June 2020 Fifty Plus Advocate Central Edition

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Vol. 46 | No. 6 | Central Edition | June 2020

Vintage car collector has followed a long and winding road

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glass act New MBTA station features Boston painter’s artwork in glass Story on page 8

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Physical distancing does not have to mean social disconnection

By Mike Festa, State Director AARP Massachusetts

E In a Livable Community, people of all ages can make their neighborhood, town or city a lifelong home.

MASSACHUSETTS Visit aarp.org/livable to learn how age-friendly, livable communities benefit people and places.

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ven in the best of times, social isolation is a significant problem. In Massachusetts, 540,250 people over the age of 50 live alone and are at higher risk of social isolation, which is now magnified by the “social distancing” Mike Festa requirements across the country.

That’s worrisome. In fact, the World Health Organization was so concerned that the “social distancing” directive was contributing to isolation that it has modified the wording of its guidance: It now urges people to practice “physical distancing” to prevent the spread of the virus.

Make no mistake: The long-term effects of social isolation are very real.

Over a prolonged period, the impact of social isolation is as harmful to an individual as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. In fact, isolation is more dangerous to one’s health than obesity, and it’s linked to a greater likelihood of early death, accelerated cognitive decline, poor cardiovascular function, stroke and depression in adults 50 and older.

We may have all scaled back our personal interactions to stay safe, but that doesn’t mean we have to be alone. Today’s technology offers myriad ways to keep in touch with family, friends, neighbors and loved ones.

Here are some steps to stay connected: • Measure your risk for isolation – or that of your loved one – at AARP Foundation’s Connect2Affect.org.

This platform also provides lists of community assistance programs for medical care, food, and job training.

• Plug into the growing number of mutual aid groups that organize volunteers to assist older neighbors by, for example, picking up prescriptions or going grocery shopping for them. AARP recently launched the “Community Connections” tool at www. aarpcommunityconnections. org, and also in Spanish at www. aarp.org/MiComunidad, to help you find a group in your area. You

can also request a “friendly call” from an AARP volunteer through the website or by calling 1-888281-0145.

• Go virtual. Many in-person activities are now being offered online.

Your local fitness center, for example, might be offering virtual exercise classes. Or perhaps your book club now meets online.

AARP’s website at www.aarp. org/coronavirus offers daily fitness videos, links to movies that stream online, and other ideas to stay active and engaged during this difficult time. Also, for Massachusetts-specific coronavirus updates and resources, visit www. aarp.org/macovid19.

• Volunteer to provide critical services. It’s a way to assist others while also helping you find purpose and avoid isolation. Mentors and tutors, for example, are always in high demand and both roles can easily be filled remotely. You might also want to volunteer to answer helpline calls related to the pandemic. Visit https://createthegood. aarp.org.

• Identify vulnerable older adults in your family or neighborhood and make a plan to have someone reach out to them on a regular basis by phone, text, email or virtual chat. This is an excellent opportunity to introduce someone unacquainted with Zoom, Skype or Facetime to this new method of communication.

• If you are working from home, consider virtual lunches or happy hours. It’s important to take time to catch up with your colleagues on a more informal level. And you might even glean a few tips on successfully navigating the new world of telework.

• Go old school. Reach out to a family member or friend by sending a letter or postcard. Enclose a photo or two in the letter to spark a fond memory.

If there is one thing that this pandemic has made clear, it’s that personal connections are immensely valuable and sorely missed. Let’s resolve to keep those links strong and vibrant during this crisis, especially for our most vulnerable family, friends and neighbors.

Visit www.fiftyplusadvocate.com for more articles.

Mike Festa is the state director for AARP Massachusetts. Archives of articles from previous issues can be read at www.fiftyplusadvocate.com.

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‘Life is not normal right now,’ notes Cambridge psychologist

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CAMBRIDGE – The coronavirus pandemic has created an uncertain and unprecedented era with common day-to-day terminology such as essential workers, flattening the curve, mandatory face masks, relaxing restrictions, senior shopping hours, social distancing, stay-athome advisory and reopening the country. Add to the list a sobering daily update of the COVID-19 death toll.

Currently working remotely, Pamela Enders, Ph.D., of Cambridge is discussing this topic regularly in her practice as a psychologist at Enders & Weber, P.C. Additionally, she’s offering time for her friends to share their concerns via a telehealth video platform or phone call. Based on her professional and personal conversations, she has observed a significant evolution of reactions within the fairly brief time period since the outbreak began.

“At first, it was almost a novelty and interesting that we need to quarantine ourselves,” Enders said of comments she heard. “As the weeks have gone by, there’s a weariness that has set in – along with tension and anxiety. The anxiety is not only about one’s own situation, it’s also about soaking up worries from around the world because we have so much easy access to the news. That kind of worry is contagious.”

Staying confined at home for so long – and in many cases also working from home – can pose the challenge of resisting temptations of binge behavior, Enders noted.

“People are numbing themselves out by watching lots of TV and overeating – and I can be as guilty at that as anybody,” she acknowledged. “There is that desire to numb out, but there is also great joy in being connected and fully awake in the moment – even if it’s only for a few moments here and there.”

While stress from the global health crisis can be complex, Enders points out the effectiveness of a simple gesture extended to family and friends.

“In my therapy work, I’ve certainly been seeing a yearning for connection with other people,” she relayed. “Brief phone calls can mean the world to some people who are feeling more isolated now. That’s where we all can work to reach out and help one another. We see lone-

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liness at all levels and this situation is certainly intensifying it.”

People in quarantine are also spending more time on digital devices as a pastime. However, approximately a third of respondents over age 65 told Pew Research Center that they’re not confident about using digital technology and some lack broadband connection. For them, Enders suggests considering other activities including crossword puzzles, coloring books for adults, and knitting or crocheting.

According to a another poll conducted by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), about a quarter of respondents are having trouble concentrating on anything other than the pandemic. The constant reminder of COVID-19 has become synonymous with another common phrase: the new normal.

“We all need to recognize that life is not normal right now,” Enders advised. “There’s a general brain fog that we’re all experiencing. We can choose to either get upset about it or to let go of what we have no control over. Let’s not worry about clutter around the house or even getting things done. Sometimes the attitude of ‘the hell with it’ is perfectly OK. Accept what is true right now.”

The APA poll also revealed that older Americans are less anxious about COVID-19 than the younger respondents. Enders agrees with the poll’s finding.

“Not that we’ve ever experienced anything like this before, but we older folks have lived long enough to have encountered stress, hard work, disappointment, loss and heartache – and we’ve gotten through it,” she said. “We have a perspective that helps us in these situations.”

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Longtime resident serves as Arlington Center for the Arts’ director

By Ed Karvoski Jr. Culture Editor

Formicola applied for the ACA executive director position last spring.

ACA board and staff members interviewed him and other candidates throughout last summer, culminating with the job offer this past fall.

“At the end of the interview process, it felt like I won a prize,” he recalled. “While I went to work in Boston every day, I had a great appreciation for Arlington’s cultural community.”

Originally from Rochester, N.Y., he graduated from SUNY Geneseo with a bachelor’s degree in English and theater education in 1985. After teaching high school English and theater for a year, he moved to Boston and graduated from Northeastern University with a master’s degree

Tom Formicola and Dominic Berger perform in the Arlington Friends of the Drama’s 2017 production of “The Graduate.”

in literature in 1988.

Following two years as Massachusetts Cultural Council’s arts-in-education program coordinator, he worked four years beginning in 1992 as public relations director for the Strand Theatre in Dorchester’s Uphams Corner. The restored vaudeville house is owned by the city of Boston.

“This was a seminal position for me; I learned a lot about community arts at the Strand,” Formicola relayed.

“We hosted Haitian music shows, a Vietnamese New Year’s celebration, a school kids’ performing arts series and Sunday-morning church services. I felt we were really part of that diverse community and everyday lives of folks who live in and around Uphams Corner.”

After completing three years as Boston Cultural Council’s director, he worked five years as executive director at Ford Hall Forum, the nation’s oldest continuously operating free public lecture series. According to the forum’s website, “Its mission is to foster an informed and effective citizenry, and to promote freedom of speech through the public presentation of lectures, de-

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ARLINGTON – Tom Formicola brings 30-plus years’ experience as a Boston-based arts and education administrator to his current job in Arlington, where he has resided since 2004. Now, instead of commuting for work to Boston, he’s serving as executive director at Arlington Center for the Arts (ACA).

Soon after relocating in 2004, he began a six-year term as a member and ultimately chair of Arlington Cultural Council. More recently, he performed with Arlington Friends of the Drama in its 2017 productions of “The Graduate” and “The Game’s Afoot.”

Top photo: Arlington Center for the Arts’ mission: “Transforming lives and building community through the arts.”

Bottom photo: Performing in the Arlington Friends of the Drama’s 2017 production of “The Game’s Afoot” are (l to r) Kathleen Dalton, Tom Formicola, Ian Bason and Christie Chilingerian.

bates and discussions.”

“I became the greatest cocktail party guest because I learned a little about almost everything,” Formicola quipped. “We presented lectures on a broad range of topics – politics, science and culture. It was our job to begin the conversation and the audience’s responsibility to figure which side of that conversation they’re on.”

In 2007, he began working six years as deputy director of First Night Boston. It was a year-round effort to prepare for the one-night celebration.

“We were always working toward that night because it’s a big event with lots of moving pieces,” Formicola explained. “First Night never lost its grassroots quality. The grand procession down Boylston Street is made up of schools and community groups with local artists – truly a diverse representation of Bostonians.”

Formicola worked two stints at Boston Center for Adult Education (BCAE). First, from 2004 to 2007 as director of education; then with the additional responsibilities of community engagement from 2016 to October 2019.

On Oct. 7, 2019, a post on BCAE’s Facebook page stated in

part, “BCAE’s board of directors has embarked on a strategic planning process that will help us determine our future course – one that will look nothing like the BCAE that our founder imagined in 1933, and very different even from the BCAE of today.”

“BCAE is an organization whose mission I really loved,” Formicola shared. “We offered upward of 2,000 classes a year, and I had many amazing colleagues who were dedicated to the organization’s mission. Obviously, I’m very disappointed in the turn of events.”

Formicola began as ACA executive director Oct. 21, 2019.

“Having spent a lot of my career in Boston, it’s really meaningful being in a smaller community where the evidence of your work is all around you,” he said. “I live in Arlington, so I’m regularly crossing paths with instructors who teach our programs, students who take our classes and artists who participate in our exhibits.

The work I’m doing isn’t just 9 to 5; it’s an ongoing dialogue 24/7.”

For information about ACA, visit acarts.org and facebook.com/ arlingtonarts.

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Jan Latorre-Stiller, a warm-hearted woman

By Peg Lopata Contributing writer WALTHAM - Even when she was a young woman, Jan Latorre-Stiller, now 68, worked on behalf of elders. Perhaps, it’s just that she’s a naturally caring person. Perhaps it’s because she’s had some personal experience with people who have challenges. She’s the kind of person one has difficulty imaging being cross or mean. Her smile comes easily, her concern for others always evident.

Let’s just say she likes to help others--it’s just who she is.

Not surprisingly, she admires and is inspired by others who have served or continue to serve the greater good, such as Martin Luther King, Jr., and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, respectively. Latorre-Stiller said, “These are noteworthy people who have made a huge difference in the quality of life for so many people, one who was willing to put his life on the line for that purpose.”

But she also admires the legions of lesser-known people who serve their communities.

“I believe that there are so many everyday people who deserve our gratitude and recognition for what they do, some against all odds, to improve the lives of others,” said Latorre-Stiller.

I have always been drawn to work that empowers individuals in some fashion and that provides opportunities for people to grow and contribute.

— Jan Latorre-Stiller

Jan Latorre-Stiller

Though Latorre-Stiller is modest, she’s among those legions. She has made it her purpose to improve the quality of life for others her entire working life. She’s had a long career working for nonprofits. Soon after she earned a bachelor’s degree at Northeastern University, she was chapter director for no-longer-in-existence Living with the Elderly, an advocacy organization for long-term care residents. Her next position was senior director for Soar 55, an organization that provided pro-bono capacity-building services to area non-

profits. She worked at this position for 23 years until this program was discontinued. She was 64 at the time.

Whereas some might retire at this point, Latorre-Stiller just isn’t the type, despite her many other interests, such as painting, books, good food, good conversation, learning, going to museums and being in nature. She wanted to continue to serve the community directly.

She explained, “I have always been drawn to work that empowers individuals in some fashion and that provides opportunities for people to grow and contribute.”

When they needed a new executive director at Cambridge Neighbors, a nonprofit that helps elders age-in-place, Latorre-Stiller saw this as her own personal opportunity to grow by continuing to work on behalf of others.

“I want to keep on doing some good in the world through my work,”

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She began her work at Cambridge Neighbors just over a year ago.

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“I’ve built a good life despite some adversities and am enjoying some wonderful, loving relationships — including my dog, Manny, my two and half-year old bundle of love,” she said.

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UMass Memorial - Marlborough Hospital on frontline of pandemic President and CEO stresses hospital is well-equipped to treat non-COVID-19 patients as well

By Bonnie Adams Managing Editor

PHOTO/DAKOTA ANTELMAN

MARLBOROUGH – As the coronavirus pandemic continues to evolve, UMass Memorial Health Care as the region’s largest healthcare provider has been on the frontline, both as a testing site and for the treatment of patients who have contracted the virus.

Steven Roach, the UMass Memorial — Marlborough Hospital’s president and CEO, recently took some time to reflect on what has been a hectic and often stressful 10 weeks. He has been humbled by the commitment of his staff, the outpouring of support from the community and the way the hospital has responded, not just to victims of COVID-19 but to those requiring services for other health issues.

As the situation escalated over the past two months, so did “the influx of new information, new processes and new ways to deliver care,” Roach said.

“Our caregivers, our colleagues at UMass Memorial Health Care, our medical staff, trustees and hospital leadership have joined together to implement new policies, treatment plans, protocols, etc. as quickly as new information

Healthcare professionals wave to supporters who drove by the hospital in a parade April 24.

was being disseminated,” he said.

“The front line caregivers have handled this pandemic wonderfully,” he added. “Caregivers are all concerned and some are scared of COVID-19, but they continue to provide excellent and safe care to all patients. They remain vigilant about keeping themselves, their co-workers and their patients safe.”

Due to the cancellation of elective procedures, several staff members were

re-deployed, he noted, to work in the testing tents, screening staff and supplementing care provision in the Emergency Department and inpatient units.

Working under such stressful situations can definitely take a toll on the caregivers. But these conditions also bring moments of great unity and reflection. One such moment happened as when the first recovered COVID-19 patient was discharged after “many, many days in the ICU unit on a ventilator was a proud moment,” Roach said.

“The outpouring of support and pride that was shown as the patient was wheeled on a stretcher from the med/ surg unit to the ambulance to take him home was a heartwarming sight to see,” he said. “Caregivers from every department stood in line, clapping hands, cheering on the patient and elbow bumping him as he made his way to the door.”

“Caregivers who were not involved in his care and caregivers who were, stood side by side to bid the patient farewell,” he added. “It was a great day for all.”

Support from the community has helped to bolster the staff ’s spirits, he said, during the crisis.

“The staff at Marlborough Hospital

would like to thank our community for the gracious donations of PPE, monetary donations and food,” he said.

And when meals and goods were purchased from local businesses, that also benefited those businesses, many of which have also been adversely affected by the crisis.

As grateful as the staff is for food donations, Roach requested that future donations be “individually packaged or wrapped – as we cannot share food due to the increased risk of exposure.”

During a pandemic such as this, other conditions or illnesses, of course, do not stop. Roach stressed that the hospital was still open and ready to provide care for all patients, not just those diagnosed with COVID-19. It was imperative, he said, that if you are in pain or not feeling well, that you seek help.

“Delaying care for certain types of issues could compound the issue and increase the risk to the patient,” he said.

“While we have adjusted our hospitals to care for COVID-19 patients, we want to stress to our community that we do not want people to avoid medical care because of fear of contracting COVID-19.

“We have the ability to safely care for your medical needs.”

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Judy Norris, an in-the-trenches advocate for women

By Peg Lopata Contributing writer SOMERVILLE - Judy Norris, 81, is a Jill-of-all-trades. She’s worn many different hats these past 13 years as a more than full-time volunteer for the Cambridge Women’s Center (CWC). She’s done volunteer, financial, and program management; fundraising, including writing grant applications; staff oversight and, is currently chairperson of the board of the center. Since 1971 she has been a key player in the survival of the CWC. The work Norris does at the CWC keeps this sanctuary, an unassuming home-like building near Central Square, Cambridge, an important community support.

She explained, “At the Cambridge Women’s Center people with extremely limited resources have somewhere they can spend time, even all day into the evening, five days a week, and five hours on Saturday. Here they can feel accepted, cared about. They can get food, use computers, go to support groups, workshops—all for free.”

The CWC helps women who are dealing with hunger, homelessness, poverty, mental health issues, domestic violence, and other kinds of trauma.

“I feel we are all in it together, working to create a safe environment that is very inclusive and supportive,” Norris said. “We’re building a unique community where differences are accepted and women feel empowered and inspired to stand up for themselves and others.”

This is very satisfying work for Norris, as she noted, “I’m helping women find a little peace and stability in their tumultuous lives. It’s great to be a part of that.”

Supporting women has been a part of Norris’s life for many years that began with women meeting in the basement of a Cambridge coffee house. The meeting was run by a local feminist group, Bread and Roses.

“We shared with one another,

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Clearly, championing women and their rights is more than just armchair advocacy for Norris.Her work at the CWC demonstrates this. She has dedicated her life to supporting women by showing them they are valued. Norris knows feeling valued is most difficult for women dealing with very unstable lives.

She hopes that the work she does at the CWC will reach the larger community with the message that we need to be more respectful of women.

•7

Not surprisingly, she’s inspired by those women in our world who she believes have helped foster greater respect for women, such as Ellen DeGeneres and Whoopi Goldberg. Closer to home she’s inspired by Casey Fox, a women’s center trauma group leader. Though modest, it’s likely others are inspired by Norris herself.

“I’ve put my all into doing what I can to keep the CWC alive, helping create and sustain an inclusive, supportive environment for about 50 years,” she said.

Judy Norris

talking about our lives and then we became a conscious-raising group and met together for many months,” she said.

Consciousness-raising groups were part of the grassroots feminism movement in the 1960s and 70s. These groups were formed to help women become aware of the ways to fight oppression and become agents of their own lives.

“It was huge for me. As a new mom I was overcome with stress and insecurity about parenting. I learned in this group that we women were all going through challenges that had to do with being women,” said Norris.

Being at the forefront of the women’s movement has informed much of what Norris has done and continues to do with her own life. Norris saw that women’s opportunities were very limited when she was a young woman. For example, there were only certain types of jobs offered to women.

“I am thrilled now when I see women bus drivers, doctors, veterinarians, police officers, and letter carriers. Women can work on construction crews, be plumbers, electricians, newscasters, politicians, lawyers and more. I feel this has opened up so much for women,” she noted.

The women’s movement changed many women’s lives and affected all women, including Norris. As a women’s advocate, Norris was heartened when the U.S. Supreme Court banned sex-segre-

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New Somerville MBTA station will feature Boston painter’s artwork in glass

By Jane Keller Gordon Assistant Editor BOSTON - Geometric forms embedded in glass — balanced in position and color — will adorn the outside elevator tower of the new Ball Square MBTA Station in Somerville, expected to be completed in 2020. This is the work of Christine Vaillancourt, who usually paints on canvas, paper, and sometimes wood.

“I am excited to have been selected along with six other artists as part of the Green Line Extension Integrated Art Program for seven new stations,” she said. “This is my first large-scale public art project.”

Vaillancourt, a former art teacher, currently creates her art in a 2,300 square foot studio/living space in The Artist Building Cooperative in Fort Point, located near Boston’s Seaport District. She and her husband Frank Gilbane, a web technology analyst, have lived there since the coop was formed in 1995.

“I love it here. From our windows we can see cranes and rooftops of buildings and their mechanicals, which look like abstracted sculptural forms. These urban and industrial images influence my work,” said Vaillancourt.

For the MBTA project, Vaillancourt’s first tasked herself with selecting a color palette by photographing the shingled houses near the future Somerville station. With greens, blues, yellows, orange, gray and black, she created three 90” x 45” paintings, which will be the basis of the ele-

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vator’s design.

Over several years, Vaillancourt worked closely with General Glass International in New Jersey to manufacture these paintings in glass.

GGI’s room-size 720 DPI printer digitally jets colored ceramic frit onto the surface of the glass. The frit is then baked into the glass during the tempering process.

“Matching the colors with the glass samples has been a long process, but we finally got it,” Vaillancourt commented.

Two 3’ x 4’ glass charts with the Pantene colors still lean up against a wall in her studio.

It seems that Vaillancourt was destined to be an artist. Initially raised in a Detroit suburb, her grandfather, a graduate of Pratt Institute, was hired

by Henry Ford as head designer for the “car of the future.” Her father and uncle designed automobiles at General Motors, and later, her father designed airplanes at Stinson Aircraft.

Her aunt was an artist.

In her artist statement, Vaillancourt wrote, “The Modernist home I grew up in was filled with objects and materials that had a major impact on the direction of my art — from the patterns of our bold geometric drapes, translucent patterned Formica countertops, bulbous lamp stands, stylized wallpaper, and linoleum square-tiled floors — to Russell Wright Pottery.”

When the family moved to North Carolina when Vaillancourt was 10 her father became a contractor.

“I was hands-on with my father.

I helped him build a houseboat and a swimming pool in our backyard,” said Vaillancourt.

She graduated from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill with a degree in art education, and a minor in painting. Soon after, Vaillancourt’s parents moved to Rhode Island, and she followed.

While teaching art in Middletown, Rhode Island for 14 years, Vaillancourt remodeled houses and pursued her art. Eventually, she earned a master’s in art education with a minor in jewelry and metalsmithing design from the Rhode Island School of Design.

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O God, heavenly Father, by whose gracious will the rain falls, the earth bears fruit, and creatures are plentiful: look mercifully, we beg you, upon the suffering of your people, and grant that this time of sickness may be transformed into a time of health and abundance; for the love of Jesus Christ, who with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, now and for ever. Amen.

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Pivoting in a victory garden Pivoting isn’t plan B; it’s part of the process. ~ Jeff Goins

By Marianne Delorey, Ph.D. Executive Director, Colony Retirement Homes

T

here is an iconic episode of the TV show Friends in which Ross buys a couch and Chandler and Rachel try to help him get the couch up the stairs into his apartment. Anyone who has ever moved a couch can appreciate the humor and reality of their friend “encouragingly” suggesting they pivot to get around the corner.

This scene, although intended to be humorous, has stuck in my head as a realistic statement on how we are living our lives through this pandemic. Many of us thought (way back in March) that our need to adapt might take a week or two; none of us thought we would still be adapting to change well over two months later. And yet, restaurants may have first gone to “closed” and are reopening with a take-out model. Supply chains have been wildly disrupted. First toilet paper, then pet food, and now meat producers are struggling to distribute enough goods to satisfy demand while keeping workers safe.

In reality, our choices are few.

If we cannot acquire what we need, we can make our own, use substitute products, or do without. As Americans, most of us are not well adapted to pivoting. We are so used to having what we need as well as what we want that this is a very difficult endeavor.

Our elders have more experience.

They can better advise us how to do without as they have lived through hard times before. They have also had to sacrifice for the greater good in a way that most generations have not.

During both World Wars I and II, for instance, civilians were required to give up products and reuse and recycle items so that the front lines had what they needed. This was especially true for our food supply. Homeowners were encouraged to plant Victory Gardens to take a small amount of pressure off growers so that the army could get needed food to soldiers. It worked. About one third of the vegetables grown during the war effort came from these gardens.

This pandemic is surprising in its twists and turns. We may not need the food from Victory Gardens this

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year, but planting a garden is a safe bet. Gardening will give us exercise and fresh air, and the worst that can happen is that we plant a garden, are overwhelmed with zucchini, and have to find new friends to give them to.

And to me, one of the better outcomes of such an endeavor is that it might help build community, even when we can’t be together. Let’s take a moment to share resources. Favorite squash recipe? Best way to use a bumper crop of kale? Tips on a favorite garden tool? Best jars for canning?

Please write in. So many of us are trying to be upbeat. Gardening is a fantastic way to feel connected to the earth and each other. But for many of us, it has been a long time or we are still developing our skills and we could benefit from those with experience.

Enjoy your earth for the prizes it will give you this season and all those that remain.

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.

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Vintage car collector has followed a long and winding road

By Brett Peruzzi Contributing Writer

Bob DeSantis at the wheel of his 1971 NSU 1200C, a very rare German automobile

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SALEM - Bob DeSantis, a life-long resident of Salem and the president of the North Shore Old Car Club, bought his first car when he was just 13 years old, and about 200 vehicles later, he’s still buying and restoring vintage cars.

“The most I ever had at one time was 24. That was almost a full time job,” he said half-seriously. “Since then I’ve downsized to stay at around 10 to 12 collector vehicles, including motorcycles.”

DeSantis, 62, says that he was pretty much born to be a car guy.

“My dad owned an auto body shop as well as a spring and suspension shop, that happened to be next door to our house,” he recalled. “A lot of my childhood was spent in that shop yard playing around and not realizing what I was learning.”

“I bought my first collector car in 1974 when I was 16,” DeSantis explained. “It was a 1967 Chevrolet Camaro SS/RS convertible that I paid $400 for. It was a car I wanted since I saw one at the auto show in Boston with my father in 1966. That car still resides in my garage today, some 46 years later.”

“Presently I have that 1967 Camaro, a 1980 Chevrolet Corvette, 1961 Triumph TR3, 1976 Triumph Spitfire, 1984 Mazda RX/7, a pair of 1991 Mazda RX/7 convertibles, a 1991 Mazda Miata, a 1982 Toyota Celica GTS, a 1971 NSU 1200C that even car guys don’t know what it is, and a couple of motorcycles,” he added. “A 1987 Harley Davidson Electra Glide and a 2004 BMW K1200GT. I’m very happy with the vehicles I

have now, but you never know what might find its way into the driveway in the future. “ The North Shore Old Car Club is the oldest and largest independent antique auto club in New England, dating back to 1952. It currently has about 300 members. DeSantis noted that the age range of the members is only slightly less diverse than the age range of the cars. Cars range from the turn of the 20th century to barely 25 years old, the minimum age to qualify as an old car. Members range from their early 20s to well into their 80s.

“The old car hobby is a great hobby and passion to have,” he said.

“I have met some amazing people over the years, made close and lifelong friends because of the hobby. It’s one that spans generations and tastes.

It doesn’t matter if you’re into classics, sports cars, muscle cars, hot rods or whatever.”

“The cars are always a common ground for conversation and some good-natured teasing,” DeSantis observed. “It’s funny that now when I go to a car show or local cruise night, the cars are almost secondary. Most everyone is there to socialize with friends and look at some pretty nice automobiles too.”

DeSantis notes that the North Shore Old Car Club is very active.

During the season, which runs from spring to fall, there is usually something going on almost every weekend, including tours, picnics, technical meetings, and car shows.

“It’s not just a ‘boy’s’ club either,” he affirmed. “We have quite a few women involved, There have been

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• 13

A 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization

Bob DeSantis in his 1961 Triumph TR3 with passenger Patrick Cornelissen at the Misselwood Concours d’Elegance classic car event in Beverly.

many women officers, directors, and presidents over the years and that holds true today.”

“There is so much tradition and history associated with this organization, that it makes you feel very proud to be part of it,” said DeSantis “It’s why I’ve been a member for going on 40 years, and I’m currently in my fifth term as president since 1990.”

In addition to being an old car collector, restorer, and appraiser for many years, DeSantis was an automotive journalist for Cars & Parts magazine and wrote the Cars & Parts Price Guide back in the 1990s. He also lends his expertise to judging at old car shows.

“I’m currently one of the two

that has been passed on to my son Brad, and I’m sure it’s part of the reason we’re so close now,” he said.

“He’s probably more of a car guy than I am, and I didn’t think that was possible.”

What guidance does he have for anyone interested in collecting old cars?

“Find the budget you can be comfortable with and stick with it,” he advises. “You’ll never be happy in the hobby if you’re struggling to keep it on the road. When you decide what car you want, buy the best one you can afford. Nine times out of ten, if you buy a bargain, you will end up putting what you saved back into it and then some. It should make you

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Bob DeSantis in his 1967 Chevrolet Camaro SS/RS convertible, which he has owned for 46 years, on Route 95.

chief judges for the Misselwood Concours d’ Elegance, a classic car event held in Beverly every July at the waterfront campus of Endicott College,” he added.

DeSantis noted that collecting old cars is now a multi-generational pastime in his family. “It’s a hobby

happy every time you start the engine.”

And he offers one final bit of advice, no surprise from a long-time car club member and president.

“Join a club. It’s not only where you’ll make friends, it’s also where you’ll get the help and advice you will at some point want and need.”

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money matters

Reverse mortgages: Get the facts

By Alain Valles, CRMP, CSA, MS, MBA Nonprofit Charitable Managing Director

Are you OK? For several months I have been writing and talking about how the coronavirus is and will seriously impact the quality of life for senior homeowners. Not only the health and isolation risk but specifically the financial pressure being inflicted upon older homeowners. Most will not benefit from any economic recovery packages but instead be faced with higher food and medical costs as the country enters a recession or worse, a depression.

Reverse Mortgage

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Below are examples of why homeowners choose to obtain a reverse mortgage to achieve their housing and financial goals: • Make ends meet • Increase monthly cash flow • Pay off a current mortgage or home equity line • Consolidate high interest rate credit card debt • Pay real estate taxes and property insurance • Complete needed home repairs • Ability to pay for at home care or nursing home expenses • Divorce situations • Pay IRS obligations or legal matters

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• 15

Six Seasons of the Year

By Janice Lindsay

A

s you read this, summer might be here or almost, but my summer began on Tuesday afternoon, May 5, around 5 p.m. That’s when I saw my first hummingbird of the season.

Never mind that the weather was cold and cloudy with snow in the forecast. In my book of seasons, summer starts whenever hummers arrive.

Equinoxes and solstices may define official changes to summer, fall, winter, and spring. But we can each possess our own private inner seasons, and we can define them in any way we want.

My six seasons are summer, fall, Christmas, winter, March, and spring.

Summer: While we New En-

Inklings

glanders struggle through winter snow and ice, I imagine hummers soaking up South American sun.

They bring that warmth with them.

I am ready, even if the weather isn’t.

First, a male. Then maybe another male. Immediately they start arguing about who has rights to my feeder.

Females arrive. The fight is on. Ruby-throated hummingbirds, the only kind we have in New England, are territorial — aerial acrobats whose combative buzzing and humming fill the summer air.

Fall: When we were children, school started the day after Labor Day. For me, this is still the first day of fall. (Nobody asked me, but it’s not right to start classes in August, while we put the finishing touches on summer.) Whether starting public school, college, or adult education classes, fall offers new projects, new books, new experiences, new notebooks to fill with new ideas.

Christmas: My fall lasts until the first Sunday of Advent, the fourth Sunday before Christmas. Christmas

is its own season, with its special music, warm colors and glitter, inviting fragrances, family traditions, messages of hope. On the first Sunday of Advent, I bring out the old crèche that I bought for our first Christmas as a married couple. I add a few other decorations on each Sunday before Christmas. After Christmas, I start to put things away. By January 6, the twelfth day of Christmas, the season is over.

Winter begins on January 7. We probably already have snow, and we certainly have cold, but it has not been winter for me. I suppose that now, as I write, I should extol winter’s beauty — all that whiteness and clean, refreshing, crisp air. But frankly, I’m not in the mood. I’m too busy enjoying summer, my favorite season.

March: My fifth season. March isn’t winter and it isn’t spring. Daylight hours lengthen, but the air is too chilly for me. March is mud. March is impatience, a feeling of “enough already,” an eagerness for that first spring day when the breeze brings

no icy bite. In March, I listen for redwinged blackbirds, the first travelers to arrive from the south. (Robins often get credit for this, but they’re not reliable harbingers because some robins winter here.) But even when I hear redwings, it’s not yet my spring.

Spring starts when I hear the first spring peepers, usually around April 10. The male peepers don’t care that they lift my cold-weary spirits.

They’re just doing what they do, singing each night for a couple of weeks to attract a lady-love. But they cheer me.

My spring is short, from early April to early May. But that’s fine.

It means that summer is my longest season.

Other people probably have different seasons from mine. Our own true seasons are not defined by weather or calendar, but by something in our hearts that whispers, “Now. It’s time.”

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Volunteers at St. Anne’s Food Pantry in Shrewsbury

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Volunteers at the Northborough Food Pantry (prior to the coronavirus pandemic)

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REGION - Food is a basic necessity for survival, yet for far too many people, being able to get food for their families is a constant worry. But in this era of the coronavirus, with rampant unemployment, schools shut down and restrictions put on other social services, it is truly becoming a public health crisis.

For State Rep. Hannah Kane (R-Shrewsbury) it is has been an issue she has long been vested in – each year her annual golf tournament raises nearly $20,000 for each of the local food pantries in her district of Shrewsbury and Westborough. But Kane’s commitment to helping those in need stretches beyond her district’s borders. As such, prior to the current COVID-19 crisis, she, along with several other legislators had formed the Food System Caucus. The pandemic has accelerated their efforts to help those in need.

As stated on its website (https://

www.mafoodsystemcaucus.com), the caucus is “bicameral and bipartisan” to support and grow the local food system in the commonwealth. There are three main areas the caucus focuses on, Kane noted; food access and food insecurity, farmland, and economic development.

Impact of job losses Since the pandemic hit, there have been 966,110 job loss claims – a staggering 25.84 percent of the workforce. Many of those jobs are in what is considered “nonessential,” such as retail stores, gyms, hair salons and other non-food related businesses.

Many restaurants, who, if they chose to stay open, could only offer curbside or takeout, laid off or furloughed their employees.

“April’s unemployment data showed the highest unemployment rate since the Great Depression and the number of jobs lost in the last 10 weeks will exceed the job loss in the entire 2008-2009 recession,” Kane said.

“38 percent of Massachusetts

www.fiftyplusadvocate.com + JUNE 2020 + fiftyplus advocate residents now report experiencing food insecurity,” she added.

Services to assist those in need The federal government program Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), has seen a 360 percent increase in applications for March and April. This program (formerly known as food stamps) will likely be close to 600,000 by the end of June, up approximately 150,000 more than this time last year.

Many residents are also relying on the over 900 local food banks for food. Nearly 2.6 million (45 percent more) pounds of food were distributed in March of this year, compared to March of last year, representing more than 2.1 million meals.

But, Kane noted, many local food pantries are not seeing some seniors that normally use the food pantry services.

“This is a concern – they are of course worried about leaving their homes,” she said. “We are working on ways to get food to them.”

It’s also important, Kane said, that those in need do not feel embarrassed about asking for help.

“This is nothing to feel ashamed about – you did nothing wrong,” she added. “If you need food for your family, there are ways to get that food.”

Many children in need rely on meals they receive at school. With schools closed, administrators have had to find ways to get those meals to them, whether they are picked up at a central location or delivered.

“Current participation at 1,500 non-congregate school meals sites while schools are closed is 24 percent, which is lower than ‘normal’ school meal service participation of 65 percent, but higher than participation in the Summer Food Service Program which is generally 14 percent,” Kane said.

Additionally, with schools closed and no alternative source of childcare, it is hard for parents to get out of the house to access food resources.

Supply chain woes Stores have already started to see shortages of meat and poultry due to many processing plants closed down after coronavirus breakouts. Farmers have had to destroy their crops and dairy farms have sent millions of gallons of milk down the drain because so many schools and restaurants can no longer accept their products.

“Bulk food for the restaurant industry is not packaged and labeled for retail distribution,” Kane said.

“Farmers, fishers and small food retailers are experiencing supply chain disruptions. We need to be able to help them stay in business as well.”

Adding to the strain, Kane noted, is that food costs nearly 18 percent more than the national average in Massachusetts and 24 percent more in eastern Mass.

Help – and helping – on a local level Kane recommended that those who need food first check with their local food pantry.

“They will be able to help you immediately get food,” she said.

“Folks can also contact the Food Source Hotline to help access additional food assistance.”

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.

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For more information: Mass. Food System Caucus -

https://www.mafoodsystemcaucus. com/ Healthy Incentives Program https://www.mass.gov/service-details/healthy-incentives-programhip-for-clients Project Bread - http://www.projectbread.org/get-help/ Food Source Hotline - http:// www.projectbread.org/get-help/ foodsource-hotline.html 1-800-6458333 SNAP - http://www.gettingsnap. org/howdoiapplyforsnap.html (as well as links to school closure meal sites and summer meals for students)

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She also suggested that those who are in a position to help donate to an organization in their own community. Many pantries are requesting gift cards to local grocery stores or monetary donations, as opposed to physical food donations, due to health concerns.

“By donating to a pantry in your community, you know you will be helping a local person who truly needs it,” Kane said. “Even if it’s only $5, every bit helps.”

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your free copy of “Use Your Home to Stay at Home.” I am available to explain reverse mortgage details by phone. At no time will you ever feel any pressure to move forward. For us, it’s all about sharing factual information so that you may make a fully educated decision on what is best for your family.

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. To read more articles visit www.fiftyplusadvocate.com.

Josephine L. Veglia, Esq.

ATTORNEYS AT LAW 275 R Main Street | Oxford, MA 01540 | 508-987-3981 | Fax 508-987-1317 www.durbinandveglia.com

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Ayele Shakur

A passion for helping underserved students find entrepentrial success

By Lauren Schiffman Contributing Writer BOSTON - After graduating from Boston University, Ayele Shakur wanted to be a screenwriter. So, she moved to Los Angeles and secured some small writing jobs. But difficulties paying bills led her to another path; one on which she would spend the remainder of her career.

Shakur secured a job teaching first and second graders at the Compton Unified School District. It was also her first foray into public education, and she had only four days of training.

“It was sink or swim,” she said.

“This was LA in the ‘90s, and it was the height of gang violence.”

Shakur “saw incredible challenges based on the neighborhoods they were born into.” In addition to the traumas they experienced, the children lacked resources.

“There were no books on the bookshelves. The students didn’t know how to read or count to ten. We had to teach

the basics,” Shakur explained. “There were so many inequities.”

But, she added, “wonderful children... were coming to me with curiosity and a desire to learn.”

Though challenging, the experience was “transformational, and I got hooked on education as a great equalizer,” Shakur said.

By the end of the school year, most of her 30 students could read.

Her determination led Shakur back to Boston, where she earned her master’s degree in education from Harvard.

“I wanted to be the best I could be,” she said of her subsequent work in the Boston school system.

After interning at and subsequently purchasing Boston Tutoring Center, which she ran for 15 years, Shakur found a passion for after-school programming; she had more freedom and opportunity to establish relationships with students. But she discovered that when students reached middle school, “they started to lose their lust for edu-

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Ayele Shakur with Build students

cation. Something about the school system was demotivating.”

That’s when Shakur learned about Build, a national nonprofit that uses entrepreneurship as an engagement tool.

“I fell in love with the model and threw my heart into the ring,” she said.

In 2010, Shakur became Build’s regional Executive Director. She engaged with “really passionate” business leaders and entrepreneurs, who helped with seed funding, and together launched Build at four Boston schools. Today, Build serves 400 students at six Boston public schools.

Shakur was named CEO in 2018.

A life-changing organization for participants, Build trains mostly high school students. Across the country, 2,000 students participate.

“These are students capable of doing great things, but they need mentors in their corner, helping them open doors,” Shakur said.

She added that the students are often trapped in high-poverty, high-need areas and attend vastly underserved schools.

“It’s just so wonderful to work with them.”

The four-year entrepreneurship program begins as a school-based, teacher-led class. A year-long experience follows, during which student teams work with community-based mentors to develop business ideas and plans and pitch their ideas to investors with the objective of securing seed money to prototype their products.

Build holds “selling events,” like business expos, where students can sell their products. Secret shoppers not only purchase students’ products but also provide feedback on business pitches and product packaging, for example, all in the name of learning.

At the end of the school year, students present their business plans in a competition. With several regional chapters across the country, participants come together and compete in an annual gala, where attendees - which can include local politicians, school district leadership and area business leaders can purchase students’ products. Each

group makes their pitch on a stage.

Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary served as a judge at a past competition.

“Kids get to meet local entrepreneurs but they also get to be nationally recognized,” Shakur said.

Regardless of the competition outcome, students ultimately learn how to communicate with other business professionals and advocate for themselves.

Other program components include bringing a business to life and securing customers. Students are mentored in marketing, customer service, sales and social media. Some teams learn how to develop websites and grow their businesses through e-commerce.

By their junior year of high school, students are guided through career shadow days, internships, interview skills and resume building so they can market themselves. Shakur said that the students identify their passions so they can turn their passions into a career.

Social entrepreneurship also plays a big part in the program. Participants focus on social issues like health and wellness; homelessness; or violence and learn to use entrepreneurship to improve their neighborhoods and communities.

Build has been an undeniable success. About 98 percent of participating students graduate, which is no small feat. Because the program focuses on schools where graduation rates are typically below 50 percent, Shakur attributes the numbers to the students feeling a strong sense of themselves.

“They’re getting the mentoring and entrepreneurship mindset,” she said.

More than 95 percent of graduates get accepted to college, and about 80 percent attend a two- or four-year college, where they bring social emotional skills; communication; problem solving and collaborative skills; and self-management they learn through Build.

“These students are set up for success in school and life,” said Shakur.

How does Shakur measure Build’s success?

“Our success is that they find their passion.”

For more information visit build.org.

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