The South Coast Insider - January 2023

Faces of fitness

It’s time to catch up on your healthcare.

No more missed appointments. Or missed tests.

PRIMARY CARE

Internal Medicine/Family Practice

SPECIALTY CARE

Allergy Testing & Treatment

Cardiology

Endocrinology, Diabetes & Men’s Health

Gastroenterology

Gynecology & Women’s Health Infectious Disease

Neurology & Sleep Disorders

Optometry & Ophthalmology

Otolarynology (Ear, Nose & Throat)

Orthopedic Surgery, Podiatry & Chiropractic Rheumatology

Pulmonary/Critical Care

Vascular & Endovascular Surgery

Weight Management

3 WALK-IN CENTERS

RADIOLOGY & IMAGING

The pandemic has been center stage for too long. Now it’s time for action.

Do you have any new healthcare issues that you’ve been putting off? Call us for that annual check-up and for scheduling your regular tests.

Prima CARE is using the current best practices to keep us all safe. After all, we’re a medical facility with no shortcuts, here to address all your healthcare needs.

Contact your provider’s office by phone or Health Portal to choose the setting that is most convenient for you. While we prefer you to visit our office, you may qualify for a telemedicine visit.

Prima CARE’s more than 160 professionals are ready to put your healthcare first. We’re large enough to take care of all your medical needs, but with the personal touch you deserve. Prima CARE is by your side, now more than ever.

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Published by Coastal Communications Corp.

Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Ljiljana Vasiljevic

Editor Sebastian Clarkin Sales Manager Mari Burns (508) 916-0374

Contributors

Lori Bradley, Stacie Charbonneau-Hess, Michael J. DeCicco, Shauna Ferry, Paul Kandarian, Tom Lopes, Sean McCarthy, Elizabeth Morse Read

Layout & Design

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THINGS TO DO

IN JANUARY Rejuvenate

by Elizabeth Morse Read

January may indeed be the dead of winter, but there’s still plenty of lively activities and unique events to warm your heart and soothe your senses. Explore the frosty outdoors, warm your hands on a mug of hot cider or cocoa, listen to music by the fireplace, or bring together family and friends for a bowl of hearty homemade soup on a cold, snowy day! And don’t forget that the days are slowly getting longer!

Take the family on a guided Seal Watch Boat Ride from December through April with Save the Bay, leaving from Bowen’s Ferry Wharf in Newport (savebay.org/ seals)!

“Discover Buzzards Bay” offers an online portal with information about more than 100 public places to walk, bird-watch, kayak/canoe, fish, snowshoe or cross-country ski (savebuzzardsbay.org/discover). You can find other outdoor recreation spots along the South Coast at thetrustees. org and riparks.com or stateparks.com/ rhode_island.

Enjoy live music indoors!

Head for the Zeiterion in downtown New Bedford to hear Get the Led Out January 19, the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra perform “The Magic of Disney: 100 Years of Wonder” January 28, Llama, Llama Live! January 29 (zeiterion.org).

Check out the concert series at the Newport Public Library! Listen to the Ocean State Ramblers on January 21 (newportlibraryri.org)!

Listen to the South Coast Chamber Music Series perform “Bassoonia” on January 14 at St. Gabriel’s Church in Marion or on January 15 at St. Gabriel’s Church in Dartmouth (nbsymphony.org/ chamber-music-series).

Bundle up and get outside!

Get outdoors with your binoculars and watch for migratory birds and snowy owls with the Audubon Society of Rhode Island (asri.org), Mass Audubon (massaudubon.org), the Llyod Center in Dartmouth (lloydcenter.org), or Sachuest Point National Wildlife Preserve in Middletown (fws.gov/ refuge/sachuest)!

Stomp your feet at Fall River’s Narrows Center for the Arts this month – enjoy Funky White Honkies January 6, Forever Young January 13, Neal and the Vipers January 20, Pearly Baker Band January 27, Johnny Hoy and the Bluefish January 28 (narrowscenter.com).

Stay warm indoors at the Spire Center in Plymouth and enjoy the music of Rhett Miller January 20, Joshua Tree January 21, Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra: The Music of James Bond January 28-29 (spirecenter.org).

Don’t miss the Rhode Island Philharmonic’s performance of “Romantic Chopin” at The VETS in Providence on January 20-21 (riphil.org). Check out who’s on stage at Taunton’s District Center for the Arts! Enjoy Draw the Line January 7, Nasty Habits January 13, MONSTA January 21, Living on a Bad Name January 27 (thedistrictcenterforarts.com).

The shows must go on

Enjoy Broadway show performances

Seal Watch Boat Ride from December through April with Save the Bay.

What’s coming in February

Plan ahead for the Annual Newport Winter Festival on February 17-26 (newportwinterfestival.com), including the Bowen’s Wharf Winter Sale, with in-store events and restaurant promotions (bowenswharf.com)!

Take the kids to see Monster Jam on February 3-5 at the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence (dunkindonutscenter.com)!

Relax and listen to Our Lady of Light Band, Banda Filharmonica Santa Cecilia and the Tri-County Symphonic Band perform on February 5 at UMass Dartmouth (tricountysymphonicband.org)!

Don’t miss the Fall River Symphony Orchestra’s Winter Concert on February 19 at BCC (fallriver symphonyorchestra.org)!

Family fun on the ice and snow

You’re never too old to build a snowman or have a snowball fight! Get out the sleds and toboggans and put on those boots and mittens. It’s time to lace up your ice skates (or rent them) at indoor skating rinks: Driscoll Arena in Fall River, Hetland Arena in New Bedford, Alexio Arena in Taunton, or Armstrong Arena in Plymouth.

on the South Coast! Head for the Providence Performing Arts Center to see “Jagged Little Pill” January 17-22, “Annie” January 31-February 5 (ppacri.org)!

The network started as AHA! River through the Community Foundation of Southeastern MA in 2014 with a focus on highlighting the multitude of art, music, theater, charity, historical, and cultural events throughout greater Fall River.

Take the kids to “Disney on Ice” through January 2 at the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence (dunkindonutscenter. com)!

Head for Pilgrim Memorial Hall in Plymouth to watch Cage Titans on January 7 (memorialhall.com)!

Since April 2017, it has been a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization with a target audience that includes not only residents but also visitors from towns on both sides of the Taunton River and Mount Hope Bay, and from Boston to Providence.

Check out the new season of The Wilbury Group in Providence – don’t miss “We’re Gonna Die” January 19-February 12 (thewilburygroup.org).

Rediscover the thrill of live theatre with the new season at Your Theatre in New Bedford! Enjoy “Proclivities” January 20-22, 27-29 (yourtheatre.org).

Don’t miss Trinity Rep’s performances of “By the Queen” January 12-February 12 in Providence (trinityrep.com).

Eat, drink and be merry!

“After three years working under the AHA label,” Dave Dennis said, “we realized this model wasn’t compatible with the needs of Fall River, not to mention the difficulty connecting with the AHA name. Our financial stability since then has allowed us to make the decision to move in a new direction to position ourselves to better meet the needs and demands of a gateway city. In 2017, through research, focus groups, and marketing specialists, we formed Creative Arts Network Inc. (CAN), along with a branding logo, then formed a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.”

Celebrate American craft beers on January 29 at the 10th Rhode Island Brewfest at the WaterFire Arts Center in Providence (ribrewfest.com)!

Take a bite out of winter! Check out the menus during Providence’s Restaurant Week January 9-22 (goprovidence.com/rw).

Learn something new

Learn how to line dance at the New

With Covid restrictions this past year, Dennis said, CAN has pivoted from live events to virtual events through its Facebook page and website. Some of the creative events started with ArtWeek at Home in May where it offered a week-long virtual event from art lessons, cooking

Bedford’s Kilburn Mills (facebook.com/ aandmdanceacademy.com).

Try your hand at pickleball at Fairhaven’s indoor Southcoast Pickleball arena (southcoastpickleball. com).

Get a head start on spring and attend a workshop January 21 on Veggie Garden Design at Blithewold Mansion and Gardens in Bristol (blithewold.org).

Check out the Moby-Dick Marathon, with readers from around the world, at New Bedford’s Whaling Museum (whalingmuseum.org).

Stroll through the Newport Car Museum in Portsmouth! Ninety-plus vintage cars and driving simulators (newportcarmuseum.org)!

Take care of yourself

Stay healthy this winter! “Walk with a Doc” on Saturday mornings at the Dartmouth Mall, part of the New Bedford Wellness Initiative (nbewell).

lessons, dance lessons, concerts, and crafts for kids. For Valentine’s Day it offered dance lessons, art lessons, instructions on how to set a perfect table, how to make that special drink, and how to make chocolate-covered strawberries. It has also sponsored two groups of local students from a local Community College for their class projects. The most recent class put together tours for National Tourism Week, May 2-8. CAN’s other most recent event was a collaboration with the Fall River Public Library for an Earth Day event. CAN has also taken on a role in working to have more public policy implemented around art and culture. Over the past year we have seen the newly formed Fall River Waterfront Cultural District, June 25 has been proclaimed Hydrangea Day, the City Council voted the hydrangea the official ornamental flower of the city, and CAN’s current proposal is for a formal Public Art Policy with the formation of a Public Art Commission.

This summer, Dennis said, CAN hopes to return to small-scale live events such as an open-air art exhibit, a mural wayfinding project, the continuation of the group’s hydrangea beautification program, and a festival to highlight a variety of art and culture activities with a focus on the city’s restaurants and shops.

For more information on how to get involved go to creativeartsnetwork.org.

Get in touch with nature – and yourself – at the Norman Bird Sanctuary in Middletown! Attend a “Winter Wellness Workshop” on January 13 (normanbirdsanctuary.org). Check out the videos in meditation, tai chi, yoga, smoking cessation or hypnosis with the New Bedford Wellness Initiative (facebook.com/ newbedfordwellnessinitiative).

Viva Fall River! Created by Portuguese-based lettering designers Mariana Branco and Emanuel Barreira of Halfstudio, and executed by local artist Gregory Pennisten, a new 40’ by 60’ mural called “Viva Fall River” was unveiled at Fall River’s Kay Building, owned by Anthony F. Cordeiro and family, a short walk from the Quequechan River Rail Trail. The mural celebrates Fall Riverites of Portuguese descent.

From A to

Zen

Serlingpa Meditation Center, 514 Pleasant Street, is downtown New Bedford's highest-profile practitioner of the art of relaxing one's mind and body through meditation. Resident teacher Gerry Donovan explains why people visiting centers like his and teachers like him for the first time shouldn't be intimidated to get started. He said beginners usually think they can’t mediate. "Maybe your mind becomes even more active, like a child who doesn’t want to do what they are told. But meditation doesn't require super powers, just patience and persistence. You don't have to be perfect at it to get something from it."

The beginner should start slowly, he said. "You don't change your breathing," he said. "Just breathe normally and follow the breath with the mind. Two to five breaths will do. Don't do it for a long time at first. Make it as short as you want. It’s much better to enjoy a very short period

of meditation than feel frustrated when you attempt a longer one. That's the basis of the understanding, of getting a greater sense of control over what's happening in your mind."

Donovan explained he started practicing meditation as a byproduct of his other profession: "I'm a psychiatrist. I recognized the need for myself and my patients to have a more friendly relationship with the things happening in the mind."

by Michael J. DeCicco

He sees his work as a resident teacher at Serlingpa as an extension of his belief in how meditation and mental health are related. "We all have problems. By focusing continually on them you can get stuck in a rut, feel depressed and discouraged," he said. "When you shift that focus to something peaceful like the breath, it's like taking a break without having to go anywhere."

The Serlingpa Meditation Center, named after a revered 11-12th century Buddhist teacher, has been open approximately 20 years. Donovan has been a disciple of its modern Buddhist philosophy since 2006. He recently completed a six-month intensive teacher training program at Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre in England.

He elaborated on what guided meditation is all about. Thoughts are happening in our heads both good and bad, he said. Most of the time, we don’t

Meditation is not as difficult as the beginner may fear it to be.

The Serlingpa Meditation Center, named after a revered 11-12th century Buddhist teacher, has been open approximately 20 years

demonstrabecause I’m where with Nothing I asgoNovember 21, hopes through of really not globe. international into November. November Nations

sanitation crisis because worldwide, 4.2 billion of us live without safe sanitation options. Think of that the next time you’re lucky enough to be relaxing with a magazine in a comfy loo.

Hungry? November is your month, with tasty days sprinkled throughout, odes to everything from banana pudding to vinegar and everything in between, including hot sauce, nachos, pickles, espresso, deviled eggs, French toast and more. Honoring all that grub makes perfect sense that November 15 is National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day.

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feel like we have any control over those things.

In closing, and in observance of November being an election month, I’d like to add it is now National Impotency Month, which has nothing to do with the Republicans in Congress, much as it sounds like it should.

"With meditation, we learn that we can shift our attention away from negative patterns of thoughts and feelings into healthier and more productive patterns. In this way, meditation helps us lead happier, more productive lives," he said.

His center's meditations are in the Buddhist tradition, but people attending Donavan’s center don't have to be Buddhist to benefit from and learn from meditation.

His center offers weekly drop-in classes (Tuesday evenings and Sunday mornings), retreats, and in-depth study programs and classes. A prime example of the latter: an Introduction to Buddhism workshop that will start on January 3 and run the next five Tuesdays.

He also conducts regular chanted prayers, which are for those who wish to pray in the Buddhist tradition. "The Prayer Sessions are a guided meditation drawn from Buddhism," he said. "But our classes are for anybody with an interest in meditation. Regardless of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, or faith. You don't have to be a Buddhist to learn how to meditate or to benefit from it."

The center website boasts that the majority of its weekly classes are drop-in and are designed to be easily accessible to new meditators while being very engaging for those with more experience, allowing experienced meditators to go deeper and enhance their meditation practice.

More information is available at meditationinnewbedford.org.

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" With meditation, we learn that we can shift our attention away from negative patterns of thoughts and feelings into healthier and more productive patterns. In this way, meditation helps us lead happier, more productive lives

Self-care

after the holidays

by Lori Bradley

The giving months can be invigorating and beautiful, but can also drain our stores of energy. When the quiet months of winter finally come, we can be left feeling utterly empty and exhausted. Yet with the New Year celebrations comes social pressure to make self-improvement resolutions that have more to do with meeting the expectations of others than caring for ourselves.

How can we use the quiet winter months to seek out some true self-care that improves our physical and psychic wellbeing? Visiting the gym or a fitness center is an option, but are there places where we can focus on our wellness in a relaxing, low-key atmosphere with a personalized touch? Fortunately, a more personalized approach to wellness can be found in the many retreats and day spas opening to fill this niche.

The Southcoast is home to a growing number of spas and yoga centers, with varied approaches to helping clients develop individualized self-care strategies that lead to healthy connections between body and mind resulting in an enhanced quality of life. Establishing a personal liaison with a wellness provider is a gift to yourself that lasts a lifetime.

According to the National Wellness Institute, “Wellness is an active process through which people become aware of, and make choices toward, a more successful existence. This definition

The Southcoast is home to a growing number of spas and yoga centers, with varied approaches to helping clients develop individualized self-care strategies that lead to healthy connections between body and mind resulting in an enhanced quality of life

describes a shift from unconscious living (where you do not think about your health until you have a problem or experience symptoms) to conscious living (where you are actively making healthy choices to promote your success and wellbeing)”

PERSONAL TOUCH

A cornerstone of wellness is massage, and a variety of massage treatments are available at local spas. According to the Mayo Clinic website, massage is increasingly used to address medical conditions such as fibromyalgia, sports injuries, anxiety, lowering heart rate and blood pressure, and reducing headaches and insomnia. (Of course, anyone with a medical condition should consult their doctor before receiving a massage.) The personal touch of the massage

experience can help improve painful conditions but “beyond the benefits for specific conditions or diseases, some people enjoy massage because it often produces feelings of caring, comfort, and connection.”

Drift Day Spa, at 77 State Street in Dartmouth, offers an appealing menu of options, including Swedish and deep tissue massage for relaxation and muscular therapy. Clients can book customizable treatments from 30 to 90 minutes. Hot stone massage can soothe muscle pain and induce deep relaxation. Other Drift therapies include relaxing full facial and hydrothermal massage that cradles the body in warm water and induces a feeling of weightlessness. In addition, the spa offers aesthetician and nail services for a full self-care day of relaxation and beauty.

Owner Dawn Oyenuga thinks there is both a need and a niche for smaller wellness paces, “I truly feel that the salon/ spa industry needs to be a smaller, more

November and December are giving months. Giving to others is the theme an refrain to which we are constantly subjected in most media and conversations.

customer-service focused businesses. It should not be about turnover and volume. I think wellness deserves time and precision from start to finish.”

the region’s coastal charms. Their new property was a former tomato farm, perfect for supporting the couple’s new hobby: raising chickens.

Fortunately for them, they had a knack for it. Before too long, the Bishops had more eggs than they knew what to do with. They began selling the surplus, and learning about how to expand the farm in a healthy and sustainable way.

To give a sense of how successful this expansion has been, the farm’s chicken population has ballooned from the original 20 to over 3000.

While her husband has kept his IT job, Ester has been able to commit herself to the farm full-time. She prides herself on providing her animals with joyful, stressfree lives. “People should know where their food comes from – you can really taste the difference,” said Bishop.

Green acres

Dawn shared how her highly-trained staff work together to make every client feel personally acknowledged and cared for. “A smaller setting allows for the details, such as having tea and water brought over to you, your jacket taken and hung safely, the offering of the restroom and the friendly chat and smiles from all of our service providers walking around the spa who know (or get to know) all of our guests personally. You’re welcomed into our space immediately! At the conclusion of your service, your jacket is brought back to you, water is offered again, we recommend products tailored for your home-care routine, and you are always thanked for your time and invited back to visit. Wellness for us isn’t just about the massage or facial or nail service, it’s about an experience with kind people bringing stress relief, peace of mind, and a much-needed pause from the chaotic lives we all live.”

Learn more about Drift Day Spa at driftdartmouth.com.

Bishop’s commitment to “beyond organic” farming extends beyond cuddles and words of affirmation to her livestock. She ensures all the animals are provided with healthy, organic meals, and that their waste is repurposed as manure.

“You can see how green the grass is where the turkeys have been,” Bishop says. “That’s because they fertilize the soil with their manure. Manure is the basis of organic fertilizers. There are no chemicals added, or needed, when the animals do their job.”

MINDFUL MOVEMENT

Yoga is a form of mindfulness through movement that, with regular practice, can profoundly contribute to mental and physical well-being. According to the Mayo Clinic, “Yoga is a mind-body practice that combines physical poses, controlled breathing, and meditation or relaxation. Yoga may help reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and lower your heart rate. And almost anyone can do it.”

Speaking of animals doing their jobs, Bishop has conscripted her goats and pigs into clearing away swaths of underbrush on the property – the “gnarly vines” that give the farm its name.

Gnarly Vines coordinates with neighboring farms to provide its customers with a variety of sustainable and organic products. Angus beef, for instance, will sell out almost as soon as it comes into stock.

But the farm is not bound by terrestrial limitations: the Bishops have partnered with Captain’s Finest and Sakonnet Lobster to bring fresh seafood to market.

Bishop is particularly proud of a new initiative at the farm: food security community supported agriculture (CSA) plans. CSAs, popular among farms nationwide, allow customers to pre-purchase “shares” of the farm’s produce, which are

Direct health benefits of yoga are improving range of joint motion and pain reduction, improving the function of the nervous system, moderating stress response and anxiety, cultivating dynamic balance in mind and body, and reducing falls in older people. For people wanting to explore mindful movement, there are many options studios in the Southcoast. Solshine Yoga, located in the Kilburn Mill complex at 127 W. Rodney French Boulevard in New Bedford’s South End offers “yoga with a view.” Wide floor-to-ceiling windows look out on the sea and sunset and expansive polished old wooden floors and high ceilings add a sense of visual transcendence to the yoga experience.

The Solshine studio offers a variety of wellness services including beginner, intermediate, and hot yoga and higher intensity Buti Yoga classes, in addition to breathwork, reiki, meditation, aromatherapy, sound healing, positive affirmations, herbal medicine, and the sharing of ancient spiritual philosophies, all with the intention of bringing students into an elevated state of mental, emotional, and physical well-being.

Shop small, shop local!

Why risk your health (and sanity) at crowded malls on Black Friday? Take advantage of incredible offerings in your own neighborhood on Small Business Saturday, November 28, throughout the South Coast. Check out sbsshopri. com for shop-and-stroll events in Rhode Island. For that special gift, support local craftsmen and artists by heading over to the Waterfire Arts Center in Providence to visit the safe outdoor pop-up markets (waterfire.org/art-mart). And on First Thursdays (November 5) you can “shop and dine local” in Barrington, Bristol, and Warren (discovernewport.org).

Andrea DeVeau-Cabral and Neil Cabral are co-owners of the Power and Grace yoga studio housed in the beautiful Howland Mill complex at 675 Orchard Street, also in New Bedford’s South End. Both are highly trained and experienced yoga instructors offering a variety of classes including Radiant Flow Yoga and Sva Ha Yoga.

Kick-off the holiday season at Frerichs Farm in Warren with “Girls Night Out” on November 6, 7 and 8 – buy your holiday trees, greenery, and gifts there, too (frerichsfarm.com). Then mark your calendar for the Newport Block Party & Holiday Stroll at Bowen’s Wharf on November 27 – you can watch the Illuminated Boat Parade while you shop and enjoy Caribbean music (bowenswharf.com).

Saturday, November

Music and sound are integral to the classes at Power and Grace. Sound healing employs aural waves that reverberate throughout the body and induce a deep state of mindful relaxation. Power and Grace instructors offer a sound-immersive light yoga and sound healing class which is “a light and deeply restorative practice. Oftentimes, we don’t even stand up. You’ll be guided to rest in postures in a way that feels comfortable and supportive for your body. Practice closes with an extended sound healing savasana which is a yogic meditative nap.” Learn more at powerandgrace.org.

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Closed: Tuesday & Wednesday

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401-816-4066

1019 Main Road • Tiverton, RI

It’s the thoughtful gifts that count

And if you can’t find gifts for all the special people in your life, consider buying gift cards to restaurants, shops, vineyards, special event venues, local farms, e-commerce websites, or grocery stores. Use mail-order services to deliver flowers, sweets, and specialty foods yearround to someone you want to thank or to express your appreciation.

Fall in love at Faxon

so if you are looking for love, check with us first!!

For those who are always hard to buy a gift for, consider signing them up for an annual subscription to a streaming service, app, podcast, premier sports/ movies/cultural channel, magazine, or newspaper. Or make a donation in their name to their favorite charity, educational institution, or cultural organization. Consider how much it would be appreciated if you upgraded an older relative’s digital capabilities with an easy-to-use smartphone, tablet, or notebook – and then helped to set up Zoom or Skype.

You can keep the holiday spirit alive this year, even though you may not all be together to celebrate Thanksgiving. It just takes some imagination and good cheer!

For those seeking a comfortable and simple yoga experience with small class sizes, Yoga 101 at 106 State Road in Dartmouth offers personalized group classes and individualized instruction. Tucked away behind a row of shops on Route 6, the studio is small, quiet, and cozy. The yoga is accessible to people of any age and ability with an emphasis on gentle, simple movement in a peaceful environment. Clients can come in for individual classes or purchase a subscription for multiple classes. Learn more at yoga101dartmouth.com. These are just a few of the many and varied wellness experiences available in our immediate area. In our stressed-out world, wellness will continue to be a growing and ever-changing field, guaranteed to offer new roads to healthy relaxation for our exploration. Make it a point to give yourself the gift of self-care and connection this post-holiday season.

Faxon Animal Care & Adoption Center 474 Durfee St., Fall River, MA 508-676-1061 www.faxonar l.org

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Mon. & Tue. 8:30-4:30pm

Wed. & Sat. 8:30-12 Noon

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THE ABC'S OF THE

by Sean McCarthy

Regardless of age, ability or income, YMCA Southcoast is reaching out to you.

With locations from Swansea to Wareham, YMCA Southcoast is partnering with regional organizations with the understanding that strengthening our communities means investing in individuals and families in a wide array of ways.

From child care to education to exercise, the YMCA’s health initiatives aim to treat the complete person, including how they eat and how they move, how they learn and how they grow. The Y knows that there are many approaches to health and wellness.

“There’s something for everybody at the Y, we have resources for the entire family,” says Robyn Branco, Director of Mission Administration. “We are a

place to grow, whether you’re a child, a parent, or a senior.”

You may be surprised to find out that the modern mission of the YMCA goes far beyond a basketball game or a dip in the pool. These regional branches are improving lives in areas such as food insecurity, education in diabetes treatment and prevention, programs for cancer survivors and their families, social activities for seniors, childcare, employment opportunities for teens, and more.

In many cases, the programming is financially supported – a greater benefit for those in need.

In just one year, the Y distributes between $750,000 - $900,000 in financial aid across all program areas including camp, membership and childcare.In 2006, YMCA Southcoast

took a significant step towards helping the community with the establishment of Sharing the Harvest Community Farm. A partnership with the United Way of Greater New Bedford’s Hunger Commission, the volunteer-driven project grows produce on a four-anda-half acre site in Dartmouth that is distributed to the underserved through local food pantries and senior development organizations in the South Coast region. This year Sharing the Harvest distributed over 20,000 meals.

The organization was particularly effective during the COVID-19 pandemic, as they teamed with the Greater Boston Food Bank to form an Emergency Mobile Market known as the Full Plate Project. The group was available two to three days a week,

A 35-year-old learns to swim. A 72-year-old learns a new dance. A mother of three learns to cook healthy meals. The YMCA is more than “a gym and a swim.”

staffed entirely by volunteers providing 15,000 pounds of food a week to meet the needs of the community. This year they have distributed over 1.5 million pounds of food.

The Y also provided emergency daycare for frontline workers during the pandemic along with remote learning for students across the region .

All together

Since the region is located so close to the ocean and other waterways, YMCA Southcoast offers free courses in Basic

Water Safety and Drowning Prevention for people of all ages.

“Every person in this community should have the opportunity to learn how to swim,” Branco says. “It should be an essential skill, not a privilege.

Branco points out that many people who become affiliated with the YMCA become lifelong participants in the mission of the organization. Many young people who attended programs and classes with the Y eventually enroll in the organization’s Counselors in Training and leadership programs.

“We try to teach young people the value of being part of something more,” Branco says. “We want them to embrace diversity and celebrate the culture of our region. This is a chance for them to grow with the Y – to give back to the organization after they have benefitted from the programming.

“A lot of families work at the Y, and we have multiple generations of families. The Y is a home away from home for so many.”

Children are often introduced to the Y through its youth development programs, including preschool and after-school opportunities, as well as athletic endeavors. For students in public schools we are reintroducing summer learning loss activities at certain Y locations, an extracurricular program that enhances their academic process in a fun and engaging manner, keeping them mentally fresh.

Staying fresh is also possible for

YMCA Southcoast has teamed up with the Greater Boston Food Bank to form an emergency mobile market known as the Full Plate Project. In 2022 the Full Plate Project, stuffed entirely of volunteers, distributed over 1.5 million pounds of food throughout the region.

seniors, as the Y offers multiple classes for social interaction, including dancing, drumming, and yoga. Dance classes are also offered to children and teens at certain locations.

Certain YMCAs offer the LiveStrong program, which assists cancer survivors and their families. There are also classes in diabetes prevention and treatment.

But the Y doesn’t act alone. They team with a large number of local organizations, including Southcoast Health, the South Coast Food Policy Council, the United Way of Greater New Bedford and Fall River, and many of the local public schools and universities.

The YMCA has branches in Swansea, Fall River, Dartmouth, New Bedford, Mattapoisett and Wareham. For more information visit ymcasouthcoast.org.

These local branches are improving lives in areas such as food insecurity, education in diabetes treatment and prevention, programs for cancer survivors and their families, social activities for seniors, childcare, employment opportunities for teens, and more.

by Sean McCarthy

THINGS TO DO MAKING HEALTHY CHOICES

If that’s your belief, then you’re in the company of a lot of health professionals.

Creating a healthy future can have simple and easy beginnings. Everyday activities such as eating, sleeping, breathing, and moving can be used to improve how you feel and reduce risks to your wellbeing down the road.

If you think being healthy is a rigorous endeavor, you will be pleased to know that you can get started by making small adjustments to things you have been doing all of your life.

But you’re advised to start as soon as possible.

“It’s not about the sit-up, or the push-up, or the pull-up – it’s about the show-up,” says Jon Leaver of Jon Leaver Wellness in Westport and Wareham.

“Some days you’ll have more energy, and some days you’ll have less energy, but it’s all about doing it. Just begin doing it.”

And one key to making progress with your health is making physical activity a routine.

“Increase your range of motion by being active every day,” Leaver says. “With age we tend to slow down and use our bodies less, but as we exercise there is an unwinding of the tissues that takes place. There are different ways to be active: strength training, aerobics, cardio-vascular, yoga, or Tai-Chi, and more. You can join a YMCA or a gym. My advice is to find a buddy who wants to do it with you and commit to that person. Meet at a specific time, and even if they don’t show up you’ll already be there.”

There can be enjoyable social aspects to getting your daily exercise.

“We have a welcoming atmosphere for seniors,” says Micki Poulton, Senior Director of Health and Wellness for YMCA Southcoast. “We cater to seniors with our classes so that they’ll feel comfortable with their peers. There’s a camaraderie.”

The YMCA offers many classes for people over 55, including areas such as strengthbuilding, flexibility, mobility, stability, and balancing. There are classes in culinary arts with demonstrations and recipes as well as classes in Diabetes prevention. There are aqua-fit classes that assist in recovery from injuries that are easy on the joints. In addition, there are classes in line dancing and zumba/latin dancing.

STRETCHING OUT

Another exercise option is yoga, a practice that is growing significantly in popularity, and has shown numerous health benefits.

“With yoga you’re using your breath to establish a mind-body connection,” says yoga instructor Christine Maiato FitzGerald of Dartmouth. “It’s easy to get introduced, with forms such as gentle yoga and chair yoga, and you can go at your own pace.”

FitzGerald says that while you can do yoga on your own, the best option for beginners is to get started by attending classes at a local yoga studio. She also

Perhaps you’ve heard the phrase, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

recommends consulting a doctor before beginning any form of exercise.

“Get out there, find a beginner’s class, and don’t be intimidated,” she says. “You might not be able to do every pose, but any movement is good movement. Everybody is different. There’s a lot of good yoga studios in the area.”

Yoga has been shown to assist with back and hip issues, building muscle, improving flexibility, balance, and posture, heart health, sleep, and increased blood flow and energy. It has also shown to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, as well as relieving menopause symptoms.

“I have a herniated disc in my lower back, so I often wake up with a lot of pain,” she says. “By doing one session in

nose instead of your mouth can have important benefits.

“Your nose is not just for decoration on your face, it serves a real purpose,” says Kelly Coucci, a Speech Language Pathologist dealing in Voice Disorders at South Coast Ear, Nose & Throat in North Dartmouth. “Nasal breathing filters, warms, and humidifies the air we breathe. It helps regulate air flow, making sure we’re not over-breathing, which can be detrimental as it can overwhelm and dry out the throat and airway tubes.”

Coucci says that nose breathing keeps us calmer, reducing anxiety and stress.

“Breathing is a pathway to our nervous system,” she says. “It can make us mentally healthier. Breathing also plays a role in the immune system, trapping bacteria and viruses, especially important now in the age of COVID. There are a lot of amazing connections between nose breathing and our health that most people are completely unaware of.”

Coucci says that we can train ourselves to be nose breathers.

enjoyable sauces to go with your meals such as cilantro, garlic, lime, honey, and maple syrup. You don’t need to be eating raw carrots all day.”

Leaver uses the natural world as evidence for his stances.

“We get a lot of protein from meat and chickens, but they get their protein by eating plants,” he says. “There’s a lot of strong animals who don’t eat meat. There’s a saying: ‘If it’s made in a plant, don’t eat it; but if it’s made from a plant, eat it.’”

And you can also experience benefits when you’re not awake by practicing good sleep hygiene.

the morning I feel 100 percent relief. It’s amazing.”

FitzGerald says that ideally most yoga classes include some form of meditation, before or after. But she also points out that meditation can be done separately from yoga and will also show benefits.

“Meditation is something that is free and can be done anywhere,” she says. “Sit or lie down comfortably and focus on something for five or 10 minutes, such as a word, a phrase, or your breathing. The mind is active, so it’s normal that you will get distracted, but always return your focus. If you do it regularly it will eventually become as normal as brushing your teeth.”

FitzGerald says benefits from meditation include reduction in stress and anxiety, and improved sleep.

And you may be surprised to find out that the act of breathing through your

“If you’ve been a mouth breather for a long time it’s possible to begin breathing through your nose, starting with awareness,” she says. “You don’t have to work hard at breathing because we live in an oxygen-rich environment. You don’t need to be taking big, gigantic breaths to get oxygen. You can breathe more quietly through the nose with much less volume of air.”

CLEAN EATING

In addition to taking in air, we also take in food. According to Leaver, a good first step to improving your nutritional practicies is by significantly reducing or eliminating meat from your diet.

“Meat and animal fats are the causes of almost all cardio-vascular disease,” he says. “There are thousands of reports explaining this, but the American food industry wants you to eat a lot of junk – meat and processed foods.”

Leaver recommends a plant-based diet, but this doesn’t mean you have to be boring about your eating choices.

“I suggest starting with ‘Meatless Mondays’ and go from there,” he says. “Find out how to flavor things, make

Meridith Pease, a Registered Nurse at Hawthorn Medical in North Dartmouth, says that you should think about quieting your mind 30 to 60 minutes before going to bed to get prepared for restful, quality sleep.

“Avoid over-stimulating your mind to get into a relaxation mode, it’s a lot easier than people think,” she says. “A big part of sleep hygiene is putting down our phones and digital media a half-hour to an hour before bed, and not falling asleep with the television on. You want to have a quiet, dark place when you’re trying to shut your mind down.”

Pease says that you should establish a regular time to go to bed and wake up.

“Sleeping in on the weekends is enjoyable but it isn’t always the best plan, because you don’t want to disrupt your sleep schedule. You also want to avoid naps during the day that are longer than 15 or 20 minutes. You can’t force sleep, so if you’re lying in bed with thoughts and anxieties, it’s best to get up and do something calming, like reading or meditating. Ruminating on why you can’t sleep can only make it worse.”

Yoga has been shown to assist with back and hip issues, building muscle, improving flexibility, balance, and posture, heart health, sleep, and increased blood flow and energy.

A good first step to improving your nutritional practicies is by significantly reducing or eliminating meat from your diet.

by Stacie Charbonneau-Hess

Community Coffee &

One of the most lovely parts of winter is finding a cozy café to meet friends or colleagues – a spot with character, a sense of place, and great food.

Yes, there are times when the drive-through is necessary, but when I really want to connect with the people in my life, I go to those spots that feel like someone’s living room, or like those you find in European villages: people outside and inside, talking to one another, reading a newspaper, slowing down in the otherwise frenetic pace that comes with this time of year.

I’ve compiled this admittedly subjective list of wonderful South Coast cafés, arranged from east to west. These cafés ooze character; they are imbued with that feeling that Danish people refer to as hygge – the warmth and comfort you create when the world outside is dark and cold.

I realize, too, that I am grateful these spots exist so close to home. In this afterCovid winter, I am trying my best to patronize the small businesses I so appreciate.

I hope this list inspires you to cozy up with a warm cup and a good friend.

Blue Foot Café

379 Main Street, Wareham

Open 7 days a week: 6:30 to 3 p.m. weekdays; 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekends Blue Foot Café is home to creative smoothies and

smoothie bowls, like “The Galapagos” which is made with a blend of blackberries and mango and glows electric blue. Of course there is açai, but Blue Foot goes well beyond the usual. You can taste the love in the hearty “Savory Oat Bowl” that is topped with a perfect egg, garlicy kraut, and green onion lovingly strewn throughout. Blue Foot is special because the surroundings invite you to settle in and stay a while: sumptuous velvet couches are perfect for cozying up with your love, or sit outside on a sunny day on the patio. This is the perfect spot for a healthy, warm “Dirty Chai Latté” or an entire meal. The vibe is young, welcoming, with an unexpectedly cosmopolitan feeling – an oasis of calm in the bustling area of a Wareham Center.

Peoples’ Pressed

141 Union Street, New Bedford

Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.;

closed Sundays

You probably know that Peoples’ Pressed offers cold-pressed juices and features multi-day cleanses that you can pre-order for those times when your body needs a reboot. What you may not know is that they also have some of the most amazing coffee choices on the South Coast. You can

get a regular cup of dark roast, or try something more adventurous like “On Shrooms” which features a mushroom superfood blend. If tea is more your style try the “Community Chai” with activated charcoal and honey. Peoples’ Pressed has light fare like avocado and hemp seed toast and almond butter, banana, and strawberry toast, all on gluten-free bread. The vibe is urban, with succulents descending from every nook and cranny.

tea here are as singular as Davoll’s itself: try the “Mayan Mocha” with its spicy chocolate blend, or the “High Spirit” which features adaptogenic mushrooms. Oh yeah, and there’s wine, beer, and craft cocktails and mocktails. With the convivial atmosphere and the abundance of good quality delights, you may end up staying into the evening here. If it’s a Thursday, you may even have the good fortune to sit in on a jam session with local fiddlers, banjo players, and musicians of every ilk.

Davoll’s General Store

1228 Russells Mills Road, South Dartmouth 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. TuesdaySaturday; 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday; closed Monday Now that Davoll’s is here, I cannot imagine a South Coast without it. Davoll’s has gifts, books, local groceries, book readings, poetry openmic nights, jam sessions, Friday night dinners, and even, this past fall, a turnip festival. Davoll’s is quirky and homey and a community hub. The food is ever-changing but expect home-baked breads, soups, and luscious, rustic baked goods. Lunch might be a sweet potato panini or a quinoa salad with local farmer Eva’s greens. For staying a while and chatting, there is no place like Davoll’s, with its antique hardwood floors and its central location in Dartmouth. Coffee and

Groundswell Cafe

3883 Main Road, Tiverton Tuesday to Sunday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. (kitchen open until 3 p.m.)

Groundswell’s has a particular kind of lingering in mind with its “laptop free” environment. This is a spot for catching up with old friends and connecting with loved ones over Europeaninspired food like the croque monsieur and quiche lorraine. The menu features creative breakfast items like the poblano tahini breakfast bowl with farro, toasted chickpeas, and a egg on top, and the ricotta & pear toast. Groundswell serves amazing teas and traditional – rather than trendy – coffee options.

The café’s Four Corners location makes it extra appealing for a really long lunch hour or a Saturday afternoon with an old friend.

THINGS TO DO

January can bring on such a whirlwind of emotions. There’s relief that the hustle and bustle of shopping for presents, visiting family, decorations, Christmas music, and cooking elaborate meals is finally over, but then there’s sadness that the energy and cheer are gone.

new flavorsNewyear,

accomplishing goals in the new year and achieving that fresh start.

I’ve never been very good with resolutions. I either set the bar so high I get overwhelmed within the first week (diet, gym, cleaning routine, beauty routine, etc.) or I just don’t take anything on at all because I’m too jetlagged from holiday madness. This year I didn’t really set a resolution, but rather a weekly challenge: to cook a new meaI each week that I’ve never made before using as many locally made items as possible.

by Shauna Ferry

You’re supposed to go into the new year with that fresh “new year, new me” attitude, but sometimes its difficult to pack away all the decorations and get back into the same old routine. For many, this is where New Year’s resolutions come into play – they’re about looking forward to

Back in November, I made a charcuterie board with many different locally made food items (check out the South Coast Prime Times Jan/Feb 2023 issue). It was so fun and I learned about so many small businesses in and around the South Coast that I had never heard of before! Since then, I changed the way I shop and I’m so much more excited to try making new food.

My first meal I decided to conquer wasn’t anything specific, but I knew the focus was going to be seafood. I decided on a fish dish with boiled potatoes, a vegetable, and a very specific Portuguese sauce my family

avidly makes, and which I had never made myself, called molho de vilao (fried fish sauce). My first stop was Kyler’s Seafood in New Bedford. I absolutely love Kyler’s and I highly recommend them. Their prices are great, and their fish is always fresh. I purchased 1.7lbs of fresh cod and a dozen oysters. My husband and I love raw oysters, so it was a little treat for us to start off with. The next day, I went over to the farmer’s market in Westport. Skinny Dip Farm out of Little Compton had a huge variety of fresh vegetables, so I made my way over and purchased parsley and large-leaf spinach. I had no idea there was even such a thing as large-leaf spinach, and as a spinach lover I was excited and impressed. I couldn’t wait to cook it!

On my way home I stopped at Lee’s market in Westport, which is a cute little market with an abundance of local items. I was on the hunt for potatoes and cocktail sauce. I grabbed two pounds of white potatoes, grown and distributed by Sampson’s Farm in Westport. It’s always great to support other farmers from town.

McGovern’s Family Restaurant

310 Shove Street, Fall River 508-679-5010

Molho de Vilão

mcgovernsonthewater com

Ingredients:

6 cloves garlic

1 whole salted pimenta da terra

Vinegar to taste

1 tablespoon minced pimenta da terra

4 tablespoons cooking oil

Chopped Parsley to taste

Directions:

This well-known restaurant and banquet facility overlooking Laurel Lake usually packs them in for a large buf fet on Thanksgiving Day The menu typically includes traditional turkey dinner with Paul’s butternut squash, prime rib, ham, and much more. The restaurant has been of fering dine-in and takeout, including its locally famous corned beef and cabbage, for 50 years . Here’s a protip: if you can’t wait until Thanksgiving for a roast turkey dinner, you don’t have to –it ’s on the regular menu

shop.lafrancehospitality.com

1) Put oil in a frying pan and add the sliced cloves of garlic and coarsely chopped pimenta da terra. Saute for about 3 minutes.

2) Add the minced pimentada terra and saute for a further minute.

3) Add the vinegar and finely chopped parsley to taste.

ey,e

Merrills on the Waterfront

*Serve with fried fish*

36 Homers Wharf, New Bedford 508-997-7010 merrillswaterfront.com

This favorite restaurant and function facility sits on the waterfront overlooking the busy port But if isn’t your thing on traditional turkey day, be sure to keep watch for their holiday of ferings Last year, Merrill’s served up turkey and prime rib, all the sides like apple sage and sweet corn and polenta ravioli, plus pies galore.

I then made my way over to the cocktail sauce. I was confident I’d find one made in or around the South Coast, and my first pick comes straight from Warwick: Backyard Food Co.’s Olde New England Cocktail Sauce. Backyard Food Company was started by two friends who enjoyed gardening, which then turned into canning and making sauces, and became the lucrative business it is today.

The Pasta House

100 Alden Road, Fairhaven 508-993-9913

Putting it all together

thepastahouse.net

I started with the sauce because it incorporates a lot of garlic and I wanted to let it simmer. The recipe below just served as a foundation for me and I didn’t follow it exactly. I peeled around 15 cloves of garlic for my sauce. This may be a lot for some, but my family and I really enjoy garlic so I knew it wouldn’t be a waste. I put the garlic in a saucepan and added 8 tablespoons of olive oil (avocado oil is a lot healthier, but I didn’t have any).

If their Pumpkin Patch Old-Fashioned (now on the bar menu) doesn’t get you inside, nothing will Luckily, you can a recipe in the sidebar for this drink and serve it with your Thanksgiving dinner takeout

The Pasta House served up a spread last year that included turkey dinner, ham dinner, mignon, braised short rib, and more. Currently, pickup and delivery is available from the regular menu, including their apple cider sangria to go We’ll just have to wait and see what they dream up for Thanksgiving.

The Wharf Tavern

215 Water Street, Warren 401-289-2524

thewharftavernri com

I then chopped up my fresh parsley, which came out to about a half a cup, and added that into the saucepan. The recipe calls for a whole pepper, but I only added a ¼ cup of the pimenta moida, which is crushed red pepper sauce. I use the Antonio’s brand – it’s hot, but not overly salty.

The recipe advises adding white vinegar to taste. I used around ½ cup

While stuf fed quahogs nibbled by the water may not be a Thanksgiving tradition, the Wharf Tavern, established in

and from there I just let it simmer on the stove.

White’s has been of fering family-style takeout and curbside meals pickup for months, so when Turkey Day comes around, it ’s a good bet they’ll have a handle (or rather a drumstick) on that too Currently, the restaurant is of fering meal packages and platters like its “ Taste of New England” that comes with chowder, quahogs and clam cakes or its Italian package of salad, lasagna, meatballs and breadsticks . Both meals serve six . Also available are dinner-for-two meal packs like and chips, lobster rolls, bourbon beef tips, and even kid-sized pasta and meatballs for two With more than 60 years in the hospitality industry, White’s is accustomed to cooking for a crowd

Pumpkin Old-Fashioned

First you’ll need to concoct cinnamon syrup Mix ½ cup sugar, ½ cup water, and a three -inch cinnamon stick in a small pan Bring it just to a boil, turn of f the heat and let it cool. Remove the cinnamon stick and discard or use it to garnish the cocktail if you like The syrup will last for three weeks in the fridge

This sauce is traditionally made with fried fish, but I don’t really fry anything and so I chose to bake my fish instead. I cut the filet of cod into several small pieces, put a little olive oil and breadcrumbs on each, and put it in the oven for 18 minutes at 375 degrees. I then sauteed my large-leaf spinach on the stove. I washed my potatoes and left the peel on, cutting them into fourths and adding them into a pan of water on the stove. From a boil I cooked them for 15 minutes. As I finished our meal and began plating, my husband was nearly done shucking the oysters and placed them on a tray on the table with a squeeze of lemon and a dollop of cocktail sauce on each.

To make the cocktail, a shaker halfway with ice. Combine ¼ cup pumpkin puree with three ounces bourbon, two ounces maple syrup, ¼ ounce cinnamon syrup, one ounce orange liqueur, and two dashes orange bitters Shake well Fill two old fashioned glasses with ice, pour in the strained cocktail and garnish with a twist of orange peel and a cherry

It was exciting to try something new at home and what was even better is that it was delicious. Everything turned out perfect! I did stray away a bit from the recipe for the sauce, but it was very similar to my grandmother’s. The large-leaf spinach was delicious and a fun new find. The fish and oysters were fresh, and the cocktail sauce was great and local, which made it even better. I had a great time making this dish and adding some more local finds to my pantry.

I'm excited for next week’s meal and what new local items I can try out!

Persuing

pages

by Sean McCarthy

When Cate Cote-Martel, aka Miss Cate, opened her used book store in Barrington in 2019, she aimed to create a richly unique experience for book lovers to indulge in. And while the digital age has affected the way people experience books, it has made the Book Nerd a more charming and special venue that the Internet and chain stores can’t provide.

Miss Cate is a lover of books and people; the perfect concoction for an independent small business. So whether you’re in the hunt for an author or a topic, or you’re just browsing for a surprise, the Book Nerd offers a sense of comfort and community that is unlike any other book outlet, chain, or online retailer.

“There is a unique joy that comes from buying a book. It’s a process of discovery,” Miss Cate says. “With a used book store you come in and search the shelves – you can take your time and

enjoy looking at the covers and reading the synopsis on the back. You never know what you’re going to find.”

Since its beginnings, the Book Nerd has been about more than just buying a book. With her affinity for baking, Miss Cate often provides customers with complimentary cookies and other baked goods, in addition to free coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. The store is outfitted with tables and chairs for relaxed reading, including a rocking chair with a window view of the store’s exterior. Her 13-year-old dog, Abby, greets guests as they enter the store.

A professed Anglophile, Miss Cate sells British foods and teas, while the store also offers Harry Potter-related merchandise. Handmade bookmarks are also available for purchase.

“The whole idea of this store is about finding joy in the little bits of life,” Miss Cate says. “I wanted the Book Nerd to be a place I would want to go – someplace cozy. I want people to come here and feel like they can stay for hours and enjoy being around books. Maybe sit and enjoy a cup of tea as you read something. Used books have an energy about them different from new books

"There is a unique joy that comes from buying a book. It’s a process of discovery. With a used book store you come in and search the shelves – you can take your time and enjoy looking at the covers and reading the synopsis on the back.

A book is an experience, and the Book Nerd is about the experience of books.

that have never been touched or loved. They fit the vibe I wanted.”

“I like the feel of the Book Nerd,” says Sarah Santaniello of Barrington. “It’s a tangible experience – you can feel the book, you can smell the book, you’re there in the moment. You can browse through the books, you can take the time to flip through it and see if it’s a style that you’d like to read. You can sit down and relax with it for a little bit.”

“Amazon can be convenient, but it doesn’t give you that homegrown, local small business feel,” says Tabitha Watjen of East Providence. “I appreciate that we don’t have to rely on Amazon to still enjoy reading a good book because we have the Book Nerd right around the corner. The experience of actually finding and buying a book is special, way more exciting than ordering it online.”

“Cate provides a very welcoming environment that builds community,” says Gloria Hwang-Forzano of Barrington, “It’s a great place for our young children, because Miss Cate engages with them, she plays games with them and has a great selection of books for kids to peruse through. My kids always have a hard time leaving.”

And Miss Cate remembers what it was like to be young and in love with books. “When I was growing up in Central Falls, I spent a lot of time in our town library,” she recalls. “It was a calm, beautiful environment where I could always find something that took me out of Central Falls. I would go there and sit for hours, just being quiet and looking at these books.

“There’s so many reasons to love books. Some people love the story, or the setting, or the characters. I have a customer whose interest is reading every book he can find that is set in Paris.”

Under the covers

Miss Cate says that her store sees a wide swath of customers of all ages, genders, professions, and levels of education.

“There’s a connection that builds a community of readers. People and books go together,” Miss Cate says. “I know my customers, so if they tell me they are looking for a book I’ll be able to find something for them, different from going on a computer. Books are things you do with people . They’re a personal one-on-one kind of thing, something you don’t get on Amazon. People love to talk about books they love and they want to share them with others. People will have conversations in the store, and recommendations mean a lot.”

A retired public school teacher, Miss Cate takes pride in contributing to the community. In addition to working with the local Lions Club, she allows young people with disabilities to accrue work experience by volunteering at the Book Nerd. And each month the store invites children from the Barrington area to help make and decorate cookie baskets that are given to local public employees such as teachers and police.

Miss Cate is optimistic about the future of books.

“The digital age of Kindle and audiobooks is not deterring people from enjoying physical books, including young people,” Miss Cate says. “The novelty of the e-reader has worn off. I had a Kindle because I wanted to try it, but there’s something about holding a book and the

sense of accomplishment when you’ve finished reading a 500-page book. Books are not disappearing, they will be around forever.”

And there are economic benefits to buying from an independent used book store.

“It can be expensive to buy books straight from the publisher,” HwangForzano says. “You can spend five dollars on a children’s book from Miss Cate, that may cost you three or four times more at a chain store.”

“I like the idea of supporting local businesses as much as I can,” Watjen adds. “I enjoy a good sale and a good discount, so used books meet that need.”

The Book Nerd is also popular for its’ policy of allowing customers to return books for credit towards their next purchase.

“People need to realize how important these little bookstores are,” says Hwang-Forzano. “They’re gems. You just want to sit at the table to have tea and talk about books.”

“I never walk out of Miss Cate’s without a book or two and some good conversation,” says Liz Messier of Riverside. “Her selection is very versatile, I’ve bought many books for my grandchildren there.”

“Every time I’ve gone to Book Nerd I’ve found something new and different that interests me. It’s a gold mine,” says Colleen Dupre of Barrington. “It’s a unique and pleasant experience, and the books are all in good shape. In today’s world, Cate offers a personal touch. It’s nice to go into a place that’s personable and welcoming.”

“Very rarely do I know what I want to read, so I’ll stop in just to browse and talk with Miss Cate,” Santaniello says. “I’ll end up with some interesting conversation and come home with at least three or four books, maybe six or eight. She’s friendly, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic, and she loves imparting her knowledge to the people who come into the store – something that you won’t get in big stores.”

Located at 30 Maple Avenue, the Book Nerd is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday and is accessible on Facebook and Instagram at thebooknerdonline.

The Book Nerd is also popular for its’ policy of allowing customers to return books for credit towards their next purchase.

Hero with a thousand Facebooks

by Paul Kandarian

That was 1985. When counting TV viewers, she said it to 38.7 million people. Not bad. Flash forward to the Facebook era. “Baby Shark Dance” in 2016 had 11.8 billion views – yes with a B – making the most annoying song ever created not just viral but pandemic, which if it’s not a category for clickbait, it really should be.

Facebook is insidious, to say the least, including the chasing-your-tail way of how if you block one ad from ever appearing on your feed for the rest of eternity, you’ll instantly get 10 more just like it for the same length of time – a platform that’s a festering sewer of cheesy

unstoppable advertisements and ambulance-chasing shadowy lawyer posts, home to pathetic pathological and dangerous liars and bullies and brain-dead spreaders of complete b.s. – some becoming president – and an infinite supply of cute-kitten photos.

And we cannot stay away. Myself included.

Why are we so addicted to Facebook and find it impossible to stay away from divulging every bit of minutia of every move we make (again, myself included)?

For the age-old reason that used to happen in very small doses every so often: instant gratification!

In the olden days (pre-

Internet in general, pre-social media in particular), if you wanted someone to like what you said you had to 1) actually know the person, 2) actually talk to the person, and 3) actually like the person (more or less). You did this face-toface, on the phone or, wicked old school, in a letter in those quaint days of snail mail before the word “mail” was elongated by being prefaced by a small “e.”

And indeed, if you wrote an actual letter, or left a message on an answering machine that used tape and beeped (remember those? I barely do), you had to wait for a response, sometimes for hours, days, or weeks – all

interminable amounts of time.

Now, you write something on Facebook and hit “post,” by the time your finger leaves the mouse, someone has hit an emoji reflecting their response to your post, a boring thumbs-up or a loving heart, or maybe a caring face or one that says they’re amused or sad or astonished or angry. Or if they’re being sarcastic or denigrating (tough to tell the difference in the cold conversation social media embodies), they’ll leave a big brown curly smiling turd.

“Oh, today I bought a new pair of socks and had a lovely latte downtown with an old friend,” one may post and

wait for the likes to mount up – and when they don’t, one gets depressed.

“Oh, isn’t so-and-so politician/business leader/ sports figure/you-name-it a complete piece of crap for corruption/greed/acting the diva/you-name-it?” one may post and when the likes mount up, one gets an enormous, albeit false, sense of their true worth as a human being.

In an article in the wonderfully named Brain World Magazine, Dr. Deborah Serani, a lecturer, professor, therapist, and presumably big-brained person, says “Facebook is the millennium’s new water cooler,” a pretty apt description. She said even though it’s a virtual, not face-to-face, design, “it serves as a way for us to catch up on the latest trends, share milestones, learn about juicy gossip or live vicariously through the experience of others.”

And hasn’t it always been thus? Haven’t we always done that because we’re human and tribal and need to feel good about ourselves and help each other survive, just in a much smaller, more intimate, and slower way?

Not only does Facebook give us a way to keep up with the Joneses, the article says, it’s a way to keep track of the Joneses, providing us with a new social capital that evolution at warp speed has birthed. And not for the best.

Social media has given us the attention we seek, making the world seem much smaller yet bigger at the same time by isolating us from the most important facet of human connection: actually being together. It’s no surprise that the poor souls who have social disorders or mental illness

find themselves competing for the virtual thumbprint of approval and not finding it genuinely and constantly, often feel driven to a depth of self-worthlessness that compels them to end what they feel is a miserable existence.

A friend of mine, Val Walker, wrote a terrific book about this, called 400 Friends and No One to Call: Breaking Through Isolation and Building Community, in which she calls social isolation “a growing epidemic,” one studied by a 2014 National Science Foundation report which found the number of Americans with no close friends tripling since 1985. Her book is a rare wealth of good information on how to break that isolation and find support in community – as we’d done for millennia before social media. Books like hers are an essential step in corralling the emotional madness that places like Facebook have unleashed.

But meanwhile, Facebook and all social platforms open to the public, unjuried and unfettered, are unapologetically here to stay, for better or, more realistically, for worse. How do we get back to feeling truly accepted and loved – a sense that Facebook provides so falsely and so well and so lucratively? Maybe we can. Maybe we cannot.

With a tip of the hat to The Who and the new constitution, take a bow and hit “like” for the new revolution, smile and grin and click the heart emoji at the change all around, folks, cause the new boss ain’t just like the old boss. He’s much, much, much worse.

Star the year off right

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