fiftyplus advocate
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Vol. 49 | No. 7 | July 2022
One of world’s best-known castles is found in Gloucester
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Deval Patrick shares story of his own American Dream By Sharon Longo Contributing Writer REGION - When Deval Patrick became governor of Massachusetts in 2007, he spoke of hope and change, leading with the insight derived from one lesson: Strive to leave things better for others. Scholarship brought him to Boston area Patrick came to the Commonwealth by earning a scholarship to Milton Academy through a Boston program called A Better Chance. He had grown up in Chicago up until the eighth grade, raised mostly by his mother and grandparents.
Former Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick was recently named professor and co-director of the Center for Public Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School.
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AARP Massachusetts presents webinar series on brain health By Mike Festa, State Director AARP Massachusetts
We are now giving you the chance to learn more about keeping your brain healthy by participating in the new Brain Health webinar series releasing this summer.
D
espite common misconceptions, a weakening brain is not an inevitable part of aging. It’s true that the brain changes with age, but just like other parts of the body — taking good care of it along the way can help prevent or delay disease and decline. We at AARP Massachusetts have always made it a point to prioritize Brain Health and we are now giving you the chance to learn more about keeping your brain healthy by participating in the new Brain Health webinar series releasing this summer. In June, we worked with Dementia Friends, a global public awareness program. We offered interactive sessions discussing five key messages about living with dementia and the simple ways we can help our communities become safer and more inclusive of the growing number of people living with dementia and those that care for them. For more information, please visit their website dementiafMike Festa riendsma.org. On Thursday, July 7, 2022 from 12 to 1 p.m., we are offering a webinar event focused on the Six Pillars of Brain Health. It’s never too late to focus on your brain health, and this session serves as an overview for anyone interested in learning more about brain health and will provide you with information on the latest research on brain health, lifestyle suggestions, and additional educational resources. Please register at tinyurl.com/3cynbfaf. On July 20 & 27, 2022, we are also offering two webinars focusing on the Ten Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s. Developed by the Alzheimer’s Association®, the Ten Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s education program is designed to help people recognize common signs of this disease in themselves and loved ones. These sessions will cover: • Typical age-related changes • Common signs of Alzheimer’s and dementia • Tips for how to approach someone about memory concerns • The importance of early detection and benefits of diagnosis • Possible tests and assessments for the diagnostic process • Helpful Alzheimer’s Association Resources Register at tinyurl.com/ybtp7484 for the Wednesday, July 20, 2022 Ten Warning Signs Webinar, happening from 12 to 12:30 p.m. Register at tinyurl.com/479z73m2 for the Wednesday July 27, 2022 Ten Warning Signs Webinar, happening from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Being mindful of your brain health is a huge priority for us at AARP, and we hope you make it yours this summer. We look forward to seeing you; please visit tinyurl.com/y2bpthpu for more information.
Mike Festa is the State Director for AARP Massachusetts. For more articles visit www.fiftyplusadvocate.com.
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Online dating can be a rich source of new relationships For those age fifty and over, there are many dating sites that can help you find anything from a casual companion to a serious, lifelong commitment.
By Nance Ebert Contributing Writer REGION - Online dating has become increasingly popular for many reasons. These websites and apps offer an online platform to those seeking companionship and serious relationships in a very user-friendly way. It also allows you to instantly connect with people you find attractive who have shared interests. How they work For those age fifty and over, there are many dating sites that have features that match goals, age, location, lifestyle, hobbies, education, religion and more. Some sites use personality tests to obtain a match and each has had a measure of validity to their success rate. Some of these sites are free while others have different levels of membership. While they each have many variables, their goal is simply to help the user or client make a connection, whether it be to find a casual companion or a serious, lifelong commitment. “Online dating is an absolute asset to be marketing yourself in today’s modern dating,” said Brandon Rodri-
guez, owner of FinalWing.com, a Boston-based online dating service. “You can find a quality partner on many of the online dating sites/apps. Gone are the days of a stigma of finding someone online,” he asserted. “My clients have found great success using online dating, especially when our company markets them in the right way and paves the path completely.” Some of the online dating sites that cater to the fifty and over popula-
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es, you can use your iPad or PC to activate your account. Safety is of the utmost concern and there are features that some sites use where a registrant can report inappropriate behavior. In addition, there are also features that sites have used which allow you to see those who want to connect with you. Any time you feel unsafe, this should be reported immediately. At the initial registration, some of these dating sites give the user a free trial period. After that time expires, there might be different levels of membership, with Gold usually being the highest and most interactive. Do your research to find the best one for you “I have used Match.com and have had several wonderful relationships develop. One lasted seven years and the most recent was last year,” said 59-year-old Sharon Tyler from Framingham. “I knew people who were using it and so I thought I would give it a try. The advice I would offer to someone trying an online dating site is to keep realistic expectations,” she explained. “A couple of dates I went
Dating | 5
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‘Leave things better for others’ Former Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick shares story of his own American Dream Deval Patrick | from page 1
His time at Milton Academy led to his attendance at Harvard College and, after a year living and working in Africa, Harvard Law School. Before politics, he was an attorney and business executive. “Many of the assignments I had taken were difficult but meaningful, and where I had something to contribute,” he explained. “In the companies, for example, I came initially because the hiring and promotion systems were broken and needed fixing.” After clerking for a year in Los Angeles, California, he was headed to work at a law firm in San Francisco. “But you know what they say: life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans,” he noted wryly. He met his wife, Diane, in L.A., she was from New York, and instead they moved there, where they married, and he began a civil rights practice. “We loved New York, but I began to think of the city differently once we became parents, so we moved to Massachusetts,” Patrick said.
Deval Patrick served as governor of Massachusetts from 2007 to 2015, the first African-American to hold this position in the state, as well as the first Democrat since Michael Dukakis.
Except for three years in Washington, D.C. as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights in the Clinton administration and commuting to New York or Atlanta for his corporate jobs, he has lived in Massachusetts ever since. “This state has been good to me. In
many ways, it has enabled my own American Dream,” he noted. Election to governor Patrick was elected at age 50 in 2006, offering to campaign and govern differently from what was typical in pol-
itics, with an emphasis on grassroots organizing, restoring a sense of community, and what he calls “generational responsibility,” leaving things better for those who come behind. He was the first African-American to hold this position in the state, as well as the first Democrat since Michael Dukakis. “Young people are hungry for that kind of leadership,” he emphasized. “You can’t solve the climate crisis or income equality unless you think past the next political cycle. The old way of doing politics, with an overemphasis on quick, short-term political wins and on raising money, had to change.” He wants to pass on to others the opening of doors that others had passed on to him. As governor, he worked on expanding health care, reaching over 98% of residents. He also changed how the state’s transportation would operate, creating the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, raised the minimum wage, reduced greenhouse gas emissions through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) as well as numerous other accomplishments. He also led the state’s successful response Deval Patrick | 5
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Deval Patrick shares story of his own American Dream The notion of doing what we can to leave things better for others is a value we need to lift up again. Deval Patrick | from page 4
to and recovery from the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013. Working for change Today Patrick continues to work hard for change. He was recently named professor and co-director of the Center for Public Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School. He founded and for several years was managing partner of Bain Capital’s impact investment fund. He stays active in politics, mainly through the BridgeTogether Fund, a nonprofit that invests in local grassroots organizing and community building among marginalized or unengaged voters. He said he chooses his activities for what he can do to help and encourage others.
— Deval Patrick Patrick also serves on several business and charitable boards. He is the recipient of 20 honorary degrees, is a Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute, a Rockefeller Fellow, and the author of two books, “A Reason to Believe: Lessons from an Improbable Life” and “Faith in the Dream: A Call to the Nation to Reclaim American Values.” An active retirement As someone approaching retirement age, he stated, “I see myself as always working and being active, not retiring. I am also trying to get better at having balance.” He built a house on land he had purchased in the Berkshires in western Massachusetts, as a retreat for family and friends. “The land is surrounded by fruit trees, vegetable gardens and other farms. It’s a place
where I can raise bees, think and write, and entertain others,” he said. “If I do retire, I’ll want to do more of those things in particular in that place.” When asked what advice he has for people over age 50, he said, “I want to serve, and there are lots of ways to serve. That hyper-self-involved narrative a lot of my generation was raised on proves this has not served our generational responsibilities,” he explained. “The notion of doing what we can to leave things better for others is a value we need to lift up again.” His grandmother’s influence re-
mains with him. “She always told me to stay humble,” he recalled. “Whenever I answered her questions by saying, ‘I don’t know,’ she would tell me what I didn’t know would fill a book! She was right, of course. So, I’m constantly learning, open to new people, new ideas and new ways of gaining perspective. This is what makes me purposeful,” he affirmed. “It’s what made me a better governor one day than I was the day before. It’s one thing to self-reflect, but it’s another to turn that self-reflection into action. That’s the next and best way to contribute.”
Online dating
those age fifty and above have better reputations than others. When seeking new relationships this way, it is up to you to do your own due diligence and decide which of these would be the best fit for you. Try searching the web for reviews of dating sites for people over 50 or articles about which ones are considered the best. “There is no better way of qualifying a person who matches your lifestyle, beliefs or ideological standpoint than online dating,” said Rodriguez. “It’s like having fifty first dates in fifteen minutes without the awkwardness.”
Dating | from page 3
on were with men who looked nothing like their photos, which were taken decades earlier.” Online dating is not for everyone, however. “I have used online dating sites in the past with no luck at all,” said Mary O’Hagan, 58, of Bolton. “For me, it didn’t feel natural and many of the people I met were simply not who they said they were. The experience just did not feel authentic.” Some of the online dating sites for
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Humor offers benefits to feeling better and improving outlook By Colin McCandless Contributing Writer REGION - Laughter is the best medicine as the old adage goes, but maybe there is really something to humor as a form of mood elevator. Humor and exposure to jokes, memes, books, movies and shows that tickle our funny bone does seem to make us feel better. But what does the research and science say on the subject? Are there some concrete, actionable steps we can take to inject a little humor into our everyday lives and improve our outlook even when the chips are down? Dr. Carl Marci, M.D., an assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and faculty at Massachusetts General Hospital, said it’s important to draw a distinction between humor and laughter. “Laughter is the universal stereotype, species-specific — meaning that humans are the only ones who do it — behavior that is not primarily related to humor, joking or even ridicule,” he explained. “But rather we know that it serves a key role in social relationships and communications. Humans laugh 30 times more frequently in social settings than in
impulses through it, you can measure that using simple electrodes on the fingers,” he noted. “And we saw a significant increase during laughter — interestingly, not just with the person who is laughing but the person who is with them.” In other words, just watching someone else laugh can boost your mood. “The more people laugh, the higher the arousal.” This is why comedy sitcoms have laugh tracks, noted Marci. “Because they know, and have figured out and intuited, that if you get a bunch of people laughing, it becomes a little contagious. So laughter is contagious.” He added that unsurprisingly the parts of the brain being stimulated during laughter are the emotion and reward centers. Just watching someone else laugh can boost your mood, stimulating the emotion and reward centers of the brain.
isolation. And the timing of laughter during conversation is not arbitrary. In fact it’s highly ordered and consistent.” He cited a study involving laugh-
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ter in over 1,200 episodes observing college students in a student union during their natural flow of conversation. It determined that laughter by the speaker almost exclusively followed complete sentences or questions. “You’re giving a little punctuation — an emphasis to the comment — to send a social signal,” stated Marci. “The point here is that the physiological effects of laughter do not require humor. I like to think of laughter in a social interaction as a kind of exclamation point.” How humor affects our brain Dr. Marci explained that when you examine humor’s impact on brain chemistry and function in a clinical environment between a therapist and a patient as he has done, you can clearly observe an increase in arousal driven by what’s called the sympathetic nervous system. “As our nervous system turns on, sends electrical
Humor is a perspective Steve Wilson, a retired psychologist, author, professional speaker, humor educator and founder of the World Laughter Tour, teaches and trains people worldwide about the field of therapeutic humor and laughter and humor’s benefits to our mental and physical well-being. Known as “The Joyologist,” Wilson, who founded the nonprofit Laughter Arts & Sciences Foundation and serves as the director of National Humor Month (held each April), provides educational tools through programs, workshops, speaking events and web resources. Wilson held his inaugural World Laughter Tour workshop in 2000 and has since taught his curriculum to thousands globally. “I really felt like I had a calling,” he said of the program. “It’s my mission in life. Humor is a shock absorber. The road of life is full of potholes. Humor’s a perspective. Humor can show you how to lighten up instead of tighten up.” Elaborating on how to bring more humor into our daily lives, Wilson emphasized that it’s about seeing the world in a certain way and examining different sides of things that happen
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www.fiftyplusadvocate.com + JULY 2022 + fiftyplus advocate “Laughter has healing powers for not only anxiety and depression, but what ails many during the pandemic — loneliness,” says Dr. Carl Marci, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and faculty at Massachusetts General Hospital.
to you. “It keeps you healthier. Humor perspective is a balance against the effects of stress.” Tips for bringing more humor and laughter into our daily lives So how do we reap the benefits of humor? Wilson recommends allotting ourselves five minutes a day for humor. He suggests breaking them down into five “one-minute humor breaks.” It could be something as simple as keeping a book of cartoons in your
drawer or collecting funny anecdotes. Another suggestion is to surround yourself with people who make you laugh. Wilson acknowledged that some humor can be hurtful or even insulting, which is why the World Laughter Tour advocates the positive aspects of humor. “The richest laughter is at no one’s expense,” asserted Wilson. He further advised that people learn to “take the joke on yourself,” and “have a sense of humor about
If you get a bunch of people laughing, it becomes a little contagious. — Dr. Carl Marci yourself,” to be self-deprecating but to also “be kind to yourself.” “That’s a perspective,” added Wilson. “Technically it’s called psychological distance. It’s when you create distance from your problems.” Dr. Marci emphasized the significance of social interaction, and reaching out to friends, whether that means spending time in person, over the phone or virtually on Zoom or Facetime. “Laughter will follow,” he said. People can also experiment with watching comedies on the internet that match their sense of humor. “It would be even better if you shared that experience with someone.” While Dr. Marci is unaware of any studies that show a relationship between laughter and healing, he did qualify, “we know from research that human social interaction can improve symptoms of depression. And to the extent that laughter facilitates human social interaction, I would say by extension you could argue that laughter
Additional resources: https://www.mayoclinic.org/ healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/ in-depth/stress-relief/art-20044456 https://www.webmd.com/balance/features/give-your-body-boostwith-laughter https://psychcentral.com/health/ ways-that-humor-heals#how-laughter-and-humor-uplifts
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has healing powers for not only anxiety and depression, but what ails many during the pandemic — loneliness.” And though there is no scientific evidence that humor or laughter cures anything, there is research indicating that laughter strengthens the immune system, increases oxygen flow and reduces stress through the release of endorphins, those chemicals that make us feel happy and relieve pain, noted Wilson. “If we can hang onto a healthy sense of humor for life, we’re going to feel so much better,” he said.
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One of world’s best-known castles is found in Gloucester By David Wilkening Contributing Writer
Hearst-Hammond connection The builders of both were contemporaries. William Randolph Hearst (1863-1951) and John Hays Hammond knew each other. Hammond died in 1936 at the age of 81 in an easy chair in his showplace at Gloucester. “I wouldn’t characterize the relationship between Hammond and Hearst as extremely close, but they were certainly friendly associates,” said John Leysath, curatorial director of the Hammond Castle Museum.
PHOTO/CARIN MACNAMARA
GLOUCESTER - Yearn to visit a castle? Go to Europe. Or stay in the United States. California has the famous Hearst Castle in San Simeon. Or closer to home, try Gloucester, where you’ll find the Hammond Castle Museum. Europe has more castles than anywhere in the world; an estimated 25,000. The exact number is not known, but the European Castle Institute is working on it. Germany is Europe’s “king” with the greatest number. The United States has only a few dozen. The Hearst and the Hammond in Gloucester, however, are invariably ranked among this country’s top ten.
Hammond Castle Museum in Gloucester draws about 35,000 visitors a year.
Right: Inventor John Hays Hammond Jr. registered more than 800 foreign and domestic patents on more than 400 inventions.
Hearst is best known as a failed politician and successful newspaper publisher. He was also the subject of the famous film “Citizen Kane,” often regarded as the greatest movie of all time, where his collection at “Xanadu” was his museum. An unsung hero Hammond was not as well known, but he was also a highly successful inventor credited with hundreds of patents and best known for his development of radio remote control that was the basis for modern missile guidance
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systems. He is sometimes called an “unsung hero of our modern technology.” There were other connections between both the two and their fathers. Both men’s castles are well known for their diverse collections. Both Hammond and Hearst were “avid collectors, almost to the level of being packrats, and their tastes were similarly eclectic,” Leysath said. Hearst was wealthier than Hammond. His castle reflects more grandiose and often more valuable artifacts. “Both spring from the same trend of wealthy individuals building castles modeled on historical buildings; both projects overlapped in terms of time of construction. And both incorporate pieces of ancient and medieval buildings in their structure,” Leyseth explained. A big tourist attraction Hammond Castle Museum draws about 35,000 visitors a year and attendance is again picking up this year. “I’m not sure we have a breakdown of what percentage of age groups visit the castle,” said Leysath.” I will say in my experience, we do have everything from children to older folks, but it seems the older folks are more engaged in the history of the museum.” Visitors to the Hammond Castle are immediately impressed with its location high on a cliff overlooking the
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Atlantic ocean at 80 Hesperus Ave. The castle served as his home and laboratory. It houses Hammond’s unique collection of inventions as well as Roman, medieval and Renaissance art. Hammond also designed a gigantic pipe organ as the centerpiece for his Great Hall, which has been played by some of the greatest organists in the world. Meanwhile, the building itself has a dungeon, an armory and even a secret passageway out of one of the many bedrooms. Everything expected in a castle Hammond’s creation contains all the things you would expect in a medieval castle: a massive drawbridge when beginning a tour, flying buttresses and of course, gargoyles. Many visitors are often impressed with the 2nd century Roman child’s sarcophagus in the courtyard. It was likely never used for a burial. Also impressive: the collection of over 50 headstones dating from the late Roman to late medieval periods. “And of course, Hammond’s own massive pipe organ of his own design, one of the largest in the Western hemisphere,” Leysath said. It is currently unplayable but there are plans to restore it. Visitors learn that he was the son of John Hays Hammond Sr., who became wealthy as a mining engineer in Cecil Rhodes’ mines in South Africa. He grew up in South Africa and then in England where he became fascinated with castles. His fame relies on his inventions and patents. Claiming mentors of both Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell, he registered more than 800 foreign and domestic patents on more than 400 inventions, generally in the fields of radio control and naval weaponry. The Boston, Massachusetts architectural firm of Allen & Collens was hired in 1923 to design Hammond’s dream residence. Today, there are guided and self-guided tours. But visitors should know the castle is not handicap accessible. Also, there’s no air conditioning and there are many steps with narrow spiral staircases.
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What happens to your debt when you die?
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Financial Security YOU SHOULD BE CONCERNED. I AM.
Because Massachusetts is not a community property state, when a married resident of the state dies, their spouse does not owe their debts.
I’ve been helping senior homeowners for over 20 years navigate how to financially age at home. Reverse mortgages are an essential solution to provide access to cash today or when needed for homeowners who are at least 62 years old and own a home with some equity. SO — Why am I concerned and why should you be?
By Nance Ebert Contributing Writer REGION - When people think about planning for their eventual demise, the focus is usually on assets. But what about debt? Most debts have to be paid off through your estate. The designated executor’s responsibility is to settle your estate, which includes the debts of the deceased. There are, however, some exceptions where debts are forgiven. In the state of Massachusetts, some student loans, both private and federal, are examples of that. If there are no assets or an estate, the debt ceases to exist once the debtor dies. How it works “In Massachusetts, as a creditor, you have one year from the date of death to bring a claim against the estate and the claim has to be a lawsuit,” said Northborough attorney George E. Pember. “Merely filing a notice of claim in the Registry of Probate is no longer sufficient. If there are not enough probate assets to pay the claim, the creditor can only expect to get a partial payment,” he explained. “It is also typical to have bureau expenses and legal fees in settling the estate be given priority over other claims.” Keeping good records of debts and assets is extremely helpful for those given the task of helping to settle your estate. The executor will have a much easier task. According to a study by Experian, one of the three largest credit bureaus in the United States, “The average American dies owning $61,554. Throw mortgages out of that equation and the debt load shrinks to $12,875, which doesn’t seem like much unless some
debt collector starts calling you day and night trying to collect.” People accrue all types of debt during the course of their lifetime. Some might include business, life insurance policy loans, car loans, medical bills, credit card loans, student loans, mortgages and more. Once the debts are paid off by the estate, whatever assets are left becomes an inheritance. If there are not enough probate assets to pay the claim, the creditor can only expect to get partial payment. Debt does not transfer to surviving spouse Because Massachusetts is not a community property state, when a married resident of the state dies, their spouse does not owe their debts. These debts become the responsibility of the deceased’s estate. “It is also important to note that assets of a surviving spouse and/or children are not used to pay the debts of the deceased personally,” Pember added. “Assets that were jointly owned are presumed to be owned by the surviving joint owner and therefore also not available as claims against the estate because they are not assets that go through the probate court.” As difficult as it is, it is important to plan for what will happen after our passing. Meeting with an attorney who specializes in elder law and estate planning can give you some peace of mind in knowing what will happen to any debts you may have when you are no longer around to make these decisions. This also helps ease the burden on your family and loved ones who are left with the task of handling your estate.
Senior homeowners are facing unprecedented financial assaults to their ability to keep their homes including: • Highest inflation rate in 40 years – that means your social security will no longer equally cover your housing expenses, medical bills, and food costs, let alone gas. • Higher interest rates – the government continues to raise the rates. You will need more cash to pay credit card balances and home equity lines just to stay even. • Food and product shortages – when things are scarce and in high demand then prices go through the roof. If you’re on a fixed monthly income, the only options are to cut back or tap into your savings at a faster rate. • Stock market is tanking -if your retirement is based on stocks, you’ll be faced with selling in a down market to make ends meet. • Stress, anxiety, and worry – the above can lead to taking the smile off of your face and diminishing the quality of your life. Reverse Mortgages may give hope but you must take the first step! If you need cash today or want to make sure you have access to funds in the future, then please learn how a reverse mortgage works and if it is a good option for you. A great place to start is get your free “How to Use Your Home to Stay at Home” 36-page book. This is the official reverse mortgage consumer booklet approved by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development and published by the National Council on Aging.
Alain Valles Reverse Mortgage Specialist 781-724-6221
To receive your free copy, please call me at (781) 724-6221 or email me at av@powhse.com I am also available to evaluate your specific situation, answer your questions, and calculate how much money is available to you.
Alain Valles was the first designated Certified Reverse Mortgage Professional in New England. He obtained a Master of Science from the M.I.T. Center for Real Estate, an MBA from the Wharton School, and graduated summa cum laude from UMass Amherst. He is the senior reverse mortgage loan officer MLO#7946 at Powerhouse Funding Corp. NMLS #1740551. He can arrange but does not make loans. Alain can be reached directly at (781) 724-6221 or by email at av@powhse.com
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Tips for managing menopause By Nance Ebert Contributing Writer REGION - Night sweats, hot flashes, weight gain, mood swings, dry skin, thinning hair, sleep issues and more are all symptoms that many women experience while going through menopause. While it can be frustrating, it is a natural part of life. Three stages Menopause typically begins when a woman is in her late forties or early fifties. It can usually last for a few years. There are basically three stages of menopause, the first being perimenopause, which is the time leading up to it. The second stage is menopause when you’ve stopped producing the hormones that cause your menstruation. The third phase is postmenopause where you have not had a period for one year. The end of menopause might bring about an increased libido, excess energy and feeling very focused. Estrogen therapy and diet changes can help There are many ways in which to manage menopause. Some doctors may suggest estrogen therapy which is a good treatment for relief of hot flash-
While menopause can be frustrating for women, it is a natural part of life.
es. However, some women cannot take hormones and might opt for a more holistic approach using natural supplements, limiting alcohol and caffeine, staying hydrated, reducing the intake of carbs and refined sugar and more. Eating foods that contain vitamin D and calcium help to prevent bone loss that can occur during menopause. Dairy products like yogurt, cheese and milk might be beneficial. Exercise helps eliminate mood swings and can assist with weight management as weight gain is commonly associated with menopause. It also helps to decrease stress, and improve energy and mental health. Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can help to keep bones healthy and can help you to feel full. Caffeine and alcohol have been known to trigger
mood changes and night sweats. Being mindful in the evenings about limiting their consumption might help to alleviate these symptoms. Phytoestrogens are natural plant compounds that may help to balance hormones as they mimic the effects of estrogen in the body. Many foods like sesame seeds, beans, flaxseeds, tofu and more contain phytoestrogens. Because estrogen levels decrease during menopause, some women experience dryness. it is important to stay hydrated and drinking water may help reduce dryness symptoms as well as help you feel satiated. Reducing your intake of refined sugar and carbs can help with mood swings. Those food groups can cause irritability and a feeling of tiredness as they directly cause blood sugar levels to rapidly change. Protein intake can also help you to feel full and satisfied. Coping with the emotions Women going through menopause all experience it differently. Some women even feel melancholy knowing they are now approaching a different stage in their lives. “Surprisingly enough, I felt a bit of sadness when I was informed that getting ‘pregnant’ was no longer a risk for
me,” said Kathy Bridge of Westborough. “My periods had been a part of my life from the age of thirteen until the age of 53 and all of a sudden ‘poof,’ no worries. It was bittersweet.” “Since this time, I have tried to embrace the changes in my body,” she explained. “There’s nothing bittersweet there, just pure bitter! I am fortunate to be in good health and for that I am grateful. The rest just has to be what it is.” Finding a specialist Dr. Heidi Angle of Gynecology Partners, P.C in Weston had this to add. “Every woman is different so no one can know what their experience will be in advance,” she noted. “It is rare for women to have misery, so I tell my patients not to assume ‘badness.’ ” Angle also had a suggestion for learning more about menopause. “It is important for women to have a sounding board for questions and concerns,” she said. “Fortunately, we have far better resources than our mothers did. I encourage women to look for a NAMS CMP (North American Menopause Society Certified Menopause Practitioner).” Learn more at www.menopause. org.
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Should you convert to a Roth IRA? By Nance Ebert Contributing Writer REGION - For many people there is typically some confusion when it comes to retirement savings plans and how best to approach them. It is possible to convert some or all individual Traditional IRAs to a Roth IRA but there are a number of potential tax implications to consider when doing so.
ic serv
dividual makes contributions from after-tax wages. There are no current year income tax benefits for these contributions. Like the Traditional IRA, withdrawals can be made penalty-free starting at 59½. These withdrawals are tax free, provided the account has been open for five years. One difference to note between a Traditional IRA and a Roth IRA is that eventually, the contributions and the earnings for a Traditional IRA are taxed. Whereas for a Roth IRA, only the contributions are taxed. The earnings are never taxed. In addition, unlike a Traditional IRA, there are no RMDs for a Roth IRA so the money can be withdrawn in retirement when it is needed and not because it is required.
a partial conversion strategy is used, it is recommended to complete the conversions prior to age 72 so RMDs do not have to be taken into account. Watch your income if you’re on Medicare Medicare’s high income surcharges need to be considered when converting from a Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. In 2021, the standard premium for Medicare Part B was $148.50 per month. If a Roth conversion increases your income above a certain level, you could end up paying much more than that amount. In 2021, high earners paid up to $505.00 per month for Medicare Part B premiums. A Roth IRA conversion is a bet that tax rates will rise in the future. At the same time, there are several tax pitfalls that need to be considered when converting from a Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. It might make sense for you to, over the course of several years, make this conversion. Ideally, you should convert just enough to remain within your tax bracket and not move to one that is higher. A certified financial planner or an accountant can help you figure out what is the best scenario for you and your needs.
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Pre-tax vs. after-tax contributions A Traditional IRA is a retirement savings plan where an individual makes contributions from pre-tax wages which can then be invested and grow tax deferred until it’s withdrawn upon retirement. Because the contributions are from pre-taxed wages, the current year’s income tax that is owed is reduced. When you reach the age of age of 59½ withdrawals can then be made without a penalty from a Traditional IRA and are taxed as ordinary income at the IRA owner’s current income tax rate. Required minimum distributions (RMDs) from a Traditional IRA begin at the age of 72 and are calculated based on life expectancy tables. A Roth IRA is an IRA where an in-
When you convert a Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA you pay income tax on the amount of money being converted.
Have a strategy Many people think that tax rates will increase in the future so they would be better off paying taxes earlier rather than waiting in the future to pay them. When you convert a Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA you pay income tax on the amount of money being converted. This is then added to any other income you may have in the conversion year and could therefore place you in a higher tax bracket, making your tax bill owed higher than expected. Therefore, many financial advisors recommend individuals consider doing the conversion after they retire and are no longer receiving their salary. “Having a strategic Roth conversion strategy can potentially save you thousands of dollars in future income taxes,” said financial planner Martin Battock. “And reduce your forced IRA distributions during your retirement years.” A partial conversion strategy is also recommended by some financial advisors. This is where the conversion from a Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA is done over several years in order to ensure that the added income does not put you in a higher tax bracket. If
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Proper care can literally help save your skin
By David Wilkening Contributing Writer REGION - Your skin is the largest organ in your body, and often serves as the first defense against infections and injuries. So it’s no wonder dermatologists promote that protection of it is vitally important to your health. “UV light exposure increases the risk of developing skin cancers such as melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma,” said Dr. Ahou Meydani, interim division chief of dermatology at Cambridge Health Alliance. “It also damages collagen in the skin, reducing the skin’s elasticity, making it more prone to bruises. Older skin already has reduced skin elasticity, so it is important to minimize further damage by protecting it from the sun.” Preventing sun damage Here are six tips from Meydani for protecting the skin from sun damage and recognizing the signs of skin cancer. • Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher on all areas not covered by clothing. Reapply sunscreen every two hours
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when you are in the sun, or after sweating or swimming. Wear sun protective clothing, such as broad-brimmed hats, sunglasses with UV protection, lightweight, long-sleeve shirts, and pants. Wear shoes that cover the feet completely. Seek shade when appropriate, remembering that the sun’s rays are the strongest between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. UVA penetrates glass, so don’t forget to wear sunscreen when on the road, or when sitting in front of a window. Do NOT use tanning beds. Tanning bed use, even only once, increases your risk of developing skin cancer, and it accelerates signs of skin aging. Eat a well-balanced diet rich in different types of fruits, nuts and vegetables. They contain micronutrients and antioxidants that are needed to protect the skin against sun damage and inflammation. This is particularly important in older adults because their natural antioxidant defenses are not as strong as they were when they were younger.
The production of collagen and elastin slows down as you age, which causes your skin to lose some elasticity, and it also becomes thinner and more fragile.
Checking for skin cancer Early identification and treatment of skin cancer, especially melanoma, gives you the best chance of a successful outcome. Meydani provided the following guidance for recognizing the signs of skin cancer. • ABCDE is a handy mnemonic for remembering the signs of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. If you notice one of these features in a mole, you should have it checked by a board-certified dermatologist
as soon as possible: Asymmetry (if one side of the mole is different from the other); Border (if the border is irregular as opposed to smooth); Color (if there are multiple colors or a change in color); Diameter (if it is bigger than a pencil eraser); Evolution (if there is a change in size, shape or color). • If you notice a sore that has not healed, a growing bump, or a rough, scaly bump, those could be a sign of basal cell carcinoma or
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UV light exposure increases the risk of developing skin cancers such as melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma. — Dr. Ahou Meydani
“Healthy skin is what we present to the outside world,” says Dr. Ahou Meydani of the Cambridge Health Alliance. “It helps us feel more confident, helping to improve our self-esteem and quality of life at every age.”
squamous cell carcinoma, common skin cancers that should be evaluated and treated by a board-certified dermatologist. Skin care tips AlerisLife, one of the country’s largest senior living companies, also has some thoughts on the subject of skin care. The Newton-based company says on its website: “As you age,
your skin naturally ages along with you. The production of collagen and elastin slows down, which causes your skin to lose some elasticity. Skin also becomes thinner and more fragile; glands lose their ability to effectively moisturize the skin; and it’s therefore common for older adults to have dry skin.” “Besides these natural effects of aging, the environment can have a compounding effect, including when a person gets too much sun or has been exposed to harsh weather conditions. A person’s ethnicity and heredity are also factors in how his or her skin ages,” the site added. Aleris offers these skin care tips: Wash gently. Use warm water rather than hot when you wash and avoid taking too many baths or showers. Use mild cleansers rather than
harsh soaps and alcohol-based products. Avoid bath oils as they make the tub slippery, increasing the risk of falling. Moisturize your skin. Consider a fragrance-free moisturizer and keep your skin well-hydrated to help prevent the cracking and itchiness that can accompany dry skin. This will help to prevent the “itch-scratch-rash-itch cycle.” Don’t smoke. Smoking damages your skin in numerous ways, contributing to wrinkles and otherwise aging your skin. Blood vessels in the outer layer of skin narrow in smokers, reducing blood flow and depleting the skin of nutrients and oxygen. Collagen and elastin, which provide elasticity in skin, are damaged by smoking, as well. Put a humidifier in your home to add moisture to the air.
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Limit drying substances. Using too much soap, perfume or antiperspirant can make dry skin worse. See a doctor if your skin continues to be dry and itchy. Meydani, who graduated from Brown University and Yale School of Medicine, noted that “Sometimes older adults don’t realize that, as part of the natural aging process, their skin, and its needs, change. They also don’t realize that as a result, they need to make changes to their routines, like increasing moisturizer use or decreasing baths. Since people have developed self-care routines they have used for over 50 years,” she explained, “it can be difficult to make a change in routine.” However, in her experience, she has found older adults are often more consistent in skin protective measures than younger people. “Perhaps because they themselves, or someone they know, had skin cancer, or they witnessed the effects that sun had on accelerating signs of aging in their parents,” she said, “they are more vigilant about sun protection. “ “Healthy skin is what we present to the outside world,” said Meydani. “It helps us feel more confident, helping to improve our self-esteem and quality of life at every age.”
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We did it for Grandma By Janice Lindsay Contributing Writer
T
he recipe for this meal begins “Dig a hole.” Following a family tradition that began decades before I was born and lasted until well after I married and became a mother, my grandparents in northern Rhode Island hosted a family clambake at their home every Fourth of July. I think it was only Grandma’s love of “the bake” that kept it going. A traditional clambake begins with a hole. Grandma so loved the bake that their back yard boasted a permanent bake pit. If I recall correctly, it was about six feet square. The backbreaking work of the bake was accomplished each year by whichever generation of men in our large extended family was most vigorous. Here’s how I remember it: Take the protective lid off the hole whose bottom is lined with very large rocks. Build a wood fire on the rocks. Feed it
for a couple hours until the rocks are hot. Brush embers aside and cover the hot stones with wet seaweed several inches deep. Place your food in burlap bags on top of the seaweed, alternating layers of bags with layers of seaweed. In the bags: clams, mussels, fish wrapped in foil, corn partially shucked, potatoes, onions. Spray it all with water. Cover it tightly with more seaweed and a wet tarpaulin and let the whole thing steam for an hour or more. While waiting for the bake, eat Grandma’s traditional steaming hot clam chowder and just-out-of-thefryer clam cakes. (Grandma’s Rhode Island chowder: a little salt pork, quahogs and their juice, tomato soup, potatoes, onions. That’s it.) As a child, I wondered why such an arduous, heat-intensive custom as a clambake, with all food served steaming hot, developed on the Fourth of July, when the air might be so hot and humid that your eyeballs could sweat just reading the chowder recipe. Finally I realized that the tradition assumes you’re on a beach, with a cooling sea breeze, where you can easily dig a sand pit and find plenty of rocks, seaweed, and water. Our family tradition began
with Grandma’s grandparents, who traveled to the shores of Narragansett Bay for their bake. Grandma made do without the beach. I loved the chowder and clamcakes but found the messy bake food disgusting. A few grown-ups seemed to relish scooping gritty wet quahogs out of their shells and slurping them down with gobs of melted butter. I suspect that everybody else, including Grandpa, would have been happier with a hot dog. But everybody put up with it, so as not to disappoint Grandma. Grandma was short, stocky, and strong-willed, Grandpa tall and easy-going. They were solid, steady, dependable. I never saw them show affection to each other or anybody, but if one of us was in trouble or needed help, they were always there. Grandma was indulgent with us grandchildren, but maybe she hadn’t been so patient with her own seven children, though they were obviously a happy family. The good-natured undercurrent was that our lives would be easier if we just did what she wanted. I never discovered the consequences of not doing so, because we all did.
Grandma’s greatest joy was having us all around her, especially at the clambake. We joked that if you didn’t show up, Grandma erased your name from the family Bible. Nobody wanted to be erased. When Grandma died at the age of 95, her funeral took place during a Fourth of July holiday weekend. She had gathered us all together for one last obligatory Fourth. Contact jlindsay@tidewater.net
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What are you nurturing? By Marianne Delorey, Ph.D. Executive Director, Colony Retirement Homes
Removing negativity from your life leaves room for more positivity to grow. — Unknown
T
his year, I have thrown my whole self into gardening. Usually, I have a few plants; this year I have dozens. It is exciting to imagine what the future will hold. And this year, I have been thinking about cultivating — what we cultivate in our own lives and how sometimes, we need to be careful what we are both putting our energy into, and what we allow to grow while we were busy doing other things. So, this article is about weeding.
But it really isn’t. Having just watched Zander Moricz’s commencement speech, in which he talks about having “curly hair” because he was told his mic would be cut if he mentioned he was gay, this article is about what you really need to hear. This article is about the positivity and negativity that is in your life. That could include a person, several people, the clutter, the baggage, or the obligations that we all have. This article is about preparing your later years for good things and removing whatever negativity you can. Because at the heart of weeding is recognizing that weeds compete with your main plant for sunlight, water, nutrients and space. Your primary plant’s growth depends on this competition for resources. Prevention – The first principle of weeding is preparing the soil. When
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you want something to grow, you loosen the dirt, fertilize the soil, add the desired plant or seed, and mulch around it. These steps ensure the best possible conditions for that plant to thrive. In other situations, you may want to think about what conditions you are offering. Identification – The second principle of weeding is to know what is growing around your desired plant. Not all weeds are bad. In fact, when a desired plant shows up where you don’t expect it, gardeners call these plants “volunteers.” Sometimes, you may prefer to keep a volunteer; sometimes you may even keep it instead of or to the detriment of the original plant you chose for the spot. Last year, I found wild grapes growing at the edge of my yard. This year, I am training those grapes along some string and weeding around them to encourage more growth. What volunteers exist in your life? And what weeds are toxic or detrimental to your health and well-being? Control – This step can be difficult because it requires decisive action. Can you pull out the weed? Will you get the whole root? Control is not a one-step process. You will need to revisit the desired plant to make sure you are giving
it all the nutrients it needs. Recently, I found some shrubs at the edge of my property that turned out to be invasive bittersweet. I did not ask this plant to grow, but I had ignored the area. That neglect had allowed the weed to grow out of control; the plant was huge. It took hours to remove, and now that it is done, I have plants I want in that space. And the process was overwhelming, but my sons were a huge help. And so, I pose to you several important questions for you as you age — what kinds of plants are ripe for the soil you are offering? Is your soil ripe for clutter? Negative people? Poor lifestyle choices? Is there anything you can do to prevent further negativity? What are the good things in your life you did not expect to find? What may be growing up in the shadows and choking out good plants without your knowledge? Is there someone who can help you find the roots of these weeds? Enjoy your summer and enjoy watching how your garden grows. 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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The road ended where it began for ‘The father of the Beats’ By David Wilkening Contributing Writer LOWELL - Whether or not they have read his books, a must-stop for many visitors to this city is the final resting place of writer Jack Kerouac, one of America’s most famous travelers. PHOTO/TOM PALUMBO
Grave site is magnet for admirers The grave is near the gatehouse at the Edson Cemetery. At Lot 76, Range 96, Grave 1. So many visitors sought it out the caretaker printed a map with directions. The simple slab on the grass has his name, birth and death dates. March 12, 1922. Oct. 21, 1969. His life started several years before America’s Great Depression. It ended when the U.S. President was Richard Nixon. The tribute on the gray stone is in capital letters: “HE HONORED LIFE.” A larger commemorative stone added long after his funeral, located behind the grave, has a quote from his most famous book, “On the Road.” The quote is “The Road is Life.” There are often hand-written notes and pens, or open bottles of Jack Daniels whiskey or half-empty wine bottles placed at the grave. They are appropri-
The city of Lowell is celebrating the centennial this year of writer Jack Kerouac, perhaps its most notable native son.
ate since biographers agree the writer was an alcoholic. His lifelong affinity for cheap wine gave way to his older favorite: “boilermakers:” shots of whiskey and small beers that led to the alcoholism that caused his early death at the age of 47. Kerouac’s books alone would have made him famous. A remarkable achievement since the French-Canadian spoke only in French until he was seven or eight years old. His book “On the
Steve Edington is the president and a 30-year member of the Lowell Celebrates Kerouac committee and leads tours of sites described in the author’s books.
Road” is regularly rated among the top ten American novels, top 50, or top 100 ― depending on which list you believe. “TI JEAN” or “Little John” was Kerouac’s family nickname. Legend has it visitors to the grave include multiple jaunts by the Pulitzer Prize-winning folk singer Bob Dylan, known for his own famous words. Kerouac had an influence well beyond literature But it wasn’t just the admiration of songwriters like Dylan and that led to his fame. He was an influence not only
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in literature but also in film (Francis Ford Coppola), music (The Doors), politics (Barack Obama) and even fashion. The latter was illustrated as Dior Homme, under the creative direction of Kim Jones, which recently offered a collection that honored the Kerouac-created Beat generation in its Fall 2022 fashion show this past December. In 1993, The Gap famously featured Kerouac in an ad for its khaki pants. Kerouac grew up in Lowell and was buried there. Oddly enough, he was hardly lauded in his native city during his lifetime largely because of his bohemian lifestyle, general rebellious nature, bisexual activities, and liberal use of drugs and alcohol. But today, it might be easily argued that he is Lowell’s most famous figure of the 20th century. And visitors are expected to trek here from all over the world this year during the 100th anniversary of his birth in this faded industrial city of roughly 116,000 people, located less than 35 miles from Boston. The year-long celebration has been going on throughout 2022. October will feature a weekend of Kerouac-themed events and tours, including a walking tour of historic sites often portrayed in his books.
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For years, Kerouac was frequently on the move: New York, California, Lowell, and Florida. He spent time in Mexico and Morocco and had a brief sojourn in Paris. His wandering also led him to seek faith not only in his lifestyle, but in religion. He started out as an altar boy and a Roman Catholic, became an atheist, then a Buddhist, then a Buddhist-Christian. And finally, a straight Christian. Writer felt he was often misunderstood Even at an early age and years before his fame, Kerouac was a jazz lover who lived according to his own beat. During his time attending Columbia University in New York City, where he
met other “Beat” figures like Allen Ginsberg, he often felt like an outsider. As “Lil’ Abner in big New York City,” as he put it. His reconciliation of the Buddhist tenet of reincarnation with Christianity’s afterlife of heaven and hell is what attracted retired Universalist minister Steve Edington to him years ago. Edington is the president and a 30-year member of the Lowell Celebrates Kerouac committee. He leads tours of sites described in the books. He also leads tours in nearby Nashua, New Hampshire, where Edington was a minister. It was also home to both Kerouac’s parents, Leo and Gabrielle who met and married in Nashua before moving to Lowell.
Critics were often condescending Kerouac often referred to his writing style as “spontaneous prose.” Although it was written purportedly without edits, he primarily wrote autobiographical novels based upon actual events from his life and the people with whom he interacted. His insistence upon “First thought, best thought” and his refusal to revise was controversial. He typed “On the Road” on one continuous 120-foot roll of tracing paper in just three weeks, though he did some text revisions before it was published six years later. Kerouac also by all accounts resented critics such as novelist Truman Capote, who famously said his work was “not writing but typing.” “That was a cruel remark and fairly typical of the reception he got from the literary community. I believe Kerouac knew of it,” said Edington, who is also the author of the book “Kerouac’s Nashua Connection” about his parents’ time there before they moved to Lowell. Kerouac has often been called “Father of the Beats” or “King the Beats.” Jean-Louis Lebris de Kerouac (his real name) certainly paved the way for the hippie movement in the 1960s. But he didn’t like the designation. And it was only one way where Kerouac viewed himself as often misunderstood. When a television reporter asked him about coining the word “beatnik,” he denied
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it. He said instead, “I am a Catholic.” He coined the term “beatnik” in 1948 but viewed that as also misunderstood. It was not a reference to guitar and bongo-playing hippies but had a religious connotation, meaning “blessed.” Other sites of interest Edington says the author’s grave and his home at 9 Lupine Street in Lowell are the two mainstays most visitors want to see. The home is a private residence and there are no tours. But another common area of interest is the neighborhood on Beaulieu and Boisvert streets, which was described in the novel “Visions of Gerard.” That was a reference to Kerouac’s older brother, Gerard, who died of rheumatic fever at the age of nine when Jack was four years old. The writer idealized his brother and later said Gerard followed him in life like a guardian angel. Still another area of interest: The Archambault Funeral Home. It’s where the wake was held for Kerouac. And the former St. Jean Baptiste Church, where he was an altar boy, and now a possible site of a planned Kerouac Center that is in its early fundraising stage. Final years of anonymity The writer spent the last six years of his life in St. Petersburg, Florida, where acquaintances said he often prized his Kerouac | 19
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Essex and Ipswich remain havens for antiques lovers By David Wilkening Contributing Writer ESSEX - The small town of Essex, on the North Shore of Massachusetts, is renowned for its 19th century shipbuilding heritage. But more recently it’s been known for its walkable concentration of antiques-related stores. It has been termed “absolute heaven if you love antiques.” Travel guide Frommer’s called it one of the three best destinations for “antique hounds.” And the town of about 3,500 residents is routinely termed the “Antiques Capital of America.” At its peak, it had about 35 antique stores. Today, you can still venture there to look for antiques, but store numbers have dramatically declined. What happened is no mystery. Remaining antique store owners and others attribute the shrinkage to three main factors: the lingering pandemic, the growing popularity of internet shopping, and the aging of store owners. But it, and the neighboring town of Ipswich, still endure as a popular antiques destination.
Rick Grobe closed his antiques store in Essex, but still visits homes in his 1937 Chevy panel truck to buy items he sells online. Olde Ipswich Shop & Gallery is a popular antiques store in the town of Ipswich on the North Shore.
Surviving stores lean toward high-end One of the more prominent Essex survivors with an affordable price range, known for its eclectic collection and mascot, a Maine coon cat named Beatrice, is Howard’s Flying Dragon. Edwin Howard, 83, has owned it for 48 years. “There are maybe only three or four stores left,” like his, he said.
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Most remaining Essex stores are more high-end and expensive. One of these is David Neligan Antiques, which for 30 years has been specializing in 17th through 19th century English and European furniture and decorative arts. “High quality” pieces, as the store puts it, is no exaggeration. Recently offered were a pair of “Regency mahogany and brass
bound peat buckets” for $12,500 and a $14,000 “pair of William IV Rosewood tub chairs.” An eclectic collection in Ipswich Another well-known store is AnnTiques, which has a building of 8,000 square feet sitting on the river in Ipswich. It’s generally described
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www.fiftyplusadvocate.com + JULY 2022 + fiftyplus advocate as a “collector’s paradise, with everything from vintage clothing and jewelry to handwoven rugs, funky chairs, record players, Native American art and more. The shop also offers furnishings typically found in the historic homes in the Ipswich area. Ipswich is known for being home to some of the largest numbers of historic homes in America. It has 31 of the 461 properties and districts found in Essex County on the National Register of Historic Places listings. Shopper evaluations often praise the store for generally “reasonable prices,” and the antique knowledge of its longtime owner Ann Orcutt. She attributes the area’s growth of antique shops largely to its reputation for historic 18th and 19th century homes. Orcutt, 75, has been an antique “generalist” for about 30 years. Her store is a reflection of her own taste. “I buy and bring in things that appeal to me. I’m always hoping they also will appeal to others,” she said. Oddly enough, she has never gotten into internet commerce and never made a single sale there. “I don’t know how people sell or buy a piece of jewelry and other items without trying it on. I think people want to see it and feel it,” she said.
Still another shop reflects area past Another popular local store reflecting the area’s past is a historic 1800s barn housing the Olde Ipswich Shop & Gallery, which says it offers handcrafted “Made in America” goods. They include paintings, home décor, seasonal goods and other items. The store, in business for more than two decades, is also known for its early American pottery. Johanne Cassia and her husband Frank Wiedenmann are the owners. She started painting several years ago and her local scenes such as seascapes are among her most popular sellers. She said even with the decline in store numbers, the pace of buyer interest has been slowly picking up in recent months. While some of the area’s antique stores have closed permanently, others have changed their operating model with reduced hours, offering visits only by appointment, or have shifted their concentration to internet sales. It’s best to plan ahead before you visit. Another one of the legendary Essex antique businesses is the White Elephant, which has adapted to the changing times. It was often called one of the most unique antique and collectible shops on the North Shore. Owner Rick Grobe,72, made it his practice to visit homes to pick up items. He still does it but on a different basis.
Grobe and his wife Jean, who bought the White Elephant shop in 1985, closed it in 2015 ― 30 years later. But he still travels around the greater Boston area, sometimes in his 1937 Chevy panel truck, for small items to buy and sell online via the business website and Facebook and
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Instagram accounts. “Our customers weren’t buying large furniture items anymore,” he said. Instead, the store typically sells smaller items which can be easily shipped to customers across the country by mail. His longtime slogan still applies: “Tell me you want to sell all of it, and I’ll buy all of it.”
The road ended where it began for ‘The father of the Beats’ Kerouac | from page 17
anonymity. Few of his drinking buddies knew he was a writer. He hung out at a dive bar called “The Flamingo.” It’s the place that Kerouac is said to have had his final drink before being rushed to the hospital the next day for internal bleeding. For years afterward, the bar, now known as the “Flamingo Sports Bar” offered Jack’s drink for $2.50. It was called the “Jack Kerouac Special.” Why was Kerouac an alcoholic? “It did run in his family,” Edington said. “My research showed his father and grandfather died early not from alcohol but it was a contributing factor. Maybe it was a genetic factor. But creative people often seem to have that (alcoholism) urge running through them.” On his tours, visitors range in age
from twenty-somethings to retirees Edington’s age and older. Why did the Beat writer attract such a diverse group? Edington, during his ministering in Nashua, gave sermons on the various religious aspects of the writer, despite his sometime amoral conduct. “He spent his whole life trying to figure out who he was,” he explained. “The idea of breaking away and struggling with ‘who I am and what am I doing here’ has an identity with different generations.” And maybe with all his travel and his various religious conversions, Kerouac struggled but never found his own identity. Maybe he never found his God. But he shared with all of us his search for it. For more information, visit https://lowellcelebrateskerouac.org
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