The South Coast Insider - December 2015

December 2015 Vol. 19 / No. 12

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Sounds of the season

Christmas wishes

Break for birding

Safest toys & gifts

Spreading success

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contents

DECEMBER 2015

In every issue

HEALTH & HAPPINESS

4 From the Publisher 32 Dateline: Southcoast

By Elizabeth Morse Read

COVER STORY

8

Christmas wishes

By Sean McCarthy

10 Safe toys & gifts

22 Cherishing the generation gap

By GREG JONES

24 Sneezing, snoring, hiccups

By DAN BRULE

ON MY MIND

38 Label me fed up

By PAUL E. KANDARIAN

By Elizabeth Morse Read

16 Happy Hanukkah!

By JOYCE ROWLEY

THINGS TO DO Off-street parking (16 spaces), handicap accessible, separate zoned heating (gas HVAC), electric, cable, and city water and sewer make this downtown Fall River location a prime deal in a prime area. Walk to the courthouses, library, City Hall, Registry of Deeds and other businesses—plus it’s conveniently located near Interstate 195.

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6 Holidy music

14 Take a break for birding

By DAN LOGAN

BUSINESS BUZZ

18 Spreading success

Bernard P. Giroux 150 Purchase Street, Fall River, MA 508-677-9500 Office 774-273-3278 Mobile

2

December 2015 / The South Coast Insider

By GREG JONES

By JAY PATEAKOS

28 Eye on education

By Michael J. Vieira

ON THE COVER It’s more than the sound of bells filling the air – everywhere you turn, you’ll find some great holiday music! Turn to page 6 for our list of the top musical events in the area. Photo credit to AHA! New Bedford, bringing the South Coast a free downtown even on the second Thursday of every month. Photo courtesy of New Bedford AHA!

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FROM THE PUBLISHER December 2015 / Vol. 19 / No. 12

Published by

There’s a certain undeniable smell to the holidays – baked ham,

Coastal Communications Corp.

pine trees, egg nog, and the crisp air before a snowfall. And of course we all

Publisher and Editor-in-Chief

love the sights – a tinsel-trimmed tree, a wreath, holly leaves, and a certain

Ljiljana Vasiljevic

red hat and white beard. But what may be most distinct about this time of

Editor

year are the sounds. Here, at the end of the year, the season gains a stillness

Sebastian Clarkin

(at least after all the shopping is done), and from that stillness come the

Online Editor

sounds of some of our favorite songs.

Paul Letendre

Contributors

That’s why Greg Jones has compiled a list of the best places to enjoy the

Dan Brule, Greg Jones, Paul E. Kandarian, Dan Logan, Tom Lopes, Sean McCarthy, Jay Pateakos, Elizabeth Morse Read, Joyce Rowley, Michael J. Vieira

sounds of the season on page 6. In our minds, there’s no better way to become fully immersed in the

The South Coast Insider is published monthly for visitors and residents of the South Coast area. The Insider is distributed free of charge from Mount Hope Bay to Buzzards Bay.

Of course, Christmas isn’t simply about the things mentioned above. On page 8, Sean McCarthy interviews

holidays.

your friends and neighbors to see what the people of the South Coast are holding closest to their hearts in

All contents copyright ©2015 Coastal Communications Corp.

the gift-giving season.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, by any means, without written permission from the Publisher. All information contained herein is believed to be reliable. Coastal Communications Corp. does not assume any financial responsibility for typographical errors in advertisements, but will reprint that portion of an advertisement in which the typographical error occurs.

Speaking of gifts, it seems like the kids’ wish lists get longer and longer every year. However you attempt

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might freeze your toes, but it’ll warm your heart.

Circulation

Of course, for all of your holiday events and all the happenings around the South Coast, turn to page 32.

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However you choose to celebrate the season, we wish you happiness and health. See you next year!

20 days prior to publication.

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to make those wishes come true, it’s important to make sure those gifts are safe. Liz Read has some important advice for any would-be Santa on page 10.

If you’re looking for a way to escape the hustle and bustle of the mall, or simply to enjoy nature during the most placid time of the year, Dan Logan extends an invitation to start birding on page 14. Being out there

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December 2015 / The South Coast Insider

Ljiljana Vasiljevic Publisher and Editor-in-Chief

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The South Coast Insider / December 2015

5

THINGS TO DO

By Greg Jones

An ear for holiday music Ahh, December…a month filled with legend, emotion, hope, and change. Those short days will begin to get longer on December 22, followed a few days later by Christmas, and then, just as you’re about done with Christmas, you can bid farewell to the holidays (and 2015) with New Year’s Eve celebrations.

There’s more to December than wreaths and sooty Santas emerging from the fireplace – a major part of this month is music. Composers in every genre have written Christmas music, so let’s have a look at some selected highlights of the musical holiday season.

At the Z

You can’t go wrong beginning at the Zeiterion.

The 13th annual Christmas Celtic Sojourn, on December 17, will have music, songs, and dancing by performers who are legendary in the world of Celtic music. With a compelling mix of traditions and music from the Pagan, Celtic, and Christian traditions, this is an evening to remember. First presented in 2003, this annual performance has become a tradition.

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December 2015 / The South Coast Insider

The New Bedford Symphony Orchestra will be at the Z to present their Family Holiday Pops Concert on December 19, with two performances.

The children’s matinee performance begins as 3:30 p.m. and will feature some fun surprises for the young and the young at heart. Concert tickets available through the Z box office at 508-994-2900 or online www.nbsymphony.org The evening performance starts at 7 p.m. and features more music, but both performances are an hour long, with no intermission. The theater will be decorated in holiday finery in the best of the holiday tradition.

The Zeiterion and the Whaling Museum are teaming up to celebrate with a New Year’s Bash on the theme “Make-Believe Midnight.” This promises to be a terrific goodbye to 2015. There will be live

music and dancing in the Jacob’s Gallery and the Lagoda Room.

There will be something for everyone, with heavy hors d’oeuvres, children’s entertainment, mask-making, roaming performers and, of course, complimentary champagne toasts and masks for everyone. As you toast the New Year, you will have the best view in town of the New Bedford fireworks.

For tickets and full information on anything at the Z, go to www.zeiterion.org.

Common Muse

Common Fence Music at 933 Anthony Road in Portsmouth consistently presents some of the best music available in the South Coast. It’s a great venue, with good acoustics and a very loyal

fan base. December 19, Common Fence Music presents Aine Minogue’s 21st Annual Winter Solstice Celebration.

Ms. Minogue sings and plays the harp, but that’s like saying Rembrandt draws pictures. Born in County Tipperary, Ireland, she has a Master of Arts degree in Traditional Irish Harp Performance from the University of Limerick. She now lives in Boston, and her music enchants the listener, creating a special space that is unique to her art.

More information and Common Fence Music’s concert schedule and tickets for Aine Minogue’s 21st Annual Winter Solstice Celebration are at www.commonfencemusic.org.

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Down by the river

The South Coast Community Chorale’s 19th annual Christmas Concert is scheduled for Sunday, December 13 at 3 p.m. at Good Shepherd Church, 1598 South Main Street in Fall River.

The keynote work will be Schubert’s Mass in G Major, with the second half of the concert devoted to holiday favorites, described by the chorale as “from Rudolph to Mozart.” A reception will be held after the performance.

For tickets and more information, visit the Chorale’s website, www.sccchorale.com.

*Session can take place after 12/24/15, but reservation fee must be paid prior to 12/24/15

Old-time religion

Fairhaven’s Old-Time Holiday Weekend, December 12 and 13, will feature Christmas carol sing-alongs, plus Christmas music concerts.

Some of Fairhaven’s architectural gems, including the Unitarian Memorial Church and the First Congregational Church, will host musical events, most of which will take place on Saturday, December 12.

More information is available at www. fairhaventours.com or call 508-979-4085.

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Be merry in Bristol

Bristol is the home of Blithewold Mansion and Gardens, which will be getting into the musical Christmas spirit with “Sparkle.” This outdoor family event will take place every Friday from November 27 through January 1, 2016, 6 to 8 p.m. There will be a different caroling group every Friday, with two performances. Toast up s’mores on the bonfire, sip a cup of hot cocoa and join in the carols.

A bit more elegance than toasted marshmallows is available December 5, 6-9 p.m., with “Cocktails and Carols: a Holiday Kick-off Celebration.” Cocktail or festive attire is requested, with dancing, canapés, and holiday cocktails, all to live music by Dick Lupino.

For more information and to purchase tickets, go to www.blithewold.org or call 401-253-2707.

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The South Coast Insider / December 2015

7

COVER STORY

South Coast

Christmas wishes

T

here are two sides to Christmas. In one sense it’s a season that has determined throngs of shoppers driven by the pursuit of material goods. From the moment the doors open on Black Friday to the wee hours of Christmas Eve it’s a financial bonanza as we pursue those fitting gifts for the people in our lives.

But the other distinct side of Christmas is that it is a time to care for those less fortunate than ourselves. Giving to the ailing and impoverished is a special feeling with no receipt, just the heartwarming knowledge that someone’s season will be improved by our gestures.

A sampling of residents from South Coast reveals that philanthropy and giving to the less fortunate are much more of a priority than what Santa Claus has to offer.

Maurice Hampton of Fall River imagines the opportunity to give life-altering assistance to those who couldn’t advance otherwise. Hampton thinks grandiose – creating multi-million dollar facilities in Fall River and New Bedford that would provide direction and assistance in education and trades as well as job finding.

They would also be given clothing and food when needed and cultural outings that would take people on excursions to museums, the ocean and local nature.

“I want to be a person who helps people achieve their dreams and reach their full potential,” Hampton says. “That would be my ideal Christmas gift.”

Romena Pacheco of New Bedford and Michael Patrillo of Bristol have holiday wishes for the smallest among us.

Pacheco wants to “give an enjoyable and

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December 2015 / The South Coast Insider

By SEAN McCARTHY

memorable Christmas to all the children who wouldn’t otherwise have one” while Patrillo wishes for a merry holiday for the children suffering from cancer at the Dana-Farber Institute in Boston with the wish that they would someday be cured.

Tim Avila of New Bedford wants to give his family members the image of a heart carved in stone.

“Your heart takes a lot of beatings in life,” Avila says. “So I want to give my loved ones a heart that’s durable.”

And speaking of hearts, Barry Hill

I would give our world leaders the patience and effective understanding that would bring about world peace. of New Bedford has a 16-year old son, JC, who was born with two holes in his heart. His prognosis was bleak, but at the age of two he was able to receive a heart transplant. His chest was put back together with stainless steel wire and he required ample amounts of nurturing and care. Today he is healthy and functioning normally.

“The gift I’d give my son is the greatest gift of all – life,” the father says.

Steven Cabral, a New Bedford resident is focusing on giving a memorable holiday for the person closest to him – his

significant other.

“This Christmas I’m going to spend all of my money on my girl, and everyone else is going to get good cheer,” he says.

Michelle Borges of Dartmouth has a Christmas wish for her husband that she can happily share with him.

“I’d get my husband a Jacuzzi so that I could enjoy it along with him,” she says.

Some local residents would give gifts to celebrities.

“I would give all of my Bob Marley posters, t-shirts and CD’s to Ziggy Marley so that he could know how awesome his father was,” says Tony Pina of New Bedford.

James Luis Ortiz of New Bedford would like to give a Christmas gift to Paget Brewster who plays the role of Agent Emily Prentiss on the television show “Criminal Minds.”

“I would give her expensive champagne glasses to represent her delicate beauty,” Ortiz says.

Ian Motha of Dartmouth has a Christmas wish for all people.

“I think that a very special gift would be giving the gift of living in the moment,” he says. “It’s so easy to be concerned about the future or remembering the past.

So many people miss right now. Before you know it right now turns into the past and depending on what was happening it becomes a memory. Right now is the only time you can experience with the whole of you.”

Scott McDuffy of Dartmouth envisions a gift for the entire world.

“If I could give anyone a gift this Christmas, I would give our world leaders the patience and effective understanding that would bring about world peace.”

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The South Coast Insider / December 2015

9

COVER STORY

Caveat Emptor: Safe toys & gifts

by Elizabeth Morse Read

December is National Safe Toys and Gifts Month, just in time for the holidays!

In 2014, United States toy sales exceeded $20 billion. Meanwhile, in 2013, U.S. emergency rooms treated more than a quarter-million children for toy-related injuries, with most injuries being to the face, eyes, and head, and with one third of the injuries caused by riding toys.

Back in the day, we all went crazy “child-proofing” our homes, so that live-in or visiting children didn’t stick their fingers in the electric sockets or drink the Drano under the kitchen sink. And we need to be just as vigilant about “toy-proofing” our homes, especially around the holidays.

Warning: Toys can be hazardous to your child’s health

Toys are very important to a child’s emotional, cognitive, and physical development – but those

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December 2015 / The South Coast Insider

toys and gifts you give must always be age/ability -appropriate and free of health hazards.

Since 1995, all toys made in or imported into the United States must comply with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) standards. For instance, toys made of fabric must be labeled as either flame-resistant or flame-retardant, and stuffed toys must be washable. Art materials, crayons, and paints must be non-toxic and have an ASTM number (American Society for Testing and Materials) on the package. All toys must be painted with leadfree paints.

The U.S. banned the use of lead in house paints, products marketed to children, and cookware back in 1978. But toys made before the ban (like Grampa’s tin soldiers) or cheap toys produced overseas are still showing up under the Christmas

tree. Even toys made of certain plastics, which can degrade and produce lead dust when exposed to sunlight or detergents, are still being sold.

Imported costume jewelry and painted toys, whether wood, metal or plastic, can pose a major lead-poisoning hazard for children. Just handling lead-contaminated products presents a health risk, seeing as there is no “safe” level of lead. Any exposure to lead can cause neurological, behavioral, and learning problems in children. Make sure any toy you give a child is clearly labeled “lead-free.”

Also, many soft plastic toys for babies and toddlers – including teethers and pacifiers – used to contain hazardous chemicals like BPA (bisphenol-A) or phthalates. When buying gifts for children under three years old, make sure the packaging is clearly labeled “BPA-free” and “non-toxic.”

Resist the impulse to buy bargain-bin unpackaged or unlabeled toys and trinkets to stuff into your kids’ stockings. Carnival and vending machine toys are especially hazardous to a child’s health, seeing as they are somehow not regulated by the same safety standards as the off-the-shelf toys sold in stores.

Celebrating 125 Years

The no-buy list: Safety recalls

In 2007 alone, toymakers recalled almost 20 million toys worldwide because of safety concerns like lead contamination, small parts that could be swallowed, heating elements that could burn, brittle plastics that shatter into sharp pieces, or ropes, strings, and cords that could strangle. When the kiddies give Santa or Nana their holiday wish list, make sure to check out whether that toy is safe and age/ability-appropriate before you open your wallet. Check the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s toy recall list at www.cpsc.gov before you go shopping – some banned toys may still be on the shelves at stores. (You wouldn’t buy a car that had been recalled, would you?)

Even age-appropriate toys improperly used can cause harm. For instance, loud noises can cause hearing damage in infants, even from rubber-ducky squeak-toys, if held too close to their ear. Any hearing loss at that age can impair speech development. Eye injuries and blindness can be caused by cheap sunglasses, or by any toy that shoots objects or has sharp points. Even pre-school scissors, glue and arts/crafts supplies can cause eye injuries to a too-young child. Keep toys in age-appropriate bins or toy-boxes – and teach the older kids to pick up their toys and go play somewhere else when the baby’s crawling around.

Into the Mouths of Babes Along with poisoning, choking is a major hazard in children under 3 years old. Seeing as they explore the world by putting everything in their mouth, they should never be within reach of anything they can swallow – loose buttons or bows on a stuffed bear, marbles, toy wheels, Lego bits, magnets, batteries, board-game pieces, balloons, or beads. If it’s small enough to fit easily through a cardboard toilet-paper tube, it’s a choking hazard for a baby.

Don’t let toddlers get near toys with pull-strings or cords that could accidentally get around their neck, or toys with moving parts that could pinch little fingers. Riding toys (Big Wheels, scooters, tricycles, rocking horses) should have safety straps to keep the child from falling off, and be wellbalanced so that they don’t tip over. And when they are using wheeled toys, make sure that toddlers are supervised and can’t get near stairways, Continued ON NEXT PAGE

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www.SymphonyMusicShop.com The South Coast Insider / December 2015

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Continued FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

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School-aged children love to wake up on Christmas morning to find a shiny new bicycle, scooter, skateboard or inline skates under the tree – but they must always be given along with the requisite safety gear like helmets, face-shields, knee-pads or wrist guards. Darts and arrows should be tipped with suction cups or foam – never with sharp points. Electronic toys should always have the UL (Underwriters Laboratories) safety seal on the packaging.

If you go to the trouble of buying safe toys for your children, it’s equally important that you teach them how to use/operate them properly and responsibly. Teach them to put their toys away so that nobody trips over them or that their baby sister doesn’t try to eat them. Teach them to give you any toy that’s become damaged, dirty, has sharp points, loose parts, rust spots or ripped fabric.

Would you let your children go play in the traffic? You can’t just give them a new toy and then let them loose with it. As the adult in the room, you need to instruct and supervise when kids are given new toys or electronic gadgets. Point out toy-free safety zones – like stairways, the baby’s room, and the driveway. Give them common sense boundaries, like “no devices at dinner,” “all toys away after play,” “if it’s used to hurt someone, it’s gone,” and “you’re either in this house right now, or else there will be serious consequences.” Take the time to teach the child how to play with the toy safely.

Don’t be a holiday “Disney-dad” …or a fair-weather godmother, for that matter.

Don’t show up on Christmas morning like Lady Bountiful, laden with expensive, last-minute trinkets – and then walk out the door. Be a thoughtful gift-giver when you give any child a new toy. Take the time to research what’s safe and appropriate for each child on your list, especially if you’re not going to be around to supervise daily play-time. The parents and caregivers you leave behind will be left with all the headaches of a thoughtless gift – consult with them before you buy that drum set or sling-shot or 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle or BB gun.

Finding the perfect toy To check the list of toys recalled by the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), or to report any toy you suspect is unsafe, go to www.cpsc.gov or call 1-800-638-2772.

To find age-appropriate toys for everyone on your shopping list, check out www.sheknows. com, www.naeyc.org/toys, or www.parents. org/age-appropriatetoys. For more info about safe toys and gifts for children, check out www. kidshealth.org, www.preventblindness.org/ safe-toy-checklist.

To find ability-appropriate toys for developmentally/physically/cognitively-disabled children, go to www.ableplay.org or www.playabilitytoys. com. Toys ‘R’ Us (www.toysrus.com) offers guides for toys appropriate for special-needs children.

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Age-appropriate: Toy-buying tips

The sole purpose of toys is to stimulate a child’s development, curiosity and creativity, no matter their age. Buying age-appropriate toys means giving them something that will stimulate them and help them develop physically, intellectually and socially as they grow up (see sidebar). Don’t overwhelm a baby or small child with too many new toys at one time – give them one new toy at a time for them to explore and play with at their own pace.

The simpler the toy, the better – don’t bombard a baby with flashing lights and push-button gizmos.

Don’t give toddlers and pre-schoolers electronic/ video toys – if they’re too passive/inactive at that age, they’ll have problems learning to focus mentally or to be physically active. Be wary of toy labels that say “educational” – you can’t turn a baby or child into a genius by giving them expensive “bellsand-whistles” toys. They’d be better entertained with empty boxes and wooden blocks and “Patthe-Bunny” books more appropriate to their developmental stage.

Give simple toys that each child can explore differently as they grow – babies will grasp and suck on those wooden blocks, but then they’ll learn how to build things with them when they’re toddlers, and then they’ll learn how to share them with others at pre-school.

And if you wouldn’t let a 10-year old play near an unlocked gun cabinet, then realize that toddlers and teethers shouldn’t get anywhere near a jewelry box, tool box, or their older siblings’ toys. Even really “smart” babies don’t understand the concept of “safety,” so don’t give them access to toys intended for older children.

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The South Coast Insider / December 2015

13

THINGS TO DO

Take a holiday break for birding

by Dan Logan

In the first dark hours of the 2013 Christmas Bird Count we’re trying to count owls. Four of us started driving down Drift Road in Westport at 2 a.m., when the temperature was 17 degrees. At 5 a.m. it’s 12 degrees, it’s still pitch black and I’m shaking with cold, despite having been in and out of a heated car for the last three hours.

Owls aren’t scarce. Our team leader, Paul Champlin, is finding them literally right and left. It’s too dark to see him, but I sense he’s aimed like a bird dog at something in a pine tree right in front of us. When he flicks on his flashlight the owl is right there, 30 feet away, gazing back at us unperturbed.

Chalk up a Screech-Owl, the first of several dozen we encounter.

We’ll be doing this – driving from good birding spot to good birding spot in Westport – for 12 more hours, until it gets dark again.

By mid-December most people are thoroughly enmeshed in their

traditional holiday routines and don’t have time to focus on unrelated activities. However, a growing contingent of birders, mostly in the United States but also worldwide, is setting aside a full day to count as many birds they can of as many species as possible within some long-established boundaries over a 24-hour period.

Birds of a feather

Back in 1900, ornithologist Frank Chapman suggested doing a bird count through the fledgling Audubon Society to counter the longstanding Christmas “side hunt,” where hunters would bag as many birds and other species of wildlife as possible on a given day. On that first Christmas Bird Count, 27 birders across 25 U.S. and Canadian locations totaled 89 species and over 18,000 birds (the 2014-15 count yielded 226 species in New England alone, in which 3,711 volunteers participated).

Since 1900, the Christmas Bird Count has evolved and improved as the National Audubon Society and other organizations seek to develop accurate information from the increasing pile of data that is being accumulated. According to the National Audubon web site, the data contributes to understanding how bird populations change over the years, and the Christmas Bird Count is held up as an example of the power and possibilities for “citizen science.”

It doesn’t hurt that in December, birders can find late migrants and winter rarities that get blown into the area by bad weather. For example, the history of the New Bedford count includes a Mountain Bluebird, and a confirmed pair of Calliope Hummingbirds (the location of which couldn’t be made known because they were seen in a private yard and the owners didn’t want hordes of birders traipsing through.)

Circling

The United States was divided long ago into Christmas Bird Count circles, each circle being 15 miles in diameter.

There are obviously issues in using circles because tantalizing birding areas sometimes fall between the circles, and some areas overlap slightly, but National Audobon’s overriding concern is to provide geographic consistency, so that year-to-year bird population comparisons can be done with greater accuracy.

There are thirty-four circles in Massachusetts. Rhode Island is represented in the Newport CountyWestport circle. The South Coast is covered by the Newport CountyWestport, New Bedford, TauntonMiddleboro, and Buzzards Bay circles. (You can see a map of the Massachusetts and Rhode Island circles at www.massbird.org/birdobserver/CBC/index.htm).

There are often 5-10 teams working

Getting involved and finding friends

The Christmas Bird Count period runs from December 14 through January 5 every year, but each circle sets the date within that period for its count.

Also, it may help to understand that the National Audubon Society, Mass Audubon and the Audubon Society of Rhode Island are independent organizations.

In practical terms, if you want to join all three, you have to pay dues to all three. The National Audubon Society runs the Christmas Bird Count, but all the participants are volunteers who may or may not

14

December 2015 / The South Coast Insider

belong to any of the three organizations.

For information about the Newport-Westport circle email Bob Emerson at remerson@duffysweeney.com.

Next CBC will be held Saturday, December 19.

Contacts for the New Bedford circle include Lauren Miller-Donnelly (508-638-2437), president of the Paskamansett Bird Club in Dartmouth, and Justin Barrett (jmbarrett@gmail.com), president of the Nasketucket Bird Club in Mattapoisett. The New Bedford CBC is also scheduled for Saturday, December 19.

Linking up with the Paskamansett Bird Club or the Nasketucket Bird Club can help you ease into the Christmas Bird Count; you don’t have to be a member of either club. (By way of disclosure, I’m a member of both clubs).

Those interested in the Taunton-Middleboro CBC on Sunday, December 27 can contact Jim Sweeney at assawompsett@yahoo.com.

Jeremiah Trimble (jtrimble@oeb.harvard.edu) handles the Buzzards Bay Circle.

within each circle with at least two people per team, but there’s no upper limit on team size so larger groups often form.

Old and new

Counting birds lends the day a purposeful air, but it’s also an opportunity to meet and hang out with friends and acquaintances who share one’s interests. Participants also get to explore local spots they may not have known about. And if you only have a few hours to spare for the count, that’s fine – you don’t have to do the dawn-till-dusk thing.

Novice birders are welcome. Mike Boucher, coordinator for the New

covering. The main limitation on an observer is to confine one’s observations to the circle, and to the area the team is covering (to prevent double counting and so as not to poach on someone else’s turf).

If one is birding on the edge of a circle the temptation can be great to count a bird that’s obviously beyond the circle, particularly if it’s something cool. However, that can actually skew the data for a circle. Best thing to do in that case is record the information and explain the situation later to the coordinator.

Each circle is headed by a compiler or coordinator who establishes the area each team will cover and

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www.simcockfarm.com Bedford circle and a longtime South Coast birder, says the Christmas Bird Counts are a good educational opportunity and his New Bedford teams take the time to help newcomers learn more about birds on count day.

“The people I know like to help novices,” Mike says. “We usually team new birders with more experienced birders.”

Jim Sweeney, coordinator for the Taunton-Middleboro CBC, seconds that. “They should not be apprehensive about participating because they are new birders,” he says. “People of all levels of experience are welcome.”

Also, experienced birders have long since figured out that putting more eyes on the surroundings increases the chances of finding unusual birds, so everyone has a role to play.

Some seemingly obvious areas within a circle don’t get covered because people aren’t in the habit of going there, so creating a new team to cover such an area may help the overall effort.

On the day of the count the team leader covers the rules and identifies the circle boundary in the area you’re

later pulls together the counts from the various teams and passes it up the chain. The Paskamansett and Nasketucket bird clubs each hold a potluck dinner to compile the sightings when the birding is done for the day. Relaxing after the long day, sharing lots of food, and hearing about each team’s adventures proves to be a pleasant way to finish.

A bit of friendly rivalry typically develops among teams who have been at this for a while. The team that spots the best bird of the day gets to gloat for the next year. A really good bird and its discoverer will be remembered for decades in local birder folklore.

Birders can also participate from home by counting birds at their feeders. This approach has its own set of rules; you can contact the circle’s compiler to find out about collecting and submitting your counts.

These feeder lists were once popular in the New Bedford circle, Mike Boucher says, but the backyard birding has dwindled from 20 or 30 participants down to two or three.

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The South Coast Insider / December 2015

15

COVER STORY

Happy Hanukkah!

By Joyce Rowley

“The most important thing to know about Hanukkah is that it is one of the least important of the holidays,” said Rabbi Raphael J. Kanter of the Tifereth Israel Congregation in New Bedford.

“It actually subtracts from the richness of Judaism overall. It distorts Judaism in its essence.”

Unlike Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, or Passover, which are established in the Tanakh, the Hebrew bible, Hanukkah is a rabbinical holiday established by the Talmud.

But in this country, it acts as a counter to the Christmas season where Jews are bombarded with everything Christmas.

Although Christians complain about the overwhelming commercialization of the holy day, it is worse for Jews.

“As a Jew, you are distinctively aware that you are Jewish,” Rabbi Kanter said.

Hanukkah became a way for Jews to express their Jewishness, said Rabbi Kanter.

And it provides a way for the children to join in on getting presents when that’s all that they hear from their Christian peers in the run up to Christmas.

Still, like many clergy, Rabbi Kanter urges a return to the essence of the holiday. “When commercialism takes over, it distorts the religion,” he said.

The true meaning

Getting back to the essence is understanding that Hanukkah means “rededication” in Hebrew, referring to the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem in 165 BCE. At the time, Jews were forced to follow the religion of the Seleucids

16

and prohibited from practicing Judaism on pain of death. The final insult came as an altar to Zeus was installed in the Holy Temple and pigs were slaughtered on the altar in offering.

The revolt led by the priest Mattathias with his five sons ended successfully on the 25th of the month of Kislev. But when they returned to the temple, only one vial of holy oil was still sealed.

The oil, which was sufficient to keep the temple’s menorah lit for only one day, lasted eight days, giving them time to prepare more oil for the menorah.

“The first miracle was the military victory,” Rabbi Kanter said. Though Jews do not celebrate war, it was the triumph of the just over the unjust, securing their religious freedom.

“The second was the miracle of the light. Oil as a spiritual symbol of light is what the rabbi [of the Talmud] wanted to emphasize.”

Also called the “Festival of Lights,” Hanukkah starts on the 25th of Kislev, 5776 which falls on Sunday, December 6 this year and runs through December 14 on the Gregorian calendar.

The Hanukkah menorah, called a hanukiah, is different than menorahs in the synagogue, which have seven stems.

The hanukiah has eight stems, with an extra stem to hold a light to kindle the other oil pots.

This extra spot, the shamash, holds the practical oil whereas the light from the eight candles is not intended to be used for anything but celebrating the miracles.

What is important about Hanukkah is that it is a personal

December 2015 / The South Coast Insider

commitment by each Jew performed in their own home.

Although the lighting of the menorah is also performed in the temple, it is the lighting of the hanukiah at home that includes the festival part of the “Festival of Lights.” Both men and women are obligated to participate in lighting the family menorah each night and children are encouraged to light their own menorah.

The festival starts at sunset, the beginning of the Jewish day.

Oil, or now more often candles, must provide enough light to last for at least one half hour. On the Sabbath, the hanukiah must be lit one half hour before sunset and last beyond the lighting of Sabbath candles. Equally important is locating the hanukiah in a window or near the door where the public can see it to remind them of the miracle.

Only one candle is lit the first night on the far right, plus the shamash. On the second night, a second candle is lit to the left of the first, and then the first candle is lit. Each night another candle is lit until on the eighth night, all of the candles are lit.

With the lighting of the

D

hanukiah on the first night, three blessings, the berakhot, are said. The first is a prayer of thanks for the light, the second a prayer of thanks for the miracles performed for the ancestors, and the third is a prayer of thanks for being sustained through to Hanukkah.

The first two blessings are repeated each of the following nights as the hanukiah is lit.

There are traditional hymns at the end of the blessings, games of dreidel, and the children get gelt, either real or chocolate coins. Added to the traditional gelt, children get a gift each night.

Since oil is the central theme for the holiday, speciality foods cooked in oil are woven into meals during Hanukkah.

Latkes, sufganiyot (fried doughnuts with strawberry filling), fritters, and rugelach are delightful reminders of the essence of Hanukkah.

But, said Rabbi Kanter, when it comes to food, “Hanukkah can’t hold a candle to New Year’s and Passover.”

Still, they had me at sufganiyot.

reidel, by the way, is more than just a spinning top.

It’s really a game of chance with each player putting in chocolate gelt or markers into the kitty. The Hebrew symbols on each side of the dreidel—double as an acronym for Nes Gadol Haya Sham, “A great miracle happened there,” a reminder of the reason for the holiday––and the rules of the game: Nun, Gimel, Hey, Shin. Each spin of the dreidel will get the player either nothing (Nun), all (Gimel), or half (Hey) of the kitty, or they have to pony up (Shin). But at the end of the game, the winner who takes all divvies up the winnings among all players.

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The South Coast Insider / December 2015

17

BUSINESS BUZZ

Jason and Krysten Callina from Mastermind Adventures, along with their two sons, pose with their first prize check.

Spreading success

BY Jay Pateakos

In December 2010, Entrepreneurship for All (EForAll, then called the Merrimack Valley Sandbox,) opened with the goal of helping would-be entrepreneurs to succeed.

A bi-annual 12-week-long EForAll Accelerator Program, set to launch in the South Coast by mid-winter, pits fifteen to twenty entrepreneurs with mentors and experts to help them move their ventures along. Prize money is awarded to the best ideas, and the program brings entrepreneurs together with the goal of helping them to make it through that critical first year of building their ventures.

Shelley Cardoos, Executive Director of EForAll, said the New Bedford branch at 1213 Purchase Street, formed on September 21, will administer to both the New Bedford and Fall River areas.

“It’s for anybody looking to start a business, start a nonprofit, existing businesses working on ideas, or anyone who’s looking for guidance,” said

18

December 2015 / The South Coast Insider

Cardoos. “We target mid-sized cities, usually with a population of 80,000-200,000 – gateway cities that don’t usually have the resources. New Bedford and Fall River have high unemployment and this is a way to bring opportunity to the area.”

Accelerated achievement

The Accelerator Program experts are all volunteers and come from many different backgrounds to provide EForAll applicants a wide variety of entrepreneurship diversity. The applicants and their mentors meet twice a week for a few hours. The applicants compete for $30,000 in prize money and receive an additional nine months of entrepreneurship support after the 12-week portion of the program ends.

The first New Bedford function of the new EForAll branch was a pitch contest held at the Zeiterion Theater on October 23. Through an application process, twenty entrepreneurs were asked to bring their ideas, set up a table, get ready for some networking, and prepare themselves for some feedback and advice about their ideas from contest judges, fellow entrepreneurs, and the audience. Those ideas could pay heavy dividends – the grand prize for the best idea, voted on by a panel of judges, takes home $1,000, with a second place prize of $750, third place of $500 and a Fan Favorite winner also at $500.

Benares Angeley, owner of Mattapoisett’s Children’s Art Lab since January, took home second prize. She said she originally applied for the pitch

contest to get the word out about her business but in the end, got a lot more than that out of the event.

“It was cool to connect with so many people there. While there were some people from the tritown area there, I met people from all over including Plymouth, Tiverton, and Little Compton, and it helped me get the word out to many different people,” said Angeley, who offers art classes and walkin art time for students Tuesdays and Saturdays 10-2 p.m. and after school, allowing students to work at their own pace. “It was also nice that they offered an incentive to win a nice prize. It was nice to network with so many people (150 were at the event) but it was also great to secure something tangible to help the business.”

In her pitch, Angeley said that due to her business being so new and budget tight, she was basically performing her marketing on her personal iPad and hoped to one day secure a new computer that would make her business marketing much more efficient. The $750 in prize money will go exactly to that.

“There was a whole range of pitching, some that already had businesses that would use the money to further what they are doing and others who had an idea and wanted to use the money to help start a business,” said Angeley. “Winning the money was very helpful but everyone involved had information about their businesses on a table and they were able to interact with so many people. I received many great responses and will be able to partner and collaborate with other businesses.”

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Finding a way

Krysten Callina, who won the $1,000 first prize with her business “Mastermind Adventures,” formed six months ago in Somerset, only even applied a week before the event thanks to her husband’s prodding. The idea for Mastermind Adventures sprouted about three years ago when Callina was looking for something for her then non -athletic 9-year-old that would keep him physically active. She created “Nerf Wars” at the Teamwork’s building in Somerset.

“He wasn’t interested in sports and although he did martial arts, it wasn’t that physical, and he was chubby,” said Callina.

The Nerf Wars idea immediately took off and what started as an idea for her son turned into about 100 kids wanting to take part. She came up with other themed events like the Harry Potter Quidditch and Percy Jackson.

“I found there were other kids, like my son, who weren’t necessarily athletic, and who needed the exercise,” said Callina. “Suddenly, they were running and loving it.”

But it’s not all running either.

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Callina said she aims for a “fully immersive” experience, pairing the exercise with a little bit of learning (30-45 minute classes) and a little bit of creativity along the way. One recent class dealt with real life math work (probability and odds) and another class dealt with history and archaeology with the Vikings and where they were found in North America. She’s planning another event in February with a zombie theme.

“EForAll gave my business fantastic exposure and allowed me to meet so many people that were able to give me feedback and ideas. One person suggested coming up with curricula for SPED classrooms – another suggested it for adults,” said Callina. “It showed that it wasn’t just us who were excited about what we were doing. Others were too.”

Her $1,000 winning idea was to create curricula for after school programs to be used by libraries, schools, and childcare centers to help expand learning and physical activity at the same time.

“Eventually, we want anyone to be able to take these ideas and implement them in their own ways,” said Callina.

Facing the future

EForAll is not to be confused with organizations like SCORE or the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center, who provide business counseling as well as business plan preparation to would-be and existing entrepreneurs.

“We hold events like the pitch contest or the accelerator program as well as networking events for entrepreneurs,” said Cardoos. “If someone wants help with a particular need, we can point

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hether entertaining during the holidays or enjoying a quiet evening with family and friends, the right wine can make all the difference.

Shelley Cardoos hosted the Pitch Contest.

them to those organizations.”

Cardoos hopes to soon have an office in Fall River and will also be bringing in a full-time program manager to help with the programs for the New Bedford and Fall River area. Over the next few months, she will be securing volunteer business mentors for the South Coast’s first accelerator program and then launch the 12-week program, keeping tabs on the entrepreneurs throughout the process.

“We want to bring people in who have ideas and give them the tools and support they need to make it work,” said Cardoos. “We had people who took part in the pitch contest and who connected with so many people. One offered to build a business website for free for someone. Another one formed a partnership. It’s about giving people connections and the confidence to walk away and know they can succeed.”

With EForAll state funded for three years, Cardoos hopes to blossom the group into other languages. The Lowell and Lawrence programs offer Spanish speaking programs and Cardoos hopes to one day soon have access for both Portuguese and Spanish speakers in the South Coast as well.

“We’ll be getting right into the Accelerator Program planned for this winter and we will continue to work on getting mentors signed up,” said Cardoos. “It’s a way to bring people together who have ideas and help give them the tools and support to push them to the next level. It’s about connecting people and giving them the added confidence they need to succeed.”

For more information about the programs visit www.eforall.org or call 508-858-8522

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HEALTH & HAPPINESS

Cherishing

the generation gap

by Greg Jones

If you’re reading this magazine, chances are you’re very aware of the generation gap. It’s opening up at your feet, and, just behind you, there’s another one. Just ahead of you, there’s yet another. he naming of generations has become something of a national pastime, with the Greatest Generation, the Silent Generation, the Baby Boomers, Generation X and Generation Y (aka the Millennial.)

What to make of all this?

One of the more evident changes centers around technology. Baby Boomers grew up with dial phones and stamped letters, because long-distance phone calls were expensive.

The Boomers’ parents, once called the GI Generation, became the Greatest Generation after Tom Brokaw’s book of the same name. Born between 1901 and 1925, they grew up before television, and most of them spent their lives within 50 miles of their birthplace. They fought and won World War II, came home and gave birth to the Baby Boomers.

Tucked in between the Greatest Generation and the Boomers was the so-called Silent Generation, born between 1926 and 1945, too young for WWII and too old for the shenanigans of the Baby Boomers in the Summer of Love.

The Boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, were the first generation of the current batch to be named, and it’s probably safe to blame the media, in collusion with Madison Avenue, for this. The Boomers grew up with TV, cheap gas, lots of jobs, and parents who were glad the whole nasty business surrounding the Great Depression and WWII was finally over.

About mid-way through the Boomers’ allotted time on earth, technology began to change faster

22

December 2015 / The South Coast Insider

than anyone could keep up with. Arpanet begat the Internet, and then the Worldwide Web, and suddenly everything was different. Cell phones the size of a brick appeared, and soon, the “long distance call” was just a quaint concept.

It soon became evident that the Internet was going to be one of the defining elements of the generations. Gen Ears, born between 1965 and 1980, were at first called the “baby busters,” but that didn’t stick, despite being aptly descriptive of the declining birth rate. They more or less grew up with cell phones, and had email addresses when they were in high school.

The name “Generation X” was coined by a famous photographer by the name of Robert Capa, who called it “the unknown generation, the Generation X.” Gen X’ers have had a roller-coaster ride of a life so far, with the introduction of laptops, PCs, the Apple Macintosh, AIDS, Three-Mile Island, Chernobyl and the not-coincidental collapse of the USSR and the Berlin Wall. They are completely at home with technology, and it can seem they would rather text than talk, even to a person sitting near them. They’re cool – definitely not a part of any preceding generation – and are as different from their parents as the Boomers were from the Greatest Generation.

Finally we come to the Millennials, born between 1981 and 2012. This is the first generation that are so-called “digital natives.” The Internet isn’t new. It isn’t even interesting. It’s just here. They speak a language that even some Gen X’ers find foreign. Do you know about Tinder? Snapchat?

Periscope? Happn? Meercat? StreamUp? YouNow?

Digg? HEXO+? How about the Internet of Things?

Probably not, and neither do some Gen X’ers, but it’s all part of the cyber landscape for Millennials.

If you’re living in a multi-generational household, defined as three or more generations sharing a house, then you are part of a growing trend. In 2012, 18 percent of the population was living multi -generationally, twice the number in 1980. You are sharing living space with people whose life is very different from yours, as noted above. Yet, you’re all related, part of an extended family.

Rather than let the differences create tension, revel in it. Grampa Boomer could do with some technical problem-solving from son Gen-X, and the old car that Millennial grandson drives has an engine that Grampa Boomer had in his car twenty years ago.

Grammy Boomer still remembers how to make a cake from scratch, while Millennial granddaughter can help Grammy fill out her MediCare paperwork online.

If Grampa and Grammy can get on Facebook, they will be amazed to see how their high school classmates are doing. That’s a five-minute job for a Millennial, but possibly a life-changer for the older folks.

A few anecdotes of the unimaginable life of those born before the Internet will enlighten the younger set, whose horizons do not stretch far enough to remember payphones or 45 rpm records.

Enjoy the memories of the past, share the excitement of the future, and cherish the opportunities of a multi-generational household to enrich everyone’s life.

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23

HEALTH & HAPPINESS

A LOT ABOUT LUNGS

SNEEZING, SNORING, HICCUPS:

SOME FUN FACTS ABOUT BREATHING

by Dan Brule

Newborns babies breathe between 30 and 60 times per minute.

The average adult breathes about 15 times per minute, or about 900 times per hour. That’s over 20 thousand breaths a day!

It’s a good idea to practice breathing at half that rate, because 6 to 8 breaths per minute has proven to be a “therapeutic” zone. And many conditions like stress and high blood pressure, PTSD, ADD, chronic fatigue, asthma, anxiety, nervous disorders, and behavioral problems can be improved or even eliminated with Breath Control.

When we breathe, oxygen in the air is taken into the lungs and carried in the blood to every single cell of our body. Oxygen is used to burn glucose, and this is called cellular respiration. The blood returns waste products like carbon dioxide to your lungs to be breathed out of the system.

By the way, the body creates and kills an astounding 15 million blood cells every single second! Read that again! I love this stuff!

During a hard run, your respiratory rate can climb to 80 breaths per minute. A normal adult at rest takes in about half-liter of air per breath. With a deep breath we can take in 10 times that much.

We breathe about 11,000 liters of air per day. We also breathe out half-liter of water each day. In all, the lungs process about 4 million liters of air per year. On a grosser note, you will inhale about 45 pounds of dust if you live to the age of 80.

The lungs are amazing. They can survive outside the body longer than any other organ. And it’s the

24

December 2015 / The South Coast Insider

only organ that can float!

The word “lung” comes from the Old English lungen, which means “light” (at least it is relative to its size.)

There are 300 to 400 millions alveoli in the lungs. Those are microscopic air sacs that look like tiny clusters of grapes out at the tip of the smallest branches of the bronchial tree.

45% of normal adults snore occasionally, and 25% snore habitually.

The total surface area of the lungs is almost 100 square meters, or about the size of a tennis court!

Fully developed adult lungs contain about 1500 miles of airways!

The chemistry of breathing is fascinating. For example, the primary stimulus for breathing is carbonic acid (H2CO3): this is what you get when you mix carbon dioxide with water. It’s the fizz in

champagne and soda. It’s also found in rain.

Carbonic acid plays a vital role in keeping your pH in balance. The bicarbonate ion released from acid serves as a buffer – this means it can act as an acid or a base, depending on what is needed in the moment. Amazing, isn’t it?

You turn over in your sleep every half hour or so, mostly to balance the breath through each nostril.

And, in case you are interested, the nose produces about two shot glasses of mucus every day!

Sneezing The medical term for sneezing is “sternutation.” It is sort of a re-booting of the nose. It’s an automatic expulsion of air through the nose and mouth, usually caused by foreign particles irritating the nasal mucosa. Sneezing helps keep your body safe.

The sneeze center is in your lower brain stem.

It’s a complicated and coordinated event, involving muscles in your back, neck, abdomen, diaphragm, throat, vocal cords, face, and chest – with some muscles contracting and others relaxing. Even your eyelid muscles are involved. We close our eyes when we sneeze.

The ancient Greeks thought that sneezing was a sign from the gods. And this theme cuts across many cultures.

In some people, sneezing can be triggered by sudden exposure to bright light. These people are called photic.

Plucking your eyebrows can trigger a facial nerve, resulting in a sneeze!

It is believed that sneezed air travels up to 100 miles per hour, and the spray can travel more than five feet!

Most people sneeze once or twice or three times in a row. The longest sneezing spell is said to be 978 days: a record set by a woman named Donna Griffiths.

New research suggests that if we pinch our nose shut while sneezing, the backpressure triggers a surge in the production of nitric oxide (NO) in the sinuses. Nitric oxide is a natural vasodilator and a powerful antibacterial.

And here’s an interesting fact: it is impossible to sneeze while sleeping.

Snoring Forty-five percent of normal adults snore occasionally, and 25 percent snore habitually. Twice as many men snore as women. And the louder you snore, the higher the odds are that you are overweight.

The loudest snore (recorded in the Guinness Book of Records) was 92 decibels, by Melvin Switzer.

That’s about the same as a pneumatic drill or a food blender.

Snoring can occur when we are in a very relaxed sleeping state, or when there is poor muscle tone in the throat and tongue. Alcohol, certain drugs and too much fat tissue can cause it.

When muscles are too relaxed, the tongue falls backwards into the airway and/or the throat muscles draw in from the sides, narrowing the passages. When air tries to pass through these obstacles, the snoring sound results.

The UK patent office lists over 2,000 devices to prevent or treat snoring! Yet in many cases, simply turning onto your side may be all that is needed.

By the way, learning to play the didgeridoo strengthens the throat muscles and can cure snoring. This is not a common prescribed solution.

Sometimes snoring can be a sign of Obstructive Sleep Apnea or some other serious medical condition. So, heavy snorers may want to seek medical advice.

Hiccups Food and breath can enter the body thru the same channel – up to a point. Then the passage separates into the esophagus, which leads to the stomach, and the bronchial passage, which leads to the lungs.

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The South Coast Insider / December 2015

25

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Standing guard at that fork in the road is a very important little flap of skin called the epiglottis.

When we swallow, the epiglottis closes off the windpipe to prevent food and liquids from getting down into the lungs.

Sometimes, if we eat or drink too quickly, the epiglottis can’t do its job and we say something “goes down the wrong pipe.”It has probably happened to all of us at some point.

If a serious chunk of food goes down the wrong pipe, the airway can become completely blocked.

This is a life-threatening event and the Heimlich Maneuver may be required. (If you have not learned this procedure, you should!)

From time to time the diaphragm contracts due to spasming. When this happens, an inhale is inadvertently triggered. Normally when we inhale, the epiglottis gets the message that breathing is happening and it remains open to allow air into the lungs. However, when a spasm of the diaphragm occurs, the epiglottis isn’t notified that a breath is happening, and it slams shut.

That’s what a hiccup is: spasm of the diaphragm followed by the sudden closing of the glottis. Did I tell you I love this stuff? Sometimes hiccups can go on for quite a while. The average is five minutes – regardless of what “cure” you employ to stop them.

When I was young, I hated the hiccups! I found them to be very painful, so I learned to prevent them by keeping my epiglottis open. As a result, I experience a rush of air into my lungs with each spasm of the diaphragm instead of the usual hiccup! And the spasms stop after only two or three “rushes.”

For more information about Breathwork or to download a free copy of my book, “Shut Up And Breathe!”, please go to www.breathmastery.com.

PS: If you are ready to get onto the Path of Breath Mastery right now, you can enroll in the 60-Day Online Course: “21 Lessons in the Art and Science of Breathwork.” Visit: http://breathmastery.com/ onlinecourse Or, join my Breath Mastery Inner Circle, and freely access almost 40 years of breath and breathing research, articles, essays, audio/video files, seminar transcripts, workshop handouts, and even complete training manuals! Visit: http://www.breathmastery.com/ breathmastery-inner-circle-membership *NOTE: None of this is meant as a substitute for medical advice. If you have a medical condition or any health concerns, consult your physician or a qualified medical professional before starting any exercise program.

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www.BristolCountyPrecast.webs.com The South Coast Insider / December 2015

27

BUSINESS BUZZ

By Michael J. Vieira

Marc N. Belanger

here are two schools of thought: “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks,” and, “If you don’t learn something new every day you’ll die.”

As a former educator, I’m an ardent believer in the latter philosophy. And while learning may never end once your leave the classroom, there’s no rule that says you have to leave in the first place. As 2016 rolls in, it’s worth looking into some of the formal education opportunities we have at our fingertips here on the South Coast.

T

Changing Lives Bristol Community College was chartered in 1965, and at 50 years old it is still changing lives.

With more than 150 career and transfer programs leading to degrees or certificates plus non-credit offerings, you can get anywhere from there, as President Jack Sbrega likes to say.

He’s right. As a former faculty member and retired administrator at BCC who’s returned to teaching, I could fill a book with tales of student success.

Some took advantage of dual enrollment programs. They were high school students who took college classes. Some didn’t fit in with the regiment of traditional schools – others weren’t challenged by them and still others were home-schooled.

More than one earned both a high school diploma and a community college degree the same

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December 2015 / The South Coast Insider

weekend, including an Eagle Scout who went from homeschool to BCC to Georgetown University.

Ironically, it took a public school to make that happen.

Others, like Ian, came in from a good family and a fine area high school, but in his senior year he didn’t apply himself. As a result, he didn’t get into a four-year college, but checked out a community college.

It doesn’t matter if you’re young or old, smart or challenged, rich or poor, education can change your life.

At BCC, he focused on his classes, played sports, got back on track and embarked on an international adventure. After studying in Egypt, he’s now teaching English overseas.

Many others worked and raised their families, then, later in life, returned to school. They became engineers like Kathy who is now overseeing natural gas expansion in the region and the nation. Not bad for a dance mom who is now pursuing advanced degrees.

For others, it was a scenic route through GED courses into developmental courses, then onto careers in a wide range of programs. Go to a campus or center in Fall River, Attleboro, New Bedford, and Taunton, or explore online at www.bristolcc.edu.

Changing Paths Horace Mann wrote that, “Education… is the great equalizer of the conditions of men – the balance-wheel of the social machinery.”

More than 150 years after he echoed this sentiment and heralded an era of teacher training that took root in nearby Bridgewater and other communities, his words still ring true.

For me and many others, Bridgewater State College (now University) was a life-changing place.

I love to share Justin’s story. He was one of my Durfee kids – a good kid with lots of potential, but not much direction.

Justin went to BCC after graduation, and dropped all his classes. Then he went back parttime while working at a residential special needs facility where he became a manager. From there, he passed through UMass Dartmouth briefly and then moved on to Bridgewater State.

He loved philosophy, but went into business because that’s where the jobs were. Justin worked at Lenscrafters and was one of the top 50 sellers in the country. Then he was recruited into banking and was successful there, until he questioned the ethics of the industry.

After talking to a Bridgewater professor, he returned to college life. With the help of a mentor, he earned teaching fellowships at universities in Washington state and in Calgary, Canada. He’ll be defending his doctoral dissertation in philosophy this spring.

Oh yeah, and along the way he’s presented papers at Oxford University, in Dublin, and in other countries – of course including our own United States. Whether you’re a new student or a transfer student, check out www.bridgew.edu to discover your own path and follow it wherever it may lead.

Changing history A number of cities and towns in Massachusetts can argue where the cradle was originally located, but no one can debate that the Commonwealth is the birthplace of education in the United States.

Locally, take a ride on Route 118 through Rehoboth and the sign says, “Birthplace of Public Education in North America.” They cite a 1643 vote to pay a tax for education – a year before Dedham.

Boston Latin may lay claim to being the first school in 1635, but it wasn’t publicly funded – and even Fall River gets into the act. In 1874, they were the first community to provide free textbooks.

Lots of people are afraid of Durfee and other urban, public schools. To me, they are examples of Horace Mann’s “great equalizer.”

No matter where you come from, how much money you have, how smart (or not so smart) you may be, public schools need to take you in. And, like good families, they support and encourage you along the way.

They take kids like Ed who went from not being able to write sentences and help him to become an amazing firefighter. Heath fought his way from lower-level English to a Ph.D. Then there’s Lisa, the foster kid who joined the Navy and became a photographer. Milton went from skateboarding to school to becoming a reporter at a major newspaper.

Recently, Jay, a community leader, talked about how his kids went to Durfee even though they could have gone to private schools. For him, like for me and many others, the lessons that take place in public schools are priceless.

Students learn to deal with others in comprehensive high schools. And, like in the real world, that means the good, the bad and, yes, the ugly. But isn’t that what life is all about?

It doesn’t matter if you’re young or old, smart or challenged, rich or poor, education can change your life. I’ve seen it happen time and time again.

Who knows where the path will lead? But you – and only you – can resolve to make a new you.

Ring out the old and ring in the new.

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Rick Finneran 781-864 -2401 The South Coast Insider / December 2015

29

Ahoy! Come Visit Us!

FLASH

Discover the South Coast’s maritime history The Marine Museum is open through December 19, so there’s still time to see our collection of ship models and maritime objects.

Consider the museum for holiday shopping!

Find unique gifts including maritime themed items for women, kids, friends, and everyone! Prisms, books, jewelry, housewares, and Titanic line collectibles.

Keep an eye out for our 2016 opening on April 1, 2016.

Mechanics Cooperative Bank employees raise money for Breast Cancer Awareness

In October, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Employees of Mechanics Cooperative Bank raised over $1600 to be donated to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The employees designed and sold pink t-shirts featuring the Bank Logo and the breast cancer awareness pink ribbon. Branches also had donation canisters, and employees made private donations as well. ABOVE: Employees stand proud in their custom pink shirts along with a check for the proceeds going to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Come enjoy new and improved galleries including a kid’s area.

Book your group visit or consider renting the museum for your special function.

Visit www marinemuseumfr.org for continuous event calendar updates.

LIKE us on Facebook!

70 Water Street Fall River, MA 508-674-3533 www.marinemuseumfr.org 30

December 2015 / The South Coast Insider

Boys and Girls Club of Fall River’s GALA Fundraiser

On November 7, the Boys and Girls Club of Fall River held its major fundraising event, the GALA Fundraiser.

Proceeds from the event went to support the Club’s thirty-three enriching programs supporting academic success, healthy lifestyle choices, and good character and leadership. The event featured a silent auction, dinner buffet, open bar, and music by The Crash Land Band. Above: The community came out in full force to help support the youth of Fall River.

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31

DATELINE: SOUTH COAST

News, views and trends... from Mount Hope Bay to Buzzards Bay

by Elizabeth Morse Read

It’s time for white lights and First Night! Listen to the bells, the caroling, and the sound of friends and families celebrating the holidays. Share the love and the warmth of the season with others!

across the region Southcoast Health ranks 1st in New England (and 8th in the U.S.) as Best Hospital for Heart Attack Care, according to the national website www.BetterDoctor.com.

City leaders are pitching the benefits of relocating to Fall River to the new owners of the Pawtucket Red Sox. SeaStreak LLC, which already operates high-speed passenger ferries from New Bedford to Martha’s Vineyard, has appealed to the Woods Hole/Martha’s Vineyard/Nantucket Steamship Authority to run twicedaily ferries from New Bedford to Nantucket, starting next spring. Stay tuned…

Work has begun on the construction of the Amazon distribution center in Fall River, which is scheduled to open in late 2016, and which promises to create 1,000 new jobs. FedEx has also proposed building a new regional distribution center on the Seekonk/Swansea line, not far from the new Amazon distribution center.

Attleboro is to the holiday season what Plymouth is to Thanksgiving and Bristol to the Fourth of July.

Visit the 62nd Annual Christmas Festival of Lights at LaSalette Shrine starting November 26! For more info, visit www.lasalette-shrine.org or call 508-222-5410.

The U.S. Energy Department predicts that homeheating costs will be significantly lower this winter.

Fill your baskets with fresh local produce, cheeses, jellies, wines, pies, and holiday greenery. To find a farm, vineyard, or farmers market near you, visit www.semaponline.org, www.pickyourown.org, www. farmfresh.org, or www.localharvest.org.

The Samaritans of Bristol County needs crisis hotline volunteers. Training is provided. For more info, call 508-679-9777 or 508-673-3777.

Junior Achievement of Southern Mass. needs volunteers to teach workforce readiness, financial literacy and entrepreneurship to students in Bristol County and southern Plymouth County. Training and materials are provided. For more info, contact Elaine Meredith at Elaine.Meredith@ja.org or 508-997-6536 x12.

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December 2015 / The South Coast Insider

A major economic development plan is in the works for the New Harbor Mall. A new “South Coast Plaza,” scheduled to open in summer 2017, would include a 10-screen cinema, stores, restaurants and possibly a grocery store. Stay tuned…

Stroll through the Blithewold Mansion and Gardens!

Don’t miss “Sparkle: Christmas at Blithewold” through January 3. For info, call 401-253-2707 or go to www. blithewold.org.

My Brother’s Keeper of Easton and Dartmouth is looking for volunteers and gently-used residential furniture for families in need. Free pick-up. Call 774305-4577 or visit www.MyBrothersKeeper.org.

carver

At the height of the blizzard last February, Paul Trost of Freetown came upon a single-car accident on Rt. 140, where the elderly driver was trapped beneath his overturned SUV. Trost was able to jack the vehicle up enough so that he and other passersby were able to help the victim until emergency responders arrived.

In recognition of his heroic efforts, Trost was awarded the State Police Lifesaver Award at the Statehouse in October.

State Troopers Nathan Monteiro of New Bedford and Jeremy Lockwood of Freetown were awarded Medals of Valor by the Massachusetts Police Association for their heroic actions during a shootout in Bourne last February.

attleboro Take the kids to Mass Audubon’s Oak Knoll Wildlife Sanctuary and Nature Center! For more info, call 508223-3060 or visit www.MassAudubon,org.

Watch a performance of “Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus” on selected dates between December 4-20, performed by the Attleboro Community Theatre! For details, call 508-226-8100 or go to www.

AttleboroCommunityTheatre.com.

bristol Learn about life in the 18th century – take the family to the Coggeshall Farm Museum for “Home and Hearth” workshops! For details, visit www. coggeshallfarm.org or call 401-253-9062.

The Festival of Lights begins on November 20 at Edaville Railroad, and the Polar Express rides will be held on Mondays and Tuesdays through December 29!

Take the kids on Dino Land or Thomas the Tank Engine train rides! For more info, visit www.edaville.com or call 508-866-8190.

dartmouth Mark your calendar for the monthly Paskamansett Concert Series at the Dartmouth Grange Hall in Russells Mills. Charlie Cover and Friends will perform on December 12, and Bill Harley on January 9.

For more info, call 401-241-3793, or visit www.

PaskamansettConcertSeries.weebly.com.

UMass Dartmouth’s Music Department will present several special events this month. There’ll be a Wind Ensemble Concert on December 1, a Javanese Gamelan Concert on December 2, a Jazz Class Voice Concert on December 6, a Jazz Guitar Ensemble and Jazz Concert on December 9, and a Choral Concert on December 10. For more info, call 508-999-8568 or go to www.umassd.edu/cvpa/undergraduate/music.

Paskamansett Woods, the newest nature reserve operated by the Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust, is now open to the public. For more info, go to www. dnrt.org.

Explore the Lloyd Center for the Environment in Dartmouth! Learn about Winter Animal Signs on December 5. Or try your hand at canoeing or kayaking!

For details and dates, call 508-990-0505 or visit www. lloydcenter.org.

Continued ON PAGE 34

FAMILY

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Continued FROM PAGE 32

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The Winter Farmer’s Market has returned to the ORR Junior High School gymnasium, and will be open on the second and fourth Saturday of every month through April.

Check out the Children’s Museum in Easton!

For info, call 508-230-3789 or visit www.childrens museumineaston.org.

fairhaven Don’t miss Fairhaven’s multi-event “Old-Time Holiday Weekend” on December 12-13! Learn more at www.fairhaventours@aol.com or call 508-979-4085.

Japanophiles! If you’re interested in the history of Japan-America ties, plan a visit the Whitfield-Manjiro Friendship House, where it all began. Go to www. wmfriendshiphouse.org or call 508-995-1219 for details.

Meet your friends on Saturdays at the Oxford Book Haven and Café at the Church of the Good Shepherd in North Fairhaven. Fresh soups and desserts, used books on sale, and WiFi. To learn more, visit www.

GoodShepherdFairhaven.com or call 508-992-2281.

fall river

The South Coast Community Chorale will perform its Christmas Concert, featuring Schubert’s “Mass in G Major,” on December 13 at Good Shepherd Parish. For more info, go to www.sccchorale.com.

Canna Care Docs, a medical marijuana specialty health practice, has opened its doors on North Main Street. Not a dispensary for cannabis products, Canna Care provides the medical certification for MA/ RI residents to acquire the state identification card needed to legally purchase or grow medical marijuana.

To learn more, call 781-382-8053.

Help invigorate and showcase the arts and culture scene in Fall River – volunteer for AHA! Fall River!

There will be AHA! events on April 21, July 21, October 20 and December 15 in 2016. To learn more, call Sandy Dennis at 508-673-2939 or Donna Winn at 401-663-6889.

Don’t miss AHA! Fall River’s “Classic Christmas Creativity” event on December 17 at the Government Center! To find out what’s happening in Fall River, go to www.ahafallriver.com or call 508-294-5344.

Fall River’s Little Theatre will perform “Nunsense A-Men” December 3-13. For details, call 508-675-1852 or go to www.littletheatre.net.

Mark your calendar for the Fall River Symphony Orchestra’s Holiday Pops Concert, with the Southcoast Chorale, on December 6 at BCC’s Jackson Arts Center. For info and tickets, visit www.

FallRiverSymphonyOrchestra.org.

Head for Battleship Cove! Pearl Harbor Day will be commemorated on December 7 – and experience a 1940’s Navy Christmas dinner on December 9! Call 508-678-1100 for info or visit www.BattleshipCove.org.

Spindle City Ballet will be presenting it’s lively holiday classic production of “The Nutcracker” on December 19 at 2:00 and 7:00 pm and on December 20 at 2:00 pm at Bristol Community College in Fall River. Tickets to the performance are $10-$30. For more information call 508-536-6073 or go to www.spindlecityballet.org. or email lisabibeau@spindlecityballet.org Check out the largest collection of Titanic memorabilia in the U.S., including the one-ton model used in the 1953 movie, at the Fall River Marine Museum in Battleship Cove. For more info, call 508-674-3533 or visit www.marinemuseumfr.org.

Spend a Sunday afternoon exploring the colonialera Lafayette-Durfee House in Fall River! Call 508-8738230 or go to www.lafayettedurfeehouse.org.

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December 2015 / The South Coast Insider

Stroll through “A Victorian Christmas” at the Fall River Historical Society. For dates and times, call 508679-1071 or visit www.fallriverhistorical.org or www. lizzieborden.org.

The Narrows Center for the Arts has a fabulous line-up. There’s The Weight December 4, Rusted Root Holiday Show December 11, James McMurtry December 17, Savoy Brown December 18, Funky White Honkies January 1, and much, much more! For a complete schedule, visit www.narrowscenter.com or call 508-324-1926.

Explore the trails, wildlife and scenery of the Mattapoisett River Reserve – leashed dogs welcome.

Hike, fish, picnic, bird-watch – and it’s a great place for cross-country skiing, too! For more info, go to www. savebuzzardsbay.org.

middleboro Don’t miss the Holiday Fair on December 5 at the Soule Homestead! For more info, go to www. soulehomestead.org or call 508-947-6744.

middletown Take the children to the Nativity of Christ Puppet Show at the United Congregational Church on December 2-4! For details, call 401-846-3515.

Attend the 104th Annual Medieval Christmas Pageant on December 15 at the St. George’s School Chapel.

Free. For more info, call 401-847-7565 or go to www. stgeorges.edu.

Take a stroll through the Norman Bird Sanctuary!

EcoTours for all ages. For info, visit www. normanbirdsanctuary.org or call 401-846-2577.

new bedford The Harbor Walk, a three-quarter mile path atop the hurricane dike in the city’s south end, has officially opened to the public.

If you’re 50 or older, check out the trips sponsored by the New Bedford Senior Travel Program. There’s a day-trip to the Berkshire Museum Festival of Trees on December 2, Brightnights at Forest Park on December 9, Foxwoods on December 14. For details, call 508-991-6171.

Free trolley rides to-and-from the city’s Senior Centers are now available – for a schedule, contact the Council on Aging at 508-324-2401.

Check out what’s going on at the Children’s Museum of Greater Fall River. For more info, go to www.cmgfr. org or call 508-672-0033.

lakeville Don’t miss the “Made in Lakeville” Holiday Crafts and Gifts Sale on December 5! For more info, go to www. lakevillearts.com

Enjoy the centennial season of the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra at its Holiday Pops Concert on December 19 at the Zeiterion! For more info, call 508999-6276 or visit www.nbsymphony.org.

Don’t miss the Christmas Cantata and SingAlong on December 7 at Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. James Parish! For more info, go to www. saintanthonynewbedford.org.

W e e x p l or e a s w e c r e at e .

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Take a tour of the city’s historic district and the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park! For more info, go to www.nps.gov/nebe. And while you’re there, explore New Bedford’s evolution from a whaling port to an industrial giant at the new exhibit “Energy and Enterprise: Industry and the City of New Bedford” at the Whaling Museum. For more info, visit www. whalingmuseum.org or call 508-997-0046.

It’s all happenin’ at the Z! Head for the Zeiterion for “A Christmas Carol” December 12, A Celtic Christmas Sojourn December 17, the NBSO’s Holiday Pops Concert on December 19. Don’t miss the Zeiterion’s New Year’s Eve Bash at the Whaling Museum on December 31 – family-friendly, food, music, great view of the fireworks! And plan ahead for “Saturday Night Fever: The Musical” on January 17! Go to www. zeiterion.org or call 508-999-6276.

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3879 Main Road • 401-639-4348 Get ready for all the holiday events in downtown New Bedford! There’s the family-friendly Holiday Stroll on December 5-6, the Santa Sightings Fun Run (TBA), the NBSO’s Holiday Pops Concert at the Z December 19 and First Night Celebrations on December 31 – get the details at www.downtownnb.org or call 508-990-2777.

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Please join Dan as he guides you through the powerful and wonderful experience of conscious breathing.

Enjoy FREE family fun and entertainment on AHA! Nights – The December 10 theme is “Made in New Bedford,” and “City Celebrates New Year’s Eve” is on December 31. Go to www.ahanewbedford.org or call 508-996-8253.

Curtain time! Mark your calendar to see Sam Shepherd’s “True West” performed January 14-24 by Your Theatre in New Bedford. For info, call 508-9930772 or go to www.yourtheatre.org.

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Visit the whaling-era mansion and grounds at the Rotch-Jones-Duff House. For more info, call 508-9971401 or visit www.rjdmuseum.org.

If you’re a fan of Americana and roots music, check out the monthly Salon Concerts at the Wamsutta Club.

Flynn Cohen & The Blackthorne Publick House will perform on December 2. For more info, go to www. wamsuttaconcerts.com.

Continued ON NEXT PAGE

For further information call 508-679-1071 ext. 5

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Listen to a 100-voice choir and symphonic ensemble perform a Christmas Cantata and Sing-Along on December 6 at St. Lawrence Martyr Church. For more info, call 508-264-8010.

Take a winter walk through the Buttonwood Park Zoo! For info, call 508-991-6178 or visit www.bpzoo.org.

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The South Coast Insider / December 2015

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on February 14. Call 401-421-2787 or go to www.

newport

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Don’t miss the St. Petersburg Russian Men’s Ensemble sing at Emmanuel Church on December 13! For details, call 401-847-0675 or visit. www.EmmanuelNewport. org.

Mark your calendar for the Annual Christmas Tree Lighting on December 5 at Bowen’s Wharf! Get details at www.bowenswharf.com.

Don’t miss the Island Moving Company’s annual performance of “The Newport Nutcracker” at Rosecliff Mansion on December 1-4! For details, visit www. islandmovingco.org or www.newportmansions.org.

Don’t miss “A Christmas Carol” at Trinity Rep through December 31. Plan ahead for “The Heidi Chronicles” December 3 through January 3. For more info, call 401351-4242 or go to www.trinityrep.com.

Listen to the Rhode Island Philharmonic’s performances of Dvorak’s “New World” on January 16!

For details, go to www.ri-philharmonic.org.

Take the kids to “Visits With Santa” through December 6 at the Roger Williams Park Zoo! Daily. For more info, go to www.rwpzoo.org or call 401-785-3510.

Stroll through the splendor of “Christmas at the Newport Mansions” through January 3! For more info, go to www.newportmansions.org.

Louise Racine Bastarche, a long-time midwife at Tobey Hospital, was awarded the Omega Awarded by the non-profit Healthy Children Project.

Plan a dinner-theatre night out at the Newport Playhouse! “Always a Bridesmaid” will be performed through December 31, and a special “Christmas with the Stars” will be performed December 12-15. For more information, call 401-848-7529 or go to www. newportplayhouse.com.

It’s official – the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station (the only nuclear power plant in Massachusetts) will close by 2019.

The Americana Theatre Company will present “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” On December 3-13 at the Plymouth Center for the Arts. For more info, call 508-591-0282 or visit www.americanatheatre.org.

warren

Find out what’s on stage at the Providence Performing Arts Center! There’s the Boston Pops Holiday Concert on December 6, Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” December 8-13, The Festival Ballet’s “Nutcracker” December 18-20, and “Annie” December 29 through January 3! Plan ahead for the multi-media concert “StarTrek: The Ultimate Voyage”

Plan ahead to hear “Andrius Zlabys & Friends” on February 13 at Goff Memorial Hall, part of the “Arts in the Village” series. For details, visit www. carpentermuseum.org.

portsmouth

somerset

Get back to your musical roots at Common Fence Music! There’s Aine Minogue’s 21st Annual Winter Solstice Celebration December 19! For more info, visit www.commonfencemusic.org or call 401-683-5085.

Sonic Drive-In will open in March in the former Wendy’s Restaurant on GAR Highway.

providence

Twin River Management Group is proposing to build a casino on a site off Route 81. If approved by the town, the new casino would replace the Newport Grand casino.

Explore the Children’s Museum in Providence! Go to www.childrenmuseum.org or call 401-273-5437.

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December 2015 / The South Coast Insider

Check out what’s playing at 2nd Story Theatre!

“Neighborhood Watch” is on stage through December 6, “Story Theatre” through December 20. Call 401-2474200 or go to www.2ndstorytheatre.com.

westport

rehoboth

The Pilgrim Festival Chorus will present “A Very British Christmas” on December 5-6 at the Church of the Pilgrimage. Learn more at www. pilgrimfestivalchorus.org or call 781-826-8416.

Don’t miss the stunning performances at Rhode Island College – plan ahead for The Muir String Quartet on February 1. For info and tickets, call 401-456-8144 or visit www.ric.edu/pfa.

wareham

Compassionate Care Clinics, which operates legal dispensaries for medical marijuana for physiciancertified patients, has approached the Board of Selectmen.

Check out “Undecked Halls” at Rough Point Mansion December 5-29. For more info, visit www. newportrestoration.org or call 401-847-8344.

plymouth

The Sandywoods Center for the Arts will present Gong Sound Bath on December 19 and contra dancing every month. For a complete schedule, go to www. sandywoodsmusic.com or call 401-241-7349.

tiverton

Find out what’s happening at Tiverton Four Corners!

Check out the Winter Arts & Artisans Fair December 1213. Get details at www.fourcornersarts.org and www. tivertonfourcorners.com.

Concerts at the Point will present The Fred Moyer Jazz Trio on December 20. For more info, call 508-6360698 or visit www.concertsatthepoint.org.

Explore 18th and 19th-century life at the Handy House. For more info, visit www.wpthistory.org or call 508-636-6011.

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Label me fed up

By Paul E. Kandarian

Know what I want for Christmas?

For all of us to stop using labels.

Last month, I was poking around Facebook because it’s there to be poked around on, and one of those annoying pop-up things popped up listing “Celebrities Who Play It Straight But Are Actually Gay.” I’m not kidding.

I have no idea why anyone came up with this list, but there it was at PressRoomVIP.com, with the lead-in: “Although actors often play people vastly different from themselves on screen, their talents can be so convincing that we often desire to know the actual crossover between performer and character.

something and for emphasis puts in a “hello,” with the inference being “what, are you stupid or something, don’t you get it?” it makes me nuts.

And it continued with “Take a look at some of our favorite openly gay actors who are well known for ‘playing it straight’.” Sigh.

They listed several actors, male and female, some I’d heard of, some I had not, some I knew were gay, some I did not, and none of them, not a single one, did I care to know their sexuality.

But apparently many do, as evidenced by the gift of labeling, categorizing, pigeon-holing, looping people into specific slots for the benefit of… I don’t know what, there is no benefit, unless it’s a police

We as a society, or perhaps as media affectation, tend to label people, be it “Female CEO” or “Black politician” or “gay actor,” and so forth.

And of course, when it comes to sexuality, people are always a little extra curious.”

How wonderfully omniscient of them to note that “we often desire” to know how much the character the actor really is, and that “people are always a little extra curious” when it comes to someone else’s sexuality. Did you have any idea we were always a little extra curious? I didn’t, but thankfully the good folks at PressRoomVIP.com did.

It went on to say that “Some of television and cinema’s greatest and most convincing gay characters have been played by straight actors hello, Patrick Swayze and Wesley Snipes in Too Wong Foo!? but the inverse is also true.”

OK, for the record, I never saw the movie, but it sounds dreadful, and when someone says or write

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December 2015 / The South Coast Insider

report to be on the lookout for a criminal with specific physical or racial attributes.

So silly me, I started to wish for the day no one has to label people and just think of them as, you know, people.

In 2005, Mike Wallace was interviewing the actor Morgan Freeman, who said he found Black History Month “ridiculous.” And when Wallace asked why, Freeman shot back “You’re going to relegate my history to a month?” And it continued with: Freeman: Which month is white history month?

No, Come on, tell me.

Wallace: Well, I’m Jewish.

Freeman: Okay. Which month is Jewish history month?

Wallace: There isn’t one.

Freeman: Oh. Oh, why not? Do you want one?

Wallace: No. No. Freeman: I don’t either. I don’t want a Black History Month. Black history is American history.

Wallace: How are we going to get rid of racism and...

Freeman: Stop talking about it. I’m going to stop calling you a white man, and I’m going to ask you to stop calling me a black man. I know you as Mike Wallace. You know me as Morgan Freeman. You want to say, “Well, I know this white guy named Mike Wallace.” You know what I’m saying?

Bingo. Dead-on perfect. And helping was that Morgan Freeman has one of the most mellifluous voices in recorded history. I could listen to that man read the phone book.

But it points out the ludicrousness of labels.

Saying Morgan Freeman is black is like saying ice cream is cold, or Santa Claus is fat. Do we need to say it, label it, single it out? No, we do not.

I recently made a short film with two extraordinarily young filmmakers who happened to be

women, Kaitlin Owens and Katie Shannon. On the drive home, I realized I was thinking in terms of “female filmmakers,” and thus realized the insidious pervasive power of labeling. Did I need to think they were “female filmmakers?” No. Just “filmmakers” would suffice, two people who are focused, determined, superbly talented, professional, and blessed with clarity of purpose and vision.

We as a society, or perhaps as media affectation, tend to label people, be it “Female CEO” or “Black politician” or “gay actor,” and so forth. I yearn for the day, no doubt past my lifespan, when such labels aren’t necessary or in the forefront of our collective brains, when we are just who we are, doing what we do – people, one in the same, individually and together, engaged in the singular human purpose of being purposefully human.

Labels don’t make people, people. For Christmas, and forever, I would like stop categorizing our differences and start accepting our similarities. It will make for a far saner, happier place to live.

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