October 2009 / Vol. 13 / No. 10
coastalmags.com
Our 151st issue Fall Festivals Celebrate the harvest Experience local haunts Toast Oktoberfest
Home Design
Bordertowns Pawtucket
Trends in do-it-yourself Experts share tips
Wine Notes
Stretch dollars & shrink waistlines
Happenings
Food
Bargain wines taste great
Tricks & treats
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OCToBER 2009
CONTENTS IN EVERY ISSUE
YOUR HOME
REGIONAL NEWS
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28
Trends in DIY
40
29
Experts share tips
From the publisher
8
On my mind: Birthdays are okay
by Paul E. Kandarian
38
Book picks: Haunting tales by Magoo Gelehrter
by Cara Connelly Pimental
FLASH
24
Community Foundation Blast
COVER STORY
Enjoy the harvest
by Zachary Boissonneau
26
THINGS TO DO
32
44
Find fall antique shows by Jackie Sideli
Happenings: Harvest great things to do
Pawtucket on the rise by Paul Kandarian
14
Discover local haunts by Bob Ekstrom
FOOD NOTES
20
Meet the Celtic Cricket
34
22
by Stacie Charbonneau Hess
Cheers to Oktoberfest by Stacie Charbonneau Hess
Lose weight & save money by Elizabeth Morse Read
WINE NOTES
36
Red wines a bargain by Alton Long
THE PLACE TO “GO” FOR FREE CLASSIFIEDS…
Buy • Sell • Jobs • Real Estate • Arts & Entertainment • & More SouthCoastGo.com is a free service of Coastal Communications Corp., publisher of The South Coast Insider
6
A pair of local leaders by Brian J. Lowney
Bordertowns
10
October 2009 / The South Coast Insider
On the cover As we celebrate our 151st issue, we salute the season and provide many opportunities to enjoy the fall. We also ask you to help us keep The Insider an independent voice for change, culture, and creativity in the South Coast.
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The South Coast Insider / October 2009
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FROM THE PUBLISHER October 2009 / Vol. 13 / No. 10 Published by
Coastal Communications Corp.
151st issue
Publisher and Editor-in-Chief
When the trees turn brilliant shades of color and the streams flow powerfully to the ocean, the South Coast is absolutely spectacular in October. As we celebrate this, our 151st issue, we salute the season and provide many opportunities to enjoy the fall.
Ljiljana Vasiljevic Editors
Joe Murphy Michael J. Vieira, Ph.D.
Celebrate the harvest at some New England landmarks including Plimoth Plantation and Edaville. Zachary Boissonneau provides suggestions for enjoying these and other treats.
Contributors
Zachary Boissonneau, Stacie Charbonneau Hess, Bob Ekstrom, Magoo Gelehrter, Paul E. Kandarian, Alton Long, Tom Lopes, Brian Lowney, Cara Connelly Pimental, Elizabeth Morse Read, and Jackie Sideli
The South Coast Insider is published monthly for visitors and residents of the South Coast area. The Insider is distributed free of charge from Mount Hope Bay to Buzzards Bay. All contents copyright ©2009 Coastal Communications Corp. Deadline
20 days prior to publication. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, by any means, without written permission from the Publisher. All information contained herein is believed to be reliable. Coastal Communications Corp. does not assume any financial responsibility for typographical errors in advertisements, but will reprint that portion of an advertisement in which the typographical error occurs. Circulation
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The South Coast Insider 144 Purchase Street • PO Box 3493 Fall River, MA 02722 Tel: (508) 677-3000 Fax: (508) 676-7000
October is also the month of goblins and ghosts; Bob Ekstrom shares some South Coast haunts and Stacie Charbonneau Hess interviews a witch in Rehoboth. As the cooler weather moves in, dark beers and hearty foods return to the table. Stacie shares how to celebrate Oktoberfest in style without heading for Munich. And you don’t have to overdo it! Elizabeth Morse Read suggests ways to shrink your waistline and save money. Plus there’s more. Discover “Great Falls” with Paul Kandarian, learn new trends in home improvement from Cara Connelly Pimental, and find fall treasures with antique expert Jackie Sideli. And, as the days get shorter, there’s nothing better than sipping a glass of wine and reading a book near a fire: Alton Long uncorks some nice reds this month and Magoo Gelehrter opens some haunting tomes. It’s not too early to start thinking about the holidays and securing our homes for the winter. Check out our advertisers, visit www.SouthCoastGo.com, our free online classifieds, and sign up for www.coastalmags.com for free weekly updates. It’s a cool thing to do as the fall chill sets in. You can also contact us at our website, email or snail-mail addresses to share your thoughts, things to do, and South Coast secret places with us. As we celebrate our landmark issue, we also ask you to help us keep The Insider an independent voice for change, culture, and creativity in the South Coast.
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Ljiljana Vasiljevic Publisher and Editor-in-Chief
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October 2009 / The South Coast Insider
new bedford preservation society presents
Display your product or service at the Taunton Area Chamber of Commerce’s 18th Annual
BUSINESS SHOWCASE October 29, 2009 3:00-6:30 p.m.
tour rural cemetery
{ Grape Street Entrance, New Bedford } Walking tours led by knowledgeable tour guides will step off every 10 minutes. Enjoy "spirited" portrayals of New Bedford notables at gravesites along the tour route.
1 to 4 p.m. • Rain date October 25
Tickets: $15 at the gate or purchase in advance (recommended) A $2 discount will be given to Society Members on advance tickets. Ticket Sites: Elaine's (Downtown New Bedford); New York Shoe Repair; Periwinkles or Baker Books.
Holiday Inn-Taunton 700 Myles Standish Boulevard (Exit 9 off of Route 495) Expand your customer base! Effective networking opportunities! FREE Admission & Refreshments! COST-EFFECTIVE EXHIBITOR RATES!
For more information call (508) 824-4068 Sponsors: Bridgewater Savings Bank and TMLP Online
www.nbpreservationsociety.org 508.997.6425
The South Coast Insider / October 2009
9
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17 AT 8 PM
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www.zeiterion.org 508-994-2900 684 Purchase St. NEW BEDFORD
the Fall river Carousel at battleship Cove
phone (508) 678-1100 www.battleshipcove.org reservations required $10/person all-inclusive save the date breakFast with santa deC. 13
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October 2009 / The South Coast Insider
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ON MY MIND
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Discounting the years by Paul E. Kandarian
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birthdays and they’re piling up fast and furi-
days my gifts came with moving, noisy and
ous and no amount of digging in or ignoring
often brightly colored pieces. When that
them is stopping them from coming. At some point, somewhere in your 40s,
(socks and underwear for the most part),
you hit that lethal wall, that point where you
birthdays just stopped being fun.
know you have a lot more birthdays behind
They were also no longer that much fun
you than ahead of you. At 21, throwing up
after a certain age, that being 21 when I
bilious bluish bubbles and all, there were a
could legally drink and friends took me to
lot more to come. Now at 56, not so much.
a bar in Easton where I drank inordinate
Gulp.
amounts of blackberry brandy, went home
Still, birthdays are OK, I guess, because
and proceeded to throw up bilious bluish
it’s a time to gather with similarly aged
bubbles that made me, to this very day,
friends and complain about getting older,
swear off blackberry brandy.
recalling that when our parents were this
Back then, birthdays were really no big deal. You had a party, you didn’t have
age, we deemed them ancient. Which was correct, they were ancient and
a party, didn’t matter. I just didn’t care,
so now are we. I don’t care that 56 is the
largely because hell, next year was another
new 46. Tell that to my gruesomely crack-
birthday, and then another and they came
ling knees, which feel all of 102.
and they went and there was this seem-
We get together with friends and lament
ingly inexhaustible line of potential birthdays
things using a numerical scale for virtually
stretched out long and thin, no end in sight.
everything. Our PSA is down, but choles-
Then all of a sudden the birthdays stacked
terol slightly up. Golf scores are up, which
up in this enormous pile that made creaking
is to say down, because golf’s one of those
sounds under its own weight like the grue-
weird sports where the less you score, the
some wet crackling noise from my knees
better you’re doing. Staying up late means 9
when I ascend from a full squat. Then all of
pm. And for men, if we’re up very early, it’s
a sudden that seemingly inexhaustible line
only to go to the bathroom. Often.
of potential birthdays got much noticeably
12
brakes on all those rapidly approaching
I haven’t been a fan of birthdays since the
gave away to gifts comprised of white fabric
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of the word. All of a sudden I’m putting the
Many I know are AARP members. I feel
shorter and there was most definitely an
superior because I’m not, but only because
end in sight, in the truest, terminal sense
I’m holding out for fear that if I join, the
October 2009 / The South Coast Insider
walker ads in the magazine will start to look
hit the lottery saving a lousy 10 cents on a
appealing. I started getting AARP come-ons
cup of bad McDonald’s coffee.
when I was much younger and thought it
So to be honest, this AARP discount thing
ridiculous that this senior citizen organiza-
is promising. I travel a lot, and they have
tion wanted me—a young stud of a man
hotel, car rental, restaurant discounts, you
—to join.
name it, they discount it. Retail, home, car,
But now…I kid you not, the latest come-
health insurance, they discount it. Dental in-
on I kept, and just pulled off a shelf to look
surance, even, and vision discounts, which
at. Sixteen bucks a year to join, which isn’t
is huge, huge, because my teeth and eyes
horrible. I went online to check it out, and
just ain’t what they used to be.
the join page has an interesting, age-
And their site even has a “Life Expectan-
related and somewhat deflating note on it,
cy” which face it, could also be called the
geared toward people of certain ages who
“I’ll Die When?” test. So I took it, honestly
are veritable Luddites when it comes to
filling out when I smoked, how much I
technology. It says: “Having Trouble? If you
drink, how much I work out, how often I
experience problems with this page, please
eat fish, nuts, veggies, etc. and am pleased
call 1-800-OLD-FART.” OK, that’s not the
to report that my body, which turns 56 on
number, but the rest is real.
Oct. 13, has a biological age of 49, and can
The thing is, I’m all about discounts and senior citizens are all about discounts and AARP is all about discounts. I remember
expect to be around, if not exactly kicking, until 91.4! Wow, that’s another 35 years, meaning a
when my dad, who’s been a senior citizen
lot of birthdays. Um, if you’re of a mind to,
since I was born, or so it seems, first started
something with moving, noisy and brightly
getting discounts years ago, it was like he’d
colored pieces would be nice…
SPECIAL EVENTS Manjiro Festival
Saturday, October 3 Center of Fairhaven 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
The Whitfield-Manjiro Friendship Society sponsors this JapaneseAmerican festival with food, arts and crafts, Japanese drumming, a tea ceremony and more. For more information, call Gerry Rooney at 508-995-1219.
River-Side Cemetery Tour
Sunday, October 11, 2:00 p.m.
Begins inside main gate of cemetery, Main St. Beautiful rural-style cemetery created in 1850 by F.D.R.’s grandfather Warren Delano. Tour lasts 90 minutes. Free.
Concert & Dinner
Glenshane Irish Folk Duo Sunday, October 18 First Congregational Church Dinner 5:30 p.m., Concert 7:00
Adult tickets $10. School aged children free with paid adult. Before the concert. A dinner will be served beginning at 5:30 p.m. Dinner tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children. For more info and dinner reservations: 508-993-3368 or email fhvnccs@gmail.com
Halloween Horribles Parade Sunday, October 25, 5:00 p.m.
Main Street from Benoit Square to St. Mary’s Church. A judged costume parade with prizes awarded in several age groups. Candy, cookies, cider and cocoa. Sponsored by the North Fairhaven Improvement Association. Free
Fairhaven Office of Tourism 43 Center Street, Fairhaven, MA
508-979-4085
FairhavenTours@aol.com
M,T,Th,F,Sat. 8:30 - 4:30
http://hometown.aol.com/fairhaventours
The South Coast Insider / October 2009
13
COVER STory
How to experience the abundance of the season by Zachary Boissonneau
In a world of fast food and supermarkets, the harvest may seem a piece of history, but it remains an ever-important part of our lives and it will be critical as long as humans rely on the Earth for sustenance. It is a tradition with deep roots here in New England. From the harvesting of wild foods and the early cultivation of crops by Native Americans, it has been an integral part of the region’s livelihood. Harvesting is the process of gathering mature crops from fields. Native Americans in the eastern U.S. began domesticating local plants for cultivation between 3000 and 2000 BC—thousands of years before Europeans settled in North America, and brought with them their own methods of farming. Some staple crops of the New World like squash and corn are still familiar to our tables.
Plimoth Plantation The harvest has historically been a time of celebration, still evident in the many festivals this autumn. “The colonial English and native Wampanoag worked the entire year to get to the harvest. It was a time for them to reap the rewards of their hard work; this was when they could have bountiful food and
14
take some time to enjoy, celebrate, and be thankful for what they had,” says Jennifer Monac, Public Relations Manager at Plimoth Plantation. “That’s why we celebrate the harvest at the Plantation.” There are a plethora of events at the Plantation through the month of October, including daily mishoon (a dugout canoe) making in the Wampanoag homesite, bread baking, and corn plaiting that accent the importance of the harvest. Corn plaiting is method of braiding ears of corn together and was a typical 17th century harvest activity. Two special events that focus specifically on food are being planned for October. Breakfast with the Animals and Eat Like a Pilgrim bring a taste of the colonies to the South Coast. “Breakfast with the Animals—A Rare Breeds Program” on October 3rd, 10th, and 17th provides children with the opportunity to take part in caring for some of the animals in the English Village. This event is followed by a breakfast.
October 2009 / The South Coast Insider
At “Eat Like a Pilgrim” on October 17th, visitors will learn about and eat from a selection of Wampanoag and English foods. These two special events require reservations and are not part of the regular museum pass.
Harvest Festival During October Plimoth Plantation will host its 5th annual Harvest Festival on Columbus Day weekend, featuring special events to go along with mishoon making, bread baking, and corn plaiting, events such as demonstrations of 17th century wool-dying techniques (free with admission) and a Harvest Dinner with the Pilgrims on October 11th, which requires a reservation. The festival and the month-long related events are meant to be celebratory, but also educational; visitors have the opportunity to talk with interpreters in the Wampanoag village and Colonial role players and to take an active part is some of the harvest work. “It’s a time for guests to come and participate in harvest activities, but also to get some hands on experience such as baking bread or making corn husk dolls,” Monac says. To learn more, view the calendar at www. plimoth.org or call Plimoth Plantation at 508-746-1622.
Cranberry celebrations Two other local festivals honor a particular crop, one familiar to New Englanders—the
cranberry. Massachusetts is the second largest producer of cranberries in the U.S. and the National Cranberry Festival at Edaville USA in Carver, and the Cranberry Harvest Celebration at the A.D. Makepeace Company Headquarters in Wareham, offer an opportunity to experience and celebrate the harvest of the cranberry. “It’s a spectacular sight. The cranberry is different in the way it’s harvested: the bog is flooded and the plants float up to the surface making a massive crimson field that’s quite beautiful,” says General Manager of Edaville USA Joshua Patino. The National Cranberry Festival at Edaville begins Saturday, October 10th and runs to Columbus Day on October 12th. Edaville has been an operating cranberry plantation since 1947, says Patino, and the owner at the time, Ellis D. Atwood, purchased equipment from Maine’s once large short line railroad network to use for the harvest. The 5.5 mile railroad he built around the bog served his cranberries and customers who paid for sightseeing rides around the bogs. This rail course, which has since been reconfigured, is a central element of the festival. During the weekend, the train offers festival goers a unique view into the world of the cranberry harvest in action. Besides train rides around the bogs, the amusement park offers 11 amusement rides and a variety of activities. “At the festival this year we have about 30 crafters, artisan demos, a cooking demonstration in the works, pony rides, helicopter tours of the bogs, a classic car show, fishing, live music and much more,” Patino says. The festival runs from 10 am-5 pm each day with fireworks (weather permitting) scheduled for 8 pm on Saturday night. There are three levels of pricing: $6 for general admission to the park; $12 for admission and unlimited train rides; and $18 for admission, unlimited train rides, and unlimited use of amusement rides. Contact Edaville ESA (www.edaville.com, 1-877-EDAVILLE) for more details.
Cranberries for Columbus Columbus Day weekend could just as well be called Cranberry weekend in eastern Massachusetts. Besides the Edaville festival, there’s also the 6th annual Cranberry Harvest Celebration at the A.D. Makepeace Company Headquarters at Tihonet Village in Wareham, put on by the A.D. Makepeace Company and the Cape Cod Cranberry
Growers’ Association. The focus of the Harvest Celebration is on the cranberry industry and its history. “We started the Cranberry Harvest Celebration in 2004 as a way to introduce our neighbors, some of whom are new to the South Coast, to the beauty and history of the cranberry harvest,” says Linda Burke, Director of Marketing and Communications for the A.D. Makepeace Company, the world’s largest cranberry grower. Over 35 juried crafters, pumpkin and face painting, pony rides, wagon rides, live chainsaw woodcarving, live music, and culinary demonstrations from Johnson & Wales students are just some of the festival’s attractions. But the cornerstone of the experience is the harvest itself. “We strongly recommend our visitors take the time to do a cranberry bog tour,” Burke says.
We started the Cranberry Harvest Celebration in 2004 as a way to introduce our neighbors, some of whom are new to the South Coast, to the beauty and history of the cranberry harvest The tours are interactive and educational, as Burke explains, “A bus will take you on a short ride out to our Frogfoot network of bogs. Once you get out there, an actual cranberry grower will explain what’s going on in the different phases of the harvest.” These phases include flooded bogs, use of harvesting machines, corralling the berries and vacuuming them through a truck to remove debris, right up to loading them on a truck to be shipped to the Ocean Spray processing facility in Carver. The harvest can also be viewed by helicopter. In six years, attendance has grown from just over a thousand to nearly 15,000, and though it attracts people from all over the world, the festival focuses on its neighbors. “Last year we had a family from Norway, and a group from Colorado who had come to Massachusetts for a wedding,” says Burke, “however, the emphasis is really
on the local area and providing a fun and educational family event at a very reasonable price.” Admission to the festival is $2, a portion of which is returned to the non-profit organizations that help staff the event, and free for children 6 and under. It is held rain or shine from 10 am-4 pm on Saturday, October 10th and Sunday, October 11th. Contact the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association (www.cranberries.org, 508-759-1041 x13), or the A.D. Makepeace Company (www. admakepeace.com, 508-322-4000) for more information.
The ocean’s bounty Harvest isn’t just about fruits and vegetables, though. The 20th annual Bowen’s Wharf Seafood Festival offers the opportunity to celebrate a different kind of harvest— that of the sea. This year’s event takes place October 17th and 18th at Bowen’s Wharf in downtown Newport. It runs from 11 am-5 pm on Saturday and Sunday, rain or shine. Admission is free and food and beverages will be for sale at vendor booths. The primary focus of the weekend is seafood, but if lobster, chowder, clam cakes— and a variety of other aquatic dishes—pose a problem, not to worry: there’ll be plenty of land-based food to stimulate the taste buds and fill the stomach. “Most of the restaurants serve some type of seafood, but some serve other dishes to account for allergies and individual taste,” says Shirley Hurlburt, manager of Bowen’s Wharf Company. While food is the main ingredient, it’s only one of the many attractions the festival has to offer, “There will be live music all day, children’s face painting, Simmon’s Farm will be back with their petting zoo, restaurants will be serving menu items, and there will be apple pie, hot and cold cider, and beer and wine sponsors,” says Hurlburt. Last year’s musical stylings included sea songs, blues, folk, and classic rock. With attendance expected anywhere from 6,000-8,000, the festival has grown a lot since its humble origins. “It started out with only a few restaurants, but it has grown into quite an event for locals and visitors,” Hurlburt says. In 2008, there were over a dozen different restaurants and fisherman’s associations serving their specialties. Visit the Bowen’s Wharf website (www. bowenswharf.com) for information on Wharf restaurants and for updates on this year’s festival.
The South Coast Insider / October 2009
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More in line with the ghoulish aspects of Halloween are the Slater Mill Ghost Tours and the Fall River Public Library’s afternoon of Edgar Allan Poe readings. The Ghost Tours at Slater Mill in Pawtucket, RI are in their second season and will continue through November 7th on Fridays and Saturdays at 6:30 and 8:30pm. Explore some of Pawtucket’s paranormal mysteries at the location where a 2008 episode of Ghost Hunters was filmed. Reservations are recommended. Call 401-7258638 or visit www.slatermill.org for more information. “Once Upon A Midnight Dreary: An Afternoon of Poe” is the Fall River Public Library’s tribute to the master of horror and suspense himself. Visit the main branch on October 25th from 2-4pm for an afternoon of dramatic readings of Poe’s work in honor of his 200th birthday. Call 508-324-2700 or visit www.sailsinc.org/fallriver for more information.
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Admire the Seasons New England is famous for its foliage, and the peak time on the South Coast usually runs from Columbus Day weekend to the end of the month. View the changing of seasons and wonder at the cycle of nature while on a drive, at one of the many state forests and parks in area, or in your own back yard.
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COVER STORY
South Coast ghosts by Bob Ekstrom
Christopher Moon lay on his bed in the house where Andrew and Abby Borden were axed to death, now a bed & breakfast. As he rolled towards sleep, a voice from one side told him not to turn. Moon considered the mandate but attributed it to an overactive imagination and resumed his roll. Again the male voice, drawing closer, whispered, ‘Don’t—turn—your—back!’
M
oon is no stranger to bizarre occurrences. In fact, he devotes his career to seeking them out. He’s senior editor of Haunted Times, the Denverbased publication he co-founded in 2004, and was at the Borden residence to conduct a seminar on paranormal investigations with mom Paulette and dad Dennis, both Haunted Times executives. Creepy events come with their turf, which may explain why Moon stayed put and eventually fell asleep, albeit on his back as instructed. But in the middle of the night he awoke, grasping his throat and trying to pull something off it that wasn’t there. The next morning, Moon came to breakfast with marks on his neck that validated his story: they were rope burns. And there was little doubt as to the perpetrator, for the spirit of Andrew Borden had been inhospitable to its guests from the moment they arrived. What’s more, Paulette had had a visitation of her own the night before. “It was a woman telling me not to turn my back,” she recalls of the disembodied voice in her bed. “I believe that it was Abby, because her back was turned when she was hit with the hatchet. Her message was that you can’t turn your back in here. You have to be careful.” The South Coast is full of locations steeped in folklore and seasoned by a heavy hand of paranormal, but most places are the type at which you can turn your back. The redheaded hitchhiker that eternally walks Route 44 has yet to slay a passing motorist, nor has the janitor who died
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in Fairhaven’s Millicent Library so much as drawn the wrath of a noise-policing librarian. More often, ours are benign ghosts, and our experiences—like those of Luann Joly, a paranormal investigator with Whaling City Ghosts—peaceful.
Appearances are not so deceiving On a cold, clear night in February 2007, Joly and her partner were atop Anawan Rock in Rehoboth, the site where Wampanoag chief Anawan surrendered to English settlers during King Philip’s War and was later executed. As the two investigators gathered information, Joly looked back and saw a man in Native American robe standing near the tree line. “He had long hair and he was gray in appearance—misty gray, like you could see through him,” she recalls. “There was a feather in his hair, and he was wrapped in a blanket. Our eyes met. I looked down to take a picture and looked back up, and by that time he was gone.” She later identified the attire as Wampanoag and her apparition’s headdress as belonging to a tribesman of high status, which leads her to believe it was Anawan himself. But as the two looked upon one another, there was never a sense of fear in Joly, nor of aggression in the apparition. In numerous visits since, Joly has captured initially incomprehensible words that were later translated into meaningful phrases such as ‘I am hear, dear!’ from the Wampanoag tongue.
October 2009 / The South Coast Insider
In every appearance, the Moons and Joly are well-grounded and rational folk. They’ve simply encountered unexplainable events many of us haven’t, or at least have interpreted them that way. Such tales that once cast their narrators as loons are now increasingly received with tolerance at a minimum or, more often, embraced as gospel. “There’s a mystery to the universe that we’re fascinated with,” explains Edward Lodi, folklore author, anthologist, historian, and co-publisher of Rock Village Publishing in Middleborough, of our growing proclivity toward belief in the paranormal. “People turn to [the paranormal], seeking something else beyond the material. It gives them hope that there’s something beyond just ordinary existence.” And in Fairhaven, Tim Weisberg is now giving them a voice.
Repository of the paranormal A few minutes past ten on Saturday night. Weisberg slips a pair of headphones over his ears as producer Matt Costa, a.k.a. The Silent Assassin, fades the intro theme to Spooky Southcoast, WBSM’s paranormal program now in its fourth year. Beyond the studio’s large outside viewing window, contented patrons stroll out of the pub next door and couples walk hand-in-hand toward a late-night snack. It’s a setting far-removed from the dark and mysterious world Weisberg explores with his listeners, like some Saturday Night Live sketch in which Azrael Abyss hosts a Goth cable show amid a Frisbee toss in Central Park. Nevertheless, the late night time slot creates the perfect atmosphere for listeners, so much so that Weisberg made it his only demand when he pitched the idea to WBSM Program Director Peter Braley. Weisberg’s team took care of the rest. “When we started the show, we laid down one ground rule,” says Weisberg. “If we take Continued on next page
Andrew and Abby Borden are two of Fall River’s most famous ghosts. Just axe them!
it too seriously, people are going to think we’re crazy. And if we don’t take it seriously enough, people are going to think we’re goofing around. We had to straddle the line, making sure we kept that skeptical edge, yet still making sure people knew that we had a belief in the paranormal.” Weisberg, along with Costa and on-air science advisor Matt Moniz, have become a repository for paranormal news throughout the South Coast. Everything from local folklore to alleged UFOs and alien abductions is reported. Their podcast, which started with 100 listeners back in 2006, is now downloaded nearly three thousand times each day. It’s a role each takes seriously. “We feel like we’re being given the chance to be on the radio and talk about this and not a lot of shows get that opportunity,” says Weisberg. “That puts on us a journalistic integrity that other [internet] shows don’t have to have.” But that is not to say theirs is the only paranormal occupation committed to integrity.
Who You Gonna Call? Growing up, Eric Lavoie wasn’t into ghosts; like many kids, he was interested more in UFO stories. But that all changed after he and his wife, Jeannie, moved into their first home in Fairhaven. Eerie events began to
occur. He’d hear his wife call out for him when she wasn’t even home. Pictures developed with disruptive streaks through them. Overnight guests felt as though they’d been tugged at all night long. One day, while looking for leaks in his garage, Lavoie uncovered a statue hidden behind insulation in the attic space above. “This thing had horns coming out of it, and fangs,” he recalls. “It was the creepiest thing.” He didn’t even want to touch it, let alone leave it for trash collectors. But it had to be gotten rid of. “My genius idea: we built a fireplace in the back and I smashed [the statue] up and threw it into the mix. That’s smart: put the devil with the fire. He was never going to want to leave!” Apparently, he didn’t. The house has had seven different owners since the Lavoies sold it eleven years ago, but the experience kindled an interest within Eric that became the foundation for Dartmouth Anomalies Research Team (DART), his paranormal investigative non-profit. Paranormal investigations are one of the many cottage industries springing from a growing worldwide preoccupation with the unearthly. Lavoie’s DART and Joly’s New Bedford Ghosts each report numerous inquiries per month, with two or three escalating to home investigations. Like most ghost
hunters, neither charges for their services, and although subjects are treated with deference, a heavy dose of objectivity goes into a site visit. “During my walkthrough, I do a quick debunking first,” says Lavoie. “That offends some people, and some people don’t mind. I’m not saying you want to totally disprove somebody; you want to listen first because everybody’s threshold is different when it comes to spirits.” “I don’t look at it as disproving as much as going into it with an open mind and doing the same protocol over and over again, taking what you have in front of you and looking at it,” agrees Joly, who also contends with a seasonality to her walkthroughs. “Winter months are busier than summer months, just because people spend more time in their homes. They’re able to notice if there’s activity going on.”
Paranormal becoming a definite maybe Winter or summer, Lizzie Borden’s house has become a favorite of Christopher Moon. He and his colleagues report experiencing paranormal activity in each of their visits, making this an ideal venue for their two-day ‘Ghost Hunter University’ seminar demonstrating investigative tools and techniques in action. Continued on next page
The South Coast Insider / October 2009
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Continued from previous page
Lizzie today If you’re interested in learning more about the Lizzie legend, here are some timely suggestions. The Fall River Historical Society, is announcing Parallel Lives, a book by Society Curator Michael Martins and Dennis Binnett, Assistant Curator. The large (600 pages) volume, profusely illustrated, containing some never-before published photos, will be available this fall. The Society promises it will give a new look to the old story: “Heretofore, Lizzie A. Borden has been presented in black and white, a one-dimensional character defined by legend and innuendo. Now, for the first time, we meet her as a far more complex, complete individual, whose personal life, albeit private, was one of grace and dignity—despite the specter of suspicion under which she was forced to exist.” This ambitious book is must-have for every Lizzie afficianado. Also, the Historical Society’s lecture series (click on the NEWS tab on their site) lists four lectures in October and November. Each will carefully examine a unique facet of Lizzie’s persona. The lectures are on Oct. 5 (What the Jury Heard, the Evidence in the Trial); Oct. 19 (a psychic’s reading of Lizzie: Her Side of the Story); an actress’s look at the theater-loving Lizzie (Lizzie Borden Live); and on Nov. 2 a filmmaker’s take, The Myth and Media of Lizzie Borden. This continuing series is the most comprehensive look at Lizzie since the 1992 eclectic conference at Bristol Community College. For more information on the book and the lectures, visit www.lizzieborden.org
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The seminars—as with their Haunted Times periodical—are in demand as fascination with and belief in the paranormal remains steady. In a 2006 survey of 429 college students, two Oklahoma-based academicians found that 40% believed in haunted houses. While that number was consistent with a similar study in 2001, absolute skeptics decreased from 41% to 34% in that time. The 2006 results are supported with surveys conducted by Blockbuster in 2007 and Baylor University in 2008, the latter finding that 37% definitely believe in hauntings and 20% think it possible to communicate with the dead.
Voices beyond the grave Talking to the dead is an idea perhaps as old as belief in otherworldly spirits. In 1920, Thomas Edison told a reporter of his plans to build a “ghost telephone,” and advances in technology led to the idea of electronic voice phenomenon—the direct electronic impression of spiritual voices that the human ear cannot detect onto recording equipment that the human ear cannot detect—in the 1950s. DART’s Lavoie has captured his share of EVPs, which usually reveal themselves only after audiotapes are reviewed. He invited The South Coast Insider for a listen, and amid a lot of static resembling a radio stuck between stations, an eerie whispering could be heard and its words were clear: Killer! Killer baby! The sounds were captured in Lavoie’s first home, just after his daughter was born. Today, technology has taken EVPs to an interactive level. Christopher Moon is a nationally renowned operator of a device he calls the “Telephone to the Dead,” an invention he directly ascribes to Edison, although the Edison National Historical Park website reports the inventor later admitted to fabricating his plan of a ghost phone. “It’s better known as ‘Frank’s Box,’” Moon persists. “I started researching the box in 2004, and at the time nobody believed there was anything to it. I was able to find that it in fact does work, but doesn’t work
October 2009 / The South Coast Insider
on its own. You have to have a medium on one side who is able to power and interpret the device. And it needs to be a specific device built by Frank Sumption. It can’t be a knockoff because they just don’t work the same way.” The device built by Sumption, a Colorado electronics technician, is a modified radio that continually scans AM and FM frequencies picking up raw audio, ostensibly to build an inventory of sounds—including the human voice—from which spirit energy can form words to communicate. And for Moon, who also uses the device to speak to lost loved ones for hire, there is no more energized communicant than Lizzie Borden’s father, Andrew. “Every time we use the Telephone to the Dead, Andrew Borden comes through, and he is an angry, bitter man. The anger has to do with the fact that we have a device that can communicate with the spirits that were here at the time of the murders, and the main goal of Andrew Borden is to hide what really took place here. He’s adamant that he’s not going to let these secrets go.” Dr. Michael Shermer, the Founding Publisher of Skeptic magazine, Executive Director of the Skeptics Society, and lecturer at Caltech, put Frank’s Box to the test in a January 2009 feature for Scientific American, where he is also a contributing editor. The box did not hold up to his scrutiny. “Frank’s Box is the perfect example of what I call ‘patternicity’: the tendency to find meaningful patterns in random noise,” he explained in an e-mail to The South Coast Insider. “Most of our perception of the paranormal is driven by such patternicities. “The box is just a crude radio receiver with a device that cycles through frequencies at just the right speed to pick up word and sentence fragments in microseconds —enough to register consciously so that the brain knows it has heard something, but not clear enough that the brain knows it is obviously just some radio guy talking.” Proponents argue the box’s authenticity based on its ability to maintain interactive conversation, an assertion countered by Shermer. “With the psychological setup that
The main goal of Andrew Borden is to hide what really took place here. He’s adamant that he’s not going to let these secrets go.
one is about to hear from a lost loved one and the power of belief and expectation, the random noises become meaningful dialogue.” But Moon has one additional bit of evidence supporting his case. “People do come back and say, ‘Are you sure you’re really getting voices from beyond?’ [With] radio frequency, we have FCC regulations, and the language that comes from Andrew Borden’s mouth is so far beyond anything that would be allowed on the radio that it’s really a confirmation for me.”
A true ghost story Lee Ann Wilber has seen enough of Moon’s work with Frank’s Box, as well as countless other occurrences over her five years owning the Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast, to become a believer. The reformed skeptic started with indulgent petitions to Andrew Borden’s spirit to spare the light bulbs she chided it for burning out, but now she fully embraces the paranormal activities that come with running New England’s most famous haunt. Wilbur hosts Moon’s Ghost Hunter University three times annually, and hauntrelated activities account for 40% of her business. For anyone questioning her epiphany, Wilbur challenges them to walk a mile in her shoes. “They haven’t experienced what I have. I’ve lived with [ghosts] for five years. There’s something in this house.” Maybe you’ve had a paranormal experience, and maybe you think the whole subject is nothing more than the stuff of which a good Halloween flick is made. More likely, you’re among the burgeoning masses who consider the paranormal a distinct possibility. Wherever you fall, there can be no doubt of the existence of true ghost stories. “My definition of a true ghost story is not one that is proved true; it’s one that people believe true,” says Rock Village Publishing’s Edward Lodi. “Whether it was really a ghost or some other thing you mistook for a ghost, a true ghost story is one that someone believes.” “There is no such thing as the paranormal or the supernatural,” insists Dr. Shermer. “There’s just the normal, the natural, and mysteries we have yet to explain.” I’ll try to take assurance from Shermer’s words as our neighbors exchange ghost stories around the campfire come Halloween, but I’ve got a feeling I’ll sleep with one eye open to the possibility just the same.
O
n a rainy Saturday evening, Harle Tinney leads a capacity crowd through the hallways and period-appointed rooms of Belcourt Castle, her home of nearly 50 years and one of Newport’s most notorious haunts. Nary an eye among the more than 40 pairs fixed on her so much as blinks while Tinney recounts her first experience in the castle when, as a newlywed, she was awakened by a figure in a dark, flowing robe near the foot of her bed that exited through the wall. She then fingers the culprit—the incarnation of an antique monk statue that now sits atop a ten century-old wooden chest in the chapel. The monk is one of seventeen spirits Tinney has cataloged in the castle, and she enthralls visitors with accounts of each during her ghost tours, which run from Wednesdays through Saturdays through Halloween. But this year, Tinney is also planning something special. “It’s a ballet being specially written for Belcourt,” she says of the world premiere of Island Moving Company’s Dracula Ballet. A total of six performances are scheduled from October 16 through 18, with a limited capacity due to the nature of the ballet. “There will be dancers interacting with the audience. There will be audience members as part of the act. This is going to be an event,” she promises. Tinney is also hosting her annual Halloween Bash on October 23 and 24 in the grand ballroom. With its 15th Century battle armor and two salt chairs permanently occupied by unseen guests, the ballroom
is reputed to be the most haunted in the castle. Get more info on her website (www.BelcourtCastle.com), or call 401-8460669. And there’s plenty of other haunted happenings this month. Here are some hosted by the folks who shared their stories with us. Lee Ann Wilbur invites you over for a good night’s sleep at the Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast in Fall River, although we’re not guaranteeing that. She also has daily tours and a great museum. Visit her at www. Lizzie-Borden.com, or call at (508) 6757333 but be warned: Andrew Borden still communicates by telephone! Edward Lodi will be in Lakeville at the Fellowship Hall of the United Church of Christ on October 28 (7 PM, no charge) to regale attendees with tales of haunted cranberry bogs and read from his new anthology (Moonlight Harvest: Haunted Cranberry Bogs of Cape Cod and Plymouth County, Rock Village Publishing). For more info, email Yolanda at RockVillage@verizon.net, or call her at 508-946-4738. Tim Weisberg and his team of Matt Costa and Matt Moniz will have a full schedule of programming all month on Spooky Southcoast (WBSM, AM 1420). Check back for upcoming guests and features at www. SpookySouthcoast.com. Christopher, Dennis, and Paulette Moon aren’t local, but Haunted Times magazine is only a click away at HauntedTimes.com. Register for the next Ghost Hunter University seminar at 877-880-6232.
The South Coast Insider / October 2009
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October 2009 / The South Coast Insider
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COVER STORY
The charming Celtic Cricket By Stacie Charbonneau Hess
Charles Cochrane is not a Warlock, so don’t call him one. He is a self-proclaimed male Witch, an important distinction. The word Warlock carries with it a connotation of evil, and although Cochrane admits that “there’s good and bad in everything,” his kind of magic intends to do good. “A modern-day witch does a lot of charity work,” says Cochrane, whose public witch name is the Celtic Cricket. “We donate canned goods to help the pet shelter or the food pantry. We like to give back to the earth. We honor a lifestyle in tune with the changing of the seasons.”
This from a witch? I’m sorry, but I can’t get the picture of the Wicked Witch of the West out of my mind when I hear the word “witch.” If anyone could dispel this vision, however, it has to be the jovial Chuck Cochrane. His eyes twinkle when he talks to me, as if he’s letting me in on a little secret. He talks to his little pug-nosed puppy named Flower as if she can understand every word he says;
Cast a spell As told by Charles Cochrane, AKA The Celtic Cricket On Halloween Night, when the veil is thin between the living and the dead, The Celtic Cricket likes to perform spells and honor the dead. He suggests the following spell to help you get rid of bad or unwanted habits. “At the stroke of midnight, on Halloween night, cut an apple in half. Speak into both halves, everything you wish to get rid of. Cigarette smoking, gambling…whatever it is. And then put the apple together, bury it in the earth. “Stamp on it three times, and then walk away. This is symbolic of you saying, I no longer need this. In the ground it goes.”
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“Catch your breath, dear,” he advised her, during one of her breathing fits. His advice is serene, seems founded on common sense and nature. He sounds more like a yogi than a witch. I’m intrigued. I met Cochrane on a Tuesday afternoon at his shop, The Silver Willow, on Route 6 in Rehoboth. On the outside, the modest, white one story building looks just a little mysterious, with silvery curtains hiding the wares inside, but other than that, it’s pretty nondescript. The inside, however, is filled from ceiling to floor with interesting paraphernalia relating to the supernatural: herbs for spells and medicinal uses, books on New Age healing, crystal balls, charms, and even Cochrane’s unique brand of fortunetelling using Irish hazelnuts carved with little symbols.
Irish traditions Cochrane practices a form of Irish witchcraft, inspired by his open-minded Irish Catholic grandparents, who were interested
October 2009 / The South Coast Insider
in communicating with the afterlife. They told Cochrane folklore tales when he was a child and encouraged him to explore the supernatural activity that they sensed in their antique home. They honored deceased relatives through prayer, talking about the dead constantly and even sometimes leaving a plate of food outside for them. Cochrane’s grandparents didn’t just accept that ghosts surely did exist, they embraced this notion, and lived their lives always reminiscing and remembering those who had come before. Cochrane’s witch shop carries out the traditions he learned as a child, and takes them a step further. In addition to being an ordained minister, Cochrane gives psychic readings, performs séance, gives house blessings and baby blessings and takes groups on local walks to forage for wild herbs, which he dries for teas, ointments, and yes, spells. Cochrane is quick to dispel the notion that spells are scary. “It’s not Hollywood. We don’t fly on
Natural cures Mullen leaf: good in tea, because it breaks up congestion (phlegm), and can be mixed with green tea or peppermint Mullen flower: an oil for children’s ear infections Red Clover: helps purify the blood, rebuild the blood Cat Nip: catnip tea is relaxing at bedtime, or anytime Elderberry: boosts the immune system White Willow Bark: known as “witches aspirin” taken as a tea for a headache Thyme: the original “Listerine”—an antiseptic, also keeps mosquitoes away and fleas off dogs
brooms. We don’t cast evil spells on people. We use spells for good luck. We use wands and crystals.” In addition to spells, Cochrane, a certified herbalist, also uses age-old remedies to cure everything from a child’s earache to an adult headache—all without over the counter drugs. Cochrane lives his life in tune with nature and nature’s bounty, and practices the suggestions he meets out to his customers. On the day we meet, he is sipping a tea concocted by hand to help him get rid of congestion. “I’m prone to pneumonia,” he explains. So in addition to relying on herbal medicine, Cochrane still won’t pass up the flu shot. He’s flexible, and hard to label, just like his store. “We’re definitely a New Age witch shop, there’s no doubt about that.”
A special time The Silver Willow loves this time of year, with Halloween looming and darkness shrouding the days more and more quickly. People are more interested than ever in the supernatural. Besides, quips Charles, “Everybody wants to be a witch on Halloween.” The month of October – and autumn in general – is a special. even sacred time for witches, explains Cochrane. Summer fades and is replaced by the chilly winds of fall, but something else happens in the spirit world. “The veil between the worlds of the living and the dead is very thin (at this time of year), and that’s why spirit communication is extremely popular at Halloween.” The Celtic New Year traditionally began around the end of October. The tradition of dressing up as ghouls and roaming the streets is derived from the belief that souls would walk the earth on this night, looking for nourishment. In our part of the world, the lifting of the veil is made visible. “In New England we’re very blessed, because by the end of October you definitely see the seasonal change. The leaves are falling, it gets colder, Mother Nature’s going to sleep. You can see her kind of dying off. It’s that cool, crisp air. Our bodies start getting into the rhythm of the days getting shorter.” So, I know you’ve been wanting to ask the question: How does a witch celebrate Halloween?
Would you believe he goes apple picking? “One of the first things I like to do is go apple picking,” says Cochrane. He puts the apples on his altar at home and blesses them, then brings them to relatives’ grave sites “It’s important to let our deceased relatives know that we are still thinking about them,” says Cochrane. We can also do this, he says, by inviting them to come into our dreams, or honoring them by lighting a candle in front of their photographs, or creating a shrine. Autumn is also a good time to let go of things you no longer need. “Forget spring!” says Cochrane emphatically, “Clean NOW!” He gives me a spell to help me let go of bad habits and things I don’t need, but I have to wait until the stroke of midnight on Halloween night. That will give me plenty of time to make a long list.
Tarot-Scopes from The Celtic Cricket
A witch’s touch
Cancer – Hard work is starting to pay off. Many people will be interested in what you have to offer. Watch out for shady characters and don’t get overemotional.
Although during our interview Cochrane doesn’t necessarily seem very “witchy,” perhaps that’s because I haven’t seen him in his role as the Celtic Cricket. He gives me a free reading as I leave, and makes me feel pensive and positive about the coming year. The Silver Willow does offer a lot of other, more in-depth services to those brave seekers of communication with the deceased: séances, using Oujai boards, Tarot Readings, crystal ball readings and mediumship are a few. Cochrane shares a story about one séance that sort of freaked him out. The deceased was angry (someone had hit him while he was riding a motorcycle). He said he missed his wife and children. Cochrane had a hard time figuring out what to say to the man’s widow, but felt he couldn’t lie. He told her what happened, and suggested she go visit his gravesite and talk with him sometimes. But most of the séances and experiences with the dead are freeing, and even funny, he assures me. “I love a séance with a good sense of huumaah,” says the Celtic Cricket, in his thick Boston accent. Very un-spooky. Cochrane keeps it light. For a witch, he’s awfully funny. Nothing at all like that green-faced lady riding the bicycle. The Silver Willow, 54 Fall River Ave., Rehoboth. 508-336-8813.
We use the tarot to predict your horoscope. If you’d like more in depth & personal information, stop by our shop —The Silver Willow in Rehoboth, MA for a private tarot reading. Aries – Pay attention to your finances this month even if you are on a tight budget. It is time to reevaluate your financial state. There may be an unsettled debt that could come back to haunt you. There will be plenty of time to shop later. Taurus – Everyone seems to be dumping there problems on you. Don’t let them pull you apart. Take care of #1 this month. It is a good time to avoid gossip. Pay more attention to your personal goals and focus more on the workplace Gemini – Everything is about relationships. Learn to understand your true self to make the best possible decisions. Don’t be full of yourself or you might find yourself restricted. If you jump in fast, it certainly won’t last.
Leo – You may have been down but your certainly not out. Those against you have lost and it appears that the weights are being lifted off of your shoulders. Your energy level should be coming back to normal. Nothing will stand in your way,. Virgo – You have a fresh new outlook on life. You have taken some time to grow and are ready to join the real world. Athough there may be big challenges in the workplace you will adjust just fine. Libra – Life is testing you with challenges with your everyday life. You need to look for the silver lining as each obstacle arises. Keep telling yourself you will persevere. Scorpio – It seems you’re not investing enough time into your relationships. It is a good time to tell your love interests how much you appreciate them. Wine them and dine them and be honest with your feelings. Sagittarius – So you feel like you missed out on a good opportunity, don’t lose faith; better thing are on their way. You need a vacation to recuperate; even a weekend getaway will help put you back into focus. Capricorn – This is a good month to focus more on the workplace and finances instead of relationships. You are very close to achieving your goals. The brass ring is right in front of you. Stay focused and you will grab it don’t second guess yourself. Onward and upward! Aquarius – The stress is flowing into your life like a pretty waterfall but don’t let it keep you up at night. Pay attention to everything. Some may let a secret slip. Feel free to confront it and nip it in the bud. Pisces – This is a good time to end dead end jobs and bad relationships. Don’t keep surrounding yourself with negativity. It is hard to move on but you know it is the right thing to do.
The South Coast Insider / October 2009
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THINGS TO DO
Celebrate Oktoberfest by Stacie Charbonneau Hess
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hose Bavarians know beer. In the year 1516, Duke William IV issued the Reinheitsgebot, the “Bavarian Purity Law”, which decrees that beer shall only have three ingredients: water, hops and barley. Because of this strict adherence to the law, German beer has long been known for its extraordinary body and delicious taste, making it even today accepted as the best beer in the world. The Germans love beer soooo much, there is a weeks-long celebration centered around the beverage, Oktoberfest. To get an idea of just how much Germans value beer, consider the Dutch word Blembe. It means both “should not exist” and “bad beer.” If you’ve got enough credit on your Visa card or an endless amount of cash in the bank (as well as a passport, of course), you could go to Munich for the annual hedonistic tradition. But since we are in a recession, and we are all counting our Euros, may I suggest a celebration inspired by the original event, but a little closer to home? How about Oktoberfest at Redlefsen’s restaurant in Bristol, Rhode Island?
Bristol brewhouse
Redlefsen’s serves German and Alsatian-inspired food all year round, but changes the menu to pay special attention to the autumnal feast that celebrates Bavarian “liquid gold” during the month of October. While the Munich version of Oktoberfest lasts only a couple of weeks (this year from September 19th through October 4th), the Redlfesen’s version lasts a whole month and a day, beginning on September 30th.
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October 2009 / The South Coast Insider
A month long beer fest? Please. If you can’t get your husband to take you out to dinner this October, girls, well, then I guess you’re married to a monk. Wait a minute! Monks love beer. In celebrating Oktoberfest, Jeff Guertler, proprietor of Redlefsen’s, is following a family tradition that started long before he took the helm as owner and manager two years ago. “We’ve been open for twenty years, and well, we’ve been doing Oktoberfest for nineteen,” he says. “It’s a good time. Absolutely. We’ve got some photo collages on the wall of past Oktoberfests. Bavarian dancers perform. We’ve got accordion music playing. Everyone has a great time.” Oktoberfest seems to be all about having a good time. The official Oktoberfest website asserts that in Munich, “As usual, over 6 million liters of beer will be drunk this year.” To patrons, a “Mass” of beer, equivalent to one litre, costs Redlefsen’s owner, Jeff Guertler, pours “liquid gold.”
between 8,30 Euros and 8,60 Euros (about $12.50). Here again, good news for South Coast residents. Three different beers at Redlefsen’s are available in one liter “boot” mugs: Warsteiner Oktoberfest, Warsteiner Pilsner (the #1 selling beer in Germany), and the Dunkel (a dark German lager), and the most you’ll pay is $10.50. Of course, you could drink a smaller portion; the beer is available in daintier size mugs of .25, .4 and .5 liters, too. But don’t just come for the beer. Redlefsen’s creates a traditional menu of German favorites, replacing their normal menu during the entire run of Oktoberfest. Don’t worry if you can’t pronounce the appetizers such as Zweibelkuchen (German onion pie) or Wild Mushroom Pfannkuchen (savory crepe with béchamel and parmesan), the servers will go easy on you. You can always point. After a few beers, you’ll be making up your own pronunciations. (Just make sure you have one non-Bavarian available to drive you home). Entrees include Sauerbraten (premium beef with a rich red wine sauce), Weiner Schnitzel (veal cutlet with anchovies, caper and lemon), and Kassler Ripchen (porkchop with sauerkraut and applesauce). Lots of meat, here, people. Vegetarians can make a wonderful meal of the various appetizers, such the mushroom crepe, butternut squash soup, and mixed greens. There’s also a more Americanized entrée of Roast Chicken on the menu for those less adventurous diners, but with a lingonberryraisin chutney to still honor the festive celebration. Even the desserts sound like they are straight from Deutschland. Sandkuchen (roasted pears, almonds and sweet ‘n’ sour cream) 0, x223 and Warm Apple Strudel will finish off your Bavarian feast. pm performance tonight
rmance on Sept. 30 before show; limit 1 per person
ow
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Munich music & more
If in Munich, don’t forget the entertainment. The Munich Oktoberfest has crazy rides, such as this year’s most talked about, the “Flip Fly.” Named after a dizzying Parisian street, the website says it “will seriously test your orientation skills: Not only will you take a seat in a giant swingboat, but the little gondola you’re sitting in will spin into every direction during the ride, tossing you into pretty much every direction without warning.” In addition to amusement park-style rides, singers, dancers and musicians of all sorts round out the event, strolling about to entertain and accompany you while you drink your liquid gold. Redlefsen’s restaurant features a tamer roster of entertainment: though the “Alpenblumen Bavarian Dancers” may inspire you too to OOM-PAH-PAH and get into the spirit of the season. Whatever day in the glorious, colorful month of October you decide to dine at Redlefsen’s in Bristol, be sure to call ahead with reservations. They are required for the two seatings each night, at 6 pm and 8 pm. Redlefsen’s is located in heart of Bristol at 444 Thames Street. Call 401-254-1188. All info regarding the Munich Oktoberfest can be found on the official event website, www.oktoberfest.de/en/ Details on Redlefsen’s are at www.redlefsens.com
trinity repertory company Oct. 16– Nov. 22
a romantic comedy by Steven Dietz WWW.TRINITYREP.COM �401� 351�4242 • 201 WASHINGTON ST. PROVIDENCE • RI SEASON SPONSOR
The South Coast Insider / October 2009
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End-of-summer Blast benefits Community
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About 400 residents attended Summer’s Last Blast V recently in a new location—River Rock Farm, the Westport home of the Alvord and Schmid Families. The fundraiser celebrated the Community Foundation’s 14 years of service to the community and the end of summer. Many thanks to Joel & Lisa Alvord and Paul & Tina Schmid for hosting and chairing the celebration, along with honorary chairs Margie & Michael Baldwin, Bill & Mary Jean Blasdale, Paul & Donna Downey, Richard & Betty Fitton, Gilbert & Timmy Shapiro, and Sumner James & Liz Waring as to the many sponsors that helped make Summer’s Last Blast V a success, including Gold Sponsors Joseph Barry Co. LLC, Sovereign Bank, and Old North Advisors. Since 1995, area residents have been turning to the Community Foundation to make their philanthropic giving as effective as possible. CFSEMA is a public charity serving thousands of people who share a common concern—improving the quality of life in Southeastern Massachusetts. To date, the Community Foundation has distributed over $7 million from 110 funds to humanitarian, educational and cultural organizations in the region. More information about the Foundation can be found at www.cfsema.org
October 2009 / The South Coast Insider
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1. John and Shelley Day
11. Liz Isherwood and John Moore
2. Karin Wood and Peter Bogle
12. Dana and Steve Vaitses
3. Andi and Tom Lyons
13. Victor Santos and Gil Martins
4. Sister Kathy and Sister Pat Harrington
14. Mary Martins and Mary Santos
5. Bill Eccles and Barbara Medeiros
15. Lisa Strattan and Jim Mathis
6. Ed and Ava Lambert
16. Dr. and Mrs. Dennis LaRock
7. Sally Ann Ledbetter and Tyler Masters
17. Julia Westgate Lown and Caroll Lown
8. Robert Ward and Eleanor Jaynes
18. Jay and Laurie Kay
9. Jim Waring, Julia Westgate Lown, Christine Waring and Jeff Davis
9. Maryanna and Sarah Gonet (front), 1 Michelle Huntman and Pam Souza
10. Peter Stone, Laurie and John Bullard
20. Mary and John Chifford The South Coast Insider / October 2009
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BORDERTOWNS
Slater Mill is still an important part of the Pawtucket identity.
Great places in Great Falls by Paul Kandarian
Slater Mill in Pawtucket, to me, was like the Empire State Building to native New Yorkers. Many people who’ve lived in the Big Apple forever haven’t seen it. I grew up in Seekonk, went to Pawtucket all the time as a youngster (shopping at Apex ring a bell for many people?) and not once—not once—had I set foot in Slater Mill, only the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution. I finally did, last year (hey, better late than never, right?) and found the historic site just one of many things you just have to love about Pawtucket, a Rhode Island border town that in particular abuts my native Seekonk and adjacent Attleboro, and offers visitors way more than they might imagine. Slater Mill’s a great a place as any to start, at the “great falls” that the native americans 30
called “Pawtucket,” a site where English ex-pat Samuel Slater created water-powered technology in the form of textile machinery that, simply stated, revolutionized the way the new country made things. The National Historic Landmark is one of the state’s most popular tourist destinations with about 40,000 visits a year by people from 150 countries who apparently knew
October 2009 / The South Coast Insider
more about the place than I did, only living next to it for most of my young life. If you love history, you’ll love Slater Mill —also if you love ghosts, poltergeists and other spooky things that go bump in the night. Now through November, they hold regular ghost tours; they have been spotted here, so tag along some night, you just never know what you might see. Check out www.slatermill.org for all pertinent info.
The arts And if you love the arts, there is so much to love about Pawtucket, it’s hard to know where to start. Just consider that this formerly mostly industrial city is now home to a massive arts movement on all levels, as witnessed
by the Pawtucket Arts Festival that this year was highlighted by The Bob Dylan Show—yes, THE Bob Dylan—where other performers included Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp. In 1998, the state passed a law establishing an arts and entertainment district in an area of Pawtucket that encompasses downtown and the mill district areas – some 300 acres. That kind of foresight has made Pawtucket one of Rhode Island’s places to be for the arts, with galleries, potters, visual artists and the like “reinventing the city with art,” says Herb Weiss, Pawtucket’s economic and cultural affairs officer. “When you think about it, we had artists on the banks of the Blackstone River in mills in 1793, crafting metal machinery used to weave textiles powered by water, we’ve always had artists attracted to us,” Weiss says, adding that the city has now rediscovered its artistic roots “and it’s safe to say we have hundreds of artists in our 70 mills, website designers, architects, potters, visual artists, etc.” Also since 1999, state sales tax exemptions can be obtained for art sold within the arts district for “one-of-a-kind” or limited production works of art, helping the artists who make them and those buying them by saving money on sales tax.
Theatre Without question, the crown in the theatrical scene in Pawtucket is the Gamm Theatre, which the city helped relocate to Pawtucket from Providence, installing the theater company in the century-old Pawtucket Armory, a gothic castle structure, selling it to the Gamm for a buck. It has since become the linchpin in the arts district and is undergoing a multi-million renovation and expansion as it offers a wide range of theatrical productions, which this year includes a double dose of Shakespeare early on, and the classic “The Glass Menagerie” in spring. For the full offering, check out www.gammtheatre.org Slater Memorial Park is here, too, a place that was frankly frightening as a child: It had been a zoo, a very unfriendly place for animals with tiny cages for big beasts, and a truly disgusting monkey house (really, is there any other kind? What can you expect when you confine creatures not that far from us evolutionarily speaking? I’d fling
feces at people, too, if they stuck me in those damn things), but now it is a zoo no more, just a glorious verdant oasis in a busy city.
Pro ball If sports is your thing, it doesn’t get any better than a pro baseball game at McCoy Stadium, home of the Pawtucket Red Sox, the Boston club’s farm team and where many Boston stars first cut their pro teeth. It’s a wonderfully small, well-kept and very clean park, and cheap as hell: Six bucks gets you general admission seats, none of which are lousy. Best bet is the grassy slope in left field where you can stretch out and watch America’s pastime at its best. In a bit of cinematic trivia relating to the city, did you know that Pawtucket has its own Hollywood Walk of Fame…of sorts? In 1995, Providence born director Michael Corrente filmed American Buffalo in Pawtucket with Dustin Hoffman and Dennis Franz. At the end of filming, Hoffman, Franz, Corrente and others put their hands in wet cement on a downtown sidewalk and bingo, instant walk of fame. Rumor has it that Hoffman refused to do the print honors at Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Los Angeles, meaning Pawtucket is the only place to find the Academy Award winning actor’s hand and foot prints, for those so inclined to attach importance to those things.
More Hollywood Pawtucket was the setting for Outside Providence, a 1999 Corrente coming-of-age film that used a lot of exteriors of the city in the film—and one classic interior, the Edge, a very popular 1970s-style nightclub that I frequented often as a young man trolling for females. Brought back many memories of being shot down, and morning-after hangovers. Ah, youth. Good eats abound in Pawtucket as well, and I well recall that the Checker Club was the place I discovered the joy of baked stuffed shrimp. My most favorite current one is Doherty’s East Avenue Irish Pub, dark, moody, serving more kinds of beer than you can shake a shillelagh at, all at reasonable prices. If you haven’t seen Pawtucket, you should, I mean it’s right there, and a helluva lot closer than the Empire State Building. The South Coast Insider / October 2009
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Your home
Be trendy: DIY by Cara Connelly Pimental
Home improvement projecTS can be big, requiring the help of an architect and general contractor, and the specialty services of a plumber, electrician or painter. But home undertakings can also be the ever growing popular variety referred to as DIY—do it yourself. A recent survey of general contractors, painters, floor installers and interior designers in nine states, including Massachusetts, determined current home improvement trends aren’t quite what the manufacturers expected, and may suggest ideas to us. Surprising trends Most professional painters are painting interior walls shades of white; homeowners’ choices for exteriors are earth tones and taupe. Homeowners are choosing hard, stone-like surfaces for kitchen countertops. The second most popular choice is tile, but the preference for countertops is laminates or such solid plastics as Corian and Wilsonart. Tile is usually installed on the backsplash. Tile floors are the most popular choice, according to the survey. Laminate flooring that looks like wood is second. Home improvement specialists are seeing a gradual movement toward natural materials that come from resources that are sustainable, affordable, recyclable and easy to maintain. Large family rooms and sunrooms are popular, along with exercise rooms, master suites, hearth-room kitchens, screened porches and elegant bathrooms. An affordable option is utilizing existing space in a cellar or attic. Recently, we put a loft area in our own home, making the most of unused square footage. We added a small window and skylight and the space is used as a bedroom. We opted for built-ins to make the most of the slanted ceiling where our pre-teen son is unable to stand. A wall mounted T.V. and a type of library/loft ladder are the finishing touches. It’s quickly become a favorite place for everyone in our family.
Paint it yourself According to home-improvement.com, one of the easiest DIY projects is painting. Experts point out there are many different shades 32
and tints of colors, each with a distinctive personality. Your choice depends on many things: trends, size of the room, lighting or childhood influences. A room filled with bright lively colors may energize one person; another person may find the brighter hues exhausting. Studies on color association have been conducted to learn how different colors affect people. Red is the strongest color. Raspberry reds express excitement, high energy, and vibrancy; warmer reds, also inviting, can provide an intimate atmosphere.
New choices The Sherwin-Williams Lifestyle Collection for 2009 offers hues emphasizing how ‘green’ and other colors are making an impact on the world around us. The collection embraces earth-inspired trends. For a casual appearance, nothing beats the translucent texture of color washing. By simply using different color palettes with this versatile technique, you can give your room a fluid calm or the Old World charm of an aged fresco. Traditional combing produces vertical lines that mimic the sheen of opulent silk, creating waves, horizontal stripes, or a stylish, distressed look. You can easily create an aged, antique appearance. Metallic Technique Finish adds an opulent shimmer to your room. When applied over a single basecoat, this special finish makes a bold, stylish statement. A simple technique with a stunning effect, ragging produces a delicate, fabric-like texture with a soft, variegated appearance, perfect for creating an intimate mood.
hardware, a matching red shower curtain. The bathroom will be bold, cheery, modern, and completely new. Jacobean is a design style gaining in popularity, characterized by an ornate Baroque styling including elaborate carving, heavy oak furniture, fine tapestries, and crewel embroidery with ornate flower, leaf, fruit and bird designs in upholstery, draperies, linens, and rugs in addition to dishware, wall coverings, and other home decor objects. Many fine antiques can still be found with the Jacobean fabrics.
Winter preparation According to David Pimental of Pimental Contractors, (pimentalcontractors.com), the outside of your home needs TLC and maintenance too. He recommends checking windows. “Performance windows not only add value to your home but can save on energy bills,” says Pimental. He focuses on low maintenance improvements. Pimental says that building products are not only improving in lower maintenance, but the building industry is becoming more environmentally friendly. He’s convinces that Generation X’ers’ homes will reflect their concerns for our environment. Pimental says, “Synthetic decking materials, railings and clapboard have all improved not only by lasting longer and being virtually maintenance free, but are more environmentally safe materials.” Additional less expensive small scale home improvements include: n
Hanging wall shelves to display anything from picture frames to collectables.
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Worth considering The trend in the next color wave is eye-catching pinks, blues and greens, often combined with an industrial look like concrete and stainless-steel grays. Wallpaper is making a comeback, and wall and door murals are gaining in popularity. Updating an outdated bathroom benefits everyone who uses it, and adds considerable value to your home. According to www.homestylesource.com/, pulling in energetic colors is one way to achieve this transformation. Start by painting the walls in shades of purple, wine, green, and periwinkle. Add new contemporary
October 2009 / The South Coast Insider
Whatever you decide to do, roll up your sleeves, be creative, and have fun!
Tips from South Coast experts Between the economy and weather, sometimes you’re better off just staying home. And if you’re going to be inside, you might as well like what you see and be comfortable. We asked some experts in the home improvement industry to provide The Insider with some tips, trends and tools. Do it yourself Pattie MacMillen, Ecin Beading, Fall River: What I’m finding is that people are trying to make due with what they already own. They are, however, trying to improve it buy adding slipcovers, decorative pillows, new window treatments, paint, etc. At this point, they are trying to avoid any big ticket item purchases.
Victoria Fonseca, Revival, Bristol: There’s a rule in decorating that says, “Every room can use a touch of black” and even in rich jewel toned rooms, black adds sophistication and elegance-but to get real drama there is nothing as striking as black and white.
Go natural Grey Geyer, GTG Construction, Swansea:
Diana Cole, www.theRightBrush.com: Ergonomic tools are in! And one of the most exciting innovations is The Right Brush, a 2 1/2 inch “cut in” paintbrush. The handle, at a right angle to the bristles, allows the hand a maximum gripping area for comfort and greater control.
Charlie McConnell, Sticks, Stones & Stars, Westport: Unique local paintings and photography available can fill that empty space on your wall! We also feature one of a kind glass and clay sculptural pieces in a wide variety of glazes to fit your décor! We also offer a collection of coffee mugs, candy dishes, vases and other functional items to complete your redecorating needs.
We’re seeing a lot of historical wood being used for kitchen counters and tops/ People are going back to the exotic woods; cherry, walnut and chestnut. The wood plank counter top is pretty big in the high end area similar to what you’d see in restaurants and kitchens in the 40s and 50s.
Kristine Burke, Armand’s Carpet, Fall River: Hardwoods are popular. The exotic woods —for example Brazilian cherry, Brazilian walnut, tiger wood and mahogany—are the trend right now. As far as carpets go —Mohawk has the new Smart Strand with Dupont Sorona. It’s great for residential and is lifetime stain resistant. It’s environmentally friendly and contains 37% renewable sourced ingredients. Healthy Home is another green product and goes easy on the environment too.
Find alternatives Bob Cabral, Ash Away, N. Darthmouth/Middletown: Consumers are looking for an alternative to high unpredictable oil prices. We are going green. Wind and solar seem to get all the mention, but wood and pellets are more often the choice for home heating. The Federal Government has a tax credit of up to $1500 for the purchase of wood or pellet stoves with 75% efficiency or greater.
Roland Valois, R.P. Valois & Company, N. Dartmouth: New home construction is slow but people are still investing in home improvements that make their homes more comfortable and easier to maintain. We are also seeing many baby boomers starting to plan for their retirement years by constructing first floor master suites and other improvements which will allow them to remain in their homes well into old age.
Raymond Melanson, Master electrician, Swansea: You can’t help but go green. It’s a win-win Continued on next page
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Continued from previous page situation when you can help the environment by reducing your carbon footprint and save on your utility bill. Small changes from fluorescent or LED bulbs, programmable thermostats to energy star rated appliances can make major differences on utility costs. Check your utility provider to take advantage of rebates and incentives.
Art Noveau inspired shapes and patterns, paisleys, geometrics, floral, botanicals, animal prints and birds. Don’t know what color to choose? Yellow is the color for this year’s decorating palettes, along with Moss green. Slate and charcoal grays are the new neutrals. Lavender is gaining popularity.
Mike Byrnes, Olde China Trader, Bristol:
Consider replacing older systems with the new high efficiency units. The Federal Government. is offering a $1,500 Tax Credit plus the Utility Companies Rebates.
Classic Chinese styles of both porcelains and furniture complement and add to virtually every style of decor from early American to contemporary. The craftsmanship, measured proportion and fine lines of Chinese pieces go well any place any time. Chinese antiques make valued possessions or unique and memorable gifts.
Get a great deal
David Frezza, J&J Materials, Rehoboth:
Christopher Morra, National Security, Providence:
The outdoor trends we have seen this year have really been fire pits, outdoor kitchens are huge right now, as well as outdoor lighting.
George R. Mercier, GM Refrigeration, Fall River:
In today’s economy, security is so important along with getting the best service and equipment your money can buy. Be prepared and be proactive.
Bill Bachant, Builders of Wareham: This 26 year old construction business has seen a slow down in work. We specialize in building and remodeling coastal homes which require different materials and methods of construction. Right now there are great deals in remodeling and custom work.
Just relax David Turk, FMC Ice Sports, Pembroke: The Bruins FUNdamentals Beginner Hockey School’s goal is to teach the fundamentals of ice hockey through various drills, personalized instruction and game simulation, while ensuring that each and every skater is having as much fun as possible! It’s offered at both the Fall River and New Bedford rinks.
Susan Gurry, Horner Millwork, Somerset We’re seeing more activity with customers looking for prices, but some are still holding back on major home improvement projects. With continued signs of an improving economy, people should feel more comfortable and start making these purchases. This combined with the recent up tick in housing starts makes us very optimistic about 2010.
Try something new Paula Rodrigues, Time & Thyme Again, Bristol: Want to make a change? Try Art Deco and
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October 2009 / The South Coast Insider
Louise Hill and Jim Sabra, Equity Real-Estate, Westport: We feel that with so many conflicting signals within the local markets, it’s difficult to grasp our true position here in South Coast, but we’re optimistic that the worst is finally behind us! Seemingly, however, we’re turning a corner as the trend continues to stabilize. Mortgage interest rates have fallen closer to 5% recently and the back-tobasics approach in area lending institutions promises a steady (although modest) recovery.
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The South Coast Insider / October 2009
35
THINGS TO DO
Fall treasures Jeff Bridgman Antiques
a season for antiques by Jackie Sideli
Fall is an excellent time to go and search for antiques. The weather is cool, and there are lots of outdoor shows to pick from in an easy drive from the South Coast area. For some of these events, a longer drive might be necessary, but it will be worth it. There never has been a better time to buy antiques. Every time I go to a show or auction, there is so much fine quality 19thCentury furniture for sale—it is priced right. Really good quality paintings are a good buy right now, as is painted country furniture , popular in New England in the 19th-Century. If you are furnishing a house, or have a yen to start a collection, now is the time.
Follow your heart Pay attention to whatever speaks to you. About twenty years ago , I started to collect vintage photography. This collection has grown into a nice side business, with some of the photos, signed by known photographers, worth hundreds of dollars. 36
A few years ago, an antiques dealer named Jeff Bridgman—his business appropriately enough is “Jeff Bridgman American Antiques”—decided to focus on American Flags as his specialty. The photo above is from his inventory. From his antiques store in York, PA Jeff has turned his passion into a national sensation, with images of his wonderful and very desirable old flags in magazines, newspaper reports, and of course, in private collections. About thirty five years ago a pair of young antiques dealers were searching around this part of New England, where so much great stuff is found. These youngsters wandered into a now deceased antique dealers shop
October 2009 / The South Coast Insider
in Dartmouth, MA. There standing in the gallery was a stunning Liberty Weathervane, made of copper , and holding a flag. The couple bought the vane, for $3,500, which at that time was a great deal of money, and immediately sold it to a pair of older collectors for a handsome profit. This event kicked off a lifetime of chasing after wonderful American Iconic Folk Artand the pair pursue it to this day, following their hearts and enjoying every moment. There are many levels of collecting, and all of them are fun. If you have a limited budget, seek what ‘speaks’ to you, and go from there. Look on the internet—check out Ebay—that is really fun—and maybe you can turn your favorite finds into a business. Whatever you do, start now to enrich your life with a hobby that will guarantee you will never be bored. I can vouch for that. Check out the antiques shows listed here, and if something seems like a long ride, remember that nothing beats a long ride on a leaf-peeping day in the fall.
Antiques Shows
Lighthouse Promotions Columbus Day
Fall 2009
Antiques
October 2-4 – Ludlow, VT
Show & Sale
Ludlow Antique Show and Sale. Black River High School. Call Ann Firkey, 802-2267574 or Carol Baranowski, 802-226-7842.
October 10-11 – Kennebunkport, ME Avatar Antique Show & Sale. American Legion Hall-Post 159. Rt. 9. Call 207-2510585.
October 12 – Swansea, MA Columbus Day Antiques Show & Sale. Venus de Milo Restaurant. Route 6. 11am4pm. Early Buyer’s Preview 10am. Lighthouse Promotions.
Monday, October 12, 2009 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Venus de Milo Restaurant Route 6 - Swansea, Mass. Upcoming Shows: New Year’s Day, January 1, 2010 Early buyer’s preview – 10 A.M. $10.00 each
October 10-11 – Hartford, CT 11th Annual Hartford Antique Arms Show. Ct. Expo Center. www.hartfordshow.com
Ballet • Tap • Jazz Hip Hop • Acrobatics Irish Step • Pointe Lyrical • Modern • Irish Step Ballroom • Vocal & Piano Classes just started, register for any of the above classes today. Zumba classes Wednesday 9-10 a.m. and starting Oct. 3rd also Saturday 10:30-11:30 a.m Ballroom Group Classes starting Wednesday, October 7th teaching the Foxtrot & Swing
218 Shove Street • Fall River, MA
www.ChristinesAcademy.com
Admission $6.00 each With this ad, admit 2 at $5.00 each
October 10 – Eastham, MA
Celebrating our 20th Anniversary
508-675-0029
Eastham Historical Society’s Fall 2009 Outdoor Antiques Market. 1869 Schoolhouse and Museum Grounds. Rain date Oct. 11. visit www.easthamhistorical.org
October 17-18 – Wilmington, MA Greater Boston Antiques Festival. Shriner’s Auditorium. 99 Fordham Rd. www.neantiqueshows.com
October 23-25 – Manchester, NH Coin and Currency Expo. Radisson Hotel, Center of New Hampshire. 700 Elm Street. www.nhcoinexpo.com.
November 1 – Bath, ME Bath Antiques Shows. Bath Middle School. Call Polly, 207-443-8983.
November 6-7 – Concord, MA
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40th Annual Concord Antiques Show and Sale. Trinitarian Congregational Church. 54 Walden Street. www.triconchurch.org.
November 22 – Dedham, MA
— Established 1938 — Join Donald Trump in his newest and possibly biggest venture yet
Greater Boston Antique & Collectible Toy Show. Holiday Inn. Junction Rte. 1 and 128/95. www.bostontoyshow.com
Get ready for the Revolution November 1st
October-April – Milford, NH
Call 508 971-5799 to find out about our next open seminar in Your Area.
Hampshire Hills Sports and Fitness Club, 50 Emerson Road. www.MilfordAntiqueShow.com
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The South Coast Insider / October 2009
37
FOOD NOTES
by Elizabeth Morse Read
When the economy’s shaky and everyone’s trying to cut costs, it’s time to make changes. But sometimes even simple changes can not only save you money, but bring together your family and friends around the kitchen for food, friendship and fun times. You don’t have to be a gourmet cook to create nutritious, delicious and cost-effective meals. Follow these simple suggestions, change a few shopping/cooking habits, and you’ll have happy folk around your table every day. If you don’t have one already, invest in a freezer. Breads, cheeses, cooked rice and pasta, not to mention precooked meats, sauces, chili and soups, can be packed in Ziploc bags for easy future meals. The freezer will earn its keep quickly.
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or sauces. Then, when drained and cooled, bag them up in Ziploc® batches for freezing. You can add spices and sauces later to create chili, spaghetti sauce Bolognese, chop suey or tacos. Poach those chicken thighs in the microwave, then freeze them for cacciatore, BBQ, pan frying or shred them for chef’s salads or fajitas.
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Buy foods in bulk when on sale, whether it be canned goods like beans or tomato sauce or five-pound trays of ground beef or chicken thighs. Even dry goods like rice, pasta, cereals, if stored properly, can last a long time.
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Whenever you have the time to cook, cook in bulk. Brown that 5 lbs. of ground beef until no longer pink, adding no spices
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Serve bread at every meal—toast, sandwiches, rolls for sopping up sauce or gravy. Buy day-old whole grain breads and throw them in the freezer. Cheap and tummyfilling.
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October 2009 / The South Coast Insider
Serve more soups, stews or chowders (and freeze half for a later meal-in-a-hurry). Great way to use leftovers, too.
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Instead of buying expensive cuts of meat, switch to less-expensive pot roasts, corned beef that can be slow cooked to perfection—and thinly-sliced leftovers make great sandwiches.
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Behold the lowly egg We’ve been scared off of eating eggs for a long time, and yet this economical nonmeat protein and energy source is a great alternative for careful cooks watching their grocery budgets (see sidebar 1). Keep a bowl of hard-boiled eggs in your ‘fridge for quick breakfasts, snacks, bag lunches or chopped over a chef’s salad. You can fry ‘em, scramble ‘em, make a hearty cheese omelet with salad for dinner or make the poor man’s heaven of French toast on Sunday morning.
Beans, beans, the musical fruit Another economical source of protein and energy is beans, whether dried or canned. When combined with pasta, rice or other carbohydrates, they create a complete non-
meat protein source of budget-stretching and family-pleasing meals. Think chili, pasta e fagioli, Cuban black bean soup, minestrone, burrito mixes – all of which can be made in double batches and frozen for future meals. And always cook double the rice you need—it freezes well and can be reheated quickly. (see sidebar 2)
Cheez, Louise My New York City-bred children consider cheese to be a separate food group. They happily devour fresh mozzarella-tomatopesto salad, nibble on Armenian string cheese with raw veggie slices and pita/ lavash before dinner, or hand-grate hard Peccorino-Romano or Reggiano-Parmesan over pasta, salads and soups. I’ll admit that I have a NYC connection to feed my kids’ addiction (check out Murray’s Cheese shop in Greenwich Village online). But these classic hard cheeses freeze well, last almost forever and can add a “zing” to whatever you’re cooking. Throw out those processed cheese product slices and saw-dust powder canisters of “Parmesan” cheese and keep these real cheese products in your fridge, along with cheddar blocks for cracker snacks. Make omelets, grilled cheese sandwiches, quiche or macand-cheese to die for.
Keep it in a protected area outside, bundle up and savor the flavor of charcoal-grilled foods throughout the year. Scrape the grill thoroughly before you fire up, and sanitize it by wiping it down with a lemon slice. Cut up an inexpensive roast and skewer the marinated chunks for shish kebab. Roast sliced peppers, onions or tomatoes on a mesh basket and freeze half for future meals. Anything you’d cook on the grill in the summer can be cooked on the grill in winter—but if it’s really too cold outside, use your Forman grill in the kitchen. And grilling is a far more healthful method than frying in a pan!
Fresh, frozen or canned? Unless you’re a total fresh-freak, frozen fruits and veggies are just as nutritious as fresh, and much easier to store and use as needed. And, according to a UMass nutritional study, canned goods like tuna, tomatoes etc. are still economical and nutritious alternatives to high-priced off-season fresh foods. But when those fresh perishables like peppers, rhubarb, eggplant, strawberries, sweet corn, zucchini or tomatoes are on sale, buy them up and make a huge batch of freezable sauces and grilled veggies that can be added to any of your future meals.
Small appliances save time and money
Breakfast is most important
Why turn on your oven if you can use the microwave, crockpot, toaster oven, Forman grill or outside BBQ grill to cook in quantity at less energy costs? You can bake potatoes faster in a microwave; you can make soups, stews or St. Paddy’s dinner more economically in a crockpot; you can grill chicken, peppers, onions, sausages more healthfully on a grill. And if you always cook in bulk, you can package and freeze the leftovers for future meals. I use my oven only for baking and holiday roasts. I use my range for boiling water for pasta/rice or steaming or sautéing on simmer for sauces. I haven’t scraped a broiler pan in years. My microwave is for “wet” cooking, my toaster oven for “dry.” And they use up a lot less energy than your average stove/oven.
Lure your family (and, on weekends, your friends) to your kitchen table every morning by insisting on a sit-down breakfast to start them off before school or work. Serve lowsugar dried cereal or oatmeal with lowfat milk/yoghurt, put out a bowl of hard-boiled eggs, some fruit/juice and lots of toast. Make weekend breakfasts/brunches they’ll want to be around for—pancakes, bagels, omelets. And for picky eaters, I’ve never objected to them eating cold pizza, Chinese or Mexican leftovers from the night before. So long as they eat something that includes the major food groups, I’m a happy Mom. So, you can stretch your dollars, shrink your waistline, eat more healthful foods and get everyone around the table. Drive past the fast food restaurants and throw out the take-out menus. Instead of meeting friends at a restaurant, invite them for brunch or a quick home-cooked dinner. Bon appetit!
Fire up the barbie—year-‘round! Who says you have to pack up your outdoor BBQ grill when the weather turns cold?
Entertaining eggs Deviled Eggs Hard boil a dozen eggs, rinse and let cool thoroughly. Carefully peel off shells, slice lengthwise. With a tiny (demi-tasse) spoon, scoop yolks into a separate bowl, trying not to tear the whites. Mash the yolks, add a dollop of mayonnaise and mustard to make a stiff paste. Add paprika or dill weed (good for Christmas!), and carefully refill the hollowed-out whites. Sprinkle with more paprika or dill weed, cover and refrigerate until your guests arrive. If you have torn whites, chop them and sprinkle them as garnish over the salad.
Armenian Easter Eggs I was lucky enough to have an Armenian landlady years ago—here’s one of the many cherished recipes she shared with me.Whenever you peel an onion, save the dry skins in a plastic bag under your sink. Come Easter time, boil down all your collected onion skins in a large pot, then hard-boil white eggs in the soupy water. Not only will the eggs absorb the onion flavor, but the shells will take on an amazing mahogany marbleized pattern. Well worth the experiment!
Multipurpose beans An inexpensive source of fibre, protein and vitamins, canned beans can become a new ingredient in your repertoire of cost-saving recipes. Drain and rinse cans of black beans (for Cuban/Mexican meals), cannellini (white kidney beans for Italian recipes), red kidney beans (for all recipes), chick peas (also called ceci or garbanzo), and/or cut green/ yellow string beans (for soups and salads). Mix and add finely chopped celery and onion. For cold salads or side dish, add a little oil-and-vinegar dressing and refrigerate. Otherwise mix with soups, chili, cooked rice/ pasta or freeze in future-meal serving sizes.
The South Coast Insider / October 2009
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WINE NOTES
Red Wines
a world of value by Alton Long
In these times when many wine lovers are looking for good wines at moderate prices, they find themselves getting wines that don’t meet their expectations or don’t have the character that they have become used to. If this is happening to you, it may be that you are drinking some “jug” wines that are masquerading in regular bottles. A good alternative is to explore the bargain wines of the winemaking areas of the world. Value wines from Australia Both Lindemans and Hardy’s, each part of the beginning of Australia’s wine production, make several nice reds at less than $10. Hardy’s Cabernet Sauvignon is a soft and easy to drink wine with a good medium body and good balance along with a nice aroma and flavors of Black Cherry, Plums and other dark berries. Lindemans produces a neat Cabernet Sauvignon labeled Bin 45, as well as an excellent Shiraz labeled Bin 50. There are a host of other Australian wineries competing in this area with names like Yellow Tail, Woop Woop and Wishing Tree. 40
October 2009 / The South Coast Insider
The Shiraz tends to be a notch better than the Cabs, in my humble opinion—having had so many good value cabs, but both are truly excellent examples of good wine at value prices.
And from Portugal Half way round the world on the southeastern edge of Europe, the Portuguese are still able to produce so nifty red wines for truly budget prices. You have to decide between the reds of the Douro, Dåo and Alentejo. One local store has a fairly good Dåo made by Casa Atigua,and available for about $6 or $7 dollars. It is made from the Touriga Nacional grape, the primary grape of most Ports, and tends to be surprisingly intense and fairly dry. The Douro region also makes some good value reds, usually from a blend of grape varieties but including the Touriga Nacional. Then you can check out the reds of Alentejo where they make a wide range of red blends. Just be careful to watch the price tags, as this region is now producing a lot of popular —and pricy—red wines.
Good value red wines from all of these regions are easy to find in this local area, so try some and compare them.
South of the border Hopping down to the south part of the western hemisphere, you need to check out the budget wines of Chili and Argentina. Chili offers two wines popular choices made under the Santa Rita 120 label. You can compare their Merlot and their Cab at bargain prices. You also ought to try the great red wines made from Malbec in Argentina. The Aquab Piedra Malbec in truly a big wine for the under $10 price tag. Don’t forget Europe We mustn’t forget the classic region of Europe, France and Italy. Believe it or not, George DuBoeuf offer a 2007 Pinot Noir made from grapes grown outside the very limited Burgundy appellation which has a fresh cherries, spice aroma and flavor, soft tannins and is considered a real bargain. Another non-appellation French producer, Blue Flame has budget Merlot and Syrah on the market that have been given excellent reviews. Ah, we come to Italy. You can still get some nice and pleasant Chianti as good value price. Try Galbiano 2008 Chianti. Yes its very young! And note; its not a classico or a reserva. But it’s still your basic Chianti. You can look around and find others like Bellini and Ruffino Chiantis under the $10 limit. If you are really into Italian wines, look for those from the southern part of Italy, like Apulia, Campania and Sicily. Of course there are good wine under $10 in many other counties, especially Spain and the U.S. If I were foolish enough to list them all it would take several pages. My favorite I do have to say that in a blind tasting of wines at $10 or under, I—along with many of the other tasters, rated one wine the highest and it was the number one favorite of the lot. It was Smoking Loon Cabernet Sauvignon. It also just happens to be the number one selling Cabernet Sauvignon in the U.S. It has been described as dark plum in color, with and aroma and flavor of black cherries and black berries with good spices. These great flavors in this rich full bodied and nicely balanced wine last forever in the after taste. This is just one of my under $10 “favorites.” Look for you own and you will be happy when you find your great red wine that gives you the “best bang for the buck.”
Oktoberfest
Every Wednesday and Thursday From September 30th to October 29th
Join us for traditional German food, beer, music and dancing. Performances by: The Alpenblumen Bavarian Dancers and Renata Adams
Two seatings nightly… 6 p.m. or earlier • 8 p.m. and later
— Reservations are recommended —
redlefsen’s
444 Thames Street, Bristol, RI 401-254-1188
www.redlefsens.com
Voted Best Mexican Restaurant RI Monthly 2008-2009 Newport Life 2007-2009
A Taste of Old Mexico—Lots of New Specials 651 West Main Rd Route 114 • Middletown, RI (401) 849-4222
1379 Fall River Ave. Route 6 • Seekonk, MA (508) 336-2400
Travel & Cruise “Anywhere Under the Sun” Early Booking Discounts for 2010 Vacations. Call Now!!!
www.titos.com American & European Cuisine Open 7 Days a Week 2nd Annual Bead Show Friday, Oct. 2–Sunday, Oct. 4 Czech Glass, Freshwater Pearls, Semi-precious Gemstones, over 10,000 different beads!
Bob Demers every Saturday from 6-9pm Kids meals $3.99 with dessert
Crowther’s Restaurant 90 Pottersville Road • Little Compton, RI
401-635-8367
www.crowthersrestaurant.com The South Coast Insider / October 2009
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BOOK PICKS BY BAKER by Magoo Gelehrter Courtesy of Baker Books – www.bakerbooks.net
Halloween is my very favorite holiday. Here are some wonderful books for both young and old who enjoy dressing up spooky and collecting candy as much as I do! For the craft minded there are how to books with recipes and crafts, for kids we have an excellent story involving everyone’s favorite big green man, and a couple of great books to guide you around local haunted areas. HAUNTED PROVIDENCE by Rory Raven Haunted America $19.99 paperback Author and master magician Rory Raven has collected stories and tales drawn from the history and folklore of one of the oldest cities in the nation. From restless spirits and mysterious deaths, to vampires and shadowy strangers including H.P. Lovecraft, one of the most influential horror writers of the twentieth century, Haunted Providence explores the events and untold tales that have made this capital city strangely unique...and uniquely strange. The author has also appeared on Penny Dreadful’s Shilling Shockers to perform prodigious feats of prestidigiation. He also leads tours of Haunted Providence.
GHOULISH GOODIES by Sharon Bowers Workman $14.95 paperback Everyone loves Halloween, a holiday of pure fun and childish joy, an excuse to dress up and eat treats. Packaged candy may be the common reward for trick-or-treating, but plates of Spiderweb Cookies or big bowls of
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Sticks and Stones Caramel Corn are perfect contributions to school Halloween events, tailgating parties, neighborhood open houses, adult costume parties, and even afternoon play dates. It’s difficult to imagine an autumn gathering that wouldn’t be even more fun with ghoulish goodies to share. Eat, drink, and enjoy the creepy yuckiness of Monster Eyeballs, Chocolate Spider Clusters, Buried Alive Cupcakes, and Screaming Red Punch. In her colorful collection of frightful foods, Sharon Parrish Bowers shares the fun of baking, decorating, and indulging in delicious treats that celebrate witches and jack o’ lanterns, ghosts and graveyards. These frightful treats are not just for October, though. A birthday party for a nine-year-old or a scary movie sleepover for teenagers practically demands an I’Scream Cake or Spidery Cupcakes. And ChocolateChip Pumpkin Bars with Orange Glaze would be welcome at an office coffee break or an afternoon tea party. Baking from Ghoulish Goodies is a wonderful way to celebrate the change of seasons and the pleasure of working with kids in the kitchen. Baking cupcakes and making fudge are great activities for autumn afternoons, when the weather turns cool and the kids are underfoot after school. Put them to work stirring, decorating, and scraping pumpkin seeds. These are recipes that parents and kids can have fun making together. And the entire family will enjoy eating a warm Choco-Bat Cookie for dessert.
October 2009 / The South Coast Insider
GHOSTS OF THE BRIDGEWATER TRIANGLE by Christopher Balzano Schiffer Publishing $14.99 paperback For the past twenty-five years, people along the Massachusetts and Rhode Island border have known about the Bridgewater Triangle and the odd things that occur there. For centuries before that, the Triangle has been a haven for the unexplained, with sightings of weird animals, UFOs, ghosts, and unmarked strange government vehicles. This book examines classic hauntings as well as urban legends told for years as true stories.
FRANKENSTEIN TAKES THE CAKE by Adam Rex Harcourt Books $16 hardcover No one ever said it was easy being a monster. Take Frankenstein, for instance: He just wants to marry his undead bride in peace, but his best man, Dracula, is freaking out about the garlic bread. Then there’s the Headless Horseman, who wishes everyone would stop drooling over his delicious pumpkin head. And can someone please tell Edgar Allan Poe to get the door already before the raven completely loses it? Sheesh. In a wickedly funny follow-up to the bestselling Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich, Adam Rex once again proves that monsters are just like you and me. (Well, sort of.)
HALLOWEEN DOODLES by Emma Parrish Da Capo Press $7.95 paperback Invoking the spirit of the holiday, this doodle book is packed with enticing, spooktacular pictures.With simple prompts each page lures kids into their imaginations and invites them to complete fun, festive illustrations. Everyone knows Halloween is packed with small and affordable trick-or-treats, and this new, more affordable Doodle format is a perfect fit for the season. Little ghouls and boys—and adults alike—will find hours of eye-candy to devour!
HAUNTED MASSACHUSETTS by Thomas D’Agostino Schiffer Publishing $12.95 paperback Massachusetts, the birthplace of America, is home to some of the most fascinating haunts in the world. Colonial ghosts still watch over their ancient inns in Concord and Charlemont. A railroad tunnel under the Mohawk Trail is doomed by the spirits of those who perished while digging it. The unearthly shrieks of a banshee in Marblehead chills the very marrow of those who must endure its curse. And phantom trawlers ply the waters near Gloucester. You will also experience tales of reincarnated souls, haunted lighthouses, mythical creatures, and remains of ancient civilizations. Investigations into haunted mansions and taverns reveal that the people of the past still reside with those of the present. Glowing gravestones, witches, ghost towns and haunted quarries are among the encounters that will bring you to the edge of alarm. Forty-one towns and cities hold legends and mysteries that stretch beyond the imagination into the chilling realm of the macabre. Follow, if you dare.
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C o n t a c t LOR I LA V ALLE AT 5 0 8 . 9 8 5 . 2 4 0 3 F OR AN I NTER V I E W The South Coast Insider / October 2009
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REGIONAL NEWS
cratic party,” she adds, noting that she was a frequent visitor to the State House and to Washington, D.C., where she attended President Bill Clinton’s inauguration. Among the political leaders that Cabral enjoyed meeting are former President Jimmy Carter and Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis. “I think Jimmy Carter was an excellent president,” Cabral states, noting that she learned a great deal from the former president’s many talks and political speeches. The late Sen. Edward Kennedy was also one of Cabral’s trusted political colleagues. “Although Chappaquiddick startled me, he did a good job for Massachusetts,” she observes. “Whenever I called him, he was always there for me.” Cabral adds that she was a guest at the Kennedy compound in Hyannis several times, where she attended functions with other Democratic leaders.
‘One of us’
by Brian J. Lowney
Ida Cabral and David Springer have a lot in common. They share a love of politics and government and seek to ensure that everyone’s voice is heard. They believe in the power of the vote. Both Fall Riverites possess a great affection for their city and its people, and have worked diligently for decades to improve living and working conditions for hardworking folks who oftentimes struggle from one paycheck to the next. Five decades of service Cabral, 84, a state Democratic committeewoman for more than 50 years, retired from the city’s garment industry only a few months ago, and served for many years as President of Local 178 of the former International Ladies Garment Workers Union. She serves on the board of directors of Citizens for Citizens, a volunteer position she has filled since 1965. As a staunch supporter of the Democratic Party, Cabral has attended seven national 44
conventions and rubbed elbows with hundreds of political luminaries. “I stayed with my candidates, win or lose,” says Cabral, adding that she supported Hillary Clinton in last year’s presidential election. “I stood by her until the end.” Cabral, who served as Ward 3 Democratic Chairman for more than 25 years, emphasizes that she has always tried to help people and once ran unsuccessfully for state representative. “I’ve had many good days with the Demo-
October 2009 / The South Coast Insider
While Cabral worked tirelessly on behalf of the thousands of women who worked in the city’s once thriving garment industry, she reveals that she acted with the support of the late Sen. Mary L. Fonseca, who represented Fall River in the State Senate from 1953-1984. “Senator Fonseca was one of my best friends,” Cabral says. “Mary was down to earth, she was one of us. She worked for her people.” As a local union leader, Cabral says she often battled to improve working conditions, salaries and pensions for the area’s garment workers. Noting that Fall River was once one of the leading apparel manufacturing centers in the nation, she laments that foreign competition has all but destroyed one of the South Coast’s leading sources of employment. Cabral has an important message for voters casting ballots in the November election—the same advice she has offered for decades to those seeking positive change and better government: “Get out and vote for the man or woman of your choice,” she advises. Cabral urges
voters to listen to new candidates, study all platforms, listen to debates and make informed choices.
A lifelong commitment David Springer has also worked conscientiously throughout his life to ensure that every citizen is equally represented in government. The Spindle City native was elected to the Fall River City Council in 1971 at the age of 20, thus becoming the youngest elected official in the city’s history at that time. He served one term, and then became an employee of the Fall River Housing Authority, where he has worked for 36 years. “I began to see how we, as single individuals, can have an impact on government,” he states. Springer took advantage of the 26th amendment to the Constitution that was adopted in 1971 and called for the voting age to be lowered to 18. “There was so much to learn,” he adds. While in office, Springer visited Washington where he witnessed Congress in session, and participated in an international government policy research program for elected officials, and traveling at his own expense, visited seven European countries, where he met with leaders and attended seminars. “They were trying to resolve many of the same issues that we were seeking solutions for,” Springer emphasizes. “I got to see Russia before the collapse of Communism,” he continues. “It was amazing.” Springer was also elected to the state Democratic Committee and has volunteered in numerous mayoral and city council campaigns during the past 38 years. Springer, who served as an election official in Fall River’s Ward 9 for more than 25 years, echoes Cabral’s sentiments about the significance of casting a ballot in the fall election: “It’s important to vote because numbers speak,” he says. “The more votes that are cast, the greater the impact will be on government. I have seen elections won by just a few votes, so every vote counts.”
Free initial consultation Please call for appointment
Deborah G. Roher — Attorney at Law —
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Jean E. Peelor D.C. Enjoy a healthy pain-free life Craniosacral Therapy for Infants & Children Critical Treatment for Soccer Players Concussions Post Concussion Syndrome Headaches and Neck Pain Memory or Attention Issues Jaw Joint Pain, Facial Pain or Ear Pain Muscle or Ligament Injuries, Tendonitis Knee, Leg, Foot, Heel Pains, and Flat Feet Adrenyl Stress Saliva Testing
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508-997-0707 The South Coast Insider / October 2009
45
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October 2009 / The South Coast Insider
865 Main Road, Westport, MA 508-636-2572 www.partnersvillagestore.com Daily 9:30 - 5:00
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1190 Stafford Rd. • Fall River, MA
(508) 679-4199
www.health-naturally.info Board Certified by the AAMA
1253 Horseneck Rd. Westport, MA 508-636-5882 — Hours — Tuesday-Friday 11:00am-8pm Saturday & Sunday 8am-8pm (Breakfast served until 11:30am)
Old favorites, daily specials and comfort food www.thewestportbayside.com The First Certified Green Restaurant* in Massachusetts (2003) *www.dinegreen.com
Unique gifts for you and your friends 782 Main Road Westport, MA
508-636-0888
(next to Marguerites’ Restaurant) Hours: Mon. & Tue. 10am-6pm Wed.-Sat. 10am-8pm
Pachet Brook Tree Farm Dedicated to keeping the “heart” in home care
• Companionship
• Alzheimer’s Care
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Compassionate and experienced home health care, providing personalized services that will enable you or your loved ones to live independently while maintaining a safe and healthy quality of life.
508-748-1331
www.tenderheartscare.com Serving Bristol and Plymouth County Member of the Senior Resource Alliance (SRA) www.srasouthcoast.com
Hayrides for Families & Children Birthday Parties Campfire Hayride Parties Pumpkins
4484 Main Road, Rt. 77 South Tiverton, RI Call (401)624-4872
Sugar Freedom/Relief of Chronic Symptoms Coaching for Joyful, Balanced, Empowered Living
Sheryl Turgeon MPH, CHNC
Certified Health and Nutrition Counselor 508-689-4633
www.YourHealthPotential.com
The South Coast Insider / October 2009
47
THE PLACE TO “GO” FOR
FREE CLASSIFIEDS
Buy Sell Jobs Real Estate Arts /Entertainment & More SouthCoastGo.com is a free service of Coastal Communications Corp., publisher of The South Coast Insider and South Coast Prime Times
Coming in November 2009
Wedding & Gift Giving Guide To advertise call 508-677-3000
HAPPENINGS Through October - Celebrate Fall With Spookfree Family Fun! Audubon Society of Rhode Island. For more information call 401-949-5454 or online at www.asri.org. Through October 11 - Cabaret, Trinity Rep. Tickets are on sale at the Trinity Rep box office, 201 Washington Street by phone at 401-3514242 and online at www.trinityrep.com Through October 29 - Celebrate Oktoberfest every Wednesday and Thursday at Redlefsen’s Rotisserie & Grill. Entertaining by the accordion music Renata Adams and the Alpenblümen Bavarian Dancers. Seatings: at 6pm and 8pm. 444 Thames Street, Bristol. Reservations required by calling 401-254-1188 October 2 - USS Joseph Kennedy Jr. 15th Annual Reunion. Battleship Cove, Fall River. 10 am. Free. www.battleshipcove.org October 2 - Live Bait: True Stories from Real People at Perishable Theatre, 95 Empire Street, 95 Empire St., Providence. $5. For tickets call 401-331-2695 ext.101 or visit www.myspace. com/livebait_latenight October 3 - An Island of Women, musical journey back to 1850 on Martha’s Vineyard. 7:30pm. $20. Eagles Performing Arts Center. 35 N. Main St. Fall River. 508-982-3108 or visit www.csjorganize.org October 3 - 12th Manjiro Festival. Music, food, art and craft. Free. 10am-5pm at the center of historic Fairhaven. 508-995-1219 or www. manjiro1.tripod.com October 3, 4 - 5th annual New Bedford Open Studios, art and food in a Cultural City. www. newbedfordopenstudios.org October 3 - The Ultimate Praise and Worship Experience, gospel concert. PPAC, 220 Weybosset St., Providence. 401-421-ARTS or www. vmari.com
October 3 - Recorder virtuoso Héloïse Degrugillier plays Telemann, Bach and Handel. 7:30pm. Hawes Room at Trinity Church, One Queen Anne Square, Newport, RI. For tickets call 401855-3096 or visit www.newportbaroque.org October 3 - Westport Rivers Harvest Festival. 417 Hixbridge Rd., Westport. 11am-5pm. Free. 508-636-3423 x2 or visit www.westportrivers. com October 3 - Westport Rivers Harvestfest. 11am5pm, down on the farm, with live music, a grape stomp, wine, beer, fun and food. Admission is free. Westport Rivers Vineyard and Winery, 417 Hixbridge Rd., Westport. For more information call 508-636-3423 x2 or visit www.westportrivers.com October 3 - The Wareham Garden Club will hold their annual October Plant and Bake Sale at the Methodist Meeting House, 495 Main Street, Wareham. 9am until noon. October 3 - Opening Night of the Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra heralds the start of their 94th season with an All-Russian program at Memorial Hall, 83 Court Street/Route 3A, Plymouth. For tickets call 508-746-8008 or visit www.plymouthphil.org October 3 - Open house & tours planned for Southcoast Center for Cancer Care 1-4pm at Charlton Memorial Hospital. No registration necessary. For more information, call 508-9615899 or visit www.southcoast.org. October 3-4 - Fall Art Show. Taunton Art Association. www.tauntonarts.com October 4 - Historical Cemetery Tour, Oak Grove Cemetery. 11am-3:30pm. $15. (Raindate Oct.11) October 4 - Internationally recognized TAGI: Clarinet, piano, cello, violin opens Concerts at the Point series. Tickets: $20, Students: $10. Westport Point Church, 1912 Main Road.
The past comes alive at Rural Cemetery Want to meet some of New Bedford’s famous figures? Tour the Rural Cemetery on Sunday, October 18 and the spirits will be there to greet you. The sixth annual event begins at at 1 p.m. at the Grape Street entrance and cover approximately one mile in a 45-minute walk. Historical portrayals in period costume will take place at several gravesites along the tour route. Tours start every 10 minutes with the final leaving at 3:30 p.m. Call the Preservation Society at 508-997-7425 or visit www.nbpreservationsociety.org for further information.
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Rita Rogers: Selected Paintings This fall, the Newport Art Museum will look back on three decades of work by local artist Rita Rogers. She describes her paintings as an embodiment of sensation which have been created since a 1977 house fire destroyed almost all of her earlier work. Rita Rogers: Selected Paintings runs through January 3, 2010. The Newport Art Museum is situated in the Old Quarter at 76 Bellevue Avenue. Admission: $10 adults; $8 seniors; $6 Military and students with valid ID; Museum members and children under 5: no charge. By donation Saturday from 10 am to noon. Memorial Day through Labor Day Hours: Tuesday Saturday 10 am 5 pm, Sun 12 5 pm. To learn more visit www.NewportArtMuseum.org
Call 774-451-7746 to reserve or visit www. concertsatthepoint.org October 4 - The 75-mile Watershed Ride begins at Horseneck Beach in Westport and ends at Quissett Harbor in Woods Hole. To register or for more in formation call The Coalition for Buzzards Bay at 508-999-6363, ext. 207 or visit www. savebuzzardsbay.org/watershedride October 6 - The Annual Members Show at Marion Art Center (corner of Main and Pleasant Streets in Marion). Tue. through Fri., 1-5pm and Sat. 10am-2pm. Free. 508-748-1266 or visit www.marionartcenter.org October 10 - Phil Vassar & his band. 8pm. Zeiterion, 684 Purchase St., New Bedford. 508994-2900 or www.zeiterion.org October 10, 11 - Cranberry Harvest Celebration. 10am to 4pm, rain or shine. 158 Tihonet Road, Wareham. Call 508-322-4000 or visit www. cranberryharvest.org October 10-12 - International Oktoberfest. Newport Yachting Center, Newport, RI. 11am. Ticket information available at www.newportwaterfrontevents.com October 12 - Antiques Show & Sale, 11am4pm. $6. Venus de Milo Restaurant, Rt 6, Swansea. Early buyer’s preview at 10am. $10. October 13 - Mattapoisett Free Public Library Program Targets Scams and Identity Theft. 6:30pm in the library’s Meeting Room. October 14-November 15 - Art exhibit at Galery X: Lizzie Borden, A Tale of Two Cities. 169 William St., New Bedford. For info call 508-9922675 or visit www.galleryx.org October 15 - Discussion, autographing, and recipe tasting with David Leite, author of The New Portuguese Table: Exciting Flavors from Europe’s Western Coast. 5:30-7:30. Partners Village Store, 865 Main Road, Westport. 508-6362572 or info@partnersvillagestore.com October 16-November 7 - Anna Bella Eema: a ghost story for three voices. Perishable Theatre, 95 Empire Street, Providence. For tickets and information call 401-621-6123 or visit www. arttixri.com
October 16-November 7 - Anna Bella Eema, a ghost story spoken and sung in three voices. Perishable Theatre, 95 Empire Street. Providence. For tickets call 401-621-6123 or visit www.perishable.org October 17 - Professional Belly Dancers from Massachusetts are performing in a breathtaking belly dance show. 6:30. $35. Roseland Ballroom, 174 Broadway (Rte 138), in Taunton. for tickets and information call 508-822-6449 or e-mail info@thehelpinghips.org October 17 - Los Lonely Boys. 8pm. Zeiterion, 684 Purchase St., New Bedford. 508-994-2900 or www.zeiterion.org October 17, 18 - Westport Lions Fifth Annual Arts & Crafts Show at the Westport High School Cafeteria, 19 Main Rd. 4pm. October 20-25 - Avenue Q. Providence Performing Arts Center, 220 Weybosset St., Providence. 7pm. Tickets available by calling 401-421-2787 or visiting www.ppacri.org October 22 - SMILES in the Sky, fund-raising event to support more than 30 programs and 600 mentors in 26 schools in New Bedford, Fall River, Dartmouth, Fairhaven and Wareham. 6-9pm. To purchase tickets call 508-999-9300 or visit www.smilesmentoring.org October 23-25 - Bog Fright Night. A. D. Makepeace on Tihonet Rd Wareham hosts Wareham Youth Partnership’s annual event. Scary wagon rides from 6-8:30pm. Pre-event tickets $5 & $7 at event. For tickets & information, call 508-2955437, 2-6 pm Mon. thru Sat. No reservations taken during Harvest Celebration oct 10 and 11. October 24 - Vintage Soul, starring Candida Rose. 2-5pm. Donation $10. Wareham Elks, Rt. 28, East Wareham. Call 508-304-3957 October 24 - Go Healthy! South Coast Expo. Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical, 1121 Ashley Blvd., New Bedford. 11am. Free. 508-979-4497.
Group Fitness Classes Ball Blast • Step/Pilates • Yoga SPIN • Step/Flex/Stretch • Body Pump Zumba! Childcare, personal training and nutrition counseling available Hours: Monday-Thursday 6am-9pm Friday 6am-8pm Saturday 7am-2pm Sunday 8am-12pm
508-674-5220 1707 GAR Highway • Swansea, MA
www.barbellefitness.com
Island Creations
Come in, Hang out and Play! Create a pair of earrings or a bracelet for under $10. Don’t know what you are doing? Ask us; we will get you started and do the finish work for $1. — CLASSES — One-on-One: $20/hour 2 or more: $25 for two-hour classes $35 for three hour classes Check schedule on our website www.islandcreations-online.com
Call 508-997-9800 info@islandcreations-online.com
The South Coast Insider / October 2009
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Join Donald Trump in his newest and possibly biggest venture yet Get ready for the Revolution November 1st Call 508 971-5799 to find out about our next open seminar in your area.
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Take a ride during Bog Fright Night III Take a ride on the road less traveled, where the underworld is free to roam! Over 300 ghouls from the Onset YouthCenter, Wareham Middle School Renaissance Program & MA Children’s Relief, as well as community volunteers bring the fright to light. Bog Fright Night III runs October 23-25 at A. D. Makepeace on Tihonet Road in Wareham. Scary wagon rides travel through woods & bogs from 6 to 8:30 p.m. The Tihonet Village Market will also be open during the haunting and offers food and beverages, plus Halloween candy, apples, pumpkins and great gifts. Wagon ride tickets are $5 with pre-paid reservations and $7 at the event. Reservations are highly recommended to avoid lines and secure a ride on the desired night. For tickets, stop in the Tihonet Village Market or call 508-295-5437 between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. No reservations will be taken during Harvest Celebration on October 10th & 11th. Bog Fright Night is sponsored by A. D. Makepeace & Jellystone Campground of Cape Cod. Wagon ride proceeds benefit the three youth organizations coordinating the event. If you would like more information or to volunteer, please call Jenn Drinkwater 508-291-3550 EXT 4123 or Sally Morrison 508- 291-3504.
Hike without fear The Audubon Society of Rhode Island at the Audubon Caratunk Wildlife Refuge in Seekonk, Massachusetts, is sponsoring a fun-filled, spook-free celebration of Halloween—Mother Nature style! Bundle up and rustle through the leaves on a guided lantern-lit hike through the cool night forest on Oct. 24. Walks begin at 5:30 p.m., with groups of 15 going off every 10 minutes. Registration is required to reserve a time. Refreshments, children’s activities, and a special treat await your return. Spaces are limited, make your reservations by calling 401-949-5454, ext. 3041. In the event of rain, the fun will be moved into the Caratunk barn, completely transformed for fall with pumpkins, hay and lanterns.
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GET CONNECTED
Let The South Coast Insider Weekly Happenings plan your weekend! The South Coast Insider Weekly Happenings is the best source to learn about what’s happening in your town. Sign up and receive free weekly e-mail updates on the latest South Coast events. From concerts to art gallery openings, The South Coast Insider Weekly Happenings keeps your finger on the South Coast’s pulse. Visit www.thesouthcoastinsider.com and fill out the “Join Our Weekly Events Mailing List” box on the left to become one of the 2,500 South Coasters currently on the inside.
Classified ads in newspapers can be expensive. Let’s face it: in tough times like these, we need to pinch every penny possible. SouthCoastGo.com is a penny-pincher’s delight, offering free South Coast classified listings. Buy or sell antiques, shop for a new house, or land a new job. SouthCoastGo’s simple interface provides all the joys of classified hunting without the hassle of slogging through a newspaper. Whatever you’re looking for, look no further. Your search is over at SouthCoastGo.com
Can’t find the new issue of The South Coast Insider? Our issues tend to fly off the racks. After all, when you’ve been in the biz for over 13 years, people care about what you have to say. That’s why, when copies of The South Coast Insider are all gone, a visit to The South Coast Insider.com is a must. In addition to complete issues of The South Coast Insider, you will find exclusive features including the popular “Dining Quest” and a comprehensive South Coast business directory.
For advertising call 508-677-3000 or e-mail editor@coastalmags.com The South Coast Insider / October 2009
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UNDERWOOD FARM
Tiverton – New listing. Stately 4 bedroom, 4.5 bath Colonial on highland road situated on nearly 2 acres of manicured grounds offering hardwood floors, mahogany paneled dining room & library, formal living room, central air, fireplace, 3 stall garage plus loft. Close to area beaches and coastal attractions. $915,000. Call 508-679-3998.
Westport – Exceptional 4,200 sf Colonial w/ 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths on 1.6 acre lot offering private living quarters perfect for au pair or in-law setup. Upgrades include irrigation, electric fence, custom closets, home theatre, security system, and stamped concrete patio, stonewalls and perennial gardens. Offered at $649,000. Call 508-679-3998.
South tiverton – New listing. Beautifully maintained 3,700 sf Colonial offering 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, master suite, hardwood floors, formal living & dining rooms, fireplace, custom built-ins, finished walk out basement, office, 2 stall garage, central air, stonewalls, privately located on over 4 acres. $525,000. Call 508-679-3998.
Land – Westport – Announcing brand new 10 lot subdivision on charlotte white road (the Medeiros Farm) offering 1.38 To 1.96 Acre homesites. Lots are perced and start at $135,000. Call 508-679-3998 for details. Land – westport – 2 Duplex lots on private lane perced and ready to build $125,000 each. Call 508-679-3998.
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Introducing…
Rewarding your active lifestyle.
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It seems like you’re always on the move. Coffee on the way to work. A quick lunch. Get gas, pick up the cleaning and grab dinner. It never stops. It also means lots of swiping of your debit card. And maybe lots of fees.
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Member FDIC Member DIF FALL RIVER ~ NEW BEDFORD ~ SOMERSET ~ SWANSEA ~ SEEKONK ~ TIVERTON • 508-678-7641 (Connecting all offices) • www.citizensunionbank.com The Annual Percentage Yields (APY) are accurate as of 8/10/2009 and are subject to change without notice. The minimum deposit to open the account is $500. 3.33% APY is paid on balances between $0.01 and $25,000 and 1.25% APY is paid on all amounts above $25,000 each cycle the minimum qualifications are met. If the minimum qualifications are not met during the cycle, 0.10% APY will be paid on the entire balance. To qualify in a given cycle, you must receive at least one direct deposit into this account, or make at least one electronic payment or one online bill payment from this account, make 12 debit card purchases and receive your monthly statement electronically using online banking. All foreign (non Citizens-Union) ATM fees are waived and ATM surcharges are refunded up to $25 per cycle if the minimum qualifications are met. Whether or not the qualifications are met, there is no monthly service charge. Available for personal accounts only.
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c South
oast Cen ter for Cancer Car e THERESE MULVEY, MD Physician-in-Chief/ Medical Oncologist
TODD F. ROBERTS, MD Medical Oncologist/ Hematologist
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Our focus:
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HERBERT HANSEN, MD Medical Oncologist/ Hematologist
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Charlton Memorial Hospital, Mitchell Building 363 Highland Avenue, Fall River Southcoast Medical 480 Hawthorn Street, North Dartmouth www.southcoast.org/cancercare/
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Save thousands in tax credits & rebates! Plus 20% on your gas bill. Now’s the time! Replace your old gas-fired heating system