Mold Remediation in Quincy, MA

The clock is ticking ever louder as the holiday countdown goes from months away to weeks and soon, gulp, days.

If you think you're stressed, just think how Santa must be feeling, His schedule on the South Shore this weekend alone has him traveling from one town to another, and sometimes, somehow he seems to be in multiple places at once.

Luckily, at least in the case of his annual visit to Hull on Saturday, he has the mod con of a helicopter to help him out (or maybe it's just part of the Reindeer Union's time-off clause in their contract).

Whatever the case, there will be plenty of chances to meet him this weekend, and there will also be plenty of places and events for everyone else to shop, sing and stroll the stress away

Here are five of them to check out.

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Plymouth's Light Up the Season Celebration

Where and when: The town's tree lighting takes place Friday, Dec. 6, during the annual Light Up the Season Celebration.

The fun begins at 4:30 p.m. on the Plymouth Town Green in front of town hall on Court Street, with live music performances from The Road Back Home, Plymouth Public Schools, and The Voice's Cara Brindisi.

Santa arrives at 6 p.m., just in time for the tree and menorah lighting.

The evening ends at the Spire Center for Performing Arts, across from town hall, where visitors can warm up with hot cocoa, visit with Santa, decorate cookies and enjoy other family-friendly fun activities.

More:Do you know these 5 South Shore holiday traditions? Name your favorite

White Pine Holiday Spirit Market at Barrel House Z

When and where: 6-9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6; 1-7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 7 and 8, Barrel House Z, 95 Woodrock Road, Weymouth

Held over three days, the White Pine Holiday Spirit Market at Barrel House Z will include everything from holiday shopping from numerous local vendors to alcohol-flavored pickles.

The event will take place against the backdrop of holiday and live music and an extensive holiday light display strung up by the participating vendors. The Grinch will make an appearance, and there will be food trucks and, of course, ample libations.

For a complete list of times and highlights, visit the events tab at Barrelhousez.net.

More:Hanukkah: 8 facts to know about the holiday, from the menorah oil to the history and food

Santa arrives by helicopter at Hull Lifesaving Museum on Saturday

When and where: 12-12:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, Hull Lifesaving Museum, 1117 Nantasket Ave., Hull

Santa will have special elf-kissed candy canes for every child and adult who arrives to wish him a happy holiday.

Flying Santa has been celebrating those who guard our shores since 1929. He initially by dropped gifts for light keepers from a float plane, and he now arrives by helicopter to visit Coast Guard families with a gift for every Coast Guard child.

For more information, visit Hulllifesaving museum.org.

Final weekend of the Kilroy Square Holiday Market in Quincy

When and where: 4 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 7 and 8, Kilroy Square, 25 Cottage Ave., Quincy

The Quincy Chamber of Commerce's annual Kilroy Square Holiday Market will hold the second and final weekend of is festive holiday shopping in downtown Quincy. There will be artisans, specialty shops and crafters to check out inside the big heated tent and The Gallery.

While there, visitors can buy their freshly cut Christmas trees and wreaths from Boy Scout Troop 42/Crew 42 Quincy.

Widowmaker Brewing will have a beer garden, Dotty's Kitchen & Raw Bar will sell hot and cold cocktails, drinks and food, and a variety of food trucks will be on hand.

For more information, visit Kilroysquaremarkets.com.

More:Help your South Shore neighbors this holiday season. Can you Lend a Hand?

Norwell Holiday Stroll

When and where: 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, Norwell Center

The Norwell Women's Club will host its free Norwell Holiday Stroll in the town center (adjacent to the common) this Saturday for a festive afternoon that Santa, himself, plans to attend.

Norwell businesses will open their doors for holiday strollers to experience treats and activities that include hot cocoa, cookie decorating, face painting and holiday discounts.

Other highlights include the tree lighting, carolers, a mailbox for kids to drop off their letters to Santa, ornament making and a display of gingerbread houses.

Be merry and bright:11 places to see holiday light shows. On the South Shore and beyond

QUINCY ‒ Winter revelers, rejoice! Quincy's free, seasonal outdoor skating rink opens to the public at noon on Monday. For the second winter, the city is providing free ice time and skate rentals in the downtown area.

The rink will be open until the end of Quincy School's February vacation week, which runs Feb. 15-23, said Commissioner of Natural Resources David Murphy. Ice time and rental skates are free of charge, as they were last year. It will be open seven days a week from noon to 8 p.m., according to a city webpage.

"Mayor (Thomas) Koch wants to make sure anyone that wants to skate isn't prohibited by costs," Murphy said in an email.

The rink is slightly larger this year, Murphy said.

Quincy residents can reserve ice time during peak weekend hours at QuincyRec.com.

Where is the outdoor skating rink in Quincy this year?

The skating rink is also in a new location.

The parking lot that held the rink last winter will become part of a massive construction site, including a parking garage and 300-unit apartment building with a ground-floor "specialty grocer" widely rumored to be Trader Joe's.

The skating rink will move a half mile north to Dennis Ryan Parkway, in the vacant lot across from Quincy District Court by Kilroy Square Garage and One Chestnut Place.

Workers have regraded the lot's cracked, uneven surface, and the rink is now nearing completion. The perimeter boards are up, as well as the tented pavilion where skaters can rent and lace up their skates.

Be merry and bright:11 places to see holiday light shows. On the South Shore and beyond

How much this rink costs Quincy

The facility is built and managed by Ice Rink Events, the same company that operates the winter skating rink in New York's Bryant Park.

The rink itself cost the city $200,000 last year, paid out of the District Improvement Financing fund, through which Quincy leverages future tax growth to finance downtown improvement projects. Other associated costs, including start-up costs not repeated this year, raised the total to more than $477,000, city records show.

Under its agreement with Ice Rink Events, Quincy has the option to extend the contract each year for up to three years. The city then could choose to purchase the equipment outright, according to Municipal Finance Director Eric Mason.

In addition the rink itself, the city rents a heated tent for about $129,000, pays for special electrical work and the labor. The total of all associated costs this year amounts to $418,661.50, according to Mason.

This includes $80,000 to hire kids in the city's youth recreation program to assist people using the rink.

It also includes more than $6,000 for six special ice sleds that allow wheelchair users and people with fatigue and balance issues enjoy the ice, Mason said.

Can you Lend a Hand?Help your South Shore neighbors this holiday season.

Where to park for ice skating at outdoor Quincy rink

The Kilroy Square Garage charges $1 per hour.

10 holiday shows to see this season:'A Christmas Carol', Elvis, 'The Nutcracker' and more

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Reach Peter Blandino at pblandino@patriotledger.com.

This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Business & Tech

Helen and Jaquer De Novaes are the new owners of Acella Construction Corporation

Acella Construction Corporation, a leader in construction management throughout greater Boston, has a new owner, the firm announced today.

Helen and Jaquer De Novaes, owners of RPG Cleaning, Inc., have acquired the firm from Dave Dirubbo, who remains with Acella to assist with the transition, as of October 31, 2024. Acella Construction Corporation will continue to operate from its current location (400 Hingham Street, Rockland, MA). Details of the transaction were not disclosed.

The De Novaeses are very familiar with the company – Jaquer De Novaes has been involved with Acella Construction as a subcontractor since the company’s inception in 2003. Except for change in ownership, no other roles are affected by the acquisition – the company’s management team of Saul Schrader, president, Anthony Dirubbo, vice president of operations, Ryan Klebes, vice president of preconstruction and estimating, and Scott Brash, director of field operations, will all remain in their current roles, as will the rest of the Acella team.

Jaquer De Novaes was previously the co-owner of Resource Project Group before forming RPG Cleaning in 2009. He and Helen have also invested in several commercial real estate developments over the last several years.

Over the years, Acella has defined itself as a leader in construction management throughout greater Boston with a number of projects in academic, community, corporate, healthcare, and retail/hospitality sectors, including projects such as the Riverview School, Pelham House, the Provincetown Art Museum, Cummaquid Golf Club, Morgan Stanley, the Big Blue Swim School, SRC Medical, South Coastal Animal Health, the Goddard School, and Archbishop Williams High School. Acella is also known for its ongoing work at academic institutions including Boston College, Boston University, Brandeis University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Northeastern University.

“I am grateful to the entire Acella team for how collaborative everyone has been throughout this process,” said Jaquer De Novaes. “I’m very excited for the future of Acella and optimistic that we can build on this strong foundation to take on even more while also creating greater financial stability and a stronger market position.”

Dirubbo said, “My vision for Acella began and has continued to be a company focused around relationships, and with this acquisition, none of that changes. What does change is our strength in the marketplace, and our ability to do even more for our clients. I am excited for where Jaquer, Helen, and Saul will lead the company.”

About Acella Construction Corporation

Founded in 2003, Acella delivers a premium suite of construction management services, including design-build and pre-construction solutions for business owners, commercial real estate developers, and discerning institutional and retail clients.

Acella is located at 400 Hingham Street, Rockland, MA 02370. For more information, please visit www.acellaconstruction.com or call 781-681-9240.