April PrimeTime 2014

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rhode island

Apr i l 2014

The Road to

Retirement • Traveling • Learning • Volunteering and so much more

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April 2014

inthisissue

Retirement

4

“

6 Staying Social

Since I’ve been retired I really

haven’t had any days of boredom . . . after being retired, I don’t

”

know how I had time to work.

– William Jennings pAGE 15

SENIOR ISSUES

RSVP

Senior Nutrition Program..............18 Director’s column...............................19 Skilled Nursing.....................................19 Alzheimer’s Association..................20 Retirement Sparks..............................21 Unclaimed Property..........................22

Retired seniors looking to stay active and connected

Senior Centers offer a wider range of activities than you think

8

PEOPLE & PLACES

Doer’s Profile..........................................24 Stephanie Gove and Integrative Medicine........................25 Glimpse of RI’s Past............................29

Time to Reinvent Learn something new, take on new challenges

FOOD & DRINK

10 Living Life to the Fullest

Pr i m e Ti m e April 2014 1944 Warwick Ave. Warwick, RI 02889 401-732-3100 FAX 401-732-3110 Distribution Special Delivery PUBLISHERS Barry W. Fain, Richard G. Fleischer, John Howell MARKETING DIRECTOR Donna Zarrella donnaz@rhodybeat.com Editor/ Creative Director Linda Nadeau lindan@rhodybeat.com

Brunch.......................................................24

New retirees Carolann and Phil Soder hit the road to retirement

LIFESTYLES

What Do You Fink...............................13 That’s Entertainment........................14

12 Concierge Staff

professional prospective

A great job for retirees

15

Reading, Writing, Volunteering

How William Jennings is spending his retirement

23

Spring into Spring

Fun things to do!

Findhe... t

Your Taxes................................................18

nextmonth

It’s Travel and Leisure time!

Easter Bunny! we’ve hidden in this issue

WRITERS Michael J. Cerio, John Grow, Don Fowler, Tim Forsberg, Dan Kittredge, Terry D’Amato Spencer, Elaine M. Decker, Joan Retsinas, Mike Fink, Meg Chevalier, Joe Kernan, Kerry Park, Kathy Tirrell, Jennifer Rodrigues

for a chance to win a . . .

$25.00 Gift Certificates to

L’attitude Modern Eatery

ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES Donna Zarrella – donnaz@rhodybeat.com Carolann Soder, Lisa Mardenli, Janice Torilli, Suzanne Wendoloski, Gina Fugere Classified ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE Sue Howarth – sueh@rhodybeat.com PRODUCTION STAFF Matt Bower, Brian Geary, Lisa Yuettner

Broad Street, Cranston

mail entries to:

ACTUAL

I Found It Beacon Communications SIZE On PAGE ________ 1944 Warwick Ave., Warwick, RI 02889 attn: I Found It! or send an e-mail to: donnaz@rhodybeat.com Entry Deadline: April 30, 2014

A Joint Publication of East Side Monthly and Beacon Communications.

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April 2014

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PrimeTime |

by DANIEL KIT TREDGE

Looking to stay active, connected in retirement?

please

T:12”

RTISEMENT PREPARED BY

T:4.375”

WE SALUTE CAREGIVERS IN RHODE ISLAND.

rsvp One of the first people visitors to the Cranston Senior Enrichment Center are likely to encounter is John Bizon.

As a greeter, John provides guidance to those entering the building.

Given the path that led him to his role at the center, the position is a fitting one.

John came to the senior center at an extremely trying time. Formerly a health inspector, he was unable to continue working or driving due to issues with his vision.

Volunteering at the center, he said, has given him a new sense of purpose as part of a vibrant community.

“I came here and found a nice niche,” he said. “It’s saved my life.”

Annette Martinelli came to the senior center following her retirement.

After a career as a banker, she was seeking a way to continue putting her skills to use. She found that opportunity working in the center’s gift shop and as treasurer of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, or RSVP, advisory board.

Money raised at the gift shop helps provide for needs at the senior center, from televisions to a new bubbler. The shop serves as a valuable outlet for those who can no longer driver and visit the center using the Transvan.

“I love it,” she said. “I just like being with people. You learn a lot.”

Lena Brais similarly came to the center in retirement, seeking a way to remain active.

“I said to myself, ‘I’m not going to sit at home. I’m going to go down to the senior center and see if I could get involved.’ And that’s what I did,” she said.

Lena has volunteered at the center for nearly 20 years, serving in various roles in the hub of activity that is the facility’s cafeteria. She fills out the menu board each day, and works with other volunteers.

“It’s a marvelous place,” she said. “I feel as though I’m getting younger rather than older.”

John, Annette and Lena are a small sample of the nearly 300 volunteers who give their time through RSVP. But their stories are representative of the positive impact the program continues to make, both in the lives of those volunteering and on the community as a whole.

RSVP is part of the Corporation for National and Community Ser-

An estimated 217,000 adults in our state provide care to adult relatives or friends. That’s why AARP in Rhode Island is fighting to help our seniors live independently and supporting the family caregivers who make it a reality. We’ve been instrumental in passing legislation that helps ease these challenges. If you don’t think Real Possibilities when you think AARP, then you don’t know “aarp.” To learn more, visit aarp.org/caregiving

| PrimeTime 4

April 2014

200 FIFTH AVENUE NEW YORK, NY 10010

GREY WORLDWIDE

JOB #: ARPSTL_P40207_221317

PROOF: 1

Retirement

I feel as though I’m “ getting younger

”

rather than older

– volunteer Lena Brais

vice’s Senior Corps, which also includes the Foster Grandparents and Senior Companions programs.

RSVP provides a broad range of volunteer opportunities for those over the age of 55, and allows participants to choose where and how they serve and how much time they give.

David Quiroa, the city’s RSVP director, said the program covers a broad range of activities and extends well beyond the senior center’s walls.

Free tax preparation services, collaboration with the Red Cross for CPR and emergency shelter management training, reading to and tutoring local students, exercise and healthy eating programs, scam prevention initiatives, the traveling Silvertones singing group - all fall under RSVP’s umbrella.

At the heart of the program, David said, is “enriching” lives by keeping the city’s older residents active and connected with the community.

“Involvement is very important for seniors,” he said, adding that while the services provided through RSVP represent literally hundreds of thousands of dollars in value to the city, “What’s priceless is that the seniors are coming here and interacting.”

The skill sets many volunteers bring to their positions also affords RSVP a unique opportunity to make a difference.

Ann Tanzi oversees roughly 25 volunteers through the program’s UPS, or “United Parcel Seniors,” whose unofficial slogan is “What can golden do for you?” The group does mailings for the city and nonprofit organizations, and also creates “Smile Dolls” that provide comfort to children in trying or traumatic situations.

Ann ran her own medical transcription service across New England and New York for more than two decades, supervising nearly 50 employees. When she came to the center six years ago, David asked her to take on a leadership role given her experience.

“I came here to relax. That did not happen, thanks to David,” she said with a laugh. “The ladies in here, they really work hard.”

Frank Murga, a veteran and former production manager, also found his skills put to use at the center. He first visited five years ago to be re-certified

April 2014

in CPR, and then took over as the program’s instructor. Later, when the RSVP advisory board was seeking a new president, he was voted into the position.

The board, in its third year, holds raffles to raise money for needs at the senior center, from a truck for the nutrition department to chairs for the adult day care. It currently has 12 members, and Frank said three more might be added.

In addition to his work on the RSVP board, Frank serves as a leader for the Community Emergency Response Team, or CERT. The team opens the center as a shelter and command center during emergencies, and helps educate seniors on how to prepare for and react to such situations.

“I’m learning as I’m teaching others how to take care of themselves in the event of a disaster,” he said.

David said volunteers like Ann and Frank play a major role in RSVP’s success.

“We have very professional individuals, very sophisticated people, that are giving back to their communities,” he said.

As RSVP and the senior center seek to utilize volunteers’ skills, steps are also being taken to adapt to a changing community.

David said volunteer requests through the newsletter are now printed in Spanish, and efforts are being made to reach out to the Hispanic community. While language is often the primary barrier, he said those who have come to the United States from other countries are sometimes apprehensive about even stepping into a government building because of their past experience with corrupt or oppressive regimes.

More information regarding Cranston’s RSVP is available on the city’s website, www.cranstonri.com, or by calling 780-6180. Sue Stenhouse, executive director of senior services for Cranston, encouraged those interested in the program to reach out.

“This place is really dependent on the generosity of our members,” she said. “It’s like this big machine, and everyone is a part of it.”

Josephine Galluccio, left, and Nancy Gallo work on “Smile Dolls,” which are provided to hospitals, social service agencies, law enforcement and other organizations that deal with children facing trying or traumatic situations through the Cranston RSVP program’s UPS, or “United Parcel Seniors,” group.

Ann Tanzi, who oversees the UPS group, speaks with Nina Cozzo as volunteers work on “Smile Dolls.” After running her own business for more than two decades, Ann brought her skills to her work with the RSVP program. (Photos by Dan Kittredge) PrimeTime |

a worthy cause

b y M ichael j . ceri o

Having Fun Staying Social More than a senior center, Beechwood offers wide-range of recreational activities and programming for older adults of all ages

It was a cold day in early March—one of those that were much too often as we approached spring—when I walked into Beechwood, the North Kingstown Senior Center. Despite the brisk temperature outside, there was an immediate sense of welcoming warmth from the smiling faces at the front desk as activity bustled about.

And, after sitting down with the center’s director, Marie Marcotte, I learned it was actually one of their quieter days.

Beechwood is one of more than two dozen city- and town-run senior centers across Rhode Island. More of a recreation and life enrichment center, like many of its peers, Beechwood is a community focal point where older adults gather for services and activities that reflect their diverse needs and interests with an emphasis on independence. Gone are the days when senior centers served solely as a way for folks to socialize.

“Our programs offer everything from recreation, health wellness and meals to social services supports, day trips and just about everything in between,” says Marie.

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“This new center was built in 2009 thanks to overwhelming support from the town and it truly reflects the importance of the well-being of our older citizens.”

Things weren’t always this way. Marie remembers walking into the center for the first time 18 years ago when it was called Beechwood House and located nearby what’s become the new facility.

“The first time I came in, there was a table of maybe six older women and a couple of people here and there and they were just sitting,” Marie recalls. “I was hired to do programming when I started, and my first question was, what would seniors like to do? Then I thought about what I like to do—what makes my interests any different just because there’s a difference in age.”

To say that much has changed since this day would be an understatement.

Supported in part by the North Kingstown Senior Association, a non-profit organization that’s been around for more than 40 years and collaborates with the town to fund and support center activities and programs, Beechwood is open to

April 2014

Retirement

Why stay home. Try something new, learn something new and make new friends.

Senior Center/Services

a place in a community where seniors can gather for support, socialization, fitness and fun

Activities such as a portrait class and floral arranging, are just a few of the more than two dozen programs available at Beechwood.

individuals 55 and older. While the majority of its members are residents of North Kingstown, individuals from other communities are welcome to join.

“Each year, more than 2,500 people come here for activities and programs or to get help from our social services office—which amounts to over 44,000 total visits,” says Marie. “At the same time, there are more than 7,000 older adults in North Kingstown, so there are definitely more people that we can reach.”

Overlooking beautiful Narragansett Bay in historic Wickford—an absolutely stunning view of the water—one of the biggest additions to the new Beechwood facility is its fitness room. Featuring two seated elliptical machines, treadmills and a stationary bike, Marie estimates a core of more than 100 seniors who use the room regularly. It is but one of the many activities they offer.

When you glance at the month’s calendar of activities, you’re immediately impressed with the variety. There is a computer learning center, manicures and pedicures, massage therapy, pilates/yoga, line dancing, a book club, bridge, bingo, knitting, arts & crafts, painting, a stamp club, jewelry beading, and more. The center also offers reflexology and even a Reiki program.

“It would be difficult to single-out one particular program or activity as the most popular. For each individual, the program they’re drawn to is what’s most popular—and we embrace that,” says Marie. “We are doing more with alternative health.

I think as baby boomers are getting older and coming aboard, they’re more open to these activities and can encourage others to try them, as well.”

Along with what you may consider its traditional programming, Beechwood also offers a variety of extra activities. Each day seniors enjoy lunch in the dining area with meals catered by an outside company through funding from a Federal Government grant. They’ve developed a partnership with the University of Rhode Island’s Master Gardeners Program to offer workshops on repotting plants and creating floral arrangements. There’s also a widely-used game room with billiards and a ping-pong table.

And, like many other senior centers, Marie and her staff also organize a number of day trips each year. By negotiating special group rates that are passed along directly to guests, and coordinating all of the transportation details, seniors can enjoy a special day or night on the town without the hassle. Beechwood organizes trips that travel anywhere from Martha’s Vineyard to Maine for the day, or to New York City and Boston for a show. There are also many Rhode Island-based trips; going to a PawSox game, visiting Newport Playhouse, tours of the State House, and shows at Providence Performing Arts Center to name a few.

“We’ve found that people really enjoy the trips we plan, especially since they don’t have to worry about driving themselves or fighting with parking—we drop

Barrington Senior Center 281 County Road Barrington, RI 02806 (401) 247-1926 Bristol Senior Center 1020 Hope Street Bristol, RI 02809 (401) 253-8458 Coventry Senior Center 50 Wood Street Coventry, RI 02816 (401) 822-9175 Cranston Senior Center 1070 Cranston Street Cranston, RI 02920 (401) 780-6000 Cumberland Senior Center 1464 Diamond Hill Road #1 Cumberland, RI 02864 (401) 334-2555 East Providence Senior Center 610 Waterman Avenue East Providence, RI 02914 (401) 435-7800 Johnston Senior Center 1291 Hartford Avenue Johnston, RI 02919 (401) 944-3343 Lincoln Senior Center 150 Jenckes Hill Road Lincoln, RI 02865 (401) 753-7000 Middletown Senior Center Green End Avenue Middletown, RI 02842 (401) 849-8823

Edward King House (Newport Senior Center) 35 King Street Newport, RI 02840 (401) 846-7426 North Kingstown Senior Center 44 Beach Street North Kingstown, RI 02852 (401) 268-1590 Salvatore Mancini Resource & Activity Center 2 Atlantic Boulevard North Providence, RI 02911 (401) 231-0742 Leon Mathieu Senior Center 420 Main Street Pawtucket, RI 02860 (401) 728-7582 Smithfield Senior Center 1 William J. Hawkins Jr. Trail Smithfield, RI 02828 (401) 949-4590 Warwick Senior Center 27 Pilgrim Parkway Warwick, RI 02888 (401) 468-4090 West Warwick Senior & Community Center 145 Washington Street West Warwick, RI 02893 (401) 822-4450 Westerly Senior Citizens Center 39 State Street Westerly, RI 02891 (401) 596-2404

worthy cause – page 30

April 2014

PrimeTime |

Retirement – Time To Reinvent The changing season evokes a sense of renewal, inside and out, making it the perfect opportunity to rejuvenate you and your surroundings. It’s time to let a little sunlight in and celebrate retirement From trying a bold, new hue with living room accents to taking a yoga class, there are numerous ways to reinvent yourself and your surroundings. Use your senses and embrace the joy that comes with the change of seasons - from the bright pops of color that enliven your home to the comforting floral scents that enhance your mood. Use these simple tips to transition into this exciting and vibrant time of year.

Freshen up your home

From the drapes that adorn your windows to the artwork that lines the walls - your home is a true reflection of your personality and style. As you break free from last season’s routine, be sure to update your space too. Store away old decor and make room for more upbeat, invigorated gear. Add vibrant pops of color and bright patterns to your bedroom with new accessories for a simple update that feels fresh.

Seniors benefit from caring for a pet. An older dog is most likely trained, calm and requiring less exercise. Yankee Golden Retriever Rescue, located in Hudson, MA, offers a Comprehensive Assistance for Rescue Elders (C.A.R.E.) program to assist folks willing to adopt a Golden, age 10 and over. Yankee Golden Retriever Rescue will provide financial assistance for the senior dogs health as long as the health care is handled by an approved medical facility. Contact them for more information. 978-568-9700 • www.ygrr.org

Become a Master Gardener. The URI Master Gardener Program is based on the URI Kingston Campus. Train to become Master Gardeners in a 16-week course. www.urimastergardeners.org

Take it Outside

When the birds are chirping and the tulips are blooming, take advantage of the beautiful, mild weather. Incorporate more outdoor activities into your schedule and find ways to enjoy time outside each day. Some fun outdoor activities include biking, hosting a dinner party on your patio or planting a garden. Don’t forget the dog. If you don’t already have one, retirement is the perfect time to adopt a new friend.

Spring Means New Beginnings.

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Assisted Living . Memory Care . Respite . Fitness Center

| PrimeTime

April 2014

Every day should have bright spots.

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What’s Bright Living at Brightview? It’s everything. The people, the place, the personalized care. The potential to make the most of every day. For assisted living or memory care, come see how we bring it all together for you.

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Try something new

This is a time of new beginnings and what better way to start fresh than by trying something new? Try a new hobby like yoga or painting. Become a wine connoisseur. Take a class and learn something you’ve always wanted to.

Or, attempt something you’ve always been afraid to try. The thrill of accomplishing something you haven’t done or feared doing will leave you feeling empowered. Johnson & Wales offers wine & spirits certificate programs as well as one-day classes. Learn anything from food and wine pairing to beer appreciation. Several area restaurants and vineyards offer wine tastings. or check out the Providence Wine Academy.

Here are a few of vineyards Rhode Island has to offer: Newport Vineyards 909 E Main Rd, Middletown 848-5161 · newportvineyards.com Greenvale Vineyard 582 Wapping Rd, Portsmouth 847-3777 greenvale.com Diamond Hill Vineyards 3145 Diamond Hill Rd, Cumberland 333-2751 favorlabel.com Carolyn’s Sakonnet Vineyards 162 W Main Rd, Little Compton 635-8486 sakonnetwine.com

Leyden Farm Vineyard & Winery 160 Plain Meeting House Rd, West Greenwich 392-1133 leydenfarm.com Shelalara Vineyards Coventry – www.shelalara.com Langworthy Farm Winery Westerly – langworthyfarm.com Nickle Creek Vineyard Foster – nicklecreekvineyard.com

Elderly Housing Must be 62 years of age or older. Rents are based on 30% of adjusted household income.

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April 2014

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PrimeTime | Photo by Kim DiIuro – Kimberli Photography

Living Life to the Fullest

On the Road to Retirement

For Carolann and Phil Soder, retirement has brought more smiles and less stress to their lives. It’s also given them extra time to enjoy their favorite activities, including visiting family and friends throughout the country.

“When you’re retired, it’s not a vacation; you’re traveling,” said Carolann, who retired from her position as an advertising sale executive at Beacon Communications on Dec. 30, while Phil’s last day of work as a community care professional at the Kent Center was the following day.

But before the couple began relishing their golden years, they had some preparation to do.

About two years ago, they contacted a financial planner.

“That really helped us look at the big picture to see what our assets were and what we could do to sustain those during our retirement so we don’t run out of money,” Carolann said. “We took a look at our budget, how much money we spend, and what we need. Then, we figured out how much money we have for fun.”

Phil said making sure they had health insurance was another priority.

10 | PrimeTime

“

When

you’re retired, it’s not a vacation, you’re

”

traveling

– Carolann Soder

April 2014

retirement “That was the biggest thing,” he said. “We will not be eligible for in Florida, stopping at Jensen Beach, Lady Lake, and Panama City, Medicare until we’re 65, so up until that point we have to pay for our before traveling to Alabama to see extended family. Along the way, own medical. If we continued on my work plan and paid for it ourthey made new friends, too.

I feel like selves, it was upwards of $1,200 per month. But as retirement grew “The really nice thing about traveling is that you meet a lot of nearer and we were trying to define our decision, we looked into the nice people,” Carolann said. “Phil and I are both so friendly, so peogetting up open enrollment in ‘Obamacare.’” ple always seems to approach us with ease. You have a smile on your every morning They visited HealthSource RI, the Ocean State’s marketplace that face and people feel comfortable and engage in a conversation.” enables people and small businesses to purchase health insurance, often In August, they are embarking on a two-mouth journey of the more than I at federally subsidized rates.

Canadian Rocky Mountains. For this trip they are bringing two be“It is a nice tool,” Phil said. “We were able to see that because loved objects: their motorcycles. did when I was our income had dropped so drastically we were eligible for tax credits, Before they hop on their bikes, they have a few things to do at which lowered our premiums from $1,200 to less than $400.” home. One goal is to finish cleaning their basement. So far, they’ve working.

That savings, they said, is huge. So are their plans for the future. thrown out three bags of trash and donated nine bags of goods to the – Phil Soder After 25 years of marriage, Carolann, who is 62, and Phil, 63, Salvation Army. decided it was a good time to retire because they are both still in great They also want to maintain their yard, as they enjoy landscaping health. They figured waiting a few more years wasn’t in their best interand gardening. est.

“We like to keep our property nice,” Phil said.

“Who knows what shape we might be in?” Carolann said.

And while they love having time to themselves, they miss their former employAccording to Phil, retirement is good for their health. These days, he is well- ers and co-workers. Phil, whose profession centered on improving the quality of life rested and stress-free. of people dealing with behavioral health challenges, was at his job for 11 years.

“I feel like getting up every morning more than I did when I was working,” he “I miss my colleagues and clients,” he said, noting that one of clients asked him said. to sprinkle his ashes on Gorton’s Pond when he passes away. “It was very touchFor Carolann, being able to enjoy life at a “slower pace” is a pleasure. She likes ing.” the fact that they have more time not only to spend with one another, but with their Carolann also shared sentiments about her time at Beacon Communications. loved ones, as well, especially their children.

The decade she worked there, she said, was a “wonderful experience.”

Beginning Feb. 26, they kicked off a month-long expedition, starting in Phila“I miss the connections I had with people that we did business with, and delphia. There, they visited their son. people at the Beacon that I really care about,” she said.

Carolann also got the chance to cross an item off her bucket list: she saw the Still, they are happy about their decision. They hope people looking into retireLiberty Bell for the first time. ment take important steps regarding their health and financial well-being before “I thought it would be much bigger,” she said with a laugh. coming to a conclusion about the future.

While in Philadelphia, they sunk their teeth into more fun – literally – when “Everyone has to look at their own personal lifestyle and make some choices,” they ate at Paesano’s Philly Style, a sandwich featured on the Food Network.

Carolann said. “It’s a planning process. You don’t just wake up one day and say, ‘I’m “It was all that and a bag of chips,” said Carolann. going to quit my job.’ You could, but you might have to suffer some hard conseAfter Philly, they headed to Naples, Italy. They then visited family and friends quences. We’re both planners, and that worked for us.”

“

”

Cornerstone Adult Services, Inc. Just like family

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April 2014

PrimeTime | 11

Retirement

b y C ar o line N aught o n R um o wicz

A great job for retirees

Concierge Staff Member Are you handy? Do you like to talk with people? Do you like to help people?

If the answer is yes to these questions, then you would be a great candidate as an employee of Your Home Concierge. This unique service for the aging population is a perfect match for the newly retired.

A concierge staffer drives clients, does errands, helps with parcels; basically what you would do for your parents.

Your Home Concierge was developed by Cathleen Naughton Associates, a home health care/visiting nurse company.

When thinking of aging in place, the mind automatically goes to the medical area, when in actuality that is

further down the list. It has been our experience over the past 35+ years that home care casts a wide net. It is about relationships with reliable and trusted vendors and companies that are experienced in adapting home environments as people age.

As an employer, the recently retired is a very attractive employee. They are professional, prompt and respectful.

Most have a good work ethic and aim to please. Currently the company employs a retired chemist, pharmacist, sales rep, nurse, social worker and an insurance agent.

Their responsibilities consist of taking clients to the hairdressers, going to an exercise class at the YMCA with a

client, doing laundry so the client does not have to go down the basement stairs, and accompanying a client to dinner on weekends. The concierge does small odd jobs like changing light bulbs and fixing a railing. These are just a sampling of responsibilities, and the staff has a great time doing it!

Concierge staffers work a few hours a week, unless they want more. In speaking with the staff the thing that is consistent with why they do it is because of the clients and making someone’s live a little easier.

Cathleen Naughton Associates identified a need for those seniors who are not “sick” but just need a little help. The newly retired is a perfect match for this

type of work because most of them are probably working with an aging relative, so they can relate. It has been our experience that individuals that form a partnership early on at the Concierge level with us are successful in their goals to remain home. The key is to be willing to adapt. The newly retired are helping to keep many folks safe in their homes.

To find out how you can become a concierge staff member, contact Cathleen Naughton Associates at 401-7519660 for visit cathleennaughtonassoc. com.

Stop Medicare Fraud!

Save Medicare Dollars!

It’s as easy as 1-2-3

1

PROTECT Your Medicare Number

Saint Elizabeth Community Where RI seniors come first www.stelizabethcommunity.org

12 | PrimeTime

2

DETECT

Read Your Medicare Summary Notice

3

REPORT

Your Concerns

Volunteer for the Senior Medicare Patrol Program (SMP) and teach Medicare beneficiaries how to fight fraud.

For more information,call the RI Division of Elderly Affairs at s 449

SMP

Empowering Seniors To Prevent Healthcare Fraud

Rhode Island

The production of this ad was supported by grant #90MP0166/02 from the Administration for Community Living, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHS).

April 2014

wHAT DO YOU FINK?

LIFESTYLES

by MIKE FINK

The Magic Lantern

and a Quartet of Princesses A little silver lamp in the shape of a teapot sits smugly on a sewing table in the chamber that has turned into an all-purpose storage room. We set up a colorful playpen for our youngest grand-daughter, but it appeals to all four little girls. They climb into and out of the wee cell, but the 6 year old took notice of the bright bulb with the shy shade and the shining sterling base. “What’s that?” she whispered, and I answered, “It’s the magic lantern: if you rub it or polish it with a smooth cloth, a genie will come out and grant you three wishes.”

That was all it took. My quartet of princesses, all wide-eyed and suddenly still, awaited my tale of wonders. They seemed already to be acquainted with the idea of genies. And of three wishes, usually wasted when you return to ordinary routines.

Now, our grandparent abode is steeped in storybooks. Many were read to me when I was of the age to stare into the flames and listen to the lore of all the landscapes of the world. From Aesop’s fables to Grimm’s gatherings to Hans Andersen’s Danish legends to Greek myths and Bible chronicles. I took down a much-handled collection from the old Harvard Classics in our parlor and settled at first on a few brief Aesop’s parables. I like the most hopeless, fatalistic, absurdist stories, like how the organs of a human body go on strike against the Belly. “You get all the food and do none of the work!” declare the mouth and teeth and hands, etc. After a few days, they all get weak and listless and realize reluctantly that all must work together no matter how it seems.... and then, there is the one-eyed stag that faces the sea to escape the arrows of the hunters. But the determined humans get wise and set out by boat. They shoot the poor deer who falls while wisely and eloquently sighing, “I see now, you cannot escape your fate!”

Well, of course, I read these melancholy musings mainly to myself as memoirs of my boyhood, but the guest girls only quieted down to settle near me and to listen when I got back to the genie. The version in my volume was about a war veteran who meets a witch at the base of a giant oak tree. Among the roots he comes across the mystical metallic jar, in which hides a creature the size of a frog. When he pulls the cork, out comes the elf that blows itself

up into a threatening giant! The smart survivor talks him into returning into the bottle to prove his powers. “Aha,” you won’t trick me again,” declares our hero.

The cowed genie promises and pledges that he will keep his end of the bargain and grant the promised wishes if the soldier will again release him. Okay, an adventurous person must take risks, so they agree, and, after many ins and outs, the man comes out ahead and is able to send money to his father to retire from the humble hardships of woodcutting.

But this is but a single variation on the multiple guises of the genie.

Sometimes he dwells among the dunes in a desert, or a beach, and emerges from the landscapes of every continent and island, from Japan and China to Arabia and the Americas. Everybody likes the superstition of the genie and always did. Even in the big movie, “The Thief of Baghdad.” Now, each weekend that our grand-daughters come by for a feast, a nap, or a visit to the museum or a library, they ask first and foremost for a story by the fireplace. About witches and monsters, concerning the genie most of all, and how any object in grammy’s and grampy’s brick house can produce otherworldly spirits. As I tell the tale or read the picture books, I brood within my innermost life on the hidden meanings within chilldren’s fantasies. Not the straightforward “moral,” although these are welcome support for good manners and common sense. But what I go for especially is the marvelous, not the practical. The metaphorical, not the literal. I catch a glimpse of ancient truths and myths and then lose them like forgotten thoughts, vanished butterflies or birds, details in dreams. What is a genie? Is it the soul of the wine or the idea in the lamplight or teapot? In any case, it suits April Fool, the jester’s puck-like wise trickery. We hold onto what we can for as long as it lasts, like a happy mood that goes away. What’s left is the good will of the grand-daughters. Flo and Daphne, Eleanor and Selma. The logs burn and then turn to ash. Twilight darkens into night, the children go home, dawn comes, and the genie goes back into the lamp on the table, mute but with a hint of merry memories.

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April 2014

PrimeTime | 13

THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT

lifestyles

by DON FOWLER

Entertaining seniors “I get the greatest pleasure out of entertaining people, especially seniors,” 72year-old musician Larry Perlman said.

Music has been a major part of Perlman’s life, ever since he picked up the trombone at age 12.

“I was the oddball in my family,” he said. “I was the only one interested in music.”

14 | PrimeTime

A graduate of the Boston Conservatory of Music and Boston University, Perlman taught music in six Providence schools in addition to Attleboro, Massachusetts. He also gave private instruction.

“I played with different groups during college and then went on to play with a number of big bands,” he said. “While my main instrument was the trombone, I also developed an interest in the piano and would practice when I had the time.

It’s a better instrument for entertaining folks…and that’s what I like to do.”

Perlman formed his own group, “Innovations,” and played at a number of restaurants throughout Rhode Island and Massachusetts. He retired in 2003 and began concentrating on the piano.

“I was always looking for places to play, and a

friend suggested assisted living facilities, nursing homes and senior centers,” Perlman said.

The senior citizen found his niche, discovering that program directors were always on the lookout for entertainers who could relate to seniors and play the type of music they enjoyed.

“It is the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done, brightening the day for people who have little else to do for entertainment. I particularly enjoy playing for Alzheimer’s patients,” he said. “They may not remember what they had for lunch, but I start playing the old songs and many remember all the lyrics. I enjoy involving the audience. We have a conversation. We talk about music, and I play their favorites. We have singalongs.”

During the month of March, Perlman entertained seniors at Epoch and Highland East in Providence, St. Antoine in North Smithfield, Sakonet in Tiverton, Brightview in Wakefield, Oak Hill in

Larry Perlman will bring his group to the PrimeTime Senior Expo at the Warwick Mall on April 30, where he will entertain (he sings, too) from 1-3 p.m. He invites everyone to come down and join him.

Pawtucket, Greenwich Bay in East Greenwich and Victoria Court in Cranston.

“I get so much personal gratification out of playing for my peers,” he said.

“They are so receptive and appreciative.

It’s a healthy alternative to TV, “ he said.

To contact Larry Perlman, call 3546041, e-mail him at LNP623@aol.com or write him at Larry Perlman Productions, 103C Palmer Dr., North Providence, RI 02904.

April 2014

Retirement

b y kathy tirrell

Reading, Writing and Volunteering is how he spends his retirement “The best thing about books is there are no commercials,” observed William Jennings during a recent interview while talking about his great love of reading.

He has lots of books stacked up waiting to be read now that he’s retired.

The 70-year-old Jennings is a former high school social studies teacher, who taught in the Central Falls public school system as well as in private schools such as Immaculate Conception Catholic Regional School, St. Rayfield’s, and New England Hebrew Academy over the past 42 years.

Retiring in 2010, he now spends two days a week volunteering as an interpreter at the Benjamin F. Packard exhibit at the Mystic Seaport in Connecticut.

“It’s basically the ship’s cabin,” said Jennings.

The original 244-foot square-rigged sailing ship was built in 1883 at the shipyard of Goss, Sawyer, and

Packard in Bath, Maine. Named for one of the builders, the Packard was built to carry cargoes around Cape Horn between America’s Atlantic and Pacific ports.

“The Packard was a clipper ship,” said Jennings, “sometimes called a ‘Down Easter’ because in the old days you sailed down east from Boston.”

Explaining his role as an interpreter he said, “What I do is greet people and try to see what interests them.

If something interests them, I go into it with them.

They go out learning a lot.”

Jennings said he started volunteering at the Seaport back in 2008, but could only report there during the summer since he was still teaching. Now that he’s retired, he is able to volunteer year-round and he enjoys it very much.

JENNINGS continued - next page

“

. . . after being retired, I don’t know how I had time to work.

”

– William Jennings, co-author of “Aboard the Fabre Line to Providence: Immigration to Rhode Island”

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PrimeTime | 15

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for more information or to book your tour JENNINGS –

“We’re treated very well down there,” he says. “They really appreciate all of the volunteers. It’s a good place to work, a good place to volunteer.”

Jennings also accomplished something very significant in 2013, seeing his extensive historical research published in a paperback by The History Press. In December, the book he co-authored with his longtime friend and former professor at Providence College, Patrick T. Conley, was made available to the public.

The book is titled “Aboard the Fabre Line to Providence: Immigration to Rhode Island” and can be found on amazon.com along with barnesandnoble.com.

The Fabre Line of steamships offered the only transatlantic route to southern New England. Of the nearly 84,000 immigrants who came to the United States from Portugal and Italy between 1911 and 1934, approximately 11,000 decided to settle here in Rhode Island.

Explaining how the book first came about, Jennings said, “Back in 1973 I took a survey course in American maritime history. They had an award and I won it for best research paper. I came back the next year in 1974 and that time I took a course in research in American maritime history, a six-week graduate course.”

Jennings started his research back in 1974. He said he spent a lot of time in the Providence area going through customhouse records and talking to people.

Historian Patrick Conley offered to add some of his expertise and the two men decided to collaborate on the project. The book remained dormant for a number of years but finally got published last year.

About his co-author, Jennings says, “Pat, I would have to say, is the brightest guy I’ve ever seen. He amazes his students, he amazed me with his command of historical knowledge and his ability to clearly focus, to synthesize things. He really enhanced the book.”

Jennings grew up in Pawtucket but has lived in Lincoln for nearly 40 years. A graduate of Providence College, he received a Bachelor of Arts in Education/Social Studies, a Masters in European History, and his PhD in U.S. History.

When asked if he has any other books in the works, he said not currently but he has thought about taking his 525-page dissertation on former Pawtucket Mayor Thomas P. McCoy and shortening it into a biography for popular sales.

Jennings is enjoying his retirement and says he keeps in touch with some of his retired teacher friends from Central Falls, going out to lunch with them on a regular basis.

“Since I’ve been retired I really haven’t had any days of boredom,” he said.

“I kind of kid and say that after being retired, I don’t know how I had time to work.”

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This is the most famous and reproduced photo of the Fabre Line and its immigrant arrivals. Here, they leave the Venezia clothed in their traditional southern European garb on this brisk mid-December day in 1913. (Conley Collection)

16 | PrimeTime

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South County Nursing & Rehabilitation Center

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welcomes a new Director of Rehabilitation South County Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, a Revera Living facility found tucked into the peaceful woods off Route 4, offers exceptional care to patients seeking short term and sub acute rehabilitation, as well as long term residential services. A whole wing of this center, known as the STAR (Specialized Therapy and Rehabilitation) program, is devoted entirely to those who need intensive rehabilitative intervention following a medical or neurological event such as an orthopedic surgery, a fall that resulted in a fracture, or a stroke, among others. The team here at South County Nursing & Rehab is dedicated to helping their patients return to a life of independence, health and well-being.

South County is proud to introduce its new Director of Rehabilitation, Karen Houle. Houle comes to this honored position following a twenty-eight year career as a Speech and Language clinician, with years of experience in management and program development. When she came on board as director this year, she brought with her all the insights, wisdom and talents accrued during those years, along with a new energy and enthusiasm to the Rehab center. Her excitement is immediately obvious as she tours the STAR wing of South County and showcases its state-of-the-art therapy room.

Karen Houle joins the exceptional team of highly trained and skilled physical, occupational and speech/language therapists at South County. The premiere therapy services provided here are offered in a therapy room that not only has cutting edge equipment such as high level balance machines, a Nautilus machine, specialized bikes and treadmills, but also mock-ups of a bathroom and kitchen where adaptive living skills are mastered before a patient is discharged. There is even a special “transition room”, a bedroom designed specifically for patients who are making that often difficult return to post-rehab home life.

A customized, individualized treatment plan is created here for each patient by an interdisciplinary team of therapists whose primary goal is the patient’s successful and timely release. Constant progress reports are made and digitally documented for coordinated care. South County Rehab Center now offers outpatient therapy services for their patients once they have returned home, adding an unprecedented level of continuity and personalization to their care.

The speech and language therapists at this progressive rehab center have recently incorporated a revolutionary stimulation therapy into their regiment called the VitalStim System®. VitalStim® Therapy is an FDA-approved, safe and effective treatment for patients suffering with difficulty swallowing (known as dysphagia). It is a non-invasive, external electrical stimulation therapy wherein small, carefully calibrated currents are delivered to the motor nerves in a patient’s throat, causing the muscles responsible for swallowing to contract. Only those who are specifically trained by the manufacturers are authorized to use this successful, often life-saving therapy. It is only one of the many advanced technologies used at South County Nursing & Rehabilitation Center.

If you or a loved one is in need of long-term care or a period of rehabilitation call Reggie Wilcox, Director of Admissions at 294-4545, or visit their website at www.reverasouthcounty.com. The center is located at 740 Oak Hill Road in North Kingston.

Meet Karen Houle and her skilled team of therapists at South County Nursing & Rehab Center in North Kingstown.

April 2014

Put the Spotlight your business Contact Donna for more information and to reserve your space

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PrimeTime | 17

senior issues

State’s Senior Nutrition Program rolls out a fresh new look Catherine Taylor, Director of the Rhode Island Division of Elderly Affairs (DEA), announced that the state’s five Senior Nutrition providers are rolling out a fresh look for the dining program that serves seniors and adults with disabilities at 67 meal sites.

The Senior Nutrition Program will now be known statewide as the Café.

The Senior Nutrition providers are now officially known as the Blackstone Café, East Bay Café, Westbay Café, Northern Rhode Island Café (run by Senior Services, Inc. of Woonsocket) and Capitol City Café (run by Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island).

Each Cafe will eventually offer three meal choices daily for noontime dining enjoyment. The “spa option” for the health conscious features lighter fare such as a main course salad. The “pub option” offers a sandwich for those who want a traditional, wholesome lunch.

And the “hearty option” provides a full, hot dinner for those who prefer their main meal at midday.

“Our diners have expressed a desire to have more flexible dining hours, a wider range of menu options, and healthier fare,” said Taylor. “We are

responding by extending the popular Café concept statewide to all senior meal sites.

“We hope this new look conveys the reality of the senior nutrition program: the venues are friendly and inviting, and the food is healthy and delicious.

“I invite older Rhode Islanders to join me at one of our celebration Cafes during the month of March,” she said.

“I am certain that once you try a Café meal, you’ll come back for more.”

DEA is also partnering with FarmFresh RI to find ways to bring fresh, local produce to the Café table.

Lunches are served five days a week.

There is a suggested participant donation of $3 per meal to help sustain the program, which is funded through federal Older Americans Act dollars, although no one is turned away. SNAP beneficiaries may use their SNAP benefits to contribute toward their meal.

For planning purposes, diners are required to make meal reservations 24 hours in advance. Last year, senior community meals sites served nearly 338,000 meals.

your taxes

b y meg chevalier

Protecting you and your tax refund Identity theft remains a top priority for the Internal Revenue Service in 2014.

Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes nationwide, and refund fraud caused by identity theft is one of the biggest challenges facing the IRS. This year, the IRS continues to take new steps and strong actions to protect taxpayers and help victims of identity theft and refund fraud.

Stopping refund fraud related to identity theft is a top priority for the tax agency. The IRS is focused on preventing, detecting and resolving identity theft cases as soon as possible. The IRS has more than 3,000 employees working on identity theft cases. We have trained more than 35,000 employees who work with taxpayers to recognize and provide assistance when identity theft occurs.

Taxpayers can encounter identity theft involving their tax returns in several ways. One instance is where identity thieves try filing fraudulent refund claims using another person’s identifying information, which has been stolen. Innocent taxpayers are victimized because their refunds are delayed.

Here are some tips to protect you from becoming a victim, and steps to take if you think someone may have filed a tax return using your name:

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Tips to protect you from becoming a victim of identity theft • Don’t carry your Social Security card or any documents that include your Social Security number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).

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• Protect your financial information.

• Check your credit report every 12 months.

• Secure personal information in your home.

• Protect your personal computers by using firewalls and anti-spam/virus software, updating security patches and changing passwords for Internet accounts.

• Don’t give personal information over the phone, through the mail or on the Internet unless you have initiated the contact or you are sure you know who you are dealing with.

If your tax records are not currently affected by identity theft, but you believe you may be at risk due to a lost or stolen purse or wallet, questionable credit card activity or credit report, contact the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 800-908-4490, extension 245 (Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. - 7 p.m).

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senior

b y catherine T erry tayl o r

d i re c to r , r i d e p a r t m e n t o f e l d e r l y a f f a i r s

i ss u e s

Driving Safely While Aging Gracefully What a winter. We won’t soon forget that we had to wait until April to see the last of the ice and snow. Many of us will want to celebrate the end of hazardous winter road conditions and shake off our cabin fever by getting behind the wheel and taking to the road more frequently.

Should we be concerned about driving as we age? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the risk of being injured or killed in an auto accident increases once people turn age 75. The reason isn’t that older drivers are involved in more accidents; in fact, older drivers tend to be cautious, and most stop driving voluntarily when the time comes.

Rather, it’s because our older bodies are less able to withstand the trauma of a crash when one happens. So safety is of the essence.

Understanding how aging affects driving and adhering to commonsense safety recommendations can help the more than 33 million American driv-

ers 65 and older stay safely behind the wheel.

CDC offers these safety tips for older drivers: Wear your seat belt. Seat belts save lives.

Drive when conditions are the safest. Consider driving shorter distances and avoid driving in bad weather and at night. Map out the safest routes with well-lit streets, clearly marked intersections with left turn arrows and easy parking spaces.

Leave a safe distance between you and the car in front of you.

Avoid distractions while driving such as eating, talking on your cell phone, texting.

Older drivers tend to drink and drive far less than younger drivers. However, alcohol can affect seniors differently that younger drivers. Don’t drink and drive.

Talk to your doctor about possible side effects of your medications. Exercise caution if you are taking medica-

tions that may cause drowsiness or impair your motor skills or judgment.

Exercise regularly to maintain or increase strength and flexibility. You need to be able to turn your head to see traffic and lift your foot to hit the brake.

Have your eyes checked at least once a year and always wear your glasses or contacts that are required as a condition of your license. Wear sunglasses during the day if you need them – never at dusk or at night.

Sit high in your seat – raise your seat up and use a cushion if necessary to ensure good visibility.

If you’re tired or don’t feel like driving, get a ride with a relative or friend, or consider using public transportation.

The Rhode Island Chapter of AARP conducts safe driving courses across the state to help seniors learn how to adjust their driving as they age. For information, call AARP at 1-866-542-8170, or go to www.aarp.org. AAA is another helpful resource: call 868-2000, or log on to www.southernnewengland.aaa.

com. I also recommend a booklet produced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, entitled “Driving Safely While Aging Gracefully.”

Visit www.nhtsa.gov to view that booklet and other driving safety information online.

Is it time to give up driving? If you are feeling uncertain about your driving abilities even after following all of the safety recommendations, or if a loved one expresses concern, hiring an independent driving instructor to assess your driving can help you answer that complicated question objectively.

Should driving no longer be for you, there are numerous options to maintain your independence and mobility. You may find that these options – public transportation, elderly transportation, taxi, concierge services, friends and relatives, even walking – are easier, and possibly cheaper, than driving, parking and maintaining a car.

Whichever road you travel, you can stay safe AND mobile!

senior issues

b y kerry park

The evolution of skilled nursing facilities The perception still exists that skilled nursing facilities care primarily for elderly individuals in need of long term, round-the-clock care. The truth is, less than half of the patrons of a typical 24-hour nursing center fit that mold.

The others turn to nursing centers for short-term rehabilitation or recuperation following a hospital stay. In recent years, skilled nursing and rehab centers have become known as the cost-efficient alternative to the hospital setting for those needing 24-hour recuperative or rehabilitative care for a few weeks or slightly longer. In doing so, they have become mini-hospitals in their own right, caring for patients who are sicker, with more complex care needs, and who demand top notch health care.

Skilled nursing centers have also become adept at shortening patient stays.

“Even five years ago, a short stay resident would most likely be here for months.

Now it’s just weeks,” said Donald Vespia, a registered nurse at Morgan Health Center in Johnston . “We’re more aggressive with our therapies so now folks are able to return home a lot sooner.”

Nursing centers have evolved thanks

April 2014

to people like Vespia, who are constantly identifying new services and therapies to meet the needs of aging baby boomers. And while traditional rehab services remain, a myriad of alternative services geared toward speeding up a successful recovery have also become part of the new norm.

“We’re learning how to get non-traditional therapies into long term care that help people get home more quickly while still adhering to regulations,” said Vespia. He cites Morgan Health Center ’s new chiropractic service as an example of advances in care which have paid off – a service he thought of bringing to the nursing facility when he was seeing a chiropractor himself. “At first, our primary care physicians were a bit hesitant.

Chiropractic care isn’t typically delivered in skilled nursing centers, but now that positive results are apparent, everyone has been very supportive. We have 21 residents seeing our chiropractor several times each week. We’ve tracked a decrease in the use of pain medications and quicker discharges. It’s definitely a service that makes sense,” he said.

Morgan Health Care isn’t alone in

expanding into such new areas of care.

Facilities like Cedar Crest Nursing Centre in Cranston and West View Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in West Warwick offer massage, reiki and other alternative therapies along with more traditional care. In centers throughout Rhode Island , volunteers and staff who share passions like gardening or their love of animals, have also helped change the course of recovery for thousands of short term patients and the quality of life for individuals who stay for a longer term. Alternative therapies add another layer to health care, helping to boost the results of more conventional occupational and physical therapies. And, while once only tried and true “traditional” rehabilitative therapies were allowed at 24-hour rehab centers, now as the benefits of a myriad of alternative treatments have become apparent, such treatments fall within regulatory guidelines. Just as important, Medicare and insurance providers are paying for a growing number of these “outside-ofthe-box” treatments.

According to Virginia Burke, CEO of Rhode Island’s largest professional as-

sociation of skilled nursing centers, the bottom line is that the care delivered by nursing centers today is vastly different than in years past. “Providers are still delivering traditional services and therapies of course, but now when you go to visit someone in a 24-hour nursing center, you may be surprised by what you see. You won’t necessarily see everyone lying in bed like they would in a hospital or the last generation of nursing homes. While patients receive the traditional intensive therapies they need, that volunteer who is visiting with their pet may also be a certified pet therapist who can help address cognitive impairment.

That person taking part in a quilting bee is achieving physical therapy goals.

Today, our centers aren’t just clinical in nature, they’re varied and dynamic and that has paid off in better patient outcomes.”

For more information about 24hour skilled nursing services, visit www. rihca.com.

PrimeTime | 19

b y C amilla F arrell de ve l o p m e n t d i re c to r , alzh e i m e r ’s a s s o c i a t i o n

RI

c h a p ter

Marge Angilly, program director, retires from Alzheimer’s Association “This is my retirement job because I love what I do at the Alzheimer’s Association,” Marge Angilly told everyone.

Now Marge Angilly, program director for the Alzheimer’s Association Rhode Island Chapter, really is retiring, but you still may see her from time to time teaching educational programs for us.

“It will be hard to let go because the staff at the Rhode Island Chapter has been like a close-knit family to me,” she said.

After 30 years of teaching in the public school system, and 12 years at the Alzheimer’s Association, it is time, even for Marge, to slow down a little.

When Marge’s own father was diagnosed in 1989 with Alzheimer’s disease, little did she know that she would be working in the field. When her father was first diagnosed, she is not ashamed to say that she and her two sisters were what Marge deemed “Alzheimer’s stupid.” She and her sisters made it their mission to find out what they could about this devastating disease by talking to doctors, nurses and social workers and they even attended the Caregiver’s Conference sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association in the 1990s. Marge’s dad died with Alzheimer’s disease and she uses many caregiving references to him in her trainings. For 18 years, Marge and her family and extended family put together

a large Walk to End Alzheimer’s team in memory of her dad.

“It is a way to keep his memory alive,” she said.

Marge Angilly began her career at the Alzheimer’s Association in 2002 as our family education coordinator, and then later as program director. When program director Rita St. Pierre retired in 2009, Marge Angilly filled that position.

The program position at the Rhode Island Chapter has grown considerably over the past 12 years with the help of Marge’s leadership and expertise, and a need for more services in the community. The National Alzheimer’s Association based in Chicago has also put more demands on the program department, requiring more in-depth evaluations of programs and reporting on the people we are serving.

Marge Angilly has done a stellar job in keeping up with all of the responsibilities that came her way. Marge’s greatest accomplishment at the Chapter is “planning the Caregiver’s Conference. This is my 4th conference and each year it has grown, and we have offered more quality workshops for caregivers and professionals.”

Marge’s accomplishments exceed her program expertise at the Chapter. She has always been a team player year after year, helping with various events by donating her “signature wine rack and array of fine wines,” for

One last note from Marge, “Thanks to all the of the wonderful families and professionals I have worked with over the years for supporting what we do – helping Alzheimer’s families. That’s what it is all about.”

the auction, “drank for dementia” at her share of Cocktails for a Cause, sold raffle tickets and ran the putting contest at numerous golf outings in the pouring rain and 90-degree heat, and baked and sold goodies for our Longest Day event on June 21 for 12 hours.

Now Marge will have more time to devote to her passions outside of the office – spending quality time with family, quilting, walking the beach, and reading. You deserve it – enjoy your retirement Marge!

Windwalker Humane Coalition for Professional Pet Therapy “A Unique, Energetic & Passionate Voice for People and Animals via the Profession of Pet Assisted Therapy” – p. salotto

Jo-Ann Sutcliffe, President-Windwalker joannsutcliffe@yahoo.com Pearl Salotto, Founder of the DJ Program for Pet Therapy – 401-734-1888

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Attorney David B. Hathaway Former Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Trustee

Senior Discounts 20 | PrimeTime

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ribankruptcy.net April 2014

retirement sparks

s e n i o r i ss u e s

b y elaine m . decker

Signs you may need a

Retirement Hobby Two years into my retirement it hit me: I really need to find a new hobby. There are a number of signs you should recognize if you’ve also reached that point.

The one that really brought this home to me had to do with watching TV, and not just any TV. I’d been watching so much Retro TV in the afternoon that Gunsmoke, Bonanza and The Big Valley were airing reruns. Reruns of reruns. Really? How pathetic is that?

And if that isn’t bad enough, consider this. I know exactly how the rabbit ears need to be positioned for each of the 12 channels my non-cable TV can receive so I get the best reception for each one of them.

Then there are the telltale signs that have to do with making things into projects. Not just any projects. Ones that would never have been elevated to that status while you were still working. Here’s an example.

You write down the steps you go through when you put on your walking shoes. “Get shoes. Loosen laces.

Pull out tongue. Get yard-long shoehorn. Insert shoehorn. Insert foot. Straighten tongue. Tighten laces. Tie laces: right-over-left, left-over-right, makes a square knot, good and tight. Switch feet and repeat.�

Or projects that you would have avoided at all costs before you retired. Are any of these familiar? You’ve darned three dozen socks in the past two months.

Some of your darning has been re-darned. You check the bottom of your husband’s clothes closet, hoping to find some laundry that needs to be done. Or worse: you’re disappointed when you discover the ironing basket is empty.

Even those who are avid readers and consider having more time to read during retirement to be a hobby might need to find a new one. Here are some signs to watch for. When you sit down to read a book, you fall asleep in ten minutes. You check your email every half hour. You wait at the front door for the mailman and hope he has several text-dense catalogues you can read—page by page.

I reached the point where I actually considered memorizing the second edition of Excel for Dummies, even though it’s 17 years out of date. Mercifully, the annual highlights appeal from Best Friends Animal Society came in the mail before that happened.

The one with the DVD with all the heart-tugging stories of the deserving animals rescued and rehabilitated with the help of my contributions last year. It’s true; I sometimes welcome mail from charities to break the monotony.

Some other signs you need a retirement hobby reflect a lack of focus. Or they involve compulsive behavior. Or both. You’re a victim of these if you stare at the 7-day vitamin container each morning, trying to remember what day it is. (And your husband is no help at all.) Likewise if you feed your cat four times a day and lately he’s been hiding under the bed when he hears you coming up the stairs in the middle of the afternoon. (Guilty.)

Lately I prepare a detailed shopping list at least twice a week, even though I go out for groceries only once. I count the number of eggs in the carton three times before I remember to write down whether I need to buy them or not. Then I leave the list on the kitchen table when I finally go shopping. So I buy

more eggs, just in case. I now have four cartons in the fridge. Two of them are partially used. I know you’ve done this, too. Just admit it.

Oh, yes. Most of us can’t wait to be retired. All that extra time on our hands! But be careful what you wish for. If you don’t line up a few new hobbies to help the days go by more quickly, you’d better get some great recipes for egg salad. And adopt a few more cats.

Copyright 2014 Business Theatre Unlimited Elaine M. Decker’s books—Retirement Sparks Again, Retirement Sparks and CANCER: A Coping Guide—are available at SPECTRUM-INDIA, on the East Side of Providence, on Amazon.com, including Kindle editions, and by special order through your local bookstore. One of her essays appears in the recently published anthology: 70 Things To Do When You Turn 70. Contact her at: emdecker@ix.netcom.com.

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April 2014

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PrimeTime | 21

b y jennifer r o drigues

senior issues

Finding Missing Money Maureen King admits it was boredom and a commercial that prompted her to check the Treasury’s Unclaimed Property website, but she’s glad she did.

King found just over $10,000 that belonged to her husband because of a life insurance plan his late sister had.

King had no idea her sister-in-law had a life insurance policy. “We do have a very large box of papers that we were going through, but got sidetracked,” she said.

When she keyed in her husband’s name, Joseph Bagley, something showed up. “All it says on that national site is over $100 or under $100,” said King. “I looked at that and said well that could be $100.01.”

But the claim was over $10,000. All Bagley needed was proof of who he was and that he lived at the address on the claim. He was lucky enough to have military papers with his old address.

“We got the check for the amount in about a week,” said King, adding that her husband still didn’t believe it until the check cleared.

Last week, King joined Rhode Island General Treasurer Gina Raimondo at the Middletown Senior Center to announce that of the $12 million dollars in life insurance proceeds found by a recent audit of insurance companies, $2.3 million has been returned to over 1,100 rightful owners. The Treasury still holds over $9.5 million belonging to 8,000 Rhode Islanders, and is continuing to encourage people to take a few minutes to search the online missing money database.

In total, the Treasury holds over $275 million in unclaimed property.

“The average Rhode Island family is really struggling to make ends meet,” said Raimondo in a phone interview.

“The whole point of this program is to

get [this money] back to the people.”

During the announcement on March 5, a video sharing King’s story was shown, as well as videos depicting stories from Sharon Finn of Cranston and Lugarde Baris of Pawtucket. Collectively, the three women recovered $67,000 from life insurance policies through Unclaimed Property.

So how is it that so many Rhode Islanders have lost track of life insurance policies and other forms of unclaimed property? According to Raimondo, it is easier than one may think. “You might not know. If someone dies suddenly and didn’t tell you that you are the beneficiary, you don’t know,” said Raimondo.

Raimondo explained that the insurance companies try to find beneficiaries, but hold on to the claims when they can’t. The audit helped reveal what was owed to Rhode Islanders.

King and Baris each recovered roughly $10,000, while Finn recovered almost $50,000, all from life insurance policies.

Raimondo explained that in addition to unclaimed life insurance policies, other types of unclaimed property include stock dividends, security deposits on apartments that were never collected, credit from former cell phone bills or even refunds from utility bills at former properties.

“I think a lot of this happens in transitions,” said Raimondo.

During her time in office, one of the Treasurer’s goals was to overhaul the Unclaimed Property program to make it easier and quicker for Rhode Islanders to find and claim their property.

Rhode Islanders can search the database by name online at www.treasury. ri.gov/up.

Meet the Candidates Several elected officials and candidates for city and state offices accepted invitations to meet the membership and more than 80 members and guests of the Providence East Side’s Summit Neighborhood Association gathered at The Highlands Assisted Living & Memory Care community in Providence on March 3 for the organization’s 2014 Annual Meeting.

Pictured are Gubernatorial candidate Clay Pell and his wife, Olympic figure skating champion Michelle Kwan with Highlands’ residents Martha Jacques (left) and Lorraine Kaplan. (submitted photo)

News from Tockwotton Judith A. Moorehead, R.N., of Warwick, has been hired to serve as resident care director for Tockwotton’s River’s Edge (assisted living) Apartments and the Courtyard Memory Care program. Moorhead will oversee four nurse managers and a team of 40 medical professionals who plan and coordinate healthcare services for the 104 assisted living residents of Tockwotton on the Waterfront.

Dolores J. Baker, R.N., of Riverside, has been hired to serve as nurse manager for assisted living residents at Tockwotton on the Waterfront. Baker has served as a registered nurse serving care for geriatric, Alzheimer’s, dementia and developmentally disabled adults for 19 years.

During a recent visit to the Middletown Senior Center, General Treasurer Gina Raimondo joined Sharon Finn of Cranston and Maureen King of Warwick to talk about the Treasury’s Unclaimed Property Division. Both Finn and King received thousands of dollars stemming from life insurance claims they didn’t know they owned through the Treasury’s program. (Photo submitted by the Office of the General Treasurer) 22 | PrimeTime

Debra T. Morais of North Scituate, has been named to the board of directors of Tockwotton on the Waterfront. This will be her second tenure on the board. Morais was chosen for her commitment to the organization and its mission, and her strategic communications expertise. “We are very fortunate that Deb has considered a second term on our board,” said Executive Director Kevin McKay. “We’ve expanded our mission and our building since Deb last served. We’re here to help a wider range of seniors and she has stepped forward to help us articulate that message to the community.”

The non-profit Tockwotton Community (www.tockwotton.org) has been serving seniors in the Greater Providence area since 1856. Tockwotton is a five-star Medicare community.

April 2014

Retirement

b y kathy tirrell

spring into Spring is finally here. Hallelujah! We’ve suffered through a very cold, snowy, boring, backbreaking-from-shoveling winter. It’s time to get out and smell the tulips, maybe even tiptoe through them.

What does springtime mean to you? To most, it means a time of renewal— when flowers start budding and blossoming, blades of grass start poking through the ground, birds are chirping, the air smells sweeter, the sky looks bluer, and our days and outlooks are brighter. After spending long winter days stuck inside the house, it’s time to open up the windows, breathe in some fresh air, open the door and take a step outside.

If you are taking care of grandchildren during school vacation week, from April 21 through April 25, here are some ideas for you.

If you’re looking for some outdoorsy things to do in the month of April, here are some suggestions.

The Audubon Society invites young

Blithewold Mansion, Gardens and Arboretum in scenic Bristol offer their annual Daffodil Days from April 1 through the 27th. Look for lots of beautiful yellow flowers lifting their heads to the sun. Blithewold has 33 acres of trees, lawns, and gardens waiting to be explored. If staying inside is more your cup of tea, you can try the Afternoon Tea held Tuesdays through Fridays, from 1 to 4, in the Blithewold Dining Room from April 8 through the 25th. A reservation is required. (401) 253-2707.

explorers to go on a nature expedition using nets, magnifying glasses and field equipment to uncover nature’s secrets.

For ages 6 and up, the expeditions will be held each day starting at 11 a.m.

If you’re itching to do some hiking or just a little bird-watching, why not head over to the Osamequin Nature Trails and Bird Sanctuary in Barrington. Located just off the Wampanoag Trail, it’s a 38-acre preserve with four marked nature trails and a bird sanctuary. If you need a place to rest, you’ll find some convenient benches along the way. It’s open year-round.

Some special events you might enjoy – Saturday, April 26 – Annual Pawcatuck River Duck Race in downtown Westerly on

37 Main Street from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. This exciting event launches 20,000 yellow rubber ducks in a race down the Pawcatuck River to the finish line. There will be prizes, duck games, face painting, food and more. Admission is free!

Or, happening the same day, check out the New England Family Fun Festival at the Rhode Island Convention Center, 1 Sabin Street in Providence from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. They’ll have rides, games, bounce houses, face painting, rock climbing, and live performances by the Toe Jam Puppet Band and others. Admission is $12 for adults, $7 for kids. .

If parks and farms are more your fancy, there are lots of those to visit as well. Here are just a few:

Timberdoodle Farm on

337 Central Pike in Scituate, “the oldest continually working farm in New England,” is open from April through October. You’ll see bunny rabbits, cows, and turkeys on one of their farm tours along with fresh produce.

April 2014

They also offer nature crafts each day from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., nature stories from 10 a.m. until 2:30 p.m., and animal interviews at 1:30 p.m.

The Audubon Environmental Education Center is located at 1401 Hope Street in Bristol. To find out more, you can call (401) 2457500 or check out their website at www.asri.org.

Roger Williams Park Zoo has some fun

in store for youngsters age 4 through 13 with their Zoo Camp running from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. from Monday through Friday.

They say it’s “the wildest way to spend a week during school vacation.” They’ve got an exciting week of learning activities, crafts, animal encounters and zoo tours. Registration is required to participate; the deadline is two weeks prior to the start of camp.

Simmons Farm on 1942 West Main Road in Middletown is open from 9 to 5 year-round. Check out their petting zoo.

Slater Park on 401 Newport Avenue

If you don’t want to sign the kids up for the whole week but would rather just pick a day to visit the zoo, you could do that, too. There are lots of cool animals to check out from alligators to zebras. Spring hours are from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., with last admission at 4:30.

General admission is $14.95, $12.95 for seniors, $9.95 for kids 3 to 12, and children under 2 and Zoo members get in free. 1000 Elmwood Avenue in Providence.

Another fun idea is to take the kids to Old Sturbridge Village.

They’ve got hands-on and interactive activities all throughout the village, plus family-friendly performances and entertainment such as music, storytelling and puppet shows, as well as a chance to meet the new farm animals.

On Monday, in honor of Patriots’ Day, the kids can take part in some martial activities, including how to drill and march with muskets on the common using instructions from the official 1776 drill manual.

Admission is $24 for adults, $22 for seniors 55 and up, $8 for youth aged 3 through 17, and kids under 2 get in free. Spring hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. starting on April 1. The address is 1 Old Sturbridge Village Road in Sturbridge, Mass.

in Pawtucket has walking paths, picnic grounds, a dog park, and a petting zoo PrimeTime | 23

DOER’S PROFILE

people

and

food

places

and

drink

by JOAN RE TSINAS

A Palace for Hummingbirds

The Palace:

A Community Project Esther wants the community to share, not just in the delights of the palace, but in its construction and upkeep. She will need volunteers to help in building the structure,(no special skills needed, just ability to work with your hands) to water the plants, the fill the feeders. To be part of this installation project contact: esther@esthersolondz.com

24 | PrimeTime

Spring brings sunshine, grass, buds, and sometimes a lovely whirring sound, accompanied by a flash of color. The hummingbirds have arrived, flapping their wings to make their “hum.” (If hummingbirds are in love, they supposedly beat their wings more intensely.) A casual onlooker might miss the darting flash – these tiny birds (some as small as five centimeters) can fly up to 35 miles per hour.

Esther Solondz, an artist-sculptor who lives on the East Side of Providence, wants to lure these wonderful birds to Lippitt Park. The Park has a glorious fountain, lush shrubbery, curving walkways, grassy fields – but not necessarily hummingbirds, who need their own particular resting/ nesting spot.

So Esther is bringing together diverse worlds to create not just a home, but a true palace for hummingbirds.

The understructure of the Palace is made of steel and covered with a rust-resistant epoxy. Threads made from high-tech fishing lines covered in silicon drips provide a framework for honeysuckle trumpet vines to grow, and, eventually, intertwine in the Palace. There will also be feeders, filled (and refilled often with nectar) that will help to attract birds when the vines are not flowering. Nature meets technology meets art to form the Hummingbird Palace, an installation funded in part by a grant from the Rhode Island State Council for the Arts, in part by private donations, in part by Esther, who has poured passion, time, and labor into this creation.

Esther has been creating art for decades. As an undergraduate at Clark University in Worcester, she majored in philosophy. When she went to talk to her advisor about minoring in government (Clark students needed to declare a minor), he said, “I see you are minoring in art.” Every semester, “just for fun,” she remembers, she had taken an art course. Senior year, in a photography class, she fell under the spell of Walker Evans’ Depression-era photographs. Unwittingly, she had minored in art. Step one towards a career.

Step two was art school – first at the Massachusetts College of Art, then at Rhode Island School of Design, where she got her MFA in photography. “My mother declared of my

switch from philosophy to art, “you’ve moved from useless to more useless!”

Her art trajectory moved on to film and video, with time at both RISD and New York University, then to painting on photographs, finally to marrying nature with art. Initially she “monkeyed around with salt,” intrigued with objects that change over time. Salt was a prime example: in water it dissolves, reforms, and crystallizes. She put children’s clothing in super-saturated salt solution, letting the salt crystallize onto them and yielding fragile salt sculptures. She used salt to create stalactites and stalagmites. Other installations focused on rusted metals. She drew images of heads, using iron filings that rusted to create The Evolution of Darwin, 100 heads of people from evolutionary biology, at Boston University. There is an 8-minute video on this earlier work that was made for Rhode Island Public Broadcasting and can be seen online.

Next she moved to plants, hoping to sow the seeds from Down House, Darwin’s home in England; but she discovered she needed to learn more about gardening. When she and her husband bought a vacation home in New Hampshire, ten years ago, she began to learn about plants. The house had a small garden; and Esther remembers, “I felt obliged to keep the plants alive, and spent a year trying not to kill them.” The plants lived, and Esther found a passion. She also discovered the beautiful hummingbirds. When she was working in her studio, they would enter, drink from a feeder, drop their nectar onto her table. “I loved that I could get them to participate in my artwork.”

The Palace has been several years in the making. For almost two years, she worked with models, trying different materials, and seeing which plants would grow and attract hummingbirds. She wanted to find materials that appeared to be light and fragile but were strong enough to hold up outdoors and permit the vines to flourish. Once she settled on a model, she settled on a setting: Lippitt Park.

This spring and summer, all the people visiting the park – shoppers at the Farmer’s Market, parents taking children to the playground, picnickers – will see the palace take root. By the fourth of July, hummingbirds should be starting to cluster.

Brunch

Retired? Why not have brunch any day of the week!

Individual Cheese & Herb

Stratas

Preparation Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 25 minutes Makes: 4 servings

8 2

2 1/2 1/4 8

thin slices prosciutto or deli ham cups French or Italian bread pieces (1-inch pieces) tablespoons melted butter cup crumbled goat cheese (see note) cup chopped fresh herbs (see note) Safest Choice Pasteurized Eggs Salt Coarse ground black pepper Minced bell pepper (optional) Chopped fresh herbs (optional)

Preheat oven to 400°F. Butter bottom and sides of four 10 to 12 ounce ramekins or spray with nonstick cooking spray Line each ramekin with 2 slices prosciutto or ham with some extending over sides.

In large bowl, toss bread pieces and melted butter together. Stir in cheese and herbs. Divide mixture evenly among ramekins pressing down lightly. Break 2 eggs into each ramekin. Add salt and pepper, as desired. Sprinkle bell pepper around eggs, if desired.

Place ramekins on rimmed baking sheet.

Bake 25 to 30 minutes, until whites are set and yolks begin to firm, or to desired doneness.

Garnish with additional herbs, if desired.

Notes: • Other cheeses, such as cubed mozzarella or Cheddar, may be substituted for goat cheese.

• One or a combination of herbs such as basil, rosemary, thyme, chives or parsley may be used.

April 2014

b y J ennifer R o drigues

people

and

places

Integrative Medicine (Photo by Kris Gove)

Stephanie Gove owner of Integrative Health Services in Warwick.

mindfulness stress reduction In today’s day and age, it seems like one’s mind is While Gove does not downplay the benefits of tra- pants to visualize themselves walking on a beach or always going, keeping track of work, appointments, ditional medicine, she is part of the growing move- anything like that. “It’s about being with what’s in schedules and everything else. ment to find alternatives to prescription drugs for ail- your mind at that time.”

For example, during mindful meditation, those To help manage stress and other ailments, Inte- ments, if possible. grative Health Services, a new holistic health services “I found tremendous relief in my own life. I start- living with chronic pain are encouraged to focus on company in Warwick, is introducing their Mindful- ed mindful meditation and said there’s something to the pain and notice different things about it: does it change, it is mild or severe, is it moving throughout ness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program, a this,” she explained. meditation program that helps one use the thoughts While she has been cleared by the Center to teach the body, etc. Because that pain is not likely to go away, getting a better understanding of it in their mind as opposed to pushing them away. helps one to cope with it.

Integrative Health Services owner and certiMindfulness-Based Stress Reduction can In addition to their weekly sessions, parfied MBSR instructor Stephanie Gove explained ticipants in the MBSR program will have that MBSR helped her to find relief, and she help those suffering from conditions such audio files and practice CDs to use at home. liked the fact that it is based in having an active, The first MBSR program is underway, with full mind. as stress, chronic pain, anxiety and panic, a second planned for the fall; other HIS ser“The best definition I have heard (of mindsleep disturbances, fatigue, vices are offered year-round. fulness) is paying attention on purpose, moment Gove explained that her health coaching is to moment, non-judgmental,” explained Gove. high blood pressure, and headaches. designed to be more of a conversation about “It’s really about being present. A lot of our life overall health. is requiring us to multitask. Mindfulness cuts “It is designed to catch people who are through that.” falling through the cracks [of our health sysIntegrative Health Services began in October 2013 in North Kingston, but Cranston resident Gove MBSR, she is still on the path to be fully certified tem],” said Gove, explaining that many people see the moved the center to 2893 Post Road in Warwick in through their program. Only 46 people in the world current health system as more diseased focused instead February. have reached that level of certification, and it is a per- of overall health focused. “You don’t go to the doctor until you already have a problem.”

Gove has an office space for individual appoint- sonal goal for Gove.

One-on-one health coaching can help individuals ments in health coaching, meditation and Reiki, and “I spent a lot of years doing a job, not a career. This will utilize a group space in the building for classes and is something I am passionate about and I want to share take a step back from a prescription approach and determine alternative methods that fit into their lifestyle. the MBSR program. it with the world,” she said.

Prior to opening her company, Gove worked for Gove explained that the three main components The Reiki services offered at Integrative Health Sertwo years as a full-time health coach at Blue Cross of MBSR are mindful meditation, group discussion vices can also be known as energy medicine, a spiritual Blue Shield of Rhode Island’s The Health & Wellness and mindful movement. As opposed to traditional, healing process designed to activate the body’s natural Institute. Through this work and her own experience “twisting into a pretzel” yoga, Gove described mindful healing abilities. In recent years, it has become very with meditation, Gove came to believe that comple- movement as “body awareness;” one specific practice popular with patients undergoing chemotherapy or mentary medicine (combining holistic approaches is a “body scan” during which Gove has participants facing a variety of ailments and diseases.

“The cool thing is it branches to a lot of areas,” exwith conventional medicine) is the ideal. focus in on different parts of the body individually.

MBSR was started at the University of Massachu“It’s really about getting people inside their bodies,” plained Gove.

For more information, call or email Gove at setts Medical School’s Center for Mindfulness by Dr. said Gove.

Jon Kabat-Zinn in 1979. Gove was trained in MBSR According to Gove, participation in MBSR can help 401.234.9410 or Stephanie@ihealthri.com.

For more information about all integrative health at the Center For Mindfulness under Kabat-Zinn and those suffering from conditions such as stress, chronic Dr. Saki Santorelli. She also became a certified-life pain, anxiety and panic, sleep disturbances, fatigue, services, visit www.ihealthri.com. coach in 2005, and participated in a training program high blood pressure, and headaches. She added mindat Duke Integrated Medicine in April 2012. ful meditation can serve as an introduction for people “They’re taking integrative methods, and they’re who believe meditation is not for them. bringing it into traditional medicine,” explained “It’s not about a vision,” said Gove, explaining that Gove. during mindful meditation she does not ask particiApril 2014

PrimeTime | 25

26 | PrimeTime

April 2014

April 2014

PrimeTime | 27

CLUES ACROSS 1. Nonviolent reformer 7. Saudi people 12. Dawns 13. Former German state 14. Dallas & Miami coach 18. 3rd tone 19. Iguania genus 20. Expresses pleasure 21. Tear apart 22. Jacob’s 7th son 23. Mold-ripened cheese 24. Peel 25. Survivor Baskauskas 27. A Scottish Highlander 28. More normal 29. Plural of 23 across 31. Lettuce dishes 32. Fleshy seed cover 33. Abundant 34. Parcelings 37. Competitions 38. Paths 39. Take heed 40. Journey 44. Japanese sashes 45. Archaic word for worry 46. They __ 47. General Mills on NYSE 48. Heroic tale 49. Wrath 50. Indicates position 51. Whoopie’s birth name 56. Namaqualand peoples 58. Beginnings 59. Cooks slowly 60. Stopwatches

28 | PrimeTime

CLUES DOWN 1. Urban instrument 2. Fleet 3. __ de plume 4. Moisture free 5. Pilgrim’s journey 6. Equal, prefix 7. Native Australians 8. Norse sea goddess 9. Public promotion 10. Soiled with mud 11. Crack shots 12. Bugle weed 15. Leporid mammals 16. Pointed fastener 17. The woman 21. Frog genus 23. Yellow edible Indian fruit 24. Most pallid 26. Shows mercy 27. Spanish cubist 28. Risk-free 30. Greek god of war 31. Ailing 33. Stand 34. Topical phrases 35. The natural home of a plant 36. Cuckoos 37. Showed old movie 39. Fury 41. Cultivator 42. Mistakes 43. Laments 45. Wheeled vehicle 48. Impertinence 51. Crow sound 52. Note 53. Near, against 54. Be hesitant 55. Point midway between N and NE 57. Of I April 2014

A GLIMPSE OF RI’S PAST

PEOPLE AND PLACES

h i s t o r y w i t h T e r r y d ’a m ato S p e n c e r

The Mills of Apponaug Most historians mark the beginning of the village of Apponaug with the building of the fulling mill by John Micarter on Kekamewit Brook near Apponaug Cove in 1696. This was a well taken point for after the mill was erected the area began to attract the attention of the younger sons of the early settlers. In 1697, soon after the mill was successful, Micarter sold his holdings to Jeremiah Westcott, who in turn sold it to Samuel Greene in 1702.

The acquisition of the property by Samuel Greene was a significant event in the village’s history as it was through the leadership of the Greene family that Apponaug developed during the 18th and earl 19th centuries. This family was that of Surgeon, John Greene, who along with Samuel Gorton and Randall Holden founded Warwick in 1642. In many ways the history of Warwick and that of Rhode Island, mirrors the history of the Greene family. As there were many sons and grandsons of John the Surgeon, the names John, James, Samuel and Thomas Greene appear often in generation after generation.

The Samuel Greene who purchased the mill in 1702 was the son of Major John Greene and Ann Almy. Major Greene, one of the most powerful and important figures in early Rhode Island history, was the son of Surgeon John Greene and Joanne Tatersall. In his History of Warwick, Oliver Payson Fuller notes that Major John Greene “held at different times the office of General Recorder, General Attorney and General Solicitor.” Fuller goes on to list Major John’s accomplishments and says, “He [Major John Greene] is perhaps best known for his service as Deputy Governor. He was annually elected to that office from 1690 until 1700. He was 80 Years old in 1700 when he finally retired.” It is also often noted that Major John Greene actually wielded more power than the governors he served and

The Greene Family

left a much greater impact on the states history than almost any politician.

Among his many accomplishments was his role in helping to establish a post office in 1692 along Post Road, which ran from Boston through Apponaug and eventually to Virginia. Major Greene is also regarded as a champion for Rhode Island rights and especially as the man who introduced Rhode Island to the controversial practice of privateering, thereby paving the way for a dramatic increase in Rhode Island’s commerce.

Samuel Greene, who became very important in Apponaug’s history, was the youngest of Major John and Ann Almy Greene’s 11 children. Samuel married Mary Gorton, daughter of Benjamin and grand-daughter of Samuel Gorton, Warwick’s founder. The marriage proved to be a fortunate one as their descendants prospered and became important in the history of Warwick and Rhode Island. He and his descendants fostered mills and trading and made Apponaug one of the most prosperous villages in Rhode Island.

The Old Apponaug homestead?

While Samuel Greene’s descendents in Cowesett made Revolutionary War history, he and his sons in Apponaug were significant in developing the textile industry in Warwick.

While some of the early records are obscure or have been lost, fortunately, historians have been able to piece together the story of this enterprise.

Over the years there has been a great deal of speculation concerning the home of Samuel Greene, as all historians have not been in agreement. Oliver Payson Fuller, one of our best sources for Apponaug’s early history, writing in his 1875 History of Warwick, says that Samuel Greene lived “at Apponaug, in a house torn down within the memory of persons now living.” He places this house on the southwest comer of Centerville and Post Roads.”

The late Dorothy Mayor’s extensive research on Apponaug indicates that Fuller may have been slightly confused on this location. She found that Greene purchased a “dwelling house and 63 acres of land from Othniel Gorton [son of John Gorton] that was north of the fulling mill road.” The fulling mill road later became known as Centerville Road. Mayor notes that Greene died in the estate and the town made a will for him. She says, “It gave to his son Samuel the dwelling house where his father last lived, which was bought from Othniel Gorton.” In addition, we are

told, Samuel Greene Jr. received lumber with which to build a house and a lot south of the fulling mill. This house, built by Greene Jr., and not the one lived in by his father, was on the southeast comer of the crossroads. This house was moved to face Post Road, and in the first half of the 20th century it was the home and office of one of Apponaug’s most beloved physicians, Dr. Long, before being demolished.

Samuel Greene Jr. played an important role in the fulling mill and in the development of the village. In 1722 he petitioned the town to remove earlier restrictions on the fulling mill and asked for “4 acres and 23 rods adjoining Cowesett Pond on both sides of the brook that comes out of said pond....”

The pond is today known as Gorton’s Pond.

Greene Jr. died in 1780 and in his

will he leaves the fulling mill to his son, Caleb. The will, dated Sept. 5, 1780, indicates that he gave to his son “one iron bar to use at the Grist Mill, I also gave him one draft chain....” Caleb died in 1813, leaving the mill to his son, Caleb Jr. By this time, Dot Mayor concludes “the old Fulling Mill was run by Caleb, son of Samuel, as some sort of Mill, but when his son Caleb Jr. acquired it he, with others, built a cotton mill. At this time it is surmised that the fulling mill went out of existence. That probably is when the name Apponaug was used - before that, the village was usually referred to as Fulling Mill.”

The story of the mills in Apponaug will be continued.

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Each puzzle uses 9 letters. Each letter can be used just once in a row, in a column, and in a 3x3 grid. (Same as numbers 1 - 9 in numerical Sudokus) You aren’t told what the 9 letters are, but the grid is pre-populated so you see each letter at least once. When the grid is completed, it reveals a 9-letter word or phrase in one of the rows.

UrqUhart-MUrphy

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everyone off right at the door,” says Marie. “Even though there is an extra cost for going on a trip, we don’t add any fees and are always able to get discounts. We try to keep the group to a maximum of 40 people and turnout is always great.”

At the root of everything Beechwood offers is a foundation that highlights the importance of remaining independent, staying active and maintaining social connections. Studies show that people who exercise and continue socializing as they age or after losing a loved one can improve health and overall wellness.

“I think that isolation can contribute to depression, which is why everything we offer is something that older adults can enjoy with others around to talk to when they may be home alone otherwise,” says Marie. “It’s a great feeling when I see people build bonds between each other and try new activities. We really have an incredible team of staff and volunteers—you have to love what you do when you work with older adults and that’s exactly what we have here.”

It’s easy to get involved with Beechwood, as it is with many of the other senior centers in Rhode Island, to participate in activities, make new friends and reconnect with old ones. Anyone interested in learning more about Beechwood or becoming a member may contact Marie Marcotte directly at (401) 294-3331 ext. 400 or by email

30 | PrimeTime

at mmarcotte@northkingstown.org. There’s also a lot of information available online at www.NorthKingstown. org by clicking on the “Seniors” quick link.

And, if you’re looking to donate your time to help others, Beechwood is always in need of volunteers. Whether you’re interested in volunteering once a week or once a month, Beechwood has a number of opportunities that may be a perfect fit. Volunteers are needed to help welcome guests at the front desk, serve meals in the dining room, and support Association events like bazaars and bake sales. Beechwood is also the distribution site for North Kingstown’s Meals on Wheels program—utilizing volunteers to deliver meals to seniors’ homes. Those interested in becoming a volunteer may contact Marie.

Beechwood is located at 44 Beach Street in North Kingstown. Please see the accompanying sidebar for information on other senior centers located in Rhode Island.

“More than anything, I want people to know that when they come here, or any adult recreation center, that it’s a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere to do anything that you’re interested in,” says Marie. “We’re all trying to change the image of a senior center to one that’s more about enrichment and recreation and I think we’ve been quite successful. There’s a huge peer component here—it’s never too late to try something new.”

Annual state centenarian survey May is Older Americans Month.

This year’s theme is “Safe today.

Healthy tomorrow.”

The 37th annual Rhode Island Governor’s Centenarians Brunch will be held Wednesday, May 21, 2014 at The Bridge at Cherry Hill, 1 Cherry Hill Road, Johnston at 10:00 a.m.

The Rhode Island Division of Elderly Affairs (DEA) is conducting its annual survey to locate persons who are 100 or older, and those who will reach their 100th birthday this year.

For information on registering for the brunch, contact Kathy Zaroogian at 462-0501, or e-mail kzaroogian@ dea.ri.gov.

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