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Vol. 48 | No. 12 | December 2021
Shrewsbury friends enjoy Lake Quinsigamond ‘adventure’
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In the company of celebrities and criminals Canton man recalls connections with famous — and infamous characters By Jane Keller Gordon Contributing Writer CANTON - Fate brought Al Dotoli together with his lifelong friend, Myles J. Connor, Jr., a convicted art thief and suspected planner of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum heist. They met when they were young, joined together by their passion for music. As a teenager in the 1960s, the 74-yearold Canton resident played the bass guitar in Connor’s band The Wild Ones, and Connor, who was older, occasionally played in Dotoli’s band, The Druids. It turned out that Connor wasn’t the only famous connection in Dotoli’s life―he has lots of stories to tell.
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Canton resident Al Dotoli’s long career in the entertainment industry had him rubbing shoulders with everyone from Frank Sinatra to The Rolling Stones.
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New AARP Analysis: COVID-19 Deaths in Nursing Homes Continued to Increase from August to September 2021 in Massachusetts Nationwide, COVID-19 Deaths in Nursing Homes Doubled By Mike Festa, State Director AARP Massachusetts
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COVID-19 continued to take a deadly toll on nursing home residents and staff in Massachusetts in the four weeks ending September 19, according to the latest data from AARP’s Nursing Home COVID-19 Mike Festa Dashboard. Resident deaths from COVID-19 increased from a rate of .04 in mid-August to .05 in mid-September. Nationally, resident deaths from coronavirus doubled since the last dashboard release, with more than 2,000 lives lost in nursing homes during the same time period. New infections among residents and staff in Massachusetts also increased. Resident cases went from .50 to .56 per 100 residents, and new staff cases increased from .75 to 1.02 per 100 residents. Cases and deaths would be even higher if not for the availability of vaccines, underscoring the importance of continuing access to COVID-19 vaccines and booster shots for eligible residents and staff. Vaccination rates among nursing home residents and staff also increased, with 92% of residents and 85% of staff fully vaccinated as of September 19 (up from 91% and 79% in mid August). The new Dashboard also shows that chronic staffing and PPE issues in Massachusetts nursing homes continue. In the four weeks ending September 19, 7% reported a shortage of nurses or aides, and 4% reported an urgent shortage of PPE. Nationally, staffing shortages also rose by 3 percentage points for the second month, with 29% of nursing facilities now reporting a shortage of nurses or aides – on par with the highest level seen during last winter’s COVID wave. It’s now been one year since AARP began analyzing and report-
ing how COVID has infiltrated nursing homes across the United States. Tragically, we are still seeing far too many infections and deaths in these facilities. It is past time to vaccinate all staff and residents and prevent yet another wave of this virus from taking more lives. Now more than ever, it’s time to hold Massachusetts nursing homes and other long term care facilities accountable for providing high quality care and safe environments for our loved ones. The state legislature is currently considering a commonsense bill that would do just that. AARP is fighting for House Bill No. 727/Senate Bill No. 414 – An Act to Ensure Quality of Care in Nursing Homes that would: • Establish minimum staffing standards • Provide supplemental staff wages and benefits • Increase Medicaid reimbursement with a requirement to direct more to staff and safety protocols • Establish minimum wages for staff in residential and home care settings • Establish a state task force on nursing home quality and safety • Strengthen visitation rules in nursing homes • Create a pathway for single occupancy rooms in nursing homes The AARP Nursing Home COVID-19 Dashboard analyzes federally reported data in four-week periods going back to June 1, 2020. Using this data, the AARP Public Policy Institute, in collaboration with the Scripps Gerontology Center at Miami University in Ohio, created the dashboard to provide snapshots of the virus’ infiltration into nursing homes and impact on nursing home residents and staff, with the goal of identifying specific areas of concern at the national and state levels in a timely manner. The full Nursing Home COVID-19 Dashboard is available at www.aarp. org/nursinghomedashboard.
Mike Festa is the State Director for AARP Massachusetts. For more articles visit www.fiftyplusadvocate.com.
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Shrewsbury friends enjoy Lake Quinsigamond ‘adventure’ By Dakota Antelman Contributing Writer SHREWSBURY - A trio of Shrewsbury friends are on a mission to stay healthy and inspire others. Last month, that drew them on a marathon kayaking trip across much of Lake Quinsigamond. “It was really fun,” said Pat Ahern in a recent interview. “We felt proud. All three of us.” ‘It was an adventure’ Ahern, Dee Bosma and Cyndee Plude have been friends for decades. Ahern and Bosma worked together over long careers as nurses. Plude, a daycare provider, joined the friend group as well. All three got involved in the sport of kayaking in different ways. Over time, they all set their sights on long trips through Lake Quinsigamond itself. “It was an adventure,” Plude said. The group set out near the Oak Island Boat Ramp on the same end of Lake Quinsigamond as Route 20. They then paddled miles north, under Route 9 and the Kenneth F. Burns Memorial Bridge and all the
Dee Bosma, Pat Ahern and Cyndee Plude recently completed a marathon kayaking trip across much of Lake Quinsigamond.
way to the I-290 overpass over the far end of the lake. Then, the friends turned around and headed back. “We just said ‘Why don’t we just go keep going?’” Plude said of the decision to continue past their initial goal of simply reaching the Burns Bridge.
Kayaking trip prompts positive response Ahern, Bosma and Plude shared photos of their trip on Facebook. Immediately, they said they heard comments from friends and acquaintances who said they had been inspired to get outside.
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“That was a real positive response,” Bosma said. As they feel gratitude for opportunities to inspire others, Ahern, Bosma and Plude are, themselves, working to push through the struggle that has been life amid COVID-19. “It’s a wonderful thing to be out in nature,” Bosma said. “We’re all nature lovers...And we all just want to be healthy.” “We’re all getting along in age,” she added. Bosma had already retired when COVID-19 hit. She came out of retirement, though, returning to work in order to help handle case surges and labor shortages brought on by coronavirus precautions. Ahern has also retired. She’s continuing a long-running business providing CPR trainings in her retirement, however. Plude, meanwhile, is on a personal quest to hike all of New Hampshire’s 48 4,000-foot mountains. She’s hoping to retire soon to spend more time in nature. “Get out there and do it,” she said of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors and physical activity. “Just do it.”
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Older workers have a lot to offer employers in a changing workforce By Peg Lopata Contributing Writer REGION - Being unemployed or underemployed is always stressful, but for older workers there’s also the worry that no one will hire them due to their age. But there’s hope. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), from July 2020 to July 2021, Massachusetts gained about a quarter of a million jobs. But does that help the 50-plus job seeker? Just their numbers alone may help older workers find work. People aged 85 and older are predicted to almost triple by 2034 says a report from the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) in Boston. Elder workers are becoming an increasingly important part of the labor force, according to the BLS. The BLS projects that by 2029, those 55 and older will make up 25 percent of the total workforce. Though it’s not possible to pre-
dict how many older adults will be working in the decades ahead, it’s likely many will out of necessity, or simply because working gives people purpose. With more older adults working, hopefully more and more employers will not shy away from hiring those 50 and over. “I believe employers welcome older employees for their work ethic, ability to work in teams and life experience,” said Damian Keiran, a manufacturing technology instructor at Quinsigamond Community College (QCC) in Worcester. What older adults offer Age discrimination is against the law no matter what your age. Older workers have something younger workers often don’t have that employers may want to consider: many life experiences, the ability to work well on teams and expertise in problem solving. “Older workers have been solving problems their whole lives,” remarked Lee Duerden, associate
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that by 2029, those 55 and older will make up 25 percent of the total workforce.
professor of manufacturing technology at QCC. Added Kara L. Cohen, community outreach and volunteer engagement for AARP Massachusetts, “Older workers’ experiences makes them better able to manage problems and respond to emergencies better than younger workers.”
Simply put, the more you’ve done, the more you can do. Where’s the work? Some industries typically pay better. And those types of industries are growing right here in our home state. “Manufacturing is thriving in
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May I help you? There’s growth in other industries and sectors too. Overall, according to the EOLWD, the growth in jobs from July 2020 to July 2021 has been in all sectors. Leading sectors were leisure and hospitality, professional, scientific, and business services, and trade, transportation and utilities. In almost any job, good people skills will help you land a job. But if you know how to work well with people, that’ll help you stand out as a job candidate in these sectors.
Cohen explained, “Older people know how to deal with people and may provide better service to customers ― all skills that have been developed over decades.” “Experienced workers,” agreed Jacob Longacre, professor of electronics engineering technology at QCC, “usually have soft skills critical to employers.” These so-called soft skills can be very important for such jobs as teaching, health care work, customer service and more. Jobs are abundant within these sectors right now according to Tim Consedine, regional economist for the BLS New England Information Office. There are also jobs in Massachusetts in the sector called scientific and technical services. According to recent employment statistics by Emsi Burning Glass, a labor market analytics firm, Deloitte, an accounting and professional services company, had the largest number of job postings, followed by jobs in administration for the state. Other employers, such as Panera and health industry companies are also posting a good deal of openings. So given these numbers this is a good time ― yes, even if you’re fifty or older ― to find a job right here in Massachusetts.
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Central Massachusetts,” said Kathleen Manning, dean of the Center of Workforce Development and Continuing Education at QCC. Duerden concurred. “There’s jobs in robotics, electronics, furniture manufacturing and more,” he said. Many manufacturing companies are facing a shortage of qualified workers and jobs are going unfilled. There’s a critical shortage of skilled technicians in automated manufacturing and development, according to James Heffernan, professor for electronics engineering technology at QCC. That’s good news if you’re looking for work in manufacturing. But what about other industries?
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Regular exams are a key step in maintaining eye health By Peg Lopata Contributing writer REGION - Losing one’s eyesight was once not uncommon for elders, but luckily things have changed. For example, the science has advanced so we now know that boosting your diet with such fruits and vegetables as kale, broccoli, peaches, raspberries and mangoes could help keep eyes healthy. “It’s simply not the case that vision loss is inevitable as you age,” explained Sidney Gicheru, MD, and clinical spokesperson of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Get thee to the eye doctor “Don’t wait until you are having a problem in your vision, however,” Gicheru advised. “Most leading causes of blindness can be treated, if detected early enough.” But what’s a problem? As we age it’s normal, though annoying, to have difficulty seeing at night, being more sensitive to glare or to have trouble reading fine print. In addition, as we age, we may notice our eyes feel drier, or objects blend into backgrounds, like milk in a white cup. These changes can be addressed, but don’t require getting to the eye doc-
tor tomorrow. Other changes need more immediate attention, such as sudden loss of vision or blurriness, Dr. Sidney Gicheru pain in the eye, or a sudden increase in flashes or spots or floaters. The importance of exams The Academy recommends all healthy adults get a comprehensive eye exam with an ophthalmologist by age forty. After this first exam, your ophthalmologist will recommend how frequently you should have follow-up exams. Yearly or every other year visits for those aged sixty and older is highly recommended, whether you wear glasses or not. These eye exams not only check for vision acuity, they can also sometimes tell if you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol or vitamin deficiencies. There are diseases, such as lupus and diabetes, which can be detected before
you get any symptoms by an ophthalmologist examining your eyes. Thorough eye exams can also spot if you have macular degeneration, a condition that results in distortion or loss of central vision, or glaucoma, which causes a gradual loss of sight. Looking forward There have been advancements in eye exams as well. Overall, there are not just better diagnostic tools, there have been great advancements in addressing eye problems. Said Gicheru, “Some have said we are in the golden era of technologies to fix eye health problems.” One example is cataracts, which is the leading cause of reversible visual loss in patients over fifty, according to Gicheru. Cataracts cause clouding of the lens of the eye. But this needn’t happen to you. To address this problem, cataracts are removed. Today cataract surgery can be done with smaller incisions, the use of lasers, and lens implants that can correct vision for both far and near. For other eye diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy, which can cause vision loss and blindness in people who have diabetes, and macular degenera-
tion, there are new technologies available now and others in the pipeline. Gene therapy as a treatment option One exciting development in that pipeline is gene therapy technology. “In 2017, the Food and Drug Administration approved Luxturna, a gene therapy for a rare condition that affects the retina and can cause hereditary blindness,” Gicheru explained. Though as a rare disease, this doesn’t affect many, it could help others down the road. In developments in science, one advance can lead to another. “It is hoped that this gene therapy will continue to expand to other diseases of the retina, optic nerve and other parts of the eye,” said Gicheru. There are advances coming for more use of lasers, implantable devices and more. As Gicheru concluded, “This is a very exciting time in ophthalmology.” Can’t afford an eye exam? Eligible seniors can receive a free exam from an EyeCare America volunteer ophthalmologist. To see if you qualify go to: www.eyecareamerica.org. Want more information about eye health? Go to www.aao.org/eye-health/ tips-prevention/seniors.
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Marking 35 years of creating signage for downtown Hudson Paul Tucker with his signage at Hudson Town Hall
By Ed Karvoski Culture Editor HUDSON - Paul Tucker continues to create signs that complement the architecture of many businesses, nonprofits and landmarks in downtown Hudson. A 1984 graduate of Butera School of Art in Boston, he began his business, Sign Logic, at age 23 in 1986. “The beauty of starting in Hudson was that it’s a small town and everybody knows one another,” he said of his hometown. “Almost all of my work in the beginning was from word of mouth between the downtown merchants. I feel incredibly lucky to be a part of this community.” Drawing on 35 years’ experience, he knows that a number of the older buildings downtown require extra screws to securely install brackets. “You learn certain things after doing a few signs at the same locations,” he explained. Tucker is also aware of gusty winds from the Assabet River. “I’ve been blown off my ladder,” he acknowledged. “I was heading toward a beautiful Volvo and thinking, ‘I can’t afford to fix this thing!’ Something went my way and I didn’t hit it.”
Downtown mainstays His longest working relationship is with Hudson Appliance & Mattress Gallery owners Arthur and Donna Redding. Their store has undergone multiple renovations and expansions. “We were a part of every single step of that for the last 35 years,” Tucker said of his business repeatedly providing signage and truck lettering. In recent years, he updated Hudson Appliance’s signage when mattresses were added to its inventory and name. Another of Tucker’s longtime cli-
ents is Avidia Bank. First, he did signage for Hudson Savings Bank long before it merged with Westborough Savings Bank and formed Avidia Bank in 2007. “When you get work from certain businesses in town, you feel like you’ve made it,” he noted. “This was definitely one of those accounts.” Now, in addition to Hudson, Tucker does signage for Avidia’s branches in Clinton, Framingham, Leominster, Marlborough, Northborough, Shrewsbury and Westborough. Along the way, he developed a
Hometown pride Tucker’s signs also adorn downtown Hudson’s regional destinations Paul Tucker | 13
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Playful artwork During Hudson’s 150th anniversary in 2016, Murphy arranged for pianos to be hauled from people’s homes to downtown for passersby to play. Tucker painted the piano that remained outside of Avidia’s Main Street location for several years. The upright piano was donated by a woman named Maggie, who taught her children how to play on it. One of Maggie’s now-adult daughters wanted the piano to be enjoyed rather than kept in storage. Tucker’s design incorporates his pinstriping skills with a caricature of John Lennon, a peace sign and the handwritten moniker “Maggie.” “Even though it’s an inanimate object, the piano had an unbelievable vibe,” he recalled. “I tried to give it an almost ‘70s hippie feel. Later, talking with the daughter, she said that I nailed it. It couldn’t get better than that.”
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Five misconceptions about Medicare coverage By R. R. Fletcher Contributing Writer Have you started thinking about Medicare? If you are close to your 65th birthday, probably. And, on the surface, joining Medicare may seem straightforward ― sign up, and you are covered. But, like most things, Medicare is far from simple. The Medicare program providing health coverage and increased financial security for older Americans without employment-linked group coverage insurance was signed into law in 1965 by President Lyndon B. Johnson. The law also established the Title XIX Medicaid program, which offered people eligible for cash assistance a type of health care coverage. Medicare, Medicaid, and the Social Security program were relatively narrow in scope and supported by payroll taxes. But Medicare and Medicaid are very different today. If you are looking to dispel a few Medicare myths as you approach the next stage of your life, here are a few definitions that may help you navigate the waters. Medicare’s four parts First, Medicare comes in several parts ― Medicare Part A, B, C, and D. You may also hear about Traditional Medicare. Medicare Part A is similar to ‘major medical,’ often thought of as ‘hospital coverage.’ Part B is what most people think of as ‘Medicare.’ Part B generally covers patient care such as doctor visits, therapy, lab testing, specialists, equipment like oxygen, and wheelchairs. Part C is labeled Medicare Advantage and was added by the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act (TEFRA) in 1997. Private insurance networks administer Medicare Advantage as HMO or PPO-styled insurance. Part D is Medicare Drug Coverage. It first went into effect in 2006 and covers most common use drugs. Now that we know the terms let’s see if we can clarify some misconceptions. Traditional or Original Medicare is where everyone starts. Everyone automatically qualifies for Medicare Part A True-ish. If you paid Medicare taxes at any point in your life, you are eligible for Medicare Part A ― premium free. If you did not pay Medicare taxes but are at retirement age and a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, a Medicare Part A buy-in option exists. You may also be able to buy into Part B.
• Chiropractic services • Alternative treatments Also, traditional Part B will pay for approximately 80% of the cost of services while the beneficiary is responsible for the other 20%. MassHealth offers One Care, a Medicare and MassHealth combo that will pay Part B premiums and Medicare prescription drug coverage. Massachusetts also standardizes Medigap insurance covering the 20% usually owed by the beneficiary. Medicare coverage is on a network True and False. Traditional Medicare allows for options when choosing a practitioner, but doctors must be enrolled with CMS to serve Medicare patients at both levels. Medicare Advantage programs operate similar to private insurance networks. The Massachusetts networks allow for additional services such as dog walking, eye exams, and gym memberships, but these ‘free’ services may affect premiums.
Joining Medicare is a process, and just like any other major decision, helped by a bit of time and research.
If you are looking to dispel a few Medicare myths as you approach the next stage of your life, here are a few definitions that may help you navigate the waters. Everyone automatically qualifies for Medicare Part B False. A strong misconception is that everyone automatically gets Medicare. Every U.S. citizen over 65 is eligible, but they must meet a few standards to receive benefits. Eligibility depends on when and how long you worked or disability status. The Medicare and You Handbook is a good reference detailing the requirements and is available from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). You can’t apply until your 65th birthday False. Applications for Medicare are accepted three months before through three months after your 65th birthday. Medicare Part B is free ― or costs the same for everyone False. Most people pay a standard premium. However, if your IRS reported income is above a certain amount, you may pay an Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA). Keep in mind, many Medicare Advantage plans and some Medicaid plans will cover Part B premiums. Medicare covers everything False. Original, also known as Traditional Medicare, covers most medi-
cally necessary and some preventative services. But it doesn’t cover everything. Traditional Medicare does not pay for: • Routine dental exams, dentures • Regular eye exams, eyeglasses, or contacts • Hearing aids • Care outside the United States • Long-term care • Cosmetic surgery
Original Medicare covers preexisting conditions True. Traditional Medicare has always considered and paid for coverage for preexisting conditions. However, Medicare does not usually pay for experimental or unproven procedures. Joining Medicare is a process, and just like any other major decision, helped by a bit of time and research. If you are retiring and transferring your health coverage, many employers have a cross-over program or someone that can help. Once you are signed up, your plan decision is never permanent, and you can change your plan every fall during ‘open enrollment.’ Just don’t wait, as the CMS website warns, and not join Medicare when you are first eligible, as this may have financial consequences later.
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Do your homework before choosing a caregiver agency By Janice Elizabeth Berte Contributing Writer
Always Best Care Senior Services of Framingham has been in business for over 10 years, says president Michael Wilsker.
REGION - When an individual or family decides to seek out caregiving services, they must ask themselves many questions. Is it affordable, and if not, will Medicare/Medicaid pay for it? What services do the agencies provide, and are the costs transparent? Are the employees certified or have licenses? Can the agencies provide current or previous client testimonies? Getting organized Navigating through the maze of caregiver agencies is time consuming and tough for the patient and his or her family. Start things off right by being organized. You may want to have a binder or accordion folder to store paperwork in, with tabs or folders labeled with the various types of information for easy retrieval. You can also scan those papers to keep the documents on your smart
phone. But keeping a hard copy is a good idea in case of power loss or device failure. You may want to also use a laptop computer to create a spreadsheet that will allow you to have a row for each agency, and columns such as the name, address, phone number, email address, prices, services offered, etc. Make a list of your wants and needs and track how many of them each agency fulfills. A tool like a spreadsheet will allow you to have a concise, factual summary, rather than relying on your memory, a jumble of handwritten notes, or the agency websites or brochures, which are designed to present them in the best possible light rather than providing an objective analysis. Review the pros and cons of each agency once you’ve gathered all the facts. Not all agencies are the same “We are extremely selective when choosing a home health care provider, and usually only hire two per cent of our applicants,” said Arona Bauer, partner and president of Boston-based Tribute Home Care Massachusetts. “We put them through a rigorous process of phone, application and two in-person interviews to make sure these applicants have the demeanor, personality and are heart-driven for their clients.” There is a plethora of caregiver companies, and they have many different procedures in terms of orientation for their caregivers. Some have a multiple day- to week-long process. “We put our applicants Homework | 14
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New Boston University academic program focuses on senior living By David Wilkening Contributing Writer
erally reinventing that notion. “They [the elderly] don’t want to sit there all day watching TV,” said Arun Upneja, dean of the university’s School of Hospitality Administration. What do they want? “They want an active lifestyle, adventure, good food, good company, great experiences. They want so many other things. Lines have blurred between senior care and our notion of traditional hospitality.”
BOSTON - Newton-born Serena Lipton is only 25 years old. But she is spending her college time these days not studying liberal arts or long-favorite majors like business, but rather a subject incongruous with her young age: the elderly — their lifestyle wants and needs. Yet, she points out that she is not there for a “cookie-cutter nursing or gerontology degree, and it is certainly not your traditional hospitality degree either,” she said.
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Serena Lipton is only 25 years old but has had a long interest in working with seniors.
When you start discussing the general topic of senior living, a commonplace image is nursing home or medical care. Or the elderly immobilized in wheelchairs waiting for the next television show. But BU has been an early innovator of a program carefully and specifically designed for the rapidly growing senior population. They are lit-
One of first to recognize industry importance She enrolled in BU’s master’s program, which she saw as one of “the first
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Program launched last year Lipton was the first student enrolled last fall when Boston University started its Senior Living concentration for its Master of Management in Hospitality (MMH) program. BU’s Senior Living master’s program is a groundbreaking approach and is believed to be the first of its kind. And it comes at a time when the aging hospitality market is generally seen as fast-growing but long neglected.
Long interest in seniors Lipton recently joined JLL, a real estate and investment management firm, as an analyst specializing in senior housing and healthcare practices. She holds a BS degree from the BU School of Hospitality Administration. She has long had an interest in the elderly. “You might wonder why a 25-yearold would be embarking on a career in the senior living field,” she wrote in a recent article in Next Avenue, a site with the goal of “meeting and unleashing the potential of older Americans through the power of media.”
Her interest began as a teenager. At the age of 15, she volunteered weekly after school at a retirement community outside Boston. There, she introduced herself to every resident around, listening to their stories. She spent her high school and college years working in all kinds of senior living communities: nursing care, memory care, assisted living and independent living. She studied successful management techniques for senior care. She paid careful attention to how individual experiences differed, And how those experiences could be improved. The experience convinced her to create a career in the senior living sector, “dedicating my life to bettering the resident experience and doing what I would do to shift the sometimes unflattering perception of the industry,” she wrote.
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This industry represents the perfect balance of hospitality and altruistic purpose. — Leora Halpern Lanz
Boston University’s Senior Living concentration for its Master of Management in Hospitality program is believed to be the first of its kind.
anywhere to recognize the importance of this industry.” The program she has pursued includes elective subjects such as The Business of Senior Housing, Senior Living Operations, and Monitoring the Resident Journey & Experience. Many of the classes are taught by industry professionals brought in as lecturers. There are at least two reasons why BU chose the new area of study. Room
for growth is one major factor, says Leora Halpern Lanz, associate professor and assistant dean of academic affairs of BU’s School of Hospitality Administration. The future market has become clear. The U.S. population is aging. Today, there are more than 46 million older adults aged 65 and older living in the U.S.; by 2050, that number is expected to grow to almost 90 million. This
means by 2030, 1 in 5 Americans is projected to be 65 years old and over. There’s also the lure of the hospitality industry. “This industry represents the perfect balance of hospitality and altruistic purpose, which we know from years of experience that so many students have gone on to carve out in their careers,” she said. Extensive research into industry needs The senior MMH program parallels the undergraduate model but it is far
• 11
from a carbon copy. Because there was no real existing model for it. “More than a year’s worth of research and competitive analyses of other programs,” Lanz explained. “The industry’s needs, and qualitative conversations and discussions were behind the launch of this program.” “We spoke with senior living CEOs, executive directors, and analyzed other programs, though there aren’t any like ours in our part of the country that focus on the human interaction as well as the business of the sector,” she added. “We are trying to redefine what it means to be in the hospitality business,” said Upneja. “Hospitality was for many years very narrowly defined as hotels and restaurants and good service.” Growing up in Newton, Lipton’s friends used to think her ambitions in high school and college to work in senior housing were both “strange and funny.” “I believe that they find it even more strange and funny that I actually went on to it,” she added. But she believes those attitudes are as ancient as out-of-date myths about seniors. “They now understand much more why I was so confident in my choice because it’s truly an industry that is currently filled with an abundance of opportunities,” she said.
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Canton man’s career put him in the company of both celebrities and criminals Canton man | from page 1
After that I became her sound consultant and toured the world with her.”
The stolen Rembrandt In 1974, Connor was about to go to prison for stealing Andrew Wyeth paintings. Seeking a bargaining chip for a leaner sentence, Connor and his associates stole a Rembrandt from the Museum of Fine Arts. “We spent a lot of time negotiating the deal and figuring out my role,” Dotoli recalled. “The papers said that the Rembrandt was handed off to the FBI and state police in Boston. It was at a Holiday Inn in Randolph. I know because I was there. I wore a ski mask, so nobody knew who I was.”
Al Dotoli, right, as a teenage musician, with his friend and bandmate Myles Connor, who would later become an infamous convicted art thief.
Music was his launching pad Early on, before Dotoli could ever imagine touching a Rembrandt, he became more focused on understanding and acquiring sound equipment than playing in a band. He launched All Sound Audio along with a bandmate, and eventually leased a storefront in Quincy. “We could make five times more money supplying sound equipment than playing a gig. I was a hippie, but I was also a capitalist, so that worked for me,” said Dotoli. When he was only 22, his “DotoliBranding Doubles,” a custom combination Concepts Family Dental Group of speakers, was used by The Rolling Concept 2 | Revised Main Logo:
Stones in their 1969 “Gimme Shelter” tour. Dotoli went on manage bluesman James Cotton, the James Montgomery Band, and the Fat City Band. Four years later, he became involved with the Music Inn in Lenox, a 10,000-seat venue. “This was a great run until there was a brawl during an Allman Brothers concert and the venue was shut down,” said Dotoli. His career continued to soar. Dotoli said, “Dionne Warwick told her manager that the only good sound was in Vegas or at my events in New England.
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left after two-week shifts. I did it.” Dotoli continued, “When the bomb went off, we all thought that Jewell saved a lot of lives. He had told everyone to get out. The guys got together and raised $5,000 to gift him, which was matched by management. I alerted the papers that we were going to give him a big $10,000 check on stage. Next thing I knew, an FBI agent called me and said, ‘Don’t do that. Watch the 5 p.m. news. Richard Jewell is our leading suspect.’ ” There was another connection that Dotoli worried about. Part of the reason that Jewell was a suspect was his behavior at his previous job at Piedmont College. Dotoli said, “I went to college there and got kicked out. Two weeks before the bombing, I drove there―about an hour away from Atlanta―and signed into a log and then walked the campus.” He added, “I knew that the FBI was looking for an accomplice. It wasn’t me, but at the time, I was concerned that my coincidences might add up.” Jewell was eventually cleared of any involvement in the bombing.
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Our Roots are One By Marianne Delorey, Ph.D. Executive Director, Colony Retirement Homes
A tree’s beauty lies in its branches, but its strength lies in its roots. — Mashona Dhilwayo
M
eet Karen and Priscilla, sisters who moved into our building. Meet Marjorie, who also chose to live in the same building with her sister Eleanor until her recent passing. I wondered about these pairs and how they were able to age so well together. I have siblings of my own and, although we get along, I can’t imagine we will be as close (geographically if nothing else) as these pairs. I have also seen so many people struggle to adapt and have healthy, ongoing relationships with their siblings as they grow up, experience life changes, and as they age. Both of these sibling pairs attribute their closeness to the example set by their parents. In fact, Marjorie and Eleanor’s mother and aunt moved into the same building 30 or so years before they did, so they have literally been walking in the footsteps of their mother. Both sibling pairs have also commented that
Canton man’s career Canton man | from page 12
For almost two decades until the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, he produced outdoor concerts at the stadium, while touring arenas during the winter months. “Working for the Krafts was great. In addition to concerts at the stadium, I produced seven post-Superbowl shows for the team members and their families. The Krafts really know how to throw a party,” said Dotoli. Most famous person It’s impossible for Al Dotoli to name the most famous person he’s met. Would he say Sinatra, The Rolling Stones, or the Dalai Lama? Growing up in Milton, Dotoli could not have dreamed of having so many possible answers to this question, and so many stories to tell.
they have been in constant communication throughout their lives, rarely missing a day where they did not talk or visit. I asked all of these ladies how we all can learn to live with the strange creatures that share our complicated family story, down to the intertwined roots. How do we nourish this complicated relationship without feeding the historic rivalries and jealousies? Their answers were simple. Marjorie said there were no rivalries, in part because her sister was so mild mannered. Priscilla and Karen noted that they were committed to each other (and their other sister) and it is that commitment that gets them through everything together. In fact, they believe their relationship has grown in depth and intensity over time. I have a good friend named Helen who has a great relationship with one sibling, but not with another. I asked her what makes one relationship work but the other not. She explained, “To be fair, my relationship with my younger brother has not always been great; we have struggled, but we both worked on it and it is much better now than it was. My older brother and I quite honestly never worked on it. It never was great, but over time during the changes, it never got better.“ And I think that sums it up. Of course, these sibling pairs are unusually close, but nothing is perfect. So the moral is not to wish for something flawless, but to perfect what you have been given. Priscilla and Karen interrupt and finish each other sentences, but notably, they have learned to control the eye roll. All of the siblings I spoke to mentioned respect. Whether they were introverts or extroverts, whether their lives had a similar path or a very different one, the siblings who got along all respected the other’s lifestyle and decisions. Early in our lives, we sometimes view our siblings as mentors and tormentors. Sometimes they are friends and sometimes fiends. It is hard to find another relationship in which you are both fierce to them and fiercely protective of them. And so it is with a tree. As deep as roots go, the tree can only stay healthy if the soil around it is healthy and it is watered with compassion and care. Marianne Delorey, Ph.D. is the Executive Director of Colony Retirement Homes. She can be reached at 508-755-0444 or mdelorey@colonyretirement.com and www.colonyretirementhomes. com.
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Marking 35 years of creating signage for downtown Hudson Café 641 sign by Paul Tucker
Paul Tucker
| from page 7
including Amaia Martini Bar, Medusa Brewing Company, New City Microcreamery and Rail Trail Flatbread Co. Among other fairly new, unique businesses that attract both residents and visitors with his signs are Beyond the Barn Boston, Café 641 and Synergy Wellness Center. Additionally, he created signage for the nonprofits Hudson AMVETS Post 208 and the Argeo R. Cellucci Jr. Clubhouse of Boys & Girls Clubs of MetroW-
est. His signs are displayed at Hudson Town Hall, Hudson Senior Center, Cellucci Park and Hudson Downtown Business Improvement District, Inc. “Hudson is my town,” Tucker declared. “The way that my signs and buildings work together can help the town and businesses’ success.” Learn more about Paul Tucker at signlogics.com and facebook.com/signlogic. See more of his signage at fiftyplusadvocate.com.
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viewpoint Gifts that make us happy By Janice Lindsay Contributing Writer
W
hen I first had the means to acquire Christmas gifts for family and friends, I’d try to discern the heart’s desire of each person on my list. How could I surprise and delight each one, and make him or her truly happy? Eventually I came to realize that the task was impossible. Gifts can’t make everybody truly happy. That’s not the gift-giver’s role anyway, unless the recipient is your child or your spouse; then it has to do with so much more than presents. I decided that a gift-giver’s role is to choose a remembrance that the receiver will enjoy and that reinforces the personal connection between giver and receiver, perhaps reflecting shared enthusiasms. In my circle of family and friends, if gifts relate to cats, nature, gardens, books, music, or food (especially chocolate), just about everybody can be pleased. In the long run, new things don’t generally make us happy anyway. After our basic needs for food and shelter are met, new things might make life more pleasant but they don’t necessarily make us happier. We get a new thing, we’re happy for a while, then we look around for the next new thing. It’s not our fault. We’re members of the human species. We are not genetically programmed to be content with the way things are; otherwise, we’d never feel inspired to make them better. So a gift doesn’t have to be the most wonderful something a person has ever received. If it’s a pleasant remembrance, that’s fine enough. Even so, sometimes someone gives you a gift that’s absolutely right, and it’s often something you never thought of. You wonder how the per-
son knew you wanted something when you didn’t know yourself. When I was a junior in high school, my grandmother gave me a dictionary. Who gives a teenager a dictionary? I had never asked for one. I was thrilled. I loved words even then, but I had never owned a dictionary. I perused it just to marvel at all the words I didn’t know. Early in my career as a harried working mother, I expected to handle all the kitchen chores, as I had done when our son was little and before I went back to work. One year, my husband said that, as a Christmas gift, he’d do all the dishes for the next year. I had a moment of panic – oh, no, I was losing control of the kitchen! That silly thought lasted about three seconds. He renewed the gift every year. That gift truly kept on giving, all the more special because I didn’t ask for it. One Christmas, my parents gave me a blue and white fleece throw. If they had asked if I wanted a throw, I would have said no, we already had some. But this throw is softer, thicker, and warmer than the others. I use it almost every winter day, for watching TV, reading, napping, or comforting me when I don’t feel well. When I’m not curled up in it, it might be occupied by a cat. When our son and daughterin-law moved to the southern California coast 30 years ago, they sent us a small green bottle filled with bits of sea glass, shells, and small stones collected from the beach. It has been on my kitchen windowsill ever since. We can all remember gifts that surprised and delighted us. But I suspect it was not just the things themselves that mattered. Our happiness comes from the connection between giver and receiver that each gift represents. Those connections are the most precious gifts, perhaps the only gifts that can make us truly happy. Contact jlindsay@tidewater.net.
We can all remember gifts that surprised and delighted us. But I suspect it was not just the things themselves that mattered.
Do your homework before choosing a caregiver agency Homework | from page 9
through a two-day orientation coupled with hands-on services, especially dealing with dementia and end of life issues,” Bauer explained. “It’s important that we focus on on-time protocols and making sure their connections with the patients are strong at all times.” Tribute Home Care states that its mission is to consistently provide positive encouragement and support so that their employees feel good about what they do. Providing this kind of service can be tough on the employee and knowing that their employer has their backs when issues arise is important for everyone involved. Some applicants are Certified Nursing Assistants and can provide twelve-hour and sleepover visits. Dealing with dementia and end of life services offers the family members relief knowing that the employee has the knowledge and expertise. “Our agency has been in business for over 10 years, and provides
light housekeeping, trash, laundry, errands, transportation, and light meal prep,” said Always Best Care Senior Services president Michael Wilsker of his Framingham-based agency. “My staff is dedicated and committed 24/7, which includes our nurse and social worker. Morning, noon, nights and weekends are always covered, and live-in.” Making a decision Some agencies will offer unique things beyond the basic services, like a therapy dog who visits their clients. But another agency might offer something that better suits your loved one in a totally different way. In the end, make an informed decision based on the facts you have gathered. And try to choose an agency well in advance of when you need services to start, so you don’t make a hasty decision based on stress or other emotions. Most importantly, read all the fine print before signing a contract or any other document with a caregiver agency.
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• 15
Needham man’s twenty-year project brings smiles to faces at holiday exhibit By Janice Elizabeth Berte Contributing Writer
PHOTOS/JANICE ELIZABETH BERTE
WELLESLEY - What has five trains, 300 lamp posts, takes four months to assemble and includes thousands of other elaborate pieces? It is the amazing snow village and train display that Bill Meagher has constructed over the past twenty years. Meagher, a resident of Needham, used to watch his uncle build these little wooden houses which always intrigued him as a youngster. Once he got older, he was fascinated with re-creating similar houses with model train sets that not only brought him joy but evoked a simpler and gentler time in history. Year by year, Meagher designed structures, which became more and more intricate and lifelike, where you would feel that you are at these iconic places in the world. The sparkle of the lights exuding from each display, along with the exact detail of the buildings became so real, that adding his train sets only enhanced each section to a higher level. “My first train set was the Lionel New York Central, and it ran in the display for over 30,000 miles before
Bill Meagher has spent twenty years creating an elaborate Christmas themed model train display that features five sets of trains, thousands of pieces, and replicas of iconic places in Boston and beyond.
it gave out,” said Meagher. In 1999, when Meagher’s wife got cancer, he spent most of his evenings alone building his village and train sets while his wife slept. With his intense love for Christmas and being retired, he knew that this display would bring him joy. But he wanted to share this happiness with other people as well. While his children enjoyed the village, they did not have the enthusiasm that he had for this
The Christmas village display even includes a replica of Boston’s Fenway Park, complete with Red Sox players on the field.
magical wonderland. After Meagher’s wife passed away in 2002, he continued to design his snow village in his barn until a year ago. His second wife, an avid gardener, suggested that Meagher donate the village and train set to the nearby Massachusetts Horticultural Society in Wellesley’s annual holiday Festival of Trees event. This would allow many more people to enjoy this display. With 6,000 people expect-
ed to walk through the doors for the event, which also includes dozens of decorated Christmas trees, Meagher knew he made the right decision. “The joy on people’s faces is priceless and adults love the memories it creates for them from Christmases past. And the children just love the trains,” Meagher explained. There are so many small pieces to Meagher’s display, that many people miss a lot of the details and inHoliday exhibit | 17
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Sportswriter’s ‘second act’ career is music to your ears By David Wilkening Contributing Writer MELROSE - Howie Newman is familiar with playing for older audiences at his “Music for Seniors” performances in the Boston area. But he bought an especially small guitar to pack it on an airplane’s overhead storage compartment for his trip to Central Florida. He was headed to the independent living apartments of The Cloisters in DeLand, just outside Orlando. And his listeners this time were special. They included his 94-year-old mother in the audience. “It wasn’t unusual for them to have entertainment but perhaps unusual for the child of a resident to perform. It made my mom really happy, and she was very proud. And it was a fun show,” recalled Newman of that time a few years ago. Now 71 years old, he is a former pro sportswriter who in recent years started performing for seniors with various shows, including “Music for Seniors.” His hour-long performance includes not only classic songs from yesteryear, some of them sing-alongs, but also his own songs, jokes, and bits of historical footnotes. Anecdotes help humanize the stars He may explain how the classic Johnny Cash written song “I Walk The Line” was based
on the singer’s professed loyalty to his first wife. That turned out to be a false note when he left Vivian Liberto to marry June Carter Cash. No matter ― audiences love the story, which helps to humanize the legendary singer. Or he might tell them about Doris Day who, “Was such a big movie star she was the ranking female and box office draw 11 times, and other things they might not know about her, like also being an animal rights activist.” “One thing I’ve learned over the years is to engage people. You have to do that to also entertain them,” he said. Born in New York, he came to the Boston area to attend Northeastern University, and later became a permanent resident of Melrose. In his 18-year sports journalism career, “he covered two World Series, five NBA finals, and four Stanley Cup finals, writing for the Patriot Ledger, Lowell Sun, Boston Globe, Associated Press, and Lynn Item,” according to his website. Music replaces sports writing as a career He was always interested in sports, way back in college. And music was also an interest; he was self-taught on the guitar. He began pursuing his musical interest professionally by playing in bars and restaurants in the Boston area for a decade, from 1973 to 1983. “Yeah, it got a little tired,” admitted Newman. “I wasn’t really playing the kind of ven-
Former sportswriter Howie Newman’s encore career as a musician sometimes incorporates elements of his previous job covering Major League baseball.
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www.fiftyplusadvocate.com + DECEMBER 2021 + fiftyplus advocate ues I wanted to play. I was only doing it for the money. I gave it up because I wasn’t enjoying it as much as I should. In fact, I wasn’t enjoying it at all.” He started “Music For Seniors” about a decade ago, which he describes as a “sing-along, toe-tapping musical journey from the early 1960s to the 1970s.” Everyone knows the songs of the Beatles, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and others. He has an extensive play list and is constantly adding new songs. “It kind of tapped into a market that people enjoy. People really listen to the music and I realized there’s a real market for it there. It’s a lot easier to play for them rather than playing in a bar for hours,” he said. Son and daughter also perform Newman’s son and daughter ― Janet, 34, and Keith, 30 ― sometimes are included in the act. Newman also performs a show called “Knock on Wood,” where he plays guitar and harmonica with fiddle player Joe Kessler. They play more modern standards, ranging from Tom Petty to the Eagles and the Kinks. That show also appeals largely to an older audience. “We do classic rock stuff and a lot of the people who show up for that are 50 and 60 and up,” he says. Newman also does a “Memory
Care” program for Alzheimer’s sufferers and others with dementia issues, and a “Musical Baseball Show,“ reflecting some of his career covering professional sports that included baseball. They also offer familiar songs, Newman’s compositions and often include stories about his days as a writer. Trivia is always an integral part of Newman’s performances. Baseball show recalls familiar players He often asks at the baseball shows how many times the Boston Red Sox’s Ted Williams achieved 200 hits in a single baseball season. It’s a common goal of starring players. “No one gets the right answer,” he says. It’s zero in the case of Williams because despite a lifetime batting average of 0.344, the feared slugger was so often walked by nervous pitchers. “I do the reverse of what everybody else does. Most musicians play mostly serious songs with a smattering of funny ones. I play mostly humorous material with a smattering of serious songs,” said the singer/songwriter. A typical original song of his includes the humorous ditty “Drivin’ in Boston is Drivin’ Me to Drink.” In the course of Newman’s “second act” career, he’s written about 100 songs, which are included in his various CDs and albums.
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Needham man’s twenty-year project brings smiles to faces at holiday exhibit Detail of The Nutcracker performance space in the Christmas village display.
Holiday exhibit
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tricacies when visiting the first time around. For example, one of the pieces in the large store at the beginning of the display is an actual escalator, and if you look hard enough, you will see little people moving up the escalator. “Some of the hardest parts in setting up the train set are the wiring of the structures, adjusting the street lights so the wires do not show, plus running the sets for ten hours. Then, cleaning of the tracks is an important necessity in keeping this display running efficiently,” said Meagher. The detail and mastery is breathtaking, expensive and time consuming. Buying the parts and train sets has been a labor of love and cost,
and this display, Meagher, estimated, has cost him around $100,000. Each section of his display shows different scenes from Fenway Park, Beacon Hill, and Santa’s Village to the iconic Big Ben clock in London. In addition to those scenes, there are many more points of interest to dazzle one’s mind. Now in his early eighties, Meagher still attends one train show per year, and does not travel via train a lot, but enjoys going to New York City using that method of transportation. If you would like to see this marvel of craftsmanship, don’t miss the Festival of Trees event, which runs this year from November 26 until December 19. For more information: https:// masshort.org/festival-of-trees.
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For Marlborough couple, bird sculpture brings joy By Jane Keller Gordon Contributing Writer
Later, looking at their polished stump, Condry and Schrag noticed a branch sticking out that made the whole thing look like an old man smoking a cigar. Then, they envisioned a cardinal, including its beak. “I’ve always loved cardinals,” said Schrag. In May 2017, Carl took his final form when Schrag and Condry painted his features and added flowers to a cavity in his trunk.
MARLBOROUGH - Carl the Cardinal’s life has had its ups-and-downs. First, he was a tree. Then, he was a seven-foottall stump painted bright red like a cardinal. Then, he sat in pieces on snowy ground. Now, his restored head rests parked on a chair. One of a kind, Carl is the creation of Beth Schrag and Bill Condry. The two, in turn, are members of Employment Options, a nonprofit that helps individuals and families in mental health recovery via education, jobs training, advocacy and more. Schrag and Condry both suffer from depression and live in a Marlborough apartment building that is owned by Employment Options and subsidized by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. Stump sparks creativity Inspiration struck when Condry first helped Schrag move into her apartment back in October of 2016. Condry himself moved in roughly four years later. Back in 2016, the pair noticed an old tree stump next to their parking lot. They got to work, feeling called to a creative project while settling into a new home. “My first thought was to turn it into a totem pole, but we decided to sand it down and just stain it,” said Condry.
Project carries personal meaning All this was, at least in part, personal. Schrag lost her father in 1993, 24 years before Carl spread his metaphorical wings. Before he died, Schrag recalled, her father told her he would “come back as a cardinal.” She didn’t name her new wooden creation after her late dad. But Shrag said she had him in mind in the years while he proudly guarded her property. “What better name is there than Carl the Cardinal?” she asked.
Carl the Cardinal stands tall.
‘Carl’ comes down For all the love, though, Carl posed some problems. “Our neighbors said it was beautiful,” Schrag said. “But someone told me that it was going to be torn down soon. People were worried that it was going to rot and fall over onto their cars.” As expected, Carl was eventually taken down as a safety precaution. He laid on the ground, first in the snow — split along his trunk.
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His beak was badly damaged. Once he was painted, he looked great again. He has been outside weathering since then. — Bill Condry
PHOTO/JANE KELLER GORDON
Beth Schrag and Bill Condry stand with what remains of Carl the Cardinal these days.
Then, after between six and eight months, Condry rented a chainsaw to at least help salvage Carl’s decorated head. Couple gives sculpture a facelift Still, Condry and Shrag weren’t ready to give up on Carl even after he had to leave his driveway perch. “His beak was badly damaged,” Condry said. “[But] we used three pounds of Plaster of Paris and steel wool to fix it. Once he was painted, he looked great again. He has been out-
side weathering since then.” Schrag and Condry recently moved Carl the Cardinal to a new area on the Assabet River Rail Trail known as the COVID 2020 Garden. The small parcel of land features plants, painted rocks and trinkets. “Unfortunately the person who created this let it go,” Schrag wrote in an email to the Fifty Plus Advocate. “So, me and Bill are going to pick where they left off starting with donating Carl.”
‘Magical’ garden joins Carl the Cardinal In addition to Carl, meanwhile, Schrag and Condry have created a “magical, mystical garden of lights near where Carl originally stood. The fenced-in space is filled with plants, rocks, signs, trinkets and antiques that the couple finds. “We decorate the inside and outside,” Condry said, crediting Cracker Barrel as his primary source of inspiration decor. “We have critters and birds,” he added. “It’s like an outside art gallery that we change all the time.” “It’s amazing to sit outside at night,” Schrag said of the whole area. Especially as the weather warms, the couple rests outside, watching the sky and delighting as distant bright specks like the International Space Station dart by. They call their space the WE
Club, named for William (Bill) and Elizabeth (Beth). “It’s just the best,” Schrag said. “I’ve always dreamed of a garden, and I find comfort here,” Condry agreed.
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