January 2014
the south coast
Vol. 18 / No. 1
coastalmags.com
Your year to thrive Holistic healing Fix your financial woes Radio Free Dartmouth
Living yoga Obesity: battling the bulge
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Contents In Every Issue
BUSINESS BUZZ
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14
Reinventing oatmeal
By Brian J. Lowney
From the publisher
34
Dateline South Coast
By Elizabeth Morse Read
COVER STORY
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By Joyce Rowley
16 Obesity:
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the battle of the bulge
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Taking yoga for a test drive
By Sean McCarthy
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Radio Free Dartmouth
By Sean McCarthy
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THINGS TO DO
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Living and learning for life
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January 2014 / The South Coast Insider
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SOUTH COAST LIFE
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Going to the birds
By Jay Pateakos
MONEY MATTERS
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Visiting bankers from Vietnam and news from the Arthritis Foundation
FLASH
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Healing the mind and the body
29
32
Fix your finances
By Sherri Mahoney-Battles
ON MY MIND
38
The last dinosaur
By Paul E. Kandarian
Buddhism: calming the ‘monkey mind’ By Joyce Rowley
ON THE COVER Good health to you for 2014. This is our annual Health Issue, with stories on everything from acupuncture to yoga. We even have an article on financial health! Ohh…the birdhouses...check out Jay Pateakos’ story on National Bird Day on page 30.
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FROM THE PUBLISHER January 2014 / Vol. 18 / No. 1 Published by
Welcome to the new year and thank you for picking up
Coastal Communications Corp.
your copy of “The South Coast Insider,” filled with vital
Publisher and Editor-in-Chief
information on all things South Coast.
Ljiljana Vasiljevic Editor Greg Jones
Good health and good living are why we live here. Our writers have produced a bumper crop of informative, interesting articles for you this month. Beginning on
Contributors Mary Jane Golden, Paul E. Kandarian Tom Lopes, Brian J. Lowney Sherilyn F. Mahoney, Sean McCarthy Jay Pateakos, Elizabeth Morse Read, and Joyce Rowley
page 6 Mary Jane Golden has all the details on the Lifelong Learning Institute. The South Coast branch of this national organization, The Second Half, offers opportunities for travel, education, meeting new friends and doing all those things you
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always wanted to do but never had the time. Holistic healing, “alternative medicine,” if you will, considers the body and mind as a single continuum, and Joyce Rowley has looked into some of the methods and practices used by its devotees, starting on page 12. Physical health should be accompanied by financial health, and, starting on page 32, Sherilyn F. Mahoney explores the reasons (and remedies) for habitual financial difficulties. And, as we do every month, we have Dateline South Coast, put together by Elizabeth Morse Read. It’s a compendium of all that’s interesting, entertaining and worthwhile along the South Coast. From plays to concerts, aquariums to zoos, this is where you go to fill your family’s activity calendar. It’s all made possible by our wonderful advertisers, representing the best there is on the South Coast. Stop by, tell them you saw them in “The South Coast Insider,” and help keep South Coast money in the South Coast.
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January 2014 / The South Coast Insider
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5
THINGS TO DO
Living a life well-learned by Mary Jane Golden
Wikipedia describes “lifelong learning” as the “ongoing, voluntary, and selfmotivated” pursuit of knowledge for either personal or professional reasons. Therefore, it not only enhances social inclusion, active citizenship and personal development, but also competitiveness and employability. The term recognizes that learning is not confined to childhood or the classroom but takes place throughout life and in a range of situations. Here on the South Coast we have The Second Half, a Lifelong Learning Institute. Hundreds of similar Lifelong Learning Institutes exist around the country, providing enormous opportunity for adults to fit even more learning, connecting and living into their prime time. The Second Half is headquartered in Fall River at 139 South Main Street, and has 10 satellite locations, in addition to the main classrooms in Fall River. Members come from the South Coast and other surrounding communities and Rhode Island. With some 300 members and growing, lifelong learners eagerly attend social events, classes, and trips..
Sharing knowledge Wouldn’t you be interested in meeting like-minded people while learning about something new that has always fascinated you but you never had the time to pursue? Members of The Second Half come from varied backgrounds, but they all have one thing in common—they want to learn and experience new things. Some members are still working, while others are newly retired or semi-retired, but they are all bursting with enthusiasm because now, for the first time in many years, they have the flexibility with their time to explore, learn and expand their experiences. Dori Baumburger is a great example of a newly-retired professional who recently joined the The Second Half. Before Dori completely retired from a 40-year career as an operating room nurse, she began searching for opportunities on the South Coast to stay active, meet new people and learn new things. Dori Baumberger Dori said that The Second 6
January 2014 / The South Coast Insider
Half is a “perfect fit” for her. She is taking as many classes as time permits with the greatest enthusiasm and sees the opportunities to do a variety of things because of the classes. She said that she is now able to dabble into things that she never dreamed of being able to do. Dori has a full schedule as a newly retired professional and she likes it this way. She recently joined the auxiliary at the hospital where she worked and is volunteering in the postop area two days a week. She says, “before retirement, my work life was extremely focused, and now I feel free to do as much as I can with fulfilling my personal dreams.” While attending a digital photography class, Dori learned the value of her photography skills and found she liked helping other students in the class that were just beginning to learn about digital photography, using their iPhones. She was able to assist the instructor because she actually knew a bit more than her classmates and was surprised that someone else found her skills to be valuable—she was getting to know and express her gifts and talents.
Learning and living This semester, Dori is taking three classes: Exploring the Azores; Cooking; and Digital Photography. Last semester, she enrolled in the popular Robber Barons course, which includes a field trip to New York City to visit the JP Morgan Library and Frick Museum. She enrolled in the Exploring Spain and Genealogy classes as well. Next May, Dori will find fly to the Azores, where she will combine her new knowledge of the Azores with her own personal genealogy to explore some of the islands where her grandparents came from. With all of this activity, Dori has made some new friends at The Second Half and is eagerly looking forward to her next learning opportunities and to having fun. Eileen and John Sorrentino, new members at The Second Half, said that when they moved to Mattapoisett and retired, they were looking for something interesting, challenging and intellectual to do. John saw the announcement for the Second Half Open House in a local newspaper and attended. He was absolutely fascinated by the broad offerings at The Second Half and saw similarities to the summer programs they attend at Chautauqua Institution in upstate New York (the gold standard for lifelong and intellectual pursuits). After taking a poetry class at The Second Half, where
SPRING OPEN HOUSE
Tuesday, January 21, 2014 at 1:00 PM at Westport Library (Snow Date: Tuesday, January 28, 2014 at 1:00 PM at Westport Library)
SPRING SEMESTER BEGINS FEBRUARY 18, 2014 Thirty-four daytime class offerings with qualified facilitators
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Eileen says sharing experiences is encouraged, they are now writing some “pretty good poetry.” She recently went on a trip with The Second Half to Andalucía, Spain after taking a specialized class on the region and a Spanish language class. Eileen is a retired family law attorney and John, a retired ob-gyn doctor. They have met some new friends through The Second Half and are building their social network in southeastern Massachusetts. They came to Mattapoisett to retire after summering here and living and raising their family in Long Meadow. Eileen is a highly skilled mediator who received her training at Harvard University. She is considering developing a program for The Second Half, calling it, “Using Mediation in Everyday Life.” John loves the arts and has recently taken up painting on the computer using a software program called Painter. These new retirees are on fire with new ways of filling their time and continuing to develop their potentialities. They are connecting deeply with the creative spirit of life. Eileen may even consider developing a “cutting edge” type of class, something on the lines of “The role of mortality in your life and the impact it has on your approach to living.” This topic, while still taboo in this country, could put The Second Half on the map, with its inventiveness and courage. Eileen says the more members she meets, the more she discovers that The Second Half is “wealth of knowledge.” The Second Half hosts luncheons, new member receptions, field trips to museums and trips to foreign countries. Eileen likes the idea of mixing it up with non-classroom events and is looking forward to the upcoming luncheon at Rachel’s Lakesider in Dartmouth. She is telling her friends about The Second Half all the time. Eileen summed up her experience, saying, “you have to have a plan when you retire and my plan was to have some intellectual stimulation and spirituality and volunteerism in my life. When I realized there were so many things I still wanted to do, I retired, so I’d have time to get to do these things.” For more information about the 37 classes and programs being offered in the Spring Semester and/or how to register at The Second Half, call 508-677-4694 or email Director Beverly Stevens at office@secondhalflli.org.
Classes held at The Second Half 139 South Main, Fall River, or satellite locations in SE Mass.
R
Eileen and John Sorrentino
The South Coast Insider / January 2014
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THINGS TO DO
The Buddhist way by Sean McCarthy
W
e live in a society of more: we want more of the world and the world wants more of us. Obligations seem to perpetuate and appointment books overflow; there are bills and budgets, deadlines and bottom lines. We receive push-button gratification while technology lets us communicate constantly and instantly. The media is a blizzard of information, and our widescreen worlds give us access to conflict and violence with little interruption. Our food is often fast, and sometimes we don’t eat at all. Many of us could use more sleep. When demands cause us to be apart from what we love and enjoy the most we may point to the “modern world.” And while the planet has evolved very much in the last century, the Serlingpa Meditation Center is attracting participants by promoting an approach to life that has maintained its existence for much longer than cars, cell phones and ATMs.
8
“We’re trying to present Buddhism to people who have 9-to-5 jobs and kids and busy schedules, a Western version of the Buddhist tradition,” says Kelsang Pawo, a monk who is the resident teacher at Serlingpa. “The teachings of Buddha are completely intact, only the presentation is for people with busy modern lives. In a nutshell, what we teach is how to maintain and cultivate inner peace.” Serlingpa practices a form of Buddhism known as New Kadampa. Though Buddhism got its start in India thousands of years ago, New Kadampa began in 1991 in England with the Tibetan monk Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. “You don’t need to be a Buddhist to practice it,” Pawo says. “You don’t need to be a certain religion to deal with the worry and stress of the modern world. That’s why it’s grown as much as it has.” As one of more than 1,000 chapters around the world, Serlingpa has proven its mettle after seven years located in the heart of
January 2014 / The South Coast Insider
downtown New Bedford. And if the word “meditation” scares you, relax. Serlingpa’s Buddhism is actually popular for its practicality. It is not a cult craving converts, rather a peace nook for respite and rejuvenation for doctors, teachers, parents and even children.
Normal people meditate “The teachings at Serlingpa are meant to be very, very practical, they give me a sense of what’s really important,” says 50-year old Gerry Donovan, a Dartmouth psychiatrist who has meditated for more than 10 years, the last seven at Serlingpa. “Buddhist teachings are not scholarly or intellectual exercises. It’s practical advice to establish a clear, strong mind,” says Donna Cordeiro, a teacher and student at Serlingpa and an English teacher at Fairhaven High School. “We want to liberate all living things from their suffering.” And Chris Neves knows suffering. For years the 33year old has battled alcoholism, and never had any
religious structure in his life. At the recommendation of a friend he began attending Sunday Meditations at Serlingpa eight months ago. “I started taking on a more spiritual outlook on things, I’m more spiritually grounded,” the New Bedford resident says. “I feel a hundred per cent like this helps in my recovery. When I attend meditations it’s like filling up the gas tank to maintain the car. If I’m not spiritually grounded I know it: I get more angry and impatient.” At the age of 77, Larry Kemper of New Bedford has lived in a lot of places and attended a lot of churches. He has been at Serlingpa for six months. “What I like about Serlingpa is the community of mind,” he says. “I’ve seen a lot of infighting in other churches I’ve been to. Attending these meditations gives me a better understanding of myself. When I leave I feel like I have a clearer mind and my thoughts are more organized. The teachings of Continued on page 10
Meditation for Everyone * Weekly Guided Meditations * Workshops & Day Courses * Meditation for Kids & Families * Buddhist Study Programs
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Buddhism are more direct than other religions. I’ve heard a lot of sermons and thought ‘What was that all about?’” Dori Legge of New Bedford is a newcomer to serlingpa. She has visited three times and intends to keep returning. “The center has a wonderful vibe, comfortable and spacious, she says. “The whole experience has a sense of peace and good will. It felt like a room filled with generous and happy people. I felt a sense of belonging and peace.”
an openness. We like how it feels. The kids have a sense of peace when they leave and it’s a good foundation for approaching the world.” “We give the kids the same teachings as the adults, but with snacks and crafts after,” says Cordeiro, who co-teaches the class with Veronica Fitzgerald. “We try to relate the teachings to them and their lives, using examples they’ll understand.” Ironically, Serlingpa is located across the street from a courthouse. Cars woosh past and pedestrians stride by, apparently oblivious to
Kelsang Pawo, Resident Teacher, Serlingpa Kadampa Buddhist Center
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January 2014 / The South Coast Insider
Kids, too And Larry and Lisa Hall of Mattapoisett have chosen Serlingpa to help raise their children. For just over a year they have been taking their three young ones to Serlingpa’s Sunday Morning Kids Program. “We looked around at the different churches and different opportunities and this really spoke to us,” Larry says. “It’s a way to teach the kids spirituality with all the principles that we grew up learning. It’s the Golden Rule, but taught by a different culture. This is a great community here with
the building advertising multiple opportunities for peace of mind. The slogan on the banner over the entrance reads “Meditation for Everyone.” At any time of the day the people behind this door could be gathered to absorb insight, perspective and mental quietude they will carry with them when they return to the concrete streets. Serlingpa offers meditation classes Sunday mornings and Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, weekly classes and teachings, workshops, and free-chanted prayers known as Pujas.
Despite how easy it appears, meditation is likely to start out as a frustrating challenge. You may realize early that doing something as basic as sitting, breathing, and quieting your mind will make you aware of how much mental chatter you experience in your conscious moments. This is what the Buddhists call “the monkey mind,” and there are benefits for those who can tame it. “Western meditators who first start meditating will try it and think, ‘I just can’t do it,’ and just give up,” Pawo says. “You should be gentle
Most who practice meditation also do it at home, some on a daily basis. Pawo recommends 20 minutes at a time, while a minimum of 10 minutes will still produce benefits. Some home meditation can last 30 minutes or more. It is also recommended that it be done in the mornings. “Meditaton is like brushing your teeth,” Cordeiro says “You do it for others and yourself. Everyone around you will have a better day.” If there is a human advertisement for meditation it is Donovan. “Meditation brings peace to my daily
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Over time meditation can take you into some really profound awareness and have a very deep effect on your mind. with yourself and keep trying. Results are absolutely guaranteed. Over time meditation can take you into some really profound awareness and have a very deep effect on your mind. You’ll feel less limited in your life, more in control, and less anxious.” Pawo recommends that those interested in meditation begin in a group setting. “It’s easier to meditate at first when someone is guiding you,” Pawo says. “There’s an energy of likeminded people that helps everyone, and the room is designed specifically for meditation, it’s very relaxed.”
life, it makes me happy, it helps me get along well with people, I’m more productive at work and it helps with my concentration and focus. It really gives meaning to life.” “Serlingpa is about people trying to improve their lives, to be better people,” Cordeiro says. “They want to be better parents, better to their partners, and better at work.” “We have a naturally peaceful state of mind, including compassion, kindness and forgiveness,” Pawo says. “Meditation returns us to our humanity.” For more information, their website is www.meditationinmassachusetts.org.
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COVER STORY
Healing holistically by Joyce Rowley
Say “alternative medicine” and many people think of taking home remedies instead of going to a medical practitioner. In actuality, alternative medicine is comprised of forms of healing that take a different view of the relationship between the mind and the body and how they function. Over time, traditional medicine has become a series of specialties. The number of people to be treated limits what a general practitioner (aka “primary care” doctor) can do. Most general practitioners are pressured into the 15-minute visit to keep pace with demand. All of this segmenting of the human body into specialties led to a mental segmenting by patients, too. It created a disjointed view of how our bodies and minds work, and a subsequently disjointed view of curing disease and of health. Alternative medicine looks holistically at the human condition. Nutritional analysis, traditional Chinese medicine like acupuncture and herbalism, and hypnotherapy don’t supplant traditional medical care. But in combination with traditional medicine, may offer answers that traditional medicine alone cannot.
Nutritional analysis “It’s wonderful to see someone heal after years of chronic pain,” says Cathy Bowers, a South Coast registered nurse and registered dietitian who provides nutritional counseling for an array of chronic health problems. Recently a woman who had had daily headaches for years came to Bowers 12
for Mediated Response Testing (MRT). The client had undergone all of the traditional neurological testing with no luck. MRT tests for 150 typical food sensitivities. The patient had been headache free for a month once she was on a diet of foods that were non -reactive or “safe” as identified through the testing. But that’s just one of many ways that diet affects us, Bowers says. Her practice includes treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), migraines, osteoarthritis, and fibromyalgia. Bowers also establishes long-term specialized diets for patients with diabetes, as well as for those with high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Her approach is to start with a 90-minute session where she gathers as much information as she can about the person’s lifestyle, schedule, health history—back to childhood if possible—and goals for their health. “I have the luxury of being able to take that extra time,” says Bowers. “I also communicate a lot through email and by phone. Much of the time, people need support through the process. We’re a team.”
Chinese herbalism “We treat the person, not just the problem,” says Dan Schwartz, a licensed
January 2014 / The South Coast Insider
acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist. He said herbalism is often used with acupuncture as a means to enhance the effect of the acupuncture. “Every formula is customized to the patient,” he said. “You could have arthritis and I could have arthritis and yours is affected by damp, and mine by cold. So I would formulate herbs that are warming herbs for mine and yours would be formulated to dispel dampness.” Acupuncture can be traced back at least 2,400 years to the Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon, the oldest surviving traditional Chinese medicine text. Herbalism goes back even further with a dozen mentions in the Bible for using garlic, licorice, Solomon’s seal and other herbs, says Schwartz. Fortunately for Schwartz, herbs now come freezedried. When he began his practice 30 years ago,
herbs had to be combined in a complex formulary, much like at a pharmacy, and then boiled down to create a liquid. But now that athletes have popularized some of the herbs, unfortunately they’ve also become more expensive. Schwartz says that the rules are the same for both Chinese acupuncture and herbalism. “The key to both is that ‘stagnation is equivalent to death.’ Energy begets energy. You want to keep things moving,” said Schwartz. “When you finish a physical workout, you feel good for the same reason. Energy is coursing through the body. Likewise, acupuncture is a good way to get energy moving within the body,” Schwartz said.
Acupuncture Acupuncture, an ancient traditional Chinese medicine, treats illnesses through slipping needles under the skin at specific points to correct imbalances in a person’s qi (pronounced “chee”) or energy. Qi runs along meridians or channels throughout the body, according to Laurie Waclawik, a licensed acupuncturist in Dartmouth, MA who practices a Japanese version of acupuncture. But it’s much more complicated than just knowing where the points are. The meridians are divided into different categories and serve different functions. Putting a needle into the opposite end of a meridian can lift the energy at the other end—or needles can be put into specific areas to detoxify chemicals and emotions. “We enter those meridians and alter the qi with the treatment,” said Waclawik, who has been practicing for over 20 years. “We can increase, decrease, or move it.” For example, LI4 (which stands for large intestines meridian 4) serves a number of functions: it relieves headaches, it’s a general pain relieving point, and it is used for sinus or allergy relief. In combination with Liv3 (liver 3 meridian), it can ease symptoms of the common cold. Other points open all the meridian pathways system into each other, making it easier to treat
multiple sources of pain at once. Waclawik treats a variety of ills besides pain: digestive problems, infertility, high blood pressure, acid reflux, and migraines. And acupuncture helps with patients who want to quit smoking, or have asthma and/or allergies.
Hypnotherapy The subconscious mind creates its own image of the world and it is there that the habits, desires, and phobias reside. Hypnosis works through imagination, expectation, and suggestibility. Using a complex language and word patterns to induce a hypnotic state, the hypnotherapist erases the old image and helps the person create a new image in their subconscious. Then it’s a matter of building on the image—hence the need for reinforcement by self-hypnosis. “Just thinking about a habit makes you crave it more, says Michael Haines, a Mattapoisett, MA-based certified hypnotherapist. “Willpower alone doesn’t work. You’re constantly reminding yourself that you’re trying to quit. When you do so, you amplify the desire in your subconscious. But the good news is that getting rid of habits like quitting smoking or overeating and phobias is the easiest form of hypnotherapy,” according to Haines. Haines’ work leads him to other forms of hypnotherapy such as working with people who suffer from depression, trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder and other stress-related disorders. With those patients, he needs to bring them into a deeper state of relaxation called the ‘theta’ or dream state. In another innovative use, he helps people pre- and post-surgery for cancer. “During surgery, a person’s mind doesn’t know what has happened and it becomes out of sync with the body,” Haines said. “Hypnotherapy lets them see, feel and taste what the surgery will do by using their own imagination. By preparing them to understand what will happen using their own ideas of how they will heal, the healing is accelerated afterward.”
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The South Coast Insider / January 2014
13
BUSINESS BUZZ
The joys of oatmeal by Brian J. Lowney
There’s nothing more comforting than waking up on a frigid winter morning to enjoy a steaming bowl of oatmeal, truly one of life’s simplest pleasures. While many folks associate the nutritious cereal with cold weather, one local entrepreneur says having a bowl of oatmeal is a healthy way to start any day of the year. Beth Gallo, founder of Mad Hectic Foods in Dartmouth, said that after surviving breast cancer a few years ago she decided it was time to pay closer attention to her diet and breakfast was an ideal place to start. She’d been experimenting with different oatmeal recipes and finally developed one that she truly liked. “I realized it was something unique and no one was doing it,” said Gallo, who also serves as the director of the Dartmouth Grange Shared-Use Kitchen. Gallo has been producing the oatmeal since 2009, and works with her daughter, Anna, 17, twice a month in the Grange kitchen to fill orders. The busy mother conceived of the name
14
Mad Hectic to describe the frenzied pace that many families face as they dash off to school and work most mornings.
More than breakfast When Gallo first began to produce the oatmeal, she expected that her customers would be busy moms who wanted to send their children off to school with a nutritious breakfast. She was surprised to discover that athletes, bodybuilders, and people seeking to add protein to their diets soon became regular customers. According to Gallo, production of the nutritious cereal starts with organic quick oats, which are chock full of fiber, vitamins and minerals. Ultrafiltered whey protein from milk, ground organic flaxseed meal, organic cane sugar and organic sesame seeds are then added, and some of Mad Hectic’s seven oatmeal varieties are enlivened
January 2014 / The South Coast Insider
with freeze-dried fruit, tree nuts and even chocolate, for a truly unusual breakfast treat. The varieties include almond pecan, French chocolate, raspberry almond, strawberry pecan, red raspberry, chocolate raspberry and “just plain good.” Gallo says that a serving of each of the creative flavors also provides the consumer with 840 mg of Omega-3 fatty acids, which medical research shows help to lower blood pressure, and may help with other conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and depression.
New flavors The entrepreneur says that she continues to be gratified by the “great national response” that the oatmeal continues to receive. “This is not only for people who like oatmeal, this is also for people who don’t like oatmeal,” Gallo emphasized, adding that the taste and texture of the various flavors are appealing, and the combination of ingredients is unique. To accommodate growing response to the product, Gallo plans to introduce some new flavors in the spring. “It’s a great family business,” Gallo adds, noting that she enjoys working with her daughter. “We work really well together,” she says. Thankful for the support of family and friends as she faced challenges in her life, Gallo simultaneously launched Random Acts of Oatmeal, which with the help of some generous donors, has delivered more than 450 packages of the high-protein oatmeal to food pantries and disaster relief sites. Using the company web site, donors can send oatmeal to a food bank or pantry, or anonymously to a selected family who is facing financial hardship. Mad Hectic Oatmeal is available locally at Lees Market in Westport, Alderbrook Farms and Faunce Corner Nutrition, both in Dartmouth, Auclair’s Market in Somerset, The Old Company Store in Wareham and other specialty foods stores in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. It can also be ordered online at www.madhecticfoods.com.
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15
COVER STORY
The South Coast’s
battle of the bulge by Elizabeth Morse Read
It’s no secret that obesity has reached epidemic proportions and that it has triggered a tidal wave of type 2 diabetes cases, cardiovascular disorders and a plague of other debilitating medical conditions. In simple terms, obesity is the result of a “caloric imbalance,” too many calories consumed, too few calories burned off. We now consume over 30 per cent more calories every day than we did 40 years ago. We have sedentary indoor jobs, and spend a lot of time in cars or on the couch. We don’t have the time—or a safe place—to be physically active. But there’s more to obesity than just overeating and sedentary living. Obesity is just as much a consequence of complex socio-economic trends. And just as it is within our power as individuals to eat less and exercise more, it is also within our power as citizenconsumers to change those complex influences. Let’s look at the big picture, then zoom in and see what the impact of obesity is here on the South Coast. Roughly speaking, the “South Coast” comprises eastern Rhode Island and the greater Bristol County area in Massachusetts. In other words, what the Washington number-crunchers calls the “Providence-Fall River-New Bedford metropolitan statistical area 16
(MSA),” from Mount Hope Bay to Buzzards Bay.
Obesity then and now If you look at the comparisons between the post-WWII decades and now, there must have been some seismic shift in how we eat and how we live that triggered this epidemic of obesity, which the American Medical Association (AMA) now classifies as a disease. And if we don’t reverse the trend, the 22nd century will not be pretty. Obesity (BMI 30+, see sidebar on page 19) in America has risen 34 per cent since 1960, and morbid obesity (BMI 40+) has increased sixfold. Since the 1980s, the percentage of morbidly obese adult Americans has risen from 1.4 per cent to 6.3 pr cent—that’s a 350 per cent increase in just 30 years! In 1980, not a single state in the US had an obesity rate over 15 per cent. By 1991, that had crept up to 20 per cent obese, then 25 per cent in 2000. Now, in 2013, 13 of the 50 states are over 30 per cent obese, 41 states are over 25 per centobese, and all 50 states are over 20
January 2014 / The South Coast Insider
per cent obese. And one of the greatest dangers obesity presents is the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Obesity = Type 2 Diabetes Type 2 diabetes afflicts nearly 36 per cent of Americans. And, according to the American Diabetes Association, the number of type 2 diabetes cases is rising in tandem with the obesity epidemic. Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness, kidney failure, and of foot and leg amputations. Every week in Massachusetts alone, there are 38 amputations, 22 deaths, 13 new cases of end-stage kidney disease, and five new cases of blindness—all directly caused by type 2 diabetes. In 1980, about 500,000 new cases of type 2 diabetes were diagnosed, but by 2010, new cases mushroomed to almost 2,000,000. Annual increases are slowing down some, but the United Health Group projects that by 2020, more than half of all Americans will be either fullblown diabetic or pre-diabetic. And if this trend continues, then 1 in 3 US adults will have diabetes by 2050.
Poverty is a major factor in the spread of obesity. Paradoxically, the lower the socio-economic level, the higher the incidence of obesity and obesity-related health problems. One in three adults making under $25,000 is obese, but only one in four earning over $50,000 is. In 2003, children whose parents were uninsured or who relied on Medicaid were more likely to be overweight or obese than were children whose parents had private or employment-based health insurance. Education and race are other warning signs; more than a third of people who don’t finish high school are obese, but only one in five college graduates is. African-Americans and Hispanics are twice as likely as whites to develop type 2 diabetes. And poor black women are 50 per cent more likely to be obese than anyone else. Other indicators are a person’s access to a primary care doctor, access to affordable healthy foods and physical activities, and the prevalence of fastfood restaurants in a given area. And, finally, all of the problems related to obesity and diabetes get magnified in dense urban areas, whether in China or India or America, and the South Coast is almost 90 per cent urban. You don’t have to be a brain surgeon to see that all of this is a recipe for disaster. Almost 90 per cent of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese. And according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 95 per cent of type 2 diabetes cases are totally preventable.
A generation of couch potatoes The prevalence of childhood obesity in America has increased more than 50 per cent in a single generation. In 1980, only 7 per cent of US children were obese: by 2010, it was almost 18 per cent. Obesity is now the most prevalent nutritional disorder among children and adolescents in the US. And the prevalence is highest in low-income families (one in seven Continued on next page
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R EPU R POS E v R EC YCL E v R EUS E v R EPU R POS E v R EC YCL E v R EUS E
Getting fat: who and why
Continued from previous page low-income pre-schoolers is obese) and in certain ethnic groups: 25 per cent of black teenagers are obese. Changes in society and the economy created the perfect incubator for childhood obesity. For instance, in 1970, almost half of American children K-8 walked or rode their bicycle to school. Now, only 13 per cent do. More and more children rely on free school breakfasts and lunches, which are filling, but not always healthful. And schools have cut back drastically on daily gym, recess and after-school sports programs. Long story short, kids have fewer safe, structured options and opportunities for burning off calories. Kids don’t go outside to play much anymore. Many working parents are fearful of letting their kids stay outside alone and unsupervised after school.
per cent of obese children ages five to ten had at least one major health risk factor, such as elevated cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin, blood pressure; and 35 per cent had two or more risk factors. Proactive pediatricians are now advocating cholesterol testing for high-risk two-year-olds, and some doctors even prescribe cholesterol-lowering drugs to eight-year-olds. If we don’t change these trends, one-third of all American children born after 2000 might become diabetic at some point in their life. And these children are our country’s future adults.
The economic costs of obesity Obesity-caused medical costs threaten to overwhelm the American healthcare system and economy. Even if the current obesity rate of 36 per cent remains the same through 2018, all that excess national weight will cost
younger obese Americans, are already translating into a crisis for healthcare systems across the country. Sooner or later, payroll taxes and income taxes on Social Security benefits will have to go up.
Our battle of the bulge So, just what exactly does all of the above mean to us here on the South Coast? Where do we stand on the national weight-scales? What kind of shape are we really in? And where do we go from here? Massachusetts may be small, but its 6.6 million people are densely packed (840 people per square mile) vs. only 87 people per square mile nationally. Almost 90 per cent of Bay State residents have a high school diploma (vs. US 85 per cent), and almost 40 per cent have a college degree (vs. US 28 per cent). Median household income is $66,000, well above the national
Obesity-caused medical costs threaten to overwhelm the American healthcare system and economy. As a result, 50 per cent of American school-aged kids end up sitting in front of a TV or computer, locked up with a bag of Fritos and a six-pack of soda until Mom or Dad gets home. And during those unsupervised hours, kids are bombarded with the $1.6 billion in advertisements targeted to them by food and beverage manufacturers and fast-food restaurants. Since 1970, fast-food consumption among children has increased fivefold. Back then, eating fast food was an occasional treat. But now, almost a third of American children and teens eat fast foods at least once a day. Back then, children averaged only one snack a day—now it’s up to three. Plus, portion sizes have mushroomed. In the 1970s, a medium soda was 13.6 ounces; now it’s more than 20 ounces. American children today are afflicted with health problems formerly seen only in adults. In one study, 60 18
close to $344 billion: 21 per cent of all healthcare spending. Obese people account for approximately a third of the US population, but obesity-related diseases account for almost two-thirds of all healthcare expenses every year. Medical expenses for a diabetic patient are more than twice the expenses of a non-diabetic. And almost all cases of late-onset type 2 diabetes are triggered by obesity. The indirect costs of obesity—absenteeism, lower productivity, disability, premature death, increased healthcare costs to employers—are draining US companies of at least $45 million each year. And those figures are double what they were only a decade ago. And if the obesity rates continue to climb, federally-subsidized programs like Medicaid and Medicare will not be able to cope. All of the Baby Boomers (who are aging into obesity-related illnesses) and the sheer number of
January 2014 / The South Coast Insider
average of $53,000, and the 7.2 per cent unemployment rate is about the same as nationwide. Massachusetts leads the country in having the fewest uninsured residents (4 per cent), well below the national average of 18 per cent. But there are some demographic “red flags” in the commonwealth: 27.5 per cent of Baby Boomers (45-64) and 22.6 per cent of seniors (65+) are obese, and these are the age groups with the highest number of diabetes diagnoses. According to the CDC, almost 17 per cent of American children and teens are obese. In 2011, “only” 10 per cent of Massachusetts’ high school students were obese. In 1994, only 4 per cent of adults in Massachusetts were diabetic; by 2009, that had almost doubled to 7.4 per cent, and Bristol County had the highest number of diabetics, 11.3 , per cent of all fourteen counties in the state.
The Ocean State, however, is even smaller and denser than Massachusetts. Its one million-plus residents are squeezed 1,000 people per square mile. Its high school and college graduation rates aren’t much higher than the national averages. At $56,000, Rhode Island’s median household income is only slightly higher than the rest of the country. It ranks third-highest (of 50 states) in unemployment rates, the highest percentage in all of New England. But the bad news doesn’t stop there. Recent studies show that 20 per cent of Rhode Island adults smoke; more than one in four are clinically obese and/ or live a sedentary lifestyle; and 30 per cent have high blood pressure. From 2007-2010, obesity rates in Rhode Island jumped 1.4 per cent, the fastest increase in any state in the country. A third of Baby Boomers in the state and almost a quarter of seniors are obese. More than one in ten high school students are obese. Rhode Island ranks #11 highest nationwide in diabetes diagnoses, and the rates have increased by a third since 1993.
The microcosm: Bristol County Even though the overall statistics for Massachusetts look better than those
of Rhode Island, the picture can look worse (or better) when you dig into county-by-county data. Even states with low overall obesity rates have certain counties or urban areas with some really depressing numbers. Of the 14 counties in the Bay State, Dukes County (Martha’s Vineyard and the Elizabeth Islands) is one of the healthiest: only 19 per cent of its residents are obese and/or inactive. The primary-care physician (PCP) ratio is one for every 870 people, and only one in five restaurants is a fast food restaurant. In contrast, Bristol County is pulling up the rear as #12 of 14 counties on the healthy chart: more than 20 per cent of its residents are smokers, close to 30 per cent are obese and inactive; and, just like the whole state of Rhode Island, Bristol County MA is notorious for its high rates of binge drinking. In 2009, Bristol County was one of only two counties in Massachusetts with an obesity rate over 25 per cent, it was one of only three counties with a diabetes rate over 8 per cent (11.3 per cent, plus an additional 7 per cent with pre-diabetes), and it was the least physically active of all fourteen counties. There is only one primary care physician for every 2,000 people,
Your Body Mass Index (BMI) The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a rough estimate of your target physical condition and weight, used by medical professionals and physical trainers. Your height and weight are the starting points, and then all other contributing issues (like age, sex, medical history) are factored in. The ideal BMI is under 25. A BMI over 25 is overweight, whether you’re male or female. A BMI over 30 is obese, whether you’re really short or really tall. A BMI over 40 is morbidly obese, no matter how old you are. To maintain a healthy BMI (under 25), children need at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day, and adults need at least 150 minutes per week. You can find simple BMI calculators online.
and fast-food restaurants outnumber full-service restaurants (431 vs. 342, respectively). We must do better than that.
So what can we do? Our governmental leaders and healthcare deliverers, whether national or local, need to focus on eliminating the causes of obesity, encouraging access to healthier foods, providing opportunities for physical activity, and increasing access to quality healthcare, no matter where you live. Parents, teachers, and faith leaders must step in to increase public awareness of the obesity epidemic, and push for change, especially for our children. Medical professionals and outreach personnel need to become more proactive about preventing obesity in the families they tend -- it’s just not enough to say, “You need to lose some weight.” But we all need to set a good example for the next generation. If our communities and schools don’t provide safe, structured opportunities for children to be physically active, and if parents avoid being physically active in any way, how are children supposed to develop healthy lifelong habits? Children need safe streets to walk, and safe playgrounds and parks where they can run around, play sports and ride bikes. They need access to healthy home-cooked foods and knowledge of healthy food choices. There are enlightened individuals and organizations out there who can help reverse the trajectory of obesity and type 2 diabetes in our country, our state, our county or our neighborhood. As the First Lady said just four years ago, “The physical and emotional health of an entire generation, and the economic health and security of our nation is at stake.” Obesity is a life-threatening, manmade disease. Type 2 diabetes, almost always the result of obesity, is close to 95 per cent preventable. Put down the pizza, turn off the football game, and go sledding with your kids.
The South Coast Insider / January 2014
19
COVER STORY
Yoga for life by Sean McCarthy The car was invented about 120 years ago. The guitar is some 230 years old and we’ve had printed books for 550 years. They’re all mere newcomers compared to yoga, which has been around for 2,500 years. Many centuries after it was first practiced, yoga has gone from sacred texts to the Yellow Pages. Whatever it offered its students in 500 BCE is still applicable today. Society has certainly changed, but our basic physiology has not and, consequently, yoga’s approach to movement and breathing still has something to offer in modern times. Perhaps more than ever. Yoga is here. More than 20 million Americans practice yoga on a regular basis, a number that has risen nearly 30 per cent in the last four years. And yoga is a benefit to the economy: more than $10 billion was spent on classes, equipment, clothing and products last year. Practice spaces are within reasonable distances of most residences and a visit to the Internet can provide you with the offerings and options each studio has.
Day one My first yoga experience. It’s been crossing my radar a lot in the last few years so there might be something to this. 20
More than 20 million Americans practice yoga on a regular basis, a number that has risen nearly 30 percent in the last four years. I’m curious. My voyage begins at Yoga On Union in downtown New Bedford. I found them online and they were close to my home. They had a good-looking website so I got their schedule and picked a day and time to begin. Questions bounced around my head as I drove to my first class, a natural nervousness that any new endeavor would bring. What would the attitudes be? How competitive? How rigorous and demanding? As I walked into the studio that morning I quickly notice a few things—an immediate sense of open
January 2014 / The South Coast Insider
space and the simplicity of the room. The ceiling is high and natural light pours in from the windows that take up three entire walls. After a little while the instructor, Juliet, approaches me with a sunny aura and sparkling energy in her eyes. She gives me a friendly greeting and hands me a thin, rubbery mat. The mat is approximately 6 x 2.5 feet in size and she shows me where to locate it on the floor. All of the morning’s activities will take place on the mat. Eventually the room fills in. There’s probably a dozen of us. Clearly the group is more concerned with dressing comfortably than fashionably. Nobody here is looking to stand out, they just want to get their yoga in. Throughout the session there was a spectrum of poses that ranged from something I might do in kindergarten to something I might do if I was an Olympic hopeful, but much of it was achievable for this rookie. There were poses that gave me confidence and those which surely weren’t going to happen on my first day. Eventually I realized something fascinating: there was no sense of competition in the room. There was a clear difference in abilities and skills, and I was clearly the novice, but I never felt
embarrassed or judged. When I could successfully pull off a pose—however easy—I was pleased and eager, but when I lacked the skill to execute a more difficult pose I felt like there was the opportunity to improve rather than resignation. There was a positive air to the room and the session left me thinking “I’ll improve at this next time.” Yoga is like a giant donut shop: it’s all dough, but you’ve got to find the one you like most. Any practice that has continued for thousands of years is bound to get diversified, so there’s a lot to choose from. South Coasters have a collection of selections. In Swansea there is the gentle approach of Joy Bennett’s Joyful Breathing Yoga Therapy, but a quick drive down the highway and you’re in Fall River where you can get the other side of the coin in the sweat box of Divine Power Yoga’s classes in Hot Yoga.
Day two Woke up concerned. There was some aching in my legs and back. Not pain, just aching. I could move without problems and the morning went normally, cereal and a shower, etc., but the aching lingered and I kept hoping that it wouldn’t prevent me from participating in this morning’s class. When I arrived I was met by the instructor, Michael. He was built like he could play football or rugby, but his voice was soothing, like the people you hear on those relaxation CDs. And despite his robust build he would prove to be notably flexible. Impressive. Fortunately, the class began slowly with some easy stretching which rid almost all of the aching, but it was followed by a string of challenging poses. Yet Michael came to the rescue with some confidence. As I was wobbling and growing frustrated, Michael mentioned to the group (probably for my benefit) that even a moderate version of a pose still has benefits, encouraging me to think that in the yoga world my best friends are time and a compassionate instructor.. And as the class was coming to an end I got inspiration and encouragement I could not have imagined. Continued on next page
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accessible yoga postures to relieve that condition. What I don’t want is for the client to feel any pain. “I want to give a person some peace and some hope and to offer them some relief by taking the yogic path.” And Bennett is still on her personal yogic path. “I’m a therapist and a teacher but I am still a student. There is always more to discover, so much to learn and deepen my well of wisdom.”
Continued from previous page As the session was about to conclude, Michael told the group that we could use the last seven minutes to enjoy whatever pose we desired. I chose a simple seated pose with crossed legs. It was relaxing and easy. After a minute I turned my head to the right and saw a girl in a complete headstand! She had no supports, she was just upright and unwavering like a statute. Incredible. While I may never do a headstand I began wondering what can be achieved by yoga. Where could yoga take me? Joy Bennett’s yoga epiphany came in 1998 when she was beset with near constant depression. She would regularly come home from work, isolate herself and cry. And one day a commercial for a yoga class caught her attention. Coincidentally, it was on Thursday, one of her days off. She gave it a try. “I began noticing after three weeks that on Thursdays I was no longer crying,” Bennett says. “With time I was feeling better and better, day by day. I learned about the benefits of yoga first-hand. It was like medicine and I was inspired. I knew the experience of depression and I knew that I wanted to open my own practice and help others.” Among Bennett’s credentials are two degrees from Kripalu Yoga Center in Stockbridge, MA, considered the Harvard of yoga schools. She has studied with the esteemed Amy Weintraub, author of the book “Yoga for Depression,” and the world famous Joseph LePage, founder and director of Integrative Yoga Therapy. Bennett opened Joyful Breath in Providence in 2006 and expanded to a second location in Swansea, MA in 2012. “There’s a large range of reasons why people come in for yoga therapy,” Bennett says. “Someone may have lost a husband or a wife, someone may have a physical disability, or PTSD from being at war. People have emotional issues that prevent them from functioning and as a result they may not be able to express themselves because they’ve got so much inside of them. 22
Day three
I learned about the benefits of yoga firsthand. It was like medicine and I was inspired. Yoga therapy helps a person find that voice. There are things they need to say that they haven’t been allowed to.” For Bennett, breathing is 80 percent of a person’s therapy while postures comprise the remainder of the treatment. “In yoga, your breath is your life force, your vitality,” she says. “Breathing is life, so if it’s being compromised it’s obviously going to have a large effect on how you feel. Your life won’t be what it can if your brain’s not getting as much oxygen as it should. Breathing is a key to healing. When the oxygen enters the healing begins.” But while we all breathe, many of Bennett’s clients require a certain approach to breathing to deal with whatever problem they are working on. “Every person I deal with is individualized, they want to relieve a certain condition,” she says. “With yoga therapy I’m looking to choose the right breath strategy and the most
January 2014 / The South Coast Insider
This morning was a tug-of-war between my confidence and my insecurities. The thought of my awkwardness and stumblings was going up against the knowledge that I have been leaving the classes with unexpected benefits as well as the support of the instructors that keeps me wanting to return. When I thought of the progress I had made in only two classes, my mind was won. It was my first class at night. We began as the sun gave the last of its shadows, but before long the instructor Kat had lit white candles in the window frames, giving the room an easy energy that gave me a deeper perspective on my postures. With the limited light I was using less of my visual senses, which caused me to feel the postures more deeply and intensely. I was able to spend more mental attention on how my body felt and moved. It began to occur to me that practicing in the low light gave me a more thorough experience. I also had another important realization: during my sessions I would have a more successful experience when I went into the poses with ease and patience. The slower I moved, the poses were easier to achieve. I learned today that I’ve got to approach this with patience. For Tanya Dumaine of Divine Power Yoga you should try yoga not because of who you are but because of who you want to be. “You find transformation through yoga, and definitely not just physically. I’ve found over the years that people’s personalities have changed. They’re more vibrant. Our poses are meant to move the energy within the body. The flow of postures I teach serves the
whole body,” she says. “Our twisting poses help work out the toxins and the stress from the muscles. Your spine is the center of your life, everything connects to that so you want to keep it supple. And according to her students, you want to keep things hot as well. Most of the classes at Divine Power Yoga are held in a room that is heated to 90 degrees. That means a lot of sweat. “Sweating daily alleviates so much and gives you a lot of benefits,” Dumaine says. “It softens your muscles so that you can stretch deeper. Regardless of your abilities, we’re trying to give you what your body needs. You don’t have to be great to get positive results out of a class. Every little bit creates change, every little bit creates healing.”
Day four This morning I was feelin’ it. I drove to my morning class thinking that it was time to do something a little more adventurous. I felt like now was the time to transform a cautious mentality into something that would enhance my experience. Juliet was running the class and seeing how she moves with feline fluidity was ample evidence of how yoga can affect how you move even when you’re not practicing. I observed that with enough effort yoga can be a part of your life with so much of what you do. It wasn’t a flawless performance, but I was able to pull off poses more demanding than I had during any previous sessions. Of course there were still some humblers but thinking about the rewards of the first three classes had instilled a greater confidence going into this one. I actually did a few things that pumped my confidence, paired with a few things that kept my ego in check. But at the end of class I stood up on my mat and began to walk about the room. I immediately noticed that my posture was straighter and my shoul-
ders were back further.. The time we had spent doing poses to benefit the back had clearly had a positive effect. As I walked out of the studio and towards my car, I inhaled the autumn air fully. It felt good. I was invigorated and marveling at how much benefit I was experiencing in such a short amount of time. I was advancing noticeably with each class. It had been four days of progress in many different ways.
Conclusion From my experiences and conversations I can say that yoga is about growth. You can grow by healing emotionally, you can grow psychologically by finding greater peace, you can grow physically by feeling healthy, improving your posture and becoming more flexible. During my classes there were no yoga competitions, no points and no time clocks. No one was trying to out-yoga each other. Growth, as many people have realized, has its difficulties. You’ve got to earn your progress. But there is always another pose and a chance to do it properly. During each class I had my struggles, but there was an aura of non-judgment and I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the more accomplished students looked over at me and thought, “Boy, I remember when I was first starting too.” I battled some doubts and insecurities, but I always found something to make me return to the studio, and every time I felt like I had been rewarded for it and taken a step further. When I walked out the door after each session, I found myself asking the same questions: “What is possible with yoga?” “What can I achieve with yoga?” With 2,500 years of advancing this art form, the possibility for growth through yoga seems unlimited.
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The South Coast Insider / January 2014
23
COVER STORY
by Sean McCarthy
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We like to challenge people’s notions about music.”
A special part of the dial WUMD is located at the “left of the dial,” the region of the radio band from 87.9 to 91.9, reserved for non-commercial groups such as colleges, religious organizations and community stations. WUMD’s content is overseen by its university-owned license which states that the station must be “educational” and “non-commercial.” A significant portion of WUMD’s programming is non-musical with much of it provided by sources from around the country. Featured groups include independent alternative media and investigative journalism as well as a show that critiques and monitors the mainstream media. They also have
programs dealing with health, religion, films, and assorted grassroots topics. “Non-musical programming is critical to the station,” Mulcare-Sullivan says. “We’re purposely picking to air shows that you may not hear in other places. We’re not going to have a slickly-packaged news show like FOX News, and everybody’s already airing National Public Radio. Our goal is to make people think and encourage conversation.” WUMD has a stable of nearly 40 disc jockeys, none of whom collect a penny for their efforts–something that doesn’t bother them one bit.
Love, not money “This station consists of people who love music,” says Laura Mercer, a disc jockey on the reggae show, “The Roots Radical Connection,” and someone
UMass Dartmouth PhotoGraphics DEpartment
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olitically, they provide perspectives for progressives. Musically, they supply sounds for the truly alternative. Culturally, they give voice to issues for the underserved. If mainstream radio isn’t catering to you, WUMD might be. What began in a basement closet in a college cafeteria more than 40 years ago is now a unique beacon for the modern counterculture. From its inception, WUMD has been a pioneer for new music, earning the tag “alternative” long before marketers discovered it. And while the station is still located on the campus of UMass-Dartmouth, it has evolved significantly–incorporating its musical unorthodoxy with a diverse palette of news, views and commentary from across the world and from all strata of the progressive universe. A random listen to 89.3 FM could provide Celtic, blues or metal music, maybe reggae, folk, or jazz. Tune in again and you could get exposure to radical legal and political stances, feminism, issues for the gay community, or forward-thinking environmental and scientific broadcasting. WUMD is a cutting-edge enigma, concerned more with education than ratings, and serving the region like no other place on the dial. “Our audience is anybody with a sense of musical adventure and an appreciation for progressive broadcasting,” says Jennifer Mulcare-Sullivan, the station’s general manager for the last 12 years who has been with the station since 1987. “A lot of people who listen to us are willing to experiment.
Creature From Dell Pond, a band made up of former UMD students, was featured in an in-studio performance and interview conducted by UMD freshman Shayna Michaud.
January 2014 / The South Coast Insider
who has worked with the station off and on since 1987. “The DJs here do it because they love the music.” “This station is kept alive by people who are passionate about music,” Mulcare-Sullivan says. ”Our staff is very knowledgeable about their music. Our DJs come into their shows prepared. They research their music and they’re excited about what they do. We’re always looking for new, cutting-edge music.” At any time WUMD has a stockpile of more than 1,000 pieces of music that have been sent to the station within the last month. Between CDs and digital tracks, DJs can explore the station’s collection of newly released music and choose among acts with intriguing names such as Soft Cactus, The Belligerints, Dog Bite, Porcelain Raft, The Oyster Murders, and Scary Cherry & The Bang Bangs. On rare occasion a DJ may come across a group or artist who is post-fame, current examples being Joan Jett and Gloria Estefan. But WUMD’s treasure trove is the thing that sets them apart from any other radio station on the planet: local music. “The artists who pour their souls into their music know that we support them,” Mulcare-Sullivan says. “We aim to play local music whether the show is folk, jazz, reggae, or Celtic.”
local musicians Since she began her career at WUMD 15 years ago, Sara “Shaugy” Shaughnessy has booked and promoted many shows with local bands at local establishments. She has hosted radio shows devoted entirely to local music. “We play artists, not businessmen,” Shaughnessy says. “We’re hoping to help get the word out to promote bands and shows and create fans. Nothing is national before it’s local.” Trevor Reilly is a guitarist in A Wilhelm Scream, a New Bedford-based band that tours internationally. They have received ample attention from WUMD. “I remember a Friday night in 1993 in my freshman year of high school and I was in a terrible band called Adam’s Crack. But that night the DJ played two songs from the cassette tape we’d sent them and it was the best
Friday night of my life.” Tem Blessed is a local hip-hop artist whose music has received a lot of airplay from WUMD. “Having your music played on the radio gives you a real feeling of accomplishment,” Blessed says. “Because of WUMD I’ve had my music heard throughout the area, from the dorms to the streets to the community to the prisons.” And then one day, four years ago, Blessed was given some positive feedback he couldn’t have anticipated. “I was working with the Youth Build program, helping young people, when this 22-year old man came up to me and thanked me for my music that he heard on his radio when he was incarcerated at the House of Correction. He said he got support from the positive messages of my music and it was a real help to him. During the time in that program I had two more young men come up and mention that my music was supportive for them.” Dave Reis has been a jazz DJ for more than 20 years. For him, playing local music is particularly special. “There aren’t a lot of opportunities for jazz in this area, so artists get a majority of their recognition from our radio station,” Reis says. “We’ve got a lot of great talent in the area, but they have to go to New York and Boston to be seen. This is my way of helping them.” “WUMD is critical to jazz in this area,” says Neal Weiss, president of the New Bedford-based record label, Whaling City Sound, which releases mauny regional jazz performers. “They bring in guest artists to feature and they promote local shows. They’re very important to our label and our artists.”
The missing ‘play list’ Another example of WUMD’s unique airwave offerings is that nobody tells the DJs what songs to play, something else that separates WUMD from nearly every other location on the dial, whether they are professional or college stations. Most stations are beholden to playlists which determine the music they must broadcast. At WUMD, DJs are required to play songs within the genre of their show and the language must refrain from obscenity. Shows with an Continued on next page The South Coast Insider / January 2014
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Continued from previous page
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open format can get particularly eclectic, allowing DJs to play anything in the station’s vast library, a catalog of thousands of recordings with albums going back decades. The station’s collection of digital tracks exceeds 100,000 pieces. This is not including CDs, vinyl records and the DJs personal collections. But despite all of the obscure bands that make it to the airwaves, that doesn’t mean that a band heard on WUMD can’t have a fantastic future. While it’s probable that you’ve heard of mega-bands like U2, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Nirvana, if you live in the WUMD broadcasting area and tune in, there’s the possibility that you heard them before almost anyone else you know. “I’ve bought 20 CDs over the last year after hearing bands on WUMD,” says 34year old Andy Erickson of South Dartmouth. “I listen because of the diversity. Because it offers so much, if I had to listen to one station all the time that would be it.” Reilly has been tuning into WUMD for more than 20 years. He also appreciates the diversity of the station. “I enjoy bands that are outside of the preferred genres,” he says. “The allure is that most times the DJ is basically making you a mix tape live over the air while you’re listening.” Brooke Baptiste has listened to WUMD since she was a 16-year old punk rocker. More than a dozen years later she has gravitated towards the more mellow world of reggae. The thing she appreciates most about WUMD is the relationships that can be built between listeners and DJs. “I like that the station is local,” she says. “I love knowing the DJs, talking to them on the phone, and meeting them at events.” “Being a DJ on a small station like WUMD gives you more freedom and greater intimacy with your audience,” Mercer says. “I’ve made some good friends from
January 2014 / The South Coast Insider
being a DJ,” Reis says. ”Sometimes people call during my show and it develops into friendships that have lasted for years. I’ve spent a lot of time discussing music and trading music with these people. I used to be friends with a guy who was a shut-in and when I would go to Boston to look for music I would have him make a list of albums he was looking for and I’d try to find them for him. I saved him a lot of money in postage.” WUMD welcomes members to the station who are not students at the university. Colleges with a communications major have radio stations that are effectively a breeding ground for professional, career-oriented broadcasters, while WUMD is able to apply its energies to music and bringing listeners material heard nowhere else.
there’s a lot going on here at this end of the dial
Devoted listeners
While the internet allows the station to be heard around the world, the station’s 9,600-watt signal has made its way to boaters on Long Island Sound, and drivers on the Zakim Bridge in Boston. For years WUMD had a devoted listener who would park his car atop a peak in the Blue Hills specifically so that he could get clear reception and enjoy the station’s reggae show. Irese Shea, 57, of Providence, is a self-described “radio fanatic,” and a former DJ at Emerson College’s WERS in Boston. Last April she held a party at her home with the sole purpose of thanking all the college DJs that bring her the music that enriches her life. The party had more than 50 people with approximately 20 DJs ranging from locations throughout Southeastern New England. “I’m so glad to have college radio in my life,” Shea says. “I wanted to thank them. College radio brings music you don’t have exposure to. Having people with a variety of tastes and bringing their expertise is a great thing.”
High school DJs Three years ago Mulcare brought a
rare commodity to the airwaves: high school students. Inspired by her job as an English teacher and her interactions with students, she eventually developed the idea for Rock and Roll High School, a Sunday afternoon show that brings pre-college students into the studio to do their own broadcasts. Shayna Michaud is one of those students. She did Rock and Roll High School for three years while a student at Bishop Stang High School in Dartmouth, and remained with the station after enrolling at UMassDartmouth this September. Mercer and Michaud talk about the joys and challenges of being a DJ. “If you like multi-tasking, then being a disc jockey is for you. There’s a million things going on every second: watching the Internet; the phone ringing; a bunch of little technical things; thinking about what to play and what you’re going to say.” “I was surprised by how much equipment and rules there are,” Michaud says. “You’re watching the clock and you’ve got to make sure you do the weather. You’ve got to do the Public Service Announcements and the promos for other shows, do the legal ID at the top of the hour, and obey all the FCC rules. There’s a lot that goes on at a radio station. I have a much greater appreciation for disc jockeys now.” But Mercer relishes the creativity she has at her fingertips and Michaud is inspired by the idea that she’s shaping the moods of people’s days. “There’s a thrill from blending one song into the next and creating a vibe that you’re putting out into the community,” Mercer says. “I enjoy making people happy with music.” “I love getting new music to people,” Michaud says.”It’s great to think I’m providing good music for people to chill to.” “With the diversity and education there’s a lot going on here at this end of the dial,” Shaughnessy says. “It’s our job to educate people through music and alternative news,” MulcareSullivan says. “If you want to expand your mind a little, we’re here for you.” To learn more, visit the station’s website at www.893wumd.org.
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Hope for the holidays from C&FS Now accepting applications
Child & Family Services recently held its 15th annual 365 Days of Hope Gala at the Hawthorne Country Club in Dartmouth. “It’s a wonderful feeling to see the community come together to celebrate the start of the Holiday season with us and know that they will be helping those less fortunate,” stated Susan 1. Lucy Machado, Susan Medeiros 2. Brian Ferreira, Tiffany Valente
7. Nick Petronelli, Fatima Simas, Julie Lariviere, Stephen Buckley, Susan Remy
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Remy, CFS Director of Development. Child & Family’s annual gala is a celebration of hope. Funds raised at the Gala support our Holiday Hope Project and the work we do to help children and families throughout the year. For more information visit www. child-familyservices.org.
January 2014 / The South Coast Insider
11. Anne Sampaio, Jeanne Bissonnette
BUSINESS BUZZ Where old and new friends have met since 1933
Vietnamese banking executives tour Dartmouth branch of Bristol Savings Bank Bristol County Savings Bank recently held a tour of its Dartmouth banking offices, located at 502 State Road, for 12 Vietnamese banking executives associated with the Banking for Investment and Development of Vietnam who were attending an Agricultural Banking Education Program at the University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth, Business Innovation Research Center. Bristol County Savings Bank executives provided the group with an overview of the bank, including its variety of services—especially lending—and focus on the communities it serves.
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President and CEO of Southcoast Health System Keith Hovan was recently honored by the Arthritis Foundation of New England with an “Outstanding Achievement Award.” The award is given each year to an individual who has shown dedication to improving the welfare of those living with arthritis through professional and community leadership. Keith Hovan, left, and Stephen Evangelista, “I am proud to accept this award CEO of the Arthritis Foundation, on behalf of our whole team at New England Region. Southcoast Health System. It is the work we do in partnership with caregivers and agencies like the Arthritis Foundation that make a difference in the lives of patients right here in our own communities, every day,” said Hovan. Over $180,000 was raised to support the Arthritis Foundation New England Region, which is working every day to better the lives of the 3.2 million adults and over 130,000 children throughout New England who are living with arthritis.
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The South Coast Insider / January 2014
29
COVER STORY
For the birds by Jay Pateakos
To say I wasn’t excited about this assignment would be an understatement. National Bird Day? What the hell do I know about birds? But the best part about this job is what you learn along the way.
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Once I started thinking about birds, it didn’t take long for nearly forgotten memories to flood back in. One involved a bird I found in the snow, when I was around six or seven years old. I took that bird home, built it a shelter and brought it back outside to live in its new home. Despite all of my efforts, the next day I found the bird dead. Obviously it was something that affected me to still remember it from more than 30 years ago. But this is what birds do to people. They leave an impression; a lasting one, and hopefully most people have more positive ones then I did.
Beyond the cage Claire Lafrance, program associate for Washington, DC-based Born Free USA, who took the National Bird Day under its wing more than a decade ago, said the actual origins of the day are unknown. Lafrance said Born Free USA got
January 2014 / The South Coast Insider
involved in building up the National Bird Day foundation around the US to promote the plight of birds around the world that are in captivity while raising awareness that at least 12 percent of the 9,800 species of birds are facing extinction, including nearly a third of the parrot species. “We have an ongoing theme in thinking beyond the cage and allowing birds to remain free instead of face life behind a cage,” said LaFrance. “Think about it. Some birds can live to be 80 years old and the average bird owner has that bird for about two and a half years. What that means is one bird can have 30-40 owners. That’s kind of sad.” Lafrance said the beauty, song and flight of birds have long been a source of human inspiration that needs to continue. But people also need to be responsible bird-owners as well, and must learn the ins and outs of bird-ownership before making that plunge.
Recent stats show that an estimated 3.1 million households in the US own a bird and that there are roughly 16.2 million birds in captivity around the world.
South Coast birds On a more positive note, the South Coast is lucky to have an abundance of bird clubs that pay homage to all birds and appreciate its beauty each day. Starting in 1963 and proudly celebrating its 50th anniversary, the Dartmouth/Westport Paskamansett Bird Club is still going strong with 160 members, who present many evening and special programs throughout the September to June bird-watching season. Paskamansett Vice President William Gill said his group’s programs combine beautifully scenic walks with the improving the art of observation in looking and finding birds that habitat the area. “The timing of the walks is often
its club, Gill said people need to focus on getting outside more to enjoy nature. Most people suffer from what he calls ‘Nature Deficit Disorder,’ where people spend way too much time working, driving or just indoors in general and don’t take enough time to enjoy all that nature has in store for us. “There’s an increasing number of youth and older people that are getting away from the outdoors and the joys of nature and we need to start nurturing tomorrow’s environmentalists and youth that are coming up,” said Gill. “There is so much pressure to develop open space and we are simply messengers to other generations that follow us and we need to use this day and every other day to reflect on our natural appreciation for native birds and find ways to protect them.” For Justin Barrett, president of the Mattapoisett-based Nasketucket Bird Club, their mission is also about education and awareness. The 25-member club formed in 2006, and
Like many bird clubs, Barrett said there is also concern for the birds dealing with climate change and the continued transformation of open space or forests into housing developments. “Many birds are becoming endangered or extinct and a lot of them are harder to find then they were 30 years ago with all the farms becoming housing developments,” said Barrett. “It’s changing the landscape for birds around us.” But even people that don’t think about birds all that much should get caught up in their amazing lives and journey, Barrett noted. In many ways, birds are just guests in our area on their way to somewhere else, Barrett said, and we should feel fortunate to be a stop on that improbable journey. The big mystery we may never know is why. “To me, I am drawn to the beauty and diversity of all the birds around us. They are as small as a pack of gum, so small in your hand, yet they can fly
…we need to use this dayand every other day to reflect on our natural appreciation for native birds and find ways to protect them. planned based on what birds are going to be seen at that time,” said Gill. In October, the focus is on migratory birds like the warblers, vireos or orioles. In December, the area generally gets visited by an abundance of birds from the north, like snow owls. “There are certain years that have been big years for them,” said Gill. “We can see them in November, even if there isn’t any snow.” Gill said the National Bird Day was created to allow people to reflect on the beauty and simplicity of the birds that live among us. “For many of us who are bird-lovers, they are all a part of our lives, but for people that are new to birds, it’s a chance for someone to explore the beautiful world of birds and see how marvelous they truly are,” Gill said. “It’s a never-ending artistry.” While still maintaining a healthy number of members in
encompasses Mattapoisett, Marion, Rochester and Fairhaven. “The big thing is that birds are really beautiful, not just for bird-lovers but also for people just simply going for a walk that see them,” said Barrett. “We see ones like cardinals and bluebirds that are popular in our area. People are drawn to them.”
from the tip of South America to our area, and we are just a stop on their way to the arctic,” said Barrett. “It’s amazing that a creature that small can do all that, and they come in all shapes and colors. It’s just cool to see so many different birds. They are amazing.” Barrett said now is the time to look for birds because with our area stuck in the browns of fall, beautiful birds are far easier to find now. For more information on National Bird Day, go to www.nationalbirdday. com. For more information on the Dartmouth/Westport Paskamansett Bird Club go to www.massbird. org/pbc, for the Mattapoisett-based Nasketucket Bird Club go to www. massbird.org/nasketucket.
The South Coast Insider / January 2014
31
MONEY MATTERS
The ghosts in your financial closet By Sherri Mahoney-Battles
As the year 2014 begins many of us embrace the opportunity for a clean slate and some healthy changes. Unfortunately, as the year moves on we often find ourselves stuck in old habits and those dreams fade away as old habits replace our resolutions. In order to change our bad financial habits we need to explore why we repeatedly make the same mistakes. As an accountant working with small business owners for 25 years I’ve had much opportunity to study people’s financial lives and I have found myself fascinated by the patterns I’ve witnessed in my clients’ financial lives. Often, after a client has left my office, I have sat shaking my head wondering why a particular client has repeated mistakes with money yet again.
The same old, same old The scenarios are often very similar. The client comes in. I prepare a tax return, then we chat about their financial situation. They leave with their finances in order and a plan for future action. For the most part they agree to the changes. They promise to call during the year for tax-planning, make estimated payments, get health insurance, start a retirement plan, pay those back taxes, and reduce their debt. They assure me that when we meet again their financial lives will be in much better order. 32
Next year, we go through it all over again. Early in my practice I remember being disappointed because I expected they would come back next year having made the changes we discussed. I struggled with my inability to fix these clients and I began seriously studying and reading about why we make the mistakes we do. I learned that many of the patterns in our adult life are simply repetitions of ideals and beliefs from childhood.
Received ‘wisdom’ We listen to our parents and other adults and accept as fact certain ideas and beliefs. Our first impression of money is something we carry with us throughout our entire lives, and often our first impressions, learned from our parents, are based on their inability to deal with their own finances. More often than not these ideas and beliefs are inaccurate and repeated over and over again. I was astounded: I had discovered why my clients did what they did in their financial lives. Then I discovered the ghosts in my own financial closet. I grew up in a middle-income household. My father was the primary breadwinner, and he was a company man. He strongly believed that you worked for a big company that would take care of you
January 2014 / The South Coast Insider
for the rest of your life. They provided you with health insurance, a living, and a retirement. You gave everything you had to the company, and the company would take care of you for the rest of your life. He had strong opinions about the self-employed. They were, in his opinion, generally lazy, irresponsible, and unreliable. They rarely had health insurance or retirement plans. They were a drain on society because the system ended up paying for their lack of planning. Their families suffered because of their unwillingness to conform and get a real job. How ironic that I would chose self-employment in a career centered on educating and helping the self-employed. Was I trying to win my father’s approval by accomplishing something he felt to be impossible or did I have an unconscious need for failure? I know that I did not consciously connect my father’s opinions to my career choice until I had been self-employed for many years.
Personal ghosts When I have had clients that failed in their efforts at self-employment or when my own cash flow has slowed my father’s voice has followed me as I questioned my career choice. It is times like this when the ghosts in our financial closet show themselves. They appear when we feel most vulnerable;
when we’re negotiating our fee, trying to land a contract, requesting a retainer or deposit, and asking for payment on a late invoice. Certain instances may trigger childhood memories when we might have felt victimized in a particular financial situation. This is when the ghosts make us question our judgement. A working woman is even more vulnerable to the ghosts attacking her insecurities. They ask us how can we expect to raise a family and still have a career; how can we expect to charge a fee for our services and what makes us think we can compete with men. We need to find a voice of reason when these ghosts make us feel small and insecure. We can ask ourselves if our fears are fact-based or based on beliefs and ideas that are outdated and inaccurate. We need to make the connection between the beliefs surrounding our money and the events from the past that formed these beliefs. Most likely, these beliefs are leftovers of falsehoods adopted before we had accurate information. By acknowledging these ghosts and by questioning the accuracy of our beliefs surrounding our money we can ask ourselves why we make the decisions we do, and we can then replace the falsehoods with more accurate, updated information. This will free us from these ghosts. The year 2014 can be a year of change and opportunity for those willing to do the hard work. Explore your beliefs and patterns with money. Identify the beliefs that are truths and the patterns that have worked for you. Identify the ghosts in your financial closet that have hindered your financial growth. I have struggled with my ghosts and when I am feeling vulnerable I have a voice that whispers to me. As a self-employed accountant I have built a strong practice. I have a retirement account and college funds for both of my children. I have health insurance. Being self-employed hasn’t made me a drain on society. I have replaced my old false beliefs with ones that are true to me. I have faced my ghosts, and they have been proven wrong.
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The South Coast Insider / January 2014
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DATELINE: SOUTH COAST
News, views and trends... from Mount Hope Bay to Buzzards Bay by Elizabeth Morse Read
G
et out the sleds, the shovels and the skates! The holiday hoopla is finally over, so spend your time indoors creatively—get a head start on spring cleaning, read a lot of books, bake bread, teach someone to play chess, and plan outings for days when the roads are safe. Find out if there’s a winter farmer’s market in your area, and make sure you’ve lined up things to do with the kids on snow days! January is cold, snowy and more dark than light, but it’s a wonderful month in its own way. Enjoy it.
Across the region
until May at the old parish hall of St. Mary’s Church. When $500 worth of holiday food was stolen from the food pantry at St. Anthony of Padua Church in New Bedford, good people stepped in to help, including the Massachusetts Bankers Association, which donated $2,500.
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The made-for-TV Lifetime movie “Lizzie Borden Took an Ax,” starring Christina Ricci, will debut on January 25.
If you’re 62 or older, check out the trips sponsored by the New Bedford Senior Travel Program: “Wicked” at the Providence Performing Arts Center January 11, and plan ahead for the trip to the Rhode Island Flower Show February 21. Call 508-991-6171.
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In Portsmouth, the Aquidneck Growers’ indoor winter market will be open 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturdays
Brandon Workman, former pitcher for the Wareham Gatemen, pitched in the eighth inning of the Red Sox’s World Series-winning game six.
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The Ocean Explorium in New Bedford now offers Saturday afternoon programs in both Spanish and Portuguese. To learn more, call 508-9945400 or go to www.oceanexplorium. org.
Governor Patrick has signed a new gaming compact with the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe regarding the proposed casino in Taunton. It is now in the hands of the federal government.
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New Bedford’s Business Park (the second-largest in the state) will be expanding into a 450-acre area, thanks to $2 million in state funding. The expansion could create hundreds of high-tech jobs.
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Get ready for the 17th Annual Moby Dick Marathon January 4-6 at the Whaling Museum in New Bedford. For info, go to www.whalingmuseum.org or call 508-997-0046.
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South Coast Rail is back on track! The state has authorized $12 billion to construct and complete South Coast Rail. An additional $10 million will go to railroad reconstruction in Fall River and New Bedford. Governor Patrick wants to ensure that his successor cannot undo the progress being made. Stay tuned…
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tly-used residential furniture for families in need. Free pick-up. Call 774-305-4577 or visit www.MyBrothersKeeper.org.
“My Brother’s Keeper” in Dartmouth is looking for volunteers and gen-
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January 2014 / The South Coast Insider
Acushnet Acushnet has applied with the state to become a “Green Community.” (Lakeville and Easton are the only other ones in South Coast, so far.)
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Acushnet residents were so infuriated by a sudden increase (up to 300 per cent!) in their sewer and water fees that they’ve started a petition to dissolve the town’s Board of Public Works.
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Attleboro Find time to visit the 60th Annual “Festival of Lights” at LaSalette Shrine through January 5. For dates and times, call 508-222-5410 or visit www. lasalette-shrine.org.
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Carver Take the kids on a (heated) train ride at Edaville for the “Christmas Festival of Lights” through January 1. For more info, go to www.edaville.com or call 508-866-8190.
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Dartmouth UMass Dartmouth will be receiving $55 million in state funding for a new academic building.
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Enjoy the great outdoors at the Lloyd Center for the Environment. Walk the trails, sign up for a canoe or kayak excursion, visit the Nature Center. Free admission. Visit www.lloydcenter.org.
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For the fifth time in six years, the Dartmouth High School band won the USBands Division V national championship.
Year’s Day, and help raise funds for “Forever Paws,” a local no-kill animal shelter. For info, call 508-676-8004 or 508-678-0804. Beat cabin fever! Check out the Children’s Museum of Greater Fall River. Go to www.cmgfr.org or call 508-6720033.
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Ground has been broken for the $10 million facility expansion of the city’s YMCA.
Get the kids out of the house on weekends—join in the fun at the Easton Children’s Museum. Go to www. childrensmuseumineaston.org or call 508-230-3789.
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Fairhaven Last summer, Fairhaven’s Gil Santos, the radio voice of the New England Patriots, became the second non-player to be inducted into the Patriots’ Hall of Fame.
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Raise money for the Fairhaven Dollars for Scholars fund and commemorate victims of domestic violence at this year’s Fort Phoenix’s Polar Plunge on January 1. For more info, visit fortphoenixpolarplunge on Facebook.
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This year’s Souper Bowl Supper, held at the Seaport Inn, raised almost $19,000 for the region’s Neediest Family Fund.
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Fall River Chase away the winter blues! The Narrows Center for the Arts has a stunning line-up – there’s Johnny Winters on January 4, Cheryl Wheeler January 11, Entrain January 18, Taj Mahal February 13, Aztec Two Step February 22. For complete details, visit www.narrowscenter.com or call 508324-1926.
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Brrrrr! Check out the Sandy Beach Neighborhood Polar Plunge on New
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Get ready for the 17th Annual Moby Dick Marathon January 4-6 at the Whaling Museum. For info, go to www.whalingmuseum.org or call 508997-0046.
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The Ocean Explorium now offers Saturday afternoon programs in both Spanish and Portuguese. To learn more, call 508-994-5400 or go to www.oceanexplorium.org.
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Sign up for winter yoga classes January 11 to February 15 at the Greater Fall River Art Association. Go to brysondean@comcast.net or call 508-09824411.
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Easton
For info, go to www.ahanewbedford. org or contact dagny.ashley@newbedford-ma.gov or call 508-979-1745.
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“Doubt: A Parable” will be playing January 16-19, and 23-26 at Fall River’s Little Theatre. “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” plays in March. Go to www.littletheatre.net or call 508-6761077.
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Bristol Community College’s Communications Office won six top awards at a regional competition for community college communications.
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Freetown Thanks to frugal town management, residential and commercial property owners will be paying lower property taxes in FY 2014.
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For the 13th straight year, New Bedford is the richest seaport in the nation, bringing in more than $400 million in catch value, nearly double that of Dutch Harbor, Alaska, the number one port in volume of catch. The Black Whale restaurant is scheduled to open in April on Pier 3 off Route 18. In addition to indoor seating, it will offer 3,000 square feet of tented outdoor patio seating.
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Saint Anne’s Hospital and Hawthorne Medical Associates have broken ground for the new urgent care center at Riverside Landing on Coggeshall Street.
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Get in the act! Enjoy free family fun and entertainment at AHA! Night in New Bedford.
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The January 9 theme is “Tempest in a Teapot,” and the February 13 theme is “Stark Raven Mad.” Go to www. ahanewbedford.org or call 508-9968253.
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Middleboro It’s time to beat the winter blues with a night of entertaining theater at the Alley Theatre, 133 Center Street in Middleboro where “The God of Carnage,” a Tony Award-winning play set in Manhattan will be playing. It’s an offbeat dark comedy written for mature audiences, and will run January 16, 17, 18, 24 and 25 at 7:30 p.m. and January 26 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets $15; doors open half an hour prior to the show. More info: 774-213-5193 or 508-947-7716.
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New Bedford
If you get a parking ticket downtown, head for Maria’s European Café for a free Portuguese egg tart!
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Don’t miss the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra playing “The Spanish Soul” on February 8 at the Zeiterion. Go to www.nbsymphony.org or www. zeiterion.org.
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It’s all happenin’ at the Z! There’s Jammin Divas January 9, then plan
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Ring in the New Year on December 31 at “City Celebrates!” festivities downtown. Free and family friendly. n
Alas! Building 19, home of “Cool Stuff…Cheap!” has filed for bankruptcy.
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Continued on next page
The South Coast Insider / January 2014
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Continued from previous page ahead for January 24, when William Shatner will beam down, plus Maria Rita on February 9 and “Frederick Douglass” on February 28. Call 508994-2900 or visit www.zeiterion.org. BayCoast Bank has donated $100,000 to the Whaling Museum toward the construction of its new Education Center and Research Library.
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The federal SAFER grant (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) of $12,270,000 will finance 63 city firefighter jobs that were in danger of being eliminated. It was the second-highest SAFER grant in the country.
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Don’t miss “The Little Dog Laughed” at Your Theatre January 16-26. “Twelve Angry Men” plays in March. Call 508993-0772 or visit www.yourtheatre.org.
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The city’s Parker Elementary School, a chronically underperforming “Level 5” school, will be taken over by the state because of its inability to improve students’ academic performance.
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Newport Watch the January 1 Polar Bear Plunge in Newport, benefitting A Wish Come True. For info, call 401-846-0028.
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Sharpen your ice skates and head for the Newport Skating Center at the Yachting Center. For info, call 401-8463018 or visit www.skatenewport.com.
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Check out the Giant Gingerbread House at the Newport Marriott Hotel. Free with a canned-good donation. Call 401-849-1000.
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There will be an encore performance of “Angel on My Shoulder” February 20 through March 23. Go to www. newportplayhouse.com or call 401848-7529.
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Head for Common Fence Music for John Gorka January 11, a Gathering of Fiddlers and Fishermen January 25, and more. Call 401-683-5085 or visit www.commonfencemusic.org.
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Providence Head for the Providence Performing Arts Center to see “Wicked” through January 12, Rock of Ages January 29, Theresa Caputo February 8, “Man of La Mancha” February 14-16. Call 401-4212787 or go to www.ppacri.org.
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Take the family to Trinity Rep! “Intimate Apparel” plays January 30 to March 2, and “Oliver!” will be performed February 20 to March 30. Call 401-3514243 or visit www.trinityrep.com.
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Follow the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra! They will perform Beethoven’s Second Symphony on January 18 at The Vets. Call 401-2487000 or go to www.riphil.org.
The Aquidneck Growers’ indoor winter market will be open 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturdays until May at the old parish hall of St. Mary’s Church.
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The Sandywoods Center for the Arts will present Magnolia Fais-Do-Do! January 4, the Atwater-Donnelly Trio January 18, Paddy Keenan February 1. Go to www.sandywoodsmusic.com or call 401-241-7349.
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Wareham Ground-breaking began for the new Marriott Hotel and function site at Rosebrook Place.
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Local cranberries and cranberry products may soon be sold in China, thanks to the Wareham-based Cranberry Marketing Committee.
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Beginning next summer, Wareham will be an official stop on the Cape Flyer train from Boston to Cape Cod. A new platform will be built behind the old Getty station, and it will include a new GATRA bus stop. For info, go to www.capeflyer.com.
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Check out what’s going on at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center—there’s Nuclear Cowboyz January 31- February 1. Go to www.dunkindonutscenter.com or call 401-331-6700.
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When the kids get bored, find out what’s happening at the Providence Children’s Museum. Go to www.childrenmuseum.org or call 401-273-5437. Or check out the Roger Williams Park Zoo. Visit www.rwpz.org.
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Rehoboth Follow “Arts in the Village,” the classical concert series at Goff Memorial Hall. There’s OperaHub January 11 and the Providence Mandolin Orchestra on February 22. For info visit www. carpentermuseum.org.
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Taunton Back in September, Standard & Poor’s upgraded Taunton’s bond rating from A+ to AA-. They have now upgraded Fall River’s bond rating from BBB to A-.
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Portsmouth
Tiverton
Taunton High School will offer JV lacrosse teams for boys and girls in the spring.
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January 2014 / The South Coast Insider
The “Summer of Celebration” coming in June will be a six-week event marking the 200th anniversary of the British invasion, as well as the town’s 275th birthday.
Warren Head for 2nd Story Theatre! “The Lyons” plays January 10 to February 9, and “Seven Keys to Baldpate” will be performed January 24 to February 23. For details, call 401-247-4200 or go to www.2ndstorytheatre.com.
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Westport Westport resident J. Michael Lennon’s book “Norman Mailer: A Double Life,” is a 900-page biography recently published by Simon & Schuster.
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“Concerts at the Point” will present the Handel & Haydn Society January 12, and The Boston Trio on February 23. For details, visit www.concertsatthepoint.org or call 508-636-0698.
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ON MY MIND
The next Big Thing by Paul E. Kandarian
R
oughly 65 million years ago, right around the year Joan Rivers was born, dinosaurs became extinct, with none of them still being found, the reasons for their extinction not clear. But some still exist. Me, for example, the evidence of which is found in my choice of email, AOL, the reason for which largely being fear of change. In the olden days when we dinosaurs were still young, people exchanged phone numbers or actual addresses as a way of keeping in touch. But years later, thanks to the Internet, which gave us the ability to stay connected and never be able to truly escape human contact, well, virtual human contact, that’s all changed. Now we can reach out via email or Tweeting or texting or Facebooking and bother people who don’t want to be bothered any more than we do. But it can’t be helped. The vicious cycle has been unleashed and there’s no putting the cyber genie back in the bottle. I meet new people all the time in my line of work, always interviewing them for various stories, and at the end of which we always exchange business cards (which I’m sure will be dinosaurs some day, too). I look at theirs and thank them and they look at mine and raise their eyebrows and say, “So, what’re you driving these days, one of them fancy new horseless carriages I’ve heard so much about? You do know there are only seven people in the world left using AOL, right?” It’s not easy being a holdout. I’ve had AOL since AOL was new
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and relevant and the thing to have, mostly because it was the only show in town. I fondly remember booting up my computer, waiting forever for it to fully power up, then clicking on AOL and getting that comforting crackle and buzz and hiss as the modem—the phone modem—struggled to make connection, which it often did not. Then you’d try again, wait forever, and when it connected, it negated using your home phone. Which don’t exist anymore as far as I know. Hell, I don’t even have a home phone now,
I’ve thought many times of changing my email to Google or Hotmail or Yahoo or other things with names or functions I don’t totally get. which is great except I can’t call my cell phone to locate it in my house when I invariably misplace it. Maybe someone will invent a LoJack for cell phones. I hope so. I’ve thought many times of changing my email to Google or Hotmail or Yahoo or other things with names or functions I don’t totally get. I mean in many ways, I love change and trying anything new. When I travel, for example, I always order stuff on the menu I don’t recognize that could probably be made of
January 2014 / The South Coast Insider
small, furry indigenous animals and/ or local large flying insects. Or trying largely dangerous things, like parachuting out of a perfectly functioning airplane or scaling cliffs in the Caribbean or talking to strangers on planes which could lead to hours of conversation so excruciatingly dull I want to put a bullet in my head. But change email from AOL? What are you, mad? It’s just too scary. For one thing, I’m not sure how to switch all my contacts over. Mind you I have thousands of contacts. Mind you I use a scant handful. Scrolling through them just now, I see my old friends Alan Earls, Epetrova, somebody named Fooks, a whole bunch of people named “support,” and one named Vic. I can’t remember any. Except Vic. Who, sadly, died about eight years ago but I still have his email address in case he contacts me from the great beyond. So switching email servers (I think that’s what they’re called, correct me if I’m wrong) would entail importing (I think that’s what it’s called, correct me if I’m wrong) them all over again, a process I’m sure is quick and easy but scares the hell out of me in case it isn’t. Then once I do switch, how do I let the thousands of people I don’t know that I have? In case they’re scrolling through their contacts some day and wonder who I am? It’s like switching banks. I want to, but then have to switch over all my bill paying information, get a new debit card, figure out direct deposit for the new account, etc. It’s not that I’m being lazy. Well, okay, I am being lazy. That is a factor.
I have made some inroads in my quest to eliminate my dinosaur standing. I got a Twitter account. Okay, I got it years ago and never used it, but just recently I revisited it, saw I had actual followers, as they’re called, and wondered, “Really? I’m never here, what could they be following?” So I started Twittering again, or rather Tweeting, as it’s called, those 140-character messages that force you to economize your thoughts into tiny slivers of philosophy or snarky commentary. But where do these things go? Who reads them? Why? What does it all mean to me, the Twitterer, or Tweeter, or whatever? I know many people who do the social media thing ad infinitum who have thousands of followers and it’s my understanding that some people actually make money at it. Really? Putting your thoughts into 140-character capsules of pithiness can make you money? Sign me up! So there I am,
at least trying. And that’s another thing that totally baffles me, how anyone makes money online? Through ads, I guess? But who the hell reads the ads? I assume everyone’s like me, they ignore the ads online and just go to the stuff they came there for. But then again, if anyone were like me, there’d be more than seven of us left still using AOL. So there I am, standing on the precipice of the La Brea Tar Pits of the virtual world, still using a largely irrelevant mail server, testing the waters of social media, all of which will probably be obsolete the minute I figure it out, just trying to figure out how to stay connected as a nearly extinct relic in modern times. I have an idea. I could just TALK to people. Who knows, that could be the next big, cool thing. What’s old is what’s new. Damn, I may be onto something here. Not bad for a dinosaur.
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January 2014 / The South Coast Insider
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