The South Coast Insider - April 17

April 2017 Vol. 21 / No. 4

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Get growing!

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10 All rise!

32

From the publisher Dateline: South Coast

by Elizabeth Morse Read

COVER STORY FRIDAY, MAY 19 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM SATURDAY, MAY 20 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

APRIL 2017

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Painting a pathway by sean mccarthy

by Greg Jones

26 Battling burglars

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ON MY MIND

38 Healing hands-on

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14 Our uncommon commons

by Elizabeth Morse Read

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Get growing!

by JOYCE ROWLEY

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South Coast rising

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April 2017 | The South Coast Insider

by Steve Smith

30 A new lease on life

by Jay Pateakos

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April 2017 | The South Coast Insider

Spring has always been a time for rebirth, but that seems especially true here and now. Look around and you’ll find examples of renovation and renewal all around the South Coast. Inside and outside, spring really has sprung, and this issue is dedicated to showcasing it.

On page 6, Sean McCarthy illustrates the cultural renaissance underway in New Bedford. The arts scene there is already receiving national attention, and it’s still growing. Make sure you read to find out where to start or even continue your arts exploration.

Do things seem especially green to you this season? It should, thanks to the concerted of communities to preserve the natural beauty of the South Coast, and new initiatives to beautify otherwise grey urban landscapes. Go green and turn to Elizabeth Morse Read’s article on page 14!

Business is booming, and there’s no greater proof than all the new commercial buildings popping up! You’re probably already aware of the success of the Amazon center in Fall River, but that’s only one highlight in a region-wide economic transformation. Take a tour of what’s new and what’s still to come with Jay Pateakos on page 22.

That’s just a few examples, but there’s more to cover – you can beautify your garden, your community, and even yourself. Spring is the perfect time to refresh and grow.

So what are you waiting for? Let’s get growing!

Ljiljana Vasiljevic Publisher and Editor-in-Chief

April 2017 | Vol. 21 | No. 4 Published by Coastal Communications Corp.

Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Ljiljana Vasiljevic Editor Sebastian Clarkin Online Editor Paul Letendre Contributors Greg Jones, Paul E. Kandarian, Dan Logan, Tom Lopes, Sean McCarthy, Jay Pateakos Elizabeth Morse Read, Joyce Rowley, Steve Smith 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 ©2017 Coastal Communications Corp.

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The South Coast Insider | April 2017

5

COVER STORY

a pathway to the future

by Sean McCarthy

You may be in the midst of a cultural quandary—you enjoy a lot of art but you don’t know much about it. Does it require a specific education to appreciate it?

Is it a pastime for snobs? What could I stand to learn?

If you’re looking for an opportunity to immerse yourself in the expansive world of art, you’ve got nothing but opportunities in New Bedford, a city that has recently received significant recognition for its vibrant art community.

New Bedford has a vast variety of art

galleries, and their doors are open.

Over the past few years New Bedford has received notable attention for what it has to offer in the arts. In 2011, The Atlantic Magazine rated it as the seventh Most Artistic City in America. The Matador Network, devoted to travel and

lifestyle, claimed that it is the ninth Most Artistic Town in America. Complex magazine said that it is one of the “Ten Cities That Creatives Should Move To That Aren’t NYC or LA.” Citylab said that it is “One of the Most Artistic Cities in America,” and Bustle recommended it as the “Sixth Best

UMass Dartmouth has two art galleries: one on campus, and the University Art Gallery in New Bedford, pictured above.

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April 2017 | The South Coast Insider

City for Young Artists.”

Last year, the Massachusetts Cultural Council named New Bedford the state’s “Most Creative Community.”

Pretty as a picture There are lots of opportunities to experience unique and quality art in New Bedford, thanks to nearly two dozen galleries and open studios in the downtown area.

“Most of the art galleries in New Bedford have locally-made art, varying in mediums,” says Jessica Bregoli, an artist and curator for the Seaport Art Walk. “You can find anything from paintings to prints, photography, sculpture, jewelry, ceramics, glass, and other mediums. It can include contemporary and modern artists as well as classic artists.”

Bregoli has a recommendation for people who are just beginning to explore the world of art: start by attending an opening reception at a gallery or studio, events that most art locations have every month or more. She claims that this a good situation because most of the artists will be there to showcase their art and they are very happy to discuss their work and answer any questions people may have.

“Openings are welcoming,” Bregoli says.

“People at openings in this city are very friendly and always willing to talk about their artwork with anybody. The atmosphere in New Bedford galleries is full of life.”

The sculpture that dominated the bottom of Elm Street at Route 18. It was part of the 2nd Annual Seaport Art Walk on New Bedford’s City and State Piers.

Another opportunity for getting an introduction to local art is the website DestinationNewBedford.org/art-galleries.

This site provides an extensive overview of the arts in the city, from galleries to studios to a catalogue of local artists. It can serve as a guide for the arts during any trip to the city.

Bregoli suggests that a local exploration of the arts can begin with three of the galleries on William Street: Gallery X, TL6 the Gallery, and Gallery 65.

“You can walk around downtown and the seaport cultural district and enjoy yourself with food and drinks in addition to the galleries.”

Bregoli suggests that people sign up for a gallery’s email list so that they can be posted as to when they will be hosting their next opening.

“You don’t need to be artistically inclined to attend an art show,” she says. “Even if you have no background you can still appreciate artwork. It doesn’t take an artist to understand and feel deeply about a piece of art.”

“These galleries offer a variety of works and styles,” she says. “I guarantee that you will walk out from a trip to these galleries having bought something.”

“This area provides a lot of handmade, one-of-a-kind art that is different from something in chain stores,” says Nicole St. Pierre, co-owner of Gallery 65. “You can get exposed to different artists doing art at a wide range of prices.”

“People are usually impressed with the art they see here, it can be eye-opening,” says Marc St. Pierre, Nicole’s partner at Gallery 65, and a professor of printmaking in the Fine Arts Department at UMass Dartmouth. “People usually experience a sense of appreciation for what they find here.”

“There’s plenty of eye candy,” says Sue Haulk of Gallery X. “It’s wonderful to see how each gallery differs. You can look at the galleries until you find something that inspires you.”

Bregoli suggests that you can take an informal approach to finding galleries and studios – the time-honored method of window shopping.

“This is a great way to discover galleries,” she says. “You can walk around downtown and the seaport cultural district and enjoy yourself with food and drinks in addition to the galleries.”

New Bedford has evolved to the point where visitors can take in art without walking through a gallery door – the downtown area boasts upwards of a dozen pieces of “street art” on local Continued ON NEXT PAGE

The South Coast Insider | April 2017

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Continued FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

buildings done by local artists who have been commissioned by businesses.

“Street artists are trying to turn lemons into lemonade,” says local artist Ryan McFee who has been located in a downtown gallery for five years known as the Paradise McFee Studio.

Rising stars A major engine in the New Bedford art world is UMass Dartmouth’s downtown branch and the work it features in the Star Store Gallery on the corner of Purchase and Union Streets.

“We’re trying to show works that are exciting and cutting-edge,” says Viera Levitt, who has been the director of the gallery for nearly five years. “We want to give people something that will challenge them and make them think.”

The Star Store Gallery features artists from around the region and the world.

They have recently hosted shows that included artists from Iran and Slovakia.

Each April, the Star Store showcases work

by UMass Dartmouth Master’s Degree candidates, while the New Bedford Art Museum simultaneously shows work by UMass Dartmouth Bachelor’s Degree candidates.

Cornerstone of New Bedford’s art scene, Gallery X.

“The city’s reputation is bringing in artists from outside the city,” she says.

“There’s a wide range of mediums – you can visit a formal gallery or pop into an informal open studio. You may find a piece that you really like that would cost three times more in Boston.”

But New Bedford’s success in the arts took a lot of time and effort to build itself.

Art has played an integral role in New

“New Bedford has built a sense of place, engaged residents, forged a new economy, and demonstrated how a city can create its own pathway to the future.”

More artistic talent will be available when New Bedford hosts its annual Seaport Art Walk. Throughout the summer, ten-to-twelve pieces of sculpture will be on display along MacArthur Blvd., the City State piers, and the Seaport Cultural District.

Brooke Baptiste is the Events Manager at the Zeiterion Theatre. At the age of 33, she has been an admirer of the New Bedford art culture for 15 years.

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April 2017 | The South Coast Insider

Bedford’s cultural and economic renewal that has taken place over the past twenty years. It has been extensively showcased as a part of the city’s downtown area during its increasingly popular AHA! Nights.

Held on the second Thursday of every month, AHA! Nights are a cultural celebration of “Arts, History and Architecture,” attracting thousands of visitors from a wide geographic area to downtown New Bedford.

“The richness and variety of spaces connected with art is what makes New Bedford fun,” says Lee Heald, Executive Director of AHA! Nights. “Experiencing creativity and experiencing art is a social experience. We always want to comment, talk, and share. It’s a good thing to enjoy with friends or in a group.”

“In the last three years, the downtown area has really exploded,” McFee says.

“There’s a great energy here with galleries, restaurants, and music venues. This is the best I’ve ever seen it.”

“On any given day, one can take in a wide variety of exhibits in galleries in New Bedford,” says UMass Dartmouth Professor of Art History, Pamela Karimi.

“Many of the shows allow visitors and neighbors alike to enjoy art from artists from down the street or halfway around the world.”

“Just 20 years ago, New Bedford had what could only be described as a deserted downtown with only small pockets of cultural activity,” Heald says. “Crime, vandalism, and drugs prevailed. It had become a rough working environment.

Since then, New Bedford has built a sense of place, engaged residents, forged a new economy, and demonstrated how a city can create its own pathway to the future.”

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THINGS TO DO

The Content Bakery crew, left to right: Macaire, Troy, Maria, Suzette, and Dina

All rise!

A look at local baking P

by Greg Jones

Any town, village, or hamlet that wants to consider itself as something more than a few houses needs some of the hallmarks of an organized entity.

A post office will do nicely, and there should be a general store, but probably at the top of the list is a bakery.

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April 2017 | The South Coast Insider

eople need fresh bread every day. Pause a minute and consider the wide range of baked goodies that are part of nearly everyone’s morning routine: doughnuts, bagels, croissants, muffins, sweet rolls, coffee cakes… the list is long and delicious.

The baker gets up in the very early hours of the morning, while that day’s customers are still sound asleep. Perhaps there are breads that have been rising overnight (bakers call this “proofing”), and are nearly ready to be popped in the oven.

The art of breadmaking is a mysterious, almost magical science, and the town baker is beloved by all. There are people who

make their own bread, but even they will occasionally patronize the local bakery.

Making a loaf of sandwich bread is not the same as making a jelly doughnut or a glazed Danish, for example.

In short, the bakery and the baker are vital parts of our lives. Along the South Coast we are blessed to have bakeries that reflect the cultural diversity that makes this area so unique.

Meat pies and more

A good example of this is Sam’s Bakery, located at 256 Flint Street in Fall River. The business had its start nearly 60 years ago when Georgette Yamin and her husband, Salim, rented a bakery that occupied the first floor of a triple-decker on Flint Street.

Georgette, now 89, was born in Lebanon.

Salim, born in the United States of a Lebanese mother, was a young boy when he accompanied his mother back to Lebanon. Salim grew up in the same Lebanese town as Georgette and left Lebanon to serve in the US Army, where he was stationed in Germany.

After his discharge, he returned to Lebanon, married Georgette, and the couple then left for Fall River, arriving in March of 1948. It was a tough time in Fall River. Jobs were scarce. “All the work went down south,” said Georgette “Much cheaper.”

The Lebanese bakeries that were in Fall River were closing, so renting the bakery was a leap of faith, but with hard work and a family that pulled together, it paid off.

“I started working in the bakery when I was ten,” said Dora Peterson, who now runs the bakery. It’s grown beyond a family-only business. There are “seventeen or eighteen people we can call on to help,” said Dora, “depending on what the workload is.”

Georgette is still very much involved.

Her husband passed away in 1989. “He was the one who built this place,” she said, but she is still actively engaged in the family business. “I go to the bakery every morning,” she said. “The people that work

for me, they are like my own family.”

Today’s Sam’s Bakery is the same one that started in 1961, slightly bigger, but still producing their pocket pita bread and meat pies.

The meat pies, which have a near-fanatic following, come in several varieties, including veggie versions with spinach, cabbage, and broccoli. They are made fresh daily. Well, nearly daily. Sam’s Bakery is closed on Mondays, and Thursday is a nobake day.

“We open at 7 a.m. on Thursday and when we sell out, we close,” said Dora.

“We bake Tuesday, Wednesday Friday, Saturday, and Sunday,” she said, noting that they open at 5:30 a.m. on “bake days.”

Get there early – Sam’s closes at 2 p.m.

Is there a secret to making pita pocket bread? Could someone make it at home?

Not likely, said Dora. “The pita bread, you want it to rise, there is no way. You can’t get it hot enough to rise to make the pocket. The oven has to be hot. The plate

it is cooking on has to be hot. Heat is the key ingredient, along with the yeast and how it’s handled.”

She forgot to note what has to be the real secret ingredient at Sam’s Bakery: nearly 60 years of practice, expertise, and love for an honorable profession.

Like Colombo pausing at the door for just one more question, we ask: “So who’s Sam?” “My husband named his bakery with his name – he shortened it,” said Georgette.

Exploring the Continent

Continent Bakery at 198 Pinehurst Avenue in Swansea also has a hallowed history. Suzette Medeiros is the granddaughter of the founder.

“My great-grandfather and mother built this place,” she said, “It was my grandfather’s bakery. This year is the 70th anniversary – it has been in the family that long.”

Continued ON NEXT PAGE

Sam’s Bakery manager Gabe Martins

The South Coast Insider | April 2017

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Continued FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

Continent Bakery is more than just a bakery. Their lunch menu extends to soup and sandwiches, with meat pies, spinach rolls, stuffed quahogs, chourico rolls, various pizza permutations, grinders and, for dessert, pies of every description.

The variety of menu items does not come at the expense of quality, however.

Continent Bakery “is a very special place,” said Suzette. “We still make everything the same way our father did. Everything is made fresh and there are basic ingredients. No corn syrup, no high fructose syrup, just old-fashioned goodies, the way it’s supposed to be made.”

Suzette was born to be a baker. “I came to the bakery when I was a week old,” she said. “My great-grandfather put me up in a pail, taught me how to roll out chourico rolls… I have fond memories of growing up in the bakery.”

The memories continue to be made at the Continent. Neighbors and customers stop by to show off their new baby, while other customers continue a conversation that began with their visit the previous day.

“It’s really kind of a special place,” said Suzette. She recounted a winter snowstorm when all the businesses nearby were closing. Loyal customers came by, volunteering to help.

“My greatgrandfather put me up in a pail, taught me how to roll out chourico rolls…”

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April 2017 | The South Coast Insider

Brandon Roderick, the titular baker at The Baker in New Bedford

“We ended up opening the doors and making things,” said Suzette. “We made chourico rolls, doughnuts… for me, it’s really special when I see how many people the bakery helps. It makes a lot of people happy. It’s rewarding that way.”

When the Christmas season rolls around, the bakery can get very busy, and that is when old employees stop by just to see if they can help. Former employees, people with what Suzette called “big careers,” stop by to get a bit of flour on their hands.

Seasonal items are a part of the rotating menu at Continent. With the Lenten season, hot cross buns are offered, and for St. Joseph’s Day, Continent bakes up several

batches of zeppole, a traditional treat for the day, which is much-revered in the Italian community.

At Continent, the many generations of customers are part of the atmosphere, and are evidence of its success – a success based on hard work, high quality, and personal involvement.

Continent Bakery is closed on Monday.

Open Tuesday-Saturday 6 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Sunday from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Good, bread-er, best

Virtually every culture has a signature bread, it seems. Dark German pumpernickel, Irish soda bread, the many variations of flatbreads, such as pitas,

tortillas, naan, and chapatti, and the torpedo-shaped French baguette.

The French take their bread very seriously. So seriously that in 1993 they passed laws defining a traditional baguette.

There are only four ingredients allowed: wheat flour, water, salt, and yeast. No additives, no preservatives. The baguette must be made fresh, on the premises where it is sold. It cannot be frozen and thawed for later consumption.

Taking on the task of bringing French baking and thus French bageuttes to the city of New Bedford is Brandon Roderick. He recently opened his bakery, called, sensibly enough, The Baker, at 562 Pleasant Street, next door to the downtown police station and near the city library.

Walk in the door and you know it is a bakery. The smell of fresh bread, with the

absolutely seductive. Brandon offers a variety of croissants. You can get them plain, just a simple croissant made from perfect dough, or you can gild the lily with a filling of chocolate with almonds, various creams, raspberry, ham and cheese or, “probably our favorite now, we have our savory line with croissants filled with spinach feta with a little bit of pepper flakes, with a touch of garlic,” he said.

There’s more to The Baker than the heavenly perfection of the croissants.

There are the baguettes, also apparently teleported from a bakery within sight of the Eiffel Tower. How else could there be a baguette so perfect?

“Total freshness,” said Branson. ‘The idea is total freshness.” He has a morning baker who comes in at 3 a.m. to get things rolling for a “total freshness” breakfast menu.

With breakfast well on the way to being

“We start out to make them perfect every day. We still do it the old-fashioned way— the way they do it in France.” baskets of baguettes and trays of croissants, could be coming from a vintage boulangerie somewhere in Paris.

Brandon is a man in love with bread baking. Once, he thought he would be a doctor. That was when he was enrolled pre-med at Tufts University on a full scholarship. He made a mid-career change, well before the “mid” part, and, while working nights at a bakery, realized that bread was his calling.

Now, he uses a dough sheeter to produce the thin dough that will roll into a croissant. “The dough takes 72 hours from start to finish,” said Brandon. “We start out to make them perfect every day. We still do it the old-fashioned way – the way they do it in France.”

The result is a croissant unlike anything you will get this side Marseille: a slight crispiness, with a soft interior, light and

sorted out, a lunch menu is in the works, and will probably be available buy the time you read this.

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13

COVER STORY

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Our uncommon commons

by Elizabeth Morse Read

The ecosystem along the South Coast of New England is totally unique ---and very fragile.

W

e’ve got salt marshes, bogs, weirs, ponds, rivers, vernal pools, inlets, and brooks. Seeing as we were the last stop for the melting glacier at the end of the Ice Age, we also have a lot of rocks, gravel, sand, and fertile soil.

And, as a California-bred friend of mine once described our weather, it’s some kind of “lumpy fog” outside there every day of the year.

From Narragansett Bay to Buzzards Bay, we live in an enormous watershed region (we’re not called the “Bay State” and the “Ocean State” for nothing). The rivers powered the Industrial Revolution, coastal farms and shell-fishing have supported small businesses, and the ocean has provided a livelihood for generations of whalers, merchants, fishermen, and immigrants. The soil may be rocky and the weather may be harsh, but we have an innate reverence for our trees, our orchards

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April 2017 | The South Coast Insider

and vineyards, our waterways, and our backyard gardens.

This is where the Pilgrims landed and carved their villages, commons, and farms out of virgin forest. And here we are, four hundred years later. Our colonial “villages” morphed into jam-packed cities with factories, shopping malls, and highways – and yet, we’re still all hemmed in by forests and wetlands.

Back to the future

We’ve wisely put the brakes on further encroachment on our wilderness with robust conservation and preservation programs, and by re-introducing green-space commons in our cities. We tore down the paved parking lots to restore and preserve the Pilgrims’ Paradise.

Case in point: the 14,000-acre Southeastern Massachusetts Bioreserve spans the contiguous undeveloped land from the Freetown-Fall River State Forest

and Copicut Woods to the Acushnet Saw Mills property. It protects rare natural habitats like white cedar swamps and pine-oak barrens, as well as many threatened species of trees, birds, fish, flowers, and other animals.

Much of this land is open to the public for passive non-motorized recreation – hiking, cross-country skiing, fishing, canoeing, and kayaking.

Likewise, nonprofit organizations promote the public health benefits of exploring and enjoying our natural resources.

Southcoast Health and The Buzzards Bay Coalition joined together to create “Discover Buzzards Bay,” an initiative to promote active outdoor recreation.

Nature abhors a vacuum

It wasn’t so long ago that the South Coast was littered with empty mills, polluted shorelines, deserted buildings, vacant lots, neglected public parks, and

From the grassroots up

The South Coast is one of the most densely-populated places in the United States, ranging from 10,000 people per square mile in the metro Providence area to 5,000 per square mile in New Bedford.

But in-between the cities and towns are miles of forests and farms, and tucked away in each city and town are parks, Continued ON NEXT PAGE

Dana C Drake

shuttered storefronts. But the region underwent a transformation over the past few decades, with the influx of entrepreneurs, scholars, scientists, and artists. This was accomplished with venture capital, government/non-profit grants, enlightened public servants, and a whole lot of sweat equity.

The mills were repurposed as loft apartments and office spaces. Downtown streets were turned into shopper-friendly pedestrian malls. Start-up businesses and restaurants filled empty storefronts.

Blighted city lots were turned into community gardens. An explosion of festivals and cultural events attracted visitors from near and far to our gathering places.

We collectively cleaned up our act – and now the South Coast is once again a very lively, affordable, and sustainable place to live.

In our own quirky New England way, we gentrified our low-cost-of-living cities and made them livable again by attracting new blood – millennial students, tourists, eco-warriors, and immigrants.

We created “innovation zones,” international marketplaces, cultural/historic districts. We cleaned up and transformed derelict waterfronts – like Riverside Park in New Bedford and the Fall River Heritage State Park – and restored neglected historical/cultural sites to create venues for public recreation and entertainment. And, along the way, we planted a lot of trees in our cities to replace the ones lost to hurricanes, disease, pollution, and vandalism. In New Bedford alone, 1,700 trees have been planted in public spaces since 2014!

Green Animals Topiary Gardens in Portsmouth.

Walks on the wild side Depending on your mood, schedule, and the weather, do some “forest-bathing” on the South Coast!

n

Walk through the daffodils this month at Parsons Field in Dartmouth.

n

Stroll through stone walls and rural meadows at East Over Reservation in Rochester. n

n Walk around ponds, bogs, and woodlands at the Halfway Pond Conservation Area in Plymouth.

Visit the eccentric Green Animals Topiary Gardens in Portsmouth.

n

Wander through the amazing Allen G. Haskell Public Gardens in New Bedford.

n

Join a nature/history walking club, like walkfallriver.org, or the “Sunday Strolls” sponsored by the Buzzards Bay Coalition.

n

Explore the glacial rocks at Fort Phoenix in Fairhaven, then talk a walk along the hurricane dike (fabulous views). Or else walk through the town center when the cherry trees are in bloom. n

Go on an Eco-Tour at the Norman Bird Sanctuary in Middletown. n

Hike through salt marshes and red-cedar forest at the Knowles or Wylde Reserves in Dartmouth.

n

Explore the coastal forest at the Nasketucket Reservation and the Mattapoisett River Reserve in Mattapoisett.

n

Discover hundreds of wildlife sanctuaries, coastal trails, forests, parks, and river reserves along the South Coast at savebuzzardsbay.org/discover, dnrt. org, thetrustees.org, massaudubon. org, westportlandtrust.org, savebay. org, riparks.com, nps.gov, stateparks. com/ma, and by contacting your city or town’s department of parks, recreation, and conservation.

n

The South Coast Insider | April 2017

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Continued FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

gardens, and little nooks and crannies of public greenery.

These are the “commons” of old New England, the plazas and market squares of the Old World, where everyone could relax and mingle with neighbors. We did not pave Paradise here on the South Coast – we created a network of public green oases in between the urban jungles and highway jangles for everyone to enjoy.

Almost every town, village, and neighborhood has a town green or town square (oftentimes with a military monument), where local folk congregate on holidays and special events – from tiny Benoit Square in North Fairhaven (which is actually a triangle) to the Church Green in Taunton.

Some towns are blessed with sprawling public lawns and a gazebo, like in Onset and Mattapoisett, where there are free concerts and festivals, and a place to play Frisbee, work on your tan, read a book on your lunch hour, or go sledding in winter.

Some of these town/city green-retreats were created by ad hoc community initiatives – garden clubs, neighborhood

Look for the coming colors at the Allen G. Haskell Public Gardens in New Bedford

improvement associations, and civicminded volunteers. Some are maintained by the state, county, or each municipality’s Parks & Recreation Department, or else by nonprofit conservancy organizations like the Westport River Alliance, the

“Forest-bathing”

Shinrin-yoku (literally, “forest-bathing”) is the Japanese practice of walking through a natural setting like the woods or just stopping to smell the roses. It’s stress-reducing and meditative to take a leisurely stroll through a greenspace or park during your day (especially compared to a cardio-workout at an indoor gym).

Studies have shown that relaxing amidst greenery lowers the stress hormones in your blood, as well as your blood pressure, and clears your mind, leaving you refreshed and energized.

Trees are the lungs of any ecosystem (they suck up CO2 and fumes, provide shade, block out noise and breathe out fresh oxygen), whether you live out in the woods or in a city neighborhood. The closer you live to trees and greenery, and the more time you spend each day near them, the healthier and saner you’ll be.

16

April 2017 | The South Coast Insider

Trustees of Reservations, the Audubon Society, or the Buzzards Bay Coalition.

Many of the South Coast’s most beautiful parks were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the 19th-century “father of landscape architecture,” and his associates – Kennedy Park in Fall River, the Rockery Cairn in Easton, Buttonwood Park in New Bedford, and the Frederick Law Olmsted Park in Newport.

Others were designed by inspired urban planners and funded through state grants like the Gateway Cities Parks Initiative, like Bicentennial Park in Fall River, or with grants from nonprofit organizations like The Island Foundation, which is redesigning the Captain Paul Cuffe Park near New Bedford’s Whaling Museum.

Some of our public greenspaces grew around historic/cultural locations, like Dighton Rock in Berkley, Brooklawn Park in New Bedford, the Four Corners in Tiverton, or the Governor Oliver Ames Estate in Easton. Some are quiet places dedicated to famous citizens, like Founders Brook Park in Portsmouth (Anne Hutchinson), Pilgrims Memorial in Plymouth, or the Roger Williams Memorial in Providence.

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Our many public bikeways and trails follow the old train lines. Even our historic cemeteries are beautifully maintained and walkable, like Swan Point Cemetery in Providence, Riverside Cemetery in Fairhaven, or the colonial-era graveyards in Newport and Plymouth.

In addition, unique arboretums on the South Coast range from the Green Animals Topiary Garden in Portsmouth, the Allen G. Haskell Public Garden in New Bedford, and the Japanese Garden and Botanical Center in Roger Williams Park in Providence.

Pocket parks, parklets, and streetscapes Like our Pilgrim forebears in reverse, we’re carving out breathable greenspaces from the urban jungle and traffic.

We’ve bumped out sidewalks on busy shopping streets to make room enough for a tree and a bench and a bicycle rack.

We’ve covered graffitied walls with murals and added lighting, benches, fountains, and trees to waterfront streets.

We’ve restored historic buildings and gardens (like the Rotch-Jones-Duff House and Custom House Square in New Bedford), and replaced paved roads with cobblestones and cracked sidewalks with bricks.

And then there are the inner-city sanctuaries that offer respite from the daily hustle-and-bustle, safe places to eat lunch amidst trees and flowers, play chess, or listen to street musicians. Some are tiny enclaves, like Wing’s Court in New Bedford, or revitalized neighborhoods, like Columbia Street in Fall River or Acushnet Avenue in the north end of New Bedford.

In the summer, we put tubs of flowers on highway median strips, along downtown sidewalks and outside restaurants, and there are window-boxes everywhere, even on the triple-deckers. We’ve reclaimed our towns and cities and turned them back into livable commons.

To paraphrase Herman Melville, the South Coast is perhaps the dearest place to live in, in all New England… nowhere in all of America will you find parks and gardens more opulent.

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The South Coast Insider | April 2017

17

COVER STORY The Marion Garden and Discussion Group works to beautify the community

Get growing!

by Joyce Rowley

To some, the first day of spring comes with the vernal equinox when the Earth stands equipoised between winter and summer. To me, it’s the first day I can get my hands into the rich, black earth, uncovering a few earthworms and releasing that fresh, moist fragrance of healthy soil.

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April 2017 | The South Coast Insider

The sun is warm, but not too warm, and not for long. Plant too early, a heavy frost will destroy your efforts. Too late, and your flowers may not bloom or your fruit ripen. And your garden may need time to breathe and gain a little replenishment after lying dormant for months.

That’s where it all begins, at the ground level: readying garden beds for planting. And the best time to do that is in late March to early April. Planting, the sometimes wishful thinking part of gardening, comes after the last heavy frost. Here are a few pointers on how to get your gardens

growing from expert gardeners on the South Coast.

Ready the beds first

“A lot of soil gets compacted by snow. I like to start by using a three-prong hand tool to aerate the soil and loosen it up,” says Cassie West, president of the Marion Garden Group. West said she adds a little Osmocote or other fertilizer to aerate the soil. “The soil here is really rich and dark – not as sandy as people would think.”

The Marion Garden and Discussion Group formed in 1956, after Hurricane

Carol did extensive damage to the town in 1954. Flooding from the storm surge left half of Marion underwater and gardens destroyed. The group formed to help restore public gardens and educate residents on how to restore their own gardens. And again in 1991, the group helped offer advice after Hurricane Bob downed trees and opened new areas for gardening.

West also says she tries to make her garden as organic as possible, especially avoiding glyphosate or other herbicides.

“Whatever I put in my garden is as organic as possible,” West said.

Wareham Garden Club president Mary Bruce begins readying her vegetable garden by taking a walk on the beach in late March, collecting seaweed to put over her beds as a fertilizer.

But Bruce suggested that first-time gardeners or those new to the area send a soil sample to the UMass Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment (usually referred to as the Agricultural Extension) for testing for a nominal fee before planting.

“In April I till the seaweed in with a lot of peat moss and compost. The seaweed is organic and free,” Bruce said. “As the seaweed decays, it warms up and releases oxygen and heat, aerating the beds and keeping the plants warm.”

Cynthia Haines, president of the Garden Club of Greater New Bedford, also uses seaweed, but as a mulch without rinsing.

“I put it on after the plants come up in June to hold in the moisture and to keep the weeds down,” Haines said.

Haines’ own vegetable garden contains eight four-by-eight-foot’ raised beds at a height of about twelve inches. The four-foot width is just right for reaching to the middle of the bed from either side to weed. The raised beds give her a jump on planting as the soil thaws quicker than if she were planting directly into the ground, she says.

An ardent composter, Haines said the original formula for her beds consisted of

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The South Coast Insider | April 2017

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Keep growing

Continued FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

one-third each compost, garden soil, and chicken grit. The latter was part of a mix used in the renowned Dixter’s garden in East Sussex, England. Vermiculite or perlite can be substituted to lighten the soil and allow air for the plants’ roots.

“It’s not rocket science,” Haines says of composting. She tosses kitchen scraps, leaves, and dead plants onto the compost pile. Her husband turns it occasionally with a pitchfork, and rain waters it naturally.

“You work your way through the pile to the bottom, and there’s the rich soil and the earthworms. It works. It just works,” said Haines.

When and what to plant

Haines’ yen for early blooms led to planting a witch hazel tree that blossoms in February and lasts for about a month. She also planted winter aconite, a yellow-flowering perennial, as a ground cover, which is hardier than the crocus and daffodils.

But the general rule of thumb is to wait until the risk of frost is over. Antsy gardeners are setting seeds indoors in flats by early April. Still, it depends on the plant.

Haines uses St. Patrick’s Day to plant peas, then plants spinach and Swiss chard in April. Beets, onions, and leeks can go into the ground the end of April, she says.

She keeps a garden journal to avoid planting the same vegetable twice in one spot each year.

Garden clubs are a good place to start. They’re always looking for community-minded members to share experiences and ideas, and to help keep the local gardens vibrant and healthy.

“I rotate the vegetables from year to year,” Haines said. “Planting the same ones each year in the same spot draws nematodes and encourages fungus.”

By the end of April, Bruce is planting lettuce and broccoli, started indoors from seed. Around Memorial Day she plants tomatoes and peppers, what she refers to as warm vegetables.

“You can put them in early, but they won’t do much until it gets warmer out,” Bruce said.

And not so coincidentally, May is when the Wareham Garden Club holds its first of two plant and bake sales. Proceeds go towards planting town gardens and for two $1,000 scholarships.

Even the oldest gardeners know there’s always more to learn about new varieties, new techniques, or changing weather patterns. Garden clubs are a good place to start. They’re always looking for community-minded members to share experiences and ideas, and to help keep the local gardens vibrant and healthy.

The Wareham Garden Club, founded in 1942, meets on the second Thursday monthly at 82 High Street in Wareham.

April’s topic is “Jaw dropping, traffic stopping, get your neighbors talking containers.” The club maintains the Town’s seven public beds, including the plantings on Main Street. Despite the drought last summer, club members kept the planters and ground plantings watered. Their efforts got rave reviews from the Town and a $500 donation from the Village Association.

The Marion Garden Group meets next on March 31 at the General Store on Front Street for “Pansy Planting Day” starting at 3 p.m. The Group’s purpose is to beautify the Town of Marion and educate residents on different gardening topics. One of their pet projects is to help the bee corridor through the South Coast by keeping beehives.

The Garden Club of New Bedford is one of the oldest garden clubs on the South Coast, founded in 1928. The club meets monthly at the Acushnet Council on Aging. April’s topic is all about finding the best plants to attract bees.

Earth Day tip: Sustainable gardening “Sustainable gardening seeks to match the right plant to the right place. Selecting plants begins with a good understanding of your site – the amount of available light, water and wind, soil conditions, and competition from other plants all influence whether plants can thrive in a given location.

I recommend considering native plants first. Natives are generally well-adapted to our climate, soils, pests, and diseases and tend to be very successful in the garden. As an added benefit, they are more likely to support birds and butterflies and help sustain the health of our local environment.”

Jeremy Brodeur, Adjunct professor of Bristol Community College’s Sustainable Gardening Program and certified horticulturalist

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April 2017 | The South Coast Insider

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BUSINESS BUZZ

The new Riverside Landing Plaza in New Bedford, designed by Stephen Kelleher Architects.

by Jay Pateakos

So the economy’s improving and businesses are becoming less apprehensive about expanding, relocating or renovating their businesses.

That’s a very good thing. But what does that mean for the South Coast?

W

ell, if you haven’t seen the influx of new businesses moving in or others expanding,

you will soon enough.

After years of being a mere afterthought for commercial development, Fall River and the surrounding areas are seeing a massive influx of interest. With Amazon’s million-square-foot distribution facility bustling, the former New Harbour Mall seeing new life as the South Coast Marketplace, and the potential of a new casino across the state line in Tiverton, Bristol County Chamber President & CEO Robert Mellion said that the Fall River area has become a destination for companies looking to relocate.

“This is all being driven by activity in

22

April 2017 | The South Coast Insider

Tiverton and the surrounding areas.

Companies are seeing the great infrastructure and the reasonable costs to do business here, costs that are much more expensive the farther you go up 495. It’s a bargain compared to that, and there is land available,” said Mellion.

Noting that the Fall River industrial park has just about run out of space, Mellion pointed out the great expansions of businesses there like Raw Seafood, Blount Fine Foods, and Bristol Marine as a good indicator that businesses are here to stay and remain vested in the community.

He said that while it’s still tough at times for retailers that rely on local patronage, manufacturing, distribution, and innovation companies are thriving.

“These companies leverage the assets of the area and can sell to other

communities outside the area,” said Mellion.

Mellion said other developments include a potential expansion at Saint Anne’s Hospital and Commonwealth Landing’s fourth floor condo construction.

Building businesses

In the commercial real estate realm, Bob Lima, broker and manager of South Dartmouth-based R. P. Valois Real Estate, said the commercial real estate sector should remain on stable ground in 2017 with modest gains for investors. He said the positive direction for commercial real estate this year will be guided by the steadily expanding economy.

“Developers, builders, and investors are optimistic that the industry will continue to grow. The modest economic

improvement could temper the pace of real estate activity. All signs point to an upward trajectory even with the uncertainty of the expected rate hikes,” said Lima.

“The interest rates are still at historic lows and have afforded investors and entrepreneurs the opportunity and confidence to move forward. However, expected rate hikes could deter real estate investors to some extent.”

Lima said inventory in commercial real estate has not been a problem like other areas around the country, although it has become a dilemma in the local residential real estate market.

Incentivize the rise

Lori Nery, broker and owner of New Bedford-based Coastal Realty said the local commercial real estate market is “very healthy right now... especially the downtown [New Bedford] area!”

“It is exciting to see the downtown bustling with folks going to all the new restaurants, breweries, a bakery, and new retail stores. The old mainstays like the Whaling Museum and the Zeiterion Theatre are complementing one another into making New Bedford a destination city,” said Nery.

“Since we are also a residential real estate company, we are seeing another benefit of the downtown commercial success: demand for downtown residential housing. Single family homes and apartments are quite desirable on the neighboring streets. New real estate surveys show buyers are interested in living in areas that have a high walkability score. This means people want to live in an area where they can walk to shops, restaurants, and even their jobs.”

As for available commercial space, Nery said right now there are fewer than 70 properties in the New Bedford area for sale and a similar number for lease.

“Every business owner has a particular need and it must be a good fit for their business,” she said.

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Continued FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

“The commercial market has been very strong for the last year now, there are a lot of buyers and listings are selling quickly,” said Collins. “Overall, people are more confident and in our area.

Industrial and warehouse spaces are very sought-after.”

Collins said there is ample office space available. In addition to industrial, retail, and office space expertise, Collins is also known as a specialist in mill properties. She said there are still good leasing opportunities in mills, and a number of opportunities to convert the old manufacturing and textile buildings into modern use. She said with the Industrial Park nearly full, high bay industrial locations are highly sought-after.

“There are tons of distribution companies looking for space and there will always be inventory coming on the market,” added Collins.

need to be retrofitted to adapt with their needs. The city building department has been working well with new owners to accomplish their goals.”

Nery said many established successful businesses in neighboring towns and cities are looking to expand to the New Bedford area market.

“Many are service industries, such as cleaning companies, counseling centers, as well as a rebirth of banking and lending institutions,” Nery noted.

She said New Bedford specifically has a bit of problem with acquiring entrepreneurs with the tax rate of $35.83 per thousand.

“It is steep compared to Dartmouth’s $15.78 to $17.38 per thousand. But established businesses are a bit more apt to pay the higher rate because of all the city services, accessibility to their New developments abound at the New Bedford business park.

Up with downtown products, and the improved co-opNew Bedford Economic taken off. Kelleher was responsible for eration from the various city departDevelopment Council executive directhe 11,000-square-foot Riverside Landing ments to help their business succeed,” tor Derek Santos said New Bedford can Plaza which is home to New Bedford’s said Nery. point to a multitude of developments in new Market Basket, and is currently work“It is a Catch-22 and a dilemma for most the city to be proud of that are either fully ing on the 30,000-square-foot renovation cities. Municipalities need the increased underway or that about to get there. The of the city’s State Pier. He is also working revenue for infrastructure, schools, etc. former Polaroid plant in the New Bedford on converting a former West Bridgewater There has to be a balance, otherwise we Business Park has been closed since 2006, will collect those high taxes from very few wicker furniture business into four rental but Santos said that complex is about to units. remaining business.” get new life. Or rather, make that three “There is a lot of commercial space availAll in all, Nery said the future is very new lives. In addition to Eversource movable,” says Kelleher.

“You drive by these promising and her enthusiasm for the curing their regional hub from the downrent market is clearly apparent in her tone. strip malls and you see the space availtown waterfront to the former Polaroid able. We are doing some commercial “We do see an enthusiasm on the comlocation, Parallel Products is expanding to tenant fit outs, remodels, and facelifts mercial-side buyers, not only in terms of that site as well as NWD Trucking. that have been going on steadily since the people wanting to purchase properties, “By the time the summer rolls around, Great Recession ended, but that work isn’t but also to buy established businesses,” this will go from a vacant complex to a nearly as vibrant as the municipal, state, Nery added. “Our clients see the U.S. mini park-within-a-park with a renovated or residential work.” economy on the rise!” new building,” said Santos. “We’re excited Kelley Collins, broker and owner of Milling about Collins Real Estate in Fall River, said there’s about that.”

Milhench Supply Company is also exStephen, Kelleher, owner of the Fairalways a need for more commercial invenpanding their footprint in the park, and on haven-based Stephen Kelleher Architects tory as she has expanded out to propthe Dartmouth side, AHEAD gear is dousaid that while commercial real estate erties in Providence, Swansea, and New bling their size, already securing needed work has held “steady,” it is municipal Bedford, but the commercial market is and residential construction that has approvals from the town. going very strong right now.

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April 2017 | The South Coast Insider

MDT Tours is putting the finishing touches on a new building there as well.

Santos said he can’t yet talk about the plans for the two remaining open spots in the park, although there are purchase and sale agreements in the works.

“The park continues to be a hub of activity as businesses are expanding, moving in, or hiring even more employees,” said Santos.

As many as five mill buildings in the Upper Harbor region of the city are being renovated into residential, market-rate apartments and artist’s lofts, with the recent announcement of a $20 million dollar mill renovation moving forward right down the street from UMass Dartmouth’s $55 million renovation at SMAST. Santos noted a recent performance at the Z he went to that was sold out, in the dead of winter, with the downtown area bustling with restaurant activity. From the new Moby Dick Brewing Company on Union Street, to Carmines Italian Ristorante at the Candleworks Building, to Greasy Luck Brewery just a few streets up on Purchase Street, downtown New Bedford has become the hub for great restaurants, pubs, and breweries.

Santos said the boutique hotel, located at 222 Union Street and planned to have 68 rooms, a restaurant, and banquet space, just got fully permitted and received its federal and state historic tax credits.

The Waterfront Historic Area League (WHALE) Co-Creative Center, to be located at 39 and 41 Union Street, coupled with infrastructure improvements at the Whaling Museum and Seamen’s Bethel has things all going in the right direction for downtown New Bedford, Santos said.

“We’re really excited about how everything is shaping up in the north and south ends and in the downtown area. It’s all a good indication of what’s going on citywide,” said Santos.

“We may not have the available land like Amazon, but we have many irons in the fire and we are planning on even greater development in the next 18-24 months.”

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The South Coast Insider | April 2017

25

THINGS TO DO

Battling

burglars

by Dan Logan

The impact of having one’s home burglarized goes beyond the dollar amount of the theft. Someone ransacked your home with impunity?

That rattles your foundations and undermines your sense of security.

T

he Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice Statistics (bjs.gov) offers all kinds of burglary statistics. Reported burglaries in the United States have actually gone down in the last couple of decades, though the average dollar value of thefts has increased. “The rate of household burglary decreased 56% from 1994 to 2011, from a peak of 63.4 victimizations per 1,000 U.S. households in 1994 to 27.6 victimizations per 1,000 households in 2011,” one report summarizes.

The FBI reported 1.7 million burglaries in 2014, and property losses averaged about $2,250 per burglary.

Stats indicate the most common time for a burglary is between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., the criminals typically get into the

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April 2017 | The South Coast Insider

residence within a minute, and they’re in there for roughly ten minutes.

It’s difficult to totally burglar-proof your home, but you can put together several layers of defense that add up to too much risk for the burglar to make a run at your home, your apartment, garage, or the shed in your backyard.

Home security mainly relies on the individual having the self-discipline to put a collection of defensive behaviors to regular use. That means turning on the alarm every time you go out, checking and locking the doors and windows, always leaving a light on in the house, and varying the lighting pattern.

Other home security defenses include planting bushes with thorns outside vulnerable windows, using motion-activated lights outside to illuminate anyone

approaching the house, not hiding outdoor keys in easy-to-find spots, and working with your neighbors to keep an eye out for unusual activity in the neighborhood.

With such basics covered, what kind of electronic monitoring and warning equipment can you add to protect your home?

Security options abound. You can use professionally-installed and monitored systems from private alarm companies as well as the cable and phone companies, or set up your own unmonitored installation.

Private monitoring companies

A monitored system offers the best security in terms of quick responses to an attempted break-in. For an installation fee plus a monthly fee usually starting around $30, one can link up with any of a host of private alarm companies that install and

monitor the sensor equipment in your residence all day, every day. If the company’s equipment shows a breach of your system, the company notifies you or contacts the local police if they can’t reach you.

A visit to your police station will usually provide valuable information about which systems are most widely used in your area (and also give you a sense of how your local police will respond to an alarm). Some service companies, such as ADT Security Services or Adcomm-Vivint Home Security, are national companies using an established network of local installers.

The alarm business attracts a lot of flyby-night installers, so it’s important to try to get a handle on the company’s local reputation.

The hardwired monitoring systems typically include a control panel that connects to the alarm company by phone line or a cellular connection. There’s a touch pad for arming and disarming the alarm.

Sensors are attached to the doors and windows, and motion detectors installed inside as another defense if the window/ door sensors are successfully breached.

This technology, which has been around for years, relies on a telephone landline.

Sometimes the more sophisticated bad guys cut the phone lines before burglarizing the house, so that the alarms don’t work and the alarm company isn’t notified. Underground phone lines to the home increase the security of this system.

These days, hardwired, cellular, and Internet connections may all figure into a service provider’s system. Both hardwired and wireless systems have their own vulnerabilities, but they’ll do the job under most circumstances.

Combined with smartphones and computers, these systems offer a great deal of flexibility beyond security, such as water leak alerts, smoke and carbon dioxide monitoring, remote lighting, thermostat, and small appliance control, and remote door locking.

While it’s being used for a serious purpose, the smartphone home security connection also opens up an avenue for fun.

Wayne Pinard, a builder from Fairhaven, notes that one of his friends uses a twoway camera and microphone to check on

his dog via smartphone. “He whistles and talks to the dog, and the dog will try to figure out where his voice is coming from.”

Cable TV and phone companies

It’s a no-brainer for cable TV operators and the phone companies to offer their own home security services – they’re already connected to your home.

Comcast’s XFINITY Home (xfinity.com/ home-security.html) offers a two-year contract on its XH Secure package for $20 a month for the first year, with free installation.

Comcast’s Xfinity Home package includes three door/window sensors, a motion sensor, wireless keypad and touchscreen controller, and 24/7 monitoring.

Don’t get too complacent and assume that your layers of home security are always doing their jobs.

A door/window sensor three-pack costs $130, and 24/7 video recording with indoor/outdoor cameras is available for another $10 per month.

If you have existing security equipment, it might be able to be integrated into the Xfinity system.

According to the Xfinity web site, other options that can tie into the system that include the leak and smoke alerts and remote control of lights, heating, and appliances. Xfinity’s competitors offer similar options.

Unmonitored alarm systems

If a monthly home security bill seems grating, an unmonitored alarm system still offers better protection than no system at all.

Unmonitored alarm systems rely on

annoying flashing lights and loud horns to provoke someone in the neighborhood to call the police. Alarm system kits are available in big box stores and on the Internet at various price levels.

Outside you can use simple motion detectors linked to lights that go on when movement is detected near the house.

These can also be linked to your alarm system.

You can hire an installer to set up the equipment or install it yourself. In addition to the attention-getting lights and sirens, you can use software to connect your smartphone to your alarm system.

This lets you change the settings on the system while you’re away, and see what the cameras in the house are seeing.

Staying vigilant

Don’t get too complacent and assume that your layers of home security are always doing their jobs. For example, savvy burglars may be able to use radio jamming gear to temporarily disrupt communications between the hub and windows, doors, and motion sensors, so that a system component appears to be connected but isn’t. Periodically making a visual check of windows and doors to see they’re secure is always a good idea.

For those who have an electronic security system in place, it’s important to let thieves know there’s a system in place.

Putting up signs or stickers can be a real deterrent in a thief’s risk analysis. This approach can be a double-edged sword: the security signs are a good idea unless you have a poorly designed system, so that by identifying your system you’re giving a savvy criminal the information he needs to bypass it. Talking with the police and doing your research can help in this regard.

Beating the problem of maintaining a long-term defense against the ongoing burglar offensive comes through keeping up with websites and other sources of information that let users know about vulnerabilities that crop up with their systems. Yes, one more thing to do. But it’s better than living with the anxiety created by having your home burglarized.

The South Coast Insider | April 2017

27

BUSINESS BUZZ

SEED helps businesses take root

Maria Gooch-Smith, SEED Founder

by Steve Smith

What do a pet resort, a dance studio, a fish processing company, a solar panel installer and a neighborhood pizzeria have in common?

Other than sounding like the start of a bad joke, they are among the hundreds of successful South Coast businesses that were aided in their growth and development with timely assistance and financing from the SouthEastern Economic Development Corporation, also known as SEED Corp.

The story of SEED’s rise is as remarkable as those of any of the businesses it has assisted. It’s hard to imagine a time when interest rates for commercials loans were in double digits and credit standards were excessively tough, but that’s exactly the situation southeastern Massachusetts and the rest of the nation were in in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s.

Regional economic summits at the time produced the usual litany of concerns from business that would sound familiar even in 2017 – the need for a trained

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April 2017 | The South Coast Insider

workforce, workers’ compensation complaints, and transportation woes.

But unlike today, the number-one complaint from the business community at that time was the cost and availability of financing for growth and expansion. Interest rates were too high, banks were too cautious, and our economy was stagnating.

Enter Maria Gooch-Smith. As an economic development planner at Southeastern Regional Planning & Economic Development District (SRPEDD), Maria was seeing these issues up close, and was frustrated over her helplessness to fix them. She swung into action, created SEED Corp. as a nonprofit corporation, and applied for and received certification as a certified development company from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in 1982.

Fast-forwarding to 2017, SEED today is a bona fide financial juggernaut. In those intervening thirty-five years, SEED has made over 2,000 loans to small businesses in an aggregate amount of more than $350 million.

“It’s not rocket science,” states GoochSmith, the longtime Executive Director of SEED. “We’re just doing our job and helping small businesses in the region that want to grow and create jobs. But the end result is very satisfying.”

Flourishing

SEED is an independent nonprofit corporation headquartered in Taunton and governed by a dedicated board of directors comprised of regional leaders in banking, business, and government.

They oversee SEED’s loan programs and a staff that numbers more than a dozen professionals.

“We’re proud of our track record over three-plus decades and believe we’ve really made the difference for many

small- and medium-sized regional businesses,” states Gooch-Smith.

The numbers back up her claim. As a direct result of SEED’s financing, 12,345 permanent jobs have been created by the businesses that have received these loans, and that number does not even count the shorter-term construction jobs associated with most loans. Most of these jobs are in southeastern Massachusetts, but SEED’s reach also extends into Rhode Island and up to the Boston area.

SEED makes most of its loans in partnership with the region’s banks. In addition to its own loan activity, SEED has leveraged more than $700 million in additional loans from banks and other private partners.

Many loans originate from SBA programs, while others are made from SEED’s own resources. Its own revolving loan program has loaned $20 million since 1984.

SEED’s services have expanded over time to address identified regional needs.

As the regional SBA Intermediary for the Micro Loan Program, SEED makes micro loans up to $50,000, and conducts a Business Assistance Program, which includes small business workshops, individual business assistance, and a small business library. Last year, over 900 businesses and entrepreneurs took advantage of these services.

In 2005, SEED Ventures LP was created with a $20 million mezzanine fund which has been invested in 30 innovative companies with high growth and job creation potential.

In 2011, SEED was certified as a Community Development Financial Institution. This designation as a CDFI is a difficult-to-obtain status conferred by the U.S. Treasury Department. It has enabled SEED to obtain grant funds and increase its capital pool up to a total of $12 million from which to make small business loans.

Today, when regional businesses gather to express their concerns and grievances, adequate financing resources is far down on the list of issues, if it appears at all. It is not a stretch to give some credit for that to SEED Corporation, quietly making a difference in our region every day.

For more information call 508-822-1020 or visit seedcorp.com.

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The South Coast Insider | April 2017

29

BUSINESS BUZZ

A new lease on life

by Jay Pateakos

Once you see the inside of Lynne’s Place, the salon and spa celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, you won’t want to leave. Ever.

O

wner Lynne Reilly said she’s often told that she should have been an interior designer with the extent of how she’s decorated her place.

“It’s not stuffy or intimidating. I want people to come in and feel instantly comfortable,” said Reilly. “Route 138 is such a busy place and people have such hectic lives that I want this to be a place for them to relax and feel good” With the anniversary date in September, Reilly reflected on how her business has grown. Although she’s always been known for laser hair removal and electrolysis treatments, Lynne’s Place has expanded their skin care services to include a high-tech, state-of-the-art HydraFacial MD treatment, known as an advanced

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April 2017 | The South Coast Insider

version of a professional facial and microdermabrasion.

HydraFacials provide hybrid treatment to “give dull, aged, damaged, and breakout-prone skin a new lease on life,” according to the Lynne’s Place website.

Totally pain-free, the HydraFacial works to smooth and resurface your skin, while it hydrates using a unique combination of cleansing, exfoliating, and hydrating serums, said Reilly. The treatments take as little as 30 minutes, with results showing almost immediately. A series of HydroPeel tips, each with multiple peeling edges, will evenly exfoliate and polish with each pass, leaving you with a glowing complexion, she said.

“This is a medical-grade facial that’s so amazing, I am getting many new clients from outside our area who are so happy

with a high-tech facial that delivers instant results with no downtime,” said Reilly, noting the treatment can be used as an anti-aging treatment as well as for teens struggling with acne.

“This is for men as well. They need to know that this is not a foo-foo place. Many men come in here and love how clean their faces feel and look afterward. They also like that they don’t need to wear wraps or robes like a traditional spa facial.”

Feeling lighter

Reilly said HydraFacials and skincare treatments are growing to about 25 percent of her business now, but that the majority of it still remains laser hair removal and electrolysis treatments.

“We do just about every body area when it comes to hair removal, ‘nose to toes’ as

“The HydraFacials are helping to take us over the top in skin care, giving us the best and fastest treatments for people who have little or no downtime, and providing immediate results.”

taking care of their unwanted hair issues is something that makes them feel better about themselves. It helps them to be happier,” said Reilly.

“Women don’t want hormonal hair and there are times when they can’t really see all the hair that’s there. Every square inch of the face is evaluated in this process. In the end, the only regret people have in doing this is that they didn’t have laser hair removal treatments sooner. They can’t believe they wasted their 30’s, 40’s and 50’s before doing it.”

But not everyone is a candidate for laser hair removal, Reilly said. They must have light skin with dark hair in order for the laser to read where the hair is.

“The laser needs to see the contrast because the laser’s light is only programmed to see dark hair. You can’t have blond hair or white hair,” Reilly said.

Whether it’s laser hair removal or skin care with the cutting edge technology of HydraFacials, Reilly said her business continues to boom after twenty years and actually become more attractive to each new person coming through her door.

“The HydraFacials are helping to take us over the top in skin care, giving us the best and fastest treatments for people who have little or no downtime, and providing immediate results,” said Reilly.

For more information call 508-646-0000 or visit lynnesplacespa.com

I call it, and it’s become life-changing for so many people. We help change the way people look and make them feel better about themselves,” said Reilly.

“For women we laser faces, legs, bikini lines and underarms all day long and take care of hair on the neck, chin, and sideburns. For men, besides the back, we do a lot of necklines, cheekbones, unibrows, chests and shoulders.”

In order to work through all the phases of hair, Reilly said they will need at least six appointments, each about 30 minutes long, with about 6-8 weeks in-between each treatment.

“People love laser. They love the feel and the look of it. They end up combining areas. Like, they do the bikini line area and then include legs or do a number of areas on the face,” said Reilly.

“The initial laser consultation will come up with the scope of what will be needed.

The people who come are those looking for touch-ups or are those who are brand new to this. The way it helps a person’s self-esteem is amazing.”

All welcome

Reilly stressed that when it comes to hair removal, there are no age barriers – it’s something that affects both the young and old.

“We often see pre-teens come in, who have been labeled or made fun of, and

Lynne Reilly, owner of Lynne’s Place.

The South Coast Insider | April 2017

31

DATELINE: SOUTH COAST

News, views and trends... from Mount Hope Bay to Buzzards Bay

by Elizabeth Morse Read

It’s daffodil and tulip time! Enjoy the return of milder temperatures and budding flowers with a good walk-around outdoors! Make your plans for Easter and Earth Day celebrations – and find some outdoor family activities during school vacation week!

Across the Region

Acushnet

Rhode Island-based Deepwater Wind has opened its Massachusetts headquarters in New Bedford. Along with Vineyard Wind and DONG Energy, they will launch the state’s offshore wind industry.

UMass Dartmouth associate professor Walter Stroup has been awarded a $458,000 grant by the National Science Foundation to develop teaching strategies for middle and high school teachers that would excite students about pursuing careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math).

US News & World Report has ranked Massachusetts as the best state in the nation, citing its high level of education, health care coverage, low unemployment, and fast rate of new business growth.

The new Wareham-New Bedford Connection Bus Service, with stops in Marion, Mattapoisett, and Fairhaven, will operate on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays from early morning to late afternoon.

Travel website Expedia has listed both New Bedford and Providence as two of the most creative/artistic cities in the US.

Dartmouth and New Bedford have been named “green communities” by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources, making them eligible for substantial grants for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.

Find out what’s happening at the Capron Park Zoo. Call 774-203-1840 or go to capronparkzoo. com. Or take the kids to Mass Audubon’s Oak Knoll Wildlife Sanctuary and Nature Center! Call 508-223-3060 or visit massaudubon.org.

State grants have received by Westport ($249,000) and New Bedford ($1,250,000) for upgrading their waterfront infrastructure from the state’s Seaport Economic Council.

Bristol

Don’t miss the International Portuguese Music Awards on April 22 at the Zeiterion in New Bedford! For more info, call 508-994-2900 or go to zeiterion.org.

The Massachusetts state legislature is now considering a bill called the “100 Percent Energy Act,” which would require the state to source all of its electricity from renewable sources like wind and solar by 2035. Other sectors, like heating and transportation, would have to use renewable energy by 2050. If passed, the law would make Massachusetts the first state in the US to commit entirely to renewable energy.

A $300,000 grant from The Island Foundation will allow for the expansion and makeover of the Captain Paul Cuffe Park near the Whaling Museum in New Bedford.

Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River, part of Southcoast Health, has opened a state-ofthe-art electrophysiology lab to enhance its cardiovascular care program.

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April 2017 | The South Coast Insider

My Brother’s Keeper of Dartmouth and Easton is looking for volunteers and gentlyused residential furniture for families in need. Free pickup. Call 774-305-4577 or visit mybrotherskeeper.org.

Pet Food Aid, a non-profit organization, collects pet food donations and distributes them to food banks throughout Bristol County. Volunteers and donations gratefully accepted. For more info, visit petfoodaid.org or call 774-204-5227.

Fill your baskets with local produce, cheeses, jellies, wines, pies, and plants. To find a farm, vineyard, or farmers market near you, visit semaponline.org, pickyourown.org, farmfresh. org, or localharvest.org.

Talk a stroll through the Acushnet Sawmills public park and herring weir! Canoe/ kayak launch, fishing, trails. For info, visit savebuzzardsbay.org.

Attleboro Head for the year-round farmers market at Attleboro Farms on Sundays 10-1. For info, call 508-695-7200.

Visit the mansion and gardens at Blithewold!

Don’t miss “Gateway to Spring” starting this month, when the daffodils are in bloom. Sign the little ones up for April Vacation Camp! For info, call 401-253-2707 or go to blithewold.org.

Wander through Linden Place, the elegant mansion used as the setting for the movie The Great Gatsby! For info, call 401-253-0390 or visit lindenplace.org.

Find out who’s playing at the Stone Church Coffeehouse at the First Congregational Church in Bristol! For info or tickets, call 401-253-4813 or 401-253-7288.

Check out the 18th-century Home and Hearth Workshops at the Coggeshall Farm Museum!

For details, visit coggeshallfarm.org or call 401-253-9062.

Carver Visit Edaville Railroad and explore Thomas the Tank Engine Land and Dino Land. For more info, visit edaville.com or call 508-866-8190.

Dartmouth The town has first right of refusal on purchasing the Allendale Country Club.

Listen to the South Coast Chamber Music Series performance of “Mastery and Mystery” on April 2 at St. Peter’s Church in Dartmouth. For details, go to nbsymphony.org.

Take a stroll through Paskamansett Woods, a nature reserve operated by the Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust. For more info, visit dnrt. org. Or go on nature walks at the Lloyd Center for the Environment! For details, call 508-990-0505 or visit lloydcenter.org.

Mark your calendar for the monthly Paskamansett Concert Series at the Dartmouth Grange Hall. The Gnomes will perform on April 8, Eric McDonald on May 13. Call 401-241-3793, or visit paskamansettconcertseries.weebly.com.

Easton Check out the Children’s Museum in Easton! For info, call 508-230-3789 or visit childrensmuseumineaston.org.

Head for the year-round farmers market at Simpson Spring on Saturdays 10-2. For info, call 508-238-4472. Or go to the farmers market at Oakes Ames Memorial Hall on Saturdays 10-2 through May 20. For info, call 508-230-0631.

Fairhaven Ocean State Job Lot will be moving into the longempty Shaw’s supermarket building.

Don’t miss a night of women’s comedy “Stand Up for Women” on April 1 at the Seaport Inn & Marina. For info and tickets, call 508-717-0283 or go to womensfundSEMA.org/events.

Take a walking tour, explore local history!

For details, go to fairhaventours.com or call 508-979-4085.

Ready for a run? Sign up for the West Island 5k Run/Walk on April 30! For details, go to westisland5k.org.

Take the kids to the Easter Egg Hunt at Livesey Park on April 15! The annual Cherry Blossom Friendship Festival will be held in late April/early May. For more info, go to fairhaventours.com or call 508-979-4085.

Browse through the Oxford Book Café on Saturdays from 9 to 1 at the Church of the Good Shepherd. Coffee and homemade snacks, used books on sale, WiFi. To learn more, call 508-9922281 or visit goodshepherdfairhaven.com.

If you’re interested in the history of JapanAmerica ties, visit the Whitfield-Manjiro Friendship House, where it all began. Go to wmfriendshiphouse.org or call 508-995-1219 for details.

Fall River The Fall River Public Library now hosts free afternoon movies (and popcorn!) every Wednesday at 1 p.m., in addition to showings on Monday nights. For more information, visit the library’s Facebook page or visit fallriverlibrary.org.

Find out what’s playing at the Little Theatre! “95: The Musical” will be performed May 18-21. For info, call 508-675-1852 or visit littletheatre.net.

Take the family on a guided nature cruise and seal watch down the Taunton River into Mt. Hope Bay! Tours leave from Borden Light Marina through April. For more info, call 401-324-6060 or visit savebay.org.

Get outside and enjoy the weather! Explore nature trails or historic landmarks, join a walking group – learn more at walkfallriver.org or call 508-324-2405.

The Narrows Center for the Arts has a fabulous lineup – there’s Vanilla Fudge April 5, James McMurtry April 6, Miracle Legion April 7, Kinky Friedman April 12, The Jayhawks April 19, Forever Young April 22, Carbon Leaf April 27, An Evening with Y & T May 2 – and more! For a complete schedule, visit narrowscenter.com or call 508-324-1926.

Plan ahead for the Fall River Symphony Orchestra’s “Movies & More!” performance on May 7 at the Jackson Arts Center at Bristol Community College. For details, visit fallriversymphonyorchestra.org.

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Journey through time and discover a sailor’s life at Battleship Cove, America’s Fleet Museum, 5 Water Street, 508-678-1100, battleshipcove.org and the Maritime Museum at Battleship Cove, 70 Water Street, 508-674-3533, battleshipcove.org/ maritime-museum. All-new for 2017! Four new tours, exhibits, interactives, and two museums for the price of one! Your voyage begins at Battleshipcove.org.

Check out the Children’s Aquarium and Exploration Center of Greater Fall River! Learn more at aquariumgfr.com or call 508-801-4743.

Continued ON NEXT PAGE

The South Coast Insider | April 2017

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Mattapoisett

New Bedford

Find out what’s going on at the Children’s Museum of Greater Fall River. Reduced admission on the first Friday each month. For info, go to cmgfr.org or call 508-672-0033.

Make Mattapoisett Marvelous! Join other volunteers at Shipyard Park for the Earth Day clean-up on April 22. Refreshments and music included!

Find out what’s happening in greater Fall River, by visiting the online events calendars at welovefallriver.com or at ahafallriver.com or call 508-294-5344.

For the sixth year in a row, the Old Rochester Regional girls indoor track team won the South Coast Conference Indoor Track championship.

Congrats!

The Registry of Motor Vehicles office has moved from its downtown location to the NB Business Park near the Freetown line. (AAA members can also use the newly-opened RMV service at the AAA office in Fairhaven for many transactions.)

Freetown Elspeth Cypher has been nominated by Governor Baker to the State Supreme Judicial Court.

Marion The Sippican Choral Society will be performing “Testament of Freedom” with the Tri-County Symphonic Band on April 23 at the Fireman Hall.

For more info, visit sippicanchoralsociety.org or call 508-763-2327.

Listen to the South Coast Chamber Music Series performance of “Mastery and Mystery” on April 1 at St. Gabriel’s Church in Marion. For details, go to nbsymphony.org.

Check out “Enchanted April” at the Marion Art Center on April 1 and 2. For info, call 508-748-1266 or visit marionartcenter.org.

Explore the trails, wildlife and scenery of the Mattapoisett River Reserve – leashed dogs welcome. Hike, fish, bird-watch, picnic. For more info, go to savebuzzardsbay.org.

Middleboro Learn rug-hooking or quilting at the Soule Homestead! Plan ahead for Sheep Day/Earth Day events on May 6. For details, call 508-947-6744 or go to soulehomestead.org.

Middletown Get in touch with nature at the Norman Bird Sanctuary! Go on free Guided Bird Walks on April 2, 16, and 30. For details, call 401-846-2577 or go to normanbirdsanctuary.org.

Visit the Dedee Shattuck Gallery in Westport March 29 to April 23

Artists’ Reception: Saturday, April 1, 5-7 pm Pictured: “Circular Logic” by Isabel Mattia

Celebrate Earth Day at “Party for the Planet” on April 22 at the Buttonwood Park Zoo! For info, call 508-991-6178 or visit bpzoo.org.

Join R&W Rope on Saturday, April 29th for their annual RopeFest event. Sailors, climbers, designers, and outdoors enthusiasts will enjoy product demos, activities, contests, food, and HUGE discounts. Savings of 20-50% or more on all rope, hardware, and gear in the 35,000 ft. warehouse! Call 800-260-8599 or visit rwrope. com.

The Whaling Museum is looking for volunteer guides (especially bilingual) able to take a tenweek training course this summer. For details, call 508-7176849 or email rrocha@whalingmuseum. org.

A “must-see” exhibit – “Inner Light: The World of William Bradford” at the Whaling Museum through May 2017. For more info, call 508-9970046 or visit whalingmusuem.org.

Explore the gardens at the Rotch-Jones-Duff House! For more info, call 508-997-1401 or go to rjdmuseum.org.

Enjoy free family fun and entertainment on AHA! Nights. The April 13 theme will be “Sustainable Southcoast.” The May 11 theme is “We Art NB.” For details, go to ahanewbedford. org or call 508-996-8253.

It’s all happening at the Z! Don’t miss New Bedford Lyceum presents Bob Woodward April 1, Zoe Lewis April 13, Todd Baptista’s Doo Wop April 15, Portuguese Music Awards April 22, NBSO performing “The Music of John Williams” April 29, “Pippin” May 4 – and more! For info, call 508-9942900 or go to zeiterion.org.

Curtain time! Your Theatre will perform “What the Butler Saw” in May. For details, call 508-9930772 or go to yourtheatre.org.

Take a stroll through the Allen G. Haskell Public Gardens! For details, call 508-636-4693 or go to thetrustees.org.

Enjoy the 2016-2017 season of the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra at the Zeiterion. Don’t miss “The Music of John Williams” on April 29! For details, call 508-999-6276 or go to nbsymphony. org.

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April 2017 | The South Coast Insider

Plan ahead for “Viva Portugal!” – a familyfriendly festival in downtown New Bedford on May 6. For info, call 508-994-2900 or go to zeiterion.org.

Relive American military history at Fort TaberFort Rodman! For info, call 508-994-3938 or visit forttaber.org.

Be spotless with HydraFacial Britenol this Easter.

Visit the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park! For more info, go to nps.gov/ nebe. And while you’re there, visit the Whaling Museum! For more info, visit whalingmuseum. org or call 508-997-0046.

If you’re a fan of Americana and roots music, check out “Music in the Gallery” at the Wamsutta Club. Low Lily will perform on April 21, David Jacobs-Strain on May 19, and Ellis Paul on June 16.

For tickets or info, go to brownpapertickets.com/ events or contact korolenko8523@charter.net.

Head for the winter farmers market at the Bristol Building on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month 10 to 1 through May 20. For info, call 979-1500.

Newport Don’t miss the Daffodils Days Festival on Bowen’s Wharf April 15-23! For more info, visit bowenswharf.org/events.

Take the family on a guided nature cruise/seal watch in Newport Harbor! Tours leave from Bowen’s Ferry Landing through April. For more info, call 401-324-6060 or visit savebay.org.

Plan ahead for the Newport Waterfront Oyster Festival May 19-21! For more info, visit bowenswharf.org/events.

Get ready for Newport Restaurant Week through April 7! Visit discovernewport.org.

Enjoy a dinner-theatre night out at the Newport Playhouse! “The Foresome” will be performed through May 13. For more information, call 401848-7529 or go to newportplayhouse.com.

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Plymouth Find out who’s on stage at the Spire Center for the Performing Arts of Greater Plymouth! There’s Tom Rush April 1, Peter Bradley Adams April 7, Ronnie Earl April 22, Girls, Guns & Glory April 24, Session Americana May 5, Peter Yarrow May 6 – and more! For tickets and info, call 508-746-4488 or visit spirecenter.org.

Head for the winter farmers market at Plimouth Plantation on the second Thursday of the month 2:30 to 6:30 through May 11.

Continued ON NEXT PAGE

The South Coast Insider | April 2017

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Continued FROM PREVIOUS PAGE Enjoy the Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra perform “Sleeping Beauty Meets West Side Story” on April 1 at Memorial Hall. Plan ahead for the “Spring Pops!” on May 13. For info, call 508-7468008 or go to plymouthphil.org.

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April 2017 | The South Coast Insider

Get back to your musical roots at Common Fence Music! There’s Session Americana April 1, John Gorka April 22, Lucy Kaplansky April 29. Call 401683-5085 or visit commonfencemusic.org

Providence The Rhode Island Home Show will be held at the RI Convention Center through April 2. Visit ribahomeshow.com or tradeshowz.com.

Get ready for the Eat Drink RI Festival April 27-29!

For details, visit eatdrinkri.com.

Don’t miss Festival Ballet Providence’s performance of “Carmen” on April 1 and 7 at the Black Box Theatre, and “The Little Prince” on April 2, 8, 9 at the PPAC. For info, go to festivalballetprovidence.org or call 401-421-2787.

FirstWorks will present the Aurea Ensemble on April 23 at Saint Martin’s Church. For more info, call 401-421-2787 or visit first-works.org.

The Wilbury Group will perform “Mr. Burns, a post-electric play” through April 1. “Spring Awakening” will be performed May 18-June 11.

For info and tickets, call 401-400-7100 or visit thewilburygroup.org.

Don’t miss the special exhibit of rarely-seen Impressionist works at the Rhode Island School of Design Museum through June 11. For more info, call 401-454-6500 or go to risdmuseum.org.

Find out what’s on stage at the Providence Performing Arts Center! Don’t miss Celtic Woman April 6, “Rent” April 7-9, Kathy Griffin April 9, An Evening with Anderson Cooper April 29, “Chicago” May 2-7, Chris Botti May 7 -- and more! For details, call 401-421-2787 or go to ppacri.org.

Enjoy the new season of the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra at the VETS – don’t miss performances of Rachmaninoff April 7-8. For details, call 401-248-7000 or go to riphil.org.

Check out the schedule at the Dunkin Donuts Center! There’s Harlem Globetrotters April 1, Alan Jackson April 22, Ringling Bros. Circus May 4-7! For more info, call 401-331-6700 or visit dunkindonutscenter.com.

Explore the Children’s Museum in Providence!

Go to childrenmuseum.org or call 401-273-5437.

Then take the kids to the Roger Williams Park Zoo! For more info, go to rwpzoo.org or call 401-785-3510.

Rehoboth Listen to the performance by Diane Walsh on April 8 at Goff Memorial Hall, part of the “Arts in the Village” series. For details, visit carpentermuseum.org.

Tiverton Head for the Sandywoods Center for the Arts!

There’s Magnolia Cajun Dance April 1, Greg Abate Quartet April 8, Pete Seeger Tribute May 6 – and more! For a complete schedule, go to sandywoodsmusic.com or call 401-241-7349.

Wareham Cape Cod Shipbuilding’s Marlin Heritage 23foot cruising sailboat has been nominated by the British magazine “Classic Boat” for an award that recognizes traditional craftsmanship.

Don’t miss the Annual Easter Egg Hunt in Onset on April 15! For details, visit onsetbay.org.

The Vietnam Memorial “Moving Wall” will be on display in Wareham August 17-21.

To plan your activities in the Wareham area, go to warehamvillage.org or onsetbay.org.

Warren Check out what’s playing at 2nd Story Theatre!

“Shirley Valentine” will be onstage through April 2. “Art” will be performed April 21-May 21. Call 401247-4200 or go to 2ndstorytheatre.com.

Westport Go for a leisurely walk around town – go to westportlandtrust.org.

Don’t miss Trinity Rep’s performance of “Faithful Cheaters” April 20-May 21. For info, call 401-3514242 or go to trinityrep.com.

Head for the Westport Winter Market at the Town Hall Annex on Saturdays 9-1. For info, call 508-636-1103.

To find out what’s happening in the greater Providence area, visit providenceri.com, artsnowri.com or newportwaterfrontevents.com.

Explore 18th and 19th-century life at the Handy House. For more info, visit wpthistory.org or call 508-636-6011.

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The South Coast Insider | April 2017

37

On MY Mind

Healing hands-on

by Paul E. Kandarian

Say what you want about modern medicine, but we all have to advocate for our own health care. We all have to do what we think is best by us.

These are our bodies, after all—we’re in charge of them.

Case in point: I’ve been diagnosed with a nasty tear of my left shoulder’s rotator cuff. My doc, a surgeon, understandably is pushing for orthoscopic surgery because that’s his training. He recommends drilling into the shoulder to sew the muscle up, putting in a plastic something-or-other to shore it up, scooping out bits of wayward gunk in the joint that’s found its way there over the years (yay aging!) and making the pain I’ve had there for some time go away. Maybe.

The cost is high: I’d be six weeks in a sling, on pretty powerful painkillers for a bit, followed by six or more months of physical therapy and at least that much time, likely more, away from playing hockey and hitting the gym.

I said no, opting for physical therapy instead, and also started poking about for alternative treatments, like eastern medicine such as acupuncture, cupping, Chinese herbs, and naturopathy, holistic approaches, homeopathy, you name it.

One appealed to me specifically – Reiki – because it’s all about energy, and face it, from the universe out there to the us down here, we are all energy, all the time.

And that’s why I recently found myself lying on a cushioned table at Clarity

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April 2017 | The South Coast Insider

Wellness, a new business in Fairhaven run

by Caroline Paradis. She is a bright young woman and certified Reiki practitioner, also specializing in guided meditation/ mindfulness sessions, doing it all out of the Barley Wellness center on Huttleston Avenue. Check it out on Facebook under Claritysouthcoast.

It was incredibly relaxing, and when she placed her hands on my bum shoulder, her fingers felt hot, then warm, then absolutely comforting.

Soft spa-style music played as Caroline slowly worked her way around the table, laying her hands on my head, shoulders, chest, feet, legs, all in an effort to balance my energy, using her own as she utilized Reiki, the Japanese healing technique based on the principle that the therapist can channel energy into the patient by touch, activating the natural healing processes of the client’s body, restoring

physical and emotional well-being.

It was incredibly relaxing, and when she placed her hands on my bum shoulder, her fingers felt hot, then warm, then absolutely comforting. I drifted in and out of blissful sleep, hearing only the soft music and rhythmic cadence of my own measured, deep breathing. By the time she was done, nearly an hour and a half later (the $65 she charges is a pittance, believe me), I was as relaxed as I’ve ever been with any massage I’ve ever had.

But Reiki is not a massage – it’s literally a laying-on of hands but with no kneading or pressure, or hovering them just over the body. Still, the next day I experienced that residual good soreness of the muscles, the kind you get from a vigorous massage or a lively workout. I slept better for the next several nights and that late-winter bluesy funk I’d felt blanketed by in recent weeks slowly and mercifully lifted.

Oh yeah, and my shoulder? It felt terrific.

Not perfect, not cured, but way better than it had. Was it the Reiki? I dunno. Time will tell, because I’ll go back for more, in addition to doing physical therapy.

If you’re old-school and think this holistic way of treating the body and mind as one is woo-woo wellness, fine, I don’t

care. But I watched my parents put their complete trust in doctors and modern medicine, buying into the slice-and-dice surgical approach and prescribing chemicals to “make us better.” By the time my folks died four years ago, they’d endured far too many operations for a variety of non-lethal maladies that did nothing – in fact, my dad’s back surgery left him worse off than before. And they were each taking upwards of ten different medications a day, making it easy to see how we Americans are by far the most-prescribed population on Earth.

I love my parents but dammit, they lived and breathed by doctors. I stop just short of saying they died by them as well. But I firmly believe doctors didn’t help them that much at all. I am not discounting western medicine in general, or doctors in

particular. I’m just saying that caveat emptor – let the buyer beware – applies to our health care as well.

The mind and body operate as one.

Western medicine splits it up. Nature doesn’t do that. For example, panic attacks, which are based in the mind, come with physical manifestations: chest pains, shortness of breath, a pounding heart.

Mind. Body. Unified in sickness and in health.

There’s tons of information out there, and one tremendous local resource is The Marion Institute’s BioMed Network.

Check it out at marioninstitute.org/ programs/biomed-network.

These are our bodies. We’re in charge.

Advocate for yourself. Don’t let others tell you what to do.

Are you caring for a loved one?

Apply here for MassHealth eligible compensation.

Massachusetts Department of Elder Affairs offers compensation for caregivers caring for loved ones with ADL (Activities of Daily Living) needs through Preferred Residential Network’s AFC (Adult Foster/ Family Care) program.

Preferred Residential Network

508-677-9613 www.prnafc.com

prnafc@gmail.com

APRIL 30, 2017

The South Coast Insider | April 2017

39

FLASH YMCA Southcoast annual campaign YMCA Southcoast has kicked off its annual fundraising campaign, “Change Someone’s Tomorrow, Today!” The goal is to raise $500,000 to ensure that everyone has access to vital community programs and resources that support youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. The funds allow children to have a safe and inviting place to learn and build their confidence, help families to reconnect and grow together, and broaden community access to wellness programs. The Y seeks to continue to be a resource for all members of the South Coast who wish to learn and grow. To learn more about the program or make a contribution, visit your local YMCA or go to ymcasouthcoast.org.

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April 2017 | The South Coast Insider

(Top) A packed room enjoys breakfast prior to the official kickoff of this year’s Annual Campaign.

(Middle Left) Nancy McFadden and Arthur DeAscentis, Annual Campaign Co-Chairs, share the importance of the annual campaign and how it helps fund the Y Mission.

(Middle Right) Lu Brito, of the Gleason Family YMCA, shares his Y story and how the Y continues to impact local youth and families.

(Right) Y Southcoast Chair of the Board Peter Bullard addresses the large crowd.

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YMCA logo and HEALTHY KIDS DAY are registered trademarks of YMCA of the USA. These materials do not imply endorsement or recommendation of any particular product or service by the YMCA. All rights reserved.

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