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n the course of putting together the May issue of PrimeTime, I saw an elephant turn his head as if responding to a zoo volunteer, had a shoelace bitten off by a puppy and (please forgive me for grossing you out) watched a cow poop on a college student. To say that animals can be unpredictable would be an understatement. But aside from these bizarre observations, I also gleaned that animals are considered family to many Rhode Islanders, and bring immeasurable joy to their lives. Take the Sulimas, for example. John and Joanne have had half a dozen dogs in their home over the years. They’re dog people in every sense of the word. But when they discovered Guiding Eyes for the Blind, they took their love for animals and directed it into something good for others. They raise puppies, training them to be well-behaved, good citizens, who might someday grow up to become service dogs for the visually impaired. I was lucky enough to meet Reggie, the black Labrador they are currently raising, and was awed at how comprehensive their training was. Being a dog person myself, my instinct when I walked in the door was to get on my knees and roughhouse with Reggie. I wanted to scoop him into my arms, thank him for the kisses and pet him all over. Training me, apparently, is harder than training Reggie. Reggie knows by now that when someone walks in the door, he has to trot over to his “go” place and wait patiently to be “freed” by his masters. Even then, he can come closer to me, but must sit quietly and not jump in order to get his pat on the head. They aren’t easy tasks for an impulsive puppy, but with disciplined, patient puppy raisers like the Sulimas, dogs like Reggie will make great service animals one day. Carol Hills is another shining story of service to animals. She has volunteered at Roger Williams Park Zoo for 26 years with no plans to leave the zoo behind. I was astounded to see that when she called out to Ginny, her favorite elephant, the massive creature stopped what she was doing and looked over. She even flapped her ears in our direction. This month’s doer’s profile follows a group May 2012 of veritable Dr. Dolittles, over at the Wildlife 1944 Warwick Ave. Rehabilitators Association of Rhode Island. Warwick, RI 02889 These veterinarians and volunteers tend to 401-732-3100 FAX 401-732-3110 every wild animal imaginable, from foxes to fisher cats, and help combat the staggering Distribution Special Delivery mortality statistics in the wild. Although 10 to 30 percent of newborns don’t make it past the PUBLISHERS first year and 70 to 90 percent of juvenile aniBarry W. Fain, Richard G. Fleischer, mals die in the wild, WRARI saves 60 percent John Howell of the animals that come into their care. Not a bad turnaround for a small organization. EDITOR The Providence Animal Rescue League has Meg Fraser a solid stat sheet as well, and they serve more megf@rhodybeat.com than 2,000 animals each year without any financial support from the state or federal govMARKETING DIRECTOR ernment. Check them out and find out how Donna Zarrella you can help in this month’s Worthy Cause. donnaz@rhodybeat.com From kittens and puppies to cows and llaCreative Director mas, there are incredible people in this state Linda Nadeau who are looking out for animals. This month, lindan@rhodybeat.com we raise our paws in salute to them.
Pr i m e Ti m e
WRITERS Jessica Botelho, Don Fowler, Don D’Amato, Elaine M. Decker, John Howell, Joan Retsinas, Kim Kalunian, Mike Fink, Meg Chevalier, Cynthia Glinick, Joe Kernan, Kerry Park ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES Donna Zarrella – donnaz@rhodybeat.com Carolann Soder, Lisa Mardenli, Janice Torilli, Suzanne Wendoloski, Gina Fugere Classified ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES Sue Howarth – sueh@rhodybeat.com Brittany Wardell – brittanyw@rhodybeat.com PRODUCTION STAFF Matt Bower, Brian Geary, Lisa Yuettner
Meg Fraser editor
4 follow the leader Puppy raisers train guide dogs of the future
6 adopt before you shop The best route to saving animals
8 animal angels Cloud Nine rescues pets, fights euthanasia
10 life on the farm The need for livestock veterinarians is on the rise
11 red carpet
treatment
Fur Kidz brings dog grooming to your doorstep
16 born to be wild
Wildlife Rehabilitators save thousands of animals annually
23 saving labs
How a non-profit rescue saved a Middletown woman
24 wild about animals
Carol Hills volunteers at Roger Williams for 26 years and counting LIFESTYLES What do you Fink?...................................................................................12 That’s Entertainment..............................................................................19
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SENIOR ISSUES Senior companion program..............................................................13 Are we caring for our seniors?..........................................................14 Retirement Sparks...................................................................................21 Director’s column....................................................................................22 PEOPLE & PLACES A worthy cause.........................................................................................18 Glimpse of RI’s past.................................................................................20
o n t h e c ove r Tessa, a Persian adopted from the Providence Animal Rescue League (photo by Linda Nadeau)
b y Meg Fraser
Follow the Leader
John and Joanne Sulima have always been animal lovers, and over the years, they’ve had half a dozen dogs as pets or show dogs. But Reggie is different. Reggie has a purpose – a career laid out for him before he was born. After spending 16 to 18 months in the Sulima home, he will return to the Guiding Eyes for the Blind Canine Development Center to determine if he’s up for the challenge of being a service dog. “It’s very exciting,” Joanne said. “You get a little nervous because you’re hoping your dog will pass, but really it’s up to him. Every dog has their vocation.” The Sulimas, who are both 59 years old, first considered becoming puppy raisers during a trip to the movies. They went to see the dog-centric flick, “Marley and Me,” and stopped at an information table for Guiding Eyes. After hearing about the service they provide to the visually im-
paired, they dropped a donation in the can, patted the dog on the head and went to find their seats. They took a brochure with them, though, and after the credits stopped rolling, the Sulimas began to give serious thought to raising a service dog. Fast forward three years, and they’re in the early stages of training Reggie, their third potential guide dog. Like 95 percent of his Guiding Eyes peers, Reggie is a Labrador. German shepherds and golden retrievers can also be targeted for guide dog duties. Dogs are bred specifically for service purposes, and are carefully screened at the Guiding Eyes breeding center before being released to puppy raisers. Some dogs will complete the program and be given to a visually impaired person; others will work in other service capacities, such as with children with autism; and others are identified as ideal breeding dogs. And even if a dog doesn’t have a future career, they leave Guiding Eyes for loving homes. Puppy raisers spend about eight weeks in classes. Once a puppy moves into their home, they take classes every week, and the Sulimas say that Guiding Eyes attracts all kinds of volunteers, from young families to empty nesters and retirees. All veterinary costs are paid for, and the dogs come with a crate, so puppy raisers are only responsible
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May 2012
all about animals! for purchasing food. Classes cover the stages of training, and dogs can graduate from one level to the next, learning new behaviors along the way. Raising a guide dog, not surprisingly, is a different process than the typical new puppy. Obedience and socialization are the top two priorities, and ones that are reinforced through a structured environment. “We raise them to be good citizens,� Joanne said. In the first few months, the dog learns to sit, stay, lie down, fetch and come close to its master. House training, no barking and no begging are also on the list, not unlike all domesticated dogs. “The whole process is just one of building a relationship, socialization and good manners. He learns to control his impulses,� Joanne said. Potential service dogs through Guiding Eyes must be walked two miles a day. Puppy raisers walk the dogs on different surfaces and in different environments to acclimate them to a variety of situations. These dogs must be able to keep their cool in crowded environments and can’t shy away from people or loud noises. “We take them just about anywhere with us. The more people he meets, the easier it gets for him,� Joanne said. “It keeps us young, too.� Often, it’s the people who are harder to train, so to speak. Before someone can greet Reggie, he must be sitting. If he stands up, jumps or licks the person, they should stop petting him and give no praise until he is back in a sitting position. He should also stay close to his family, in anticipation of his future owner’s visual impairment. Some of the tasks are especially challenging for a young dog. The Sulimas got Reggie in February, and his puppy instincts are difficult to break. When someone comes to the door, John or Joanne points to a bed where they want him to go to. He must sit at that spot until he is “freed,� even if it means that the guest has entered the home and walked past him without any recognition. “He will learn,� Joanne says. “It’s not magic; it’s a gradual process. It’s about consistency and repetitions.� Behaviors are drilled into Reggie’s head every hour of every day that he is in the
“
Sulimas’ home. “In many ways it’s like raising a child,� said Joanne, who has two daughters with John. “You have to do it with lots of love, a definite sense of humor, and discipline.� “Dogs are easier,� John adds, laughing. He and Joanne are affectionate with Reggie, praising him for good behavior, but do not allow the same kind of behavior if he were a pet. There’s no jumping on the couch or eating from the table, and despite being former dog owners in the past, they don’t photos by MEG FRASER find that particularly challenging. “You always know he’s not your dog and it’s kind of like being a foster parent in a way,� Joanne said, adding that it doesn’t mean the dogs aren’t loved. “There’s no way you’re not going to love this dog.� And they do love Reggie. It will be tough to say goodbye when his training is over, but the Sulimas will continue to serve as puppy raisers for as long as they can. Knowing the dogs they raise have a purpose, they said, makes it a rewarding experience. “There is somebody out there who needs him so badly,� Joanne said. “He’s going to open up a whole new world of freedom and independence for that person.� For more information on Guiding Eyes for the Blind, visit www.guidingeyes.org or call 800-942-0149. Donations can be made through the website.
We take them anywhere with us. The more people he meets, the easier it gets for him. It keeps us young too.
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PrimeTime | 5
b y kim kalunian
Adopt before you
After careful deliberation, you’ve decided to get a pet. You’ve thought it through, and decided you can accommodate, love and care for a new furry friend for the rest of its life. Now it’s time to get out there and find the pet of your dreams ... but where? Dr. E.J. Finocchio, president of the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RISPCA), and Dr. Scott Marshall, state veterinarian at the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM), agree that prospective pet owners should adopt before they shop. “Adoption is an excellent thing to do,” said Marshall. “In my opinion, it’s the first and only source for getting a dog. That’s where people should be looking for pets.” Rhode Island offers both municipal pounds and private shelters, which house dogs, cats and, sometimes, other domesticated animals up for adoption. Both private and municipal shelters are regulated by the DEM. But despite the plethora of properly licensed and regulated shelters and pounds, there are still organizations that operate without proper documentation. Marshall estimates that 50 percent of organizations on Petfinder.com, a popular website for people to browse adoptable pets in their area, are not licensed by DEM. Marshall said sometimes organizations don’t realize they’re required to be licensed, which is a free application process. In order to assure they’re adopting from a state regulated shelter, people should ask to see a copy of the shelter’s license. “Anyone can hide behind a 501c3,” said Finocchio. In addition to unregulated organizations inside the state, Finocchio and Marshall warn of out of state businesses 6 | PrimeTime
Shop
that operate under the guise of rescue leagues. These scams can tug at potential pet owners’ heartstrings. Unlicensed agencies post photos of dogs on craigslist or social networking sites and claim that the animal pictured will be euthanized in a matter of days. These ads ask for money upfront, and promise to meet prospective pet owners just outside of Rhode Island in nearby Massachusetts or Connecticut. Often, the money fronted is non-refundable. “Like any other scam, if it sounds too good to be true, it is,” said Finnochio. Finnocchio said sometimes the dog depicted in the ad isn’t the dog that ends up in the arms of their new owner. He has heard rumors of a scheme where southern shelters get a kickback from giving dogs to organizations that “sell” them to northern adopters. They advertise dogs on “death row” in order to get quick action (and money) from emotional animal lovers. “This is becoming less and less false and more and more true,” he said. “It’s like a dog Ponzi scheme.” Some southern puppy mills, which mass breed low-quality animals, sell their animals to wholesalers under the guise that they’re “rescuing” them. As a result, another moneymaking scheme unfolds, at the expense of do-gooders hoping to rescue innocent cats and dogs. Marshall told a story of a DEM interception of a caravan carrying 25 animals. “The dogs were packed in crates in a rider van from Tennessee,” he said. The conditions inside the van did not meet USDA standards. People who had agreed to pay $450 for the dogs arrived on the scene to pick up their pets. Marshall said he couldn’t understand why the organization would charge such a high fee to people who were supposed to be rescuing animals that were purportedly on death row. But what happens when the DEM doesn’t intervene, and these animals make their way to unsuspecting animal lovers in Rhode Island? Because the transactions take place just outside of the Rhode Island border, Rhode Island state laws cannot be applied. Often, the animals that are brought here illegally don’t have proper documentation, vaccines or medical histories. “When you adopt from these organizations there’s a tremendous amount of risk involved,” said Finocchio. To avoid being involved in a scam, people should look for
these three warning signs: 1) Being asked to pay for an animal ahead of time 2) Meeting the party outside of Rhode Island 3) Lack of proper paperwork for the animal or the organization Despite the scammers, there are legitimate organizations that rescue dogs from the south and bring them to New England. Marshall said it is common to see such dogs make their way here from southern states. “We’ve been seeing their ‘underhound’ railroad,” he said. “The south has very lax animal controls.” Often, properly regulated animal transports bring healthy dogs from the south to the north, where there is greater demand. But sometimes, sick animals make their way to Rhode Island, and pose as a health threat to local animals. In order to crack down on the importation of sick animals from other states, the DEM has set forth new regulations. “We don’t want to prevent if people in Rhode Island want to take an animal from a southern shelter, but we want to make sure the ones imported are healthy,” he said. Ultimately, Marshall encourages people to take advantage of local shelters and local animals, which are so often euthanized to make room for more of their counterparts. Prospective pet owners should look for shelters where there is a protocol. Properly licensed shelters require applicants to fill out paperwork, meet with their desired pet ahead of time and introduce their current pets to the prospective adoptee. He said people should not be offended by the measures, but instead, reassured they’ll get the best pet according to their needs and desires. People should take into consideration a broad field of factors when deciding on a pet. Amount of time spent at home, living arrangements and even level of activity are important things to think about when determining what kind of pet to get. People should carefully consider the health, safety and happiness of themselves, their families, and their new ‘fur’ever friend. “The average consumer doesn’t think the process through,” said Marshall. “It’s very emotion driven.” So when you’ve decided to get a pet, make sure it’s the right decision at the right time. And remember, always look to adopt before you shop. May 2012
all about animals!
Looking for a New Pet? The RISPCA and State Veterinarian agree that shelters are the place to go. Petfinder.com is a useful website to find animals up for adoption in your area. Social networking sites, like Facebook, are also used by many shelters to spread the word about their adoptable animals. Remember to look for shelters that are licensed by the Department of Environmental Management. All shelters should provide you with health records for your pet. If a shelter asks you to fill out a questionnaire, it’s only to find the best home for the animal, and the best pet for you. The dogs and cats pictured here are from the East Greenwich Animal Protection League (EGAPL), a private, no-kill shelter. Above are several of the many puppies available at EGAPL. At right is Charlie, a young Labrador mix looking for a home. Below is Jack, an adult cat waiting for someone to adopt him. For more information on these animals, or any of the numerous dogs and cats at EGAPL, visit www.EGAPL. org, find them on Facebook, or call 241-4541. (Photos by Tamar Oliver)
May 2012
PrimeTime | 7
b y Meg Fraser
Animal Angels When pilot Ted DuPuis takes off in one of his twin-engine airplanes, he rides in close quarters with his passengers. But he doesn’t mind; they’re not the demanding First Class type. They don’t order drinks or watch their movies too loud, and they never overpack. Except for the occasional bark, they pretty much just lie down and go to sleep. DuPuis is the founder and president of Cloud Nine Rescue Flights, an all-volunteer non-profit organization that is on a flight plan to eliminate the euthanasia of pets in the United States and provide aid to animals worldwide. Pilots volunteer their time to transport rescue pets facing homelessness or euthanasia to welcoming shelters, including the Humane Society of the United States, the ASPCA, Operation Pets Alive and local shelters like the Potter Animal Rescue League. Often, the rescue mission involves picking up animals in the south and transporting them to shelters up north. “In the south, it just comes down to the fact that people don’t spay and neuter their animals. It’s not something they push down there like they do in the north, and as a result, you have a lot of unwanted litters,” DuPuis explained.
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May 2012
all about animals! Up north, and in Rhode Island in particular, there seems to be a continuous supply of loving families ready to take home a new dog or cat. “The animals get adopted out pretty quickly,” he said. North and South Carolina are common pickup spots, as well as Texas and Louisiana, but Cloud Nine’s reach extends from coast to coast. “We’ve been all over the country,” he said. “It mostly comes down to the groups that we have established relationships with that are able to keep transports going.” Cloud Nine deals primarily with dogs and cats – the kind of domestic animals that are most often over-bred in the south, and most desirable to families in the north. Dogs are the most common passengers for DuPuis and the other volunteer pilots, as population control for cats continues to be a problem all across the country. Sometimes, the rescue is less about euthanasia and more about natural disasters. “Last year, for instance, after the tornado in Joplin, we transported 52 cats from Missouri to Seattle, Washington,” DuPuis said.
Fifty-two cats is a large transport, as most flights end up having 15 to 25 animals on board. Last year, Cloud Nine ran 36 flights, so they were saving animals just about every week and a half. Flying is more efficient in terms of time, and only one volunteer is needed with each flight, not to mention the short-
those costs in a downturn economy has become increasingly challenging. “We run rescues as often as there is a need and as often as we’re able to afford to do it. If we don’t have the money in the bank account, we can’t make a trip,” DuPuis said. “This year our donations have been extremely low and that has forced us to cut back significantly on transports. The whole program is really threatened if we don’t get more donations.” DuPuis hopes it won’t come to that. He isn’t worried about himself; outside of Cloud Nine, he is the owner and manager of an aviation company that provides aircraft charters and flight instruction. It’s the animals he worries about. “When you donate to Cloud Nine, you’re making a very real and tangible difference in the lives of homeless pets. Every dollar you put toward Cloud Nine goes toward taking them from a place where they will definitely get killed to where they will definitely get adopted,” he said. “Every animal we transport is literally a life that is saved.”
Cloud Nine rescues pets, fights euthanasia er trip is less strenuous on animals who often have already faced unfortunate living conditions. The challenge comes with funding. The 3 ½ hour flight from North Carolina to the Potter League in Middletown, for example, will cost approximately $2,500 in fuel and maintenance costs. Per animal, the transport costs roughly $170 each. The organization owns its own planes, including one that was donated by a former pilot. There are no administrative costs and 100 percent of donations go toward transport costs. As Cloud Nine is sustained solely through grants and the generosity of donors and sponsors, however, covering
For more information, or to make a donation to Cloud Nine Rescue Flights, visit www.cloudninerescueflights.org or mail a check to Cloud Nine Rescue Flights, 1784 E. Third Street, PMB #128, Williamsport, PA 17701.
(photos courtesy of www.cloudninerescueflights.org)
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PrimeTime | 9
b y Meg Fraser
Life on the
Farm
Dr. Chris Hannafin makes his rounds on a sunny Monday afternoon, checking on a group of lambs and taking the temperature of an underweight baby goat, or kid. This is his workplace, both at the expansive Peckham Farm at the University of Rhode Island, and at farms large and small across the state. This office comes with a view. “It gives you a little more variety; it gets you out of the office and out on the farm,” he said. “It’s never routine.”
photos by MEG FRASER
10 | PrimeTime
May 2012
all about animals!
H
annafin is a graduate of the former College of Natural Resources at URI and the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. He has been a practicing veterinarian in Rhode Island for more than two decades, and served as the Rhode Island State Veterinarian under the Division of Agriculture for six years. Today, he is a part-time lecturer at URI and also works for New Shoreham Veterinary Services. He can treat both domestic and exotic animals, but his focus is on livestock medicine, a field vastly underserved in the Ocean State. “For many years, the last decade or more, there’s been a national shortage of livestock veterinarians. What I’m trying to do first and foremost is promote the practice,” he said. “There’s a lot of momentum right now behind it.” Hannafin attributes that momentum in part to the Buy Local movement. Consumers are more aware of where the food they eat comes from, and with more farmer’s markets cropping up around the state, Rhode Island-grown fruits, vegetables and now meats are increasingly popular. That has provided a boost to local farmers, and a boost to the education thereof. “The business of growing and selling beef, chicken, lambs and hogs has grown to the point that it’s so successful that there is a need for livestock veterinarians again,” Hannafin said. Currently, there is not a single full-time livestock veterinary practice in the state, and no veterinary college. Vets must take 12 continuing education credits each year, which now are taken out of state if that veterinarian has a particular interest in livestock medicine. Hannafin is hoping to change that. Increasing access to education is one way in which veterinarians and farmers are picking up speed. URI has a strong agriculture program that is getting stronger, and the New England Institute of Technology implemented in January a Certified Veterinary Technician course of study. Organizations like the Rhode Island Raised Livestock Association bring farmers together to promote and ensure the preservation of local agriculture. Hannafin is confident that livestock medicine will be sustainable here in the next five years. Federal legislation passed two years ago should further propel the movement. The Veterinary Loan Repayment Program will cover up to 80 percent of student loans for vets that spend at least 30 percent of their time on livestock medicine in a federally designated underserved area, which includes Rhode Island. “That immediately drew in people. It’s a big incentive,” Hannafin said. “Most veterinary students graduate with $120,000 in student loans. The whole education costs about $240,000 so the money to repay those loans and still make a living are in small animals or in specialization of some kind.” Dr. Dina Scotto is the first in Rhode Island to qualify for this program, and she has wasted no time taking advantage of the loan repayment. She recently opened Country Critters Veterinary Services, LLC, based out of Cranston. Scotto can be reached at 4642876 or by e-mail at countrycrittersvet@gmail.com. As livestock medicine expands in Rhode Island, additional educational opportunities become available, both for future vets and the public. URI continues to reach out to elementary and secondary education institutions, 4-H groups and backyard farmers to ensure that animals are properly cared for and students have the chance to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. “With the advent of the backyard farmer and the gentleman farmer, we see there is a need for basic education on things such as husbandry, feeding and parasites,” Hannafin said. “It’s a little easier said than done to buy a couple sheep and put them in the backyard and have them thrive.” Add in unpredictable weather, non-traditional hours, high mortality rates and vast territory to cover, and livestock veterinarians have their work cut out for them in Rhode Island. But as they grow their ranks, animals, farmers, and ultimately consumers, will be better served. “We’re back in business,” Hannafin said. To contact Dr. Hannafin at New Shoreham Veterinary Services, call 783-7789 or e-mail channafindvm@cox.net.
May 2012
b y Meg Fraser
all about animals!
Red carpet treatment Fur Kidz brings dog grooming to your doorstep Lucy Dalpe has too many dogs to count. She started with three - two Chihuahuas and a pug - but over the past five years has added dozens of dogs to her menagerie. They don’t live with her, exactly, but she still considers them hers. They belong to clients of her mobile dog grooming service, Fur Kidz, which serves most of Rhode Island. “I get to not only have my own dogs, I get to share everybody else’s dogs too,” she said. “I love all the breeds of dogs and that’s what excites me. I may not be able to have them at home, but I can share in them.” Dalpe has always been an animal lover, and a dog owner all of her life. For many years, though, she worked for her family’s golf course. Owning the facility was more than a full-time job, and she rarely had a day off. When they decided it was too much, Dalpe was on the hunt for a new career. “It was quite by surprise actually. I was looking for something new and this was something I came up with,” she said. While visiting her parents one day, Dalpe’s sister complained that she needed a groomer to visit her home, but had difficulty finding one. Dalpe’s father turned and suggested that it could be the perfect opportunity for his dog-loving daughter. “As soon as I got home I got on the computer and started doing research,” she said. Within a couple of months, in January of 2007, Fur Kidz was up and running. The mobile pet-grooming salon can accommodate any size dog, and offers an array of services. The 55-year-old Dalpe provides haircuts, styling, nail trimming, baths, ear cleaning, teeth cleaning and a treatment to minimize shedding. Most sessions take about an hour. Clients utilize Fur Kidz as often as every two weeks, but the timing is up to them. Dalpe always has someone else with her, so that someone has a hand on the dog at all times.
“I like to make the atmosphere in here very relaxing for them. You treat them like you know they’re being treated in their homes,” she said, showing off the amenities in her van. When a new client calls, she gets an idea what they are looking for. Right off the bat, though, she lets them know that she works first for the dog. For example, if an owner wants to remove a heavily matted coat, Dalpe will not do it if she feels it would hurt the dog or impact his or her ability to regulate their body temperature. “I won’t do anything that’s not right for the pet,” she said. Mobile pet grooming is ideal for dogs that are elderly or sick, making a trip to the groomer challenging. Owners also use the service if their animal is not good around other dogs or gets anxious at the salon, or, just for convenience purposes. “This is one-on-one and it works really well,” she said, adding that there is no shortage of dog owners who are looking for such a service. “I get several phone calls a day and I don’t even advertise. We have a steady clientele.” No matter how they come to Fur Kidz, Dalpe said she was thrilled to discover that her love for dogs is matched by so many animal owners. “You learn you’re not the only one out there who treats their dogs like family,” she said. “They’re special and they need to be treated special.” On a recent day off, Dalpe was busy scrubbing down the van. She doesn’t mind putting in the extra hours, however, now that she’s working at a career she loves. “I love it. I’ll do this for the rest of my life - no retiring here.” For more information, visit www. furkidz.com or call 433-0922.
PrimeTime | 11
wHAT DO YOU FINK?
LI F E ST Y L E S
by MIKE FINK
The mystery host He throws a party every month to greet his guests and the full moon, to mark the beauty of each season of the calendar year. Not in the same house; he moves from block to block, but his gypsy-like caravan of rooms about town must always have a view.
And what a view! Our fabulous, almost legendary host likes to look at the moon and the stars, and at the same time the street lights of Providence with its central dome and the Independent Man glittering in gold, standing absurdly on top of our world. Some of us who gather at these remarkable events believe it is a statue of Roger Williams, but that is not true. “It was originally going to be Roger, but instead it is a symbolic classical sculpture of our iconic Apollo, just an eccentric mercurial figure you can read your own meaning onto.”
One of the Bacchanal imbibers made this speech to me. This particular soiree was a celebration of the arrival of spring, the salute to fools and jesters, a farewell to the winter that wasn’t, and an excuse to light candles on every windowsill. I’m not naming the benevolent lord of the manor, nor offering any sort of map to guide you there. And I have no desire to incite envy: “Why wasn’t I invited?” That sort of thing. No, I am only trying to convey an urban scene with a mythical mood. This folkloric fellow has a glass wall on three levels. Wheresoever you may be
standing with your wine, white or red, you are half indoors and half up in a balloon. The windows are tall and wide, and there are doors to decks so that you can step outside into the breeze, maybe the sudden chill, and face the scintillating vista below you. Yes, it’s a bit scary, but you can have a conversation with the Man in the Moon or that Independent Man. Step back indoors and stare into the fireplace. None of your fake flames fuelled by gas or by electric wires. Real logs. Burning bright and cheerful. There may be poetry readings or ballad singings going on. Did I mention that there are little statues of the smiling Buddha on sills and small tables? Mostly, they are the laughing Zen variations that give these Saturday evenings a gayety and charm, but also a philosophical dimension. Now, the cheerful chap who greets you with a hug and a kind word has a poetic, paradoxical grin. He loves us varied folks from all corners of the local scene, but there is a devilish look in his eye. I see all the faces I recall from the
coffeehouses or the bars of our ethnic neighborhoods; many alumni or retired professors from the many schools and colleges that have replaced the factories, mills and businesses of Providence. Everybody looks delighted to be here. Where? How does this gracious guy manage to find the same fenestration, the look of a lighthouse, a gigantic candle, a toy come true, with a different street address, a different zip code, but the same scene to be seen? There is a touch of the Rubaiyat about this astral abode. You visit not only with your feet, your eyes, but also with magical thinking, metaphorical reasoning and not heavy-handed logic. The front door is left open. You don’t have to ring or knock. You just appear, go up, join in, leave a dish or a bottle upon the table, and you have entered the embodiment of your favorite song, saga or spirit-world. Welcome not to the cruelest month, but the craziest!
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Elizabeth Manor Prime Time3 12Saint | PrimeTime
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A life dedicated to service “The heart of a volunteer is not measured in size, but by the depth of the commitment to make a difference in the lives of others.” DeAnn Hollis Virginia “Ginny” Skodras of Pawtucket has a very big heart. She has spent the last 30 years in volunteer service and she shows no signs of slowing down. Service is a tradition in her family. Ginny’s father served in the United States military during World War I, and her husband served in the U.S. military during World War II. When Ginny’s husband was being treated at the Providence VA Medical Center, she would take the time to visit with other patients. Following her husband’s death 30 years ago, Ginny became a volunteer at the VA Medical Center, visiting with patients a couple of days each week. When Ginny started this volunteering, she was a widow with a 4-year-old daughter to bring up on her own. Despite the challenges of raising a child, she was not deterred in her determination to continue volunteering. Ginny’s mother also contributed by caring for her young daughter on the days Ginny spent at the VA Medical Center. Five years after Ginny began volunteering at the Medical Center, she joined the Senior Companion Program (SCP) sponsored by the Rhode Island Department of Human Services, Division of Elderly Affairs (DEA). The Corporation for National and Community Service funds SCP. Under this program, older adult volunteers serve frail, isolated and essentially homebound older adults in their homes, adult day centers and other community sites. The program keeps people linked to the community and enhances independence by providing a variety of services, such as help with food shopping, companionship and reading mail. Ginny has been volunteering with the SCP for the past 25 years. At age 87, she still volunteers approximately 35 hours per week and visits with five frail, older adults every week, as well as several veterans at the VA Medical Center. One of Ginny’s most memorable assignments is a family for whom she spent 16 years as a Senior Companion, first
as a companion to a man who was a U.S. veteran, and then following his passing, as a companion to his son, also a U.S. veteran. Ginny also spent many hours with a retired Providence postmaster, listening to his life experiences. Serving others is clearly in Ginny’s blood. In addition to her Senior Companion duties, Ginny has volunteered at various functions at her church since she was a child. She also sang in the junior choir there when she was a teenager and is a member of the senior choir today. Ginny is a mother of two and loves to spend time with her six grandchildren. Over the last 25 years, Ginny has donated approximately 45,500 hours of volunteer service to the Senior Companion Program. She will be recognized by DEA for her years of dedicated service to SCP and the annual recognition luncheon to be held this May, Older Americans Month. SCP volunteers are 55 and over, who have a limited income. They receive a tax-free stipend, transportation reimbursement, and other benefits while serving clients 20 to 40 hours weekly. Currently, 82 volunteers participate in Rhode Island SCP. They visit with more than 1,000 frail and isolated seniors every year. Each day, volunteers follow the SCP tradition as exemplified by Ginny Skodras. SCP volunteers have carried on that tradition of empathy and friendship for more than 35 years in Rhode Island. For more information on becoming a Senior Companion in Rhode Island, call the Rhode Island Division of Elderly Affairs at 462-0569.
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senior
b y V irginia B u rke , R I H C A C E O / P r e s i d e n t
issues
Are we caring for our seniors? The 2010 Census revealed some interesting information about Rhode Island demographics. Our state ranks first in the nation with respect to the percentage of its citizens who are over the age of 85, an age group that increased a whopping 28 percent from 2000 to 2010. This new statistic raises the question: Is Rhode Island positioned to do a good job of caring for the very oldest among us when they need long-term care services? In a few short weeks, another legislative session will be over and the answer to this question will become clearer. The frailest and most vulnerable of our elders are receiving care in one of Rhode Island’s skilled nursing centers. By national standards, the care they receive leads the nation in terms of quality. Rhode Island’s patient and family satisfaction surveys, mandated by law, rank consistently among the top five states; almost all quality criteria measured by the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services are above the national average. Rhode Island facilities lead the country with the lowest number of deficiencies reported in annual surveys by the Department of
Health. The Ocean State also boasts the most deficiency-free facilities of any state in the country. So far, so good. We have a large and growing population of those over the age of 85, the most predominant consumers of nursing home care, and all indications show that we do a good job taking care of them. Unfortunately, the story doesn’t end there. In recent years, the two main payment sources for nursing home care Medicaid and Medicare - have been under attack. In Rhode Island, the state’s 84 Medicaid-certified nursing homes have lost $30 million in funding in the past five years. In fact, the Medicaid population, which totals about 66 percent of all nursing home residents, continues to be under reimbursed for their actual cost of care by almost $15 per person per day. Medicare funding, once the vehicle that helped facilities compensate for Medicaid’s massive shortfalls, has also been slashed, contributing millions more in cuts. Providers have been faced with these tremendous losses at the same time that increased availability of home and
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community-based long-term services are keeping nursing homes reserved for the sickest and frailest of our elders. Instead of shoring up to meet the demands of this most vulnerable population, they are instead looking for new and ever more painful ways to cut costs. This year, providers across the state are waging yet another tough battle at the State House. This time, the goal is to restore $6 million in proposed Medicaid cuts. Because of the nature of Medicaid funding, the state will only save $3 million as a result of this proposed cut, but nursing homes will lose twice that, because they will also lose federal matching funds. Adding to the strain, the Rhode Island Department of Human Services is embarking on the development of a new reimbursement system for nursing homes, scheduled to take effect July 1. Unfortunately, despite the burgeoning population of those over 85, and the fact that skilled nursing centers have proven to be an effective and cost efficient provider of recuperative and rehabilitative care following a hospital stay, the payment system currently in development emphasizes budget neutrality, rather than
access to quality care and services for our residents. More people to care for, higher acuity among the nursing home population and more services to deliver should spell greater resources in the years to come. Quality care, after all, requires adequate resources. The outcome of this year’s $6 million battle, not to mention the advent of an entirely new payment system for the care of our elderly, is yet to be decided. We have to help our legislators understand that quality care for the generation who came before us is a core American value, which cannot be neglected. Please do your part by contacting your legislator and letting them know that you support adequate funding for nursing home care. For more information on legislation affecting nursing home care, or general information about skilled nursing and rehabilitative services, visit www.rihca. com.
Wingate Management Company NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS The following Wingate Management Properties (from Woonsocket to Wakefield) are now accepting applications for 1 & 2 bedroom federally subsidized apartments. Applicants must be 62 years old or disabled and meet income guidelines. Rent is based on 30% of adjusted gross income. For more information or to request an application, please call direct or 1-800-745-5555 for TDD/TTY user. Equal Housing Opportunity.
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(401) 739-4600 X 5 Wingate Management Company, LLC. does not discriminate on the basis of disability status in the admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, its federally assisted programs and activities. The person listed below has been designated to coordinate compliance with the nondiscrimination requirements contained in the Dept. of Housing & Urban Development’s regulations implementing Sec. 504 (24 CFR Part 8 dated June 2, 1988). Contact: Site Manager
14 | PrimeTime
May 2012
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PrimeTime | 15
DOER’S PROFILE
by JOAN RE TSINAS
Born to be
wild
Fleece baby blankets. Heating pads. Clorox wipes. Playpens. But these layettes won’t serve your typical newborns. At a recent baby shower, the Wildlife Rehabilitators Association of Rhode Island (WRARI) collected donations to save orphaned and injured animals. Barely visible to most Rhode Islanders, an enormous, varied kingdom - opossums, rabbits, squirrels, song birds, foxes, fisher cats, snakes, owls, etc. - lives in our meadows, near our streams and under our trees. The wild is a perilous place: 10 to 30 percent of newborns, and 70 to 90 percent of healthy juvenile animals die there. But Rhode Island is not a wilderness. A hiker, a parent at a playground, a homeowner inspecting a roof, a motorist stopping by the side of the road may spot an animal that needs help. Fortunately for the animals, a crew of mostly volunteer “rehabilitators” will come to the rescue. Since 1994, WRARI has been an umbrella organization for these people who staff a Hot Line, accept injured and orphaned animals, and work to return those animals to their natural habitat. The state has 12 rehabilitators (two are veterinarians) and 12 “sub permittees,” or assistants. Both groups undergo rigorous training and are certified by the state of Rhode Island. Rehabilitators handling birds need a federal permit. In addition, since these Good Samaritans generally care for animals in their homes, the homes must pass inspection, to assure that the animals can be kept quiet and warm, and safe from other animals. Animals are introduced to the outdoors slowly. Outdoor cages must be tailored to the specific species. BIF_PrimeTimeSeniorLiving_Ad_12.qxd:BIF 3/15/12 2:27 PM Page 1
Last year, these Samaritans accepted almost 3,000 animals. “I was a registered dietitian, then in a PhD program in nutritional research at URI when I decided to go to Tufts veterinary school. I never imagined I would treat species other than dogs, cats and some pocket pets [hamsters, bunnies, etc.],” said Chi Chan, DVM, who works for WRARI. “I landed my first job at Veterinary Services of Wickford with Dr. Meredith Bird. Not by my choice at the beginning, I started treating wildlife when Dr. Bird was not around. That’s how it all started.” Today Dr. Chan is the primary veteri-
narian treating wildlife, while Dr. Bird assists with the more complicated cases. “Rehabilitation” is difficult. Each species has a different diet: worms, greens, seeds. The Wildlife Federation asks for donations of canned sardines, walnuts, birdseed and berries. The formula for human babies will not nourish baby animals, though rehabilitators may use human-baby bottles. Feeding, moreover, must follow a schedule: a baby bird will need to be fed every 15 minutes. The Wildlife Clinic in Saunderstown can care for animals during the day but not at night. The goal is to reintroduce the animal
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to its habitat. For a baby, the goal is to reunite it with its mother. The rehabilitator may try to find the mother, returning to where the orphan was found. Those suc11:27 AM Page 3 cesses spur volunteers. Dr. Chan recounts one success. In East Providence, a mother watching her child at a playground spotted a tiny killdeer. She delivered it to the Wildlife Clinic, where Dr. Chan put mirrors around the lining of a small lidded container, put wet cotton balls inside the container and then put the bird inside, with the heating pad cranked up high. The staff thought Dr. Chan might inadvertently cook the bird. Every 10 minutes, Dr. Chan dripped electrolyte solution into the killdeer’s mouth. www.tockwotton.org
After two hours, the bird was pecking at a tray of tiny worms. A few days later, when Dr. Chan returned with the bird to the grass abutting the East Providence parking lot, she heard a chirp. The baby returned to its mother. Some animals, though, will not survive. Disabled animals, moreover, will not survive in the wild. “A limping predator will starve to death; a bird that does not fly well will become dinner for a predator very fast, only the second attack will be far more painful than humane and quiet euthanasia,” Dr. Chan said. “There is no sanctuary for injured wildlife. For a few rare cases, we will seek out the zoo for place-
ment if the animal is not too stressed with human contact.” Nevertheless, rehabilitators save an astonishing 60 percent of the animals that come their way. Dr. Chan sums up the motivation: “a love of life.” She concedes that people question their zeal to save some animals. “There is no shortage of squirrels,” she said, but the rehabilitators have made a commitment: “we do not select a species to save.” Dr. Chan, faced with an injured animal, makes a vow. “I’ll do my best.”
The Wildlife Rehabilitators of RI, a 501c3 organization, receives no federal or state money, but relies on grants, as well as donations of time, supplies and money from a host of Rhode Island volunteers. For more information, visit www.riwildliferehab. org. If you find an animal that needs help, call the Wildlife Rehabilitators Hot Line at 294-6363.
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PrimeTime | 17
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Susan Saunders, 61, is one of the many dedicated PARL volunteers who regularly come in to the shelter to socialize with dogs and cats.
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or many people, the joys of owning a pet are some of life’s best treasures, with furry friends becoming members of the family. But what happens to those pets whose owners can no longer care for them or must relocate, and to those who are strays? The answer is simple: Providence Animal Rescue League (PARL). It’s been nearly 100 years since PARL first opened its doors to serve as a safe haven for unwanted, neglected and abused animals in the Providence area. In the decades that have followed, the nonprofit organization, which receives no federal or state funding, has grown to help more than 2,000 animals each year. Focused on finding a forever home for One of the many cats available for adopeach animal they serve, tion, Artemis is a 4-year old male who is PARL has evolved over described as a lover who quickly responds to the years. his name.
May 2012
LI F E ST Y L E S
PEOPLE AND PLACES an animal to the shelter can be a good thing if one “When we were founded, our primary mission can’t first find an alternate home through friends was to get stray animals off the street,” said Carmine and family. DiCenso, executive director of PARL. “While this “When people contact us, they typically call is still true, we’ve also turned our focus to betterafter they’ve already struggled with their pet for a ing animals’ lives through medical care, enrichment while,” said DiCenso. “Ideally, we’d like these folks services and behavioral treatment.” to get in touch with us earlier so we can help with Each week, new animals arrive at PARL. Nearly the process. It can be extremely difficult to give a pet 90 percent of the animals that come into the shelup and we want to be as proactive as possible when ter’s care are not vaccinated and need to be spayed or neutered. All of these procedures are taken The adoption process at PARL care of on-site. Every animal is is designed to help make the best thoroughly evaluated to determine addition- match possible between its al needs. Each animal receives a heartworm animals and new prospective homes. test, and the shelter’s helping animals and their owners.” team of three veterinarians is able to quickly deliver Depending solely on the generosity of the comminor surgeries that can be critical to an animal’s munity, PARL has a broad base of support, both fiwell-being. The Providence Animal Rescue League nancially and through volunteers. was the first in Rhode Island to have an in-house “We’re fortunate to have a solid base of consissurgical clinic. tent donors, and while the amount they give may “There are some instances where an animal have gone down as a result of the economy, they’ve needs additional care that we’re able to do immestuck with us.” diately on-site,” added DiCenso. “For example, we Always looking to involve the community with had a 7-year-old Rottweiler with an inverted eyelid its work, there are a number of ways to become acthat was identified by our vets. We wouldn’t want tive with the shelter. About two years ago, PARL to adopt him out in this condition, not because it’s established an on-site pet food pantry to help people debilitating, but because it’s uncomfortable for him. provide food for their pets. Hoping to expand this Our vets were able to correct this through surgery service, PARL is in need of donated pet food. Toys at the shelter.” and treats to help with training are also very popuThe adoption process at PARL is designed to lar. help make the best match possible between its aniAdditional volunteers take the animals for walks mals and new prospective homes. All of the inforor play with them, and help to keep the kennels mation that the shelter has on an animal is posted clean. The shelter is also in regular need of people on their kennel card. This includes the reason for who are willing to serve as foster parents for animals, surrender, age, compatibility with other animals and especially for litters of kittens, who can’t be adopted children, and more. According to DiCenso, the avuntil they’re at least eight weeks old. erage time that an animal spends at the shelter is Learn more about the Providence Animal Resbetween seven and 14 days. But, for some smaller cue League at www.parl.org or 421-1399. animals and puppies, “they’re often adopted in as “To make a more human community, people little as a day.” need to get involved, even if they don’t take an aniIt’s not just dogs and cats up for adoption, howmal home,” said DiCenso. “We just want people to ever. The organization’s wide range of services allows recognize the needs of animals and to care about them to help animals of all shapes and sizes, from them.” birds and reptiles to rabbits and hamsters. “Right now, we have a dove, and sometimes have snakes, turtles and guinea pigs; which tend to get adopted quickly. Rabbits are the third most sheltered animal in the country. There’s never a day where we don’t have a rabbit available for adoption,” he explained. Throughout the years, DiCenso has seen an uptick in the number of seniors coming to the shelter to adopt pets as companions. According to a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, seniors that have pets tend to have better physical health and mental well-being than those that don’t. They’re more active, cope better with stress, and have better overall health. “I make it a point to visit the elderly and a lot of senior centers and it’s amazing to see the companionship and love that animals receive,” said DiCenso. “Often, these people don’t have anyone else in their lives. Animal welfare is more about people than animals in a lot of ways because of the bond that is established.” DiCenso recognizes the difficult choices people face when they realize that they can no longer take care of their animal. The shelter’s first goal is to try and help owners keep their pets. At times, bringing
THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT by DON FOWLER
A taste of Vegas and Disney at Warwick Mall If you are a morning walker or regular visitor to Warwick Mall, you have probably seen “Splash - The Experience” at Jordan’s Furniture, now located in the former Old Navy store. The Mall has made a remarkable recovery from the devastating flood, with many new stores, along with those that have been renovated. We attended a showing of the free spectacular “Magic of music and lasers in water” on a recent Sunday afternoon and were very impressed with the quality of the 12-minute show. The two-floor furniture store was filled with families, many who had come specifically to see Splash. Jordan’s commissioned experts in laser, video and sound to develop Splash, and claim that nowhere in the world have these features been put together in such a way. The show features 8,000 water nozzles, 15,000 watts of digital surround sound, 20,000 watts of light and 16 watts of state of the art light. All of that translates to a non-stop bombardment of visual excitement, with music ranging from Mozart to hard rock. You may want to bring earplugs. If you have been to Vegas or Disney World, you have seen elements of the show. If not, you will get a good taste of the experience, and it won’t cost you a dime. Sunday there was a show every half hour from noon to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday it runs from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Jordan’s plans to create new shows in the near future, but Splash is worth seeing more than once, giving you a chance to sit and rest while you are shopping. If you are not a regular mall shopper, plan to attend the Senior Expo, sponsored by PrimeTime, visit the booths and see the show.
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PrimeTime | 19
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After the storm:
Saving Rocky Point In less than a year after the Hurricane of 1938, plans were made to rebuild Rocky Point Park. In 1939, Thomas F. Wilson and a few others formed an organization that began building a great dining hall large enough to seat 3,500, and they restored the mechanical equipment of the huge covered swimming pool. When the project of restoration ran into difficulties, there was talk that the park would be divided into house lots. When this failed, representatives of the petroleum industry sought to use Rocky Point to locate its oil tanks. The Harringtons rejected this, as they feared it would be detrimental to the beauty of Warwick Neck and, instead, attempted to operate the park on a reduced scale in 1940 and 1941. Mainly due to restrictions placed upon them by World War II, the Harringtons were forced to curtail their activities and the park was not reopened to any great extent until 1945. At that time, it was sold to the Studley Land Company. In 1947, ownership passed to Rocky Point, Inc., under the leadership of Frederick Hilton, Joseph Trillo and Vincent Ferla. In 1949, Vincent was joined by his brother, Conrad, who remained with Rocky Point through a number of changes in ownership and was known as “Mr. Rocky Point.” The big news of the time was that Rocky Point was coming back to life. The 1938 Hurricane had left 80 “abandoned and battered” acres in its wake and the amusement park hadn’t functioned since that time, serving only as a summer camp. In 1948, shortly after Providence businessman Vincent Ferla acquired the park, the amusement section was opened and many concessions moved in. Rocky Point’s opening on the first Sunday in June 1948 was the cause of a mammoth traffic jam as over 35,000 patrons swarmed into the park. At 4 p.m., bumper-tobumper traffic extended along Warwick Avenue into Cranston and the effects were felt as far north as Allen’s and New York Avenues in Providence.
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May 2012
retirement sparks
senior
issues
b y elaine m . decker
St. Joseph the Realtor
Ah, spring! When a young couple’s fancy turns to thoughts of ... open houses. Those who follow this PrimeTime column know that I want to downsize now that I’m retired. Our house is on the market and I’ve been taking serious action to help find a buyer. We converted to a new gas heating system last winter and I buried a statue of St. Joseph in my front yard. A few of you look perplexed. Let me explain. There’s a long standing (sub)urban myth that burying St. Joseph upside down in your yard will help you sell your house. It’s unclear why he must be upside down. Is he really likely to wander off if upright? I considered burying him sideways, like a ship in a bottle, but in an empty Pinot Noir. I guess the notion of “sideways” reminded me of the terrific movie of that title, the one that had a stream of Pinot running through it. You probably think of St. Joseph as Jesus’ carpenter father, or perhaps as the inventor of children’s aspirin. It’s unclear how he came by his role as facilitator of real estate sales. It was probably some extension of carpentry and building. This, of course, makes me wonder if he’s as effective selling brick houses as wood ones. Fortunately, my home is good old New England clapboard. If you’re not a native Rhode Islander, be advised that it’s pronounced “clabberd” up here, not “clap-board.” Another possibility for how St. Joe got into real estate sales is that it’s one big headache, especially for the seller. Before Excedrin, aspirin would have been the drug of choice to deal with this. Today, there’s Vicodin, but I don’t think it has a saint endorsing it yet. However it came about, the notion of burying St. Jo-
seph upside down has so many proponents that you can buy kits, complete with instructions. Mine came courtesy of my realtor. Here’s what I learned from the material that was included: There are several acceptable places to bury the statue. These include by your doorstep (facing away), near the street (facing the house) and by the Realtor’s sign. I opted for the doorstep approach. It will be easier to tell if the squirrels have dug it up, mistaking St. Joe’s head for a plant bulb. The advice is clear as to bury it eight inches deep. No arguments from me on that. I have trouble getting to one foot when I’m gardening. These and several other tidbits are bulleted neatly on the back of the instruction card. Below the bullets, there’s a paragraph that advises that St. Joseph’s power lies in the prayers you say to him and how faithful you are in your devotion. A separate prayer card is provided. Next is the sentence that makes me sit up physicaltherapy-straight and take notice. “You can also increase your chance of selling your home by making sure it is in good condition and by asking a realistic price.” Spoken like a true realtor. Then I notice that the section with the bullet points is titled “How-To-Myths” while the paragraph below them is titled “The Truth.” This must be the liability disclaimer. I can hear it now: “I buried the statue and nothing happened. I want my money back.” “Did you pray daily?” “Well, not exactly...” “Um hmmm. And was your home in good condition
and did you price it realistically?” “Let’s put it this way. It never looked as good as when I first put it on the market. And the price seemed realistic when my realtor and I first sat down with comps.” “And what about three weeks later, when Providence was threatening bankruptcy and two comparable houses sold well below assessment because their mortgages were under water?” “Yeah, well, maybe you have a point.” “You might want to try burying two more statues of St. Joseph in the other locations we suggested. We have a buy-one-get-one-half-off promotion going on now.” “Won’t that give him an identity crisis?” “Not if you pray at each statue individually...” And that, dear readers, is why I put one of my bottles of Pinot into the fridge before I started writing this. It just so happens that I had two of them in my wine cupboard - one for each of the promotional St. Joes. The Lord does indeed work in strange ways...
Elaine M. Decker’s book, “Retirement Sparks,” is available at Books on the Square, the Brown University bookstore, and Spectrum-India, all on the East Side of Providence, on Amazon.com and in a Kindle version. Contact her at emdecker@ix.netcom.com.
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PrimeTime | 21
b y catherine T erry taylor d i re c to r , r i d e p a r t m e n t o f e l d e r l y a f f a i r s
senior
issues
The changing face of aging in America It is time to celebrate Older Americans Month. This May, Older Americans Month will be celebrated under the banner of, “Never Too Old to Play.” Never Too Old to Play happily reminds me of a dear friend of mine, Laura Kaltenbach, who died in 2008 at the age of 105. For her 90th birthday, Kaltenbach’s children and grandchildren gave her something she had always wanted: flying lessons. Family, friends and neighbors gathered on her lawn on a brilliant August afternoon. We awaited her approach from the airfield in Newport, having arrayed ourselves in the shape of a giant 90 to greet her as a sort of human birthday card. As un-fond of flying as I am, I remember thinking as Mrs. Kaltenbach zoomed overhead with her flight instructor, “She is so cool. I want to be just like her!” That is the new face of aging in America: Mrs. Kaltenbach and all of us who want to be just like her, people who are active and have adventures and laugh and play, as long as our knees hold out! Take a moment to look at those old black and white photographs of your grandparents. Chances are that they appear much older than the digital color images of you at
A Lifetime of Achievement Demands Protection
the same age. Your grandmother wore a bun and sat in a rocking chair, knitting. You’re wearing workout clothes and headed to an exercise class. And, maybe thanks to Miss Clairol, you haven’t seen a gray hair yet. In 1950, the average life expectancy was 66 for men and 72 for women. By 2000, life expectancy had climbed to 75 for men and 80 for women, and has inched up by a few months in 2012. This positive trend is strongest in Rhode Island, where it may surprise you to learn that we lead the country in percentage of population age 85 and older. A number of factors have contributed to our longevity. Better nutrition and health care, less strenuous and dangerous occupations, better working conditions and better management of chronic disease conditions are important contributors. But today’s generation of seniors have a different set of expectations about their golden years and a very different lifestyle than their predecessors. They demand more of their lives. Many stay active and in the workforce well into their 60s and 70s and beyond. They volunteer, travel and spend rewarding time with family and friends.
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The Administration on Aging (AoA) notes that people over 60 account for an ever-increasing number of participants in community service, social networking, arts and recreational and faith-based groups. Numerous studies have shown that embracing social, community, creative and physical activities have measurable health benefits. These benefits include retention of mobility, muscle mass and cognitive abilities. Today’s older Americans - the new elderly - don’t have to be convinced that they’re never too old to play! Policymakers need to pay close attention to the changing desires and habits of people as they age, and be responsive. To be effective, support programs and services must reflect the seniors’ desire to remain independent and in the community. Longterm services and supports need to be advertised not as help for the helpless, but as modest, gradual supports that preserve an individual’s health and independence for as long as possible. Senior centers need to adjust their offerings to attract this new generation of seniors to avail themselves of the supports that ultimately promote their health and
independence. For example, congregate dining sites in Connecticut have redesigned themselves as cafes, and are finding that older diners are flocking to them. The benefits of staying active and playing not only enhance the quality of life for seniors, but also serve as an example to younger members of the community. We intrinsically know what the U.S. Administration on Aging has concluded: that interaction with family, friends and neighbors across the generations enriches the lives of everyone. Young people who have a strong relationship with grandparents are aware of their identity and roots. These relationships can help younger people develop a solid sense of values, define their life goals and make important life choices. And the example is even more powerful: younger people see that aging isn’t something to be feared. If they take care of their bodies, aging is something to be embraced. Personally, thanks to Mrs. Kaltenbach, I am looking forward to turning 90 someday, and am taking the steps that are within my control to get there. For 35 years, the celebration of the annual Governor’s Centenarians Brunch is the centerpiece of Older Americans Month activities in Rhode Island. On Thursday, May 10, invited guests age 100 and older, as well as those who will reach their 100th birthday during the year, will gather at a local assisted living site to share their life stories, chat with the governor and reaffirm the joy of life. This event has experienced remarkable growth over the years. The earliest observances were held in the stateroom at the State House, with 20 or so centenarians in attendance. The event outgrew the State House accommodations in the early 1990s and will be held this year at The Bridge at Cherry Hill in Johnston. Last year, the Rhode Island Division of Elderly Affairs (DEA) located and invited more than 150 centenarians, 65 of whom attended the brunch with their escorts. It appears that this year’s turnout will be even larger. It’s thrilling that more Rhode Islanders are not only reaching their 100th birthday, but doing so in good health and able to get out and enjoy the birthday party the governor throws for them. It was such a privilege last year to co-host the Centenarians Brunch for the first time. It occurred to me that the playwright Oscar Wilde had some wisdom for us as we age. He wrote, “Everything in moderation, including moderation!” A healthy, active life doesn’t have to be - in fact, shouldn’t be - boring.
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Saving Labs
all about animals!
b y jessica a. botelho
saved a Middletown woman
“Everyone says it takes a village to raise a child, and I say it takes a village to rescue one dog,” said Rebecca Clark of Middletown, the New England coordinator for Save a Lab, a non-profit organization that transports Labrador and Labrador mixes from southern states to shelters in Rhode Island and, ultimately, into loving homes. Last year, she and a team of four other coordinators rescued 294 dogs. Clark has been involved with Save a Lab for the last year and a half. She learned about the organization shortly after her two yellow labs, 12year-old Kibo and 10-year-old Sana, passed away. “It was a blow, especially one right after the other,” Clark said. “My whole thought process was, ‘If I can’t save my two dogs, I can save some others.’”
To ease the pain, Clark sought comfort in Maji, her 3-year-old yellow Lab. She feels fortunate that he was there to comfort her, as well as her 12-year-old daughter Averey Homer. Maji proved to be a pleasant distraction. Early one morning in October, Averey was ill and Clark needed to make a quick trip to the pharmacy. In haste, she left the bathroom door open before leaving the house. When she returned home, she found quite the scene. “He was sitting in the bathroom with garbage and laundry all over and there he was with the garbage can stuck upside down on his head,” said Clark. Clark videotaped him and uploaded the video to YouTube. It wasn’t long before it went viral. “I got calls from 20/20, Animal Planet, Inside Edition and local newspapers,” she said. “It’s made a great name for the rescue.” Being a part of the organization, Clark adopted Mhina, the newest addition to her family. To give more people the opportunity to foster or adopt, Clark regularly communicates with coordinators who live in other states, including South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and even Ohio. At times, she said, the process can be complicated. “Georgia is a really difficult state to rescue from because their Department of Agriculture requires certain licenses, which we don’t have and are very difficult to get,” said Clark. “We have to find a rescue there that has a special license to pull a dog out of one of the shelters. Then, there’s a two-week quarantine period and we have to transport the dogs.” It costs $400 to $500 to rescue one dog. Costs include transport fees, getting the animals spayed or neutered, plus immunizations.
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After filming her yellow Lab, Maji, with the garbage can stuck on his head and posting the video to YouTube, Maji was an Internet sensation and was featured on 20/20, Animal Planet and Inside Edition.
“And that’s if it’s healthy,” Clark said. “Forty percent of them have heartworm so we have to give them the heartworm preventative, which is another $500 to treat.” But, there is a silver lining, said Clark, as people help out when least expected. During Easter weekend, Clark helped rescue a litter of eight black labs from Tennessee who were to be euthanized the next morning. “The shelter told me, ‘We have no cages. They are being put to sleep,’” said Clark. “I went on Faceook and posted, ‘I’m in Rhode Island, they are in Tennessee. Is there anybody that can help?’ Suddenly, this wonderful woman from New York said, ‘send me your phone number.’ She called me, drove to Tennessee and then drove them to me. She did it for no charge and the next day they were on my doorstep.” Clark is also grateful to people whom foster dogs until an adopting family is found. Between Rhode Island and Massachusetts, the organization has 20 foster families. “We have incredible volunteers,” she said. “Your faith in humanity is quickly boosted when you find out so many people are willing to help. Some of them have become like family to me.” To make a donation or learn more about how to foster or adopt, check out Savealabnc.com. The adoption fee is $325.
PrimeTime | 23
b y Meg Fraser
Wild About
Animals
It’s just after 9 a.m. and there are still very few families making their way through Roger Williams Park Zoo. Carol Hills has just gotten out of her volunteer meeting, and takes the opportunity to catch up with her friends. Her first stop is the elephant exhibit, where she calls out to Ginny. There’s a moment of recognition, as the female African elephant ruffles her ears in Hills’ direction.
photos by
“To this day, my favorite is Ginny. She’s the fattest,” Hills says, smiling. “She’ll come up to me and blows hay in my face. That’s her way of saying she loves me.”
MEG FRASER & LINDA NADEAU
24 | PrimeTime
May 2012
all about animals!
F
or 26 years, Carol Hills has been a part of the landscape at Roger Williams Park Zoo. She has seen the zoo grow and add animals, now attracting 560,000 visitors annually to more than 100 exhibits, and has also experienced the loss firsthand when an animal dies. But through the ups and downs, she continues to arrive at the zoo, like clockwork, 9 a.m. every Monday and Friday. Her sole motivation is a commitment to the animals. “I love animals, I really do. You get attached,” she said. Hills, a mother of two and grandmother of eight, first came to the zoo more than two decades ago when her career as a nurse was winding down. With more time on her hands, she followed the advice of a friend and took a volunteer position at Roger Williams. Back then, the zoo looked dramatically different. There were fewer buildings and fewer exhibits, but she also got to work one-on-one with the animals. She recalls the excitement of the zoo’s first polar bear, and the sadness of losing a giraffe last March. “You should see us,” she said of the volunteers, “we sit and ball. I’m one of the biggest crybabies.” As the zoo expanded, Hills has taken on the role of docent, running tours or special stations where she can share her extensive knowledge of the resident animals. She enjoys the work, especially when it comes to teaching young children, and fostering their love of animals. “You want to put it so the child can see it through their own eyes, not your eyes. You want to talk on their level,” she said. Part of the zoo’s expansion in 2012 is a new exhibit called Our Big Backyard, a hands-on outdoor play center that encourages children to use their imaginations and learn by experience. This spring also brings the opportunity to feed giraffes and penguins each day. Hills is excited for the plans, and said the children she works with learn best when there is an interactive element. “They want to interact with the animals as much as they can. That’s what kids like,” she said. “They have this sense of wonderment.” But the thing she finds most kids are interested in? “Poop,” she said, laughing. Hills herself has learned a lot over the years, and can tick off facts and statistics about each animal at the zoo. Adding to her years of zoo experience, she took a trip to Africa in 1995 along with a group of docents who wanted to take a safari and see close up the species they know so well, in the wild. “I would have stayed there if I didn’t have a family - I loved it so much,” she said. The zoo staff and more than 200 volunteers have become part of her family too; and the 84-year-old Hills can’t imagine her life without Roger Williams Park Zoo. When asked what has kept her coming back all these years, besides the animals, she didn’t hesitate. “It’s the people,” she said. “It’s a coming together of people that have the same interests. They want to achieve the same thing that you do; they come here because they love animals, and that’s why I came here.”
“
It’s not just weight and height and diet of the animals that Hills is so familiar with - it’s their character. She talks to the animals as she would to her fellow docents, and looks forward to her twice-weekly rounds to each of the exhibits.
I talk to the animals. People probably think I’m a crazy lady, but they’ve got personalities.
May 2012
”
“I talk to the animals. People probably think I’m a crazy lady,” she said, “but they’ve got personalities.” Soon, Hills will have new personalities to get to know, as red river hogs, the King vulture and the takin all join the lineup of animals this summer. Already, zoo officials are in the preliminary planning stages of creating a tiger exhibit. It’s an exciting time for Hills, and she has no plans of leaving her friends. Roger Williams Park Zoo is open year-round; daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $14.95 for adults, $12.95 for seniors 62 and older and $9.95 for children ages 3 to 12. For more information, visit www.rwpzoo.org or call 785-3510.
PrimeTime | 25
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If you have not brushed up on your Latin lately, you may not know the translation of these immortal words, once penned by the lyric poet Quintus Flaccus. Their actual translation is: “While we are talking, envious time is fleeing: pluck the day, put no trust in the future.” The philosophy of “seizing the day” and “living for the moment” is truly that of Carl Keitner –who, though not a Carl Keitner, a professional, highly trained Latin poet, is indeed a man who driver, at your service . . . celebrates life! Carl Keitner is a native of Budapest, a professional photographer, and a highly trained personal driver. He has long recognized that when you are always the one behind the steering wheel, you are often denied the opportunity to take in the view and savor the beauty of the world around you! As a man who has experienced great joy in his worldwide travels, he longs to bring to others this same privilege; to relax, admire the view and let him take the wheel. Carl Keitner is offering so much more than a “taxi” service. He is, instead, a expertly trained, “blue card”-holding and licensed professional driver who is eager to take on clients who spend a disproportionate time on the road, whether commuting to out-oftown work commitments, hospitals, airports and destinations as far south as New York City to the foremost corners of New England. Ideally, these clients are those with appointments that require frequent road travel throughout the region, or those whose own driving abilities have diminished with age or illness ~ or even those who are just tired of holding the wheel! He will guarantee you a pleasant passenger experience, being sensitive to both the need for companionship or privacy, conversation or restful observation. In his words: “I take full responsibility for my passengers’ well-being. I value highly their confidence, trust, respect, and mostly, their safety and comfort.” Mr. Keitner has spent long hours in driver’s training school and prides himself in his spotless safety record. As a “defensive driver”, he does not believe in “accidents” but rather in complete accountability as a driver, as his record surely attests. He is highly dependable, experienced in all road/weather conditions, and a disciplined, controlled professional. It is Mr. Keitner’s preference to drive you in your own familiar car, but he is also equipped to drive you in his vehicle if necessary. Carl exclaims: “Apart from my family, there are two things in life I am passionate about, one is my driving and the other is my photography. I want to be with people who, like me, have worked hard to get the best out of life!” If there is anyone who can deliver you safely along your journey –whether to a regular out-of-town doctor’s appointment, a weekend getaway or a work-related commute, it is Carl Keitner. Mr. Keitner can be reached at 401-837-7922 or by email at carl.keitner@gmail.com. If you are in need of a professional personal driver for yourself or a loved one, delay no longer ~ “Carpe Diem!”
Heatherwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center “It’s all about you, it’s all about the experience” Subacute Care • Rehabilitation • Long-Term Memory Care Neighborhood
398 Bellevue Avenue, Newport, RI 02840 • (401) 849-6600
Now g in offer ite p s Re e! Car
Come see what sets us apart! • Assisted Living since 1992 • Spacious one bedroom apartments & shared studio apartments • Priority admission to Scandinavian Home Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Center
Scandinavian RetiRement centeR An Assisted Living Community 50 Warwick Avenue
Cranston, RI 02905
401-461-1444 Email: Info@ScandinavianHome.com A non-profit organization A CareLink Member
Call for details or arrange for a tour... we would love to meet you. PrimeTime | 27
They waited in line for hours with their precious objects from decades past. They brought paintings, furniture, jewels, papers, textiles, porcelain, and so much more. The people were as different as their items, but they all shared the same burning question. It hung in the air all day, sometimes heard aloud, sometimes left unspoken:
Macular Degeneration symposium on May 31 The Ocean State Center for Independent Living (OSCIL) will be hosting a “Living with Macular Degeneration” symposium on Thursday, May 31, from 1 to 4:30 p.m., at the Radisson Airport Hotel in Warwick. The event will feature a panel of prominent physicians. Dr. Helene Bradley will discuss low-vision aids. In addition, there will be key vendors on site to provide important information and demonstrate assistive devices that can assist individuals to maintain independence. Some of the questions that will be addressed by the panelists will be: • What is Macular Degeneration? • What should I be doing if I have Macular Degeneration? • What new treatments are available now? • What is happening with stem cell research? • What is the status of the special intra-ocular lenses? • What about retinal implants and transplants? • What information from TV, radio and the Internet should I believe?
Highlights from the Rhode Island PBS Antiques Discovery & Appraisal Show
Live Special Presentation Wednesday May 9, 2012 7:30 P.M.
Pre-registration is required. There is a $20 charge to the general public and $35 for professionals. Anyone interested can contact OSCIL at 738-1013 ext. 13 to request a registration form. The registration form can also be obtained on OSCIL’s website at www.oscil.org. OSCIL is not able to accept registrations at the door.
Senior living. Vibrant living.
Come see how Brightview brings it all together for you. What’s vibrant independent living at Brightview? It’s a wonderful home without all the work. More fun and freedom in every day. Good food, good friends, good times. More of everything you’re looking for. Come live well.
See what makes Brightview the area’s best value. Q Rental with no large entrance fee. Q All-inclusive monthly fee. Q Restaurant-style dining, fitness, movies, beauty salon. Q Daily social events, happy hour, trips and more.
ripbs.org/antiques Digital 36.1 | Cox 08/1008HD Verizon 08/508HD | Comcast 819HD Dish Network 7776 | DirecTV 36
28 | PrimeTime
Q Assisted Living & Alzheimer’s Care Neighborhoods on-site.
Call 401-789-8777 today! 57 GrandeVille Court Wakefield, RI 02879 BrightviewCommons.com
Ask us about our Circle of SupportSM that can make your move easier and less stressful. Sponsored by:
May 2012
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calendar of events Key to secret gardens The Gentian Garden Club is sponsoring the “Gentian Gems” Garden Tour on Saturday, June 2, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine. The self-guided tour includes 10 private gardens designed, planted and maintained by their owners. The event is also an opportunity to view the Gentian Wildflower Garden in North Scituate. Tickets are $25 per person and include a boxed lunch. Boxed lunches must be ordered by May 15. Tickets for the garden tour only are $20 per person. To purchase tickets, checks payable to the Gentian Garden Club should be mailed to Alyce Peddar, P.O. Box 464, Chepachet, RI 02814. To receive tickets by return mail, a self-addressed, stamped business envelope must be included at the time of payment. Tickets, boxed lunches, and tour maps may be picked up on the day of the tour at the North Scituate Community House, located at 546 West Greenville Road.
May 2012
Welcome, spring! The Misquamicut SpringFest takes off on May 11 through May 13, and features a world-class carnival and amusements, an international food court, a petting zoo, games and more. Admission is just $5. Friday from 5 to 11 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit misquamicutfestival.org or call 322-1026 for more information. Blooming at URI East Farm at the University of Rhode Island plays host to the annual Spring Festival on May 12. Admission to this daylong festival is free, and families can peruse green exhibits, purchase plants from URI Master Gardeners and take advantage of kids games, food and entertainment. Return of the cherry blossoms Visit downtown Central Falls and Pawtucket for the Cherry Blossom Festival from May 18 to 20. The celebration includes a road
race and plant giveaway, plus much, much more. For a full schedule of events, visit tourblackstone.com or call 724-2200. Time to jam The Kingston Old Time Jam Sessions meet the second and fourth Mondays of this month from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Kingston Library. The May sessions will take place on the 14th and 28th. The library is located at the entrance to URI, and admission is free. Rock Your Chakra Visit the Jamestown Arts Center on May 11 or June 8 for this creative journey of selfexploration. In the first hour of Rock Your Chakra, beginning at 7 p.m., Liz Lind leads a yoga class. In the second hour, Rachel Balaban leads an instructed dance session. The final hour is a full dance party. $25 per person, or $10 for just the dance party from 9 to 10 p.m. The Jamestown Arts Center is located at 18 Valley Street. Visit www.jamestownartcenter.org or call 560-0979.
Watercolors in Newport The artwork of Paula Visnoski will be on display at the Newport Public Library for the entire month of May. Admission is free. The library is located at 300 Spring Street. www. pmvart.com. That time of year Waterfire begins on May 1, and will run through October. Admission is free for this Rhode Island experience. For details, visit waterfire.org or call 273-1155. 1984 returns in 2012 George Orwell’s novel “1984” will come to life at the Sandra Feinstein-Gamm Theatre in Pawtucket. Tickets are $30 to $40 and show times vary from Wednesday through Sunday. To purchase tickets or find out more, call 723-4266 or visit www.gammtheatre.org.
PrimeTime | 29
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