Baby, it was cold outside as the Old Rochester Regional High School music department took the stage for their annual holiday concert.  Music lovers were treated to four different ensembles during the show on Thursday, December 13.

“Tonight, we’re featuring the chorus, concert band, jazz band, and jazz combo,” said ORR music director Mike Barnicle.  “It’s a great group.”

The program was a mix of the familiar and exotic.  The jazz band played a Latin-inspired piece named “Cuaba” and the chorus ended their performance with the classic carol “Silient Night.”

While many of the musicians were still working out last minute nerves backstage before the show started, tonight marked the end of a very long, but festive journey.

“We’ve been rehearsing holiday songs since September, so we’re relieved to be here tonight,” joked Barnicle.

The graduating class of 2012 took with it many of the senior musicians in the department.  This fall, a big influx of freshmen took their places and Barnicle said he was excited for them to perform in their first holiday concert.

One of those newcomers is Mattapoisett native Zenobia Nelles, a clarinetist for five years.

“I’m happy to be playing in this group,” said Nelles.  “When you get to high school, the kids who did it more as a hobby in middle school lose interest.  But all the people here really care about it.”

Senior and saxophone player Mike Bliss was confident that the new students would be able to carry the torch for the out-going players like him.

“We lost a lot of seniors but the freshmen this year really brought it back.  That’s good news for the music department,” said Bliss.

Though this was his last holiday concert at ORR, Bliss was focused on the moment but thankful for the opportunity to play.

“I’m sad to see it go.  It’s been a long time, but I’m playing with a lot of good musicians tonight, and I feel great about that.”

By Eric Tripoli

Hundreds of people gathered at Shipyard Park on Wednesday, December 19, for a candlelight vigil to honor the 26 victims of the Newtown, Conn. shooting.  The massacre, which occurred on Friday, December 14, leaving the nation in a state of shock.

Mattapoisett resident Suzanne Barrows began organizing the vigil on Sunday.

“I thought I should get a few friends together to do something.  But I realized it should be something open to the whole town,” she said.  “It needed to be the whole community.  We needed it.”

After she got word of Friday’s shooting, Barrows immediately thought of her own young children who attend school in Mattapoisett where she has filled in as a substitute teacher.

“It’s so hard to grasp.  Those kids don’t just belong to Newtown anymore.  They are the nation’s kids,” said Barrows.

Residents from Mattapoisett and beyond circled in front of the gazebo at the park as local members of the clergy read prayers and remembrances.  Local singing group, the Showstoppers, also sang “Let There Be Peace On Earth,” a song that pleads for love to conquer the ills of humanity.

The first names of the murdered children were read aloud and posters with their portraits bookended either side of the gazebo.

“It’s the saddest thing ever.  It’s unimaginable,” said Lynn Bliss, whose daughter sang during the vigil.

“It’s just heartache,” said Sam Ortega, who made the posters for the vigil.  “We all have children.  It could have been anybody.  Being a father of three kids and seeing the parents crying, you really feel for them.”

The incident has sparked new conversations in the US regarding mental health care and gun laws, though the nation is far from coming to agreement on much.

“Tragedies seem to be unavoidable.  We have to just do the best we can,” said Ortega.

By Eric Tripoli

For many people, there is no bigger hassle than wrapping presents during the holidays. But for ten volunteers at the Rochester Senior Center, they are happy to do it, especially if it means bringing the organization one step closer to achieving one of their dreams. On Saturday, December 15, the Senior Center held a gift-wrapping fundraiser in order to raise money for its Supportive Day Program Fund.

“Since December is so busy, we decided not to do a dinner like we have been doing,” said Executive Director Sharon Lally.  “Instead, we decided to do this because it’s timely and it’s a nice service to give to the community.”

All of the money raised on Saturday will go to the Supportive Day Program Fund, which aims to put a 1,500 square foot addition to the rear of the Senior Center.  The Supportive Day Program will cater to the frailer senior citizens in town by allowing them to live in their homes but go to the Senior Center each day to be supervised and monitored.

“Some of these senior citizens are living alone in their homes and they don’t get out,” said Lally.  “As a result, they can become isolated and depressed.  This is an opportunity to do something specifically for this population.”

The program will help ensure that the senior citizens are getting good nutrition as well as increased socialization, Lally said.  Additionally, the Senior Center will provide transportation and meals for the attendees.  All of this will hopefully be done without the town’s money, Lally hopes.

“We are trying to raise money for the addition without asking the town for additional funds,” she said.  “Knowing what the economy is right now, we don’t want to have to raise taxes.”

So far, the group is well on their way to achieving that goal.  After a year-and-a-half of fundraising, they’ve been able to raise nearly half of their $200,000 goal.  An ongoing brick sale where residents can purchase a brick to honor a loved one has been an important source for funds.  Also, the Senior Center has held a variety of different dinners to raise money.  A Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Tournament is slated for March 9.

“There’s a million places to put your money and not everyone has extra money to give right now so every little bit counts,” said Lally.  “It’s really heartwarming because we have such wonderful volunteers here.  I try to not take it for granted because we really are blessed that way.”

For more information on the Rochester Senior Center, visit their website at www.rochestermaseniorcenter.com.

By Katy Fitzpatrick