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• Elaine Belvin has been mentoring for 17 years – Page 6 • Finding Forever Homes • Brighten Someone’s Day (and yours) • Volunteer Opportunities – finding what fits
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Loving what you do
RSVP is perfect for retirees interested in volunteering
5 What’s in it for me?
“
There’s nothing like the feeling you get when you help someone.
How to feel Healthier, Wealthier and Wiser
6
Mentor & Mentee
7
Mentoring with Mim
8
Second Chances
”
– Kathy Carr
Page 13
Pr i m e Ti m e 21
Distribution Special Delivery PUBLISHERS Barry W. Fain, Richard G. Fleischer, John Howell MARKETING DIRECTOR Donna Zarrella donnaz@rhodybeat.com Editorial Coordinator / Creative Director Linda Nadeau lindan@rhodybeat.com
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November 2013
How to become a mentor
Volunteers with the RISPCA help find forever homes.
Homefront Health Care volunteers brighten days
12
Volunteer Value
YMCA offers a wide range of volunteer opportunities
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Not about the ‘Benjamins’
RSVP volunteers share stories and ideas
18
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PEOPLE & PLACES
For Jessie – Starting new holiday traditions.........16 Glimpse of RI’s past...............................................................19
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Putting the mentoring in the spotlight
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November 2013 1944 Warwick Ave. Warwick, RI 02889 401-732-3100 FAX 401-732-3110
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An Autumn favorite - Pumpkin Pie.............................21
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LIFESTYLES
What Do You Fink..................................................................24 Retirement Sparks.................................................................25
SENIOR ISSUES
Mary Burke’s Bike Ride........................................................11 Director’s column..................................................................17 Alzheimer’s Association.....................................................20
PROFESSIONAL’S PERSPECTIVE Your Taxes...................................................................................20
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It’s the Holiday Season!
13
o n t h e c ove r
Elaine Belvin has been a mentor with the RI Mentoring Partnership for 17 years and counting. PAGE 6 (Photo by Jennifer Rodrigues)) PrimeTime |
b y J essica A . B o telh o
loving what you do
volunteering
RSVP is perfect for retirees who are interested in meeting new people and learning new skills.
Volunteer opportunities are in abundance at Westbay Community Action, as the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) offers individuals aged 55 and older the chance to serve people in need throughout Warwick, West Warwick, Coventry and East Greenwich. The goal of Westbay Community Action, a nonprofit agency based in Warwick, is to help economically disadvantaged Kent County residents achieve and sustain self-sufficiency and stability. Last year, 680 RSVP volunteers dedicated 86,000 hours of time to help local people through a variety of programs, such as mentoring school children; assisting senior centers and non-profit organizations; doing clerical work; providing assistance at Westbay Marketplace, a food pantry in Warwick; bringing home-delivered meals to homebound people; and more. “We have close to 800 volunteers for that program,” RSVP Program Director Tanisha Simpson said. “Volunteers are not paid, but some who take part in the Medical Transportation Program portion are refunded for gas money, as they often drive clients to medical appointments.” “Out of all the programs, it’s probably my favorite because it keeps people healthy,” said Simpson, noting that during the course of a month a volunteer drove 400 miles to help others. “Many people have children who live out of state, so these type of services are phenomenal.” Another one of Simpson’s favorites is The Working Wardrobe, which provides low-income men and women seeking employment and completing job training with professional attire at no cost. Drop off used clothes to 210 Buttonwoods Avenue. “When they go to an interview, they feel confident because they are dressed properly and are able to make a good impression,” Simpson said. For those who are unemployed, becoming an RSVP volunteer not only builds character, but also professional profiles, said Simpson. She believes it helps to make a better impression on potential employers. “It’s an opRSVP Program Director Tanisha Simpson | PrimeTime 4
portunity for people to say, ‘I’ve been out of a job, but during that time I was a mentor at a school,’ or ‘I did Meals on Wheels,’” she said. Patty Martucci, who coordinates Westbay’s volunteer efforts, said RSVP is perfect for retirees who are interested in meeting new people and learning new skills. From her experience, many retirees want to do something completely different from what they’ve done their whole lives, and others are a bit nervous about what the future holds. “They are afraid they are going to hit a wall and say, ‘What am I going to do now?’” Martucci said. “The volunteer opportunities give them a chance to give back to the community, and also keep active and involved. I’ve always felt that the senior population, Baby Boomers in particular, are more active than ever.” Simpson and Martucci agree that volunteering gives people a sense of accomplishment, and hope to make more people aware of the programs RSVP offers. Two more successful ones include Friendly Visitors, which is made up of individuals who offer seniors companionship by chatting with them on the phone, and the Rhode Island Senior Medicare Patrol, or SMP. SMP educates seniors about how to best protect their medical information by advising them to never carry their Medicare, Medicaid and social security cards with them, and refusing to provide the personal numbers associated with these cards to strangers who promise free goods in return. They council seniors on the importance of keeping track of doctor visits, tests and hospital stays, and how vital it is to read all Medicare summary notices when delivered by mail. Volunteers also remind seniors to stay in touch with their doctors or clinics to get answers when uncertain of recent visits or treatments. Calling the SMP at 4620931 is another viable option. SMP volunteers Irene Fanning and Barbara Hackett said SMP Coordinator and Elderly Services Case Manager Cindy Graves, along with Simpson and Martucci, make the volunteer experience enjoyable. “Everyone at this organization is wonderful,” said Fanning, who has been with RSVP for five years. “They are wonderful teachers and they keep me coming back.” They also feel honored that they are able to visit nursing homes and senior centers twice a month to make senior citizens more aware of best practices. At
the same time, they are learning more about the community while educating others. “It’s nice to do something worthwhile,” said Hackett, who started volunteering at RSVP three years ago. Other volunteers also visit the elderly, while The Harmonica Band, based in Coventry, entertains them. They perform at senior centers and regularly donate gig money to RSVP. “Most of the members put in at least 40 hours a month,” Martucci said. Simpson said RSVP is in the process of recruiting veterans to serve as volunteers at the newly opened Rhode Island Military Organization lounge at T.F. Green Airport. The lounge caters to active duty military members and their families. Outside of RSVP, Westbay has an additional 100 volunteers under the age of 55. They are hoping to partner with the Trudeau Center, a non-profit organization in Warwick that assists individuals with developmental disabilities, for clients to volunteer at local farms or marketplaces, as well as other upcoming initiatives. But no matter the age, all are appreciated and celebrated. Simpson said RSVP also hosts fun events, like a pizza party, as “a way to get our volunteers together to see what they enjoy doing, let them know about new opportunities and be around other volunteers.” “I love what I do,” Simpson said.
November 2013
b y J o hn G r o w
what’s in it
?
for me How to feel
Healthier, Wealthier
and maybe even a little more Wise. Let’s say you bump into a person you haven’t seen for a long time, and she looks great. Hasn’t aged a bit, and you can guess by the way she’s dressed she’s doing alright. Just before the two of you say goodbye and tell each other how you guys are really going to stay in touch this time (yeah, right), she says, “Oh, by the way, here’s a hot tip for you: Pork-bellies, buy ‘em,” and off she goes. Weird, I know. But stay with me on this, it’ll be worth it. Now, you don’t really know very much about “pork-bellies,” let alone where and how to get some. But you’re determined. You check it out, find a commodities broker and invest the $2,000 you were saving for a Florida vacation. My, oh my, do they take off. Before you know it, your $2,000 has grown to $10,000! How would that make you feel? What do you suppose you’d do next? Well, one thing you might do is grab the phone and call this person who is now looking more and more like your very best friend in the world, and say, “Thanks. That worked great! But I got another question: I know we’re the same age. How come you seem so much younger?” You listen closely. And your friend tells you about this one thing that she does every week, which is something that you don’t do at all; or not very often, anyway. Do you think you might check that out, too? Here’s the secret: Volunteering – giving some of your time, often and regularly, to an organized group whose goal is to help others. Granted, that doesn’t sound all that esoteric. But it may just be one of the most potent self-improvement programs of all time. There are literally hundreds of studies on the benefits of volunteering, way too many to cover in a magazine article. But here are some of the highlights:
November 2013
YOU COULD LIVE LONGER if you start volunteering regularly. A major study in Wisconsin began following 10,317 high school students, chosen at random, right after they graduated back in 1957. A little over half were female (51.6 percent). Over the years, they were sampled on various health and lifestyle issues. When the group was around 65, in 2004, they were asked whether they had volunteered over the previous 10 years, and how often. By 2008, 4.3 percent of the non-volunteer group was deceased, compared to only 1.6 percent of those who volunteered. And that effect remained after all other variables were factored in. In Detroit, 423 married couples over age 65 were asked if they regularly volunteered to help people other than each other. Those who did were about half as likely to die over the next five years.
YOU MAY REDUCE THE CHANCE OF STROKE AND HEART ATTACK by volunteering. Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University found links between lowered blood pressure and regular, frequent volunteerism, as well as heart attack, stroke, heart failure and metabolic syndrome. From 2006 to 2010, 1,164 adults between 51 and 91 were studied, and those who spent at least 200 hours a year volunteering had a 40 percent lower risk of high blood pressure. A Duke study showed that people who had already had a heart attack had a boost in heart health later by volunteering somewhere. And it’s not just among seniors – a study of high school-aged volunteers, reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association, showed reduced inflammation, cholesterol and body mass index. YOU CAN LOOK YOUNGER and feel younger when you volunteer. Collagen, the soft layer in your skin that keeps the wrinkles away, peaked when you were 18. It naturally shrinks with age. But some things make it shrink faster – sun exposure, smoking and chronic stress are the three major contributors to losing collagen faster, and developing earlier, deeper wrinkles. But the act of volunteering almost immediately releases the “feel good” hormone oxytocin, which reduces exposure to stress hormones like cortisol in nearly all people. In lab rats, the loss of collagen was 10 times larger when cortisol was introduced. You may have heard of oxytocin; it’s sometimes also called the “compassion hormone,” released during childbirth and orgasm – and also, apparently, when you volunteer. Oxytocin helps cells repair themselves, store nutrients and grow. People who volunteer also tend to smoke less than people who don’t. Plus, volunteering can help you get in better shape by getting you up off the couch and moving around regularly. And being in better physical shape improves the way we look. (Personal anecdote: Last April I attended a recognition dinner for volunteers who work with Westbay Community Action RSVP program, and happened to sit with three nice looking ladies, who I took to be in their 50s and early 60s. I didn’t pry, but somewhere during our conversation one dropped a dime on everyone – the youngest was 78, the oldest 82.)
volunteering
YOU MAY GET RID OF DEPRESSION, or at least reduce it, by volunteering. When you help someone, the mesolimbic system in the brain lights up and starts doling out feel good chemicals such as oxytocin, and dopamine (which has a soothing effect), and possibly serotonin, one of the brain chemicals used to treat depression. The resulting feeling of joy, tranquility and serenity has been called “helper’s high.” It doesn’t happen to everyone or every time, but it’s very common. Studies show that people suffering depression from the loss of a spouse or a child tend to bounce back quicker if they begin volunteering. YOU MAY FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE MORE TIME when you give some of it away. People who volunteer weekly say they seem to gain time for everything else they do in their life. They feel “more efficient,” as though they “don’t have to be in such a rush,” according to studies. In fact, that’s the case for a majority of volunteers. Basically, it seems that people who commit to spending a few hours each week to helping some cause become better organized in all activities. YOU MAY FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE MORE MONEY than you did before you started volunteering. And that can be both a perceived as well as a real effect on your wealth. Harvard Health Publications reported on a lengthy London School of Economics study, which compared various measures of happiness among a large group of American adults. For a “happiness” baseline, they looked at people who had found their annual income grow a lot, very quickly. They found the more you volunteer, the happier you feel, but specifically how that feeling relates to getting more money is really interesting. Compared to the group who did not volunteer at all, volunteering once a month made the odds of being “very happy” rise 7 percent; every two to four weeks, your odds increase 12 percent; but weekly volunteering increased feeling very happy 16 percent – the same “happiness” effect as having a $20,000 annual salary grow to $75,000 to $100,000. Volunteering can also help you in your present career, or help you find a new one. Once you start, you are going to be working with a lot of new people on a lot of different levels. You’ll be starting, or adding to, your network. You’ll be learning and practicing important skills you can use elsewhere, like planning, teamwork, communication, problem solving, management and organization. BEWARE THE “WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME” SYNDROME. It’s truly remarkable that so much has been proven to spring forth from just taking the time to help somebody else. But there’s a major caveat: You actually have to mean it. It has to be selfless in order to have all the beneficial effects that come with volunteering. Otherwise, volunteering can have no hidden benefits for you, or even prove negative. For instance, those longevity studies we looked at earlier? The people who volunteered in order to realize some sort of reward had the same mortality rates as those who never volunteered at all. People who find themselves pressured into some cause by a boss or by family members can see their stress levels soar rather than disappear.
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volunteering
b y J ennifer R o drigues
Mentor & Mentee in national spotlight
Elaine Belvin never could have imagined when she became a mentor to a shy, young girl at Warwick Neck Elementary School in 1996 that their story would become the subject of a national public service announcement. But that became her reality when Belvin sat in front of a camera, answering questions about her experience mentoring Christina Markrush. “It’s amazing. I feel honored,” said Belvin. “I can’t believe it. I never thought 17 years ago this is where we would be.” Belvin became a mentor in 1996 after her youngest son went away to college, and she began to experience “empty nest syndrome.” She had seen an article about MENTOR: The Mentoring Partnership in the Beacon and decided to sign up. She went through the screening process and requested to be paired with a little girl. Today, that little girl is 23 years old and has become a mentor herself. “I always enjoyed working with children,” said Markrush, who is enrolled at CCRI in the Early Childhood Education program. “I definitely wanted to give back to the program.” CEO of the Rhode Island Mentoring Partnership Jo-Ann Schofield explained that she had shared the story of these two women with the people at the national headquarters in Boston; the two were then chosen to share their story through a public service announcement for National Mentoring Month in January. It was filmed by CTP, an advertising agency in Boston, at Warwick Neck Elementary School, where Belvin and Markrush first met and are now mentors. The two will be the focus of a 15-second and 30-second PSA, which will begin to air in January 2014. “The story is just so powerful,” said Schofield, who said Belvin and Markrush will also be attending the National Mentoring Summit in Washington, D.C. at the end of January. The purpose of the PSA is to encourage more people to become mentors, something both Belvin and Markrush believe in. “To be able to help someone else, support someone else, especially a child that needs it, is so important. The rewards far outweigh the time you give,” said Belvin. “I don’t think people realize how much of an impact | PrimeTime 6
they can make on young people’s lives,” said Markrush. “There’s so much to share.” Markrush also spoke to how important it is for individuals in their 20s to become mentors. “We need more younger mentors; you’re more of a friend than an authority figure,” said Markrush. While she had a fantastic experience with Belvin, she admits there is a difference in the relationship. “She was more like a mom; younger mentors are more like a brother or sister.” Markrush also said that children are not the only ones who gain something from an experience with The Mentoring Partnership. “You have as much fun and learn as much as they do,” said Markrush. These PSAs are a normal process for The Mentoring Project. “Every year there is some type of PSA,” said Schofield. “Usually they try to tell some mentor/mentee stories.” “We couldn’t believe it at first. It was really cool that they wanted to use our story,” said Markrush.
And their story is certainly a good one to tell. At the beginning, Belvin describes her mentee as a shy young girl but said she could relate and made it her goal to bring Markrush out of her shell. “I never really knew why I had a mentor. She was a friend and I got to get out of class and play,” said Markrush. Both women recall spending time together doing arts and crafts projects, playing outside, and even just sitting on swings talking. Belvin also was able to come into Warwick Neck Elementary for special school projects and field trips with Markrush. They truly became a large part of each other’s lives. While Markrush was at Warwick Neck Elementary, there was an hour of time set aside each week for mentoring, but that needed to change when she moved on to junior high and high school. Belvin explained that the pair needed to meet in the mornings before school in junior high, which was manageable. Things became more difficult when Markrush attended high school and the mentoring time needed to be after school. Belvin explained that Markrush became busy with sports and other activities; she also believed Markrush was outgrowing the program during her teenage years. So their official mentor/mentee relationship ended when Markrush was in her junior year of high school. A year went by when the two did not communicate. Then, Markrush e-mailed her former mentor. Belvin MENTOR – PAGE 23 November 2013
volunteering
b y tim f o rsberg
Mentoring with Mim
More than six years ago, Mim Fallon was asked by a friend to attend a “mentoring breakfast” held by the Rhode Island Mentoring Partnership. Little did she know that, in the time since, she’d help better the lives of several children. “I had a friend who was a mentor, and she invited me along. I didn’t really know what mentoring was, but I always felt I could help children!” said Fallon in an interview. “Once I found out what was involved, I said to myself, ‘Let me try that!’” Mentors are adult volunteers who form a one on one relationship with a student who, for a variety of reasons, needs extra support and attention. Mentors provide a positive role model and a trusted friend to a child. Volunteers spend an hour a week with their “mentee” (or longer if they prefer) in a school or community-based setting, choosing a time that’s convenient for the volunteer’s schedule. “Originally, I thought you really had to teach during the sessions, but that’s not the case. You’re not really teaching, you’re more of a friend to a kid that needs it,” Fallon said. “I’ve always hit it off right away with my mentees. There’s so much satisfaction mentoring, I love and look forward to each session. I’ve learned so much from these children.” Mim’s mentored three children Becoming a mentor is easy! Just call the Rhode Island Mentoring Partnership today at 401-732-7700. during her tenure, and she’s currently They have more than 60 partners across the state, giving you the flexibility to volunteer locally. They’ll be mentoring Warwick 5th grader, Jeff. happy to answer your questions and send you an application asking you to outline your interests and skills. “I like to talk and play with her,” he Tell them whether you prefer to mentor a boy or a girl, and whether you’d like to work with an elementary, said. “We like to dray and play games. middle or high school student. For more information, visit their website at www.mentorri.org. Sometimes she beats me at Crazy Eights, but we have a lot of fun!”
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a worthy cause
second chances Finding Forever Homes b y M ichael j . ceri o
E
ach year in the United States, nearly 2,000 cases of animal abuse are reported. These disturbing incidents range from hoarding and neglect to killing and beating. For animal lovers and compassionate citizens as a whole, the mere thought of someone harming an innocent animal is incomprehensible. Sadly, it happens daily. Here in the Ocean State, the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RISPCA) has been standing up for the rights of animals who cannot help themselves for over 140 years. The organization was the first humane agency of its kind in Rhode Island—the 3rd oldest in the country—and represents the only non-profit animal rescue group in the state legally able to investigate and prosecute cases of animal cruelty. “Our work has always been focused on controlling pet overpopulation and preventing animal cruelty, but there is still a lot of abuse – our kennels are full of animals that need homes,” says E.J. Finocchio, D.V.M., President of RISPCA. “Unfortunately, I think our society has become a more violent one.” Finocchio and his staff see a correlation between this violence and acts against animals. In many of the cases they see, there is a 60 percent association with domestic violence in the home. To help reverse this trend, the RISPCA works
closely with local law enforcement to investigate reported cases and prosecute offenders. The organization is quick to compliment their partners in law, but also understands the potential for these cases to get backedup as the courts become full. As a result, Finocchio sees an opportunity for change. “I think we need more deterrents to prevent future cases; acts of animal cruelty should always be taken seriously,” he says. “Our local police officers are there to help, but at the same time, they are dealing with a lot of other cases that require their attention. There’s no question that penalties are very different for hitting a person than hitting an animal – maybe this is something we need to take a closer look at.” In hoping to get out in front and prevent future acts against animals, the RISPCA does a lot of education outreach. The organization regularly goes into communities where they teach kids about pet responsibility, bite prevention, and how to be compassionate to animals. “Education is critically important and a big part of what we do; it can also carry over to how you should treat people,” says Finocchio. “I want our education to leave a mark on these lives in the future.” While cases of animal cruelty can no doubt be difficult to hear about and discuss, not everything that happens in the day-to-day world of the RISPCA re-
volves around the sensitive subject. Within its walls, the organization houses upwards of 100 animals each day. Ranging from cats and dogs, to rabbits, guinea pigs, reptiles, and even rats and mice, they’re all looking for new homes. In 2012 alone, the RISPCA adopted out 1,300 animals. “Our adoption rate is 86 percent, which we’re very proud of,” says Finocchio. “That means that if an animal is brought here, no matter their age or if they need a little help, we’ll find them a new home.”
Vital Volunteers
Located at 186 Amaral Street in Riverside, the RISPCA facility is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturdays. However, each day starts a bit earlier for its staff and dedicated volunteers. Beginning at 8:00 a.m. staff and volunteers arrive to start getting ready for the day. For the two hours before doors open to the community, there’s a flurry of activity as kennels are cleaned, animals fed, walked and played with, and more. “We get a lot of compliments on how clean the building is and everyone here, staff and volunteers alike, take a lot of pride in that,” says Jim McGee, Director of Development for RISPCA, who also coordinates the volunteer program. “Our volunteers are
Volunteers at the RI Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals help to give pets a new lease on life
SEEKING FOREVER HOMES:
Sophie (dog) and Kit Kat (cat) are just two of the many animals seeking their forever homes and available for adoption through the RISPCA. (Photo by Maria Giannini)
| PrimeTime
November 2013
PEOPLE AND PLACES
Dr. Finocchio so important to what we do, and we’re always looking for more.” Jim highlights the fact that the RISPCA volunteer program is very flexible; folks can work as often as they’d like. Some people come in weekly, others monthly, or even a few times each year. Many of the volunteers have been with the organization for years and help in a variety of ways. Volunteers are needed to help take care of the animal areas, feed the animals, and the always important task of playing with them. “Everything our volunteers do is a huge help,” says Jim. “It’s important that our animals have a pleasant stay while they’re in our care, and volunteers make this possible; even by just petting and brushing them.” Those interested in volunteering may contact Jim at (401) 438-8150 or by email at jmcgee@rispca.com. There’s a volunteer application to be completed, and all volunteers participate in a training session. Each month, Jim also hosts a volunteer orientation. “We really want our volunteers to know that interacting with animals at a shelter can sometimes be different than interacting with pets at home,” says Jim. “But, we make sure everyone is ready to help.”
The Marvin Fund
One of the most unique aspects of the RISPCA is a resource to help seniors that Finocchio established 10 years ago: The Marvin Fund. Named after a dog who Finocchio adopted in 2002 after he had been given up twice, the Fund helps defray medical costs for sick and injured animals whose elderly and disabled owners could otherwise not afford to keep them. After seeing a story about an elephant who could paint with his trunk, Finocchio wondered if Marvin could do the same by wagging his tail against paper – after all, the dog did anything asked
November 2013
of him. Once Finocchio saw how much Marvin enjoyed painting, and the responses from people he shared the works with, he decided to sell them for donations that would establish and benefit The Marvin Fund. Finocchio also wrote a book about Marvin that went on to sell nearly 4,000 copies in support of the Fund. “Marvin needed a second chance in life, and I was able to give him that chance, so we wanted to turn it into a way that would help the elderly give their pets a second chance,” says Finocchio. “For many seniors, their animal is a tremendous asset to their quality of life, so we try to absorb half the cost of medical bills – there are a lot of people out there who could not care for their pets without this help.” The Marvin Fund has been a huge success, helping more than 3,000 people since its inception. Each day, the RISPCA receives upwards of 25 calls requesting help through the Fund. As an organization that receives no state or federal funding, the RISPCA relies entirely on the generosity of the community to perform its work. While financial donations are most critical, Finocchio adds that many other items are of great help to the agency. Donations of pet staples like blankets, toys, cat litter, and hygiene products and shampoos are always needed. Additionally, folks may donate pet food that the RISPCA gives directly to those who may be struggling to afford to feed their animals. “If the community didn’t support us, we wouldn’t be here,” adds Finocchio.
How To Help
Those interested in learning more about the RISPCA, or getting involved as a donor or volunteer, may visit their website: www.RISPCA.com or call (401) 438-8150. Anyone seeking to request help through The Marvin Fund is also encouraged to call. “If more people knew of everything we do, it would make our work easier and make more of a difference in the lives of animals who cannot speak for themselves,” says Finocchio. “Loneliness is the saddest thing I’ve ever seen, but a pet, and what that pet means to their owner is something that can’t be described. There are thousands of people, particularly seniors, living this way in Rhode Island where their animal is their most cherished friend.”
Volunteer Children & Families The Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) was developed as a volunteer program by the Family Court
in 1978 in answer to the need for advocacy for those children who had been abused and/or neglected, and who, through no fault of their own, found themselves involved with the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) and the Family Court.
CASA has grown from a solely volunteer-based program to a fullystaffed program that includes full-time staff attorney guardians ad litem and social workers who work in conjunction with the volunteers to provide effective advocacy for the best interest of Rhode Island’s most vulnerable children. CASA tries to ensure that these children do not “fall through the cracks” of the system that is put in place to help them. Go to www.courts.ri.gov to learn more.
THe Autism Project has been able to remain at the fore-
front of developing innovative programs that enrich the lives of individuals and families impacted by autism spectrum disorders with the help and dedication of volunteers. The mission of the Autism Project is to create a comprehensive system of care and resources that meet the needs of children and adults with autism and their families, including education, health, vocational, career, social and community needs.
The Autism Project offers many experiences for volunteers, including social skills groups, summer camp, parent and professional trainings, support groups, fundraising, public relations and administrative responsibilities. Go to theautismproject.org for more information
The Women’s Center of Rhode Island wel-
comes volunteers who want to help break the cycle of violence in our community. Interns/volunteers receive specialized training by professional staff in order to provide critical hotline, residential, court advocacy, and administrative support services. For more information on volunteer opportunities, please call Melissa England at (401) 861-2761, ext. 117 or email Mengland@womenscenterri.org
Seniors Meals of Wheels. Volunteers are vital to providing all ser-
vices as cost effectively as possible. Our volunteers are special people. Learn how your time and talent can make a difference in the lives of the elders in your community. A variety of volunteer opportunities exist. To find out more, call 401351-6700 or go to www.rimeals.org Become a Friendly Visitor! As a Friendly Visitor you can significantly improve the life of an elderly person by just spending time with them. If you can commit 1 to 2 hours a week to speak with a homebound senior or nursing home resident by phone or in person you can make a difference in their quality of life. For More Information contact Linda A’Vant-Deishinni, 401-421-7833 x 228 or Lavant-deishinni@dioceseofprovidence.org, or go to www. diocesepvd.org
PrimeTime |
b y kathy tirrell
volunteering
A Little Companionship This is the time of year when we give thanks for our blessings. It’s so important to look around at what we have, instead of dwelling on what we don’t have. For some people, it’s also a time to think about how to help others who need assistance with daily chores, like shopping, cooking and cleaning. Of course, this is not just a seasonal dilemma; there are those who need help all year long. Fortunately, there are some very generous, kind-hearted people out there who volunteer their time on a regular basis. One way a volunteer can help is by doing something as simple as brightening someone’s day by dropping by for a little visit just to chat. Homefront Health Care, a nonprofit home health care organization since 1966, has locations in the East Bay, Harmony, Providence, Warwick, Westerly and Woonsocket. Its staff of nurses, therapists and CNAs make home care visits to chronically ill people all throughout the state. In addition,
explained that the sign-up process includes filling out an application, providing two references and undergoing a criminal background check. Once accepted into the program, there is a twohour training session to prepare the volunteer for a visit. Having good listening skills is an especially important component to being a successful volunteer. “I always go on the first visit to get a feel for how it will work out,” said LaPlante. Sixty-three-year-old Janice Argentieri of East Providence has been a Homefront volunteer for the past year and a half. She spends time with 88year-old Barbara Ward of Barrington once a week for an hour or so at Ward’s home. The two ladies share a common bond that surely leads to some interesting conversations – both are former teachers. Ward said she was an elementary school teacher in the Barrington school system from 1946 until retiring in 1975. She also did some substituting in
per explaining all about the program and who to contact to become a volunteer. It sounded like just the right thing for her. “When my son was in high school, he had to do some community service,” said the volunteer. “So we did Meals on Wheels. He couldn’t drive yet, so I went with him. Some people were so happy to see you and sometimes you were the only person they had to talk to. We did that for one summer. When I retired, I was looking for something to do. I remembered how some people were home-bound and just looking for someone to talk to.” Ward has a daughter in her 50s named Nancy and a black and white cat named Miss Daisy. Cats can be wonderful companions, but unfortunately their
Goes a Long Way Homefront launched a special volunteer program in 2011 that matches volunteers with some of its 800 elderly clients for weekly one-hour socializing visits. The goal is to combat social isolation. According to Joan LaPlante, Homefront’s volunteer coordinator, there are currently 55 volunteers in the program, which is open to both men and women, 18 and over. Right now, there are mainly female volunteers, but men are encouraged to sign up as well. LaPlante
East Providence. “I used to teach third grade,” she said. “Then they assigned me to a first grade. People think that’s an easy grade to teach, but it’s not.” Her visiting companion Argentieri said after teaching for 35 years, she herself has been retired now for six years, formerly a teacher/librarian in the Central Falls school district. When asked how she got started volunteering for Homefront, Argentieri said she saw a write-up in the newspa-
conversation skills are a bit limited. So although the two ladies could spend their time together playing cards or engaging in some other activity, Argentieri said her elderly companion “just likes to talk.” “She tells me what she’s been up to all week,” she added. “Usually we stay here, but sometimes I take her to her hairdresser appointment.” If you’d like to make a real difference in someone’s life by devoting an hour a week to visiting a home-bound person in need of some laughs, good conversation and companionship, contact Homefront Health Care’s volunteer coordinator Joan LaPlante by phone at 751-3152 or e-mail at JLaplante@homefront.org.
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10 | PrimeTime
November 2013
b y kerry park
senior issues
Mary Burke’s Bike Ride Since early September, Mary Burke has been riding for a cause. Every day, the Newport native bikes for four hours to benefit the Rhode Island chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. A twohour ride in the morning, along with two more hours in the afternoon, are moving her toward her goal: A crosscountry trek from Rhode Island to California. What keeps her inspired, other than her charitable drive and the weight she’s lost so far, is the wish to end up chatting with Ellen Degeneres on the set of her favorite talk show. “Every day I watch her. I see what she does for other people and I think, why not me?” said Mary. She is well aware that that kind of publicity could reap enormous rewards for the Alzheimer’s Association. Mary’s bike ride, however, is not quite what it seems. The “coast-tocoast” event was the brainstorm of caregivers at Village House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Newport, who are constantly seeking ways to motivate
Diamandes and the Village House staff knew the bike ride for charity was perfect for her, though she hadn’t cycled in years. Not only would it benefit the Alzheimer’s Association and her health, but if successful, Diamandes hopes the challenge will move laterally to other facilities of Village House’s parent company, Health Concepts, Ltd. Health Concepts is a Rhode Island-based company with 12 skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers throughout the state. “That would be great. I think it’s inspiring,” said Camilla Farrell, development director of the Rhode Island Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. “Everyone is trying to find ways to lose weight and exercise and eat healthy and it doesn’t hurt in the fight against Alzheimer’s. Those are all ways of warding off this kind of illness,” she said. Mary concedes that facing the map of the United States while pedaling can be overwhelming. “That map is big when I look at it. But even though I may get a little dis-
Saint Elizabeth Community Where RI seniors come first
Saint Elizabeth Home
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the skilled nursing facility’s residents to reap the benefits of exercise. For Mary, whose home base is Village House, the actual bike trip was out of the question, but her caregivers didn’t let that stop them. With the help of a state-of-the-art NuStep T5XR stationary rehabilitative bike and maps in front of her that track her progress, Mary was “biking through Essex, Connecticut” with Blake Shelton singing through her earphones at press time. No shrinking violet, Mary is the president of the Village House Resident Council. According to Damon Diamandes, a registered nurse who is part of the facility’s nursing staff, the active resident participates in anything competitive. Taking into account her generous spirit and competitive edge,
November 2013
couraged at times, I say to myself, ‘I’m going to do it.’ I just keep thinking … Ellen.” “If it was just for her, it may be hard to stick with, but she loves the idea of doing something for someone else,” said Diamandes. “She’s going to do it. She’s committed.” Those wishing to sponsor Mary Burke’s bike ride across America to benefit the Rhode Island chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association can do so by sending a check made payable to the “Alzheimer’s Association” to Village House, 70 Harrison Avenue, Newport, RI 02840. Please note “Bike for Burke” on the memo portion of the check.
Affordable apartments for seniors Warwick: 739-7700 Saint Elizabeth Community offers a full spectrum of care and services for older adults in Rhode Island, ensuring they receive the right care in the right place at the right time. To learn how we can help you or someone you love, call us at 471-6060 or one of the numbers above.
www.stelizabethcommunity.org www.facebook.com/SaintElizabethCommunity A non-profit, nonsectarian 501(c)(3) charitable organization and CareLink partner.
PrimeTime | 11
volunteering
b y jim bers o n CEO and President of the YMCA of Greater Providence.
Volunteer Value What do you think of when you think about volunteerism – Peace Corps, Salvation Army? Actually, I hope you think of the YMCA, and the wide range of opportunities we have for volunteers. Did you know that in 1861, a conference with President Abraham Lincoln led to the full-scale recruitment of YMCA volunteers? Eventually numbering 5,000, members of the U.S. Christian Commission served as surgeons, nurses and chaplains during the Civil War. The volunteers distributed medical supplies, food and clothing, and taught soldiers to read and write. Ever since these early days of the YMCA, volunteers have been the lifeblood of our organization here at the YMCA of Greater Providence and across our international movement. Just recently, I learned about the efforts of one volunteer, a woman named Jose-
phine, who is an avid seamstress and has been sewing both curtains and, more recently, re-upholstering chairs at our Cranston branch. Josephine is in her late 80s and uses a walker when she comes to the Y. Like Josephine, many in our communities find that volunteering for and at the Y is a way to connect to others, serve their community and find fulfillment. As a former Y volunteer myself, I know firsthand the power of volunteering, both in terms of the impact on others and on oneself. Today, our YMCA is incredibly fortunate to have a dedicated core of volunteers who serve countless hours on our boards and in our programs. Each one of these individuals makes an incredible impact on our Y – by the lives they touch and by the spirit they share with our members, program participants and
Find the
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mail entries to:
ACTUAL Beacon Communications SIZE 1944 Warwick Ave., Warwick, RI 02889 attn: I Found It! or send an e-mail to: donnaz@rhodybeat.com Entry Deadline: November 30, 2013 Name__________________________________________________________________________________ Address_ ______________________________________________________________________________ Phone#________________________________________________________________________________ e-mail__________________________________________________________________________________
12 | PrimeTime
our staff. What is most amazing is how thankful so many of our volunteers are to serve our Y. It seems backwards to me … why are volunteers thanking us? Shouldn’t I be thanking them? I would be remiss in not acknowledging the volunteering that our staff does as well. Volunteering, you may ask? Yes, many of our employees serve as volunteers in community and civic organizations throughout the Greater Providence area and in the communities where they live. Just the other week, 20 Y employees and their families and friends spent an entire day harvesting vegetables at a nearby farm for delivery to the Rhode Island Food Bank. Of our three pillars, youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, it is this last pillar that receives the least attention across our movement. Efforts in Providence and across the nation are underway to change this, with
“Don’t ever question the value of volunteers. Noah’s Ark was built by volunteers; the Titanic was built by professionals.” - unknown
a national YMCA focus on encouraging and supporting our members to become active volunteers in their communities to improve the overall health of all our communities. Unleashing the power of volunteering across Rhode Island holds the hope to transform our communities through the service of others and the inter-connectedness of ourselves. Volunteers at the Y helps all our kids achieve. So let me thank all of those who volunteer for or on behalf of the YMCA. You have made our organization and our communities a better place for all. And if you are not a volunteer at this point in your life, I hope you will consider lending your talents to an organization that would be thrilled to have you. I know I would be excited to have more volunteers involved with us; that is what makes the YMCA.
Volunteer ANIMALS Hands That Heal RI (HTHRI) is a volunteer, 501(c)(3)
registered non-profit organization that provides financial assistance for veterinary care to low-income families, senior citizens and homeless pet owners. By providing low-cost veterinary care, HTHRI improves the health and well-being of pet owners and the animals in their lives. Ways to help: Collecting / transporting donations, telephone work, grooming / bathing, writing skills, fundraising and accounting. Call 401-647-2702 or go to www.handsthathealri.org
American Lab Rescue is an all-breed rescue group spe-
cializing in Labrador and Labrador mixes. American Lab Rescue is an allvolunteer, 501c3 non-profit organization devoted to helping homeless dogs from puppy to senior age find their loving forever homes. American Lab Rescue is always in need of volunteers. Work from the comfort of your home or help us in the field. Either way your time and effort is greatly appreciated. All positions are non paid. Must be 18 yrs of age or older. www.americanlabrescue.com
Potter League – Paws to Pet PROGRAM
Amazingly, just pausing a few minutes to pet and gently converse with a frighten cat makes his or her day. We have seen dramatic results from this simple program. Volunteers are assigned to our neediest cats. Interactions between cats and volunteers have helped cats adjust to shelter life much more quickly – making them more relaxed and attractive to our adopters. If you are interested in learning more about this program or any of the many other volunteer programs, call 401 846-8276 or volunteer@PotterLeague.org
November 2013
volunteering
by JOHN GROW
It’s not all about the ‘Benjamins’ A few weeks ago when the leaves were just beginning to cover lawns all across Rhode Island, a group of very special people came together at Buttonwoods Community Center, in Warwick, to connect, or reconnect, with one another, and to talk about one of their favorite subjects: volunteering. “Some of our hardest workers are here today,” said Tanisha Simpson, who has been Director of Westbay Community Action RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program), for just the past year. “What they do is unbelievable,” she said. “We have one man who volunteers to drive seniors to medical appointments. He must go 400 miles every month. And you know, he doesn’t want anybody to make a big deal out of it.” “There will be a lot of people here today who feel that way,” Patty Martucci, Volunteer Coordinator for RSVP. “They don’t want any special attention. If you ask them I’m sure they’ll just say they get more out of being a volunteer than they put in.” “It’s nothing material,” Tanisha added. “For me, and I think for most people, it’s the feeling you get when you help someone. Usually it begins the first time you’re doing something for someone and they look at you and smile. “That one smile and you’re hooked,” she said. Nationally, RSVP is the largest volunteer network
for people 55 or over. It lets people use the skills and talents built over a lifetime, or learn new ones by serving in a variety of activities helping others. Westbay is one of nine RSVP’s serving Rhode Island. Tanisha and Patty are the two people coordinating the activities of well over 500 volunteers working on a wide variety of projects and they always need more people. Besides transportation, RSVP volunteers help with Medicare issues, preparing income taxes, and dozens of other essential activities for the elderly or disabled. They operate Working Wardrobe, a place to help people getting back into the workforce dress for success. They staff senior and community centers and help organize functions throughout the area. “We’re busy all the time, but even more so during the Holidays,” Tanisha said. “I think we need to take a breather once in a while, just relax for a couple of hours and have some fun. That’s what we’re doing here this afternoon. “Then once we get through the winter I like to get us all together for a big party. Last Spring we had a great meal at Nino’s on Lake Tiogue. I think almost 200 people were there. We share what we’re doing, reconnect with each other and have a few laughs,” she said. “You know – smile.”
It’s about the smiles
Leah Finucane (left) has been a volunteer for the last four years, Ann Gallogly for the past 16, and Faye Mitchell for three, but she used to do it five times a week. They became good friends working once a week at the Pilgrim Senior Center, even though they don’t all work the same days.
SHARING STORIES AND IDEAS: Several dozen Westbay Community Action RSVP volunteers got together for a not so quiet lunch last month to get ready for their version of the Holiday Rush.
Kathy Carr has been volunteering every week for the past five years. “There’s nothing like the feeling you get when you help someone.”
Tanisha Simpson (left) and Patty Martucci match the programs to the volunteers for RSVP; Tanisha as Director and Patty as Coordinator. But once in a while, they say, it’s time to throw a party.
Sonia Healey staffs Working Wardrobe on Buttonwood Ave., Warwick, every Wednesday, where women and men can get clothing to help them enter or reenter the work force. She’s a 9 year volunteer.
Edla Fortin volunteers every week while still keeping books for Columbus Door Co., in Warwick. Now 85, she said she did take some time off...back in 1987.
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November 2013
PrimeTime | 13
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Are You at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes or Pre-diabetic? Enroll in the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program to help reduce your risk of diabetes and improve your overall health. Call Joni Bloom at the YMCA of Greater Providence at 401-427-1843 for information. There’s so much more to the Y than you realized!
14 | PrimeTime
November 2013
• Personal Care • Homemaking • Errands • Shopping • Doctors Visits • Available 24/7
spotlight business on
Scandinavian Home
Undergoing major renovations to better serve the community It’s another busy day at the Scandinavian Home in Cranston. The halls and common rooms are bustling with activity. The stationary bikes are spinning in the therapy room and the residents here are busily engaged in their daily routines. The hammers and drills are also busy at the Scandinavian Home these days as a major transformation is underway at this residential and rehab center, situated between Warwick Avenue and Broad Street. That’s right, the Scandinavian Home is getting a makeover! The Scandinavian Home, which consists of a Skilled Nursing Facility and Assisted Living center, has been serving the community for over 80 years. With a capacity of seventy-four beds in their skilled nursing unit, and 35 spacious apartments in their assisted living center, this neighborly home has been accommodating seniors and patients recuperating from surgery or injuries for decades. As Admissions Coordinator Trisha Hall says of the Scandinavian Home: “This is a close knit community. We are like one big family here, which is really wonderful and just as it should be.” Summer of 2013 marked the beginning of big changes here at the Scandinavian Home as the first shovel of earth was broken to commence massive renovations. No one could be more excited for these changes than the residents and staff here, all of whom have been considered and consulted as the plans have been developed. The goal here is to update both the entire Skilled Nursing Facility and parts of the Assisted Living area, literally from floor to ceiling. New floors are being laid throughout the building, and walls painted with fresh coats of color and vibrancy. All of the bedrooms are being modernized with new furniture, floors, lighting, artwork and even flat-screen TVs! The bathrooms are being renovated with all new fixtures, and the tub rooms will be upgraded to feel more “spa-like”. The therapy room and gym areas are also being remodeled and expanded to accommodate the growing needs of the center’s rehabilitation patients who come here to enjoy a restful and therapeutic recovery. The nurses’ stations are being improved to provide more efficiency and privacy for residents, family members and staff alike. Even the common gathering areas and dining rooms will see major changes, including a newly expanded dining room in the Assisted Living center which, upon completion, will have a comfortable pub/ lounge area for social events, evening cocktails and more. Finally, the outside areas are being given a facelift with meditative gardens, soothing water features and larger patio spaces. While the hammers are swinging and the buildings are being transformed, something that has not changed at the Scandinavian Home is the quality and nature of care afforded the residents and patients who live here. There is no amount of construction or upheaval that will diminish this mission and purpose. For more information, call the Assisted Living Community (50 Warwick Avenue) at 461-1433 or the Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Center (1811 Broad Street) at 461-1444. To follow the progress of the renovations, log on to their website at www.scandinavianhome.com or “like” them on facebook.
Caring - Confidential - Competent
921-5644 2181 Post Road, Warwick For more information call
www.cowesetthomecare.com
Scandinavian Home, inc. skilled nursing & rehabilitation center 1811 Broad Street, Cranston, RI 02905
401-461-1433
assisted living community
50 Warwick Avenue, Cranston, RI 02905
401-461-1444
A Community Built with Care! The plans for major and exciting renovations are on display for residents and guests alike at the Scandinavian Home in Cranston. November 2013
www.ScandinavianHome.com
Non-Profit - Founded in 1930
PrimeTime | 15
b y J essica B o telh o
PEOPLE AND PLACES
f or Jessie Lasting Memories New Traditions
Here is a small sample of
soup kitchens
in our state:
Bristol Good Neighbors Soup Kitchen
378 Hope Street, Bristol The Soup Kitchen has been in operation for over 23 years. We serve breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday. All of our services are free of charge. For more details, or to volunteer, call Arthur at 401254-0726. bristolgoodneighbors.org.
Welcome House of South County
is comprised of the Emergency Shelter, seven other buildings providing transitional and permanent housing, and a Soup Kitchen that provided thousands of meals each year to the communities of South County. 8 North Road, Peace Dale 401-782-4770
St. Charles Soup Kitchen
Starting new holiday traditions best for grieving hearts The holidays are a time of year when people often turn to traditions for comfort and joy. But for families who have recently lost loved ones, and individuals who are experiencing financial strife, holiday traditions seem a bit daunting. For me, anxiety about Thanksgiving is rapidly building. Last year, my great-aunt Jessie had a heart attack at my parents’ home shortly after we finished dinner. Paramedics rushed her out of our home to the hospital, where she passed away within days. She died too young, in my opinion. Aunt Jessie was only 81. I’m not looking forward to Turkey Day, as I’ve convinced myself that something bad will happen again. Aside from that, it seems odd – and disrespectful – to celebrate a holiday that we now remember as a tragic event. How can we enjoy a meal that reminds us of such a horrific incident? Is it possible? Aunt Jessie was one of the few family members of her generation still living in the Botelho clan. While we once had a table surrounded by grandparents and great-aunts and uncles, they are mostly gone. But we know they are looking down on us from heaven, and maybe it’s time to do something different that will make them proud. According to Web.MD, one of the best ways to battle holiday depression is to make new family traditions. Gloria Pope, director of advocacy and public policy at the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance in Chicago, told Web. MD that it’s best for grieving families to create a tradition that’s more meaningful and personal. So, instead of gathering around a table chock full of food, I’m working on convincing my loved ones to volunteer at a soup kitchen. There are plenty of places in Rhode Island that feed the hungry on Thanksgiving, as well as many other days of the year. A simple Google search proves that. It’s just a matter of choosing one, along with swaying my family. It’s not easy to break tradition. We are used to enjoying what we call “Thanksgiving Soup” on the morning of Turkey Day, which is really just chicken soup, before heading to church. After Mass, my brother and I stuff celery with cream cheese before setting the table, while our mother arranges a variety of side dishes and checks on the bird, usually a 20-plus-pounder, and our father mashes the potatoes with a precision he has mastered through the years. But making all that amazing food for just a handful of people seems wrong. Still, it doesn’t mean that we won’t honor the holiday, as well as Aunt Jessie and our family members we’ve lost. After the soup kitchen, we’ll likely head to one of her favorite restaurants and feel grateful for everything we have. This holiday season, as family gatherings, parties and shopping obligations create stress; think about stepping outside typical traditions. Make new ones, along with new memories, just in time for the New Year.
16 | PrimeTime
178 Dexter Street, Providence Call the Holy Apostles parish office for more information. 401-946-5586
The Pawtucket Soup Kitchen
is a non-profit organization serving the homeless and low-income population. The Pawtucket Soup Kitchen is housed in the basement of St. Joseph’s Church, with entrance in the rear of the Church, near the parking lot. The Soup Kitchen serves breakfast and supper five days a week, and brunch on Saturday. 195 Walcott Street, Pawtucket 401-256-3446.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center
20 Dr. Marcus F. Wheatland Blvd., Newport 401-846-4828 mlkccenter.org The MLK Community Center is entering its 91st year of continuous service. They are excited to be creating a shared vision of services and programs that will respond to the needs of its neighbors.
The WARM Center
Every day, WARM serves over 100 people in the community Soup Kitchen offering nutritious, free meals to the public twice a day. If you are interested in volunteering at WARM, please contact Joy Cordio at 401-596-WARM 56 Spruce Street, Westerly
AMOS HOUSE
On any given day, Amos House serves over 547 hot meals in the dining hall. Help feed the hungry every day. 401-272-0220 x217 amoshouse.com 415 Friendship Street, Providence
November 2013
b y catherine T erry tayl o r d i re c to r , r i d e p a r t m e n t o f e l d e r l y a f f a i r s
senior
issues
Celebrating Family Caregivers They’re husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, daughters and sons, just doing their job: Taking care of an older spouse or parent, a child with special health care needs, or an adult with a disability – either full-time, or in partnership with other family members or community supports. Family caregivers don’t think of themselves as such. Ask them how they’re doing, and chances are, they’ll answer, “I’m fine.” I’m F.I.N.E.! That stands for Frustrated, Isolated, Numb and Exhausted! So says Alzheimer’s disease advocate and author Joanne Koenig Coste. When the Rhode Island observance of National Family Caregiver Awareness Month kicks off at the State House on Nov. 1, attention will be focused on the very foundation of our state’s system of community-based long-term care: Rhode Island’s unpaid family caregivers, who number close to 200,000. According to the National Family Caregivers Association, the care provided by family caregivers is valued at an estimated $375 billion per year. This is more than twice the $158 billion annu-
ally that is spent on nursing home care and home care services combined. The value of the care provided by Rhode Island family caregivers is estimated at $1 billion annually. That care, while free to the health care system, can come at an enormous cost to the caregiver. Physical and mental health, finances, employment, and relationships can all suffer due to the strenuous demands of this work. Rhode Islanders can be proud of three very important initiatives that will help the family caregiver do what it takes to meet the needs of their frail, sick or disabled loved ones and keep them at home. First, earlier this year, Congressman Jim Langevin announced that Rhode Island would receive an additional $250,000 to supplement the $750,000 already allocated to fund the CareBreaks program. CareBreaks helps family caregivers arrange for temporary respite, which can include bringing a voluntary or temporary worker into the home, arranging for a loved one to attend a safe and worthwhile day program, or even to stay in an overnight facility for a brief
period of time while the family attends an out-of-state wedding or graduation. To qualify for CareBreaks, you must be a Rhode Island resident caring for an elder, disabled adult or child who cannot not be left at home safely, and not eligible for any other subsidy for respite care. Partner agencies include the Parent Support Network, THE POINT (Rhode Island’s Aging and Disability Resource Center) and the Diocese of Providence. Call THE POINT at 4624444 for more information. Second, on June 26, after a year of work, Lieutenant Governor Roberts and I unveiled the State Plan for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders at the RI Alzheimer’s Association’s “Caregiver’s Journey” conference. The Plan, which can be found at ltgov.ri.state.gov/alz, calls for a number of steps to address the needs of family caregivers: A comprehensive website on resources for caregivers – Opportunities for peer mentoring, as well as networking via social media – Better outreach for and availability of respite opportunities. In the coming months, the workgroup that developed these and many
other recommendations will shape them into an action plan and begin to make them a reality. Finally, in July Governor Chafee signed into law a requirement that state community-based long-term care programs conduct a “caregiver assessment” to ensure that family caregivers are aware of and offered access to supports, to avoid all-too-common caregiver burnout. During November – National Family Caregiver Month – I encourage you to join in recognizing the essential care that family caregivers provide for our most vulnerable neighbors, often with no break and sometimes with no thanks. Ask a family caregiver how he or she is doing. When the answer comes back, “I’m F.I.N.E.,” offer a little of your time – raking leaves, stopping in with some coffee and conversation, or taking over at home for an hour or two. You can ease a little of that frustration, isolation, numbness and exhaustion, and help keep our family caregivers going.
MEDICARE OPEN ENROLLMENT Now through December 7 It’s time to review your Medicare health and Medicare prescription drug (Part D) plans. Need help to make informed choices for 2014? Talk to a Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP) counselor. To learn more about Medicare Open Enrollment events happening across the state, call the RI Division of Elderly Affairs at 401-462-3000 TTY 401-462-0740. State of Rhode Island Department of Human Services
Division of Elderly Affairs This ad was produced with funding from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
November 2013
PrimeTime | 17
volunteering
b y j o an retsinas
Radio Acting The morning news. Sports. Updates on the stock market. The latest riff on soap opera stars. A mystery, or novel, or nonfiction book. We get countless pleasures from reading. But when people can no longer read, what will give that same pleasure? INSIGHT Radio will.
Typically, a 350-page novel will take 10 to 15 readings. Twice a week, for two hours a stint, Jim goes to the Jefferson Boulevard headquarters of INSIGHT to pick up the microphone and a book. He just started his 118th novel, “Daddy’s Little Girl,” by Mary Higgins Clark. Jim reads fluently, clearly and gives accented words their correct accent, foreign words their correct pronunciation. To differentiate characters in dialogue, he will shift a voice. Sometimes he will tell the audience: “For this particular story, accents will be used occasionally,” to remind readers that a story is set in a specific country. When he read a story of an Irishman visiting America, he used accents to distinguish the key character. Jim’s fluency with making dialogue come alive is no surprise: Jim has long acted in community theater. He has appeared in plays at the Barker, the Academy Players, and the Pawtucket Community Players. He has played dramatic roles (in C.P. Good’s harrowing play “Good,” he played a literature professor who became a concentration camp leader), comedic roles, and musical roles (in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Carousel,” he played the scheming Jigger). In some productions, he has played the piano. In fact, Jim heard about INSIGHT Radio from an actor-friend who was a volunteer reader. That friend, who was retiring and moving to Florida, suggested Jim try out. Jim passed the test and has been reading every since. Jim calls reading “an actor’s dream. You get to play all the parts.” He says, “I’m still acting, but there is no audience, and it doesn’t entail nights out.” Jim grew up in Lincoln and Paw-
Seven days a week, 24 hours a day, listeners can tune in to hear a slew of programs, including the Providence Journal (sports, obituaries, major news, local news), the Wall Street Journal, Oprah, a cooking show, Science, the New Yorker, the National Enquirer, Soap Opera Digest, and more. Thanks to 54 volunteer readers, INSIGHT Radio links listeners to the world. Jim Kinder is one of those volunteer readers. For 20 years, he has read mostly novels. Initially, a person at INSIGHT picked them; but over time, Jim began to pick his own – ones he scanned beforehand, to know that he would like them, and, just as crucially, that listeners would, too. Some of his favorites: “The Power of One,” by Bryce Courtenay, and “Where the Lilies Bloom,” by Vera and Bill Cleaver (Jim’s first, in 1994). Occasionally he substituted a nonfiction book – for instance, “Endurance,” the tale of Shackelford’s survival in the Antarctic, and “In Harm’s Way: The Sinking of the U.S.S. Indianapolis and the Extraordinary Story of Its Survivors.” But novels remain his forte.
tucket, went to Shea High School (’58), then Rhode Island College (’62), where he majored in education. For five years he taught at Johnston High School, then for the rest of his career in the Seekonk School System. Today he still plays the piano at senior centers. When he picks
up the microphone at INSIGHT, he becomes an actor. The only drawback: “No applause.” But Jim has steady listeners who look forward to the next chapter. He concedes: “I have as much fun reading the books as I did on stage.”
INSIGHT radio operates on a closed circuit. INSIGHT wil receiver. They runs many l supply the radio other programs for peop le with limited vision: Chair caning, vision rehab ilitation classes (includin g classes in money management, cooking, Bra ille though they no longer ne , digital readers), even a book group. Aleds volunteer readers, the y do need drivers who can take clients to ou tings and meetings. For more information, con tact Lucille Gaboriault at 941-3322. Thanks to Rhode Islan d Talking Books Pl us, Rhode Islanders with limited vision can list en to, or read via Braille and Audio Reading Downloads, more than 50, 000 titles, including books , magazines and descriptive DVDs. Talking Bo oks Plus, part of the Rhod e Island Office of Library and Information Ser vices, provides the servic e and the equipment free of charge. Members automatically receive reg ular Digital Talking Books Plus book catalogu es. Individuals, as well as institutions (nursing homes, disability centers, schools, senior centers an d pubic and private libraries), are eligible to pa rticipate. To learn more, contact Tal kin or email them – tbplus@o g Books Plus, 574-9310, TTY 711, lis.ri.gov.
SCOTTUSSIN
®
18 | PrimeTime
November 2013
A GLIMPSE OF RI’S PAST
PEOPLE AND PLACES
h i s t o r y w i t h T e r r y d ’a m ato S p e n c e r
Flying High in the 1930s at Hillsgrove A number of early Rhode Island pilots such as Arthur R. Jones and Kirby Fritz help us to reconstruct the simple flying conditions at the R.I. State Airport in its formative period. Men like Jack McGee and many of the early stunt flyers had a tremendous love for flying and were willing to sacrifice a great deal to help the industry get started. Kirby Fritz, one of Rhode Island’s daring, young men who embraced aviation in its infant stages, has many clear memories of those early years. Learning To Fly By Reading A Book Kirby Fritz was the great-grandson of Charles Perkins, owner of Perkins Horseshoe Company, one of those wealthy businessmen who used Warwick Neck as a summer residence in the 1890s. Kirby Fritz’ family owned a large tract of land on “The Neck” as a result and it was here that Kirby first learned to fly. He spent much of his time from 1919 until 1951 on the family-owned 150-acre farm and he noted, “I had a little runway cut down on our farm where Anglesea is now.” Anglesea is the area developed by ex-Governor Philip Noel in the late 20th century. It was once Dart of the large Kirby farm that had 200 purebred Asher, Guernsey and Jersey cattle and about 1,500 turkeys. It wasn’t long before Kirby Fritz’ daring exploits brought excitement to that early country scene. Life In The Fastlane, Circa 193o It was here, he tells us, that his flying began with a minor misadventure. These were the days when flying was not the serious, highly technical business it was to become later and many regard it as little more than a fad. Kirby had acquired a small plane and tells us, “My mother gave me a bound book on how to fly. I read it and started the plane.” With this meager knowledge, he proceeded to attempt his first solo flight. He tells us, “There was an
apple tree in front, I hit it with a wing, spun around, but didn’t get hurt. That was my introduction to flying. I loved flying for many years.” Bill Nixon, editor of Warwick Neck, notes that Kirby not only used the Anglesea land as one of his airfields but that, “He was also known to take off and land from what is now known as the l2th fairway at the Warwick Country Club.” Nixon comments that Kirby’s many air stories include flights upside down under the Mount Hope Bridge and tells us that Kirby was “living his life in the ‘fast lane’ before most people knew that a ‘fast lane’ existed.” The Days Of “Tin Hangers” Kirby, like Arthur Jones and other pioneers who flew in and out of Hillsgrove, draws us a rather complete picture of the first few years. As he recalls, there was just an open field at the time the R.I. Airport at Hillsgrove was organized by Harry T. Bodwell, who was chairman of the State Airport Commission. Fritz said, “There were no hangers, then eventually, we put up two corrugated steel hangers, which we called ‘tin hangers.’ One was owned by E.W. Wiggins Airways and the other by Wings Inc.” He also recalled a third, which he placed at “the other end of the field near the Hillsgrove Country Club, which was a roller skating rink in the 1990s ... this was a tin hanger, which we had a glider in. That was as far as the airport went at that time.” In 1930, Arthur R. Jones worked in one of those tin hangers, the one owned by Wings, Inc., as a mechanic’s helper at $8 a week. He eventually became the R.I. Chief of Airport Operations. He remembered, “We had student instruction at $30 an hour, charter flights, sight-seeing hops over the city, which were the main source of support.” he added. “We would go out into the parking lot at Hillsgrove Sunday afternoons and sell hops to people who
had never been in a plane before. At the end of each good Sunday, we would have $400 to $500 apiece in our pockets.” The flying garb was as simple as the field itself, as Kirby recalled, “In cabin ships [closed cockpit planes] we wore civilian clothes. We all had camel hair ‘Polo Coats.’ In the open cockpits we wore leather suits with boots and heavy leather gloves, and silk scarves around our necks. We were out there in 20 degrees above and 20 degrees below.” Speeding Along at 65 Miles Per Hour It wasn’t long before all of Rhode Island was affected by the excitement that came with the first successful attempts at flying. George Armitage and his sons started a small shop near the Elizabeth Mills at Hillsgrove, where they began to build airplanes. Allen Bourdon also built planes at Hillsgrove prior to 1929 and his were called “Kitty Hawks.” Later, George Armitage designed a biplane, which was named “Little Chief.” According to a Providence Journal interview with Arthur B. Jones in 1964, “The Little Chief was first test-hopped from a strip in a corner of the present state airport, in back of what was the Blue Moon Diner.” Jones added the information that the Little Chief was “a biplane with a top speed of 65 miles an hour.” He recalled, “There was a landing strip west of the railroad tracks where Bourdon and Armitage had planes take off on test hops.” Jones said that the fastest plane owned by Wings, Inc. in the early 1930s could go 105 miles an hour and charged $50 for a trip to Block Island. He also recalls that Royal Little, founder of Textron, had two planes. Jones remembers that they were, “a Buhl low wing, open cockpit and a Stearman biplane.” Another Rhode Island First When the state airport was dedicated
in September 1931, it was the first stateowned airport in the United States. On Sept. 27, 1931, two air shows at the newly dedicated facility drew a crowd of over 150,000. In January 1933, the state opened its administration and terminal building at 572 Occupasstuxet Road. The structure was designed by the architectural firm of Jackson, Robertson and Adams of Providence. The Rhode Island Historical Preservation Report K-W-1 says, “Architecturally, the original Administration Building is noteworthy for being the first modern style public building erected in this state.” It goes on to say, “The airport building … exhibits an understanding and appreciation of the industrial aesthetic of the International Style.” In the 1990s, the building housed the U.S. Weather Service office and was the first step toward bringing the Hillsgrove facility into the modern age. Kirby Fritz describes it as a small, yellow administration building at the north end of the field. He says, “There was a control tower upstairs and a weather bureau in it with teletype only. They didn’t have computers in those days.” As a pilot, he often went up to get information from the teletype machine on the weather. “You could go up and get the weather for wherever you were going. In those days, we didn’t have any radios.” Fritz’ memory places a number of people in the administration building. He recalls that “Dick Hall ran the tower and also Bob Carroll was there and they had a weather man. Bill Clark, later head of American Airlines and one of its first managers, had his office in the administration building right where the planes came to take on passengers.” The story of the early history of aviation in Rhode Island will be continued.
BANKRUPTCY 985
$
00
Flat Fee
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Payment Plan Available
Attorney David B. Hathaway Former Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Trustee
Senior Discounts November 2013
401-738-3030
ribankruptcy.net PrimeTime | 19
senior
issues
b y C amilla F arrell de ve l op m e n t d i re c to r , a l z h e i m e r ’s association r ho d e i s l a n d c h ap te r
The Brian R. Ott, M.D. Research Symposium Join us for a free and open to the public symposium at the Radisson Hotel in Warwick on Tuesday, Nov. 19. Dr. Jie Shen, professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School, will speak on the topic of “Memory Impairment and Synaptic Dysfunction in Alzheimer’s Disease.” Dr. Shen is at the Center for Neurologic Diseases Brigham and Women’s Hospital program in Neuroscience through Harvard Medical School. Dr. Shen’s research interests focus on the interpretation of the specific causes of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Her studies include a multidisciplinary approach based on the generation and analysis of mouse models. Neuropathological changes in these mice are preceded by a decrease in receptor function and that synaptic dysfunction may trigger neurodegeneration. Based on these and other findings, the novel hypothesis is that these mutations cause Alzheimer’s disease through a loss of function pathogenic mechanism. There will be a reception with appetizers and a cash bar from 5:30 to 6 p.m. and the lecture and question and answer period from 6 to 7:30. The symposium is free, but registration is required. Please respond by Nov. 10 to the Alzheimer’s Association Rhode Island Chapter Office by calling toll-free 800-272-3900. The research symposium lecture is named after our former Board president, Dr. Brian Ott, a well-known neurologist at Rhode Island Hospital.
Upcoming Events: Thursday, November 7
Reason to Hope Luncheon Wannamoisett Country Club, Rumford Join us as a Table Host with your party of 10 for this invigorating and informative fundraising luncheon.
Tuesday, December 3 Culinary Affair Rhodes on the Pawtuxet, Cranston
Enjoy a culinary tasting from our famous health care community chefs. New this year, cooking demonstrations and special samplings.
your taxes
professional perspective
b y meg chevalier
Tax tips if you’re starting a business If you plan to start a new business, or you’ve just opened your doors, it is important for you to know your federal tax responsibilities. Here are five basic tips from the IRS that can help you get started. 1. Type of Business. Early on, you will need to decide the type of business you are going to establish. The most common types are sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, S corporation and Limited Liability Company. Each type reports its business activity on a different federal tax form. 2. Types of Taxes. The type of business you run usually determines the type of taxes you pay. The four general types of business taxes are income tax, self-employment tax, employment tax and excise tax. 3. Employer Identification Number. A business often needs to get a federal EIN for tax purposes. Check IRS.gov to find out whether you need this number. If you do, you can apply for an EIN online. 4. Recordkeeping. Keeping good records will help you when it’s time to file your business tax forms at the end of the year. They help track deductible expenses and support all the items you report on your tax return. Good records will also help you monitor your business’ progress and prepare your financial statements. You may choose any recordkeeping system that clearly shows your income and expenses. 5. Accounting Method. Each taxpayer must also use a consistent accounting method, which is a set of rules that determine when to report income and expenses. The most common are the cash method and accrual method. Under the cash method, you normally report income in the year you receive it and deduct expenses in the year you pay them. Under the accrual method, you generally report income in the year you earn it and deduct expenses in the year you incur them. This is true even if you receive the income or pay the expenses in a future year. For more information, check out the “Business Taxes” page on IRS.gov. From there, review the special section on Starting a Business. Publication 583, Starting a Business and Keeping Records, may also help new business owners with the tax aspects of running a business. The booklet is also available on IRS.gov or by calling 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676).
great food! great prices! great view!
The Alzheimer’s Association Rhode Island Chapter, an affiliate of the National Alzheimer’s Association, is a private, non-profit organization, which was started in 1989 by family caregivers and interested community health care professionals. It provides education, personal support and advocacy around key issues of concern to those coping with Alzheimer’s disease. Programs and services include a phone help line, support groups, training for family members and health care professionals, newsletter, resource library, and special fundraising events. Offices are located at 245 Waterman Street, Suite 306, Providence, RI 02906. Phone: 800-272-3900, Fax 421-0115, Web: www.alz.org /ri.
SEAFOOD • CHICKEN • STEAK • PASTA
Fish & Chips!
Comprehensive Community ACtion progrAms
Family Dental Centers 226 Buttonwoods Avenue Warwick, RI 02886 401-732-9090 20 | PrimeTime
1090 Cranston Street Cranston, RI 02910 401-942-4867
Chowder & Clam Cakes Every Day!
Take OuT Orders WelcOme • smaller POrTiOns available
DAIly SPECIAlS Open 7 days a week 11:30 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.
288 Arnolds Neck Dr., Warwick, RI • 732-6575 LocAteD 1/4 mILe South of AppoNAug 4 coRNeRS
DININg AT ITS bEST!
Enjoy a Harbor View Every Day or Night!
www.crowsnestri.com November 2013
food AND drink
An Autumn Favorite
With autumn here, foodies are thinking about the bevy of fresh foods that symbolize the season. From squash to apples to aromatic seasonings, foods cooked in the fall are awash in flavor. Autumn can be the perfect time to handpick foods from a nearby farmer’s market or orchard. Pumpkin picking is a favorite this time of year. Freshly picked pumpkins can be used to make muffins, breads and, of course, the ubiquitous pumpkin pie. The following recipe for “Ultimate Pumpkin Pie With Rum Whipped Cream” from Ina Garten’s “Barefoot Contessa Foolproof ” (Clarkson Potter) is a spirit-infused take on the classic pumpkin pie recipe. The recipe can be prepared with fresh pumpkin puree or the canned variety found at stores.
Ultimate Pumpkin Pie
with Rum Whipped Cream
1 unbaked Perfect Pie Crust (recipe follows) • Dried beans for blind baking
Filling 1 1/2 1/4 1/2 1/4 1/4 1/2 2 3 1 1/2 2
15-ounce can pumpkin puree (not pie filling) cup light brown sugar, lightly packed cup granulated sugar teaspoon ground cinnamon teaspoon ground ginger teaspoon ground nutmeg teaspoon kosher salt teaspoons grated orange zest extra-large eggs, lightly beaten cup heavy cream cup whole milk tablespoons dark rum Rum Whipped Cream (recipe follows)
Preheat the oven to 425 F. Line an 11-inch pie pan with the unbaked pie crust and place it on a sheet pan. Line the crust with parchment paper. Fill the paper three-quarters full with the beans and bake the crust for 15 minutes, until the edges start to brown. Remove the beans and paper (save the beans for another time), prick the crust all over with the tines of a fork, and bake for another 5 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 F. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk together the pumpkin, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, salt, orange zest, eggs, cream, milk, and rum. Pour the filling into the baked pie shell. Bake for 55 to 65 minutes, until the filling is just set in the middle and knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Set as side to cool completely. Serve with the rum whipped cream.
Rum Whipped Cream 1 3 1 1 1
cup cold heavy cream tablespoons sugar tablespoon mascarpone or creme fraiche tablespoon good dark rum teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Place the cream in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and beat on medium speed for 1 minute. Add the sugar, mascarpone, rum, and vanilla and beat on medium-high until it forms soft peaks. Serve with the pumpkin pie.
November 2013
Perfect Pie Crust 12 3 1 1 1/3 6 ter
tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) very cold unsalted butter cups all-purpose flour teaspoon kosher salt tablespoon sugar cup very cold vegetable shortening to 8 tablespoons (about 1/2 cup) ice wa-
Dice the butter and return it to the refrigerator while you prepare the flour mixture. Place the flour, salt, and sugar in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade and pulse a few times to mix. Add the butter and shortening. Pulse 8 to 12 times, until the butter is the size of peas. With the machine running, pour the ice water down the feed tube and pulse the machine until the dough begins to form a ball. Dump out on a floured board and roll into a ball. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Cut the dough in half. Roll each piece on a well-floured board into a circle, rolling from the center to the edge, turning and flouring the dough to make sure it doesn’t stick to the board. Fold the dough in half, place in a pie pan, and unfold to fit the pan. Repeat with the top crust.
PrimeTime | 21
Volunteer Environment The Nature Conservancy of Rhode Island
needs your help! The Conservancy owns and manages over 7,000 acres of land. We rely on volunteers to help with stewardship and monitoring of our nature preserves. As a Friend of the Preserves, you can contribute in a variety of ways: Preserve Monitoring: Volunteering is as easy as taking a walk in the woods! Only your eyes and ears are needed. Visit a preserve at least once per month to monitor its condition and report any problems. Help keep our properties well-maintained for everyone’s enjoyment. Volunteer Workdays: Help the Conservancy’s Preserve Managers maintain trails, parking areas and bog bridges, assist in habitat restoration, remove invasive species, and much more. Shorebird Protection and Education: Help educate beach visitors about rare shorebirds that nest at Goosewing Beach Preserve. Assist in data collection of nesting shorebirds and recreational beach use. No experience necessary, training provided. Go to www.nature.org for more information
Save The Bay, Inc. is leading advocate for the conservation of
Narragansett Bay and Southeastern New England’s coastal waters. Volunteers are needed for everything from office duties to counting baby scallops. Save The Bay’s South Coast Center is seeking volunteers to staff the site and help care for the marine creatures and their tanks, answer phones, and help visitors. Email volunteer@savebay.org, call 401.272.3540 x 130 or try our online registration savebay.org
ImmedIate CrematIon ServICe
$995.00 This service includes: Collation of information, one person transfer of remains to funeral home, use of facilities for mandatory waiting period, preparation of remains (not embalming), cremation container, transfer of remains to crematory, securing death certificate and filing of certificate with appropriate town or city, and crematory fee.
Route 44 • Greenville Common Greenville, RI (401) 949-0180 andersonwinfield.net
22 | PrimeTime
November 2013
MENTOR from Page 6 says that was one of the best e-mails she ever received. Their friendship was restored and they reconnected. As for the relationship between Belvin and Markrush today, it is a great friendship. Belvin recently shared with Markrush a diary she had kept of their first year together as mentor and mentee. “I finally understand the things that were going through her mind,” said Markrush. She can also understand Belvin more because of her role as a mentor to two young girls enrolled at Warwick Neck Elementary. Although she has only been a mentor for about a year, Markrush does hope to have a long-term relationship with her mentees. “I hope we have the same relationship,” said Markrush. “I also hope one of them becomes a mentor one day.” Although she has high hopes for the future of her mentees, Markrush is focused on their relationship today. “I hope they know they can come to me and talk to me,” she said. She said she can really connect and talk with her mentee who is in the fourth grade, and is still building her relationship with the other mentee, who is only in the first grade. This is her first year with her. “I feel young when I’m with her,” said Markrush with a smile. Belvin says she enjoys seeing Markrush at mentoring events (Belvin is still a mentor to one young student at Warwick Neck Elementary) and that the two can now share the experience of being mentors. “We share the same experiences, and now I have my own bag of tricks,” said Markrush. “I feel like we’ve come full circle. She’s a special friend; like the daughter I never had,” said Belvin. “I’m so proud; so proud of the woman she’s become.” After 17 years, Markrush has also finally been introduced to Belvin’s family. Because the mentoring program takes place during school hours, that was never possible until now. “Ever since we reconnected, it’s been really good. We have a really good relationship,” said Markrush. “I really feel like I can talk to her about life things going on with me.” During the PSA shoot, both women were clearly nervous to go on camera for a national spot. But they had each other. While Belvin was filming her interview, Markrush watched the monitor, silently cheering her former mentor on. And during filming breaks, Markrush offered a friendly piece of advice. “Smile!” she shouted to her friend across the room. It is clear that over the past 17 years, Belvin and Markrush have created a special friendship that they will soon share with the rest of the world.
November 2013
scenes from the expo
g n i v senior Li expo P r i m e T i m e Ma g a z i ne
, 2013
9 ctobert O , y a d s ne
Wed
Warwick
Mall thank you to our sponsors
and all who participated. See you next year! calendar
of
w ww.bcbsri.com
events
83rd Annual Armenian Holiday Shopping Event Proud Sponsor of the Stadium Theatre Christmas P r i m e T i m e M a g a z i n e Food Fair & Bazaar Elks Lodge Stadium Theatre Performing Arts Centre Egavian Cultural Center November 23, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. November 30 – 7:30 PM November 9-10. Free Admission Free Admission. Skip the malls and get a Holiday spectacular featuring big band www.ArmenianFoodFairRI.com head start on all your holiday shopping E X P Omusic, scenes from The Nutcracker and 70 Jefferson St., Providence 272-7712 with unique items from local artisans and Christmas traditions. vendors. 28 Monument Square, Woonsocket 401“Sing Away Hunger” Family Concert 60 Belmont Ave., Wakefield 218-2197 762-4545 www.stadiumtheatre.com Lincoln School Auditorium November 16, 2013, 11 am and 2 pm Mariner Marketplace The Saint Antoine Community ChristAdmission: $10 general; $15 reserved. Narragansett Elementary School mas Tree Jubilee. Grammy Award winner Bill Harley joins November 23, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. The Jubilee will be December 5-7 at the N.E. singer/storyteller Keith Munslow. All Free Admission. Nearly 100 artists and Villa at Saint Antoine, 400 Mendon Road proceeds benefit the Rhode Island Comvendors. Something for everyone! in North Smithfield. Miss Rhode Island, munity Food Bank. 55 Mumford Rd., Narragansett 792-9400 Jessica Marfeo, will appear on Saturday, 301 Butler Avenue, Providence. 230-1674 performing holiday favorites and also www.rifoodbank.org/BillandKeith Annual Christmas Shopping Stroll reading holiday stories to the children Block Island and anyone young at heart. Bazaar on Broadway November 23-25. Visit all of your favor400 Mendon Road, North Smithfield. Paul Cuffee School behind Church of St. ite Island retail shops, take advantage of For more info: www.christmastreejubilee.com Mary. November 23-24. Free Admission incredible sales, and possibly win one of Unique gifts, decorations and more. Call the many fabulous raffle prizes. 800 383274-3434 for more info. 2474 blockislandchamber.com 30 Barton St., Providence www.stmaryonbroadway.org East Greenwich Holiday Stroll Main Street East Greenwich - November 4th Annual MS Holiday Bazaar 30. 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. Come shop local and The 4th Annual MS Holiday Bazaar to supenjoy the festivities hosted by the Main port the National Multiple Sclerosis SociStreet Merchant’s Committee. 401-884ety’s Rhode Island Chapter – Nov. 23, at 9333 www.facebook.com/EGCCRI the Shriner’s Masonic Center in Cranston. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Contact Meredith Sheehan at Meredith.Sheehan@nmss.org or 7388383 for info.
Living
SENIOR
PrimeTime | 23
lifestyles
wHAT DO YOU FINK?
letters
by MIKE FINK
Lilypads & Dragonflies We rented a battered metal skiff at the Gilbert Stuart Birthplace in North Kingstown and wended our curving waterway among the lilypads with the dragonflies hovering over them toward the secluded pond. We were two couples, my wife and I and our son Reuben and his lady friend Laura Nelson. I did most of the rowing, but Reuben did most of the swimming. He likes to leap and jump and he dove off the dull silvery vessel and cavorted in the deep brackish water. I joined him but had trouble getting back aboard. Reuben had to pull my arms and I hit my ribcage on the seat. Not much harm done! Anyway, Reuben spent the summer of his high school junior year as a volunteer at the Gilbert Stuart Mill Museum. He explained the furnishings in the dwelling, from kitchen to bedroom to studio, as well as the machinery, such as it was, in the snuff factory structure. With his classmates he made a film version of his guide lecture, on site, with one big scene of me rowing around the Narrow River that gave energy to the millstones grinding away. I claim that my career began exactly at this spot: my arms and hands turning the paddles this way and that represented my thoughts as I twisted from my past in
various schools toward my career as a professor at an art school: RISD, of course. I was merely following the path of our collective mentor, Gilbert Stuart himself, painting portraits that defined our founding culture. Reuben used the volunteer work he did and the video account and record of it as his major evidence for college application. Throughout his undergraduate semesters, he continued to do volunteer work within our shorelines. He served as a tour guide at the Elms in Newport, with an emphasis on the servants’ quarters in the mansions. He focussed on the preparations for picnics on the beach, the laundry requirements for dressy occasions in those upper class vacation days. He also lectured on the sculpture in both garden and upon terraces, done mostly by skillful Italian artist-immigrants dwelling nearby within Newport. In many ways, it has seemed to me, volunteer contributions of one’s time and energy constitute an intrinsic part of higher education. Reuben spent his senior semester in Spain, but his roots in Rhode Island were nourished by those months of teaching tourists something of the spiritual wealth of our colony, our state, our mission of Hope and of Memory.
Elderly Housing Must be 62 years of age or older. Rents are based on 30% of adjusted household income. FEATURES InclUdEd In yoUR REnT: Heat, Hot Water, Appliances, Elevators, Emergency Pull Cords, Laundry Facilities, Parking, Intercom, 24-Hour Emergency Maintenance Service, Cable Ready Apartments, Community Room equipped with Computer, Out Door Patio and Furniture, Flower Gardens, On-Site
Management
FEATURES noT InclUdEd In yoUR REnT: Electric Lights,
Monthly Cable & Phone
AdElAntE Apts. Providence, RI AllEgriA Court Johnston, RI
The Birthday Gift My mother, Beatrice Wattman Miller, turned 100 years old on September 18, 2013. When she turned 16, a would-be suitor came to her fancy Sweet Sixteen Party on the East Side, bearing a gift. It was a sansevieria plant, a member of the lily family, with showy, variegated green pointy leaves. Mother was appalled. She often said to us what a silly gift that was to bring to a 16year-old girl’s party. I have to tell you, however, that the plant has spent the last 84 years with Mother. She still waters it and ties up its tall leaves in the blinds’ cord so they won’t topple over. And she certainly still remembers that Morris brought it to her. And so do we, her children. Although she later married Meyer S. Miller, and both he and Morris died many years ago, the plant and she still live on together. I’d bet he’d chuckle to know that. – Caryl-Ann Miller Nieforth
Beatrice Wattman Miller
lACAsA Apts. S. Kingstown, RI
• ApArtments AvAilAble •
plAzA EspErAnzA Apts. West Warwick, RI sAugAtuCkEt springs Hopkinton, RI
• ApArtments AvAilAble •
WildbErry Apts. West Warwick, RI rodMAn CoMMons South Kingstown, RI • ApArtments AvAilAble •
HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES CORPORATION 861A Broad Street Providence, RI
401-941-2900 www.wdchoc.org 24 | PrimeTime
to the editor
Generations celebrating at the 100th birthday party –
daughter Caryl-Ann Miller Nieforth, 100-year-old Beatrice Wattman Miller, granddaughter Deb Bloomberg, & great-granddaughter Lindsey Bloomberg
PrimeTime values the opinions of its readers and wants your feedback -positive and negative. Whether you want to share your story, drop a line of thanks to one of our writers or you disagree with something in the magazine, we want to hear from you. Letters, comments or questions can be sent directly to LindaN@rhodybeat.com or by mail to: PrimeTime Magazine, 1944 Warwick Avenue, Warwick, RI, 02889 attn: Letter to Editor
November 2013
retirement sparks
lifestyles
b y elaine m . decker
Go Ahead...Make His Day! When I was young, let’s say in my 20s and early 30s, I was fly. And, truth be told, pretty hot. Lunchtime often saw me out and about in midtown Manhattan in miniskirts and high heels. It was not unusual for construction workers to make admiring comments, catcalls and an occasional suggestion that cannot be repeated here. Actually, most of the comments can’t be repeated here, either. Looking back, I realize that it felt good to be appreciated, regardless of the source and the questionable choice of descriptives. Unless my memory has huge gaps, decades went by without any catcalls. The only appreciative comments I remember from my 40s and 50s were compliments on my perfume. I got those quite regularly, from both men and women. The men often asked the name of it, so they could buy it for their wives or girlfriends. It was Issey, by Issey Miyake, by the way, and my niece is the one who hooked me on it, having gifted it to me one Christmas. Then there was one memorable encounter about six years ago, while I was still working as the executive director of
Saint Elizabeth Court seniors ride the Carousel
a Rhode Island non-profit organization. Once a year, I spent a few days at a local senior center that had what was called an RSVP operation. The center received a government grant in exchange for providing free help with bulk mailings for non-profit groups. The women who frequented the center did the folding, assembling and stuffing. I checked in periodically to replenish materials and to make sure things were being done according to spec. I was usually dressed in what would best be described as casual business wear – a soft skirt and blouse or sweater. One day as I was leaving, I crossed paths with an elderly gentleman; he was probably in his 80s. He said something complimentary, even flirtatious – I can’t recall exactly what – and I smiled and thanked him. I would have hugged him, but one has to worry about the tickers in older gents. I was reminded of this encounter recently as I was about to pull out of a Home Depot parking lot. A man in his late 50s, or perhaps his 60s – I can’t tell ages anymore – was walking from his car
to the store. He was balding. Actually, he was almost completely bald. He had a bit of a paunch, but not a sloppy one; his golf-type shirt was tucked neatly into his belted sports slacks. With spine erect, he walked purposefully through the lot. He looked confident, but not arrogant. I was so impressed to see someone of this vintage (that is, close to my own) with good posture and energy that I almost rolled down my car window to say something to him. “Looking good!” Or perhaps, “I admire your posture and the way you walk so briskly.” I wasn’t sure what I should say, so instead, I just drove away. Besides, I was afraid he’d think I was hitting on him. (I’m not fly anymore, so it’s unlikely he would have considered my attentions flattering.) Before I even reached the street, I regretted that I didn’t pay him a compliment. He deserved it. He had earned one. I knew that fly or not, anything I would have said would have lifted the spirits of this seemingly ordinary man. I could have made his day, but instead I chickened out. That’s when I remembered the
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Korean War Veterans Korean Service Veterans Meetings held 2nd Wednesday of every Month Saint Elizabeth Court resident, Peg
Masse, 81, formerly of Pawtucket, enjoys a recent outing to Riverside’s Crescent Park including a ride on the carousel. A group of residents took a trip to the park, made some new memories, and reminisced about visiting the park when younger. They ended their visit with a ride on the Carousel.
Chepachet Senior Center, Rte. 44
Saint Elizabeth Court is an assisted living residence in Providence and a member of Saint Elizabeth Community, a non-profit, non-sectarian charitable organization.
KWVA – Chapter 3
November 2013
senior gent who had perked me up a few years back. I should have followed his lead and paid it forward. So, here’s my advice to everyone reading this. If you see someone who looks good or is doing something nice, go ahead … make his day! Let him (or her) know that you’ve noticed. “Way to rock it!” “You look mah-velous!” (à la Billy Crystal.) “You smell awesome!” “Love your shoes!” “Somebody’s been working out!” I could go on, but you get the idea. Are you too shy to speak up to a stranger? Then give them a big smile, or just a head nod. You’d be surprised how easy it can be to lift someone’s spirits for a few hours, or even for the entire day. Try it. I promise it will make you feel good, too. By the way, you look great today! Copyright 2013 Business Theatre Unlimited
Elaine M. Decker’s latest book, “Retirement Sparks Again,” follows her first two books, “Retirement Sparks” and “CANCER: A Coping Guide.” All are available at Books on the Square, the Brown University bookstore, and Spectrum-India, on the East Side of Providence, and on Amazon.com, including Kindle editions. Contact her at: emdecker@ix.netcom.com.
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CLUES ACROSS 1. Horse drawn carriages 5. Cathode-ray tube 8. Ribosomal ribonucleic acid 12. Marbles playing stone 14. Zodiacal lion 15. Whale ship captain 16. Hit the sack 18. Hostelry 19. People of southern India 20. Four 21. Male workforce 22. March 15 23. Food lifter 26. Copy 30. De Mille (dancer) 31. Overcharged 32. Conducted 33. Pronouncements 34. Flemish names of Ypres 39. Denotes three 42. Root source of tapioca 44. Animal track 46. Backed away from 47. Neighborhood canvas 49. Pigeon-pea plant 50. Nursing group 51. Within reach 56. Turkish brandy 57. Metal food storage container 58. Batten down 59. Assist in wrongdoing 60. Old world, new 61. Rust fungus spore cases 62. A way to wait 63. Point midway between S and SE 64. Adam and Eve’s third son
CLUES DOWN 1. Has two wheels 2. “A Death in the Family” novelist 3. Fabric stuffing 4. Mix in a pot 5. Move up a mountain 6. Replenishment 7. Weight of a ship’s cargo 8. Flightless birds with flat breastbones 9. Scholarship bequester Cecil 10. Consumer advocate Ralph 11. Overgarments 13. Terminator 17. Derive 24. Angry 25. Imprudent 26. Rural Free Delivery (abbr.) 27. __ Lilly, drug company 28. Chest muscle (slang) 29. Lease 35. Point midway between E and SE 36. Cool domicile 37. First woman 38. Radioactivity unit 40. Revolves 41. Incongruities 42. ___-Magnon: early European 43. Indefinitely long periods 44. Saturated 45. Mannerly 47. Abu __, United Arab Emirates capital 48. Move rhythmically to music 49. Cheerless 52. 4 highest cards 53. Criterion 54. Person from U.K. (abbr.) 55. Affirmative! (slang)
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