The South Coast Insider - December 2016

December 2016 Vol. 20 / No. 12

coastalmags.com

Our better angels Deep breaths Shop small Merry at midnight Cherish Christmas

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10 Millicent’s Holiday Book Fair

Local authors signing and selling their books Millicent Library auditorium, 45 Center St. (use Walnut St. entrance), 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Town Hall Shops

Booths by non-profit groups, face painting, kids crafts Town Hall, 40 Center St., 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Brick Church Fair

Craft booths, baked goods, thrift shop & more Congregational Church, 34 Center St., 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Holiday Marketplace

Craft booths, holiday greens & more Unitarian Church, 102 Green St., 10 a.m.- 3 p.m.

Cookies & Santa at Our Lady’s Haven Cookies , coffee, & hot chocolate.

Visit with Santa. Holiday items for sale.

Our Lady’s Haven, 71 Center St., 10 a.m.- 3 p.m.

Unitarian Church Tours

Unitarian Church, 102 Green St. 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Family Craft Day & Art Sale

Design and make holiday ornaments Art on Center, 15 Center St., 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Holiday Soup & Sandwich Luncheon Harrop Center, Center St., 11:30 a.m. -2:00 p.m.

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11 Service of Lessons and Carols Historical Society Holiday House Tour Historical homes and buildings open to tour Academy Building, 141 Main St., 1 p.m.- 4 p.m.

Music and readings to celebrate the holiday Unitarian Memorial Church, 102 Green St., 4:30 p.m.

The Old-Time Holiday is sponsored by Fairhaven non-profit and church groups and is coordinated and promoted by the Fairhaven Office of Tourism. Complete program listings are available from http://Fairhaventours.com. For more information, contact the Fairhaven Office of Tourism, 141 Main Street, Fairhaven, telephone 508-979-4085, email FairhavenTours@aol.com. The Visitors Center will not be open on Saturday, December 10, during the OldTime Holiday.

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December 2016 / The South Coast Insider

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Making musicians

By SEAN MCCARTHY

28 Across the region

By Elizabeth Morse Read

ON THE COVER

It’s been a long year, and it’s worth taking the time to re-center and focus on what matters. Go back to the region’s roots and visit Fairhaven, a small town with a big history, as they celebrate an Old-Time Holiday on December 11 and 12. Learn more at Fairhaventours.com.

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FROM THE PUBLISHER December 2016 / Vol. 20 / No. 12

Published by

The movies aren’t wrong: the holidays are a time of wonder, joy, and merriment. But there’s another side to the season that rarely makes its way onto the silver screen: the stress. Don’t let the holidays ruin your holidays!

We’ve dedicated this issue to helping relieve all the pressures of the season.

Coastal Communications Corp.

Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Ljiljana Vasiljevic

Editor

Sebastian Clarkin

Contributors

We spend so much time focusing on others, planning parties, shopping for gifts, cooking food, that we can fail to spend any time focusing on ourselves.

Take a deep breath. No, really – turn to Dan Brule’s article on page 6 to learn how to release all that holiday stress and develop some good habits for the New Year.

The South Coast Insider is published monthly for visitors and residents of the South Coast area. The Insider is distributed free of charge from Mount Hope Bay to Buzzards Bay.

On the subject of New Year’s, do you know how you’re celebrating yet? Out partying with friends? Cuddling up by the fire with a book? Just sleeping right through it? How about eating a white grape at every stroke of the bell at midnight? Throwing some bread into the Atlantic? Wearing special-colored underpants?

If those sound strange, then you’ll want to turn to Liz Read’s article on page 12, all about the tradition of celebrating the New Year.

Online Editor Paul Letendre

Dan Brule, Greg Jones, Paul E. Kandarian, Dan Logan, Tom Lopes, Sean McCarthy, Jay Pateakos, Elizabeth Morse Read, Michael J. Vieira

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If you’re scrambling for a resolution, make sure you check out Mike Vieira’s article on page 16. Your New Year’s resolution should be a source of stress relief. Pick up that book you’ve been meaning to read, put in those volunteering hours, or try out that new restaurant you’ve heard so much about. The point is, there are more ways to improve your life than just sweating it out at the gym.

This Thanksgiving, you may have heard a family member boast about how all their shopping is already done. Maybe you are that family member. For the rest of us, the clock is ticking on finding the perfect gifts.

Never fear! Turn to page 20, where Jay Pateakos surveys some great small businesses to find the best spots to get some unique gifts (while also supporting the local economy.)

If all else fails and this year is still stressing you out, just remember: it’s almost over and we’re facing a fresh start. May there be peace on earth and also within each of us.

Wishing you a happy and healthy 2017!

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December 2016 / The South Coast Insider

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YOUR HEALTH

Breathe out the stress of the holidays

by Dan BrulE

Phew! One of the most stressful election seasons is finally over.

Yet, for many, the outcome means more stress to come!

A

unconscious physical tension. At the dd to that the holiday seminars (and in my upcoming book, season which is now upon us. A season Just Breathe: Master Your Breath meant to celebrate for Success in Life, Love, Business love and joy and and Beyond), I go more deeply into peace. Focus on each of the following points and we those feelings and explore many practical exercises and you will avoid the stress that usually techniques related to them. comes with the season.

Let me just give you a quick review I have led “Stress and Breathing – of what we cover. If you apply any Burnout and Breathwork” seminars in one of them, be assured you will expeover 50 countries in the past 40 years, rience many health benefits. Master and I’d like to share with you some of a good number of them and you will the takeaways from those seminars. find that stress is a thing of the past The seminar focuses on a bodyand that you are immune to burnout! mind-spirit approach to preventing both stress and burnout. Another Everyday benefits way of describing the elements of Know that in reality the more you this holistic approach comes from the give, the more you receive. This is Chinese medicine tradition: “regulate not just a pretty philosophy – it’s how body, regulate mind, and regulate energy works. breath.”

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6

December 2016 / The South Coast Insider

of the laws of nature is “abundance.”

You are part of that nature and to the degree that you forget or deny it, you will feel stressed.

Awaken to the source of genuine energy and learn to breathe in a way that strengthens your connection to it.

Be conscious of your connection to life in all that you do, especially in relation to others. Otherwise, you will feel drained and stressed.

Lighten up! Re-awaken in yourself the spontaneous energy that you had as a child. Only adults (adulterated children) suffer from burnout! You can do that by moving, dancing, laughing, playing, and breathing.

Be more playful in life and in your relationships, and find a way to bring some playfulness into your work.

Seriousness is a disease! If you must be serious on the job, then at least balance that with a huge dose of playfulness and fun after work.

Practice “Right Livelihood.” Make sure that what you do in daily life is aligned with your values and your purpose. Stress and burnout is a wake up call to make changes in your life!

Drop energy suckers like judgment, resistance, and attachment. Don’t indulge in anger or resentment.

These attitudes are proven causes and contributors to stress and burnout!

Realize that everything is love, that we live in an ocean of love. Begin to acknowledge and appreciate and to give expressions of love: smiles, small gifts, friendly advice, heartfelt wishes, encouragement, simple touches… these are all expressions of love.

Don’t resist your “down cycles.” They are a natural and necessary part of life and growth. Don’t waste precious life energy fighting natural rhythms and cycles!

Master the art of taking “minute vacations.” Take a minute or two

to shake and loosen all your muscles and joints as you breathe in and out.

With practice, you can get more out of a few minutes of conscious breathing and deliberate relaxation than most people get from a weekend in the Bahamas!

Free up blocked and stuck emotional energy by practicing forgiveness and gratitude. Nothing causes stress or burnout more than generating negative emotions and holding on to grudges! Do the opposite and you will liberate yourself!

In and out

Identify and eliminate habitual muscular contractions – chronic physical tension in your neck, jaw, shoulders, and so on. Physical tension eats up life force that you could be using in much better ways.

Learn to use your breathing to gen-

up. That means the first part of your inhale goes deep into your belly, then it overflows upward into your chest.

Master “De-Reflexive Breathing.”

That means mentally inhaling while you are physically exhaling, and mentally exhaling while you are physically inhaling. Read that again. It is the essence of this ancient breathwork technique which is also called “Krishna’s Kriya Yoga.”

Learn “Coherent Breathing.” This means breathing at a rate of six breaths per minute. That is a five second inhale and a five second exhale, with just a moment of transition between breaths. Practice this for five minutes, three times per day.

Learn to relax and release your diaphragm. Master the skill of letting go of your exhale with an exaggerated sigh of relief. If you master this simple skill and engage in it often, you will

Do your inner work: free yourself of guilt, shame, anger, resentment, etc. Breathe these things out of your body and mind.

Breathe them out of your life…forever! erate life force energy at will. Imagine filling yourself up with energy on the inhale and overflow with it on the exhale. And don’t just draw in energy from around you; draw energy up from within you.

Learn to use your breath to draw energy into your body and release tension at the same time. That means learning to breathe in a way that both energizes you and relaxes you, that both strengthens and soothes you.

Practice relaxing while you breathe, and breathing while you relax.

Establish breathing habits and patterns that automatically recharge and restore you. When healthy breathing patterns become an unconscious habit, you become immune to burnout.

Learn the “Full Yogic Breath” and how to infuse every cell in your body with breath energy. This is a skill and an art that will serve you to no end. The full yogic breath is like filling a glass with water – it fills from the bottom

automatically develop the ability to let go of many other things, like pain, tension, anxiety, fear, disturbing thoughts, and stress from the past!

Do your inner work: free yourself of guilt, shame, anger, resentment, etc.

Breathe these things out of your body and mind. Breathe them out of your life…forever!

Practice faith and trust in life and in yourself. In the grand scheme of things, everything is perfect whether it seems like it or not. Remember too that you are a unique miracle, and that life is an amazing gift! Remember that no matter what you think or how you feel, you are always already free. Don’t let anyone tell you different! And don’t let your own mind lead you to believe anything else!

I hope you take some of the tips to heart. And I hope you put some of them to work in your life. I also hope you have a healthy and happy holiday season!

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7

Bob Williamson, owner of the Symphony Music Shop in North Dartmouth

BUSINESS BUZZ

Making musicians

By Sean McCarthy

Once upon a time Beethoven didn’t know how to play piano and The Beatles didn’t know how to play guitar.

It’s hard to imagine a world without music instructors.

Day by day, lesson by lesson, lives are being changed for those people who have chosen to play a musical instrument – and many students experience benefits that will stay with them whether or not they continue to play music. While it’s improbable that most students will achieve fame and fortune, chances are good that they will have skills that will reward them throughout their lives.

“Music students learn discipline, being consistent, and being self-motivated,” says Kelsey Jacobsen, coowner of Double Bar Music located at 1093 State Road and collaborate with other musicians, while giving and receiving constructive criticism.”

“Learning an instrument gives

8

someone a whole new skill set. You’re learning a new language and all the mechanics that go with that instrument,” says Bob Williamson, 22-year owner of The Symphony Music Shop located at 94 State Road in North Dartmouth. “Eventually you’ll learn self-expression.”

Although guitar is the most popular choice of instrument, most area music stores offer a wide option to choose from, ranging from flute to ukulele, drums to clarinet, banjo to voice, and more. Lessons usually take place once a week for either an hour or a half hour.

A student will study independently between lessons, often being given assignments to work on aimed at improving and sharpening their skills.

December 2016 / The South Coast Insider

Most music students don’t buy an instrument when they start taking lessons – they can rent or lease an instrument from the store where they are studying. All lessons are held with the same instructor, which builds a bond of familiarity.

But local professionals agree that a music teacher’s primary goal is not teaching scales and notes, but to build and maintain inspiration in their student.

“A teacher has to keep their students inspired,” says Todd Salpietro, owner of TJ’s Music located at 347 South Main Street in Fall River. “They’ll teach them techniques and rudiments for their instrument but they’ve also got to have some fun.”

“A good teacher inspires a student by giving them a love of playing an instrument,” Williamson says.

“New students are just discovering music and their instrument – a teacher has to find out what motivates them to learn more,” Jacobsen says.

A common technique for instructors is to teach a student one of their favorite songs that they can learn and practice along with their weekly lesson, something that will heighten their interest in their instrument and help them to see progress in themselves.

A little work, a little play

Somewhat surprisingly, many music instructors look forward to seeing their students have some difficulties early on. They claim that it’s an opportunity to see how students react to challenges.

“Hurdles are part of the process,” Continued ON PAGE 10

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doesn’t have an age limit. We get students from five years old to 85 years old.”

And while the Internet can provide some education for a musician, there are advantages to studying with an instructor. Having an instructor sitting beside a student can help them work on their skills, provide direction, observe their problems and make corrections on the spot. Also, an instructor can monitor a student’s progress from week to week and tailor their lessons around them.

“Music isn’t a short-term experience. You should have long-term goals,” Jacobsen says. “There’s always something more to learn. Even the masters will study with other masters.”

Continued FROM PAGE 8

Jacobsen says. “You want to see a student learn how to deal with challenges because they will become motivations for them, they learn how to work through their problems.

Occasionally you’ll hear a student shout, ‘Oh my god, I can’t believe I did it!’ It’s awesome for the teacher to also experience a feeling of excitement that comes with a student’s achievements.”

“Learning an instrument can be humbling at first, but the student should eventually see rewards,” Salpietro says. “Every student learns differently, but a lot of it depends on the time and effort someone puts into it, how much they practice. Even if you’re not a natural you can see developments within six months. It’s like karate – it will teach discipline.”

Feel the rhythm

Chorus for us

Marcus Montiero of Marion has been teaching saxophone and piano for fifteen years. He has a degree in Music from UMass Dartmouth. He aims for his students to be able to play while reading sheet music as well as being able to play without it.

“It’s important for my students to be able to play music by ear,” he says.

“I will introduce them to the notes on the instrument and they can go from there. I will give them instruction but I don’t want to squash their creativity.

I want them to be able to use their intuition so they can reach the level where playing their instrument is as easy as having a conversation.”

“I want them to be confident as well as have fun.”

Jacobsen’s co-owner at Double Bar Music is her mother, Marcelle Gauvin, a vocal instructor at UMass Dartmouth as well as the renowned Berklee School of Music in Boston.

With more than twenty years as a vocal instructor, Gauvin has realized that one of the most important steps to take with a student doesn’t have anything to do with singing – the first

10

New and used guitars at TJ’s Music in Fall River

steps she takes with a student is to design a mission statement geared towards preventing their academic rigors from overshadowing their love of music. She has them define what music means to them and the role it plays in their life, something that expresses their hopes and dreams.

“I don’t want my students to lose the essence of what music means to them,” Gauvin says. “Their challenges can be overwhelming but it’s important for them to identify why they are pursuing music. They may be seeking fame and recognition, peer or family approval, or they may have a driving inner source. When they remember why they got into this it gives them

December 2016 / The South Coast Insider

the strength to pull through.

“I want to keep their passion alive,” she says.

Students can become passionate at any age. While the largest bracket for students is between ages 10 and 16, approximately 25 percent are adults.

According to Salpietro, older students who pick up an instrument may have a different learning experience.

“Most adults have more time on their hands. They’re not in a hurry,” he says. “They have more time to practice and as a result they usually have more fun with it – they look forward to their lessons and learning the instrument.”

“It’s never too late to pick up an instrument,” Jacobsen says. “Music

At the age of 58, Williamson still enjoys playing trumpet, something he has done for 50 years. He performs regularly with the South Coast Jazz Orchestra throughout the region.

“Playing music can be a great stress reliever and an uplifting experience,” he says. “There are doctors and lawyers who play music just to take the stress out of their lives.

If I’m feeling physically and mentally drained at the end of the day and I have the opportunity to play music with people I enjoy, after the first few notes I remember why I do this. It takes me to a whole new world.”

For many students, the next new world is being on stage.

Both TJ’s and Double Bar Music offer their students opportunities to perform before live audiences, potentially turning something terrifying into something inspiring. For many new musicians the experience of playing on stage with a band of their peers can be uniquely valuable and rewarding.

TJ’s All-Star Bands are comprised of performers who study at the store. They learn contemporary and classic rock songs, rehearse them, and eventually play them before an

audience. The groups practice at the store for two hours every Wednesday night and the concerts are held at area venues. All concerts are an hour and a half long. Each performance has a revolving lineup of musicians more than twenty strong.

“These concerts help students build life-long friendships and confidence, and teaches them team-building,” Salpietro says. “Along with learning songs they also learn what goes into a performance – working with monitors, amplifiers, and doing sound checks.

The experience of playing with other musicians is huge.”

And there’s plenty of proof of it.

For his 13th birthday, Tyler Hartford’s parents bought him a keyboard and he began taking lessons at TJ’s. The

lessons at Double Bar Music. Reyce, 14, plays electric guitar, and Ryley, 12, plays drums.

The five-piece band gave their first performance this past July at a 5K Road Race in Westport and last month they played at Patriot Place next to Gillette Stadium in Foxboro. The brothers have been studying their instruments for seven years each.

“Music has boosted their confidence levels,” says their mother Sally.

“They’re more social and they’ve learned how to work as a team. They’re inspired to continue learning more.”

Double Bar Music has an array of events throughout the year that showcase their students. Once every other month they host an Open Mic at “Studio on 6,” located next to their site

“Music has boosted their confidence levels,” says their mother Sally. “They’re more social and they’ve learned how to work as a team. They’re inspired to continue learning more.”

Assonet teen struggled at first but eventually turned an important corner and transformed himself as a musician and as a person. Hartford took a giant step with the All-Star Band.

“He came out of his shell and developed a sense of confidence,” says his mother Krista. “He began getting onstage and performing at local venues. It was incredible to see him evolve. It was something other than what a parent can do.”

His father John evolved as well. After watching his son play music for a year, the 46-year-old decided to buy a drum set and start taking lessons at TJ’s.

Ryley and Reyce Fernandes are brothers from Dartmouth who have utilized their musical skills to from their own band, Chasing Eddie. The five-piece band formed while taking

in Westport. In the summer some of their students perform acoustic music at area businesses and locations in the area, either solo or with a group. This coming March they will put on their annual “Winter of Rock” event, where a group of their students learn music of their choice and perform for the public at area venues.

The Symphony Music Shop teaches as many as 600 lessons in a week in a facility that includes 16 rehearsal studios.Williamson has some advice for new students.

“Don’t quit,” he says. “Like so many things in life, part of improving means that sometimes you’ve got to tough it out. It’s like sports or art – it’s not a skill you’ll learn overnight. There aren’t a lot of naturals. You’ve got to make a little progress every day.”

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11

COVER STORY

At the stroke of midnight

BY Elizabeth Morse Read

Across the world, the beginning of the New Year is marked by unique customs and festivals, banishing the hardships and bad luck of the past year, and ushering in hope for health, happiness, and prosperity.

Out with the old year, in with the new

New Year’s Eve is the oldest of public celebrations throughout history, originally welcoming the rebirth of springtime. People destroy symbols of the past year at midnight (like our Old Man Time with the scythe and hourglass), and make a lot of noise to scare off evil spirits and bad luck.

And echoes of those ancient customs persist in New Year’s Eve celebrations today.

Whether it’s beating the walls with bread loaves in Ireland, burning scarecrows in Ecuador, smashing old dishes in Denmark, or ringing temple bells 108 times in Japan, New Year’s Eve around the world is a very noisy public event full of fire and adult-beverage-fueled revelry.

When, exactly, does the New Year begin?

Before there was widespread literacy and organized religions, people followed the rhythm

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December 2016 / The South Coast Insider

Where does the day begin and end?

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ew Year’s Day starts first in the Pacific island kingdom of Kiribati before finally reaching the uninhabited atoll of Baker Island, a US territory 1,920 miles southwest from Hawaii. Now here’s a brain-bender: Kiribati is actually farther east than Baker Island, but they get to celebrate first because they’re still on the other side of the International Date Line. The line used to bisect the country until they changed it in 1994/95, meaning that one half of the island was always 24 hours behind the other. That means an extra day of celebrating!

of the natural world – the seasons, the animals, and the heavenly bodies – to mark the passage of time. The “New Year,” as far as ordinary people were concerned, began at the first sign of spring, not on some arbitrary date on the calendar. New Year’s Day in China is still called the “Spring Festival.”

The transition from the old year to the new is celebrated worldwide, but it is not always celebrated on the same day. In the westernized world, which follows the solar-based Gregorian calendar, the New Year begins on January 1 (see sidebar), but in countries and cultures following a lunar-based calendar, religious calendar, or an agricultural calendar, it might be celebrated in September or October (Jewish), February (Chinese), or in March or April, as it in Iran and Sri Lanka.

New Year’s Eve celebrations in the Islamic world are more complicated. Because the Islamic year is based on the lunar calendar, which is eleven days shorter than the Gregorian calendar, New Year’s Day (Hijri) is a moveable feast observed on the first day of the lunar month of Muharram. For most Muslims, Hijri is a quiet day of reflection, but customs vary widely from country to country depending upon their pre-Islamic history and traditions. For instance, in predominantly Shia Muslim Iran, the Persian New Year begins on March 20, the traditional first day of spring. People clean their houses, wear new clothes, and bang loudly on pots and pans at midnight.

Things that go bump in the night

Many New Year’s Eve traditions are rooted in superstition, folklore, and wishful thinking, even including “lucky” shapes, colors, foods and clothing.

For instance, in Latin America, people wear colored underwear – red for love, yellow for peace and happiness. Doors in China are painted red and people wear new red clothing. Wearing white is the custom in Brazil, where thousands gather at Copacabana Beach to throw white flowers into the water, offerings to Yemoja Orisha, the Afro-Brazilian goddess of the sea. In the Philippines, where anything round is considered lucky, they wear polka-dotted clothing.

In Spain, eating a white grape at each stroke of the clock at midnight – one for each month of the New Year – brings good luck. In other parts of the world, eating lentils or black-eyed peas at midnight brings good luck. The Chinese eat special dumplings shaped like coins. A round loaf of challah bread at Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, symbolizes the circle of life, eaten with apples dipped in honey, symbolizing the sweet life of the coming year.

Continued ON NEXT PAGE

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Why is New Year’s Day on January 1?

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esternized countries observe New Year’s Day on January 1 – but why? It’s not like January 1 is a major religious holiday, public anniversary, astronomical event or a milestone on the agricultural calendar.

About a century before Caesar, the political new year in Rome was on January 1 to mark the election of the consuls, but for most people in Europe, the Spring celebrations remained the marking of the birth of the new Year. When Julius Caesar became Emperor, he established the Julian calendar (reforming the previous calendar of King Numa Pompilius), which maintained the January 1 New Year. However, through the middle ages and Renaissance, the Spring celebration held sway, especially since the election of consuls was at that point merely an historical footnote.

It wasn’t until 1582, when the imperfect Julian calendar was a full ten days off from where it was supposed to be, that the Gregorian calendar was formed and the world began celebrating the New Year in on January 1. This didn’t happen all at once, though. Great Britain and its colonies didn’t adopt the Gregorian calendar until 1752. Greece didn’t adopt it until 1923!

As you can see, the January 1 tradition is both ancient and relatively recent.

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December 2016 / The South Coast Insider

The big bang

At the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve, the seismographs in each time zone must go off the charts. People start hootin’ and hollerin’ and dancing in the streets. Church bells, sirens, pots and pans, fireworks, drums, boat whistles, car horns, firecrackers all go off at once. Rosh Hashanah starts with the sounding of the shofar, a curved ram’s horn and one of the world’s oldest wind instruments.

But noise-making, like fires, on New Year’s Eve goes back to ancient rituals for exorcising evil spirits, warding off bad luck and scaring away predators, both human and animal.

Mid-winter revelries

Before the Christmas holy day became commercialized, gift-giving and partying was much more common on New Year’s Eve than on Christmas. Even today, New Year’s Eve in Russia is full of fireworks, feasting, music, “New Year’s trees,” and the gift-bearing Ded Moroz (Santa Claus) and Snegurochka (the Ice Maiden.)

For almost 400 years until the 1950s, Christmas merry-making or gift-giving was forbidden by Protestant church leaders in Scotland. As a result, the Scots reverted to their pre-Christian tradition of celebrating Hogmanay on New Year’s Eve – a rowdy, torch-lit midwinter festival similar to the ancient Viking Yule celebrations.

Burning up and cleaning out the past

Fire and cleanings are purifying rituals on New Year’s Eve around the world, both literal and figurative. In many countries, homes are cleaned from top to bottom, and old ashes in the hearth are tossed away. The Chinese word for “dust” sounds a lot like the Chinese word for “old,” so houses, businesses, and streets are swept clean before midnight. People worldwide symbolically purge the past by “cleaning the slate,” “burying the hatchet,” “turning over a new leaf,” and then sealing it with kiss or a handshake at midnight.

The people of Ecuador burn scarecrows on New Year’s Eve – burning the past year in effigy. The Dutch light bonfires of Christmas trees on the streets. In Russia, people write down a wish for the New Year on a piece of paper, burn it, then add the ashes to a glass of champagne to be consumed while the midnight bells are ringing.

Likewise, many New Year’s Eve customs symbolically purge an individual person’s past, and represents the promise to “clean up their act.” That’s why people make New Year’s resolutions. Most New Year’s traditions encourage people to settle

debts and disputes before New Year’s Eve. On Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year’s Day, people throw pieces of bread into the ocean or rivers, each piece symbolizing a past sin or debt and a prayer to do better in the coming year.

Curious customs

In rural Ireland, people smash loaves of bread against the walls and doors of a home to chase out the bad luck of the previous year. In the Gaelic language, New Year’s Day is known as “the day of the buttered bread.”

Some people in Denmark save up their old dishes throughout the year, then put them outside their front door on New Year’s Eve. Visitors are supposed to throw and smash them on the door before entering.

The custom of “first footing” is still practiced throughout the British Isles – the first visitor allowed in after midnight must be a dark-haired man who enters through the front door. He should be carrying bread, salt, a bottle of whiskey, and a piece of coal – then he must leave through the back door.

Doors and windows figure heavily in New Year’s Eve traditions around the world. In the Philippines, all windows and doors are flung open at midnight. In Puerto Rico, people throw buckets of water out their windows. At the first stroke of midnight in Wales, doors are opened, then quickly slammed shut.

They’re reopened at the twelfth stroke to welcome in the New Year. And, until recently, people in Johannesburg, South Africa, would toss old furniture out of their windows on New Year’s Eve, but with increasing injuries to pedestrians outside, public safety officials put a stop to that.

American traditions

New Year’s Eve in the U.S. is celebrated in many towns and cities as a carnival-like “First Night,” full of fireworks, champagne toasts, and noisy parties.

But seeing as it’s usually frostbite-frigid outside at midnight, many people are content to take the party indoors and watch the televised “ball-drop” in New York City’s iconic Times Square. The first Times Square ball-drop happened more than 100 years ago, and the current “ball” is illuminated with over 32,000 LED lights and almost 2,700 Waterford crystals.

Auld Lange Syne, a sentimental Scottish ballad, became the traditional New Year’s Eve song in the US, and has been called the most popular song in the world that nobody really knows the lyrics to.

Many people remember listening to Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians playing a live broadcast of Auld Lang Syne on the radio or televised from the Waldorf Astoria Hotel from 1929 to 1976.

Whatever your custom, get out there and welcome in the New Year!

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COVER STORY

Make your New Year a happy one

By Michael J. Vieira

n New Year’s Eve, when the countdown begins and the clock strikes midnight, for a few minutes, the world is filled with hope. How long will it last? And how happy will the New Year be?

A lot of it is up to you. Here are a few positive things to think about and do in 2017.

Unplug If you do a quick Google search of the college Class of 2017, it’s clear that they live in a very different world than we did. They’ve never had monthly texting limits or had to print out (or carry) a map.

They’ve always been able to fast forward through commercials and never played a VHS tape (or cassette, 8-track, or reel-to-reel tape). Vinyl records are a boutique item. They probably don’t know what a broken record is or what it sounds like.

They don’t know what a floppy disk is. They think CDs and DVDs are quaint, and probably never used a flip phone. They don’t know why they call it “hanging up” the phone. They’ve never lived in a 16

December 2016 / The South Coast Insider

world without Internet and cable television.

For most of us, however, this list is also a trip down “memory lane,” as the old folks used to say.

We’ve pretty much all adopted Wi-Fi, cloud storage, streaming media, and smartphones. The result is that we’re always connected. Cell phones provide immediate and constant access and texting requires instant replies.

So, in celebration of the New Year, unplug once in a while. Leave your phone on the bureau or kitchen table, go outside, and relish in the knowledge that nobody can reach you for a little. But don’t worry, while you were out the pings rang and the notices appeared. Ignore them too – just because you can.

Read We’re barraged with words – texts, emails, voice mail, junk mail, scrolling words on TV screens. But who reads them?

So many people depend on television news or web sites for information. How reliable is it and how permanent is it?

Pick up a newspaper, a magazine or a book. Relax and read – and maybe get the facts.

Locally, there are still some “brick and mortar” bookstores. Barnes and Noble is on Route 6 in Dartmouth and in nearby New Bedford, visit Subtext Bookshop on Union Street.

In nearby Rhode Island, there’s Barrington Books on County Street and the Wooden Midshipman on Water Street in Warren. For a real deal, you can’t beat the Dollar Book Outlet on Pleasant Street in Fall River.

There’s something special about the printed word.

You may have some books on a shelf. If so, spend some time with them.

Or better yet, go to a local library. Smell in the aroma of literature, check out a book, and enjoy a good read. Plus, libraries now have eBooks, Zinio magazines online, and much, much more.

Listen Do you still have a turntable and some LPs? On a cold day, there’s nothing better than warming yourself with some old music crackling like a friendly fire through your speakers. Want better quality? Spin a CD you haven’t listened to for a while.

The Internet also provides so many options to explore new and old music. If you have Amazon Prime, just type in the name of a musician that you haven’t heard in a long time. Go to Pandora or another music service and explore the old and new titles.

Even better, go to the Narrows Center for the Arts or to a local venue with live music. You’ll be supporting local talent, getting a change of scenery, and enjoying some tunes. Visit narrowscenter.org for upcoming shows and gallery exhibits.

The Zeiterion in New Bedford is another local treasure. Where else can you see musicals, enjoy a symphony, listen to tribute bands, and see headline acts? Go to zeiterion.org for upcoming events.

Plus, don’t forget the local pubs. Rose Alley in New Bedford and many places in Bristol and Newport offer music on the weekends. Pottersville Pub in Somerset features Louie Leeman and a large group of talented musicians on Tuesday and other acts on the weekend.

Support local musicians. They help provide the soundtrack to our lives.

Be kind Put the hostility of the Presidential election behind and move on. The holiday season tends to bring out the best in people. There’s always an increase in giving and in sharing during the Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Milad un Nabi (The Prophet’s Birthday) seasons. Keep it going in 2017.

Food banks, homeless and women’s shelters, veterans’ homes, and families in need can always use some help – and it doesn’t need to be financial.

Volunteers are always welcome, especially after the holidays when they’re often bombarded with offers.

In the cold of winter, the need is always greater.

Are you doing some post-holiday cleaning?

Donate your used clothes to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Marie’s Place, Lighthouse Outreach Center, or other charities.

Got extra curtains, plates, and lamps? Contact the Women’s Center in New Bedford, My Brother’s Keeper, and the First Baptist Church in Fall River.

For a list of resources either to donate to or to get help, visit FallRiverHomeless.com or go to homelesshelterdirectory.org for New Bedford and Rhode Island resources.

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Appreciate Thanksgiving seems like a distant memory, but in 2017, appreciate what you have. Some people spend so much time complaining that they don’t realize how good we have it in this country. At the risk of reminding folks about the election, the United States is still pretty great.

Turn on your faucet. What comes out is clean and drinkable. Not so in many other places. Consider showing your appreciation by making a donation to WaterForCambodia.org or a similar organization.

You’ll be making a real difference to others in the world.

How about heat and light? Most of us have the luxury of turning on the lights and turning up the thermostat when it gets dark and cold. As mentioned before, you can help the homeless or you can assist by donating to Citizens for Citizens, the Salvation Army, or People Acting in Community Endeavors (PACE). They provide fuel assistance and other help to those in need.

Despite what some people would have you believe, this country is still one of the safest in the world and one of the best educated. Thank a police officer, firefighter, or emergency medical professional. And take time to thank a teacher, professor, or educational administrator. All too often, we expect them to be there for us, but it seems we’re not there for them.

Finally, hug a family member or friend and just spend some time with them. Take time to check in on or visit the elderly. As the days grow short, they spend more time huddled indoors. It can be lonely and the nights can be long.

Life is a precious gift and just an occasional look at the obituaries or nightly news proves that people can pass from our lives without warning. Pretty flowers or cards at a funeral won’t make up for lost time now.

Be at peace Take a minute and just be still. If you’re so inclined, pray or meditate. Light a candle or a wood fire and enjoy the glow. Stare at the clear night sky and watch the stars twinkle.

Bake something, stew something, use a crockpot, but skip the fast food and enjoy slow cooking. Then savor the smells that surround your home and enjoy the flavors that only time can create.

In the early 1970s, Max Ehrmann’s 1927 poem, “Desiderata,” was very popular. Ninety years later, the words still hold true: “Go placidly among the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.”

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COVER STORY

Partners Village Store, Westport, MA

Think BIG, shop small

By Jay Pateakos

Consumers have been known to get caught up in the convenience of internet shopping for many years now and unfortunately, a lot of local shops have been left in the dust.

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December 2016 / The South Coast Insider

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tores have either closed outright or found ways to reinvent themselves to create their own niche. Many have been successful in providing a great shopping experience – a personal one that you don’t get through the internet or even at the big box stores.

It’s the ultimate pay-it-forward exercise, as long as everyone takes part. Below are six local merchants, all with different offerings, all trying to make their way against the cold onslaught of online merchants.

Shop small and shop often!

Friends At Partners

Partners Village Store and Kitchen carves out its own path under owner Lydia Gollner not only as a gift shop but as a great kitchen featuring some delicious handmade offerings.

“We are a unique country store with a variety of shopping opportunities for all age groups! We have a wonderful kitchen that serves breakfast and lunch seven days a week, where all goods are made on-premises,” said Gollner with clear pride.

“We then offer a wonderful shopping experience via our friendly and warm staff. Partners has a book store, home goods area, toy area, greeting cards and stationery, candles, and clothing. We pride ourselves in offering a little of everything for every gender.”

Gollner stressed the need for shopping locally because it helps stimulate the local economy and allows her store to be very generous in giving back to the community.

“Without the locals shopping at our venue, we would not survive,” Gollner said.

As for the focus of the upcoming holiday season, Gollner said she’s looking forward to the season and promoting her daily, freshly-cooked offerings along with their wonderful selection of curated gifts for every member of the family young and old, with free wrapping to boot. Their annual Holiday Open House, one of the most popular events of the year, will take place on Saturday, December 10.

“It is wonderful to see all our locals come and shop annually here at Partners. We are very fortunate to have loyal consumers who shop with us and who know we will not let them down. If we do not have a specific item we will certainly order it,” said Gollner.

“We are all about customer service. We aim to put a smile on everyone’s face during what can be a stressful time of the year!”

Partners Village Store and Kitchen is at 865 Main Road in Westport. Learn more at Partnersvillagestore.com.

Dartmoor Gifts, South Dartmouth, MA

Fine Diamond Jewelry

PIECES OF HISTORY

The Fall River Historical Society is known far and wide as one of the most beautifully-decorated holiday stops, winner of several awards for their efforts. Curator Michael Martins Curator takes that effort very seriously.

Martins said they are so popular around the holidays that they convert three floors of their building into a unique shopping extravaganza.

“We have one room dedicated just to Christmas items, including over 300 hand-blown glass ornaments, a room just for candy, as well as books, jewelry, and giftware,” said Martins.

“We are a full-service gift shop with a wide range of selection from chocolates (that we sell hundreds of pounds of) to Pashmina scarfs and shoals.

We have a tremendous amount of merchandise

with different price points to cater to our varying clientele.”

Martins said the importance of shopping locally at a place like the non-profit Fall River Historical Society is that with a small staff, run mostly by volunteers, they’re able to keep the price points low and any profits benefit the museum.

“It helps with our mission of preserving Fall River history, helping to educate the public about their local history, as well as the tourists that come here,” said Martins. Like many nonprofits, the Historical Society has had to reinvent itself over the years and

— Sale through 12/24 —

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Fall River Historical Society

The South Coast Insider / December 2016

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Frank and Annie Prescott of Annie’s Unique Boutique, Somerset, MA

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now sees people coming from all over New England and beyond to see what’s different about Fall River.

“We’ve become a destination where people come and spend time at the museum and then go shopping. Bus companies make us a stop and spend the better part of the day here, especially around the holidays, because of the quality of our decorations and what we offer here.”

The Fall River Historical Society is at 451 Rock Street. Learn more at Lizzieborden.org.

GREAT GIFTS

Dartmoor Gifts owner Lea Bratney said her shop is unique in a number of ways, offering a wide range of gifts for the home and garden “in styles and prices that attract a wide array of customers.”

“We also make every effort to showcase the works of local artists as well as products of regional manufacturers,” Bratney said.

They offer everything from locally hand-carved birds and bird houses to hand-knit felted wool mittens. There are assorted pottery crafts,locally-made soaps and candles, and seasonal ornaments and gifts. Her best-sellers include wind chimes, granite birdbaths and benches, hand-crafted wooden sculptures, and yard art.

When it comes to the importance of shopping locally, Bratney said doing so “helps to support a more sustainable community which in turn gives back to the people who live within the community.”

As for her shops’ focus this holiday season, Bratney said she wants to make Dartmoor the perfect destination for relaxed holiday shopping.

“Our goal is to promote quality items at affordable prices,” Bratney said. “We have many diverse items

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December 2016 / The South Coast Insider

that promote themselves and are a must-see to truly enjoy and appreciate.”

With the holidays coming up fast, Bratney isn’t nervous.

“My favorite part of the holiday as a store owner is being able to share the spirit and joy of the season with my customers,” Bratney said. “Many of them have become good friends.”

Dartmoor Gifts is located at 201 Horseneck Road in South Dartmouth.

SOUTH COAST CHIC

Frank and Annie Prescott have run Annie’s Unique Boutique since December 2012. Frank said that what sets Annie apart from other similar stores is the combinations of offerings that strike a chord with any shopper.

“She’s been making her own jewelry for more than 20 years now, and she’s been offering a new clothing line from New York with names like Kaktus, Belma, and Tempo-Paris. They may be sold in places like Providence or Newport but nowhere else in the South Coast besides here – and at a third to half of the prices of the other stores,” said Prescott.

“Because of where we are, we don’t have the high volume foot traffic that other stores have so we focus on bringing in items that you can’t find in the area at reasonable prices.”

Prescott said his wife ventures to New York at least once a month, finding items that she knows her customers will want. In addition, Annie’s Unique Boutique also features great consignment clothing from up to 70 different vendors.

“She likes to keep the products fresh and always-changing and for the holidays. We are featuring a new line of bath and body works products

like skin lotion, soap, and scented candles,” said Prescott.

Asked about the importance of shopping locally, Prescott said spending money shopping at local businesses helps those same local businesses help area charities and groups that need their help.

“These businesses are family-owned and operated and when the police department or local dance studio is looking for donations, they are there,” said Prescott.

“You spend money at a mall or a big box store, only a small portion of the money stays local and the internet shopping is killing your traditional brick and mortar stores. There’s a huge number of people who are just doing internet shopping only.”

With the help of those local shops and the Somerset Economic Development Committee, Prescott and others are hoping to continue to incentivize shoppers with the annual Shop Small Day, scheduled for Saturday, November 26, the day after Black Friday.

As for what the holidays bring out in his customers, Prescott said, “People tend to spend more time in the store. It’s a more relaxed, friendly environment than you would get at a big box store where your ankles could get crushed.”

“We have a guest model program where we take pictures of customers in their new clothes and then post them on Facebook. They get a big kick out of that and it’s like a lot of the little things we do that the big box stores can’t or won’t do.”

Annie’s Unique Boutique is at 1049 County Street in Somerset. Visit Anniesuniqueboutique.com.

Deni’s Closet, Westport, MA

W e e x p l or e a s w e c r e at e .

V Regal House Classic Furniture, New Bedford, MA

HIDDEN IN THE CLOSET

Denise Squillante, owner of Deni’s Closet said her unique store carries a full line of apparel including distinctive lines from Nic and Zoe, Lisette, UGG clothing, Habitat, and NYDJ among other recognizable names featured in the top fashion magazines.

Deni’s Closet features everything from capes, scarfs, plaid accessories are featured along with hands-knitted sweaters. “Since plaid is a major trend this season we have the feminine versions in beautiful blouses and special gloves which make great holiday gifts,” Squillante noted. “Quality and beautiful fabrics for the latest fashion are handpicked. New customers are surprised by the variety we offer both in styles and sizing.”

“Each week until Christmas we feature a holiday countdown special which is available on our Facebook page or for customers on our email list,” she added.

When it comes to shopping local, Squillante said small businesses are the heartbeat of the local community.

“Small, local businesses employ your neighbors and contribute to other local businesses,” she said.

As for what the holiday season brings to a small business owner like herself, Squillante said it’s all about the environment around them that makes it special.

“Central village comes alive during the holiday season with store decorations and people out and about,” she said.

“During this time of year we welcome our friends and loyal customers with a personalized approach to assisting in finding the perfect gift, accessory, or piece of clothing.”

Deni’s Closet is at 937 Main Road in Westport.

Learn more at Deniscloset.com.

BRING THE ROOM TOGETHER

Regal House Classic Furniture owner Debra Holden said the New Bedford furniture staple is well-known for its great selection of dining room, kitchen, or bedroom sets, but people forget they also carry a large selection of home goods and accessories to complete any house project.

“We have a lot of items that people don’t think of when coming to a furniture store. We currently carry the Cork line from Portugal which features handbags, wallets, jewelry, and small purses. There are items starting as low as $19,” said Holden.

“These are great, eco-friendly items, sustainable and lightweight and washable, which make great Christmas gifts.”

The store features things like area rugs and pillows that “would spruce up any living room.” Holden said they have a full line of recliners and even rocking chairs, with some starting as low as $199.

“People come here and think it’s all big-ticket items but that’s not necessarily true,” added Holden.

They also feature accent tables and lamps, artwork, Trisha Yearwood items and accessories, Rachel Ray dining room sets, and more.

As for the importance of shopping locally, Holden said you can look no further than the 23 local people she employs and the impact that job has on their family’s quality of life.

“If everyone shopped local, think of the kind of economy we would have,” said Holden. “Shopping local helps keep the local economy going.”

Regal House Classic Furniture is at 965 Church Street in New Bedford. Visit Regalhouse.com.

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The South Coast Insider / December 2016

23

THINGS TO DO

Yachts, bays, and the Revolutionary War

by Dan Logan

December is one busy month. The traditional activities can easily fill every waking moment and our five senses are under constant assault.

Non-stop action rules. It’s turbo-overstimulation.

In December, some of us look for a happy medium. Not lock-the-door-and-smash-thephone-and-television type seclusion. More like something outside the lockstep annual routine, but which still offers entertainment, enlightenment, and social contact.

These can be hard to come by in December. But here are some suggestions.

How to design a yacht

In December the New Bedford Whaling Museum will hold a free event hailing the opening of its exhibit entitled “Power Performance and Speed in 20th Century Yacht Design: C. Raymond Hunt

24

December 2016 / The South Coast Insider

and W. Starling Burgess.”

For thousands of years, people have studied the complex interaction between a boat hull and the water it moves through. The Whaling Museum exhibit recognizes two yacht designers with New England roots who have had a lasting impact on the science and art of naval architecture.

C. Raymond Hunt (1908-1978) was a New Bedford racing sailor and boat designer whose name is closely associated with the Concordia Yawl, the deep-V hull and the Boston Whaler.

W. Starling Burgess (1878-1947) was a Boston native who was a creative force not only in boat design (the America’s Cup J Boats in the 1930s,

for example) but in airplane development in the years after the Wright Brothers’ first flight, and later when he helped Buckminster Fuller with his Dymaxion automobile design.

The Whaling Museum’s exhibit will be a dramatic presentation of the two designers’ efforts. The exhibition will feature full-sized boats designed by Burgess and Hunt, among them Burgess’ 1920 sailing canoe, and Hunt’s Boston Whaler and 110 series sailboat.

The finely detailed one-third scale model Concordia Yawl model built by Tom Borges will be on display, as well as photographs by Norman Fortier, tank test models and ship models loaned

by private and corporate collectors, and videos of the two designers’ boats.

The exhibit will feature two recent biographies of the men: A Genius at His Trade: C. Raymond Hunt and his Remarkable Boats by Stan Grayson, and No Ordinary Being: W. Starling Burgess, Inventor, Naval Architect, Aviation Pioneer, and Master of American Design by Llewellyn Howland III. The exhibit opening will be held Friday, December 9 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the New Bedford Whaling Museum at 18 Johnny Cake Hill.

Prepping for the Revolution

The run-up to the Revolutionary War saw a number of events in southern New England that eventually contributed to the American victory.

The shots fired at Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775 were preceded by several years of preparation throughout the colonies as colonists realized what lay ahead of them.

For 30 years the Buzzards Bay Coalition has been active in promoting awareness of the bay’s importance to southern New England…

In Rhode Island in December, 1774, the colony’s General Assembly voted to move the colony’s cannons from Newport to Providence to keep the British from scooping them up in a raid. The Assembly also created a military unit that soon learned to use the cannon effectively for the colony’s protection.

In a talk entitled “The Launch of Rhode Island’s Revolutionary Artillery,” Massachusetts writer and historian J.L. Bell recounts the story of the cannons and their importance to both the British and colonists, and how the struggle over the cannons turned out to be a critical juncture in the American breakaway from England.

Bell is author of a National Park Service book on George Washington in Cambridge during the Revolution (downloadable as a PDF at www.nps.gov), Continued ON NEXT PAGE

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Searching for seals

Continued FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

and his blog, Boston 1775 (boston1775.blogspot. com), covers “History, analysis, and unabashed gossip about the start of the American Revolution in Massachusetts.”

The talk will be held Thursday, December 8, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Newport Historical Society Resource Center, 82 Touro St. The fee to attend is $5 per person, $1 for NHS members and active and retired military with ID. Reservations are suggested as space is limited.

Call 401-841-8770.

Copies of Bell’s book, The Road to Concord: How Four Stolen Cannon Ignited the Revolutionary War, will be available for purchase at the book signing after the lecture.

Keeping Buzzards Bay healthy

We can usually find several dozen seals on Citing Rock.

We see Gray Seals occasionally, and have even seen the rare Hooded Seal.”

Buzzards Bay is widely acknowledged for the spectacular natural resource it is. But it is also being recognized for the effort it takes to maintain the bay at a balance point where communities bordering the bay, the fishing and tourism industries, and ships traveling into the bay and through the Cape Cod Canal can all make use of it without destroying it.

For 30 years the Buzzards Bay Coalition has been active in promoting awareness of the bay’s importance to southern New England, as well as in making efforts to enhance the interactions between people, wildlife, land, and sea.

As part of Tabor Academy’s Science@Work Lecture series, Mark Rasmussen, president of the Buzzards Bay Coalition, will talk about the recent work being done by the coalition to preserve the bay while improving its appeal to residents and visitors.

The free lecture is scheduled for Monday, December 12, 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 contact Jay Cassista at jcassista@ taboracademy.org.

26

Everyone gets a kick out of big creatures that rise out of the sea. Factor in a brisk New England winter breeze out on the water and one can have an otherworldly experience that sticks in the memory for a long time.

For those who enjoy that kind of adventure, in the lull between Christmas and New Year’s, Save the Bay is offering daily one-hour seal cruises to Citing Rock off Rose Island out in the bay, visiting spots where harbor seals and other marine life hang out.

“We can usually find several dozen seals on Citing Rock,” says Cindy Sabato, Save The Bay’s Director of Communications. “We see Gray Seals occasionally, and have even seen the rare Hooded Seal.”

Tours start at Bowen’s Ferry Landing at 18 Market Square in Newport. The trips are scheduled around low tide, when the seals most enjoy relaxing on the rocks. Trip times are: December 27 at 11 a.m.; the 28th at noon; the 29th at 1 p.m., the 30th at 1 p.m.; the 31st at 2 p.m.; January 1st at 2 and 3 p.m.; and the 2nd at 2 p.m.

Educators on each trip cover the history of the area and the environmental challenges it faces, in addition to talking about the wildlife encountered.

Dress warm – while the boats are partially covered, this is winter on the water in a moving boat.

Prices for the one-hour tour are $22 for non-members, $17 for STB members, seniors and children aged 3-12. Children under three travel free.

On December 17 and 18 at 2 p.m., Save the Bay will be running two-hour trips that include a tour of the Rose Island Lighthouse. The cost is $42 for non-members, $32 for STB members, seniors and children aged 3-12, $5 for children under 3 years of age.

Save the Bay also runs seal cruises out of Fall River and Westerly depending on the time of year.

Check the web site at savebay.org/seals for more information and to sign up for trips.

December 2016 / The South Coast Insider

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27

ACROSS THE REGION

by ELIZABETH READ For all you South Coast highway commuters, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation is gradually expanding its “Real Time Traffic System (Go-Time),” which displays not only the distance to your destination, but also how long it will take you to get there, based on up-to-the-minute traffic conditions. The system is already operational on Route 24 and parts of Route 140, and signage along Route 195 and throughout the state should be operational by the end of this year, along with a mobile application.

Developers plan to build hundreds of wind turbines over the next decade on leased federal waters south of Martha’s Vineyard. Stay tuned…

President Obama has declared the first marine national monument in the Atlantic Ocean – the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument – permanently protecting 5,000 square miles of ocean 100 miles off Cape Cod from all commercial fishing and oil/gas exploration. Crab and lobster fisheries will be allowed seven years to transition, and recreational fishing will still be allowed.

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, cycle, fish, and paddle can be found at savebuzzardsbay.org/discover.The first Sunday Stroll will be on December 4 at William Minot Forest in Wareham.

The new Seastreak passenger ferry from New Bedford to Nantucket was a smashing success – between May 18 and Labor Day this past summer, about 45,000 people made the trip, well above projections. Total ridership on all Seastreak services was almost 120,000, with a significant impact on local merchants, restaurants, and tourist attractions.

After almost a year of negotiations, the proposed $2 billion merger of Southcoast Health and Care New England Health hospitals in Rhode Island has collapsed.

AHA! Fall River welcomes you to the 2nd annual Festival of Trees, the kickoff event for AHA! night on Thursday, December 15, featuring a multitude of decorated Christmas trees courtesy of local sponsors. Tours will be held on Saturday the 17th from 11 to 3:30, followed by an 18-piece Sophisticated Swing Band Holiday Concert and light refreshments at 4:30 at The Eagle Performing Arts & Event Center, 35 North Main Street.

More details at ahafallriver.com 28

December 2016 / The South Coast Insider

Many South Coast seniors who have a Tufts Medicare Preferred HMO plan may need to find a new primary care physician (or else switch to a new insurance plan) by January 1 if their current PCP is affiliated with Steward Health Care. Contract negotiations between Tufts Health Plan and Steward failed, leaving 3,600 primary-care patients of Dartmouth’s Hawthorn Medical Associates alone scrambling to make new arrangements. Other local offices affiliated with Steward include Compass Medical in Middleboro and Fall River-based Prima CARE. The Tufts/Steward impasse affects only primary-care physicians, not specialists.

The tobacco industry might sue the town of Marion for including menthol cigarettes in a proposed ban on the sale of flavored tobacco products. Marion would be the first town in the country to ban menthol-flavored tobacco, but if the town is sued, they will receive free legal services from the Public Health Advocacy Institute and the Massachusetts Association of Health Boards.

Pet Food Aid, a non-profit organization, collects pet food donations and distributes them to food banks throughout Bristol County. Donations gratefully accepted. Visit petfoodaid.org or call 774-204-5227.

Titleist is going public! Fairhaven-based Acushnet Holdings Corp., which owns the Titleist and Pinnacle brands, will sell 19.3 million shares of common stock in its IPO (initial public offering) on the New York Stock Exchange, under the ticker symbol “GOLF.” Fairhaven Lumber has donated $12,000 of plywood and building supplies to the Haitian Health Foundation in Norwich Connecticut in order to help the victims of Hurricane Matthew in Haiti.

Ocean Server Technology of Fall River, a global leader in underwater robotics, has set up its new business on Watuppa Pond, where it frequently tests its products.

OST started as a research project at UMass Dartmouth’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

In a special issue of Time magazine, the Oxford Creamery in Mattapoisett was listed as one of the “240 Reasons to Celebrate America Right Now.” The Ocean Spray cranberry-cooperative business model was also mentioned as a reason to celebrate.

New Bedford is poised to become the major staging and deployment hub for the offshore wind industry in southern New England. Three potential wind-power developers have signed non-binding agreements to lease 26 acres of the city’s Marine Commerce Terminal.

President and CEO, Joseph Baptista and BCC President, John J. Sbrega, Ph.D.

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L-R: President and CEO of Mechanics Cooperative Bank, Joseph T. Baptista Jr, with the President of Bristol Community College, John J. Sbrega.

Mechanics Cooperative Bank has donated $100,000 to the Dental Hygiene program housed in Bristol Community College’s new Sbrega Health and Science Building. The bank also has committed $5,000 in support of the Boys & Girls Club of Taunton. This gift will go directly toward the Club’s emergency building repair fund.

Bristol Community College has been awarded $200,000 by the state to study workforce development for the emerging offshore wind industry – one of the fastest-growing industries in the country. The funds will help BCC to create training, health, and safety programs that would help maximize local employment. BCC’s award was part of $700,000 distributed to nine academic and research institutions statewide, including UMass Dartmouth and the Massachusetts Maritime Academy.

UMass Dartmouth’s School of Marine Science and Technology (SMAST) has received a $526,000 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to plant oyster beds along the Westport River in order to test whether oysters really do clean out excess nitrogen from coastal waterways, as many oyster farmers have long believed. Nitrogen is an environmentally harmful byproduct of farm runoff and septic systems. The project will be conducted in association with the Westport River Watershed Alliance.

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UMass Dartmouth has achieved National Tier 1 designation in the latest U.S. News & World Report “Best Colleges” ranking, up from its previous designation as a regional university. UMD is ranked #220 among national universities now. In addition, UMass Dartmouth’s Charlton College of Business undergraduate programs earned a #150 ranking among the US News “Best Business Programs.”

For the fourth consecutive year, UMass Dartmouth has earned a top-20 national ranking for civic engagement by the Corporation for National Community Service. UMD was also one of the four finalists in the economic opportunity category, and has been placed on the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll.

796 Main Road • Westport, MA (508) 636-3348 The South Coast Insider / December 2016

29

COVER STORY

T

The memories of Christmases past

by Greg Jones

he history of Christmas has many chroniclers. There is a cyber-universe of historians, ranging from the self-styled to the accredited.

But they all parse the traditions, symbols, and legends. The celebration of Christmas on a personal level is different for every family, for every person, for every celebrant, for every country.

Those Christmas celebrations are part of the memories we all have of the life we’ve lived. Remember a Christmas from your childhood: as often as not that memory is a collection of several of our childhood Christmases. Did I get that first bike when I was five?

Or was I six?

This year, we turned towards some local historians – the fine frequenters of the Dartmouth Senior Center – for their perspective.

“We would all gather around him, all nine of us, and he would read the entire poem,” said Sherry.

“He did it on Christmas Eve, the start of our Christmas, and Dad was the master of ceremonies.”

After the reading of the poem, there was one more tradition: hot rocks. Sherry explained: “We always lived in big houses. We lived in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.” Like most

Rockin Christmas

people who live near the ocean, her family enjoyed beachcombing, walking along the beach in search of serendipitous treasures.

Her father had collected a number of rather large beach stones, “shaped like the sort of stone you throw to make them skip across a pond,” she said.

But bigger. Much bigger, and worn smooth by the tireless waves. “He would heat the stones in front of

Sherry was born in 1955, the eldest of nine children, and her memories of Christmas center around her father’s large easy chair. It was while seated in this chair that her father would, every year, recite the poem, “A Visit from Saint Nicholas,” more widely known by its memorable first line, “’Twas the Night before Christmas.”

30

December 2016 / The South Coast Insider

“I remember getting an orange in my stocking…but you make do with what you have.”

the fireplace and then wrap them in towels and put them in our beds.”

With toasty tootsies and a warm, snuggly bed, Sherry and her eight siblings would go to bed and await Christmas Day.

Making do

Norma was born in 1932, a time in our nation’s history when, for most people, times were hard.

For the working families along the South Coast, the Great Depression did not take time off for Christmas.

“I remember emptying my stocking,” said Norma.

There was no glittering tree, no stack of presents, but there was family – a treasure more valuable than anything in a box.

“Christmas back then was more about family,” she said. “Christmas dinner was special, more family-oriented than it is now.” Norma doesn’t worry about her Christmas, however. With four children, nine grandchildren, and thirteen great-grandchildren, Norma’s Christmas will be a family event. “The family will be here for Christmas,” she said.

Joan’s favorite Christmas memory relates to Christmas dinner as well. Born in 1943 in a world consumed by war, everything was rationed. Ration books controlled the sale of clothing, gasoline, groceries, and more. It was a war with the entire nation taking an active part.

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“We had Christmas dinners,” said Joan. “We all got together as a family for a potluck dinner, and we sang carols.” There were shortages of some of the most basic items. Grocery lists were short and not too sweet, since sugar was rationed (eight ounces per person per week.) But one thing was not rationed: joy. “It was a happy, joyful celebration,” she said.

Lorraine was born in 1944 to parents who worked in the mills of Fall River and later, New Bedford. It was a tough way to make a living. A bare living. “We were very poor,” she said. “I remember getting an orange in my stocking, but you make do with what you have.”

Paul was nearly the first of the Baby Boomers, born in 1947. His favorite Christmas memory? “I guess it was when we all went to Disney World,” he said. It was a family holiday that made Christmas last for a week.

Ask him about Christmas when he was a kid (Christmas being the kid-friendly event that it is) and he doesn’t pause to recollect the best one. “It was when I got my first bike. I was five, six years old, and that bike was freedom.”

Christmas Future

Everybody had their Christmas story, but the common thread was the role of one’s family. Christmas, despite the often-heard complaints about it becoming too commercial, is still a family affair.

The kids, the grandkids, the great-grandkids – whether they drive, fly, take the train, or walk across town, they all get together with their family. That distant cousin, the one whose name you can barely remember, he shows up, together with his family.

Their kids are nearly teenagers now, but within a minutes of arrival, they’re family.

Collect and savor those Christmas memories. After the toys have stopped working, when the bicycles have been outgrown, when people have moved across the country and others may have had their last Christmas, memories are all we have. Hold them close, keep them in your heart and mind, and Christmas can happen any day of the year.

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31

DATELINE: SOUTH COAST

News, views and trends... from Mount Hope Bay to Buzzards Bay

by Elizabeth Morse Read

‘Tis the season! Bundle up and gather together with family and friends to celebrate the last month of 2016. Happy holidays!

Acushnet Talk a stroll through the Acushnet Sawmills public park and herring weir! Canoe/kayak launch, fishing, trails. For info, visit savebuzzardsbay.org.

Attleboro Visit the annual Christmas Festival of Lights at LaSalette Shrine through January 1 – more than 300,000 lights illuminating 10 acres! For details, visit lasalette-shrine.org or 508-222-5410.

The Attleboro Community Theatre will present “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from December 2-18! For details, call 508-226-8100 or visit attleborocommunitytheatre.com.

Take the kids to Mass Audubon’s Oak Knoll Wildlife Sanctuary and Nature Center! For more info, call 508-2233060 or visit massaudubon.org.

Bristol Find out who’s playing at the Stone Church Coffeehouse at the First Congregational Church in Bristol! 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.

Blithewold Mansion and Gardens will sparkle for Christmas! For info, call 401-253-2707 or go to blithewold. org.

million lights throughout the park! Santa VIP train rides on Sundays. For more info, visit edaville.com or call 508-8668190.

Browse through the Oxford Book Café on Saturdays from 9 to 1 at the Church of the Good Shepherd. Coffee and homemade snacks, used books on sale, WiFi. To learn more, call 508-995-1219 or visit goodshepherdfairhaven.com.

Dartmouth

If you’re interested in the history of Japan-America ties, visit the Whitfield-Manjiro Friendship House, where it all began. Go to wmfriendshiphouse.org or call 508-995-1219 for details.

The Boivin Center for French Language and the Claire T. Carney Library Associates are co-sponsoring a holiday concert featuring parisian chanteuse, Annie Royer and Les Garçons Musettes. It will be held in the recital hall, room 153 in the College of Visual and Performing Arts buildings at UMass Dartmouth at 2pm.

Head for the Artisan Show at the Dartmouth Grange Hall on December 3-4, with music by the Spindle Rock River Rats.

For more info, go to dartmouthgrange.org.

Starry, starry night! See the night sky through the telescopes at UMass Dartmouth’s Observatory on December 3, weather permitting. Free, accompanied children welcome. For more info, call 508-999-8715 or email ahirshfeld@umass.edu.

The South Coast Community Chorale will perform its Christmas Concert, featuring Mozart’s “Missa Longa” and holiday favorites, on December 11 at Good Shepherd Parish.

For more info, visit sccchorale.com.

Get outside and enjoy the weather! Explore nature trails or historic landmarks, join a walking group – learn more at walkfallriver.org or call 508-324-2405.

Mark your calendar for the monthly Paskamansett Concert Series at the Dartmouth Grange Hall. For a schedule, call 401-241-3793, or visit paskamansettconcertseries.weebly. com.

The Narrows Center for the Arts has a fabulous lineup – there’s The London Souls December 3, Quinn Sullivan December 9 and 10, Glen Phillips December 15, David Wax Museum December 29, Funky White Honkies January 6 – and more! For a complete schedule, visit narrowscenter.com or call 508-324-1926.

Easton Check out the Children’s Museum in Easton! For info, call 508-230-3789 or visit childrensmuseumineaston.org.

Fairhaven

Get ready for the Christmas Festival of Lights at Edaville Railroad! Take the kids on train rides illuminated by 17

Don’t miss the Old-Time Holiday Fair on December 10!

For details, go to fairhaventours.com or call 508-979-4085.

December 2016 / The South Coast Insider

Don’t miss the Fall River Symphony’s Christmas Concert on December 11 at BCC’s Jackson Arts Center. For info and tickets, call 508-678-2241 or visit fallriversymphonyorchesta.org.

Go on nature walks at the Lloyd Center for the Environment! For details, call 508-990-0505 or visit lloydcenter.org.

Carver 32

Fall River

Visit Battleship Cove, home of the battleship USS Massachusetts, for a 1940s Navy Christmas on December 4, and a ceremony of remembrance of the 75th Anniversary of the Attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7. For more info, call 508-678-1100 or go to battleshipcove.org.

Don’t miss AHA! Fall River’s “Starry Night” on December 15 downtown. For details, go to ahafallriver.com or call 508-294-5344.

Sharpen your skates (or rent them) and head for the Driscoll Skating Rink! For more info, go to fmcicesports.com or call 508-679-3274.

Ahoy! Check out the span of maritime history and culture at the Marine Museum of Fall River – check out the new Kid’s Cove Fun Space! For more info, call 508-674-3533 or visit marinemuseumfr.org.

Check out the Children’s Aquarium and Exploration Center of Greater Fall River! Learn more at aquariumgfr.com or call 508-801-4743. And find out what’s going on at the Children’s Museum of Greater Fall River. Reduced admission on the first Friday each month. For info, go to cmgfr.org or call 508-672-0033.

St. Anthony of the Desert Church will hold its fourth Annual Winter Concert on December 10, at 6:30 p.m., at the church at 300 N. Eastern Ave. The opening act will feature the Children’s Living Nativity. Tickets are $15 for all ages 13 and up and under 12 will be free. Contact Evan at evan.massoud@yahoo.com.

Marion Listen to the performances of the Tri-County Symphonic Band at Tabor Academy! There’s the Children’s Christmas Concert with the Sippican School Choir on December 11. For details, go to tricountysymphonicband.org.

The Marion Council on Aging has launched a weekly “Memory Café” for those suffering memory disorders and their caregivers. Held every Wednesday at the Marion Music Hall, the café offers lunch, activities, and music in a relaxed, supportive environment. The program is free (donations appreciated) and open to non-Marion residents. For more info, call the Marion COA at 508-748-3570.

Getting You Back to Better

Vibra Hospital of Southeastern Massachusetts provides safe, high-quality, cost-effective medical and rehabilitation care to our patients and their families with the goal of improving quality of life and maximizing function.

Our hospital specializes in providing care for post-surgical and medically complex patients at all stages of recovery.

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Enjoy a performance of “A Christmas Carol” at Old Rochester Regional High School December 1-4! For info and tickets, call 508-951-5302.

• Laboratory

• Social services

Explore the trails, wildlife, and scenery of the Mattapoisett River Reserve – leashed dogs welcome. Hike, fish, bird-watch, cross-country ski. For more info, go to savebuzzardsbay.org.

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The Pilgrim Festival Chorus will present “Christmas Around the World” on December 2 at the Central Congregational Church. For more info, visit pilgrimfestivalchorus.org.

Learn rug-hooking or quilting at the Soule Homestead!

Don’t miss the Holiday Fair and Wreath-Making Workshop on December 3. For details, call 508-947-6744 or go to soulehomestead.org.

Continued ON NEXT PAGE

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The South Coast Insider / December 2016

33

Continued FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

Middletown Listen to “Christmas in Song” performed by the Newport Navy Choristers on December 9 at St. Lucy’s Church. For info, visit newportnavychoristers.org.

Experience the 105th Annual Medieval Christmas Pageant on December 13 at St. George’s School. Free. For details, call 401-847-7565 or visit stgeorges.edu.

Get in touch with nature at the Norman Bird Sanctuary! For details, call 401-846-2577 or go to normanbirdsanctuary.org.

New Bedford According to a new state-funded study, the Port of New Bedford had a $9.8 billion economic impact in 2015, and generated more than 36,000 jobs in the region.

Get your home ready for the holidays with the handmade decor at New Bedford YMCA Craft Fair and Holiday Bazaars from 10 am to 4 pm on December 10.

Listen to classical and sacred music in one of those most spectacular venues in New England: the “Music at Saint Anthony’s” recital and concert series. On December 18, the Spirit of Song Ensemble will perform a Christmas Cantata. For details, call 508-264-8010 or visit saintanthonynewbedford.com.

A must-see exhibit – “Inner Light: The World of William Bradford” at the Whaling Museum through May. For more info, call 508-997-0046 or visit whalingmusuem.org.

Don’t miss the special events at the Rotch-Jones-Duff House! Listen to the Spindle City River Rats on December 12! For more info, call 508-997-1401 or go to rjdmuseum. org.

Enjoy FREE family fun and entertainment on AHA! Nights. The December 8 theme is “City Sidewalks.” And spend your New Year’s Eve at AHA! “City Celebrates!” For details, go to ahanewbedford.org or call 508-996-8253.

Bring in the New Year with the family at the New Year’s Eve Bash at the Whaling Museum! Music, kids’ activities, food, and fireworks! For info and tickets, call 508-994-2900 or go to zeiterion.org.

Visit Fairhaven for the Old-Time Holiday Weekend, with events scheduled on December 10 and 11. On Saturday, December 10, starting at 10:00 a.m., there are holiday fairs within strolling distance at The Millicent Library, the Town Hall, First Congregational Church, Unitarian Memorial Church, Our Lady’s Haven, and Art on Center. There are luncheons and plenty of snacks available, too. That evening at 6:00 p.m. there is a sing-along and visit from Santa on the steps of Town Hall. On Sunday, December 11, The Fairhaven Historical Society sponsors a house tour, starting at 1:00 p.m. at the Academy Building, 141 Main Street. The Unitarian Church holds it annual service of Lessons & Carols at 4:30 p.m. For more information, see the ad in this issue or visit FairhavenTours.com. Photo Chris Richard.

Enjoy the 2016-2017 season of the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra at the Zeiterion. Plan ahead for the “Holiday Pops” on December 17! For details, call 508-9996276 or go to nbsymphony.org.

Relive American military history at Fort Taber-Fort Rodman! For info, call 508-994-3938 or visit forttaber.org.

Find out what’s happening at the Buttonwood Park Zoo! For info, call 508-991-6178 or visit bpzoo.org.

Celebrate the centennial of the National Park Service by visiting the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park! For more info, go to nps.gov/nebe. And while you’re there, visit the Whaling Museum! 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. Peter Mulvey will perform on December 2. For tickets or info, go to brownpapertickets.com or wamsuttaconcerts.com.

Curtain time! YourTheatre will perform “Christmas on Broadway” December 8-11. For details, call 508-993-0772 or go to yourtheatre.org.

Visit over 50 artists and artisans at the newly-renovated hatch street studios! Open Studios at 88 Hatch Street, provides music, food, demonstrations, and an opportunity to do some holiday shopping. November 19 and 20 from 11 to 5. More information at hatchstreetstudios.com.

It’s all happening at the Z! Don’t miss “A Christmas Carol” December 10, A Christmas Celtic Sojourn December 15, the NBSO’s Holiday Pops on December 17, the New Year’s Eve Bash at the Whaling Museum, and Get the Led Out January 12! For details, call 508-994-2900 or go to zeiterion.org.

Catch the holiday spirit as you tour the lovely historic homes on this year’s tour. On December 12 tours start at the Wamsutta Club from 1-5 p.m. (Afternoon Tour) and from 4-8 p.m. (Candlelight Tour.) Tickets are $25 at the door and $22 online through Dec. 9. For more information call 508-9976425 or visit nbpreservationsociety.org

Mark your calendar for the Downtown Holiday Stroll December 3-4 and the New Bedford Preservation Society’s Holiday House Tour December 10-11! For details, visit downtownnb.org.

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December 2016 / The South Coast Insider

Newport Be dazzled by the St. Petersburg Russian Men’s Ensemble singing at Emmanuel Church on December 18! For more info, call 401-847-0675 or go to emmanuelnewport.org.

Stroll through the splendor of “Christmas at the Newport Mansions” through January 1! For more info, call 401-8471999 or go to newportmansions.org.

Enjoy a dinner-theatre night out at the Newport Playhouse! “Nana’s Naughty Knickers” will be performed through December 31. For more information, call 401-8487529 or go to newportplayhouse.com.

Do you hear what I hear? Don’t miss the brass, handbells, organ and choir concert “Music of the Season” on December 11 at the First Presbyterian Church. Free. For info, call 401847-1749.

Take the children to see the Rhode Island Ballet Theatre perform “Alice Meets the Nutcracker” on December 18 at the Stanford White Casino Theatre! For details, call 401-8475301 or go to ribt-nm@cox.net.

See New England’s tallest gingerbread lighthouse (16 feet!) on December 31 at the Newport Visitor Information Center. Free, but please donate a nonperishable food item.

Discover colonial traditions by taking an evening Holiday Lantern Tour on Fridays or Saturdays, December 2-30. For more info, call 401-841-8770 or visit newporthistory.org.

The Newport County Orchestra’s Christmas Concert will be performed at Salve Regina University on December 3.

For more info, call 401-341-2295 or go to salve.edu.

Celebrate the holiday season every day throughout East Bay Rhode Island – go to christmasinnewport.org.

Check out “Undecked Halls” at Rough Point, December 3-27. For details, call 401-849-7300 or visit newportrestoration.org.

Don’t miss the annual tree lighting on Bowen’s Wharf on December 3! For more info, call 401-849-2243 or go to bowenswharf.com.

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Watch “The Newport Nutcracker” at Rosecliff on December 1-2, performed by The Island Moving Company.

Call 401-847-4470 or go to islandmovingco.org.

Plymouth The Pilgrim Festival Chorus will present “Christmas Around the World” on December 2 at the Central Congregational Church in Middleboro, on December 3 at St. Bonaventure’s Church in Manomet, and on December 4 at the First Parish Unitarian Church in Duxbury. 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 Albert Cummings December 3, Sweetback Sisters Country Christmas Singalong December 16, Cher, Boccelli, Dion, Streisand Impersonators December 17, Jonathan Edwards December 30, Jazz & Blues Jam Sessions on Wednesdays – and more! For tickets and info, call 508-746-4488 or visit spirecenter.org.

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Get back to your musical roots at Common Fence Music! There’s Aine Minogue’s Winter Solstice Concert December 17! For more info, call 401-683-5085 or visit commonfencemusic.org.

Enjoy live jazz on Saturdays at Greenvale Vineyards through December 10! For more info, visit greenvale.com or call 401-847-3777.

NEW BEDFORD

Providence “Straight White Men” and “Di and Viv and Rose” will be performed through December 24 by The Wilbury Group. For info and tickets, call 401-400-7100 or visit thewilburygroup. org.

Festival Ballet Providence will perform “The Nutcracker” December 16-18 at the PPAC. For more info, visit festivalballetprovidence.org or call 401-353-1129.

Watch a performance of “The Complete Works of Williams Shakespeare (Abridged)” on December 2 and 4 at Rhode Island College! For info and tickets, call 401-456-8144 or visit ric.edu/pfa.

Shop for that special gift at the “Artists for the Bay Art Sale” at the Save the Bay Center, December 1 to January 31. For more info, call 401-272-3540 or visit savebay.org/art.

Continued ON NEXT PAGE

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The South Coast Insider / December 2016

35

Fall River Historical Society

2016

December Events Victorian High Tea in Easton Tea Room Through December 18, 2016 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 4, 2016 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, 1:30, and 3:30. Reservations required.

Please call early as this event always sells out quickly.

Meet Santa and Mrs. Claus December 18, 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. 1 or 2

36

December 2016 / The South Coast Insider

Blithewold Mansion and Gardens will sparkle for Christmas! For info, call 401-253-2707 or go to blithewold.org.

Continued FROM PREVIOUS PAGE Don’t miss Trinity Rep’s performance of “A Christmas Carol” through December 31. For info, call 401-351-4242 or go to trinityrep.com.

Don’t miss the special exhibit of rarely-seen Impressionist works at the Rhode Island School of Design Museum through June 11. For more info, call 401-454-6500 or go to risdmuseum.org.

Listen to classical performances at Rhode Island College!

There’s “Joyful Collaboration” on December 7, and the free opera workshop “Dido and Aeneas” on December 18. For info and tickets, call 401-456-8144 or visit ric.edu/pfa.

Find out what’s on stage at the Providence Performing Arts Center! Don’t miss The Piano Guys December 1, “Disney Live!” December 3-4, “Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder” December 6-11, Norah Jones December 8, A Christmas Celtic Sojourn December 14, “The Nutcracker” December 16-18, and more! For details, call 401-421-2787 or go to ppacri.org.

Enjoy the new season of the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra at the VETS – plan ahead for a performance of Schubert’s “Unfinished” on January 21. For details, call 401-248-7000 or go to riphil.org.

Explore the Children’s Museum in Providence! Go to childrenmuseum.org or call 401-273-5437. Then take the kids to the Roger Williams Park Zoo! For more info, go to rwpzoo.org or call 401-785-3510.

To find out what’s happening in the greater Providence area, visit providenceri.com, artsnowri.com or newportwaterfrontevents.com.

Swansea The Y Craft Fair and Holiday Bazaars on December 11 from 10 to 2 at the YMCA, local vendors will be at t to offer unusual one-of-a-kind shopping. Door prizes, raffles, and refreshments will be available.

Join Plante Jewelers in making the holiday season special for the children served by St. Vincent’s Home in Fall River. Until December 20, each person who drops off an unwrapped gift at the store will be entered in a drawing to win a $200 Plante Jewelers gift certificate. Visit plantejewelers.com

Tiverton Head for the Sandywoods Center for the Arts! There’s a Mini Nutcracker on December 4, Duke Robillard Band December 17– and lots more! For a complete schedule, go to sandywoodsmusic.com or call 401-241-7349.

Wareham Don’t miss the Christmas Parade on December 3! For info, go to warehamvillage.org.

Craft Fair and Holiday Bazaars on December 10 from 10 am-4 pm at the Gleason Family YMCA. Local vendors will be at the Y to offer unusual one-of-a-kind gift shopping. Door prizes, raffles, and refreshments will be available. A craft table and jingle bell story trail will be available for children.

Warren Check out what’s playing at 2nd Story Theatre! “Prelude to a Kiss” will be performed through December 11. Call 401-247-4200 or go to 2ndstorytheatre.com.

Westport Visit the Dedee Shattuck Gallery until December 18 to see the fifth-annual “Small Works” exhibit, highlighting affordable works from local artists. Visit dedeeshattuckgallery.com.

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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The South Coast Insider / December 2016

37

R EPU R POS E v R EC YCL E v R EUS E v R EPU R POS E v R EC YCL E v R EUS E

Seconds Count!

ON MY MIND

The world wrapped around my finger

By Paul E. Kandarian I am not a man of any particular faith.

I keep my own, as it were, having no adherence to organized religion and taking nothing away from those who do. I just prefer not to believe in an unseen overseer, an invisible entity in the sky, a master of the universe.

Rather, I believe in the universe itself, and the power of its considerable, unfathomable energy that is indeed part of us all.

And that power, I believe, in a very significant way includes the spirits of those watching over us – the souls, the essences, of our lost loved ones. Angels, if you prefer.

I am an actor, and in late September, was part of a commercial shoot in Marblehead, Massachusetts, a beautiful seaside community seemingly custom-made for film and photograph, with its craggy coast and crashing waves. I was, as always, wearing my late father’s diamond pinkie ring, a beautiful bit of jewelry and the only jewelry I wear.

It was his father’s ring before that. Family legend has it that my grandfather bought it in a pawnshop in the 30s or 40s. It is a beautiful little ring of white gold with a diamond of perhaps a half-karat or so, and just the right amount of subtle scrollwork to keep it on the respectable side of ornate. It’s not worth a lot of money, but its three-generation connection to me makes it priceless.

I lost it on the shoot. It was my own fault. Someone on the crew offered to hold it for me, but I just stuck

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December 2016 / The South Coast Insider

it in my pocket and got careless. When I found it was missing, I was frantic, retracing my steps in hopes of finding it. We’d eaten at a local deli that day, where some of the actors changed our clothes, and I turned the place upside down in the hopes it would reveal itself.

And though not a religious man, I invoked the name of St. Anthony, the patron saint of lost things, my go-to guy in these matters, which I realize is just my way of connecting to the power of the universe. St. Anthony was my late mother’s go-to guy as well, and I like to think I always listened to my mother, even after she was gone.

Nothing worked, making for a long ride home that day. But as I sat in traffic, I had this sudden warm comforting sense the ring would find its way back to me. I don’t know why. I just did.

about it until she saw a police log entry about a missing ring in the Marblehead Reporter one day at lunch, and immediately brought it to police.

She described it to me. It had to be the ring. A cop at the station texted me a photo of it. It was the ring. I thanked the woman profusely, offering to send her something, if only a thank-you card. She politely demurred, not even giving me her name.

“Forget it,” she said. “It’s just good karma.”

As luck would have it, I was to be in Gloucester a few days later on another film shoot. I stopped at the Marblehead police station on the way and was rendered speechless when they handed me the ring. My ring.

My dad’s ring. My grandfather’s ring.

Which against all odds, found its way back to me.

And though not a religious man, I invoked the name of St. Anthony, the patron saint of lost things, my go-to guy in these matters, which I realize is just my way of connecting to the power of the universe.

The next day, I called the Marblehead police to file a report, to have my name on file on the million-and-one chance a good Samaritan would find it and turn it in. I didn’t give much thought to it after that, only when out of habit I subconsciously felt for my ring and it wasn’t there.

Exactly one month later, the police called. A woman found a ring matching the description of mine. She was at the station. They put her on the phone. She’d been walking down the stretch of road where we were filming that day, a sidewalk of crushed gravel, and kicked something that made a metallic sound. She looked down among the countless rocks and saw a ring. She picked it up, brought it home and didn’t think anything more

It is back on my finger now, where it will stay. And should it need to come off for whatever reason, I will be far more prudent about its temporary storage.

In my office is a photo I took of my dad years ago, when he was younger, robust and healthy. It’s stuck in a frame, and has curled out over the years so he appears to be looking over me. Which, of course, he and my mother are, along with the spirits, souls, essences of all our lost loved ones. Angels, if you prefer.

I am not a man of any particular faith; I keep my own. But I am a man who believes in the power of love that death cannot diminish. That power had a hand in putting that ring back on mine.

Caring for a mentally or physically disabled family member can be an emotional or financial concern.

If your loved one is currently on MassHealth Standard or Commonhealth insurance, you may qualify for financial assistance from Beacon Adult Foster Care. As a caregiver you are eligible for a monthly, tax-free payment while you provide the care your loved one needs in the comfort of your own home.

For more information call 774-202-1837 or visit our website www.beaconafc.com

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The South Coast Insider / December 2016

39

A whole team.

For Jim. For you.

Learning that you have cancer can be life-changing. Overwhelming. The team at the Southcoast Centers for Cancer Care understands.

That’s why we’ve brought together an integrated team of highly skilled cancer specialists — radiation and medical oncologists, surgeons, Jim Costa, of Dartmouth, has been cancer free for 6 years thanks to his doctors at Southcoast Health.

Learn more about Jim’s experience at southcoast.org/cancercare

pathologists, radiologists, patient navigators and more — with training from the top academic medical institutions in the country.

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2016 2017 SEASON

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Clifton

REHABILITATIVE NURSING CENTER

Certified Post Acute Care Clifton is the first facility in Bristol County to earn this Post Acute Care Certification by the Joint Commission, and one of only a few organizations statewide.

The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval® is a national symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s commitment to providing safe and effective patient and resident care. The Joint Commission is an independent, not-for-profit organization for the accreditation of health care organizations.

Do You Need Short-Term Rehab / Post Acute Care?…….For preferred booking status, call our Admissions Coordinator.

You have a choice in your care…

Tell your healthcare provider you PREFER Clifton…

And, Call Admissions… 508-675-7589 For priority placement.

500 WILBUR AVENUE, SOMERSET, MA  508-675-7589