S o u t h
C o a s t
Prime timeS Jun e / Ju ly 2 012 • Volum e 8 • Num ber 3
R eflect, rel a x, restore Remembering Lincoln Park Discovering South Coast Music Staying Healthy
Be financialy fit Reverse mortgages Taxing retirement
Plus… Technology tips and “In brief”
The Hearing Center at Eye Health Vision Centers invites you to join us and be among the first to see and experience Wi Series by Starkey
Wednesday and Thursday June 27 & 28, 2012 at our Dartmouth location 51 State Road, North Dartmouth, MA
Are you or someone you know struggling with hearing loss? RSVP today to learn about the latest advances in Audiology from Starkey. Loaded with Starkey’s most cutting edge technology, Wi Series hearing aides are designed to make listening easy and enjoyable again. Our Hearing Care Professionals, Doctor of Audiology, Rena Jacobson and Board Certified Specialist, Wade Chubbuck are excited to present this breakthrough technology to you. With their combined 40 years experience in the hearing health industry, they can serve your NEEDS and your BUDGET.
Wireless. Seamless.
Mobile.
One device does it all. Designed to improve hearing: • Cell phones • Meetings • Noisy Places • Television • Lectures • Music
Call 508-910-2221 today to reserve your spot. The visit is absolutely FREE! Return this Coupon for a chance to WIN! Qualified participants will be entered into a drawing to win a TV ears infrared listening system—$150 value.
www.eyehealthvision.com
The Bath Cove 145 Faunce Corner Road North Dartmouth, MA 02747 (508) 997-5466
Elevance™ Rising Wall Bath
A stylish alternative to traditional walk-in-baths, Elevance Rising Wall bath is designed to provide safety, comfort and control while you lounge comfortably at a perfect soaking depth. Visit our showroom to experience firsthand the exceptional quality of the KOHLERÂŽ Elevance Rising Wall bath.
305R Oliphant Lane Middletown, RI 02842 (401) 846-8680 www.thebathcove.com
We are
relief.
Back pain doesn’t always mean back surgery. At the Southcoast Brain & Spine Center, you’ll find comfort knowing our spine care experts offer a full range of treatment options to relieve your pain.
The Southcoast Brain & Spine Center. Total. Expert. Care. Focused on you.
If surgery is the answer, know that we have some of the most skilled surgeons in the region who are able to offer the most advanced minimally invasive surgical options.
Locations in Fall River, Dartmouth and Wareham.
For you, that means faster recovery and, above all, relief,
855-778-0088 (toll free)
so you can get back to doing what you love.
www.southcoast.org/brainandspine
fe
el
bet
ter
Need more help for your
OCD
(Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)? When treatment with Anafranil ®, Paxil®, Zoloft®, Luvox®, or Prozac®* just isn’t enough: There is a new medical research study evaluating a potential additional treatment for OCD patients.
From family to friends to work, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder can affect every part of your life. For some OCD patients, currently available treatments are enough to help them deal with this disorder. However, many people with OCD may need more than those medications to successfully manage this challenging condition. If you are one of these patients, you may be interested in learning more about a medical research study of a new investigational medication.
To pre-qualify for this study, patients must: • Be at least 18 years of age • Be diagnosed with OCD • Have been taking one of the following five medications for at least six weeks prior to this study and at the minimum daily dosage listed:
Anafranil® (clomipramine) 150 mg Luvox® (fluvoxamine) 200 mg Prozac® (fluoxetine) 40 mg Paxil® (paroxetine) 40 mg Zoloft® (sertraline) 100 mg
Qualified participants will receive study-related medical evaluations and study medication at no cost. Reimbursement for travel may also be provided. You will receive additional information on the risks and benefits related to this study if you decide to participate.
To learn more, please contact:
Beacon Clinical Research | 508-584-2030 x210 | www.OCDStudy.co | info@beaconclinical.com *The generic name for Anafranil® is clomipramine; for Luvox®: fluvoxamine; for Prozac®: fluoxetine; for Paxil®: paroxetine; for Zoloft®: sertraline
© MediciGlobal, Inc. 2011
june/july 2012
contents 12 30 34
14 32
F e atures
Prime living
6
18 Giving back
Extra! Extra: In brief… By Elizabeth Morse Read
12 The open road
By Brian J. Lowney
24 Get some sleep
By Joyce Rowley
G ood times
14 R.I.P. Lincoln Park
By Jay Pateakos
20 Meet Professor Ingraham 26 Mosquitos bite
28 South Coast Music
32 Is reverse right
39 Gallery turns to the sea
By Mel B. Yoken
By Joyce Rowley
By David Prentiss
By Paul Letendre
30 Technology:
Techni-clothing by Dan Logan and Robin LaCroix
By Elizabeth Morse Read
36 Prevent skin cancer
By Cara Connelly
34 Taxing opportunities 38 Don’t tan
By Sherri Mahoney-Battles
O n the cover This Onset porch is a great place to reflect, relax and restore before actively enjoying the summer. 2
P rime he alth
S ou th C oast P r ime T imes
J une / J uly 2012
By Flavia Thornson, RN
40 Healthy living
By Paul E. Kandarian
“a bank that takes care of business.”
That’s right! The commercial banking team at BayCoast Bank will take care of you and your business like no other bank. That’s because we’re local and empowered to solve problems — and yes, even get “creative” to help your business succeed. We think that’s ‘just right.™’ Whether you are looking for a loan for expansion, construction, new equipment, a term loan, line of credit, or a business checking account — we’ve got it. Call us. Let’s talk about what we can do for your business.
facebook.com/BayCoast Bank • www.BayCoastBank.com
serving the south coast region / 508.678.7641 Member FDIC Member DIF
Formerly Citizens~Union Savings Bank
S ou th C oast P r ime T imes
J une / J uly 2012
3
SouthCoastPrimeTimesAD_12.qxd:Layout 1
4/20/12
1:06 PM
Page 1
From The Publisher FAST on our HIGH-SPEED FERRY GET THERE
For many of us in the South Coast,
ONLY 30 MINUTES TO BLOCK ISLAND
summer brings back memories of Lincoln Park, tanning on the beach, and road trips. In this issue, we take another look back (and forward) on the things that make these months so special to so many. Lincoln Park has been closed for years, but it remains an unforgettable destination. Jay Pateakos talks to some
Departs daily from PT.
JUDITH
TRADITIONAL FERRY FROM NEWPORT
Group Sales Available
TOLL FREE
(866) 783-7996
blockislandferry.com
of the folks who made it their home and who helped to create the memories. Remember when working on your tan was cool? Cara Connelly tells you how to prevent skin cancer and Flavia Thornson provides reasons why it might be better to not to tan at all. With the current economy getting better at a slower rate than we’d like, this issue offers some tips and information to heat up your finances. Should you consider a reverse mortgage? Elizabeth Morse Read looks at the pros and cons, and Sherri Mahoney-
We Help Elders Meet Challenges
Battles explains how and why your retirement is being taxed. After 8 years of publication, South Coast Prime Times shows no signs of stopping, and neither should you. We’re more active than ever, doubling our circulation and publishing bi-monthly in an effort to keep up with our growing readership. Don’t forget to support our advertisers and to visit our website at www.coastalmags.com. Above all, don’t forget to take some time to reflect, relax and remember all the reasons why there’s nothing like summer in the South Coast. You’ll be glad you did. Enjoy,
• Medication management and needs assessments • Coordination of in-home care – liaison with family and physician • Exploring assisted living /nursing home options • Referrals for legal or financial experts
Ljiljana Vasiljevic Publisher and Editor-in-Chief
508-677-4367 Geriatric Care Management
www.dhfo.org/eldersfirst facebook.com/thesouthcoastinsider
4
S ou th C oast P r ime T imes
J une / J uly 2012
June/July 2012 n Vol. 8 n No. 3 Published by
Coastal Communications Corp. Publisher and Editor-in-Chief
Ljiljana Vasiljevic
at Home
Editors
Advanced Cardiac Care
Michael J. Vieira, Ph.D. Joe Murphy Contributors
Cara Connelly, Paul Kandarian, Robin LaCroix, Paul Letendre, Dan Logan, Brian J. Lowney, Sherri Mahoney-Battles, Jay Pateakos, David Prentiss, Elizabeth Morse Read, Joyce Rowley, Flavia Thornson, and Mel B. Yoken
If you are living with a cardiac condition, the Advanced Cardiac Care program at Southcoast VNA can help you live better
South Coast Prime Times is published bi-monthly. Copyright ©2012 Coastal Communications Corp.
— right in the comfort of your home.
Heart failure
Our Advanced Cardiac Care team will
Coronary artery disease
collaborate with you and your physician
Hypertension
to develop an in-home treatment plan
Atrial fibrillation
to help monitor, care for and manage
Arteriosclerosis
your condition.
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.
Comprehensive in-home cardiac care for patients with heart conditions, including:
Post-surgical care Hospitalization follow-up
In-home telemonitoring • Medication management • Education
Your c are. Your
Next issue August 15, 2012
. way comfor t. Your
Circulation 25,000
www.southcoastvna.org 800-698-6877
Subscriptions $14.95 per year
Southcoast VNA is a not-for-profit charitable organization.
M ailing address South Coast Prime Times P.O. Box 3493 Fall River, MA 02722
Phone (508) 677-3000
Website http://www.coastalmags.com
E-mail editor@coastalmags.com
Memorial Handkerchiefs
Handkerchiefs embroidered with the name of someone who has passed. A personal gift that will not be forgotten.
3.00 OFF
$
MENTION THIS AD REG. PRICE $15.99
AVAILABLE FOR MEN & LADIES - LADIES STYLE SHOWN
Bless You Handkerchiefs
Our Pleasure to Create Embroidered Personalized Handkerchiefs to Help Heal.
Our advertisers make this publication possible —please support them
Somerset, MA • 508-678-1511
WWW.BLESSYOUHANDKERCHIEFS.COM
S ou th C oast P r ime T imes
J une / J uly 2012
5
E xtra! E xtra!
South Coast biz buzz
In brief…
The five major port cities in Massachusetts—Boston, Fall River, New Bedford, Salem and Gloucester—have launched “The Ports of Massachusetts Compact,” a cooperative plan to boost economic development, focusing on fishing regulations, coastal shipping trends and seaport coordination.
6
Area radio stations WBSM-AM 1420 and WFHN-FM “Fun” 107.1 have been sold to Townsquare Media LLC by parent company Cumulus Media Inc., which bought the radio stations from Citadel Broadcasting just last fall.
We’re full into hurricane season, and as the temperature rises, so, too, will the swarms Eliz abeth of mosquitoes. Morse Read Rid your yard and gardens of any standing water, and cover up at dawn and dusk when they’re most active. Starting with the Fourth of July, life moves outdoors—and there’s plenty to do and see, not just in your backyard. Gas prices are holding steady, home sales are up and unemployment is down, so plan a day-trip and celebrate Summer on the South Coast! There’s a festival, special event or outdoor activity somewhere every day. If your town’s July 4th celebrations aren’t up to snuff, check out the weekend-long celebration at America’s oldest Independence Day festivities in Bristol RI! Learn more at www. july4thbristolri.com. And learn more about the day trips sponsored by the New Bedford Senior Travel Program. On July 11 there’s the Foster’s Down East Lobsterbake and on July 18 a Boston Harbor Lunch Cruise. Call 508-991-6171 for more info.
S ou th C oast P r ime T imes
J une / J uly 2012
Chipotle Mexican Grill has applied for a food license in Dartmouth to open at the site of the former Outback Steakhouse. The popular chain is also considering a site in Raynham. Smithers Viscient of Wareham, an environmental testing business, is expanding its global services by purchasing the Environmental Sciences Group of England. Groundbreaking ceremonies were held for UMass Dartmouth’s new Massachusetts Accelerator for Biomanufacturing, the first facility of its kind in the country. It will be an anchor providing start-up companies with space and equipment to develop new products and, hopefully, become permanent residents at the SouthCoast Life Sciences and Technology Park. Decas Botanical Synergies Inc., a subsidiary of Decas Cranberries of Carver, has won approval for “medical device status” in Germany for its cranberrybased treatment of urinary-tract infections. TrueBounce Inc. of New Bedford has received a patent for its unique basketball backboard. The city of Fall River will be taking ownership of The Abbey Grill and the old police station downtown. The plan is to sell them in order to recoup back taxes. City on a Hill, a Boston charter school known for preparing struggling high school students for college, is looking to open a similar school in New Bedford. If approved, the school would open to freshmen in August 2014. Vectrix, an electric scooter company based in New Bedford, was recently honored at an industry event in Belgium. The VH-1 Li and Li+ won European “e-scooter of the year” for the second consecutive year at the Clean Week 2020 event.
K a-ching! K a-ching!
Meaningful Services From a Trusted Friend Since 1893
As the decision deadline looms, the status of Indian gaming casinos in the region just gets more confusing and contentious. The Wampanoag of Gay Head (Aquinnah) tribe pitched a casino in Freetown/Lakeville, but there are questions about the legality of their status to do so. Meanwhile the Mashpee Wampanoag are making an aggressive push for their casino in Taunton. Residents of all communities involved are actively involved in the discussion—see www. StopTauntonCasino.com and www.TogetherforTaunton.com. Freetown residents voted at the end of May decisively, 3 to 1 against hosting a casino. Best bet is that we’ll have a casino on the South Coast before we see commuter trains…
800-259-1893 w w w.hathawayfunerals.com
• Pre-arrangement Experts • Cremation Specialists • Locally Owned • 8 Locations Across Southeastern Mass
Warning: construction The roller coaster at Lincoln Park is finally coming down. Pieces of the dismantled ride will be sold to raise money for charities. The transformation of Acushnet Avenue in New Bedford into a destination “international marketplace” has begun, so plan for detours and delays. When completed after five years, “The Ave” from Coggeshall Street to Nash Road will boast wider sidewalks (with all new infrastructure below), better lighting and surveillance cameras. Custom House Square in New Bedford will be getting a facelift to become a greener, more people-oriented park and site for festivals.
‘Hello Mudda,hello Fadda’ Treat the kids to a summer camp co-sponsored by the Coalition for Buzzards Bay and the YMCA Southcoast. The River Exploration Camp, based at Camp Massasoit in Mattapoisett, is scheduled July 9-13 for ages 9-11, and August 13-17 for ages 12-14. For details, go to www.ymcasouthcoast.com or www.savebuzzardsbay.org. Why not send the kids (K-4) to summer camp at Blithewold in Bristol RI! For details, go to www.blithewold.org/summer-camp or call 401-253-2707.
The
Premier Live In Advantage There are many advantages of having Live In Care: • • • • •
The client may remain in their own home in their community near friends and family Live In Care is a less expensive option than facility based care Live In Care is provided by a Certified Home Health Aide for ongoing care and supervision Live In Care provides Ongoing Registered Nurse Supervision and a Customized Care Plan All professionals are extensively screened and specially trained in Alzheimer’s and dementia care prior to placement
Excellence
in Live-In Care
Live-In Comfort Live-In Safety Live-In Confidence What is Live In Care? Live In Care is 24-hour care and supervision in the home provided by a trained certified home health aide. The Live In aide completes client care, meal preparation and household tasks during the day time hours and then remains overnight for safety and supervision.
pREMIER
home health care of massachusetts, inc.
For a free assessment or for more information please contact us at:
1-800-675-8339 ••www.premierhomehealthcare.com 1-800-462-4460 www.premierhomehealthcare.com
S ou th C oast P r ime T imes
J une / J uly 2012
7
Strange, but true… When Deb Kirby of Attleboro realized that she’d accidentally thrown out five valuable rings, the garbage truck was on the way to the incinerator. After her panicked call to Waste Management, the truck was diverted and eight employees unloaded 15 tons of trash from that route. And they found her rings after only 30 minutes. (It was even reported on CNN!) The two wind turbines in Fairhaven have been operational since early May. The town has received a few dozen complaints from residents (including a case of warts), but so far, so good. If you use profanity in public in Middleborough, you can be slapped with a $20 fine…‘ nuf said.
@&%!
Get involved in your community! Generous donations by homeowners along the South Coast garnered more than 40,000 lbs of non-perishable food in the May collection by the USPS mail-carriers’ “Stamp Out Hunger” drive. The food items will be distributed to local food pantries and area organizations. Wareham High School Class of 1962 will celebrate its 50th Reunion at Salerno’s on July 14. Call 508-295-3819 or go to www.djrj1000@aol.com for more info. The annual Town Party in Marion will return on August 25. To get involved, call 508-265-5852, 508-776-1625 or 774-2178355. Help raise funds to build a new Senior Supportive Day Program at the Rochester Senior Center by attending a Wine Tasting at 30 Vaughn Hill Road on July 27. For details, call 508763-8723. Taunton-area volunteers are needed for the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program managed by Bristol Elder Services. For more info., visit www.ombudsman@bristolelder.org or call 774-627-1326.
8
S ou th C oast P r ime T imes
J une / J uly 2012
Sustainable South Coast Rep. Jim McGovern (D-3rd), a vocal advocate on food, health, and hunger issues, is featured on a Food Channel documentary Hunger Hits Home. To view it, go to www.foodnetwork.com/shareour-strength/pacakage/index.html Enjoy the bounty of fresh local foods— farmers markets, roadside stands and pick-your-own farms are open—find out what’s available near you by visiting www.semaponline.org or www. localharvest.org. Don’t miss the “Farm to Table” dinner at the Dartmouth YMCA on July 28. For details, go to www.ymcasouthcoast.org. Join the Tuesday Vinyasa Outdoor Yoga Practices at Fort Taber in New Bedford! Learn more at www.southcoastyoga.net. Walk into the past and through beautiful gardens at the RotchDuff-Jones House and Garden Museum in New Bedford. For more info, call 508-997-1401 or visit www.rjdmuseum.org. Opposition in Tiverton to proposed eminent domain authority of the East Bay Energy Consortium’s wind turbine projects has ratcheted up. Stay tuned… The town of Wareham is considering building a wind turbine at the Water Pollution Control facility. Students at the William S. Greene elementary school’s 21st Century Learning program in Fall River planted a vegetable garden on school grounds, with support from the Rotary Club of Fall River. Ten cherry trees will be planted around Fairhaven, thanks to Japanese benefactor Dr. Shigeaki Hinohara. The Lloyd Center for the Environment in Dartmouth is a great natural resource for everyone on the South Coast. Call 508-5582918 or visit www.lloydcenter.org for complete details. If you want to buy and eat local organic foods—and learn how to cook them!—check out the Plymouth Eats Cooperative. Get involved in a fun locavore organization by visiting www.plymoutheats.org. Westport Town Meeting approved construction of solar panels atop the closed landfill, which will save the town about $100,000 each year in utility costs.
Kudos! Congrats! Dartmouth High School’s student musicians have scored again! Forty-seven members of the DHS Orchestra came home with two coveted awards from the Heritage World Strides Performance Festival in New York City in April. The UMass Dartmouth School of Law has been granted provisional certification by the American Bar Association. Freelance illustrator Jay Richard of Fairhaven was honored at the 28th Annual L. Ron Hubbard Achievement Awards ceremony in Los Angeles for his artwork. Seventeen-year-old Elba Fernandez was crowned this year’s winner of the popular New Bedford Idol contest. Part of her winnings includes a three-day scholarship at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Long-time educator and environmentalist Mack Phinney of Wareham was named a 2012 Guardian Angel by the Buzzards Bay Coalition. A trio of students from Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School captured a gold medal at the Masschusetts SkillsUSA competition. Kelsey Almeida, Samantha Costa and Erica Cournoyer’s marketing project presentation earned them a place at the national SkillsUSA competition in Kansas City. The Apponequet High School’s girls lacrosse team finished the school year with a perfect record. They were the only girls lacrosse team in the state to do so. Twenty-month-old Violet LaFountain of Fairhaven spent four days in New York City playing the role of a toddler running amok in the season finale of The Good Wife, which aired on April 29. Fall River’s barbershop chorus “G-20” won two awards at the Barbershop Harmony Society competition. G-20 is the only male youth chorus in New England. The Rev. Patrick Killilea of St. Mary’s parish in Fairhaven will be leaving to serve as pastor at a former leper colony in Hawaii, where St. Damien ministered in the 19th century. 2007 Wareham High School grad Shea Allard has been signed by the Green Bay Packers as a rookie defensive lineman.
167 Borden Street • Fall River, MA • 508.676.7169 Hours: Tue. & Sat. 10-3, Wed. thru Fri. 10-6
www.JJJewelry.com
Travel + Leisure ranked Providence as America’s 3rd Favorite City for Theater and Performing Arts!
trinity repertory rep company
“…top-notch drama at Trinity Repertory Company…” —NEWSDAY
trinity repertory
Check out our company 2012–2013 Season at www.trinityrep.com!
(401) 351-4242 • TRINITYREP.COM • 201 WASHINGTON ST. • PROVIDENCE • RI
S ou th C oast P r ime T imes
J une / J uly 2012
9
Keeping Your World in Focus
When the kiddies visit… Visit a tropical forest and spend some time with exotic animals at the Capron Park Zoo. And there’s a summer Zooacademy for kids! Call 508-222-3047 or go to www.capronparkzoo.com. Check out what’s happening at the Easton children’s museum. Go to www.childrensmuseumineaston.org or call 508-230-3789. In the past year, attendance has doubled at the Ocean Explorium in New Bedford, not even counting school groups. For hours and activities, go to www.oceanexplorium.org or call 508-994-5400.
Because some things are too important to miss. Comprehensive Family Eye Care Surgical Eye Care • Full Service Optical — Located in the Narragansett Mill —
1565 North Main Street Suite 406 • Fall River, MA (508) 730-2020 www.center-for-sight.com
Take the family to a hidden gem! Spend an afternoon at the WWI Memorial Park & Zoo in North Attleboro for free! Petting zoo, playgrounds, picnic areas. Call 508-285-6457. The new “Imagination Playground” at the Providence Children’s Museum is a big hit. Call 401-273KIDS or go to www.ChildrenMuseum.org for details. The Taunton Public Library is offering free or discounted tickets/passes to many area attractions such as Buttonwood Park Zoo, the Children’s Museum and Science Museum in Boston. Keep up with what’s going on at New Bedford’s Buttonwood Park at www.bpzoo. org or 508-991-6178, or at the Whaling Museum at www.whalingmuseum.org or 508-997-0046.
Good news — bad news Starting this fall, free full-day kindergarten will be available to all children in Wareham. Onset Village in Wareham now has its own police/fire and welcome center. The Taunton State Hospital may not be closing after all. The State has passed a budget for 72 beds. The South Coast, particularly Bristol County, received a failing grade for ozone air pollution in a report by the American Lung Association. The USPS processing facility in Wareham will close at the end of the year—employees and operations will be moved to Providence. Thanks to all, for their years of commitment to the community.
10
S ou th C oast P r ime T imes
J une / J uly 2012
Let me entertain you… Onset Village’s Wednesday night Summer of Love free concerts are back, as are free Thursday night movies at the Bandshell. Go to www.onsetvillage.org for details. Enjoy an evening of free family fun and entertainment at New Bedford’s AHA! Night on the second Thursday of every month. July 12’s theme is “Kids Rule!” Go to www.ahanewbedford.org or call 508-996-8253 for a full schedule of events—and don’t forget that there’s plenty to do, enjoy and eat at AHA! After Nine. Find out what’s happening at the Zeiterion this month. Call 508-994-2900 or go to www. zeiterion.org. Dweezil Zappa will perform July 1 and the New Bedford Festival Theatre will perform Hairspray on July 2022, and 26-29.
Dweezil Z appa
Take a drive and check out what’s happening in Providence this summer. The Mixed Magic Theatre plays through July 1 at Trinity Rep. Call 401-351-4242 or go to www.trinityrep.com. Discounts for seniors, students, educators and heroes (military, police, and firefighters). And get discount tickets there for performances of the RI Philharmonic, too! For a schedule, call 401-248-7000 or visit www.ri-philharmonic.org. Get in the act at the Providence Performing Arts Center! For more information, call 402-421-2787 or go to www.festivalballet.com or www.ppacri.org. The Narrows Center for the Arts in Fall River has a full schedule of exhibits and performances this month—there’s Chuck Prophet & the Mission Express on July 12, the Royal Southern Brotherhood July 13, and The Persuasions July 26. Go to www.ncfta.org or call 508-324-1926. Chuck Prophet
WE’RE BRINGING THE technology
you
NEED TO THE
KNEE OR HIP PAIN?
Get relief with innovative robotic-arm guided partial knee resurfacing or total hip replacement known as MAKOplasty. Our surgeons can now treat patients more precisely and less invasively using this exciting robotic-guided technology. At Saint Anne’s, we are proud to be the first health care organization to bring this state-of-the-art treatment to Massachusetts. Please take the time to learn more about these procedures and what they can mean to you.
community
MAKOplasty. ®
WHERE
you
LIVE. Call 1-855-Go2-MAKO or visit steward.org/makoplasty to learn more about a FREE TALK near you! W O R L D - C L A S S H E A LT H C A R E WHERE YOU LIVE
What do you look for in a Hearing Health Care Professional? Meet Eugene P. Antonell, BC-HIS Board Certified Hearing Instrument Specialist MA LIC 80, RI HAD 00242 Integrity – MA Hearing Society Past President Experience – Serving the Hearing Impaired Community Since 1989 Commitment – Patient Satisfaction is Our Commitment Technology – Continuous Education in Hearing Instrument Advancements
Call 508-993-6467 for Summer Special
HEAR BETTER NOW
516 Hawthorn St. • Suite 2 • N. Dartmouth
www.hearbetternowllc.com
Your Goal is Our Goal “Better Hearing”
Your Neighborhood Hearing Instrument Specialist S ou th C oast P r ime T imes
J une / J uly 2012
11
feature
in style Paul L etendre
Like most people, my ideas can be very pragmatic (like—I’ll sweep the cellar floor with the broom) and sometimes I dream (I’ll sweep the cellar floor with the leaf blower).
Invariably I find myself arguing one idea, then taking the other side and arguing that idea. In these instances—basically my whole life —I am both protagonist and antagonist. I think this might have to do with being half Italian and half French (Canadian French). When God built the earth, he had a pragmatic design in mind when he put Italians in southern Europe and French Canadians up north in Canada. I don’t think he intended to have those two fooling around with each other. But alas, here I am, arguing with myself over it: probably Italian protagonist and French Canadian antagonist. I like to tell people that half of me is very cool, half of me is a complete idiot. (Some would say
12
S ou th C oast P r ime T imes
that I’m half right.)
It could be worse Right now, all of me is reminding me that at 62 years, I am more than half expired, and that in 20 or 40 more, I will be a certified organic worm farmer. One half of me is saying “You’d better enjoy it now.” The other half shouts, “Continue to save for tomorrow, be frugal.” This whole internal debate got started because I recently watched a rerun of an early 60s television series, Route 66. When I was in my early teens, this show would get me dreaming of driving around the country in a Corvette with my best friend. Now, fifty years later, it has me dreaming again.
J une / J uly 2012
The dream has had some alterations, however. The vehicle of choice has been replaced. The sleek and fast, but spartanly appointed Corvette has been replaced with a huge and not-fast, bus-like but luxurious motor coach, and the best friend has been replaced by my beautiful wife, Karen, and the faithful dog, Bear (or is it vice-versa?).
On Fantasy Island Every time I drive by an RV place, I find myself making a U-turn and heading back. I find some pretense to go in (may I use your rest room?). How cool would it be to just sell the house and cash in the 401k and IRA, just jump into a mini house on wheels and take off? Tonight I’ll tell Karen, “We could be just like Tod Stiles and Buz Murdoch (heroes of Route 66), just you and I, hon. And we could borrow the kid’s dog for a couple of months, she won’t mind. Aw, come-on, let’s do it!” Ah, the freedom of pulling up the proverbial anchor whenever the heart desires, to move onto the next home for a day or month…
Maybe I won’t mention it When I see an RV stopped at a gas station or rest area, I always chat with them, ask dumb questions about fuel economy, how they like their rig, where they bought it, does it break very often, would you buy another one, did you buy it from the same place…? I pulled into Marty’s USRV in Berkley (137 Myricks Street). A number of RV folks had spoken kindly of Marty. This is a “word of mouth” business, word travels fast in the camping community. I spoke with Marty and his daughter Danielle. Marty’s been selling these rigs for 40 years. They sell the big stuff there— busses converted into rolling homes, land yachts—yeah, that’s what I’m dreaming about.
Dreamin’ big
the dealership. Bob is a very young 88 year old who has been in the business for 60 years. This guy is 88, rides his motorcycle to work, and he was jacking up a motor home and pulling a wheel as I was talking to him. He patiently answered a lot of dumb questions. Q. What do you do if you break down on the road? A. You have 24 hour roadside assistance or you fix it yourself. What do you think you do? Q. What do you do if you can’t find a campsite to park at for the night?
Sales • Consignment • Service Parts • Collision • Quality • Integrity
A. Wal-Mart. Q. Do they let you use their electricity?
RVs are
I could be in luck. From the late 90s to 2008, a lot of folks had extra money to throw around, and bought these babies but hardly used them. Just like Harley Davidsons, there are a lot of late model, low mileage units on the lots. Marty’s has dozens of them. They have all the bells and whistles, extended warranties and hot showers. What more could my wife ask for? RV’s are about lifestyle: freedom to roam and explore this beautiful continent in comfort and style. They are about camaraderie with fellow RVers. There are groups like “Good Sam” where folks plan to meet at a destination so they can then plan to meet at another destination. What a life. In the past, Marty’s sold new high-end rigs, now they focus on late model, low mileage, pre-owned rigs. Marty tells me, “The biggest problem with RV’s is the initial devaluation. You can pay over $400k for a new unit, but as soon as you leave the lot, its value is below $300K. There are some great values out there on pre-owned.” I drove on; I had to use another restroom, this time at Bradford RV Center in Raynham (778 New State Highway, Raynham, MA). I spoke with Bob Moore, the president of
New England’s Premier RV Dealer
Experience the USRV Difference! 137 Myricks Street • Berkley, MA
about lifestyle: freedom to roam and explore this beautiful continent in comfort and style.
A. No. That’s dry-camping, you need to be self-contained.
He also told me that roughly 50% of campers were permanent campers—they park in one place for the season and leave their rigs there—as summer homes. My dreamer side (protagonist) seems to be prevailing over my pragmatic side (antagonist). I have all the answers: roadside assistance and Wal-Mart. Now to get Karen on board—her pragmatic side is much stronger than her dreamer side, and her dreams don’t always coincide with mine. Minor point…I can get past that. Now what about the organic worm farming, there ain’t no getting past that. Done, just do it!
EPILOG: Dear readers, Karen said no. Oh well, I’ll just get a broom and sweep the cellar floor. paul letendre has spent most of his life working for broadline food service distributors in the U.S. and Canada. He also writes an industry blog, “Restaurant Stuff,” at www.la10duh.com and is a regular contributor for The Insider.
We will BUY or SELL your RV! All Units Considered. Call TODAY!
JUNE SPECIAL FREE BOTTLE OF WINE
with purchase of 2 dinner entreés ($29.99 minimum) with this coupon. Offer valid Monday-Thursday E xpires: 8/15/12 • PT
Outdoor Dining Private Rooms Available
215 Water Street Warren, RI
401-289-2524
www.TheWharf TavernRI.com
S ou th C oast P r ime T imes
J une / J uly 2012
13
good times
Forty acres of fun The recent announcement that the long dormant buildings inside what was once Lincoln Park were going to be torn down to make way for dozens of single Jay Pateakos family homes, might as well have been an obituary of a close family member. Sure the park closed 25 years ago, and arson ravaged much of what was left in the early 90s, but the park has always held that special spot—a nostalgic feel for a simpler time. I often find myself taking the Reed Road exit—even though Route 88 or Faunce Corner Road would get me where I want to go faster—just so I can take another look at the Comet.
Looking back More than a decade ago, long before the fence went up to keep onlookers like me from getting into the park, I took a look around the old park, amazed at all the
14
S ou th C oast P r ime T imes
buildings that were still there. The miniature golf hut, the pizza shack, the popcorn stand and of course, the roller coaster among others. I’ve been to plenty of other amusement parks over the years, but each one I visited made me realize how much we took Lincoln Park for granted, a lesson learned far too late. Opened in 1894, the park would close in 1987, seven years removed from its 100th anniversary. But even in 1987, with the park opening sporadically, the writing of the park’s demise had been on the wall for years. Jim Grasela, an electrician at the park for 22 years who would leave the park behind in 1986, its last full summer, said when the 80s came about, the tide of popularity in amusement parks was changing to people now being more drawn more to theme parks like Disney World. “Lincoln Park, which was always a big thrill of the summer, just could not compete with the Disney Worlds. It was always funny to me these people that went to Disneyworld a few times each year. Once
J une / J uly 2012
every ten years was fine with me,” said Grasela, 60, who helped co-author Lincoln Park Remembered.
Difficult times “People don’t know about the expenses. Even in the winter, the park would cost $8,000 each month just for electricity and there was a maintenance crew on year round. Each year, the park would end up owing so many people money, but the people would know they would get their money come June or July when the park got busy again.” Grasela said the park did what it could to keep up, introducing Lincoln Park Disco in the early 1980s as well as the electric dance floor and new cocktail lounge, but the park would continue to hemorrhage like many parks like it. Despite its own updating to stay ahead of the curve, Rocky Point Park in Warwick, Rhode Island would only last eight more years than Lincoln Park. Lincoln Park introduced new owners for the 1985 season, but the park continued to struggle.
Grasela said a newly-instituted admission fee—something that the park never had before—turned off many of the local people that were the bread and butter of the park, working class families who just couldn’t afford rides, food and an admissions cost. Grasela said a failing economy also hurt the park as did the state’s inspection requirements, testing that would cost roughly five to seven thousand dollars per ride annually. Like Grasela, many of the park’s long time employees would move on in 1986. To many, their exit was the death knell for the park. Many former employees somberly returned to the park as witnesses to see the park rides auctioned off in 1988, but many could not bring themselves to attend, preferring to have their memories of the park’s heyday untouched by the sight of the rides kids had adored being sold for pennies.
Bits and pieces While there is no record of where some of the rides went that were auctioned off, we are lucky that some of the remnants remained nearby, some more briefly than others. The renovated PTC Carousel still holds children’s fascination at Heritage State Park in Fall River (and yes my kids have been on it); the Ferris Wheel, for one summer anyway, took more riders along at Billy Woods Wharf in New Bedford. Grasela said the flying sailboat ride is located in Fitchburg and the Zephyr, the old kiddie train, is in storage at Crystal Springs in Assonet, awaiting the day she will ride again. Grasela said he didn’t think in todays’ age of cell phones and instant communication that something like Lincoln Park would have ever survived. “Nothing has ever really replaced the park, but now these kids all have cell phones and spend their time on their computers and on facebook that I’m not sure there’s even a need for something like Lincoln Park anymore,” said Grasela. “In doing the book, we met many people who said that Lincoln Park was a huge part of their lives. They met their wives or husbands there, or they worked there, or both, in many cases. On the other hand, there are now people that don’t even know it existed.”
A nd Grasela’s right Today’s elementary and high school kids
Continued on next page
We make custom sizes for your Antique Pieces.
Luxurious Bedding at Factory Pricing
We carry all types of innerspring, Visco Elastic Latex and specialty bedding
Free delivery Free setup Free removal of old bedding
Mon-Fri 9-5 • Sat 9-12 • 77 Weaver St., Fall river
508-675-6921
“Sleep in Comfort at a Price You Can Afford”
Adult communities for 55+ Call for a private showing Safe, worry-free living with fun activities and friendly on-site management Oakwood
– Swansea – 508-324-1279
OakwoodSeniorEstates.com
Westport Village
North Farm
WestportVillageApartments.com
NorthFarmSeniorEstates.com
– Westport – 508- 636-6775
– Somerset – 508-676-9700
— Equal Housing Opportunity —
S ou th C oast P r ime T imes
J une / J uly 2012
15
Continued from previous page
GUARANTEED 3-5 lbs. weight loss per week Torman Chiropractic 123 Rockdale Ave. New Bedford, MA
don’t have any idea what Lincoln Park represented to us, but that’s our fault more than anything. My kids know what Lincoln Park was because I force all 80s knowledge down their throats, and Lincoln Park was my 80s. They are also with me when I make my detours by the park to stare at the remnants of the Comet. I guess in the end, like with all history, it’s up to all of us to teach the lessons of what Lincoln Park taught us. Unlike Grasela, Shirley McConnell, 78, who along with her husband Everett, or “Slim” as he was known, who lived in the park for 17 years and worked there for more than three decades, feels that the park may have still been viable today in some incarnation.
Shared lifetimes at the Park After a 40 year run for Slim and 36 years for Shirley working at the park, the McConnells moved on to run amusement parks in Salisbury Beach and then Old Orchard Beach, Maine, when new Lincoln Park owners took over in 1985, but it was clear—even to this day when she choked up during this interview—that her heart always remained at Lincoln Park. The memories of the park’s last years still are hard for her to bear. Shirley said they were busy working when the park rides were auctioned off and was unable to do tours of the park in the late 80s. They would go on their own tour of the park in the early 90s, an experience that they would never forget.
508•993•6778 Redeem this coupon for valuable program discount
THURSDAY, 8PM
SEPT 6
DOUG GAR NER
S AGE l OFHit Musica K OC sh tage
R
s a Sm he Z The ive on T L
THURSDAY, 8PM
SEPT 6
GES F A ical K O it Mus ROCSmash He Z stage
BNCA B ERT A O C E TH
UR
D TO
L WOR
h
The ive on T L
AUG RT BCOBNCA E8 A E H T
WEDNESDAY, 8PM
OUR
LD T
WOR
LEN
SUNDAY, 8PM
JULY AUG18
WEDNESDAY, 8PM
CO-SPONSOR
ALVES CHIROPRACTIC CENTER
AELEN
SUNDAY, 8PM
JULY 1
R GSUNDAY, 8PM
Y, 8PM
G 26AUG 26
begins with a ticket... It begins with a ticket...
www.zeiterion.org 508-994-2900 ww.zeiterion.org 508-994-2900 Zeiterion Performing Arts Center FREE GARAGE PARKING - FULL BAR
rion Performing Arts Center FREE GARAGE PARKING - FULL BAR
16
S ou th C oast P r ime T imes
“I think we could have made-do with it somehow. There are a few parks left in New England and they are finding a way to make it work,” said Shirley, who not only worked in the park with her husband, but met him there and saw all seven of her children work there. “Initially, Lincoln Park was a tourist park but when I-195 came around, it became a family park. There’s still a need for that.” Slim would work a lifetime at the park, moving his way up to games manager and then general manager. Shirley was in charge of buying everything for the park besides the rides, liquor or food. Each year they would go to shows in Boston, New York or Chicago, securing the prizes for the coming season.
J une / J uly 2012
The park that they called home for more than two-thirds of their lives, was gutted. Fire had destroyed some buildings including the ballroom; other rides were just gone, with their imprints left behind; others that no one wanted were standing like a ghost town had sprouted in Dartmouth. “I was at the park, and I was crying and there was this woman there who was taking pictures. She said ‘Aren’t you Mrs. McConnell? My grandfather took care of the Comet’”, said McConnel. “That’s how it was. There were so many people that worked there, who Lincoln Park touched in so many ways.” McConnell said she often wondered about some of the young help there and how they would turn out in life. She knows of some who would go on to be successful
doctors or attorneys, even a district attorney. Without a Police Academy back then, new police recruits learned first-hand how to handle crowd control and direct traffic at Lincoln Park, McConnell said. “We called it the Dartmouth Police Academy,” she said. McConnell said she still keeps tabs on some of the old Lincoln Park crowd, and knows many of the owners of amusement parks in New England on a first name basis. Besides his duties at Lincoln Park, her husband Slim, who died in September 22, 2009, had also been the Chairman of the New England Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. McConnell said she went by again recently to see some of the work begun on the former Lincoln Park site. The owners of the property have said that the Comet’s demolition, likely within the next few months, will be saved for last. Even though they have promised to have parts of the Comet available for people who want them, it won’t be the same for people who worked, lived and breathed there for so many years.
Bittersweet memories “It will be very bittersweet and it’s too bad it went the way it did, and that my grandchildren will never be able to work there. It will be gone but the memories will always be there,” said McConnell. “People who went there enjoyed the park, and many left with prizes in their hands. They were all happy to be there. It’s likely something that we will never see around here again, and that’s sad for all of us.” Grasela said he won’t be paying that much attention to the Comet’s destruction after seeing a fair share of the park being gutted over the years. To him, that Lincoln Park died long ago. “I hope it’s something that will look nice and be respectful to the old park,” said Grasela, of the development to be known as the Village at Lincoln Park. “It’s funny when you look at the land. It’s only a little over 40 acres. It’s really not that much, but to us, it was always enormous, right?” Yes. To many of us, Lincoln Park was like its own continent; its own world really. And always will be. Jay Pateakos has been a freelance writer for more than 10 years including daily and weekly newspapers and monthly magazines. A native of New Bedford, he currently lives in Marion and has three children.
Your First Choice For Rehab Care. Our Rehabilitation Programs are ideal for short-term rehab care after surgery or a hospital stay. The Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy programs are designed to get superior results and ultimately a safe return home. To learn more, please contact the Admissions Director at the center nearest to you: Catholic Memorial Home Fall River, MA 508-679-0011
Our Lady’s Haven Fairhaven, MA 508-999-4561
Sacred Heart Home New Bedford, MA 508-996-6751 Sponsored by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River Rev. Msgr. Edmund J. Fitzgerald Executive Director
Web site: www.dhfo.org
The doctor is always in. Meeting your heart surgeon is one thing. Getting to know him is quite another. Before, during and after their surgery, Southcoast heart patients and their families are delighted with the expert care and personal service available close to home. Learn about our outstanding quality at www.southcoast.org/heart.
Heart Surgery at Southcoast. Big city heart care. Without the hassle.
303 State Road n Westport, MA n
Monuments
n
Cemetery Lettering
n
Cleaning & Repair
n
Mailbox Posts
n
Benches
n
Address Rocks
n
Pet Markers
n
Laser Etchings
508-678-7801
www.AlbaneseMonuments.com SOUTHCOAST HOSPITALS CHARLTON • ST. LUKE’S • TOBEY
S ou th C oast P r ime T imes
J une / J uly 2012
17
prime living
Giving back Want to retire, sit at home and watch television all day? While that’s how some folks spend their “golden years,” but others B rian J. prefer different options, choosL owney ing to savor every moment and creating opportunities to keep active, make new friends, and broaden their horizons. Granted, some folks aren’t blessed with good health as they grow older, and some survive on fixed incomes and tight budgets, but many seniors are able to overcome obstacles and learn to enjoy life’s simplest pleasures by volunteering, gathering with friends at senior centers, or taking advantage of free programs at libraries and
18
area colleges and universities. These folks maintain that you don’t have to be wealthy to enjoy life and have fun. They find rewards in enjoying a simple cup of coffee with friends at a local diner, or taking a walk in the fresh air. For some seniors, the word “retirement” never means “inactivity.” They generously
S ou th C oast P r ime T imes
J une / J uly 2012
share their gifts by performing volunteer service to others, or working part-time, not only to earn extra income but also to get out of the house, meet people, and make the most of each day.
Giving back After teaching elementary grades in local Catholic schools for 40 years, Swansea resident Jeannine St. Laurent became a receptionist and worship leader for the Waring-Sullivan Funeral Homes, and regularly assists grieving families at wakes, funerals and services. She also volunteers two mornings per week at Charlton Memorial Hospital, where she serves as a pastoral minister, a role that gives her the privilege to visit and bring Communion
to Catholic patients. “I’ve had a good life,” reveals the 81 year-old mother of two and grandmother. “I’ve received a lot in life and I have to give back to the community.” A widow for 21 years, St. Laurent and her late husband George enjoyed many trips together and she’s never lost her passion for traveling. “I’ve been almost everywhere,” she smiles, rattling off a list of destinations that includes Italy, the Holy Land, Portugal, the Caribbean, Greece, Turkey, Okinawa, Alaska, Hawaii and dozens of other exotic locales across the globe. She continues to visit her daughter Denise Turgeon in Florida, and regularly sees her daughter Lorraine Monteiro in New Bedford.
St. Laurent, who was born in Northern Quebec, said her travels and love of reading have made her a better “Jeopardy” player. While St. Laurent has had the opportunity to see much of the world, her favorite spot is Mackinac Island, a 3.8 square mile resort located in Lake Huron between Michigan’s upper and lower peninsulas. “They are no cars on the island,’ she tells, adding that she enjoyed the resort’s slower pace and scenic beauty.
Staying active Although the devout Catholic enjoyed visiting many of Europe’s most majestic cathedrals, St. Laurent sees “equally beautiful steeples in Fall River” every day when she travels east over the Braga Bridge. Her advice for living a full life is simple: “Keep busy and be with people.” Educated in Catholic schools, St. Laurent attributes her zeal for life to the nuns, who constantly reminded students, “if you remain idle, the devil will come after you.” “I can’t stay idle,” she adds. “People are like a car. If you keep it in the garage, it’ll get rusty and the next time you turn the key, it won’t start.” Another senior who just won’t stop is Joyce Pinsonnault, 68, who has been a familiar face in the children’s department at the Fall River Public Library for decades. Soon after she formally retired a decade ago, Pinsonnault was called back into service and
continues to maintain a hectic schedule at the library, where her warm smile and friendly demeanor have welcomed generations of enthusiastic patrons.
A lways moving “I never really left,” the mother of two says, adding that while she slowed down a little to care for her husband Al, who died six years ago, she quickly resumed her busy schedule. Her children Lisa and Roger, grandson Ian, and many friends always keep her moving and having lots of fun. “They keep the old lady going,” she chuckles. Active in the community, Pinsonnault serves as the vice president of Pet Partners, a local low cost animal wellness clinic, and volunteers at Forever Paws, where she is a board member, former President, and Committee Chairperson. “I absolutely love animals,” Pinsonnault tells, adding that she has always had a place in her heart for abandoned cats and dogs in need of a loving home. “Don’t throw time away,” she declares, when asked for her prescription for a meaningful and productive life. “I never stay in my pajamas. I always have something to do and I don’t want to die until I’m dead.”
Combine your auto and home insurance for maximum discount
I can’t
stay idle… people are like a car.
If you
keep it in the garage, it’ll get rusty and the next time you turn the key, it won’t start.
brian Lowney is an awardwinning reporter and freelance writer. He lives in Swansea.
Why wait for out of town weekend buyers and long distance mailorder services — Certified Jewelry Store with 120 years of experience —
WE PAY EVERYDAY Gold Coins, Gold Watches, Class Rings, etc. Price based on the Spot Gold Price THE MOMENT YOU SELL! 1473 SOUTH MAIN ST., FALL RIVER 508-672-6421 HOURS: Mon-Fri 9:30am – 5:00pm; Sat. 9:30am-4:00pm
www.patenaudejewelers.com
S ou th C oast P r ime T imes
J une / J uly 2012
19
prime living
Renaissance man I met professor vernon ingraham
M el B. Yoken, Ph.D.
20
in the fall of 1966 when I first started teaching at the then SMTI (Southeastern Massachusetts Technological Institute), and we became instantaneous friends. My friendship with this remarkably witty, affable and erudite man has only grown over the years, and now 87, Vern retains his eternal optimism, ineffable joie de vivre, rapier wit and stellar erudition. Professor Ingraham retired from teaching in 1986 and taught part time, as he says, “with a full-time schedule” until 2004. What I vividly recall is how many interests Ingraham brought to his classes, and how he could readily share his unbridled intellectual enthusiasm for the subjects he taught. What he gave to his classes was a way of looking at—and thinking about—l ife with all its ramifications. His students all received much more than an education; they received a way of living and new vistas vis-à-vis life. Succinctly stated, he was the quintessentially excellent professor, and his students loved him deeply. They still do today! I interviewed my friend for Prime Times in mid-May, 2012.
S ou th C oast P r ime T imes
J une / J uly 2012
Mel Yoken: What are you writing and reading presently? Vernon Ingraham: I have recently read a fascinating book, Turing’s Cathedral, the Origins of the Digital Universe, by George Dyson. To be perfectly frank, most of the subject matter is totally beyond my ken. The sciences, and especially higher mathematics, are pretty much foreign to me. What I did enjoy was reading about the primary characters involved in the development of the digital age: fascinating “geniuses” who were for the most part misfits in society but absolutely brilliant in their fields—men like Einstein, Oppenheimer, Norbert Wiener, etc. I have The Diaries of Harry Kessler on order at the Wareham Public Library and from the reviews I have read, it promises to be a fascinating work by a remarkable human being.
I am eager to start reading it. As to my own writing, I have written several poems of late and have been developing a dark humor side (in contrast to the sunny disposition which is my normal public image). The writing employs language of a Joycean and nonsensical nature. I am also engaged in a most stimulating correspondence with Dr. John Silber, President Emeritus of Boston University. MY: Who are your writers of predilection? VI: I am particularly fond of the Greek classicists. Their writings are wonderfully rich and form the basis of our Western culture. As to more modern figures, Thomas Mann, Joseph Conrad, William Butler Yeats, James Joyce, and T.S. Eliot wear well. MY: Have you ever kept a journal? VI: No. The nearest I have come is a threepart mini opus I have entitled Ramblings. I compiled it for my sons and it is a potpourri of family history, recollections of various kinds (including my WWII experiences) and original aphorisms and isolated observations about life. The collection spans the time period from my first recollection to my return home from WWII, 1946. I stopped writing after the death of my youngest son. Whether I ever continue the work remains to be seen. I might note that Marguerite Yourcenar in Reflections of the Composition writes the following in reference to her Memoirs of Hadrian: “Those who would have preferred a Journal of Hadrian to his Memoirs forget that a man of action rarely keeps a journal; it is almost always later on, and in a period of prolonged inactivity, that he does his recollecting, makes his notations, and, very often, has cause for wonder at the course his life has taken.
detective series. Emily Dickinson put it nicely, ‘”There is no frigate like a book.” MY: How did you manage your writing while teaching a full load at the university? VI: The response must be at the expense of other things. I have always felt that the expectation of publication on the collegiate level was unrealistic. Not all college professors were born to write. A good teacher is a rare item. Such individuals should be allowed to develop their teaching skills while other of their colleagues might indulge in the publishing process. I remember while at the University of Delaware, I shared an office with Robert Huff, the poet in residence. Our office was formerly the office of Robert Hillyer, a well-known American poet. Bob was expected to write poetry and publish. At the same time he had been given two sections of freshman English and a class in Creative Writing. Needless to say, the burden was overwhelming. Bob struggled to keep things afloat, but I think this illustrated the dilemma of publication on the collegiate level. Writing should result from a desire on the part of an individual to pursue a particular idea. There is enough poor writing in existence without compounding the felony.
A good
teacher is a rare item.
MY: How did you become such a voracious reader? VI: Fortunately for me my mother was an avid reader. At an early age she instilled in me a love for words. We would make our weekly pilgrimage to the local library and leave with a pile of books to last us until our next visit. My taste in reading ran to adventure. Some of my favorite authors were: Edgar Rice Burroughs, Richard Halliburton, Rafael Sabatini, Jules Verne, and H.G. Wells. I also liked the Sherlock Holmes series, and the Father Brown
MY: What advice do you have for the young writer? VI: Approach the field of writing with humility. It is a privilege to leave behind works that can alter the lives of others. Further, endeavor to discover what your particular literary gifts might be—i.e. poetry, fiction, drama, the essay, etc. Most often, an individual is not proficient in all forms of writing. Also, there are various motivating forces in the creative process. Henry James reserved each morning to writing. His approach was not predicated upon inspiration. Wordsworth, on the other hand, writes the following in “Preface to Lyrical Ballads”: “For all good poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings:…” W.B. Yeats in Adam’s Curse writes: “…A line will take us hours maybe; Yet of it does not seem a moment’s thought, Our stitching and unstitching has been naught….” Continued on next page
Special Events
June
APPLIANCE COLLECTION DAY Wareham | 6/2 CAMP OPEN HOUSE 6/9 Dartmouth | Mattaposiett | Wareham FAMILY ROPES COURSE CHALLENGE Wareham | 6/12 POT LUCK Wareham | 6/22 FAMILY DAY Wareham | 6/24 FLICK N’ FLOAT Dartmouth | 6/29
July METAPALOOZA Dartmouth | 7/13 FLICK N’ FLOAT Fall River | 7/27 FARM TO TABLE DINNER Dartmouth | 7/28 CAMP MASSASOIT 50TH CELEBRATION Mattapoisett | 7/28
August
SHARING SUNDAES FOR THE FARM Dartmouth | 8/9 FLICK N’ FLOAT Dartmouth | 8/10 BIRD ISLAND CHALLENGE Wareham | 8/12 SHINING TIDES BEACH PARTY Mattapoisett | 8/18 Contact the branch for information and event times. For a listing of more events visit ymcasouthcoast.org.
DARTMOUTH FALL RIVER GLEASON FAMILY MATTAPOISETT NEW BEDFORD
508.993.3361 508.675.7841 508.295.9622 508.758.4203 508.997.0734
YMCA SOUTHCOAST ymcasouthcoast.org
S ou th C oast P r ime T imes
J une / J uly 2012
21
Continued from previous page Seek your Muse. With any luck you will discover your own voice. MY: Please talk about your educational background, and where you have taught? VI: I returned home from WWII and took advantage of that brilliant idea—the G. I. Bill. I did my undergraduate studies at the University of New Hampshire. I received my M.A. from Amherst College, and I received my Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. My first teaching position was at Dean Junior College, now Dean College. I have taught at the University of Pennsylvania, Franklin and Marshall College, the University of Delaware, Haverford College, and Gettysburg College. I arrived at what was then Southeastern Massachusetts Technological institute in 1965, and spent the next twenty-one years watching the remarkable growth of that institution which so enriches the South Coast of Massachusetts. In all, I have spent fifty consecutive years in the classroom. MY: What has been your relationship to the town(s) you have lived in? VI: At various times I have lived in Marion, Rochester, and Mattapoisett. I now live in Wareham. One of my colleagues dubbed me the “tri-town kid.” I have tried to be a contributing member in each of the aforementioned towns, and am presently on the Wareham Veterans’ Council. A while back I was a member of the local Habitat for Humanity Committee. I also have served as a volunteer for Damien’s Pantry, a food distribution center, and for several years I served on the committee of Community Resources Network. We who live in what is now referred to as South Coast are privileged to reside in an area rich in history and a recreational paradise. My suggestion—get involved! MY: What in particular stands out in your mind regarding the years you spent at what is now UMD? VI: I was chairman of the English Department from 1968-1972; turbulent years in American history—the Civil Right Movement; Womens’ Lib; and increasing anti-Vietnam War sentiment. Campus unrest was rife, and I welcomed the challenges confronting a department chairman. It was a time of ferment, and I believe significant strides were made consistent with the ideals that were foremost in the
22
S ou th C oast P r ime T imes
minds of the Founding Fathers. The work is never done. The observation that “the price of freedom is eternal vigilance” is as true today as it ever was. Further, I am committed to the Humanities, and I agree with a statement attributed to Socrates that “the unexamined life is not worth living.” MY: Are there any other thoughts connected with UMD that you would like to share? VI: I am especially pleased that two of my former students went on to become chairmen of English departments on the collegiate level. Indeed, one of them, Edwin Thompson, returned to UMD after he had received his Ph.D. from Brown University, and served as chairman of the English Department at UMD for a number of years. The other, James Brosnan, was chairman of the English Department at Johnson and Wales University. I see him quite frequently. In many ways I think of my former students as an extended family.
I think of
my former students as an extended family. MY: What of your family? VI: I am most grateful for my three sons. They have been a source of extreme joy to me. The youngest one was fatally struck by a car while riding his bike on Cape Cod, and died at the age of thirty-six, but he is always with us. (Vern then refers to “We are Seven” by William Wordsworth.) MY: How did you personally respond to such a tragedy? VI: Well, I have to be mindful that I’m not the only one who has suffered loss. It’s a great testing of humankind. I think about the figure of Job, and I’m reminded that when we suffer great losses, it isn’t necessarily because we’re being punished in any manner, but perversely, our lives might even be enriched by tragedy. We can’t escape those things that we do not want to have happened, but they demand of us when they occur a meaningful resolution, so that we are not drowned in a sea of confusion and tragedy. I think, for example, of those individuals who, during World War II, were put into camps such as Dachau, Buchenwald, and the triumph of the spirit on the part of some who didn’t get crushed.
J une / J uly 2012
That was an example of the triumph of the spirit over its environment. MY: What do you do now that you are retired? VI: I am somewhat limited in my activities as I have Parkinson’s disease. However, I do quite a lot of writing. Recently I gathered some of the poems I have written over the years and made them available to my friends. It is my hope that the poems may give the reader a greater insight into who I am as a human being. MY: Vern, have you ever considered politics? VI: No, I never have. MY: How would you sum up your philosophy of life? VI: I find it difficult to answer in a way because so many things come to mind. Our presence on this globe remains to me somewhat of a mystery, and I think we’re constantly trying to make sense of the desperate elements that surround us as we plow through our individual lives. It’s so hard to know the right thing to do, and yet it is important that we strive toward living lives that are productive, and useful, not only to ourselves but to others. There have been great individuals in the history of mankind who have seen through much of the material that confounds us, and come upon truths that are imperishable. I think when we come upon these truths, we recognize the meaningfulness of them. So, my own goal is to be able to recognize those truths and, in the process of life, put them together in a meaningful fashion. MY: Over the weeks, months, and years, we have had a tremendous amount of fun together; we often pretend we’re in the literary salon of Gertrude Stein; we might be in Tahiti with Paul Gauguin; we might be in England with Shaw or Ireland with Yeats or France with Camus and Sartre, or elsewhere. Amongst all the characters, people that we’ve talked about, and pretended to be, and delineated, such as Gertrude and Leo Stein, Alice B. Toklas, Hemingway, Matisse, Picasso, Gauguin, EE Cummings, Wordsworth, Edgar Allen Poe, William Butler Yeats—I see his book this morning of poems on the table—even Jack the Ripper, Basil Rathbone and The Scarlet Pimpernal, who would you be if you could be reincarnated and why?
VI: Well, my answer is going to surprise you because I feel that those very individuals might come up with names of various historical figures in response to your question. They might, in some respect, be dissatisfied with whom and what they are, and want to be someone else. I frankly am quite content being who and what I am, and do not yearn to be anyone else. MY: That’s a very, very good answer, and I certainly respect and appreciate it…I must add a question, to change the subject, as I’m sitting here in the kitchen, and looking out on a beautiful scene of a small pond with birds darting here and there. We’re at the very end of the cul-de-sac, and it’s such a beautiful, halcyon scene. How would you describe it, and how do you feel about it? VI: Well, I think you hit upon the essence of this particular spot. I’m very content here. I think you’re right, it has a charm about it, given the natural qualities that exist here, and I’m even reminded a little bit of Yeats’ poem, “The Lake Isle of Innisfree,” and I think that there are qualities of this place that are akin to the elements in that poem. VI: (reads Yeats’ celebrated poem) “I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree, And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made; Nine bean rows will I have there, a hive for the honeybee, And live alone in the bee-loud grade. And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow, Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings; There midnight’s all a-glimmer, and noon a purple glow, And evening full of the linnet’s wings. I will arise and go now, for always night and day I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore; While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements gray. I hear it in the deep heart’s core.” MY: By the way, Vern, what kind of birds do you see flitting around here on the lake. Presently, I see all kinds of red birds, sparrows, and….
VI: Well, I’m visited periodically by birds which are migratory. I have blue herons that come and visit me, I have Canada geese that are around. I know that they are a messy bird but I enjoy their presence and don’t have any trouble with them. Also, there are the usual sparrows and grackles, well interestingly enough there’s even a nest of Baltimore orioles in the area, they’re a wonderfully colorful bird and I enjoy the wild life that abounds really, and I think St. Patrick must have stopped here because I haven’t seen any snakes at all, but I do see large turtles, lumbering about as they march toward their nesting grounds. But I’m thinking because I also have mallards that come, and they’re really lovely birds. In fact, I wrote a poem about the mallards that perennially visit me. MY: (Kidding) Do you have them for supper on occasion? VI: (Laughing) Never! MY: Any last words? VI: I believe in stepping into the hurly-burly of life with its impressive array of diverse opportunities. Happiness and sadness are near of kin. One of my sons recently asked me why I didn’t have any more wrinkles than I do. I replied, “I laugh a lot and I cry a lot.” The crying has been mostly tears of joy for the profound experiences of this life. Norman Cousins wrote a book on the therapeutic benefits of laughter. I am in complete agreement with his thinking. Last of all, let me express my gratitude for the many friends I have—they are a blessing beyond price. MY: My final question this morning is this: How would you like to be remembered? VI: Well, I’d like to be remembered as a person who was a decent human being, and one who cared for others and their welfare. I think my nature is a nurturing one, and I suspect that nature is not only peculiar to me as part of who and what I am, but probably the result of individuals who have been a part of my life, such as my mother and my father, and particular dear friends who have helped me realize myself. That has given me a certain contentment which I find very precious. Mel b. yoken is Chancellor Professor Emeritus of French Language and Literature at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
S ou th C oast P r ime T imes
J une / J uly 2012
23
Prime health
To sleep,
perchance to dream By Joyce Rowley
If there’s a common thread among the Sleep Center patients, it’s that they don’t think they have a problem. They have been dealing with sleep loss for so long that it seems normal to be tired. “It’s part of our culture,” Dr. Arun B. Rajan, neurologist with Prime Medical Associates in Dartmouth. “Everyone is used to getting five or six hours sleep.” But Dr. Rajan was quick to point out that interrupted sleep—through sleep apnea— can lead to serious health problems. “Think of the area between the mouth and lungs as an airway tube,” says Dr. Rajan. “What happens during sleep apnea is that the tube closes, and the airway is partially or completely blocked.” The patient stops breathing for a 10 seconds or more, up to forty to sixty secs in severe cases, and the body wakes to get air. But even such a short loss of air when repeated many times over the course of a night can lead to a loss of oxygen to the brain and heart. Sleep apnea has even been linked to brain scarring in more severe cases. The heart has to work overtime, too, says Dr. Rajan, when it doesn’t get enough oxygen, and this can lead to arrhythmia and high blood pressure. Dr. Rajan is a past Chief of Neurology for
24
S ou th C oast P r ime T imes
St. Anne’s Hospital in Fall River and St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford. He was also the medical director for the Southcoast Hospitals Groups Sleep Laboratories before joining with Dr. Pedro Falla in 2010 to form Prime Medical Associates.
Sleep apnea
is the most prevalent sleep disorder… the symptoms are often intertwined with a patient’s other health issues… Dr. Falla has been a primary care physician on the South Coast since 1999. Prior to that he worked at the emergency room and in internal medicine at the Clinica Anglo-Americana in Lima, Peru. Dr. Falla
J une / J uly 2012
has had his own practice in New Bedford since 2004. Both doctors say that their patients do not recognize the gravity of sleep apnea.
Stages of sleep “The brain consolidates memory during sleep,” said Dr. Rajan. “Adequate sleep is essential to memory function.” Every ninety minutes, the brain cycles through the five stages of sleep from a light sleep to rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Throughout the night, the REM stage gets longer as the other stages shorten. Although it is unclear just why people need to sleep (it is known that multiple functions occur during sleep including memory consolidation, removal of toxins etc.) general sleep deprivation is also linked to a number of illnesses over time. Sleep need depends on the age of the person and their condition. But generally, adults need between seven to nine hours nightly. With sleep apnea, the person is woken repeatedly and goes back to Stage 1, or a light
sleep. So the body never is able to complete the cycle and get the ever-deepening Stage 5 REM sleep. That’s part of the reason for the fatigue. The other is that the heart has to work harder to clean the blood and regulate the blood pressure without the optimal oxygen saturation. something like a car which doesn’t get the right mix of air and gasoline—it will eventually sputter and run rough. Sleep apnea is the most prevalent sleep disorder, but there are others. And the symptoms are often intertwined with a patient’s other health issues such as a high body mass index (BMI) and diabetes.
one at 88 Faunce Corner Road, North Dartmouth and 140 Purchase Street, Fall River. It’s not an intimidating experience—more like staying at a hotel, only with wires. Measurements are taken of brain waves, eye movements to gauge the stage of
Taking the first step “It’s unusual for a patient to come in and say that they have a problem,” said Dr. Falla. Instead they may complain of waking up frequently during the night, or feeling as if they are choking when they sleep. Oftentimes only the spouse knows the patient stops breathing during sleep, the condition known as sleep apnea. Loss of oxygen leads to a host of other problems, such as memory loss and fatigue. “Fatigue is the prevalent complaint,” Dr. Falla said. He said patients with advanced cases may even fall asleep while waiting to see him. A patient who has had a complete disruption of sleep can get ten hours of sleep and still feel tired. Being overweight is the most frequent cause of sleep apnea. Carrying those extra pounds makes it difficult to keep the airway open, said Dr. Falla, and the fatigue that comes with the sleep disorder makes it difficult if not impossible to exercise to lose weight. “It becomes a vicious cycle,” said Dr. Falla. But once the sleep apnea is corrected, it breaks the cycle of fatigue and weight gain. But other neuromuscular conditions and age can also be factors in the apnea. Many times, said Dr. Falla, the patient has multiple problems such as diabetes, or cerebral palsy.
A Sleep Center referral When Dr. Falla sees a patient at risk for sleep apnea (see sidebar), he makes a referral to Dr. Rajan for testing. Currently, Prime Medical operates two Sleep Centers,
Dr. A run B. R ajan
sleep apnea diagnosis “The solution is simple and elegant,” said Dr. Rajan. If the patient’s diagnosis is sleep apnea, a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine can restore patients to a full and complete sleep by maintaining an open airway throughout the night. The CPAP keeps both ends of the “tube” open by pushing air through. CPAP was originally created by Dr. George Gregory in the University of California San Francisco neonatal unit to help newborns breathe. A mask tied to a small machine blows out a set air pressure prescribed by the sleep physician and keeps the airway open throughout the night. Sometimes the results happen overnight—literally. Dr. Falla said it’s rewarding to hear patients say after treatment, “Dr. Falla, I haven’t slept this good in years. I feel so good. I have so much energy.” So what about dreaming? “Dreams occur in each stage. But we still don’t have a good understanding of what dreams are,” Dr. Rajan said. That’s a study for another night. For more information call 508-993-9760 or visit www.primemedllc.com
Joyce Rowley is a contributing writer to The South Coast Insider/Prime Times magazines on health, education and the environment. She has a bachelor of science degree in geology and a masters in community planning.
Sleep disorder signs Do you have any of these symptoms? If so, you may want to check with your doctor about getting tested for sleep apnea or other sleep disorders. Chronic fatigue
n
Memory issues
n
Dr. Pedro Falla
Sleeping at work or while driving
n
Waking up at night
n
sleep, breathing, oxygenation, heart rate and rhythm, position of the abdomen, chest and legs. Video is also recorded of the entire night. Periodic limb movement and restless legs are other possible sleep disorders that can cause sleep disruption without the patient realizing it.
Choking, or feeling like you’re choking while sleeping
n
Weight gain
n
Spouse or significant other says you stop breathing while sleeping
n
High blood pressure
n
S ou th C oast P r ime T imes
J une / J uly 2012
25
Prime season
Don’t get bugged!
A guide to backyard bloodsuckers B y J oyce Rowley
Ball games, walks in the woods, gardening, outdoor dinner parties—the list of summer entertainment activities is a long one. Just to sit outside and enjoy the sounds of the evening crickets and watch the fireflies rise from the damp grass is a perfect end to a summer day. And if you become a feast for few mosquitoes, well, where’s the harm? But that annoying itch that accompanies a mosquito bite is only half the problem. Early July is when the little buggers start carrying West Nile Virus. Mosquitoes carrying Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) are found at the end of July through to September. Both are found here on the South Coast. Then there are the other backyard bloodsuckers, ticks, which carry their share of diseases, too. Deer ticks in particular carry Lyme disease, but other tick-borne diseases include babesiosis and anaplasmosis. The dryer-than-normal spring means that the early mosquito population was not as large as usual. But the rains of May revived mosquitoes, as well as helped tick populations burgeon. Predictions for both pests are that they will be in plentiful supply.
What are the risks? You can enjoy your favorite activities and
26
S ou th C oast P r ime T imes
minimize your risk if you practice avoidance and prevention. So it helps to know how the diseases are transmitted, and what to look for to keep these critters at bay. Here are some pointers from experts in the field: Dr. Alfred DeMaria, epidemiologist with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH); Dr. Richard Nunez, emergency room physician at Charlton Hospital in Fall River; and Mattapoisett resident Brian Butler, who, as wetlands biologist in his environmental consulting firm, Oxbow Associates, is often in the white cedar swamps where these diseases originate.
EEE and West Nile Virus Because of the apparent increase in the number of cases in Southeast Massachusetts, MDPH recently hosted a panel of experts to discuss possible causes of EEE. In the past, one or two human
J une / J uly 2012
cases would be followed by ten or twenty years of inactivity before there were additional EEE human cases. Since 2004, there were more cases per year and fewer gaps between cases. Also, the virus is now being found in southern New Hampshire and Canada, said Dr. Alfred DeMaria. But the answer may lie in a complex combination of changes to the virus itself, changes in the ecology of white cedar swamps, and changes in human behavior as the South Coast becomes more densely populated. Still, the risk of getting EEE is far less than that of West Nile virus. EEE is relatively very rare. Between 1964 and 2010, there were only 37 cases in Massachusetts. But when contracted, the disease is fatal in 30% to 50% of the cases and causes serious neurological problems in survivors. Compare this to West Nile Virus, which is by far more common at 67 cases in Massachusetts just between 2000 and 2010. Most people who contract West Nile Virus do not show symptoms. About 20% come down with flu-like symptoms, according to Dr. Nunez. When they do, the shivers, muscle aches and fever usually go away without treatment. Less than 1% of the cases will result in more serious complications such as encephalitis, which may cause damage to the spinal cord and brain. There is no treatment available for full-blown West Nile
Virus except supportive care, Dr. Nunez said.
Lyme disease “We’re at ground zero for Lyme disease,” said Dr. Nunez. Lyme disease is carried only by the deer tick, distinguished by its black legs. As most people know, Lyme disease often, but not always, is seen by a “bulls-eye” rash that’s appears as a red circle with a clear center. Like West Nile Virus, it also feels like the flu with muscle aches and fever. But unlike WNV, Lyme disease can leave long-term complications in the form of arthritis and cardiac issues. Even if the patient has never had a rash, Lyme disease may be present, Dr. Nunez says. In those cases, an antibody test can be done on the patient’s blood to determine whether it is Lyme disease or whether another tick-borne disease may be causing the symptoms. Treatment for Lyme disease includes some level of antibiotics. In the early stages, a single dose may be all that is required. That’s because the parasite causing Lyme disease needs time to travel to the saliva, according to Dr. DeMaria. If a tick is on for less than 24 hours, it is less likely to transmit the disease. But if a tick has been on for over a day, then treatment may be needed. In the early stages, a single dose of antibiotics may be all that is required, said Dr. Nunez. As it progresses, intravenous antibiotics may be needed.
Babesiosis A new tick-borne disease that’s getting a lot of buzz in medical circles is babesiosis. Similar to malaria, the parasite infects red blood cells. It is also carried by the deer tick, and can occur with Lyme disease. It affects white blood cells. According to Dr. DeMaria, there is a risk that babesiosis can be transmitted in blood transfusions. Since the disease can go unnoticed in young people, it can be passed in blood donations to those with medical conditions and those over 60 years old. Babesiosis can cause severe complications in those patients. At its worst, a complete transfusion of red blood cells may be needed to purge the patient of the disease. Treatment for Lyme disease includes some level of antibiotics. In the early stages, a single dose may be all that is required. That’s because the parasite causing Lyme disease needs time to travel to the saliva,
according to Dr. DeMaria. If a tick is on for less than 24 hours, it is less likely to transmit the disease. But if a tick has been on for over a day, then treatment may be needed. In the early stages, a single dose of antibiotics may be all that is required, said Dr. Nunez. As it progresses, intravenous antibiotics may be needed.
Advice from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Avoidance…the best defense
• Wear long sleeve shirts and pants.
All of the experts agree that avoidance is the best preventive medicine. The thing to remember, said Dr. DeMaria, is that mosquitoes are not just bringing a disease from host to host. The virus also uses the mosquito to live. This is important, because it means that not all mosquitoes are infected, and not all types of mosquitoes have EEE and West Nile Virus. Still, it would take an entomologist or someone with very good eyesight to tell which mosquitoes are most likely carriers, so the best thing is to avoid all of them. Dr. Nunez agrees: the best medicine is avoidance. Mosquitoes feed heaviest at dawn and dusk. They’re also known to be able to bite through thin clothing, so if you must be out when they are, wear thicker clothing. Dr. Nunez said repellants should be used anytime there’s a likelihood of being exposed to either mosquitoes or ticks.
A nd if you can’t avoid them? Brian Butler, who is often working in the middle of cedar swamps surveying the wetlands and doing ecological assessments, says keeping free of both insects poses a constant challenge. “It’s an impossible task,” said Butler, “but it’s a critical one.” To repel ticks all day, Butler uses a DEET spray at a higher than normal concentration which he applies to his clothes from his thighs down. Ticks are usually found only up to about three or four feet, as they fall from one host onto grasses and branches and wait for another host to pass by. Any exposed flesh also gets a DEET spray. “It’s the vapor that repels them. So if the spray evaporates, it will lose effectiveness,” said Butler. As for mosquitoes, there’s no repellant strong enough. If he’s going to be out in a swamp for long periods, he uses mosquito netting like a beekeeper’s hat in order to be able to work. That, and a lot of DEET on exposed skin. “I basically marinate my hands and wrists,” Butler said.
Avoid the bite
• Stay inside at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are hungriest. • If you have to be outside, use insect repellent on your clothes. Repellents with DEET, permethrin, picardin, and oil of lemon eucalyptus can be used, but be sure to follow the directions. Not all repellants are appropriate for use on children, and none should be used on children less than two months old. • Even if your area has received aerial spraying, continue to use a repellent. Spraying only kills off the adult mosquitoes. Keep them out of your house and yard:
• Check and mend screens on windows and doors. • Get rid of open water sources such as buckets of water, tires or areas where wain the driveway or yard.
ter ponds
• Keep house gutters free of debris and free draining. • If you have a birdbath, empty and refill it frequently to kill off mosquito eggs or larvae. Deer tick avoidance requires a different strategy, since they are present at anytime and anywhere deer and mice may have been. • Check yourself and your pets daily for ticks. • Use DEET or other repellant on clothes, shoes, and exposed skin, even when just working in your yard. • If your yard abuts a wooded area, create a two-foot wide gravel or woodchip edging to discourage ticks from travelling into your yard. • Keep your lawn mowed low. • If you have your yard sprayed, make sure the contractor is a licensed pesticide applicator and that they have an integrated pest management plan. So go ahead and enjoy the summer. Just remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
S ou th C oast P r ime T imes
J une / J uly 2012
27
Good times Aoife O’Donovan
Brian Lewis
L aura Cortese
David A llen Wehr
A aron Fried
L auramarie Rondinella
Music on the South Coast David Prentiss
Where do you find the best music on the South Coast? Everywhere you look! Here are some of the highlights coming our way this summer.
Fall River and New Bedford In Fall River you’ll find a steady stream of great music at the Narrows Center for the Arts (http://www.narrowscenter.org): the Robert Cray Band, Aoife O’Donovan from Crooked Still, the great blues guitarist Ronnie Earl, Jefferson Starship, and Tom Rush. Concert-goers are welcome to bring their own food, drink and alcohol to all events in bags and coolers. For contemporary, traditional
28
and Celtic folk music, the best place is the Greater New Bedford Summerfest (www. newbedfordsummerfest. com). On July 6-8, there is non-stop music on multiple stages throughout downtown New Bedford. Over 50 performers and groups are on the schedule, which culminates in the show-stopping Celtic Extravaganza on Sunday night. New Bedford Symphony guest artist Roberto Plano returns to the area from his native Italy to perform two piano concerts at
S ou th C oast P r ime T imes
J une / J uly 2012
the Newport Music Festival on July 15 and 16 (www.newportmusic.org).
The Z The Zeiterion Performing Arts Center (www.zeiterion.org) in New Bedford has a sizzling lineup this summer. On July 1, Zappa Plays Zappa is on stage at the Z. Led by Frank Zappa’s eldest son, Dweezil, the show is devoted to performing the music of the late iconoclast American composer and musician.
On August 8, ABBA: The Concert brings one of the great pop groups in the history of music back to life. The tribute band is known for its exact ABBA-sound and “ABBA-esque” performance, and has performed more than 1,000 shows in more than 20 countries. On September 6, Rock of Ages: The Hit Musical comes to the Z. The five-time Tony Award nominated musical comedy is a rock-n-roll love story told through the hits of Journey, Styx, Reo Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister, Whitesnake and others.
More in New Bedford The Rotch-Jones-Duff House (www.rjdmuseum.org) offers a Concert in the Garden
featuring Laura Cortese and the Acoustic Project on August 16. Welding ancient fiddle styles to a pop song sensibility, Cortese has toured extensively around the United States and Europe. She will be joined Natalie Haas, Brittany Haas and Hanneke Cassel who make up the Acoustic Project. Picnics are encouraged. The gates open at 6:30 pm and the concert begins at 7:00 pm. There is always music and more at AHA!, a free arts and culture night which takes place the second Thursday of every month in Downtown New Bedford (www.ahanewbedford.org). Music venues vary so be sure to check their online calendar, but usually you can find music at No Problemo, Café Arpeggio, The Pour Farm, Catwalk Bar and Grille, Celtic Coffee House, and the First Unitarian Church. The Feast of the Blessed Sacrament (www.portuguesefeast.com) in New Bedford, August 2-5, features continuous live Portuguese and American entertainment at five performance locations. There is no charge for admission or entertainment. One of the high points of every South Coast summer is the New Bedford Festival Theatre’s annual production (www.nbfestivaltheatre. com). This year is no different, with the hit musical Hairspray being performed on July 20-22 and 26-29 at the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center. Winner of eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Hairspray will be brought to life on the South Coast with a cast that features talent from New York, Boston and local communities, including Lauramarie Rondinella in the lead role of Tracy Turnblad and Aaron Fried playing her mother, Edna Turnblad. For those who love the sound of a big band, the South Coast Jazz Orchestra performs on the first Monday of the month
at the Airport Grille in New Bedford. And the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra kicks off its new season on September 22 with an All Mozart program (www.nbsymphony.org).
Buzzards Bay Musicians from around the United States will converge in Marion for the Buzzards Bay Musicfest (www.buzzardsbaymusicfest.com) on July 11-15. Featuring four free concerts at the Fireman Performing Arts Center at Tabor Academy, this year’s program includes Mozart’s Symphony No. 38, Brahms’ Trio No. 1, Beethoven’s Trio Opus 9, No. 3, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7. Brian Lewis returns as guest artist for the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto and David Allen Wehr and Cynthia Raim will perform Bach’s Concerto for Two Pianos.
VISIT FAIRHAVEN
Shop for unique gifts and home accessories. Enjoy a delicious breakfast, lunch or dinner. See unique architecture or a seacoast fort. Town of Fairhaven VISITORS CENTER
43 Center St., Fairhaven Mon. Tue. Thurs. Fri. Sat. 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 508-979-4085
Dartmouth The Town of Dartmouth puts on a Wednesday night concert series featuring rock and pop performers at Apponagansett Park on Gulf Road, June through September. A full listing of the concert schedules is available at www.town. dartmouth.ma.us/pages/ Dartmouthma_recreation/ concert1). The Dartmouth Community Band also performs on Tuesdays in July and August at 6:30pm at the bandstand at Apponagansett Park.
Onset Blues The Onset Blues Festival is celebrating its 20th anniversary on August 4th. It is the longest running blues festival in New England, and hosts some of the most highly acclaimed acts in the blues scene. A full line-up of performers will be announced soon at www.onsetbluesfestival.com. As you can see, the music never stops on the South Coast.
THINGS TO DO AT THE
BUTTONWOOD PARK ZOO! FIND OUT AT WWW.BPZOO.ORG! 425 Hawthorn St. • New Bedford, MA 02740 • (508) 991-4556
S ou th C oast P r ime T imes
J une / J uly 2012
29
Technology
Dressed to connect Wearable techni-clothing
In the 1960s my father spent long, cold New England winter days directing traffic. It was the cold feet that got to him. Always something of a gadget junkie, he bought a pair of battery-powered socks that would keep his feet warm. While better than the alternative, electric sock technology was not an unalloyed success. First, there was the battery. This battery was sized like a can of Spam on steroids, and it weighed a spine-warping three pounds. Hanging off his belt, it produced a weird bulge on one
30
S ou th C oast P r ime T imes
side of his winter coat. He had to wear the battery there because he needed quick access to it. Periodically he had to unplug because the socks got too hot. And despite its bulk, the battery’s charge wouldn’t last the full work day. This was state-of-the-art stuff for wearable technology in the 1960s. But 50 years later, manufacturers are still
J une / J uly 2012
wrestling to improve the breed. Today we’ve got tablets, phones, music players, laptops, GPS devices and digital cameras that we keep with us day and night. Not only do these devices require power, they add weight and take up space. Each new generation of device weighs less and takes up less space, but stick a phone or a camera or a tablet in your pocket and you know it’s there. Too often, so does everyone else. There has always been the challenge of delivering electronic functionality and style.
Technology enabled clothing These days the form versus function dichotomy has expanded into new dimensions. People want their communications and entertainment devices close at hand,
but also want their hands free. They also want to look good and feel unburdened even as they haul around enough of their belongings to travel to Europe on the spur of the moment. Twelve years ago, Scott Jordan, founder of SCOTTEVEST (SeV), saw the demand for such clothes and introduced a line of fleece jackets and vests that looked good but also featured a seemingly endless supply of well-thought-out pockets. A pocket isn’t a high-tech device, but if it’s designed right it distributes the weight of its contents, and also hides those contents. “Technology Enabled Clothing,” as Jordan calls it. The warrens of pockets in most its items of clothing were designed according to SeV’s Weight Management System; you can slip an iPhone or book, or something heavier like an iPad or water bottle into an appropriate pocket and it sits comfortably, not even producing a bulge. Many items in the SeV line also include a Personal Area Network that enables discreet routing of wires, cables and earbuds. Pockets dedicated to music players or phones have see-through plastic panels for easy adjustment.
Packrat heaven Sportswear has always been a natural for such packrat design, but manufacturers are coming up with hidden pockets in more stylish clothes. Dressed for sports or dressed to kill, people still want their electronic devices. Jordan has steadily been expanding and updating his line, which now includes shirts, sport coats, pullovers, shorts, winter jackets, hoodies, leather jackets and trench coats as well as the vests and fleece jackets. Some models have as many as 37 pockets. SeV promotes them as something like wearable daypacks for air travel; they’ll carry all the key items you’d take in a carry-on. Simply put your loaded coat on
the x-ray conveyor and retrieve it on the other side with everything intact.
Yes, heated clothing SeV isn’t the only manufacturer pursuing the device-carrying consumer. For example, Columbia Sportswear’s Omni-Heat Electric line of electrically heated coats, gloves and boots. They use rechargeable batteries, which Columbia claims last five to seven hours. The heating can be turned on or off. At $900 for a parka and $400 for boots, they’re pricey, but perhaps not so much if you’re the type who gets chilly when the temperature dips below 80 degrees. Hammacher Schlemmer’s Heated Vest ($130) has a carbon fiber mesh and an infrared heating element embedded into the fleece. It’s good for about four hours, and the heat can be turned off. The vest’s battery/controller is removable, making the garment easy to wash. At the more fashion-conscious end of the spectrum, Levi’s Red Wire DLX collection of women’s jeans features an iPod docking station, retractable headphones and a removable joystick. The future promises more exotic approaches that will expand the wearable technology envelope. The biggest payoff in so-called intelligent clothing will come when wearers can generate at least some of the power for the devices they’re carrying, minimizing or eliminating recharge anxiety. The power sources might include built-in solar panels, or shoes that generate power when the wearer walks, producing energy that can be used to charge devices. If you’re interested in trends in the field of intelligent clothing and wearable technology visit CrunchWear.com. Dan Logan and Robin L aCroix are freelance writers and photographers who partner in Tightrope Photography, a Rehoboth-based company specializing in family history.
3 things you should know about buying new technology by daryl lopes
Considering the purchase of new technology can always seem to be a daunting task. Whether it’s computers, tablets, smartphones, or some new gadget, it seems as if there are about a million experts telling you that you should buy a million different things. But if you are going to spend the money, you want to make sure that you get the full value for your technology purchase. Here are 3 tips to help you do just that.
1. Figure out your budget and stick to it! Many sales people will tell you about your product and the 50 accessories you are going to need. Think about what you are willing to spend and plan for sales tax and any warranties that may be beneficial for you and your lifestyle.
2. Go out and play ! Stores like Best Buy and Apple are the perfect places to try before you buy. Try out the different devices and see what you like, not what everybody is telling you to like. And don’t be afraid to walk out without buying. You may find the same thing online at a great discount!
3. A sk your friends and family what they’ve purchased! And get them to tell you the truth about their experience. Sometimes we don’t want to admit that we are not happy with our costly purchases. Also read the reviews. Not just the tech reviews, but customer reviews! Real customers won’t hold back the truth. Technology is constantly changing and sometimes we need to catch up. But with a little thought and planning, you can be confident with your technology purchase and get the best value for your money. You may not be a geek, but you can certainly be smart with your money! Daryl Lopes is Head Geek at www. southcoastgeeks.com—helping ‘regular folk’ understand and use today’s technology.
S ou th C oast P r ime T imes
J une / J uly 2012
31
prime living
Is a reverse mortgage right for you? When I reached the age where I qualified for (free!) AARP membership, I thought, “Ah, it all gets easier from here on in.” After decades of Eliz abeth Morse Read working and/or raising children, I had mastered the basics of handling finances, planning for the unexpected, and learning to read the fine print on everything. As I approached my “golden years,” there wouldn’t be much else to learn, right?
Surprise! The rules may have changed, but the number of them hasn’t. I’m now slugging through an inch-thick “booklet” of FAQs about Medicare (which I’m too young for yet); I’m learning that collecting surviving spouse Social Security benefits is a doubleedged sword, and I’m suddenly bombarded with decisions and issues I never knew existed before I got that AARP card. Every time I turn on the TV or the computer or open my mailbox, someone is trying to sell me some product or service I hadn’t heard of a decade ago. They pitch me with endorsements from “The Fonz” or someone who looks like Marcus Welby MD, or else they play Steppenwolf in the background or flash grainy photos from Woodstock.
Duh... For all I know now, I very well may need some of these products and services as I drive into my twilight years on my three-wheeled motocart, but my inbred suspiciousness stops me from dialing that toll-free number for a free deck of largeprint playing cards or mailing in that reply card for a no-obligation consultation with a trained customer counselor. And so it is with “reverse mortgages,” one of the new realities I’m trying to learn about before I turn 62 (the minimum age for applying).
32
S ou th C oast P r ime T imes
Good idea? Bad Idea? Hopefully, what I’ve learned will help you, too. As with anything else, keep repeating your mantra: “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” Don’t get suckered into a potentially disastrous deal just because you like Fred Thompson.
What’s in a name? The first thing I realized about reverse mortgages is that the very name is misleading. Although they do bear some resemblance to the standard mortgages we’ve all come to know and hate, they are actually much closer to a home equity loan—and they’re a lot pricier than a standard mortgage. Long story short, a reverse mortgage is basically a loan based on the equity in your home.
J une / J uly 2012
It was originally created by the federal government in 1987 through the FHA (Federal Housing Authority, part of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, aka HUD) to help the elderly on fixed incomes stay in their homes and avoid foreclosure. It became nationally available in 1998 and the banking industry hopped on the bandwagon and started offering their own versions. The safest reverse mortgage is the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) offered through the FHA.
First, the good news… Ideally, a reverse mortgage can be a lifesaver for someone in their 80s who has lived in their home for many years and hopes to maintain it as their primary
residence for the remainder of their life. Very often, this segment of the population has either paid off the original mortgage or has a very low balance, and therefore has sizeable equity they can thereby turn into cash to pay off bills or use to supplement their monthly income. It can be awarded either as a lump sum (which can be invested), as a monthly payment, or simply as a line of credit that can be accessed when needed for emergencies —or a combination of the above. There are no prerequisites based on health, employment, income or credit rating to qualify for a reverse mortgage. The only requirements are that you must be at least 62 years old, your house must be your primary residence and that you are able to pay your property taxes, home/ hazard insurance and keep the property in good condition. The money, no matter how it is disbursed, is not considered to be income, so it is non-taxable and does not affect your Social Security or Medicare status. The title remains in your name until you die or move out of the home, at which time, the loan comes due and the property is sold. And, of course, there are no monthly payments. A reverse mortgage is classified as a “non-recourse” loan. In other words, the home itself is the only source of repayment, not the borrower or heirs. If, at sale, the house falls short of the loan balance, the mandatory mortgage insurance pays the lender the difference. If, at sale, there’s any money left over, it goes to your heirs/estate. the not-so-good news… Reverse mortgages come with very hefty origination and settlement fees, which are all front-loaded and deducted from the amount you receive. Also, over the life of the loan there may be servicing fees and varying interest rates that impact the final payoff amount. And, unlike with a standard mortgage or home equity loan, none of this is deductible on your annual taxes—it’s only tax-deductible when the loan is paid off—when you die, sell your house or move into a nursing home.
There are other pitfalls, too. A reverse mortgage can negatively impact eligibility for Medicaid. If your spouse is not a signatory to the loan application, the loan comes due when you die/move out and the lender could sell the house out from under them to pay off the loan—and the same applies for an adult child who’s
been living with you and taking care of you. Meanwhile, if at any time you fail to pay the obligatory taxes, home/hazard insurance or neglect the maintenance of the property, you could be considered in default of the loan agreement and the lender could call the loan due (foreclosure). Already, 8% of reverse mortgages in the country are in default. The lenders can also do this if you leave the home for even a temporary stay in a skilled nursing facility, although AARP is supporting legislation to prevent the banks from swooping in when the borrower has to live somewhere else for a short period of time.
Caveat emptor A reverse mortgage is not the one-size-fitsall retirement nest egg the TV ads promise. In recent years, it’s become a desperate maneuver for people in their 60’s to stave off financial ruin and dwindling retirement resources (and unscrupulous lenders are all too happy to oblige.). According to AARP, fully half of all current applicants are under 70 years old and 20% are aged 62-64. This is a very risky move, to say the least, and it’s no surprise that mandatory counseling is required of any applicant, so that they fully understand the implications of the contract they sign. It is critical that the names of both spouses be on the contract, so that a surviving spouse can stay in the home upon the other’s death. If an adult child is 62 years old, they can be protected, too, by being on the contract. A reverse mortgage can be a good idea for certain older seniors, but it can be a very bad financial move for younger seniors looking to pay off college tuition bills and credit card debt. Read the fine print and get good advice before you sign anything. I never much cared for Robert Wagner anyway.
For more information… To learn more about the HECM offered by the FHA, go to www.hud.gov and search under “reverse mortgage.” Call the National Council on Aging at 800-510-0301 for their free booklet “Use Your Home to Stay at Home.” If you have questions, you can speak with an HECM counselor at 800-569-4287. Call the Area Agencies on Aging at 800677-1116. To find one nearest you, go to www.eldercare.gov
“It’s worth the trip”
Come see what’s new for the 2012 season
201 Horseneck Rd • So. Dartmouth, MA
(508) 636-7700
S ou th C oast P r ime T imes
J une / J uly 2012
33
prime living
When Uncle Sam taketh away
Social Security benefits tax Retirees headed into their golden years are often discouraged to hear that a large portion of their Social Security benefits are subject to tax. Even though the opportunity exists to have taxes withheld from Social Security benefits, most clients elect not to, and as a result some of them can find themselves owing Uncle Sam money at tax filing time. Based on a pair of Treasury Tax Rulings issued in 1938 and 1941, Social Security benefits were explicitly excluded from federal Sherri tax. All of this changed Mahoneyin 1983, during the Battles Reagan administration, and beginning in 1984 up to 50 percent of an individual’s Social Security could potentially be subject to tax based upon income limitations. In 1993, under Clinton’s administration, as part of Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act also known as the Deficit Reduction Act of 1993), the Social Security taxation provision was modified to add a secondary set of thresholds and a higher taxable percentage of 85 percent for beneficiaries who exceeded the secondary thresholds (see below). Essentially, Social Security is funded through payroll deductions paid by the employee and a matching contribution paid by the employer. A self-employed person pays both the employee and employer portion. Additionally, a self-employed person deducts from income being taxed 50 percent of the social security tax paid. Social Secu-
34
S ou th C oast P r ime T imes
rity tax paid by a self-employed person is considered self-employment tax. The amount withheld from the employee is not excluded from wages for purposes of taxation and is therefore “taxed” money. The amount contributed by the employer is not includable in income and is therefore not taxed.
Tax on top of tax Typically, an amount an employee contributes to a retirement plan is contributed “pre” tax, and is therefore taxed upon distribution. Based on the method of contributions, it would stand to reason that approximately 50 percent of an individual’s benefits have already been taxed. So, why are some people paying tax on 85 percent of their benefits? The original taxation of benefits was set at 50 percent based on the employees’ portion already having been subject to tax, however, the 1993 Reconciliation Act changes were designed to bring the taxation of Social Security benefits in line with the tax treatment of private pensions where the real “non-contributed” portion is about 85 percent of the average benefit, not 50 percent. If the total of your taxable pensions, wages, interest, dividends, and other taxable income, plus any tax-exempt interest
J une / J uly 2012
income, plus half of your Social Security benefits, is more than a base amount, some of your benefits will be taxable.
At what rate? Benefits are taxed at either 50 or 85%. The 50 percent base amount is $25,000 for singles, and $32,000 for those who married filing jointly. Taxpayers whose base amount exceeds $34,000 for singles and $44,000 for married filing jointly will pay tax on up to 85 percent of their Social Security benefits. A critical step in planning regarding the taxation of Social Security benefits is the Federal Tax Table. For 2012, the single tax rate changes from 15% to 25% at $35,350. Married filing jointly taxpayers see the tax increase from 15% to 25% at $70,700. So, taxpayers with income in the higher bracket will not only suffer the insult of having their Social Security benefits taxed, but will be paying 25% tax on their benefits. As always, a challenging tax situation presents us with an opportunity to plan effectively and maximize deductions so that we can help our clients pay the minimum tax. A tax preparer who works effectively with clients in their retirement years will review all income streams and potential deductions to minimize the taxability of Social Security benefits, and prepare clients for when Uncle Sam asks for a piece of their benefits. Sherri M ahoney-Battles, of Taxing Matters, specializes in income tax preparation for small business owners. She lives on a farm in Westport with her husband, a plumbing and heating contractor, and their two daughters.
Protect seniors’ finances by michelle d. beneski
W
e are experiencing an unfortunate increase in elder abuse. Financial exploitation includes taking money or property, forging an older person’s signature and getting an older person to sign a deed or will through deception or coercion. Most cases of financial exploitation involve family members. Usually it’s someone who is dependent on Mom and Dad. It’s easy to transfer the house to their name or take out mortgages on the house. They might use some of the money for Mom and Dad, but they use some for themselves, too. Southeastern Massachusetts has an elder abuse hotline: 1-800-922-2275. To guard against such problems, legal and financial advisers suggest taking care of estate planning early. Picking who you know and trust as health care agent and durable power of attorney is very important. Do it while you have the mental capacity to make the best possible decision for yourself. If putting adult children in charge is problematic, consider hiring a third party who is not emotionally attached. To help older people protect their finances, we offers these tips: Arrange for direct deposit of Social Security checks and other retirement benefits.
T
oday, with nursing homes costing an average of $9,000 a month, you must plan ahead. As Elder Law Attorneys, we can show you how to protect your assets from nursing homes, probate fees and estate taxes. Even with a relative in a nursing home now, assets can still be protected. Call us today to set up a consultation.
Michelle D. Beneski, Esq.
Daniel M. Surprenant, Esq.
Robert L. Surprenant, Esq. of Counsel
The family team of Attorney Robert L. Surprenant, Attorney Michelle D. Beneski and Attorney Daniel M. Surprenant are resolute in their goal of providing the highest quality of services to their clients. This also includes presenting free educational talks in the community on topics of Medicaid, Estate Planning, Veterans Benefits and Elder Care. All you need to do is call us at our toll free number 1-800-929-0491 and request which guide you need us to send you.
n
Do not give anyone access to your ATM cards or passwords.
n
We are members of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and the Bristol County Estate Planning Council. Attorney Beneski is a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA) and she also has her Masters in Taxation (LLM).
Take great care in choosing someone to appoint as power of attorney and in completing or revising a will.
n
Be careful about permitting family, friends or tenants to live in your house. Have a written agreement about expectations of services to be performed or rent paid.
n
Maintain contact with family, friends, neighbours and/or your community center.
n
Michelle D. Beneski is an Attorney at Surprenant & Beneski, P.C. For specific questions call her at 508-994-5200 or send e-mail to mdb@nbelderlaw.com
— Elegant and simple — F resh and local f For all ages Mention this ad and receive a FREE cup of chowder 11:30-9pm Sun / Tue / Wed 11:30-10pm Thu-Sat f Closed Monday
3 Water Street f Padanaram Village So. Dartmouth, MA f 508.999.6975
www.blackbassma.com S ou th C oast P r ime T imes
J une / J uly 2012
35
prime health
SPkin cancer re vention is key Cara Connelly
Our bodies are made up of hundreds of millions of living cells. Normal cells grow, divide and die in a very orderly fashion. During the early years of life, normal cells divide faster and allow the person to grow. After the person becomes an adult, most cells divide only to replace worn out, damaged, dying or dead cells.
That’s why, on the top of your head or on the bottom of your feet—anyplace there are living cells—there is a potential for skin cancer. There are many kinds of cancer, but they all begin the same way—with out-of-control growth of abnormal cells. Cancer cell growth is different from normal cell growth. Instead of dying, cancer cells keep on growing and form new cancer cells. They grow into and invade other tissues, which is something that normal, healthy cells can’t do.
Skin cancer types According to radiation oncologist Dr. Tushar Kumar, MD, who is part of the
36
S ou th C oast P r ime T imes
team at Southcoast Centers for Cancer Care located in Fall River and Fairhaven, skin cancers are generally broken down into three categories: basal cells, squamous cells and the most dangerous, melanoma. To understand basal and squamous cell skin cancers, it helps to know a little about the skin. It is the largest organ in your body, has 3 layers, and has five basic functions: It covers the internal organs and protects them from harm, including germs
n
n
Prevents the loss of too much water/fluids
n
Helps control body temperature
Protects internal tissues from ultraviolet (UV) rays
n
J une / J uly 2012
n
Helps the body make vitamin D
Basal cell cancer About 8 out of 10 skin cancers are basal cell carcinomas, which begin in the lowest layer of the epidermis, the basal cell layer. They usually begin on skin exposed to the sun, such as the head and neck. Once found mostly in middle-aged or older people, it is also being seen in younger people, perhaps because people are spending more time in the sun without protecting their skin. Basal cell carcinoma tends to grow slowly and it is very rare for it to spread to distant parts of the body. But if it is not treated, it can grow into nearby areas and spread into the bone or other tissues under the skin. After treatment, basal cell carcinoma canrecur in the same place. New basal cell cancers can also start in other places. Approximately half the people who have had one basal cell cancer will get a new skin cancer within 5 years.
Squamous cell cancer Squamous cell cancer accounts for about 2 out of 10 skin cancers; it starts in the upper part of the epidermis, most often on skin that has been exposed to the sun, like the face, ears, neck, lips, and backs of the hands. It can also start within scars or skin ulcers elsewhere. Squamous cell carcinomas are more likely than basal cell carcinomas to spread into fatty tissues just beneath the skin. They are also more likely to spread to nearby lymph nodes (the bean-shaped collections of immune system cells) or to distant parts of the body, but this is not common.
Melanoma While skin cancer is the most common of all cancers, melanoma accounts for less than 5% of skin cancer cases. So it is much less common than basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers, but it is far more dangerous, and causes most of the deaths from skin cancer. Melanoma begins in the melanocytes, starting most often on the chest or back in men and on the legs of women, but it can start in other places, too. Melanoma can almost always be cured in its early stages. But it is likely to spread to other parts of the body if it is not caught early. The American Cancer Society estimates that for this year about 76,250 new cases of melanoma will be diagnosed and death will result in 9,180 of those patients. The number of new cases of melanoma in the United States has been increasing for at least 30 years. Overall, the lifetime risk of getting melanoma is about 1 in 50 for whites, 1 in 1,000 for blacks, and 1 in 200 for Hispanics. Risk factors for melanoma include exposure to UV rays, having moles on your body, having lighter, fair skin and red hair, a family history of melanoma, or having
melanoma in the past, and suffering from a weakened immune system.
Recommended: a skin exam Once melanoma has been identified, your cancer care team will recommend treatment options. Early stage cancers can often be treated well with surgery alone, but more advanced cancers often need other treatments which may include chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiation therapy. Dr. Kumar reports that even though skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer, it can be tricky for some patients to see as it can have different appearances depending on the type of growth. He recommends a cancer-related checkup, including a skin exam when you have your regular health exams. “Skin cancer is directly related to UV exposure,” Dr. Kumar said. “And it’s not just the summer sun that is dangerous — it is important to protect yourself from the sun’s harmful rays no matter the season and to have your skin checked during your regular health checkups.” While avoiding sun exposure entirely is impossible, he advises using a product daily that contains a SPF of 30, wearing protective clothing including a hat and sunshades for your eyes, and staying out of direct sunlight midday. Dr. Kumar recommends being outdoors early in the morning or later in the day when the UV rays are not as strong. He stresses that “Cancer is a growing health problem that will soon surpass heart disease in our region.” For more information on Southcoast’s cancer services visit www.southcoast.org/ cancercare/
Southcoast Centers for Cancer Care
Nobody does this alone
it is important to protect yourself from the sun’s harmful rays no matter the season and to have your skin checked during your regular health checkups.
877-822-2732 www.southcoast.org/cancer Fairhaven 206 Mill Road Fairhaven, MA 02719 Fall River 506 Prospect Street Fall River, MA 02720
Cara Connelly is a freelance writer who recently completed her first children’s book, has published in several New England magazines, the Standard Times and whatitcosts.com. She lives in Dartmouth with her three sons, Keegan, Colin and Cole.
S ou th C oast P r ime T imes
J une / J uly 2012
37
prime health
ADVERTISE!
GET RESULTS and… Grow your BRAND Grow your PRESENCE Grow your BUSINESS Grow PROFITABILITY
— QUICK FACTS — • 16 years in the market • Covers the South Coast and targets the 25+ demo • Available at 750 locations • 125,000 monthly readers • Affordable and customized • Professional and promotes health/wellness • Informational and educational • Entertaining
Call 508-677-3000 editor@coastalmags.com
Advertising Sales Rep We’re looking for an energetic, enthusiastic, self-motivated person. Call 508-677-3000 or email editor@coastalmags.com
38
S ou th C oast P r ime T imes
Tanning is the wrong choice Let’s face it: we all look forward to the summer months— enjoying the weather, by the beach or poolside. Everyone wants a beautiful tan to make our skin glow and look ohso-healthy. But are these looks deceiving? As much as tanning seems appealing and temporarily gives you that healthy, glowing look, it is very dangerous. Flavia The long-term effects of Thornson, rn UV rays cause premature aging. The top medicalgrade sunscreens, at best, only give you about 55% of protection and will not protect you against the infrared rays.
Leather looks good on your shoes, not your face Aesthetics aside, everyone should be concerned with the impact tanning has on health. Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer; it kills one person every 4 hours in this country. It does not discriminate on age, gender, or race. Everyone is equal under the sun. The good news is that it can easily be caught early with regular skin checks. In the meantime, the simplest form of prevention is keeping skin exposure low; make sure you wear a hat whenever possible, polarized sunglasses, and maybe
J une / J uly 2012
even some long-sleeved shirts and light cotton pants. Applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30-50 30 minutes before going out and reapplying it every 2 hours (more often when participating in water activities) will help to cover what clothes can’t.
E very little bit helps To significantly increase the level of protection, choose a medical grade topical Vitamin C, after consulting with a medical professional to determine which one is the best choice for your skin type. A small amount once a day is all it takes. We have to choose between young looking, healthy skin, or tanned skin. We can’t have both. Remember, that your tan will stay with you for only a short time. Your beautiful, healthy skin will stay with you until the end. Be safe, and have fun this summer! Flavia Thornson is an RN at Avalon Medical Spa. www.avalonmedicalspa.net, email: avalonmedicalspa@comcast.net, or call 774 202-7049
1
2
3
4
5
6
good times
7
Sea inspires art As a visual information specialist for the National Marine Fisheries Service, Brenda Figurerido’s job consisted of producing graphics, charts, and photography. In her words, she was “a translator of ideas into images.” After retiring in 2008, she has focused more on painting abstract and personal expressions of her experience at sea. Her most recent exhibit at Visiting Artists Gallery in Tiverton Four Corners was inspired by Herman Melville’s Moby Dick, which she described as: “The battle of Ahab and the Whale, Man and his relationship with his God and his place in the universe, as an allegory to a complex abstraction and an artistic process intrinsic to this maritime environment and the power and mystery it exudes.” For more information, visit www.brendafiguerido.com
1. Brenda Figuerido, Bryan McFarlane, Prof. of Painting & Drawing at UMass Dartmouth 2. Denise Bolduc and Allison Taylor 3. Hannah Hovbre and Lynne Borges 4. Josie Woollam and Katherine Flener 5. Tony and Sharon Connors and Ron Flener 6. Dora and Trip Millikin 7. Qian Cao and baby Joseph with Tiffany Peay
S ou th C oast P r ime T imes
J une / J uly 2012
39
prime health
Ah, modern medicine I just started doing a bunch of really healthy stuff lately and you know what? I never felt better. Healthy living? Who knew? Paul But I had to. I mean at K andarian 58, the years stack up behind you faster than ever, so you may as live the ones in front of you as cleanly as possible. Funny thing about the mind and body as we age. Just when you think you’re getting a handle on one, the other starts getting away from you. And if you’re around my age, you know exactly which is which. Last spring I tore up my Achilles tendon running barefoot on a beach in St. Lucia, which inexplicably gets me very little sympathy from friends when I tell them that. I thought I was on the mend, wore a big ungainly boot for six weeks—which I might add gave me a screaming case of sciatica—but then was riding a bike when I thought I was all better, and POP! there went the Achilles. Lucky for me, if you can possibly use the words ‘lucky’ and ‘ruptured Achilles’ in the same sentence, there was a mass of scar tissue in there holding the whole mess together, so I could hobble around until November when I had the surgery. Enter the mind thing. I think as you get older, you gain a sense of self you didn’t have when you were younger, a security in being who you are and the hell with what anyone else thinks. I really started feeling that way in the last several years, not that I ever really cared what people thought of me. It just started getting stronger and with that security, led me to do stuff like theater. Which is why I put off surgery, I had a play to do, so I delayed the operation. It went well, very well, and six months later, I was playing hockey again, my sport of passion, and never felt better. So then, naturally, something ELSE went wrong. Long prone to canker sores, I developed a 40
S ou th C oast P r ime T imes
scorching case of them that laid me low for days and made me drop 10 or so pounds. Same thing happens every 10 or 15 years; it’s weird, but it just does. But then I found out what may be causing it. About six years ago, I was diagnosed with celiac disease (honestly, after 50, when it rains, it painfully pours), a gluten intolerance, and my doc says these occasional outbreaks could indeed be caused by that. Lovely. The mouth cleared up and a weird thing happened: I grew fingernails. Honestly. My entire life, since I was a kid, maybe in the womb, I chewed my fingernails. Nerves, habit, I don’t know, I just know I
I feel
le an and cle an, more energized… all from he althy living? who knew ? always gnawed my nails down to the nubs. Ridiculous, I know, I know, but I just did. Well, with the most recent mouth issue, I couldn’t bite them. And they grew. And when my mouth got better and I could resume chewing, I just didn’t. Not sure why, I just didn’t. And now I have, for the first time in my life, actual fingernails. Since I’m new to nails: What do men do with these things? I have a nail file and file them down as best I can, but these suckers are growing to the point that when I scratch my head, I have to be careful not to gouge flesh. Nails, actual nails, can be kinda dangerous. But they come in handy. My cat, for example, has never loved me scratching
J une / J uly 2012
his head more. The mouth thing cleared up after a massive dosage of steroids, which has its own slew of side effects. Ah, modern medicine. So I decided to attempt some homeopathic stuff and to do the best thing I did: stop listening to my doctor. Don’t get me wrong, I love the guy, he’s young, energetic, focused on patient care, always there when I need him. But doctors are so into treating symptoms with drugs, they tend to be blind to other possibilities, maybe because of their training, maybe because they’re beholden to FDA-approved treatments only, maybe a fear of litigation. I don’t know. But I asked my guy how I could prevent these massive canker attacks and he just shrugged and said, “You really can’t. You’re just prone to them.” That ticked me off, so I started researching stuff and then went to Good Health Natural Foods in Hanover for help. This super-informative guy there, Corey, talked to me for 20 minutes on what to take and why, going into tremendous detail on what works best for what. He hooked me up with a good probiotic, a digestive enzyme and liquid chlorophyll. The next week, I went to their store in Quincy and got some L-Lysine. This stuff is all natural, all expensive and all so very worth it. In the weeks I’ve been taking it, plus sticking to a gluten-free diet, I have never felt better. I started walking more in addition to hockey, and I’m this close to actually using a gym membership I’ve paid for but never use. I feel lean and clean, more energized, more alert, more alive, my mind racing faster than ever, that sense of self more secure than ever. All from healthy living? Who knew? Paul Kandarian is a lifelong area resident and has been a professional writer since 1982, as columnist, contributor in national magazines, websites and other publications. He is a regular contributor to The South Coast Insider and South Coast Prime Times.
4499 Acushnet Ave. New Bedford, MA (508) 995-6900
The Wound Care Center
www.newbedfordrehab.com
Are you caring for a disabled adult in your home? Beacon Adult Foster Care pays caregivers a taxfree stipend to care for your loved ones at home, as an alternative to assisted living or nursing home placement. Adult Foster Care (AFC) is a MassHealth-funded program that provides 24-hour home care services for people with chronic health care needs. AFC lets people maintain their daily routines with ongoing supervision and assistance from a qualified live-in caregiver. An AFC member must live in Massachusetts and have MassHealth Standard or CommonHealth insurance. An AFC caregiver must be 18 years of age and may not be the spouse or legal guardian of an AFC member.
For more information call 774-202-1837 or visit our website www.beaconafc.com
Sometimes all you need is the simplicity of direct cremation Available at time of need or for pre-arrangement
Basic RI Cremation Package
• Includes services of funeral director and staff • Transportation of remains from within RI • Preparation of all necessary legal documents and permits • Filing death certificate & Social Security notification • Fiberboard container for cremation • Cremation with basic urn • Delivery to family within seven days $1,625.00
For more information contact us at 401-337-5900 or email request to: Familyschoicecremation@gmail.com Affiliated with Smith Funeral & Memorial Services • Rosemary C. Alden F.D., CPC
T O A DV E R T I SE I N S OU T H C OA S T PR I M E T I M E S C A L L 50 8 - 677-30 0 0
ESTATE PL A NNING...
Estate and Medicaid Legal Services — For You and Your Family — • Health Care Proxies and Living Wills • Durable Powers of Attorney • Homestead Protection • Wills and Trusts • Probate Matters
• Estate Tax Planning • Special Needs Planning • Long Term Care Planning • Medicaid Planning • Medicaid Applications
Jane E. Sullivan, Esq. 624 Brayton Avenue • Fall River, MA
508-679-0535
It’s All About Doing What’s Best for You and Your Family
www.janesullivanlaw.com
Southeastern Massachusetts Health & Rehabilitation Center
Not Your Average Plumber. Act Now!
plumbing heating Cooling
Up to $4,000 in rebates available on 30+ year boilers! Oil or Gas!* *Certain restrictions apply. Offer available until 7/31/12
Solar Located Directly on Busline
4586 Achusnet Ave. New Bedford, MA 508-998-1188
Bill Battles - Master Plumber
171 Pine Hill Road ~ Westport, MA 508-636-9080 ~ Bill@thevillageplumber.com
www.TheVillagePlumber.com
T O A DV E R T I SE I N S OU T H C OA S T PR I M E T I M E S C A L L 50 8 - 677-30 0 0
Clifton
HOSPICE SERVICES
SOMERSET, MASSACHUSETTS
Compassion Dignity Comfort
508-675-7583
You have a choice in your healthcare…….
Caring For You In Your Own Home Clifton Hospice Services is a family owned and operated community hospice agency which has been providing compassionate care to patients at the Clifton Healthcare Campus as well as in the homes of patients throughout the Greater Fall River area since 2007. The Clifton Hospice Services’ team of professionals is specially trained in end-of-life care. Our hospice team is committed to enhancing quality of life by providing compassionate dignified care through honoring life and offering hope. Utilizing an interdisciplinary approach, the Clifton Hospice program provides symptom management along with spiritual and emotional support to both their patients and the patients’ loved ones. In order to meet the needs of the patient and family, the hospice team is available 24-hours a day, 7-days a week. Clifton Hospice Services has achieved several milestones, including the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval, which is awarded only to healthcare providers with proven quality and standards compliance. Clifton Hospice Services is a member and quality partner of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, and is a preferred provider with most major health insurances, including Medicare and Medicaid.
Make Clifton your choice
CLIFTON HEALTHCARE CAMPUS SOMERSET, MA 02725
CLIFTON REHABILITATIVE NURSING CENTER 508-675-7589
CLIFTON OUTPATIENT REHAB CLINIC 508-675-0329
CLIFTON ASSISTED LIVING COMMUNITY 508-324-0200
CLIFTON HOSPICE SERVICES 508-675-7583
Proud to be celebrating over 50 years of dedication to excellence.