Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School, 476 North Ave., in Rochester, will dedicate their newly refurbished science lab to former school superintendent, David J. Ferreira, on December 2 at 3:00 pm at the school.

The science lab will be named “The David J. Ferreira Science Center” in honor of Ferreira who served as Old Colony’s superintendent-director from 1992 until his retirement in 2007. Ferreira, a former physics teacher, currently serves as Executive Director of MAVA, the Massachusetts Association of Vocational Technical Administrators.

Old Colony, built in 1975, recently completed a $2.5 million capital improvement project through the Massachusetts School Building Authority that included a new roof and science lab. The MSBA grant funded about 54.6 percent of the project.

Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School in Rochester provides vocational training to high school students who live in Acushnet, Carver, Lakeville, Mattapoisett, and Rochester.

Join the parishes of St. Anthony’s of Mattapoisett and St. Rita’s of Marion as they hold their annual Magic of Christmas Fair from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm on Saturday, December 7, at St. Anthony’s church hall, 22 Barstow St., Mattapoisett. Enjoy hot coffee with your malasada as you shop for beautiful hand-crafted gifts, pick out a fresh wreath or Christmas arrangement, take a chance on one of our 10 themed raffle baskets, or buy a ticket to win the grand raffle with a top prize of $500 cash! New this year will be sales of “True Joy of Christmas,” a CD of upbeat Christmas music sure to put you in the holiday mood. Simplify your life with one-stop Christmas shopping – representatives from Silpada, Pampered Chef, and Refried Tees will be on hand to help you select that perfect gift. There’s a craft workshop and toy shop for the kids, and they can even get their picture taken with Santa. And don’t forget you can personalize our limited edition, hand-painted annual Christmas ornament for a keepsake they’ll treasure. Stay for a yummy bowl of kale soup or Mattapoisett Chowder House’s award-winning chowder, a hot dog or one of Gail’s Goodies delicious wrap sandwiches. And we’ll have plenty of scratch-made baked goods to satisfy your sweet tooth! We accept all major credit cards. Parking is free and the church hall is handicap-accessible via the Barstow Street entrance.

The Marion Republican Town Committee will conduct its next monthly meeting on Tuesday, December 3, at 7:00 pm at 122 Converse Rd., Marion. The public and new members are welcome.

Approximately 8,000 miles from Marion, in Southeast Asia, lay the enigmatic country of Myanmar (formerly Burma). Until the British invaded the country in 1885, little was known about the classical civilization located there. As a British colony, the country gained recognition in literary works by George Orwell (Burmese Days) and Rudyard Kipling (“Mandalay”). In World War II, it was overrun by the Japanese who in turn were driven out by combined American, British, and Chinese forces. The famed U.S. “Merrill’s Marauders” spearheaded the effort. After WWII, the British granted total independence to Burma. The country was thereafter ruled by a military government and isolated from the world for more than 60 years. In 2011, in order to secure a relaxation of economic sanctions and to encourage foreign investment, Myanmar finally started down a path toward democracy and was formally opened to tourists.

The poorest state in Southeast Asia, Myanmar still has a long way to go to become a modern country. Despite its economic difficulties, though, the country offers a wealth of cultural opportunities, and visitors can now enjoy this exotic land of golden stupas, red-robed monks, and elaborately carved teak palaces. Earlier this year, Bob and Judy Rosbe traveled to Myanmar, returning with a host of memories and images of their fascinating journey. On Wednesday, December 11, at 7:00 pm at the Marion Music Hall, the Rosbes will talk about their travels to Myanmar and share images from their trip. Co-sponsored by the Elizabeth Taber Library and the Sippican Historical Society, the presentation is offered free of charge and is open to the public. No registration is required. For more information, contact the Elizabeth Taber Library at 508-748-1252 or the Sippican Historical Society at 508-748-1116.

The Mattapoisett Historical Society’s Museum will open for the Holiday Season on Saturday, December 7, from 9:00 am to noon. Light refreshments will be served. Have fun viewing a Toy Train Exhibit while shopping for unique Mattapoisett gifts including notecards featuring Mattapoisett snow scenes -great for Christmas cards – posters, books, and many other unique gifts. The museum will continue to be open on Saturday mornings before Christmas. On December 14, there will be a drop-in craft for children where they can craft their own rope wreath ornament, and on December 21, you can view classic Christmas cartoons from the 1930s, 40s, and 50s while enjoying some hot chocolate. Exhibit and programs are free; donations are always welcome. For more information, please contact the Mattapoisett Historical Society, 5 Church St., at (508) 758-2844 or mattapoisett.museum@verizon.net, or online at mattapoisetthistoricalsociety.org.