Ring in the New Year at the Plymouth Public Library

 

Celebrate the New Year with a countdown to noon! Families with children of all ages are invited to join us this Wednesday, December 31st between the hours of 11:30 AM and 1:00 PM for a special mid-day New Year's Eve Party at the library!  

 

Come hear stories about New Year's Eve traditions around the world, make party hats and noisemakers, and dance to music in our Otto Fehlow Room. A great way to ring in the New Year with your little ones!

Support the Plymouth Public Library

On December 16th, the Senate passed a tax bill which allows people over 70½ to make tax free distributions from their IRA accounts to 501©3 charitable organizations. Unfortunately, this provision of the tax code will expire on December 31, 2014.

If you or someone you know is eligible to take advantage of this opportunity, this is a great time to support the Plymouth Public Library's FREE public programming for patrons of ALL ages and FREE adult literacy programs! In addition, the gifts to the PPLC support technology upgrades, making the latest resources available to everyone with a Library Card.

For more information on how you can support the Plymouth Public Library, please click here.

Electric Distribution Through Xoom Energy

Around the Mayflower has made the switch to obtain its electric distribution through Xoom Energy. With a competitive marketplace, you can buy your distribution through companies like Xoom but still pay one National Grid or Nstar bill. The benefit is having fixed rate, competitive per kwh pricing. Signing up is easy; all you need is your National Grid/Nstar account number and contact information.

To learn more about Xoom Energy and to sign up, please click here.

The halls are decked at Plymouth Community Theatre!

Plymouth Community Theatre would like to remind you about our next production, the original holiday tale, The Christmas House. This heartwarming production will run for ONE WEEKEND ONLY, December 12-14 at The Spire Center for the Performing Arts, 25 ½ Court Street, Plymouth.

Make Plymouth Community Theatre part of your holiday tradition as we reprise our popular holiday show for a fourth year! Written by Plymouth resident Marianne Withington, The Christmas House invites the audience to relive the many Christmas holiday stories and family celebrations experienced by The Christmas House since 1788. Listen as this old house remembers Christmases past and enjoy traditional holiday carols, as well as original music composed by Withington, sung by the cast and chorus.

Withington will also co-direct the production, along with Denise Smigliani. Withington has appeared in and directed a number of past Plymouth Community Theatre productions, including the recent production of Sizzling Summer Shorts. Smigliani, a Plymouth resident who performs in local theater and films, was also most recently seen in Sizzling Summer Shorts, as well as performing in The Christmas House every year. PCT is thrilled to welcome her back!

The cast for The Christmas House features many original cast members reprising their roles. The cast includes Marnie Almirall, Kasey Bishoff, Katelin Bonetti, Rachael Bonetti, Paige Burke, Edward Dowling, Bill Driscoll, Shelly Ireland, Sean MacIssac, Emily Nguyen, Sandy Petersen, Laney Powers, and Judy Yancey, all from Plymouth; Jenna Entel of Assonet; Stefanie Wojnicki of Bridgewater; Lance Wesley of Canton; Connie Panselinas of Carver; Natalie Aldrich of Duxbury; Jessica Morris of Kingston; Paul McCuen of Marshfield; Garrett Olson, Jaden Olson, and Harmonie Olson, all of Pembroke; and McKenna Sylvester of Plympton.

The Christmas House will be performed December 12-13 at The Spire Center for the Performing Arts, 25 ½ Court Street in Plymouth. Showtimes are Friday Dec 12th at 8pm, Saturday Dec 13th at 4pm and 8pm, and Sunday Dec 14th at 4pm. Tickets are $20 for all shows and $18 for students and seniors. Seating is general admission; first-come, first-served.

Tickets are available in advance online at our website at www.plymouthcommunitytheatre.net. Tickets will also be available at the door, thirty minutes prior to the performances.

Remember what it feels like to be "home for the holidays" with Plymouth Community Theatre and The Christmas House.

Full information can be found on our website, www.plymouthcommunitytheatre.net! Hope to see you there!

Victorian Christmas at Mayflower House

For the first two weekends in December, visitors are invited to tour the historic Mayflower Society House at 4 Winslow St., while it is decorated for a Victorian-style holiday. The house will be open Dec. 5-7 and 12-14. Fridays and Saturdays the hours are noon to 8 p.m., Sundays the hours are noon to 6 p.m. Entry is $10 per person and children under 12 enter for free. Payment is accepted at the door, preferably in cash. Bring the whole family from 2 to 3 p.m. Dec. 6 or 7 for the Kid’s Corner. Children can participate in holiday activities and learn about the Victorian era during story time.

From 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 12, author and Plymouth resident Deanna Nealey will read from her new children’s book “Genghis Swan,” the story of a mischievous swan who once lived in Plymouth. All are welcome to enjoy the Victorian style decorations, period music and light refreshments. Unfortunately, the Mayflower Society House is not handicapped accessible. For more information, contact the Mayflower Society House at 508-746-3188, ext. 24, or visit TheMayflowerSociety.org.

Adopt a Nursing Home Resident

The residents of nursing facilities are often lonely during the holiday season. The Carver COA is again holding its “Adopt a Nursing Home” project, to bring joy and a smile to our seniors who are no longer able to live at home. In its first year, the organizers were able to fill a GATRA bus with gifts. And, this year, they are expanding the project to include a drop-off site in Plymouth.

Carver is not home to any nursing homes, so most Carver residents in need of nursing home care find themselves living in Plymouth. This year, the residents of Life Care Center of Plymouth have been selected as the beneficiaries of the program, and every resident, regardless of their hometown, will receive a gift. Life Care Center is home to 103 people, 70 percent of whom are women.

Everyone is invited and encouraged to take a wrapped or gift-bagged item (or items) to the Carver Council on Aging Senior Center, at 48 Lake St., from 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday, or to Crowning Glory Salon at 345 Court St. in North Plymouth from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday through Friday. Please indicate whether your donated gift is for a man or a woman. Gifts will be accepted through Friday, Dec. 19.

Suggested items include puzzle books, large print, if possible (crossword, Sudoku and word-search are popular), personal care items, snacks and candy.

Equal Exchange Christmas Ideas

Need more ideas for Christmas? Equal Exchange has it all in addition to the coffee, chocolate, tea, candles, honey, pot holders, handmade wrapping paper, and gift baskets. There's something for everybody!

Strikingly beautiful, sustainable gift wrap handmade by Indian artisans. Made from recycled cotton. Each order comes with three assorted sheets. Also great for scrapbooking and crafting! What about a gorgeous, handmade wooden train comes with 4 cabins and rolling wheels. Comes with a cloth bag with extra pegs to connect cars. Lead-free varnish. Made in India. Ages 3+

First Parish in Plymouth will be placing a Holiday order through First Parish's account on December 3rd to be sure all items are in hand for the Service Auction Committee wrapping party. By placing a bulk order, we will not have to pay for shipping. To check out their website, please click here or go to http://shop.equalexchange.coop/.

 

Contact Amy Palmer at apdpalmer@comcast.net or 508-746-3912 to place your order.

Happy Thanksgiving!

A letter of gratitude from Plimouth Plantation Executive Director Ellie Donovan

  Dear Friends of Plimoth Plantation,

Thanksgiving is Plimoth Plantation’s quintessential holiday. And in this season of giving thanks and family celebrations, we express our gratitude to you – our members, donors, supporters and guests who helped Plimoth Plantation to accomplish so much this year.

Our visitors and supporters were very much on our minds throughout this season as we worked to enhance the Museum’s exhibits and programs. With your support, the newly expanded Craft Center and Plimoth Bread Company took shape before our visitors’ eyes over the course of a few months. The mission of the Craft Center – the revival, preservation and teaching of historic technologies – remains the same. However, the renovated building and the addition of a wood-fired clay oven greatly expand the possibilities for exploring the crafts, techniques, life-ways and foods of the 17th century. And who can resist the aroma of freshly baked bread? Now available in the bakery!

Mayflower II remained on the Plymouth waterfront last winter and continued to do yeoman’s work as Plimoth Plantation’s “floating classroom” for many thousands of visitors. This December, the ship will be towed to dry dock to continue vitally needed restoration work. We must ensure that Mayflower II, as a symbol of freedom and opportunity, is in the best possible shape by 2020 – the 400th anniversary of the Pilgrims’ landing.

While we are caring for major exhibits like the Craft Center and Mayflower II, Plimoth Plantation is also re-evaluating how our guests experience the history and stories we interpret. With funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities, we held a planning conference in October to kick off a process to create the first Interpretive Master Plan in the Museum’s history. This plan will ensure that our mission and programs remain relevant and exciting to our guests in the years to come.

And so, particularly during this season of gratitude, I would like to thank you again for your participation this year as a visitor, member, volunteer or donor. We truly could not fulfill the Museum’s educational mission without your generous and loyal support.

I hope that as the year draws to a close and you set your philanthropic priorities, you will consider a tax-deductible year end gift to Plimoth Plantation. Together we can continue to tell the pivotal story of the Nation’s earliest foundations and make Plimoth Plantation an even better 21st-century living history museum.

On behalf of all of us at Plimoth Plantation, I wish you and your family a joyous Thanksgiving.

With appreciation,

Ellie Donovan
Executive Director

America’s Hometown Thanksgiving Celebration

America’s Hometown Thanksgiving Celebration will take place Nov. 21-23. This year the Nov. 22 parade theme is “Land of the Free” and feature special guest, Dr. Alveda King, niece of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The parade begins at 11 a.m. Events include the New England Food Festival and Crafters Village, Wampanoag Educational Pavillion, patriotic concerts and more. See www.usathanksgiving.com for all the details.

Saturday, Nov. 22:Opening ceremonies at DCR Pilgrim Memorial Park 10:30 a.m., America’s Hometown Thanksgiving parade on Main Street 11 a.m.; Hannaford Supermarkets New England Food Festival and Crafters Village at DCR Pilgrim Memorial Park, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Portal to the Past, historical village and demonstrations at Brewster Gardens, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Wampanoag Educational Pavilion, sponsored by Massasoit Community College, at Brewster Gardens, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; The National Senior and Alumni Drum and Bugle Corps Reunion Concert at Memorial Hall, 6:30 p.m., $27, see www.usathanksgiving.org for tickets

Sunday, Nov. 23:Harvest Market and Crafters Village at DCR Pilgrim Memorial Park, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Wampanoag Educational Pavilion, sponsored by Massasoit Community College, at Brewster Gardens, 9 a.m. to noon.

PartyLite Participating in Plymouth Thanksgiving Parade for 19th Year

Employees of PartyLite, the world’s number one party plan candle company, will carry a giant American flag in the America’s Hometown Thanksgiving Celebration Parade on Saturday, Nov. 22, beginning at 10:30 a.m. on the Plymouth, Massachusetts, waterfront. In addition, PartyLite is sponsoring a special float honoring the 200th anniversary of “The Star-Spangled Banner” national anthem.

According to Donna Green, Manager of Community Relations and Corporate Giving at PartyLite, 2014 marks the 19th year that PartyLite has sponsored a float in the Plymouth parade. The 2014 theme, “Land of the Free,” was chosen to honor two important U.S. milestones: the 200th anniversary of “The Star Spangled Banner,” written by Francis Scott Key; and the 50th anniversary of the passage of the Civil Rights Act.

“PartyLite employees could not be prouder to carry our country’s flag,” says Green. “By carrying the flag, we recognize not only the brave passengers of the Mayflower, who helped found our country, but also the brave men and women who serve in our country’s armed forces around the globe today keeping our freedom safe.”

Green says that 25 PartyLite employee volunteers will march the 1.5 mile parade route holding the 40-by-25 foot American flag. PartyLite and its employees have participated in every parade since the celebration began.

Other PartyLite employees will hand out tealight candles at the PartyLite tent on the waterfront between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturday. Tealights also will be given out from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday during the first annual “Illuminate 2014” ceremony and festivities kicking off the five-year countdown to the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower landing in Plymouth and the first Thanksgiving.

“PartyLite has always been so proud to be headquartered in Plymouth,” says Joan Connor, President of PartyLite North America, “and it is really an ideal fit when you think about it. PartyLite sells the ultimate products for celebration – the best quality candles you can buy anywhere in the world.”

PartyLite, whose candles, home décor and home fragrance products are available in 23 countries around the world, will provide much of the actual candle light for the Illuminate 2014 event, including donated candles for luminaria and the candle-lighting ceremony.

PartyLite is also sponsoring the Plymouth 400 Illuminate mobile app, which includes the weekend’s celebration schedule. Additionally, the app will allow people in Plymouth, Massachusetts, to engage with participants in sister city, Plymouth, England, and connect through the app’s social media photo-sharing feature. The app also gives users the ability to light a virtual candle to illuminate in their own communities.”

About PartyLite

PartyLite is the world’s #1 party plan company selling candles, candle holders, flameless fragrance and wax warmers as well as holiday and home décor available in 23 countries predominately through independent PartyLite business entrepreneurs. Since 1997, the PartyLite family of consultants, customers and employees has raised more than $14 million for the American Cancer Society and nearly $4 million for Children’s Miracle Network. In 2014, PartyLite celebrates 41 years as the global leader in its category and 24 years as a member of the distinguished Blyth family of direct selling companies (NYSE:BTH). PartyLite is one of 53 Direct Selling Association member companies recognized during the 2014 annual meeting for participating in DSA’s Code Communication Initiative, focusing on observing and communicating the DSA Code of Ethics as widely as possible. Based in Plymouth, Massachusetts, PartyLite is a member of the Direct Selling Association and the Better Business Bureau. For more information, please visit www.partylite.com.

Save the Trees on Burial Hill in Plymouth

There is an online petition you can review and sign to Save the Trees on Burial Hill in Plymouth. Please click here for more information.

Warm & Cozy at the Plymouth Indoor Farmers Market

Once again, the Plymouth Farmers' Market is moving indoors! The Plymouth Farmers' Market will launch the Indoor Winter Season on November 13th at the Henry Hornblower II Visitor Center at Plimoth Plantation. The indoor season runs from November to May on the second Thursday of each month, 2:30 to 6:30pm. Regional farmers and artisans bring their own fresh seasonal fruits, vegetables, eggs and dairy, cheese, pasture-raised meats, baked goods, breads, herbs, honey, cut flowers, plants and artisan skin care.

Veterans Day Award Ceremony

Trappings and Traditions in 19th Century America

 

Mourning: Trappings and Traditions in 19th Century America
Saturday, November 15, 2014 at 1:00 PM

All are welcome to a program on the customs, practices and accoutrements of mourning brought to you by the Friends of Burial Hill. 

The program begins at 1:00 with a talk on Mourning:Trappings and Traditions given by Cheryle Caputo.

Sample baked goods from 19th century recipes. 

View articles of mourning on display and enjoy anecdotes and songs of the era sung a cappella by The Proper Ladies' Miss Anabel Graetz in traditional Victorian dress. 

Free and open to the public
1749 Court House Museum, Town Square, Plymouth, Ma.

All-Mozart Extravaganza at Plymouth Philharmonic

 

It's an all-Mozart extravaganza at the Plymouth Philharmonic on November 8th at 8PM. Tickets are on sale now for this special performance.

 

Click here for more details.

What Lies Beneath?

In their third year of collaboration, Plymouth Archaeological Rediscovery Project and the Friends of Burial Hill are continuing their examinations of Plymouth’s Burial Hill. Using the latest modern technology such ground penetrating radar (GPR) we are able to “see” what may lie beneath Burial Hill. Craig Chartier, Director and Principal Archaeologist of PARP will discuss the results of our latest survey done over the summer . 

Craig will be joined by Russell Kempton of New England Geophysical to demonstrate how GPR is used as a non – invasive method of investigation. Join us as we reveal the discovery of what could be a link to the Fort.

Saturday, October 25th at 1:00

Meet at the top of the main staircase.

Free to the public            

Plymouth Halloween on Main Street

Pilgrim Hall Museum lectures

Pilgrim Hall Museum, located at 75 Court St., will offer a new series of evening lectures in October, featuring authors, local historians and even some historical music. Rockland Trust is the series sponsor. The lectures take place Wednesdays, with coffee and refreshments at 6:30 p.m. and the lecture at 7. A $5 donation per person is suggested.

Oct. 29: Stephen O’Neill, associate director/curator of Pilgrim Hall Museum, will present “Where the Bodies Are: Pilgrim Graves and Burying Grounds.” More than 200 people immigrated to Plymouth Colony between 1620 and 1623, yet only a very few of them have graves marked with original gravestones. This illustrated lecture will examine the possibilities of where most of the first settlers were buried.

Those with questions about Pilgrim Hall Museum’s October Lecture Series can call the museum at 508-746-1620, ext. 7. For more information, see www.pilgrimhallmuseum.org.

You Can't Take It With You Performance

 

Do you have your tickets yet? It's only a week until You Can't Take It With You opens at The Spire! The show runs October 17-19 and 24-26 at The Spire Center for the Performing Arts at 25 ½ Court St., Plymouth, MA.

You Can't Take It With You is a warm and funny family comedy written by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman. One of the most popular comedies in America, the production will finally come to Plymouth - America's Hometown - with a hilarious ensemble cast ready to light up the stage at The Spire. It's all about the wild and wonderful Sycamore family household during the late 1930's. Presiding happily over the household is Grandpa Vanderhof - and it's pretty much a do-what-you-want, no-questions-asked, kind of place, with mothers and fathers, daughters and sons-in-laws, boyfriends, assorted boarders, maids, and eccentric visitors populating the stage.  

Michael Pevzner of Kingston will direct the production. Pevzner has been acting and directing with South Shore theater companies since the 1970's.  A native New Yorker and graduate of New York's School of Performing Arts and Boston's Emerson College, Pevzner was a professor and Director of Fine Arts at Massasoit Community College for 30 years.  He has directed often for the Bay Players of Duxbury, Curtain Call Theatre in Braintree, and Nemasket River Productions in Middleboro.  This is Pevzner's first time directing for PCT, but he has previously appeared on stage in PCT's productions of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and this summer's Sizzling Summer Shorts. 

The large cast of You Can't Take It With You includes talented actors from across southeastern Massachusetts, including Marnie Almirall, Edward Dowling, Bill Driscoll, Phil Hebert, and Marianne Withington, all of Plymouth, Margaret O'Brien of Abington, Ted Lillys of Duxbury, Frank Piekut of Hanover, Brendon Auld and Kelly Auld of Holbrook, Paul McCuen of Marshfield, Robin Richard of New Bedford, Christopher Cartier of Pembroke, Brittany Foley of Quincy, Nancy Sparklin of Rochester, Jane Cartier of West Bridgewater, and Brian Hurley and Ed Krasnow of Weymouth. Full cast bios and headshots are available on our website at www.plymouthcommunitytheatre.net!      

Once again, You Can't Take It With You will be performed at The Spire Center for the Performing Arts, 25 ½ Court Street in Plymouth. The show will run for two weekends, Friday through Sunday, October 17-19 and 24-26. Friday and Saturday shows start at 8:00pm and Sunday performances start at 7:00pm.

Tickets are $20 / $18 seniors and students and can be purchased online on our website or in person at The Spire 30 minutes before the show. Seating is general admission; first-come, first-served.

Town of Plymouth Residential Smoke Detector Recycling Program

Residential smoke detectors are common household items.  There are two types of smoke detectors, and both use different technologies to detect smoke.  Ionization smoke detectors use a small radioactive source (Americium-241) as a key component in detecting smoke particles, while photoelectric smoke detectors use a light and sensor to detect smoke.  Given that a small amount of radioactive material is found in many residential smoke detectors, the Department of Public Works is starting a new recycling program that will accept ionization smoke detectors.  To keep trace radioactive materials out of the environment, DO NOT dispose of smoke detectors in the orange trash bags that you bring to the Manomet Transfer Station for disposal.  Instead, bring the used smoke detector to the Manomet Transfer Station and an attendant will accept it- at no cost to you- to be recycled.   

For more information about this policy or about how to handle residential smoke detectors when they are ready to be disposed of please call Greg Smith, Solid Waste Manager, at 508-830-4162x100 or gsmith@townhall.plymouth.ma.us