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n 2011, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that more than 27 million Americans were dealing with heart disease. And when it comes to patient outcomes, heart disease kills more people in this country than any other disease. It’s surprising, considering how overlooked heart disease is in the grand scheme of things. February is American Heart Month, but it doesn’t exactly grab headlines like other serious illnesses. In October, the State House is illuminated in pink for breast cancer awareness, and Rhode Islanders empty their pockets and run marathons to fight for a cure. Year round, admirable non-profits like The Jimmy Fund and The Tomorrow Fund and Friends of St. Jude draw attention to childhood cancers, sharing the heartbreaking stories of little boys and girls who spend more time in hospitals than on the playground. These causes are important, and should not be detracted from, but unfortunately, heart disease doesn’t have a big-name celebrity sponsor. It’s a silent killer. In this issue of PrimeTime, we put heart disease in the spotlight and offer you tips on how to keep your ticker in top shape. Check out recipes and restaurants that will support heart health, and hear from Kent Hospital’s Chief of Cardiology, Dr. Joseph Spinale, on how cardiac medicine has improved and will improve in the future. A Worthy Cause also focuses on an organization that puts heart health first - the American Heart Association. February isn’t just Hearth Health month, though. It’s also the time when romance is in the air in honor of Valentine’s Day. We didn’t want to slight Cupid, so this matters of the heart issue also addresses love for all ages. In her doer’s profile, Joan Retsinas catches up with a relationship counselor who has seen firsthand the secrets to a healthy relationship. And Andria Medeiros, a wedding planner in Rhode Island, has an inside look on how to bring that relationship to the next level. She has planned weddings for couples at every February 2012 age, and is ready to guide older couples in 1944 Warwick Ave. particular through the wedding process as Warwick, RI 02889 401-732-3100 FAX 401-732-3110 they figure out the etiquette for second marriages. Distribution Special Delivery On the cover are Charlie and Stevie Kernick, formerly of Warwick, who were high school sweethearts who continued their relaPUBLISHERS tionship into college. When the part ways in Barry W. Fain, Richard G. Fleischer, their early 20s, however, they thought that John Howell chapter of their lives had ended. Little did they know, a high school reunion 40 years EDITOR later would bring them back together again. Meg Fraser megf@rhodybeat.com “It’s really what books are made of,” Stevie admits. She’s right - it’s a love story worthy of MARKETING DIRECTOR the Valentine’s Day spotlight, because really, Donna Zarrella what’s better than a happy ending? donnaz@rhodybeat.com
Pr i m e Ti m e
Creative Director Linda Nadeau lindan@rhodybeat.com
Meg Fraser editor
WRITERS Don Fowler, Don D’Amato, John Howell, Joan Retsinas, Mike Fink, Meg Chevalier, Cynthia Glinick, Joe Kernan, Kerry Park ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES Donna Zarrella – donnaz@rhodybeat.com Carolann Soder, Lisa Mardenli, Janice Torilli, Suzanne Wendoloski, Gina Fugere Classified ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES Sue Howarth – sueh@rhodybeat.com Brittany Wardell – brittanyw@rhodybeat.com PRODUCTION STAFF Matt Bower, Joseph Daniels, Brian Geary, Lisa Yuettner
A Joint Publication of East Side Monthly and Beacon Communications. PrimeTime Magazine is published monthly and is available at over 400 locations throughout Rhode Island. Letters to the editor are welcome. We will not print unsigned letters unless exceptional circumstances can be shown.
nextmonth In March, we get down to brass tacks with our financial planning issue. From pensions to taxes and college savings accounts for the grandkids, we’re ready to talk some ‘cents’ into you. Sorry...I couldn’t resist.
inthisissue 4 long road to love
High school sweethearts part ways, only to reunite 40 years later
6 saying “I do” Q&A with wedding planner Andria Medeiros
8 the pulse
of medicine
Dr. Joseph Spinale gets to the ‘heart’ of his profession
14 get your heart in shape Tips for keeping your ticker ticking
17 The marriage workout
This doer’s profile catches up with relationship counselor Dr. Shawn Cooper
PEOPLE & PLACES A+ for lifelong learning program......................................... 10 A worthy cause.............................................................................. 12 Glimpse of RI’s past...................................................................... 16 FOOD & DRINK Chef series......................................................................................... 11 Heart healthy recipes.................................................................. 13 LIFESTYLES That’s Entertainment................................................................... 18 What do you Fink?........................................................................ 19 Stop and smell the roses.......................................................... 22 PROFESSIONAL PERSPECTIVE It’s about planning, not products........................................ 21 Your taxes.......................................................................................... 21 SENIOR ISSUES Retirement Sparks........................................................................ 22 Director’s Column......................................................................... 25 Biggest losers are biggest winners at Cedar Crest..... 25
o n t h e c ove r Stevie & Charlie Kernick (Photo by Jack Marcello)
b y Meg Fraser
A Long Road to
Love 4 | PrimeTime
February 2012
matters
of
the
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C
harlie and Stevie knew they had something special at the tender age of 15. After working as camp counselors together at the YMCA, and then reuniting at Warwick Veterans High School, their friendship blossomed into a romantic relationship that would continue through graduation and on to the University of Rhode Island. And they all lived happily ever after, right?
Photos by jack marcello Not quite. Still young and immature, their story took a detour; a detour that would last for nearly 50 years, until their love got them back on track. When Stevie and Charlie broke up, it wasn’t a clean break. They had years of memories together, from dancing at the local canteen as teenagers to commuting to classes at URI together. Their parents remained friends, and from time to time, their paths crossed. Charlie even tried to set up Stevie with one of his baseball teammates until he came to his senses, showing up at Stevie’s sorority house to ask for a second chance. “She said thanks but no thanks,” Charlie recalls. The timing just wasn’t right. After college, Charlie got married, moved to Massachusetts and had two children. Stevie married too, and bounced around between Rhode Island, Texas, Maine and North Carolina, with her husband and two children. Over the years, they thought of each other from time to time. Admittedly, it was Charlie who thought of Stevie more often. She was the one that got away, and after he divorced, the image of his high school sweetheart crept back into his mind. “There’d always be a letter waiting in the Christmas basket in the living room from Stevie’s mom, letting my parents know what Stevie was doing. I read it and squirmed every christmas,” Charlie said. When the invitations for their 40th high school reunion came in the mail, Charlie and Stevie were in different places in their lives. Charlie had been divorced for some time, while Stevie’s marriage was just starting to hit the rocks. She wasn’t looking for anything to change her mind when she returned to Warwick, but like Charlie, she had lingering feelings for her former flame. “I really didn’t think about him until I thought about going to that class reunion. Once I got it in my head that I was going to that 40th class reunion, it was constantly on my mind then. I thought, ‘I wonder if we’ll dance together like we used to’,” Stevie said. They did. Charlie and Stevie shared a few dances, and while
February 2012
they mingled with the rest of their classmates, Stevie admits they “kept gravitating back together.” After the reunion, a group of the classmates began keeping in touch, including Charlie and Stevie. They would trade e-mails about what their kids were up to and what their weekend plans were, until Stevie decided it wasn’t helping her already-rocky marriage. She cut off contact with Charlie. “It was hard to bring my marriage to conclusion. We both were trying everything we could to hold it all together until we realized we didn’t want to,” Stevie said. She gave herself some time to recuperate, pushing the thought of Charlie out of her mind, but he was still there, reminding her of the warmth of their past and the possibility of their future. Four or five months after her divorce, she sent Charlie an e-mail. “I reached out to him by e-mail and it was instantaneous, we were back and forth and back and forth,” Stevie said. “It was sort of clandestine. It’s really what books are made of.” More e-mails would follow, and then phone calls, over a span of two years. “Over a period of two years it just got back to where we had been 40 years ago,” Charlie said. In the summer of 2006, they took the next big step, and began a courtship that was sustained with visits between Massachusetts, where Charlie was then living on Martha’s Vineyard, and Stevie’s new home in North Carolina. They visit museums, garden, travel, cook and, their favorite, visit top-rated restaurants wherever they go. Charlie can’t help but smile when he thinks about their first visit. “She was a nervous wreck,” he said, laughing. “I was a little jittery too, but we got over it pretty quickly. It became like it always had been pretty quickly.” He fell in love with her laugh. She fell in love with his sense of humor, and how he keeps her guessing. Four years later, though, Charlie and Stevie’s relationship was nothing like their high school romance. It was much more.
On Oct. 23, 2010, Charlie and Stevie began sharing more than history - they started sharing the Kernick last name. “There are many things that we bump heads on but when it comes down to the real issues of our values and our ethics and how our personalities meld together, you can overlook a lot of those annoyances and recognize the things that are really good,” Stevie says. Now 66, Stevie is still working, so she continues to split her time between North Carolina and the Vineyard. Charlie, also 66, is retired, and when he leaves North Carolina for a New England summer, Stevie rushes around the house putting things back where she had them before their marriage. “As soon as I’m done with that, I’m like, ‘when is he coming back?’ Then I’m sad,” she says. The weeks apart are a challenge, but they make it work. They waited too long to be together to let anything keep them apart now. “If you ever want to know how much you love somebody, just be away from them for a while, and that’s true if it’s 40 years or three weeks,” Charlie said. As for their advice to other couples, the Kernicks have a positive thing or two to say about persistence, but more than that, they recommend being open minded and opening yourself up to the possibility of love - at any age. “We spend so much time forcing ourselves to go to the restaurant, go to the bar, join the clubs, do this, do that, join the stupid online dating services. Stop looking and that’s when you’ll find somebody,” Charlie said. Even if it’s not true love, the kind of love that transcends time and distance like that of the Kernicks, Stevie believes everything happens for a reason. “By the time you hit 60-something, you realize perfection isn’t out there anyway. Just be open to possibilities. I think sometimes we can become very guarded about our feelings and not allow ourselves to be receptive about whatever comes along,” she said. “You can still enjoy the best of what people have to offer, whether it ends up being love or not. Every experience helps build who you are.”
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As a wedding planner, Andria Medeiros has seen it all. At Infinite Events, she and her fellow planners offer personalized planning and design for every flower, invitation and ?I do? for the couples that are looking for a professional touch on their Big Day. We caught up with Andria to pick her brain on wedding tips and trends and, more importantly, to find out how older couples are taking the vow. Andria has seen enough weddings and worked with enough couples to know that it’s never too late to fall in love, and it’s never too late to have a fairy tale ending.
A: Absolutely not. We just worked with a couple in their 70’s and they were more excited and in love than some of our younger couples! I always say that age is just a number; it’s how you feel that matters. If you love each other and want to share your love with the people most important to you, why let age or anything else stop you? Q: If you’ve been married before, what is the etiquette for a second (or third, fourth, etc.) wedding? How big is too big?
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I Do Q: In the case of second marriages, or marriage late in life, there are instances where people have said, “I’m too old for a wedding.” Is there such a thing as being too old for a wedding?
Find the Heart
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Saying . . .
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Entry Deadline: February 28, 2012. Name__________________________________________________________________________________ Address_ ______________________________________________________________________________ Phone#________________________________________________________________________________
A: In the past, couples used to keep their weddings second marriages extremely small with just family in attendance, sometimes also inviting close friends. Nowadays, most couples celebrate their second marriages just as elaborate as their first, sometimes even more so if their financial circumstances are better. Some brides see their second marriage as their chance to have the wedding they never had. It all depends on how comfortable the couple is with their celebration and what they are envisioning. Q: What about the groom’s party and the bridal party - does such a thing exist in your senior years? A: You can absolutely have a bridal party in your senior years. It is more common to have just a maid-of-honor and best man but I suggest to do whatever feels right. No matter how old you are, don’t have attendants just because it’s traditional. Ask only the people who are closest to you and who are going to be excited for you ? and with you ? on your special day. And if you have children of the right age, you can definitely ask them to in your bridal party. Just be sensitive in how you ask them, and make sure it wouldn’t put them in an uncomfortable spot.
e-mail__________________________________________________________________________________
6 | PrimeTime
February 2012
matters
Q: If you have children from a previous marriage, how can you involve them in the ceremony without making them feel uncomfortable? A: It all depends on the circumstance. Some children feel honored to be attendants but if it’s a recent divorce or possibly an uncomfortable situation, you could ask them to do a ceremony reading, be an usher, or even just hand out programs. One of our brides last year actually included her children’s name on their wedding invitation: ?... together with their son, invite you to join them as they become one family.? Q: If you’re already a parent, what do you do about the dress? Is white out of the question? A: Today, a white dress is always an option, as there’s no such thing as traditional anymore. We had one bride this past December who wore a platinum blue dress to her winter wonderland wedding and it was gorgeous. If you’re a bit modest, go for an ivory, pearl or champagne. Q: How do you handle the guest list when it comes to friends acquired through a previous marriage? A: First, discuss it with your fiancé and see how they feel about it. You should both be comfortable with every guest in attendance. If you are worried they might be uncomfortable there, just remember that they have the option to decline to attend.
February 2012
Q&A with Wedding Planner
Andria Medeiros Q: Planning a wedding can be overwhelming. How do you suggest couples begin the process, and how do they keep their cool? A: Begin the process by taking a deep breathe and realizing that planning a wedding doesn’t have to be stressful, it should be fun! Many couples think the first step is to set a date but you should actually start by estimating how many guest you plan to invite and where you would like to get married. Don’t waste your time looking into venues that won’t suit your guest count or budget. Once you find that perfect venue, that’s when you can set the date and truly begin your planning process. Whenever you feel yourself getting stressed out, remember what this day is truly all about. We all love the details so it’s easy to get caught up in focusing too much on them instead of what truly matters – that you’re uniting with the person you love and sharing the day with the most important people in your life.
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Q: Weddings are also costly; what are the best ways to stay on budget? A: Plan ahead and shop around. I always ask my clients what their top three wedding priorities are so I have an idea where they would prefer to splurge and where they would rather save. If you spend an extra $200 on a dress, try to make up that cost elsewhere. When looking for vendors, always contact at least three per category to compare pricing and ALWAYS know that it’s okay to ask for more. The wedding industry is very competitive and if a vendor wants to work with you, they will often offer you an incentive to book them. If you’re envisioning a really grand affair but are in a financial crunch, consider extending your engagement; the longer you have to save, the easier it can be on your wallets. Q: Are there any trends that stand out in your mind when it comes to weddings for older couples? A: Most older couples we work with tend to have smaller guest counts than other clients. They seem to prefer a more intimate wedding and are truly focused on the meaning of the day. They’re less tied up in all the details and more focused on their family and each other. Often the ceremonies are civil unions, they’re 20 to 30 minutes long, and children (even grandchildren) are often involved. Wedding brunches are another trend that seems to be picking up for older couples. It’s a great way to combine traditional with non-traditional, formal and informal, and it’s also a great way to save on costs.
PrimeTime | 7
b y Meg Fraser
The
Pulse of
As a medical student at Ohio University, Joseph Spinale had his sights set on surgery. But as he moved on to his residency, he realized there were other specialties out there, and one in particular that could give him purpose. One in particular that could save lives.
“With cardiology, it’s one of the specialties in medicine where you can actually make a difference. When someone comes into the hospital and they’re having a heart attack, and you stop it, you’re not just saving a life; you’re saving a whole lifetime,” Dr. Spinale says. “It’s one of those fields where you can treat an illness and the patient will get better.” Spinale is the chief of cardiology at Kent Hospital and president of Kent’s HeartSafe Foundation. A native of Warwick, he was glad to return to his hometown and to a hospital community he felt comfortable in. “I came to Kent because it is a large community hospital that serves a great population,” he said. Over his nearly 25 years in practice, Spinale has seen medicine, and cardiology, evolve and improve. “When I was a medical student, when a patient came in with a heart attack, they pretty much spent a month in the hospital. Now, we know if we get to a patient soon enough, we can abort their heart attack. We can stop their heart attack in its tracks and protect the heart muscle from damage,” he said.
Spinale is confident that in his lifetime, there will be a cure for coronary heart disease. Prevention will improve as well, he says, due in large part to the education of patients. Patients using the Internet to self-diagnose isn’t always a great idea, but access to information has also led to a much more educated population, and one that knows not only the signs of heart attack, but also how to prevent them. “I find people come to the office more educated about heart disease,” Spinale said. “Smoking and diabetes are still at the top of the list of risk factors; the next thing is inactivity. We’ve really gotten away from being a society that is active; we live sedentary lifestyles. People are spending a lot more time in front of computer screens and video games.” Avoiding those risk factors are the first items on Spinale’s patient to-do list. He advises patients to reduce the fat and cholesterol in their diets, and avoid empty calories that come with drinks and over-snacking. Quitting smoking is a must, and regular exercise is just as important.
Dr. Silverblatt with his wife, Anna Maura
8 | PrimeTime
February 2012
Medicine
“Just getting out and going for a half hour brisk walk every day is all it really takes. Pretty much everybody can work that into their work day,” he said. Men should start taking one baby aspirin each day after the age of 40, and women should do the same after menopause. He says the biggest misconception about heart disease is that it doesn’t kill women, when in actuality, it kills more women than all cancers combined. Family history for men and women, Spinale adds, should not be ignored. “If you’re turning 50 and your par-
ents had heart disease, especially at a young age, it’s time to see your primary care physician,” he said. In the event you do feel like you’re having a heart attack, call 911 and take aspirin while you’re waiting. Never try to drive yourself to the hospital, and don’t ignore the signs. A heart attack can manifest itself in many different ways, but chest pains or pressure, discomfort, shortness of breath, sweating and nausea are all common symptoms. Getting to the hospital quickly, to open up the
clotted artery causing the attack, can prevent permanent damage to the heart. “If you can get that artery open in 90 minutes, you can pretty much reverse all the damage that is occurring,” Spinale said. “For the patient who’s having a heart attack and recognizes it and gets to the hospital quickly, we can stop it.” Often, someone who suffers from a heart attack can recover completely. If he or she makes modest lifestyle changes and follows their doctor’s orders, heart disease could be gone from their future. The most
matters
of
the
heart
dangerous thing to do, then, is to ignore the symptoms and to avoid the doctor’s office. With today’s medical advances at his fingertips, Spinale knows he made the right choice going into cardiology, and looks forward to set his patients up for a brighter, healthier future. “We want to keep them so they remain independent,” he said. “And in that population of older patients, that’s always a main part of our conversation.”
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PrimeTime | 9
+ A
PEOPLE AND PLACES
b y M eg fraser
Beth Leconte peeks her head into a classroom at the University of Rhode Island. The seats are full, but the room is silent, save for the professor, recounting the life and vision of Michelangelo. “You could hear a pin drop. They were just glued to what he was saying.” It could be any college classroom at any university, only here, the students look a little different. They are pupils at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), where the students are all over the age of 50, and the curriculum is decided by the student body. Leconte is relatively new on campus, but in her first six months as the executive director of the program, she has already seen OLLI grow and take on a life of its own. Focus groups made up of students develop new classes and seminars, and students form friendships that give birth to extra-curricular activities they assemble on their own. On any given day, Leconte can walk out of her office on the Kingston campus to find a circle of students playing Mahjong, or a group huddled around a book of Shakespeare, reading plays aloud. They get together before and after class, talk about that day’s lecture, and pepper Leconte with questions of what is planned for next semester. “OLLI is member-centered and member-driven. The students have so much to offer with their wisdom and their experiences,” she said. “Their excitement is very contagious, and I learn so much from them.” For Leconte, it’s a dream come true working in academia. She spent 25 years in the YMCA organization, 20 of which were as executive director. She has a master’s in human service management and is working on a second master’s in holistic counseling. During her years at the Y, she realized how much she wanted to work with older adults. That’s exactly what Bernard Osher wanted to do as well. Osher founded OLLI at a university in Maine that agreed to engage seniors in the community. Soon, Osher was providing start-up dollars to universities around the country to create similar education programs for older adults. The classes aren’t for credits, and the emphasis instead is on fostering a love of learning. Today, there are 117 OLLI programs in every state in the country. Rhode Island’s program has been around for four years, and it has exploded in popularity, growing from 271 students last year to 400 enrolled this year. That’s only the beginning. The Osher Institute funds programs for the first four years. Then, programs with 500 students or more are able to apply for a $1 million endowment. OLLI at URI will apply for that endowment next September, and Leconte is confident
10 | PrimeTime
for lifelong learning program
they will reach that goal. “We feel very, very comfortable that we’ll exceed those 500 members. The grassroots effort has been established here, so there’s momentum,” she said, adding that the membership drive OLLI is embarking on is driven entirely by students. “It’s basically members getting members, and telling our story.” The average age of OLLI students nationwide is 71, but Leconte doesn’t see any specific trends in her students. She has students in their 50s, taking a class here or there while still working, as well as students in their 90s, loading up with a full schedule of classes. Each fall and spring, between 18 and 20 classes are offered, and during the slow winter season, one-time seminars are offered too. One-time classes offer an opportunity for Leconte and her part-time staffers to test topics out and see if they merit a longer class. Often, the class topics come right from the membership. “Look at what we have, with 400 active members who have lived through so much. What did they do before professionally? What are their hobbies and interests? It’s a real partnership with our members,” she said. “That’s the pulse of my job; if I’m not talking directly with my members, I’m not doing my job.” History is a popular topic, from the American Civil War to the Titanic and its place in popular culture. Other classes cover art, gardening, writing, literature, music, photography, genealogy and even how to use Facebook. “The caliber of the classes is unbelievable,” Leconte said.
OLLI is booked through June, and applications are already coming in for the fall. When a student signs up, OLLI staff sit down with him or her to talk about the classes available and determine what could be a good fit for them. “We pride ourselves on taking the time to sit down and really get to know our members. We can get you connected. That’s our job, to make sure they find a place,” Leconte said. The annual fee for membership is just $50. Six-week classes cost $30, three-week classes cost $20, and onetime seminars cost $10. The OLLI facility is handicapaccessible and on the RIPTA bus line. “It’s not cost-prohibitive for these folks,” Leconte said. Moreover, the lifelong learning program leaves out the demands of the traditional college experience. “They don’t have to worry about homework; they don’t have to worry about credits; they can do it simply for the joy of learning. It’s more low key, less stressful,” she said. Leconte is in the process of working with URI officials to offer certain university classes on an audit basis, and in the future hopes to offer evening and weekend classes, potentially at other URI campuses. More and more, OLLI students are working alongside undergraduate students for various campus programs. “There’s a lot of inter-generational work that’s starting to go on,” she said, noting that young people benefit from the students’ wisdom, and the collaboration keeps older students energized. “If we can bridge that gap, that’s what we want to do. Above anything else, I believe that the older adults get to see the good side of young adults and be encouraged by it.” 
Whether they’re sharing their wisdom with young people, helping to conceptualize a course or meeting up with their peers after a lecture, Osher lifelong learners are staying engaged in the community and finding a purpose in their later years. Being a part of OLLI is about staying active, challenging yourself and, above all else, maintaining a love of learning. “When you look at the aging population growing and growing, we have a responsibility to do a better job of caring for and accommodating what their needs and wishes are going to be,” Leconte said. “Let’s keep them healthy and vibrant and involved. I would not have come here if I didn’t know there was future direction and growth. OLLI is here to stay.” For more information on the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, visit uri.edu/olli or call 874-2405. Beth Leconte can be reached via e-mail at bleconte@uri.edu.
February 2012
in the kitchen
Pr i m e Ti m e
chefseries
food & drink
Chef Cindy Sikes
from The
Villa at Saint Antoine
What are the must haves in your fridge? For the Villa, I would have to say fresh herbs, yogurt and our cherry wood smoked bacon. That’s such a staple; no one can say bacon doesn’t make everything better! Where did you train to become a chef? I trained at Johnson & Wales University. While there, I did a couple of property internships for hands-on credit and extra scholarships. The first was at the Princess Royale Resort in Ocean City, Md., My second was at the Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport. This internship was especially valuable because I was able to help open the restaurant, Hemisphere, with the chefs from corporate Hyatt headquarters in Chicago. It was such an amazing experience for a young chef to see and experience the work and precision it takes to organize and successfully open a new food service venture. After the internships, I returned to J&W to complete my schooling. I graduated magna cum laude in 1993 with an associate’s degree in occupational sciences. Have you had any other jobs in the culinary industry? I guess you could say I am a jack-of-all-trades in the culinary industry. I started when I was 16 as a lead supervisor at Overlook Nursing Home. After college, I started my career in mainly upscale restaurant service as a sous chef at the Galaxy Bar and Grille in Ocean City, Md., and by age 24, I was promoted to executive chef. I’ve pretty much been a supervisor of some degree my whole career, from supervisor to an executive chef, as well as a food service director. My experience is in all facets of the business: catering, hotels, hospitals, assisted living, nursing homes and, of course, my first love, restaurants. What’s the most popular item on your menu? The residents definitely gravitate toward pasta and seafood. Our menu changes daily. There is no weekly rotation to our menu, so we can keep it new and exciting for our residents, as well as bring in whatever is fresh and seasonal. I try to have some sort of pasta available daily with seafood and fish offered at least four days a week. Salmon is definitely a winner. One other item the residents really enjoy is when we have breakfast selections on the dinner menu. Although breakfast is available any time of day, I will also occasionally offer specials in the evening like sweet potato pancake with bacon or maple sausage links, which go over famously. What’s the strangest menu request you’ve ever gotten? I’ve definitely dealt with some exotic foods in my career, like lots of fresh game meats, antelope, elk, kangaroo and I even had to create a menu around cobra meat (don’t even get me started on what that tastes like). But, as far as a menu request, I would have to say a grilled sandwich on brown bread with ham, onions, cream cheese and peanut butter. I have to admit, I wasn’t brave enough to try it myself.
February 2012
What’s the best part of your job? I am new to my position at the Villa, although I’ve been a member of the St. Antoine family for almost six years now. Getting to know the residents has been a plus, for sure. We try to listen to their requests and critiques of the meals served - the good, the bad and the ugly. Since the items change so often, it is important to keep them in the loop. Some things go over like gangbusters, like the Maryland-style crab cakes with red pepper tartar sauce that a resident stopped me to rave about. Some other items may not go over well with everyone; they let me know and we leave it off future menus. The key is listening to what the residents are saying. Describe your perfect meal. Now, something I really love to talk about - eating! My perfect meal would not involve an entrée. I think I have a fear of commitment, because what if I don’t care for the one dish I picked? Where am I now? I’d rather have a varied selection when I eat, especially at a restaurant. I tend to fill up very quickly and I like to take my time. I will order several appetizers and have them serve them slowly throughout the evening. Sharing and wine are also necessary elements to the perfect meal. Anything on the table should be up for grabs if you’re eating at my table!
PrimeTime | 11
a worthy cause
b y M ichael j . ceri o
PEOPLE AND PLACES
Non-profit with heart
At the beginning of each year, as calendars turn the page to reveal a clean slate of opportunity, Americans reflect on the changes they’d like to make in their lives and resolve to see them through. Many of these resolutions focus on health and wellness. As heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death in the United States, the American Heart Association remains steadfast in its efforts to improve the cardiovascular health of all Americans through increasing awareness and a focus on prevention. Founded by physicians in 1924, the American Heart Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to cardiac care. It is second only to the federal government in funding research against the number one killer of men and women. In addition to this work, the organization is responsible for publishing the standard for providing basic and advanced life support, and, every five years, sets the guidelines for CPR training. But, above all, the American Heart Association is the country’s leading advocate; investing in awareness campaigns, prevention and education programs that promote improved cardiovascular health. In Rhode Island and Massachusetts
alone, the American Heart Association currently funds more than $37 million in research. “We have studies that show that up to 80 percent of heart disease is preventable,” said Diana Victor, regional director of communications for the American Heart Association. “Improving your cardiovascular health and lessening the risk of heart disease has a lot to do with the lifestyle that you lead. This is why all of our campaigns highlight the changes you can make today that will create a long-lasting impact on your overall health.” During the month of February, the organization’s primary focus is its Go Red For Women campaign. Created in 2004 to help dispel the myths and raise awareness of heart disease, Go Red For Women is a social initiative designed to empower women to take charge of their heart health. Each year, cardiovascular disease claims the lives of nearly 500,000 women. “We know that heart disease kills more women than all cancers combined, but many still consider breast cancer to be their biggest health risk,” said Victor. “Our Go Red For Women campaign features a free 12-week lifestyle change workshop called ‘BetterU’ that women can take from home
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at their own pace.” Through the campaign’s www.GoRedForWomen.org website, BetterU is available as an online nutrition and fitness program to help women makeover their heart. Each week, the program focuses on a different area of health and provides step-by-step guidance through expert fitness tips, hearthealthy recipes and an online journal. “When we first began the Go Red For Women campaign five years ago, only 30 percent of women were aware of heart disease as the number one cause of death,” said Victor. “That number is now 67 percent, which really speaks to the success of our awareness efforts in helping people better understand the risks and dangers of heart disease.” According to Victor, many of the survivors they work with share similar stories. As the primary caregivers for their families, women often go to great lengths to ensure everyone in the household is doing well, sometimes neglecting their own care. “We want everyone to take charge of their own heart health, and take the steps necessary to make the changes that will allow them to remain healthy and able to take care of their families into the future,” said Victor. More than 70 million Americans live with some form of heart disease, which can include high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, stroke, angina and congenital heart defects. Additionally, according to the American Heart Association, more than 910,000 Americans die of heart disease annually. By 2020, the American Heart Association has set the ambitious goal of improving the cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20 percent, while also reducing the number of deaths from heart diseases and stroke by 20 percent. To accomplish this, the organization has established a public policy strategy to advocate for changes that build healthier lives. Among the key initiatives are their efforts to make CPR training a high school graduation requirement, ban the use of industrially-produced trans-fats in restaurants, impose a state excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages and expand the Good Samaritan Law to include immunity to all lay responders who, in good faith, administer CPR in the event of a medical emergency. “We have advocacy directors in almost every state who work closely with our government relations staff to support these changes,” said Victor. “In fact, we’ve made a $1.2 million investment in Rhode Island alone on a public service announcement campaign. Educating the community is such a critical piece of our work.” There are a number of ways to get involved with the American Heart Association.
February 3 marks National Wear Red Day, in which the American Heart Association asks employers nationwide to encourage their staff to wear red. Participants receive a Go Red For Women pin and information on heart health for a suggested donation of $5. Last year, in Rhode Island, more than 400 companies participated. However, Victor wants people to know that they can coordinate their own Wear Red Day for whenever they’d like. “We’re always looking for help to fundraise,” explained Victor. “We encourage people to coordinate a wear red day in their business, school, church, or through their social club for any day of the year.” Along with National Wear Red Day, the American Heart Association is in the midst of planning two of their largest annual events. On February 10, the organization will host its Southern New England Go Red For Women Luncheon at the Rhode Island Convention Center. Hundreds of guests are expected to attend. The luncheon will feature keynote speaker Joy Bauer, an author and resident nutrition expert for NBC’s TODAY show, along with women’s educational workshops and a heart-healthy luncheon. The annual Heart Walk, which will be held on Saturday, May 19 at Colt State Park in Bristol, is the area’s largest event. It promotes physical activity and heart-healthy living in a fun environment while raising critical funds for the organization’s work. “The Heart Walk features a lot of survivors and is an incredible feel-good event,” said Victor. “You don’t have to commit to raising a certain amount to say that you’re part of the walk. You can start your own team, be part of an existing team, or participate as an individual. There are some folks who have been involved for more than 20 years.” In addition to participating in special events, the American Heart Association is always in need of volunteers. From connecting with heart disease and stroke survivors who are ready to share their stories, to those interested in becoming advocates or helping to provide water to participants of the Heart Walk, volunteer opportunities exist for everyone. The time is now to continue the momentum established by the American Heart Association in facilitating the positive change that can save tens of thousands of lives each year. For more information about the annual Heart Walk, visit www.sneheartwalk.org. To get involved with National Wear Red Day, the Go Red For Women Luncheon or one of the organization’s many volunteer opportunities, call Diana Victor at 330-1711.
February 2012
food & drink
Seafood for Heart Health Tired of your doctor giving you that same old “be healthy, eat healthy” speech? Well, meeting that challenge is as simple as adding seafood to your diet twice a week. The new and improved Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that all Americans eat at least two servings (eight ounces) of seafood every week. The Guidelines are updated every four years by The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the United States Department for Health and Human Services (HHS). Wondering how you’ll manage fitting seafood into your diet twice a week? Look no further than the nutrient filled, protein packed, super shellfish - shrimp. “To incorporate more seafood into your diet, use familiar recipes and swap out the same old protein for seafood like shrimp,” said Jennifer McGuire, MS, RD, National Fisheries Institute. “For example, shrimp is the perfect addition in pasta dishes, salads and sandwiches. And, to make your family’s diet seafood-rich, think beyond lunch and dinner. Add shrimp to an omelet for breakfast.” Sure to benefit your heart and health, one three-ounce serving of shrimp contains just 100 calories and less than two grams of fat, while also delivering healthy omega-3s and a whopping 20 grams of protein. This recipe for Shrimp Fra Diavolo is a simple way to spice up a healthy diet with great flavor that will hit the spot and do wonders for your heart. Learn more about the health benefits of shrimp and find more, easy, delicious recipes at www.eatshrimp.com; and visit the Shrimp Council on Facebook at Eat Shrimp.
Shrimp Fra Diavolo Serves: 4
1 ½ pounds medium/large shrimp, peeled, uncooked 1 jar (26 ounces) prepared marinara sauce 2 cloves finely chopped garlic 1 teaspoon dried parsley 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 tablespoons butter Crushed red pepper to taste 1 pound angel hair pasta
Rinse shrimp and drain in colander. In large pot, boil water for pasta. Heat butter and olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and reduce heat to low. Sauté garlic until soft. Add shrimp and cook uncovered for approximately 5 minutes on each side, until shrimp turns pink. Remove from heat and reserve. In separate saucepan, heat marinara sauce and season to taste with crushed red pepper. Add shrimp to marinara sauce and keep warm. Add pasta to boiling water and cook for three minutes. Drain pasta and place in serving dish. Top with shrimp and marinara sauce. Recipe Courtesy of: The Shrimp Council and “Bob & Joe’s Smart Seafood Guide, A Practical Look at Seafood.”
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can find ways to fit it into your schedule, even in small increments. Take the stairs instead of the elevator or park at the end of the lot to make for a longer walk inside the grocery store
✔ It’s easier said than done, but quit smoking. Smoking is
one of the biggest risk factors for heart disease, and the sooner you quit, the better off you’ll be. If you’re not a smoker but someone close to you is, try and limit your second hand smoke exposure; ask them to smoke on the porch or in a specific area of the house, or excuse yourself when they’re lighting up. And even if you’re not ready to quit cold turkey, every cigarette you cut back on will help you lessen your risk of heart disease
✔ DON’T eat too much red meat, dairy products, fried
foods, bakery products or other foods that are high in fat and cholesterol February 2012
food & drink
Lead the charge toward stronger heart health with almonds
T
here’s nothing like the rush of an overtime touchdown to ignite the excitement - and hunger - of football fans. Every armchair quarterback or BBQ pitmaster would agree that the perfect snack is the key to the ultimate football experience. This season, Almond Board of California is reminding men to snack smart with the MVP of snacking: the crunchy, heart-healthy almond. The perfect snack to enjoy while watching the game in the man cave or out at a tailgate party, almonds are both convenient and healthconscious, and will keep fans as energized as the players on the field. To stay on top of their game, football pros rely heavily on a strong team of health professionals - including registered dieticians who help regulate their diet. But healthy eating doesn’t stop at the end zone. Whether you’re in the heat of the huddle or cheering from the stands, men need to play strong defense for their own heart health, and reevaluating the snack foods found in their pantries is the perfect place to start. “The role diet plays in overall health is quite enormous, and often the idea of having to modify eating habits to better safeguard heart health can be a tough challenge. Men need to realize that taste does not have to be comprised by nutrition,” said Robert Yang, R.D., founder of The Performance Lab in Encinitas, California. “With almonds, men are able to benefit from the snack’s outstanding heart-healthy qualities as well as enjoy a great crunch and flavor.” Cholesterol-free almonds have long been known to have significant nutritional benefits and offer football fans with both a tasty and nourishing snack. In 2003, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a health claim recognizing California Almonds as a food that can help maintain a healthy cholesterol level. The claim states that “scientific evidence suggests, but does not prove, that eating 1.5 ounces per day of most nuts, such as almonds, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease.” What’s more, California Almonds are also an integral part of the “good” fats, with one serving of almonds (28 grams) having 13 grams of unsaturated fat and only one gram of saturated fat. This is significant nutritional impact for such an easygoing snack. When it comes to a half-time energy boost or just something to munch on between quarters, almonds are the go-to snack for the football season. For great almond snacking ideas and recipes, as well as nutrition tips and the latest almond research, visit www.AlmondBoard. com/prosnacker.
✔ DO indulge with fruits, vegetables and whole grains
✔ Make smarter choices that
don’t mean major changes to your lifestyle, like replacing butter with margarine without trans fats or whole milk with skim milk
✔ Cut out the salt, which also
means limiting the number of processed foods you eat that are preserved with sodium
✔ Pass the fiber, please. Most
people don’t get enough fiber in their diets, but it’s another good way to stay healthy
✔ Add some Omega-3 fatty acids
to your diet, either through vitamins, fish oil, or working some fish like salmon into your menu plans
✔ Drink alcohol in moderation.
Red wine has antioxidants that can help you on your mission to heart health, but not if you’re drinking a bottle each night
✔ GO TO YOUR DOCTOR! Regular screenings can help keep you healthy, and catch problems before they become too dangerous
✔ In particular, check your blood
pressure, cholesterol and get checked for diabetes, which is a risk factor for heart disease
Firecracker Almonds Servings: 8
2 teaspoons chili powder 1 teaspoon curry powder 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 tablespoon olive or almond oil 2 cups toasted whole natural almonds 1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce, or to taste 1 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne), or to taste
✔ Want a nice, juicy steak? No
problem. Just be sure to limit your portion sizes
✔ Plan your meals ahead of time in order to lessen the temptation of eating out or going for the easy, processed food route
✔ Don’t worry, be happy. Stress
can add to your risk of heart disease and, believe it or not, anxiety, depression and social isolation are all linked to heart disease
✔ Check your family tree. Fam-
ily history is a factor with heart disease, so make sure you have all the facts so you can relay any family conditions to your doctor
Combine chili powder, curry powder, garlic powder and oil in medium-sized skillet over medium heat. Heat until hot and bubbly. Stir in almonds, tossing until almonds are evenly coated and heated through, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat and cool slightly. Stir in pepper sauce and red pepper. Allow to cool fully before serving. Created by Almond Board of California
✔ An aspirin a day keeps the doctor away. Take a baby aspirin each day after the age of 50 to cut back on your risk
✔ Manage your stress better. Meditate, get a good night’s sleep, do yoga - whatever works for you to keep your stress level down
✔ Don’t ignore the signs. In the
event you do have a heart attack, doctors can usually stop it in its tracks, but only if you get to the hospital in time
PEOPLE AND PLACES
A GLIMPSE OF RI’S PAST h i s t o r y w i t h d o n d ’a m at o
The trolley brought crowds The years 1914 and 1915 were especially severe for fires in Warwick. In 1914, Rocky Point was again the scene of a serious blaze, as six buildings were destroyed. The Conimicut Volunteer Company quickly responded and, despite being hampered by falling electric wires, was able to save a number of buildings on the amusement park’s Midway. Baseball for all ages In addition, Rocky Point was growing rapidly as an amusement center and it continually added new attractions, even making provisions for “base ball” (always spelled as two words in the 19th century), the new craze sweeping the country. These early games were anything but pitchers’ duels, as many of the scores were in double-digit numbers. By the closing years of the 19th century, the “new game,” introduced by the Knickerbockers Club in New York, had become popular in Warwick. Within a few years, there were more than 200 teams playing amateur ball and many of them made their way to Rocky Point. The clang of the trolley Most of the patrons of the park in the early 20th century were coming by trolley. There was often extreme overcrowding on the cars, very poor heating in the winter and inadequate ventilation in the summer. Despite these shortcomings, the trolley provided an escape from the bonds that had tied mill workers earlier. With inexpensive and relatively fast transportation, workers no longer had to live in the vicinity of their employment and could travel further to seek higher wages and better working conditions. In addition, the trolley provided the means for workers to leave their hot, crowded homes in the summer for a day of pleasure at Warwick’s shore resorts. This demand for transportation resulted in a half-mile line built from Grant’s Station, below Longmeadow, to Rocky Point, and another from Buttonwoods to Westcott. In the summers, “bloomers,” or open cars, were in use and thoroughly enjoyed as a great adventure by large crowds who looked forward to a 20minute ride on the trolley from Arctic to Oakland Beach via Tollgate Road and Apponaug. When the trolley was at its peak, there was a natural alliance between the proprietors of the trolley lines and the owners of the amusement parks. The electric streetcar lines very often advertised the attractions of the parks and, on occasion, contributed their own personnel to help build and maintain the resorts. The parks, in return, encouraged people to come by trolley and often included trolley schedules. The powerful drawing cards of the concerts, clambakes, dances and popular amusements increased the need for more trolley cars in the summer. Two of the resorts that prospered greatly by the trolley in the early 20th century were Rocky Point and Oakland Beach.
16 | PrimeTime
February 2012
DOER’S PROFILE
matters
by JOAN RE TSINAS
of
the
heart
Benefits of the marriage workout The federal government has proclaimed February “Heart Health” Month, urging us to strengthen that muscle. We know the usual bromides: more fish, more exercise, less cholesterol. Yet beyond salmon, beyond Lipitor, perhaps the heart needs love. Indeed, February also honors Saint Valentine. Statistically, married people - men and women - are in general healthier and live longer than their unmarried counterparts. Of course, statistics don’t say why. Perhaps healthier people choose to marry, or perhaps marriage itself promotes health. At least that is the explanation offered by psychologist Shawn Cooper: People living together tend to take care of each other, reminding each other to exercise, take medications and see the doctor. He notes that studies of cardiac patients have linked social ties to recovery. And while dreadful relationships translate into stress, supportive relationships can buffer stressors like illness, a job loss or death of loved ones. Shawn Cooper, PhD, MPH, has been studying relationships for decades. Raised in Manhattan, he studied at New York’s Music and Art High School, and then headed to the Pratt Institute, intending to become an illustrator. A year at Pratt convinced him to switch focus. He studied clinical psychology, earned a PhD from the University of Massachusetts, and, later, a Master of Public Health degree from Harvard. He came to Rhode Island for an internship at Bradley Hospital, and stayed to become, eventually, chief psychologist of outpatient services, working at Bradley for a total of 21 years. Today, he counsels students at Harvard University and has a part-time practice on the East Side of Providence. Dr. Cooper has no simple prescription for happy marriages - no Lipitor for the emotional heart. But he
February 2012
does have advice for married people who want to strengthen their bond. First, he offers good news for long-married couples. Generally, they have lived through the chief sources of conflict for young couples: sexual incompatibility, money and childrearing. By the time couples are in their 60s, they have survived these roadblock-crises. They are sexually
Marriage may be just as good for the heart as salmon. compatible or medications can help things along. If they are fortunate, they can afford to retire. And their children have grown and established independent households. So their marriage, whether or not it is happy, is probably strong. This modern era, though, has shifted familial roles: today’s “Modern Family” is neither the Waltons nor the happy enclave of ABC’s hit sitcom. Dr. Cooper credits two major factors in America: rising levels of anxiety, often propelled by the media, and the current recession. “Both can reactivate those earlier stressors,” he said. Adult children, unemployed, may have returned home. Parents may find they are continuing to subsidize adult offspring, including those with children. Grandparents may be babysitting out of necessity to relieve stressed parents, making childrearing once again a source of mari-
tal conflict. That retirement nest egg, moreover, may have dropped with the falling Dow, forcing couples to scrimp. For married couples who are rediscovering those earlier conflicts, Dr. Cooper draws on observations from a study of couples, married for at least 35 years, who pinpointed the obvious-yet difficult keys to success: “compromise, faith, forgiveness, communication, spending time together, sharing interests.” “Love” does not top the list. “While all cited love as important, all found that the nature of that love had changed over the years,” Dr. Cooper said. “Change” is the overriding reality. Over time, circumstances of the family will change, and over time, both parties in a union will change. People in turn must adapt. “Change can occur at any point in people’s lives,” he said. To help partners rediscover romance, Dr. Cooper at times recommends a marriage-strengthening weekend. He concedes that scientifically, such sessions are not proven effective, yet patients have expressed satisfaction. If family dynamics are causing one person emotional pain, that person should seek out a therapist. Medications or counseling may help that person adapt to the new family dynamics. And if people find themselves no longer married, whether through bereavement or divorce, the possibility exists for remarriage. Dr. Cooper notes that social relationships are central to well-being, and marriage is the most meaningful of one’s social relationships. So older people should seek out prospective mates just as younger people do: through friends, activities, work, even through the now-ubiquitous social media connections. Marriage may be just as good for the heart as salmon.
PrimeTime | 17
THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT
lifestyles
by DON FOWLER
Heart-healthy restaurants As Rhode Islanders become more health-conscious, many of us are seeking out restaurants and markets that offer healthy choices. Whether you are vegan, vegetarian, lactose intolerant or just want to eat healthy, there are dozens of choices now available to you all around the state. Seniors who are diabetic, have heart problems or need to watch their diet for a number of reasons, are turning to markets like Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s for wholesome, unprocessed, raw foods and prepared meals. You still have to be careful in reading labels, as they could be deceptive or unclear. Trader Joe’s has a code on most of their food, indicating gluten free, sodium free, no MSG, trans-fats, artificial flavoring, etc. Our favorite healthy food restaurant is FOO(D), located on Empire Street next to Perishable Theatre in downtown Providence. The popular arts facility opened the restaurant recently, and it has been a big hit. The food is healthy and the prices are very reasonable. Try the coconut curry and roasted pumpkin and squash soups. Follow with a roasted beet salad and then their amazing grilled cheese sandwich. Fit & Fresh Guiltless Gourmet & Deli just opened in Cranston’s Pawtuxet Village, at 2160 Broad Street. Self-taught chef James (Jay) Schenck, a Cranston personal trainer who also runs Exercise Solutions in Cranston, runs this full-service deli.
“Proper exercise and healthy eating go hand in hand,” said Jay, as he stirred the soup of the day, while his partner, Jennifer, listed the daily specials on the board. The petite young lady told me that she used to weigh over 300 pounds before she started eating and exercising wisely. “Our food is all fresh, natural, local and good,” Jay said. Providence has the largest choice of healthy restaurants, with many concentrated on the East Side, and catering to the Brown and Rhode Island School of Design community. Two popular choices are Julian’s at 318 Broadway, and Louis’ at 286 Brook Street, one of the truly old-school diners. Both have been around before vegetarian was trendy. Try the salads at Julian’s and the vegetarian pancakes at Louis’. They even have soymilk for your coffee. Most Asian, Indian, Mexican and Greek restaurants have a number of vegetarian and heart-friendly meals, especially with beans being a major part of their diet. You are better off with basmati or brown rice than the usual white rice, especially if you are watching your blood sugar. Many pizza parlors now offer the option of vegetarian pizzas with whole-wheat crust. There is always Subway, which offers wheat bread, chicken and loads of veggies. Chain restaurants like Applebee’s, Chili’s, 99 Restaurant, and Ruby Tuesday identify their heart-healthy meals on their
❤
menus with tiny hearts or other symbols. This summer when you visit Block Island, stop at Froozie’s Juice Bar and Café at 26 Dodge Street for a smoothie or veganfriendly sandwich. Checking out the Piping Plovers at Moonstone? Stop at Daddy’s Bread, 805 Moonstone Road, where they leave the freshly made wholesome bread outside, and you pay by the honor system. One of our favorite stops is Crazy Burger in Narragansett, that eclectic spot that offers a great veggie burger; my favorite is the lamb burger. Just down the street is Markos, with the best grape leaves and lentil soup in South County. While there are a number of high-end restaurants in Newport, there is also the
Salvation Café at 140 Broadway, where you can enjoy tofu pad Thai and steamed veggie rolls. Pawtucket’s claim to veggie fame is the complex at 727 East Avenue that offers a plethora of choices that are very heartfriendly, including the Garden City Café, and Rasoi. You not only eat healthier by frequenting restaurants that offer locally grown foods and fish from our own waters, free range chickens and eggs, and milk from Rhode Island dairies, you also help the local economy. Here’s to a more heart healthy 2012!
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wHAT DO YOU FINK?
LIFESTYLES
by MIKE FINK
The war at home He was the most popular G.I. on screen throughout the Duration. Van Johnson crossed this country from his birthplace right here in Newport to Hollywood, and from there, at least on studio sets, to Nazi-occupied Europe, to the Japanese-held islands and to the skies of the Pacific “theatre” of World War II. The VJ, or simply V Day commemorations of August, recalled uniquely here in Rhode Island, reminds me to pay tribute to the star that often came back to us to play roles in summer stock among our supper clubs and tents. I can report that I met Van Johnson in Warwick during one of his final performances. My colleague, Hardu Keck, who, incredibly, was raised in his house in Beverly Hills, asked me to the show. Hardu was a New American, born in war-torn Estonia and brought to the West Coast where his mother got a job as a cook in Van’s home. Judy Garland taught English to Hardu through the lyrics to her songs, at the piano during friendly soirees! Imagine, coming Over the Rainbow and hearing the pledge and promise from the nicest American girl in the world. Well, there before me was Van Johnson, freckled, tall and beaming, and wearing the signature red socks. Unbelievably, he stopped the action to wave to Hardu (and me) and quickly say, “Come backstage!” Needless to say,
we did so, and there was nothing pompous or grandiose about our native son. The famous grin was there, as was the almost melancholy nostalgia behind it. He was still the embodiment of the generation of us who lived through those days, that age of hope - our motto - and of anxiety. It’s rainy, misty, foggy and uncertain overhead as I write this little memoir and tribute. If it were bright beyond my windows, I could look outdoors at the cardinal on my porch screen, or the mourning doves on my birdbath, or the goldfinch, the wren, even the chipmunks in my yard, with its morning glories and its flowers and shrubs of red, white, blue, sunny yellow and oriole orange. Instead, I am watching a day of Turner Movie Classics starring Van Johnson. He did not play trite, conventionally heroic roles. He crashes, loses a leg, perishes ... or he pays a price for making a mistake of judgment, a blunder. Van was a surprisingly subtle, “real” actor. He prevails not by superhuman strength or brilliance, but by simple humanity and good will. I think the part that brought his special gift back to me was in a film about our Civil War, in which he is a returning veteran with blue, or with gray, trousers? He had been a schoolteacher, and now he uses
the skills he has learned from combat to rebuild a barn burned down by postwar vigilantes. The war between the states is over legally, but not actually. The battles still rage, and it is up to Van to talk both sides of the feud into working together, not against. He uses a harmonica, his wits and his arms, literally, not the kind they call rifles, to make peace. “The Romance of Rosy Ridge” of 1947 is a film version of a book by Mackinlay Kantor, author also of “The Best Years of Our Lives” and its theme of wise but wounded vets greeting a tough battle with the homefront is the same. That is what Van Johnson’s life and work were about. He brought Newport’s famous mission of cooperation and craftsmanship all the way crosscountry to the studio world of Hollywood. When he flew homeward bound back to the coop like a dove of Noah, here among our summertime stages, he brought a message of humor, intimacy and friendship, like those Four Freedoms for which we had fought, for which we had always strived somehow throughout our history. I clink my cocktail in amiable salute to Van and to the spirit of the soldiers and sailors of the fights he waged on stage, screen and soiree.
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calendar of events Almost Home
Join Atria Bay Spring Village on Feb. 8 at 6 p.m. for a presentation and book signing by Connecticut author Teresa M. Norris. Norris’ book provides an empathetic outlook on dealing with dementia in a loved one. She offers encouragement to others as well as practical suggestions for surviving the strain of losing a loved one through dementia. A snow date has been set for Feb. 9 at 6 p.m. A light dinner will be served. For more information, call 246-2500.
Festen at Feinstein
The Sandra Feinstein Gamm Theatre will perform “Festen” from Jan. 12 to Feb. 12, Wednesday through Sunday; show times vary. In “Festen,” Helge is turning 60 and family secrets could come out during the birthday celebrations. The Gamm is located at 172 Exchange Street in Pawtucket. Tickets are $30 to $40, and can be purchased at www. gammtheatre.org or by calling 723-4266.
20 | PrimeTime
Muir String Quartet
Come to Sapinsley Hall at Rhode Island College to see the Muir Strong Quarter perform their second concert in the Beethoven Cycle. The show is on Feb. 6 at 7:30 p.m., and admission is $35. Sapinsley Hall is located at 600 Mount Pleasant Avenue in Providence. Call 456-8144 or visit www.ric.edu/pfa/pas for details.
Classic show at PPAC
“Mary Poppins” is taking over the Providence Performing Arts Center from Feb. 8 to 19. Tickets range from $38 to $75. The New York Post gives this show four stars, calling it “a perfect piece of musical theater.” For more information, call 421-2787 or visit ppacri.org.
Ski and Board Race
Get a day of winter exercise in at the 60th annual Rhode Island Ski Runners Ski and Board Race on Feb. 12, starting at 9 a.m. This fun race offers trophies, prizes and raffles for skiers and snowboarders of all ages and abilities. The race is at Wachusett Mountain in Princeton, Mass. For details, visit riskirunners.com or call 465-5553. Lift tickets are $13 and up.
Lecture at Linden Place
Ray Rickman will lead a discussion on William J. Brown, an African-American civic leader, on Feb. 12 at 2 p.m. Admission is free, and Rickman will talk about culture, class and race across 80 years in Rhode Island. Linden Place is located at 500 Hope Street in Bristol, and the lecture will take place in the mansion’s ballroom. Call 2530390 or visit www.lindenplace.org for more information.
Brushing up for the fishing season
The Sheraton Airport Hotel will host Shallow Water Striper University on Feb. 18 and 19. Admission is $49 for one day or $89 for two days, and guests will receive professional instruction on how to catch more and bigger striped bass. Proceeds will benefit Kids Special Olympics of RI. Saturday’s lectures run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 739-4040 or go to www.shallowwaterstripers.com to purchase tickets.
February 2012
professional perspective b y K aren M el o , C F P, A D PA S M
It’s about planning, not products I recently noticed a funny little thing about the world of financial services. Even though we’ve made great strides in establishing financial planning as a process and a service in its own right, it stills seems that consumers are being unduly influenced by the giants of Wall Street. In my opinion, people are now chasing products based on the added features rather than focusing on the reason the product is needed to begin with. The purchase process becomes so complicated that consumers often suffer from analysis paralysis, and don’t implement anything at all. In reality, it’s an avoidance behavior. Subconsciously, they may want to delay taking action because of a temporary hurdle, such as lack of time. Consider the process of remodeling a room of a house. This may mean you need to purchase a drill. We all know someone who’ll spend three months researching drills and visiting every hardware store in a 25-mile radius in search of that perfect drill. Meanwhile, nothing is getting done. I’m not suggesting that product features are not important. To the contrary, I strongly believe that it’s important for professionals to know about product differences so they can recommend an appropriate solution for the goal at hand. Each consumer has unique needs to be addressed. My point is that there are many great companies out there, with a lot of useful products to get the job done. Which product or service you chose to use is not nearly as important as the fact that you’re taking action on working toward a goal. We can’t let ourselves miss the forest for the trees! Take a look at the ads on MarketWatch. Read some of the popular financial newspapers. Listen to the commercials on Bloomberg Radio and watch the ones on daytime television. There is no shortage of big names touting the newest, best, most profitable, cheapest and the cure-for-all-things product. Then there is the competition, tearing apart a particular solution without giving consideration to all parts of the equation, like consumer behavior. Consumers are getting bombarded with snazzy marketing from all sides. And with the advent of social media and wireless Internet access in the palm of your hand, consumers have nowhere to hide. Advertising is all about the bells and whistles. The focus is on who has got the highest return, the lowest fees, the best ratings or the most options. But I feel Wall Street isn’t addressing the heart of the matter. What most consumers need is guidance. These are responsible people looking for ways to reach their goals and protect those they love. What they need is a plan, directions on how to accomplish what’s most important to them. They need help in working toward these goals while juggling all the different responsibilities in their lives. I feel consumers don’t really want a product with fancy bells and whistles. What they want is a nest egg for retirement. They want to know that this nest egg will still be there when they need it. They want to know that their loved ones are protected when something unexpected happens. They may want to help their children with college costs. What they don’t initially go looking for is the newest financial product with the most investment options at a bargain price. Financial products are not electronic gadgets. Yet I see insurance and investment products being marketed like the latest smart phone. Is this Wall Street’s attempt to entice consumers to line up to purchase financial products as if they were electronics? Somehow I don’t see that happening. Nor do I believe that these tactics are in the best interest of the consumer. Financial planning needs to happen before products are chosen. It’s about the process. It’s finding what’s important to you and your family. It’s figuring out how to make the most of the resources you have in a way that is realistic. The best products in the world won’t accomplish a thing if they are not used correctly, or at all. My message is this. A financial product with all its bells and whistles is much like a piece of workout equipment with an iPod jack and a heart rate monitor. You will only get results if you use it, properly, the way it was originally intended. Otherwise, all you have is another pile of statements that you can place on top of that dusty treadmill.
your taxes
professional perspective
b y meg che v alier
IRS offers top 10 tax-time tips The income tax filing season has begun, and important tax documents should be arriving in your mailbox. Even though your return is not due until April, you can make tax time easier on yourself with an early start. Here are the Internal Revenue Service’s top 10 tips to ensure a smooth taxfiling process. 1. Gather your records: Round up any documents you’ll need when filing your taxes: receipts, canceled checks and other documents that support income or deductions you’re claiming on your return. 2. Be on the lookout: W-2s and 1099s will be coming soon; you’ll need these to file your tax return. 3. Have a question? Use the Interactive Tax Assistant available on the IRS website to find answers to your tax questions about credits, deductions, general filing questions and more. 4. Use Free File: Let Free File do the hard work for you with brand-name tax software or online forms. It’s available exclusively at www.irs.gov. Everyone can find an option to prepare his or her tax return and e-file it for free. If you made $57,000 or less, you qualify to use free tax software offered through a privatepublic partnership with manufacturers. If you made more or are comfortable preparing your own tax return, there’s Free File Fillable Forms, the electronic versions of IRS paper forms. Visit www. irs.gov/freefile to review your options. 5. Try IRS e-file: IRS e-file is the safe, easy and most common way to file a tax return. Last year, 79 percent of taxpayers 106 million people - used IRS e-file. Many tax preparers are now required to use e-
file. If you owe taxes, you have payment options to file immediately and pay by the tax deadline. Best of all, the IRS issues refunds to 98 percent of electronic filers by direct deposit within 14 days, if there are no problems, and some may be issued in as few as 10 days. 6. Consider other filing options: There are many options for filing your tax return. You can prepare it yourself or go to a tax preparer. You may be eligible for free face-to-face help at a volunteer site. Give yourself time to weigh all the options and find the one that best suits your needs. 7. Consider direct deposit: If you elect to have your refund directly deposited into your bank account, you’ll receive it faster than a paper check in the mail. 8. Visit the official IRS website often: The IRS website at www.irs.gov is a great place to find everything you need to file your tax return: forms, publications, tips, answers to frequently asked questions and updates on tax law changes. 9. Remember this number: 17; Check out IRS Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax, on the IRS website. It’s a comprehensive resource for taxpayers, highlighting everything you’ll need to know when filing your return. 10. Review! Review! Review! Don’t rush. We all make mistakes when we rush. Mistakes slow down the processing of your return. Be sure to double-check all the Social Security numbers and math calculations on your return, as these are the most common errors. Don’t panic! If you run into a problem, remember the IRS is here to help. Start with www.irs. gov.
YOU CAN HELP STOP MEDICARE FRAUD! Volunteer to educate and inform Medicare beneficiaries to protect themselves and others from fraud. It’s as easy as 1-2-3! 1. PROTECT 2. DETECT 3.REPORT Your Medicare Read your Your number Medicare Summary Concerns Notice Join the fight against Medicare fraud. Volunteer today! Call the RI Department of Human Services, Division of Elderly Affairs 401-462-0931 TTY: 401-462-0740 This ad was produced, in whole or in part, through grants from the U.S. Administration on Aging and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
February 2012
PrimeTime | 21
senior
issues
retirement sparks
b y elaine m . decker
Spousal Adjustments
My apologies to those who were lured to read this thinking it would be about sending your spouse off somewhere for a tune-up, hoping he or she would return performing more to your liking. This column would perhaps be more accurately titled “How to help your spouse adjust to your retirement,” but I like my headings short. Regular readers of my blog know that I plan to downsize to Vermont when we sell our house (I’ll wait for you to stop laughing). A logical consequence is that my husband - who is 11 years my senior - will also semiretire and move with me. Those who know him might call it an illogical consequence, since my husband is attached to the stool in his retail store by a virtual umbilical cord. This naturally raises concerns in my mind about how he’ll adjust to “our” retirement. The back-story is that when we married 21 years ago, I moved from my comfort zone in New Jersey to be with Jagdish in Providence. We agreed that our retirement move would be to the place of my choosing, which is near my family in Vermont. We’ve spent many holidays there and we both like that area. We plan to have side-byside desks, where I’ll write and he’ll work on the website for his store. This does not make me any less concerned about how my husband will adjust to the move. Ostensibly, his store sells clothing, jewelry, wind chimes, incense and all sorts of gifts. It’s in a college community and his best-selling items are the Schnoz tissue boxes in the shape of Shakespeare’s face. The tissues dispense from - you guessed it - the bard’s nose. This is ironic since my husband shares the distinctive feature of many males in his family - an unusually large nose. Spectrum-India could easily be described as a bustling, colorful bazaar. However, one of my husband’s
friends was on point when he told him: “You’re not running a store; you’re running an ashram.” From his stool behind the cash register, Jagdish dispenses not just change, but also advice. People call him “the guru of Thayer Street.” He’s a cross between a resident philosopher and Gertrude Stein, holding daily salons where people come to discuss the issues of the day. Or night, as he rarely closes before 1 a.m. On a one-on-one level, he also serves as a psychologist/counselor. He recently told me about someone who was sad, in part because she had no money to spend. This was his advice to her, probably given along with the gift of a peacock feather: “A lot of the good things in life are free, so enjoy them. The air is free, at least until someone figures out how to put meters under our noses, so breathe deeply and more often.” The image of a meter under Jagdish’s nose made us both laugh. His advice continued. “Smiles release endorphins and serotonin, so smile all the time, even when you’re sad; it will lift your spirits. Hugs increase the hormone oxytocin, and that makes you feel good and reduces stress. So find someone to hug
each day. If you can’t find someone else, wrap your arms around to your back and hug yourself.” I checked out the hugs stuff; he was reporting the results of an actual NIH study. He even had a specific dosage, which he claims he heard somewhere, but it wasn’t in the study. You need four hugs a day to survive, eight hugs for daily maintenance and 12 to thrive. He hypothesized that too many hugs could cause an overdose of oxytocin. I have no doubt he gave that sad young woman four hugs before she went on her way. Simple advice. Easy to follow. Delivered so earnestly and with such charm that no one can resist him. So you see why I’m concerned about our pending relocation. I’ve suggested that Jagdish should bring his stool with him to Vermont. There may be a store like his in downtown Burlington. He can ask the owner to let him sit by the door, chatting and dispensing advice and philosophy. And maybe hugs. If that doesn’t work out, he can always just breathe deeply, smile and hug me, at least 12 times. With the hours he currently spends in his store, that’s about 10 hugs more than we get to share now. With our luck, we’ll get carried away and wind up institutionalized for a hug overdose. I have a vision of our therapy sessions - touching but no hugging. We’re making molds of each other’s faces to create customized Schnoz boxes. His are selling like hotcakes at Spectrum. Mine are collecting dust in a corner somewhere. Achoo! At least there are tissues handy... Elaine M. Decker has published a collection of Retirement Sparks posts. It’s available at Spectrum-India on Thayer Street in Providence and on Amazon.com. ISBN: 9781468095708. E-mail emdecker@ix.netcom.com for more information.
lifestyles
b y d o n f o wler
Stop and smell the roses...or something like that I stood at my kitchen window, watching a squirrel climb down a tree trunk, circle the piece of bread I had thrown out, pick it up, sit on his hind legs, eat half of it and bury the rest. The entire incident lasted about 10 minutes. I was mesmerized as I observed the squirrel’s cautious movements as he concentrated on that one piece of bread. He and I had something in common: We were monotasking. The squirrel cared only about the piece of bread; I cared only about the squirrel. In these days of multitasking, when the norm is to handle more than one thing at a time, I find great pleasure in the little pleasures of life without all of the surrounding distractions. “Stop and smell the roses,” we have been told all of our lives, yet we seldom do. Stress is so prevalent in our everyday lives, leading 22 | PrimeTime
to all kinds of ailments from indigestion to heart attacks. We see it in our children and grandchildren, as they compete for better grades and better jobs and, in many cases, stress out over paying off student loans and finding jobs. “One thing at a time,” my mother used to tell me as I did my homework in front of the TV while talking on the phone. Things haven’t changed all that much in the lives of modern teenagers, but they sure have lots of new toys to expand their multitasking beyond anything we could have imagined. Typical scene: A Brown student walking down Thayer Street with music blasting from her iPod into her ears while she text messages her friends. Scene two: A young boy playing a video game while talking to his girlfriend on speakerphone and eating a pizza. It happens in the business world every
day: People at their desks using their computers and talking on those irritating phones that remain in their ear like a hearing aid nearly 24/7, while a client waits impatiently on the other side of the desk. We reach a certain stage in our lives when we need to shout: “Enough!” We curse that driver in front of us who is juggling a cup of coffee and talking on a cell phone at the same time. The couple at the table next to us at Starbucks turns us off. He is on his cell phone, reading the newspaper, and eating a bagel, while she is putting on lipstick and trying to talk to him at the same time. I turn on the TV to watch the Red Sox. The announcers are interviewing a former player and the game continues in a small box in the upper right corner. Below is a graphic showing the score, inning, balls and strikes, outs, speed of the pitch and number of pitches thrown. Across the bottom of
the screen is a ticker tape showing scores of other games and filling us in on other sports news. I turn on CNN news and the newscasters are reading the news while other news items flash across the bottom of the screen. TV shows and movies feature split screens, with sometimes as many as four different actions going on at once. What is happening here? Time out! We need to enjoy the simple pleasures of life: A walk in the woods, reading a good book, eating our favorite meal, feeding the birds, playing with our grandchildren - all without the many distractions that constantly rattle our already tired brains. If only we could make the younger generation stop and taste the simple pleasures of life. Certainly they would live longer and stay healthier.
February 2012
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CLUES ACROSS 1. Permanently disfigure 5. Demilitarize 10. Flat-bottom crater 14. 6th Jewish month 15. “l836 siege” of U.S. 16. For in Spanish 17. Bunco games 18. Musical world for the iPhone 19. Smile 20. Charlotte’s Web’s White 21. His wife became salt 22. For example 23. Perceived 27. Violet-red color 30. Prizefighter Muhammed 31. Dentist’s group 32. Lowest feudal class 35. Passover feast and ceremony 38. Netherlands river 42. College teacher 43. Associated press 44. Exist 45. Wyatt __, OK Corral 46. Antlered cervid 47. Church announcement of a proposed marriage 49. Dried leaves of Catha edulis 50. Anoint 52. ___ Lilly, drug company 54. Red plus yellow 56. Holy places 59. Exclamation of surprise 60. Million barrels per day (abbr.) 62. Farm state 63. Hold onto 66. 79504 TX 68. Speed of sound 70. Condition of comfort 71. Blemished skin 72. Wingloke structures 73. Nanosecond (abbr.) 74. Herd of unsheared sheep 75. Castrate a horse
CLUES DOWN 1. Ceremonial staffs 2. Sun-dried brick 3. 007’s creator 4. Married woman 5. Obstruct 6. 12th Jewish month 7. Opposite of minored 8. Leave out 9. Twice Pres. of Harvard, Derek 10. Gas usage measurement 11. Swiss river 12. Spirit in The Tempest 13. Kitchen stove 24. Crocus spice 25. Raised railroad track 26. Injure permanently 27. Partial paralysis (pl.) 28. School in Newark, DE 29. Individual baking dish 32. Democratic Party of Germany 33. Poetic word for before 34. Eggs of a fish 36. Environmental Protec. Agency 37. One point N of due E 39. Express pleasure 40. Macaws 41. Seaport (abbr.) 48. Tagging the base runner 51. Inspector General 53. City of Angels 54. Made from an Oak tree 55. So. Am. ratites 57. Thai money in 1928 58. Expressed pleasure 60. Nutmeg seed covering spice 61. Small indefinite quantity 64. Between E and SE 65. Chest muscle (slang) 66. Used for hitting the ball 67. Tooth caregiver 68. Military Aircraft Group 69. Brew February 2012
senior
b y catherine T erry tayl o r d i re c to r , r i d e pa r t m e n t o f e l d e r l y affa i r s
issues
Senior Medicare Patrol fights Medicare fraud Rhode Island’s 184,000 Medicare beneficiaries can play an active role in ensuring that the Medicare Trust Fund remains solvent. How? By joining the fight against fraud, waste and abuse in the Medicare program. The stakes are huge. In 2010, Medicare benefit payments totaled $519 billion. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that $60 billion is lost to Medicare fraud each year. Therefore, it makes sense that one of the cornerstones of the Affordable Care Act of 2010 is the prevention of Medicare fraud, waste and abuse. The goal of the Rhode Island Division of Elderly Affairs (DEA) is to keep our Rhode Island Medicare beneficiaries alert to possible fraudulent activity, and, more importantly, to arm them with the knowledge and tools to combat it. Our critical volunteer corps helps us do just that. Right now we’re looking for volunteers to work with the RI Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) Program to educate fellow Medicare beneficiaries throughout the state about how to protect themselves and others from fraud. DEA has
administered the SMP Program since 2005, with funding from the U.S. Administration on Aging and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. But this year, pursuant to the Affordable Care Act, the federal government is ramping up its anti-fraud effort, offering grants to the states to beef up volunteer recruitment and to provide rigorous training to volunteers. It is both exciting and essential that Medicare beneficiaries are taking ownership of protecting the Medicare program from fraud. No one is better positioned to recognize fraud, or more invested in ensuring that Medicare dollars are there for them, not the scam artists. It’s critical that beneficiaries protect their Medicare number the same way they guard their Social Security number. They should not routinely carry their Medicare card in their wallet, and instead take it with them only to medical appointments, tests or procedures. The number should never be given out over the telephone or over the Internet unless they are certain as to where it is going. Beware of people who say they’re from an organization such as Medicare and need
an individual’s Medicare number. If they were from Medicare, they wouldn’t need to ask, and they wouldn’t call or visit unless called first. SMP volunteers are helping their peers get in the habit of carefully reviewing their Medicare Summary Notice each month, on the lookout for discrepancies such as charges for services; equipment or medications never prescribed or provided; charges for medical appointments that were never made with an unknown physician; or extraordinarily high bills. Other common Medicare scams include counterfeit prescription drugs, double-billing both Medicare and a private insurance company for the same service, billing for individual counseling when group counseling is used, and medical identity theft. Anyone who suspects Medicare fraud can call or visit SMP volunteers, or attend one-on-one counseling and general education sessions at six SMP Program partner locations: THE POINT (462-4444); Tri-Town Community Action Agency (351-2750); South County Community Action Agency (789-3016); the East Bay Community Action Program (437-1000); the West Bay Community Action Pro-
gram (732-4660); and Child and Family Services of Newport County, Inc. (8484185). Volunteers help check paperwork such as Medicare notices and billing to identify errors and discrepancies. The greatest ally of any scam artist is silence. If you have reason to suspect that you have been a victim of fraud or abuse, file a report with the RI SMP Program by calling 462-0931. TTY users can call 462-0740.
Stopping Medicare fraud is as easy as 1-2-3: Protect Your Medicare Number Detect Discrepancies On Your Medicare Summary Notice Report Your Concerns I invite you to join the fight against Medicare fraud, waste and abuse by becoming an SMP volunteer.
senior issues
b y kerry park
Biggest losers are biggest winners at Cedar Crest Though February is Heart Health Month, the folks at Cedar Crest Nursing and Rehabilitation Center don’t need an honorary month to focus on good health. At Cedar Crest, that focus is there all day, every day, all year long. In fact, the skilled nursing and rehabilitation center exists to help patients attain optimal health, but it’s not just the patients that reap the benefits of the facility’s efforts to promote health and well-being. “We try to be very active regarding employee health,” said Lynda Sprague, director of marketing. “Working in a health care setting can be extremely stressful and that stress can lead to poor choices like smoking, drinking or overeating. We’ve found that giving our employees the tools to address stress and enhance healthy habits is not only good for them, but also good for Cedar Crest. We have fewer callouts and sick time ... and everyone is a lot more upbeat.” Cedar Crest addresses employee wellness through a number of initiatives like the Rhode Island Department of Health’s Worksite Wellness Program, wellness studies with Brown University and healthy cooking demonstrations by Johnson & Wales. They’ve held walking contests sponsored by UnitedHealth, and offered education through just about every avenue available to them, like the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Awareness Hope Bus that visited Cedar Crest a few months ago. According to Sprague, though, it was their most recent venture where they saw some of their biggest gains on the wellness front, or in this particular case, losses.
February 2012
Last July, 11 teams of four embarked on their own rendition of the television hit, “The Biggest Loser.” Along with the benefits of a healthier weight, participants were eligible to win up to $1,000. Despite that monetary carrot, only 14 of the original 44 “officially” stuck it out to the contest’s December end, but between them, they managed to lose more than 300 pounds. All of them reduced their dress size and a few of them were able to eliminate high blood pressure and cholesterol medications from their daily routine. Contest winner Mimmy Kemokai couldn’t be more thrilled. She said cutting back on rice, one of her favorite staples, not eating at night, and a twice-daily regime of walking got her to the victory line. Since last July when the contest kicked off, Mimmy has risen at 4 a.m. to fit her first hour of walking into her day. The second hour comes after work. She credits her “manager,” Cedar Crest’s receptionist and fellow “loser” Belkis Voisinet, for getting her started on her exercise program and keeping her on track. Was the effort worth it? “I’m happy. I feel like a new person,” she said, smiling. Cedar Crest’s Season 2 of “The Biggest Loser” is now underway, with two-dozen participants. We’ll have to wait until June 27 to find out this season’s winner, but thankfully, Mimmy has stepped aside from the competition. “I figure I’ll give someone else a chance,” she said. “I would get too skinny.”
Biggest Loser winner Mimmy Kemokai is congratulated by Susan Whipple, owner/administrator of Cedar Crest Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. (submitted photo)
PrimeTime | 25
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PrimeTime | 27
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