This weekend is full of summer activities all around the region. Our happenings pages, on 5, 8, 9, are loaded with fun things to do. In Fairhaven, two annual events kick off summer in earnest: The Homecoming Day Fair and the Swim for Buzzards Bay. Be sure to hang onto this week’s issue, though, because after today, we are taking two weeks off from publishing. We’ll see you on 7/19.
Swim Buzzards Bay
More than 320 swimmers, aged 11 to 78, will cross outer New Bedford Harbor at the 25th Annual Buzzards Bay Swim, Sat., 6/30, 6–10 a.m. Start: beach next to The Edge, 1480 E Rodney French Blvd, New Bedford. Finish: Fort Phoenix State Beach, Green Street, Fairhaven. Swim start is at 7:15 a.m., five separate starts, five minutes apart.
Assisted by the U.S. Coast Guard and a local safety patrol, swimmers navigate 1.2 miles through the harbor and channel, passing by the iconic Butler Flats Lighthouse and the New Bedford Hurricane Barrier, one of the largest stone structures on the East Coast. At the thrilling finish, swimmers are welcomed with a beach party featuring a live steel drum band, pancakes cooked to order, gourmet coffee, free massages, and local beer!
Registration fee: $25 fee and $150 fundraising minimum (pay-or-raise) includes parking, free shuttle a hefty bronze finisher’s medal and many other extras. Qualifications apply.
Visit http://www.savebuzzardsbay. org or call Deb Hood, Event Manager, 508-999-6363 x207 or email events@savebuzzardsbay.org.
Homecoming Day Fair
The Fairhaven Improvement Association will hold its annual Homecoming Day Fair on Sat., 6/30, from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. in the Fairhaven historical town center.
Originally based on the traditional “Old Home Days,” popular throughout New England in the early 20th Century, the modern Homecoming Day Fair will feature 175 booths of arts and crafts made by artisans from all over the northeast, foods made and sold by local non-profit and church groups, live entertainment, children’s activities and an art show. All day there will be rides on an antique fire engine for the children. Admission to the grounds is free and there will be some handicap parking spaces on Union Street.
The fair draws thousands of families, friends and visitors from across the country. It is by far the largest and most popular annual event in the town.
The town’s center, where the fair is set, is an attraction in itself. The public buildings donated to Fairhaven about one hundred years ago by Standard Oil Co. millionaire Henry H. Rogers are splendid examples of European-style architecture. Visitors can see an Italian style library, French gothic town hall, and the magnificent English Perpendicular Gothic style Unitarian Memorial Church, modeled after a 15th Century English cathedral. The buildings were all designed by noted New England architect Charles Brigham and are surrounded by unique herringbone pattern brick sidewalks. The Unitarian Memorial Church will be open for tours and will be holding a used book sale during the fair.
This year, there will be a shuttle between the Northeast Maritime Institute building at 32 Washington Street and Fairhaven High School, where there will be tours of the high school presented by the Alumni Association. Also at the high school property the Historical Society Museum will be open in the Academy Building. The shuttle service is being sponsored with the cooperation of the Fairhaven Council on Aging.
Entertainment, on the steps of the town hall (or inside if raining), will be: 10 a.m., opening remarks; 10:15–11:15, BLC, trio of young musicians; 11:15–12:15, Scott Parker, acoustic music; 12:15–1, Voices in Time, children’s group of all ages; 1–2:15, The NoteAble Blend Chorus, a new group, a cappella quartet and chorus; 2:15–3, Eddie Dillon, a local favorite, lively medley of Irish and contemporary tunes; 3–4, Pumpkin’ Head Ted, from Ragtime to Rock.
Visit http://fairhavenimprovement. org/.
FHS Tours
The 10th season of Fairhaven High School guided tours will start on the Sat., 6/30, with tours guided by FHS Alumni President Bob Foster ’66. One of the high points of the tour is when Bob takes the group out the back door of Room 8 and onto the old track on the upper level of the old gym, which is now the Library/Media Center. There will be tours starting at the Rotunda at the main entrance at 10 a.m. and then again at noon. The Class of 1968 will have a private tour for them and their spouses at 2:00 P.M. There will be four tours in July: starting at 10 a.m. on three consecutive Fridays: 7/6, 13, & s20. And then there will be a private tour for the Class of 1978 and their spouses on Friday, July 20th at 2:00 PM to kick off their Reunion Weekend.
All Class Breakfast
Sunday 7/1/18, the Fairhaven High School Class of 1968 will host the annual “All Class Breakfast” buffet in the FHS Cafeteria from 8:30-10:00 A.M. Doors will open promptly at 8:30. The entrance to the cafeteria is across from the football field on the east side of the building. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the Euro Store, corner of Main and Center Streets, at the Alumni Booth at the Homecoming Fair on June 30, or by contacting Janet Robert (jrobert711@comcast. net), phone 508-995-5187
50th Reunion Itinerary
The FHS 50th Reunion Committee would like to offer our weekend itinerary:
Friday, June 29
The raising of the Big Flag, 4:30-5:00. Class members will help to raise the flag. The newly formed FHS Alumni Chorus (members of the Class of 1968) will sing the National Anthem and God Bless America.
Open House in FHS hosted by the Alumni Association, 5:00-7:00. The Alumni Chorus will present a mini-concert in Knipe Auditorium, 5:45–600. Mix and Mingle at Mikey B’s 7:00–? with entertainment.
Saturday, June 30
FHS Tour 2:00-3:30, for classmates, family and friends, given by Bob Foster, ‘66. Reunion party at Valley Top/Allendale Country Club, 6:00-11:00.
Sunday, July 1
All Class Homecoming Breakfast, 8:30-10:00, hosted by the Class of 1968, catered by Courtyard Restaurant. Tickets at Euro Store and at Homecoming Fair, Alumni table.
Passing of the 50th Reunion Banner to the Class of 1969, preceded by singing of the Class of 1968’s class song by the FHS Alumni Chorus.
Lowering of the Big Flag, 4:00 pm.
For more information about any of these activities contact the committee via email, fhsclassof68@aol.com.
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