December 2014 Vol. 18 / No. 12
the south coast coastalmags.com
UNWRAP THE SEASON
Remembering the Reason • Fighting Poverty • Celebrate with Neighbors • Gift List Cheat Sheet • “Historical” Holiday • Cooking up Christmas • The Cost of Taxes • Putting the Rail on Track
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Fabulous Gif ts Holiday Happening s
St. Anne’s gave Paul’s Auto Body “The Right Tools for the Job” Until Paul Medeiros, owner of Paul’s Auto Body and Sales in Fall River, was introduced to St. Anne’s Credit Union, he had been faced with a steady diet of empty promises from what he calls “those big name companies.” “I had tried to refinance my business in the past, but I never found the right tool for the job. I could never achieve my goals,” Paul says. But that all changed, he says, when he met Ed Moniz from St. Anne’s Credit Union.
Paul Medeiros (left) of Paul’s Auto Body and Sales with Ed Moniz, Senior Business Development Specialist, St. Anne’s Credit Union
“Ed was very honest and helpful right from the beginning. I was told what my rate was going to be, what fees would apply. That never changed. We remained in constant contact from the beginning to the very end. It was a great experience — one I would recommend to anyone,” Paul explains. “Who knew that I would find “the right tools for this job” in my own backyard? Ed Moniz and St. Anne’s Credit Union helped me achieve my goals.”
Ready for a local banker who’s the perfect match for your business? Call Ed Moniz today at (508) 542-7949.
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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13 Unitarian Church Tours
Town Hall Shops
Unitarian Church, 102 Green St. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Booths by non-profit groups. Face painting. Drop-off for Toys and Food donations for the needy Wrapping Paper Making & Art Sale Town Hall, 40 Center St., 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Design and make unique wrapping paper Brick Church Fair Art on Center, 15 Center St., 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Craft booths, baked goods, thrift shop & more Congregational Church, 34 Center St., 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Holiday Soup & Sandwich Luncheon Harrop Center, Center St., 11 a.m. -1:30 p.m.
Holiday Marketplace
Craft booths, holiday greens & more Unitarian Church, 102 Green St., 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.
Lobster Roll Luncheon
Congregational Church, 34 Center St., 11 a.m. - ?
Town Hall Sing-along
Town Hall, 40 Center St., 6:00 p.m. Sponsored by the Fairhaven Improvement Association.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14 Old-Time Christmas Carol Sing
Service of Lessons and Carols
Trinity Lutheran Church, 16 Temple Pl., 1:00 p.m. Unitarian Memorial Church, 102 Green St., 4:00 p.m. The Old-Time Holiday Weekend is sponsored by Fairhaven non-profit and church groups and is coordinated by the Fairhaven Office of Tourism. Complete program listings are available from http://Fairhaventours.com. For more information, contact the Fairhaven Office of Tourism, 141 Main Street, Fairhaven, telephone 508-979-4085, email FairhavenTours@aol.com. Town of Fairhaven Visitors Center hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday 8:00 a.m. to Noon and 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. The Visitors Center will not be open on Saturday, December 13, during the Old-Time Holiday.
FOR LEASE PROFESSIONAL OFFICE SPACE
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contents
DECEMBER 2014
In every issue
YOUR MONEY
4 From the Publisher 32 Dateline South Coast
28 Economic advice
By Elizabeth Morse Read
COVER STORY
6
10
Remember Jesus
By SHERRI MAHONEY-BATTLES
BUSINESS BUZZ
30 Rallying around the rail By STEVE SMITH
By Michael J. Vieira
ON MY MIND
Volunteer opportunities
38 Ebola panic
By Sean McCarthy
By PAUL E. KANDARIAN
20 Rediscover reading By JOYCE ROWLEY
THINGS TO Do Off-street parking (16 spaces), handicap accessible, separate zoned heating (gas HVAC), electric, cable, and city water and sewer make this downtown Fall River location a prime deal in a prime area. Walk to the courthouses, library, City Hall, Registry of Deeds and other businesses—plus it’s conveniently located near Interstate 195. Previously leased as a doctor’s office. Call now to arrange your lease:
508-677-9500
Bernard P. Giroux 150 Purchase Street, Fall River, MA 508-677-9500 Office 774-273-3278 Mobile
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December 2014 / The South Coast Insider
12
Holiday happenings
By Jay Pateakos
18 Christmas in Fall River By Sean McCarthy
BOOK GIFT GUIDE
22 Holiday page turners By LAURA LATOUR
FOOD NOTES
24 Amazing appetizers
By Elizabeth Morse Read
ON THE COVER
With so many things to do during the holidays, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. This issue is here to help. From the best events to the best gifts, we’ll show you how to make the most of the season.
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FROM THE PUBLISHER December 2014 / Vol. 18 / No. 12 Published by
Coastal Communications Corp.
Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Ljiljana Vasiljevic
Ready or not, the holiday season has arrived.
Editor
While taking a break from feverishly filling out Christmas cards and making sure everyone on your list has the perfect gift, I encourage you to take a moment and remember the true reason for the season. Michael J. Vieira spoke to various religious leaders in the region and they share their thoughts on how to honor Jesus during the celebration of his birth. His story can be found on page 6.
Derek Vital
Online Editor Paul Letendre
Contributors
Paul E. Kandarian, Laura LaTour, Tom Lopes, Sherri Mahoney-Battles, Sean McCarthy, Jay Pateakos, Elizabeth Morse Read, Joyce Rowley, Stephen C. Smith, Michael J. Vieira
The South Coast Insider is published monthly for visitors and residents of the South Coast area. The Insider is distributed free of charge from Mount Hope Bay to Buzzards Bay. All contents copyright Š2014 Coastal Communications Corp. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, by any means, without written permission from the Publisher. All information contained herein is believed to be reliable. Coastal Communications Corp. does not assume any financial responsibility for typographical errors in advertisements, but will reprint that portion of an advertisement in which the typographical error occurs.
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Address
There are numerous volunteer opportunities in the region, many of which involve lending a hand to the less fortunate. What better way to get into the Christmas spirit than by giving your time to organizations like the Salvation Army or the Hunger Commission? Sean McCarthy details the good work done by these groups on page 10. Given our fast-paced lifestyles and short attention spans, reading literature as a hobby has gone the way of the cassette tape and the typewriter . On page 20, Joyce Rowley introduces you to UMass Dartmouth professor Robert Waxler, who recently penned a book explaining why we should find time in our hectic schedules for these classic novels. Tired of the same old chips and dip? Looking for something unique to put out at your holiday spread? Elizabeth Morse Read shares some mouth-watering recipes that are sure to leave your guests satisfied on page 24. There are countless bazaars, festivals, plays and musical performances in the region over the upcoming weeks that are sure to get you into the holiday spirit. A special thanks go out to our sponsors who made it possible to put this issue together. Happy holidays!
The South Coast Insider 144 Purchase Street Fall River, MA 02722
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December 2014 / The South Coast Insider
A SOUTH COAST HOLIDAY TRADITION AT THE ZEITERION!
FREE AND CONVENIENT PARKING IN THE ZEITERION PARKING GARAGE
Enjoy traditional holiday music by our orchestra, with appearances by soprano Patrice Tiedemann, the NBSYO and the Showstoppers! The 3:30pm performance includes a fun game with Mrs. Claus, a treat for each child, and a visit from Santa! The 7:00pm performance features more music, less Santa!
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20
3:30PM & 7PM
FAMILY HOLIDAY POPS CONCERT
MAGICAL MOMENTS
Concert Sponsors: Go a Have It!, Inc. & St. Anne’s Credit Union
CONCERT TICKETS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE Z BOX OFFICE AT 508-994-2900 OR ONLINE: WWW.NBSYMPHONY.ORG Season Presenting Sponsors
Season Underwriters
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Unique source for holiday gift items at surprisingly affordable prices! Books • Candy • Home Decor • Fashion Accessories including jewelry, umbrellas and scarves Items of Local Interest Visit our Candy Department for the largest selection of nostalgic treats in the area!
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The South Coast Insider / December 2014
5
cover story
The reason for the season
In some ways we’ve lost the real spirit of Christmas. You want to put Jesus back into the season. Find joy in giving.
By Michael J. Vieira
— Bishop Edgar Moreira da Cunha
Christmas is coming—ready or not. Whether you start decorating the day after Halloween or on Christmas Eve and whether you toss the tree on Christmas night or Little Christmas, you’re likely to feel the stress of the season. With Hallmark ornaments arriving in August and the mall decorated before the leaves fall, there’s a lot of pressure to deck the halls. Has Christmas become too much of a commercial holiday? Comedian Chris Rock in his opening monologue on a recent Saturday Night Live made an interesting observation: “We commercialize everything,” he said, “Look what we did to Christmas?” Rock suggested that Jesus was probably the least materialistic person to ever roam the earth. “No bling on Jesus,” he said. But not only did we commercialize his birthday, Rock said, but there’s an entire season of materialism – followed by an economist who tells how “horrible” the Jesus Birthday
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season was. And it gets worse. We fight over calling a decorated evergreen a “Christmas tree” or a “Holiday Tree.” Some get angry if they’re wished Merry Christmas. You can’t decorate schools or public spaces. Get over it. I don’t care if you celebrate Chanukah or Festivus, the Solstice or Kwanzaa, or nothing at all. In fact, I’ll join you in marking any special date you want. But Christmas is Christmas—it’s not just a day off. If you don’t believe in it, don’t celebrate—and if this offends you, don’t read it. For those who appreciate the reason for the season, we’ve turned to some experts, a few South Coast religious leaders, for their thoughts
December 2014 / The South Coast Insider
on how we can rediscover the true meaning of season.
Find joy in giving
The Diocese of Fall River extends from Mansfield to Provincetown to the Rhode Island line, and the faithful have a new leader, Bishop Edgar Moreira da Cunha. He was born in Brazil and ordained in Newark, New Jersey, where he served as a priest and Bishop. Pope Francis named him as the eighth Bishop of Fall River in July 2014 and he was installed in September. He’s been a priest since 1982 and around for more than 60 years, so he should have a good idea about the state of the holiday. “In some ways we’ve lost the real spirit of Christmas,” Bishop da Cunha said, “You want to put
Jesus back into the season.” Although he pointed out that it’s nice to exchange gifts with people we love, it’s also important to share with those who are not “part of our circle” of family and friends. He stressed that it’s especially important to instill in the next generation what Christmas is all about—and that’s not Santa and shiny things. “Christmas is a time of sharing,” da Cunha said. “Sharing our time, sharing our gifts, and sharing with those in need. There are so many soup kitchens feeding the hungry and other charitable organizations,” Bishop da Cunha suggested folks check the Internet and local newspapers for ways to help. Although new to the area, Continued on PAGE 8
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Holiday Open HOUSE WEEKEND – December 5,6, & 7
GIVE A GIFT PROGRAM This holiday season, we’re partnering with St. Vincent’s Home in Fall River. We’ll be donating new, unwrapped gifts for the children and youths served by St. Vincent’s.
You can help! Come in to Plante’s any business day from November 1 – December 24. Bring a gift for the children, and get a gift from us!
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Open: Monday-Saturday, 9am-6pm
YMCA SOUTHCOAST Dartmouth YMCA 508.993.3361
Fall River YMCA 508.675.7841
ymcasouthcoast.org
Gleason Family YMCA 508.295.9622
Mattapoisett YMCA 508.758.4203
New Bedford YMCA 508.997.0734
The South Coast Insider / December 2014
7
Gifts to give Feed the poor
A quick search of the Internet brought up a listing of 16 Fall River Soup Kitchens (www.fall-river-mass.com/assistance/soup-kitchens/) and 17 Soup Pantries (www.fall-river-mass.com/assistance/foodpantries/). The Homeless Shelter Directory provides an extensive list of food banks and soup kitchens in Bristol County, as well as homeless shelters and other resources (www.homelessshelterdirectory.org/cgi-bin/id/countyfb. cgi?county=Bristol-County&state=MA)
Help the needy
Many Roman Catholic Churches have St. Vincent de Paul societies that quietly help the needy. Check a your local parish. The Society also has a store in Fall River at 1799 Pleasant Street and at 141 Washington Street in Taunton. Many churches also have donation boxes in their parking lots. The Salvation Army is always helping—and looking for help. The largest area store is on Route 6 in Swansea, which also operates as a donation center. In addition, you can donate to the bell ringers, at other locations, or online at https://donate.salvationarmyusa.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=206. Volunteers are also needed.
Buy a toy
If you’re shopping list has shrunk due to deaths or other changes, you can still have fun buying things for others. Bristol Community College and many churches usually have “Giving Trees” this time of year. “Toys for Tots” is another charity that has provided more than 469 million toys to more than 216 million children since it began as a Marine Corps Reserve project. Swansea Mall and the Barber Shoppe on Route 6 in Swansea will be collecting toys for the group this holiday season. This year, gifts for children 9 to 14 are especially needed. New, unwrapped toys should be brought in before December 12.
Help raise funds
Want an easy way to help and to get into the spirit of the season? Head to the Channing Church in Newport on December 4 for the seventh annual acoustic Christmas concert. “Singing for Shelter,” is a fund-raising benefit for two local homeless shelters. For tickets, call 401-849-4250. Another opportunity is “The Brick Church Fair,” on Saturday, December 13 at the First Congregational Church, 34 Center Street, Fairhaven. From 10 a.m.-3 p.m., the church will be alive with activity. Look for crafts and home cooked food including hot dogs, chowder and lobster rolls (11 a.m. to 1 p.m. or until gone) to Vermont cheddar cheese. There will also be a Chance Auction, and the “Heavenly Treasures” our second-hand shop will be open all day. For more information, call 508-99333368 or email fccof@juno.com
Volunteer
The New Bedford YMCA is looking for volunteers to work with area youths after school. Call 508-675-7841 or email education-center@ymcasouthcoast. org. You can also be a mentor, help with a church or youth group, of assist at a local school.
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TheSouth SouthCoast CoastInsider Insider December 2014 / The
Continued FROM PAGE 6
Bishop da Cunha is beginning to get a sense of his new Diocese. “Look around, you can see many places” Bishop da Cunha added, “They need help.” Most people agree that the giver also receives a good feeling knowing they are helping others. “If you can’t give time, give your treasures,” he suggested the important thing is offering whatever it is that people can give. “Find joy in giving,” the Bishop said.
Learn from the birds
Reverend Thomas C. Lopes began his ministry at St. Elizabeth’s Church in Fall River, where I first met him,
in order to prepare a dwelling place for the Lord in my life,” he said. This exercise provides the priest with an opportunity, “to ponder the Redemption during Advent, so that the hurried pace of Christmas will not take us from our nesting time, to prepare my heart daily and to develop a deeper awareness of how Christ dwells among us.” “God’s word and life comes to us in a quiet unassuming, and ordinary way. Each of the bits and pieces of everyday life make up the content of our nest, where God asks us to hollow out a welcoming place, to create a space for Him where perhaps He has never been before,” Father Tom said. Who said Christmas is for the birds?
Another simple, but important, way to keep the Christmas spirit alive is very simply wishing people a happy or blessed Christmas. — Father Jason Brilhante but has also served on the Cape and in New Bedford. The native of Martha’s Vineyard retired after 43 years as pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in North Easton. He lives in Fall River and helps at area parishes. Rather than looking to the mall, Father Tom looks to nature to prepare for the season. “I have had the custom of going out into the woods after trees lose their leaves, and locating a bird nest to bring to my prayer room” he noted, crediting Joyce Rupp with the idea. “The nest is a symbol of the home made from everyday fragments,” Father Tom suggested. “It’s also a symbol of a hallowed dwelling place to receive the gift of life.” He added that the nest can also be put on a table in the center of an Advent wreath. “For the four weeks before Christmas, I reflect on the ‘welcoming nest’
Merry Christmas
Has the meaning of Christmas changed for younger clergy? We turned to Father Jason Brilhante of St. Mary’s Parish in Mansfield. Father Jason was ordained in 2012. The young priest grew up in the North End of Fall River and suggested some simple ways to bring the spirit of the season back into daily life. “‘Jesus is the reason for the season’ is a common quote I hear often from Christians making an effort to remind folks why we have a Christmas holiday,” he said. Father Jason pointed out it’s all about choices. “It’s important as Christians living in a secular culture which attempts to make all things equal, to be attentive to what kind of Christmas cards are purchased and mailed, as well as what choice of stamps are used:
Blessed Virgin Mother and Child or Happy Holiday? “Although a seemingly small matter, it communicates a distinguishing message that God came among us for our salvation and this is why we celebrate Christmas,” he continued. It also doesn’t take a lot of effort, the priest suggested: “Another simple, but important, way to keep the Christmas spirit alive is very simply wishing people a happy or blessed Christmas.”
Go to the light
Sometimes people forget that all even Christmas lights are a symbol. Father David Andrade of St. Louis de France Church in Swansea makes that connection. “Despite the difficulties we face at times and the darkness that can seem to be all around us, we rejoice for the light of the world is with us bringing us His hope and peace,” Andrade noted. “Jesus looks to you and I today to continue to make this celebration a reality in our homes and in our world. He looks to us to bring His light to those in darkness and His hope to those in despair.” So despite the commercialization of the season, Father Dave stresses the religious significance. “This celebration is about opening our hearts to God’s amazing love,” he said, adding: “It’s about transforming our hearts into places of welcome for the Christ child; to be a real dwelling place for the God of love, mercy and compassion.” And it’s a time for Christians to act like Christians. “Let us pray for one another that as we celebrate the joy of Christmas others may come to see by our actions the prince of peace in our midst,” he suggested. In the end, whether you celebrate Christmas or not is an individual decision—as is whether to see the season as a burden or a joy, as the United States Conference of Bishops Catholic Bishops suggested in a Christmas 2008 homily. “Only if people change will the world change; and in order to
change, people need the light that comes from God, the light which so unexpectedly [on the night of Christmas] entered into our night.”
ALL ON ONE CAMPUS
Share your gifts
So, if we believe in Christmas and we want to make it less commercial, what can we do? From a young age, I saw what the St. Vincent de Paul Society did for the needy. My father was a member and my own family helped with Giving Trees and other projects in Somerset and Swansea. Most parishes have a Conference, and St. Louis de France Church is no different. Nelson Carpentier, the president, pointed out that, like many others, the Vincentians try their best to help the poor and the needy year round, especially around the holidays. “For Thanksgiving, all of our members get together, and prepare boxes of groceries, along with a turkey and a gift card to local grocery stores to just about all the clients that we helped during the year,” he said. Having seen that group and others in action, helping others isn’t painful. In fact, it can be fun. “In watching the members going about their work, I’m reminded of the elves at the North Pole, helping Santa to do his work,” Carpentier said. “For Christmas, we ask our parishioners to donate toys or clothing to all the needy people we helped during the year. The reception is astounding. We not only have enough gifts for our clients, but we have a truck load that goes to the St. Vincent de Paul store in Fall River which they give to many of their needy clients.” And that’s a good thing. So, how can you help? As Bishop da Cunha suggested, “just look around.” He’s right. Like the star and the angels of the first Christmas, these local newspapers, bulletin boards in stores and restaurants, church bulletins, and friends and family can all provide signs to follow which can lead to the true spirit of Christmas. You just have to look and to follow. On the previous page we’ve provided some Christmas gift list suggestions.
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The South Coast Insider / December 2014
9
cover story
Making a differ ence By SEAN McCARTHY
The world’s most prosperous nation is also the most giving. In spite of this, poverty still exists in America. And the South Coast battles with it like any other region or city in Massachusetts.
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December 2014 / The South Coast Insider
relies on more than 1,000 volunteers during the holiday season for similar tasks. “It’s a crazy time of year and there’s a whole variety of things to do,” Major Elizabeth Deming of Fall River Salvation Army says. “You could do anything from sweeping floors to handing out turkeys. But there’s a positive experience all around.”
Labor of love
Sandy Medeiros is a volunteer from Fairhaven who works in the New Bedford food pantry full time and takes on additional responsibilities during the holidays.
“It’s a lot of work but it’s a wonderful experience,” Medeiros says. “People are often embarrassed to take food so we try to make them feel as comfortable as possible. It’s nice to be the giver and hard to be the receiver. This program will make you appreciate what you have,” Medeiros says. This season is an open door for those who wish to experience the gratification of holiday kindness. There are ample other chances to give. If someone is cold or hungry they’re not concerned with brand names or pricey cuisine. And a child without a toy is a bad thing any time of year. The Fall River Salvation Army will put together its
deanpictures
I
magine a Christmas tree with few gifts. A plate with little food. A winter without warmth. For some South Coast families this is the reality of the holiday season. But for many it is not. And those people can make a significant difference. If someone wants to experience greater meaning and humanity during this time of year, they should know that a little contribution can have large consequences. Volunteers are needed to give not only food and clothing but time and energy. There are multiple ways to play an important role in the lives of others. This year the Salvation Army of New Bedford will require more than 200 volunteers to prepare for the holiday demands. They still need more hands to help. Major Gilbert Parkhurst of the New Bedford Salvation Army says that one of the organization’s greatest needs is for people to ring bells at their traditional red kettles that are positioned throughout the region. The kettles are a major source of income for the organization. Another area that the group requires assistance with the sorting of the toys that flood the organization each year. They anticipate 4,000 children being given two toys and a book, which demands much assistance with sorting. The group also needs help with stocking their shelves with the food they receive from local businesses and groups that host canned food drives. This task requires at least a two-week commitment worth of work. The New Bedford Salvation Army
annual “Clothe the Child Program” which is supported by local donations of coats and money to buy more. As many as 3,000 coats will be supplied. Deming says that the giving spirit persists regardless of the ethnicity of the client. “No matter what the language is, a smile is universal,” Deming says. “People may come to us for many different reasons. There could be a death, a medical emergency or they may have had their hours cut. But having them know that we’re here is a big help.” Both Fall River and New Bedford Salvation Armies will be giving out free meals this season. They will be giving out complete turkey dinners at Thanksgiving and ham dinners at Christmas. Each organization will feed nearly 2,000 families this season. To reach New Bedford, call (508) 997-6561. To reach Fall River, call (508) 679-7900. Either group can provide directions for finding a local pantry.
Feed the hungry
The Southeastern Massachusetts Food Security Network is an organization that deals with hunger issues from Westport to Wareham. They study the factors that cause and contribute to “food insecurity” in the region—and they do something about it. Begun in 2010 and based out of the Dartmouth YMCA, one of the organization’s major roles is making sure the shelves of regional food pantries are fully stocked. If things are getting sparse in one pantry, the organization will step in to keep them sufficiently stocked. The Hunger Commission, a division of the Greater New Bedford United Way is a major provider of food to regional food pantries. But there are other supplies who assist such as grocers, farmers, supermarkets, and restaurants. The area has 20 food pantries and they are always looking for a helping hand. “The Hunger Commission is particularly helpful to the smaller pantries that don’t have large vehicles to pick up and deliver food,” says Helena DaSilva Hughes, Director of the Immigrants Assistance Center in New Bedford. And when the good cheer has passed, there are many who will still be in need of basics such as food and warmth. People in poverty are going to choose shelter and warmth first, which results in a greater number of people at local pantries. “Volunteers are the lifeblood of what these pantries do,” says Food Security Network Chairman Derek Hein. “Every community is suffering and our need is to be making sure we’re good neighbors and good citizens. It’s very simple to get on the phone and get in touch with an organization in your area. We all know how important it is to eat.”
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THINGS TO DO
Nothing says Christmas like the New Bedford 5K Santa Run which takes place on December 14 at 11 a.m.
Holiday happenings By Jay Pateakos
Growing up on the South Coast in the 70s, there was nowhere near the activities around the holidays that we find this year. We had Mitch Miller, the master of sing-along-songs, who would grace downtown New Bedford each year while the whole family fought through the extreme cold just to get a glimpse of him and to sing a few songs along the way. Edaville Railroad, still alive and thriving today, was another as was Attleboro’s LaSalette Shrine and its massive arrays of lights. That was basically it, and for many of us, enough. But today, cities and towns pull out all the stops to get residents and tourists alike to get involved and see what these places have to offer. Those offerings seem limitless, especially here in the South Coast. In Fairhaven, the 17th Annual Old-Time Holiday takes place on December 13 and 14 in the town’s historical center. Fairhaven Tourism Director Chris Richard said this event, created by the Office of Tourism in 1998,
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December 2014 / The South Coast Insider
brings together most of the town’s non-profit, civic, school and church groups in a cooperative effort to celebrate the holidays and raise funds, with more than 30 organizations having a hand in it. “The town of Fairhaven has a rich history and a collection of fine old buildings in the center,” said Richard. “The weekend was first called the “Very Victorian Holiday” to harken back to the days of Fairhaven benefactor Henry H. Rogers, who built the Town Hall, the Millicent Library, the Unitarian Church and other town buildings. At first some of the participants dressed in 19th-century costumes. As time went on, people dressed in traditional clothing of other periods, such as the Fairhaven
Village Militia in colonial garb. So the name was changed to “Old-Time Holiday”, to be less period specific, but evoke the past.” Children’s activities include cookie decorating, some old-fashioned toys and face painting. There’s even the chance to make wrapping paper as well as opportunities to visit with Santa or Father Christmas with Santa arriving on a fire truck at the Town Hall sing-along on Saturday night. “The idea of the Old-Time Holiday Weekend was a suggestion I made as Tourism Director in 1998,” said Richard. “Before then, holiday events were held at different times by different groups﹘church bazaars, etc. But the attendance was mostly by lo-
cal people associated with some of those groups,” said Richard. “By gathering the events together on the same weekend, giving it a name﹘Old-Time Holiday Weekend﹘and promoting it to people regionally it draws larger crowds because people from out of town know that they can go from place to place within the area of a few blocks and enjoy three different fairs, food and other activities. Additionally there are some great shops and restaurants very nearby, too. This approach proved to be very successful and this is now the 17th year we’re doing it.” Richard said coming to the Old-Time Holiday, you’ll be able to do some great gift shopping, enjoy a soup and sandwich or a lobster roll and chowder, and while you’re doing it, help support about 30 non-profit civic, school and church groups who participate to raise funds for their own community projects.
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Shining a light on the holidays
LaSalette Shrine, one of my personal favorites, will be celebrating its 61st year putting on its “Festival of Lights”, illuminating most of the South Coast with its massive 450,000 Christmas lights. Shine Director Rev. Cyriac Chandy Mattathil Nickel said this year’s theme is “Jesus: Light of Life”, which will feature more than 2,000 nativity scenes, the most displayed anywhere in New England, representing more than 100 different countries. Rev. Cyriac said each Friday through Sunday, LaSalette will hold free concerts inside the Welcome Center, along with Father Pat’s concerts that play at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. daily except Mondays. Cyriac said they will be holding a Christmas Craft Fair from Nov. 28 to 30 featuring dozens of vendors and options from crafts and more. The former cafeteria, where I remember spending much time at as a kid to warm my frozen fingers and toes, has been completely remodeled into the “Food Court at LaSalette”, open every day throughout the season besides Thanksgiving and Christmas. In addition to daily masses and a religious article store, LaSalette will also feature trolley and hayrides throughout the season, a Children’s Carnival, pictures with Santa, visits with Clopper, the live donkey set up at one of the Nativity scenes. “The biggest draw is the variety of lights and we’ve been able to get into greener options for these lights over the last few years,” said Rev. Cyriac. “It’s the variety of the displays that really draw attention and get people to come.” Continued on NEXT PAGE
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But Rev. Cyriac noted it isn’t all about the lights either, with advent mass and daily confessions also going on throughout the season. “Make a pilgrimage to the Shrine and get blessings from the Blessed Virgin Mary,” said Rev. Cyriac. “And come and see our live nativity and over 2,000 sets from over 100 countries.” For more information, go to www.lasaletteshrine. org.
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driving by wondering what’s going on and the people leaving our event are telling them to park the car and come up here,” said Binette. “They couldn’t believe all that they got that day and paying nothing for it.” The festival will also feature food options this year as well as face painting. The Fall River Historical Society’s Victorian Open House and its theme “Deck the Halls” will be open from Nov. 22 to Dec. 30, also with free admission, though donations are appreciated.
“It’s a great event for a lot of families that maybe can’t afford high admission rates at other places.”
In Fall River, the Historical Society will put on its 3rd Annual Holiday Festival: Sights & Sounds of the Season, on Sunday, November 30, from noon to 5 p.m. The free festival, underwritten by the city of Fall River and Greater Fall River Re-Creation, takes place on the closed-down Maple Street between Rock and High Streets. The day will feature pony rides, a petting zoo, sing-a-long with Mrs. Claus, photos with Santa Claus and much more. “It’s a great event for a lot of families that maybe can’t afford high admission rates at other places,” said Historical Society Assistant Curator Dennis Binette. “With this festival, everything is free, even the pony rides.” Binette said over the first two years of the rain or shine event, between 1,500 and 2,000 people attended. “It’s been really, really positive, with people
New Bedford events
This article first originated as a “First Night” piece, but I quickly realized it wasn’t going to go that far. New Bedford is the only city in our area that still hosts one. But that’s only the beginning (or end in this case) of what New Bedford has in store for family-friendly activities this holiday season. On Saturday December 6, the city of New Bedford will hold its Annual Tree Lighting beginning at 4:30 p.m. with a parade up William Street to the main branch of the New Bedford Public Library, culminating with the lighting of the tree at 5 p.m. Appearances by Santa & Mrs. Claus, New Bedford High School Marching Band, Mayor Jon Mitchell and the City Council are on tap for this festive annual event, with New Bedford Tourism Director Dagny Ashley promising special entertainment and a holiday surprise. On Sunday, December 7, the Festival of Lights Celebration will take place at Clasky Common Park beginning at 5 p.m. Downtown will host a singalong, horse carriage rides and a visit from Santa
By gathering the events together on the same weekend, giving it a name﹘Old-Time HolidayWeekend﹘and promoting it to people regionally it draws larger crowds.”
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December 2014 / The South Coast Insider
On Saturday December 6, the city of New Bedford will hold its Annual Tree Lighting beginning at 4:30 p.m.
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Claus the following two weekends. The New Bedford Preservation Society’s time-honored 23rd Annual Holiday House Tour will be held on December 13 from 4 to 8 p.m. and from 1 to 5 p.m. the following day. Starting at the Wamsutta Club. DNB, Inc.’s annual Downtown Holiday Stroll will take place December 6 and 7, helping to officially kick off the Holiday Season in downtown New Bedford. The historic district will be decorated with fresh laurel, red ribbons and white lights, thanks to your donations and our crew of volunteer decorators, Ashley said. The city will string the lights throughout the business district creating a festive atmosphere. And finally on Dec. 31, New Bedford will celebrate New Year’s Eve with its annual First Night festivities featuring ice sculpting, fire eating, magic, music, delicious food and many more activities at Custom House Square, where you can ring in the
New Year in downtown New Bedford. “City Celebrates! New Year’s Eve is a great opportunity to celebrate the start of 2015 with friends and family in downtown New Bedford and we invite everyone to join us,” said New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell. All festivities are from 5 to 8 p.m. with spectacular fireworks on the waterfront by State Pier at 8:30 p.m. For more information on the many holiday activities, go to www.DestinationNewBedford.org for more details on all Holiday Happenings and City Celebrates New Year’s Eve. And there you have it, or maybe one-sixteenth of it, and if we only had more space, we could get into more of what’s going on this holiday season on the South Coast. So consider this a brief snapshot of the many more things to come this year and how lucky we are to be surrounded by this many diverse and eclectic selections of holiday activities. Mitch Miller would certainly be proud.
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5 Pomegranate Centerpiece Basket $22 Four Town Farm, Seekonk, MA (508) 336-5587, 4townfarm.com This beautiful centerpiece is made with Noble fir, western red cedar, green holly, incense cedar, faux pomegranates, berries, and cones. If this isn’t quite your style, there is still a large selection of centerpieces, wreaths, swags, garlands, Christmas trees, and poinsettias to help you deck your halls. 6 Handmade Bracelet $155 Plante Jewelers 207 Swansea Mall Drive Swansea, MA 02777 Want to be pretty in pink this holiday? This handmade bracelet by Leah Hanoud has creamy freshwater coin pearls and pink tourmaline beads. It’s finished with a sterling silver toggle clasp.
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December 2014 / The South Coast Insider
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9 Sweet Karma Rose Bouquet $37 Sweet Karma Cakes (774) 271-6189, sweetkarmacakes.com Perfect for any celebration, the Sweet Karma Rose Bouquet is fifteen of your favorite cupcakes arranged into a beautiful floral centerpiece. Wow your guests this holiday! Gift certificates also available. 10 DOUBLE-STRAND NECKLACE AND EARRING SET $32 Deina Zartman, New Bedford, MA AdornmentsbyDeina.com deinazartman@gmail.com Surprise that special someone with something special, like this one-of-a-kind handmade necklace and earring set in subtle shades of pink and teal. Artist Deina Zartman creates unique and affordable jewelry from new, vintage and “re-upped” beads and findings available online. 11 Wood, Wind and Water, A Story of the Opera House Cup Race of Nantucket $45 Anne T. Converse Photography, Marion, MA (508) 728-6210, annetconverse.com This book consists of photos by Anne T. Converse, and text written by Carolyn M. Ford. Live vicariously through the stunning pictures and colorful tales of classic wooden yacht owners with a passionate commitment, who restore and race these gems of the sea. A visual tribute to preserve a piece of our yachting aesthetic, this is a collectable for sailors and yacht lovers worldwide. 12 Pedego Comfort Cruiser $1,995+ Pedego Electric Bikes RI, Bristol, RI 401-675-2000, pedegori.com What better way to start the new year than on a custom electric bicycle? With speeds of up to 20 mph and a range of up to 40 miles, these electric bikes are the cleanest, quietest, and coolest way to get around. They come in array of colors, sure to satisfy your tastes.
The South Coast Insider / December 2014
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THINGS TO DO
Celebrate the season
The Fall River Historical Society draws thousands of visitors during the holiday season”
By SEAN McCARTHY
It is a holiday celebration like no other. For more than 30 years, the Fall River Historical Society has transformed its museum into an elegant extravaganza that attracts thousands of people eager to indulge in the Christmas season—a one-of-a-kind experience that requires tireless planning and efforts of the museum staff and volunteers.
Each year the showcase attracts upwards of 5,000 visitors who enjoy the displays, events and extraordinary three-floor gift store. But the main attraction is the extraordinarily adorned Christmas trees. “It’s like entering another world,” says Society Curator Michael Martins. “We’re particularly noted for our spectacularly decorated trees. Our attention to detail is exacting and we’re very particular to the subtleties.” This year’s event will showcase five trees. Each year the Society has different dressings for each of their trees, which results in a large flow of repeat
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December 2014 / The South Coast Insider
guests. There is no admission charge to the event. The Society is located at 415 Rock Street in Fall River. The display begins on November 22 and runs until December 30. They are open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 1 to 5. The Society can be reached at (508)-679-1071. Previous trees included an Ode to Marie Antoinette, a nine-foot frosted tree with ornaments that are similar to 18th century France. It was decorated with more than a thousand white feathers and over 300 yards of ribbon. Another tree was dedicated to Krampus, a
demon-like creature from German folklore who punished bad children and converted them to earn Santa Claus’s favor. He would pull their ears and hit them with a birch switch and give them coal for the holiday. The Krampus tree was almost entirely black and decorated with white lights and decorated with vintage, hand-made ornaments depicting Krampus. The skirt of the tree consisted of 100 pounds of coal. The theme of “A Mid-Winter Night’s Dream” included an upside-down tree with 50 bags of artificial snow, mounted with a giant Christmas package. It was decorated in silver, blue and white with more than 100 poinsettia blossoms. There were a Russian tree with hand-blown reproductions of Faberge eggs and a Nutcracker Festival Tree with a collection of more than 100 hand-carved and hand-painted German nutcrackers standing 14-feet high with nearly 6,000 lights. Each tree has a placard describing its history and theme.
A major event during this time is “The Sights and Sounds of the Season,” held on the Society’s grounds on November, 30. The event is a festival geared particularly towards families and children, including jugglers, magicians, balloon artists, carolers, a puppet show, pony rides and roasted chestnuts. The entire event is free with the exception of the beverages. This year, in the parlor, the showstopper is a 14-foot-tall confection laden with snow, crystals, and white flocked poinsettias; it is a veritable winter wonderland. In the dining room, the table features a unique centerpiece – a ten-foot tree hung with hundreds of hand-blown ornaments, glittering garlands, and yards of cascading ribbon, with the room decorated en suite. And the music room is home for a 10-foot upside-down tree that serves as an homage to Father Christmas. These are just some of the decorations that will surely delight visitors this holiday season. “This is a unique opportunity for this time of year,” says Assistant Curator Dennis Binette, who has been with the Society for 21 years. “It’s very enjoyable for families.” Last year’s event attracted nearly 3,000 attendees.
Tea time
Another unique opportunity is the Easton Tea House, located on the grounds of the Fall River Historical Society. Open on weekends after Thanksgiving from noon to 4:30 p.m., guests can imbibe tea while enjoying a three-course meal. The meal consists of a savory Chicken Salad Tartlet, a ham salad, a cucumber sandwich, fruit bread and a baked scone, before a pastry dessert. Accompany-
ing the food, guests can choose from 8 blends of delicious imported Ashby’s tea. “People like it particularly because it’s relaxing and gets them away from the hustle and bustle of that time of year,” Binette says.
Something for everyone
Another notable favorite is the Society’s gift shops. Located on all three floors of the building, they offer an array of unique gifts, with many selections for children such as candy canes, stuffed animals, and tree ornaments. The Society believes that they offer something for everyone. The stores also offer a wide selection of women’s jewelry, men’s and women’s accessories, candy, a bathroom shop that sells toiletries, and a thirdroom boutique devoted to women’s clothing. “We have a broad spectrum of opportunities for shoppers,” Binette says. “There are things available that you can’t find anywhere else.” Among those specialties are 300 mouth-blown glass ornaments. Cathy Kitchen has worked in the gift shop for 20 years. “This time of year this event creates an atmosphere that lifts peoples’ spirits,” said Kitchen. “It’s happy place and puts people in a positive mood. We have many return visitors. People marvel at the creativity and originality of the decorations. “It’s a very different atmosphere than the mall.” Planning for the event takes place throughout the year and the actual decorations begin in early October. “When you see people of all ages enjoying themselves all the hard work is worth it,” Martins says. “Making people happy is what this is all about.”
UPCOMING EVENT Made possible in part by the Fall River Cultural Council
Atwater-Donnelly December 4 • 7:00PM
The award-winning folk duo Atwater-Donnelly will perform a combination of American and Celtic folk music interspersed with poetry and dance. The event is FREE and open to the public, but reservations are required, so call ahead!
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Reservations accepted…or just drop in! For unique gift ideas, visit the gift shop at the Fall River Historical Society.
For further information call 508-679-1071 ext. 5 The South Coast Insider / December 2014
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December 2014 / The South Coast Insider
COVER STORY
Rediscover reading By Joyce Rowley
The end of the year is crowded with holiday gatherings, but we also need to make time for deep reflection on those things that are important to us and a time to set goals for the new year. Change is risky, and absorbing new ideas can be unsettling, but both are needed to stay connected to ourselves and others. That’s the argument that UMass Dartmouth literature professor Robert Waxler makes in his new book: “The Risk of Reading, How Literature Helps Us to Understand Ourselves and the World.” It is part scholarly critique of iconic narratives but also part call to arms to defend what Waxler calls “deep reading.” “There once was a sense that we were all literary people…If somebody was coming out with a new book, people would rush to get it,” Waxler said in an interview with Insider. “We’ve lost that, that energy and sense of what literature was about. We were reading deeply and we believed in it.” Now, Waxler said, people are reading for solutions. It’s an issue of how they’re reading and what they’re reading. “Moving quickly, browsing. Speed is more valuable. With the rhythm of the screen, reading becomes very fragmented. You’re not asking questions of yourself. The screen changes your sense of time and also your sense of space,” said Waxler. “Even when they’re offline, people are thinking about what’s online.” In making his argument, Waxler chose books that are popular and timeless: “Frankenstein,” “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” “The Old Man and the Sea,” “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” “Fight Club,” “Catcher in the Rye,” “ Heart of Darkness” and “The Sense of An Ending.” His hope is that people will go back and reread them in a new light with a deeper understanding of the story and themselves. We asked Professor Waxler a few questions about his book and the state of reading today.
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Q: What is the risk of reading? A: We map the story of our life onto the story we’re reading. It gives us a sense of the larger world. The risk of reading is that you will lose yourself in the book. There’s a risk that you will encounter something that you haven’t thought about before or discover something within you that you hadn’t thought of before. It’s risky. It transgresses boundaries. Every time you go back to read it, you will find something more in it. I can read these books ten or fifteen times, and I can still find something I hadn’t seen before.
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Q: You talk about the common themes of the linguistic narrative— stories shaped by the language—such as creation, life, death. What do you mean by instability as a theme?
A: Literary narrative as poetic language is also questioning us as we read it.
That will create instability. A really good book will make you question yourself and shake you up. We have an innate desire to know ourselves. It’s what drives us. Part of instability is wrestling with a notion that we’re mortal beings. There’s a sense of death that is part of the mystery of our lives. That will always cause instability. Deep reading will get us close to the edge of our own mortality. The language of the narrative allows us to go deeper and deeper into it without going over the edge.
Q: Why did you choose these books as examples of deep reading? A: One of the thematic issues I started with is, it’s not just a story, it’s the sense
that language itself is severely diminished [by the digital experience]. We’re losing a sense of our language, what’s so central to us as human beings. The book is our engagement with words. I chose books that I’ve thought a lot about and used [in teaching literature]. I wanted to choose books that I’ve enjoyed having conversations with students and with other critics over the years, so it wasn’t based on just one reading or one person. To me, those are voices that made a difference to an ongoing conversation about the book. When you read a book, it expands your experience of it and their voices add to the experience.
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Q: What makes these narratives so different? A: It’s the rich texture of the language; you enter into the sensuous language
that’s being offered as you journey into the book. Books for entertainment purposes are exhausted at the end. There’s nothing left. A good book stirs desire to either go back into the book or go back into the world and share the book or bring the renewed sense of yourself into the world.
Q: Do you have digital screens? A: I have a computer in my office. And I email as a central way to communicate in the office and at home. I haven’t joined social media, although I’ve been encouraged to get on Twitter. I’m not suggesting getting rid of devices, but instead taking a little more time to read deeply. You need moments in your life to help preserve a sense of coherent depth Maureen Tenn and in an endless network of a digital of your own self. Otherwise we get caught Cohen smile in world that works againstPam thetheir depth of language. We need to leave space to read shiny shop deeply into ourselves, to get a sense of our own narrative.
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508-672-2227 BackIntoBalance.net The South Coast Insider / December 2014
21
BOOK GIFT GUIDE
BY LAURA LATOUR / Partners Village Store
November 29, 2014 marks the fourth anniversary of “Small Business Saturday,” a campaign that encourages holiday shoppers to patronize brick and mortar businesses that are small and local. This day is meant to be a counterpart to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, which feature big box retail and e-commerce stores respectively. Here at Partners Village Store we always “think local” and we are very proud of our handpicked selection of books featuring local authors and local subject matter. In keeping with the theme, this month we are featuring the best books by local authors and for local audiences whether they are preschoolers or octogenarians.
The Coastal Table: Recipes Inspired by the Farmlands and Seaside of Southern New England by Karen Covey Union Park Press, $29.95 paperback
Spies in Revolutionary Rhode Island by Christian M. McBurney History Press $19.99 paperback
When Karen Covey moved to Mattapoisett, Massachusetts over a decade ago, she found an exceptional community of farmers, winemakers, chefs, cheesemakers, and fishermen thriving upon the region’s unique coastal geography, quietly producing some of the best food in the Northeast. Until recently, though, few outside the culinary world have discovered the breadth and caliber of ingredients available from the coastline of Southern New England. That’s about to change. Using her adopted region as inspiration, Covey captures seaside living in New England at its freshest and most innovative. This is the book for the home cook who yearns for the seaside and its flavors all year round.
Raised in Kingston, Rhode Island in a home built in 1809, Christian McBurney graduated from Brown University. He has written nearly half a dozen books on different aspects of Rhode Island history. His latest book, Spies in Revolutionary Rhode Island, examines how espionage played a vital role during the Revolutionary War in Rhode Island both when the British and later the French occupied Newport and the rest of Aquidneck Island. In his book, McBurney profiles men like William Taggart who enlisted the help of his son to pass messages from Middletown to the American army at Tiverton, and women like Ann Bates who disguised herself as a peddler and spied for the British during the Rhode Island Campaign. This book will be a surefire hit for the history-buff on your Christmas list.
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December 2014 / The South Coast Insider
The Mosquito Hours by Melissa Corliss DeLorenzo Thorncraft Publishing $14.99 paperback Melissa Corliss DeLorenzo grew up in Westport, Massachusetts and uses it’s landscape and people as inspiration for her first novel. Three generations of women gather in an old rusted screen house each dusk—the mosquito hour—to bridge the years between them. The Mosquito Hours explores the ways by which we navigate personal crises, the interaction of mothers and daughters, friends and lovers, all driven by the interweaving of this family of women. Residents of the southcoast will enjoy picking out local landmarks and will root for these feisty women fighting to hold their heads up high when circumstances try to beat them down.
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Your Peace of Mind Watch the Cookie! by Nancy Cote Published by Sky Pony Press $16.95 hardcover Nancy Cote has written seven books and illustrated more than three dozen picture books for children all from her studio right here in Somerset, Massachusetts. Her books have received many awards including the Society of School Librarians International Honor Book, Smithsonian Notable Book for Children, and Parenting Magazine “Best Book Award.” In her latest book, Watch the Cookie! she works as both author and illustrator to bring her whimsical story of bravery and friendship to life. In short, a truly fun read for little ones. (Best for ages 3-6)
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The Great Pirate Christmas Battle by Michael G. Lewis, illus. by Stan Jaskiel Pelican Publishing Company $16.99 hardcover Perfect for the holidays, this picture book is written and illustrated by two home-grown Massachusetts boys. Michael G. Lewis graduated from UMass Amherst with a BA in English and lives with his wife and four sons in Weymouth. Illustrator Stan Jaskiel attended the Massachusetts College of Art, has illustrated more than twenty children’s books and lives in Salem with his wife. Together they have created The Great Pirate Christmas Battle. This rollicking tale features hilarious illustrations and hidden surprises on every page. The young-and young at heart-will roar at this clever tale of merry mayhem year after year. (Best for ages 5-10)
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508.673.2982 The South Coast Insider / December 2014
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FOOD NOTES
Easy holiday appetizers BY Elizabeth Morse Read
Are you tired of those limp potato chips and carrot sticks with the Lipton onion-soup dip? Or the canned Vienna sausage with a mystery-cheese cube on a toothpick? Or tasteless deviled eggs?
At holiday time, everyone goes crazy about making and eating the “after-dinner” treats and nibbles —but why not improve upon your before-dinner treats and nibbles? Make your holidays extra special this year by doing a make-over on the old favorites and perfecting your skills as a host/ess.
Savor the flavors
Every country, every region, every neighborhood and family has its own culinary tradition. On special occasions and holidays, we should serve the unique dishes that highlight local ingredients and our collective heritage. The South Coast is rich in both—and the “nibbles” you serve should reflect that. There’s no excuse for serving the homogenized Howard Johnson’s/TGIF’s/Sara Lee version. Kick it up a notch, as Emeril (of Fall River) recommends. Savor the flavors of the South Coast.
South Coast pig-in-a-blanket
Pierce and boil cocktail-size linguica (to get rid of the excess fat) and let them drain and cool. Brush hot mustard or chopped red peppers on the rolled-
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December 2014 / The South Coast Insider
out reduced-fat crescent roll dough. (Tip: Keep the crescent roll dough in the ‘fridge until you’re ready to assemble the pig-in-a-blanket. It turns into Silly Putty at room temp, otherwise. Unroll them on a floured board so that they don’t stick to the counter.) Place the linguica at the widest end and roll it up. Brush with olive oil and sprinkle lightly with paprika. Place them an inch apart on a sprayed cookie sheet (they expand while baking) and bake for ten minutes in a preheated 375 degree oven until browned and crispy. If you’re not a big linguica fan, use Hebrew National beef cocktail franks instead.
Shake up the raw veggies platter
Instead of the same-old-same-old celery stalks and broccoli florets (who really wants to eat rabbit food, anyway?), try using different raw seasonal veggies like peeled slices of parsnip or kohlrabi, chunks of red peppers, small mushroom caps, zucchini spears, or cubes of squash. Instead of premixed or bottled dips, whip up some homemade yogurt dip/cheese [see sidebar]. Serve bite-sized
pieces of celery stuffed with low-fat cream cheesewith-chives or peanut butter.
Licorice carrots
Instead of putting out bowls of candy, serve these surprising tidbits! Peel a bag of fresh carrots and cut into bite-sized chunks. Cover and simmer in water with a handful of star anise pods until chunks are soft but still crisp. Drain, rinse off bits of anise and refrigerate overnight. Even your kids will like these.
Liven up the fruit platter
Out-of-season strawberries, melon balls and grapes gets old real fast, folks—that’s a summer platter. Didn’t your grandparents ever tell you about getting an orange in their Christmas stocking? Traditionally, imported fruits and nuts were the big treats at holiday time. Get into the holiday spirit and serve peeled sections of (seedless) clementines or tangerines, kiwi fruit and stuffed dates [see sidebar on page 28].
Perk up the deviled eggs
Devilled eggs are the Rodney Dangerfield of holiday appetizers. By the time the guests arrive, they’re rubbery and bland on the snacking table. Your heirloom deviled-eggs plate deserves better than that! But if you’ve finally mastered the art of peeling hard-boiled eggs without losing chunks of the whites, then you can put a new twist on an old appetizer by perking up the yolk mix and garnishes. Instead of using just the old mayo and mustard, add some wasabi or pesto or curry powder to the yolk mix. Or make your deviled egg surprisingly crunchy by adding some caviar to the yolk mix. You can gently press a thin slice of pimiento or a sliced olive on top. Or you can sprinkle half of the prepared deviled eggs with dill weed (green) and the other half with hot paprika (red) and arrange them prettily on a plate. (Just don’t try all-of-theabove at one time, okay?)
Kale canapes
All those cutesy little finger sandwiches at the office party can’t beat this! Make your own crostini by cutting thin slices (½ to 1 inch thick) of garlic ciabatta bread, brush them with olive oil, then crisp them in a hot oven on a cookie sheet until the edges are browned. When they’ve cooled enough to handle, spread each with a spoonful of blanched kale [see sidebar]. Top with a splash of hot sauce and either a shaved sliver of parmesan or a sprinkle of shredded mozzarella. Return them to the oven until the cheese melts, and serve hot or cold.
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Don’t forget the seafood!
Everyone tries to serve bacon-wrapped scallops or stuffed shrimp or some other exotic cholesterol-laden seafood appetizer around the holidays. Save yourself time, money and burnt offerings by making baked spicy clam puffs, instead.
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2 large russet potatoes, peeled, chopped, rinsed n 3 cups clam broth n 1 medium onion, chopped n 1 bay leaf n 3, 6.5 cans clams (2 minced, 1 chopped), drained (reserve broth) n 2 large eggs n 3 tablespoons cilantro, finely chopped n 1½ tsp. Tabasco® sauce or salsa picante
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Bread crumbs Bring the potatoes to a boil in the clam juice (including from canned clams), add onion and bay leaf, and simmer until potatoes are soft.
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The South Coast Insider / December 2014
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Stir in clams, remove bay leaf. With a slotted spoon, transfer potato/clam mix to a colander and let drain thoroughly. In a small bowl, beat eggs, add cilantro and hot sauce. Transfer potato/ clam mix to a large bowl and mash until smooth; add egg mix and continue blending. Cover and refrigerate mixture for at least six hours, preferably overnight. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Coat a baking pan with nonstick cooking spray; spread bread crumbs in a shallow bowl. Using a cookie scoop, roll a ball of the potato/clam mixture in the bread crumbs and place each “puff” in the baking pan. Spray puffs with more cooking spray and bake for at least 30 minutes until golden and crispy. Garnish with more chopped cilantro and serve with fat-free tartar sauce and lemon wedges. (Freeze leftover broth for your next chowder.) Yields 20-24 puffs.
Make mushroom “Quiche-lettes”
Amaze your guests with these elegant (and easy-to-make) appetizers! Buy fresh mushroom caps that are still bowl-shaped—not flat. Gently scrape out excess dark gills, and cut a sliver off the rounded top of the cap so that it won’t tip over in the baking dish. Use a small food processor, if need be—you want the minced ingredients to be uniformly smooth, no chunks. 12 Portobello mushroom caps, wiped clean (one will get minced) n ½ lb. prosciutto ham or pre-cooked bacon, minced n 1 bunch fresh parsley leaves (or ½ bunch cilantro for a stronger flavor), minced n 1 medium onion (or 1 bunch trimmed scallions), minced n 1 tablespoon olive oil n 2 tablespoons butter n Salt and pepper n 4-5 egg yolks, beaten n
Paprika
n
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place 11 of the mushrooms on a cookie sheet. Mince the 12th Portobello cap (use the inevitable broken one), and mix it with finely minced meat, onion, parsley/ cilantro. Saute the minced mix over low heat in the olive oil and butter until tender, season with a little salt and pepper. Stir in beaten egg yolks and stir for another minute; remove from heat. Spoon the mix into the 11 whole mushroom caps, dust with paprika, and bake for 20 minutes until tender and very hot. Just before serving, cut each mushroom cap into quarters—the filling “gels” like a quiche when cooked, so it’s easy to cut them up.
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December 2014 / The South Coast Insider
Holiday hosting tips
If you really want your guests to eat your appetizers, don’t spread them all out on a sideboard or coffee table, hoping that someone walks over and tries one. Really good appetizers are time-and-temperature sensitive, and should be presented as piquant appetite-teasers before the main event. That’s why they’re called “appetizers.” Duh. You want your appetizers to be light, interesting, bite-sized and healthful. Wait until everyone’s mingling, has a beverage in one hand, and getting hungry and then start walking around like a butler with a plate of each appetizer as it’s ready-to-eat. Everyone will be tempted to try at least one. You want your guests to feel relaxed and not worried about committing a social faux pas. So, avoid making appetizers that are gooey, greasy or swimming in BBQ sauce. Don’t serve appetizers that have seeds, pits, bones or rinds. (Nobody wants to have to spit something out while they’re chatting.) Likewise, don’t serve appetizers that have toothpicks in them without handing someone a cocktail napkin. Do not put out bowls of mixed nuts or potato chips—they’re too filling and salty, and they’ll make your guests want to drink more, rather than want to eat your appetizers. Make sure there are tidy stacks of cocktail napkins and small paper plates within everyone’s reach.
Greek Yogurt Dip/Cheese
All those holiday dips made with sour cream and mayo are not good for you, plain and simple. Using nonfat plain Greek yogurt is the perfect healthy substitute. You can add dehydrated vegetable flakes, dry spices and herbs like dillweed or curry powder, or else you can just add finely chopped scallions, cilantro and minced pimientos/black olives. For a creamy dip, mix all ingredients and refrigerate for a few hours. For a thicker, “cream-cheesier” spread for crackers or raw veggies, place the mixed ingredients into a coffee-filter-lined sieve over a bowl and refrigerate overnight. It makes a great healthy topping for baked potatoes, too.
How to Blanch Kale
Confession: My freezer is filled with Ziploc baggies of backyard-grown blanched kale, and it’s my go-to green veggie in the winter months. Buy a fresh bunch of curly kale, then strip the leaves from the spines. Chop the leaves, then drop them into a pot of boiling salted water (add a bay leaf) for no more than 2½ minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the kale to a pot of ice water and let them cool completely before draining them in a colander. Discard the bay leaf. The blanched kale will be tender/crunchy, not bitter, and ready for stir-fry, soups, or canapes when defrosted. (You can chop up the spines and freeze them, too— they make a good crunchy substitute for cabbage.)
Stuffed Dates
The hardest part of this super-easy three-ingredient finger food is the stickiness factor while you’re making them. Separate pitted dates onto a plate and refrigerate them for an hour. Don’t work on them straight out of the package. With a sharp paring knife, make a shallow cut lengthwise on each date. Wedge a whole unsalted almond into the cut, press the date around the almond, then toss them in confectioner’s sugar. Keep them refrigerated before serving.
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www.secondhelpingsri.com The South Coast Insider / December 2014
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your MONEY
Dismounting the high horse
W
hen I was younger I rode to my tax office on a very high horse. My ability to interpret taxes and numbers gave me what I thought was an uncanny ability to solve people’s financial problems. Clients that come to me are often looking for help making difficult decisions. They are all looking for a magical answer from someone who seems to have a better handle on finances than themselves. In my younger years, the answers were black and white without room for a depth of understanding that went beyond the calculation of the math. It seemed easy to levy advice based on my limited experience and what the numbers revealed. Over the years, however, my edges have softened (as have other parts), and my advice comes from a different place. I have come to realize that delivering the right answer isn’t just about knowing the math; it’s about knowing your client. Years ago, I worked on a bitter divorce case with a young attorney. The divorcing couple owned a number of rental properties and the attorney I was working with was eager to get them for her client. The attorney felt that our client would be much better off with the income the rental properties would produce versus the cash settlement that the spouse was offering. The case dragged on for months, but the client’s will to move forward was stymied. The legal fees were astronomical with no sign of settlement approaching. Finally, the client revealed to me that she had no desire to own or manage the rental properties. The husband was the one with the dream of owning the rentals, and he was the one who had put the effort into acquiring and operating them. The wife had no desire to be a landlord or manage the properties. The attorney, in her drive to do right by her client, had forgotten to ask her client what she really wanted. The rationale of owning the rental properties, though financially sound, would only work for someone with an interest in managing the properties. The case settled shortly thereafter with the husband retaining the rentals and the wife
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December 2014 / The South Coast Insider
by Sherri Mahoney-Battles
not easily visible. Make a list of your pros and cons and review it with anyone affected by the decision. Many years ago, I struggled with the decision about getting a horse for my oldest daughter. The numbers scared me, but my daughter’s greatest dream was to own a horse. Fifteen years later we still have that same horse, and we’ve added a barnyard full of additional animals. Having horses prompted us to sell our small property on Cape Cod and move to Westport. The numbers might not have been in favor of the situation, but the style of living that these animals have afforded us could not be worked out on any financial spreadsheet.
Breathe easier
walking away with a large cash settlement. They were both happy.
Looking past the numbers
This case marked a turning point in my career, and I learned that in order to help clients I would need to look at the bigger picture instead of just being stuck on what the numbers told me. The trick to answering a difficult financial question is to look at it from all angles. First, do the math. What answer does the number give you? A budget or spreadsheet will give you the financial answer. Second, give it the feel test. Would the decision feel good to you or would it leave you stressed and worried? Third, sleep on it. The greater the decision the more you should slow down the process. Try to experience it in your head in your current situation and in your future. If you’ve gone through a recent divorce or lost someone you’ve loved, slow down the decision making process even more. Try to wait a year before making important decisions in the wake of these situations. Fourth, get an outside opinion from someone not vested in the decision. Sometimes an attorney, accountant or therapist can help us see things that are
A few weeks ago I met with a client thinking about cashing in his retirement plan to pay off an overwhelming amount of debt. The numbers screamed in my head that it was a bad idea. A 40 percent tax hit meant that he would be keeping only 60 percent of his initial investment. The client, though, seemed miserable buried under a pile of mounting debt. Something didn’t seem right, and finally, I asked him, him an important question, “Can you breathe?” He asked me how I knew, and told me that no, not only could he not breathe but that he hadn’t been able to sleep for months. His debt was suffocating him. We talked for a while about some other options and some changes that might be happening in the future that would lighten his load, but in the end the decision was an easy one. The value of the money in his retirement fund could not compete with his need for air. Over the last 27 years my tax practice has evolved, and my ride to humility means that these days I prefer to lead that high horse by the reins and meet my clients on the ground eye-to-eye. A series of small tumbles off that much higher horse have taught me a few things, and with my feet on the ground I am able to see things that I once missed at the higher elevation. Email Sherilyn@taxingmatters.com or visit www.taxingmatters.com
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www.BristolCountyPrecast.webs.com The South Coast Insider / December 2014
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Business BuZZ
Local business owners are excited about the prospect of connecting our region to the state capital via South Coast Rail
Businesses bond over rail by Stephen C. Smith
A regional coalition of business organizations has formed to educate and advocate for completion of South Coast Rail. The Rail to Boston Coalition is Co-Chaired by Roy Nascimento, President & CEO, New Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce and Paul Chasse, CEO, Greater New Bedford Association of REALTORS.® The Coalition is an alliance of major business and community organizations in Massachusetts that have recognized the importance and positive economic impact of re-establishing the commuter rail connection to Southeastern Massachusetts. The organizations have agreed to join together through the Coalition to advocate for the restoration of this rail link which was severed over 50 years ago. The South Coast Rail project has long enjoyed strong political support throughout the region. The region’s legislative delegation to Beacon Hill has been especially supportive, keeping the project alive at various times when state leaders were offering only tepid support. The business community has also been out front, but Coalition leaders felt that it was time to ramp up advocacy efforts even further for this important regional project at a very
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December 2014 / The South Coast Insider
critical stage. Co-Chairs Nascimento and Chasse have stressed the economic benefits of the project, pointing out that the entire state, and not just southeastern Massachusetts, will enjoy the boost this project will provide to the economy.
Multiple benefits
According to a detailed economic analysis, 3,800 new jobs plus another 7,000 to 8,000 construction jobs will be directly attributable to the project. It will generate over $450 million per year in business output. Transit-oriented development around 11 stations will add 8,700 new housing units and will stimulate over 10,000 jobs. The redevelopment opportunities created by this project are exciting, and can be seen in comparable MBTA
expansions to Worcester, Brockton, Lowell and Providence. While the Rail to Boston Coalition is stressing the beneficial economic impacts of this connection, there are other benefits that make a compelling case for the project. South Coast Rail will relieve congestion on Route 24, which is a substantial bottleneck to accessing the region and an impediment to the region’s development. South Coast Rail will produce notable environmental benefits, starting with greenhouse gas reductions by taking thousands of cars off the road. It will also provide the opportunity for mitigation to repair past environmental damage, such as in the Hockomock Swamp. And it will redress some of the inequities this region has endured, headlined by the fact that the
cities of Taunton, Fall River and New Bedford are the only cities in eastern Massachusetts that are not part of the MBTA commuter rail system. There are 11 other MBTA commuter rail lines connecting regions to Boston, including to Rhode Island, but not to the South Coast. The Rail to Boston Coalition now has 20 participating organizations and continues to grow. It has hired professional assistance for an advocacy and communications campaign, and has sponsored an event at South Station in Boston highlight the project. Members are signing up from outside the region, including Cape Cod and Boston, lending credence to the broader impact of the project.
More work needed
The South Coast Rail project has cleared some big hurdles in the past year, but more remain. The US Army Corps of Engineers has allowed the project to move forward with the issuance of the Final Environmental Impact Statement in 2013. The state legislature provided for full funding of South Coast Rail in their transportation financing legislation in 2014. But there is still more permitting needed, stronger financial commitments to be secured, possible shifting political winds, and potential litigation from opponents. The Rail to Boston Coalition is gearing up to face all of these challenges.
For more information or to join the coalition, go to http://www.railtoboston.com/.
— 20 Years Experience —
Stephen C. Smith is Executive Director of the Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District
Rail To Boston Coalition Members: n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® Transportation for Massachusetts (T4MA ) Taunton Area Chamber of Commerce New Bedford CEO Council Greater Boston Real Estate Board Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce Greater Fall River Association of REALTORS® RE/MAX Right Choice SRPEDD New Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce Fall River CEO Council Taunton Development Corporation Greater New Bedford Association of REALTORS® Fall River Office of Economic Development (FROED) Southcoast Health System North Bristol County Association of REALTORS® Greater New Bedford Industrial Foundation SouthCoast Development Partnership New Bedford Economic Development Council Southeastern Massachusetts Visitors Bureau
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(l-r) Taunton Mayor Thomas Hoye, New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell and Fall River Mayor Will Flanagan speak at a conference promoting South Coast Rail earlier this year.
CoastalMags.com The South Coast Insider / December 2014
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DATELINE: SOUTH COAST
News, views and trends... from Mount Hope Bay to Buzzards Bay
In the summertime, you go to places that are air-conditioned. In the winter months, you go to where it’s heated and protected from the blustery weather outside. But we don’t go into hiding here on the South Coast—December is a very special season here culturally, gastronomically and spiritually. Put on a parka and enjoy every minute of it! The sights, sounds, aromas and colors move indoors—a gift shop, a bell choir, a bakery, a community concert or bake sale. Bundle up for the tree-lightings and caroling, the fireworks and pageants at the elementary school. Support your local merchants and farmers—buy your tree, your holiday foods and your special gifts in your own neighborhood. The kids will be out of school for a couple of weeks, but there’s plenty of familyfriendly things to do on the South Coast. Get out the sleds and the skates!
A South Coast tradition
by Elizabeth Morse Read
Across the region
Attention, Online Shoppers! Starting in December, the U.S. Postal Service will make Sunday deliveries of Amazon purchases in a pilot program being tested in Fall River, Taunton and Somerset. Amazon may soon be building a one million-square-foot distribution facility in the South Coast Life Sciences and Technology Park in Fall River/Freetown, which could create 1,000 full time jobs, and 100’s of parttime and seasonal jobs. Stay tuned, folks… For the 14th year in a row, New Bedford ranked first in the nation for the commercial value of fish landed in 2013 with a total of $379 million. More detours ahead, South Coasters. Major construction work on Rt. 195 in Fairhaven and New Bedford will take two years to complete. The work will be done at night to minimize traffic disruptions. Southcoast Health has received an $8 million state grant to improve healthcare delivery for diabetes, heart disease and behavioral health patients at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River and Tobey Hospital in Wareham. This grant supplements the earlier $1,1 million grant earmarked for St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford. Starting in January, UMass Dartmouth will waive in-state tuition costs for community college graduates with a 3.0 grade point average who want to transfer and earn a bachelors degree. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation approved a nearly $18,4 million contract for South Coast Rail crossing upgrades in Taunton, Freetown and New Bedford. Bristol Community College, UMass Dartmouth and the Town of Dartmouth have been recognized by the state as leaders on alternative energy and sustainability projects.
LaSalette Shrine will be celebrating its 61st year putting on its “Festival of Lights”, illuminating most of the South Coast with its massive 450,000 Christmas lights.
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December 2014 / The South Coast Insider
If you’re 50 or older, check out the day trips sponsored by the New Bedford Senior Travel Program —there’s the Cirque Dreams Holidaze December 8 Continued on page 34
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at the Providence Performing Arts Center, Return of the Texas Tenors at Foxwoods December 11. For details, call 508-991-6171. The Acushnet Senior Center will host a day trip to the Newport Grand on December 11 – call 508-998-0280. The Fairhaven Senior Center will host a 7-day trip to Savannah, Jekyll Island and Beaufort April 19 to 25. Call 508979-4029. “My Brother’s Keeper” of Easton and Dartmouth is looking for volunteers and gently-used residential furniture for families in need. Free pick-up. Call 774305-4577 or visit MyBrothersKeeper.org.
ACUSHNET
The Silverbrook Farm is ready for the holidays! Take the kids to the annual Santa Farm Follies on December 6. Trees and trimmings are available, too. For details, go to www.thesilverbrookfarm.com or call 617-834-5567.
BRISTOL
Events at Blithewold Mansion & Gardens are always special. “Christmas at Blithewold” began November 28. Go to www.blithewold.org or call 401-253-2707. Experience pre-Industrial Age life at the Coggeshall Farm Museum, rated the “Best Living-History” farm in Rhode Island by “Yankee Magazine.” Check
out the Hearth Cooking Workshops every Sunday in December. To learn more, visit www.coggeshallfarm.org or call 401-253-9062. If you’re a boat-lover, don’t miss the Herreshoff Marine Museum, home to the America’s Cup Hall of Fame. Learn more at www.herreshoff.org.
BUZZARDS BAY
Take the kids on the “Train to Christmas Town” from Buzzards Bay to Hyannis! For details, go to www. capetrain.com or call 888-797-7245.
CARVER
Head to Edaville Railroad for “The Polar Express” and the Christmas Festival of Lights! Call 508-8668190 or visit www.edaville.com.
DARTMOUTH
The National Science Foundation has awarded more than $900,000 in grants to UMass Dartmouth’s Assistant Professor Honggang Wang to create hi-tech monitoring systems for premature babies. The Charlton College of Business at UMass Dartmouth has partnered with the University of Abuja in Nigeria to collaborate on teaching, research and service programs. The partnership is in keeping with UMD’s recently unveiled strategic plan to become a globally-recognized research university by 2020.
THE POLAR EXPRESS AT EDAVILLE
Town Meeting approved the purchase of a new mobile police station. No decision has been made yet whether to renovate or rebuild the police station building which was closed down in the spring. The Lloyd Center for the Environment received a $7,700 grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council for public cultural programs. Visit www. lloydcenter.org. or call 508-990-0505.
EASTON
Check out the Children’s Museum in Easton when the kids are home from school! For info, call 508230-3789 or visit www.childrensmuseumineaston. org.
FAIRHAVEN
The Northeast Maritime Institute will now offer an associate’s degree program in Applied Nautical Science. The two-year program has been approved by both the state and the U.S. Coast Guard. For more info, call 508-992-4025 or visit www.northeastmaritime.org. There’s something for everyone at the multi-event “Old-Time Holiday Weekend” December 13 and 14. Call 508-979-4085 or visit www.fairhaventours@ aol.com. Meet your friends on Saturdays at the Oxford Book Haven and Café at the Church of the Good Shepherd in North Fairhaven. Fresh soups and desserts, used books on sale, board games, WiFi. To learn more, visit www.goodshepherdfairhaven.com or call 508-992-2281.
Fall River
Fall River has embarked on an ambitious (and long overdue) $1.7 million road and sidewalk reconstruction project throughout the city’s neighborhoods. Don’t miss the free 38th Annual Christmas Arts & Crafts Fair at Durfee High School on December 6 and 7! Atwater-Donnelly will perform at a free event December 4 at the Marine Museum. To make a reservation, call 508-674-3533 or visit www. marinemuseumfr.org. Don’t miss the Fall River Symphony Orchestra’s “Christmas Pops Concert” on December 14 at the Jackson Arts Center at Bristol Community College. For details, call 508-642-6837 or visit www.fallriversymphonyorchestra.org.
“The Polar Express” rides the tracks again at Edaville USA in Carver from November 21 to December 30. All children who ride will sip on hot chocolate, munch on some cookies, and ring their very own sleigh bell, just like those given to the children in the classic book. $38 per person, children under 2 free. Visit www.edaville. com for more information.
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December 2014 / The South Coast Insider
All hands on deck at Battleship Cove! Observe Pearl Harbor Day and enjoy a Navy Christmas on December 7. Learn more at www.battleshipcove.org or call 508-678-1100.
The South Coast Community Chorale will perform its Christmas Concert at the Good Shepherd Parish on December 14. For more info, go to www. sccchorale.com. The Newport Navy Choristers will perform “Christmas in Song” at the First Baptist Church in Fall River on December 7, and at St. Lucy’s Church in Middletown, R.I. on December 12. For details, go to www.newportnavychoristers.org. The Narrows Center for the Arts has a great lineup –– there’s the Sacred Shakers December 6, Savoy Brown December 13, New Riders of the Purple Sage December 27, NRBQ December 30. Plan ahead for Girls, Guns & Glory January 3, The Iguanas January 23, American Crossroads with Dave Bromberg January 29, Red Molly February 7 and more! For a complete schedule, visit www.narrowscenter.com or call 508-324-1926. Fall River’s Little Theatre will present “The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical” December 4 through 7 and 11 through 14. “Oleanna” will be performed January 22 through February 1. For details, visit www.littletheatre.net or call 508-6751852. Stroll through “A Victorian Christmas” at the Fall River Historical Society. For details, call 508-6791071 or go to www.fallriverhistorical.org or www. lizzieborden.org. During school vacation week, check out the Children’s Museum of Greater Fall River. For more info, go to www.cmgfr.org or call 508-672-0033.
MATTAPOISETT
The Winter Farmers Market will be held on the second Saturday of each month at the Old Rochester Regional Junior High gymnasium.
MARION
Support the Sippican Women’s Club’s scholarship fund by attending the Holiday House Tour on December 13. Call 508-748-5411 or visit www. sippicanwomensclub.org. Enjoy the free “Children’s Christmas Concert” at the Sippican School on December 14, with the Tri-County Symphonic Band and the Sippican School Choir. For details, go to www.tricountyphilharmonicband.org. The Sippican Choral Society will sing “Tidings of Comfort & Joy” at the Grace Episcopal Church in New Bedford on December 5, and on December 7 at the Wickenden Chapel in Marion. Learn more at www.sippicanchoral.org. Tabor Academy’s flagship training schooner SSV Tabor Boy will be the subject of an exclusive documentary, “Tabor Boy: 100 Years at Sea,” to be aired
on Rhode Island public television on December 28 at 9 p.m. For more info, go to www.taboracademy. org.
MIDDLEBORO
Don’t miss the Holiday Fair at Soule Homestead on December 6. For details, call 508-947-6744 or visit www.soulehomestead.org.
LOGO
MIDDLETOWN
Stroll through the free Open House at Glen Manor on December 14. Go to www.glenmanorhouse.com or call 401-683-4177. Go back in time at the free 103rd Annual Medieval Christmas Pageant at St. George’s School on December 16. Call 401-847-7565 of go to www. stgeorges.edu. The Newport Navy Choristers will perform “Christmas in Song” at the First Baptist Church in Fall River on December 7, and at St. Lucy’s Church in Middletown on December 12. For details, go to www.newportnavychoristers.org.
NEW BEDFORD
In just one year, New Bedford’s recycling rate has doubled after introducing single-stream recycling and larger recycling bins. It’s all happenin’ at the Z! Head for the Zeiterion for the American Big Band’s “Home for the Holidays” December 7, “A Christmas Carol” December 13 and a Christmas Celtic Sojourn December 18. Plan ahead for Dave Mason’s Traffic Jam January 7, “Sister Act” January 18, Natalia Zuckerman January 22. And don’t miss the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra’s performance of “Family Holiday Pops: Magical Moments” on December 20, or “Romantic Spells” February 14. Go to www.zeiterion.org, www. nbsymphony.org, or call 508-999-6276. Ring in 2015 in New Bedford at “City Celebrates! New Year’s Eve”—a free family event of music, fireworks, street performers and food. For details, visit www.ahanewbedford.org or call 508-996-8253 x 205. At this year’s annual Chowder Festival in New Bedford, the new Black Whale Restaurant took home the prize for Best Chowder. Head for the New Year’s Eve Bash at the Whaling Museum! Live music, dancing, children’s activities, fireworks, cash bar. Call 508-997-0046 x116 or go to www.whalingmuseum.org. Stroll through the Buttonwood Park Zoo on a sunny winter’s day! For details, call 508-991-6178 or visit www.bpzoo.org. Continued on NEXT page
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homeless shelters. For tickets, call 401-849-4250.
Get ready for the 19th Annual Moby-Dick Marathon at the Whaling Museum January 2 through 4. Call 508-997-0046 or visit www.whalingmuseum.org.
Enjoy a performance of “The Nutcracker” at Rosecliff Manor in Newport, performed by the Island Moving Co., December 2 through 5. Visit www. islandmovingco.org.
Enjoy FREE family fun and entertainment at AHA! Night. The December 11 theme is “Made in New Bedford.” Go to www.ahanewbedford.org or call 508-996-8253. If you’re a fan of Americana and roots music, check out the monthly Salon Concerts at the Wamsutta Club. “The Harper & The Minstrel” will perform on December 6. For details, go to www. wamsuttaconcerts.com. Your Theatre will perform “Italian American Reconciliation” January 15 through 25. For more info, go to www.yourtheatre.org or call 508-993-0772. Downtown New Bedford is the place to be as the holidays approach. There’s the Downtown Holiday Stroll December 6 and 7, the Santa Sightings Fun Run December 14, and the New Bedford Preservation Society’s Holiday House Tour December 13 and 14. For a complete schedule of downtown events, visit www.downtownnb.org or call 508-990-2777.
NEWPORT
Plan ahead—find out about all the events, concerts and spectacles in Newport throughout December by visiting www.ChristmasinNewport.org or by calling 401-849-6454. Head for the Channing Church on December 4 for the 7th annual acoustic Christmas concert “Singing for Shelter,” a fund-raising benefit for two local
Bundle up for the 44th Annual Tree Lighting on Bowen’s Wharf December 6. Free, live music. Call 401-849-2243 or visit www.bowenswharf.com. Sharpen your skates and head for the Newport Skating Center. For info, call 401-846-3018 or go to www.skatenewport.com. Stroll through “Christmas at the Newport Mansions” through January 4. Enjoy “Holiday Evenings” of live music and refreshments at The Breakers December 6, 13 and 27, and at The Elms and Marble House December 20. Visit www.newportmansions. org or call 401-847-1000. Listen to the St. Petersburg Men’s Ensemble on December 14 at Emmanuel Church. Call 401-8470675 or visit www.EmannuelNewport.org. Ride in a heated car on the “Holiday Train Ride” starting December 26 on the Old Colony & Newport Railway. For details, go to www.ocnrr.com or call 401-846-4674. Enjoy a performance of “Lie, Cheat, and Genuflect” through December 31 at the Newport Playhouse. Go to www.newportplayhouse.com or call 401-8487529.
PLYMOUTH
Listen to “Holiday Pops!” with the Plymouth Phil-
FAMILY HOLIDAY POPS
harmonic Orchestra December 13 & 14 at Memorial Hall. For info, visit www.plymouthphil.org or call 508-746-8008. Bring in 2015 at “Plymouth Rocks New Year’s Eve,” the Midnight Masquerade Ball at Memorial Hall. All proceeds go to Plymouth’s 400th Anniversary Celebration in 2020. Learn more at www.plymouthrocksnewyearseve.com.
PORTSMOUTH
Standard & Poor’s has raised Portsmouth’s bond rating to AAA. All aboard for “The Polar Express” on the Newport & Narragansett Bay Railroad on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays throughout December. For details, go to www.newportpolarexpress.com. What could be better than live jazz and wine on a Saturday afternoon? Enjoy the Jazz Tastings at Greenvale Vineyards through December 13. Call 401-847-3777 or visit www.greenvale.com. Head for Common Fence Music for some downhome entertainment. There’s the Wholesale Klezmer Band December 6, and the 21st Annual Winter Solstice Concert with Aine Minogue December 20. Call 401-683-5085 or visit www.commonfencemusic.org.
REHOBOTH
The Russian Duo will perform on January 24 in the“Arts in the Village” series at Goff Memorial Hall. Join the Sunday Night Jammers for free monthly dances. Call 508-252-3031 or visit www.carpentermuseum.org.
SOMERSET
About 2,000 solar panels will be installed on the rooftops of Somerset Middle School and North Elementary School in the spring of 2015. The 640-plus kilowatts solar arrays will save the town a significant amount in annual electricity costs.
SWANSEA
The South Coast Community Chorale will perform its Christmas Concert at Christ Church in Swansea on December 7. For more info, go to www. sccchorale.com.
TAUNTON Let your holiday season sparkle with warm memories, favorite holiday songs, and a special experience only the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra can provide! December 20, 2014 at 3:30pm and 7pm at Zeiterion Performing Arts Center For more informations and for tickets visit www.nbsymphony.org
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December 2014 / The South Coast Insider
Former Taunton mayor Robert Nunes has been chosen as Middleboro’s next Town Manager. Don’t miss the Christmas Parade on December 7!
TIVERTON
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The Sandywoods Center for the Arts will present the Magnolia Cajun Band on December 6, January 3 and February 7, as well as the Atwater-Donnelly Trio on January 10. For a complete schedule, go to www. sandywoodsmusic.com or call 401-241-7349.
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WAREHAM
Water rates will go up 19% in Onset, effective immediately. The Wareham Free Library is in danger of decertification, due to chronic budget problems. Take the family to a performance of “A Christmas Carol” at Buzzards Play Productions December 4 through 7, 12 through 14 and 19 through 21. For more info, go to www.buzzardsplayproductions.com or call 508-591-3065. Don’t miss the “T’is the Season” Christmas parade December 6 on Main Street. For more info, go to www.warehamvillage.org.
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Celebrate this holiday season with a festive train ride from Wareham Village into Buzzards Bay and back – fun for the whole family! Tickets go on sale November 28, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, November 29, from 9 a.m. to noon, at Eastern Bank on Main Street, and often sell out well in advance. Train rides are on Sunday, December 28, departing every 90 minutes from 11:30 am to 5:30 pm. Tickets are $10 per seat, or $30 for a Family Four-Pack. There is no charge for infants (under 2) sitting in an adult’s lap. All children must be accompanied by an adult. More details at www.warehamvillage.org
WARREN
Head for 2nd Story Theatre! “Collected Stories” will play January 9 through February 8, and “Seminar” will be performed January 23 through February 22. For details, call 401-247-4200 or go to www.2ndstorytheatre.com.
WESTPORT
“Concerts at the Point” will present Frederick Moyers and Jazz Trio on December 7. For details, visit www.concertsatthepoint.org or call 508-636-0698.
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37
ON MY MIND
Ebola paranoia By Paul E. Kandarian
Merry Christmas, America! Let’s all open our gifts and see what we got… oh goodie, ebola, the gift that keeps on giving even when it isn’t really there!
S
hould we be scared of ebola? I get the feeling from watching and reading the news, and lord knows, the abundance of “information” on social media, we should be. I fear the next time someone in West Africa sneezes, I could be dead within minutes, my insides melting to mush, my brain fried by fever, CNN camped out by my hospital tent waiting for a sound bite of my death rattle. It all sounds so insidious. Is ebola going to knock on my door and cough in my face? Is it thick in the air I breathe? The germ-infested water I drink? Ebola sounds so harmless. I mean if you sing it out, “EEEEE-BOLEAAAAAA!” doesn’t it sound like the lovely throat lozenge commercial? Should I fear oral analgesics now? I’m so scared. Ebola is all over the news in America where the death-by-ebola rate skyrocketed to one. We’ve all read about Kaci Hickcox, a nurse who volunteered to go to Africa to help treat sick people, came back, got quarantined in New Jersey (a forced stay in New Jersey truly is cruel and unusual punishment enough), and
38
despite testing negatively for ebola and showing no symptoms, was almost forced to home confinement in her small northern Maine town where statistically you have a greater risk of dying from a bear attack than ebola. She defied the order and went biking with her boyfriend, followed by Maine State Police in case a zombie
school system figured the teacher must have somehow feasted on the bodily fluids of ebola patients, which is about the only way to get it. Those teacher conferences can get pretty raucous, from what I hear. Also, a man flying from Africa to JFK died in flight after vomiting, prompting an ebola scare. Turns out it wasn’t ebola (and there’s no truth
…Statistically you have a greater risk of dying from a bear attack than ebola. apocalypse broke out. Or there was a bear attack. Then there was a Maine teacher (what is it with that state?) who attended a conference in Dallas and was put on paid leave upon her return because Dallas is where American ebola was. All three cases. Far away from the conference. Silly me, I thought Dallas was a pretty big city, but apparently that Maine
December 2014 / The South Coast Insider
to the rumor it was airline food) but that must have been frightening for non-dead passengers, sort of like the panic scene in “Airplane!” (and don’t call me Shirley). And all of it has lead to a quarantine-crazed public, eager to ostracize those who have come anywhere near ebola even though they haven’t made out with any victims and don’t have the disease with no chance of
spreading it. I heard one person say that Maine nurse should be shot for disobeying the quarantine order. I mean, really, just let her roam free up there, the bears will take care of it sooner or later. I’m not terribly sure whom to believe. I mean, ebola is all over the news, reported by earnest-looking sorts with grim deliveries. And towns are gearing up for the scourge sure to befall us, outfitting workers in the gear they used that time they kidnapped E.T., which was pretty scary in itself (I confess, that scene made me cry then, the way the prospect of a grisly ebola death makes me cry now). The president even appointed an ebola czar, which the Republicans decried as a bad choice, presumably while wearing surgical masks and protective clothing. I mean, appointing a czar of anything sounds pretty serious to me. I do not think we should ever take czar appointments lightly. And we have a pretty impressive czar history presidents have appointed, including, and I am not making this up, a rubber czar (not that kind, get your mind out of the gutter), a patronage czar (just
guessing it was a patronage appointment), an ethics czar (which is like a rooster being named henhouse czar, but I digress), a cleanup czar (appointed by Truman and fired two months later by the attorney general for demanding records access, with the AG then forced to resign by Truman, go figure), and a How Biczar, How Biczar (OK, I made that up, I just happen to like the song). It’s all so confusing. I mean when TV news man Shep Smith comes out and says we shouldn’t worry and not give in to fear mongering on Fox News, a pretty scary entity itself which can monger with the best of them, I’m at a total loss what to think. Let’s look at the facts: More people have died in the United States from ebola than have been
killed by Martians. Or were eaten by dinosaurs. Or fell into a crack in the earth and were vaporized by magma. Pretty scary stuff, but ebola tops them all. More fun facts: The flu kills about 50,000 people a year—roughly 49,999 more than ebola—so should they be quarantined? If you work in an office where someone with the flu comes to work anyway, I’m guessing you’d like that idea as you take a Purell dip and wrap yourself in a body condom at break time. So I don’t know what to make of the whole ebola scare. I guess I’ll just…uh-oh, I feel a sniffle coming on, which means it may be too late. But I will not go gently into that ebola night: I’m moving to the Maine woods and wearing a meat suit.
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For more information call 774-202-1837 or visit our website www.beaconafc.com The South Coast Insider / December 2014
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At Brandon Woods, We Love What We Do! We take pride in the care and support we provide to our residents and families on a daily basis. It's nice to hear back from our families on the reasons why they love us, too!
HOME-LIKE ENVIRONMENT “It was a very difficult decision to relocate my Mom to a nursing home; however I am grateful to the staff for making the transition as easy as possible. My step father was at Brandon Woods, and when it was evident that my Mom also needed care, Brandon Woods arranged for them to share the same room. They allowed and encouraged me to make their room comfortable. We brought their bedroom set, a loveseat, recliner, entertainment center and even my Mom's vanity! The curtains and bedding are all reminders from their home. My mother and step-father can look around their room and see familiar surroundings. It's like their own little loft!
They are very good and caring towards my parents, and I am most grateful that they are being so well taken care of.�
Stop in today for a tour and to speak with an experienced staff member about how we can help you or your loved one!
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December 2014 / The South Coast Insider
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Taunton North Dighton Bridgewater 1-888-MECHANICS (632-4264) Fall River . Westport . Swansea . Somerset www.Mechanics-Coop.com
APY
1-888-MECHANICS (632-4264)
5 Year Relationship CD
www.Mechanics-Coop.com
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* Annual Percentage Yield (APY) accurate as of 11/5/14. $500.00 minimum to open. This offer requires the account holder to have a Premier Choice Checking Account. In addition, each month the interest accrued on the certificate of deposit will be automatically deposited into your Premier Choice Checking account. After account opening, the APY will be reduced to 1.10% if either of the two conditions are not met. A penalty may be imposed for early withdrawal. Subject to change without notice.
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WINDOWS | DOORS | KITCHENS | STAIRS | MOULDING | CUSTOM MILLWORK
Trending Now: Barn doors Barn Doors can be a fun and space-saving alternative to traditional swinging doors, and an often cost-effective alternative to pocket doors. At HORNER MILLWORK we have all the components you need to create a dramatic statement with Barn Doors inside the home. The first step is to choose your door panels from one of our product lines such as TruStile, Masonite, or our own CAPTIVA WOOD DOORS (pictured). Then let us help you choose the sliding door hardware that best fits your style and application. We have many hardware options, from traditional to modern, to fit your style and décor.
1255 GRAND ARMY HWY | SOMERSET, MA | 508.679.6479 | www.hornermillwork.com | We're social:
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Bold is a wealth of possibilities. Make a striking design statement in three simple steps. Choose a spout, handles and faucet finish from the Artifacts™ collection to create a look all your own. KOHLER.com/Artifacts
Uncover the possibilities at The Bath Cove. 145 Faunce Corner Road North Dartmouth, MA 02747 508-997-5466 305R Oliphant Lane Middletown, RI 02842 401-846-8680
thebathcove.com
Clifton
HEALTHCARE CAMPUS
WILBUR AVENUE, SOMERSET, MASSACHUSETTS
Need Short Term Rehab? Tell your Healthcare Provider you PREFER Clifton… And, Call Clifton…508-675-7589 for priority placement. 4 Physical & Occupational Therapy 4 Speech & Language Pathology 4 Aquatic Therapy 4 Stroke Rehab 4 Cardiac Conditions / Surgeries 4 Post-Surgical Care 4 Knee, Hip & Joint Replacements
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You Have A Choice in Your Care…… .Call Clifton.