January primetime 2014

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rhode island

l a i c n a

jan uary 2 0 14

e u i ss

n i f e h t • Estate Planning • Planned Giving

• College Bound Fund • Reverse Mortgage

| PrimeTime 2

January 2014

inthisissue 4

Plan Ahead

Long Term Care Needs

5 Estate Planning

A sensible strategy for the future

6

Your Finances

Pr i m e Ti m e

Reversing Your Mortgage

7

College Bound

8

Philanthropy

Is it right for you?

Distribution Special Delivery

PUBLISHERS Barry W. Fain, Richard G. Fleischer, John Howell MARKETING DIRECTOR Donna Zarrella donnaz@rhodybeat.com

10

Editorial Coordinator / Creative Director Linda Nadeau lindan@rhodybeat.com

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.

January 2014

John Grow explores the growing problem of homeless elderly

Planning Giving

Opportunities for Charity

10

Pre-arrangements A guide to planning a funeral

17 Personal

PEOPLE & PLACES

PRODUCTION STAFF Matt Bower, Brian Geary, Lisa Yuettner

Rhode Island

WRITERS Jessica Botelho, Michael J. Cerio, John Grow, Don Fowler, Tim Forsberg, Terry D’Amato Spencer, Elaine M. Decker, Joan Retsinas, Mike Fink, Meg Chevalier, Joe Kernan, Kerry Park, Kathy Tirrell, Jennifer Rodrigues

Classified ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE Sue Howarth – sueh@rhodybeat.com

Leaving a Legacy

9 Homeless in

January 2014 1944 Warwick Ave. Warwick, RI 02889 401-732-3100 FAX 401-732-3110

ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES Donna Zarrella – donnaz@rhodybeat.com Carolann Soder, Lisa Mardenli, Janice Torilli, Suzanne Wendoloski, Gina Fugere

RI Student Loan Authority & College Bound Fund

Glimpse of RI’s Past...............................................................18 Make “Kindness” your resolution..................................21

Finance

Simple ways to improve yours

FOOD & DRINK

Healthy, Fruity Salad.............................................................11

LIFESTYLES

What Do You Fink..................................................................10 That’s Entertainment...........................................................15

19

Wills vs. Trusts

What is the difference?

SENIOR ISSUES

Retirement Sparks.................................................................12 Director’s column..................................................................19 RI Senior Beat...........................................................................21

nextmonth

Health and Wellness, and a love story or two!

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b y K E R R Y PA R K

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www.stelizabethcommunity.org www.facebook.com/SaintElizabethCommunity A non-profit, nonsectarian 501(c)(3) charitable organization and CareLink partner.

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your finances

Plan Ahead for Long Term Care Needs Studies show that 40 percent of people now age 65 will spend some time in a nursing home at some point in their lives. Many will be there for a temporary rehabilitation stay after a hospitalization. Twenty percent, however, will live there five years or more. Yet few plan for this possibility, relying instead on government programs like Medicare and Medicaid to pay for their care.

The fact is Medicare, the program most often associated with health care for the elderly, only offers financial support for the first 100 days of care in a nursing home and only if the patient is admitted following a hospital stay of at least three days. In fact, it’s Medicaid that pays for the majority of nursing home care. More than two-thirds of all nursing home residents rely on this welfare program to cover long-term care in a nursing home setting. Only the impoverished, however, are eligible for Medicaid and the rules of eligibility are becoming increasingly complex.

The growing numbers of elderly poised to flood the long-term care system in coming years, coupled with the weakened state of governmentbacked health care programs like Medicare and Medicaid, has created more of a need than ever before for advance planning for long-term care needs. With funding cuts rapidly eroding the reliability of government payment programs, it’s becoming more and more important to take charge of our own financial planning.

While no one wants to think about failing health, the time to plan for all possibilities is before you’re in the throes of dealing with a medically complex or debilitating health issue. For middle class Americans who wish to maintain their assets, long-term care insurance is a good answer, though determining where, what and how much to access can be confusing at best. Experts suggest that at a minimum, you should be able to review an outline of coverage that clearly describes the policy’s benefits, terms and limitations. You should also receive a guarantee that the policy cannot be terminated because of the policyholder’s age or physical or mental health condition. The cost of long-term care insurance escalates at age 60, so buying in earlier results in a more affordable option.

Reverse mortgages, which allow seniors to pull proceeds from their homes to pay for their health care needs, have also grown in popularity. Those with equity in their homes can tap that equity to pay for care without having to pay it back until the home is sold. At that point, the sale works like any other. Proceeds are realized only after the mortgage obligation has been met.

Still more options include some life insurance policies, which have clauses that allow terminal or long-term patients to access “accelerated benefits” to pay for long-term care needs. Trusts, annuities and other forms of savings can also be good choices.

How do you choose?

Consult with an expert. There is no one “right” answer, but if you have a financial planner or accountant, they should be able to steer you toward the right options for your financial situation. The Rhode Island Department of Elderly Affairs can also serve as a resource for information and guidance. Bear in mind, the earlier you start planning for your future health needs, the better you will be able to maintain control of your future.

January 2014

b y J essica A . B otelho

your finances

estate planning

A sensible strategy for the future People are better able to protect their homes, finances and family members by having an estate plan in place before they pass away. While there’s typically an emphasis on individuals who are aged, disabled or chronically ill, it’s something people should think about when they are still young and healthy.

Many lawyers advise clients to seek powers of attorney if they are 18 years old and above to ensure that loved ones receive assets and reduce the likelihood of court involvement during a time of need.

Estate planning is a collection of preparation tasks that serve to manage someone’s assets in the event of death or incapacitation. It includes the inheritance of possessions to beneficiaries and the settlement of estate taxes.

One of the major tasks of estate planning involves creating a will. However, there’s more to it.

If a client already has power of attorney, written documents that represent or act on a person’s behalf in private affairs, business, or other legal matters, a lawyer is able to apply for resources available for them. When someone doesn’t have power of attorney, it’s impossible for a lawyer to handle the affairs. In such cases, lawyers must go to court and get guardianship, which has the potential to be emotionally and financially draining.

“The most important thing to think about is do I have a substitute decision-maker for my financial matters and my medical matters to reduce the likelihood that my family will go to court?” said Attorney Laura M. Krohn of Senior Resource Clinic and Law Office at 631 Main Street in East Greenwich. “Then, have I set it up to make it easy enough for my family to access the assets that I’m passing to them?”

To better inform people, lawyers like Krohn are available to meet with clients for consultations to review wills, powers of attorney, insurance, and finances. Clients inform attorneys about their current situation, health, family dynamics, assets, objectives, and any existing estate planning documents they may have.

Children frequently accompany their parents. While there, they often decide to create their own plan, too.

Lawyers don’t expect people to immediately understand estate planning, as there’s a learning process. Most people aren’t exposed to it until they experience death or become chronically ill.

Still, it’s crucial to think about the circumstances of the beneficiary, along with the best way for them to inherit the asset. Leaving it outright to a loved one who has an alcohol or drug problem might not be the most sensible decision. A better solution would be to keep it in a trust. And making a disabled loved one who’s receiving government benefits a recipient is also risky, as it would cause them to lose their benefits.

Some people prefer not to leave assets to family members or friends. Instead, they donate to charities or non-profit organizations close to their hearts.

People interested in learning more are welcome to attend free caregiver support meetings that are open to the public at Krohn’s office each Thursday at 6 p.m.

“My support group meetings are very organic,” she said. “It’s probably the largest in the state.”

To learn more about Krohn’s services, call 398-8383.

January 2014

PrimeTime |

your

b y kathy tirrell

finances

Reversing Your Mortgage According to the Federal Trade Commission, you do not have to pay back the loan while you are still living in your home. The loan must be repaid once the last remaining borrower moves out of the house.

Some people question whether their children will be able to inherit their home if they’ve taken out a reverse mortgage. According to the AAG, if your heirs choose to keep the house, they can pay back the loan by refinancing the reverse mortgage or they can sell the house and are given 12 months to complete the sale.

There are three types of reverse mortgages – single-purpose, federally insured (known as Home Equity Conversion Mortgages) and proprietary (private loans).

For HECMs, you need to first meet with a counselor from an independent government-approved housing counseling agency. The counselor will explain all the terms of the loan and also discuss alternative programs and options.

As for the pros and cons of taking out a reverse mortgage, Kent says, “It gives a person access to equity in their property without monthly payments but it can be an expensive proposition depending on the bank you use.”

It can be expensive because a customer still has to pay the origination fee, appraisal fee, and title search, just as you would at the closing for a regular mortgage.

Kent said Webster Bank, along with some other

If you are 62 or older, and in need of some money to pay bills, make home improvements, pay off your current mortgage or supplement retirement income, a reverse mortgage might be something you’d like to consider.

So what exactly is a reverse mortgage?

“It’s a way for a customer to get equity out of their house without having to pay monthly payments,” said Dave Kent, branch manager and vice president of Webster Bank in Riverside.

You can still have an existing mortgage on your house and receive a reverse mortgage. If you qualify, the reverse mortgage will first pay off your existing mortgage and then give you the remaining proceeds.

Even though there are no monthly payments with a reverse mortgage, you are still responsible for paying property taxes and homeowner’s insurance, plus keeping up with the general maintenance of the home.

As for how much you can borrow, the American Advisors Group lists 3 factors: Age of the youngest borrower, the appraised home value, and current interest rates.

“You have to have enough equity in your house to be eligible for the amount you want to borrow,” said Kent. “For example, if the house is worth $150,000, you can’t get a $200,000 loan.”

Kent said the maximum amount a person can borrow is $625,500, but of course that is dependent upon the amount of equity in their home.

Rhode Island banks, is no longer doing reverse mortgages, but there are lenders in our area who do.

It is recommended that anyone considering a reverse mortgage do as much research as possible before making the decision.

For More Information: U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, 451 7th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20410 1-800-225-5342 www.usa.gov

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January 2014

college bound

by MICHAEL CERIO

It is estimated that by 2018, 61 percent of all jobs in Rhode Island will require a postsecondary education.

For a state whose economic recovery from the Great Recession has lagged behind the rest of the country, and a documented growing skills gap within the current workforce, this is a concern. For the Ocean State to move forward and regain some of the prosperity that once made the state a haven for skilled jobs, it’s imperative that more of our students continue their education past high school. And, no one knows this better than the Rhode Island Student Loan Authority (RISLA).

For more than 30 years, RISLA, a non-profit state authority, has been providing affordable higher education loans for thousands of students – helping them realize their dream of attending college. While helping students overcome the financial obstacles of paying for college is critically important, the organization’s work extends much further – they are also instrumental in helping family members plan for the educational future of their loved ones.

“Our work has evolved tremendously since we were established in 1981, and has probably never been more important,” said Charles Kelley, executive director of RISLA. “The best way for Rhode Island to prosper, and lower our unemployment rate, is to have an educated workforce – this is our end goal.”

This past year, tuition and fees to colleges across the country grew by less than 3 percent, representing the smallest rise in three decades. Yet, college today still

student who has already begun school, a College Bound Fund can help. Opening an account also makes a great gift.

“Instead of buying your child or grandchild a toy that will have a short shelf life, put money aside for their college education, which will help them over their lifetime,” said Kelley.

Overseen by the Rhode Island High-

your finances

alleviate this burden.

“We recognize that people may not have been able to save enough for college and need guidance on how to borrow responsibly,” said Kelley. “RISLA offers some of the least expensive loans in the country; most of our loans have no fees, where others, including federal government loans, can have fees over 4 percent. When you borrow $10,000 or $15,000 a year, which is not unusual, that $500 or $600 a year that would otherwise go to fees is much better spent on books and school needs.”

In addition to their in-house capabilities to help students apply for college and financial aid while maximizing their access to grants, RISLA also runs the College Planning Center of Rhode Island, which has three convenient locations: Warwick Mall, and satellite offices at 576 Metacom Avenue in Bristol and the Boys & Girls Club of Cumberland-Lincoln. All its services are free, and appointments can be scheduled directly online at www. cpcri.org.

“Our philosophy is that we want to help all students find the right college fit where they’ll be successful,” said Kelley.

RISLA is also heavily involved with the College Goal Rhode Island program, where they work with financial aid officers and community groups to make sure students understand the importance and benefits of completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is essential to a student’s ability to access the Pell Grant Program, state grants and federal Stafford Loans – where a freshman can borrow up to $5,500 on their own signature.

“When a student doesn’t over-borrow and accesses as much free financial aid as possible – grants that do not have to

Rhode Island Student Loan Authority & College Bound Fund helps students achieve the dream of attending college costs 540 percent more than it did in 1985 – outpacing surges in both gasoline and medical care during the same period.

As the cost of college is expected to further increase, one of the most common questions asked of RISLA is what families –parents, grandparents, and relatives – can do to help students begin saving for college at a young age. For Kelley, the answer is a simple one; families should open and contribute to a College Bound Fund.

Considered a program that “gives the gift of education,” the College Bound Fund is a 529 college-savings plan defined by the Internal Revenue Service. An easy and convenient way for parents and grandparents to plan for the future, a College Bound Fund allows families to contribute, tax-free, to a student’s higher education. And, when students are old enough to take distributions for qualified education expenses, withdrawals are also tax-free.

“We see a lot of concern among people who worry about how a loved one will be able to afford college as they get older,” said Kelley. “Saving a little today can go a long way in meeting the rising costs of a higher education tomorrow.”

Further illustrating the benefits of a College Bound Fund, Rhode Island is one of a few states where the account’s earnings also grow free of state income taxes – including both capital gains and dividends. As a result, a College Bound Fund has the potential to grow much faster than an identical taxable account.

Highly personalized, a College Bound Fund allows family members to choose from a range of investment options in order to select the plan that best meets a student’s needs. Whether you’re looking to start a fund for a small child, or a

January 2014

er Education Assistance Authority, the Ocean State’s College Bound Fund is available to all Rhode Island residents.

Folks have the option to sign up for an automatic investment plan with no minimum required to open an account, or an account may be started with an initial investment of $250 when paying with a check or money order.

If you’re interested in opening an account, or would like more information, you may call 736-1141 or visit www.

CollegeBoundFund.com.

In support of students hoping to go off to college in the near future, RISLA is an incredible resource that provides state-based education loans to Rhode Island residents and students going to school here. Considering nearly 60 percent of students who earned bachelor’s degrees in 2011-2012 graduated with an average debt over $26,000, the wide variety of loan options offered by RISLA to both students and parents can help

college – page 20

PrimeTime |

by JOAN RE TSINAS

your finances

Philanthropy

A Legacy of

Talk about legacies! The Fords, the Rockefellers, the Gateses have left indelible marks on the globe, enhancing life for millions of people. Those billionaire-mogul patriarchs and matriarchs bequeathed to their children large estates. But at the same time, they passed on some of their wealth to their communities – partly, a “thank you” to the societies that enabled them to thrive. Yet they also bequeathed to their heirs the legacy of philanthropy.

The genesis of these famous trusts was simple: All began as acts of generosity from individual families that sought not just to do good, but to continue doing good.

This is legacy philanthropy.

Any family – not just billionaire moguls – can establish its equivalent of a family foundation. Briefly, a person can set aside a base sum (for example, $10,000 for an endowment fund; $25,000 for a donor-advised fund at the Rhode Island Foundation, our community foundation) for a particular nonprofit organization, or, generally a cause – the environment, health care, homelessness, whatever the passion of the donor.

The person can do this as part of estate planning, or can do it while much younger to enjoy watching the money take root. The sum can be invested in a diversified portfolio that will ideally appreciate over time.

Grants from the fund will go to the organization, or

cause, that the donor has selected.

With a donor-advised fund at the Rhode Island Foundation, the family can make donations (minimum $250), drawing on money in that fund. Over time with most donor-advised funds and family foundations, heirs can have the option of redirecting the money to different causes. (And, depending on the specifics of the fund, the heirs may be allowed to spend down the principal).

To establish your own separate charitable foundation or trust, you typically need a tax lawyer, an investment adviser to make the judicial yet profitable investments, and an adviser on philanthropy. The latter is particularly important, since over time established nonprofit organizations may wane. Even diseases may wane. Once upon a not-so-long ago time, polio was a menace; and donors sought to give money toward a cure, or toward care for patients with polio. So the “philanthropic adviser” can help families plot their legacy, beginning with their community passion. Is it hunger? Homelessness? The environment? A “causedirected” trust will let advisers direct the money toward the larger cause.

For families interested in passing on a legacy of philanthropy, the Rhode Island Foundation offers a one-stop shop. The Foundation staff will set up the fund, guide you through the decisions (What cause?

What provisions for heirs to redirect funds? What structures on investments?), make the investments, and oversee the expenditures. The Rhode Island Foundation may use a competitive grant-making process, like the Champlin Foundations, or the donor and/or heirs may make the decisions. Currently, the Rhode Island Foundation oversees 1,300 donor funds – some dating back to 1916, the start of the Rhode Island Foundation. The intent of all the funds is to enhance the life of Rhode Islanders. Last year, the Rhode Island Foundation distributed over $30 million to more than 1,000 charities.

James Sanzi, vice president of development at the Rhode Island Foundation, describes a 1932 bequest of $100,000 for care of people with terminal illness, mainly polio at that time. With the advent of vaccines, polio virtually disappeared in the United States. So the Foundation has now redirected the money to patients with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. To date, that $100,000 pot has grown to more than $700,000, and has paid out more than $550,000 in grants.

A one-time gift, even a substantial one, to a charitable organization is just that – a one-time gift. But a fund like this will establish a long-term stream of gifts. Genealogists chart family trees, tracing a family through its past generations; think of a family’s charitable legacy as a tree that continues to sprout.

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your finances

by JOHN GROW

Homeless

in Rhode Island In a Fox News report broadcast just before Thanksgiving, John Stossel took on the tough topic of homelessness in the United States.

To do so he put on a fake beard (slightly less convincing than the one George Clooney wore in Oh Brother Where Art Thou), and some worn-out clothes; his idea of what a typical homeless person looks like. Equipped with a hand lettered cardboard sign and a plastic cup, he sat on a busy New York City street corner for about an hour.

A few charitable passers by, who apparently were too nice to look too closely, did drop money in his cup. About $11 all together.

Before this charade he said there are people who make $80,000 a year panhandling. He came up a little short.

Eleven bucks annualizes somewhere in the $22-K area. Still, he said, eleven bucks, and tax free.

Stossel said you shouldn’t give money to a person on the streets because they might be a con artists. But even if they are legitimately homeless, hungry and in need, you shouldn’t give them money because they’ll only spend it on booze or drugs or both. Apparently in John Stossel’s world, people who claim to be homeless are either alcoholics, drug addicts, or they’re scamming you.

“I felt foolish and uncomfortable,” he said after he changed into his suit and tie. He should have.

Facts, as John Adams said, are stubborn things. Whatever Stossel’s report was meant to be, it provided no factual information about homelessness; about what life becomes when you no longer have a home, or how society should view you.

Professor Eric Hirsch has studied homelessness for well over 30 years; first at Columbia, and the last 25 in Rhode Island. He teaches Sociology at Providence College and is the Vice President of the Board for the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless (RICH). He’ll tell you exactly what homelessness is and has the hands-on experience and data he’s collected to back him up.

And what that experience and data show is homelessness is a scary, dangerous pit with slippery walls. If you fall in, it’s all but impossible to crawl out without help. And it’s not hard to go homeJanuary 2014

less, especially in Rhode Island now. For a lot of people it’s hard not to.

STRONG TREND TOWARD ELDERLY IN HOMELESS SHELTERS Rhode Island is approaching 5,000 homeless and trending up, according to The Homeless Management Information System.

This data comes primarily from formerly homeless people mainly through an organization called Rhode Island Homeless Advocacy Project. Hirsch’s students help out. The numbers are based on just the people they can find.

Karen Jefferys, Assistant Director for RICH, said, “We coordinate outreach people from organizations who go into the shelters and out on the streets.

I’ve been getting information back from some of them for a while now, about older people being out there. Like 70year olds with walkers.”

Eric Hirsch agrees. “It’s hard to get really good numbers,” he said in a telephone interview before Christmas. “But what we’re seeing is a strong trend toward older people in shelters.

“Every year, in October, I have my students go out to do what we call the Winter Shelter Assessment. They use that information to write their papers, and we share what we discover with various agencies who work with the homeless. It gives them some idea of the kind of numbers they will face when the weather get’s dangerously cold.

“I first started doing this with my students back in New York. I assigned them to go out and gather independent information on the homeless and come back and write a paper based on their research.

“Along with looking at the shelters, we poked into vacant buildings, up in ceilings, under bridges and in tunnels; everywhere and anywhere a homeless person might go to get some kind of warmth and safety.

“When I came to Rhode Island I continued to have my classes here do that. For the past few years I’ve seen the number of older people – I just arbitrarily pegged it at 50 years and up – grow until now they’re over 20 percent of the total.

“We see some pretty startling

“

When you think about the aging

population you think of them in their golden

years . . . becoming newly homeless would not be something you think would happen to a

”

70-year-old who has worked all their life

–Crossroads Vice President Karen Santilli

things” Hirsch added. “We see homeless men who are probably in their 70s, a few who are obviously disabled, some in wheelchairs.”

RICH statistics show about half of all homeless people have fallen into that hole for the first time. Younger people who find themselves homeless tend to have the resilience and ability to get out before too long, if they get some help.

They experience homelessness for perhaps 60 days or so. They tend to be more employable, and the fact that 39 percent are families (children under 5 make up 13 percent of all Rhode Island homeless), allows them to utilize programs that are not available to the elderly.

Families and people with children get preference for rent assisted housing.

In Rhode Island, Health and Human Services says there are about 20,000 apartments that have some type of assistance program (Section 8 or other).

But they all have incredibly long waiting lists; it can take many months, even years on a waiting list before you can even look at an available space. Some

have closed their lists and are no longer adding new names.

“This kind of housing is run by the Housing Authorities in each city in Rhode Island,” says Hirsch. “When East Providence announced they were reopening their waiting list, for example, over 5,000 people rushed to get on it.

And that didn’t get you the apartment; that got you on a list that let you wait to be considered for an apartment when one opened up.”

An elderly single man – almost 78 percent of the homeless over 50 according to Hirsch’s data – goes to the bottom of those waiting lists automatically, and will be bypassed by families and people with children as time passes. He has almost no chance to find a place to live in these situations.

Crossroads of Rhode Island has apartments specifically for elderly men, and it’s expanding the number. At a press conference to announce additional new housing at their Harold Lewis House in West Warwick this November, HOMELESS – PAGE 20

PrimeTime |

YOUR FINANCES

b y C amilla F arrell de ve l o p m e n t d i re c to r , a l z h e i m er ’s association r hode island chapter

Planned Giving Opportunities for Charity There are several ways a donor may participate in the Alzheimer’s Association’s planned giving program. Depending on their age, family situation, stage of life, tax situation and manner in which they would like to support the Association, we encourage individuals and their families to consider one of the following opportunities that are listed below.

Bequest A bequest is a gift we receive through a will or living trust, which are both created to handle the distribution of assets owned by the donor at death.

A clause inserted in the donor’s will or living trust is one of the simplest ways to make an estate gift to the Alzheimer’s Association. Here is sample bequest language donors can provide to their attorney.

“I give to the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Association, Inc. (the Alzheimer’s Association Rhode Island Chapter, insert either dollar amount or a percentage) in support of its full mission.”

Call Charity to determine tax ID number

and include that with your statement.

Charitable Gift Annuity (CGA) A gift annuity involves the transfer of money or stocks to the Alzheimer’s Association in exchange for the Association’s obligation to pay the donor a fixed payment for a lifetime. A gift annuity may provide the donor with tax-free income and estate tax relief, as well as a charitable deduction for both federal and state taxes (if applicable). The minimum gift is $10,000 and annuitants must be at least 62 years of age. Please note that regulations of gift annuities vary by state.

Charitable Remainder Trusts (CRT) A CRT is an irrevocable trust that distributes a fixed percentage of its value, usually on an annual basis, to the donor who establishes the trust or to others chosen by the donor. After a term of years or after the settler dies, the remaining principal is distributed to one or more charities.

The fixed annuity percentage must be at least 5 percent of the fair market value of the assets in the trust. The Association does not act as a trustee in these arrange-

wHAT DO YOU FINK?

ments. CRTs are established with assets generally worth well over $100,000.

Charitable Lead Trust (CLT) This is a gift where the donor transfers property to the trust and one or more charities receives income payments from the trust for a period of years. At the end of the term, the remainder goes to the donor or to another person(s). CLTs are established with assets of generally well over $100,000

Retirement Account Assets

Donors can designate the Association as a beneficiary of their Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), 401(k) and 403(b) plans. Additionally, some donors may be able to make a contribution directly from their retirement plans.

Life Insurance Gift Donors can contribute a “paid-up” whole life policy or simply name the Alzheimer’s Association as a beneficiary of their term life insurance.

Payable on Death (POD) or Transfer on Death (TOD): A payable on death/transfer on death

lifestyles

by MIKE FINK

A Penny For Your Thoughts Never took an economics course. My finances are lowdown, not high. Ben Franklin advice, “a penny saved is a penny earned.” That sort of thing. My dad had a penny collection, featuring a few Indian head coins. It was stolen from the empty house on the day of his death. I’m of the generation that picks up the one-cent copper souvenirs from the streets where today’s teens toss them with utter contempt.

And then, there are the pennies in song and poetry. “Penny candy, candy for a penny, I ask for more than a penny now, I’ve grown very wise you see ... now a penny’s a memory!” from “New Faces of 1952” or “It was just a penny arcade, that’s all that it was, but oh! What it meant to me.”

I saved up my wee images of Honest Abe in a tobacco tin. For Mother’s Day gifts, mostly. Or for games of Penny Ante on Sunday afternoons with the grandparents, after tea. Actually, I have lived my life one cent at a time. Not proud of that. Not ashamed either. Haven’t been without a job since age 15. My values were pretty thrifty. I had small scholarships through the college years. Spent a junior year in Paris, where you could live much cheaper than here at home. The French were mighty cautious, prudent and practical in those bygone days. Nothing was wasted or idly tossed away. I learned to enjoy repairing and fixing, not purchasing, and elegance was an idea, a style, not an extravagance.

Well, maybe I went too far in my sense and sensibility. How, though, do you gather enough cash to retire, or to see the world first class? How do you continue to pay your bills, keep your house in good order, and look OK in public with your lifelong devotion to the small silver, bronze, or gold circles in your pocket, adding up to paper bills and money in the bank?

My answer to questions about finance and investment is incredibly one-dimensional. I believe in keeping your needs simple, your taste modest, and your budget expenditures conservative. Not quite sure even what money IS! I am the son of my mother and my father, both of whom grew up in much more grounded times.

You make do. You skimp a little and eat moderately. On the other hand, they were also people of pride and dignity. Not mean-spirited, just survivors of immigration, the depression, the duration (of World War II) and of the resistance to the new wastefulness of the immediate postwar period. It had become nearly unpatriotic not to buy whatever was new in the marketplace. I persisted in wearing the hand-me-downs of the wider family. I let my mother re-line the worn jackets and patch the pockets.

My good counsel and advice to younger investors is ... go to work and stick it out. Don’t take yourself too seriously or demand too much from the world beyond your personal space. Rediscover the magic of pennies from heaven. Find your happiness and your pleasure in the things Judy Garland used to sing about. “You can’t have everything, be satisfied with the little you may get...”

10 | PrimeTime

gift is a simple arrangement whereby by an owner of stocks, bonds, brokerage accounts or bank or credit union accounts names a beneficiary to receive these assets after death. Once the account holder dies, the funds are distributed to the beneficiary.

Real Estate Gift

Some real estate arrangements allow donors to make a gift, obtain a charitable tax deduction and remain in the property for their lifetime (life estate gift. Some provide benefits through capital gains tax avoidance. Because of the potential risk of selling real estate, approval must be attained before the real estate can be accepted. Acceptance of real estate must first be approved by the Gift Acceptance Committee.

Please note that tax laws are complex, evolving and vary by state, thus tax benefits may have changed. For the latest tax news, as well as other planned giving resources available to professionals, please visit www.alzgift.org.

your finances

by TOM WINFIELD

president , anderson - winfield funeral home

Make pre-arrangement part of your New Year’s Resolution Pre-arrangement is the planning of a funeral service before they are needed. They may be planned for oneself or for a family member prior to a death. There are a number of reasons why prearranging is advantageous. First of all, pre-arrangement answers many questions family and survivors have at the time of a death about what type of service the deceased would have wanted. Prearrangement also takes the burden of decision making off survivors at a time when decision making is clouded. With pre-set plans to act as a guide, families can memorialize the deceased in a way that respects the decedents wishes.

It is easy to do. A good place to start is to sit with a funeral director and make a record of the type of funeral service you have in mind. Your choices are many, from traditional funeral services to contemporary cremation services. By pre-arranging your funeral, the style, content and cost are completed before the stress and confusion that a death places on your family. The funeral director will keep the record on file for future use.

In most cases it is possible to place monies toward payment of the pre-planned funeral into a bank account, commonly referred to as a trust account. Pre-financing has the added advantage of setting funds aside which will accrue interest over the years. This interest will help offset the cost of a funeral and ease the financial burden at the time of a loss.

If you pre-arrange by yourself it is important to let your family or confidant know of these plans so in the event of your death they can contact the correct funeral home. These are just a few options and choices available. Make pre-arrangement part of your New Year’s resolution and contact a Funeral Service Professional to learn more

January 2014

calendar

of

events

food

Jan 9, 2014 to Jan 30, 2014 7:00 pm. Weekly, on Thursday.

January 9 - “Blitzkrieg: Battles of Poland and France” January 16 - “Air & Sea: Battles of Britain and the Atlantic” January 23 - “The Eastern Front: Barbarossa to Berlin, 1941-45” January 30 - “Crushing the Reich: Normandy to Berlin, 1944-45” Free-registration is required. Kingston Free Library, 2605 Kingstown Rd., Kingston, RI 401-783-8254 email: mmunroe@skpl.org website: skpl.org

Winter Speaker Series - The Mystery of Vampires in New England January 18, 2014. When an 18th-century burying ground was accidentally uncovered, Dr. Nicholas Bellantoni discovered that all the remains were in proper anatomical position except for one adult male. Evidence suggests he was believed to be “undead.”

Bellatoni will discuss the case. 2pm, $10 members, $15 non members.

Newport Art Museum, 76 Bellevue Ave., Newport, RI. 848-8200 newportartmuseum. org Beginner Watercolor Six Week Class, Jan 18 to Feb 22, 2014, 1:00 pm Weekly, on Saturday. Sign up deadline: January 10 The instructor will demonstrate the various techniques of working in watercolor and introduce students to the characteristics of watercolor, application of paint and drying times. Cost - Members: $60; Non-members: $100. Rhode Island Watercolor Society, 775 Armistice Blvd., Pawtucket, RI 401-726-1876 www.riws.org

drink

A Healthy, Fruity & Protein-Packed Salad

Stanley Carpenter presents a WWII Lecture Series

Farmhouse Lunch Tours Jan 17-Mar 28, 2014, 12:00 pm. Weekly, on Friday. Paradise Farmhouse is an original structure on the Norman Bird Sanctuary’s 325 acre property. It is one of a few remaining intact eighteenth century farms.Tour also includes a Farmhouse lunch of hot organic soup, warm crusty bread, garden salad, beverage and dessert. $12 p.p.

Paradise Farmhouse at the Norman Bird Sanctuary, 583 Third Beach Rd., Newport, RI 401-846-2577 www.normanbirdsanctuary.org

and

If your New Year’s resolution is to eat healthier, this recipe for Blueberry, Butternut Squash and Quinoa Salad will help you keep it. Not just one, but two of nature’s superfoods - blueberries and quinoa - team up with butternut squash to create a salad that’s packed with protein, bursting with sweet and tangy flavor and colorful enough to brighten the drab grays of winter.

Blueberry, Butternut Squash and Quinoa Salad 1

4 1 2 2 3/4 1/4 4 1 1/2 3

pound butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cubed tablespoons olive oil, divided cup raw quinoa, rinsed well cups water tablespoons lemon juice teaspoon salt teaspoon pepper Green onions, thinly sliced cups blueberries cups baby arugula

Preheat oven to 450°F. In large bowl, toss squash with 1 tablespoon of oil. Spread on rimmed baking sheet; bake until tender, about 22 minutes; let cool.

Meanwhile, in medium saucepan, bring quinoa and water to a boil; simmer for 15-20 minutes. Remove from heat and cover; let stand 5 minutes. Fluff with fork; cool.

In small bowl, whisk together remaining olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper; set aside.

In large bowl combine squash, green onions, blueberries, arugula and quinoa.

Drizzle with dressing; toss to combine.

Medical Associates of Rhode Island Treatment In All Aspects of Foot Care Dr. DeHaven is currently accepting new patients.

He treats all age groups from infant to adult.

Dr. DeHaven has offices in Bristol and East Providence, RI.

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January 2014

Sprains and Fractures Sports Related Injuries Bunions Hammertoes Warts Ingrown and Fungal Nails Wound Care Diabetic Foot Care SATELLITE OFFICE: Medical Associates of RI, Inc. 950 Warren Ave., Suite 104 / E. Prov., RI 02914 (401) 228-7887 Fax# (401) 253-3131

Jordan S. DeHaven, DPM Diplomat of the American Board of Podiatric Surgery Certified in Foot Surgery

PrimeTime | 11

retirement sparks

senior

issues

b y elaine m . decker

Post-FRA Acronyms Some months before I retired and almost a year before I reached Full Retirement Age (FRA), I wrote a blog post about the acronyms for retirement jargon, including FRA. It turns out that post-FRA there are new acronyms I need to deal with.

Last fall when I had my mid-year checkup, I was feeling pretty good about it. I’d lost 28 pounds from my visit six months earlier and my blood pressure (BP) was down to 120 over 80. It had crept up to the 140 over 90 range before I lost the weight. Then I noticed the column on the report of my visit headed “Conditions” and saw that I’m still overweight. Well (thought I), at least it doesn’t say “obese.”

My goal had been to lose another 10 pounds, maybe 15. I decided to go on-line to find out where I need to be so that I’m no longer overweight. I’ve reached the age where I’ve been shrinking a bit each year, and I was prepared for my target weight to shrink along with my height. Shrink, yes, but wither to something not realistically attainable,

12 | PrimeTime

no. There are tons of websites that claim to help you calculate your ideal body weight.

You have healthstatus.com and healthcentral.com. There’s healthdiscovery.net and healthchecksystems. com. Also the basic calculator.net and the ever-popular webmd.com. Some of the sites require you to input your body frame (small-boned, average, largeboned). To do this accurately, you’re supposed to use calipers and measure your elbow thickness, or else try to wrap your fingers around your wrist. I took the easy way out and went with average frame.

On that basis, some of the sites still label me obese. They all claim that I need to lose at least 25 additional pounds to reach normal weight for my current height. What’s worse, one site actually had the temerity to tell me that I can consume just 896 calories a day if I want to lose weight. As if. I lost the 28 pounds eating 1100-1200. Did I say “eating?” I meant “starving at.”

The culprit in these calculations is

the BMI (Body Mass Index).

That acronym was not unfamiliar to me, but I had paid it little mind, and I certainly didn’t know how to calculate it. For those who care: divide your body weight in pounds by your height in inches squared. Then multiply that times 703. A normal BMI is 19 to 24.9, give or take a pinch, depending on the website.

I used to joke that no husband should be allowed to weigh less than his wife. My husband is extremely thin, so despite my extra baggage, I always felt he was partly to blame for the disconnect in our poundage. Now I see that it’s all my fault. If I reach my proper weight—notice I say if, not when—I would finally weigh less than he does.

By the end of the week, the euphoria of my official weight loss and improved BP had morphed into the depressing realization that it could be six more

months before I can resume visiting my wine rack once a week. You would think I would have left well enough alone and settled in with a good book. You would be wrong. I returned to the Internet to do research on yet another post-FRA acronym: RMD. I will turn 69 this year and that has put RMD (Required Minimum Distribution) on my radar. It’s the amount SPARKS – 20

January 2014

exhibitors wanted Don’t miss our next expo!

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g n i v i Le x p o

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PrimeTime Magazine with face-to-face marketing opportunities at the Expo

Extensive networking opportunities

– Estate Planning & Settlement – Special Needs Planning – Elder Law

A Will Does Not Avoid Probate A Will is a document executed during one’s lifetime which directs how an individual’s property will be distributed upon his or her death and who will “handle” the estate. All Wills must be submitted to the Probate Court for the municipality in which the person lived at his death before the directions in the Will can operate on the assets. In a sense, the Court acts as an overseer to ensure that one’s assets pass as intended. The probate process can be slower and cost more than the administration of a Trust that avoids probate. Probate is also a public proceeding and anyone can review the probate court’s file. Some people strongly prefer to keep their affairs private.

A Trust is a document in which one party (usually called the Grantor or the Settlor) transfers legal title to another party (the Trustee) for the benefit of a third party (the Beneficiary).

Most properly

executed and funded Trusts avoid probate. In Revocable Trusts, the Grantor is typically also the Trustee and the Beneficiary during his or her lifetime, which allows the Grantor to continue to control and use the Trust assets throughout his or her lifetime. Upon the passing of the Grantor, the successor Trustee is charged with the responsibility of paying the Grantor’s final expenses and distributing or holding the Trust property, in accordance with the Grantor’s instructions. By avoiding probate, a Trust is an efficient, cost effective and private estate administration process. A Trust also gives the Grantor greater options, including estate tax minimization, the ability to provide for children with special needs without interfering with governmental benefits, and the ability to hold up any distribution to children until a suitable age, as determined by the Grantor.

J. Katherine Scott, Esq.

Laura G. Handwerger, Esq.

with major senior organizations We take care of . . .

Planning Promotion Follow-up

Exhibitor space includes tables, chairs, pipe & drape, tablecloths & skirting, and electricity.

For registration information call Lisa Bronstein American Health Resources, Inc.

The Rhode Island Supreme Court licenses all lawyers in the general practice of law.

The court does not license or certify any lawyer or specialists in any field of practice.

508-588-7700 or e-mail lisab@ahrevents.com

January 2014

PrimeTime | 13

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14 | PrimeTime

January 2014

THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT

lifestyles

by DON FOWLER

An Exciting New Year of Theatre in Rhode Island How fortunate we are to live in a state where quality theatre abounds, not only in our capital city, but also in our smaller communities.

Enhanced by our Tony Award-winning Trinity Repertory Company and its association with Brown University, in addition to the Providence Performing Arts Center, where the best of Broadway is presented, theatre is alive and well, and accessible to all.

Providence Performing Arts Center

“Wicked,” the popular “untold story of the witches of Oz” returns to PPAC, where it broke box office records in 2009. Winner of 35 major awards, the blockbuster musical sold out in record time and is sure to do the same this year.

“Wicked” opens the day after Christmas and runs through Jan. 12, 2014.

The powerful rock musical “Rock of Ages” plays one night, Jan. 29, at 7:30 p.m.

The “Impossible Dream” musical, “The Man of La Mancha,” returns to the PPAC stage in an all-new production, complete with the Tony Award-winning score and book that inspires young and old to see the story of Don Quixote more than once. The musical plays Feb. 14-16.

“Peter and the Starcatcher,” a grownup prequel to Peter Pan, and winner of five Tony Awards, makes its first appearance in Rhode Island Feb. 25 to March 2. The popular Broadway musical play takes a hilarious romp through Neverland, with a dozen actors playing more than 100 unforgettable characters.

Celebrating its 30th Anniversary, “Flashdance – The Musical” closes out

the busy winter season. If you like electrifying dance numbers, this is the musical to see. It will be at PPAC March 25-30.

For reservations, call 421-ARTS. For more information, go to ppacri.org.

Trinity Repertory Company

The Rhode Island premiere of Lynn Notage’s “Intimate Apparel” will be at Trinity Rep. January 30 through March 2. Set in New York City, it is the story of a young African American woman who moves to NYC to pursue her dream.

Former Trinity actress Viola Davis won the Drama Desk Award for best actress and the play won the Outer Critics Award for best off-Broadway play.

Richard Jenkins returns to his beloved Trinity to direct the hit musical, “Oliver,” with his wife, Sharon Jenkins, as the choreographer. The much-anticipated production will be at Trinity Feb. 20 to March 30. For reservations, call 351-4242. For their online brochure, go to Trinityrep.com.

Ocean State Theatre Company

Warwick’s Ocean State Theatre Company will present Neil Simon’s “Laughter on the 23rd Floor,” described as “a hilarious peek inside the writer’s room during TV’s golden age,” Jan. 29 to Feb. 16.

“The All Night Strut,” a “classy, sassy, jumpin’ and jiving’ musical celebration of the 1930s and ’40s,” will play Feb. 26 to March 16. Call 921-6800, or go online at oceanstatetheatre.org for reservations.

Newport Playhouse & Cabaret Restaurant

Producer Matt Siravo takes the month of January off, but will be back with his popular December comedy, “Angel on my Shoulder” Feb. 20 March 23. The combination of a fantastic buffet, funny, light play, and lively cabaret makes for a fun evening for couples and small and large groups. Call 848-PLAY, or go online at newportplayhouse.com.

Sandra Feinstein Gamm Theatre

Dan LeFranc’s “The Big Meal,” directed by Tyler Dobrowski, opens the new year at Gamm Theatre in Pawtucket, playing Jan. 9 to Feb. 9.

The extraordinary tale of five generations of an ordinary family has eight actors playing multiple characters over a span of 75 years.

Shakespeare returns to Gamm March 6 to April 13, with the Bard’s darkest tragedy, “Macbeth.”

For reservations, call 723-4266 or go online at gammtheatre.org.

Wilbury Theatre Group

Wilbury tackles “An Iliad” by Lisa Peterson and Denis O’Hare, an ancient tale in a new telling, with “contemporary wit and wisdom” at Wilbury’s Trinity Church space from Jan. 16 to Feb. 1.

The New England premiere of Sarah Kane’s “Blasted” runs March 20 to April 5. This contemporary play has shocking content and has become one of Britain’s most provocative plays. Call 400-7100 or go online at www.thewilburygroup. org.

There’s More!

Check out the local college and community theatre schedules, plus the Brown/Trinity Conservatory. They all offer quality theatre at affordable prices.

We don’t have the complete schedule for Kevin Broccoli’s Epic Theatre, but you can count on him bringing some interesting productions to Cranston.

2nd Story Theatre

Warren’s 2nd Story Theatre continues offering plays in its upstairs and downstairs theatres, beginning with Nicky Silver’s “The Lyons” in the new, intimate downstairs space, opening Jan. 19.

George M. Cohan’s classic “Seven Keys to Baldpate” opens upstairs on Feb. 3.

Shoes & Sox Party at The Highlands The Highlands on the East Side, an assisted living and memory care community, presented more than 750 mittens, hats, scarves, gloves and coats to aid the homeless in RI at their “Mittens Party” held December 5th. The presentation was made to the Loaves & Fishes Mission for distribution to state shelters.

The presentation was made possible though the efforts of Highlands’ residents, staff, family members and friends who knitted, purchased and donated the items throughout November.

Contributions of new or gently worn adult and childrens’ shoes, boots, sneakers and socks can be made at The Highlands now through January for distribution to homeless shelters and agencies at a special “Shoes & Sox Party,” Thursday, February 13th at 2 pm.

For every donated pair, each donor will receive a raffle ticket for prizes and an invitation to attend the party catered by The Highlands’ kitchen staff.

For information, contact Heather Tompkins, 401-654-5259 or htompkins@hallkeen.com.

January 2014

Highlands’ resident, Kay Webb, who knitted 36 hats for the homeless, was the subject of a recent ABC 6 news feature on The Highlands’ collection of clothing for the homeless.

PrimeTime | 15

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Our initial consultation is complimentary. Our planning tools help focus your concerns and needs.

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spotlight business on

The YMCA of Greater Providence Fostering healthy living & healthy aging

The familiar letters “YMCA” are immediately synonymous with the ideals of “health”, “wellness” and “strong families” for these virtues are the underpinnings of the YMCA organization. The goal of achieving a healthy and balanced lifestyle and strong families is as important today as it was for the “Y”s founders, and is especially crucial for today’s modern and often overextended families.

While one might immediately associate the “Y” with children, teens and young adults, what is often overlooked is how relevant and important senior citizens are to the YMCA’s goals, programs and activities. In fact, the YMCA has sought for decades to address the needs and wishes of this important group of individuals who now, more than ever, know that a high quality of life is inextricably connected to healthy living and healthy aging.

Seniors are an active, vibrant and socially connected segment of our society, and they are coming in increasing numbers to the “Y” to enjoy programs that are designed and created specifically to meet their unique needs.

The YMCA was established to encourage and promote “healthy bodies, minds and spirits.” These founding principles extend to all ages, genders and levels of one’s ability.

Everyone is welcome at the “Y”, and every effort is made to accommodate individuals from every walk of life. The “Y” is so much more than a “gym and a swimming pool”; it is the embodiment of well-being and a healthy life.

The YMCA of Greater Providence includes centers in the cities of Barrington, Cranston, Warwick, North Kingstown, Peace Dale, Providence and Seekonk, Mass. Each of these facilities has state-of the art exercise equipment rooms, a swimming pool and rooms for an endless number of classes. The courteous, helpful and friendly staff members are all extensively trained, whether they are the personnel who greet you with a smile at the front desk or the instructor who leads you in your water aerobics class!

Some of the many classes and programs created especially for seniors include: • “LiveSTRONG at the Y” – the “Y” partners with the LIVESTRONG foundation to offer health and wellness programs to cancer survivors. The programs are designed to strengthen and support survivors on the road to recovery after their treatment regimens.

• Diabetes Prevention Program – a program that helps those at risk for developing Type 2 Diabetes adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles that reduce their chances of developing this dangerous disease.

• Matter of Balance – Classes that address the issue of maintaining balance as you age.

These few highlighted programs are just a few of the many offerings available for seniors 50 years and older. Classes range from water exercise, “Silver sneaker”, arthritis exercise and Zumba to social and club activities. There is literally something for every age and ability level here at the YMCA. Become a part of a healthy community of seniors, visit the “Y”s informative website at www.gpymca. org or call them at this toll-free number 1-888-414YMCA (9622) to learn more and register today!

Meet Judy Cerrito, the coordinator for“LIVESTRONG at the Y” at the Kent County “Y” – a cancer survivor and the developer of the “Starting Over” program for cancer survivors.

Non-Profit - Founded in 1930

We’ve Lowered Membership Rates Join Now and Get Fit Come in and you’ll see there’s so much more to the Y than you realized!

• • • •

High quality classes and programs Welcoming atmosphere Friendly and knowledgeable staff Financial assistance available

The YMCA of Greater Providence 888-414-YMCA (9622) gpymca.org Barrington | Cranston | Warwick | East Side | South County | North Kingstown | Seekonk, MA YMCA of Greater Providence is a 501c3 organization.

16 | PrimeTime

January 2014

your finances

Simple Ways to Improve Personal Finances As more Americans make strides towards responsible spending and debt management, there are still ways to improve the control of family finances.

According to a survey recently conducted by Bank of America, which asked respondents about their credit card usage, balance and rewards, less than half of cardholders always pay their entire credit card balance. With more than half of individuals carrying credit card debt, Jason Gaughan, card products executive for Bank of America, said to think about personal spending before taking on a credit card.

“Credit cards provide consumers an efficient and protected way to make purchases,” said Gaughan. “They are more convenient than cash and they are incredibly useful in an emergency. The key to successfully managing your credit card account is to understand your budget and stick to a plan that works for you when borrowing. You want a card with a rewards program that fits your lifestyle and how you manage your finances. If you typically carry a balance, look for a card that has low interest and reinforces good payment practices.”

Along with these practices, there are other ways to promote good spending and personal finance habits, such as: Limit Number of Credit Cards According to the survey, three out of 10 respondents carried four or more credit cards. Limiting the number of cards you own can help limit your spending and increase the likelihood you can pay above the minimum balance. Before you start cutting up your plastic, remember having more than one credit card can have merits. If you need money for an emergency, the immediate buying power of a credit card can be a lifesaver. Try a card with no annual fee and a generous credit line to cover unexpected expenses. One idea is to have three cards: one in a safe place at home for emergencies and two with you at all times.

Reap the Rewards With so many rewards programs available for credit card holders, it’s important to do your homework so you can cash in on things your family really needs. While some credit cards will offer rewards to use at your favorite hotels and airlines, others will give you special discounts for the purchases you make on a frequent basis. The most popular of these programs is cash back for spending. Some cards, such as the BankAmericard Cash Rewards credit card, let you earn more cash back where you spend the most money, like gas stations and grocery stores. The BankAmericard Better Balance Rewards credit card helps customers responsibly manage their credit card balance. Whatever rewards you are seeking, there is likely to be a card suitable for you.

Track Spending Habits Now If you’ve been lax about keeping track of your spending, take the first step towards tracking as soon as possible. Include info on where you spend, when you spend and how much you spend. Making note of all of those little purchases - a cup of coffee here or a gift store trinket there - will help you see how quickly they add up. Whether you’re the old-fashioned, pen-and-paper type, or if you prefer a more modern, digital form of tracking, the importance is in the act itself.

Evaluate All Debts Many carry debts beyond credit cards, including student loans, car payments and mortgages. While some may consider these types as necessary debts, it is important to keep track of the balance due for each as well as the interest rate you are paying. According to the survey, when respondents were asked what they would do with $1,000, nearly half (44 percent) revealed they would pay off debt. Evaluate your debts and decide which ones have the highest interest rates. Making it a priority to pay down these debts first will save you more money in the long run.

Create a Budget It’s never too soon to put yourself in control of your money and stop letting it control you. A budget will give you financial peace of mind and it can help you stretch the income you have. First, write down the financial goals you want to achieve in the next few years and the ones you want to accomplish for the long term. Then, gather all of the purchasing information for the household and categorize each type of spending. Divide your expenses into fixed expenses (those that stay the same from month to month, such as a mortgage payment or cable television bill) and variable ones (those that may change, such as fuel bills or entertainment).

Be sure to also set aside some money for personal savings and an emergency fund.

Once you’ve calculated your income and expenses a month ahead of time and set your budget, you can focus on the most important part - adhering to the plan. Find ways to decrease spending. Adopt just one new way of trimming expenses each week and you’ll find your overhead shrinking fast. Though you may not be on-point every month, the simple act of tracking and communicating your family’s finances will be a huge step forward in your quest towards responsible spending.

January 2014

PrimeTime | 17

A GLIMPSE OF RI’S PAST

PEOPLE AND PLACES

h i s t o r y w i t h T e r r y d ’a m ato S p e n c e r

AERIAL HISTORY – T.F. Green Airport Comes of Age The Theodore Francis Green Airport at Hillsgrove has served the state in both peace and war. In 1942, Governor J. Howard McGrath leased the airport at Hillsgrove to the U.S. government. The Army Air Force assumed control of the airport on April 1, 1942 and the Theodore F. Green Airport became known as the Hillsgrove Army Air Base. During World War II, the airport at Hillsgrove became an independent fighter base of the First Army Air Force and a transition training base to which officers were sent for combat training immediately after graduation from flying school. Before the end of the war it was also a receiving station for fliers to receive additional instruction when returning from overseas duty.

POST-WAR PERIOD After the conclusion of World War II, the facility was returned to the state.

Since that time, Hillsgrove has been one of the more important civilian airports along the East Coast. It has continued to

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play a part in the overall defense plan, however, as since 1948, the airport has handled various aspects of the Air National Guard (152nd Fighter-Bomber Squadron).

According to Ed Dean’s history of the 152nd Squadron, when the men returned to Rhode Island in 1948, they were flying P51 Mustangs. By 1953, they had changed to jets and at that time there was a great deal of opposition to the idea of having this type of fighter plane at Theodore F. Green, as it was now a civilian airport.

Eventually, according to Dean, the 152nd was inactivated and its designation went to the Army, leaving the state with the 143rd Air National Guard. The fighter designation was removed and the 143rd was given cargo planes, rather than jets, to fly. In 1955, one half of the Kennedy Hangar, which had been built for the military, was given to the Air National Guard and the other half, was used as a civilian terminal.

During the following decades, the

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143rd remained at Hillsgrove. After the U.S. Navy left Quonset in 1975, negotiations began to transfer the Air National Guard to that facility. The move was finally completed in 1981.

A CIVILIAN AIRPORT AGAIN Almost immediately after the state returned to civilian control in 1948, the management of the state airport came under fire as eight separate agencies or officials were involved in the control and development of the state’s aviation program. To help plan and coordinate the future of aviation in Rhode Island, two out-of-state engineering firms were asked to submit independent studies in 1948.

Both agencies, George S. Armstrong and Company and Thompson and Lichtner, agreed that existing facilities were inadequate and would be outgrown rapidly.

Armstrong recommended that Hillsgrove be expanded only modestly while a main state airport was to be constructed at the 862 acre North Central airport site in Smithfield and Lincoln. Thompson and Lichtner disagreed and advocated that Hillsgrove be expanded to remain the principal airport and only a small expenditure be made at the North Central Airport.

Both reports advocated significant changes in the administration of the airports. In compliance with these reports, the General Assembly eliminated duplication in authority and placed the responsibility for aviation exclusively with the Director of Public Works. The General Assembly decided to expand the State Airport at Hillsgrove as suggested by the Thompson and Lichtner report.

In 1948, a $3 million bond issue for improving air facilities in the state was passed.

By 1950, it was obvious that the Green Airport at Hillsgrove was an important facility and was aiding the economy of the state. In addition to the ever-increasing amount of freight and passengers using the airport, there were also a number of private planes owned by large corporations that have offices in the state.

MAJOR EXPANSION One of the periods of greatest growth came in the 1950s. Between 1953 and 1957, the number of passengers using the facility rose by 100,000 and in the following year, it increased again by 16.2 percent. By 1957, the Green Airport was one of only 64 airports in the United States that serviced more than 100,000 passengers.

Much of the ability to enplane the increased numbers was made possible by voter approval of a bond issue of $1.5 million in 1956. This bond issue en-

abled the building of a new terminal at the State Airport, which was dedicated in 1961.

FEDERAL AVIATION ACT During the late 1950s, the United States Congress passed the Federal Aviation Act. This placed all control of aircraft with civil authorities. In the following year, the state of Rhode Island established a Radar Air Traffic Control Center at the Naval Air Station at Quonset Point, which controlled all instrument air traffic coming in and going out of Green Airport as well as the other air facilities in the state THE JET AGE By the 1960s, the jet age had arrived and once again the Theodore F. Green Airport sought to expand. In a special election in 1965 the voters were asked for $2 million for expansion of the state’s air facilities. Of this amount, $1.4 million was earmarked for extending the runways to accommodate jet aircraft.

By March 1966, the runways were able to provide the necessary space for landing the large jets that were becoming the modern vehicles for flying.

Of great significance was the completion of the “airport connector” between Interstate Route 95 and the airport. This 2-mile road made it possible for rapid transportation from all areas of Rhode Island, as the Hillsgrove Airport is located near the geographical center of Rhode Island. The advertising for the event laid claim to the ability to reach Providence from Theodore Francis Green Airport via Rt. 95 in 15 minutes.

GROWTH AND RENOVATIONS Due to the increase of travel by air, renovations began on the Air Terminal Building in 1979, which included a 280foot concourse with four second-story landing stations, In addition, an observation deck and new parking areas were added by 1981.

During this period, three hangars were built on the south side of Airport Road to house corporate aircraft and a fourth hangar was added soon after to house the largest helicopter maintenance facility in the Northeast.

During the 1970s, there were a number of new runways built and several of the existing ones were extended. This necessitated the acquiring of a number of homes in Warwick to make the expansion possible.

The story of the aerial history of Rhode Island in the closing decades of the century will be continued.

January 2014

by LAURA G. HANDWERGER, Esq.

your finances

Wills vs.

Trusts What is the difference?

Last Will and Testament

Living Trust

Most people have a general understanding of what a Will does and the importance of having one in place. A Will is a document executed during one’s lifetime that directs how his or her real and personal property will be distributed upon his or her death and who will “handle” the estate. After you pass away, your Will must be submitted to the Probate Court for the town or city in which you lived when you passed away (in Massachusetts the Probate Courts have jurisdiction by county, not by town as it is in Rhode Island). In a sense, the Court acts as a check system, to ensure that the proper party is named as Executor or Executrix and that your assets pass in the way you intended. Also, the probate process can be somewhat slow (in Rhode Island, you must keep the estate open for six months to allow for creditor claims) and, generally, it can cost more than a proper estate plan that is designed to avoid probate, if that is one’s desire. If there are no disagreements between the surviving heirs and beneficiaries, a probate can be a smooth process. However, there are reasons other than the potential expense for avoiding probate. For example, probate is a public procedure whereby anyone can access the information contained therein, and, probate can delay the estate administration process, at least more so than a Trust, which document is discussed in more detail below.

Another common estate planning tool to be considered is a Living or Revocable Trust.

A Trust is a document in which one party (usually called the Grantor or the Settlor) transfers legal title to another party (the Trustee) for the benefit of a third party (the Beneficiary). In most Living or Revocable Trusts used for estate planning purposes, the Grantor is typically also the Trustee and the Beneficiary during his or her lifetime. This allows the Grantor to continue to control the Trust assets while he or she is still living.

Upon the passing of the Grantor, the Trustee is charged with the responsibility of paying the Grantor’s final expenses and distributing the Trust property, or perhaps holding it in further trust, in accordance with the Grantor’s instructions. A Trust avoids the probate process, which makes it ideal for those who want an efficient estate administration process that is kept from the public eye. A Trust also gives the Grantor the ability to be more creative with the manner in which he or she distributes his or her property. A typical Trust that we might draft usually includes Rhode Island or Massachusetts estate tax planning language, but can also provide for assets to be held for the Grantor’s children and grandchildren for distribution at a future date, perhaps to ensure that there are funds available for the beneficiary’s education. In some circumstances, a Trust is necessary if the intended beneficiary receives state benefits or has a financial history that would indicate that an outright distribution of money would not be a good idea.

senior

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

issues

A fresh look for Senior Nutrition in Rhode Island Do you want to attend a “congregate meal site”? Although the venues are friendly and inviting and the food is healthy and delicious, the name conjures up something old-fashioned and, to many potential diners, not entirely appealing.

Welcome to the Café!

The Senior Nutrition Program in Rhode Island is rolling out a new look for 2014 that reflects how we are already catering to the changing appetites of older Rhode Islanders. Each regional nutrition program now has a new name: Blackstone Café, East Bay Café, Westbay Café, Northern Rhode Island Café (run by Senior Services, Inc. of Woonsocket) and Capitol City Café (run by Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island).

Our five programs are delivering three meal choices daily to your local commuJanuary 2014

nity or senior center for your noontime dining enjoyment. The “spa option” for the health conscious features lighter fare such as a main course salad. The “pub option” offers a sandwich for those who want a traditional, wholesome lunch.

And the “hearty option” provides a full, hot dinner for those who prefer their main meal at midday.

Our diners have been requesting more flexible dining hours, a range of menu offerings and healthier fare, and we are responding by extending the popular Café concept statewide to all senior meal sites. This new initiative is complemented by Meals on Wheels’ growing cooperative arrangements with select local restaurants that honor vouchers to seniors, expanding the geographical reach of senior dining as well as offering occasional breakfast and din-

ner opportunities.

The Café welcomes all diners 60 and over (in the case of a married couple, only one spouse must be over 60), regardless of ability or income. Lunches are served five days a week. There is a suggested participant donation of $3 per meal to help sustain the program, which is funded by federal Older Americans Act dollars. SNAP beneficiaries may use their SNAP benefits to contribute toward their meal. And the Cafés can always use your help as a volunteer.

During the year ending September 30, 2013, senior community meals sites served nearly 338,000 meals. States receive an incentive payment from the U.S. Administration on Aging for the number of meals we report – so, the more diners that join us, the more we can serve!

For more information, or to find the most convenient Café, call the Division of Elderly Affairs at 401-462-0931. At least 24 hours’ notice is required for reservations. (We need to balance serving everyone who wants to join us with avoiding expensive waste.) Transportation to the nearest meal site and/or senior center is available through the RIde program, at a cost of $2 each way.

Refresh with a chef salad after a Zumba workout at Blackstone Café at Leon Mathieu in Pawtucket. Relax in front of the fire with soup and sandwich at Westbay Café at The Center in South Kingstown. Dig into Yankee Pot Roast on a winter’s afternoon at Northern RI Café in Woonsocket. Whatever your taste, come find it at the Café!

PrimeTime | 19

college – from page 7

HOMELESS – from page 9

be repaid –they are much more successful, and when they’re successful, they’re able to pay back their loans and lower our default rate,” explains Kelley. “Over the past 20 years, our default rate is 2.2 percent, which is one-fifth the national average.”

Further expanding its ability to help students, RISLA has recently launched some new initiatives. The first, an income-based repayment plan, allows a student’s monthly payment to be adjusted if they fall into financial difficulty.

Another is a loan forgiveness and rewards program.

For students who participate in a school-approved internship to receive academic credit, RISLA will forgive $2,000 of any loan they have with the student.

“While a student at URI, I had an internship and it was a transformative experience that led to a job. Ever since, I’ve been a huge proponent of internships,” said Kelley. “It’s a great way for organizations to find talented employees and see if they’re a good fit before hiring them.”

Because there is no central place for organizations to find interns – most need to go directly to each area college – RISLA established a website, www. bridge.jobs, that Kelley describes as “like match.com for internships.” The site is free for students to register, and there’s no fee for an employer looking to make a local connection to post a job.

“This website is not only a great resource; it’s also all about trying to keep talent right here in Rhode Island,” said Kelley.

Another way RISLA encourages students to remain in Rhode Island while pursuing careers in growing industries is through its new Nursing Rewards Program. If a nursing student holding a loan with RISLA graduates and gets a job in Rhode Island providing direct care to patients, the organization eliminates their interest rate for up to four years – lowering their monthly payments by as much as 20 percent to save hundreds of dollars over the life of the loan.

“I truly believe that higher education is accessible and affordable for all,” said Kelley. “RISLA offers a great deal of resources and support to make it possible; no one should ever hesitate to contact us if they have questions or need direction.”

Learn more about the Rhode Island Student Loan Authority by visiting www.RISLA.com or call 468-1700 to schedule an appointment for help applying a student for financial aid. ■

corporate Vice President Karen Santilli, said, “When you think about the aging population you think of them in retirement in their golden years. Becoming newly homeless would not be something you think would happen to a 70-year old who has worked all their life.”

Harold Lewis House received $400,000 to renovate its existing housing and to add new units, from a block grant from the city of West Warwick, and additional federal funds through three state agencies. This facility is aimed particularly at people 50 or older and diagnosed with mental issues. Preference is given to veterans.

That sounds expensive. But Eric Hirsch explains it’s really economical when you consider what the state pays now. He cites a study that followed 67 homeless people in Rhode Island for 26 months. It found that they had cost the state a total of $9.3 million in Medicaid services alone--about $140,000 per person, not including the other services Rhode Island provided. And they were still homeless.

“We started building shelters for the homeless back in the 1980s to combat homelessness. What that’s done is institutionalized these people, warehoused them. Giving a person a relatively safe place to get in out of the weather and rest for a few hours is essential. But it doesn’t end homelessness. It’s a first step.”

20 | PrimeTime

WHY HOMELESS PEOPLE GO HOMELESS Fox News’ John Stossel, and probably most people, seem to think if a person goes homeless it’s their own fault.

They’re drug addicts, alcoholics; plus, they’re all mentally ill.

Not so, says Eric Hirsch, at least not entirely. “Serious mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, are very rare. Depression and anxiety among long-term homeless senior adults is much more common; around half of them. Drug and alcohol addiction is about 13 to 16 percent.

“But that’s not the major causes of homelessness. That’s the effect of chronic homelessness,” he says.

“If you were out there, where would you take a bath, change your clothes, wash your dirty clothes? Where would you cook? Where would you put your groceries? Where would you keep anything personal; anything of value?

“And it gets worse the longer it goes on. How can you keep or get a job living like that?” he asks.

“It’s normal under those constant conditions to feel depressed, to feel anxious, and even to take a drink or a drug to get some relief,” Hirsch says.

“What we need to provide is temporary security, of course, but also a path to employment and access to affordable housing.”

Astonishingly, about 12 percent of all homeless people in Rhode Island have somehow managed to hold onto a job. The percentage of elderly homeless who are employed is only slightly behind that.

Almost four out of ten homeless seniors have no financial resources at all.

But an equal number are either on SSI or SSDI. So, a fair portion of these men and women have some form of income. It’s just not enough. Their problem is the same as almost everyone else’s problem with Rhode Island living: It costs a lot to live here.

Data from the RICH show that this is one of the least affordable places to live in America. We have also consistently ranked in the bottom two states for employment, and much of new job growth has been in lower income sectors. For the past few years Rhode Island has experienced the second largest gap between income and housing in the nation.

Lack of affordable housing along with a lack of adequate income are the main drivers for all homelessness in this state.

The most recent survey of Rhode Island renters shows 25 percent of them spend more than half their monthly income on rent. In order to afford to live in the average 2 bedroom apartment in Rhode Island, it would take 102 hours of work at minimum wage each week, every week. In other words, two people working at least three jobs. A single person would have to be superman to pull it off.

Add to all this the cuts in government programs and services – cuts to health care, food stamps, child care, and more. You can see how little it takes-missed work, a car repair, a sick child--to put someone out on the street.

WHAT’S BEING DONE? OPENING DOORS Karen Jefferys says, and Eric Hirsch is in complete agreement, that because of Rhode Island’s size and population, homelessness can be completely eliminated here.

That sounds a little fantastic at first.

But there are only about a million people in this state. We have excellent city governments in every town with established, organized administrators.

It begins to sound reasonable.

Jefferys and Hirsch argue that the plans are on the table and the amount of money to implement them is quite modest.

The program is called Opening Doors Rhode Island: Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness. It’s a plan to end chronic homelessness by 2018 and reduce all types of homelessness by half by 2023.

The idea is to move away from using shelters and emergency-room medicine (that cost the state over $9.3 million to handle the 67 people mentioned earlier), and implement cost effective, long-term solutions like housing.

Governor Lincoln Chafee has voiced strong support for the program in the past. But the necessary money hasn’t been made available, and as of this writing, it still isn’t a part of the 2015 state budget he’ll be meeting on this month.

What the plan calls for in the new

budget is just $3.5 million for rental vouchers, and an increase of $439,000 for homeless prevention.

Rhode Island has an established record in caring for the homeless. It was the first state to pass a Homeless Bill of Rights in 2012, important progress which was strongly supported by Governor Chafee.

We’ll monitor progress on this new measure.

But in the meantime, you may be wondering about that occasional panhandler John Stossel warned us all about. He said you should never hand over money to a homeless person, because they’ll use it for booze.

The facts say otherwise. People who panhandle make on average about $3 for an hour of begging; the very idea of which they find degrading and demoralizing. And 94 percent use the spare change they receive for food.

Eric Hirsch says his advice is to always do what you think is right. If you feel compassion and want to help, “Then do so, by all means. What I do is give them something and never second guess it. After that it’s their choice. Chances are the person will get some food in their stomach.” ■

SPARKS – from page 12

one must withdraw from ones IRA after age 70½. Well, not exactly. According to a variety of websites (including Uncle Sam’s), you have to start withdrawing the money by April 1 of the calendar year after the year in which you turn 70½ (not 70). I determined that to be April 1, 2017 for me. How much one has to withdraw turns out to be not so straight-forward either.

The government’s Uniform Lifetime Table (ULT) calculates your Life Expectancy Factor (LEF). It plugs that into a chart to show the percentage of your IRA you have to withdraw. Each year longer that you live, your projected longevity gets extended, so the percentage changes every year. In other words, you can’t just sit down when you hit 70½ and figure out how much to take out for each of the next five years, calculate the taxes you’ll owe and determine how much you’ll have left to buy really fine wine.

If I had not known how high my BMI is, the RMD based on the LEF in the ULT would have driven me straight into the arms of a Montepulciano d’Abruzzo to lower my BP. Instead I find myself in front of an open refrigerator, communing with a jar of baby dill pickles (5 calories each). It’s a cruel world.

Copyright 2014 Business Theatre Unlimited. Elaine M. Decker’s books, Retirement Sparks Again, Retirement Sparks and CANCER: A Coping Guide are available at Books on the Square, the Brown University bookstore, and SPECTRUM-INDIA, on the East Side of Providence, and on Amazon.com, including Kindle editions. Contact her at: emdecker@ ix.netcom.com. ■

January 2014

b y don fowler

PEOPLE AND PLACES

Make “ Kindness” Your New Year’s Resolution I read it somewhere.

Can’t remember where, but that doesn’t matter.

Many people have said it in many different ways, but it all boils down to this: “Give kindness to everyone, because you have no idea what is going on in their lives.”

Like most people of our generation, I grew up with the Golden Rule, and with the concept of treating others as I wished to be treated instilled in my very being. I learned that I should love my neighbor as myself, and that my neighbor meant everyone in the whole wide world, not just the guy next door.

Shakespeare taught me. “To thine own self be true.” A young boy in a hit movie taught me to “pay it forward.”

Hipocrates taught us all to “Do No

Harm.” The lessons go on, from Martin Luther King to a brave young Middle Eastern girl, all of whom preach peace, justice, understanding and equality.

But nothing says it better than kindness. A smile, a helping hand, a small gesture, a major intervention…kindness is more than an action, it is a state of being. It may manifest itself outwardly through actions and words, but it comes from within.

As we enter a new year and think about making resolutions, we are reminded of many acts of kindness, from the Good Samaritan to Schindler to the fictional Ebenezer Scrooge.

Kindness is a state of mind.

It is “putting yourself in someone else’s shoes.” It is “There but for the grace of God go I.” It is sharing a smile as you wait in line. It is holding the door

for an elderly person. It is contributing to the Food Bank. It is adopting a special needs child. It is mentoring an inner city student. The list is endless.

Blessing Bags Jen Brunelle, Director of Youth Activities at the Edgewood Congregational Church in Cranston, has come up with a wonderful, practical program to express acts of kindness among the congregation. She calls them blessing bags.

They are nothing more than a gallon size zip-lock bag filled with items that will make the life of a homeless person just a little more tolerable People are encouraged to fill the bags with simple, but important items, like tissues, soap, Chapstick, toothpaste, packages of cookies, crackers, trail mix, energy bars, gum, candy, and countless

Rhode Island Senior Beat

by L arry G rimaldi

chief of information

other items that could make one’s day a bit more tolerable. A short, kind, inspirational note is included. The list is endless. She encourages you to use your imagination.

We often drive by people we can help, often looking the other way to avoid eye contact. They are on street corners, at busy intersections, and at highway exits, holding up makeshift signs, asking for help, often in exchange for work.

Brunelle suggests keeping a supply of the Blessing Bags in your car and passing them out with a smile.

It is a small gesture, but one that shows caring and kindness.

There are all kinds of ways to give kindness.

Won’t you consider making kindness your priority for the new year.

senior issues &

public relations

Make a New Year’s Resolution to Volunteer With the new year here, you may be thinking about New Year’s resolutions. The old favorites will re-emerge as people pledge to quit smoking; eat healthier, or lose weight; resume exercising; or just read and relax more. For those who have not made up their minds on what to do in 2014, here’s a suggestion. Resolve to volunteer.

Volunteering in Rhode Island could use a boost. Volunteering in America, a federal volunteer agency, reports that while more than 213,000 Rhode Islanders volunteered in 2011, the state ranks 40th in the nation in volunteer service. The volunteers donated an impressive total of 21 million hours at an estimated value of $467 million. The Corporation for National and Community Service reported that more than 66,000 Rhode Island volunteers are 55 and older. We can still do better.

Volunteering is good for both the volunteer and the beneficiary of the service.

Numerous studies consistently show a direct correlation between volunteering and good physical and emotional health. Volunteers have the satisfaction of knowing that they are improving the quality of life for another person. In many cases, volunteering to work with a senior could be a critical component in a long-term, community-based care system that allows individuals to stay at home and maintain their independence.

With funding from the Administration for Community Living (ACL), the Corporation for National and Community Services (CNCS) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), in partnership with community agencies statewide, the Division of Elderly Affairs (DEA) offers diverse opportunities for volunteers.

The Senior Companion Program (SCP) trains volunteers to serve isolated older adults in their own homes, adult day centers, and other community sites. Volunteers must be 55 or older and must meet specified income limits. Volunteers receive a tax-free stipend and other benefits while serving clients up to 20 hours weekly. For more information call 462-0569. SCP is funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service.

The Rhode Island Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP) trains volunteers to provide one-to-one counseling to seniors, adults with disabilities, families, and caregivers regarding healthcare programs. SHIP volunteers help seniors and adults with disabilities understand healthcare cost and coverage, and help them identify healthcare options. To get additional details, call 4620510. SHIP is funded by CMS.

January 2014

The Rhode Island Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) volunteers help Medicare beneficiaries to recognize and report Medicare and Medicaid fraud, waste, and abuse.

For more information, call 462-0931. SMP is funded through grants from ACL. The DEA TTY number is 462-0740, and you can log on to the web site at www.dea. ri.gov.

Other volunteer opportunities include these organizations: Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) of Rhode Island volunteers serve special needs children statewide in residential and community settings, such as schools, day care centers, and hospitals. Regional FGP offices are located in East Bay (435-7876), West Bay (822-4450), and in Providence (421-1095).

The Neighborhood Friendly Visitor Program provides companionship and friendly support to homebound elderly persons across the state. Volunteers visit to read, write letters, and to chat with people who are homebound and are in need of social contact. The program welcomes seniors who wish to volunteer their time for a few hours each week. Homebound seniors may also call to find out about connecting with a visitor. For more information, call 421-7833, or go to www.dioceseofprovidence.org.

The Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) provides opportunities for persons 55 and older to use their enthusiasm, skills and experience. Regional offices include Blackstone Valley (723-4520), Capitol Region-Providence (421-1095),

Cranston (780-6180), East Bay (435-7876), Westbay (732-2051), and Northern Rhode Island (766-2300).

Serve Rhode Island encourages volunteerism as a vital role in the citizenship and service that enhances the quality of life for individuals who need support to maintain their independence. For details, call 331-2298, or go to www.serverhodeisland.org.

SCORE Counselors to America’s Small Businesses is a non-profit organization of active and retired business executives that offers free, confidential advice for persons who are starting or operating a small business. For more information, call 528-4561, or log on to www.score.org.

For persons in South County, The Southern Rhode Island Volunteers provide transportation and other services to seniors that need community support. For more information, call 789-2362, or go to www.southernrivol.org. Friends in Service to Humanity (FISH) is a local organization that provides rides for dental, medical, and social service appointments for residents of Exeter and North Kingstown. Call 295-1121, or log on to www.northkingstown.org.

The Rhode Island Department of Human Services, Division of Elderly Affairs (DEA) is responsible for the development and implementation of a comprehensive system of programs and services for Rhode Islanders ages 60 and older and for adults with disabilities. Questions or requests for additional information should be directed to: Larry Grimaldi, Rhode Island Senior Beat, RI Department of Human Services, Division of Elderly Affairs, 74 West Road, Cranston, RI 02920 or faxed to 462-0503. e-mail at lgrimaldi@dea.ri.gov.

PrimeTime | 21

CLUES ACROSS 1. NOHOW 6. Record (abbr.)

9. Hair detangler 13. “l836 siege” of U.S. 14. Old name for Tokyo 15. Largest continent 16. Showed old movie 17. Clatter 18. Considered one by one 19. Chinese cinnamon spice tree 21. Frequently 22. 3 person 32 card game 23. Misaddressed mail (slang) 25. Expresses pleasure 26. Samba or basket rummy 31. Military leader (abbr.)

33. A citizen of Iran 34. Environmental Protection Agency 35. Carbon, radioactive or varve 36. Loss of electricity 41. Mass. Cape 43. Mediator 44. 1/1000 of a tala 45. Players at 1st, 2nd & 3rd 46. Covered Greek portico 49. Bring upon oneself 51. Leuciscus cephalus 52. Cold War foe U___ 53. Bumpkins or hayseeds 59. Fleshy seed cover 60. Golf ball prop 61. Antipathetic 62. Wait or tarry 63. Weather map line ___bar 64. Civilian dress 65. Relaxing resorts 66. Box (abbr.)

67. Burning crime

22 | PrimeTime

CLUES DOWN 1. Informant (slang) 2. Olive tree genus 3. Armed conflicts 4. Am. Music Awards 5. Dance mix DJ Einhorn 6. Oxidation-reduction 7. Structure 8. Modern 9. Roman Conqueror 10. So. Honshu bay city 11. 8th C. BC minor Hebrew prophet 12. = to 100 satang 20. In active opposition 24. 007’s Flemming 26. 12th century Spanish hero El ___ 27. Macaw genus 28. Slave rebellion’s Turner 29. Cuckoo 30. From a time 32. Applies with quick strokes 37. Fasten with string 38. Teller replacement 39. Command right 40. Sea eagle 42. Most closely set 43. __ Dhabi, Arabian capital 44. Marten furs 46. Strike workers 47. Thysanopter 48. Louise de la Ramee’s pen name 50. King of Thebes 54. __ mater, one’s school 55. Time unit 56. Klutzes 57. __ Von Bismarck, Iron Chancellor 58. Front of the leg

January 2014

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PrimeTime | 23

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• Experience an entertaining evening featuring Portuguese cuisine, local wine, folkloric dances and the moving sounds of Fado.

• Enjoy time on Portugal’s beautiful “Silver Coast,” dotted with charming villages, magical castles and miles of pastoral scenery.

• Enjoy a true sense of country life with an overnight stay in the heart of Alentejo’s vineyards and farmland.

• Spend three nights in the Algarve, the sunny coast that has been attracting travelers since the Phoenicians.

• Savor regional wine with every included dinner.

You’re Invited! Special Travel Presentation

For more information contact

Cassarino’s restaurant

travel leaders donovan travel 150 Midway rd., ste. 168, Cranston, ri

TueSdaY, March 11, 2014 at 7:00 PM 177 atwells ave, Providence, ri 02903

dave hodgkInSon

401-942-7700 dave@donovantravel.com

*Rate is per person and includes roundtrip transportation from Bonanza Bus Station and roundtrip air from Logan Intl Airport, air taxes and fees/surcharges, and hotel transfers. Airfare: For your convenience, we offer airfare for purchase with all vacation packages. If you purchase an air-inclusive program, your airfare will be quoted inclusive of all fuel, taxes and fees. Your rates are subject to change until paid in full. Seats are limited and may not be available on every flight or departure date. Checked Baggage Charges: Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check any baggage. Please contact your airline or refer to its website for detailed information regarding your airline’s checked baggage policies. **Book by savings valid on air-inclusive bookings only.

24 | PrimeTime

January 2014