South Coast Prime Times - November/December 2023

N e w v en u e s

A mammogram is the easiest way to identify breast cancer, even before there is a lump that you can feel. Finding it sooner is the first step toward successful treatment.

At Prima CARE, we’re dedicated to your well-being by providing expert medical care and by emphasizing the importance of disease prevention and early detection. Our unwavering commitment is to you, your health, and to our community. We’re local, we’re by your side, and we care.

To schedule your mammogram, ask your primary care provider or call (508) 646-0006.

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published by Coastal Communications Corp.

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CoN tributors

Michael J. DeCicco, Paul Kandarian, Sean McCarthy, Elizabeth Morse Read

l ayout & desigN Janelle Medeiros

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Coastal Communications Corp.

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PRIME SEASON

of the holidays!

elizabeth Morse r ead

The holiday season is upon us! Gather round with family and friends to celebrate our blessings and bounty as we approach the New Year – rekindle hopes for a better future for our children, a kinder world for all humanity, and a renewed respect for Mother Earth. Peace and comfort to all.

holiday fuN for everyoNe!

Learn about our holiday traditions and history at the Plimoth-Pawtuxet Museums in Plymouth! Take a virtual field trip about “The Wampanoag: People of the Dawn” on November 3, or “Fact and Fiction About the First Thanksgiving” on November 13 (plimoth.org).

Take the family on a guided Seal Watch Boat Ride from December through April with Save the Bay, leaving from Bowen’s Ferry Wharf in Newport (savebay.org/ seals)!

Enjoy free family fun and entertainment on AHA! Nights in New Bedford! The November 9 theme is “Made in New Bedford.” The December 14 theme is “Starry Night”. (ahanewbedford.org).

Line up on South Main Street in Fall River on December 2 for the 39th Annual Children’s Holiday Parade (vivafallriver.com)!

It’s time to sharpen the ice skates (or rent them) for indoor skating at Fall

River’s Driscoll Arena (508-679-3274), New Bedford’s Hetland Arena (508-9999051), Taunton’s Aleixo Arena (508-8244987) or Plymouth’s Armstrong Arena (508-746-8825) (fmcicesports.com)! Learn about early American holiday traditions by taking an hour-long lantern-led walking tour of Newport (newporthistorytours.org)!

Mark your calendars for the weeks-long annual Bristol Christmas Festival, with the Grand Illumination on December 2 (christmasbristolri.com)!

Welcome the New Year on December 31 in New Bedford with “City Celebrates New Year’s Eve” – fireworks, ice sculptures, live music, street performers, dancing (ahanewbedford.org)!

Take the kids to the Providence Performing Arts Center to see “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” November 28-December 3 (ppacri.org)!

Mark your calendar for the annual “Old Time Holiday Fair” on December

9 in Fairhaven – food, Town Hall shops, singalong (fairhaventours.com)

Celebrate “Christmas in the Village” on December 9 in Onset (onsetbay.org) or watch the Christmas Parade through downtown Wareham on December 3 (warehamvillage.org)!

Take the kids to “Disney on Ice” December 27-31 at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence (formerly the Dunkin Donuts Center) (amicamutualpavilion.com)!

Bring the family to the wreath-making workshops at Soule Homestead in Middleboro on December 2 (soulehomestead.org)!

Celebrate Thanksgiving in Plymouth , America’s Hometown, with festivities, parade, concert, beer garden, exhibits, harvest market and more November 17-19 (usathanksgiving.com)!

Get ready for a fun-filled day ice-skating or riding ice bumper cars at The Provi-

Celebrate t ha NksgiviNg iN ply Mouth, a MeriCa’s hoMetoWN, W ith festivities, parade, CoNCert, beer gardeN, exhibits, harvest M arket a Nd More NoveMber 17-19 (usatha NksgiviNg.CoM)!

dence Rink in downtown Providence (theprovidencerink.com)!

food, driNk, aNd shoppiNg Plan ahead to immerse yourself in 17th-century crafts and artwork at the Plimoth-Pawtuxet Winter Fine Arts and Crafts Fair December 2-3 in Plymouth (plimoth.org).

Head for downtown New Bedford for the Co-Pop Small Business Saturday November 25 at the Co-Creative Center – shop small, local, and handmade (cocreativenb.org)!

Don’t miss the European-style Christmas Market at the Christmas Wonderland and Festival of Lights at Edaville Railroad in Carver from November 10 through January 1 (edaville.com)!

Learn about Portuguese cuisine and culture by attending the free lecture at New Bedford’s Whaling Museum on November 2 with Maria Lawton, the “Azorean Green Bean” (whalingmuseum.org)!

Check out the many restaurants in greater Newport during Newport Restaurant Week November 3-12 (discovernewport.org/newportrestaurant-week)!

Taste your way through the historic district with New Bedford Food Tours on a 3-hour guided walking tour to sample local foods at five signature restaurants, a 2-hour “Art and Brunch” tour of the city, or a 3-hour “A Taste of Portugal” tour in Fall River (nbfoodtours.com)!

Head for Memorial Hall in Plymouth on December 2-3 for the annual Plymouth Holiday Market (memorialhall. com).

Mark your calendar for the EuropeanStyle Christmas Market at the Burnside Building December 9-10 during the Bristol Christmas Festival (christmasbristolri.com)!

Don’t miss the free Holiday Sip & Stroll shopping event on the Middleboro Town Hall Lawn on November 18 (burtwoodschool.com)!

Shop online for that special gift at “Artists for the Bay” November 15-December 31 (savebay.org/art)!

Go on a Vineyard Voyage with the Providence Riverboat Company (providenceriverboat.com)

Keep checking for the date of the annual “All That Glitters” holiday fair where you can buy beautiful handcrafted gifts at Loon Lake Lodge in

Lakeville – great shopping, cash bar, live music (lakevilleartscouncilma.org).

Eat Fresh, Eat Local! Fill your baskets with local produce, pies and jams, dairy products and holiday decorations! To find a farm, vineyard or indoor farmers market near you, visit semaponline.org, farmfreshri.org, or coastalfoodshed. org. To find food and wine events, go to farmcoast.com, coastalwinetrail.com, or ediblesouthshore.com.

a ll the World’s a stage Head for New Bedford’s Whaling Museum on November 18 for the Culture*Park Short Plays Marathon –day-long readings of new original works (whalingmuseum.org).

Catch a production of “Miracle on South Division Street” at the Marion Art Center Theatre on December 1-3, 8-9, 15-16 (marionartcenter.org).

Enjoy a performance of “Murder on the Orient Express” at Your Theatre in New Bedford on November 10-12, 17-19 (yourtheatre.org).

Start your holiday season with a performance of “A Christmas Carol” at Trinity Rep in Providence November 9-December 31 (trinityrep.com).

Mark your calendars for the special events and entertainment at the Providence Performing Arts Center and The VETS! There’s The Book of Mormon November 1-5, Eddie B’s Teachers Only Comedy November 4, Steve Martin & Martin Short November 11, Rock Orchestra November 16, Chris DiStefano November 17, Chelsea Handler November 19, Joe Bonamassa November 22, Murray & Peter Drag Queen Christmas November 22, How the Grinch Stole Christmas November 28-December 3, Lindsay Stirling December 14, BalletRI’s The Nutcracker December 15-17, 20-24, Moulin Rouge! The Musical December 19-23, 26-31, Joe Gatto December 29 (ppacri.org)!

Mark your calendars to catch a performance of Scrooge: The Musical December 7-17 at The Little Theatre in Fall River (littletheatre.net).

Head for The Alley Theatre in Middleboro for Drag in a Bag November 11, Strictly Sinatra December 2, Christmas Cabaret Drag Show December 9, The Highland Divas December 14, Blue

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

Christmas December 16 (burtwoodschool.com).

Enjoy dinner and a performance of Live Comedy with Dawn Tyler & Friends November 10 and Miracle on South Division Street November 8 through December 31 at the Newport Playhouse (newportplayhouse.com).

Don’t miss the New Bedford Festival Theatre’s fundraiser, “Oh What A Night: The NBFT Ceolbrates Contemporary Broadway” on November 11 at White’s of Westport, along with cocktail hour, dinner buffet and silent auction (nbfestivaltheatre.com)!

SOUTH COAST SOUNDS

Follow The Z On the Road! Don’t miss the Dave Alves Band on November 30 or Amilton Tavares on December 14 at the Kilburn Mill Event Center in New Bedford or Paula Poundstone on December 2 at UMass/Dartmouth (zeiterion.org)!

Treat yourself to tribute performances of Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash on November 4 at White’s of Westport (southcoastcomedy.com)!

Head for Pilgrim Memorial Hall in Plymouth to hear We Are Messengers November 4, Air Supply November 9,

America’s Hometown: Baroque and Beyond with The Plymouth Philharmonic November 17, Senior Alumni Drum & Bugle Corps November 18, Vienna Choir Boys December 1, the Plymouth Holiday Market December 2-3, The Plymouth Phil’s Hometown Holiday December 9-10, The Irish Tenors December 15 (memorialhall.com).

Find out who’s on stage at the District Center for the Arts in Taunton! Don’t miss Trinity November 3, Living On A Bad Name November 4, Johnny Folsom 4 November 10, Strange Magic November 11, The Four November 17, Completely Unchained November 18, Redeye Thanksgiving Eve Party November 22, Blushing Brides November 24, Disco Dream November 25, Chicago

Total Access December 2, Ultimate Christmas Variety Show December 10 (thedistrictcenterforarts.com)!

Check out who’s on stage at the Spire Center for the Performing Arts of Greater Plymouth! Don’t miss Dana Fuchs November 3, Magical Mystery

Doors November 4, House of Hamill November 9, Anthony Geraci November 10, Gabe Stillman November 11, Chelsea Berry November 16, Matt Scofield November 18, Michael Sweet Band November 24, James Montgomery November 25, Harvest & Rust December 2, Divas with a Twist December 8,

Morgan James December 9, Say Darling

December 14, A Celtic Christmas

December 15, Lunasa with Dave Curless December 16, Enter the Haggis December 29, Another Tequila Sunrise December 30 (spirecenter.org).

Head for The Narrows Center for the Arts in Fall River for great music!

Don’t miss Southside Johnny & the Asbury Dukes November 2, Eric Lindell

November 3, Duke Robillard November 4, Manel The Island Man November 10, Fantastic Cat November 18, Michael Troy Concert November 19, Roomful of Blues November 24, Neil McCarthy

November 25, Gary Hoey November 30, Rodney Crowell (rescheduled) December 1, Pokey LaFarge December 8, Quinn Sullivan December 30 (narrowscenter. com)!

ClassiCal aC ts

Buy your tickets now for BalletRI’s (formerly Festival Ballet Providence) performance of The Nutcracker at The VETS in Providence December 15-24 (balletri.org)!

Keep checking for the date of the Holiday Pops Concert performed by the Fall River Symphony Orchestra featuring the South Coast Community Chorale at BCC’s Jackson Theatre (fallriversymphonyorchestra.org)!

Buy your tickets early to see The

Newport Nutcracker at Rosecliff on November 22 through December 1 performed by the Newport Contemporary Ballet (formerly The Island Moving Company) (newportcontemporaryballet. org)!

Mark your calendar for the New Bedford Ballet’s Performance of A New England Nutcracker December 9 at the Keith Jr. High School Auditorium (newbedfordballet.org).

Don’t miss the award-winning Rhode Island Civic Chorale and Orchestra’s performance of Handel’s Messiah Open Sing on December 3 at the Church of St. Sebastian in Providence, as well as Mendelssohn: Prelude to Greatness November 18 at St. Sebastian’s and on November 19 at St. James’ Church in Manville (ricco.org).

Enjoy hearing violinist William Hagen playing Dvorak and Brahms on November 3 at the Newport Classical Recital Hall (newportclassical.org).

Save the date to hear the New Bedford Symphony’s Chamber Music performance of Top Brass , at St. Gabriel’s Church in Marion on December 2 and at St. Peter’s Church in South Dartmouth on December 3 (nbsymphony.org/ chamber-series).

Follow The Z On the Road! Don’t miss the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra’s Beautiful Moments on November 18 or Holiday Pops on December 10 at New Bedford High School’s Bronspiegel Auditorium (zeiterion.org)!

Listen to the Borromeo Quartet on November 5 and the Parker Quartet on December 10 at Westport’s Concerts at the Point (concertsatthepoint.org)!

Head for Pilgrim Memorial Hall in Plymouth to hear America’s Hometown: Baroque and Beyond with The Plymouth Philharmonic November 17, and The Plymouth Phil’s Hometown Holiday December 9-10 (memorialhall.com).

The Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra will perform Debussy’s La Mer on November 10-11 and Handel’s Messiah with The Providence Singers on December 10, both at The VETS (riphil.org).

l et there be lights!

Don’t miss the traditional Lights On Festival in Taunton – the Lighting of the Green on December 2 (facebook.com/ lightingofthegreen)!

The Annual Festival of Lights at

save the date! deCeMber 3 froM 2-6 at s teeple playhouse. f ituriNg southCoast Jazz o rChestra, Joel l arue sMith t rio a Nd More. for More visit Ne W bedfordJazzfest.CoM

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7

LaSalette Shrine in Attleboro begins November 23 through January 1 – more than 300,000 lights illuminating ten acres (lasaletteattleboroshrine.org)!

Bundle up and watch Waterfire in Providence on November 4 (waterfire.org)!

Buy your tickets early for the Christmas Wonderland and Festival of Lights at Edaville Railroad in Carver from November 9 through December 31!

Heated train rides illuminated by 17 million lights throughout the park (edaville.com)!

Bring the whole family to the 59th Annual Tree Lighting at Bowen’s Wharf in Newport on December 2 (bowenswharf.com)!

Buy your tickets online to stroll through the brilliantly illuminated Roger Williams Park Zoo for the Holiday Lights Spectacular November 24 through December 31 (rwpzoo.org)!

heaveNly voiCes

Listen to Christmas Joy sung by the Pilgrim Festival Chorus December 1-3 at St. Bonaventure Parish in Plymouth (pilgrimfestivalchorus.org)!

Don’t miss the Newport Navy Choristers’ Christmas Concerts on December 3 at the First Baptist Church in Fall River and on December 8 at St. Barnabas Church in Portsmouth (newportnavychoristers.org).

Mark your calendar for the Tri-County Symphonic Band’s Children’s Christmas Concert at Tabor Academy in Marion on December 10 (tricountysymphonicband.org)!

Head for Pilgrim Memorial Hall in Plymouth to hear the Vienna Boys Choir December 2 (memorialhall.com)!

Keep checking for the date of the spectacular Christmas Concert with the Spirit of St. Anthony Choir at St. Anthony of Padua Church in New Bedford (musicatsaintanthonys.org)!

Experience the 112th Annual Medieval Christmas Festival at St. George’s School in Middletown on December 12 (stgeorges.edu/christmas).

Keep checking for the date of this year’s Classical Christmas Concert at Newport’s Emmanuel Church in Newport (emmanuelnewport.org)!

Don’t miss the ever-popular Sippican Choral Society’s Christmas Concert on December 9 at Tabor Academy in Marion (sippicanchoralsociety.org).

deCk the halls

Visit the beautifully decorated whalingera and Victorian homes in New Bedford on the annual Historic Holiday Tours

December 9-10, led by the New Bedford Preservation Society (nbpreservationsociety.org)!

Be dazzled by the over-the-top splendor of the Gilded Age during “Holidays at the Newport Mansions” November 18 to January 1 (newportmansions.org)!

Begin your Sippican Womans Club Holiday Stroll on December 9 at Handy’s Tavern in Marion (sippicanwomansclub.org)!

Bundle up and enjoy the lights and Christmas decorations indoors and out at Blithewold Mansion and Gardens in Bristol (blithewold.org).

Visit the Victorian-era decorated halls of the Fall River Historical Museum (lizzieborden.org).

Take a free tour on December 14 through the holiday-themed decorations of the whaling-era Rotch-Jones-Duff Museum in New Bedford (rjdmuseum.org).

eNJoy s little bit of the irish

Head for the Spire Center for the Performing Arts of Greater Plymouth for A Celtic Christmas December 15 and Lunasa with Dave Curless December 16 (spirecenter.org).

Keep checking the website for the date of the Annual Christmas Open House at the Museum of Newport Irish History – enjoy eggnog and Celtic caroling while strolling through the exhibits and gift shop (newportirishhistory.org)!

Head for The Alley Theatre in Middleboro to hear The Highland Divas December 14 (burtwoodschool.com).

Listen to The Irish Tenors December 15 at Memorial Hall in Plymout h (memorialhall.com)!

doN’t Miss the traditioN al l ights o N f estival iN tau N toN –the l ightiNg of the g reeN oN deCeMber 2 (faCebook.CoM/lightiNgofthegreeN)!

Nancy Parker Wilson owns and manages the vineyard along with her husband Bill and son Billy. Until now, she explained, Greenvale brought the grapes it grew to Newport Winery to make its wines. Now, Billy will be the winemaker in Greenvale’s own facility, located off the long driveway that extends from Wapping Road and leads to the vineyard and barn and open entertainment area. For four years, her son learned the trade under Greenvale’s first winemaker, hired in 1997, Richard Carmichael. Both the son and the new building are already at work, turning the Cayuga grapes it grows for the popular Stepping Stone wine it sells.

Greenvale typically produces three to four thousand cases of wine a year,

she said. This new facility will allow it to produce at least two thousand cases more, she boasts. “We will now be able to deliver our music, delicious prepared foods (supplied by visiting food trucks), and fine wine at the same location,” she said. “It’s great to have our wine produced at our own place.”

Bill Wilson elaborated on why Greenvale will be improved by the new facility. The new building, he said, will have three components: a winery, storage for the wine and storage for Greenvale's chemicals, vehicles, and tools. “It will be a counterpoint to our historic tasting room. It's functional and on one level.”

The new facility will save Greenvale five weeks per year on its time making wine, he said. “Now we're making our own wine,” he explained. "Before, it was

stored in Portsmouth, made in Newport, and retailed here. Three different places! Now we will be able to make better wine. Before, we were tenants, making the wine on Newport’s schedule. Now we have more control over the process. Now we’re able to supervise the vineyard and make the wine ourselves. We have a much higher relationship to the wine we are producing all-around.”

VINTAGE ENTERTAINMENT

Both Greenvale and its customers will like the change, he said. “The staff is excited by the change. Visitors will now be more knowledgeable. They can see the process. No one could see our process before. On our tours, they’d ask to see our winemaking tanks. We couldn’t. Customers can walk by the tanks now.

Greenvale Vineyards in Portsmouth has a big answer to the question, “what's new?” It recently opened a new 8,000-square-foot farm building that will house a winery, farm equipment, and wine storage.

MiChael J.

deCiCCo

“W e W ill NoW be able to deliver our M usiC, deliCious prepared foods (supplied by visitiNg food truCks), a Nd fiNe W iNe at the sa Me loCatioN. it’s great to have our W iNe produCed at our oWN plaCe.”

(piC tured here, W iNeM aker billy W ilsoN)

g reeN vale’s other Ne W attraC tioN, she said, is a Q uarterly W iNe Club. t Wo W eeks prior to the Club seleC tioN r elease date, MeMbers Ca N reCeive a N eM ail to aCCess the available a Nd liMited -release W iNes to CustoMize their bottle seleC tioN. four tiMes a year, MeMbers Ca N CoMe by a Nd piCk up their seleC tioNs. g reevale also ships their W iNes, for MeMbers’ CoN veNieNCe.

The customer is 300 percent better now. Our quantity will increase. We will go from four thousand cases to eight thousand cases per year. But it’s also all about quality. We believe that too. We’ll be able to experiment with our flavors more.”

Greenvale's ultimate goal, he said, is more achievable now. “We want to be the premiere vineyard in New England, and this will help us do that. This is an essential step to doing that.”

The new operation means some good news for Greenvale after a winter that saw a deep frost in February that lowered its yield of viable grapes below last year’s, Nancy Wilson said. The new facility will now allow Greenvale to uphold its status as an important part of the Portsmouth and Aquidneck Island nature community, she is proud to note.

Greenvale is a sixth-generation farm

steeped in history since 1863, and recognized as a landmark of the area. Founded as a 60-acre agricultural utopian farm, following a concept described in a popular book “Country Life” by Robert Morris Copeland, Greenvale was a farm retreat. Greenvale began growing its grapes in 1982 and was incorporated by vintner Nancy Wilson in 1988. It brought its grapes to the Sakonnet Winery until it started turning its grapes into wine on its own in 1992. In 2000, the 6,000-squarefoot horse stable on the property was renovated into multiple uses by the winery, for its offices and a public space for wine tastings and live entertainment. The bathrooms are former box stalls. The offices are in the upstairs hayloft. Greenvale’s other new attraction, she said, is a Quarterly Wine Club. Two weeks prior to the Club Selection Release Date, members can receive

an email to access the available and limited-release wines to customize their bottle selection. “Four times a year, members can come by and pick up their selections,” she said. Greevale also ships their wines, for members’ convenience.

Put it all together and you've got a great combined attraction: fine wine and live music in the barn or outdoors on the vineyard lawn weekends from spring to December.

For more information or to join the wine club, visit Greenvale in person at 582 Wapping Road in Portsmouth, or go to Greenvale.com-WineClub.

MiChael J. deCiCCo has worked as a writer for over 30 years. He is also the author of two award-winning young adult novels, Kaurlin’s Disciples and The Kid Mobster. He lives with his wife Cynthia in New Bedford.

PRIME SEASON

Edaville currently features 15 vintage amusement rides, two steam engines, and railroad equipment from several Maine two-foot-gauge railroads, and they are all available to visitors from now through December.

Full steaM ahead

But the family park and railroad is active for more months of year than that.

The Magic of Christmas in July event ran successfully on Friday and Saturday evenings this past summer, and the park has been open ever since, hosting train rides throughout the fall. Hannah Harriman and Brian Fanslau have operated the park since 2022. Harriman boasts that Edaville currently features 15 vintage amusement rides, two steam engines, and railroad equipment from several Maine two-foot-gauge railroads, and they are all available to visitors from now through December.

Edaville used one of these steam engines this summer, Harriman added. The 1913 engine, known as Number Three, was brought back to

Edaville in partnership with its owners Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum in Portland.

Ellis D. Atwood of South Carver started what became Edaville out of an early interest in both trains and Christmas displays. The seasonal village displays in his yard in the 1930s attracted traffic jams of visitors, Harriman said. The railroad he later installed to access his 1800-acre of bogs in Carver (using railroad equipment from a Maine company that had gone out of business in 1941) attracted friends and other visitors who wanted to ride his trains. He soon found that the historic train rides through the beautiful cranberry country were very popular and began offering them on a regular schedule then for a five cent charge.

Around 1948, he combined his village and his railroad rides and used his initials, E.D.A., to name the attraction Edaville.

But what’s new at Edaville this year? Harriman boasts that local business will now fill the Christmas Marketplace more than ever. The new vendors will include a classic toy store, a Main Street Bakery, a candy store (Cape Cod Candy Co.), a kilt store with other European gifts, an alpaca products store, a general store with classic Christmas decorations, and an organic goods store. There will also be new Christmas craft vendors onsite and a new food vendor, Sarcastic Swine Barbecue, that will feature deliciously prepared pork, chicken, and beef briskets. There will even be a new outdoor

performance space for local musicians and dance groups. For train enthusiasts, VIP tickets will be available for the North Pole Limited train run that will give riders the chance to travel directly to the North Pole, where Santa and his elves will board to hand out gifts. There’s also the new VIP Santa Express, a train ride before the park opens during which riders will enjoy a choice of milk or juice and a delicious cookie while Santa and Mrs. Claus visit each child to greet them with a Christmas gift. These train rides have a very limited capacity so that Santa can spend more time with each child. They will run Thursdays through Sundays. Visit edaville.com to book your tickets early before they sell out!

The aforementioned

The highlight of the Edaville Family Theme Park’s winter season in Carver will be its Christmas Festival of Lights from November 10 to December 31

MiChael J.

deCiCCo

Festival of Lights will feature steam train rides, 10,000+ Christmas lights, food, local businesses and crafters, Santa, and vintage amusement rides. It will run Thursdays through Sundays, from November 9 through December 31 (excluding Thanksgiving and Christmas Day).

Harriman added that Edaville Park’s main goal is simply “to preserve a classic New England tradition for generations to come and provide a place for families to make memories with us and have fun for all ages.”

The new management team, the Edaville website elaborates, “intends to advance the Edaville customer experience

while upholding its deep history and traditions for future generations. We plan to use steam locomotives on our trains as much as possible, giving a rare experience as the only currently operating steam locomotives in Massachusetts.”

For more information on any of the above, and to book your reservations, go to at edaville.com. The Edaville Family Theme Park is located at 5 Pine Street in Carver.

M i C hael J. d e C i CC o has worked as a writer for over 30 years. He is also the author of two award-winning young adult novels, Kaurlin’s Disciples and The Kid Mobster. He lives with his wife Cynthia in New Bedford.

The Festival of Lights will feature steam train rides, 10,000+ Christmas lights, food, local businesses and crafters, Santa, and vintage amusement rides.

The be t ter berry

Providing frozen cranberries, “America’s Original Superfruit”, to consumers year-round is what Cape Cod Select does best. They believe everyone should be adding whole frozen cranberries into their daily diets. “They’re a great source of antioxidants and are low in natural sugars offering a healthy boost to smoothies”, says Marketing Manager Amelia Houde.

“That’s how I use them daily, but my favorite cranberry recipe on our website (capecodselect.com) is for our famous Cranberry Squares. We actually put the recipe on the back of the bag because we love them so much!”

Cape Cod Select frozen cranberries are available in grocery retailers nationwide all year long. “I was always surprised you could find every fruit imaginable except

cranberries in the freezer aisle – dragonfruit, mango, dark sweet cherries, but no cranberries! I made it my mission to bring these superfruit berries to market, and here we are twelve years later adding more and more stores every year,” says Owner Cindy Rhodes. “And they’re not just for the fall and the holidays,” she continues. “Frozen cranberries are so versatile. Just look at our website and social media (@CapeCodSelect) for recipe inspiration – salsas, pizzas, breads, sauces, dips, cookies, pastries, cocktails, shrimp dishes, tacos… the list goes on.”

Cape Cod Select not only brings you frozen cranberries they also have a seasonal gift box line (available now) and specialty pantry items such as Cranberry Chutney and Cranberry Mustard that are perfect for charcuterie boards. Have gifts to give? Visit capecodselect.com for all of the options.

It’s harvest time once again and we’re all reminded of pumpkins and apples and Massachusetts’ number one crop: cranberries. Cape Cod Select and Edgewood Bogs are not like other Massachusetts cranberry growers, though – they go the extra mile to grow, harvest, sort, clean, package, and freeze only the ripest and best berries in every bag

CRANBERRY SQUARES

https://capecodselect.com/recipes/ details/cranberry-squares

Ingredients

2 Sticks Melted Or Softened Butter

2 Cups Flour

2 Cups Sugar

3 Eggs

2 Tsp. Almond Flavoring

3 Cups Cape Cod Select Frozen Cranberries

1. Preheat oven to 350˚

2. Whisk butter (softened or melted), eggs, and almond flavoring in a mixing bowl.

3. Slowly add flour and sugar until a batter begins to form.

4. Add 3 cups of frozen Cape Cod Select cranberries. (Do not thaw) Fold batter until cranberries are covered in batter.

5. Spray 13 X 9 baking pan with cooking spray. Once prepared, spread batter evenly in pan and bake at 350˚ for 1 hour. If you like your edges crispy, let it bake until the top is completely golden brown.

“FROZEN CRANBERRIES ARE SO VERSATILE. JUST LOOK AT OUR WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA (@CAPECODSELECT) FOR RECIPE INSPIRATION – SALSAS, PIZZAS, BREADS, SAUCES, DIPS, COOKIES, PASTRIES, COCKTAILS, SHRIMP DISHES, TACOS… THE LIST GOES ON.”

CRANBERRY RICOTTA CROSTINIS

(by Andrea of @AndreaMarie.UGC)

https://capecodselect.com/recipes/ details/cranberry-ricotta-crostinis

Ingredients

For the Crostinis:

1 French baguette cut diagonally into 1⁄2 inch slices

Drizzle Olive Oil

Salt & Black ground pepper

For the Cranberry Ricotta:

1 cup whole milk ricotta

1⁄2 cup Cape Cod Select frozen cranberries

2 tbsp Orange Blossom honey

2 tsp Basil leaves chopped into thin ribbons

Juice of 1 small orange

2 tsp orange zest

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375 F.

2. Arrange baguette slices onto lined baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, season with salt & pepper.

3. Bake until golden and toasty, 10-15 mins. Set aside to cool.

4. Simmer cranberries and freshly squeezed orange juice on stove top over medium heat for 10 minutes, or until reduced and slightly thickened. Let cool.

5. Place ricotta into a mixing bowl with half of the honey and half of the orange zest. Beat ricotta until creamy and smooth.

6. Fill your serving bowl with the whipped ricotta. Spoon a generous amount of your cooled cranberry sauce into the ricotta and gently swirl until it is lightly incorporated. You may also top with any leftover basil and orange zest for presentation and dipping!

7. Assemble each crostini with a layer of cranberry-ricotta, a few basil ribbons,

a drizzle of the remaining honey, and orange zest to top it off!

CRANBERRY CREAM CHEESE BAKED FRENCH TOAST

(by Jessy of @TwoHeapingTeaspoons ) https://capecodselect.com/recipes/ details/cranberry-cream-cheese-bakedfrench-toast

Ingredients

6 thick slices of brioche

About 6-10 tsps whipped cream cheese

Handful of frozen Cape Cod Select cranberries

3 eggs

2 cups half & half (or a combination of milk and half & half)

1/4 cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 tsp cinnamon powder

9.2 tbsp melted butter

Powdered sugar for dusting

1. Lightly grease a baking dish and layer the brioche slices inside.

2. Add dollops of cream cheese and frozen cranberries in the nooks and crannies.

3. In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, half & half, sugar, vanilla extract, and cinnamon powder. Pour this custard mixture all over the brioche, making sure every part gets soaked.

4. Let it soak for at least 30 minutes or overnight.

5. Bake at 350° covered for 30 minutes, then uncover and broil for 2 minutes.

6. Brush melted butter over the brioche and dust with powdered sugar.

7. Serve with a drizzle of syrup and ENJOY

Plucking luck

IN THE SPRING OF 2021, JOHN STEIN WAS WRITING AND REHEARSING THE MUSIC THAT WOULD BE ON HIS 17TH FULL-LENGTH ALBUM

Ahim that they would be able to save his life and likely restore him to many of the roles he had loved so much.

and I couldn’t move my hands. I couldn’t push the strings down and I had no coordination at all.”

sea N MCCarthy

n internationally renowned jazz guitarist, educator, and author, the 72-year-old Tiverton resident was poised to appear at the top of the national jazz radio charts, as he had done with three of his previous albums.

But it would be an album he almost didn’t live to record.

That fall, instead of being in the recording studio, Stein was in the intensive care unit of a Boston hospital, being kept alive on a ventilator. Beset with myasthenia gravis, Stein was unable to eat, was having significant problems with his eyesight, and was experiencing progressive physical deterioration. A husband, a father, and a grandfather, the otherwise healthy musician was suffering from this auto-immune disease that affects the connections between the nerves and the muscles. It was a precarious situation, partly the result of a late diagnosis, but his doctors informed

So, when the album, “No Goodbyes,” is released on September 15, it will be a record almost three years in the making, a token that embodies Stein’s struggle and determination to return to the level of performance that had earned him international respect and acclaim for his guitar mastery.

“When I was in the hospital, I made the decision that I wanted to stay alive,” Stein recalls. “There were a few moments where I thought, ‘Is it worth it? Do I really want to deal with all this?’ I decided that I did. My illness caused me to reorder my priorities – I was staying alive for my family, my friends, my grandchildren. I made peace with it. If I never play guitar again, I’ve created a body of work, so be it.”

After two months in the hospital, Stein devoted the next six months to therapy, medication, and recovery.

“When I got home from the hospital, my wife put my guitar on my lap and I could barely hold it. I had no strength

But Stein didn’t despair.

“I pretty much knew that if I worked at it, I’d get it back,” he says. “It took quite a few months, but I was able to get myself back to where I was.

“When I was home from the hospital some of my friends would come by to visit me. One day I got a visit from [bassist] Ed Lucie. We played a few tunes together and it was such a thrill. I hadn’t played with another human being for many months. I had a lot of ideas that I couldn’t execute, but it was such a thrill to be making music with another human being. It was a wonderful feeling, even though I didn’t have my normal skills.”

But that wasn’t the only valuable visit that Stein would receive. While still in the hospital, he got a visit from Neal Weiss, President of Whaling City Sound, the New Bedford-based record label that had released 12 of Stein’s albums to that point. Weiss, a Dartmouth resident, suggested that Stein could use his time in recovery to assemble a career retrospective album, a

John Stein, left, with Whaling City Sound

compilation of material from his previous 16 records. And by June of 2022, Stein’s seventeenth album, “Lifeline,” appeared – a two-CD package of 26 of Stein’s songs. The album stayed on the national jazz radio charts for six months, peaking at number four. It was the fourth Stein album to break into the top 10.

“When I was lying in that hospital bed, unable to do anything for myself, I was listening to my albums and choosing what songs to put on the new record,” Stein says. “It gave me the opportunity to do something creative with my time.”

s W iNg of thiNgs

Stein is finally able to release the album he intended to make prior to his illness, “No Goodbyes.” The album’s 11 tracks include Lucie on bass, and Mike Connors on drums, as well as vocalist Cindy Scott on five of the songs. Recorded, mixed, and mastered by John Mailloux at Bongo Beach Productions in Westport, it is the second Stein album to feature Lucie and Connors. In September of 2020, during the Covid lockdown, the trio recorded a performance at the New Bedford Art Museum that would become the album, “Serendipity.” The performance was also recorded on video and streamed later that month as part of the city’s AHA! Nights.

Stein’s style of jazz is commonly described as mainstream and accessible. He has been described by critics as “elite,” “impressive,” “the poet of the classical jazz guitar,” and “one of the finest jazz guitarists you’ll ever hear.”

A native of Kansas City, Missouri, Stein picked up the guitar at the age of seven and took his first jazz lesson at 13. After dropping out of college in 1970, he spent the next 10 years in Vermont, playing

STEIN’S STYLE OF JAZZ IS COMMONLY DESCRIBED AS MAINSTREAM AND ACCESSIBLE. HE HAS BEEN DESCRIBED BY CRITICS AS “ELITE,” “IMPRESSIVE,” “THE POET OF THE CLASSICAL JAZZ GUITAR,” AND “ONE OF THE FINEST JAZZ GUITARISTS YOU’LL EVER HEAR.

rock music on the state’s music circuit, and learning “practical skills” such as carpentry and auto repair. But at the age of 30, he was inspired by a piano playing friend to build on his passion for music and attend the esteemed Berklee College of Music in Boston.

Four years later, less than a month after his graduation, Stein was given a position as a teacher at the college. He would be a professor at the school for more than three decades. During his time in Boston, he would also earn a Master’s Degree in Education from Harvard University.

For 10 years, Stein was a columnist for “Just Jazz Guitar” magazine, and has authored three books on jazz composition and performance. His talents have taken him to perform throughout Europe, America, and Brazil.

“It’s moving and powerful to see John perform again,” Weiss says. “He’s playing even stronger than ever, it’s wonderful to see him at the top of his game.”

“It was tedious to be in the hospital,” Stein says. “I understand why they call people in hospitals ‘patients.’ You’re lying in bed and you can’t do anything for yourself. If you need anything you just can’t do it and I lived that way for two months. It certainly requires patience. Being able to play music again is a thrill and a blessing, because I didn’t know if I’d be able to do it again – and I can.

“Almost every day I’m reminded that I could be in a hospital bed waiting for somebody to bring me a glass of water. Now I can get my own glass of water and I’m feeling very, very grateful.”

seaN MCCarthy has been a freelance journalist for 35 years. He lives in New Bedford.

Funding feline

PHILANTHROPY

sea N MCCarthy

bandoned kittens from Fairhaven to Fall River are being rescued daily and are in need of care and assistance from loving owners. In the last year, the local nonprofit Moby Kit Rescue worked with area animal hospitals and animal control agencies to care for 320 cats, finding homes for more than 150, while raising in excess of $40,000 to care for these animals.

But their mission will only become more urgent with the onset of colder weather.

So when Moby Kit Rescue hosts their second annual Meowsquerade Ball on Friday, October 20, it will be an entertaining and feel-good evening that celebrates the season of Halloween while raising funds and awareness for this organization that rescues, heals, and attempts to find homes for kittens and cats in need.

The Meowsquerade Ball will be held from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Heron

AEducational Center for the Human Spirit at 187 Plymouth Ave. in Fall River. For $15, guests can partake in costume contests, a silent auction, and a raffle. Food and beverages will be available for donations and guests are encouraged to bring photos of their cats in costume. The night will also include quality live music with Halloween themes from Dr. Gasp, as well as the Cemetery Swingers. Dr. Gasp is the alter ego of singer/songwriter Dan Blakesly, a nationally touring artist who recently performed on the Main Stage at the Newport Folk Festival. The repertoires of the two acts are described as “death positive.”

“Cats are people too,” says Moby Kit Rescue’s President and co-founder Sarah Donner of New Bedford. “I want people to dance and have fun and hopefully we’ll make some money to help some cats.”

Tickets can be purchased online at mobykitrescue.org, through Venmo @ mobykitrescue, or through EventBrite.

f urry frie N ds

Most kittens come to the attention

of Moby Kit Rescue when a concerned person calls their 24-hour phone number, 844-662-9548. Most of the animals are abandoned and found by a roadside or a dwelling. Moby Kit Rescue helps facilitate the trapping, neutering, spaying, and transportation of the cats. The cats that are released aren't because they can't find homes, it's because they are feral and are not suited for adoption or domestic life.

People interested in taking in cats are encouraged to visit the Moby Kit Rescue website and leave their contact information. Many kittens spend time with foster families while they are still bottle feeding and are dependent on the assistance of the caregiver before they have a permanent home.

Moby Kit Rescue has a staff of 20 volunteers that tends to all areas of the process, from transportation to administrative tasks.

“It’s been my experience that helping out a fellow critter really helps you get out of your own head,” Donner says. “They are living beings who exist in the moment and who require your focus and diligence in order to

COMPASSIONATE CAT LOVERS, YOUR FELINE FRIENDS NEED YOU

and emotional welfare of children is at stake, especially in children from high-risk homes. The socioeconomic divide will only become wider, and who is protecting the kids who need it right now? I stress about how I will find a high school during this time for my daughter next year. I can’t imagine being a mother of a child who is being abused, starving, freezing… School is safety, shelter, and home for many kids. It’s sad to think most will continue to be at home not getting the help they need.”

Did I hear any really reassuring advice? Not really. The takeaway, then, is that navigating unchartered territory is all of these: unsettling, vacillating, unnerving, terrifying, hopeful, necessary, and inevitable. We are writing this story, together, as we go along. The best we can do then is to trust that others are arming themselves with as much information as possible and will live in such a way as to do no intentional harm.

thrive. For me, they are welcome fuzzy distractions who communicate what they need when they need it. Most of the kittens come from unfortunate situations of neglect or abandonment, but we have the resources to improve their lives. Changing someone else’s life for the better encourages me to move forward. When the world seems like a disaster you still have the power to make one life better. That in turn makes my life better.”

Donner claims that caring for cats and kittens is a perpetual learning experience.

While Coronavirus has woken us up in terms of helping us appreciate our prior freedoms (to travel, to go to school, to mingle with friends, to attend concerts), that loss of innocence has hopefully helped us grow. School districts, judging by the amount of work that goes into reopening under state guidelines, have been working tirelessly to create a plan of action. Parents are proactive and creative in imagining a new routine. Through the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives around the globe, the best we can hope for is that we have gained insight about our interdependency: we are all truly in this together.

“I love their personalities – their ability to carry themselves in their aloof cat ways,” she says. “They surprise me. Every time I think I know something about cats I find another cat that flips that on its head. You learn a lot about cats and kittens – so much more than you thought you knew. I have been in rescue for almost twenty years myself, and I’m constantly being educated about these animals. Cats are independent and that jives with my own lifestyle and travels.

“Adopters have the peace of mind knowing that their animals are coming from an organization whose sole purpose is to improve the lives of animals. Unlike breeders, we aren’t adopting out animals for profit. Moby Kit is a team of volunteers with different experiences and opinions, but we always agree that the welfare and quality of life comes first.”

seaN MCCarthy has been a freelance journalist for 35 years. He lives in New Bedford.

Some of us, though, want to go back to that innocent time, when we could get excited about backpacks and sneakers and lacrosse games. Maybe not return to “normal” but get as close to it as possible in the midst of a pandemic as we can. Kellie, a healthcare professional from Florida, has daily interaction with the Coronavirus and she is hoping her kids can go back to school soon. “This virus isn’t going away,” she says pragmatically. “We all need to get back to some sense of normalcy. Practicing safe reintegration is essential. We are all going to be okay. I know I’m biased because two of mine [tested positive] and were essentially fine. I treat [COVID] patients every day – and I’m fine.”

• Inpatient physical, occupational, speech and respiratory therapy

• Rehab programs that promote healing and relief from stroke, cancer and diabetes, as well as many cardiac, orthopedic, vascular and neurological conditions

• 5-Star Overall Rating by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

• Resort-like amenities, including restaurant-style dining, a media center, spa and salon services and sweete shoppe

Stray thoughts

Alittle of this and that to round out the end of the year…

I don’t watch the Today show, but my better half does so it’s on every day and I can’t help but notice they don’t talk on the Today show – they scream. They scream at each other, they scream with the screaming fans outside in the plaza, Al Roker screams the weather, there’s just a whole lotta screaming going on.

I liken this to kids on a runaway sugar high – bouncing off walls, screaming at and with one another, face to face, laughing and screaming, bug-eyed crazy screaming, like jungle-animals-aboutto-tear-each-other-apart screaming. It’s complete anarchy until there’s a somber bit of news to report, and then it’s like the parents opened the door and screamed “KNOCK IT OFF!” and then the Today team gets real somber and quiet and respectful and Al quiets right down after that segment even if he’s reporting the next planet-cracking bombogenesis superstorm about to consume the planet and blast ratings into the stratosphere because who doesn’t love weather so bad it makes you scream? And I was walking by the TV the other morning and heard “And now the third hour of Today!” which made me ask “What can they possibly talk about – I’m sorry, scream about – for three hours?” until it was pointed out I was wrong: there are FOUR hours in the Today show. I tell ya, Dave Garroway, J. Fred Muggs and the original NBC Peacock must be rolling over in their graves. Where at least they can’t hear the screaming.

POT, NOT PARANOIA

It’s a total freak-out, man, that these

days you don’t have to buy weed from a shaky dude in a dark parking lot over by the railroad tracks. You can just go to a store, man. A store! A freakin’ store! March right in, show ID, and boom, walk out with enough weed to float a hippy’s peace-painted minivan, man!

Seriously, back in the day it was a deep dive into paranoia when you were buying weed from your friendly neighborhood dealer. Now you go to any one of pot stores that are popping up like Dunks’ on the retail landscape and not only buy weed that’ll blow your head clean off like Dirty Harry’s Magnum, but where they have weed pros on staff to walk you through the mind-boggling choices you have to boggle your mind right and proper. Oh, and in edible form, too, meaning you don’t have to stank up your mom’s kitchen baking pot brownies you hope your parents don’t find and eat, though that would’ve been a hoot to watch

The times, and the buzzes, are a’changin’

In August 2019, Don the Con was holding a rally for no other reason than to have a bunch of Kool-Aid-stained fools show up and kiss his corpulent culo, when some protester caught his attention and made the Orange Baboon say this: “That guy’s got a serious weight problem. Go home. Start exercising. Got a bigger problem than I do.”

Flash forward past the next four years – and the four criminal indictments – to when the proud son of Fred and Mary Anne was allowed to self-report his height and weight and came in at an astonishing 6’3” and 215 pounds, the exact dimensions of the late great and in-shape Muhammad Ali and current film heartthrob and slab o’steel Chris Hemsworth.

Stupid and delusional takes many shapes, my friends, some even stacking up to a mound of presidential incompetence, all imaginary 215 pounds of it.

UNBRIDLED LOCAL PRIDE

The sheer talent of filmmaking folks in our area is astounding. In September, I shot a short film, Invisible, with New Bedford’s Ryan Nunes, an up-andcoming filmmaker, partly at the superbly picturesque Fort Phoenix in Fairhaven and the cozy confines of Marion, as beautiful and quiet a seaside community as you’ll ever see.

And in November, I’m slated to play the film version of real human William Rotch – he of the historic New Bedford home known as Rotch-Jones-Duff – in Sweet Freedom, an absolutely captivating story of Polly Johnson, born as what’s known as a Free Black in 1784 in Fall River. She went on to become the premier confectioner in New Bedford and an ardent abolitionist, who provided safe lodging to freedom seekers along the Underground Railroad, including Frederick Douglass and his wife, Anna. Johnson’s home was the first safe house for the Douglasses.

This film is being helmed by Alyssa Botelho of Fairhaven, an incredibly talented young woman whose first film, To Dust All Return, won regional Emmys for Best Short Form – Fiction, and Best Director.

People like Alyssa and Ryan and so so so many others in our area with their hearts and souls wrapped up completely in the arts truly make me feel younger. I am honored to know them, work with them, and tell the stories they ache to tell.

South Coast, you got it all goin’ on. I’m grateful to be here and living my best life.

paul k aNdariaN is a lifelong area resident and, since 1982, has been a profession writer, columnist, and contributor in national magazines, websites, and other publications.

Are

More than

medicine

What is More than medicine?

To Jennifer, More than medicine is Freedom.

Freedom to change course.

Freedom to move forward.

Freedom to live.

To us, More than medicine is having the team who went above and beyond to give Jennifer — and her heart — a second chance. It’s having our team perform one of the first-in-the-nation procedures that undoubtedly gave Jennifer freedom from a life of repeated surgeries.

Is Jennifer lucky? No, but she is a Southcoast Health patient, and we are lucky to care for her.