The Rochester Senior Center hosted the Rochester Historical Society’s fifth annual “Block Party” on Saturday, September 26, defying the rain and wind of the Nor’easter outside to deliver a successful event before a large crowd.
Tables occupied by vendors and non-profits filled the main room. From the kitchen in the back, local firefighters served hamburgers and hot dogs, and the Council on Aging (COA) served other foods and desserts. DJ Rick and his sound equipment, along with rows of chairs, faced the front of the room, where young performers from the local Showstoppers singing group, making their first appearance at the Party, entertained the crowd.
Town Administrator Cameron Durant introduced the group to the audience but first saluted the event itself and how it symbolized Rochester’s come-together community spirit.
He referred to the plywood covering the senior center wall facing the parking area and said, “The wall is a symbol of how and what the town can do together. Over the past decade, volunteers fundraised the money for this expansion of the COA. That’s the symbol of this Rochester. Rochester was founded in 1686. For 340 years, Rochester has come together to build their town together. I am so happy and proud to be a small part of that.”
Durant later explained that he has attended the event for all three years he has been town administrator.
COA Director Eric Poulin echoed Durant’s comment, explaining that COA staff and the Friends of the Senior Center created the event five years ago to bring the community together and celebrate the spirit of Rochester.
“I like seeing everyone coming together like this and having fun,” Poulin said. “They couldn’t do this without an event like this. We had to scale it back this year because of the weather. But it was good to see people, parents and grandparents having a good time.”
How scaled back was this year’s event? Carol Galante-Dias of the COA said it was to be much bigger than in past years. The Boy Scouts, the 4-H Club and the Rochester Rodeo all planned to be there outside of Town Hall. Wally the Green Monster, the Red Sox mascot, also had to cancel his appearance.
“We would’ve had 300 to 400 people without this weather,” she said.
What the audience got instead was no less impressive. Serving as the highlight of the day, The Showstoppers, which are headquartered in Mattapoisett but draw their young singers from all around the South Coast, entertained with polished renditions of show and pop tunes and patriotic songs.
The show started with Nick Szabo, age 10, soloing with a rendition of “I’m a Yankee Doodle Dandy,” followed by a group singing of “This Is My Country” and “God Bless America” that drew a loud round of applause.
By Michael J. DeCicco