The South Coast Insider - December 2022

GIVE THE GIFT OF HEALTH & WELLNESS

Safe spaces for kids to learn and grow. Outreach to seniors who are feeling isolated. Memberships for you and a loved one. Food for neighbors in need. These are just a few of the many reasons to give to the Y.

Find your reason to give.

Saturday, December 10, 2022 HISTORICAL FAIRHAVEN CENTER

Millicent’s Holiday Fun & Book Sale

Book sale, children’s craft activity, music, treats 45 Center St., 9 am - 3 pm (crafting 11 am - 2 pm)

Town Hall Shops

Booths by non-profit groups in the auditorium, NFIA Cafe in banquet room: meat pies, spinach pies, chowder, kale soup Town Hall, 40 Center St., 10 am - 3 pm

Congregational Church Holiday Fair

Craft booths, baked goods, thrift shop & more Congregational Church, 34 Center St., 10 am - 3 pm.

Lobster Roll Luncheon

Lobster rolls, stuffed quahogs, chowder, hot dogs. Congregational Church, 34 Center St., 11 am - ?

Unitarian Church Holiday Marketplace

Craft booths, holiday greens & more Unitarian Church, 102 Green St., 10 am- 3 pm Unitarian Church Tours Unitarian Church, 102 Green St. 10 am- 3 pm

Holiday Soup & Sandwich Luncheon Harrop Center, 47 Center St., 11:30 am -2:00 pm

Santa’s Sweet Shop at Northeast Maritime Institute with Dorothy Cox’s Open for candy, fudge,hot chocolate, music. Visit and take photos with Santa 11 am - 2 pm. Northeast Maritime Institute 32 Washington St., 10 am- 3 pm

Town Hall Sing-along

Town Hall, 40 Center St., 6:00 p.m. Sponsored by Fairhaven Improvement Association .

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@fairhaven-ma.gov . The Visitors Center will not be open on Saturday, December 10, during the Old-Time Holiday.

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By Rona Trachtenberg

By

By Elizabeth Morse Read

By Sean McCarthy

By Michael J. DeCicco

Seeing red

By Rona

Trachtenberg ON MY MIND 26 The camp

By Paul Kandarian

ON THE COVER

The holidays are a time for family –even four-legged family. What do you get the dog who has it all? A day at an awardwinning resort for dogs, of course! Book a visit to Lucky Dog Resort by visiting luckydogresortri.com or calling 401-835-0680. Learn more by reading Sean McCarthy’s article on page 24.

You’re

Like these patients, your life may depend on going to a center with the ability to care for any cardiac emergency, whether it’s cardiac surgery or advanced coronary interventions. The Heart and Vascular Center at Charlton Memorial delivers the most advanced, comprehensive cardiovascular care anywhere. Staffed by a cardiac critical care team, plus a 24/7 heart attack response team, we provide care that saves lives. To learn more, contact your nearest Southcoast Health cardiology office, or visit southcoast.org/heart.

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looking at them.

THINGS TO DO

THE

magical, musical days of December!

by Elizabeth Morse Read

There’s a lot more to December than just the holidays! Let your children (and the young at heart) experience the stories and songs and snowy adventures that only December brings. Celebrate with festive lights that dispel the long dark nights, and the cheery warmth of friends and family sharing time together on a cold winter’s day! And wrap up the year with fireworks and parties! Happy holidays!

Do you hear what I hear?

Buy your tickets early for the Holiday Pops Concert performed by the Fall River Symphony Orchestra on December 11 at BCC’s Jackson Theatre (fallriversymphonyorchestra.org)!

Don’t miss the Newport Navy Choristers’ Christmas Concerts on December 4 at the First Baptist Church in Fall River and on December 9 at St. Barnabas Church in Portsmouth (newportnavychoristers.org).

Head for Pilgrim Memorial Hall in Plymouth to hear the Plymouth Philharmonic Holidays Pops Concert December 10-11 (memorialhall.com)!

Let your family enjoy a “Classical Christmas” at Emmanuel Church in Newport on December 10 – traditional

hymns, sing-alongs, carols and refreshments (newportclassical.org).

Don’t miss the ever-popular Sippican Choral Society’s Christmas Concert on December 10 at Tabor Academy in Marion (sippicanchoralsociety.org).

Head for the Zeiterion in New Bedford for the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra’s “Holiday Pops” December 11 (zeiterion.org).

Let there be lights!

Buy your tickets early for the Christmas Wonderland and Festival of Lights at Edaville Railroad in Carver through January 1! Heated train rides illuminated by 17 million lights throughout the park and Europeanstyle Christmas Market (edaville.com)!

Stroll through the brilliantly illuminated Roger Williams Park Zoo for the Holiday Lights Spectacular through January 1 (rwpzoo.org)!

Bundle up for the annual Tree Lighting at Bowen’s Wharf in Newport on December 3 (bowenswharf.com)!

Bundle up and watch Waterfire in Providence on December 1-3 for the Three Nights Holiday Celebration (waterfire.org)!

Don’t miss the traditional “Lights On Festival” in Taunton – the Lighting of the Green on December 3 (facebook. com/lightingofthegreen)!

Enjoy the Annual Festival of Lights at LaSalette Shrine in Attleboro through January 1 – more than 300,000 lights illuminating ten acres (lasaletteattleboroshrine.org)!

Heavenly voices

Listen to “Joyeux Noel: Seasonal Music of France” sung by the Pilgrim Festival Chorus December 2-4 at St. Bonaventure Parish in Plymouth and on December 16 at Church on the Green in Middleboro (pilgrimfestivalchorus.org)!

The Festival Ballet Providence’s performance of The Nutcracker at The VETS in Providence December 16-24 (festivalballetprovidence.org)!

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Mark your calendars now for the award-winning Rhode Island Civic Chorale and Orchestra’s performance of Handel’s “Messiah” on December 3 at the Church of St. Sebastian in Providence (ricco.org).

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

Mark your calendars for the return of the Christmas Concert with the Spirit of St. Anthony Choir on December 18 at St. Anthony of Padua Church in New Bedford (musicatsaintanthonys.org)!

Listen to Handel’s “Messiah” sung at Rosecliff Mansion on December 4, performed by the Ensemble Altera and the Professional Singers of the Choir School of Newport County (newportclassical.org).

Deck the halls

Visit the beautifully decorated whaling-era and Victorian homes in New Bedford on the annual Historic Holiday Tours December 10-11, led by the New Bedford Preservation Society (nbpreservationsociety.org)!

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

Begin your Sippican Womans Club Holiday Stroll on December 11 at Handy’s Tavern in Marion (sippicanwomansclub.org)!

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

Take a free tour on December 8 through the holiday-themed decorations of the whaling-era RotchJones-Duff Museum in New Bedford (rjdmuseum.org).

Family fun for everyone!

Mark your calendar for the annual “Old Time Holiday Fair” on December 10 in Fairhaven – food, Town Hall shops, sing-alongs (fairhaventours.org)!

Enjoy free family fun and entertainment on AHA! Nights in New Bedford! The December 8 theme is “Starry Nights” (ahanewbedford.org).

Celebrate “Christmas in the Village” on December 10 in Onset (onsetbay. org) or the Annual Christmas Parade through downtown Wareham on December 3 (warehamvillage.org)!

Take the kids to “Disney on Ice” December 28 through January 2 at the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence (dunkindonutscenter.com)!

Bring the family to the wreath-making workshops at Soule Homestead in Middleboro on December 4 (soulehomestead.org)!

Mark your calendars for the weekslong annual Bristol Christmas Festival (christmasbristolri.com)!

It’s time to sharpen the ice skates (or rent them) for indoor skating at Fall River’s Driscoll Arena (508-6793274), New Bedford’s Hetland Arena (508-999-9051), Taunton’s Aleixo Arena (508-824-4987) or Plymouth’s Armstrong Arena (508-746-8825) (fmcicesports.com)!

There’s fun for all ages on the new indoor Southcoast Pickleball courts in Fairhaven, open daily. AC, changing rooms, refreshments, rentals, clinics, tournaments (southcoastpickleball. com)!

Get ready for a fun-filled day iceskating or riding ice bumper cars at

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

The Providence Rink in downtown Providence (theprovidencerink.com)!

Head for the Museum of Natural History & Planetarium in Providence’s Roger Williams Park to watch the planetarium shows during school vacation (providence.gov/museum)!

Holiday food and shopping

Find that special gift at the Buy Black NB Pop-Up Holiday Market on December 3 at New Bedford’s Whaling Museum (buyblacknb.com)!

Buy beautiful hand-crafted gifts at the All That Glitters holiday fair at Loon Lake Lodge in Lakeville on December 2-3 – great shopping, cash bar, live music (lakevilleartscouncilma.org).

Check out the European-style Christmas Market at Edaville Railroad in Carver through January 1 (edaville. com)!

Head for Pilgrim Memorial Hall in Plymouth to shop at the Holiday Market December 4 (memorialhall.com)!

Shop online for that special gift at Artists for the Bay through December 31 (savebay.org/art)!

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

Lighting at Bowen’s Wharf in Newport on December 3 (bowenswharf.com)!

farmcoast.com, coastalwinetrail.com, or ediblesouthshore.com.

All the world’s a stage

Check out the “Kristen Merlin Christmas Concert” on December 19 and “A Christmas Drag Show” on December 19 at The Alley Theatre in Middleboro (burtwoodschool.com).

Mark your calendars to catch a performance of “Church Basement Ladies” December 1-4, 8-11 at The Little Theatre in Fall River (littletheatre.net).

Enjoy dinner and a performance of “A Christmas for Carol” through December 31 at the Newport Playhouse (newportplayhouse. com).

South Coast sounds

Find out who’s on stage at the District Center for the Arts in Taunton! Don’t miss Hey Nineteen December 3, Wail

On December 9, Eagles Experience December 10, Heavy Metal Christmas Party December 16, Barefoot Patch December 17 (thedistrictcenterforarts. com).

Head for The VETS to hear the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra perform “The Four Seasons” on December 9-10 (riphil.org).

Check out who’s on stage at the Spire Center for the Performing Arts of Greater Plymouth! (spirecenter.org).

Listen to the Claremont Trio perform on December 4 at Westport’s Concerts at the Point (concertsatthepoint.org)!

Head for the Zeiterion in New Bedford For schedule of events visit (zeiterion.org).

Head for The Narrows Center for the Arts in Fall River for great music! (narrowscenter.com)!

Holiday classics

Don’t miss the New Bedford Festival Theatre’s production of White Christmas through December 4 at the Zeiterion in New Bedford (zeiterion.org)!

Buy your tickets now for the Festival Ballet Providence’s performance of The Nutcracker at The VETS in Providence December 16-24 (festivalballetprovidence.org)!

Start your holiday season with a performance of A Christmas Carol

On Thursday, December 8, downtown New Bedford will bristle with the energy of the holidays as AHA! Night hosts it’s annual Starry Night celebration.

at Trinity Rep in Providence through January 1 (trinityrep.com).

family equivalent of the Smithsonian and treasured forever.

When asked her favorite part of the Book Fair, Baker-Smith replies, “The fifteen minutes the chil dren get to pick out books before the opening whistle.” (The official start of the Book Fair begins at 11 a.m. but children are allowed into the book tent at 10:45 for exclusive browsing time.)

If hoarding is a mortal sin, I am consigned to the fires of hades for eternity because of my lifetime accumulation of books. These tomes pose a real problem. In some cases I feel that they are my best friends – loyal, entertaining, enlightening and inspiring. I’m really loathe to desert my little collections of poetry, of Irish

Buy your tickets early to see The Newport Nutcracker at Rosecliff on December 1-2, performed by The Island Moving Company (islandmovingco.org).

Don’t miss A Christmas Carol: Solo Performance December 18 at the Spire Center for the Performing Arts of Greater Plymouth (spirecenter.org).

“It’s wonderful to watch children being fascinated by books,” continues Baker-Smith, “going down the rabbit hole of a story, and sitting down on the grass to read in an age where everyone is looking at screens.”

Catch a production of A Christmas Carol December 2-4, 9-10 at the Marion Art Center Theatre (marionartcenter. org).

Mark your calendar for the New Bedford Ballet’s Performance of A New England Nutcracker December 3-4, 9-11 at the NBB Community Theatre (newbedfordballet.org).

After so many decades, it is understandable that many stories surround the Westport Friends Book Fair. It is rumored that, in the early years, one book-browser discovered a first edition of Moby Dick which he bought for fifty-cents. The next year he sheepishly returned to make a donation to the Westport Friends telling them he sold the book for “a lot of money.”

Expand your horizons

The Book Fair is also full of traditions, including the honorary “Blowing of the Whistle” to signal the official opening of the book sale.

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

THE MOST AWARDED AND FASTEST GROWING ORTHOPEDIC PROGRAM IN THE REGION

“It is a great honor to be chosen,” says Greg Marsello, citing this as his favorite part of the Fair.

For Gretchen Baker-Smith, the annual night-be fore-book-sale “Chopping of the Tabbouleh” is one of her fondest traditions. The tabbouleh, a type of Lebanese salad, is sold to the public in a flatbread wrap every year on opening day (along with other light luncheon items, beverages and snacks).

Check out what’s happening at the Lloyd Center for the Environment in Dartmouth. The trails are free and open to the public every day from dawn to dusk (lloydcenter.org).

With more than 20 Surgeons, 3 locations and over 5,000 procedures annually, our Center for Orthopedic Excellence is the area’s fastest growing orthopedic program. We are the first in Bristol County to receive The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal Certification for Knee and Hip Replacement and recognition as a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement.

“It takes a small army of people to chop the salad every year,” says Baker-Smith. “But people have come to expect it.” over the years, many customers have expressed their relief to Baker-Smith, saying “I was so afraid [the tabbouleh] wouldn’t be here.”

Go on a free Bird Walk or Flower Walk at the Norman Bird Sanctuary in Middletown (normanbirdsanctuary.org).

Get bundled up for the Family Owl Prowl at Fall River’s Copicut Woods on December 11 (thetrustees.org).

history and literature, the biographies and the novels that I fell in love with in a lifetime. Those law books I have not yet disposed of, will soon hit the road or the dumpster. I also inherited some wonderful sets of old books from my lawyer-uncle who was a collector. I asked one of the family if there was any interest in them and was asked, “What color are they?” Given the fact of e-readers, there’s little enthusiasm among the young for even leather-bound volumes other than for decoration in built-in bookcases. This, I suppose, is progress and as such, is something old men should not seek to enjoin or abash.

“Probably my favorite part of the Annual Book Fair,” says Deanna Chase, “is Saturday evening after the huge, long day” (volunteers arrive about 7 a.m. to help set up) “when we finally have time to just sit under the tent and reflect back on the day, relax ing with friends.”

Learn about the free virtual classes in meditation, laughter yoga, tai chi, yoga and smoking-cessation hypnosis, offered by New Bedford Wellness Initiative (facebook.com/ NewBedfordWellnessInitiative).

The Fifty-Fourth Westport Friends’ Book Fair offi cially opens at 11 a.m. on July 11, rain or shine. The sale will continue through Sunday, July 19 and will be open from “dawn to dusk.”

Get Healthy! “Walk With a Doc” on Saturdays at Dartmouth Mall, part of the New Bedford Wellness Initiative (nbewell.com)!

The six-for-a-dollar paperback books may be pur chased starting at 10 a.m. on the opening day and the children’s book section opens exclusively for kids at 10:45 a.m. Book prices range from one dol lar to five dollars a book, with the average cost be ing $1.50. Light lunch, snacks, and beverages will be sold on the opening day of the sale.

There’s the issue of the old (2001) Porsche 911 convertible that sits in my garage. My willingness to have this driven away by a family member is predicated upon my accelerating belief that I look ridiculous driving it. (I did have a 911 in the past, but then I was age-appropriate for the thing.) More and more I think that my operation of the car, top down on a glorious summer day, is the third of a trio of ridiculous social gaffes by old men. The first being guys with their gray hair in ponytails and the second, those wearing baseball caps backwards. All three are probably silent cries for help, love, or attention. Here’s the catch: the 911’s a six speed. It has a third pedal, called a clutch, and is thus inoperable by any of my issue.

“Discover Buzzards Bay” offers an online portal with information about 100+ public places to walk, bird-watch, kayak/canoe, fish, snowshoe or crosscountry ski (savebuzzardsbay.org/ discover). You can find other outdoor recreation spots along the South Coast at thetrustees.org, exploreri.org, massaudubon.org, riwalks.org, asri. org, riparks.com or stateparks.com/ rhode_island.

Our Center was first in the state to offer MAKOplasty® robotic assisted surgery, is a leader in rapid rehabilitation and offers outpatient joint replacement. It’s no wonder more patients (and their doctors) are choosing our Center for Orthopedic Excellence. SaintAnnesHospital.org 4525 Acushnet Ave.

If you haven’t yet experienced this celebration of books and community, you need to. Bring your family to the Westport Friends Book Fair and start your own summer tradition. you won’t be disappointed.

If hoarding is a mortal sin, I am consigned to the fires of hades for eternity because of my lifetime accumulation of books

by Michael J. DeCicco

Shopping IN STORE

The retail shops in downtown New Bedford are ready for the Holiday shopping season. Large and small, they are all sprucing up their inventory as they note they are optimistic that customer levels, as usual, will climb between now and the close of the season.

Large and small, they are all sprucing up their inventory as they note they are optimistic that customer levels, as usual, will climb between now and the close of the season.

"I've seen sales increase up to 30 percent in my own business during the month of December," said Elissa Paquette, owner of Calico women's clothing boutique shop, 173 Union Street, and Downtown New Bedford, Inc. president. "Business is always up this time of year."

The seasonal shopping spree, she said,

starts in early December when over 1,000 people attend the Downtown New Bedford Holiday Stroll that most of downtown's businesses and venues participate in – an annual tradition for well over 20 years.

But it's always just the start of an always busy Christmas shopping season, she noted. She said her shop is now building up its inventory for the season. That means more of the "gifty" items that sell well at this time of year, such as sweaters, jewelry, and winter wear.

She brings out the holiday decorations in mid-November, she said. But what each downtown business does as far as decorating for the season and when they start decorating is up to them, "because every business is it's own business."

Pamela Arruda, owner of the "Bejeweled" fun and fine jewelry store, 26 Centre Street, shopbejeweledonline.com, echoes similar sentiments and statistics for her own store. "On average, between Thanksgiving and Christmas, we see triple our average number of customers," she said, "with the bulk of our sales coming just ten days prior to Christmas."

How does she prepare for the

Christmas rush? What does she do differently this time of year? "We bulk up on our inventory with an aim of offering a wide variety of both styles and price points," she said. "Our hope is that someone can rush in and find something that appeals to them right away, whether that be a small stocking stuffer, office gift, or more significant designer piece."

Additionally, she said, she keeps a "wishlist" on file of pieces that her customers love in order to make buying a gift for someone easy and stress free. "A lot of our male customers find this especially helpful, especially when we gift wrap as well," she said. "We have a website on which we offer either free shipping or curbside pickup. In store, we enjoy creating a festive atmosphere with holiday music and chocolate treats to keep you going when you're running on empty."

Classic delights

Katherine Lowe, owner of the clean beauty and modern wellness boutique shop Shimmer at 187 Union Street, (shopshimmerbeauty.com), is also preparing for more customer traffic this time of year.

Deverney McLean of Faith Endures by Dev is one of vendors at Black In Business Holiday Market on December 3.

Photo by: Illuminatus Studios

McGovern’s Family Restaurant

310 Shove Street, Fall River 508 679 5010 mcgovernsonthewater com

The good news, she said, is that Small Business Saturday and the Holiday Stroll alone have the potential to triple business from an average Saturday. In general, she admitted, retailers downtown rely on the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas as their busiest time of the year.

This well-known restaurant and ban quet facility overlooking Laurel Lake usually packs them in for a large buf fet on Thanksgiving Day The menu typical ly includes traditional turkey dinner with Paul’s butternut squash, prime rib, ham, and much more. The restaurant has been of fering dine in and takeout, including its locally famous corned beef and cabbage, for 50 years . Here’s a pro tip: if you can’t wait until Thanksgiving for a roast turkey dinner, you don’t have to –it ’s on the regular menu

But that is why she is optimistic this season will be a good one for downtown. "I plan on almost entirely resetting my shop before the season kicks in," she said. "I always create a window display with bright lights that catch the eye at night, but this year I'll also be setting up a new layout in the shop. I am very fortunate to have a loyal customer base throughout the year, so I'm launching an entirely new holiday collection all at once to give them fresh options before the busiest time of the year."

Merrills on the Waterfront

36 Homers Wharf, New Bedford 508 997 7010 merrillswaterfront.com

This favorite restaurant and function facility sits on the waterfront overlooking the busy port But if isn’t your thing on traditional turkey day, be sure to keep watch for their holiday of ferings Last year, Merrill’s served up turkey and prime rib, all the sides like apple sage and sweet corn and polenta ravi oli, plus pies galore.

The Pasta House

Yet as someone who has lengthy experience working downtown, she's realistic as well as optimistic about how busy downtown will be this year. "Although I have worked in retail in downtown New Bedford for 15 years," she said, "I opened Shimmer in April of 2019, so the shop has only experienced one holiday season pre-Covid. The past two holiday seasons downtown have been far from normal and we might expect this season to follow in kind."

100 Alden Road, Fairhaven 508 993 9913 thepastahouse.net

If their Pumpkin Patch Old Fashioned (now on the bar menu) doesn’t get you inside, nothing will Luckily, you can a recipe in the sidebar for this drink and serve it with your Thanksgiving dinner takeout

The Pasta House served up a spread last year that included turkey dinner, ham dinner, mignon, braised short rib, and more. Currently, pickup and delivery is available from the regular menu, includ ing their apple cider sangria to go We’ll just have to wait and see what they dream up for Thanksgiving.

Around the corner from her, the Whaling Museum's executive director Amanda McMullen's optimism is a bit more unbridled. She is preparing for what she expects will be an especially busy Holiday season at the museum this year. McMullen said the museum's holiday season accounts for roughly 10 percent of its annual visitation count and is a big attraction every year. "The Museum's visitations have been incredibly busy this year deep into the fall season," she said. "We have bounced back from the pandemic challenges. We are currently sprinting towards an outstanding year –literally clipping at 2019's high visitation levels."

In addition to its new landscape show that just opened, it will be opening a new exhibition on December 12 on Polar Bears.

The Wharf Tavern

215 Water Street, Warren 401 289 2524 thewharftavernri com

While stuf fed quahogs nibbled by the water may not be a Thanksgiving tradi tion, the Wharf Tavern, established in

She added that while the museum's current Campus Master Plan to expand the William Street property is still evolving, visitors this winter will be able to experience one change because of it. A completely renovated theater now

equipped with full surround sound and 3D movies will soon start running daily showings, she said. (For details visit whalingmuseum.org).

1955 on the historic wharf that dates to the 1700s, isn’t all about summer Last year they served up a feast of turkey, roast prime rib, sausage and more The restaurant currently of fers dine in and takeout, including some ov en ready dishes like seafood casserole and stuf fed lobster

White’s of Westport

66 State Road, Westport 508 675 7185 shop.lafrancehospitality.com

White’s has been of fering family style takeout and curbside meals pickup for months, so when Turkey Day comes around, it ’s a good bet they’ll have a han dle (or rather a drumstick) on that too Currently, the restaurant is of fering meal packages and platters like its “ Taste of New England” that comes with chow der, quahogs and clam cakes or its Italian package of salad, lasagna, meatballs and breadsticks . Both meals serve six . Also available are dinner for two meal packs like and chips, lobster rolls, bourbon beef tips, and even kid-sized pasta and meatballs for two With more than 60 years in the hospitality industry, White’s is accustomed to cooking for a crowd

Meanwhile, the Drawing Room's biggest change this season is that this will be its first Holiday season since moving from its previous location on North Water Street to the former Arthur Moniz Gallery on 22 William Street (shop. anthif.com).

"We moved to our new and larger location at 22 William Street earlier this year," owner Anthi Frangiadis said, "which gives shoppers more space to explore our collections. We often talk about giving the gift of art, so we put together a 'Wall of Smalls' at the holidays. It's a collection of smaller paintings for those who want to give a one-of-a-kind present without the pressure of picking a larger piece of art."

Pumpkin Old-Fashioned

First you’ll need to concoct cinnamon syrup Mix ½ cup sugar, ½ cup water, and a three inch cinnamon stick in a small pan Bring it just to a boil, turn of f the heat and let it cool. Remove the cinnamon stick and discard or use it to garnish the cocktail if you like The syr up will last for three weeks in the fridge

She said at this time of year she also likes to bring in new work from her existing gallery of artists as well as introduce work by new artists to keep the options fresh for both new and returning customers.

"We also stock our wine selection with options that pair perfectly with holiday festivities, whether it's the perfect bottle (or case!) of red for Thanksgiving dinner or Champagne-Method wine to celebrate the New Year."

To make the cocktail, a shak er halfway with ice. Combine ¼ cup pumpkin puree with three ounces bourbon, two ounces maple syrup, ¼ ounce cinnamon syrup, one ounce or ange liqueur, and two dashes orange bit ters Shake well Fill two old fash ioned glasses with ice, pour in the strained cocktail and garnish with a twist of orange peel and a cherry

Finally, Buy Black NB, a community platform dedicated to “discovery, highlighting, and promoting Blackowned businesses” in the South Coast, will be hosting a vendor market at the New Bedford Whaling museum on December 3 from noon until 5 p.m. The market will feature free performances, live music, children’s entertainment, and handmade goods from Black artists and business owners throughout the region. Learn more at BuyBlackNB.com. Happy holidays!

Locally roasted coffee, gourm et crepes made to order, baked goods & much more

Everything ready for takeout. Lots of outside seating!

279 Water Street, Warren, RI 401.245.7071

The good news is that Small Business Saturday and the Holiday Stroll alone have the potential to triple business from an average Saturday. In general, retailers downtown rely on the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas as their busiest time of the year.

THINGS TO DO

Seasonal SHOWS

by Sean McCarthy

Museum will be the site of the Marion Sippican Youth Band, a group of sixth grade students who will be performing holiday selections.

Whether it’s a date night or an evening for the whole family, December offers multiple opportunities for entertainment in the South Coast – performances that can make your season even more merry.

Beginning on Saturday, November 26 and running through Sunday, December 4, the New Bedford Festival Theatre will present eight performances of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas at the Zeiterion Theatre at 684 Purchase Street in downtown. The show is notable this year because it will feature Broadway star David Elder.

“We’re just so excited that David is bringing such professionalism not only to the Festival Theatre but to the Zeiterion,” says the show’s Executive Director, Wendy Hall. “We’ve had some incredible performers in the past, but this is definitely the most Broadwaytenured performer we’ve ever had.”

Elder has experience with this production. In addition to Broadway, he has performed it on national tours.

“David knows the gig and he’s wonderful at it,” Hall says. “We’re excited to give this region a quality

Broadway musical. I can’t express my giddiness enough that he has agreed to lead our production.”

With full sets, full costumes, and a full orchestra, the show is known for its celebration of the season with a dazzling and uplifting score. The film version is a staple of holiday movie watching.

This is Hall’s second time presenting White Christmas. She choreographed it in 2013 at the Wick Theatre in Florida. This is the 33rd season for the New Bedford Festival Theatre.

Up on the rooftops

On Thursday, December 8, downtown New Bedford will bristle with the energy of the holidays as AHA! Night hosts it’s annual Starry Night celebration. From 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., the district will include numerous musical performances that will accompany the unique shopping and dining opportunities that only downtown can offer. The streets and store windows will be illuminated and decorated in the seasonal spirit for all visitors to enjoy.

At 5 p.m., the New Bedford Whaling

At 7 p.m., The South Coast Children’s Chorus will be joined by the UMass Dartmouth Choir to present a concert at the First Unitarian Church at the corner of Union Street and 8th Street.

Throughout the evening the streets will be the site of a moveable performance by the South Coast Brass Band, led by Dr. Michael Rocha, playing popular Christmas music.

“This will be a great day to be walking around the streets of downtown, experiencing this special time of year and hearing the music of the season,” says AHA! Executive Director Lee Heald. “At the same time you can be shopping for the gifts you can only find in downtown New Bedford.”

Center stage

On Saturday, December 11, the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra will present two performances of its annual Holiday Pops Concert at the Zeiterion Theatre. Shows will be at 3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m., and will include the Southeastern Massacusetts Youth Orchestra.

“We believe that this is the best holiday show in town because everyone loves Christmas carols,

The most wonderful time of the year is arriving, and amidst your holiday bustle you can take some time to enjoy some quality live performances.

and to hear them performed by a live orchestra is like nothing else,” says Conee Sousa, Marketing Director for the NBSO. “Just walking into the decorated theater with a 12-foot Christmas tree is a thrill, but the hour of amazing music with Conductor Yaniv Dinur’s humor mixed in makes it really fun. Many families have made it an annual tradition and wouldn’t think about missing it. It’s such a festive atmosphere!”

Little Theatre of Fall River will present the musical “Church Basement Ladies” on December 1 through 4, and 8 through 11. A show that has played to sold out audiences in Minneapolis, Minnesota for 29 years, the production is set in a fictional church basement for an evening of humor, heart-warming turns and down-to-earth sentiments. Featuring a pastor, three kitchen cooks, and a daughter, the cast staves off potential disasters while having fun, sharing and debating recipes, while keeping the pastor on due course.

“What people will enjoy about this show is the familiar feelings that come from being part of a church or a community group, presented in a homey, light-hearted fashion,” says Jared Robinson, Public Relations Chairperson for Little Theatre. The show was selected by Director Bobby Perry.

“Bobby is a master of finding cool, unknown shows and bringing them to the region,” Robinson says. “He always brings great musicianship and great talent to our stage.”

Located at 340 Prospect Street, this will be the 75th year of performances for Little Theatre.

" What people will enjoy about this show is the familiar feelings that come from being part of a church or a community group, presented in a homey, light-hearted fashion

free holiday Let the festivities begin

by Rona Trachtenberg

In that spirit, the City of New Bedford and The Town of Fairhaven, respectively, are each gearing up for a fantastic and festive day of holiday activities that are free to all who attend. First up is AHA! Night on Thursday, December 8 in New Bedford. This monthly themed arts and culture event usually draws approximately 2,000 visitors from the city, surrounding towns, Providence, and Cape Cod.

“We want to welcome winter, honor all the Festivals of Light, and invite you to celebrate the joyous holiday season in our downtown neighborhood,” explained AHA! director Candace Lee Heald.

“To that end, we have named this event Starry

After a two-year hiatus, Fairhaven will once again welcome locals and visitors from as far away as Cape Cod and Rhode Island to its annual Old-Time Holiday small-town stroll featuring an array of holiday gifts, food, music, and oldfashioned good cheer.

Nights.” Heald, who has led this program since 2007, promised, “December will be magical as New Bedford sparkles with lights, is filled with music, has open shops, and has excellent restaurants to meet friends for dining.”

While AHA! usually starts after dark, the organization recognized that after the pandemic, there is a need to start earlier for families. Therefore, during this December AHA! The New Bedford Public Library,

Whaling Museum, and other sites will be hosting activities for children of all ages beginning at 3 p.m.

A sampling of the programs includes: The Sippican School Band (sippicanband.com) playing songs of the season at the New Bedford Whaling Museum (5 p.m. and 7 p.m.), and the South Coast Children’s Chorus (singsouthcoast.org) performing with the UMASS Chorus (umass.edu/music/ vocalchoral-ensembles)

at the First Unitarian Church (7 p.m.). Everyone’s favorite, Southcoast Brass (southcoastbrassband.com), will play in Custom House Square and the Oxcart will be open to hand out hot chocolate and cookies.

At The Rotch-Jones-Duff House (rjdmuseum.org), visitors will be inspired by the decked halls of the mansion and will learn holiday customs held by the residents of the house. Tours run from 4 to 6 p.m.

AHA! Night also offers the opportunity to shop for those perfect one-of-a-kind holiday gifts in advance of the rush. Students from the College of Visual Arts at the Star Store are holding their annual sale. Stores on William Street, like Anthi’s Drawing Room, TL6 and Alison Well Gallery, as

We all know that Christmas cheer starts right after Thanksgiving.

well as the New Bedford Art Museum’s store have curated selections from local artists and artisans.

All of the programs are free and open to the public. For a more detailed view, you can visit ahanewbedford.org.

Fairhaven returns

The next great free event takes place two days later, on Saturday, December 10, in Fairhaven.

After a two-year hiatus, Fairhaven will once again welcome locals and visitors from as far away as Cape Cod and Rhode Island to its annual Old-Time Holiday small-town stroll featuring an array of holiday gifts, food, music, and oldfashioned good cheer.

“Over the years it has become one of Fairhaven’s favorite events,” exclaimed Chris Richard, director of Fairhaven Tourism, who along with Millicent Allen and Helen Radcliffe first created the “Very Victorian Holiday” in 1998.

Richard explained, “What was once 30 independent groups holding their own fairs, bazaars, concerts, luncheons, sing-alongs, and other activities over the course of several weeks between mid-November and Christmas is now a unified Saturday with a name change to ‘Old-Time’ so that the event isn’t bound to one specific time period.”

Richard elaborated, “The First Congregational Church, at 34 Center Street, and the Unitarian Memorial Church, at 102 Green Street, will hold fairs, with church members and outside vendors displaying a wide variety of items for sale. Approximately 20 of the town’s non-profit and school

groups will have tables at the Town Hall, at 40 Center Street. At these locations, visitors will find handmade crafts, gifts, holiday greens, delicious baked goods, gift baskets, silent auction items to bid on, and more. In the Town Hall there will also be face painting and a few children’s activities. All three fairs run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“The Unitarian Church, a magnificent English-Gothic style ‘cathedral,’ will also give guided tours of the sanctuary during the day.”

Santa Claus himself will be at “Santa’s Sweet Shop” at the Northeast Maritime Institute, at 32 Washington Street, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for pictures. There will also be live music, craft, cocoa, treats, and more.

A lobster roll luncheon will be held at the First Congregational Church; at the Town Hall, Boy Scout Troop 52 will be set up on the front steps selling hotdogs; and in the Town Hall Banquet Room, the North Fairhaven Improvement Association will serve hot soups, meat pies, spinach pies, soda, and water. There will also be popcorn available from the Fairhaven Village Militia.

“At 6 p.m. on Saturday,” continued Richard, “the Fairhaven Improvement Association hosts its annual Sing-Along on the steps of Town Hall. There will be caroling and the arrival of Santa on a fire engine. Then hot chocolate and snacks will be available inside the auditorium.”

You can find more information about the weekend by visiting fairhaventours.com/oldtime-holiday.

We offer a wide variety of products such as hay, shavings, several types of feed, as well as landscaping materials. In addition to our organic lawn care line we also offer 9 types of 100% bark mulch and several different options for stone, to spruce up your home landscape. We also have loam, compost and a 50/50 mix that is just right for reparing or starting a new lawn or garden.

SEEINGRed

by Rona Trachtenberg

His 2013 National Geographic article explained, “The berry was called sassamenesh (by the Algonquin) and ibimi (by the Wampanoag and LenniLenape), which translates literally as ‘bitter’ or ‘sour berries.’ Cranberries were used for cooking, textile dyes, and medicines. They formed them into cakes to store, made tea out of the leaves, used them as bait to trap rabbits, and boiled the fruit to dye porcupine quills for clothing and jewelry.”

Mihesauh continued, “Cranberries are extremely high in antioxidants and are thought to help prevent heart disease. Iroquois and Chippewa used cranberries as a blood purifier, as a laxative, to treat fever, stomach cramps, and a

slew of childbirth-related injuries.”

Today, we know that cranberries contain nature’s most powerful antioxidant A-type Proanthocyanidins (aka PACs). PACs are bioactive compounds unique to the cranberry that give this amazing superfruit its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory powers. Some research has shown that cranberries have a positive effect on circulation, metabolism, the immune system, and may help prevent bacteria from growing on teeth and even may slow the progression of tumors.

Cranberries are cholesterol free, saturated fat free, low in sodium, and the only fruit that doesn’t contain sugar. They do contain fiber, natural

vitamin C, E, A, and K. They can be used in dairy, baked goods, beverages, cereal, jams/sauces, snacks, as nutraceuticals, and even cosmetics.

THE ORIGINAL ENERGY BAR

One use we can all identify with is “energy bar,” which the Native Americans called pemmican . food historian Ken Albala, of University of the Pacific, explained the recipe. “Native Americans would pound cranberries into a mixture of equal parts ground dried deer meat and fat tallow, then store the mixture in animal skin pouches. The fat preserves it, as does the acidity in the fruit, which lowers the pH and helps resist bacteria. The pemmican would

last for months and could be eaten on long journeys as a reliable source of protein and fat.”

Europeans discovered this important caloric necessity during the fur trade. In 1622, once the British imported honey to North America, cranberries became a staple in pies and as a tart side dish for roasted meat, turkey, and fowl.

Fast forward 250 years to the South Coast, which is known as Cranberry Country. We are fortunate our soil is so rich and that we have two generational grower families, living and working in Carver, who have been nurturing the land and producing this versatile berry for decades.

Four hundred years ago, the Algonquin, the Chippewa, and the Cree Nations gathered wild cranberries in what is now Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Oregon, Washington State, British Columbia, and Quebec. So says Devon Mihesuah, a professor at the University of Kansas and an enrolled citizen of the Choctaw Nation.

Recipes from the experts

NATURALLY GOOD, WICKEDLY DELICIOUS

Over 80 years ago, three brothers, Nicholas, Charles, and William Decas, set out peddling local produce from a modest pushcart in Plymouth. Their profits allowed them to purchase 15 acres of fertile farmland in Rochester. Nine decades later, the Decas Legacy has over 150 growers and owns 350 acres of family-owned cranberry bogs throughout the Commonwealth. They operate, process, and sell cranberries to 20 countries worldwide.

Cranberry Sunflower Crunch Salad Recommended by Decas Farms

Servings: 6-8

Prep time: 20 minutes

Dressing:

1/2 cup mayonnaise

Juice of 1 lemon

1 tablespoon honey

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 clove garlic, minced Pinch of salt and pepper

Salad:

4 cups of shredded green and/or red cabbage

2 cups shredded kale

2 cups shredded carrots

1/2 cup Decas Farms Organic Dried Cranberries

1/2 cup sunflower seeds

1/2 cup chopped green onion

6 slices cooked bacon, crumbled

Directions:

Whisk together the dressing ingredients in a small bowl. Add the cabbage, kale, carrots, Decas Farms Organic Cranberries, sunflower seeds, green onion, and bacon bits to a large salad bowl.

Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients and toss until combined.

In 2021, Decas Cranberry Products, Inc. and the retail brand name Decas Farms, in Carver, was acquired by Fruit d’Or, in Villeroy, Quebec to create the largest worldwide producer/distributor of organic cranberries and wild blueberries.

Fruit d’Or founder Martin Le Moine took his 1995 cranberry farming to a new level – organic, when most North American processors showed little interest in going this route. So, Le Moine developed proprietary processing techniques and perfected the art of fighting insects and weeds by natural means.

The Decas Farms website (decasfarms.com) contains a plethora of recipes for every palate, in addition to detailed ingredients, photos, and shopping options. Their very useful FAQ section includes this important, healthy recipe tip: “You can add less sugar in your holiday cranberry sauce and at the same time neutralize the acid by adding 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda when cooking cranberries.”

FROM FLOWER TO PACKAGE

Over 75 years ago, the Rhodes family farmed South Coast land as Edgewood Bogs Cranberry Growers. Throughout the decades, Edgewood grew to become one of the top producers of Massachusetts cranberries.

In 2005, third generation Matt and Cindy Rhodes purchased Edgewood and 300 acres of working cranberry bogs from the family, and now their sons (fourth generation) are involved in the business too.

In the early 2000s, Edgewood was one of the first cranberry growers in the US to become Global G.A.P. Certified, which is an extensive audit conducted each year to analyze food safety, environment and biodiversity, workers’ health, safety and welfare, integrated crop management, integrated pest control, quality management systems, and hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP).

Matt continues to run Edgewood Bogs, LLC while his wife Cindy became CEO of the first woman-owned brand, called Cape Cod Select.

In 2009, Cindy couldn’t believe grocery stores sold every other fruit, including papaya and dragon fruit, all the time, but not America’s Original Superfruit, cranberries! So she made it her mission to bring this healthy fruit to market and available for consumers year-round. “As a brand we’ve shown grocery buyers how frozen cranberries are a year-round product and not just for the holidays,” said the determined CEO. “Our

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 20

Q1 sales actually beat out our Q4 sales! From there, we educated consumers, with marketing and social media, that there are so many wonderful ways to use cranberries other than for homemade cranberry sauce and holiday desserts.”

Cape Cod Select offers frozen cranberries and

Cranberry Cream Cheese Baked French

Toast

Recommended by Cape Cod Select

Servings: 4-6

Prep time: 45 minutes

Ingredients:

6 thick slices of brioche

smoothie blends (not juice or dried like many other cranberry companies) as well as a new “pantry favorites” line that includes delicious cranberry chutney and cranberry mustard. They have plans to expand this line with more items in 2023. Unique holiday gifts can be purchased through capecodselect.com.

About 6-10 tsps whipped cream cheese

Handful of frozen Cape Cod Select cranberries

3 eggs

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

1/4 cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 tsp cinnamon powder

2 tbsp melted butter

Powdered sugar for dusting

Directions:

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

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

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

Let it soak for at least 30 minutes or overnight.

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

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

Serve with a drizzle of syrup and enjoy!

LUCKY DOGS

by Sean McCarthy

Whether you’re looking for training for a new addition to the family, or you seek the peace of mind that comes from knowing your dog is being cared for in a safe and nurturing setting, Lucky Dog Resort in Middletown provides an experience of care and comfort that conventional kennels can’t offer.

In only six years, Lucky Dog has received recognition locally and nationally for quality canine care in all areas of the “furry family member” experience. The unique benefits and services that Lucky Dog provides are an approach that is winning a growing group of satisfied dog parents.

“Our model is based on love,” says Laurie Ruttenberg, owner of Lucky Dog. “We put a priority on how the dog feels. Parents want their dog to be happy, to be able to relax, trust and bond. We provide more than comfort.”

If you’re looking for specialized

daycare programs or overnight stays, Lucky Dog provides luxurious accommodations. If you’re looking for training, Lucky Dog specializes in outstanding professional instruction.

If you’re looking for your fur baby to be cared for during your wedding, Lucky Dog offers a valet service that can make your pooch a memorable part of your special day.

“Dogs are completely intuitive, there’s something that’s so soulful about the way a dog communicates. They speak in a language all their own, and we understand what they’re saying to us,” Ruttenberg says. “They only want to bring us joy and to be with people who are going to treat them well.”

According to Ruttenberg, we are entering a new era in the relationships between dogs and owners – a development they’re happy to accommodate.

“We’ve seen a paradigm shift as to

how we see our dogs. They’re now family members,” Ruttenberg says. “A lot of couples have dogs before they have children, and their dogs really become their ‘kids.’”

“We view Lucky Dog as a part of our family,” says Lindsey Davitt of Jamestown, whose huskie, Mochi, began coming to daycare at Lucky Dog more than three years ago when he was only five months old. Mochi still enjoys Lucky Dog daycare two days a week.

You love your dog and you want the best for it.

In only six years, Lucky Dog has received recognition locally and nationally for quality canine care in all areas of the “furry family member” experience.

“I’m very particular when it comes to my dogs and I completely and entirely trust Lucky Dog,” Davitt says. “They’re so professional, they go above and beyond and take the best care of the animals. I’m lucky to have them.”

A bark above

Jessica Solup of Somerset takes her dog, Paprika, to Lucky Dog daycare two days a week. It has become a rewarding decision.

“They spend time with her to train her. They build a rapport with her,” Solup says. “They have a structured routine, something that Paprika really needs. We had a tough time at the beginning, but they didn’t kick her out. They had her work with a special trainer. Now she’s doing well with nap time and play time. She’s with the same group of dogs every week, they’re like her classmates. She’s really grown from when she started.”

Lois Zawrotny of Newport also saw positive progress for her dog.

“If Lucky Dog wasn’t around we would not still have this dog,” she says of her three-year old, Peanut. “When we got her she turned out to be more than we bargained for – a real handful. But when we took her to Lucky Dog they said they could work with her. They took her on and she absolutely blossomed. She’s now fine with new places and new people, and she isn’t so attached to us. She’s turned out to be a sweet little dog. It’s given us a real break.”

When Bryan Kriner of Newport brought his “dream dog” home, a black labrador named Bauer, he didn’t want to leave him at home all day. So when he discovered Lucky Dog it was an opportunity for Bauer to make new friends and keep busy throughout the day.

“Seeing him so happy after his first visit to Lucky Dog I knew that was the place I wanted to start sending him,” Kriner says. “It’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. There are conversations with the staff when I pick him up at the end of the day, they tell me how his day went. There’s a lot of communication with the staff.”

One of Lucky Dog’s most unique services is their Wedding Valet option, a memory-making opportunity that provided Davitt with experiences to cherish when she was wed this past July.

“Lucky Dog took care of Mochi the evening before the wedding, and the night of the rehearsal dinner,” Davitt recalls. “The next day they brought him to the venue all cleaned up and dressed in a cute little tuxedo. He was being walked around, greeting guests, he was the star of the day. When the ceremony started, Mochi was walked down the aisle. After the ceremony they brought him back to Lucky Dog to stay over with his friends at his favorite place.”

And Lucky Dog is a favorite place for many of their clients.

“When we get in the car in the morning to take him to Lucky Dog, he sits right up and his tongue pops out of his mouth because he knows where he’s going,” Kriner says. “When we get there he runs right to the door to see his friends.”

“I’ve tried different daycares, but I now trust Paprika with Lucky Dog,” Solup says. “She gets so excited to be there – her little tail wags when I drop her off and it wags when I pick her up. They take the time for each individual dog.”

For a list of options and packages, Lucky Dog Resort can be reached at luckydogresortri.com, or by phone at (401) 835-0680.

Store Hours:

Sunday 11:30 am - 4:00 pm

Monday 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Closed: Tuesday & Wednesday

Thursday - Saturday 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

401-816-4066

1019 Main Road • Tiverton, RI

I’m very particular when it comes to my dogs and I completely and entirely trust Lucky Dog. They’re so professional, they go above and beyond and take the best care of the animals. I’m lucky to have them.

The Camp

by Paul Kandarian

Iwas in Maine in October doing a state lottery commercial. It went great, long into the night, and at about 1 a.m. driving to my hotel on a very dark and windy road, out of nowhere running alongside me was this majestic buck, maybe an eight-pointer, lumbering right next to my passenger door remarkably keeping pace with my car going maybe 35 mph. I swear I looked at him and he looked at me.

I slammed on the brakes and he instantly cut in front of me, my car bumping him into a spin. He tumbled, hit the pavement, got up and bolted into the woods. I shook my head at the luck of neither

of us getting hurt, and then drove to my hotel.

I got out and checked for what I knew had to be some damage. But there was none. Not. One. Single. Scratch.

On my drive up earlier that day, I realized I’d be reasonably close to my late dad’s old hunting camp perched on the side of a mountain, a no-frill, down-home squatty square painted creosote brown, with woodstove for heat, propane for light and cooking, and a freezing cold outhouse out back.

My dad and five buddies from the Lions Club in Seekonk built it in 1965, buying the land, hauling lumber and supplies in,

and our families put it up, board by board. Helping was a chunky and clumsy 12-year-old boy who could barely drive a nail but then again neither really could his dad. But we only cared about being together, working side by side, and after the sun snugged down behind a faraway mountain, we slept on the floor under the stars, putting the rest of the cabin together the next day.

To my father, the place was his heaven. My dad was The Camp (as I spell it to give it its capitalization due) and The Camp was my dad. He’s the one who visited most, sometimes snagging a deer in the November hunt, usually not. That didn’t matter, all

that did that was he was here, in his beloved Maine woods at a place he needed to be like he needed to breathe. We’d come as a family, my mom and brother not nuts about the uncomfortable rusticity, but my dad and I feeling quite right at home.

Fast forward many decades; the land was sold in 2001 to a lumber company as friends died off (my parents passed weeks apart in 2013), but we were leased free use of The Camp. And on my way to Maine I found out the lease lapsed last year and no one was sure of what would become of the place my dad loved with his entire being.

So after getting a few hours’ sleep at my hotel, I made

Sometimes signs from loved ones passed are subtle, barely noticeable. And sometimes they run right alongside you, look you square in the eye, and collide with you, body and soul. Lemme tell you a story about the latter.

the familiar drive up Route 26 – one I’d made countless times with my dad and later my kids – shaking my head at the changes, relishing the constants and wondering what combination of both I’d find at The Camp.

At first it was unsettling. The narrow, rock-filled dirt road up to it was stripped bare by the lumber company, a denuded hill that left the road thick with brush and limbs, detritus, I suppose, of progress. But there, looming on the hillside was the squatty square painted creosote brown that was my father’s mistress, as he liked to call it, a place he came to with or without friends or family. This was a man happy to drive up four hours alone, sit and smoke a cigar and tip a few shots of VO, scribble one of his copious notes in logs kept there for decades, and drive the four hours back home, content for a day well lived.

I clambered up the hill, got the key from under the porch where one has hung for over a half century, opened the door to a place in which I hadn’t set foot for 20-plus years, and wept happy, sad, silly, painful, comforting memory-strewn tears. Then I poked through my dad’s belongings, ignoring the dust and mouse droppings and water damage in a structure that will crumble sooner than later, and took some to bring home. Including clippings of some of my writings and photos of his grandkids he’d proudly stapled to the walls. I sat in the small bedroom my dad used, on the lumpy cot across from his that I’d slept in many times groaning at his ear-splitting snoring that I ached to now hear again. I clutched one of his camp shirts to my face,

inhaling its musty, smoky, glorious aroma and wept harder still, breath-stopping, shoulder-shaking, soulcrushingly hard.

“Give me a sign, Dad, please, please, give me a sign that you’re here with me!” I screamed between sobs, knowing he was but pleading nonetheless for something as visible and visceral as my tears.

Nothing came. So I smoked one of his cigars I found there, not caring it was whoknows-how-old, standing on the porch, gazing into the same sky and mountains and dreams he did for so long. My father, you must understand, was a dreamer, saying “you take away a man’s dreams, you may as well lay him to rest.” He was a great father, but his greatest unrealized dreams were becoming a writer and actor. That I am both is no coincidence – the dreams I have realized seen clearly from atop his shoulders.

I called my daughter, telling her of my visit and what had happened the night before with the buck and how I had just wanted a sign from my father.

“Dad,” she said, stating the obvious that I was oblivious to until she vocalized it. “The deer. The deer WAS the sign.”

She’s right, of course. That deer, that male deer, that handsome buck that was the kind my dad loved hunting even as he didn’t get many, that was the sign. I had looked at him, he had looked at me, amazingly keeping pace with my car to make sure I knew.

I know, Dad, I know. I love and miss you so very much, too. Oh, and sorry for hitting you with my car, but hey, thanks for not denting it. I appreciate that.

Imagine, living in a beautiful New England country inn that overlooks scenic Mount Hope Bay. Discover a carefree senior lifestyle that provides a wonderful new feeling of comfort and security. Contrary to living alone in a large oversized house, especially when assistance is needed, the “Inn” at Clifton can be significantly less worrisome and less expensive. At the “Inn” we have no typical apartments—each one is different and prices do vary according to apartment size, location and specific features.

When compared to other assisted living communities, the “Inn” offers so much more. Clifton’s almost all-inclusive rates consist of amenities that many other facilities charge extra for, including.......

living ina beautiful New England countryinn that overlooks scenic Mount Hope Bay.Discover a carefree senior lifestyle that provides a wonderful new feeling of comfort and security. Contrary to living alone in a large oversizedhouse, especiallywhen assistanceis needed, the “Inn” at Clifton can be significantlyless worrisome and less expensive. At the “Inn” we have no typical apartments—eachone is different and prices do varyaccording to apartment size, locationand specific features. When compared to other assisted living communities, the “Inn” offers so much more. Clifton’s almost all-inclusive rates consist of amenities that manyotherfacilities charge extra for, including.......