fiftyplus advocate
FREE | Published monthly
Eastern Edition | Vol. 46 | No. 7 | July 2020
UMass Boston performing arts professor gives students top priority
page
8
Rob Albright in front of an ultralight
FLYING HIGH
Ultralight pioneer finds his muse at Crow Island Airpark in Stow Story on page 11
A caring community for elders INDEPENDENT LIVING • REST HOME • RESPITE CARE A Legacy of Providing Exceptional Care for SeniorsTracey Since 1874 A Legacy of Providing Exceptional Senior Care Since 1874 • For information contact King at (508)868-0967 • www.goddardhomestead.org For More Information Contact Tracey King at 508-868-0967 www.goddardhomestead.org
2•
fiftyplus advocate + JULY 2020 + www.fiftyplusadvocate.com
Con artists don’t care how hard you worked. They steal billions from Americans like you every year. We’re fighting back with the AARP Fraud Watch Network. It provides resources to help you spot and avoid identity theft and fraud so you can protect yourself and your family. Sign up to get watchdog alerts and stay up to date on con artists’ latest tricks. It’s free of charge for everyone – members, non-members and people of all ages. Because for over fifty years AARP has been committed to safeguarding Americans’ financial futures.
aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork
Watchdog Alerts Tips & Resources Free for Everyone
Don’t toss out your stimulus payment with the junk mail By Mike Festa, State Director AARP Massachusetts
I
f you didn’t get a paper check, you may get a plastic debit card from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as it continues to dole out stimulus payments. The IRS has sent 4 million payments by prepaid debit cards, or Mike Festa Economic Impact Payment (EIP) cards, as the Treasury Department calls them. The cards are going out to certain eligible taxpayers who filed tax returns but for whom the IRS doesn’t have bank account information. The stimulus payment is loaded on the debit card.
formation as your PIN. For cards with more than one name, only the primary cardholder (listed first on the card) may activate the card. There is no charge to activate the card. You can create a user name and password for your card online, at the Money Network site. Be sure to have your card handy when you log in. You can see your balance and transaction history online any time at www. EIPCard.com. How to use your EIP card: You can generally use your card without a fee to make purchases anywhere Visa debit cards are accepted — in stores, online or over the phone. Although most transactions don’t charge a fee, a few do. For example, you’ll pay 25 cents for each balance inquiry at an ATM, and $2
Your Economic Impact Payment (EIP) card will arrive in a plain envelope from “Money Network Cardholder Services.” Do not throw it away thinking it’s junk mail or a scam. People are rightly suspicious of unsolicited cards through the mail, and the Economic Impact Payment (EIP) cards arrive in plain envelopes with the return address “Money Network Cardholder Services” from MetaBank in Omaha, Neb. That does not sound like a government payment to most people. AARP has heard from members that some people suspect the cards are a fraud or an unsolicited credit card offer, and have shredded them or thrown them away. Your EIP card will arrive in a plain envelope from “Money Network Cardholder Services.” Do not throw it away thinking it’s junk mail or a scam. The Visa name will appear on the front of the EIP card; the back of the card has the name of the issuing bank, MetaBank, N.A. Note that you can’t request you receive your stimulus payment by debit card — it either arrives that way or it doesn’t. How to activate your EIP card: Call 800-240-8100 (TTY: 800241-9100). You’ll need to provide your name, address and Social Security number. You will also be asked to create a four-digit personal identification number (PIN) required for ATM transactions and automated assistance and to hear your balance. For security, do not use personal in-
for each out-of-network withdrawal after your first one. You’ll also pay $7.50 for a lost or stolen card, and $17 if you want it shipped to you by priority mail. To avoid losing your stimulus payment: Don’t give your personal identification number (PIN), EIP debit card number or Social Security number to anyone who calls or texts you. Check your mail carefully to avoid tossing your EIP card out with your junk mail. If you’ve destroyed or thrown out your EIP card, don’t worry. Call the toll-free customer service line at 800240-8100 (TTY: 800-241-9100) to ask for a replacement. You can find additional information at the official EIP website. AARP’s Fraud Watch Network can help you spot and avoid scams. Sign up for free “watchdog alerts,” review our scam-tracking map or call our toll-free fraud help line at 877908-3360 if you or a loved one suspect you’ve been a victim. For more articles visit www.fiftyplusadvocate.com.
Mike Festa is the state director for AARP Massachusetts. Archives of articles from previous issues can be read at www.fiftyplusadvocate.com.
www.fiftyplusadvocate.com + JULY 2020 + fiftyplus advocate
Grafton’s ‘Banjo Joe’ is still singing, strumming after all these years By Ed Karvoski Jr. Culture Editor GRAFTON – Retired computer software professional Joe Kuras of Grafton returned his attention in recent years to a pastime of his youth: making music. Since 2018, he has performed monthly at Christopher Heights, an assisted living community in Marlborough; and St Camillus Health Center, a skilled nursing facility in Whitinsville, a village within Northbridge. Kuras developed a rapport with the facilities’ residents and patients. His most recent show at each facility was in February before the COVID-19 pandemic prompted visitor restrictions and a 10-person limit on gatherings “I miss these people,” Kuras said of his usual monthly audiences. “I’ve gotten to know some of them on a first name basis. A lot of them have become my friends.” His experience entertaining in healthcare settings began when a 9-year-old Kuras sang at a Christmas party for patients at the nowclosed Grafton State Hospital. As a preteen, he bought his first guitar and instruction manual for $15 at Worcester’s Kmart. “I play mostly by ear,” he explained. “If I wanted to read sheet music, it would be like a second-grader trying to read the newspaper.” After graduating from Grafton High School in 1971, he earned a bachelor’s degree in management information systems from Nichols College in Dudley in 1975. While in college, he performed folk music with a trio called JumpLeg Jubilee at venues in Cambridge, Holden, Worcester and Biddeford, Maine. They each played acoustic guitar initially, and ultimately added other instruments. Kuras added the mandolin and harmonica. “Figuring out who we were musically was a great learning experience,” he recalled. “It’s intimidating to go onstage for the first time by yourself. None of us was alone; we relied on each other.” Kuras was able to refocus on his musical interests after retiring from work and ending a 30-year stint volunteering for Grafton’s youth baseball teams, In 2013, he became a self-taught banjo player. Several decades after learning to play guitar with an instruction manual, he was pleased to find YouTube videos of banjo lessons. Additionally, he discovered websites providing lyrics, chords and the ability to
•3
February that he chose to play at his March performances. Then the pandemic restrictions took effect. He decided to livestream his show online and made it available to the facilities. “When the time comes, I assume I’ll go back and play in-person again,” he said. “It will be nice to go back and pick up where I left off.”
Joe Kuras’ “Reflections of a Common Man” CD cover
Joe Kuras performing at the Grafton Country Store
transpose to other keys at the touch of a button. “The banjo intrigued me because it’s a laidback instrument,” noted Kuras, now nicknamed Banjo Joe. “You just pluck and strum – and it’s a good way to relax.” His CD titled “Reflections of a Common Man” was released in 2017. With his current collection of four banjos and a repertoire of about 200 songs, he felt it was time to perform in public more regularly. A favorite venue where he has performed is the Grafton Country Store with its adjoining Cones on the Common. He has also entertained at the annual Grafton Celebrates the Holidays. In April 2018, Kuras began monthly shows at Marlborough’s Christopher Heights, where his mother-in-law resided. In May 2018, he started his monthly stint at Whitinsville’s St Camillus Health Center, where a cousin works. Although his mother-in-law passed away in March 2019, he maintained his commitment to making musical visits to the residents and patients. “I pick out songs that I think they will enjoy – and they do,” he said. “It seems like no matter what I play, they enjoy it. I have fun playing for them and they appreciate it, so I kept going back.” Kuras was rehearsing songs in
OPENING SUMMER 2020
Goodbye, Cooking.
Hello, Artisan. Artful Living Coming This Summer RETIREMENT LIVING | ASSISTED LIVING | MEMORY CARE
Get to Know Us. Call and #sayhello. Don’t feel like cooking? We’ll do it for you! From casual to formal to al fresco, we’re committed to creating the personalized culinary experiences you want in a variety of artful venues. Or, dine in one of Hudson’s artisan cafés, bistros or restaurants. The choices are all yours.
Call today:
(978) 212-9316
www.ArtisanAtHudson.com Welcome Center: 10 Technology Drive in Hudson (next to The Paper Store) Future Community: 253 Washington Street | Hudson, MA 01749
Pending EOEA Certification
4•
fiftyplus advocate + JULY 2020 + www.fiftyplusadvocate.com
Former graphic designer creates new career as jewelry designer By Brett Peruzzi Contributing Writer SWAMPSCOTT - Nancy Marland had a 30-year career as a self-employed graphic designer, but at age 55 she decided that for the next phase of her life she was ready for something different. “I wanted to move away from the computer and work with my hands,” said the 60-year-old Swampscott resident. “Knowing change was inevitable I was exploring possible avenues to take my creativity. I had worked with ceramics for a number of years, eventually leading to working with silver metal clay, which led to designing jewelry.” Four and a half years later, Nancy Marland Jewelry is an established and profitable business that she’s looking forward to continuing to work at and build for many years to come. “The career I was leaving had seen better days,” she recalled. “Changes in technology during the last decade have placed graphic design capabilities into the hands of virtually everyone, making it increasingly hard for me to make a living. Plus, I just desperately needed a change.” Today, instead of staring at page layouts on a computer monitor all day, she is shaping sterling silver and polymer clay into unique forms of jewelry she calls “wearable art”. “Jewelry is so personal,” said Marland. “It’s about how people want to adorn and express themselves. Designing jewelry uses my whole brain, between designing the art element and engineering it so that it falls correctly and is comfortable to wear.” Marland grew up in Old Saybrook, Conn., on Long Island Sound, where her family frequently sailed, and has lived in the seaside town of Swampscott on the North Shore for 25 years. So it’s not surprising that the ocean shows up as a theme in her jewelry. She has an entire collection called Water. “I find inspiration from many sources in nature, but particularly water
Nancy Marland
— to explore, abstract, and distill the beauty inherent in its variety of organic, rhythmic shapes and forms,” she explained. “The ocean is calming, contemplative, and connecting. It is the foundation of life, connecting us to ourselves, to each other, and to our environment.” Through a combination of craft shows throughout New England and as far south as Florida, wholesale accounts with craft stores, and online sales through her website, Marland distributes and sells her jewelry in a variety of ways. “It takes a good balance of all three to really be sustainable,” she noted. And it’s not just her many satisfied customers who admire her work; she
508-886-6565
Call Bonnie Besse for more information
State-of-the-art
affordable retirement village in the center of Rutland. Maple Avenue (Some House plans offer Garages) “Lighting the way…to a new beginning” This a land lease community so all of your money goes directly into your home, not the land.
Custom Homes
Create and design your own home, each home is Energy Star built especially for you. Financing is available
$175,000 to $200,000
has also won awards for her jewelry at arts festivals in both Connecticut and Florida. But her encore career has its challenges as well. “It’s not enough to Nancy Marland in her studio be an artist,” she emphasized. “I had to learn to be an entrepreneur as well. Learning the ropes took time and quilting, and landscape painting. Her patience but the business foundation has creative spirit finds an outlet in music been built and I can further deepen and as well. explore my love of the art and design.” “I love to sing,” she said. “I spent And when a good portion of your 20 years singing mezzo soprano in a business is mobile as opposed to being six-member jazz a cappella ensemble in a fixed location, it means that Marcalled The Wicked Pitches. Today I sing land spends a good deal of time behind in a pop band called The Navigators.” the wheel, and putting together her What advice does she have for peobooth at her various destinations. ple who want to change careers after age “As much as I love meeting cus50? tomers and getting to see how things “Push aside self-doubt and amplify actually look on a variety of people, my your confidence,” she affirmed. “If you least favorite part of the job is schlephave a passion for something, do it. As ping, setting up and breaking down older people, we have gained a lot of tents and displays at craft shows,” she knowledge and experience though the admitted. “Though once I’m there and years and I found it was time to put all set up, I’m happy.” that to good use.” Marland also stressed that her past She added in conclusion, “Jewelry education, career, and other interests is such a crowded field, it was especialhave all contributed to her ability to ly important for me to push aside my transition into her new profession. She doubts and create jewelry that’s unique cited in particular her degree in fine and to boost my confidence. And be arts as a painting and sculpture major, prepared to work hard! Though if you her decades as a professional graphic love what you’re doing, it doesn’t feel like designer, and a lifetime of exploring work.” a variety of visual arts disciplines, inFor more information visit www. cluding fine woodworking, ceramics, nancymarland.com.
www.fiftyplusadvocate.com + JULY 2020 + fiftyplus advocate
•5
Putts & More: A for-profit business with a nonprofit feel Welcoming people of all abilities By Deborah Burke Henderson Contributing Writer
PHOTO/COURTESY OF JIM GIAMMARINARO
HOLLISTON - The story of Putts & More Family Fun Center, a beautifully designed 18-hole mini-golf course on the Holliston/Ashland town line, begins with a special couple. For both Jim and Marion Giammarinaro, this was a second marriage and although Marion had children, they wanted a family together. Choosing adoption, they found infants were in high demand in the States, so they turned to an adoption agency with overseas connections. They finally identified their son-to-be, Nick, a twoyear-old in a Russian orphanage in Kurgan. Although Nick was born prematurely, he could now easily run laps around the other children in care. Beyond the trauma and stress surrounding his birth, Nick has some learning disabilities and severe anxiety. “At first, because of his attachment disorder – a lack of trust caused by an environment without love and con-
marinaros needed more flexibility from their jobs. They wanted to create an environment that would feel safe and welcoming and provide Nick and others with opportunities for self-discovery, growth and meaningful employment. Marion retired from her career in nursing and Jim, once in finance and then co-owner of a small printing business in Ashland, sold his company and, together in 2014, purchased a nearby mini-golf course which had lain dormant for several years. “All these guys and gals [with disabilities] can do something. It is just a matter of realizing what skills they have and providing appropriate employment opportunities,” Jim said, adding, “at Putts and More, we welcome people of all abilities. It’s a fun place to work, and with the help of our volunteer job coaches, we can also offer work in landscaping, maintenance, stocking the snack bar and engaging with customers.” Jim calls Putts & More a for-prof-
g your hearing tested by some of the best in the business.
Nick, Marion and Jim Giammarinaro are ready to welcome visitors to the Putts & More Family Fun Center on Rte. 126 in Holliston.
Call today to schedule an appointment. nectedness – Nick would rock himself when he needed comfort, soothing or sleep,” Marion stated, “but over the years, he grew to know how much we
www.audiologyaffiliates.org
love him. His disabling anxiety, although somewhat lessened, still keeps him moving around a lot though.” As Nick grew older, the Giam-
Putts & More | 6
AUDIOLOGY AFFILIATES NOW OPEN!
• We are now seeing patients by appointment only in all three locations. • We are following the State of Massachusetts as well as the CDC Guidelines for your and our safety. • We are still offering car-side service if you prefer. We will come to your vehicle and safely retrieve your hearing aid, for examination and repair if possible.
Please contactis our year. Audiology Affiliates to schedule your appointment
I’
• We will be so happy to see you again. In the meantime, please be safe and well. - From All Of Us At Audiology Affiliate MARLBOROUGH OFFICE 159 Union St, Ste 102, Marlborough, MA Inside Marlboro Hospital
(508) 481-0610
FRAMINGHAM OFFICE 600 Worcester Road, Lower Level #1, Framingham, MA
(508) 872-6679
WORCESTER OFFICE 490 Shrewsbury Street , Worcester, MA 01604
(508) 755-1391
Ma
6•
fiftyplus advocate + JULY 2020 + www.fiftyplusadvocate.com
Putts & More: A for-profit business with a nonprofit feel Welcoming people of all abilities Putts & More | from page 5
it business with a nonprofit feel. With the Massachusetts Department of Development Services reporting an 80 percent unemployment rate for people with special needs, the Giammarinaros are committed to serving a purpose by keeping people employed and active. Putts & More offers delightful recreation for people of all ages and abilities and part-time employment for people with disabilities. “You want your child to be with people who want to be with them. It’s tricky,” Jim added. “People with disabilities can be fragile. We’re like all of the families we’ve experienced through Nick’s involvement with Special Olympics, we want to find or create places where these kids are welcome.” While Jim serves as the full-time president of the MetroWest Chamber of Commerce, Marion manages dayto-day operations for Putts & More at 750 Concord St., Rte. 126, Holliston. Now 26, Nick handles much of the landscaping services at the course and
All these guys and gals (with disabilities) can do something. It is just a matter of realizing what skills they have and providing appropriate employment opportunities, at Putts and More, we welcome people of all abilities. – Jim Giammarinaro
on Thursdays, works part-time at a gas station in Berlin where he is beloved by many, including Chief of Police Tom Galvin. Besides the 18-hole course, Putts & More offers a 30- by 80-foot jumping pillow; lawn sports such as volleyball, badminton and bean bag toss; picnic tables; lounge areas and a popular snack bar with hot dogs, slush puppies, sodas, chips and ice cream. Jim and Marion are currently preparing for the inclusion of a 40- by 40-foot splash pad, pending permission from the town of Holliston’s zoning board.
Charities and companies use Putts & More as a fundraising endeavor with hole sponsors and raffles. Following current health and safety protocols, customers are expected to wear face masks at the counter and maintain a physical distance of six feet from one another throughout the grounds. “There’s something for everyone at Putts & More depending on their capability,” Jim added. During the initial quarantine timeframe while businesses were closed, Marion realized just how much
her workers normally did around the course. “We’re delighted to be open again,” Marion said. “I’ve missed the people, parents and other job coaches and the contributions everyone made. Our employees are so enthusiastic about being at work again, and they do so much around here. It’s an amazing and wonderful thing to watch.” Recognizing that individuals born on the autism spectrum have increased four-fold over the past many years, Jim and Marion hope there will be many others committed to hiring people with disabilities and to creating appropriate, inclusive workplaces for all. The Putts & More Family Fun Center is open Monday through Friday from 12 p.m. until 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Creating family or company leagues and playing tournaments is encouraged. To find out more about playing golf or celebrating a special occasion at the course, visit puttsandmore.com or call the golf shack at 508561-2902.
ARE YOU AN AMERICAN HERO? Teachers • Health Care • Police • Fire Active and Retired Military We have a program with incentives If you are buying or selling – call for details
“Country Living in the City”
We’re here and available to meet with you via phone, Internet or whichever method of communication works best for you
- Subsidized Housing for 62 or older and disabled - 1 bedroom and efficiency - Rent is 30% of adjusted income - All utilities included -
On site laundry - On site staff - Gardening area - Off street parking Pets accepted (with restrictions) - On-site resident service coordinator
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.
545 Salisbury Street, Worcester - 508-753-7217 Professionally managed by Barkan Management Company, Inc. TTY: Relay 711
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
www.fiftyplusadvocate.com + JULY 2020 + fiftyplus advocate
Margaret Gadon: Trailblazer in her field
I have always felt a great deal of empathy for people whose lives are uprooted by wars, disease, famine or terrorism. – Margaret Gadon
Margaret Gadon
By Peg Lopata Contributing Writer CAMBRIDGE - Margaret Gadon, an internist, age 67, could fool anyone into thinking she’s half that age with her vibrancy and vigor. It’s easy to imagine she’s always been this way — always on the go, highly intelligent; an inquisitive child. She was curious about science even when very young. This interest was re-awakened when she developed a
bad eye infection during her teen years. “I had to go to multiple specialists to have the infection diagnosed and treated,” said Gadon. “It rekindled my earlier interest in science and the study of the human body.” But it wasn’t just science that drew her to medicine, she wanted financial independence. In addition, she said, “I’m a natural helper and fixer.” Currently, she’s a general internist for Beth Israel Lahey Health, in Arlington. Gadon most enjoys her work because she likes to solve problems. “I like finding resources for patients and helping them to feel better, she said. She was undaunted by the fact that there were few women in medical school from 1976 to 1980. Luckily, during her years there Gadon wasn’t the super social type, so the lack of fellow women classmates didn’t bother her. “I was oblivious to being in a class
Are you looking for Housing? Let us help!
fiftyplus
ADDRESS CITY
SEND THIS COMPLETED FORM TO:
ZIP CODE
ATTN: FREE FIFTY PLUS HOUSING INFORMATION
SUBSIDIZED APARTMENTS Colony Retirement - Worcester Congregational Retirement Homes - Melrose Green Hill Towers - Worcester Sherwood Village - Natick Sitkowski School Apartments - Webster
fiftyplus advocate
Serving the fifty-plus community since 1975 www.fiftyplusadvocate.com
who’ve had no advantages. “I’m inspired by people who manage to make the best of their circumstances,” she said. Gadon is not only a full-time doctor. She volunteers as part of a climate action group and has been the leader of a small community group to support one another during the COVID-19 crisis. She hopes to tutor students in the fall of 2020. But all in all, she feels her greatest achievement in life so far has been raising her children to be responsible human beings. But all in all, she feels her greatest achievement in life so far has been raising her two sons, Nick, 33 and Eliot, 37 to be responsible human beings. She’s aiming to retire from medicine in 2021. Some causes she finds especially important are helping refugees. “I have always felt a great deal of empathy for people whose lives are uprooted by wars, disease, famine or terrorism,” said Gadon. She also supports organizations that help poor children and address climate change. Once retired, she’ll continue to build strong friendships, hopes to travel extensively and do tutoring. For her patients, she’ll surely be missed when she takes that well-earned time for herself. Even trailblazers deserve a break of being pioneers.
NAME
Please contact me regarding the housing opportunities I’ve checked off below.
32 SOUTH STREET, WESTBOROUGH, MA 01581
with fifteen percent of women,” she said. “My friends were all male.” Now a more sociable woman, during the pandemic she’s been missing seeing her patients face-to-face as well as her colleagues. Other changes haven’t fazed her, such as being on-call in a hospital, something she hadn’t done for several years. She felt her medical training had well-prepared her for the pandemic, nor was she concerned about catching the virus. “I assumed I would get it at some point,” she said. Strong woman that Gadon is herself, not surprising she finds other strong women, such as Angela Merkel, chancellor of Germany, inspiring. “Merkel has believed in herself and has not been intimidated by powerful men. She is willing to go against the grain for what she believes is right,” said Gadon. She also admires those people
STATE PHONE *(
)
*Your phone number is required to process your request. It will be used only in regard to the properties that you have marked.
REST HOMES
ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES
Goddard Homestead - Worcester
Artisan at Hudson - Hudson Brookhaven Assisted Care - West Brookfield Goddard Homestead - Worcester
AFFORDABLE HOUSING Bigelow Village - Rutland
Publisher: David Bagdon Managing Editor: Bonnie Adams ext. 14 Creative Director: Tina Berthiaume
•7
Advertising Sales: Sales Coordinator : Barbara Clifford: 774-243-6881
Diane Sabatini: ext. 12 Cindy Merchant: ext. 15 Mary Ellen Cyganiewicz: ext. 17
Fifty Plus Advocate is published monthly, 12 times annually by Bagdon Advertising, 32 South Street, Westborough, MA 01581. Fifty Plus Advocate accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or materials and does not return them to sender. Retractions for any inaccuracies will be printed when necessary. Unsolicited letters to the editor become the property of this newspaper and can be reprinted in part or in whole unless otherwise stated. Fifty Plus Advocate columnists writing under a byline are expressing their personal opinions and not necessarily those of the newspaper.
Contact us: 508.366.5500 • 32 South St., Westborough, MA 01581
8•
fiftyplus advocate + JULY 2020 + www.fiftyplusadvocate.com
Descended from not just one – from nine Mayflower passengers By Jane Keller Gordon Assistant Editor REGION - Blanca Bruso hit a dead end when researching her own Puerto Rican roots using Ancestry.com. But she hit pay dirt when she turned her attention to her husband Matthew’s lineage. Fully documenting 14 generations, Blanca was able to prove that Matthew is a descendent of Richard Warren, a passenger on the Mayflower. There is more — she discovered that he is also a descendant of eight other Mayflower passengers, including Myles Standish, and two Salem women who were accused of being witches. The Mayflower was an English ship that transported the first English Puritans (the Pilgrims) in 1620, from Plymouth, England to what is now Plymouth, Mass. in 1620. There were 102 passengers, and an estimated 30 crew members. Only about half of them survived the brutal New England winter and an outbreak of scurvy, pneumonia, and tuberculosis. Responding to the news that Matthew was a descendant of Mayflower passengers, one of the couple’s four daughters said, “Dad’s always been an expert in American history,
Certificate noting that Matthew Bruso is a descendant of Richard Warren, a passenger on the Mayflower .
A Commitment That Lasts a Lifetime Our experienced and compassionate team of Elder Law attorneys will provide sound legal and practical guidance for you and your family regarding • Long-term care asset planning • Care management & advocacy • Financing care at home
• Crisis planning • Complex Medicaid applications • Medicaid appeals
To schedule a private consultation, or to arrange a complimentary presentation to your group of 20 or more, please call 508.459.8082.
so it is rather perfect that his heritage goes back to the very beginning of this country.” According to Blanca, her journey of discovery began late at night, on November 11, 2014. While looking at Matthew’s mother’s family tree on Ancestry.com, she noticed a relative who claimed to be linked to the Mayflower. Blanca woke up Matthew and said, “Did you know that there is a great possibility that you are a Mayflower Pilgrim descendent?” He responded, “No.” Blanca added, “And so, began many late nights of research.” Five days later, Blanca and Matthew sent a Preliminary Review Form to the General Society of Mayflower Descendants (GSMD). About a month went by, and then a research
assistant at the GSDM responded. He suggested a different lineage to Richard Warren and directed them to a series of books called, “Mayflower Families Through Five Generations. The research assistant told the couple, “The fact that we have no previously approved lineage papers that follow your line any further means that you will need to prove everything beyond what is covered by the Mayflower Families books through the present day.” The next month, Matthew received a letter and membership application from the Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants. “Neither my husband nor I recall anyone ever requesting connection to the passenger Richard Warren, but
BROOKHAVEN ASSISTED LIVING 50 years experience providing 24 hour care. Medical coordination and support services for:
- Dementia - Parkinson’s Elderly folks with medical needs who can no longer live alone Available in-house: Physician’s services - Pharmacy services - Podiatry services - VNA Nursing services - Hospice - GeriatricPsych services - Physical Therapy - X-ray - Lab - EKG
WORCESTER | FRAMINGHAM | MEDFIELD
508.459.8000 | FletcherTilton.com
19 West Main Street, West Brookfield (508)867-3325 • brookhavenassistedcare.com
Always - TLC with compassion and quality care.
www.fiftyplusadvocate.com + JULY 2020 + fiftyplus advocate
•9
and finding out that they no longer exists, THEN being referred to another town to check for records. In the end, it turned out to be a wild goose chase worth the effort.” Blanca was able to use the Mayflower Families Silver Books to document from Richard Warren, generations one to seven and part of eight and nine. Maine records from various towns provided important documents for generations eight, 10, 11 and 12. Through NEHGS, she found death records for generation nine. Matthew’s parents are generation 13. For their own generation, 14,Concepts they had Branding their birth certificates, Family Dental Group Blanca and Matthew Bruso and ordered a copy of their marriage certificate. On June 13, 2016, this information helped me a great Matthew wasConcept accepted as a2member of | Revised deal… to me this meant that I was on the Mayflower Society. Two months Main Logo: the right track,” she said. later, he was certified as a descendent The task was daunting – for every of Richard Warren. generation going back to the MayThe Mayflower Families Silver 800-508-2265 flower, Blanca needed to find birth, Books also link Matthew to Maymarriage and death certificates. flower passengers John Alden, WilDigging deeper, she used her liam Mullins, Henry Samson, and membership at the New England HisMyles Standish. Branches from Richtoric Genealogical Society (NEHGS) ard Warren show that Matthew is related to Mayflower passengersLogo John Billington, Peter with Matthew Bruso Brown,Tagline: Francis Cooke, and Generations tracing back George Soule. Back in 2015, during her to Richard Warren journey, Blanca remembers seeing a movie about the May14: Matthew Bruso and Blanca Oliver A BEAUTIFUL SMILE SAYS A LOT ABOUT YOU. flower Pilgrims called “Saints 13: Barbara Chase and David Bruso LET US HELP YOU and Strangers.” Dr. Nikhil 12: Walter Chase and Louise Seigars “We sat in front of the TV 318 Main Street, Suite 180 | Northborough Lavana BDS, DMD with his, back then, small famLocation Specific Logos: 11: Charles Walter Chase and Grace Martin ily tree. At the time, it included 10: Charles F. Chase and Clarissa Godwin Mayflower passenger’s Richard NEW PATIENT SPECIAL 9: Mary Ann Thayer and Nathan Chase Warren, Myles Standish, John Alden and Priscilla Mullins. 8: Ebenezer Thayer and Mary Faunce Each time a character from 7: Hanna Joyce and Isaac Thayer his Mayflower family tree was 6: Ebenezer Joyce and Alithia Fullerton shown in the movie, I would Dr. Archana Karkhanis yell out, ‘Matthew, there you 5: Abigail Ford and John Joyce DENTAL DENTAL DENTAL Lavana, are!’ The whole movie went on free consultation~ 4: James Ford and Hannah Dingley BDS, DMD GROUP Call today for yourGROUP GROUP like that. It was awesome!” 3: Abigail Snow and Michael Ford Since Blanca’s research, the We accept most insurance plans including • Dominion National • Senior Care Options • Navicare NEHGS has added a Northborough database, Gardner 2: Abigail Warren and Anthony Snow • MassHealth • Fallon. No Insurance, no problem. Ask about our smiles saversPaxton plan! Mayflower.AmericanAnces1: Richard WARREN, Mayflower Passenger tors.org. According to its website, “AmericanAncestors.org Submarks: Stylized Taglines: provides access to more than 1.4 billion records spanning 22 to access the organization’s online countries covering the United States, FAMILY DETISTRY resources. She hit a roadblock when the British Isles, continental Europe, looking for records in Maine before and beyond, including one of the most 1892, since none are available online. extensive online collections of early As a result “… my husband had American genealogical records, DENTALthe LASER TECHNOLOGY DENTAL SMILE to make many phone calls to various largest searchable collection of pubGROUP GROUP N towns in order to track some of the EASY PAYMENT OPTIONS SAYS A LOT ABOUT YOU. lished genealogical research o r journals gh Gardner t h b collecolder records needed,” she said. “At the orou and magazines, and the largest LET US HELP YOU time, the process seemed like a wild tion of U.S Catholic records online.” goose chase trying to contact towns * Must Purchase a regular cleaning at the same time.
adventurous
energetic
positive
Family
DENTAL GROUP
Family
DENTAL GROUP
cherish it.
NEW PATIENT EXAM, BITEWING & X-RAYS
Family
Family
ONLY $1*
of
of
of
508-466-7211
Family
Family
Gentle
A Reason to Smile Family A beautiful
cherish it.
Family DENTAL
10 •
fiftyplus advocate + JULY 2020 + www.fiftyplusadvocate.com
Senior Directory
A guide to end-of-life matters
Trusted Like Family Trusted Like Family Trusted Like Family Home Care, Home Care, Inc. Inc. Home Care, Inc.
Our Family With Your Family TrustTrust Our Family With Your Family Trust Our Family With Your Family Are you or a loved one in need of top-quality home care services? Are a loved in need of carecare services, Are you or ayou loved one in need ofneed top-quality home services? Are you or aorloved oneone in of top-quality home care services? • Offering in-home care services to seniors but are •concerned aboutcare COVID-19? Offering in-home services to seniors • Offering care services and disabled in-home adults in Worcester County to seniors disabledbusiness, adults in • Asand an essential weWorcester continue toCounty serve our • Employing only theadults finest caregivers and disabled in Worcester County •clients Employing only the finest caregivers • Locally owned and managed • Employing only the finesttocaregivers • We’re taking a wide range of precautions help ensure • Locally owned and managed fully insured and bonded the continued safety of both our clients and caregivers • Locally owned and managed fully• insured and bonded Client satisfaction and service are • All care services are provided in the safety and security fully insured bonded our top priorities! • Client satisfaction andand service are Contact us today to see how we can help you! • Client satisfaction andhelp! service are top priorities! Contact usour today to see how we can info@trustedlikefamilyhomecare.com • 508-579-1890 • www. trustedlikefamilyhomecare.com our top priorities! info@trustedlikefamilyhomecare.com • 508-579-1890 Contact us today to see how we can help! NEW CLIENT SPECIAL 20% OFF YOUR FIRST MONTH SERVICES! www.trustedlikefamilyhomecare.com Contact us today to see how we OF can help!
Amazon: “Conversations and choices about how to prepare for end-of-life can be difficult because we tend not to discuss such topics readily during our life…” Answer the questions you need to know from how to discuss a terminal condition through to the end of life process. Can be read cover to cover or simply mined for specific questions. “A gem of a guidebook for readers who want to gain some control over the final stages of their lives”. - Kirkus Reviews
It also includes information on pain management, Medicare/ Medicaid, elder law, caregivers, hospice & palliative care, advance directives, wills, funerals, medical marijuana and defining one’s legacy. Available in good book shops and on Amazon – Softcover and kindle.
EVERSHINE DENTAL GROUP 100 MLK Jr. Blvd. Suite 100 Worcester MA 01608 (774) 243-7782 www.evershinedental.com
Parking validated
Dr. Sahana Ramos, DMD Quality care you can trust!
Find us on
info@trustedlikefamilyhomecare.com • 508-579-1890 www.trustedlikefamilyhomecare.com NEW CLIENT SPECIAL - 20% OFF YOUR FIRST MONTH OF SERVICES! info@trustedlikefamilyhomecare.com • 508-579-1890 3 John St., Westborough
www.trustedlikefamilyhomecare.com NEW CLIENT SPECIAL - 20% OFF YOUR FIRST MONTHwww.ststeph.com OF SERVICES!
For more info call NEW CLIENT SPECIAL - 20% OFF YOUR FIRST MONTH OF SERVICES! 508-366-4134
As our country begins to return to a new normal we at St. Stephen’s are making plans to welcome our parishioners back to worship. There will be changes. We will adjust. But, one thing will not change. Here is where we worship God, express gratitude to Jesus Christ, and welcome everyone with love and kindness. Praise God From Whom all Blessing Flow
SHORT-TERM REHABILITATION LONG TERM CARE WOUND CARE | HOSPICE CARE Specialty programs include: Orthopedic Rehabilitation Respiratory Therapy & Wound Care Occupational Therapists on Site Private/ Semi-Private Air Conditioning, Wi-fi, Cable Dining room, Courtyard, Salon Customized care plans
Now Leasing - Tour Today!
200 West Foster St., Melrose 781.665.6334 | LiveCRH.com
• • • • • • • •
Experience a sense of neighborhood & community, set amid lush, green surroundings. ∙ Award-winning 62+ ∙ Laundry care suite senior community* ∙ Supportive services & ∙ Community gathering coordinated activities space w/full kitchen ∙ And much more...
Recreation Program Door-to-door Transportation Exercise Classes Skilled Nursing Care Social Services Nutritious Meals Caregiver Support and Education Specialized Memory Care Programs Arlington - Burlington - Concord - Groton www.ElderDayServices.org
Serving the Greater Boston Area Since 1978
*62+ or disabled.
CALL OUR ADMISSIONS DEPARTMENT TODAY FOR A TOUR! (978) 422-5111 EXT. 1229 18 Dana Hill Road, Sterling, MA 01564 978-422-5111 | www.sterling-village.com
Minutes from routes 2, 1-90 & 290. 7 Min. from downtown Worcester. 25 min. from rte. 495
Enabling Independence since 1996
STAIR LIFTS and RAMP SYSTEMS Affordable Prices, Expert Installation Rental/Purchase/Buy Back FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 781-863-1166 x 104 OPEN MON - FRI/ SAT PROGRAM IN ARLINGTON
CALL TODAY FOR A FREE ESTIMATE 800-355-5451 67 West Boylston St. #4, West Boylston - www.ableha.com
FLYING HIGH
www.fiftyplusadvocate.com + JULY 2020 + fiftyplus advocate
Ultralight pioneer finds his muse at Crow Island Airpark in Stow
Rob Albright in front of an ultralight
By Jane Keller Gordon Assistant Editor STOW - The course of Rob Albright’s life changed when he met Rick Kemp, his ex-girlfriend’s husband. During the summer of 1974, the Colorado-based Kemps arrived at Albright’s log cabin in Stow, having driven their Volvo station wagon cross country with was a long tube on its roof. Albright remembers saying, “’What’s that?’ Rick said, ‘It’s a hang-glider. You open it up, run, jump off a hill, and fly to the bottom.’ I was in.” Forty-five years later, Albright, who is now almost 80, and his wife Annette, own the Crow Island Airpark in Stow. He is a well-known pi-
• 11
oneer of ultralights. Albright shared with Fifty Plus, “The day after I met Rick, we took the hang-glider to Nashoba Ski Area. Once I flew off that mountain, I said to myself, ‘Holy mackerel, I have to have one of these.’” That same year, Albright attended “Get High,” a hang-gliding school in Aspen, Colo. He was a quick study and his athleticism helped — at the time Albright was a gym teacher and coach at Winchester High School. “The first time I soloed was off Independence Pass, which is 14,000 feet high. That was the day when Richard Nixon resigned,” said Albright. He was hooked. When Albright returned to Massachusetts, he opened
“Get High East” at Nashoba and became a hang-glider dealer. In the summer, he would glide from the mountains and when the winds blew east, from the dunes on Cape Cod. He ended his ten-year gig at Winchester High. Technology was about to change. “It was like a cell phone, every month or two there was some improvement… When someone mounted a motor on a hang glider, that was the beginning of ultralights,” explained Albright. He was quick to buy an Icarus, a highwinged ultralight. “In September 1976, I took off in the Icarus from a
sheep farm in Stow in one of the very first flights of an ultralight. A month later, I took off from there again, got up under a cloud, turned off the motor, and soared for a couple of hours — at 11,000 feet — above Maynard. I was in a big thermal that was filled with bumble bees and oak leaves,” he recalled. Next up was an ultralight called an Easy Riser, and then a Vector. Back then, Albright was teaching people how to fly ultralights at Stow’s Minute Man Airport. “It was really tough. How do you teach someone when there is only one seat? We didn’t have radios. We used hand signals,” he said. The solution came in 1982 with the advent of the Quicksilver, a two-seater ultralight. But there was a problem. “At Minute Man, airplanes were going 100 mph and we were buzzing around at 35 mph. That was a bad mix,” said Albright. That’s when he found Crow Island, tucked into a bend of the AssaUltrlight | 17
To healthcare heroes everywhere,
THANK YOU
We thank the many healthcare heroes who leave their homes and families every day to serve others during this time of great need. We are proud to be among them, standing strong for our community.
250 Pond Street • Braintree, MA 02184 781.348.2138 • Fax 781.356.2748 ehc.rehab/50plus Caboose
The Joint Commission Disease-Specific Care Certification in Brain Injury Rehabilitation, Stroke Rehabilitation and Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation ©2020:Encompass Health Corporation:1662418B
12 •
fiftyplus advocate + JULY 2020 + www.fiftyplusadvocate.com
Dental health continues to be a priority with age
Dr. Nikhil Lavana and Dr. Archana Karkhanis-Lavana
By Liz Nolan Contributing Writer
Preserving Memories
with Dignity
CREMATION AND AFFORDABLE FUNERAL OPTIONS
When it comes to your final arrangements... Shouldn’t you make the decisions? The arrangements you make will reflect your exact wishes and desires. Arrangements can be made in the comfort of your own home. The Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home provides affordable cremation and traditional funeral services. We are the largest cremation provider in Worcester County.
Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home ESTABLISHED 1910
Complete
1575
$
Direct Cremation
RICHARD D. MAJERCIK Director
Over 100 Years of Continuous Service
Serving All Faiths
48 School Street, Webster, MA 01570 508-943-6278 • www.shaw-majercik.com
1(800)279-7429
Veteran Owned & Operated
NORTHBOROUGH - Dental health is just as important as staying in good physical health especially as people age. Family Dental Group of Northboro located at 318 Main Street, Suite 180, opened in June 2019 by the husband-wife dentist team of Dr. Nikhil Lavana and Dr. Archana Karkhanis-Lavana. Although they treat patients of all ages, they want to communicate the importance of dental care for those age 50 and older. Karkhanis-Lavana said the body experiences hormonal and physical changes as people age, and it is important for regular dental check-ups. “Teeth are as important as any part of your body,” she said. “Good teeth is an indicator of good overall health.” Since oral and physical health are so related, Karkhanis-Lavana makes it a priority to coordinate the care with a patient’s other health care providers when necessary. “We have been treating this age group very strongly since the start of the practice,” she said. “We look at the patient’s overall health condition. Depending on any underlying conditions, we will connect with other health specialists.” It is common that older people require various medications as they may face increased health issues, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, stomach issues and other chronic diseases. Side effects of medications, like decreased saliva production, can impact dental health. Tissue structures can change as hormone levels change, so a regular
PHOTO/LIZ NOLAN
oral cancer check is essential. “As your physical body changes, there are changes happening in your mouth too,” said Karkhanis-Lavana. The correlation between periodontal disease and cardiac disease also make it important for regular checkups in addition to brushing twice a day, flossing and using a mouth rinse. “Gum disease is an inflammation caused by bacteria in the mouth and that bacteria can enter the blood stream leading to the heart causing cardiac issues,” she said. Another element to consider for some people over 75 years old is that may suffer from forgetfulness, including forgetting to brush their teeth. If that is the case, Karkhanis-Lavana recommends those patients be seen every three months. Older patients have the potential of losing a tooth. Without the proper bite, a patient might not be able to eat foods that are needed for proper nutrition. Filling replacements, crowns and implants can all help to restore the bite. Family Dental Group of Northborough accepts many insurances including MassHealth, Delta Dental, Blue Cross, Fallon Navicare, United Healthcare, Cigna and Guardian. It offers handicap parking and easy access to the office. There are additional offices in Paxton and Gardner. Additional information including services and hours can be found at www.lavanafamilydental.com. Patients can expect a timely response to every call after hours and emergency calls. Appointments can be requested online or by calling 508-466-7211.
Positive Images in a Post COVID World
www.fiftyplusadvocate.com + JULY 2020 + fiftyplus advocate
• 13
Age does not bring wisdom. Its only advantage, so far as I have been able to see, is that it spans change. A young person sees the world as a still picture, immutable. An old person has had his nose rubbed in changes and more changes and still more changes so many times that he knows it is a moving picture, forever changing. He may not like it — probably doesn’t; I don’t — but he knows it’s so, and knowing it is the first step in coping with it. – Novelist Robert A. Heinlein
By Marianne Delorey, Ph.D. Executive Director, Colony Retirement Homes
2
020 is now half over. We have battled coronavirus and many of our oldest and dearest have lost the battle. We are looking at a “new normal” which is just a convenient way of telling our old and frail that they are on their own — responsible for isolating or facing death while the rest of the world gets back to living. This “new normal” has several significant side effects. If our most vulnerable members are afraid to come out of the house, they risk becoming invisible. They may be marginalized because they are easier to forget. They may be perceived as living in fear. If they cannot work, they may become increasingly dependent on social security and other programs. They may gravitate more toward elder housing and other specialized living situations to maintain their social life, further pulling them away from society’s view. Youth may also come to fear the aged – “Don’t get too close to Grandma!” may become something more nefarious and ingrained. Youth may certainly embrace their responsibility of keeping away and grow to see no role for themselves in the lives and care of their older family members. Older people may not be able to help take care of grandchildren so their parents can work. This will strain the daycare budgets of those who rely on family help and further push the elderly out of the sight of the young. Workplaces will also react. Unemployment is at a record high. When choosing between an older worker and a younger worker, employers may take COVID-19 risk
Housing Options
into consideration. Such a choice may cause older adults to leave the workforce before they intended to. The opportunity for older workers to contribute meaningfully may be few and far between. As our elders will be “out of sight, out of mind” our society will continue to think only of people who are older as in nursing homes, completely dependent. How do we combat this? Of course, the first preference is a vaccine. But there are other things we can, and must do to combat this changing image. 1. Employers must seek to keep their workforces healthy by reducing risk. As Gov. Baker has laid out plans to reopen the economy, the burden is on employers to protect workers regardless their vulnerability to COVID-19. 2. Employers in the aging services need to go above and beyond to embrace the needs of aging members of society by employing more when possible. If they are safer in these smaller environments, let’s also make a point to keep them economically safer too. 3. Older workers must embrace change, our elders should figure out Zoom and other technologies, and determine for themselves how they can contribute in a remote world. 4. Youth must make a point to engage with grandparents and older neighbors by whatever means possible, socially distanced visiting, Facetime, and online game play or other interactions. 5. Elder publications, such as The Fifty Plus, must make sure that elders are portrayed in a variety of settings, perhaps even over emphasizing healthy and productive aging until elders can emerge, once again, and join society. Without exaggeration, this period after COVID’s surge is going to redefine aging and how society views the elderly. We must get ahead of this issue to preserve a positive image of aging.
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. For more articles visit www.fiftyplusadvocate.com.
A 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization
A Reverse Mortgage is not for everyone. But everyone should know the facts about a Reverse Mortgage and how it works. Helping Hands Community Partners, Inc., is a non-profit 501(c)(3) with a mission of educating senior homeowners about housing options. We can explain and, when appropriate, arrange reverse mortgages. Call or email to receive a FREE copy of the National Council on Aging’s 36-page “Use Your Home to Stay at Home,” consumer booklet.
o r tg a g e verse m ved e r l ia ic o T h e o ff r b o o k le ta p p r e t c o n s u m . D e p a r tm e n .S U e th by s in g of Hou n a b r &U pment lo e v e D
Call to get your FREE copy of “Use Your Home to Stay at Home” (781) 724-6221
Or email to: Reversemortgage@hhcp.org
GREAT NEWS!
Reverse mortgage condo rules have changed. Call for details. Massachusetts Mortgage Broker License MB1553939 NMLS #1553939 We arrange but do not make loans.
www.hhcp.org
40 Accord Park Drive – Suite 203 – Norwell, MA 02061
14 •
fiftyplus advocate + JULY 2020 + www.fiftyplusadvocate.com
money matters
Reverse mortgages: ‘Lean on Me’ By Alain Valles, CRMP, CSA, MS, MBA Nonprofit Charitable Managing Director
M
any of us are currently facing very tough economic times and uncertainty. And if you are fortunate to be in a good place then the odds are extremely high that you have a family member or friend not as well off. Even worse, they may be giving the appearances of everything is ok while privately suffering. I was reflecting on my mission to educate older homeowners about different housing options, including reverse mortgages, and the song written and recorded by Bill Withers called
Reverse Mortgage
“Lean on Me” came to mind. Several of the verses ring so true when it comes to home financing challenges and not seeking help including: “Sometimes in our lives we all have pain” The financial pain of not being able to pay the mortgage, real estate taxes, credit cards, medical expenses, or home repairs are just a few examples of trying to remain financially independent at home. Or you might have a friend struggling to make ends meet who has lost their smile. “Please swallow your pride if I have things you need to borrow” Reverse mortgages conjure up many emotions. Mostly negative. This is due to a lack of education of how the program works. The stigma that it is only to be used for a last resort is not true. My experience helping thousands of older homeowners is that many unfortunately view financial hardship as a reflection of their personal worth. How untrue! Wouldn’t we all advise our children and friends that it is a sign of strength to raise your hand to seek assistance and education?
“Lean on me, when you’re not strong and I’ll be your friend” As a Managing Director of the self-funded nonprofit Helping Hands Community Partners mortgage company, our mission is to educate people about housing options - including reverse mortgages. We are the only licensed nonprofit in Massachusetts that focuses on sharing reliable information on the pros and cons about reverse mortgages and, when appropriate, we are approved to arrange them for eligible homeowners. Our belief is not everyone should get a reverse mortgage, but everyone should have a better understanding of the facts and myths. Once informed, I am repeatedly asked by my clients – “Why doesn’t the government tell everyone about this?” Likely they don’t have the resources but I’m trying to get the word out the best I can one person at a time. I have had the immense pleasure over the past decades helping so many homeowners who have become my friends. What a joy to resolve their financial pain and see their smiles return. “Call me” The end of the song “Lean on Me” repeats “Call me” 14 times. I’ve written well over 60 articles encourag-
ing people to get free factual information, to learn about the pros and cons of reverse mortgages, to see if a reverse mortgage will strengthen one’s retirement plans or improve one’s quality of life but in the end you must take the first step to be better informed. “If you just call me”… you will know quickly if we’ll be friends. Get the facts: Obtain your free “How to Use Your Home to Stay at Home” 36-page book Please give me a call at 781-7246221 or email av@hhcp.org to receive your free copy of “Use Your Home to Stay at Home,” the official reverse mortgage consumer booklet approved by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development and published by the National Council on Aging. This is a great place to get basic information. Alain Valles is 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 av@hhcp.org. More articles can be found at www.fiftyplusadvocate.com.
SUPER CROSSWORD PUZZLE
“VOWEL LANGUAGE” (answers on page 17)
www.fiftyplusadvocate.com + JULY 2020 + fiftyplus advocate
viewpoint
• 15
Hearing the music
By Janice Lindsay
O
ne summer night when I was around 10, I lay alone on the grass near my grandmother’s secluded house, gazing at the stars. Except for an occasional soft undercurrent of adult conversation from inside, all was silent. As my eyes filled with the vastness and faroff brilliance of the universe, I heard, for just a few seconds, a sweet harmony. It didn’t seem to come through my ears, but from somewhere deep inside me. I thought, “the music of the spheres,” a phrase I knew from a hymn we sang in church. I didn’t know, then, that “music of the spheres” refers to a medieval concept of the planets’ movements
Inklings
in relation to mathematical formulas of harmony. But I believed I had heard it, and felt privileged to do so. Skip forward a few decades to a visit to Fruitlands Museums in Harvard. The museums include the restored farmhouse where author Louisa May Alcott lived the summer she was 10. In a portion of her diary, she wrote, “After breakfast I washed dishes, and ran on the hill till nine and had some thoughts...” Imagine. One little girl hears the music of the spheres. Another little girl has thoughts. The only requirements are outer silence and inner openness to the world around them. Now, skip to another year, another summer afternoon. As I walked in an upscale suburban neighborhood. I approached a house where a young man sat on the front steps holding a little girl of about three on his lap. I heard his voice and thought, “How wonderful of this young father to be talking with his little girl.” But, alas, no. As I drew near, I could hear
that he was talking on his cell phone, some business conversation about shipments and meetings. The little girl sat patiently, waiting. I don’t know what happened after I walked by, but the conversation continued for all the time I could hear. For me, that young man represented a disturbing irony of contemporary life. As we acquire more and more ways to receive and share information, we become more and more isolated — isolated from our surroundings, from other people, and even from our own selves. It’s a cliché to observe that if you see a group of teenagers, they’re not interacting with each other; each is interacting with a cell phone. It can be true of adults also. I can easily allow my beloved iPhone to isolate me from myself. I’m tempted to check my emails frequently, even though almost no message requires an immediate response and I don’t even need many of them. These days, with so much go-
ing on in the world, I can become obsessive about checking my news apps, even though there’s nothing I can do right now about anything I read. Many news items don’t inform or enrich me in any way. And I know in my heart that if I read a newspaper and watch the evening news, maybe listen to the radio once a day, I will probably learn all I need to know. But the iPhone tempts. Then, we have music apps, radio apps, game apps, nature apps, movie apps, cooking apps — apps or podcasts about any imaginable subject. If we choose, we can beam a constant stream of other people’s thoughts through ear buds directly into our brains, all day every day. So when do we have the opportunity to observe the world for ourselves? Where do we find the silence to hear our own thoughts? How do we hear the music of the spheres? Contact jlindsay@tidewater.net
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
16 •
fiftyplus advocate + JULY 2020 + www.fiftyplusadvocate.com
Honoring Our Heroes UMass Boston performing Veterans receive affordable health care at their local VA
20
Did you know VA has 20 clinics and hospitals in Massachusetts?
arts professor gives students top priority
Rafael Jaen with his “Digital Costume Design and Collaboration” book cover
At these convenient locations VA offers the most comprehensive health care options that a Veteran could ask for.
$0
Did you know VA has no fees, premiums, or deductibles?
Enroll today and take advantage of the benefits you earned such as prescription benefits, hearing aids, glasses, and much more.
1-844-VA-CARES (822-2737) www.newengland.va.gov/50plus
★★ ★ ★★ 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
By Ed Karvoski Jr. Culture Editor BOSTON – Whether serving as chair of UMass Boston’s performing arts department or freelancing as a practicing costume designer, Rafael Jaen gives top priority to training his students. He also appreciates interacting with them as an associate professor of theater. “Luckily, as department chairs, we still get to teach,” he explained. “I would never want to lose touch with the students in the classroom. They’re the real stakeholders of this venture.” Soon after graduating from New York University with a BFA in technical design in 1985, Jaen relocated to Boston in pursuit of work. He designed bridal gowns before freelancing as a costume and technical designer at regional theaters. Hired by Emerson College in 1990, Jaen began working a 23-year stint in various capacities including resident costume designer, costume department supervisor and design-tech teacher. “At first, I thought I would be a freelancer forever,” he acknowledged. “But then I realized that I love teaching.” While working at Emerson, he concurrently studied there and earned a master’s degree in theater education in 2002. He based his decision to study at Emerson on the faculty’s inclusive teaching approach. “They were talking about diversity in the classroom, which was a new
term for me and it resonated,” shared Jaen, a native of Venezuela. “I wanted to study with people who have the pulse of the community. Emerson really prepared me for the role I have now at UMass Boston.” Another lesson that Emerson faculty taught him was the importance to practice what he teaches. “The Emerson faculty were all theater practitioners,” he recalled. “It was the beginning of my understanding that it’s not only about the teaching approach in class, but also the active participation in the community’s small theaters. I need to be a practitioner of my art in order to be a better teacher.” Among regional theaters where he has worked are Beau Jest Moving Theatre, Charlestown Working Theatre, Huntington Theatre Company and Lyric Stage Company of Boston. Film and television credits include Disney’s “The Game Plan,” and two episodes of the PBS-TV series “God in America.” Jaen started working at UMass Boston in 2013 as the performing arts department’s resident costume designer and assistant professor of costume design. Throughout a four-year period, he accepted additional responsibilities and ultimately became the performing arts department chair in 2018. While working toward his current position, he received 2013’s Kennedy Center Golden Medallion for Excellence in Theatre Education, 2016’s Lifetime Achievement in the Arts by Salem University’s Center for Creative and Performing Arts, and
www.fiftyplusadvocate.com + JULY 2020 + fiftyplus advocate how they get their foot in the door.” Earlier this year, he was selected as the featured faculty designer at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (Region One), held at Cape Cod venues. According to its website, “For over 50 years, the organization has served as a catalyst in improving the quality of college theater in the United States.” “I feel strong when I find myself in a place like UMass where there’s so many possibilities working with people in Boston,” Jaen noted. “What a great opportunity to chair a department where you can educate the Rafael Jaen at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (Region One), held Jan. 29 to Feb. 1 at Cape Cod venues
2017’s Manning Prize for Excellence in Teaching from UMass. “I need to keep making my art,” Jaen noted. “It could be via designing or writing a book.” He has published four books: “Developing and Maintaining a Design-Tech Portfolio,” 2006; “Showcase,” 2012; “Digital Costume Design and Collaboration,” 2017; and “Theatre Artisans and Their Craft” co-ed-
ited with Holly Durbin and Christin Essin, 2019. Jaen designed costumes for Boston Midsummer Opera’s “La Cenerentola” presented in July 2019 at Watertown’s Mosesian Center for the Arts. Some of his students participated as apprentices. “I’m always trying to find opportunities for students to be involved in a professional setting,” he said. “That’s
• 17
higher-ups about why the arts are so relevant!” Jaen is impressed how effectively UMass Boston’s performing arts faculty and students have adapted to learning remotely amid the coronavirus pandemic. “I stay hopeful because artists have always been able to survive and reinvent ourselves,” he said. “I cry myself to sleep some nights because I’m so moved how artists can sublimate the most difficult circumstances into some form of expressing art.” Find more information about Rafael Jaen at rafaeljaen.biz.
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
Ultralight pioneer finds his muse at Crow Island Airpark in Stow Ultralight | from page 11
bet River in Stow. “It was owned by George Morey, who was a gravel barren,” he said. Starting in 1978, Morey allowed Albright and his crew to fly at Crow Island. By 1983, after much negotiating with Morey and the town of Stow, Albright and Annette purchased Crow Island for $100,000. They paid the town another $150,000 for permission to remove the gravel. “It was basically a sand pit with bushes. Kane Perkins removed about 100,000 yards of gravel, creating a 2,350 feet runway and a pond now used for float planes and swimming. We broke even on the purchase,” said Albright. In 1983, he built some hangers and has added more over time. He rents space to about 30 planes, split between ultralights and antique taildraggers. Albright commented, “Taildraggers kind of want to spin around when they land, you have to work hard to keep them straight. Landing here on a summer evening — I don’t have the proper words to describe how cool it is.” Respecting neighbors, planes only take off and land at Crow Island, he noted. “We don’t do any training here. We take off and fly to Minute Man,
Fitchburg, or Sterling airports for practice,” he said. For the 30th time, on August 7 through 9, Albright will host a fly-in. “There will be a great gathering … (and) my band, Final Approach, will provide entertainment,” he said. As for the future, Albright’s daughter and her husband will own the airport, which will be managed by a group that saves old airports. Albright shared, “I want Crow Island to be an airport until bicycles can fly. Who knows — that could happen! … I want this to be a green place always, this special part of aviation, not the other part that’s everywhere.
Answers to Super Crossword (puzzle on page 14)
Estate Planning Elder Law Long Term Care Planning Masshealth Applications Corporate & Business Planning ❖ Real Estate ❖ Powers of Attorney ❖ Guardian/Conservator Issues ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖
Josephine L. Veglia, Esq.
ATTORNEYS AT LAW 275 R Main Street | Oxford, MA 01540 | 508-987-3981 | Fax 508-987-1317 www.durbinandveglia.com
18 •
fiftyplus advocate + JULY 2020 + www.fiftyplusadvocate.com
Chelmsford production director successfully recovers from COVID-19 By Ed Karvoski Jr. Culture Editor
PHOTO/BEN ALLSUP
Tyler Kenney and his father Bill get Although Kenney had a souvenir photo at 2019’s Super frequently cautioned crowds Bowl LII at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz to stay hydrated at outdoor Stadium. CHELMSFORD – Bill Kenney of summertime concerts that he Chelmsford has worked in various helped produce such as Boscapacities while producing successful ton Calling Music Festival entertainment events throughout four and Mix 104.1’s MixFest, he decades. This year, he achieved a percouldn’t always heed his own sonal health success. advice. On April 14, Kenney tested pos“I didn’t want to drink anyitive for COVID-19 and began a 14thing and had zero appetite,” day quarantine. Now recovered, he’s he said. “No matter how hard been back to work since May 27 as I tried, my body rejected it.” president and CEO of Bill Kenney On his sixth quarantined Productions, Inc. day, his appetite was temporar“I’m very blessed that I was one of ily revived with help from anthe fortunate ones,” he shared. “I took other Chelmsford resident: Sal PHOTO/JASON BEAVER only aspirin all the way.” Lupoli, owner of Sal’s Pizza. Bill Kenney oversees production of Kenney began experiencing symp“I did pretty good eating 2014’s Comics Come Home XX, held toms in March while on a business trip the pizza,” Kenney relayed. “It at Boston’s TD Garden. to Seattle. Before getting tested, he atwas definitely the highlight of by music of The Del tributed shortness of breath to allergies, my day!” Fuegos, the 1980s and fatigue to an early-morning flight. Kenney’s ninth-day update noted Boston-based rock “It felt like a wall hit me,” he rethat he ventured a treadmill workout. band. Kenney rememcalled. “When I got tested, the doctor Subsequent updates chronicled his bers listening to their believed that I was halfway through it.” workouts’ increased length of time, album titled “Boston, Throughout the 14-day quaranmiles per hour, incline percentages and Mass.” on a Sony Waltine, Kenney posted daily Facebook total miles. kman in the 1980s updates. Following doctor’s orders, “Everything I’ve ever done – inwhile managing a tour he took his temperature regularly but cluding having my own company – for John Entwistle, never had a fever. Periodic fatigue, achI’ve always pushed myself,” he said. “I original bass guitarist iness and headaches continued while a set goals and gradually build them up.” for The Who. loss of appetite developed. His workouts were accompanied “It was challenging because we weren’t The Who; we were just a little tour, bouncing around the country,” Jimmy Fallon and Bill Kenney share a laugh Kenney explained. “I at 2017’s Comics Come Home XXIII, held at would listen to The Boston’s TD Garden Del Fuegos and it got me to a different place.” its 1995 inaugural at the Orpheum More recently, Kenney crossed Theatre. He’s now its co-producer and paths with The Del Fuegos’ original production manager. To accommodate drummer Woody Giessmann, foundlarger audiences, the production reloer of Right Turn, a Watertown-based cated in 2005 to Boston University’s substance use disorder program that Agganis Arena and since 2014 at the combines evidence-based treatment TD Garden. 2019 marked the event’s with creative expression. Kenney pro25th anniversary. duced The Del Fuegos’ two fundrais“It’s not just a comic and a mic; ing reunions for Right Turn in 2011 the show is big and dynamic,” Kenat Boston’s Paradise Rock Club. The ney explained. “There’s nobody who sold-out shows were followed by a 12can’t laugh at this event and it raises so city tour in 2012 managed by Kenney. much money for cancer research.” “I was like the fifth Del Fuego,” he While quarantined, Kenney’s quipped. updates noted how much he missed In 1987, he incorporated as Bill spending time with his son Tyler, aka Kenney Productions and worked as TK, a 2020 graduate of Nichols Colproduction manager for Live Nation’s lege with plans to pursue his master’s New England concerts up to 2010. degree at Nichols next academic year. Many of our doctors are welcoming His longest-running production Tyler’s virtual graduation took place new patients. Meet them at association is with Comics Come May 3 while the college planned a reliantmedicalgroup.org. Home, held each fall. Co-founded physical ceremony for a later date. by comedian Denis Leary and Bos“My son told the college president, ton Bruins star Cam Neely (who now ‘If you can’t get a stage or need lights serves as the team’s president), the and sound, I can get them for you,’” event fundraises for the Cam Neely Kenney recounted with a laugh. “The Foundation for Cancer Care. Accordapple doesn’t fall far from the tree!” ing to the foundation’s website, “ComFor information about Bill Kenics Come Home has raised over $13 ney Productions, visit billkenney.com million since its inception.” and facebook.com/BillKenneyProKenney worked as crew chief for ductions.
LO KING for a new doctor?
LOOKING_50Plus Advocate Qtr pg.indd 1
12/23/2019 12:18:50 PM
ic serv
Subsidized senior housing with a meal program option that makes us different!
Colony Retirement Home III is congregate housing for seniors. Enjoy nutritious “Home Cooked Meals,” served in our attractive dining room with your neighbors and friends.
At Colony we let you choose!
se rvice!
Colony Retirement Homes I are garden style studio apartments, located in a country-like setting. A short walk takes you to shopping centers, banks, restaurants and the bus line. A little bit of the country adjacent to the city.
All apartments at Colony Retirement Homes receive rental assistance through the HUD section 8 program. Rent is 30% of your adjusted monthly income. Rent includes all utilities except phone and cable TV. Colony Re tiRe m e nt Hom e s iii : Congregate Housing 101 Chadwick Street, Worcester (508) 755-0444
Call Monday thru Friday, 9am to 5 pm for more information.
Colony RetiRement Homes
Worcester, MA
Not For Profit Corporation
Colony Re tiRe m e nt Hom e s inC. i 485 Grove Street, Worcester (508) 852-5285
www.colonyretirementhomes.com
Newly Remodeled Apartments with a contemporary flair
• Contemporary styled 1 & 2 bedroom apartments • New kitchens with built-in microwaves and granite-like countertops • Small pets welcome • Heat and Hot water included • Bus route / ample parking • Beautiful landscaped grounds with gazebo
Within the building amenities include: • • • • • •
A Theater-like media center Handicap-accessible lounges on every floor Library equipped with two computers and free internet access Physical fitness center Game room with billiard table Community room with bingo board and large screen TV
Green Hill Towers
27 Mount Vernon Street, Worcester, MA • Office Open Daily 8:00am - 4:30pm To receive an application please call 508-755-6062 TDD# 508-755-0228 Now accepting applications for 62 years of age and older and those who are under 62 years of age and are permanently disabled. Applicants must meet HUD annual low income guidelines. Preference is given to individuals 62 and older.
• 19
of
of
e!
www.fiftyplusadvocate.com + JULY 2020 + fiftyplus advocate
Managed by Financed by MHFA
20 •
fiftyplus advocate + JULY 2020 + www.fiftyplusadvocate.com
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 procedures. Don’t suffer with knee pain or a hip that keeps you from doing what you love. Schedule an appointment today. For more information please visit heywood.org or call 978-632-0800.
Dr. Jared Toman Peak Orthopedics Specializing in Joint Replacement and Sports Medicine Surgery
250 Green Street, Suite 205, Gardner, MA 01440 | 978-632-0800 | heywood.org
HWD231_OrthoAd_50plusAdvocate.indd 1
4/13/20 9:28 AM