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I

n the dead of winter, snowed in with no motivation to shovel, we daydream about the summertime. We look out at the icy expanse, filled with bare tree limbs, and imagine instead a lush landscape of green grass, pink flowers and clear blue skies.

If you’re a real dreamer, maybe that local scenery is replaced with a white sand beach or a cobblestone alley in Europe. Either way, we all fantasize about what warmer climes will bring; how we will make use of those all-too-brief months of summer.

Inevitably, the summer comes. That first warm day, we go out and buy a Del’s, sit on the front porch and soak in as much Vitamin D as we can get before the sun dips below the horizon. But as the summer wears on, too often we get distracted. Our list of summer things to do gets pushed to the side and before we know it, the crisp breeze of fall is nipping at our bare shoulders.

This summer, don’t waste a single day.

If you have a week or two to spare, make your wintertime fantasies come true and take a real vacation, like Don Fowler’s St. Thomas snorkeling adventure, or a package tour to Ireland or Italy with Annie’s Escapes. If you have less time to spare, Conway Tours tailors travel packages to every budget and time frame, with trips by air and land, abroad and in this country. We break down some of those potential vacations in this issue, but if you’ve already used up all your vacation time, don’t fret.

Rhode Island is a state best explored in the warm weather, and there are many opportunities close to home to relax and let loose. There’s Mystic in Connecticut, with the aquarium for the family and the historic village for travelers just looking for a chance to unwind. Kathy Tirrell explores all Mystic has to offer this month, including classic and new menu options at the distinctive Mystic Pizza, made famous by the film starring Julia Roberts.

Cape Cod isn’t far either, and I share my experiences for every season in three June 2013 waterfront towns, focusing heavily on 1944 Warwick Ave. Chatham, arguably my favorite Cape Warwick, RI 02889 destination. Lodging rates can be pricey, 401-732-3100 FAX 401-732-3110 but if you have a whole Saturday to Distribution Special Delivery spare, wake up early and make the drive - it’ll be worth it, I promise.

If you don’t want to spend the gas PUBLISHERS money, we caught up with Governor Barry W. Fain, Richard G. Fleischer, Lincoln Chafee and tourism officials John Howell to talk about what sights and sounds EDITOR attract tourists to our fine state. TourMeg Fraser ism is a major part of Rhode Island’s megf@rhodybeat.com economy, and sometimes we need to MARKETING DIRECTOR experience things through the eyes of a Donna Zarrella newcomer to fully appreciate what we donnaz@rhodybeat.com have in our own backyards.

This summer, instead of putting Creative Director pressure on yourself to make your one Linda Nadeau lindan@rhodybeat.com week off the best vacation ever, make every day, or at least every weekend, a WRITERS chance to enjoy yourself. You don’t have Jessica Botelho, Michael J. Cerio, Don Fowler, to go far to get away.

Terry D’Amato Spencer, Elaine M. Decker,

Pr i m e Ti m e

John Howell, Joan Retsinas, Mike Fink, Meg Chevalier, Joe Kernan, Kerry Park, Kathy Tirrell

ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES Donna Zarrella – donnaz@rhodybeat.com Carolann Soder, Lisa Mardenli, Janice Torilli, Suzanne Wendoloski, Gina Fugere

Meg Fraser editor

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.

June 2013

summer escapes 4 My Cape Cod love story

Exploring the Cape as a couple

7

Destination: Ocean State

8

Under the sea

Rhode Island as a vacation destination

Snorkeling in St. Thomas

12 Don’t miss Mystic

A village nearby that’s worth the drive

14 Vacations on any budget

Making the most of your summer, near or far

17 Where the tour guides tour

Favorite spots of RI’s tourism experts

PEOPLE & PLACES Keepsake card tells story of lifelong friendship......6 A Worthy Cause.......................................................................10 Glimpse of RI’s past................................................................11 LIFESTYLES What do you Fink?.................................................................18 That’s Entertainment............................................................21 SENIOR ISSUES A call to arms.............................................................................19 Director’s column...................................................................20 Retirement Sparks..................................................................21 Alzheimer’s Association......................................................22 Strong relationships the key to longevity...............23 PROFESSIONAL’S PERSPECTIVE Your Taxes....................................................................................19

Classified ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES Sue Howarth – sueh@rhodybeat.com PRODUCTION STAFF Matt Bower, Brian Geary, Lisa Yuettner

inthisissue

nextmonth

No vacation is complete without some incredible dining, so we’ll extend our summertime experiences into July for our annual food issue. Bring your appetites!

o n t h e c ove r : The dunes of the Cape. Photo by Meg Fraser

PrimeTime |

my

b y meg fraser

capelovecod story T

he distance from my house to the Bourne Bridge is only 47 miles. In less than two hours, I can completely transform my surroundings and immerse myself in the quaint New England seaside towns that pepper Cape Cod, an oasis that leaps out into the Atlantic Ocean like a child on their first swim of the summer.

So when my boyfriend from Kentucky discovered that I, a native Rhode Islander, had never made the short trip to the Cape, you can imagine his surprise.

William was born and raised in Louisville, but his Bostonnative parents have long cherished the smell of the ocean.

They spent their summers on the Cape growing up, and were determined to give William and his sister the same experience. They have rented a house from the same family for 30 years, settling in for two-week stays that over the past three decades have established strong roots in the city of Chatham.

The first summer that William and I spent together, I visited his parents for a weekend. I fell in love, both with them and with the Cape, and it’s a love affair that has mirrored my relationship with William. Since that summer three years ago, we have shared anniversaries, birthdays and all-too-brief summer weeks in Cape Cod.

One year strong: Chatham in fall

P H O T O S b y meg fraser

| PrimeTime 4

To celebrate our one-year anniversary in November of 2011, William and I planned an off-season getaway to Chatham. The rates during late fall and winter are reasonable - nearly half the summer prices in some cases - so we stayed in style. Lucky for us, the temperatures were unseasonably warm.

We got a room at the Chatham Wayside Inn, right in the heart of downtown Main Street. The room had the charm of a bed and breakfast but with a more modern look and updated amenities. My favorite spot in the inn is the sitting area off the lobby, which has a roaring fire, comfy armchairs and is within arm’s reach of a bookcase filled with games that you can take back to your room. After a delicious surf and turf meal at the adjoining Wild Goose Tavern, we took a bottle of wine and Scrabble back upstairs.

Many Cape Cod stores close in the winter, but there is enough to do, especially in the area of consignments and antiques, to keep you occupied no matter the time of year. While in Chatham, I always make a point of visiting Lighthouse Beach to see the sunrise when time allows it, and I like to peruse the seaglass jewelry at the Artful Hand Gallery - my favorite shop in town.

Though we’ve never stayed in Wellfleet, we never miss the chance to take the short drive for lunch at the Lighthouse Café. Trust me, and order a cheeseburger and one of the local beers.

June 2013

travel

Unexpected stay: Dennisport in spring After a rough winter for my family, a generous aunt of mine gave William and I a surprise gift. She had $200 in gift certificates to BedandBreakfast.com and sent it to me in the mail with a sweet card.

“We can’t accept this,” I said in false protest.

She insisted, and we did accept.

The April trip was arguably my favorite Cape experience to date, thanks largely in part to our hosts. We stayed at An English Garden Bed and Breakfast in Dennisport, where owners Joe and Anita are the perfect combination. Joe generally keeps quiet, cooking up breakfast, but his collection of baseball awards and collegiate distinctions line the living room walls. Up the stairs, photographs show Anita - a vivacious woman who doesn’t struggle to find things to say - throughout her years as a stage actress. It is a beautiful bed and breakfast and the owners could not have been more hospitable. Our room was bright and comfortable, with a view of the ocean, and we loved breakfast in the sunroom, where conversation with fellow guests was encouraged. I highly recommend the B&B, and the rates are among the best you’ll find on the Cape.

For dinner one night, we checked out the Oyster Company and were surprised to find a wait. It was too early for tourist season, but the interesting menu attracted many year-round residents, and we settled on a seat at the bar. The food was good and the people-watching was better.

Classic Pina Colada Pour 3 ounces of coconut cream, 6 ounces of pineapple juice and 1½ ounces of white rum into a blender or shaker with crushed ice, and blend or shake very well until smooth.

Pour into chilled glass, garnish with pineapple wedge and a maraschino cherry.

Fit for a queen: Chatham in summer For my birthday one year, William planned a whole day for me, scheduled during our annual pilgrimage to Chatham. The city is very different in the summer, and is one of the busiest and most popular spots on the Cape, aside perhaps from Provincetown, which I find so busy it’s almost overwhelming.

The day started with a massage at Le Petit Day Spa on Cross Street in downtown. It’s incredible that you park in the main downtown lot, with screaming kids and honking horns, and walk inside to a near-silent sanctuary, except for the soft, lyricless music playing in the background. I got a wonderful back and neck massage, and when my hour was up, I was so relaxed I could barely sit up on my own. In the waiting room loft upstairs, William had literally fallen asleep on the couch. The spa is just that relaxing.

With a pillow mark deeply embedded in my face, we strolled Main Street shops with fresh squeezed lemonades and lime rickies from Buffy’s, a charming ice cream shop that can get pretty crowded on a hot day.

After a few hours at the beach in the afternoon (we usually set up camp at Ridgevale), we cleaned up and drove over to Rock Harbor in Orleans, the best spot to watch the sun go down. It can get pretty buggy, but there are lots of boats docked there to check out and for some reason, the sunset is always a little more vibrant. Dressed to the nines, we went to the Chatham Bars Inn for dinner. Young, poor, journalists, Chatham Bars is generally out of our reach, but William had planned every last detail. To be honest, it was actually too fancy for me. When they don’t even have regular water and you can fit your entire meal on a cocktail napkin, I find that to be intimidating. It was an incredible experience, though. The hotel and restaurant are gorgeous; the food was spectacular, albeit extravagant; and there were people there from all over the world. I probably won’t go back (not that I could afford to anyway), but I’m happy to say I’ve been there.

And the best part of Cape Cod in the summer? The Cape Cod Baseball League, the premiere summer league for the nation’s best college athletes. I’ll drop in a plug here, too, and say that if you’re unfamiliar with the league, its teams or players, visit William’s blog, RightFieldFog.com, before visiting. It has all the information you need for a trip to the ball field for a free game of great baseball.

June 2013

Returning the favor: South Yarmouth in winter I don’t know how to avoid leaking this bit of information, so I’ll come right out with it. William turned 30 this winter. With a New Year’s Eve birthday, the focus is usually on celebrating in general, and not necessarily celebrating him. I wanted to change that for this milestone.

What better way than a trip to the Cape?

I had it all planned out in my head: a two-night stay on Cape Cod, ringing in the New Year and his new year. As I started searching rates, my heart dropped. Winter rates are low (though low for the Cape isn’t necessarily low for everywhere else), but his birthday is on a holiday. Rates jump back up to summertime costs. Could I afford it? Just as I was about to give up, I found the Belvedere Inn in South Yarmouth. It was still a pretty big birthday present, but after my queen for a day experience, he deserved it. As I went to book it, I realized a dual victory: The Belvedere is gluten free, and Will has celiac disease.

I planned a scavenger hunt for the Sunday before his birthday. Each clue was a short poem, leading him to breakfasts with my sisters (where he got a dress shirt), our office (where he got the tie to go with it), drinks with friends (where he got a bottle of champagne) and then lunch at Smithfield’s gluten free Blackie’s Tavern, where all of his friends were waiting. I couldn’t wait until lunch was over, and gave him the final clue.

I’ve given you dress clothes A shirt and a tie And a bottle of bubbly Are you wondering why?

The bags are packed Now you’re starting to nod You must have guessed it We’re en route to Cape Cod When we arrived in South Yarmouth, I couldn’t believe that the rates were accurate. The Belvedere is a beautiful historic home and it was still decorated for Christmas. The cheerful owner, Sarah, met us at the door and I was shocked to see that she couldn’t have been much older than William.

She showed us to our room, with hydrangea wallpaper and a roaring fireplace. The bathroom had a claw foot tub, and there were chocolates in there waiting for us.

Turns out that Sarah and her husband had just opened the B&B that fall, hence the surprising rates, and we were actually the only guests that weekend, which made it feel extra special. Breakfast the next morning was delectable - orange spice pancakes and sausage, all gluten free, so William was in his glory.

For New Year’s, we went to First Night Chatham (William’s birthday gift from my sisters), and had a great time.

There was a ton of food, live music everywhere you turned, and a fireworks show to cap off the night. We scurried back to the Belvedere before the ball dropped, turned up the fire and polished off that bottle of champagne.

Now, I’m not trying to say that Cape Cod is the capital of romance or anything, but for me, it certainly has been.

From “elbow” to “fist,” winter to fall, it doesn’t get much better with just a tank of gas.

PrimeTime |

b y meg fraser

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| PrimeTime 6

people & Places

Keepsake card tells story of lifelong friendship When Saundra DiPetrillo Mahoney was 8 years old, she moved into a duplex in Providence. The other family living there had young kids, and she became fast friends with then 12-year-old Kathleen Danti.

Now in their 70s, that friendship is as strong as ever. They have memories and mementos to prove it: photos of their weddings, where they served as each other’s maid of honor, phone cards racked up with minutes from near-daily phone Saundra DiPetrillo Mahoney and Kathcalls, and an unusual birth- leen Danti have been friends for more than 60 day card. Taped together at years. For the past 25 years of that friendship, they the seam, the card is covered have sent the same birthday card back and forth to on all sides with notes, are one another. (Photo by Meg Fraser) some birthday messages listof celebrating birthdays together. Once ing the year for clarification. they moved to different ends of the state Mahoney and Danti have been send- after getting married, Mahoney would ing this same card back and forth for 25 make the trip up to see “Auntie” often. years.

“There was never a problem,” she “I just thought it was something cute said. to do,” Danti said. “I said, ‘let’s see how If possible, the pair became closer long we can do it.’ It turned out very when Danti fell ill. Living in Johnston at long.” this point, she came down with a staph Mahoney keeps the card at her North infection in 1987and “was very close Kingstown home for only a short time. to the other side.” Mahoney practically Not long after her May 28th birthday, moved in, setting up Danti’s IVs, runthe tattered card is back in the mail, ning errands and cooking for her. headed for Danti in Johnston. The inside “Her and her daughter were just outand back of the card are covered now, standing. They were willing to do anyand the women have resorted to writing thing that had to be done for me,” Danti on the front. When Danti sends the card said, calling Mahoney “my angel.” to Mahoney, she gets a chuckle out of Knowing her best friend, her sissy, was filling the envelope with confetti, know- there for her, helped Danti overcome her ing it will irritate her best friend. illness.

Danti lost the card for a short time but “I fought it. Through it all I had a supwas relieved when it turned up, and now port system,” she said. stores it in a lock box for safekeeping.

Danti pulls out a phone card that she When the women look at the card, uses to call up Mahoney in North Kingsmemories from their 60-plus years of town. In the past three weeks, she has friendship come flooding back. Ma- used more than 300 minutes talking to honey says it didn’t take long for them to her friend. They never seem to run out become inseparable as children. of things to say.

“I was downstairs all the time with “We can tell each other anything,” them,” she said.

Danti said. “She was very special to me When Danti was 18 years old, her - she still is. She’s a great person.” family moved. They were still living in Admittedly, Danti does a lot of the Rhode Island, so the women remained talking. close. It was an adjustment, though.

“Opposites attract. I’m quiet, she’s “We missed each other,” Danti said. not,” Mahoney says.

“When we moved it was hard, but we Danti concedes, “I have a strong peralways kept in touch.” sonality.”

As adults, they stood up for each othDespite their differences, the women er at their weddings, and Danti is god- say there is nothing but love and respect mother to Mahoney’s son. between them.

“I thought I was a big deal then, being “We never argued or anything. We alin her wedding,” Mahoney said. ways got along well, which is unusual,” Danti has four siblings and Mahoney Danti said. has a brother, but they consider each Nearby, Danti’s husband Bill can atother family. They call each other “sissy,” test to their closeness. and talk almost every day. They took a “I didn’t have to break up no fights,” vacation together to Missouri when their he said, smiling. kids were younger, and make a point June 2013

b y meg fraser

M

arketing Rhode Island as a destination is what Mark Brodeur does. As the director of tourism for the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation (RIEDC), having fun in the Ocean State is his business.

So on a recent business trip, he drew inspiration from an unlikely source, 6,700 miles away.

In China, Brodeur got to see Rhode Island from the eyes of an outsider, and what he saw impressed him.

“I wanted to see what is internationally known and of interest in Rhode Island,” he said. “Rhode Island is second to none when it comes to our density of great attractions.”

The first attraction that comes to mind is the Newport Mansions, which Brodeur says draw in tourists from around the world. The experience in Newport, decadence by the sea, appeals to luxury and family travelers, as well as history buffs. That appeal has been boosted by popular culture’s fascination with the Gilded Age. “Our European consumers and even Americans ... they love the whole idea of the Downton Abbey lifestyle,” he said, referencing the popular period television show.

Travel agent Ann Petronio is used to selling destinations far and wide to her clients, but based in Cranston, she can appreciate what her home base has to offer, too. She agrees with Brodeur that the “density” of attractions puts Rhode Island at an advantage.

“I think a big bonus for travelers is the compactness, the size of the state,” she said. “They can stay in Providence or Newport, which, of course, are the two hubs, but still see the rest of the state so easily.”

Personally and as an advocate for tourism, Governor Lincoln Chafee boasts about the state’s beauty. When he gets a weekend off, there is nothing he enjoys more than hitting the trails.

“I love our bike paths. I throw my bike in my car, grab a map of the paths and go,” he said, recommending the Blackstone Valley trails that pass by the waterfalls, the Kingston path through the swamps and the popular East Bay bike paths.

The governor says he is proud of Rhode Island’s natural resources, by land and by sea. As a sailor, he recommends the lower part of the bay, going down by Beavertail, one of his favorite spots in the state (along with Sachuest Point and Slater Mill).

“People like to be active on their vacations,” he said.

And, not surprisingly, Chafee is glad that Rhode Island lives up to its moniker, the Ocean State.

June 2013

travel

“It’s a huge part of our economy. People love coming here for the natural beauty and the history; we have both,” he said.

Brodeur, too, says the beaches are a universal attraction.

“During the summer months, of course, the number one draw is the beaches.

We have beautiful beaches, and South County isn’t overbuilt,” he said.

Not overbuilt, but increasingly popular, especially for weekenders from New York and Boston. The new Ocean House and Weekapaug Inn are just two examples of establishments that serve a high-end clientele.

“Rhode Island has really become a great destination for the luxury market,” Brodeur said.

Brodeur, Petronio and Chafee all mention Block Island as a top beach and a jewel for state tourism, and a place that even native Rhode Islanders cherish.

As far as events go, the arts are emerging as strengths for Rhode Island tourism. Chafee enjoys the RISD art museum, while Brodeur sees WaterFire as a “very unique” calling card for the state, bringing in as many as 75,000 visitors for each lighting.

Whether you’re an outdoorsman or a luxury vacationer, the one thing all tourism officials can agree on is food.

“Rhode Island is really known as quite a foodie destination,” Brodeur said.

“Culinary, years ago, was the very good restaurant on the waterfront. Today, the culinary experience is a very integrated experience.”

In other words, food trucks in Rhode Island can offer as gourmet an experience as any high-end restaurant, and Brodeur sees that as a victory for his industry. RIEDC continues to market those dining options, with the help of foodie tours like those offered by chef Cindy Salvato.

Johnson & Wales University attracts many world-renowned chefs, and those chefs know how to please tourist palates.

“Foodie tours is a really, really hot thing right now and most of us who live here now know that Rhode Island has incredible food,” Petronio said.

She lists the Asian cuisine, Italian fare up on Federal Hill and even Latin American dining in places like Central Falls as must-eat destinations. Seafood, too, should be a part of any Rhode Island vacation.

“We forget because we live here that getting really good, fresh seafood is something people don’t take for granted in 90 percent of the country,” she said.

This summer, Petronio advises Rhode Islanders to take Brodeur’s cue and see the Ocean State from a new perspective.

“We all assume that we have unlimited time in the future to do the things that are on our lists. A lot of times, someday doesn’t ever come,” she said.

PrimeTime |

by DON FOWLER

Under the

Sea

Snorkeling in St. Thomas “LIFE IS A BEACH,” the bumper sticker on the snow-covered car in front of me proclaimed on a cold, stormy day in March. To us, life would be many beaches, as we boarded the plane for seven days of swimming and snorkeling in St. Thomas and nearby islands.

While I have been blessed with many trips to the Caribbean, this trip was special, as my 50-plus daughter and her 75-year-old father set a goal of two beaches a day - a goal we exceeded.

To add to the experience, my son-in-law was in charge of planning lunch and dinner, and watching our things as we ventured far from shore.

tell us what you love about the

warwick mall! for a chance to win a

$50 Warwick Mall Gift Certificate! mail entries to:

Beacon Communications 1944 Warwick Ave., Warwick, RI 02889 attn: Warwick Mall contest! or send an e-mail to: megf@rhodybeat.com Entry Deadline: June 30, 2013 Name__________________________________________________________________________________ Address_ ______________________________________________________________________________ Phone#________________________________________________________________________________ e-mail__________________________________________________________________________________

| PrimeTime 8

DAY 1 Arriving in St. Thomas in early afternoon, we had a couple of hours before check-in at Bluebeard’s Castle.

One of the nicest beaches on the island, visited mostly by the locals, is right next to the airport. We picked up our rental car, changed into our bathing suits at the modest bathhouse and plunged into the sky-blue waters of Brewers Beach.

Our aquatic adventure had begun.

That evening our culinary adventure took us to Red Hook, where the young spring break crowd was celebrating St. Patrick’s Day at O’Malley’s. We ate at Pesces, a cozy Italian restaurant where we enjoyed the traditional Mahi Mahi, cooked three different ways. We shared our entrees and appetizers of fried okra and sirloin meatballs.

DAY 2 Day 2 took us to Secret Harbor, a lovely beach unknown to most tourists, for an outstanding day of swimming and snorkeling. A brief rain shower in midafternoon did nothing to deter our view of the plentiful, varied fish and coral.

As we were returning to shore, Robin excitedly pointed to her mask, saying that a tiny colorful fish was following her and swimming right in front of her mask. I watched, saw nothing, and was convinced that too much time in the water was causing her to hallucinate.

As she was approaching shore, I went under water one more time, only to be

visited by our own little Nemo, who followed me all the way to the beach.

Was he trying to tell us something?

An elegant dinner that evening at Bluebeard’s A Room With a View, overlooking Charlotte Amalie preceded a good night’s sleep.

DAY 3 Day 3 took us to the popular Coki Point Beach, a crowded beach favored by the bus loads of “boat people,” otherwise known as cruise ship passengers, who are smart enough to skip the crowded downtown shops and get a real taste of the island.

Coki is lined with locally run bars, food and gift shops where runners offer small cups of rum drinks, proclaiming that theirs are the best. They all tasted the same to me: strong.

Their first order of business is to rent you a beach chair and umbrella, and find you a good spot. Once you make that commitment, the person stays with you for your time on the beach, providing you with food and drink and expecting a generous tip.

Robin and I snorkeled both sides of the long beach, swimming far beyond the designated tourist area for hours, following the rough, rocky shoreline and observing a wide variety of coral and fish, including barracuda and squid.

There is a small aquarium there for the non-snorkelers, where they can encounter many of the sea creatures we saw in their natural habitat.

June 2013

travel

We stopped at Sapphire Beach Resort. A huge reef about 50 feet offshore attracts a variety of fish, but you need to be careful, as the water is shallow and coral can cut badly.

Two snorkelers were excited about sea turtles they had seen in an area we had just passed through. Oh, well. Next time.

Dinner at the Banana Tree Grill at Bluebeard’s was exquisite. I enjoyed grouper served over crab imperial and tiramusu for dessert.

DAY 4 The 7 a.m. car-ferry to St. John gave us a full day to explore this pristine island, much of it a National Park that has been preserved in its natural state.

We drove high into the mountains for some breathtaking views of the beaches, bays and harbors.

First stop was Trunk Bay, the most popular beach, where swimming, snorkeling and sunbathing is as good as it gets.

On to nearby Cinnamon Bay, where the more adventurous camp out and the snorkelers extend themselves to the far reaches of craggy shorelines and nearby uninhabited islands. The entire area is surrounded by abandoned sugar plantations and wooded areas that are home to a variety of plants, trees, birds and animals. A small museum is filled with hundreds of historical items that have been salvaged from the ocean floor by scuba divers and sailors.

Lunch was at a remote outdoor shack, ironically labeled “The Tourist Trap” with picnic tables, where we enjoyed the largest, tastiest pulled pork sandwich we had ever eaten, surrounded by New Englanders, including the owners.

We snorkeled and swam until exhaustion settled in, and returned to our room overjoyed but too tired to eat, go-

June 2013

ing to bed at an early hour to be ready for the next day’s adventure.

DAY 5 Day 6 began lazily, as Robin and Mike caught up on their e-mail and Facebook, and I my writing.

Off to Meghan’s Bay, one of the top 10 beaches in the world. We had all been there a number of times, but decided to check out the obscure Hull Bay on the way. A tiny bay with a number of moored boats and a reef only a few feet past the rocky shoreline made it a deterrent for most tourists.

The young entrepreneur of charter boats gave us detailed accounts of the snorkeling opportunities. We decided to forego Meghan’s, enjoying one of our favorite days swimming, snorkeling and sunbathing. We had snorkeled before with schools of fish, but never with literally thousands and thousands of silver fish, completely surrounding us among the rugged reefs. As Robin put it: It was AWESOME! Lunch was a Mahi-Mahi sandwich with potato salad, enhanced with some island herbs and better than any I have ever tasted.

We took Mike back to the condo and returned for our first adventure with night snorkeling, an experience that Robin enjoyed more than I. My day vision isn’t that good, and swimming without moonlight with a flashlight over the same reefs we had covered during the day didn’t do much for me.

It was another long, exhausting day, and I was starting to feel my age. We cooked up some eggs and leftover steak and retired early.

About 20 of us boarded the boat early Saturday morning, picking up a few more in St. John before heading for Virgin Gorda and the Baths, truly one of the natural wonders of the world. We crawled, climbed and crab-walked through huge boulders that formed narrow passageways and natural spas, eventually descending to yet another perfect beach.

I was by far the oldest one in this group and the younger folk were very helpful in some of the tougher spots, while my protective daughter kept a close eye on me.

On to Diamond Reef for more terrific snorkeling off the coast of Tortola, and then on to Marina Cay for a lobster roll at a tiny island restaurant (both the island and the restaurant were tiny), before a short ride to Jost Van Dyke, the playground for the younger, hip crowd, who anchor their boats offshore and swim in to the crowded beach to swim, sun

bathe and sip exotic rum drinks, the most famous called the Painkiller, at the Soggy Dollar bar.

The trip back to St. John provided terrific scenery, with the Atlantic Ocean on one side and unique islands, habited and inhabited, of all shapes and sizes, on the other.

Our final evening in paradise called for dinner at the elegant Old Stone Farmhouse in Mahagony Run, where I dined on a combination of Maine Diver’s scallops and ostrich. The scallops melted in my mouth and the ostrich challenged by chewing ability.

We enjoyed a final Pina Colada at Bluebeard’s, and got a good night’s sleep, while a bit of sadness set in, bemoaning the fact that we would be returning to cold, rainy Rhode Island the next day.

This 75-year-old body was a bit weary as the plane landed (late) in Boston, but it was worth the challenge. Spending a week with my daughter, doing the things we love together, made this trip one of the highlights of my life.

DAY 6 We needed our passports for a daytrip to the British Virgin Islands aboard the Breakaway, a charter boat out of Sapphire Beach.

PrimeTime |

a worthy cause

PEOPLE AND PLACES

b y M ichael j . cerio

AmeriCorps makes an impact, far and wide When Esteban Hurtado first arrived in Rhode Island three years ago, the then-54-year-old native of Medellin, Columbia was unsure how the next chapter in his life would unfold. It was the encouragement of his wife’s family, who moved here and became citizens 15 years ago, which prompted the life change.

Prior to leaving his country, Hurtado spent more than a decade working in a textiles factory as general manager. The business struggled with rising costs, prompting a decision to outsource work to China and reduce staff. Hurtado found himself out of a job.

“I was working a lot of hours, it was almost unlimited, but in that job, you do what you need to do,” he said. “When I came to Rhode Island, a light turned on when a door opened for me to apply to the AmeriCorps program and work with Ready to Learn Providence - their mission inspires me.”

One of four programs of the Providence Plan that addresses the needs of residents of the capital city, Ready to Learn Providence focuses on early childhood education. By centering their efforts on the professional development

of center- and home-based educators in Providence’s low-income neighborhoods, along with those in the communities of Pawtucket and Central Falls, the organization is working to ensure all young children receive support they need to begin school prepared to learn.

To help accomplish this, Ready to Learn Providence enlists the help of 35 AmeriCorps members. AmeriCorps is a federally funded program that engages adults in intensive community service to meet the critical needs of the community.

“Research shows that children unable to read at an age-appropriate level by grade 3 will struggle in school; it’s extremely difficult to catch up at that point,” said Kristin Read, director of AmeriCorps at Ready to Learn Providence. “Children are learning how to read up until grade 3, and then begin to read as a way to learn as they get older.

Our goal is to expose children at a very young age to a literacy-rich environment full of vocabulary and books.”

Since 2003, Ready to Learn Providence has been working to close the achievement gap between low-income students and their more affluent peers.

Their efforts have trained more than 2,500 educators, in both English and Spanish, to deliver high-quality care on a daily basis to children who need it most. It is these educators who help to enhance the foundation of learning that parents establish at home.

The role of the organization’s AmeriCorps members, like Hurtado, is to analyze the needs of the community.

Where there are often limited resources available to urban child care providers, Ready to Learn works to fill that void.

To change the outcomes of inner-city children, Ready to Learn Providence offers rigorous professional development trainings to providers. Among these programs are Mind in the Making, which engages educators in the research around brain development and children’s learning; The Incredible Years, a training that helps providers improve the social competence of young children while addressing challenging and aggressive behavior through role-playing; and First Steps, a 36-hour course that gives prospective family child care providers an overview of what it takes to create a safe and supportive learning environment.

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“Our goal set includes children who not only make literacy gains, but also social and emotional gains - these are two very important domains for a young child’s development,” said Read.

“We know our involvement with these programs generates results.”

It has been three years since Hurtado first began working with Ready to Learn Providence as an AmeriCorps member.

Of the many triumphs he’s experienced, there is one that stands out.

In working with child care providers in Providence, Hurtado identified a lack of basic computer skills that presented an educational barrier. He coordinated a computer literacy training program to help providers take the next step in their development. He shared that one of the providers is not only comfortable using a computer to access and develop lesson plans, they’re also using it to create business cards, flyers and letters for parents.

“Everyone here is so passionate about what we do; I can’t picture myself working anywhere else,” said Hurtado. “This program, and this opportunity, sparked something in me that was previously asleep - it’s fulfilled me in so many ways.”

As the importance of early childhood education remains one of the country’s most talked about issues, Ready to Learn Providence is making a difference right here in Rhode Island. Without support from the community, it wouldn’t be possible.

While the organization receives federal funding for the AmeriCorps program, it relies heavily on support from local businesses and foundations, as well as individuals. A donation of $25 will help to put five high-quality books into the hands of low-income children, while a gift of $200 gives an early childhood provider a 36-hour course on early literacy. Those interested in donating to Ready to Learn Providence may do so through the Providence Plan by contacting 455-8880.

The organization also looks to the community to recruit volunteers for events such as the community’s annual Back to School Day, and for muchneeded activity items. Donations of construction paper, crayons, memory cards, books, paint, play-doh and more can be brought directly to Ready to Learn Providence’s office at 945 Westminster Street.

“Being able to provide these extras to our providers really makes an enormous difference in allowing them to integrate fun activities in their educational curriculum,” said Read. “We’re making sure that all children are ready for Kindergarten and on a path to succeed in the classroom, which leads to success in life - the possibilities are truly endless.”

For more information on Ready to Learn Providence, visit www.R2LP.org.

June 2013

A GLIMPSE OF RI’S PAST

PEOPLE AND PLACES

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

Aerial history In Rhode Island The coming of the airplane

Gallaudet Aircraft Corporation

By 1910, the new, heavier aircraft made its appearance in the state. According to a 1969 state report on aviation history, two airplanes modeled after the Wright brothers’ Kitty Hawk plane were built. The report says that “On July 2 of the same year [1910], ‘Joe’ Seymour, in a Curtis biplane with a 30-horsepower engine, flew about one-quarter mile with a maximum altitude of 50 feet.� This occurred at Narragansett Park, then located in Cranston, and it was the first “public airplane flight ever executed in Rhode Island.�

The first flight over the state came on Sept. 11, 1911, when two airplanes flew into Rhode Island on a 168-mile cross-country race and landed at Narragansett Park.

Even more famous than the Stephens factory was the Gallaudet Aircraft Corporation, which built its plant on Chepiwanoxet Point in Warwick. They received a number of government contracts and they tested their planes in Greenwich Bay. The Gallaudet Corporation produced many excellent prototypes of aircraft from 1917 until 1924.

This factory fathered the Consolidated Aircraft Company, which, the state report tells us, merged with Vultee in the 1940s to become Convair, now part of General Dynamics.

Lessons and passengers

Soon after the production of planes in Rhode Island, crowds were quickly thrilled by the antics of the flying circuses as pilots, often flying with very little technical knowledge but with surprising skills, began to barnstorm around the state.

The early 20th century history of flying in Rhode Island is as interesting as that of many other episodes in the state’s long and significant heritage. John Haley, in his very informative “Old Stone Bank: History of Rhode Island� (1914), notes that, “... suddenly, came the startling news of a machine that really would fly under power.

Some people doubted, others ignored, most everyone scoffed, but, not many years passed before ... the balloon, long a standby for county fairs, amusement parks and 4th of July thrills, was pushed into the background...� by the new planes.

Before the close of the decade, an aviation flight training school was opened at Edgewood in Cranston (1912) and passenger rides over Narragansett Bay were started. The thrill of a flight over Rhode Island’s most beautiful physical asset helped to make flying popular.

To show the practicality of airplane use, in 1913, a demonstration flight of a government mail carrier was made from Boston to Providence, and then on to New Haven and New York. The feasibility of landing planes in the Bay was another feature that was quick to attract inventors and investors. In 1915, B. Stephens and sons built the first of three “hydro aeroplanes� for the U.S. government at Fields Point. This plane featured a 12-cylinder, 105-horsepower air-cooled motor, the first of its kind to be constructed.

The barnstorming daredevils

The story of these early Rhode Island daredevils and the coming of the airport to Rhode Island will be continued.

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June 2013

PrimeTime | 11

b y kathy tirrell

Don’t miss Looking for a scenic and interesting place to visit this summer that’s not too far away and not too expensive? A place that offers a blend of history, beauty, learning and fun? Plan a trip to Mystic.

Halfway between New York and Boston, you’ll find the village of Mystic, located in the town of Stonington. There are four distinct visiting areas for tourists: Historic Downtown Mystic, Mystic Seaport, Olde Mistick Village and Mystic Aquarium.

T

he world-famous Mystic Seaport celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2010.

A favorite tourist spot, 300,000 people converge on this location each year.

When you visit, you can see a 19th century coastal village recreated with historic ships, a working preservation shipyard and formal exhibit galleries. Ship lovers will enjoy seeing the Charles W. Morgan, the Emma C. Berry, the Sabino, and the L.A. Dunton, four vessels designated as National Historic Landmarks.

Mystic Seaport, also referred to as the Museum, is located at 75 Greenmanville Avenue, and is currently open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Parking is free, and for those who need assistance getting around, wheel-

12 | PrimeTime

Mystic travel

chairs are offered free of charge on a first-come, firstserved basis. Admission prices vary, so check out their website for details at www.mysticseaport.org under Plan Your Visit.

Just off exit 90 at 55 Coogan Blvd., you’ll find Mystic Aquarium, another favorite tourist spot, founded in 1973. You’ll see beluga whales, African penguins, sea lions, jellyfish, turtles, fish and more when you visit. In addition, check out the Ocean Exploration Center for special exhibits such as Titanic - 12,450 Feet Below.

There’s free parking and the facility is fully wheelchairaccessible. Like Mystic Seaport, the Aquarium offers wheelchairs for use on a first-come, first-served basis.

Summer hours daily are from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Prices vary depending on age, so for ticket information, visit www.mysticacquarium.org/visit/tickets.

No visit would be complete without a trip to Olde Mystick Village, located down the road at 27 Coogan Blvd. Choose from more than 40 stores for shopping, including Southern Exposure, The Country Store, Teddy Bearskins, Mystic Kite Shop and The Gray Goose Cookery. There are a variety of restaurants to choose from, as well as a little pond where you can feed the ducks. The Village is open year-round from Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

When you’re downtown walking along West Main Street, you’ll spot the well-known Mystic Pizza. The restaurant celebrated its 40th anniversary this past February. Known for its “slice of Heaven” pizza, it also served as the setting for the 1988 movie of the same name, starring a young Julia Roberts. Classic film photos line the walls, while the movie runs on three screens continuously throughout the day. Customers can read a bit of the story on the back of their menus. Those who have questions can feel free to ask, and the waitresses will be happy to answer.

“The menu keeps growing and growing,” said Rob, one of the managers. “We now have gluten-free pizza and we have whole wheat pizza.

People have asked for these things so

we’ve added them to the menu.”

If you’re planning to stay overnight in Mystic, there are a number of hotels and inns to choose from, including the Whaler’s Inn, the largest inn in the center of downtown Mystic; the Inn at Mystic Resort, a luxury resort overlooking Mystic Harbor; Taber Inne & Suites; the Harbour Inne & Cottage; and the Whitehall Mansion Inn. There are also “budget-friendly” hotels such as the Howard Johnson Inn, the Hampton Inn & Suites and the Residence Inn by Marriott.

If you’re looking for special events coming up in Mystic this summer, Tricia Walsh of the Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce has a couple of suggestions.

The first Mystic Blues Festival is coming to the Greater Mystic area on June 28, 29 and 30, opening with a fireworks display over the Mystic River on Friday night. Among the performers are James Cotton, Jim Weider, Ricky “King” Russell, Jerry Portnoy, Matt “Guitar” Murphy and Roomful of Blues, along with many others. For ticket information, visit www.mysticbluesfestival.com/tickets.

“And on July 21, perhaps the most exciting thing is the launch of the Charles W. Morgan back into the water,” said Walsh.

The Morgan is the last remaining wooden whaleship and oldest American commercial vessel still around today. This event will be taking place at Mystic Seaport.

Lots of people, such as Jon Brennan of Woonsocket, love Mystic.

“Mystic Seaport is pretty awesome,” he said. “And Clyde’s Cider Mill has some amazing stuff, both alcoholic and non.”

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It is still early in the day and there is already a bustle of activity stirring in the offices of Ocean State House Cleaning. A brightly clad crew of young and energetic employees are gathering their supplies and heading out for a day of scrubbing, dusting, vacuuming and putting Ocean State’s trademark “sparkling touch” on homes across Rhode Island and southern Massachusetts. This army of hard-working house cleaners is a testament to the vision and success of the owner and creator of this locally based business, Anne Aldridge.

Anne Aldridge founded Ocean State House Cleaning in the fall of 1998 with a mere $20 worth of cleaning products, a handful of flyers and a resolve to stand on her own after a painful divorce. Aldridge found herself as a single mom with nothing but her ingenuity and resourcefulness to call her own. With a steely resolve, she has built Ocean State House Cleaning from a one-woman operation to a business of over 25 employees and a reputation of thoroughness, reliability and professionalism.

Inspired by observations of her elderly veteran neighbors who had given so much for our country and who struggled with the daunting task of maintaining their homes, Aldridge felt compelled to take her own situation and turn it into an opportunity to help others. In 2010, Anne launched her nonprofit organization “Cleaning for Heroes” to offer cleaning services at no cost to disabled and/or elderly veterans in need. Her amazing and generous efforts were even featured in a full-length story in the November 2012 issue of Family Circle magazine! If you, or someone you know, could use this kind of assistance, then Ocean State House Cleaning is waiting for your call.

Ocean State House Cleaning is now a highly sought-after agency which services homes and businesses across the entire region. Using top-quality cleaning supplies that they provide, the house cleaners of Ocean State will give your home a spotless and meticulous cleaning. They handle everything from vacuuming to scouring appliances to dusting furniture to scrubbing bathrooms and even to reaching all those impossible-to-reach places! As a customer, you may arrange for weekly, bi-weekly or monthly cleanings – or even “call as needed” services. A thorough, one-time basic house clean, as well as “Deep Cleans”, Move In/Out cleans and “turn cleans” for rental properties, are all available. Ocean State is also pet-friendly and offers a special “Green Clean” option for those clients who are environmentally conscientious.

All of the house cleaners at Ocean State House Cleaning are fully bonded and insured. Ocean State stands behind its cleaners and assures their clients that they are not only trained at what they do, but are also held accountable for their performance and professionalism on the job.

With a full-time service manager and an on-site “quality and operations manager”, Ocean State House Cleaning prides itself on its customer loyalty, its competitive prices, its flexibility and its dedicated team of cleaners. Open Monday through Saturday, 9:00-5:00, call for an appointment today at 732-7856 or visit their website at www.oceanstatehousecleaning.com. Gift certificates are also available.

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June 2013

PrimeTime | 13

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vacations on any

budget

Whether you’re staying local or jet setting across the country, a vacation doesn’t necessarily mean spending your entire savings. A vacation can be any kind of getaway, no matter how small, that gives you either a moment of relaxation or a memory of an adventure. The most important thing is that you enjoy your time off and make the most of the summer before it’s gone!

Take me out to the ballgame

Enjoying America’s pastime doesn’t always come cheap. Even bleacher seats at a Boston Red Sox game are going to run you around $40, and if you want to upgrade to the grandstands or box seats, the price can swell above $100 easily - and that’s without the overpriced beer. If you want to catch a game on a budget, stay local and visit McCoy Stadium to see the Pawtucket Red Sox play. You’ll avoid an hour-plus train ride or traffic in the city and enjoy a night out you can afford for your whole family. McCoy is located at 1 Columbus Avenue in Pawtucket.

• General admission ticket: $8 ( $5 for seniors) • Parking: Free!

• Draft beer: $5.50 • Hot dog: $3.25 BOTTOM LINE: $16.75

Life’s a beach

As many as 10,000 people visit Narragansett Town Beach each day in the summer, setting up blankets, coolers and sandcastles over the 19 acres of coastline.

• Beach admission: $6 per person • Parking: $10 weekday • Veggie sub from The Picnic Basket: $5.99 • Iced coffee from Dunkin’: $2.49 BOTTOM LINE: $24.48

The Big Apple

The Conway Tour bus pulls into New York City just before 11 a.m. and you have the whole day to experience the Big Apple before getting picked up on Madison Avenue around 7 p.m. This trip can be as inclusive or independent as you want. You can hop off the bus and experience the city on your own, or stay aboard for some guided sightseeing that will bring you to the Statue of Liberty and the Ellis Island ferry, among other stops. You can visit museums, spend the day shopping or take in a show.

Transportation: $49 Extras: Full sightseeing pass: $54; Lunch at Serendipity: $30 BOTTOM LINE: $133

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Ogunquit, Maine is a beach town, but it’s beautiful and inviting year-round. If you’re looking for a relaxing vacation by the sea, look no further. The town is used to outside visitors, and there is entertainment and attractions for all. Or, better yet, just bring a good book (or five) and sit on the beach all day. There’s the main Ogunquit Beach, which is popular among families and accessible by trolly, the less crowded Footbridge Beach and the mile-long Moody Beach with access for kayaks and boats. Before skipping town, be sure to take the 22-minute drive to Kennebunkport for some early Christmas shopping.

• Water view room at Anchorage by the Sea: $170/night for 3 nights • Extras: 2 tickets to “Thoroughly Modern Millie” at Ogonquit Playhouse (June 12-July 6): $78 • Dinner for 2 at Five-0 Shore Road: $75 BOTTOM LINE: $663

National treasures Route 44 • Greenville Common Greenville, RI (401) 949-0180 andersonwinfield.net

Whether you’re looking for daytrips, overnights or weeklong excursions, Conway Tours has a trip for you. One trip that is not to be missed is the four-day tour of Washington, D.C. The trip includes three-night accommodations at the Doubletree Crystal City Hotel, three breakfasts and two dinners, a professional tour manager and guided sightseeing to the monuments, Arlington National Cemetery and more.

There’s some time leftover for individual sightseeing, too, ensuring you don’t miss a thing. For more information & tour options, visit ConwayTours.com.

• Double occupancy: $559 • Extras: Gourmet dinner for two at the Chart-House $125 • One-hour massage at Azure Dream Day Spa: $95 BOTTOM LINE: $779

14 | PrimeTime

June 2013

14 | PrimeTime

June 2013

California girls

A beautiful city on the sea, San Diego has the excitement of Los Angeles with the natural serenity of San Francisco. Sit on the beach, visit the Mission Bay Aquatic Park, dine in the 16-block Gaslamp Quarter and check out Old Town, a historic destination considered the “birthplace� of California. A trip to San Diego isn’t complete without a visit to the zoo, for tourists of any age. The zoo houses more than 3,700 animals and is home to the largest zoological association in the world.

Upgrade your San Diego Zoo ticket for entry into the Safari Park and SeaWorld, valid for one week, at a cost of $143 per person. • Delta flight from PVD to SAN, round trip with fees in mid-June: $405 • Bag check: $25 • Holiday Inn Express, seven nights: $573 • Extras: One-day pass to San Diego Zoo: $44 BOTTOM LINE: $1,047

Live like a royal

Step aboard Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas for a nine-night Bermuda and Caribbean cruise. By leaving from New Jersey, you save on airfare for this one, before cruising to the first stop: Kings Wharf, Bermuda. There are four docked days, adding St. Maarten, Puerto Rico and Haiti to the itinerary before heading home, or you can just stay on board and take advantage of the spa, pools, hot tubs, fitness center and endless dining possibilities. • Starting ticket price mid-June: $1,009 per person • Extras: Five-bottle wine package: $165 • 1-hour jet-ski rental: $29 per person BOTTOM LINE: $1,203

An Irish Escape

Wouldn’t it be nice to take a vacation, explore new places and get a moment to yourself, without going through the hassle of planning it all?

Well, that’s exactly what Annie’s Escapes has done. From Sept. 27 to Oct. 5, independent travel agent Ann Petronio has planned a trip to Ireland that includes hotel accommodations, meet and greet service at the airport, luxury coach transport for eight days, breakfast daily and four dinners. Exploration opportunities include a guided tour of Dublin, a walking tour in Waterford, passage on the Tarbert Ferry, an Aran Island cruise and tour, and admission into the Guinness Storehouse, Blarney Castle, Cliffs of Moher and more. Learn more by calling 270-4834 or e-mailing annp@anniesescapes.com. • Tour price: $1,800 • Round trip flight from United: $1,035 BOTTOM LINE: $2,835

La Bella Vita

Travel agent Ann Petronio does it again, this time with chef Kait Roberts of Easy Entertaining and Jessica Granatiero from the Savory Grape. Savoring Italy is a gourmet food and wine tour of Tuscany from Oct. 13 to 19, courtesy of three women who know it well. The trip includes six-night accommodations in a Tuscan villa, breakfast daily prepared by Chef Kait, two hands-on cooking lessons, two wine pairing lessons, customized tours and tastings at four vineyards, four gourmet dinners, luxury transport to and from organized events and full use of the villa grounds. Not bad for one phone call. • Double occupancy rate for trip: $2,499 • Round trip flight from KLM Royal Dutch and Air France: $1,228 BOTTOM LINE: $3,727

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FIVE FOR FREE 1. A day in the outdoors: Visit ExploreRI.org for an interactive map of hiking trails across the state.

Local land trusts that manage individual trails contribute information and, working with the Blueways Alliance, watershed groups have also added information on more than 20 paddle trip possibilities.

2. Eye of the beholder: On the third Thursday of the month through November, 27 of Providence’s art spots and galleries open their doors for a free tour.

Gallery Night Providence is in its 17th year. Buses leave at 20-minute intervals from 5:20 through 7 p.m. Parking is free at One Regency Plaza. Directions to explore the galleries by car, bike or foot are also available.

3. Wherefore art thou? Take in a performance of Shakespeare in the Park in Westerly’s Wilcox Park, courtesy of the Colonial Theater. Wilcox Park is host June 2013

to many free events throughout the year, so check out www.westerlylibrary.org for updates.

4. Sweet summer sounds: A highlight for residents and visitors to North Kingstown is the Tuesday Summer Concert series. Every Tuesday at 7 p.m., in the town parking lot behind Brown Street, the North Kingstown Arts Council sponsors a different musical act. Bring your own seating and pack a picnic, or buy some popcorn from a local vendor. Concerts are free but donations are graciously accepted.

5. The pride of Providence: No, not the boxer.

WaterFire has become an attraction for natives and tourists, and at no cost, it’s an experience that shouldn’t be missed. Living art installations, unusual music and more enhance this already captivating event. Fires are lit at sunset on Saturday nights from May 25 through November.

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Providing compassionate and dependable home care services In a perfect world, every person would be able to remain in the comfort of their own home until the end of their lives. While we don’t live in a perfect world, there are places and concerned people who provide the kind of care and support that make it possible to stay in one’s home well beyond what might otherwise be hoped. Whether there to offer care during a recovery, or to supply much needed assistance to dependent aging loved ones or disabled children and adults, the team at Cowesett Home Care, Inc. is there to help.

Cowesett Home Care, Inc. was founded eight years ago by business partners Laurie Ellison and John E. Bucci. Ellison is an RN and administrator with over 20 years of experience Meet Laurie Ellison, an RN and administrator at Cowesett Home Care, in home care with a concentration in Inc. who cares about your loved ones. critical care, and Bucci is the CEO and President of Cowesett Home Care, Inc. Both are deeply committed to the dependable, professional and skilled delivery of services to their growing list of clients. Ellison says: “Our goal is to keep people safely in their homes and to help them maintain their independence for as long as possible.”

Independent living relies heavily on support from loved ones, and when that is not always possible, that help can come from trained and compassionate care givers. The Certified Nurse Assistants (CNA) at Cowesett Home Care, Inc. are both of these things, and more. They are held to high standards of excellence by Ellison and are all licensed/certified, screened, bonded and insured. Mostly, they are reliable, trustworthy, loving and extensively trained. They know that it is their job to provide a necessary service with professionalism and competency.

Cowesett Home Care, Inc. provides a wide range of services to their clients, especially as they relate to activities of daily living.

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DOER’S PROFILE

by JOAN RE TSINAS

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Where the tour guides tour Each summer, professionals guide tourists through Rhode Island, introducing them to our history, our beaches and our mansions. But when the summer boom-times end, where do those professionals vacation? A few tell us their favorite spots, outside Rhode Island.

Barbara Barnes

Myna George

Tourism Services Manager, Rhode Island Historical Society

President and CEO, South County Tourism Council Myrna is rooted in Rhode Island.

“My family has lived here for over 300 years.”

Although this Tulane graduate left Rhode Island for several years, she couldn’t stay away. For six years, she was a state representative serving Coventry, East Greenwich, Exeter and West Greenwich, and before that, vice-chair of the Exeter West Greenwich Regional School District.

Her destination: France.

“You could plant me anywhere in France,” she says, though Paris, the Normandy Coast and Arles would be top picks. “The coastline and countryside are as unspoiled as South County.”

For 17 years, Barbara, a native of Fall River, has been leading tours - the first nine years with the Providence Preservation Society, the last eight with the Rhode Island Historical Society. Before that, she taught high school French, locally at Case High School in Swansea and Providence Country Day, and further afield in Montana.

Her destination: France.

She says, “the years of teaching French,” brought her good friends there. Recently, she added Portsmouth, N.H., and Portland, Maine to her travels, which she observed are both like Providence, “good walking cities, full of history.”

Michael Petrillose Dean, Hospitality College, Johnson & Wales University

Michael came to Johnson & Wales last summer from the Business and Hospitality Program at SUNY-Delhi (N.Y.). But he is not new to the state. As a child, he vacationed here. Nor is he new to tourism: 40 years ago, as a high school senior in Ithaca, N.Y., he turned down an appointment to the United States Naval Academy for the hospitality program at Cornell. He aimed to follow in his family’s career-path. Professionally, he has traveled throughout the world.

His destination wish list: Ireland, to visit the home of his mother. He has never been there, but the trip is on his radar.

Bob Billington

President and CEO, Blackstone Valley Tourism Council Since 1985, this Pawtucket native has promoted the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. The Slater Mill, Dragon Boat races, the Pawtucket Red Sox, classic chicken dinners - thanks to Bob, tourists now routinely put the Blackstone Valley on their Rhode Island itineraries.

His destination: the White Mountains, where he hikes, camps and skis. Plus, not surprisingly, Bob just returned from Belper, England, the birthplace of Samuel Slater.

June 2013

John McNiff

Park Ranger, Roger Williams National Memorial Born in Warwick, John is sometimes called “Mr. Roger Williams.” For 17 years, thousands of tourists have listened, rapt, as John limns this state’s founder: his life, beliefs, friends (including the poet John Milton), enemies and world. In a previous career, as an archeologist, John studied native peoples, traveling throughout New England, to Mexico and to England.

His destination: Nova Scotia. “It is a lot like home, with a beautiful countryside, but the summertime climate is just a bit cooler,” he said.

Trudy Coxe

CEO and Executive Director, The Preservation Society of Newport County Born in Pennsylvania, Trudy spent summers in Jamestown. For the past 15 years, she has headed The Preservation Society of Newport County, following six years as Secretary of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, two years as Director of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and before that, 11 as Director of Save the Bay in Rhode Island.

Her destination: Boca Grande, Florida. “It reminds me of Jamestown 25 years ago. Plus, our family gathers there for a week each winter, which makes it very special,” she said.

On her vacation wish list: Patagonia.

Christian Myers Assistant Manager of Vessel Operation, and Captain on the Block Island Ferry

A graduate of URI’s School of Fisheries and Marine Technology (’85), Chris has worked for Interstate Navigation Company since 1990. Visitors often meet him at the ferry terminal.

His destination: the White Mountains of New Hampshire, Cape Cod beaches and Marathon, Fla., in the Florida Keys.

On his vacation wish list: a trip to Europe with his wife and two daughters.

PrimeTime | 17

wHAT DO YOU FINK?

L I F EST Y LES

by MIKE FINK

My generation We were between the two famous generations: the “greatest” who grew up in the tough times of the Great Depression, fought for the four freedoms in World War II and raised their nuclear families in the post-war “Best Years of Our Lives.” And then the Baby Boomers who raised Cain with the protest movements and anti-war demonstrations of the 1960s.

No, we drew our first breaths as the worldwide economy sighed and sank, both Hitler and Roosevelt came to power and farmlands lost their value.

We spent our childhood in the empty leftover lots, sitting on rocks and dreaming, walking to local schools and pinning little flags on maps upon the grammar school walls of the wartorn planet to keep track of the troops who were our uncles and cousins, elder brothers or even, for some among us, our fathers.

By the time we left our hearths to go away to college or to seek our fortunes away from home, the McCarthy years had intimidated our quest for truth and liberty. We were, actually, a cowed generation, afraid of the government forces of repression. HUAC scared us!

Where was I among my peers?

Well, I was a timid fellow in most ways. I wore glasses and even with them on I squinted out at the streets,

bumping into things, getting knocked down by bicycles, partly due to my myopia but also because I would be lost in thought about something or other, not taking much notice of the actual events of the moment. Snapshots show me looking upward, head tilted, shoulders sagging. Nevertheless, I wasn’t the least bit afraid to speak my mind. In high school I debated against the UnAmerican Activities Committee with its attack on my favorite movie stars, my heroes and heroines! Nor did I fear my classmates; in junior high school they had voted me class president for my friendliness and good humor.

Come Friday night, I had gathered a little group to go bowling with, and on Saturday, I could manage to arrange a date with a pretty girl, a pal with a car and to save enough coinage to purchase a cocktail at the bars and dancehalls that went so far as to serve an old-fashioned or a daiquiri to any lad who wore a necktie, cuff-links, a watch and a zoot-suit key chain. In fact, the “gypsy” violinist/fiddler was a cousin of my dad’s.

So, by the time I took off for the dignity of the university, I had already formed my set of opinions, values, tastes and styles.

We were, by the mid-century mark, labeled something like “The Silent

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I kept my eyes on the little things and found a degree of happiness withing my scope and my time.

Generation” because, in general, we dressed in somber soft grays, suits without shoulder pads or cinched waists, and we slunk in our classroom chairs to avoid having to speak up or even be recognized with a name by our professors.

What about me? I scribbled my thoughts upon penny postcards and shared them with my brother. Yes, I was a bit of a rebel in my way, but I conformed as well, to the standards of my, of our, somewhat meek generation. And the meek did indeed inherit the earth and its resources.

And now, I seek a list of our virtues, if we have any in retrospect to brag of.

Not the bold values of earlier and later coming-of-agers. Only the courtesy of trying to fit in with relative modesty and even humility, wanting to earn our keep, to pay homage to our elders with a degree of gratitude, to remember, to reminisce, to appreciate from popular culture the songs, the films, the books that spoke not directly to us but rather to our parents. We were not ultimately a selfish group, nor were we all that ambitious for personal fame. The celebrity culture was not ours.

We are aging. Many of my friends have passed away. I turn religious in my poetic way, hoping that their phantoms bless me and protect me in the

time I and we have left, to figure out what our mission is. Not to win a war.

Not to assault those around us. For me, the symbol of my search is simply not to toss out the souvenirs and emblems of my guides. Perhaps, to say an endless thank-you and to assert something about those farmlands and wee wildernesses, whose freedom and design gave purpose to all the decades of ruin, wrought both by our seniors and our juniors. We were, and are still, an inbetween generation. The scale of my generation is perhaps, in the end, our greatest gift to the world. We collect the major events of the 20th century, but from a safe distance, in the intimacy of our chambers.

I kept my eyes on the little things and found a degree of happiness within my scope and my time.

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June 2013

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senior issues

your taxes

professional perspective

b y meg chevalier

A call to arms Skilled nursing facilities serve our most vulnerable citizens - frail elders and those with disabilities who need complex medical, rehabilitative and restorative care, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Federal guidelines stipulate that Medicare will only pick up the tab for skilled nursing care or rehabilitation following an inpatient hospital stay of at least three days. Increasingly, however, in an attempt to reduce fines and penalties for unnecessary hospital re-admissions imposed by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, hospitals are keeping patients under “observation” for extended time periods rather than admitting them as inpatients. A patient on observation status is not considered “admitted” to the hospital, so his or her treatment could not subject the hospital to fines or penalties for unnecessary admissions.

The services received by hospital patients who are classified as “inpatient” and those classified as “under observation” are generally identical, so a person typically has no way of knowing when he or she is being treated under observation, not inpatient status. Unfortunately, far too many patients only find out that they were never deemed to have inpatient status when the their Medicare benefits for post-acute care are denied, forcing them to pay out of pocket for expensive and badly needed follow-up care.

This problem affects thousands of individuals each year and continues to grow. A study by Brown University reviewed records of 29 million Medi-

care beneficiaries 65 and older in 2007, 2008 and 2009. They found that, during that period, the nationwide ratio of Medicare patients who are held for observation versus those who are admitted for inpatient stays increased 34 percent.

Also, observation stays grew an average of 7 percent longer during the study period.

To make matters worse, the situation is extreme in Rhode Island, which ranked 12th in the country for increased observation stays.

Fortunately, Representatives Joseph Courtney (D-Conn.) and Tom Latham (R-Iowa) and Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) have recognized the severity of this ongoing problem and have introduced the Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act of 2013 (H.R. 1179/ S. 569) to address these situations. This legislation would require that observation stays be treated the same as inpatient stays, for purposes of satisfying the three-day stay requirement.

What can you do? First, if you or someone you care about is admitted to the hospital, learn the classification status of their stay from the outset. Doing so could eliminate needless financial and medical hardship later on. Second, get in touch with your congressman and senator and ask them to support the Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act of 2013. They need to hear that Medicare’s goal of reducing unnecessary hospital re-admissions - though well intended - is creating costly consequences for the very people who depend on it.

calendar of events Opening with a bang Linden Place Museum continues to display “Junk from the Trunk,” a rotating exhibit of DeWolf and Colt family memorabilia, a popular show that was first offered in August 2012. The display includes photographs and memorabilia from Ethel Barrymore’s early days in theater. The exhibit is in the museum through July 31, and admission is included as part of the general museum admission of $8, or $6 for seniors. Linden Place is open for tours Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and by appointment. Visit the museum at 500 Hope Street in Bristol, or call them at 253-0390.

Gaspee Days Gaspee Days starts in May, but keep the celebrations going in June. There will be a colonial encampment in Warwick’s Pawtuxet Park on June 7, 8 and 9. The Encampment gives visitors a feel for colonial military life. Dozens of militia camp out for the weekend in authentic Revolutionary style. Hosted by the Pawtuxet Rangers, RIM. There will also be fireworks in Salter’s Grove on June 7 at dusk, and an ecumenical service the following morning at 8 a.m. at Trinity Church. The Alan & Edna Brown Road Race starts at 9:45 a.m. on June 8, immediately followed by the 48th annual Gaspee Days Parade, which starts at 10 a.m. along Narragansett Parkway. The festivities wrap up on June 9 with Sunday in the Park from noon to 3 p.m., and the burning of the HMS Gaspee at 4 p.m.

June 2013

Boating on the Bay At last the sun has made a long awaited appearance, and summer is just around the corner. It’s time to get out the bottom paint and boat wax and prepare your boat for a summer of sailing or motoring on Narragansett Bay. At this point, the last thing on your mind is income taxes. However, if the boat shows beckoned and you succumbed and purchased a boat, there is something you should consider when you file your taxes next year.

Does your boat have cooking, bathroom and sleeping facilities? If it does, it might qualify as a main or second home for federal tax purposes. Generally, home mortgage interest is any interest you pay on a loan secured by your home (main home or a second home). The loan may be a mortgage to buy your home, a second mortgage, a line of credit or a home equity loan. You can deduct home mortgage interest only if you meet all the following conditions.

• You must file Form 1040 and itemize deductions on Schedule A (Form 1040) • You must be legally liable for the loan. You cannot deduct payments you make for someone else if you are not legally liable to make them • Both you and the lender must intend that the loan be repaid. In addition, there must be a true debtor-creditor relationship between you and the lender For you to take a home mortgage interest deduction, your debt must be secured by a qualified home. This means your main home or your second home.

A home includes a house, condominium, cooperative, mobile home, house trailer, boat or similar property that has sleeping, cooking and toilet facilities.

You can have only one main home at any one time. This is the home where you ordinarily live most of the time. A second home is a home that you choose to treat as your second home. If you have a second home that you do not hold out for rent or resale to others at any time during the year, you can treat it as a qualified home. You do not have to use the home during the year.

Additional information on the deductibility of mortgage interest can be found in Publication 936, Home Mortgage Interest Deduction. The publication can be downloaded from the web at www.irs.gov. You can also order it by calling 1-800-829-FORM, (1-800-829-3676).

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senior issues

Elder abuse and Alzheimer’s disease: What’s the connection?

June 15 will be observed as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. This annual observance focuses global attention on the often hidden problem of physical, emotional and financial abuse of seniors.

At the end of June, Lt. Governor Elizabeth Roberts and I, as director of elderly affairs, will finish our work on writing the Rhode Island State Plan on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias. What’s the connection?

The evidence is clear: Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia place elders at higher risk of victimization.

People with Alzheimer’s, unfortunately, are especially vulnerable to abuse in all its forms, because of impaired memory and judgment, isolation, fearfulness and difficulty communicating. Individuals with Alzheimer’s eventually need to cede management of their finances to family members or a caregiver, but doing so can open the door to financial exploitation. And the overwhelming emotional, mental and physical toll that Alzheimer’s takes on caregivers - indeed, Alzheimer’s is often called the caregivers disease - can play a role.

The unfortunate truth is that, in general, elder abuse tends to be a family issue. The National Center on Elder Abuse acknowledges that in approximately 90 percent of reported cases of elder abuse, the perpetrator is a family member. The finances of elders, particularly those with dementia, are easy prey for relatives with substance abuse, gambling, and money problems. \While it’s not known how many of these family members are caregivers, research indicates that up to 23 percent of caregivers may become abusive and there is emerging consensus that caregiver stress is a contributing factor.

As noted in the American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias, “In examining elder mistreatment within the context of caregiving and Alzheimer’s Disease, we not only have the opportunity to learn more about the caregiver stress model, but also to gain greater understanding about prevention and treatment of elder abuse in families with Alzheimer’s Disease members.”

Rhode Island law requires anyone who has reasonable cause to believe that

an elder has been abused, or is neglecting his or her basic needs, to report it to the Rhode Island Division of Elderly Affairs (DEA), which is responsible for investigating complaints of abuse of Rhode Islanders 60 and older by a family member, caregiver, or person with duty of care. Failure to report abuse of a person 60 or older can result in a fine of up to $1,000.

Abuse and self-neglect reports can be filed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and on nights, weekends and holidays, by calling 462-0555. Reports can be filed anonymously and are confidential. DEA also sponsors the After-Hours Emergency Response Program for Elders in Crisis. This service is available from 4 p.m. to 8:30 a.m., Monday through Friday, and on weekends and holidays.

To report an elder who is in physical or emotional danger, call 462-0555.

DEA received nearly 1,000 reports of elder abuse in its latest 12-month reporting cycle. According to the National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse, 84 percent of elder abuse goes unreported.

The State Plan on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias will offer recommendations to tighten the protections for the 25,000 Rhode Islanders who suffer from these diseases. Guardianship and probate issues, and the resources needed to deter and prosecute abusers, will all be addressed. The plan will also take on caregiver stress with recommendations to improve training for direct care workers and to shore up services such as respite and adult day health care, so that caregivers are well supported.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day will be observed fittingly the day before Father’s Day, and not long after Mother’s Day. What better way to honor our community’s mothers and fathers than to ensure the safety and dignity of our elders? I urge Rhode Islanders to consider the unique vulnerability of elders with dementia and rally behind the recommendations in the State Plan to protect them from harm.

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June 2013

senior issues

retirement sparks b y elaine m . decker

Chain of consequences A recent advertising campaign for Direct TV features what I call the “chain of consequences.” Here is just one of the spots in this clever campaign.

“When you have cable and can’t find something good to watch, you get depressed. When you get depressed, you attend seminars. When you attend seminars, you feel like a winner. When you feel like a winner, you go to Vegas.

When you go to Vegas, you lose everything. When you lose everything, you sell your hair to a wig shop. Don’t sell your hair to a wig shop… Upgrade to Direct TV.” Every time I see one of these ads, I think that there must be dozens of similarly idiotic chains of consequences in the lives of retirees. I have given this some thought and I’ve come up with several of these to share as warnings.

When you’re on a budget, you buy inexpensive wine. When you buy inexpensive wine, it has a metal screw-off top. When you open a metal screw-off top, you cut your thumb. When you cut your thumb, you go to the emergency room for stitches. When you go to the emergency room, they want you to sign a “do not resuscitate” order. When you sign a DNR, they put you in a cubicle with a chatty old lady who has lost her marbles. Don’t get stuck with a chatty old lady who has lost her marbles. Buy decent wine.

When you join AARP, they send you all sorts of travel offers. When you get all sorts of travel offers, you eventually go on a trip somewhere. When you go on a trip, someone has to take care of your cats. When someone takes care of your cats, they misbehave in ways you could never imagine. When your cats misbehave, you come home to a house you no longer recognize. Don’t come home to a house you don’t recognize.

Don’t join AARP. When you wear dollar-store reading glasses, your nose gets weird ridges on it.

When your nose gets weird ridges, you buy expensive makeup to cover them.

When you buy expensive makeup, the store puts you on their special mailing list. When the store puts you on their special mailing list, they send you samples of sexy new perfume. When you wear sexy new perfume, homeless men follow you down the street. Don’t have

June 2013

homeless men following you down the street. Buy prescription reading glasses.

When you retire, you have a lot of time to nap. When you spend a lot of time napping, the couch gets a hollow in the middle. When the couch gets a hollow in the middle, it becomes more difficult to get up off of it. When it gets too difficult for you to get off of the couch, you have to call the fire department to hoist you off. When the fire department has to hoist you, your neighbors talk about you. Don’t give your neighbors something to talk about. Don’t retire.

Or else don’t take naps.

When you’re not getting enough exercise, you compensate by eating more fiber. When you eat more fiber, you spend a lot of time in the bathroom.

When you spend a lot of time in the bathroom, you use a lot of toilet paper.

When you use a lot of toilet paper, you eventually run out. When you run out of toilet paper, you’re forced to use the embroidered linen hand towels hanging from the antique medicine cabinet.

Don’t use embroidered linen hand towels. Get lots of exercise every day.

When you downsize your house, you throw away old books. When you throw away old books, they often have something hidden in their pages. When books have something hidden in them, it’s usually something valuable, like your birth certificate. When you throw away your birth certificate, you can’t prove you’re a citizen. When you can’t prove you’re a citizen, you can’t run for public office. Come to think of it, go ahead and downsize your house.

Copyright 2012 Business Theatre Unlimited

lifestyles

THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT

by DON FOWLER

Lively chats with conductors and directors Rhode Island is blessed with accessible and knowledgeable conductors and directors. Attending concerts and the theater can be greatly enriched by reading programs and essays related to the symphonies and plays.

By arriving at the theatre a few minutes early, you can sit and relax, and read about the evening’s program. Even more exciting is staying after for a chat with the key players.

Rhode Island Philharmonic Conductor Larry Rachleff always invites the audience to join him and his guest musicians for a brief chat after a Philharmonic concert.

About 10 percent of the people move down to the front rows, while the other 90 percent try to “beat the crowd.” Buses remain behind to take the loyal fans to the parking lots.

Twenty minutes with Rachleff are priceless, with the affable conductor revealing little secrets about himself, telling a funny story about the composers and fielding a variety of questions from “Who is your favorite composer?” to “How do you remember all the notes without a score?” to a few highly sophisticated questions from those trying to impress him.

Rachleff is very accommodating, especially with young children, as he explains in simple terms the complex workings of an orchestra and the challenges in working with a variety of guest artists.

Local theaters Trinity, Gamm, Second Story and Brown set aside a number of performances for discussions about the plays they are producing. Directors, college professors, actors and often the authors of the plays spend time after the performance to chat with those wishing to remain to discuss the content of the play, and how they interpret its meaning.

You will get a number of insights into how the different people involved in the production interpret what is on the written page. Many have told me that they also learn from the audience, valuing their opinions.

Check out the discussions after your next visit. You’ll walk away with new insights.

Mingle with the performers Elaine M. Decker’s latest book, “Retirement Sparks Again,” follows her first two books, “Retirement Sparks” and “CANCER: A Coping Guide.” All are available at Books on the Square, the Brown University bookstore and Spectrum-India on the East Side of Providence, and on Amazon.com, including Kindle editions.

Contact her at emdecker@ix.netcom.com to arrange a meet-and-greet with your organization.

If you have attended the annual Labor Day weekend Rhythm and Roots Festival, you have enjoyed the Workshop Tent, where performers gather to share their stories and music with their fans. You have a unique opportunity to not only take a photo or get an autograph but to actually have a conversation with the artists.

This is also true at the annual Music on the Hill and the summer classical series at URI, where receptions are held after the concerts, attended by the performers.

Whether it is a “lively chat” after the Philharmonic, a lecture at one of the universities or casual conversation on the street, we have found that we can learn much from our treasured artists and performers.

PrimeTime | 21

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

A new HOPE “When you’re a caregiver, you feel like things are out of your control ... by telling our story and giving face to the disease ... it’s not just something these representatives see on paper. It makes it human.”

- Karen Henley, caregiver

More than 900 Alzheimer’s Association advocates shared their collective stories and delivered a clear message to Capitol Hill, that the time to address Alzheimer’s is NOW. In attendance was Executive Director of the Alzheimer’s Association Rhode Island Chapter Donna McGowan and her husband, Alzheimer’s advocate Bill McGowan, who joined hundreds of others who are working to make a difference. Speaking on behalf of the more than 5 million people affected by Alzheimer’s disease, these advocates met face to face with members of Congress and their staffs to remind them of the pressing needs of the Alzheimer’s community. Each shared their personal experience in fighting dementia or caring for a loved one with this disease, emphasizing the enormous personal and financial costs of this devastating disease.

Please join with advocates on Capitol Hill.

Urge your members of Congress to pass the HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act, which would improve care and outcomes for people with AlBill McGowan, Alzheimer’s Advocate zheimer’s disease and their caregivers. and Donna McGowan, Executive DirecDementia is the second largest contributor tor, Alzheimer’s Association RI Chapter to death among older Americans, with one in every three seniors dying with Alzheimer’s or another dementia. And despite reliable diagnostic tests, evidence shows more than half of those with Alzheimer’s do not know they have the disease.

Facing these harsh realities, it is crucial that those battling Alzheimer’s have access to diagnosis and care planning services, which can lead to better outcomes for themselves, their families and their caregivers.

Today, our efforts to improve diagnosis, care planning and medical record documentation move forward with the reintroduction of the Health Outcomes, Planning and Education (HOPE) for Alzheimer’s Act. This legislation is one of the Alzheimer’s Association’s most important legislative priorities in the 113th Congress.

In the last session of Congress, the HOPE For Alzheimer’s Act garnered 173 cosponsors and wide, bipartisan support in both the House and Senate. We need your help to build and maintain bipartisan support for passage of this critical legislation!

Help change the course of Alzheimer’s disease by taking action online at alz.org/advocate.

The HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act focuses on three key areas: • Creating a package of services aimed at a formal and documented diagnosis • Ensuring that comprehensive care planning services are provided after a diagnosis to Medicare beneficiaries and their caregivers • Requiring documentation of a diagnosis and any care planning services in the beneficiary’s medical record The HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act is also consistent with the recommendations of the first-ever National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease, which was released in 2012: • Ensuring an accurate and timely diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease • Educating and supporting individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and their families upon diagnosis • Enhancing assistance for people with Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers to prepare for care needs Please ask your Members of Congress to co-sponsor the HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act and let them know how important diagnosis, care planning and support services are for American families facing Alzheimer’s.

The Rhode Island Chapter offices are located at 245 Waterman Street, Suite 306, Providence, RI 02906. For more information, call 800-272-3900, fax 421-0115 or visit www.alz.org/ri. Published with permission from the National Alzheimer’s Association.

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Valley Country Club named top pick Valley Country Club Manager Melodi Caruso is pleased to announce that the club has been selected as a 2013 winner in The Knot Best of Weddings on theknot.com.

Valley Country Club is located atop the hill on New London Avenue and offers a particularly beautiful and stunning setting for ceremonies and receptions. The historic stone bridge, newly modernized ballroom, outdoor decks, and breathtaking views fulfill the ultimate wedding dream.

The knot.com is the number-one wedding destination, most trusted by brides and is the Internet’s most-trafficked one-stop wedding planning solution. It provides a “by brides, for brides” guide to the top wedding professionals across the country, and is a must-have when it comes to selecting the best-of-the-best wedding resources and opinions from real brides.

The 2012 brides rated Valley Country Club five stars in all three categories; service, value and quality; and all published favorable reviews about the food prepared by Executive Chef Terry Saccomagno.

“We are thrilled to have received this honor,” Caruso said. “This award demonstrates what we have worked so hard to achieve in that our venue is extraordinary and our staff’s attention to detail and professionalism consistently exceeds our clients’ expectation. I am so proud of my team.”

For more information on events at Valley Country Club, contact Melodi at 821-1115 ext. 1 or clubmanager@valleycountryclub.net. Visit the website at www.valleycountryclub.net.

Healthsmith adds to their resume William Bohmbach, owner of Portsmouth-based Home Healthsmith, recently successfully completed the requirements established by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) to earn the designation of Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS).

Having earned this CAPS designation, Bohmbach has learned how to assist homeowners to safely age in place. As a CAPS professional, he has the solutions, strategies and techniques for designing and building aesthetically pleasing, barrier-free living environments. These and other related products and services are available through his company, Home Healthsmith.

Home Healthsmith, a family-owned business, provides many products and services that enable older or physically challenged people to enjoy their homes longer to maintain their level of comfort without compromising health and safety. Home modifications include the installation and repair of stair lifts, bath lifts, grab bars and wheelchair ramps. They also repair wheelchairs and scooters. General property management services, as well as seasonal programs, are also available. Their service area includes all of Rhode Island, plus areas of Cape Cod, South Shore and the Boston area west to Worcester, Mass.

To learn more, call toll free 1-855-HHSMITH or visit www.homehealthsmith.com.

calendar of events Find a float From June 1 to 29, 400 glass floats, glass orbs about the size of a grapefruit, will be hidden across Block Island. Floats will be dated, numbered and stamped with the shape of Block Island, and visitors are invited to search for these treasures, one of which is made entirely out of gold leaf. Visit blockislandinfo.com or call 466-5200 for details.

Local Color The Hotel Viking in Newport displays the work of local artists and local scenes in this installation that runs through July 10. Admission is free, daily, from noon to 8 p.m. The installation is in the restaurant and lounge area, so feel free to stay for a meal, but know that that part isn’t free.

June 2013

b y meg fraser

senior issues

Strong relationships the key to longevity Thomas Mimnaugh of Cranston keeps a cheat sheet in his wallet. Three scraps of paper list the names of his 13 children, his 15 grandchildren and his 18 great-grandchildren. Surrounding himself with his family, a brood that just keeps growing, is what has kept him strong at 100 years old.

“I woke up and I was that old. I didn’t realize I was that old,” he said at this year’s 36th annual Rhode Island Governor’s Centenarians Brunch.

Hosted at The Bridge at Cherry Hill in Johnston, the brunch celebrated 61 Rhode Islanders at least 99 years old. In total, the state’s Division of Elderly Affairs identified 122 centenarians living here, making Rhode Island the leading state in the nation in concentration of centenarians. In fact, the state holds the title for individuals age 85 and older as well.

Catherine Taylor, director of the Division of Elderly Affairs, believes that Rhode Island is emerging as a “blue zone,” a term used to describe areas where people tend to live longer.

As for why such a trend exists, she says you need look no further than the state’s nickname and its motto.

“It’s just so beautiful here and people grew up and live around this natural

June 2013

beauty,” she said of the Ocean State.

Taylor also said that having a strong social and familial network gives seniors hope, and those ties can translate into longevity.

“Loneliness is the worst problem we have facing people as they age,” she said.

“The people here - they’re all so needed.

People have a role to play in their community.”

For Mimnaugh, that role has been one characterized by faith and family.

The former John Hancock insurance salesman says his late wife, Matilda, deserves the credit for his long life.

“My wife and I never had an argument. She was the greatest,” he said.

Thankfully, Mimnaugh still has his

Louise Silva of Cranston and Joseph Celona of North Providence were honored at the brunch for being the oldest woman and man in attendance. Celona, now 105 years old, says his secret has been hard work, as he used to work 17hour days. When event host Mario Hilario from Channel 10 announced Silva’s age, guests shared a collective gasp.

A resident of the Scandinavian Home in Cranston, Silva is turning 110 this

is able to see her family often.

“I just love to play with them,” she said.

All of the centenarians and soon-tobe centenarians in the crowd were able to bring a guest with them. Hamilton attended the brunch with her granddaughter, Wendy Maxwell, also of Warwick. When asked what she learned from her grandmother, Hamilton cut Maxwell off.

“She learned how to spoil grandkids,” Hamilton said, smiling.

Elvira Scotti knows a thing or two about spoiling grandchildren. The former Cranston resident, who now lives at West Shore Health Center in Warwick, likes to brag about her three children, six grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

“For years, every Sunday at our house we had everyone over for Sunday dinner,” she recalled.

Homemade pizza and every type of pie are among Scotti’s specialties in the kitchen. She loves to cook and to sew, and on Thursday was wearing a beautiful pastel suit she made herself, accented with a delicate string of pearls.

“I still got my marbles, too,” she said, laughing.

Scotti has found plenty to keep her busy in retirement. She was a longtime golfer - “I got awards, too” - and enjoyed spending time in the Florida sun. Now that she’s 99 years old, she wouldn’t change a thing.

“I’m so happy,” she said.

Community Ties children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren to keep him smiling.

His daughter, Maggie Cotter, says that growing up, their house was full of laughter. Of Mimnaugh’s 13 children, 10 are girls.

“This is why he’s as old as he is,” Cotter jokes.

year.

Longevity runs in Silva’s family. Both of her sisters made it into their 90s, and her mother passed away at the age of 100.

Edna Strong of Johnston has a very different lineage. Although she turns 103 this year, her family has not been as fortunate traditionally.

“I’m just lucky, because all my family died young,” she said.

Strong had a twin who died at the age of 12 from tuberculosis.

“That was very prevalent in those days,” she added.

Dorothy Hamilton of Warwick can’t quite pin down her secrets to longevity.

“I don’t have any; I just made it,” she said.

Hamilton does have a strong support system, though. The mother of three has 13 grandchildren and a 2-year-old great-grandson who brings her joy. She lives at Sunny View Nursing Home but

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Rose Warrener of Coventry, a certified nursing assistant at the Hope Alzheimer’s Center in Cranston, is recognized for exceptional service with the 2013 John Hedderson Award by LeadingAge RI. The award was presented by LeadingAge RI Director James Nyberg. (Submitted photo)

Warrener a leader in care Rose Warrener, a certified nursing assistant at the Hope Alzheimer’s Center in Cranston, has been recognized for exceptional service with the 2013 John Hedderson Award by LeadingAge RI. Warrener was singled out among more than 2,000 employees of LeadingAge organizations for her commitment to the people in her care.

In nominating Warrener for the award, her supervisor, Hope Alzheimer’s Center’s president and CEO Cynthia Conant-Arp, cited Warrener’s energy, compassion and care that she brings to her position, along with her positive attitude.

“When providing personal care for our vulnerable and functionally impaired dementia patients, Rose’s sensitivity and compassion shines brightly,” said ConantArp. “She manages to secure the cooperation of even our most resistant and reluctant clients. We believe that she succeeds because she is kind, empathetic and respectful of the individuality and personal dignity.”

After starting her career with Hope Alzheimer’s Center as a part-time activities assistant, Warrener decided to pursue her nursing assistant’s certification and graduated with the highest test scores ever earned by a student of New England Gerontology Academy. Since working as a certified nursing assistant, she learned of participants’ love of animals and took the initiative to become a certified pet-assisted therapist. Currently, she is enrolled in URI’s Rhode Island Geriatric Education Center’s certification program.

Rose Warrener is the 10th recipient of the John Hedderson Award.

calendar of events Dysfunction on stage New York writer and actress Anne Pasquale invites the audience to meet her dysfunctional family and share in the craziness, laughter, tears and triumph that highlight their therapeutic journey. “BOB: Blessed Be the Dysfunction That Binds” runs at the Artists’ Exchange in Cranston from June 6 to 30. Shows are Thursday through Saturday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. or Sundays from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Tickets are $15. The theater is located at 50 Rolfe Square. For tickets, call 490-9475 or visit www.artists-exchange.org.

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June 2013

Making Brown proud

Tockwotton on the Waterfront resident Beatrice Coleman was joined for a celebration of her 109th birthday by Brown University President Christina Paxson and a roomful of family members and sorority sisters of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Coleman is a 1925 graduate of Brown University and the oldest alumnae of the institution. A groundbreaker of her generation, Coleman was one of three African American women in her class at Brown during an era when many women, regardless of race, didn’t finish high school. Still active at age 109, she attends many group activities (physical, mental, social and spiritual), reads the Brown Alumni Magazine and Brown Daily Herald and plays the piano. She is pictured here reminiscing about Brown with Paxson. (Submitted photo)

West View announces name change West View Health Care Center, a family-owned and operated rehabilitation services center in Rhode Island, announced that it has completed its company name change to West View Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, effective immediately. For well over 35 years, West View Nursing & Rehabilitation Center has been providing the best possible care by partnering with their residents so they can achieve the maximum level of independence and quality of life.

In the last eight years, they have been focused on short-term patient rehabilitation. West View provides comprehensive rehabilitation services for all residents in order to maximize function and decrease pain. The skilled nursing facility provides these rehabilitation services through therapeutic activities, social work services, a full complement of physical, occupational and speech therapy services and an outstanding nursing staff. Chaplaincy services are available to every resident. They provide patients with transportation services to medical appointments and begin comprehensive discharge planning to assure a smooth transition back home. The facility recently went through a complete renovation.

“We wanted our name to better reflect what we do and the core services we provide,” said Administrator Hugh Hall. “West View Nursing & Rehabilitation Center defines exactly who we really are.

At West View Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, we believe that the quality of life is as important as the quality of care we provide.”

West View Nursing & Rehabilitation Center is a 120-bed skilled nursing facility providing long-term care and rehabilitation services.

It is located in West Warwick on Route 117, also known as Legris Avenue.

Atria visits the alpacas Residents at Atria Harborhill, located at 159 Division Street in East Greenwich, recently visited Green River Alpacas Farm in North Kingstown. The owner Lisa Quattrini met the residents and gave them an informative tour and talk about these wonderful and unusual animals. Alpacas are becoming more and more popular in the United States, being bred for their superior fleece. The animals are friendly and gentle, and they are easy to handle.

“The residents loved the visit and their encounter with these beautiful animals,” said Judy Hambleton, Engage Life director. “Programs like this reflect Atria’s mission for keeping seniors engaged and involved in their communities and to never stop learning.” (Submitted photo)

June 2013

PrimeTime | 25

calendar of events Move to the music From June 11 to 16, hear the battle of the bands at Captain Nick’s on Block Island for the Block Island Annual Music Festival. Admission is free and performances run from 5 p.m. to midnight. For more detailed information, visit www.blockislandreservations.com.

Garden City Center Art Festival On June 8 and 9, Garden City Center will be taken over by more than 140 artists, as well as food, live music and entertainment. Admission is free, and the event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The festival is sponsored by Whole Foods Market, Garden City Center, Yelp, Cardi’s Furniture, B101 and 93.3. Go to www.festivalfete.com or call 374-3899 for more information.

Explore Blithewold Blithewold Mansion is now offering monthly guided tours of the mansion, gardens and grounds. Join Curator Margaret Whitehead and other experienced guides for this walking tour. June’s event will be on the 29th, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Members pay $5, non-members $16. Blithewold is located at 101 Ferry Road in Bristol. Call 253-2707 ext. 21 for details.

For the gardeners Blithewold Mansion will host Pottery and Plants, a hands-on series in which artist Ellen Bomgren, owner of Mudstone Studios in Warren, will teach students to use press molds, textures and slip decoration techniques to create unique planters. The course is given in three installations from June 15 to 29, with sessions on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Admission is $50 for members and $55 for non-members, plus a $10 materials fee. For more information, call 253-2707 or visit www.blithewold.org.

Lend a hand The 2013 CVS Caremark Charity Classic will be held from June 23 to 25 at the Rhode Island Country Club, and Children’s Wishes is looking for volunteers to help assist at this event. Golfers raise funds to help grant the wishes of children suffering from life-threatening illnesses, and volunteers are needed to make the event run smoothly. The tournament is from Sunday to Tuesday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. To volunteer, contact Children’s Wishes at cwishesri.com or call 921-1300.

Works of art The Narragansett Art Festival is taking place at the Veteran’s Park at the Towers on June 22 and 23, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission is free, and guests can peruse the work of more than 100 artists with Narragansett Bay as a backdrop. Call 789-7713 for more information.

Summer in bloom Check out the Newport Flower Show from June 21 to 23 at Rosecliff Mansion, located at 548 Bellevue Avenue. The show is open Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. In its 18th year, the show offers guests the opportunity to enjoy judged horticultural specimens and floral designs, and shop in both the Oceanside Boutiques and the Gardeners’ Marketplace. Visit www.newportmansions.org for ticket information, or call 847-1000.

Pops reunion Take in the annual summer Pops concert on June 22 in Wilcox Park in Westerly. Admission is free, so pack a picnic and welcome summer with the Chorus of Westerly, the Boston Festival Orchestra and special guests. Pre-show begins at 6:30 p.m., with the main event at 8, and there will be a fireworks display.

Music, art and more Celebrate the last day of spring on June 20 with the RISD Museum. Sit in their garden and enjoy music by jazz guitarist Steve DeConti and wine from a cash bar. Admission is free for the event, which runs from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Fresh air for fathers (and grandfathers) Start Father’s Day with a hike of the trails at Ballard Park in Newport. Staff will host guided tours of the 13-acre park, providing information on its features and history. Meet at the Wickham Road entrance on Sunday, June 16, at 10 a.m. There is a $10 suggested donation per family. If you have questions, call 619-3377 or visit www.ballardpark.org.

26 | PrimeTime

CLUES ACROSS 1. Hiking path 6. Swiss river 10. Amorphous mass 14. Eastern spindle tree 15. A cheap rundown hotel 17. Oath of office day 19. The bill in a restaurant 20. Religious transgression 21. More lucid 22. Vietnamese offensive 23. Chief magistrate of Venice 24. Turfs 26. Copyread 29. Game using 32 cards 31. Largest society for technology advancement 32. Mrs. Nixon 34. Drunken bum (slang) 35. Times assigned to serve 37. Labor organizer Eugene 38. Come into the possession of 39. Carbamide 40. Affirmative! (slang) 41. Feudal bondman 43. Without (French) 45. Emits a continuous droning sound 46. Use diligently 47. A moving crowd 49. Extinct flightless bird of New Zealand 50. Sirius Satellite Radio (abbr.)

53. Mailing packet 57. Female shopping assistant 58. Dog & wolf genus 59. Opposite of beginnings 60. South by east 61. This language died with Tevfik Esenc

CLUES DOWN 1. Foolishly annoying person 2. Type of genus of the Ranidae 3. Whale ship captain 4. An informal debt instrument 5. Piece of a felled tree 6. Arabic demon (var. sp.)

7. Actor Ladd 8. Decay 9. Programmes 10. Hat tied under the chin 11. Methaqualone pill (slang) 12. Ocean Search and Rescue 13. Turkish title of respect 16. Submarine sandwich 18. An objects functions 22. Touchdown 23. Judge or consider 24. __ Claus 25. Word element meaning ear 27. Fencing swords 28. Song: Aba __ Honeymoon 29. Standard wire gauge 30. Capital of Ukraine 31. George Gershwin’s brother 33. Thyroid-stimulating hormone 35. Horse trainer’s shackle 36. Soft-finned fishes 37. Internet infrastructure 39. Sieze without right 42. Dishonors 43. Speaks a slavonic language 44. Egyptian pharaoh 46. Small breed of horse 47. “__ the Man” Musical 48. Forest land (British) 49. Italian municipality 50. Japanese entertainment firm 51. Slovenian mountain 52. 20th Hebrew letter 53. Point midway between S and SE 54. Tap gently 55. European money 56. Research workplace June 2013

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