August 2010 PrimeTime

PrimeTime au g u st 2 0 10

rhode island

The Best Years of Your Life

You think you know

Rhode Island?

free

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M

y family is just about as Rhode Island as they come.

The vast majority of my relatives live here, and for the poor Williams bunch who live in Connecticut (can you imagine?), we never venture that far out of our comfort zone.

We all know the URI fight song, and in true Rhody fashion, my parents met at Kent County Hospital. Most Rhode Islanders are guaranteed to know at least one or two people who work there. Probably a cousin.

Growing up, we never did much traveling, so I assumed that my allegiance to my home state was a universal trait; that all Americans put their local interests at a close second to their patriotism.

PrimeTime agazine M

August 2010 1944 Warwick Ave. Warwick, RI 02889 401-732-3100 FAX 401-732-3110 Distribution Special Delivery PUBLISHERS Barry W. Fain, Richard G. Fleischer, John Howell EDITOR Meg Fraser megf@rhodybeat.com MARKETING DIRECTOR Donna Zarrella donnaz@rhodybeat.com Creative Director Linda Nadeau lindan@rhodybeat.com photo editor Darcie DiSaia darcied@rhodybeat.com WRITERS Susan Contreras, Don Fowler, Don D’Amato, Matt Holmes, Joan Retsinas, Colby Cremins, Mike Fink, Meg Chevalier, Cynthia Glinick, Joe Kernan ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES Donna Zarrella – donnaz@rhodybeat.com Carolann Soder, Lisa Mardenli, Janice Torilli, Suzanne Wendoloski, Gina Fugere Classified ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES Nicole Egan – nicolee@rhodybeat.com Sue Howarth – sueh@rhodybeat.com PRODUCTION STAFF Matt Bower, Joseph Daniels, Brian Geary, Lisa Yuettner A Joint Publication of East Side Monthly and Beacon Communications.

PrimeTime Magazine is published monthly and is available at over 400 locations throughout Rhode Island. Letters to the editor are welcome. We will not print unsigned letters unless exceptional circumstances can be shown.

Then, I went away to school.

Naturally, when I say, “away,” I mean all the way to Massachusetts, a whole 50-minute train ride away.

But when I got to Boston, I found out that being a Rhode Islander is something of a novelty. The confession is usually followed up with an, “oh, really?” and then some probe into the state ranging from its torrid political history to its culinary character.

Do you know Buddy Cianci? Would you vote for him again?

What’s a hot weiner? That actually tastes good?

There were a lot of preconceived notions about what we’re about here in the Ocean State, some false and some very, very true.

Our inclination is to roll our eyes when put in a room full of people, and they expect you to immediately know any other Rhode Islander there. Then we go and find out that his cousin dated your high school gym teacher, and you were both at that summer party in Bristol last July.

Hey, some stereotypes fit the bill.

But what surprised me most is that the people I’ve met from Massachusetts, from New Hampshire, from Florida and from California, have a very different viewpoint of where they’re from. It’s incidental to them. States are interchangeable, so location is a short blip in their biography.

In Rhode Island, it’s at least a chapter.

While interviewing people for this August issue, I’ve found that to be true for most of us. Doo-wop singing group Ronnie and the Satellites got their start here when they were just teenagers, and now that they’re reunited as seniors, it’s unlikely to imagine any other backdrop providing so easy a transition.

In this issue you’ll also read about Rhode Island 101, a book by Canadian author Tim Lenhert, who came to Little Rhody and never left.

He is pictured on the cover in a great spot for tourists and natives a like: Ocean State Souvenir in Airport Plaza in Warwick. They’ve got everything from Rhode Island hats to Del’s mix to hot weiner topping.

Get a bird’s eye view of the state in Colby Cremins’ piece on helicopter tours, or test your own knowledge with our “You think you know Rhode Island?” quiz. No cheating!

Don Fowler gets to the bottom of what makes Rhode Island cuisine so great, and Kerry Park talks about the kind of old-fashioned, family-run nursing homes that are a dying breed these days.

For a little romance, turn to our story on two couples living in Providence’s St. Elizabeth who celebrated their landmark anniversaries by renewing their vows and reaffirming their love.

And, of course, no one knows Rhode Island like Don D’Amato. Glimpse of Rhode Island’s past is our go-to source for all things Rhody, and thanks to Don, we’ve been learning new things about our old state for years.

There’s nothing as great as Rhode Island in the summer, so head out to the beach, pack a picnic or head to Newport for the day. Whatever you do - don’t take the state for granted.

We’ve got a lot to offer for being the little guy.

Meg Fraser editor

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r o o t s IN THIS ISSUE That’s Entertainment............................................. 4 Why our local fare is top notch Rhode Island 101................................................... 5 A Q&A with author Tim Lehnert on the ins and outs of the smallest state A century of love.................................................... 6 Two local couples renew their vows after decades of happy marriages Rhode Island’s own mascot................................ 7 Artist Frank Galasso gives his home state a cartoon image You think you know Rhode Island?.................. 8 Test your knowledge with this Rhody challenge They’ve still got it................................................. 11 Ronnie and the Satellites keep on crooning A bird’s eye view of the Ocean State.............. 12 Colby Cremins take a helicopter ride to get a better perspective The art of Rhode Island...................................... 14 A doer’s profile on artist and businessman Anthony Tomaselli

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE SENIOR ISSUES Homegrown nursing home.....................................................................10 One-stop shopping for seniors............................................................17 LIFESTYLES Golfing made easy.........................................................................................18 What do you Fink?.........................................................................................21 Gay and gray......................................................................................................24 PEOPLE & PLACES Saying goodbye to the classics..........................................................19 Senior Olympics lighting the way......................................................20 Glimpse of RI’s past.....................................................................................22 Next month, we dive into what people collect and why they collect it with an issue dedicated to the knick-knacks that fill our shelves and the shops that occupy our Saturdays.

ON THE COVER: Author Tim Lehnert visits Ocean State Souvenirs in the Airport Plaza, Warwick. Owner Karen Canis stocks her store with a large selection of Rhode Island souvenirs, from t-Shirts to mugs, magnets, keychains and postcards (photo by Darcie DiSaia)

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that’s entertainment! b y don fowler

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‘No Reservations’

about Rhode Island dining Travel Channel personality Anthony Bourdain, of the popular “No Reservations” television show, when asked why he hasn’t done one of his hourlong segments on culinary opportunities in Rhode Island, replied: “Why? What do you have that’s unique?”

For one thing, Anthony, we have the best culinary arts program in the country: Johnson & Wales University. Being a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in his home state of New York, Tony just may be a little bit prejudiced.

While many J&W grads have gone on to make a name for themselves at fine restaurants around the world and, like Emeril, gained international fame, many have chosen to stay in Rhode Island and open their own establishments.

The Ocean State has more than its share of chain restaurants, ranging from fast food to boiler plate family spots and endless ethnic eateries, but we are culinarily (I just invented a new word) unique in many ways.

Mr. Bourdain, I know that you are a big hot dog fan, seeking out local variations in every state and country you visit.

Parade Magazine has credited Rhode Island for having one of the most unique variations: The New York System weiner.

No, you won’t find it in your native New York City.

There are various theories about where the name originated, but don’t get hung up on that.

Take a trip to Olneyville, where countermen can fit a dozen wieners up their arm (Don’t tell the Health Department) and slather them with mustard, onions, celery salt and a coveted secret recipe of ground beef and spices. It’s called “All the Way.” No connection with Sinatra’s song.

You may wish to order cheese fries with them, and you must order a large glass of coffee milk.

Never had coffee milk? That’s unique to Rhode Island too. Coffee syrup is shipped all over the world, especially to our troops overseas and our retirees in Florida.

The General Assembly even took time out of their busy schedule to debate the issue of whether coffee milk or Del’s Lemonade should be our state drink; and here you were, thinking it was Narragansett beer.

The official opening of the summer season is designated by the spotting of the first Del’s truck to be seen on the way to the beach. A lot of shaved ice, lemon juice, and one or two pieces of lemon peel to establish authenticity, and you have our coveted Del’s.

Did I mention that coffee ice cream is our most popular flavor?

How about a coffee cabinet? No, it’s not a piece of furniture. And a grinder isn’t to grind coffee beans.

Rhode Island is a true melting pot, with ethnic restaurants in every city and town.

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Sure, some transplanted Rhode Islanders think a great Mexican meal can be had at Taco Bell, and Olive Garden is the best that Italy has to offer, but native Rhode Islanders know that real Italian food can only be found on Federal Hill, and grandma makes the best “gravy” in the world.

A trip down Broad Street in south Providence will remind you of your South of the Border adventures, with over a dozen trucks parked along the curb serving Caribbean, Spanish and Mexican delights.

Rhode Island is famous for its family-style, all-you-can-eat chicken and macaroni dinners.

People drive all the way to the northernmost corner of the state to enjoy platters of what will probably be declared by some politician as the state dinner.

The New England Clambake takes on its own personality in Little Rhody. You have often said that you like any food that is cooked in a hole in the ground. Well, we do it with lobsters, clams, onions, sweet and white potatoes and sausages, cover it with seaweed, and let it cook in all its juices. We like to stare at the covered hole, taking in the smell and smoke.

We know that you like exotic seafood. Rhode Islanders go for the basics: The lowly clam, often referred to as the Quahog, is our favorite. We eat clams raw, steamed, fried, in chowder, stuffed, and in a greasy, calorie and carb loaded clam cake.

You’ll love the Rhode Island clam. Like the potato in Ireland, pasta in Italy, and rice in China, they are the staple here in this state.

We eat our “chowda” with clear clam broth, not that horrible red stuff that’s in the Manhattan version.

Gastronomically speaking, I’ve only scratched the surface.

We’ll save the rest for your long-awaited visit.

On your own, you can discover the johnnycake, made from corn meal ground in historic grist mills. You can search for Twin Oaks, a favorite with the locals, although, in true Yogi Berra fashion, “Nobody goes there anymore. It’s too crowded.” The other Rhode Island legend is that everyone knows, or is related to, a waiter there.

You can travel to Galilee (no, it’s not a Kosher community) next to the Block Island ferry slip and eat your lobster fresh off the fishing boats.

Oh, yes. Directions.

From New York City, travel north on I-95.

When you see a big blue bug on your left, take the next exit. If you keep going, you’ll end up in Boston or Cape Cod, neither of which hold a candle to the cuisine of Rhode Island. ■

Did you know...that Rhode Island is the most Catholic state in the nation with 52% of its population so identifying itself?

August 2010

QUESTION&ANSWER

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by M EG FRASE R

Rhode Island 101 H

ailed as, “The book the locals buy,” Rhode Island 101 is a comprehensive, albeit compact, guide to the Ocean State. It touches upon everything from the mob and vampires, to history and good eats. With 248 pages of information, author Tim Lehnert has created a handheld encyclopedia of the people, places and politics that make Little Rhody what it is.

Although Lehnert came to the topic looking from the outside in, the Canadian native now lives in Cranston, and has experienced the state both as a visitor and as a resident. His book is part of a series of state profiles, and one that he’ll revisit to make sure he stays on top of all things Rhode Island.

Rhode Island 101 can be purchased locally at Twice Told Tales in Pawtuxet, Borders in Garden City and Barnes & Noble on Route 2.

Q How did you come up with the idea for RI 101?

I do some editing work for a company that publishes these types of books on provinces in Canada. They wanted to break into the United States and I suggested we start with Rhode Island. This state is very well suited to this kind of thing because everyone here knows a lot about the state.

Q

How would you describe the people here?

Rhode Islanders have a unity as Rhode Islanders. As a whole, they have a real interest in their state and have a sense of identity.

Q

What are our less flattering quirks?

Everybody’s such a complainer, and very conservative, but not in the political sense. Things are just done in a certain way, and there’s no talking a Rhode Islander out of it.

Q

How long did it take you to put the book together?

About a year. It’s very, very dense in the sense - not that it’s hard to read - but there’s a lot of information in it. The problem is you can’t go very deep into one thing, but it’s also a strength because you don’t get bogged down in it.

Q

As a non-native, how did you get to all the ins and outs of the Ocean State?

One of the ways I was able to pierce through these topics is to ask Rhode Island celebrities about their top fives. Instead of me saying, ‘I have to be an expert,’ I wanted to get people who are real experts in these areas and then I built on their knowledge.

Q

Was it tough to get a run down from local celebs like Michael Corrente, John Ghiorse and Bruce Sundlun?

I wasn’t sure at first how willing people would be but most people I asked said yes. The good thing about Rhode Island is even if someone is really well known, it’s not like it’s hard to get a hold of them.

Q

Did you get insight from a lot of friends and neighbors?

One area where I did ask a lot of people is the slang and, “you know you’re from Rhode Island when...” When we get into the economy in the state and such, I just basically sat down and did it.

Q

What was one of the most interesting things you learned on your writing journey?

Scituate was on a short list to serve as the United Nations headquarters. There’s a place called Stoddard House, which has this cache because they used it to intercept signals. This helped Scituate to be on that short list. To me, to picture diplomats racking up parking tickets throughout Scituate was funny.

Q

Anything else that gave you a chuckle?

The classic thing in Rhode Island is, ‘turn right where the Almacs used to be...’ There are tons of little things that I had no idea about. I don’t claim to be an expert. I just compiled stuff in an interesting way.

Q

Now that you’re a resident, what’s your favorite part of Little Rhody?

I think you get a range of experiences in 15 or 20 minutes. You can do the city thing in downtown Providence, you can go to the beach, or you can go for a walk in the woods. There are not many places you can do that. Plus with the history, it’s just so interesting. ■

August 2010

PrimeTime | 5

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A Century of Love

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It wasn’t the first time Pearl and Arthur Cinq-Mars, or Mary and Anthony Rapoza, had exchanged vows. Combined, the couples have been married for over a century.

But on June 30, they reaffirmed the love that first brought them down the aisle more than six decades ago.

Mary and Anthony Rapoza

Arthur and Pearl Cinq-Mars

In her capacity as director of admissions and marketing for St. Elizabeth Court in Providence, Maggie Connelly spends a lot of time talking to residents. So when she discovered that both couples had impressive anniversaries on the horizon, she sprung into action. Connelly reached out to their families to propose a renewal of vows with all the fixings of a wedding.

“The fact that they’re still together at their age, healthy and happy, is a big deal,” Connelly said. “The fact that they can still be together and still love each other is so important to recognize.”

She took the lead on the project, sending out invitations and coordinating every last detail.

She says the families were very receptive to the idea, and the entire St. Elizabeth community rallied around the event.

“I look at our residents as being walking history books. They’ve seen a whole lot more than what we’ve seen,” Connelly said.

Arthur, or Archie as his friends know him, and Pearl have been married for 62 years, to which Archie says, “I don’t know how she did it.”

The couple met at a party thrown by a VFW, as they were both involved in drum and bugle corps. Archie asked Pearl’s sister to dance, and when she turned him down, he turned his attention to the young lady sitting nearby.

“We danced all evening and had a very nice time,” Pearl recalled. “He asked if he could come and see me and if we could have another date.”

It took two buses for Archie to get to Pearl back then, but that didn’t stop him. They dated for four years, including a year when Archie served in the Navy.

Then, in 1947, they got engaged.

Pearl doesn’t remember too many of the details from her wedding day, but she does remember what really counts.

“All I remember is we’re together now,” she said.

The Cinq-Mars raised their two children in North Attleboro.

Archie worked for the Pawtucket Screw Factory, while Pearl was a dietary supervisor both at Bishop Feehan High School and at Sturdy Memorial Hospital. They were active communicants at St. Maria Goretti Church. In 2008, they moved to St. Elizabeth.

Looking back at their 62-year marriage, Pearl says the secret is compromise.

“You have to give and take,” she said.

“Yeah, she takes - I have to give,” Archie adds with a smile.

Anthony and Mary Rapoza agree that compromise is key when it comes to maintaining a marriage. They have been husband and wife for 60 years, and Mary knew from the start that Anthony was the guy for her.

“Our families knew each other from the old country,” she explained. “He was very thoughtful of his mother.”

Parent approval of the union was easy, as their families had known each other in the Azores.

Still, they took their time to get to know one another, and dated for two years before tying the knot.

It still feels like yesterday that they did.

“Sixty...wow, time flies,” Anthony said.

He established Delta Electric Motor and Generator in Cranston and Delta Electro Power, which his sons later took over. Finding a replacement in the family business was easy - the Rapozas have nine children.

“They kept on coming,” Anthony said, laughing.

Those nine children led to 24 grandchildren, and a great grandchild to add to the mix.

Mary, a stay at home mom, says she didn’t struggle with her role, though, because of the help of her family. Her mother lived across the street and her sisters were always eager to help.

“We can never thank them enough,” she said.

When asked what her trick was to maintaining a healthy relationship, Mary shrugs. The alternative never came to mind.

“She knew she had to put up with me,” Anthony says, glancing over at his bride.

“Yes, I did.”

Anthony advised his own children to, “play it straight,” when it came time for them to start their own families. As long as they’ve found the right person, he says, it shouldn’t be that hard.

It wasn’t for him, anyway.

“I haven’t said it enough,” he said, “but I loved her - I still do.”

■

Five Hollywood movies filmed in Rhode Island 1. The Great Gatsby (1974) 2. Amistad (1997) 6 | PrimeTime

3. Meet Joe Black (1998) 4. Underdog (2007)

5. 27 Dresses (2008) August 2010

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b y meg fraser

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Rhode Island’s own mascot In the late ’80s, Rhode Island artist Frank Galasso was sketching as usual.

A sports fan to the core, and longtime sports cartoonist, he tried to imagine a mascot for his home state.

And thus, Rockin’ Rhody Red was born.

“I wanted him to be the Mickey Mouse of Rhode Island for educational purposes and promotional purposes for the state,” Galasso said. “I wanted him to be Disney-like. I grew up around Mickey Mouse.”

He believes the Ocean State doesn’t promote itself well, so he hoped Rhody would serve the same purpose as Wally for the Red Sox. He envisioned the cartoon bird - a Rhode Island Red, naturally - making public appearances, appearing on tourism literature and visiting schools to teach students about being responsible citizens. Not long after Galasso and Rhody got better acquainted, the artist wrote his cartoon friend a theme song and brought the concept to Cox Cable for a potential television show.

The timing wasn’t quite right, though, and Galasso put Rhody on the shelf.

That was until recently. Now, he’s ready to put his idea back on the market.

“It’s time to get him going because I can do better recordings with the music and I don’t need a TV show to promote him anymore,” he said.

Galasso designed a website for the cartoon, and plans to bring him to radio sta-

August 2010

tions as well. As the site picks up speed, fans can look forward to weekly contests, music downloads and constantly updated coloring pages.

He’s already reached out to Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis to discuss incorporating Rhody into civic education, and hopes to bring the plan statewide. Down the line, Galasso would love to see him become the official state mascot.

“There are a lot of possibilities. Everything and anything I can possibly do,” he said.

Galasso is especially excited by those possibilities because of how Rhody fits into the state. He has worked on art specific to other areas, but for him, there truly is no place like home.

“For a very small state that we live in we have some really unique things. Even something simple like Del’s Lemonade that recipe came from Italy and became a staple here,” he said.

“We have some really unique, cool things that you don’t find anywhere else.”

Food, he added, is a huge part of the state’s culture. Galasso is not ignorant of its importance. He developed the cartoon clamcake logo for the seaside Iggy’s Restaurant.

And now that Rockin’ Rhody Red is back in action, it’s only a matter of time before he has a whole crew of cartoons to help do Rhode Island justice.

“Rhody’s going to have friends,” Galasso said, adding, “I’m still tinkering with him.”

To see Rockin’ Rhody Red and find out what his next move is, visit www.rockinrhody.com. ■

PrimeTime | 7

You think you know Rhode Island?

1. Who is Adriaen Block? a. Founder of the state’s Moderate Party b. Namesake of Block Island c. Early settler who played crucial role in King Philip’s War 2. In Rhode Island folklore, who is said to have haunted the original State House? a. Poet Edgar Allan Poe b. Horror author H.P. Lovecraft c. Wrongfully convicted murderer John Gordon

3. How many bridges are in the state? a. 56 b. 764 c. 233

Find the Lighthouse for a Chance to Win A Gift Certificate to

5. What is the newest city or town in Rhode Island? a. West Warwick b. Pawtucket c. East Greenwich

The Rhode Island Shriners

IMPERIAL ROOM

AT ONE RHODES PLACE actual size

mail entries to:

Beacon Communications 1944 Warwick Avenue, Warwick, RI 02889 attn: I Found It! or send an e-mail to: megf@rhodybeat.com Entry Deadline: August 31, 2010.

Name__________________________________________________________________________________ Address_ ______________________________________________________________________________ Phone#________________________________________________________________________________ e-mail__________________________________________________________________________________

8 | PrimeTime

4. True or false: The Town of Woonsocket in South Dakota, is named after its Rhode Island counterpart?

6. What is the state rock? a. Cumberlandite b. Essexite

c. Rhyolite

7. What Rhode Island mobster presided over the New England Mafia for several decades a. David Achille b. Raymond Patriarca, Jr. 8. What winter tops Rhody’s c. Raymond L.S. Patriarca list of snowiest seasons? a. 1977-1978 b. 1995-1996 c. 1980-1981 9. In the Rhode Island-based cartoon “Family Guy,” what is the name of the junior high school? a. Buddy Cianci Jr. High School b. James Woods Jr. High School c. Quahog Jr. High School August 2010

10. True or false: Newport’s Redwood Library is the country’s oldest lending library?

11. Who are the Cowsills? a. Scandal-ridden family of the Newport elite b. Activist couple for freedom of religion in the state’s early days c. Rhode Island band who inspired the television show, “The Partridge Family” 12. Where did John Heisman, for whom the Heisman Trophy is named, play football? a. Brown University b. Providence College c. The Rhode Island native played for the New England Patriots 13. What’s a gagger? a. A radio personality who dominates airtime b. Hot weiner c. Type of quahog 14. True or false: Rhode Island was the only state to reject the 18th Amendment’s decree for Prohibition?

15. This served as a backdrop for the television show, “Brotherhood” a. The Capital Grille b. Olneyville New York System c. Sparky’s Coney Island System 16. How many Dunkin’ Donuts are there in Rhode Island? a. More than 100 b. More than 150 c. More than 200 17. True or false: Del’s Lemonade has locations only in Rhode Island?

18. Which of the following was not one of Walter “Salty” Brine’s signature catchphrases? a. “Brush your teeth and say your prayers” b. “No school Foster-Glocester” c. “Keep smiling and keep the faith” 19. What celebrity was arrested by Rhode Island police? a. Mick Jagger b. Paris Hilton c. Mel Gibson 20. From 1663 to 1854, Rhode Island had five capitals.

Which of the following was not one of those capitals? a. Newport b. Warwick c. Bristol

ANSWERS: 1: b, 2: c, 3: b, 4: true, 5: a, 6: a, 7: c, 8: b (106.1 inches), 9: a, 10: true, 11: c, 12: a, 13: b,

14: true, 15: b, 16: b, 17: false, 18: c, 19: a, 20: b

August 2010

PrimeTime | 9

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Homegrown nursing homes Homegrown businesses. In today’s big chain world, the concept of “family-run” may seem like a break from the norm, but when it comes to long-term care, the concept is alive and well. Many Rhode Island nursing homes today are being run by the adult children of the people who founded them.

“Corporate-owned and family-owned facilities can both be equally good options that offer equally good care, but people have different preferences depending on their background and what they’re used to,” said Kim Ciociola, administrator of Silver Creek Manor.

Silver Creek is a 128-bed skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility in Bristol. In a town like Bristol, known for its deeply embedded sense of community, the family values that permeate Silver Creek Manor are a welcoming feature.

Ciociola is a third generation Bristolian and she’s the perfect advocate for the services of family-operated long-term care. As administrator, she oversees a staff of 133, in a nursing home that’s been in her family for decades.

“I grew up there. It’s in my blood,” she said.

She began working at Silver Creek when she turned 16, first in laundry, then in the kitchen and other jobs.

Her children grew up working there as well.

Like Silver Creek Manor, nearly half of Rhode Island’s nursing homes are independently run. A number of families maintain individual nursing centers, while some longtime Rhode Islanders opened facilities in various locations. With 10 facilities throughout Rhode Island, the Ryan family operates Rhode Island’s largest group of family-operated nursing facilities, under the Health Concepts name. With economic changes making it more difficult for family-run businesses, and devastating cuts to nursing home funding, operating independent facilities can be a challenge. At least in Rhode Island, however, longtime family commitment is managing to override the challenges they face.

“Everything has changed,” Ciociola said. “In the seventies, nursing homes were like the assisted living facilities we have today and many of the people we treat today would have been taken care of in a hospital.

Back then we had plenty of resources to do the job and regulations were few and far between. Today, with all the changes, it’s more of a struggle. Still, with new learning about quality enhancement and customer satisfaction, most of the changes have been for the better in terms of care.”

Caring for younger patients has proven particularly challenging for Ciociola.

“We had a young man in here following an accident. It was heartbreaking and my staff had a hard time adapting emotionally,” she recalled.

Still, Ciociola’s account is a reminder that she’s not running her “father’s nursing home.”

“The differences are drastic, but most days, I love my job,” she said with a smile.

Still, Ciociola and others like her worry about being able to take care of their employees. Millions of dollars of cuts to Medicaid and Medicare are making it increasingly difficult for individual owners to keep wages and benefits competitive and fair. Research has shown that consistent staffing correlates directly to higher quality care so treating employees well is a main priority.

“When I say I’m blessed, I’m truly blessed. My nurses retire from here. They’re long-term people and they’re great people,” said Ciociola.

She credits her employees’ longevity to the feeling of family that extends to her staff as well. Despite the challenges, it’s clear that for some Rhode Islanders, long-term care is a family affair. Most of Rhode Island’s family-run skilled nursing facilities started at least a generation ago. Today’s operators grew up learning to revere the elderly and the personal accounts of history they can offer.

“We have a woman in here who’s 106. She’s fascinating. She’s living history,” Ciociola exclaimed.

Ciociola is a living testament that passion yields results. Silver Creek just earned a perfect survey from the Rhode Island Department of Health.

“We’re a small, local home,” she said. “We just work hard to give people the care they deserve.”

To learn more about nursing home care, find a facility near you, or share thoughts on longterm care, visit the Rhode Island Health Care Association’s (RIHCA) website at RIHCA.com. ■

10 | PrimeTime

Summer service opportunities SHO (Serving Communities, Helping Others, Opportunities for All) is a clearinghouse for volunteer opportunities. Adults 18 and older are always welcome, and there are several current opportunities that may be of interest to Rhode Island seniors. For more information, call 789-2362 or email mail@southernrivol.org.

Washington County Fair: 12 counter volunteers for four-hour shifts to take food orders and make change. The fair will be held from Thursday, Aug. 12 – Sunday, Aug. 15. Shifts are 3 to 7 p.m. and 7 to 11 p.m. Volunteers will be asked to arrive 15 minutes early for shift orientation.

Volunteers will be given a ticket to attend the fair the day of their shift and will be reimbursed for meal expenses. The fair raises funds that support a wide variety of community initiatives.

Southern Rhode Island Volunteers: Drivers are needed throughout Washington County and Jamestown to transport homebound seniors to medical and dental appointments. The need is particularly acute in Charlestown, Richmond, Hopkinton and Westerly. The appointments are for non-emergency visits and are for people who have no other way to get to and from their doctor or dentist.

Families First Rhode Island: Mentor Moms to offer support, guidance and companionship to first-year mothers who may be isolated, lack community support or suffer depression.

Applicants must have had the experience of being mothers, be good listeners and be reliable.

Volunteers take an eight-hour training class. Mentor Moms spend one hour a week with a client, listening, offering advice and providing support and compassion. Support does not include chores, babysitting or cooking.

Branford Jonnycake Center of Westerly: Front desk volunteers to answer and direct incoming calls, greet guests and provide guidance as needed and serve as additional office support for the staff. Mondays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Basic phone and computer skills are useful – training will be provided.

Richmond Senior Center: Events helper to assist at the various events sponsored by the center. Training will be provided. Also, Bingo helpers to help call numbers and provide support during the event and help clean up afterward.

SRI Volunteers: Friendly Visitors/Senior Companions and grocery shoppers for the Richmond area. ■

August 2010

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They’ve Still Got It Ronnie and the Satellites keep on crooning In 1958, singing group Ronnie and the Satellites was formed by five friends with a passion for music.

More than five decades later, they’re at it again.

Ron Deighan and Ron Grenier were barely teenagers when they started singing a’capella in their hometown of Pawtucket. Thinking they were onto something, they roped George Tootell, Gary Sabourin and Joe Fiske into the fray. Within a year, they released their first album.

“We didn’t know what we had back then,” Sabourin said, surrounded by his longtime band mates.

Ronnie and the Satellites would practice three or four times a week. Come Friday night, they were on the road, playing bandstands, high school dances and the tops of drive-in concession stands, including the one at the Hilltop Drive-in.

As the Satellites became more well known, they booked bigger gigs, and had the opportunity to perform with other popular entertainers, such as Dion and the Belmonts, Connie Francis and The Mystics.

“We did 32 weeks straight. We were performing just about every weekend,” said Fiske, who is also a radio personality with an on-air calling card of “Papa Joe Fiske.”

“All this happened with no highways,” added Tootell.

The boys would pile into the car, in matching outfits, and drive all day to make multiple shows in the tristate area.

“Wherever we went the girls would flock around,” said Sabourin.

Reflecting on that image, Deighan laughs.

“They do now, but they’re all nurses,” he said.

Now between the ages of 65 and 68, the Satellites look a little different, and have officially retired their sequin blazers.

But for all five singers, they’re glad to be out of performance retirement. Deighan continued to sing, but the rest of the Satellites had hung up their microphones in place of working hard and raising families.

“We all kind of went our separate ways,” Grenier said.

Then, in April of 2009, the group reunited.

“There are a lot of doo wop groups out there, but they’re all fractured. We were together 50 years ago,” Deighan said.

He believes it’s the harmonies that attract an audience, even after all these years. That, and lyrics that people can relate to without the distraction of cursing and violence, Grenier added.

Ronnie and the Satellites are back to practicing weekly, and have been booking shows all over the state. Having fallen off the radar screen so long ago, they were shocked to find a lively following of fans that swooned over them in their early years, returning for more.

For Fiske, getting new fans is the icing on the cake.

“I find it very gratifying that we have very young pre-teens who have written to us to say they like our music,” he said. “I can’t think of anything better.”

They’ve got a new CD out, entitled “We’re B-A-C-K!” and the Satellites can be seen all over Rhode Island.

The friends are floored at times, when they look over the legacy that they’ve created, but now that they’re reunited, they’re not going anywhere.

“We’re just going to keep doing what we’re doing,” Tootell said.

For more information, check out Papa Joe Fiske’s website at www.jhf-website.com and click on the Ronnie and the Satellites link. ■

UPCOMING SHOWS: Aug. 5, 6:30 p.m.: Summer concert at Slater Park in Pawtucket Aug. 11, 6:30 p.m.: Summer concert at Chepachet Union Church in Glocester Aug. 20, 8:30 p.m.: Kinch for Mayor fundraiser at St. Mary’s Church Hall in Pawtucket Sept. 11, 4 p.m.: Opening for the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra at Slater Park in Pawtucket (Rain date of Sept. 12)

The CD, “We’re Back!” is available for purchase at all Ronnie and the Satellites shows for $10. It can also be mailed for an additional fee of $2.50.

For details, e-mail Ronnieddee1@aol.com.

August 2010

PrimeTime | 11

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A ‘Bird’s Eye View’ of Ocean State Many Rhode Islanders take Sunday drives along the coast, go kayaking on the bay, and play ball at the parks, but to truly appreciate everything the Ocean State has to offer, it must be seen from the sky. “It’s the only way to see Rhode Island,� said Jeff Codman, owner of Bird’s Eye View Helicopters.

Codman has been flying helicopters for 26 years and took over the local helicopter touring business back in 2000. Bird’s Eye View is based out of the Newport State Airport in Middletown and offers a variety of different helicopter tours. “I love flying and that’s why I do this,� said Codman.

“

Some people think it is going to be like a roller coaster and it’s

nothing like that. I mean I can make it like that if I wanted to...

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During the mansion tour, the helicopter glides over the water past famous estates such as Rosecliff Mansion and The Breakers, flying around 500 feet above the sea.

The 20-minute island tour cruises along Ocean Drive and breezes by Rose Island and Castle Hill lighthouses. The tour can be taken during the day, or for a truly romantic experience, can be done during one of Rhode Island’s famous sunsets. Each ride must have at least two passengers. “The helicopter glides just like an airplane,� said Codman.

The longest of the tours, the Lighthouse Tour, includes all aspects of the first two options, but also adds in more of the beautiful lighthouses throughout the state, including the Beavertail Lighthouse in Jamestown. “We offer flights all year long. It can be really beautiful up here when everything is covered in snow,� said Codman.

The tours are only grounded during bouts of severe weather.

Codman says that one of the biggest misconceptions about helicopter travel is that it will be bumpy and rough. “Some people think it is going to be like a roller coaster and it’s nothing like that. I mean I can make it like that if I wanted to,� Codman quipped.

As the small red copter ascends into the air it feels more like the whirlybird is floating, rather than taking off like an airplane. Codman, a Chariho native, flies over local markets and landmarks as he heads out to the water, aptly pointing out aircraft carriers near the Naval War College and regattas going on in the channel. “I can fly over people’s homes, businesses, boats, whatever they want,� said Codman.

His services are not limited to tours alone. Bird’s Eye View offers custom flights for people interested in getting a different perspective on their properties for any number of reasons.

Did you know...that baking powder was invented and first manufactured in Rhode Island?

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“We have our own photographer for video and stills,” said Codman.

Codman has an aerial exposure gyroscopic stabilization system that ensures ultra smooth video and leaves room for a wide variety of camera choices. People are given the option of using their own equipment or tapping the company’s experienced videographer.

The aerial view can give realtors and potential buyers a unique look at the land and its surroundings.

The helicopter has state-of-the-art flotation devices on the sides of the rails so that in the event of an emergency the chopper will float just like a boat.

Codman said that people often have the misconception that if something happens to an engine the copter will drop out of the sky and that is not true, it will glide down like a bird.

Bird’s Eye View also offers introductory flight lessons for anyone interested in starting the adventure into becoming a real-life pilot. These classes are a little pricier than the relaxing tours Codman offers, but to fly a helicopter seems like it might be worth paying for. ■

Make a $25 tax deductible donation to The Rocky Point Foundation and get a bright blue t-shirt to show your support to save this Rhode Island treasure.

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Get Your T-Shirt Stop in, make a donation and get your t-shirt - or - send a check made payable to The Rocky Point Foundation (be sure to specify t-shirt size)

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August 2010

You are eligible for Senior Farmer’S market CouponS valued at $1500 to purchase fruits & vegetables!

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FR GET Y LOCAL U B

PrimeTime | 13

DOER’S PROFILE

by J OAN R ETS I NAS

Anthony Tomaselli The Art of Rhode Island Name your favorite Rhode Island scene. Waterfire? A side street running up College Hill in Providence?

The Newport Bridge? Mohegan Bluffs? Anthony Tomaselli has probably painted it. From a very young age, Anthony loved to draw.

“Every child is artistic. We take it away from them and tell them to do it as a hobby,” he said.

Fortunately for his fans, and for Anthony, no adult dissuaded him. The zeal to paint persisted.

As befits an artist of Rhode Island, Anthony was born here, in Providence. He graduated from Cranston High School and went to Rhode Island College, where he majored – no surprise – in art. At the Boston Architectural Center he learned the craft of “presentation drawings,” the architectural sketches of buildings.

His first few years post-college, he experimented with different mediums, including three dimensional structures. He worked as an architectural draftsman for Ira Rakatansky in Providence. He took a threemonth trip to California, where he worked, saw friends and explored.

And he decided that he absolutely did not want to spend his life behind a desk.

“I hated it,” Anthony recalled. “I promised myself I’d never do anything I didn’t want to do.”

So he did what artists do. He took photographs, found a studio and painted whatever piqued his fancy.

Initially he focused on the grit of Rhode Island – its mills, three-deckers and urban congestion. He credits Antonio Dattoro, a retired Hope High School art teacher who kept a studio and small gallery on Steeple Street, with being his mentor.

In 1980 he had his first one-person show. The shows and exhibits and honors have followed. To mark the recent renovation of the Providence Art Club (where he has his studio), he has painted several scenes

14 | PrimeTime

August 2010

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taurants. He wanted to paint.

He bought a restaurant almost by accident. In 1981, he met the woman he was to marry, Tina, a nurse. They took a road-trip across the country – 15,000 miles over 10 weeks. Back in Rhode Island in 1982, the duo bought a local variety store, one Anthony had known from childhood. The restaurant had four bar stools. Should they sell them?

They decided to keep the stools, sell some food.

That venture evolved and evolved.

Today, Anthony and Tina own T’s Restaurant in Cranston, where Anthony’s paintings hang on the walls. With a partner they opened a second T’s in East Greenwich two years ago.

T’s serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Sixtyfive people work there. Most mornings at 5 a.m., Anthony is at T’s, having coffee, training managers, supervising the menus. Later when he is at his studio at the Providence Art Club, he may be taking a phone call to decide on a new refrigeration

system.

“The restaurant never sleeps,” Anthony said.

But he finds the juggling of roles exhilarating.

“Stress is not part of my life. I try to dissolve worry, like alka seltzer,” he said.

He has looked at the state, from the mills to the ocean, through an artist’s eyes. Wherever he gazes, he sees something wonderful. He described a week at Potter’s Pond in Jerusalem, “like being in heaven.”

In his paintings he invites viewers to share his vision, to savor the beauty of this special state.

“It’s all around you. It’s your world,” he said.

“Flick that light switch on.” ■

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of Thomas Street. Like thousands of people, not just Rhode Islanders, he has found Waterfire enchanting; and he has painted the scene from several vantages. The Rhode Island Blood Center chose “Torch” to give to the regular blood donors in 2009 as a mark of appreciation.

Through workshops and classes, he encourages others to take up his passion.

“Have courage, experiment, blend, draw, paint, sculpt - embrace it. Be challenged by it,” he said.

Anthony has been a celebrity guide at Providence’s Gallery Night.

Even while Anthony resolved to paint, however, he needed to earn a living. Returning to Rhode Island from California in 1979, he worked in a restaurant. He waited tables, cooked, and did whatever needed to be done.

He had always worked in restaurants – sometimes full-time, sometimes part-time. He didn’t want to own one. He had friends who owned res-

August 2010

PrimeTime | 15

Did you know...that Benefit Street is said to be one of the most haunted places in Rhode Island.

Edgar Allan Poe courted fellow poet Sarah Helen Whitman at her home and at the Athenaeum, both on Benefit. Some say Poe still walks the street in the dead of night.

At 1,045 square miles, Rhode Island is the smallest state in the union. It is also, however, the second most densely populated in the country.

Mark Patinkin’s top five signs you’ve been in Rhode Island too long 1. You stop using turn signals 2. You haven’t gone to a restaurant that’s more than 10 minutes away in two years 3. You get a vanity plate 4. You start planning your retirement in “Flahrider” 5. You start giving directions by landmark instead of street name On a typical day in Rhode Island, 35 children are born, 27 people die, 19 marriages take place and 8 people divorce.

’s Rhode Island heritage breakdown *19% Italian *18.4% Irish *12% English *10.9% French se *8.7% Portugue

Did you know... that Rhode Island’s four Electoral College votes in presidential elections represent three quarters of 1 percent of the U.S. total of 538?

Did you know...that there is 37% chance of having a white Christmas in Providence?

b y lauren costa

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One-stop shopping for seniors Jenny Miller and her partner, Caroline Rumowicz, have made it their goal to make the lives of local senior citizens easier by providing everyday services and transportation to those in need.

Miller and Rumowicz both have health care backgrounds; Miller with 15 years as a geriatric care manager and social worker and Rumowicz with 31 years of home health care experience. After several years of working in similar industries and serving the same population, the pair began to research the idea of a comprehensive way to meet the needs of seniors.

They found many individual services, but none that would coordinate many different providers. A year ago, Miller and Rumowicz put their passion, research, and experience to use, establishing JennaLine (formerly At Home in Rhode Island). They describe the company as a unique high-quality service provider for Rhode Islanders 65 and over.

JennaLine currently consists of Miller and Rumowicz, along with an expert in long-term care insurance, a client service coordinator, and three drivers who cover the majority of Rhode Island.

For a monthly fee as low as $55 per individual or $75 per couple, seniors can benefit from the use of a variety of providers in all aspects of daily life. The team at JennaLine helps their clients with everyday errands such as transportation, grocery shopping, prescription delivery, and gift returns during the holiday season. They also coordinate, schedule, and advise on seniors’ critical everyday needs.

Fifteen providers that the pair has vetted work with the company to administer services including plumbing, lawn care, massage, snow removal, in-home computer training, and even pet care, at discounted rates. Nutrition, fitness and dietary services can also be organized for clients.

August 2010

An important benefit of JennaLine, says its founders, is that the service enables family members of senior citizens to have peace of mind that their loved ones’ needs are being taking care of and that someone is stopping by regularly to say hello and make sure everything is all right. Clients and their children have responded positively to JennaLine, including a woman named Barbara who is grateful that when her daughter now visits her, it can now be a “real visit,” and not a day of running errands.

“Our services allow the pressure to be taken off of parent-child relationships and makes spending quality time together easier,” said Rumowicz.

Clients receive a single monthly invoice that details and outlines every service rendered, how much they cost, and what provider discounts were given, allowing for one payment a month.

“Our providers are very open with our clients in telling them what they can offer,” said Rumowicz. “There is a good relationship between members and providers.”

Rumowicz explains that she and Miller are good at taking care of any issues or requests from their clients, and JennaLine urges their customers to make personal decisions about what they really want to get out of the services.

“The first year was good…it was fun,” she said. “It is all about really connecting with the clients and knowing what they’re looking for and what they need. We take a lot of feedback from them.”

JennaLine makes it possible for seniors to maintain their independence and enjoy life without having to worry about all of life’s little chores.

For membership information and a detailed brochure of available services, see www.jennaline.com. ■

PrimeTime | 17

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Golfing Made Easy Golf. It is said to be one of the most difficult games in the world. People will travel from thousands of miles away to meet with specialists and pay exorbitant amounts of money for clubs and gear.

No matter how expensive the equipment is, there will always be that person that throws their club into the woods or breaks it over their knee. One way to save money and keep stress levels low, is it to ensure that the clubs being hit are a proper match to the person.

“Personalizing your equipment will increase your confidence and improve your results,” said Tom Spargo, owner of Spargo Golf.

Spargo has been a club fitter for over 20 years and has been Rhode Island’s Clubmaker of the Year from 2004 to 2010. When a client enters Spargo’s shop, at Mulligan’s Island Golf and Entertainment in Cranston, they undergo complete assessment of their golf game.

“Do you like any one iron better than the other?” Spargo asks a client.

First, he will test the frequency of the club to see if there is a correlation between the stiffness of the shaft and the ability of the person to hit the ball.

Then, the club’s inertia is tested to measure how much energy or force it takes to swing the club.

“I want to understand the characteristics of the clubs you hit well,” Spargo said.

The science behind club fitting is uncharted territory to most golfers, aside from the professionals.

“I had no idea so much went into fitting a club, I always just bought them how they were,” said Rachel Myler.

After Spargo has tested the frequency and inertia of the club, it’s off to the driving range. Set up in the hitting bay is yet another machine that tests the

18 | PrimeTime

club speed, ball velocity, launch angle, ball spin, carry total and power transfer ratio (PTR) percentage.

“Do you work the ball one way or another,” Spargo asks.

He is trying to determine if the client hits his shots straight, has a draw, or slices them.

“People get caught up with their ego with how far you hit the club, with irons it is all about straightness,” said Spargo.

Clubfitter Tom Spargo analyzes everyInstead of obsessing on distance, he thing from swing speed to club frewants his customers to concentrate on quency when determining exactly the repeatability. If a person remains conright club for his customers. (Primesistent in their shots, even the misses Time photo by Colby Cremins) will be better.

As the assessment goes on, Spargo will have the client hit different shafts, with levels of stiffness and varied weight.

“You always want to hit as flexible as you can control,” he said.

Graphite, by nature, twists more than steel, so ideally that is the shaft that a person wants, but it may not necessarily give them the best result. If a person cannot control the flexibility of the graphite, their shots will suffer.

“The ball doesn’t spray as much as the staff stiffens,” said Spargo.

The steel can offer stability that senior players and newer players need to build their game off of.

GOLF – Page 25

August 2010

b y don fowler

“

PEOPLE AND PLA C ES

Saying Goodbye to the Classics

When I put on Guy Lombardo, Fran comes downstairs and starts dancing...

”

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Stephen and Fran Lada have a classic record collection: 145 “like new” 33 1/3 record albums that they have collected over the past 50 years.

The Ladas, however, are facing a major lifestyle decision, not unlike many seniors today.

While they are in good health and still quite active at ages 92 and 88, their comfortable Lincoln home is becoming a bit of a burden.

The time has come to seriously consider assisted living. They are currently checking facilities and facing the fact that many of their treasured items will not be able to accompany them.

The large cabinet, with its record player, tape deck and tuner, along with the record collection, are up for sale.

Steve and I sat in the den listening to some of his favorites: - Pavarotti’s early recordings - The Mormon Tabernacle Choir - Sing Along With Mitch Miller - Eddie Peabody’s “The Man With the Banjo” The list goes on, including nine albums from the old “Your Hit Parade,” one of Steve’s all-time favorites, with classics like “Buttons and Bows,” “Moonglow,” “Greensleeves,” and the theme from “Peter Gunn.”

“All of these songs bring back memories,” he said.

A special nine-album collection is titled “Happiness Is,” and draws smiles when listening to “Hey Jude,” “Charade,” “My Cherie Amour,” and “Good Morning Sunshine.”

They just don’t write them like that anymore.

Steve is most proud of his classical and Broadway collections, a sampling of Mantovani, Arthur Fiedler, Itzak Perlman, plus all the old great American musicals, like “My Fair Lady,” “Hello Dolly,” and “Oklahoma.”

While Steve prefers the classics, Fran likes the Big Band sound.

“When I put on Guy Lombardo, Fran comes downstairs and starts dancing,” Steve said. “We used to dance at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet and the old German Club in Pawtucket.”

They don’t go out dancing anymore, but Fran said, “We can dance here.

Nobody can see us.”

In addition to the albums, Steve is proud of his collection of 10 volumes of cassette tapes featuring the best classical music from 1685-1928, plus many of the artists that played at the Warwick Musical Theatre, which they both miss.

But the time has come to downsize, and Steve and Fran have reluctantly put their record collection, along with the equipment to enjoy it, up for sale.

They hope it will go to someone who enjoys great music.

Note: If you are interested in purchasing the Lada’s record collection and equipment, you can contact them at 726-1177. ■

Visit us today at

www.wyndemerewoods.com 1044 Mendon Road Woonsocket, RI 02895

(401) 762-4226

Wyndemere Woods Independent/Assisted Living

August 2010

Our Family Caring for Your Family Since 1973 PrimeTime | 19

PEOPLE AND PLA C ES

b y don fowler

Lighting the Way Ben Stanghellini, a 90-year-old from Cranston, has participated in all 17 Cranston Senior Games. At this year’s games at Cranston High School West, on Saturday, Sept. 25, he’ll add Olympic torch lighter to that impressive streak.

“I was only 73 when I started competing and I’ve won at least three medals every year,” Ben said.

What does he do with the over 70 medals he has accumulated?

“I still keep some,” he said. “I give the rest to the kids in the neighborhood.”

To make things fair, the Senior Games are broken up into age groups.

“At my age,” he quipped, with a twinkle in his eye, “all I have to do is show up.”

You can be sure that Ben will show up, honored and a bit surprised to be the “dignitary” who lights the torch. And he’ll stick around for the basketball and baseball throw and the ping pong matches.

“When I was in my 70’s, the competition was tougher,” Ben said. “But I was tougher. I was a baseball player, and I played the fiddle. I was an aluminum fabricator, and I kept myself in shape and was always physical.”

Ben gets up at 3:45 a.m., and is at the Cranston YMCA almost every morning at 4:45 a.m. to use the treadmill, stationary bike, and weights.

“Then I’ll go in the gym and shoot some foul shots.”

Ben was born in Italy and moved to Plymouth, Mass. at an early age.

“I’m an Italian pilgrim.”

Ben hopes to compete in the Olympics for many years, and encourages others in their 90’s to join him.

On a personal note, I have participated in most of the doubles tennis matches over the years, and have a closet full of shirts to remind me. One year, my partner, Don Rasmussen, and I won the Silver Medal!

There were only two teams that year.

Scheduled Events Most events will be held at the Cranston West facilities, with a few exceptions.

The golf tournament has become so popular that it now has been expanded to three days, Sept. 28, 29 and 30 at the Cranston Country Club.

The tennis tournament will be held on Saturday at the Todd Morsilli clay courts in Roger Williams Park. Preliminary matches will be held on Friday if needed.

Ten-pin bowling is at Lang’s Bowlarama, while duckpins and billiards will be at Legion Bowl, and swimming is at the Cranston YMCA. Cycling will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 29 at 11 a.m. at the Cranston Bike Path, and bocce for men is at Santa Maria diPrata Society on Friday Sept. 24 at 5 p.m., and for women on Saturday, Sept. 25 at 10 a.m.

Three-on-three basketball is at 1 p.m. on Saturday at the Cranston Y and Cranston Youth Center.

Nancie Paola, Cranston Senior Center interim director, said that the event has been averaging 900 participants, in addition to over 100 volunteers.

“The games are not limited to Cranston residents,” she said. “We have senior athletes from as far away as New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Connecticut, Massachusetts, and from all over Rhode Island.”

The registration fee is $15, which includes a shirt, goodie bag, continental breakfast and lunch provided by the Senior Center culinary department. In addition, participants are invited to the awards banquet at West Valley Inn on Oct. 4.

“We are able to keep the registration fee so low, thanks to the sponsorship of CVS/Caremark, and our many other benefactors and volunteers,” Paola said.

The only exception to the fee is the golf tournament, which is $50.

Registration forms have already been mailed to past participants. If you would like a form, or further information, call 780-6000, or e-mail npaola@cranstonri.org.

Checks are made payable to CVS/Caremark Cranston Senior Games 2010, and mailed to Cranston Senior Services, 1070 Cranston St., Cranston, RI 02920. ■

Shedding light on Alzheimer’s As part of Tamarisk’s ongoing commitment to excellence in the delivery of care and service, as of May all Tamarisk staff are trained and certified in Alzheimer’s and dementia care.

The certification is under the auspices of the Alzheimer’s Association Rhode Island Chapter. In June, Tamarisk embarked on a collaborative effort with Cathleen Naughton & Associates to examine the philosophy of becoming an Alzheimer’s Whisperer, which means learning to calm the fear of the person caught up in this disease. Alzheimer’s Whisperer, a way of responding to challenging behaviors, was developed

by Verna Benner Carson PHD, APRN, PMH and Rebecca R. Smarr PT, BS, COS –C. Pictured are Carson and Catherine VanderHorst of “Becoming an Alzheimer’s Whisperer,” Carol Cairns of Cathleen Naughton Associates, Beverly LevittNarciso and Denise Dorman of Tamarisk, Caroline Naughton Rumowicz of Cathleen Naughton Associates, and Roberta Ragge and Dianne Giammarco of Tamarisk. (Submitted photo)

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August 2010

what do you fink?

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Packing Light

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’m a voyager without baggage; I travel light.

I bring back tokens, souvenirs, postcards, but mostly, like our former secretary of state Madeline Albright, a pin for my lapel. Instead of a book to publish, here’s a list of such reminders of the rounds I’ve made about the globe.

I wear a political badge from a trip to our nation’s capital that reads “I Want FDR Again.” Just to confuse folks. I have a good conduct ribbon from World War II that my Uncle Sam wore in the Philippines, left among his papers. People take me for a vet. I sport a number of patriotic American flag logos, along with those of countries I’m visiting. A scarlet and orange Canadian maple leaf and a Quebec Libre fleur-de-lys in a royal blue with gold trim - not for my buttonhole but on the visor of my cloth caps. Also, a thin pin with the Stars and Stripes and the Star of David, about the friendship of Israel and the USA. I wore it in Tel Aviv.

A guard in a parking lot once conferred on me her silver shield: I attached that, to give myself an air of authority, to an old gray corduroy jacket I often wear on the road.

This coat is a bit worn; the worse for moth damage, but privately declares upon a whimsical little circle hidden under a pocket, “School Sucks.” I have more time for circling the planet once summer break releases me from routine.

I have a sort of jeweled badge I purchased from

the Manhattan Project museum in Los Alamos, New Mexico. It shows off a purple and platinum display symbolizing the hopes for an atomic peace.

In the form of a blessed lightning bolt from some Zeus up in the threatening and promising skies overhead. It puzzles observers. It launches conversations.

Oh, I have many more such items. They gave us souvenir buttons of the towns throughout Portugal we visited on a ceremonial grand tour as representatives of a Portuguese organization, a few Junes ago. From Cordova in Spain I bought a silver face of the philosopher Maimonides, who recommended red wine as a cure-all for whatever ails or saddens you.

I like to recall my brief residences on nearly every continent. I’ve been to - let’s see and sum up - many islands of the Caribbean, including Haiti, and also the Guyanas, French, Dutch and British; many nations in East Europe, from Rumania and Hungary to Poland and the Czech Republic; of course Italy, France and England (and Ireland, Wales and Scotland); Morocco and Malta; Denmark and Iceland; Japan and Hong Kong.

I keep mementos from each sojourn, but they have to be nearly without weight. In addition to, or instead of the customary pin, a pair of socks; a silk scarf or a necktie; a wee volume of poems; a bottle of perfume or of brandy, if I can pack it in a kitbag;

maybe a silver friendship-ring. But I’ve lost too many things at customs to take any grander risk or to thefts. The easiest way is to figure out, tongue on lip, how to use the tack or the safety device and attach my cheerful new, simple enamel example of the silversmith’s craft, to the usual gray velvet jacket, and let it go at that.

I’m my own secretary of state and the mahogany drawers I stash my trash in along with my passports, fresh and cancelled, tell me, remind me of, my itinerary. Where to next? Have you ever noticed the circle at the center of the lobby floor at the Providence railroad station across from the State House? It reads, “I travel for travel’s sake.”

It’s like a giant pin for the general voyager.

Most of us take too much with us. I like to go to the opposite extreme, and yet, truth to add, that gets me in trouble sometimes. How can I have come far with so little? Officials in uniform stop me in my tracks to check me out. They may find a very miniature Statue of Liberty on the inside of my denim vest. I very often choose a bird gem, the emblem of a culture like our Rhode Island Red. I came back from Costa Rica last winter with a hummingbird pin. Those little birds travel even farther, even lighter!

Migrations in miniature, that’s all, folks. ■

The Rhode Island Shriners

IMPERIAL ROOM

AT ONE RHODES PLACE is pleased to offer

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The Imperial Room at One Rhodes Place

One Rhodes Place (Adjacent to Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet) Cranston, RI 02905 401.467.7102 Reservations & Information

imperialrm@rishriners.necoxmail.com August 2010

PrimeTime | 21

PEOPLE AND PLA C ES

a glimpse of rhode island’s past h i s t o r y w i t h don d ’ amato

The mill owning Sprague family

ter mills. They realized the value of buying large areas of land near suitable waterpower for not only building mills, but to provide housing for workers and farmland and woodland that could be developed. This led to a system of paternalism, which characterized the textile industry in Rhode Island and gave birth to the many mill villages in the area.

When discussing the significance of the Sprague family in Rhode Island, historians often point to the impact the family had on events that led to the abolition of the death penalty in the state, or to the political impact of two family members serving as governors and then U.S. Senators. Most significant of all, however, was the impact of the family upon the textile industry.

The early mills William Sprague II (1773-1836), the miller, was the man responsible for bringing the family into the printing and weaving of cloth and he amassed a great fortune. Spurred on by the success in the textile industry of such pioneers as Samuel Slater and Moses Brown, Sprague converted his father’s gristmill into a mill for carding and spinning cotton yarn. This mill was in Cranston on the site of the present day Cranston Print Works, at the corner of Cranston and Dyer Streets, across from the Sprague Mansion. The date given for this is 1807, approximately the same time that Christopher and William Rhodes of Pawtuxet established their cotton mills in the village of Natick, which was then part of Warwick.

Stone for roads As early as 1820, Mrs. Brayton tells us, William Sprague II realized the need for better roads to transport cotton and his heavy loads of timber to his markets in Providence.

He used stone cut at Fenner’s Ledge to build his better roads. Brayton says this was the start of the growth of the village of Arlington, as it was its “first paying ‘farm crop’—as the land that had not been good for agriculture.”

In 1824, Sprague began bleaching cloth chemically at his Cranston mill and soon after began the hand printing of calico cloth, the first in the nation. By 1830, he had become a financial power in Rhode Island, controlling a number of mills and five banks.

The story of William Sprague II and his remarkable family will be continued.

1966 by the Cranston Herald, Bill, the third of the five children of William and Anna (Potter) Sprague, developed water-driven power looms that revolutionized the industry in Rhode Island.

By 1821, “Young Bill” at age 22 was sent to Natick to operate two -Harold M. Taylor mills that Sprague had purchased Young Bill: A genius with machinery from the C. & W. Rhodes Company.

The first Sprague mill burned, ca. 1813, and Cranston historian Gladys W. Brayton notes that was immediately rebuilt. Because of Jefferson’s Sprague had purchased a half interest in the water Embargo and the War of 1812, the textile industry privilege at Natick Falls and built a “cotton mill of was starting to benefit from the lack of competi42 looms and another for carding and spinning.” tion with England and the Spragues were anxious Two years later, she tells us, “...he added Mill #3 at to capitalize upon the situation. Their new mill Natick with 96 looms, and in 1830, Mill #4 with 220 was larger, built of stone, and contained new and looms.” With his son in charge of the Natick operaimproved machinery that was utilized to the maxtion, William Sprague II was able to acquire a total imum. It was in this building that “Young Bill,” of five mills in Natick before he died.

William Sprague III (1799-1856), the mechanic, exhibited an uncommon ability to work with maEarly paternalism chinery, which put the Spragues far in advance of Along with the Sprague genius for machinery their competitors. While still in his teens, accordwas their ability to recognize sites for new and beting to Harold M. Taylor’s account published in

“In Rhody, where there’s smoke, there’s a Sprague Mill...”

Blizzard breakdown

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During the Blizzard of ’78, the National Weather Service measured the official snowfall at 28.6 inches. There were approximately 5,000 cars abandoned and towed from highways and streets in and around Providence. A total of 2,968 motorists were rescued from their cars by the Rhode Island National Guard, and 9,150 people were sheltered.

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Waterpower, which originally was used for sawmills and gristmills, was utilized for the early textile mills of the Spragues. These buildings date back to the mid-19th century. This was the new mill that was larger, built of stone, and contained new and improved machinery developed by William Sprague III, the mechanic, who later became Governor of Rhode Island. ■

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Lincoln Chafee’s five points on a RI treasure hunt

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1. Jerimoth Hill, Foster

Taste the Blackstone Valley Continued by popular demand, the

Blackstone Valley Tourism Council (BVTC) announces its Blackstone Culinaria - Secret Ingredient Food Tour featuring weekly behind the scenes public participation events at restaurants and food establishments in Rhode Island’s historic Blackstone River Valley. These weekly food tours give residents and visitors an exciting opportunity to sample ethnic culture through the foods of the Blackstone River Valley through live demonstrations and meals. Each dining experience is $19.50/person (except where otherwise noted) plus gratuity. http://tourblackstone.com/restaurants.htm or call BVTC at 724-2200 to reserve tickets.

2. Tomaquag Indian Memorial Museum, Exeter 3. Weekapaug Breachway, Westerly 4. Little Compton Common 5. The 1663 King Charles II Charter, State House August 2010

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A Lifetime of Achievement Demands Protection

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Murder in a Mansion

Located in the famed Belcourt Castle, the Beechwood Theatre Company presents an interactive murder mystery experience where guests can tour the mansion, searching for suspects and clues in a 90-minute event. Adults pay $30 and children under 17 are $15. Performances begin at 7 p.m., and will run through Aug. 26. For more information, call 846-3772 or visit www.belcourtcastle.com

Classic Style on the Beach

The most important decision of your life may be about your death.

It’s a subject few people enjoy talking about– especially when you’re young and healthy.

Your Will

A comparatively simple, legally binding document, that ensures your assets go directly to the people you choose, and the people you care about.

797 BALD HILL RD. WARWICK, RI

(401) 821-1330 Serving The People For Over 25 Years The Rhode Island Supreme Court licenses all lawyers in the general practice of law. The Court does not license or certify any lawyer as an expert or specialist in any field of practice.

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Throughout the entire month of August, classic car enthusiasts can visit the Misquamicut Beach in Westerly to check out the wheels of their fellow collectors. Cruise nights, which feature an oldies DJ, take place in the Windjammer East parking lot on Atlantic Avenue from 5:30 p.m. to dusk.

Call 322-1026 or go to www.misquamicut.org for details.

A Taste of the Cup Tickets are a little pricey

at $68 per person, but visitors won’t be disappointed by the two-hour afternoon and evening cruises aboard the America’s Cup yachts. The charter cruises make their way through Newport, with sightings of Fort Adams and the Newport Bridge, lighthouses and the mansions. Hosted by 12 Meter Charters, the yachts leave from 49 Bowen’s Wharf in Newport. Call 851-1216 or go to their website at www.12metercharters.com.

Did you know...that

Rhode Islanders are not technically the worst drivers in the country. According to a test administered by GMAC Insurance, Rhode Islanders ranked 41st.

CLUES ACROSS 1. Said blessing before a meal 7. A wheel furrow 10. Removed wrinkles 12. Cold Adriatic wind 13. Double braids 14. Indigenous South Americans 15. Claremone Landscape Garden city 16. Expanse of a surface 17. Schedule (abbr.)

18. Nuclear near reach weapon 19. Flower stalk 21. Ed MurrowÕs network 22. Serious injury 27. Atomic #67 (abbr.)

28. IBMÕs home town 33. Undergraduate degree 34. Small cutlery for fluids 36. Non commercial network 37. ScarlettÕs home 38. Mother of Hermes 39. A young woman 40. 13-19 41. White garden snail genus 44. Network of Russian prison camps 45. Insane females 48. Northeast by North (abbr.)

49. Figures with triangular faces 50. N. American republic (abbr.)

51. Old Faithful CLUES DOWN 1. Painter Vincent Van ____ 2. Memorization 3. Essential oil from flowers 4. 22nd Greek letter

August 2010

5. Snakelike fish 6. Tooth caregiver 7 .ÒAir MusicÓ composer 8. Lord of Searing Flames 9. The bill in a restaurant 10. Rainbows and ranges 11. Misunderstand speech 12. Cutting remarks 14. Bottles for corrosives 17. Very fast airplane 18. Neutral middle vowel 20. Not inclined to speak 23. Thronging 24. Squash bug genus 25. Bangladesh currency (abbr.)

26. Emmet 29. Poet ___ Cummings 30. Make a choice 31. Highway foundation 32. Citizens of Seoul 35. Grab 36. Panegyric 38. Peach _____, dessert 40. Weekday (abbr.)

41. Ò_____ the night before

ChristmasÓ 42. Family residence 43. Muslim ruler title 44. Large African antelope 45. Gas usage measurement 46. Yes vote 47. Not wet

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gay & gray b y cynthia glinick

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The bonds that tie There’s no question that the relationship between a man and his mother is quite special, and it is certainly so for gay men with their mothers. There is a je ne c’est quoi in that relationship, something that I may never fully comprehend but in which I have enormous respect and, in the case of Sally Lapides and Ian Barnacle, one that I find totally enviable.

A poised, well-spoken, thoughtful 25-year-old, Ian came out between high school and college. He told his friends first and then the next most logical person to tell was his mother, his champion.

“I cried when he told me,” said Sally. “I cried because I was so proud of him, because of his courage, because he trusted me to handle it well and because my baby was growing up.”

“I lost some friends because of it,” Ian recalled, “but it also deepened some of my relationships, including with my Mom. I remember I was scared. I wasn’t sure how gay men really lived.

All I had were images from the media

to go by and when my Mom told me she was afraid for my health I said, ‘How do you think I feel?’ I was born in the middle of the AIDS crisis and my Mom buried a lot of friends.”

The idea wasn’t foreign for Sally.

“We talked for a long time just sitting on my bed. I was single throughout most of my forties,” she reflected, “and I had a wide range of friends who were straight, single, married, gay, whatever, so my kids grew up with real diversity. That may have made it easier for Ian to tell me because he knew I was going to love him the same way. It didn’t matter.”

“And we talked about the fact that me being gay was just part of who I am.

It doesn’t define me. I was just maturing into who I really am,” Ian added.

As founder, President and CEO of Residential Properties, one of the largest and most successful real estate firms in the state, Sally’s business acumen is legendary, but you may not know that among her other identities is something akin to Joan-Baez-sans-guitar.

We’re looking for new members . . .

Korean War Veterans Korean Service Veterans Meetings held 2nd Wednesday of every Month Chepachet Senior Center Rte. 44 1210 Putnam Pike, Chepachet Call Frank 231-3736 or Gil 831-3301 For More Information KWVA – Chapter 3 24 | PrimeTime

No stranger to disenfranchisement, Sally grew up as one of the only Jewish families in Barrington in the ’50s and ’60s. They were ostracized and kicked out of the Rhode Island Country Club, redlined to living only on certain streets and made to feel like secondclass citizens.

During this same period of time, although she was only 8 years old, Sally began working in the Civil Rights Movement by raising money and organizing the annual Civil Rights trip for the Gordon School.

“Despite my early experiences of being a minority in a small town, I knew I’d grown up in a privileged environment because my parents loved me, and they taught me the importance of giving back. And even before Ian came out, I knew that one of the last frontiers to fight was that everyone should be treated equally no matter who you decide to love.”

In addition to working for Marriage Equality Rhode Island (MERI), AIDS Care Ocean State (ACOS) and contributing to many grassroots gay organizations, Sally is the Chair of the Equity Action campaign for the Rhode Island Foundation. It will be, by the end of next year, a permanent $1 million fund to support various needs within the LGBQT community.

Residential Properties is a monthly donor to the fund, while Sally canvasses her friends, colleagues and business associates who are also committed to making Rhode Island an equitable place to live.

Having been raised in a multicultural environment has enabled Ian to become a multi-dimensional thinker, as well. Participation in the arts and theater was encouraged, as was doing community work. He majored in art in college but has found himself working in the family business and in the same office with his mother.

“I realized when I started this business in 1981 that it was a perfect opportunity to give back to the community.

The more I succeeded, the more I could return. I really care about just making a difference and I won’t sleep until everyone has the same rights.”

As Sally was saying this, Ian and I looked at each other, “Boy, are you going to be tired!” was our amused and tacit agreement, but Sally’s commitment is palpable and Ian will be right there with her, step for step, the whole way.

It takes the greatest love to give the greatest gift. ■ August 2010

GOLF – After Spargo feels he has a good grasp on the client’s iron needs, he will move on to the hybrid. The hybrid club is easier to hit than a long iron with the same loft, and with a hybrid the ball will have a higher trajectory.

“With hybrids I want to find out if you hit it more like an iron or a wood, if so I’ll take that into account during the fitting,” said Spargo.

The process for the hybrid is almost identical to that of an iron, because they should be hit the same way, although some have the shaft of an iron and some have that of a wood.

Then comes the big daddy of them all, the driver.

Before any adjustments are made, Spargo takes a picture of the drive to assess every aspect of the swing.

“I take pictures because I want to know where you release the golf club. What I’m looking at is to see when you start to let the shaft go, say 9 o’clock,” he said.

After Spargo figures out when the shaft is released, he takes the swing speed, the PTR and the release point and the computer helps him assess which shaft is the best for the client.

Not only can he put someone in the proper clubs, Spargo has countless technical tips to offer throughout the fitting.

“If you’re topping the ball it may be because you stood up. When we chunk on a hit, it’s often because we’ve changed our spine angle,” he said.

Spargo recently purchased a new launch monitor that analyzes ball flight and tracks the trajectory that different clubs may have. He is offering free 15-minute analysis sessions for anyone interested.

So for anyone that wants to improve their game, by two strokes or by 10, swing into Spargo’s shop and let the master do his work. To set up an appointment, just call the shop at 946-4653. ■

Did you know...that John Updike’s 1984 novel, “The Witches of Eastwick,” as well as its 2008 follow up, “The Widows of Eastwick,” is set in fictional Eastwick, Rhode Island, a crossbreeding of East Greenwich and Wickford?

August 2010

classifieds BEAUTIFULLY REMODELED 2 Bedroom 1st. floor of 2 family home in North Smithfield. Quiet side street. No smokers. $875 + utilities.

Call 401-640-9064.

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The Ultimate Ocean Experience Hop on the Schooner Aurora for a dockside New England lobster boil and sunset sail on Wednesdays and Thursdays through Sept. 4. Reservations are required. $36.95 plus service and tax. Call 849-6683 or go to www.newportexperience.com.

How bizarre Enjoy food, antiques, books, art and more at the monthly Market Bazaar at Burnside Park in Providence?s Kennedy Plaza. The market is open to the public free of charge every first Tuesday of the month from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the sidewalk along the Washington Street side of the park. Take advantage while it lasts, because the Bazaar only lasts through Oct. 5.

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They answered.

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I made over $600.00!”

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sueh@rhodybeat.com

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26 | PrimeTime

August 2010

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