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Pr i m e Ti m e November 2017 1944 Warwick Ave. Warwick, RI 02889 401-732-3100 FAX 401-732-3110 Distribution Special Delivery PUBLISHERS Barry W. Fain, Richard G. Fleischer, John Howell MARKETING DIRECTOR Donna Zarrella donnaz@rhodybeat.com Editor / Creative Linda Nadeau lindan@rhodybeat.com WRITERS / CONTRIBUTORS John Howell, Ethan Hartley, Don Fowler, Elaine M. Decker, Meg Chevalier, Larry Grimaldi, Mike Fink, Jordan Bouclin, Jennifer Coates, Evan Nadeau PRODUCTION Lisa Bourque Yuettner Brian Geary ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES Donna Zarrella – donnaz@rhodybeat.com Bob Giberti, Lisa Mardenli, Janice Torilli, Suzanne Wendoloski Classified ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE Sue Howarth – sueh@rhodybeat.com

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Children’s Friend

Give back this holiday season

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‘Quiet’ Foundation

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Ocean State Charities Trust boasts $10M

Celebrating Brentwood............................6 Retirement Sparks.....................................17 Medicare Open Enrollment.................18 Alzheimer’s Association.........................19

LIFESTYLES That Entertainment.....................................9 Welcome Gamm Theater.........................9 Theatre Review - Hamilton..................14 Larry Grimaldi in Paris.............................15 What Do You Fink......................................16

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Senior Volunteering

RI Pet Network

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Improving Lives through Social Media

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giving back

Getting Ready To Give Back This Season The holidays arrive and with them bring so many warm memories. Family, friends, songs and happy times.

Hearing old favorites on the radio brings back memories of a simpler, slower time with multigenerational families gathered together, enjoying the traditions of the season. Fast forward to 2017 and many families are splintered and living across the country. Most families are headed by two working parents and cherished times together are few and far between. However, days like Thanksgiving, Christmas and Hanukkah still remain sacred times to gather and celebrate blessings together.

Children’s Friend has established an annual campaign to help all families celebrate their holiday traditions together, regardless of their economic circumstances. The non-profit organization realizes that for many of the families they serve, the holidays can be a time of both stress and disappointment. Financial strain usually accompanies celebrations for families in need. Parents never want to have to choose between buying

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a warm jacket for their growing child or putting food in their mouth. Or to see the disappointment in their child’s face when there’s no toy under the tree because they needed to fill the oil tank.

Many of us have much, but there are still working families who struggle with little and are challenged to meet basic necessities.

Maybe you’re looking for a way to get the holiday spirit of the season?

Children’s Friend would welcome your help in trying to make the holidays happy for more than 5,000 Rhode Island children.

Here’s how the Children’s Friend Spirit of Giving Holiday Drive works: throughout the year, Children’s Friend staff identify children and families in need and meets with each family to prepare a wish list of winter essentials that they are lacking. The lists often include pajamas, warm coats and clothing, blankets, books, toys, and games. During the annual Spirit of Giving Holiday Drive, generous members of our community — individuals, organizations, and corporations — are paired with

these families to provide items on the wish lists.

There are many ways that you can help. Would you like sponsor a family and get them winter essentials on their wish lists? Maybe you can ask everyone who comes to your Thanksgiving to bring something from a family’s wish list. Prefer to donate a warm coat or pair of pajamas to the cause yourself?

Perhaps your greatest gift to these families would be time? Children’s Friend needs family sponsors, individual donations and volunteers to make the 2017 campaign a success. Last December, more than 800 individual, community and corporate sponsors worked together with 350 volunteers to make the holidays happy for more than 1,500 families in need.

Get in the spirit of the season and get involved with the Children’s Friend Spirit of Giving Holiday Drive. Everyone in our generation cherishes memories of their happiest times together.

Oftentimes, it’s hard to replicate those feelings because families are separated by geography or because a loved one

has died. But the holidays can still be happy when you create new traditions and become involved in making the community stronger by helping others in need. Your participation in the Children’s Friend Spirit of Giving Holiday Drive will help create happy memories for a new generation. Joy is the best gift that you can both give and receive.

The 2017 Children’s Friend Spirit of Giving Holiday Drive runs from November 23 through December 22. For information on how to sponsor a family, make a donation, or volunteer, visit: spiritofgivingdrive.org. You can also call 401-276-4346 or email holidaydrive@ cfsri.org.

A non-profit organization founded in 1834, Children’s Friend is a leading provider of child welfare, family support, mental health, and child development services. Families are strengthened by creating safe and nurturing environments for children during the crucial early years, and by helping parents gain access to the resources, education, and support that they need. In this way, children are given the foundation to help them live healthy and productive lives. Children’s Friend provided services to help over 34,000 children and families in 2016.

November 2017

b y john howell

giving back

‘Quiet foundation’ boasts $10M in grants since founding As attorney John Partridge calls it “the quiet foundation” celebrated a big step with the donation of more than $10 million in grants to Rhode Island charities since being organized in the early 1980s.

Partridge, chairman of the board of Ocean State Charities Trust, wasn’t too quiet either when he and other trustees gathered at the Elizabeth Buffum Chace Center in Warwick recently. Partridge pointed out that approximately $1 million in total grants has been awarded to nearly 60 Kent County organizations. Partridge’s audience included representatives from many of those non-profits including Westbay Community Action, the ALS Rhode Island Chapter, the Pawtuxet Rangers, Mentor Rhodes Island, Cornerstone Adult Services and the Warwick Boys and Girls Clubs.

Partridge also talked about the Endowment Incubator program, which is designed to encourage smaller charities to begin to focus on long-term planning and the development of endowments. Citizens Bank is the investment advisor to the Endowment Incubator program that now has a total of $3 million in assets.

The aim of the fund, explained Partridge, is to help non-profits grow reserves so they can address a crisis situation, but especially plan ahead. Fund participants must be non-profits and invest a minimum of $25,000 to join the program. Unlike some other foundations that only allow the withdrawal of gains earned, incubator participants can dip into their principal investment.

“It’s first class investment advice on the cheap,” said Partridge.

A 23-year member of the Ocean State Charities Trust board of trustees, Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian, said that the trust when reviewing grant applications looks to buy “something tangible that will keep operations [of the non-profit recipient] going.”

“From providing support and programs to those suffering from ALS and Parkinson’s, to offering services and resources to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, to helping people lead more independent and fulfilling lives, to volunteering for events that celebrate Rhode Island’s rich heritage, Kent County’s organizations meet a diverse array of needs that municipalities cannot do alone. I am proud to have been a Trustee for so many years and to see the enormous commitment of these agencies to our communities,” Avedisian said in a statement release by the fund.

Ocean State Charities Trust was established with funds made available under applicable federal law relating to refunding and refinancing of housing bonds through Rhode Island Housing and Mortgage Finance Corporation. Pursuant to its charter, the purpose of Ocean State Charities Trust is to promote the social welfare of the citizens of Rhode Island by providing funds to aid and assist charitable organizations particularly in the areas of housing, health, education and welfare.

The Trust may receive and accept gifts and bequests from any person to be held, administrated and disposed of in accordance with the provisions of its charter.

Since its commencement, over 2,500 grants have been awarded by Ocean State Charities Trust to eligible Rhode Island charities. The vast majority of grants have been in the range of several thousand dollars and usually for equipment, repairs, refurbishments, scholarships and specific, approved projects. True to its charter, Ocean State Charities Trust ensures that eligible charities meet funding criteria located in every county within Rhode Island receive an aliquot share of grants.

For more information with respect to the grant making procedures of Ocean State Charities Trust, please refer to our website, osct.org, or contact Executive Director Jane Lynch at 401-728-9008.

John Partridge, chair of the trustees of the Ocean State Charities Trust outlined how contributions have helped the work of Rhode Island non-profit agencies.

The audience at the event included representatives from many of the non-profits assisted by the Ocean State Charities Trust. (PrimeTime photos)

November 2017

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senior issues

b y john howell

Family run care business opens 68-unit assisted living facility Ask some of the tenants in the newly completed Brentwood by the Bay Assisted Living on Post Road in Warwick what they like best about the facility and, without exception, they’ll say the people. Next comes the amenities and the view.

“I’m going to heaven and I’m not dead yet,” said Edna Leonard, who never imagined she would feel the way she does today.

Leonard said she was in severe pain, could not walk and was incapable of even bending her fingers because of arthritis when admitted to the adjoining Brentwood Nursing Home and Rehabilitation in January.

On a recent visit she and two other tenants in assisted living, Rose Johnson and Louise Henry, glued fabric fall leaves onto glass bowls that will be lit with electric tea candles as seasonal displays. The crafts project was more about sharing stories and talking about who would be joining their company than completing the lamps.

“I’m having a ball,” said Johnson, who was admitted to the adjoining Brentwood Nursing Home and Rehabilitation with a broken leg and, rather than returning home where she would be alone, is trying assisted living.

It is this continuum of care that the Miga family looks to foster with the 68unit assisted living facility. The need is growing, says Richard Miga Jr. In April 2013 the Rhode Island Division of Planning released population projections through 2040 showing that, between 2015 and 2020, there will be an increase in the age 70 population by 14 percent, or 16,079 individuals. Over the next five years that figure jumps to 35 percent, or 38,994 individuals. Meanwhile, the overall population in Rhode Island is only projected to increase by 3 percent between 2015 and 2020 and by less than 1.5 percent between 2015 and 2025.

The population Miga is looking to serve is generally in their mid-80s and widowed and with local connections.

This may be someone living in the Rhode Island and no longer capable of managing the family home or the family member of a Rhode Island resident wanting to have their loved one living close by.

Brentwood by the Bay Assisted Living has a mix of studio and one-bedroom and stateroom units that are leased on a monthly basis at a range of $4,400 to $6,270. The monthly fee covers meals and a variety of services from transportation, activities program, safety checks and weekly housekeeping and linen services. Medication and personalized nurs-

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ing services are available for additional rates.

Amenities include a general store, beauty parlor and barber shop, 24-hour snack bar, library, fitness area, private dining room for special gatherings, shared balconies, internet access and walking paths and outside gardens.

Miga said many tenants, as they are downsizing, prefer setting up their unit with their own furniture, although Brentwood also has furnished units.

The Miga family, Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian, staff of Brentwood by the Bay Assisted Living and guests joined on the terrace overlooking Greenwich Bay for the official opening.

BRENTWOOD –PAGE 20

Edna Leonard, a Brentwood resident, and Michael McMahon talk about life at the new assisted living facility.

Anna Shea and her daughter, Dotty Shea, and Angelina D’Ambrosco, a resident at Brentwood, at the opening ceremony.

Nick Tolias oversees kitchen operations at Brentwood. (Warwick Beacon photos)

Rose Johnson takes a break from a crafts project with Maureen McGhie, director of nurses at Brentwood Nursing Home.

November 2017

giving back

b y don fowler

Ready, Set...VOLUNTEER what non profits look for in seniors Editors Note: Don Fowler spent his entire professional career as a non-profit Association Executive, and in retirement has found enjoyment on the other side of the desk. One of his primary responsibilities with the Boy Scouts, Chamber of Commerce, and two professional associations was to recruit volunteers. Don offers some suggestions for seniors looking for opportunities to volunteer…and what to watch out for in the process.

Why in the world do people volunteer? The fact is that most people don’t. Most men learned not to volunteer in the armed services. Most kids learned to never raise their hand in school, or they would be forever labeled with a nickname that would stay with them for years.

The word “Volunteer” is a misnomer. Webster defines it as “A person who enters or offers to enter into a service of his/her own free will, without being compelled to do so by law.” The reality is that most people “volunteer” because someone asked them.

Non-profit associations are always looking for committed, dependable people to serve of their Boards, become leaders, raise money, or just do the nitty-gritty jobs that need to be done.

In fact, many paid professionals’ suspicions are aroused when someone volunteers out of the blue.

What Non-Profit Leaders Look For: 1. Community Leaders. Organizations want volunteers who are well known and respected in their community . . . people who are not afraid to tap their friends and acquaintances for their money, time and assistance.

2. Diversity. In the old days, most boards were composed of middle-aged white males. Today, associations look for volunteers who better represent the people they serve. Women now serve as Presidents of local YMCA’s. Clients or former clients now volunteer for organizations that helped them in the past. Ethnic diversity is important to organizations, both at the Board level, and working in the trenches.

3. Busy people. People who just want to get out of the house don’t always make the best volunteers. Professionals look for people who are active, busy “doers”, basically those who know how to juggle their schedules and find time to assist.

4. People who are not afraid to ask for money. The old adage among the professional executive is that “People give to people, and not to causes”. If you are willing to help with fundraising, you are a prime candidate.

November 2017

What To Watch Out For When looking for a place to volunteer, you should take a close look at the organization.

What are its goals? Who is on its Board of Directors? Is it financially stable?

Ask for: A Board list. Past minutes. By-Laws. Volunteer duties and responsibilities.

Past newsletters. Expect them to ask permission to do a security check, and willingly comply.

Watch out for: 1. Organization executives who undersell the role. “It will only take an hour a week/month of your time. “All you have to do is attend a few meetings a year.”

4. Those in need of personal satisfaction. (And there is nothing wrong with that. There are great personal rewards in serving as a mentor, Big Brother, or just baking cookies for the church or school bazaar.)

5. Those seeking personal gain. Professionals are wary of the social/business climbers who want to pad their resumes, or volunteer to make personal and professional contacts.

6. Those with ulterior motives. When I was a Scout professional, the idea of security and background checks was unheard of. Unfortunately, today volunteer organizations must protect their members by making sure that unscrupulous people are not allowed to participate. This is a very sensitive area, and one which has caused some controversy.

2. Professionals who appear to run the meetings without asking for input from volunteers.

3. Professionals who seem only interested in numbers and money raising. (Although these are important, occasionally some paid professionals become obsessed with making their own goals at the expense of volunteers.)

4. Rapid turnover in staff and volunteers.

Types of Volunteers 1. The truly dedicated.( I’ve seen people where I volunteer at the Food Bank and Food Pantry who are truly dedicated to helping those less fortunate.

2. Those who were asked; or coerced.( I’ve watched Scout Executives get a group of mothers in a room and tell them, “If one of you doesn’t volunteer to be a Den Mother, then your children won’t be able to be Cub Scouts.”

And it worked.)

3. Those who do it for their children, grandchildren, close friends, or family members. (This is true in many organizations dedicated to raising money and offering services for various diseases, like the Heart Association, American Cancer Society, etc.)

THE BOTTOM LINE Whether it is your church, the neighborhood school, a health organization, a program to assist those less fortunate, a youth organization, or the local senior center, there are hundreds of opportunities for you to volunteer.

Choose the one, or ones, that best fit your talents, interests, and desire to help.

Carefully check out the organization. Offer your services. If you do not get a response within a reasonable length of time, scratch them off your list. If they don’t know enough to get back to you, they don’t deserve you.

You should feel fulfilled after volunteering. It shouldn’t be a chore, but rather a positive feeling that what you are doing does make a difference.

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b y J ordan B o u clin

giving back

RI Pet Network

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Move in support

Living in the smallest state it often feels like everyone knows each other.

Of course, that’s not actually the case and even in a very specific segment of the population – animal rescue – people may not be familiar with others in their communities who could be a valuable resource for them. Yet making connections between the right people can be the difference between life and death for the unwanted animal giving up hope in a local shelter; the struggling owner seeking financial resources to provide needed surgery for a beloved pet; or the rescue urgently trying to recruit fosters in order to save dogs from areas around the country where euthanasia rates are high and options are scarce.

Social media has proven to be a useful tool for shelters, rescues and various other animal welfare organizations. Instead of waiting and hoping for people to visit their facilities or seek out their websites, when a shelter posts the story of an adoptable pet on their Facebook page it can quickly get dozens or hundreds of shares and appear in the newsfeeds of thousands of people - at least one of whom might be eager to provide the perfect forever home but never would have come across their new best buddy otherwise.

While social media has undoubtedly shifted the way shelters and organizations can interact with the public, it also presents an enormous opportunity for everyone involved across the spectrum of animal rescue and advocacy – such as volunteers, fosters, shelter staff, animal control officers, trainers, veterinarians, and more – to get to know and engage with each other and ultimately share resources and offer support.

Created in 2010 as a Facebook community, RI Pet Network aimed to provide this type of forum where various organizations could post about their needs and connect with others who might be in a position to help. Advocates from different rescues and shelters have had the opportunity to get to know each other and often share resources and advice. All the animal lovers who follow the page and share its posts help spread every story far and wide.

This networking has helped hundreds of pets find fosters or forever homes and we’ve even had boarding facilities volunteer open kennels to displaced dogs; veterinarians and trainers offer pro bono or heavily discounted services in emergency situations; and countless individuals and businesses who have generously stepped up to answer organizations’ pleas for donations.

RI Pet Network – which has grown to include a team of volunteer page admins and nearly 10,000 followers on Facebook and launched a Twitter account last year – has also evolved to fulfill a more active role in the animal advocacy landscape. Struggling pet owners now often reach out to the community for guidance and page admins work to connect them with the appropriate resources, such as reputable training programs, low income veterinary services and pet-friendly housing, to enable them to successfully keep and provide for their pets. In cases where rehoming is absolutely necessary, RI Pet Network aims to connect them with safe rescues and shelters to discourage owners from rehoming via sites like Craig’s List or without a proper screening process, which can be extremely dangerous for pets.

RI Pet Network held a free “new adopter education” class along with Missing Dogs Massachusetts last spring, the first in what we hope will be a series of educational initiatives to help keep pets safe and increase the chances of adoptions working out. We are now gearing up to collect donations to distribute to local shelters and rescues for the holidays, and see many more opportunities to expand our efforts through successful collaborations in 2018.

Please follow RI Pet Network on social media or email ri.pet.network1@ gmail.com with any questions.

November 2017

lifestyles

THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT

by DON FOWLER

Theatre season in full swing The Rhode Island theatre season opened in full swing with exciting plays at PPAC, Trinity, Gamm, 2nd Story, Burbage, Wilbury, and many other community and college productions throughout the state. Check out what is coming to a theatre near you this season.

GAMM The Gamm Theatre will complete their 2017-2018 the-

atre season in Pawtucket before moving to their new home at the former Ocean State Theatre site on Jefferson Blvd. in Warwick.

Nick Payne’s “Incognito”, with four actors playing 21 characters in three interwoven stories about memory and illusions will be at Gamm this November and December. Call 723-4266 or go on line at gammtheatre.org.

PROVIDENCE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

PPAC continues its season with the Tony Award-winning Best Musical, “Fun Home” about seeing your parents through grown-up eyes, playing November 7-12.

“Finding Neverland”, Broadway.com’s Audience Choice Award for Best Musical, plays from November 28-December 3.

It tells the story of Peter Pan, and is a great show to introduce your grandchildren or great grandchildren to the theatre.

“Kimky Boots”, winner of six Tony Awards, returns to PPAC December 8-10, followed by Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sequel to “The Phantom of the Opera”“Love Never Dies”, December 2631, making for a wonderful Christmas present. Call 421-ARTS for reservations.

ARCTIC PLAYHOUSE Lenny Schwartz’s “A World Without

End”, a dark comedy about our present day world, where one day there is no electricity, plays November 10-18.

The Arctic Playhouse celebrates the holidays with “Carol’s Christmas” by Shannon Mc Loud and Charles Dickens, as Dickens and his guide Carol travel through a monumental case of writer’s block. The family-friendly show is presented December 1,2,3,7,8, and 9, followed by a String Artists production of “A Performance of Holiday Stories and Songs” on December 16 and 17.

David Sedaris’ “The Santaland Diaries” is also in the planning for December, dates TBA. Call 573-3443 or go on line at www. thearcticplayhouse.com for information and reservations.

BURBAGE THEATRE F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby,”

adapted by Simon Levy, will be at Burbage Theatre’s new home, 249 Roosevelt Ave. in Pawtucket, for the months of November and December, where they have formed a new partnership with the RI-Based living arts company, TEN31. Call 484-0355 or go on line at info@burbagetheatre.org.

WILBURY THEATRE Wilbury Theatre has two interesting

productions in November and December in their new space in Olneyville.

Christopher Johnson’s multi-media plat, “New and Dangerous Ideas” featuring “challenging tales of criminalizing race and expatriating police while humanizing personal statistics of members of different communities”, will be played out in poetry, music, spoken word and video. It is scheduled for November 2-18.

Young Jean Lee’s “Church” will “test the expectations of religious and non-religious alike, looking deeper into what we believe and what we do not believe.” Call 400-7100 for reservations and exact dates.

EPIC THEATRE Epic will present their annual Christmas show, “The Boys of St. Matthew present ‘Jesus Christ! and Other Stories.’” News is also forthcoming about a future production done in an indoor swimming pool.

November 2017

b y ethan hartley

lifestyles

Gamm Theatre receives a warm welcome The Sandra Feinstein-Gamm Theatre (The Gamm) opened the doors of its future home – formerly the Ocean State Theatre – on Jefferson Boulevard in Warwick last month to host an inaugural welcoming party, while its board of directors held its annual meeting upstairs to discuss what possibilities and opportunities exist for the theater’s future in its new location.

“When I look at this space, people have asked me, ‘What’s it going to be?’ Whatever I say today, come and talk to me six months from now or a year from now and it’s probably going to be completely different,” said Gamm managing director Oliver Dow. “I don’t know everything that’s possible with this space right now.”

The Gamm remains, for the time being, at the Pawtucket Armory, a space it has occupied for about 15 years which has significant space restrictions for its artistic staff. The hope is to be moved into Warwick by the opening of their next season in fall of 2018.

The new space features about 400 seats rising from a spacious stage area, with lots of crucial ancillary space – like dressing rooms and space to work on sets – that the Gamm staff currently lacks.

“The space is everything in a theater. The space in Pawtucket is a wonderful, intimate space but we’re shoehorned into there,” said Gamm artistic director Tony Estrella. “So just having access to the space, having ancillary space like shop space to be able to build in – all of those things makes us a more efficient theater and gives our designers and our artists more room to be able to breathe and imagine. If they can imagine better, we can do better theater.”

Dow said that has been his goal since being named the managing director about three years ago – to find a suitable space to enhance the theatrical experience for both the artists of the theater and the patrons who enjoy a good show.

“Artistically, this could be a transformational opportunity for us,” he said.

The building – which used to be a base for installations technicians for Verizon before being turned into the Ocean State Theatre, which subsequently went out of business in May – was perfect for the Gamm, who desperately needed to expand out of the facility they are currently “bursting out of,” and are able to focus their fundraising efforts on enhancing the existing artistic space rather than performing large-scale renovations.

“It’s a central location, Warwick – there’s an ease getting in and out of here and Mayor Avedisian has been amazing in doing everything he can to make this transition as easy as possible for us,” said Estrella. “The welcoming has been amazing.”

In terms of what people can expect from the Gamm who are perhaps familiar with their unique brand of ultra-intimate shows – the board and the executive staff are promising that the charm of their old venue will not be

Tony Estrella, Artistic Director

lost even though their new home is much more spacious.

“Any theater is intimate when it’s full,” said Dow. “The goal will be to continue to serve our current audience but open up new areas. Now that we’re in the center of Rhode Island it’s a great opportunity not just for the shows we’re producing, but also for our education department, for special events and all the possibilities we can do.”

Dow said that he had already heard offers from people who want to rent the space for events and other functions, but that he wants to make sure that, no matter what the use, people get a “Gamm experience” when they walk in the doors.

Estrella said that the production theme for next year’s season of shows is still in the developmental stage, but that he hopes to tackle the ongoing divisiveness in America. He is not concerned about adapting to the bigger space, but rather is excited to see how the next chapter of the Gamm’s history will unfold.

“That to me is my favorite kind of theater, when you can take on something large, something big in theme, big in plot, big in cast even, and not be afraid of the limitations of a small space – and rather than constricting it so that it can’t breathe, actually creating a kind of density that can lead to a bigger explosion,” he said.

“That’s what we’re hoping to be able to continue here.”

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12th Annual Hidden Treasures of Rhode Island Scandinavian communities, a nonprofit rehabilitation & skilled nursing and assisted living located in Cranston announced its 12th annual Hidden Treasures of Rhode Island gala raised over $38,000 to support its mission.

Over 100 guests attened, which took place at Metacomet Country Club in East Providence on September 13. The evening was emceed by NBC 10 News Anchor and Health Check Reporter, Barbara Morse Silva. A silent auction included a variety of items, including a special Pawtuxet Village merchants package, valued over $700 and filled with 26 gifts from the villages businesses.

The highlight of the evening was an inspiring speech from Eric Sturtevant, local illustration artist and grandson of current Scandinavian Assisted Living resident, Mary Raso. Sturtevant told of his joy in seeing his grandmother, so comfortably adapted to her extended Scandinavian communitiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; family. His grandmother sat in the audience as the crowd cheered for her strength and determination. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This was my first year attending Hidden Treasures of Rhode Island, and I feel so fortunate to have such an outstanding teamâ&#x20AC;?, said incoming Executive Director Edward Herrmann. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m excited for the support of our patrons, board, and staff as we embark on our new campaign to complement the uncompromised quality of care for our residentsâ&#x20AC;?.

This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hidden Treasures of Rhode Island gala was made possible by backing from top sponsor Citizens Bank Wealth Management, along with sponsors BlumShapiro, Connekted Inc., Flik Lifestyles, Healthcare Services Group, Hinckley Allen, PharMerica, Inc., Starkweather & Shepley Insurance Brokerage Inc., StateWide Plumbing & Heating Co., and Washington Trust.

About Scandinavian communities Founded in 1930, Scandinavian communities is a non-profit 501(c)(3) rehabilitation and skilled nursing center and assisted living located in Cranston, RI. The communities offer aging-in-place with a wide array of care options. The organizationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name reflects the heritage of its founders, but it is welcomes people of all faiths and ethnic origins. The mission is to provide a continuum of excellent, compassionate and innovative care to enable those we serve to attain optimal wellness and quality of life. For more information about Scandinavian communities, please visit www.scandinavianhome.com.

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November 2017

PrimeTime | 11

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November 2017

business Spotlight

The Villa at Saint Antoine Reaching out to the community at this season of giving

By Jennifer Coates When Isabel Pestana and Tammy Summiel of The Villa at St. Antoine put their hearts and minds together, one could truly say they create “magic”. Isabel, Director of Marketing at the Villa, and Tammy, Administrator, are two of the dynamic forces that make this assisted living residence in North Smithfield such a vibrant, inviting and compassionate place to live ~ and this is never more evident than at the holidays. This is the best time of year for this duo to put into practice the Villa’s mantra of “To serve is our mission; To love is our tradition.”

The Villa at St. Antoine is always a happy place, but it is especially joyful at this celebratory and reflective time of year. The staff at the Villa, spear-headed by Isabel and Tammy, pulls out all the stops for the holiday season, beginning with a special program which puts into action that guiding mantra of service and love.

Plans are now well underway at the Villa to reinforce the importance of expressing gratitude and “paying it forward” at this season of thanksgiving. This is the fifth consecutive year that Isabel Pestana and fellow organizer Arthur Plitt have combined efforts to collect coats, hats, scarves and gloves for those in need throughout the region.

This 5th annual Coat Drive offers generous donors the opportunity to give new or gently used items to the Villa which are then distributed at no cost to individuals in the community. The items are collected by Isabel and then given away on November 24th from 10:00am to 2:00pm at the Salvation Army Multipurpose Room on 102 High Street in Pawtucket.

These much-needed donations bring warmth and comfort to individuals and families who are struggling at this time of year. This is just part of the outreach efforts of the Villa extended community.

While these activities unfold, Tammy, Isabel and the wonderful staff are also decking the halls and preparing for a genuinely joyful holiday season. From fêtes to feasts, there is nothing like the holidays at The Villa at St. Antoine! Beginning on the day after Thanksgiving, the devoted staff at this homey residence begin to prepare for the weeks ahead (beginning with the Coat Drive). In fact, merriments here extend far beyond December 25th ~ moving right along until the celebration of the Epiphany in mid-January.

The Villa, which operates as a Health Ministry under the auspices of the Diocese of Providence, has an engaged Catholic community which embraces not only the glitter of Christmas, but also it’s tradition and significance. Daily masses and rosaries are held in the Villa’s chapel, though those of all faiths are welcome here.

To see if this ultimate assisted living community is right for you or a loved one, visit The Villa at Saint Antoine at 400 Mendon Road in North Smithfield. For more information, contact Tammy Summiel, RN or Isabel Pestana. Call 401-767-2574 or find them on facebook® or online at www.stantoine.net.

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November 2017

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www.HealthConceptsLtd.com PrimeTime | 13

T H E AT E R R E V I E W

lifestyles

b y E van nadea u

‘HAMILTON’ An American Musical

by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Richard Rodgers Theatre, New York City

H

amilton is one of the most popular plays on Broadway right now, winner of 11 awards in 2016, it sold out on Broadway for months. And when you look at what type of musical it is, there is no question why.

I traveled to New York city this month to see Hamilton and on my way there, I saw a plethora of signs in Time Square showing off The Lion King and Hello Dolly, which made its Broadway debut in 1964. Basically what I am saying is that there is not a lot of innovative plays, nothing really new that caught my eye. However, Hamilton is new, it’s creative, and definitely different.

The musical is basically a story of Alexander Hamilton’s life, from when he first came to America, to his death in 1804, and his rise and fall in the brand new America. Sounds kinda boring right? But when you take a life that someone like that had which is pretty interesting in itself, and add fantastic singing, rapping, and choreography in the mix, then you have a Tony winner.

What was really done well was the story telling though, because it is basically all rap, the characters are able to tell the entire story very well and, as a viewer be able to follow it easily.

It was also quite funny at times, from the ever so often visit by King George to describe how the Colonies were going to fail without Britain’s help, and his bashing of the new form of government in the new land, to the characters joking every so often about the current circumstances.

I also found that I actually learned a lot during the experience.

I never really thought of Alexander Hamilton as a founding father, but truthfully, he set up America’s first economic system, and lead a group of soldiers in the battle of Yorktown.

Alexander Hamilton’s life was almost one that could have been written by Shakespeare. He starts in humble beginnings as an orphan from Saint Kitts and Nevis. He moved to the Americas, where he was known to be a very smart man with a lot of ideas. He is befriended by many people, later leading an army and becoming the treasurer of the United States, just to be shot and killed in a duel by his first and best friend, Aaron Burr.

It was also a story of romance, politics, and plenty of song and dance. It was a spectacle, and seeing it on Broadway at the Richard Rodgers Theatre made it even better.

If you are not a fan of musicals, like myself, Hamilton will surprise you, it is entertaining and interesting.

It was an amazing performance of dance, song, and story that definitely justifies why it has won so many awards.

Evan Nadeau is a senior at Chariho High School in Richmond.

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Rhode Island Quality Institute

November 2017

lifestyles

b y L arry G rimaldi

An American (and three other travelers) in Paris I don’t like the term “bucket list.”

It’s impersonal and has no emotional value. So when somebody asks about last month’s 14-day adventure in Paris and the French countryside with my wife Kathy and our two friends, I tell them that I was fortunate to live another dream-not cross an item off a laundry list. Dreams are woven from human emotion and a desire to expand our horizons. Travel is one of our retirement dreams.

After returning home and catching up on chores, mail, e-mails, children and grandchildren, bills, and sleep, I decided that the best way to remember the sights, sounds and flavors of our French excursion would be to chronicle our impressions of the journey.

Paris is indeed the City of Light.

In the evening, the Eiffel Tower is illuminated and every hour on the hour ushers in a dance of sparkling lights in a dazzling dash up and down the structure. It is particularly delightful to watch the display on an evening cruise along the River Seine. The Arc de Triomphe towers over the wide, elegant, tree-lined Champs Elysees. The avenue of expensive shops and crowded side cafes host visitors and smartly dressed Parisians of many races, colors and ethnic backgrounds. The harmony on this legendary boulevard stands in sharp contrast to our current national cultural upheavals.

As you walk through the massive ancient Notre Dame Cathedral, you are enveloped by an aura of peace and serenity. The multiple museums housed in the sprawling Louvre are a feast for

those who appreciate the genius of the artists, painters, and sculptors of different millennia. These masters could somehow magically translate the majesty of art in their mind’s eye to a canvas or block of stone.

Any trip to Paris should include a visit to The Palace at Versailles and its magnificent Gardens. The priceless artwork, intricate tapestries, well-preserved rooms and furniture, and the Hall of Mirrors bring to life the opulent of historical luminaries such as King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.

Watching a performance at the Moulin Rouge, you realize that this historical cabaret is the model for the gaudy extravaganza of lights, music, and costumes in any standard Las Vegas show.

As an aside, we experienced none of the widely deceptive rumors that the French are rude and haughty. At every restaurant, café, and shop, we were politely greeted and assisted.

A short stroll through the narrow streets of Nice that lead you to its expansive central plaza, will place you on the long promenade that parallels the shores of the French Rivera. The elegant hotels (some with suites renting for more than 25,000 Euros per night), evoke memories of the resort’s grand past and its glittering present as a playground for the rich and famous.

The renowned Cote D’Azur lives up to its name by exhibiting an amazing array of blue tints in the beach’s waters.

One day travel featured a contrast of venues that began in the medieval town of Carcassonne, a visit to the contem-

plative, holy shrines of Lourdes and the Grotto of Bernadette, and an overnight stay in the Atlantic Ocean town of Biarritz, a spa and recreational enclave for European millionaires. That morning, we also boarded an antique train in small French Basque town and chugged up a Pyrenees mountain to a miniature Basque town at the apex actually in Spain. Even the delicious hot chocolate served at the end of our climb did not calm my aversion (insert the word terror) to extreme heights.

We spent a few hours walking the streets and lanes of the Monte Carlo.

This small, hilly, moneyed Principality of Monaco is home to its ruling family, the Rainiers of the House of Grimaldi lineage. While we arrived too late to tour the castle, I’d like to return someday to visit my “cousins.”

The most awe inspiring part of our tour was time spent on the D-Day beaches of Normandy. It is almost impossible to visualize that 73,000 of America’s most heroic troops climbed the perilous cliffs and stormed the wellobstacled wide shores of the beach, marking the beginning of the end of World War II. For more than 9,300 soldiers, their final resting place is the eerily quiet, emotionally charged 172acre American cemetery.

A visit to this hallowed ground should be a required of every American as a reminder that freedom has its sacrifices and their common purpose was to preserve the freedoms guaranteed by our Constitution. These brave men and women gave their lives to protect these rights. It is a painful reminder that pa-

triotism rests in the hearts of its citizens and not in physical symbolism.

Our excursions also included visits to the French country home and stunning gardens of the artist Claude Monet in Giverny and the adopted home of Vincent Van Gough in Arles. These towns were among the many rural villages we traveled through or paused at during our tour. In one town, we were treated to a typical evening meal served at a small farm hosted by its delightful owner, Beatrice. As was the case with many of our meals, we enjoyed samples of locally produced wines. We also took advantage of tasting opportunities at vineyards in the Bordeaux and Loire Valley regions. The ancient Chenonceau Castle and its intricate landscapes in the Loire Valley gave us a glimpse of the lives of French royalty such as King Louis XIV and his wife Catherine DeMedici.

Out latest journey not only fulfilled yet another dream, but also expanded our trove of travel experiences. Time will allow me to savor the memories of this American in Paris….and his three companions.

Larry Grimaldi is a retired freelance writer living in North Providence. Comments can be e-mailed to lvgrimaldi49@gmail.com.

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November 2017

PrimeTime | 15

LIFESTYLES

giving

back

wHAT DO YOU FINK?

by MIKE FINK

The Boulevardier He lives near the Pawtucket border with Providence and walks, never drives, toward our RISD campus. No matter the weather or the season, you may see him strolling North Main Street. He is boulevardier, but not in fancy outfits, only, perhaps, with camera gear on his back. He stops to speak with the homeless “beggars” along the way and keeps track of their progress, their recovery perhaps, their troubles. He takes a break in the North Burial Ground to study and record with his old-fashioned or newfangled gadgets the destiny of the amphibians, mostly frogs, that live among the dead, tadpoles turning into frogs as though despite the highway traffic wilderness exists...if only we take notice.

Well, this quite remarkable and admirable walker in the city has been a regular visitor to my journalism elective, a sort of seminar I often subtitle “writing with your feet” in honor not only of Greg Gerritt but also of the theme of my class, which is....leave the tight corners of your studio campus world and explore “Providence.” What a splendid name for our city!

Greg begins his spiel with a very-brief auto-bio. “I studied forestry in Maine but made my way decades ago to Rhode Island. I don’t drive but my wife chauffeurs me...sometimes to New York where I have some family. We were married when I was almost 40, and she is a nurse, so I really need and appreciate her.”

He moves right along to his diatribe against local leadership. “I know all the important people from Smith Hill,” he claims, neither modestly nor proudly.

He explains the lay of the land and the political mood of the State House and the landscape and blocks of houses that radiate out from its stately silhouette.

He adds, “Nobody agrees with me, but I don’t mind. I am free to speak, and they DO listen, often politely or even amiably.” I am not so good at remembering exact dialogue or monologue, so these may not be precisely his words, but my memory of them.

He fights the good battle against the protection of benefits for the wealthy and indifference to the needy and the poor. The city builds itself at their expense and their loss, for the gains of the already-wealthy.

Now, I used to disagree with him, (although always affectionately and respectfully.) I would argue, don’t be bigotted against the rich. We need them for our museums and our scholarships. Plus, it is dangerous to design villains, it can ruin a democracy! But currently I simply congratulate him for his elegant observations and carefully wrought opinions. “Go into the cemetery, it is neither dangerous nor scary nor about death. On a snowy night it is magical! Each snowflake reflects the lights from the city, like a fairyland. It is a quiet relief and a surprise. I want the gates and fences removed, to welcome the hiker!.” When he brings up the plight of amphibian life, a barometer for the future of the planet, he says, “A frog that has absorbed the tail of its youthful life as a tadpole, it leaps out of the puddle like a young whale from the ocean, a miniature miracle and parable.” I was moved by the sheer poetry of this bearded prophet, youthful but somehow eternal. I hereby thank him publicly for everything he presents to us, to those he treats so cordially but with such a challenge, as he makes his way among us. The very spirit of thanksgiving at its best.

Charities that help children Children’s charities can pluck at the heartstrings, but prospective volunteers or donors should still do their homework and research a given charity before deciding to help. Charity Navigator, the Better Business Bureau and other watchdog groups are great sources of reliable information that can help prospective donors make smart giving decisions.

The following are a handful of children’s charities whose missions may resonate with those who want to help.

Cards for Hospitalized Kids This organization gathers donated handmade or purchased cards from various people or groups from around the country and distributes them to hospitals that service children across America. Making a card is a great service project for scouts, students or families who want to help.

Cards can brighten the days of children facing serious illnesses or injuries. Learn more at www.cardsforhospitalizedkids. com.

Alex’s Lemonade Stand This organization began in 2000 when then-four-yearold Alexandra ‘Alex’ Scott, who was a cancer patient, wanted to create a lemonade stand to raise money and help find a cure for children with cancer. Scott died four years after the charity’s inception, but her project grew by leaps and bounds and has helped to raise money for 500 research grants given to over 100 organizations.

More information is available at www.alexlemonade.org.

Project Linus Named after the blanket-loving Peanuts character, Linus, this group makes sure that children who are ill or who have gone through trauma have a cozy blanket to snuggle. Volunteers create and donate homemade, washable blankets.

More information is available at www.projectlinus.org.

Newborns in Need Giving birth to a premature baby can be emotionally taxing on families, especially those who may be unready for the financial toll of giving birth to a preemie. Preemies may need specialized care and clothing. Newborns in Need provides clothing and blankets for premature babies in need at hospitals, shelters and private homes. Learn more at www.newbornsinneed.org. GB17B507

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16 | PrimeTime

November 2017

retirement sparks

senior

issues

b y elaine m . decker

A few months ago, an ad in a newspaper insert announced that September 20 was National String Cheese Day. String Cheese? Seriously? I could believe National Cheese Day (June 4). Or even National Cream Cheese Day (none, not even for Bagels and Cream Cheese, although Cream Cheese Brownies Day is February 10). But String Cheese? I don’t think so.

Contrived holidays used to be made up by greeting card manufacturers, so they were mostly sentimental ones. Take Cuddle Up Day (January 6), for instance, or Best Friends Day (June 8, though Hallmark’s website claims Friendship Day is August 6). And we haven’t even scratched the surface for holidays to celebrate your cat or dog.

When did the food industries hop on this bandwagon? And why? What are we supposed to do on National String Cheese Day, other than eat more of it? Will there be contests to see who can stretch the longest string? Will there be String Cheese Festivals, full of clowns with sticks up their noses or in their ears? Will we have String Cheese eating contests, like the hot dog ones, but without the buns?

I did some quick research and was amazed at the number of food-related holidays in the United States alone. They went on for pages. Here are just some that involve cheese. For a complete list, go to

Holidays for Foodies

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ food_days#United_States.

We have Cheese Fondue, Grilled Cheese Sandwich, and even Cheeseball Days. Those are all in April. Then there’s Cheesecake Day, and of course Mac & Cheese Day, and even a Cheese Pizza Day. National Double Cheeseburger and Cheese Toast Days are both on my birthday, making for a cholesterol-laden double whammy.

I’m marking my calendar for the foodie days that will tickle my taste buds. On the first Saturday of February next year, I’ll be celebrating National Ice Cream for Breakfast Day. On March 5, I’ll surround myself with several bags of Cheez Doodles.

I’ll mark National Schlumpia Day on May 24, if I can find out what Schlumpias are by then; they certainly sound like fun.

I considered putting National Tapioca Day on my list, since my husband would certainly join in that celebration. But then I saw that Tapioca Pudding has its own

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day. Too confusing. Besides, I’d prefer National Rice Pudding Day. Or Crème Brûlée or Flan. None of those made the list I was using, but Rice Balls did. Go figure. (What is a Rice Ball, anyway?)

Another surprising omission from the list is National Peeps Day. I’d put that on my calendar in a heartbeat. Maybe it was left off because Peeps is a brand. But then, so is Cheez Doodles, and it’s on the list. I searched for Peeps Day separately and found several possibilities. One is the day after Easter, which sounds right. That would make it a floating holiday. True Peeps lovers know that any day you can find a box of those chicks after Easter is a Peeps Day. Since you’re probably reading this in November, pay attention here. November 15 is earmarked Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day. But it’s not until November 29 that we get Throw Out Your Leftovers.

That sounds like poor planning to me. I wouldn’t want the stuff I cleaned out of

the fridge stinking up our kitchen for two weeks. Besides, November 29 is also National Chocolates Day. It’s a no brainer which one will go on my calendar.

The last three holidays listed for December are quite predictable. The 27th is National Fruitcake Day. My mother made wonderful fruitcakes, by the way. The 30th is National Bicarbonate of Soda Day. (That might have been better for the day after Thanksgiving.) And December 31st is National Champagne Day. Or night, more likely.

Maybe I’m just old fashioned, but I think holidays should be reserved for the things in our lives that deserve to be celebrated. It’s great that we have not just Mothers Day and Fathers Day, but also Grandparents Day. (Great Aunts Day would be a nice addition.) The major holidays that match various liturgical calendars are fine by me. But—no disrespect to Druids and Wiccans, we don’t need to promote a Summer Solstice Day. And we certainly didn’t need a National String Cheese Day. Copyright 2017 Business Theatre Unlimited Elaine M. Decker’s books include Retirement Sparks, Retirement Sparks Again, Retirement Sparks Redux and CANCER: A Coping Guide. Her essays appear in the anthologies: 80 Things To Do When You Turn 80 and 70 Things To Do When You Turn 70. All are available on Amazon.com. She’s also been featured in ReaderSupportedNews.org. Contact her at: emdecker@ix.netcom.com.

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PrimeTime | 17

senior

issues

Medicare Open Enrollment Season is Here

Rhode Island provides free personalized health insurance counseling to Medicare beneficiaries

Medicare Open Enrollment kicked off last month, and to help Rhode Island’s 200,000 Medicare beneficiaries navigate the process, the Division of Elderly Affairs is offering free, personalized health insurance counseling through the Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP). Open Enrollment ends on December 7. SHIP provides one-to-one, unbiased counseling to seniors, adults with disabilities, families and caregivers.

The SHIP counselors provide assistance so that Medicare beneficiaries can make the most appropriate choice for their healthcare needs. Beneficiaries are encouraged to review their current coverage and make any necessary changes to their plan.

“Having access to high-quality healthcare is vital to building healthy communities. Medicare Open Enrollment is a crucial time to review health benefits and make sure you have the coverage you need,” said Director of Elderly Affairs Charles Fogarty. “This year

there are many plan options to consider, and coverage for the same plan may be different than in the past. Open Enrollment is the time to shop for the best plan that meets your needs. Our highly trained SHIP staff and volunteers can help you understand your choices and your rights. Open Enrollment should be looked at as an opportunity to explore Medicare health plans and Part D plans to ensure you are receiving the best coverage and value for your premium dollar.”

ciaries from drastic cost increases,” said Fogarty. “I am delighted that the Rhode Island SHIP continues to be recognized as one of the best in the country by our federal partners. Expanding access to counseling, and getting beneficiaries the best of the three “C”’s: Cost, Coverage and Convenience is central to our work to empower older adults to live healthy, happy, and independent lives.”

RI SHIP Ranked Second Nationally for Effectiveness & Client Service

Appointments available at various senior and community centers

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Elderly Affairs Hosting Medicare Open Enrollment Events Throughout State The Rhode Island Division of Elderly Affairs is joining with agency partners to sponsor more than 160 events in communities across the state during the annual Medicare Open Enrollment period. SHIP counselors, by appointment, will be available at all Open Enrollment events to provide free, confidential, individual counseling to help beneficiaries find the most comprehensive and cost-effective Medicare health plan and Part D coverage.

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About Medicare: Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people who are 65 or older, certain younger people with disabilities, and people with End-Stage Renal Disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a transplant, sometimes called ESRD).

About the Senior Health Insurance Program: SHIP is a free health benefits counseling service for Medicare beneficiaries and their families or caregivers. SHIPs mission is to educate, advocate, counsel and empower people to make informed healthcare benefit decisions. SHIP is an independent program funded by Federal agencies and is not affiliated with the insurance industry.

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The full Open Enrollment event schedule is available by calling SHIP, toll-free at 1-888-884-8721. TTY users can call 462-0740. The schedule is also available by calling THE POINT, Rhode Island’s Aging and Disability Resource Center Network, at 462-4444.

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November 2017

your taxes

professional perspective

b y M ichelle L a F rance

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Make Plans Now for Next Year’s Tax Return Most people stop thinking about taxes after they file their tax return. But there’s no better time to start tax planning than right now.

And it’s never too early to set up a smart recordkeeping system. Here are six IRS tips to help you start to plan for this year’s taxes: 1. Take action when life changes occur. Some life events, like a change in marital status, the birth of a child or buying a home, can change the amount of taxes you owe. When such events occur during the year, you may need to change the amount of tax taken out of your pay.

To do that, you must file a new Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate, with your employer. Use the IRS Withholding Calculator on IRS.gov to help you fill out the form. If you receive advance payments of the premium tax credit it is important that you report changes in circumstances, such as changes in your income or family size, to your Health Insurance Marketplace.

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Culinary Challenge for a Cause To benefit the Alzheimer’s Association, Rhode Island Chapter’s Do you love the show “Top Chef,” watching the food network challenge, or trying a new restaurant? Then you will love our annual event at the Alzheimer’s Association, Rhode Island Chapter, called “Culinary Challenge for a Cause.” Chefs from Rhode Island’s own assisted living communities will participate in the ultimate cook off to see who is the assisted living “Top Chef.” And who will be the judge you might ask? You! Plus an exciting panel of celebrity judges.

The public is invited to this festive affair on Wednesday, November 29, 2017 at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet, to sample gourmet cuisine, take part in a silent auction, and to cast a ballot for your favorite chef.

Doors open promptly at 5:30 p.m. for the cocktail reception, then at 6:15 p.m. the chef stations open for sampling, and visual display judging. Later that evening, the award presentation will take place when the celebrity judges determine the “Top Chef,” based on presentation, taste, and creativity. Tickets are $35 per person in advance, $30 for parties of 10 or more or $50 at the door. You will not want to miss this event. RSVP to 1-800-272-3900 or visit www.alz.org/ri.

Alzheimer’s Association® The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer’s. Visit alz.org/ri or call 800.272.3900.

2. Keep records safe. Put your 2016 tax return and supporting records in a safe place. That way if you ever need to refer to your return, you’ll know where to find it. For example, you may need a copy of your return if you apply for a home loan or financial aid. You can also use it as a guide when you do this year’s tax return.

3. Stay organized. Make sure your family puts tax records in the same place during the year. This will avoid a search for misplaced records come tax time next year.

4. Shop for a tax preparer. If you want to hire a tax preparer to help you with tax planning, start your search now. Choose a tax preparer wisely. You are responsible for the accuracy of your tax return no matter who prepares it. Find tips for choosing a preparer at IRS.gov.

5. Think about itemizing. If you usually claim a standard deduction on your tax return, you may be able to lower your taxes if you itemize deductions instead. A donation to charity could mean some tax savings. See the instructions for Schedule A, Itemized Deductions, for a list of deductions.

6. Keep up with changes. Subscribe to IRS Tax Tips to get emails about tax law changes, how to save money and much more. You can also get Tips on IRS.gov or IRS2Go, the IRS’s mobile app. The IRS issues tips each weekday in the tax filing season and three days a week in summer.

Remember, a little planning now can pay off big at tax time next year.

Meals on wheels restaurant prograM Serving Seniors Across the State Since 1969

Meals on Wheels has expanded its restaurant program throughout the state of RI. Seniors age 60 and older are eligible, for suggested donation of $5, to obtain a voucher to participating restaurants where they get a meal. The restaurants offer a variety of meal options that meet nutrition standards.

Participating restaurants are: Newport Creamery locations, except for Barrington, Middletown, and Newport; IHOP restaurants in Warwick and Providence; Pizza J in Providence; Uncle Tony’s Pizza & Pasta in Cranston and Johnston; Denny’s in Cranston & North Smithfield

To learn more or to obtain a voucher, visit Meals on Wheels, 70 Bath St., Providence or call Pauline Asprinio at 401-351-6700 Meals on Wheels of RI is a nonprofit organization funded in part by the Administration on Aging and state funds through the RI Division of Elderly Affairs.

November 2017

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5th Annual Coat Drive at The Villa at Saint Antoine Share the warmth this coming season and donate hats, scarves, gloves, and gently used coats to families, individual, and children in the community. Our annual coat drive is a great opportunity to clean your closets and be part of a greater good. Collection starts now until Wednesday, November 22nd. Drop off location: Villa at Saint Antoine 400 Mendon Road in North Smithfield. All items will be distributed the day after Thanksgiving to several community agencies helping families in need.

100-year celebration Janice Bell recently celebrated her 100th birthday at the Scandinavian Communities

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Connecticut when she was young. Janice was an artist who painted in watercolors.

She participated in art shows and had a one-man show in New York City. Immediately after graduating high school, a local private school hired her to teach art to deaf children. Janice eventually went back to school and got her Master’s in art education.

She also enjoyed theater and started dating her husband after they were in cast in a play together. They had two daughters, and now Bell has five grandchildren. After her husband passed away, Janice got a role-playing position at Mystic Seaport. Janet recently moved to Rhode Island to be closer to her daughters. (Submitted photo) ■ BRENTWOOD (from page 6) The family has a long history of providing care to the elderly and infirmed in Warwick. Richard Miga Sr. and his wife Patricia established the Sunny View Nursing Home on Corona Street in 1959, which continues to operate today. He grew up on Sunny View Farm – hence the name for the nursing home that was built on the property – and was a milkman. Patricia was a nurse.

In 1974 they expanded, buying the Brentwood Nursing Home and Rehabilitation on Post Road in Cowesett. After years of assembling the three lots to the south of the nursing home, the Migas carried their vision to the next level with the assisted living facility. The ambitious project met some resistance from neighbors who feared losing views of Greenwich Bay but gained Planning and Zoning Board approvals.

What the Migas are doing runs counter to the trend of the purchase of locally owned nursing homes by large companies with facilities in multiple states. At one time, says Miga, there were 84 nursing homes in the state, of which about 20 percent were owned and operated by large out-of-state operations with the

rest locally owned and operated. Today, the numbers are reversed and the locally owned operations are disappearing. Few, if any, are expanding as the Migas are doing.

Michael McMahon, who started work in the Brentwood kitchen while a student at Providence College and is now admissions director, said the family takes pride in its work and its operation, employing 240 in its three facilities.

“We have a number of employees who started with us as dietary aids, became nursing assistants and now are nurses. We have staff who started many years ago who now have children, nieces and nephews who now work here and have become part of the ‘family.’ We have taken care of multiple generations of families. Parents that we cared for in the 1970s and 1980s now have their children in our care,” he said.

Brentwood by the Bay opened on Sept. 4. Three tenants signed up that day. For the Migas, the numbers are an affirmation of their reputation and the investment they have made. It was also a relief.

“Getting those first people in here was really big,” said Richard Miga.

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PEOPLE AND PLACES

World War I North Kingstown Free Library Lecture Series

In remembrance of the 100th anniversary of the United States entering World War I in 1917, North Kingstown Free Library is offering a free, four-part lecture series on the Great War. The series will be presented by Professor Stan Carpenter, Ph.D. at the U.S. Naval War College, beginning on Wednesday, November 1, 2017 and ending on Wednesday, December 6, 2017 at 6:30 pm. This program is sponsored by The Friends of the North Kingstown Free Library.

North Kingstown Free Library will also be showing two movies that take place during World War I, a display of WWI memorabilia on loan from the Varnum Armory Museum in East Greenwhich, and a display of materials owned by the Library that can be borrowed on the subject of WWI. Please register for the lectures and/or movies you would like to attend by calling the library at 401-294-3306.

Called the Great War or the War to End all Wars, the First World War of 1914 – 1918 shattered empires and set the world on course for a century of conflict. Fascism, communism, radical Islam, and the Cold War all are legacies of the titanic struggle that gripped the entire world a century ago. From the perspective of the centennial anniversary of the First World War, this lecture series addresses the causes of the war, the technology of warfare, the opposing alliances and their strategic plans, mechanized warfare, air warfare, the clash of great battle fleets, submarine warfare, the soldiers’ life in the trenches, the combatants’ home fronts, the collapse of empires, and many more topics.

Part I – When Empires Collide – Wednesday, 1 November This lecture covers the outbreak of the war with a look at the causes and the early months as the initial conflict between the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Serbia soon embroils all the great powers of Europe. On the Western Front, the war evolved into a war of fortifications and entrenchments. The lecture also addresses all the great power’s overall strategic plans for just such a war in Europe.

World War I Movie, Monday, November 6 at 6:00 pm.

Wonder Woman (2017): When a pilot crashes and tells of conflict in the outside world, Diana, an Amazonian warrior in training, leaves home to fight in WWI, discovering her full powers and true destiny.

Part II – Stalemate on the Western Front – Wednesday, November 8 This lecture covers the frustrating Western Front “war of position” as each side attempted to break the stalemate by launching massive, but ultimately failed offensives. The lecture addresses the Allied Somme and the German Verdun Offensives of 1916 as well as the Allied Gallipoli Campaign of 1915. Naval affairs are addressed with a look at the great clash of fleets at the Battle of Jutland in May, 1916.

World War I Movie, Monday, November 27 at 6:00 pm.

Flyboys (2006): The adventures of the Lafayette Escadrille, young Americans who volunteered for the French military before the U.S. entered WWI, and became the country’s first fighter pilots.

Part III – “Lafayette, We Are Here” - Wednesday, November 29 This lecture covers the United States’ entry into the war in April, 1917 on the Allied side. The lecture also looks at the development of airpower as each side strived to gain air superiority over the static trenches below. The German Empire initiated unrestricted submarine warfare in 1917 and the war at sea is addressed in depth. Finally, the war in the Middle East is covered.

Part IV – Year of Decision – 1918 – Wednesday, December 6 The final lecture in the series covers the Allied offensive starting in summer, 1918 that ultimately forced Germany to surrender once the United States was fully engaged. The final Allied offensive followed the desperate German Spring Offensives that failed to defeat Britain and France. The lecture also addresses the Russian collapse on the Eastern Front and the outbreak of the Russian Revolution that sparked the rise of communism.

If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Nancy Nadeau, Community Outreach Coordinator at 401-294-3306 x6102 or email at nnadeau@nklibrary.org.

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Celebrate Thanksgiving with foods from the first feast Thanksgiving is celebrated each November in the United States and each October in Canada. People traditionally gather around the dinner table flanked by friends and extended members of their families to give thanks for the blessings they enjoyed throughout the year as they dig into a delicious feast.

Turkey is typically the centerpiece of the Thanksgiving meal. Although turkey can be a delicious and nutritious addition to the table, individuals looking to expand their culinary horizons may want to borrow from the other foods believed to have been shared among the Plymouth Colony Pilgrims and Wampanoag natives during the 1621 feast that inspired Thanksgiving.

Waterfowl Wild turkey were available in abundance in the New World, but historians believe that, during the first Thanksgiving meal, participants likely feasted on waterfowl instead of turkey. In fact, turkey wasn’t common Thanksgiving fare until after 1800. Waterfowl, according to National Geographic, includes ducks, mallards, swans, and geese. Those looking to experiment can take a break from turkey and make duck the centerpiece of their meals this Thanksgiving.

Seafood Plymouth, Massachusetts, is located where Cape Cod Bay and the Atlantic Ocean meet. As a result, indigenous people and the pilgrims likely relied on the bounties afforded by the ocean for their sustenance. Documentation of the first Thanksgiving by pilgrim chronicler Edward Winslow indicates lobster, fish and clams were likely served. People who enjoy seafood or those who prefer to abstain from meat or poultry can embrace seafood at their Thanksgiving gathering.

November 2017

Fruits and vegetables Fruits native to the region where the first Thanksgiving took place included blueberries, plums, grapes, gooseberries, raspberries, and cranberries. Cranberry sauce was an unlikely menu option because sugar that traveled over on the Mayflower was probably depleted by November 1621, according to History.com. Also, cooks didn’t begin boiling cranberries with sugar until about 50 years later. To recreate the first Thanksgiving, enjoy raw fruit as a tasty dessert, which can be healthier than sugar-laden sauces.

Vegetables to enjoy include onions, beans, spinach, cabbage, carrots, and corn. Corn was likely turned into cornmeal and pounded into a thick corn porridge. Experimenting with a cornmeal recipe can liven up this year’s festivities.

Turnips Plant roots found in 1621 included parsnips and turnips, and not the popular potatoes that often accompany turkey at modern Thanksgiving gatherings. The potato was not yet popular enough among the English to warrant space on the Mayflower as it made its way to present-day North America. Purées of parsnips and turnips can be delectable on their own or used as a basis for a Thanksgiving soup.

Pumpkin custard Although pumpkins and other gourds were available in the New World, baking was not yet popularized because of the lack of wheat flour. Instead, it is possible pilgrims would hollow out gourds, add spices with milk and honey, and then roll the gourds in hot flames to form a sort of custard. Home cooks can replicate a pumpkin custard in their kitchens and serve it in lieu of pumpkin pie.

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November 2017

Explore Your Options Medicare open enrollment is from October 15 to December 7.

Come and learn more about your Medicare options at one of these local meetings: CRAnston, Ri Immaculate Conception School 237 Garden Hills Drive Tues. Nov. 14th @ 6 PM

Kingston, Ri Kingston Cong. Church 2610 Kingstown Road Tues. Nov. 14th @ 10 AM

CRAnston, Ri Universal Wealth Management 945 Reservoir Avenue Fri. Nov. 3rd, 10th, 17th @ 10 AM Fri. Dec. 1st @ 10 AM

newpoRt/Middletown, Ri Howard Johnson 351 West Main Road Wed. Nov. 29th @ 10 AM

eAst pRoVidenCe, Ri Chelo’s Bar and Grille 911 Warren Avenue Thurs. Nov. 9th @ 2 PM

noRth sMithfield, Ri Gator’s Pub 1402 Victory Highway Thurs. Nov. 16th @ 2 PM

gloCesteR, Ri Glocester Senior Center 1210 Putnam Pike Mon. Nov. 20th @ 1:30 PM

poRtsMouth, Ri Atria Aquidneck 125 Quaker Hill Lane Mon. Nov. 27th @ 2 PM Wed. Dec. 6th @ 11 AM

JAMestown, Ri Lionel Champlin Guest House 20 Lincoln Street Thurs. Nov. 30th @ 1 PM

RuMfoRd, Ri Chelo’s Bar & Grille 45D Newport Ave Thurs. Nov. 9th @ 10 AM

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sMithfield, Ri Chelo’s Bar & Grille Apple Valley 445 Putnam Pike Wed. Nov. 15th @ 2 PM sMithfield, Ri Holiday Inn Express 1010 Douglas Pike Tues. Nov. 28th @ 2 PM

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A sales person will be present with information and applications. For accommodation of persons with special needs at sales meetings, call the phone number to the left.

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November 2017

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The UnitedHealthcare Dual Complete® plan offers extra benefits beyond Medicare at no additional cost to members.

Plans are insured through UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or one of its affiliated companies, a Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract and a contract with the State Medicaid Program. Enrollment in the plan depends on the plan’s contract renewal with Medicare. This plan is available to anyone who has both Medical Assistance from the State and Medicare. This information is not a complete description of benefits. Contact the plan for more information. Limitations, copayments, and restrictions may apply.

Benefits, premium and/or copayments/coinsurance may change on January 1 of each year. Premiums, copays, co-insurance, and deductibles may vary based on the level of Extra Help you receive. Please contact the plan for further details. You must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium, if not otherwise paid for under Medicaid or by another third party. UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. ATENCIÓN: si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-844-214-4718 (TTY: 711). ATENÇÃO: Se fala português, encontram-se disponíveis serviços linguísticos, grátis. Ligue para 1-844-214-4718 (TTY: 711). Consult a health care professional before beginning any exercise program. Availability of the SilverSneakers program varies by plan/market. Refer to your Evidence of Coverage for more details. Healthways and SilverSneakers are registered trademarks of Healthways, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. ©2016 Healthways, Inc. All rights reserved.

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November 2017