Things to do: Give a hoot, celebrate the Olde Southworth

Jan 28, 2020

There's a lot happening in Dartmouth on any given weekend. For more information on these and other upcoming events, visit DartmouthWeekToday.com.

Friday, January 31

Honor Martin Luther King, Jr.

The 18th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast will take place at 8:30 a.m. at the Woodland Commons, UMass Dartmouth Campus, 285 Old Westport Road, Dartmouth. The breakfast will feature keynote speaker Steve Pemberton, a best-selling author, acclaimed speaker and diversity leader. The breakfast costs $30 for faculty, staff, and public guests. A limited number of tickets are available to students on a first-come, first-served basis. Proceeds from the event will support student-centered diversity initiatives at UMass Dartmouth. Order tickets online at umassd.edu/events.

Saturday, February 1

Celebrate an iconic Dartmouth building.

February 1, 2020 marks the 130th year since John Haywood Southworth gifted a distinctive stone building to the Town of Dartmouth for public use as a library. To celebrate, the Dartmouth Cultural Center will host an anniversary party from 4 to 6 p.m. at the 404 Elm St. building. There will be cake, champagne, and a silent auction. RSVP online at dartmouthculturalcenterinc.org.

Sunday, February 2

Search for owls in the dark.

All those who are fascinated by owls or enjoy a New England winter morning before sunrise are invited to join the Lloyd Center for the Environment’s Mid-winter owl prowl during the hours of peak owl activity, from 3:30 to 8 a.m. Lloyd Center Research Associate Jamie Bogart will lead the prowl on the Lloyd Center property and other local stops. After a hike in the woods, warm up with coffee back at the Lloyd Center and meet Koko, the Center’s resident screech owl, since seeing a wild owl is not guaranteed. This event is $15 for Lloyd Center members, and $20 for non-members. Visit lloydcenter.org to register.

Enjoy nature before football.

Before the big game, go on a big hike. The hike will begin at 11 a.m. at Slocum’s River Reserve, and will cover a distance of six miles to the east branch of the Westport River in Westport through a train system not normally open to the public. The hike will end at Westport Rivers Winery, which will open its doors for shopping and special discounts. A bus will transport hikers back to the starting parking lot. It is being hosted by the Westport Conservation Land Trust and The Trustees. Registration in advance required. Visit WestportLandTrust.org to register.

Learn the mystery of the Merrihews.

The Dartmouth Historical and Arts Society will present a lecture by historian Bob Harding on an old Dartmouth Quaker family whose name has has virtually disappeared from the area. The name is documented in early Quaker records as Amarahow, Merrihew, or Merithew, with links to the Irish Gaelic name “Murphy.” Harding will present research from primary records, land records, and genealogists. The talk is 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. The Society recommends a $5 donation to attend.

Have an event we should include next week? Email details to Douglas McCulloch at douglas@dartmouthweek.net.