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DECEMBER 2017 Vol. 21 / No. 12
Tinsel town Holiday highlights Give more Local shopping Sparkling season Beach feast
Sponsored by Fall River Historical Society
DR. GABRIELLA ESPINOZA, DMD
DR. KYLE MEDEIROS, DMD
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DR. ROBERT C. LORENZ, DDS
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Jewelry appraisal event appointments are welcome please CALL (508) 672-6421
In every issue
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From the publisher
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Dateline: South Coast
by Elizabeth Morse Read
COVER STORY FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
20 Sparkling season
by Jay Pateakos
DECEMBER 2017
BUSINESS BUZZ
16
Santa’s local helpers by Jay Pateakos
28 The big engine that could
by STEVE SMITH
ON MY MIND
6
Christmas shortlist by Paul Kandarian
24 Food, glorious food!
by MICHAEL j. VIEIRA
30 A tropical Christmas potluck
Arthur DeMello GG (GIA) Graduate Gemologist will be available to provide jewelry appraisal for your personal, estate or insurance purposes.
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THINGS TO DO
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Holiday highlights by Elizabeth Morse Read
12 The season of giving
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December 2017 | The South Coast Insider
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by JOYCE ROWLEY
Showing variety by DAN LOGAN
ON THE COVER Get a glimpse of Christmas past at the Fall River Historical Society (lizzieborden.org), where all the halls of the Victorian-era mansion have been decked. For this and more holiday festivities, turn to page 8. Cover photo by Frank Grace.
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FROM THE PUBLISHER December 2017 | Vol. 21 | No. 12
During a time of year so steeped in tradition, it can feel like everything you do is choreographed. It can be easy to go see the same shows, buy the same kinds of gifts for the same people, and to eat the exact same food you always have, down to the calorie. This month, see if you can start some new traditions – we have all the inside information you’ll need. Since we were kids, we’ve heard about the selflessness that is expected of us this time of year. With busy schedules, that spirit of selflessness manifests itself as giftgiving for the people closest to us. While that is still a beautiful thing, shake things up this year by spending one fewer day shopping and instead donating your time and energy to a worthy cause. Turn to Joyce Rowley’s article on page 12 for some of our suggestions. Puffy coats, hats, and scarves aren’t the only things that can keep you warm this winter. There’s nothing to make you feel fuzzier than receiving (or giving) the perfect gift. This year, resist the urge to stare at the cold blue screen of your computer and instead shop locally for unique and personal products. If you’re seeking a certain je ne sais quoi, Jay Pateakos has assembled an all-star list of variety and gift stores on page 16. If you want more sparkle this season than just snow and ice can provide, check out his featured jewelers on page 20. For a lot of us, gifts stopped being the highlight of the holidays a long time ago. Instead, we look forward to the food. On page 24, Mike Vieira shares his personal favorite dishes, while also taking us on a tour of gastronomical delights from around the world. And don’t miss the recipe for a delicious seasonal finger food! We get it – the holidays can be stressful. So why not do something different this year? We guarantee you’ll fall in love with the season all over again.
Ljiljana Vasiljevic Publisher and Editor-in-Chief
Published by Coastal Communications Corp. Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Ljiljana Vasiljevic Editor Sebastian Clarkin Online Editor Paul Letendre Contributors Greg Jones Paul Kandarian, Dan Logan, Tom Lopes, Jay Pateakos, Elizabeth Morse Read, Joyce Rowley, Steve Smith, Michael J. Vieira The South Coast Insider is published monthly for visitors and residents of the South Coast area and is distributed free of charge from Mount Hope Bay to Buzzards Bay. All contents copyright ©2017 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. Deadline 20 days prior to publication. Circulation 30,000 Subscriptions $39 per year Mailing Address Coastal Communications Corp. P.O. Box 349 Fall River, MA 02722 Phone (508) 677-3000 Website www.coastalmags.com E-mail editor@coastalmags.com Our advertisers make this publication possible— please support them.
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December 2017 | The South Coast Insider
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ON MY MIND
Christmas shortlist By Paul Kandarian
I don’t ask for a lot at Christmas. In fact, when someone asks what I do want for the holiday or even my birthday, I say “Nothing.” And I mean it. For real. Asking for nothing works for me.
O
kay, actually there is one thing I want: cash. Which seems a tacky thing to ask for but frankly is the most realistic. And time saving. No going shopping, fighting crowds, buying something that might not fit, taking it home, wrapping it up, putting a bow on it and delivering it. Cash is much easier. So that thing I said about wanting nothing? I guess there is one thing. But honestly, you know what I want? What I really, really want? Just for everyone to be nice to each other. I’m pretty sure we need that more than ever. Really, it’s one of those incredibly simplistic things that would absolutely without question make the world a better place.
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December 2017 | The South Coast Insider
And here’s the thing: the world’s not that bad a place right now. History and research bear that out, that the world is actually a much safer place than ever. By that I mean the world at large. The world as in America might throw that off a bit, in that we lead the world in death-by-firearms and have a Congress that has in fact sold its soul to the terrorist organization known as the NRA. But I digress. What skews the perception of world safety and security is the “if it bleeds, it leads” mindset that drives the media (mainstream or otherwise) to present a relentless, twenty-four seven pounding of fear and loathing and death and destruction down our throats.
The nightly news delivers twenty-two breathless minutes of domestic and international horror and happily finishes up with a minute or so of a nonprofit saving gentle jungle creatures or a veteran jumping out of a box in his kid’s classroom. They think that’ll make it all better. They think it’s a salve for the last twenty-two minutes of emotional turmoil they put us through. They fail to realize it’s just salt in the wound. It’s been a pretty rugged year, to say the least. The election, no matter what side of the political fence you’re on, has been the most divisive things we’ve seen as a country since the Civil War, and I don’t say that lightly. But we’re better than that. We’re more
unified than that. We have a lot more in common than we think and at the core of that commonality is being decent human beings. That’s really what Christmas is all about isn’t, being decent human beings, to each other and our planet? It takes the least effort and doesn’t cost a cent, and has zero cost from a monetary standpoint. But why is it so hard to expend that effort emotionally? How much does it take just to be nice? And whether or not you get nice in return, doesn’t it just feel great to do it? Isn’t that reward enough? It’s not just a Christmas thing, this whole peace-on-Earth-goodwill-to-men train of thought. But with all the materialism and traffic and need to please around the holiday, it’s probably the most challenging time of year to be nice. One of the reasons is the pressure to be nice – to initiate and maintain that persona
Being nice one day a year is a tickle, a tease. Being nice every day is its own reward. of holiday niceness that some of us find difficult. But that’s why it’s difficult: because we’re not used to it. Who says you just have to be nice and kind and loving December 25, or the week of it, or the month? Why not on August 17? Or April 9? Being nice one day a year is a tickle, a tease. Being nice every day is its own reward. A study in the Journal of Social Psychology showed that people performing a single kind act a day for ten days experienced a significant increase in overall happiness than those who did not. Just seeing others act kindly to others makes us feel compassion and engenders a desire to help and connect with others. Every behavior, bad or good, is usually learned. We can learn a good one like being nice by actually being nice. All the time. Day in, day out. Do anything a lot and it gets easier. Practice might not make perfect, but it’s a perfect thing to try.
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The South Coast Insider | December 2017
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THINGS TO DO
Fairhaven’s two-day “Old Time Holiday Fair” includes its historic homes tour.
Holiday highlights T BY Elizabeth Morse Read
he holiday season around here is pure Currier & Ives – twinkling lights, snowy pines, heavenly music, and family traditions. Everyone bundles up to brave the weather, seeking warmth in the company of friends and neighbors. But certain holiday events on the South Coast are truly unique, and well worth a drive out of town, if only once in your life – especially for the young-at-heart or for those with children!
Let there be lights!
Many of us have made the winter pilgrimage to the LaSalette Shrine in Attleboro (lasalette-shrine.org) to see the spectacular lighting displays, but for the little ones, it can be a challenge to walk around that much on a cold winter’s night. An alternative should be the Festival of Lights at
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December 2017 | The South Coast Insider
Edaville Railroad in Carver, with the whole family taking a comfortably-heated train ride to see the seven million lights on display, while winding through the park and cranberry bogs (edaville.com). Just about every city park and village square in New England strings lights from the trees and sets up holiday-themed displays. But several “tree lightings” on the South Coast are noteworthy. It’s worth a trip north to visit Taunton, the original “Christmas City,” to see the spectacular lighting display, fireworks, and holiday events on the Taunton Green on December 2 – this year’s theme is “Christmas in Candyland” (facebook.com/ lightingofthegreen). Or else head for Bristol’s month-long outdoor Christmas Festival, starting with the Grand Illumination on December 2 (facebook.com/ bristolchristmasfestival).
For the little ones
Santa’s Helpers abound at the malls in December, but there are some special holiday events worth taking the little ones to experience. Bundle them up on December 2 to watch the Christmas Parades in either Fall River (ahafallriver.com), Wareham (warehamvillage.org), or Taunton. Or take them to the “Nativity of Christ” puppet show on December 6 to 8 at the United Church of Christ in Middletown, with music and larger-than-life puppets (ucc.org or christmasinnewport.org). Check out the children’s ballet favorite Madeline Meets The Nutcracker on December 17 at the Stanford White Casino Theatre in Newport (ribt-nm@cox.net) or the performances of “Elf Jr.” at The Alley Theatre in Middleboro on December 1 to 11 (burtwoodschool.com).
Celtic holiday flavor
When it comes to music, song, and dance, nobody does it better than the Irish – and Irish roots and holiday customs run deep on the South Coast. You can get a taste of the winter holidays, Irish-style, by visiting the Newport Irish Museum on December 9 for the free Christmas Open House, with Celtic-inspired holiday music sung by the Ancient Order of Hibernians Men Singers (newportirishhistory.org/events). Irish holiday celebrations intertwine traditions from Celtic, Pagan, and Christian beliefs. If you missed seeing Riverdance at the Providence Performing Arts Center back in June, then go to the 15th Annual “A Celtic Christmas Sojourn with Brian O’Donovan,” either at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Providence on December 20 (ppacri.org) or else at the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center in New Bedford on December 19 (zeiterion.org). In more intimate settings, Linden Place Mansion in Bristol will be hosting Robbie O’Connell’s Celtic Christmas Concert on December 5, celebrating both the holidays and the winter solstice (lindenplace.org). Meanwhile, the Wamsutta Club in New Bedford will present Matt and Shannon Heaton’s Irish-themed “Fine Winter’s Night” on December 1 (brownpapertickets.com/ events/3050554). And if you’d like a little country twang (descendants of Celtic traditions, after all) with your Christmas, check out “The Sweetback Sisters’ Country Christmas Swing-Along” on December 6 in Portsmouth at Common Fence Music (commonfencemusic.org) or on December 15 at the Spire Center for the Performing Arts in Plymouth (spirecenter. org).
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Christmas concerts
Close your eyes and imagine the sonorous voices of medieval monks singing Gregorian chant – or head for Emmanuel Church in Newport on December 17 to listen to the St. Petersburg Men’s Ensemble in Concert, singing Russian choral music and seasonal folk songs (emmanuelnewport.org). Or experience the candlelit 106th Annual Medieval Christmas Pageant on December 13 at St. George’s School in Middletown (stgeorges.edu). Continued ON NEXT PAGE
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www.baymarketrealestate.com The South Coast Insider | December 2017
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Dashing through the snow… and ice… and frigid water
Y
ou don’t have to lock your family indoors during the winter months, especially when the kids are on vacation! Bundle up and get out the sleds, snowboards, toboggans, cross-country skis, and ice skates! If you don’t have a safely frozen pond or cranberry bog nearby, you can go outdoor skating in Newport (skatenewport.com) or in Providence (fleetskating.com), or indoor skating in Fall River, Taunton, Plymouth, or New Bedford (fmcicesports.com). If you’d rather watch someone else working out on the ice, go to a pro hockey game in Providence (dunkindonutscenter.com). Many state/city parks, country clubs, and vineyards allow daytime sledding (call ahead first!), but for a roller-coaster downhill ride, try the seven hills of Fall River’s North Park! For cross-country skiing, many state parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and nature preserves have plenty of ready-made trails (check thetrustees.org and savebuzzardsbay. org). Or you can brave the weather and go on a guided boat tour of Mount Hope Bay from either Newport or Fall River for a seal cruise and nature watch (savebay. org/events/seals). If you’re really brave, sign up for the fundraising New Year’s Day Polar Plunges in Tiverton, Fairhaven, Newport, Fall River, or Portsmouth!
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December 2017 | The South Coast Insider
Christmas tree at Blithewold Mansion
What could be more unique than a Christmas Concert in Sign Language? Signsingers from the James L. Maher Center in Middletown will perform Christmas and holiday music in ASL (American Sign Language) under black lights at the Stanford White Casino Theatre in Newport on December 16 (mahercenter.org). But the crowning musical event of the Christmas season is held every year at Saint Anthony of Padua Church, the red sandstone cathedral dominating the New Bedford skyline, with the third-tallest spire in New England. Its jaw-dropping Romanesque interior, which seats 2,000, is illuminated by a canopy of 5,500 lights, frescoes, stained-glass windows, 200 sculpted angels (some 20 feet tall), and is dominated by the century-old 500pipe organ. The spectacular “Christmas Cantata” at Saint Anthony’s on December 17 is a must-see-and-hear experience (musicatsaintanthonys.org). The Christmas shows must go on Every year, there are countless productions, both community-based and professional, of holiday classics like The Christmas Carol and The Nutcracker. But if you’re looking for something different this holiday season, check out the irreverent “Nut/Cracked” dance production on December 1 and 2 at
Rhode Island College in Providence (ric.edu/ pfa). Or check out the radio-drama It’s a Wonderful Life on December 8-10 at the Marion Arts Center (marionartcenter.org), or the dinner-theatre comedy “Dashing Through the Snow” throughout December at the Newport Playhouse (newportplayhouse.com).
Old-world holiday crafts
Remember making popcorn-and-cranberry garlands, cut-paper snowflake ornaments, or clove-studded orange pomanders with your grandmother? How about collecting pine cones to make peanut-butter bird feeders? Every Christmas season, a new generation gets to learn the old holiday craft traditions. Just about every church and community center sponsors a holiday bazaar selling handmade stocking-stuffers and baked goods, but there are some holiday craft events on the South Coast worth an extra look. Check out the two-day “Old Time Holiday Fair” in Fairhaven December 9 and 10 (fairhaventours.com) or join in a traditional wreath-making workshop on December 3 at the Soule Homestead in Middleboro (soulehomestead.org), or at the Allen G. Haskell Gardens in New Bedford, also
on December 3 (thetrustees.org). You can also sign up for the “Festival of Trees” Gingerbread-House Making Workshop on December 6 at the Easton Country Club (eastonfestivaloftrees.org). For other local craft fairs, check out the “Made in Lakeville” crafts and gifts fair on December 2 (lakevillearts.com), the Arts and Artisans Festival on December 10 in Tiverton (tivertonfourcorners.com), or the Holiday Fair and Bazaar at the Gleason YMCA in Wareham on December 9 (ymcasouthcoast.com).
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Christmas past
Everyone enjoys getting inside to seeing how Christmas was celebrated and decorated in past eras on the South Coast, ranging from the sumptuous “Christmas at the Newport Mansions” tours (newportmansions.org) to the local tours of other beautiful historic buildings. In New Bedford, the 26th Annual Holiday House Tour on December 9 and 10 will visit the traditionally decorated whalingera homes, including the Rotch-JonesDuff House and the Wamsutta Club (nbpreservationsociety.org). The Victorian-era Fall River Historical Society Museum will be all ablaze throughout December (lizzieborden.org), and the Revolutionary War-era LafayetteDurfee House in Fall River will have public Holiday Open Houses on December 3, 10, and 17 (lafayettedurfeehouse.org). Likewise, in Bristol, the holidays will sparkle with “A Toast to the Twenties” at Blithewold Mansion (blithewold.org), and at Linden Place Mansion, the setting for the movie The Great Gatsby, elegantly decked for the holidays (lindenplace.org). Part of Fairhaven’s two-day “Old Time Holiday Fair” includes its historic homes tour, including a carol service inside the magnificent Unitarian Memorial Church on December 10 (fairhaventours.com). The Sippican Women’s Club of Marion will sponsor a Holiday House Tour on December 9, starting at Handy’s Tavern (sippicanwomensclub.org), and anyone interested in learning about colonial-era holiday traditions can sign up for an evening Holiday Lantern Tour in Newport December 2 through 30 (newporthistory.org). May your holidays be snowy and bright – enjoy the season on the South Coast!
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The South Coast Insider | December 2017
11
THINGS TO DO
Volunteers gather at Operation Food Drop in New Bedford.
The season of giving By Joyce Rowley
On a bitterly cold day in November, cars pulled up and dropped off bags of nonperishable food at the Buttonwood Community Center in New Bedford. Unlike the “Cans in the Park” food drive in Buttonwood Park in past years, “Operation Food Drop” made it a little easier on everyone.
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Drivers didn’t have to get out of their cars; the parking lot at the center had ample room for the operation, and the food was immediately sorted on site into boxes of veggies, potatoes, stuffing, and cranberry sauce by a host of volunteers. Sponsors, the United Way of Greater New Bedford and the radio station Fun 107 were shooting for 6,500 pounds of food by 2 p.m. By noon, they were halfway there. Victoria Grasela, Director of Marketing and Community Relations at United Way GNB, said that the drop helped augment the 25 food drives throughout the Greater New Bedford area. On November 18, 250 volunteers would descend on the Dennison Memorial Community Center and assemble 1,000 food baskets – doubling last year’s effort. The food baskets would then be delivered to food pantries in the area in time for Thanksgiving. “It’s definitely needed. We have added over 20 families from
December 2017 | The South Coast Insider
Puerto Rico this year,” Grasela said.”They literally don’t have anything. This will be huge for them.” The food drop, food drives, and baskets are part of the Hunger Heroes Project, part of United Way’s Hunger Commission effort to eliminate hunger on the South Coast. Food drives are just one way we can show our commitment to helping our neighbors. And when you stop and think about it, isn’t that the reason for the season? Here are a few more ways that your donations can help:
Local homeless shelters
It’s hard to believe that there are so many people without a roof over their head in the South Coast. But it happens. It’s heartbreaking to see whole families struggling to find a place to call home. Oftentimes they are hidden away, living in their cars to avoid detection. The CALL (1-800-Homeless), an acronym for Coordinated Access to Local Links, is a Catholic Social Services of the Diocese of Fall
River program based on federal standards and expectations for shelter systems. It is operated on behalf of all shelter programs in New Bedford, Fall River, and the Greater Attleboro-Taunton area and as a centralized call-in center for all of Bristol County. It began in December 2015 as a way to ensure that access to emergency shelters was standardized, that assessments were performed uniformly, and that referrals were made to the right services. It is not just for those who are already homeless – they offer “pre-homeless” services to people facing foreclosures and evictions to keep people in their homes through Permanent Supportive Housing Programs. Please remember that while we think of cities as where homeless people congregate, they may be your former neighbors who have relocated to the city to be closer to services. To donate to The CALL, visit cssdioc.org/donating-to-css or by mail to Catholic Social Services, 1600 Bay Street, Fall River.
Help neighbors stay warm
That Arctic blast will be back this winter, and that’s when the energy bills skyrocket. Make your neighbors’ homes a little warmer by contributing to the Good Neighbor Energy Fund. Initiated in 1985, the Good Neighbor Energy Fund has been helping families pay utility bills throughout Massachusetts for 32 years. Here on the South Coast, Eversource sponsors the Good Neighbor Energy Fund, administered by the Salvation Army. You may have noticed the envelope in your electric or gas bill each month for contributions to the Fund. It’s an easy way to donate, knowing all of the money goes towards the Fund. Unlike the federally-funded heating assistance program, the Good Neighbor Energy Fund helps out those making between 60%-80% of the state median income and who don’t qualify for the federal program. But an unexpected medical crisis, or fewer hours at work, or other financial difficulty may make neighbors temporarily unable to pay their utility bills. That’s where the Fund comes in. To donate, use the handy envelope with your bill, or donate online at salvationarmyusa.org. Or you can donate by phone at 1-800-Sal-Army (1-800-725-2769) to speak with a live operator.
Help pets in need
Don’t forget the pets who also need shelter, warmth, food, and care, especially in the winter. For cats, It’s All About the Animals is a cage-free, no-kill cat shelter operated by Pam and Oren Robinson in Rochester, that operates on a volunteer basis. In business for nearly a decade, they recently went through a fundraiser to complete an addition to their building. They even have “catios” for outdoor cat exercise.
Being a “kitty maid” volunteer includes feeding kittens and cats, light cleaning, litter box maintenance, and of a good bit of “socializing” the cats. Alright, that means kitty snuggling. It’s All About the Animals asks that volunteers have their own transportation, and understand that this is a long-term commitment. To apply, visit the shelter during adoption hours (Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 4) at 103 Marion Road (Route 105 North) in Rochester. Or contact them at ohnokitty1@gmail.com. No phone calls, as the cats patently refuse to answer the phone. Donations are also perfectly acceptable! For dogs, Forever Paws Animal Shelter offers a safe, no-kill shelter to stray, abandoned, and abused dogs (and cats). Forever Paws is a nonprofit organization that relies on donations and fundraisers to stay in operation. It is governed by a volunteer board of directors, and has salaried staff to operate the facility for the dogs and cats in its care. Volunteers are needed to walk the dogs, clean kennels, do laundry, and help maintain the grounds and buildings. It’s like owning a dog! In fact, if you’re not careful, you may end up doing just that through adoption. Contact volunteer coordinator Joyce Pinsonnault at 508-6793053 to apply or stop by the shelter at 300 Lynwood Street in Fall River. Visit their website at foreverpaws.com for more information on how to help. There are other South Coast charities who are also feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, giving warmth to those who would otherwise be cold, and caring for companion animals in need. The local charities mentioned here are offered to inspire you to seek out ways to help create a compassionate South Coast.
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The South Coast Insider | December 2017
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Showing variety
THINGS TO DO
by Dan Logan
Holidays dominate in November and December, but there are also plenty of other public events for those needing a break from the celebration routine. Sharks, maybe? An opportunity to tell a small tale or a tall tale? How about learning more about Rhode Island’s role in World War II, attending a book festival oriented toward kids, or helping to expand the collective memory of New Bedford’s fishing industry? It’s going to be a good month for variety.
Days of infamy
On the 76th anniversary of the bombing raid on Pearl Harbor, historian Christian
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December 2017 | The South Coast Insider
McBurney will offer a lecture on Rhode Island’s reaction to the raid, when no one knew where else attacks might take place. By the start of World War II Newport had been a center of naval operations for more than 150 years. During the war Quonset Point developed into a large naval air station, and it was also the primary training facility for the Seabees, the United States Naval Construction Battalions. Three secret German POW camps, torpedo production factories, the country’s primary PT boat training center, and a naval training station that trained 500,000 sailors were scattered around the Newport area. Across Rhode Island, workers were building military equipment and warships, including the Liberty ship transports. According to records, sixty-three Liberty ships, frigates, and attack cargo ships were launched from the area’s Kaiser Shipyards. Christian McBurney is an attorney and independent historian who has written seven books on Rhode Island and on the Revolutionary War. He publishes
Groundwork!’s Colleen Dawicki.
the Rhode Island state history blog, smallstatebighistory.com. McBurney’s lecture will take place December 7 from noon to 1 p.m. at the Seamen’s Church Institute at 18 Market Square in Newport. The lecture is free and open to the public. For more information call 401-841-7276. The website is seamensnewport.org.
BOOK A VISIT
The main place we encounter other readers sort of clumped together is in libraries. Usually some degree of quiet prevails in a library setting, and many people are narrowly focused on their own objective of the moment, like cormorants flying to, well, anywhere. Bring a new book festival to town, and one feels a different ambiance. Attendees are often pleasantly surprised to see how many other passionate readers there are in their community. Here they are all packed into one spot, schmoozing with authors and sharing their finds with other readers, the
will be scanned and annotated. The originals are returned to contributors along with digital files of the material. Scanning Day is free and open to the public. The Fishing Heritage Center is located at 38 Bethel Street in New Bedford.
noise level evidence of their abundant enthusiasm. It’s a great day to be a book lover. Such has been the case with the New Bedford Bookfest, which was launched at Groundwork! on Purchase Street in March of last year. To date, the event has been held twice a year, in the spring and in the fall. This year’s New Bedford book festival takes a slightly different approach as the Children’s New Bedford Bookfest & Gift Bazaar, focusing on, yes, children’s books. Twenty authors and booksellers and ten selected illustrators will be taking part in the event at the Groundwork! Gallery. Authors already committed to the festival include Jane Bregoli, Michael Cifello, Robert Clark, Elizabeth Larsen, Susan Nelson, Kathleen Souza, and Maryellen Worrell, as well as L.S. Gagnon of “The Witch Series,” and Tagus Press, from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Center for Portuguese Studies and Culture. Students from Holy Family Holy Name Elementary School and the Global Learning Charter Public School will take part in openmic readings of their favorite stories on both days. The Children’s New Bedford Bookfest & Gift Bazaar is scheduled for December 9 and 10 from noon to 4 p.m. at Groundwork!, 1213 Purchase Street in New Bedford. It’s free and open to the public. The website is nbbookfest.com.
Sharks will be the topic at Tabor Academy’s Science@Work lecture series. Speaker Gregory Skomal, a marine biologist and head of the Massachusetts Shark Research Program, has been tagging and tracking great white sharks using acoustic telemetry and satellite-based tagging for more than 30 years. With great whites firmly ensconced along the Massachusetts coast and sometimes visible to beachgoers, Skomal’s findings have attracted lots of public interest. An adjunct faculty member at the University of Massachusetts School for Marine Science and Technology (SMAST) and an adjunct scientist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), he has also been involved with a number of documentaries about sharks for National Geographic and the Discovery Channel, among others. His most recent book is The Shark Handbook. Dr. Skomal’s free lecture is scheduled for December 11 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Tabor’s Lyndon South Auditorium in the Stroud Academic Center at 232 Front Street in Marion. For more information call 508-748-2000.
SCANNING HISTORY
SPINNING YARNS
In its brief history, the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center has already become an important resource for public hands-on education about New Bedford’s fishing industry. At the center visitors can check out a mockup of a fishing boat wheelhouse, try on the safety gear fishermen rely on in rough seas, and look over displays of every form of fishing equipment and technology. The NBFHC has also been diligently pulling together a digital collection of photos and documents related to local fishing. The staff regularly holds scanning days where anyone can have their fishing industry memorabilia scanned for long-term preservation in digital form, available to researchers and members of the public. On December 9 from 10 a.m. to noon, members of the public can bring in photos and other documents such as union books, news clippings, or other memorabilia, which
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At the New Bedford Public Library at 613 Pleasant Street, an experimental program called Adult Storytelling with Gilly got underway this fall. Host Gilly Cabral, whose slogan is, “If you’ve lived, you have a story,” says her plan is to bring people together to share stories with the group. The informal monthly session, which meets on the third Wednesday of the month, had its first meeting in October. The next meeting of Adult Storytelling with Gilly is scheduled for December 20 in the third floor meeting room at the downtown library. It will run from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Gilly says to bring a story to read, plan to share a memory, or plan to listen to others spin their yarns. For more information call Gilly Cabral at 508-999-3939, the New Bedford Public Library at 508-991-6278, or email nbmref@ sailsinc.org.
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The South Coast Insider | December 2017
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BUSINESS BUZZ
Santa’s local helpers By Jay Pateakos
We are lucky in the South Coast to have an array of one-of-a-kind gift shops that provide consumers with so many great options this holiday season. Do something different this year (something I took upon myself to do last year) and hold off on making your online purchases until you spend a day traipsing through the great stores around your area. I found so many beautiful items that I would have never found online. It was a huge eye opener for someone who was always looking for convenience shopping more than anything else. I think it’s time to get back to the basics and shop locally. Here’s a start below.
Partners in cheer
At Partners Village Store, at 865 Main Road in Westport, there’s not much that
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December 2017 | The South Coast Insider
There’s nothing you can’t find at Partners Village Store.
Besides being a gallery, the Vault offers unique creative gifts.
owner Lydia Gollner doesn’t carry. There are books, toys, candles, greeting cards, jewelry, handbags, pet products, and so much more. “Partners is a specialty store with a café, and our inventory runs the gamut between toys, books, gifts, clothing and paper goods. What sets us apart is the way this store is curated in its uniqueness,” said Gollner. “We are the furthest thing from a big box store and pride ourselves on providing unique gifts, from bagel makers to beer making kits, children’s toys to arts and crafts, to food as well, much of it sourced locally, from teas to jellies and jams and salad dressings.” When it comes to shopping locally, Gollner realizes how lucky she is to have a base in the residents of Westport and beyond who will go out of their way to shop local whenever they can. “We pride ourselves on our customer service and we do a lot of special orders at the store, making sure to find gifts the consumers want in their size and monogram it to their liking,” said Gollner. Further services include on-site gift wrapping. “The community here is a shop local community and we appreciate that and work hard at making sure that we give them what they want every time they visit.”
Gollder said that there’s nothing like personal shopping. “It’s really about the experience. People come in for a gift and they end up in the café reading a book or they come in for the café and end up leaving with some great gifts or stumble on a book,” she said. “This store has a multi-generational vibe to it. We have customers in their 90’s all the way down to newborns.” She said shopping locally helps to “keep the community alive” while supporting the local companies and people who own them. “It’s about local jobs, and we are lucky that this store is a destination. It’s a community store,” said Gollner, who noted a Holiday Open House scheduled for December 9. “We had a pumpkin carving activity and gave out more than 50 pumpkins. We are big supporters of the community which in turn supports us.”
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Treasure Vault
Barbara Leger and Sandra-Souher Nasrawis, owners of The Vault Gallery of Fine Arts at 169 Rockdale Avenue in South Dartmouth, promote a one-of-a-kind art gallery but also sell a diverse set of creative gifts, from beautiful hand-blown glass
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The South Coast Insider | December 2017
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The Vintage Barn is proud to carry the items “you would not see in many stores.”
Shop local, shop small at Deni’s Closet in Westport.
Continued FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
items to designer jewelry, and much more. “We have a very affordable selection in wood, glass, pottery, and jewelry, handcrafted by top artists,” said Leger. “The Vault is the only place to find the very popular ‘Wishes’ candles. The premise is to light a candle and make a wish or prayer to the universe! Wishes are one of our most popular gifts.” Leger said The Vault also has a great selection of Kugel blown glass ornaments in a variety of colors and styles at the lowest prices in the region. As for holiday cheer, “every purchase leaves the Vault beautifully wrapped. Customers get the holiday spirit for no extra charge!” Leger said.
Community closet
Denise Squillante, owner of Deni’s Closet, located at 937 Main Road in Westport, has always stocked her store with great fashion, jewelry, and accessories, noting the focus of her store is to be comfortable and
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December 2017 | The South Coast Insider
stylish, like the warm clothing and jackets she carries. “Beautiful UGG clothing and UGG accessories,” said Squillante of the sought after items. “We carry perfect stocking stuffers and unique gifts.” New lines include holiday clothing suitable for home or an event, as well as new jewelry at various price levels. Each week until the end of the year Deni’s Closet posts holiday specials on Facebook and to its email list, said Squillante. As for the importance of shopping local, Squillante was quick to bring up Shop Small Saturday on November 25. “Local stores carry unique items of good quality, not cookie cutter mass-made items,” added Squillante. “Local stores feed the local economy. They hire your neighbors and support the local communities.”
Gifts to the rafters
At the Vintage Barn, located at 4 Paquette Drive in Dartmouth, owners Mike and Marianne Boucher sell an eclectic group of fine gifts from hand-painted furniture to
locally-made creative gifts like paintings and beautiful ornaments. “We have a number of gifts at The Vintage Barn including pocketbooks and bags made out of recycled military tents with unique designs, angel lockets with bell chimes, original oil and acrylic paintings, and a number of Victorian Christmas ornaments,” said Marianne. She said that the season tends to bring out people looking for more personal items for loved ones and friends. “We try to carry unique items that you would not see in many stores,” said Boucher, who works hard to make her store one of those rare experiences that make people want to come back again and again. “The shopping experience in our store is so important to us,” she added. “We try to give a personal service, asking customers questions to aid in their selection process.” Boucher said that the importance of shopping locally helps customers find what they are looking for, and if they don’t have it, they try to steer people to other local stores. “By getting to know people over time you
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create a special bond that is missing with large retailers or online shopping,” Marianne noted. “When we find a customer who has their own local business we try to repay their patronage by visiting that store.”
Good neighbors
Dartmoor Gifts, located at 201 Horseneck Road in Dartmouth, offers a wide range of quality gifts for the home and garden at affordable prices, according to owner Lea McBratney. “We showcase unique works of art from local artists such as wood carvings of mermaids, whales, fish, and owls,” said McBratney. “Other items that are extremely popular during the holiday season are the Luke Adams’ hand-blown glass balls, Bedrock holiday-scented candles, Meadowbrooke Gourds holiday-featured designs, and an assortment of New England handmade soaps along with many other seasonal ornaments, just to name a few.” McBratney said that holiday shopping at Dartmoor Gifts is truly a unique and joyful experience, as “we make an effort to
F REE CLEA N I N G + A S S E S S M E N T
promote the sights and sounds of the holiday season.” “My goal has always been to make Dartmoor Gifts the perfect destination for relaxed holiday shopping,” said McBratney. “Clearly, shopping at a brick-and-mortar can enhance and personalize one’s overall shopping experience. You are able to appreciate the value of an item you are purchasing by seeing the quality firsthand.” Shopping locally has an array of benefits, she said, not only in helping local shops to thrive but also to help them give back to the community around them. “It is so very important to shop locally, for in doing so you help to support a more sustainable community, which in many ways gives back to the people who live within that community,” McBratney added. And that’s what it’s all about – paying it forward, giving to those who give to you. Remember to shop local this holiday season, where most of the funds stay local, employing local people and promoting local businesses and farms. Find the world beyond your computer screen.
paintings F pottery F jewelery
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The South Coast Insider | December 2017
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COVER STORY
The holiday window display at Patenaude Jewelers has prompted many a photo.
Sparkling season BY Jay Pateakos
Jewelry stores are all the rage around Valentine’s Day, but things certainly don’t slow down around the holiday season. Customers are always looking for great new, unique jewelry items, and this year is no different. From earrings to pendants to watches and even some surprises, the holiday season is shining. 20
December 2017 | The South Coast Insider
“We have gifts to fit every budget for Christmas as well as all year long. All purchases come with free elegant gift wrapping, and during the Christmas season we have extra special holiday themed bows,” said Denis Tetrault, owner of Patenaude Jewelers (patenaudejewelers. com) located at 1473 Main Street in Fall River. “Our jewelry is current since we attend jewelry shows several times a year to keep our inventory fresh. We also offer estate jewelry for our customers who
love vintage jewelry at an amazing price.” Patenaude’s has all hands on deck for Christmas cheer. “We love the holidays! It’s a very festive atmosphere here at Patenaude’s,” said Tetrault. “Our window displays bring many shoppers from near and far who stop by and take pictures.” Tetrault said they have been in business for 127 years – the same family at the same location. “We have generational customers who come for the customer service we offer.
We treat all our customers as family.” Tetrault added, “shopping online does not give you the security you receive by shopping local with a retailer with a proven track record.” Tetrault said that by shopping local, his customers get to experience his appreciation for coming to the store for all their jewelry needs.
husband Pierre, located at 207 Swansea Mall Drive, (plantejewelers.com) said that gemstones are a perfect gift for the holiday season. “The colors and stories behind the gems make these gifts special. Gemstones that are interesting and fun to wear come in all price ranges,” Nancy said. “If you’d like to give a truly
“If you’d like to give a truly personal present, give a loose gemstone— it will be a unique surprise, and the recipient can come in and choose how to set the gem.” “From changing a watch battery to buying an engagement ring or the special occasion gift, all our customers know we appreciate doing business with them,” said Tetrault. “The customer service they receive cannot be achieved through an online purchase.”
Gem of an idea
Nancy Plante, co-owner of Plante Jewelers with her
personal present, give a loose gemstone – it will be a unique surprise, and the recipient can come in and choose how to set the gem.” As for what’s trending these days, Nancy said to look no further than yellow gold. Plante has small stud earrings in different shapes for a little glint of gold at your ear. They also feature
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Plante Jewelers features designs from local and national artisans, including this necklace and earring set by Susan Mahlstedt.
The South Coast Insider | December 2017
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Continued FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
J&J Diamond Jewelers is known for
handmade jewelry by Massachusetts deits custom work and unique pieces. signers like Deborah Richardson and Tom Kruskal, she noted. But the holiday season brings out something special in not only the store and its staff, but also in the customers who come by looking for unique items. “The holiday season brings the excitement of giving. Whether it is a man choosing a present for his wife, or a customer stopping in to donate a toy for the children at St. Vincent’s Home, the mood is one of doing something for someone out of love,” said Nancy, who counts many customers as friends. She said that those customers look for the experience when shopping, and that Plante Jewelers works hard to make their store shine. “The experience of shopping in-store is important because when you are choosing a present for a person you care about, you can benefit from seeing and feeling the jewelry you are buying,” Nancy said. “You can try it on, or have someone try it on for you, and truly imagine how your loved one will wear it. We also have a Wish List here in our store, and we know many of our customers well, so we can offer insight into what kinds of jewelry a person would like.” For first-time visitors to their store, they can take time to understand what kind of a gift they need and make sure they feel confident in their choices, she said. “One thing I would like people to understand about shopping locally is this: as time goes on, our whole country loses local identity, and things grow to look more and more the same. Drive off a highway to get lunch and you can ask yourself, ‘where am I?’ because the same businesses are there in every town,” said Nancy. “The small, independently-owned businesses are what give flavor and character to a community. We would miss them if they were gone.”
Personal touch
Danielle Sampson-Vieira, Marketing Manager for J&J Diamond Jewelers (jjjewelry.com), located at 167 Borden Street in Fall River, said that they have many unique pieces in the store. “We pride ourselves in having pieces that are not like everyone else’s. What we are known for is custom work that we provide with a quick turnaround. Sharon walks you through the initial concept to the finished product,” said Sampson-Vieira. “People tend to think that because they are getting a custom piece, it will cost a lot more than buying from in-store, and that’s not always the case. We can also refurbish heirloom pieces and polish them to look new again. Another option people have is taking stones that you have, possibly that were taken out from other pieces, and remounting them into a modern mounting.” Sampson-Vieira said the Holiday season is a very special time around the store.
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December 2017 | The South Coast Insider
Jeweler Peter Tirpaeck “redirects” dormant jewelry at Studio by the Sea.
“We have many in-store specials. We also understand the sense of urgency our loyal customers have when they are looking to purchase holiday gifts for their loved ones,” she said. “We are usually able to offer a 24 to 48 hour turnaround from the initial order, and about a ten-day turnaround for custom orders. We are also known for having goodies and treats through the holiday season for our customers.” Sampson-Vieira said that when you shop locally, you know what you’re getting. “You can see and touch the actual product. You also know the quality you are receiving, as opposed to relying on an online description that may not always be accurate. And what if you can’t return your online purchase?” Sampson-Vieira said. “Shopping locally is very important these days because Main Street, USA is getting shorter and shorter. When you shop local, your money stays local. You are employing local residents which in return are spending locally. Sometimes shopping online can be more convenient, but you don’t get the personal and loyal service from an online shopping experience.”
“All of the jewelry you own has a story, and when we redirect items we add to the history of a piece. In essence, it becomes a three-dimensional story.” Inner beauty
At Tiverton’s Studio by the Sea, jeweler Peter Tirpaeck not only works hard to repair your broken jewelry but can take your older dormant jewelry (that which may be broken beyond repair or no longer to your taste) and fashion it into an entirely new piece with a process he calls “redirection.” “The process involves cutting up your older pieces into usable components and rearranging them into an entirely new form,” said Tirpaeck. “This approach allows a customer to leverage what they already own while also preserving and enhancing the symbolism of those items.” Tirpaeck loves what he does, and it shows! He repeats often that any combination of jewelry items can be converted into a stunning new piece. “All of the jewelry you own has a story, and when we redirect items we add to the history of a piece. In essence, it becomes a three-dimensional story.” Tirpaeck said he spends quite a bit of time with his customers, getting to know what the new direction will be for their new heirloom. It’s essential that the one talking to the customer is the one doing all the work (the cleaning, designing, and fabrication) so that the person gets a finished piece that is identical to what they had envisioned. “Older pieces can also be converted into gifts for the next generation. Gifts which possess more provenance are more significant and most importantly are an economical way to create.”
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The South Coast Insider | December 2017
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COVER STORY
By Michael J. Vieira
Food, glorious food!
No matter what you believe or how you celebrate this holiday season, the one thing that brings together this divided nation is “food, glorious food.” n fact, Lionel Bart’s opening song from the 1960’s Broadway musical and film Oliver! may well be the soundtrack for the season. Although you could start the holidays with Halloween – a day centered around sending kids begging for candy (which the parents more often than not “share”), the star of the show is Thanksgiving. What’s better than a day devoted to the three Fs: Family, Football, and Food – especially food. With turkey usually the main course, sides vary from ethnic group and locale to traditions new and old – and another turkey often comes back to revisit at Christmas. Nobody I know ever had a goose. At both holidays, expect cranberries and stuffing in some form. Like many, most of my cranberries came jellied in a can – who knew you could actually make stuff with the berries? And, in a move that transcends holidays, one of my favorite recipes is cranberry nut
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December 2017 | The South Coast Insider
bars. You can serve it anytime and can get the recipe on page 25.
The stuffing of legends
My all-time favorite holiday side dish is stuffing – and, to be honest, I’m happy to eat any kind – but I’m particularly fond of my wife’s, who makes her mother’s excellent French Canadian ground pork stuffing. For me, the standout has to be recheio, Portuguese bread stuffing with chouriço, onions, pimento moita, and Portuguese allspice. My 90-year-old mother still makes it for Thanksgiving, but I’ve been known to whip up a batch. (In about 30 years, maybe I’ll get it mastered.) From the Azores to Hawaii, there are millions of variations. Just Google “Portuguese stuffing” and you’ll come up with 630,000 links. That’s a lot of stuff(ing) – and probably about 315,000 pounds of chouriço! Although it’s not even close to our family’s version (we never put in ground beef, green peppers, or used gluton-free
anything), you can even find Fall River native Emeril Lagasse’s mother’s recipe at his daughters’ site, lagassegirls.com/recipes/ gramma-hildas-traditional-portuguesestuffingdressing. It also appears in at least one of his cookbooks. Bam!
Hanukkah treats
When the “Festival of Lights” kicks off on December 12, expect at least eight days of delights. Tables will be filled with everything from latkes, golden fried potato pancakes, to sufganiyot, fried jelly-filled donuts (which also appear under different names in Russia, Poland, and other spots). Lauren Haslett and Delish.com provides recipes for these and other holiday goodies listed below, and also served as a great source of information about the traditions. Visit delish.com/entertaining/g363/ holiday-food-traditions. Can’t wait for Christmas? December 13 is St. Lucia’s Day. That’s the official start of the season in many Nordic countries. You’ve seen the pictures – the eldest daughter is dressed in a white gown with a red sash and a crown of lit candles. She wakes her parents with coffee and saffron buns. You could also celebrate like the Filipinos. The party starts on December 16 and continues through Christmas Day. Haslett noted that the centerpiece is usually a whole roasted pig. “Aside from a main pork dish, the meal often includes other Filipino favorites, like
oxtail stew, queso de bolo… and flan,” she wrote. Now that’s what I call pigging out!
Oh, Christmas cod
In many Catholic countries, the big celebration is Christmas Eve – and in the South Coast, many families continue the tradition by getting together on December 24, going to Midnight Mass, feasting, and opening presents. We do. The Italians in Sicily and Southern Italy in particular are well known for the “Feast of the Seven Fishes,” which is traditionally held on Christmas Eve. Like most Catholic countries, the evenings before major church holidays were times when abstinence from meat was required, hence the seafood theme. “It’s what Italians do when they say they’re fasting,” chef Mario Batali is reported to have said. Why seven fish? Some say it represents the seven Sacraments of the Roman Catholic church, others the seven hills of Rome. Others, Batali suggested, do as many as 13 (for the 12 apostles plus Jesus.) Whatever the number, salted cod is usually one of the featured foods – a traditional dish also served in many Portuguese homes on Christmas Eve. In the Italian feast, expect a variety of seafood prepared in various ways. Batali offers a menu in Epicurious.com that includes courses of clams, anchovies, linguine with clams, spaghetti with mussels, cod, shrimp, eel, broccoli, cannoli, and struffoli (Christmas honey fritters).
For the menus, go to epicurious.com/holidays-events/mario-batalis-feast-of-the-seven-fishes-article. Although many Portuguese homes will feature a bacalhau dish or two, some also serve octopus stew. On Christmas Day, the meat returns – perhaps marinated pork, a roasted young goat, and, yes, turkey or chicken with stuffing. Our family blends French meat pies on Christmas Eve and, on Christmas, Portuguese stewed chicken, which simmers the bird in tomatoes along with carrots, potatoes, and rice cooked in the broth. Credit for both traditions goes to my wife’s family.
Sweet treats
Neither of our families served the traditional holiday desserts, but the French are known for Bûch de Noël, or Christmas branch. This cake is filled and rolled so that it looks like a log. Not to be confused with the Mardi Gras version, some Portuguese serve two cakes: Bolo Rei and Bolo Rainha. Both are cakes with fruits and nuts, but the king (rei) has candied fruit. Our family holiday features my wife’s pies and a variety of other goodies. There’s usually Portuguese sweet rice pudding, some Christmas cookies, cakes, and other treats. It’s funny, but the one sweet thing I remember from my childhood is ribbon candy – those glass-like slivers of sharp sweetness. Not many people ate them, but they sure looked cool on the table. Continued ON NEXT PAGE
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The South Coast Insider | December 2017
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Speaking of sweet, many Greeks celebrate the end of their fast with melomakarona, which Haslett describes as “a sweet, honey-soaked cookie topped with walnuts.” Nothing wrong with that.
The stuffing of legend
Although Kwanzaa is a relatively new holiday (circa 1966), it has the promise of offering some tasty new traditions. Beginning on December 26 and running through January 1, a Karamu Ya Imani or Feast of Feasts is often scheduled on the sixth day: New Year’s Eve. The Karamu may include music and drumming, readings and reflections, but always includes a tableful of African American dishes as well as traditional African, Caribbean, and South American food. The seven principles of the holiday are displayed, as are other cultural items. For the feast, you might see peanut soup, okra and greens, yams, black-eyed peas, sweet potatoes, catfish, jerk chicken, pecan pie, and more. The dishes often celebrate the harvest, family, and include both spicy island treats and what is more commonly called “soul food.” You may also see spreads of fresh fruits and vegetables. Like the entire week, the celebration is designed to identify and affirm African-American cultural traditions and principles. Also on December 26 is St. Stephen’s Day. He was the first martyr of the church. Some recall his stoning by throwing chestnuts at each other. Odd, but maybe better than eating some of those things “roasted over an open fire.”
Eve-n more food
In the States, New Year’s Eve is often focused on drinking and resolutions, but the Italians celebrate La Festa di San Silvestro, the feast of St. Sylvester. Again, family and friends gather for a meal of lentils… yes, lentils. “Legumes are thought to symbolize money and prosperity, so Italians eat lots of them in hopes of bringing themselves wealth and success in the coming year,” Haslett said.
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December 2017 | The South Coast Insider
A friend of mine from Baltimore talked about serving collard greens and okra on New Year’s Day because it signified money – and you wanted to eat more dollars than coins. This may be related to a tradition of eating black-eyed peas and collard greens: the peas for good luck and the greens for money (prosperity). In other countries, the New Year is also celebrated with food, according to Haslett. In Korea, it’s often kimchi and dduk guk, or spicy cabbage and rice cake soup. China, Japan, and other Asian countries eat long noodles to symbolize longevity. The Vietnamese eat a large rice cake with layers of pork, mung beans and other ingredients in a layer of rice which is wrapped in bamboo. Its square shape represents the earth. A round version represents the sky.
considered lucky. According to Mannino, in the Philippines eating 13 is the custom (13 is a lucky number), and in Europe and the U.S., it’s 12 (for the months). But New Year’s Day isn’t only about sweets. The Chinese serve a whole fish to ensure a good year from start to finish, Mannino noted. Germans, Poles, and Scandinavians eat a herring at midnight. Their silvery color looks like coins and the plentiful fish “ensures a year of bounty.” Finally, we return to the pig. Mannino points out that pig symbolizes progress in Cuba, Spain, Portugal, Serbia, Hungary, Austria, and other places. Why? “Some say it’s because these animals never move backward, while others believe it’s all in their feeding habits (they push their snouts forward along the ground when rooting for food),” he wrote. So, what better way to ring in the New Year than with a plate of pork – or with pig-shaped cookies. That’s progress!
“Legumes are thought to symbolize money and prosperity, so Italians eat lots of them in hopes of bringing themselves wealth and success in the coming year…” In Spain, revelers eat a dozen grapes. They represent the months of the year: sweet ones represent good months and sour a not so good one. As the clock strikes 12, you’re evidently supposed to eat one. Southerners eat cornbread year-round, but on New Year’s Day, it gains significance. The color brings to mind gold – and some will add corn kernels to represent gold nuggets for extra good luck. Other countries like Turkey buy pomegranates, which represent good luck. According to Brynn Mannino in Woman’s Day, “Their red color, which represents the human heart, denotes life and fertility; their medicinal properties represent health; and their abundant, round seeds represent prosperity – all things everyone hopes for in any fresh start.” Other round fruit like oranges are
Keep celebrating
Thanks to the commercialization of Christmas, many people start the holiday right after Thanksgiving – or as early as November 1 when the Halloween decorations come down. Traditionally, Advent is about of a month of preparation and the holiday season starts on Christmas Day. The 12 days of Christmas end on January 6, the Feast of the Epiphany. In many places, it’s as important as Christmas. It marks the arrival of the Magi, or Three Kings, so in some countries, that’s when you bring gifts – just like they did. In England, that’s also when people go “wassailing,” or caroling from house to house wishing their neighbors good luck. The wassail bowl was often filled with mulled ale or cider. The French, Spanish, Mexicans, and others exchange presents and finish a meal with a “King’s cake.” In Portugal, Madeira, and elsewhere, there are Epiphany carols also known as Janeiras or Cantar os Reis. Like they do when Christmas Caroling or wassailing, folks go door to door singing songs, having drinks, enjoying food, and wishing each other good luck and prosperity. And, in the end, isn’t that what the holidays and new year are all about? Maybe we’re not as divided as we think.
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The South Coast Insider | December 2017
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BUSINESS BUZZ
The
The businesses at the Myles Standish Industrial Park employ over 8,000 people.
big engine
that could By Steve Smith
Forty years ago, it was an abandoned military base and former prisoner of war camp in a remote and fairly inaccessible corner of Taunton.
T
oday it is the site of the one of the largest employment centers in all New England, with over 100 companies employing over 8,000 people. We’re talking of course of the Myles Standish Industrial Park (MSIP). How this all happened is a success story that should be studied and emulated. It’s an instructive case study on public-private partnerships and coordination among all levels and functions of government.
From camp to champ
During World War II, Camp Myles Standish served our country as the site from which thousands of troops disembarked for the European theater. It also doubled as a POW camp for captured German soldiers and Italian detainees (a plaque in the park commemorates this).
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December 2017 | The South Coast Insider
After the war, the camp had outlived its usefulness. The Department of Defense didn’t want hundreds of acres of poorly accessible land with brownfield problems. But actions taken at that time and in subsequent years by the local, state, and federal levels of government would shape Taunton’s future. Camp Myles Standish was deeded to the state in 1948 for mental health purposes, and 437 acres were subsequently sold to the quasi-public Taunton Development Corporation (TDC) in 1974 to develop and manage an industrial park in partnership with the City of Taunton. Many players stepped up to the plate in subsequent years to contribute to a winning strategy. The Commonwealth did its part by completing I-495, filling in the 13-mile “missing link” from I-95 in Mansfield to Route 24 in
Raynham. This project would get underway in the late 1970s and finish early in the next decade. But the feds really stepped up. As early as 1973, the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) awarded the City a modest $15,000 technical assistance grant to study the feasibility of an industrial park. This was followed by two more small grants and a larger investment by EDA of $1.68 million to pay for roads and utilities in the park. By the late 1970s the park was officially in business, giving Taunton a much needed economic shot in the arm. Unemployment was averaging 50% higher than the state average and peaked at 14% in 1982.
Transformation
At first, land sales and construction in the 437-acre Phase 1 were slow, with many Boston-based businesses and
entrepreneurs regarding southeastern Massachusetts as a remote and inaccessible backwater. But the new highway and the industrial park subdivision with “ready to build” lots eventually erased that perception. In 1987, Dick Shafer was hired by the City of Taunton as Industrial Development Director and to assist TDC’s all-volunteer Board of Directors to continue MSIP’s development, a task he has pursued ever since. As the park’s reputation and success grew, EDA recognized a good investment opportunity and followed with grants in 1995 and 2001, totaling $2.4 million. These grants helped the TDC purchase additional land from the state and develop Phase 2 (218 additional acres) and Phase 3 (154 acres).
As phases 1,2, and 3 were selling out, MSIP had a new problem – continued demand but a diminishing supply of sites. The City of Taunton and the TDC turned to the legislature and Senator Marc Pacheco to secure a transfer of the remaining 220 acres of land from the state Paul Dever School. In 2011, the deal was completed and the park grew to 1,029 acres. The expansion presented new challenges, including the demolition and removal of forty unneeded buildings, tunnels, and paved areas. MassDevelopment agreed to be a partner for the upcoming phases 4 and 5, which will include a life sciences training and education center championed by Senator Pacheco. “All along, this has been a team effort with the City of Taunton,
“It truly represents a living example of what we can accomplish when we all work together.” “We took great pride in maintaining a balanced distribution of manufacturing, distribution, and service businesses in the park” stated Shafer. “As of 2017, there are 106 companies at Myles Standish employing over 8,000 regional residents.” Notable tenants include defense giant General Dynamics, the National Weather Service, Perkins Paper, Tribe Mediterranean Foods (New England’s largest hummus producer), and the Holiday Inn. 2017 saw the opening of the Martignetti Liquor corporate offices and distribution facility with nearly 1,000 employees, and the Boston Globe production and distribution facility with 700 employees.
federal and state agencies, the Taunton Development Corporation, and the many businesses in the park all working together to make this such a model development” Lou Ricciardi, TDC’s President proudly proclaimed. “It truly represents a living example of what we can accomplish when we all work together.” The story of this economic juggernaut is remarkable. More than providing employment for thousands of regional residents, the Myles Standish Industrial Park has done its part in erasing the outdated perception of the South Coast as being a “remote and inaccessible backwater” and has established itself as an engine of economic growth.
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ymcasouthcoast.org The South Coast Insider | December 2017
29
COVER STORY
A tropical Christmas
potluck By Greg Jones
What a sight: hundreds of people sitting on or gathered around picnic tables. The tables are covered with dishes, bowls, trays, pans – anything that will hold food. Barbecue grills, from little picnic-size grills to Texassize, are smoking away. It’s a Christmas potluck, but the people are wearing shorts and t-shirts. Shoes are optional. A short distance from the massed picnic tables is the beach, and just off the beach are sailboats at anchor. There are hundreds of them, with a few powerboats too. This is Christmas in the Bahamas, on Stocking Island, near the southern end of the District of Exuma. The nearest town is George Town, a few miles across Elizabeth Harbour and the capital of Exuma District. George Town, and the various anchorages in the vicinity, is the winter home to hundreds of sailors on hundreds of boats, and it has been for many years. Most of the sailors are Americans, but there are a lot of Canadians, who, one might imagine, have even more reason to be here for the winter.
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December 2017 | The South Coast Insider
Every year, sailors in the Bahamas enjoy a buffet.
My wife Barbara and I spent the Christmas of 2015 anchored just off Stocking Island on board our 38-year-old sailboat, Chamba. When we first saw Elizabeth Harbour, all we could see was a virtual forest of masts. Elizabeth Harbour, fortunately, is a very large anchorage, with room for everyone. Barbara and I joined the flotilla and dropped anchor for the holidays. The potluck is roughly organized by volunteers who get together in the days prior to Christmas to make sure that there aren’t, say, 300 trays of brownies and no mashed potatoes. It’s a testament to the volunteers’ patience and hard work that they can organize as diverse and independent a group as cruisers. Herding cats comes to mind. Word spreads via the radios that are on every boat. Every morning there is a radio net, organized, again, by volunteers. Plans
are made, schedules are set, calendars are marked, and the time is agreed upon. Stocking Island is virtually uninhabited, and everyone arrives on their dinghies, small open boats with outboard engines that are the cruisers’ equivalent of the family car. Everything the cruisers eat, drink, wear, read, or use is brought on the dinghy. A very short distance from all the picnic tables, the dinghies begin to pull up on the sandy beach.
Motion of the ocean
The picnic tables are piled high with food. For many of the cruisers, this is Christmas dinner with old friends. Every year, they sail down to the Bahamas and make their way to George Town. It’s just over 300 miles from Miami, but it’s a world away. The cruisers are citizens of a parallel world
of sailors who, for periods of time ranging from a month to forever, live on their boats. Most of them are not rich – not in absolute terms. But, they will tell you, they are rich in relative terms. They live within whatever means they have, and most of them are frugal to the point of it nearly being a religion. Some of them venture no further in the Bahamas. This is their annual destination, where friendships are renewed and strangers are befriended. Roughly, the schedule is November to May, thus avoiding hurricane season. The Christmas potluck lasts all afternoon. Within sight of the picnic tables are volleyball courts where the well-fed can burn off a Christmas dinner and make room for dessert. The menu for our Bahamian Christmas potluck was a familiar one to anyone who had participated in one on land. With a gathering the size of the Stocking Island Christmas potluck, you could find nearly anything, ranging from classics like ham and gravy to vegetarian soy “turkey.” Mac and cheese, as it turns out, is something on the order of a national dish in the Bahamas, and this Christmas potluck was no exception. There was every conceivable variation on the theme: mac and cheese with the consistency of thick chili to mac and cheese that was served in cut portions like brownies. There was sweet mac and cheese, spicy mac and cheese, and crunchy mac and cheese. If you can’t find a mac and cheese to suit your taste then there’s no hope for you. As the tropical sun began its descent into evening, you could hear a Christmas carol or two from impromptu choruses. No need to rehearse, since the good thing about Christmas carols is that everyone knows at least the first verse of all the standards, which is about all the time anyone can spend on a single Christmas carol anyway. The event doesn’t run late. Going back to one’s boat with a cargo of empty potluck dishes and a fair share of the generated trash, is a job best done with some measure of daylight. Jimmy Buffett has a song in which he sings the praises of Christmas in the Caribbean, boasting that it’s “got everything but snow,” but on Stocking Island, snow is the last thing on anyone’s mind.
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DATELINE: SOUTH COAST
News, views and trends…
from Mount Hope Bay to Buzzards Bay
is the season of twinkling lights on long cold nights, and of gathering with family and friends to celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve. Concerts, plays, and community activities move indoors. But despite the winter weather, ‘tis also the season for venturing outdoors – caroling, sledding, skating, and walking through the snowy woods – especially while the kids are home for vacation! As always during this season of giving, remember our veterans, the homeless, and all those less fortunate than you and yours.
Across the Region Starry, starry nights! Visit the Annual Festival of Lights at the LaSalette Shrine in Attleboro – more than 300,000 lights illuminating 10 acres! For details, go to lasalette-shrine.org or call 508-222-5410. For the seventh year in a row, Southcoast Health has been recognized by healthgrades.com as one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Care. Southcoast Health includes St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford, Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River and Tobey Hospital in Wareham. In addition, Charlton Memorial has been rated as one of the best hospitals for nurses to work for in Massachusetts by nurse.org. All aboard for the Christmas Festival of Lights at Edaville Railroad in Carver! Take the kids on heated train rides illuminated by 17 million lights throughout the park! For more info, visit edaville. com or call 508-866-8190. UMass Dartmouth alum Scott Tingle is headed for a four-month mission aboard the Soyuz MS07 International Space Station as part of the Expedition 55 crew on December 17. Now a captain in the US Navy, Tingle graduated from UMD in 1987 with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. UMass Dartmouth and NASA will set up a downlink from the space station so that UMD and area high school students can interact with Tingle during his mission.
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December 2017 | The South Coast Insider
If you’re 50 or older, check out the trips sponsored by the New Bedford Senior Travel Program. There’s the Lake Pearl Michael Buble Christmas December 8, Connecticut Christmas Carol December 13 – and numerous casino trips! For details, call 508-991-6171. Stay in shape and engaged with your community this winter – find out what’s going on at your local YMCA! For schedules, go to ymcasouthcoast.org. Former Wareham Gatemen player George Springer, who now plays center field for the Houston Astros, was named the World Series MVP. Springer hit five home runs over the course of seven games, tying a World Series record, and also became the first player in World Series history to homer in four straight games. The Salvation Army is always willing to accept your bagged/boxed donations – clothing, books, furniture, and housewares. To schedule a pickup, go to satruck.org/pickup. Pet Food Aid collects pet food and pet supplies and distributes them to food banks and senior centers throughout Bristol County MA. Volunteers and donations gratefully accepted. For more info, visit petfoodaid.org or call 774-204-5227. My Brother’s Keeper of Dartmouth and Easton is looking for volunteers and gently-used residential furniture for South Coast families in need. Free pickup. Call 774-305-4577 or visit mybrotherskeeper.org.
by Elizabeth Morse Read
Southcoast Health and the Buzzards Bay Coalition have joined together to create “Discover Buzzards Bay,” an initiative to promote active outdoor recreation. A series of guided monthly outdoor walks, called “Sunday Strolls,” and an online portal with information about more than 100 public places to walk, bird-watch, cross-country ski, can be found at savebuzzardsbay.org/discover – and check out thetrustees.org and massaudubon. org. To learn more about state parks and wildlife refuges in Rhode Island, go to riparks.com or stateparks.com/rhode_island. Fill your baskets with local produce, pies, and holiday greenery! To find a farm, vineyard, or farmers market near you, visit semaponline.org, pickyourown.org, farmfreshri.org, or localharvest. org. To find food and wine events in go to coastalwinetrail.com or ediblesouthshore.com.
Acushnet Buy your holiday gifts, goodies, and greenery at The Silverbrook Farm! For info, call 774-202-1027 or go to thesilverbrookfarm.com. Talk a stroll through the Acushnet Sawmills public park and herring weir! Canoe/kayak launch, fishing, trails. For info, visit savebuzzardsbay.org.
Attleboro The Attleboro Community Theatre will present “The Christmas Carol” on December 1-3, 8-10, 15-17! For more info, call 508-226-8100 or go to attleborocommunitytheatre.com. Check out the Capron Park Zoo! Call 774-203-1840 or go to capronparkzoo.com. Or stroll through Mass Audubon’s Oak Knoll Wildlife Sanctuary and Nature Center! For more info, call 508-223-3060 or visit massaudubon.org.
Bristol The Bristol Christmas Festival starts with the Grand Illumination on December 2! For more info, go to facebook.com/bristolchristmasfestival.
The holidays will “sparkle” with the holiday celebration “A Toast to the Twenties” at Blithewold Mansion and Gardens! Go for “Starlit Strolls” on December 7, 14, 21, or 28! Or enjoy “Music in the Living Room” December 2-3, 9-10, 16-17, 23-24, 3031! Or join in the wreath-making workshops on December 1, 2, and 4, or the pomander-making workshop December 18! For info, call 401-253-2707 or go to blithewold.org. Linden Place Mansion, the setting for the movie The Great Gatsby, will be decked for the holidays! Don’t miss Robbie O’Connell’s Celtic Christmas Concert on December 5, or Michael DiMucci’s Fireside Christmas Concerts on December 8 and 10! For info and reservations, call 401-253-0390 or visit lindenplace.org. Find out who’s playing at the Stone Church Coffeehouse at the First Congregational Church. For info or tickets, call 401-253-4813 or 401-253-7288. Check out the 18th-century Home and Hearth Workshops at the Coggeshall Farm Museum! For details, visit coggeshallfarm.org or call 401-253-9062.
Dartmouth Mark your calendar for the monthly Paskamansett Concert Series at the Dartmouth Grange Hall. Mike Laureanno will perform on December 9, Butch McCarthy on January 13. For more info, call 401-241-3793, or visit paskamansettconcertseries.weebly.com. Head for the free Christmas concert at the Dartmouth Grange Hall! For date and details, go to dartmouthgrange.org. Go on nature walks at the Lloyd Center for the Environment! Take the kids to the indoor Nature Discovery event on December 16! For details, call 508-990-0505 or visit lloydcenter.org. Take a winter’s stroll through Paskamansett Woods, a nature reserve operated by the Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust. For more info, visit dnrt.org.
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Easton Join in the fundraising fun of Easton’s “Festival of Trees” at the Country Club, sponsored by the Easton Charitable Trust. There’s Festival of Trees Kids’ Workshops on December 2, the Holiday Arrangement Workshop on December 5, and the Gingerbread-House Making Workshop on December 6. For details go to eastonfestivaloftrees.org or eastoncharitabletrust.org. Find out what’s happening at the Children’s Museum! For info, call 508-230-3789 or visit childrensmuseumineaston.org.
Continued ON NEXT PAGE
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Fall River Historical Society
2017
December Events Victorian High Tea in Easton Tea Room
Fairhaven If you’re interested in the history of JapanAmerica ties, visit the Whitfield-Manjiro Friendship House, where it all began. Go to wmfriendshiphouse.org or call 508-995-1219 for details. Brrrr! Get ready for the Fort Phoenix Polar Plunge on New Year’s Day! For more info, go to fairhaventours.com or call 508-979-4085.
airhaventours.com or call 508-979-4085.
Through December 23, 2017 Fine English teas, our famous scones, tea sandwiches, savories, and dainty pastries served in Easton Tea Room’s three elegant and intimate parlors with original period details. Located in the historic 1870 Alexander Dorrance Easton house adjacent to the FRHS at 458 High Street. Open for the holiday season on Saturdays and Sundays. Reservations recommended.
Tea with Mrs. Claus December 2, 2017 Easton Tea Room in the historic 1870 Alexander Dorrance Easton house at 458 High St. provides a charming setting for young ladies and gentlemen to enjoy our annual High Tea and fun with Mrs. Claus. For children ages 3 to 8. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Seatings at 11:30, and 1:30. Reservations required. Please call early as this event always sells out quickly.
Don’t miss the “Old Time Holiday Fair” in the center of town on December 9-10! For more info, go to fairhaventours.com or call 508-979-4085.
Fall River Head downtown on December 2 for the Children’s Holiday Parade, starting at Kennedy Park! For more info, go to ahafallriver.com. Experience the splendor of Victorian holidays at the Fall River Historical Society’s Museum! For more info, call 508-679-1071 or go to lizzieborden. org. Head for Durfee High School on December 2 and 3 for one of the largest Christmas Crafts Fairs in southern New England! Proceeds will go to the Fall River Scholarship Foundation. Free admission and free parking!
Meet Santa and Mrs. Claus December 17, 2016, 1 to 4 p.m. Young and old alike are cordially invited to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus. Visits take place in the lavishly decorated Music Room, where the jolly duo will greet guests in front of one of our dazzling Christmas trees. Please bring your own camera. A volunteer will be on hand to take photos at your request. Admission is free.
Call 508-679-1071 ext. 5
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December 2017 | The South Coast Insider
The Spindle City Ballet will once again perform the holiday classic “The Nutcracker” on December 16 at 2 and 7 p.m., and on December 17 at 2 p.m. at Bristol Community College. Tickets are $11-$32. For more information call 508-536-6073 or visit splindlecityballet.org.
Listen to the Newport Navy Choristers perform “Christmas in Song” on December 3 at the First Baptist Church! For details, go to newportnavychoristers.org. The Narrows Center for the Arts has a fabulous lineup – there’s Johnny A December 1, Parsonsfield December 16, Quinn Sullivan December 28, Funky White Honkies January 5, Cheryl Wheeler January 6 – and more! For a complete schedule, visit narrowscenter.com or call 508-324-1926. The BCC Holocaust Center is co-sponsoring an art exhibit of the paintings of Holocaust survivor Samuel Bak at the BCC art gallery through December 4. Contact Dr. Ron Weisberger at ron. weisberger@bristolcc.edu or 508-678-2811 x2444. Sharpen your skates (or rent them) and head for the indoor Driscoll Skating Arena! For more info, go to fmcicesports.com or call 508-679-3274. Visit the colonial-era Lafayette-Durfee House to enjoy a Holiday Open House on December 3, 10 and 17! For more info, call 508-813-8230 or visit lafayettedurfeehouse.org. Bundle up and go on an expert-guided seal watch and nature cruise from Borden Light Marina in Fall River (75 minutes) through April! For information and registration, call 401-203-7325 or go to savebay.org/events/seals. To find out what’s happening in greater Fall River, check out the online events calendars at welovefallriver.com or at ahafallriver.com or call 508-294-5344.
Don’t miss the Fall River Symphony Orchestra’s Holiday Pops Concert “The Gift,” with the South Coast Community Chorus, on December 10 at BCC’s Jackson Arts Center! For details, call 508-6782241 or visit fallriversymphonyorchestra.org.
The Fall River Public Library hosts free afternoon movies (and popcorn!) every Wednesday at 1 p.m., in addition to showings on Monday nights. For more information, visit the library’s Facebook page or visit fallriverlibrary.org.
Journey through time and discover a sailor’s life at Battleship Cove, America’s Fleet Museum (508-678-1100 or battleshipcove.org) and the Maritime Museum at Battleship Cove (508-6743533 or battleshipcove.org/maritime-museum). All new tours, interactives, and exhibits – visit two museums for the price of one!
Enjoy the wintery weather! Explore nature trails or historic landmarks, join a walking group – learn more at walkfallriver.org or call 508-324-2405. Find out what’s going on at the Children’s Museum of Greater Fall River! For info, go to cmgfr.org or call 508-672-0033.
Get ready for the new season at the Little Theatre of Fall River! “Always… Patsy Cline” will be performed November 30 to December 3, December 7-10. “A Streetcar Named Desire” will be performed January 10-21, 25-28. For more info, go to littletheatre.net or call 508-675-1852.
Middleboro
Lakeville
The Pilgrim Festival Chorus will present “Messiah and Carol Sing” on December 15 at the First Congregational Church. For more info, visit pilgrimfestivalchorus.org.
Find that special gift at the “Made in Lakeville” Holidays Crafts and Gift Fair on December 2! For more info, visit lakevillearts.com.
Marion Don’t miss the radio drama “It’s a Wonderful Life” on December 8-10 at the Marion Arts Center! For info, call 508-748-1266 or go to marionartcenter. org. Register for the Holiday House Tour on December 9, starting at Handy’s Tavern! For details, visit sippicanwomensclub.org. The Spindle City Ballet will once again perform the holiday classic “The Nutcracker” on December 16 at 2 and 7 p.m., and on December 17 at 2 p.m. at Bristol Community College. Tickets are $11-$32. For more information call 508-536-6073 or visit splindlecityballet.org.
Listen to the performances of the Tri-County Symphonic Band! Don’t miss the free annual “Children’s Christmas Concert” on December 11 at the Sippican School. For info and tickets, go to tricountysymphonicband.org.
The Burt Wood School of Performing Arts will present the musical “Elf Jr.” on December 1-11 at The Alley Theatre. For more info, call 508-946-1071 or go to burtwoodschool.com.
Take the kids to the Soule Homestead! Don’t miss the holiday fair and wreath-making workshops on December 3! For details, call 508-947-6744 or go to soulehomestead.org.
Middletown The 106th Annual Medieval Christmas Pageant will be held on December 13 at St. George’s School. Free, but seating is limited. For details, call 401-842-6736 or go to stgeorges.edu or christmasinnewport.org. Take the little ones to the Nativity of Christ puppet show at the United Congregational Church on December 6-8! For more info, call 401-849-5444 or go to ucc.org. Get in touch with nature at the Norman Bird Sanctuary. Go on a free guided bird walk December 10. For details, call 401-846-2577 or go to normanbirdsanctuary.org.
New Bedford Listen to sacred music in one of the most spectacular venues in New England – the “Christmas Cantata” at St. Anthony of Padua’s Church on December 17! For more info and tickets, go to musicatsaintanthonys.org or call 508-264-8010.
Mark your calendars! The Sippican Choral Society, along with the Sippican Children’s Chorus, will perform their Christmas Concert, featuring Schubert’s “Mass in G,” on December 3 at Tabor Academy’s Wickenden Hall. For details, call 508763-2327 or go to sippicanchoralsociety.org.
Mattapoisett Mattapoisett artist Mike Mazer, a retired cardiologist, has been awarded the Winsor & Newton Award by the American Society of Marine Artists, and has been made a member of the of the American Artists Professional League in New York City. Explore the trails, wildlife and scenery of the Mattapoisett River Reserve – leashed dogs welcome. Hike, birdwatch, cross-country ski! For more info, go to savebuzzardsbay.org.
Don’t miss the Family Holiday Pops Concert performed by the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra on December 16 at the Zeiterion! For info and tickets, visit nbsymphony.org. Gamers, team-builders and mystery-solvers should head for the “Mass Escape” in downtown New Bedford! Groups of four to eight people can work together to prevent a nuclear crisis or solve a murder mystery. For more info, go to MassEscapeRoom.com. Enjoy free family fun and entertainment on AHA! Nights. The December 14 theme is “City Sidewalks.” And don’t miss “City Celebrates New Year’s Eve” in downtown New Bedford on December 31! For details, go to ahanewbedford. org or call 508-996-8253. Mark your calendars for the start of Your Theatre’s new season! Plan ahead for “Anastasia” January 11-14, 18-21. For a complete schedule, call 508-9930772 or go to yourtheatre.org.
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The South Coast Insider | December 2017
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Continued FROM PREVIOUS PAGE Take a wintery stroll through the urban greenspace of the Allen G. Haskell Public Gardens! Join in the Joyous Wreath-Making December 3 or the Holiday Tree Lighting December 15! To learn more, call 508-636-4693 or go to thetrustees.org. Sharpen your skates (or rent them) and head for the indoor Hetland Skating Arena! For more info, go to fmcicesports.com or call 508-999-9051.
The Dock-U-Mentaries Film Series films about the working waterfront are screened on the third Friday of each month beginning at 7 p.m. in the theater of the Corson Maritime Learning Center at 33 William Street.
Head for the Stanford White Casino Theatre on December 16 for the free “Christmas in Sign” concert presented by the James L. Maher Center! For details, call 401-846-0340 x104 or go to mahercenter.org.
Sign up now for the 26th Annual Holiday House Tour on December 9 and 10 to visit the beautifully decorated 19th-century houses of New Bedford, including the Rotch-Jones-Duff House! Candlelight tours start at the Wamsutta Club. For details, call 508-997-6425 or go to nbpreservationsociety.org.
Don’t miss “The Newport Nutcracker at Rosecliff” on November 28-December 1, performed by The Island Moving Company. For more info, call 401847-4470 or go to islandmovingco.org.
Head for downtown New Bedford December 1 and 2 for the Holiday Shop & Stroll! Food tastings, live music, family fun and great gift-shopping! For details, go to downtownnb.org.
Take the kids to Groundwork! for the New Bedford Children’s Book Fest on December 9-10! For more info, visit newbedfordcoworking.com/ event/newbedfordchildrensbookfest. It’s all happening at the Z! Don’t miss “A Very Electric Christmas” December 3, “A Christmas Carol” December 9, NBSO Family Holiday Pops December 16, A Celtic Christmas Sojourn December 19, Tower of Power December 30 – and plan ahead for the NBSO performance “Kiss of the Earth” January 5, and Get The Led Out January 11! For info and tickets, call 508-994-2900 or go to zeiterion.org. Learn about American military history at Fort Taber-Fort Rodman and the museum! For info, call 508-994-3938 or visit forttaber.org. Enjoy the winter weather at Buttonwood Park! Take the kids to see the “Science on a Sphere” and the new “Rainforest, Rivers, and Reefs” exhibits! For info, call 508-991-6178 or visit bpzoo.org. Explore the whaling-era mansion at the RotchJones-Duff House! Enjoy the free AHA! Music of the Season with Our Sisters’ School Chorus on December 14! For more info, call 508-997-1401 or go to rjdmuseum.org. Visit the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park for free engaging activities at “whales, Tales, and Sails,” a story hour that takes place each Friday morning at 10 a.m. For more info, go to nps.gov/nebe. And while you’re there, visit the Whaling Museum and the Seamen’s Bethel! Plan ahead for the museum’s New Year’s Eve Bash on December 31! For more info, visit whalingmuseum.org or call 508-997-0046. If you’re a fan of Americana and roots music, check out “Music in the Gallery” at the Wamsutta Club – Enjoy the Holiday Concert with Matt and Shannon Heaton December 1. For tickets or info, go to brownpapertickets.com/events or contact korolenko8523@charter.net.
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December 2017 | The South Coast Insider
The Sippican Choral Society, along with the Sippican Children’s Chorus, will perform their Christmas Concert, featuring Schubert’s “Mass in G,” on December 1 at St. Lawrence Church in New Bedford. For details, call 508-763-2327 or go to sippicanchoralsociety.org. Get ready for “City Celebrates New Year’s Eve” in downtown New Bedford on December 31! Fireworks, ice sculptures, street performers, outdoor dancing! For more info, go to destinationnewbedford.org or ahanewbedford. org. Mark your calendars for the Annual Moby Dick Marathon at the Whaling Museum January 5-7! For more info, visit whalingmuseum.org or call 508-997-0046. Tickets are already on sale to hear Gloria Steinem speak on May 19, 2018, presented by the New Bedford Lyceum, at the Zeiterion! For tickets and info, call 508-994-2900 or go to zeiterion.org.
Take the little ones to watch “Madeline Meets the Nutcracker,” performed by the Rhode Island Ballet Theatre, on December 17 at the Stanford White Casino Theatre! For more info, call 401-847-5301 or visit ribt-nme@cox.net. Don’t miss the Newport Galleries Night on December 14 – free admission and free parking at the Visitors Center. For info, call 401-848-8550 or visit newportgalleries.com. Start the New Year with a splash at the Newport Polar Day Plunge! For info, go to visitrhodeisland. com. Bundle up and go on an expert-guided seal watch and nature cruise from Bowen’s Wharf in Newport (60 minutes) through April! For information and registration, call 401-203-7325 or go to savebay.org/ events/seals. Get your ice skates sharpened and head to the outdoor Newport Skating Center! For schedule and info, call 401-846-3018 or go to skatenewport. com. Sign up for a walking history tour or discover colonial holiday traditions in Newport on an evening Holiday Lantern Tour December 2 to 30. For more info, call 401-841-8770 or visit newporthistory.org.
To plan your schedule in the New Bedford area, check out destinationnewbedford. org, ahanewbedford.org, downtownnb.org, newbedfordguide.com.
Newport Start your Christmas season at Bowen’s Wharf! There’s the Christmas Tree Lighting December 2, and the Newport Annual Stroll December 1-3! For details, go to bowenswharf.com. Be dazzled by the St. Petersburg Russian’s Men Ensemble singing at Emmanuel Church on December 17! For more info, call 401-847-0675 or go to emmanuelnewport.org. Enjoy a dinner-theatre night out at the Newport Playhouse! “Dashing Through the Snow” will be performed through December 31, plus there’s the Las Vegas impersonators The Edwards Twins December 4-5, 11-12! For more information, call 401-848-7529 or go to newportplayhouse.com. Check out the free Christmas Open House at the Newport Irish Museum on December 9! For details, go to newportirishhistory.org/events.
Stroll through the holiday splendor of “Christmas at the Newport Mansions” through January 1. For details, call 401-847-1999 or go to newportmansions.org. Find unique ways to celebrate the holiday season every day throughout East Bay Rhode Island and Newport by visiting christmasinnewport.org, newportmansions.org, newportrestoration.org, and newporthistory.org.
Plymouth Plan a day trip to Plimouth Plantation! Go to plimouth.org or call 508-746-1622.
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Continued FROM PREVIOUS PAGE The Pilgrim Festival Chorus will present “A Hometown Christmas” on December 2 and 3 at St. Bonaventure Parish in Plymouth. For more info, visit pilgrimfestivalchorus.org. Find out who’s on stage at the Spire Center for the Performing Arts of Greater Plymouth! There’s the Wicked Fun Christmas Concert December 1, “A Christmas House” December 8, A Michael Sweet Christmas December 14, The Sweetback Sisters’ Country Christmas Swing-along December 15, Enter the Haggis December 29 – and more! For tickets and info, call 508-746-4488 or visit spirecenter.org.
Take the kids to watch “Disney on Ice Presents “Frozen”” at the Dunkin Donuts Center December 27-31! For more info, call 401-331-6700 or visit dunkindonutscenter.com. Don’t miss the free Rhode Island Historical Society’s Holiday Open House on December 9 – carolers, activities and a speaker from the Smithsonian! For details, go to rihs.org or call 401331-8575 x134.
Portsmouth
Get back to your musical roots at Common Fence Music! There’s the Andy Statman Trio December 3, the Sweetback Sisters’ Country Christmas Swing-along December 16! For a complete schedule and info, call 401-683-5085 or go to commonfencemusic.org. Buy your holiday greenery and trees at Escobar Farm! For details, call 401-683-1444 or visit escobarfarm.com.
Providence Enjoy the new season of Festival Ballet Providence! Don’t miss “The Nutcracker” at the PPAC December 15-17! For info or tickets, call 401353-1129 or go to festivalballetprovidence.org. Rhode Island College’s Performing Arts Series presents talented musicians, actors, dancers and artists for all to enjoy! Don’t miss the witty “Nut/ Cracked” dance performance on December 1 and 2. For a complete schedule of events, go to ric.edu/ pfa or call 401-456-8144. Find that special gift at “Artists for the Bay Show and Sale” through January 27 at the Save The Bay Center! For details, call 401-272-3540 or visit savebay.org/art. Plan a day trip to Roger Williams Park! Visit the Museum of Natural History & Planetarium, the Botanical Gardens, then check out the “Explore and Soar” area! For more info, go to rwpzoo.org or call 401-785-3510. Sharpen your skates (or rent them) and head for the Fleet Skating Center at Kennedy Plaza! Call 401-331-5544 or visit fleetskating.com. Explore the Children’s Museum in Providence! Go to childrenmuseum.org or call 401-273-5437.
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December 2017 | The South Coast Insider
There’s always something going on at Tiverton Four Corners! Shop for that special gift at “Holiday Bright Night” December 8. Don’t miss the Art & Artisans Winter Festival on December 10! For more info, go to tivertonfourcorners.com or fourcornerarts.org. Check out who’s playing at “Live Music at the Bliss” at the Bliss Four Corners Congregational Church! For info, call 401-624-4113 or visit blissfourcornerschurch.org. GALLERY4 at 3848 Main Road welcomes three exceptional artists with its “New Views” exhibit. View the paintings, photography and sculptures until December 23. For gallery hours, call 401-8160999 or visit gallery4tiverton.com.
Sharpen your skates (or rent them) and head for the indoor Armstrong Skating Arena! For more info, go to fmcicesports.com or call 508-746-8825.
Listen to the Newport Navy Choristers perform “Christmas in Song” on December 8 at St. Barnabas Church. For details, go to newportnavychoristers. org and portsmouthhistorical.org.
Tiverton
Listen to the Rhode Island Philharmonic’s performance of Handel’s “Messiah” at the VETS on December 16! For info and tickets, call 401-2487000 or go to riphil.org. Head for Trinity Rep to see “A Christmas Carol” through December 31. Plan ahead for “Into the Breeches” January 25 to February 25. For tickets and info, call 401-351-4242 or visit trinityrep.com. Don’t miss the special exhibit “Lines of Thought: Drawings from the British Museum,” including works from Michaelangelo to the present, at the RISD Museum through January 7. For details, visit risdmuseum.org or call 401-454-6500. Enjoy the new theatre season with “Church” December 7-23 performed by The Wilbury Group in Providence. “The Skin of Our Teeth” will be performed January 18-February 4. For more info, call 401-400-7100 or visit thewilburygroup.org. Find out what’s on stage at the Providence Performing Arts Center and the VETS! Don’t miss “Finding Neverland” through December 3, “Kinky Boots” December 8-10, FBP “The Nutcracker” December 15-17, A Christmas Celtic Sojourn December 20, “Love Never Dies” December 26-31, Salute to Vienna New Year’s Concert December 30! Plan ahead for “The Bodyguard” January 9-11 and The Illusionists January 19-21! For details, call 401421-2787 or go to ppacri.org and vmari.org.
Taunton Find out why Taunton is called “Christmas City”! Head for the Taunton Green on December 2 for the 104th Lighting of the Green’s “Christmas in Candyland” displays, fireworks, live music, family activities, and the parade! For more info, go to facebook.com/lightingofthegreen. Sharpen your skates (or rent them) and head for the indoor Aleixo Skating Arena! For more info, go to fmcicesports.com or call 508-824-4987.
Find out what’s going on at the Sandywoods Center for the Arts! Bring the little ones to the “Mini-Nutcracker” on December 3, performed by the Island Moving Company! For a complete schedule, go to sandywoodsmusic.com or call 401-241-7349.
Wareham If you’re looking for stocking-stuffers, head for the Gleason Family YMCA on December 9 for the Holiday Craft Fair and Bazaar! For more info, go to ymcasouthcoast.org. Mark your calendar for the annual Christmas Parade on December 2! For more info, go to warehamvillage.org. Plan your activities in the Wareham area, by visiting warehamvillage.org or onsetbay.org.
Warren Check out what’s playing at 2nd Story Theatre! “Crimes of the Heart” will be performed through December 17. Call 401-247-4200 or go to 2ndstorytheatre.com. Get your holiday greenery at Frerichs Farm! For more info, call 401-245-8245 or visit frerichsfarm. com.
Westport Make your reservations for Concerts at the Point with a performance by Ieva Jokubaviciute on December 10. For more info, call 508-636-0698 or visit concertsatthepoint.org. Take a leisurely ramble around rural Westport! For more info, call 508-636-9228 or visit westportlandtrust.org. Explore 18th and 19th-century life at the Handy House. For more info, visit wpthistory.org or call 508-636-6011.
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