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I will lend to you for awhile a puppy, God said, For you to love him while he lives & to mourn for him when he is gone. Maybe for twelve or fourteen years, or maybe for two or three. But will you, till I call him back, take care of him for me?
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Russell Nadeau
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Rehabilitating fighting survivors and shelter dogs
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b y M ichael C erio
Pet Insurance
Peace of Mind for the 4-Legged Member of Your Family As I was thinking how I’d introduce this month’s feature, I began contemplating some witty way I’d incorporate the fact that healthcare remains one of the country’s most talked about and divisive topics. But the more I considered it, the more it just didn’t feel right. After all, if it’s such a hot button issue, why fan the flames, even in light spirits? Instead, I’ve opted to share a personal experience with a dog my wife and I rescued a number of years back; it’s a story that can still be difficult to recount. I’ll never forget where I was when the phone rang that Tuesday morning in September 2008. I was standing in the board room of a former office and preparing for a meeting when my day (and the subsequent months) would be thrown for an emotional loop. We had taken our beloved beagle/foxhound mix, Lola, to the vet the previous day for her annual exam, including blood work. Lola was an amazing animal and seemingly in great health; she’d spend her days chasing squirrels and was one heck of a lake swimmer—never giving the slightest hint she was without an extra gear of energy that would make other dogs jealous. On the other end of the phone, our vet told me Lola’s blood work had come back extremely anemic, likely from the onset of kidney failure, and that we needed to come back in to discuss testing and treatment options. I felt like I had just been punched in the gut and still needed to call my better half to break the news. As you can imagine, it wasn’t easy. Despite Lola’s outward appearance and behavior, the prognosis was not a good one. The thing is; dogs can’t talk to you. They can’t tell you where it hurts or how they feel—all you can go off are test results, and the educated decisions and recommendations of your vet. Lola was in good hands, but that didn’t necessarily make things any easier for us. Lola’s red blood cell count was dangerously low, but the root cause affecting her kidneys was more difficult to determine. So, there were more tests and more appointments. And with each one, we saw our financial commitment grow to a level we never imagined it approaching. About eight weeks into the process, it became clear that Lola’s illness was here to stay as long as her body would allow. We were told we had anywhere from 4 weeks to 4 months left with her. Fortunately, there were things we could do to support her comfort and, hopefully, push that timing back as much as possible. There was a special diet of wet food formulated for dogs with kidney issues to help their body better absorb the nutrients and break down waste. There was also a daily regimen of a saline treatment we would deliver by needle just beneath the skin at the top of her neck to dilute any toxins emitted into the
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body from her failing kidneys. We continued with these options, staving off the inevitable for what ended up being seven months from that initial phone call. I’m happy to say that Lola did not suffer during this time; she took well to our efforts, especially associating the saline treatment with a neighborhood walk immediately after. At every turn, we never hesitated to do right by our friend, even as the bills mounted. Looking back, I don’t think we’d change a thing. But looking forward, I’m not sure we’d be able to do it all again being we now have two kids and a more rigid household budget as a result. And that’s what brings me to the focus of this month’s feature: pet insurance and what it can provide you and your furry friend when the unexpected happens. It’s something I wish I knew more about all those years ago. “The pet insurance we provide allows pet parents to focus on the care of their pet while taking the concern of finances out of the decision making process,” says Elyse Cannon, CVT, Veterinary Manager for Petplan Pet Insurance. “This includes accidents, as well as illnesses.” Petplan has been in business for four decades and stakes claim to covering more than one million animals across the globe. They’re one of a number of insurance options for pet owners, among providers such as Nationwide, Trupanion, Healthy Paws, Embrace and ASPCA, to name a few. “I would say that although less than twenty-five percent of my clients have insurance for their pets, there’s absolutely been an increase in interest in recent years,” says Dr. Heather Lopes, a veterinarian at Washington County/South County Veterinary Hospital, and President of the Rhode Island Veterinary Medical Association. “My advice to clients is to research their options and choose what’s best for their family and pet combined. Pet insurance may not be right for every household, but I certainly encourage clients to look into their options.” With the American Pet Products Association’s most recent National Pet Owners Survey revealing that pet parents spent nearly $16 billion on vet care alone in 2016, pet insurance can provide valuable peace of mind should a policy be a good choice for your family. Like many pet insurance plans, Petplan is a reimbursement based program, meaning pet parents pay their vet and then submit a copy of the bill to Petplan to be reimbursed. The amount a pet parent is reimbursed is based on the policy they’ve chosen. Each policy contains a deductible that’s selected by the pet parent when they initiate their pet’s policy, ranging from $100 to $2,500 per claim, as well as a reimbursement rate of 70, 80 or 90 percent that’s chosen. There are also options for pet parents to select an annual limit for veterinary fees, from $2,500 all the way up to an unlimited policy.
Being that this can potentially be confusing, I asked Elyse for an example. Petplan recently reimbursed a claim for a family in New York whose Bichon Frise needed treatment for diabetes. The overall vet bill was nearly $5,000, but after the family’s $100 deductible and 90 percent reimbursement rate, Petplan returned $4,400 to them. And unlike the health insurance you and I have, Petplan does not require your animal to have a primary care vet. Instead, you’re able to visit any veterinarian you’d like, even if you’re away from home when a need arises. “One of the things that really sets Petplan apart is that we accept all breeds and pets of all ages; we have no age limits, other than an animal being at least six weeks of age when they sign up,” explains Elyse. “We cannot provide coverage for pre-existing conditions; however, that does not affect a pet’s eligibility for a Petplan policy. Instead, those conditions are considered pre-existing per the policy, and excluded from coverage.” As an animal lover who has traveled the path of doing everything I could for a pet in spite of the considerable finances involved, pet insurance would have deeply reduced the burden that made an already difficult situation more of a challenge. Like they say…If I only knew then, what I know now. Whether a simple cut or treating cancer, Petplan pays claims each and every day. And if you were wondering about the more surprising ways an animal may need a trip to the vet and whether it would be covered, Elyse shared some interesting stories that, fortunately, worked out for the best. From a cat that jumped out of a 7th floor window of a New York City apartment building and was then hit by a car, to a dog in the Midwest who ate a corn cob and washed it down with a pair of underwear, Petplan had them covered for the unexpected, yet costly accidents. “We have been humbled by how many pets we’ve helped, whether with accidental injuries or various types of cancer that allow their owners to provide care such as bone marrow transplants, chemotherapy and even CyberKnife therapy,” says Elyse. “Of course, pet insurance only works if you have it, so we encourage pet parents to be proactive in determining whether Petplan is right for them before the unexpected happens.” With policies that are fully customizable, pet parents are empowered to select the plan that makes sense for both their pet and their budget. Petplan coverage is comprehensive and provides for all accidents, illnesses and hereditary conditions such as periodontal disease, cancer, cruciate ligament disease and more. And if your pet falls ill or suffers an accident, Petplan covers examination fees and what’s necessary to di-
May 2017
all about pets
Elyse Cannon of Petplan with Laya, her miniature longhaired dachshund, and Eddie, a dachshund/beagle mix. (Photo courtesy of Petplan) agnose or treat their condition, including advanced imaging like CT or MRI, prescription medications, and alternative therapies like rehabilitation, LASER therapy, acupuncture, and stem cell treatment. “I think Petplan is different from other insurance companies because we see ourselves as a pet health company first, and an insurance company second,” says Elyse. “We publish a magazine called Fetch! that includes all kinds of health and safety tips written by some of the top veterinarians in the country; our goal is to educate people on the importance of responsible pet parenting and how they can prevent some simple accidents so they hopefully won’t need our services. But if they do need us, we’ll be here to help.” If you’d like to learn more about Petplan and whether the pet insurance they offer is right for you and your pet, visit www.gopetplan.com.
Lola in her most enjoyable element before illness struck, taking a breather to dry off after a swim at the peak of October Mountain in the central Berkshires.
Bella, an eight-year-old cat from Pennsylvania, racked up a $2,004.70 vet bill for a linear foreign body this past December. The culprit: holiday gift ribbon. Petplan reimbursed Bella’s parents $1,804.70. (Photo courtesy of Petplan) May 2017
PrimeTime |
A Passion for Rescue b y aimee gross
all about pets
Heather Gutshall rehabilitates dog fighting survivors and shelter dogs
TEAM TILLIE: Tillie with Heather Gutshall, founder of Handsome Dan’s Rescue. Tillie was a breeding dog for a large fight ring in the southern United States. After being rescued by Gutshall, Tillie enjoyed wearing sparkly collars or pearls and she had a devoted following on Facebook. Tillie died in 2015, and the Compassion
DAN WHO STARTED IT ALL: Heather Gutshall adopted Handsome Dan from Best Friends Animal Society, who rescued him and 21 other dogs from NFL player Michael Vick’s dog fighting kennel.
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Tillie the pit bull spent most of her life in chains so heavy her legs broke repeatedly, leaving them bowed outward. She had litter after litter of puppies that were trained to fight in a multi-state dogfighting ring that spanned Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia and Texas. She was left chained outdoors in the cold, beaten, starved, and forced to fight. And then her luck changed. When the ring was raided in 2013, Heather Gutshall, of Cranston, volunteered at the temporary shelter where more than 350 dogs were being processed. Drawn to Tillie’s wise face and soft eyes, Gutshall adopted Tillie, bringing her home to Rhode Island. She had golf ball-sized tumors running the length of her mammary chain, a broken sternum, and a broken tail. She was extremely underweight and tested positive for heartworm. Yet, despite her health challenges, and the abuse she suffered, Tillie trusted people and cuddled up to the people she met. Tillie was pampered and doted on by Gutshall, the founder of Handsome Dan’s Rescue (HDR), a non-profit that makes life better for pit-bull type dogs that are in the animal shelter system. Gutshall expected to provide “hospice care” for Tillie, but Tillie had other plans. She lived for 18 months, basking in the love showered on her, and visiting schools and the state house. To honor Tillie on the first anniversary of her November 2015 death, Handsome Dan’s Rescue created a Compassion Hold Program that provides “a kind hand, good food and all of our love” to dogs that are in the final days or weeks of their life because of serious and untreatable health, behavioral or mental issues. HDR is not a shelter, it’s an organization that cooperates with local partner shelters to provide extra enrichment and services to pit bull type dogs. Dogs accepted into the Compassion Hold program are scheduled to be humanely euthanized, and will spend their last days enjoying compassion, love and compassion from HDR volunteers.
Foster care program
The Compassion Hold program expands on the services the organization offers, which primarily are focused on helping the dogs accepted into the program are given the best possible chance of finding their forever home. Their foster care program coordinates volunteers who welcome rescue dogs into their homes and care for them until they are placed with their adoptive families. The shelter enrichment program mobilizes volunteers to provide socialization and enrichment to hard to place dogs in partner shelters, helping to keep the dogs’ stress levels down and their minds engaged. These services help the dogs become more adoptable. HDR also helps at-risk dogs in the community by providing spay and neuter services free of charge, and through “Take My Lead” raises money to help provide training and behavioral support to families who adopt dogs served by the organization, helping to ensure the adoptions work out and the families learn how to set their new pet up for success. The organization was named for Handsome Dan, a dog Gutshall rescued after the property of former NFL player Michael Vick was raided by federal authorities in 2007. Seventy dogs on the property were part of what was alleged to be a dog fighting and gambling ring, and there was widespread media coverage at the time documenting how the dogs, most pit-bull type breeds, were brutally hanged, drown, electrocuted and shot, in addition to being used in the fight ring. Vick and three others served time on federal conspiracy charges, Vick also submitted a guilty plea to a Virginia felony charge of dog fighting and received a three-year suspended sentence. Twenty-two of the dogs were sent to Best Friends Animal Society in Utah, which provides a high level of comfort and care for former fight dogs that may not be adoptable as pets and also places the dogs that can adopted into appropriate homes. Gutshall, who had been volunteering at shelters, was ready to adopt a dog of her own, and wanted adopt a dog rescued from Vick’s property. “We flew out thinking we were going to adopt Little Red, but she needed more time,” Gutshall said. Another of the dogs rescued from Vick’s property, Mel, was a possibility, “but I met Dan and knew he was my dog.” Gutshall said that adopting Dan was a six-month process, but it is obvious that this match was meant to be. Dan is a beloved member of the Gutshall family.
Volunteer based
Handsome Dan’s Rescue is a non-profit organization, and they rely on volunteers and donations to operate. Funding provides collars, harnesses, leashes, toys and treats to a dog in the Shelter Dog Enrichment Program; a dog’s participation in the Take My Lead program, which pairs a newly adopted dog and their new family with a trainer who can help to continue the training and behavioral modifications that the dog has been working on; and the care of a dog brought into the Compassion Hold Program Helping dogs in local shelters, rescuing dogs from fight busts, helping dogs in the community and educating the public is Gutshall’s mission. For more information visit www.HandsomeDansRescue.org. May 2017
b y tessa roy
all about pets
Pet Friendly Rhode Island Rhode Islanders thinking of getting a pet are in luck - the state has been named one of the best places in the country to own a pet. Rhode Island was recently ranked as the 9th most pet friendly state by Safewise, a “source for home security and safety advice.” The state made the list for having some of the best anti-cruelty laws in the country, landing at fifth in the nation for animal protection, and the “best overall health and wellness factors for pets.” “Since Rhode Island is lined with pristine white beaches, it has designated 27 beaches and trails statewide as petfriendly, so animals and their people can enjoy the outdoors together,” the study found. T.F. Green Airport utilizes pets in positive ways - therapy dogs visit passengers before their flights through PVD Pups, a program run by Sue Parker of Dynamic Dog Training. Dogs and their owners pay $300 to take part in a two-month long training program that will accustom them to the airport environment before they are certified to get to work. People with anxieties about flying often request a visit from one of the 40 dogs in the program, but even regular passengers can take comfort in petting one of the pups.
“People fly out for various reasons,” Parker said. “Someone may be sick or dying, they might be going to a funeral, or moving out of state after losing a job. Those are the people that really appreciate it.” Parker also notes that outsiders flying into Rhode Island often bring their pets and quickly take notice of the state’s pet friendliness when they ask about places they can take or activities they can do with their animals. In addition to Safewise’s ranking, the state’s fondness for animals has been recognized by the Animal Legal Defense Fund. Speaker Nicholas Mattiello’s office announced that the Fund ranked Rhode Island fifth best in the country for animal protection laws. According to the release, the state moved from seventh to fifth due to two pieces of legislation. The first (2016-H 7392A), sponsored by Rep. Patricia A. Serpa (D-Dist. 27, West Warwick, Coventry, Warwick), provides penalties for those who overwork, mistreat or otherwise treat an animal cruelly, when the conduct results in the death of the animal. According to Serpa’s law, any perpetrator whose animal cruelty leads to death would be subject to the same penalties as those who maliciously kill an
WELCOME TEAM: Green Airport visitors are reminded how pet friendly Rhode Island is when they meet up with the volunteers from PVD Pups and their dogs. In order to qualify for the program, the dogs are required to complete extensive training that demonstrates their ability to follow commands and get along with crowds animal. The second bill sponsored by Rep. William W. O’Brien (D-Dist. 54, North Providence), increases the punishment of animal abusers from two years to five years of possible imprisonment and from ten hours to 50 hours of community service. “This is a true honor for Rhode Island and it demonstrates the high level of compassion and love our citizens have toward our domestic and wild animals in
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the state,” said Mattiello in a statement. “The malicious abuse of innocent and defenseless animals is a repugnant crime and Rhode Islanders should be proud that we as a state will not stand for such atrocious activities and that abusers will be swiftly and severely punished for their crimes.”
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May 2017
PrimeTime |
business Spotlight
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May 2017
b y danielle zarrella
all about pets
The incredibly perfect
Dogter
We don’t have any children yet, but my husband and I have a daughter (or as I say, “dogter”) who is an adorable labrador retriever-border collie mix rescue dog from Tennessee. We adopted her in May of 2015 and she is the absolute love of my life. We named her Karen (we’re big fans of the movie Goodfellas; it was a toss-up between Karen and Janice Rossi). She is the most incredibly perfect dog and I am so glad she joined our family. Karen has the sweetest personality and she makes friends everywhere she goes. When we leave for work in the morning, she just lays down calmly in her bed as we give her hugs and kisses. She gets so excited when we get home in the afternoons; she makes these adorable whining noises that sound like she’s going to start talking any second! Her first dog friends were her “aunts,” my mom’s dogs Casey and Skittles. Skittles is a rescue dog that we adopted after my dad passed away. She and Casey were best buddies, but Skittles had a lot more energy than Casey did so when Karen came around, Skittles was excited to have a friend with a bit more enthusiasm for playtime and Casey was glad to look on lovingly from her bed as they played in the living room. Karen isn’t a very high energy dog so after she was done with her gentle play with Skittles, she enjoyed settling down next to Casey on the floor and relaxing with her eldest friend. Casey was our family dog from when my brother and I lived at home. She was a sweet and beautiful golden retriever. We got her as a puppy when I was 14 and I’m 28 years old now which means I’ve had her for half my life! Casey’s health quickly declined several months ago and we found out she had cancer. She had a nice long life in her 14 years, but unfortunately, her health got so bad that she could barely stand up on her own and we ended up having to put her down
May 2017
a few months ago. It was one of the saddest days of our lives. Skittles was also heartbroken in the weeks following Casey’s passing. Karen didn’t seem to act any differently, but she didn’t live with Casey and she didn’t know her as long as Skittles did, so I thought maybe it didn’t affect her as deeply as it did Skittles. A few weeks ago, Karen was at our house looking out the side window as she often does. She never really reacts to dogs or people walking down our street, she just gently wags her tail and watches them pass. This one particular day, a dog with golden fur around Casey’s size came trotting down the street while Karen was at the window. Karen perked up and her tail started wagging as usual, but then she started making these whining noises, almost like the ones she makes when she’s excited to see us come home after being gone all day. As I mentioned, she doesn’t really react to dogs at all so this was extremely out of the ordinary. She kept her eye on the dog as it made it’s way further down the street, the whole time, shifting her weight and making her excited whining noises. Although it was adorable and sweet that she was reacting this way when seeing a dog who she thought was Casey, it was also really sad because you can’t explain what’s going on to pets; her only understanding of the situation is that Casey isn’t at my mom’s house anymore when she goes over there. My mom recently adopted another rescue dog name Pumpkin and he loves his new sister, Skittles. He is obsessed with Karen too! He can’t give her enough kisses when we go over to see them. We’ve been lucky to have had the sweetest, most lovable dogs in our lives throughout the years, if only they could live forever, then they would be perfect.
PrimeTime |
b y L arry G rimaldi
lifestyles
It Was Much More Difficult Than I Thought I thought writing a book would be easy. After all, I had spent more than 30 years writing news releases and columns, booklets, brochures, television and radio scripts, and everything in between. I even had my wife Kathy as co-author and collaborator. Surprisingly, it was much more difficult than I thought. Let’s back up a bit. When Kathy and I embarked on a cross-country drive in 2015, we had already decided to write a travel book about our trip. The book would chronicle our month long journey and re-re-kindle our memories for many years to come. The book could also serve as a guide to retirees looking to begin a new chapter in their lives with an adventure defined by their interests. Wandering Across America was based on Kathy’s travel blogs and my notes in a daily journal. It wasn’t too long before we discovered that writing and editing a book, finding a publisher, and marketing your product can be simultaneously daunting and exhilarating. While we had no illusions about selling hundreds of books or landing on a best seller list, we hoped to sell at least a few….outside of hawking Wandering Across America to family and friends. The first step was to combine Kathy’s blogs with my journal entries. This proved to be a challenging task. We tried to eliminate repetitive observations while preserving the tone and fabric of the narrative. Kathy and I had different creative perspectives. After many discussions, readings and re-readings, the original manuscript was completed. Next, we needed to find a publisher who would guide us through the editing, design, and printing procedures for Wandering Across America. Since we are not named Ernest Hemmingway or Charlotte Bronte, we realized that self-publishing was our best option. We evaluated two proposals and settled on Stillwater River Publications in Glocester. The Stillwater proposal clearly spelled out their services and our responsibilities. Our partnership with Stillwater made sense because our investment would be modest and we could work with a local company. Stillwater not only patiently guided their neophyte authors through the process, but they also
offered invaluable advice as to the size of the book, cover designs, formatting and presentation. After an initial review of the manuscript, Stillwater developed the concepts and offered a creative vision for Wandering Across America. Their first impressions proved to be right on target. Despite our best efforts to avoid repetition, it was obvious that the manuscript needed more literary pruning. In some chapters, the narrative jumped from one entry to another, confusing the time lines. It was back to the editing desk. After the second editing, the next step was to choose cover designs and select the photos for the book. Stillwater had sketched out five possible covers. Kathy and I mixed and matched their design ideas to assemble the front and back covers and we settled on eight and one half by 11 inch format. In the larger format, our 35 color photos would add graphic content to the narrative. We were not going to print Wandering Across America in color. But we quickly realized that black and white photos would not enhance the color contrasts and textures captured in the photographs. Assembling the photo collection posed the next challenge. The myriad of pictures were preserved on phones, tablets, and cameras. Kathy’s phone was broken beyond repair and her camera had jammed in mid-trip. Somehow, despite our limited technical expertise, we put together the portfolio and shipped the revised manuscript and pictures to the publishers. Stillwater used the edited text and photos to create rough copy of the book and return it to us for review. It was exciting to catch the first glimpse of what was to become Wandering Across America. After some technical change and minor edits, it was back to the publishers and await the first proof. Approximately 10 days later, we received the much anticipated proof. The suspense was building. After some last minute changes and two proofs later, we signed off and Wandering Across America was off to the printer. On December 16, a shipment of books arrived at our house. Kathy and I were published authors! Notice of the book’s release was posted on Amazon and Stillwater’s web site. I have to admit that it was gratifying to see the book being displayed for the entire world to see. There is a funny post-script to this tale. In February, our first royalty check arrived for the princely sum of $5.61. The report and a photo copy of the check have been framed and hang proudly and prominently in my den. Publishing Wandering Across America was a great experience for Kathy and I. The metamorphosis from concept to completion was a learning experience. The many hours of discussion and coordination were tedious and frustrating at times. It WAS more difficult than I thought it would be, but it was worth the effort. As a side note, the book contains an amusing irony. Although I made my living as a writer, most of the narrative in the book was penned by Kathy. The editors at Stillwater praised her ability to tell a story. Who knew? Our next collaboration is already underway. We are working on a family cookbook with our 13-year old granddaughters Kailyn and Sophia. Stay tuned. For a peek at Wandering Across America, go to stillwaterpress.com or amazon.com. Larry Grimaldi is a retired freelance writer living in North Providence. Comments can be e-mailed to lgrimaldi49@gmail.com
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May 2017
LIFESTYLES
wHAT DO YOU FINK? by MIKE FINK
Going To Sea Born a Newport native son, he lives now in Toronto. Ed was my RISD student when I was a youthful instructor. I assumed that the freshmen had come to our art and design campus for the studio world, not the conventional classroom. And so, I adapted my assignments to greet them half-way. “Write as though you were drawing. Sketch your story.” Ed stood out from the crowd because he read with care and wrote with respect for words. Most of our disciples were local, the children of the vanishing farms or factories, departing mills, or perhaps drop-outs from the aristocratic but almost abandoned grand residences of Newport, who might major in the fine arts instead of the more practical industrial departments. Ed was an island poet and painter who pondered the layered metaphorical meanings of our tides and our surf, the moon that guides and conducts the sea and the gulls that hover over the scenes. These have been his motifs and inspirations for half a century.
Over the decades of my career and Ed’s life over the Canadian border, he has incredibly stayed in close contact with me. He left his native land perhaps to avoid the Viet Nam conflict, or merely to seek his fortune as a free artist. He published “chapbooks” of his verse, a search for all the wisdoms of the human planet Earth. He depicted the ocean with all its symbols and glimpses into mysteries and depths. You wouldn’t believe how steady and prolific is his work, the mix of autobiography and collaborative outward searches, stirring together words and images with neighbors and co-workers. You can’t remember every one of your students. Sometimes a former pupil returns into the fabric of your life and then retreats, like the visit of a summer hummingbird to your window. But there are also alums like Ed, for whom your elective class never ends at all! I sometimes feel that I serve as his soli-
Artists’ ExchAngE
fr E E clAssEs
fo r tary audience, a public of one person, who is reliably there in the gallery of a front door vestibule, as I unwrap the latest framed picture or open the pages of his most recent collection of verses, usually richly illustrated. The mailman slips the verse through the doorslot or rests the carefully wrapped and framed painting against the storm door outside. The endless elective of mine from long ago, a wondrous event, alive and flourishing. From time to time I write to him an appreciation of his devotion to the purposes of our school’s mission. Nevertheless there is really no way I can properly reward him for his efforts and all they represent. Except by sharing my gratitude with the readers of the newpaper of his nostalgia.
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Call for more info 50 Rolfe Sq., CRanSton
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For more information or to enroll, visit: www.health.ri.gov/emregistry 401-222-5960 / RI Relay 711
May 2017
PrimeTime | 11
all
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12 | PrimeTime
about
Pet Therapy
pets
Positive Benefits for Alzheimer Patients among others There are numerous studies that link positive health benefits to pet ownership. The benefits of having a pet for one with Alzheimer’s or other dementia are numerous. They provide companionship, unconditional love. And having a pet can be lots of fun. They don’t judge, and they aren’t critical. Those qualities make them a good companion, expecially for someone with dementia. Their very presence can help reduce the effects of dementia, such as anxiety, agitation, irritability annd depression. Pets can help a dementia patient be more social and interactive. According to WebMD, one study found that 48 stockbrokers who adopted a pet experienced lower blood pressure readings in stressful situations than did people who did not own pets. Another study found that individuals suffering from diseases such as cancer or Alzheimers, are far less likely to experience depression if they have a strong tie to a pet. Here are some of the many ways that pet’s and pet therapy can be good for your health.
• Lower blood pressure: Petting a dog or cat can lower blood pressure, as can watching a fish swim around a tank. Those with hypertension may want to purchase or adopt a companion animal to help lower their blood pressure. • Reduce stress: Stress is something people face on a daily basis. According to a National Health Interview Survey, 75 percent of the general population experiences at least “some stress” every two weeks, and many times that stress is moderate to severe. Research has indicated that when people spend time with a pet their levels of cortisol, a hormone associated with stress, is lowered while their level of serotonin, a hormone associated with improved mood and wellbeing, is increased. • Lower cholesterol: Lifestyle factors associated with pet ownership, particularly a focus on increased physical health and activity, can help lower cholesterol levels. Also, having a pet works to reduce stress, which may keep individuals from looking to fatty foods as sources of alleviating anxiety. • Fight depression: Many therapists have prescribed pet therapy as a method to alleviating and recovering from depression. A pet is an unconditional friend and can provide that listening ear a person needs to talk through problems. Also, walking and taking care of a pet devotes attention away from problems and inward thinking. • Improve physical activity levels: Heading to the gym is one way to get a workout, but spending an hour walking the dog or tossing around a ball for a game of chase and fetch is another way to get the heart pumping. Many dog owners benefit from the “forced”exercise that goes with daily walks. Some
people choose to exercise with their pets, enjoying the companionship and the physical activity. • Reduce stroke incidences: There has been evidence that cat owners are less likely to suffer strokes than people who do not have cats. Researchers are not sure of the connection, but surmise that cats have a more calming nature than other types of pets. • Greater opportunities for socialization: Humans are social animals and need to interact with others. Pet owners have a tendency to want to share time and experiences with other pet owners. Pets can provide opportunities for people to get together. Research presented at the 10th International Conference on Human Animal Interaction found pet owners were the least likely to have to visit the doctor. The survey of more than 11,000 respondents from Australia, China and Germany found that over a five-year period pet owners made 15 to 20 percent fewer annual visits to the doctor than non-pet owners. The companionship and love pets provide could be a key benefit in promoting good personal health. HM131807
May 2017
b y tessa roy
senior
issues
CCRI lab plays role in drug believed to reverse Alzheimer’s
A
collaboration between the Community College of Rhode Island, the University of Rhode Island, and the Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, ME proved incredibly exciting for professor Wayne Suits. Professor Suits, a CCRI alumnus, is the coordinator of the 2-year Chemical Technology Program at CCRI, which trains its graduates, through handson experiences, for careers in laboratory science. Suits and his students worked with URI Professor Brenton DeBoef on the synthesis of a novel Alzheimer’s drug called PS 48, allowing them to create a product that, rather than being thrown away, is being used in further medical research. “It addresses one of my perennial fantasies, and that is to have my students synthesize something like an orphan drug that is not only valuable but also addresses a societal need,” Suits said in his presentation on the collaboration. “Obviously, the FDA would never allow drugs produced by students to be used in medical treatment. However, medical research is another matter. This collaboration shows that there are viable opportunities for undergraduates to use their training in organic chemistry to create important molecules to further the advancement of medical research,” Suits said. He adds, “This is the story of one of those important molecules, and to his knowledge, CCRI is the first community college in the country to be involved in this kind of project with its sister university.
CCRI professor Wayne Suits (Photos by John Howell)
■ Research – page 23
10 Grams of PS48 (Photo Courtesy of CCRI & URI)
May 2017
FAR MORE THAN AN EXERCISE: CCRI professor Wayne Suits and his class have been synthesizing a compound that is being used in development of a drug that shows promise of reversing Alzheimer’s. Here class members gather in the chemistry lab at the Knight Campus of CCRI as Suits explains the process. PrimeTime | 13
b y J essica S elby
senior
issues
Understanding
Alzheimers
The A4 study is a clinical trial for individuals who may be at risk for Alzheimer’s disease. The study aims to prevent the memory loss associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth leading cause of death among US adults. It kills more than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined. It is defined as a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. Symptoms typically develop slowly and get worse over time, becoming severe enough to interfere with daily tasks and eventually crippling the body’s ability to function. In 2016, 5.4 million Americans suffered from the disease. By 2050, the number of Americans living with Alzheimer’s is expected to triple to be 14 million. Arlene, a Cape Cod resident, is all too familiar with the effects of the disease. Arlene said that she watched the disease eventually take her mother. “This is tough to talk about,” Arlene said. “My mother developed symptoms late in her 70s and passed away at 87 after a series of declining events including the loss of cognitive and physical skills; ultimately not knowing who she was or who her children or her grandchildren were. It’s terrible for her and her family and friends to watch.”
Arlene is not alone. Deb, a 65-yearold Rhode Island resident, said that although no one in her family was ever “formally diagnosed,” she too recalls certain behaviors by her relatives that would be considered symptomatic or what she described as “not normal.” Her grandmother, she said, spent a great deal of time talking about “the nitwit in the trees.” “It can be disconcerting when you know your family history and I know that I take after my moms’ side of the family,” Deb said. “They were older than I am now when things started to diminish. “I am 65 years old, going to be 66, but back when I was a kid, adults didn’t talk about stuff like that with us. There was no sharing of medical issues,” Deb said. “All I ever got was ‘that’s just grama,’ but to say that they had their idiosyncrasies would be mild.” These are just two women who have been touched by the disease; a disease that is anticipated to explode in the coming years. Information provided by the Alzheimer’s Association indicates that approximately half a million Americans aged 65 or older will develop Alzheimer’s disease in 2017 alone. But by 2050, every 33 seconds, another American will be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. As the size and proportion of the U.S. population age 65 and older continue to increase, the number of Americans with Alzheimer’s or other dementias also will grow. This number is expected to escalate rapidly in the coming years, as the population of Americans age 65 and older is projected to nearly double from 48 million to 88 million by 2050. The baby boom generation has already begun to reach age 65 and beyond, the age range of greatest risk of
14 | PrimeTime
Alzheimer’s; in fact, the first members of the baby boom generation turned 70 in 2016. Arlene and Deb, who are among this group, said that, despite their family history, one of the greatest risk factors of the disease, they do not want to fall victim to this disease or these statistics. As a result, both have volunteered to participate in a new trial study aimed at preventing the memory loss associated with Alzheimer’s disease. The Asymptomatic Alzheimer’s study, better known as the A4 Study, is the firstever trial of its kind. The A4 study tests whether an investigational treatment can help remove “amyloid plaques” in the brain of cognitively healthy people before any memory loss occurs. According to information provided by the study organizers, amyloid is a protein normally produced in the brain that can build up in older people, forming amyloid plaque deposits. The claim by scientists today is that this buildup of deposits “may” play a key role in the eventual development of Alzheimer’s disease-related memory loss. The overall goal of the A4 study, it is documented, is to test whether decreasing amyloid with antibody investigational treatment can help slow the memory loss associated with amyloid buildup in some people. Dr. Brian Ott is a neurologist at Rhode Island Hospital. He is spearheading this study at that location. He said that this research is landmark in its approach as up until now no studies had been done as a proactive approach to preventing the disease. “It took time for science to try to figure out what might be a contributing factor to Alzheimer’s,” Dr. Ott said. “We are getting some real important data and making some big advances in
Dr. Brian Ott our knowledge of this disease through this study.” Dr. Ott said that since the hospital began participation in this particular study they have screened 60 to 70 potential participants. Of that only about one in five turn out to have amyloid plaque in the brain, he said. Physicians and researchers like Dr. Ott, who are involved in the study, use an imaging test called a PET scan to determine whether a potential participant has evidence of this plaque buildup. People who do not show evidence of elevated amyloid in their brains through the PET scan will not be able to participate. Both Arlene and Deb took the test and were found to have elevated plaque in the brain and have, as a result, been participating in the study ever since. Each month they drive to Rhode Island Hospital and visit the A-4 study clinic where they receive either the investigational drug or a placebo and undergo a series of short memory based tests and exams. “This is a double blind study so neither the doctors, nurses or us know whether we are getting the placebo or the actual medicine,” Arlene said. “For
me, this is all just part of the process. I know that there is a 50 percent chance that I am receiving the placebo and not the actual drug, but for me, that wasn’t an issue. “The other thing to understand is that having elevated plaque levels is not a death sentence,” she said. “Scientist and medical professionals have not yet determined that just because a person has amyloid plaque they are destined to develop Alzheimer’s. “This is what they are trying to determine,” she said. “And either way, I know am helping a great cause. Even if I am just a little cog in the wheel of this much larger experiment, I am hopeful that in the future, the findings from this study will help so that other people won’t have to go through this the way my family did.” Arlene said that the staff at Rhode Island Hospital has been wonderful with her throughout her entire experience thus far with the study. She described the staff as “wonderful, caring and pleasant professionals delivering a terrific experience.” To date, Arlene is just about half way through the trial. Dr. Ott said that the A4 study lasts for three years. Alzheimer’s – page 18 May 2017
b y M ichelle L a F rance
senior
issues
a lzheimer ’s asso c i a t i o n r h o d e i s l a n d c h a p te r
Student Raises Money for Alzheimer Hailey Raskob, a senior at North Smithfield High School, organized a tennis tournament to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association, Rhode Island Chapter this past December at Rally Point Racket Club in Greenville. Hailey has been number one singles on the tennis team at her school for three consecutive years and is also part of the indoor/outdoor track team, and performs both high and long jump. She will continue her tennis career in the fall at Rhode Island College, as she works towards a degree in Business Management. Raskob’s passion is not only for sports, but in fighting to end Alzheimer’s. The tennis tournament took about three months to plan. Thirty participants raised over $700. Raskob’s inspiration to hold a fundraiser was her grandmother. who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s seven years ago. Raskob first learned about the basics of Alzheimer’s in school, and she could see some of the signs appear in her grandmother when she would forget to eat her breakfast or had difficulty recalling close friends’ names. “My favorite memories of my Memere were visits to her and Pepere’s house. Pepere would be in the living room watching the baseball game, and Memere would sit with me in the kitchen, coloring and playing cards,” said Raskob. “More research is needed to change the path we are heading down. This disease touches more lives than most realize. It’s necessary more attention is paid to this public health crisis,” said Raskob. According to the Alzheimer’s Association’s 2017 Facts and Figures report, one in every ten people aged sixty-five and older has Alzheimer’s dementia. This number will escalate rapidly in coming years, as the population of Americans
May 2017
Hailey Raskob
(submitted photo)
age sixty-five and older is projected to nearly double from 48 to 88 million by 2050. There has been an 89% increase in deaths due to Alzheimer’s between 2000 and 2014. Deaths from Alzheimer’s have nearly doubled during this period while those from heart disease - the leading cause of death - have declined. What saddens Raskob most is “all my Memerere’s memories of me and the times we shared together are gone. I can remind her of these, but I know within a few minutes she will forget.” The most important work the Association does in her eyes is the 24/7 Helpline and Education Programs that are free to caregivers and families. Raskob chose to donate the proceeds to the Alzheimer’s Association because it will support individuals who are in need of its services and will go towards funding research efforts. “This helps families across the country, like my mom who is a caregiver for my Memere, now residing in an assisted living facility.” Raskob has a message to share; “Alzheimer’s might be an issue now, but in the future, it will be like it never existed.” About the Alzheimer’s Association: The Alzheimer’s Association is the world’s leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. The Rhode Island Chapter provides programs and services that include a 24/7 Helpline, Support Groups, Trainings for Families and Professionals, Early Stage Social Engagements Programs, Newsletters, Advocacy, Resource Library, Conferences, Lectures, and special fundraising events. The office is located at 245 Waterman Street, Suite 306, Providence, RI 02906. Phone: 1-800-272-3900, Fax: 401-4210115, Website: www.alz.org/ri, Facebook @alzassocri.
PrimeTime | 15
senior issues
Proposed Budget Cuts Threaten Rhode Island’s Most Frail Citizens For years now our state has been trying to achieve Medicaid savings through a process called long term care “rebalancing” – i.e. keeping people at home with home care as an alternative to nursing home care. The problem is, that “solution” is based on a misconception. It assumes that home care and skilled nursing centers provide the same type of care. Simply put, they don’t. While each is critically important in serving the needs of our seniors and chronically ill, the two don’t provide the same level of services. One cannot replace the other. Today’s nursing home patients are acutely ill with complex medical conditions and many suffer from Alzheimer’s disease or severe dementia. They require 24-hour nursing supervision and highly skilled care. In nursing centers, they receive the care they need and their safety is protected by professionals who operate in the most highly regulated industry in the country. All of their needs are taken care of, from nursing care to meals, activities, housing and laundry. The total cost of this kind of care would be exorbitant to furnish at home. Certainly it’s true that our skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers are second only to our hospitals, in the amount of the Medicaid budget they absorb. This makes them an easy target for slash and burn savings initiatives such as “Medicaid Reinvention.” But no one can say that we overuse nursing center care in our state. Studies show that the need for nursing home care rises sharply with advanced age – seniors aged 85 to 94 need nursing center care at rates that are three times higher than se-
niors just a decade younger (those aged 75 to 84). And Rhode Island has the largest percentage of our population who are aged 85 and older in the country! We are also number one on an even more obscure statistic – the percentage of our seniors (aged 65 and up) who are aged 85 and older. Thus we have a lower proportion of the younger seniors who use home care, as well as a higher proportion of the older seniors who need nursing center care. Demographics drive the nursing home portion of our Medicaid budget, not inappropriate placement. Now the state’s 83 Medicaid-certified nursing homes face a $22 million cut in reimbursement for their patients’ care, as proposed in Governor Raimondo’s budget. This enormous loss would be devastating to a profession that has already withstood millions of dollars in funding cuts, leaving them with a near zero margins. There’s no doubt that services and staff would be eliminated, ultimately hurting the patients who need these resources the most. Make no mistake -- people should be cared for in the least restrictive environment that provides safe and appropriate care. All parts of our underfunded long term care continuum need relief. But pretending that nursing home care can be supplanted by home health care at lower cost does a disservice to those served in both settings. Today’s skilled nursing centers are not your Grandma’s nursing home. If budget solutions are not based on facts, they’re not solutions at all.
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16 | PrimeTime
May 2017
help me rhonda
senior
b y R honda T addei R N , B S N , C H P N
issues
Does Your Healthcare Proxy Have Moxie? Joan Rivers went into the hospital for one of her many simple plastic surgery procedures, but regrettably things went very wrong. The funny lady was not waking up and had suffered permanent damage. Fortunately, she had been vocal to her family and audience about what was important to her and how she wanted to live and die. Joan also wrote these things down, so when her daughter Melissa was faced with the grave decision of discontinuing life support, she could do it feeling minimal guilt. This was a wonderful gift Joan left her family. The good news is, there are some simple steps everyone can take to avoid unwanted prolonged treatment at end of life, and it is free. Every state has at least one type of advance directive. In Rhode Island, we can download Durable Power of Attorney, Living Will and MOLST forms (medical orders for life sustaining treatment) from the RI Department of Health website, and other sources also have a very comprehensive plan called the Five Wishes. Your healthcare pro-
vider should be able to assist you. Many people also consult lawyers to help them navigate their choices, but the legality of these documents is the same. The one form that is different from the others became active in this state in January 2014, called the MOLST. This form is a legal transportable physicians order, and the original is typically hot pink. It is only done in cases where the patient has a terminal illness. The patient’s healthcare provider reviews and discusses the wishes of the patient for end of life care and this form then is a legal doctor’s order that rescue personnel and all healthcare facilities must abide. This article today is addressing only one portion of advance directives; Choosing a Health Care Proxy, sometimes referred to as a durable power of attorney (DPOA) for healthcare, a medical power of attorney (POA) or healthcare agent. This person will speak for you, only at the time when you no longer can speak for yourself, regarding medical decisions. People erroneously fear this takes
away the power to speak for themselves when able, or that the proxy gets financial access and decision making abilities. Whatever advance directive you choose, make and distribute copies to physicians and family. Sometimes when we are very sick with a progressive illness like heart disease or multiple sclerosis we can anticipate a time when we might need a love one to speak for us, but unexpectedly there are car accidents, strokes, and of course, cases such as Joan Rivers. One hundred years ago, the average life expectancy was 47 years old, now it is roughly 77 in the United States. Back then people tended to die quickly from an illness, but now many who are living longer, may have serious medical issues. Advance directives were created in response to the sophistication of medicine which often caused unnecessary, prolonged, painful, and expensive end of life care. If you choose no advance directives, typically all aggressive medical care will be provided by healthcare at end of life. Often it is easier for a doctor to avoid
having a difficult conversation about what is important at end of life than it is to continue to offer, what may be futile treatment. This brings us back to the title of the article, choosing a health care proxy with moxie. Moxie was advertised as a medicinal “nerve food” with a bitter taste. The word has become associated with courage, daring and spirit. Ideally, a health care proxy is an adult, who knows you well, understands what is important to you in life, and end of life. This significant person will also have to respect your wishes, even if it is not what they want, and finally they will need to be able to have moxie when the physicians continue to press for treatments that may not align with your final wishes. Consider your choices with care. Your proxy can be a sibling, spouse, child, cousin, a lawyer and even close friend. Who has your back, and who will maintain your honor until the very end of your life?
Hope Hospice & Palliative Care Rhode Island Offers Free Dementia Educational Series Hope Hospice & Palliative Care Rhode Island (Hope Hospice RI) is providing a free educational series for caregivers of advanced dementia.
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The series is a component of Hope Hospice RI’s Joined in Care advanced dementia program. Facilitated by members of the hospice interdisciplinary team, including physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, social workers, chaplains and grief counselors, the series provides caregivers with the educational resources and tools to help them on their caregiving journey.
St. Martha’s Church Parish Hall 2595 Pawtucket Avenue, East Providence, RI • Monday, April 3, 2017 5:30 – 7 p.m. Deeper Than Words: Exploring Ways to Connect When Memory is Lost • Monday, May 1, 2017 5:30 – 7 p.m. Facing the Changes: Dealing with Progressive Loss • Monday, June 5, 2017 5:30 – 7 p.m. Keeping Yourself Healthy: Body, Mind and Spirit FREE tO tHE COMMunIty For more information or to pre-register, please call (401) 415-4311. Attendees are welcome to attend one or all sessions.
Route 44 • Greenville Common Greenville, RI (401) 949-0180 andersonwinfield.net
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About Hope Hospice & Palliative Care Rhode Island
Hope Hospice & Palliative Care Rhode Island is the second oldest hospice in the nation and has been a leader in hospice and palliative care for more than 40 years. The non-profit offers comprehensive medical, emotional and spiritual care for people facing serious illness. Hope Hospice & Palliative Care Rhode Island is the major teaching affiliate for hospice and palliative medicine for the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.
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East Providence High School – Class Of June 1947 70 years! Where have they gone? It certainly does not seem that long since graduation on June 19, 1947. Of course all classmates have gone in different directions. Some have left RI, but many still remain here. The class President, Myron J. Francis, went on to become East Providence Superintendent of Schools. Myron was responsible for keeping the Class of ’47 active for many years, until his death in 2010. He initiated the “Class of ’47 Townie Pride Memorial Fund” and for several years, thousands of dollars were given in scholarships to deserving East Providence High School graduates. The awards were given in memory of deceased classmates each Spring on Class Day. Since the 60th class reunion celebration, many classmates still meet every 3 months for lunch. The first Thursday of February, May, August and November are set aside for whoever can attend. We are hoping that on June 20, when we celebrate the 70th class reunion, many more classmates will join in at Davenports Restaurant in East Providence at 1pm. For more information please contact Gilbert A. Botelho, 401-831-3301
70 Class Reunion th
Super Dog Adoption Day Always Adopt, a not-for-profit organization that brings together community leaders, dog adoption agencies and volunteers to host super-sized dog adoption events will hold their next Super Dog Adoption Day at Balise Toyota of Warwick RI, on Sunday June 4. Utilizing their signature, online “common app,” Always Adopt has refined the dog adoption process allowing pre-approved adopters to have the “pick of the pups” at all their events. Pre-Screened applicants have exclusive early entry – the first 200 at 10am, next 200+ at 11am. All adopters must be approved for adoption before they are permitted to walk away with a dog on the day of the event. The “common app,” available online at AlwaysAdopt.com, allows potential adopters to be screened and approved prior to the event. Always Adopt partners with a number of qualified dog shelters and rescue agencies located in southern New England to match as many adoptable dogs and qualified adopters at their one-day super adoption events. The Super Dog Adoption Day is free and open to the public with the exception of each agency’s adoption donation, which directly benefits the adopting agency. Visit AlwaysAdopt.com for more information.
East Providence High School
Class of 1947
Tuesday, June 20th Luncheon 1:00P.M.
Davenports Restaurant | East Providence Classmates and Guests are invited
Contact Gilbert Botelho 401-831-3301
■ Alzheimer’s (from page 14) “I know that three years initially seems like a long time, but realistically, it’s not when you consider that we are trying to alter the course of a disease that can last for years of a person’s life,” Dr. Ott said. “This is a steadily progressive fatal illness and as anyone who has had a spouse or a loved one live with the disease, you know that there is a progressive loss of total memory to the point where they become totally dependent on others to manage every part of their daily functions from being clothed, feed and bathed. “There is a gradual deterioration of memory to the point where they don’t recognize spouses, children, or anyone in their lives and this can go on for five to ten years, some people have lived up to 15 years with the disease,” Dr. Ott said. “That is why advances in a proactive approach are so critical.” Currently, in 2017, Alzheimer’s and other dementias are estimated to cost the nation $259 billion. With the dramatic rise in expected diagnosis’s, described by Dr. Ott, as a “tsunami of cases,” the expected cost to American society is expected to rise even more reaching $1 trillion by 2050. Records indicate that it has been nearly 15 years since a new treatment 18 | PrimeTime
has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. This stands in stark contrast to cancer, cardiovascular disease, and HIV, where science has developed multiple revolutions in treatment options. Few drugs are currently in clinical trials, and the failure rate of clinical trials of new drugs has been more than 99 percent. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, that’s one of the lowest success rates in any therapy. And currently no drugs available today are aimed at slowing or stopping Alzheimer’s damage to neurons. That is why researchers have shifted their focus from treating Alzheimer’s to preventing it and that is what makes the A4 study so landmark, Dr. Ott said. The A4 study organizers are actively looking for more participants. Rhode Island Hospital is currently one of the clinical research sites in the state as well as Butler Hospital. Anyone interested in participating in the study or finding out more is encouraged to call, Rhode Island Hospital (401) 444-9861, or Butler Hospital at 455-6403. Much more information about the study and how participation works is also available on the website http:// a4study.org.
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Mixology for Retirees In my early twenties I enjoyed a rum and Coke now and then. I had a Black Russian phase when I was traveling on business in my late twenties. In my thirties, I joined my father for an occasional gin and tonic on visits to my childhood home on summer weekends. These days I’m into good wine and cold beer, not hard liquor or mixed drinks. Still, I’d be remiss if I didn’t share new mixology for retirees. First, some general information regarding cocktails and mixed drinks. You might wonder when it’s proper to shake the frozen concoction and when to stir it. This is more complicated than “shake if you’re making it for James Bond and stir if you’re in Margaritaville.” Here’s what I learned through my on-line sleuthing. You shake a cocktail that has egg or dairy additives, including cream liqueurs. Likewise if it has fruit juices or syrups. Shaking makes it cloudy and effervescent. Strain it and the cloudiness should clear up. You also shake a mixed drink if you want to show off your new
bar equipment. You stir a cocktail that contains only distilled spirits or light mixers. Stirring is supposedly a gentler way to mix. Gin and whiskey cocktails are stirred so you don’t “bruise” the liquor. This makes little sense to me. Stuff that hard shouldn’t bruise easily. If you’ve paid careful attention, you’ll have concluded (correctly) that true martinis should be stirred, not shaken. That makes James Bond a contrarian (surprise, surprise). Plus, he drank vodka martinis, so all bets were off anyway. Moving on to specific cocktails, the drink my mother favored when she went out with her lady friends was the Fuzzy Navel. The ingredients are peach schnapps and orange juice. Several online sites say to pour these into a glass filled with ice cubes and stir well. If your short-term memory still functions, you’ll realize that this flies in the face of the basic rules for shake vs. stir. It’s a good thing my mother didn’t know those rules, because she was not a contrarian; she was a joiner.
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and tart combo of fruits and tequila). You probably haven’t heard of the retiree variation—The Devil’s Middle Finger. It shares with the full hand 1½ parts tequila, ¾ parts lime juice and a teaspoon of ginger puree. After that, the Middle Finger goes its own way. Add a mouthful of light cream, a smidgeon of muddled papaya and a handful of trampled gooseberries. Shake vigorously until your middle finger hurts like the devil. Finally, you’ll want to file away the recipe for the Metamucil Mudslide. Like a conventional Mudslide, you use 1½ ounces of Bailey’s Irish Cream and ½ ounce of Kahlua. Separately, mix chocolate syrup with a tablespoon of Metamucil and coat the inside rim of the glass with this mixture. Fill the glass with ice and pour in the liqueurs. Be sure to lick off everything coating the glass if you want your mud to just slide on its way. You’re free to go off now to practice your retirees’ mixology. What are you waiting for? Shake a leg and create a stir with your new cocktails. You can thank me later. Copyright 2017 Business Theatre Unlimited Elaine M. Decker’s books include Retirement Sparks, Retirement Sparks Again, Retirement Sparks Redux and CANCER: A Coping Guide. Her essays appear in the anthologies: 80 Things To Do When You Turn Eighty and 70 Things To Do When You Turn Seventy. All are available on Amazon.com. She’s also been featured in ReaderSupportedNews.org. Contact her at: emdecker@ ix.netcom.com.
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Variations found online include the Hairy Navel, which adds vodka, the Pierced Navel (adds grenadine), and the Not-So-Fuzzy Navel (adds grapefruit juice). But you can Google ‘til the cows come home and you won’t find a recipe for the Linty Navel. It’s a new cocktail made especially for retirees. It combines peach schnapps, calcium enriched OJ with no pulp, and the white of one large egg, poached. Shake all these together and serve over chilled tapioca bubbles. Another variation on the Fuzzy Navel is the Fuzzy Ear Canal, also a specialty for retirees. In addition to the peach schnapps, you add equal parts peach brandy, curaçao liqueur and grenadine. Leave out the orange juice and forget about ice. Shake or stir; you won’t be able to tell the difference. By the time you empty your glass, all your senses will be impaired, but especially your hearing. You’ll swear that everything is being filtered through cotton balls in your ears. A particularly stiff mixed drink I found is the Bristly Chin Hair. Combine three parts gin and two parts each vermouth and crème de menthe with one part Silver Needles White Tea. Brew the tea in boiling water for five minutes, then cool it in the freezer before adding to the alcohol mixture. Stir vigorously with a stainless steel drink whisk. If you made this right, the whisk should stand upright. You, on the other hand, will be stretched sideways after you drink it. My research turned up a lesser-known drink—The Devil’s Handshake (a sweet
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THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT
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by DON FOWLER
The Merry Month Of Entertainment-Rich May
Spring is sprung The grass is riz I wonder where the entertainment is! That may be terrible poetry, but the arts and entertainment scene is wonderful as we spring into the merry month of May.
GREENWICH ODEUM
The beautifully renovated Greenwich Odeum has brightened downtown East Greenwich with the likes of David Cassidy, Robert Klein and Herman’s Hermits. The month of May finds a wide variety of entertainment at the Main Street theatre. The Graham Parker Duo featuring Brinsley Schwarz is there on May 6, followed by comedian Jim Breuer on May 14, Todd Rundgren on May 14, and the fabulous Oak Ridge Boys on May 18. Call 885-4000 for reservations, or check them out on line at greenwichodeum.com.
RHODE ISLAND PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
THEATRE-BY-THE-SEA
Summer can’t be far behind with Matunuck’s Theatre-by-the-Sea opening on May 31 with “Beehive,” the 60’s Musical bringing a bit of nostalgia to Rhode Island. The show runs through June 18. Call 782-1088 for reservations.
Conductor Larry Rachleff’s finale will certainly be a sellout, so get your tickets early for the Saturday, May 6 concert at Vets Auditorium. Mezzosoprano Susan Lorette Dunn is the guest artist. Music by Debussy, Canteloube and R. Strauss will be featured. Call 248-7000 for reservations.
BARKER PLAYHOUSE
“Chicago,” winner of six Tony Awards, returns to PPAC the week of May 2-7. This is one of Broadway’s finest, and well worth seeing for a second, or third, time. Providence College grad and “Seinfeld” regular John O’Hurley stars as Billy Flynn. The new musical, “Matilda,”, winner of 50 International awards and four Tony Awards, is the story of an extraordinary girl who, armed with a vivid imagination, and a sharp mind, dares to take a stand and change her destiny. Based on Roald Dahl’s novel, the musical has appealed to all ages around the world. “Matilda” is at PPAC May 17-21. Call 421-ARTS for reservations.
That wonderful musical that brought us memorable songs like “Day by Day,” “Godspell” will be at Barker Playhouse, 400 Benefit St., on Providence’s East Side May 12-21. Call 273-0590 for reservations. Check them out at Players 1909@ gmail.com. (The 1909 is the year they were founded, making them America’s Oldest Little Theatre.
OCEAN STATE THEATRE COMPANY
“Victor/Victoria” the gender-bending musical based on the 1982 Blake Edwards film, will be at Warwick’s Ocean State Theatre through May 21. It tells the story of a down-on-her-luck singer in Paris who becomes the toast of the town as a female impersonator. The score is by Henry Mancini. Call 921-6800, or go on line at oceanstatetheatre.org.
PROVIDENCE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
VETERANS MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM The Veterans Memorial Auditorium has undergone some dramatic improvements, making it one of the finest venues for music in New England. In addition to being home for the RI Philharmonic Orchestra, the Vets is hosting a concert by Chris Botto on May 7 at 7:00 p.m., followed by Festival Ballet’s presentation of “Cinderella” (Bring the grandchildren) May 12-14.
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■ REsearch (from page 13)
DID YOU KNOW Cats’ tongues are covered with little structures
called “filiform papillae,” which are like tiny hooks pointing toward the throat. These hook-like structures help hold food while a cat is eating. The papillae also help with grooming. Humans can feel these barbs when licked by cats. May 2017
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The collaboration developed three years ago when Suits first started encouraging his Chemical Tech III students to apply for the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program centered at the University of Rhode Island. SURF provides paid, summer-long research opportunities for undergrad students to work on in-depth research projects in different disciplines under supervision of mentors from area colleges and universities. His student, Joelle Bitar, was accepted into the SURF program and chose to work on the synthesis of PS 48 with DeBoef. Dr. DeBoef was attempting to synthesize a large quantity of this substance so that it could transition from the “in-vitro” testing phase, where it showed great promise in reversing Alzheimer’s disease, to the “in-vivo” phase where it would be tested on trans-genetic mice that possessed Alzheimer’s disease. Suits learned that PS 48 is commercially available from chemical suppliers, but sells for $12,000 per gram primarily due to the large number of lab hours required to produce it. The high cost of PS 48 hindered advancement of DeBoef ’s research project, so he decided to synthesize his own PS 48 to reduce costs. With only 10 weeks in the summer SURF Program, Bitar and DeBoef were not able to produce any of the finished PS 48 substance, but had succeeded in making several milligrams of the product from the third step of the four step synthesis. Suits spoke with Bitar about the project and studied the multi-step synthesis of PS 48. He then understood the limitations of having only two scientists working for only 10 weeks to produce the desired outcomes. Suits envisioned having a small army of well-trained chemical technicians (i.e., his 14 students) attacking this research problem en masse for an entire semester. He became excited at the prospect of his upcoming Chemical Technology IV class incorporating the four step synthesis of PS 48 as a capstone lab experience. This plan would help advance DeBoef ’s research project and also enrich the Chem Tech curriculum by providing students with an “authentic research experience” that would also light up their resumes. “After the poster session, I wrote a letter to Prof. Brenton DeBoef asking his permission to allow the Chem Tech IV class to collaborate with him on the synthesis. He agreed and we started to work on the synthesis immediately,” he said. The specifics of this project include three phases. The first phase takes place at CCRI where chemical technology
students synthesize PS 48, a material that has been shown to be effective at reversing Alzheimer’s disease in vitro. In the second phase, the material is sent to URI so it can be analyzed for structure confirmation and purity. In the third phase, the material is delivered to Jackson Labs where it is tested on mice genetically engineered to possess Alzheimer’s disease. “To say that this project made the students’ lab experience more exciting would be a gross understatement. The labs became electric and the student excitement was palpable,” Suits said. Though the original class graduated before the project was completed, their efforts allowed the next class, the class of 2015, to successfully synthesize a little over 10 grams of PS 48. Suits said the success of this collaboration was instrumental in Deboef ’s securing an NSF grant in which reference to “a joint research and training program with the Community College of Rhode Island” and the Chemical Technology Program is made several times. As it turns out, PS48 is a hot molecule. It is not only a focus of Alzheimer’s research, but is being studied in many other research projects. For instance, researchers at Brandeis University observed that PS48 can trigger the death of cultured human cancer cells. Other research projects involve studying the effect that PS48 has on stimulating the conversion of human somatic cells to stem cells that closely resemble embryonic stem cells. In addition, as an activator of PDK1, PS48 is being used by researchers to elucidate the role of Type 2 diabetes in vascular disease. Moving forward, the Chemical Technology Program will continue to synthesize PS 48 as a capstone activity during the last semester of the program and ultimately donate the drug to support varied research activities. Suits said Chem Tech students will continue to be strongly encouraged to participate in the SURF program, and their projects will be evaluated for future research collaborations. Suits said none of the project could have taken place without “the wonderful support” of chemistry chair Dr. Elizabeth Arendt, Dr. Peter Woodberry and paraprofessional Ms Jodie Bluto, who incidentally is also a Chem Tech Graduate. “I think those of us who work in chemistry departments at 4-year colleges could learn a lot from the Chem Tech program,” DeBoef wrote in a letter of support for the program. “It appears to be overwhelmingly successful in training students with the practical skills that enable them to be successful in modern research and industrial laboratories.”
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