BROCKTON AND PLYMOUTH, MA… National Family Caregivers Month, celebrated every November, recognizes the dedication and compassion of family caregivers in our communities.
According to the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP’s Caregiving in the US 2025 report, one in four adults, 63 million Americans, are family caregivers. A significant number of family caregivers care for adults with complex medical conditions or disabilities, including dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
In honor of National Family Caregivers Month, Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), the largest provider of in-home and community-based services for older adults and people living with disabilities in Plymouth County, the South Shore and surrounding areas, will spotlight dedicated caregivers who make a positive impact in others’ lives.
Nominate a Caregiver
OCES is honoring family caregivers who make a difference in the lives of others by inviting individuals and companies to nominate a caregiver (family member, friend, associate, or other individual) who has gone above and beyond to care for someone in the community.
From now through October 12, 2026, OCES is accepting nominations of local caregivers within the 34 communities in OCES’ service area to be highlighted during National Family Caregivers Month in November. OCES will honor their commitment to caregiving by spotlighting each nominated caregiver and sharing their story in a special Caregiver Edition newsletter and across OCES’ social media channels.
To nominate a caregiver, please visit:  https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sv/9tCYxwP/caregiver
Nominated caregivers will be notified by OCES. To view a map of OCES’ service area, visit ocesma.org/about-old-colony-elder-services.
Visit ocesma.org or call 508-584-1561 to learn more.
Providing Support & Resources for Caregivers
OCES’ Family Caregiver Support Program (FCSP) provides caregiver support and resources to individuals in OCES’ service area. For more information about caregiver support visit ocesma.org/programs-services/caregiver-support or call 508-584-1561.

PEMBROKE, MA — True Repertory Theatre will host a unique, circus-themed fundraising event titled “The Greatest Gift On Earth” on Sat., Oct. 3, 2026, from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the Pembroke Community Center (128 Center St.) to celebrate Artistic Director and Pembroke native Donald Sheehan’s 10-year kidney transplant anniversary. The evening will benefit both The Mass General Brigham Transplant Center and True Repertory Theatre, while honoring the memory of Dr. Cecil Coggins, Sheehan’s long-time nephrologist. The fundraiser will also include an exclusive preview of a new play Hold Please! Drama, Dialysis, Dead-End Jobs, and How Katherine Helmond Saved My Soul, based on Sheehan’s own journey through the roller coaster of kidney disease while launching a fledgling theater company.
According to Sheehan, “This special event is a way for us to bring together arts and advocacy to celebrate life, honor medical heroes, and benefit two organizations that have had a profound impact on not just my life but the lives of our shared community. We hope this inspirational evening will offer hope to those struggling with kidney disease, spotlight the critical, ongoing need for organ donors, and celebrate the profound, life-changing power of organ donation – ‘the greatest gift on earth’.”
“The Greatest Gift on Earth” fundraiser will take place on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the Pembroke Community Center (128 Center Street, Pembroke, MA). In addition to a sneak peek of Hold Please!, the evening will feature themed entertainment, interactive carnival games, fun carnival foods, a cash bar, music, and raffles. Tickets are $75, and may be purchased at www.truerepertorytheatre.org. Donations and sponsorship information is also available on the True Rep website.

Hold Please! Drama, Dialysis, Dead-End Jobs, and How Katherine Helmond Saved My Soul
A New Play Full Theatrical Run Oct. 17-25, 2026
How do you navigate the roller coaster of a critical medical condition while simultaneously launching a passion project and working a mundane, full-time job? Hold Please! Drama, Dialysis, Dead-End Jobs, and How Katherine Helmond Saved My Soul is an original play written by a collaboration of True Rep artists that chronicles Sheehan’s deeply personal journey with kidney disease and the effects on his life, body image, relationships, and dreams for the future.
Based on his own journals, Hold Please! follows Sheehan through kidney disease diagnosis to dialysis to life-saving transplant while working day-to-day in a mind-numbing call center and launching his true passion, a repertory theater company. This inspirational story, often heartfelt and funny, reveals the circus-like atmosphere of navigating the ups and downs of serious illness.
Hold Please! will officially premiere for a limited engagement of 6 performances from October 17-25, 2026 at True Repertory’s home, the Beal House in Kingston, just two weeks following the fundraiser. Tickets are $25 and will be available for purchase at “The Greatest Gift On Earth” fundraiser and at www.truerepertorytheatre.org.

PLYMOUTH, MA — The Phil is opening its 111th season with a night at the opera—but not quite as you know it.
On Saturday, September 19, 2026, at 7:30 PM, the Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra takes the stage at the Plymouth South High School Performing Arts Center for an exhilarating evening featuring four operatic masterpieces and a special world premiere. Under the direction of Conductor Steven Karidoyanes, the concert will feature internationally acclaimed violinist Irina Muresanu in a program filled with drama, danger, passion, heroics—and plenty of virtuosic fireworks.
From Rossini’s epic Overture to William Tell and Borodin’s exotic Polovtsian Dances from Prince Igor to Sarasate’s dazzling Fantasy on Bizet’s Carmen and Gershwin’s sweeping Fantasy on Porgy & Bess, arranged by Star Trek theme composer Alexander Courage, the evening offers audiences four unforgettable opportunities to lose themselves in some of the most beloved music ever written.
“This is a program overflowing with color, excitement, and extraordinary melodies,” said Karidoyanes. “Each piece brings its own sense of drama and personality, and having Irina Muresanu with us to perform these spectacular violin fantasies makes this an especially thrilling way to begin our new season.”
Both the season and the concert begin with a special premiere on the Phil stage: Elena
Roussanova’s fiery A Festival Fanfare. This music was rewritten by the composer at the request of conductor Karidoyanes, expanding its instrumentation to full symphony orchestra from its original version for just brass and percussion.
Muresanu, praised for her passionate and dynamic performances, will take center stage for Sarasate’s celebrated fantasy based on themes from Bizet’s Carmen, as well as the fantasy on Gershwin’s beloved Porgy & Bess. Together, the works provide a virtuosic showcase for one of today’s most compelling violinists.
Ticket holders are also invited to arrive early for a free pre-concert talk with Steven Karidoyanes at 6:30 PM, offering additional insight into the evening’s music and composers.
Tickets are $40 and $75 and are available through the Phil.
Concert Details
OPENING NIGHT: Fiddler of the Opera Saturday, September 19, 2026 | 7:30 PM Plymouth South High School Performing Arts Center 490 Long Pond Road, Plymouth, MA
Pre-Concert Talk with Steven Karidoyanes
6:30 PM | Free for ticket holders
About the Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra
The Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra is a premier non-profit cultural institution in Massachusetts and the Orchestra-in-Residence with the Town of Plymouth at Memorial Hall. Dedicated to artistic excellence and community enrichment, the orchestra offers world-class performances, innovative outreach programs, and strong community partnerships. Now launching its 111th season, The
Phil’s mission is to create music and educational experiences that engage people of all ages and from all walks because we believe music inspires curiosity, enables connection, and provides joy.
For more information, visit plymouthphil.org or call 508-746-8008.
Contact:
Melissa Arp, Marketing Manger 508-746-8008
m.arp@plymouthphil.org

Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), the largest provider of in-home and community-based services for older adults and people living with disabilities throughout Plymouth County, the South Shore and surrounding area, has announced the schedule for the South Shore LGBTQ+ Brunch for Older Adults program.
The monthly Saturday brunch program, operated and supported by OCES’ Nutrition Program, is for LGBTQ+ older adults who live on the South Shore and in the greater Plymouth County area.
For nearly 20 years, the “LGBTQ+ Brunch for Older Adults on the South Shore” have been providing nutritious meals that feed the body, mind, heart and spirit. This LGBTQ+ community dining event provides a nutritious meal along with an opportunity for attendees to connect and socialize, helping those age 60+ (and their friends) minimize the effects of social isolation. This brunch, as well as other community dining programs for LGBTQ+ older adults, keep members engaged with their local and regional LGBTQ+ communities to help them stay informed and connected to the larger LGBTQ+ movements, services, relationships and world.
“I have led this program for going on 16 years and it is some of the most meaningful work that I do, gladly and joyfully,” said Michael Banville who organizes the South Shore LGBTQ+ Brunch for Older Adults. “My husband and I (both now in our early 60’s) have supported this program with the hopes of creating a vibrant South Shore community with whom we too can age. We value the relationships, being socially connected to vibrant LGBTQ+ older adults who are truly inspirational in their commitments to live out and proud lives as they age. It is a joy to lead the South Shore LGBTQ+ Brunch for Older Adults and we are so excited to partner with OCES in this important social and community work.”
Upcoming South Shore LGBTQ+ Brunch for Older Adults will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, September 26, October 31, and December 12, 2026, which will be a special holiday brunch. All South Shore LGBTQ+ Brunches for Older Adults are held in South Weymouth, MA.
To RSVP and for more info about the South Shore LGBTQ+ Brunch for Older Adults, visit the Meetup group website, https://www.meetup.com/south-shore-lgbt-seniors/
OCES Nutrition Program
In addition to the monthly South Shore LGBTQ+ Brunch for Older Adults program, OCES’ Nutrition Program encompasses Meals on Wheels for homebound older adults who rely on OCES for sustenance; Community Dining meals and socialization opportunities that combat loneliness and isolation; and nutrition education and counseling that promotes healthy eating habits. To learn more, visit ocesma.org/programs-services/nutrition
OCES’ Expanded Region
OCES serves 34 communities throughout the South Shore and in greater Plymouth County: Abington, Avon, Braintree, Bridgewater, Brockton, Carver, Cohasset, Duxbury, East Bridgewater, Easton, Halifax, Hanson, Hanover, Hingham, Holbrook, Hull, Kingston, Lakeville, Marshfield, Middleborough, Milton, Norwell, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton, Quincy, Randolph, Rockland, Scituate, Stoughton, Wareham, West Bridgewater, Weymouth, and Whitman.

Kingston – Today, Representative LaNatra applauded Governor Healey and Department of Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, MD, PhD for taking strong, decisive action to protect young people and Massachusetts residents from kratom and kratom products. Today’s order reclassified kratom and kratom products as Schedule I drugs, which the DEA defines as drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.
Throughout the 194th legislative session, Representative LaNatra has worked tirelessly to educate her colleagues in the Legislature as well town officials and residents throughout the 12th Plymouth district about the dangers and harms associated with kratom usage.
“After hearing a personal story from a constituent and a friend about her child’s usage of kratom products and his subsequent recovery, I made it a top priority of mine to help educate my colleagues and constituents about this drug and do something to keep the residents of Massachusetts safe,” said State Representative Kathy LaNatra (D – Kingston). “Kratom’s newness and easy accessibility mean that many people do not understand that this is a drug with potentially fatal side effects that is dangerously unregulated. I have been proud of the work I have done to help bring attention to this issue, leading four out of six towns that I represent to issue town-wide bans prior to today’s order. Thank you to Governor Healey and DPH Commissioner Goldstein for their decisive leadership on this issue and their commitment to the health and safety of the residents they serve.”
Kratom, often described as ‘gas station heroine’, is widely sold in smoke shops, convenience stores, and gas stations in the powders, tablets, capsules, gummies, dissolvable strips, and other forms. Kratom products have, to-date, been largely unregulated and products can vary significantly in their potency and ingredients, making it difficult for consumers to know what they are purchasing or the potential health risks. Regular kratom use can also lead to physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms similar to opioid withdrawal.
Representative LaNatra has been active on this issue for the past two years, hosting briefings for her colleagues in the State House, where legislators heard from parents, pediatricians, and public health advocates who shared their personal stories and expertise
Department of Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, MD, PhD, has issued an emergency order temporarily placing all forms of kratom into Schedule I under Massachusetts law. The order will take effect following a 14-day notice period and remain in effect for up to one year. It will give local boards of health and other municipal officials additional authority to take enforcement action against retailers selling kratom products.
As part of the statewide effort, DPH is also providing information and guidance to local boards of health, health care providers and substance use treatment programs about the new restrictions, the health risks associated with kratom and available treatment and recovery services. DPH will also hold an informational webinar for local public health officials to support implementation of the order.
Kratom is a leafy plant native to Southeast Asia containing naturally occurring substances, including mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH). Depending on the amount and potency, kratom can produce stimulant-like or opioid-like effects. Some newer products contain highly concentrated or laboratory-modified compounds that can have significantly stronger opioid-like effects.
Kratom use has been associated with a range of health effects, including seizures, hallucinations, psychosis, physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms. Kratom also carries a risk of overdose, particularly when highly potent products are used, products contain unknown substances, or it is combined with opioids, alcohol, benzodiazepines or other sedatives. While uncommon, kratom-related deaths have been reported, particularly when kratom is used with other substances or by people with underlying health conditions.
If someone who has used kratom has slowed or stopped breathing, naloxone should be administered immediately. Naloxone is available without a prescription at pharmacies and many retail locations across Massachusetts. Treatment is available for people experiencing kratom withdrawal or dependence, including medications, counseling, peer support and behavioral health services. Individuals seeking help for themselves or a loved one can call or text “HOPE” to 800-327-5050 to reach the Massachusetts Substance Use Helpline, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Representative LaNatra is serving her fourth term as State Representative of the 12th Plymouth District, which consists of Precincts 1, and 2A, of the town of Halifax, the town of Kingston, Precincts 1, and 5A, of the town of Middleborough, Precinct 3, of the town of Pembroke, Precincts 1, 2, 3, 5, and 13, all of the town of Plymouth, and the town of Plympton, all in the county of Plymouth.

ROCKLAND, MA,  Acella Construction Corporation, a leader in construction management throughout greater Boston, is proud to announce the completion of South Coastal Animal Health’s newest veterinary facility at 400 Hingham Street in Rockland, Massachusetts. As a newly valued Acella tenant and long-time client, this project marks the third successful collaboration between the two organizations, continuing a trusted partnership built on quality, communication, and a shared commitment to exceptional patient care.
Founded in 2006, South Coastal Animal Health is a privately owned veterinary practice known for combining advanced medical services with a personalized approach to animal care. The practice provides comprehensive veterinary services ranging from preventative medicine and wellness care to advanced diagnostics, surgery, and intensive treatment.
The 17-week interior fit-out transformed the space into a modern, fully equipped veterinary hospital designed to support both clinical efficiency and patient comfort. The facility features seven exam rooms, a dedicated X-ray suite, a surgical operating room, treatment and administrative areas, an in-house lab that allows for most bloodwork to be completed while clients wait, and a welcoming reception space designed to enhance the client experience.
Construction included the installation of new mechanical, electrical, plumbing, lighting, and fire alarm systems, along with interior partitions extending above the ceiling plane to support performance and layout flexibility. Additional work included durable epoxy flooring, custom millwork, architectural finishes throughout the facility, and a custom reception desk featuring shiplap detailing. Select existing building elements, including window trim, were preserved and incorporated into the final design where appropriate.
The completed facility provides South Coastal Animal Health with a functional, efficient, and welcoming environment that supports its continued growth and mission of delivering high-quality veterinary care to communities throughout the South Shore.
“Our Rockland satellite office for South Coastal Animal Health is the third project we’ve entrusted to Acella, and once again, we couldn’t be happier with the results,” said Grace Strake, DVM, owner of South Coastal Animal Health. “Acella was wonderful throughout the construction process. Their team was accessible, friendly, and always professional. The new clinic is the first veterinary clinic in Rockland and provides much-needed space for our growing practice. Our clients love the spacious exam rooms, the lighting, and the décor. We’ve received nothing but positive feedback. We couldn’t be happier with the outcome.”
“We value our long-standing relationship with South Coastal Animal Health and Dr. Grace Strake,” said Ryan LaVangie, vice president of sales and marketing. “We’re proud to support their continued growth with this Rockland project.”

MARSHFIELD, MA, – Road to Responsibility (RTR; http://roadtoresponsibility.org), one of the region’s largest and most successful nonprofit organizations supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, is proud to announce its “Empowering Dreams, Igniting Possibilities” endowment campaign has received 67% of its $3 million goal in just one year since the campaign’s launch.
The growing endowment is designed to ensure the long-term sustainability of RTR’s programs, which support more than 1,000 individuals annually across 52 residential homes and nine day service locations. It will also help to sustain and strengthen the non-profit’s dedicated staff, ensure the continued operation of safe and supportive residential homes, and expand opportunities for independence and community engagement for the individuals served by RTR.
RTR recently highlighted this momentum during a gathering at Tosca in Hingham, where members of the Board of Directors, donors, and community partners came together to hear updates on the organization’s impact, advocacy efforts, and visions for the future. The event underscored the growing support behind the endowment campaign and a shared commitment to strengthening opportunities for the individuals RTR proudly serves. Among those attending the event were State Representative Joan Meschino, Elena Kirkiles of Starkweather Shepley, Joe White of Quincy Mutual, Jim Dunphy and Steve DiPrete of South Shore Bank, Bob Shepard of Shepard Construction, and Ryan LaVangie and Saul Scrader of Acella Construction.
“This campaign is about ensuring that the individuals we support have the resources they need not just today, but for decades to come,” said Christopher T. White, Ed.D., president and CEO of Road to Responsibility.  “We are grateful for the generosity that has brought us closer to meeting our goal in such a short space of time; it inspires us and fuels our resolve to expand opportunities for those who depend on us.”
Those interested in making a donation, getting involved, or learning more about the “Empowering Dreams, Igniting Possibilities” endowment campaign, please contact Erin Cohen at echohen@rtrinc.org or 617-347-4524.
Every contribution makes a meaningful difference, helping RTR sustain the high-quality programs that individuals and families rely on for stability, growth, and support.