South Coast Prime Times - Fall 2010 / Winter 2011 by Coastal Communications Corp.

S o u t h

C o a s t

Prime timeS Fa l l 2 010/ W i n t er 2 011 • Volum e 6 • Num ber 3

For bountiful gif ts Look Locally

He alth

Healthy holiday foods Avoid “Pharming”

Prime wines

Martini’s Merlot

T hings to do

Be a mentor

Learn for life Happenings and more

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H U D N E R O N C O L O G Y C E N T E R I N A F F I L I AT I O N W I T H D A N A - FA R B E R C A N C E R I N S T I T U T E A N D B R I G H A M A N D W O M E N ’ S R A D I AT I O N O N C O L O G Y

Fall 2010/Winter 2011

contents

6 8 34

20 F e atures

Prime S e ason

Your health: Avoid ‘pharming’ By Elizabeth Morse Read

28 Food:

Miracles in a pot By Elizabeth Morse Read

Book picks: Home cooked meals By Baker Books

New and improved home Mentoring ‘pays it forward’ By Michael J. Vieira

30 In Memoriam:

Jim Waring Remembered By Joan McKinley

Prime wines: Mr. Martini’s Merlot By Alton Long

I confess, in long hand By Elizabeth Morse Read From engineering to medicine By Anne Ferreira

Get in shape— in the water

Ortho tips

36 Create your custom

Lees Market recently expanded its Produce Department. For years, the Westport landmark has been the place for regionally grown treasures—it’s like a farmer’s market yearround! For hours and specials visit www.leesmarket.com S ou th C oast P r ime T imes

G ood T imes

26 Senior care

On the cover

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kitchen and bath

Be a life-long learner By Joan McKinley and Patrice Hagan

20 Handmade for the

holidays By Lori Bradley

38 Happenings:

Things to do for fall & winter

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Fall 2010 / w in ter 2011

From The Publisher Fall 2010/Winter 2011 n Vol. 6 n No. 3 Published by

When we think of local treasures, the amazing South Coast foods come to mind—they certainly are bountiful and wonderful—and this month we will give thanks. And of course, many of us will take a little time to share with others, our neighbors who are in need at this time.

Coastal Communications Corp. Publisher and Editor-in-Chief

Ljiljana Vasiljevic Editors

Michael J. Vieira, Ph.D. Joe Murphy Contributors

Lori Bradley, Anne Ferreira, Patrice Hagan, Alton Long, Joan McKinley, Elizabeth Morse Read, Michael Vieira

South Coast Prime Times is published three times per year and is mailed to homeowners, professional offices, advertisers and subscribers. Copyright ©2010 Coastal Communications Corp. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, by any means, without written permission from the Publisher. All information contained herein is believed to be reliable. Coastal Communications Corp. does not assume any financial responsibility for typographical errors in advertisements, but will reprint that portion of an advertisement in which the typographical error occurs.

Next Deadline March 1, 2011

Circulation 15,000

Subscriptions

As we enter the season of food and gift-giving, Elizabeth Morse Read tells of some “miracle foods,” and Lori Bradley suggests having a home-made holiday for a change. Want some cheer? Alton Long makes merry with Merlot and its Martini connection. And this time of year is perfect for special thanks for our other special resources: our caring people. Mike Vieira shares the story of the SMILES program and how hundreds of mentors help so many kids in the region. Anne Ferreira introduces Dr. Ellen Scepansky, who joined another local landmark, St. Anne’s Hospital, this summer. And finally, we bid farewell to Sumner James Waring—Jim will be missed and remembered as a good neighbor. Plus this issue brings you more suggestions on how to keep busy, get in shape, and be a life-long learner. You’ll also find home improvement suggestions—and even ideas about where you can relocate. And don’t forget to visit our advertisers, to sign up for weekly updates at www. coastalmags.com, and to go to www.SouthCoastGo.com to buy or sell your own local treasures. Enjoy,

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M ailing A ddress South Coast Prime Times P.O. Box 3493 Fall River, MA 02722

Ljiljana Vasiljevic Publisher and Editor-in-Chief

Tel: (508) 677-3000 Fax: (508) 678-3003

Website http://www.coastalmags.com

E-mail editor@coastalmags.com

Our advertisers make this publication possible —please support them

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Prime L iving

Confessions of a 21st century Luddite I do not own a cell phone. I still send handwritten thank you notes and Christmas cards. On Sundays, I use my Eliz abeth Morse Read land-line phone to call family, old friends and new friends overseas. I am only minimallycompetent on the computer and am struggling heroically to successfully navigate the online university program I enrolled in. I pay my bills by check and balance my checkbook and monthly statements by hand (yes, I use a solar calculator). My college-aged children throw their hands up in utter frustration that I refuse to set up a Facebook page, Skype, pay my bills online, subscribe to blogs, buy a Kindle or learn how to tweet, twitter or text. I don’t own a digital camera, so I don’t know how to download anything, either.

I am part of the dying Gutenberg era I love the printed word, books/magazines/newspapers, printed user’s manuals, the Yellow Pages, legible penmanship and self-disciplined spelling and grammar skills. My kids are convinced that I’m anti-tech-

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nology (which I am not) and can’t seem to grasp that I made a conscious decision to resist the consumption-society paradigm and marketing ploys that try to convince me that I “need” the newest digital device (or upgrade) or service and pay the ridiculous fees and small-print costs for something I really don’t need in my daily life. For all their well-intentioned pity for their “digitally-challenged” mother, I feel far sorrier for them. They don’t grasp that they’re being watched, tracked and monitored whenever they log onto a website (beware of cookies), swipe a debit/credit card or carry/travel with a GPS device. From their “post-Gutenberg era” perspective, I am hopelessly “behind the times,” and stubbornly refuse to “benefit” from the world of digital technology that their lives are now ruled by. I counter this argument with an old Chinese proverb—“until you have palace guards, you have no need for them.” They’re astounded that I can spontaneously quote Shakespeare, Chaucer, the Bible, still (shakily) translate Latin texts, play classical piano, teach myself a foreign language at 55 years old, and that I can have an intelligent conversation with anyone, no matter their field of expertise, ethnic background or political leaning.

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I am not alone I have yet to experience a personal “need” for any of these new products/services (and am happy not to have to pay for them), yet I am still functional in my world, and have a strong network of like-minded friends both local and global who seem perfectly comfortable with my preferences and lack of technological sophistication. The word “sabotage” (often associated with people like me and, since passage of the Patriot Act, with any perceived form of terrorism, especially environmental), has its roots in the early years of the Industrial Revolution in France. The wooden-shoe (sabot)-wearing workers displaced (we might say “out-sourced”) by the new machines would throw their shoes into the machinery gears in protest. I certainly don’t advocate any action that is deliberately destructive, but I do reserve my right to live my life the way I think best and to “live off the grid” and under the radar as much as possible. Elizabeth Morse Read is an award-winning writer, editor and artist who grew up on the South Coast. After twenty years of working in New York City and traveling the world, she came back home with her children and lives in Fairhaven.

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Prime L iving

A world of experience A nne Ferreira

Dana-Farber physician Ellen Scepansky brings a comprehensive background in engineering, science and medicine to her role at Saint Anne’s Hospital’s Hudner Oncology Center.

hen Ellen Scepansky graduated from her New Jersey high school, she pursued her dream job in mechanical engineering. One of two daughters in her family who went into the highly technical profession, she was more than comfortable in the world of math and science. She had graduated as valedictorian of her high school class and went on to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering from prestigious Rutgers University and the University of Pennsylvania. It was no surprise to those who knew her that she would go on to enjoy impressive credentials as a spacecraft engineer who designed, tested, and produced earth-observation satellites. As successful as she was, she eventually realized that there was a distinct downside to engineering: it didn’t involve peo-

ple. It required only minimal personal interaction. And as one with a cheerful personality and the ability to laugh easily, she found it less than rewarding to be working so routinely with inanimate objects. Thanks to a nudge from a girlhood friend who was a nurse and knew her remarkable strengths in math and science and admired her interpersonal skills, the successful engineer was persuaded to change course. She took the plunge and began preparing to apply to medical school.

From engineering to

medicine Scepansky underwent a remarkable series of experiences over the next 16 years. First, she pursued an additional undergraduate degree, this time in biochemistry from Cook College in New Brunswick, N.J. Then, she earned her medical

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Dr. Ellen Scepansky

degree at the New Jersey Medical School of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, followed by an internship in general surgery and residencies in orthopedics and internal medicine at New England Medical Center. After her residencies, Dr. Scepansky worked as a hospitalist (a physician who specializes in the care of hospitalized patients) and assistant professor of medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester. During this time, she cared for patients in a wide variety of specialties, from cardiology to gastroenterology to oncology.

Finding one’s true

calling It was during her residency training in internal medicine that she realized that all of her experiences had prepared her for her true dream job as an

oncologist, caring for patients coping with a cancer diagnosis. “Throughout my training and work as engineer, I realized that I was good at figuring things out,” she said. “It taught me that I like the challenge of solving a problem, a skill that’s really important in caring for patients with cancer. I also realized I loved helping patients and families work through a hard time in their lives and, very often, being able to give them hope that there would be a solution to this problem.” To that end, she completed a rigorous three-year fellowship in medical oncology and hematology at Tufts Medical Center, Boston. During this advanced training, she concentrated on the many aspects of cancer care, experiencing handson inpatient and outpatient cancer care, the science of bone marrow transplant,

and substantial research. Upon completion of her fellowship this past June, she began work as a member of the medical staffs of the DanaFarber Cancer Institute and Hudner Oncology Center of Saint Anne’s Hospital Regional Cancer Care in Fall River. She is also on the faculty at Harvard Medical School.

Bringing experience

and hope Indeed, oncology has provided Dr. Scepansky with the perfect opportunity to blend her experience in medicine, science and technology with the human touch that is integral to caring for patients with complex and often challenging diseases. As a Dana-Farber physician, she came to Saint Anne’s Hudner Oncology Center because it allows her to do what she loves most: using her own experience and the expertise of Dana-Farber’s resources to care for patients right in their community. Through its affiliation with Dana-Farber, Saint Anne’s provides a medical oncology team whose physicians have more than 120 years’ collective, advanced cancer care experience. Under the direction of James Chingos, MD, CPE, FACP, and in conjunction with a team of experienced and highly credentialed specialty staff, Saint Anne’s medical oncologists provide patients a full range of care, from the first consultation right through treatment. This might include chemotherapy, biotherapy and other cancer therapies; hematology services for those with blood disorders; access to national clinical trials that study emerging therapies; and related supportive care, including palliative care and hospice. Moreover, they work closely with the hospital’s team of radiation oncologists and other specialists to ensure that

the best, most personal plan of care is crafted for each patient. Every day, Dr. Scepansky and her colleagues see adults from throughout southeastern New England who seek treatment of cancers of the breast, prostate, lungs, head and neck region, gastrointestinal system, lymphatic system, and others. With her colleagues, she helps her patients determine the best course of treatment, sees them regularly during their treatment, and visits them in the hospital’s dedicated inpatient care unit if they need to be admitted to the hospital. Most of all, she relishes the close contact with patients that a community cancer center provides. She listens to them. She talks to their families and gives guidance whenever needed. She adds a warm, reassuring touch to what can be a fragile time in their lives. And she always emphasizes the hopeful nature of cancer care. The mother of a 10-year-old son, Dr. Scepansky notes, “People have asked me if I find my work depressing. Right away, I tell them how rewarding and even uplifting it is. It’s such a privilege to be allowed into a person’s life when they’re facing a cancer diagnosis and being able to guide them through the best possible treatment. We have so many success stories…I tell them we’re going to work very hard to make them a success story, too.”

A nne Ferreira is a coordinator of public relations and marketing for Saint Anne’s Hospital in Fall River. She earned her B.A. in English from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and resides with her family in Assonet. A writer with an interest in health topics, she has worked in hospital public relations, marketing and institutional development in southeastern Massachusetts since the mid-1980s.

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Sponsored by coastal orthopaedics

Orthopedic tips

Getting more than a

Hip resurfacing

High-protein diets

By Dr. Kevin N. Mabie

If patients are not ready to undergo a total hip replacement, the procedure known as “hip resurfacing” may be an option. Instead of removing the head of the femur, hip resurfacing involves sanding it down to fit inside a metal cap. As for the hip socket into which the head of the capped femur fits, it is replaced with a metal cup as in the traditional hip replacement surgery. Candidates for hip resurfacing need bone that is healthy enough to support the cap. The main advantage of hip resurfacing is that it buys younger patients more time. If the replacement cap wears down, there will still be sufficient bone to perform a full hip replacement in the future. Hip resurfacing has been one of the most exciting orthopedic innovations of the last few years. If you are a candidate for hip replacement, but unsure what procedure is right for you, speak to your orthopedist about the differences between hip resurfacing and conventional total hip replacement and decide what works best for you. Hip resurfacing is not a good option for people with osteoporosis or severe arthritis damage.

By Dr. Jeffrey I. Gassman

cold shoulder

By Dr. George J. Raukar

As its popular name suggests, the condition known as “frozen shoulder” (adhesive capsulitis) involves significant loss in range of motion of the shoulder. This may be the result of inflammation, scarring, thickening, or shrinkage of the capsule that surrounds the normal shoulder joint. An injury to the shoulder, including tendinitis, bursitis, and rotator cuff injury, can lead to frozen shoulder. Long-term immobility of the shoulder joint can also put people at risk for developing this severely limited shoulder mobility. Treatment usually requires an aggressive combination of anti-inflammatory medication, cortisone injections, and physical therapy. Without aggressive treatment, a frozen shoulder can be permanent. Sometimes, it is necessary to release scar tissue via arthroscopic surgery or manipulation under anesthesia. Frozen shoulder usually occurs between the ages of 40 and 60, and 70 percent of all cases occur in the winter.

Arthritis and diet

and bone loss

While high-protein diets are all the rage for those desiring to lose weight, they may have a significant downside. The typical woman eats 50% more protein that the government’s daily recommended allowance (RDA). However, when Harvard researches put 39 healthy postmenopausal women on a meal plan that allowed them to eat no more than the RDA level, they were surprised by the results. After one week, the study’s subjects had less acid, less calcium, and fewer bonerelated protein fragments in their urine, which are possible signs that bone loss had slowed. The acid is left over when protein is broken down, and it is neutralized by pulling calcium from bones. This supports the argument that highprotein diets can hasten bone loss. For most women, the RDA for protein is about 50 grams, roughly the equivalent of one chicken breast. Bone loss is a serious matter. Since you cannot sense bone loss, it happens without you knowing. Speaking with your

By Dr. Brad E. Green

It seems that many discussions about arthritis are characterized by on-going debates as to whether diet effectively factors into treatment. The fact is, however, that there is no scientific evidence to support claims that any dietary measure will help in treating arthritis. It is true, though, that reducing one’s caloric intake and losing weight will help arthritis sufferers by reducing unnecessary stress on their inflamed joints. There are more than 100 different types of arthritis, which necessitates that joint pain should be carefully evaluated and diagnosed in an effort to determine which type is involved. It must also be pointed out that certain arthritic conditions, such as gout, respond to dietary changes. Because gout is caused by a buildup in excessive uric acids in the blood, a diet low in purines (which are contained in organ meats) helps stave off its occurrence.

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Coastal Orthopaedics team: Standing L-R: Dr. David M. Boland, Dr. George J. R aukar, Dr. Kevin N. M abie, Dr. David W. Bullis, Dr. Jeffrey I. G assman, Dr. Brad E. Green. Sitting L-R: Dr. Jerald W. K atz, Dr. Richard W. Smith, Dr. James M. Worthington

Fall 2010 / w in ter 2011

orthopedist about this condition will help you better understand your own risk, as well as prevention and treatment options.

Breaking the routine By Dr. David M. Boland If you are a worker or hobbyist who routinely performs repetitive tasks and are experiencing persistent pain, numbness, and burning in your hands or wrists, you may be enduring the early symptoms of cumulative trauma disorder (CTD). This disorder group includes carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis, and myofascial pain syndrome, which are caused by holding one position for long periods of time, assuming non-neutral postures, cold temperatures, vibrations, localized pressure, and the use of force. To prevent the occurrence of CTDs, try taking breaks from repetitious work and relaxing. Do not use your muscles to hold your hands or wrists in a particular position. Also, avoid snapping or jerking your wrists and use an even motion instead. If taking a break from the repetitive motion that caused CTD doesn’t bring your relief, or if work demands that you can’t take a break at all, see your orthopedist. The solution may be as simple as wearing a wrist brace to keep you from the hurtful position. Other helpful tips on avoiding cumulative trauma disorder include keeping your hands and fingers warm and changing your posture more often. If that doesn’t help, other treatment options are available.

At Coastal Orthopaedics, we diagnose and treat a variety of orthopedic problems for people of all ages. We will ensure your concerns are addressed and you fully understand your condition and all available treatment options. When you require orthopedic treatment for a joint, bone or muscle ailment, contact our office. We make a special effort to discuss diagnoses and treatment plans with our patients and we treat each patient on an individual basis. To arrange a consultation, call Coastal Orthopaedics at 508-646-9525 or visit www.coastal-orthopaedics.com New patients are welcome. Workers’ compensation and most insurance plans are honored.

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T he M arion A rt Center is hosting an exhibition entitled “Paintings, Poetry, Sculpture: an Installation” by artist Barbara T hun.

Hope G allery features the Winter Fantasy E xhibit from Nov. 13 - Dec 28. Photo: E arly Snow by Lorraine T renholm Pastel 9x 12

A rt Works runs the Holiday E xhibition and Sale from Nov. 8 - Jan. 1. featuring a wide range of fine art and crafts. Photo: Beaded Star Designs

H andmade f o r t h e h o l i da y s

Searching for gifts at local galleries and shops turns a potentially tedious shopping experience into an adventure. The experience of shopping handmade for the holidays is analogous to grocery shopping for homegrown at farmer’s markets during the sumL ori Br adley mer: gallery owners and artists are happy to talk about their wares; information is readily and cheerfully available about where and how an object or image is made, and what kinds of ideas, skills, and history went into its creation. Traveling an extra mile or two off the beaten path to visit a gallery is a wonderful way to reconnect with our coastal com-

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munity in late the fall. Shoppers can drive thirty miles up and down the South Coast —from Marion, Massachusetts to Bristol, Rhode Island—and find a wealth of exceptional handmade gifts lovingly created by local artists and craftspeople.

Marion A rts Center Marion’s village center retains the look and feel of an antique Currier and Ives print. Just a mile off Route 6, in a picturesque converted 1830’s Universalist Church at the corner of Main and Pleasant Streets, the Marion Arts Center hosts yearround activities such as exhibits, classes,

Fall 2010 / w in ter 2011

music and performing arts productions. From November 19 through December 22, the main gallery is transformed into the Marion Arts Center Holiday Shop, featuring the juried works of 40 artists. This year, a wide range of work is available —gifts guaranteed to please people of all ages and interests. Ceramics, handcrafted jewelry, wearable fiber art (jackets, scarves, and other accessories), hand-carved birds, hand-painted furniture, collage and paintings are among the many items available. New this year are handcrafted musical instruments by Albert Winters, whose carefully formed lathed wood musical instruments have a rich antique look and feeling. Barbara Harrold designs fun, whimsical handmade puppets that appeal to adults and children. The newest pop-culture toy may tempo-

H and made by Wayne F uerst at Sticks, Stone & Stars, Westport

T hirsty Crow is a mom and daughter shop, run by L isa Santos and her mother, Diane St. Pierre, and features intricate beaded jewelry created by the partners.

rarily enthrall kids, but it is the handmade gifts like Harrolds’ that endure. When I was seven I received a handsome beanbag clown made by one of my mother’s friends. That is the one gift that travelled with me throughout the years and still sits in a prominent place in my house—reminding me daily of my mother and her loving, crafty friends. Marion Arts Center Executive Director, Wendy Bidstrup comments, “It’s wonderful how artists show up every year to set up the Holiday Shop with boxes filled with amazing things, all so lovingly made. We give the artists lots of freedom to arrange their own display space. Of course, all the art is juried so we are sure to have a wide variety of work available in many mediums.” A trip to the Marion Arts Center Holiday Shops is an enchanting way to spend a late fall afternoon and giving a handmade gift transmits all the care and attention of the creative process to the lucky receiver.

A rt Works! Each year in downtown New Bedford, Artworks! Partners for the Arts and Community, Inc., presents a Holiday Exhibition and Sale in their handsome first floor gallery. From Marion, travel West on Route

6 or 195 and enter historic New Bedford’s Whaling City National Park, comprised of old brick buildings and cobblestone walkways. ArtWorks! is located in the heart of the Park on Acushnet Avenue. The Holiday Exhibition and Sale runs from November 8 through January 1, featuring a wide range of fine art and craft including; paintings, sculpture, prints, illustrations, photographs, paintings, and drawings. New this year is a display of toys. According ArtWorks! Executive Director, Irene Buck, “The theme of this year’s exhibit is the excitement and magic of toys. Handmade toys by artists and commercially produced toys by larger companies will be presented side by side in the gallery throughout the holiday season in hopes of bringing out the child in all of us.” Shopping at ArtWorks! is especially rewarding as a percentage of the Holiday Sale profits go to support the community programs and children’s classes offered by this very active arts organization throughout the year. And, in keeping with ArtWorks! mission of uniting community with art, ArtWorks! holds free family gift making workshops during November and December. Check the ArtWorks! website

for more information and dates for upcoming holiday workshops.

Thirsty Crow Travel further west on Route 6, make a couple turns, and discover a delightful crafts shop on Old Westport Road, intriguingly called the Thirsty Crow. The yard immediate outside the shop features a range of decorative objects for the garden or deck. Upon entering the small cottage-like shop, visitors are awestruck by the quantity and variety of unusual gift items available in a charming, homey atmosphere. Thirsty Crow is a mom and daughter shop, run by Lisa Santos and her mother, Diane St.Pierre, both of Dartmouth. The shop features intricate beaded jewelry created by the partners. Some of their pictorial necklaces are painstakingly composed of thousands of tiny glass beads. In addition, Santos and St. Pierre offer silver and stone jewelry and a wealth of decorative items for the home including stained glass, blown glass, ceramics, candles and calendars, all at very affordable prices. Santos comments, “People need stuff you don’t find in the mall, especially during the holiday season. This place is great. It’s fun

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he Cedars is set on ten tranquil acres of relaxing, pastoral surroundings in Dartmouth, near the Westport line.

At the Cedars Assisted Living, which consists of 78 apartments with spacious floor plans, you will enjoy three meals per day, weekly housekeeping with a change of linens, personal care, medication management and social programs. All of these amenities are included in one monthly fee. Our personal care staff is on duty 24 per day and is supervised by a registered nurse. The Cedars also features “The Meadows”, a separate apartment unit catering to our memory impaired residents. Contact our marketing department to schedule your personalized tour of our facility today!

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Continued from page 21 when people come in on a whim and are blown away by all the beautiful things in here. You can’t tell what’s inside the shop by looking at the outside. Visiting here is always a surprise.”

Sticks, Stones, and Stars Drive four miles south to the Village of Westport and discover an attractive contemporary crafts gallery filled with useful items such as handmade wooden kitchen utensils, a wide-variety of ceramics, sculpture, blown glass, jewelry and art for the walls. Sticks, Stones and Stars is managed by Charlie McConnell and features the ceramics and handmade paper work of gallery partner Wayne Fuerst, in addition to a bounty of items by over 35 local artists. Fuerst’s planters, vases, and vessels are decorated with exuberant calligraphic designs and richly layered glaze colors. Layered colors and textures also define Fuerst’s handmade paper cards and wall art. McConnell says, “This is a gift gallery with fully functional items. People can do all their holiday shopping here, from local sources, instead of heading to the mall.” And, people head to Sticks, Stones and Stars from all over. The gallery attracts local visitors in addition to many from Boston, Providence, and beyond. McConnell comments, “People really appreciate the handmade option.” Plan a pleasant day around a visit to Sticks, Stones and Stars by tasting some of the rural ambiance of Westport Village. Order a cup of coffee or bowl of delicious soup at Partners Village Store, a lovingly made pizza at Village Pizza, or a relaxing meal made of the freshest ingredients at Marguerite’s Restaurant, right next door to the gallery.

Hope G allery Located only 17 miles west of Westport is lovely Bristol, Rhode Island, home to the Hope Gallery; it’s just a brief scenic trip over the Mount Hope Bridge past the historic Blithewold Gardens and Herreshoff

Marine Museum. The Hope Gallery is situated in the heart of Bristol, only blocks from the waterfront, on the attractive Hope Street thoroughfare. Owner and curator, Anita Trezevant is planning a special show for the holiday season called Winter Fantasy. Trezevant says, “I’m featuring items that are colorful and fun, in a wide range of prices. There is something affordable for everyone and, fortunately, people seem to be excited about buying art again. People may not be traveling much in this economy so they want something really special for their homes.” The Hope Gallery is a contemporary art gallery that is active in the Bristol business community. Trezevant celebrates frequent exhibitions by hosting well-attended openings almost every month of the year. The Winter Fantasy exhibit runs from November 13 through December 28.

Tiverton Four Corners Ten miles from Bristol, holiday shopping opportunities abound in the galleries, shops and artist’s studios comprising The Tiverton Four Corners commercial district in Tiverton, Rhode Island. The village is home to many outlets for the creative spirit, including Gallery 4, Tiffany Peay Jewelry, The Donovan Gallery, Amy Lund Handweavers, and Roseberry Winn Pottery and Tile. According to the Tiverton Four Corners website, “With several shops and restaurants within walking distance to one another, Tiverton Four Corners is the perfect place to spend a day in the country. You can leave your car in one of the parking lots for the whole day and stroll at your leisure.” Celebrate the holiday season by seeking gifts from South Coast galleries and shops. Connect with the community and be inspired by talking with artists and gallery owners who value individual creativity. Finally, transmit the joy of the experience by giving distinctive handmade gifts that will be treasured for generations. Lori Bradley is an artist, writer and educator. She creates large-scale ceramics and mixedmedia paintings in her studio at the Hatch Street Mill complex in New Bedford, MA.

Local Galleries M arion A rts Center

80 Pleasant Street, Marion, MA 508-748-1266 marionartcenter.org Hours: Tuesday through Friday 1-5 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

A rt Works!

Downtown New Bedford 384 Acushnet Avenue, New Bedford, MA 508-984-1588 artworksforyou.org

The Thirsty Crow

367 Old Westport Road, Dartmouth, MA 508-994-9434 thethirstycrow.com Hours: 12-5 every day Please call for winter hours

Sticks, Stones and Stars 782 Main Road, Westport, MA 508-636-0888 stickstonestars.com Hope G allery

435 Hope St., Bristol, RI 401-396-9117 hopegalleryfineartfinecraft.com Hours: Wed-Fri & Sun-Noon to 5 p.m. Sat-Noon to 6 p.m.

Tiverton 4 Corners Roseberry Winn Pottery and Tile 3842 Main Road, Tiverton, RI 401-816-0010 roseberrywinn.com Hours: Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. 12-5 p.m.

Donovan G allery 3895 Main Road, Tiverton, RI 401-624-4000 donovangallery.com Hours: Wed.-Fri. 11am-4pm, Sat. 11am-5pm, Sun. 12-5pm A my Lund H andweavers 3964 Main Road, Tiverton, RI 401-816-0000 amyclundhandweaver.com Hours: Wed-Sun 10-5

Tiffany Peay 3851 Main Road, Tiverton, RI 888-808-0201 tiffanypeay.com Hours: Thur.-Mon. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. 12-5 p.m. G allery 4 3848 Main Road, Tiverton, RI 401-816-0999 gallery4tiverton.com Hours: Mond. & Thur.-Sat. 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. 12-5 p.m.

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Your health

‘Pharming’

A prescription for disaster

Some studies indicate that pharmaceutical abuse presents a greater problem internationally than abuse of illegal drugs such as heroin, Eliz abeth cocaine and ecstasy comMorse Read bined, in part because they are considered “legal” (therefore, supposedly less dangerous or risky than “illegal” street drugs), because they’re easily available or accessible, and because they’ve been “approved” by doctors, governments and scientific authorities. But many prescription/OTC medications can have life-threatening side-effects if taken incorrectly or if used by someone other than the person for whom it was prescribed. The most commonly abused/misused substances are classified as opioids, CNS (central nervous system) depressants/ tranquilizers and stimulants. Incorrect usage of any of these drugs, especially if combined with other medications or alcohol, can lead to addiction/ withdrawal, overdosing or even death. And, whether young, middle-aged or elderly, females seem to be at higher risk of misuse/abuse of prescription drugs/OTC medications. They are prescribed pain-killers and tranquilizers at a higher rate than are males, and so the potential for misuse/ abuse is higher, too. Plus, females are more likely to use diet/weight-loss aids, many of which contain stimulants.

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Generation R x Corey Haim. Heath Ledger. Michael Jackson. Anna Nicole Smith. Even Elvis Presley. Prescription drug abuse has claimed the lives of many celebrities, almost glamorizing their deaths, in the same way illegal drug use claimed icons of the previous generation, such as Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin. The trend has created a miniindustry of spas, clinics, therapists/gurus and rehab facilities for the rich and famous (starting with the Betty Ford Clinics), but as of now, there’s been little coordinated governmental/law enforcement effort to stem the growing abuse of prescription

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drug/OTC medicine abuse in the general population. High school kids laugh when police with drug-sniffing dogs patrol the lockers in search of marijuana. The dogs can’t find pills—and those are the new substance of choice for thrill-seeking teens. While alcohol remains the number one substance abused by teens/young adults, numerous studies have shown that children from 12 years old and up frequently “experiment” with OTC medications or somebody else’s prescription drug. A 2004 NIDA (National Institute of Drug Abuse) study reported that almost 10% of twelfthgraders admitted to having experimented recently with Vicodan and 5% of OxyContin, making these (and their derivatives) the most commonly abused prescription drugs amongst American teenagers. With this youngest group of “pharmers,” teens and young adults (ages 12-25), the family medicine cabinet is the biggest problem. There are left-over pain-killers from Dad’s knee surgery, Valium for Grandma’s panic attacks and Ritalin/Adderal (considered “the poor man’s crack” by teenagers) for Junior’s ADHD. There are also antibiotics,

“Pharming,” the misuse or abuse of prescription drugs and OTC (over-the-counter) medications has become a serious health and social problem in the U.S, especially among teenagers/young adults and the elderly population.

cold/allergy medications, sleep/weightloss aids—a veritable chemical cocktail of potentially addictive lethal substances. If you owned a gun, you’d lock it up. If you had poisonous substances in your home, you’d store them safely. Yet few people secure their prescriptions/OTC medications where children or even pets can’t find them! In addition, there are numerous Internet websites where these drugs can be purchased without a prescription or proper identity verification, and there’s always some enterprising kid at school or work who’ll sell you what s/he stole from home. Ironically, the parents of many American teenagers and young adults cheerfully experimented with marijuana and hallucinogenic drugs “back in the (20th century) day,” but are woefully ignorant of the new temptations their own (21st century) children are facing. They naively pop pain-relievers, sedatives, dietary supplements, not realizing that their kids are watching and learning the wrong lesson. Take stock of your own behaviors that may be enabling the kids to assume it’s okay to take a pill for whatever ails them, no matter the risks. Targetting the elderly In the U.S., people 65 years old and up constitute only 16% of the population, yet they are prescribed almost a third of all prescription drugs each year. Unless they are monitored by a family advocate, a health care professional or pharmacist, they are also in danger of prescription/ OTC medication misuse/abuse, even if inadvertent. We’ve heard too many stories about cash-strapped elderly citizens skipping doses, splitting pills or self-medicating with OTC products. Too many medical personnel are all too eager to prescribe medications for all the aches and pains of aging (some of which may be caused by drug/OTC medication abuse!).They may be seeing too many doctors, using multiple pharmacies, being prescribed contradictory medications that could compound their ailments or cause new ones, when taken in combination. Cognitive/behavioral impairment is an all-too-frequent complication of “pharming” amongst the elderly. Many accidental falls, traffic accidents and symptoms of dementia involving the elderly can be traced to improper use/abuse of prescription drugs/OTC medications.

Where do you turn? Doctors and other primary-care medical professionals try to be alert to indications

that a patient may be abusing prescription drugs/OTC medications—visits for vague symptoms/requests for specific drugs, too frequent requests for refills, multiple doctors/pharmacies (maybe they’re “doctor-shopping”?). But it’s the neighborhood pharmacists who’ve been on the front line in combating “pharming.” Remember how, a few years ago, OTC medications like Robitussin and Sudaphed suddenly disappeared from the public aisles? That’s because, as a group, pharmacists (who all talk to each other!) had noticed an alarming increase in (especially large quantity) purchases of related OTC medicines, especially by teens/young adults. Apparently, these substances were “legal” substances kids used to get high. Sudaphed contains ephedrine, a stimulant that was being used to produce “meth” (speed), a dangerous chemical stimulant.

In the U.S., people 65 years old and up constitute only 16% of the population, yet they are prescribed almost a third of all prescription drugs each year. This underground production resulted in a plague of addiction, ODs and social problems in rural America, especially in the Midwest and the southern states. These valid OTC medications are still available to valid purchasers, but they are now kept behind the pharmacist’s counter. Pharmacists also apparently network amongst themselves when they suspect prescription fraud/forgery, pharming or rogue “Dr. Feel-goods” who are prescribing too many suspect patients/medications.

Not just a local problem When the United Nations notices a global health-related trend, it’s obviously important. In a recent report by the UN’s INCB (International Narcotics Control Board), misuse/abuse of prescription drugs/OTC medication is a worldwide issue/concern, greater than, perhaps, the problems with heroin, cocaine, and ecstasy combined! In Germany, it’s estimated that almost 2

million people are addicted to/abusing prescription drugs. Throughout Europe and Canada, “pharming” problems have reached epidemic proportions. The universality of the Internet makes illegal/illicit sources of abusable substances available to anyone with a computer, no matter their age, medical history or criminal record/ intent. While the federal government has been slow to respond/react to this latest wave of drug addiction/abuse problems, it’s mostly been addressed by state and local community governments/citizens to address the issues of prevention, public education and coordination. In 2009, the state of New Jersey, in a coordinated, multi-jurisdictional campaign, conducted “Operation Medicine Cabinet,” an astonishigly successful “pharmacy take-back” collection program, garnered 9,000 pounds (@ 3 million pills) of unused/expired prescriptions, cleaning out the medicine cabinets of 20,000 households; thereby removing a source of misuse/abuse by family members. An excellent example of this kind of community effort here on the South Coast was described by Thomas Corey, head pharmacist at the Standard Pharmacy in Fall River. Last year he, along with representatives of local government, the DEA, police, and community groups such as the BOLD Coalition, hosted a highlysuccessful pharmaceutical “buy-back” program. A local charity provided $25 gift certificates for those who returned unused/ expired medications for safe and proper destruction/disposal. This highly-publicized community event will be repeated in Fall River in June—and, hopefully, other local communities will organize and host similar events. Pharmaceuticals are a form of harzardous waste and, if left unguarded in the home, present too much of a danger to our families and communities. Corey also suggested that, while most families deal with many doctors, they should deal with only one family pharmacist, who can monitor and keep records of all medications within the household, if only to be able to warn of possible interactions (or potential for abuse/misuse) and/ or advise in emergency medical situations. Elizabeth Morse Read is an award-winning writer, editor and artist who grew up on the South Coast. After twenty years of working in New York City and traveling the world, she came back home with her children and lives in Fairhaven.

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Fall 2010 / w in ter 2011

Your health

Miracle foods for health and longevity

Oh, yes, you really are what you eat—and what your ancestors ate. But here’s a primer on how you can reverse the damage from what you’ve ingested over the years Eliz abeth Morse Read and start making smart choices on how to eat to stay healthy for as long as possible. You don’t need me to tell you that the post-WWII American (western) diet will kill you, slowly or quickly. We eat too much of what’s not good for us and not enough of what could keep us healthy. Obesity is rampant and our incidence of preventable degenerative diseases (e.g., heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, cancers and Alzheimer’s) are staggering when compared with those of older, poorer countries where our ancestors came from.

“A chicken in every pot !” Our grandparents didn’t get to eat much meat and were thrilled when they could feed us “better” sources of protein than they had as children. But our diet is heavily-red meat slanted and the additives and unhealthy qualities of fat-saturated meats (and their commercial by-products) get stored in our bodies and set us up for multiple ailments down the road. Did you know that if you ingest too much protein, it gets deposited throughout your body as fat and in your internal organs? Think about that next time you bite into a double bacon-cheeseburger on white bread! Sure, lean “white” meats are available, but chicken’s no better for you when it’s deepfried at KFC than a greasy burger on the grill! But there are many non-meat protein sources we can explore and incorporate into our family’s diet. Start with fish and then vegetable protein sources.

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Throughout the mists of time, dietary laws based on religious/philosophical beliefs have influenced what people ate and thrived on. In the West, Hebrew kosher and Muslim hallal dietary law dictated what was good for you to eat. Many Christian groups, such as Mormons and Seventh Day Adventists, espouse a near-vegetarian diet. In the East, Hindu (Indian) cuisine and many Buddhist sects advocated a non-meat diet. In Japan, the bounty of the sea and a dearth of arable land determined a diet based on seafood (including sea vegetables), rice and homegrown vegetables. And after millennia of following these diets, there is much we can learn about their longevity and health as compared to our own.

Beans, beans, the magical fruit In addition to being high in vitamins and fiber, legumes such as soy (edamame), fava, peanuts, kidney, limas, black/pinto, lentils or chick peas (garbanzo, ceci) are very high in vegetable protein, especially when eaten with a whole grain. Think peanut butter on whole wheat bread, Louisiana beans-and-rice. While the soybean has long been a staple of East Asian diets, the lowly chick pea has its roots (and uses) in Western diets, from Indian cuisine to the flour used in Middle Eastern falafel and hummous. So, instead of ham-and-cheese with mayo on white bread, try hummous on whole-wheat pita pockets. Or, instead of beef in your next stew, throw in some drained beans. It’s ironic that the U.S. is the world’s largest exporter of soybeans, a complete vegetable protein source—it’s used here to make animal feed, biofuels and protein substitute foods (infant formula, veggie burgers), but it’s not been introduced into the American diet. I’ll be the first to admit

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that I won’t eat tofu (I don’t like the consistency), but I’ve learned to love edamame, the shelled young beans (they look like limas). And you don’t have to go to some hippy-dippy health food store to find them. Even local supermarket chains have them in the frozen aisle or in deli salads! By the same token, quinoa (“keen-wah”), the sacred grain of the ancient Incas, is a complete protein source. Whenever beans (legumes) are eaten with whole grains (rice, corn tortillas, barley), you’re assured of a completely nutritional protein mix that red meats can’t beat. Think about it—why do Japanese men suffer almost 50% less heart disease ailments, Type 2 diabetes and numerous other degenerative ailments than do American men, even though they smoke more? The research results are slam-dunk conclusive. The Japanese diet is high on consuming fish high in omega-3 fatty acids (cold-water oily fish like salmon, tuna, mackerel, sardines) and low-fat grains and vegetables. Americans are advised to eat fish twice a week—the Japanese eat it at least once a day! You don’t need to wait for Fridays or Lent to eat more fish—we’re living in the seafood capital of the country! Forget the deep-fried versions—go for steamed or stirfried. The Japanese also eat their version of Popeye’s spinach, nori (dried sheet of seaweed), very high in iron and minerals, and the traditional wrapping for sushi and, when crumbled, as a salty-flavored additive for soups and other foods. And just to drive the point home, when Japanese-Americans abandon the “old ways” and adopt the American diet, they almost immediately fall victim to the ailments of Caucasian natives. Food for thought?

Got milk? The Western diet is also dairy-heavy,

unlike Eastern diets. But while dairy products are high in protein and calcium, we overuse it to the extreme. High-fat, highcholesterol butter, ice cream, cheeses and whole milk can easily be replaced with low-fat or non-fat versions that are much healthier for you. Try creamy non-fat Greek yoghurt instead of sour cream on your baked potatoes. Use low-fat cottage cheese in your next lasagna instead of whole-milk ricotta. Switch to non-dairy “creamers” for your morning coffee. You can get much of your needed calcium from leafy-green vegetables. And don’t cut down on red meats by switching to dairy products for your protein needs—eat more fish and vegetables instead.

Go with the grains! Just as protein is essential for overall health, carbohydrates provide the fuel the body needs. But American carbohydrates have been processed to death to remove the healthy features, then cooked with additives we don’t need (sugar, salt, fats) and added to commercial products that kids love (donuts, cookies, sugary cereals). The highly-processed, nutrition- deficient white flour breads, pasta diet we’ve been fed can easily be changed by switching to whole-grain or even gluten-free products. We already know that eating oatmeal daily can reduce blood cholesterol (thereby the risk of heart disease) and blood glucose, as well as help in losing weight. Go back to what your grandparents ate—barley, brown rice, kasha, cous-cous and try out alternative versions of what you normally eat (like rice pasta, whole wheat pita bread, corn tortillas). Get away from the meat/ gravy and potato diet that’s slowly killing you. Switch to olive/seed/grain oils instead of Crisco, and experiment with herbs and spices.

Popeye was right! Leafy green vegetables are nutrition and health blockbusters. Not only are they high in fiber, but they are also rich in iron, calcium and many other essential nutrients. Think kale, spinach, chard, greens, bok choy, escarole —even broccoli/cabbage and other cruciferous vegetables, known for reducing cancer risks, as well as being vegetable supplements for meat/dairy substitutes.

Grandmother knew best Ever wonder why Bubba’s chicken with matzoh ball soup actually made you feel better? Or why Nana’s burnt toast with

weak tea or ginger ale calmed your stomach distress or morning sickness? Our elders knew more about nutrition and health than we ever gave them credit for, and they knew which food ingredients could cure whatever ails us. Go online to learn more about the nutritional benefits of your grandmother’s native diet (the Okinawan ([Japanese] diet or the Mediterranean diet) and marvel at the longevity and vitality of people who eat the local produce, grains, and seafood, all of which we’ve grown away from, to our detriment.

No rookies.

Spices are the variety of life Ever notice/wonder how the hotter the climate, the hotter/spicier the food? (think Indian curries, Mexican peppers) Ancient peoples wisely used herbs and spices to prevent food spoilage—and the premier “spice” worldwide is garlic, a powerful anti-bacterial/viral/fungal. Its cousins in the onion family (leeks, scallions, etc.) are equally powerful and common ingredients in foods worldwide. Hot peppers contain capsaicin, a potent analgesic and antioxidant. Rosemary, bay leaf, and ginger are used to treat arthritis and inflammations. Clove (remember clove oil for toothaches?) is a pain-reliever—sprinkle some ground clove in your bath water to relieve muscle aches. Slices of cucumber can soothe sunburn and swollen eyes. A spoonful of horseradish (wasabi) will clear up your blocked sinuses. Your grandmother knows all of these tips.

Island Creations

Come in, Hang out and Play!

What are antioxidants? The air you breathe, the foods you ingest all contain potentially harmful additives and toxins that end up being stored in your organs and cells. Antioxidants are natural nutrients in certain foods that can purge your body of these time-bomb “free radical” poisons and help you fend off agerelated disorders such as cancers, arthritis, cardio-vascular problems and diabetes. Some studies suggest that antioxidantrich foods can also boost the body’s immune response and prevent infections/ inflammation. Again, our Asian cousins have longbenefited by one of the most powerful antioxidant substances in the world— tea, especially green tea. Elizabeth Morse Read is an award-winning writer, editor and artist who grew up on the South Coast. After twenty years of working in New York City and traveling the world, she came back home with her children and lives in Fairhaven.

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In memoriam

A good

neighbor Sumner James Waring s we prepared this issue, we were saddened to learn that Sumner James Waring died on October 6, in Fall River, surrounded by his family, after a valiant effort to combat cancer. Here, as a tribute to him, and as a remembrance of his giving spirit, we publish this, his last interview, in which he reflected on a life of service. He was a dedicated leader and volunteer for many local, regional and national causes; countless organizations have benefited from Jim’s insight, commitment and boundless energy. He was President and later Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Adams House for 38 years, and spearheaded the establishment of the area’s first residential retirement community, “Bay View.” Past President of the Fall River Chamber of Commerce, Jim was named Outstanding Citizen of the Year in 1986. He served on the boards of many hospitals, banks, and community organizations. A member of the Fall River Rotary Club since 1961, he served as President during its 50th Anniversary and he received the Paul Harris Fellow Award. He was appointed Trustee of the Board of SMU, now UMass Dartmouth, also served on the Board of Massachusetts Maritime Academy, the Southern New England School of Law and the Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service in Houston, Texas. He was a member of the BCC Foundation and the Board of Higher Education. An avid sports fan, he loved every Boston sports team and attended 47 consecutive Red Sox opening days. A deeply loyal friend to all, Jim shared many happy times with his pals at thousands of sporting events throughout his life. We pause to remember our good neighbor.

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Sumner James Waring, “Jim,” was a man with a mission throughout his life. He enjoyed helping people, both in his business and his personal life. As the Funeral DirecJoan McKinley tor and Senior Service Counselor at the Waring-Sullivan Homes of Memorial Tribute, the firm established in 1871 by his great grandfather, Henry Waring, he had the opportunity to assist people at a difficult time in their lives. However, Jim’s interest in helping people began long before he started his 50 year career in funeral service. He was a student at the Choate School when he heard John F. Kennedy speak, and the main focus of his speech was that people who are more privileged have the obligation to give back to the community. not only in money, but time. This made a deep impression upon him, and he never forgot it. Speaking about his family, he remembered that they were all involved in public service.

A history of service Jim was the great, great, great grandson of Nathaniel Briggs Borden, the first U. S. congressman from the area, and the third mayor of Fall River. In his time, public buildings were often built with private money donated by families who had done well in business. High schools, libraries, homes for children and the elderly were all built with private money. Many families in Fall River contributed to these projects, including Jim’s family. Fall River had many textile mills, and the owners took care of their workers,

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providing housing and other services. The Sagamore Mill even had its own hospital and doctors. According to Jim, this sort of philanthropy was normal, accepted and admired. There was a Women’s Union in Fall River which took care of those entrusted to them. Jim said, “I see that base here in New England as being very important.” The Adams House and Bayview for retired people were built with private funds, and are part of what is known as the Home For Aged People in Fall River, a not-for-profit life care community. Jim Waring was Chairman of this organization for 37 years.

Sharing the wealth As Waring commented, “All phases of life were covered.” There was the Fall River Deaconess Home, the Stevens Childrens’ Home, The Childrens’ Home of Fall River, all supported by private money. Those who had the means stepped up to help take care of those who had less and needed help. That was the spirit of the times. Asked to express his philosophy of volunteering, Jim answered, “It’s essential to

the present and future America.” He said that half of America was built with private money. Those who made fortunes, like the Rockefellers, the Fords and the Kennedys made it their business to support America and various charities. He felt that this has not been carried on sufficiently in recent times. Now the need is still there, but the federal government is shouldering much of the burden. Jim said, “Whether that’s good or not is up to you to decide.” He was convinced that Social Security has not done as much as is necessary. And he singled out for praise individuals who have done their part, like Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, both of whom are very wealthy and have given generously.

A family of volunteers Jim’s interest in helping people also extended to his family life. He said his wife, Liz, is also very committed to public service, as is her mother, who is 95. He said, “It’s been pretty special.” Jim and Liz had two children, Sumner James III and Christine E. Waring, and three grandchildren. All of them have volunteered both time and money for many different causes. According to Jim, his company, in business for 140 years, has always been dedicated to their philosophy of helping others. He said, “We have never refused anyone a decent burial. Our firm is committed to that.” Commitment was central to his professional life, and it carried over into his personal life. Jim enjoyed boating, music, and he loved to read, and said, “people should do more of it.” He closely followed the Red Sox and the Patriots. But he said his most important hobby was “helping people.” Clearly, Jim Waring and his family have been positive influences in their communities. They have carried on the traditions of giving handed down from their families, and created new ones during his fifty years of service at Waring-Sullivan Homes. Jim not only lived a satisfying and productive life, but also made a positive difference to many people. He said, “I am deeply grateful to be here.”

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Book Picks by Baker by Baker Books staff

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The holidays are coming and there is no better way to share the warmth of fellowship with family and friends like a good home cooked meal. These books are so well designed that they will not only enhance your culinary knowledge but make for holiday meals – and even holiday gifts—that people will thank you for and remember for ages.

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CHRISTMAS COOKING WITH KIDS

GOOD EATS 2: THE MIDDLE YEARS

by Annie Rigg Ryland $19.95 hardcover

by Alton Brown Little Brown $37.50 hardcover

Get kids into the kitchen whipping up gorgeous treats, cakes, party food, and edible decorations for the holiday season. Annie Rigg brings festive cheer to the kitchen with more than 50 recipes from around the world—all simple enough for children under 11 to make with minimum help from Mom or Dad. Here are little treats and gifts for giving to friends, teachers, and family; everyone loves a box of homemade fudge or chocolate truffles. What better way to create the Christmas spirit than by getting the kids to make their own edible decorations? Snowflake cookies and popcorn garlands will look great on the Christmas tree. Cakes & desserts like marble cake and fruit jellies will impress everyone at the dinner table and when guests are coming round, let the kids help with the party food, such as pumpkin soup and Christmas morning pancakes. It is part of the bestselling series which includes Cooking with Kids and Christmas Crafting with Kids.

Good Eats 2: The Middle Years picks up where the bestselling Good Eats: The Early Years left off. Showcasing everything Alton Brown fans have ever wanted to know about his award-winning television show, Middle Years is chock-full of behind-thescenes photographs and trivia, science-offood information, cooking tips, and—of course—recipes. Brown’s particular genius lies in teaching the chemistry of cooking with levity and exuberance. In episodes such as “Fit to Be Tied” (meat roulades), “Crustacean Nation” (crab), and “Ill-Gotten Grains” (wheat products), Brown explains everything from how to make the perfect omelet to how to stuff your own sausages. With hundreds of entertaining photographs, along with Brown’s inimitable line drawings and signature witty writing, this comprehensive companion book conveys the same wildly creative spirit as the show itself.

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THE ILLUSTRATED STEP-BY-STEP COOK by Lucy Bannell Penguin $35 hardcover For any cook, beginner or expert, illustrated step-by-step instructions that explain an unfamiliar technique or guide us through the crucial part of a recipe can be invaluable. The Illustrated Step-by-Step Cook recognizes the importance of this and in classic DK style includes a photographic sequence of more than 300 classic recipes, positioned alongside the recipe so the reader doesn’t have to go searching for it in a separate techniques section.

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Serving Bristol and Plymouth Counties

Special Events Christmas Tree Lighting December 8, 2010 (Mattapoisett YMCA)

Breakfast with Santa December 11, 2010 (Gleason Family & Mattapoisett YMCAs)

Extreme Velcro Fun Night December 17, 2010 (Dartmouth YMCA)

Mad Science Interactive Family Show January 15, 2011 (Dartmouth YMCA)

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508-998-6101

1100 Reed Rd.

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• North Dartmouth, MA

Open 6 days a week Mon -Sat 9-5

by Michael Chiarello Chronicle Books $40 hardcover Michael Chiarello’s fans have watched him on Top Chef Masters, the Food Network, and PBS. He’s an Emmy Award winner and award-winning author, with combined cookbook sales of over 400,000 copies. Chiarello returns to the kitchen with a cookbook inspired by the soulful Southern Italian-style menu at his new Napa Valley restaurant, Bottega. In it he brings you many ways to prepare bold Italian flavors from the heart of California’s wine country.

Shining Tides Preschool Open House February 2, 2011 (Mattapoisett YMCA)

Valentine Tea February 12, 2011 (Gleason Family YMCA)

The Sweet Science of Maple Sugaring February 19, 2011 (Dartmouth YMCA)

For tickets or more information call your local YMCA

“One of the outstanding reasons to visit New England” Yankee Magazine (editor’s pick)

Dartmouth Fall River Mattapoisett New Bedford Wareham

508.993.3361 508.675.7841 508.758.4203 508.997.0734 508.295.9622

YMCA Southcoast

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Prime Wines

Merlot & Louis Martini

Founded on dreams Louis M. Martini founded his Napa Valley winery in St. Helena, California in 1933. He is considered as one of the pioneer in California winemaking. His son, Louis P. Martini, took over as winemaker in 1954, and then turned the reins over to his son Michael in 1977; Michael is still the Senior Winemaker today. He is a graduate of the winemaking program at UC-Davis and worked alongside his father for a number of years before accepting the role of Winemaker. Louis P. Martini had planted Merlot in 1965 to blend with Cabernet Bordeaux as the French had been doing in Bordeaux for centuries. Martini planted his first Merlot in the Russian River Valley and it seemed to make a very fine wine. He decided to blend a small crop of his 1970 Merlot with some 1968 he had been aging. The results were an excellent “new” wine that he released in 1972 and it was immediately successful. It sold for just $2.50 per bottle! Other California wineries followed his lead and eventually Merlot was the number two red wine in the U.S. Merlot had been very successful in France for centuries, used in most Bordeaux wines to soften the sometime hard Cabernet Sauvignon. Its greatest and most prestigious example is Chateau Petrus, one of the leading wines of the world. Their vineyard,

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which is located in the St. Emilion district, is planted with 95 per cent Merlot grapes and 5 percent Cabernet Franc. The prices of Petrus speak for its desirability; a regular bottle runs over a $1,000 for most current vintages; some older great vintages run up to $10,000. That’s a lot for what some folks consider a “simple little wine.”

Casual wines Kenwood Vineyards, in Sonoma, makes several versions of Merlot. Their “regular”

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Kenwood Sonoma County Merlot, made for the “casual wine drinker,” is made from grapes grown throughout Sonoma. But their aging in small French and American oak barrel and blending in a little Cabernet Sauvignon adds a little spice and makes it a very pleasant wine which is usually priced under $20. Kenwood makes a Reserve Merlot made with grapes harvested from select vineyards. It is aged a little longer in oak plus it has a bigger dose of Cabernet, which together result in a smoother more complex wine. This delicious wine runs about $25 a bottle. At the same price you can get the traditional more powerful Kenwood Jack London Merlot, which features intense fruit of berries made more complex with smoke, herbal cedar aromas and flavors. This is a bigger more complex Merlot, which defies any of the claims that Merlots are wimpy wines.

Louis Martini Winery

It seems that the Louis Martini Winery and Merlot go back a long way, at least to the beginning of Merlot as a varietal wine in America. It is fairly likely that Martini was first to bottle Merlot as a varietal.

Ken Volk is one of California’s great wine makers, the founder of Wild Horse in the Paso Robles region, and has his Ken Volk Winery in the northern part of the Santa Barbara region. When I tasted his Merlot, I was overwhelmed with its richness, body and complexity. The host brought out one of the assistant wine makers who said that most wineries intentionally made their Merlots a little softer so they could offer a different style wine than their Cabernet. But Volk had decided to let his Merlot be “as it was meant to be.” There are several versions available that run from about $20 to about $30. Besides the California regions, Merlot is doing quiet well in Washington State; in fact, it was one of that’s state’s first major successes. In spite of the increase in Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon the Merlot is still considered Washington’s signature wine. One good example is Seven Hills 2007 Merlot, from the Columbia Valley; it runs about $22 a bottle. It should also be noted that Merlot grows in many other U.S. wine areas, including our own coastal region. Here it is most often blended with Cabernet Franc making a delightful and delicious red wine. Almost all California wineries produce a Merlot. Ravenswood Winery produces a Merlot from Sonoma County (running $18 to $20). On the budget side consider Beaulieu Vineyard Coastal Estates Merlot apparently made from grapes grown in the Monterrey region and only costing $9 to $10 a bottle.

Coastal wines Kendall-Jackson’s 2006 Grand Reserve Merlot is 100% Merlot harvested from 75 percent Sonoma County, 25 percent Napa County vineyards. This wine won a Gold Medal in the 2009 Sonoma County Harvest Fair. It is loaded with dark fruit aromas and flavors: blackberry, plum, boysenberry, plus chocolate and cedar notes. It is rich and full bodied, not a wimpy wine at all. Its typical price is around $25. The Kendall-Jackson 2006 Reserve Merlot is listed as being 61 percent Sonoma County, 23 percent Napa County, and 16 percent Mendocino County. It is made more interesting by having a blend that is 96.4 percent Merlot, 3.3 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, .1 percent Cabernet Franc, .1

percent Petit Verdot, .1 percent Malbec. While I am sure the addition of a little Cabernet Sauvignon helps the wine, the onetenth addition of the other three may be difficult to even detect. But who knows... it is a delightful wine, and won its share of silver medals in various competitions and only costs about $18 a bottle.

Wine bargains There is a real bargain Merlot made from French grapes and produced and exported by George Dudoeuf. It runs $7 (or 2 bottles for $12 in some stores.) There is another good budget Merlot produced under the Barefoot label in California. It won a double gold medal in the International Eastern Wine Competition in 2007. It runs only about $7.00 as well. Just so you don’t get to thinking that all Merlots are inexpensive, consider Cakebread Winery of Napa Valley. Some wine experts say it is one of the best Merlots made in California. It better be, as it sells for $68.99! Then there is Truchards’ 2003 Carneros (Napa Valley) Merlot priced at $37.99 a bottle, considered to be another world class Merlot. So do not fall into the trap that Merlot is a simple and cheap wine. Some are, and many are not. The Louis Martini Winery has gone through several changes over the last few years. Before Louis Martini’s death, his daughter Carolyn became president and CEO in 1985. In 2002 Gallo purchased Louis Martini Winery. The good news is that Gallo has kept it as a wholly independent operation. but now the winery now specializes in crafting rich and distinctive Cabernet Sauvignon varietal wines. Today Michael Martini is still the Winemaker at the Louis Martini Winery. Nevertheless, the Winery no longer produces a Merlot. So much for tradition. It’s the market that drives most of today’s wineries. Oh for the days when each winery was a family operation and they made the wines of their dreams, and we all loved them, the wines and the people. A lton L. Long is a freelance writer, educator and event producer specializing in wine, food and travel. He lives in Tiverton.

Stone Bridge R e stau r a n t

Creative Mediterranean/American Great food, great service, great view! Enjoy fall sunsets overlooking the Sakonnet River. — Open 7 days — 4:30-9pm Sun-Thu • 4:30-10pm Fri-Sat

1848 Main Road Tiverton, RI

401-625-5780

www.stonebridge-restaurant.com

Check out our expanded Jewelry collection!

Pottery by Wanye Fuerst

782 Main Road Westport, MA

508-636-0888

(next to Marguerites’ Restaurant) Hours: Monday-Wednesday 11am-5pm Thursday & Friday 10am-8pm Saturday 10am-6pm • Closed Sundays

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