the history, where they came from,” says the Newton, Massachusetts, native and owner of Vintage Reclaimed in Falmouth. LaCamera spent her summers on the Cape, and once she moved full time to Falmouth a decade ago, she began to transform the blended collection of furniture in the home she shared with her boyfriend.

“I needed to make this compilation of Colonial and country pieces work in a beachy Cape house,” says LaCamera. She noted that the antiques were constructed with quality wood and craftsmanship. “Vintage furniture is made so well; new stuff won’t stand the test of time the way these older pieces will.”

The results of her efforts appealed to everyone who saw them. Pretty soon, friends and acquaintances were asking if she could do that for their own much-loved hutches, tables and dressers. To supplement her background in art—she studied interior design and painting at the New England School of Art and Design—LaCamera enrolled in some classes dedicated to refurbishing furniture.

“I began by selling items on Facebook Marketplace, and then I got a website created and started to post on Instagram, which is a great tool for me,” she says. A client—either a designer or homeowner—will reach out to her with images of a piece they hope to see revamped by LaCamera. “They ask me if something is worth saving,” she says. “They also often show me

Michele LaCamera refinishes a dresser for a client in her home workshop in Falmouth.

photos of the room, rug and draperies and want me to suggest what might work in the space.”

LaCamera then endeavors to match the customer’s preferred style with changes in hardware, structure and finishes. People often hope for a more transitional or modern look to an older piece. “I can make it look fresh and clean, as if it has been painted like this for a long time,” she says. “The furniture can end up looking completely different when I’m done.”

One of her favorite techniques is mixing styles of paint. “I take regular flat latex paint and add things to it to make it more like chalk paint, which is easier to sand and finish,” she says. “I will use everything. It just depends on the piece. Enamel, for example, has a gloss that looks wonderful on more modern furniture.”

While her work is skillful and precise, LaCamera feels that this kind of high-level upcycling can still be budget-friendly. “You don’t have to spend six figures outfitting your home,” she says. “Revived furniture can be affordable and really cool.”

One of the best aspects of her work is helping her clients relate to past generations. “I like connecting someone to their grandmother’s piece,” says LaCamera. “Even if something is really beaten up, nine times out of ten, I can make it work beautifully in their home. So it can be this really nice bridge to a family member who has passed on, and they can also save the furniture for future generations.”

LaCamera works with many types and eras of furniture, carefully selecting paint colors, hardware and finishes to match and complement the aesthetic of her clients’ homes.

Gluten-free cookies galore are prepared, baked and beautifully packaged by motherdaughter team Jeannie and Hadley Dombrowski, below.

CAPE COD COOKIE JAR Mother of Reinvention

JEANNIE DOMBROWSKI AND HADLEY

DOMBROWSKI , the mother-daughter duo behind Main Street’s Green Eyed Daisy boutique, have been collaborating in the kitchen since Hadley was a little girl. Their latest joint venture, Cape Cod Cookie Jar, evolved organically, in more ways than one.

“I grew up accustomed to incredible cooking and baking because of my mom, and she taught me both from a very young age,” Hadley recalls. “I absolutely loved that time we spent together.”

But when Hadley was diagnosed with celiac disease and learned she was gluten intolerant, she could no longer indulge in her favorite treats. She found herself looking for alternatives to satisfy her sweet tooth and was underwhelmed by the offerings.

“I suddenly had so many limitations. I wanted to broaden that horizon, and I was determined to do it with my mom, knowing she’s more than capable [as a cook],” Hadley says.

Jeannie is quick to deflect the compliment, crediting the ingredients for the positive outcome.

“It’s hard to find gluten-free baked goods that don’t have a sandy texture. Certain flours just literally fall flat,” she says.

During the pandemic, the two began testing recipes featuring Hadley’s own experiments with combining different types of gluten-free flours, including almond and arrowroot, to add height and flavor to the baked goods. After several attempts, they achieved what they believed to be success, validated by the enthusiastic reaction from Hadley’s two sisters.

BY SARAH E. MURPHY | PHOTOGRAPHY BY DEB FOLEY

“We didn’t tell them they were glutenfree, and when they couldn’t tell the difference, that was the true testimonial for us,” Jeannie says.

IF YOU GO…

Green Eyed Daisy is located at 199 Main Street, Falmouth, 508-495-0403. For more information, follow them on Facebook and Instagram. greeneyeddaisy.com

While she and Hadley pursue certification for their home kitchen, they have been using kitchen space at the Falmouth Elks Lodge on Palmer Avenue to bake large batches of cookies, available at Green Eyed Daisy in packs of three, and their signature brownies, which are sold individually. The high-fiber/high-protein cookies include oatmeal raisin, chocolate chip, white chocolate macadamia nut, chocolate peanut butter, peanut butter and jelly, and Doctor’s Orders, named for Hadley’s dad, a cardiologist at Cape Cod Hospital, with dates, dark chocolate, walnuts, coconut, flax and chia seeds. The three-layer brownie features an oatmeal base with a chocolate brownie center and ganache topping. Calorie information and ingredients are listed on each package.

The baked goods join Green Eyed Daisy’s collection of homemade soy candles, which Jeannie and Hadley also make themselves in an effort to offer an eco-friendly alternative to massproduced candles.

Cape Cod Cookie Jar is also part of Jeannie and Hadley’s vision to create gift baskets featuring local products and ingredients from Main Street retailers and merchants, such as Ben & Bill’s Chocolate Emporium of Falmouth, which has been their neighbor for the past 16 years and also when they previously owned a store on Martha’s Vineyard. All of the dark and white chocolate in their baked goods is sourced from Ben & Bill’s.

Additionally, Cape Cod Cookie Jar is a way to attract potential new clients to Green Eyed Daisy.

“Falmouth in the winter is very slow for retail, and operating a brick-and-mortar business can be challenging,” Jeannie says. “We have a great team and we don’t like to lay people off, so we’re always trying to find creative ways to be productive throughout our slow season.”

“We’re so grateful for the support we receive from the Falmouth Village Association, the Chamber of Commerce and the Falmouth community. They’re very supportive of all the shops on Main Street.”

FRUITFUL LABOR

The LastingCranberry’s Legacy

BY SARAH E. MURPHY

PHOTOGRAPHY BY

BETTY WILEY

FEATURED IN HOMEMADE AND STORE-BOUGHT SAUCES , cranberries play a starring role in the fall and winter as part of holiday meals across the country. But here in Falmouth, they’re part of the everyday table- and landscape, appreciated all year long.

Much like the similarly scarlet, but sweeter, strawberry, the cranberry’s contribution to the culture and economy of Falmouth is intertwined with its history. And while that impact has changed over the years, the significance has not. Cranberries are iconic to Cape Cod, along with sandy beaches, lighthouses and clam shacks. To visitors, they signify the idea of the Cape,

but to those of us who call this peninsula home, they’re a tart, tangible reminder of the past, harkening back to the simpler days of childhood.

European settlers dubbed them “craneberries” because the bird-like flower of the crop reminded them of the head and bill of a sandhill crane. Long before the settlers consumed the fruit to ward off scurvy, Native Americans were the first to harvest “sassamenesh,” as it was known to the Algonquin and Wampanoag tribes, for medicinal, culinary and other everyday purposes. High in antioxidants, these multitasking sour berries were used in many ways—to prevent illness, to make poultices and to make dye for textiles.

Retired sea captain Henry Hall, a Revolutionary War veteran, is credited with successfully cultivating the fruit in Dennis in 1816, after discovering his bogs grew better when sand blew over them. Despite skepticism from some of his fellow growers, he embraced the technique and many followed his lead. As the saying goes, the rest is history.

The popularity of cranberry farming took off, prompting the founding of the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association in 1888, one of the country’s oldest farmers organizations. The

CCCGA was originally established to standardize cranberryselling practices and today serves as a network, representing approximately 330 cranberry farmers across Massachusetts. The traditional method of dry harvesting is currently used for fresh cranberries, comprising about five percent of the state’s harvest, while the other 95 percent is harvested wet, for juice, sauce, dried cranberries and other products.

According to The Book of Falmouth, published by the Falmouth Historical Commission to celebrate the town’s tricentennial in 1986, and edited by the late Mary Lou Smith, the pivotal role of cranberry farming in Falmouth can be evidenced at its peak in the early 20th century by the length of the school year. By 1910, public schools, then known as “common schools,” operated on an abbreviated schedule to accommodate the harvest season. Students who lived in the cranberry district began their fall term two weeks later than their classmates, time that they made up at the end of the school year when their peers were enjoying summer vacation. But these students were far from common, for their family’s contributions to cranberry exportation resulted in putting Falmouth and Cape Cod on the map.

Supply and demand, industrial and societal changes, and

Harvesting cranberries by Coonamessett Greenway Trail in East Falmouth, featuring 500 acres of wetlands, which at one time were converted to cranberry bogs.

competition from growers in other states all had a negative impact on the local industry, making it less viable for small farmers, many of whom relied upon the next generation of family for workforce. Until the 1990s, Massachusetts was the top cranberry-producing state in the country. Today, it is second to Wisconsin.

You can get a hands-on education about the evolution of the local cranberry industry by visiting the Coonamessett Greenway Heritage Trail in East Falmouth, featuring 500 acres of wetlands, which at one time were converted to cranberry bogs. However, the removal of native vegetation and the addition of sand for cranberry farming proved to be detrimental to the wetlands. The area has been restored in recent years to serve its original purpose as a sinuous river course and herring run. Visiting the trail is a reminder of the human impact on the natural world.

No matter the time of year, cranberries are a Cape Cod favorite. You can find them as a staple ingredient at your local

farmers market, in everything from jams and soaps to vinaigrettes and ice cream. Have you tried the Cranberry Bog flavor of ice cream at Somerset Creamery? There’s a reason it’s a perennial favorite among visitors and locals alike.

While the impact of cranberry farming has changed over the last 200 years, the legacy remains a permanent aspect of Falmouth’s culture. Active bogs are still operated by commercial growers, and from late September through November, if you’re lucky, you just may happen upon a harvest. You’ll know as soon as you see cars pulled over on the side of the road, the same way locals brake for sunsets and rainbows. No matter how many times you witness this quintessentially Cape Cod slice of life, it never gets old. Especially on a crisp, fall day, when the bright-red berries pop against the backdrop of a clear blue sky. Captivating and hypnotic, it’s like peering through a window to the past.

THE KING OF QUEENS BUYWAY

BY MEG COSTELLO

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF FALMOUTH HISTORICAL SOCIETY

FORRIS W. NORRIS, A REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER, was knocked for a loop in April 1926 when Falmouth voters approved the Cape’s first zoning bylaw. This action left his Queens Buyway project on Palmer Avenue teetering on the edge of limbo. Beginning on May 28, the half-built shopping complex would be sitting in a residential zone. It would never be allowed to open, unless Norris could secure a “grandfather” exception. To do that, he’d have to complete the project before the law went into effect. The clock was ticking. Could he make it across the finish line?

The Canadian-born Norris had shown drive and gumption in the past. In 1915, at the age of 30, he’d made a splash in Cambridge with his “Larchwood” development. In the 1920s, he jumped into the Cape’s hot real estate market and pulled off a triumph with Oyster Harbors in Osterville, among other projects. His use of psychology contributed to his success.

Forris W. Norris, age 31. From the Cambridge Sentinel January 27, 1917. Above: Queens Buyway, c1975.

“All selling is based on psychological reactions,” Forris Norris once told his fellow brokers. The main product they had to sell wasn’t made of earth, wood or stone. It was the mystique that clung to a building or a piece of land.

At Queens Buyway, Norris was planning to entice shoppers with branch divisions of Filene’s and Hurwitch Brothers, two popular Boston department stores. It was a smart move aimed at attracting summer visitors from the city. But, using his insight into psychology, Norris knew that these customers would also crave a liberal dose of Cape Cod ambiance. Under his guidance, architects Whitten and Gore produced a design that used gray wood and many-paned windows to evoke a quaint vision of old Cape Cod. They even provided a cute windmill for the roof!

Norris might have known that, in the socalled “good old days,” businesses had often flourished alongside stately homes in Falmouth. In the 1840s, John Jenkins ran a whaling supply store in an unsightly building next to his house

The Queen’s By-Way Inn stood where Inn on the Square is now. This 1950 map enticed visitors to come and stay at the “closest hotel to the Falmouth depot.” Note the spelling variation used for the Buyway.

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on Hewins Street. Shubael Hatch operated a tavern around 1810 at his home on the corner of North and West Main. There had been a livery stable on the site of St. Barnabas Church, and Benjamin Sanford’s home at 57 Main Street had been the place to go for hand-crafted cabinets, coffins and hats.

However, Norris had no time now for such trivia. He had to act swiftly to protect his investment.

Forris Norris set up floodlights around the work site. He brought in extra construction crews and made them work around the clock. He quickly exhausted the supply of concrete blocks on Cape Cod, and switched to using locust wood posts from Quincy for the foundation. When those ran out, he used cypress posts rushed down from Lynn. Every night he caught a few hours’ sleep at the Elm Arch Inn.

Norris once said that to be successful in real estate, it was best to have the tenacity of a bulldog. He had it, and it paid off. On May 28, Queens Buyway opened its doors as the youngest grandfathered business in the new residential zone.

After this victory, Norris stayed in Falmouth for two decades and closed many deals, keeping a high profile with the Cape Cod Board of Realtors. Norris also served for years on the Cape Cod Mosquito Control Commission, working alongside Dr. Lewis Weeks, the author of Falmouth’s zoning bylaw. Any hard feelings between the men were overcome by their common hatred of mosquitoes.

Post World War II, the Buyway was known for its nightlife. The site of the present-day Inn on the Square was occupied by the Queen’s By-Way Inn and later the Driftwood Club, seen here, as well as a club called Sonny’s.

The prized corner location, c1965. This unit was home to Filene’s from 1926 until 1947. There was once a windmill atop the cupola.

Photos by Murphy Foto Imagery

Photo by Jon Caron Art

Late in 1945, Forris Norris teamed up with William Peters, the chairman of Falmouth’s Board of Trade. They sent a cable to diplomats in London, proposing that the new United Nations headquarters be located at Camp Edwards. The invitation was a long shot that failed, but it spoke volumes about the man and his boldness.

In the 1950s, Norris retired and moved to Winter Park, Florida, where he died in 1965.

After nearly a century, Queens Buyway stands as a monument to Forris W. Norris and his refusal to quit. The next time you visit the Buyway, look for the sign that says “1926.” That was the year when Norris finished his project and beat the zoning clock.

Forris W. Norris turned an old sea captain’s home at 125 Shore Street into condominiums. The idea to call the property “Ye Olde Counting House” probably came from Norris himself.

The 18th-century home of Squire Joseph Palmer was demolished in the early 1920s. It was replaced by the Buyway’s parking lot on Palmer Avenue.

Decorated for the Season

The first-ever Harvest House Tour highlighted the horticultural creativity of Falmouth Garden Club members.

BY LISA CAVANAUGH

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BETTY WILEY

There is a particular pleasure in admiring the interiors of other people’s homes. That’s compounded when the rooms include imaginative floral creations of skilled local gardeners. Guests on last fall’s Harvest House Tour, presented by the Falmouth Garden Club, were treated to this double delight.

“We had such creative teams working at the different homes,” says Suzanne Buzanoski, communication chair for the Falmouth Garden Club. Founded more than 90 years ago, the organization maintains public gardens throughout town, hosts instructional workshops and encourages the study of and interest in gardening and horticulture. Another important aspect of the all-volunteer club is to assist in the protection and conservation of Falmouth’s natural resources. “We offer lots of support for each other with gardening advice and tips,” says Buzanoski.

For this inaugural Harvest House Tour, presented in cooperation with Falmouth’s Museums on the Green, seven homeowners generously welcomed the talented design teams into their houses to plan how to decorate each one. “The teams studied the existing décor of their respective house, and then went from there,” says Julie DePalma, the club’s membership and mentoring cochair. The teams viewed the homes in the spring and began to put their design concepts together at the end of the summer. They spent up to a week prior to the tour placing and arranging floral decorations in each home. As much as possible, the flowers, greens, branches and other plant materials were sourced from garden club members and local florists. “Everything just came together naturally,” says DePalma. One house on the tour, a circa 1750 structure known as the Benjamin Sandford House, was resplendent with autumnal

Hues of orange and butternut yellow abounded in the creative decorations crafted by members of the Falmouth Garden Club.

Above: A whimsical owl greeted visitors at one of the water-view houses on the tour.

Below: Using flowers, greenery and other natural elements, Garden Club volunteers designed striking arrangements for host homes.

shades of burgundy, orange and forest green. The floral arrangements were designed to complement the home’s aesthetics as well as to be in sync historically with the era of the house. “We definitely try to be accurate with what would have been available to an 18th-century homeowner,” says DePalma. “So, for example, chrysanthemums were available during the 1700s, and they were used in the arrangements.”

Jim and Kathryn Johnson were thrilled to have the Falmouth Garden Club transform their home, which they had previously operated as a bed-andbreakfast for many years.

“My friend Patty Barton is a club member, and she said that people are very interested in old homes such as the Benjamin Sandford House,” says Kathryn Johnson. “She encouraged us to participate as hosts, and she ended up being the one who decorated my house.”

Above and right: The Benjamin Sanford House was a pleasant and historic stop on the tour, resplendent with autumn foliage, pumpkins and flowers appropriate to the era of the home.

Taking care of a historic home is a privilege, continues Johnson, “but it’s also a lot of work. So it was wonderful to have the team come in and decorate.” The garden club members added something colorful to almost every room on the first floor, from mantel displays and tabletop vases to wall wreaths. An appreciative Johnson says, “I don’t know if I would be able to do it myself, but it’s given me thoughts about other holidays and what we could do in the home with flowers.”

Garden club volunteers were on hand at every one of the seven participating homes to greet tour guests, control the flow through the homes and answer questions. The houses on the tour—spread from downtown near the green to closer to Shore Road—included various architectural styles and eras. In each one, the design teams worked to create cohesive color schemes that celebrated the season, using material that included mini pumpkins, fall leaves, straw stalks and evergreen sprigs.

Welcoming details, such as a charmingly set dining table and freshly baked pies, created an aura of warmth and homeyness for the tour guests.

Garden club members found inventive spots for their fall arrangements.

The decorators utilized the existing décor and furnishings of the host homes and augmented them with carefully curated wreaths and arrangements.

The tour was very well attended, and much of the revenue raised from the event was earmarked for the Falmouth Garden Club’s scholarship program. “Our scholarship fund supports higher education for high school and trade school graduates to pursue land preservation, oceanography or similar environmental studies,” says DePalma. “The overall aim of the Falmouth Garden Club is to do a lot for our community and share the beauty of our town.”

While the next Harvest Home Tour is not yet on the calendar, the positive response from hosts and guests may encourage the garden club members to make it a semiregular event. “An awful lot of work went into this,” says DePalma, “but it was certainly a great success.”

To learn more about Falmouth Garden Club projects, events and membership opportunities, visit falmouthgardenclub.org

The delightful autumn designs spilled out to the exterior areas of each home on the tour.

E r m i n e L o v e l l R e a l E s t a t e L L C i s a t i m e -

h o n o r e d F a l m o u t h i n s t i t u t i o n W i t h

n e a r l y a c e n t u r y o f e x p e r i e n c e , w e h a v e

e s t a b l i s h e d o u r s e l v e s a s t r u s t e d e x p e r t s

i n t h e i n d u s t r y , k n o w n f o r o u r

u n w a v e r i n g d e d i c a t i o n t o o u r c l i e n t s

W h e t h e r y o u a r e b u y i n g , s e l l i n g , o r r e n t i n g ,

o u r c o m m i t m e n t t o d e l i v e r i n g t h e b e s t

r e s u l t s a n d p e r s o n a l i z e d s e r v i c e r e m a i n s a t

t h e h e a r t o f o u r b u s i n e s s .

O u r r i c h l o c a l h i s t o r

Character in Cataumet

A historic property starts a new chapter with expertise from The Valle Group.

BY LISA CAVANAUGH

PHOTOGRAPHY BY

DAN CUTRONA

When the homeowners of a circa 1880s summer home, in the village of Cataumet, first imagined living yearround on the Cape, they knew they would want to renovate their house. The first task would be to address the awkward addition from the 1960s.

“The property had a lot of charm, but the newer part of the house was completely out of character with the old home,” says Alex Stewart, project manager with The Valle Group, the family-owned construction company that handled the project. “Part of our project was the removal of that back side of the house.” The homeowners had engaged the services of architect Gerrit Frase, and Stewart feels that Frase’s design for a new addition to replace the dated space was a beautiful solution that honored the aesthetic of the original structure.

The work that The Valle Group undertook was not precisely a historic preservation but rather a modernizing of the home for year-round living with an awareness of the historic character of the house. Choosing the strategy for this balancing act between old and new was a team effort. “We work closely

The circa 1880s home has been revitalized with new tones and finishes on both the exterior and the interior.

Modern appliances, convenient built-ins and transitional lighting fixtures complement the kitchen and dining area, which still retain their 19th-century ambiance.

The newly built outdoor shower is topped with a pergola that reiterates the similar roof line of the restored three-season room.

with both the client and the architect on projects, but ultimately the clients are the ones who have to look at something and say yes or no to it.”

“When it comes down to matching details that were on the original home, however, that’s the kind of thing that we look at very carefully,” adds Stuart. “We pointed out unique details that set this house apart, and it was our job to make sure that detail carries over into our new work.” He gives an example of a little round-over on the corner board of some of the moldings and on the exterior trim. “That is pretty unique, so we needed to make sure we carried those throughout.”

The Valle Group is renowned for its commitment to sustainability, and Stewart notes that the woods they used for the project were not among those that are of concern for deforestation. “We had to reframe the whole back porch ceiling to match the front porch, and everything was fir and pine, which are harvested sustainably,” he says.

Despite tearing down and rebuilding a newly imagined three-season porch room, the footprint of the house did not change dramatically. “We did add quite a bit of square footage,” says Stewart, “but that was because the original addition was only a single story.”

Above: Designed with cheerful mosaic tile, a soothing gray color scheme and half-globe pendant lamps, the downstairs bath leads directly to the outdoor shower. Below: The Valle Group worked to keep the integrity of the home’s original design, such as the wall of windows in an upstairs bedroom.

A white and wood open-railing staircase winds its way up three levels, centering the home’s interior.

In keeping with the plan to preserve the charm while updating the space, the construction team left several historical details in the home, including the original staircase, numerous built-ins, the existing decorative screen door, and a (fully restored) wraparound farmer’s porch. Meanwhile, the outdoor living space was greatly expanded. In addition to the newly designed, light-filled three-season room, a stunning custom outdoor shower with a pergola was added, which is accessed from an interior bathroom.

Streamlined and elegant, the common areas offer ideal spots for gathering, and four bedrooms provide plenty of space for not only the couple and their grown children, but also for the many visitors who are eager to join the family throughout the year. The homeowners opted to eschew the services of an interior designer, making their own selections for cabinetry, tile and other finishes.

“Oftentimes, The Valle Group assistant project manager will help our clients to make selections on all of the items that weren’t specified by the architect,” says Stewart, who explains that this

Working with a relatively small footprint, the architects and builders created unique storage solutions and multipurpose areas, such as an under-stair cupboard and a TV and fireplace wall in the living room.

can be a considerable feat, involving many time-sensitive decisions. “In this case, the client did a great job not only making great selections that really added to the aesthetic of the home, but she also did so in a timely manner, which allowed us to stay perfectly on schedule, which is something we are mindful of.”

Both the interior and exterior of the house display a beautiful melding of the original look with a contemporary feel. “The style is very evident, but the home doesn’t have any of that cramped feel that sometimes plagues older homes,” says Stewart. “The design from Gerrit allowed us to really open up the space, even as we remained faithful to the time period the house was built in. It is a very nice combination of modern and historic.”

Tucked within a delightful village neighborhood and within walking distance from the water, this property is not the only period home in the area. “There are definitely other houses of a similar era nearby, but I would say this one is a particularly good example of a late-19thcentury Cape Cod home,” says Stewart. For the homeowners, the care taken by The Valle Group to keep that historic essence alive while transforming their living space resulted in the perfect place to call home.

Builder: The Valle Group

The completely renovated three-season room is a bright and functional addition to the home. Below: This custom stone shower adds another modern and functional touch to the historic home.

Architect: Gerrit Frase

FRESH

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DERRICK ZELLMANN

MODELS: HADLEY & KATIE DOMBROWSKI

MAKEUP: LACEY STRONG

HAIR: HEADLINES SALON, ALYSSA IVORY

LOCATION COURTESY OF CAPE COD WINERY

STYLED BY JEANNIE & HADLEY DOMBROWSKI, GREEN EYED DAISY; LISA SUE SMEDBERG, STORY.; EMMA NOYES, MAXWELL & CO; NEDA SULLIVAN, FALMOUTH JEWELRY, AND DENISE & MEAGHAN QUINN, THE GILDED OYSTER

Flattering and feminine

Marie Oliver 100% silk dress made in North Carolina with metallic lurex threading and flutter detail at neck and arm. Vintage Armani beaded belt and vintage Lisner gold vermeil floral bracelet. All available at Green Eyed Daisy.

FALL FASHION

The color red. Full skirts. Coats—from tailored to statement-making. These are just a few of the fashion trends to look out for this fall. Falmouth’s upper-crust clothing and jewelry boutiques have you covered, in more ways than one!

14K yellow gold hoop earrings with freshwater pearls and 14K yellow gold necklace with diamond pavé heart charms by Liz Beth Jewelry. Available at Maxwell & Co.

Pleated and printed midi length dress by Milva Mi. Leather shoulder bag in plum color by II Bisonte. Silver Mary Jane–style shoes by Augusta. All available at Maxwell & Co.

Effortless and versatile chartreuse GoSilk button down made from 100% silk habutai, paired with GoSilk wide-angle printed statement pant in 100% silk fuji, vegetable-dyed, long-line, oversized New York leather jacket equipped with braided flap pocket detail. Vintageinspired French Kande gold-clad and gunmetal medallion necklace made in Los Angeles, and tassel-detailed, Italian-made leather bag with bamboo handle. All available at Green Eyed Daisy

Above: 18K yellow gold necklaces by Alex Sepkus New York. The “Cross” necklace boasts stunning tsavorite and diamond inlays, while the “Shark” pendant adds a touch of sophistication with its sparkling diamonds. Available at Falmouth Jewelry Shop.

Left: Silky soft viscose dress in a floral print has a ruched bodice, smocking on the back, adjustable straps and hidden side zipper. The pleated skirt completes the A-line shape. By Caballaro. Available at story.

Turquoise- and coral-adorned hemp canvas pants and bustier top, paired with an oversized embellished hemp canvas blazer, all made in Paris by Mes Demoiselles. Accompanied by Juliane hand-painted and locally made wool hat with velvet ties, hand-stitched Nahua clutch using metallic threading and hand-stitched Nahua turquoise earrings, and locally handmade sterling sliver Bora necklace scattered with turquoise and gold. All available at Green Eyed Daisy

Flattering and versatile four-way stretch microfiber, wrinkleresistant white button down by Lyssé New York, shown under a primrose relaxed-fit cashmere cardigan by Lisa Todd, paired with Italian loosefitting Repreve certified vegan down OOF WEAR fuchsia coat, 100% sustainably made using plastic bottles; distressed relaxed fit Pistola high rise jeans made in California from 100% sustainably sourced recycled materials, Nanku statement high top sneakers with studded sole and cushioned insole made in USA, and a locally handcrafted chalcedony sterling silver Bora ring with gold detailing. All available at Green Eyed Daisy

Colorful and contrasting knit pullover mohair sweater by Isabel Benenato layered with asymmetrical raw edge blouse by Serien Umerica. Lace down puffer vest by Herno. Mid-rise slim, straight denim jeans by SLVRLAKE. Handmade sneakers with black sparkles by Golden Goose. All available at Maxwell & Co.

Left: The Gilded Oyster’s hammered “Shackle” bracelet, sterling silver and 14K yellow gold wraps, unisex. Hand-forged, hammered sterling silver and genuine Swiss blue topaz “Sophia” dangling earrings by E. L. Designs. Available at The Gilded Oyster

Micro-corduroy emerald green trench coat with royal blue lining by Escorpion. Marbled print mesh top with soft sheen by Sita Murt. Wide-leg denim pants with front inverted pleats by WearItBe. Available at story. Glass of Sparkling blanc de Blancs: Barb’s Bubbly (dry sparkling white) Cape Cod Winery.

Green Eyed Daisy’s own luxurious fuschia cashmere relaxed-fit cardigan paired with a cotton and cashmere blend boho bomber jacket by Lisa Todd, complete with a hand-crocheted sleeve, and Lysee New York premium four-way stretch ponte jogger pants, Streets Ahead vintageinspired heavy chain leather clutch made in California, French Kande sterling and gold-clad amethyst medallion necklace handcrafted in Los Angles, sterling silver and rose quartz locally handcrafted Bora ring with gold detailing. All available at Green Eyed Daisy

Above: Mariner collection by local designer Steven Edward at The Touch. These bracelets shine with the brilliance of bezel-set diamonds, set in 14K yellow handwoven cable. Available at Falmouth Jewelry Shop.

Printed silk sleeveless trapeze top with necktie that can be worn in front or back. By Flora Bea. Ecru faux leather single-button blazer, fully lined, with slant pockets. By Drew. Micro-corduroy flareleg pants with faux round pockets on the front. By WearItBe. Available at story.

Floral embroidered coat features panels of floating yarns between crepe de chine and tulle, lined with a mint color mesh layer and spread-collar silk-paneled blouse and wool midi skirt with front pleats by Dries Van Noten. Lace leggings by Sanctamuerte. Woven leather combat boots by Henry Beguelin. Puffy leather Prisma triangle bag by Marni. All available at Maxwell & Co.

Wrap dress made of silky soft viscose featuring blouson sleeves. May be maxi or midi length depending on height. Exclusive print inspired by an Italian afternoon. By Caballaro. Sterling silver and agate necklace enhanced with etched teardrops of sterling sliver and copper bimetal, by Renee Adams Design. All available at story. Glass of Mermaid Bubbly Sparkling Rosé Cape Cod Winery.

Jacquard wool blend boatneck sweater by Transit. Relaxed pull-on wool blend trousers and printed sweater coat by Tandem. Handmade woven leather crossbody bag and wool fedora with velvet and leather band and decorative stitches by Henry Beguelin. Chunky heeled boots with double zippers by Officine Creative. All available at Maxwell & Co.

SPECIAL THANKS TO

Erika & Pete Orlandella, owners of Cape Cod Winery, for opening their home and winery to us.

4 Oxbow Road, E. Falmouth 508-457-5592

capecodwinery.com

VISIT THE FOLLOWING BOUTIQUE SHOPS TO GET THE “LOOK”

Green Eyed Daisy

199 Main St., Falmouth

508-495-0403 greeneyeddaisy.com

Falmouth Jewelry

225 Main St., Falmouth 508-548-0487 falmouthjewelryshop.com

Maxwell & Co.

200 Main St., Falmouth 508-540-8752 maxwellandco.com

story.

352 Main St., Falmouth 774-763-5451 storyfalmouth.com

The Gilded Oyster

155 Main St., Falmouth 774-763-5742 thegildedoyster.com

Benevolent

At Brick Kiln Farm, it’s all about cultivating kindness.

BY SARAH E. MURPHY

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BETTY WILEY

Blooms

ALTHOUGH TERI NAVICKAS, OWNER OF BRICK KILN FARM, never set out to be a flower farmer, it’s hard for her to imagine any other life.

Teri and her husband, Mike, moved to Falmouth from Connecticut in 1985. Her background was in applied design; his was in horticulture. The couple joined forces to leverage their skills and operated a landscape business out of their first East Falmouth home, boasting nine trucks and 22 employees. They specialized in custom, high-end work, primarily in Osterville, New Seabury and Cataumet.

Eleven years ago, Teri and Mike purchased what is now Brick Kiln Farm from Constance Barrows. She and her husband, Lewis, had operated under the name Barrows Farm until his death in 1986. According to Teri, Mrs. Barrows recognized the Navickases’ appreciation for the rich farming history of her property and felt confident it would be in good hands with them.

“We asked if we could borrow her shovel, and we dug into the soil; it was so beautiful,” Teri recalls. “She could have sold the farm for a lot more, but when she realized we had agricultural intentions, she sold it to us. We loved the history of this area and the people. We respected the older generation of farmers and always appreciated being in their good graces.”

To that end, after Mrs. Barrows’s funeral in 2008, her family spent time privately touring the 2.25-acre property as part of their grieving process. “They really wanted to be in this space,” says Teri. “That was something we were strongly in favor of, so we invited them to walk around the farm, reminiscing.”

The Navickases continued their run as successful smallbusiness owners, building a barn to store their equipment over the winter.

Brick Kiln Farm is known for its majestic dahlias. Here, farm owner Teri Navickas clips some for a bouquet.

only full-time employee, amid the

that will be part of fresh flower arrangements for sale.

can you not love being surrounded by beautiful things?” she says.

Leanna Karoblis, Navickas’s

dahlias

“How

Then life happened—Mike was diagnosed with kidney disease. They decided to sell the landscape division. In 2008, Teri donated one of her kidneys to her partner in work and life, and Mike underwent transplant surgery. “The operation gave him a reasonable quality of life for almost 12 years,” Teri says.

After Mike’s untimely passing in 2019, Teri decided to downsize further, selling most of the equipment and keeping only one employee—Leanna Karoblis. Hence, their frequently used hashtag: #twogirlsplanting.

Mike’s spirit can still be felt at the farm, through the wisdom

he shared—in particular, his commitment to organic practices— and the various signs he offers on a regular basis. Teri and Leanna have found so many heart-shaped rocks, they’ve started a collection in Mike’s honor.

Teri’s revised focus is now on freshly harvested flowers for intimate weddings and other private events. Brick Kiln is best known for its majestic dahlias, sought after by couples seeking locally sourced blooms for their special days.

Leanna, whose late father was a lobsterman, had no horticultural experience before she started working for the

Navickases. Like Teri, she learned by doing.

“If she left, I’d have to close,” Teri says with a laugh, although it’s clear she isn’t necessarily joking. “Leanna’s so intuitive. Her attention to detail and her connection to the natural world are amazing.”

For the past 15 years, commuting from Manomet to Falmouth has been part of the job for Leanna, so she works Monday to Friday to avoid the weekend bridge traffic. For her, the drive is a small sacrifice, and the trade-off is well worth it.

“Every day is different, because nature always throws a little

wrench into the works, so you have to just go with the flow,” she says. “How can you not love being surrounded by beautiful things? The bugs and the birds. Especially on a harvest day. It is truly magic being here in the early morning.”

Teri agrees. “On mornings in the dahlia field, we start at six a.m. because it’s so hot, and the quality of the flower is better when we’re harvesting. So, we’re literally waking up bees that are sleeping in the flowers,” she says. “Everybody lives side by side. The stronger the ecosystem, the healthier the plants are, and the less you have to manage. It becomes a self-supporting system.”

For Teri, the theory also applies to business. While she is grateful for the life she has created, she knows firsthand the challenges for a small-business owner. Therefore, she enthusiastically agreed when fellow grower Jen Irving, of Jenny’s Edibles and Blooms and Green Dragon Farm, suggested that instead of competing, flower farms should collaborate by focusing on one particular area, for sustainability and mutually beneficial purposes. The result is a small but mighty network of businesses that just happen to be owned by women, such as Liana Rasmussen of Shearwater Farm & Floral, Astrid Brodahl of Astrí Floral Studio, and Lisa O’Connell of Cape Cod Flower Truck.

“We all have different connections, so instead of taking business away from each other, we refer clients to each other,” Teri says. “Jen can come to me and say, ‘I’ve got a wedding coming up. What do you have for orange dahlias?’ This way, we

In addition to colorful bunches of fresh-cut flowers, lavender bundles and Navickas’s wood-fired pottery are for sale in the barn.

all make some money selling the thing we grow best.”

September is Brick Kiln Farm’s busiest month for weddings, and by mid-November, Teri and Leanna switch gears to create the rustic, handmade holiday wreaths for which they’ve also become known. The wreaths are available through the first week of December or until they’re sold out, which usually happens first.

In addition to “Fresh Flower Fridays,” a weekly sale of freshly harvested bouquets and mixed arrangements, Brick Kiln Farm operates a pay-it-forward program inspired by an act of kindness. During the pandemic, several plants were stolen from the honor-system farmstand, on more than one occasion, prompting someone to leave an envelope with $20 to put toward the financial loss, with a note that read, “This is all I have.”

Teri was so moved by the anonymous donation, she decided to use the money, and the experience, as a teachable moment, inviting her customers to nominate someone who could use a smile in the form of a fresh bouquet, which she promised to deliver. The gesture resonated, and the program

has taken off, sustained by the generosity of Brick Kiln Farm customers. Some make weekly donations, while others donate the change from their transactions. It has become so popular that Teri had to enlist volunteer David Ward to help with deliveries.

For Teri and Leanna, it’s about cultivating kindness and allowing people to be vulnerable as a way to foster a sense of community.

“We try to function on a karmic level here, whether it’s being a steward of the natural world, or acknowledging the human side with the pay-it-forward system,” Teri says.

“There’s a balance that we feel like we strike.”

IF YOU GO…

Brick Kiln Farm is located at 254 Brick Kiln Road, East Falmouth. For more information, follow the farm on Facebook and Instagram.

The farm’s bounty on display on a “Fresh Flower Friday,” a weekly sale of freshly harvested bouquets and mixed arrangements.

Living the

A Shingle Style gem overlooking Buzzards Bay fulfills a homeowner’s lifelong yearning to live by the water.

Dream

BY JANICE RANDALL ROHLF

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAN CUTRONA

Even with the skills of ace design and construction teams and creative ideas of one’s own, sometimes houses are simply beyond renovating, or it doesn’t make good economic sense to save them. Often, though, you can keep something special from a house even when making the decision to tear it down and build new. In this case, it was the view.

“I can’t get enough of it; it’s therapeutic,” says this homeowner, describing how the mesmerizing expanse of Buzzards Bay unfolds to the horizon from so many different vantage points in her new house. Nearly all of the numerous and generous windows look out to the ocean. “The view is the one thing from the original house that we saved.” Occupying the end lot on a road in one of Falmouth’s prized coastal neighborhoods, surrounded by conservation land, the house basks in privacy, too.

Once the decision was made to start fresh, a team was assembled, with Falmouth-based architect John Dvorsack and builder Rob McPhee of the Cape’s McPhee Associates taking the lead. Joining them were residential design firm Chango & Co.,

interior designer Cynthia Brox and McPhee interiors specialist Pamala Bruni-Holick.

In appreciation of the topography, Dvorsack sited the house high on a bluff, where it’s out of the flood zone and also at the best spot for capturing panoramic views. The four-bedroom, six-bath classic Shingle Style house is a showcase for Dvorsack’s singular attention to detail and the type of custom flourishes that make it stand out from the pack. The variety of rooflines— architectural artistry at its best—complements the home’s curated mix of materials and textures, both inside and out.

Indeed, the collaborative team’s carefully considered choices are on full display throughout the home, from the spiral staircase and strategically placed showers outside, to the variety of paneling and trim detail inside. Design decisions, big and small, speak to both the expertise of the professionals and the inspired input from the homeowner, who, for instance, asked that the rooftop cupola be based on an old one she admired on her drives to Chapoquoit Beach. The architect obliged.

The house’s glassy and welcoming front entrance provides a peek across the family room to the ocean beyond. Right: A refreshing dip in the saltwater pool is always a nice idea.

Round, porthole-style windows, including this one in the primary suite’s outdoor shower door, are a subtle nautical design theme in the house.

“We wanted something that was vernacular in the design of the Cape, not trendy,” shares the homeowner, “but a little more transitional in terms of touches that were more current.” The black windows with cream-colored trim, for example, add a tasteful contemporary twist to the yellow-cedar-shingled house set on a natural-stone veneer.

The homeowner had a similar classic-but-current vision for the house’s interiors. “I wanted the interiors to be the best supporting actor to the view,” she says. “Serene and calm. And cool [as in stylish].” The first-floor living space, sheathed in nickel-gap paneling painted a crisp white, exhibits the types of choices—a neutral palette, touches of navy, sophisticated prints—that were made to complement the view, not to distract from it. There is a subtlety to the nautical details, like shiplap, grass cloth and round, porthole-style windows, that lightly suggests, rather than screams, beach-house living.

Likewise with the selection of wall décor. In this house, the comfort of familiar things includes the art. The homeowner’s eclectic collection, amassed over time, is an extension of her

A supporting actor to the panoramic view of Buzzards Bay, the family room’s interior design uses neutral tones and textures with navy accents. Right: Shiplap paneling used throughout the home makes this breakfast nook extra cozy.

The lower level has a mudroom and a full recreation room, both conveniently located near a two-room outdoor shower and bath. Below: The central built-in storage bar in the dining area has a mini fridge and custom drawers built for glassware, wine and other bottle shapes.

personality. “I’ve always wanted to live on the water,” says the homeowner. “Wherever I went, I would collect shells or artwork that had water in it.” Two original paintings by renowned Provincetown landscape artist Anne Packard take pride of place in the house, joined by other original paintings, plus prints and photographs, nearly all of which reference the water. Many were purchased years, even decades, ago.

Not all the furniture is new, either. “It’s better to mix the old with the new,” says Brox, who favored all-natural fabrics for custom window treatments as well as for reupholstering a few family-heirloom furniture pieces. “Buy new, and refurbish, paint and recover old; pick up things from an antiques shop,” she adds. “You do it all to make something a home.”

As a beach house and weekend retreat, “the house is meant to be shared,” says the homeowner. Looking out on a saltwater pool, the family room spills over into the kitchen, with the dining area part of the open-concept first level as well. A clever, central builtin storage bar in the dining area has a mini fridge and custom drawers built for glassware, wine and other bottle shapes. A pantry, which serves as a coffee station, is separated from the breakfast nook by a pocket door.

The homeowner’s adult children have spaces of their own on the top floor, including two bedrooms—one with an en suite

Above: Nicknamed “The Three Bears Room,” this cozy space with with vintage quilts and old oars on the wall, lends a nostalgic touch to the new home. Left: A combined outdoor shower and half bath on the way up to the pool has a Kohler navy trough sink, Kohler polished chrome faucets and Ceramica Tapestry Istanbul porcelain floor tiles.

This family room with deck shares the upper level with a bedroom, a bedroom suite and a full hall bath, all with ocean views.

bath—a full bath and a family room with a deck. Custom-built features on this level and throughout the home include built-in cabinets, benches with drawers, dressers and closet systems. The main-level primary suite has a vanity nook and a full bath that includes an indoor shower with a skylight as well as an entry to an outdoor shower that has a porthole window view of the bay and a door out to the pool.

Guests of the family are embraced by the overarching casualness and warmth of the home, too. “We wanted guests to feel comfortable, not to feel like they were intruding,” says the homeowner. With a bedroom, a sitting room and a full bath, the main-level guest wing offers privacy within shouting distance of the central gathering spaces.

“All my life, whenever I had dreams, I would see myself in a coastal community,” says the homeowner. With this exceptionally wrought, comfortable and family-oriented beach house, her dreams have come true.

Architect: John Dvorsack Architect

Builder: McPhee Associates of Cape Cod

Interior Design: Chango & Co., McPhee Associates, Cynthia Brox Interiors

Kitchen Appliances: KAM Appliances

Vanity Stone: Cape Cod Granite & Marble

Landscape Architect: Centerline Studios Inc.

Landscape: The Growing Company

Above: Swaddled in creamy whites and sand-hued tones, the primary suite bedroom is a sanctuary from which you can step right out to the patio and pool. Right: Stone steps lead to the patio and from there a spiral staircase leads to the second floor.

Family and guests enjoy relaxing on the patio and cooling off in the saltwater pool, an option to the ocean just a staircase away.

Lighthouse Station is a rare opportunity to own prime water view property in the vibrant community of Woods Hole. Thirty-nine, two and three-bedroom residences are now available for pre-construction sale.

Duplex units with views of Vineyard Sound, Martha's Vineyard and The Elizabeth Islands

Common areas include a beautifully appointed sitting room and game room with TVs and Fireplaces.

Artist Rendering

Brokers Welcome

Saving the Light

Nonprofit group Friends of Nobska Light achieves its dual mission to preserve the aging structure

and also make it accessible to the public

CHRIS KAZARIAN

PHOTOGRAPHY

BY

BETTY WILEY

“Every lighthouse needs a keeper.”

These words are etched into a brick on a recently installed granite and concrete walkway that leads up to a lighthouse that has been a fixture in town since 1829—Nobska Light.

While the U.S. Lighthouse Service and the U.S. Coast Guard have been the keepers for much of the structure’s 194-year history, that changed in 2014.

“For a few decades, the Coast Guard has been turning its lighthouses over to nonprofits and municipalities, and, if neither of those is available, to private individuals because they no longer need the structures as navigational aids,” explains Kathy Walrath, a nurse from Chicago who

launched a second career in the nonprofit sector not long after she retired in 2015 and moved to Falmouth full time with her husband, Thomas.

“I went from saving people to saving lighthouses,” she says.

The current keeper of this lighthouse? Everyday citizens like Walrath who dubbed themselves Friends of Nobska Light roughly a decade ago when the Coast Guard announced its decision to deaccession the station. It led to a grassroots effort and the formation of a nonprofit whose mission was not only to preserve the aging structure that sits at the top of a winding road, but also make it accessible to the public.

“It’s quite the sight,” Walrath says referring to the majestic views of Vineyard Sound from the top of the 40-foot-tall cast iron lighthouse during a private tour in the beginning of July. “It is beautiful.”

Sights like this—and the landmarks that offer them—are worth preserving. And the Friends of Nobska Light has certainly done that, raising $3.5 million toward a $5 million capital campaign that began in earnest in 2018.

That was the year after Walrath joined its board of directors and the year before she became its president in 2019. “I was only 55 when I retired from the University of Illinois and I needed to do something to keep myself busy,” she says. “It was good timing. Nobska needed some help and they needed someone to lead the organization. And I had a passion for it.”

Under her leadership, Nobska Light has undergone a major facelift, starting with a fresh coat of paint six years ago. “It had a significant amount of rust and was getting to the point where it could have been extremely compromised,” says Walrath. “It was covered in a white cloth. They took it down to the metal and repainted the whole thing.”

Two years later, the keeper’s house started to show its age, or as Walrath says more bluntly, “It was falling apart. It had lost so

Among the impressive upgrades that the Friends of Nobska Light have made is a compass rose that points true north, situated in the middle of granite pavers between Nobska Light and the keeper’s house.

Nobska Light’s beautiful location at the convergence of Vineyard Sound, Nantucket Sound and Woods Hole Passage is second to none.

many shingles and you could see rot in parts of the house.”

Those warts and blemishes have all been removed thanks to the help and expertise of Dellbrook | JKS, the general contractor hired to do the renovation, which began in earnest in 2020, and which was largely completed last year.

By the beginning of this summer, the property was ready to accept visitors to view the impressive upgrades that the Friends of Nobska Light had made—a freshly paved circular driveway; a refurbished garage; new seasonal plantings; a compass rose that points true north, situated in the middle of granite pavers between Nobska Light and the keeper’s house; and interpretive panels that detail the accomplishments thus far and the fundraising work still to be done.

The Friends passed a major hurdle when it received an occupancy permit in July, allowing visitors into the keeper’s house, a two-story building that houses a museum, complete with a gift shop, on the first floor, and offices and meeting rooms on the second. The lighthouse is available for tours, and the museum is open to visitors interested in learning about the history of the structure, the science behind the light emitted by the fourth order Fresnel lens, and the importance of lighthouses to maritime operations.

The larger obstacle to be tackled was finding a permanent keeper for Nobska. In May, the U.S. General Services

President of Friends of Nobska Light, Kathy Walrath, seen here with Billy Jurczyk, spearheaded the impressive renovation of the property, which now allows visitors into the lighthouse and keeper’s house, a two-story building that houses a museum, complete with a gift shop, on the first floor.

Tours of Nobska Light include access to the very top of the tower via a three-story spiral staircase, then a ladder up to the fourth story’s light and incredible view.

Administration (GSA) issued a notice that the four-acre property was available not to the highest bidder, but to the most suitable one.

Over the past decade, the Friends of Nobska Light has certainly made the case that it deserves that responsibility—to be this lighthouse’s keeper in perpetuity. The nonprofit was working with the Town of Falmouth to make that argument on paper, submitting an application prior to the July 15 deadline.

That was to be followed by a site visit this fall from the National Park Service, which will make its recommendations to the GSA. The government’s requirements are ones the organization is prepared to fulfill—maintain the station and have it available to the public for “educational, park, recreational, cultural, or historic preservation purposes,” as the administration’s press release states.

These are changing times for structures like Nobska Light. It started in 2000 when the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act led to 151 lighthouses in America being sold or transferred out of federal ownership. Eighty-one have been transferred at no cost to eligible organizations and 70 sold by auction to the public, generating nearly $10 million in revenue.

Visitors to Nobska Light learn about the history of the structure, the science behind the light emitted by the fourth order Fresnel lens, opposite, and the importance of lighthouses to maritime operations. They can take home a keepsake from the brand-new gift shop.

Nobska Light is one of five currently being offered through the public benefit route. All are in New England with the nearest, Gurnet Light, in Plymouth.

While the lighthouses are no longer needed as originally intended—as navigational aids for ships—they are needed by communities like Falmouth. “In the Midwest, where I’m from, there are a ton of lighthouses, but most you have to get to by boat and you can’t go see them up close,” Walrath says. “Nobska is so unique, you can drive right next to it and get out and touch it.

“And this is such a beautiful location between the convergence of Vineyard Sound, Nantucket Sound and Woods Hole Passage,” she continues. “It really is a sign of strength and community—the coming together of the water and the people. The building is an icon. The keeper’s building is iconic. The tower is iconic. And the vista is iconic. It is a unique lighthouse to so many people.”

Register for Nobska Light Tower Tours! Open from June 29 through October, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. For tickets, go to eventbrite.com/e/ nobska-light-tower-tour-tickets-657613458557.

Tom my’s Place A SECOND HOME FOR

BY SARAH E. MURPHY | PHOTOGRAPHY BY PETER JULIAN

I FIRST MET TIM O’CONNELL in June of 2018. I was working as a reporter, and Tim had recently purchased the former Elm Arch Inn, located off Main Street in Falmouth, with the ambitious goal of transforming it into a dream-vacation home for children fighting cancer. He envisioned it as a carefree place where they could stay with their families for a week of normalcy and fun, offering a temporary escape from the harsh routine of hospital visits. It would provide their loved ones and other people in their support system a much-needed respite as well.

A real estate developer from Quincy, Massachusetts, Tim spent his childhood summers in North Falmouth, but when he set out to make his vision a reality, he didn’t know many people in the community, so he began by introducing himself to individuals and organizations, seeking assistance to publicize and support his mission. Although securing the location was the first, and perhaps the most crucial, step in the process, it was only the

beginning. The renovation, maintenance and general upkeep of the future Tommy’s Place would require funding beyond Tim’s capability.

Tim asked me to write a story, and I told him I’d gladly pitch it to my editor. Soon after, on a muggy Saturday morning, we sat on a curb in front of the formerly majestic property, which had seen much better days and needed more than a little TLC, and he explained the inspiration for his dream.

When Tim discovered he had a vacancy at his Martha’s Vineyard house during the summer of 2007, rather than extend the invitation to friends or family, who were accustomed to such an experience, he decided to present the opportunity to someone he felt would appreciate it even more. Tim was referred to Grifyn Sawyer, an eight-year-old cancer patient from Lynn, Massachusetts, and he invited the Sawyer family to spend a week at his home. Shortly after that unforgettable vacation, Grifyn died.

Welcoming its first guest family in June 2023, the former Fernbrook Inn, in Centerville, is the second location for Tommy’s Place, which has its flagship site in Falmouth.

Although he never met Grifyn in person, Tim was inspired by the boy’s courage, and they formed a profound connection. Motivated by the memory of his young friend, and the joy Tim felt when he opened his door—both literally and figuratively—to someone in need, Tim realized that a seed had been planted in his head, and a mission was born.

Tommy’s Place welcomed its first family in summer 2021 and has operated at full capacity ever since, with a long wait list. It is named for another person who made a lasting impact on Tim, the late Tommy Leonard, founder of the Falmouth Road Race and cofounder of the Falmouth Walk.

Tim is overwhelmed but not necessarily surprised by the generosity of the Falmouth community, including private donations, fundraisers and charity events, and good oldfashioned lemonade stands. These and other events have been organized by Rockland Trust, Little Anchor Boutique and the St. Barnabas Helping Hands Summer Camp, to name just a few. The response has not only helped make Tim’s goal a reality, but also enabled him to dream even bigger.

Each room features a different theme to suit an array of guests’ interests. Clockwise from above: The bright and bold Lego Room. The room where Audrey Hepburn stayed when the property was the Fernbrook Inn is decorated with a nod to her famed role in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” From paint and markers to poster board, creative supplies abound in the Art Room.

The game room is stocked with classic family board games ideal for making memories and bringing generations together.

The lending library features a fort constructed of reading materials.

Fast-forward to 2023. Five years after that first article, and some follow-up stories since, I met Tim on another June day, but this time the location was Main Street in Centerville. Like the proverbial kid in a candy store, Tim gave me an exclusive tour of the former Fernbrook Inn, the soon-to-be second home of Tommy’s Place, shortly before opening the doors to its first visitors.

The Fernbrook once attracted an array of famous guests, including President and Mrs. John F. Kennedy, Walt Disney and Audrey Hepburn. While the majestic 19th-century charm has been preserved, the building has been transformed into an HGTV-inspired dream-vacation house, just like Tommy’s Place in Falmouth, with 11 individually designed and decorated bedrooms, a home theater, an arts and crafts room, a reading room and lending library, a chef’s kitchen, and a tavern-style restaurant. These are just some of the surprises around every

Clockwise from above: The pool is a fun place for families, who are spared the worry of finding a beach parking spot. The Boston Bruins Room is a tribute to the young visitors of Tommy’s Place who have passed away. Bruins star Bobby Orr has donated jerseys and other iconic memorabiia to both locations of Tommy’s Place.

corner. (At the time of this writing, plans were underway for an outdoor swimming pool, one of the amenities available in Falmouth.)

Tim’s eyes twinkled with excitement as he proudly unveiled each room, but they quickly filled with tears as he spoke about the growing wait list. Images of superheroes and sports icons adorn the walls, particularly in the Boston Bruins room, which memorializes the innocent, smiling faces of Tommy’s Place alumni who have died. A sense of urgency inspired Tim to do more, and served as a major factor in his decision to open a second location.

“I’ve always wanted to help people,” he said. “But if we ignore things and don’t take action, how is that helping?”

FIND OUT MORE

Tommy’s Place Foundation, Inc., is a Massachusetts-based nonprofit corporation that offers year-round dream vacations to children fighting cancer. Tommy’s Place receives guest referrals from major childhood cancer hospitals in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut. All donations are tax-deductible. For more information, visit tommysplace.org

The Simpsons-style tavern, geared for grown-ups, also pays tribute to the nonprofit foundation’s namesake Tommy Leonard, who was a beloved bartender in Falmouth for many years.

PerfectPresents

Beautiful Bauble

Enhance your holiday elegance with the exquisite Tahitian pearl necklaces and earrings from the Pearl Noir collection, hand chosen in French Polynesia and created by Stephen Sullivan. These timeless treasures, available exclusively at Falmouth Jewelry Shop, will add a touch of sophistication to your Christmas season. Falmouth Jewelry Shop falmouthjewelryshop.com

The gift of giving never gets old, especially at the holidays. Here, we’ve rounded up some special items you can shop for locally and that fit every budget. Remember to buy a little something for yourself!

Tabletop Art

American Stonecraft founder and artisan Gerald Croteau turns hand-gathered stone from New England into the finest farm-to-table serving plates. Village Trading Company villagetradingcompany.com

Blue Lagoon

This gemstone ring features an electric, vivid blue topaz. Available in yellow, rose or white gold. Coast GoldWorks coastgoldworks.com

Say thanks to your host or hostess with an assortment of chocolates, locally made. Ghelfi’s Candies of Cape Cod shipchocolates.net

Liquid Gold

Barb’s Bubbly is a delightfully dry sparkling blanc de blancs with medium acidity and a wellbalanced finish. Perfect to celebrate the holidays and ring in the new year! The beautiful mermaid flutes are available for purchase as well! Cape Cod Winery, capecodwinery.com

Flower Power

22K gold and silver bimetal flower necklace featuring malachite stones for leaves along with a faceted amethyst center by Renee Adams Designs. story. storyfalmouth.com

Putter Perfection

Nut-free and Yummy

These hand-made, gourmet chocolates are also allergy-friendly. North Falmouth Cheese Shop northfalmouthcheese.com

Fitting all standard mallet putters, this weatherresistant Libertee Torch putter cover has a soft velvet lining, magnetic closure, and features an original Bird Fight design honoring this year’s Ryder Cup team as they carry the torch to Italy. Bird Fight Golf, birdfightgolf.com

Seashell Band

Golden shells accented by six brilliant white diamonds. Available in yellow, rose or white gold. Coast GoldWorks, coastgoldworks.com

Tied With a Bow

Christmas décor artwork by Mindy Reasonover. The Village Gallery

Bora Jewelry

Thoughtfully handcrafted with oneof-a-kind precious and semiprecious stones demonstrating Bora’s unique play between the delicate and the robust. Green Eyed Daisy greeneyeddaisy.com

Primp & Pamper

Handcrafted bath and body care, soap, body scrub, lip balm, bath bombs and more. Old Main Mercantile oldmainmercantile.com Pocasset Naturals pocassetnaturals.com

Carte Blanche

The recipient of a Mashpee Commons gift card can choose from fine dining, one-of-a-kind shops, wellness studios and entertainment for the whole family. Mashpee Commons, mashpeecommons.com

Side Hustle

Complement your cheese platters and charcuterie boards with this not-so-secret ingredient. North Falmouth Cheese Shop northfalmouthcheese.com

Year-round Wonder

Small keepsake art (5"x 7" prints) to celebrate the seasonal beauty of Cape Cod every day of the year. Fine art greeting cards are also available. Michael Petrizzo Fine Art capedreams.com

Jaunty Jewelry

Local artist Cesar Palma’s Nautical Flag line is a unique collection that includes necklaces, bracelets, earrings and cufflinks, each featuring meticulously crafted sterling silver nautical flag designs with gorgeous inlays. Discover the perfect blend of maritime charm and artistic craftsmanship. Falmouth Jewelry Shop, falmouthjewelryshop.com

Puppy Treats

Made locally in Wareham, these biscuits have humangrade ingredients that dogs go crazy for!

Touch of Class

14K solid yellow gold Cape Cod bracelet by LeStage. Made in Massachusetts. Available in Sizes 5.5 to 8. Gilded Oyster thegildedoyster.com

Falmouth Pet Center falmouthpet.com

Recommended Read

A page-turner by a local author. Macabre Trophies by Declan Rush availabe at Eight Cousins eightcousins.com

Arm Candy

Set of three sterling silver hammered bangle bracelets by Renee Adams Design. story., storyfalmouth.com

Follow Your Bliss

These exquisite Gold Compass Necklaces, lovingly crafted by the local jewelry design company The Touch, are adorned with diamonds and rubies. A perfect gift to navigate the season in style. Falmouth Jewelry Shop falmouthjewelryshop.com

Santa Gnomes

Plush & Plaid

Get cozy by the fireplace with a glass of wine and this super-warm and fluffy sherpa blanket! Cape Cod Winery

Christmas décor artwork by Mindy Reasonover The Village Gallery

Wick-ed Nice

This natural soy candle is a blend of sandalwood, cream of coco and weathered raw cedar wood. By Sal do Mar Studio Inlet inletwoodshole.com The Sal do Mar thesaldomar.com

Sweet Treats

Enjoy Green Eyed Daisy’s own Cape Cod Cookie Jar gluten-free cookies and brownies without guilt. Handmade with love. Green Eyed Daisy greeneyeddaisy.com

Best Fishes

One-of-a-kind functional stoneware from a local artisan. Flying Pig Pottery, flyingpigpottery.biz

Mixology Must

Tonic water boasting flavors of rosemary and lemon thyme, combined with the finest quinine from central Africa. North Falmouth Cheese Shop northfalmouthcheese.com

Awesome Earrings

Sterling silver & 14K yellow gold “Spiral Wave” dangling earrings. Made in Massachusetts by local designer Tom Kruskal Designs. Gilded Oyster thegildedoyster.com

Fall Fest Block Party

Good Wood

Andrew Pearce Bowls specializes in hand-turned wood bowls and live-edge wooden cutting boards. Unique wood designs celebrate simplicity, sustainability and natural beauty. Each wood product is expertly handcrafted and made to last with proper wood care. Village Trading Company villagetradingcompany.com

Light the Way

Shimmer & Shine

18K gold and silver fern-textured earrings by Renee Adams Design. story. storyfalmouth.com

Careful thought goes into Green Eyed Daisy’s hand-poured candles made with a curated wax blend of coconut, soy and beeswax to best protect the good health of our customers and of the earth using purely organic essential oils.

Green Eyed Daisy, greeneyeddaisy.com

Seasonal Art

Christmas décor artwork by Mindy Reasonover The Village Gallery

Navarra Collection

Inspired by the Navarra region of Spain, this collection interprets those cross-cultural influences as classic yet modern jewelry, modeled after traditional links but styled for a new millennium. Roberto Coin robertocoin.com

Ben & Bill’s handcrafted chocolates and candies are the perfect gift for someone who has everything. Ben and Bill’s Chocolate Emporium benandbills.net

ForeverFestive

The culmination of Falmouth’s Holidays by the Sea Weekend, the town’s Christmas parade turns 60.

TEXT AND PHOTOGRAPHY

BY CHRIS KAZARIAN

Dressed as the town crier, State Representative David Vieira holds Cape Cod’s mascot Doug the Quahog.

U2 FRONTMAN BONO. A security guard for a quahog named Doug. And a groovy hippie straight out of the ’60s. For more than a decade, author Ted (T.M.) Murphy has transformed himself into a wild cast of characters who have brought joy and laughter to thousands of onlookers at Falmouth’s annual Christmas Parade.

“I really act it up for the kids because I was that kid once,” Murphy says, reminiscing. “We’d always park at St. Patrick’s Church and stand on Main Street. My parents would always say, ‘These people put a lot of effort into the parade, so you really have to get into it when they go by.’ That memory pops into my

head now whenever I am in the parade myself. I really try to be entertaining for the kids. Of course, you also get the adults who look at you like you’re crazy and ridiculous. But life is short, and you’ve always got to try to be a kid in life.”

If Cape Cod is a playground for families, then Falmouth is its epicenter—the swings, slides and jungle gym all wrapped into one. Events like the town’s Christmas parade, which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, embody that ethos, bringing out the kid in all of us.

And when you’re a kid, there may be no better time of year than the holidays. In Falmouth, the season is ushered

Clockwise from upper left: Kids wave from a Falmouth Fire Rescue Department engine. The Aleppo Shriners clowns on foot and in a mini car. The Falmouth High School marching band plays seasonal favorites.

in annually during the first weekend in December, when the community comes together to celebrate the time of giving.

This year, it all starts on Friday, December 1, with caroling in Woods Hole, complete with a screening of “A Cape Cod Christmas,” a Hallmark Channel–style film that stars Katie Leclerc and Brent Bailey and which was shot three years ago in Falmouth. Fittingly, Santa’s arrival to Falmouth is by boat on Saturday, which brings more merriment with the annual Jingle Jog 5K, the Falmouth Village Stroll and the lighting of the Village Green.

But it’s the parade—Clydesdale horses, circus clowns in tiny cars, school bands, dancing troupes and locally made floats adorned with costumed Grinches, reindeer, snowmen and Santa Claus—that has served all these decades as a capstone to the Falmouth Chamber of Commerce’s Holidays by the Sea Weekend.

“Really, the highlight is seeing the creativity everybody puts into the floats,” says Chamber CEO Michael Kasparian. “You always have groups trying to outdo each other. It’s mind blowing how much time, effort and creativity they put into it, and it’s wonderful to see how they come out.”

Above: Members of the Newcomers Club of Falmouth wave to the crowd. Below: Even the Grinch can’t steal Falmouth’s Christmas spirit.

Billed as the largest Christmas parade in Southeastern Massachusetts, the event brings together youth groups, nonprofits, local businesses, state and local officials, and police and fire honor guards in a true celebration of Falmouth. “You kind of reflect when you see all the people and businesses in the parade and what they mean to our community,” Murphy says.

“It’s really a community-focused event,” adds Kasparian, who can be seen at the front of the parade, making his way from its start on Dillingham Avenue to its end on Main Street at the Village Green.

By the time it is over, State Representative David Vieira has usually lost his voice, repeatedly yelling at the top of his

Top to bottom: Kids are always a big part of the parade. Hallamore Co.’s cherished Clydesdale team adds a touch of historic splendor to the parade. An Aleppo Shriners clown.

lungs, “Hear ye, hear ye! Gather all ye citizens and guests of the town of Falmouth to view the annual Christmas parade.”

It’s a responsibility he has assumed since 1993, the same year he graduated from Falmouth High School. As the town crier, Vieira rings the bell that was given to him by his predecessor, former actor and model Burke McHugh, who died the following year.

In his Colonial outfit with green frock coat, Vieira’s appearance matches his proclamation, harkening back to a simpler time when gatherings signified important occasions in the community.

Isn’t that what the best parades do—bring people together?

“I love the tradition,” Vieira says. “It is an opportunity for me to connect or reconnect with the community.”

That is exactly what Paul Miskovsky, owner of Miskovsky Landscaping, has loved about his experiences helping design floats in the

Top to bottom: An Aleppo Shriners clown. Creatively decorated floats, like this gingerbread house-themed one, are a parade highlight. Falmouth Dance Academy students perform a routine.

Falmouth Chamber of Commerce Holidays by the Sea Weekend

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1 – SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3

Holiday Carol Sing (Friday)

Join carolers for a festive seasonal singalong of familiar holiday classics at Waterfront Park in Woods Hole. Shuttle buses will make trips to nearby Nobska Light, which will be all decked out for the season.

Make sure to purchase tickets to the Woods Hole Film Festival’s special screening of “A Cape Cod Christmas,” which was shot in Falmouth, largely over two weeks in November 2020.

Santa, Jingle Jogs, and Christmas Lights (Saturday)

The excitement continues with Santa’s arrival in the morning at Falmouth Harbor on Scranton Avenue, where he’ll deliver joy (and candy canes) for all.

Don your jolliest costume for the 12th Annual Jingle Jog 5K and Kids “GhELF” Run, where there will be prizes, for

not only the top finisher but also the best dressed. And all GhELF runners will receive a chocolate Santa from Ghelfi’s Candies.

At night, Falmouth’s Main Street will come alive for the Holiday Stroll with shops and restaurants dressed in their holiday best. Families won’t want to miss the lighting of the Village Green, the magic moment when the green is transformed into Santa’s wonderland.

60th Annual Christmas Parade (Sunday)

Long before the internet, the iPhone and the mass production of the electric car, Falmouth’s first-ever Christmas Parade occurred in 1963. This year, the parade turns 60 and will commemorate its milestone anniversary with a special theme— Holidays Through the Decades. Visit falmouthchamber.com for the full schedule of this year’s Holidays by the Sea Weekend events.

A 1927 Ahrens-Fox 1000-gallon water pumper makes its way along the parade route.

past for Gosnold, a nonprofit that provides treatment for individuals living with mental health and substance use disorders.

“It’s a really nice volunteer project, and it’s done in a very tight time frame. And when you’re done, you’re like, Wow. Did I really just do this?” he says. “It takes you days to build the float, and you go through the parade in about 40 minutes and you’re done.”

What makes it all worth it, he says, is the excitement and enthusiasm of the volunteers building the floats, of the organizers responsible for putting together the parade, and of the public who show up to experience the magic of the season. “The people love it,” he says. “It is heartwarming driving down the road with a beautiful float and seeing how it affects people, especially seeing the smiles on the little kids’ faces. All the positive energy

Top: Katie Leclerc and Brent Bailey, stars of “A Cape Cod Christmas,” a Hallmark Channel–style movie filmed in Falmouth that premiered in 2021. Bottom: Jolly Old St. Nick in his place of honor at the end of the Parade.

The name of the game is

pickle

BY BILL HIGGINS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY DERRICK ZELLMANN

…and it’s  booming  ball

Ed Winslow, Billy Sullivan, Jan Winslow (in the back), Eileen Sullivan (front), Harriet Bern, Moe Bern, Betsy Blackwell, Joe Chochrek.

Eileen Sullivan, a retired educator from East Falmouth, was into pickleball before pickleball was in. The game is all the rage these days—the fastest-growing sport in the nation, according to the Fitness & Sports Industry Association—but Sullivan appreciated the fun long before most picked up a paddle.

A combination of tennis, badminton and ping pong, peculiarly named pickleball was created in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, near Seattle, Washington. Three fathers looking to give their bored children a new summertime activity are credited with inventing the game, and in recent years it has exploded in popularity.

Sullivan is part of Falmouth’s passionate pickleball community. She plays mostly on courts at FalmouthPort, a private condominium complex in East Falmouth, and occasionally at the Canty Community Center in downtown Falmouth. As a professor at Boston University in the 1980s and ’90s, she supervised student teachers in public schools who taught the sport as part of the physical education curriculum.

“I loved pickleball right away and I’m excited it has become so popular,” says Sullivan. “I used to play competitive tennis,

and it’s easy to transfer those skills. Pickleball is a fun sport all ages can enjoy together.”

Pickleball is played indoors and out, usually as a doubles game with two players on each side of the net. Quickness and agility are assets, but hand-eye coordination, anticipation and shot placement are just as important.

Baby Boomers have embraced the sport because there’s less running than in tennis and the paddle, smaller and lighter than a racket, is easier to handle. Four pickleball courts can fit into one tennis court. The plastic perforated pickleball doesn’t fly as fast through the air, and serves, hit underhand, are easier to return.

“I’d say 90 to 95 percent of my lessons are with players 55 to 60 and older,” says Kevin Pease, a longtime Falmouth tennis teaching professional who became certified as a pickleball coach about five years ago. “But more and more younger people are playing, too.”

The cost of a pickleball paddle can range from less than $50 to upwards of $200. A six-pack of balls is about $20.

The wife of one of the game’s founders called it pickleball because the mix of different sports reminded her of the pickle race in a crew regatta, in which rowers are chosen from the leftovers of other boats. (There is also a legend that the name came from a family dog named Pickles, who supposedly loved to chase the ball, but that has been debunked by USA Pickleball, the national governing body for the sport.)

The ever-growing fascination with pickleball far exceeds places to play in Falmouth, a conundrum nationwide and a challenge for town recreation director Joe Olenick.

“There’s a ton of interest, way more than we can accommodate, and it’s growing all the time,” says Olenick, who

oversees play indoors at the community center and outdoors at Nye Park in North Falmouth and Swift Park in West Falmouth.

Four courts at Nye Park are available year-round. At Swift Park, pickleball is played on four courts four days a week, alternating with tennis. Plans are also underway to develop at least eight new pickleball-only courts, and perhaps as many as 20, at Trotting Park, off Gifford Street. They could be ready in a year or two, says Olenick.

“There’s definitely a need and a desire for more places to play,” says Olenick. “It’s not a fad, and it’s not going away.”

Pickleball’s popularity soared during Covid-19 as the pandemic turned many people into “picklers” wanting to stay active while remaining socially distant. A Falmouth pickleball Facebook page has more than 500 members.

Pease and his daughter, Kara, offer lessons at the Falmouth Sports Center and instructional clinics through the recreation department at the community center. The similarities to tennis, says Pease, are to get the ball over the net and keep it in play. Consistent shotmaking and strategy are more important than power.

“With some instruction and a little bit of practice, you can pick it up quickly,” Pease says. “It’s a lifestyle game that’s good for you physically and socially. “I see a lot of new friendships through pickleball.”

Bill Dougherty of North Falmouth took up the game after 30 years of playing tennis. He and his neighbors, Jim and Willow Price, converted a shared tennis court on their property into pickleball courts and estimates he now plays 12 to 14 hours a week.

“I had a bad neck and couldn‘t play tennis anymore. I took a few pickleball lessons, and it was an easy transition,” says Dougherty, 82. “My wife, Deborah, plays, too, and now we have a sport for the first time we can do together.

“We’ll play year-round as long as there’s no snow. We build a fire in the winter, have coffee at the gazebo, and it’s a blast,” adds Dougherty. “Pickleball has been a godsend and keeps me active. I’ve met a lot of fun people I wouldn’t have otherwise. It’s the friendliest game I’ve ever played.”

Swift Park in West Falmouth

Bill & Deborah Dougherty, with Diane & Alan Rogol.

A SWEET TREAT SAFARI

For a small town like Falmouth, the number of excellent bakeries defies the odds.

BY JEANNE M. PETRIZZO

PHOTOGRAPHY BY PETER JULIAN

Listen, I get why you might want to skip this intro and immediately dive into riding that sugar wave, but let me briefly get a couple things out of the way.

First, this piece was very taxing to work on, and I really hated having to try all of these delicious baked goods. I hope readers understand my immense sacrifice (joking, of course). Second, each of the spots profiled below is special in its own way, but I’d like to highlight one throughline (besides copious amounts of butter): They all really love and want to serve the Falmouth community through excellent customer service, tried-and-true ingredients, and careful attention to the kinds of details that make their treats exceptional. Now, without further a-dough, let’s loosen our belts and head out.

Pie in the Sky’s famous Danish pastry

Pies À La Mode

200 Teaticket Highway Teaticket 508-540-8777

Hours (may vary seasonally) Monday – Saturday: 10 a.m.– 6 p.m. Sunday: 10 a.m.– 3 p.m

Let’s head down Route 28 back to Teaticket, where we’ll pop into Pies À La Mode. Step inside and you’ll feel like you’re right in the kitchen, where you can watch the staff whip up savory, fruit and cream pies, along with quiches, cookies and other treats. There are no secrets here, just hearty homemade classics with honest-togoodness ingredients.

The star of Pies À La Mode is unquestionably the Chicken Pot Pie, which guests can buy ready to eat or frozen. Folks looking for a one-serving option will enjoy the pasties, in flavors like BBQ Chicken and classic Cornish.

Other Important Details: Pies À La Mode offers 5- and 8-inch pies in its fresh case and freezer. Custom orders need just 24 hours’ advance notice. Gluten-free options are available, although the facility itself is not gluten-free. Pies À La Mode is also available on GrubHub for customers who want the convenience of home delivery.

Mackenzie Green boxing up a fruit pie for a customer.

Windfall Market Bakery

77 Scranton Avenue

Falmouth

508-548-0099

windfallmarket.com

Hours: Monday – Saturday: 8 a.m.– 8 p.m.

Sunday: 8 a.m.– 7 p.m.

We’re close to the ocean now, at the tip of Falmouth Harbor, where you’ll find Windfall Market, a neighborhood fixture for almost 30 years. Inside, just past the floral department, sits its self-described “all-inclusive” bakery, as the best grocery store bakeries usually are.

Windfall makes treats like pies, brownies, cakes, bars, macaroons, almond horns and breads on site. They welcome a large lunch crowd with individually packaged desserts, and other grab-and-go options that are convenient for folks coming from or going to the ferry.

Other Important Details: To avoid a crowd, treat shoppers should opt for the early morning or early afternoon, after the lunch rush. Windfall can also whip up cakes for special events like weddings, as well as dessert platters.

Above: Pies, cupcakes, bars, brownies, almond horns, muffins and macaroons. Right: An assortment of cakes: carrot cakes, chocolate, cheesecakes and wedding cakes to name a few.

Maison Villatte

267 Main Street Falmouth 774-255-1855

Hours vary seasonally. Call to confirm

From the pier to Paris . . . er . . . Main Street. Let’s pop into Maison Villatte, a quintessential French patisserie and boulangerie (pastry shop and bread bakery). Located opposite the library green and Peg Noonan Park, Maison Villatte is rarely without a line that snakes around its charming interior.

Don’t worry, the queue moves fast, plus you may want some time to eye the mouthwatering array of traditional French treats, including but not limited to baguettes, tarts, cakes, eclairs, cream puffs, croissants, quiches and sandwiches. Good luck deciding what to buy!

There is no question about authenticity at Maison Villatte. French-imported flours, combined with other premier ingredients, are masterfully transformed via traditional French culinary techniques passed down through generations of some of the finest cooks on the planet.

Other Important Details: In the summer, it’s nigh impossible to avoid a wait, but you may want to try visiting in the early morning for the best selection, especially if you have your heart set on a specific pastry. A few gluten-free options are available, including macarons and meringues, but the facility itself is not gluten-free. Maison Villatte offers catering options for larger events.

Above: French treats, including, tarts, lemon meringue, cakes, eclairs and much more.

Left: A variety of cookies and savory pastry.

Pie in the Sky

10 Water Street

Woods Hole

508-540-5475

piecoffee.com

Hours vary seasonally. Check their website to confirm.

A jaunt down to Woods Hole brings us to longtime village stalwart Pie in the Sky, a confoundingly small bakery given its plethora of pastry choices, plus coffee roasted on site. Pie in the Sky is literally much more than meets the eye, thanks to a major renovation six years ago that added a basement for extra kitchen and storage space.

You’ll want to pop over for popovers, the undisputed fan favorite, in addition to pie (of course), bread pudding, Danish, bars and savory options like sandwiches and soups. The shop’s freshly roasted coffee started as a home-garage experiment but is now a full-fledged enterprise that ships beans internationally.

Other Important Details: It’s tough to beat the crowds at Pie in the Sky, especially with the Steamship Authority ferry and its passengers a stone’s throw away. Yet, early risers and those coming in the late afternoon may get in and out more quickly. There’s limited seating inside, but outdoor tables accommodate patrons when the weather allows.

Above: Tiara Ruggeri showcasing one of Pie in the Sky’s delicious pies. Left: Pie in the Sky’s famous Danish pastries. Below: Muffins, cookies, bars and a variety of baked goodies.

Hatchville Baking Co.

48 Market Street

Mashpee (Mashpee Commons)

508-681-8758

hatchvillebakingco.com

Hours: Thursday – Saturday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. (or sellout)

Sunday: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. (or sellout)

Monday – Wednesday: Closed

Started from scratch in a home kitchen in 2019, Hatchville Baking Co. now regularly sells out of cookies at its Mashpee Commons location. (Because of its origin in Falmouth, Hatchville Baking Co. still belongs in this article, as far as I’m concerned.)

Available cookies rotate monthly, in addition to a special flavor of the week. The fan favorite is the Salted Brown Butter, while other yummy options include Iced Lemon, Double Chocolate, Oatmeal Bourbon Pecan, Rice Krispie Treat, Junk Drawer, Cheesecake, Rocky Road and Strawberries & Cream. And Chocolate Chip, of course. Cookie aficionados can even pair their selection with merch, like hats and sweatshirts.

Other Important Details: Guests who wish to avoid a crowd should plan their visit for a Thursday, or order ahead on hatchvillebakingco. com for pickup. (If you’re not local, cookies can be shipped across the U.S.) Options are available for those with gluten sensitivities.

Sarah & Hannah Corner, owners of Hatchville Baking Co.

APPETIZERS

GRILLED OCTOPUS

Imported Mediterranean sushi grade octopus, char-grilled with Ladolemono sauce

- Awarded best of Cape Cod

SAGANAKI OPA

Pan fried Kefalograviera cheese served with cognac flambé tableside with an authentic “opa!”

GRILLED LAMB LOLLIPOPS

Marinated with fresh herbs, ladolemono sauce and served with tzatziki

DOLMADES

Beef and rice rolled into grape leaves, topped with egg lemon sauce

ENTRÉES

PASTITSIO

Layered spiced ground beef, Greek macaroni, topped with Béchamel

MOUSSAKA

Layered spiced ground beef, potato, eggplant, parmesan, topped with Béchamel

SPANAKOPITA

Spinach, scallions, feta, layered with phyllo dough

SEAFOOD ESTIA

Sautéed shrimp, calamari, swordfish, salmon, cod, little neck clams, basil and Kalamata olives in an Estia tomato sauce, served over rice or linguine

Also featuring coal fired pizza, kabobs and more!

Mashpee Commons

508-539-4700

26 Steeple Street, Mashpee

Falmouth Main Street

508-548-3300

117 Main Street, Falmouth

tidbits tidbits

North Falmouth Cheese Shop

402 N. Falmouth Highway, 508-356-3666 northfalmouthcheese.com

Offering domestic and imported cheeses, charcuterie meats, pâté, crackers, olives, oils, jams, sauces and sweet treats. Locally made items include Maison Villatte French breads, Bee Well raw honey, Chequessett craft chocolate bars, Beanstock coffees, Robin’s Toffee & Wicked Walnuts. Gourmet frozen items include appetizers, stuffed pastas and desserts. Visit our website for hours. Like us on social media CHEESE SHOP

The Flying Bridge Restaurant

220 Scranton Avenue, Falmouth, 508-548-2700, flyingbridgerestaurant.com

Waterfront dining, bar and wedding venue overlooking Falmouth’s scenic Harbor, serving traditional New England seafood with contemporary flair and delicious craft cocktails. Like us on social media SEAFOOD

East End Tap

734 Teaticket Hwy, 508-444-8677, eastendtap.com

Enjoy the comfort of our great staff serving fantastic food in a rustic coastal-industrial setting. Come try our local Cape favorites like homemade clam chowder, linguica stuffed quahogs, or our fresh locally known steak-burgers. The ideal spot for lunch and dinner, family celebrations with classic Cape food. Combined with 24 beers on tap, full bar, ciders and seltzers, you’ll always “Eat Well – Drink Well at East End Tap.” Like us on social media AMERICAN

Pies A La Mode

200 Teaticket Hwy, Teaticket, 508-540-8777 facebook.com/PiesALaModeCafe

Savory and sweet pies, fruit pies, quiches, pasties and cookies, all made from scratch with fresh local ingredients. Like us on social media PIES

Estia

117 Main St., Falmouth, 508-548-3300

26 Steeple St., Mashpee, 508-539-4700

estiacapecod.com

A Greek taverna located in downtown Falmouth that serves authentic and traditional Greek cuisine with a modern twist. Serving popular favorite dishes like coal-fired pizza, spanakopita, pastitsio and moussaka. Enjoy an upscale sophisticated dining atmosphere with a full bar serving Greek wines and crafted cocktails. Live Greek music every Saturday night! Like us on social media GREEK

Cape Cod Winery

4 Oxbow Road, 508-457-5592, capecodwinery.com

Come sit and savor the flavors of our wines in a relaxed atmosphere. We offer nine different varieties of wine, from a Rose’ Mermaid Water, a refreshing Sauvigon Blanc, to a Chardonnay and Channel Marker #16, just to name a few. Sit by the fire and listen to live music in our spacious outdoor sitting area while sipping a glass of your choice. Enjoy a variety of food from the Mermaid Cafe’ Food Truck. Like us on social media WINERY

West Falmouth Market

623 W. Falmouth Highway, 508-548-1139

westfalmouthmarket.com

A beloved community institution since 1902. West Falmouth Market, a full-service country market, event caterer and so much more. This friendly neighborhood spot offers everything from fresh produce, coffee and scrumptious deli sandwiches or wraps to an old-time butcher shop, pizza, homemade soups, bakery and wine and beer, as well as prepared gourmet meals and catering services. A minute walk to the Shining Sea Bike Path and picturesque West Falmouth Harbor. Like us on social media MARKET

Windfall Market

77 Scranton Avenue, Falmouth, 508-548-0099 windfallmarket.com

For over 20 years the Windfall Market has been providing a unique shopping experience for their customers. Offering a wide variety of the freshest, highest quality products. You’ll find fresh produce, breads made from scratch, baked goods, assortment of cheeses, meats, deli platters, prepared foods, beer and wine and much more. Like us on social media MARKET

Calendar of Events

Celebrate fall and winter in Falmouth with dozens of things to do and see.

We recommend that you check with the organization that created an event for guidance, reservations, restrictions and cancellations.

October, Thursdays

FALMOUTH FARMERS’ MARKET

Every Thursday, local farmers, bakers and culinary artisans sell fresh fruits and vegetables, seafood, cheese, wine, bread and pastries, plants and flowers at Marine Park on Falmouth Harbor in Falmouth center. Noon to 5 p.m. falmouthfarmersmarket.org

October 1–31

FALMOUTH VILLAGE OF SCARECROWS

Come to Falmouth Village and see the creativity and spirit of Main Street merchants as they display imaginative homemade scarecrows in front of their stores and restaurants. Join the fun while supporting local merchants! falmouthvillageassociation.com

October 21

SINS, SIPS AND SECRETS

We invite you to join us for a night at the museum. On an interactive tour, participants will visit the 1790 Dr. Francis Wicks House to hear a different story in each room of Falmouth’s nefarious and unearthly past. Using first-person accounts, diaries and newspaper records, tales will include the actual fears of the night, wayward travelers and spirits in times past. Tour and stroll the grounds, which will be lit by candlelight for the event. 5 to 8 p.m. musuensonthegreen.org

October 21 & 22

CAPE SYMPHONY’S

BYRON

STRIPLING & FRIENDS

Byron Stripling and Carmen Bradford light up the stage with hits made famous

by New Orleans favorites like Louis Armstrong, Fats Domino, Al Hirt, Mahalia Jackson, and Jazz Age icons Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, and Billie Holiday. Featuring classics from The Great American Songbook, they recreate some of the most memorable moments in musical history, while capturing your heart along the way. Saturday, Oct. 21 at 7:30 p.m; Sunday, Oct. 22 at 3 p.m., Barnstable Performing Arts Center. For a complete list of upcoming concerts, call 508-362-1111, or visit capesymphony.org

October 27

WICKED AT WICKS: A CHILDREN’S HALLOWEEN

CELEBRATION

Come to the Falmouth Museums on the Green for a fun family Halloween event. The event will include trick-or-treating

at several historic properties, pumpkin painting, storytelling and a costume parade. Come dressed to impress, and enjoy the best of fall in Falmouth, 4 to 5:30 p.m. musuemsonthegreen.org

October 28

CAPE SYMPHONY PRESENTS – ELEANOR DUBINSKY CONJUNTO 4

Critics call jazz-songwriter Eleanor Dubinsky, “a multilingual musician who can capture the emotions and soul of a community in a song” (NPR). A vocalist/guitarist/cellist, her concerts in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese invite audiences to travel the world while discovering the underground tributaries that connect us in our shared human experience. 7 p.m., Cape Symphony Falmouth Campus, 60 Highfield Drive. Tickets $25; visit capesymphony.org/ special-events

October 28

FALMOUTH DOG PARK

HOWLIN’ GOOD TIME DOG COSTUME PARTY

Dress up your pet and join us for a costume parade around the dog park. Prizes awarded in many categories, including Most Creative. 2 p.m. falmouthdogpark.com

October 29

CAPE SYMPHONY PRESENTS –ELEANOR & DARIO

Duo Eleanor Dubinsky and Darío Acosta Teich (USA/Argentina) take audiences on a feel-good trip around the world with fresh interpretations of jazz, beloved classics in Spanish, French, Portuguese and original songs. 4 p.m., Harvest Gallery, 776 Main Street, Dennis. Tickets $15 and $30; visit capesymphony.org/special-events.

November 18

CAPE SYMPHONY PRESENTS –THE KIM MOBERG BAND

Kim Moberg is an award-winning singer/songwriter and self-taught, finger

OCTOBER 28 –

FALMOUTH

DOG PARK

HOWLIN’ GOOD TIME

DOG COSTUME PARTY

pick style guitarist. Kim’s passionate and heartfelt vocals and artistry will mesmerize listeners. 7 p.m., Cape Symphony Falmouth Campus, 60 Highfield Drive, Falmouth. For tickets and information, visit capesymphony.org/ special-events.

November 24 –December 10, Weekends

HOLIDAYS AT HIGHFIELD

Visit Highfield Hall & Gardens for a spectacular holiday season display with beautiful rooms full of inspiring design ideas. Shop the local artisan gift gallery with items ranging from fine crafts to hostess gifts. highfieldhall.org

November 5

43 RD SHIPWRECKED

FALMOUTH IN THE FALL

A classic local road race held each autumn since 1979. Now under the direction of Falmouth Road Race, Inc., the sevenmile race runs on the same seaside course as the ASICS Falmouth Road Race, offers cooler temps, fewer people and a locally sponsored finish festival featuring local vendors. 11 a.m. Follow FRR on FB and Instagram @falmouthroadrace. falmouthinthefall.com

November 11 &12

CAPE SYMPHONY’S

THE MAGIC OF MOZART

Cape Symphony Concertmaster Jae Cosmos Lee leads the orchestra in a performance of Mozart’s most renowned creations, ranging from the enchanting Magic Flute to the majestic Symphony in

Prague. Saturday, Nov. 11, at 7:30 p.m; Sunday, Nov. 12, at 3 p.m., Barnstable Performing Arts Center. For a complete list of upcoming concerts, call 508-3621111, or visit capesymphony.org

November 25

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY

Small Business Saturday was founded to help businesses with their most pressing need—getting more customers. The day happens every year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving and encourages people to shop at the small businesses that help write the story of America. By shopping or dining at small businesses throughout the year, you’re showing your support for the small businesses in your neighborhood and reinvesting in the Falmouth community.

November 28–29, December 5

HOLIDAY TABLETOP

BOXWOOD TREE WORKSHOP

Learn how to create your own festive classic Christmas tree design using fresh boxwood branches with mini lights, ornaments, ribbon and a tree-topper. Sign up by November 21. Register online or call 508-495-1878, ext. 2. highfieldhallandgardens.org

December 1–17

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE— THE MUSICAL

Lyrics by Keith Ferguson and music by Bruce Greer. Based on the beloved 1946 film, this musical faithfully follows George Bailey’s life from his childhood dreams to his midlife disappointments

THROUGHOUT THE YEAR

CAPE SYMPHONY

The Cape Symphony’s mission is to Inspire Joy through exceptional live performance and arts education programs that celebrate the arts in all its forms. These unforgettable experiences are offered yearround at venues across the Cape, and at our West Barnstable and Falmouth campuses. Learn more at capesymphony.org.

FALMOUTH CHORALE SEASON

The Falmouth Chorale’s mission is to inspire and educate singers and audiences through the presentation and celebration of fine choral music. As its 58th season begins, the Falmouth Chorale looks forward to singing together and is eager to resume its concert schedule of four performances throughout the year. This season will feature concerts led by artistic director Dr. Krishan Oberoi as well as special guest conductors. falmouthchorale.org

MUSEUMS ON THE GREEN

Come down to Falmouth Museums on the Green for several fall and holiday events. Visit our website for more information. museumsonthegreen.org

WOODS HOLE THEATER COMPANY SEASON

This is a mighty little theater company that inspires audiences through the magic of the arts. Its purpose is to engage in and promote the cultural growth of the community of Woods Hole and vicinity. WHTC operates year-round, producing a wide variety of plays at affordable prices. Its traditional home is the historic Woods Hole Community Hall of 1878. Check the schedule for specific dates and performances. woodsholetheater.org

and beyond, as we all take a journey to discover whether his life has mattered at all. Cinematically scored and theatrically staged, this adaptation breathes musical life into a familiar story, while retaining the warmth, humor and pathos of the original. A new holiday classic for devotees and newcomers alike. At Highfield Theatre. falmouththeatreguild.org

December 1

HOLIDAY CAROLING IN WOODS HOLE

Join us as we herald in the Christmas season with caroling in Woods Hole Village. The Solstice Singers lead a festive seasonal sing-along of familiar holiday classics. Remember to dress warmly! 5:50 p.m. falmouthchamber.com

December 1–3

FALMOUTH HOLIDAYS BY THE SEA WEEKEND

Our flash of seasonal glitter starts with the Holidays by the Sea weekend in Falmouth. Begin the festive holidays singing carols in Woods Hole Village as the winter sun sets over Vineyard Sound. Greet Santa as he arrives by boat at beautiful Falmouth Harbor. Run in the 12th Annual Jingle Jog and Kids GhELF Run. Join in the caroling at the lighting of the Village Green. Enjoy the Main Street festivities of the Holiday Stroll, and get ready for the biggest small-town Christmas parade in all of Southeast New England. falmouthchamber.com

December 1–3

CAPE SYMPHONY’S

HOLIDAY ON THE CAPE

Get into the spirit with Cape Symphony’s epic holiday event, led by conductor Joe Marchio. From “Sleigh Ride” and “Hallelujah Chorus” to “Home Alone” and a holiday singalong with a thousand of your closest friends, this performance is designed to sparkle, shine and warm your heart. Also featured will be the world premiere

of “A Chanukah Festival.” Barnstable Performing Arts Center. For a complete list of upcoming concerts, call 508-3621111, or visit capesymphony.org

December 2

SEAFARING SANTA SAILS INTO FALMOUTH

Head to Falmouth Harbor, Marine Park, by The Flying Bridge on Scranton Avenue, to welcome Seafaring Santa! Candy canes for all the kids! 10:30 a.m.

DECEMBER 2 –12TH ANNUAL JINGLE JOG 5K AND KIDS “GhELF” RUN

December 2

12 TH ANNUAL JINGLE JOG 5K AND KIDS “GhELF” RUN

Wear your wildest holiday “jingle bells’’ festive outfit to run the course starting and ending at the Falmouth Village Green branch of Martha’s Vineyard Bank, 84 Main Street. The half-mile “GhELF” Run for children 12 and under starts at 3 p.m. The Jingle Jog 5K starts at 3:30 p.m. falmouthchamber.com

December 2

FALMOUTH VILLAGE HOLIDAY STROLL

See Falmouth Main Street transformed at night for the annual Holiday Stroll! Visit the many unique shops, services and restaurants in the heart of Falmouth Village. Enjoy shopping and dining while you stroll down Main Street and Queen’s Buyway, with festive entertainment throughout the village. Main Street will be closed to vehicle traffic. 4 p.m. falmouthvillageassociation.com

FALMOUTH CHAMBER

December 2

LIGHTING OF THE FALMOUTH VILLAGE GREEN

The annual lighting of the Village Green for the holidays! You can’t miss the one magic moment that transforms the Village Green into Santa’s wonderland and brings families together in festive high spirits to start the holidays. Be sure to enjoy the Main Street to Queen’s Buyway Stroll before and after the Lighting of the Green. 6 p.m. falmouthchamber.com

December 3

60 TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARADE

Bring your family, friends and guests to the best and largest Christmas Parade in all of Southeast New England. Presented by the Falmouth Chamber of Commerce and led by David Vieira, the parade, organized around the theme of “Holidays through the Decades,” steps off at noon from Dillingham Avenue and Davis Straits, and proceeds along Main Street to the Village Green. The parade features theme-decorated floats, marching bands, live animals, costumed characters and Santa Claus! falmouthchamber.com

December 5

CAPE SYMPHONY PRESENTS –A HANUKKAH PARTY WITH ZACH MAYER & FRIENDS

Zach Mayer brings people together through the power of nigunim, spiritual wordless melodies, rooted in Jewish tradition. As a fourth-generation cantor, he’ll help you find your own joyous voice in song. 6:30 p.m., Cape Symphony Falmouth Campus, 60 Highfield Drive, Falmouth. For tickets and information, visit capesymphony.org/special-events.

December 14

CHRISTMAS SEASONAL CENTERPIECE WORKSHOP

Learn how to create your own classic holiday centerpiece that begins with a hurricane globe and candle, and then is embellished with a mix of evergreens,

pine cones, berries, ribbons, fruit and ornaments. Sign up by December 9. Register online or call 508-495-1878, ext. 2. highfieldhallandgardens.org

December 14

CAPE SYMPHONY PRESENTS –A SOULFUL CHRISTMAS PARTY WITH ROBBIE PATE

Jazz vocalist. Pianist. Entertainer. Get ready for a fun-filled night of music as Robbie Pate and his band take the stage and bring you your favorite holiday music with a side of ‘soul.’ 7 p.m., Harvest Gallery, 776 Main Street, Dennis. For tickets and information, visit capesymphony.org/special-events

December 15

CAPE SYMPHONY PRESENTS –A SOULFUL CHRISTMAS PARTY WITH ROBBIE PATE

Jazz vocalist. Pianist. Entertainer. Get ready for a fun filled night of music as Robbie Pate and his band take the stage and bring you your favorite holiday music with a side of ‘soul.’ 7 p.m., Cape Symphony Falmouth Campus, 60 Highfield Drive, Falmouth. For tickets and information, visit capesymphony.org/ special-events.

February 2– 11, 2024

CLUE

Based on the iconic 1985 Paramount movie inspired by the classic Hasbro board game, Clue is a hilarious farce-

meets-murder mystery. The tale begins at a remote mansion, where six mysterious guests assemble for an unusual dinner party where murder and blackmail are on the menu. When their host turns up dead, they all become suspects. Led by Wadsworth, the butler, Miss Scarlett, Professor Plum, Mrs. White, Mr. Green, Mrs. Peacock and Colonel Mustard race to find the killer as the body count stacks up. Clue is the comedy whodunit that will leave both cult fans and newcomers in stitches as they try to figure out . . . WHO did it, WHERE and with WHAT! At Highfield Theatre. falmouththeatreguild.org

April 26 – May 12, 2024

WILLY WONKA

A timeless story of the world-famous candy man and his quest to find an heir comes to chocolate-covered life. Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka follows enigmatic candy manufacturer, Willy Wonka, as he stages a contest by hiding golden tickets in five of his scrumptious candy bars. Whoever comes up with these tickets will win a free tour of the Wonka factory as well as a lifetime supply of candy. Four of the five winning children are insufferable brats: the fifth is a likeable young lad named Charlie Bucket, who takes the tour in the company of his equally amiable grandfather. The children must learn to follow Mr. Wonka’s rules in the factory or suffer the consequences. At Highfield Theatre. falmouththeatreguild.org

Building a Following

MR. ROCKTASTIC CALLS HIMSELF A “PROFESSIONAL ROCK

STACKER FROM CAPE COD.”

He has close to 3,500 followers on Instagram, where he posts photos and reels of the cairn-like structures he composes—very carefully—of stones in various sizes and shapes he finds on beaches, several in Falmouth. Sometimes these sculptures evoke real-life figures; other times they are seemingly random arrangements of rocks. Always, they seem to defy gravity, inexplicably remaining erect despite their proximity to incoming tides and their exposure to fickle weather. In response to followers who insist he must use glue, Mr. Rocktastic, who has a real job but declined to share his real name, says that all his creations “are simply about finding balance points and making sure my feet are safe if the rocks collapse.”

Asked what drew him to rock sculpting, the anonymous artist who recently became engaged to Mrs. Rocktastic, says, “It’s very therapeutic … there is also a playfulness to it, and I get to be creative and have fun. I often have kids watching and enjoy teaching them the skills I’ve learned and developing the next generation of rock sculpturists.” rocktastic_sculptures

Sippewissett, at Woodneck Beach