Vol. 55 | No. 9 | September 2026
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POWER DUO From Berklee to the Berkshires, Suzi Stern and George Oldziey make beautiful music together page
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Enjoy an autumn escape in the beautiful Berkshires page
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2 • fiftyplus advocate + SEPTEMBER 2026
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Healthy living starts with small steps — and AARP is here to help B y J ennifer B enson , AARP M assachusetts S tate D irector
We’ve all been there; deciding it’s time to focus or refocus on our health. It’s time to eat better, be more active or get better sleep. Once you’ve made that decision, what comes next? A big bold change to your routine? But healthy living doesn’t have to mean making dramatic changes overnight. Often, it starts with small, practical choices: moving a little more, eating well, managing stress, staying connected and making time for activities that help us feel our best. That’s why AARP offers free programs, events and online resources designed to help you build healthy habits at every age. Whether you’re looking to improve fitness, support brain health, learn new wellness strategies or care for a loved one, there are tools and information available to help.
I am a family caregiver. And I vote. Being a family caregiver is harder than ever. Too many Americans are sacrificing their income and retirement savings to care for their older loved ones. And rising prices are making things worse. That's why AARP will never stop fighting to get family caregivers the support they need. America's 63 million family caregivers are doing what's right for their families. We need to do right by them. And, we need you with us. Join us to stand up for family caregivers in the upcoming election. aarp.org/CaregiversVote
Throughout the year, AARP hosts free virtual and in-person classes covering topics such as exercise, Jennifer Benson mindfulness, nutrition, sleep and home safety. Many sessions focus on simple, realistic tips that you can put to use right away. One of our resources is a program called Staying Sharp®. It is based on a holistic, lifestyle approach to brain health that encourages users to incorporate into their daily lives activities that are associated with general wellness. This September, AARP is offering a variety of Exercise & Wellness events that can help participants improve balance, build strength, reduce stress and stay active. In Western Massachusetts, residents can also connect through local programs and events in the Berkshires that encourage learning, social connection and community engagement. Getting outdoors can be an important part of staying healthy, too. This fall, AARP members and guests can enjoy a day at New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill, where scenic walking paths, seasonal displays and beautiful gardens offer an opportunity to get moving, relax and spend time with others. Learn more at aarp.org/garden. Well-being extends beyond physical activity. Safe and comfortable homes, strong social connections and support for family caregivers all play an important role in living well as we age. AARP provides information and resources in each of these areas, helping people navigate everyday challenges and opportunities. Good health isn’t about perfection. It’s about taking small steps that add up over time. Whether you attend a wellness class, explore an online resource or spend a day outdoors, AARP can help you find practical ways to stay active, informed and connected. Learn more at aarp.org/ma. Jennifer Benson is the State Director for AARP Massachusetts. For more articles visit www.fiftyplusadvocate.com.
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‘Team Hudson’ becomes 8-Ball League Central Mass. champion: ‘We’re all good friends’ By Evan Walsh Contributing Writer HUDSON— The “clicking” and “clacking” in the Hudson Senior Center’s billiards room can be heard throughout the building. Often, curious visitors peek inside the door to catch a glimpse of the action. They’re almost always met by Will Kirkpatrick, who asks one question. “Hey, are you a pool player?” With enough people replying “yes” over the years, “Team Hudson” was formed. This year, the team became 2026 Central Massachusetts Champion, a milestone for the Hudson community. “People come in and look in the doorway. Nobody ever comes to the doorway without me asking that question,” Kirkpatrick joked. “A conversation starts, and that’s how almost everyone joins.” About 15 years ago, Hudson purchased pool tables and created the billiards room. The tables saw a lot of play, but the Senior Center team was “loosely held together,” said Kirkpatrick.
“I think something like this, it’s really a great thing for elderly guys especially,” says Will Kirkpatrick of the Hudson Senior Center’s billiards team.
The Hudson Senior Center’s billiards team has been named the 2026 Central Massachusetts Champion.
After Kirkpatrick and Co. pooled together some money with the help of Avidia Bank, the tables were resurfaced and new balls were added. The room became more popular than ever, and residents who used to travel to Northborough, Marlborough, and beyond picked up cues for Hudson.
“Now it’s very active. We’re all good friends,” said Kirkpatrick. Today, players enjoy coaching one another and talking about the game. The “younger guys” are in their seventies, and members of the group are in their nineties. The team was never bad, but it
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“never won anything.” Three years ago, it started to tie with Marlborough – then it “always fell apart in the playoffs.” This time, the team – composed of Jamie Metcalfe, Lester Connors, Will Kirkpatrick, Sylvain Desnoyers, and Mike Sarbacker – got the job done. “It was really big. We finally beat Marlborough and Framingham – the two tough teams. It was really nice. It was nice for people of this age to do something. It pumps you up,” said Kirkpatrick. “I think something like this, it’s really a great thing for elderly people – elderly guys especially.”
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Enjoy an autumn escape in the beautiful Berkshires By Sandi Barrett Contributing Writer REGION — A panorama of vibrant reds, ochre, and bright yellow create a blanket of fall color across The Berkshires, peaking early to mid-October. Crunchy leaves, apple picking, cider donuts, and dramatic scenery are perfect excuses to visit the beautiful Berkshire region this autumn. The Berkshires have something to offer year-round, but it is a special place to experience a New England fall escape. Outdoor exploration Bash Bish Falls State Park is a pretty spot for a hike. There are two entrances that take you to the falls. The Massachusetts entrance is only 0.6 miles round trip but the trek from the parking lot is downhill on a steep dirt slope with a long stretch of stone steps. The New York entrance (Taconic State Park) has a wide gravel 1.5 mile round trip path with a gradual uphill slope to the falls. Mass Audubon’s Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary offers seven miles of trails including the accessible All Persons Trail/Pikes Pond Trail that meanders through hemlocks,
deciduous woodlands, and wetlands for about one mile culminating with views of Pikes Pond and beaver habitats. Serious hikers will enjoy the Overbrook Trail to the Lenox Mountain summit, a strenuous 3.8 mile round trip adventure ascending 800 vertical feet to the summit at 2,126 feet. The reward, quintessentially autumnal panoramic views of the Catskills and Taconic mountain ranges. On Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples’ Day weekend, the “Greylock Ramble” pits hikers against the 6.5 mile, out and back Cheshire Harbor Trail up Massachusetts’s highest peak, Mount Greylock. Events across the city of Adams include the RumbleFest Street Festival, live music, artisan showcases, and more. A popular and fairly easy hiking trek is the Cascades Trail in North Adams. This family-friendly, 2.2 miles out and back trail leads to a pretty waterfall. Parking is a challenge since there is no trailhead lot. If you park near Brayton Elementary School or the YMCA follow the blue trail markers. A more leisurely outdoor adventure includes a visit to The Mount,
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The Cascades Trail in North Adams is a popular and easy hike with a big reward at the waterfall. (Photo/courtesy of 1 Berkshire)
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The Mount in Lenox, the former home of author Edith Wharton, offers beautiful gardens and outdoor art. (Photo/Sandi Barrett)
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Edith Wharton’s home and gardens. The tranquil Lenox setting is home to three distinct gardens: the Italian Walled Garden, the French Flower Garden, and the Rock Garden. There are interesting art installations scattered across the property, many on the path leading to the National Historic Landmark manor house. A home tour offers a glimpse into Wharton’s ten-year stay at The Mount. TurnPark Art Space in West Stockbridge is a former marble and limestone quarry transformed into an eclectic modern outdoor sculpture garden. The marble amphitheater hosts outdoor performances near towering, thought provoking art installations. Wine and dine Hilltop Orchards in Richmond is set on close to 200 sprawling acres of orchards, farmlands, and trails. Home to Furnace Brook Winery and Jmash Cidery they craft wines and ciders perfect for tasting sips or a glass of your favorite libation. Of course, apple picking is a seasonal favorite and their shop offers a fun array of gifts along with their tasty wine and ciders. They also offer great cider donuts. Pizzeria Boema in Lenox is home to some of the tastiest pizzas in the area. Their Neapolitan-style pies are available with traditional toppings
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along with some unique offerings. The Tartufo – truffle marinated wild mushrooms, fontina and arugula will send your taste buds soaring. Grab a table at Frankie’s Ristorante in Lenox for a trip to Italy. A wonderful spot for date night or a family gathering, you can enjoy classic Italian-American cuisine. Plates of perfectly cooked pasta coated in all your favorite sauces, it is difficult to choose just one. Where to stay In charming downtown Lenox, the Hideaway Inn offers guests a boutique hotel experience right in the downtown area. Local shops and restaurants are within walking distance and you are a short drive away from all the surrounding towns. Large spacious rooms and suites are filled with curated antiques and modern amenities. A seamless, digital check-in alerts you when your room is ready and assigns a digital key. Once you arrive, simply go to your room and type in your keypad code, so simple and efficient. A wide front porch, complete with rocking chairs, is the perfect spot to read and enjoy the fall colors. The spacious lobby opens to a library/ game room complete with morning coffee and afternoon popcorn. And the cozy sitting room feels like a warm hug.
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The book born from bad news: Shrewsbury author turns prostate cancer battle into blueprint By Evan Walsh Contributing Writer SHREWSBURY — When John Barron had a prostatectomy, he hoped the removal of his prostate – a walnut-sized gland located below the bladder – would provide the respite he needed. The procedure aimed to remove the cancer completely, allowing him to restart life as normal. Barron was told he’d have the results within five days. Within 24 hours, he received an email containing the worst news of his life. The diagnosis was Grade Group 5 (Gleason 9) prostate cancer. The cancer had extended beyond the prostate (extraprostatic extension) and had already spread to regional lymph nodes, leading to a Stage 4A classification. It was the type of news that you can never quite prepare for. “It’s a tough surgery, and you come out of it and you’re hoping it’s going to be the end of all the treatment,” Barron told the Fifty Plus Advocate. “You see those results, and realize that it’s only the beginning of the journey. It was extremely tough.” But faced with a life-threatening diagnosis, Barron chose to fight, conducting months of relentless research as he navigated a complex and confusing medical journey. Now entering his fifth year of remission, he has released a book in an effort to help men who are trying to move forward after dealing with terrible news. It’s proven to be more than a book. To some, it’s a lifeline. A glimmer of hope. “There are more than 900 people every day that are new to prostate cancer that are wondering what to do,” said Barron. “I want to tell them that the answer is out
there. I’m so happy and so proud that I put this together, and I’m excited to help others.” In the aftermath of the surgery, Barron – a 30-year Shrewsbury resident – hustled to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, a world-class research center in Boston. Restless, nervous, and uncertain, Barron found that accumulating information was one of the only things that could reassure him. He started “reading everything [he] could about prostate cancer.” His background as a healthcare executive taught him that there’s no such thing as too many opinions. Dana-Farber gave him a unique treatment path – different from what he received before. So he got a third opinion. Then a fourth. Three different nutritionists were consulted. No stone was left unturned. No citation was left unchecked. Devastation became determination. “I had to change my mindset from being sorry for myself to trying to find something to do. I spent my career trying to improve healthcare outcomes for people and studying data to do that. So, why can’t I do the same thing and treat myself like the project? I started reading all that I could, and just thousands of studies. Anything I could find,” said Barron. Throughout all the research, Barron hardly acknowledged the obvious: Google doesn’t have the cure for cancer. Some of the questions he was asking didn’t have answers yet. But when he was unsatisfied with the science, Barron relied on expertise. He found himself on the phone with a Danish urologist, trying to decipher his methodology through broken English. “Maybe there’s no strong data,
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John Barron of Shrewsbury has turned his prostate cancer battle into a book that helps other men fighting the disease. (Photo/Evan Walsh)
but there is data. Become the jury, weigh the evidence,” he said. Barron’s methods sometimes bordered on the extreme. For the last four years, he has tracked his nutritional intake, sleep habits, and exercise totals. Based on that system, he created a free online health tracker that others can use to monitor their own metrics. When he said he’d make himself the project, he meant it. And once the bulk of his treatment was over, Barron found another project: creating a book. In his search for information after his diagnosis was delivered, Barron found that reliable information was available, but unassembled. Conflicting opinions led to confusion. A half-year in, he was “carving his way to clarity.” His wife, Cheryl, read three versions of the book. After late nights and countless hours spent evaluating and corralling information, “Prostate Cancer Warrior” was completed, meant for the 1-in-8 men who will receive a diagnosis in their lifetimes. “As long as I’m doing this for myself, I might as well be doing this for other people,” Barron said. “It will help me learn it, and it will help others who come after me get the information. I wanted to write the book I wished existed when I was diagnosed.”
Barron came to realize several factors contributed to beating prostate cancer. Treatment, diet, exercise, and sleep are important, but amazingly, Barron discovered that one of the single biggest factors to recovery is inspiration – the belief that your actions can influence future outcomes. In two large, long-running population studies following more than 70,000 adults, individuals who held the “inspiration” belief lived an average of 11 to 15 percent longer. As Henry Ford said, “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.” In an effort to get the information to anyone who needs it, Barron released a free 30-page flyer that condenses his book’s most important takeaways. Friends have already reached out to him saying that, after reading the book, they’ve decided to get treatment. One man’s most painful moment is helping other men through theirs. “It feels unbelievable. Incomparable. I keep the book in my kitchen, and every once in a while I’ll just go and hold it. I can’t believe I’ve been able to have such a positive impact on people, and to be able to comfort people at a time of such vulnerability,” he said.
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Generations of kids screamed for Allan Ganz’s ice cream By Sharon Oliver Contributing Writer PEABODY — One of the most vivid memories from any child’s life, especially if you are of a particular age, is that of chasing down the neighborhood ice cream truck. Most notably, Good Humor trucks with their white-uniformed drivers selling Eskimo Pies, snow cones, and frozen sweet treats. All that aside, there was one independent ice cream truck driver who has the distinct honor of holding the Guiness World Records for having the longest career as an ice-cream distributor (male). Prior to retiring, Allan Ganz worked as an ice cream man in Peabody for 67 years from 1947 to 2014. Started at an early age Ganz began scooping the frozen dessert alongside his father at age 10 in Everett and Malden. Following a 22-month break to serve in the U.S. military, he returned home to continue helping his father sell ice cream. He once told the Salem News that his fondest memory was “just being healthy enough to make kids happy and put a smile on their face.” Customers behind those happy, smiling faces were appreciative enough
to dedicate a Fans of Allan’s Ice Cream Facebook page for their local legend. Patti Williams Bellville wrote: “They are a part of Peabody history for sure! Great memories!!” David Carne added: “My kids loved asking what kind of slush flavors he had. He always had a great way of saying…Lemon lime, tutti fruity, blue raspberry and mixed! Allan rocks!!” Patty Melanson-Brennan shared: “The very best… he knew every kid’s name…” Long days in summer Ganz himself estimated he knew 90 percent of his customers by name. He even opened “credit” accounts for parents, allowing them to give him a certain amount of money and permitting their children repeat visits until that credit ran out. The king of cool purchased his own truck in 1977, relocated to Peabody, stocked his truck with ice cream twice a week and sold it to students after they were dismissed for the day from school. His typical season ran from April to October. During the summers, he would hit the road at 11:00 a.m. and operate his route until 8:30 p.m., selling not only ice cream but gum balls and
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water pistols. His own father, known as “The Jolly Man,” was a popular ice cream man who sold ice cream until the age of 86. According to an interview on North Country Public Radio, Ganz, aka ‘Jolly Jr.” said, “In those days, ice cream was a nickel and a dime, and the ice cream trucks was just pickup trucks, and they had chests built on the back kept cold by dry ice. I got my license three days after I was 16.” After receiving his driver’s license, Allan Ganz worked as an ice cream man his dad told him he was taking the in Peabody for 67 years, earning himself day off and that he should take a place in the Guiness World Records for being the man with the longest career as over the route. an ice-cream distributor. He added that he met his wife Rosalyn while selling ice cream. Ganz recalled how she and her friends him. He stayed out of their hair, and would flock to his truck while he would they stayed out of his. However, on one kibitz for a few minutes before movparticular day, he spotted two of those ing on. As someone whose popularity trucks on his route. So, Ganz asked his landed him a place in Guiness World “spies” if they had seen the other trucks Records and numerous profiles in local around to which the two kids replied, media, Ganz also made appearances on “no.” The Food Network. Ganz told them if they did, tell the others they want Allan’s ice cream. AdNot bothered by competition vice that was likely not necessary. As At one point, there were about six other one customer proclaimed, Allan Ganz independent ice cream trucks working has been a part of their family for three in Peabody. Ganz stressed at the time generations and will forever be “The Ice that the competition did not bother Cream Man.”
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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. www.fiftyplusadvocate.com Serving the fifty-plus community since 1975
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Planning a joyful senior journey How Alder helps clients navigate all stages of aging By Micky Baca Contributing Writer REGION — As a society, we struggle collectively with preparing for the later stages of life, says Kate Granigan, CEO and Chief Engagement Officer at Alder, an aging care consulting firm, in Newton, MA. All too often, families of aging parents and
Kate Granigan, CEO and Chief Engagement Officer at Alder, an aging care consulting firm.
seniors themselves don’t reach out for help until they are facing a crisis and struggling to cope, and by then the options have narrowed.
Adult children living across the country, who think mom and dad are doing fine, come home for Thanksgiving to find they are not managing to keep up their home, bills, or healthcare. Mom falls and breaks her hip. Dad suddenly can’t remember how to do basic tasks. The family is now scrambling to decide what to do. Granigan says it doesn’t have to be that way. Families can plan ahead for what can, and should be, a joyful period of life. In fact, Alder has been helping families and seniors analyze and plan for their aging needs for 33 years. They have helped more than 5,000 families make good choices. “The goal is aging by choice, not by default,” Granigan says. Serving Greater Boston and beyond, Alder has a staff of 33 certified and highly experienced social workers, occupational therapists, and nurses that offer professional services to help clients plan for and navigate all stages of aging. Starting with assessing a client’s unique needs, Alder’s life care managers can assist families in analyzing their se-
nior’s current situation, exploring short and long-term options, and creating a life care management plan. From evaluating assisted living and nursing home choices, to looking at in-home care and aging in place, Alder provides objective information and recommendations. They help clients with things like medical and insurance decisions, locating trusted professionals to assist with financial planning, and ensuring legal documents reflect their goals. Alder looks at the whole person, their home environment, and support system. Care managers interview the senior client as well as family to learn their priorities and interests. Life care managers also help resolve family conflict, which is one of the biggest challenges in dealing with decisions for an aging family member. Families are often overwhelmed and don’t know where to start, Granigan says. Talking to parents about their needs can be difficult, as many seniors feel they don’t need help. Alder can be a mediator, and seniors often view their recommendations more positively
without the emotions heightened by family dynamics. Alder also helps families respond to emergencies, whether or not they have planned ahead. If a fall or crisis occurs for clients they have worked with, Granigan says, Alder can step right back in again. Emergency events are also a main reason why families choose to begin a relationship with Alder. While proactive planning will always increase the options available, Alder will readily tackle any urgent needs to ensure the older adult is advocated for and has what they need to move forward. Alder is a private pay service not covered by insurance, which Granigan explains gives them the freedom to be truly objective, with no ties to defined programs, and no referral fees. Their recommendations for providers, like assisted living, long-term care, and home services, are clinically based and grounded in professional knowledge and experience, she says. Alder’s own services are provided on an hourly basis, with no long-term contracts, so customers can use them as needed. “People are spending money to
Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. ~ Luke 6: 37 - 38 By a curious law, if you give joy, you get joy back. Tomorrow, when you leave your home, say to the first person you can find to talk to, “How are you? Nice to see you.” Go on spreading joy all day, and you will go home at night with such a deposit of joy in your life as you never had before.
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www.fiftyplusadvocate.com + SEPTEMBER 2026 + fiftyplus advocate • 9 age,” Granigan points out. “But we may be able to ultimately save you money. Part of our assessment is helping clients understand what to plan for, what the associated costs may be, and whether insurance or other resources can help cover it.” In fact, for those with limited funds, there may be an even bigger incentive to have a consultant assess their life care management options, Granigan says. “If you have limited funds, you better get it right.” Mistakes like choosing the wrong living facility and having to reverse course can be extremely expensive. Each client is assigned a life care manager who works with them hands on. They coordinate other providers where needed, such as contractors for aging in place, renovations, or in-home help. They can also attend medical appointments as needed. A lot of families continue to work with their Alder care manager for years—some for as long as a decade—as needs arise. Granigan has been working to change peoples’ perceptions and approach to aging through education, seminars, podcasts, and national awareness campaigns for many years. She is a member and past president of the Aging Life Care Association, the nation’s largest professional organization for life care
managers. Having worked in geriatric care for more than 30 years, Granigan says she considers it more of a calling than a job. Her overall message to seniors, and everyone really, is to start early thinking about and having conversations around aging. Managing aging should be considered just as regular medical care, financial planning, or estate planning are. “We are trying to stay young,” she says. “We don’t want to face our own aging. And by facing our parents’ aging, we are actually facing our own mortality too. I think that aging has become a taboo topic, and I think that is a shame.” Since people are living longer, Granigan notes, our senior years are really a huge part of our lives, often as long as middle age and young adulthood. By avoiding planning for your aging needs, she says, you are setting yourself up for a less-thanideal journey. “Why not create a journey that is made up of things that will let you have a joyful aging experience,” she asks. “Aging can be wonderful.” Alder offers a free half-hour phone consultation to get started. “Whether it’s for yourself or for a loved one, there’s no risk in picking up the phone and having a conversation,” Granigan says.
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Power Duo
From Berklee to the Berkshires, Suzi Stern and George Oldziey make beautiful music together By Matt Robinson Contributing Writer REGION — From the Berklee College of Music in Boston to Tanglewood in the Berkshires, Massachusetts is one of the most wide-ranging musical realms in the world. Holding it down at both ends is a dynamic married couple, Berklee professor George Oldziey and singer/songwriter/producer/event operator Suzi Stern. Child of musicians Though she was raised by professional musicians, Stern says that she was not inclined to go into music as a child. In fact, as so many children do, she wanted to find her own path in life and eschew those taken by her parents. “I didn’t even think going into a career in music made sense,” she explained, “because that’s what my parents did.” Though music was not her first medium, Stern’s creative proclivities could not be denied, and she became a student of dance and visual art.
“I feel really fortunate that I was raised in a family that valued art,” she maintained, thanking her parents for giving into her “whims” to study “whatever my current passions were.” “I was a lucky child!” she attested. Starting out in New York, Stern eventually found her way to Texas, where the long-latent music bug finally struck. “I heard an incredible band playing contemporary jazz at Symphony Square,” Stern recalled, “and I knew that was my future!’ After years of diligent study and connecting with such jazz legends as Joe Henderson, Joshua Redman, and Denny Zeitlin, Stern began to write lyrics for other artists and then to spread her own musical wings as a performer. A trumpeter from an early age Another local legend that she met in Austin was Oldziey. “I hired George to play in some of my ensembles in the early ’80s,” Stern explained. “So we had a long-standing working relationship and a solid friendship for many years before we
Musicians Suzi Stern and George Oldziey met in Austin, Texas in the 1980s when she hired him to play in one of her jazz ensembles.
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www.fiftyplusadvocate.com + SEPTEMBER 2026 + fiftyplus advocate • 11 to do with bringing the festival to Massachusetts, Oldziey has contributed as a performer and a mover. “George and I donated a beautiful concert grand piano to the space,” Stern said, citing such scheduled stars as jazz violinist Sara Caswell, trumpeter Sumer Camargo, Mary Ann McSweeney and her Urban Fado band, and pianist Dena
Trumpet and piano player George Oldziey is also a composer who has scored documentaries for the Discovery and History channels and popular video games.
got married.” Though he studied trumpet at the Manhattan School of Music, Oldziey also went through a few instrumental changes in his earlier days. “I first got into music …at the age of eight…when I was given the option of playing the accordion,” he recalled, “which I did not really care for.” Fortunately, he would find his preferred means of expression soon thereafter. “At the age of ten,” he continued, “I picked up a trumpet [and] fell in love with it…. I never really thought about doing anything else!” After graduating from the Manhattan School of Music, Oldziey also studied piano and garnered a master’s degree in composition. In addition to working with famed film director Robert Rodriguez, Oldziey has also scored documentaries for the Discovery and History channels and some of the most popular video game titles around as a member of the talented team at Electronic Arts. Like Stern, says he was first intrigued by his family’s tastes in music. “My initial inspirations came from listening to my father’s record collection,” he explains, citing such diverse genres as big band, jazz, classical, and the “popular music” of the day. As a trumpeter, Oldziey was enthralled by such legends as Herb Alpert, Rafael Méndez, Maynard Ferguson, and Doc Severinsen. Compositionally, he leaned toward the likes of Béla Bartók, Richard Strauss, and other late Romantic and early twentieth-century masters. Among his favorite contemporary artists is his long-time partner (professionally and personally) Stern. A fortunate meeting “I moved to Austin, from New York City in 1980, and met Suzi a few years later,” Oldziey recalls when asked about how
“I didn't even think going into a career in music made sense,” says vocalist, voice teacher, and songwriter Suzi Stern, “because that's what my parents did.”
they first met. “I had started playing piano by that point, and Suzi hired me to play with her…from time to time. We stayed in touch and remained friends. Later…we fell in love. We are still together after eighteen years of marriage!” When asked what (in addition to her musical talent) drew him to Stern, Oldziey said, “I have always admired Suzi’s gifts as both a vocalist and a vocal instructor, but it was her humanity, empathy, and sense of humor that were, of course, the driving factors.” In 2016, the couple moved to Pasadena, California, where Stern became a sought-after vocal coach and Oldziey a composer. When he was hired by Berklee to teach film scoring, they moved to Massachusetts and have been crisscrossing the Bay State for gigs and projects ever since. Among the most impactful projects the couple has collaborated on is one that Stern had worked on with another performance partner in New York. Women-led musical festival “LuluFest was created by my friend and colleague Peggy Stern about 20 years ago in Kingston, New York,” Stern said of the women-led musical festival (https:// lulu-fest.com/). She was granted permission to bring it to the Berkshires and it will take place on September 19 at its new home at the Meeting House in Lenox. Though he admits that he had little
DeRose, who is flying in from Austria to participate. “Peggy Stern will be playing with her ensemble,” Stern added, “and I will be leading my quintet, so it’s a beautiful lineup.” When asked what keeps her in the musical game and what she hopes to bring to her latest home with her talent and her tenacity, Stern replied, “I hope that we can make a difference in the jazz scene in the Berkshires and shine a light on women as leaders in an historically male-dominated field. I believe that’s finally changing, and that’s exciting!” Mutual support and appreciation Though LuLuFest focuses on female performers, Oldziey is glad and grateful that he still gets to perform with and support his musical life partner. “It has been quite wonderful being part of a creative couple,” he assessed. “Even though we sometimes move in very different creative directions, we also have many areas where our creative lives overlap, whether that means Suzi working with my Latin band or me playing piano and arranging some of her music for her.” “Having a partner that understands me musically is a blessing,” Stern agreed. “I feel like we push each other in the best ways possible. We both know for a fact that this is a very special and wonderful connection that we share!”
12 • fiftyplus advocate + SEPTEMBER 2026
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88-year-old Westborough pickleball coach is trailblazer for women’s sports By Diane Gay Ridley Contributing Writer
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al scouts. Though recruited to play professional softball, Bishop chose higher education instead, heading to Wheaton College (Illinois). There, she captained the basketball and field hockey teams, played No. 2 singles in tennis, and led the basketball team. These historic achievements culminated in 2008 with her induction into the Wheaton College Hall of Fame. Bishop later translated that elite athletic drive into a 36-year career as a physical education teacher, inspiring students at Doherty Memorial High School and South Community High School. As a coach, she led high school teams across six different sports, guiding the Doherty girls’ tennis team to nine district titles. Bishop also served as a basketball official for 32 years and broke ground as the president of the Central Massachusetts Board of Women Officials. Under Bishop’s watch, the Westborough pickleball program has grown into more than just a sports clinic: It has become a vital social hub for the town’s older adults, fueled by the passion of a woman who spent her life proving that sports belong to everyone.
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WESTBOROUGH — By 8 a.m. every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning, dozens of local players aged 55 and older have already gathered, paddles in hand, ready for the morning’s drop-in program at the Nelson Ball Pickleball Courts at Lake Chauncy. At the center stands Carol Bishop, Westborough’s dedicated pickleball coordinator. Bishop is the friendly face who greets each participant by name as they arrive. But to those who play under her guidance, she’s the tactical engine that makes Westborough pickleball thrive. Before the clock strikes 11 a.m., Bishop will have mixed and matched dozens of players into balanced teams of four. After each match, she rotates the groups so everyone plays multiple games with different teammates each time. Bishop’s success on the courts is no accident: It’s the culmination of a lifetime spent breaking barriers and coaching athletics. Long before pickleball became a national phenomenon, Bishop was a feisty teenager fighting for the chance
playing with neighborhood boys. Determined not to let anything keep her off the court, she would diligently complete her homework, then quietly crawl out of the bathroom window to slip away and play ball — all without her mother finding out. At the time, the landscape for female athletes was virtually nonexistent. There were no organized girls’ teams or opportunities for competitive play. Rather than accepting the status quo, Bishop became a trailblazer. She personally organized the first girls’ basketball teams at her junior and senior Carol Bishop, Westborough’s 88-yearhigh schools — where she old pickleball coordinator, has been a averaged an astonishing competitive athlete since junior high school, 40 points per game. She and spent her professional career as a eventually dominated the physical education teacher. Chicago Parks District and AAU circuits, capturing city-wide to play basketball like the boys championships in softball and voldid. Growing up in Chicago in the leyball. 1950s, when organized girls’ teams Her athletic prowess quickly did not exist, she honed her skills caught the attention of profession-
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www.fiftyplusadvocate.com + SEPTEMBER 2026 + fiftyplus advocate • 13
Questions still remain surrounding the death of Hollywood actress Thelma Todd
By Marianne Lyons Delorey, Ph.D.
By Sharon Oliver Contributing Writer
“We become what we behold. We shape our tools, and thereafter our tools shape us.” – Marshall McLuhan
LAWRENCE — One of Hollywood’s biggest rising stars of the 1920s and 1930s was Lawrence’s very own Thelma Todd. She was also the center of one of Tinseltown’s most perplexing mysteries and her death gripped headlines across the nation. Was Todd’s demise on December 16, 1935, at age 29 an accident, suicide or a mob-related homicide? Beauty pageant start Often referred to as “The Ice Cream Blonde” or “Hot Toddy,” Thelma Alice Todd was born in 1906 in Lawrence to John and Alice Todd. After graduating from high school in 1923, she enrolled at the Lowell Normal School (now University of Massachusetts, Lowell) with early ambitions of becoming a schoolteacher. As a student, she earned money modeling. Her career goals changed after her mother’s urging to enter beauty pageants. Todd was crowned 1925 Miss Lawrence and Miss Massachusetts at the state Elks convention in Swampscott that same year. Todd eventually caught the attention of Hollywood talent scouts who recommended her for the Paramount School for Junior Stars. The girl from New England once shared with a newspaper how Hollywood took some getting used to. “At first when I was making a picture and men hailed me as sweetheart or honey or came up and put an arm around me when they wanted to tell me something, I was insulted. We don’t take familiarities from men in New England. They were just being friendly. Now I appreciate that fact.” Did that miscalculation cost the actress her life? Brief marriage Todd was briefly married to Pasquale “Pat” DiCicco, future husband of Gloria Vanderbilt, movie producer, agent, “Hollywood Glamour Boy” and alleged associate of mobster Lucky Luciano. He and Todd reportedly had an unstable two-year marriage that frequently erupted in drunken brawls, one of which resulted in a broken nose for him and an emergency appendectomy for her. The “Horse Feathers” movie star, along with co-owner and paramour Roland West, opened Thelma Todd’s Sidewalk Café in Malibu. One of Todd’s other rumored lovers was said to be Lucky Luciano who allegedly pressured Todd into allowing him to use the third floor of her supper club for a casino. It was al-
Artificial intelligence and building design The year is 2040. I am now living in a retirement community. Technology has advanced so much that the building’s computer system tracks everything I do. I wake up in the morning; the computer notes the time and the quality of my sleep. I go to the bathroom and my output is measured. I walk down to the dining room for breakfast and the sensors log my input – how much liquid and how many calories. Estimates are taken for the level of each macronutrient and micronutrient.
Lawrence native and Hollywood actress Thelma Todd was a rising movie star when she died under mysterious circumstances in Malibu, California in 1935.
leged that he abused her as well. On December 14, 1935, Todd attended a party hosted by Stanley Lupino and his 17-year-old daughter, actress Ida Lupino. Her mood changed once she saw her ex-husband. A chair had been reserved for DiCicco at Todd’s table, but he and his date sat somewhere else. Ida Lupino later said DiCicco asked to be invited and seated next to Todd. West and Todd lived in separate apartments above the café. He asked Todd to be back by 2.00 a.m. Sunday morning. When he went to bed at 2:30 a.m., the Hollywood starlet had not yet returned to her home so he locked the doors. Mysterious death The following Monday, Todd’s maid found her body inside her chocolate-colored 1934 Lincoln Phaeton convertible, which was parked inside the garage of a home located approximately a block away from the café and belonging to West’s wife. During an investigation, claims like staff stating Todd was beaten by an unnamed man days before her or being seen riding in her car hours after estimated time of death, her death was ruled as accidental due to carbon monoxide poisoning. Did she stay in the car to keep warm after being locked out from entrance to her home? Reportedly, the car engine was not running and there was still fuel in the tank when her body was found. Thelma Todd’s memorial service in Los Angeles drew large crowds. After her mother’s death in 1969, Todd’s ashes were placed in her mother’s casket and buried in Bellevue Cemetery in Lawrence. Circumstances surrounding her death remains a mystery to this day.
After breakfast, the sensors measure my steps and my whereabouts. Late morning, a nurse approaches and inquires about my well-being. I say I feel off but am not sure why. The nurse notes that the building computer flagged me since I did not sleep well and my water intake was very low. I am sent for testing and sure enough, I have a urinary tract infection. I get the appropriate medications before I even knew what was going on. Although this seems futuristic, we already wear bracelets and rings that track our sleep, take our blood pressure, and pulse, and wear sensors that monitor our blood sugar. The major difference in this scenario is that the equipment is built into the design of the building. I am sure that several readers are instantly repulsed by the thought of a building that is tracking their every move, but I will remind you that all tools require some level of adaptation, and AI (artificial intelligence) is no different. The first human to use a sharp piece of metal to cut a log could not have foreseen the number of people who cut themselves and would have recoiled in horror that their beloved tool could be used to kill someone. But the tool is seldom the problem. The problem lies in how people use it and regulate it. Most people who are worried about being tracked are probably relieved if there are guard rails in place like asking permission for the building sensors to track the data. My colleagues and I recently attended a conference on AI and its use in the senior housing industry. There were moments of excitement – AI can quickly synthesize so much data, and use cases are everywhere. But there were moments of dread. My youngest colleague in particular felt like we were already so far behind and there was so much work to be done. I reminded him that we did not have to do everything today. Some work might wait, and some work may stay undone until further generations decide to try something new. He pushed back because he is in the younger generation, but I noted, every new generation brings new ideas and ways to develop a tool to suit the needs better. It is okay to wait for some of this. The sharpened metal that was used to cut logs? Recent generations developed pretty good guards to protect the fingers of people using it. Some even have sensors now that shut the saw off if something is in the way. Our generation has already solved some problems from the past, and our children and grandchildren will have ideas and skills we will need to adapt to AI further. We are all standing on the shoulders of giants, one generation on top of the other.
Marianne Lyons 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.
14 • fiftyplus advocate + SEPTEMBER 2026
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viewpoint
Cranky Consumer Lady does not give up By Janice Lindsay Contributing Writer
C
ranky Consumer Lady was not happy. Cranky Consumer Lady (CCLady) plays the ukulele. This makes her happy. When she plays her ukulele, she plays standing up, and she uses a music stand to hold her music. This does not make her unhappy. But that music stand! When she practices with her ukulele group, she needs a collapsable stand that she can easily carry to their meeting place. The collapsable music stand is not supposed to collapse of its own volition. CCLady invested in a sturdy, collapsable stand. Its bottom rod holds the three feet (“tripod”), the top rod holds the tray, and a middle rod, the “connecting rod,” connects the two together. For storage and transport, the tray comes off. The top rod collapses into the connecting rod, the connecting rod collapses into the bottom rod, and the bottom rod collapses into the tripod assembly which folds closed. To use it, you un-collapse everything and place the tray on top. To adjust it all for the correct height, each rod has a metal bolt with a plastic handle. Once the rod
is in place, you tighten the bolt. Inside the rod, a teeny tiny nut holds the bolt in place. Great. Until one day at practice, CCLady stood by, watching helplessly, as the top rod of her music stand, quietly and without warning, slowly collapsed into the connecting rod. To read the music, she would have had to kneel on the floor, or shrink until she was three feet tall. At home, CCLady disassembled the whole thing, and experimented. It seemed the metal bolts could wear down the teeny tiny nuts (TTnuts) that held them in place, so the TTnuts could no longer hold. The manufacturer’s instruction booklet states clearly: “If you need help with your product, please contact us.” So CCLady sent them an email. She explained the problem, asking for replacement nuts and perhaps a bolt or two just in case. Answer: “We’re so sorry for the unsatisfied purchase. We don’t have replacement nuts for this product, but we’d like to solve the problem, so need a picture of the problem products to sets a case for you. So, could you kindly send us the picture to help us avoid the same situations and pleases don’t worry we will give you the best solution. Any situations, please contact us firstly, we believe that good communications will solve the problem...Have a
nice day!” CCLady was not having a nice day. She sent two photos of two TTnuts, one that looked worn and one that looked unworn, shown front and back. These nuts are so tiny, CCLady could put one on the fingernail of her little finger, and nail would show all around the nut. The response to the photos was quick: “…after multiple confirmations, we currently do not have this accessory available for reshipment. Perhaps you can search for alternative accessories in the market.” So much for good communications solving the problem. At least they didn’t tell CCLady to have a nice day; maybe they had guessed that she wouldn’t. She did not give up. It took a while, but eventually she conjectured: “Maybe they have TTnuts at the hardware store.” She took the offending teeny tiny nut to the hardware store. A helpful but bored gentleman found the right size and she bought a bunch. Cranky Consumer Lady believes that anyone who designs a product should be required to use it heavily for a year before marketing it, to work out the kinks. She should not have to keep returning to the hardware store for teeny tiny nuts. It makes her cranky. Contact jlindsay@tidewater.net.
SUPER CROSSWORD PUZZLE
TOOTIN’ MAD Answers on page 18
www.fiftyplusadvocate.com + SEPTEMBER 2026 + fiftyplus advocate • 15
Lincoln Park in Dartmouth is still celebrated nearly 40 years after closing By Colin McCandless Contributing Writer DARTMOUTH — A popular amusement park destination from the 1920s up through the mid-1980s, Lincoln Park in Dartmouth created fond childhood memories for generations of kids. But it also endured more than its fair share of calamities and tragedies.
Ride, which he announced he will be preserving for posterity through a restoration project. The page features hundreds of comments under photos of park rides, signs and memorabilia, illustrating the extent to which people still cherish this place nearly 40 years after it closed, and how eager they are to reminisce
years until attendance dropped as bigger theme parks diverted crowds away, and the owners began grappling with tax debts. The iconic amusement park maintained its appeal into the 1980s, as illustrated in an August 1982 video of Lincoln Park posted to YouTube showing kids enjoying contemporary arcade
knife at the perpetrator, who then shot and killed Santos with a stolen shotgun. A second fire occurred in May 1982, when a person deliberately set aflame the paper mâché wall coverings among the monster displays in the Monster Ride. In June 1983, the avalanche of dire incidents continued as large painted backdrops on the Himalaya Ride fell on
Started as municipal park Lincoln Park originally started out in 1894 as a municipal park along a trolley line between Fall River and New Bedford with picnic tables, barbeque grills, and a playground where families gathered. In the 1920s it transitioned into an amusement park that would ultimately include a rickety wooden roller coaster called the Comet, merrygo-rounds, dodgems (bumper cars), midway games and a Ferris wheel, tilta-whirl, fun house, roller rink and penThe wooden roller coaster the Comet was one of the main attractions at The Lincoln Park roller coaster ny arcade. Lincoln Park in Dartmouth, which closed in 1987. (Photo/ArtInRuins.com) in 2011 after a series of fires had According to the ravaged the long-closed amusement website artinruins. park. (Photo/Wikimedia Commons) com, it also featured a ballroom that stayed the riders, injuring six teenagers. open year-round. It Another tragic park-related fatalhosted dances and welity occurred in August 1986 when an comed performers such electrician named Michael West fell 55 as the Three Stoogfeet to his death while working on the es and singer Connie roller coaster. Francis, as well as politicians including John Lincoln Park closed for good in F. Kennedy and George 1987. Some of its rides were auctioned The Residences at Lincoln Park, Wallace. A video shared off, such as the carousel, with its charcomplete with a roller coaster to YouTube entitled iots and hand-carved horses. It is now The Clambake Pavilion served clam cakes that former on the community’s logo, is an “Memories of Lincoln located at the Fall River waterfront patrons of Lincoln Park still rave about today on the apartment complex that was Park” interviewed foroverlooking Battleship Cove. The city amusement park’s commemorative Facebook group. developed on the site of the mer park patrons who celebrated a revamped version of the (Photo/ArtInRuins.com) former amusement park. recalled seeing pop Fall River Carousel with a grand openmusic idols of the day ing last year over Memorial Day weeklike Bill Haley & His Comets and Frankend. It’s been entertaining new genergames like Pac-Man and Asteroids and with others about their childhood ie Avalon play shows there in the 1950s ations of youngsters here for 34 years. playing Skee-Ball. As it pans out to the experiences there. and 1960s. Additionally, the Ferris wheel was grounds, children laugh and shriek Not only did Lincoln Park provide moved to the New Bedford waterfront with joy as they whirl and zip around John Collins & Associates bought endless sources of kids’ entertainment, where it still resides today. on various thrilling rides. Lincoln Park in 1941 for $40,000. The but the admission price was affordable group invested in upgrades and imHowever, there are some macabre even for big families. To these folks, it provements, installing a 14-lane bowlchapters in its history, especially torepresented more than just an amuseDestruction and redevelopment ing alley, updating the existing dance wards the twilight of its existence. ment park, it comprised some of their Yet 1987 didn’t mark the end of disashall and adding further amusement happiest early memories and made a ters wreaking havoc on what at this According to a 2012 article pubpark rides. lasting impression. point was beginning to seem like a lished in Wicked Local, in 1975 the While the Comet roller coaster cursed site. Successive arsonist fires Westport Board of Health ordered LinMultiple commenters enthusitypically served as the main attraction in 1991 and 1993 devastated first the coln Park to upgrade its waste treatastically divulged that their parents over the years, guests also raved about ballroom and seven other buildings, ment facilities, after discovering it was first met at Lincoln Park, whether at the Monster Ride (originally known and later the pavilion and some food discharging some of its waste into a the roller rink, the bowling alley or the as the Mystery Ride), a two-story dark concessions. Another conflagration brook that fed into the Westport River. ballroom. Additionally, scores of videos ride with paper mâché creatures. Many damaged part of the Comet. By 1997, a Then came the fires and fatalities. exist online that memorialize different folks enjoyed the Round Up as well, total of five fires had ravaged more than rides in the park or depict photo monAn intentionally set fire destroyed though it had a reputation for inducing 90 percent of the buildings at Lincoln tages of the grounds over the years. two buildings in the park in 1978. nausea among those prone to motion Park. Wicked Local recounted: “It took 60 Of course, part of the nostalgia of sickness. Its structures lay in ruin and defirefighters and 10 engines from Dartany amusement park is the food, and cay until finally being removed in 2012, mouth and Westport to bring the blaze the clam cakes once served at Lincoln which included the demolition of the under control.” Park’s Clambake Pavilion are celebratMemories live on beloved Comet. The land was redeveled by many former parkgoers as a deA member of the Lincoln Park DartThe publication further related oped for housing and is currently the lectable item they still crave to this day. mouth Facebook group, which comhow on March 6, 1982, night watchsite of the Residences at Lincoln Park, memorates the park through photos man Raymond C. Santos was murdered a mixed income residential communiand recollections, posted a picture of at the park after refusing to give an inDecline and disasters ty. In a nod to its predecessor, a roller the original monster from the Monster truder the keys to its safe. He threw a Lincoln Park survived for more than 60 coaster adorns the community’s logo.
16 • fiftyplus advocate + SEPTEMBER 2026
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The Chateau de Ville was a glitzy entertainment destination for two decades By Michael Perna Jr. Contributing Writer FRAMINGHAM — A trip down “Memory Lane” for people who lived in Massachusetts during the 1970s and 1980s would almost certainly include going to (or at least hearing about) the Chateau de Ville. The Chateau de Ville, when its first location opened in Framingham in 1971, was billed as a musical and dinner theater – a growing trend at the time that quickly spread throughout the United States. The Framingham venue is remembered today as having set “the gold standard” for being the most “elegant and elaborate” of approximately fifty similar operations that came to exist across the country. Founded by Medford native The founder of the Chateau de Ville was Mario Ciroli, the son of Italian immigrants, who had grown up in Medford. Ciroli had started out in business at an early age, opening what was called Ciro’s Studio in Dorchester. He went on to open a popular function facility in Stoneham called the Montvale Plaza. Montvale Plaza hosted weddings, dances, proms, and a number of musical acts. In 1971, he opened what would become the first of five Chateau de Villes, with three being in Massachusetts and one each in Rhode Island and Connecticut. The chain had a thirteen-year existence, from 1971 to 1984. For the first half of their existence, the Chateau de Villes featured musicals, using advertisements stating, “See Live Las Vegas & Broadway Shows for Less than the Cost of a Movie!” During the second half, pop and jazz music was more popular.
Famous musical acts The list of performers that appeared at the Chateau de Ville theaters was both iconic and amazing. Musical acts included The Beach Boys, Donna Summer, Harry Chapin, The Commodores, Johnny Cash, Wayne Newton, The Village People, Whit-
The Chateau de Ville’s first location opened on Route 9 in Framingham in 1971. ney Houston, and Laura Branigan. In addition, many of the most famous comedians appeared there, with the list including Rodney Dangerfield, Mickey Rooney, Phyllis Diller, Don Rickles, Johnny Carson, David Brenner, and Joey Bishop. On opening night of the Framingham location on July 13, 1971, the Broadway play “Under the Yum Yum Tree,” featuring Tab Hunter was presented in the venue’s 675seat Regency Room. The event was
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The Village People was one of the many famous musical acts that appeared at The Chateau de Ville in Framingham during the 1970s and 1980s.
the ladies were attired in everything from evening gowns to “hot pants” suits.” The story then explained that the Chateau “contains
a grand setting for the theatre, and the chandeliers in the Regency Room are strung with enough crystal to keep the entire Swiss watch industry in operation for a couple of years.” Additional locations The Chateau’s location in Framingham was ideally situated to allow easy access to patrons from both the Boston and Worcester areas, being almost exactly the same distance from both cities. The venture proved to be an enormous success – within a few months, new locations were opened in both Saugus and Randolph and one in Warwick, Rhode Island. A fifth location was opened in East Windsor, Connecticut in 1974. The list of famous performers that appeared at the Chateau de Ville goes on and on: Tom Jones, The Spinners, Liza Minelli, The Temptations, Englebert Humperdink, Neil Sedaka, Jerry Lee Lewis, Wayne Newton, Johnny Cash, and Sha Na Na all appeared there. Changing tastes Although the Chateau de Villes were immensely popular in the 1970s, the times, as the old saying goes, “were a’changing” – by the early 1980s, changing tastes in entertainment, along with increasing property values resulted in all five locations closing down. The original location, on Route 9 in Framingham, was converted to retail use, and is currently occupied by the Cabot House Furniture & Design store. The Chateau de Ville – once the “place to go” is now nothing more than a fading, yet still exciting memory to many people in Massachusetts and beyond.
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www.fiftyplusadvocate.com + SEPTEMBER 2026 + fiftyplus advocate • 17
Worcester once had a wide selection of movie theaters to choose from Loew’s Poli was a popular Worcester movie theater during the mid20th century heyday of bigscreen films.
By Michael Perna Jr. Contributing Writer WORCESTER — The history of theaters in Worcester goes back to the year 1857, when a playhouse (no movies had been invented yet) called Piper’s Worcester Theatre was opened on Front Street, across the street from Worcester City Hall. The venue went by a number of names over the years, including the Athenaeum, the Musee, the Front Street Opera House, and the Park. Unfortunately, the event that marked Piper’s story in history took place in 1863, when Shakespeare’s King Richard the Third was performed there. The leading actor in the play was John Wilkes Booth, who two years later was the person who assassinated President Abraham Lincoln. Movies debut in early 20th century When the 20th century came around, movies were making their debut, although with no sound as yet. When sound was added to the movies, things really took off and more and more theaters were built. In Worcester, these included the Pleasant Street Playhouse. Built in 1891 as a venue for live performances, when movies came out the name was changed to the Pleasant Street Theater. Again, in 1940, the name was changed, this time to the Olympia Theater. In 1956, E. M. Loew bought the theater and renamed it The Fine Arts. In the 1960s, the Fine Arts started showing pornographic movies, much to the dismay of many people in the surrounding area. Other notable theaters included the Rialto, located on Millbury Street, which opened in 1918. The theater charged ten cents admission and became known as a place where patrons would be given free dinnerware. The theater was in operation until 1959, when I-290 was built and took part of the building – the rest of the building burned down in 1988. The Royal theater was on Main Street, next door to what was then called the Worcester Public Market. This theater operated until 1955. The building was later torn down
The Showcase Cinemas Worcester North complex was closed at the start of the COVID-19 epidemic, then torn down completely in 2022.
and the (now former) Registry of Motor Vehicles building took its place. The Capitol Theater was on Franklin Street. It opened in 1926 and closed in 1966, reopening a year later at the Paris Cinema. A personal recollection: Going with my father to watch “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” – the first movie I had ever been to – around 1956 or so, when I was six years old. The Paris Cinema later transitioned to showing adult films. After a period of trouble with the city police, the theater was closed down for good in 2006. The building itself was torn down in 2017. Oldest theater being renovated What is said to be the oldest theater in Worcester is what was known for most of its history as the Olympia Theater on Pleasant Street, which opened in 1891 as an opera house. In more recent years it was known as the Fine Arts, then the New Arts Cinema. After being closed for many years, the theater is currently under renovation after being purchased by a local family. Of course, in more recent years, people remember other more modern venues, such as the Webster Square Cinemas, and the Showcase Cinemas on Southbridge Street near Federal Square – which
has been transformed into the Hanover Theater and Conservatory for the Performing Arts. The Showcase Cinemas Worcester North complex housed 18 movie screens and was closed at the start of the COVID-19 epidemic, then torn down completely in 2022. There was also the Worcester Center Galleria Theater on the lower level of the building – this was closed in 2004, and the entire complex eventually was torn down. Today’s lack of movie theaters Over the years, there was also a scattering of smaller movie theaters located at various points around the city of Worcester – these were basically put out of business by the newer, more upto-date theaters. What has resulted is that, for the first time in well over one hundred years, there is not one active movie theater in the entire city of Worcester. It’s a far cry from when crowds of movie-goers would flock to numerous movie theaters to see the latest Hollywood releases.
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MIT professors invented device that gave gamblers an edge B y S haron O liver C ontributing W riter CAMBRIDGE — Anyone who frequents casinos would love to beat the house at least more than once or twice each and every time they visit. So, what are the odds of that actually happening? Well, in 1961, Edward O. Thorp and co-developer Claude Shannon of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge invented a computer designed to predict the outcome of roulette wheels. The wearable computer was about the size of a pack of cigarettes or playing cards that could be worn strapped to the
waist, with foot switches hidden in a shoe. Mathematicians at the casino Thorp, a mathematics professor and blackjack researcher, learned Fortran (a programming language designed for numeric computation and scientific computing) in order to program the equations needed for his theoretical research model on the probabilities of winning at blackjack. Blackjack is the most widely played casino banking game in the world and the house’s edge is usually around 0.5–1% when players use basic strategy. However, card counting can give a player an edge of up to about 2%.
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The computer designed in 1961 by Thorp and Shannon to predict the outcome of roulette wheels now resides in the MIT Museum. (Photo/Courtesy of the MIT Museum)
Edward O. Thorp went from being a mathematician and MIT professor to hedge fund manager based on his gambling winnings.
Thorp teamed up with Claude Shannon, another mathematician and computer scientist, to build a device that would time the spinning of the ball on a roulette in order to predict where it would land. Thorp first devised card counting schemes with the aid of the IBM 704, a high-speed electronic calculator. He then tested his theory in Reno, Lake Tahoe and Las Vegas with $10,000 on hand for use at blackjack tables. The money was provided by Manny Kimmel, a wealthy professional gambler, as venture capital and the gamble proved successful. Since this was not a one and done experiment, Thorp made more trips to casinos and often used disguises such as wraparound glasses and false beards. He also assembled a baccarat team who also brought home winnings. Shannon, also known as the “father of information theory” and a distant cousin to Thomas Edison, took his wife Betty on weekend excursions to Las Vegas to play blackjack and roulette. The Shannons lived in a large home in Winchester with a basement described as a “gadgeteer’s paradise” equipped with thousands of dollars’ worth in electronic, electrical and mechanical items. Shannon’s team was the first to use the newly invented wearable computer to play roulette. The device relied on a pair of operators, where one would watch the wheel and use his toe to input the cadence of the wheel, and the other would receive a message in the form of musical tones through a hidden earpiece. By betting on groups of neighboring numbers on the wheel, they could gain an ample advantage to winnings. Gambling celebrity News about this devise soon spread within the gambling com-
Claude Shannon was also a mathematician and MIT professor who teamed up with Edward O. Thorp to create a device that gave gamblers and edge over casinos. (Photo/ Courtesy of the MIT Museum)
munity, making Thorp a celebrity among blackjack players. As a result of proving players could beat the house in blackjack by counting cards, Thorp wrote the book “Beat the Dealer” in 1962 which earned a place in the New York Times bestseller list. In almost all jurisdictions, casinos are permitted to ban customers who they believe are using advantage play from their premises. These days, most casinos have an extensive array of security cameras and recorders which monitor and record all the action in a casino that can be used to resolve some disputes. The use of external devices to assist in card counting is illegal in Nevada but Thorp’s approach inspired others to look for physical rather than mathematical advantages in casino games. The device now resides at MIT as an exhibit. Thorp is now 93, with an estimated net worth of between $800 million and $1 billion. With the wealth earned from casinos winnings Thorp turned to financial markets to invest his money and became a hedge fund manager.
www.fiftyplusadvocate.com + SEPTEMBER 2026 + fiftyplus advocate • 19
‘It’s a good feeling’: Victor Catacchio has been making cars look like new for 43 years By Micky Baca Contributing Writer
fiftyplus fifty | Published
1974 - 2024
GRAFTON — Cars have changed a lot over 43 years, but Victor Catacchio’s passion has stayed the same. Catacchio enjoys making customers’ vehicles – dulled by day-to-day demands, dings, and dirt – look like new, inside and out. More than four decades ago, Catacchio began detailing cars at his brother’s used car lot. He “got hooked,” and since then, he has cleaned and polished more than 30,000 cars and motorcycles at his business, Catacchio Auto Detail in North Grafton. It’s a steady service that affords him a living and keeps him very busy. But his biggest reward is making people happy: “I like the expression on peoples’ faces when I am done with their car,” he said. “It’s a good feeling.” Making cars, motorcycles shine Catacchio was a “kid” when he started detailing. He found he was good at it, and people kept coming back for more. He has always been a car enthusiast and “a motorcycle nut,” he said. Today, Catacchio Auto Detail has more than 150 regular customers that often come back twice a year, and the company also works with several car dealerships. A hands-on owner, Catacchio has preferred to maintain a two-man shop over the years staffed by him and his son-in-law. Catacchio also details a lot of motorcycles, which need special care to maintain their varied materials and features. Many people don’t really know what detailing is, thinking that the service includes merely washing cars inside and outside. It is much more than that, Catacchio said, beginning with a deep clean, extracting dirt from rugs and the interior with an industrial-strength machine, and tackling scratches and contaminants that dull paint. The result: “It’s like a new car. It really changes your whole attitude,” he said. The company also offers a service that includes a ceramic coating that protects the car’s exterior and makes it look like glass. While Catacchio’s job has remained the same, the chemicals, tools, and techniques used to detail cars have changed over the years as materials used to build cars have evolved. For example, he has replaced the traditional rotary buffer with an
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Victor Catacchio has cleaned and polished more than 30,000 cars and motorcycles at his business, Catacchio Auto Detail in North Grafton.
oscillating one that has a smoother result. Steam has replaced soap and water to clean interiors. And, as Catacchio noted, hand-rubbing the exterior with a clay bar works wonders for cleaning and removing scratches and dullness. The secret to success So how do you keep a business thriving for 43 years when even major car manufacturers have faded into history? “Do a good job and treat people right,“ Catacchio said. Being consistent and keeping
prices reasonable are key. “I’ve gained respect and trust from a lot of people who are comfortable bringing their very expensive cars to me,” he said. “Be consistent. I think that is the biggest thing you can do when you own a business. People can count on you.” Catacchio has no grand expansion plans. He likes the status quo, the relaxing ride to work on one of his three Harleys, and tending to each customer and service detail himself. When he isn’t working, he spends time with his five grandkids.
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Norwell’s Janette Kelley was the driving force behind the Betty Crocker brand By Sharon Oliver Contributing Writer NORWELL — If mom or grandma did not bake homemade cakes from scratch, chances are they relied upon a box of Betty Crocker cake mix. Crocker, a fictional character, was based on a souschef from Franklin College who made baked goods for the school cafeteria. However, several women lent their talents to the making of the iconic Betty Crocker, including Janette Kelley. Started from promotional campaign In 1921, Washburn-Crosby, which made Gold Medal flour in a Minneapolis suburb and where Kelly first worked, ran a promotion giveaway of a pincushion resembling a flour sack to anyone who could complete a jigsaw puzzle of a milling scene. Thousands of customers also responded with a flood of questions about baking. Washburn-Crosby created the persona Betty Crocker to personalize answers, choosing “Crocker” in honor of the recently retired director, William Crocker and “Betty” simply because it sounded friendly. Marjorie Child Husted, followed by Agnes White Tizard were the radio voic-
es of Betty Crocker. Florence Lindeberg created Betty Crocker’s signature after men in the office who answered letters did not feel right signing their names. But it was Janette Kelley who became the Betty Crocker spokesperson and director at General Mills’ Test Kitchen and Home Services Department when the company developed recipes for “Betty Crocker’s Kitchen Cook Book.” Released in 1950, the cookbook was an instant best seller and became a popular wedding gift. One promotional ad proclaimed: “At last! A Betty Crocker Cook Book! Over $100,000 spent in testing and developing recipes before a single page was printed! Just off the press! Exciting, revolutionary, handsome! The result of 29 years’ experience by the Betty Crocker Staff of General Mills, in food, cooking and homemaking.” The Betty Crocker House In the late 1930s, Janette Kelley bought an antique three-bedroom, two-bath Cape house in Norwell while working for a Massachusetts branch of General Mills and lived there until she sold the house sometime during the 1940s. Located on 604 River Street, the house was built in 1681 and went on the market in 2016 for $675,000. Zillow listed it as sold in 2020 for $635,000. It is currently val-
ued by Zillow at $1,139,400. A few local residents have posted lasting memories on Facebook of what is still known as the Betty Crocker House. Barry P. Callis wrote: “I know the house and exactly where it is. Had no idea of its history.” Elizabeth Cloutier added: “I grew up three houses away and spent many happy days in this house!” While residing in Massachusetts, she was an active member of the community. Kelley gave lectures and cooking demonstrations, which included suggestions for hostesses. She also participated in The Can Opener and World Politics conference which was held in Swampscott at the New Ocean House where a panel of experts spoke before a group of nutritionists, home service business women and teachers. Kelley’s recipes were also often featured in The Boston Globe. In 1939, Kelley participated in a series of radio quiz programs on WBZ and WBAA with a group of Simmons College students to discuss home economics, girls who get married before finishing college and girls who marry soon after graduation. Kelley was responsible for setting
Janette Kelley, the Betty Crocker spokesperson and director of the General Mills’ Test Kitchen and Home Services Department, lived in Norwell for many years. (Photo/Courtesy of General Mills)
up the first model kitchen, preparing the first b re a d - b a k i n g book, and making the first chocolate cake that was the first to be depicted in advertising using illustrations. Under her leadership, many recipes and new products were introduced, including the development of the one-bowl cake method. In 1947, General Mills acquired the rights to Harry Baker’s chiffon cake recipe and perfected it into a cake mix in Kelley’s test kitchen and introduced it to a wider audience of home bakers. Janette Kelley died in 1958.
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