It’s November 30, my mind is still catching up with the calendar, and I’m racing through the woods via the Shaw Farm Trail early in the sort-of-sunny morning. I stop for just a few seconds to gaze at a lone deer standing by the edge of the field foraging through the mowed grass. I bid it a silent good morning, and for a brief moment, I acknowledge that today is the start of the firearm deer hunting season in Massachusetts. I wonder if the deer will survive these two weeks. I imagine never seeing the deer again.

Heart rate is dropping and I feel the chill of the air penetrate my clothing, so I turn again to the path and, just like that, I let go of the thought and move on.

It has been archery hunting season for a few weeks now, so I felt smart in my fluorescent orange running shirt that matched the fluorescence of my sneakers. Clearly, one can see me coming. And if that isn’t enough, I make enough noise grunting, stomping on the earth, breathing in and out heavily, and occasionally a swear slips out when my foot hits a tree root and trips me up or I twist my ankle on a rock hidden beneath the leaves.

Having said all that, I was still startled when I came upon the rustling of moving brush and sticks breaking in the woods, an invisible force of sorts: invisible except for the orange blaze. And the man ahead of me standing on the path, rifle in one hand and walkie-talkie in the other, was equally startling. That is fine, except I shouldn’t have been startled at all, for I know it is hunting season. I guess I just didn’t expect to see a hunter standing so close to where I was, to where the lady coming down the path with her doggie dressed in his orange blaze cape was. I have heard them many times before – hunters moving through the woods or shooting from afar – but I had just never seen them out there before. Right there. Uh-oh. Isn’t this sort of, dangerous? I mean, are they allowed to hunt right there on the hiking path?

Actually, yes. Yes, they are. And as responsible as these hunters must be with their firearms when in a place where the public may pass, I must be equally responsible for my safety – which means casting away my assumed belief in hunting setbacks of some type from hiking trails and getting real.

Which brings me to the point of this long-winded rant on winter-hiking/running/whatever-you-like-to-do-in-the-woods ignorance such as mine. NOW is the time when it is most important to be aware and wear hunter’s orange. People should have on at least an orange blaze vest and cap, and pets should have their own blaze, too.

Most of you already know all this. But a gentle reminder never hurts. Hunting is allowed on Wildlife Management Areas, conservation lands and easements, and land trust properties, unless otherwise posted. Just a glance at the MassWildlife online map shows us that we are virtually surrounded by legal hunting grounds. My beloved Shaw Farm Trail and abutting Nasketucket Bay State Reservation included.

Stewardship Director for the Buzzards Bay Coalition Matt Spinner confirmed this, and his message for you was this, “Throw on some orange.”

State land is 100 percent open to hunting and, oftentimes, abutting private lands are too with permission from the landowner. So for the avid trail runner like me who runs throughout the year unencumbered, I feel a bit obliged to let the hunters have the woods for the very few weeks a year they are allowed. I can at least hold off until midday and leave the early morning and before dusk time periods for hunters. After all, there are always Sundays.

Besides, said Spinner, this is just the beginning of the firearms deer-hunting season, so within a week or so things may taper off a bit.

Spinner did mention, however, that there is signage at most BBC-managed lands announcing that hunting is allowed at the sites.

“We should probably have some signage at the [Shaw Farm] trail notifying people,” said Spinner. Especially, perhaps, for first-time hikers in the area who might not be aware that it is indeed hunting season in the areas that completely surround the bike path.

For now, said Spinner, a great alternative for running, hiking, and dog walking is the new Sawmill Reserve in Acushnet off Mill Road, some 20 acres of land with roughly a mile of walking trails that form a loop or two. The site is too close to surrounding neighborhoods and is closed to hunting for safety reasons. “And there’s a lot of public use there, too,” added Spinner.

“So people should wear their orange for now,” said Spinner. “You can’t be too careful.”

So, watch your step until December 31 during deer hunting season (or January 2 for gray squirrel hunting season. Seriously, did you know there was a hunting season for squirrels? I didn’t.)

By Jean Perry

The first Saturday in December every year marks the Annual Holiday Open House at the Joseph H. Plumb Library, which, for the neighbors of a small town such as Rochester, is like walking into the open door of the holiday season.

One of the first major holiday events of Christmastime, the Friends of the Plumb Library’s Annual Open House is a time to warmly welcome in the community and to fundraise for another year of valuable library programming for youth and adults.

The Friends support all the educational programs at the library, including the kiddie story times, the summer reading program, and the two book groups.

“We’re always hoping for a good turnout,” said Library Director Gail Roberts. “People especially look forward to the bake sale, and people also use the silent auction to find Christmas presents.”

Some of the offerings this year will be gift baskets as well as donated items from local shops and also some handmade goods.

“Someone dropped off a gift basket of dog toys and little doggie things,” said Roberts. “There’s an original Helen Johnson pen and ink sketch, a family game night basket with backgammon, and Uno cards, and card games…”

Other gift baskets feature four movie passes and candy, and a make your own dog biscuit kit. Tuesday morning someone dropped off a hand-knitted scarf, which Roberts said she thought was more like a shawl. “Beautiful, beautiful,” said Roberts.

The Plumb Library Open House is now a tradition in the small Rochester community.

“This is my tenth year doing it, and it was already going on when I got here,” said Roberts. She estimated that perhaps the event has been running for 12 or more years, but it originally began as a partnership between the library and Plumb Corner, which is likely why it was deemed an “open house,” said Roberts. Plumb Corner ceased its participation at one point, but the Friends at the library continued on with the tradition.

The Junior Friends have their own little kids table set up with activities and crafts, and they hold their own Christmas caroling event, complete with instrumental accompaniment. Later, Roberts and some of the Friends produce their own traditional renditions of ancient Christmas carols on the cello, recorder, and dulcimer.

And, of course, Santa arrives to make everything about this small town Christmas tradition complete.

“Because we’re so small, we can’t really be like a big church fair,” said Roberts. But the Open House is one of the library’s larger fundraising events of the year. “People just come by and see their friends and neighbors and have a good time.”

By Jean Perry

You better watch out. You better not cry. You better not pout, etc. Santa Claus is coming to Tri-Town. And soon he will be all over the place hosting pancake breakfasts, eating pizza, and riding from corner to corner via carriage, fire engine, and even boat. You won’t want to miss your chance to chat with the jolly old elf, take pictures of the kiddies on his knee, or frighten the Dickens out of the little ones, because the big bushy-bearded benevolent guy in red shouting “ho-ho-ho” is indeed understandably scary. Nonetheless, here is a concise guide to all the scheduled Santa sightings in your town so you don’t have to track him down yourself.

This Saturday, December 5, Santa will be especially busy making simultaneous stops at several locations in each of the three towns. (But the kids don’t have to know that.)

In Mattapoisett, from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm, the churches of St. Anthony and St. Rita will come together for their 50^th annual Christmas Fair at St. Anthony’s Church, 22 Barstow Street. In addition to a number of craft and food vendors, the Christmas Fair is boasting a toyshop, craft workshop, and a visit with Santa the kids will enjoy.

Over in Rochester, Santa will join in on the fun at Plumb Library’s annual holiday Open House from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, 17 Constitution Way. The general splendor of the event will include performances by the Junior Friends, caroling, a silent auction, and lots of books for sale.

In Marion, it’s the Marion Police Brotherhood’s 4^th Annual Pizza with Santa from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Marion Music Hall, 164 Front Street. Bring a new unwrapped toy for a child in need as part of the brotherhood’s “Fill a Cruiser” toy drive. This is a free event, but you need to register ahead by emailing your information to adicarlo@marionma.gov right away!

Santa won’t get much of a breather before he’s back out again in Mattapoisett the next morning, Sunday, December 6, from 8:00 am to 11:30 am at the Knights of Columbus pancake breakfast with Santa, 57 Fairhaven Road (Route 6). Santa will be there from 8:00 – 10:00 am, so arrive early-ish so you don’t miss him.

On Monday night, December 7, at 6:30 pm, Santa will greet all in Rochester during the Rochester Christmas Tree Lighting in front of Town Hall, 1 Constitution Way. You won’t miss him, since he will be sticking with tradition and making his flashy and loud entrance on a fire engine laughing “ho-ho-ho” and wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. Free refreshments and music, too.

Saturday, December 12 is the Mattapoisett Holiday in the Park from 3:00 to 5:00 pm at Shipyard Park. Tree lighting is at 4:00 pm. The Mattapoisett Lions Club is asking revelers to bring with them a new unwrapped toy and a canned good to drop off. This event is a big one, with over 19 local vendors, food, music and performances, and of course Santa, accompanied by Mrs. Claus and some elves, will arrive on a fire truck at dusk, just in time for the lighting of the town Christmas tree.

Sunday, December 13 is Marion’s traditional Christmas Stroll in the Village from 3:00 to 6:00 pm. Santa, as he does every year, will approach the crowd of people waiting on the Town Wharf from afar by boat, briefly greet the hundreds of revelers, and then board his horse-drawn wagon to visit the streets of the village, seemingly larger than life and full of Christmas cheer. Front Street from South Street to Holmes Lane and Island Wharf Road will be closed to traffic. There are always free goodies offered by area businesses along with festive music.

Santa is indeed busy this year hopping here and there to delight Tri-Town children. As you go about following after him, be sure to smile for the camera and read The Wanderer. You might be in it!

By Jean Perry