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Sudbury Companies of Militia and Minute at a re-enactment
Awaken your inner history buff: Sudbury Companies of Militia and Minute Story on page 10
Vol. 46 | No. 4 | Eastern Edition | April 2020
PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN COLLINS
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Refresh your driving skills with AARP’s Smart DriverTEK course By Mike Festa, State Director AARP Massachusetts
T
alking about cars takes on a whole new vocabulary these days, thanks to a range of new vehicle technology features intended to keep us safe as we travel. We hear about features like Forward Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Automatic Emergency Braking, and Adaptive Cruise Control, but we may not know exactly what they do. Mike Festa According to a survey conducted by Consumer Reports, 57 percent of drivers report that at least one advanced driver-assist feature in their car has kept them from getting into a crash. That’s why it is beneficial to learn about these technologies. They can help keep you and your family safe on your next trip – no matter the length. Smart DriverTEK is a 90-minute AARP workshop offering an interactive way to stay up to date with the latest safety technology in your
According to a survey conducted by Consumer Reports, 57 percent of drivers report that at least one advanced driver-assist feature in their car has kept them from getting into a crash. That’s why it is beneficial to learn about these technologies. current or future car. Learn all about what new technologies are available, how they work, and how they can increase your confidence behind the wheel.
The workshops cover the following: Forward collision warning
In the split second you take your eyes off the road – to check on your backseat passengers, change the radio station, or grab your water bottle – anything can happen. With Forward Collision Warning systems, the car can alert you that a crash may be imminent if it detects a hazard ahead, allowing you to brake or steer to safety. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safe-
ty, this feature alone has reduced rear-end collisions by 27 percent. Lane departure warning New sensors and cameras keep an eye on your lane as you drive. If you drift out of your lane without using your blinker, your car will alert you – or may even apply subtle steering or braking adjustments – to keep you safe.
Automatic emergency braking
Let’s say the car in front of you brakes suddenly or an animal jumps in front of your path unexpectedly. With automatic emergency braking, your car will warn you of an impending crash. If you don’t respond by braking or steering to safety, in some cases the feature may automatically slow down or stop the car to avoid or minimize a crash.
Adaptive cruise control
Cruise control has long been a commonly used feature during road trips. The latest update on this feature is adaptive cruise control. When you set your speed, you can also set the desired distance between you and the car ahead. Your car can then adjust its speed according to how fast or slow the cars are going in front of you. Whether it’s aggressive drivers, unexpected wildlife crossing the road, or a foreign object hindering your path, you never know what you might encounter on a trip of any distance. These advanced features may help keep you safe on the road. While technology is never a substitute for attentive and focused driving, it can give us a needed assist sometimes. To learn more about advanced vehicle technologies, sign up for a FREE AARP Smart DriverTEK workshop, developed jointly with The Hartford, available online nationwide or in-person in select markets, including Boston. Visit www.aarp.org/sdtek for more information. Mike Festa is the state director for AARP Massachusetts. Archives of articles from previous issues can be read at www.fiftyplusadvocate.com.
READY TO VOLUNTEER? WE ARE READY FOR YOU. Learn how you can put your time, knowledge and talent to use with volunteer opportunities through AARP in Massachusetts. Help make the communities in which we live, work and play the best they can be while engaging with others who share your passion for creating change. AARP is here to help you take on today—and every day with Real Possibilities. Get to know us at aarp.org/ma.
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EMass Senior Softball League registration now open REGION - Eastern Massachusetts Senior Softball (EMASS) is now launching its annual recruitment campaign for players age 50 and over. The 400plus member league draws players from towns across Eastern Massachusetts with games played on fields in Framingham, Medfield, Ashland and Wayland. The season begins May 1 and runs until Labor Day, with playoffs completed in early October. EMASS offers seniors of all skill levels a safe, well-organized opportunity to play competitive slow-pitch softball. Founded in 1995 with four teams and 80 members, EMASS has evolved into five divisions, 33 teams and over 400 members. The league’s members range in age from 50 to 90. The average age is 67 with 70 players in their fifties, 160 in their sixties, 140 in their seventies and 30 in their eighties. Members’ skill levels range from casual recreational players to those who play on nationally competitive tournament teams. Players of any skill level will find a spot with players of similar abilities in one or more of EMASS’s five divisions. Two divisions play doubleheaders on Saturday mornings and three divisions play doubleheaders on weekdays. The spirit of Senior Softball is evident in its post-game tradition of the opposing teams forming lines to congratulate each other with high fives and fist bumps. Competing in senior softball is a statement. Players thumb their nose at Father Time and they are deeply grateful to take the field and compete together as teammates or opponents.
look forward to many more softball seasons as I look to retire.” “Over 21 years, EMASS has provided me with the opportunity to relive my youth and play the game I love,” said Joe Salzano, now 83 and a seasoned EMASS player. “I have established long-lasting relationships with players both on and off the field.”
“The EMASS softball-loving community competes with sportsmanship and camaraderie,” said Walker Royce, Commissioner of EMASS. “Besides all the fun and banter of a team sport, we also provide each other with a healthy support network for getting through life’s senior challenges. That could be fighting through cancer, rehabilitating a knee replacement or just hitting over 500.”
Players share some of their joys of playing in EMASS
EMASS players know how blessed they are to play. They are inspired by the elder players who can still perform well in their late seventies and eighties. They love seeing a teammate return from an injury or some life-threatening ailment. They enjoy that three-hour escape to the fields where camaraderie, teamwork and competition block out life’s challenges and stresses. “EMASS is an oasis for me,” said David Ossam, a first year player in 2019. “No matter what personal or professional pressures I am facing, those weekly hours are refreshing and uplifting. Playing the game I love with people I truly enjoy makes life sweeter and more fun.” “I have found EMASS to be a wellrun, welcoming league, providing a good balance of fun and competitiveness,” said Dan Jolly, who has played in EMASS for two seasons. “All of my teammates have been fantastic to get to know and they have inspired me to
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Artist is finally living her dream By Melanie Petrucci Senior Community Reporter
PHOTOS/MELANIE PETRUCCI
SHREWSBURY/CAMBRIDGE – Former Shrewsbury resident Deb Peeples, 63, recently returned from a month-long residency at the Vermont Studio Center, one of 48 visual artists and writers who took part in the program. After raising a family, taking care of a parent with Alzheimer’s and devoting much of her life to community service, the time had come a few years ago for her to fulfill her lifelong passion for art. She is now laser focused. When asked about the residency, she replied, “That was a fantastic experience… It was a very exciting exchange... It was a gift of time.” Instead of retiring to a warmer climate, Peeples and her husband of 36 years, Ron, chose to relocate to Cambridge to enjoy an urban lifestyle with access to artistic opportunities. They have been in Cambridge for almost five years. While growing up outside of New York City, Peeples took many art classes and received her Bache-
Deb Peeples in her studio explaining “Leave the Door Open”
lor of Fine Arts degree from Washington University in St. Louis, Mo., where she and Ron met. “When I got out of school I was painting and living in Minneapolis
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where a gallery represented me. I certainly couldn’t support myself doing artwork and being a starving artist was not my thing,” she explained. She moved back to New York
City, held professional managerial positons, married and had three children. After stints in New Jersey, Chicago and Switzerland, the family settled in Shrewsbury in 1993. They chose Shrewsbury because of the schools and she served for many years on the School Committee. Peeples was also a Town Meeting member and held leadership and advocacy roles in other organizations and political campaigns. It was when her middle child came out as transgender that their world shifted closer to Boston as she became very involved with LGBT causes. “The work that I was doing was statewide and mostly based in Boston. I was helping facilitate support groups for parents of transgendered kids,” Peeples shared. However, she had never abandoned her love for the arts and it was reignited once her kids were grown. “We started looking for loft spaces and when we found this space Artist | 5
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Artist | from page 4
in Cambridge it was like a dream,” she said. She and her husband set to work converting what was once an artist’s studio. It was the perfect spot for them to build their new home which is sleek, sophisticated and breathtaking. They even carved out space for a studio. Peeples has utilized her time well. She has been actively honing her skills, focusing her talents primarily on encaustic painting (pigmented heated beeswax) and assemblage (similar to collage but consisting of three-dimensional elements). She has also become involved with the Cambridge Art Association as a board member. ”I took an adult education class to learn encaustic paint thinking I would use it in collage but I completely fell in love with it as paint. I just loved painting with it,” Peeples said. She has shown her work in galleries on Cape Cod, New York City and as far away as California. Currently, she is showing her assemblage “Not Peeples in her studio with a work in progress. 4gotten,” in a juried exhibit that will run from Feb. 20 - March 20 at Concord Art, 37 Lexington Road, Concord. “I’ve met a wonderful community of people,” she said. “I’m learning new things all the time; it’s exciting and I feel energized by the experience.” For more information, visit www.debpeeples.com or follow her on Instagram, http://instagram.com/debpeeplesart.
Peeples showcasing “Remembering the Unknown” in her studio
I took an adult education class to learn encaustic paint thinking I would use it in collage but I completely fell in love with it as paint. I just loved painting with it. — Deb Peeples
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Musician trumpets the value of performing artists By Ed Karvoski Jr. Culture Editor
Quintessential Brass, circa 1989 (l to r): Daniel Walker, Barbara HallSiktberg, Marshall Sealy, Leslie Havens and Paul Tomashefsky
HUDSON – The dictionary by Merriam-Webster defines “artist” in part as “one who professes and practices an imaginative art” and “a skilled performer.” Prolific trumpeter Barbara Hall-Siktberg of Hudson personifies the definition. While raised in North Jersey, she played trumpet as well as sang in church and school choirs. Her appreciation for various musical styles came about when she saw television appearances of acclaimed trumpeters, ranging from jazz legends Louis Armstrong and Maynard Ferguson to classical icon Maurice Andre. “I was born loving music,” Hall-Siktberg declared. “I started playing trumpet as a kid and stuck with it. Growing up in the New York, New Jersey area, I had great teachers. All my life I’ve been involved with music – listening and performing.” Hall-Siktberg moved from North Jersey to Boston to study at Musician | 7
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Musician | from page 6
Berklee College of Music, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in music education in 1987. For much of the following three decades she worked days as a music educator at private and public schools while playing trumpet nights and weekends with bands and community theaters. Soon after graduating from Berklee, Hall-Siktberg began teaching music at Immaculate Conception School in Marlborough in 1987. Subsequently, she worked at public schools in Boylston, Hudson, Sharon and Westwood as a trumpet and instrumental teacher, and choir and band director. From 2003 to 2008, Hall-Siktberg instructed music and movement classes with Apple Country Music Together in Hopkinton, Northborough, Shrewsbury and Westborough. Additionally, she taught after-school instrument lessons with the Hudson-based River’s Edge Arts Alliance from 2002 to 2012. Concurrently, she taught private lessons. “I enjoy helping kids learn about music and performing,” she noted. “I love teaching them from the very beginning how to read and understand music, and then to play
I enjoy helping kids learn about music and performing. I love teaching them from the very beginning how to read and understand music, and then to play an instrument and perform on it. It’s important to instill in the next generation an appreciation for music and live performance.
an instrument and perform on it. It’s important to instill in the next generation an appreciation for music and live performance.” As for performing as a musician herself, she and trombonist Leslie Havens founded the five-piece band Quintessential Brass in 1989. Hall-Siktberg performed with the band for about six years at outdoor summer concerts throughout New England. Her most memorable gigs with them were entertaining at the opening of CambridgeSide Galleria, a Flag Day observance at Boston’s Rowes Wharf, and First Night in Boston and other cities. Now, Hall-Siktberg plays
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trumpet with several ensembles of various sizes including the Hudson-based Symphony Pro Musica, Bolton-based Nashoba Symphonic Band and the region’s popular Tom Nutile Big Band. This past February, she performed with the orchestra accompanying the Sudbury Savoyards’ two week-run of the Gilbert and Sullivan comic opera “H.M.S. Pinafore.” Her community theater orchestra credits in recent years are 2017’s “The Producers” at Concord Players and 2016’s “Hair” at Emerson Umbrella (now known as the Umbrella Arts Center), also located in Concord. Furthermore, she
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served for three years on the Hudson Cultural Council. In June 2018, Hall-Siktberg completed her most recent job as a public school music teacher in Boylston. About a year ago, she began working as an Avidia Bank teller at its Marlborough branch. She’s still scheduling time to play trumpet nights and weekends with bands and community theaters. “Artists need to follow our passions,” she said. “When you’re passionate about something, you need to do it – you don’t have a choice. I just manage to find the time to make music.”
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Raised gardening beds perfect for seniors
PHOTO/KATE DONOVAN
Raised beds at the Bellingham Senior Center
By Jane Keller Gordon Assistant Editor REGION - This spring, seniors — some who use wheelchairs — will be weeding vegetable plants in a new greenhouse at the Marlborough Se-
nior Center. Thanks to Kate Donovan, founder of the Blackstone Valley Veggie Gardens, the greenhouse will be outfitted with six raised beds, including two that are wheelchair accessible. Lisa Martino is the program co-
greenhouse is about 10 degrees ordinator at the center. warmer than outside, we can start “Our plan is a farm-to-table sooner than when you plant in the greenhouse where volunteers work ground,” Donavan explained. together to grow fruits, vegetables, While there are benefits to raised and fresh herbs that will be used right bed gardening in a greenhouse, inhere at our center’s lunch program,” cluding far less bugs, there is a lot to she said. take into account. Martino added, “This project “We need to consider ventilation, started as a dream for me. When our the lack of wind, and the absence of director Trish Pope asked me what bees for pollination. The hoses need my heart would really desire for the to be moveable so that we can water center, I told her that since I have a the beds and rinse vegetables. Since bit of a green thumb, I would love the frames won’t be exposed to the to start a gardening program. Trish Garden | 9 took that ball and ran. She explored many avenues and received several grants to fund the project. After several years, we are thrilled to finally see everything come to fruition.” The plan is to plant herbs, salad greens, kale, tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, snow peas, radishes and carrots, and melons. “Since the Kate Donovan (l) and Deborah Hart
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Garden | from page 9
PHOTO/MARLBOROUGH SENIOR CENTER
The greenhouse at the Marlborough Senior Center
elements, we’ll build them out of fir, which is a less expensive hard pine. Many outdoor beds are built using cedar,” said Donovan. As a cancer survivor, Donovan believes in the power of gardening. For seniors, she believes, she said, that gardening “improves the immune system; relieves stress and anxiety; may reduce the risk of dementia; is good exercise; that fresh air can do wonders for mood and health; and it leads to better nutrition.” Donovan’s interest in gardening dates back to her childhood. Branding Concepts “My Dental grandfather Family Group came here from Italy as a young man in his 20s,” she noted. “He had a house in Belmont with Concept 2 | Revised an in-ground garden Main Logo: where he grew peppers, tomatoes, lettuce and eggplant, which we ate.”
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when she was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer. Fully Insured and Bonded “I wanted to change the way I ate, knowing that weight is a contributing factor. Eating whole foods and getting more involved in Logo eating fruits withand veggies was important to me. I started gardening at home,” saidTagline: Donovan. In 2016, along with Eric Bromberg, who has a Master Gardener certification, Donovan launched Blackstone Valley Veggie Gardens. Its mission is to “… deliver residential and community-based training, consulting, and assistance in vegetable garden development.” A BEAUTIFUL SMILE SAYS A LOT ABOUT YOU. Forty people showed up for her first presentation, held at the Blackstone LET US HELP YOU Dr. Nikhil Library, on growing tomatoes. Last year Donovan gave 60 presentations on 15 different subjects, in Massa318 Main Street, Suite 180 | Northborough Lavana BDS, DMD chusetts and Rhode Island. She spoke about raised bed Location gardening at Specific the Boston Logos: Flower and Garden Show. She talked about an organic approach to gardening NEW PATIENT SPECIAL with a focus on enriching soil without chemicals. Her presentation on companion planting and design explains Dr. Archana how to use plants in Karkhanis order to enhance other DENTAL DENTAL DENTAL Lavana, plants. Call today for your free consultation~ BDS, DMD GROUP GROUP GROUP In addition to the Senior Center in MarlWe accept most insurance plans including • Dominion National • Senior Care Options • Navicare borough, Donovan has Northborough Gardner • MassHealth • Fallon. No Insurance, no problem. Ask about our smiles saversPaxton plan! worked with the Bellingham Senior Center to create raised beds. Submarks: Stylized Taglines: She has worked with residential clients, including several widows FAMILY DETISTRY who have gardened all Raised beds at the Marlborough Senior Center their lives. Donovan’s son Daniel and son-in-law, DENTAL LASER TECHNOLOGY DENTAL SMILE Felix Alfredo Martinez, help with the heavy lifting. Her sister-in-law,GROUP Deb Hart GROUP N EASY PAYMENT OPTIONS SAYS A LOT ABOUT YOU. of Southborough is helping promote the business to senior centers.o r t gh Gardner hborou LET US HELP YOU For more information about raised bed gardening, visit Blackstonevalleyveggiegardens.com. * Must Purchase a regular cleaning at the same time.
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Awaken your inner history buff Sudbury Companies of Militia and Minute By Cindy Zomar Contributing Writer
PHOTO/CINDY ZOMAR
REGION - Even those who do not profess to be history buffs would likely admit that seeing musket-bearing soldiers in colonial garb at the entrance to Longfellow’s Wayside Inn in Sudbury stirs something in the soul. The willingness to fight for freedom from tyranny that personified the New England colonists speaks to our definition of patriotism and reminds all of the original meaning of being a New England Patriots fan, long before football was a national pastime. Members of the Sudbury Companies of Militia and Minute (short for minutemen, ready to bear arms quickly when needed) regularly greet guests at the Inn as part of their commitment to celebrate our American heritage. Sometimes known as re-enactors, or historical interpreters, the group was formed in 1964 and participates in many local events throughout the year. The current Colonel is Michael Vere, a tax accountant by day.
Colonel Michael Vere (l) and Quartermaster Tim Tonner of the Sudbury Companies of Militia and Minute stand ready to welcome visitors to Longfellow’s Wayside Inn in Sudbury.
“My wife told me that I was always working, and I should find a hobby. I found the Sudbury Companies of Militia and Minute (SCMM),” Vere said. The rest is history, pun intended. Vere now owns several complete re-
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productions of colonial garb, known as “kits.” “The word ‘costume’ connotates a decoration, but our clothing is historically accurate, and we would prefer it to be recognized as a ‘kit,’” he explained.
He adds a gorget (pronounced gor-jay), a brass piece named from the French word for throat, worn to protect the throat on the battlefield, hanging on a rope around his neck as a sign of his rank. Vere also enjoys preparing food that would be representative of colonial times. “One of the best ways to learn history is through the food. Red Flannel Hash, Sea biscuits (hardtack), and Indian pudding mimic real life in colonial times. I’ll prepare a snack for the march to the Old North Bridge featuring dried venison, cheddar cheese, an apple, maybe some gooseberries, and bread,” promised Vere. Quartermaster Tim Tonner is the colonel’s right-hand man, so to speak, taking care of supplies and acquisitions for the company, and often the point man on upcoming events. “I went to a muster and was hooked. I have always been interested in the colonial American story, intrigued with The Granary Burial Ground, and I used to illustrate History | 11
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History | from page 10
battlefields as a kid,” he admitted. According to Vere and Tonner, there are many re-enactment companies in the area, each with their own focus and interests. “Not all the members are necessarily history buffs. Some are in it more for the social aspect, the camaraderie. Some groups focus more on parades and pageantry, while others are really into the actual battle re-enactments. We all want to create historically interesting events, and create a portal to the past,” Vere said. Tonner spoke of the small marker at the intersection of Lakeside Avenue and Williams Street in Marlborough that celebrates the fact that George Washington dined twice, once in 1775 and again in 1789, at the Williams Tavern located near the shores of Lake Williams. The marker is in disrepair and Tonner envisions having it refurbished or replaced, with a rededication ceremony involving many of the area’s re-enactment companies. The SCMM have several events in the next few months. On Sunday, April 19 the group will set off from the Town Hall in Sudbury and march to the Old North Bridge, traversing the same route as our forefathers in 1775. The company has been invited to participate in
Sudbury Companies of Militia and Minute at a re-enactment
the 400th anniversary celebration of the landing at Plymouth in 1620 on Friday, April 24. (President Donald Trump and all living past presidents have been invited as well.) The Regimental Ball, an evening of contra dancing (much like line dancing) will be held at the Wayside Inn on Friday, June 5. Thursday, July 2 will feature a reading of the Dec-
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laration of Independence at the Wayside Inn, commemorating John Adams bringing the document to a vote. On Saturday, Sept. r 26, visitors to the Wayside Inn will want to stop at the Colonial Faire, the group’s annual fundraiser, and sample food, listen to the Ancient Order of Fyfe and Drum perform, and wander through the various tents of ar-
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tisans and vendors. On a weekly basis, the SCMM hosts colonial dance on Tuesday evenings and colonial music on Wednesday evenings at the Inn. The SCMM is a nonprofit educational entity and provides services for weddings, meetings, schools and local events, and can be contacted through their website, sudburyminutemen.org.
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• 13
Danvers woman’s love of historical objects drives her career By Brett Peruzzi Contributing Writer DANVERS - Joan Whitlow’s interest in people and their cultures inspired her to study anthropology in college, and four decades later, as executive director of the Custom House Maritime Museum in Newburyport, that curiosity still burns brightly as she works with the artifacts of earlier days. “I like objects–-the historic and intrinsic nature of them,” remarked the sixty-year-old Danvers resident. “And I love the stories behind the objects. They represent the continuum Joan Whitlow of life.” Whitlow joined the small Newburyport museum in September 2019 after a long career at other institutions–-including 20 years as registrar and collections manager at the MIT Museum in Cambridge, and over 10 years as a collections manager at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem. Along the way, she earned a master’s degree in museum studies from the University of Leicester in England. A Washington D.C. native, her interest in historical objects was forged early through frequent visits to the Smithsonian Institution, now the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, with over 155 million objects and specimens. “What I like about the museum profession is that it’s a creative environment, where curiosity is valued. It’s active, and every day is different,” she observed. “I wouldn’t do well sitting in a cubicle and doing the same thing every day. It’s ideal for lifelong learners.” At the Custom House, which is dedicated to the maritime history of Newburyport and the Merrimack River Valley, Whitlow, one of only five staff members, has a diversity of duties, which she enjoys, along with the freedom to come up with new solutions to the organization’s challenges. She does everything from facilities and collections management to fund raising and marketing, and is very hands-on, even pitching in to help paint a gallery that she felt needed refreshing. “The Custom House Maritime Museum has the opportunity to attract new audiences and really showcase Newburyport maritime history with engaging programs and exhibitions,” Whitlow emphasized. “Besides being a destination in a destination town, it also has the potential to become a museum for researchers, given the breadth and uniqueness of its collections. I want people to come to see objects that only can be found at the Custom House.” “The building itself,” which was constructed in 1835 to facilitate growing overseas trade and tax collection of imported goods on the waterfront, “is our largest artifact,” she noted. A Greek Revival style granite building overlooking the Merrimack River, the Custom House is on the National Register of Historic Places. Other goals Whitlow has include increasing the membership base, which provides additional financial support beyond admissions fees, and collaborating more with other area non-profits. “The nonprofit world, unlike the private sector, is very open to sharing ideas and information,” she said. When asked what was most difficult about her job, Whitlow observed, “It’s a never-ending position–-which makes it hard to prioritize at times and stay focused.” She paused, and then struck a philosophical note about the balance between the paperwork museum collections require and appreciating the objects themselves that are being curated. “The paper trail exists so someone in the future has a road map of what you did; it’s the byproduct of the work, not the work itself.” A strong believer in work-life balance, Whitlow pursues a variety of interests outside of the museum, including ceramics, gardening, renovation of her house, travel, and cooking. She also volunteers as a board trustee for the Danvers Historical Society. She had this advice for anyone interested the museum field as a profession. “Be passionate about what you love,” she emphasized. “You won’t get rich, but there are other rewards.”
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Boston actor overcomes challenge to work stage, film and TV jobs By Ed Karvoski Jr. Culture Editor BOSTON – Getting work can be a challenge for any actor. For Bill Mootos of Boston, he manages to steadily perform at regional theaters locally and beyond, as well as portray movie and television roles in productions filmed in New England. Furthermore, he serves as an elected national board member of SAG-AFTRA, the merged unions of Screen Actors Guild with American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. Mootos began achieving these accomplishments about a decade after an accident caused him to endure multiple surgeries throughout his 20s, including a hip replacement and spinal fusion. “I’ve learned to never take anything for granted,” he said. “It’s important to appreciate your health and ability to move around. That’s especially hard to do when you’re young.” After graduating from Stoughton High School, Mootos spent time in New York City and studied theater at Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Mellon University. A few days before starting
In “The Little Foxes” at Lyric Stage Company of Boston in 2019 (front, l to r): Remo Airaldi, Bill Mootos and Anne Gottlieb
PHOTO/MARK S. HOWARD
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his junior year in 1988, he was visiting his parents in Stoughton when a vehicle struck and injured him. “A drugged driver drove up on the sidewalk and hit me from behind,” he explained. “For roughly 10 years, I had several different surgeries. It wasn’t until ’96 that I felt well enough to get back into theater.” His first professional acting job was the play with music “John Brown’s Body” by poet-playwright Stephen Vincent Benet at Foxborough’s nonunion Orpheum Theatre (now known as Marilyn Rodman Performing Arts Center). The fol-
lowing year, Mootos joined the theater union Actors Equity Association when he appeared in “The Mousetrap” at the now-closed American Stage Festival in Nashua, N.H. “It felt great to be back onstage, doing what I love to do,” he recalled “When you have issues with your leg and lower-back, it can be challenging to sustain rehearsals and performances. I never gave up the idea that acting is what I wanted to do.” In 1999, after working film and TV acting jobs, Mootos joined SAG and AFTRA. He got elected to serve Actor | 15
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• 15
Actor | from page 14
e!
ic serv
I’ve learned to never take anything for granted. It’s important to appreciate your health and ability to move around. — Bill Mootos
Bill Mootos
ens of ancillary businesses – many of which were created through the success of the tax credit.” His most recent movie appearance is “Little Women.” The scene was filmed on the Orchard House property in Concord, where Louisa May Alcott wrote the 1868 novel on which the 2019 film is based. Mootos plays Mr. Davis, a teacher of the character Amy March, portrayed by actress Florence Pugh. “We had a lot of little girls on the set, and Florence was really welcoming and inclusive with all of them,” Mootos relayed. Also in 2019, he appeared in two episodes of “Castle Rock,” Hulu’s psychological-horror series set in Stephen King’s multiverse. The
scenes were shot in downtown Orange. Mootos performed in several stage plays in 2019: “The Little Foxes,” Lyric Stage Company of Boston; “Race,” Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater; “Shear Madness,” Ivoryton Playhouse in Essex, Conn.; “Antony and Cleopatra,” Virginia Arts Festival; and for his 11th year “A Christmas Carol,” Worcester’s Hanover Theatre. “There’s always something I love about each production I work on,” he said. “For a long time it looked like I’d never be able to do this, so I have an extra level of appreciation for being able to consistently work as a performer. It’s always an honor and privilege to get that opportunity.”
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“When I started doing union work, I realized why it’s crucial to get involved,” he noted. “We sometimes get paid well, but artists really do need to put our voices together and work toward what is fair to make a living.” Among factors in his decision to reside in Boston rather than relocate to New York City or Los Angeles was medical care locally. Fortunately for him and his colleagues, work opportunities have increased since Massachusetts launched a film tax credit incentive in 2006 for qualifying productions shot in the state. However, the law contains a sunset Bill Mootos as Antony in “Antony and Cleopatra” provision. The credit at Virginia Arts Festival in 2019 is scheduled to sunset December 31, 2022. officer positions with the SAG Lo“I’m hoping that legislators will cal Board beginning in 2003 and is continue to support the film tax currently a SAG-AFTRA Nationcredit and make it a permanent fixal Board member. (The two unions ture,” Mootos said. “It has benefitted merged in 2012.) actors and film crews, but also doz-
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It’s a medical emergency and you don’t speak English: help is on the way By Serena Howlett Contributing Writer CAMBRIDGE - Zarita Araújo-Lane does not take “no” for an answer. She is constantly taking on new challenges. And she is a woman with tremendous compassion. Araújo-Lane grew up in a multi-lingual family on the beautiful Portuguese island of Santa Maria. “My mother,” she said, “was a nurse who took care of travelers at our island’s international airport. I would follow my mother around and carry her supplies.” At age 18 Araújo-Lane recalled, she “fell in love,” married and joined her husband in Massachusetts. Although the marriage was short-lived, Araújo-Lane remained in Massachusetts. Araújo-Lane’s first job was at a Cambridge curtain factory. “I observed unfair treatment of my co-workers,” she said, noting discrimination against Portuguese-speaking Cape Verdeans. “I wanted to stand up for women who could not speak up for themselves.” Bringing these issues to the attention of her boss was to no avail.
Our 300 independent contractors are proficient in 40 different languages. Many have expertise in a particular medical field or culture, she noted. Clients include hospitals, unions, city halls and lawyers.
But Araújo-Lane found ways to help her coworkers with their personal problems. “I referred them to social services and battered women shelters,” she said. Araújo-Lane’s big break came when she qualified for the federal job training program called CETA and landed a job at Cambridge Hospital
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on a government-subsidized salary. “At first, the supervisor sent me around the hospital to different departments and I did odd jobs,” she recalled. “One day someone asked me to mop the floor. After that, every few days I would knock on the hospital president’s door until he finally invited me to come in.” The president re-assigned Araújo-Lane to the head of human services who “was wonderful,” Araújo-Lane reminisced. It was quickly realized that Araújo-Lane could help patients communicate with medical providers in crucial situations. Ultimately, the Cambridge Hospital translation service led by Araújo-Lane became the second of its kind in the U.S. During the four years Araújo-Lane spent at Cambridge Hospital, she earned a bachelor of arts degree at UMass-Boston and a master’s in social work at Simmons College. As at the curtain factory, she was sympathetic to hospital workers. “This time, I sided with the medical residents,” she recalled. During negotiations between the residents’ union and the hospital, she agreed to translate the union pam-
phlets for distribution to the Portuguese-speaking community. “In return,” recalled Araújo-Lane, “the residents agreed to train my new medical translators.” After leaving the hospital, Araújo-Lane worked for 10 years at a North Shore agency, combining the roles of clinical social worker, translator and interpreter. In 1996 she founded Cross Cultural Communication Systems. Today, CCCS offers interpreter and translation services to many clients. “Our 300 independent contractors are proficient in 40 different languages. Many have expertise in a particular medical field or culture, she noted. Clients include hospitals, unions, city halls and lawyers. “We match the client with the translator best able to handle the job,” she said. Training is also available online and at various locations. For the past 40 years Araújo-Lane has been married to a physician she met as a young woman in the CETA program at Cambridge Hospital. They have three daughters — one studying medicine, and another practicing hospital social work.
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Doing what you can I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do the something that I can do. – Helen Keller
By Marianne Delorey, Ph.D. Executive Director, Colony Retirement Homes
C
oronavirus is scary and sometimes fear makes us freeze. The purpose of this article is to give you some ideas on how to make this virus more manageable and to give you concrete steps elders and their caregivers can take in advance to keep you healthy. The Chinese CDC indicates coronavirus is less deadly than the flu, but more contagious. As with most illness, the elderly and the frail are most at risk. Coronavirus usually causes mild symptoms including a runny nose, sore throat, cough and fever. In some people, it can cause pneumonia, breathing difficulties and in a very small number of cases, death. Those most at risk include health care professionals, the elderly, and people who have certain medical conditions. Those conditions include: cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and hypertension. As always, good hygiene is the best way to prevent spread of the virus. Washing hands regularly and keeping hands away from the face or mouth will prevent many infections. Covering your cough or sneeze is not just respectful to others, it is essential. If there is an outbreak, people are advised to stay six feet away from all people, but to isolate more if you are sick or there are sick people around. It is this recommendation of isolation that offers elders and their caregivers the opportunity to prepare. Even if you are not sick, you won’t want to go to grocery stores or many
Housing Options
other public places. If you were confined to your apartment for two weeks or more, what would you need? For a healthy person, I would recommend: • Enough food and drinks to last at least two weeks • Prescription medicines – preferably a supply that would last no fewer than two weeks • Oxygen or other specialized items you are likely to need If I was sick, I would additionally want: • Beverages like ginger ale, tea, or Gatorade that are particularly soothing or rehydrating • Soups or broths • Over the counter medicines that addressed typical flu-like symptoms. Your family members, neighbors, and other caregivers might also get sick. You may not have the same support network as you are used to having. If you get sick, many people will actively avoid coming to visit, and they should! You may want someone to care for you, but unless you truly need the help, it is safer for you to be alone. Is there any way you can prepare now to rely on fewer people? Many people may need to go to the hospital, but hospitals may be overwhelmed. It may be best to call first to see what your doctor advises. Do you have a pet? If you get sick, who will care for your pet? Can you arrange for additional help in advance? Remember to tell your building manager who has your permission to enter your apartment if you are not home. Do you have a copy of your health care proxy handy? If you go to the hospital, you will need an updated list of conditions and medications. Is there one in your wallet, on your fridge or somewhere the paramedics can grab it and take it to the hospital with you? We may not be able to control all aspects of this virus, but we can take control of the piece that is ours. Please plan ahead. We are all counting on you to do the something you can do.
Marianne Delorey, Ph.D. is the executive director of Colony Retirement Homes. She can be reached at 508-755-0444 or mdelorey@colonyretirement.com and www.colonyretirementhomes.com. Archives of articles from previous issues can be read at www.fiftyplusadvocate.com
www.fiftyplusadvocate.com + APRIL 2020 + fiftyplus advocate
• 17
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money matters
Coronavirus and reverse mortgages By Alain Valles, CRMP, CSA, MS, MBA Nonprofit Charitable Managing Director
Losing sleep? The ramifications of the coronavirus to the world economy and, in particular, the US housing market are, at best, uncertain. What will h a p p e n to housing values? Healthcare costs? The stock market? Retirement accounts? Food supplies? The answer is no one knows for sure. The external threat from the coronavirus virus and other events that we have little control over combined with the ever increasing cost
Reverse Mortgage
of living, higher real estate taxes, personal health challenges, and trying to make ends meet on a fixed income are causing sleepless nights. It’s no wonder we are stressed, anxious, and afraid! I am an eternal optimist because I do my best to plan for worst case scenarios and a reverse mortgage may be one tool to mitigate current and future financial uncertainty. A reverse mortgage may be a solution I don’t know yet of a reverse mortgage solving a world crisis, but I have hundreds of firsthand experiences of reverse mortgages being the solution to immediate and future cash flow needs in times of unpredictability. And, most importantly, a better peace of mind during these times of change. For eligible 62-year-old or older homeowners, reverse mortgages give the opportunity to access a lump sum of tax-free cash, receive monthly cash flow, or have a readily available line of credit if money is ever needed in later chapters of life. All with the option of no monthly mortgage payments as long as real
estate taxes and homeowner’s insurance are paid timely and the property is maintained along with meeting other guidelines. A trusted source of information Reverse mortgages are complex. Television commercials, internet ads posing as articles, and junk mail pieces stressing the ease of getting a reverse mortgage and how the senior will be financially “all set” fail to give the whole picture. There are many required steps and regulatory safeguards including mandatory counseling and a financial assessment review before one is approved. And that is why we are here. Helping Hands Community Partners is an approved 501(c)(3) self-funded nonprofit company with the mission to educate people about senior housing options and, when appropriate, we may arrange reverse mortgages for qualified individuals. Peace of mind in uncertain times When used properly, reverse mortgages have been the solution to: • Additional monthly cash flow • Pay off existing mortgages, credit cards, or other debts
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Ability to pay real estate taxes Cover medical expenses and athome assistance • Complete home improvements and renovations • Provide a monthly check to you • A line of credit that grows over time • Option to close in a trust or life estate • And, most importantly, peace of mind that cash may be accessed with no required monthly mortgage payment when, not if, life events occur. But before taking action, please get the facts and understand the myths about reverse mortgages. Get accurate information A great place to start is the free “How to Use Your Home to Stay at Home” 36-page book. This is the official reverse mortgage consumer booklet approved by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development and published by the National Council on Aging. We’re happy to mail or email it to you along with the “Top 7 Myths About Reverse Mortgages.”
SUPER CROSSWORD PUZZLE
Reverse mortgage | 20
“CAN’T YOU SEE I’M DIZZY?” (answers on page 19)
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viewpoint
• 19
The gardening gene skipped me By Janice Lindsay
I
am not now, nor have I ever been, a gardener. I love flowers. I grew up among gardens both flower and vegetable. But if it’s possible to inherit a gardener gene, I have significant gaps in my DNA. In fact, if you could speak Plant, you would hear green things warning each other, “Don’t let her breathe on you. Kiss of Death.” My non-gardening career began in grade school. Remember those experiments where you sprout a bean? Stuff paper towels into a clear drinking glass. Poke a raw bean between the towel and the glass. Keep the towel moist. Watch the bean as it sprouts and grows.
Inklings
Answers to Super Crossword (puzzle on page 18)
Some of my classmates could have climbed their beanstalks to Giants’ Heaven. My bean birthed a sickly shoot which took a look at me, moaned, and gave up the ghost. Once, I planted Shasta daisy seeds, carefully following instructions on the envelope. My only yield was a sickly tomato plant. It sprouted from seeds of a tomato that dropped from a vine my husband had grown the summer before. My mother once brought me a pot full of lush green parsley. “Anybody can grown parsley,” she said. The plants were comatose before she left the house. I enjoyed better luck with a mixture of wildflower seeds. All I had to do was scatter the seeds. Dozens of various flowers grew thick, strong, and colorful. Since I had not had to plan, prepare soil, fertilize, weed, or do anything else that real gardeners do, I assumed they were being sarcastic. Someone gave me a pot of pansies in full bloom. I carefully transplanted them from the container to the soil, assuming that these might thrive, having reached maturity in somebody else’s care. That night, deer ate all the blossoms. Probably, knowing my history, the deer were being kind; it was a mercy killing. My husband, who was the family gardener but refused to grow anything he couldn’t eat, said that I could
Heat & Hot Water Included in the Rent Hardwood Floors Ceiling Fans Laundry Room on Each Floor Lounge Areas Smoke Free Community Sitkowski School Apartments is a 66 unit, 55+ affordable rental community that offers a safe convenient location in the historic Sitkowski School in the commercial center of Webster. The new Webster Senior Center is located in the former gymnasium which will provide an active, vibrant place for seniors to enjoy.
To request an application please call 508.943.3406 TDD 800.439.2370 Must Meet Income Requirements Rents Starting at $650 • Section 8 Accepted
grow anything if I really tried. It’s true that I’ve always noticed books that need reading, birds that need watching, and wildflowers that need to be identified, before I’ve noticed gardens that need weeding. One spring morning, after we had lived in our new house for a couple of years, I answered the call of the wild; that is, Dick, when he said, “I’m going to clean leaves out of the bushes. Do you want to help?” It was sunny, sweet, and still. Birds twittered. The temperature had reached 65. The world said, “Come out.” We coaxed oak leaves from under
the juniper bushes and arbor vitaes. I studied the raised flower garden, about 36 square feet, that had been planted by our house’s previous owners but mostly untended by us. We cleaned the oak leaves out of that, too. I do like the appearance of a neat garden. I like to see green shoots in the spring earth. I like the smell of moist soil as it’s turned over with that three-pronged fork-like tool that gardeners know the name of. In our little garden, two raggedy rose bushes had never looked healthy. Lamb’s ear reproduced faster than ewes ever did. A vigorous green climbing/clinging vine seemed intent on conquering New England. The urge struck me to rip everything out of that little garden and start over. I would make it my garden. I would choose what went in there. It would be a healthy colorful garden I could enjoy and be proud of. So I did the right thing. I hired a gardener. Contact jlindsay@tidewater.net.
55+ Smoke Free Community
At least one household member must be at the age of 55
Call: 508.756.3594 • TTY/TDD: 800.439.2370 Email: coespond@winnco.com 1 & 2 Bedroom Affordable & Market Apartment Homes Heat/HW Included* Affordable applicants must be income qualified
Our beautiful community features: • Professional On-Site Management • 24-Hour Maintenance • Online Payments Accepted • Community Room • Fitness Center • Access to Public Transportation • Computer Lab
39 First Street, Worcester, MA 01602
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Talking Information Center helps connect visually impaired to the world around them By Nance Ebert Contributing Writer MARSHFIELD – Founded in June 1978, the Talking Information Center (TIC) is a nonprofit reading service for those who are blind and have low vision. This radio station broadcast of local news, articles and more helps its listeners with their independence. Anna Dunbar is TIC’s Executive Director. “We have five affiliates across the state, which ensures our signal. They include, Audio Journal in Worcester, the Lowell Association for the Blind, Lowell, the Berkshire Talking Chronicle in Pittsfield, Valley Eye Radio in Springfield and Audible Local Ledger in Mashpee,” she said. “We serve over 30,000 listeners across the state and even have listeners around the country and the globe.” In addition, the Talking Information Center’s staff and volunteers read over 322 unique programs ranging from news in national papers, books, magazines, supermarket flyers and more. “One of our most popular programs is dedicated to reading the grocery flyers. If our feed cuts out during flyers, we get inundated with calls immediately. The more I thought
about it, if you are someone that has low vision, and you are in the grocery store and you cannot read the sign that says what is on sale then how will you know what is discounted that day? This epitomizes the general perception or lack of knowledge about the low vision community. If you didn’t know someone struggling with a vision problem, you wouldn’t necessarily know their challenges and how best to help them live an autonomous life,” said Dunbar. Dunbar credits all of the wonderful volunteers who dedicate their time to come into the studio to read content on a daily basis. There are over 200 volunteers alone, in the Marshfield location. “The volunteers take their role very seriously and we really value that,” she said. In trying to reach the population of people who would benefit from this service, the TIC does a lot of marketing and outreach and partners with the Massachusetts Association for the Blind, the Carroll Center in Newton and more. There are special radios programmed to TIC so once it is turned on, the listener will only hear what is programmed. This ensures a user- friendly experience for those with low vision and/or those who are blind.
TIC Executive Director Anna Dunbar
Coronavirus and reverse mortgages Reverse mortgage | from page 18
Or, please feel comfortable to give me a call at 781-724-6221 and I’ll be happy to have an educational conversation with you about your unique situation and mail you the free 36-page book. Thank you.
★★★★★ Life Care Center of Leominster earns Medicare’s five-star rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (2018) • Quality Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Care • Deficiency-Free State Survey For a tour, please call Marilyn Koshivas at (978) 537-0771 ext. 7516 370 West Street, Leominster, MA | (978) 537-0771
Alain Valles is the Managing Director of Helping Hands Community Partners, Inc. and was the first designated Certified Reverse Mortgage Professional in New England. He obtained a Master of Science from the M.I.T. Center for Real Estate, an MBA from the Wharton School, and graduated summa cum laude from UMass Amherst. Alain can be reached directly at 781-724-6221 or by email at reversemortgage@hhcp.org.
Are you experiencing memory loss? You may be eligible for a research study at the Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Psychiatry. We are seeking individuals ages 50 to 80 for a research study on how mind-body exercise can delay memory loss. This study involves 24 weeks of mind-body or mental exercise, MRI scans, and compensation up to $1,000. Study sessions will take place at Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown Navy Yard campus.
If interested, please email nmeshberg@mgh.harvard.edu or call 617-643-7946.
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TIC volunteer Joan Dowd
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TIC volunteer Paul Pesa
“There are so many ways one can listen to our programming. We try to find the best fit for the person wanting to listen. We have a radio that is WIFI connected with a stronger, clearer signal. For those without WIFI, we also have a traditional radio receiver with a radio. We try to find out a little bit about the person first so that we can help to set them up for success. We also have a free app on your cell phone. A newer way that people really seem to have taken to is using the Alexa and Google Home. There have been instances where we have actually offered to help set them up,” said Dunbar. TIC is also available on 44 town cable stations as well. For more information call 781- 834-4400 or visit www.ticnetwork.org.
There are so many ways one can listen to our programming. We try to find the best fit for the person wanting to listen. We have a radio that is WIFI connected with a stronger, clearer signal. For those without WIFI, we also have a traditional radio receiver with a radio. — Anna Dunbar
Affordable Living at its Best Income Guidelines: $ 41,500 single / $47,400 couple
Now accepting Applications for 62 years of age and older and those that are under 62 years of age and are permanently disabled.
• Heat and hot water included • Qualified Applicants pay 30% of adjusted income • 24 hour emergency maintenance
Comfortable floor plan
• Non-Smoking Community • Monthly activities include: exercise classes, birthday parties, book mobile, blood pressure screens and podiatry
Sherwood Village Apartments
• Manicured walking paths with garden plots
143~145 Mill Street, Natick, MA 01760
Call at 508-651-1811 for details
• Ideally located in Natick residential bus route • Pets okay under 20 lbs.
Relax in Park-like setting
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Local United Way chapters respond quickly with funds and services By Vicki Greene Contributing Writer REGION – The United Way of Central Mass., within a 24-hour period earlier this month, developed the “We Care Fund” to help service organizations fund urgent and immediate needs of the people in their communities affected by the realities of the Coronavirus. According to President and CEO Tim Garvin, the United Way of Central Mass. (UWCM) initially reached out to its trusted corporate funders and developed a special webpage on their own site for individual donors and within the first three days had raised $125,000 for service providers. “We had our great corporate partners and more than 50 individuals donate anywhere from $25 to $10,000,” Garvin said. “We are working on immediate, basic needs including helping our partners who handle food, housing, health and mental health and child care,” Garvin added. Garvin said the “We Care Fund” is set up to take donations online. Service organizations seeking additional funds should go to unitedwaycm.
org and write a paragraph explaining their request. The request is vetted by staff, goes to the board for approval and, if approved, money is sent within 24 hours to the organization. Garvin explained that he has been in communication with his nine colleagues that head United Way organizations in the state and that each branch has developed their own COVID-19 response fund and/or service initiatives. The UWCM coordinates services in 30 communities including Grafton, Northborough and Shrewsbury. The United Way of Tri-County (UWTC) announced on March 16 that they are increasing the amount of groceries provided to families “to respond to the thousands of schoolage children now missing out on free breakfast and lunch at school due to recent closings.” UWTC’s coverage area includes Marlborough, Hudson, Southborough and Westborough. In a statement, Paul Mina, UWTC’s president and CEO, acknowledged that no one knows how long the current situation with COVID-19 is going to last. “Please know that our pantries and meal programs will continue to pro-
vide the nutritious food our neighbors need today and always,” he assured. Garvin said it was back in 2006 when all of the United Way chapters in this joined together to create 2-1-1 phone number and website which is a repository of all nonprofits and the services they offer, the territories they cover and how to get in touch with the appropriate organization. “The great thing about 2-1-1 is that it can be updated daily and is current and in real time. Every live
operator who gets the 2-1-1 calls is home-based and they don’t have to be in a call center which is not only good for their employment but good for making things personal,” Garvin said. For more information on the United Way of Central Mass. “We Care Fund” and coverage area, visit unitedwaycm.org. For more information on the United Way of Tri-County COVID-19 services and coverage area, visit uwotc.org
Rotary club shares suggestions for making hospital masks SOUTHBOROUGH – The Southborough Rotary Club has shared this information: UMass Memorial-Marlborough Hospital has put out the call for help. They need face masks, face shielding, and ventilators. Email for their command center is mhcommandcenter@umassmemorial.org . Below are several vetted links about how to sew face masks. Excellent how-to video, site for pattern that can accommodate sliding in a PM2.5 filter (or other stuff if that filter not available), evaluation of fabrics to use and why, and more. Some quick tips: use tightly woven fabrics (think high end high thread count quilting cottons). Consider writing with permanent marker exactly WHAT fabric was used so filtering capacity can be determined by healthcare workers. Various size & colors of elastic is ok, so 1/8, 1/4 and even 1/2”, and going with ties instead of elastic also ok. Prewash fabric before using it, consider washing finished masks as well and bagging them up and adding label that notes how they were washed. 1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8WSpnVSsRg 2. https://www.properfitclothing.com/…/flu-mask-pattern-downlo… 3. https://smartairfilters.com/…/best-materials-make-diy-fac…/… 4. https://www.courierpress.com/…/coronavirus-dea…/2865273001/…
Honoring Our Heroes Veterans receive affordable health care at their local VA
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Former casino manager now counsels gamblers By Brett Peruzzi Contributing Writer REGION - Charlie Ordille spends many days and nights at Plainridge Park Casino in Plainville talking to gamblers. But he’s not a casino employee – he’s there to help people who may be struggling with a gambling disorder. Ordille works for the Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling, a private, nonprofit public health agency, which advocates for responsible gaming, gambling practices, and services for those affected by gambling. The council runs what they call GameSense Information Centers at the three state casinos: Encore Boston Harbor, MGM Springfield, and Plainridge Park Casino. The centers offer on-site resources for casino patrons to find out more about the games or to take a break from playing. The staff are called GameSense Advisors and are funded by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission and are trained by the council. “A GameSense Advisor can have between 50 and 70 patron conversations per shift,” explained Ordille. “The conversations can range widely in nature from a simple greeting, to explaining how the odds work on certain games, to providing advice on how to keep gambling fun, responsible, and avoid problem gambling behavior.” And Ordille is intimately familiar with the environment he’s working in. He was employed for over 25 years as a casino manager, both at Foxwoods in Connecticut and Bally’s in Atlantic City, New Jersey. He became a GameSense Advisor in May 2019. “I was approached by another former casino manager like myself who went to work for GameSense,” he recalled. “I had never heard of the program, as it was new to the state. He pitched it to me, and I thought this would not only be good for me personally but would be an opportunity to make a difference.” The 61-year-old New Jersey native, who now lives in Connecticut, makes the long drive to Plainville because he is passionate about helping people, particularly seniors, avoid the pitfalls of a business that he knows only as a former insider could. “Older adults may often be more vulnerable to problem gambling,” said Ordille. “Research shows that older adults tend to gamble to socialize, out of loneliness, boredom, to escape personal losses, to name a few reasons, and they have the free time
Charlie Ordille
to do so.” Research estimates that approximately two percent of the Massachusetts adult population are problem gamblers. Problem gambling is characterized by gambling behavior which leads to adverse consequences for the gambler, others, and the community. “Many people don’t know what compulsive gambling is, or that gambling is a real addiction, much like alcohol or drugs,” continued Ordille. “The term compulsive gambling is a bit antiquated and is now often called gambling disorder. Gambling disorder is the uncontrollable urge to keep gambling despite the toll it takes on your life.” The GameSense Information Center is open at all three casinos 16 hours a day, from 9 a.m. to 1 a.m., 365 days a year. Ordille typically works the mid-day shift from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. but also works mornings from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and evenings from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. “The type of patrons we engage with can range greatly depending on the casino property, day of the week and time of the day,” he explained. “The Plainridge Park Casino where I work tends to have older clientele during weekdays and a mix of young and old during the weekends. In the end, we’re trained to engage with patrons from all walks of life whether they be frequent gamblers or first timers from another country.” Ordille stressed that the center staff comes well-prepared to their role, in addition to the training they receive from the council. “Our GameSense team collectively between the three properties speaks six languages and has a strong background in the casino industry, so we’re very comfortable speaking with the guests on their terms and build-
ing their trust.” Ordille offered this advice for gamblers. “Keep it fun. It’s entertainment and certainly not a form of investment,” he emphasized. “Set a budget for yourself and keep to it. At Plainridge Park Casino we have a budgeting tool called ‘Play My Way’ that
you can enroll in.” “Once you’re enrolled,” he continued, “you’ll get automatic notifications after you approach 50 percent, 75 percent, and 100 percent of the budget you’ve set for daily, weekly, or monthly spending. You can choose to stop at any point or keep playing but it’s easy to lose track of time and money when you’re in the middle of playing.” He also noted there is a program that allows you to voluntarily exclude yourself from the gaming floor of all Massachusetts casinos for a pre-determined amount of time. “As a casino manager for many years,” he concluded, “I was in charge of generating revenue for the casinos, but now I’m solely focused on minimizing harm, helping those that really need it, and helping others keep it fun.” The council also has a confidential 24-hour help line, 1-800-4261234, that you can call to talk about a gambling problem. You can learn more about the Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling and its programs at www.maccg.org.
Housing Options for Seniors Class - April 15, 2020. Register through Assabet After Dark Program Call Diane or Jo-Ann direct for additional classes offered through the spring.
With a combined 50+ years experience in the real estate industry, Jo-Ann and Diane are your winning team to help you “make the next move”. As someone over the age of 50, your needs aren’t the same as a first-time homebuyer or seller.
CALL FOR A FREE CONSULTATION
to discuss how we are helping baby boomers find their retirement niche.
Diane Casey-Luong www.dianesmybroker.com 774-239-2937 Dluong.realtor@gmail.com
Jo-Ann Szymczak www.joannsoldmyhouse.com 774-230-5044 joannszymczak@gmail.com
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Enjoy life to the fullest The Peak Orthopedics team is here to help you enjoy your life to the fullest. Our experienced providers offer minimally invasive anterior hip and same-day knee replacement The Peak Orthopedics team is here to help youprocedures. enjoy your life
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